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Iranian National Gets 10-Year Jail Term over Spying for UK

Judiciary Spokesman Gholam Hossein Esmaili said on Monday that the convict was in charge of the ‘Iran desk’ at the British Council.

He said the convict, who was arrested by Iranian intelligence and security organizations, had been cooperating with the British espionage service and was tasked with designing, managing and planning cultural infiltration projects in Iran.

The spokesman said the convict has confessions about the process of being recruited by and cooperating with the so-called cultural council of the UK, trainings he received from the UK secret service, and his missions to carry out cultural projects in the country.

A court sentenced the individual to 10 years in prison after the confessions, Esmaili added.

Ashgabat Says Resolved to Broaden Ties with Tehran

He made the remarks in a Monday meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Ashgabat.

During the long meeting, the two top diplomats discussed a wide range of issues in bilateral relations as well as regional and international cooperation.

The Turkmen foreign minister described the visit of his Iranian counterpart to Ashgabat as a very important and timely move.

Ashgabat Says Resolved to Broaden Ties with TehranHe said Turkmenistan has the political will to broaden its all-out relations with Iran.

For his part, Zarif referred to his meeting with the President of Turkmenistan this morning, and stated, “Our commonalities are more than those of neighbours, and the Islamic Republic is fully prepared for further expansion of ties between the two friendly and neighbouring countries.”

Cooperation in international organisations and associations, regional issues particularly that of Afghanistan, the holding of Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic Commission, the visit of Turkmen president to Iran, transit and rail cooperation, collaboration in the fields of energy and electricity, the nationals imprisoned in the two countries, and the Caspian Sea were other topics discussed by the two officials.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani paid a visit to Ashgabat in March 2018. The two leaders oversaw the signing of 13 agreements covering a wide array of bilateral fields, from culture, arts and education to customs, agriculture, and aviation. The main topic of interest for both Tehran and Ashgabat, however, is energy.

Iranian Artist Uses Nomadic Life to Create Unique Sculptures

The exhibition of Seyyed Ali Seyyed Alikhani’s works, known as “Vargah”, is underway in Tehran’s Iranshahr Gallery.

Nomadic life in Iran has survived many ups and downs throughout the centuries, and people from different tribes have always been living their lives through the use of their available materials.

Black tents are the most prominent feature of nomadic life, and they are made using animals’ wool. All the stages of shearing, yarn spinning and tent weaving are done by the people of tribe.

Seyyed Alikhani has also directly used the black tent’s material and created special sculptures by combining other materials. These works are made in different shapes using wool, wood, and horns.

He did not intend to achieve different forms of composition in a known format. Instead he has created an abstract form or forms derived from the appliances of nomadic life.

Another feature of these works that has made them unique is their being handmade.

Watching these sculptures, the audience understands the history and culture of their background and understands the intricate spirit of them.

This exhibition runs through May 13 at Iranshahr Gallery in central Tehran.

What follows are Honar Online’s photos of the exhibition:

Iran FM, Turkmen President Discuss Bilateral Ties

Iran FM, Turkmen President Discuss Bilateral Ties

During the Monday meeting, the two sides discussed various aspects of bilateral relations as well as the most important regional and international issues.

Zarif arrived in Ashgabat on Sunday for a visit which is made within the framework of bilateral consultations between the two states.

During the trip, Zarif will hold talks with top Turkmen officials on ways to expand mutual ties in the fields of politics, business, transportation, energy, and customs, among others.

They will also exchange views on the latest regional and international developments.

The visit comes one year after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani paid an official visit to Turkmenistan.

During the trip in March 2018, Rouhani signed 13 accords with his Turkmen counterpart in different fields.

Iran Says Vessel Incidents Near UAE’s Fujairah ‘Alarming’

Seyyed Abbas Mousavi

In a Monday statement, Seyyed Abbas Mousavi urged that light be shed on the exact dimensions of the incident.

Referring to the negative impact of these incidents on shipping safety and maritime security, he warned against plots by ill-wishers to disrupt regional security.

Mousavi also called for the vigilance of regional states in the face of any adventurism by foreign elements.

The United Arab Emirates said on Sunday that four commercial vessels were targeted by what it called ‘sabotage operations’ near the territorial waters of the country.

Later on Monday, the Saudi energy ministry said two of its oil tanker have been severely damaged in the incidents. It’s not yet clear whether these two oil tankers are among the four “commercial” vessels mentioned by the UAE.

A UAE foreign ministry statement said the incident took place near Fujairah port, without causing casualties. It says subjecting commercial vessels to sabotage operations and threatening the lives of their crew is considered a dangerous development.

The country further announced that it has launched a probe in coordination with international bodies. The statement came hours after Abu Dhabi denied reports of blasts in Fujairah.

The reports said the explosions left several oil tankers in flames. Sources in the port released the names of the targeted oil tankers.

E3 FMs, Pompeo to Hold Emergency Talks on Iran in Brussels

E3 FMs
From left, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas launch the long-awaited special vehicle for Iran trade in Bucharest, Romania, on Jan. 31, 2019. / Photo by Getty Images

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, and Mogherini were earlier supposed to discuss Europe’s response to the deadline Iran gave them on Wednesday for the implementation of their commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal.

They were also going to confer on their efforts to ensure that trade with Iran will continue despite the US sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Early on Monday, Pompeo announced that he has postponed his planned visit to Russia, and will travel to the Belgian capital for talks on Iran with his European counterparts.

On May 8, Iran announced that it would stop exporting excess uranium and heavy water, setting a 60-day deadline for the five remaining parties to the deal – France, the UK, Germany, China, and Russia – to take practical measures toward ensuring Iran’s interests in the face of the American sanctions.

In reaction, Mogherini and the E3 foreign ministers released a joint statement, rejecting the deadline given by Iran, while reiterating their commitment to the implementation of the nuclear deal, officially known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif later criticized the EU statement, regretting that the bloc was demanding that Tehran unilaterally abide by a multilateral accord, which has already been abrogated by Washington.

Iran has warned that it has put a “step-by-step” withdrawal from the JCPOA on its agenda.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi said in an interview on Wednesday, “We have not left the JCPOA so far, but we have put such a move on our agenda and that would happen step-by-step.”

“No country can accuse Iran of breaching or leaving the nuclear deal,” the diplomat noted, adding that all the measures Tehran has adopted so far, including Wednesday’s move, has been within the deal’s framework.

Rouhani Calls US’ Anti-Iran Campaign ‘an All-Out War’

Addressing a group of political activists in Tehran on Saturday, Rouhani said Iran needs unity and cohesiveness at the time of increased political and economic pressure which he described as unprecedented in the history of the country since the Islamic revolution of 1979.

Rouhani said the current wave of pressure on Iran is even more difficult than the one experienced during the Iran-Iraq war period.

“At the time of the war, we had no problem in banking, sale of oil and export and import and the only ban imposed on us was the arms embargo,” he said,

Rouhani said the outside pressure would never cause the Iranian nation to give up.

“Giving in is not consistent with our culture and religion and people won’t accept it, thus we should not accept submission and we should try to find a solution,” said Rouhani.

The comments came three days after Rouhani sent letters to representatives of major global powers in Tehran, notifying them of Iran’s decision to suspend parts of its commitments under a landmark nuclear agreement which was signed in 2015.

The move came exactly one year after US president Donald trump unilaterally withdrew from the agreement, known as the JCPOA, and started to pressure European parties to the deal to suspend their economic cooperation with Tehran.

In his letter to the ambassadors, Rouhani set a 60-day deadline for other parties to the JCPOA to either change the terms of the agreement or face Iran resume its nuclear enrichment program.

UAE Confirms Vessels Hit Near Fujairah Port

In a statement tweeted on Sunday, Abu Dhabi said the attacks have not caused any casualties.

The statement claimed four “commercial” vessels have been damaged in the incident; however, Saudi energy ministry later on Monday said two of its oil tankers have been severely damaged in the Sunday blasts.

The incident occurred near the port city of Fujairah, one of the world’s largest bunkering hubs which lies just outside the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement adds that subjecting commercial vessels to sabotage operations and threatening the lives of their crew is considered a dangerous development.

The Arab country announced it has launched an investigation into the incident in coordination with local and international authorities.

It also said that the incident did not result in spills.

“The international community should carry out its responsibilities to prevent any parties from trying to harm maritime security and safety, which would be considered a threat to international safety and security,” it added.

This comes as the UAE officials earlier rejected the reports, saying the facility is operating normally.

The Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen news channel reported earlier in the day that seven to ten oil tankers in the port have caught fire and are completely burnt.

Al Marzouqah super tanker (9165762), Miraj tanker (9394741), A.Michel tanker (9177674), Amjad tanker (9779800), and FNSA10 tanker (9432074) are among the tankers damaged in the explosions, reported the TV channel.

The incident comes amid escalating tension in the region after Washington deployed forces, including an aircraft carrier, to the Middle East in an attempt to counter what it calls “clear indications” of threats from Iran.

Millions of Butterflies Arrive in Tehran, Create Lovely Scenes

Since the middle of last week, the arrival of millions of butterflies in the towns of Qarchak, Pishva and Varamin in the vicinity of Tehran has created beautiful scenes in urban and rural areas, especially in the gardens, farms and farmhouses.

Some farmers are concerned about the butterflies, particularly after the recent massive attack of desert locusts on parts of the country. The farmers say they intend to fight the beautiful butterflies with pesticides.

However, the officials say studies have shown these butterflies are not pests and farmers should not be worried about their presence.

Head of the Environment Department of Varamin, Mansour Golmohammadi, said studies show these butterflies do not harm fruit and ornamental trees, and can be used as food for birds and help the process of pollination.

“In the desert areas and at the time of blossoming of salt cedars, millions of butterflies have come to these areas which was unprecedented in recent years,” he added.

Some other officials of Varamin say currently many of these butterflies are present in cabbage farms but do not harm the products.

Recent rainfalls increased the number of these insects that are very beautiful and are not considered to be pests, they stress.

A few weeks ago, heavy downpours caused floods in most parts of Iran that inflicted heavy damages to the cities and villages, especially the farms and gardens.

At the same time, millions of horrible locusts from Saudi Arabia attacked Iranian farms, and according to environmental experts, would threaten Iran’s farms for at least 5 years.

But now Mother Nature is showing its beautiful face with the rush of millions of colourful butterflies. These lovely creatures not only are not recognized as pests, but also have a beneficial impact on the environment by eating small insects.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on May 12

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 19

Several papers in Iran continued to cover US President Donald Trump’s call for bilateral talks with Tehran, and his move to give the Swiss embassy his phone number so that Iranians would be able to call him.

Also a top story was the controversy over Deputy Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi’s remarks that Iran may ask Afghan refugees to leave the country in case the EU fails to help the Islamic Republic. The comments were widely condemned on the social media, but Araqchi later explained he was trying to threaten the EU, and that Iran will never expel Afghans.

The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines and top stories:

 

Abrar:

1- Process of Purchasing S-400 from Russia Completed: Turkey

2- US Imposes Further Sanctions against Maduro

3- Iran on Agenda of Pompeo’s Visit to Russia

4- US to Send Another Warship to Persian Gulf

5- Iran-US Tension among Topics of Iraqi PM’s Talks in Turkey

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on May 12


 

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Iran Must Set Conditions for Talks with US: Top Lawmaker

2- Don’t Lift Pressure on Europe: Araqchi

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on May 12


 

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- Europe Must Know Issuing Statements Not Fulfilling Commitments; It’d Better Use 60-Day Deadline

2- Trump’s Phone Diplomacy: US President Gives His Phone Number to Switzerland for Talks with Iran

3- US Senate Bans Trump Admin. from Waging War on Iran without Authorization

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on May 12


 

Asrar:

1- Araqchi: Trump’s Phone Number Not to Solve

2- Trump Seeks to Revise JCPOA: Senior Lawmaker

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on May 12


 

Ebtekar:

1- Idlib Unsolvable Part of Syria Crisis

2- Iran Deputy FM Says His Remarks on Afghan Refugees Misinterpreted

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on May 12


 

Etemad:

1- Europeans Must Deliver on Their Promises Regarding Afghanistan

2- Lose-Lose Trade War of China and US

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on May 12


 

Hamdeli:

1- Trump’s Phone in Bolton’s Hands
* NBC Reports of White House Officials’ Secret Talks in CIA

2- Trump Needs a Win
* From N Korea to Iran, from Mexico to Canada, from Venezuela to China, from Congress to Palestine

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on May 12


 

Kayhan:

1- Europe Responds: Two-Month Deadline Meaningless

2- Trump Gives Phone Number to Swiss Embassy, Topic for Fun to Iranians

3- Ansarullah’s Great Progress in South, North of Yemen Pits Aggressors against Each Other
* 15 Bases in Revolutionaries’ Hands

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on May 12


 

Sazandegi:

1- Art against Trump: Iran Opens Pavilion in Venice Biennial

2- Trump Indirectly Gives Iran Number for Direct Phone Call
* Trump: Kerry Doesn’t Let Iranians Call Me

3- Will Afghans Remain in Iran? Controversies over Araqchi Remarks

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on May 12


 

Shargh:

1- Oil Sale in Grey Market

2- Advantages, Disadvantages of US Threat against Iran [Editorial]

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on May 12


 

Sobh-e Now:

1- Pompeo Declares US’ Withdrawal in Visit to Baghdad
* What’s US’ Message for Iran?

2- Bitter Dream of Land of Freedom: Troubles ahead of EU against Migrant Crisis

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on May 12