Document on Iran-Europe co-op should be ready by the next few days: MP

TEHRAN - Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Chairman Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said on Sunday that document on economic cooperation between Iran and Europe should be prepared in the next few days.

Pakpour goes to Pakistan to pursue case of kidnapped soldiers

TEHRAN - The IRGC Ground Force Commander, Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, left for Pakistan on Monday to pursue the case of the Iranian border guards kidnapped to Pakistan by terrorist on October 15, IRGC spokesman Ramazan Sharif announced on Monday.

‘U.S. feels defeated after leaving nuclear deal’

TEHRAN – Iranian MP Ali Najafi Khoshroodi said on Monday that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that the U.S. feels “defeated” after leaving the 2015 nuclear deal.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW by Mehdi Sepahvand

Tehran says still can’t understand why Canada unilaterally cut ties

TEHRAN - Tehran still cannot understand why Canada unilaterally severed diplomatic ties with Iran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi told the Tehran Times on Sunday after a former Canadian diplomat had criticized Ottawa for the current diplomatic blackout.

Iran denies meddling in U.S. mid-term elections

TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Ministry has denied allegations of interference in the United States’ mid-term congressional elections, saying the Islamic Republic’s principled policy is not to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. 

‘Humanitarian situation in Yemen is catastrophic’

TEHRAN - Hossein Amir Abdollahian, a senior foreign policy advisor to the Iranian parliament speaker, said on Saturday that the humanitarian situation in Yemen is catastrophic.

Rouhani nominates four new ministers

TEHRAN – Finally on Sunday President Hassan Rouhani officially released the names of four nominees to the parliament for the post of Labor, economy, industry, and transport ministers.

Iran to use artificial intelligence in legislation

TEHRAN – Yunes Adiani, an official at the research center of the parliament, has said that Iran will use artificial intelligence in legislation.

‘Stupid law’ preventing Canada’s re-engagement with Iran: retired envoy

The real reason the Liberal government hasn’t been able to re-establish relations with Iran is due to its adherence to a “stupid” Canadian law allowing the seizure of Iranian assets, says Canada’s recently expelled ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Diplomat says has plans to strengthen Tehran-Seoul ties

TEHRAN – Iranian Ambassador to South Korea Saeed Badamchi Shabestari said on Saturday that he has plans to expand ties with Seoul.

Expediency Council studies CFT

TEHRAN – On Saturday, Iran’s Expediency Council started deliberations on the bill to join the CFT, a legislation to combat financing of terrorism.

Asia-Europe leaders support JCPOA, decry return of sanctions 

TEHRAN – Late on Friday, the political leaders attending the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) reaffirmed their "collective support" for a multilateral nuclear agreement Iran signed with major world powers in 2015, saying the lifting of sanctions against Tehran is an essential part of the deal.

Iranian military chief urges Pakistan to immediately arrest kidnappers

TEHRAN - Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri has urged Pakistan to take immediate action to arrest terrorists who kidnapped more than 10 Iranian border guards last week.

Iran urges FATF to focus on technical reports

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Friday that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) should focus on technical reports and avoid any political motivations.

Moscow hosts Iran-Russia-India summit

TEHRAN – The Russkiy Mir Foundation held a trilateral summit between the Islamic Republic of Iran, Russian Federation and India in Moscow on Friday. The summit will continue on Saturday.

Russia cannot force Iran out of Syria: Putin

TEHRAN - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia cannot force Iran to end its presence in Syria and rejected U.S. and Israeli calls for Moscow to persuade Iran to pull its military forces out of Syria.

New Iran sanctions most serious mistake in U.S. foreign policy: Jack Straw

TEHRAN - Former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said on Thursday that imposition of sanctions on Iran is the most serious mistake in U.S. foreign policy.

FATF gives Iran until February to complete reforms

The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force said on Friday Iran had until February to complete reforms that would bring it into line with global norms or face consequences.

Iran, Turkey discuss border security

TEHRAN – Murat Zorluoglu, the governor of Turkey’s Van, has met with Emamali Khodaeifar, the Iranian commander of border crossing of Razi, in Iran’s city of Khoy to discuss border security, tourism and trade ties between the two countries.

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.

Trump has launched ‘economic terrorism’ by halting Iranians’ access to medicine: Hatami

TEHRAN –Defense Minister Amir Hatami said on Monday that the Donald Trump administration has launched “economic terrorism” by preventing Iranians’ access to medicine, calling the move “inhumane”.