Iraq, Qatar, Oman Dismayed over US Withdrawal from JCPOA

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May 12, 2018

Iraqi President Fuad Masum expressed regret over Trump’s decision while praising the other signatories to the JCPOA for remaining committed to the agreement.

In a statement earlier this week, the Iraqi president called on the US not to harm the Iran nuclear deal and not to prevent other parties from fully implementing the agreement.

He urged the US to rethink its decision, saying the Iran nuclear deal is regarded as a major achievement to promote the opportunity to establish peace and ensure progress for all regional countries as well as the whole international community.

He further expressed Iraq’s opposition to all types of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear arms. He noted concerns over the US decision to unilaterally pull out of a historic deal on Iran’s nuclear program will not help reinforce security and stability in the Middle East region and other parts of the world.

Qatar also reacted to the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, calling for talks with Iran to settle the existing problems.

Doha said efforts to rid the Middle East of nuclear weapons should be a priority, urging regional powers not to get involved in an arms race.

Qatar’s foreign ministry announced that Doha is not a signatory to the deal like other Persian Gulf Arab states, but given Qatar’s geographical position as well as its political and historical relations with the parties to the JCPOA, pays attention to the consequences of whatever decisions the signatories make.

Qatar noted that it supports efforts by all influential international and regional players as well as parties to the deal to prevent a potential crisis. According to Qatar, it will be in the interests of all sides to exercise restraint and judiciously iron out the existing differences through dialogue.

Oman’s foreign ministry also announced that it follows up on the developments unfolding in the wake of Washington’s decisions to leave the JCPOA.

The ministry said in a statement that the option of confrontation will be to the benefit of no signatory, and that Oman supports the stance of the other five parties to the agreement.

Iranian MPs Split on Future Steps over Nuclear Deal

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IFP Editorial Staff

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May 12, 2018

In a controversial move earlier this week, a group of conservative lawmakers set the US flag and a copy of the Iran nuclear deal on fire while chanting “Death to America” on the Parliament floor.

Vice-Speaker Ali Motahari immediately slammed the burning of the US flag as irrational, saying that such moves insult the American nation, two-third of whom are reportedly against Trump’s decision.

Lawmaker Alireza Rahimi also wrote on his Twitter page that the move has no place in the Islamic culture and is rejected in political logic.

After seeing the US flag and a symbolic copy of the JCPOA being set ablaze, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani dismissed Trump’s comments as cheap.

“Trump lacks rational competence, but Iran can bring him to his senses,” said Larijani, a report by Khabar Online said.

Although at this sensitive juncture Parliament is expected to unanimously support the government to confront the US, we are seeing different approaches at the legislature.

Hardline lawmakers, who were against the JCPOA from the outset and have, time and again, said ironically that the “deal was ratified in the Parliament in 20 minutes,” are seizing the opportunity nowadays to settle their political scores with the government.

Some of them have begun whispering that Iran should scrap the JCPOA, arguing that Europe is not reliable. Some MPs have described working with Europe on JCPOA as “out of the frying pan into the fire.” Some have called for Iran to pull out of the agreement.

However, some legislators while condemning Trump’s move believe that the efforts made by the Iranian nuclear negotiating team which led to the conclusion of the JCPOA should not go to waste.

“The honest efforts by the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran should be appreciated, especially [efforts by] the nuclear negotiating team, which, under the guidelines of the Leader, held talks with major world powers and defended the rights of the Iranian nation,” read a statement by a group or lawmakers.

“Trump’s unwise move is a stain on [the record of] US authorities and shows their hegemonic temperament, and the flames of such behavior could spread to other nations and governments if it is not controlled by international circles, intellectuals and the public opinion in the US,” the statement also read.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on May 12

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IFP Editorial Staff

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May 12, 2018

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 19

Several papers today covered the West’s reaction to Iran Leader’s disclosure of a secret letter by US President Donald Trump to certain Arab countries.

The ongoing efforts by the European countries and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to save the Iran nuclear deal also received great coverage.

The recent developments in Syria and the Golan Heights were also a top story. Many papers blasted the Israeli regime’s attacks on Syrian positions and described it as a move to escalate the tension and provoke Iran into getting engaged in a military conflict.

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

19 Dey:

1- World United in Defending Iran Nuclear Deal

2- Iran Leader during Visit to Tehran Book Fair: Book among Necessities of People’s Lives

Abrar:

1- Iranians Hold Protest Rallies to Protest US Withdrawal from Iran Nuclear Deal

2- Germany, Russia Agree on Preserving JCPOA, Resolving Syria Crisis Politically

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Ignored by Everyone, Iranian Female Futsal Players Make It to Asian Final

2- Diplomats, from Tehran to Berlin, Working Hard to Preserve JCPOA

3- Water May Be Transferred from Sea of Oman to Three Provinces as of Next Year

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- Trap of Golan War

Trump’s Withdrawal from JCPOA, Putin’s Smile at Netanyahu and His Attack on Syria
Possibility of Iran-Israel Conflict Reinforced

2- Self-Restraint Shown by Iranian Officials, Armed Forces against Israel Receive Positive Coverage

Ebtekar:

1- Israel’s Dangerous Game in Syria

After Israeli Attacks on Syrian Territory, Golan Heights Targeted by Missiles

Etemad:

1- Iran Leader: Anyone Familiar with Islam Offers More Social Services

Ettela’at:

1- Oil Minister: We’ll Have No Problem in Oil Exports

2- Trump: We Knew Kerry Didn’t Have a Chance against Zarif

Iranians Have Always Been Great Negotiators

Hamshahri:

1- Europe Poised to Gain Independence from US

European Leaders Take New Approach on US Sanctions on Iran

Hemayat:

1- Mohammad-Javad Larijani: Iran Currently Has No Commitment under JCPOA

Iran:

1- Europe Working Hard to Preserve Iran Nuclear Deal

2- Israel Flying Missiles on Self-Fabricated Pretexts

Jahan-e Eqtesad:

1- Oil Minister: Threats Are Long Gone

Jame Jam:

1- Trump’s $380-Billion Partners

Comparing Volume of E3’s Trade with Iran, US

Javan:

1- Night of Missile Retaliation in Golan: Occupied Territories Hit by 68 Syrian Missiles

2- Entire Iran Chant “Trump, Like Hell You Will!”

3- New York Times Confirms Iran Have Received Copy of Trump’s Letter to Arabs

Jomhouri Eslami:

1- Iran FM to Start Negotiations with 5 Parties to JCPOA

2- EU Worried about Awful Humanitarian Situation in Yemen

Ka’enat:

1- American Letters!

Trump Has Written Two Letters to Arab Countries
First Letter Disclosed by Ayatollah Khamenei

Kayhan:

1- Analytical Review of “Over 10 Lies Told by Trump”

2- Western Media Surprised by Iran Leader’s Access to Trump’s Letter to Arabs

Resalat:

1- Tehran Friday Prayers Leader: Europe No Different from US in Violating Commitments

Rooyesh-e Mellat:

1- Araqchi: It’s Possible to Save JCPOA If Sufficient Assurances Provided

Sazandegi:

1- Return of Malaysia’s Father

Mahathir Mohamad Elected as Malaysian PM in 92

Shahrvand:

1- Orhan Pamuk in Iran: To Me, Iranian Readers Different from Other Readers

Shargh:

1- Around the World to Save JCPOA

Zarif to Visit Beijing, Moscow, Brussels

2- Intelligence Minister: Environmentalists Arrested Not Spies

Vatan-e Emrooz:

1- First Post-ISIS Elections

Political Competition in Iraq Begins with 204 Parties, 27 Coalitions

Iran, Bolivia Discuss Promotion of Defence Ties in Tehran

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IFP Media Wire

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May 12, 2018

The Iranian military chief made the remarks on the sidelines of a meeting with the visiting Bolivian Army Commander Rear Admiral Yamil Octavio Borda Sosa in Tehran on Saturday.

“The Bolivian army has expressed interest in technical and military cooperation, housing projects of for the armed forces, and training programs, which are all welcomed,” Baqeri said.

Baqeri said he hoped that the visit will usher in a new era of ties between the two nations and the armed forces.

“Our nation regards Bolivia as a country which has resisted the US evil wishes. Iran hails the efforts made by the Bolivian armed forces toward the country’s independence” he added.

Bolivian army chief, for his part, said his visit aimed to bring the two nations closer.

He extended his nation and government’s “sincere message of friendship” to Iran, and hoped that the visit will lead to certain agreements in the area of defence.

Sosa was set to meet with senior Iranian officials, including the defence minister, later Saturday.

Iran Leader Urges Muslim States to Prioritise Scientific Progress

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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May 12, 2018

“The scientific movement in the Muslim world should gain momentum and the Ummah must once again rise towards the peak of its scientific and civilizational capabilities,” the Leader said on Saturday.

This way, enemies of Islam and Americans would not be able to order the heads of Muslim countries what to do and what not to do,” Ayatollah Khamenei told a gathering of participants in an international congress on the role of the Shiite school in developing Islamic sciences.

The Leader’s comments came shortly after he disclosed a letter by US President Donald Trump to certain Persian Gulf leaders, in which the former had noted, “I’ve spent $7 trillion on you, and you must do what I say.”

No More Bullying

Ayatollah Khamenei said an ongoing awakening among Muslims has prepared the ground for their progress, and it is up to leaders and elites in Muslim countries to encourage scientific growth.

The Leader said the Muslim world’s scientific backwardness is the main reason enabling the hegemony of western powers over Muslims.

“The western world, after centuries of scientific backwardness, managed to use scientific achievements of Muslims to increase its wealth and scientific, military, political and propagation powers and eventually adopt colonial [policies] that led Muslim countries to the current situation,” he said.

The Leader said Muslim countries must move to boost their scientific power so they can stand up to bullying by western powers.

For a brief review of Iran’s achievements in various fields of science and technology, check the book “Science and Technology in Iran: A Brief Review”

Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran could be a successful model for Muslim nations, as it has achieved rapid scientific progress in recent years and is ready to share experiences and achievements with other Muslim countries.

“According to reports by global scientific centres, Iran’s scientific progress has been 13 times faster than the world average. We will continue this path to reach edges of science,” he said.

“Unlike western countries, Iran is ready to transfer its achievements to other Muslim countries,” he said.

Zarch; Longest Qanat of Iran, World

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

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May 12, 2018

Qanat is a gently sloping underground channel to transport water from an aquifer or water well to surface for irrigation and drinking.

The Qanat of Zarch is a plain one with a length of 100 km. Its mother well is 90 metres deep and has more than 2,000 well shafts. Zarch is a city located 15 kilometres west of Yazd in central Iran.

A collection of historical studies on the Zarch Qanat reinforces the possibility that it has been discovered around 1,300 AD.

After the conquest of Iran by Muslims, the historical mosque of Yazd was built near the Qanat of Zarch, and several wells were dug within the vicinity of this mosque to fill the large cistern under the mosque, and also provide water for the worshippers’ ablution. People used the water for drinking and sanitation purposes through pāyābs which are a kind of access corridors.

The starting point of this qanat is in the village of Fahraj located in the north-east of Yazd. The qanat runs through several other villages and passes Yazd’s main square to reach Zarch, where the water is used for irrigation in lower lands of the city of Yazd.

The history of Qanat of Zarch can be studied in terms of the formation of the city Zarch, the age of the hydraulic structures built over it and in terms of existing historical documents. The history of the city of Zarch not only can be found in history books, but also myths, fables and epic stories mention it frequently, all of which are indicative of its long history. Now if we consider this qanat as the factor behind the formation of this city, it is as old as the city itself.

At the 40th UNESCO World Heritage Summit held in Istanbul in July 2016, the Qanat of Zarch, along with 10 other Iranian qanats, was registered in the World Heritage List.

What follows are photos of the qanat retrieved from various sources:

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Lorestan’s Shami Kebab; Fairly Sour, Extremely Delicious

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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May 12, 2018

Shami kebab is composed of a small patty of minced meat (generally beef, but occasionally lamb or mutton as well), with ground chickpeas, egg to hold it together, potatoes and spices. Shami is eaten as a snack or an appetizer.

The name Shami may refer to Bilad al-Sham (the Levant), the modern Syria, as many cooks from that region used to cook the dish in a perfect way. Iranians, however, believe that the name refers to the word shaam which means “dinner” or “evening” in Persian language.

Shamis are often garnished with lemon juice and served with sliced raw onions as a side salad.

In Khorramabad, people do not use potatoes in their Shamis, but there are some recipes in which potatoes are used. In this recipe, we will teach you how to cook Lorestan’s Shami Kebab without potatoes.

Ingredients:

½ cup pomegranate paste

Vegetables (tarragon, savory, parsley): 250 g

2 tbsp. of chickpea flour

Minced meat: 250g

2 onions

1 cup of powdered walnuts

1 egg

Salt, pepper, turmeric: As much as needed

Directions:

Chop and sauté the onion and add some turmeric. Then add the powdered walnuts and pomegranate paste to it. At this stage it’s time to pour in ½ cup of water and vegetables. Lower the heat and let the walnut’s oil be extracted.

Then, mix the meat, the rest of powdered walnuts, vegetables, an egg and grated onion, salt, pepper, turmeric, and chickpea flour and mash the mixture for a while. Shape the mixture into round meatballs and fry them.

Finally, put the meatballs in the stew that we made before, and let it boil for half an hour on a low heat.

As the food is sour due to the use of pomegranate paste, if desired, you can add sugar as much as you like.

Japan, Norway Say Iran Must Reap Benefits of JCPOA

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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May 11, 2018

During the talks, Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide and Japanese top diplomat Tarō Kōno expressed their countries’ support for the continued implementation of the Iran nuclear deal.

They also stressed that Iran must be able to reap the benefits of the 2015 agreement.

FM Zarif, for his part, said it is necessary for other parties to the accord to guarantee that the Islamic Republic of Iran will take advantage of the deal’s benefits.

The phone calls came a few days after US President Donald Trump defied protests and last-minute lobbying by his European partners and unilaterally decided to withdraw from the historic nuclear accord, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and impose new sanctions on Tehran.

“I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal,” Trump said Tuesday in a televised address from the White House. “This was a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made.”

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — the United States, the UK, France, China and Russia — plus Germany reached the JCPOA in July 2015 after long negotiations.

So far, the E3 – France, Germany, and the UK – as well as Russia and China have thrown their weights behind the deal in the wake of Trump’s decision. However, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Tehran will only accept to remain in the nuclear deal if the E3 gives Tehran a guarantee that it will be able to reap all the benefits of JCPOA.

Iran FM Due in Beijing, Moscow, Brussels for Intensive JCPOA Talks

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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May 11, 2018

Following an order by President Hassan Rouhani, FM Zarif will start his intensive visits on Sunday with the aim of investigating the possibility of continuing the implementation of JCPOA provided that the Iranian nation’s interests are guaranteed, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said.

The Iranian top diplomat will first visit the Chinese capital of Beijing on Sunday to hold talks with high-ranking officials there, Qassemi noted on Friday.

“FM Zarif will then leave Beijing for Moscow to meet with Russian officials [on Monday],” he added.

He will finally depart for the Belgian capital of Brussels to attend a meeting with the foreign ministers of the E3 – France, Germany, and the UK – as well as EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini, Qassemi noted.

Shortly after US President Donald Trump announced his country’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal on Tuesday, Iranian President Rouhani declared that “from now on, the Iran nuclear deal will be a deal between Iran and five countries.”

He said he had ordered the foreign ministry to start talks with other parties to the nuclear deal within the coming weeks.

“After these talks, if we are assured that we can achieve what we wanted from the deal through cooperation with other parties, JCPOA will remain in place,” he noted.

“Otherwise, I’ll soon address the nation and share with them the Establishment’s decision regarding the Iran nuclear deal.”

Zarif Tells Mogherini Iran Needs Guarantees on JCPOA

In a Friday phone conversation with Zarif, Mogherini discussed the need for continued implementation of the Iran nuclear deal.

Zarif, in turn, highlighted the need for other parties to the JCPOA to provide sufficient guarantees that assure the Iranian nation of being able to reap the benefits of the nuclear deal.

During the talks, the two diplomats also conferred on plans and arrangements for a Tuesday meeting in Brussels between Zarif, Mogherini, and the E3 foreign ministers.

Iranians Hold Rallies to Protest US Withdrawal from JCPOA

By

IFP Media Wire

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May 11, 2018

Protesters in Tehran and other cities on Friday carried placards which read, “Mr Trump, you are talking nonsense,” echoing Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s remarks on Wednesday.

They also chanted “Death to America”, “Death to Israel” and “We fight, we die, but we do not accept any compromise”, to voice their denunciation of Trump’s decision to leave the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The protesters, mostly participants at weekly Friday Prayers, issued a statement in which they reiterated their loyalty to the Islamic Republic and its anti-imperialist ideals.

“The imbecile Trump’s pretexts and insane move following a psychological war and breach of contract and unilateral pullout from the JCPOA and his idiotic remarks against the powerful Iran revealed again the imperialistic nature of the criminal American leaders,” they said.

“With God’s help, we will stand up and resist until the full destruction of the enemies of Islam and the oppressed nations of the world, especially the world-gobbling America,” they said.

The show of unity came following Trump’s pullout from the JCPOA, and his announcement that the US would reimpose nuclear sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Tehran Friday Prayers leader Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said, “In his speech, Trump told at least 10 lies against our nation and made insults and accusations.”

“The answer to all that nonsense is what this great nation has always been saying: ‘America is dead wrong’ and ‘Mr Trump, you are talking nonsense’,” he added.

Only hours after Trump made the announcement on Tuesday, Iranian students and lawmakers took to the iconic Azadi Square in the capital Tehran, setting fire to US flags and shouting anti-US slogans.

Iranian lawmakers also set the Stars and Stripes ablaze inside the parliament and burnt symbolic copies of the nuclear agreement.

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