All articles tagged with #tehran
Iranian authorities staged mass public weddings in Tehran for hundreds of couples who signed up for a state-backed “self-sacrifice” program to defend the Islamic Republic in the war with the United States and Israel, including about 110 couples at Imam Hossein Square; the ceremonies, broadcast on state TV, are part of a broader mobilization campaign.
Iranian authorities staged hundreds of public weddings in Tehran for couples who joined a state-backed “self-sacrifice” janfada program, pledging to give their lives in the war against the US and Israel. The ceremonies in Imam Hossein Square were broadcast on state TV to boost morale amid ongoing hostilities, part of a broader pro-government mobilization that reportedly involves millions signing up.
The Independent reports that the United Arab Emirates carried out secret strikes on Iran, including an attack on Iran’s Lavan Island refinery, with Abu Dhabi not publicly acknowledging the strikes. The Wall Street Journal cites sources describing Gulf involvement in the war sparked by the US-Israel coalition, signaling a shift as the UAE deepens ties with Israel. Analysts warn the moves could widen Gulf tensions and affect oil markets while dragging Iran and its allies into a broader confrontation.
Trump accused the media of treason after U.S. intelligence reportedly found Iran retains substantial missile capabilities, with The Independent noting Tehran's ability to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz; the piece also covers Britain’s planned defensive mission to secure Hormuz and Iran’s warnings it could enrich uranium up to weapons-grade if attacked, signaling rising tensions as the war drags on.
Iran warned Britain not to escalate the crisis by deploying warships to the Strait of Hormuz, saying the presence of British (and French) vessels will be met with a decisive, immediate response as HMS Dragon is deployed to the Middle East amid ongoing US–Iran tensions and peace-talk efforts.
Britain deploys the Royal Navy’s HMS Dragon to the Middle East to pre-position for a potential UK- and France-led mission to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, as Donald Trump says he’s awaiting Tehran’s response to a US peace proposal amid renewed hostilities and a fragile ceasefire; Washington has also struck two Iranian-flagged tankers and expanded sanctions targeting Iran’s weapons supply.
Putin publicly courts Iran, boosting Russia–Iran defense and tech cooperation, while Trump remains conspicuously quiet and has even eased some sanctions—a dynamic the piece argues strengthens Moscow’s partnership at the expense of the US and NATO.
Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport resumed commercial flights on Saturday for the first time since Iran’s war with the US and Israel began, with flights to Istanbul, Saudi Arabia and Oman listed as part of a phased reopening after a Pakistan-brokered cease-fire that has extended this week.
A leaked confidential letter to Mojtaba Khamenei reveals a split within Iran’s leadership over whether to negotiate with the United States on the nuclear file; some senior figures urged talks due to a worsening economy, while others refused to sign. The leak prompted synchronized official posts of unity to quell the rift, underscoring a power struggle between hardliners and moderates.
CBS News reports from Tehran on Iran's roughly 12,000 Jews who say they feel Iranian first but are navigating fear and mixed loyalties as the U.S.-Israel war with Iran unfolds: some face government employment restrictions, travel bans to Israel, and state propaganda that blends antisemitism with anti-Israel rhetoric, while individuals like Yacub, Deborah and Sarah express a wish for peace and dialogue.
An analysis from the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs argues that Iran’s recent talks with the U.S. over Hizbullah, Hormuz, and its nuclear file follow Tehran’s long‑standing doctrine of deception: negotiate as a strategic move while pursuing leverage, escalate across multiple fronts, and buy time for stronger positions. The piece contends this isn’t a diplomatic breakdown but a consistent pattern of dissimulation (taqiyya/ketman) aimed at pressuring Western interlocutors, with the Strait of Hormuz repeatedly opened/closed to suit Tehran. It warns that only overwhelming, sustained pressure will deter the regime’s behavior and urges policymakers to recognize this recurring logic in future engagements.
Israel's air force says it struck Tehran-based missile-production facilities, including a Defense Ministry site that makes critical ballistic-missile components, plus drone-engine and air-defense sites, as part of a broader campaign against Iran's infrastructure that also targeted nuclear facilities in Arak, Ardakan, and Bushehr; Iran reports no casualties.
Power outages were reported in Tehran and Karaj after shrapnel struck a high-voltage tower in Alborz province; Iran's Energy Ministry said restoration work was underway and that several transmission stations had been installed, with power expected to return within hours, amid ongoing regional tensions.
Israel's air force conducted wide-ranging strikes in Tehran, hitting a central Defense Ministry site that produced critical ballistic missile components and multiple weapon production/storage facilities, plus drone engine and air-defense development sites. The operation also targeted Iranian nuclear-development facilities, including Arak's heavy-water reactor and Ardakan's uranium-enrichment facility, and struck the Bushehr plant with no reported casualties; Tehran reportedly relocated many command centers to mobile units in response.
The conflict across the Middle East appears to be expanding: Tehran is hit by heavy bombardment as Iran’s war widens with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis joining the fight, including missiles fired toward Israel, while the United States deploys assets such as the USS Tripoli and Pakistan hosts high-level talks with Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia aimed at de-escalation and safeguarding regional energy routes.