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A US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka Wednesday, killing at least 87 sailors and leaving dozens missing, officials said.The sinking came as the war sparked by a joint US-Israel attack on Iran continued to spread across the Middle East."An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo," US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters in Washington.He called the attack "quiet death" and the first US sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II."Like in that war," Hegseth said, "we are fighting to win."The Sri Lankan navy recovered the bodies of 87 sailors from waters near the southern city of Galle, but 61 remained missing, police and defence officials said."A search is still on for the others," a navy official told AFP on condition of anonymity.Earlier, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said Sri Lankan forces had rescued 32 sailors, many wounded, from the stricken Iranian frigate IRIS Dena.The rescued sailors are being treated in Galle, where an AFP photographer saw the first batch of over two dozen bodies being transported into a hospital Wednesday evening.The vessel issued a distress call at dawn but had completely sunk by the time a rescue ship reached the area within an hour, leaving only an oil patch on the surface, said Sri Lankan navy spokesman Buddhika Sampath.The warship was travelling after reportedly attending a military exercise in India's eastern port of Visakhapatnam.The attack was just 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Galle, the local navy said.Iran has not yet commented on the sinking. Tehran's ambassador in Colombo, Alireza Delkhosh, was not immediately available for comment.Sampath said Sri Lanka's response to the distress call was in line with its maritime obligations."This is within our search and rescue area in the Indian Ocean," Sampath told AFP.Sri Lanka has remained neutral and has repeatedly urged dialogue to resolve the conflict in the Middle East.Just over a mn Sri Lankans are employed in the region, and they are a key source of foreign exchange for the country emerging from its worst-ever economic meltdown in 2022.Both Sri Lanka's navy and the air force said they were not releasing footage of the rescue because it involved the military of another state.Police stepped up security outside the Galle hospital as the wounded Iranians were brought there. 

His Excellency Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani has rejected Iranian claims that recent missile attacks were not aimed at Qatar, saying the evidence on the ground showed otherwise.This came during a phone call HE Sheikh Mohammed received yesterday from Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi.Araghchi said the missile strikes were directed at American interests and were not intended to target the Gulf state. Yet, the prime minister a"categorically rejected" that assertion, citing the civilian and residential areas inside the country struck by the attacks. He said the areas affected included the vicinity of Hamad International Airport as well as vital infrastructure and industrial zones, including facilities linked to liquefied natural gas production.The PM described the strikes as a "flagrant violation" of Qatar's sovereignty and of international law. He added the attacks were not limited to missiles, but were ongoing through drones as well as aircraft that had entered Qatari airspace and were intercepted by the country's armed forces.He added that these Iranian actions reflected "an escalatory approach" and did not indicate any genuine desire for de-escalation or resolution, accusing Tehran of seeking to harm its neighbours and draw them into a war "that is not theirs".The premier called for an immediate halt to attacks on regional states that have sought to remain outside the conflict, urging all sides to prioritise the broader interests of their peoples.He stressed that Qatar has consistently favoured dialogue and diplomacy, but would respond to any violation of its sovereignty, security or territorial integrity.The PM emphasised that such attacks could not go unanswered, citing the country's inherent right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. 

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received a phone call on Tuesday from the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto. In the call, the Indonesian president expressed his country's full solidarity and support for the State of Qatar and its people in the face of the blatant Iranian aggression. He condemned any targeting of national territory and sovereignty in the region and emphasized the urgency of de-escalation and a return to negotiations. Meanwhile, HH the Amir expressed his deep appreciation for Indonesia's stance and support, noting that it reflects the strong bilateral relations and mutual understanding between the two countries. Both leaders also discussed current regional developments, underlining the importance of dialogue and diplomatic efforts as the way to contain the crisis and preserve regional security and stability.

The Ministry of Defense announced Monday that its armed forces had shot down two Iranian Sukhoi Su-24 fighter jets and intercepted a sweeping wave of missiles and drones targeting the country, as Iran struck critical national infrastructure in an unprecedented assault on the Gulf state.The Qatar Amiri Air Force downed both aircraft as they approached from Iranian airspace, while ground-based air defences intercepted seven ballistic missiles. Five additional drones were brought down by the Air Force and Amiri Naval Forces after they were launched against multiple locations across the country. The ministry said all projectiles were intercepted before reaching their intended targets, in line with operational plans activated immediately after the threats were detected, underlining the readiness of Qatar's layered defence architecture.However, two drones that formed part of the broader Iranian attack did succeed in reaching their targets. The first struck a water tank owned by the Mesaieed Power Plant, while the second hit a power generation facility in the Ras Laffan Industrial City — the heavily fortified hub of Qatar's liquefied natural gas industry and a cornerstone of the national economy that supplies energy markets across Europe and Asia. The Ministry of Defense confirmed that no human casualties were recorded in either strike, and said authoritative agencies would conduct a comprehensive damage assessment and release official statements in due course.The ministry stressed that Qatar's armed forces possess the full capabilities to safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and are prepared to respond firmly to any further external threat.Both the Defence Ministry and the Interior Ministry urged citizens, residents and visitors to remain calm and stay indoors where possible, avoiding unnecessary movement. The public was warned to report any suspicious objects immediately by calling 999, to stay away from incident sites, and to rely solely on official sources for information, with authorities stressing that spreading rumours or unverified content constitutes a legal violation that undermines national security efforts. 

Iranian ‌Supreme ​Leader ‌Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ‌is ⁠dead, ‌US ‌President ⁠Donald Trump said Saturday. Trump announced this on ‌his Truth ⁠Social platform, ⁠without ⁠elaborating on the source ​of the information.Trump also said that US bombing of Iran will continue as long as needed and that the killing of the country's supreme leader gives Iranians their "greatest chance" for taking power."The country has been, in only one day, very much destroyed and, even, obliterated. The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective," Trump said.The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — which Iran has not yet confirmed — "is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country," Trump said in the statement.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier told NBC News that Khamenei was alive "as far as I know", adding that "all high-ranking officials are alive".Also asked about Khamenei's health, foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei told the BBC he was "not in a situation to confirm anything", but "the whole system, the whole nation is focused on defending (our) national integrity".Ali Larijani, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said: "The brave soldiers and the great nation of Iran will teach an unforgettable lesson to the international oppressors."In an earlier video address, Trump told Iranians the "hour of your freedom is at hand", urging them to rise up and "take over your government". 

The Arab League condemned in the strongest rems the Iranian attacks on Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.In a statement issued Saturday, the Arab League General Secretariat considered the missile attacks a blatant violation of the sovereignty of peace-loving nations that have worked to achieve stability and have not participated in war. The statement expressed full solidarity with the Arab states in confronting these attacks and support for any measures they take to defend themselves and protect their people.The statement emphasised that Arab states have taken clear positions on the Iranian crisis by rejecting military action against Tehran, and Arab states have exerted tremendous efforts to mediate and avert the escalation being witnessed today. It also warned of the immense danger inherent in the current situation in the region, urging all active parties in the international community to work towards de-escalation as quickly as possible, to spare the region the devastating consequences of widening instability and violence, and to return to dialogue.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed its rejection and condemnation in the strongest terms of the blatant and cowardly Iranian attacks that targeted the Riyadh region and the eastern province, confirming that they were repelled.In a statement issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, Saudi Arabia stressed that these attacks cannot be justified under any pretext or in any way, and that they came despite the Iranian authorities' knowledge that the Kingdom had affirmed it would not allow its airspace or territory to be used to target Iran.In light of this unjustified aggression, the statement added, the Kingdom affirms that it will take all necessary measures to defend its security and protect its territory, citizens, and residents, including the option of responding to the aggression. 

Iranian authorities Sunday announced they will give a monthly allowance to every citizen in the country to alleviate economic pressure, after a week of protests. “Individuals can receive an amount equivalent to 1mon tomans (approximately $7) per person per month, which is credited to their accounts for four months,” government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani told state TV. She said the amount will be given to every Iranian for four months in the form of credit that can be used to purchase certain goods and is intended to “reduce the economic pressure on the people.” In Iran, which has a population of more than 85mn people, the minimum wage is roughly $100 (85 euros) and average monthly salaries are around $200. Iranians mostly use mobile phones and debit cards for their daily purchases instead of cash. Iran’s economy has been grappling with biting US and international sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear programme for years, and December saw a 52% year-on-year inflation rate. 

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met on Monday with Foreign Minister of Iran Abbas Araghchi, who is visiting the country.During the meeting, they discussed several bilateral, regional and international issues, Iranian news agency (IRNA) said.Araghchi will also meet with several senior officials in Azerbaijan to consult and exchange views on bilateral relations between Tehran and Baku. 

Iran has demanded a $170 million fine from the owner of a cargo ship that it seized in Gulf waters last year and accused of having ties to Israel, a judicial official said Tuesday.The Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of Iran's military, intercepted the MSC Aries in April of 2024 and detained its 25 international crew members.At the time, the official IRNA news agency said the Portuguese-flagged vessel was "managed by Zodiac, which belongs to the Zionist capitalist Eyal Ofer".On Tuesday, Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said charges had been filed and the case was before the courts, though no date had been set for a trial."A fine of $170 million has been demanded against its owner, of Israeli origin, accused of financing terrorism," Jahangir said.At the time, the United States denounced the seizure of the ship as an act of piracy and called for its crew to be released.Israel's foreign minister called on the European Union to designate the Revolutionary Guards a "terrorist organisation" in response.At least some of the crew were later freed.Jahangir said the ship, excluding its cargo, was valued at $170 million and claimed that Ofer -- an Israeli billionaire and shipping magnate -- was an "influential figure" within the Israeli government.The ship's seizure came months into the war in Gaza, where Israel was fighting Iran-backed Palestinian militants Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel sparked the conflict.

The Iranian rial plummeted to a record low against the US dollar on Sunday after the reinstatement of United Nations sanctions, according to currency-tracking websites.On the black market, the rial was trading at around 1.12 million rials against the dollar, the Bonbast and AlanChand websites reported, about a month after it had been slightly above one million rials to the greenback.

Iran president speaking at UN General AssemblyGaps remain between Iran and E3 as deadline loomsEuropean powers offering delay if Iran makes concessionsIran has no intention to build nuclear weapons, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, just days before international sanctions could be reimposed on his country over Tehran's nuclear ambitions."I hereby declare once more before this assembly that Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb. We do not seek nuclear weapons," Pezeshkian said.On August 28, Britain, France and Germany launched a 30-day process to reimpose UN sanctions that ends on September 27, accusing Tehran of failing to abide by a 2015 deal with world powers aimed at preventing it from developing a nuclear weapon.The European powers have offered to delay reinstating sanctions for up to six months to allow space for talks on a long-term deal if Iran restores access for UN nuclear inspectors, addresses concerns about its stock of enriched uranium, and engages in talks with the United States.Pezeshkian criticised the move by European powers as "illegal", saying it was made at "the behest of the United States of America".The United States, its European allies and Israel accuse Tehran of using its nuclear programme as a veil for efforts to try to develop the capability to produce weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only."In doing so, they (the E3) set aside good faith. They circumvented legal obligations. They sought to portray Iran's lawful remedial measures ... as a gross violation," Pezeshkian said.But amid the looming threat of sanctions and last-ditch talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, gaps remain between Tehran and European powers over a deal to avert the snapback of sanctions.Still, both sides have left the door open to further negotiations. While the E3 says Iran's clerical rulers have so far failed to meet the conditions it set, Tehran says it will not offer concessions.Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on key state matters such as foreign policy and Iran's nuclear programme, has ruled out negotiations with the United States under threat.If Tehran and the E3 fail to reach a deal on an extension by the end of September 27, then all UN sanctions will be reimposed on Iran, where the economy already struggles with crippling sanctions reimposed since 2018 after President Donald Trump ditched the pact during his first term.The so-called "snapback" process would reimpose an arms embargo, a ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing, a ban on activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, a global asset freeze and travel bans on Iranian individuals and entities.Soon after the US and Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites in June, Iran's parliament passed a law suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.However, the IAEA and Tehran reached a deal on September 9 to resume inspections at nuclear sites and UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Tuesday a team of inspectors was on its way to Iran should Tehran and the E3 strike a deal this week to avert revival of sanctions.