An attempt by Iran's reformist President, Hassan Rouhani, to abolish the chant "Death to America" as part of his drive to improve relations with the West has angered hardliners.

With PowerPoint slides and feel-good phrases, Iranian negotiators presented world powers with what they said was a plan to break a decade of deadlock over Tehran's nuclear program.

Britain and Iran are to take a first step towards re-opening their respective embassies, Foreign Secretary William Hague says, adding that Tehran's new leadership is presenting itself "in a much more positive way than in the recent past."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu played the spoiler to Iran's attempts to ease relations with the West, calling the Iranian leader "a wolf in sheep's clothing".

Despite soothing assurances from Iran's new leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu implored US President Barack Obama to keep punishing sanctions in place against Tehran.

On Sept 18, 1980, two airmen entered Launch Complex 374-7, an underground silo outside Damascus, Arkansas, to service a Titan II intercontinental ballistic missile.

The United States and the other permanent members of the UN Security Council said they were pleased by a new tone and attitude from Iran.

Hassan Rouhani reached out to the West and the Iranian people with a welcome plea for dialogue and moderation as he was sworn in as Iranian President.

The resounding victory by moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani in the Iranian presidential election was a welcome surprise.

The surprise victory of reformist candidate Hassan Rowhani in the Iranian presidential elections triggered a predictably harsh reaction yesterday.

Iran's feared Revolutionary Guards have set up a network of secret prisons after the leadership issued a set of orders to prepare for a security crisis following yesterday's presidential election, according to Western diplomatic sources.

Iran's clerical authorities are taking no chances in this week's election for a successor to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

A New Zealander's dramatic account of a daring secret mission to rescue American hostages has emerged after being left out of the Hollywood hit film Argo.

Former NZ diplomat Warren Searell called Damascus home until the Arab spring made life far too dangerous. This is his story.

New Zealand photographer Amos Chapple visited the remote, near-vertical Iranian-Kurdish village of Palangan last winter. The images he captured paint a picture of life in this remote region, which is one of the main routes for smugglers seeking to bring alcohol across the mountain passes from Iraq into Iran.