Daily look at Iran�s late-breaking news and upcoming events:
 
Pres. Assad hails Iran�s role in Syrian victories
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Iran deserved congratulations on recent victories in Syria since they were accomplished with Iran�s support.Chairman of the Iranian Parliament�s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi met and talked with the Syrian President al-Assad in Damascus on Wednesday morning.

 

Astana talks on Syrian settlement may start on January 23
According to the Turkish foreign minister, sides may convene in Kazakhstan�s capital on January 23 to discuss Syrian settlement.

 


Iran cuts electricity supplies to Iraq
Arash Kordi, the managing director of Iran�s electricity company Tavanir, told ILNA that Iran has cut its electricity supplies to the neighbouring Iraq because of their heavy debts.

 

NIGC statement on Turkmenistan cutting off gas flow to Iran
The public relations department of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) has released a statement in response to Turkmenistan government�s decision to restrict gas shipments to Iran since January 1.


 
Vitol clinches $1 bln pre-finance oil deal with Iran-sources
The world�s largest oil trader, Vitol, has clinched a deal with the National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC) to loan it an equivalent of $1 billion in euros guaranteed by future exports of refined products, four sources familiar with the matter said.

 
Official says Iran, Germany in new talks on show of Western art from Tehran museum
Deputy Culture Minister for Artist Affairs Ali Moradkhani said on Monday evening that Iran and Germany are currently engaged in a new round of talks to reorganize a show of the Tehran museum�s art collection in Berlin, which was canceled last week.

 
Iran: Female bodyguards for foreign diplomatic guests
Commander of Iran�s Law Enforcement Police�s Unit for the Protection of VIPs Brigadier General Hedayat Alborzi announced the start of bodyguard career for women to protect foreign female guests visiting the country.

 
Tehran prosecutor general elaborates on situation of spies� convictions
Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari-Dolatabadi has announced that 70 people convicted of spying are serving their prison terms in the Iranian capital�s jails.

 
Iran admits Gazprom to tenders for new oil and gas projects
Iran has admitted over 20 international energy firms, including Gazprom, to tenders for the country�s new oil and gas projects, the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) reported on its website on Wednesday.

 
Narges Abyar elected as jury member at PIFF
Iranian filmmaker Narges Abyar will judge the 15th Pune International Film Festival 2016 in India.Abyar was elected as a member of the jury at the Indian festival due on January 12-19 to judge the movies submitted in the competition section along with other members of the jury from Sweden, India, Poland, Serbia, Sri Lanka and Chile.