Middle Orient

TEHRAN (FNA)- Turkey could sign in February a final deal with Iran that includes developing Iranian gas fields and building power plants together in both countries, Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- As part of an exchange in traditional sports between Iran and Indonesia, two experts in zurkhaneh visited Jakarta to introduce the sport to Indonesians.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Security Council resolutions on Iran are in violation of the UN Charter.

TEHRAN (FNA)- A visiting senior official of Iran on Thursday condemned sectarian disagreements in the Middle East and expressed its rejection to sedition between Sunnis and Shiites.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran plans to conduct training exercises to increase the country’s response under emergency conditions in the advent of an oil spill.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar stressed on Thursday that Tehran would not allow any trans-regional power to endanger security of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

ISTANBUL – At least 20 people were killed and 117 were injured on Thursday when an explosion ripped through an Istanbul building that housed an illegal fireworks factory, the city governor’s office said.

BEIRUT – Lebanon’s prime minister said on Thursday that an Israeli report on the war against Hezbollah guerrillas in 2006 set the scene for a possible future conflict and failed to address “Israel’s crimes against Lebanon”.

CAIRO – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected demands on Wednesday by Hamas rivals for control of the breached Gaza-Egypt border and told the Islamist group to “end its coup in Gaza”.

BAGHDAD – Every week, letters from Iraqi widows spill across Samira al-Moussawi’s desk. One wrote to ask whether she should spend what scant money she gets on her infant or on school books for her older son.