TEHRAN (FNA) – Iran blasted the European Union for its biased standing and sympathy for the Zionist regime, saying that the EU is under the influence of the Zionist lobby.

TEHRAN (FNA) – From playing in provincial theatres in northwestern Iran for more than four decades to winning the coveted Silver Bear Award for best actor at the Berlin Film festival, a fairly tale has come true for Iranian actor Reza Naji.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iran is planning to bring on stream 417,000 tons/year of additional polyvinyl chloride (PVC) capacity by the end of 2008, turning it into a net exporter, a source close to National Petrochemical Co (NPC) said on Tuesday.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Libya’s envoy to the UN Security Council voiced his country’s opposition to a draft resolution proposed by France and the UK over Iran’s nuclear program.

Feb. 28 – Al-Qaeda deputy commander Ayman al- Zawahiri vowed to avenge the death of a commander fighting NATO- led forces in Afghanistan, according to a U.S.-based group that monitors extremist Web sites.

WASHINGTON – A resurgent Taliban is back in charge over parts of Afghanistan, the nation’s chief intelligence official said Wednesday in an assessment that differed from the one made last month by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel said here Wednesday that the Islamic Republic Army has the duty to defend and safeguard the country’s independence and territorial integrity.

Iran’s ambassador in Russia said there are consultations between Iran, Russia, Algeria and Qatar to establish a gas cooperation organization like ” OPEC”.

Iran’s ambassador to Russia in a meeting with head of investigation committee of the Russian prosecutor general office Alexandr Bastrikin discussed cooperation between police of the two countries.

BAGHDAD – A senior Turkish envoy arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday to hold talks with Iraqi officials about Turkey’s incursion into northern Iraq to fight Kurdish guerrillas, an Iraqi government source said.