Friday, December 26, 2025
Home Blog Page 3749

Iran’s Rouhani, France’s Macron Discuss Bilateral, Regional Issues

As regards Iran’s presence in anti-terror measures in neighboring Iraq and Syria, Rouhani said, “Our presence in Iraq and Syria has been based on the official invitation of the governments of these countries and to fight terrorism.”

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s key policy is based on development of peace and stability and strengthening of stability in the region, he noted.

“Today, it is clear for everybody that Iran’s efforts and help has led to the elimination of Takfiri ISIS terrorists in the region.”

Pointing out that Iran believes that the future of any country is determined only by the will of its people, Rouhani added, “Everyone must work for holding a free election in Iraq.”

Referring to the need to end the siege of people in Syria and Yemen, and to deliver humanitarian aid to the people and the wounded in these areas, the president emphasized the need for continued efforts and negotiation for constructive dialogue and national reconciliation in Syria.

Rouhani also praised establishment of peace in Lebanon and said, “Provocative remarks against Lebanon by the Zionist Regime and violations of territorial sovereignty of the country by them is never acceptable.”

President also called the latest stances of the US President towards Jerusalem (al-Quds) in the current conditions of the region devastating and emphasized the need for Europe to declare a clear stance towards development and strengthening of stability and peace in the region and not coordinating with the United States.

Rouhani stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to complying with its obligations under regulations and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), adding, “The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is an international agreement in the interest of all, and everyone should work to persevere this agreement.”

“We will adhere to the JCPOA as long as we feel we are enjoying its benefits.”

Pointing out that Iran’s missile defense program never breaches international resolutions, Rouhani said, “Our weapons are to defend our country, and we will never hesitate to achieve what we need to defend our country.”

Today, true democracy is underway in Iran, the example of which is the recent presidential election with the passionate presence of the people, said Rouhani, adding, “Promotion of violence has nothing to do with legitimate freedom, criticism and expressing demands, and no country slacks off the security of its people.”

“We expect the French government to take its legal responsibility to combat terrorism and violence,” said  Rouhani, criticizing that a terrorist group has a base in Paris, operating against the Iranian people and provoking and persuading people to take violent actions in Iran.

French President Emmanuel Macron also pointed out that France was fully committed to implementation of the JCPOA, and believed it to be in the interest of international peace and stability, and stressed the need for continued talks and consultations to promote stability and peace in the region and end the unrest in Yemen, Syria and Iraq.

“The logic calling Iran as the Axis of Evil is the reason for regional tensions,” said Macron, adding, “We need to work harder to develop cooperation and consultation in order to promote and consolidate peace and stability in the region”

Describing the role of the IRGC in destroying ISIS undeniable, the French President said that France does not deny the role of the Quds Force in destroying ISIS and appreciates this presence.

“We have never supported terrorist groups and will not allow any action to take place against other countries from France,” he continued.

Security in Iran Depends on Iranian People: FM Zarif

Iran’s security and stability depend on its own people, who — unlike the peoples of [US President Donald] Trumps regional “bffs”—have the right to vote and to protest,” Zarif said in a post on his official Twitter account on Tuesday.

He emphasized that the Iranian people would protect their “hard-earned rights” and would never let infiltrators “sabotage them through violence and destruction.”

Since Thursday, groups of Iranian protesters have staged demonstrations in several cities to voice their anger over rising prices and economic conditions. Sporadic violence has erupted during the protests, causing a number of casualties.

Trump posted several tweets to express his support for protests in Iran. In his latest tweet on Tuesday, the US president said, “The [Iranian] people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The US is watching!”

Zarif’s twitter came after Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi denounced US President Donald Trump’s “insulting” tweets about the recent protests in a number of Iranian cities, urging him to avoid interfering in the Islamic Republic’s internal affairs.

Trump’s completely paradoxical and garbled stance against the Iranian people is not a new issue,” Qassemi said on Tuesday.

Addressing a Cabinet session on Sunday, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani condemned his American counterpart’s comments about the protests in Iran.

“This man who today in America wants to sympathize with our people has forgotten that a few months ago he called the Iranian nation terrorist,” the Iranian president said, adding, “This person who is against the Iranian nation from head to toe has no right to feel sorry for the people of Iran.”

He said that national security, peace and coherence as well as the unity that existed in Iran were the “biggest assets” of the country in the restive Middle East region, emphasizing that people from all faiths and ethnicities enjoyed peaceful coexistence in the Islamic Republic.

Telegram in Dilemma over Keeping One Channel or 40 Million Users

Iranian people account for nearly 40 million users of Telegram in the world, and concerns are now growing among the Iranian nation over the government’s decision to close the messaging app completely or make its use illegal and consequently more complicated amid the recent protests and riots held across the country.

A few days ago, Telegram closed an anti-Iran channel named Amad News for encouraging people to violence after a top Iranian official’s request. The channel, with over 1.3 million followers, was blocked by Telegram after it tried to provoke Iranian people to use violent actions against the Islamic Establishment amid the recent protests.

However, Amad News started its operation in a new channel, and Telegram refused to remove the new one, claiming that the new channel has not yet violated Telegram’s Terms of Service. This prompted the Iranian government to restrict Telegram temporarily until peace is restored to the country.

Will Telegram accept to remove Amad News again for promoting violence and norm-breaking as part of a strategy to keep the app legal in Iran as a tool for amusement or communication? Only time will tell us.

Meanwhile, as finding a job in Iran is difficult, the messaging app widely known for its user-friendly features has turned into a tool among Iranians for doing business. Now the main question is, as protests continue over economic woes and joblessness, will Telegram turn into a headquarters for coordinating street protests, leaving jobless many people who use telegram as a tool for making money?

These people seem to be the group addressed by Iranian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi in his recent post on Twitter.

“I feel duty-bound to apologize to hundreds of thousands of my compatriots who have incurred losses due to the existing conditions,” he noted, referring to the “temporary” restrictions imposed on Telegram and Instagram.

“As one of its plans to counter the issue of unemployment, the government has supported, and will support the development of start-ups and reinforcement of the cyberspace.”

“Now that peace is being restored, we are negotiating with the Supreme National Security Council to have the restrictions removed,” he added.

However, it seems that aside from the Supreme National Security Council, there are two other elements which can play a role in removing the limitations:

1- Avoiding violence by those protesters who damage public properties and create chaos and concerns in the public spheres instead of adopting a civil behaviour and express their criticisms peacefully

2- Removing the channels of those users who according to Telegram’s Terms of Service (ToS) spread violence through the app.

Unfortunately, some Telegram users outside of Iran have turned this popular messenger into a tool for creating public disorder. They even publish the addresses of the government organizations and some state bodies and call on the protesters to attack them. They train street war tactics and publish the procedures to make home-made bombs.

All these have led the Iranian government to restrict the messenger and decrease the speed of Internet for civil use including sending and receiving photos and films. If Telegram keeps insisting on its policies, there is no doubt that the Iranian users would leave the app for alternative messengers. Iranian users have changed their messaging apps for several times over the past years and inevitably migrated to new apps, from WeChat and Viber to WhatsApp and Telegram. This will not be an exception, either.

 

How Does Telegram Make Money?
The CEO of Telegram has announced that the messenger makes money through the financial aid provided by some generous donors. But is it believable? The CEO portrays a nice picture of today’s world in which there are nice people who are ready to make donations to social messengers like Telegram.

In a short Farsi piece, the Khabar Online news website has tried to find a convincing answer to the question raised above. It is most probably an issue for many other people since Telegram is known as one of the main driving forces behind the recent unrest and violent street protests in Iran.

But how does Telegram make money? This is a question we have been asked repeatedly, so it might seem interesting for you to know the main financial source of the messenger.

We have heard a lot about the financial aid of the governments. We have heard that there are certain governments which provide financial aid for the popular messenger. But what announced officially by messaging app’s CEO is that Telegram has no certain source of income and will not have either in the future. He says Telegram has never had any advertisement and will not have any in the future. According to the CEO, it also does not have any investor and will never be sold under any conditions. These are the statements of Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram.

He has also said that Telegram has received numerous offers from many companies. According to Durov, a number of companies and individuals from Silicon Valley, whose identities he did not reveal, have offered to buy Telegram for three to five billion dollars, but he has rejected them all. He has firmly declared that Telegram will not be put up for grabs in the future.

On the messaging app’s expenses, Durov has claimed he makes ends meet thanks to some generous donors. According to Durov, at present Telegram is rich enough to go ahead with its operations and if it needs money, they “will announce it publicly”.

Iranian Minister Apologizes over Social Media Restrictions

Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi

In a Tuesday post in his Twitter account, Azari Jahromi said, “I feel duty-bound to apologize to hundreds of thousands of my compatriots who have incurred losses due to the existing conditions,” he noted, referring to the “temporary” restrictions imposed on Telegram messaging app and Instagram.
“As one of its plans to counter the issue of unemployment, the government has supported, and will support the development of start-ups and reinforcement of the cyberspace.”
“Now that peace is being restored, we are negotiating with the Supreme National Security Council to have the restrictions removed,” he added.
Many start-ups have grown in Iran since a few years ago, and most of them depend on such social media and messaging apps for their business.
Following an outbreak of unrest in Iran over economic woes, the Iranian government decided to block the two apps mostly used by the protesters and rioters to coordinate their activities.
However, the state TV (IRIB) says the temporary bans are aimed at ensuring peace and security across the country.
Several Iranian cities have been the scene of anti-government street protests in recent days. The early protests demanded a better economic situation and better living conditions, but sporadic violence has erupted during the protests, causing a number of casualties. Officials believe the riots are being fuelled by foreign countries including Saudi Arabia, the US, and Israel.

Russia, Turkey Blast Foreign Attempts to Meddle in Iran’s Affairs

Russia, Turkey Blast Foreign Attempts to Meddle in Iran's Affairs

Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday that “external interference destabilizing the situation (in Iran) is inadmissible.”

Moscow expressed the hope that the protests would not develop into severe violence.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also condemned attempts by foreign countries to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs, saying that “Turkey attributes great importance to the preservation of peace and stability in Iran.”

In a Monday statement, the ministry expressed the hope that peace will be restored to the Islamic Republic as soon as possible.

The statement further said, “In this context, we believe the statement of President (Hassan) Rouhani (of Iran) that people have a right to peaceful protest but the law should not be violated and that public property should not be harmed should be taken into account….”

Later on Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also called his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and discussed with him the latest developments in Iran.

Some cities in Iran have been scenes of demonstrations in the past days, which started with economic demands, but later turned into violent riots. Sporadic violence has erupted during the protests, causing a number of deaths.

Addressing a Cabinet session on Sunday, President Rouhani said the Iranian people were completely free to express their criticism of the government or stage protests according to the Constitution and citizenship rights, and in a way that would lead to the improvement of the country’s conditions.

Iran Reopens Two Border Crossings with Iraqi Kurdistan

Iran Reopens Two Border Crossings with Iraqi Kurdistan

Shahriar Heidari said that according to the interior minister, the Parviz Khan border crossing in the western province of Kermanshah and the Tamarchin border crossing in the northwestern province of West Azarbaijan reopened on Tuesday.

He said the reopening of the borders came after an announcement by the SNSC and the resumption of activities of diplomatic and security organizations in the districts.

Iran shut its common frontier with the semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan Region at the request of Baghdad after the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) held a referendum to secede from the Arab country in September.

People in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq voted for independence on September 25 in a controversial referendum, amid rising tensions and international opposition.

The referendum set off a chain of events, culminating in a military confrontation between Erbil and Baghdad.

Iraqi government forces launched a major operation in Kirkuk on October 16 and took control of its oil fields and a strategic military base without any armed clashes.

Iran Denounces Trump’s Insulting Tweets, Meddlesome Remarks

Bahram Qassemi

In a statement on Tuesday, Qassemi slammed Trump’s interventionist and insulting tweets about the recent developments in Iran, saying that Trump’s “totally confused and inconsistent stances” against the Iranian nation are nothing new.

“He had earlier called Iranians a ‘terrorist nation’ and hurt the national sentiments of the Iranians by using a fake name for Persian Gulf and outraged them all over the world,” he noted.

“Now under the pretext of expressing sympathy for them, he has made insulting comments about the Iranian nation, which has several thousand years of history and a rich culture that has greatly influenced the global civilization,” he noted, adding that the great and cultured community of Iranians across the world will definitely react to Trump’s remarks.

Qassemi advised Trump to avoid wasting his time by posting useless and insulting tweets on the internal affairs of other countries and nations, and rather address the domestic affairs of his own country.

He urged Trump to deal with such issues as the daily murders of tens of people in armed clashes and shootings in various American states, and the millions of homeless and hungry people living in the US.

The Iranian spokesman also called on the US president to learn politeness from the ancient Iranians and behave based on the principles of “Good Words, Good Deeds” if he wants to win the world’s respect for the US and himself.

Qassemi’s comments came after Donald Trump tweeted on Monday that Iranian people “are hungry for food & for freedom. Along with human rights, the wealth of Iran is being looted. TIME FOR CHANGE!”

Iranian Judiciary Warns Rioters of Severe Punishment

Iran Protests

Speaking to Tasnim on Tuesday, Hojjatoleslam Mousa Qazanfarabadi said individuals arrested after the third day of unrest in Iran will have to face more severe punishment because they have consciously taken to the streets and resorted to violence despite the Interior Ministry’s ban on such gatherings.

Every day that passes by, those arrested in riots will face heavier penalties, as they are not deemed to be protestors any more, but rioters seeking to harm the core of the Establishment, he added.

According to the court chief, individuals already detained in Tehran and other cities on charges of leading the riots and having links with foreign espionage services will appear in court very soon.

Qazanfarabadi went on to say that a number of the most wanted mercenaries have been captured by the security forces amid the recent riots.

His comments came after Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani ordered the country’s prosecutors to take serious measures in dealing with the rioters vandalizing public properties amid the recent civil protests.

The top Iranian judge called on the prosecutors to monitor the situation closely, steer those pursuing legitimate demands towards lawful methods, and get tough with vandals and arsonists destroying public and private properties and violating the rights of others.

Some cities of Iran have witnessed rallies in the past few days in protest at price hikes and economic woes.

Police have arrested a number of demonstrators who were trying to damage public property in the gatherings.

According to Article 27 of the Iranian Constitution, “public gatherings and marches are allowed so long as the participants do not carry arms and are not in violation of the fundamental principles of Islam.”

In the recent demonstrations in Iran, 10 people have been pronounced dead, while unconfirmed reports suggest that the death toll has risen to 21 on Tuesday morning.

In Najafabad, a city in the central province of Isfahan, a rioter opened fire to police forces on Monday night, killing one and injuring three others with a hunting rifle.

On Monday evening, a number of Iranian cities saw anti-riot public demonstrations, with people calling for calm and an end to sporadic urban unrest.

President Hassan Rouhani has stressed that the united Iranian nation will stand firm against a small group of foreign-induced rioters that have tried to hijack recent peaceful protests in the country, saying any protest should be organized in compliance with the regulations.

Enemies Trying to Harm Iran’s Establishment: Leader

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei

In a Tuesday meeting with the families of a number of Iranian martyrs in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei made his first reaction to the recent unrest in different cities of Iran.

“In the developments of the recent couple of days, the enemies of Iran joined hands to create trouble for the Islamic Establishment using various means they have including money, arms, politics, and intelligence services,” he said.

“What blocks the enemy and its hostile moves is the nation’s spirit of courage, sacrifice, and faith,” the Leader noted, adding that the enemies have always waiting for an opportunity to deal a blow on the Iranian nation.

Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that he has words to say about these developments, but will talk about it in an appropriate time.

Several Iranian cities have been the scene of anti-government street protests in recent days. The early protests demanded a better economic situation and better living conditions, but sporadic violence has erupted during the protests, causing a number of casualties. Officials believe the riots are being fueled by foreign countries including Saudi Arabia, the US, and Israel.

 

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 5

Newspapers on Tuesday continued to cover the recent protest rallies and ensuing riots across Iran. The protests, which started in the religious cities of Mashhad and Qom on Thursday, mainly focused on economic grievances, particularly the surge in prices and the financial corruption of certain state bodies.

However, the ensuing protest rallies in other cities on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday involved more political slogans and turned violent in numerous cases.

What follows are the Iranian papers’ coverage of the recent unrest on Tuesday:

 

19 Dey:

1- Rouhani: People’s Protest an Opportunity, Not Threat

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2


 

Abrar:

1- MP: Unrest Can Send Negative Signals on Investment

2- US Senator to Trump: Tweet Not Enough for Supporting Iran Unrest

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2


 

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- IRGC Spokesman: Situation under Control, No Need for IRGC’s Help

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2


 

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- Khatami’s Brother: Opponents of Gov’t Took People to Streets

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2


 

Ebtekar:

1- Gov’t, Nation behind Wall of Distance

2- N. Korean Leader Threatens US, Underlines Necessity of Talks with Seoul

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2


 

Etemad:

1- Dialogue, Calm, Prudence: Political Activists Call for Legal Behaviour, Avoiding Violence

2- Rouhani: National Unity Best Response

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2


 

Ettela’at:

1- Rouhani: Atmosphere Should Be Opened Up for Criticism, Legal Protest

2- 27 Killed, 8 Wounded in Saudis’ Brutal Attack on Yemen

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2


 

Iran:

1- Iran First VP: We Must Think about National Security

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2


 

Jame’eh Farda:

1- Interior Ministry Invites Party Leaders to Resolve Crisis

2- Can Reformists Convince People to Leave Streets?

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2


 

Javan:

1- Guardian: Political Vultures Flying over Iran’s Sky

  • American, Israeli Officials’ Hope for Weakening Iran in Recent Developments Immature

2- People Will End Unrest Created by Rioters: Rouhani

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2


 

Jomhouri Eslami:

1- Rouhani: People to Respond to Norm-Breakers, Rioters

2- Iran First VP: Officials Not Eligible to Be in Cabinet If Involved in Contraband Smuggling

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2


 

Kayhan:

1- Political Activists: Riot, Killing People, Damaging Public Property Are Crime, Not Civil Protest

2- Trace of IMF in Iran’s Economic Conditions Today

3- Yemen’s Ansarullah Seizes Saudis’ Surveillance Submarine

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2


 

Khorasan:

1- ICT Minister: Restrictions on Social Media Temporary

2- People’s Spontaneous Response to Rioters in Certain Cities

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2


 

Resalat:

1- Rouhani: We All Should Remain United, Join Hands

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2


 

Setareh Sobh:

1- Judiciary Chief: No Demand to Be Fulfilled by Creating Disorder

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2


 

Shargh:

1- MP: Heavy Price Should Be Paid for Transparency

2- Rouhani: People Want Freer Atmosphere

3- Larijani: None of People in Post-Revolution Cabinets Were Corrupt

4- Obama Blocks Israel’s Plan to Assassinate General Soleimani

Iran Protests Still Making Headlines on January 2