TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s central bank has begun issuing its own high-denomination paper notes to replace the promissory notes issued by banks which will now be banned.

TEHRAN (FNA)- An earthquake measuring 3.6 degrees on the Richter scale jolted areas in the vicinity of the town of Roodbar in Iran’s southeastern province of Kerman.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Mohammed Reza Nematzadeh is scheduled to pay a visit to Sri Lanka on Friday to finalize the oil and petrochemical agreements signed by the two sides.

TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Iranian official said Teheran has signed contracts to establish six nuclear power plants by 2021.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday stressed effective implementation of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between his country and Iran to increase the two-way trade to US$1 billion.

TEHRAN (FNA)- For 30 years, Parviz Tanavoli led a quiet life teaching sculpture and holding shows in his native Iran and abroad. That changed in April when a work sold for a record $2.84 million at an auction in Dubai.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s exports have increased by 39% this year, an official said.In the first four months of the current Iranian year (March 20-July 20) the value of the country’s exports have increased by 39 percent, head of the export commission of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines Asadullah …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s atomic energy scientists have developed nuclear apparatuses capable of producing crystal for nuclear and medical industry use.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq wants an agreement authorizing the continued presence of U.S. troops on its soil to expire in three years, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Friday.

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) – The White House on Thursday said the United States hoped an agreement extending the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq beyond 2008 would be reached soon.