Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Ministry of Industries and Mines said the country produced 19.7 million tons of cement in the first five months of the current Iranian year (started March 20) showing a 21.5-percent growth over the same period in 2007.

TEHRAN (FNA)- As France endeavors to pry Syria away from Iran, Tehran says warm relations between the two countries do not threaten the Islamic Republic.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Monday said that Iran is opposed to the request of prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for arresting Sudan’s President Omar Al-Bashir.

TEHRAN (FNA)- An Iranian Industries and Mines Ministry official here on Sunday put the proven mineral reserves of the country at 37 billion tons, while rating the likely mineral reserves at 1.5 times this figure.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that extremism supported by certain Western states is a dangerous threat to the region.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Deputy Interior Minister Ali-Reza Afshar announced on Sunday that the date for Iran’s presidential election has been fixed for June 12, 2009.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s oil minister said a continued fall in crude prices would harm producers, the Oil Ministry said on Saturday, three days before OPEC ministers are due to meet in Vienna.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The United Nations refugee chief said on Saturday that Iran was committed not to expel more than one million registered Afghan refugees.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing on Saturday in a rare visit to China coinciding with the start of the Paralympic Games.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian authorities have ended the search for Hussein Al-Fadhala, a Kuwaiti who was reported missing in Iran, Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait Ali Jannati said.