Foreign Minister Zarif visits Oman

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Muscat on Monday for talks with senior Omani officials on key bilateral, regional and international issues. 

Time for filing election disqualification complaints ends Sunday

TEHRAN — Sunday marked the last day disqualified parliamentary candidates could object to their ineligibility.

Larijani: Iranians able to turn hardships into opportunities

TEHRAN — Iranians have the talent and ability to turn hardships into opportunities, Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani has said, referring to the United States’ unilateral sanctions against Iran.

Failure to join FATF would benefit enemies: ex-ambassador

TEHRAN - Ali Majedi, Iran’s former ambassador to Germany, has said that a failure to join the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will limit Iran’s economic interaction and this is what the enemies want.

Iran welcomes Japan plan not to join US-led naval coalition in Persian Gulf: Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the Islamic Republic welcomes Japan's decision not to join a US-led naval mission purportedly aimed at protecting shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.

Iran, Japan to continue close consultations on key issues: Araqchi

TEHRAN – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced on Saturday that Tehran and Tokyo are resolved to continue their consultations over key international and regional issues more closely than ever. 

Doors are open to Japanese companies to invest in Iran: Rouhani 

 TEHRAN- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underscored on Saturday that his country considers no restriction for the Japanese state-run or private sectors to invest in Iran’s large economic projects. 

Iran hails UN support for realization of Palestinians’ rights

TEHRAN - The senior advisor to the Iranian parliament speaker on Saturday lauded a new UN General Assembly resolution adopted unanimously in support of the Palestinians, calling the move a giant stride in line with realization of the Palestinians’ rights to decide their own fate. 

Pompeo has transferred ‘hellish ideologies’ to foreign policy

TEHRAN - Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Friday that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is “loudspeaker of deception, humiliation, extremism, ignorance, bullying and insulting” who has transferred “hellish ideologies” to foreign policy.

U.S. rulers have striven in vain to intervene in Iran’s affairs, says spokesman

TEHRAN — The United States foreign policy decision-makers have done their best in vain to intervene in Iran’s internal affairs, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi has said.

By staff and agency

Malaysia accepts Iran’s cryptocurrency proposal

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has accepted Iran’s proposal on using cryptocurrency as an alternative to the United States’ dollar.

By staff and agency

UN says US withdrawal from nuclear deal is ‘source of regret’

Rosemary DiCarlo, the United Nations under secretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, said on Thursday that the United States’ withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, is a “source of regret”.

Takht-Ravanchi: Sanctions are illegitimate, immoral, inhumane and cruel

U.S. sanctions are ‘collective punishment’, Iranian diplomat says

TEHRAN - Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, said on Thursday that the United States’ sanctions against Iran are illegitimate, immoral, inhumane and cruel.

Chemicals for producing illicit drugs in Iran are made in Europe: Judiciary official

TEHRAN - The deputy prosecutor-general announced on Wednesday that a hefty amount of seized chemicals that are used by the illicit drug producers in Iran have been produced in Europe.

Let’s try more ‘realistic’ cooperation, Zarif tells neighbors

TEHRAN — Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has urged regional countries to adopt a more “realistic” cooperation, instead of relying on “realpolitik” strategies, in order to guarantee security in the Persian Gulf.

Iran to continue reducing JCPOA commitments to create a balance: Shamkhani

TEHRAN - Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), said on Wednesday that if the Europeans fail to fulfil their commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, Iran will have no choice but to continue reducing its commitments to the pact in order to create a balance.

Iran wants to save nuclear deal: Araghchi

No deal can survive if there is no balance between gives and takes, Araqchi says of JCPOA

Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that Iran wants to save the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Iran, Russia, Turkey to hold parliamentary talks in Ankara: Russian MP

TEHRAN — Iran, Russia and Turkey are set to hold parliamentary consultations in Ankara early next year, a Russian lawmaker said on Tuesday.

‘Failure to join FATF won’t be good for economy’

TEHRAN - Mehdi Motaharnia, a political analyst, has claimed that if Iran refuses to join the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international consensus would be formed against Iran.

Foreign diplomats meet Iran’s human rights chief

TEHRAN — Mohammad Javad Larijani, secretary of the High Council for Human Rights in Iran, hosted a meeting with a number of foreign ambassadors in Tehran on Tuesday.

Armed democracy: NATO greatest achievement for Europe

At the 30th NATO summit, following the U.S. and Russia’s withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, NATO leaders, reiterating future threats, divided the world into East and West military poles.

Borrell says nuclear deal has benefits for Europe

EU chief diplomat: Iran has not violated JCPOA

TEHRAN - Josep Borrell, the new EU foreign policy chief, has said Iran is moving within the framework of the JCPOA and has not violated it, IRNA reported on Monday.

Iranian, Japanese officials’ visits show strength of relations: Araghchi

TEHRAN - Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that visits to Tehran and Tokyo by the officials from Iran and Japan show the strength of relations between the two countries.

Iranian, Qatari foreign ministers confer on regional issues

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met on Saturday on the sidelines of the 2019 Doha Forum.

Top MP criticizes cut in defense budget 

TEHRAN - Head of the Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Committee on Saturday criticized the government for reducing the defense budget for the next year. 

Rabiei rejects Rouhani resignation rumors

TEHRAN — Government spokesman Ali Rabiei has dismissed speculation that President Hassan Rouhani is considering resigning as president.

Rouhani felicitates Kazakhstan’s Independence Day

TEHRAN - In a message to his Kazakh counterpart on Monday, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran felicitated Kazakhstan’s Independence Day and called for promotion of cooperation between the two friendly nations. 

By staff and agency

Rouhani to attend KL Summit

President Hassan Rouhani will participate in the Kuala Lumpur (KL) Summit 2019, Malay Mail said on Saturday.

Asia sees regional security dependent on co-op with Iran: Larijani

TEHRAN – Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said on Sunday that the Asian countries see regional security dependent on cooperation with Iran.

Ashraf Ghani receives credentials of Iran’s new ambassador

TEHRAN – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani met Iran’s new ambassador to Afghanistan on Sunday and received his credentials.