Daily look at Iran’s late-breaking news and upcoming events:
 

 

Iran urges Nigeria to protect Muslim lives
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif urged Nigeria on Monday to take a “prompt and serious” action for containing violence against Muslims, who have fallen victim to deadly attacks by the government forces in recent days.




 
Spokesman: Lifting sanctions may start late December
Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry announced here Monday that the process of removal of anti-Iran sanctions may start in late December.

 

French Senate President due in Tehran
President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher is due in Tehran at the head of a parliamentary delegation on December 19.



Iran says Saudi ties can improve if Riyadh willing
Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaber-Ansari says relations between the Islamic Republic and Saudi Arabia can improve if there is “a definitive will” on the part of Riyadh for such enhancement of ties.

 
OPEC fails to alter production ceiling after Iran pledges to boost output
Oil prices have hovered near $40 a barrel in recent weeks on ongoing concerns about the global oversupply of crude, which had sent prices plunging in late 2014.

Iran will export oil even with prices below $30 per barrel
After its return to the market, Iran will be able to export oil even if prices fall below $30 per barrel, Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh said Sunday.

Iranian Parliament condemns massacre of Shias in Nigeria
 The Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission denounced the recent killing of a number of Shia Muslims in Nigeria, calling on the foreign ministry to follow up on the issue via international bodies.

 
BASF plans $6 billion petchem investment in Iran
BASF, the world’s largest chemical producer, plans $6 billion of investment in Iran’s petrochemical sector, director of planning at the National Petrochemical Company (NPC) Hamid Reza Rostami says.


Iran’s Basij has no plans for deploying forces to Syria: Commander
Commander of Iran’s Basij (volunteer) Force Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi said the organization has no plans to dispatch its fighters to war-stricken Syria.

Envoy foresees unanimous vote on closure of Iran’s PMD case
Iran’s Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Reza Najafi said that the IAEA Board of Governors is expected to vote in favor of closing a file on the so-called possible military dimensions (PMD) in Tehran’s nuclear activities.