عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

Photo Recalling 'Occupation' of Iran Sparks Major Criticism in Tehran Against Moscow

The photo showed the Russian envoy, Levan Dzhagaryan, and Britain’s ambassador, Simon Shercliff, sitting where US president Franklin D. Roosevelt, British prime minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin sat together at the Russian embassy during the 1943 strategy meeting - Getty Images
The photo showed the Russian envoy, Levan Dzhagaryan, and Britain’s ambassador, Simon Shercliff, sitting where US president Franklin D. Roosevelt, British prime minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin sat together at the Russian embassy during the 1943 strategy meeting - Getty Images
TT
TT

Photo Recalling 'Occupation' of Iran Sparks Major Criticism in Tehran Against Moscow

The photo showed the Russian envoy, Levan Dzhagaryan, and Britain’s ambassador, Simon Shercliff, sitting where US president Franklin D. Roosevelt, British prime minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin sat together at the Russian embassy during the 1943 strategy meeting - Getty Images
The photo showed the Russian envoy, Levan Dzhagaryan, and Britain’s ambassador, Simon Shercliff, sitting where US president Franklin D. Roosevelt, British prime minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin sat together at the Russian embassy during the 1943 strategy meeting - Getty Images

A few hours after Iran announced forming its new government, a diplomatic row erupted in Tehran over a photograph published by the Russian embassy showing the UK and Russian ambassadors recalling the 1943 Tehran Conference, when the Allied powers occupied the country during World War II.

Russian ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan and his British counterpart Simon Shercliff were pictured on the same steps allied leaders met during World War II when Iran was invaded.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned Dzhagaryan and Shercliff over the photo. Meanwhile, outgoing Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif led a chorus of criticism, calling the picture “extremely inappropriate”.

Amir Abdollahian, Iranian politician and Foreign Minister-designate, also slammed the photo that had sparked major internal conflict over Iran opening up to the West instead of turning to the east.

Abdollahian said the photo was “undiplomatic” and an insult to “the national pride of the Iranian people.”

The Russian embassy had posted the controversial photo on its official Twitter account.

More so, the picture shows the Russian envoy and Britain’s ambassador sitting where British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin sat together at the Russian Embassy during the 1943 meeting. US President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s chair in the middle was empty.

In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that a high-ranking official told the two ambassadors that publishing the photo “hurt Iranians’ feelings and national pride.”

Iran’s state-run TV showed scenes from the historic meeting, emphasizing that it took place secretly and without the knowledge of the country’s ruler at the time.

In World War II, Iran was considered pro-Germany, although it had declared itself neutral. While the photo sparked a storm of criticism, Iranian media were busy evaluating the cabinet line-up revealed by the new president, Ebrahim Raisi.

According to Reuters, many are saying on Twitter that the aim of the photo appeared is to remind them of a time when their country was under foreign occupation. Others have noted that the picture represents the “first diplomatic test” or “first challenge” to face Raisi’s new government.

Most Viewed

 
 
World

US Authorizes Iranian Oil Sales Amid Talks on Final Peace Deal

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attends a bilateral meeting during the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 17, 2026. (Reuters)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attends a bilateral meeting during the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 17, 2026. (Reuters)
TT
TT

US Authorizes Iranian Oil Sales Amid Talks on Final Peace Deal

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attends a bilateral meeting during the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 17, 2026. (Reuters)
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attends a bilateral meeting during the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, June 17, 2026. (Reuters)

The United States authorized Iranian oil sales on Monday, easing decades-old sanctions as it pushes toward a final peace deal with Tehran in return for commitments on nuclear inspections and free transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

The general license, announced by the Treasury Department, allows the sale of crude oil and petrochemical and petroleum products of Iranian origin through August 21.

The license says Iranian oil can be imported into the US when necessary to complete ‌its sale, delivery ‌or offloading. The US has not meaningfully imported Iranian ‌oil ⁠since Washington imposed measures ⁠after the 1979 revolution.

"In line with the ongoing productive talks in Switzerland, Iran has committed to free and open transit in the Strait of Hormuz and to permit International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors into their country," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote on X.

"As part of the framework, Treasury has issued a temporary 60-day general license authorizing the production, delivery and sale of Iranian oil."

Under a memorandum of ⁠understanding signed last week between Washington and Tehran, the US ‌agreed to issue waivers for the export ‌of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, and all associated services, including banking transactions, insurances ‌and transportation.

Payment of funds to Iran may be made in US dollar-denominated ‌funds, according to the license.

Cuba, North Korea and Crimea are among those excluded from the license.

Washington first sanctioned Iran in 1979 when revolutionary students seized the US embassy in Tehran, holding diplomats hostage. Numerous additional sanctions have been imposed since then over the ‌nuclear program and Iran's support for groups the US deems terrorist organizations.

Independent Chinese refiners have been the main buyers ⁠of sanctioned Iranian ⁠oil, taking advantage of deep discounts as others avoided such purchases. India, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Greece, Taiwan and Türkiye were also major buyers of Iranian crude before US sanctions were reimposed in 2018.

Mediators said on Monday that Washington and Tehran made "encouraging progress" at the first round of talks aimed at reaching a final peace deal. The talks began under the terms of the memorandum of understanding reached last week to extend a tenuous ceasefire from April for at least another 60 days.

Oil prices had risen sharply when Tehran started blockading the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a US blockade of Iranian ports, but after the interim deal, fell to their lowest since before the war began on February 28 with US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

World

Taiwan Begins 5-Day Military Drill with Tanks Patrolling Streets

This picture taken and released by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on June 22, 2026 shows a row of armored military vehicles driving along the highway in Taoyuan, Taiwan. (AFP photo / CNA Photo)
This picture taken and released by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on June 22, 2026 shows a row of armored military vehicles driving along the highway in Taoyuan, Taiwan. (AFP photo / CNA Photo)
TT
TT

Taiwan Begins 5-Day Military Drill with Tanks Patrolling Streets

This picture taken and released by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on June 22, 2026 shows a row of armored military vehicles driving along the highway in Taoyuan, Taiwan. (AFP photo / CNA Photo)
This picture taken and released by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on June 22, 2026 shows a row of armored military vehicles driving along the highway in Taoyuan, Taiwan. (AFP photo / CNA Photo)

Taiwan kicked off a five-day set of military drills on Monday aimed at boosting the island's combat readiness in case of a Chinese military attack.

In the city of Taoyuan, home to the island's largest international airport, tanks drove down city streets and highways, videos and photos of the exercise showed, as armored vehicles from the Army’s 269th Infantry Brigade conducted combat readiness patrols morning.

The Immediate Combat Readiness Exercises are meant to test how rapidly military units can deploy, especially in the face of a possible sudden escalation of Chinese grey-zone warfare. Grey-zone tactics refer to a range of aggressive tactics that vary from navy ship patrols to drone flights, but fall short of direct combat.

The exercises, announced Sunday afternoon, are meant to be realistic, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement, with an emphasis on “real-time, live-fire and on-site."

These exercises are designed to simulate what would happen before enemy forces launched their ships, according to Taiwan's semi-official Central News Agency. The series of exercises could also include impromptu ones in the future, including real-time responses to Chinese military drills.

China's People's Liberation Army sent 23 aircraft towards Taiwan from Sunday into Monday morning, according to Taiwan's defense ministry. That was accompanied by seven navy ships and five other Chinese government ships. China sends war planes, drones and navy ships towards the island on a daily basis.

Taiwan regularly conducts combat readiness drills as it seeks to bolster its defense capabilities amid ongoing military pressure from China, which claims the self-governed island as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control. Earlier in June, Taiwan fired rockets in China's direction for the first time as part of a military exercise.

World

EU Chief Hails 'Statesman' Starmer after Resignation

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a press statement on sanctions against Russia at the EU headquarters in Brussels on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a press statement on sanctions against Russia at the EU headquarters in Brussels on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)
TT
TT

EU Chief Hails 'Statesman' Starmer after Resignation

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a press statement on sanctions against Russia at the EU headquarters in Brussels on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a press statement on sanctions against Russia at the EU headquarters in Brussels on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT / AFP)

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday praised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for bolstering "European" security after he announced his resignation.

"It can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years. European and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you. Thank you, dear Keir," the European Commission president posted online.