Middle Orient

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei stressed the need for the compilation of an Islamic unity charter, saying that the vigilance of the world of Islam is a great threat to arrogant powers and system of the world hegemony.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel stressed the need for Muslim scholars to show enhanced activity in promoting Islamic vigilance and defusing enemies’ plots.

Tehran’s Interim Friday Prayers leader Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati called on all Muslim scholars, writers and people of education to strive to cement Muslim solidarity.

Tehran and Bern on Thursday voiced preparedness to expand cooperation on urban issues.

Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) praised the wise decision of Iranian president about pardoning the 15 British troops who trespassed on Iran’s territorial waters.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, in a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki on Thursday voiced pleasure with the release of the 15 British troops and described it as a wise decision.

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani during a phone talk with EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana voiced Tehran’s preparedness to attend talks with the West, an informed source at the Secretariat of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Mian Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri voiced pleasure with Iran’s insight into the case of the British troops, and praised the Islamic Republic’s decision about the issue.

An Iranian MP said President Ahmadinejad’s decision to pardon the British troop proved Iran’s role in international issues and displayed the Islamic Republic’s might and authority.

Iranian Intelligence Minister said that the foreign ministry has made continued efforts to set free the five Iranian diplomats kidnapped during a raid by the US on Iran’s consulate general in Iraq’s northern city of Erbil, adding that Americans have remained unresponsive to Iran’s demands in this regard.