Iran Daily

Iran petrochem exports exceed $2.2b in two months
Iran exported 3,646,000 tons of petrochemicals worth $2.229 billion in the two months ending May 21, according to a report released by the National Iranian Petrochemical Company on Tuesday, according to IRNA.

Zarif: Israel’s nukes real threat to region, beyond
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned that Israel’s nukes are a real threat to the Middle East region and the rest of the world, calling for a new focus on the occupying regime’s nuclear arsenal.

Saudi-led forces storm Yemen’s Hodeida airport
Forces loyal to the former Yemeni government stormed the airport in the country’s main port Hodeida on Tuesday and captured large areas of the compound in battles with Houthis, local sources and the UAE said.

China slams US ‘blackmailing’ after Trump’s new tariffs threat
US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 10 percent tariff on $200 billion of Chinese goods and China warned it would retaliate, in a rapid escalation of the trade conflict between the world’s two biggest economies.

Record 68.5 million people displaced worldwide: UN
A record 68.5 million people have been forced flee their homes due to war, violence and persecution, notably in places like Myanmar and Syria, the UN said on Tuesday.

Iran says has no plans to increase missile range
Iran has no plans to extend the range of its missiles since their 2,000-kilometer (1,240-mile) reach is enough to protect the country, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps commander said on Tuesday.

Iran’s branches of power form joint task force to counter US psychological war
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, and Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani agreed to establish a joint task force to counter US psychological campaign against the Islamic Republic.

Iran denounces US meddlesome stance over police killer case
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi denounced the meddlesome comments made by US officials about the execution of Mohammad Salas, a man convicted of killing three police officers in Tehran.

Iran Volleyball Federation to file complaint against US
The president of Iran Volleyball Federation announced on Tuesday that the country will lodge a complaint against the US on the problems created for the Iranian team to travel to Chicago for recently-held FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL).

Tehran Times

Israel charges former minister with spying for Iran
Israel has indicted Gonen Segev, a former energy minister, on suspicion of spying for Iran.

Iran inaugurates national diesel engine production line
Production line of domestically-manufactured 1,300-horsepower diesel engine was launched on the sidelines of the 6th International Exhibition of Rail Transportation, Related Industries & Equipment of Iran (Iran Rail Expo 2018) in Tehran on Tuesday.

UN chief Antonio Guterres: Gaza ‘on brink of war’
Separately, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip places the besieged enclave on the “brink of war”, as he urged Israel and Hamas to recommit to a 2014 ceasefire.

If we don’t adapt to climate change, the only option is to suffer: IPCC official
Some of the world’s oldest and biggest trees are dying off, and climate change might be the culprit.

Trump is a false populist: Pillar
Professor Paul Pillar, who was CIA intelligence analyst for 28 years, tells the Tehran Times that Trump lives in “the moment, saying what gets applause and attention at any one moment.

Taliban accepts Afghan government’s ceasefire: sparking peace or false hopes?
A few days ago, in an unprecedented attempt, Taliban announced ceasefire with the Afghan government in the first three days of Eid Fitr, the holiday that caps off Ramadan.

Shahram Nazeri performs at Group B Nights
Iranian vocalist Shahram Nazeri (L) performs during a concert arranged for the Group B Nights at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on June 18, 2018.

General public in Iran opposes talks with Trump: government spokesman
Government spokesman Mohammad Baqer Nobakht on Tuesday dismissed the possibility of talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, saying even the general public in Iran opposes the idea of talks with Trump, ISNA reported.

No need to extend missile range over 2000 kilometers: IRGC chief
The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Tuesday the range of Iranian missiles is 2000 kilometers and the country does not need to extend it.

Heads gather to think business
The Supreme Council for Economic Coordination convened on Tuesday to assess the country’s economic issues now that the United States has withdrawn from the international nuclear agreement and plans to reinstate sanctions on Iran.

Nuclear chief vows to strongly defend Iran’s interests at Oslo Forum
Ali Akbar Salehi, director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), vows to defend Iran’s national interests “in the best way” at the Oslo Forum which started its work on Tuesday and lasts until Wednesday.

Switzerland: Bern, Tehran need to develop ties
The Swiss foreign ministry in a statement issued on the occasion of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s upcoming visit to Switzerland called for expansion of cooperation between Bern and Tehran.