عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

Türkiye’s Erdogan Hopes Iran Unrest Will Be Resolved Through Diplomacy

An Iranian woman walks on a street in Tehran, Iran, January 19, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
An Iranian woman walks on a street in Tehran, Iran, January 19, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
TT
TT

Türkiye’s Erdogan Hopes Iran Unrest Will Be Resolved Through Diplomacy

An Iranian woman walks on a street in Tehran, Iran, January 19, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
An Iranian woman walks on a street in Tehran, Iran, January 19, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday described the unrest in Iran as a "new test" for Tehran, pledging Türkiye would "stand against any initiative" that would drag the region into chaos. 

"We believe that, with a ... policy prioritizing dialogue and diplomacy, our Iranian brothers will, God willing, get through this trap-filled period," Erdogan said in a televised speech after the weekly cabinet meeting. 

That was the first time Erdogan spoke about the protests gripping the country, during which thousands of people have been killed. 

Before the latest bout of unrest, the Iranian government was already battling an economic crisis after years of sanctions, as well as recovering from the June war against Israel. 

"Our neighbor Iran, following the Israeli attacks, is now facing a new test that targets its social peace and stability," Erdogan said. 

"We are all watching the scenarios that are being attempted to be written through the streets," he added. 

"With our foreign policy centered on peace and stability, we will continue to stand against any initiative that risks dragging our region into uncertainty." 

Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday said Ankara opposed a military operation against Iran, a strategy US President Donald Trump has repeatedly discussed as a way of aiding the Iranian people over the crackdown on protests. 

Most Viewed

 
 
World

Iran Announces Enquiry Team to Investigate Deadly Protests 

Iranians walk on a street in Tehran on February 7, 2026. (AFP)
Iranians walk on a street in Tehran on February 7, 2026. (AFP)
TT
TT

Iran Announces Enquiry Team to Investigate Deadly Protests 

Iranians walk on a street in Tehran on February 7, 2026. (AFP)
Iranians walk on a street in Tehran on February 7, 2026. (AFP)

The Iranian government announced on Friday the establishment of a commission of enquiry to look into protests against the high cost of living that turned into anti-government rallies that left thousands dead.

"A fact-finding committee has been formed with representatives from relevant institutions and is collecting documents and hearing statements," Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani told the local news agency ISNA.

The spokeswoman did not specify whether the commission would only focus on the economic demands that triggered the protests, or whether it would also investigate deaths during the protests.

"The final report will be published for public information and further legal action after the process is completed," she stated.

On Thursday, the government website published comments by President Masoud Pezeskhian as saying: "We have assigned teams to investigate the causes (of the unrest)." He did not provide further details.

The protests, which began in late December before escalating on January 8, left more than 3,000 dead, according to the official count.

Iranian authorities claim that the vast majority of victims were security forces or bystanders killed by "terrorists" working for Israel and the United States.

Human rights advocacy groups based outside Iran, however, accuse the security forces of targeting protesters.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports that at least 7,005 people were killed during the peak of the protests.

"We are ashamed that such unfortunate events have occurred," Pezeshkian said, according to the report published on the government website.

World

London's High Court: UK Terror Ban on Pro-Palestine group Unlawful

People protest outside the High Court as judges prepare to rule on a legal challenge to the British government’s decision to designate pro‑Palestinian group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, in London, Britain, February 13, 2026. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
People protest outside the High Court as judges prepare to rule on a legal challenge to the British government’s decision to designate pro‑Palestinian group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, in London, Britain, February 13, 2026. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
TT
TT

London's High Court: UK Terror Ban on Pro-Palestine group Unlawful

People protest outside the High Court as judges prepare to rule on a legal challenge to the British government’s decision to designate pro‑Palestinian group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, in London, Britain, February 13, 2026. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
People protest outside the High Court as judges prepare to rule on a legal challenge to the British government’s decision to designate pro‑Palestinian group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, in London, Britain, February 13, 2026. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy

The British government's ban on pro-Palestinian campaign group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization is unlawful, London's High Court ‌ruled on Friday ‌after a ‌legal ⁠challenge by the ⁠group's co-founder.

Palestine Action was proscribed in July, having increasingly targeted Israel-linked ⁠defense companies in ‌Britain ‌with "direct action", often ‌blocking entrances, or ‌spraying red paint.

The High Court upheld two grounds ‌of challenge, with Judge Victoria Sharp saying: "Proscription ⁠did ⁠result in a significant interference with the right to freedom of speech and the right to freedom of assembly."

Sharp added that the ban would remain in place to give the parties' lawyers time to address the court on ​the ​next steps.

Earlier this month, six British Palestine Action activists were acquitted of aggravated burglary over a 2024 raid on Israeli defense firm Elbit's factory, with a jury returning no guilty verdicts at all in a blow for prosecutors.

World

Russian Strikes on Ukrainian Energy and Port Facilities Kill 6

Firefighters work at the site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine in this handout picture released February 13, 2026. Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Odesa region/Handout via REUTERS
Firefighters work at the site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine in this handout picture released February 13, 2026. Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Odesa region/Handout via REUTERS
TT
TT

Russian Strikes on Ukrainian Energy and Port Facilities Kill 6

Firefighters work at the site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine in this handout picture released February 13, 2026. Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Odesa region/Handout via REUTERS
Firefighters work at the site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine in this handout picture released February 13, 2026. Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Odesa region/Handout via REUTERS

Six people died in Russian strikes across Ukraine overnight that targeted the southern port city of Odesa and energy infrastructure, officials announced on Friday.

Moscow has stepped up its attacks on Ukrainian critical infrastructure in recent weeks despite pressure by the United States to reach a peace deal with Kyiv.

Russia launched one missile and 154 drones overnight, the Ukrainian air force said, warning that some unmanned aerial vehicles were still in Ukrainian airspace as of Friday morning.

Three men and one boy were killed late on Thursday evening in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, AFP quoted local authorities as saying.

Russian forces have been pushing towards the industrial hub -- one of the last remaining civilian centers under Ukrainian control in the Donetsk region.

Ukraine's rights ombudsman said the victims included 19-year-old twins and their eight-year-old brother.

"We are establishing the final consequences of Russian terror," the head of the city's military administration Oleksandr Goncharenko, wrote on social media.

In the Zaporizhzhia region, which the Kremlin claims is part of Russia along with Donetsk, a 48-year-old man was killed in a drone attack, the emergency services said.

The worst damage was reported in the Odesa region, where authorities said one person died in a Russian strike on port infrastructure.

DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, said the attack had inflicted "extremely serious" damage to its energy facilities there.

"It will take a long time to repair the equipment and restore it to working order," the company said.

Some 300,000 people in the Black Sea city had been left without water following overnight attacks a day earlier.