TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran asked Japan to play a larger role in opposing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and his Japanese counterpart Hirofumi Nakasone held talks by telephone at Tehran’s request, the Japanese foreign ministry said. “Foreign Minister Mottaki said Iran expects Japan to play …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held a meeting on Wednesday with visiting Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on the situation in the Gaza Strip. At the meeting, the two officials discussed “efforts and actions that must be taken by Arab and Islamic countries to stop the Israeli aggression on …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Israeli forces have arrested Iran’s Al-Alam News Network’s correspondent reporting from the occupied Palestinian territory. The man’s lawyer said the Palestinian was also suspected of passing confidential information to unauthorized persons – “a very harsh security offense” – but gave no further details. Khadr Shahine, who reported for …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Pakistani police have arrested four foreigners near Pakistan’s border with Iran on suspicion of links with international terrorists, sources said on Wednesday. According to the sources, Panjgur Police believed the four men were members of Al Qaeda who entered Pakistan via Afghanistan and were planning to go to …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz met on Wednesday, in Havana, with Ali Akbar Mehrabian, Iranian President’s special envoy and Minister of Mines and Industries. The Iranian official brought a salutation message for the Cuban Head of State and Revolution leader Fidel Castro on behalf Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Ambassador to Sana’a Mahmoud Hassan-zadah met with Yemen’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mohi al-Din al-Dhabi on Wednesday. During the meeting, the two diplomats discussed aspects of bilateral cooperation between Iran and Yemen and ways of strengthening ties and cooperation.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The historic and brotherly ties between Iran and Pakistan will strengthen with the passage of time, a Pakistani official said. According to a handout on Wednesday, Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif made the remarks in a meeting with Iranian Consul General Saied Kharazi at Chief Minister’s …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran accused the BBC of plotting to recruit spies and stir a new revolution by launching a Persian-language satellite channel. BBC Persian, which will go on air next week, will be used by British intelligence for “espionage and psychological warfare”, according to Iranian officials. The channel, which has …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s special envoy and Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary, Saeed Jalili, arrived in Ankara yesterday to hold official talks. Jalili attended a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and was later received by President Abdullah Gul. According to media reports, Jalili …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Crude oils from the Middle East were at premiums to their benchmarks on concern that supplies would be limited after Iran said it would cut February shipments to Asia. Oman crude oil for March loading was at a premium of 13c a barrel to its official selling price, …