Monday, December 22, 2025

Iran News

Iran Front Page offers a handpicked set of the latest news and views from Iran and the Middle East

Trump hits Russia’s oil giants with sanctions over Ukraine war

United States President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on Russia for the first time since returning to the White House, citing a lack of progress in ceasefire negotiations to end Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

Iranian citizen Mahdieh Esfandiari granted conditional release from French prison

The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian citizen detained in France since early 2025, has been granted conditional release by a French court.

Iranian Muay Thai champion Saba Chenari passes away at 25

Iranian Muay Thai fighter and referee Saba Chenari passed away on Wednesday night after suffering a cardiac arrest during training in Tehran. She was 25 years old.

Israel must allow aid into Gaza: ICJ

The United Nations court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has announced that Israel has an obligation to ensure the “basic needs” of the population in Gaza are met.

EU agrees 19th sanctions package against Russia over Ukraine war

The European Union on Wednesday agreed to impose new sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine aimed at crimping Moscow's oil and gas revenues, announced Denmark, which holds the EU's rotating presidency.

Most Americans support U.S. recognition of Palestinian state: Survey

Most Americans - including 80% of Democrats and 41% of Republicans - think the U.S. should recognize Palestinian statehood, a sign that President Donald Trump's opposition to doing so is out of step with public opinion, a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows.

Iran’s Esteghlal FC earn 1st win in AFC Champions League 2 with victory over Jordan’s Al-Wehdat

Tehran’s Esteghlal FC have secured their first win in the AFC Champions League 2 after defeating Jordan’s Al-Wehdat in a commanding performance.

Iran’s Intelligence Minister: 50 foreign spy agencies assisted Israel in its failed aggression against Iran

Iran’s Intelligence Minister Seyed Esmaeil Khatib has revealed that 50 intelligence agencies supported the Zionist regime in its recent 12-day hybrid war against Iran, which aimed at bringing about regime change and territorial fragmentation.

Democratic senators call on Trump to oppose West Bank annexation

Forty-four of the 45 Democrats in the US Senate have sent a letter to US President Donald Trump urging him to reaffirm his opposition to Israel's annexation of the occupied West Bank, Axios has reported.

Tehran’s “Saint Mary” subway station: A symbol of art, inter-faith co-existence, and Unity

The Saint Mary Subway Station, located opposite the Saint Sarkis Church on Karimkhan Street in downtown Tehran, is set to open soon.

Iran says US must abandon its excessive demands, maximum pressure policy

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi has stated that as long as the United States maintains its excessive demands and maximum pressure policy and continues to make unreasonable requests from Iran, Tehran will not return to the negotiating table.

Russia confirms still preparing for Putin-Trump summit

Russia has announced that preparation for a presidential summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump was still ongoing, despite the US leader's announcement that it has been shelved.

Tehran police arrest 70 suspects, recover 350 stolen phones

The head of Tehran’s Criminal Investigation Department, Brigadier General Ali Valipour Goudarzi, announced the arrest of 70 suspects involved in several theft rings across the capital. The coordinated police operation, conducted over recent days, led to the dismantling of multiple criminal networks.

Iran officially approves joining CFT

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has officially communicated a law on Tehran’s accession to the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (CFT).

Russian aerial attacks kill six, cut power across Ukraine

A Russian overnight barrage on Ukraine killed six people in and around the capital Kyiv and triggered power cuts across the European country, Ukrainian authorities announced Wednesday.

Iran Volleyball Federation working to transfer unconscious player Saber Kazemi from Qatar

Iranian volleyball player Saber Kazemi remains in a coma in a Qatari hospital, with officials from the Iran Volleyball Federation confirming ongoing efforts to transfer him to Iran for further treatment.

Iranian scientist wins WHO regional award for NCD prevention

The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted its Regional Award for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) to Dr. Majid Ghayour Mobarhan, an Iranian nutrition specialist and professor at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.

Britain removes Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group from terrorist organization list

The UK government on Tuesday officially removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its list of proscribed terrorist organizations, citing the move as part of efforts to engage with Syria’s new government following the fall of the Bashar Assad government last year.

Trump claims Middle East states offered to fight Hamas in Gaza

United States President Donald Trump has suggested that several countries in the Middle East have offered to send forces to the Gaza Strip to fight Hamas, renewing his threats to the Palestinian group amid the fragile ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.

President Pezeshkian stresses significance of Iran-Iraq rail transport connectivity

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has emphasized the significance of connecting Iran and Iraq's rail transport networks as a vital aspect of bilateral cooperation during a meeting with Iraq's National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji and his delegation in Tehran on Tuesday.

Iran, Iraq reaffirm commitment to security pact

Iran’s Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Seyed Abdolrahim Mousavi has called for the full implementation of the Tehran-Baghdad security agreement during a meeting with Iraq’s National Security Adviser Qassem al-Araji in Tehran.

Israel’s PM fires national security chief

Israel’s national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi says he has been fired by Benjamin Netanyahu, as the Israeli prime minister’s office announced Gil Reich would be appointed as acting head of the National Security Council (NSC).

Trump says summit with Putin should not be ‘wasted time’

The potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest should not be “wasted”, US President Donald Trump has stated.

US VP admits uncertainty over Gaza

US Vice President J.D. Vance has stated that he does not know who will ultimately govern Gaza, admitting uncertainty over the war-ravaged enclave’s political future amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Senior Iranian official reacts to leaked wedding video of daughter

A wedding video featuring the daughter of a prominent Iranian security figure, Admiral Ali Shamkhani, has sparked a wave of reactions across the country.