Middle Orient

 TEHRAN (FNA)- Five former US secretaries of state advised the next presidential administration to conduct direct negotiations with Tehran.

 TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran Friday strongly condemned the anti-Islamic film made by Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders and warned of “consequences of such a provocative move.”

 TEHRAN (FNA)- Tehran’s provisional Friday Prayers leader Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati urged militants and government in Iraq to negotiate an end to their clashes that have cost dozens of lives in Iran’s war-torn neighbor.

 TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s presidential advisor and ambassador to Syria stressed the need for all Lebanese political wings and groups to endeavor to reach consensus.

 TEHRAN (FNA)- India’s Petroleum minister Murli Deora is likely to visit Pakistan in April to pursue India’s viewpoint on the much-debated $7.4 billion Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project.

 TEHRAN (FNA)- Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Bolat Nurgaliyev on Thursday welcomed Iran’s bid for membership in the Organization.

 TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini on Friday dismissed the recent claims by US President George W Bush against Iran as “unjustified”.

 TEHRAN (FNA)- As part of its vigorous cultural diplomacy in neighboring countries that share its language, Iran is driving plans for a Persian-language satellite network to broadcast in Afghanistan and Tajikistan in an effort to increase solidarity among the three nations.

 TEHRAN (FNA)- The head of Russian Railways (RZD) will meet with officials in Tehran on Saturday to discuss plans for the electrification of parts of Iran’s rail system, the company announced.

 TEHRAN (FNA)- The European Parliament President, Hans-Gert Pottering, praised Iran’s crucial and undeniable position in the region and the world.