Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, May 26 – At least 30 people were killed after a fire struck a chemical plant in central Iran on Sunday, state media reported.

Reuters: Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Monday for closer defense ties with Syria, the official IRNA news agency reported, a few days after Israel urged Damascus to distance itself from Tehran.

AFP: The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday that an independent command could be created within in his force to strengthen the country's missile programme, the Fars news agency reported.

Iran Focus: Tehran, May 26 – Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki travelled to Beirut on Sunday to attend the parliamentary session for the election of Lebanon's new president, state television reported.

Reuters: Iran's defence minister hailed his country's "strategic ties" with Syria on Sunday, just days after Israel called on Damascus to distance itself from Tehran, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported.

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, May 25 – Iran has launched a new gas refinery in Khuzestan Province, south-west Iran.

Reuters: Iran will seek to boost its oil output to 4.3 million barrels per day (bpd) by next March from 4.2 million bpd now, the head of the state oil company was quoted as saying on Sunday.

AP: An Iranian-born Israeli was charged Sunday with passing defense information to Tehran, police said.