Regional Issues

Canada halts weapons sales to Turkey after Syria offensive: report

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Canada has temporarily suspended new export permits to Turkey in light of the country’s military incursion into northern Syria, according to a report.

Iran calls on Bahrain to change terror-sponsoring policies in region

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Iranian delegate at 141st IPU slammed Bahrain’s anti-Iran remarks, calling on the country to reconsider its nonconstructive policies in the Middle East region.

Iran has better options for Turkey on Syria: FM Zarif

TEHRAN, Oct. 12 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, while stressing that security will not be achieved through acts of aggression and invasion against Syria, said his country has offered better options to Turkey to settle the issue.

Risk of war to region at highest than ever: Zarif

TEHRAN, Oct. 07 (MNA) – Iranian FM Mohamamd Javad Zarif said on Monday, “our region is faced with the risk of war more than ever and it is in dire need for peace and negotiation among regional countries.”

Trump urges Iran, regional countries to take measure about captured ISIS fighters

TEHRAN, Oct. 07 (MNA) – In a tweet on Monday, the US President Donald Trump called for Turkey, Europe, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Russia, and the Kurds to decide about what they want to do with the captured ISIS fighters in their neighborhood.

Govt. spox:

Cementing ties with neighbors most effective tactic against 'bullying'

TEHRAN, Oct. 07 (MNA) – Iranian Government Spokesman Ali Rabiei said on Monday that having close ties with neighboring countries is the most effective way to counter bullying behaviors of unwelcome foreign powers in the region.

Iran won't back off on its rights under enemies' pressure: Maj. Gen. Mousavi

TEHRAN, Oct. 07 (MNA) – Commander of Iran’s Army Major General Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi said on Monday that “Iran will safeguard its rights before the enemies and will ensure victory in the future.”

Relations with neighbors, Iran's top priority: Zarif

TEHRAN, Oct. 06 (MNA) – Iranian FM Mohammad Javad Zarif named relations with neighboring countries as the top priority of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Rouhani, Putin discuss Iran's peace plan for Hormuz Strait

TEHRAN, Oct. 01 (MNA) – The Presidents of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation met in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the most important bilateral, regional and international issues.

Settling differences through dialogue always possible: Iran

TEHRAN, Sep. 30 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Monday that Iran does not reject efforts of those countries who seek to de-escalate tensions, noting that the option of dialogue is always on the table from the Iranian side.

Trump destroyed, not just JCPOA, but mutual trust, Rouhani tells ABC

TEHRAN, Sep. 26 (MNA) – In an interview with ABC News anchor David Muir on Wednesday afternoon, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said US sanctions "cannot continue" and were "against the international laws and against UN Security Council resolution."

Tying country’s fate to Republicans, Democrats to harm Iran: advisor to Leader

TEHRAN, Sep. 25 (MNA) – Senior Adviser to Iran's Leader Ali Akbar Velayati said that Republicans and Democrats are two sides of the same coin and that tying the fate of the country on Democrats’ victory in the upcoming election will bear great damages for Iran.

Iran pays no mind to threats from some regional states: IRGC deputy

TEHRAN, Sep. 21 (MNA) – Noting that many countries across the globe are aware of Iran’s defense capabilities, Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said “when the US has admitted weakness against the capabilities of the Islamic Republic, we pay no mind to the threats made by some regional countries.”

Whoever starts war will not be the one finishing it: Zarif

TEHRAN, Sep. 22 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned that if a war erupts in the region it will not be limited.

Aramco attacks proved oil more precious than blood: Nasrallah

TEHRAN, Sep. 20 (MNA) – Secretary-General of the Hezbollah resistance movement said the international response to Yemeni retaliatory attack on Saudi oil facilities showed that oil is more precious than the blood of Yemeni people by Saudi-led coalition.

Iran, Iraq discuss regional developments

TEHRAN, Sep. 19 (MNA) – Foreign Ministers of Iran and Iraq held a phone conversation on Thursday.

Zarif, British counterpart hold phone talk

TEHRAN, Sep. 17 (MNA) – Dominic Raab, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Iranian FM Mohammad Javad Zarif held a phone conversation on Tuesday.

Rouhani in Syria summit:

US withdrawal necessary for establishment of peace in Syria

TEHRAN, Sep. 16 (MNA) – The Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in Syria summit that illegal presence of US forces in Syria has endangered the country’s sovereignty, refuting the US president's claim last year on Syria pullout as a lie.

Sanctions give chance to improve regional ties: govt. spox

TEHRAN, Sep. 16 (MNA) – Under the US sanctions our regional ties with our neighbors have improved and this is a good chance for Iran, Iranian Government Spokesman Ali Rabiei said on Monday in a news conference.

Regional issues can be solved only through regional countries: Cavusoglu

TEHRAN, Sep. 14 (MNA) – Former Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met and held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on regional issues.

Zarif voices concern over situation in Afghanistan

TEHRAN, Sep. 09 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has expressed concern over the current situation in Afghanistan, warning against possible fresh violence in the country.

Saudi king replaces energy min. with one of his sons: report

TEHRAN, Sep. 08 (MNA) – Saudi Arabia's King Salman replaced the country's energy minister with one of his own sons Sunday, naming Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman to one of the most important positions in the country.

Region's security can't be purchased from outside: Zarif

TEHRAN, Sep. 05 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif addressed a meeting of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in Dhaka on Thursday.

Amir-Abdollahian:

'US main hurdle to concord between Syrian Kurds, govt.'

TEHRAN, Aug. 19 (MNA) – An Iranian parliamentary official, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said the US is only seeking its own malevolent goals in its game with the Syrian Kurds, adding that Washington is the main hurdle to dialogue and concord between the Syrian government and the Kurds.

Zarif meets with Japanese deputy FM

TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (MNA) – Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held a meeting with Japanese Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeo Mori in Tehran on Saturday.

Economic terrorism against Iranian nation not effective: Zarif

TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the US-led economic terrorism against the Iranian nation will yield no results for Washington but will further create insecurity in the region.

Pres. Rouhani urges diplomatic solution to Kashmir dispute

TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (MNA) – Iran calls on India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and stop the killing of innocent people in Kashmir, President Rouhani said during a telephone conversation with Pakistan's PM Imran Khan.