Islamic Consultative Assembly

Iran's supreme leader on Tuesday ruled out the holding of popular referendums on state policies.

Iran faced calls for a referendum on the Islamic Republic itself during anti-government protests last year, and a moderate former president recently suggested such votes should be held to decide major policies as a way of reducing divisions.

Iran's supreme leader on Tuesday insisted negotiations over Tehran's tattered nuclear deal "are going ahead properly," even after repeated comments by American officials that an agreement to restore the accord may not happen.

In a Wednesday telephone call, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed bilateral relations and regional developments with Hassan Rouhani, his Iranian counterpart, now in his final days in office.

The leaders exchanged greetings for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, Turkey's Communications Directorate said.

Iran's President-elect Ebrahim Raisi said on June 21 he will not allow nuclear negotiations for the sake of negotiations, in his first news conference since winning election last week.

Two Iranian political heavyweights, ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raisi and moderate conservative Ali Larijani, on May 15 launched what may be the main battle in next month's presidential election.

Iran's state television reported on May 12 that the country's former firebrand president will run again for office in upcoming elections in June.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reportedly marched accompanied by supporters to a registration center at the Interior Ministry where he filled out registration forms.

There is no way that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan could have intended to insult Iran's territorial integrity, Iran's president said on Dec. 14. 

In a press conference, Hassan Rouhani said that "based on my past knowledge of Mr. Erdoğan, it is very unlikely that he had any intention of insulting our territorial integrity or insulting the Iranian people."

A top Iranian official on Nov. 30 said nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed in a new type of "complex operation", blaming arch-foe Israel and an exiled opposition group.

The "operation was very complex, using electronic equipment and no one was present at the scene," the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Rear-Admiral Ali Shamkhani said.

Turkey on Nov. 28 condemned the killing of Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

"We regret that the Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh lost his life as a result of an armed attack in Tehran. We condemn this heinous murder and extend our condolences to the government of Iran and the family of the deceased," said the nation's Foreign Ministry.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Nov. 28 accused arch-foe Israel of acting as a "mercenary" for the U.S., blaming the Jewish state for assassinating one of Tehran's most prominent nuclear scientists.