Iran

Tehran, IRNA – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian says Iran does not recognize the ruling government in Afghanistan, urging the Taliban group to form an inclusive government.

Amirabdollahian made the remarks on Thursday during a meeting between Foreign Ministry officials and Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of Imam Khomeini, at the mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic.

Tehran, IRNA – Assadollah Assadi, a former Iranian diplomat imprisoned in Belgium on false charges, has returned home after five years.

The plane carrying Assadi landed at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport on Friday evening local time, IRNA reported.

Earlier on the day, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani had said that the former diplomat had been released from prison and would return home after “five years of captivity.”

Tehran, IRNA – Tehran has slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “worthless” allegations against the Islamic Republic, saying they were intended to divert public attention.

Zelensky on Wednesday once again accused Iran of supplying drones to Russia to be used in the war against Ukraine, claiming, “the people of Iran are being driven deeper and deeper into the dark side of history.”

In a statement on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said the remarks were a “political show” featuring “baseless allegations” against Tehran.

26 May 2023; MEMO: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said yesterday that there are international efforts to reach a preliminary version of a nuclear agreement.

Abdullahian said in a press statement that the negotiations for a nuclear agreement are taking place indirectly through the exchange of messages between the concerned parties, according to the local IRNA news agency.

25 May 2023; MEMO: Iran successfully test-launched a ballistic missile with a potential 2,000-km range on Thursday, state media said, two days after the chief of Israel's Armed Forces raised the prospect of "action" against Tehran over its nuclear programme, Reuters reports.

TEHRAN, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran unveiled and successfully test-launched on Thursday its latest domestically-developed ballistic missile, known as Kheibar, according to the official news agency IRNA.

With a range of 2,000 kilometers and a warhead capacity of 1,500 kilograms, the missile showcases a unique blend of strategic and tactical features, the IRNA said, adding the new weapon's guidance and control system operates with "complete immunity" against electronic warfare attacks.

TEHRAN, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian nuclear chief on Wednesday denied The Associated Press's claim that Iran is building a nuclear facility "so deep in the earth," Iranian Students' News Agency reported.

"Iran is working according to the regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the safeguards agreements and whenever it plans to carry out any activity, it informs the agency of the arrangements and acts based on them," President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting.

TEHRAN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran has appointed Alireza Enayati, a veteran diplomat, as its ambassador to Saudi Arabia, semi-official Fars news agency reported on Monday night.

Enayati used to serve as the Iranian ambassador to Kuwait, foreign minister aide, and a director-general at the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

The appointment of ambassador came after a China-brokered agreement reached by Saudi Arabia and Iran in March to resume diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies and missions within a two-month timeframe.

22 May 2023; MEMO: Iran's Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib said on Sunday that "terrorists" linked to Israel in the west of the country have been arrested. Khatib added that the Iranian intelligence service hopes to enhance security on the western borders in cooperation with the Iraqi government.

The minister warned that, in any event, wherever the security of Iran is exposed, any movement on the borders will be met with a decisive and overwhelming response by the armed forces and security services.

22 May 2023; MEMO: Iran has reiterated its sovereignty over three Persian Gulf islands disputed with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"Iran will do all in its power to protect its territorial sovereignty," Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani, said in statements.

Both Iran and the UAE claim the islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunb, which have been held by Tehran since 1971.