Tehran's approach appears to rest on a belief it can absorb strikes longer than its adversaries sustain pain and costs, writes BBC Persian's Amir Azimi.
The new rules, Lando Norris' title defence, the George Russell-Max Verstappen dynamic and Aston Martin's unfolding nightmare set up an intriguing F1 season.
No UK government ministers or officials will attend the Winter Paralympics opening and closing ceremonies after Russian and Belarusian athletes were invited to compete under their national flags.
Only three games in, Tottenham's head coach is facing crisis. Igor Tudor refused to comment on whether he is about to be sacked - but said some players will need "to leave the boat".