Iran Daily

Happy New Year
Iranian community is getting ready to celebrate one of its most important holidays, Norouz, the Persian New Year.

UK’s Fox says commissioned work on Iran ties will help develop trade
British Trade Minister Liam Fox said on Wednesday he had commissioned work from his department to look at how to normalize “effective payment channels” with Iran to try to open up trading opportunities.

Dutch vote in key test for far-right
Millions of Dutch voters went to the polls Wednesday in a key test of the “patriotic revolution” promised by far-right MP Geert Wilders, as final opinion polls showed his support deflating.

Rouhani defends government’s performance
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that his government has made ‘very positive measures’ in economic and manufacturing infrastructure since the beginning of the current Iranians year — which began on March 20, 2016.

South Korea to hold election May 9; prosecutors summon ousted Park
South Korea said on Wednesday it will hold an election on May 9 to choose a successor for former president Park Geun-hye, who was removed from office in a historic court ruling last week over a widening corruption scandal.

Dozens killed in Damascus bomb attack
Two suicide bombings hit Damascus Wednesday including an attack at a central courthouse that killed at least 32 people, as Syria’s war entered its seventh year.

Russia: Implementation of Bushehr-2 project kicks off
Construction and installation work formally started on the site of Bushehr-2 Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Iran on March 14, Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom said on Wednesday.

Turkey, Russia, Iran vow to boost cooperation on Syria
Turkey, Russia and Iran decided to bolster cooperation in Syria, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Akylbek Kamaldinov said Wednesday.

Iran issues report on UK human rights violations
An Iranian research organization on international relations has compiled and released a 65-page report on a wide range of violations of human rights in the United Kingdom in 2015.

Tehran Times

Azadegan oil?eld’s tender to be held soon: Zanganeh
Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh announced on Tuesday that the process for holding a tender for the development of Azadegan oil?eld has been started, Shana reported.

Iran seals its status as truce guarantor in Syria
Iran has o?cially become a country guaranteeing the truce in Syria, along with Russia and Turkey, Head of the Russian delegation and Presidential Envoy for Syrian settlement Alexander Lavrentyev said on Wednesday in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana.

G20 should resist protectionism to keep markets open: Bundesbank
The world’s top economies should recommit to maintaining open markets and cross-border trade, the head of Germany’s Bundesbank said on Wednesday, challenging the new U.S. administration’s more protectionist stance on the eve of a key meeting.

Zarif calls on Turkey to act more ‘seriously’ in region
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on Turkey to pursue a more realistic approach to regional developments, emphasizing that “self-restraint” is an integral part of neighborhood.

Rouhani touts economic gains
President Hassan Rouhani highlighted gains in Iran’s economy on Wednesday, pointing out in particular how his administration has been shoring up economic growth without too much help from oil revenues.

Iran to further boost defense capabilities
Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan hailed on Wednesday Iran’s military achievements in the current Iranian year which will end on March 20, saying that the Islamic Republic will continue boosting its defensive capabilities, ISNA reported.