Iran keen to expand ties with Latin America: Ahmadinejad

TehranTimes-- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iran sees no limit for further cooperation with Latin American countries

Ahmadinejad made the remarks in a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in Tehran on Sunday.
The two countries enjoy great potential which must be utilized to strengthen bilateral relations, Ahmadinejad stated.

Rodriguez, for his part, expressed his country’s support for the Islamic Republic in the international arena.
World in need of new order
Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki also held talks with his Cuban counterpart on Saturday.

During the meeting, Mottaki emphasized the need to promote a new world order through closer cooperation with the member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
The U.S. and some Western states are seeking to deprive countries of their rights including their access to advanced technologies such as nuclear energy, Mottaki said, adding all must stand against such plots.
The chief diplomat said illegal sanctions on Iran and Cuba would only make the two nations self-sufficient. Continued…

 ’Iran should have received S-300 missiles 2 years ago’

Jerusalem Post- Country’s defense minister says "S-300 missile is not in contradiction with any international commitments" of Russia or Teheran.

Iran should have received the Russian S-300 missile defense system two years before the UN Security Council resolution 1929, which was passed in June 2010, the ISNA news agency on Monday quoted Iranian Minister of Defense Brig.-Gen. Ahmad Vahidi as saying.

"S-300 missile is not in contradiction with any international commitments of the two sides (Iran and Russia) and the issue is clearly emphasized in the deal, on the other hand the date of delivery of the missile system was two years before the adoption of the UN Security Council recent resolution against Iran," Vahidi told Azerbaijan’s Trend News Agency.

Vahidi added that, "The resolution does not involve air defense systems and the issue is reiterated by many political figures of the US and Russia."

"We believe that implementation of commitments by regional countries can improve confidence and create a firm security unity to help achievement of shared interests and goals," added the Iranian defense minister.

Israel indicts soldier for taking state secrets

ABC News- The Israeli army has charged a soldier with allegedly stealing hundreds of secret military files, some of which are said to contain material on Iran.     

The female soldier is accused of taking a USB drive that contained classified information from the offices of the Israeli prime minister’s National Security Council.

Her lawyer says she did not know the files contained intelligence material about Iran’s nuclear program and merely wanted to show her superiors there was a security breach.

He says she had no intention of passing on any secrets, but military prosecutors have rejected the explanation.

The soldier has been indicted for overstepping her authority in a manner which endangered national security.

’Govt, people of Iran standing with flood affectees’

The Nation- Islamic Republic of Iran is the one of the Pakistan’s closest friends, which always stands with the people of Pakistan in hard times and it is again standing with Pakistan today.
In the recent floods which played havoc, the government and people of Iran extended helping hands in mitigating the sufferings of flood-affected people in Pakistan. So far Iran has dispatched a huge quantity of the necessary goods including dry foods, tents, medicines and essential items for flood-stricken people of Pakistan. These contingents had reached Pakistan and distributed among the affected people.
On other hand, Iranians authorities expressed solidarity with the country. Iran has announced its full support to provide relief in this critical and time-tested situation in Pakistan. People of the call of Imam Khomeni donated food items, medicines, clothes cash and other essential goods worth 30 million dollars to the flood-affected people.
Whatever amount of relief goods the International Red Crescent has donated, Iran contributed 51 percent of which. When approached for his views, the Head of Helal Ahmar Organisation of Iran - Red Crescent Society of Iran (RCSI) - Dr Mehmud Mozaffar said that 20,000 volunteers of IRC are busy in relief and rescue operation in the country and their main focus is Sindh province where 90 percent relief goods are being distributed among the flood victims.
The relief workers of the Red Crescent Society have visited more than 10,000 patients, setting up more than 14,000 tents and establishing 21 medical camps for the flood victims, he said, adding that aid and relief goods and public donations are regularly being dispatched to Pakistan.
He said that Iranian physicians, doctors and relief workers are providing services to flood-hit Pakistanis. Dr Mozaffar, who visited Thatta, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Moro, Sukkur, Larkana, Dadu, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Johi, said that large number of people are still stranded in floodwaters in Khairpur Nathan Shah, and Johi and no rescue team has rescued them so far.
Helal Ahmar of Iran directly provided 14,000 tents to the flood affectess, besides food, medicines, clothes, drinking water etc. The society has set up and looking after 22 camps in Thatta and adjoining areas.

No obstacle in improvement of Iran-Armenia ties: Larijani

ISNA-Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said there is no obstacle in improvement of Iran-Armenia ties

In a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan in Yerevan on Saturday, Larijani expressed satisfaction about implementation of joint hydro-power plant project on Aras River and expressed hope that it would be put into practice in coming days.

Sargsyan on his part said, "Armenia follows a specified stance based on which it is willing to expand economic ties with Iran."

He then moved to his upcoming trip to Iran on October 25-26 and said he would try to pave the way for boosting mutual economic cooperation during the visit.

Larijani also met Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan at his office where the two sides stressed expansion of economic and political ties as well as tranquility in the region.

Iranian Parliament Speaker attended a dinner party hosted by Iran-Armenia Friendship Association.

Stuxnet worm under control, West’s attempt failed: Minister

ILNA: Stuxnet worm is identified and controlled by and those who wanted to use the virus against Bushehr plant failed, Iran intelligence
minister said.

Iran intelligence minister Heydar Moslehi discussed claims of western media over virus attack on Iran nuclear facilities at the sideline of President Ahmadinejad meeting with government and young consulters.
‘’ the virus has been detected and controlled, Westerners failed to make any exploitation.
Moslehi also added the ministry follows the case of Sanandaj terrorist attack ‘’ we have not found specific issue and announce the result on time
Mean time Head of Iran Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi acknowledged on Saturday that some personnel at the country’s nuclear facilities were lured by promises of money to pass secrets to the West but insisted that increased security and worker privileges had put a stop to it.
 Iran Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Saturday that Tehran is ready to hold nuclear talks late this month or early next month.