TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran formally launched a bid Monday to join a central Asian security organization following a long tenure in an observer role, Iranian Foreign Minister said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The United States signed an agreement pledging civilian atomic energy cooperation with Bahrain after concerns that Iran’s preparedness to transfer nuclear technology to regional and Muslim states could enhance regional solidarity.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The site of Gourtan, the most important historical area of Isfahan in Iran, is to undergo a new series of excavations to verify a hypothesis that it may possibly move back the history of the city from 2000 to 6000 years ago.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraq has sealed a border crossing with Iran to block entry and exit of Iranian pilgrims through territory, a senior Iranian official said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranians will vote on April 25 in the second round of parliamentary elections to decide the final make-up of their new parliament, with conservatives set to retain control, officials said Monday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraq announced tenders for international oil companies to test two of its largest oil fields, develop a major natural gas field and build a pipeline to Iran.

KABUL: In one of the bloodiest attacks in months on a nongovernmental organization in Afghanistan, gunmen killed five members of a mine-clearing team and wounded seven more in a relatively peaceful northern province, officials said Monday.

 ANKARA, March 24 (Xinhua) — Turkish Chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanit said Monday that sending Turkish troops to Afghanistan was not the policy of Turkish Armed Forces, but a state policy, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

PANJWAYI, Afghanistan (AFP) — Taliban attacks against the state and its symbols have left thousands dead in Afghanistan and are holding back plans to develop the country from the ruins of war, meaning much more international aid is spent on security than reconstruction.

TEHRAN (FNA)- An earthquake measuring 5 degrees on the Richter scale rattled a remote region in northwestern Iran on Sunday.