Lebanon figures want clarity on kidnapped Iranian diplomats

TEHRAN – Lebanese political figures have called for more serious efforts on the side of their government as well as the United Nations in pursuing the case of four Iranian diplomats kidnapped in northern Lebanon in 1982.

Discover enigmatic Katale-Khor in western Iran

TEHRAN - Exploring a cave may not be on the “to-do list” of travelers in Iran, but once they hear about astonishing caves that the country offers its visitors, they may quickly have a change of heart.

Iran joins ASEAN Amity and Cooperation Treaty

TEHRAN – The Expediency Council on Saturday confirmed a bill by Iran to officially join the TAC, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, Mehr reported.

Iran executes eight Daesh members over 2017 attacks in Tehran

TEHRAN – Iran executed on Saturday eight members of Daesh (ISIL) over attacks on the Iranian parliament and the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini in 2017.

By Javad Heirannia

Continuation of JCPOA depends on Iran’s partners: Former French diplomat

TEHRAN - Marc Finaud, France Former spokesman of Foreign Ministry says that “If Iran’s partners can protect Iran from crippling sanctions, the JCPOA can still function and escalation can be avoided.”

By Kamran Ghaderi Azar & Mohammad Mazhari

Iran plays a major role in Turkey's energy resources

TEHRAN - The decisive victory of Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the recent presidential elections and the change of Turkish political system have brought the country into a new era in the national and international arena.

By Javad Heirannia

‘EU and China could take steps within WTO to protect their trade relations with Iran’

TEHRAN - Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association in Washington, is the opinion that “The reimposition of U.S. nuclear-related sanctions is a twofold abrogation of U.S. commitments under the JCPOA. Not only did the United States commit not to reimpose sanctions, Washington also committed not to interfere with the full realization of sanctions relief.”

Iran tells EU to implement guarantees before U.S. sanctions return

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has called on European powers to implement economic measures to protect the 2015 nuclear deal before U.S. sanctions against Tehran snap back between August and November.

Mogherini: Iran, remaining parties to continue talks to save nuclear deal

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced on Friday that Iran and the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear agreement had agreed to continue negotiations, including on economic measures, over how to save the deal.

Rouhani calls EU trio package to save nuclear deal ‘disappointing’

President Hassan Rouhani has said a package proposed by the European Union trio of Germany, France and Britain on how to save the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran is "disappointing".

By Farzad Farhadi

Saudis cave to Trump demands to pump more oil

TEHRAN - The hostile moves of the United States against Iran are going on in all dimensions, in particular the economic one.

Austria, Iran ink documents to cooperate on renewable energy, water management, transport

TEHRAN – On Wednesday Iran, Austria signed four cooperation document on water resources management, renewable energy, transport, and mining.

Iran rejects claim of training Taliban militants

TEHRAN – Iran’s embassy in Kabul has strongly rejected a report by British media claiming that members of Afghanistan’s Taliban militant group are being trained in Iran. 

‘I hope Saudis won’t accuse Yemenis of importing tunnels from Iran’

TEHRAN – Chief of Yemen’s Supreme Revolutionary Committee has pointed to the recently broadcasted images of the Yemeni underground launch pads used for retaliatory missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, saying “I hope they [Saudis] don’t accuse Yemenis of importing tunnels from Iran.”

MP proposes water, environment, natural resources ministry

TEHRAN — MP Abbas Papizadeh has proposed creation of a new ministry for water, environment, and natural resources aiming to supervise the current trend of environmental predicaments the country is facing.

11 abandoned crafts revived in Markazi province

TEHRAN – A total of 11 crafts, which were somewhat obsolete across Markazi province, central Iran, have recently been revived with a great deal of efforts made by artisans.

Nili’s resignation not accepted by Rouhani: report

TEHRAN – Masoud Nili, an economic advisor to President Hassan Rouhani, has resigned but his resignation has not been accepted by President Rouhani, Donya-e-Eqtesad reported on Tuesday.

Ex-MP proposes bicameral legislature

TEHRAN – Former senior lawmaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar, who serves as secretary general of the Islamic Society of Engineers, has said Iran cannot be ruled with one chamber of parliament, stressing the need for formation of a second chamber.

Japan’s Abe cancels plan to visit Iran

TEHRAN – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has dropped his plan to visit Iran this summer, government sources said on Tuesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump has taken an increasingly tough line against Tehran.

By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas

Was Iran really in World Cup’s ‘Group of Death’?

TEHRAN– As the only remaining team of Group B in 2018 World Cup, Spain eliminated from Russia, public opinion and even some experts are beginning to cast doubt on whether Iran was in ‘Group of Death’ or not.

By Mohammad Ghaderi

Reuters’ tales these days

This is Reuters. Just like Fox News, and even the BBC, it has not a long history of distorting news about Iran to tarnish the country’s image. It is no easy task to bring down this news agency for spreading false news. But how long should the bias and distorted news go on?

Mount Damavand threatened by land use change, mining activities

TEHRAN — Mount Damavand, an inactive volcano and the highest peak in the Middle East, is now being threatened by land use change and mining activities, environmental activist Keikhosro Yazdani has said.

Ex-diplomat: Trump loves to negotiate with Iran

TEHRAN – U.S. President Donald Trump loves to negotiate with Iran, but he has taken a wrong path which will lead nowhere, former Iranian ambassador and Foreign Ministry spokesperson has said.

One million refugees would pour into Europe if Iran hangs back: minister

TEHRAN – Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said on Tuesday “if we close our eyes for 24 hours, one million refugees who are inside Iran will leave for Europe via our western borders.”

 Rouhani holds talks with Swiss President Alain Berset in Bern

TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Swiss counterpart, Alain Berset, held talks on issues of common interest and explored ways to strengthen Tehran-Bern relations in various fields.

Iran reduces death penalty, life sentence against 1700 drug convicts

TEHRAN – Abbas Jafari-Dolatabadi, the Tehran prosecutor general, announced on Tuesday that 1,700 sentences of narcotic-related cases have been commuted from capital punishment and life sentence to less severe forms of punishment.

By Hossein Yari

Obama versus Trump

TEHRAN - Barack Obama, who has ended his presidency with pride and success with the completion of plans such as Iran's nuclear deal, has once again attracted the attentions of the political and social circles inside and outside the U.S. recently. Trump's attempts in destroying whatever that was signed or confirmed during the Obama's presidency, has encouraged Democrats, and most of all, Obama in trying to pull Trump down.

By Javad Heirannia

I don't think Iranian officials will succumb to coercion of U.S.: David Phillips

TEHRAN - David L. Phillips, Director of the Program on Peace-building and Rights at Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights, believes that “Through secondary sanctions, the U.S. can act unilaterally to punish foreign corporations doing business with Iran, especially foreign banks.”