Rouhani calls for closer Tehran-Ankara co-op

TEHRAN — President Hassan Rouhani has called for closer Tehran-Ankara cooperation in the face of the United States’ cruel sanctions against the Iranian people.

Chabahar airport project a ‘major stimulus’ to attract tourists, investors

TEHRAN - Chabahar Free Trade–Industrial Zone Organization is planning to build an international airport which would be a major stimulus to attract both tourists and investors to the region in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province.

By Mohammad Mazhari

Persian Gulf states working hard to cause clash between Turkey and Egypt over Libya: Turkish analyst

The assassination of Jamal Khashoggi on October 2, 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul led to political conflict between Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Ankara blamed Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman over the killing and stagnation in Saudi-Turkish relations.

By Salman Parviz

Egypt, Turkey on clash course over Libya

Imminent battle over the key city of Sirte; Ankara, Moscow seek lasting cease-fire

TEHRAN- In a sign of hope for peace and stability in Libya, early July Turkey announced its banks and companies’ plans for an assessment trip within two weeks to rebuild post-war Libya and secure its energy infrastructure.

IranAir to resume Istanbul flights after five-month halt over virus pandemic

TEHRAN – Iran’s flag carrier Homa, known internationally as IranAir, is scheduled to resume Tehran-Istanbul flights following some five months of suspension over the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Iran eyes to attract more travelers from Turkey

TEHRAN – Iranian travel agencies plan to offer stimulus packages and hold familiarization tours for Turkish agencies, tour operators, journalists, and influencers in a bid to attract more travelers from the neighboring country.

By Mohammad Mazhari

U.S. has admitted military and political failures in Syria: Russian academic

TEHRAN - An associate professor in the Department of Comparative Politics at RUDN University believes that the United States has admitted its military and political failure in Syria.

By Salman Parviz

Post-war reconstruction plans for Libya?

After heavy losses in early June Haftar ready to stop fighting

An assessment trip is planned within two weeks by Turkish banks and companies on how to rebuild post-war Libya and secure its energy infrastructure. People familiar with the plan informed Reuters. Turkish state lenders plan to help set up Libya's banking system and assist in organizing payment channels through Turkey for key Libyan imports.

U.S. cannot cause any harm to the will of Syria’s friends, Iranian president says

Rouhani, Putin, Erdogan voice commitment to Syria’s sovereignty

TEHRAN — Presidents of Iran, Russia and Turkey on Wednesday held a tripartite virtual summit voicing strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria.

Turkish figure says anti-Iran sanctions ‘unacceptable’

TEHRAN — Fatih Arbakan, Turkey’s new leader of the Welfare Party, has termed as unacceptable the U.S. sanctions against Iran amid the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Iranian airlines start selling Tehran-Istanbul tickets

TEHRAN – Some Iranian airline companies have resumed selling tickers for Tehran-Istanbul flights, the secretary of the Association of Iranian Airlines has said.

Iran likely to resume flights to Turkey on June 20 after 3-month suspension

TEHRAN – Flights to Turkey will likely be resumed on June 20 after nearly three months of suspension over the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior Iranian aviation official was quoted as saying by Press TV on Sunday.

Zarif says Tehran to host Syria talks within Astana format

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced on Monday that Tehran will soon host a meeting on Syria on the basis of the Astana talks.

Book on Persian poet Omar Khayyam published in Turkey

TEHRAN – A book titled “Omar Khayyam: His Life, Thought, Works and Rubaiyat” (Ömer Hayyam: Hayati, Düsüncesi, Eserleri ve Rubaileri) has recently been published in Turkey.

IRGC rejects claims of PKK presence at border

TEHRAN - IRGC Ground Force Commander Mohammad Pakpour has rejected claims about presence of the Kurdistan Workers Party’s elements in Iran’s border with Turkey.

Actor Shahab Hosseini on Turkey’s Intl. Migration Film Festival panel

TEHRAN – Palme d’Or winning actor Shahab Hosseini has been selected for the jury of the International Migration Film Festival in Turkey.

Coronavirus: Iran preparing to reopen doors to foreign travelers

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism ministry has forecast that the country will start hosting foreign travelers as of mid-summer with the priority given to travelers from the neighboring countries.

Ghalibaf says Iran-Turkey cooperation needed to establish peace and security

TEHRAN - Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, newly-elected speaker of the Iranian parliament, said on Friday that cooperation between Iran and Turkey is important to establish and promote long-lasting peace and security in the region.

By Salman Parviz

Prospects of normalization grim in Libya

Common understanding among foreign actors needed

TEHRAN_ Analysts say that Libya is one of the most important crisis to watch for in 2020 because of the involvement of Russia and Turkey. More importantly, the plight of the Libyans after almost 10 years of civil war cannot be ignored.

Only Syrian people should decide about their future, Iran insists

TEHRAN – The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman on Sunday refuted claims by certain media outlets that guarantors of the Astana process have decided to decide about the future of the Syrian government, calling the claims “unfounded”.

Iran sends homegrown 40,000 test kits to Germany, Turkey: Zarif

TEHRAN — Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has written on his Twitter page saying Iran has sent 40,000 advanced test kits to Germany, Turkey, and other countries to help them fight the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

Envoy: Iran starts to export COVID-19 test kits to Germany, Turkey

TEHRAN — Iran has started to export coronavirus diagnostic kits to a number of countries, including Germany and Turkey, Iranian Ambassador to London Hamid Baeidinejad announced on Wednesday.

Turkey is playing with fire in Eastern Mediterranean

It is not so difficult for the political-military observers to realize that Ankara is making great mistakes in the Eastern Mediterranean via providing unsparing military supports for the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya for economic interests, trying to confront Greece and Cyprus for hydrocarbon deposits, driving a wedge amongst the European nations to revenge on the EU, and resorting to military meddling in northern Syria to gain upper hand against Russia in the region.   

How serious are tensions between Turkey and Saudi-UAE bloc?

The Khashoggi murder, disagreement over Qatar and Syrian crisis, Turkey’s support for the so-called Arab Spring uprisings and many other disputing issues have in past years soured relations between Ankara and Riyadh but neither sides feel required responsibility to take practical step towards de-escalation in the region.

Greek-Turkish dispute over Aegean Sea may lead the two-NATO states towards military confrontation

Demilitarized statues of the Aegean Sea's islands has in recent years been a source of serious tensions between the two NATO member states of Greece and Turkey, causing regional states to start getting worried about a possible military confrontation between Ankara and Athena if the relevant international bodies do not mediate in time.   

Larijani congratulates Turkish parliament’s centenary

TEHRAN — Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has congratulated Turkey on 100th anniversary of the establishment of its parliament, according to IRNA.

By staff and agency

Russian, Iranian, Turkish foreign ministers to discuss Syria via video conference

The foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey are scheduled to hold a round of negotiations on Syria via video conference on Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry told TASS on Monday.

Zarif discusses Afghanistan with Turkish, Russian and Qatari foreign ministers

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has discussed the political crisis in Afghanistan and the latest developments in the country with his Turkish, Russian and Qatari counterparts in separate phone calls on Monday.

Tehran exports $73m of handicrafts in year

TEHRAN – Handicrafts exports from Tehran province reached some $73 million during the previous Iranian calendar year 1398 (ended March 19), ILNA reported.

Iran, Turkey discuss cooperation in fighting coronavirus

TEHRAN – Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani and Mustafa Sentop, the Turkish parliament speaker, held a phone conversation on Wednesday discussing cooperation and joint actions in containing the coronavirus.