One day after taking part in the Second Tehran Security Conference, Straw conferred with Zarif on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as well as regional issues.
Straw expressed the UK government’s strong support for the Iran nuclear deal and said British officials are putting hard efforts into preserving the achievements of the JCPOA against US measures.
The latest developments of regional states, particularly Yemen and Bahrain, were also among other issues discussed by the two sides.
The Tuesday meeting was also attended by former chancellor of Britain’s exchequer Norman Lamont who is currently serving as the head of Iran-Britain Chamber of Commerce.
Britain Trying Hard to Preserve Iran Nuclear Deal: Jack Straw
Exclusive: Iran Fully Prepared for US Withdrawal from JCPOA
Speaking on the sidelines of the Second Tehran Security Conference on Monday, the informed source said “the instructions have already been given to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and the Foreign Ministry” on the way they should react after US President Donald Trump’s possible withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
“We have all received our instructions. The AEOI is fully prepared to speed up our nuclear program and we have also our instructions to go and activate the Paragraph 26 which is a mechanism in the JCPOA to deal with this non-compliance of the deal by the US,” the source added.
The remarks came as Iran’s nuclear chief had earlier warned that the Islamic Republic would reconsider its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) if the US fails to implement its commitments as per the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.
Speaking in a telephone conversation with IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano on Monday, Ali Akbar Salehi warned about the consequences of Washington’s possible withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
“If the US does not fulfil its commitments under the nuclear deal, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make decisions that can influence the current trend of Tehran’s cooperation with the IAEA,” said Salehi, the head of the AEOI.
Trump must decide by January 12 whether he will re-certify the Iran deal, known as the JCPOA, reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries, including the United States.
Re-certification indicates that Iran is complying with the terms of the nuclear accord.
Trump faces a series of deadlines in the coming days about what to do with the Iran deal, which he has called an “embarrassment” to the US and “the worst deal ever negotiated.”
Trump has not made a decision about whether he will certify the pact next week and continue to waive sanctions against Iran.
Iran Not Convinced Europe Will Take Its Side after US Withdrawal
Elsewhere in his remarks, the informed source said “unlike what President Trump says, there is no end to this deal. The nuclear deal is permanent. The main commitment of Iran is permanent: not to go for the nuclear weapons.”
“It is the time for Trump to re-certify Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA and extend the waivers. If he refuses to do that, it means the end of JCPOA for the US. But is this the end of the deal for Iran and other parties as well? To be honest, it depends on the Europeans’ reaction,” the source added.
“Europeans must convince Iran that they can deliver on their JCPOA commitments without the US. It’s certainly a very big question. To be frank, however, we are not convinced that Europeans would do that. We are not convinced that Europeans can support their own companies against the US and encourage them to work with Iran in case the US sanctions are back.”
“Europeans have so far failed to convince Iran that they can maintain the deal without the US,” the source went on to say.
The informed source also noted that the deal is in a very critical situation. “We need more wisdom this time, more than any time in the past.”
“Actually Europeans played a very good role in past two or three months to prevent the US Congress from doing anything wrong regarding the JCPOA but I’m not sure they can do the same with President Trump himself.”
The nuclear is in a very critical situation. We need more wisdom this time, more than any time in the past.
Trump Preventing Iran from Reaping Full Benefits of JCPOA
The source further noted that if the US and the EU fulfill their commitments, then Iran will ratify the Additional Protocol.
However, the source added, Iran has not been able to fully reap the benefits of sanctions removal. “It is a fact.”
“There are many reasons for that. The major reason is the violation of the deal by the US. Not the violation of spirit, but the text of the deal. The US as a signatory of the JCPOA is supposed to implement the deal with good faith and in a constructive atmosphere,” the source added.
“The constructive atmosphere is very important for all of those companies, banks and businesses that are willing to work with Iran. They would not engage in cooperation with Iran if they are in doubt whether or not they are penalized by the US; whether or not the deal will be torn apart by the president.”
Therefore, the source noted, President Trump has intentionally created an atmosphere of ambiguity, confusion, and uncertainly.
“So no company would be interested in working with Iran, no bank would be interested in starting transaction with Iranian banks. And this atmosphere of uncertainty is certainly against the letter of the JCPOA.”
Companies, banks and businesses that are willing to work with Iran would not engage in cooperation if they are in doubt whether or not they are penalized by the US.
“According to Paragraph 28 of the JCPOA, all senior government officials of the P5+1 and Iran are committed to make every effort to support the successful implementation of the JCPOA including in their public statements. So anytime President Trump speaks against the deal, saying that it’s a mistake, it should be fixed, and so on, all these statements are against the letter of the JCPOA.”
“As a result, the atmosphere is not suitable for foreign companies and banks to work with Iran. They are afraid, they think the sanctions may be re-imposed, that President Trump may go for snapback.”
Asghar Farhadi’s ‘The Salesman’ Nominated for BAFTA 2018
‘The Salesman’, which won Farhadi his second Oscar, has been nominated by BAFTA 2018 for Best Film Not in the English Language, along with ‘Elle’, ‘First They Killed My Father’, ‘The Handmaiden’, and ‘Loveless’, Mehr reported.
The Salesman had earlier won two awards at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival and was also nominated for a Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Award among several other nationwide and universal recognitions.
Farhadi won Iran’s first-ever Academy Award with his drama A Separation in the 2012 Oscars.
The 71st British Academy Film Awards, known as the BAFTAs, will be held on 18 February 2018 at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on January 9
The top story in many newspapers today was the Second Tehran Security Conference, which was held in the Iranian capital on Monday. Several papers particularly covered the remarks made by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during his address to the conference.
Iran’s warning to the world over the possible US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) also received great coverage.
Also a top story was the ship collision in China in which an Iranian oil tanker caught fire and 30 Iranian sailors went missing. Rescue efforts are still underway.
The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines and top stories:
19 Dey:
1- Rouhani: People’s Demands Should Be Addressed; They Must Have Control over Everything
Abrar:
1- Zarif: JCPOA Implementation Effective in De-Escalating Tension in Mideast
2- Trump, Macron Hold Talks on Iran
3- Mogherini Invites Zarif to Visit Europe for Talks on Iran Protests
Aftab-e Yazd:
1- Araqchi: World Should Prepare Itself for US Withdrawal from JCPOA
2- Chinese Rescue Workers Said to Have Left Collision Site after Saving Their Compatriots!
- Golden Time for Rescuing Iranian Sailors Missed
Arman-e Emrooz:
1- Iran Warns Amano about US Violation of JCPOA
Ebtekar:
1- One Year without Ayatollah: First Anniversary of Rafsanjani’s Death
Etemad:
1- One Year after Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani’s Demise: He Was Our Voice
Ettela’at:
1- Zarif at Tehran Security Conference Explains Iran’s Priorities for Regional Convergence
- Reviving System of State-Nation, Respecting National Borders
2- Genetic Data of Iranians to Be Collected in Major “Iranium” Project
Iran:
1- Rouhani Warns against Wrong Interpretations of People’s Demands: No Wrong Address
2- Zarif at West Asia Security Conference: Win-Win Relations Basis for Regional Security
Javan:
1- Iran Gov’t Using CIA as Source of Data on Iranian Elites!
2- Sexual Insecurity Paints ‘Golden Globe’ in Black
Jomhouri Eslami:
1- Participants of Tehran Security Conference:
Ultra-Regional Powers’ Interference Causes Insecurity in Mideast
Kayhan:
1- Rouhani: Government’s Economic Path Right, Parliament Shouldn’t Back Off!
Resalat:
1- Rouhani: US Credibility Destroyed in UN Security Council Meeting
2- Iran; Hub of Middle East, World Security
Rooyesh-e Mellat:
1- Agriculture Minister: We Have Shortage of Water, but We’re Not Out of It
2- Salehi: US’ Failure to Fulfil JCPOA Commitments to Influence Iran’s Cooperation with IAEA
Shahrvand:
1- Jamaran in Absence of Ayatollah Rafsanjani
2- Nuclear Deal at Alarming Level
Shargh:
1- Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani’s First Death Anniversary
2- Iranian Sailors Might Still Be Alive: Official
Sobh-e Now:
1- Tension in Riyadh: Three Saudi Princes Killed in Armed Clashes
Vatan-e Emrooz:
1- Nonsense Remarks of Jack Straw in Tehran: Diplomats in Iran Don’t Have Security!
US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, MKO behind Recent Riots: Iran Leader
Speaking to a group of people on Tuesday, Ayatollah Khamenei said “a triangle was behind the recent developments in Iran.”
“This is not a matter of today or yesterday, it was organized, and there is evidence to prove it,” the Leader added.
“The plot was hatched by Americans and Zionists. They have been plotting for several months. According to their plot, they wanted to start [the riots] in small towns and move on towards the central areas,” he added.
“The money [for this project] was provided by one of the stinking-rich governments around the Persian Gulf,” Ayatollah Khamenei noted, apparently reffering to Saudi Arabia.
“The implementation of such plots is costly. Americans would never pay for it as long as they [Saudis] are around,” he noted.
“The third side of the triangle was the criminal organization of MKO, which served as the flunkey in these riots,” the Leader noted.
Ayatollah Khamenei said the MKO terrorists had prepared themselves for the riots since several months ago. “The MKO media admitted during the days of riots that they were in contact with the Americans.”
The Leader said those behind the riots tried to entice people to pour into streets using the attractive slogan of “No to Price Hikes”.
“This is a slogan that everyone would like it. They wanted to attract a group of people using such slogans, and then enter the riots themselves to pursue their inauspicious goals,” he added.
However, the Leaded added, the people distanced themselves from the rioters as soon as they found what goals they were pursuing.
US Outraged by Its Defeat, Talking Nonsense
The Leader further noted that the US is extremely angry with the leader, nation, government, and revolution of Iran, because it has been defeated by the nation’s “great move”.
“Now the American officials have started talking nonsense. The US president says the Iranian government is afraid of its people; No! The government has been created by these people, and relies on them. Why should it be afraid of them?”
“He [Trump] also says the Iranian government is afraid of the US power: if we are afraid of you, how come we kicked you Americans out of our country in the 1970s and out of the entire Middle East in the 2010s?”
Ayatollah Khamenei also noted that the US will have to pay the price for the damages it caused to Iran during the days of riot.
“Although he does not seem to be a balanced man, the guy who is in power in the US should know that his insanity shows will not remain unanswered,” he added.
“And those outside and inside the country who like to visit Americans should know the Establishment is standing still and will resolve all the weaknesses and problems,” the Leader noted.
Young Iranian Artist Launches Environmental Campaign for Children
Mehdi Rivandi sets up his stall on the ground in central Tehran displaying and selling his hand-made bracelets to provide money for his individual campaign for Iranian children.
His campaign is named “Little Culture Makers” and its main slogan is “the third world is just a mental image not a real place!”
In his campaign, he makes dolls to change the mass culture by performing puppet shows for children.
In a Farsi interview with the Mehr News Agency, Mehdi said, “I’ve launched the campaign to ease my conscience.”
Born in 1985, Mehdi has majored in graphic designing. He has also worked as a sculptor and painter for a while. But he decided to quit all his professions and began working for children.
“I’ve worked in Iran and abroad painting and making sculptures for a while but none of them satisfied me. People’s wrong behaviours, including the way they drive and their littering habit, made me angry.”
“Today they teach their children not to get anything from others and they don’t know that by such teachings they are spreading mistrust in the society. So, I decided to change the culture by doing something for the children,” he said.
Mehdi is also an environmentalist. That is why he has used waste materials like water bottles to make sculptures.
Iran Says World Must Be Ready for US JCPOA Withdrawal
Araqchi made the remarks in an address to the second panel of Tehran Security Conference on Monday amid speculations about US President Donald Trump’s likely withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“The US president has taken many actions over the past year to destroy the JCPOA and it is even possible that the JCPOA would be dismantled in the next few days through measures he seeks to take,” the Iranian diplomat said.
He also urged the region and the international community to adopt necessary measures in preparation for a possible US pulling out of the nuclear accord.
The US president delivered an anti-Iran speech on October 13, in which he said he would not continue to certify Iran’s compliance with the terms of the JCPOA, a central foreign policy achievement of his predecessor, Barack Obama, and warned that he might ultimately terminate the agreement.
The next deadline for Trump to waive nuclear-related sanctions falls on Friday.
Araqchi further expressed Iran’s readiness for any scenario vis-à-vis the US decision on remaining committed to the JCPOA or pulling out of it.
“Our region will suffer the most from the US withdrawal from the JCPOA,” he said, urging European countries to take “specific measures” to encourage European firms and banks to cooperate with Iran.
The senior Iranian diplomat emphasized that the JCPOA could serve as a model for solving issues through negotiations and a win-win game.
“The JCPOA must turn into a successful experience in the international arena and the US must also play its role in [safeguarding] the JCPOA, because its collapse will not create a better region for us,” Araqchi pointed out.
Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China – plus Germany signed the nuclear agreement on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.
Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.
Since the JCPOA Implementation, the IAEA has been verifying and monitoring Iran’s compliance with its nuclear-related commitments under the nuclear deal and has consistently verified the Islamic Republic’s compliance.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif plans to hold talks with the EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, as well as his British, German and French counterparts in Brussels later this week.
Mogherini warned in December of the adverse consequences of a possible US move to step away from the landmark nuclear deal, saying it would be counterproductive.
Italy’s Ex-PM Calls for Enhanced Iran-EU Ties
Visiting Iran to take part in the Second Tehran Security Conference, D’Alema held talks with Zarif on a number of bilateral and international issues.
During the talks, the Italian politician called for preserving and supporting the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal signed between Iran and six world powers. He also said the strengthening of economic cooperation between Iran and the EU member states is of great significance.
For his part, Iran’s top diplomat underlined that in addition to the statements it has issued on the necessity of preserving the JCPOA, the EU should adopt practical measures to maintain and implement the nuclear accord.
Exchanging views on the developments in the regional states including Syria and Iraq was also high on the agenda of the meeting.
200 politicians, academics, and military officials from nearly 50 countries gathered in the one-day Tehran Security Conference to discuss security challenges threatening the regional countries and how to confront those threats.
Tarikhaneh Mosque; 2,300-Year-Old Monument in Central Iran
Known as Sad Darvazeh Mosque (Mosque of 100 Gates), Tarikhaneh is one of the oldest mosques in Iran and the Islamic history.
Tarikhaneh was established between 747 CE and 786 CE, a Farsi report by ISNA said.
Tari means God and Tarikhaneh means the house of God. The mosque is built in Khorasani architecture style. It is also among the earliest mosques in the Iranian history which accommodates a minaret inside its interior.
During the reconstruction of the mosque in the 13th Hijri century (1776-1883), architects set up some sharp domes instead of the original oval domes which had collapsed throughout history.
During the Seljuq dynasty, another circular minaret was added to the building of the mosque on which a piece of Quranic quote has been carved in Kufic style (There is no deity but God). The building of the minaret was sponsored by Bakhtiar the son of Mohammad. The minaret is 26m in height. It has 86 steps with some Seljuq style decorations.
Here are ISNA’s photos of Tarikhaneh Mosque :
Iran FM, Omani Counterpart Discuss Yemen War
During the talks in Tehran, the two sides conferred on the current situation in the region, including the issue of Yemen, the necessity of ending the war and aggression on the impoverished country, and the dispatch of humanitarian aid to Yemenis.
They also conferred on issues of mutual interest, particularly the reinforcement and development of banking relations.
The Omani top diplomat arrived in Iran earlier in the day to attend the Second Tehran Security Conference held in the Iranian capital.
