TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's president urged the U.S. on Wednesday to "put warmongers aside" as tensions roil the Persian Gulf amid an escalating crisis between Washington and Tehran in the wake of the collapsing nuclear deal with world powers. Hassan Rouhani's remarks signaled approval of President Donald Trump's abrupt dismissal...
Iran President: US Sanctions on Foreign Minister 'Childish'
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's president lambasted new U.S. sanctions by the Trump administration targeting the country's foreign minister, describing the move on Thursday as "childish" and a barrier to diplomacy. Hassan Rouhani's remarks came after the Trump administration announced Wednesday it had imposed financial sanctions on Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad...
Iran Says It Arrested 17 Iranians Allegedly Recruited by CIA
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran said Monday it has arrested 17 Iranian nationals allegedly recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency to spy on the country's nuclear and military sites, and that some of them have already been sentenced to death. The arrests took place over the past months, and...
Iran Denies Trump Claim That US Destroyed Iranian Drone
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran on Friday denied President Donald Trump's claim that a U.S. warship destroyed an Iranian drone near the Persian Gulf in another escalation of tensions between the two countries less than a month after Trump nearly launched an airstrike. The Iranian military said all its drones had...
US Commander Says He Believes Iranian Threat 'Is Very Real'
BAGHDAD — Iran has chosen to "step back and recalculate" after making preparations for an apparent attack against U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf region, but it is too early to conclude the threat is gone, the top commander of American forces in the Mideast said. In an interview with...
Saudi Arabia Asks Nations to Respond to Iran With ‘Firmness’
JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Thursday urged Muslim nations to confront with "all means of force and firmness" recent attacks in the Persian Gulf that U.S. and some Arab officials have blamed on Iran. Ibrahim al-Assaf made the comments at a preparatory meeting of foreign ministers of...
In UAE, Bolton Warns Iran of ‘Very Strong Response’
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — President Donald Trump's national security adviser warned Iran on Wednesday that any attacks in the Persian Gulf will draw a "very strong response" from the U.S., taking a hard-line approach with Tehran after his boss only two days earlier said America wasn't "looking to...
Iran’s Guard Talks Tough, Says It Has No Fear of War With US
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's influential Revolutionary Guard said Tuesday it doesn't fear a possible war with the United States and claimed America hasn't grown in power in recent years — the latest tough talk from Tehran amid escalating regional tensions and a crisis with Washington. "The enemy is not more...
Iranian Lawmaker Says His Country Doesn’t Want War With US
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran will "under no circumstances" enter a war either directly or indirectly with the United States, a prominent reformist Iranian lawmaker said Wednesday, as both Washington and Tehran try to ease heightened tensions in the region. The reported comments by Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh come after the White House...
Dual Briefings on Capitol Hill Focus on Trump’s Iran Policy
WASHINGTON — As questions mount over President Donald Trump's tough talk on Iran, top national security officials headed to Capitol Hill Tuesday to brief Congress. But skeptical Democrats sought out a second opinion, holding their own briefing with former Obama administration officials. The competing closed-door sessions Tuesday, unusual and potentially...