The Latest Breaking News from Iran

Iranian chess player who competed without hijab meets with Spanish PM

An Iranian chess player who defected to Spain after she competed without a hijab and was warned not to return to her country met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid on Wednesday.

Reuters · Jan 25, 2023

Iran Sanctions Europeans over Criticism of Protest Crackdown

Iran on Wednesday announced sanctions targeting more than 30 European individuals and entities, portraying the move as a response to recent European sanctions against officials linked to a crackdown on nationwide protests. Those targeted with sanctions include Britain's attorney general and army chief of staff, several European parliamentarians and European…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jan 25, 2023

Iran vows tit-for-tat response to EU, UK sanctions over protests

Iran has vowed it will respond to new sanctions imposed by the European Union and Britain over Tehran's handling of months-long protests triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.

Radio France Internationale · Jan 25, 2023

France demands 'immediate release' of seven French citizens held in Iran

Concern is growing for seven French nationals being held in Iran. Among them is Fariba Adelkhah, a researcher at Sciences Po university in Paris, who was arrested back in June of 2019, along with her colleague Roland Marchal. Marchal was released in 2020, but with political tensions on the rise…

France 24 · Jan 25, 2023

Syrian Defense Minister Visits Tehran

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday affirmed his country’s support to the Syrian people during the reconstruction process. His remark was made as he received Syrian Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas. Raisi described the relations between the two countries as “strategic”, according to the state-run ISNA news agency. “Relations between…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jan 25, 2023

Somali President Accuses Iran of Implementing ‘Subversive Agenda’ Through Humanitarian Efforts

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud accused Iran of interfering in his country, at a time when the US military announced that it had killed two members of the extremist Al-Shabaab movement, in an airstrike on a remote area near Haratiri, 396 km northeast of Mogadishu. Somali media quoted Sheikh Mahmoud…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jan 25, 2023

US Increases Pressure on China to Stop Iran Oil

The US said it will increase pressure on China to stop buying Iranian oil, as the White House seeks to enforce sanctions aimed at curbing the Iran's nuclear activities. This comes two weeks before the anticipated visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing. “China is the main…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jan 25, 2023

‘It just didn’t feel right’: top Iran chess player on why she removed headscarf

Sara Khadem talks from Spain after tournament decision some saw as sign of her support for protests back home

The Guardian - UK · Jan 25, 2023

Australians urged to be vigilant against continued cyber attacks from Iran's regime

Iran's Revolutionary Guard-affiliated actors have launched targeted cyber attacks on Australian organisations, aiming to use the data obtained for extortion, a report tabled in parliament shows.

ABC News · Jan 24, 2023

“Iranian women have always been brave”: How actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi is fighting back

Having won Best Actress at Cannes for her role in Holy Spider, Iranian star Zar Amir Ebrahimi should be on top of the world. But she’s troubled by the events in her country of birth: about which she writes here

Evening Standard · Jan 24, 2023