Politics of Iran

Crude oil prices were down on Jan. 8 having lost gains recorded in the previous sessions after U.S. President Donald Trump's comments to calm tensions in the Middle East.

"Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned," Trump said on Jan. 8 amid Iran's attack on two locations in Iraq earlier in the day.

The United States has declined to issue a visa to the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who was scheduled to attend a UN Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday. This was reported by Reuters, citing a US official who requested anonymity.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Nov. 17 backed gasoline price increases that have sparked protests across Iran, blaming opponents of the Islamic Republic and foreign enemies for "sabotage", state television reported.

A joint statement by some European countries voiced on Nov. 11 "extreme concern" over Iran's latest move to restart enriching uranium at an underground facility.

Iran defended on Nov. 9 its decision to block an U.N. inspector from a nuclear site last week.

Iran has stepped up work at its underground Fordow nuclear facility, state TV reported on Nov. 6, a move France said showed for the first time that Tehran explicitly planned to quit a deal with world powers that curbed its atomic work.

Iran's president announced on Nov. 5 that Tehran will begin injecting uranium gas into 1,044 centrifuges, the latest step away from its nuclear deal with world powers since President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord over a year ago.

Iran's Supreme leader has ruled out the possibility of talks between Tehran and Washington. This happened the day before the 40th anniversary of the hostage drama at the US Embassy in the Iranian capital.

Four years after the abduction and more than three years after the Turkish court's final ruling, following an agreement between Minister Ivica Dacic and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif, the children were allowed to return to their mother Slavica Burmazovic, who would welcome them at 10:40 p.m. at Nikola Tesla airport.

Turkey's state-owned Halkbank has denied any wrongdoing after U.S. prosecutors charged the lender with partaking in a scheme to evade U.S sanctions on Iran.