At least 328 people were killed and another 2,350 injured when a 7.3-magnitude earthquake shook the mountainous Iran-Iraq border.
Despite accepting a nuclear agreement, Iran has not abandoned atomic research and long-term uranium enrichment plans.
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/ 5 February 2012
China has become Iran’s top trading partner as the sanctions against the Islamic republic have become progressively tougher.
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/ 28 January 2009
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad demanded on Wednesday that President Barack Obama apologise for "crimes" committed by the US against Iran.
Iran would "eliminate Israel from the global arena" if it was attacked by the Jewish state, the deputy commander of the army warned on Tuesday, amid an intensifying war of words. "We are not worried by Israeli manoeuvres, but if Israel takes such action against the Islamic Republic of Iran, we will eliminate it from the global arena," Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said.
Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was set to irk Western powers again on Monday by announcing a stride forward in his country’s atomic drive as it marked the first Iranian national day of nuclear technology. Ahmadinejad was to make a keynote speech at about noon at the country’s most sensitive nuclear site in Natanz.
Iran said on Monday it was interrogating 15 British sailors it seized last week, claiming they had entered its waters illegally and defying intense international pressure for their release. As the diplomatic row deepened, Britain ambassador Geoffrey Adams held more talks at the Foreign Ministry in Tehran and was assured that the group was "fit and well".
Iran is ready for unconditional talks over its nuclear programme but rejects the West’s ”language of force” over the issue, one of the Islamic republic’s religious leaders said on Friday. Iran also said that it will soon announce new nuclear successes in its quest for nuclear power that the West fears is aimed at acquiring atomic weapons.
Iran on Tuesday gave a cautious reception to an international proposal aimed at resolving the crisis over its disputed nuclear drive, saying the offer contains "positive steps" but also "ambiguities". The package, presented by European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, offers a variety of incentives and fresh multilateral talks if Tehran agrees to suspend uranium-enrichment work.
Iran warned on Tuesday it will sever relations with the United Nations atomic watchdog if sanctions are imposed over its nuclear drive and vowed a military attack would merely send its activities underground. Despite the tough rhetoric, diplomats in Vienna said a high-level Iranian delegation was to hold last-minute talks on Wednesday with the UN atomic agency.