Middle Orient

Iranian First Vice-President Parviz Dawoodi said enemies have found out that they cannot defeat the Iranian nation through psychological warfare and they are, thus, now retreating their arrogant stances step-by-step.

Commander-in-chief of the Islamic Republic army Major General Ataollah Salehi warned enemies that any possible aggression against Iran will be struck back heavily.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman here on Saturday strongly condemned the terrorist blast in the Iraqi city of Karbala, which killed and wounded a number of innocent civilians and pilgrims, and described it as a criminal act in violation of the divine and Islamic values.

Commander of the Islamic Republic’s naval force Admiral Sajjad Kouchaki said his troops are fully ready to suppress enemies’ threats forcefully.

Chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaoddin Boroujerdi lashed out at the Untied States for the kidnap of the Iranian diplomat, Jalal Sharafi, describing the measure as a heavy crime violating the international rules and regulations.

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.