Middle Orient

TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said here Friday that no country or world power dares to launch a direct military attack on Iran.

TEHRAN (FNA)- An Iranian firm has been offered an investment license to build a cement factory in southern Iraq by provincial authorities in Thi-Qar.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The US steers clear of the issue of illegal Israeli settlements by putting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the spotlight.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pledged on Friday to pursue peace efforts with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s successor but warned of a new cycle of violence if the fragile peace process collapsed.

A UN inquiry into alleged Syrian nuclear activity has been delayed by the assassination of UN investigators’ top contact in Damascus.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Jewish rabbis said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is in pursuit of peace, and that Tehran opposes Zionism and not Judaism.

TEHRAN (FNA)- US President George W Bush told Israel’s prime minister in May that the US would not back an attack on Iran, a UK newspaper has reported.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran is successfully blocking US efforts to secure a long-term troop presence in Iraq, the American ambassador to Baghdad conceded.

NICOSIA (Reuters) – Foreign activists who planned to sail to Gaza in defiance of an Israeli blockade have delayed their trip to late October, an organizer said on Friday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met with his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.