Anchor Hashemi awaits second court hearing on Wednesday

TEHRAN – The second court session for jailed U.S.-born Iranian TV anchor, Marzieh Hashemi, will be held on Wednesday, January 23, in Washington, the official website of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported on Monday.

Pilgrims mourn martyrdom of Prophet’s daughter

TEHRAN – A host of Shia pilgrims commemorated the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (SA), the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), in a reunion held in Qom on Sunday.

Saffron output increases 15%

TEHRAN- Production of saffron in Iran since the beginning of current Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2018) stands at 400 tons which is 15 percent more than the figure of the previous year’s same period, according to the vice chairman of National Saffron Council.

Massive cistern getting back to its former glory

TEHRAN – Restoration of Asadabad cistern, believed to be the largest of its kind in Iran, has been 85 percent completed, making it ready to be toured by visitors, governor of Asadabad has said.

Ashtian’s handmade soap added to national heritage list

TEHRAN - The centuries-old art of soap making in Ashtian, a city in west-central Iran, has been registered on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

“U.S. demolishing diplomacy-forged JCPOA undermines their claim to Mideast security”

Iran tells Poland it won’t tolerate hostile coalition

Polish official visits Tehran as Iran protests U.S.-proposed anti-Iran conference in Warsaw 

TEHRAN – Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Maciej Lang visited Tehran on Monday for talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi as Iran has strongly protested Poland for agreeing to host a U.S.-proposed conference on the Middle East with a focus on Iran.

Tehran denies Germany summoned envoy over military spy case

TEHRAN – Iran has dismissed reports that Germany summoned its charge d’affairs over arrest of a German-Afghan dual national accused of spying for Tehran.

Polish official visits Tehran as Iran protests U.S.-proposed anti-Iran meeting in Warsaw 

TEHRAN – Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Maciej Lang visited Tehran on Monday for talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi as Iran has strongly protested Poland for agreeing to host a U.S.-proposed conference on the Middle East with a focus on Iran.

Twitter suspends IRIB’s account

TEHRAN – Twitter has suspended the account of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) after it published a documentary about last year’s widespread protests.

We’re battling ISIS for Russia and Iran, Trump claims

TEHRAN – U.S. President Donald Trump defended on Saturday his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, claiming that the American forces are killing ISIS for Russia and Iran “that are not necessarily in agreement with us.”

Iran condoles with Mexico blast victims

TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi in a statement on Saturday expressed sympathy with the families of the victims of the Mexico pipeline blast, wishing swift recovery for all the injured.

U.S. Army study of its Iraq invasion concludes Iran was ‘the only victor’

The U.S. Army has described Iran as “the only victor” in its two-volume, 1300-page study of its brutal invasion of Iraq.

“DiaCare” national diabetes survey to get underway in Iran 

TEHRAN — A national diabetes survey entitled “DiaCare” will come on stream in Iran, aiming to combat and prevent the adverse effects of non-communicable disease, Afshin Ostovar, the Health Ministry’s director for non-communicable diseases has said. 

Iran to hold first national online project Olympiad 

TEHRAN—The first round of online project Olympiad will be held in Iran in the next Iranian calendar year (starting on March 21), Fatemeh Mohajerani, an official with the Ministry of Education has said.

Some 50 people die in traffic-related accidents per day

TEHRAN — Everyday 40 to 50 people in the country lose their lives on a daily basis in traffic-related accidents, an official with traffic police has said.

Iran denies charges levelled by German media

TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman has rejected recent allegations by some German media outlets against Tehran regarding the arrest of a person who they claimed was spying for Iran. 

By staff and agency

Israeli diplomat claims Iran’s satellite launch contradicts 2231 resolution

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon has claimed that Iran’s action in launching satellite on January 14 was a clear violation of the UN Security Council’s 2231 resolution.

By Ruhollah Ghasemian

Pompeo’s pointless Mideast trip

TEHRAN - These days, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's trip to the Middle East and his meeting with his eight Arab counterparts have led some to think that Washington is planning to organize an Arab alliance against Iran and a war on Tehran will soon take shape in the region.

By Payman Yazdani

Poland is weak and submissive enough to host U.S.’ aggression against Iran and Russia: expert

TEHRAN - Commenting on the U.S. isolation and differences with its heavy weight European allies on Middle East, Anthony Cartalucci says that poland is the only weak and submissive european nation which is forced to host American’s aggrasion against Iran and Russia.

‘Europe’s delay in implementing SPV is unacceptable’

TEHRAN - Kamal Kharrazi, head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, said on Saturday that the European countries’ delay in implementing the special purpose vehicle (SPV) is “unacceptable”.

Archaeologists, restorers resume work on Manujan fort

TEHRAN – Teams of archaeologists and restorers have commenced a new round of work on the ancient Manujan fort in the southeastern Kerman province.

New eco-lodges come on stream in Yazd

TEHRAN – A total of 18 eco-lodges have been constructed across the central Yazd province from the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2018), CHTN reported.

Gate of All Nations, Hafez Mausoleum sculptures to embellish Iran pavilion at FITUR

TEHRAN – Sculptures of Gate of All Nations and Hafez Mausoleum, two iconic symbols of tourism in Iran, will be showcased at the country’s pavilion at the 39th FITUR tourism trade fair in Madrid, Spain, from January 23 to 27.

Gonbad-e Soltaniyeh: Iran’s magnificent “Taj Mahal” 

TEHRAN - Locally known as Gonbad-e Soltaniyeh, the UNESCO-registered Mausoleum of Oljaytu is a prime tourism destination while traversing Iran.

4 consecutive days of excellent air quality in Tehran 

TEHRAN — In a rare phenomenon Tehraners have breathed excellent air for four consecutive days, Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday.

600 kg Europe-bound heroin seized in Iran

TEHRAN – Intelligence Ministry's forces have seized a big cargo of heroin destined to Europe at a southern port, IRNA reported.

By Martin Love

It behooves largely Muslim lands to avoid becoming like Saudi Arabia

NORTH CAROLINA - A fire broke out in a school building in Makkah back in 2002 from which young female students tried to escape. The Saudi “religious police” allegedly forced some if not all the teen school girls back inside the burning school because they were, in their hasty attempts to escape the fire, not wearing their headscarves and black robes.

Iran, Cuba to share vaccine production knowledge

TEHRAN — Iran and Cuba agreed on exchanging the technical know-how of vaccine production, IRNA news agency reported on Friday. 

2nd anniversary of Plasco building fallen firefighters marked 

TEHRAN — The second death anniversary of the firefighters who were killed in Plasco building collapse was held in Tehran on Friday. 

Sand, dust storms hit Khuzestan, PM at 22 times above safe levels

TEHRAN — Southwestern province of Khuzestan was hit by sand and dust storms on Thursday where particulate matters (PM) concentration peaked at 22 times the safe levels, IRNA news agency reported.