TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- A second Chinese oil company is close to signing a memorandum of understanding to invest $3.6 billion in an Iranian gas field amid US pressure for Beijing to scrap another similar deal.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday said Islamabad valued its relationship with Iran, and emphasized strengthening the existing affinity between the two countries by expanding economic ties.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- In the early hours of Thursday morning, US forces raided the Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil, detaining at least five employees. The arrests were clearly aimed at reinforcing the bellicose message contained in President Bush’s speech.