U.S. must leave Iraq: ex-diplomat

TEHRAN - Hassan Danaeefar, the former Iranian ambassador to Iraq, has said it is essential that the United States leave Iraq now that the Iraqi parliament has voted to expel American forces from the country.

Iran tourism will rebound despite suffering a severe blow: minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister on Sunday said that the country’s tourism industry has suffered a major setback but it will certainly return to “normal”.

Iran downplays fresh U.S. sanctions

TEHRAN - The Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Saturday condemned the new U.S. sanctions on Iran, saying sanctions on senior Iranian officials as well as metal industries will bring nothing for Washington.

Iran fires missiles at U.S. air base to avenge Soleimani assassination

TEHRAN – Early on Wednesday, on the dead of the night, the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) fired ballistic missiles at the U.S. Ain al-Assad airbase in southwestern Iraq in retaliation for the assassination of IRGC Quds Force Commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

Rouhani to U.S.: ‘Your foot will be cut from the region’

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani told the U.S. on Wednesday that “you cut the hand of Soleimani but we will cut your foot from the region”.

IRGC warns US’ regional allies of becoming source of anti-Iran aggression

TEHRAN – In a statement on Wednesday, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps issued a warning to regional countries that bear US bases.

By Salman Parviz

Some reactions to Soleimani’s assassination

More reasons for American troops to feel welcome and safe?

The assassination of revered General Qassem Soleimani this Friday can be considered at best as shot first and make excuses later, a typical of American cowboy posture. It is hard to place confidence in U.S. President Donald Trump, who lies almost daily about matters large and small. His short-sighted nature on decisions regarding national security (including call off strikes against Iran 10 minutes before impact, invite the Taliban to Camp David and abandoning the Kurds, buddying up with Kim Jung-un, are to name a few).

By Mohammad Ghaderi

Hegemons’ media warfare to complete the Soleimani assassination project

The media outlets of the hegemonic system have made certain efforts to ignore Major General Qassem Soleimani’s attempt in confronting terrorism, naming him only an Iranian commander and downplaying his international and special role in the fight against terrorism.

By Mahmood Khaghani, energy expert

A Turning Point 

In what is widely considered a US act of terrorism, President Trump ordered an assassination team  to eliminate  Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, leader of the foreign wing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, commander of part of Iraqi’s national defence force on a road leading to Baghdad International Airport on Jan. 2, 2020. 

Iraqi nationals top list of foreign tourist arrivals in Kordestan

TEHRAN – Iraqi travelers constituted the largest source of foreign arrivals in the western Iranian province of Kordestan during the first three quarters of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2019), compared to the same period last year, provincial tourism chief has said.

By Afshin Majlesi

World reacts to Trump’s threat to raid Iranian culture targets as ‘a war crime’

TEHRAN - Donald Trump’s new threat to attack 52 important targets in Iran, including cultural sites, has provoked a strong backlash worldwide, with many calling it a “war crime.”

* By Ali Rajabi

The martyrdom that would lead to a real “Islamic Awakening”

TEHRAN - Less than a decade ago, people of Arab countries began to protest against their dictators to achieve justice and freedom also named “Arab Spring”. This moral path took a detour and lost its right way. It was the U.S. effort to mislead the people by creating some terrorist groups including ISIS, Al-NOSRAH and ETC. 

By Batool Subeiti

America shoots itself in the foot

LONDON - Following the U.S. President’s approval of the assassination of Iran’s top general, head of IRGC Quds Force Qassem Soleimani, the U.S. bombed a car carrying him in early Friday morning, shortly after he arrived at Iraq’s Baghdad airport. The strike also killed Iraqi militia commander, deputy chief of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and at least 6 other people who were with them.

Rouhani pays visit to martyr Soleimani’s family

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday morning visited family members of IRGC Quds Commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, who was martyred in a U.S. air raid in Baghdad on Friday.

Iraqi PM hails Soleimani, Muhandis as symbols of victory against ISIS

TEHRAN — Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi on Friday condemned the assassination of IRGC Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMU), in a U.S. airstrike at the Baghdad International Airport.

U.S. embassy in Iraq asks American citizens to depart Iraq ‘immediately’

TEHRAN — The U.S. embassy in Iraq has issued a security warning to American citizens to depart Iraq immediately, suspending all public consular operations until further notice.

Iran warns White House of any inconsiderate move

U.S. seeking to divert attention from brutal killing of Iraqis by levelling charges against Iran: envoy

TEHRAN - Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, said on Tuesday that the United States seeks to divert attention from 17 years of occupying Iraq and brutal killing of the Iraqi people by leveling accusations against Iran.

* By Mohammad Ghaderi

The secret of U.S. attacks on PMU positions in al-Qa'im

In an unprecedented move, which indicates the beginning of direct conflict between U.S.-Israeli coalition and the axis of resistance, the U.S. attacked the bases related to Iraq’s Kata'ib Hezbollah, near the al-Qa’im border crossing. The move by the Americans reveals the U.S. desire to occupy Iraq and meet the interests of the Zionist regime.

Advisor condemns U.S. attacks in Iraq

TEHRAN — Hossein Amir Abdollahian, a senior foreign policy advisor to the Iranian parliament speaker, has condemned the U.S. attacks on Iraqi soil, suggesting that the U.S. has been supporting Daesh (ISIS) all along.

IRGC slams U.S. attacks as violation of Iraq’s sovereignty

TEHRAN — Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has strongly denounced the U.S. attacks on the Iraqi popular forces, emphasizing that the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) – also known as al-Hashd al-Shaabi – has the right to avenge the attacks.

By Morteza Helali

Objectives and impacts of U.S. aggression on Hashd al-Shaabi’s bases

TEHRAN - The U.S. Army fighter jets targeted several bases of the Iraqi popular forces of Hashd al-Shaabi at border with Syria on Sunday evening.

Find out why medical tourism is to be big business in Iran

Nowadays, medical tourism is considered as a booming industry on the global scene as some 20 to 24 million patients are traveling for medical treatments annually. Estimates on market size vary but the Patients Without Borders publishing group puts its value at around €60 to €80 billion worldwide.

Iraq’s Barham Salih meets Iranian diplomat

TEHRAN - Iraqi President Barham Salih met with Iranian Ambassador to Baghdad Iraj Masjedi on Monday, Ain Al-Iraq News Agency reported, according to ISNA.

Iran calls U.S. attacks on Iraqi forces ‘clear example of terrorism’

TEHRAN — Iran on Monday denounced U.S. airstrikes against Iraqi forces as a “clear example of terrorism”.

Foreign arrivals in Semnan province up 22% since March

TEHRAN – International tourist arrivals in Iran’s north-central Semnan province rose 22 percent since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21), provincial tourism chief has said.

Iraqi president submits resignation after rejecting nominee for prime minister

Iraqi President Barham Salih has submitted his resignation to parliament after refusing to designate the nominee for premiership, Assad al-Eidani, arguing that he would rather step down than appoint the position to a figure strongly rejected by protesters.

U.S. plots fail to deter foreign travelers from visiting Iran, VP says

TEHRAN – Millions of foreign nationals did not pay attention to the U.S. sanctions and plots, aiming to discourage potential travelers from visiting the Islamic Republic, First Vice-President Es’haq Jahangiri said on Monday.