Cultural heritage ministry hails wider ties with Iranian police

TEHRAN-- The Cultural Heritage Protection Unit needs support and strengthened cooperation with the Iranian police's counterterrorism unit, known as FARAJA, said Cultural Heritage Minister Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri in a meeting with the Commander-in-Chief of Iran’s Police Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Radan on Friday.

Long-lasting mulberry tree registered on Natural Heritage List

TEHRAN - Isfahan Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department Amir Karamzadeh gave news of the registration of the ancient mulberry tree of Sarasiab village in Badrud, Natanz county, Isfahan province, on Iran’s Natural Heritage List.

Mashhad eyes sisterhood agreement with Mecca, Medina

TEHRAN – Ahmad Masoumifar, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ office in northeast Iran, has proposed establishing a sisterhood agreement between Mashhad and the Saudi cities of Mecca or Medina.

University of Tokyo releases digital archive of rare Taq-e Bostan photographs

TEHRAN - The University Museum of the University of Tokyo has unveiled a significant digital database featuring photographs from its 1965 archaeological expedition to Taq-e Bostan, a renowned Sasanian-era site in western Iran.

Tony Blair tipped to run Gaza under US-backed transitional scheme

Reports in Haaretz and the Times of Israel reveal that the White House is backing a proposal to install former UK prime minister Tony Blair at the head of a new “Gaza International Transitional Authority” (GITA), which would serve as Gaza’s supreme political and legal authority for as long as five years.

Warnings of imminent Israeli strike shadow Gaza flotilla amid pressure to reroute supplies

The Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, pressed forward Thursday despite government warnings of an imminent Israeli attack.

Trump: Israeli annexation of the West Bank ‘not going to happen’

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he will not allow Israel to annex the occupied West Bank, AFP news agency reported.

Yemen mourns children killed in Israeli strikes, responds with Palestine 2 missile

The Yemeni Ministry of Health confirmed Friday that the death toll from Israeli air strikes on Sanaa on Thursday has climbed to nine, including two women and four children, with at least 174 others wounded.

Iran to launch iHiT in Jakarta

TEHRAN – An Iranian House of Innovation and Technology (iHiT) will be inaugurated in Jakarta, Indonesia, concurrent with the 37th Indonesia Hospital Expo, being held from September 25 to 28.

Iranian team denied visa for World Polo Championship

TEHRAN – Iran’s men’s polo team have been denied visas for the 2025 FIP Arena Polo World Championship, to be held in the United States.

Iran bids to host SACAM meeting

TEHRAN – Iran has announced its readiness to host the South and Asian Biosphere Reserve Network Meeting (SACAM) next year.

Tehran, Brasilia explore avenues to expand sci-tech ties

TEHRAN – The head of the Center for Progress and Development of Iran (CPDI), Sajjad Ahadzadeh, and the Brazilian ambassador to Tehran, André Veras Guimarães, have discussed ways to foster cooperation between the two countries in the science and technology sectors.

‘Environmental health is cornerstone of community health’

TEHRAN – Environmental health is the cornerstone of community health, a valuable opportunity to reflect on the importance of a healthy environment and its vital role in ensuring human health and well-being, an official with the health ministry has said.

By Ebrahim Fallahi

Iran steps up drive to tap Africa’s markets via new transport gateways

TEHRAN – Iran has stepped up engagement with Africa in recent months, sealing agreements with Tunisia and holding high-level meetings aimed at tapping into the continent’s growing markets. But experts warn that lasting success depends on removing structural barriers, especially in transport and financial channels.

BRICS tax chiefs meet to boost cooperation and transparency

TEHRAN – Heads of tax authorities from Iran, Russia, China, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates held a joint meeting to exchange experiences and review the latest achievements in tax administration systems.

CBI allocates over $6.9b for importing essential goods

TEHRAN – The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) said it has provided more than $27.7 billion in foreign currency for imports of basic goods, medicine, industry and services since the start of the current Iranian year in March.

India signals interest in resuming oil imports from Iran

TEHRAN – India has imported a large shipment of Iranian crude for the first time in years, raising speculation that New Delhi may be preparing to resume broader purchases despite U.S. sanctions.

Iran, Iraq and Russia plan meeting on international transport corridors

TEHRAN – Iran’s railways chief has held talks with Iraq’s transport minister on advancing joint rail projects, including the long-delayed Shalamcheh–Basra line, as part of broader efforts to expand regional connectivity.

Israel is increasingly being treated as a global pariah. It’s shielded by Trump, for now

When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses world leaders at the United Nations on Friday, it will be at the helm of a country that is increasingly being treated as a pariah, even by some of its longtime allies.

Iran’s wheat output falls by 2.5m tons, USDA says

TEHRAN – Iran’s wheat production is expected to decline to 13.5 million tons in the 2024/25 crop year, down 2.5 million tons from last season, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Iran says snapback mechanism will not impose new hurdles on oil sales

TEHRAN – Iran’s oil minister said the possible activation of the so-called snapback mechanism would not create fresh restrictions on crude exports, stressing that contingency measures are in place if needed.

Gold production in Iran to reach 25 tons annually by 2027

TEHRAN – Iran expects to raise its annual gold production to 25 tons by the end of its Seventh Five-Year National Development Plan (early 2027), while attracting $30 billion in mining investments, according to the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO).

Iran, Eurasia sign 3-year roadmap for economic cooperation

TEHRAN – The Eurasian Economic Commission said it has signed a three-year roadmap with Iran to expand economic cooperation across multiple sectors.