By M.D.

Iran’s coup de grace

In a Washington round table in May 2012 I was asked what I thought about Iran’s role in our region. I said, when the U.S. and Iran reach a coexistence arrangement, we will all sleep peacefully. 

Leaked news: Tel Aviv unable to intercept Iran’s new cruise missiles 

TEHRAN – Leaked information from a meeting of the Israeli cabinet of ministers has disclosed that the Israel’s Iron Dome defense shield is not able to intercept new Iran-made cruise missiles. 

Supreme Leader: Enemies unable to drive wedge between Iranians, Iraqis

TEHRAN - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has said that the enemies tried hard to disunite Iranian and Iraqi nations but failed. 

30,000 Iranians obtained visas for Spain in 2018, envoy says

TEHRAN – Some 30,000 Iranians got visas for Spain in 2018, Madrid’s ambassador to Tehran has said.

Over 43,000 people tour UNESCO-tagged ensemble of Sasanian cities in H1

TEHRAN – Some 43,650 travelers toured the UNESCO-registered Sasanian-era (224–651) Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region in southern Iran during the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21).

Iran temporarily lifts visa requirement for Iraqi nationals

TEHRAN – Iran’s embassy in Baghdad has announced that Iraqi nationals can visit Iran without a visa from October 24 to December 27, 2019.

Iranian mothers allowed to pass on citizenship to children

TEHRAN – The Iranian parliament (Majlis) on Monday declared a law to the government allowing children of an Iranian mother and foreign father to get Iranian citizenship.

International Olympiad medal-winning students honored

TEHRAN – In a meeting held on Sunday, President Hassan Rouhani honored students winning medals at international Olympiads.

Cluster of French motorcyclists traversing Iran

TEHRAN - A 55-member group of French motorcyclists entered the country via the northwestern Bazargan border on Saturday on an itinerary that goes to the southern city of Shiraz.

Visits to Golestan tourist attractions at 15.7m in H1

TEHRAN – More than 15.7 million visits to Golestan province’s tourist attractions were registered during the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21), provincial tourism chief announced on Saturday.

“Diplomacy of resistance” holds its fourth congress 

The fourth congress on “diplomacy of resistance” was held at Tehran’s Andisheh hall on Saturday to mark the memory former Iranian ambassador to Lebanon who was martyred along with hundreds of other Iranian pilgrims in the Mina disaster near Mecca on September 24, 2015. Iran holds Saudi Arabia responsible for the tragedy.

Senior MP censures weak reaction of Europeans to U.S. JCPOA violation

TEHRAN – MP Mohammad Javad Jamali, who sits on the Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, has criticized the E3 (France, Germany and Britain) for their weak reaction to the violation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the official name for the nuclear deal.

Iran, Turkey to expand co-op in campaign against organized crimes

TEHRAN – Iran’s ambassador to Ankara and Turkish deputy interior minister conferred on broadening mutual cooperation between the two friendly neighbors in the campaign against organized crimes. 

General warns of ramifications of war in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN – Head of the Civil Defense Organization has warned of the consequences of any war in the Persian Gulf, saying dire consequences await those who start a war.

Arbaeen March and rise of new Middle East 

Recent regional and global developments are promising a new Middle East which is different from the one the great hegemonic powers once built. 

We revealed how Achaemenids ruled Persia: Oriental Institute expert

TEHRAN – Years of deciphering and studying Achaemenid cuneiform clay tablets, which have been on loan from Iran to the Oriental Institute, has yielded valuable information about the Persian Empire, how it organized and how it ruled, a professor emeritus at the Institute has said.

Iran’s Sari, Ardebil named ECO cultural capitals

TEHRAN – Iranian cities of Sari and Ardebil have been selected as the cultural capitals for the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in the years 2022 and 2023 respectively.

Leader says Sacred Defense must not be forgotten

TEHRAN - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said that the sacrifices made during the Sacred Defense against the invading army of Saddam Hussein in the 1980s must not be forgotten or denied.

Australia releases Iranian student Reza Dehbashi

TEHRAN – Australia has released an Iranian research student detained on alleged charges of exporting American equipment with military application to Iran.

By Afshin Majlesi

Words versus deeds: Are White House sanctions on Iranians economic terrorism?

Tehran accuses Washington of launching an economic terrorism against Iranian people, a claim that the U.S. denies.

How much does it cost to visit Iran as world’s 1st pocket-friendly destination

TEHRAN – Earlier in September the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked Iran first in the world as a pocket-friendly destination.

Iran enjoys all tourist attraction features, Italian envoy says

TEHRAN – Iran possesses all the features of attracting foreign tourists as the country enjoys unique natural diversity and numerous historical sites, Giuseppe Perrone, the Italian ambassador to Tehran has said.

Ibrahim Çelikkol, Hesam Manzur join cast for “Drunk on Love”

TEHRAN – Turkish actor Ibrahim Çelikkol and Iranian actor Hesam Manzur have joined the cast for “Drunk on Love”, Iranian director Hassan Fat’hi’s controversial project on the Persian poet and mystic Rumi, a public relations team of the movie has announced.

Iran avoids any conflict with any country, says military chief

TEHRAN – Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, has emphasized that the Islamic Republic seriously avoids any conflict with any country in any part of the region.

Remnants of centuries-old structure found in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – Archaeologists have recently unearthed a vast centuries-old structure during excavation in Rab’-e Rashidi, a 14th-century educational complex in East Azarbaijan province, northwest Iran.

Riyadh gives ‘green light’ for talks with Tehran: report

TEHRAN – An Iraqi government official says Saudi Arabia has given a green light to Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to arrange a meeting with Iran as a first step towards de-escalating tensions in the region, the Middle East Eye reported on Tuesday.

Imam Khomeini Intl. Airport to operate extra flights for Arbaeen

TEHRAN – Imam Khomeini International Airport is scheduled to operate extra flights to cater for religious pilgrimage of Arbaeen, which falls on October 19 this year.

Iran 2nd among world’s fastest growing tourist destinations

TEHRAN – Iran has been introduced by United Nations World Tourism Organization as the world’s second fastest growing tourist destination in 2018, with 49.9 percent growth in arrivals year on year.

Six million Iranians expected to visit Turkey in 2020

TEHRAN – Some six million Iranian nationals are anticipated to visit the neighboring Turkey in 2020, president of Iranian Scientific Ecotourism has said.

By staff and agency

Iraqi PM says Riyadh wants to avoid war with Iran

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has said that he believes Saudi Arabia is looking to de-escalate tensions with Iran.