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Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was at the White House for meetings and spoke to Israel's president and foreign minister, while Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israel's defense minister. But given the scale of the Hamas attacks and Israel's military response, the officials said they were not optimistic about any short-term solution. Zelenskyy, who is Jewish and had relatives who died in the Holocaust, said “Israel’s right to self-defense cannot be questioned." In Lebanon’s Palestinian refugee camps, hundreds took to the streets to celebrate the operation by Hamas.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, United States “, There’s, ’ ’, ” Biden, Netanyahu, King Abdullah II, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Israel, ” Netanyahu, We’ll, ”, – “, It’s, ’, Blinken, “, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ursula Von Der Leyen, OIaf Scholz, Karl Nehammer, Rishi Sunak, ” Nehammer, Mikhail Bogdanov, Bogdanov, Israel ”, Nasser Kanaani Organizations: WASHINGTON, Hamas, Israeli, White House, Defense, Pentagon, ”, United Arab, Telegram, Jewish, British, Austrian, Foreign Ministry, Tass, Saudi Foreign Ministry, Iranian Foreign Ministry, Associated Press Locations: Israel, United States, U.S, Kippur, Gaza, ’ ’, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Austrian, Vienna, Moscow, Iran, “ Israel, Palestine, Beirut, Tripoli

☆ Iran foreign ministry says Hamas attacks sign of 'confidence'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Israeli soldiers work to secure residential areas following a mass-infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot, southern Israel October 7. REUTERS/Ammar Awad Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Iran's foreign ministry said attacks by its ally Hamas on Saturday were proof of the Palestinians' increased confidence in the face of Israel, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported. "In this operation, the element of surprise and other combined methods were used, which show the Palestinian people's confidence in the face of the occupiers," ISNA quoted ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani as telling the agency in an interview. The attacks "proved that the Zionist regime is more vulnerable than ever and that the initiative is in the hands of Palestinian youth," government spokesperson Ali Bahadori-Jahromi told state news agency IRNA. Reporting by Dubai newsroom; editing by Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ammar Awad, ISNA, Nasser Kanaani, Ali Bahadori, Jahromi, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, Dubai, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Sderot, Israel, Rights DUBAI

☆ World reacts to Hamas attack on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa Acquire Licensing RightsOct 8 (Reuters) - The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years on Saturday. Germany condemns these attacks by Hamas and stands by Israel," Scholz said on social media. However, Morocco's Islamist PJD party, which had been the largest in parliament until elections in 2021, praised the Hamas attack as "a heroic act" and "a natural and legitimate reaction to daily violations". EUROPEAN UNIONEU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said: "I unequivocally condemn the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel. INDONESIA"Indonesia is very concerned about the increasing escalation of the conflict between Palestine and Israel," the foreign ministry the world’s largest Muslim-majority country said on X.

Persons: Mahmoud Issa, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Tor Wennesland, Volker Tuerk, MAHMOUD ABBAS, WAFA, Abbas, Ali Khamenei, Yahya Rahim Safavi, Nasser Kanaani, ISNA, OLAF SCHOLZ, Scholz, EMMANUEL MACRON Macron, Abraham, JOSEP BORRELL, Borrell, JUSTIN TRUDEAU, JAMES, Ursula von der Leyen, TAYYIP ERDOGAN, Erdogan, Israel, MIKHAIL BOGDANOV, Bogdanov, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY Zelenskiy, Israel's, ANDRZEJ DUDA, I'm, Duda, PETR PAVEL, Pavel, Giorgia Meloni, KISHIDA, Kishida, Faki Mahamat, Yoweri Museveni, Jan Harvey, Andrew Cawthorne, Ros Russell, Barbara Lewis, Toby Chopra Organizations: REUTERS, Hamas, UNITED, State Department . U.S . Defense, of Defense, Human, Palestinian, Abraham Accords, Israel, Twitter, EU Commission, Hezbollah, Rockets, State, African Union, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, IRAN, Palestine, Jerusalem, CHINA, State, Germany, SAUDI ARABIA, Egypt, MOROCCO Morocco, EU, Muscat, Oman, Canada, QATAR, MIKHAIL BOGDANOV Russia, Iran, Lebanese, Poland, Japan, KUWAIT Kuwait, EMIRATES, UAE, INDONESIA, Indonesia, KENYA, X, UGANDA, Uganda

Loved ones, some holding small American flags, enveloped them in hugs and exchanged greetings in English and Farsi, the main language of Iran. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said two of the Iranian prisoners will stay in the U.S. Meanwhile, Nour News, a website believed to be close to Iran’s security apparatus, said two of the Iranian prisoners were in Doha for the swap. In his statement, Biden demanded more information on what happened to Bob Levinson, an American who went missing years ago. The Biden administration also announced fresh sanctions on former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence.

Persons: Joe Biden, Siamak Namazi, ”, Babak, Baquer, “, Biden, Iran’s, Ebrahim Raisi, ” Raisi, — Siamak, Emad, Tahbaz —, Timmy Davis, Namazi, Effie Namazi, Vida Tahbaz, Nasser Kanaani, Nour, Mehrdad Ansari, Reza Sarhangpour Kafrani, Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, ” Biden, Bob Levinson, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Neda, ___ Gambrell, Jo, Nasser Karimi, Amir Vahdat, Matthew Lee, Paul Haven, Aamer Madhani, Michelle Phillips, Eric Tucker, Farnoush Amiri Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Democratic, United Nations General Assembly, U.S, South, Iranian Foreign Ministry, Nour News, Mideast, Social, Iranian Ministry of Intelligence, Embassy, Associated Press Locations: Iran, Fort Belvoir , Virginia, Tehran, Doha, Qatar, New York, America, Persian, U.S, Strait, Hormuz, United States, South Korea, Iranian, Korea, Islamic Republic, American, British, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Washington

☆ The US-Iran prisoner deal is a diplomatic breakthrough, but the bad blood persists
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The carefully choreographed agreement was years in the making and is being seen as a major diplomatic breakthrough for the two foes. The Biden administration is unlikely to engage in “meaningful revival” of the 2015 nuclear deal, said Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at the Chatham House think tank in London. Production is the highest it’s been since 2018, when Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran. The Islamic Republic’s oil exports have also increased, averaging 1.9 million bpd in August, Reuters reported, citing shipping firm TankerTrackers.com. “Those claiming that Biden is ignoring Iran’s exports are assuming that Biden can just shut down Iran’s exports through sanctions,” he said.

Persons: “, ”, Biden, Trump, Sanam Vakil, Ali Vaez, That’s, Ali Ahmadi, there’s, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Nasser Kanaani, Ebrahim Raisi, Raisi, ” Raisi, Trita Organizations: CNN, Five, Biden, Chatham House, Group, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Petroleum, Trump, Reuters, US Energy, Geneva Centre, Security, Islamic, Sunday, US Republican Party, US Treasury Department, NBC, Quincy Institute Locations: Iran, Qatar, United States, Washington, Tehran, East, North Africa, London, China, Islamic Republic, Russia, Ukraine, Washington ,

The US government has designated all five Americans as being wrongfully detained. The release of the Americans would bring to an end a years-long nightmare for those who had been detained. The agreement, which has already prompted criticism from Republicans, also involves the release of five Iranians in US custody. The overall contours of the release protest began to crystallize in Doha about seven months ago after years of indirect negotiations. The first tangible public steps under the deal took place about five weeks ago, when four of the Americans were transferred into house arrest.

Persons: Nasser Kanaani, Morad Tahbaz, Namazi, Trump, Baquer Namazi, Joe Biden, Biden Organizations: Washington CNN — Five, CNN, Monday, Biden, US Treasury Department Locations: Doha, Iran, Iranian, United States, Tehran, South Korea, Qatar, Switzerland, Washington, American, Evin

☆ U.S.-Iran detainee swap deal to go ahead on Monday, says Tehran
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A fourth U.S. citizen was also released into house arrest, while a fifth was already under house arrest. As a first step in the deal, Washington waived sanctions to allow the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar. The transfer of Iran's funds has drawn criticism from U.S. Republicans who say President Joe Biden, a Democrat, is in effect paying a ransom for U.S. citizens. Ties between Washington and Tehran have been boiling since Donald Trump, a Republican, pulled the U.S. out of a nuclear deal between Iran and global powers when he was president in 2018. Reaching another nuclear deal has gained little traction since then, as Biden prepares for the 2024 U.S. election.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Nasser Kanaani, Morad Tahbaz, Mehrdad Moin, Ansari, Kambiz Attar, Kashani, Reza Sarhangpour, Amin Hassanzadeh, Afrasiabi, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Elwely Elwelly, Hyonshee, Edmund Blair, Stephen Coates, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Iranian, REUTERS, Rights, Iran's Foreign Ministry, Reuters, Gulf . South Korea's Foreign, U.S, Republicans, Democrat, Republican, Thomson Locations: U.S, Rights DUBAI, Tehran, United States, Qatar, South Korea, Iran, Doha, Washington, Gulf . South, Emad Sharqi, British, Dubai, Seoul

☆ Iranian Official Says Prisoner Exchange With U.S. Is Expected Today
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A prisoner swap between the United States and Iran was expected to take place on Monday, according to a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, after two years of high-stakes negotiations. As part of the deal, the United States had agreed to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue and dismiss federal charges against several Iranians accused of violating U.S. sanctions. The spokesman’s remarks were published on the website of the Iranian news agency ISNA. Mr. Kanaani said five Iranians, several of whom are permanent residents of the United States, were expected to be released. It was not immediately clear exactly how many of the Iranians would return to Iran, although Mr. Kanaani said it would be two.

Persons: Nasser Kanaani, Biden, Ebrahim Raisi, Kanaani Organizations: Iranian Foreign Ministry, United Nations Locations: United States, Iran, Tehran

☆ U.S. and Iran trade detainees after Qatar deal unfreezes $6 billion of Tehran's funds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Five U.S. detainees flew out of Iran on Monday in a swap for five Iranians held in the U.S. in a rare deal between the arch-enemies that also unfroze $6 billion of Tehran's funds. At the same time, two of the five Iranians landed in Qatar, a U.S. official said. The deal, after months of talks in Qatar, removes a major irritant between the U.S., which brands Tehran a sponsor of terrorism, and Iran, which calls Washington the "Great Satan". Kanaani said the funds, blocked in South Korea after U.S. sanctions on Iran were hardened in 2018, would be available to Tehran on Monday. Under the deal, Qatar will ensure the cash is spent on humanitarian goods and not items under U.S. sanctions.

Persons: Namazi, Jose Angel Pereira, Nasser Kanaani, Kanaani Organizations: Five U.S, Qatar, Reuters, U.S, Iranian, Foreign Ministry Locations: Georgetown, Washington, Iran, Venezuela, U.S, Tehran, Doha, Qatar, Gulf ., South Korea

☆ Iran says prisoner swap with U.S. to take place today
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The Iranian and U.S. flags are seen printed on paper in this illustration taken January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Sept 18 (Reuters) - A prisoner swap involving five Iranian prisoners and five American prisoners will take place on Monday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said. Iranian funds frozen in South Korea will be in Iran's possession on Monday, Nasser Kanaani added. Reporting by Elwely Elwelly; Editing by Nadine AwadallaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Nasser Kanaani, Elwely Elwelly, Nadine Awadalla Organizations: Iranian, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: U.S, Rights DUBAI, South Korea

☆ IAEA chief Grossi condemns Iran's 'unprecedented' barring of inspectors
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Francois Murphy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FILE PHOTO-U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi attends a press conference during the International Atomic Energy Agency 's (IAEA) 35-nation Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, September 11, 2023. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVIENNA, Sept 16 (Reuters) - U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi on Saturday condemned Iran's "disproportionate and unprecedented" move to bar multiple inspectors assigned to the country, hindering its oversight of Tehran's atomic activities. "These inspectors are among the most experienced agency experts with unique knowledge in enrichment technology," the agency said. "With today's decision, Iran has effectively removed about one third of the core group of the Agency's most experienced inspectors designated for Iran." Iran defended its move and accused the United States, Britain, France and Germany of politicising the IAEA watchdog.

Persons: Rafael Grossi, Leonhard Foeger, Iran's, Grossi, Tehran's, Nasser Kanaani, Francois Murphy, Arshad Mohammed, Mike Harrison, Ros Russell Organizations: International Atomic Energy Agency, Governors, REUTERS, Rights, International Atomic Energy, IAEA, Foreign Ministry, Iranian Government, Agency, U.S . State Department, Thomson Locations: Vienna, Austria, United States, Britain, France, Germany, Tehran, Iran, politicising, Iranian, Washington, Dubai

BERLIN (AP) — The U.N. nuclear watchdog harshly criticized Iran on Saturday for effectively barring several of its most experienced inspectors from monitoring the country's disputed program. The strongly worded statement came amid longstanding tensions between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is tasked with monitoring a nuclear program that Western nations have long suspected is aimed at eventually developing a nuclear weapon. Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the IAEA, said Iran had withdrawn the designation of "several experienced Agency inspectors," barring them from taking part in the monitoring of its program. "Iran has effectively removed about one third of the core group of the Agency’s most experienced inspectors designated for Iran,” he said. The IAEA, the West and other countries say Iran had a secret military nuclear program it abandoned in 2003.

Persons: Rafael Mariano Grossi, ”, Grossi, Nasser Kanaani, Donald Trump, Amir Vahdat Organizations: BERLIN, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Ministry, “, Associated Locations: Iran, United States, Britain, France, Germany, Vienna, Tehran, U.S . Iran, U.S, South Korea

☆ Iran's security forces crack down on protests a year after Mahsa Amini's death
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The Kurdistan Human Rights Network, which said the incident was linked to the protests, said special forces entered the ward, beat up the women and fired pellet bullets. In a separate incident, human rights group Hengaw said security forces opened fire in the Kurdish city of Mahabad, wounding at least one person. Earlier, social media and reports by rights groups spoke of security forces taking up positions around Amini's home in Saqez, in western Iran. Speakers led the crowd in chants of "Say her name ... Mahsa Amini," and also recited "We are the revolution" and "Human rights for Iran!" Iran's Etemad daily reported in August that the lawyer for Amini's family also faced charges of "propaganda against the system".

Persons: Mahsa, IRNA, Hengaw, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mahsa's, Amjad Amini, Dilara, Amini, Joe Biden, Biden, Nasser Kanaani, Saqez, Saleh Nikbakht, Toby Chopra, Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Revolutionary Guards, Islamic, Kurdistan Human Rights Network, REUTERS, United Nations, White, Iran's Foreign Ministry, Amnesty International, Thomson Locations: Iran's, Tehran, Kurdistan, Kurdish, Mahabad, Kermanshah, Saqez, Iran, Fars, Karaj, Mashhad, Istanbul, Turkey, In Washington, Britain, U.S, State, Iran's Kurdistan

☆ Mahsa Amini death anniversary sees heavy security in Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] A police motorcycle burns during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic republic's "morality police", in Tehran, Iran September 19, 2022. Over 500 people including 71 minors were killed in the protests, hundreds injured and thousands arrested in unrest that was eventually crushed by security forces, rights groups said. In Amini’s birthplace in Iran's western province of Kurdistan, a rights activist said there was a "heavy presence of security forces". Social media postings said weekly protests were held in Zahedan on Friday with slogans including "Death or freedom". Authorities have accused the United States and Israel and their local agents of fomenting the unrest to destabilise Iran.

Persons: Mahsa, Hengaw, BIDEN, Joe Biden, Biden, Nasser Kanaani, Amini's, Safa Aeli, Saleh Nikbakht, Parisa Hafezi, Mark Heinrich, William Maclean Kevin Liffey, Alistair Bell Organizations: West Asia News Agency, REUTERS, Rights, Social, Reuters, Iran's Foreign Ministry, Amnesty International, Security, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran, WANA, Rights DUBAI, Mahsa, Iran's, Kurdistan, Norway, Saqez, Zahedan, United States, Israel, Britain, Dubai

☆ Iran optimistic prisoner swap with U.S. will happen in "near future"-foreign ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Iranian and U.S. flags are seen printed on paper in this illustration taken January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Iran is optimistic a prisoner swap with Washington will happen "in the near future", Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, adding that Tehran's frozen $6 billion assets in South Korea will be unblocked in the coming days. As a first step, Iran on Aug. 10 released four U.S. citizens from Tehran’s Evin prison into house arrest, where they joined a fifth, who was already under house arrest. Later that day U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the move the first step of a process that would lead to their return home. Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Toby ChopraOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Nasser Kanaani, Antony Blinken, Toby Chopra Organizations: Iranian, REUTERS, Rights, Washington, Reuters, U.S, Dubai Newsroom, Thomson Locations: U.S, Rights DUBAI, Iran, South Korea, Qatar, Tehran’s

☆ Iran Optimistic Prisoner Swap With U.S. Will Happen in 'Near Future'-Foreign Ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran is optimistic a prisoner swap with Washington will happen "in the near future", Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, adding that Tehran's frozen $6 billion assets in South Korea will be unblocked in the coming days. However, Nasser Kanaani said the two issues were not linked to one another. As a first step, Iran on Aug. 10 released four U.S. citizens from Tehran’s Evin prison into house arrest, where they joined a fifth, who was already under house arrest. Later that day U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the move the first step of a process that would lead to their return home. (Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Toby Chopra)

Persons: Nasser Kanaani, Antony Blinken, Toby Chopra Organizations: Reuters, Washington, U.S, Dubai Newsroom Locations: DUBAI, Iran, South Korea, Qatar, U.S, Tehran’s

☆ Iran says U.S. should explain links to convicted dual national Sharmahd
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Iranian and U.S. flags are seen printed on paper in this illustration taken January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The United States should explain its links to the Iranian-German national Jamshid Sharmahd sentenced to death in Iran, Tehran's foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, adding that progress had been made in a prisoner swap deal with Washington. Sharmahd, who also has U.S. residency, was sentenced to death by an Iranian Revolutionary court in February on charges of "corruption on earth". His daughter has urged Washington not to exclude Sharmahd from the developing prisoner exchange deal between the United States and Iran, under which $6 billion in Iranian funds in South Korea would also be unfrozen. Reporting by Dubai newsroom; writing by Parisa Hafezi; editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Jamshid Sharmahd, Nasser Kanaani's, Abram Paley, Sharmahd, Kanaani, Parisa, Andrew Cawthorne, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Iranian, REUTERS, Rights, Islamic, Dubai, Thomson Locations: U.S, United States, German, Iran, Washington, Iranian, South Korea, Islamic Republic, Qatar, Oman

☆ Iran at odds with allied Russia after Moscow backs UAE in island dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Tehran summoned Russia's ambassador on Wednesday over a Moscow-endorsed statement on three Gulf islands disputed by Iran and the United Arab Emirates. The UAE joins fellow economic Middle East heavyweights Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Following a ministerial meeting in Moscow on Monday, Russia and the GCC released a joint statement that urged a diplomatic solution to the territorial dispute. Iranian officials called on Russia to correct its position on the territorial row, according to the state-owned Islamic Republic News Agency. Moscow is not Iran's only key partner to wade into hot waters over the three Gulf islands dispute.

Persons: Russia's, Reem, Abu Musa, Tehran's, Nasser Kanaani Organizations: United, United Arab Emirates, UAE, State, International Co, General Assembly, International Court of Justice, Gulf Cooperation, GCC, United Nations Charter, Saudi Press Agency, of Justice, Islamic, Islamic Republic News Agency, CNBC, Kyiv — Locations: Tehran, Moscow, Iran, United Arab, Abu Musa, Tunb, UAE, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Gulf, Russia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iranian, Ukraine, Russian, Syria, China, Beijing, United Arab Emirates

☆ Iran's embassy in Riyadh opens gates for first time in years
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Aziz El Yaakoubi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The heavy gates of the Iranian embassy's compound were open in Riyadh with a team inspecting its premises, a Reuters reporter said. The diplomatic mission opened hours after the Iranian foreign ministry said a technical delegation arrived in the kingdom. "The Iranian delegation will take the necessary measures in Riyadh and Jeddah to set up the embassy and consulate general," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani, said in a statement. Riyadh accused Iran of arming the Houthis, who went on to attack Saudi cities with armed drones and ballistic missiles. Saudi officials also arrived in Iran to discuss procedures for reopening Riyadh's embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad, the Saudi foreign ministry said on Saturday.

☆ Protests break out in Iran over schoolgirl illnesses
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Iranian officials believe the girls may have been poisoned and have blamed Tehran's enemies. Iran's interior minister said on Saturday investigators had found "suspicious samples" that were being studied. Similar protests were held in two other areas in Tehran and other cities including Isfahan and Rasht, according to unverified videos. Iran rejected what it views as foreign meddling and "hasty reactions" and said on Friday it was investigating the causes of the incidents. Schoolgirls were active in the anti-government protests that began in September.

☆ Iran to shun India's Raisina Dialogue over mention of protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian will not attend the Raisina Dialogue in India, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, criticising a video posted by the conference organisers showing protests in the Islamic Republic. "The foreign minister's attendance was on the agenda ... but we witnessed an unprofessional action by the organisers in the form of a clip," Nasser Kanaani said in a televised news conference. "Iran and India are committed to non-interference in each other's internal affairs," Kanaani said. Anti-government protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, who had been detained for flouting the hijab rules, have damaged the clerical establishment's legitimacy at home and abroad. Many Western states have imposed sanctions following a harsh state crackdown on protests.

☆ Iran condemns sanctions imposed by EU, Britain and threatens retaliation
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Iran on Tuesday strongly condemned new sanctions imposed by the European Union and Britain and said it would retaliate, after the West stepped up pressure on Iran over its crackdown on protests. "The Islamic Republic will soon announce the list of new sanctions against the human rights violators of EU and England," Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said in a statement. The European Union imposed sanctions on more than 30 Iranian officials and organisations, including units of the powerful Revolutionary Guards, blaming them for a "brutal" crackdown on unrest and other human rights abuses. The United States and Britain also issued new sanctions against Iran, reflecting a deterioration in the West's already dire relations with Tehran. The sanctions are the latest response to Iran's deadly clampdown on unrest after the death of young Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in morality police custody in September.

☆ Iran reroutes plane carrying soccer star's wife, blames UK over unrest
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A service that could help Iranians circumvent internet restrictions is Starlink, a satellite-based broadband service operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX. Musk said on Monday that the company was getting close to having 100 active Starlink satellite receivers inside Iran. After he voiced support for the protests on social media, authorities this month shut down a jewellery shop and a restaurant he owned. The British foreign ministry had said it was seeking further information from Iranian authorities on the reported arrests. Besides arrests, authorities have imposed travel bans on dozens of artists, lawyers, journalists and celebrities for endorsing the protests.

☆ Iran says UK-linked arrests reflect 'destructive role' in protests
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 26 (Reuters) - Iran's foreign ministry said on Monday that the arrests of citizens linked to the United Kingdom showed London's "destructive role" in the recent protests in Iran. "Their role was totally destructive and incited the riots". Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday that the seven, including some who held dual nationality, were arrested over anti-government protests that have rocked the country. The British foreign ministry had said it was seeking further information from Iranian authorities on the reports that British-Iranian dual nationals had been arrested. Kanaani said the files of some of the detainees had been completed, while those of others were still being investigated.

☆ Iran's Raisi promises to pursue crackdown on protesters; cleric critical of execution
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Molavi Abdolhamid, a Sunni cleric in the Shi'ite-ruled Islamic Republic, criticized the death sentence, according to his website. Human rights groups said Shekari was tortured and forced to confess. In Geneva, U.N. Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Turk called the execution “very troubling and clearly designed to send a chilling effect to the rest of the protesters." Britain announced sanctions on Friday against 30 people worldwide, including officials from Russia, Iran and Myanmar it deems responsible for human rights abuses or corruption. Molavi Abdolhamid made his critical comments from Zahedan, the capital of restive Sistan-Baluchistan province, home to Iran's Baluch minority who have faced discrimination and repression for decades, according to human rights groups.

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