TEHRAN (FNA)- Egypt officially rejected unloading of an estimated 2,000 tons of medical and food supplies for the crisis-stricken people in Gaza, and said it would not issue the required permit for the Iranian ship to approach the Gaza Strip, a source said on Wednesday. The secretariat of the Organization …
Read More »Iran Slams UAE’s Claims on Abu Moussa Island
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki Tuesday dismissed the United Arab Emirates’ claims on the Iranian island of Abu Moussa. “Emirates’ expansionist claims and propaganda on Abu Moussa island lack legal basis or historical documents,” Mottaki said to Iranian parliament members. The Iranian foreign minister had been summoned to …
Read More »Iran, Egypt Discuss Opening of Rafah Crossing
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran is conferring with the Egyptian government on opening Rafah border crossing and paving the way for Iranian aid vessel to dock in Gaza coast, a lawmaker said here on Wednesday. “A number of Iranian MPs are leaving for Gaza to confer about opening of Rafah crossings and …
Read More »Obama says time ripe to resume Mideast peacemaking
DUBAI (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama said the time was ripe for Israel and the Palestinians to resume peace negotiations and that America was prepared to extend a hand of peace to Iran if it “unclenched its fist.” In his first interview with Arab television since taking office, Obama …
Read More »Egypt proposes Feb 22 for Palestinian talks
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt has proposed February 22 as the date for the start of a dialogue between Palestinian groups, several of the groups said in reports published Tuesday. Foreign Minister Ahmed Abou Gheit of Egypt, which has been mediating between the groups, told reporters: “We will invite the Palestinian …
Read More »Religion or vote? Iraq Shi’ites wrestle with choice
BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) – Thousands of Shi’ite Muslims in southern Iraq are wrestling with a choice of religion or democracy before a pilgrimage which may prevent them from voting in an upcoming election. Pilgrims from the southern city of Basra are setting out on an arduous walk hundreds of km …
Read More »Obama: Mideast peace envoy to engage “vigorously”
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama vowed on Monday that his new Middle East envoy George Mitchell would engage vigorously in the quest for Israeli-Palestinian peace and expressed confidence he would achieve concrete results. Wading quickly into Middle East diplomacy, Obama dispatched Mitchell, a veteran international trouble-shooter, to tackle a …
Read More »Israel soldier killed, 3 wounded in Gaza blast: TV
GAZA (Reuters) – An Israeli soldier was killed and three were wounded in a blast near the border with the Gaza Strip, Al Arabiya television said on Tuesday, in the deadliest incident for Israel since it declared a ceasefire 10 days ago. Palestinians living near the Kissufim border crossing told …
Read More »Thousands of Gazans Remain Homeless as UN Again Calls for Aid Access
TEHRAN (FNA)- Thousands of Gazans remain homeless and hospitals still have a large number of intensive care patients, UN Information Center said on Tuesday. “At this stage, the initial response is focusing on the re-establishment of basic services to the population of Gaza, including water, health, food, cash assistance, education …
Read More »Iran to Educate Iraqi PhD Students
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Shahid Chamran University announced preparedness to educate Iraqi PhD students. The Iranian university also has inked four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the universities of India, France and Iraq, expert for international relations department Farah Chenari said. She also announced that Shahid Chamran university receives four free …
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