Iran

TEHRAN, Dec 18 (NNN-TASNIM) – Iran is hosting an international meeting, on regional security, today (Wednesday), Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, announced.

Shamkhani said in a statement that, the 2nd meeting of the Regional Security Dialogue, will be held in Tehran with the attendance of top security officials from Iran, Russia, China, India, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Tehran, Dec 15 (AP/PTI) Iran's telecommunications minister announced on Sunday that the country has defused a second cyberattack in less than a week, this time aimed at spying on government intelligence."

Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi said in a short Twitter post that the alleged attack was identified and defused by a cybersecurity shield, and that the spying servers were identified and the hackers were also tracked." He did not elaborate.

TEHRAN, Dec 15 (NNN-IRNA) – The value of Iran’s preferential trade with the Eurasian countries reached 194.2 million U.S. dollars in Nov, Head of Iran’s Customs Administration, Mehdi Mirashrafi, said.

During the one-month period, Iran exported commodities worth 28.2 million dollars to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) members, while importing 166 million dollars of commodities, through preferential trade, Mirashrafi was quoted as saying.

Iran and the EAEU trade agreement, which had been reached earlier, was implemented on Oct 27.

TEHRAN, Dec 15 (NNN-IRNA) – Spokesman for Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), played down the likelihood of restoration of diplomatic ties with the United States, through prisoner swap.

Keyvan Khosravi, spokesman for SNSC, said, prisoner swap between Iran and the U.S. is not the start of “any new path” for mutual negotiations.

Khosravi’s comments came, as Brian Hook, U.S. special representative for Iran, said, recent prisoner exchange will lead to a broader discussion on consular affairs between the U.S. and Iran.

TEHRAN, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Iran said Tuesday that it will stage a joint naval drill with Caspian Sea littoral states in the near future, Tehran Times daily reported.

Iranian Navy Commander Hossein Khanzadi was quoted as saying that the naval drill aims "to counter any insecurity and terrorist attacks."

Another objective of the joint maneuver is to use the capabilities of the littoral states' navies "regarding rescue and relief and reconnaissance operations," he said.

The agreement to carry out the joint naval drill was reached in the summer of 2019.

10 Dec 2019; MEMO: Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Abbas Mousavi warned on Monday that Tehran would respond with “crushing blow” to any Israeli attack against it.

Mousavi described the recent series of threats against Iran by Israeli officials as a “sign of weakness and impotence” and an attempt “to cover up the crises and domestic problems of the occupation (Israeli) leaders”.

Mahabad, Dec 9, IRNA – Iran opened development of 40 hectares goldmine of Zarshouran in Takab, West Azarbaijan province, Deputy Director of Provincial Mines and Minerals Organization Parisa Abedpour said on Monday.

Parisa Abedpour said in an interview with IRNA that mining operations and the construction of a gold processing unit in the area of 100  hectares of Zarshouran gold mine in Takab have begun with an extra five 5 hectares going under the development plan.

Tehran, Dec 9, IRNA – Iran on Monday downgraded Israeli threat of air strikes, warning that any stupid act will cause regretful response from Iran.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said that the Israeli officials' threats and allegations against Iran indicate their weaknesses, warning that any Israeli stupid act will be dealt with regretful and destructive response. 

Mousavi branded Israeli military threat as sign of their weakness aiming to cover up crises and internal problems.

TEHRAN, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chief of Staff of Iran Armed Forces Hossein Baqeri said Thursday that the Islamic republic has achieved self-sufficiency in building military equipment needed to defend the country.

Iran is becoming less dependent on foreigners in producing defense-related hardware thanks to its universities as well as knowledge-based companies, which are actively designing and manufacturing military equipment, Baqeri was quoted as saying by Press TV.

TEHRAN, Dec 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chief of Staff of Iran Armed Forces Mohammad Hossein Baqeri said that the Islamic republic has achieved self-sufficiency in building military equipment needed to defend the country.

Iran is becoming less dependent on foreigners in producing defense-related hardware thanks to its universities as well as knowledge-based companies, which are actively designing and manufacturing military equipment, Baqeri was quoted as saying by Press TV.