Government: Britain isolated after oil tanker confiscation

TEHRAN – Government spokesman Ali Rabiei said on Sunday that the British government has become isolated with its act of seizing an Iranian oil tanker.

Majlis reviews measures to counter U.S. ‘economic terrorism’

TEHRAN – Majlis representatives on Sunday reviewed measures to improve national economy in efforts to counter the impact of U.S. “economic terrorism” against Iran, according to the Mehr news agency.

UK failure to release tanker won’t be left unanswered: Iranian diplomat

TEHRAN - Iranian Ambassador to London Hamid Baeidinejad has said that a failure by the British government to release Iran’s oil tanker and its cargo will not be “left unanswered”.

‘Iranian’ employment system to be launched within 2 weeks

TEHRAN – A career and employment system, titled ‘Iranian’, offering employees with job security will be launched by the end of this month (July 21), Issa Mansouri, deputy minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare has announced.

By Setareh Behroozi

Startups come to light with No-Afarin scheme

TEHRAN -- The No-Afarin scheme, developed by the Information and Communication Technology Ministry to support startups, was introduced during a ceremony on Wednesday.

Budget bill amendments approved

TEHRAN – The Iranian government approved on Saturday the amendments on the national Iranian budget plan for the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21), ILNA reported.

Three tons of narcotics seized in Sistan-Baluchestan

TEHRAN – Iranian intelligence forces have disbanded two major drug rings in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan and confiscated more than 3 tons of illicit drugs.

Rouhani: All Washington’s anti-Iran plans have ended in failure

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that all the plans that the United States has taken against Iran have ended in failure.

By staff and agency

Iran will not crack under U.S. pressure: National Interest

In an article published by The National Interest on Saturday, it is said that Iran will “not crack” under the U.S. economic pressure.

Chinese museum to showcase celadons from Iran, other countries

TEHRAN – On Saturday, a collection of centuries-old celadons, on loan from the National Museum of Iran, reached Beijing’s Palace Museum, which is to host a vast exhibit of such potteries from several countries.

Iran rejects claims of talks with U.S.

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi has strongly rejected claims of Tehran’s talks with the United States.

By staff and agency

Mogherini says EU supports Iraq’s peace proposal over Iran-U.S. tension

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Saturday that the EU supports an Iraqi proposal to hold a peace conference to ease tensions between the United States and Iran.

Zarif discusses JCPOA, ties with Norwegian counterpart

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had a phone conversation with his Norwegian counterpart Marie Eriksen Soreide on Sunday to discuss mutual ties, JCPOA related issues and regional developments.

Asiatic cheetahs spotted in eastern Iran

TEHRAN – Two Asiatic cheetahs have been observed in Tabas county, located in South Khorasan province, eastern Iran, since the beginning of this year (March 21), head of Tabas department of environment has said.

‘CBI to take all necessary measures to support private sector’

TEHRAN – Governor of Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Abdolnasser Hemmati said the bank won’t spare any effort in order to overcome the barriers in the way of the private sector’s trade, IRNA reported.

By Ebrahim Fallahi

Iran’s ‘oil for execution’ plan: old ideas in a new wrapping

TEHRAN – This week Iranian Oil Ministry is going to officially start a new plan that is aimed to be a new way for selling oil and tackling the pressures imposed by U.S. sanctions on the country’s oil industry.

Zarif to Hunt: ‘Iran will keep exporting oil under any circumstances’

TEHRAN - In a telephone conversation with his British counterpart Jeremy Hunt on Saturday, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif insisted that the oil sanctions against Iran by the U.S. are illegal and that “the Islamic Republic of Iran will keep exporting oil under any circumstances.”

Iran capture freestyle team title in Junior Asian Wrestling C'ships

TEHRAN - After winning the Greco-Roman team title on Wednesday, Iran captured the freestyle team title on the final day of the Junior Asian Championships in Chon Buri, Thailand on Saturday.

Marivan street theater festival to promote tourism 

TEHRAN – The 14th Marivan International Street Theater Festival, held annually in the northwestern Iranian city of Marivan, announced on Sunday that it will put its spotlight on tourism in the region this year.

Revayat Cultural Foundation honors Ahmadreza Darvish

TEHRAN – The Revayat Cultural Foundation honored Ahmadreza Darvish for his 30 years of filmmaking on the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, which is called the Sacred Defense in Iran, on Saturday. 

Niavaran center to review film scores by Miklos Rozsa

TEHRAN – Tehran’s Niavaran Cultural Center will be hosting a session on Thursday to review film scores by Miklos Rozsa, a Hungarian-American composer who is best known for his prolific output of film scores.

“Sara and Aida” director Maziar Miri named best at Russian festival 

TEHRAN – Iranian filmmaker Maziar Miri was selected as best director for his drama “Sara and Aida” at the 14th In Family Circle, an international family film festival in Russia, a public relations team for the film announced on Sunday 

“Driving Lessons” named best short at Golden Apricot festival

TEHRAN – Iranian filmmaker Marzieh Riahi’s acclaimed movie “Driving Lessons” won the Golden Apricot for best short film at the 16th Golden Apricot International Film Festival in Yerevan, Armenia, the organizers announced on Saturday.

Imam Reza (AS) Intl. Festival honors cultural figures

TEHRAN – Several Iranian writers who have authored books on Imam Reza (AS) and cultural figures were honored during the closing ceremony of the 17th Imam Reza (AS) International Festival on Saturday.

Boosting railway network efficiency on agenda: RAI head

TEHRAN- Boosting efficiency of national railway network is a top agenda of Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (known as RAI)’s activities in the current Iranian calendar year (began on March 21), RAI Head Saeed Rasouli stated.

Remaining platforms of SP phase 14 to start operation by end of autumn

TEHRAN- Two remaining platforms of Iran’s South Pars gas field’s phase 14 of development will be put into operation by the end of autumn, according to Mohammad-Mehdi Tavasolipour, the operator of phase 14.

Iran need to battle for Olympic berth: Nikkhah Bahrami

TEHRAN – Iran forward Samad Nikkhah Bahrami says that they will do their best to book the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games berth but it will not be an easy task.

First exhibit of domestic production opportunities to host 210 exhibitors

TEHRAN- Iran’s first exhibition of domestic production opportunities and manufacturing boom, which will run at Tehran from July 18 to 21, will host 210 companies and unions as exhibitors, deputy head of Iran’s Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO) told Shata on Sunday.

By Yuram Abdullah Weiler

The U.S. and the JCPOA: Carrot-and-stick diplomacy without the carrot

“Trump was in violation of the deal well before he withdrew from it.” —Fred Kaplan

 British Ambassador Darroch says Trump discarded nuclear deal for ‘ideological and personality reasons’  

Trump revoked Iran nuclear deal in an act of 'diplomatic vandalism’ to spite Obama, new leak reveals 

Kim Darroch, the former British ambassador to the United States, said the Trump administration was "set upon an act of diplomatic vandalism" in its decision to abandon the Iran nuclear deal, the Daily Mail reported Saturday, citing leaked cables.