Zarif due in France on Friday, to visit China next week

TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will pay a visit to France later this week for talks with the French president and foreign minister and will fly to China next week.

New Zealand says has no boats to send to Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN – New Zealand's defense minister says while no formal request for assistance was made, Britain approached New Zealand about whether it had any capacity to help.

Mounesan named acting tourism minister

TEHRAN - In a decree on Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani appointed Ali-Asghar Mounesan as the acting tourism minister.

Berlin exhibit to turn spotlight on medieval, modern ceramics from Iran 

TEHRAN – Dozens of medieval and modern Iranian ceramics, selected from two German collections, will go on display at the Bumiller Collection, Studio X-Berg, in Berlin from September 12 to November 30.

Bojnurd to host Iran, Turkmenistan cultural festival

TEHRAN – A cultural festival putting the spotlight on commonalities between Iran and Turkmenistan will open today in the northeastern Iranian city of Bojnurd.

IRGC: Augmenting defense power on agenda of Iran’s armed forces

TEHRAN – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has said that it is on agenda of Iran’s armed forces to continuously increase their defense power.

Europe should pre-purchase Iran’s oil through INSTEX first: CBI chief

TEHRAN – The governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has said that the Europeans should show their sincerity about their Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) by ordering Iran’s crude.

Medical travelers hold significant share of arrivals in Iran: tourism chief

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief has said that medical [and health] travelers constitute a significant share of arrivals in the country.

U.S. move to create safe zone in north Syria is ‘provocative’: Tehran

TEHRAN – A U.S. agreement to set up a safe zone in northern Syria is a “provocative and worrisome” act, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has said.

Leader names new head of the Islamic Fiqh Encyclopedia

TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has appointed Hojjatoleslam Haj Sheik Hassan Nazari as the new head of the Islamic Fiqh Encyclopedia, the leader.ir said in a report published on Friday. 

Ayatollah Khamenei pardons over 1,000 inmates

TEHRAN - Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, on Monday approved a proposal by Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi to pardon or commute the sentences of 1,070 convicts found guilty by various courts.

Explore “Everest of all caves” in western Iran   

TEHRAN – Photos show rock climbers rappelling through Iran’s Parau Cave, locally renowned as “Everest of all caves”.

Attack at wedding ceremony in Kabul shows enmity against humanity: Iran

TEHRAN – The Iranian Foreign Ministry has denounced suicide attack at a wedding ceremony in Kabul which resulted in the death of about 70 people and injury of 180 others, reiterating Tehran’s unwavering support for peace and security in Afghanistan.

Iran assembles several IR6 centrifuges in new hall

TEHRAN – Several IR6 centrifuges have been assembled in a newly-built hall and are ready for operation, according to the Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi.

Multiple ambassadors submit credentials to Rouhani

TEHRAN – In separate meetings on Sunday, President Hassan Rouhani received the credentials of the new ambassadors of Afghanistan, Italy, Bangladesh and Bolivia to Iran.

Venomous animals kill 10 since March

TEHRAN- Ten people have died of bites from venomous animals since the beginning of the current [Iranian calendar] year (March 21), said Mohammad Mahdi Guya, the director of Communicable Diseases Department at the Ministry of Health.

Tehran exhibit showcasing handmade jewelry

TEHRAN – Sets of handmade jewelry, made by a group of female Iranian jewelers, are currently on show at the headquarters of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization in Tehran.

IRCS: Sanctions hindering pharma raw materials import

TEHRAN – Problems in transferring money from foreign banks and using foreign exchange has been hindering the import of pharmaceutical raw materials into the country for a long time, announced the director of medical supply department at the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS).

WCC-applauded Marivan to host major handicrafts exhibit

TEHRAN – Tens of artisans who are natives of western Iranian provinces will show their skills at a vast sales exhibit, which will be held in the city of Marivan from August 22 to 26.

By staff and agency

U.S. issues warrant to seize Iranian oil tanker Grace 1

The United States has issued a warrant for the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker captured by British Royal Marines in Gibraltar last month, according to Aljazeera.

India’s ties with Iran not influenced by others: ambassador 

TEHRAN – The Indian ambassador to Iran says that his country’s ties with Tehran will not be influenced by other countries.

Iran becoming self-reliant in producing aircraft engines: commander

TEHRAN – Iran is standing on the verge of fully self-reliant production of airplane and helicopter engines, says the country’s chief of General Staff of Armed Forces.

Culture of martyrdom has protected Iran against pressure: Zarif

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Saturday that culture of altruism and martyrdom has protected the country against foreign pressure.

Iran among countries with Neanderthal discoveries

TEHRAN - A new find, recently published in the Journal of Human Evolution, suggests that Neanderthals were roaming at the Iranian Zagros Mountain sometimes between 40 to 70 thousand years ago.

Iranian hajj pilgrims returning home

TEHRAN – The first group of Iranian hajj pilgrims flew home on Friday, departing from Medina in Saudi Arabia to Sari, the capital of Mazandaran province, Tasnim reported.

Iran’s nuclear program peaceful, but defense cannot be compromised: diplomat

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs has said that Tehran’s nuclear program is completely peaceful, but the Islamic republic will not compromise its right to conventional defense.

Iranian ambassador submits credentials to Algerian interim president

TEHRAN – Iran’s newly-appointed plenipotentiary ambassador to Algeria has submitted his credentials to Algerian interim president Abdelkader Bensalah.

Judiciary chief: Violating people’s rights is forbidden

TEHRAN – Iran’s Judiciary chief says violating people’s rights is forbidden.

Cleric expresses Iran’s support for Sheikh Zakzaky’s treatment

(Tasnim) – The secretary general of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought (WFPIST) has assured Nigerian Muslim leader Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky that Iran would do its utmost to help the process of his medical treatment.

Visits to North Khorasan museums increase by fourfold

TEHRAN – Visits to archaeological and cultural heritage museums in North Khorasan province have increased by fourfold during the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21), compared to the same period last year.