By Rohan Cahill-Fleury

Explore Iran’s wondrous Persian Gulf islands you’ve never heard of

The Persian Gulf is home to all kinds of undiscovered natural beauty. Islands are not something usually associated with the desert land of Iran. But in this vast and beautiful country, there is a bit of everything. The islands of the Persian Gulf are home to a plethora of geographical wonders, they’re easy to get to, cheap to visit, and have great weather. Yet most people don’t even know they exist.

*By Mohammad Ghaderi

Why countries are reluctant to join U.S.-led maritime coalition

TEHRAN - The U.S.-led naval coalition to protect shipping in the Persian Gulf formally was launched in Bahrain on Thursday. But the notable point is that countries have not welcomed this plan. Only a few countries with ineffective naval power have joined the coalition.

Kuwait says conveyed messages from Iran to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain 

TEHRAN - Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah said on Tuesday that his country conveyed messages from Iran to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain regarding the situation in the Persian Gulf region, and “until now no answers have emerged”, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

Foreign Ministry says Rouhani has sent letters to Persian Gulf states on Iranian peace plan

TEHRAN - Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Saturday that Iran is serious about providing security in the Persian Gulf region and confirmed that President Hassan Rouhani’s letter about the Hormuz peace plan has been sent to heads of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council and Iraq.

Discover incredible rock formations in southern Iranian island 

TEHRAN – You can find one of the world’s most eye-catching nature’s creativities at its finest on Qeshm Island, southern Iran, where stunning rock formations are a sign of perpetual thumping of the waves, storms and raging winds.

Tehran, Muscat in talks to waive visas for visitors from Iran

TEHRAN - Iran has officially lifted the visa requirement for Omani nationals and now the two countries are in talks to do the same for Iranian travelers.

Qeshm to host FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour

TEHRAN - The 2020 portion of the 2019-2020 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour calendar begins during the first full week of January when the Iranian island Qeshm in Persian Gulf hosts an inaugural event.

FM says: “War is beneficial to no one”

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

TEHRAN - Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has renewed Iran’s call to all countries in the region to join Tehran’s initiative known as the Hormuz Peace Endeavour (HOPE).

Russia to present own Persian Gulf security doctrine till yearend 

TEHRAN – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has said that Moscow is trying to offer its Persian Gulf security doctrine within the framework of a completely internationally-accepted document till the end of 2019, the Persian language service of the Sputnik news agency reported on Wednesday. 

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.

Jubeir rejects Saudis’ involvement in attack on Iranian oil tanker 

TEHRAN – Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir said on Sunday that Riyadh was not behind a suspected strike against an Iranian-owned oil tanker off the Saudi coast in the Red Sea on Friday.

Iran’s first space theme park in the pipeline

TEHRAN – Iran plans to create its first space theme park in the southern Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf.

Iranian MP says U.S. military coalition in Persian Gulf has failed

TEHRAN – Spokesman for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee said on Wednesday that the so-called military coalition in the Persian Gulf proposed and led by the U.S. failed at its first step.

Araghchi holds Washington responsible for heightened tensions in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf is a result of Washington’s meddlesome policies in the region.

General warns of ramifications of war in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN – Head of the Civil Defense Organization has warned of the consequences of any war in the Persian Gulf, saying dire consequences await those who start a war.

By Shireen T. Hunter

Persian Gulf Arab states should accept Iran’s olive branch

Hopes for some sort of breakthrough in U.S.-Iran relations were thwarted at the United Nations General Assembly last week. A supposed deal struck by French President Emmanuel Macron to arrange a telephone conversation between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and U.S. President Donald Trump did not go through.

Iran’s strategy is to protect security in Persian Gulf: diplomat

TEHRAN - Mahmoud Heidari, the Iranian ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, has said that Iran’s approach is to protect security in the Persian Gulf through regional cooperation.

Zanganeh calls on regional countries to view Iran as their friend

TEHRAN – Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh has said the enemy of Persian Gulf countries is not one of the region’s countries but it comes from outside the region, pointing to the United States.

By staff and agency

Qatar says ‘Coalition for Hope’ initiative shows Iran’s willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue for regional security

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lolwah R.M. Al-Khater has said that President Hassan Rouhani’s “Coalition for Hope” shows Iran’s willingness to engage in a meaningful conversation.

Chinese FM urges Persian Gulf states to form ‘platform for dialogue’

China’s chief diplomat, Wang Yi, suggested on Friday that countries bordering the Persian Gulf “should be urged to establish a platform for dialogue and consultation.”

By staff and agency

Omani FM says Muscat will consider supporting ‘Hormuz Peace Endeavor’

Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah has said that Muscat will consider supporting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s “Hormuz Peace Endeavor”.

“India differs with U.S. definition of Iran” 

Indian PM, Iranian president hold talks at UN

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a significant move on Thursday met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in New York as New Delhi sought to engage Tehran with an eye on energy interests and connectivity corridor via Chabahar Port amid fast changing geo-politics, the Economic Times reported. 

By Mohammad Ghaderi

Decoding Iranian president plan entitled “Hormuz Peace initiative”

TEHRAN - While, only few days left until President Hassan Rouhani’s speech at the UN, world media has begun to speculate about the content of his remarks by offering various analyzes. 

By staff and agency

Australia not to be drawn into military conflict with Iran: Scott Morrison

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said that his country will not be drawn into any military conflict with Iran.

By Zahra Mirzafarjouyan

‘U.S. might topple Saudi Arabia as the world's top oil exporter sooner than planned’

TEHRAN– Commenting on recent drone attack on Saudi Aramco Mehmet Ogutcu says prior to this attack, the U.S. was planning to double its crude oil exports to 9 million barrels per day by 2024. That means the U.S. might topple Saudi Arabia as the world's top oil exporter sooner than planned. 

By Payman Yazdani

Geopolitical expert talks of US plan to grab Saudi oil share from global market

TEHRAN– Anthony Cartalucci says it surely is no coincidence the US is targeting virtually every major energy producer from Iran, Venezuela, and Russia, but also including its own "allies" such as Saudi Arabia.

Iranian Perspective: Sunset Of America’s Global Leadership With Part-Time Strategists

Trump’s doctrine “America first” was created to form a new one-polar system with the leadership of the U.S. and it was based on nullifying the interests of multilateralism in regular world relations.

Iran fully prepared to protect own interests in Persian Gulf, says top general

TEHRAN – Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, has said Iran is fully prepared to protect its interests in the Persian Gulf.

By staff and agency

UN welcomes any effort to avoid confrontation in Persian Gulf: Guterres

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that any effort to avoid a confrontation in the Persian Gulf “will always be welcome”.

Iran frees 7 crew members of seized British tanker

TEHRAN – Iran has released seven crew members of British oil tanker Stena Impero detained in July in the Persian Gulf for violating international maritime law.