Monday, April 20, 2026

Iran News

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

Cyber attacks disrupt Iranian parliament’s websites

In a morning announcement, the Iranian Parliament revealed that both the official website of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and its affiliated news agency, House of Nation, have been rendered inaccessible due to cyberattacks and hacking.

ICC prosecutor threatens Israel with potential action over Rafah military operation

International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan has stated he was “deeply concerned” about reports of the bombardment and potential entry of Israel into Rafah in Gaza, saying that his office may be pushed to take action against Tel Aviv.

Russia claims G7 looking to create a ‘special envoy’ for Ukraine

Head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergey Naryshkin has claimed the West wants to create a new “special envoy” to Kiev who would have permanent direct access to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Russian official likened the position to a foreign “governor” of Ukraine.

EU suggests US stop arming Israel amid Gaza genocide

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has urged allies of Israel, primarily the United States, to stop sending it weapons as “too many people” are being killed in the Gaza Strip and Israel has pledged to press on with Rafah offensive in the enclave.

Russia dismisses Ukraine’s Starlink claims

The Russian military never officially ordered SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet terminals and they are not certified for use in Russia, the Kremlin has announced. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made the comment after Ukrainian intelligence claimed that Russia was using the technology amid the ongoing armed conflict between Moscow and Kiev.

Iranian parliament’s news website down after cyberattack

The Iranian Consultative Assembly News Agency, affiliated with the country’s parliament, was hacked on Tuesday and is not accessible.

UK announces sanctions on ‘extremist’ Israeli settlers over West Bank violence

The United Kingdom has put sanctions on four Israeli settlers accused of committing human rights abuses against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank following a similar move by the United States this month.

IRGC commander says elite forces launched long-range ballistic missile from warship

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has successfully fired a long-range ballistic missile from one of its warships, the commander-in-chief of the IRGC has stated.

EU makes decision on frozen Russian funds in response to Ukraine war

The European Union on Monday took a step towards confiscating the interest earned by Russian sovereign funds the bloc has frozen in response to the conflict in Ukraine.

Biden calls Netanyahu ‘assh*le’ over Israeli intransigence on Gaza

US President Joe Biden has not modified his Israel policy despite mounting frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to compromise in the Gaza Strip, which has erupted into name-calling in private, NBC has reported, citing multiple sources.

Iran FM: Israel invasion of Rafah in Gaza to have “dire consequences” for Tel Aviv

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian says any Israeli move to launch a ground invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza would have "dire consequences" for Tel Aviv.

Hamas says Israel freeing 2 captives a marketing ploy for a defeated army

A high-ranking member of Hamas Political Bureau Osama Hamdan has labelled Israel's release of two captives as a mere "marketing ploy for a defeated army".

UN cautions over ‘unprecedented’ levels of ‘near famine-like conditions’ in Gaza Strip

The population of the Gaza Strip is suffering from "unprecedented" levels of "near famine-like" situation as the Israeli war on the besieged enclave drags on, the UN's agriculture agency has cautioned.

Hezbollah carried out over 1,000 attacks against Israel since start of Gaza war: Report

Lebanese Hezbollah fighters have conducted more than a thousand strikes against Israeli military positions in the occupied territories in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid the Israeli onslaught, according to a report.

Iranian authorities lift ban on Didar News website

Iranian authorities have lifted a ban on Tehran-based Didar News media outlet one month after it was blocked.

Man gets death penalty for murdering famous Iranian film director Mehrjouei and wife 

A court in Iran has sentenced a young man to death for murdering famous Iranian film director Dariush Mehrjouei and his wife.

Hamas blames US for deaths of Palestinians in Rafah

The Palestinian movement Hamas has blamed the US and its president Joe Biden personally for the Israeli army's attacks on the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in massive casualties among Palestinins.

Iran team wins 2024 CAFA women’s futsal championship

The Iranian women’s team was crowned at the 2024 CAFA Women’s Futsal Championship for a third consecutive time at the international sports tournament.

President Raisi says tourism industry can rid Iran of dependence on petrodollars

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has stressed the necessity to enhance the tourism industry to diversify the sources of national income and diminish the country’s reliance on oil.

Iran reformists: Boycotting elections would debilitate society

Over a hundred reformist activists, intellectuals and media personalities in Iran have released a statement, warning that banning the upcoming parliamentary elections will make the society weaker.

Iran president wishes for further development of bilateral relations in New Year message to China

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has wished for further expansion of ties between Tehran and Beijing in a message issued on the occasion of the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival.

UNRWA rejects Israeli implications of Hamas tunnel below Gaza HQ

The chief of the UN’s aid agency in Gaza has stated that it had no knowledge of what was beneath its abandoned headquarters amid Israeli claims that a Hamas tunnel ran below the Gaza City site.

NATO chief condemns Trump remarks over alliance security

Former US President Donald Trump’s disparaging comments about NATO members’ failure to pay their share of the bloc’s defense costs put the whole alliance at risk, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has warned in a statement.

Israel attacks Rafah, claims two Hamas-held captives freed

Israel has carried out airstrikes in southern Gaza’s Rafah, killing dozens, according to health officials, as Palestinians brace for a major military onslaught on the densely-crowded city.

Elon Musk denies providing Starlink internet to Russia

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has dismissed supplying his Starlink satellite internet network to Russian soldiers. The service has been widely used by the Ukrainian army during its fight with Moscow.