Iran

UN nuclear chief inspector arrives in Tehran

Tehran - The chief inspector of the United Nations nuclear watchdog arrived Monday in Tehran to hold talks with officials of the Iranian Atomic Organization to Tehran, the ISNA news agency reported.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) chief inspector, Olli Heinonen, is in Tehran to follow up on last week's negotiations with the head of the Iranian Atomic Organization, Gholam-Reza Aqazadeh, ISNA reported.

Tehran termed the two-day talks last week as "constructive" but refrained from saying whether they also opened up perspectives for a breakthrough in the nuclear dispute.

Ministry denies reports on Chris de Burgh concert in Tehran

Chris De BurghTehran - Iran's Ministry of Islamic Culture and Guidance denied reports that Irish singer Chris de Burgh would hold a concert in Tehran, official news agency IRNA reported Saturday.

The local media reported last month that de Burgh was scheduled to perform a concert in Tehran in late November, the first concert by a Western pop singer since the
1979 Islamic revolution.

The ministry's music department said that there had neither been any official request nor any relevant permission issued for the concert.

Ahmadinejad ends Turkish tour without gas deal

Iranian President Mahmoud AhmadinejadIstanbul - Ankara and Tehran were unable to reach an agreement on natural gas Friday as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ended his visit to Turkey, Turkish media reported.

A row about how revenues would be divided up and investment terms are believed to be the sticking points, but the reports said the talks would continue.

"Turkey is the most important country for the delivery of gas to Europe," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying Friday. He said he hoped an agreement would be reached soon.

Iran vice-president summoned by parliament over pro-Israeli comments

IranTehran- Iranian Vice-President Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei has been summoned by parliament for having made pro-Israeli comments, ISNA news agency reported Tuesday.

The cultural commission of the parliament has called for a special session on Wednesday with Rahim-Mashaei for him to reply to "questions, ambiguities and criticism" by the deputies over the comments.

The vice-president, who is in charge of cultural heritage and tourism, said that Iran would be friends with both the Israeli and American people despite political problems with the two countries. He emphasized this position again on Monday.

Iran, EU reiterate willingness to resume nuclear talks

Iran, EU reiterate willingness to resume nuclear talks Tehran - Iran and the European Union on Monday reiterated their willingness to resume talks on the dispute over Iran's controversial nuclear programmes, ISNA news agency reported.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeid Jalili and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana agreed in a phone contact to continue what Iran called "talks in a constructive atmosphere," ISNA reported.

According to Tehran media, the two had voiced the same willingness in a phone call last Monday.

Iran's Ahmadinejad to reward local reporters with pilgrimage trip

Iran PMTehran- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is to finance a pilgrimage trip inside the country as a reward for selected local reporters, a deputy of the president said Saturday.

Mohammad-Jafar Mohammadzadeh, the president's deputy for communications and press affairs, told official news agency IRNA that on the occasion of "Reporter's Day" in Iran, the president will grant reporters a gift in the form of cash to travel to the religious city of Mashad.

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