Iran

06 June 2023; MEMO: Iran has revealed its first hypersonic missile which can outpace missile defence systems and that will apparently give it a military edge against the West and the surrounding region, Iranian state media has announced.

TEHRAN, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Tuesday unveiled a domestically-developed hypersonic missile named Fattah (Conqueror) in a ceremony in the capital Tehran, the official news agency IRNA reported.

The opening ceremony was attended by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Hossein Salami and Commander of the IRGC's Aerospace Division Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, the report said.

TEHRAN, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian foreign minister expressed hope that the recent prisoner swap between Iran and Belgium could be an effective step to promote bilateral ties and Iran-Europe relations.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a phone conversation with his Belgian counterpart Hadja Lahbib, according to a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website.

TEHRAN, Jun 3 (NNN-IRNA) – The Iranian foreign minister said, Iran’s permanent membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), will be finalised in early July.

Making the remarks in an interview with Iran’s IRIB news agency, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said, following the approval from the Kyrgyz parliament, all SCO founding members have given Iran the greenlight towards permanent membership.

TEHRAN, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, have discussed issues pertaining to the resumption and development of bilateral ties.

The meeting was held Friday on the sidelines of the Friends of BRICS meeting in Cape Town in South Africa, said the Iranian Foreign Ministry in a statement.

TEHRAN, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian foreign minister has said that Iran welcomes any initiative aimed at restoring its relations with Egypt in line with the two sides' interests, Iran's IRIB news agency reported on Thursday.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in an interview with the IRIB news agency, which was published on Thursday.

He revealed that Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, during his visit to Iran in late May, informed Iranian officials of his talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi about restoring the Iran-Egypt ties.

31 May 2023; MEMO: The UN nuclear watchdog has re-installed only some monitoring equipment originally put in place under the 2015 nuclear deal with major powers that Iran then ordered removed last year, the watchdog said in two reports on Wednesday seen by Reuters.

QOM, Iran (AP) — It’s rare these days for a turbaned cleric in Iran to attract a large following of adoring young fans on Instagram, but Sayed Mahdi Tabatabaei has done it by rescuing street dogs in defiance of a local taboo.

Tabatabaei posts regularly — to his more than 80,000 followers — heartbreaking stories of abused and neglected dogs that he has treated in his shelter. His young fans ask for updates on the rescues and send well wishes in the hundreds of comments he receives on almost every post.

30 May 2023; MEMO: Iranian intelligence has arrested a new espionage cell consisting of 14 spies linked to the Israeli occupation, Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Monday.

According to Kan, Iranian media reported an Iranian judicial official confirming that the 14-member cell had planned to carry out assassinations for Israel.

30 May 2023; MEMO: Iranian Brigadier General Hamza Qalandari said his country wants to strengthen the Syrian Army by modernising the country's air defence systems, Iran's Fars News Agency reported yesterday.

In an interview, General Qalandari said although the Syrian government possesses missile defence and air defence capabilities, the "Syrian brothers" will be supported by "upgrading some equipment and tactical changes."