Category: Iran

State TV: Recalled Iranian Diplomat to Yemen Dies of COVID-19

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Iran’s top diplomat to Yemen died Tuesday after reportedly contracting the coronavirus, Iranian state TV said, just days after he was abruptly recalled from his mission in the war-torn nation. State-run media in Iran said Ambassador Hassan Irloo had become infected with the coronavirus in Yemen, where a conflict between Iran-backed Houthi…


Russia Says Talks to Revive Iran Nuclear Deal May Resume Before Year-End

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday said that the next round of talks aimed at salvaging Iran’s tattered 2015 nuclear deal may resume before the end of this year. The seventh round of talks, which are being held in Vienna, had ended last week at Iran’s request. Those involved said some progress was made,…


Iran Fires Ballistic and Cruise Missiles in Gulf War Games

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Iran’s Revolutionary Guards fired ballistic and cruise missiles on Tuesday during war games in the Gulf, state TV reported, amid heightened tensions with the United States and Israel over possible Israeli plans to target Iranian nuclear sites. “The use of ballistic missiles by the Revolutionary Guards’ navy is a new concept ……


Perhaps It’s Time to Send China’s Envoys in Canada Packing

Commentary In 2012, Stephen Harper’s Conservative government closed the Iranian embassy and sent its diplomats home. The decision came about due to the government realizing the hopelessness of pursuing any sort of productive relationship with the regime in Tehran. Calling Iran the “most significant threat to world peace,” the government cited the regime’s support for…


It’s Time to Send China’s Envoys in Canada Packing

Commentary In 2012, Stephen Harper’s Conservative government closed the Iranian embassy and sent its diplomats home. The decision came about due to the government realizing the hopelessness of pursuing any sort of productive relationship with the regime in Tehran. Calling Iran the “most significant threat to world peace,” the government cited the regime’s support for…


With China, Russia, and Iran, US Needs to Show Political Will

As Winston Churchill famously said, “No war would have been easier to prevent than this one.” (World War II). No one seriously anticipates war between the United States and China or Russia, in the sense of a declared war to be conducted until one side surrenders, but the deterioration of relations with those countries could…


Satellite Images, Expert Suggest Iranian Space Launch Coming

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Iran appears to be preparing for a space launch as negotiations continue in Vienna over its tattered nuclear deal with world powers, according to an expert and satellite images. The likely blast off at Iran’s Imam Khomeini Spaceport comes as Iranian state media has offered a list of upcoming planned satellite launches…


White House Warns of ‘Other Options’ if Diplomacy With Iran Fails

The White House says it is preparing in case diplomacy with Iran fails. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Thursday that given ongoing advances in Iran’s nuclear program President Joe Biden has ordered his team to make preparations for the possibility that diplomacy fails and the United States must resort to other options….


US Sells Iranian Crude Seized En Route to Venezuela

The Justice Department has announced the sale of around 1.1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil seized by the U.S. Navy from four foreign-flagged tankers that were en route to Venezuela. The crude was the property of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the United States and several other countries have designated a foreign…


Oil Rebounds Above $71 on Omicron Hopes, Iran Talks

LONDON—Oil rose by more than $1 a barrel to above $71 on Monday as hopes that the Omicron coronavirus variant may cause mostly mild symptoms boosted riskier assets and as the prospect of an imminent rise in Iranian oil exports looked less likely. Helping ease Omicron concerns, reports in South Africa said cases there only…