Latest Iran News

'The Righteous,' an opera set among American Southwest church communities, to premiere in 2024

Jun. 07, 2023 15:41 PM EDT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Santa Fe Opera will present the world premiere of “The Righteous” by composer Gregory Spears with a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy K. Smith on July 13 next year. The opera, set among church communities in the American Southwest, stars...

The Iron Sheik, charismatic former pro wrestling villain and Twitter personality, dies at 81

Jun. 07, 2023 15:06 PM EDT

The Iron Sheik, a former pro wrestler who relished playing a burly, bombastic villain in 1980s battles with some of the sport's biggest stars and later became a popular Twitter personality, died Wednesday, the WWE said. He was 81. The wrestling organization posted an article...

US sanctions group of people and firms from Iran, China and Hong Kong tied to Iran ballistic program

Jun. 06, 2023 11:53 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. said Tuesday it is sanctioning a group of people and firms from Iran, China and Hong Kong associated with the alleged development of Iran’s ballistic missile program. The network of seven people and six firms "facilitated procurement of sensitive and...

Iran unveils what it calls a hypersonic missile able to beat air defenses amid tensions with US

Jun. 06, 2023 05:55 AM EDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran claimed on Tuesday that it had created a hypersonic missile capable of traveling at 15 times the speed of sound, adding a new weapon to its arsenal as tensions remain high with the United States over Tehran's nuclear program. The new missile...

UN nuclear chief, facing Israeli criticism on Iran, says his agency 'very fair but firm'

Jun. 05, 2023 10:24 AM EDT

VIENNA (AP) — The International Atomic Energy Agency will “never politicize” its work in Iran, the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Monday, insisting after Israel’s prime minister accused it of capitulating to Iranian pressure that his agency has been “very fair but firm." ...

Iran to reopen its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia after a 7-year rift, state-run media say

Jun. 05, 2023 08:53 AM EDT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s foreign ministry announced it would reopen its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia this week, restoring diplomatic ties after a seven-year rift, state-run media reported on Monday. The foreign ministry’s spokesman, Nasser Kanaani said that the Iranian...

US Navy says Iran Revolutionary Guard fast-attack boats 'harassed' ship in Strait of Hormuz

Jun. 05, 2023 08:33 AM EDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. Navy said Monday its sailors and the United Kingdom Royal Navy came to the aid of a ship in the crucial Strait of Hormuz after Iran's Revolutionary Guard “harassed” it. Three fast-attack Guard vessels with armed troops aboard...

Saudi Arabia welcomes Venezuelan leader Maduro, reaching out to yet another US foe

Jun. 05, 2023 03:57 AM EDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia has welcomed Venzuelan President Nicolas Maduro on an official visit, reaching out to yet another U.S. foe as the oil-rich kingdom engages in a flurry of diplomacy. Maduro arrived late Sunday in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, where he...

Iran's top leader defends hard-line approach toward West, blames protests on 'thugs and villains'

Jun. 04, 2023 09:53 AM EDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's supreme leader on Sunday defended his tough approach to the West, saying compromise would only invite further hostility from Iran's enemies and blaming recent anti-government protests on “thugs and villains.” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's...

Iran releases 1 Danish, 2 Austrian citizens in operation involving Oman, Belgium

Jun. 02, 2023 17:19 PM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — Iran has released one Danish and two Austrian citizens, the European countries said Friday, thanking Oman and Belgium for their help in getting the trio freed. Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said he was “very relieved” that Kamran Ghaderi and...