‘UK Extension of Diplomatic Protection to Zaghari Not Constructive’

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March 12, 2019

Qassemi’s reaction came after London offered “diplomatic protection” to Iranian citizen Nazanin Zaghari who is serving her prison term in Iran.

“We have been informed of this move by the UK government and have also received a note through official channels in that regard,” Qassemi told IRNA on Tuesday.

“At the moment, relevant bodies are studying the legal and political dimensions of the note, and we will respond to that in due time,” the spokesman added.

He underlined the move by London, per se, does not create any new legal status, whether domestically or internationally.

“The move simply reflects a political decision by the British government, which even runs counter to Britain’s own statutory positions in international circles,” said Qassemi.

“Regardless of whether or not she has another nationality, and irrespective of Iranian laws and regulations regarding the issue of nationality and dual citizenship, Ms Zaghari has always appeared as an Iranian citizen at least as long as her activities, visits and dealings in Iran are concerned,” Qassemi said.

“Meanwhile, in order to give a legal and political response to this note, we are waiting for relevant entities to finalize their reviews,” the spokesman said.

“What is certain is that firstly, the UK government has had no goodwill in this move; and secondly, the move is not regarded as constructive and positive at all, and if it does not make the situation more complicated, it will definitely not make it easier, either,” he added

“What I can say at this point is that the case of Ms Zaghari has been dealt with at relevant judicial bodies in a routine way in terms of litigation principles, and in conformity with all rules and regulations,” he noted.

“Both through the legal proceedings and while serving her sentence, Zaghari enjoyed and still enjoys all legal and civil rights, including medical and health services, as an Iranian national,” Qassemi added.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced on Friday that London had decided to give Zaghari diplomatic protection “as part of the Government’s continuing efforts to secure her release.”

“Affording diplomatic protection in Nazanin’s case represents formal recognition by the British Government that her treatment fails to meet Iran’s obligations under International law and elevates it to a formal State to State issue,” a statement by the UK Foreign Office said.

“I have today decided that the UK will take a step that is extremely unusual and exercise diplomatic protection,” Hunt said in a video message.

In his message, Hunt repeated his earlier allegation that Iran had denied medical care to Zaghari, a claim that, according to Qassemi, “indicated his lack of knowledge on the case.”

In reaction to Hunt’s statement, Iranian Ambassador to London Hamid Baeidinejad said the UK government’s extension of diplomatic protection to Zaghari contravenes international law.

“Govts may only exercise such protection for own nationals. As UK Govt is acutely aware, Iran does not recognize dual nationality. Irrespective of UK residency, Ms Zaghari thus remains Iranian,” he said in a Friday tweet.

Iran’s intelligence authorities arrested Zaghari at Imam Khomeini International Airport in April 2016 as she was on her way back to London.

She was subsequently put on trial and handed a five-year jail term after being found guilty of spying and spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic.

British media had claimed that she worked for the Thomson Reuters Foundation and was on vacation in Iran when she was arrested. However, former UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said in a statement to a parliamentary committee in 2017 that Zaghari had been “simply teaching people journalism.”

Johnson’s remarks amounted to an accidental confession that Zaghari was plotting against the Iranian government, but British authorities described them a gaffe.

Persian New Year to Be Celebrated in France

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IFP Editorial Staff

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March 12, 2019

The event dubbed “Chants of Nowruz” is organised by Iran-France Centre in collaboration with Afghan nationals in France and “Paris Tehran Magazine.”

The ceremony will be held with the participation of Iranian, Afghan, Indian, and French artists in the municipality hall of Paris on Tuesday, March 19, 2019.

They will introduce Iranian and Afghan dishes to make the French people familiar with Haft Seen Sufra.

At this ceremony, calligraphy works of Vasheqani Farahani will be put on show and Pejman Memarzadeh, the musician and leader of Iranian orchestra in France, will speak about Iranian music and Nowruz tradition.

Nowruz is the day of the vernal equinox, and marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It also marks the first day of the first month of the Iranian calendar, and has been celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, India, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, and Turkey since ancient times.

Parliaments of Iran, Iraq Key to Promotion of Ties: Rouhani

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IFP Media Wire

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March 12, 2019

In a Monday meeting with Speaker of the Council of Representatives of Iraq Mohamed al-Halbousi in Baghdad, Hassan Rouhani referred to the importance of interaction between the parliaments of Iran and Iraq to develop relations and cooperation between the two countries, saying, “Fortunately, today there is a strong resolve in all Iranian and Iraqi officials to deepen Tehran-Baghdad ties.”

“The parliaments of Iran and Iraq have a very important role in development of relations between the two nations and countries and are the biggest supporter of relations between the governments.”

He also pointed to the decision made by the two governments to facilitate interaction between economic executives and business people, saying, “We should make efforts to further develop banking cooperation between the two countries.”

“Creating border markets at the joint borders of the two countries can promote relations and cooperation between Iran and Iraq,” the president’s official website quoted him as saying in the meeting.

For his part, the Iraqi speaker described Rouhani’s visit to Iraq as very important and a turning point in the relations between the two countries.

He added, “The parliaments and all political groups in Iraq welcome the country’s approach for development of relations and cooperation with other countries, especially with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Heading a high-ranking delegation, Rouhani arrived in Baghdad on Monday at the official invitation of the Iraqi government. It is Rouhani’s first official visit to Iraq during his tenure.

US Incapable of Driving Wedge between Iran, Iraq: Zarif

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IFP Editorial Staff

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March 12, 2019

In a Monday interview with BBC Arabic in Baghdad, Iran’s top diplomat underlined that the Islamic Republic will never embroil Iraq in its conflict with the US.

“We will never take our animosity towards the US to Iraq. This is the US which has adopted a hostile stance towards the Arab country. This is the US which is putting pressure on Iraqis to make a choice between Tehran and Washington. We have never asked Iraqis to make the choice,” he said.

Zarif went on to say that Iran wants to establish good relations with its neighbouring country, Iraq.

“Iraq is our neighbour. The US can’t create a rift between Iran and Iraq,” he noted.

The Iranian foreign minister also underlined that Iran and Iraq are connected to each other in terms of history and geography.

“Even eight years of war imposed by Saddam Hussein on Iranians and even Iraqis failed to damage the historical, geographical and family bonds between the two nations of Iran and Iraq,” he said.

Zarif is accompanying Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during his three-day visit to Iraq.

Rouhani arrived in Baghdad earlier Monday on a historic trip aimed at solidifying strategic ties between the two nations amid US pressure to keep them apart.

Unlike Trump, Rouhani Visits Iraq in Broad Daylight: Iranian Papers

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Fatemeh Askarieh

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March 12, 2019

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 19

Iranian newspapers today continued to cover President Hassan Rouhani’s historic trip to Iraq, comparing his visit to that of US President Donald Trump with headlines like “Rouhani Visits Iraq in Broad Daylight, Trump Makes His Trip Secretly, in Darkness”.

The agreements reached between the two neighbouring countries during the three-day visit, particularly the one on no-fee issuance of visa for Iranian and Iraqi visitors travelling to the two states, were widely covered in today’s papers.

Also a top story was the inauguration ceremony held for new Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi, who replaced Ayatollah Amoli Larijani based on a decree by the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines and top stories:

Abrar:

1- Rouhani: Iran Wants a Secure, Independent, Developed Iraq

2- Salih: We’re Trying to Remove Obstacles to Cooperation with Iran

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Rouhani Visits Iraq in Broad Daylight

2- Iran First VP: US Plan to Collapse Iranian Economy Fails

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- Tehran’s Message to Washington with Rouhani’s Visit to Baghdad

2- Iran-US Security-Political Competition in Iraq

3- Raisi: No One Allowed to Bypass Law

Ebtekar:

1- Strategic Bonds in Broad Daylight

2- Traces of ISIS’ Hidden Treasure in Baghuz

* Fiercest ISIS Elements Still Resisting Syrian Democratic Forces

Etemad:

1- Iran-Iraq Peace in As-Salam Palace

2- Iraq Turns into Influential Country

Ettela’at:

1- Rouhani: No One Can Prevent Development of Iran-Iraq Ties

2- 50 Civilians Killed in US Air Raid on Eastern Syria

3- Raisi: People Worried about Administration of Justice

Iran:

1- Agreement in Mesopotamia

2- Iran, Iraq Sign Five Documents of Cooperation

Jame Jam:

1- Opportunity for a Regional 5+1

Javan:

1- Safe Trip to Iraq Thanks to General Soleimani’s Efforts

* World Compares Rouhani’s Official Trip to Iraq with Trump’s Secret Visit

* Iran, Iraq Lift Fees for Issuing Visa

2- Commander of Resistance Awarded with Order of Zulfaqar

Kayhan:

1- Rouhani Visits Baghdad in Daylight, Trump in Darkness

2- Brutal Bombardment of Hajjah by Al Saud

3- Judiciary Chief Officially Starts His Work

* Raisi: No One Allowed to Bypass Law

Sazandegi:

1- Rouhani’s Message of Peace: Iran President Sends Message to Saudi through Iraq

Setareh Sobh:

1- Iraq Bridge of Iran’s Circumvention of Sanctions

2- Iraq Great Market for Iranian Goods [Editorial]

3- Controversy over Iranian Lawmakers’ Meeting with Ex-President Khatami

Shargh:

1- Neighbourhood without Conflict: Iranian, Iraqi Presidents Meet

2- Canada Haven of Embezzlers

3- Riyadh Poised to Make Inroads into Iraq

Sobh-e Now:

1- Zulfaqar in Hands of Commander-in-Chief

* Iran Leader to Gen. Soleimani: We Still Need You for a Long Time

Vatan-e Emrooz:

1- Friendship against Sanctions

2- Fresh Air Breathed into Justice

* Raisi Starts His Work as New Judiciary Chief

INSTEX Director in Tehran for Talks on Iran-EU Trade

By

Emad Askarieh

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March 12, 2019

INSTEX Director in Tehran for Talks on Iran-EU Trade

During his stay, Per Fischer has already met with heads of the German, French and British diplomatic missions in the Iranian capital, according to the French embassy.

The embassy wrote on its Twitter page that Fischer’s trip is a major step towards holding talks with Iranian officials on how to enforce INSTEX.

69-year-old Fischer used to be head of Germany’s Commerzbank. He had also served in the bank in different positions for 29 years. US officials had threatened before that they might slap sanctions on authorities involved in the implementation of INSTEX.

A few weeks ago, Germany, France and Britain established the INSTEX mechanism in an effort to persuade Tehran to stay in the Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The mechanism is a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) aimed at facilitating trade with Iran.

The mechanism has not gone into effect yet. According to European officials, INSTEX will only cover food items and medicines in the first phase if it becomes operational.

Iranian, Iraqi Pilgrims to Get Visas Free of Charge as of April

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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March 11, 2019

That was announced by Parviz Esmaili, the deputy head of the Iranian Presidential Office for communications.

The agreement to issue free visas was reached during the historic trip to Baghdad by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

“As agreed by Iran and Iraq, visas will be issued by both sides free of charge to Iranian and Iraqi pilgrims and tourists as of early April,” said Esmaili.

Every year, millions of Iranian pilgrims travel to Iraq to visit holy shrines during Arba’een, the fortieth day after the martyrdom anniversary of third Shiite Imam, Hussein ibn Ali.

Thousands of Iraqi pilgrims also annually visit the Iranian city of Mashhad, where the shrine of the eighth Shiite Imam, Ali ibn Musa, is located.

With the new agreement, they will no longer need to pay for visas.

Rouhani May Visit Syria in Near Future: Envoy

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IFP Media Wire

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March 11, 2019

Speaking to Lebanon’s Arabic-language al-Ahed news website, Torkabadi said Iranian and Syrian leaders are in constant contact with each other.

“I believe that Bashar al-Assad’s recent visit to Iran has been very successful, and in fact, we expect these trips and relations to continue,” he said.

The diplomat went on to say that, God willing, Rouhani’s visit to Damascus would be made in the near future.

Assad recently made an unannounced visit to Iran and met with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and other senior officials.

Speaking at the meeting in Tehran on February 25, the Leader praised the resistance of Syria’s government and people that led to the defeat of Washington and its regional mercenaries.

Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that the triumph of the resistance front in Syria has made Americans angry and prompted them to hatch new plots, adding, “The issue of the buffer zone, which Americans seek to establish in Syria, is among those dangerous plots that must be categorically rejected and stood against.”

Conflicts erupted in Syria back in 2011, when a small group of opposition forces took up arms against Damascus.

Soon, however, a mix of international terrorists and paid mercenaries mingled with and then largely sidestepped the armed Syrian opposition groups, effectively turning the Arab country into a battlefield for foreign governments opposed to Assad.

But the Syrian military, with advisory military help from Iran and Russia — and a Russian aerial bombardment campaign — has retaken control of much of the country, and the conflict is generally believed to be winding down.

Iran, Syria Sign 18 Deals to Expand Business Ties

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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March 11, 2019

The deals were signed during the visit of a Syrian business delegation to Tehran.

Mahmoud Naser al-Fotouh, the head of the Syrian delegation, expressed the hope that the economic and trade ties between Tehran and Damascus could increase as much as the current high level of political relations between the two nations.

In a Monday meeting with officials of Iran Chamber of Cooperative, the Syrian official said the two strategic allies have sacrificed many of their people to liberate the Arab country from the terrorist groups.

“Therefore, our economic and trade ties as well as joint investments should increase to a level that is proportional to the extensive political relations between the two nations,” he noted.

He then referred to a series of meetings that have been held between Syrian and Iranian high officials to facilitate expansion of ties amid the challenges created by the US’ unilateral sanctions and said so far at least 18 agreements have been signed at the University of Tehran between Iran and Syria in this regard.

Al-Fotouh also said Syria attaches significant importance to Iran as a partner in it reconstruction era and added Iranians stood behind Syria during the Arab country’s hard times.

“Many young Iranians sacrificed their lives to liberate Syria from terrorist groups. So, the country should have a significant role in the reconstruction of Syria,” he said.

He described trade ties between Iran and Syria as strategic and long-term and said Syria gives priority to the countries playing a role in Syria’s fight against terrorists in its reconstruction era and said Syria will invite Iranian public and private sectors to launch projects in the reconstruction era of the country.

He finally called on Iranian economic players to visit Syria for playing a role in the country’s reconstruction.

City Art Rejuvenates Tehran in Lead-up to Persian New Year

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Fatemeh Askarieh

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March 11, 2019

The 4^th Annual Baharestan Urban Arts Festival arranged by an organization tasked with beautifying the capital city is underway across Tehran. It has different sections such as “coloured eggs, little walls of my little city, environmental arts, installation art and statues.”

Baharestan is an event held in the run-up to Nowruz (the start of the Persian New Year). The festival involves urban arts.

Kianoosh Gharibpour is a member of the event’s policy-making committee which is also tasked with choosing top works of art presented at the festival.

He says the event is held just days before Nowruz, and, hence, it is welcomed by citizens and artists as a national festival.

The event is important in that it paves the way for young artists, so that they will be able to display their works of art in public. It will help enhance artists’ skills and upgrade citizens’ visual literacy.

The following are photos of the event posted on www.zibasazi.ir:

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