Over 300 Wounded in Twin Earthquakes in Iran

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July 23, 2018

Kermanshah Province officials say the magnitude-5.9 earthquake in the western region injured 248 people and destroyed many houses, but left no one dead.

More than 700 houses have been damaged in rural and urban areas of the province, according to official reports.

Director General of Crisis Management Department of Kermanshah province, Reza Mahmoudian, said 21 people are hospitalised in the city of Kermanshah.

According to a report by ILNA, he went on to say that 15 people have been discharged and 6 are being treated.

“So far, 101 rural houses and one urban house have been destroyed. 250 rural houses and 600 urban ones have also been damaged in Dalaho, Salas Babajani, Javanrud, Eslamabad Gharb and Kuzaran regions,” he added.

Mahmoudian also mentioned that the Javanrud-Salas road, blocked by the earthquake, was reopened and water and electricity problems of 15 villages in this province, which were cut off by the quake, were resolved within the first few hours after the incident.

“Relief forces also distributed tents and food items among people.”

He further stated that as of yesterday, 15 aftershocks of more than 3 on the Richter scale have occurred in the area, and we have seen more than 70 aftershocks which were measuring less than 3 on Richter scale.

A few hours later, another 5.8-magnitude earthquake also jolted the south-eastern province of Kerman, which caused material damage and left some 79 people injured.

According to the Seismological Centre of the Institute of Geophysics of Tehran University, the tremor struck at around 01:09 a.m. local time on Monday and its epicentre was placed about 19 kilometres of the village of Sirch at the depth of 10 kilometres.

Mohammad Hossein Yazdanpanah, an official with the county of Shahdad in Kerman Province, said the earthquake had left no casualties, adding that rescue teams have been sent to help.

However, Seyed Mohammad Saberi, the head of the province’s medical emergency centre, later said that 79 people have been taken to hospitals in Kerman following the strong quake.

Earlier in November, a magnitude-7.3 earthquake struck Kermanshah province, killing more than 600 and injuring more than 9,000.

Sarpol-e Zahab in Kermanshah province suffered half of the temblor’s casualties.

Iran, which sits on several geological fault lines, is prone to earthquakes and suffers a quake per day on average.

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Sunni Leaders of Iran’s Kurdistan Condemn Marivan Terrorist Attack

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IFP Editorial Staff

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July 23, 2018

Sunni Leaders of Iran’s Kurdistan Condemn Marivan Terrorist Attack — Funeral ceremony held in Marivan, western Iran, for the 11 IRGC forces killed in a clash with PJAK terrorists

Prominent Sunni clerics of Kurdistan province in separate interviews with Tasnim News Agency have underlined the enhancement of unity and solidarity among Shiites and Sunnis in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks in Western Iran. They also vehemently censured the attack, vowing to take revenge on the mercenaries of global arrogance.

Mamosta Faeq Rostami, the representative of Kurdistan Province in the Assembly of Experts, said such terrorist attacks are against the teachings of Islam.

The cleric said those behind the attack aim to shatter calm in the region because they envy the Islamic Republic’s progress in providing security for Kurdistan Province.”

“I ask media outlets to expose to the world the inhumane and cruel acts of terrorism and [convey the message] that they can never weaken the will of this revolutionary nation,” he said.

Mamosta Mohammad Amin Rasti, the Friday Prayer Leader of Sanandaj, said the heart-breaking massacre puts on display the misery of anti-revolution elements and foreign-backed mercenaries.

“Such blind terrorist attacks push Muslims to become more united and join hands to eliminate these adversaries,” he said.

Mamosta Marouf Khaledi, the Friday Prayer Leader of Divandarreh, said the IRGC forces lost their lives to defend the security, honour and pride of the Iranian nation.

He said cruel terrorist attacks will strengthen the determination of the Iranian people to defend their country.

“Throughout the history of Revolution, the experience suggests such dastardly deeds by enemies and terrorist will not only fail to weaken the resolve and belief of the people, but will boost their determination to safeguard the pride and honour of the country and the system,” he said.

The comments came after Iran’s Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said on Sunday that the United States, Israel, and some countries in the region have been active in making the country insecure, especially at the borders.

“Our eastern neighbours cannot control their borders, and the United States, Israel, and some countries in the region have armed groups that have not been active for several decades, but all should be assured that the country’s security is maintained,” stressed Rahmani Fazli in a speech at the Iranian parliament.

He also noted that Iran needs “unity, solidarity and full coordination today, and we must work on resolving the problems of the people.”

Saturday night, a terrorist attack was launched on a military checkpoint on the western border with Iraq in the village of Dari in Marivan. The attack led to clashes which entailed in an explosion at an arms depot, in which 11 IRGC members lost their lives.

Iranians Protest US’ Policies with ‘Stop Meddling in Iran’ Hashtag

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IFP Editorial Staff

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July 23, 2018

Iranian netizens, from reformists to conservatives and independents, shared posts in Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #StopMeddlingInIran a few hours before US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a scathing attack on Iran.

Azar Mansouri, a pro-reform politician, wrote in her Twitter account that the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal has proved to Iranians that Washington is untrustworthy.

“JCPOA was a national demand and the Iranian people pinned their hope on the outcome of JCPOA. A government that stands against the Iranians’ demands is not entitled to intervene in Iran’s domestic affairs and talk on behalf of this people,” she said.

Another user wrote, “We are critical of the government. We believe there are faults in the system. But we stand on our own feet and fix our problems.”

Many users tweeted about the bitter memories of foreign meddling in their country and the history of US crimes against Iran.

Saeed Shariati, a reformist figure, pointed to the deaths of over 40% of the Iranian population as a result of the widespread famine in Iran during World War I, which is blamed on British troops.

Some posted photos of Mohammad Mossadeq, the democratically-elected prime minister of Iran whose government was toppled in a coup co-orchestrated by the US and UK in 1953, suggesting the US has not been a friend to Iranians even before the 1979 Revolution. The coup came only two years after Mosaddeq nationalized Iran’s British-run oil industry.

Some others pointed to the US’ support for the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in his attacks on Iran in the 1980s and the downing of an Iranian civilian plane by the USS Vincennes over Persian Gulf waters in 1988.

Former political prisoner Emad Bahavar posted a quote from Ebrahim Yazdi, Iran’s foreign minister in early days of the 1979 Revolution, saying that “democracy cannot be found in the backpack of US soldiers”.

A user from the underdeveloped province of Sistan and Baluchestan in south-eastern Iran also tweeted, “We in Sistan and Baluchestan might be deprived, but we don’t betray our country.”

The Twitter storm came before Pompeo levelled a series of criticisms against Iran’s leaders on Sunday in a speech in California and called for increased pressure on the country.

“We are asking every nation who is sick and tired of the Islamic Republic’s destructive behaviour to join our pressure campaign. This especially goes for our allies in the Middle East and Europe, people who have themselves been terrorized by violent regime activity for decades,” Pompeo said.

Pompeo stopped short of calling for regime change, but he announced stepped-up US government broadcasting in Persian that is likely to foment further unrest against the government.

“The goal of our efforts is to one day see Iranians in Iran enjoying the same quality of life that Iranians in America enjoy,” Pompeo claimed.

NIAC Urges Pompeo to Apologize for Anti-Iran Moves

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IFP Editorial Staff

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July 23, 2018

The council made the comment in a statement issued ahead of Pompeo’s address on Iran in California Sunday, July 22. The NIAC organized a letter from prominent Iranian Americans objecting to the Trump administration’s efforts to destabilise Iran.

“Today, Secretary Pompeo will seek to co-opt the grievances of the Iranian-American community to sell policies that will ensure the Iranian people are squeezed by … harsh sanctions,” read the Sunday statement.

“The letter lays out concrete asks for Secretary Pompeo to reverse the administration’s disastrous approach, which would relieve the pressure on the Iranian people,” the statement also read.

“If you truly wish to help the people of Iran, lift the Travel ban, adhere to the Iran nuclear deal—the JCPOA—and provide the people of Iran the economic relief they were promised and have eagerly awaited for three years, as every independent media has reported,” reads part of the letter.

“We don’t believe any of these proposals will be considered, and we fear that few if any serious questions about the administration’s approach will be addressed at the event Sunday night,” the statement further read.

“Clearly, Sec. Pompeo is hoping to elevate voices who would set the US and Iran on a collision course to conflict over the majority in the Iranian-American community who have been shocked and dismayed by this administration’s disastrous approach. The Iranian-American community will not be silent and will continue to push back on Sec. Pompeo and any other officials undermining the Iranian people and our community.” read the statement.

The NIAC also lashed out at the Trump administration’s anti-Iran policies as a whole.

“The Trump administration can’t support the Iranian people’s aspirations for freedom and prosperity by impoverishing them with sanctions and fomenting unrest, and can’t show solidarity when it bars the Iranian people from securing visas to pursue their dreams,” read the statement. “The Trump administration is not a friend of the Iranian people or the Iranian-American community, and no single speech will change that fact,” the statement added.

War of Words Escalates between Iranian, US Presidents

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IFP Editorial Staff

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July 23, 2018

“NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE,” Trump wrote in a tweet late Sunday.

“WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!” said the 71-year-old US president.

His comments came after Rouhani warned his US counterpart not to play with the lion’s tail after Donald Trump’s push to halt Iran’s export of oil, saying a war with Iran would be “the mother of wars” and that control over the Strait of Hormuz is only one of Iran’s advantages.

In an address to a meeting of heads of Iran’s diplomatic missions abroad, held in Tehran on Sunday morning, Rouhani derided Trump’s plan to drive the Islamic Republic’s oil exports down to zero, saying an individual with even a basic knowledge of politics would never talk about a halt to Iranian oil exports.

“Mr Trump! Do not play with the lion’s tail, (because) you’ll regret it. You are unable to provoke the Iranian nation against Iran’s security and interests,” Rouhani underlined.

“Americans must well realize that peace with Iran is the mother of all peace, and war with Iran would be the mother of wars. We don’t give in to threats, and our capability is deterrent,” the Iranian president said.

The Trump administration walked out of the 2015 nuclear deal early May and threatened to impose harsh sanctions on Iran that will “destroy the Iranian economy”, unless Iran cave into demands by the US regarding its defence and regional policies.

Other parties to the nuclear deal, the three European powers of Germany, Britain and France, as well as China and Russia, have denounced the US withdrawal and vowed to remain committed to the pact.

Don’t Play with Lion’s Tail, Iran’s President Tells Trump

Sri Lanka Ready to Pay Its Oil Debts to Iran with Tea

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IFP Media Wire

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July 23, 2018

The announcement was made by the Sri Lanka Tea Board which said a total of $250 million that the country’s Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) owed Iran could offset payment for a year of tea export to the country.

The Board said the central bank of Sri Lanka was already looking into the technicalities involved.

“If the CPC pays us, we can continue the export of tea to Iran as there is no ban on this commodity. The amount the CPC owes Iran can offset payment for a year of tea export to Iran,” Lucille Wijewardena, the chairman of Sri Lanka Tea Board was quoted as saying by media.

Wijewardena added that a decision over the issue would be adopted within the next week, adding that any move by the central bank would also determine the future course of tear trade with Tehran in light of returning sanctions.

In May, Trump announced that he would pull America out of a 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and re-impose the sanctions that the deal had envisaged to be lifted.

He has already emphasized that the sanctions which would be imposed on Iran would be “at the highest level”.

The sanctions would start with a universal ban on Iran over buying or acquiring US dollars which will come into force in August. This is expected to close banking channels for trade with Iran. The second phase of sanctions would include restrictions over purchases of crude oil from the country and investing in its oil sector projects which will become effective by the start of November.

Earlier, Sri Lankan officials had emphasized that negotiations had started with international banks to find mechanisms to maintain tea exports to Iran once the sanctions return.

On the same front, Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake had said that the banks involved were from Europe.

“We are trying to negotiate with the Americans and the Europeans on payment terms. The central bank is already having discussions with the stakeholders,” Dissanayake emphasized. “There are a couple of German banks that were interested in helping us. I am very confident that it can be worked out very soon.”

The official further added that India had already worked out a system for maintaining trade with Iran when the US re-imposes sanctions on Iran, stressing that Sri Lanka could also replicate or follow the same to export tea to Iran.

“Iran is buying a lot of our tea and we have a bilateral agreement with them. Just because the Americans put sanctions on them, it doesn’t mean that they have to impose a sanction on us,” Dissanayake added further in his remarks.

“Right now our tea is going to Iran, but the problem is with the payment terms.”

Official figures show that Sri Lanka exported 27.4 million kilos of Ceylon tea to Iran in 2017. The figure was 19 percent lower than the year before.

Iran is the fourth largest market of Ceylon tea with a 9.5 percent share of total exports.

“Enemies Spending Huge Money to Create Insecurity in Iran”

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IFP Editorial Staff

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July 23, 2018

Speaking at a Sunday ceremony in Mashhad, General Jafari stressed that the enemies, especially in recent months, spent a lot of money, but we see that they could not do anything, and today our country is secure.

“The enemies of the Islamic Revolution have conspired against Iran ever since the victory of the Revolution and used everything they could to create insecurity and disagreement in society,” he was quoted as saying in a report by Fars News Agency.

Jafari further mentioned that during the imposed war (by Iraq) the enemies thought they could prevent the spread of the 1979 Revolution, while the war, despite its losses, was the greatest opportunity for the export of the Islamic Revolution.

“Of course, our enemies do not realize that such actions, even the soft threats, do not affect us. They are doing everything they can to exert pressure on the Iranian nation, but experience has proved that the Iranian nation is turning the threats into opportunities,” noted the Iranian commander.

He also underlined that the economic threats will be countered if we focus on domestic capabilities, facilities, and resources as the Leader of the Islamic Revolution mentioned.

“The young generation of Iran is revolutionary, believer, conscious, and enlightened; therefore, it is necessary to use the capacity of these huge young forces for the future of the country and the Islamic Revolution through planning, organising and concentrating on scientific work,” concluded Jafari.

IRGC Warns Foreign Intelligence Services against Destabilising Iran Borders

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IFP Editorial Staff

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July 22, 2018

Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif said it is better for these countries to stop their support for criminal terrorist groups who try to disrupt the security of Iran’s borders.

“The IRGC’s ground forces in recent years, especially after the emergence of ISIS and Takfiri terrorism on the periphery of the country, have been successful in countering the destabilising scenarios of the enemies of the Islamic Republic.”

“The IRGC, along with other security and defence forces, has had a successful presence in providing security and peace for the dear people of the border provinces in the west, northwest, and southeast of the country,” he added.

He further noted that the enormous attendance of the faithful and grateful people of Marivan and Kurdistan province in the funeral ceremony of the martyrs showed that the efforts and investment of the enemies to create a gap between people and the institutions of the Islamic Republic have failed.

Sharif also warned that if the enemies do not stop supporting terrorists they will face the strong response of the country’s security and defence forces, especially the IRGC, and will have to face the music.

The Saturday night attack in the village of Dari in Marivan led to clashes which entailed in an explosion at an arms depot, where 11 IRGC and Basij members lost their lives.

In the past years, security forces and border guards of the Islamic Republic of Iran have engaged in clashes with terrorists, many of whom try to cross the country’s borders with Pakistan and Iraq to carry out attacks inside Iran.

Iran, Austria Commemorate First European Ascent of Mount Damavand

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IFP Editorial Staff

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July 22, 2018

Iran, Austria Commemorate First European Ascent of Mount Damavand

The event was held on July 20 at the Niavaran Historical and Cultural Complex, north of Tehran. The ceremony was attended by ambassadors of Austria and Mexico to Tehran and Ali Asghar Moonesan, the Head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organisation (ICHTO).

According to Miras-e Arya, Moonesan told the symposium, “I am very pleased to attend this summit on the occasion of the anniversary of the first ascent of a European to the peak of Mount Damavand; a ceremony to commemorate an Austrian climber, scientist and researcher who has managed to climb Damavand.”

“Fortunately, the relationship between Iran and Austria is already at a very good level, and there exist friendly ties between the two countries. When Iranian people hear the name of Austria, the first thing that comes to their minds is the Austrian culture, especially Austrian music,” said Moonesan.

He further mentioned that art and culture are factors that contribute to proximity of nations. “The artist conveys the most beautiful human concepts including kindness, compassion, friendship, and peace in the form of art to his fellows.”

Austrian ambassador to Iran, Stefan Schulz, also hailed the holding of such a symposium in Iran, expressing his satisfaction with the ceremony and appreciated the efforts by the ICHTO for hosting the event.

“The presence of the Iranian and Austrian climbers in the ceremony reflects the unity and interconnectedness of the two countries of Iran and Austria, and a sign of their sympathy for preserving achievements in a cultural atmosphere based on the interaction between Iran and Austria.”

The Ambassador of Austria to Iran went on to say, “The Damavand Symposium 2018 is one of the biggest cultural events of the two countries, whose cultural relations date back to 500 years ago.”

“I am very pleased to announce that with the assistance of the Federation of Mountaineering of Iran and Austria, a mountaineering training centre has been launched to focus on mountain rescue, while cooperating on medicinal plants based on an agreement between four Austrian universities and a university in Iran is encouraged. In addition, a joint study course on sustainable tourism will begin with the cooperation of an Austrian institution,” noted the Austrian official.

The Austrian Ambassador to Iran also pointed out that on August 9, a number of Iranian and Austrian climbers are going to climb to the summit of Mount Damavand in a joint program.

Through such sporting and cultural events they want to show that Iran and Austria will adhere to all their commitments in various fields, he added.

“The cooperation between Tehran and Vienna at the Damavand Symposium in 2018 will convey the message of strengthening cultural cooperation between Iran and Austria,” underlined Schulz.

After the end of the symposium, Moonesan together with the Austrian ambassador visited the photo exhibition of Iranian and Austrian climbers who ascended to Mount Damavand.

Iran’s Beauties in Photos: Hanam Village in Lorestan

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IFP Editorial Staff

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July 22, 2018

The village is home to hardworking and hospitable people who are mostly engaged in gardening and agriculture.

Hanam has a rushing river and several springs that supply drinking and agriculture water for the people of the region and its downstream villages.

The village is located next to the Garrin Mountains and the Velash Peak, which has a height of 3,623 metres. Garrin is limited to Borujerd from the east, to Aleshtar from the west, and to Nahavand from the north.

What follows are the photos of the scenic village retrieved from Tasnim News Agency:

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