Iran Daily


Oil giant Vitol clinches $1b pre-finance deal with Iran
The world’s largest oil trader, Vitol, has clinched a deal with the National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC) to loan it an equivalent of $1 billion in euros guaranteed by future exports of refined products, four sources familiar with the matter said.

Japan’s Inpex in running to develop major Iran oilfield
Japan’s Inpex Corp. has initiated intense negotiations with National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) to develop Azadegan oilfield in southwestern Iran and is a strong candidate for the contract, said a high-ranking Iranian official.

Iraqi forces press gains against Daesh in eastern Mosul
Iraqi forces pressed gains against Daesh terrorists in eastern Mosul on Wednesday and have retaken two more districts, security sources said, with thousands more civilians fleeing the fighting.

Checkpoints setup in Istanbul for nightclub attacker
Turkey set up checkpoints in Istanbul on Wednesday as officers checked cars and taxis in hunt for the gunman behind the New Year’s massacre on an elite nightclub that killed 39.

Departing UK ambassador to EU criticizes gov’t
Britain’s outgoing ambassador to the European Union has strongly criticized the government’s approach to Brexit negotiations in a blistering farewell email to his staff.

Iran to sue Turkmenistan for violating gas deal
National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) announced on Wednesday that it will sue Turkmenistan for violating the terms of the gas deal between the two countries.

Foreign Ministry rejects speculations about Iran’s Hajj plans
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman dismissed speculations that the country has no plan to send pilgrims to the next year’s Hajj rituals, reiterating that Tehran has not received any invitation from Saudi Arabia.

Assad hails Iran support in Syrian fight against terrorism
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad praised the role of Iran in his nation’s victories on the battlefield against terror groups, saying the Islamic Republic also deserves to be congratulated on these successes.

70 spies serving jail terms in Iran capital
Tehran’s prosecutor said as many as 70 convicts are serving time in the province’s prisons for compromising sensitive national intelligence.


Tehran Times

Trump won’t renounce JCPOA: ex-senator
Bennett Johnston, a former Democratic senator, tells the Tehran Times that Donald Trump will not “renounce” the international nuclear deal with Iran.

Vitol clinches $1b pre-finance oil deal with Iran: sources
The world’s largest oil trader, Vitol, has clinched a deal with the National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC) to loan it an equivalent of $1 billion in euros guaranteed by future exports of refined products, four sources familiar with the matter said.

Iran insists has received no haj invitation from Riyadh
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi reconfirmed on Wednesday that Iran has received no invitation from the Saudi government for haj rituals.

200 days of siege amid global indifference
This Friday marks 200 days since the ruling regime in Bahrain has imposed a siege on the whole village of Diraz banning tens of thousands of civilians from access to basic rights.

Eurozone inflation spikes to highest in over 3 years
The deflation bugbear that the European Central Bank has battled for the past couple of years appears to have been seen off, at least for now.

Bodies of fallen soldiers transferred to Iran
Bodies of 98 martyrs of the 1980-188 sacred defense era were transferred from Iraq to Iran from the Shalamcheh border point on Wednesday morning.

Assad says gains in Syria shared by Iran
President Bashar al-Assad hailed on Wednesday Iran’s role in fighting back terrorist groups in his war-ravaged country over the past five years, saying gains against terrorists are shared by Iran.

Iranian constitution allows no religious discrimination: Larijani
Iranian Majlis speaker Ali Larijani said on Wednesday that the Iranian constitution does not tolerate discrimination against divine religions and guarantees equality for the followers of all divine faiths.

No haj compromise unless Riyadh pays restitution to Iran: senior MP
Iranian Parliament Vice-Speaker Ali Motahari said on Wednesday re-launching haj should be deferred until Saudi Arabia has paid restitution to the families of Iranians who lost their lives during a 2015 haj crush.

Syria talks to start in Astana on Jan. 23: Turkey
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday that the negotiations on the settlement of the Syrian armed conflict will begin in Astana, Kazakhstan, on January 23.

Interior Ministry: Pipeline fire not sabotage act
Interior Ministry reacted on Wednesday to Ahwazi Arabs claiming they had blown up two pipelines in Khuzestan province, denying any act of sabotage.