Zarif urges Pakistan to help immediately release Iranian abductees 

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif telephoned his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday to follow up on conditions of Iranian border guards who were abducted and transferred to Pakistan by terrorists late on Monday.

‘Victory in The Hague shows power of Iran’s diplomacy’

TEHRAN - Mohammad Ali Hosseini, a former Foreign Ministry spokesman, said on Wednesday that Iran’s victory in The Hague-based International Court of Justice showed the power of Iran’s diplomacy.

Sanctions can be turned into opportunity: diplomat

TEHRAN – Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei said on Wednesday that although sanctions have big negative effects, countries under sanctions can turn them into opportunities, IRNA reported.

‘Iran’s sovereignty over islands nonnegotiable’

TEHRAN – A member of parliament says Iran’s sovereignty over the three islands of Greater, Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa in the Persian Gulf is unnegotiable, refuting unfounded remarks by an Emirati MP.

Washington using threat as a foreign policy tool: diplomat

TEHRAN - Gholamali Khoshroo, Iran’s ambassador to the UN, said on Monday that the U.S. is using “threats against countries as a tool of foreign policy”.

Seven ambassadors deliver credentials to Rouhani

TEHRAN – Ambassadors from seven countries separately handed over their credentials to President Hassan Rouhani and held talks with him.

Fuel-smuggling groups arrested in Fars

TEHRAN – Forces from the Intelligence Ministry have managed to disband several groups involved in smuggling various kinds of fuels, the ministry announced on Monday.

403 tons of narcotics seized since March 21

TEHRAN – Some 403 tons of narcotics have been seized in Iran since the beginning of the Iranian calendar year (starting March 21, 2018), chief of the National Drug Control Agency has said.

Iran to sign deal to export marine medicine equipment

TEHRAN - Amir Rastegari, managing director of Iranian Defense Ministry’s Marine Industries Organization, said on Monday that Iran will soon sign agreements on building and selling marine medicine equipment with a number of countries.

Iran says studying opening of EU office in Tehran

TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi has said Iran is considering the opening of a European Union office in Tehran and that both sides are weighing the conditions and possibilities on the matter.

Japan’s new ambassador submits credential to Zarif

TEHRAN – Japan’s new ambassador to Tehran, Mitsugu Saito, (left) met on Monday with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to submit a copy of his credential to him. Before embarking on mission to Tehran, Saito served as Japan’s ambassador to Oman.

By staff and agency

Lawyer: U.S. violating intl. law by freezing Iranian assets

Maryam Jalalvand, an Iranian lawyer from Tehran University, has said that the U.S. has violated international law by freezing nearly $2 billion of Iranian assets.

By M.A. Saki

Khashoggi case may awaken world to dangers of MBS

Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of the al-Saud family, vanished on October 2 after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Iran has dismantled 300 terrorist groups: intelligence minister

TEHRAN - Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi announced on Sunday that so far Iran has succeeded to dismantle 300 terrorist groups.

Jaberi Ansari: Massacre in Syria’s Idlib is Iran’s red line

The potential massacre of civilians while trying to retake the last major stronghold of anti-government militants in Syria — namely Idlib Province — is a red line for Iran, says the Iranian chief negotiator in the peace process for Syria.

Iran’s legal victory over U.S. in ICJ unrivaled: professor

TEHRAN – The legal success of the Islamic Republic of Iran against the United States was unprecedented in The Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ), a University professor has said.

Row over CFT is not good: MP

TEHRAN - Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Chairman Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh has said that a continued struggle over the CFT, a legislation to combat financing of terrorism, is not good.

Senior Iranian diplomat meets Abdullah in Tajikistan

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy foreign minister on Saturday met with Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

Iranian, Chinese diplomats hold talks

TEHRAN - Kazem Gharib Abadi, Iran’s representative to the Vienna-based international organizations, and Ambassador Wang Qun, China’s permanent representative to the UN (Vienna), held a meeting on Friday discussing expansion of relations.

‘Military men are people’s sanctuary in difficult times’

TEHRAN - Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Hossein Baqeri said on Saturday that military men can be the “people’s sanctuary” in difficult time.

‘CFT approval will boost Iran’s economic interaction’

TEHRAN – The Iranian parliament on October 7 ratified a global convention to cut off terror financing, a move that Reza Kami, chairman of the Iran-Turkey Joint Chamber of Commerce, says will improve Iran’s international image and facilitate Iran’s economic interaction with the outside world.

Pakistani figure suggests formation of coordination committee to facilitate Arbaeen pilgrimage

TEHRAN – A Pakistani political leader has suggested formation a coordination committee between Iran, Pakistan and Iraq to facilitate visit of Pakistani pilgrims to holy places in Iraq during Arbaeen.

‘Documents seized show certain Arab states back separatist terror group in Iran’

TEHRAN – Members of a separatist terrorist group have been killed in Kermanshah by Iran’s security forces, Intelligence Ministry said in a statement on Saturday, ISNA reported.

By staff and agency

Syria has right to authorize Iranian troops on its soil: Russian diplomat

Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian deputy foreign minister, has said that it is Syria’s sovereign right to authorize Iranian troops on its soil.

Nikki Haley forced to resign following failed anti-Iran bid at UN Security Council: senior analyst

TEHRAN – Ali Khorram, a senior analyst and former Iranian ambassador to UN bodies in Vienna, says U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley was fired by Donald Trump because of her failure in uniting the members of the UN Security Council against Tehran.

Iran able to defend West Asia under 12 minutes: IRGC

TEHRAN – Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Mohammad Ali Jafari said on Friday that the Islamic Republic enjoys the military power to defend West Asia in less than 12 minutes.

‘U.S. after turning Iranians against system’

TEHRAN – The interim Friday prayer leader of Tehran has said the U.S. government’s propaganda is aimed at turning the Iranian nation against the Islamic Republic system by overstating corruption and accusing rulers of corruption.

Senior Iranian MP urges talks with anti-Trump movements in U.S.

TEHRAN - Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Chairman Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh has said that Iran should follow diplomacy of negotiation with movements inside the U.S. which are opposed to President Donald Trump’s policy toward Iran.

Police hosts foreign diplomats

TEHRAN – The Iranian police on Wednesday hosted a conference with foreign ambassadors, charges d’affaires, and representatives of international organizations in Tehran.

Iran urges intl. community to respond to U.S. unilateralism

TEHRAN - Gholamali Khoshroo, Iran’s ambassador to the UN, said on Tuesday the U.S. unilateralism is a “serious threat” to the world and suggested that a “swift” and “robust” reaction is needed by the international community to counter this policy.