To Be or Not to Be...? Someone’s grief, and someone’s drinking party

Traditions of the Kyrgyz people were being formed with the help of economic, trade, domestic and other relations with kindred and other tribes that were closely related to the geography of their ha...

Iran of the 60s: unsuccessful attempt to reform

After the coup of 19 March 1953 in the socio-political history of Iran there were fundamental changes: the powers of parliament were limited and the absolute power of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi was...

Topic: Regional rivalry in the Middle East.

In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran are two countries that claim to leadership in the region. With a powerful resources and political potential these countries are the...

Iran

EU Advisor: Iran, India have to replace euro with other forex
16.05.2012
Business & Economics|Iran|Middle East

India and Iran agreed to pay 45 percent of Iranian oil purchase through rupee and the rest though euro, Mohammad Mehdi Rasekh, secretary general of Tehran's Chamber of Commerce told Mehr News Agency on Sunday, but The European Union economic advisor Mehrdad Emadi told Trend that Iran-India trading through euro is impossible because of the EU sanctions on Iran's Central Bank imposed on Jan.23and they should replace other foreign exchange with Europe's official exchange.

Bahrain protests against Iran
16.05.2012
Public Policy & Politics|Iran|Middle East

Iran's Charge d'Affaires to Bahrain was summoned to the Bahraini Foreign Ministry, where he received a note of protest, Al Arabiya TV channel said today.

The note included a protest in connection with Iranian officials' statements about the establishment of an alliance between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. These statements are a direct interference in Bahrain's internal affairs. Bahrain has called for the immediate cessation of the actions that are detrimental to bilateral relations, the note said.

Iran seen losing 500,000 barrels of oil shipments daily
16.05.2012
Business & Economics|Iran|Middle East

Iran's oil exports have the potential to fall another 300,000 to 500,000 barrels a day or more when the European Union's embargo takes effect in July, Reuters reported referring to Barclays Plc.

The decline will extend existing losses of 500,000 barrels a day, Barclays analysts led by Helima Croft in London said in an e-mailed report yesterday.

Iranian exports may fall even further because of the unavailability of shipping insurance, she said.

Iranian lawmaker views Baghdad talks as "Test of West"
16.05.2012
Culture & Living|Iran|Middle East

A senior Iranian parliamentarian said that the upcoming talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) will test the western intentions, Fars reported.

"The West has recognized that the language of force and sanctions against Iran will not be effective, and is, actually, counterproductive and that diplomacy is the only option that the West has. In the same line, the G5+1 will face a test in (Baghdad) talks," member of the Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Zohreh Elahian told Fars on Wednesday.

"Arabian Caliphate" against Iran
16.05.2012
Public Policy & Politics|Iran|Middle East

It is no news that Gulf countries are always wary of the growing credibility and expand Iran's influence in the region. Gulf Arab countries have taken serious steps to limit the Iranian influence.

"Arab spring" has brought serious political unrest in many Arab countries. It is possible that there are interests of the region countries in virtually all the revolutions that took place exclusively on the "will of the people".

The interests of Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have always been obvious, and named country, except Saudi Arabia, made more serious statements.

Iran to launch spy satellite on nuclear talks day
15.05.2012
Science & Technology|Iran|Middle East

Iranian Aerospace Industry Organization Director Mehdi Farahi announced on Monday that Iran plans to send the Fajr (Dawn) satellite into space on May 23, the day that negotiators from Iran and the six major powers (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) will meet in Baghdad for nuclear talks, Mehr reported.

The Fajr satellite is a reconnaissance satellite powered by solar energy.

Iran plans to send the satellite into space aboard the upgraded Safir one satellite carrier rocket.

Envoy says Iran-IAEA nuclear talks constructive
15.05.2012
Science & Technology|Iran|Middle East

Iran's Representative at the IAEA Ali Asgar Soltaniyeh said today that the talks between Iran and the IAEA representatives have been good and constructive thus far, IRNA reported.

Soltaniyeh made the remarks prior to the beginning of second day of nuclear talks between Iran and IAEA. First round of talks were held yesterday in Vienna.

Iran is represented at the talks by Ali Asghar Soltanieh, while the IAEA delegation is headed by International Atomic Energy Agency's Deputy Director-General Herman Nackaerts.

Iran condemns assassination of Afghan Peace Council Member
15.05.2012
Public Policy & Politics|Iran|Middle East

The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned the terror attack on a prominent member of Afghanistan's High Council of Peace, Fars reported.

On Sunday, gunmen assassinated Maulavi Arsala Rahmani, a former high-ranking Taliban official working to end the decade-long war in Afghanistan.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast condemned the assassination of Rahmani, and stressed that the criminal act has been carried out by "opponents of the establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan".

Iran FM Spokesman: Baghdad nuclear talks can bring positive results
15.05.2012
Public Policy & Politics|Iran|Middle East

If the Baghdad talks will continue in the same atmosphere as the Istanbul talks, then positive results can be achieved, Spokesman for Iranian Foreign Ministry Ramin Mehmanparast said, Fars reported.

Later this month on May 23, Iran is expected to meet the "5+1" group in Baghdad to sort out the disputed issue of Islamic Republic's nuclear activity.

After more than a year of stalled talks, Iran and the Group 5+1 eventually held the nuclear negotiations in Istanbul, Turkey, on April 14 and second round of talks is scheduled to take place in Baghdad on May 23.

Iran wins World Summit on Information Society Forum prize
15.05.2012
Science & Technology|Iran|Middle East

The "Action Line C11: International and Regional Cooperation" acclaimed prize was awarded to the Islamic Republic of Iran at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, IRNA reported.

The "Action Line C11" is considered as a pivotal prize in WSIS Summit 2012.

The WSIS Forum 2012 opened in Geneva with the special address by United Nation Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on May 14.

The event will be wrapped up on May 18.