Middle Orient News

BAGHDAD – Every week, letters from Iraqi widows spill across Samira al-Moussawi’s desk. One wrote to ask whether she should spend what scant money she gets on her infant or on school books for her older son.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar stressed on Thursday that Tehran would not allow any trans-regional power to endanger security of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Tehran is close to its target of producing nuclear energy.

TEHRAN (FNA) – A visiting Iranian delegation said in a meeting with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Urban and Sacred Area Development Dinesh Gunawardene on Wednesday that Tehran would assist Colombo in constructing industrial parks.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Brazil’s federal energy company Petrobras is in advanced talks with Iran to explore deepwater in the Caspian Sea, a senior Iranian oil official said.

TEHRAN (FNA) – According to the latest statistics from Iran, the total trade volume between Iran and China exceeded US$20 billion in 2007, soaring more than 38% from the previous year.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht said Iran plays a “quite constructive and significant” role in the Middle East region.

TEHRAN (FNA) – A Turkish official has refused a US request to scrutinize and then suspend the activities of the Turkey-based Iran’s Bank Mellat.

TEHRAN (FNA) – A top Iraqi diplomat said Wednesday his country’s relations with Iran were improving and downplayed the role of the US presidential election campaign on the timing and manner of the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iranian Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari said on Thursday that oil markets were well supplied and he saw no need for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to boost production at its meeting on Friday.