By Hanif Ghaffari

Trump is mocking Biden

TEHRAN - News sources in the United States announced that Joe Biden, the U.S. former Vice-President (from 2009 to 2017), and a prominent figure in the Democratic Party will soon announce his run for the president in 2020. Biden has previously said that he's "the most qualified person in the country" for being president.

Sardar Azmoun plays down Iran 'favorites' tag

TEHRAN – Iran national football team forward Sardar Azmoun has played down his side's tag as 'one of the favorites to win the AFC Asian Cup' underway in the UAE.

César Ramos chosen to officiate Iran clash against Oman: Asian Cup

TEHRAN – Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Referees' Committee has selected César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos to officiate the match between Iran and Oman.

Iran, Cuba to share vaccine production knowledge

TEHRAN — Iran and Cuba agreed on exchanging the technical know-how of vaccine production, IRNA news agency reported on Friday. 

2nd anniversary of Plasco building fallen firefighters marked 

TEHRAN — The second death anniversary of the firefighters who were killed in Plasco building collapse was held in Tehran on Friday. 

‘Major industries can expand markets through startups’

TEHRAN – Major industries like steel and petrochemistry can expand their markets through startups and knowledge-based companies, an official with vice presidency for science and technology said, ISNA reported on Thursday.

Iran, EU discuss boosting cooperation in research programs

TEHRAN -- Iran and European Union (EU) discussed expansion of cooperation in research programs, ISNA reported on Thursday.

Iran warns Netanyahu about threatening Iran

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should stop threatening Iran.

Zarif slams U.S. arbitrary arrest of Press TV anchor Marzieh Hashemi

International Federation of Journalists voices ‘serious concerns’ over Hashemi’s detention.

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has censured the arrest of Press TV anchor Marzieh Hashemi, who has been imprisoned by the FBI on unspecified charges.

Ireland welcomes closer ties with Iran

TEHRAN – The Irish parliament speaker said on Thursday that his country welcomes expansion of cooperation with Iran in different fields, IRNA reported.

FATF is a U.S. Treasury tool aimed to dominate others: cleric

TEHRAN – Tehran Friday prayer leader Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Movahedi Kermani has warned against Iran’s accession to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), saying the FATF is a wing of U.S. Treasury which aims to establish its intelligence dominance over other countries.

Zaghari’s husband offered visa to visit Iran, but declined: envoy

TEHRAN – Tehran’s ambassador to the UK said on Thursday that Iran had offered Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband a visa to visit Iran but he did not use the opportunity.

‘Auto part manufacturers to receive $950m of facilities’

TEHRAN- “Iranian ministry of industry is to grant 40 trillion rials (about $952.3 million) of facilities to supply working capital for the auto part manufacturing units,” Iranian Industry Minister Reza Rahmani announced, IRNA reported on Thursday.

Activists urge Europe to boycott U.S. anti-Iran summit

TEHRAN – A group of activists in the U.S. and other countries have signed a petition calling on European countries to boycott an anti-Iran summit set to be held by the U.S. in Poland next month, Press TV reported on Thursday.

Over 8,000 lesser white-fronted geese wintering in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – about 8,000 endangered population of lesser white-fronted geese were are wintering in West Azarbaijan province, northwestern part of the country, head of wildlife monitoring affairs at the provincial department of environment has said.

Iran, Sweden to expand academic ties

TEHRAN – Iran and Sweden signed an agreement to boost academic cooperation and expand relations between universities.

Iranians have shattered myth of U.S. omnipotence: Zarif

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said the Iranian people have shattered the myth of the U.S. omnipotence.

Heavy snow piled up in 19 provinces 

TEHRAN — Heavy snow blanketed 19 provinces across Iran, head of Rescue and Relief Organization, Morteza Salimi, has said.

National campaign to fight cancer launched in Iran 

TEHRAN — A national campaign to combat cancer, aiming to increase hope among the patients as well as public awareness about the disease, has been initiated in Iran, ISNA news agency reported on Thursday.

Sand, dust storms hit Khuzestan, PM at 22 times above safe levels

TEHRAN — Southwestern province of Khuzestan was hit by sand and dust storms on Thursday where particulate matters (PM) concentration peaked at 22 times the safe levels, IRNA news agency reported. 

To see the azure sky everyday should be a ‘clean air day’: mayor 

TEHRAN — In order to see the azure sky everyday should be a “clean air day”, Tehran mayor wrote on the occasion of the national clean air day, marked annually on January 19. 

Digital transformation, knowledge economy realize smart city: officials

TEHRAN – The importance of digital transformation and economic development in establishment of smart city was discussed during a meeting attended by officials on Tuesday, IRNA reported.

3000 new small-scale solar plants to be constructed in rural areas

TEHRAN – Deputy Energy Minister Mohammad Sadeghzadeh said 3000 new small-scale solar plants are going to be constructed in the country’s underprivileged and rural areas by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2019), IRNA reported.

NIMA supplies €6.2b for imports of goods, services

TEHRAN- Iran’s domestic Forex Management Integrated System (locally known as NIMA) has supplied €6.276 billion of foreign currency for imports of goods and services since early August, IRIB reported on Thursday.

Over 27m tons of iron ore produced in 9 months

TEHRAN- Iran produced 27,031 million tons of iron ore during the nine-month period ended on December 21, 2018, IRNA reported citing the data released by Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO).

VP asks Expediency Council to expedite studying Palermo bill

TEHRAN - Laya Joneidi, the vice president for legal affairs, has called on the Expediency Council to expedite studying issues related to Iran’s accession to the Palermo Convention.

Japanese FM says Tokyo, Tehran to expand relations

Iran, Japan celebrate 90 years of diplomatic ties

TEHRAN – Iran and Japan celebrated 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations in a ceremony held in Iran’s embassy in Tokyo on Thursday.

Zarif joins 10-year challenge, slamming Bolton

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has taken on the “10 year challenge”, a photo sharing fad sweeping social media, by comparing U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton’s warmongering remarks 10 years ago with those of today.

Tehran, Baku eying joint maritime exercises

TEHRAN – In a recently signed memorandum of understanding between Iran and Azerbaijan, the two sides have stated their will to expand maritime cooperation and carrying out joint military exercises in the Caspian Sea, Iran’s military chief announced in a press conference in Baku on Thursday.