Middle Orient

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran discussed with Russia on Monday the general outlines of a package of proposals aimed at defusing concerns about Tehran’s peaceful nuclear activities and programs.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Imam Ali Museum of Religious Arts is slated to hold a ten-day exhibition of calligraphy works by Iranian and Japanese artists.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Bahrain’s Human Rights International Film Festival is slated to screen the prominent Iranian filmmaker Bahman Qobadi’s Turtles Can Fly.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal called for a diplomatic solution to Iran’s stand off with the West over its nuclear program.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian minister of roads and transportation has announced Tehran’s plans to privatize the country’s leading airline, Iran Air

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s government will confront armed militias and will not allow all-out war as threatened by populist Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Monday.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The status of the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk must be solved through a political formula and not a hastily organized referendum that could trigger violence, the U.N. special representative to Iraq said.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr says the next step is “open war”. The U.S.-backed government shows no sign of backing down.

KABUL (Reuters) – Poor security and the lack of good governance are the biggest challenges facing Afghanistan, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on Monday.

MANAMA – U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice received no firm commitments on debt relief for Iraq or greater Arab diplomatic representation in Baghdad after a meeting of Arab states on Monday.