Iran Vehemently Rejects Israel’s Baseless Claims

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February 10, 2018

In a Saturday statement, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi referred to the Zionist regime’s latest claims and propaganda about the Israeli warplanes’ repeated invasions of the Syrian territory and the Syrian army’s shoot-down of one of them, and said, “As a sovereign state, the Syrian government and nation have the legitimate right to defend their territorial integrity against any foreign invasion.”

He also noted that Israel cannot cover up its invasions of and crimes against the Muslim states of the region through its usual blame game and lying tactic, which is an integrated part of the illegitimate Zionist regime.

The spokesman underlined that the Israeli regime’s claims about the flight of an Iranian drone [in Golan Heights] as well as Iran’s role in the shoot-down of the Israeli jet are “too ridiculous to be taken seriously.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran only has an advisory presence in Syria at the request of the legitimate and legal government of Syria,” he stressed.

Earlier, Israel’s Military Spokesman Ronen Manelis said the Israeli regime holds Iran directly responsible for the crash of its jet in Syria.

“This is a serious Iranian attack on Israeli territory. Iran is dragging the region into an adventure in which it doesn’t know how it will end,” he claimed in a statement.

Terrorist Attack on Libyan Mosque Kills 2, Wounds 75 (+Video)

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IFP Editorial Staff

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February 10, 2018

While the initial number of people wounded in the attack was reported to be 75, local media news reports put the number of those injured at 129.

The casualties were caused by two suspected improvised explosive devices which went off at the Saad Ben Obadah mosque during Friday prayers.

Local residents soon began clear-up operations in the mosque, which was littered with debris and broken glass.

According to a military spokesperson, explosive devices were placed in bags that were left at the mosque’s entrance. They were then detonated via a mobile phone just before Friday prayers.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

The bombing was the second of its kind in two weeks, following a blast which claimed the lives of 35 people.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on February 10

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IFP Editorial Staff

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February 10, 2018

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 18

The top story in all Iranian newspapers today was the remarks made by the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with air force commanders and personnel.

During the meeting, the Leader urged the Judiciary, the government, and the Parliament to seriously and harshly fight against corruption, especially among officials, as the people are angry with corruption and discrimination.

Also a top story was the 22 Bahman nationwide rallies due to be held on Sunday to mark the 39th anniversary of the victory of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. All state bodies and officials, particularly the Leader, have called for the people’s huge turnout in the rallies.

The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines and top stories:

19 Dey:

1- Iran Leader: Fight against Corruption among State Officials Must Be Serious, Harsh

People Complaining about Corruption, Discrimination

2- Larijani: Those Who Cause Rift Betraying Nation, Revolution

3- Rouhani: Gov’t Not a Good Businessperson, People Must Be in Charge

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Iran Leader: Know the People, They Are Complaining of Corruption, Discrimination

2- People to Have Glorious Turnout in 22 Bahman Rallies

Ettela’at:

1- Iran Leader: This Year’s Celebrations of Revolution Anniversary to Be More Glorious

2- IAEA, EU Support Iran Nuclear Deal

Araqchi: We Won’t Hold Talks with Europeans, Americans on Any Other Issue

3- Winter Olympics Organizers Officially Apologize to Iran

Hemayat:

1- Iran Prosecutor General Summons Samsung CEO over Damages It Caused on Iran

2- Iran Leader: People to Disappoint Enemies in 22 Bahman Rallies

Iran:

1- Iranians’ National Celebration in Anniversary of Revolution’s Victory

2- Major Project to Renovate Old Parts of Cities Starts in 9 Provinces

Javan:

1- Iran Leader Urges State Officials to Pay Attention to People’s Real Demands

Dragon of Corruption among Officials Must Be Killed

Jomhouri Eslami:

1- Iran Leader: This Year’s 22 Bahman Rallies to Be Warmer, More Passionate

2- Ayatollah Khamenei Allocates $1.5 Billion to Water, Soil Projects in Khuzestan, Ilam

Kayhan:

1- Iran Leader: If We Could Help Yemen, We’d Have Given Them Hundreds of Missiles, Not One

Shargh:

1- Iran MP: We Had Acceptable Level of Freedom of Speech under President Khatami

2- One of the Girls Who Removed Her Hijab to Appear in Court

IRGC Says Enemies Can Never Undermine Iran’s Missile Power

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IFP Media Wire

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February 10, 2018

“The consecutive failures of the US, the Zionist regime (of Israel), and their European and regional allies in the battlefields of proxy wars and Takfiri terrorism, which have occurred contrary to their cause and will, brings to mind the undeniable fact that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as the most powerful country in the West Asia region, will never be intimidated by the numerous and massive plots of the Western wolves and demons,” the IRGC said in a statement released on Friday to commemorate the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

“(The country) will not allow the enemy to approach the gates of its defense superiority and the deterrent power of its missiles and to undermine its security shield and national defense,” the IRGC added.

The statement also called on the Iranian people from all walks of life to participate in the upcoming rallies due to be held on Sunday marking the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

The Iranian nation toppled the US-backed Pahlavi regime 39 years ago, on February 11, 1979, ending the 2,500 years of monarchic rule in the country.

The revolution, led by the late Imam Khomeini, established a new political system based on Islamic values and democracy.

Every year Iranians mark the anniversary of their Islamic Revolution from February 1 to 11, known as the Ten-Day Fajr (dawn) ceremonies.

February 1, 1979, was the date when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile in Paris to Tehran.

Syria’s Air Defence Shoots Down at Least One Israeli Jet Fighter

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IFP Editorial Staff

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February 10, 2018

In a major escalation of tension in the region, the jet fighter was shot down and crashed in northern Israel, according to media reports.

The two pilots, one of whom was severely injured, have ejected and landed in Israel.

Meanwhile, Syria’s state TV says the country’s air defence bases have opened fire and hit “more than one plane”, citing a military source.

“The Israeli enemy entity at dawn today conducted a new aggression against one of the military bases in the central region. Our air defences confronted it and hit more than one plane,” the unidentified military source said.

Later, Syrian state media said air defences were responding to a new Israeli assault and air defences had thwarted attacks on military positions in southern Syria.

The Israeli military denied more than one plane had been hit, The Guardian reported.

The Israeli jet fighters were part of a mission deep into Syrian territory to destroy what the Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus said was an “Iranian” drone control facility near the desert city of Palmyra.

Tel Aviv says the crashed F-16 was returning on Saturday morning from a raid to destroy what it calls “Iranian” facilities accused of launching a drone into Israel.

Orange Harvest Season in Northern Iran

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IFP Editorial Staff

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February 10, 2018

Iran ranks 1st in fruit production in the Middle East and North Africa. 2.7 million hectares of orchards are being harvested in Iran with an annual production this year of 16.5 million tonnes.

According to official FAO statistics, the per capita production of fruit in the world is 80 kilograms while in Iran it is 200 kg. Iran has been ranked between 8th and 10th in global fruit production in different years.

Meanwhile, the country has achieved the 7^th rank in the world in the production of oranges, particularly thanks to the northern seaside lands of the Caspian Sea which provide finest conditions for citrus production.

Here are photos of orange harvest season in Rahimabad in the northern province of Gilan retrieved from Mizan News Agency:

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US Moving towards Ruining Int’l Treaties, Humanity: Iran

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IFP Editorial Staff

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February 9, 2018

Signs of US Decline Clearer Than Ever: Iran Official

In remarks made on Thursday, Ali Shamkhani said the US has no hesitation to use whatever at its disposal, from using terrorist groups and waging propaganda wars to imposing economic sanctions, to inflict a blow on Iran’s national interests.

“The US administration has explicitly announced that to implement its aggressive security strategy in the region and its illegitimate regional policies, it is facing up a huge obstacle called Iran,” he was quoted as saying in a Farsi report by Fars News Agency.

The senior official also called on the Iranian nation to remain vigilant against the enemy plots to spread hatred and violence across the region and the world.

Shamkhani also said the enemy is seeking direct confrontation with Iran particularly in the region with the aim of negatively affecting the power of the Islamic Republic.

“Following their regional failures in different fields, the enemies have resorted to other tools like imposing sanctions, fabricating dichotomies and sowing seeds of discord among the regional states to restrict the regional role of Iran,” he noted.

PyeongChang Olympics Organizers Apologize to Iranian Athletes

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IFP Editorial Staff

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February 9, 2018

In a letter to the head of Iranian convoy to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, the committee officially apologized over the move.

According to a Farsi report by Khabar Online, the committee said the incident took place as a result of “miscommunications within the teams working” on the phone distribution.

Also in a letter signed by the International Olympics Committee (IOC) Deputy Director General Pero Miro, the IOC expressed its “deepest regret for the unfortunate incident concerning the distribution of the phone to the Iranian athletes.”

The IOC also said it is ready hold a meeting on Saturday with the Iranian athletes as part of a mollifying gesture.

Iran summoned South Korean ambassador on Thursday over the “immoral” decision to exclude Iranian athletes from receiving Samsung’s special gift under the pretext of international sanctions on Tehran.

The games’ sponsor Samsung Electronics had donated some 4,000 “Olympic edition” Galaxy Note 8 smartphones as a gift to all the athletes and officials visiting PyeongChang for the international tournament, but Iranian and North Korean athletes were initially denied the gifts.

Four athletes are presenting Iran in the winter games. 12 participating North Korean athletes have faced the same exclusive policy.

Iranian, British Diplomats Hold Talks in Paris

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IFP Editorial Staff

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February 9, 2018

The Iranian diplomat met Britain’s Minister of State for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, on a number of bilateral, regional and international issues. During the meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on the latest developments regarding the Iran nuclear deal.

Earlier on Wednesday, Araqchi held talks with Secretary-General of France’s ministry of foreign affairs Maurice Gourdault-Montagne over bilateral and international issues.

He also discussed a range of issues with Nicolas de Riviere, the Political Director of the French Foreign Ministry, and Philippe Etienne, a top foreign policy advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron.

Araqchi traveled to France’s capital Paris to participate in the one-day Euromoney Iran Conference 2018 held on Thursday. The Iranian diplomat delivered a speech at the closing ceremony of the conference.

The Euromoney Iran Conference 2018 was attended by hundreds of investors and representatives of banks and financial institutes from European and Asian countries. The conference was organized jointly by Central Bank of Iran and Euromoney Institute.

Grand Bazaar of Isfahan, World’s Longest Roofed Market

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IFP Editorial Staff

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February 9, 2018

Isfahan’s Grand Bazaar, World’s Longest Roofed Market

The bazaar dates back to Seljuk and Safavid eras and is the longest roofed market in the world.

At the entrance of the bazaar, you will see the superb view of the Naqsh-e Jahan square, which is one of the biggest squares in the entire world.

The roofed market extends across the square with many shops full of magnificent Persian handicrafts. They sell antique and old objects that are the symbols of the history and civilization of Isfahan.

Here are photos of the Grand Bazaar of Isfahan retrieved from IRNA:

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