IRGC seizes 7 trawlers near Strait of Hormuz 

TEHRAN – The Navy of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said in a statement on Wednesday that its forces have detained seven trawling ships in the Jask region, near the Strait of Hormuz.

Japan to send forces to Hormuz Strait if Iran gives consent: report

(MNA) – Japan is considering sending a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer separately from the U.S.-led coalition to the Persian Gulf and it will perform a mission in the Strait of Hormuz if Iran gives its consent, a Japanese newspaper reported.

Iran to take third step on JCPOA if EU fails to act: Rounahi to Macron

TEHRAN– In a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday, President Hassan Rouhani said Iran will further reduce its commitments under the JCPOA if Europe does not abide by its obligations under the deal.

By Payman Yazdani

Indonesia interested in exchanging information, defense equipment with Iran 

TEHRAN– Indonesian Ambassador Octavino Alimudin in an exclusive interview with Mehr News Agency said Indonesia is interested in exchanging information and defense equipment with Iran to fight terrorism.

Zarif: Pressure on Iran ‘will never work’

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that the United States pressure to push Iran to the negotiating table will never work and added that Iranians never negotiate under duress.

Australia joins naval mission in Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN - Australia has joined Great Britain and Bahrain in signing onto a U.S.-led maritime security mission that the U.S. claimed is aimed at protecting international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, but Tehran believes the real reason for it is to threaten its interests in the Persian Gulf.

New Zealand says has no boats to send to Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN – New Zealand's defense minister says while no formal request for assistance was made, Britain approached New Zealand about whether it had any capacity to help.

Fadavi says enemies must not even think of attack against Iran

Admiral: IRGC has reinforced military in Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN – Deputy Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ali Fadavi has advised Iran’s enemies to learn lessons from forty years of testing Iran, warning about the dire consequences of “even thinking of carrying out a conspiracy or an attack against Iran.”

Iran’s deterrence power cannot be tested: Army air defense chief

TEHRAN – A top military commander said on Wednesday that Iran’s defense capability cannot be tested, saying if the enemies don’t dare to approach the Strait of Hormuz and are withdrawing their warships from the Persian Gulf it is because of Iran’s deterrence power.

By staff and agency

Germany reiterates it will not take part in U.S.-led naval coalition

A German government spokeswoman said on Monday that Chancellor Angela Merkel and the whole German government do not see Germany taking part in a U.S-led naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz.

By Afshin Majlesi

The ancient art of making ships in southern Iran

TEHRAN – Maritime trade, shipping and shipbuilding have long been practiced in Iran. There have been many small or big shipyards across the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf.

By Morteza Khansari

Germany hampering Brexit and Johnson’s administration 

TEHRAN - These days, Germany is receiving many requests from the United States and Britain to join an international coalition to control the Strait of Hormuz and take part in joint navy projects in the Persian Gulf. 

By Zahra Mirzafarjouyan:

Signs of tension reduction appearing in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN– After years of tensions between Iran and some Persian Gulf states particularly in recent months in the Strait of Hormuz, reports indicate the emergence of tensions reduction in this strategic region.

Foreign forces are main cause of regional tension, Rouhani says in meeting with Oman FM

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that presence of foreign forces in the region are the main cause of tension in the region.

UK daily warns Iranian military strength may overpower British forces amid tensions

(Press TV) - The UK’s Daily Express paper has published a report, featuring a “shock chart”, illustrating that Iranian military strength may overpower that of Britain in various key aspects.

Omani foreign minister holds talks with Zarif in Tehran

TEHRAN – Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah held talks in Tehran on Saturday with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif. There were no details of the talks.

Seizure of UK tanker aimed to keep security, Iran writes to UN

TEHRAN – Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations has said that the seizure of a British-flagged oil tanker by Iran was aimed at maintaining security in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman.

Ambassador says Iran gives consular access to 18 crew of the British vessel

Iran releases 9 Indian crewmen of impounded oil tanker 

TEHRAN - After impounding two oil tankers for violating international regulations in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has released a number of the crewmen and has granted consular access to other remaining crew members.

By Fatemeh Salehi

The different reactions of Arab governments and nations toward the seizure UK tanker 

TEHRAN - On Friday, a British oil tanker was seized in the Strait of Hormuz by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). The tanker was seized due to violation of maritime laws, causing marine pollution and endangering other vessels. 

Rouhani: We don’t accept to sit at ‘surrender table’

Rouhani says Strait of Hormuz no place for ‘joking’

TEHRAN – Referring to recent U.S. and UK adventurisms in the Strait of Hormuz, President Hassan Rouhani warned on Wednesday that the strategic waterway is no place for joking.  

Portuguese Castle of Hormuz undergoes urgent restoration

TEHRAN - The 16th-century Portuguese Castle of Hormuz Island, which is one of the last surviving monuments of the colonial rule in the Persian Gulf, has underwent some vital rehabilitation works.

Senior Russian senator: U.S. seeks ‘advantage’ in Persian Gulf tensions

A Senior Russian lawmaker has said that the United States is “taking advantage” of tensions in the Persian Gulf in order to deploy more troops to the region, CNN reported on Saturday.

Zarif: Iran’s move is fully within international maritime rules 

Iran stops UK tanker after it hits boat and ignores distress call

TEHRAN – Iranian forces late on Friday impounded a British-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz for involvement in an accident with an Iranian fishing boat, after the tanker ignored distress calls.

A move which did not go unanswered

IRGC captures British oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has said that it has captured a British oil tanker for breaching international maritime law while crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

IRGC releases video exposing U.S. lies it downed Iranian drone

TEHRAN – Hours after the Iranian military dismissed a claim by the Pentagon that it had shot down an Iranian drone over the Strait of Hormuz, the IRGC released a footage captured by an Iranian drone monitoring a U.S. Navy vessel, exposing as untrue that the unmanned aircraft had been shot down.

Iran military rejects Trump claim of ‘destroying’ Iranian drone

TEHRAN – A senior spokesman for the Iranian military says Iran has not lost any drone in the Strait of Hormuz, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that a U.S. warship had shot down an Iranian drone in the strait.

Iran’s IRGC seizes foreign vessel smuggling fuel

TEHRAN – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday it had seized a foreign oil vessel in the Persian Gulf that was smuggling one million liters of Iranian fuel.

Iranian parliament studies motion to charge foreign ships in Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN – The Iranian parliament plans to approve a motion that would allow the country to begin charging foreign ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz for providing their security.

Trump calls Persian Gulf ‘dangerous’, questions U.S. presence in waterway after standoff with Iran

TEHRAN – U.S. President Donald Trump in a tweet on Monday seemed to be questioning his country’s military presence in the Persian Gulf, only days after Iran shot down a $200 million U.S. drone that ventured into its territory.

Visit Portuguese Castle of Hormuz

Where you may soak up silence while traveling through time

TEHRAN – The crumbling Portuguese Castle of Hormuz Island, built in the early 16th century, is one of the last surviving monuments of the colonial rule in the Persian Gulf. It is now a tourism attraction where you can soak up the silence while traveling through time. For visitors it seems to be easy to imagine the hustle and bustle of Portuguese military forces five centuries ago!