An Iranian parliamentary delegation left Tehran for Italy this morning to attend talks with their counterparts in Rome.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive here in Tehran Monday night to attend the summit of the heads of Caspian Sea littoral states.

Iran’s president is expected to nominate caretaker Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari as permanent minister by the end of this week or next week, a presidential aide said on Sunday.

Iraqi Kurdistan said Iran had reopened its border crossings with northern Iraq after closing them last month due to prevailing insecurities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to pay a visit to Tehran on Tonight to attend a summit of the Caspian Sea littoral states.

Head of the Muslim Scholars’ International Union Sheikh Yusef Gharzawi said that defending Iran against enemies is a religious duty for all world Muslims.

The second summit of the heads of the Caspian Sea littoral states is scheduled to kick off work here in Tehran tomorrow.

Iranian and Romanian parliamentary friendship groups in a meeting here in Tehran on Sunday reviewed possible ways to expand all-out ties between the two countries.

Iran’s Oil Ministry will provide funds to import up to 15 million liters of gasoline a day, an Iranian oil official said on Sunday, less than half the amount the OPEC state shipped in before fuel rationing began in June.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel called on Muslim nations and governments to play a more powerful international role through enhancing unity and solidarity.