Iran Daily

Iran sanctions might be lifted in January
Oil and banking sanctions against Iran might be lifted by mid-January based on the pace at which technicians are removing and mothballing nuclear equipment at the country�s uranium-enrichment facilities.

 
Paris attackers did not follow Islam
New details about two of the suspects in the attacks on the French capital last week indicate that despite the generalized characterization of the duo as Muslims, they not only did not follow Islam but also grossly strayed from Islamic teachings.

 
At least three dead after gunmen take captives at Mali hotel
Malian commandos stormed a luxury hotel in Bamako on Friday after extremist gunmen took 170 people including many foreigners hostage in the capital of the former French colony, which has been battling those allied to Al-Qaeda for several years.

 
Five killed in Tel Aviv, West Bank attacks
Five people were killed in occupied Palestinian territories amid escalating tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.

 
Russia, France in first military cooperation since WWII
�Russian President Vladimir Putin�s call to his navy to cooperate with its French counterpart �as allies� could mark the first time since World War II that Paris and Moscow jointly fight a common foe.


Basij forces stage military drill
Thousands of the Iranian Basij (volunteer) forces on Friday attended a large-scale war game, codenamed �Ela Beit-ul-Muqaddas� (Towards Beit-ul-Muqaddas), held near the holy city of Qom.

 
Tehran slams �Iranophobia� over UN rights resolution
Iran on Thursday said countries backing a UN resolution criticizing its rights record spread �Iranophobia� adding that they should instead focus on the threat from violent extremists.

 
Official: Cease-fire prerequisite for Syria political process
Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said cessation of conflicts is necessary before a political process for resolving the Syrian crisis could begin.

 
Tehran Times
 
Bookworms pack into Tehran bookstores for reading campaign
Major bookstores opened early across Tehran on Thursday to host readers for Ketabgardi (Tour of Bookstores), a reading campaign launched by Tehran City Council member Ahmad Masjed-Jamei during the last year�s Iran Book Week.

 
Putin to meet Iranian Supreme Leader during Tehran visit
Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during his visit to Tehran on Monday, the Kremlin announced on Friday.

 
Reconfiguring Arak reactor dependent on resolving PMD: Salehi
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has announced that the document on redesigning and modernizing the Arak heavy water reactor has been signed by all the 5+1 powers and the EU foreign policy chief.

 
Tehran and Moscow mayors pledge close co-op
The mayors of Tehran and Moscow have signed a memorandum of understanding which will pave the ground for future cooperation between Tehran and Moscow as two mega cities, ISNA reported on Tuesday.

 
West to suffer more for terror support: Iranian general
The deputy commander of Iran�s Joint Staff of Armed Forces has said that Western countries are to suffer more for supporting terrorism, according to Nasim.

 
Manhunt continues after Paris attacks architect killed
French police continued the search on Friday for a suspect on the run one week since the Paris attacks after it was announced that the alleged planner was killed in a raid.

 
Post-sanctions Iran seeks expansion of international banking
The post-sanctions Iran will rebuild and expand its banking ties with the global community, Iran�s Central Bank Governor Valiollah Seif was quoted as saying in the 18th Euro Finance Week Forum held in Frankfurt, Germany.

 
Global market is facing gas glut: Qatar
Global markets are grappling with gas gluts amid increasing demands for the clean fuel, the IRNA news agency quoted Gatari Industry and Energy Minister Mohammad bin Saleh al-Sada as saying on Friday.

 
Assyrian MP: religious minorities enjoy freedom in Iran
The representative of the Iranian Assyrians at the Parliament has said the religious minorities in Iran enjoy complete freedom, IRNA reported on Friday.

 
Tehran slams UN rights resolution as �hostile� and �short-sighted�
Iran accused on Thursday countries backing a UN resolution criticizing its rights record of spreading �Iranophobia�, saying they should instead focus on the threat from violent extremists.

 
Iran insists UN can settle Yemen crisis through dialogue
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has reiterated Tehran�s position that the UN can play an important role in resolving the crisis in Yemen politically.

 
2000 battalions prepared to defend Islamic Revolution: IRGC cmdr.
The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has said 2000 battalions are prepared to defend the Islamic Revolution.

 
IAEA to declare final assessment on Iran by Dec. 1
Iran�s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency Reza Najafi said on Friday that the IAEA will announce its final assessment about Iran�s nuclear program by December 1-2.

 
Iran to launch new home-made destroyer by yearend
Iran�s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced that the country�s advanced destroyer named �Sahand� will be launched by the end of the current Iranian year (which ends on March 19).