Iran Says More Than 500 People Detained In Connection With War

RFE
15 Mar 2026, 13:45 GMT+10

New posts

22:59

German Foreign Minister Makes Clear: Berlin Will Not Participate In Escort Duty

Amid talk of a possible coalition of nations to protect shipping in the all-important Strait of Hormuz, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on March 15 said his country does not plan to take part in such an international military operation. "Will we soon become an active part of this conflict? No," Wadephul told German media. Wadephul said Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius have made Berlin's position clear. "We will not participate in this conflict," Wadephul said. US President Donald Trump had sought military assistance from other concerned nations to secure shipping through the strait, a vital for global oil transport. Shipping there has virtually ceased since the start of the US-Israeli air strikes on Iran beginning February, driving up oil prices.

Copy link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
LinkedIn
Email

22:31

Iran Says More Than 500 People Detained In Connection With War

Iranian security officials say they have detained more than 500 people in connection with the war, including people who have provided photos and videos to outside news organizations.

Ahmad-Reza Radan, commander of the Iranian security forces, said about one-half of those detained were "significant cases," the state-run Fars news agency reported on March 15.

Iran has detained hundreds of people since the start of the war on February 28, many for passing photos of damages to outside sources.

Radan said the detained include individuals who passed information to broadcaster Iran International -- which is run by Iranian exiles based outside the country -- and people who took photographs of locations hit during US-Israeli air strikes since February 28.

The Iranian judiciary has declared that photographs of sensitive facilities and damages may constitute a breach of security and that severe penalties may be imposed.

There is no way to confirm the number of those detained, whether they are still being held, or the condition of those taken into custody.

During mass antigovernment protests earlier this year, tens of thousands of people were arrested and thousands were killed a brutal crackdown.

US President Donald Trump warned the government not to kill or execute protesters prior to the February 28 US and Israeli air strikes on Iran and rights groups assailed the regime in Tehran for the brutality.

Copy link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
LinkedIn
Email

21:53

Kyiv Vows To Continue Attacking Russian Energy Infrastructure Amid Rising Oil Prices Impacted By Iran War

Ukraine would continue attacking Russian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, days after the United States moved to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian oil to stabilize global markets amid its military campaign against Iran.

Starmer Discusses Strait Of Hormuz With Trump, Carney

A file photo shows British Prime Minister Keir Starmer giving an update on situation in the Middle East.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with US President Donald Trump about the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz in order to stop disruptions to global shipping, a Downing Street spokesperson said on March 15.

Starmer also held a conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, during which they discussed how the ongoing closure of the strait is affecting international shipping. Leaders agreed to continue their discussions on the Middle East conflict during a meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

Copy link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
LinkedIn
Email

20:17

Pezeshkian, Macron Discuss Middle East In Phone Call, Iranian Media Says

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed regional developments with French President Emmanuel Macron in a phone call, Tasnim, Iran's semiofficial news agency associated with the IranIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said on March 15.

There was no immediate comment from the French presidency.

French military photo shows Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion, who was killed in a drone attack in Iraq.

While France is not participating directly in the US-Israeli war effort, the country recently mourned the death of a soldier indirectly connected to the conflict in Iran.

On March 12, Macron confirmed that a drone strike killed the French soldier in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region while he was assisting Iraqi forces on antiterrorism missions. "The war in Iran cannot justify such attacks," he said.

Copy link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
LinkedIn
Email

18:50

Over 400 Million Barrels Of Emergency Oil To Flow To Markets Soon, IEA Says

The International Energy Agency (IEA) said on March 15 that oil from its emergency reserves will start flowing to global markets soon, as member states pledged to make 411.9 million barrels available.

The IEA said stocks from the countries of Asia and Oceania will be available immediately, while stocks from Europe and the Americas will be released at the end of March.

"The war in the Middle East is creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market. This emergency collective action, by far the largest ever, provides a significant and welcome buffer," the statement published online said.

"But the most important factor in ensuring a return to stable flows is the resumption of regular transit of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz," it added.

Map: The Strait Of Hormuz