China could overtake Germany as the leading exporter of goods to Iran as early as this year, according to western diplomats and Iranian businessmen.

Iran restarted to pump natural gas to Turkey on Thursday following a large explosion on Sunday night on a pipeline bringing gas from Iran to Turkey.

Visiting Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi said on Thursday that Iran is willing to receive international inspections on its nuclear activities and will continuously conduct nuclear programs for peaceful purposes only.