Mousavi: Iran ready to exchange all detainees, ball in U.S. court now 

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman on Saturday voiced Tehran’s readiness to exchange the entire Iranian detainees who are in the U.S. custody, noting the ball is now in Washington’s court to decide wisely. 

Prisoner swap is not start of “any new path”, Iran tells U.S.

TEHRAN – Keyvan Khosravi, the spokesman for Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), said on Saturday that prisoner swap between Iran and the United States is not start of “any new path”.

By staff and agency

Islamabad continues efforts to mediate between Iran, Saudi Arabia: Pakistan Today

Imran Khan, the Pakistani prime minister, was scheduled to visit Riyadh on a one-day trip on Saturday as part of continued efforts to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Today reported on Friday.

Most of those killed in riots had not even participated in protests, top security official says

Shamkhani appeases families of victims of riots

TEHRAN - Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), on Thursday visited some families in western cities of Tehran province who lost a family member in the mid-November riots.

Iran calls for equitable geographical representation in CCPCJ

TEHRAN - Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative to the Vienna-based international organizations, has called for equitable geographical representation in the coming formal meetings of the United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

German foreign minister’s anti-Iran remarks irresponsible, unfair: spokesman

TEHRAN - The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi on Thursday censured German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas’s remarks about the recent protests in Iran, calling his statements unfair and irresponsible which are aimed at misleading public opinion about Belin’s indifference towards economic terrorism against Tehran. 

Ayatollah Khamenei says prayer is God’s great blessing

TEHRAN - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a message on Thursday that prayer is God’s great blessing which helps humans stay away from sins.

Larijani set to visit Turkey on Saturday

TEHRAN – Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani is scheduled to visit Turkey on Saturday to partake in the 12th Plenary Meeting of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA).

Mousavi to Macron: Iran is an independent nation, we don’t need advice 

TEHRAN - The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday that his country will not tolerate any interference in its internal affairs, rejecting the French presidents’ call for an immediate release of two detainees who are in Iran’s custody for security reasons. 

Lawmaker says Iran to further reduce JCPOA commitments

TEHRAN – A member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee has said Iran will continue to reduce its commitments under the 2015 nuclear pact, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), without hesitation.

Russia, Iran discuss war on terror

TEHRAN – Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergei Naryshkin has exchanged views with top Iranian Intelligence Ministry officials about cooperation in the fight against terrorism, says SVR spokesman Sergei Ivanov.

Iran warns against travel to U.S., citing risk of arrest, detention

TEHRAN – The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday issued a travel advisory for citizens, particularly scientists, not to visit the United States, saying Iranians may be faced with arbitrary arrest or lengthy detention in inhuman conditions.

Google blocks Press TV, Hispan TV’s YouTube accounts

TEHRAN – Press TV says access to its YouTube channel has been blocked for the fifth time by Google in its most recent attack against the Iranian news network.

Iran ready to send Navy fleet to Atlantic Ocean: military official

TEHRAN - Habibollah Sayyari, the deputy army chief for coordination affairs, said on Wednesday that the Iranian Navy is capable of sending its fleet of warships to the Atlantic Ocean.

Iran and Iraq are in same front: Baghdad ambassador

TEHRAN - Saad Abdul Wahab Jawad Qandil, the Iraqi ambassador to Tehran, said on Wednesday that Iran and Iraq are in the same front.

Health minister: U.S. lying about pharmaceutical sanctions

TEHRAN – Health Minister Saeed Namaki said on Tuesday the United States lies when it says pharmaceuticals and medical equipment are not subject to its sanctions on Iran.

Defense chief: No force capable of countering Iranian nation

TEHRAN – No force is capable of countering the Iranian nation, Defense Minister Amir Hatami said on Tuesday.

Parliament speaker says some only dishearten people

Nation broke enemy’s will in the worst situation, says Larijani

TEHRAN – The Iranian nation succeeded to break the enemy’s will in the hardest time, Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said in reference to the recent unrest across Iran.

Army equips transport helicopters with modern rockets, cannons 

TEHRAN - Yousef Qorbani, the commander of the Iranian Army Airborne, announced on Monday that his forces have mounted modern cannons and rocket-launchers on the transport helicopters. 

Raisi urges election officials to deal with infractions promptly

TEHRAN – Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi has urged election officials to act in accordance with the country’s law and deal with election infractions in the legal time.

Former British official urges intl. community to keep nuclear deal

TEHRAN - Tobias Ellwood, the former British defense minister, has urged the international community to make more efforts to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Zarif says Iran backs ‘Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process’

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday that Iran supports an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process with the participation of all political groups and factions.

IAEA’s Grossi reiterates he seeks to establish constructive relations with Iran

TEHRAN - Rafael Grossi, the new director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has reiterated his aim to establish “constructive relationship” with Iran.

By staff and agency

Officials are arranging for Rouhani to visit Tokyo around December 20: Japan Times

In a report published by The Japan Times on Sunday, it is said that Japanese and Iranian officials are arranging for President Hassan Rouhani to visit Tokyo around December 20.

Tehran voices hope to resolve Sheikh Zakzaky’s problems

TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi has voiced hope that diplomatic meetings between Iran and Nigeria would expedite the resolution of the problems faced by top Shiite cleric Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky.

Border guards disband large drug trafficking gang 

TEHRAN - The commander of Sistan-Balouchestan Province border guards said on Sunday that his forces have disbanded a large gang of drug traffickers, seizing a remarkable amount of narcotics.

Deputy FM: All JCPOA parties see U.S. as root cause of tensions 

TEHRAN- The Iranian deputy foreign minister for political affairs said on Friday that Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany unanimously blame the U.S. for the standoff surrounding the 2015 nuclear deal. 

Cutting-edge combat drone, destroyer delivered to Iran’s Navy 

TEHRAN - A combat reconnaissance tactical drone and a modern destroyer were delivered to the Navy in a ceremony in southeastern Iran on Saturday.

Facebook closes Ayatollah Khamenei’s Arabic page

TEHRAN – Facebook has closed the Arabic page of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which had more than 100,000 followers.

Iran’s Jahangiri wants peaceful protests guaranteed 

TEHRAN - Iranian First Vice President Is’haq Jahangiri said on Friday that the people are entitled to stage peaceful protests to seek their rights, urging the three branches of the government to create a mechanism for that purpose.