Iranian armed forces
FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 file photo released by Tasnim News Agency, a seized South Korean-flagged tanker is escorted by Iranian Revolutionary Guard boats on the Persian Gulf. Iranian State TV said Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, that Iran will release sailors from the Korean tanker seized by Revolutionary Guard troops, but probe continues. (Tasnim News Agency via AP, File)
Iran: Sailors from seized South Korean tanker to be released

By Amir Vahdat Feb. 02, 2021 10:23 AM EST

Michael White stands for a portrait Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in San Diego. The Navy veteran kept a handwritten document detailing the nearly two years he spent imprisoned in Iran. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the manuscript. In it, he catalogues physical abuse from his jailers and taunts from fellow inmates while held on dubious allegations. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Diary shows how quest for love landed Navy vet in Iran jail

By Eric Tucker Jan. 16, 2021 12:52 AM EST

In this undated photo released on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, by Iranian Army, drones are displayed prior to a drill, Iran. The Iranian military on Tuesday began a wide-ranging, two-day aerial drill in the country's north, state media reported, featuring combat and surveillance unmanned aircraft, as well as naval drones dispatched from vessels in Iran's southern waters. (Iranian Army via AP)
South Korean tanker was boarded by armed Iran Guard forces

By Hyung-Jin Kim And Jon Gambrell Jan. 05, 2021 12:25 AM EST

In this photo released by the official website of the Iranian Defense Ministry, Defense Minister Gen. Amir Hatami speaks during a funeral ceremony for Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a scientist who was killed on Friday, shown in the banner at background, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Nov. 30, 2020. Iran held the funeral Monday for the slain scientist who founded its military nuclear program two decades ago, with the Islamic Republic's defense minister vowing to continue the man's work "with more speed and more power." (Iranian Defense Ministry via AP)
Iran says Israel killed military nuclear scientist remotely

By Nasser Karimi And Jon Gambrell Nov. 30, 2020 01:16 AM EST

This photo released by the semi-official Fars News Agency shows the scene where Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed in Absard, a small city just east of the capital, Tehran, Iran, Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. Fakhrizadeh, an Iranian scientist that Israel alleged led the Islamic Republic's military nuclear program until its disbanding in the early 2000s was “assassinated” Friday, state television said. (Fars News Agency via AP)
Iran scientist linked to military nuclear program killed

By Jon Gambrell Nov. 27, 2020 10:01 AM EST

FILE - In this June 24, 2020 file photo, soldiers from China's People's Liberation Army march toward Red Square during the Victory Day military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in Red Square in Moscow, Russia. Chinese and Russian forces will take part in joint military exercises in southern Russia later in September along with troops from Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan and others, China's defense ministry announced Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
China, others to join military exercises in Russia

Sep. 09, 2020 11:44 PM EDT

In this photo released Tuesday, July 28, 2020, by Sepahnews, Revolutionary Guard's speed boats circle around a replica aircraft carrier during a military exercise. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has fired a missile from a helicopter targeting the mock-up aircraft carrier in the strategic Strait of Hormuz according to footage aired on state television on Tuesday. Iranian commandos also fast-roped down from a helicopter onto the replica in the footage from the exercise called "Great Prophet 14." The drill appears aimed at threatening the U.S. amid tensions between Tehran and Washington. (Sepahnews via AP)
Iran launches underground ballistic missiles during exercise

By Amir Vahdat And Jon Gambrell Jul. 29, 2020 09:27 AM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020 file photo, Iraqi militiamen march and chant anti U.S. slogans while carrying a picture of Soleimani, left and al-Muhandis, with Arabic that reads "our martyr leaders," during the funeral of Iran's top general Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi militia leaders were expecting the usual bags of cash when the new head of Iran's expeditionary Quds Force , a successor Soleimani, paid his first visit. Instead, Esmail Ghani brought them silver rings, as tokens of gratitude. The episode, relayed by several officials, illustrates Iran's struggle to maintain influence abroad as it grapples with the economic fallout from crushing U.S. sanctions and the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File)
Troubled Iran struggles to maintain sway over Iraq militias

By Qassim Abdul-Zahra And Samya Kullab Jun. 11, 2020 02:17 AM EDT

In this image provided by the U.S. State Department, Michael White holds an American flag as he poses for a photo Thursday, June 4, 2020, with U.S. special envoy for Iran Brian Hook at the Zurich, Switzerland, airport after White’s release from Iran. White, a Navy veteran who's been detained in Iran for nearly two years has been released and is making his way home, with the first leg on a Swiss government aircraft. (U.S. State Department via AP)
Iran doctor freed in swap for Navy veteran returns to Tehran

By Nasser Karimi Jun. 07, 2020 11:41 PM EDT

This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows the rubble of a house that according to the Syrian authorities was attacked by an Israeli airstrike, in the Damascus suburbs of Hajira, Syria, Monday, April 27, 2020. The Syrian military and state media said Monday that Israeli warplanes flying over Lebanon fired missiles toward areas near the Syrian capital of Damascus, killing three civilians. An opposition war monitor says four Iran-backed fighters were also killed. The military says Syrian air defenses shot some of the missiles down. The reports said the attack happened around dawn on Monday. (SANA via AP)
Israeli military says Iran is slowly pulling out of Syria

By Tia Goldenberg May. 21, 2020 10:40 AM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2019 file photo, Chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Gen. Hossein Salami speaks in a ceremony to unveil new anti-U.S. murals painted on the walls of former U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran. The chief of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard warned Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, that it will retaliate against American and Israeli commanders if the U.S. continues to threaten top Iranian generals. “I warn them to withdraw from this field,” Gen. Hossein Salami told state television, adding if they do not, they “will definitely regret it.” (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)
Iran Guard commander threatens US Navy after Trump tweet

By Nasser Karimi And Jon Gambrell Apr. 23, 2020 07:33 AM EDT

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a press briefing at the State Department on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, in Washington. (Nicholas Kamm/Pool Photo via AP)
Iran-US tensions rise on Trump threat, Iran satellite launch

By Robert Burns, Darlene Superville And Jon Gambrell Apr. 22, 2020 10:24 AM EDT

In this image taken from video, an Iranian rocket carrying a satellite is launched from an undisclosed site believed to be in Iran's Semnan province Wednesday, April 22, 2020. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said Wednesday it put the Islamic Republic's first military satellite into orbit, dramatically unveiling what experts described as a secret space program with a surprise launch that came amid wider tensions with the United States. (IRIB via AP)
Iran's Guard says it launched satellite amid US tensions

By Amir Vahdat And Jon Gambrell Apr. 22, 2020 02:56 AM EDT