News and analysis

The former chief-of-staff of Iran’s armed forces said Tuesday that Western spies had used lizards which could “attract atomic waves” to spy on the country’s nuclear programme. (AFP) — Hassan Firuzabadi, senior military advisor to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was responding to questions from local media on the recent …

Local Editor Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says “unilateral and illegitimate” sanctions imposed by the United States against the Islamic Republic are tantamount to “economic terrorism” and are in violation of world nations’ right to progress. “Unlawful unilateral sanctions in themselves constitute a form of economic terrorism and a breach of …

Local Editor Delegates of the UK Labor Party voted Tuesday to ban arms sales to the “Israeli” entity over its abuses against the Palestinians. This party policy that could be translated into official government policy if and when the party is elected to lead the United Kingdom. The motion was …

Local Editor Ankara plans to stay committed to its long-term energy-supply deal with Tehran despite Washington’s threats to punish countries that do business with Iran, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. “We need to be realistic… Am I supposed to let people freeze in winter?… Nobody should be offended. How …

Local Editor The UK government confirmed on Monday that it had started “resettling” so-called activists of the White Helmets group and their family members from Syria to the United Kingdom. “Under the well-established practices of the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme [VPRS], the Home Office is working closely with UNHCR, the …

Local Editor European Union foreign affairs Chief Federica Mogherini says the EU signatories remain committed to the nuclear deal with Iran that the US has quit. The group is working to create special payment channels to do business with Iran. Mogherini read from a statement following a ministerial meeting of …

Local Editor Amidst the turmoil going on in the Middle East, the “Israeli” entity had hoped for the best but continued to plan for the worst. What best suits this situation is the French epigram which literally means “the more it changes, the more it’s the same thing”!   A …

Local Editor Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps [IRGC] confirmed that the terrorists behind a bloody attack in the southwestern city of Ahvaz will definitely face “deadly and unforgettable” revenge in the near future. In a statement on Sunday, the IRGC expressed its sympathy with the bereaved families of the victims …

Zeinab Essa Hezbollah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivered on Thursday a speech that tackled various topics. Addressing hundreds of thousands of believers, who poured into streets to commemorate Ashura Imam Hussein [PBUH] in Dahyieh [Southern Suburbs of Beirut], Sayyed Nasrallah renewed Hezbollah’s support to the oppressed Yemeni …

Local Editor The Spanish government will promote a European move to recognize Palestine as an independent state, Spain’s foreign minister said Thursday, adding that if the move fails the government will consider a Spain-only recognition. If “the EU is not able to reach unanimous decision – each to their own,” …