By Martin Love

Iran is wisest not to damage burgeoning favorable opinion

NORTH CAROLINA - Has the current American government become so sanguine as to assume the American people believe dubious charges that Iran attacked ships near the Straits of Hormuz? Well, maybe it has, and the American people have become or remain that blind or ignorant to believe what the Trump gang tells them.

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.

Araqchi: Security in Persian Gulf is an ‘integrated and indivisible concept’

TEHRAN – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi says security in the Persian Gulf is an “integrated and indivisible” concept.

US aircraft carrier dispatched to ME over Iran keeps off PG.

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which the United States rapidly dispatched to the Middle East amid tensions with Iran, has stayed outside of the strategic Persian Gulf waters, with its commander saying that the US Navy is seeking to avoid escalations.

U.S. pressure on Tehran rooted in Iran’s regional power: Zarif

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif believes that the U.S. has exerted greatest pressure on Tehran because of Iran’s power in the West Asia region.

Riyadh continues to sow division among Muslim, regional states, Iran regrets

Iran: Arab League statement doesn’t reflect the real stance of all members 

TEHRAN – Tehran has condemned a statement issued by the heads of certain Arab states at the end of an emergency meeting in the holy city of Mecca, rejecting the “unfounded” accusations raised against Iran in the statement.

Araghchi says regional non-aggression pact will pave the way for trust

TEHRAN - Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that a “regional non-aggression pact” will pave the way for neighboring countries to build trust and have constructive interaction.

‘Certain elements within Trump administration pushing for war with Iran’ 

TEHRAN – Certain elements in the Donald Trump government are trying to drive the United States into war with Iran, Iran’s deputy foreign minister has said.

Diplomat: Tehran ready to clear up misunderstandings with Arab states 

TEHRAN – The Iranian ambassador to Paris has said that Tehran is ready to clear up misunderstandings with certain neighboring Arab countries on the southern shores of the Persian Gulf.

Russia welcomes Iran’s proposal for regional nonaggression pact

TEHRAN – Russian on Monday praised Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's recent suggestion to Persian Gulf states to sign a nonaggression pact as the first step to reduce regional tensions.

Iran rejects talks with U.S., says ready to negotiate with Persian Gulf states

TEHRAN - Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday rejected any “direct or indirect” talks with the United States, however, he offered that Tehran is ready to negotiate with “each and every country” in the Persian Gulf region.

Iran establishes marine environmental data and information network

TEHRAN – The vice presidency for science and technology establishes Iranian Marine Environmental Data and Information Network, Mehr reported on Saturday.

Advisor: IRGC may sink U.S. ships using 'two top secret weapons'

TEHRAN – A senior adviser to the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has said that Iran has two new “top secret weapons” and may use them to sink U.S. warships “with everything and everyone on board.”

Iran’s deterrence prevents war, commander says

TEHRAN – Underling Iran’s high deterrence power, Iran’s navy commander said on Thursday that enemies do not dare to launch a war against Iran.

Iran writes to UN on alarming security situation in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN - Majid Takht Ravanchi, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations, has warned about the recent “alarming security situation” in the Persian Gulf region.

PGCC starts increasing security patrols in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN – Countries member the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council have started patrolling in the region amid the U.S. escalation of tensions with Tehran.

By Mehdi Sepahvand

U.S. airline call serving ‘psychological warfare’

TEHRAN - A recent call by the United States administration to American airliners to avoid flying over the Persian Gulf is a tool of psychological warfare, according to Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Saudis, other Arab states okay U.S. troop deployment in Persian Gulf: report

(Press TV) - Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf Arab states reportedly gave the green light to the U.S. deploying its troops and warships to the region to counter what they claim “imminent threat” from Tehran.

Iranian official: USS Lincoln in Arabian Sea

TEHRAN - An Iranian official has said that the USS Abraham Lincoln is stationed in the Arabian Sea and not moving towards the Persian Gulf. Earlier this week, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces in the region had been placed on “high alert,” but no evidence was presented to justify the elevated security posture.

Researchers discover flat cup coral habitat in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN — Researchers have discovered one of the main habitats of flat cup coral in the Persian Gulf, ISNA news agency reported on Monday.

Navy chief downplays U.S. presence in Persian Gulf, saying it is ‘nothing new’

TEHRAN – Chief of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said on Sunday that the presence of U.S. naval fleet in the Persian Gulf is just for a show, noting that it does not serve any other purpose.

IRGC commander: U.S. does not dare to wage a war on Iran 

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior official at the Islamic Revolution Guards Cops (IRGC) says the United States does not dare to wage a war on Iran despite its recent deployment of an aircraft carrier and bombers in the Persian Gulf.

Admiral: Iran to stand against threats to protect interests

TEHRAN – Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, the deputy army chief for coordination affairs, said on Thursday that the Iranian nation will firmly stand against any threat in order to protect its national interests.

Senior diplomat warns nuclear deal may fall apart any moment

Araqchi says Iran’s patience running thin

TEHRAN – Warning that Iran’s “patience is running thin”, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned on Tuesday that the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the JCPOA, may fall apart “at any moment” as the U.S. has endangered the agreement by withdrawing from it and reimposing sanctions on Iran.

Persian Gulf historical maps, documents go on show in Tehran

TEHRAN – Over 50 rarely-seen historical maps and documents, regarding the Persian Gulf, are on display at the Tehran Map Museum.

Iran to celebrate Persian Gulf National Day

TEHRAN – Today, Iranians from all walks of life are to celebrate Persian Gulf National Day, an occasion to commemorate the exit of colonial and foreign forces from the strategic waterway.

Iran, Russia to stage joint naval war games in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN - Rear-Admiral Hossein Khanzadi, the commander of Iran’s navy, announced on Monday that Iranian and Russian military forces will stage a naval drill in the Persian Gulf later this year.

Sputnik: Iranian news agency shows IRGC drone footage of U.S. carrier in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN - Iran's Tasnim news agency has published a video shot by a drone belonging to the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) flying over a U.S. aircraft carrier and an accompanying ship in the Persian Gulf, Sputnik reported on Saturday. 

Seafaring grows over Noruz holidays

TEHRAN – The number of sailings in Iran grew by nine percent during the Persian New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 16-April 4) in comparison to the same period last year, said deputy director of the Ports and Maritime Organization.