NAM should resolutely pursue disarmament priorities, says Iran’s Zarif

The Non-Aligned Movement should resolutely pursue its disarmament priorities through existing mechanisms, including the UN High-Level Conference on Nuclear Disarmament, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday.

By Martin Love

Psychopaths seem to have gathered of late

A message from a friend this week, writing: “Martin, perhaps you are one of the few Americans who can actually broadcast to the Iranians that we, the mass of the people here in the U.S., do not see them as enemies.”

City council in pursuit of #Tehran_without_plastic

TEHRAN – Tehran’s city council has launched #Tehran_without_plastic campaign in a bid to fight detrimental effects of plastics on the environment, ISNA reported on Wednesday.

‘Wildfire during Noruz holidays unprecedented’

TEHRAN – Wildfire swept through some 150 hectares of forests across northern Iran during Noruz holidays (March 21 – April 2), said an official with Forests, Range, and Watershed Management Organization, noting that the extent of fire was unprecedented for the last decade.

Iranian, Pakistani FMs discuss Kashmir dispute on the phone

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has talked with his Pakistani counterpart Khawaja Muhammad Asif the situation in the Indian-administered Kashmir, IRNA reported, citing Pakistani media.

Iran a major player in fighting terrorism: retired general

TEHRAN – A senior Pakistani analyst has hailed Iran’s contribution in the fight against terrorism, saying the Islamic Republic has been a major player in trying to remove the menace of terrorism from the world.

75% of Iranian handicrafts made by women: VP

TEHRAN – Some 75 percent of Iranian handicrafts are produced by females, said Masoumeh Ebtekar, vice president for women’s and family affairs.

Majlis committees to discuss Telegram’s economic threats

TEHRAN – The Majlis national security and economic Committees will hold a meeting on the economic threats of Telegram messaging app for the country, a lawmaker has said, IRNA reported.

Al-Jazeera: U.S. attempts at regime change in Iran are doomed to failure

By choosing Mike Pompeo as his new secretary of state and John Bolton as national security adviser, U.S. President Donald Trump has formed a hawkish anti-Iran team, indicating that he is planning to bypass diplomacy, scrap the Iran nuclear deal and possibly resort to regime change or military action.

Presidents of Iran, Russia, and Turkey: Astana talks only effective international initiative on Syria

Rouhani says there’s no military, foreign-imposed solution to Syria crisis

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday highlighted the importance of the Astana talks in resolving the long-running conflict in Syria, saying there’s no military, foreign imposed solution for the crisis.

Iranian-American becomes U.S. assistant commerce secretary

TEHRAN – An Iranian-American lawyer on Tuesday sworn in as U.S. assistant secretary of commerce for industry and analysis affairs.

Over 17m Iranians toured the country in New Year holidays

TEHRAN – Over 17 million Iranians hit the roads, boarded trains, planes and ships to travel across the country from March 15, one week before the official New Year (Noruz) holidays, which ended on April 2.

Ex-addicts can apply for business loans

TEHRAN — Iran’s Welfare Organization is providing ex-addicts with loans to start a business, head of the addiction prevention and treatment center of the organization has announced.

Iran warns of threats of nuclear deal violation for international security

TEHRAN – Those who seek to kill the nuclear deal with Iran will be responsible for its negative consequences for the international order and security, Iran’s defense minister warned on Wednesday.

By M.A. Saki

Saudi prince’s bombastic words do not worth attention

Again, this time in an interview with the Atlantic published on April 2, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made harsh remarks against Iran, calling Iran part of the “triangle of evil” along with al-Qaeda, ISIS and other terrorist groups.

The hardships of families with autistic children

TEHRAN – Although awareness towards autism has increased in Iran during recent years, families with autistic children are still voicing complaint about lack of support by national organizations.

Ambassador: Regional issues can be resolved through dialogue

TEHRAN – Iran’s Ambassador to Moscow Mehdi Sanaei has hailed the trilateral cooperation of Iran, Russia and Turkey on Syria, saying the regional problems and crises can be resolved through dialogue and regional cooperation.

By Sajad Abedi

Resistance to progress

TEHRAN - After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, and especially in the last two decades, with the attention of Iran's successes in the domestic and foreign arenas, coordination efforts by Western and American countries have been launched to impede the continuation of the Islamic Republic's successes.

Iranian defense chief calls for close co-op with Belarus

TEHRAN – Iran's defense minister has highlighted the importance of developing cooperation between Iran and Belarus in the region and the larger world.

Iran welcomes involvement of France in Syria talks: source

TEHRAN – The Islamic Republic welcomes talks among different sides of the Syrian crisis, IRNA quoted an informed Iranian source as saying on Tuesday.

U.S. launching extensive anti-Iran campaign: ex-diplomat

TEHRAN – Ali Khorram, a senior analyst and former Iranian ambassador to UN bodies in Vienna, says the United States has launched an extensive propaganda campaign against Iran.

Over 11 million Iranians visit Mazandaran during Noruz

TEHRAN – Over 11 million domestic holidaymakers visited Iran’s northern Mazandaran province, from March 18 to 30.

No intercity bus crashes during New Year holidays

TEHRAN — Nary an intercity bus crash occurred during the two-week Iranian New Year [starting on March 21] holidays, Traffic Police Chief Mohammad-Hossein Hamidi has said.

Unprecedented air pollution in Tehran during Noruz

TEHRAN — For Tehraners, the New Year holidays (Noruz) are typically synonymous with clean air, but this year’s air quality went down for five days out of the thirteen-day holidays.

Child adoption up by 25% in Tehran: official

TEHRAN – The number of children adopted in Tehran increased by 25 percent in [the past Iranian calendar] year 1396 (March 2017 – March 2018) compared to the year before, deputy head of Tehran’s welfare organization for social affairs said.

‘Downgrading, downsizing protected areas encourage communities to safeguard environment’

TEHRAN — Downgrading and downsizing protected areas would in fact encourage local communities to conserve the environment more effectively, Department of Environment's (DOE) deputy director for hunting and fishing Ali Teymouri has said.

Teahouse arson attack in Ahwaz leaves 11 killed, 6 injured

TEHRAN — An arson attack on a teahouse in the city of Ahwaz, southwestern Iran, killed 11 and injured 6 others, including three firemen, Mehr news agency reported on Tuesday.

RoboCup Iran Open 2018 to open

TEHRAN – The 13th RoboCup Iran Open competitions kicks off on Wednesday at Tehran Permanent International Fairground, Tasnim reported.

Iran tops list of tourist arrivals in Turkey

TEHRAN – Iran tops list of international tourist arrivals in Turkey in the first two mounts of the year.

19th-century Iranian arts on show at Louvre-Lens

TEHRAN – A vast exhibition of 19th-century masterpieces and handcrafted objects has opened its doors to the public at the Louvre-Lens art museum in northern France.