Human rights activists set sail from Cyprus on Friday, August 22, to the Gaza Strip to break the months-long Israeli blockade on the 1.6 million Palestinians in the poverty-stricken strip.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Tajikistan has entrusted Iranian contractors with the construction of Sangtudeh 2 dam and hydropower plant.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran has wrapped up three successful military maneuvers aimed at strengthening the country’s defensive prowess, a senior army commander said Friday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The value of trade between Iran and Germany in the first half of 2008 touched 2.121 billion euros, showing a 12 percent rise over 1.870 billion euros related to the same period in 2007.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Tehran’s provisional Friday Prayers leader Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said that the West aims to bully nations seeking nuclear technology by creating obstacles to Iran’s civilian nuclear program, a senior cleric said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Deputy Science Minister for International Affairs Arsalan Qorbani on Friday said the chancellors of 7 US universities will visit Iran in November.

TEHRAN (FNA)- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, along with members of his cabinet, is scheduled to pay a visit to Arak, in the central province of Markazi on Saturday

TEHRAN (FNA)- Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said Iranians were not surprised by the US officials propaganda against Iran’s achievements in the field of space technology.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran is making great diplomatic efforts to release crew of its bulk carrier which was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Georgian Ambassador to Iran Levan Asatiani praised Iran’s position which had called on Georgia and Russia to stop war and settle the conflict over South Ossetia peacefully.