TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Following the execution of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hossein, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman here on Saturday stressed that punishment of criminals should not turn into an excuse for wrongdoers or lead into fomentation of religious and ethnic conflicts.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iran announced here on Friday that it would grant a one-billion-dollar loan to Iraq.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- The Bush administration and Congress are warning that a proposed $16 billion deal between a Chinese company and Iran could trigger economic penalties under an American law aimed at starving Iran of funding for terrorism and nuclear weapons.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar on Friday dismissed UN sanctions imposed on Iran as “psychological warfare” and suggested they would not affect Iran’s missile production capability.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Third Meeting of Agriculture Ministers of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states will be held here in Tehran from March 5-7.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei stressed in a message to the Hajj pilgrims that the United States’ administration and system of capitalism and the corrupt Zionist activists now feel the vivid truth of Islamic Vigilance.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- The two Iranian guests of the Iraqi President Jalal Talabani who were kidnapped by the US troops were released Friday morning.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Chairman of Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission underlined here on Friday that his country would continue nuclear progress relying on domestic capabilities and potentials.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Tehran’s Interim Friday Prayers leader Ayatollah Emami Kashani stressed here today that the Iranian nation is vigilant and resolute in defending its rights, adding that enemies’ plots will be of no efficiency since the Iranian people will make them fall flat.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki Thursday conferred with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on bilateral ties and the latest developments in the region.