To avoid Iran ire, Japan may send ships off Yemen: report

Japanese government sources say Tokyo is not willing to join a U.S.-led naval mission purportedly aimed at protecting shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf, but is mulling over sending ships off Yemen.

Official borders open to foreign travelers without passport stamps

TEHRAN – All Iranian border crossings let foreign nationals in without passport stamps according to a presidential decree that orders for the waiver of physical stamping on travelers’ passports upon entering or leaving the country, Interior Ministry’s spokesman has said.

Seizure of Iran-owned Manhattan skyscraper overturned

A jury verdict allowing the U.S. government to seize a midtown Manhattan office tower that it said was effectively controlled by Iran was thrown out on Friday by a federal appeals court, which cited several errors by the trial judge, Reuters reported. 

Armenian PM invites Iranian president to EAEU leaders’ meeting

YEREVAN (Mediamax) - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has invited the Iranian president to participate in Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting which will be on October 1 in Yerevan.

Abu Dhabi can’t afford to keep Iran out of Dubai

TEHRAN – An economic commentator says the financial contribution of Iranians in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates’ business center, has been so large over the past years that Abu Dhabi, the Arab country’s political capital, would have to pay a heavy price to continue to keep Iranians out of Dubai under U.S. sanctions.

Traditional dyeing workshops still popular in Iran

Two Iranian men are preparing a traditional dye bath to color piles of wool yarns in a decades-old workshop in Tabriz, northwestern Iran, August 7, 2019. 

Silk Road a suitable opportunity to introduce ancient Iran

TEHRAN – The possible inscription of the ancient Silk Road on the UNESCO World Heritage list will open up a suitable opportunity for Iran to present its cultural, literary, historical and scientific achievements to the world, the secretary general of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO has said.

Tehran, Beijing stress expansion of tourism ties

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief Ali-Asghar Mounesan on Wednesday met with Chinese Ambassador to Tehran Chang Hua, stressing the need for expansion of cooperation to exchange more travelers.

Iran has right to counter Israeli presence in U.S.-led coalition in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN – Tehran says it has a right to counter the presence of Israel in a U.S.-led coalition in the Persian Gulf.

Meet designer who brings contemporary architecture to ancient Iran

TEHRAN – There have been many innovative ways to introduce cultural heritage sites to avid sightseers and potential travelers, one may be creating photomontages in order to make them even more inspiring!

Today’s talented youth can make up for regressions left from the Qajar and Pahlavi eras 

Do not let your talents stop, Leader tells winners of scientific and sports competitions 

TEHRAN - A hundred and fifteen medal winners of national and international scientific competitions as well as members of the National Youth Volleyball team met with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday morning.

Tourism flourishing despite sanctions: VP

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief on Tuesday said that that country’s tourism sector is gaining momentum despite U.S.-led sanctions. 

Islamic Human Rights and Human Dignity conference held in Tehran

TEHRAN – On Wednesday, Tehran was host to a conference on “Islamic Human Rights and Human Dignity”. The event was staged at the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Conference Center.

Sanctioning Iran’s foreign minister is futile: FT

TEHRAN - In a commentary on Tuesday, the Financial Times criticized the U.S. sanctions against Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, saying the Trump administration has “probably blocked the best path back to mediation” by sanctioning Zarif who is “considered by his peers as one of the canniest diplomats around.”

Iran, Cuba celebrate 40 anniversary of diplomatic ties

TEHRAN – The Cuban embassy in Tehran has issued a statement announcing that Iran and Cuba celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relationship.

UNESCO-tagged Lut Desert draws 5,000 foreign visitors a year

TEHRAN – Over 5,000 foreign sightseers visited the UNESCO-registered Lut Desert in the barren heartland of Iran during the past Iranian calendar year (ended March 20, 2019).

MP warns against trans-regional military presence in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN – The military presence of trans-regional countries in the Persian Gulf region is a full example of foreign interference, an Iranian parliamentarian warned on Tuesday.

Iran unveils new smart bombs

TEHRAN – Iran on Tuesday unveiled three new precision-guided smart bombs, in a ceremony with Defense Minister Brigadier-General Amir Hatami, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Website.

Larijani: Zarif laid bare Washington’s wrong path

TEHRAN – Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said on Tuesday that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has laid bare the United States’ wrong path.

Iran has overcome critical conditions, says Aref

TEHRAN – Mohammad Reza Aref, chairman of the pro-reform Hope faction in the parliament, says Iran has made its way through a critical era due to the wisdom of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, efforts of the authorities and patience of the people.

Iran one step closer to create ministry of tourism

TEHRAN – Iran has moved a step closer to form a ministry of cultural heritage, handicrafts and tourism, as its Guardian Council, which is empowered to vet legislation in the Islamic Republic, gave its approval on Monday.

By Martin Love

Iran’s strength lies in continued patience

NORTH CAROLINA - It’s said that Donald Trump is likely to win re-election in 2020 if he avoids war with Iran, keeps up the tariff and political pressure on China, and if the Democrats nominate a neoliberal like Joe Biden or even Kamala Harris.

By Mahmood Khaghani

Boris and the English Job

A new book, "The English Job", by former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw documented Iran's long (and merited) history of distrust of the British motives and actions. I note that the new British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, comes from the heart of the British or (as better known in Iran) English ’Establishment’ which was largely responsible for the decisions and actions which generated this mistrust.

By Mehdi Sepahvand

Iran considering technical needs when downscaling nuclear commitments: spokesman

TEHRAN – Any time Iran decides to downscale its commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal, it will see what it technically needs to decide on the kind of limitations it will overlook, the country’s nuclear spokesman says.

Top Iranian official in Baku to pave ground for trilateral Sochi summit

TEHRAN – Mahmoud Vaezi, the Iranian president’s chief of staff, has visited Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to prepare grounds for next week’s trilateral Russia-Azerbaijan-Iran summit that is set to be held in the Russian city of Sochi in the current month. 

Australia, Bangladesh, UNICEF envoys meet with Zarif

TEHRAN – Australia’s ambassador to Iran, new ambassador of Bangladesh and new representative of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in Iran met separately with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday.

By Afshin Majlesi

The ancient art of making ships in southern Iran

TEHRAN – Maritime trade, shipping and shipbuilding have long been practiced in Iran. There have been many small or big shipyards across the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf.

By Mehdi Sepahvand

Zarif says while in UN he was told to go to White House or be sanctioned

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told a press conference on Monday that while he was in New York the Americans told him that if he did not accept to go to the White House to meet President Donald Trump he will be sanctioned in two weeks.

Astana group insists there is no military solution to Syria crisis

TEHRAN - Iran, Russia and Turkey - guarantors of the Syrian peace process – have issued a joint statement insisting that “there could be no military solution to the Syrian conflict”.

Iran’s robust, effective diplomacy cannot be sanctioned: Shamkhani

TEHRAN – Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has said that Iran’s “robust and effective” diplomacy cannot be put under sanctions.