A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on January 10

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January 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 Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, about the recent unrest in Iran and the role played by the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the MKO terrorists during the riots.

A ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s demise also received great coverage. Several papers particularly covered the remarks by Imam Khomeini’s grandson Seyyed Hassan, as well as First Vice-President Es’haq Jahangiri, in praise of Ayatollah Rafsanjani.

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

19 Dey:

1- Iran Leader Urges Officials Not to Weaken Each Other

2- Imam Khomeini’s Grandson: Recent Events Result of Making People Frustrated

3- Gov’t Spokesman: Over 1m Jobs to Created in Next Iranian Calendar Year

Abrar:

1- The Guardian: Trump Plans to Re-Impose Sanctions against IRIB

2- Iran Leader: Triangle of US-Zionism, Filthy Rich Arab State, MKO behind Recent Riots

3- Imam Khomeini’s Grandson: Ayatollah Rafsanjani Believed in Collective Wisdom

4- EU: Mogherini to Discuss JCPOA with Iranian, German, French, British FMs

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Iran Leader: We Should Separate People’s Legitimate Demands from Brutal Actions

2- Municipality: Gov’t Not Allowed to Interfere!

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- A Report on First Anniversary of Ayatollah Rafsanjani’s Demise

Lump in Throat of Imam Khomeini’s Grandson, Rouhani’s Absence

2- Trump under Pressure to Accept Iran Nuclear Deal

3- Judiciary Chief Urges Judges across Iran to Stop Execution of Drug Criminals

4- Iran Leader: People’s Words Must Be Heard, Responded to

Ebtekar:

1- Government Files Lawsuit against Iran’s State TV

2- Trump’s Approach to Iran Nuclear Deal: Confrontation or Withdrawal?

3- Iran Leader: I’m Very Hopeful about Future of Our Country

4- Iran Starts Investigation into Death of Prisoner

Etemad:

1- Iran Leader: Nothing Unsolvable in Iran

2- Iran First VP: Ayatollah Rafsanjani’s Prudence Resulted in [Rouhani’s] Presidency

Ettela’at:

1- Iran Leader: We Should Make Distinction between People’s Honest Demands, Vandalism

2- Rouhani Orders Acceleration of Efforts to Rescue Iranian Sailors in China

3- Yemen’s Ansarullah: If Saudi Arabia Continues Airstrikes, We’ll Cut Red Sea Shipping Line

Iran:

1- Iran Leader: We Should Heal Wound of Our Country’s Problems

2- Rouhani: Ayatollah Hashemi Criterion for Politics

3- Jahangiri: Many of Recent Protests Caused by Past Problems

Jame Jam:

1- Leader Praises Iranian People for Their Insight, Understanding in Recent Events

2- US Breaks Record of Killing Protesters: US Police Kills 987 People in 2017

Javan:

1- We All Should Be Responsive to People’s Protests: Iran Leader

2- US Fuelled Recent Riots in Iran from Offices in Herat, Erbil

Jomhouri Eslami:

1- 52 Former American Officials Express Support for Iran Nuclear Deal in Letter to Trump

2- Gov’t Spokesman: 1,033,000 Jobs to Be Created Next Year

Kayhan:

1- Yemen’s Ansarullah: We’ll Attack Oil Tankers in Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb

2- No Private Sector Representative Present at Rouhani’s Meeting with Exporters!

3- Zionist Regime Admits Defeat: Mossad Chief Says Iran Won’t Be Destabilized through Such Riots

4- Macron: Social Media Must Be Restricted to Maintain France’s Stability

Khorasan:

1- Iran Leader Warns Enemies, Demands Officials to Resolve Problems, Thanks People

2- Egg Prices Decrease

Resalat:

1- Leader: Trump’s Plots against Iran Not to Remain Unanswered

2- Velayati: Iran Has Many Options to Counter US Withdrawal from JCPOA

3- Imam Khomeini’s Grandson: Ayatollah Khamenei Best Source of Hope for Society

Vatan-e Emrooz:

1- Middle East’s Sky Insecure for Western Jet Fighters

2- Fuel Prices Not to Be Increased: Parliament’s Budget Commission

Iran’s Sorkhroud Wetland Hosting Migratory Swans

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IFP Editorial Staff

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January 10, 2018

Each year with the beginning of the cold season, the swans fly a long distance to settle in Sorkhroud wetland in Varzamohalleh to leave behind the cold.

Over the past years, people were not allowed to enter the wetland to watch the migratory swans closely.

To find food and water, the swans flied to the neighbouring farms which usually led to their death due to crashing with power lines or being hunted by other birds.

It’s been a few years that Mahmoudabad’s Department of Environment is allowing the people to step into the Sorkhroud wetland and watch the swans closely.

By allowing visitors in the wetland, the department and environmental activists are trying to provide the migrantory swans with wheat seeds and water along the margin of the wetland and dams in some regions. In this way, the swans will be protected against the dangers threatening their lives.

Here are ISNA’s photos of the birds in Sorkhroud:

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China Accused of Negligence in Saving Iranian Sailors

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IFP Editorial Staff

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January 10, 2018

The Persian-language Aftab-e-Yazd daily has, in an article, implicitly criticized the Chinese for their handling of a collision incident involving and Iranian oil tanker and a Chinese vessel. The full text of the article follows.

The thirty-one men and one woman on board an Iranian oil tanker that went missing after the vessel collided with a cargo ship off China’s east coast are still unaccounted for. The only thing found so far is a charred body. The saga is the story of Iranian sailors’ loneliness.

The latest reports suggest another country has sent in a relief and rescue team by helicopter from Japan’s Okinawa island to the scene of the accident to join the Iranian, Chinese and Korean rescuers in search operations. Three days into the incident, which happened at the estuary of the Yangtze River in East China Sea, word is going around among top Iranian technical marine experts on the quality of relief and search operations.

Here is what a former official with the National Iranian Tanker Company told Aftab-e-Eqtesadi on condition of anonymity:

“The accident happened 158 kilometers from Shanghai, which is a major oil terminal in the world. That means there are numerous facilities at the Shanghai port, including equipment to unload crude oil and gaseous condensates; so, the necessary equipment and services have been envisioned to deal with marine accidents. At least two fire-fighting vessels, a relief ship equipped with choppers, a large number of trawlers and many marine rescuers are always on alert.”

“In this accident, too, there were reports also confirmed by our colleagues that two Chinese ships arrived at the scene of the accident in two hours. The helicopters, too, arrived at the scene almost immediately. Also, based on the images posted on the global traffic website, which is equipped with satellite systems and connected to ship trackers, at least two Chinese ships changed their course toward the scene of the accident after they received the mayday signal from the Chinese oil tanker. So, the Chinese acted professionally as they arrived at the scene at the appropriate time,” he said.

According to the official, the Chinese managed to rescue the 21 Chinese tanker sailors who were on a lifeboat.

“As you know, given the 1,000-meter oil spill created around the vessels due to the accident, helping the ships in distress would be a risky job,” said the anonymous official.

“Of course, if the choppers kept patrolling in the air, they might have been able to find a trace of the Iranian sailors or their lifeboat during the early golden hours, but it seems the Chinese helicopters did not risk patrolling in the thick smoke lingering in the air near the scene of the accident as there was the possibility of an explosion any moment,” he noted.

“In fact, the two Chinese rescue ships left the area after saving the Chinese sailors, and the fire-fighting ships were apparently dispatched to the location after our ambassador to Beijing called the Foreign Ministry,” the official explained.

“Fog and rainy weather there, the darkness of the night, the oil slick and the fire from the burning flames posed some risks to the rescue operations, which, of course, is normal in any marine incident,” he said.

“Based on the marine protocols also signed by the Chinese government, the countries bordering the international waters where an accident happens have a duty to help the vessel in distress as much as they can,” he noted.

“If the accident had happened in the Persian Gulf, we, too, would have used all we could to help the victims of the incident,” he added.

“The National Iranian Oil Tanker Company and the Ports and Shipping Organization, due to some logical reasons, are not able to officially make comment on the issue, but the reality is that they would not have sent a relief ship to the scent of the accident if they had not been aware of the details of the incident and if they had trusted the Chinese. Given that the lifeboat had been detached from the vessel, and the captain’s phone was still ringing (though no one answered), it seems the sailors had enough time to put on life vests and get onto the lifeboat,” the official noted.

“If the Chinese hadn’t left the site of the accident after saving their fellow countrymen and if they had extended the radius of search operations to at least 10 miles, the hopes of saving our fellow countrymen would have definitely increased,” the official underlined.

In the meantime, the spokesman for the National Iranian Oil Tanker Company said Iran and China are at odds at the moment over the slow operations to douse the flames.

“At the moment, there are differences between us and the Chinese over relief operations, which have slowed down the work,” Mohsen Bahrami told ILNA.

“At the beginning, the Chinese brought up the issue of volatile substances. Now, they speak of a [possible] explosion, which has slowed down work,” he said.

“Now, Japanese companies have become active as well, and we have asked them to help put out the fire. Moreover, we have asked the International Ports and Maritime Organization to make China speed up work,” said the spokesman.

He said it seems the lifeboat has been used by the crew, in which case they can survive for up to two months.

“That the vessel was a Panama-flagged ship has nothing to do with the sanctions and is only because of marketing issues. Anyway, we are operating the ship,” he said.

Iran FM to Visit Moscow, Brussels

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IFP Editorial Staff

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January 9, 2018

According to Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi, Zarif will travel to Moscow on Wednesday as part of regular negotiations between Iranian and Russian foreign ministers on bilateral and regional issues, particularly the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal signed between Iran and world powers.
Qassemi said the Iranian foreign minister will also visit Brussels on Thursday at the official invitation of EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini.
In Brussels, Qassemi added, the foreign minister will exchange views with his German, French and British counterparts on the latest developments of the JCPOA .

Britain Trying Hard to Preserve Iran Nuclear Deal: Jack Straw

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IFP Editorial Staff

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January 9, 2018

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.

Exclusive: Iran Fully Prepared for US Withdrawal from JCPOA

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IFP Editorial Staff

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January 9, 2018

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

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IFP Editorial Staff

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January 9, 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

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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January 9, 2018

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 5

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

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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January 9, 2018

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

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

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January 9, 2018

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.

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