Global News Post: Iran

Israel Minister Warns U.S. Secretary Of State Over 'Surrender' To Iran

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JERUSALEM
(NNN-MA'AN) - Israel's intelligence minister slammed as unacceptable, comments
by US Secretary of State John Kerry, on negotiations with Iran over its nuclear
programme, which he said, indicated a "surrender" to Tehran.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"The
things Kerry said in Congress are worrying, they are surprising and they are
unacceptable," Yuval Steinitz, who is also strategic affairs minister, told
public radio.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"We
watch the negotiations with concern. We are not opposed to a diplomatic
solution, but we are against a solution which is entirely a surrender to Iran
and which leaves it a threshold nuclear state," Steinitz said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In
remarks to US lawmakers last week, Kerry warned that the Islamic republic was
two months away from breakout capability to produce enough nuclear material for
a bomb, should they resume their mothballed enrichment process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Responding
to reports that international negotiations with Iran should focus on extending
the time it would take for Iran to produce nuclear weapons to between six and
12 months, Kerry said, the ultimate goal was assurance that Iran never build an
atomic bomb, but slowing the process would be an improvement on the current
situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"I
think it is fair to say, I think it is public knowledge today, that we are
operating with a time period for a so-called breakout of about two
months," Kerry said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"So
six months to 12 months is -- I'm not saying that's what we'd settle for -- but
even that is significantly more," he added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Steinitz
insisted that Israel would not allow such a scenario.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"We
will not be able to adopt and accept any agreement, which leaves Iran months or
a year from a nuclear weapon," he insisted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Israel,
like the United States, has refused to rule out military action, to prevent
Tehran from acquiring nuclear arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Under
an interim agreement reached last year that expires on July 20, Iran froze key
parts of its nuclear programme, in return for limited sanctions relief and a
promise of no new sanctions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Talks
on a permanent agreement are under way between Iran and UN Security Council
permanent members, Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, along
with Germany.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After
a session in Vienna last week, the powers' chief negotiator, EU foreign policy
chief, Catherine Ashton said, the next round from May 13 would see negotiations
"move to the next phase." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The
West and Israel have long suspected Iran of using its nuclear energy programme
as a cover for developing atomic weapons, a charge denied by the Islamic
republic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Israel
is widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the region, though it
has never officially confirmed or denied having such an arsenal.-- NNN-MA'AN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Israel Minister Warns U.S. Secretary Of State Over 'Surrender' To Iran

JERUSALEM (NNN-MA'AN) - Israel's intelligence minister slammed as unacceptable, comments by US Secretary of State John Kerry,...

Iran, India Relations Historical

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<st1:city w:st="on"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">NEW DELHI</span></span></st1:city><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (NNN-IRNA) – <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region>
and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place>
relations is historical and cultural and the two countries share similar
languages, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He made the
remarks in a meeting with Iranian students residing in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New Delhi</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Many
countries in the world are keen to expand relations with <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tehran</st1:place></st1:city> because of its resistance toward world
powers</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Arial;">ˈ</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> illegal demands and the
progress it has made in various fields; Islamic Revolution of Iran during the
past three decades has passed several</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> difficult days and it will pass these days too."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Larijani noted
that the western states</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Arial;">ˈ</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> approach in talks with <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region> has always been deceptive but <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tehran</st1:place></st1:city> is committed to
progress forward, based on international rules and regulations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In the meantime,
speaking in a press conference in <st1:city w:st="on">New Delhi</st1:city>, the
Speaker added that emerging powers like <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> should be vigilant towards
dominant powers</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Arial;">ˈ</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> greed for oil.</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Some
countries are seeking to dominate the world oil throats; dominant powers do not
allow emerging powers to secure their energy security gorge by diversifying
their sources," Larijani said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Pointing to the
outside pressures upon <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region>
to break ties with <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tehran</st1:place></st1:city>,
he added that there would be no deadlock in bilateral relations between the two
nations which are committed to broadening their mutual cooperation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"There were
constructive discussions between Iranian delegation and Indian officials on
methods of payment of in lieu of the volume of crude oil <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region> has already exported to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>,"
Larijani said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The Speaker
underlined the two countries</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Arial;">ˈ</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> historical ties, adding
that <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> have a
common stance on regional and international issues.</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The EU enforced
a set of oil embargos against <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>
on Jul 1. The 27-nation bloc, which accounted for around 18 percent of Iran</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Arial;">ˈ</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">s oil exports, said that all contracts for importing Iranian
oil should be terminated from that date. </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Economic and oil
experts had earlier warned that the oil ban against Tehran would inflict huge
losses on the entire world energy market, specially in Europe, where several EU
members are going bankrupt and should soon announce economic bankruptcy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Iran</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> is the second largest OPEC oil producer, producing about 4
million barrels of oil per day. The country</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Arial;">ˈ</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">s recoverable oil reserves are est</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">imated at more than 137 billion barrels, or 12 percent of the
world</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Arial;">ˈ</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">s overall reserves. </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Washington and
its Western allies accuse <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>
of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear
programme, while they have never presented any corroborative evidence to
substantiate their allegations. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>
denies the charges and insists that its nuclear programme is for peaceful
purposes only. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Tehran</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> stresses that the country has always pursued a civilian path
to provide power to the growing number of Iranian population, whose fossil fuel
would eventually run dry. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Despite the
rules enshrined in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) entitling every member
state, including <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region>, to
the right of uranium enrichment, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tehran</st1:place></st1:city>
is now under four rounds of UN Security Council sanctions and the west embargos
for turning down their calls to give up its right of uranium enrichment. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Tehran</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> has dismissed the West</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Arial;">ˈ</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">s demands as politically tainted and illogical, stressing
that sanction and pressures merely co</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">nsolidate Iranians</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Arial;">ˈ</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> national resolve to
continue the path. </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Iran</span></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> has repeatedly said that it considers its nuclear case
closed as it has come clean of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: Arial;">ˈ</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">s) questions and suspicions about its past nuclear
activities. -- NNN-IRN</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Iran, India Relations Historical

NEW DELHI (NNN-IRNA) – Iran and India relations is historical and cultural and the two countries share similar languages, Iranian Pa...

World Powers Want New Nuclear Talks with Iran Soon

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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">By VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Six world powers have agreed to seek renewed talks on <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region>'s contested nuclear program as fast as
possible, reflecting a renewed sense of urgency to resolve <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tehran</st1:place></st1:city>'s disputed nuclear activity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said
Wednesday after talks between senior diplomats from Britain, China, France,
Russia, the United States and Germany that the group was "committed to
having another round of talks with Iran as soon as possible."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Analysts warn that a window of opportunity for a negotiated
solution is narrowing because of growing alarm over <st1:city w:st="on">Tehran</st1:city>'s
nuclear activities in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
Experts say any Israeli air strikes, which many believe would escalate into a
wider Middle East war, is unlikely before Israel's January 22 election, giving
the six powers some time for diplomacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:country-region w:st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Israel</span></st1:country-region><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">, the Middle East's only nuclear power,
has refused to rule out a military strike on <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region> to stop it from also getting
the bomb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The last high-level talks attended by <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region>, which all but failed, were held in <st1:city w:st="on">Moscow</st1:city> in June, with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Tehran</st1:city></st1:place>
rejecting Western calls for it to scale back its nuclear program which the West
suspects is a cover for efforts to build an atomic bomb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

World Powers Want New Nuclear Talks with Iran Soon

By VOA News Six world powers have agreed to seek renewed talks on Iran 's contested nuclear program as fast as possible, reflec...

Iran to Export Electricity to India-Pakistan

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">TEHRAN,
Iran (NNN-Bernama) -- Minister of Energy Majid Namjou said on Sunday that
Iranian experts will construct a power plant soon on Iranian border with
Pakistan to export electricity to that country and India, Iran's IRNA reported.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He
said the plan is under negotiations between the two countries' officials, and
will be implemented upon a request made by the Pakistani President to his
Iranian counterpart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Pointing
to the signing of a relevant agreement between both countries, Namjou said <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region> will export 1000 MWs of electricity to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> based
on the agreement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He
said <st1:country-region w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:country-region> also has asked
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>
to construct CGP and DG small power plants which will be built by MAPNA Company
once a consensus is reached. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
minister also expressed <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region>'s
readiness to construct another power plant with the capacity of 6,000 MWs with
Indian investment to export power to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> based on his negotiations
with his Indian counterpart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Some
4,000 MWs of electricity to be generated will be consumed in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region> the remaining 2,000 MWs will be exported
through under water cables to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:country-region>
and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>,"
Namjou added. --NNN-BERNAMA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Iran to Export Electricity to India-Pakistan

TEHRAN, Iran (NNN-Bernama) -- Minister of Energy Majid Namjou said on Sunday that Iranian experts will construct a power plant soon on ...

Democracy Never Achieved By Guns - Iranian President

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">BALI,
Indonesia  (NNN-IRNA) -- President of
Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that democracy will be established only
through global commitment to justice and freedom, saying it will never comes
out of guns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Addressing
the fifth annual Bali Democracy Forum here on Thursday, the president described
democracy as the latest human achievement that can be directed to
administration of justice throughout the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In
a real democratic government, he said, the governors should move towards
justice and freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He
then referred to occupation of Palestinian lands and said it is the obvious
example of colonialism and blatant violation of human rights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Massacre
of innocent people in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> as well as broad
suppression of freedom and legitimate rights of nations along with terrorism
and establishment of military and intelligence bases of big powers aimed at
imposing backwardness on other nations is among other examples of colonial
approaches and violation of rights of nations, the president reiterated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Condemning
production and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear
bombs, he said such moves that threaten lives of world nations are other
examples of human rights violations. -- NNN-IRNA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Democracy Never Achieved By Guns - Iranian President

BALI, Indonesia (NNN-IRNA) -- President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that democracy will be established only through global co...

Iran to Boost Output of Joint Oilfields to 800,000 Barrels per Day

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<st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">TEHRAN</span></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (NNN-MNA) -- <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region></st1:place> has launched 17 development
projects at oilfields which are shared with its neighbours, with the aim of
boosting production at the sites to 800,000 barrels per day over the course of
two years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Iran</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> shares 18 oilfields, four gas fields and
six associated oil and gas fields with neighbouring countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
report did not mention the current output at the joint oilfields.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Iran</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> has announced that it will implement 11
plans by the Iranian calendar month of Mordad 1392 (July 22-Aug 22, 2013) with
the goal of boosting oil production by 175,000 barrels per day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Once
all the phases of the development plans are implemented, output will be
increased by another 500,000 barrels per day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Oil
Minister Rostam Qasemi has said that the country’s oil output is projected to
increase by 1.5 million barrels per day by 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In
July, Qasemi announced that new oil reserves of up to 6 billion barrels have
been discovered in southwestern <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
reserves are located around the Yadavaran oilfield in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Khuzestan</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Province</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">With
the new oil discovery, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s
oil recoverable reserves stand at about 160 billion barrels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Iran</span></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> has the world's fourth largest reserves of
recoverable oil, after <st1:country-region w:st="on">Venezuela</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Saudi Arabia</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">With
34 trillion cubic metres of natural gas reserves, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region>
has the world's second largest natural gas reserves after <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Russia</st1:place></st1:country-region>. -- NNN-MNA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Iran to Boost Output of Joint Oilfields to 800,000 Barrels per Day

TEHRAN (NNN-MNA) -- Iran has launched 17 development projects at oilfields which are shared with its neighbours, with the aim of boos...

Iran Sets up New Navy Base in Strait of Hormuz

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<st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">MOSCOW---</span></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (RIA Novosti) <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region>’s
Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has established a new naval base in the
Strait of Hormuz, the export route for around 25 percent of the world's crude
oil, the <st1:place w:st="on">Fars</st1:place> news agency said on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
base, the fifth in the region, is located near <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region>'s
southern port city of <st1:city w:st="on">Bandar Lengeh</st1:city> in the
Hormozgan province, some 1,100 km (700 miles) south of the capital <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tehran</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">IRGC
Navy Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said the zone of operations would cover an area
from <st1:placename w:st="on">Qeshm</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype>
and Naze'aat Islands region to the western waters of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Kish</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"The
fifth naval zone was started to provide operational coverage for the Naze'aat
Islands, bring about a turning point and start a new trend in the region,"
the agency quoted Fadavi as saying at the opening ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Iran</span></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> has threatened to close the Strait of
Hormuz at the end of the <st1:place w:st="on">Persian Gulf</st1:place> in
response to any attack from outside. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s largest naval bases are at
the head of the Gulf, around 450 kilometers from the strait, which is just 45
kilometers wide at its narrowest point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>

Iran Sets up New Navy Base in Strait of Hormuz

MOSCOW--- (RIA Novosti) Iran ’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has established a new naval base in the Strait of Hormuz, the...

IRAN: Attempted Assassination of Indian PM Not Proved Yet

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">TEHRAN (NNN-FNA) – Iran has dismissed reports on the attempted assassination of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the recent Non-Aligned Movement summit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, whose forces were in charge of the security during the summit said it has not yet been proved if the suspect intended to assassinate the Indian prime minister.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">"A person attempted to drive his car close to the convoy of the Indian officials" and went through the cars, he explained, adding "The person was carrying a cold weapon but he has not yet confessed to any ill intention and therefore the issue is not definite yet."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">"The person has stated that he was in a hurry and wanted to overtake the convoy," Jafari said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">The 16th NAM summit was held in Tehran from August 26 to 31.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Some 51 countries sent their high-ranking leaders to the 16th heads-of-state summit of the NAM, while over 150 delegations from the world countries and bodies attended the other meetings of the bloc in Tehran.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">NAM, which is comprised of some 120 member and 17 observer states, is an international organization of states considering themselves not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. NAM is the largest grouping of countries outside of the United Nations.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">During the 6 days of holding the conference, the Iranian officials held meetings with the heads of states and important leaders of different countries attending the conference on different regional and international issues as well as the bilateral relations.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">The world leaders attending the conference appreciated the Iranian authorities for maintain high security during the 6-day summit in Tehran. --NNN-FNA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

IRAN: Attempted Assassination of Indian PM Not Proved Yet

TEHRAN (NNN-FNA) – Iran has dismissed reports on the attempted assassination of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the recent Non-...

Egyptian President Hands Over NAM's Presidency to Iran

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">TEHRAN (NNN-FNA) -- Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi officially handed the presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during the inaugural ceremony of the 16th NAM Summit here on Thursday morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Egyptian president delivered the NAM's presidency to Iran after addressing the audience in the inauguration ceremony of the NAM summit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The 16th heads-of-state summit of the NAM was inaugurated with a keynote speech by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, in which he praised the founders of the NAM and its operation in the last 60 years, but said the movement should boost its international role and clout through increased operations and fresh movements. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Leader said the world is entering a new era and the NAM should play a bigger role in this new world, adding that all world countries should have a share in global management. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"States should raise their relations on the basis of common interests and not threat and intimidation," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Leader said the world should not be ruled by a few number of "bullying powers." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He said the "UN Security Council has a completely unfair structure, and the US and its allies have been misusing this unfair structure to materialize their interests." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The NAM summit is held at the Leaders' Summit Hall in northern Tehran and will last for two days. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The summit is being held after a two-day experts meeting and a foreign ministerial meeting of the NAM member states which also lasted for two days. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The United States and Israel are among the nations fearful that the summit, drawing a reported 50 or more heads of state and government, will give Tehran a boost in legitimacy and rally disgruntled states to the defense of its nuclear programmes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Islamic Republic's three-year tenure as head of the NAM is a chance for Tehran to elevate its international standing as the United States seeks to cripple its economy and isolate it diplomatically over its disputed nuclear programme. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many analysts say that the diplomatic spotlight will give Tehran an opportunity to show Washington has failed to cut it off from the rest of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Around 110 states are attending the conference and more than 45 states have sent their top officials to the heads-of-state summit. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The guest list includes UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Morsi, the first Egyptian leader to visit Iran since the Islamic revolution in 1979. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The NAM is an international organisation of states considering themselves not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. The NAM is the largest grouping of countries outside of the United Nations. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The NAM member states represent nearly two-thirds of the United Nations' members and comprise 55 per cent of the world population, particularly countries considered to be developing or part of the Third World. -- NNN-FNA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Egyptian President Hands Over NAM's Presidency to Iran

TEHRAN (NNN-FNA) -- Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi officially handed the presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to Iranian Preside...

Quake-hit Northwestern Iran Announces Two Days of Mourning

Quake-hit Northwestern Iran Announces Two Days of Mourning

TEHRAN (RIA Novosti)--- The authorities of the northwestern Iranian province of East Azarbaijan have announced two days of mourning startin...

At Least 250 Killed by Twin Quakes in Northwest Iran

At Least 250 Killed by Twin Quakes in Northwest Iran

TEHRAN (RIA Novosti) --- At least 250 people were killed and over 1,800 injured in twin quakes that rocked northwestern Iran on Saturday,...

Saudi King Invites Iran's Ahmadinejad to Discuss Syria

Saudi King Invites Iran's Ahmadinejad to Discuss Syria

TEHRAN (RIA Novosti) --- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will take part in the meeting of the 57-member pan-Muslim Organization of ...

Iran’s President to Attend OIC Extraordinary Session in Saudi Arabia

Iran’s President to Attend OIC Extraordinary Session in Saudi Arabia

TEHRAN (NNN-IRNA) – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will attend the extraordinary session of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OI...

Iran Tests Missile with New Guidance System

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By Edward Yeranian<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">CAIRO — Iran's defense minister, Ahmad Vahidi, says that Tehran has tested a new version of its Fateh 110 short-range missile. He claims the newer missile can hit "enemy" targets in neighboring countries, and targets at sea in the Persian Gulf. Lebanon's Hezbollah reportedly has stockpiles of an earlier version of the missile.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The reported test of the Iranian short-range missile with a new guidance system was announced on government TV Saturday, accompanied by video of rockets being launched. It was impossible to verify if the rocket launch video is recent or from archives.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi described the upgraded missiles at a press conference, lauding his country's technological prowess:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He stresses that the specificity of this missile is its ability to hit targets with precision. He also praises Iran's talented scientists and home-grown defense industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Iran's Fars News Agency reported that the new version of the Fateh 110 missile has a range of about 300 kilometers and can carry a 250 kilogram warhead. The short-range surface-to-surface Fateh missile uses solid fuel and has an improved guidance system to increase accuracy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Defense Minister Vahidi said that the fourth-generation missile was designed to “target and destroy land and sea targets, enemy command and control centers, as well as missile launch pads, weapons depots, radar bases etc.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Israeli press reported that Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group possesses a large stockpile of an earlier version of the Fateh 110 missile.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Analyst Alex Vatanka of the Middle East Institute notes that the upgraded short-range missile, along with a host of other recent Iranian military developments, is intended to dissuade potential enemies from attacking:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"These military-related steps, war games, launching of new missiles, are meant to act as a deterrent, both against the United States and the West in general, but also towards Iran's immediate Arab neighbors," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Vatanka argues that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, does not appear to take the prospect of an outside attack on his country seriously, nor is he extremely worried about the prospect of new sanctions. “The [ongoing] process of brinkmanship,” he says, “[prompts] Iran to flex its military muscle on a periodic basis, and I'm sure it will continue.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The West suspects Iran wants to build nuclear weapons although Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.  However Iranian officials have in the past threatened to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The former head of Israel's Mossad spy agency told the New York Times several days ago that if he were Iranian, he “would be fearful of the next 12 weeks,” alluding to a possible attack on Tehran's nuclear facilities.---VOA News</span></div>

Iran Tests Missile with New Guidance System

By Edward Yeranian CAIRO — Iran's defense minister, Ahmad Vahidi, says that Tehran has tested a new version of its Fateh 110 short-ra...

Kidnapped Iranian Pilgrims Released: TV

Kidnapped Iranian Pilgrims Released: TV

DAMASCUS (NNN-Xinhua) -- The 48 Iranian pilgrims who were kidnapped earlier Saturday by armed men near Syrian capital Damascus have been ...

Iran to Launch Monkey into Space

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - Iran will orbit a rocket with a live monkey on board later this month, Iranian Space Agency chief Dr. Hamid Fazeli said on Wednesday, the country's IRNA news agency reported.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Kavoshgar-5 satellite carrier with a bio-capsule holding a rhesus monkey is to be launched between August 19 and 20, he added.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The rocket will be orbited at an altitude of 120 to 130 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“We have fully packed the cargo which is to be launched into space with a solid-fuel rocket,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Iran to Launch Monkey into Space

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - Iran will orbit a rocket with a live monkey on board later this month, Iranian Space Agency chief Dr. Hamid Fazeli...

Panetta, Israeli Leaders Warn Iran

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By Luis Ramirez<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JERUSALEM — U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Israeli leaders on Wednesday warned Iran that time is running out to resolve disputes over its controversial nuclear program.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem with the visiting Pentagon chief, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said international sanctions aren't changing Iran's path toward development of nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear aims are peaceful.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"You recently said that sanctions on Iran are having a big impact on the Iranian economy, and that is correct," Netanyahu told Panetta. "But unfortunately it is also true that neither sanctions nor diplomacy have yet had any impact on Iran's nuclear weapons program.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"You yourself said a few months ago that when all else fails, America will act," Netanyahu added. "But these declarations have also not yet convinced the Iranians to stop their program. However forceful our statements, they have not convinced Iran that we are serious about stopping them."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Panetta's Warning<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Earlier, Panetta said U.S. patience with Iran is running thin.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"They have a choice to make," he said during a visit to a missile defense battery in the southern port town of Ashkelon with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"They can either negotiate in a way that tries to resolve these issues and has them abiding by international rules and requirements and giving up their effort to develop their nuclear capability," Panetta said. "But if they don't, and if they continue to make the decision to proceed with a nuclear weapon ... we have options that we are prepared to implement to ensure that does not happen."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Before landing in Israel late Tuesday, Panetta denied reports that meetings with Israeli leaders would cover potential plans for a preemptive attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I think it's the wrong characterization to say that we're going to be discussing potential attack plans," he said. "What we are discussing is various contingencies of how we respond.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Panetta said the United States and Israel are doing everything they can to have the "strongest defense" and protect both countries, adding the two countries have a "very close friendship."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Barak said the Israel-U.S. relationship is solid.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"The defense ties between Israel and the United States are stronger and tighter than they have ever been, and the credit now has to go, most of it, to you, Leon," Barak said as he greeted Panetta at the Israeli defense headquarters.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Panetta's visit also includes talks with Israeli President Shimon Peres.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Panetta arrived in Israel from Egypt, where he met with newly elected President Mohamed Morsi.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Before stopping in Cairo, the U.S. defense secretary visited Tunisia - the site of the first Arab Spring popular uprisings last year, and praised what he said was the country's peaceful transition to democracy. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Panetta, Israeli Leaders Warn Iran

By Luis Ramirez JERUSALEM — U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Israeli leaders on Wednesday warned Iran that time is running out to ...

Iran to File Complaint against U.S., EU over Sanctions – Press TV

Iran to File Complaint against U.S., EU over Sanctions – Press TV

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) --- Iran will file a complaint against the United States and Europe for imposing unilateral sanctions on the Islamic ...

Iran to Export Electricity to Syria, Lebanon

Iran to Export Electricity to Syria, Lebanon

TEHRAN (NNN-IRNA) -- Iran and Syria have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on export of electricity to Syria and Lebanon as of A...

India Begins Paying for Iranian Oil With Local Currency

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Anjana Pasricha<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">NEW DELHI - India has begun using its currency to purchase Iranian oil. The move is part of New Delhi's effort to bolster exports to the Middle Eastern nation. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After tightening U.S. sanctions made it difficult for New Delhi to pay Iran for oil in dollars, Tehran agreed to accept nearly half the payment in Indian rupees.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The arrangement became operational recently. Rafique Ahmed with the Federation of Export Organizations of India says it will give a major boost to trade between the two countries as Tehran will have to use the rupees it earns from Indian oil companies to buy goods from New Delhi.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span dir="LTR"></span>“The oil companies have started to put the money in the rupee account and the flow of trade has started. They have deposited about $550 million," said Ahmed. "They are expecting more flow of money to come in.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Iran has been scouting for goods to buy with the Indian currency. In May, an Iranian trade delegation visited New Delhi to identify potential imports.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">India mostly sells rice, sugar, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment to Iran. New Delhi is also considering selling wheat from its overflowing stocks. Indian traders say Iran could potentially become a big market for items such as tea, yarn, fabric and fertilizers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Vijay Setia, the head of the All India Rice Exporters Association says some Indian exporters had faced uncertainty about payments in recent months, but those worries have been eased since an Indian bank began issuing lines of credit (LC) for exports to Iran.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span dir="LTR"></span>"This is a sure payment - that you will get your payment," said Setia. "And, confidence of bank LC is definitely there and business is safe now, in a safe mode. They are feeling more secure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He says rice exports to Iran had slowed down. But he expects more rice to go to Iran in the coming months.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In a bid to encourage exports to Iran, India has also put in place tax incentives for its traders.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Indian exports to Iran reached some $2.5 billion in 2010. But they will have to nearly double to about $5 billion if Tehran is to use up the rupees to be paid for the Iranian oil.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">India has cut down on oil purchases from Iran following pressure from the United States, but it still procures about 12 percent of its requirement from Tehran. India, along with countries like China, has said it will abide by United Nations sanctions and not follow those imposed by Western countries. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

India Begins Paying for Iranian Oil With Local Currency

Anjana Pasricha NEW DELHI - India has begun using its currency to purchase Iranian oil. The move is part of New Delhi's effort to bols...