While Russia and China are ready to back protest-rocked Iran under threat by US President Donald Trump, that support would diminish in the face of US military action, experts told AFP. Iran is a significant ally to the two nuclear powers, providing drones to Russia and oil to
Iran's hardline judiciary chief has personally interrogated protesters arrested in a crackdown that has sparked an international outcry, amplifying fears among rights groups about the use of "forced confessions" to instil fear in society. On Thursday, state television showed
Jan 15 (Reuters) - Major shipping companies are devising strategies for a return to the Suez Canal after more than two years of disruptions due to security risks in the Red Sea. They have been rerouting vessels via longer, costlier routes around Africa since November 2023,
By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Pakistani students returning from Iran on Thursday said they heard gunshots and stories of rioting and violence while being confined to campus and not allowed out of their dormitories in the evening. Iran's leadership is trying to
If the Islamic Republic falls, a civil war could emerge from a fragmented opposition divided over strategy – both on how to topple the regime and on how to form a government to replace it. Despite his knack for public relations, the shah's son, Reza Pahlavi, could be part of
The odds are against it. On the other hand, you can be sure the ayatollahs in Tehran, who created the problem, won't even try
ATHENS, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Greece has warned its shipping fleet to review their security measures when sailing to Russian Black Sea ports after drone attacks on two Greek-operated tankers this week, according to shipping ministry advisories. Drones struck two oil tankers on
As U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announces the next phase of Trump's Gaza plan, satellite images reveal the IDF extending the Yellow Line it controls deeper into Hamas-held areas, while Hamas builds tent cities
Syrians began fleeing an area east of Aleppo city on Thursday after the army gave civilians a deadline to leave amid fears of an escalation in clashes with Kurdish forces. The government is seeking to extend its authority across the country following the ouster of longtime
By Jonathan Spicer ISTANBUL, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Turkey is opposed to any military intervention in Iran and its priority is to avoid destabilisation there, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday, as Tehran continues its crackdown on protests. With Iran's leadership trying
By Joanna Plucinska LONDON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - European airlines like Wizz Air, Lufthansa and British Airways dodged Iraqi and Iranian airspace on Thursday, according to flight tracking websites, opting instead for routes over Afghanistan and central Asia in an effort to
By Jonathan Spicer ISTANBUL, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Turkey's foreign minister said on Thursday he hopes problems in neighbouring Syria can be resolved peacefully but the use of force by the government in Damascus could be an option after recent clashes with Kurdish fighters. Five
As protests spread across Iran, Iranians in exile debate regime change, outside intervention and the fate of loved ones back home
If the Islamic Republic falls, a civil war may grow out of a fragmented, opposition divided in their ability to agree on a shared strategy on how to topple the regime or form a government to replace it. Despite his knack for public relations, Pahlavi could be part of the problem
By John Irish PARIS, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Huge protests in Iran have galvanised exiled foes of the authorities but despite their hatred of the ruling clerics, a bitter schism dating to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution still afflicts the leading opposition factions. That split,
ANKARA, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Turkey plans to deploy fighter jets to Estonia and Romania as part of NATO's enhanced air policing missions, the defence ministry said on Thursday. Turkey plans to conduct a four-month deployment in Estonia between August and November 2026, followed
RIYADH, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has announced a slew of development projects across southern Yemen worth about $500 million, many in areas long-held by the United Arab Emirates and allied separatistswho were routed in a Saudi-backed offensive this month.
Gulf allies have convinced Donald Trump to "give Iran a chance", a Saudi official said on Thursday, after the US leader repeatedly threatened strikes on the Islamic republic over a crackdown on protests that activists say has left thousands dead. Iran was shaken over the last
Iran vowed on Thursday to defend itself against any foreign threat, after US President Donald Trump said he would "watch it and see" about military action over the crackdown on protesters. Iran's judiciary said a protester who the United States and rights groups feared faced
An Iranian protester who the United States feared faced imminent execution will not be sentenced to death, the judiciary said Thursday, while Donald Trump said he would "watch it and see" about threatened military action. Trump had repeatedly talked in recent days about coming
Trump said earlier on Wednesday that he had been told killings in Iran's crackdown were easing and that there was no current plan for large-scale executions, as the UN Security Council is set to meet Thursday afternoon to discuss tensions in Iran
WASHINGTON/DUBAI, Jan 15 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said he had been told that killings in Iran’s crackdown on protests were easing and that he believed there was no current plan for large-scale executions, adopting a wait‑and‑see posture after earlier threatening
PARIS, Jan 15 (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency defence cabinet in Paris on Thursday to discuss U.S. President Donald's Trump's stated intent to acquire Greenland and the forceful crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran. In an overnight message on X,
By Mikhail Flores MANILA, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The Philippines and Japan signed two defence pacts on Thursday, including a deal allowing their forces to exchange supplies and services, with both countries seeking to strengthen security cooperation in response to rising regional
AI-generated videos purportedly depicting protests in Iran have flooded the web, researchers said Wednesday, as social media users push hyper-realistic deepfakes to fill an information void amid the country's internet restrictions. US disinformation watchdog NewsGuard said it
By Steve Holland WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi "seems very nice" but expressed uncertainty over whether Pahlavi would be able to muster support within Iran to eventually take over.
WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday "there is no plan" by Iran to hang people, when asked about the anti-government protests in the Middle Eastern nation. "There is no plan for hanging," the foreign minister told Fox News in
By Nandita Bose WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he has been told that killings in Iran's crackdown on nationwide protests were subsiding and that he believes there is currently no plan for large-scale executions, even as tensions between
A US-backed plan to end the war in Gaza was moving into its second phase, Washington's top negotiator said Wednesday, as Palestinian factions agreed on the make-up of a post-war governing committee. President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff wrote on X that phase two of the
ROME, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Italy has strongly renewed an appeal to its citizens to leave Iran because of the security situation in the country, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. There are around 600 Italians in Iran, most of them in the Tehran area, it added.
Around 100 people rallied in a central Israeli city on Wednesday in support of Iranian protesters, as the Islamic republic is shaken by more than two weeks of anti-government demonstrations. Demonstrators in Holon, a city near Tel Aviv home to a large Persian Jewish community,
By Harshita Mary Varghese, Jaspreet Singh and Aditya Soni Jan 14 (Reuters) - A little-known offline messaging app launched by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has emerged as a key lifeline for Ugandans cut off from the internet ahead of a contentious election that could extend
Southern Israeli municipalities said they were opening public bomb shelters, as the Lufthansa Group said it will operate flights to and from Tel Aviv as day flights only, citing the Middle East situation and the need for crews to return to base without overnight stays in Israel
UK police on Wednesday admitted "mistakes" over the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a Europa League football match against Aston Villa in Birmingham, as calls mounted for the under-fire local chief constable to be sacked. West Midlands Police and its chief constable
Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, a pillar of its theocratic system since the inception of the Islamic revolution, has seen off a succession of crises throughout his rule with a mixture of repression and strategic manoeuvring but now could be facing his biggest challenge.
Tehran has warned regional allies it will strike U.S. bases if Washington attacks, as Iran faces its deadliest unrest since 1979. Qatar confirms personnel drawdowns at Al Udeid Air Base, while officials warn U.S. military intervention could come soon
By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, Jan 14 (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday asked U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to continue providing monthly reports on any further attacks on vessels in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthis, spurring Russia to taunt the
Iran warned the United States on Wednesday that it was capable of responding to any attack, as Washington appeared to be pulling personnel out of a base that Iran targeted in a strike last year. The tensions between the two foes, who have had no diplomatic relations since the
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he had been told the killings of protesters in Iran had been halted, but added that he would "watch it and see" about threatened military action. Trump had repeatedly talked in recent days about coming to the aid of the Iranian people
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he had been told the killings of protesters in Iran had been halted, even as Washington moved to reduce its footprint at a major US military base in Qatar amid mounting pressure in its standoff with Tehran. Speaking at the White House,
French publisher Hachette said Wednesday it was recalling three textbooks for high-school children which refer to the Israeli victims of the October 7, 2023 attacks on the country as "Jewish settlers". The worst attack in Israeli history saw militants from the Palestinian armed
US envoy Steve Witkoff warned that Hamas' failure to comply with the plan's next phase would "bring serious consequences."
Benchmark Brent crude traded around $66 a barrel on Wednesday, up roughly 10% since Jan. 7 to its highest level since October 2025.
Earlier Wednesday, an agreement was reached on forming a Palestinian technocratic committee to govern the Gaza Strip under the U.S.-backed plan aimed at ending the war, Egypt's foreign minister said. Envoy Witkoff did not announce the establishment of the Board of Peace, which
Jan 14 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff announced on Wednesday the launch of phase two of the plan to end the conflict in Gaza with the establishment of a technocratic Palestinian administration in the enclave. "The US expects Hamas to comply
President Ahmed al-Sharaa repeated calls on Wednesday for Syria's Kurds to integrate into the state, as the army deployed reinforcements near a Kurdish-held area east of Aleppo following deadly clashes in the city. Syria's Islamist-led government is seeking to extend its
Syria's army told civilians to stay away from Kurdish military positions east of second city Aleppo on Wednesday, after it moved reinforcements to the area following deadly clashes last week. The deployment comes as Syria's Islamist-led government seeks to extend its authority
TBILISI/BAKU, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan has released four Armenian prisoners arrested during wars between the two countries in 2020 and 2023, Armenia said on Wednesday, in a further sign of normalising ties between the long-standing foes. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol
Saudi Arabia holds unique leverage over the conflict's future, but Riyadh needs to choose to engage on all fronts. This is what pro-peace Israelis and Palestinians need it to do
The former head of Israel's military intelligence directorate told Al-Monitor that Israel must prepare itself for a possible Iranian response if the US follows through on its threat to hit the Islamic Republic.