live Middle East tensions simmer as U.S.–Iran talks loom and strike kills 13- Friday, 10 April
Amid fragile calm, António Guterres urged constructive U.S.- Iran talks, while Pope Leo XIV warned violence is spreading. Lebanon's Pres...
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has deployed one of its largest ballistic missiles at a newly unveiled underground base on Wednesday (3 February), just two days ahead of mediated nuclear talks with the United States in Muscat, Oman.
The missile, identified as the Khorramshahr-4 (Kheybar), is a medium- to long-range system capable of striking targets up to 2,000 kilometres away and carrying a warhead of 1500 kg of high explosives, according to Fars News Agency, affiliated with the IRGC.
The deployment was part of an exhibition at the underground facility operated by the IRGC’s Aerospace Force, which was inaugurated by senior military officials. The Khorramshahr-4 had previously been fired at Israel during the final days of the 12-day war in June 2025, in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear-related sites.
Iranian officials said the deployment demonstrates Tehran’s readiness to adopt offensive military doctrines, including asymmetric warfare, amid heightened regional tensions and a recent U.S. military buildup in the Middle East.
“Following the [Israel-U.S.] 12-day war [in June 2025], we have shifted our military doctrine from defensive to offensive to carry out blitz and large-scale operations,” said Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Abdolrahim Mousavi.
The base, which is situated at an undisclosed location, was unveiled by the Chief of Staff and the Commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Division, Brigadier General Seyed Majid Mousavi.
“We are also ready to fight the enemies … adopting asymmetric warfare and crushing military strategies,” the official Defapress website quoted the Chief of Staff as saying.
Tehran’s ballistic missile capability proved a game-changer in targeting Israel in June and has been one of the points of contention with Washington, which has demanded a reduction in their range.
The deployment of such a missile comes as talks begin with the United States in Muscat on Friday (6 February), mediated by the Sultanate of Oman.
In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi thanked Omani authorities for hosting the negotiations between Iran and the U.S., which had been stalled since the 12-day war last year.
Tehran has reportedly signalled that missile capabilities will remain off the table, focusing the discussions solely on its nuclear programme.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the disarming of Hezbollah.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to continue dialogue and avoid steps that could worsen tensions after China-hosted talks in Urumqi, with Kabul and Beijing saying the meetings focused on easing differences and improving relations.
Amid fragile calm, António Guterres urged constructive U.S.- Iran talks, while Pope Leo XIV warned violence is spreading. Lebanon's President said an Israeli strike killed 13 security personnel in Nabatieh.
Memorial events were held in Tehran’s main squares on Wednesday (8 April) to mark the 40th day since the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died during U.S.-Israeli attacks on 28 February.
Dubai has restricted foreign airlines to one daily flight to its airports until 31 May due to the Iran crisis, raising fears of significant revenue losses for Indian carriers, industry letters show.
Afghanistan’s foreign ministry says the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged continued cooperation after talks in Kabul on aid coordination, bilateral ties and job creation.
Uzbekistan is advancing plans to reduce the state’s role in the economy while introducing a VAT refund system for foreign visitors, as part of broader efforts to attract investment and boost tourism.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the president of Kazakhstan, said on Friday (10 April) that a parliamentary election in the Central Asian country would take place in August but stopped short of naming an exact date.
Lebanon is sliding deeper into a food security crisis as ongoing regional conflict disrupts supply routes and drives up the cost of basic goods, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned.
Thousands of Palestinians returned to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem after Israel lifted a 40-day ban that had left one of Islam’s holiest sites largely closed.
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