A senior Iranian official has dismissed any diplomatic conflict between Tehran and Baghdad over an oil field in the Fakkeh region.

“Iran and Iraq enjoy amicable and strong relations in all political, economic and trade areas,” said the Iranian Ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Kazemi Qomi in a press conference in Baghdad, Mehr News reported.

The Iranian diplomat’s remarks came in response to a recent media hype by US and some Arab media outlets which claimed that Iranian soldiers had crossed into the Iraqi territory and seized an Iraqi oil field.

Iran rejected claims that it’s armed forces had taken control of an oil well within Iraqi borders, stressing that the well in question is not located on Iraqi soil.

Later comments made by the Iraqi deputy interior minister also confirmed that officials in Baghdad believe that the site is in a disputed area.

“This news is not true. This field is disputed and now it is neglected by both sides. There was no storming of the field, it’s empty, it’s abandoned, it is exactly on the border between Iraq and Iran,” Ahmed Ali al-Khafaji was quoted as saying.

The developments came after some elements inside the Iraqi army erected a barricade next to the No. 4 oil well in Fakkeh. The Iranian forces took down the barricade and returned to their former positions.

The recent media report on the oil field was a prearranged effort by ‘external forces’ with the aim of straining the friendly relations between the two neighboring states, Kazemi-Qomi added.

“Tehran and Baghdad are in no disagreement, but some media reports and political currents are trying to instigate tension between the two countries,” the Iranian diplomat noted.

He said that an arbitration commission is due to be established in order to clear up the misunderstanding between the two countries.

“The Fakkeh oil field is shared by Iran and Iraq and an arbitration commission has been formed between the two countries to resolve the issue,” the ambassador said.

The Fakkeh oil field is among many other joint fields that Iran shares with Iraq. The Iranian and Iraqi oil officials have clinched some deals over the past months to develop the joint wells including Paydar, Paydar-Gharb, Naftshahr, Azar, Dehloran and Azadegan.

Iran lauded the formation of Lebanon’s national unity government, expressing the hope that it will lead to the creation of a developed and independent country.

“A strong government in Lebanon through cooperation of all regional countries will lead to a developed and independent Lebanon,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said.

“Islamic Republic of Iran is satisfied that Lebanese people, leaders and groups have managed to establish their desired government through national consensus after 15 months of political deadlock.”

He also expressed hope Lebanese new government could take firm measures for strengthening development and stability of the country.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri formed a new administration on Monday.

“The media must be religious centered and pivot on the holy Quran,” said Ali-Asqar Qolamreza’e, head of the Education and Research Department of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

Addressing an international conference on religion and media in Tehran, which seeks to explore and present the most recently conducted studies in the field of religion and media at the international level, Qolamreza’e stressed that the Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) propagation of Islam was based upon the Quran. “Thus our media must put the Quran as their main focus in order to promulgate Islamic beliefs.”

“It is incumbent on the media to preach the message of Islam as the Prophet (PBUH) did and in doing so we should utilize the innovations of the Quran,” he added, emphasizing that Islamic teachings should be introduced indirectly.

Iran Cultural Week will be held from October 18 to 22 in cultural center of Kilmakhu region in Syria.

Iran Cultural Center in Syria plans to hold book fairs and exhibitions of handicrafts, paintings and calligraphies during the week.

Showing three Iranian movies with Arabic subtitles will be also among the programs of the event.

A seminar on “Quds; Cultural Capital of the Arab World” is due to be held by the Iranian center on the sidelines of the cultural week.

The 53rd General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency opened Monday in Vienna, Austria with high-ranking officials and delegates from the Agency’s 150 member states in attendance.

The week-long conference will discuss major issues facing the Agency, and approve its program and budget for the coming year.

Also issues including measures to reinvigorate international cooperation on nuclear energy, nuclear safety, measures to guard against nuclear terrorism, strengthening the joint technical activities of the Agency, consolidating the scientific, technical and functional activities of the IAEA, implementation of NPT security pact between IAEA and North Korea and etc will be studied during the meeting.

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi is also present at the gathering and is due to address the gathering.

Two months ago, the member states formally appointed Yukiya Amano of Japan as its new director general from December 1, succeeding Mohamed ElBaradei.

The 150 member states of the UN nuclear watchdog approved Amano – who has been Tokyo’s ambassador to the IAEA – by acclamation.

ElBaradei is stepping down at the end of November after 12 years in office.

İslâmi Davet is an Islamic Politics and Cultural web site from Turkey.

İslâmi Davet contains islamic informations and news about islamic world.

İslâmi Davet will start English broadcast. Nowadays we are in test process.