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Iran

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Iran. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Tehran

Head of State

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Head of Government

President Masoud Pezeshkian

A protester holds a picture of jailed Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan during a rally in Diyarbakir, Turkey, last month. Photo: Reuters

Middle East

Kurds ponder future in Turkey, Syria and Iraq with guarded optimism

The mood among the Kurds has changed after Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan urged the PKK to end its struggle against Turkey.

4 hours ago

South Africa

South Africa’s expelled US ambassador returns home with ‘no regrets’

24 Mar 2025 - 10:47AM

Middle East

Iran nuclear deal ‘cannot be revived’, foreign minister says

23 Mar 2025 - 6:20PM

China-Russia relations

Closer China-Iran ties could provoke US into ‘harsher’ response on nuclear issue: analysts

Beijing’s successful multilateral talks with Tehran and Moscow may lead to more pressure from Washington, experts warn.

21 Mar 2025 - 5:34PMvideocam

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosts the trilateral meeting with Iran and Russia on March 14, which Beijing hopes will restart long-stalled negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear programme. Photo: AFP

Israel-Gaza war

Israeli military says it intercepts 2 missiles launched from Yemen

Israeli said it also downed a missile launched from Yemen earlier in the day after sirens blared in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

21 Mar 2025 - 7:36AM

US-Iran tensions

US slaps Iran-related sanctions on oil tankers, Chinese ‘teapot’ refinery

China is largest importer of Iranian oil and ‘teapot’ refiners are private Chinese refineries that are primary buyers of Iranian oil.

21 Mar 2025 - 12:48AMvideocam

France

Iran frees French citizen after nearly 900-day prison ordeal

Olivier Grondeau was arrested in 2022 and sentenced to five years in prison on espionage charges, which his family denies.

20 Mar 2025 - 4:43PM

French citizen Olivier Grondeau aboard a plane after being released by Iranian authorities. Photo: X account of France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot

Israel-Gaza war

Hamas in no-win situation as Israeli strikes on Gaza resume

Experts say Hamas faces dwindling options amid renewed Israeli attacks on war-torn Gaza.

20 Mar 2025 - 8:58AMvideocam

Music

US visa fee increases, delays make tours there ‘not worth it’ for artists

1,000-day waits for interviews. 8 months for processing. Higher fees. Visa applications are a headache for acts looking to tour the States.

22 Mar 2025 - 6:56PM

Ukraine war

Trump, Putin agree on partial Ukraine ceasefire. Kyiv wants details

Ukraine ceasefire talks set for Sunday in Jeddah after Trump and Russian president hold lengthy phone call.

19 Mar 2025 - 4:00PM

Ukrainian servicemen fire a mortar towards Russian positions at an undisclosed location near Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, on Sunday. Photo: 24th Mechanised Brigade of Ukrainian Armed Forces/AFP

Middle East

Trump threatens Iran with ‘dire’ consequences over Houthi attacks

Trump’s warning escalates his administration’s new campaign of air strikes targeting the Iran-backed rebels in Yemen.

18 Mar 2025 - 2:28PM

US President Donald Trump watching military operations on a screen. Photo: White House via Reuters

Pakistan

Pakistan vs Isis-K: inside the global crackdown that won Trump’s praise

In a seven-month operation spanning 21 nations, Pakistani intelligence dismantled an Isis-K cell tied to bombings in Kabul, Moscow and Kerman.

16 Mar 2025 - 4:00PM

Israel-Gaza war

US strikes hit Yemen’s Houthis as Trump threatens ‘lethal force’

The White House said multiple Houthi leaders died during Saturday’s air strikes, and warned Iran to stop backing the rebel group.

17 Mar 2025 - 5:22AMvideocam

Afghanistan

US targets 41 countries for travel curbs ranging from Iran to Pakistan: memo

The countries are divided into three separate groups with varying degrees of travel restrictions, according to an internal memo.

15 Mar 2025 - 11:17AM

Protesters hold signs in New York against US President Donald Trump’s limited travel ban in 2017. Photo: Reuters

US-China relations

G7 slams China’s ‘dangerous’ moves in South China Sea, strongly backs Ukraine

Statement by foreign ministers gathered in Canada also highlights importance of ‘maintaining peace and stability’ across Taiwan Strait.

15 Mar 2025 - 10:47PMvideocam

(From left) French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrive at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in La Malbaie, Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

China-Russia relations

China urges US to make ‘sincere’ efforts to resolve Iranian nuclear issue

Foreign Minister Wang Yi urges Washington to resume talks after a meeting to discuss the issue in Beijing attended by Iran and Russia.

14 Mar 2025 - 9:55PMvideocam

US-Iran tensions

China to host Russia and Iran for nuclear talks as Trump tries to make a deal

China is deepening strategic ties with Russia and Iran, highlighted by ‘Security Belt-2025’ naval drills in the Gulf of Oman this month.

12 Mar 2025 - 7:28PMvideocam

Donald Trump

Iran president to Trump: I will not negotiate, ‘do whatever the hell you want’

The US president says he has sent a letter urging Iran to engage in new talks on a nuclear deal.

12 Mar 2025 - 7:43AM

epa11934141 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a Parliament session to defend his Minister of Economy and Finance at the Iranian Parliament in Tehran, Iran, 02 March 2025. According to the IRNA news agency, Pezeshkian said that we are in an economic war and, following the Iranian Supreme Leader’s order, we will not negotiate with the U.S. EPA-EFE/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

China’s navy

China set for joint naval exercise Security Belt-2025 with Russia and Iran

The drills in the Gulf of Oman will include simulated attacks and joint search and rescue operations, the Chinese defence ministry says.

9 Mar 2025 - 7:00PMvideocam

Middle East

Iran’s supreme leader slams US ‘bullying’ after Trump threats

The US president is applying ‘maximum pressure’ as he seeks to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

9 Mar 2025 - 2:44PM

Donald Trump

Trump says he wrote to Iran leader to negotiate nuclear deal

A landmark 2015 deal that imposed curbs on Iran’s nuclear programme fell apart after Trump withdrew the US from the agreement in 2018.

7 Mar 2025 - 11:35PMvideocam

A man writes on a portrait of the US President Donald Trump during a rally commemorating the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the late pro-US Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and brought Islamic clerics to power, in Tehran on February 10, 2025. Photo: AP

US-China relations

Taiwan a focus at hearing for Trump’s choice to run Pentagon strategic policy

Republican senators question Elbridge Colby, up for Defence Department’s No 3 post, about his ‘softened’ views on protecting Taipei.

5 Mar 2025 - 6:07AMvideocam

Elbridge Colby, US President Donald Trump’s nominee to be undersecretary of defence for policy, prepares for his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Russia

‘Ready to do everything’: Putin to help Trump mediate US-Iran nuclear talks

Senior US and Russian officials discussed the matter during their meeting in Saudi Arabia last month.

4 Mar 2025 - 8:45PMvideocam

Middle East

Iran’s Vice-President Zarif resigns under hardliner pressure

Mohammad Javad Zarif is stepping down from the VP post for the second time since his appointment.

3 Mar 2025 - 5:15PM

Israel-Gaza war

Netanyahu thanks Trump for weapons to ‘finish the job’ against Iran axis

Israeli prime minister says Trump ‘is the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House’.

3 Mar 2025 - 11:11AM

US President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on February 4. Photo: Reuters

Middle East

Iran parliament sacks minister over economic woes

Decades of sanctions have battered Iran’s economy, with soaring inflation increasing prices since the US pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal.

2 Mar 2025 - 9:26PM

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (C) speaks during a Parliament session to defend his Minister of Economy and Finance at the Iranian Parliament in Tehran, Iran, on Sunday. Photo: EPA-EFE

US-China relations

US imposes sanctions on more Hong Kong firms for aiding Iran drone makers

Treasury Department alleges six companies obtained components for Iranian drones and missiles in violation of US bans.

27 Feb 2025 - 5:32AM

Ukraine war

Opinion | Trump can’t break Russia’s alliance with China – but he can shake it

With Washington and Moscow advancing talks for peace in Ukraine, a successful deal would draw them closer, which could prove disadvantageous for Beijing.

27 Feb 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

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