Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Central Bank of Iran called on Tehran to increase and diversify non-oil exports in a bid to ease the country’s reliance on oil revenues.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian parliament said that a group of the country’s lawmakers had attended talks with their US counterparts on the sidelines of a recent meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Former Iranian President Seyed Mohammad Khatami has decided against making a third run for the office and instead will endorse another reform candidate, sources say.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Taliban insurgents pulled some 50 passengers off a bus in southern Afghanistan and beheaded as many as 30 of them after accusing them of being soldiers traveling in civilian clothes, Afghan officials in the region announced on Sunday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will on Friday announce it is cutting oil output to help lift crude prices that have dived 55 per cent since striking record highs in July, as a global economic slowdown slashes demand, analysts said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said on Saturday it was time for the leaders of Iraq and the United States to make up their minds on a draft agreement on the future of US troops in the country.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Israel is preparing for direct US-Iranian talks on Iran’s nuclear capability within six months if Senator Barack Obama becomes the next US President.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Management and Construction of Nuclear Plants Company said Sunday some Western countries have declared their readiness to cooperate with Iran on its second light-water nuclear plant.

TEHRAN (FNA)- An exhibition on Iran’s scientific, research and technological achievements, will be held at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris from February 2-6, 2009.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Russia will soon ship around 1,000 tons of equipment necessary to complete the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, a top Iranian nuclear official said on Friday.