Lifting sanctions was not chief aim of nuclear talks, top Iranian diplomat says

TEHRAN – Protecting Iran’s “inalienable nuclear right” and not lifting sanctions was the chief purpose of Iran’s negotiations with great powers, a top Iranian chief diplomat has said.

Tehran, Beijing hold sideline Syria talks in Sochi

TEHRAN – The representatives of Iran and China met at a conference on the Syrian crisis in Russia’s northern city of Sochi on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing conference and ways to help resolve the seven-year-old conflict in Syria.

Al-Abadi says Iran helped Iraq win the war on Daesh 

 TEHRAN - Haider al-Abadi, the Iraqi prime minister, has said Iran has “zero” influence on his country and said Iran along with others helped Baghdad win the war against Daesh.

Iranian coastguard seizes 8 freighters smuggling goods in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN – The coastguard of southwestern province of Khuzestan has confiscated eight freighters carrying smuggled goods into Iran, says Khuzestan border guard commander.

Islamic students union in Europe supports Bahraini, Palestinian people

TEHRAN – The Union of Islamic Students Associations in Europe has released a statement in support of the Bahraini and Palestinian people and condemned the massacre of the Yemeni people by a Saudi-led coalition.

APDIM to open office in Tehran on Tuesday

TEHRAN - Hamid Pourmohammadi, the deputy head of the Iranian Planning and Budget Organization, said on Monday that the Asian and Pacific Centre for the Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM) is scheduled to open an office in Tehran on Tuesday.

Iran warns against U.S. move to revive ISIL in Afghanistan

TEHRAN – A senior foreign policy advisor to the Iranian parliament speaker on Sunday warned of the dangers of Washington’s move to transfer Daesh (ISIL) militants to northern Afghanistan to revive the terrorist group in the future.

Armed forces ordered to help in relief operations after heavy snowfall

TEHRAN – In an order issued on Sunday Major General Mohammad Baqeri, chief of the Iranian armed forces, called on security forces to join relief operations if needed after heavy snowfall caused disruption in some parts of the country.

U.S. making desperate efforts to tarnish Iran’s image: lawmaker

TEHRAN - Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said on Sunday that U.S. President Donald Trump is making desperate efforts to tarnish Iran’s international image.

Iranian-made Qaher fighter in pre-flight test phase: ex-defense chief

TEHRAN - Former Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan has said that Qaher, a state-of-the-art stealth fighter jet produced at home, has entered pre-flight test phase which is technically called “fast taxi” phase.

Ayatollah Khamenei's message to university students in Europe

TEHRAN – Ayatollah Khamenei issued a message to participants attending the 52nd conference of the Islamic Union Association for Iranian Students in Europe. 

IRGC arrests 16 Daesh loyalists in western Iran

TEHRAN – Forces from the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) clashed with Daesh-affiliated militants in western Iran on Saturday, arresting 16 of them.

Zionist regime in weakest situation, adviser says

TEHRAN - Hossein Amir Abdollahian, a senior foreign policy advisor to the Iranian parliament speaker, has said that the “fake” and “illegitimate” Zionist regime of Israel is in its weakest situation.

Iran condemns horrible terror attack in Kabul

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Saturday condemning a horrible terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, which left at least 95 people dead and 163 others injured.

Mauritania interested to promote diplomatic ties to ambassadorial level

TEHRAN – Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Mauritania has said that his country is ready to promote its diplomatic ties with Iran to the level of ambassador.

U.S., Israel whipping up hysteria over Iran: diplomat 

TEHRAN – The Iranian deputy ambassador to the UN, Es’haq Al-e-Habib, on Thursday told the UN Security Council that the “U.S. and the Israeli regime prefer to resort, promote and spread Iran-phobia and this has become a kind of ongoing obsession and hysteria for them.”

Shamkhani: Weakening Iran is a ‘shattered dream’

TEHRAN - Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani has said efforts by enemies to weaken Iran or change its ruling system are just a “shattered dream”.

Zarif urges respect for regional countries’ interests

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that it is essential for all the countries in the region to respect each other’s interests, according to ISNA.

IMO asked to investigate Iran tanker crash

TEHRAN – The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been asked by Iran to investigate the recent tragic incident in which an oil tanker operated by the National Iranian Tanker Company burned and sank off the coast of China.

Iran nips Saudi-pushed terror attack in bud

TEHRAN – Iranian Intelligence Ministry agents have nipped in bud a Saudi-operated scheme to carry out terrorist bombing in the Islamic Republic.

Range of Iran’s missiles proportionate to threats: ex-defense chief

TEHRAN – Former Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan has said that the range of Iranian missiles is proportionate to the degree of military threats against the country.

Iranian military adviser proposes Iran-Iraq-Pakistan alliance against U.S.

TEHRAN - Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top military adviser to the Leader, on Tuesday proposed a coalition of “Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and other countries” against the United States in West Asia.

VP says Belarus has major status in Iran’s foreign policy

TEHRAN - Iranian First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri said on Tuesday that Belarus has an important status in Iran’s foreign policy and called for expansion of cooperation.

Rouhani says his government’s key failed to open locked social apps

TEHRAN – The Iranian president has said his government’s measures failed to remove ban on some social apps in the country.

Enemies’ actions have empowered resistance front: general

TEHRAN – The IRGC Qods Force deputy chief on Monday hailed the growing power of the anti-Israeli resistance front, saying the enemies’ actions have backfired and helped strengthen the movement.

Larijani calls Iran-KRG ties ‘strategic’

TEHRAN – Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said on Sunday that Iran has “strategic” relationship with the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (KRG) and seeks to protect it.

Top judge divides protestors into ‘deceived’ individuals and ‘rioters’

TEHRAN – Judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani said on Monday that prosecutors should separate “deceived” people from “rioters” in dealing with cases of persons who were arrested during the recent protests in some cities across Iran.

By Mohammad Homaeefar

French foreign minister ‘absolutely wrong’: Iran

TEHRAN – The French foreign minister is “absolutely wrong” if he thinks Iran would give in to pressure and sanctions, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Monday, referring to Le Drian’s call for more pressure on Tehran over its missile program.

By Mohammad Javad Zarif

Iran can set a post-ISIS security policy for the region

The defeat of ISIS has not just heralded the return of stability to large swaths of territory. It is also fanning fresh conflict and tension — including a concerted effort to revive the hysteria which has long obscured the reality of Iran’s foreign policy. 

Iran’s Kharrazi meets Syrian president

TEHRAN – Former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, who is the current chairman of Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, on Sunday held talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad to discuss regional issues.