Iran

Oil and other petroleum futures surged amid supply concerns sparked by a decline in crude inventories at a key Oklahoma terminal.

Iranian President Ahmadinejad has pledged 1 billion dollars for the development of Bolivia’s economy.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has apologized to his Iranian counterpart over a media “misportrayal” of his recent warning about bracing for war with Iran over its nuclear program.

The leaders of Iran and Venezuela cemented an alliance aimed at countering imperialism while the Iranian president said he is pleased with a new ally in Bolivia and declared that together, “no one can defeat us.”

A tender was held for the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway project, also known as the “Iron Silk Road,” in Ankara on Sept. 20. The railway will provide a direct connection between Turkey and Georgia, from where the line will also extend to Azerbaijan, Central Asia, China and Mongolia.

By 2012, a nuclear reactor will be launched in Azerbaijan between the cities of Baku and Sumgait, President of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan Makhmud Kerimov told reporters today.

Turkey will sign a $3 billion energy accord with Iran next month, ignoring U.S. warnings to abondon the deal because of international sanctions against Iran for its nuclear research and advises to seek alternatives such as agreeing with other regional suppliers including Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. “Turkey is proceeding with plans …

Iran on Thursday criticized the recent statements of the Argentine president who accused Tehran of lack of cooperation in solving the AMIA case, and said that those in charge of the incident escaped punishment due to the existing corruption in the judiciary system of that country.

Iranian and Indonesian presidents in a meeting in New York Wednesday afternoon underlined the need for the rapid formation of the two countries’ joint cooperation commission.

Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Pham Gia Kheim described Iran as a large country with a significant role in the region, and called for the boosting of his country’s trade ties and exchanges with the Islamic Republic.