Iran Us Tensions

After Qassem Soleimani assassination, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appoints Esmail Ghaani head of Iran's elite Quds Forces

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday appointed Brigadier General Esmail Ghaani as head of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm, the Quds Forces, after the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, who had led the defence agency since 1998.

Iran takes steps to downgrade nuclear commitments in retaliation to US-imposed sanctions on Tehran

Iran said it had taken a step to further downgrade its commitments to a 2015 nuclear deal with the world’s most powerful nations, according to Iranian media, in retaliation to US sanctions reimposed on Tehran

US military drone MQ-9 shot down over Yemen in second such incident since June; Houthi rebels suspected to be behind attack

In June, Iran shot down a US Global Hawk drone, far larger than the MQ-9 drone, and almost led to retaliatory US strikes

Amid growing tensions with Iran, Australia to join US-led mission to protect shipping through Strait of Hormuz

Australia will join the US-led mission to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions with Iran, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday.

Iran-US tensions: 'Highly gratified' by cooperation from 'great friend' India on Iranian sanctions, says White House

The US is "highly gratified" by the cooperation from a "great friend" like India in enforcing the oil sanctions on Tehran, the White House said on Wednesday as the Trump administration slapped sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif

Hassan Rouhani says US 'afraid' of Mohammad Javad Zarif, mocks decision to freeze Iran foreign minister's American assets

Iran's president Hassan Rouhani on Thursday mocked US decision to impose sanctions on foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, saying it showed Washington was "afraid" of him as tensions again flare between the arch-enemies

Iran says US rejected offer for robust nuclear inspection in exchange for lifting sanctions, claims Washington 'not seeking talks'

Iran said on Monday the US had rejected an offer from Tehran for more robust nuclear inspections in exchange for lifting sanctions because Washington is "not seeking dialogue

India ramps up efforts to secure release of 18 nationals onboard British tanker seized by Iran

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale has met Iranian envoy Ali Chegeni as part of the government's efforts to secure the release of 18 Indians onboard a British oil tanker Impero seized by Iran

Donald Trump's threat to 'obliterate' Iran could be the spark that sets West Asia aflame; negotiations must be reopened

The fear is that Donald Trump’s bully rhetoric and his increasingly threat to obliterate Iran, voiced so often in the recent past, could create an impasse in the region

Donald Trump threatens Iran with 'obliteration', after Tehran calls White House sanctions 'mentally retarded'

US president Donald Trump threatened on Tuesday to obliterate parts of Iran if it attacked “anything American,” in a new war of words with Iran