Iran deals heavy blow to U.S. spy network: Intelligence Ministry

TEHRAN – The Intelligence Ministry says its forces have inflicted a “heavy blow” on the United States by disbanding two sophisticated cyber espionage networks affiliated with the CIA.

I hope Washington will be very careful not to underestimate the Iranian determination: ambassador

Iran's envoy to the United Kingdom has warned that his country and the U.S. are getting closer to a potential conflict, one he warned Washington would regret.

Today’s war is ‘battle of wills’, Rouhani says

TEHRAN – In an open reference to the Trump administration’s harsh economic sanctions and psychological warfare, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that “today’s war is battle of wills and hope”.

IRGC: Deal of century is ‘illegitimate’

TEHRAN - The spokesman for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps on Tuesday called the U.S. proposed the “deal of century” a failure and “illegitimate”.

MP: Tehran to mull exiting NPT if Europe fails to save nuclear deal

TEHRAN – Chairman of the Majlis Nuclear Committee Mojtaba Zonnour said on Monday that Iran will mull over leaving the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in the event the European parties to the nuclear deal fail to salvage the pact before the 60-day deadline set by Iran.

Shamkhani set to attend international security forum

TEHRAN – Ali Shamkhani, Iran’s secretary of Supreme National Security Council, is set to participate in the 10th international security forum in the Russian city of Ufa on Tuesday.

Bolton: U.S. willing to talk to Iranian leaders

TEHRAN – U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton has said his country is willing to talk to Iranian leaders to ease tensions but also is set for retaliatory action against what he called Iranian military provocations.

By staff and agency

Germany urges Iran to uphold nuclear deal

A spokeswoman for the German Foreign Ministry urged Iran on Monday to uphold to the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Reuters reported.

U.S. economic war threatens regional security: Iranian official

TEHRAN – The United States’ economic war on Iran is threatening peace and security in the whole Middle East region, Iran’s deputy foreign minister has said.

MP says U.S. well aware of Iran’s defense power

TEHRAN – Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Chairman Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said on Sunday that the White House is well aware of Iran’s defense power.

INSTEX remains non-operational, Larijani says

TEHRAN – Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani has criticized the role of France in salvaging the 2015 nuclear accord, saying the European banking mechanism has remained on the paper and has not been made operational.

President says Iran has acted as a ‘powerful barrier’ against Takfiri terrorism

Iran cannot stick to nuclear deal unilaterally: Rouhani

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that Iran cannot unilaterally remain committed to the 2015 nuclear deal, known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Kono Taro: Paper in Abe’s hand was ‘talking points’, not message from Trump

TEHRAN -- The paper that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had in his hand during the meeting with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was just “talking points” and not a written message from U.S. President Donald Trump, Japanese Foreign Minister Kono Taro said on Saturday.

Israel responsible for oil tanker attacks: ex-diplomat

TEHRAN – Hamid Reza Asefi, a former Iranian diplomat, has said the Zionist regime is to blame for recent attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.

Iran calls suspicious nature of attacks on oil tankers ‘alarming’

TEHRAN – Tehran on Friday categorically rejected accusations by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Iran was responsible for attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday morning.

Unilateral U.S. actions solely responsible for regional insecurity: Zarif

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that the U.S. unilateral actions and economic terrorism are solely responsible for insecurity in the region.

Iran, Switzerland ink deal on protection of Iran’s interests in Canada

TEHRAN – Top officials from Iran and Switzerland have signed an agreement on protection of Tehran’s interests in Canada.

Xi says China will promote steady ties with Iran

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping told Iran’s president on Friday that China will promote steady development of ties with Iran no matter how the situation changes, Chinese state media said.

Iran warns U.S. over blame game through 'suspicious' attacks

Iran has warned the US to stop playing a blame game through "suspicious" attacks on oil tankers in the Middle East, describing the American behavior as "worrying". 

Iran-Cuba friendship group slams U.S. sanctions on Havana

TEHRAN – The Iran-Cuba parliamentary friendship group in a statement on Wednesday denounced U.S. economic sanctions on Cuba, expressing support for the Cuban people in the face of Washington’s hegemonic policies.

Rouhani: Sanctions and pressure are starting to lose their effectiveness

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the effects of sanctions and pressure on Iran have reached their peak but they are starting to lose their effectiveness.

Abe’s Tehran visit marks a milestone in bilateral ties: ambassador

TEHRAN – Iran’s Ambassador to Japan Morteza Rahmani Movahed believes Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s visit to Tehran will be a milestone in Tehran-Tokyo relations.

Some Western states want Iran to violate nuclear deal, Russian FM says

Lavrov: Keeping JCPOA alive largely dependent on Europe

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that some Western partners want Iran to make a mistake and declare steps which will be in breach of the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Abe’s visit to Iran falls within historic ties: government

TEHRAN - Ali Rabiei, the government spokesman, said on Tuesday that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Iran is within the framework of historic relations between the two countries.

British embassy supports subversive movements, MP says

TEHRAN – The British embassy has supported subversive movements and is in contact with the opposition, a parliamentarian warned on Tuesday.

Empty threats show enemies’ weakness: general

TEHRAN – Chief of the Iranian Army’s ground forces says the empty threats uttered by enemies show their “weakness” and “inability”.

UN watchdog confirms Iran’s promised uranium enrichment hike

TEHRAN - Iran has followed through on a threat to accelerate its production of enriched uranium, the head of the UN's atomic watchdog has said, departing from his usual guarded language to say he was worried about increasing tension.

Japanese analyst calls on Abe to invite Rouhani to G20 summit: Yomiuri Shimbun

TEHRAN – A Japanese analyst has proposed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe invite Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to the G20 summit, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported, according to IRNA.

Nizar Zakka being delivered to Lebanon: source

TEHRAN – A Iranian news outlet on Monday reported that Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese-American national who had been imprisoned in Iran since 2015 on charges of working with the U.S. intelligence service, was to be freed and handed over to Lebanon later the day.

Culture of resistance poses challenge to U.S.: general

TEHRAN – The United States has been challenged with the power of the Islamic Revolution and the “culture of resistance” in the region, a top military aide to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday.