An oil tanker targeted near Saudi Arabia: UKMTO

TEHRAN, Oct. 17 (MNA) – The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operation (UKMTO) on Saturday reported that an unidentified projectile struck an oil tanker near Saudi Arabia.

Zacharia ousted after 5 days as White House Press Secretary

TEHRAN, Oct. 17 (MNA) – White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia was fired after less than a week on the job, two US officials said on Friday, after a rocky start as President Donald Trump’s top spokesperson.

Acting defense min.:

Iranian missiles, not US bombs determine equation

TEHRAN, Oct. 17 (MNA) – Iran Acting Defense Minister Brigadier General Majid Ebn-e-Reza has said that Iranian missiles, not US bombs determine the equation on the international stage.

A magnitude 6.0 quake hits Pakistan’s Balochistan province

TEHRAN, Oct. 17 (MNA) – A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Pakistan’s Balochistan province near Wadh, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported.

Envoy:

Iran remains committed to upholding shipping safety, security

TEHRAN, Oct. 17 (MNA) – Ambassador and Charge de'affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Gholamhossein Darzi says that Iran still remains committed to maintaining the safety and security of shipping.

Araghchi arrives in Baghdad to attend OIC meeting (+VIDEOS)

TEHRAN, Oct. 17 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi arrived in Baghdad on Saturday to attend the 52nd session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers.

Oil Tanker explodes in Hormuz after hitting naval mine: IRGC

TEHRAN, Oct. 17 (MNA) – The Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on Saturday reported a massive explosion aboard a supertanker following a collision with a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz.

FM spox:

Iran ready to help resolve issues btw Yemen, S Arabia

TEHRAN, Oct. 17 (MNA) – Iranian foreign ministry spokesman says his country remains steadfast in its principled position regarding the issues of Yemen and is prepared to assist in a peaceful resolution of the issues between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Pres. Pezeshkian leaves Yerevan for Tehran

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian left Yerevan, capital of Armenia, for Tehran on Friday after attending the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Pres. Pezeshkian meets with Georgian PM in Yerevan

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met and held talks with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze in Yerevan on the sidelines of 17th Summit of Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Pezeshkian meets with Armenian PM in Yerevan

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met and held talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pshinyan in Yerevan on Friday on the sidelines of 17th Summit of Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Iran Army Navy identifies violating oil tanker in east Hormuz

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) –Iran Army Navy has announced that an oil tanker violating maritime restrictions caught fire in a restricted area east of the Strait of Hormuz after switching off its tracking systems and attempting to navigate through the area.

New operational plans are currently underway: Iran Army spox

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Spokesman for the Iranian Army Brigadier General Akraminia has said that new operational plans are currently underway that will force hostile American vessels to flee to even greater distances.

Leader:

Women, girls pioneers of resistance behind frontlines of war

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has said that women and girls of the country are the pioneers of the resistance behind the frontlines of war imposed against the country.

Senior cleric:

US claim on collapse of Iranian economy not realized

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Reacting to the remarks of the US secretary of state who had claimed Iran's economy would collapse, Tehran's provisional Friday Prayers Leader said, “Not only Iran’s economy did not collapse, but also became stronger, viable."

IRGC chief praises Iranian youth performance on intl. stages

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – The IRGC chief commander hailed that victory of Iran’s U-23 Greco-Roman wrestling team at the World Championships in the US, stressing Iran is a land that nurtures champions, men of valor who hoists the flag of Iran worldwide.

Russian FM Lavrov to visit Iran next week for mutual talks

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday announced that Sergey Lavrov will pay a working visit to Tehran on October 19 to meet and hold talks with his Iranian counterpart Seyyed Abbas Araghchi.

Pres. Pezeshkian:

US-Israel aggression severely damaged regional ecosystems

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that aggression and warmongering by the US and the Israeli regime have severely damaged regional ecosystems, driving catastrophic environmental destruction.

Iran slams Colombia’s opening of embassy in Occupied Al-Quds

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – The Iranian Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned Colombia’s decision to open an embassy in occupied al-Quds, describing the move as contrary to the United Nations Charter and the fundamental principles of international law.

Pezeshkian arrives in Armenia for Intl. Biodiversity Summit

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has arrived in Armenia’s capital of Yerevan to attend the 17th Summit of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 17).

Pezeshkian departs for Armenia for CBD Conference

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian left Tehran for Yerevan early on Friday to attend the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

FM spox:

Iran urges UK not to conceal its insecurity role in West Asia

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Iranian foreign ministry spokesman has called on the British government not to conceal its destructive role in insecurity in the West Asian region by deflecting blame.

Army chief cmdr.:

If Iran rights not respected, Hormuz Strait to remain closed

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Army Commander-in-Chief Major General Amir Hatami has said should the inalienable rights of the Iranian nation are not observed, restrictions regarding passage through the Strait of Hormuz will continue.

Yemen warns Saudi airspace, airports unsafe

TEHRAN, Oct. 15 (MNA) – Yemen's armed forces spokesman Yahya Saree renewed a warning to airlines, airport staff and passengers that Saudi airspace and airports are unsafe, with Mecca and Medina airports exempt.

Iran Army Navy:

Violating oil tanker catches fire in Sea of Oman

TEHRAN, Oct. 15 (MNA) – A violating oil tanker that had switched off its tracking systems caught fire in a prohibited zone in the Sea of Oman, east of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Army Navy said.