By Abdollah Shahbazi

Macron, Trump and Iran’s future

TEHRAN - The incident of the city of Strasbourg in France was a very primitive scenario for facing the deep social and political crisis that the Macron government is facing. 

‘Some in Iran overlook Trump's possible downfall’

TEHRAN – A senior political analyst believes the “pro-Trump enthusiasts” in Iran are mistaken to disregard the strong possibility of the U.S. president’s impeachment, while Trump is facing serious problems within America.

UK university tells Iranian student: Go home and get tuition fees in cash

Iranian university students in the UK are facing suspension from their courses because of U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly reimposed sanctions on the country.

By Nicholas Kristof

So, I Asked People in Saudi Arabia About Their Mad, Murderous Crown Prince

The U.S. has leverage over Riyadh. Let’s use it.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — It’s awkward to find yourself in a police state interviewing people about their leader’s penchant for starving children, torturing women or dismembering critics.

Trump’s Iran sanctions create a triple threat to the West

The South Pars gas field in the Persian Gulf was an offshore discovery that, for oilmen, is the stuff of dreams. The largest natural gas field in the world, it stretches across the maritime border between Iran and Qatar. American economic sanctions, however, had kept it off-limits to Western energy companies for years. When the U.S. and other world powers negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal, that unlocked the potential bounty. The French oil giant Total soon signed a deal to help develop a key portion of the field and started work last year. Then Donald Trump was elected. His administration pulled out of the deal and, in late November, imposed severe economic penalties—again. Facing the threat of “secondary sanctions”—U.S. sanctions on any foreign companies doing business in Iran—Total withdrew from the South Pars, deciding, as many European companies have, that access to the U.S. market remains more important than deals in Iran. In Total’s wake, though, came the China National Petroleum Corp., a state-owned giant based in Beijing. “It’s a gift to China,” says a longtime Total adviser not authorized to speak publicly, “and a self-inflicted wound for the West.”

Russian diplomat says SPV is essential to do business with Iran

TEHRAN - Sergei Ryabkov, the Russian deputy foreign minister, has said that Europe’s special vehicle purpose (SPV) is essential to do business with Iran, ISNA reported on Wednesday.

By staff and agency

UN chief call on all countries to preserve nuclear deal

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on all countries to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, now that the U.S. has withdrawn from the multilateral agreement backed by the UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

Trump seeking ‘psychological-media objective’ through talks offer: diplomat

TEHRAN – Iran’s Ambassador to the UK, Hamid Baeedinejad, has said that Trump is seeking a “psychological-media objective” by calling for talks with Iran.

By Haniyeh Sadat Jafaryieh

1398 budget bill, (non)-oil revenues?

The budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year 1398 (starting on March 21, 2019) was presented to the parliament on December 6 while Iran’s economy, previously expected to boom, is experiencing the toughest conditions under the draconian U.S. sanctions. The upcoming year is supposedly an economic predicament for Iranians to endure and for the government to program and handle.

Rouhani urges unity in face of psychological and economic war

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the United States and his regional allies have started a psychological and economic warfare against Iran and it is necessary to keep unity to counter it.

Pressure on Iran has backfired: IRGC chief

TEHRAN - Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Mohammad Ali Jafari said on Tuesday that Iran has disappointed the enemies who have been working relentlessly to exert pressure on the Islamic Republic.

Iran will turn to alternate options if nuclear deal not saved: MP

TEHRAN – Iranian MP Kazem Jalali said on Monday that Iran will turn to alternate options if Europe fails to start actions to save the 2015 nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

44 ex-senators warn U.S. is 'entering a dangerous period'

A bipartisan group of nearly four dozen former senators warned current and future members of the Senate on Monday that the United States is “entering a dangerous period,” and urged them to defend America’s democracy by serving national interests rather than political ideologies.

Trump showing true face of U.S. conspiratorial policies, Velayati says

TEHRAN – Ali Akbar Velayati, a top foreign policy adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, said on Monday that the United States has failed to impose its will on others over the past 40 years and the trend will continue.

JCPOA cannot protect Iran’s interests: ex-nuclear negotiator

TEHRAN – Iran’s former chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said on Sunday the 2015 nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is not an agreement that can protect Iran’s interests, Mehr reported.

‘Iran pursuing active interaction with the world’

TEHRAN – Hossein Amir Abdollahian, a senior foreign policy advisor to the parliament speaker, said on Saturday that while U.S. President Donald Trump is igniting Iranophobia, the Tehran parliamentary conference showed that Iran is pursuing an active interaction with the outside world, IRNA reported.

By: Ebrahim Fallahi

Oil’s love triangle ends up with Trump in tears

These days whenever there is talks about oil market three names are inevitably come to surface, the U.S. President Trumps, Russian President Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

EU package to save JCPOA to go into force by end of 2018

TEHRAN - Ali Akbar Salehi, director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said on Thursday that the European Union’s package to save the 2015 nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), will be implemented by end of 2018.

Producers reach accord to remove 1.2 million barrels a day

OPEC agrees on larger-than-expected oil cut

OPEC finally broke an impasse over production curbs, agreeing on a larger-than-expected cut with allies after two days of fractious negotiations in Vienna.

By Seyyed Hossein Mousavian

Disarmament: The forgotten premises of non-proliferation

In an interview with the daily Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas announced a German-led initiative on global disarmament, warning that technologically advanced weapons can soon transform science fiction into “deadly reality.”

Zarif says 2231 resolution doesn’t limit Iran’s missile program

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday that the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and the 2015 nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, do not restrict Iran’s missile program.

By Hanif Ghafari

The G20 fruitless summit

TEHRAN - The 2018 G20 summit in Buenos Aires, was the thirteenth meeting of Group of Twenty (G20), which was held on 30 November and 1 December 2018 in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

European financial mechanism with Iran to be announced soon: Araqchi

TEHRAN – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday that European financial mechanism to save the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran now that the U.S. has exited the agreement will be announced in the near future.

By staff and agency

Don’t push Iran towards exiting JCPOA, Russia tells the U.S.

Dmitry Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, said on Monday that Moscow stands for keeping the 2015 nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, after the U.S. withdrawal.

Trump’s offer for talks cannot be taken seriously, Larijani says

TEHRAN – U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls for talks with Iran cannot be taken seriously until Washington returns to the 2015 nuclear agreement as a gesture of goodwill, Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani says.

By Hanif Ghaffari

Bernie Sanders's hammer on the Trump's head 

TEHRAN - Bernie Sanders, the old American senator, and one of Democratic nominees for the 2016 presidential election, continues to oppose U.S. President Donald Trump. This confrontation started at the time Trump entered the White House (by early 2017).