Zarif: Iran-Russia Ties Beneficial for Region, World

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September 2, 2019

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart on Monday, Zarif said, “The cooperation between Tehran and Moscow is inclusive, and will definitely benefit the two nations, the region, and the world.”

Zarif also highlighted the role that the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Commission has played in the expansion of relations between the two states, saying he is accompanied by Iran’s Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian, who would meet his Russian counterpart to discuss the ways to promote mutual cooperation.

“Our relations with Russia stand at an acceptable level, although the Americans have put obstacles in the way of them (Russians), Chinese and the other countries,” the Iranian foreign minister added.

Pointing to the efforts to save the 2015 nuclear deal, Zarif said Tehran will definitely take the third step in reducing its JCPOA commitments should the European parties to the deal fail to honor their commitments before a looming deadline.

Zarif also noted that a group of Iranian diplomats were in Paris to weigh up the three EU parties’ commitment to the JCPOA.

The top Iranian diplomat finally reiterated that Iran is ready to fully implement the JCPOA as soon as the UK, France, and Germany carry out the deal completely.

Tehran has already reduced its commitments under the 2015 nuclear agreement in two stages however saying that all the measures are reversible.

The 2015 deal between Iran and six world powers, reached when Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama was in office, was aimed to curb Iran’s disputed uranium enrichment program in exchange for the lifting of many international sanctions on Tehran.

Iran’s Views Converging with Those of France: Spokesman

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 2, 2019

“In the past few weeks, there have been serious negotiations” between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, as well as talks with other European nations, said Rabiei in a press conference on Monday.

“Fortunately, in many areas, our views have come closer together,” he added.

The comments come as an Iranian delegation, headed by Deputy Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi, is currently in Paris to discuss Macron’s offer to save the JCPOA.

A team of experts from the Central Bank of Iran and the Oil Ministry is accompanying Araqchi in order to discuss ways to secure Iran’s oil exports and its ability to collect the revenues, which are a prerequisite for Iran to stop reducing its commitments under the 2015 accord.

Iran has given Europe until Thursday to meet its demands. Otherwise, the country will go ahead with the third phase of reducing its commitments under a deal, from which the US withdrew last year.

Iran’s ‘Strong Step’ Imminent

Rabiei also warned that the country will “take a strong step” away from the JCPOA if Europe cannot offer the country new terms by the Thursday deadline.

He described Iran’s strategy as “commitment for commitment”.

“Iran’s oil should be bought and its money should be accessible to return to Iran,” Rabiei said. “This is the agenda of our talks.”

In his Monday comments, Rabiei also suggested President Rouhani could still meet US counterpart Donald Trump if it served Iran’s interests.

Rouhani earlier played down the likelihood of a meeting, saying the Americans first needed to lift all sanctions against Iran.

However, the government spokesman hinted on Monday that such a meeting could still happen if it suited Iran’s interests.

“The president (Rouhani) still holds the same position that because of national interests, if he’s sure that meeting someone will help our people, he will not hold back,” Rabiei said.

“In my opinion, the US president’s goal for meeting Iran’s president is one thing and ours is another. The US president’s goal is more for domestic reasons, while we aim to return to what is our right and has been neglected.”

The situation has calmed down somewhat since, with Macron expressing hopes during a G7 summit in late August of organising a meeting between Rouhani and Trump.

Nevertheless, Rabiei has cautioned that “there is no reason for the president to meet an agitator and an economic terrorist in the current situation.”

Iran Strongly Condemns Israeli Aggression against Lebanon

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 2, 2019

“The occupying regime’s move to shell parts of southern Lebanon is a continuation of its last week’s acts of aggression against the Dahieh suburb of Beirut, a blatant breach of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent member state of the UN, and an act against global peace and security,” Mousavi said in a Monday statement.

“With the meaningful silence of the international community and the unflinching support of the United States, the bankrupt regime of Israel is trying to undermine the proud resistance of the Lebanese people, who are seeking to maintain their territorial integrity and independence against the Zionists’ acts of aggression and excessive demands today with a strong army, government, and president,” he added.

Mousavi finally called on the international community, particularly the United Nations, not to keep silent towards the occupying regime’s repeated aggression, which is disrupting the stability and security of the region and the whole world, and strive to prevent such acts of aggression.

Israeli forces on Sunday fired several shells at the border village of Maroun al-Ras in south Lebanon. Al Manar TV’s footage showed large plumes of smoke rising from the countryside near the border with the occupied territories. The TV channel reported Israeli warplanes were also conducting overflights above the village.

A statement by Lebanese army said that Israel fired 40 rockets into south Lebanon during the Sunday border escalation.

Al-Manar also reported that Israeli military was using phosphorus munitions to attack southern Lebanon in response to Lebanese Resistance Movement Hezbollah’s attack.

Hezbollah said yesterday it had targeted an Israeli military vehicle near the border with the occupied Palestinian lands, killing and injuring all forces on board.

The operation was carried out by two fighter groups on Sunday, who targeted two Israeli vehicles. One of the vehicles escaped the Lebanese fighters’ fire, but the other one was totally destroyed leaving all those on board killed or injured.

Hezbollah fighters “destroyed a military vehicle on the road to the Avivim barracks (in northern Israel), killing and wounding those inside,” the resistance group said in a statement.

Iran Says ‘Technical Failure’ Caused Explosion in Satellite Launch Pad

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 2, 2019

Speaking to IRIB News Agency on Monday, Rabiei said no satellite had been transferred to the site to be installed on the launch pad.

He also noted that the explosion, which left no fatalities, happened during the test phase and at the time when the launch platform was being prepared.

US President Donald Trump posted a satellite image on Friday that allegedly showed a launching pad in Iran’s Semnan province littered with debris from what was said to be Iran’s Safir (Ambassador) space launch vehicle.

“The United States of America was not involved in the catastrophic accident during final launch preparations for the Safir SLV Launch at Semnan Launch Site One in Iran,” Trump said. “I wish Iran best wishes and good luck in determining what happened at Site One.”

In his Monday remarks, Rabiei said similar explosions are common even in industrial countries, and Iran cannot understand why Trump was so excited about such an incident in Iran.

The spokesman said all Iranian experts agree that the incident was caused by a technical mistake, despite the media fuss that claimed it was caused by an espionage or sabotage operation.

Shortly after Trump’s tweet, Iran refuted the claim by arranging a tour of the Nahid 1 satellite, which is due to be launched into orbit on board the Safir soon.

Iranian Minister of Information and Communications Technology Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi took the reporters on Saturday morning to a space research centre, where the domestically-made satellite was showcased undamaged.

Earlier in the day, Jahromi posted a picture of himself along with the telecommunication satellite, saying, “Me & Nahid 1 right now. Good Morning Donald Trump!”

Iran is expected to launch three satellites into orbit by the end of the year despite US warnings against the country’s aerospace program.

The satellites include Nahid 1, which has Iran’s first foldable solar panels, as well as Zafar and Pars 1 sensing satellites.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 2

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

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September 2, 2019

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 19

Abrar:

1- Zarif: Iran May Reconsider Implementing Third Nuclear Step

2- Iranian Navy’s Yassir Drone Successfully Identifies Targets

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- US’ Talks with Houthis: What’s White House Looking for?

2- Johnson Will Back Off as He Has No Other Choice: Analyst

Donya-ye Eqtesad:

1- Diplomat’s Economic Mission: Araqchi’s Talks with French Officials in Final Stage

2- Chaotic Night in Hong Kong

Ebtekar:

1- Zarif: Return from Third Phase Still Possible

2- JCPOA in Fateful Phase: Araqchi Visiting Paris after Rouhani-Macron Talks

Etemad:

1- Hezbollah’s Response to Israeli Aggression

2- Election Blow to Netanyahu [Editorial]

Ettela’at:

1- Ismail Haniyeh Praises Iran Leader for Warmly Welcoming Hamas Delegation

2- Rouhani: Full Removal of Sanctions to Prepare Grounds for Future Negotiations

Hamshahri:

1- Negotiation in Paris, Consultation in Moscow

* As Araqchi Visits Paris, Zarif Will Hold Talks with Russians in Moscow

Iran:

1- Businessmen, Diplomats in Paris

* JCPOA Consultations Accelerated ahead of Third Ultimatum

Jame Jam:

1- Countdown for Beginning of Third Phase

Javan:

1- Europe’s Last-Ditch Effort in Last Days

* Four Days to Iran’s Deadline, Araqchi to Visit France Today

2- Iran’s Bavar-373 Defence System Competes with World’s Modern Air Defence Systems

Kayhan:

1- Don’t Be Fooled by France! It Wouldn’t Have Undermined JCPOA

2- Iran Unveils Precision Strike Drone Kian

3- Amnesty Int’l: Al Saud in Yemen Killing People with French Arms

4- Hamas Chief: Iran Leader’s Statements Highly Effective in Palestinians’ Fight against Terror

Sazandegi:

1- Going Beyond Red Populism: Why Ahmadinejad Congratulated Michael Jackson’s Birthday?

2- Zionists’ Mischief

* Nasrallah Warns about Israeli Army’s Moves in Northern Borders

3- Hezbollah Retaliates

Shargh:

1- Tehran-Paris Still Busy

* From Rouhani-Macron Phone Conversation to Araqchi’s Visit

Iran Discloses Details of Macron’s Offer to Save JCPOA

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 2, 2019

In comments on Sunday, MP Ali Motahari said French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed establishing a $15 billion credit line for the advance purchase of Iranian oil.

He also dismissed the notion that the sum of money would be supplied to Iran as a donation or a loan.

The French have proposed to provide the money in three stages, the lawmaker noted, adding that Macron has called on Iran to refrain from taking the third step in exchange for the credit line and has probably urged that Iran should reverse the measures it has already taken in the first and second steps and should undertake the initial commitments under the JCPOA.

Tehran has rowed back on its nuclear commitments twice in compliance with articles 26 and 36 of the 2015 deal, after the US scrapped the agreement in May 2018 and the European parties (UK, France, and Germany) failed to ensure Iran’s economic interests.

As a first step Iran increased its enriched uranium stockpile to beyond the 300 kilograms set by the JCPOA. In the second step, Tehran began enriching uranium to purity rates beyond the JCPOA-limit of 3.76 percent.

The Islamic Republic maintains that all the measures are reversible, provided that the other parties fulfill their commitments.

In recent weeks, France has stepped up efforts to persuade Iran to avoid taking the third step.

A senior political-economic delegation headed by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi is going to visit Paris on Monday to discuss the French president’s offer.

Iran to Start 3rd Round of Reducing Commitments More Decisively

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IFP Media Wire

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September 2, 2019

File photo shows the interior of a nuclear energy facility in Iran.

“The third step will be heavier than the first and second ones so it can strike a balance between the Islamic Republic’s rights and obligations in the JCPOA,” Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting News Agency.

The JCPOA stands for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as the nuclear deal is officially called. Mousavi said the third round of Iran’s response has already been devised and is implementable.

Iran initiated a first round of nuclear countermeasures in May, in reaction to the United States’ withdrawal from the JCPOA a little over a year ago.

The Iranian move was aimed at prompting the deal’s European signatories to live up to the commitment they have undertaken under the deal to satisfy Iran’s business interests.

As a first step, Iran increased its enriched uranium stockpile to beyond the 300-kilogram cap set by the agreement.

The Islamic Republic took the second step two months later, which saw it begin enrichment of uranium to purity rates beyond the JCPOA limit of 3.76 percent.

Mousavi said Iran was enacting the responses at the same time as it was giving diplomacy a chance, referring to ongoing communication between Iran and France, which has reportedly come up with proposals aimed at saving the nuclear accord.

The third step will come if the European side fails to display the will to keep the deal in place, the spokesman said. However, if they meet their obligations, Iran will decide against taking the third step and even roll back some of the measures it has already taken, he added.

US cannot bar Iran FM from UN

Mousavi also said although Washington has sanctioned Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, it is not legally permitted to bar foreign top diplomats and presidents from the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

He said the US slapped the sanctions against Zarif to trouble his presence at the meeting among other things.

The spokesperson, however, noted, “If conditions evolve favorably, Mr. Zarif and his delegation’s trip will take place and his active diplomacy will be pursued in New York and on the side lines of the General Assembly as well as inside the United Nations.”

Migraine Patients Can Receive Free Counselling Services in Iran

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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September 2, 2019

The move has, to a great extent, facilitated the trend of curing migraine in patients suffering from the disease.

The analyses of data obtained through telephone counselling at Mim Daroo pharmaceutical company indicate that the initiative taken by the company has had a meaningful effect on indicators of headache in migraine sufferers and has resulted in a meaningful drop in the amount of chemical painkillers used by these individuals.

One of the reasons behind such results is the counselling services offered to patients free of charge. Having access to counsellors before treatment begins will help patients take medicines properly and based on his/her own specific condition. It will help them pass their treatment period with more care and precision. The phone counselling system also eases patients’ contact with the drug company. The system was put into service in Iran at the same time that the medicine “Migraine Cut” officially hit the market in the country. So far, more than 5600 people have used the free services offered by this system.

Patients taking the Migraine Cut drug can use the services before and while taking the medicine.

When a patient contacts a counsellor via a phone call or internet connection, an independent file is opened for him/her. Through all stages of treatment, councilors review the trend of the improvement of the patient’s health and give him/her advice on the proper dose of the Migraine Cut drug, or on how to cut down on painkillers. The counselling takes place under the supervision of specialist physicians.

Migraine Treatment Now Possible with ‘Migraine Cut’ Spray

Zarif in Moscow for Talks on Regional Developments

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 2, 2019

“We need to hold talks with our Russian friends on different issues pertaining to bilateral ties,” Zarif told reporters upon arrival on Sunday.

“More important than me, chairman of the Iran-Russia Joint Commission Dr. Ardakanian is also present here. He will discuss mutual relations with the Russian side,” he added.

“In addition to bilateral discussions, I will also discuss with Russian officials mutual cooperation on regional issues, including Syria. Astana talks are going to be held soon in Turkey and we need to make the necessary arrangements in that regard,” he added.

Zarif said he will also discuss the Yemen crisis, the Israeli regime’s acts of aggression in the region, and the “serious” developments unfolding in Afghanistan.

“Iran’s special representatives for Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria are on the Iranian delegation and will sit down for talks with their counterparts,” he noted.

“We also need to inform our Russian friends on the latest developments pertaining to the JCPOA, including the [recent] negotiations in France [from where] I immediately went to China and let Chinese officials in on the latest developments.”

“And I have travelled to Russia now, and I will inform Mr Lavrov and other Russia authorities of the latest developments. We have common ground with Russia and China on the JCPOA and many global developments,” he added.

Zonuzaq Village: An Architectural Marvel in Iran

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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September 2, 2019

Recently, the Zonuzaq village has come under the spotlight as Iran’s largest stair-like village and a tourism hub thanks to its natural and historical attractions.

Zonuzaq is Iran’s largest stair-like village located near the city of Zonouz in northwestern East Azarbaijan province. It lies next to the provincial capital of Tabriz.

Homes in the village boast beautiful architecture and the yard of each house above is, in fact, the roof of another house below. Local women wear traditional and colourful costumes.

The passageways and coloured houses in the village still maintain their historical identity. Some of the houses there date back to the Safavid era. Some experts believe the village dates back to the Ilkhanate rule, but there are manuscripts in the local cemetery which show the village was established in an era before the Ilkhanate rule.

The main industry in the village is the production of orchard produce such as apples, apricots and walnuts.

Villagers pay due regard to education, and there are people with Master’s and PhD degrees in each and every house there.

In addition to its different architecture and great antiquity, the village can be very attractive to tourists due to its pleasant weather.

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