Iran’s military will respond firmly if U.S. continues aggression, Rouhani says in phone call with Macron

TEHRAN – Iran’s armed forces will respond firmly if U.S. continues to violate Iran’s territory, President Hassan Rouhani said late on Tuesday in a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Drone downing had a message for regional states: MP

TEHRAN – Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, says the shooting down of a U.S. spy drone by the Islamic Republic carried a “very good message” to regional countries.

What shooting down a $110m U.S. drone tells us about Iran

Once the dust cleared, it turned out that one of the enduring lessons from the past week occurred at about 22,000 feet.

MP Saffari Natanzi dies of pancreatic disease

TEHRAN – Morteza Saffari Natanzi, a member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, passed away on Wednesday morning after a period of severe illness, Mehr reported.

New U.S. sanctions are only a show, Jannati says

TEHRAN – Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of the Assembly of Experts and the Guardian Council, said on Wednesday the new U.S. sanctions targeting top Iranian authorities are merely a spectacle.

By staff and agency

Mogherini says INSTEX ready to be operational

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Tuesday that INSTEX, a special purpose vehicle aimed at facilitating legitimate trade between European economic operators and Iran, is now ready to be operational.

IRGC general: Enemy lacks will power to attack Iran

TEHRAN – The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force on Wednesday rejected the idea that there is a specter of war against Iran, saying the enemy does not have the will power to attack the Islamic Republic.

Rouhani urges Europe to honor JCPOA, advises U.S. to return to the deal

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday advised European countries to meet their obligations under the 2015 nuclear pact and the Americans to return to the deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), saying it would be to the benefit of everyone if they followed his advice.

‘Power drawn from spiritual influence can’t be subject to sanctions’

TEHRAN – The secretary of Supreme National Security Council says Iran’s power, which “is drawn from spiritual influence” cannot be subject to sanctions.

UAE says no evidence to blame any country for tanker explosions

TEHRAN – “Honestly we can’t point the blame at any country because we don’t have evidence,” and need to ensure evidence is “precise and convincing,” UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has said in his most recent statements about recent attacks on tankers off the shores of his country.