US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who has traveled to Persian Gulf region, following his visit to Saudi Arabia, baselessly claimed in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, March 11, that everyone in the region is concerned about Iran's atomic plans.

Criticizing the fake slogans of occupying regimes, The Iranian President, Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the Iranian nation has shown the way towards confronting terrorism to the world.

The German police's release of the terrorist PJAK ringleader, Abdur-Rahman Haji Ahmadi in Cologne after his theatrical arrest at the request of Belgium, again proved the dubious attitude of western regimes towards the issue of terrorism.

Following the announced termination of Afghan and NATO forces joint operations in the two cities of Marjah and Naadali in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan; foreign forces stationed in this country report on the commencement of future operations against Taliban at Kandehar Province.

Iran and Qatar have taken another step toward expansion and strengthening of mutual relations as part of efforts to coordinate measures on safeguarding regional security with the signing of a security accord in Doha today by Iranian Minister of the Interior, Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, and Qatar's Prime Minister, Hamad bin Jasim bin Jaber Aal-e Thani.

Pakistan's Taliban Group has claimed responsibility for the terrorist blast in the city of Lahore on Monday. The Spokesman for Pakistan's Taliban Group, Azam Tareq, announced that this group accepts responsibility for Lahore's blast, while adding that Taliban's attacks will continue throughout Pakistan.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki addressing the opening ceremony of the 17th International Conference on Central Asia and the Caucasus said in Tehran on Monday said Iran's foreign policy is based on maintaining close relations between neighboring countries in all arenas especially in the field of water and energy.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, describing the current international system as unjust called for active policy against such a system.

More than 19 million eligible Iraqi voters flock to polling stations today Sunday, March 7 to elect 325 parliamentarians for 4-year tenure. This is the second legislative elections in following ouster of Saddam's tyrannical Ba'th minority regime, ironically by his own creators, the Americans and the British.

Vice President, Mohammad Reza Rahimi, and his visiting Ecuadorian counterpart Lenin Moreno held talks in Tehran on Saturday to study ways to broaden bilateral ties.