Middle Orient

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s new ambassador to Turkey Bahman Hosseinpour Dhashtgholi, presented his credentials yesterday to Turkish President Abdullah Gul, thus upgrading the level of Tehran’s representation in Ankara from chargé d’affaires to ambassador after approximately two years.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran and Iraq have come to terms on establishing three free trade zones in border regions, secretary of the two countries’ Economic Development Affairs (IIEDA) headquarters announced.

TEHRAN (FNA)- “Art of Islamic World: From Turkey to Indonesia” exhibition is currently underway at the Istanbul’s Asian Art Museum that will run through March 1.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has vowed to pursue peace talks with Ehud Olmert until the scandal-hit Israeli prime minister’s last day in office, and with whoever succeeds him, an Israeli newspaper said on Friday.

TEL AVIV, Israel (Reuters) – The European Union’s foreign policy chief said on Friday he was “less and less optimistic” that Israel and the Palestinians would meet a U.S. goal of a peace deal this year but he urged both sides to keep up momentum in 2009.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said peace talks with Israel have failed to reach any breakthrough, despite nine months of negotiations.

The outgoing commander of US troops in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, has said that he will never declare victory there.

Saudi Arabian police say they have arrested five men on charges of using the internet to recruit for al-Qaeda.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari told a group of reporters in Ankara on Wednesday that his country and Turkey have plans to continue deliberations on reaching an energy agreement.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Iraqi government has succeeded in improving the conditions in Iraq in favor of the Iraqi nation and expressed hope that the war-torn country would move forward on the path to reconstruction and national solidarity.