By Martin Love

The world prays for the wisdom and cool of Iranians

NORTH CAROLINA - An Iranian friend, a photographer known internationally for fine documentary work, asked plaintively last week when the U.S. might stop trying to sink Iran and Iranians. I had no ready answer, but the question was painful to hear because I could also hear concern, grief and empathy for others.

Turkey: U.S. sanctions against Iran ‘unfair’

TEHRAN – The U.S. sanctions against Iran are unfair, Turkish Vice-President Fuat Oktay said, Turkish media reported on Monday.

Rouhani says leaders of 4 major countries sought to broker talks between him and Trump at UN summit

We will ‘break sanctions proudly’: Rouhani

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani announced on Monday that leaders of four major countries sought to broker talks between him and U.S. President Donald Trump during the UN General Assembly session in New York in September.

Ambassador: China to continue co-op with Iran

TEHRAN – Chinese Ambassador to Tehran Pang Sen on Sunday stressed China’s firm decision to confront new U.S. sanctions against Iran, saying his country will continue cooperation with the Islamic Republic despite U.S. pressure, IRNA reported.

As new sanctions coming

Trump’s Iran zero oil plan hits snag

TEHRAN – The OPEC and non-OPEC producers’ disability to make up the shortfall in oil supplies resulting from the loss of Iranian production under the U.S. sanctions, which has led to an increase in oil prices, is a sign of Trump administration’s failure in Iran’s zero oil exports plan.

Iran’s oil exports still high despite U.S. sanctions: report

TEHRAN – Iran has sold about 1.7 million to 1.9 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and condensate in September according to estimates by investment banks, tanker-tracking firms and the International Energy Agency, which is an indication that U.S. is still a long way from achieving its stated goal of zeroing out Iranian oil sales.

‘Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan hold common stance on region’

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday that Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan have common stance on regional issues and are determined to cooperate.

By Javad Heirannia & Maryam Khormaei

Beijing supports full membership of Iran in Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Ambassador 

More work needed to strengthen China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership

TEHRAN - China Ambassador to Tehran Pang Sen hailed the deeply-rooted relations between the two nations. But while expressing support for Iran's full membership in SCO, he underlined the need for more work to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Iranian oil armada heads to China ahead of U.S. sanctions

An unprecedented volume of Iranian crude oil is set to arrive at China’s northeast Dalian port this month and in early November before U.S. sanctions on Iran take effect, according to an Iranian shipping source and data on Refinitiv Eikon.

MRPL expects India to get waiver from U.S. sanctions on Iran this month

India’s Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) expects India to get a waiver from U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil exports this month, a company official said on Tuesday.

Rouhani: U.S. has launched its psychological warfare project against Iran

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that the U.S. been seeking to delegitimize the Islamic Republic system and has started its project through a “psychological warfare”.

Arbitration clause in foreign contracts makes compensation of losses for Iranians easier: TRAC director 

TEHRAN - Oveis Rezvanian, director of the Tehran Regional Arbitration Centre (TRAC), says in all international contracts the parties shall agree that their dispute be settled by arbitration. 

Qatar Airways commits to Iran flights despite U.S. Sanctions

TEHRAN – U.S. sanctions on Iran will not impact Qatar Airways’ flights to the Islamic Republic, the airline’s boss Akbar al-Baker said on Monday, AFP reported.

Oman to go ahead with Iran gas pipeline project despite U.S. sanctions

TEHRAN - Muscat plans to move ahead with the natural gas pipeline project in Iran, hopeful that U.S. sanctions on Iran will strictly target oil.

India defies U.S., buying Iranian oil despite sanctions

TEHRAN – India is going to continue buying Iranian oil in November despite the U.S. sanctions, Reuters reported citing sources close to the Indian oil industry.

By Javad Heirannia

U.S. sanctions on Iran can affect trade of humanitarian goods: Nephew

TEHRAN – Richard Nephew, who served as the lead sanctions expert for the U.S. team negotiating with Iran, is of the opinion that it is certainly true that U.S. sanctions on Iran can affect the trade of humanitarian goods and the hostile licensing policy from the United States on civil aviation licenses is a complication.

Iran says oil price rally offsetting U.S. sanctions impact

A senior Iranian official says the recent rise in oil prices has offset the impact of U.S. sanctions on Iran’s oil exports, with the country’s oil revenues up 16 percent in the past six months.

We will defeat sanctions: Leader

TEHRAN - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Thursday that Iran will defeat the U.S. sanctions.

ICJ to announce ruling on Iran’s complaint against U.S. sanctions on Wednesday

TEHRAN - The International Court of Justice (ICJ) plans to announce its ruling on Iran’s complaint against the U.S. sanctions on Wednesday.

Ambassador: Norway working closely with Iran, EU to help preserve JCPOA

The Norwegian Ambassador to Tehran, Lars Nordrum, says Oslo is fully committed to the JCPOA and will support promised financial mechanism by the European Union to continue trade with Iran in the face of US sanctions.

By Marjohn Sheikhi

U.S. running a real risk to international trading system: Lord Lamont

TEHRAN– UK PM Trade Envoy to Iran Lord Norman Lamont said in an exclusive interview with Mehr News that U.S. President Trump’s extensive use of the sanctions regime is running a real risk to the international trading system.

General suggests close ties with the East to offset sanctions

TEHRAN - Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top military adviser to the Leader, suggested on Sunday that Iran should expand relations with the Eastern bloc in order to counter the U.S. sanctions.

EU's Mogherini eyes Iran SPV for trade 'before November'

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said on Wednesday a so-called Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under consideration to facilitate trade with Iran could be in place “before November.”

By Javad Heirannia

EU want to continue economic cooperation with Iran: Bunn

TEHRAN - Matthew Bunn, a specialist in nuclear security at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, believes that “Trump administration's wrong-headed decision to reimpose U.S. sanctions is likely to have a big impact on many companies' decisions on investment and trade with Iran.”

Rouhani: ‘If Trump wants to talk to Iran, he first should return to nuclear deal’

TEHRAN - President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that Iran would only talk to U.S. President Donald Trump if his administration proved its trustworthiness and reversed its decision on the 2015 nuclear agreement.

EU and Iran agree on new payment system to skirt U.S. sanctions

In a major snub to the United States, the European Union (EU) has decided to set up a new mechanism to enable legal trade with Iran without encountering U.S. sanctions. 

‘U.S. sanctions on Iran unproductive & wrong': Novak

TEHRAN- U.S. sanctions on Iran's oil industry are unproductive and there will be consequences to such a move, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Monday.

Solana: EU will have to bend to U.S. sanctions against Iran

TEHRAN – Europe will have no choice but to comply with U.S. sanctions on Iran, according to Javier Solana, a former NATO secretary general and early advocate of the nuclear deal abandoned by President Donald Trump.

EU looking to sidestep U.S. sanctions with payments system plan

Germany and France said they’re working on financing solutions to sidestep U.S. sanctions against countries such as Iran, including a possible role for central banks.

By Javad Heirannia

Without U.S., JCPOA doesn't have technological benefit for Iran: Heinonen

TEHRAN - Olli Heinonen, the former deputy director general for safeguards at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), tells the Tehran Times that civil nuclear cooperation is an important element of the JCPOA.