Traditional skills of sailing Lenj boats come one step closer to elimination

TEHRAN - Iranian cabinet has approved a bill that may, according to cultural heritage experts, lead to the elimination of the UNESCO-listed traditional skills of building and sailing Iranian Lenj boats in the Persian Gulf.

Sea trips in Iran grow over Noruz holidays

TEHRAN – Maritime trips ramped up over the recent Iranian New Year (Noruz) holidays as some 1.4 million maritime excursions were made over the two-week period.

Hop-on hop-off busses reach Kish Island

TEHRAN – With only weeks to the Iranian New Year, several double-decker hop-on, hop-off busses have recently been transferred to Kish Island in the Persian Gulf.

90% of Chabahar coral reefs are dying: official

TEHRAN – Up to 90 percent of coral reefs in Chabahar waters along the Sea of Oman have been bleached and are dying, an official with the Department of Environment has said.

Take a trip to the unknown, to rugged shores of Makran

TEHRAN - Makran coasts are all about its rugged rock formations, dramatic dunes, and relentless waves crashing upon jagged boulders, which are perfect in winter.

Iran Navy tests new homegrown cruise missile in Sea of Oman

TEHRAN — Iran’s Navy successfully test-fired new homegrown cruise missiles on Thursday during a military exercise in the Sea of Oman and the northern parts of the Indian Ocean.

Respect international rules while passing Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman, Iranian military tells U.S.

TEHRAN – The General Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces issued a statement on Monday advising the U.S. and its allies to honor international rules and regulations while passing Iran’s exclusive economic waters in the Sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf and avoid creating any tension or conflict.

Sistan-Baluchestan: A must-see destination in southeast Iran  

TEHRAN – UNESCO sites both historical and natural, varied landscape, cozy guesthouses, rugged sea coasts, mouth-watering local dishes, reasonable prices, and above all, hospitable and welcoming people well contribute to make the lesser-known Sistan-Baluchestan a must-visit destination for any traveler to Iran.

By Alireza Majidi

Joint message of Iran, Russia and China to the world

TEHRAN - After the U.S. failed to form an international coalition in the Persian Gulf, Iranian, Russian and Chinese armies launched a joint naval maneuver, codenamed "Naval Security Belt", in the northern part of the Indian Ocean and the Sea of Oman. The drill started on December 27 and lasted for four days.  

Navy chief visits Chinese, Russian destroyers participating in joint drills 

TEHRAN- The Iranian Navy commander on Monday visited the Russian and Chinese destroyers that had participated in the Maritime Security Belt drills with Iran in the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean. 

Water transfer from Sea of Oman to be implemented soon

TEHRAN – Transferring water from Sea of Oman to eastern drought-ridden provinces of the country will soon be implemented, Ahmad Ali Moohebati, governor-general of Sistan-Baluchestan province told ISNA on Monday.

Discover incredible rock formations in southern Iranian island 

TEHRAN – You can find one of the world’s most eye-catching nature’s creativities at its finest on Qeshm Island, southern Iran, where stunning rock formations are a sign of perpetual thumping of the waves, storms and raging winds.

Rouhani: We don’t accept to sit at ‘surrender table’

Rouhani says Strait of Hormuz no place for ‘joking’

TEHRAN – Referring to recent U.S. and UK adventurisms in the Strait of Hormuz, President Hassan Rouhani warned on Wednesday that the strategic waterway is no place for joking.  

Claim of Iran role in tanker incidents a ‘sheer lie’: defense chief

TEHRAN – Reiterating Iran’s strong condemnation of attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on June 13, Defense Minister Amir Hatami on Wednesday categorically dismissed a claim by the U.S. that Iran was involved in the attacks, saying the allegation is a “sheer lie” in line with “acts of sabotage” against the Islamic Republic.

If Iran does something it will ‘bravely’ announce it, military chief says in response to accusations of oil tanker incidents

TEHRAN – Iran will “bravely” announce it  if it does something, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri announced on Monday in response to accusations by the United States that Iran is behind the attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.

U.S. allies balk at blaming Iran for tanker attack

A day after two oil tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman, some U.S. allies were reluctant to join the Trump administration in blaming Iran for the incident as conflicting accounts emerged, the Foreign Policy said on Friday.

Zarif says U.S. jumps to blame Iran for tanker incidents ‘without a shred of factual evidence’ 

 B-Team launching ‘sabotage diplomacy’ against Iran, Zarif warns

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday accused Washington of jumping “to make allegations against Iran without a shred of factual or circumstantial evidence” as two oil tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday.

Explosions hit two large oil tankers in Sea of Oman: Reports

TEHRAN- Media reports say two large oil tankers have been hit by explosions in the Sea of Oman.

Iran says incidents for vessels in Sea of Oman is worrisome, urges clarification

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday urging a clarification on incidents for several vessels in the Sea of Oman on Sunday.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Massive water transfer projects not to ease acute shortages but cripple ecosystems

TEHRAN – Water transfer schemes looking attractive to many of those residing in drought-stricken central Iran worried about drought, not only does not eliminate water scarcity, but inevitably involves polluting the environment along with damaging agriculture, people’s fragile source of income.

Defense minister: Iran considers itself responsible for regional security

TEHRAN - Defense Minister Amir Hatami said on Monday that Iran considers itself responsible for establishing security in the West Asia region.

Iran launches naval drills in Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman

TEHRAN – On Friday, Iranian naval forces started a three-day drill in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

‘Water transfer from Sea of Oman entails no considerable environmental risk’

TEHRAN – Transferring water from Sea of Oman to central drought-ridden provinces of the country, provided that the environmental requirements are met, will not poses threats to the environment, Issa Kalantari, the Department of Environment (DOE) chief has announced.

No water transfer from enclosed bodies of water: MP

TEHRAN – According to the national budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year (starting on March 21, 2019), no water will be transferred from enclosed bodies of water regarding its probable environmental consequences, MP Nour Mohammad Torbatinejad has said.

Iran says not to let U.S. carriers come close to territorial waters

TEHRAN - Habibollah Sayyari, the deputy army chief for coordination affairs, said on Monday that Iran will not let U.S. aircraft carriers come close to its territorial waters.

Department of Environment opposes water transfer from Persian Gulf

TEHRAN — With regard to the environmental conditions of the Persian Gulf, the Department of Environment (DOE) has taken a firm stand against water transfer from this body of water, deputy environment chief, Masoud Tajrishi, has said.

Iran’s Air Force, IRGC start joint military drills over Persian Gulf

TEHRAN – The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) and the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) on Friday started joint military drills over the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

"Water transfer from Sea of Oman would entail heavy costs"

TEHRAN — While Iran is weighing up the option of transferring water from the Sea of Oman to thirsty lands in eastern provinces, the project is proved to be extremely costly, an official at the Ministry of Energy has said.

Iran mulls over water transfer from Sea of Oman to drought-ridden provinces

TEHRAN — Iran is weighing up the option of transferring water from Sea of Oman to drought-ridden provinces of Sistan-Baluchestan, Hormozgan and Khorasan Razavi, deputy head of the Department of Environment (DOE) for marine affairs has said.