Iran's supreme leader opened a presidential election Friday in which ultraconservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi is seen as all but certain to coast to victory over his vetted rivals.

Iran opens presidential vote, with ultraconservative tipped to win

When Iranians vote for a new president next week, they will do so in the depths of an economic crisis brought on by crippling sanctions and worsened by the pandemic.

Iran struggles through economic pain as presidential vote nears

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday dismissed initial offers at talks in Vienna to save Tehran's tattered nuclear deal as ''not worth looking at,'' attempting to pressure world powers after an attack on the country's main nuclear enrichment site.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says Vienna offers 'not worth looking at'

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Iran might enrich uranium up to 60 per cent purity if the country needed it adding that the country will never yield to US pressure over its nuclear programme.

Iran threatens to boost uranium enrichment to 60%

According to a UN report, North Korea and Iran cooperated on the development of long-range missiles last year in violation of UN resolutions. Watch: An independent panel of experts from the UN has claimed that the two countries resumed cooperation of transfer of critical parts.

Iran, North Korea collaborated last year on missile development: UN report

He may be out of office, But Donald Trump is certainly not out of troubles. The cloak of protection afforded by the presidency is largely gone. It has been just two days and his rivals seem to be lining up for a shot.

Donald Trump is out of office, but his troubles keep on piling up

Twitter on Friday suspended what it said was a fake account linked to Iran's Supreme Leader, hours after it carried the image of a golfer resembling former US president Donald Trump apparently being targetted by a drone alongside a vow to avenge the killing of a top Iranian general in a US drone attack.

Twitter suspends account linked to Khamenei's website, clarifies it's fake and not his

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Tehran is in no rush for the United States to rejoin the 2015 Nuclear Agreement. He urged that sanctions imposed on Iran to be lifted.

Iran to US: Lift sanctions immediately

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday described coronavirus vaccines produced by the US and the UK as "completely untrustworthy" and prohibited their import in the country.

Iranian Supreme Leader announces ban on Covid-19 vaccines from US, UK

Iran is in no hurry to see the US return to a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers after Joe Biden takes office this month, its supreme leader said Friday. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said it was not a question of "whether the United States returns or not", it was a matter of it lifting its unilateral sanctions.

Iran in no rush to see US return to nuclear deal: Khamenei

Iran has often been accused of suppressing its women and in a latest, a 19-year-old Instagram influencer is Tehran's latest victim. Fatemah Khisvand's crime is that she uploaded zombie selfies and was charged for corrupting youngsters' mind and disrespecting the Islamic Republic of Iran.

How an Instagram model got stuck in Iran's 'cultural' war

An official close to the office of Iran's supreme leader on Monday denied rumours Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's health was deteriorating, local media reported. "May it blind the enemies' eyes that with the grace of God and the prayers of devotees, (Khamenei) is in good health and is carrying out his plans following the usual schedule," Mehdi Fazaeli said on Twitter.

Iran official denies Khamenei's failing health rumours

According to reports, Israeli embassies have been put on alert over Iran's retaliation threats after its top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated on Friday.

Israeli embassies on alert over Iran's retaliation threats after Fakhrizadeh's assassination: Report

Iran's Khamenei calls for 'punishing' those behind scientist's killing Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged 'punishing' those who were behing Mohsen Fakhrizadeh's killing.

Iran's Khamenei calls for 'punishing' those behind scientist's killing

The Trump administration on Wednesday imposed sanctions against Iran targeting a foundation controlled by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Also Read: Biden wants to rejoin Iran nuclear deal, but it won’t be easy The US Treasury Department also targeted Iran's intelligence minister Mahmoud Alavi and blacklisted Bonyad Mostazafan from the Foundation of the Oppressed controlled by Khamenei.

Trump administration imposes fresh sanctions on Iran, targets Khamenei-linked foundation

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo hit out against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after the Iran leader criticised the UAE-Israel peace agreement. The world must reject and condemn @Khamenei_ir’s ideology of hatred.

China seeking to destroy Uighurs, looking forward to your public callout: Pompeo hits out at Iran leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi arrived in Tehran on Tuesday, making it his first official trip abroad since taking power, as per Iran's state television reported.

Iraq's Prime Minister Kadhemi makes his first official trip to Tehran

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called the resurgence of coronavirus pandemic "truly tragic" on Sunday while holding a video conference with other lawmakers.

'Truly tragic': Iran's supreme leader on resurgence in coronavirus cases; urges everyone to fight against it

Iran's supreme leader warned on Saturday that the country's economic problems would worsen if the novel coronavirus spreads unchecked, saying the initial momentum to contain it had since "waned".

Iran's Khamenei warns economy will worsen if coronavirus spreads

One rocket hit near the US embassy in Baghdad early Tuesday morning, security sources told AFP, the first to land in the high-security zone in weeks. The blast could be heard across the Iraqi capital and triggered security sirens at the US embassy compound but did not cause casualties, the sources confirmed.

Rocket hits near US embassy in Baghdad: Security sources

International war crimes judges ruled on Thursday that a probe into wartime abuses in Afghanistan must go ahead, including looking into possible atrocities committed by US forces, as they overturned a previous court ruling.

Iran's Khamenei asks India to stop attacks on Muslims after deadly riots

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday defended his country's handling of coronavirus and said that the Iran officials reported with sincerity and transparency since day one.

Coronavirus: Iran officials reported with sincerity and transparency since day one, says Khamenei

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday Iran's enemies tried to put people off voting in Friday's parliamentary election by exaggerating the threat of the new coronavirus but that participation had been good.

Iran's leader says enemies tried to use coronavirus to impact vote

Iran went to the polls Friday for a general election that conservatives are expected to dominate amid voter apathy after an economic slump, multiple crises and the disqualification of thousands of candidates.

Iran votes in general election marred by disqualifications