Iran’s ambassador to Manama voiced his country’s preparedness to develop relations with Bahrain.

Iran’s Interior Minister said that his country has finalized oil and gas projects with China, adding that two-way trade was on target to hit $20 bln this year among robust commercial ties.

Belgian Foreign Minister Kare de Gucht will leave for Iran Saturday to meet with Stefaan Boeve, a Belgian national who was freed yesterday after he was kidnapped by bandits in southeastern Iran last month.

Iran’s Interior Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi said China renewed its support for negotiations over his country’s nuclear activities, and he warned that new UN sanctions could force Tehran to adopt “other means”.

A split has emerged in the coalition of Western powers pressuring Iran to freeze its nuclear enrichment program, as France backs US calls for a new round of sanctions while Germany urges restraint.

Three drilling companies will be privatized, said a National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) official here on Friday.

Iran will make $10 billion investments in Syria within the next five years, the acting industries and mines minister announced in here on Friday.

China lauded an action plan reached by Iran and the United Nations nuclear inspectors on Friday, saying it hoped related parties could avoid confrontations in dealing with the Iranian nuclear issue.

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said here on Friday that the US project to weaken the Islamic Revolution has been defeated by the vigilant and informed Iranian nation.

Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, in a phone conversation with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, extended his congratulations to the Iranian leader, president, government and nation on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan.