Kiran Sharma

  The U.S. diplomatic response to the STC's southern advance is a tactical move in a much larger and more complex strategic puzzle. To understand its full significance, one must view it through the lens of a U.S. Yemen policy that analysts describe as "adrift". For years, the approach has oscillated between intense military confrontation and diplomatic disengagement, particularly regarding the Houthi threat in the north. The challenge has evolved dramatically. The Houthis are no longer a localized insurgent group but a regional actor capable of projecting power. They have disrupted a vital global shipping corridor, attacked Israel over long distances, and forged concerning ties with actors like Al-Shabaab in Somalia. Crucially, their campaign has brought them closer to U.S. strategic competitors, with Russia and China exploiting the crisis to expand their influence. This transformed threat means that containing the Yemen conflict is now directly linked to broader U.S. int...

  Iran  is to boycott next week’s draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup in the United States in protest at the limited allocation of visas, the Iranian football federation said on Friday. “The Iranian delegation will not be present for the World Cup draw in relation to the latest status of issuing visas for the Iranian delegation to attend the draw ceremony”, federation spokesman Amir Mehdi Alavi was quoted as saying by Iranian sports news website Tarafdari. The United States has long-standing strict visa restrictions on Iranians for political and security reasons. Alavi was quoted as saying that the U.S. had granted visas to four members of the Iranian delegation, including head coach Amir Ghalenoei, but had not granted a visa to Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj. Alavi added the decision followed what Iran described as “unsportsmanlike actions” by U.S. authorities relating to the December 5 draw in Washington DC. “Given that the decisions taken are unsportsmanlike...

  According to Tehran Times, Nasimeh Gholami scored two goals for Iran as well as goals from Mahsa Kamali, Fereshteh Khosravi, Mahtab Banaei, and Elham Anafjeh. The friendlies serve as preparation for the 2025 FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, where Iran have been drawn in Group D alongside Brazil, Italy, and Panama. Shahrzad Mozafar’s team will open against powerhouses Brazil on Sunday. The competition is scheduled to be held from Nov. 21 to Dec. 7, 2025, in Pasig City (Manila), Philippines.

  Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Pakistan considers Iran a “brotherly and friendly country” and believes dialogue and diplomacy remain the best path to resolving current challenges. He added that Pakistan feels “confident” in its position regarding terrorism, which it claims originates from Afghan territory. “Countries that are on weaker legal or political footing usually avoid mediation,” Andrabi said. “Pakistan has a very strong case, so we have no concerns about Iran’s involvement.” Islamabad has long urged the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) in Kabul to rein in attacks allegedly carried out by militants based inside Afghanistan. The IEA has repeatedly rejected the accusations, insisting that no armed group is allowed to use Afghan soil against any country. Three rounds of talks between Afghan and Pakistani delegations — held in Turkey and Qatar after October clashes along the disputed Durand Line — ended without agreement. Pakistan’s Ministry of D...

  A senior Iranian diplomat says Tehran will carry out a “fundamental review” of its approaches if the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors adopts a new resolution against the country. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, made the remarks on Sunday in reaction to the European troika — France, Britain, and Germany — submitting a new resolution against Iran to the Board of Governors meeting next week. “I hope they (E3) choose rationality and do not formally present the resolution, but if they do, Iran will certainly conduct a fundamental review of its policies,” Gharibabadi said. He added that the adoption of the resolution will certainly change the situation. “If they do not value interaction and cooperation, Iran will make fundamental revisions to its approaches,” he stressed. He added that the three European countries have removed themselves from dialogue and diplomacy with Iran by triggering the snapback me...

  The collapse of Iran’s Ayandeh Bank resembles a national-scale Ponzi scheme, exposing how reckless lending, political patronage, and failed mega-projects drained public wealth. Ayandeh survived on illusion — paying old investors with new deposits while building an empire of glass and marble called Iran Mall. Earlier this week,  Iran’s Central Bank ordered its liquidation  into the state-owned Bank Melli, the country’s largest financial institution. Built on sand Founded in 2010 by businessman Ali Ansari, Ayandeh emerged from the merger of his Bank Tat with several smaller institutions. Within a few years, it shook up Iran’s banking sector by offering interest rates roughly four percentage points higher than those allowed by the Money and Credit Council. The strategy drew millions of depositors and rapidly expanded its market share; by 2017, Ayandeh held 7.6 percent of all deposits in Iran’s banking system. Beneath that success lay a web of risky loans and inflated promi...