Friendly: Iran U23 football team lose to China

TEHRAN – Iran U23 football team lost 3-2 to China in a friendly match as part of preparation for the 2018 Asian Games.

Mehrzad named July Allianz Athlete of the Month

TEHRAN - Morteza Mehrzad has been named the Allianz Athlete of the Month for July after his spectacular performance in Iran’s gold medal victory at the 2018 Sitting Volleyball World Championships.

Pakistan to decide on IMF bailout by September

The biggest challenge for the new government in Islamabad, experts say, will be economy. Imran Khan-led government will inherit a flailing economy that needs to be revived, and speculation is rife that Pakistan will approach International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the bailout.

Students, journalists protest against Bangladesh govt

Journalists in Bangladesh have gave a 72-hour ultimatum to the Sheikh Hasina government to arrest miscreants responsible for attacks on media persons while covering the protests by students over road safety, according to media reports.

Russia dismisses claim of interfering in India election

The Russian embassy in New Delhi has strongly dismissed reports that Moscow may interfere in elections in countries like India and Brazil through their media.

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

‘Talks’ between Taliban and U.S. an exercise in futility

If reports in the Afghan and international media are to be believed, the first round of ‘preliminary talks’ between the U.S. and the Taliban were held last week in Doha.

U.S. airstrike kills dozen Afghan security forces

At least a dozen Afghan security forces were killed in a U.S. airstrike during intense fighting with the Taliban at the outskirts of Kabul, Afghan officials said on Tuesday, reviving debate over the accuracy of U.S. airstrikes in the war-ravaged country.

By Martin Love

Perils could actually herald positive change

NORTH CAROLINA - Sometimes, more often than not, I write against the U.S. as it was and as it has been since. I was born right after Fat Man and Little Boy were thrown at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The public was told these two crimes against Japanese civilians, when Japan was already prepared to surrender, saved lives and shortened World War 2. It did neither. The war was already won in the Pacific The U.S. in fact was sending a message to the USSR, which more than any country had defeated Nazi Germany: “Look what we can do to you if you don’t behave.” Hundreds of thousands of Japanese perished to deliver what amounted, at bottom, to a threat to the USSR. And since then?

By Mohammad Ghaderi - Twitter: @ghaderi62 - Email: m.ghaderi62@gmail.com

EU dying silently as it plays in Trump’s court

The paradoxical approaches taken by the European authorities is definitely one of its kind! Over the past months, Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has repeatedly emphasized that the EU can no longer rely on the United States to secure its interests.

Basij forces seize hoarded items

TEHRAN – Basij forces have seized lots of hoarded items, including cars, rice and building equipment in the past couple of days and delivered them to the Judiciary, Basij Chief Gholamhossein Gheybparvar said on Wednesday.

‘Iran has successfully isolated America’

TEHRAN – Despite 40 years of pressure, war and sanctions, Iran has succeeded to isolate the United States and foil its conspiracies, the Islamic Radios & Television Union said on Wednesday.

Hatami: 12 years of talks breached by ‘Great Satan’

TEHRAN – Defense Minister Amir Hatami on Wednesday shrugged off U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls for direct talks with Iran, reasoning that 12 years of nuclear negotiations which finally led to the 2015 nuclear pact was breached by “the Great Satan”.

Iran fail to advance to 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup

TEHRAN – Iran failed to secure a spot at the 2019 FIBA Under 19 Basketball World Cup, losing to New Zealand 87-72 on Thursday.

Iraq’s Ammar Hakim urges support for Iran in face of U.S. sanctions

TEHRAN – Ammar al-Hakim, leader of the Iraqi National Wisdom Movement, reacted on Wednesday to U.S. sanctions move on the Islamic Republic, calling for all-out efforts to help Iran in the face of U.S. pressure, Tasnim reported.

ICJ to rule in favor of Iran if not pressed by U.S.: attorney

TEHRAN – An attorney has lauded Tehran’s move to file a complaint against the United States for restoration of sanctions against Iran, saying if the International Court of Justice does not come under pressure by the U.S., it will rule in favor of Iran, ISNA reported.

5 to 20 years prison sentence await economy disruptors: Tehran prosecutor

TEHRAN – Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said on Wednesday five to twenty years in prison awaits those who disrupt national economy through profiteering, hoarding and other types of financial corruption.

Intl. auto expo running in Mashhad

TEHRAN – The 18th edition of International Exhibition of Automobile and Relate Industries (Iran Motor Show 2018) kicked off on Tuesday at the northeastern city of Mashhad, IRNA reported.

Iranian oil exports to China, India surge in July despite U.S. sanctions

TEHRAN – Iranian crude oil loadings to China and India increased significantly in July compared to the previous month despite U.S. threats, a Platts survey showed. According to Platts data, Shipments to china were 799,452 barrels per day (bpd) in July, up from 722,100 bpd in June.

Turkey sticks with Iranian gas despite U.S. sanctions, energy minister says

TEHRAN - Turkey’s energy minister said on Wednesday that his country will continue to buy natural gas from Iran despite U.S. sanctions, Reuters reported.

Non-oil exports to Indonesia rise 86% in a quarter on year

TEHRAN- The value of Iran’s non-oil exports to Indonesia during the three-month period from March 21 to June 21 stood at $250 million, increasing 86 percent compared to the same period of time in the past year, according to Iran’s commercial attaché to Indonesia.

Forex shops resume operation

TEHRAN- Foreign currency exchange shops officially became operational on Wednesday as part of Central Bank of Iran (CBI)’s new foreign currency package implemented since Tuesday, ISNA reported.

China defends Iran business ties after Trump threat

China’s business ties with Iran are open, transparent and lawful, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday, after U.S. President Donald Trump said companies doing business with Iran would be barred from the United States.

10-day foreign arrivals in Khorasan Razavi nearly doubles y/y

TEHRAN – The number of international travelers to Iran’s northeastern Khorasan Razavi province has nearly doubled in a ten-day period ending August 1 compared to the same period last year.

Lut Desert’s World Heritage base renovated

TEHRAN – A refurbishment project has been recently completed on the World Heritage base of Iran’s UNESCO-registered Lut Desert in a bid to encourage tourism, IRNA reported.

By Afshin Majlesi

Meybod: Open-air museum of ancient watermills

Some 50 kilometers north of Yazd, central Iran, lies the sprawling mud-brick city of Meybod, whose tourism officials are planning to internationally promote it as the “city of watermills”.

Iran’s “city of the mouthless” to get more attention!

TEHRAN – Shahr-e Yeri, a unique archaeological site in northwest Iran, is set to be turned into a national heritage base, a privilege that may bring more attention to the ancient city sometimes referred to as the “city of the mouthless”.

Iran, Iraq, Syria to join hands against SDSs

TEHRAN — A plan on combating sand and dust storms (SDS) is scheduled to be prepared in a collaborative initiative with three countries of Iran, Iraq and Syria under the auspices of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the current Iranian calendar year (ending on March 20, 2019), head of national working group on SDS has said.

We will fight for JCPOA, German FM says

TEHRAN – German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has said that his country along with other European powers will fight for the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, to keep it alive, even without the U.S.

Trump indifferent to Iranians, international commitments: Zarif

TEHRAN – By pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal, U.S. President Donald Trump showed that he is “indifferent” both toward the Iranian people and his country’s international commitments, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday.