Middle Orient

TEHRAN (FNA) Crude oil rose after Iran said there is no need for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to increase supply at its Feb. 1 meeting.

TEHRAN (FNA) Iran believes there is enough oil in global markets and sees no need to increase production, the oil minister of OPEC’s second-largest producer was quoted as saying on Wednesday

TEHRAN (FNA) Kuwait’s foreign minister on Wednesday called Iran a friend only days after US President George W. Bush visited the Persian Gulf to rally regional support for Washington’s confrontation with Iran.

TEHRAN (FNA) Iran voiced optimism yesterday that the standoff with the West over its nuclear program would soon be resolved “once and for all”.

TEHRAN (FNA) In a major breakthrough, Iran on Wednesday said that it was ready to re-open and negotiate the till now frozen $22 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) deal signed with India in 2005 offering five million tons of LNG for 25 years.

TEHRAN (FNA) Iran said on Wednesday it had temporarily stopped the expulsion of illegal Afghans for “humanitarian reasons” after Kabul called for an immediate halt.

GAZA – Israeli forces killed six Palestinians on Wednesday, including three members of a Gaza family in a botched air strike, a day after Palestinians said some of the worst violence in months could harm peace moves.

GAZA – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called a leader of rival Hamas on Wednesday to commiserate on the killing of his son by Israeli forces, Hamas said, the first such contact since a Palestinian factional schism last year.

BAGHDAD – The United Nations envoy to Baghdad said on Wednesday he would present a positive picture of progress in Iraq in a report to the Security Council despite earlier having serious misgivings about reconciliation efforts.

Following are the latest figures for military deaths in Iraq and Iraqi civilians killed in attacks since the U.S.-led invasion in March, 2003: U.S.-LED COALITION FORCES: United States 3,926