Kiran Sharma

  France, Britain, and Germany on Thursday triggered a mechanism to reimpose United Nations sanctions on Iran for failing to comply with commitments over its nuclear programme. The three countries notified the UN Security Council that they “believe Iran to be in significant non-performance of its commitments” under a 2015 nuclear deal, according to a letter seen by AFP.Their foreign ministers said they “hereby invoke the process known as the ‘snapback’ mechanism,” which initiates a 30-day process for reimposing sanctions suspended a decade ago. The move by the European trio — known as the E3 — took place just days after Iranian and European diplomats held talks in Geneva, the second since Israel’s attack on Iran that started a 12-day war in June. It also comes as the window for triggering the so-called snapback mechanism closes on 18 October. Western powers have for two decades feared that Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon under the guise of an atomic energy programme, a charge vehe...

  As the deportations from Iran and Pakistan continue, 7,865 migrants were deported from the two countries on Sunday, August 24, according to the Taliban’s commission for refugees. Figures from the commission show that 4,515 migrants were expelled from Pakistan and 3,350 from Iran on the same day. The daily deportations from Pakistan have risen again in recent days, reaching about 3,500 on Friday and Saturday compared with 1,500 to 2,000 earlier this month. Deportations from Iran, however, have remained steady at around 3,000 to 3,500 per day in recent weeks. On Saturday, 3,381 Afghans were returned through the Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings, while 3,389 were deported or returned voluntarily the day before. On Aug. 21, the figure stood at just 2,000. According to official data, Iran has deported at least 2 million Afghans so far this year. Pakistan has deported nearly 59,927 as of Aug. 21 — about 4.9% of the 1.2 million Afghans expelled in 2025, the vast majority from Iran, acco...

  The United States has announced a fresh wave of sanctions against  Iran , focusing on disrupting Tehran’s oil exports by targeting a global shipping network linked to Greek businessman Antonios Margaritis. “Margaritis has leveraged his decades of experience in the shipping industry to illicitly facilitate the transportation and sale of Iranian petroleum,” the  US Treasury Department said on Thursday . “Several other vessels and operators are also being designated today for their role facilitating Iranian oil exports, which generates revenue that contributes to Iran’s advanced weapons programs.” Treasury said it was designating nine companies and 12 vessels with entities based in Greece, Hong Kong, the Marshall Islands and the United Arab Emirates. The sanctions are part of Washington’s ongoing effort to choke off Iran’s ability to profit from its energy sector, which remains a key source of revenue despite existing restrictions.

  South African mobile operator MTN Group said yesterday it was under United States investigation over its activities in Iran and Afghanistan, at a time of icy ties between Washington and Pretoria. Africa’s biggest telecoms company is already facing court challenges in South Africa by Turkey’s Turkcell, which accuses it of winning the Iranian market through corruption. In 2006, MTN was chosen over Turkcell to become the 49 percent minority shareholder in Iranian government-controlled mobile phone carrier Irancell. MTN had been made aware of a US Department of Justice (DoJ) grand jury investigation relating to its former subsidiary in Afghanistan and Irancell, the company said in a statement. “MTN is cooperating with the DoJ and voluntarily responding to requests for information,” said the statement accompanying the group’s financial results. Grand juries typically decide whether or not to formally lay charges in a case and take it to trial. “The plaintiffs’ complaints allege that M...

  Government offices and banks across parts of Iran were closed on Wednesday as the country battled a scorching heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius (104 F) and straining the nation’s electricity grid. The shutdown, declared as an official holiday for public sector employees in eight of Iran’s 31 provinces, including the capital Tehran, aimed to reduce electricity consumption and prevent further pressure on the power system. However, private businesses largely remained open, creating a stark contrast between shuttered government buildings and bustling private shops and shopping centers running air conditioners at full capacity. For many residents, the unexpected holiday provided a temporary respite from the intense heat. With Thursday already part of the traditional weekend in Iran, a mass exodus from Tehran ensued, as travelers headed north toward the Caspian Sea coast. Iranian media reported heavy traffic on roads leading to Mazandaran and Gilan provinces,...

  A senior  Iranian  official warned on Monday (Aug 18) that war with Israel could erupt at any moment, describing the current lull after June’s 12-day conflict as only a temporary halt. “We must be prepared at every moment for confrontation; right now, we are not even in a ceasefire (agreement); we are in a cessation of hostilities,” said First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref. TEMPORARY PAUSE, NOT PEACE The June fighting saw Israel bombard Iranian nuclear and military sites, as well as residential areas, killing more than 1,000 people, including senior commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes that killed dozens in Israel. The United States announced a halt in fighting on Jun 24, two days after it joined the war by bombing Iranian nuclear facilities. But no formal ceasefire was agreed, only an undeclared pause in hostilities. On Sunday, Yahya Rahim Safavi, a military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told I...

  Iran’s Saeed Khatibzadeh met Turkey’s Nuh Yilmaz in Ankara to review bilateral relations, regional issues, and support for Gaza. Saeed Khatibzadeh, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, met on Thursday in Ankara with Nuh Yilmaz, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Turkey. The two sides reviewed the latest developments in bilateral relations, regional issues, and the Islamic world, stressing the importance of expanding cooperation between Iran and Turkey. They also highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the continuation of Israeli aggression, emphasizing the urgent need to support the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza, and to strengthen international efforts to stop the attacks and lift the blockade. Khatibzadeh thanked the Turkish government and people for condemning Israel’s aggression against Iran. Yilmaz expressed Ankara’s interest in deepening ties with Tehran and readiness to expand cooperation in various fields, including support for ...

  The Democratic Alliance (DA) has described comments on Iran by Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) General Rudzani Maphwanya as reckless grandstanding, which comes as relations with the US remain fraught. In a statement, the DA says the comments made by Maphwanya while on an official visit to Tehran were blatant political diplomacy that fell far outside the General’s constitutional and professional mandate. The DA says Maphwanya went well beyond military-to-military discussions — publicly pledging “common goals” with Iran in global affairs and endorsing Tehran’s political positions on the war in Gaza. The party states that foreign policy is the domain of the elected Government of National Unity and must be conducted exclusively through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. The Department of International Relations says only the government or those responsible for South Africa’s foreign policy can make statements. DIRCO spokesperson Chris...

  According to a readout of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, on Monday, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan held a phone conversation with Foreign Minister of Iran Seyed Abbas Araghchi. Minister Mirzoyan touched upon the outcomes of the meetings held in Washington on August 8, including the agreements reached and further activities regarding the unblocking and development of regional communications. Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized that, as previously stated by Armenia on multiple occasions and reflected in the Washington declaration, the operation of infrastructures, including those to be built in Armenia with the partnership with the United States, will take place within the framework of the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and jurisdiction of the respective countries. In this regard, Minister Mirzoyan expressed gratitude to Seyed Abbas Araghchi for the principled stance expressed on the Washington agreements. The interlocutors exchanged views on the preparations for upcoming ...

  Iran said it has executed a man caught working as a spy for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, accusing him of passing on secrets — including information about an Iranian nuclear scientist who was killed in Israel’s recent attacks. Newsweek  has contacted the Israeli Foreign Ministry for comment. Why It Matters The reported execution reflects Iran’s intensifying efforts to root out suspected espionage following the  “12-day war” in June , which saw Israel and the U.S. strike Iranian nuclear facilities. Amir Hatami, the commander in chief of Iran’s military, warned on Sunday that threats from Israel persisted and that Iranian forces “were ready for operations,” Iranian state media reported. Iran executed  three men charged with spying for Israel  on June 24 as part of a sweeping crackdown. Human rights groups have condemned a wave of hundreds of arrests and warned that the  government is using the June conflict  as a pretext to escalate repression. ...

  A group of Iranian scientists linked to Tehran’s controversial defense research unit visited Russian scientific facilities in August 2024, in a covert mission to explore nuclear-related technologies with potential weapons applications. According to the  Financial Times  on August 5, the delegation  sought  access to Russian expertise in dual-use technologies, including tools for simulating nuclear explosions and radioactive isotopes that can enhance the yield of nuclear warheads. The investigation is based on internal correspondence, travel records, and corporate documents obtained from Iranian and Russian sources. The five-member Iranian group was led by nuclear physicist Ali Kalvand, who Western officials identify as a senior figure in Iran’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND). The United States has designated SPND as the successor to Iran’s pre-2004 nuclear weapons program. The delegation included representatives from DamavandTec, a Te...

  The human rights organization Hengaw has reported that Iranian authorities executed five Afghan nationals in the month of July 2025. According to the group’s statement released on Sunday (August 3), a total of 96 prisoners were executed in Iran during July, with Afghan citizens among those put to death. The report highlights a significant surge in executions compared to the same period last year. In July 2024, at least 55 individuals were executed, while the July 2025 figures represent a 74.5% increase, amounting to 41 more executions. Earlier this year, the Iran Human Rights Organization reported in its annual review that at least 80 Afghan citizens were executed in Iran in 2024, raising serious concerns over due process and the treatment of foreign nationals within the Iranian judicial system. The rising number of executions, particularly of foreign nationals, has drawn renewed criticism from international human rights advocates, who continue to call for greater transparency an...

  In northwest Iran, three people have had their hands amputated for allegedly committing theft. The men were arrested last year. They had refused to cooperate with the judiciary and return several kilograms of gold and jewelry, the media quoted the judicial authorities in the city of Urmia as saying. The forced amputation of hands for repeat offenders is enshrined in Islamic criminal law and is intended to encourage offenders to repent and prevent further offenses. As a rule, the amputation is carried out by forensic doctors. Internationally — and in Iran itself — draconian punishments such as amputation or stoning are strongly condemned and classified as inhumane.