Middle Orient

TEHRAN (FNA) An Iranian governmental delegation started a visit to Bolivia on Wednesday to analyze the development of bilateral agreements in the energy sector.

TEHRAN (FNA) A group of gas-exporting states led by Iran and Russia is moving towards creating a formal body similar to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

TEHRAN (FNA) The opening of new checkpoints between Iran and Azerbaijan is realized in the level of state bodies, Iranian ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan Nasser Hamidi Zare said.

TEHRAN (FNA) South Zagros Oil and Gas Exploitation Co. managing director said his company was producing 55 percent of Iran’s gas.

TEHRAN (FNA) The United States has been “trying to block” the Indo-Iran gas pipeline via Pakistan, as it did not want Iran to expand its contacts in the region, New Delhi’s former Foreign Secretary Salman Haider said on Wednesday.

TEHRAN (FNA) Iranian government is predicting it will need about $3.2 bln for gasoline and petroleum imports in the budget for the Iranian year that starts in March.

TEHRAN (FNA) Iran may review energy ties with Turkmenistan after the neighboring country last month cut gas exports to the Islamic Republic, an Iranian official warned on Wednesday, saying Ashgabat could “not be trusted”.

TEHRAN (FNA) Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday held out the prospect of a better relationship with Iran, a day after her country brokered a draft UN resolution against Tehran.

FALLUJA, Iraq – A suicide bomber killed six people in Iraq’s Anbar province on Sunday, mounting the second deadly bombing in as many days in a region where violence has plunged since local tribes rebelled against al Qaeda.

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s political leaders have so far lacked the will to fight the “cancer” of corruption and should start by declaring how much money they earn, the country’s new anti-graft chief said.