COVIRAN vaccine starts third phase of human trial

TEHRAN – COVIRAN BAREKAT, the first coronavirus vaccine made by Iranian researchers, started the third phase of the human trial, Mostafa Qanei, secretary of the biotechnology development office of the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, announced.

Rouhani: Security is Iran-Pakistan ‘common concern’

TEHRAN — In his meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday, President Rouhani emphasized the need to ensure peace and stability in the region with a focus on regional mechanisms and securing the borders of the two neighboring countries.

Persepolis legend Jasemian hospitalized with coronavirus

TEHRAN – Persepolis football club legend Hamid Jasemian has tested positive for COVID-19.

U.S. protests: Black teen girl fatally shot by Ohio police

A Black teenage girl was fatally shot by police in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday afternoon, shortly before a U.S. jury found former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin guilty of third-degree murder in the May 2020 death of George Floyd.

Iran advance to FIFA Futsal World Cup 2021

TEHRAN - Iran will represent Asia at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021.

Powerful explosion rocks sensitive Israeli missile factory

A powerful explosion took place on Tuesday at a sensitive weapons factory during a test in central Israel, Haaretz reported.

TEDPIX drops 12,500 points on Wednesday

TEHRAN- TEDPIX, the main index of Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE), lost 12,527 points to 1.207 million on Wednesday.

South Korea releases $30m of Iran’s blocked money

TEHRAN - Hossein Tanhaei, head of the Iran-South Korea Joint Chamber of Commerce, said on Wednesday that South Korea has released $30 million of the Islamic Republic’s frozen oil money in the Asian country to be used for purchasing COVID-19 vaccine.

Heads of joint chambers of commerce gather to discuss economic issues

TEHRAN – The first meeting of the heads of Iran’s joint chambers of commerce council in the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21) was held on Wednesday to explore the country’s economic issues in the current year.

Iran-Pakistan 3rd border crossing launched

TEHRAN – The third border crossing between Iran and Pakistan called Pishin-Mand was officially inaugurated on Wednesday in a ceremony attended by Iranian Transport and Urban Development Minister Mohammad Eslami and some Pakistani officials.

Annual iron ore pellet output up 10%

TEHRAN - Latest data released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) indicate that iron ore pellet production by major Iranian mining companies exceeded 46 million tons in the previous Iranian calendar year (ended on March 20), registering a 10 percent growth year on year.

Diaz-Canel becomes Cuba's Communist Party chief

Cuba's ruling Communist Party has elected President Miguel Diaz-Canel to replace Raul Castro as its leader -- the most powerful position in the Caribbean island nation, that was held by the Castro brothers for six decades.

Xi says world needs justice, not hegemony in veiled reference to U.S.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a fairer world order in the face of the West’s unilateralism, warning hegemonic countries against “bossing others around.”

Minneapolis law enforcement agencies call for peaceful protests after a verdict

U.S. anti-racism protesters have rallied in Minneapolis as the murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin was taking place.

By Chris Cook, University College London lecturer

Energy diplomacy

Now the U.S. administration has made the transition to President Biden we see the U.S. engaging with Iran indirectly in Vienna via the other JCPOA participants. Meanwhile although the global Covid demand shock lingers, the recovery of the oil price which began immediately after the U.S. election has been more or less sustained. 

EU: JCPOA parties agree to create third expert group to look into possible respective measures

TEHRAN – As the coordinator of the nuclear deal talks in Vienna, the European Union issued a statement on Tuesday in which it said the JCPOA Joint Commission will convene next week.

Gilan’s handicraft artisans provided with $360,000 in loans

TEHRAN - The deputy director of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department of Gilan Province announced that a total of 145 billion rials in loans were paid to the handicraft artisans in the last Iranian year (ended March 19).

324 eco-lodge units come on stream in Kerman

TEHRAN – The director-general of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department of Kerman province has said 324 eco-lodge units have been inaugurated in this province until the end of the past Iranian calendar year (March 19).

Charity foundation supports 110,000 job plans for the deprived

TEHRAN – Barekat Charity Foundation, affiliated to Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam, has supported 110,000 job plans for the people residing in deprived areas over the past Iranian calendar year (March 2020-March 2021), deputy head of the foundation has said.

General Fallahzadeh named IRGC Quds Force deputy chief

TEHRAN – After a confirmation by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Fallahzadeh was appointed as the new deputy chief of the IRGC Quds Force.

Pakistan’s chief diplomat visits Tehran for talks on mutual ties, regional issues

TEHRAN - Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan’s foreign minister, visited Tehran on Tuesday for talks with top Iranian officials on mutual relations and the latest regional security issues.