U.S. NGO to open office in IranOctober 3, 2008 - 16:23 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The United States has granted permission for a U.S. non-governmental organization to open an office in Iran, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday, but said Washington's Tehran policy remained unchanged.In a rare move, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) granted a license to the Princeton, New Jersey-based American-Iranian Council (AIC) to operate in Iran. A U.S. official said the decision to allow the NGO to go to Iran was "carefully reviewed" within the U.S. government. "We want to encourage this kind of cultural exchange and mutual understanding" between the U.S. and Iranian people "while trying to isolate the regime," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, Reuters reports. The United States is at loggerheads with Tehran on a range of issues, including Iran's nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at building an atomic bomb. Tehran argues it is for peaceful power purposes. The two nations have been antagonists since the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 and the seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran. Switzerland handles U.S. interests in Iran as Washington has no diplomatic ties with Tehran. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | SBP instant transfers now available from 190 Russian banks to Armenia To receive money from Russian banks, easywallet users need to go to their easywallet accounts. Armenia's Davit Chaloyan qualifies for Paris Olympics The Armenian boxer qualified for Paris Olympics after a series of successful bouts at the 2nd World Qualification Tournament. Lemkin Institute urges Armenia to respect people’s right to dissent The Lemkin Institute has urged the Armenian government to respect people’s fundamental human right to express their dissent. French-Armenian journalist returns to France after 41-day hunger strike Nicolian said on social media on Sunday, June 2 that he needs to improve his health in order to “continue the fight”. |