Iran's Shamkhani Steps Down as Top Security Official

Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani stands next to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi before a meeting in Tehran, Iran, December 6, 2021. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani stands next to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi before a meeting in Tehran, Iran, December 6, 2021. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
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Iran's Shamkhani Steps Down as Top Security Official

Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani stands next to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi before a meeting in Tehran, Iran, December 6, 2021. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani stands next to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi before a meeting in Tehran, Iran, December 6, 2021. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Ali Shamkhani, long-time ally of Iran's supreme leader, has stepped down as the country's top security official, Iranian state media said on Monday. 

An Iranian insider said the change in leadership at the Supreme National Security Council was unlikely to have an impact on its policies and that Shamkhani might be considered for a "more important position" in Iran. 

He did not elaborate, but with a parliamentary election due in February - when analysts believe the turnout will be low amid mounting political dissent and growing economic hardships - such moves of senior personnel are being closely watched. 

A Revolutionary Guards commander, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, has replaced Shamkhani, state media said, who served as chief of the Guards Joint Staff in the 2000s and later as head of its strategic center. 

Active across the political spectrum in the country for decades, Shamkhani was appointed the secretary of the security council in 2013 and served as defense minister under two-term reformist president Mohammad Khatami from 1997 to 2005. 

Born in Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province in 1955, Shamkhani joined Iran's Guards shortly after its formation in 1979. He served as deputy commander of the Guards from 1981 to 1988.  



EU Hits Russia with Sweeping New Sanctions over Ukraine War

Workers clear debris and rubble from the street following a major overnight Russian attack in Kyiv on July 10, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by OLEKSII FILIPPOV / AFP)
Workers clear debris and rubble from the street following a major overnight Russian attack in Kyiv on July 10, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by OLEKSII FILIPPOV / AFP)
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EU Hits Russia with Sweeping New Sanctions over Ukraine War

Workers clear debris and rubble from the street following a major overnight Russian attack in Kyiv on July 10, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by OLEKSII FILIPPOV / AFP)
Workers clear debris and rubble from the street following a major overnight Russian attack in Kyiv on July 10, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by OLEKSII FILIPPOV / AFP)

The EU on Friday adopted a sweeping new package of sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war, looking to pile more pressure on the Kremlin by lowering a price cap for Moscow's oil exports.

The 18th round of economic measures from Europe against Russia since its 2022 invasion comes as allies hope US President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to punish Moscow for stalling peace efforts.

"The EU just approved one of its strongest sanctions packages against Russia to date," AFP quoted EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas as saying.

"The message is clear: Europe will not back down in its support for Ukraine. The EU will keep raising the pressure until Russia ends its war."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the sanctions' adoption as "essential and timely".

The new measures were approved after Slovakia dropped a weeks-long block following talks with Brussels over separate plans to phase out Russian gas imports.

Kremlin-friendly Slovakian leader Robert Fico -- whose country remains dependent on Russian energy -- dropped his opposition after getting what he called "guarantees" from Brussels over future gas prices.

France's foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot called the latest moves "unprecedented" and said that together with the United States we will force (Russian President) Vladimir Putin into a ceasefire".

As part of the new sanctions designed to sap Russia's war chest, diplomats said the EU has agreed to lower its price cap on Russian oil exported to third countries around the world, to 15 percent below market value.

That comes despite EU allies failing to convince US President Donald Trump to go along with the plan.

The cap is a G7 initiative aimed at limiting the amount of money Russia makes by exporting oil to countries across the globe such as China and India.

Set at $60 by the G7 in 2022, it is designed to limit the price Moscow can sell oil around the world by banning shipping firms and insurance companies dealing with Russia to export above that amount.

The EU has largely already cut off its imports of Russian oil.

Under the new EU scheme -- which is expected to get the backing of G7 allies like Britain and Canada -- the new level will start off at $47.6 and can be adjusted as oil prices change in the future.

EU officials admit that the scheme will not be as effective without US involvement.

In addition, officials said the EU is blacklisting over 100 more vessels in the "shadow fleet" of ageing tankers used by Russia to circumvent oil export curbs.

There are also measures to stop the defunct Baltic Sea gas pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2 from being brought back online.

Among other targets, sanctions will be placed on a Russian-owned oil refinery in India and two Chinese banks as the EU seeks to curb Moscow's ties with international partners.

There is also an expanded transaction ban on dealings with Russian banks and more restrictions on the export of "dual-use" goods that could be used on the battlefield in Ukraine.

The latest round of EU measures comes after Trump on Monday threatened to hit buyers of Russian energy with massive "secondary tariffs" if Russia doesn't halt the fighting in 50 days.

The move from Trump represented a dramatic pivot from his previous effort of rapprochement with the Kremlin, as he said his patience was running out with Putin.

The multiple rounds of international sanctions imposed on Moscow in the three-and-a-half years since its invasion have failed so far to cripple the Russian economy or slow its war effort.

But Western officials argue that despite Russia's economy largely weathering the punishment to this point, key economic indicators such as interest rates and inflation are getting worse.