Remaining nuclear deal parties meet in Vienna

TEHRAN - The remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, officially called the JCPOA, met in Vienna on Friday to discuss issues surrounding the multilateral accord.

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.

Book recounting Leader’s criticism of JCPOA published 

TEHRAN – A book recounting Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s criticism of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) has recently been published in Tehran.

IAEA report shows full access to Iranian nuclear facilities: envoy

TEHRAN – Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative to the Vienna-based international organizations, said on Monday that the Monday report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran’s nuclear activities shows the UN body’s full access to Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Iran says not to rely on foreigners’ JCPOA promises 

TEHRAN – The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that Tehran has left the door open for dialogue on implementation of the JCPOA but it will never decide the nation’s fate based on foreigners’ promises and words.

Shamkhani: Iranian people’s interests “not negotiable”

TEHRAN – Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), said on Thursday that the Iranian people’s legal rights as well as their interests “are not negotiable”.

Lavrov blames U.S. for events surrounding Iran nuclear deal 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday called on Iran to fulfill the terms of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, but said Moscow understood why Tehran was cutting back on its commitments, the New York Times reported.

Iran starts injecting uranium gas into centrifuges at Fordow facility 

TEHRAN – On Wednesday, Iran started to inject uranium gas into centrifuges at the Fordow nuclear facility under the supervision of inspectors from the UN nuclear watchdog.

Top MP urges administration to take stronger fourth nuclear step

TEHRAN – A senior member of the parliament has urged the administration of President Hassan Rouhani to take its next step of scaling back its commitments under the 2015 nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Iran to operate new part of Arak reactor within next 2 weeks

TEHRAN – The special aide for the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) announced on Sunday that the secondary part of the Arak heavy water reactor will become operational within the next two weeks.

Rezaee warns govt. against delay to take fourth nuclear step

TEHRAN – Mohsen Rezaee, secretary of the Expediency Council, has warned the Rouhani administration against delaying to take the fourth step in scaling down Iran’s commitments to the 2015 nuclear agreement, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Trump enjoyed destroying nuclear deal as Obama’s major foreign policy success: professor

TEHRAN - Roy Licklider, an adjunct senior research scholar at the Saltzman Institute for War and Peace Studies and adjunct professor of political science, says Donald Trump was happy to kill the 2015 nuclear deal which was President Barack Obama’s major foreign policy success.

Iran says foreseeing next nuclear modification steps if Europe fails to honor commitments

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi has said that Tehran has even prepared plans for the next stages to scale down its nuclear deal commitments if the European side remains indifferent to the fourth step, the Mehr news agency reported on Tuesday.

By Afshin Majlesi

Words versus deeds: Are White House sanctions on Iranians economic terrorism?

Tehran accuses Washington of launching an economic terrorism against Iranian people, a claim that the U.S. denies.

Bolton was a wrong choice by the impulsive president

TEHRAN - Donald Trump trumped his national security advisor John Bolton on Tuesday via a Twitter, saying he had "strongly disagreed" with many of Bolton's positions.  

Iran, EU will try to preserve nuclear deal: professor

TEHRAN – A professor of political science at University of North Texas says that the European Union and Iran will try to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.

By Afshin Majlesi

Eye-opening experience: As many Americans as possible should visit Iran

TEHRAN - Judith Bello, a long-time American peace activist, who has visited Iran for two times, believes such a journey “will be an eye-opening experience”.

Zarif calls talks with Macron on nuclear deal ‘constructive’

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said talks he held on Friday in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron on how to implement the 2015 nuclear deal were productive”, according to the IRNA news agency.

Iran ready to scale up nuclear work by installing advanced centrifuges: top MP

TEHRAN – The head of the Majlis Nuclear Committee has said Iran is ready to use advanced centrifuges in the third phase of reducing its commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Solving problems must be main objective in policy making: Rouhani

TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that solving people’s problems must be the main objective of policy making and decision making.

By Mehdi Sepahvand

Iran considering technical needs when downscaling nuclear commitments: spokesman

TEHRAN – Any time Iran decides to downscale its commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal, it will see what it technically needs to decide on the kind of limitations it will overlook, the country’s nuclear spokesman says.

By Mehdi Sepahvand

Zarif says while in UN he was told to go to White House or be sanctioned

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told a press conference on Monday that while he was in New York the Americans told him that if he did not accept to go to the White House to meet President Donald Trump he will be sanctioned in two weeks.

Iran’s nuclear measures are legal, says envoy

TEHRAN – The Iranian Ambassador to Belarus, Mostafa Oveisi, has described as “legal” Iran’s actions with regard to reduction of its commitments to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal.

By M.A. Saki

“We’ll see how it goes”

Here is the deal: President Trump lifted waivers on Iranian oil to strangle the country’s oil-dependent economy under the “maximum pressure” policy. Tehran won relief from international sanctions following a multilateral accord with six world powers, including the U.S., in 2015.

By Afshin Majlesi

Iran travel sector: Ups and downs since U.S. reimposed sanctions

TEHRAN – Last November, the Trump administration reinstated sanctions on Iran, mainly the ones that had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, in order to batter Iran’s economy, however, according to official data, they have so far failed to lessen foreign arrivals to the Islamic Republic.

Rouhani says U.S. has been left alone in quitting nuclear deal

TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that the U.S. has been left alone in quitting the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

By Afshin Majlesi

Is Iran safe for Americans to visit?

TEHRAN – The matter of security in Iran is essentially considered as a complex question for any U.S. citizen willing to visit the Islamic Republic.

Mousavi says if the remaining parties to the nuclear deal, especially Europeans, fail to fulfil their obligations, Iran will take a “stronger third step” after 60 days

Iran says will not breach JCPOA unless ‘bizarre actions’ are taken

TEHRAN – Iran will not take any measure against the 2015 nuclear agreement unless the other parties to the deal take peculiar, unexpected actions, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Monday.

Macron, Rouhani discuss ways to save nuclear deal

TEHRAN – French President Emmanuel Macron telephoned his Iranian counterpart on Saturday to explore ways to save the 2015 nuclear deal.

By M.A. Saki

Trump chained by his egoism

Trump has left no doubt that he is a bully and an odd person. While he has ditched a legally binding nuclear deal with Iran and imposed the harshest ever sanctions on the country, he wants Tehran not to do anything in protest.