Iran news headlines on Thursday include Ayatollah Rafsanjani calling anti-Iran bans that affecting medicine as very cruel; number of foreign students in country; Iran-Nakhchivan natural gas swap; Supreme leader urging Quranic lifestyle in Islamic societies; Intelligence Minister calling arrest of Jundollah leader Irans best intelligence achievement; Society of Qom Seminary Scholars expressing regret over the current situation in Egypt; expansion of Iran-Tunisia maritime cooperation; The Telegraph reports on Saudi Arabia directing of ballistic missiles toward Israel & Iran and Ahmadinejad inauguration of energy projects in sourthern Iran.
Bans affecting medicine in Iran very cruel: Ayatollah Rafsanjani
Chairman of Irans Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has described as very cruel the US-led sanctions against the Islamic Republic that have resulted in the shortage of medicine and health risks to patients in the country.
14,000 foreign students studying in Iran
Fourteen thousand students are studying at Irans universities and efforts are underway to attract more international students, according to Irans minister of science, research, and technology, Kamran Daneshjoo.
Iran resumes natural gas swap with Nakhchivan
A senior Iranian gas industry official says the Islamic Republic and Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic have resumed natural gas swap days after the transport of gas from Azerbaijan to its southern neighbor was suspended due to repairs.
Leader urges Quranic lifestyle in Islamic societies
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the recitation and memorization of the holy Quran is a prerequisite to achieving an ideal Quranic society.
Domestic conflicts in Egypt only benefit Zionists: Iran clerics
The Society of Qom Seminary Scholars has issued a statement expressing regret over the current situation in Egypt and noting that domestic conflicts in the North African country only benefit the Zionist regime of Israel.
Iran, Tunisia agree to boost maritime cooperation
Iranian and Tunisian naval officials have agreed to further tap into their maritime capacities for the transportation of goods between the two countries ports.
Italy urges enhanced ties with Iran
The Italian foreign ministry in a statement called for the further improvement of relations and cooperation with Iran in all fields.