Iran-EU joint training workshop on nuclear emergency cases kicks off in Luxemburg

TEHRAN – A joint training workshop named “Preparing for and Responding to a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency” was inaugurated at the venue of the European Union (EU) in Luxemburg City on Monday. 

Defense minister: Deterrence power has secured Iran against threats 

TEHRAN – In view of Iran’s high deterrence power, no enemy dares to threaten the country, Defense Minister Amir Hatami said on Tuesday while making a visit to naval industries. 

VP urges Expediency Council to ratify FATF-related bills

TEHRAN – Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri has urged the Expediency Council to ratify the FATF-related bills as soon as possible.

Judiciary dismisses rumors of Zam-linked arrests

TEHRAN – The spokesman for Iran’s Judiciary on Tuesday dismissed rumors about arrest of insiders linked to Ruhollah Zam, the head of an anti-Iranian website and Telegram channel who was arrested by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) earlier this month.

Rouhani says process of collecting taxes must be transparent

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that the process of collecting taxes must be transparent in order to promote interaction with the people and also facilitate tax payment.

Iran says to take next nuclear step if remaining parties fail to honor obligations

TEHRAN - Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Monday reiterated Iran’s position that Tehran is ready to take the next step to reduce commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the JCPOA, if the remaining parties to the agreement fail to take action to shield the Islamic Republic from sanctions effects.

Larijani highlights Iran’s support for Syrian territorial integrity 

TEHRAN – Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Monday voiced Iran’s full support for Syria’s territorial integrity, security and stability.

Iran ready to take fourth nuclear step: MP

TEHRAN – A top lawmaker says the Islamic Republic is ready to take the fourth step of scaling back its commitments to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal.

Zarif: FATF policy toward Iran merely political  

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced on Monday that Iran has been following anti-money laundering measures inside the country, saying policy of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) towards Iran is not based on realities but politically tainted. 

Sputnik: Japan, France push for $18b credit line for Iran to save JCPOA

TEHRAN – France and Japan have jointly proposed offering Iran over $18 billion in credit lines if Tehran comes fully back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Russian state-run news agency Sputnik reported on Sunday.

President thanks Iraqis for hosting Arbaeen pilgrims

Rouhani says Arbaeen has turned into a historic miracle

TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has thanked the Iraqi officials, people and clerics for hosting millions of pilgrims during the Arbaeen season and said the Arbaeen gathering has turned into a “lasting historic miracle”.

Iranian MP: Washington’s economic terrorism violates human rights 

TEHRAN – The U.S. unilateral economic sanctions against independent nations is nothing but a blatant violation of human rights, head of the Iranian parliamentary delegation who attended the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference in Belgrade has said.

Arrest of Ruhollah Zam astonished foreign intelligence services, IRGC chief says

TEHRAN – Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the arrest of Ruhollah Zam, the operator behind Amad News website and Telegram channel, has astounded foreign intelligence services.

Qatar says Iran-Saudi dialogue is essential

TEHRAN - Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lolwah R.M. Al-Khater has said that dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia is “essential”.

Bahrain repeats claims against Iran

TEHRAN – Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed Al Khalifa in fresh remarks has accused Iran of meddling in the tiny Persian Gulf island’s internal affairs, claiming that Iran has been behind the transfer of a large number of explosives to Bahrain, ILNA reported.

Britain’s Norman Lamont: Trump’s decision to quit JCPOA was ‘catastrophic’

Iranian envoy says there are abundant capacities to expand ties with Britain

TEHRAN - Iranian Ambassador to London Hamid Baeidinejad said on Friday that there are many capacities for Iran and Britain to expand ties.

Jahangiri thanks Iraqis for Arbaeen season hospitality

TEHRAN – Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri has expressed gratitude to the Iraqi government and nation for their warm hospitality during the Arbaeen season.

FATF gives Iran until Feb. to pass anti-money laundering laws

TEHRAN – The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said on Friday it has given Iran a final deadline of February 2020 to tighten its laws against money laundering in compliance with the global watchdog’s financial standards.

Iran urges Bahrain to change ‘non-constructive’ policies in region

TEHRAN – MP Fatemeh Hosseini, Iranian representative at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Belgrade, has slammed Bahrain’s anti-Iran remarks, urging the Arab country to reconsider its “non-constructive” policies in the Middle East.

By staff and agency

UN chief welcomes Pakistan’s initiative to ease Iran-Saudi tension

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric has said that Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, welcomes Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s initiative to de-escalate tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Zarif renews Iran’s call to Persian Gulf states to join Tehran’s peace plan

TEHRAN – In a post on his Twitter account on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif renewed Iran’s call to all countries bordering the Persian Gulf to join Tehran’s initiative to “forge a blueprint for peace, security, stability, and prosperity” in the region.

MP: Saudi elites predominantly back Tehran-Riyadh de-escalation efforts

TEHRAN – Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, a member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, argues that there’s a prevailing spirit of deescalating tensions with Iran among the Saudi elites.

Iran has acted prudently by reducing nuclear commitments: Kamalvandi

TEHRAN - Behrooz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), has said that Iran has been acting prudently by reducing its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the JCPOA.

Ruhollah Zam arrested via co-op with other intelligence services: general

TEHRAN – Mohammad Tavallaei, a high-ranking IRGC general, has revealed more details about the arrest of Ruhollah Zam, the head of an anti-Iranian website and Telegram channel, saying he was arrested through cooperation with other intelligence services.

MP says there are promising signs in reviving Tehran-Riyadh ties

TEHRAN - Deputy Chairman of Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Kamal Dehghani Firouzabadi has said that there are promising signs in revitalizing ties between Tehran and Riyadh.

Expediency Council sets aside Palermo bill

TEHRAN - Iran’s Expediency Council has set aside studies to approve the Palermo bill, Gholamreza Mesbahi-Moghadam has said.

Salami: Iran defeating enemy by relying on God

TEHRAN – Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Hossein Salami said on Monday that the Islamic Republic is defeating the enemy by relying on God.

Leader visits Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi in hospital

TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei visited Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi at a hospital in Tehran on Monday.

MP says Turkey seeking physical annihilation of northern Syria 

TEHRAN – MP Karen Khanlari, who represents the Armenian community in the Iranian parliament, on Sunday condemned the Turkish military operation in northern Syria, saying Ankara is seeking to physically annihilating northern Syria under the pretext of war on terrorism.

Iranian parliament speaker attends IPU meeting in Belgrade 

TEHRAN – Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani left Tehran on Sunday morning for the Serbian capital city of Belgrade to partake in the 141st Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).