IRGC intercepts smuggling tanker in Iran’s territorial waters

TEHRAN – Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has seized a foreign tanker carrying millions of liters of smuggled fuel in the Persian Gulf, detaining its crew and transferring the vessel and its cargo to government ownership, Iranian officials said.

Iran to host trilateral naval exercise, says navy commander

TEHRAN – Iran will host a trilateral naval exercise in the near future, with plans to expand participation to additional countries, the commander of the Iranian Army Navy said on Friday.

Former Iranian FM says Israel drives U.S. policy, calls Netanyahu main obstacle to peace

TEHRAN – Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Israel exerts decisive influence over U.S. policy and remains the main source of instability in the region, calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the biggest obstacle to peace.

Two smuggling vessels carrying narcotics, fuel intercepted in southeast Iran

TEHRAN – Iranian border guards have seized two large fishing vessels off the coast of Chabahar carrying a significant quantity of narcotics and smuggled fuel, authorities said on Tuesday.

Tehran sends sympathy message after fatal plane crash kills Libyan army chief

TEHRAN – Iran has extended its condolences to Libya following the death of the country’s army chief in a fatal plane crash near Ankara.

Iran questions US definition of ‘diplomacy’ after envoy’s ironic remarks at UNSC

TEHRAN – About ten hours after a UNSC session on Iran’s nuclear program concluded on Tuesday, as morning broke in Tehran, Iranian officials began to publicly react to remarks put forth by the U.S. during the meeting. Their reactions signaled that no one in Tehran trusts American pronouncements about diplomacy anymore.

Tehran, Dushanbe look to deepen security partnership with high-level police chief visit

TEHRAN – Iran's top police commander, Brigadier General Ahmadreza Radan, arrived in Tajikistan on Tuesday for a key security visit aimed at expanding bilateral law enforcement cooperation.

Pezeshkian stresses Caucasus strategy as he tasks new envoy with bolstering ties

TEHRAN – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has highlighted the “strategic role” the Caucasus plays in new regional and international developments, while stressing the need for closer ties between Tehran and Tbilisi.

In nuclear standoff with US, Moscow reiterates backing for Iran, says Tehran has ‘right’ to program

TEHRAN – Russia continues to throw its weight behind Iran as a nuclear standoff with the United States shows no sign of resolution, and leaders in Tehran grow increasingly doubtful whether they can expect diplomacy to ever bear fruit with the West.

Army chief warns of strong response to any ‘mischief’ by enemies

TEHRAN – The commander of the Iranian Army (Artesh) says the military is closely monitoring all movements by the enemy and will firmly respond to any act of mischief. Major General Amir Hatami made the remarks while inspecting Army units in western Iran.

Serbian FM meets new Iranian ambassador to Belgrade

Serbian Foreign Minister Dusan Kozarev has sat down with Iran’s new Ambassador to Serbia Mohamadsadeq Fazli.

US faces flak at home for testing copy of Iranian drone

TEHRAN – The U.S. Navy has, for the first time, launched a long-range attack drone from a warship in the Persian Gulf. While the U.S. military hailed this as a step toward optimizing its destabilizing missions in West Asia, American media have viewed it as a sign of Washington falling behind in critical technologies.

Russian experts Tehran and Moscow are building an informal strategic bloc

TEHRAN – A Russian foreign policy expert has suggested that Iran and Russia are moving toward forming an informal strategic bloc, with Tehran expecting more active support from its allies, including Moscow.

Jalal Dehghani Firouzabadi appointed Secretary of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations

TEHRAN – Jalal Dehghani Firouzabadi has been appointed as the new Secretary of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, following an official order issued by Seyyed Kamal Kharazi, head of the council, on Saturday.

Iran hit PKK, PJAK hard during war with Israel: Turkish DM 

TEHRAN – Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler says Iran dealt a heavy blow to the Kurdish militant group Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its offshoot PJAK during the 12-day U.S.-Israeli military aggression against Iran back in June. 

Resumption of cooperation with IAEA not impossible, but very complicated

Nuclear spokesman says everything changed after US-Israeli attacks on Iranian facilities

TEHRAN – Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) spokesperson, Behrouz Kamalvandi, has emphasized that any inspections of the country’s nuclear sites must carefully balance transparency with national security concerns.

Araghchi to UK FM: Dialogue requires respect, not unilateral pressure

TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated the Islamic Republic’s readiness for dialogue, provided it's based on respect for national rights and not unilateral pressure.

Spy executed in Iran after carrying out over 200 missions for Israel

TEHRAN – Iran's Judiciary has confirmed the execution of Aqil Keshavarz, a Mossad agent convicted of espionage and collaboration with the Israeli regime. The execution took place on Saturday morning, following the thorough completion of legal procedures and the ultimate confirmation of his death sentence by the Supreme Court.

Iranians working to facilitate, speed up engagement with Afghanistan: Pezeshkian 

TEHRAN – Iran’s president says the country will make every effort to give fresh impetus to its interactions with Afghanistan along the border.

Iran warns against resurgence of terrorism in Syria

TEHRAN – Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir-Saeed Iravani says the re-emergence of terrorism and an increase in the operational capability of the Daesh terror group in Syria would pose a threat to the Arab country as well as the entire region.

Two new senior Iranian commanders appointed

TEHRAN – Iran has made new changes to its military leadership, six months after it fought a war against Israel and the United States. 

Iran once again emphasizes respect for Lebanon’s independence, territorial integrity

TEHRAN – Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has, in a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Beirut Mojtaba Amani, discussed with him the latest political developments in Lebanon and in the region, bilateral ties and repeated violations by the Israeli regime.

Iran calls for accountability for Gaza crimes in meeting with OIC chief

TEHRAN – Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, met with the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hussein Ibrahim Taha, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.

US bases on Iran’s target list in event of war

Araghchi says Iran seeks to avoid conflict but is prepared to strike

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says that should a war break out with the United States, and should the United States attack Iran’s nuclear facilities again, then Washington should expect Iran to strike American bases wherever they might be.

Canada imposes fresh sanctions on Iranian officials under human rights pretext

TEHRAN – Canada has announced a new round of sanctions targeting four Iranian officials, continuing Ottawa’s politically motivated and selective approach toward Iran under the pretext of human rights.

Three police officers killed in terrorist attack at checkpoint in southeast Iran

TEHRAN – At least three police officers were killed after coming under fire during an armed clash with unidentified terrorists at a security checkpoint in Iran’s southeastern province of Kerman, authorities said.

Iran denounces UAE’s use of diplomatic engagements to rehash ‘groundless’ claims to trio islands

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baqaei has categorically condemned groundless claims about the three Iranian Persian Gulf islands of the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb and Bu Musa inserted a statement issued at the close of a trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Iran and KRG emphasize deepening ties following Iraqi elections

TEHRAN – Iran’s Ambassador to Baghdad, Mohammad Kazem Al-e Sadegh, met with the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Masrour Barzani, on Monday. The officials emphasized the expansion of ties in economic and cultural sectors and discussed the ongoing political developments in Iraq following the recent parliamentary elections.

Iranian people will never submit to threats or aggression: deputy FM

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs says the Iranian people would never submit to threats or aggression, stressing that they would remain united in the face of any attack.