Iran Daily


Huge turnout
Millions of Iranians joined long queues to vote on Friday in an unexpectedly tight presidential election that pitted incumbent President Hassan Rouhani against Conservative challenger Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi.

Japan cabinet approves bill to allow emperor to abdicate
Japan�s cabinet approved a bill on Friday that would allow Emperor Akihito to step down, paving the way for the first abdication by a Japanese emperor in nearly two centuries.

US extends sanctions relief under Iran nuclear deal
US President Donald Trump extended wide sanctions relief for Iran called for under a 2015 international nuclear deal even as he imposed narrow penalties on Iranian and Chinese figures for supporting Iran�s ballistic missile program.

Syria Army retakes villages after deadly Daesh attack
The Syrian Army has regained full control of two central villages from the Daesh terror group after an attack that killed dozens of people, a monitor said on Friday.


Tehran Times


Iran slams new U.S. sanctions
Iran�s defense minister has said the country spares no effort to meet its national security needs, and does not allow any party to intervene in the imperative.

Saudi Arabia has started policy of getting closer to America: professor
Professor Farhang Jahanpour, a former senior research fellow at Harvard University, says President Donald Trump�s visit to Saudi Arabia is not a sign that the kingdom is important in �global politics.�

2-month electricity exports tripled
Iran�s exports of electricity to its neighboring countries tripled in the first two months of the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 21, compared to the same period last year, Fars news agency reported on Friday quoting an energy official.

Russia, Syria blast U.S. strikes targeting anti-ISIL forces
Russia and Syria have condemned the United States airstrikes targeting anti-Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) terrorist group forces, saying the �brazen� attacks violate the country�s sovereignty and show Washington�s claims of fighting terrorism are false.

Iranian divers win gold at Synchronized 3m Springboard
Iran�s representatives Shahnam Nazarpour and Mojtaba Valiporu (334.08 points) won a gold medal of the men�s synchronized 3m springboard diving at the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku.

Huge turnout in presidential polls
Iranians headed to the polls on Friday in great numbers to elect their president, a competition fought by four hopefuls, including incumbent Hassan Rouhani.

A look at elections in Iran versus other Persian Gulf states
The Persian Gulf�s coastline accommodates eight countries, Iran and seven Arab states. Here is a look at the differences between the electoral systems in the Islamic Republic and other countries that share the littoral stretch with it.