‘Pumping foreign currency into secondary market to be accelerated’

TEHRAN- “Within the next few weeks, the procedure of injecting non-oil exports revenues into the foreign exchange secondary market will be lubricated to supply the required forex sources for imports,” the Public Relations Department of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) quoted the bank’s Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati as saying on Saturday.

Meeting on trade in national currencies held in Ankara

TEHRAN- The meeting on Trade in National Currencies' Challenges and Opportunities started work with the attendance of Iran, Turkey, Russia and India at the Center for Iranian Studies in Ankara on Friday, IRNA reported.

Diplomat says has plans to strengthen Tehran-Seoul ties

TEHRAN – Iranian Ambassador to South Korea Saeed Badamchi Shabestari said on Saturday that he has plans to expand ties with Seoul.

Iranian students come in first in World Mathematics Championships Qualifier

TEHRAN — Iranian students secured the first place in in World Mathematics Championships Qualifier, Tehran math home director Mustafa Noori told IRNA’s office in London on Saturday.

ISCARSAH team of experts to explore monuments across Iran

TEHRAN – A select of 13 historical monuments across Iran will be investigated by a delegation of international experts affiliated with the International Scientific Committee on the Analysis and Restoration of Structures of Architectural Heritage (ISCARSAH), CHTN reported.

Expediency Council studies CFT

TEHRAN – On Saturday, Iran’s Expediency Council started deliberations on the bill to join the CFT, a legislation to combat financing of terrorism.

UK embassy welcomes FATF decision on Iran

TEHRAN – The British embassy in Tehran on Friday welcomed the Financial Action Task Force’s decision to give Iran more time to complete its Action Plan.

Iranian passport ranks 98th in Henley Passport Index 2018

TEHRAN - Henley & Partners, a London-based residence and citizenship planning firm, has ranked Iran 98th in terms of visa-free travel among all countries in the world, according to its updated Passport Index data for 2018.

Asia-Europe leaders support JCPOA, decry return of sanctions 

TEHRAN – Late on Friday, the political leaders attending the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) reaffirmed their "collective support" for a multilateral nuclear agreement Iran signed with major world powers in 2015, saying the lifting of sanctions against Tehran is an essential part of the deal.

By: Ebrahim Fallahi

Private sector from Iran, Syria light the flame

Economic co-op MOU signed between Tehran, Damascus

TEHRAN – Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA) and the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Saturday addressing issues regarding long-term cooperation.

Iranian military chief urges Pakistan to immediately arrest kidnappers

TEHRAN - Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri has urged Pakistan to take immediate action to arrest terrorists who kidnapped more than 10 Iranian border guards last week.

Iran urges FATF to focus on technical reports

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Friday that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) should focus on technical reports and avoid any political motivations.

Flood stricken families receiving govt. handouts

TEHRAN – The government is providing 20 million rials (nearly $470) handout to each of the families who suffered financial loss by flood in Mazandaran province, northern part of the country, the province’s governor general has said.

Iran football federation sends condolences over the death of Peter Velappan

TEHRAN - The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has expressed condolences over the death of Peter Velappan, former Asian Football Confederation (AFC) general secretary.

Mcgill University displays photos of Arbaeen rituals

TEHRAN -- Mcgill University in Montreal has hosted an exhibition of photos, putting a spotlight on the religious ritual of Arbaeen, which is observed at the end of the 40-day mourning period following the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) and his loyal companions on Ashura.

Book City Institute to review “The Book of Light”

TEHRAN -- Tehran’s Book City Institute plans to review an Italian version of “The Book of Light”, a book which includes facts and sayings of the 9th century Persian Sufi Bayazid Bastami in a session set for October 23.

Alireza Kushk-Jalali to restage “Robinson and Crusoe” in Tehran

TEHRAN -- The Iranian theater troupe Ayna led by German-based Iranian director Alireza Kushk-Jalali will perform “Robinson and Crusoe,” a play written by Italian playwrights Nina Dintrona and Giacomo Ravicio, in Tehran.

Three Iranian films win awards at BangkokThai

TEHRAN – Three Iranian films have won awards at the 4th BangkokThai International Film Festival, held in Bangkok, Thailand, the organizers have announced.

“No Date, No Signature” to go on screen at Asian World Film Festival

TEHRAN – “No Date, No Signature”, Iran’s submission to the 91st Academy Awards in the best foreign language film category, will go on screen at the Fourth Annual Asian World Film Festival, the organizers have announced.

Former wrestling coach Moezzipour passes away

TEHRAN – Former Iran freestyle wrestler and wrestling coach Mahmoud Moezzipour passed away on Saturday.

Saudi Arabia admits Khashoggi killed but claims he died in 'fistfight' 

Turkish official says investigators will know fate of journalist’s body ‘before long’

Turkish investigators are likely to find out what happened to the body of Jamal Khashoggi before long, a senior official said on Saturday, after Saudi Arabia admitted for the first time that the journalist had been killed in its Istanbul consulate.

Iranian duo Saberi, Ashofteh join Balıkesir DSİ

TEHRAN – Iranian international volleyball players Mahsa Saberi and Mona Ashofteh have signed contract with Turkish club Balıkesir DSİ.

By Saeed Sobhani

What Is Europe's Strategy on the JCPOA?

TEHRAN - The disputes over the "future of the nuclear deal" are still ongoing. The analysis of this conflict is not so easy, considering the remarkable relations between Washington and Europe. In other words, Western officials look at the nuclear deal not as an "independent legal variable", but as a "dependent political variable".

By Abdulhamid Bayati

U.S. air force; competing with rivals or creating a new weapons market

TEHRAN – U.S. President Donald Trump has once again stressed the need for formation of U.S. space force, reasoning that Russia and China are pioneers in the area. 

U.S. is the killer of 66 Iranian kids: envoy

TEHRAN – Gholamali Khoshroo, Iran’s ambassador to the UN, said on Thursday that the U.S. killed 66 Iranian kids in 1988 when it shot down an Iranian passenger flight, hence it cannot act as the loving mother of Iranian children.

U.S. sanctions violate two ICJ orders, Zarif warns

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday that the latest U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic violate two International Court of Justice (ICJ) orders.

By Javad Heirannia

 For Why Trump is Attacking Iran as he Defends MBS: Askari

TEHRAN – Professor Hossein Askari, an expert on Saudi Arabia who also teaches international business at the George Washington University, believes that Trump has to invent something for defending MBS and King Salman to his evangelical base and the millions of other Americans who get their news from Fox.

Tehran to play host to Asia-Pacific Regional Conference addressing rapid population ageing

Population ageing is one of the major demographic transitions globally, especially in the Asia and Pacific as one of the most populated areas in the world. The speed and scope of population ageing as well as its profound implications for socio-economic development, call for immediate action at different levels particularly at the level of policy formulation and planning.

Cleric likens joining FATF to going to the gallows

TEHRAN – Tehran Friday prayer leader Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami has criticized the notion of joining the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), comparing it with going to the gallows.

‘Russia continuing Iran co-up after U.S. JCPOA exit’

TEHRAN – The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has stressed his country’s determination to maintain cooperation with Iran in the aftermath of U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and restoration of sanctions, IRNA reported on Friday.