Iranian arrivals in Turkey drop by 20 percent in 2018: envoy

TEHRAN – Iranian visits to Turkey fell some 20 percent in 2018 in comparison to a year earlier, Ankara’s ambassador to Tehran has said.

Iran seeks return of 1,300 stolen artifacts

TEHRAN - Iran earnestly seeks the return of some 1,300 historical relics, which have been previously smuggled out of the country, tourism chief said on Saturday.

Aref will run for Majlis presiding board elections: lawmaker

TEHRAN – A member of the pro-reform Hope faction’s presiding board in parliament has announced that Mohammad Reza Aref, chairman of the faction, will run for the Majlis presiding board elections.

Fadavi got new post due to his experiences: general

TEHRAN – Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi was named the deputy chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) due to his operational experiences, director of the Supreme Leader’s Military Office said on Sunday. 

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Iran facing population decline; is it possible to reverse the trend?

TEHRAN – Many demographers believe that Iran’s population has started to decline more sharply, one point to consider, however, is that Iran’s population growth rate is similar to today’s world average but substantially lower than its peak a few decades earlier.

1.5 tons of narcotics seized in Sistan-Balouchestan

TEHRAN – Sistan-Balouchestan’s police forces have seized 1.5 tons of opium in Zahedan city, according to provincial police chief Mohammad Ghanbari.

TPO to hold 1st meeting of Iran-neighbors joint economic committees

TEHRAN- Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) will hold the first meeting of the chairmen of the country’s joint economic committees with its neighboring countries on Monday, Mohammadreza Modoudi, the acting head of TPO, announced.

Barham Salih says Iraq will stand beside Iranians in difficult times

TEHRAN – Iraqi President Barham Salih said on Saturday that Baghdad will stand beside the Iranian government and people in difficult times.

By Mehdi Sepahvand

U.S. airline call serving ‘psychological warfare’

TEHRAN - A recent call by the United States administration to American airliners to avoid flying over the Persian Gulf is a tool of psychological warfare, according to Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Judiciary chief urges support for entrepreneurs

TEHRAN - Ebrahim Raeisi, the Judiciary chief, said on Sunday that all officials are duty bound to support businessmen and entrepreneurs.

Europe unwilling to pay the price to save JCPOA: MP

TEHRAN – Chairman of the Majlis Nuclear Committee Mojtaba Zonnour said on Sunday that while European countries are capable of preserving the Iran nuclear agreement, they are not willing to pay the price for saving it.

Iran not looking for war but ready to fight back: IRGC chief

TEHRAN – The Islamic Republic is not looking for war with any country but is ready to counter any threat posed by the enemies, chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday.

Saudis, other Arab states okay U.S. troop deployment in Persian Gulf: report

(Press TV) - Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf Arab states reportedly gave the green light to the U.S. deploying its troops and warships to the region to counter what they claim “imminent threat” from Tehran.

Ex-CIA chief Brennan and top nuclear deal negotiator Sherman to brief Dems on Iran: AP 

TEHRAN - Former CIA director John Brennan and top negotiator of the Iran nuclear deal, Wendy Sherman, will brief Democrats on the situation in Iran amid the Trump administration’s heightened tension with Tehran.

Royal Mail resumes service to Iranians

TEHRAN - Royal Mail, Britain’s top posting service company, has restored its services to the destination of Iran, according to Iran’s ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Turkey wants removal of barriers in trade with Iran: Turkish envoy

TEHRAN- Turkish ambassador to Iran said his country wants the barriers in the way of trade with Iran to be removed, IRNA reported.

Iran calls for exploiting private sectors' capacities in trade with Czech Republic

TEHRAN - Mohammadreza Modoudi, the acting head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO), called for using the potentials of the Iranian and Czech private companies for expanding mutual trade, the portal of TPO reported.

Oil loadings from Iranian ports ongoing as before: PMO

TEHRAN – Deputy director of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) said crude oil loadings and exports from the country’s ports has not been halted and the exports are ongoing just like before, ILNA reported on Saturday.

Over $3b allocated to supply basic goods in 2 months

TEHRAN – Iranian Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Farhad Dejpasand said the government has allocated over $3 billion for importing basic goods since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21), IRIB reported.

Crazy Body seeks to help flood-hit families by drama 

TEHRAN – Crazy Body, an Iranian theater troupe led by director Yasser Khaseb, implemented a drama therapy project in the flood-stricken regions to keep people’s spirits up.

National Orchestra conductor Shahbazian quits over retirees’ employment ban law

TEHRAN – Fereidun Shahbazian, the permanent conductor and artistic director of Iran’s National Orchestra, has resigned from his job in compliance with a law that bans the re-employment of retirees, the Rudaki Foundation announced on Sunday.

Shorts from Iran line up for River Film Festival

TEHRAN – A lineup of 13 Iranian movies will go on screen in the various sections of the 13th River Film Festival, which will be held in the Italian city of Padova during June.

Canadian center to review movies by Iranian director Masud Kimiai

TEHRAN – The Parya Trillium Foundation in the Canadian city of Toronto plans to review films by veteran Iranian filmmaker Masud Kimiai during a meeting on May 25.

Iranian Quran reciter Karim Mansuri visits Ghana

TEHRAN – World-renowned Iranian Quran reciter Karim Mansuri is currently in Ghana to recite at several meetings in the West African country, in which Islam is one of the major religions practiced widely. 

Art Bureau to display new productions at Cannes Film Market

TEHRAN – The Art Bureau of the Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organization is displaying a lineup of its latest movie productions at the Cannes Film Market.

Iran’s Mehrdad Mohammadi reaches agreement with Aves: report

TEHRAN – Iranian winger Mehrdad Mohammadi has been reportedly linked with a move to Portuguese top-flight football team Aves.

Marco Octavio quits Iran beach soccer team

TEHRAN – Brazilian coach Marco Octavio left Iran beach soccer national team due to personal reasons.

Imam Ali (AS)

The first benefit which a patient man gets from his forbearance is that the people aid him against the ignorant.

Community Iftar at Tehran’s Imam Hossein (AS) square 

Every day since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan (May 7) Iftar meal is being served to the public at Tehran’s Imam Hossein (AS) square.

By Ramin Hosein Abadian

U.S. faking insecurity in Iraq: New strategy to push Baghdad into compliance 

TEHRAN - Apparently, U.S. government is not going to end its suspicious and hostile actions in Iraq anytime soon. These activities have been rapidly increasing over the last five months, intensifying pressure on Iraq into yielding to the White House demands.