Iran Says it Arrested Militants Planning Attacks on Religious Gatherings

The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, before the beginning of a board of governors meeting, in Vienna, Austria, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, before the beginning of a board of governors meeting, in Vienna, Austria, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
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Iran Says it Arrested Militants Planning Attacks on Religious Gatherings

The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, before the beginning of a board of governors meeting, in Vienna, Austria, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, before the beginning of a board of governors meeting, in Vienna, Austria, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Iran has arrested a group of 10 ISIS militants who were planning attacks on religious gatherings, the Iranian intelligence ministry said on Thursday.

The 10 were captured in possession of explosive equipment, communication devices and weapons, a ministry statement said, adding the arrests took place over the past three days in two locations in western and southern Iran.

The militants injured two Iranian intelligence agents in an exchange of fire before being arrested, the ministry said, without specifying where or when the clash took place.

According to Reuters, the ministry said the 10 were planning to attack religious processions taking place during the Islamic month of Muharram, which started on July 30.



Kremlin Says US Has Not Responded to Its Nuclear Arms Control Offer

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year's Address to the people of Russia, in Moscow, Russia, 31 December 2025.  EPA/MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year's Address to the people of Russia, in Moscow, Russia, 31 December 2025. EPA/MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL
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Kremlin Says US Has Not Responded to Its Nuclear Arms Control Offer

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year's Address to the people of Russia, in Moscow, Russia, 31 December 2025.  EPA/MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year's Address to the people of Russia, in Moscow, Russia, 31 December 2025. EPA/MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL

The Kremlin said on Thursday that the United States had not responded to President Vladimir Putin's proposal to informally extend for ‌a year ‌the ‌provisions of ⁠the last ‌remaining nuclear arms pact between Moscow and Washington, the New START treaty, which is ⁠due to expire ‌in three weeks.

Kremlin spokesman ‍Dmitry ‍Peskov was responding ‍to a question about comments made by US President Donald Trump, who has said that he ⁠instead wants a more ambitious nuclear arms control treaty which includes China - something Beijing has so far shown no interest in.


German Air Traffic Control Advises Avoiding Iranian Airspace until Feb 10

Reuters file photo of an IranAir plane
Reuters file photo of an IranAir plane
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German Air Traffic Control Advises Avoiding Iranian Airspace until Feb 10

Reuters file photo of an IranAir plane
Reuters file photo of an IranAir plane

Germany's air traffic control authority said Thursday it was recommending planes avoid Iranian airspace after the United States has in recent days warned of a possible military intervention in Iran.

A spokesman for Germany's Flight Safety Office told AFP in a statement it had issued a recommendation "that Iranian airspace not be overflown... until February 10," adding that the advice had been issued "on the instruction of the transport ministry".


Türkiye Calls for Dialogue to Resolve Iran Unrest

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during an interview with Reuters at the 23rd edition of the annual Doha Forum, in Doha, Qatar, December 6, 2025. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during an interview with Reuters at the 23rd edition of the annual Doha Forum, in Doha, Qatar, December 6, 2025. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
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Türkiye Calls for Dialogue to Resolve Iran Unrest

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during an interview with Reuters at the 23rd edition of the annual Doha Forum, in Doha, Qatar, December 6, 2025. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during an interview with Reuters at the 23rd edition of the annual Doha Forum, in Doha, Qatar, December 6, 2025. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Türkiye's top diplomat on Thursday called for dialogue to the crisis in Iran, rocked by mass protests which rights group say have left thousands dead and which prompted US warnings to Tehran.

"We absolutely want problems to be resolved through dialogue," Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told journalists in Istanbul.

"Hopefully, the United States and Iran will resolve this issue among themselves -- whether through mediators, other actors, or direct dialogue. We are closely following these developments."