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Iran Unveils New Strike Drones with High-Speed Tracking

September 1, 2019

The unmanned aerial vehicle, dubbed Kian, was inaugurated in the presence of Commander of the Iranian Army’s Air Defense Force Brigadier General Alireza Sabahi-Fardand and other senior commanders on Sunday.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Sabahi-Fard said that Kian had been designed in two types: one with high-speed capability for tracking and identification purposes and the other built for long-haul flights to conduct precision-strike operations.

Sabahi-Fard said the drone was designed, produced, and tested by experts at the drone unit of the Iranian Army’s Air Defense Force.

The long-haul vehicle, he said, is capable of hitting targets far from Iran’s borders and engaging in defense on hostile territory.

Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing military equipment and hardware despite facing sanctions and Western economic pressure.

The Islamic Republic says its military power is solely for defensive purposes and does not pose any threat to other countries.

On June 20, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) shot down an advanced US-made RQ-4 Global Hawk over the territorial waters off the coastal province of Hormozgan.

The unmanned US aircraft was brought down by Iran’s indigenous Khordad 3 air defense system after it breached the country’s airspace on a spying mission.

Iranian Delegation Due in Paris to Discuss Macron’s Offer

IFP Editorial Staff

September 1, 2019

Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Deal Based on Iran’s Proposal: Araqchi

According to Mahmoud Vaezi, the Iranian delegation will be headed by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi.

Araqchi will be accompanied by a team of economic experts from various sectors, and will discuss various aspects of the French offer, Vaezi noted.

“An offer was exchanged between Iran and France two weeks ago. We have changed considerable parts of the offer shared with us,” Vaezi said Saturday night.

“The offer is the result of five hours of phone conversations between Iranian and French presidents, and was developed from the talks between them,” he added.

According to Vaezi, the 2015 nuclear deal is worthless to Iran unless the country can reap its benefits. “Otherwise, it is of no value.”

The official’s remarks came shortly after a phone conversation between Rouhani and Macron, in which the former warned that the Islamic Republic will go ahead with the third step of rolling back its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal in coming days if Europe fails to carry out its duties.

He also stressed that the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers cannot be re-negotiated and all sides must comply with it.

The Iranian President once again reiterated that any further talks depend on the complete removal of anti-Iran sanctions.

Macron, in turn, hailed Iran’s commitment to further talks, and called for continued negotiations for the resolution of the issues.

He also noted that Paris is following up the political and economic problems with regard to Tehran.

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 programme in exchange for the lifting of many international sanctions on Tehran.

Iranian Students Win Title in US Aeronautics Competitions

IFP Editorial Staff

September 1, 2019

The Iranian “ShadX” team, consisting of 11 students form Sharif University of Technology, won the title in the Graduate Team Aircraft Design Competition.

The Iranian students from the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering of Sharif University have created a unique design a 4-seat VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft, dubbed “Esperichew” (means sparrow in a dialect spoken in Iran’s Kerman).

The unique air taxi designed by the Iranian students is equipped with eight engines, including four tilt-rotors that enable the aircraft to take off or land vertically.

Esperichew is designed to carry a pilot and three passengers in the first phase, but will be modified to become a pilotless aircraft after five years.

The air taxi weighs 1,950 kilograms and could be used for urban travels within a range of 100 miles.

Designing modern air taxis is a big challenge faced even by the aerospace giants, including Boeing and Airbus.

According to IRNA, “Faras”, another team from Sharif University had already come first in the design competitions back in June, but had to present the design through webinar because it could not travel to the US.

This is the third year that a team from Sharif University of Technology has ranked at the design section of the AIAA competitions.

Iran to Further Reduce JCPOA Commitments If EU Fails to Act: Rouhani

IFP Editorial Staff

August 31, 2019

Rouhani made the remark in yet another phone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron Saturday evening.

He also stressed that the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers cannot be re-negotiated and all sides must comply with it.

The Iranian President once again reiterated that any further talks depend on the complete removal of anti-Iran sanctions.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani expressed his gratitude for what he described as France’s concerted efforts in trying to save the accord.

In turn, Macron called for continued negotiations for the resolution of the issues, noting that Paris is following up the political and economic problems with regard to Tehran.

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

Since withdrawal from the deal last year, Trump has pursued a policy of “maximum pressure” to try to force the Islamic Republic into broader talks.

While Trump’s European allies also want fresh negotiations with Iran, they believe the nuclear deal must be upheld to help ward off the risk of a wider war in the Middle East. Macron had already met Zarif in Paris before the G7 summit.

Inspiring Iranian Journalist Succumbs to Cancer

IFP Editorial Staff

August 31, 2019

The young Iranian journalist passed away in Tehran on Saturday morning. He used to work for many Iranian newspapers, magazines and TV programs, including Hamshahri Javan, Donya-e-Varzesh, Jahan-e-Football, and 90.

The deceased had been actively sharing the experience of dealing with cancer with his followers on Twitter and Instagram.

In the last posts on his Twitter account two weeks ago, Shadmani advised everybody to enjoy life, laugh more, and make the others laugh before it is too late.

Mahdi was diagnosed with a type of cancer called Sarcoma.

Sudan’s al-Bashir Admits Getting $25m from Bin Salman

IFP Editorial Staff

August 31, 2019

Sudanese demonstrators hold portraits of President Omar al-Bashir during a protest in Khartoum on March 4, 2009. (Photo by AFP)

He made the confession on Saturday before a court, which charged him with illegal acquisition and use of foreign funds.

Judge Al-Sadiq Abdelrahman said at the third session of Bashir’s trial that foreign funds of multiple currencies were found at his home.

Authorities had “seized €6.9 million, $351,770 and 5.7 million Sudanese pounds at (Bashir’s) home which he acquired and used illegally,” the judge said.

Asked about the source, Bashir, 75, admitted to receiving funds from Saudi royals.

“My office manager… received a call from the office of Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman saying he has a ‘message’ that will be sent on a private jet,” Bashir said during the trial.

“We were told that the crown prince did not want his name to appear (linked to the transaction), and if the funds were deposited with Sudan’s bank or the finance ministry, the source would have to be identified,” he said.

The judge said illegal acquisition of wealth was punishable by up to 10 years in jail, while illicit use of foreign funds carried up to three years.

An investigator had previously told the court that Bashir received $90 million in cash from Saudi royals.

The trial was adjourned until September 7, said an AFP correspondent who attended the session.

Bashir was ousted in April after mass protests against his three-decade rule rocked Sudan for months.

Sudan has embarked on a transition to civilian rule following a power-sharing deal signed on August 17 by protest leaders and the generals who ousted Bashir.

Geometric Art of Girih Revived in Iran after a Century

IFP Editorial Staff

August 31, 2019

Girih; Geometric Art Revived in Iran after a Century

Girih art was prevalent in Iran in the 12th century, but considerably faded in the contemporary era. However, the art has been revived in the country again over the past decade.

Girih is one of the subdivisions of wood arts in the architecture domain. Works produce in Girih art are used both in decorations and architecture.

Girih is one of the ancient forms of wood art; where small pieces of wood are put next together to produce traditional and geometric shapes. The geometric art is among the delicate art forms which were all the rage from the early years of the Islamic era onwards. Some researchers believe the Girih art emerged during the Abbasid Caliphate and became popular during the 12^th to 14^th centuries in Egypt and Syria from where the art found its way to Iran.

Evidence shows that the Girih art in Iran dates back to the Seljuk and Safavid eras. Isfahan is the birthplace of this art. It is usually used in building holy shrines, tombs, minarets; also in lattice work used in the windows of houses, palaces and fences.

This geometric art was also used widely in designing wooden lattice frames of windows with coloured glass from the Safavid era onwards.

The following are images of a revived Girih workshop in Arak:

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