By Payman Yazdani

‘U.S. withdrawal from Syria will likely bring to surface differences between Astana partners’

TEHRAN - Commenting on the U.S. dissatisfaction with increased cooperation of Iran, Russia and Turkey,  Member of Turkey’s CHP says U.S. withdrawal from Syria will likely bring to surface differences between Astana partners

Network disrupting plastic market destroyed

TEHRAN – Intelligence forces have disbanded an organized network that has been disrupting the plastic industry market in the country over the past three years, Tasnim reported on Monday.

Araqchi meets Amano in Vienna

TEHRAN – Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi met with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano in Vienna on Monday.

Iran’s saffron-ice cream among world’s top 50 desserts

TEHRAN – Iran’s saffron ice cream or bastani, scented with saffron, rosewater and pistachios, is among the world’s 50 best desserts, according to CNN.

Iranian festival to highlight Zilou weaving art

TEHRAN – Iran’s historical city of Meybod plans to hold a festival on February 16 with the goal of highlighting traditional floor covering Zilou.

Outbound travels slump by 30%: tourism official

TEHRAN – Iran’s outbound tourism fell by 30 percent during the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2018) from a year earlier, a tourism official has said.

Nationwide polio vaccination for children to get underway  

TEHRAN —Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) will be given to children born on March 20, 2016 or later nationwide, head of the preventable diseases department at the Ministry of Health has said.

If Israel starts a war it will lead to recapture of occupied lands: Iranian general

TEHRAN – The deputy head of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps has said any fresh malign move by Israel against Iran will be responded by the recapture of the occupied lands from the Zionist regime.

Iraq must move away from economic reliance on Iran: British official

Iraq must wean itself off economic reliance on Iran and become more energy self-sufficient, Britain’s foreign office minister for the Middle East said on Sunday.

Iran to consider offensive tactics against threats: military advisor

TEHRAN - Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top military aide to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, said on Monday that Iran will consider “offensive” approach if enemies pose threats against the country.

By Morteza Rahmani

Sanctions 'blessing in disguise' for Iran to unlock potentials

TEHRAN – Months have passed since U.S. President Donald Trump started his hawkish game against the Islamic Republic, but Tehran is still finding ways to sidestep the effects of the sanctions and push its plans forward in the oil and gas sector.

Al-Ahwaz claims responsibility for terror act in southwest Iran

TEHRAN – The Al-Ahwaz terrorist group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a police patrol car in Iran’s southwestern port of Bandar Imam Khomeini that killed two cops, a police official from Khuzestan Province announced on Sunday, Tasnim reported.

Zarif: Iran values ties with neighboring Turkmenistan

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday that Iran attaches great importance to its relations with neighboring Turkmenistan, Mehr reported.

Wetlands restoration requires a budget of $14b: DOE chief 

TEHRAN — In order to restore wetlands in the country a budget of 600 trillion rials (nearly $14 billion) is required, chief of the Department of Environment (DOE) Issa Kalantari said on Sunday.

Iran to mark World Wetlands Day in southern city of Bandar Khamir 

TEHRAN — Iran’s department of Environment will mark World Wetlands Day, February 2, in the southern city of Bandar Khamir, Hormozgan province, deputy environment chief of DOE natural environment and biodiversity directorate has said.

Half of cancers preventable, half treatable: health official  

TEHRAN — While nearly 56,000 people die of cancer per annum half of all cancers are preventable and the other half are treatable, deputy health minister Reza Malekzadeh has said. 

By Damir Nazarov

Multipolar strategy of Iran

Mohammad Ghaderi, chief editor of the Tehran Times, says Iran and Russia can establish strategic partnership in the multipolar world.

Iran-Syria economic cooperation meeting held in Damascus

TEHRAN- The 14th preparatory meeting of Iran-Syria high joint technical committee of economic cooperation began on Saturday at the Damascus-based Dama-rose Hotel, IRNA reported on Sunday.

“EU will not tolerate a suicidal atmosphere against Iran”

MP believes FATF blacklisting of Iran is unlikely 

TEHRAN – The head of the Majlis (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee has said he does not think the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will blacklist Iran if the country does not fully implement the money-laundering watchdog’s requirements.

Iran may adopt offensive approach to protect national interests: military chief

TEHRAN - Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, the Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff, said on Sunday that Iran may adopt an offensive approach to protect its national interests.

Salehi: EU better launch SPV before it is too late

Iran’s nuclear chief says the European Union (EU) had better launch a promised payment mechanism meant to maintain trade with Iran and bypass unilateral sanctions by the United States “before it is too late.”

Army holds last day of war games

TEHRAN – The Army on Saturday held the last day of its most recent military exercises, practicing a tactic to prevent the enemy from closing in on the battlefield by creating a long row of blasts using remote-controlled land bombs during a military exercise in central Iran.

Flood resilience improved in 1.5m ha of watersheds  

TEHRAN – The Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization has enhanced the country’s watershed capacity to resist floods, 1.5 million hectares of which have so far undergone flood resilience measures, the Organization’s director for watershed management has announced.

Officials propose closer Iranian, Spanish tourism ties

TEHRAN – Tehran ambassador to Madrid has proposed Iranian travel marketers and tourism entrepreneurs to deepen ties with their Spanish counterparts, IRNA reported on Friday.

‘Needlework’ a common craft in southern Iran

A woman completes patterns of needlework on a traditional dress in Jask, a port city in southern Iran, January 26, 2019.

Iran secures seat at WFTGA

TEHRAN – Iran has won a seat at the World Federation of Tourist Guides Association, securing the position for the second consecutive year, Mehr reported.

Major exhibit to stage Iran’s history, civilization in Spain

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief said on Saturday that the country aims to introduce its ancient history and civilization to the people of Spain by throwing a major loan exhibit.

Zarif discusses unrest in Venezuela with country’s FM 

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has made separate phone conversations with his Venezuelan and Turkish counterparts to discuss the recent unrest in Venezuela.

Not joining FATF would be ‘detrimental’: businessperson

TEHRAN – Pedram Soltani, the vice chairman of the Iranian chamber of commerce, has argued that if Iran fails to join the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the country will deprive itself from selling oil, even to China.

“Kupal” named best at Arthouse Asia film festival

TEHRAN – Iranian director Kazem Mollai’s acclaimed drama “Kupal” has been selected as best fiction feature at Arthouse Asia, an annual festival of independent filmmakers in Kolkata, India.