Three people were killed when a training helicopter crashed near the Iranian capital, Tehran, state television reported today.

IRAN’S hardline president escalated his rhetoric against Israel yesterday, calling the Nazi Holocaust a “myth”, and drew a barrage of condemnations from Israel, the US and Europe, which warned he is hurting Iran’s position in crucial nuclear negotiations.

A POWERFUL earthquake hit a mountainous region of south-east Iran yesterday, killing at least 420 people, injuring hundreds and destroying villages, officials said.

More than 80 villages were seriously damaged by a strong earthquake that hit northern Iran today, killing at least eight people.

A 5.5 magnitude earthquake jolted the city of Bam in south-east Iran early today, state media reported.