TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran has attained self-sufficiency in the drilling industry and is capable of carrying out drilling operations all around the world, National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) managing director said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Syria’s head of international markets and exhibitions organization Friday night said that Iran’s presence in the 55th Damascus International Exhibition was significant.

TEHRAN (FNA)- American sanctions on Iran’s financial sector have not hampered business for Bank Mellat, one of Iran’s major state-owned banks, its managing director said Friday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The head of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is scheduled to pay a visit to energy-hungry China next week to broaden cooperation, the Oil Ministry said on Thursday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s central bank has begun issuing its own high-denomination paper notes to replace the promissory notes issued by banks which will now be banned.

TEHRAN (FNA)- An earthquake measuring 3.6 degrees on the Richter scale jolted areas in the vicinity of the town of Roodbar in Iran’s southeastern province of Kerman.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Mohammed Reza Nematzadeh is scheduled to pay a visit to Sri Lanka on Friday to finalize the oil and petrochemical agreements signed by the two sides.

TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Iranian official said Teheran has signed contracts to establish six nuclear power plants by 2021.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday stressed effective implementation of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between his country and Iran to increase the two-way trade to US$1 billion.

TEHRAN (FNA)- For 30 years, Parviz Tanavoli led a quiet life teaching sculpture and holding shows in his native Iran and abroad. That changed in April when a work sold for a record $2.84 million at an auction in Dubai.