Iran’s currency has hit a new record low. The rial dropped to 2.02 million to the U.S. dollar as markets opened Monday.

The announcement marks another escalation in Iran's efforts to exert greater control over the key waterway.

In recent weeks, the police have closed dozens of cafes, often citing laws that stipulate women must veil in public. Experts say the closures are part of an effort to control public space.

Iran said Pakistan’s army chief would visit Tehran on Monday as part of efforts to restore peace and security in the region, but gave few details.

Iran's Parliament speaker has issued an unusually stark warning about the country's deepening economic troubles, declaring that even a powerful military cannot protect the Islamic Republic if its people are hungry and the economy continues to deteriorate.

Iran says it has discovered over 200 bcm of new natural gas reserves in Fars, though production from the field could take years.