TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian police say a double-bombing has lightly wounded three police in the southeastern city of Zahedan.

Gen. Mohammad Ghanbari, the provincial police chief, told the official IRNA news agency that the second bomb went off as police raced to the scene of the first explosion. He says the bombs were handmade and that police are investigating.

Zahedan is the capital of Sistan-Baluchistan province, which has seen past attacks by Baluch separatists and drug traffickers.

Last month a suicide car bomber struck a police headquarters in the port city of Chabahar, also in Sistan -Baluchistan, killing at least two police and wounding 42 other people.</s>Dear Reader, As you can imagine, more people are reading The Jerusalem Post than ever before. Nevertheless, traditional business models are no longer sustainable and high-quality publications, like ours, are being forced to look for new ways to keep going. Unlike many other news organizations, we have not put up a paywall. We want to keep our journalism open and accessible and be able to keep providing you with news and analyses from the frontlines of Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.

Iran said on Monday it was not holding talks with France over its ballistic missile development, after Paris said it was ready to impose more sanctions if European attempts to address the program in discussions with Tehran made no progress.



"There has been no talks, whether secret or not secret, about our missile program with France or any other country," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi told a weekly news conference, broadcast live on state TV.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Friday France was ready to impose further curbs if no progress was made in talks over the program, described by Tehran as purely defensive but seen in the West as a destabilizing factor in a volatile region."Our missile program is a defensive program that we only discuss it inside the country. I cannot confirm holding any secret talks with France over our missile program," Qasemi said, when asked about Le Drian's remarks."We talk about regional and political issues with France ... but our missile capability is not negotiable ... we have repeatedly said that during our political talks with France."A UN Security Council resolution, which enshrined Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with major powers in 2015, "called upon" Tehran to refrain for up to eight years from work on ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons.Iran says its missile tests are not in violation of the resolution and denies its missiles are capable of carrying nuclear warheads.US President Donald Trump exited the deal in May and reimposed sanctions on Iran that had been lifted under the pact in return for Tehran curbing its nuclear program.As the Trump administration accused Iran last year of harboring nuclear ambitions and fomenting instability in the Middle East, the EU sought dialog with Tehran.At meetings between European and Iranian diplomats last year, Britain, France, Germany and Italy, pressed for gestures on Iran's role in Syria's war and for help to end the conflict in Yemen.But several bilateral talks on the ballistic missile program have yielded no results and France, Britain and Germany are now considering whether to push for sanctions and asset freezes and travel bans on Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and Iranians developing the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile program, diplomats have told Reuters.Trump said the deal, which Tehran and other signatories are trying to salvage it, was flawed as it did not address ballistic missiles or Iran’s support for armed proxies in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq.

Join Jerusalem Post Premium Plus now for just $5 and upgrade your experience with an ads-free website and exclusive content. Click here>></s>Tehran slams UAE for treatment of Iran's businesses in Gulf

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's foreign minister says the United Arab Emirates has adopted an "unacceptable approach" toward Iranian businesses operating in this Gulf Arab state.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency quotes Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying on Monday the UAE "has entered an unacceptable stage of approach toward Iran."

Zarif said despite "extensive economic relations" between the two countries, the Gulf federation has had made "strategic and political mistakes, particularly over Yemen."

The UAE backs the internationally recognized Yemeni government in the country's ongoing civil war, while Iran supports its Houthi rebels.

Iranian media reports say many UAE-based Iranian businesses have moved to Qatar and Oman in recent years. The UAE was the top exporter to Iran for decades. In 2018, it became the second biggest exporter to Iran, after China.</s>A U.S.-born anchor for Iran's state-run, English-language television station has returned to Iran after 10 days of detention in the United States.

Marzieh Hashemi, who was released on January 23, was greeted by more than 100 people upon her arrival at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport on January 30.

Her detention, which began on January 13, had concerned international journalist watchdogs and angered Tehran, which said she was being illegally held and called for her immediate release.

According to federal court documents made public on January 18, the 59-year-old Hashemi, who works for Press TV, was detained as a material witness and was not being charged with a crime, though it was unclear for which case.

Hashemi's son has said she was detained by federal agents on January 13 in St. Louis, Missouri, where she had filmed a Black Lives Matter documentary. Black Lives Matter is a movement demanding equal rights for black Americans.

A majority of people at the Tehran airport to greet her were Iranian women dressed in black veils and holding anti-American signs, according to an AFP reporter at the site.

"Welcome voice of the oppressed," read one sign, with another saying "Marzieh is freed, America is shamed."

Upon arrival, Hashemi told the crowd, "I missed Iran so much."

"Now is not the proper time to speak about why I was arrested, I will explain why at an appropriate time," she added.

Hashemi was born as Melanie Franklin in New Orleans and became an Iranian citizen through marriage. Her son said she lives in Tehran and travels to the United States about once a year.

Tensions between the United States and Iran continue to be high. President Donald Trump has accused Iran of fomenting militant violence in the region and of attempting to develop nuclear weapons, allegations Tehran denies.

The Trump administration pulled out of a 2015 multilateral nuclear deal with Iran last year and re-imposed sanctions that have taken a heavy toll on the Iranian economy.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters</s>Secretary of Iran's National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, stated that the "resistance forces in Gaza and Lebanon", possibly referring to Hamas and Hezbollah, are ready to unleash an "inferno" against Israel as a response to its "foolish behaviour", Tasnim news agency reported. Shamkhani added that these forces are armed with missiles capable of striking targets with "pinpoint accuracy" for that purpose.

The national security council secretary noted that Iran has the capability to increase the range at which its missiles operate, but instead has chosen to work on their precision. He added that the only reason for Iran to abstain from increasing the maximum range of missiles is its defence doctrine.

The top Iranian official also reiterated Israel's earlier "disgraces" such as allowing the construction of underground tunnels on the border with Lebanon and recent revelation that former Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Gonen Segev, was spying for Iranian intelligence.

READ MORE: Iran Ready to 'Eliminate Israel From Earth' — Air Force Commander

Shamkhani's words come in the wake of statements by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps second-in-command Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami, who warned that if Tel Aviv "takes any action to wage a war" against Tehran, Iran will eliminate Israel and free "the occupied territories". He also added that Iran's strategy is to "remove [Israel] from the political map".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Tehran's threats "don't impress" Tel Aviv since Israel knows its "power in defence and offense".

Tensions between Tel Aviv and Tehran have been smouldering due to continued Israeli airstrikes in Syria. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Netanyahu warned Iran to "get out of [Syria] fast", adding that Israel "won't stop attacking" Tehran's forces allegedly stationed there. The warning was followed up by two back-to-back Israeli strikes against Damascus International Airport.

READ MORE: Netanyahu: Israel to Boost Ops Against Iran in Syria Amid US Pullout

Tel Aviv has repeatedly accused Tehran of having a substantial military presence in Syria. Iran has repeatedly denied these claims, insisting that its military presence in the country is limited to military advisers sent at Damascus's request to help fight terrorism.</s>DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran said on Monday it cannot confirm holding secret talks with France over Tehran’s disputed ballistic missile program as French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had said on Friday.

Le Drian said that France was ready to impose further sanctions on Iran if no progress was made in talks over its ballistic missile program.

“I cannot confirm it ... Our missile program is a defensive program that we only discuss inside the country,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi told a weekly news conference, broadcast live on state TV.</s>An American-born Iranian television anchorwoman who was detained by the FBI and held as a material witness in a US case, has returned to Iran.

The report by state-run English-language channel Press TV says Marzieh Hashemi has arrived in Iran’s capital Tehran.

She was welcomed by her colleagues in a special ceremony upon her arrival at Imam Khomeini International Airport, according to the report.

The 59-year-old Muslim convert, who has lived in Iran for years, was detained by the FBI at St. Louis International Airport in Missouri on Jan. 13 while in the US to visit her ill brother and other family members.</s>TEHRAN, Iran — Tehran says that China has slowed down working on its redesign of a heavy water reactor in Iran, following the U.S. withdrawal from Tehran's nuclear agreement with world powers.

Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's nuclear agency, was quoted by state-run news agency IRNA as saying that "the Chinese side decreased the speed of cooperation with us despite their commitments." He says Iran has "alternative" choices if China cannot not fulfil its job. Salehi speculates that Beijing fears possible sanctions by the U.S. if it continues cooperation with Iran but did not elaborate further.

Under the 2015 nuclear agreement, experts from the United States and China were to help Iran redesign the Arak heavy water nuclear reactor to limit the amount of plutonium it produces as a byproduct.</s>Singer Paul Okoye popularly known as Rudeboy has released the video to his latest song ‘Double Double’.

The Double Double song features top acts Olamide and Phyno, the audio was released in the last quarter of 2018.

It takes the plot of a wedding party where a couple receives gifts in double. Making appearance are Paul Okoye’s kids Andre, Nadia and Nathan.

The video was directed by Unlimited LA.

The new single comes after his recent prayer tune “Chizoba” and his collaborative effort “Together” featuring Afro Dance-hall musician – Patoranking.

Rudeboy recently released an acoustic version of his hit single “Fire Fire” which featured Efezino.</s>A US-born journalist working for Iran's English-language television station Press TV returned to the Islamic Republic on Wednesday night after 10 days of detention in the US.

Marzieh Hashemi arrived at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport and was greeted by over a hundred people.

Most of the crowd were Iranian women dressed in black veils and holding anti-American posters, while loudspeakers played revolutionary songs and anthems in the background, an AFP reporter at the airport said.

"Welcome voice of the oppressed," read one sign, with another saying "Marzieh is freed, America is shamed."

Disembarking from a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt, Hashemi came down the stairs with a floral wreath around her neck, as supporters clapped for her.

"I missed Iran so much," she said.

"Now is not the proper time to speak about why I was arrested, I will explain why at an appropriate time," she added.

A Muslim convert who changed her name from Melanie Franklin, she was arrested upon arrival at St. Louis Lambert International Airport on January 13.

Hashemi had reportedly flown to visit her ill brother and other family members.

Press TV said she was released a week ago.

She was arrested on a "material arrest warrant" and was to be let go after she gave testimony to a grand jury investigating unspecified "violations of US criminal law," according to a US court.

It is not yet clear if she gave evidence before being released.

Prominent conservative political figure Gholami-Ali Haddad-Adel was at the airport among the crowd, and described Hashemi´s arrest as "just like other acts" by US President Donald Trump.

"It is another instance of 40 years of enmity by America with a nation that had a revolution to get independence," he told AFP.

The Trump administration pulled out of a 2015 multilateral nuclear deal with Iran last year and re-imposed sanctions.
A double bombing injures three police officers in Tehran, Iran.