EU fails to agree new Iran sanctions as Trump deadline nears

The European Union failed to agree new sanctions against Iran on Monday amid Italy’s opposition and fears that punishing Tehran for its missile program and regional role would not stop U.S. President Donald Trump from abandoning a separate nuclear deal.

Four Iranian athletes to receive Samsung phones

Organizers for the Winter Olympics said they will hand free Samsung smartphones to four Iranian athletes without the condition of returning them, amid looming anti-Samsung sentiment in Tehran.

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.

By Mohammad Ghaderi

Europe a bundle of contradictions on JCPOA

Der Spiegel has recently published important news announced by diplomatic circles in Brussels. It said that Germany, France and Britain are aiming to impose new sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Diplomatic circles have told Der Spiegel that some Western powers intend to deal with Iran's alleged policy of “destabilizing the region”, as if the West hasn’t already up ended entire nations!

Germany weighs new sanctions against Iran: report

Germany is lobbying among European allies to agree new sanctions against Iran in an attempt to prevent U.S. President Donald Trump from terminating an international deal curbing Tehran’s nuclear program, Der Spiegel magazine reported on Saturday.

By Javad Heirannia

JCPOA not prohibit development of ballistic missiles by Iran: Professor

TEHRAN - Professor Farhang Jahanpour, part-time tutor on the Middle East in the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Oxford, tells the Tehran Times that “It should be remembered that a greater part of the statement released by President Trump is for domestic consumption, and also it is a face-saving formula to persuade his base that he has remained firm in his decision.”

By Javad Heirannia

Trump demand limits on Iran enrichment program is unrealistic: ex-White House official

TEHRAN - A former assistant director for national security in the White House Office of Science and Technology says “I think that the EU position is that Iran would not accept indefinite limits on its enrichment program and that Trump’s demand is therefore unrealistic.” 

By Javad Heirannia

Trump wants to destroy Iran’s ability to defend itself against aggressors: Professor

TEHRAN – A senior expert in Arab affairs who teaches international business at George Washington University is of the view that Trump in reality “wants to destroy Iran’s ability to defend itself against aggressors from the region and farther afield.”

By staff and agency

U.S. assesses sanctions on those who counter riots in Iran

Andrew Peek, the deputy assistant secretary of state for Iraq and Iran, has said that the U.S. assesses sanctions on those who counter the riots in Iran.

U.S. Treasury slaps sanctions on ‘IRGC-linked’ entities

In yet another hostile measure against Tehran, the U.S. has slapped sanctions on several individuals and companies for their alleged links with Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

U.S. sanctions against Iran block donations to quake victims

Anonymous benefactor donates $2.5m for quake-hit Kermanshah

TEHRAN — An anonymous benefactor has donated 100 billion rials (nearly $2.5 million) to earthquake-stricken province of Kermanshah, head of the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation said on Thursday.

Iran, U.S. have issued $60b rulings against each other: Zarif

TEHRAN – Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, announced on Wednesday that Iran and the United States have each issued court rulings against the opposite party for a sum of $60 billion.

Sanctioning Iran would be ‘interesting’: U.S. official

Any move by the European Union to impose new sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile program would be “interesting and helpful”, a U.S. administration official said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

By Zahra Khezri

Iran self-sufficiency rooted in sanctions: Amal Movement rep.

Salah Fahs, the representative of the Lebanese Amal Movement in Tehran, believes that Saddam Hussein’s war against Iran in the 1980s - known as the imposed war - and the United States’ sanctions against Iran are the sources of Iran’s strength today in the region.

U.S. poses sanctions on Revolution Guards

The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday announced the expansion of sanctions on Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, which were imposed on October 13.

Total sticks with Iran deal if U.S. imposes sanctions: CEO

TEHRAN - Total Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanne said his company will go ahead with Iran deal if the United States decides to impose unilateral sanctions on Teheran.

by Zahra Sadat Khezri

Neither Trump nor Kim currently seeking war: ex-senior CIA official

Paul Pillar says North Korea is unlikely ever to give up nuclear weapons as a deterrent against armed attack

TEHRAN – A former senior U.S. intelligence official believes that neither U.S. President Donald Trump nor North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un are now looking for a war.

Lawmaker vows firm response to new U.S. sanctions

TEHRAN – The Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee will make a firm response to Washington’s recent sanctions against Iran, committee chairman Alaeddin Boroujerdi has said, IRIB reported on Friday.

Legal action against Apple on agenda: Iran’s telecom minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s telecommunications minister has said the country will legally pursue a recent decision by Apple for removing Iranian apps from its App Store.