Tehran police arrest suspect in student murder that sparked protests

Dongying, a port in eastern Shandong province, has become a key entry point for sanctioned oil after state-run Shandong Port Group sold at least one terminal to a private company, the report said citing traders familiar with the matter.

The Si He, a tanker blacklisted by the US on January 10, discharged over 744,000 barrels of Russian ESPO crude at Dongying last week, the report added citing the traders and data from commodities-tracking firm Kpler.

Other recently privatized berths, including in Yangshan near Shanghai and Huizhou in Guangdong province, have also handled shipments of sanctioned oil. Last month, Huizhou’s Huaying Petrochemical terminal received nearly 1 million barrels of Iranian crude from Suezmax Nichola, which in turn took them from an Iran-owned tanker Salina, according to Bloomberg citing ship-tracking data.

The shift toward private operators follows Shandong Port Group’s recent move to block sanctioned tankers under US pressure. However, Bloomberg said the continued use of blacklisted vessels highlights both the financial pressures on China’s independent refiners and Beijing’s apparent willingness to allow the trade to continue.

China’s imports of Russian and Iranian crude accounted for a quarter of its total crude imports in 2024, Bloomberg calculated based on official customs data.

Findings by Iran International show that while Iran’s oil sales to China dropped sharply last month, the decline in export revenues began months earlier, coinciding with US sanctions on dozens of tankers carrying Iranian crude.

Peskov added that Russia is ready to assist Iran in addressing issues related to its nuclear program.

"Moscow attaches great importance to good relations with Iran and intends to develop them comprehensively, including providing assistance in solving the main problems, including the nuclear program," he said.

Last week, Russia's envoy in Tehran said that Western countries are trying to marginalize Russia and China in discussions regarding Iran's nuclear program.

"Without Russia and China, such negotiations will never achieve their goal and will not be productive," Alexey Dedov said in an interview with RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

Russia remains a critical partner in Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, spearheading projects such as the expansion of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.

Tehran's political establishment is divided over the country's relationships with Russia and China. While some prioritize the economic benefits of trade with both nations, others, particularly the Reformist faction, express concern about Moscow potentially exploiting US-Iranian tensions.

Reformist politician Mahmoud Mirlohi, in an interview with the Didban Iran website, argued that Iran must maintain an independent foreign policy. He emphasized leveraging ties with Russia and China as a means to improve relations with the United States, warning, "We should not allow Russia to use Iran as a pawn in its dealings with the United States."

Mirlohi also expressed concern about the repercussions of Iran's military support for Russia in the Ukraine war, calling it "a serious cause for concern" and stressing that cooperation with Russia should not jeopardize relations with other countries.

The war in Ukraine has directly impacted the stalled negotiations to revive the 2015 JCPOA nuclear agreement, of which Russia is a signatory. These talks, which had been ongoing in Vienna for 12 months under the Biden administration, were abruptly halted in March 2022 following the Russian invasion.

Iran and Russia earlier this year signed a major treaty aimed at deepening bilateral ties. However, this agreement stopped short of establishing a formal military alliance or imposing binding obligations on either side, suggesting a cautious approach to solidifying their relationship.

"Iran’s position is clear and explicit: We will not negotiate under pressure and threats," Araghchi told reporters in Tehran after a meeting with his Sudanese counterpart. "The presidential order for maximum pressure speaks for itself."

The remarks appear to represent a hardening line by Tehran to the suggestion by US President Donald Trump that Iran come to a deal with Washington about its disputed nuclear program or potentially face military strikes.

"Maximum pressure and resolutions have never been effective against Iran … We will not negotiate under threat," Araghchi added.

Trump this month signed a directive reviving his maximum pressure policy on Iran from his first term aimed at driving the Islamic Republic's oil exports to zero. After signing the memorandum, he said he would prefer a deal with Tehran to an Israeli attack on their nuclear sites.

"I would love to make a deal with them without bombing them," he later said on Fox News, drawing ire in Iran.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appeared to reject the idea of talks with the hawkish Trump administration and senior leaders have fallen in with the position.

The Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is due to visit Tehran for a bilateral visit, Araghchi added, saying that there was no indication he carried a message or would be playing any mediating role.

A key go-between in regional conflicts, Qatar maintains good relations with both Tehran and Washington.

Al Thani's visit represents one of the most high-level foreign visits to Iran as it has been locked in over a year of direct and regional combat with Israel.

The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post reported last week citing US intelligence assessments from January that Israel saw an opening for an attack on Iranian nuclear sites as early as the first of this year with Iran weakened and Trump seen as sympathetic to a strike.

“There is an increased Iranian effort to smuggle money to Lebanon for Hezbollah in order to restore its power and status, including via Turkey and through its cooperation,” Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar told a visiting delegation of US senators and Deputy Middle East Special Envoy Morgan Ortagus.

The allegations of cash deliveries to Hezbollah led to a suspension of flights between Iran and Lebanon last week, which met with harsh reaction from the Tehran-backed group.

“Hezbollah demands that the Lebanese government reverse its decision of preventing the Iranian plane from landing at Beirut airport and take serious measures to prevent the Israeli enemy from imposing its dictates and violating sovereignty,” a statement read on pro-Hezbollah outlet Al-Mayadeen.

Tehran denies that Iranian passenger flights have been used to ship cash to Hezbollah, but the Lebanese government has so far refused to back down, announcing on Monday that the suspension of flight from Iran has been extended.

Shortly after, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said he had discussed the issue with his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib.

“He emphasized that the decision in this matter was not political but rather technical and legal,” Araghchi quoted Bou Habib as saying.

Sa’ar’s accusations against Turkey could complicate matters as Tehran and Beirut try to find a solution to resume flights. Turkey has not publicly responded to the claims.

In his meeting with the American delegation, Sa’ar asserted that Iran is seeking to compensate for its recent regional setbacks by advancing its nuclear program, not elaborating on what those advances were and if his assessment was based on public or classified information.

Israel is said to have decided on a military attack on Iran if no agreement is reached between Tehran and Washington, according to Al-Hadath citing a senior European diplomat.

"The government will be accountable for any problems these centers may cause," said Alireza Rahimi, Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs. He added that an expert group has been formed to evaluate the effectiveness of these websites in increasing marriage rates.

While Rahimi acknowledged what he called “some abuses" at these centers, he did not elaborate on the details of possible problems and oversight mechanisms. He added that the police are responsible for dealing with unlicensed matchmaking services.

The move comes as Iran faces a declining marriage rate and rising divorce rate. Government efforts to encourage higher birth rates have failed to produce results, according to data from the National Organization for Civil Registration.

According to the latest data from Iran's Civil Registration Organization, nearly 39% of marriages in the first seven months of the Iranian year 1403 (March to September 2024) ended in divorce. Data from the Statistical Center of Iran also reveals a 46% decrease in marriages between 2010 and 2023.

Economic hardship, rising awareness of individual and family rights, and access to legal and counseling services are among the factors contributing to young people's reluctance to marry.

In January, Iran's Science Ministry announced it is removing educational content discouraging childbearing and offering new incentives to boost declining fertility rates. These include more married student dorms, on-campus kindergartens, and increased financial aid for housing, loans, and other benefits for married students with children.