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“Accession to UNTOC to Benefit Iran Greatly”

January 29, 2018

In a Monday statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Public Relations Office stressed that Iran’s accession to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), also known as the Palermo Convention, will have important benefits for the country.

The statement was issued in response to some ambiguities and questions raised over the negative consequences of Iran’s joining the convention, which was unanimously approved by the Iranian Parliament on January 25, 2018.

In its announcement, the Foreign Ministry has underlined that the convention can set the stage for bilateral, multilateral and regional cooperation with other member states on tackling the threats posed by organized crime, especially in the domain of judicial cooperation and extradition of criminals.

“Given the growing importance, for Iran, of some instances of transnational organized crime such as the smuggling of historical items, the Islamic Republic of Iran can promote its judicial measures on the international stage by tapping into the potentialities of the convention,” the response reads.

The announcement highlights that the UNTOC is the most important international document in fighting transnational organized crime and serves as a tool to coordinate efforts among governments to effectively combat different crimes.

The Foreign Ministry’s statement stresses that the convention is only aimed at tackling crimes committed for financial and material gains such as the smuggling of narcotics, humans and antiquities.

“It goes without saying that the convention is not concerned, whatsoever, with terrorist crimes, sponsoring terrorism and other crimes with a political nature,” reads the Foreign Ministry’s statement.

“Therefore, given the objectives and subject of the convention, there is no point linking the convention to the activities of liberation organizations and resistance groups,” reads the statement, which tried to assure the hardline critics in Iran that the accession will not influence Iran’s support for the resistance movements in the Middle East.

The statement further reads that the struggles of liberation organizations and resistance groups fighting foreign occupation have been identified and recognized in accordance with international law and in line with the right to self-determination.

The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, adopted by General Assembly resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000, along with its protocols, is the main international instrument in the fight against transnational organized crime. It opened for signature by Member States at a High-level Political Conference convened for that purpose in Palermo, Italy, on 12-15 December 2000 and entered into force on 29 September 2003.

The Convention is further supplemented by three Protocols, which target specific areas and manifestations of organized crime: the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children; the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air; and the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition. Countries must become parties to the Convention itself before they can become parties to any of the Protocols.

Iran Parliament Rejects Framework of Rouhani’s Proposed Budget

IFP Editorial Staff

January 29, 2018

A total of 120 lawmakers voted against while 83 were in favour of the budget proposed by the government, whose figures had been revised by the Parliament’s Budget Commission.

Nine MPs also abstained, according to a report by IRNA.

Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said the budget commission has 72 hours to revise the bill and present it to the chamber.

The budget (joint) commission is a parliamentary body responsible for reviewing the budget bill as well as the five-year economic development plans proposed by the government before its final ratification. President Hassan Rouhani presented the budget bill to parliament on December 10, according to Financial Tribune.

Among key amendments proposed by the commission to the budget bill were keeping gasoline price unchanged, setting average oil prices at $55 a barrel and fixing the official rate of the US dollar at 35,000 rials, freezing salaries of authorities, setting the ceiling for pay increases at 18%, banning any increase in tariffs, duties and costs of services provided by organizations of the executive branch and tax exemption for monthly wages below 23 million rials ($522) for civil servants and 18 million rials ($409) for guilds.

According to Larijani, the commission has only one opportunity to review the budget bill and the revised bill will be discussed on February 3.

11 Killed, 16 Wounded in ISIS Attack on Kabul Military University (+Video)

Fatemeh Askarieh

January 29, 2018

11 Killed, 16 Wounded in ISIS Attack on Kabul Military University (+Video) — The ISIS element arrested by Afghan forces

Five gunmen attacked the university at 5:00 am first with RPGs and then clashes between Afghan forces and attackers started.

According to the New York Times’ correspondent in Kabul, there were five attackers, two of whom detonated their suicide vests, two others were gunned down by security forces and one arrested alive.

The Ministry of Defence later announced the end of the attack, in which 11 members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) were killed and 16 others wounded.

The area has been sealed off by Afghan security forces.

Marshal Fahim Military Academy came under a suicide bombing attack last October, which claimed the lives of 15 army cadets.

Photos of Tehran Blanketed in Heavy Snow

Fatemeh Askarieh

January 29, 2018

People in Tehran, delighted by the winter’s first heavy snowfall, have flocked to the streets to enjoy the snow, particularly by making snowmen and throwing snowballs to each other.

Here are photos of the snowy Tehran retrieved from various news agencies:

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“Jordan King’s Anti-Iran Claims against Mideast Realities”

IFP Editorial Staff

January 28, 2018

In a Sunday statement, Qassemi pointed to the claims by King Abdullah II about an “Iranian crescent” and “Iran’s meddling in the region” and stressed that they are against the calls by the people and most countries of the Middle East for establishing lasting peace and security in the region.

“Such unfair statements cannot deny Iran’s stabilizing role, relentless efforts in fight against terrorism and its contribution to establishing security in the region.”

The spokesman went on to say uttering such remarks amid the critical and hard conditions of the region does not meet the interests of the regional governments and nations at all.

“Such remarks only benefit the ill-wishers, occupiers and aggressors who cannot put up with the peace, economic development, territorial integrity and national sovereignty of the states in this sensitive region of the world.”

He said as long as policies adopted in the region are against the public interests and there is no strong will to trace and eradicate the root causes of the current crises and tensions, there will be no bright prospect for lasting stability and security in the Middle East.

The spokesman also touched on new initiatives by the Islamic Republic to establish an environment free from tensions among the regional states including the establishment of an assembly for regional dialogue in the Persian Gulf.

“The principal, lasting and unchangeable policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been based on contributing to regional peace, stability and security,” he said, adding that Iran spares no efforts to invite other states to dialogue and prepare the ground for putting an end to the regional plight and problems.

Qassemi also said the Islamic Republic will continue to invite regional states to constructive dialogue with a focus on constructive outcomes in order to clear up misunderstandings and start multilateral cooperation among the states of the region.

“We have always welcomed any positive and stabilizing initiatives with the aim of further strengthening peace and stability in the region,” he concluded.

Qassemi’s statement came after King Abdullah II accused Iran of meddling in a number of Arab countries’ affairs on Friday.

He told CNN that Saudi Arabia was not the only country concerned about Iran’s “destabilizing activities, but also all states in the region, especially after we saw the repercussions of these policies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon.”

The Jordanian monarch also claimed he did not believe that Iran would change its foreign policy, which was adopted decades ago.

“Yemeni Ansarullah’s New Missile Could Change Trend of War”

IFP Editorial Staff

January 28, 2018

A senior media official of the Yemeni Ansarullah movement has underlined that the key to settling the crisis gripping the country is in the hands of the coalition of countries which has launched aggression against Yemen and has destroyed all available mechanisms for talks.

Abdolquds al-Shahari also criticized the role of former UN envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Sheikh Ahmad, saying he was more like a representative of the Saudi-led coalition rather than an impartial person, reported the Persian-language Fars News Agency.

Fars also quoted al-Shahari as telling Sputnik that he is optimistic about changes in Yemen, given the UN choosing a new pointman on Yemen as well as signs that fresh talks are going to kick off in Oman.

He underscored that big countries have differences and disputes over the Yemen crisis, but seek to work out solutions to the crisis in such a way that their interests are not affected. However, he added, the solution to the crisis should be an intra-Yemeni one which is not swayed by regional and foreign pressure.

Al-Shahari also spoke of a new type of missile which, he added, will probably change the military trend of war in the future phase.

He underlined that Ansarullah is a peace dove and has given numerous concessions to help work out a solution to the Yemen crisis. Nevertheless, he added, major countries in the region and in the world do not see eye to eye on the crisis and seek to agree upon solutions that would not impact on their interests.

The Ansarullah movement targeted the Yamamah Palace in Riyadh recently with a ballistic missile, marking the 1000^th day since Saudi Arabia launched its aggression on Yemen.

The missile was fired at a time when Saudi officials were at a meeting in the west of Riyadh. The firing of the projectile had a message: More than 1000 days on since the start of the Saudi attacks, Ansarullah is now capable of precisely identifying and striking Saudi targets.

After US media carried reports on Yemen’s missile power and claimed that the fired missile had been Iranian-made, some analysts warned that if the Yemenis have managed to develop missiles with a range of more than 1,300 kilometers, that means they have not only managed to modernize their old missiles, but produced new ones as well. So, it can be concluded that they have enough missiles in their depots to be able to strike future targets. A statement released by the Yemen arm makes the threat that Saudi economic and oil centers will be the next targets.

Iran FM, UN Envoy Discuss Iraq Parliamentary Elections

IFP Editorial Staff

January 28, 2018

During the Sunday meeting, the two sides discussed the latest developments in Iraq, the importance of promoting stability and security in this country, and the need to continue to confront the remnants of ISIS elements.

Zarif and Kubiš also conferred on the upcoming parliamentary elections in Iraq and the need for the participation of all political groups and parties in the elections.

Parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Iraq on 12 May 2018. The elections decide the 328 members of the Council of Representatives who will in turn elect the Iraqi President and Prime Minister.