Middle Orient

TEHRAN (FNA) Iran’s Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel expressed regret over the Israeli regime’s continued crimes and brutality against Palestinians, and reminded that the city of Gaza is now experiencing an extensive human catastrophe.

TEHRAN (FNA) Despite sanctions, Iran has made many progresses which could be copied by other countries, Kenya’s ambassador to the Islamic Republic said here on Monday.

TEHRAN (FNA) Iran’s foreign exchange reserves rose 27.4 per cent in the 12-month period ending October 22, reaching the equivalent of more than $70 billion.

TEHRAN (FNA) Iran, holder of the world’s second- largest gas reserves, may finalize a gas export pipeline agreement with India “within a few weeks,” the Iranian Oil Ministry’s press agency Shana reported, citing Iran’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance.

BEIRUT – Lebanon’s presidential election was postponed from Monday to February 11, the parliament speaker said on Sunday, announcing the 13th delay of a vote blocked by the country’s political crisis.

GAZA – Gaza’s main power plant began shutting down on Sunday due to a fuel shortage caused by Israel’s closure of the Hamas-controlled territory’s borders, a move taken in response to Palestinian rocket attacks.

TEHRAN (FNA) Half of Iran’s hand-woven carpet exports are destined for the US, head of the National Center for Iranian Carpet said here on Sunday.

TEHRAN (FNA) US President George Bush is making hasty efforts to correct his abundant mistakes in this last year of his presidency, but he won’t succeed in doing so, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Sheikh Attar said.

TEHRAN (FNA) Senegal’s Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio voiced pleasure in the expansion of his countries’ relations with Iran, and said he would pay a state visit to Tehran in the near future.

TEHRAN (FNA) Mexican deputy foreign minister voiced her country’s preparedness to attend a third round of joint economic cooperation commission meetings with Iran in 2008.