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“Anti-Iran Allegations Childish Scenario to Acquit Yemen’s Aggressors”

February 20, 2018

In a Tuesday statement, Qassemi reffered to the concerns expressed by the British and French foreign ministers over Iran’s missile program as ‘baseless’ allegations that lack any logical justification.

“As repeatedly announced, based on our military doctrine and invaluable experiences gained from the eight-year imposed war on defenceless people of Iran as well as the generous support given by certain states to the then violent dictator of Iraq during the war, the Islamic Republic of Iran has developed its missile program as a preemptive measure and deterrent against another aggression by the expansionist powers.”

In pursuit of its defence program, which is completely consistent with the international law, ‘Iran does not accept any foreign meddling [in its internal affairs], deems such stances [towards its missile program] as unprincipled, irresponsible and ambiguous’, and vehemently condemns them.

The spokesman also refuted any accusation that Iran sends missile to Yemen. “We have already responded to this false, baseless and unsubstantiated claim many times. We have to emphasize that Yemeni army and popular committees don’t need foreign weaponry aid.”

Qassemi said Yemeni people’s defence of their country’s dignity and sovereignty using minimum facilities is the main cause of the failure and defeat of the aggressive powers’ attack on the country.

“All states, including the aggressors, know this fact very well that despite the tight blockade imposed on Yemeni people who are suffering from famine and severe livelihood as well as many chronic diseases, they have resisted fiercely to the airstrikes conducted by Saudi Arabia’s warplanes on a daily basis even though they are even deprived even from basic needs and medicines,” he added.

Qassemi underlined that amid such a situation, the claim that Iran is sending missiles to Yemen is ‘a childish, naïve and false scenario which cannot contribute at all to efforts to acquit the aggressors of the country.’

The spokesman then called for an immediate halt to the arms sale by the US and European countries to Saudi Arabia and other aggressive and war-mongering states in the region, saying they use the weapons to kill tens of defenceless men, women and children in Yemen on a daily basis who are suffering from a growing poverty and insecurity day by day.

Taxi Driver Helps Desperate Indian Ambassador in Tehran’s Snowy Day

IFP Editorial Staff

February 20, 2018

India’s ambassador to Iran was recently jogging in northern Tehran on a snowy day when he fell down and broke his leg.

According to a Farsi report by Sputnik, Ambassador Saurabh Kumar was apparently dressed in sportswear and did not have a cell phone, ID card and wallet.

Nobody was on the street at that time due to heavy snow. However, a taxi driver suddenly arrived at the scene and took him to hospital.

Interestingly, he has paid all the costs and when the embassy staff arrived, he refused to get his money back. Before leaving the hospital he told the Indian diplomats that “you’re our country’s guest.”

Spanish, Dutch FMs to Arrive in Tehran Tuesday Night

IFP Editorial Staff

February 20, 2018

Bahram Qassemi said the two European officials will meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and other officials of the Islamic Republic to discuss ways to boost and develop bilateral relations.

Bilateral ties between Iran and the European Union were strained in the early 2010s after a dispute over the Iranian nuclear program. The European Union along with the US imposed sanctions against Iran over the country’s nuclear program.

These sanctions were described as the toughest EU sanctions imposed against any other country.

With the nuclear deal signed in 2015, the EU said it has allowed for deeper cooperation and continuous dialogue with Iran on all issues.

The EU is committed to make sure that the lifting of nuclear related sanctions has a positive impact on trade and economic relations with Iran, including benefits for the Iranian people.

Iran Summons Swedish Ambassador over Decision on Mossad Spy

IFP Editorial Staff

February 20, 2018

In a statement on Monday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said, “Following the Swedish government’s unusual move to grant citizenship to Ahmadreza Jalali, who has been convicted on security grounds, Sweden’s ambassador to Tehran was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Monday by the [ministry’s] director for consular affairs.”

“In the meeting, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s strong protest was conveyed to the Swedish ambassador over the Swedish government’s granting citizenship to a person who has confessed to spying for Mossad and the Zionist regime [of Israel] and complicity in the assassination of Iranian scientists,” Qassemi added.

According to the spokesman, the Swedish ambassador was also reminded that the citizenship granted to Jalali is not acceptable under the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran and that he is still considered an Iranian.

“So, we regard the move by the Swedish government as unusual, questionable and unfriendly, and other countries have no right to interfere in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s domestic affairs under any circumstances,” Qassemi said.

He said no country grants a second citizenship to a criminal who has confessed to murder and is behind bars.

“The Swedish government’s recent move was very strange, unwarranted and questionable,” the spokesman noted.

At the end of the meeting, the Swedish ambassador said that he would convey Tehran’s strong protest to the Swedish government and officials.

Jalali has been convicted of having cooperated with the Israeli spy agency Mossad and having disclosed the information of around thirty individuals to them. Part of that information was related to two Iranian nuclear scientists and led to their murder.

Iranian, Russian FMs Discuss Bilateral Ties, Regional Issues

IFP Editorial Staff

February 19, 2018

During the Monday meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues.

Among the topics discussed was the promotion of cooperation in the fields of tourism and banking as well as on the Caspian Sea together with holding a joint Iran-Russia economic commission.

They also exchanged views on political initiatives to settle the Syria crisis and stressed the necessity of putting an end to the Saudi war on Yemen and sending humanitarian aid to Yemeni people.

Snowfall Blankets Oroumiyeh in Northwestern Iran

IFP Editorial Staff

February 19, 2018

The climate of the province is largely influenced by the rainy winds of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Cold northern winds affect the province during winter and cause heavy snow.

Following you can find photos of the recent snowfall retrieved from Tasnim News Agency:

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THAAD System to Fail When US Allies Hit by Hundreds of Missiles: Iran

IFP Editorial Staff

February 19, 2018

Brigadier General Hossein Salami, the lieutenant commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), referred to the recent remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Munich and said, “Today, we are witnessing that the US and Israel have turned into ridiculous artists, and by showing the body of a missile at the White House and the wing of an aircraft [in Munich] introduce them as an Iranian missile and drone.”

“This move by them indicates that their position has declined and their situation has become more complicated in confronting the [1979 Islamic] Revolution,” said the top general, according to a Farsi report by Tasnim.

He said Tel Aviv claims the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying over the occupied territories was an Iranian one, “but regardless of whether the allegation is true or false, we should say that it was not the first or the last drone of the resistance front, and that the Israeli [F-16] fighter jet was shot down in response to the downing of the drone.”

The top general rejected Washington’s claims that the missiles fired by Yemen at Saudi Arabia were Iranian,

“But a question remains: What was the scrap metal given to Saudi Arabia by the US under the name THAAD and Patriot missile systems doing to counter that missile? Why couldn’t they intercept the missile?” said the top general.

“If they cannot strike a missile, what will they do if hundreds of missiles rain down on them?” he said.

He underlined that the United States’ biggest problem today is a lack of strategy, and that is why the Americans cannot do anything even when carrying out an operation on the ground.

Salami’s remarks came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brandished a piece of an unmanned aerial vehicle that Tel Aviv reportedly shot down a week ago after it entered the Israeli airspace. He claimed that the drone was an Iranian one and warned Tehran “not to test Israel’s resolve.”

Netanyahu further said Israel “will act not just against Iran’s proxies that are attacking us, but against Iran itself.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who was also present at the conference, reacted to Netanyahu’s baseless claims. In his speech, Zarif dismissed Netanyahu’s presentation as a “cartoonish circus, which does not even deserve a response.”