Iran

Iran produced 9.8 mln tons of iron and steel and ranked the 20th among the world countries last year, the International Iron and Steel Institute said in its latest report.

The ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on Human Rights and Cultural Diversity started work here in Tehran on Monday.

Former UN Chief Weapons Inspector to Iraq Hans Blix believes the United States ought to exercise a greater degree of diplomacy when dealing with the Iranian nuclear issue.

Work on the seventh nationwide gas pipeline from Asalouyeh to Iranshahr in Sistan-Baluchestan province is in progress.

Turkish maritime officials are due in Tehran for attending the first Iran-Turkey conference on ports and shipping cooperation on September 4-6.

Arab League Chief Amr Moussa on Sunday called for talks between Arab countries and Iran over Iraq.

Iranian-American Haleh Esfandyari, who was detained last December on charges of harming Iran’s national security, was allowed to leave Tehran early this morning.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad here Sunday underlined that his country would continue nuclear progress, adding that Iran’s nuclearization shattered powers’ hegemonic system.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini blasted the Untied States for sparking terrorism and extremism in the Middle-East region.

Japan’s Sharp Company has decided to start a new round of activities in Iran to own a bigger share of the country’s market, a senior company official said here on Sunday.