Iran won't attack states not allowing US, Israeli use of airspace or land: senior official
TEHRAN, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian official said Saturday that Iran has not and will not attack those regional countries that do not put their airspace, land and facilities at the disposal of the enemies.Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesman for Iran's armed forces, made the remarks in a live interview with state-run IRIB TV while pointing to remarks earlier in the day by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who said the interim leadership council had decided to stop attacks by the country on neighbors unless it is targeted from those states.Shekarchi said from the first day of the U.S. and Israeli attacks, Iran's armed forces have considered any origin of attacks against the country as legitimate targets and taken the necessary actions.Shekarchi said that so far, those countries that have not put their airspace, land and facilities at the U.S. disposal for aggression against Iran have not been targeted. However, any state that provides the United States and Israel with space or a place to be used for action against us, that space and place will naturally be among our targets.He emphasized that as Pezeshkian said, Iran respects countries' national sovereignty and attaches great importance to all Muslim states' security, underlining that Iran has not and will not back down in the face of the United States and Israel, and will continue dealing crushing blows to them as before.Also on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, in a post on social media platform X, called on the United Nations to bear its legal and moral responsibilities regarding the illegal war on the country.The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, multiple senior military commanders and hundreds of civilians. Iran has responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the region.
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3 killed, 112 injured in UAE amid escalating regional tensions: defense ministry
ABU DHABI, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Three foreign nationals of Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh have been killed and 112 residents of multiple nationalities have suffered minor injuries in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) amid the recent escalating regional tensions, the UAE's Defense Ministry said Saturday.Since the start of what the ministry described as Iranian attacks, the UAE's air defense systems have detected 221 ballistic missiles, 1,305 drones, and eight cruise missiles, the ministry said in a statement.It said the air defense systems intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones launched toward the country on Saturday alone.Meanwhile, local media reports, citing the UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, said that the country's private sector, including key activities such as service delivery, project implementation, facility construction, supply chain maintenance and technological development, continues to operate at full capacity despite the current regional situation.Still, the ministry encouraged companies to adopt remote work where possible and to avoid having workers present in open outdoor areas except for essential tasks, while urging employers to follow updates from official sources, according to the reports.The development came amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb. 28, to which Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. assets across the Middle East.
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Iran's IRGC hits 'violating' oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz
TEHRAN, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) hit an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday morning, the official news agency IRNA reported.The report said the violating oil tanker, sailing under the commercial name Prima, was struck by a drone after it failed to pay attention to frequent warnings issued by the IRGC's Navy about the prohibition of movement across the Strait of Hormuz due to security reasons.The report quoted the IRGC as saying that the strategic Strait of Hormuz has been under control for eight days since the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and oil tankers and commercial vessels allied with the hostile states are not allowed to pass through it.Iran's state TV quoted a military source as saying on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz remained open, but warned that any vessels belonging to the United States or Israel would be considered military targets.The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, killing Khamenei, multiple senior military commanders and hundreds of civilians. Iran has responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the region.
20:39
Iran again denies reports of closing Strait of Hormuz
Iranian officials have repeatedly denied the country has closed the Strait of Hormuz, even as its military confirmed it hit an oil tanker in the strategic waterway.
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Iran strikes US air base in UAE
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it carried out strikes on the U.S. Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday morning, according to local media reports.
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Iran again denies reports of closing Strait of Hormuz
Iran said on Friday that it has no plan to close the Strait of Hormuz and denied reports claiming that the country has fully blocked the strategic waterway.
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Closing reception of Joint China-Chile Atacama Trench Expedition held in Chile
Closing reception of Joint China-Chile Atacama Trench Expedition held in Chile
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2 Photos
Death Valley National Park welcomes rare wildflower blooming in US
Death Valley National Park welcomes rare wildflower blooming in US
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China Film Festival kicks off in Ethiopia to boost cultural ties
The China Film Festival was launched Friday in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, with more than 200 guests present at the launching ceremony.
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Emirates suspends all flights to and from Dubai
Dubai-based carrier Emirates said on Saturday that it has suspended all flights to and from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), until further notice amid ongoing regional developments.
16:27
Iran to halt strikes on neighbors unless provoked, says president
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that Iran has decided not to attack or fire missiles at targets in neighboring countries from now on unless it is targeted from those countries.
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Iranian president says to halt attacks on neighbors unless it's targeted from those countries
Iranian president says to halt attacks on neighbors unless it's targeted from those countries
15:39
Partial evacuation at Dubai International Airport after explosion
An explosion was heard at Dubai International Airport on Saturday morning, prompting airport staff to urgently direct some passengers in one terminal to evacuate to the basement floor for safety.
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118,000 people displaced amid Afghanistan-Pakistan border clashes: UN
Ongoing military confrontations along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border have triggered significant internal displacement, with an estimated 118,000 people forced from their homes amid the recent escalation in hostilities, according to recent reports from a UN refugee
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