The United States unveiled terrorism-related sanctions on an oil-smuggling operation with alleged links to Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Friday as talks to resurrect the landmark nuclear deal remain in limbo.
In a statement announcing the designations, Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused the IRGC’s elite overseas branch, known as the Quds Force, of funding its activities with revenue from Iranian oil sales.
The Iranian Red Crescent has tried to deflect criticism that it was shipping COVID vaccines to Venezuela, Tehran's ally in Latin America, amid a worsening health crisis in the country.
Iran’s has announced a five-day nationwide a COVID lockdown from Monday, with closure of government offices and businesses, as well as movement of vehicles.
An investigation by a cybersecurity company has concluded that a little-known group opposed to the Iranian government was most likely behind the hack that caused chaos on the railway system.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has chosen Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, a senior diplomat with good ties to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), as his foreign minister. A former ambassador and foreign policy aide to the parliament speaker, he is likely to be confirmed by lawmakers.