Middle Orient

An Iranian legislative official here on Saturday protested at the abduction and torture of Iranian diplomat Jalal Sharafi as a blatant violation of the international rules, stressing that the US should be accountable for its inhuman acts and behavior.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel here on Friday strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Iraq’s National Assembly.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is scheduled to leave Tehran for Latin America this week. The visit is aimed at developing bilateral ties with the different Latino states, including Venezuela.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will pay a visit to Iran in the next few months, the country’s ambassador to Tehran said here on Saturday.

A prominent Iranian lawmaker called for the immediate freedom of the five Iranian diplomats kidnapped during a raid by the US troops on Iran’s consulate general in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil around three months ago.

The head of the UN atomic watchdog said on Thursday that Iran was still at the starting stage of creating a uranium enrichment plant, and further dismissed concerns about Iran’s activities, saying that the country’s nuclear programs are under IAEA inspection.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel here on Friday strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Iraq’s National Assembly.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that his country has not yet decided whether it is going to take part in the upcoming meeting of Iraq’s neighboring states.

Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic conference stressed OIC’s full support for Iran’s right to access and use civilian nuclear technology.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stressed the need for all regional countries to help restore stability and security in Afghanistan as fast as possible.