Iran has taken a bold step once again, drawing attention across the globe. Despite growing tension in the Middle East, threats from Israel, and warnings from the United States, Iran recently tested a satellite launch rocket named ‘Qased’.

"Strengthening air defense capabilities is clearly an urgent priority for Iran at the moment," expert Hongda Fan told Newsweek.

Israeli leaders said the attack was aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb as the country enriches uranium a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels. Iran long has said its program is peaceful and U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed Iran was not actively building a weapon.

The U.S. has been regularly rotating B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean since at least April when the bombers were used to hit Houthi targets and drone launch sites in Yemen, which the group was using to attack commercial and military shipping in the Red Sea and launch attacks on Israel.

Oil prices soared on Friday as tensions in the Middle East flared, with Israel attacking Iranian military and nuclear targets and Iran retaliating.

JERUSALEM — Thousands of women in Israel are fighting their own “invisible” battles against domestic abuse, abandonment, and crushing poverty as tensions with Iran continue to boil.

China is closely watching whether Israel and Iran can broker a ceasefire. Beijing gets much of its crude oil imports from Iran through a "dark fleet" of vessels to evade American sanctions.

At least 650 Australians stuck in Israel and Iran have asked the federal government for help to leave the region.

Iran has indicated that it will be ready to restart conversations at a technical level regarding its nuclear programme, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said on Friday.