TEHRAN (FNA)- The UN General Assembly’s head Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann apparently annoyed several western countries when he dismissed West’s negative propaganda against Iran at a time the Islamic Republic is seeking to become a UN Security Council member.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran rejected the Bahraini foreign minister’s call for a new regional grouping which would include Israel as well as Arab states, Iran and Turkey.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Bush administration has shelved plans to set up a diplomatic outpost in Iran in part over fears it could affect the U.S. presidential race or be interpreted as political meddling.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s foreign policy has a logical strategy, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said, describing the country’s foreign policy a legacy of proper exploitation “of chances” in favor of “national interests”.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The 147,000-ton Hormozal Aluminum Complex in The Persian Gulf Special Mining and Metal Industries zone will boost the country’s annual aluminum production capacity by 67 percent, the managing director of the zone announced on Friday.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – NATO launched an airstrike near the Afghan border with Pakistan on Friday, but there was no intrusion into Pakistani territory, a Pakistani military spokesman said, contradicting accounts by intelligence officials in the region.

VIENNA (Reuters) – Syria said on Friday it was cooperating fully with a U.N. inquiry into allegations of secret nuclear work in the country but would not go as far as opening up military sites because this would undermine its security.

TEHRAN (FNA)- An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted Qaleh Khaju in Iran’s southwestern province of Khuzestan on Friday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency said that there is no technical or legal justification for Tehran to suspend its uranium enrichment activities.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country has an international mission and those who believe it should focus on domestic issues are wrong.