‘3000MW added to Iran’s power generation capacity since March’

TEHRAN – Some 3000 megawatts (MW) capacity of new power plants have been added to the country’s electricity network in the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21) to supply the demands in the summer peak period, IRNA reported on Tuesday quoting an official with the energy ministry.

Iran to export $5b of gas, electricity to Iraq by March 2020

TEHRAN – The value of Iran’s gas and electricity exports to Iraq are expected to reach $5 billion by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2020), Meh news agency quoted an official with the Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce as saying.

By staff and agency

Mogherini says Iran’s reducing nuclear commitments is not significant

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Monday that remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, do not see Iran’s reducing its commitments as significant non-compliance.

Special working group formed to mitigate ozone pollution

TEHRAN – A special working group consisting of environmental experts has been formed to find solutions for tackling ozone pollutants hitting the capital, deputy mayor of Tehran for traffic and transport affairs has said.

Tehran bus fleet equipped with 500 CNG tanks

TEHRAN – Some 500 compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks have been provided to the buses running in the capital’s transport fleet replacing the old ones, head of public transport and urban traffic affairs of the Municipalities and Village Administrations Organization has announced.

‘Iran, Armenia mull over trade with national currencies’

TEHRAN - The head of Iran-Armenia Joint Chamber of Commerce said the two countries are discussing the possibility of trade with their national currencies, IRNA reported.

148 new items added to imports blacklist

TEHRAN – Iranian Industry, Mining and Trade Minister Reza Rahmani said that the imports of 148 new commodities has been banned by the ministry to rise the number of such items to 1487, IRIB reported on Tuesday.

Majlis okays three jurists for Guardian Council

TEHRAN – Iranian lawmakers on Tuesday voted for Mohammad Dehqan, Mohammad-Hassan Sadeqi-Moqadam and Hadi Tahan-Nazif as three jurists for the oversight Guardian Council.

By staff and agency

China blames U.S. for causing tension with Iran, says JCPOA is ‘irreplaceable’

Chinese Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Tuesday that U.S. should stop exerting pressure on Iran and blamed Washington for causing the current tensions.

Deputy Majlis speaker: Tanker seizure not to affect Iran’s JCPOA decisions

TEHRAN – Deputy Majlis speaker Abdolreza Mesri has said Britain’s seizure of an Iranian oil tanker in Gibraltar will not dissuade Tehran from reducing its nuclear undertakings in response to the West’s disloyalty.

Boosting trade with neighbors discussed in an ICCIMA meeting

TEHRAN- During a meeting between deputy head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) for international affairs with the vice chairmen of provincial chambers for international affairs, the ways for boosting trade with the neighboring countries were discussed.

Jahangiri urges Europe to press U.S. to lift cruel sanctions

TEHRAN – Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri on Tuesday urged Europe to put pressure on the United States to remove its anti-Iran “cruel sanctions” instead of holding futile meetings and mounting pressure on Tehran to salvage the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Judiciary confirms arrest of Akbar Tabari

TEHRAN – Judiciary spokesman Gholam Hossein Esmaili on Tuesday confirmed reports on the arrest of Akbar Tabari, a deputy to former Judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani.

Macron to speak to Rouhani, Putin, Trump to ease tensions

TEHRAN – French President Emmanuel Macron has said he would speak to his Iranian, Russian and American counterparts this week as part of a French initiative to reduce tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Foreign visits to Sacred Defense Museum jumps 80 percent

TEHRAN - The number of foreign tourists visiting the Sacred Defense Museum in Tehran in the past Iranian calendar year (March 2018-19) jumped 80 percent compared with a year earlier.

By Afshin Majlesi

Iran travel sector: Ups and downs since U.S. reimposed sanctions

TEHRAN – Last November, the Trump administration reinstated sanctions on Iran, mainly the ones that had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, in order to batter Iran’s economy, however, according to official data, they have so far failed to lessen foreign arrivals to the Islamic Republic.

Uranium not to pass 4.5% purity for time being: Kamalvandi

TEHRAN - Behrooz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said on Tuesday that for the time being, Iran will not pass uranium enrichment above 4.5 percent purity.

“Fisherman and the Spring” to compete in Lago Film Fest

TEHRAN – Iranian director Hassan Soltani’s animated film “Fisherman and the Spring” will be competing in the Lago Film Fest in Revine Lago, Italy.

Iran’s “Skier” named best at Zanzibar film festival

TEHRAN – Iranian director Fereidun Najafi’s “The Skier” won the award for best film from Dhow countries at the 22nd Zanzibar International Film Festival in Tanzania, Iran’s Art Bureau, the international distributor of the film, announced on Tuesday. 

Daily life in ECO countries under spotlight at Tehran photo exhibit

TEHRAN – A selection of photos reflecting daily life in the member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was showcased in an exhibition at the Ferdowsi World Trade Center in Tehran on Tuesday.

Parisian art center exec Benedicte Alliot visits Tehran 

TEHRAN – The director-general of France’s Cite internationale des arts in Benedicte Alliot is in Tehran to hold meetings with a number of Iranian cultural officials.

“Gando” controversy continues, producer to government: The truth is bitter

TEHRAN – Producer of “Gando” Mojtaba Amini has accused the government of intolerance of the truth after presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi called the story of the TV series about the espionage case of Jason Rezaian the product of its screenwriter’s imagination.

Tehran City Council names streets after contemporary Iranian poets 

TEHRAN – The Tehran City Council has named several streets across the capital city after a number of contemporary Iranian poets, the Iranian Poets Forum has announced.

Iran’s Moradi wins silver at World Para Powerlifting Championships

TEHRAN – Nader Moradi from Iran claimed a silver medal at the Nur-Sultan 2019 World Para Powerlifting Championships on Tuesday.

By Negar Asadi

Room for negotiations is ‘wide open’ if U.S. lifts sanctions on Iran, Zarif says

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that the room for negotiations is wide open if U.S. President Donald Trump lifts sanctions against Iran.

Iran victorious over Canadian team at William Jones Cup

TEHRAN – Iran U23 basketball team defeated University of British Columbia (UBS) Thunderbirds 72-61 at Day 5 of the 41st William Jones Cup.

Will Ursula von der Leyen be the Commander of the Europian Commission?

KAYHAN DAILY - Ursula von der Leyen, the nominee to become the next European Commission chief, is also the German Minister of Defense. During her ministry, von der Leyen incorporated Germany’s military strategies into its foreign policy. Over this time, countering threats in and out of Germany’s surrounding regions and “gaining more military power to take on more international responsibilities” became the top priorities of German forces.

Ayatollah Khamenei says Iran will surely continue to reduce JCPOA commitments

Leader: British act of ‘piracy’ won’t go unanswered

TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday condemned the British government’s illegal seizure of an Iranian supertanker in Gibraltar, saying the act of “piracy” will not go “unanswered”.

Born from immigrant parents, Trump says Muslim congresswomen to ‘Go back where you came from’

Trump who has a German grandfather and a Scottish mother tells Muslim congresswomen to ‘Go back where you came from’.