Tehran, Iran | AFP | President Hassan Rouhani vowed on Friday that Iran would boost its missile capabilities despite warnings from Washington that it is ready to ditch a landmark nuclear deal over the issue. His comments came as Iran displayed a new missile at a military parade marking the anniversary …
Read More »Israel’s Netanyahu vows to fight ‘Iranian curtain’
United Nations, United States | AFP | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Tuesday to fight an “Iranian curtain” descending on the Middle East, pledging not to allow Tehran to establish a permanent presence in Syria. “From the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean, from Tehran to Tartus, an Iranian curtain is …
Read More »Iran’s Zarif blasts Trump’s ‘ignorant hate speech’ at UN
United Nations, United States | AFP | Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday slammed US President Donald Trump’s address that took aim at Iran at the United Nations, calling it an “ignorant hate speech.” “Trump’s ignorant hate speech belongs in medieval times — not the 21st century UN — …
Read More »South Korea captain blames fans over draw
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | South Korea’s captain has upset his team’s fans by blaming them for disrupting on-field communications during a home draw with Iran that left their World Cup hopes in the balance. The 0-0 against 10-man South Korea national football teamleaves the Taeguk Warriors having to defeat …
Read More »Iran’s Rouhani dismisses military site inspections
Tehran, Iran | AFP | Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday dismissed the idea of inspections at its military sites, reportedly floated by the United States, saying they were not required under a nuclear deal with world powers. “Our commitments to the world are clear… our relations with the IAEA (International …
Read More »Iran says can quit nuclear deal if US keeps adding sanctions
Tehran, Iran | AFP | President Hassan Rouhani warned on Tuesday that Iran could abandon its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers within hours if the United States keeps on imposing new sanctions as he outlined plans for his new term. In a speech to parliament, he also hit out at …
Read More »Iran’s Rouhani names female VPs as reformists slam all-male ministers
Tehran, Iran | AFP | Iranian President Hassan Rouhani appointed two female vice presidents on Wednesday but continued to take flak from reformists for nominating no women ministers. The appointments came a day after the moderate president announced his all-male list of ministers to parliament, seen as a betrayal by reformists …
Read More »Iran’s tech sector blooms under shield of sanctions
Tehran, Iran | AFP | The names may be unfamiliar but the services are immediately recognisable: Snapp is Iran’s answer to Uber, Digikala is its Amazon, and Pintapin its Booking.com. US sanctions have protected the Islamic republic’s tech sector, barring Silicon Valley from profiting from one of the world’s most promising …
Read More »Israel opposes Syria truce deal over Iran presence: official
Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes the southwest Syria ceasefire agreed by Russia and the US since it would enable Iran to solidify its presence there, an official said Monday. The July 9 accord creating a de-escalation zone in the Daraa, Quneitra and Sweida regions includes …
Read More »Total to sign Iran gas deal, biggest since sanctions lifted
Tehran, Iran | AFP | French energy giant Total will finally sign its multi-billion-dollar agreement to develop an Iranian offshore gas field on Monday, the oil ministry said, in the biggest foreign deal since sanctions were eased last year. “The international agreement for the development of phase 11 of South …
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