Report: 2 Iranian lawmakers arrested for 'disrupting' market

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's semi-official Fars news agency says two lawmakers have been arrested for unspecified actions described as "disrupting" the country's car market. The report says the two lawmakers — Fereydoun Ahmadi and Mohammad Azizi — were initially taken to the Evin prison in...

Iran's president says 'talks are useless' in dealing with US

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's president struck a muscular tone on dealings with the U.S., saying Thursday that "talks are useless" as Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers crumbles further. President Hassan Rouhani made the comment in a speech in Tehran during the unveiling of the Bavar-373, a long-range...

Rebels claim downing US drone over Yemen

CAIRO (AP) — Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed they shot down a U.S. drone over the country's north, as a leading rights group said Wednesday the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis killed at least 47 Yemeni fishermen in bombing attacks on fishing boats last year. Yahia Sarie, a military spokesman for the...

Iran-backed militias blame US for attacks on bases in Iraq

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi paramilitary forces backed by Iran accused Israeli drones of carrying out a series of attacks on bases run by the militias, saying Wednesday that they hold the United States ultimately responsible. The militias vowed to defend themselves against any future attack. The rare and...

Iran moves to strike 4 zeroes from its battered currency

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's president sent a bill to parliament Wednesday that would cut four zeroes from the value of the Islamic Republic's sanctions-battered currency, the rial, as tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington. By sending the bill to lawmakers, President Hassan Rouhani's government...

The Latest: Iran-backed militias blame US for attacks

BAGHDAD (AP) — The Latest on explosion near Baghdad earlier in the month (all times local): 5:45 p.m. Iran-backed militias in Iraq have said they hold the United States responsible for a series of attacks targeting militia bases across the country. In a statement issued Wednesday, the deputy head of the...

State TV: Iran to unveil air defense missile system

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's state TV is reporting that the country will unveil an Iran-made air-defense missile system. The Wednesday report says the Bavar-373 is a long-range surface-to-air missile system able to recognize up to 100 targets at a same time and confront them with six different weapons. It...

Greece says it won't assist Iranian tanker sought by US

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece said on Wednesday it won't endanger its relations with the United States by aiding an Iranian supertanker sought by the U.S. but released by Gibraltar that's currently in the Mediterranean Sea, believed heading for a Greek port. Deputy Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis...

Iran's president sends bill to parliament that would cut four zeroes from value of nation's sanctions-battered currency

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's president sends bill to parliament that would cut four zeroes from value of nation's sanctions-battered currency.

Australia joins US-led mission to protect Hormuz shipping

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia has joined Britain and Bahrain in signing onto a U.S.-led maritime security mission to protect international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions with Iran, the prime minister said Wednesday. Australia will contribute troops, a surveillance plane and a Navy...