Iran Denies Reports on Support for Taliban Militants

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May 21, 2018

In a Monday statement, Qassemi said unfortunately following Taliban’s attack on Afghanistan’s Farah province last week, some people in the country began to accuse neighbouring states of sponsoring the militant group.

“After years of military presence in Afghanistan and shedding the blood of thousands of innocent Afghans, today the US commanders who have failed to establish security in the country are attempting to divert the attention of Afghan people from the main causes of the continuation of war in the country by accusing Iran of supporting Taliban,” he noted.

The spokesman also underlined that the Taliban attacks on Afghan cities and their retaking by government forces are not a new subject and have nothing to do with the good relations underway between Tehran and Kabul.

Over the past four decades, he said, the Islamic Republic of Iran has stood firmly behind the government and nation of friendly and brotherly country of Afghanistan to defend their independence and sovereignty.

“Therefore, remarks made to appease foreigners and aggressors stand in contradiction with the friendly ties.”

The spokesman said talks are underway between Iranian and Afghan governments to resolve an ongoing water dispute through diplomatic channels. “Linking the water dispute to Afghanistan’s domestic issues has no reasonable and logical basis.”

Qassemi once again condemned violence in Afghanistan and said as in the past, the Islamic Republic throws its weight behind the peace process in Afghanistan to lead Afghan government and other conflicting sides in the country to the negotiating table for tackling the current problems.

Afghanistan’s western Farah province was the scene of fierce fighting between the Taliban and the Afghan government in recent days. Some Afghan officials blame Iran for the unrest.

General Fazl Ahmad Shirzad, provincial police chief of western Farah province claimed last week that Iran is supporting the Taliban in the province.

“Iran is directly funding and equipping the Taliban in Farah, and the country is involved in the recent unrest in the province.. Farah is very important for Iran, and the country sees its interests in continued unrest in the province,” he added.

Meanwhile, General Gul Nabi Ahmadzai, the former Afghan border police chief, told VOA that Iran’s support for the Taliban is not a secret. “Iran is directly involved, and its Revolution Guards commanders are leading the fire-fight in Farah,” Ahmadzai said.

Some other Afghan officials charge that Iran is ratcheting up its support for the Taliban to disrupt developmental projects in Afghanistan, including water dams, which if completed would slow down the flow of water to Iran.

Iran Congratulates Montenegro on Its Independence Day

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IFP Editorial Staff

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May 21, 2018

In a letter to his Montenegrin counterpart Filip Vujanovic on Monday, President Rouhani offered congratulations on the anniversary of Montenegro’s 2006 independence referendum.

He also expressed hope for closer cooperation between the two countries and expansion of bilateral ties in various fields.

The Iranian president also wished health and success for Vujanovic, and prosperity for the people of the Republic of Montenegro.

Montenegro’s Independence Day is a national holiday celebrated annually on May 21 to mark the anniversary of its independence referendum back in 2006.

In the 16th century, Montenegro emerged as a semi-autonomous region within the Ottoman Empire. The name ‘Montenegro’ which refers to the black mountains that cover large parts of the region was first used in the 15th century.

The independence referendum was held on May 21, 2006, with an 85% turnout. The Montenegro Parliament declared independence on 3 June 2006 and became the 192nd member of the United Nations on 26 June 2006.

Iran President Meets Members of National Football Team ahead of FIFA World Cup

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IFP Editorial Staff

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May 20, 2018

During the Sunday meeting, President Rouhani thanked the national team members as well as its head coach Carlos Queiroz for their hard efforts to be qualified for the world cup.

The meeting was also attended by the Iranian referees’ delegation to the world showpiece.

Earlier Sunday, Queiroz named his provisional 24-man squad for the world cup, choosing the players out of the preliminary 35-member squad. The final squad will be announced to the FIFA by June 4.

Team Melli is set to travel to Istanbul on Monday to hold a training camp in the country. The team will face Turkey football team on May 29 in a friendly match as part of its preparation for the 2018 World Cup.

Iran has been drawn in Group B of the 2018 World Cup along with Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

The Iran national football team will open the campaign with a match against Morocco at Saint Petersburg on June 15.

Team Melli, will later face Spain in Kazan on 20 June before meeting Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Saransk five days later.

The matches of the 2018 World Cup will be held between June 14 and July 15 at 12 stadiums.

Iran Leader Donates $95,000 for Release of Prisoners

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IFP Editorial Staff

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May 20, 2018

Since the establishment of the Blood Money Headquarters in 2002, Iran’s Leader has donated IRR 18.27 billion ($435,000) to the headquarters for release of non-delinquent prisoners under the umbrella of the Blood Money Headquarters.

The donation was made on the occasion of a national day in Iran on which people aid needy prisoners by providing them with the blood money they owe to the victims of their offences, a report by IRNA said.

The day, called Golrizan, is held annually across the country and is participated by officials and donors in Tehran and other cities who assist those inmates in need of money to be released from jail.

The official website of Iran’s leader (www.leader.ir) has a special section for allocating parts of the religious donations to campaigns to release some prisoners under the umbrella of the Blood Money Headquarters. This is aimed at providing the needy inmates with the chance of enjoying the taste of freedom and getting back to their families.

Under Iran’s Islamic law, death penalty convicts can be spared if they pay restitution to the victim’s family in exchange for a pardon. It is an alternative punishment to equal retaliation.

Iran Rejects Reports on Talks with EU over Issues beyond JCPOA

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IFP Editorial Staff

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May 20, 2018

Qassemi on Sunday dismissed “baseless” reports by certain Western media which quoted anonymous diplomatic sources as saying the EU has offered new packages of incentives to Iran in return for clinching a new nuclear deal

In response to reporters’ questions, the spokesman said such absurd reports come from the Zionists’ media, international chaos seekers’ think-tanks and the enemies of the Iranian nation.

“The reports are aimed at creating a smear campaign against Iran and undermining the ongoing negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the remaining parties to the Iran nuclear deal,” he said.

The spokesman went on to say that as a committed party to the JCPOA, following the unilateral, illegal and scandalous withdrawal of the US from the multi-national agreement, the Islamic Republic of Iran will remain in the deal as long as the remaining sides acknowledge Iran’s rights under the accord.

“In response to the requests of the other sides to remain in the nuclear deal, the Islamic republic has made it clear that it will remain in the deal only if the other sides explicitly acknowledge and protect Iran’s full right under the JCPOA,” he said.

Qassemi then denounced any report on discussions between Iran and the EU on issues beyond the JCPOA as baseless, stressing that such allegations don’t deserve any serious attention.

“The significant point here is whether or not the other sides will be able to fulfill their pledges under the JCPOA, and this will become clear in the upcoming intensive negotiations,” he said.

The spokesman went on to say that within the framework of the first joint commission of the JCPOA, which is expected to be held without the US presence in the coming days at Iran’s request, Tehran and the remaining sides will only discuss the JCPOA and the issues related to the deal.

Following the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal on May 8, Iran and other remaining sides of the deal have begun intense negotiations to salvage the multi-national nuclear deal.

EU’s Will to Preserve JCPOA in Contrast with Companies’ Withdrawal: Iran

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IFP Editorial Staff

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May 20, 2018

In a Sunday meeting with EU Commissioner for Energy and Climate Miguel Arias Canete in Tehran, Zarif underlined that after the US pullout from the Iran nuclear deal, the EU is expected to preserve the JCPOA’s achievements mote than ever.

“Under the current circumstances, the EU’s political will is not enough to preserve the nuclear deal. The EU needs to take more practical strides and increase its investments in Iran if it is to continue its economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic,” he said.

For his part, the EU Commissioner said today the European states’ unity to keep the achievements of the Iran nuclear deal has gained significant importance in the wake of the US withdrawal from the 2015 deal.

He further noted that the EU is resolved to keep the Iran nuclear deal and help European companies maintain their cooperation with the Islamic Republic.

“The US withdrawal from the JCPOA has created problems for the EU but the message of the bloc to Iran is that it is seeking to continue cooperation with Iran and preserve the nuclear deal,” he noted.

Iran’s trade with the European Union is around 20 billion euros, which is evenly split between imports and exports.

The EU on Friday started implementing the “blocking statute” process to shield EU companies doing business with Iran. The statute aims to neutralise the extraterritorial effects of US sanctions in the EU.

Despite the tough diplomatic efforts, the chances of the Iran nuclear deal surviving the impact of US sanctions were dealt a blow when the Danish shipping group A P Moller-Maersk said it was joining an exodus of companies ceasing commercial activity in Iran.

Bin Salman Absent from another Major Ceremony in Saudi Arabia

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IFP Editorial Staff

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May 20, 2018

In a rare incident, Riyadh’s ruler Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Abdulaziz attended a cadet ceremony of Malik Abdulaziz Officer Academy instead of Bin Salman, the crown prince and defence minister of the Arab country.

No reason has been given yet by Saudi Arabia on the absence of the crown prince from the ceremony which should normally be held with defence minister in attendance.

The unusual disappearance has once again raised doubts and speculations on the health conditions of the Crown Prince, Fars News Agency said.

Earlier, the Tehran-based newspaper Kayhan said it has obtained a copy of a report by an Arab intelligence apparatus that claims bin Salman could be killed in a shooting incident late April.

“This intelligence service in a confidential report to the country’s top official insists that at least two bullets have hit bin Salman in April 21 clashes in Riyadh and it is even possible that he is dead,” said Hossein Shariatmadari, the daily’s editor-in-chief, in an editorial published on Thursday.

The editorial came following a similar report by Fars News Agency on Wednesday which raised questions about the whereabouts of the 32-year-old heir to the Saudi throne, known to be highly active on the political scene.

The report said Bin Salman hadn’t appeared in public since April 21, when videos were posted online in social media purporting to show areas around royal palaces ringing with heavy gunfire.

Saudi authorities firmly denied any major security breach, saying Saudi forces had “dealt with” an unauthorised toy drone near the royal palaces.

But footage circulating on social media showed heavy gunfire, tanks and armed vehicles around palaces, raised speculations about a possible coup attempt or retaliation by the House of Saud’s adversaries.

As a proof, Fars News Agency pointed to the fact that bin Salman made no media appearance during the April 28 visit of the newly-appointed US Foreign Secretary Mike Pompeo to Riyadh, his first foreign trip as the top US diplomat.

This is while the state-run outlets used to publish images of meetings in Riyadh between bin Salman and former US secretary of state Rex Tillerson.

Meanwhile, certain figures close to the Saudi royal family have tried in the past few days to publish photos of the Crown Prince, claiming that they are new images and reject the speculations surrounding his disappearance. However, such photos could have been taken before the April shooting, and thus cannot prove the rumours false.

European Car Manufactures to Remain in Iran despite US Bans

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IFP Editorial Staff

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May 20, 2018

These days there are reports that foreign firms have decided to leave Iran following the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. Even before the US withdrawal, certain foreign manufacturers preferred to stop their operations in Iran and some others even issued statements announcing their quit.

But the story of automotive industry is relatively different from other industries. Arriving back in Iran following the clinching of the Iran nuclear deal in 2015, foreign car manufacturers told reporters how international sanctions on Iran inflicted heavy blows on them, forcing them to leave Iran during the past decade. On the other hand, Iranian car manufacturers complained to the management of their foreign counterparts for their decisions to leave Iran amid international sanctions. They said the decision dealt a heavy economic blow to Iran and led to massive production of low-quality cars.

Now, the Iran newspaper quoting some informed sources says such car manufacturers as Peugeot, Citroen and Renault will remain in Iran despite US sanctions.

According to the sources, Iranian and foreign carmakers have decided to open a new chapter in their relations by signing new cooperation deals with higher resistance against sanctions. Joint investment is the best solution.

Peugeot, Iran to Manufacture New Vehicles

To achieve a bigger share of Iran’s automotive market, the French car manufacturer Peugeot signed a new deal with Iran. The joint venture between Peugeot and Iran Khodro, known as IKAP, was established as part of the deal with each side investing about IRR 450 billion in it.

The joint venture came into effect with Peugeot 2008 production which has been warmly welcomed since its early days in Iran. The car’s price was first set at IRR 980 million but was then increased to IRR 1.1 billion due to the rising price of foreign currencies in Iran.

Following the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, the possibility of Peugeot’s pullout of Iran gained momentum. But as Pierre Foret, the deputy chief of IKAP in sales and marketing, said, the French car manufacturer seeks to localize its production in Iran based on an agreement it signed with the Iranian side.

“By increasing the rate of localization, we can alleviate the blow of the sanctions. So, we should increase the number of our products’ models.”

A manager from Iran Khodro said Peugeot has not yet talked of its decision to leave Iran. “Given its heavy investment in Iran, it can’t pull out of the country easily as it did in previous years. Peugeot will remain in Iran because leaving Iran is not economically reasonable for them. Meanwhile, Peugeot doesn’t want to get involved in political issues.”

Citroen to Press Ahead with Projects in Iran

The joint product of Citroen and Iran’s Narenji Pooshan Jaddeh Makhsoos Company will be pre-sold in the coming days.

“Since it doesn’t have joint interests with the US, Citroen will remain in Iran,” an official with SAIPA said. He went on to predict that Citroen will increase its interactions with Iran.

Two years ago, Jean Christophe Comar, the CEO of Peugeot-Citroen Group, said the company has agreed to co-produce three new vehicles with SAIPA: one in B segment, the other in C segment and the last one in modern and luxurious level. Their first joint product is CRX SUV.

The first joint product of SAIPA and Peugeot Citroen entered the market in late 2017 and early 2018. It is an SUV which is highly popular in Iran. The two sides began to build and equip their joint factory before 2018.

Renault Sets Conditions for Remaining in Iran

Unlike Peugeot and Citroen, the French company Renault is not optimistic about its remaining in Iran. Though Renault’s management talks of staying in Iran arguing that there is no reason to leave the country, they are not certain about the company’s future due to the economic threats following the US withdrawal from the JCPOA.

An informed source told the Iran newspaper that they are seeking to revise their agreements with the Industrial Development & Renovation Organization of Iran (IDRO) by setting new conditions.

The IDRO does not see the revision out of reach saying there are limited differences over new conditions. Efforts are underway to remove the differences soon. Observers, however, maintain that removing all the differences is impossible amid the current situation.

Unlike Peugeot which decided to leave Iran under international sanctions, Renault never left Iran but stopped providing the country with auto parts directly.

Renault and Nissan from Japan are the two car manufacturers which are highly likely to leave Iran because they have a large market in the US and thus are not ready to lose it.

On the other hand, Hyundai Motor Company and KIA Motors may set their own conditions for their staying in Iran and leave the country if their conditions are not met.

Iranian Female Referee Shines at Int’l Football Events

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IFP Editorial Staff

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May 20, 2018

Qorbani began her career as a referee at the age of 15. Her name has been put on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s list of elite referees due to her good performance. She says her ambition is to judge matches in World Cup competitions.

Qorbani is also reluctant to talk about her outfit in foreign matches. Although nowadays all eyes are on Alireza Faghani because of his presence in FIFA World Cup in Russia, Mahsa Qorbani is at the centre of attention, too, due to her presence in international football competitions.

She is the first Iranian lady who has judged men’s events as well. She excitedly talks about her experience of judging men’s matches and says she would like to have more experience in that regard.

What is interesting about Mahsa Qorbani is her different outfit compared to other women referees. She fully observes the AFC’s Dress Code, but the clothes she wears is different from those of others because she believes some outfits keep her from breathing.

In a recent interview with Shahrvand newspaper, she has made different and interesting comments about her career.

How did you get interested in becoming a referee in the football world?

During my childhood, whenever I watched a football match, the thing that attracted me the most was the refereeing of the game. I liked the character of referees and wanted to become a referee one day, but I did not know what to do. Finally, I entered the football world. At the beginning, I was an amateur goalkeeper for one of Tehran teams, and began my career as a referee in 2007.

When did you start your refereeing career professionally?

While I worked as a referee in the Iranian League, I began refereeing under-14 Asian football matches as well. When I began to work as a referee, the AFC had already sent a letter to the Iranian Football Federation saying they needed a referee no older than 25 years of age. Some features were important to them. Fortunately, I had their requirements, so I could referee the matches in under-14 Asian competitions for five consecutive years. After I passed two-year courses of the AFC in 2016, the confederation introduced me as an international referee in 2017, and I was elected as an elite referee after passing several other courses.

What was your family’s reaction when you decided to become a referee?

My family and friends were surprised at my decision because the general public believes there is no “women’s football” and football belongs to men. They would ask me if women’s football existed, after all. Gradually, I tried to make my family familiar with women’s football because they used to be uninterested in this field, but now they watch all football matches and even bet on teams!

Isn’t it difficult for you to referee matches on the international stage?

No, not at all. I have no problems refereeing matches outside Iran, and it is fine that their language is different from mine because I speak English very well, which gives me self-confidence.

What reactions do you see as an Iranian woman overseas?

All of those involved in women’s football are ladies, so they welcome one another’s progress. They know what limitations we are facing in Iran; so, when they see an Iranian referee has made her presence felt on the international stage, they respect her. All these things give me a lot of self-confidence and make me stronger.

You are the first Iranian woman referee to have refereed men’s football matches. How was this experience?

Some Asian events were held at the same time that I refereed matches by under-14 footballers. In one of the competitions held in the Maldives, I was supposed to referee a men’s match. I was the referee at a game between two teams of the Maldives’ 2nd Division League. It was a very good experience for me, and I would be happy to referee men’s football matches again.

How did male footballers see you as a female referee?

Naturally, they had a new look at me and maybe they had the feeling that a woman referee may not be able to judge fairly. Of course, we are seeing that there are female referees in other countries as well, which shows women’s football has a lot of potentialities.

What’s your biggest dream as far as refereeing is concerned?

Any referee dreams of finding his/her way to World Cup contests, including the final match. Accordingly, I’d like to referee matches in the world’s biggest football forum one day and will spare no effort to have my dream come true.

Which Iranian referee do you follow most?

I always try to follow up the matches judged by successful referees. I always watch the games refereed by Alireza Faghani and try to model my performance after him. I hope Faghani and his team will be successful in the World Cup and bring great honour upon Iran’s football.

As the last question, the kind of outfit you wear at international events has been controversial.

(She interrupts the interviewer and says) Let’s not talk about it.

Iran’s Lovely Beaches in Photos

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IFP Editorial Staff

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May 20, 2018

Iran is known to be a four-season paradise. In the middle of freezing winter, one can travel to central Iran to enjoy the desert heat. Even in high summer, you can choose a snowy destination for weekend holidays.

Iran’s beaches should not be forgotten. Iran has the Caspian Sea on the north and Persian Gulf on the south. Each part of these beaches have their own beauties, which can strongly appeal to tourists.

Here you can see magical images of Iranian beaches:

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