Iran Rejects France’s Interventionist Remarks on Satellite Launch
In a statement on Tuesday, Mousavi also reiterated that Iran’s missile defence program has nothing to do with UN Security Council Resolution 2231 because Iranian missiles are not designed to carry nuclear weapons.
Mousavi‘s comments came after the French Foreign Ministry condemned Iran’s Sunday launch of a communications satellite as a breach of its obligations under the UN resolution on Iran’s nuclear and ballistic program.
“France condemns this launch, which employs ballistic missile technologies, in particular those used for intercontinental missiles,” the ministry said in a statement.
Iranian state TV reported that the Simorgh rocket failed to reach the orbit because of its low speed.
Iranian communications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi said his country would keep on trying.
Iran’s Nature in Photos: Meshe-Sui Hot Spring in Ardabil
Meshe-Sui Hot Spring is located in Fandoqloo forest– called Findiqli by local people- in Ardabil province, north-western Iran.
Meshe-Sui means “forest hot water” in Azeri language. The spring contains water with a temperature of about 25 °C which has therapeutic effects. It is in fact a pond of about 4×6 m with an approximate depth of 70-80 cm; made by carving the mountain rocks next to a river of the same name.
What follows are Mehr News Agency’s photos of Meshe-Sui Hot Spring in Iran Ardabil:
President Rouhani Debunks US Claim That Gen. Soleimani Sought War
President Rouhani made the remarks on Tuesday in an address to a large gathering of people in Tehran marking the 41st anniversary of victory of the Islamic Revolution.
In his speech, the president paid tribute to Lt. General Soleimani as a “commander of battlefield” and a “senior diplomat in the negotiations”, saying the popular commander was assassinated by the US on his way to a meeting with the prime minister of Iraq.
General Soleimani was heading towards the field of diplomacy, not the battlefield, when he was martyred in the US airstrike, the president said.
“Martyr Soleimani was not after a war in the region. The Americans are lying. Martyr Soleimani was not seeking instability in the region. The US and Israel are lying. Martyr Soleimani was after stability,” President Rouhani underscored.
Highlighting the late Iranian commander’s support for the people and armies of Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, the president said Lt. General Soleimani endowed the region with security.
The president further highlighted the far-reaching impacts of victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, saying it is natural for the US to be enraged by the victory of a great nation and being evicted from Iran.
“It is natural that the US has been dreaming about a return to this land every night during the past 41 years,” Rouhani added.
Describing the Islamic Republic as the most powerful country in the Middle East, the president said, “They (Americans) are well aware how important Iran is. They know very well what the role of Iran in the region is, and they know that Iran’s power in the region is one of the greatest powers, or in fact, the top power in the delicate Middle East region.”
The president also expressed gratitude to the Iranian Armed Forces for fulfilling the national request for revenge against the assassins of Lt. General Soleimani, saying the IRGC missile attack on the American base of Ain al-Assad in Iraq was a public demand.
He also thanked the Iranian defense industries for strengthening the Armed Force over the past couple of years, adding, “The military commanders said in the latest meeting of the Supreme National Security Council that the country’s military power today is far greater than what it used to be a year ago, and the country’s military power is developing day by day.”
President Rouhani finally called for stronger national unity against the enemies, saying, “Whenever we stood together, the US has been defeated… Our strategy is being all together. All of us must defend this country together. We must all stand against the US and must protect the Iranian nation’s rights together. The Revolution belongs to all (Iranians), not a specific individual or group.”
Millions in Iran Pour into Streets to Attend Revolution Anniversary Rallies
The huge turnout came in a cold and snowy day despite all the economic pressures and sanctions imposed against the nation, as well as the extensive propaganda against the Islamic Republic.
What follows are photos of the rallies retrieved from various sources:
It’s Time for Europe to Play Its Role in Saving JCPOA: Iran
Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), made the remarks in a Monday address to the International Conference on Nuclear Security: Sustaining and Strengthening Efforts, which is underway in Vienna, the capital of Austria.
What follows is the full text of his speech:
Co- Presidents,
Director-General,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a distinct honor for me to attend the third International Conference on Nuclear Security; an issue of great importance for my country.
Co- Presidents,
Over the past few years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has gone through a very difficult ordeal, which we believe could be seen as a yardstick for measuring the extent of practical adherence of the States to their multilateral and international obligations. It was in December 2015 when the overwhelming majority of the international community felt that, amidst prevailing chaos throughout the world, diplomacy is proven to be still the most viable option for tackling the toughest issues in international relations. It was a dominant belief that the JCPOA could set a model in this regard. It could also serve as a good template for cooperation amongst the Agency and the participating Member States for enhancing security issues. But, unfortunately, this euphoria didn’t last long. With the embedded irrationality in the US administration’s mindset, such optimism is fading away so quickly.
It is about time for Europe to play its role as a main JCPOA stakeholder in saving the deal through fulfilling their commitments irrespective of the US administration’s unjust pressures.
Tomorrow, we will be celebrating our 41st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution; a revolution that brought independence and freedom and saved us from all sorts of dependency on the United States. Unfortunately, the US administration has not yet come to its senses in recognizing the reality on grounds and keeps on inflicting harm on our people as well as the people of the entire region while creating and supporting terrorist groups such as ISIS; the climax of which is reflected in the cowardice terror of our beloved major general Soleimani who was the most instrumental element in combatting ISIS. Be it known as my country strongly retaliated once, it will never hesitate to strike back when necessary.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a member to the NPT, maintains that, as it is envisioned in Article IV of the NPT, nothing [I quote] “shall be interpreted as affecting the inalienable right of all the Parties to the Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination …” [end of quote].
Furthermore, the Articles II and III of the Statute of the IAEA define the basic objectives and functions of the Agency, as it [I quote] “shall seek to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world” [end of quote].
In this context, nuclear security and safety measures must be utilized to support such objectives and functions. While acknowledging the distinctions between the two areas, these measures are seen to have common aim of protecting human health, society and the environment, and should be dealt with, appropriately, at the national level, by the relevant competent authorities.
Despite opportunities, expansion of new nuclear technologies and related applications has induced susceptibility on the issue of nuclear security.
These new emerging sensitivities raise the level of current concerns on issues such as the lack of transparency on more than 80% of existing Highly Enriched Uranium and Plutonium stocks. Moreover, the new nuclear security threats including EMPs, UAVs, Cyber-attacks and other non-conventional means of sabotage, especially when there are no agreed international rules and regulations governing such activities, make the situations even more complicated.
Growing threats of terrorism using nuclear materials and radioactive sources are also another crucial elements in addressing the radioactive and nuclear security issues; thus requiring the strengthening of national capacities in prevention, detection, and response to unauthorized removal and illicit trafficking of nuclear materials.
Terroristic threats against my country are augmented by menace of attacks and industrial sabotage against our nuclear installations by the US and Zionist regimes as evidenced in the past by the cyber Stuxnet, and this necessitates international condemnation as well as prevention.
Excellencies,
Needless to say that, measures to strengthen nuclear security should be in coherence with achieving sustainable development goals in peaceful nuclear technologies and applications at the national, regional and global levels, and therefore not to commit any action that would hamper them. Likewise, any measure aimed at undermining or negatively affecting the State’s national nuclear security regime runs counter to the promotional objectives and functions of the Agency.
Moreover, we believe that nuclear security activities of the Agency should be funded with no string attached by the donors, and while acknowledging that the primary source of funding for such activities should be through the NSF, new innovative forms of sustainable extra-budgetary funding could also be explored in order to guarantee sufficient, assured and predictable resources for the implementation of the Agency’s projects in meeting the needs and priorities of Member States.
It must be asserted once again that the responsibility for nuclear security within a State rests entirely with that State. The Agency, however, is expected to assist Member States, upon their request and on a non-discriminatory basis, in their efforts to enhance a sustainable nuclear security regime based on their national needs and priorities. The Agency should also be seen as a platform for sharing knowledge and the exchange of lessons learned, built upon the experiences and good practices shared by different countries. Such deliberations should be carried out in a constructive and purely technical basis to avoid politicization of the issues and exerting undue pressure on any specific State.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the national level, the Islamic Republic of Iran has a very unique situation. Building upon its past experience in facing multiple threats including state terrorism reflected in the martyrdom of our nuclear scientists, Iran has taken upon itself to enhance further the mechanisms of its nuclear security throughout the country, through its own resources and also by utilizing the Agency and other Member States’ potentials.
To take advantage of the Agency’s assistance, several national workshops and one regional workshop have been held during the past few years in Iran, notably, Interregional Workshop on Introduction to Nuclear Security Detection Architecture, held in Tehran last July. Likewise, I should mention the fruitful visit of DDG for Safety and Security of the Agency to Iran.
Furthermore, Iran is updating the regulations regarding the security of radioactive sources and the relevant guidance on control and combating illicit trafficking of radioactive and nuclear materials. In addition, the relevant recommendations reflected in INFICIR/225/Rev.5 have also been envisaged in Iran’s contract with the Russian Federation for the two new nuclear power plants under construction.
To conclude, we hope that this conference by taking stock of the achievements gained thus far in addressing the current and emerging issues and challenges will serve as an important input 7 for the preparation of the Agency’s next Nuclear Security Plan for the period of 2022-2025.
Let me also wish you and all the distinguished delegates every success in the course of the days ahead and thank you very much for your kind attention.
Top Iranian, Swedish Diplomats Discuss Ukrainian Plane Crash
In a telephone conversation on Monday evening, Foreign Minister Zarif and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde discussed the issues relating to the crash of the Ukrainian plane.
In the phone call, the two sides emphasized the need for cooperation instead of politicization of the incident.
FM Zarif Warns about Consequences of Siding with US
“Whoever sides with the US and calls the heroes of regional nations terrorist will definitely have no future in this region,” Foreign Minister Zarif noted.
Foreign Minister Zarif made the remarks in a Monday speech to a ceremony marking the 41st anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, attended by the Iranian President and foreign ambassadors in Tehran.
In his remarks, the top Iranian diplomat described the massive presence of people in the funeral of Iranian commander Lt. General Qassem Soleimani as an expression of hatred for the US policies in the region.
“Certain individuals have been dreaming about an end to the Islamic Republic for 41 years, and repeat their previous mistaken policies every day on the basis of such wrong understanding, and console themselves with a pretext every day that their expected day has come, and while the Iranian people reject such viewpoint with their presence, with the expression of views and with the support, they insist on their wrong outlook again with another excuse,” the minister added.
“If the people of Iran were to announce it to the US that ‘we oppose you and do not agree with your policies’, they could not do it any better than taking part in the ceremony commemorating Lt. General Soleimani; and if the regional people wanted to tell the US that ‘we abhor your policies and do not accept that you may define terrorism for us, because you yourselves are the leader of them (terrorists)’, they could not express this any better than by attending the commemorative service for Martyr Soleimani. The world will once again see the Iranian people’s epic tomorrow,” Foreign Minister Zarif noted.
The top Iranian diplomat finally advised the enemies to abandon their wrong dreams and not mistake the domestic quarrels and arguments in Iran for a gap between the Iranian people.
“What you considered as a rift between people became obvious in the funeral of Martyr Soleimani,” Foreign Minister Zarif told the enemies.
President Brands US Sanctions as Terrorist Act against All Iranians
Speaking in a Monday meeting with foreign ambassadors in Tehran, President Rouhani said, “Those who are familiar with Iran’s civilization and culture know that the great Iranian nation will not yield to bullying and unjust pressures”.
An excerpt of the presidential speech is as follows, according to the president’s official website:
“In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the distinguished guests, ambassadors and heads of missions in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
For us, Bahman 22nd is reminiscent of the critical and important memories of 41 years ago and the liberation of the people from dictatorship.
Forty-one years ago, people responded positively to the call of a trusted leader and scholar who called on them to form a movement and revolution to overthrow a rotten and corrupt regime and establish a popular government.
The basis of the Islamic Revolution that achieved victory over 16 years of fight was the movement and presence of the people, not a particular party, group or ethnic group.
The Revolution that was based on national causes and goals was undoubtedly a completely popular revolution that always relied on the people.
Today, we are facing unjust sanctions imposed by the United States against the entire Iranian nation. No one doubts that the maximum pressure and the US sanctions are against each and every Iranian people. This means that not even one person is excluded from these sanctions; a single patient, a single food item is not excluded. No airplane part that is needed for flight safety is excluded. And this is completely clear; a 100-percent inhumane sanction that is against an entire nation. Such sanction may have been less seen in the history of the world.
They are putting these maximum pressures to force the officials to surrender and then the people. Americans are wrong in both of them. Our people and officials do not give in to these sanctions.
The Americans thought they could force the Iranian nation to surrender with maximum pressure on the entire imports, exports and people’s lives. Those who are familiar with Iran’s civilization and culture know that the great Iranian nation will not yield to bullying and unjust pressures.
Despite America’s all-out pressures in the past 20 months, all economic indices since the past 8 months show that Iran’s conditions are completely stable and we have successfully overcome these sanctions and that America has made a mistake. Inflation, economic growth and employment figures show that the Iranian people and government are on the right track.
Although today our people face many problems because of the sanctions, there is no queue across the country for food, medicine, or essentials, for transportation and travel, for scientific study, or for treatment in hospitals. All our conditions today are stable in this country.
We managed the country well last year and this year despite the sanctions, and we needed neither foreign loans nor borrowing from our central bank to run the country.
We are proud of the Iranian people’s resistance, and the United States has shown that it is not a country that adheres to its signature and commitments, and that it is not a country that adheres to its political and moral commitments, and this is the first damage to the dignity of the US government.
The US action is against the safeguards of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which ordered the United States not to initiate sanctions; and also the US actions are contrary to the UN Security Council resolutions including Resolution 2231.
The assassination of a military commander on the territory of a neighboring country that was its official guest is a great crime that violates all international regulations, and no one in our region doubts that General Soleimani was after stability and peace in the region.
It was easy for General Soleimani to kill the American generals if he wanted, but he never did it, and I testify this as someone who was fully aware of the actions of the Quds Force and Commander Soleimani in the region.
The route of General Soleimani was not from the airport to the battlefield, not to a field of action against the United States, but from the airport to a meeting venue with the Prime Minister of Iraq, the highest official of the country, hours later. The great crime is condemned by us, by the world and by the international law.
The third crime of the United States, in addition to dozens of other crimes, is the crime against the Palestinian people and our region, with international regulations and UN resolutions in 1967 and 1973 in place.
According to the international law, the land of Palestine belongs to the Palestinian people, and the Palestinian refugees must return to their country. The US has taken anti-human rights action against Palestine, as it has done so against the Syrian people.
In Iraq, despite the decision of the Iraqi lawmakers and government, it has remained in the country in violation of the international law.
What they are pursuing via the Crime of the Century and want to keep the Palestinian nation permanently displaced from their homeland is a new scandal for the White House, for the American people, and for the American government before it has any effect.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has been a harbinger of peace since the beginning of the Revolution, and during these 41 years, we have not acted against any state. War was imposed on us, but we did not attack a country. We helped the displaced. We helped the displaced people of Afghanistan, the Iraqi people who were displaced in the war of the Coalition against Iraq. We helped the Kuwaiti people during Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait. We helped the people of Qatar who were under illegal siege. We helped the Yemeni people with food and medicine. During these 41 years, we have helped the people and the cause of Palestine. We helped the Lebanese people. We fought against the terrorists and suffered casualties.
Our people helped every government that asked us for help against terrorism. The day Iraq asked us for help against ISIS, we helped them. The day the region in northern Iraq asked us for help, we went to help them.
The day the Syrian government asked us for help, we helped them. Our nation is a peace-loving nation against terrorism. We are a nation that has been a victim of terrorism and chemical weapons.
Our nation is a victim of terrorist groups that are still supported by the United States, a victim of terrorists and chemical weapons prepared for Saddam by the Western countries. But we have always sought peace, and today we are seeking peace. What we are saying is for the benefit of the people of the region and even the American people.
What the White House is doing is against the interests of this nation, the nations of the region, against the stability of the region, and against the interests of America itself and the American people.
Our proposal since the first day (of the current administration) in 2013 was World Against Violence and Extremism (WAVE) at the UN General Assembly and in 2019 again, our proposal at the UN General Assembly was the Hormuz Peace Endeavour (HOPE). What we propose is to fight against extremism and terrorism in the region. Iran’s proposal to the whole world is dialogue and negotiation.
Let the whole world know that we have used our missiles two times; once against ISIS when they killed our innocent people in Khuzestan and Ahwaz and around the Islamic Consultative Assembly. The second time was against Ain al-Assad Air Base in Iraq because of the crimes they committed and assassinated our military commander.
So, our precision-guided and modern missiles are to be used against terror and crime; we have never built missiles for aggression, and will never do so.
We assure all of our neighbors and regional people that we want peaceful coexistence. We are willing to negotiate with all our neighbors, without exception, to settle the issues. We have brotherly and friendly relations with most of our neighbors and countries around the world today.
What we want is brotherhood, friendship and negotiation. We want the end of wars, the end of aggression, the end of supporting terrorism, and the end of sanctions. We favor living together, which is the message of our Revolution.
This is the message of our imam. We have been with this Revolution for 41 years, and we will always stand by it because it has brought us freedom, independence and national sovereignty and has set us on the path to ethics and peace.”
US Troops Mortified Globally after IRGC Strike: Spokesman
“What was important about the missile attack on the US base in Ayn al-Assad was that it broke the US apparent awe and prestige, as no one had dared to attack their bases for 70 years, but the IRGC’s slap in the US face … brought them to their knees,” General Sharif said on Monday.
He made the remarks in an address to a commemorative ceremony for General Qassem Soleimani at the Centre for International Conferences at Damghan University.
Referring to the US casualties in the aftermath of the missile strike, General Sharif said “they will talk about their casualties and destroyed equipment over their coming presidency election campaigns.
“A total of 13 missiles hit different spots within the US base, though our priority was not to kill the US troops. But the casualties were definitely more than they have announced to date,” he added.
Stressing the necessity for the US to leave Iraq he said “in the country … tens of millions of people took to the streets to … confirm the Iraqi parliament resolution to expel US military from their country.
Americans know this reality, but they brazen it out.”
