U.S. is open to talks with Iran: Brian Hook

TEHRAN – Brian Hook, the U.S. special representative for Iran, says the United States is open to dialogue with Iran even as Washington reinforces sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Iran warns against travel to U.S., citing risk of arrest, detention

TEHRAN – The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday issued a travel advisory for citizens, particularly scientists, not to visit the United States, saying Iranians may be faced with arbitrary arrest or lengthy detention in inhuman conditions.

Health minister: U.S. lying about pharmaceutical sanctions

TEHRAN – Health Minister Saeed Namaki said on Tuesday the United States lies when it says pharmaceuticals and medical equipment are not subject to its sanctions on Iran.

Foreign tour operators, travel marketers astonished by safe, modern Iran

TEHRAN – International tour operators and travel marketers, who have recently made a familiarization tour across Iran, are astonished by seeing a country that is far more safe and modern than that they previously thought.

Tourism ministry’s budget seen to rise by 11.8%

TEHRAN – The budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year (to start March 20, 2020) has proposed 13 trillion rials (about $310 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) for the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, an increase of 11.8 percent compared with the current year’s budget.

Deputy FM: All JCPOA parties see U.S. as root cause of tensions 

TEHRAN- The Iranian deputy foreign minister for political affairs said on Friday that Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany unanimously blame the U.S. for the standoff surrounding the 2015 nuclear deal. 

By Palash Ghosh

Iran tourism: Sector may get huge boost from China in defiance of U.S. sanctions

Despite the imposition of U.S. sanctions on various sectors of its economy, Iran is enjoying something of a boom in its tourism industry – with China possibly preparing to play a big role.

Economic terrorism kills, Zarif tweets

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has urged the European parties to the 2015 nuclear agreement to carry out their “minimal human duty” of selling pharmaceuticals to Iran.

U.S. sanctions are ‘inhumane’, ‘shameful’, Dehqani says 

Sanctions hampering delivery of medicine to chemical victims: top Iranian diplomat 

TEHRAN - Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Gholam-Hossein Dehqani on Monday described the U.S. unilateral sanctions on Iran as “inhumane” and “shameful”, saying that sanctions are impeding delivery of medicine to victims of chemical attacks.

Sanctions on Fordow is a blow to nuclear deal: Russian CENESS director

TEHRAN - Director of the Russian Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS) Anton Khlopkov has said that the United States’ sanctions on the Fordow nuclear plant is a blow to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the JCPOA.

“I won’t let U.S. prohibit Iran’s development,” Jahromi says

ICT minister to U.S.: Before me cancer patients and EB children were sanctioned

TEHRAN - Iranian Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi has said that he will not let the United States prohibit development in Iran.

Foreign travelers not deterred by Iranophobia: tourism official

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy tourism minister on Monday said that anti-Iranian sentiment or Iranophobia, which has long been forged and spread by some Western governments and media, has not prevented foreign travelers from visiting the country.

U.S. must understand that it is not the leader of the world, president notes 

Rouhani: JCPOA collapse will harm the entire world 

TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday called on the entire world nations to pay due attention to key international agreements, including the JCPOA whose collapse he warned will harm the whole world. 

Chinese arrivals on the rise in Iran

TEHRAN - The number of Chinese arrivals in Iran has increased as of late June since the country allowed visa-free entry for visitors from China, deputy tourism minister has said.

Iran is world’s 3rd fastest growing tourist destination: Afar magazine

TEHRAN - Iran has been ranked 3rd among countries with fastest growing tourist destination by Afar, a U.S.-based award-winning travel magazine, next to Tajikistan and Ecuador in the first and second spots.

Salehi says Iran able to add 20,000 SWUs in a month

TEHRAN - Ali Akbar Salehi, director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said on Thursday that his organization can add 20,000 SWUs (Separative Work Unit) in a month to increase its nuclear enrichment capacity.

Defense chief says sanctions won’t affect armed forces’ determination

TEHRAN - Defense Minister Amir Hatami said on Wednesday that sanctions will not affect the armed forces’ determination and activities.

IranAir to resume flights to Rome after ban on rival airline

TEHRAN – Iran’s flag carrier Homa, known internationally as IranAir, is scheduled to resume flights to the Italian capital Rome after rival airline Mahan Air was banned from the European country’s airspace, Press TV reported.

Iran says unilateralism poses greatest threat to intl. security

TEHRAN – Iran’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Eshaq Al-e Habib said on Thursday that U.S. unilateralism is the “greatest threat and challenge to international peace and security”.

Jalali says Iran to increase monitoring food production

Civil Defense Organization chief: U.S. tried to endanger Iran’s food security

TEHRAN - Gholamreza Jalali, chief of Iran’s Civil Defense Organization, has said that monitoring food production in the country will be increased.

Deputy speaker: Iranians won’t give up resistance against U.S. bullying 

TEHRAN – The parliament deputy speaker said on Monday that the Iranian people are steadfast in their resistance against the U.S. bullying. 

Sanctions on construction sector shows Washington’s diplomatic weakness and failure, Iran says

TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi has reacted to the United States’ sanctions on Iran’s construction sector, saying such moves indicate Washington’s “weakness” and “failure” in the domain of diplomacy.

Sanctions are blatant violation of international law, Iran says at SCO meeting

TEHRAN - Es’haq Jahangiri, the first vice-president, said on Saturday that the U.S. bullying and “unjust” sanctions against Iranian people represent a textbook example of economic terrorism and a flagrant breach of international law and the United Nations charter.

JCPOA promoted Iran’s standing worldwide: VP

TEHRAN – The Iranian vice president for parliamentary affairs said on Saturday that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and world powers in 2015 promoted Tehran’s standing globally.

Tehran calls on ‘friendly’ Malaysia to resolve banking restrictions on Iranians

TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi has deplored banking restrictions on Iranians residing in Malaysia under the U.S. sanctions, which Iran refers to as “economic terrorism”, calling on the “friendly state of Malaysia” to resolve the issue.

Banks in Malaysia close Iranians’ accounts due to U.S. sanctions: report

TEHRAN – Banks in Malaysia are closing the accounts of Iranian individuals and companies because of U.S. sanctions, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing a number of affected individuals.

Iranian MP: Talks over FATF meaningless under sanctions

TEHRAN – The rapporteur for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee said on Wednesday that talking about ratifying a bill related to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is not logical when the country is under sanctions. 

Unilateralism is “dangerous” and “doomed to failure”, Iranian FM notes

Zarif says multilateralism has become a necessity

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday that multilateralism has become a necessity in the world.

Government: Maximum pressure unable to bring Iranians to their knees 

TEHRAN – Government spokesman Ali Rabiei said on Monday that the U.S. has gained nothing by adopting the policy of maximum pressure against Tehran, noting such approaches are unable to bring the Iranian people to their knees.