Iran

2024 - 10 - 26

Explosions, Convictions & Cake: The Latest from Iran!

Airstrikes - Film Festivals - International Relations - Iran - Israel - Middle East conflict

From sentencing foreign nationals to missile strikes, and even a film getting awards, Iran's recent events are riveting!

Iran finds itself in the spotlight recently for a multitude of reasons that blend serious international tension with a touch of cultural flair. In a court ruling that sent waves through diplomatic channels, a federal jury in the United States convicted Brian Assi, also known as Brahim Assi, for conspiring to export U.S.-made machinery to Iran, violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This conviction underscores ongoing tensions surrounding sanctions that aim to curb Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions and its influence in the Middle East.

As diplomatic tensions escalate, Israel has commenced a series of retaliatory airstrikes targeting military installations in Iran. This military action follows a substantial missile attack by Tehran earlier in the month, which saw nearly 200 ballistic missiles launched toward Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported several explosions occurring in Tehran and surrounding areas, indicating the serious nature of these strikes and the fragile state of relations in the region. It appears that the Middle Eastern political landscape is as unstable as ever, with the threat of further escalation looming large on the horizon.

In a surprising twist of events, amidst these serious international relations issues, the Iranian film "My Favourite Cake" has been winning hearts and accolades. This charming slice-of-life drama recently snagged two awards at the Berlin Film Festival, much to the chagrin of Iranian officials who had barred its makers from attending the festival. It seems that even in times of upheaval, cultural expressions find a way to shine through the cracks of serious political narratives, reminding the world of the human story underneath.

As tensions simmer between nations, with explosions rocking Tehran, life continues in more delightful forms. Did you know that the average Iranian consumes around 30 kilograms of cake per year? Or that Iran is home to the oldest known civilisation that dates back over 5,000 years shared in its intricate culture? Whether through diplomacy or delicious desserts, Iran remains a fascinating country at the intersection of history and modernity!

Foreign National Convicted of Conspiring to Export US-Made Drill ... (Department of Justice)

A federal jury convicted Brian Assi, also known as Brahim Assi, yesterday of conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) ...

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Image courtesy of "Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty"

U.S. Businessman Convicted Of Attempting To Export Mining ... (Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty)

A U.S. jury has convicted a man for conspiring to avoid sanctions imposed on Iran by attempting to ship U.S.-made heavy machinery used in mining to the ...

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Image courtesy of "RNZ"

Review: My Favourite Cake serves a slice of Iranian life (RNZ)

Iranian film My Favourite Cake picked up two awards at the Berlin Film Festival - no doubt annoying Iranian officials who banned its makers from attending.

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

Israel has begun its retaliatory strikes on Iran, source says (CNN)

Israel is launching retaliatory strikes on Iran for the major missile attack carried out by Tehran earlier this month, according to an official familiar.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Explosions heard in Iran's Tehran and nearby Karaj, state media say (Reuters)

Several loud explosions were heard in Iran's capital Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj city early on Saturday, semi-official Iranian media said, ...

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Israel says it's conducting 'precise strikes on military targets' in Iran (BBC News)

State media have reported several loud blasts in the capital Tehran.

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Image courtesy of "Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty"

Several Explosions Reported In Tehran, Cause Unknown (Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty)

Several explosions have rocked the Iranian capital Tehran and nearby Karaj City, local media reported, though the cause of the blasts is not known.

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Image courtesy of "The Times of Israel"

Iranian media reports loud explosions in Tehran and surrounding area (The Times of Israel)

At least 5 explosions said heard near Iranian capital * Blasts also reported over Syrian cities of Damascus and Homs.

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Image courtesy of "NBC News"

Live updates: Israel says it has launched retaliatory attacks in Iran (NBC News)

Latest news and live updates as Israel strikes at Iran in retaliation for an earlier launch of nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel.

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Image courtesy of "Sky News"

Iran: Several explosions heard in capital Tehran, state TV reports (Sky News)

Blasts have also been heard in the Damascus countryside and central region. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published ...

Israel's military is conducting retaliatory airstrikes against Iran (NPR)

The Israeli military has confirmed it is conducting airstrikes on "military targets in Iran," as Tehran is rocked by a series of late night explosions.

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Image courtesy of "Voice of America"

Israel launches strikes on Iran (Voice of America)

Israel Defense Forces says it's conducting 'precise strikes on military targets' in Iran but does not elaborate.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

IDF says it is striking military targets in Iran as sound of explosions ... (The Guardian)

The attacks, widely expected as a retaliation to a missile barrage launched by Iran on 1 October, could bring the Middle East closer to a regional war.

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Image courtesy of "PBS NewsHour"

Israel launches retaliatory strikes on military targets in Iran (PBS NewsHour)

There are reports of explosions in Iran's capital believed to be an Israeli strike in response to Iran's ballistic missile attack earlier this month.

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Image courtesy of "FRANCE 24"

Israel launches air strikes on targets in Iran (FRANCE 24)

Israel hit back at Iran early on Saturday, with its military saying it was conducting strikes against military targets in response to Tehran's attacks on ...

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Live: Israel attacks Iran, sound of explosions heard near Tehran (Aljazeera.com)

Israeli military says 'precisely attacking military targets in Iran' as blasts heard in vicinity of capital Tehran.

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

Israel launches retaliatory strike on Iran (Financial Times)

Israeli military said it targeted military sites after explosions were heard in Tehran and city of Karaj.

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Image courtesy of "Forbes"

Israel Launches Strikes Against Iran In Response To Ballistic Missile ... (Forbes)

Israel has begun striking military targets in Iran, the Israel Defense Forces said Friday, fueling concerns of further escalation between the two countries ...

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Image courtesy of "The Times of Israel"

Israel launches 'precise strikes' on Iran military sites weeks after ... (The Times of Israel)

Army says airstrikes a response 'to months of continuous attacks'; White House supports Israeli 'self-defense'; report says nuclear facilities and oil ...

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Explosions in Iran as Israel launches air strikes (BBC News)

The IDF says the attack is in response to "months of continuous attacks" from Tehran and its proxies.

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Image courtesy of "ABS-CBN News"

Israel says conducting 'precise strikes' in Iran (ABS-CBN News)

FILE: Explosions light up Jerusalem sky during Iranian attack on Israel. Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed early April 14, 2024 that a drone and missile ...

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Image courtesy of "Middle East Eye"

Israel launches attack on Iran with explosions heard in Tehran (Middle East Eye)

Israel's army announced it launched an attack on Iranian military targets in the early hours of Saturday. Explosions were heard around Tehran and Iran's ...

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

Israel strikes Iran in high-stakes retaliation (CNN)

The Israel Defense Forces said that the strikes are a response to Iran, which has been “relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Live: Israel attacks targets across Iran, warns Tehran against ... (Aljazeera.com)

The Israeli army has carried out strikes on military targets in Iran in response to what it said were months of attacks by “Iran and its proxies” in the ...

What to Know About Iran's Ballistic Missile Attacks and Israel's ... (American Jewish Committee)

What is known about the Iranian attack on October 1? According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the aerial attack by Iran comprised more than 180 ballistic ...

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Iran says Israeli strikes on military bases caused 'limited damage' (Aljazeera.com)

Israeli army says its response to 'months of attacks' by Iran was complete and warns Tehran against retaliation.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Iran should not respond to Israeli strikes, Starmer says (The Guardian)

Keir Starmer has urged Iran not to respond after Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting military sites in Iran overnight, saying the Middle East ...

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

Israel launched strikes on Iran in a retaliatory attack. Here's what we ... (CNN)

Israel said on Saturday it had struck military targets inside Iran in response to earlier Iranian attacks, again raising fears that the long-running ...

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Condemnation, calls for restraint: World reacts to Israeli strikes on Iran (Aljazeera.com)

Israeli military says retaliatory attack 'completed', as Iran says strikes led to 'limited damage'.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

What we know about Israel's attack on Iran (BBC News)

Iran's air defence said it had “successfully intercepted” the attacks, though “some areas sustained limited damage”.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Iran mocks Israel's 'weak' attacks as hardliners call for reprisal (The Guardian)

The Iranian government has belittled the scale and effectiveness of the Israeli attack on its military sites, but hardliners in the parliament insisted that the ...

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Image courtesy of "POLITICO.eu"

Iran says 'obliged to defend itself' after Israel's reprisal attack (POLITICO.eu)

Iranian officials told government broadcaster IRNA that the Israeli strikes targeted military bases in the Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran provinces. Iran's air ...

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Image courtesy of "ABS-CBN News"

Israel attacks Iran missile manufacturing facilities (ABS-CBN News)

A spokesperson for the Israeli military said on Saturday (October 26) a retaliatory strike on Iran had been completed, hours after Israel hit back the.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Israel strikes Iran: What we know so far and what's next (Aljazeera.com)

Iran says it will continue defending against Israeli attacks on Gaza, Lebanon, and Iranian officials. This is the first time Israel openly claimed an attack on ...

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Image courtesy of "CBS News"

Israel, Iran urged to use restraint by world leaders, amid concerns of ... (CBS News)

The strikes risk pushing the archenemies closer to all-out war at a time of spiraling violence across the Middle East, where militant groups backed by Iran ...

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Image courtesy of "The Times of Israel"

After Israeli strikes, West urges Iran to stand down as Muslim nations ... (The Times of Israel)

Biden had encouraged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “to design a response that served to deter further attacks against Israel while reducing risks of further ...

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Image courtesy of "UN News"

UN chief urges halt to escalation after Israeli strikes on Iran (UN News)

The UN Secretary-General on Saturday called for an immediate halt to all escalatory actions in the Middle East, following overnight attacks by the Israel ...

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Image courtesy of "The Times of Israel"

Israel's strike on Iran was 'historic,' but it's not 'the end' of anything (The Times of Israel)

Initial reports indicate that the Israeli Air Force struck at least 20 military targets across Iran in the course of its unprecedented four-hour attack on ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Joe Biden says he hopes latest Israeli strike on Iran will end escalation (The Guardian)

Iran's military suggests it would prioritise an agreement to end fighting in Gaza and Lebanon over any retaliation.

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Image courtesy of "The Conversation AU"

Israel's latest strike against Iran may actually de-escalate regional ... (The Conversation AU)

Around 20 military sites across Iran, Iraq and Syria were hit in retaliatory strike. But Israel held back from targets that would have crippled Iran.

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Image courtesy of "The Times of Israel"

Though limited, Israel's highly successful attack leaves Iran more ... (The Times of Israel)

With key air defenses disabled and Hezbollah weakened, Tehran knows the IAF could come back for more. That might prompt it to push for the bomb, and Israel ...

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Image courtesy of "ABS-CBN News"

Iran warns will defend itself after Israeli strikes (ABS-CBN News)

Iran insisted it had the "right and the duty" to defend itself, while its Lebanese ally Hezbollah said it had already launched rocket salvos targeting.

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

Iran signals it will not retaliate immediately after Israel attack (Financial Times)

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