live Trump urges action at Strait of Hormuz as 20,000 sailors stranded- Middle East, 31 March
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is escalating further with missile and drone attacks, expanded strikes on key infrastructure, and growing regional fa...
The European Parliament has announced a ban on Iranian diplomats following the government’s response to nationwide protests in Iran. President Roberta Metsola confirmed the measure in a post on X on Monday, 12 January.
“Those participating in the protests, and individuals still detained, require support,” Metsola said.
She added that the restriction applies to all diplomats, staff of diplomatic missions, government officials, and representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran at any European Parliament premises.
President Metsola noted that the ban will apply to all Parliament buildings in Brussels, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg.
The European Parliament will implement checks at its entrances for anyone holding an Iranian passport. Individuals identified as working for the Iranian government will be denied access, effective immediately.
The move comes amid growing international concern over Tehran’s crackdown on large-scale protests that have swept across the country in the past two weeks.
Over the weekend, President Metsola also highlighted the possibility of new EU sanctions in support of demonstrators, many of whom have called for an end to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s rule.
The bloc’s diplomatic service is now formally considering such measures.
Despite these discussions, questions remain over what urgent actions the EU will take beyond statements of solidarity, as the crisis in Iran continues to escalate.
Metsola also suggested the possibility of designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization and expanding EU sanctions to target individuals involved in repression, violence, and executions.
She emphasised that, as protests persist across Iran, the government’s response continues to include communication restrictions, reports of violence, killings, and arbitrary detentions.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the U.S is in talks with the new Iranian regime. He said this in a post on his Truth Social account but warned that the U.S. will "Obliterate" Iran's electric and oil facilities if no deal is reached, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz closure.
NASA is aiming to launch its Artemis 2 mission on Wednesday (1 April), sending astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, officials confirmed. According to the Space Administration, the launch window is due to open at 23:24 GMT, with additional opportunities to 6 April if delays occur.
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is escalating further with missile and drone attacks, expanded strikes on key infrastructure, and growing regional fallout. At the same time, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate began to emerge amid rising global energy and security concerns.
A senior Iranian military officer warned that American troops will become ‘food for sharks’ on Sunday if the U.S. launches a ground offensive in Iran. The threat came as contingents of U.S. Marines began to arrive in the Middle East, with thousands expected to be deployed in the region.
The Israeli military said on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, and an attack had also been launched from Yemen for the second time since the U.S.-Israeli war began on Tehran. It said two drones from Yemen were intercepted early 30 March but gave no further details.
The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and several EU foreign ministers arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre and to voice their support for Ukraine, amid tensions within the bloc over blocked EU aid.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 31 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The Australian government has threatened to go to court in a bid to sue social media giants for allegedly flouting a ban on under-16s, as its internet regulator disclosed it is investigating some of the biggest platforms for suspected non-compliance with the world-first measure.
At least 70 people have been killed and more than 30 wounded in a gang attack in Haiti’s Artibonite region, according to two rights organisations, as thousands of residents fled the violence in the towns of Jean Denis and Pont Sondé.
Russia has expelled a British diplomat, accusing him of economic espionage in a move that further strains already tense relations between Moscow and London. The United Kingdom described the action as intimidation and rejected the allegations outright, Reuters reports.
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