Iran Daily

First VP: Cushioning blow of sanctions government top priority
First Vice President Es�haq Jahangiri said the government�s top priority is to mitigate the impact of the US-imposed sanctions and prevent market fluctuations.

Zarif hopes New Year would be year of peace
Iran�s Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif in a message on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ (PBUH) expressed hope the new Christian year would be the year of peace and tranquility.

Tehran, New Delhi finalizing preferential trade accord
Representatives of Iran and India are holding expert-level talks to finalize a preferential trade agreement which will come into effect in the near future, said the head of Asia-Pacific Trade Office at Iran�s Trade Promotion Organization on Monday.

Hunt for survivors as Indonesian tsunami death toll tops 370
Dozens of filled body bags were hauled away from buildings flattened by Indonesia�s volcano-triggered tsunami Monday, as search teams pushed on with the grim hunt for corpses � and victims who may still be trapped alive under the rubble.

UAE: OPEC+ will hold extra meeting if output cuts �not enough�
OPEC and allied oil producers are ready to hold an extraordinary meeting and will do what is needed if the current cut in oil output by 1.2 million barrels per day does not balance the market next year, the United Arab Emirates� energy minister said on Sunday.

Ex-Pakistani PM Sharif gets seven years� jail for graft
Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to seven years in prison on Monday and fined $25 million on corruption charges that he says were politically motivated.

Iranian, Pakistani FMs discuss bilateral, international issues
Iranian and Pakistani top diplomats in a meeting on Monday discussed a range of issues including bilateral ties and recent developments in the world, Iran�s Foreign Ministry�s official website reported.

Iran: US carrier presence in Persian Gulf insignificant
Iran said on Monday it was ready to respond any hostile US action, but it did not consider the arrival of a US aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf last week as a significant threat.

Russian military delegation in Tehran to discuss further cooperation
A Russian Defense Ministry delegation arrived in Iran on Monday to attend the second meeting of the Russian-Iranian working group on the implementation of the bilateral intergovernmental agreement on military cooperation, the ministry said in a statement.

Tehran Times

India to officially start operating Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar
Opening an office in Iran on Monday, India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) has officially taken over the operations at phase 1 of Shahid Beheshti Port in Iran�s southeastern port city of Chabahar, IRNA reported quoting director of Iran�s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) for ports and economic affairs.

Iran�s saffron farming system wins FAO world heritage status
A traditional saffron cultivation system in Iran has won recognition from FAO as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).

Turkish-backed rebels reinforce front
around Manbij as U.S. prepares to pull out Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have reinforced the area around the town of Manbij, a rebel spokesman said on Monday, as they prepare for a withdrawal of U.S. troops following Washington�s surprise decision to pull out of Syria.

�UAE trying to nix agreements reached in Yemen talks�
A high-ranking member of the Yemeni Houthi Ansarullah movement has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of attempts to scupper
agreements recently reached between warring sides during the latest round of UN-sponsored peace negotiations in Sweden.

Iran says not to let U.S. carriers come close to territorial waters
Habibollah Sayyari, the deputy army chief for coordination affairs, said on Monday that Iran will not let U.S. aircraft carriers come close to itsterritorial waters.

Iranian FM: U.S. never fought Daesh
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the presence of U.S. forces in Syria has been ineffective, stressing that the American troops never entered real and meaningful battle against the Daesh terrorist group.

Restoring economic stability is a priority: Jahangiri
Vice President Es�haq Jahangiri said on Monday that the government prioritizes planning to restore economic stability.

IRGC says regional security had improved in absence of U.S. in Persian Gulf
Brigadier General Ramazan Sharif, the spokesman for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said on Monday that security situation had improved in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman over the past ten months since the U.S. aircraft carrier Stennis had left the Persian Gulf.

Zarif, Qureshi discuss Afghan security
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi met on Monday with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif to discuss a range of bilateral, regional and international issues.

Tehran Times, Xinhua sign co-op agreement
The Tehran Times and China�s Xinhua news agency signed a cooperation agreement on Monday.