The head of Iran’s judiciary is seeking to impose limits on public executions amid a rise in death-penalty cases during President Mahmud Ahmadinejad’s 2 1/2 years in office. 

Iraqi and European Union officials have discussed plans for Iraq to supply the EU with natural gas. Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain Al-Shahristani met EU External Relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs in Brussels Thursday. 

The 26th Fajr International Film Festival was inaugurated here on Thursday evening at Tehran’s National Grand Hall. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Culture Minister for Cinematic Affairs Mohammadreza Jafari-Jelveh and a number of cinematic figures and artists.