Iran

23 June 2019; DW: Iran has executed a former defense ministry contractor convicted of spying for US's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the semi-official news agency ISNA reported on Saturday.

Jalal Hajizavar was hanged at Rajai Shahr prison in Karaj, west of Tehran, earlier this week.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An Iranian military commander warned on Sunday that any conflict with Iran would have uncontrollable consequences across the region and endanger the lives of U.S. forces, as tensions between Washington and Tehran have flared after the downing of an American surveillance drone. 

Maj. Gen. Gholamali Rashid made the remarks while addressing Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards Corps during a field visit to a command center for Iranian radars and missile systems. The general oversees and coordinates joint military operations in the Iranian Armed Forces.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The Latest on tensions between the U.S. and Iran and in the Persian Gulf (all times local):

1:30 p.m.

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton says Iran should not “mistake U.S. prudence and discretion for weakness.”

Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem Sunday, Bolton says no one has granted Iran a “hunting license in the Middle East.”

22 June 2019; MEMO: The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard said yesterday that it had warned the US’ unmanned reconnaissance aircraft several times before shooting it down, revealing that Iranian forces had refrained from attacking a US airplane carrying 35 passengers that was accompanying the unmanned aircraft.

Isfahan, June 21, IRNA – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Friday that The first phase of Iran's 60-day nuclear deal deadline began on May 8, and the 2nd phase of JCPOA moratorium will start on July 7.

Zarif made the remarks on Friday after meeting his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Isfahan.

"Iran's next move on the opportunity presented to the Heads of States in Dr. Rouhani's letter, in a letter addressed to EU Foreign Policy Federica Mogherini has been announced," the Iranian foreign minister said.

21 June 2019; AFP: Iran said Friday it had "indisputable" evidence a US drone it downed had violated its airspace, as reports emerged in the US that President Donald Trump had approved then scrapped retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said Thursday it shot down a U.S. drone amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over its collapsing nuclear deal. The U.S. military declined to immediately comment.

The reported shootdown of the RQ-4 Global Hawk comes after the U.S. military previously alleged Iran fired a missile at another drone last week that responded to the attack on two oil tankers near the Gulf of Oman. The U.S. blames Iran for the attack on the ships, which Tehran denies.

Tehran, June 18; IANS/GANASHAKTI: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday reaffirmed that his country does not seek war with any nation, but stressed that Tehran will come out as the ultimate winner of any warfare against it.

"We will not wage war with any nation, those facing us are a group of politicians with little experience," Rouhani said while addressing an inauguration ceremony at the Imam Khomeini International Airport here.

Tehran, June 18, IRNA – Iranian Intelligence Ministry has identified and dismantled a big spy network affiliated to Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Intelligence Ministry said on Tuesday.

The director of anti-espionage department of the Intelligence Ministry said that the department adopted advanced professional approach to identify spies inside the country with full command and superiority over any spy networks.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The Latest on developments in the Persian Gulf region amid rising tensions between Iran and the U.S. (all times local):

7 a.m.

A Saudi military spokesman says the kingdom has intercepted two bomb-laden drones launched by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

Col. Turki al-Maliki made the remarks early Tuesday in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

Al-Maliki says one drone targeted a civilian area in Abha, whose regional airport has become an almost-daily target of the Houthis.