Iran freestyle wrestling team crowned Asian champions

TEHRAN - Iran freestyle team claimed the title of the Asian Wrestling Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Sunday.

FM Zarif holds talks with Kazakh leaders

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with Kazakh leaders including President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi.

Zarif to start tour of Central Asia

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will take a tour of the Central Asian states of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, the Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday.

Rouhani congratulates Kazakhstan on National Day

TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has sent a congratulatory message to his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulating him on National Day of Kazakhstan.

Iran, neighbors explore ways to safeguard Silk Roads heritage

TEHRAN – Cultural experts and officials from Iran and some neighboring states on Thursday discussed ways to safeguard, and benefit from the cultural heritage their nations are inherited from the ancient Silk Roads.

Iran’s cultural centers in Kazakhstan, Serbia organize photo exhibitions on Imam Khomeini 

TEHRAN – Iran’s cultural centers in Kazakhstan and Serbia will commemorate the 31st death anniversary of Imam Khomeini by organizing exhibitions of photos of the founder of the Islamic Republic.

Iran water polo in shock over FINA’s decision

TEHRAN – Iran Swimming Federation still is in shock after International Swimming Federation (FINA) introduced Kazakhstan as Asia’s water polo representative in the 2020 Olympic Games.

Iran cruise past Kazakhstan at Olympic Volleyball Qualification Tournament

TEHRAN – Iran’s men’s volleyball team defeated Kazakhstan 3-0 (28-26, 25-16, 25-18) at the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) 2020 Olympic Qualification Tournament in Jiangmen, China on Wednesday.

Iran’s women volleyball team fall short against Kazakhstan in Olympics qualification

TEHRAN – Iran lost to Kazakhstan in straight sets (25-14, 25-16, 25-14) in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand at the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) 2020 Olympic Qualification Tournament on Tuesday.

Iranian women make history in Belt Wrestling World Championships

TEHRAN – Iran’s women’s team made history by winning the 2019 Belt Wrestling World Championships for the first time on Monday.

Kazakhstan considering to ease visa rules for Iranians

TEHRAN - Kazakhstan is considering to ease visa rules for Iranian traders and travelers as of the next spring, Kazakh ambassador to Tehran Askhat Orazbay has said.

Zarif set to visit Kazakhstan on Monday

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is scheduled to leave Tehran for Kazakhstan on Monday, says Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi.

Iran inks MOU with Russia, Kazakhstan for temporary imports of wheat

TEHRAN- Iran signed a memorandum of understanding with Russia and Kazakhstan for temporary imports of wheat from those countries, Iranian deputy agriculture minister announced on Sunday.

Iran Greco-Roman wrestler Abdvali wins bronze at world championships

TEHRAN – Saeid Abdvali from Iran claimed a bronze medal at the 2019 Wrestling World Championships (WWC) in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan on Sunday.

Kazakhstan overpower Iran in Asian Women’s Volleyball C’ship

TEHRAN – Kazakhstan eased past Iran at the 2019 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship on Saturday.

Chinese Taipei defeat Iran in Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship

TEHRAN - Chinese Taipei defeated Iran 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 19-25,12-25) in Pool E of the 2019 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship at the Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Seoul, South Korea on Friday.

Iran defend title at Indoor Hockey Asia Cup

TEHRAN – Iran’s men’s team won the title of the Indoor Hockey Asia Cup for the eighth time on Sunday.

Siamand Rahman takes gold at World Para Powerlifting Championships

TEHRAN - The world's strongest Paralympian Siamand Rahman claimed a gold medal at the Nur-Sultan 2019 World Para Powerlifting Championships on Friday.

Solhipour claims gold, Gharibshi seizes silver at World Para Powerlifting

TEHRAN – Iranian athletes claimed a gold and a silver medal at the Nur-Sultan 2019 World Para Powerlifting Championships on Thursday.

Iran’s Rostami takes gold at World Para Powerlifting C’ships

TEHRAN – Rouhollah Rostami claimed a gold medal at the Nur-Sultan 2019 World Para Powerlifting Championships on Tuesday.

Iran’s Jafari wins bronze at World Para Powerlifting Championships

TEHRAN – Amir Jafari Arangeh from Iran claimed a bronze medal at the Nur-Sultan 2019 World Para Powerlifting Championships on Monday.

Iranian athletes win nine medals at Kosanov Memorial Athletic Meet

TEHRAN – Nine Iranian athletes claimed medals at the G. Kosanov Kosanov Memorial Athletic Meet in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Iran freestyle team win 2019 Cadet Asian Championship

TEHRAN – Iran freestyle team claimed the title of the 2019 Cadet Asian Wrestling Championship on Sunday in Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan.

Iranian nomads attend festival in Kazakhstan

TEHRAN – A number of Iranian nomads, who are natives of Golestan province, promoted traditions, skills and arts at Koshpendiler Alemi, a festival of ethno-culture of nomads, held in Kazakhstan.

Rouhani felicitates new Kazakh president on election win

TEHRAN – In a letter on Tuesday, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran congratulated Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on winning Kazakhstan’s presidential election.

Envoy predicts closer Iran-Kazakhstan ties under next president

TEHRAN – Iran’s ambassador to Kazakhstan anticipates that the close relations between Tehran and Astana will continue to grow during the next Kazakh president’s term.

By Alan Macleod 

Dictator: Media code for ‘Government we don’t like’

FAIR - Let’s start with a quiz: Quick! Name some dictators! I’m willing to bet most of you responded with just a few of the same names: Assad, Putin, Castro, Kim Jong-un, Gaddafi, Maduro. This is not because they are the only dictators in the world (far from it), or that all of them even necessarily qualify for the title, but precisely because these are the figures most constantly labeled as such by our media.

Seven foreign ambassadors submit credentials to Rouhani

Rouhani says unity in Venezuela will foil U.S. plots

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday separately received credentials of the new ambassadors of Venezuela, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Tunisia, Mali and Sierra Leone.

Tehran hosting 29th ECO Regional Planning Council meeting

TEHRAN - The 29th meeting of Regional Planning Council (RPC) of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) kicked off on Monday at the ECO secretariat in Tehran.