Iraq able to defend itself without foreign help: Iranian envoy

TEHRAN - Iraq is powerful enough to defend itself against any aggression without relying on foreign forces, Iranian Ambassador to Baghdad Iraj Masjedi underscored on Saturday. 

Dutch FM, Zarif hold talks on a range of issues

TEHRAN – Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok and Mohammad Javad Zarif held two rounds of talks in Tehran on Saturday. 

FATF blacklisting of Iran politically motivated, Tehran says

TEHRAN - Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Friday that the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklisting of Iran is “politically motivated”.

Two border guards killed in clashes with terrorists

TEHRAN — Two Iranian border guards were killed in clashes with members of a terror outfit in the southeastern province of Sistan-Balouchestan.

By Mohammad Homaeefar

Rouhani congratulates Brunei on National Day

TEHRAN — President Hassan Rouhani has offered his congratulations to the government and people and Brunei on their National Day.

Additional U.S. service member diagnosed with brain injury from Iran attack

One more U.S. service member has been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury following Iran’s January missile strike in Iraq, the Pentagon announced Friday.

By staff and agency

Austrian FM plans to take a ‘European message’ to Iran

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg was scheduled to visit Iran on Saturday and take a “European message” to Tehran.

No major election violation reported: Guardian Council 

TEHRAN - The spokesman for the Guardian Council said on Friday afternoon that none of the constituencies across the country reported any major violation of election across the country. 

Friday prayers leader calls for more unity among new parliament members 

TEHRAN - Ahmad Khatami, the provisional Friday prayers leader of Tehran, called on those who will be elected for the next parliament to become more united to keep the people’s rights and interests. 

Presidential chief of staff: Strong voter turnout shows national unity

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff, who cast his vote at the Interior Ministry headquarters as Iran is holding parliamentary election, said a strong voter turnout shows national unity.

Tehran to host Dutch FM on Friday 

TEHRAN - Stef Blok, the Dutch minister of foreign affairs, is scheduled to pay an official visit to Tehran on Friday to confer with the senior Iranian officials on bilateral ties as well as key regional and international developments. 

Intelligence chief assures Iranians of full security in Friday elections 

TEHRAN - The intelligence minister announced on Wednesday that there is no security concern over the Friday parliamentary elections as the entire relevant bodies have done their best to prevent any possible mishap. 

Iranian military experts reassembling damaged black box of Ukrainian plane: defense minister 

TEHRAN - Defense industry experts have been assigned to reassemble and analyze details of the black box flight recorder of the ill-fated Ukrainian passenger plane, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami announced on Wednesday.

‘British diplomat’s presence in January rallies was wrong’

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi has said that presence of British Ambassador Rob Macaire in rallies in Tehran in January was “wrong”.

Larijani, Nasrallah discuss regional developments

TEHRAN - Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, who had visited Lebanon, held talks on Monday with Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on the latest developments in the region.

Eight Iranian conservationists get jail terms on espionage charges: Judiciary 

TEHRAN - From the Judiciary’s point of view, the dossier of environmentalists is regarded as an act against national security, the Judiciary spokesman announced on Tuesday, noting a guilty definite verdict has been issued in the case of the eight conservationists on charges of spying. 

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.