A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by the AEI Critical Threats Project's Iran research team.

• Iran and Iraq Relations Expansion Headquarters Secretary�Rostam Ghassemi visited Irbil, Iraq for talks aimed at developing economic cooperation and trade exchanges between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan. Ghassemi, recently the Oil Minister under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is a former Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Brig. Gen. and IRGC Khatam ol-Anbia Construction Base Commander.


• Armed Forces General Staff Headquarters Deputy for Industrial Preparation, Support, and Research Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Brig. Gen. Mohammad�Hejazi announced the construction of new missile defense systems: �After reaching the conclusion after three years that cooperation is not possible�between us and another country.� Iranian officials have previously criticized Russia for not delivering the advanced S-300 missile defense system. Hejazi credited the Supreme Leader�s guidance for helping Iran build its own version of the S-300.
  
  
  
  • Artesh Ground Forces Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Kioumars Heidari announced that Iran�s army will be equipped with new advanced, precision solid-fueled missiles�with a reported range of 300 KM (186 miles). The missiles �reportedly have �fast mobility� and pinpoint accuracy.
  
  
  
  


• President Hassan�Rouhani met with Pakistan�s Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz�in Tehran and reportedly discussed developments in Syria, �increasing security measures and cooperation along the Iran-Pakistan border. Pakistan�s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to travel to Iran in May.


• President Rouhani met with Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz. Rouhani called for greater ties between Austria and Iran and said European Union sanctions��should not be an obstacle to the economic relations between the two countries.��Rouhani also urged the P5+1 in his remarks to resolve the standoff over Iran�s nuclear program.


• Head of the Expediency Discernment Council Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi�Rafsanjani also met with FM Kurz.�Rafsanjani said �The majority of the Iranian people and the educated� support the Rouhani administration�s effort to increase Iran�s ties with outside countries. He added that, while there is a �bright prospect� to a resolution over the nuclear issue, it remains complicated and �due to political goals under the pretext of the nuclear program it is difficult to predict an outcome.�


• Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Samuel Santos Lopez in Tehran;�the two sides discussed expanding economic relations between Tehran and Managua. Zarif also expressed President Rouhani�s desire to expand relations with Nicaragua�s President Daniel Ortega.