Shiraz conference exploring Iran-Italy archeological co-op

TEHRAN – Shiraz University on Saturday began playing host to an international conference, which spotlights Iran-Italy cultural and archeological ties over the past couple of decades, CHTN reported.

Iran proposes having tourism exhibit in Japan

TEHRAN – Tehran’s ambassador to Tokyo on Saturday proposed holding an exhibit of Iran’s handicrafts and tourism potential in Japan.

Iran congratulates Iraq on electing new parliament speaker

TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi on Saturday congratulated Mohammed Rikan Hadeed al-Halbousi on his election as the new speaker of Iraq’s parliament, hoping for the immediate formation of new government in Iraq.

By Seyyed Mostafa Mousavi Sabet

Iran sends “No Date” to Oscars despite calls for Academy Awards boycott

TEHRAN – Iran has submitted the acclaimed drama “No Date, No Signature” to the 91st Academy Awards in the best foreign language film category despite calls for the Farabi Cinema Foundation to boycott the prestigious cinematic competition over Washington’s withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Kerry strongly responds to criticism over talking with Zarif, says there’s ‘nothing unusual’

TEHRAN – On Friday, the spokesman for former U.S. secretary of state John Kerry strongly defended dialogue between Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, saying “there’s nothing unusual”.

Terrorists attack Iran's embassy in Paris: Report

Iran’s Embassy in Paris has come under attack by alleged supporters of Iraq-based anti-Iran terrorists after the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) fired missiles at terrorist commanders in the Arab country's Kurdistan region.

U.S. studying possible Iran sanctions waivers: Pompeo

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Washington is studying issuing possible waivers for countries and businesses that want to continue buying oil from Iran beyond November 4, the White House’s designated deadline for them to halt oil imports from the Islamic Republic or face punishments.

U.S. aware it will lose war against Iran: commander

TEHRAN – Brigadier General Hossein Salami, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps second-in-command, on Friday rejected the possibility of a war between Iran and the U.S., saying Washington knows it will lose in any war against Tehran.

‘Forbidding wrong should be directed toward plunderers’

TEHRAN – Interim Friday Prayer preacher of Tehran Ayatollah Kazem Sediqqi says that enjoining good and forbidding wrong should be primarily directed toward “political and economic roughnecks” who are plundering and looting the country.

Tehran says U.S. must stop breaking international law

TEHRAN – The Iranian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said the Islamic Republic expects the international community to force the U.S. to put an end to its practice of violating international rights.

Lake Urmia full restoration deferred pending budget allocation

TEHRAN — Limited budget could put back Lake Urmia, a wetland located in northwest Iran, restoration projects, Masoud Tajrishi deputy environment chief and an official with the lake restoration program has said.

Iran, Germany to collaborate on 24 research projects

TEHRAN —German Research Foundation (in German Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft or DFG) will collaborate with Iran on conducting 24 research projects, IRNA news agency reported on Friday.

U.S. may waive sanctions for Indian-built Iranian port linking to Afghanistan

The U.S. is reportedly considering granting a waiver to the Iranian port of Chabahar that would permit trade there despite the return of U.S. sanctions against trading with Iran.

Treasury secretary ‘resisting’ Trump’s Iran strategy: Post

TEHRAN – U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is “resisting” President Donald Trump’s maximum-pressure strategy on Iran by neglecting to give the president a document he requested several weeks ago, said Josh Rogin in a Washington Post column on Thursday.

Iran rejects Arab quartet committee’s accusations as ‘delusive’ 

TEHRAN - The anti-Iran accusations raised in the final statement of the Arab quartet’s ministerial meeting is ill-founded, baseless, delusive and offensive, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Friday.

Seven troupes from Iran to go on stage at Armenia HIGH FEST

TEHRAN – Seven plays by Iranian troupes will be competing in the HIGH FEST International Performing Arts Festival, which will be held in Yerevan, Armenia from September 5 to October 5.

Germany looking at payment system with Iran to save nuclear deal

BERLIN - Germany and its European partners are considering setting up a payment system with Iran that allows the continuation of business transactions with the Islamic Republic once U.S. sanctions kick in, an economy ministry spokeswoman said on Friday.

Enrollment rate in primary education increased to almost 100% in Iran: minister

TEHRAN — While in 1970s there enrollment rate of the boys and girls in primary education was 70 percent, currently it exceeds 98 percent, Education Minister said on Thursday.

Hosseini infants ceremony marked in Iran

TEHRAN —The Hosseini infants ceremony was held nationwide on Friday in commemoration of Ali al-Asghar, the six-month-old baby boy of Imam Hossein (AS) who was the youngest person killed in the Battle of Karbala.

Visa-free entry an alternative to oil economy: expert 

The head of Alborz province’s chamber of commerce, industries, mines and agriculture believes that starting a visa-free regime for inbound travelers to Iran is an alternative to the country’s oil-reliant economy.

‘JCPOA survival dependent on securing Iran’s benefits’

TEHRAN – Kazem Gharib Abadi, Iran’s representative to the Vienna-based international organizations, has said the survival of the 2015 nuclear deal depends on whether other parties secure Iran’s benefits from the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Solana: EU will have to bend to U.S. sanctions against Iran

TEHRAN – Europe will have no choice but to comply with U.S. sanctions on Iran, according to Javier Solana, a former NATO secretary general and early advocate of the nuclear deal abandoned by President Donald Trump.

Iran’s heritage museums home to 3m historical relic

TEHRAN – Some Three million historical objects are currently being kept in museums which are affiliated with the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, IRNA reported on Wednesday. 

Will at last students have winter break or not?

TEHRAN — While Iran tourism chief Ali-Asghar Mounesan announced on Sunday that students can enjoy a 5-day winter break this school year (starting on September 23) officials at the supreme council of education and members of the parliament have voiced their disagreements.

Tehran exhibit features artworks back from Louvre-Lens

TEHRAN – On Wednesday, an exhibition of Qajar-era (1785-1925) objects, which France’s Louvre-Lens had borrowed earlier this year for a home show, opened its doors to the public at the UNESCO-registered Golestan Palace in downtown Tehran.

Tehran calls White House statement ‘provocative’ and 'irresponsible'

TEHRAN – Tehran on Wednesday denounced as “astonishing, provocative and irresponsible” a White House statement blaming Iran for the recent unrest in the Iraqi city of Basra, saying shifting the blame onto others would not erase Washington’s “destructive” role in Iraq.

Russia, Iran, EU, China work to counter U.S.: Ryabkov

Russia, Iran, Europe and China will intensify work in coming days to counter unilateral U.S. sanctions and Washington’s efforts to undermine a 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, Russia’s deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Iran, Belarus hold consular meetings in Tehran

TEHRAN – Top officials from Iran and Belarus on Monday held the fifth round of meetings on consular affairs in a bid to boost relations between the two sides in different fields.