# Iran
Latest news and articles about Iran
Total: 378 articles found
At the Crossroads: Gulf States Weigh Dependence on Washington Against a Turn to Beijing and Moscow
Gulf states are confronting a strategic crossroads as increased US‑Israeli pressure on Iran heightens regional risk and prompts Iranian warnings of retaliation that could threaten the Strait of Hormuz. Beijing and Moscow offer an alternative to Washington’s security umbrella, giving Gulf capitals room to pursue greater strategic autonomy, though each choice carries significant costs for security, economies and domestic stability.
Tehran Strikes Back as US–Israel Campaign Enters Sixth Day, Raising Risk of a Protracted, Region‑wide War
Heavy Iranian missile and drone strikes have hit targets in Israel after several days of US- and Israeli-led attacks on Iran, with both sides reporting strikes on critical infrastructure and mounting casualties. The confrontation is widening across sea, air and proxy fronts, while the United States prepares for a prolonged campaign amid worries about munitions depletion and strained international efforts to contain escalation.
Beijing Condemns US–Israel Military Action on Iran, Urges Immediate Halt to Prevent Wider Conflict
China’s Foreign Ministry publicly opposed US and Israeli military strikes on Iran on March 6, 2026, calling for an immediate halt to avoid further escalation. The statement reflects Beijing’s interest in regional stability, energy security, and a preference for diplomatic solutions over military action.
Iran Says Missiles Penetrated Israeli Defences as Explosions Echo Across the Region
Iran announced that missiles had penetrated Israeli multilayer air-defences, a claim that coincided with reports of large explosions heard across several Middle Eastern countries. The development intensifies the risk of broader escalation between Iran and Israel, with implications for regional stability, maritime security and allied involvement.
Sri Lanka Moves to Aid Iranian Warship as Naval Tensions Spike in Indian Ocean
Sri Lanka has begun evacuating 208 personnel from the Iranian replenishment ship Bushehr and will move the vessel to Trincomalee, President Dissanayake said. The move follows the sinking on March 4 of another Iranian warship, the Dena, near Sri Lankan waters—a development that has heightened tensions in the Indian Ocean and posed difficult diplomatic choices for Colombo.
A Life Scarred by Violence: Khamenei’s Wound, His Rule — and the Reported Strike That Could Reorder the Region
A SoMi article on 6 March 2026 reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in strikes attributed to the United States and Israel. Khamenei’s life — from his 1975 imprisonment and the 1981 bomb that paralysed his right arm to more than three decades as Iran’s top authority — has been shaped by violence; his reported death, if confirmed, would create a fraught succession contest and heighten the risk of regional escalation.
Stranded at Port: Chinese Tourists Trapped on Dubai Cruise as Gulf Violence Halts Shipping
More than 5,000 passengers aboard an MSC cruise in Dubai were held in port after strikes and counterstrikes in the Gulf forced UAE airspace and some ports to close. The immediate disruption — managed on board by crews and Chinese tour leaders working with consular offices — underlines broader risks to shipping, tourism and repatriation logistics when the Strait of Hormuz becomes contested.
Spain’s “No” to Washington: A Legal, Political Rebuff That Could Reverberate Across Europe
Spain publicly refused U.S. requests to use its bases for strikes on Iran, grounding the decision in international law, its bilateral defence agreement with the United States, and domestic parliamentary procedures. The move highlights growing European insistence on legal safeguards and collective mechanisms when faced with unilateral American pressure and could accelerate debates on strategic autonomy within the EU.
Sri Lanka Evacuates 208 from Iranian Replenishment Ship, Moves Vessel to Trincomalee After Deadly Strike
Sri Lanka has agreed to assist the Iranian replenishment ship Bushehr, evacuating 208 personnel and moving the vessel to Trincomalee after a sister ship, the Dena, was sunk nearby in an incident Iran attributes to the United States. Colombo frames its action as humanitarian and consistent with maritime law, but the episode highlights growing naval tensions and diplomatic pressure in the Indian Ocean.
Israel Says Campaign Against Iran Is Entering a New, More Destructive Phase
The Israeli military announced it is moving to a new phase of operations against Iran after claiming air superiority and suppression of ballistic-missile positions. The IDF says it will intensify damage to Iran's regime foundations and military capabilities, a shift that raises the risk of broader regional escalation and international repercussions.
U.S. Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship in the Indian Ocean — A Strategic Shock and a Political Test for New Delhi
A U.S. submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian warship Iris Dena in international waters of the Indian Ocean after the vessel had taken part in India's Milan 2026 exercises. The attack, which killed dozens and rescued some survivors, has intensified debate over the legality of U.S. actions, provoked anger in Tehran and domestic criticism in New Delhi for its silence, and signals a dangerous widening of the conflict beyond the Middle East.
A Wounded Icon: How the 1981 Mosque Bombing and a Paralyzed Arm Shaped Khamenei’s Three-Decade Rule
A Chinese article reports that Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an attack attributed to the United States and Israel, and uses the claim to revisit his life. It emphasizes the 1981 mosque bombing that left his right arm paralyzed, a wound that became a lasting symbol of his legitimacy and the violence that has shaped the Islamic Republic.