TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- The nationwide strikes in Lebanon were called off after a series of clashes erupted as a result of government’s increased pressures on army to confront strikers, an informed source said on Wednesday.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a phone conversation with his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani on Wednesday stressed that undermining the popular government of Iraq is synonymous with betraying the Iraqi people and the Muslim Ummah (nation).

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Saudi Arabia’s National Security Council (NSC) Secretary Bandar bin Sultan is due to pay a visit to Tehran to attend talks with senior Iranian officials on Thursday, an informed source said.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar stressed that Iranian military forces will reciprocate even the smallest aggressive moves by the enemies with the most devastating and crushing response possible.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iran’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Hamid Reza Asefi warned that the Zionist regime of Israel is seeking to sow discord and foment ethnic war among Muslims, and called on Muslim clerics to inform nations of Tel Aviv’s crafty plot.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- As the biggest owner of gas reserves in west Asia, Iran has a crucially important role and position in the said region, a senior Iranian oil ministry official said during Iran-Pakistan-India talks on the gas pipeline project here on Wednesday.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Chairman of the German parliament’s Green Party Fraction here on Tuesday stressed Iran’s right to use civilian nuclear technology, and underlined the need for solving Iran’s nuclear issue through talks.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations Organization Mohammad Javad Zarif will be replaced by deputy economy and finance minister and head of investment organization Mohammad Khaza’ee, an informed source said here on Wednesday.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Romania’s incoming Ambassador to Tehran Christian Teodorescu met with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and submitted to him his credentials here on Tuesday.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- The deployment of the mine hunter USS Gladiator in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday was not aimed at Iran, a US Navy spokesman said.