US State Secretary Invited to Appear in Live Interview with Iran State TV

By

-

October 2, 2018

“I would like to extend an invitation to @SecPompeo, to attend [a] televised interview, as we invited @JZarif for a similar interview a few weeks back,” Rashidpour tweeted on Tuesday.

I would like to extend an invitation to @SecPompeo, to attend the televised interview, as we invited @JZarif, for a similar interview a few weeks back.

— RashidpourReza (@rezarashidpour) October 1, 2018

The message came following a tweet by Alireza Miryousefi, the head of the press office at Iran’s Mission to United Nations in New York, asking Pompeo to give an interview to Iranian media.

من آقای هوک را دعوت می کنم تا مصاحبه 90 دقیقه ای و چالشی آقای ظریف با رشیدپور را تماشا کند. آیا رئیس ایشان آقای پومپئو حاضر است با یک تلویزیون ایرانی مصاحبه کند؟مشابه مصاحبه آقای ظریف با رسانه های ایرانی و آمریکایی؟خوشحال می شویم برای تنظیم آن کمک کنیم. https://t.co/Ml3EzveCgk pic.twitter.com/gwqlcDVcx2

— Alireza Miryousefi (@miryousefi) October 1, 2018

Miryousefi was responding to a tweet by Brian Hook, the head of the newly-created Iran Action Group at US State Department, saying that Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is freely interviewing American media to express his opinion, while Iranians do not enjoy the same media freedom in Iran.

“Iran’s Foreign Minister @JZarif enjoys making the rounds on American media, where he can express his opinion freely. This “moderate” denies his own people the same freedom and his government routinely jails reporters,” Hook claimed.

US State Secretary Invited to Appear in Live Interview with Iran State TV — Iranian TV anchor Reza Rashidpour

Zarif, who is currently in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, has given a series of interviews to the US televisions and print outlets, including CBS News, CNN, New Yorker, etc.

The Iran Action Group is tasked with coordinating the US pressure campaign against Iran after Washington pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal early May.

The US is reinstating anti-Iran sanctions and pushing the world to cut trade with Iran and stop purchasing the country’s oil before November, when further sanctions on oil and transactions with the central bank of Iran will be restored.

Speaking to CBS News’ Face the Nation, Zarif said US President Donald Trump’s threat of sanctions against European countries continuing to do business in Iran is “unprecedented,” comparing his behaviour to that of a “bully.”

Historical Works of Iran’s Ardabil Showcased at Turkish Tourism Fair

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

October 2, 2018

Historical Works of Iran’s Ardabil Showcased at Turkish Tourism Fair — Photo of Sheikh Safi al-din Mausoleum and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil

The exhibition was held in the city of Van in Turkey from September 27 to September 30, said Nader Fallahi, the head of the Directorate General of Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism of Ardebil.

It was a good opportunity to introduce the historical works of Ardabil province, he added.

He went on to say that as people from Ardabil routinely travel to Van, it is essential to introduce the attractions of Ardabil province to residents of Van and other Turkish cities.

The exhibition was also a good opportunity to introduce the province’s investment capacities, stated Fallahi, adding that it is possible to change the number of Van citizens’ trips to Ardabil.

According to him, on the sidelines of the exhibition, the Ardabil municipality and the provincial Chamber of Commerce expressed the Iranian city’s preparedness to become a sister city of Van.

During the exhibition, he added, the Iranian delegation held negotiations with tourism activists of Turkey and other participating countries to boost tourism in the province.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 2

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

-

October 2, 2018

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 19

The top story in all papers today was the surprising plunge in US dollar rates in the Iranian market on Monday. Many people rushed to forex markets overnight to sell their foreign currencies as the Iranian rial regained part of its lost value.

Also a top story was remarks made by the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with Hajj pilgrimage officials.

The missiles fired by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Monday at the positions of ISIS terrorists in Syria’s Bukamal also received great coverage.

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

Abrar:

1- Rouhani Writes to German President to Ask for Expansion of Cooperation

2- US House of Representatives Issue Resolution against Iran for Alleged Support of Polisario

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Counterproductive Psychological War in Iran’s Forex Market

Dealers Worried about Decreasing Dollar Rates

2- Revenge with Missiles: IRGC Gives Strong Response to Terrorists after Ahvaz Attack

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- Bubble of Forex Rates to Burst Again

2- Dollar Rates Go Down as People Rush to Sell Their Foreign Currencies in Market

Donya-ye Eqtesad:

1- Forex Dealers Back Off

2- Private Sector Files Lawsuit against Government’s Economic Team

Ebtekar:

1- Five Fateful Weeks in US: Will Democrats Once Again Take Helm in US Congress?

2- Dollar Rates Decrease in Tehran

Etemad:

1- ‘Muharram Strike’ Operation: IRGC Takes Revenge from Ahvaz Terrorists

2- When the Barefooted United: Interview with India Ambassador on Gandhi’s Birthday

3- The Man Who Liberated India [Editorial]

Ettela’at:

1- IRGC’s Decisive Response to Terrorists

2- Economists Offer 14 Proposals to Judiciary Chief, President, Speaker

3- Zarif: US Punishing Other States for Adhering to Law!

Haft-e Sobh:

1- Black Monday for Forex Offices

Death Sentence for Two Culprits behind Chaos in Gold, Forex Markets
Plunge in US Dollar Rate Forces Forex Offices to Close Their Doors

Iran:

1- Iran Leader Urges Action against Destruction of Islamic Monuments in Mecca, Medina

2- IRGC’s Missile Attack on ISIS in Syria

Javan:

1- Clown Dollar

2- Chamber of Commerce: Mr Nobakht! How Did You Plan All This Economic Chaos?

Kayhan:

1- US Dollar Rate Plunges after Missile Attack, Death Sentences, Postponing FATF Ratification

2- US Shocked by Iran’s Strong Response to ISIS

Sazandegi:

1- Dream of First AFC Champions League Final for Persepolis

2- Why Dollar Rates Went Down

Shahrvand:

1- Return of Trust to Market after IRGC, Judiciary Show Their Power

2- Iranian Footballer Has Been in Love with Monica Bellucci

Birthday Congratulations by Former Persepolis Player Sparks Controversy

Shargh:

1- 50 Economists in Open Letter Call for Action against Fourth Forex Shock

2- IRGC Attacks Terrorists’ Base with 7 Drones, 6 Ballistic Missiles

Sobh-e Now:

1- Several Good Forex News in One Day

Dollar rates go down, action taken against costly policies, news of death sentences given for economic corruption

“Iranian Missiles Send Specific Message to US, Its Regional Allies”

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

October 2, 2018

Mohammad Saleh Jokar, a deputy head of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in parliamentary affairs, referred to recent missile attacks by the IRGC on the terrorists’ positions in Syria, saying the attacks conveyed a direct warning to the terrorists against getting involved in any conflict with the Islamic Republic.

“Today, most of the instability in the West Asia is created by Takfiri groups and ISIS which are directly sponsored by the US. It is no secret that the US and its allies are sponsoring regional terrorism. The US, Israel and Saudi Arabia are the main sources of instability and chaos in Iraq and Syria,” he said.

He quoted US President Donald Trump’s statements during his presidential campaign as saying that Washington spent 7 trillion dollars in West Asia and said it is clear that the US created terrorist groups to collapse the Islamic Revolution in the region by creating instability in Iraq and Syria.

“The US seeks to prolong the life of the Zionist regime but in reality what we see is that their policies have backfired. Today, the sponsors of terrorist cells in the region have reached a complete deadlock in their political and military projects and have no influence in the whole region,” he said.

The IRGC’s Monday attacks on ISIS positions in Syria’s Bukamal were in retaliation for a September attack on a military parade in southwestern city of Ahvaz which left dozens of people dead and many others injured. Jokar referred to the terrorist attack and said the terrorist cells are carrying out sporadic attacks to create chaos in Iran.

He warned that if the attacks keep going on, the Islamic Republic will definitely carry out more serious and heavier retaliatory attacks against the terrorists.

“The Monday missile attacks sent a direct message to the terrorist groups and their sponsors. If they want to pose a threat against our national security, we will give them a harsh punishment,” he said.

According to Jokar, the attacks also revealed the defensive power of the Iranian nation.

“It showed that we can target our enemies sitting far away from our geographical borders. We know which states are behind the terrorists. We closely monitor their movements. They had targeted our national security in the past but failed to achieve their goals due to the brave resistance of our forces as well as the prudent policies adopted by our leadership.”

He said though ISIS has been eradicated in Syria, its ideology is still at work in the country.

“ISIS failed in its attempt to create a new state in the region but there are still a number of sporadic groups particularly in Syria’s Idlib which are still protected by the US and its regional allies to contribute to regional instability.

Iranian Diplomat, Houthi Spokesman Meet in Tehran

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

October 2, 2018

In the meeting held in Tehran on Monday, the two sides discussed latest developments of Yemen peace talks and exchanged views on ways of facilitating the talks and helping the Yemeni people to bring an end to the war imposed on the country.

Since March 2015, Yemen has been the scene of a military operation led by Saudi Arabia, which is allegedly aimed at restoring to power the country’s former president Mansour Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh.

“ISIS Could Be in Europe Now If It Wasn’t for Iran”

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

October 2, 2018

In a Monday meeting with the ambassadors of European states in Tehran, Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said as field reports have revealed, if it was not for the Iranians’ sacrifices, the terrorists could have reached Europe.

“Hundreds of Iranian have lost their lives in fight against ISIS. Iran has played a key role in fight against terrorism, human trafficking and drug smuggling in the region,” he was quoted as saying in a report by ILNA.

He then expressed hope that Iran could continue its efforts in the mentioned fields.

The Iranian lawmaker also touched upon the need for close cooperation between Iran and the EU, saying Tehran and the European Union members have a cooperative approach towards international developments.

“It’s not the right time to discuss our divisions. We should put our focus on issues of mutual interest. We can postpone our discussions on divisive issues. Today, we should establish closer cooperation,”

He went on to say that through close cooperation, Iran and EU can play a key role in the strengthening of not only their mutual ties but also the international relations.

The Iranian lawmaker referred to the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program and said since the beginning of controversies over the program, the Islamic Republic has always adopted a diplomatic approach to remove any misunderstandings.

“Our approach shows that we have been involved in talks with others since a long time ago,” Falahatpisheh said.

He described the Iran nuclear deal as one of the most significant diplomatic achievements of today’s world in non-proliferation area and said the internal developments of the US and its unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear accord in May have created new conditions.

“But Iran and the European states remained in the JCPOA and sought to fully implement it through international mechanisms,” he added.

The Iranian lawmaker said over the past months, Iran and the European states have been involved in talks to take some practical steps to safeguard the accord.

He went on to say that Iran and the European states follow a certain diplomacy to get their theories and practices closer to each other.

Falahatpisheh also said US President Donald Trump is one of the main violators of international treaties in today’s world.

”He has also severed his country’s relations with the European states,” he concluded.

Iranians Selling Their Greenbacks Overnight as Rial Regains Lost Value

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

October 1, 2018

In early hours of Monday, the US dollar was exchanged at close to 180,000 against Iran’s national currency the Rial. However, it dropped to as low as IRR 161,000 before noon and eventually settled at IRR 140,000 at the end of trading – a level not seen since early September.

There are reports that the unexpected rush by individual owners of the greenback had triggered the plunge.

Other reports said some street dealers were buying the hard currency from individual owners at rates as low as around IRR 120,000.

Videos circulating on the social media quoted dealers as predicting that the US dollar rate would go down even further to less than IRR 100,000 on Tuesday.

Iranians Selling Their Greenbacks Overnight as Rial Regains Lost Value Monday’s strengthening of the Rial against the dollar came shortly after Iran’s Judiciary handed down death sentences to three people convicted of several charges of economic corruption including causing disturbance in the country’s foreign exchange market.

Over the past months, Iran has taken several other measures to reduce its vulnerability to US economic sanctions specifically the depreciation of its Rial.

In early August, the government of President Hassan Rouhani unveiled a much-awaited package of policies to strengthen the Rial.

Hajj Pilgrimage Shows Power of Islamic Society: Iran Leader

By

IFP Media Wire

-

October 1, 2018

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting on Monday with a group of Iranian officials in charge of organizing the Hajj pilgrimage.

The Leader noted that the gathering of Muslims at one specific time and place to carry out the Hajj pilgrimage conveyed such important political messages as “the necessity for boosting communication and synergism among Muslims,” while demonstrating the power of the Islamic Ummah.

Ayatollah Khamenei added that “establishing contacts with all Muslims through the Hajj,” “conveying the message of the Islamic Revolution to pilgrims from other countries and answering their doubts in this regard,” “laying the ground for bolstering the Islamic Republic of Iran’s contacts with other Islamic countries,” and finally “promoting brotherly coexistence among all Islamic sects” were the main political and necessary messages that must be conveyed to the entire Muslim world during the Hajj pilgrimage.

“The Hajj must be a source of credit and prestige for the Islamic Republic. Therefore, the political aspect of the Hajj must not be forgotten and the Abrahamic Hajj – that is, the Hajj as performed after the Islamic Revolution – must be different from the Hajj before [the Islamic Revolution] and the Hajj that is performed by those countries that know nothing about the fundaments of Islam and the Islamic Revolution,” the Leader added.

Ayatollah Khamenei also strongly criticized extensive destruction of Islamic monuments like those, which are attributed to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and Imam Ali (PBUH), under the pretext of developing the Hajj.

“While various countries carefully protect their historical monuments and sometimes even fake certain artifacts to show off their history and their past, many Islamic monuments have been so far destroyed in [the Saudi cities of] Mecca and Medina,” the Leader said.

Ayatollah Khamenei also told the Iranian Hajj officials to come up with initiatives and contact Hajj officials in other Islamic countries in order to prevent destruction of the remaining Islamic monuments in Saudi Arabia.

In a message to Hajj pilgrims who began marking the climax of the annual event on August 20, Ayatollah Khamenei said the US policy is to stoke wars among Muslims and urged unity among them.

“Look at the behavior of the arrogant and criminal US today. Its main policy against Islam and Muslims is to stoke wars. Its desire and vicious effort is that Muslims massacre each other,” the Leader said.

Iran’s Underground River to Help Ease Water Problems

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

October 1, 2018

Under the project, a deep well is being dug so the local people could exploit an underground river holding up to 100 billion cubic meters of water, Habibollah Dehmardeh told Fars News Agency on Sunday.

The province is one of the most water-scarce regions in Iran, which has for years been gripping with water problems.

The country’s water supplies depend heavily on underground resources, but these are drying out at alarming rates
According to Energy Ministry statistics, Iran gets only about 242mm of rain each year, about a third of the global average, and 75% of it falls on only 25% of its area.

A separate project to transfer water from the Persian Gulf to Iran’s central provinces is due to be completed by next year.

Christians in Iran Commemorate Saint George

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

October 1, 2018

The ceremony was attended by the Archbishop of the Armenians of Tehran.

Saint George was a Roman soldier of Greek origin and a member of the Praetorian Guard for Roman emperor Diocletian, who was sentenced to death for refusing to recant his Christian faith. He became one of the most venerated saints and megalo-martyrs in Christianity, and was especially venerated by the Crusaders.

The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others.

What follows are photos of the religious ceremony retrieved from IRNA:

1 of 25