Iran resumes gas exports to Turkey

IRNA– Iran resumed its gas exports to Turkey Wednesday morning after a 20-day halt, an official announced here today

Deputy managing director of Iran’s National Gas Company, Mostafa Kashkouli added that the halt in the gas export was due to some technical problems at the Bazargan measuring gas station.  

He added that the halt was in coordination with the BOTAS Petroleum Pipeline Corporation of Turkey.  

The official said that the Iranian experts made the required repairs in the shortest possible time, adding that there exists no more obstacle in the way of gas exports to Turkey.  

According to reports, Iran is currently exporting 24 million cubic meters of gas daily to Turkey and will raise the amount to 30 million cubic meters based on Turkey’s demand.

Proposed NATO defense shield in Turkey highly suspicious: Iran

Tehran Times – A proposal by NATO to establish a new ballistic missile defense shield in Turkey is “seriously suspicious”, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday.

“We think NATO’s aim to deploy military forces in the region is seriously suspicious,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told a weekly press briefing.

Mehmanparast added, “We think the stationing of NATO military forces would disrupt security in the region.”

He went on to say that the regional countries are able to maintain their own security and “they have no need to foreigners”.

At a meeting last week, NATO members discussed a proposal presented by the United States to establish a new ballistic missile defense shield in Turkey.

Turkish officials say they will analyze and deliberate on all the possible outcomes and implications of the proposed plan before reaching a decision. 

EU calls Iran to attend nuclear talks

ILNA: EU urging Tehran to respond to Catherine Ashton invitation for Nuclear talks.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, has proposed that talks between Iran and the 5+1 group - comprising the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany - resume November 15-17 in Vienna.
"It is now more than a year since there was any serious conversation with the Iranians, and that is lead to a good deal of frustration on our part," the EU official said.
"I know this is shared by the Russians and the Chinese," the official added.
The EU source said Iran should reply "at least a couple of weeks in advance" before the proposed date, as "anything less begins to look not very serious."
He also urged Iranian officials to use diplomatic channels rather than the media to express their willingness to talk.
Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast had said that no decision had yet been taken on attending the talks proposed by Ashton.
"Evaluations are still going on as not only the date and venue but also the agenda should be clarified," Mehmamparast said.

Iran calls on UN to pursue escalating human rights abuse in France

ISNA-Iran called for the UN Chief Ban Ki-moon to pursue escalating human rights violation in France.

The Chairwoman of Iran’s Parliament Human Rights Committee Zohreh Elahian in a letter to Ban Ki-moon, the UN Human Rights High Commissioner Navanethem Pillay and the UN Human Rights Council President Sihasak Phuangketkeow raised concerns over human rights situation in France.

The Iranian parliamentarian noted in the letter that mistreat of migrants in France, discrimination, hostility and violation against their children, long-term temporary jails, massive arrest of students, violation of women rights and hostility against them in gatherings and violation of free speech are apparent breach of human rights.

Elahian then called for Ban Ki-moon to mull over increased human rights abuse in France, send an envoy to discuss the issue with French officials to avoid further violation of French citizens’ rights.