Guard murder Iranian deputy minister: report

World News

Tehran: Iran's official news organization is reporting that a shooter has shot and murdered an appointee industry priest. The report Sunday by Irna said Safdar Rahmatabadi was shot twice in head and midsection that night in an eastern neighbourhood of Tehran. The report cited police as saying they accepted the delegate

Protesters swarm former US Embassy in Tehran

World News

Tehran: Tens of many demonstrators are assembling outside the previous Us Embassy in Iran for the most amazing hostile to American rally in years as a show of backing for hard-line adversaries of President Hassan Rouhani's noteworthy effort

Iran likely to drop Pakistan gas pipeline project: oil minister

Dubai/karachi: Iran will presumably abandon a multi-billion-dollar pipeline task to supply gas to Pakistan, Iran's oil clergyman was cited as saying by the semi-official Fars news organization on Wednesday. "The agreement for supplying gas to Pakistan is prone to be abrogated," Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told news people on the sidelines of a gas discussion in Tehran on Wednesday. Zanganeh did not state any further portions in this respect. Iran has just about finished the pipeline to the Pakistan fringe, however Pakistan has made minimal advancement on laying its leg of the since a long time ago arranged pipeline, generally because of an absence of stores for the exorbitant undertaking and Us force to drop it. Prior without much fanfare, Pakistani Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry emphasized Islamabad's resolution to seek after the undertaking. "It (Ip) ought to be seen in the connection of intense vigor emergency that we have in our nation," said the Pakistani official, including that his legislature is seeking after the case to quicken the usage methodology of the task. In any case, a report discharged a week ago by the Islamabad-based Sustainable Development Policy Institute (Sdpi) says the agreement with Iran might get a financial calamity Pakistan as the gas sold will probably be some times more costly than the down home gas presently utilized. At a young hour in October, Pakistani Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi asked Iran to back $2 billion in the development of Pakistan's side of the Ip gas pipeline venture. The Pakistani petroleum clergyman said preparatory work was finished, yet they had required from Iran to give $2 billion the development work. Account Minister Ishaq Dar asked his Iranian partner Ali Tayyebnia at a gathering in Washington this month to "investigate the probability of building the Iran-Pakistan pipeline on Pakistani side too" in light of the fact that worldwide approvals were anticipating Pakistan from raising funds on its own, consistent with an articulation issued by the Pakistan Embassy in Washington. A month ago, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told the Wall Street Journal that he might continue with the pipeline arrange notwithstanding

Iran, IAEA in 'very productive' nuclear talks

Vienna: The Un nuclear watchdog and Iran hailed Tuesday "gainful" and "useful" talks, in the most recent conceivable indication of Tehran's readiness to straightforwardness universal worries about its atomic work. Iran's agent to the International Atomic Energy Agency said he introduced another proposal - pointed at clearing up claims of past atomic weapons research - that he trusts will "open another part of participation". The two sides will meet again in Tehran on November 11, a couple of days after parallel converses with the P5+1 assembly of six planet forces - the five changeless parts of the Un Security Council in addition to Germany - in Geneva on November 7-8. The two-day gathering in Vienna was one of an arrangement of social occasions in the Austrian capital without much fanfare intended to arrange the basis for that Geneva gathering. "Iran displayed another proposal on viable measures as a valuable commitment to fortify collaboration and discourse with a perspective to anticipated determination of all extraordinary issues," the Iaea's new head assessor Tero Varjoranta said. No parts of the new proposal were given however Varjoranta called the talks "exceptionally gainful". Iran's agent Reza Najafi said they were "helpful". The Iaea conducts general examinations of Iran's atomic exercises however it likewise needs to test proof prescribing that preceding 2003, and potentially since, Iranian researchers directed trials pointed at advancing an atomic arms stockpile. Iran has constantly denied this, saying the Iaea's cases are dependent upon broken remote brainpower from any semblance of the Cia and Israel's Mossad that it gripes it has not even been permitted to see. Ten gatherings between Iran and the Iaea since a major report from the Un form in November 2011 have neglected to make any advancement, yet Hassan Rouhani's race as Iranian president in August has encouraged a change in tone. Rouhani has additionally made positive thinking for advancement in Iran's parallel banters with planet forces, which are centered progressively on Iran's current exercises, most prominently uranium improvement. Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif held a milestone gathering with Us Secretary of State John Kerry throughout the Un General Assembly in September, when Us President Barack Obama and Rouhani additionally imparted a noteworthy telephone call. Iran denies looking for or constantly having looked to manufacture the nuclear shell while relentlessly developing its atomic programme throughout the years in disobedience of numerous Un Security Council resolutions and assents. A few masters caution that Iran might one year from now arrive at "discriminating limit" - the focus at which it could, in principle, process sufficient weapons-review uranium for a shell before being recognized. In Geneva on October 15-16, Iran put forth to the P5+1 another suggestion that boss arbitrator Abbas Araqchi said could settle the debate "inside a year". However after numerous false day breaks in the long-running standoff, it stays to be seen if an arrangement that fulfills both sides is conceivable. Western nations need Iran to scale back its atomic exercises and to give the Iaea more stupendous examination rights, while Tehran, demanding its "right" to uranium improvement, needs authorizations alleviation. Viewing nearly is Israel, which is broadly accepted to have its own particular atomic armory and has declined to preclude besieging its most outstanding opponent, while cautioning against what it sees as a void "appeal hostile" by the Islamic republic. Mark Hibbs, investigator at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said soon after without much fanfare talks that Iran collaborating with the Iaea might "include certainty and force" to the Geneva talks. "As of recently an absence of assention between the Iaea and Iran has been an obstruction in transactions between Iran and the P5+1," Hibbs told Afp.

Iran gives activist actress 18-month sentence

October 29: An Iranian court has sentenced an on-screen character known for her reformist political activism to year and a half in jail on security charges, daily papers reported in an alternate indication of the underlying strains between Iran's hard-liners and calls for more amazing openness by new President Hassan Rouhani. The reports came yesterday, a day after powers requested the conclusion of the master change Bahar day by day in association with a discourse it distributed on the Prophet Muhammad, refering to a law sanctioning media terminations over articles esteemed to maltreat Islamic qualities or affront Islam. Iran has hinted at some maneuvering political limitations since the direct inclining Rouhani took office in August. Many detainees held on political charges have been liberated, and a conspicuous creative focus regarded as the House of Cinema has revived. Yet the case over the 24-year-old performer, Pegah Ahangarani, demonstrates how focuses of force in Iran frequently work at cross-purposes. The legal is regulated by the nation's administering ministers, headed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He has given the green light so far to some of Rouhani's fundamental worldwide activities, for example effort to Washington regardless of resistance from some hard-line bunches. Anyhow Khamenei and his internal round seem careful on quick paced provincial changes that could further outrage Rouhani's adversaries. Ahangarani, who has seemed in around the range of 20 movies, has been confined twice since the challenges in 2009 over the debated re-race of then President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, however she was discharged without openly reported charges. Since 2011, she has been banned from voyaging abroad. The Chicago Film Festival is right now demonstrating Ahangarani's most recent film, "Darband," around the range of a college female scholar who turns into the flat mate of a youthful lady grappling with budgetary issues. Yesterday's report by the ace change Shargh day by day cited Ahangarani's mother, Manijeh Hekmat, as saying the performing artist has been sentenced to year and a half. She said it is indistinct who indexed the objection against Ahangarani, however noted the charges incorporating "activity against national security and connections to outside media." Ahangarani can request the running the show. Soon after Rouhani's decision triumph, Ahangarani asked him at an open gathering to choose a society pastor who might have the ability to convey on the president's guarantees of "flexibility of thought and statement." She likewise said "awkward" authorities were the nation's "grandest adversary." In 2011, an Iranian court sentenced producer Jafar Panahi to six years in house capture and gave him 20-year boycott on filmmaking after he was declared guilty "making promulgation" against Iran's managing framework. Panahi, in any case, has been seen at later social occasions in Tehran.

Iran seeks closer defence ties with Russia

Tehran, October 29: Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said Tuesday that it is key for Tehran and Moscow to reinforce defence collaboration, Further development of collaboration between Iran and Russia in the defence segment assumes a major part in keeping up local and worldwide security, reported Xinhua refering to the pastor according to a celebratory message by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on his endorsement as Iran's defence clergyman. Russia gets a charge out of an extraordinary position in the Islamic republic's remote arrangement, Dehqan included. In his celebratory message, Shoigu called for closer ties between the military of Russia and Iran. A week ago, Russia's Air Force Commander in Chief Lieutenant General Viktor Bondarev went to Tehran to examine boosting military participation with the Islamic republic. Bondarev commended the accomplishments of Iran's defence industry, especially the changes to the Russian-made S-200 rocket defence frameworks by the Iranian specialists, said media here. The two nations consented to help defence ties on data and air defence strategies, electronic and radar and also rocket frameworks.

Iran, IAEA agree on action plan to resolve n-issues

Tehran, October 29: Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (Iaea) Tuesday conceded to an activity want to purpose their remarkable issues. A source shut the Iranian arranging group in Vienna told official news office Irna that the most essential accomplishment of the two-day gathering was the new movement arrange which will trade the past schema. A joint proclamation is required to be discharged. The following adjust of Iran-Iaea talks will be held in Tehran Nov 11. Representative Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Monday that he exhibited another proposal to Director-General of Iaea Yukiya Amano to determination the extraordinary issues by embracing another movement arrange. Iran's Ambassador to Iaea Reza Najafi headed the Iranian arranging group and Iaea Deputy Director-General for Safeguards Tero Varjoranta headed the Iaea group.

Iran MP says Fordo nuclear site a 'red line'

Tehran, October 27: A prominent Iranian lawmaker said today Iran would never agree to shut down its Fordo underground nuclear enrichment facility as demanded by world powers. It is possible that they set some conditions such as shutting down Fordo, which definitely will not happen," Mehr news agency quoted Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the parliament's foreign policy committee, as saying. Fordo, with nearly 3,000 centrifuges and dug deep into a mountain near the holy city of Qom, some 150 kilometres (90 miles) south of Tehran, is at the heart of international concerns over Iran's nuclear drive. The site, whose existence was revealed in 2009, began in late 2011 to enrich uranium to purities of 20 per cent, a few technical steps away from the 90-per cent level needed for a nuclear weapon. Iran says it is enriching to this level to provide fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor, which produces medical isotopes, and denies seeking or ever having sought nuclear weapons. Closing Fordo or limiting enrichment activities has been a key demand by six world powers -- permanent UN Security Council members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany -- in negotiations with Iran over its controversial nuclear programme. In return, the powers are offering to ease some sanctions against the Islamic republic, such as those imposed on trade in gold and on the petrochemical sector. Iran and the P5+1 resumed talks mid-October in Geneva during which Tehran presented a new proposal that its chief Nuclear negotiator Abbass Araqchi said could settle the dispute "within a year". Experts from both sides are to meet at the end of this week in Vienna to prepare for the next round of talks, in Geneva on November 7-8. Israel and to a lesser degree the US has refused to rule out military action against Iran should it continue its Nuclear enrichment program. However, Boroujerdi warned against any military action, saying Iran was prepared to deter any foreign attack. We have created the conditions in America and the Zionist regime in a way that they will never think of Attacking our nuclear sites. Our missiles are a deterrent ... But Fordo is one of our red lines," he said, without elaborating. Some experts warn that Iran next year may reach "critical capacity" -- the point at which it could, in theory, process enough weapons-grade uranium for a bomb before being detected. But since becoming president in August, Hassan Rouhani, seen as a relative moderate, has raised hopes that the Long-running crisis can be resolved and threats of military action silenced for good.

Iran's Rouhani says 'terrorists' must be expelled from Syria

Tehran, October 27: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told visiting UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi today that part of a solution to the Syria crisis is to expel "terrorist groups" from that country, a report said. Iran believes that by continuing humanitarian aid, preventing the entry (and) expelling terrorist groups from Syria and the complete destruction of chemical weapons will be first important steps for achieving stable peace in Syria," Rouhani said in comments reported by the official IRNA news agency. Syria's regime refers to rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad's regime as "terrorist groups" Taking orders from foreign states. Brahimi is on a Middle East tour to garner support for a planned peace conference next month in Geneva between regime and rebel representatives. Rouhani said a major obstacle to resolving the Syria crisis was the lack of consensus among regional and international Players. The first problem is divided among the Syrian opposition, the presence of terrorist groups between them... And the lack of consensus among Syria's neighboring countries and the world's major powers," he was quoted as saying. He added: "Iran is ready to play a positive role in any movement that would contribute to stability in Syria, and it makes no difference whether this effort is called Geneva II conference or anything else." The so-called Geneva II conference has been repeatedly postponed amid wrangling among the Syrian opposition, and a Dispute over which countries, including Iran, should participate. Brahimi said in Tehran yesterday that Iran's participation is "natural and necessary". But he stressed that no invitations had yet been sent out for the proposed international peace conference which the United Nations hopes to organize for late November. Prospects for the initiative to appear dim as the fractured Syrian opposition has yet to decide whether to attend and as Assad has said the "factors are not yet in place" for a conference. The conflict has killed more than 115,000 people since it erupted in March 2011, when a government crackdown on peaceful protests escalated into civil war.

Iran MP says Fordo nuclear site a 'red line'

Tehran, October 27: A prominent Iranian lawmaker said today Iran would never agree to shut down its Fordo underground nuclear enrichment facility as demanded by world powers. It is possible that they set some conditions such as shutting down Fordo, which definitely will not happen," Mehr news agency quoted Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the parliament's foreign policy committee, as saying. Fordo, with nearly 3,000 centrifuges and dug deep into a mountain near the holy city of Qom, some 150 kilometres (90 miles) south of Tehran, is at the heart of international concerns over Iran's nuclear drive. The site, whose existence was revealed in 2009, began in late 2011 to enrich uranium to purities of 20 per cent, a few technical steps away from the 90-per cent level needed for a nuclear weapon. Iran says it is enriching to this level to provide fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor, which produces medical isotopes, and denies seeking or ever having sought nuclear weapons. Closing Fordo or limiting enrichment activities has been a key demand by six world powers -- permanent UN Security Council members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany -- in negotiations with Iran over its controversial nuclear programme. In return, the powers are offering to ease some sanctions against the Islamic republic, such as those imposed on trade in gold and on the petrochemical sector. Iran and the P5+1 resumed talks mid-October in Geneva during which Tehran presented a new proposal that its chief nuclear negotiator Abbass Araqchi said could settle the dispute "within a year". Experts from both sides are to meet at the end of this week in Vienna to prepare for the next round of talks, in Geneva on November 7-8. Israel and to a lesser degree the US have refused to rule out military action against Iran should it continue its nuclear enrichment programme. However, Boroujerdi warned against any military action, saying Iran was prepared to deter any foreign attack. We have created the conditions for America and the Zionist regime in a way that they will never think of attacking our nuclear sites. Our missiles are a deterrent ... but Fordo is one of our red lines," he said, without elaborating. Some experts warn that Iran next year may reach "critical capacity" -- the point at which it could, in theory, process enough weapons-grade uranium for a bomb before being detected. But since becoming president in August, Hassan Rouhani, seen as a relative moderate, has raised hopes that the long-running crisis can be resolved and threats of military action silenced for good.

Iran hangs 16 rebels in retaliation for border deaths

London, October 27: Iran has hanged 16 rebels in retaliation for the deaths of at least 14 border guards in an ambush. The rebels were linked to groups hostile to the regime, Mohammad Marzieh, the attorney general of Sistan-Baluchistan province said. They were hanged in prison in Zahedan , northeast of Saravan, where the border deaths took place overnight, the BBC reports. It is not clear what link, if any, those hanged had into the border attack. (ANI)

Iran, UN-Arab envoy want political solution for Syria

Tehran: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and UN-Arab League joint special representative to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi Saturday called for finding a political solution to the ongoing Syrian crisis. Brahimi, who arrived in Tehran Saturday, expressed hope that with the help of Syria's neighbours, "we could mobilize all parties to solve the Syrian issue", Xinhua reported. "What is happening in Syria is a humanitarian crisis," said Brahimi, adding that "crimes against Syrian people by all sides should be stopped". Also, Zarif said "conflicts in Syria can only be solved by the Syrian people ... and we can only offer assistance" for political solutions. About Iran's role in the upcoming Geneva II talks on Syria, Brahimi said participation of Iran is "natural and necessary". "If invited to the Geneva II talks, Iran will attend the conference with the aim to find a political solution" to the Syrian problem, said Zarif. On Oct 7, US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the US might agree with Iran's participation in the conference if Tehran backs the "Geneva I Communique," which called for a transitional government in Syria. The US and some western countries have accused Iran of supporting the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war and called Iran "part of the problem". Iran has said that it will not accept any precondition to its attending the Geneva II meeting. Being the main regional ally of the Syrian government, Iran has condemned foreign intervention and "terrorists' involvement" in the Syrian conflict.

Iran has not halted 20 percent uranium enrichment

Tehran: Tehran has not halted enrichment of uranium to 20 percent purity level, a senior Iranian lawmaker said Saturday. The latest remarks by the Majlis (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission chairman, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, run contrary to earlier assertions by another member of the commission who said Iran had temporarily stopped the production of 20 percent enriched uranium, Xinhua reported. Stating that Iran's nuclear activities are being pursued as they were in the past, Boroujerdi said Iran "continues the (uranium) enrichment to the level of 20 percent", official IRNA news agency reported. About nuclear talks between Iran and the world powers, Boroujerdi said in the recent talks between Iran and the P5+1, namely the US, China, Russia, France and Britain plus Germany, Iran asked the powers to recognise its enrichment right and remove sanctions. "We need to wait for the results of the negotiations," he added

Iran hangs 16 people in response to border attack

Tehran: Iran hanged 16 "terrorist elements" Saturday in response to a bloody attack on its border with Pakistan, an Iranian news agency said. Mohammad Marzieh, General Prosecutor of Zahedan city in Sistan and Baluchestan province, told ISNA that the "terrorist elements" were hanged Saturday morning in response to the border attack Friday night which resulted in the deaths of many Iranian border guards, reports Xinhua. "We had already warned of serious response to any terrorist movement in the province," Marzieh was quoted as saying. "For sure, last night's terrorist attack in Saravan was carried out by those who serve the foreigners' interests," he added. Earlier, at least 17 Iranian border guards were killed Friday evening in clashes near the Iran-Pakistan border.

17 Iranian troopers die in clashes

Tehran: At least 17 Iranian border guards were killed in clashes near the Iran-Pakistan border, a media report said Saturday. The armed conflict, which took place Friday evening near Saravan city bordering Pakistan in the Sistan and Baluchestan province, left 17 guards dead and many injured, reported Xinhua citing the official IRNA news agency. Rajabali Sheikhzadeh, Iran's deputy governor general for political and security affairs of the province, confirmed the death of border forces but declined to give further details. An informed source said that bandits or rebels were behind the attack. Units of military and security forces from other cities of the province were dispatched to the border area, the report said.

Iran lawmaker claims Tehran has sufficient 20% enriched uranium

Washington, October 24: An Iranian lawmaker has said Tehran need not produce 20 percent enriched uranium any more, as it has sufficient quantity in store. The Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency ( ICANA) quoted Hossein Naqvi Hosseini, as saying that the nuclear reactor in Tehran has been supplied sufficient 20 percent enriched uranium, and currently, there was no need for its production, Fox News reports. However, he did not clarify whether Iran will stop at 20 percent enrichment. The comments came few weeks after the West asked Iran to stop the production of enriched uranium amid fears of building an atomic bomb . (ANI)

Iran asks Malaysia not to execute two Iranian women

Tehran : Iran has asked Malaysia to stop the execution of two Iranian women who have been accused of smuggling illicit drugs into the country, according to media reports Thursday. "The execution of the two Iranian women in Malaysia will have a negative impact on the bilateral relations," Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary and Iranian Expatriates' Affairs Hassan Qashqavi was quoted as saying, reports Xinhua. Malaysia should avoid carrying out the executions so that the cordial relationship between the two countries can continue, Qashqavi added. Reportedly, the two Iranian women were sentenced to death over an attempt to smuggle illicit drugs into Malaysia in December 2010.