Iran, Turkmenistan mull over boosting electricity trade

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – Iran and Turkmenistan discussed ways to expand the electricity swap.

Russia expels dozens of diplomats from major EU powers

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – Moscow said on Wednesday that it will expel dozens of French, Italian, and Spanish diplomats declaring them as persona non grata on Wednesday.

UN special rapporteur urges US to lift unilateral sanctions

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – The UN special rapporteur called on the US to immediately lift unilateral sanctions against the Iranian people according to international laws, stressing that Iranian assets blocked in some countries must be released.

US convoy enters Turkish military base in Aleppo

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – Media sources reported that an American convoy went to a Turkish military base in Syrian city of "Azaz" in Aleppo to receive a senior ISIL leader from Turkish forces.

Nine dead after explosion in Nigeria's Kano

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – Nine people were killed after a gas cylinder explosion led to the collapse of a building close to a popular market in Nigeria’s northern state of Kano, the national emergency service and witnesses said.

Over Finland, Sweden membership;

Erdogan says Turkey will not make same mistake twice

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – Referring to the two Nordic countries' bid to join NATO, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country will not make the same mistake twice.

Russian naval ships practice missile fire off Pacific coast

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – The Pacific Fleet’s missile corvettes Inei and Smerch practised missile and artillery fire during drills off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Fleet Spokesman Captain 3rd Rank Ilya Kolesnikov said on Wednesday.

Iran Navy escort team clashes with pirates in Red Sea

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – Admiral Shahram Irani, Commander of the Iranian Army Navy, said on Wednesday that an army navy escort team engaged in clashes with a group of pirates who were trying to hijack an Iranian commercial ship in the Red Sea.

Russia deputy PM:

Latest S-500 air defense weapons arriving for Russian troops

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – The latest S-500 anti-aircraft missile system has begun arriving for Russian troops, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said during the government’s New Horizons educational marathon on Wednesday.

Leader urges for population growth in Iran as a necessity

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has described an increase in the Iranian population as a vital necessity, warning against the dangers of an aging population.

Explosion reported in eastern Iraq

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – News sources reported that an explosion hit the Iraqi province of Diyala in the east of the country.

Saudis violate ceasefire in Yemen 121 times in day

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – Saudi-led coalition and its affiliated armed elements violated the ceasefire in Yemen at least 121 times in the past 24 hours.

Iran SCOCOEX Conference and Exhibition to be held in July

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – The 1st conference and exhibition of economic cooperation opportunities of the member countries, supervisors and “dialogue partners “of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization “SCO “and Iran's neighbors will be held.

Armed clashes break out between Palestinians, Zionists in WB

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – Media sources reported on Wednesday morning that Jenin in the northern West Bank witnessed heavy armed clashes between Zionist forces and Palestinians.

France urges JCPOA parties to finalize Vienna talks

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – Saying that the draft agreement on resuming compliance with the JCPOA has been ready for more than two months, the French foreign ministry called on JCPOA parties to make necessary decisions to finalize the nuclear agreement.

Iraq preparing pipelines to import Iranian gas

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – The Ministry of Electricity of Iraq said that it is preparing a pipeline inside the country over the next three days to import Iranian gas.

Ukraine, Russia peace negotiations suspended

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – Russian and Ukrainian officials have said that negotiations on a solution to the ongoing war have been suspended as the process is mired in a stalemate.

Car bomb blast reported in Occupied Lands (+VIDEO)

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – Zionist sources reported on Wednesday morning that a car explosion took place in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

What Turkey wants from Sweden, Finland in NATO expansion spat

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – As Turkey threatens to block bids to join NATO by Sweden and Finland, three senior Turkish officials spoke about what their government is looking to achieve with the high-stakes brinkmanship.

Japan sounded out on hosting Asian Cup

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – The Japan Football Association (JFA) has been informally approached about the possibility of replacing China as hosts of next year's Asian Cup, chairman Kozo Tashima says.

Foreign ship carrying 550K smuggled fuel seized in PG (VIDEO)

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – A foreign vessel carrying thousands of liters of smuggled fuel was seized in the waters of the Persian Gulf.

Price once again claims;

Now it's up to Iran to demonstrate its seriousness in Vienna

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – US State Department spokesman Ned Price once again threw the ball into Iran’s court, saying that it is now up to Iran to demonstrate its seriousness in Vienna talks.

Will the US seize Vienna talks last opportunity?

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – Following a “last bullet” visit by the European coordinator for the Vienna talks to Iran, a new opportunity was provided for the US to make up its mind.

Headlines of Iran’s Persian dailies on May 18

TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) – Mehr News agency takes a look at headlines of Iran’s Persian-language dailies on Wednesday, May 18.