Iran-Turkey trade possible to reach $30b despite U.S. sanctions

TEHRAN- During the 27th meeting of Iran-Turkey Joint Economic Committee, which was held in Ankara from September 16 to 18, the two sides investigated different ways of reaching the targeted $30-billion bilateral trade and reiterated that reaching this figure is possible despite the pressures of the U.S. sanctions.

Europe must shore up assistance to Iran’s fight on drugs: presidential chief of staff

TEHRAN – The Iranian president’s chief of staff has called on Europeans to increase assistance to Iran in fighting drugs to prevent traffic of drugs to their countries, noting in particular that U.S. sanctions have left impacts on Tehran’s budget to fight against narcotics.

Details of Rouhani-Macron conversation cannot be released: Vaezi

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi has said he cannot reveal the details of the phone conversation between President Hassan Rouhani and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, which took place on Saturday night and lasted for two hours.

Tehran rejects rumors of Rouhani-Trump meeting in New York

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi has rejected speculations that President Hassan Rouhani may meet with his American counterpart Donald Trump in New York next month.

Tehran rejects notion of meeting for meeting’s sake

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi has rejected the possibility of a meeting between Iranian and American leaders, saying meeting for the sake of a meeting will not solve any problems.

$1.5b allocated for job creation in rural areas

TEHRAN - Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi said on Wednesday that the government has allocated $1.5 billion for job creation in the country’s rural areas, IRIB reported.

Iran calls release of oil tanker a diplomatic victory

TEHRAN - Mahmoud Vaezi, the Iranian president’s chief of staff, said on Friday that release of the supertanker Grace 1 is a “diplomatic victory” for Iran.

Rouhani says journalists should criticize without fear

Iranian officials mark National Journalist Day

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani as well as other senior officials underlined the importance of press freedom in remarks ahead of National Journalist Day.

Top Iranian official in Baku to pave ground for trilateral Sochi summit

TEHRAN – Mahmoud Vaezi, the Iranian president’s chief of staff, has visited Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to prepare grounds for next week’s trilateral Russia-Azerbaijan-Iran summit that is set to be held in the Russian city of Sochi in the current month. 

Iran to take two ‘fundamental measures’: official

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi said on Wednesday that the Islamic Republic will take two “fundamental measures” before the end of a two-month deadline that Iran set earlier in the day for the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear agreement to fulfill their commitments. 

Ending waivers won’t stop Iran oil exports: official

TEHRAN – Iran's presidental chief of staff said the U.S. decision on ending the waivers on Iran sanctions is not going to stop the country’s oil exports.

Rouhani to visit flood-hit Khouzestan, Lorestan

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani will travel to Khouzestan and Lorestan provinces to personally look into the problems facing the two flood-hit provinces, presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi said on Wednesday.

Iran, Iraq to build 5 joint industrial estates

TEHRAN- Iran and Iraq have agreed to construct five joint industrial estates, Mehr news agency reported on Saturday quoting Mahmoud Vaezi, the chief of staff of Iranian president.

Zarif’s presence very important for administration: Vaezi

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi said on Wednesday that the presence of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is very important for the Rouhani administration, Mehr reported.

‘Rouhani believes there is only one foreign policy, one foreign minister’

TEHRAN - President Hassan Rouhani fully backs his chief diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif, who resigned on Monday night, and believes that Iran has only “one foreign policy and one foreign minister”, presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi said on Tuesday.

‘Europe should stop backing MKO, separatists’

TEHRAN - Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi said on Saturday that Europe should stop supporting the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) and separatist groups.

Tehran says not interfering in Afghan affairs

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi has said talks between Iran and Taliban were held in coordination with the Afghan government, stressing that the Islamic Republic would never interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.

‘Expenses reduced in next year’s budget bill’

TEHRAN- Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi announced that the predicted expenses have been reduced in the budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year, which begins on March 21, 2019, IRNA reported on Wednesday.

Rouhani due in Turkey to chair high council of strategic cooperation with Erdogan

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani is scheduled to travel to Ankara on Wednesday afternoon for talks with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan pushes for stronger ties with Iran 

TEHRAN - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late on Friday that his government is willing to strengthen tie with Iran, especially in economic sphere.

Vaezi calls relations with Turkey ‘strategic’

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi said on Friday that expansion of all-out relations with neighbors, including Turkey, is of strategic significance to Iran, Mehr reported.

Vaezi: SPV to become operational in weeks

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi said on Wednesday the special purpose vehicle (SPV), a European mechanism which aims to facilitate trade with Iran in defiance of U.S. sanctions, will come into effect within two or three weeks.

Presidential aides, advisors quit jobs as law bans employment of retireees

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani and his chief of staff, Mahmoud Vaezi, have accepted the resignations of ten officials who had resigned in compliance with a parliamentary legislation that bans the employment of retirees, ISNA reported on Sunday.

By Mohammad Homaeefar

Rouhani backs Zarif over money laundering remarks

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday defended the recent remarks made by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif about money laundering, saying not just Iran but the entire world is suffering from money laundering.

Vaezi, Haji Mirzaee to be named govt. spokesmen: report

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi and cabinet secretary Mohsen Haji Mirzaee will be named as government spokesmen, the Arman daily reported on Saturday, quoting an informed source.

Iran-EU talks on nuclear pact progressing: Vaezi

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi says talks about the European Union’s package of economic measures to secure Iran’s benefits from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), are progressing well.

Vaezi dismisses rumors of Jahangiri’s resignation

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi on Wednesday dismissed rumors that Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri wants to leave the government, saying such an issue “has never come up”.

New ministers to be named next week

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi told reporters on Wednesday that the Rouhani administration will introduce its new ministers to the parliament next week.

Vaezi delivers Rouhani’s message to Erdogan

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi who made a visit to Ankara on Thursday submitted a message from President Hassan Rouhani to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Nobakht resignation not true: government

TEHRAN – Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi said on Wednesday that a report that Budget and Planning Organization chief Mohammad Baqer Nobakht has resigned is not true, saying media has misquoted Nobakht.