Middle Orient

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraq announced tenders for international oil companies to test two of its largest oil fields, develop a major natural gas field and build a pipeline to Iran.

TEHRAN (FNA)- An earthquake measuring 5 degrees on the Richter scale rattled a remote region in northwestern Iran on Sunday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s ambassador to Colombo and Sri Lanka’s minister of port and aviation discussed expansion of relations and mutual cooperation in a meeting in the Sri Lankan capital.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is scheduled to pay a visit to Tajikistan at the head of a high-ranking delegation on Monday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Despite US efforts to undermine Iran, the Islamic Republic is getting more and more powerful, an Iranian lawmaker said here on Sunday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran-Khodro Auto Manufacturing Company, the Middle-East’s largest car manufacturer, said it plans to increase annual production capacity to 1,080,000 by 2011.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iran on Sunday rejected French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s comments on the necessity to build a strong deterrent against what he called as new security threats posed by Islamic states.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Switzerland has taken a firm stand on its independence after its multibillion-euro contract to buy natural gas from Iran provoked protests and threats not only from Washington but also from Zionist groups.

SANAA (Reuters) – Reconciliation talks between Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas appeared to have stalled on Saturday, as the two sides wrangled over proposals about the future of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian deputy power minister and his visiting Yemeni counterpart in a meeting here in Tehran explored avenues for implementing an agreement held earlier by the two sides on energy cooperation.