TEHRAN - In a significant development for Iran’s economic landscape, the Tehran Chamber of Commerce’s Money and Capital Market Commission convened to discuss the expanding financial services offered by Russia’s VTB Bank to Iranian businesses. The collaboration, seen as a pivotal step toward reintegrating Iran into the international banking system, was the focus of the commission’s 22nd session, attended by representatives from VTB Bank, Iranian banks, and economic stakeholders.

The Vatican announced that Pope Francis died at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta on Monday.

Nine-man Uzbekistan overcame the odds to win the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025 title after defeating Saudi Arabia 2-0 in the final on Sunday.

Hamas called on Palestinians to counter Israeli plots after four ministers in the far-right cabinet of Benjamin Netanyahu called for the annexation of the occupied West Bank.

The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Iran to the U.N., in a letter addressed to the President of the UN Security Council, categorically rejected the false accusations made by the representatives of the United States and the Zionist regime at the emergency meeting of the Security Council on April 9, 2025 (9896th meeting) regarding Syria.

President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed condolences over Pope Francis’s death, praising his humanitarian stance on Gaza and his efforts toward interfaith dialogue and global peace.

TEHRAN – Former head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization, Mohammad Rastad, has revealed that container traffic in Iranian ports dropped by half after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), better known as the Iran nuclear deal. Speaking to ILNA, Rastad explained that container throughput had peaked at over 3 million TEUs during the JCPOA era, but fell to just 1.5 million TEUs following the collapse of the agreement.

Araqchi said Tehran has deepened its relations with Moscow and Beijing in recent years.

TEHRAN - Iran’s mining sector is poised to become a cornerstone for strengthening economic relations with Uzbekistan, according to Mohammad Aghajanlou, head of the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO). Speaking at a meeting with Shakhrokh Gholamov, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, Aghajanlou highlighted the potential for collaboration in mining and mineral industries to drive bilateral ties.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told lawmakers that uranium enrichment is a non-negotiable ‘red line’ for Tehran.