Saturday, December 27, 2025
Home Blog Page 3395

Secular Democracy on Verge of Collapse in US: Analyst

Mohammad Javad Larijani, who holds a PhD in mathematics from the University of Berkeley, believes that the United States is no longer a successful model of secular democracy; rather, it is on the path to collapse.

Larijani, a former lawmaker and diplomat and the current head of the Iranian Judiciary’s Human Rights Council, made the remarks in an elaborate and analytical interview with Tasnim News Agency, which introduces him as a theoretician.

The prominent and influential diplomat’s response to the first question by Tasnim alone can be regarded as a short article criticizing the current situation in the United States and expressing his views on Trump as well as the consequences of his presidency. Hence, IFP News has fully translated this very section of the interview and published it below.

Disclaimer: It goes without saying that quoting and publishing the viewpoints of experts on this website does not necessarily mean the IFP News endorses and agrees with those points of view.

 Secular Democracy on Verge of Collapse in US: Analyst

In response to comments made by some US statesmen with a low-level accent, those who, for example, say that Iran should be put under sanctions in order for the country’s system to collapse, one should say, “Firstly, the Americans should worry about their own collapse because never ever during the United States’ history over the past 100 years has the US been so close to the brink of collapse.”

If there were only a few Trump supporters, no collapse would happen because at the end of the day Trump would have been replaced. The recent US elections showed that Trump will remain in power till the end of his first term, and will probably be re-elected for a second term, which would mean the real collapse of the United States.

Therefore, they had better mind their own collapse rather that getting concerned about the collapse of another country. The late Imam Khomeini told Gorbachev, “The reason behind the collapse of the Soviet Union was that they went to war with God.” Accordingly, other empires will meet the same fate. I have always had this question in mind that how the US empire is supposed to fall apart given that there are two ruling parties in the US that always put forward their viewpoints. Now it becomes clear that the trend of the United States’ collapse is unfolding outside the two parties.

In fact, Trump is a person who cornered both ruling parties in the US, and now we are seeing that even the Republican Party has no say, and it is Trump himself that is torturing GOP members to death. Moreover, the antagonism (opposition to others or distancing oneself from society) that exists in the US society has considerably fuelled unprecedented violence, anger and hatred. In the past, there was a war of words between the two parties in the US, but there was not as much hatred as there is now. Today, Trump has just stopped short of saying that “Neither the Army, nor the parties, nor the Judiciary are useful in the United States; so, people should take up arms themselves and save the country.”

You see that Trump easily removed the head of the Justice Department. He also referred to his defence secretary as a “mad dog” in order to intimidate others, but later it came to light that they had major differences. In a recently published book by Omarosa Manigault Newman called “Unhinged” about the developments and events inside the White House, it is mentioned that Trump phoned James Mattis and told him that there are a few people who have turned into headaches for us. “Finish them.” In response, Mattis said he would see into the matter, and then hung up. Afterwards, Mattis told those around him that Trump is “crazy” and thinks he can throw his weight around in the region with such policies. After that, Trump said in an interview that Mattis would go and might be replaced in the near future.

 

US Collapse to Be Extremely Bloody, Costly

The collapse of the United States, which would be extremely bloody and costly, has turned into a hot issue for debate, and the American model of democracy is no longer considered as one of the so-called successful secular-liberal models of democracy. By reading a book called “How Democracies Die” authored by two Harvard University professors, one can realize that top intellectuals in the US are clearly seeing the demise of democracy in the country. The writers acknowledge at the beginning of the book that US governments destroyed democracies in the world by launching colour revolutions or staging military coups, but that no one would have thought that the US democracy itself can collapse as well. The book explains how Trump has set in motion a current that has laid the groundwork for the destruction of the United States by disrupting the democracy mechanisms in the country as cancer destroys the body from within.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been sidelined, the US attorney general has been marginalized, the US military has been criticized, and at the end of the day, they say the only solution is for democracy to be killed in the heart of the United States. So, the Americans should be more concerned about their own collapse rather than Iran’s collapse.

‘Iran’s Missile Program in Compliance with UNSC Resolution 2231’

“Iran firmly rejects any arbitrary interpretation of the provisions of Resolution 2231, according to which Iran is called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons,” the mission said in a statement on Tuesday.

The statement came shortly after Security Council met behind closed-doors to discuss Iran’s latest alleged missile test, which the US and its allies said may have been in violation of Resolution 2231. The session ended with no joint statement.

The full text of the Iranian mission’s statement is as follows:

While all ballistic missile related activities of Iran are in full conformity with the relevant provisions of resolution 2231, it is the US that is in absolute violation of the very same resolution.

Portraying Iran’s ballistic missile program as inconsistent with resolution 2231 or as a regional threat is a deceptive and hostile policy of the US.

Despite depicting itself as a law-abiding nation and as the guardian of the rule of law at the international level, paradoxically the US has chosen to pursue the ‘doctrine of withdrawal from international instruments and institutions.’

Its unlawful withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, endorsed by resolution 2231, is only one example.

Worse still, the US now not only openly forces all nations to violate the terms of resolution 2231, but also threatens to punish them for its implementation.

This is the very same resolution drafted by the US itself and was adopted unanimously, including by the US affirmative vote.

Through fabrication and disinformation as well as by invoking irrelevant criteria, the US tries to create ambiguity and confusion in the interpretation of relevant provisions of resolution 2231 in order to abuse the resulting uncertainty against Iran.

The hypocritical and shameful policy reveals how dishonest and hostile the US approach is as well as how irrelevant and invalid related technical and legal argument are.

Iran firmly rejects any arbitrary interpretation of the provisions of resolution 2231, according to which, Iran is called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles ‘designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons’.

As a conventional defensive capability, Iran’s ballistic missile program is designed to be exclusively capable of delivering conventional warheads and, as a result, none of Iran’s ballistic missiles are designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

Iran has never sought to acquire nuclear weapons and never will in the future.

The provisions of resolution 2231 are quite clear and devoid of any ambiguity.

It does not prohibit or limit the legitimate conventional ballistic missile program and other related activities of Iran.

Iran’s related activities not only are, in no way, inconsistent with the resolution but also fall outside of its purview.

Iran’s missile program serves as an effective defensive and deterrent tool against foreign threats.

The acquisition of and manufacturing of ballistic missiles to carry conventional warheads is an inherent right of any state under international law, and Iran is no exception.

The US should stop abusing the Security Council to further its mischievous policies against Iran.

Instead of baselessly accusing Iran of acting inconsistent with provisions of resolution 2231, the US must abide by terms of the very same resolution.

ICA Says Resolved to Facilitate Iran’s Trade Ties with World

Li Chunsheng, the chairman of the Asia-Pacific region of International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), addresses the 13th ICA Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly in Tehran in late November 2018. / Photo by ILNA

“At present, we are exploring ways to expand mutual trade, commercial and agricultural relations with Iran,” Li Chunsheng said in an interview with ILNA.

According to Chunsheng, the ICA Asia-Pacific is seeking to stand by Iran during the unilateral sanctions imposed by its enemies.

“We will withhold no efforts to help Iran keep its trade ties with the outside world amid the sanctions,” he vowed.

Back in November, the US re-imposed the “toughest” sanctions ever against Iran with the goal of curtailing the Islamic Republic’s oil exports and putting extra pressure on the country’s economy.

The sanctions came after Washington unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, a multinational accord achieved after marathon talks between Iran and world powers in 2015.

Chunsheng further noted that Iran is a strong country in the Asia and Pacific region and plays a key role in relations between the two continents.

“If Iran keeps moving ahead with the same strength, it can also play a leading role in the expansion of cooperation between ICA members and other states in the world,” he added.

He went on to say that the cooperation could be established through workshops in Iran. “It’s a good starting point. We can expand our mechanisms through joint projects and efforts.”

The Chinese official then referred to the mutual cooperation between Iran and China and said the two states can exchange experiences and establish good mutual relations through expansion of their cooperation.

He also expressed hope that the Islamic Republic and the ICA Asia-Pacific could raise the level of their cooperation by holding constructive meetings.

‘Iran Has No Plan to Have Missiles Capable of Carrying Nuclear Warheads’

In a Tuesday statement, Qassemi said there is no need to repeat that Iran’s missile program is totally deterrent in nature and is part of the country’s unstoppable defence programs.

He made the remarks in reaction to comments made by the officials of certain Western countries as well as a request by the UK and France for a meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the Islamic Republic’s missile program.

Iran definitely does not base its defence programs on the groundless, unfounded, and purposeful concerns of certain countries that are far from the region, Qassemi added.

“We deeply believe the expression of such concerns is not based on logical grounds, and is, more than anything, an offspring of Iranophobic policies and approaches pursued by certain countries and regimes in the world,” he noted.

“We don’t see our missile defence program in violation of any UN Security Council resolution, and those who claim otherwise are either unfamiliar with the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, or just seek to create sensitivity and tension against Iran without paying any attention to the Resolution’s articles,” Qassemi added.

In both cases, he said, the Islamic Republic condemns such an approach and considers it unconstructive and inefficient.

Qassemi addressed all the countries that have closed their eyes to the realities and the transparent and stabilizing policies of Iran by raising these wild assumptions and groundless excuses, and urged them not to sacrifice regional and international peace, stability, and security for the goals of others who think Iran’s constructive relations with regional and world countries are against their unilateralist policies and excessive demands.

The spokesman also called on European countries to behave in a more intelligent way than before.

In Iran’s transparent missile and defence policies, he said, there is no design and plan for having missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and there won’t be any in the future.

He also slammed Western countries for adopting double-standard policies, and said it is a source of regret that they take such belligerent stances against Iran’s peaceful defence program while they have remained silent towards some of their allies which have for years spent tens of billions of dollars to buy military equipment and launch round-the-clock attacks on another country; lay siege on millions of women, children, and innocent people suffering from drought and disease; and totally destroy their infrastructures.

Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Miserables’ on Stage in Tehran

Over 300 cinema superstars, actors, singers and musicians have appeared in the blockbusting play.

The new adaptation of Les Misérables is the most expensive show in the history of Iran’s theatre and is the first one going on stage in the Espinas Palace Hotel, whose auditorium has a capacity of 2,500 people.

Parsa Piroozfar, Navid Mohammadzadeh, Sahar Dolatshahi, Saber Abar, Ashkan Khatibi, Parinaz Izadyar, and Hootan Shakiba are among the most famous actors playing in the show.

Last year, Parsaei staged a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ famous novel “Oliver Twist”. With “Les Misérables”, he has once again broken the ticket price record in Iran.

The musical will be on stage until late January 2019.

Here are photos of the show retrieved from IRNA:

Iran Urged to Waive Requirement for Film-Making Licence

cinema

The cinematographers put forward their demand in a letter addressed to the president, the minister of culture, and the head of the nation’s Cinema Organization.

In the letter, the film-makers criticized what they called biased and personal judgment by officials tasked with issuing permits for movies.

“We, the undersigned, demand an end to the narrow-minded and reactionary look by relevant authorities at film-makers, and hence, we [who are] at the lowest level, call for the licence for making feature films to become optional,” part of the letter reads.

They called for the revocation of an act which obliges cinematographers to receive licences for making movies.

Iran has been lauded as one of the best exporters of cinema in the past two decades. Some critics now rank Iran as the world’s most important national cinema, artistically, with a significance that invites comparison to Italian neorealism and similar movements in past decades.

A range of international film festivals have honored Iranian cinema in the last twenty years. World-renowned Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke and German filmmaker Werner Herzog, along with many film critics from around the world, have praised Iranian cinema as one of the world’s most important artistic cinemas.

Although the Iranian film industry is flourishing, its filmmakers have operated under strict rules. Some Iranian films that have been internationally acclaimed are banned in Iran itself.

The application of the strict rules is often inconsistent. Several films have been refused to be released inside Iran, but have been given export permits to enter international film festivals.

By the way, the rules have not kept Iranian film-makers from turning the country’s cinema into one of the world’s most respected ones winning dozens of international prizes each year.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 4

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 19

Several papers today covered Qatar’s surprising announcement that it will leave the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as of 2019.

Reactions to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s comments about “rampant” money laundering in Iran also remained a top story even several weeks after he made the remarks.

The Central Bank of Iran’s measures to control the foreign currency market, and the recent decrease in US dollar rates as a result of chief banker Abdolnasser Hemmati’s measures also received great coverage, particularly by conservative media.

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

 

Abrar:

1- US Trying to Use Iran’s Assets to Pay Compensation to Iraq War Victims

2- Guardian Council to Obey Expediency Council’s Vote on CFT: Spokesman

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 4


 

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Parliamentary Motion against Nepotism: Lawmakers Trying to Prevent

2- Larijani: We’re in Final Talks with Europeans

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 4


 

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- Parliament Speaker: We Have Money Laundering in Iran

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 4


 

Ebtekar:

1- Zarif’s Comments about Money Laundering Clear Fact: Spokesman

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 4


 

Etemad:

1- Political Game with Oil, Saudi Arabia: Qatar Says to Leave OPEC

2- Future of OPEC without Qatar [Editorial]

3- Unwritten Agreement between Saudi, Russia to Decrease Oil Price

4- Iran Rejects UK Foreign Secretary’s Request for Meeting with Judiciary Officials

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 4


 

Ettela’at:

1- Larijani: Today’s Priority Is to Resolve People’s Problems

2- Fareed Zakaria: US Economy in Decline

3- 270 ISIS Members Killed in Syrian Army’s Accurate Attack on Terrorists’ Positions

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 4


 

Haft-e Sobh:

1- Chief Banker’s Plan to Control Dollar Rate

  • Central Bank Governor Pays Unannounced Visit to Forex Offices in Tehran
  • Dollar Rates Going Down

2- Qatar’s Strategic Decision

  • Why Doha Doesn’t Want to Sell Oil Anymore

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 4


 

Javan:

1- US Dollar Surprised after Chief Banker’s Unannounced Visit

  • Dollar Rate Down to IRR 113,500

2- Macron’s Iron Fist Hits French Protesters

3- First Gathering of Newly-Converted Muslims in Tehran University

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 4


 

Jomhouri Eslami:

1- Rouhani Opposed to Increase in Car Prices

2- Iran Unveils Six Homegrown Pharmaceutical Products

3- Health Minister: Take Iranian Medicine and Be Sure about Its Quality

4- Oil Minister: Disclosing Oil Information Means Assisting Enemies

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 4


 

Kayhan:

1- Iran’s 80-Million Market Rewarded to South Korea Which Sanctioned Iran

2- Bin Salman Had Tasked Israel with Tracking Khashoggi

3- Germany Joins US, UK in Making Rude Remarks about Iran’s Missile Power

4- Larijani Slams Zarif’s Comments about Money Laundering

5- Crisis Peaks in France: Macron Says Ready for Talks

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 4


 

Sazandegi:

1- Cyrus in the Dust

  • Cyrus the Great Used by Factions for Political Intentions
  • Is Cyrus the Same Dhul-Qarnayn Mentioned in Holy Quran?

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 4


 

Setareh Sobh:

1- Climate Change Conference Warns People of the World

  • Earth to Be Destroyed, Civilizations to Collapse

2- Spanish Authors, Journalists Sad to Leave Iran after Being Warmly Received

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 4


 

Shahrvand:

1- Is Everybody Knows Weakest Film of Farhadi? 10 Iranian Critics Rate Farhadi’s Film

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 4


 

Shargh:

1- VP Ebtekar Denies She Gave Hollande Promise on Climate Agreement

2- Return of Lone Rebel: Sanders to Run for President in 2020

3- Address of Money Launderers [Editorial]

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 4

Iran Urges UK to Settle Its Outstanding Debts

Amoli Larijani

Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani said Western governments and their media outlets try to link such issues with financial matters between countries.

“Countries’ debts to Iran have nothing to do with judicial issues, and the [Iranian] judicial system simply deals with elements of infiltration regardless of their nationality and within the framework of the law,” he said.

Ayatollah Amoli Larijani was referring to a £400-million debt related to an arms deal signed during the 1970s.

Iran has demanded that Britain return the money which the former Shah of Iran paid in 1979 for 1,750 Chieftain tanks and other vehicles, almost none of which was eventually delivered.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Judiciary chief referred to the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, an Iranian-British woman jailed in Iran for espionage, and urged foreign officials to set aside arrogance in this regard.

“Some time ago, the British Foreign Secretary [Jeremy Hunt] had, in an arrogant tone, warned the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran not to imprison dual-national individuals,” said the Judiciary chief.

“Authorities such as the UK foreign secretary should know that they are not in a position to warn the branches of the Islamic Establishment over how to fulfill their responsibilities,” he said.

Larijani then made it clear that having dual nationality is not an offence in Iran, and that individuals are not imprisoned and prosecuted simply because of having dual nationality.

“The persons in question have acted against [national] security in our country, or have committed acts of espionage, and their prosecution is because of having committed such crimes and has nothing to do with their dual nationality,” he noted.

“The West should also know that its investment to infiltrate [into the country] is to no avail, and the Judiciary will not back down from its position in the face of such pressures and baseless remarks,” the Judiciary chief noted.

British media earlier reported that the UK government was trying to transfer the £400 million debt to Iran in order to secure the release of Zaghari-Ratcliffe. However, Iran has categorically denied the allegation, saying the two issues have nothing to do with each other.

Iran Develops Water-Repellent Nano-Paint

Iran to Hold Festival on Paint, Resin Industry

The nano-paint needs to be applied on surfaces only once, making a second coating redundant.

The penetration of water into construction materials results in cracks on the surface, causes paint coatings and plaster to come off and also causes fungi. Among the common problems in industries are the erosion of metal and steel surfaces, especially in coastal areas, the reduced resistance of concrete constructions materials, as well as the high cost of the maintenance of equipment.

Using nanotechnology, graduates of chemical engineering from the Sharif University of Technology have achieved an operational solution to such problems and managed to produce ultra-water-repellent paint using nano-materials.

The ultra-water-repellent paint is made up of organic-mineral materials.

For a brief review of Iran’s achievements in various fields of science and technology, check the book “Science and Technology in Iran: A Brief Review

The product has numerous features: it is water-repellent, sticks well to the surface, is applied in very little amounts, has high mechanical and chemical resistance, is resistant to different types of mineral and plant oils, is highly resistant to ultraviolet radiation, barely turns pale, is more affordable compared to similar foreign paint, and lasts long.

The product comes in the transparent form as well as in different colours and can be used to paint all surfaces (plaster, concrete, cement and brick), the interior and exterior of buildings, tiles and ceramic (inside buildings, hospitals, rest rooms, public places, wood, MDF, tables and chairs).

No Oil to Be Exported from Persian Gulf If Iran Banned: Rouhani

rouhani

“The US should know that we have sold our oil and we will keep selling it and they cannot stop our oil exports,” Rouhani said in a Tuesday address to a huge crowd of people in the city of Shahrud in Semnan province.

Rouhani’s remarks came shortly after Iranian First Vice-President Es’haq Jahangiri announced the share of oil revenues would not be more than 25% in the budget proposed by the government for the next fiscal year.

While US President Donald Trump had initially vowed to cut Iran’s oil exports down to zero by November, it later agreed to allow eight countries – almost all major imports of Iran’s oil – to continue purchasing the country’s crude oil.

In his Tuesday remarks, the Iranian president further stated that Washington is seeking to promote Iranophobia in the region and across the world, but it cannot cut off Iran’s ties with its neighbours.

Iran is not and will not be an enemy to any of its neighbours, Rouhani said, adding that Washington will not be able to cause rifts between Iran, its neighbours and Muslim countries.

He stressed that the world powers do not support Washington’s unilateralist policies against Iran.

“Today, for the first time after 40 years, we have achieved unprecedented victories against the oppressive and cruel regime of the United States,” added Rouhani, highlighting the victories achieved by Iranian diplomats against the US in international arenas

He highlighted that the US was looking for staging a coup Iran, but failed.

“The US was after the separation of Khuzestan province, but did not succeed. It wanted to break up Iran’s power through sanctions, but was not successful either. Do you know why the Americans are angry with the great nation of Iran? Because the powerful Islamic Republic has never bowed to the US and Zionists and will never do so.”