Tag: Iran

More than 700 hurt in Iran quake

TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — More than 700 people were injured in a 6.4-magnitude earthquake that shook western Iran, state television reported in an updated toll Monday. The quake struck Kermanshah province late Sunday, with an epicenter 17 kilometers (11 miles) southwest of the city of Sarpol-e Zahab, according to the country’s institute of geophysics. State television, citing the emergency services, said that 716 people had been injured, but there were no reports of deaths or […]

Strong earthquake rocks western Iran

by Amir Havasi Agence France Presse TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — A strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit Iran’s western province of Kermanshah late Sunday, the country’s institute of geophysics said, with local officials reporting some 260 people injured. The epicentre of the quake was 17 kilometres southwest of the city of Sarpol-e Zahab, according to the institute, which said it struck at a depth of 7 kilometres. At least 260 people were injured in Sarpol-e Zahab and […]

US sanctions on Iran, ‘toughest ever,’ take force Monday

by Brian KNOWLTON Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States is reimposing punitive measures targeting the Iranian oil and financial sectors in what US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called “the toughest sanctions ever placed” against Iran. Taking effect Monday, the measures are the most concrete result yet of US President Donald Trump’s controversial decision in May to abandon the multi-nation nuclear deal with Tehran. They will directly affect companies from […]

Pompeo says no more US reconstruction aid to Syria if Iran stays

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States will refuse any additional reconstruction assistance to war-torn Syria so long as Iranian troops are present in the country, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday. “If Syria doesn’t ensure the total withdrawal of Iranian-backed troops, it will not receive one single dollar from the United States for reconstruction,” Pompeo told a pro-Israel group. © Agence France-Presse

Iran wants France talks to clear ‘misunderstanding’ over alleged bomb plot

by Amir HAVASI Agence France Presse TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Tehran called on Tuesday for talks with Paris to resolve a “misunderstanding” after Paris accused Iran’s intelligence ministry of involvement in an alleged bomb plot targeting an exiled opposition group near the French capital. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi told AFP in an interview that Tehran rejected the French complaint “completely and forcefully”, but said the door was open to talks. “If there is […]

Iran fires missiles at Syria ‘terrorists’ after deadly attack

by Kay Armin Serjoie Agence France-Presse TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Monday they launched a missile strike against a “terrorist” headquarters in Syria in retaliation for an attack that killed 24 people in the Iranian city of Ahvaz. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had vowed a “crushing” response to last month’s assault — claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group — on a military parade commemorating the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war. “The headquarters of those […]

Trump takes anti-Iran campaign to UN Security Council

  by Carole Landry Agence FRance Presse US President Donald Trump takes his campaign to isolate Iran to the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, chairing for the first time a meeting that will lay bare divisions between Washington and key allies. Trump will be wielding the gavel at the top UN body, where the United States this month holds the agenda-setting presidency of the 15-nation council that deals with the world’s most pressing security […]

Trump accused of trying to ‘topple’ Iran leader in UN war of words

by Christian OTTON Agence France Presse UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump called for Iran’s international isolation in a combative and unashamedly boastful speech at the United Nations Tuesday, prompting accusations from his Iranian counterpart that he was trying to topple his government. In his second appearance before the General Assembly, Trump also lashed out at other adversaries such as Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and took aim at international institutions such as […]

Macron wants Iran to sell oil, urges dialogue

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that Iran should be allowed to keep selling oil and urged dialogue as he rejected a US push to isolate the clerical regime. Speaking to reporters after addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Macron said that Iranian sales would bring down the price of oil — a professed concern of US President Donald Trump. “It would be good for the price of oil […]

After N. Korea, Trump targets Iran with ‘maximum pressure’

by Francesco FONTEMAGGI Agence France Presse UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — One year after mobilizing the international community against North Korea, Donald Trump is trying to force another arch enemy to the negotiating table by targeting Iran with a similar campaign of “maximum pressure.” But if North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has seen his standing with the US president transformed in the 12 months since Trump’s United Nations debut, the prospects of Hassan […]

Collision between bus, fuel tanker kills 19 in Iran

TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — At least 19 people were killed when a bus and a fuel tanker collided in central Iran, state television reported on Tuesday. The collision, which occurred around 11:15 pm (1845 GMT) on Monday, triggered a fireball that engulfed both the truck and the bus on the motorway between Kashan and Natanz, more than 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of the capital Tehran. “Based on preliminary investigations, the tanker swerved to the […]

Trump leaves door open to meeting Iran’s Rouhani at UN

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump left the door open Wednesday to meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly — even as the United States ramps up the pressure on a regime it accuses of destabilizing the Middle East. “It’s possible, anything is possible,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about the possibility of a face-to-face with Rouhani during the gathering later […]