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Rouhani Says US Sanctions on Iran Resemble Coronavirus

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Hassan Rouhani-foreign minister of Austria

In a Sunday meeting with the foreign minister of Austria in Tehran, President Rouhani said the US sanctions are similar to the coronavirus, as the panic about them is bigger than the reality.

“The European Union is expected to stand against the US’ illegal measures,” the president added.

He also highlighted the suitable grounds for economic cooperation between Tehran and Vienna, saying, “We hope Austria would not care about the illegal and incorrect pressures from Americans in the promotion of cooperation (with Iran).”

The 2015 nuclear deal does not belong only to Iran, to Europe or to the Group 5+1, but is an influential factor in the regional and international peace and security, President Rouhani noted, stressing, “We still believe that we can save the JCPOA.”

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action could work as an appropriate base to build mutual trust between Iran and the West, including the European Union and the US, the president stated, emphasizing that Iran has lived up to its part of the agreement.

Denouncing the US sanctions on the export of foodstuff and pharmaceutical products to Iran, President Rouhani said such sanctions amount to an “act of terrorism”.

“We expect the European Union to fulfill its humanitarian duty in this regard,” the president told the Austrian minister.

President Rouhani then reiterated that the regional security must be ensured by the regional countries themselves, adding, “Today, the security of the region’s sea routes has decreased compared to the past, and many countries in our region, such as Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan are not experiencing suitable security conditions.”

He said Iran has proposed the Hormuz Peace Endeavor for the establishment of peace and security in the region, noting, “All of the problems of our region result from the US’ wrong and illegal interference in the affairs of the region.”

“We believe that the security of this region (Middle East) is important for the security of Europe and for the safety of the energy routes in the entire world and Europe,” President Rouhani underlined.

He finally expressed hope for the enhancement of cooperation between Iran and Austria in various fields, and also hoped that the Austrian foreign minister’s trip to Tehran would lead to positive developments in the ties between Iran and the European Union.

In turn, Alexander Schallenberg hailed the friendly and age-old relations between Austria and Iran, and highlighted the efforts to boost the bilateral ties in all fields, particularly the economic and trade interaction.

The Austrian diplomat also described the JCPOA as a milestone in trust-building efforts in the region and the world, highlighted the plan to save the JCPOA as a main policy of Austria and the EU, and vowed to make whatever effort necessary to salvage the nuclear deal.

“We believe that the JCPOA has a significant role in maintaining calm and stability in the region, and it is necessary to save it,” Schallenberg added, lauding Iran for its major role in ensuring stability and security in the region.

He also praised the Iranian peace initiative, known as the Hormuz Peace Endeavor, saying the plan could become a “road map to peace and stability in the region”.

“Austria welcomes this initiative, which has been proposed to build trust, and is willing to play a positive role in this process,” the European diplomat concluded.

Coronavirus in Iran: Schools Shut Down as Death Toll Hits 8

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Coronavirus in Iran: Schools Shut Down as Death Toll Hits 8
Front page of Iranian daily newspaper Shahrvand on Feb. 20, 2020 with the title "Corona's Here"

Since it emerged in December, the new coronavirus has killed 2,345 people in China, the epicentre of the epidemic, and over 20 elsewhere in the world.

The COVID-19 outbreak in Iran first surfaced on Wednesday, when authorities said it claimed the lives of two elderly people in Qom, a Shiite holy city south of the capital.

They were the first confirmed deaths from the virus in the Middle East. Iran reported two more deaths on Friday and another one on Saturday.

The latest figures announced by the Health Ministry on Sunday take to 43 the total number of confirmed infections in Iran, out of which eight have passed away.

Based on official figures, nearly 18 percent of those infected with the new coronavirus in Iran have died, compared with little more than three percent in China.

As a “preventive measure”, authorities ordered the closure of schools, universities and other educational centres in 14 provinces across the country from Sunday.

They include Tehran, Qom, Markazi, Gilan, Ardabil, Kermanshah, Qazvin, Zanjan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Hamadan, Alborz, Semnan, and Kurdistan.

The government also announced that “all art and cinema events in halls across the country have been cancelled until the end of the week [Friday]” in order to stop infections.

Sport events, including the football matches of the country’s premier league, will also be held without spectators.

The health ministry says tests had been carried out on 785 suspected coronavirus cases since the outbreak began.

“Most of the cases are either Qom residents or have a history of coming and going from Qom to other cities,” its spokesman said.

Iran has yet to confirm the origin of the outbreak, but the Health Minister announced on Sunday that one of the two first cases who died of COVID-19 was a businessman who had visited China through a third country.

Tourian Village, Green Place in Iran’s Qeshm Island

By
Fatemeh Askarieh
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Tourian Village, Green Place in Iran's Qeshm Island

Tourian is a village about 31 km to the southwest of Qeshm Island. Agriculture is booming in this village. Vegetable cultivation, sunflower farms and beautiful palm groves are among the tourist attractions of this region.

At the time of Mongol invasion when anarchy was the order of the day in Iran, any tribe which could escape unharmed and survive the Mongol plunder would leave for a safe place.

A tribe headed by Touran settled in Qeshm Island. The tribal chief built a court, a mosque and a bathroom in the village and proclaimed himself the king. Later he was known as Touran Shah (King Touran).

History has it that two Touran Shahs were in Tourian village: one on Hormuz Island and the other on Qeshm. Ibn Battuta writes in his travelogue: Touran, the king of this island, took up residence six farsangs from Qeshm. He is widely known as Mokhles or Tourian.

 

Iranian, Austrian Foreign Ministers Hold Talks in Tehran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iranian, Austrian Foreign Ministers Hold Talks in Tehran

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, who has visited Iran at the head of a diplomatic delegation, held the first round of negotiations with the Iranian Foreign Minister in Tehran on Sunday morning.
In the meeting, the two sides welcomed the expansion of close bilateral relations between Iran and Austria and stressed the need for plans to promote and deepen the ties in all fields.
The main topics of the first round of talks between Foreign Minister Zarif and Schallenberg included the latest developments surrounding the JCPOA and the European parties’ commitments to the nuclear deal.
At the conclusion of the first round of their negotiations, the two top diplomats are going to visit the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Afterwards, they will resume their negotiations in the second round in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran on Sunday noon.

Iran Saves $7b Through Reliance on Domestic Firms

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran Saves $7b Through Reliance on Domestic Firms

On the sidelines of a joint exhibition held by the Headquarters, Mohammad said that the security of investment is very important for the private sector and the producers must be assured about receiving infrastructure services to them.

Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarter is an Iranian engineering firm controlled by the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC). It is the IRGC’s major engineering arm and one of Iran’s largest contractors in industrial and development projects.

Khatam al-Anbiya was created during the 1980–88 Iran–Iraq War to help rebuild the country, and has diversified over the years into companies dealing with mechanical engineering, energy, mining and defence.

Iran’s Leader Hails High Voter Turnout Despite Foreign Propaganda Campaigns

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei

Ayatollah Khamenei said foreign propaganda outlets had started spreading propaganda against the elections months ago, which heated up in the run-up to the vote.

“In the last two days [before the elections,] they spared no effort to discourage people from taking part in the election under the pretext of a disease and a virus (coronavirus),” Ayatollah Khamenei noted in an address to his students at the beginning of a theology class on Sunday.

He said enmity towards the Iranian people is not limited to economic, cultural and religious domains.

“They are even opposed to Iranians’ elections because they wouldn’t like to see voter turnout in the name of religion and the revolution become fixed as a reality,” the Leader noted.

He said the holding of elections in the Islamic Establishment of Iran refutes enemies’ claims that religion is opposed to freedom and democracy.

“Elections in the Islamic Republic if Iran show that religion is the full manifestation of an all-out democracy, and the holding of 37 elections over 41 years [since 1979 Revolution] shows the Islamic Establishment pays due regard to democracy,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

He urged all to identify the enemy and remain vigilant against it.

Doors to Dialogue with Europe Still Open: Rouhani

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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President Hassan Rouhan-Stef Blok

“We believe that the nuclear deal served the interests of the region and the world and the US move [to pull out of the deal] harms all [nations] and even the American people,” the Iranian president said in a meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok in Tehran on Saturday.

“Over the past 21 months since the US exit from the JCPOA (the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), the European Union has unfortunately failed to take effective steps in line with mutual relations and the fulfillment of its commitments under the JCPOA,” he added.

Pointing to the US’ “illegal, unilateral and cruel” sanctions against the Iranian nation, which also include medicine and food, Rouhani said, “It is expected that the world’s free nations vociferously condemn these unlawful sanctions.”

Elsewhere in the meeting, the Iranian president pointed to centuries of “good and cordial” relations between Tehran and Amsterdam and said, “We are keen to expand political and economic relations with the Netherlands.”

He added that Iran’s foreign policy is based on “constructive interaction” with countries, in particular enhanced relations with the EU.

Rouhani also emphasized that the US presence and policies in the region are the root causes of regional insecurity and said, “If the US stops its terrorist measures and uncalled-for interference, our region will be naturally safe.”

In turn, the Dutch foreign minister said his country would make efforts to preserve the JCPOA and stressed the importance of continuing dialogue as a means of solving problems.
Blok added that Amsterdam has openly and privately told the Americans that their move to withdraw from the JCPOA, which is an international agreement, was not the right thing to do.

He also called for the promotion of relations between the two countries in all fields, particularly in the economic sector, and expressed hope that the Netherlands would be able to play a more dynamic role in the implementation of a non-dollar direct payment channel — officially called the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX).

Reformists Put on Compulsory Leave by Guardian Council: Iranian Daily

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Reformists Put on Compulsory Leave by Guardian Council Iranian Daily
The late moderate politician Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (front row) praying with Imam Khomeini's moderate grandson Hassan Khomeini (1st left), moderate President Hassan Rouhani (2nd left), reformist leader and ex-president Seyyed Mohammad Khatami (3d right), moderate politician Nateq Nouri (2nd right), and reformist first vice-president, Es'haq Jahangiri (1st right)

In an article published on Saturday, February 22, the Etemad daily hailed the turnout in the Friday’s nationwide parliamentary election, saying the presence of voters at the polling stations indicated that people have not broken with the ballot boxes.

Describing the pendulum of power between different political groups as an indicator of democracy in a society, the article said, “However, one cannot ignore the Guardian Council’s role in depriving the reformists of the opportunity to compete, which made them lose the competition and the election ahead of the voting.”

“In fact, the Guardian Council’s supervision during this round caused the reformists to be practically deprived of prominent figures. Although a few number of the incumbent lawmakers were finally qualified after a process, the chance of competition, particularly in the provincial cities, was slight or basically there was no chance,” it added.

“Thus, although we must accept that a rotation and turn of power is necessary for the balance of power, the Guardian Council’s role in putting the reformists on compulsory leave in this round in undeniable,” the report noted.

The article, however, has praised the people of Iran for participating in the elections in spite of all economic problems and woes or their criticism of the Parliament, the administration and the other decision-making bodies.

“It seems that people now believe in the strategy that turning back on the ballot box and breaking with it would go nowhere. However, one cannot ignore the fact that a forced decrease in the number of reformists in the elections, which resulted in protests from many figures affiliated with that current, has definitely had a significant impact on the number of votes. If the reformists were free to present a list, we would certainly witness a higher turnout, but unfortunately the Guardian Council damaged a democratic phenomenon like the elections with such kind of supervision,” it added.

The article has also proposed the idea that the Guardian Council should learn from the experience of holding 11 rounds of parliamentary elections and should make some revisions to the period of time for the vetting process and examining the qualification of candidates.

“The fact that the qualification of tens of thousands of candidates is examined within a short time span is making the job of the Guardian Council difficult in practice and may also lead to some disruption to that process,” said the article.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on February 22

By
Seyedeh Maryam Hosseini Lahijani
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Iran Newspaper Headlines

Iran Newspapers

Abrar Newspaper:

1- Iran Blacklisted by FATF

2- Kremlin Says Iran, Russia, Turkey Will Meet on Syria

3- Austria FM to Convey Europe’s Message to Iran in Tehran Visit

4- Defence Ministry Delivers 8 Overhauled Jet Fighters to Iran Army

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on February 22

 

Aftab-e Yazd Newspaper:

1- Iran Leader: Election Day Is Day of Restoring Nation’s Civil Rights

2- Iran-Turkey Ties after Idlib Developments

3- Pentagon Official: We Should Prepare for War against China

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on February 22

 

Arman-e Melli Newspaper:

1- Iran Leader: Election Guarantees Country’s National Interests

2- Result of Expediency Council’s Inaction: Iran Returned to FATF Blacklist

3- Iran Elections, First after Return of Sanctions, Widely Covered by Int’l Media

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on February 22

 

Ebtekar Newspaper:

1- Iran in FATF Blacklist: Global Anti-Money Laundering Body Adds Iran to Its Blacklist

2- Turkey Threatens Moscow, Damascus amid Heightened Tensions in Idlib

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on February 22

 

Etemad Newspaper:

1- Sowing Seeds of Hatred and Harvesting Terror

* Terror Operation in Germany, Britain Kill Several Muslims

2- Celebration of Elections: Leader, President, Other Officials Cast Their Ballots

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on February 22

 

Ettela’at Newspaper:

1- People’s Glorious Turnout: Leader Hopes Elections Would Provide Iran Nation with God’s Blessing

2- Gov’t Mobilizes All Its Facilities to Fight Coronavirus: VP

3- Russia’s Attack on Turkish Army in Idlib Kills, Wounds 7 Soldiers

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on February 22

 

Kayhan Newspaper:

1- Ansarullah’s Major Attack on Sensitive Oil Facilities of Saudi as Pompeo Visits Riyadh

2- Fake News, Rumours Spread by Losers about Coronavirus

3- Erdogan Tastes First Blow from Assad in Idlib

4- Health Minister: Corona Less Dangerous than Flu

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on February 22

 

Shargh Newspaper:

1- Iran Leader: Whoever Interested in National Interests Votes in Elections

2- Rouhani: We Hope the Best Are Chosen

3- US Sanctions Member of Iran’s Guardian Council

4- Russia Thinking of Trump’s Re-Election

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on February 22

Iran, Netherlands Discuss Mideast Developments in Tehran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Iran, Netherlands Discuss Mideast Developments in Tehran

The first round of talks between the foreign ministers of Iran and the Netherlands is currently underway in Tehran.

The Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stef Blok, who has travelled to Tehran at the head of a delegation, met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday.

Referring to the good and traditional relations between the two countries, the two sides called for the expansion of bilateral ties.

The second round of talks followed a private exchange of views and the two sides talked about the most important bilateral, regional and international issues.

The JCPOA, the INSTEX, the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, the current situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria, as well as the crash of the Ukrainian aircraft were the most important topics of discussion.

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