Iran

Iran test-fires its short-range Fateh missile at an undisclosed location in Iran's Kavir Desert
The United States has two aircraft carriers close to the Gulf region
Iran insists it has a "right" to uranium enrichment under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
An Iranian family looks at a display of a Shahab-3 missile in Tehran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Iran's President Mahmud Ahmadinejad
UN and Arab League envoy on Syria Kofi Annan (L) listens to Iranian Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Akbar Salehi
An Iranian man shops in a grocery in Tehran in 2010
An Iranian trader exchanges a gold coin for cash in Tehran in January 2012
IRAN-RUSSIA-NUCLEAR-POLITICS
Iranians buy fish at Tajrish Bazaar in Tehran in January 2012
Under a law aimed at pressing Iran over its nuclear program, the US will bar financial institutions buying oil from Iran
Graphic on the world's biggest oil reserves
Ships docked at Iran's Imam Khomeini port in Mahshahr
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says China and Singapore have "significantly reduced" their Iran oil purchases
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
The Iranian oil refinery of Mizdeh is pictured in 2008
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalil
General Knud Bartels heads NATO's Military Committee
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad angered the UAE when he visited the disputed islands in April 2012

Motorbike bomb kills six in Pakistan

A bomb planted on a motorbike killed six people and wounded another 15 on Friday in a crowded Pakistani market in troubled southwestern province Baluchistan, police said.
 

Struggling China boss needs the 'Becks effect'

China boss Jose Antonio Camacho will hope a sprinkling of stardust from the visiting David Beckham will rub off on his team as he fights for his job in Friday's crunch Asian Cup qualifier with Iraq.
 

Obama in direct peace appeal to young Israelis

In a powerful direct appeal to Israelis, President Barack Obama insisted that a two-state peace with the Palestinians could still be forged and is their only hope of true security.
 

Cyprus convicts Hezbollah man over anti-Israel plot

A Cypriot court has found guilty a self-confessed Hezbollah militant who had been accused of involvement in a plot to attack Israeli interests on the Mediterranean island popular with tourists.
 

Obama in direct appeal to young Israelis on peace

In a powerful direct appeal to Israelis, President Barack Obama Thursday insisted a two-state peace with the Palestinians could still be forged and was their only hope of true security.
 

Iran leader hints at first direct US nuclear talks

Iran's supreme leader on Thursday signalled openness for the first time to US offers to hold direct talks on his country's disputed nuclear drive, but voiced pessimism over the chances of a breakthrough.
 

Iran will 'annihilate' cities if Israel attacks: Khamenei

Iran will "annihilate" the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa if it comes under attack by the Jewish state, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Thursday.
 

Iran will wipe out cities if Israel attacks: Khamenei

Iran will "annihilate" the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa if it comes under attack by the Jewish state, the Islamic republic's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Thursday.
 

Obama to face Palestinian dismay on West Bank trip

President Barack Obama travels to the West Bank on Thursday to meet Palestinian leaders dismayed by his failure to meet expectations that he could help deliver them a state.
 

Obama to face Palestinian dismay in West Bank trip

US President Barack Obama will travel to the West Bank Thursday to meet Palestinian leaders dismayed by his failure to make good on soaring expectations that he could help deliver Middle East peace.
 

Is South Africa the odd BRIC out?

The meeting of BRICS leaders in Durban next week could uncharitably be described as a summit of the world's emerging economic powers, plus South Africa.
 

Obama acknowledges Israel's right of defense on Iran

President Barack Obama Wednesday accepted Israel would not cede its right to confront Iran's nuclear threat to the United States, seeking to assuage anxiety over his commitment to the Jewish state.
 

Obama vows 'eternal' defence of Israel

US President Barack Obama on Wednesday pledged an "eternal" alliance with Israel in the face of the Iranian threat, saying he accepted the Jewish state would not defer to Washington on the question of how to handle it.
 

Obama: Syria to be accountable for any use of chemical arms

US President Barack Obama on Wednesday warned the Damascus regime it would be held accountable for any use of chemical weapons against civilians in Syria in a move which would spark an international response.
 

Obama accepts Israel won't defer to US on Iran strike

US President Barack Obama said on Wednesday he does not expect Israel to defer to Washington on the question of how to handle the Iranian nuclear threat or whether to order military action against its facilities.
 

Khamenei urges Iran to stand up to sanctions

Iran began the Persian New Year on Wednesday with its most senior leader asking the people to stand up to piling Western economic sanctions and also warning that the pressure was unlikely to ease.
 

US commitment to Europe missile defence 'ironclad'

Washington's commitment to defending Europe from missile attacks remains unbending, a top US security official said Wednesday, after it froze the final phase of a plan to counter threats from North Korea and Iran.
 

Hagel plans Israel visit to boost defence ties

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel plans to visit the Jewish state in April to boost cooperation between the two countries, Israel's defence ministry said on Wednesday.
 

Syria, rebels seek world action on chemical arms

Syria's regime and rebels on Wednesday called for international investigations into an attack a day earlier in which each side accuses the other of having used chemical weapons.
 

Obama vows peace on first visit to Israel as president

"Peace must come to the Holy Land," Barack Obama said Wednesday as he landed in Israel for the first time as US president in a bid to ease tensions with his hosts and to frame policy on Syria and Iran.
 

Facts from the Wikipedia page:

Islamic Republic of Iran
جمهوری اسلامی ایران
Jomhuri-ye Eslāmi-ye Irān
FlagCoat of arms
MottoIndependence, Freedom, Islamic Republic
AnthemNational Anthem of Iran²
Capital
(and largest city)
Tehran
35°41′N 51°25′E / 35.683°N 51.417°E / 35.683; 51.417
Official languagesPersian
Recognised regional languagesConstitutional recognition of the Languages of Iran and their usage in Mass Media.[1] The largest regional languages of Iran are Azeri, Kurdish, Mazandarani etc...
DemonymIranian
GovernmentIslamic republic (a "theocratic republic".[2])
 - Supreme LeaderAyatollah Ali Khamenei
 - PresidentMahmoud Ahmadinejad
 - First Vice PresidentMohammad Reza Rahimi
 - Speaker of the ParliamentAli Larijani
Unification[3]
 - Median Empire625 BC 
 - Safavid dynasty1501[4] 
 - First constitution1906 
 - Islamic Republic declared1 April 1979 
Area
 - Total1,648,195 km2 (18th)
636,372 sq mi 
 - Water (%)0.7
Population
 - 2009 estimate74,196,000[5] 
 - 2006 census70,495,782 (18th)
 - Density45/km2 (163rd)
116.6/sq mi
GDP (PPP)2009 estimate
 - Total$830.058 billion[6] (17th)
 - Per capita$11,202[6] (73rd)
GDP (nominal)2009 estimate
 - Total$331.757 billion[6] (29th)
 - Per capita$4,477[6] (87th)
Gini (2008)38[7] (medium
HDI (2007) 0.782 (medium) (88th)
CurrencyRial (ريال) (IRR)
Time zoneIRST (UTC+3:30)
 - Summer (DST)Iran Daylight Time (IRDT) (UTC+4:30)
Drives on theright
Internet TLD.ir
Calling code98
1bookrags.com
2iranchamber.com
3Statistical Center of Iran. "جمعيت و متوسط رشد سالانه" (in Persian). http://www.sci.org.ir/content/userfiles/_sci/sci/SEL/f02/2.1.html. Retrieved 2009-02-13. 
4CIA Factbook