Success of Ukraine peace talks hinges on West, Kiev: Putin

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – Russia's President Vladimir Putin has stressed that the success of talks aimed to end the war in Ukraine hinges on the West and Kiev.

Lavrov asks for IAEA impartiality in Iran nuclear issue

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – Russia calls on Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi to maintain an unbiased professional opinion of Iran’s nuclear program, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters.

Iran unveils locally built ship bridge simulator

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – An advanced ship bridge simulator fully developed in Iran has been introduced as a comprehensive training reference for the maritime sector, capable of modeling 300 different types of vessels, officials said.

Yemenis rally in Saada to condemn Quran insult in US

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – Yemeni citizens held a protest march on Friday in Saada province in northwestern Yemen to denounce an insult to the Holy Quran and to express support for Palestine amid continued aggression by the Israeli regime.

Cyprus hopes to improve Iran-EU ties as it assumes presidency

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has held a phone call with his Cyprus counterprat Constantinos Kombos to discuss bilateral and regional issues.

Venezuela's UN envoy hits back at Trump over oil remarks

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – The Venezuelan ambassador to the United Nations has condemned US President Donald Trump’s claims about the ownership of Venezuela’s territory and oil resources.

Iran FM spox:

Trump threatens Caracas with blockade, does not rule out war

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – US President Donald Trump said he would not rule out military action against Venezuela, after ordering what he described as a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving the country.

Israeli breaches Gaza truce as attacks hit Khan Younis

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – The Israeli regime violated a ceasefire on Friday by launching air, naval and ground attacks on Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, killing several Palestinian civilians, according to Palestinian sources.

US sanctions on ICC enable war criminals to act freely: Spox

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has stressed that US imposition of sanctions on the judges of International Criminal Court is a blatant and brutal act of impunity for war criminals.

Nvidia expands complicity in 'Israel' with new R&D hub

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – Nvidia has unveiled plans for a multibillion-shekel research and development campus in Kiryat Tiv'on, northern occupied Palestine, media reports show.

Tehran denounces Canada sanctions against Iranian authorities

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – An official at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned Canada’s sanctions imposed against Iranian officials.

First Vice President Aref:

Violence, extremism have no place in Islamic Establishment

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has said that violence and extremism have no place in the Islamic Establishment.

Trump suspends US Green Card lottery

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) –US President Donald Trump has ordered the suspension of the green card diversity lottery program following shootings near Brown University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said.

Senior cleric hails growth in Iran non-oil exports since rev.

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – Tehran Provisional Friday Prayers Leader Hojjat-ol-Islam Mohammad Hassan Abu Torabi Fard says that the country's non-oil exports could rise to $70 billion from the current $45 billion through facilitating exports.

Report:

UAE exposed as secret buyer in huge arms deal with Israel

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been identified as the undisclosed buyer behind a $ 2.3 billion contract signed last month by Israeli arms maker Elbit Systems, a report states.

Sweida violence reignites as Druze forces clash with HTS

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – Intense fighting has erupted in Syria’s southern province of Sweida between Druze forces and armed elements affiliated with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies, leaving several individuals wounded, report say.

Geneva hosts Tehran convention to protect Caspian Sea

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – The meeting of Special Working Group on setting up Secretariat of Tehran Convention for Protection of Caspian Sea Environment was held in Geneva on Dec. 18-19 with the participation of envoys of 5 Caspian Sea littoral states.

US Navy test-launches Iranian drone clone "Lucas"

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – The US Navy has test-launched an Iranian drone clone, LUCAS, from the helideck of USS Santa Barbara over the past few days.

5.7 magnitude quake strikes Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – A strong 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region early Friday, according to the German Research Center for Geosciences.

5 killed in US strikes on 2 boats in eastern Pacific

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – The US military said on Thursday that it had conducted two more strikes against boats it said were smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing five people.

EU approves $90bln loan for Ukraine; Russian assets spared

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – European Union leaders agreed on Friday to provide a massive interest-free loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years

US sanctions 'flagrant attack' on global justice: ICC

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – The International Criminal Court (ICC) has condemned the United States' recent sanctions on two of its judges.

Iran’s foreign goods transit hits 13.5m tons in 8 mos: IRICA

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – The Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) put the value of the country’s foreign transit of goods in the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (started Mar. 21, 2025) at 13.5 million tons.