Iran won’t accept ‘nuclear apartheid,’ says Rouhani

TEHRAN: Iran will not accept “nuclear apartheid” but is willing to offer more transparency over its atomic activities, President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday ahead of new talks with world powers.

Iran and the P5+1 group of nations will start hammering out a draft accord Tuesday aimed at ending a decade-long standoff over suspicions that the Islamic republic is concealing military objectives.

“We have nothing to put on the table and offer to them but transparency. That’s it. Our nuclear technology is not up for negotiation,” Rouhani, referring to the West, said in remarks broadcast on state television.

Nuclear inspectors to visit Iranian sites

TEHRAN, Iran –  International nuclear inspectors will visit two sites in Iran in the coming days, the country's official news agency reported Sunday, as an official said that would fulfill a series of demands made by the United Nations nuclear watchdog.

The demands by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which Iran was required to meet by May 15, include releasing information about its efforts to develop a type of explosive detonator that can be used in nuclear weapons.

Iran elections could be a game-changer: Experts

PARIS: The election of the moderate Hassan Rowhani as Iran’s new president is a game-changer which could set a new tone and soothe tensions with the West over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme, analysts said.

Dubbed a “sheikh diplomat” for his negotiating skills in tortuous nuclear talks, the moderate cleric raised hopes internationally after he emerged as the victor of the key polls on Saturday.

Afghan FM Spokesman Stresses Expansion of Tehran-Kabul Ties

TEHRAN : Afghan Foreign Ministry Spokesman Janan Mosazai underlined the need for the further expansion of ties and cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan.The Afghan foreign ministry spokesman pointed to the good and friendly relations between Iran and Afghanistan, calling "Iran a very good neighbor".

"Iran has always supported the Afghan government in its campaign against terrorism," Mosazai said.

Iran Dismantles Terrorist Cell Plotting to Sabotage Upcoming Election

TEHRAN :The Iranian intelligence ministry announced that it has disbanded a terrorist cell tasked with conducting sabotage activities concurrent with June 14 presidential election in Iran.

In a statement released on Sunday, the intelligence ministry said it has managed to identify and arrest all members of the terrorist cell after finding traces and gathering accurate information about the cell's activities and mission.

Iran, Indonesia Sign Trade Agreement

TEHRAN :Iran and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on mutual trade cooperation.

The MoU was signed during a meeting between Head of Iran's Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Hamid Safdel and Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs Yuri Octavian Thamrin earlier this week.

Octavian Thamrin, heading a high-ranking delegation, arrived in Tehran on a three-day visit starting on Monday to attend the fifth meeting of Iran-Indonesia Political Consultative Committee.

Iran ready to host meet on Syria

Tehran : Iran is ready to host the next meeting of the quartet group on Syria set to begin in near future, the country's foreign minister Ali-Akbar Salehi has said.

Salehi, during a joint press conference with visiting Guinea- Bissau's foreign minister, here Sunday said that he had contacted his counterparts in the group -- foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey -- to speed up diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the Syrian crisis, Xinhua reported.

"A foreign ministerial meeting was decided to be held in near future and we voiced our preparedness to host the meeting," Salehi said.

Tehran, Bishkek review facilitating visa issuance

Dushanbe : Iran's Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Ali Najafi discussed facilitation of visa issuance for Iranian and Kyrgyz nationals in a meeting Tuesday with two members of the Kyrgyz Parliament, Asil Boyok Zhinibikov and Nazar Ali Arefov.

During the meeting, Najafi briefed the two Kyrgyz parliamentarians on his plans to help further promote mutual cooperation between Tehran and Bishkek during his mission.

Meanwhile, Zhinibikov said that facilitation of visa issuance for nationals of the two countries and consequently, attracting more foreign tourists and investments to Kyrgyzstan would lead to further progress and prosperity of the Central Asian country.

Bahrain denies Iran mediation request

Manama: Bahrain’s foreign minister has denied reports that he had requested Algeria to mediate between his country and Iran.

“A brother does not mediate between his brother and a foreigner,” Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa was quoted as saying when he was asked about the tension between Bahrain and Iran and the chances of Manama requesting Algiers to mediate with Tehran.

“All countries can however convey Bahrain’s position to Iran so that the facts on the ground are obvious,” he said.