North Korea: If US wants to talk, put someone 'more mature' than Pompeo in charge

North Korea's Foreign Ministry has issued a stinging rebuke of United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, hours after the country claimed to have tested a new tactical weapon.

Iran celebrates National Army Day with nationwide military parades

TEHRAN- Iran celebrates its National Army Day with large-scale military parades across the country, showcasing its latest achievements in the defense sector.

Road accidents, top cause of death among youth: official 

TEHRAN- Road accidents is the leading cause of death in Iranian youth, accounting for 30% of deaths among them, said the head of community, family and schools health department in the Ministry of Health. 

Iran to host 2nd ECO conference, exhibit on health tourism

TEHRAN – Iran will be playing host to the 2nd International Health Tourism Conference of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), which will be held in Ardebil from June 18 to 20, Mehr reported.

Iran highlighting tourist attractions in Beijing 

TEHRAN – Iran has joined the 25th China tourism exhibition, which opened to the public on Tuesday, with an eye on attracting more Chinese travelers to the Islamic Republic.

Old gravestone found in northeast Iran

TEHRAN – An old gravestone that bears some inscriptions has recently been found in a flood-hit rural district in Chenaran country, Khorasan Razavi province, northeast Iran.

Free health care for flood-hit families

TEHRAN- The families struck by the flood will receive free medical care by the end of the crisis, announced Mohammad Esmaeil Motlaq, the director general for risk management at the Ministry of Health. 

Risk of malaria in flood-stricken areas

TEHRAN- There is a risk of malaria incidence in the near future in Hormozgan province and Sistan-Baluchestan province in the aftermath of the flash flood, said Ghasem Janbabai, the deputy health minister for medical care and education. 

PM Abdul-Mahdi rejects U.S. claim about IRGC role in Iraqi economy

Iraq has resolutely refuted a recent US claim that Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) plays a part in the Arab country’s economic affairs, saying Washington is lying about the role of the elite military force, which in fact helped the Baghdad government defeat the terror group Daesh.

Fresh restorations to begin on Hindu Temple

TEHRAN – A fresh round of restoration work is to commence on the Hindu Temple in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, ISNA quoted a local tourism official as saying on Wednesday.

By Mitra Taj and Marco Aquino

Peru's ex-president Garcia dies after shooting himself to avoid arrest

Peru's former president Alan Garcia died in a hospital in Lima on Wednesday, hours after shooting himself in the head to avoid arrest in connection with a bribery probe, authorities said on Wednesday.

Land subsidence an overlooked threat to the country: expert

TEHRAN – Although land subsidence is too subtle to be detected, it must be tackled before incurring great loss, which has been proved to be more destructive than flood and earthquake, deputy director for Iran National Cartographic Center has said.

75% of natural disasters linked with climate: expert

TEHRAN – Mostafa Mohaqeq, senior coordinator for Asia and Pacific Centre for Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM) said that some 75 percent of natural disasters happening in the world are associated with weather and climate.

Wetter-than-normal year not to make up for prolonged drought

TEHRAN – Hassan Sasani, an official with Isfahan regional water company, emphasized the urgency to tackle water scarcity in central parts of the country, noting that longstanding drought will not be eased by a year of above-normal precipitations.

Relief foundation to create 5,000 job plans in flood-stricken areas

TEHRAN –Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation will open up a total of 5,000 job plans for those financially struggling affected by flood, Parviz Fattah, the Foundation’s head has announced.

Iran set to use homegrown plasma in producing hemophilia medicine

TEHRAN- Iran is set to produce Hemophilia medicines using domestically produced plasma by the Iranian year 1400 (March 2021-March 2022), said the managing director of Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO). 

Tehran intl. conference to explore human origins across Zagros

TEHRAN - Iranology Foundation will host an international conference on Zagros in order to explore human origins, archaeology, geography, ancient rituals and myths across the mountain range.

Majlis to pass rangers’ protection bill by next 2 months

TEHRAN – A long-awaited bill to uphold the rights of rangers will be approved by Majlis [Iranian parliament] by the next two months, Asghar Daneshian, deputy director for parliamentary affairs of the Department of Environment (DOE) has said.

Royal Mail to re-establish post services to Iran, envoy says

TEHRAN – Iranian Ambassador to London Hamid Baeidinejad said on Wednesday that the Royal Mail Company has changed its decision to reject parcels to Iran after Tehran threatened to sue the company, and that it will soon re-start mail delivery to Iran.

Ill-wishers failed to turn floods into crisis: minister

TEHRAN – Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said on Tuesday that many of Iran’s ill-wishers and hostile media outlets tried but failed to turn the recent floods into a crisis.

Over $1.6b to be allocated for flood compensation

TEHRAN - Head of Iran's Planning and Budget Organization Mohammad Baqer Nobakht announced on Wednesday that at least 70 trillion rials (about $1.66 billion) is going to be allocated for compensating losses incurred to those who have been affected by recent floods in the country.

Zarif urges counterparts to stand against U.S. ‘provocative’ move on IRGC

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in a letter to his counterparts all around the world, called every government to adopt a principled, accurate and lawful stance against the United States’ recent measure against part of Iran’s armed forces, the Foreign Ministry reported on Wednesday.

Cutting overhaul period in SP refineries raises output by 7.4 bcm

TEHRAN – The output of South Pars gas refineries (in Southern Iran) is going to increase by over seven billion cubic meters (bcm) by cutting their overhauling period, Shana reported quoting the managing director of South Pars Gas Company (SPGC).

Netherlands stresses expansion of agriculture co-op with Iran

TEHRAN- Netherlands Ambassador to Iran Jacques Werner stressed expansion of cooperation with Iran in the field of agriculture, ILNA reported on Wednesday.

Zarif slams CENTCOM’s destabilizing activities in Yemen

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Wednesday slammed the United States Central Command (CENTCOM)’s destabilizing activities in Yemen, saying even Congress is opposed to CENTCOM’s action in Yemen but certain Arab countries intoxicated with petrol dollars are more powerful in entangling the U.S. in unending wars. 

Tehran urges Bahrain to end cruel verdicts against protesters

TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Wednesday urged the Bahraini rulers to end their cruel verdicts against the protesters and instead base their security on confidence building.

Rouhani to visit flood-hit Khouzestan, Lorestan

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani will travel to Khouzestan and Lorestan provinces to personally look into the problems facing the two flood-hit provinces, presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi said on Wednesday.

6 billion rials to be granted to authorized parties

TEHRAN – Hamid Molanouri, director general of the political department at the Interior Ministry, announced on Wednesday that the government has allocated 6 billion rials (nearly $143,000) as subsidy for authorized parties.

IPL leaders Persepolis held by Zob Ahan

TEHRAN – Zob Ahan and Persepolis football teams played out a goalless draw in Iran Professional League (IPL) on Wednesday.