Iran says it has begun using new advanced centrifuges to enrich uranium – the latest step in reducing its commitments under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Forty such centrifuges were now operational, said nuclear agency spokesman Behruz Kamalvandi.…
Iran tanker: US offers captain millions to hand over ship (BBC)
The US state department has confirmed it offered millions of dollars to the captain of an Iranian oil tanker which is at the centre of a diplomatic row. Brian Hook, head of the department’s Iran Action Group, emailed the captain…
Iran satirist gets 11 years for US cooperation (Guardian)
An Iranian court has sentenced writer and satirist Kioomars Marzban to 11 years in prison after convicting him of charges including cooperation with the United States, state media reported. The official IRNA news agency said Marzban had “collaborated” with Radio…
Iran tanker row: US requests detention of Grace 1 in Gibraltar (BBC)
The US Department of Justice has made a last-minute request to the authorities in Gibraltar to halt the release of a seized Iranian supertanker. Grace 1, carrying Iranian oil, was stopped by Royal Marines on 4 July, triggering a standoff…
Twitter suspends Iran news agencies over ‘harassment of Baha’is’ (BBC)
Twitter has suspended several Iranian news accounts over alleged harassment of people who follow the Baha’i faith. Young Journalists Club (YJC), run by state broadcaster IRIB, state-run IRNA, and Mehr were among the Farsi-language accounts suspended on Saturday. Some agencies,…
Tehran denies US claim of destroying Iranian drone (Guardian)
Tehran on Friday denied the United States had downed one of its drones, saying all Iranian aircraft were accounted for and jesting Washington may have accidentally hit their own machine. The latest incident in the strategic Strait of Hormuz comes…
Iran agrees to allow women watch upcoming 2022 World Cup Qualifiers —FIFA (Punch)
Iran’s Football Federation has agreed to allow women to attend upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifiers of their men’s national team but that approval from the government is still needed. The ruling body FIFA on Thursday said that a letter from…
Iran says its ‘ready for war’ after shooting down US military drone (Metro)
Tensions are rising in the Middle East after an American drone was shot out of the sky in international airspace. Iran has said that it is ‘ready for war’ after shooting the aircraft, further adding to the friction between the…
Tankers almost certainly damaged by Iranian naval mines, US says (BBC)
US National Security Adviser John Bolton has said “naval mines almost certainly from Iran” were to blame for the damage to oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman earlier this month. Mr Bolton provided no evidence to support the allegation,…
Iran police arrest 30 at private yoga class (BBC)
Thirty people taking part in a yoga session have been arrested during a private class in Iran, reports suggest, causing a buzz across the country’s social media. They were detained at a private residence in the northern city of Gorgan,…