Iran

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.

Deployment of occupying forces and insecurity are Iraq’s problems, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said in a meeting with his Australian counterpart Alexander Downer in New York on Thursday.

The leaders of Iran and Zimbabwe are looking to form a self-styled “coalition for peace”.

Malaysia and Iran have forged closer understanding on the role of Islamic countries in dealing with groups that are often in conflict with the religion.

Turkey considers Iran a key energy partner as it needs Iranian gas to feed a rapidly growing energy demand, a Turkish energy executive said on Wednesday following US calls on Ankara to cut business ties with Tehran.

Total reiterated on Thursday it was still in talks with Iran to carry out a multibillion dollar gas project but added a decision on investment was not in sight.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini has strongly condemned the US House of Representatives’ decision to declare the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization, calling it an “irresponsible and illegal” act.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is turning to South American nations who are embracing him as an energy and trade partner and counterweight to US influence.