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Zarif, Hunt Hold Phone Talks over Seized British Oil Tanker

In a phone conversation, the two sides talked about the latest developments regarding the seizure of the vessel.

Iran’s Zarif reiterated that unlike the unlawful act of the UK in seizing the vessel carrying Iran’s oil, the Islamic Republic’s move was carried out upon the request of Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran.

He also noted that as the British ship has violated the regulations, this case must go through judicial and legal channels.

The two sides also highlighted the importance of finding lawful solutions to avoid heightened tensions.

Iranian IRGC forces seized a British-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, as tensions mount between Tehran and the West.

Iranian officials say the IRGC seized the British tanker Stena Impero after it collided with a fishing boat.

The ship, carrying a crew of 23, was empty and heading to Saudi Arabia, said the vessel’s owner Stena AB Group.

The British media try to describe Iran’s move as a tit for tat action in response to Britain’s seizure of the Grace1 super-tanker off the Spanish coast of Gibraltar earlier this month.

But as more information comes to light it appears that the British-owned tanker, Stena Impero, was in breach of international regulations, in addition to posing a threat to the environment.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 20

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 19

Abrar:

1- IRGC Releases Drone Footage of US Warship

2- Rouhani to Macron: Increased Sanctions to Create Problem for JCPOA Survival

3- Zarif: We Won’t Hold Talks with Trump

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 20


 

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Riyadh Gives Green Light to Tehran

* Saudi Envoy to UN: We’re Ready for Diplomatic Interaction with Tehran

2- Trump’s Delusions: Trump Claims US Shot Down Iranian Drone

* It Was Later Shown the Downed UAV Wasn’t Iranian

3- Bloomberg: Value of Iranian Rial Up by 30% Despite Sanctions

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 20


 

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- FM: US Must Stop Sanctions So that Talks Can Begin

2- Diplomacy in Strait of Hormuz: Zarif’s New Offer to US

* Adopting Additional Protocol in Return for Sanctions Removal

3- War of Drones [Editorial]

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 20


 

Ebtekar:

1- Zarif to National Interest: Whoever Starts a War Won’t End It

2- White House Fails in War of Drones

3- Rouhani to Macron: Increased Sanctions to Jeopardize JCPOA

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 20


 

 

Etemad:

1- Delusion of Retaliation: Trump Claims Iranian Drone Downed by USS Boxer

* Araqchi: US May Have Downed Their Own UAS!

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 20


 

Ettela’at:

1- Riyadh: We Seek Diplomatic Interaction with Tehran

2- Rouhani to Macron: We’re Resolved to Leave All Paths Open to Saving JCPOA

3- Zarif: Trump Won’t Get Reward of Talks with Tehran through Maximum Pressure

4- IRGC Chief: Iran’s Defensive Strategy to Become Offensive in Case of Enemy’s Miscalculation

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 20


 

Hamdeli:

1- US Democrat Senator: Trump Isolates US

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 20


 

Iran:

1- Rouhani, Macron Discuss Paths Proposed by Iran to Europe

2- GOP Senator Calls for Talks with Zarif

* Zarif: I’ll Meet Rand Paul as a Senator

3- Iranian Drone Back Home Safe and Sound

* IRGC Releases Drone Footage of USS Boxer to Prove US Wrong

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 20


 

Javan:

1- Zarif: We’ve Only Suffered Losses by Negotiating with US

2- Riyadh Left with No Choice but to Interact with Tehran

* Saudi Envoy: We’ve Held Talks with Tehran over Yemen

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 20


 

Kayhan:

1- IRGC Seizes UK Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz

2- Trump Takes Drone Revenge from Iran, but in His Dreams!

3- Europeans Concerned about Keeping US Nukes in Their Countries

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 20

‘Iran Launches Three Counterattacks against US Drones’

The top general said over the past weeks, the Iranian Armed Forces have given strong warnings to US drones seeking to violate Iran’s airspace.

“We made at least three defensive operations against American drones over the past weeks,” he said.

He also noted that shooting at American drones has already promoted Iran’s missile capabilities.

According to General Rabbani, one of these drones began its operation from a base in Kuwait on May 26.

“It got close to our territorial waters on several occasions during its 20-hour flight in the region but it was forced to sit back after receiving serious warnings by Iran’s armed forces.”

He went on to say that the US decided to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal after Iran’s huge progress in its missile program.

“Today, our missile program serves as a preemptive measure against our enemies,” he said.

Last month, Iran shot down a US surveillance drone flying over Iranian waters near the Strait of Hormuz.

Washington has been escalating tensions with Iran under Trump. Leading a signature policy of “maximum pressure,” the US quit a United Nations-ratified nuclear agreement between Iran and six world states. It then proceeded to restore the sanctions that had been lifted under the deal.

It has, in addition, sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber task force, an amphibious assault ship, and some 1,500 more forces to the region.

Iranian Cartoonists Hold Art Event on Nature Bridge

Alongside the citizens, they created different cartoons such as portraits, as well as artworks on issues like air pollution and urban problems.

What follows are YJC’s photos of this event:

Iran Rebuts Bolton’s Claims, Says All Countries Can Enrich Uranium

shamkhani

He said the Americans did not believe in such a right under the NPT, but the Islamic Republic in 2012 forced them to assert Iran has that right and then sit down at the negotiating table.

His comments came after US National Security Advisor John Bolton negated Iran’s right to enrich uranium.

Shamkhani stressed on Saturday that Washington’s accepting of Iran’s legal right to enrich uranium was a condition for its participation in the nuclear talks.

“The P5+1 countries endorsed Iran’s legal right to enrich uranium in the nuclear deal and they have accepted that,” Shamkhani went on to say.

“The remarks by the US National Security Advisor, who denied Iran’s right to enrich uranium, are an example of non-compliance, unilateralism, and rejection of a set of international norms.”

The Iranian top security official said such statements are not of any legal credence.

Such statements show that Iran’s move to reduce its JCPOA commitments is the only way to deal with a country that does not accept any commitment, concluded Shamkhani.

‘Terrorists Allowed to Recruit Members in Dutch Refugee Camps’

Undated photo of refugees taken by Muhammed Muheisen, AP

Saeed is among those who have joined the MKO terrorist cult in Europe. He emigrated from Iran, and, due to lack of awareness and negligence, joined the MKO in Europe before finally ending up in Camp Ashraf, the former MKO base in Iraq.

Tasnim News agency has conducted an interview with him. Due to security concerns, his real and full name as well as his photo are not published here.

– First, introduce yourself.

I’m Saeed. I’m 50 years old and continued my education up to the level of high school diploma. I’m single.

– How did you get familiar with the terrorist MKO group?

In 1992, I met some of my friends abroad. A [human] trafficker took me to the Netherlands where I first entered a refugee camp and stayed there for around 4 months. Then I left the camp.

As I had learned the language there very well, the refugee camp officials asked me go to the camp a few hours every day to work as a translator and help Iranians there. At that time, MKO members kept visiting the camp. They came to recruit new members from the migrants. I was only 25 years old at the time and had no information about political groups. It was the first time I had met them.

They would bring some pamphlets and movies with them and distributed them among the refugees to get familiar with the MKO. When a new individual or group entered the camp, MKO members would immediately know and come over to get familiar with the new comers.

Another thing they did was to take with them some individuals as volunteers to take part in MKO demonstrations and meetings in European countries. Those who wanted to go with them were people who had been tired of the atmosphere in the camp and wanted to go to another city free of charge or wanted to see another country or a new place for variety. They would also receive a free meal, which was an incentive, too.

‘Terrorists Allowed to Recruit Members in Dutch Refugee Camps’The individuals who talked to us were very experienced. I was easily influenced by their words and I was attracted.

They would show us footage of Maryam and Masoud (Rajavi), and the way they would speak about these two people made me so interested that I really wanted to see Masoud even for a second.

In those days, whoever went to Europe had to start financial-social work. In other words, we had to walk in the streets and collect money from people for the organization. Of course, this was not done in the name of the organization. The MKO was running a few charities in Europe, and we worked under their names. Under regulations related to charities in the Netherlands, anyone who helped us would get a receipt which he or she could use to get tax exemption.

I had been brainwashed in those classes, so much so that we even spent our own money for the organization. I received salary as an asylum-seeker. I gave part of that to the organization, and I thought I was serving my country.

Not only did Iranians not help us, but they even confronted us.

After that period when I was in Europe to have a better life, I volunteered to go to Iraqi deserts. In there, we spent a major part of our time taking part in speeches, meetings to discuss the current affairs or performing weekly ablutions. In fact, we had to make confessions about our thoughts from morning until night. We had to criticize ourselves from morning till night, saying, for example, that I haven’t done enough for such and such task, I have had inappropriate thoughts on that occasion, etc. We spent the rest of the day doing parades and tough work.

– How did you defect from the organization and come to Iran?

Another individual and I had come to Iran to carry out a terrorist operation, but we were arrested very soon. My companion took his cyanide pill and died. I took the pill, too, but they rushed me to hospital and I survived. They managed to resuscitate me.

I fell victim to this terrorist group. Part of my life was wasted in this group and part of it in jail. I lost my life. I thank God that I failed to carry out the terror operation because If I had done that, it was only the organization and Masoud that would have benefited from it. Moreover, I would have been held accountable.

Of course, the Netherlands is an accessory to it all. I had sought asylum in the Netherlands and was seeking a better life, but they would open the doors of refugee camps to let in a bunch of terrorists who would deceive and recruit people.

They even deceive the people of their own country and swindle them out of their money allegedly to give it to orphaned children. In the Netherlands, they would show me the pictures of children. It was not clear in which countries the pictures had been taken. Later when I went to Camp Ashraf, I found out that there were no children at all, and that the money that was raised was only used to cover the cost of Maryam and Masoud’s debauchery.

Europe, which claims to be and advocate of human rights and claims to be fighting terrorism, has practically paved the way for a terrorist group such as the MKO, so that they are able to do anything from recruiting members to raising money. People like me are the victims of the irresponsibility of the likes of the Dutch government.

Hezbollah Chief Praises Iran Leader’s Role in Regional Stability

Speaking in a meeting with the visiting Hossein Amir Abollahian, special aide to Iran’s parliament speaker, in Beirut, Nasrallah said, “As the Leader has said, America is not able to impose war on Iran.”

He added, “The White House knows that if a war breaks out with Iran, the entire region will be engaged, and it will not be America which would bring about the end [to that war].”

Speaking about Palestine, the Hezbollah leader said resistance is the only powerful way to counter the crimes of Zionists.

Regarding the American-proposed “deal of century”, Nasrallah said, “We have no problem with the Jews. But the Zionists are the root cause of corruption and insecurity in the region. The Jews should not fall in for the expansionist Zionist policies.”

Nigeria Urged to Send Shiite Cleric Sheikh Zakzaky to Iran

Mohammad Jafar Montazeri in a letter to judicial authorities of Nigeria has condemned the military men’s measures against the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) asking them to send the Shiite leader to Iran for medical treatment.

He also mentioned that the Islamic Republic has submitted its objection to the international judicial bodies.

The Iranian top judicial authority further called on international legal organisations to cooperate in pursuing this issue.

Sheikh Zakzaky, who is in his mid-sixties, lost his left eyesight in a 2015 raid by security forces that left more than 300 of his followers and three of his sons dead. His wife also sustained serious wounds.

The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), based in London, said earlier that the cleric’s health condition has further deteriorated, since he was reportedly poisoned in prison.

The cleric’s son, Mohammad, says his father was in dire need of medical treatment, as “large and dangerous quantities of lead and cadmium have been found in his blood.” He said that the authorities intended to murder his father since they refuse to take any measures.

In 2016, Nigeria’s federal high court ordered Zakzaky’s unconditional release from jail following a trial, but the government has so far refused to set him free.

Iran Says US Source of Instability in Persian Gulf

Iranian People to Survive Latest of US Cruelties: Zarif

Speaking upon arrival in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, Zarif said wherever the United States sets foot, it creates insecurity, instability, and prepares the ground for the rise of extremism and terrorism.

He also noted that one cannot find a place in the world where the US presence has brought stability.

Iranian foreign minister also slammed Washington for meddling in Venezuela’s internal affairs. However, he underlined that the Venezuelan people know how to live without America’s interference.

Zarif has travelled to the South American country for a ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

He is going to make a speech at the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement.

He is also scheduled to meet Venezuelan officials including President Nicolas Maduro and the country’s Parliament speaker.

His visit to Venezuela comes after his trip to the United States where he attended the annual session of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Nicaragua and Bolivia are the next destinations of the Iranian top diplomat during his Latin American tour.

UK Tanker Seized by IRGC Had Collided with Fishing Vessel: Iran

UK Tanker Seized by IRGC Had Collided with Fishing Vessel: Iran

Head of Ports and Maritime Organisation in southern Hormozgan province, Allahmorad Afifipour, said on Saturday that the UK oil tanker was in an accident with an Iranian fishing boat whose distress call it ignored.

The oil tanker has now been taken to the port city of Bander Abbas, situated on Iran’s southern coast and facing the Strait of Hormuz.

UK Tanker Seized by IRGC Had Collided with Fishing Vessel: Iran
Iran Seizes British Oil Tanker in Persian Gulf

“All its 23 crew members will remain on the ship until the probe is over,” Afifipour said. The 23 crew comprised 18 Indian nationals and five others of other nationalities including Russia, the Philippines, and Latvia, he said.

Afifipour earlier said that the UK vessel had switched off its GPS locator, in contravention of international regulations, and was sailing into the Strait of Hormuz in a wrong traffic pattern.

The British tanker was entering the strait from the southern route which is an exit path, increasing the risk of an accident

Moreover, Stena Impero had not heeded any of the warnings from the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization.

An informed source said the UK oil tanker was also polluting the Persian Gulf water heavily by dumping crude oil residue.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy captured the British oil tanker on Friday evening at the request of the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran’s office in the province of Hormozgan.