Iran has set the bedrock for elections in the region: Rouhani

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that Iran has set the bedrock for democracy and elections in the West Asia region.

Guardian Council: U.S. elections merely façade of democracy

TEHRAN — Abbasali Kadkhodaei, the spokesman for the Guardian Council, said on Monday that elections in the United States are just a façade of democracy.

U.S., Israel impede de-escalation of Iran-Saudi tension: ex-diplomat

TEHRAN - Ahmad Dastmalchian, Iran’s former ambassador to Lebanon, is of the opinion that the United States and the Zionist regime of Israel are impeding a de-escalation of tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Germany says won’t join U.S. naval coalition in Hormuz Strait

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer announced on Saturday that her country's navy will not join the U.S. naval coalition in the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.

Larijani pays official visit to Syria 

TEHRAN- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani visited Damascus on Sunday to hold a series of meetings with the senior Syrian officials over ways to expand bilateral ties and conferring on the most important regional developments. 

Iran urges E3 to fulfill JCPOA obligations if they want nuclear standoff solved  

MUNICH -- The only path to put an end to the current nuclear standoff between Iran and the Europe is that the European trio, also called E3, fulfill their undertakings under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Saturday.

IRGC commander: U.S. looking for a guilty to hide defeats in Yemen 

TEHRAN - The deputy commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Saturday rejected U.S. accusations that an Iranian cargo boat had been carrying arms for Yemen, saying such allegations are aimed at justifying Washington’s failed policies in Yemen. 

Zarif says Iran’s nuclear decisions are reversible if Europe takes ‘meaningful’ steps

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Friday that Iran’s decisions to reduce nuclear commitments are reversible if Europe takes “meaningful” steps in preserving the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the JCPOA.

By staff and agency

Top Democrat slams Trump’s ‘false’ justification for assassination of Soleimani

Democratic Representative Eliot Engel, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, slammed on Friday the Trump administration over assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, arguing a new report justifying the attack undermines the argument that the operation was in response to an imminent threat.

Zarif meets Ukrainian FM in Munich

TEHRAN - Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko met on the sidelines of the 56th Munich Security Conference (MSC) and discussed the Ukrainian passenger plane which was mistakenly downed by the Iranian military on January 8.

Zarif, Trudeau meet in Munich

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met on Friday on the sidelines of the 56th Munich Security Conference (MSC).

Parliamentary campaigns officially start in Iran

TEHRAN – Election campaigns for 290 seats in the parliament officially started in Iran from Thursday morning, Feb. 13. 

People should vote for most competent candidates: cleric 

TEHRAN - Tehran’s interim Friday prayers leader called on the people to participate massively in the Feb. 21 parliamentary elections, noting that the most competent candidate should be chosen for the legislative body.

By staff and agencies

U.S. Senate votes to limit Trump’s ability to wage war against Iran

The U.S. Senate passed a legislation on Thursday to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to wage war against Iran.

Judiciary official calls for massive participation in parliamentary elections

TEHRAN- The first deputy Judiciary chief on Wednesday called on the Iranians with different political tendencies to participate massively in parliamentary polls on February 21.

By staff and agency

INSTEX a prime example of futility of Europe’s struggle for strategic autonomy from U.S.: NY Times

In an article published by The New York Times on Monday, it is said that the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) is a prime example of the futility of Europe’s struggle for strategic autonomy from the United States.

‘Brian Hook met with MKO rep. before, after Gen. Soleimani assassination’

(Press TV) – Brian Hook, the United States’ point man on Iran, met with a representative of the anti-Iran Mujahidin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) group both before and after Washington’s assassination of senior Iranian commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, a report says.

Zarif to Trump: Time to abandon your delusions

TEHRAN – By capitalizing on huge rallies on Tuesday marking the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif advised U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon his delusions about Iran.

Foreign leaders congratulate Iran on Islamic Revolution anniversary

TEHRAN - Top officials from various countries have congratulated Iran on the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution which fell on Tuesday, February 11.

Iran reiterates readiness to mediate between Turkey and Syria

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said Iran is steadfast in its readiness to mediate between Turkey and Syria which have been engaged in sporadic military conflicts in Syria’s northwest.

Iranian diplomat says ties with Japan have always been at good level

TEHRAN – Iran’s Ambassador to Japan, Morteza Rahmani-Movahed, said on Monday that Iran-Japan ties have always been at good level, describing relations as “friendly”.

Pakistani PM treasures ties with Iran: ambassador

TEHRAN - Rahim Hayat Qureshi, Pakistan’s new ambassador to Tehran, has said that Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has stressed the importance of fraternal ties with Iran.

Iran self-sufficient in producing military jets: Air Force commander 

TEHRAN - The commander of Iran’s Army Air Force, in an interview with the national TV on Saturday night, said that the defense industry is capable of planning and manufacturing each and every parts of aircrafts inside the country. 

With Iowa mess U.S. in no place to discuss Iran polls, says professor

TEHRAN — Mohammad Marandi, a professor at the University of Tehran, says with the disaster that happened in the U.S. state of Iowa, Washington is in no place to talk about Iran’s elections.

Tehran’s Mosalla to host memorial service for Gen. Soleimani

TEHRAN — Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) spokesman Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif said on Sunday that Tehran’s Mosalla mosque will host a memorial service to commemorate top anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

By staff and agency

Iraqi officials say ISIS, not Iran, behind rocket attack that Trump used to justify Soleimani assassination

In a “bombshell” revelation that calls into question one of the Trump administration’s stated justificiations for assassinating Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani—a move that nearly sparked a region-wide military conflict—Iraqi intelligence officials told the New York Times that they believe ISIS, not an Iran-linked popular forces, was likely responsible for the Dec. 27 rocket attack that killed an American contractor at an air base near Kirkuk, Iraq, Common Dreams reported on Friday.

Zarif meets UN special envoy for Syria

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met on Saturday with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen in Tehran.

Regional situation entails Iran-Russia cooperation: diplomat

TEHRAN – Iran’s new ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, said on Saturday that regional situation necessitates continuation of Iran-Russia cooperation.

Iran, Pakistan confer on broadening defense ties 

TEHRAN - Iranian ambassador to Islamabad Mohammad Ali Hosseini and Pakistani Minister for Defense Production Zubaida Jalal Khan exchanged views on Saturday over promoting defense-related ties between the two “friendly” nations. 

‘Any military measure against Iran will send American forces to bottom of Persian Gulf’

Top judge strongly warns U.S. against escalation

TEHRAN — Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi has strongly warned the United States that any military measure against Iran will send the American forces to the bottom of the Persian Gulf.