More than eight million people are currently residing in Tehran, and not paying attention to environmental capacities and disparate population distribution can jeopardize the rights of citizens.
Here are IRNA’s photos of some of these high-rise buildings in the Iranian capital:
Sheikholeslam, who is now an advisor to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, was not involved in the US embassy siege in 1979, but as the students failed in communicating with the hostages, they trusted him and invited him to enter the Embassy in order to help them as an interpreter.
Sheikholeslam accepted the invitation and entered the embassy on November 4, and was busy with translating the documents of the “den of espionage” until the last day, i.e. January 20, 1980.
38 years after that day, the Khabar Online News Agency has conducted a Farsi interview with him, a summary of which follows:
I was a student abroad, and came to Iran after the Revolution. My job was to give answers to the articles that the world’s English-language papers were publishing against the Islamic Revolution. During my studies, I was the editor of the American, European, and Canadian Association and I was participating in demonstrations and debates. That was why I was known, and others knew I have a good command of English language. The students who occupied the “den of espionage” were looking for those who could translate the documents and talk to the hostages. Therefore, that evening they came to my home and invited me to do the job.
When I went there, it became clear that I was the right pick. Among 52 hostages, the first person I talked to was the CIA chief in Tehran.
One of the rooms was full of telecommunication and encryption devices. Some of the items inside the room were destroyed. On the western side of the building, there was a room in which there was a lot of microfilm powder and shredded paper and a large concrete safe. Thus, we found out that important documents have been destroyed there.
There existed two US bases in Kabkan, Bushehr Province, and Behshahr in Mazandaran province. No Iranian, even the Shah of Iran, had the right to enter the bases. The information of those two bases were given to the embassy and were sent directly to the United States. These two sites were monitoring the Soviet missile and atomic tests. The hostages themselves said “if we did not have these bases, we could not hold The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) because it was unclear whether the Russians are observing it or not?”
When Imam Khomeini traveled to Paris, the Americans saw they have no one around him to collect information. So they studied all the people around Imam in Paris to see which one of them could be used. Banisadr was one of those the Americans focused on. One of the most well-known and professional US missionaries went to Paris as an American who invests in Iran. He claimed that Iran was not secure and his assets were in danger, and asked for advice from Banisadr. In fact, he developed friendship with Banisadr and kept up contact with him. We found these information in the shredded documents.
They put the documents according to their importance in the shredder machine. Fortunately, the person who wanted to put them in the machine was a clumsy one. When he heard the voice of the students behind the door, he got nervous and put more documents into the machine and the shredder got stuck. The documents I am talking about were found in the shredder. (In one of them) the CIA agent says, “I gave him (Banisadr) money and I did not ask for anything. I think he understood what this means.”
The US espionage satellites were sending messages to the embassy when crossing over Iran. I understood it when I saw the “completely confidential” sign on the documents, while the documents related to Banisadr where just “confidential”. On the whole, this document was very simple saying “the lawn must be cut, pay someone to mow. Or there’s water in the Kabkan pool in Behshahr, tell someone to empty the water because it freezes and spurts out.”
I did not understand anything about these documents. At first the hostage was resisting, but after a while he understood he must cooperate. More than a year after the hostage-taking, they abandoned hope of being freed and some of the hostages themselves helped us in understanding the documents. One of them said “these documents are produced by our espionage satellite that is crossing over Iran, and we thought we would return to those bases. We did not want them to be ruined because the satellite is completely clandestine, and nobody knows what it produces is completely confidential.”
A spokesman for the Houthis told Al Jazeera they launched a Burkan 2-H missile towards Riyadh late on Saturday, a Scud-type missile with a range of more than 800km.
“The capital cities of countries that continually shell us, targeting innocent civilians, will not be spared from our missiles,” the spokesman said.
Al Masirah, a TV network run by the Houthis, also claimed responsibility for the attack on their social media account.
According to videos published on social media, smoke could be seen rising from an area near Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport.
The official Saudi news agency SPA quoted Colonel Turki al-Maliki as saying that at exactly 8:07pm local time, a ballistic missile was fired from Yemeni territory towards the kingdom.
Maliki said Saudi forces used a surface-to-air Patriot missile to destroy the missile which shattered into fragments in an uninhabited area east of the airport.
He said there were no reported casualties.
Al Jazeera could not independently verify the reports.
After the assassination of the rich and relatively popular Prime Minister of Lebanon, Rafic Hariri, the accusing finger was pointed at Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement. This was the most popular answer and also a simplification of a complex puzzle. This puzzle, albeit with delay, was later resolved for the young Saad Hariri, and March 14 Alliance stopped seeking revenge on its powerful rival. The presidential spell in Lebanon was also broken, and an era of executive power vacuum was filled in the Arab country.
Saad Hariri spent a relatively long period with his suspicion falling on Hezbollah, and as a result, a tense atmosphere was created in Lebanon. A state without government was left for the parties and tribes of this land. Eventually, the spell of presidential vacuum broke with the agreement of Lebanon’s major political currents to elect General Michel Aoun, and as a result of this national consensus Saad Hariri became the premier. However, with the end of the presidential void, the ambiguities about Rafic Hariri’s assassination was resolved. Lebanon’s problem was solved when neat documents provided clues about the identity of the late prime minister’s assassin, and proved to the young Hariri that Hezbollah had not been involved in his father’s murder.
Saad Hariri was shocked to see the role of Saudi Arabia revealed in the assassination of his father. Now, it was time for him to forget his anger at Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and that’s what he did. Exercising restraint, he maintained the ties with the Saudi rulers. With the puzzle of his father’s assassination solved, the young Hariri clearly understood that the cost of changing his position towards Riyadh is his life. But from now on, having confidence in Hezbollah, he could lead the coalition government of Lebanon; A crisis-struck country, whose smallest problem was the dumping of rubbish in the beautiful city of Beirut!
While ordinary Lebanese civilians are witnessing sacrifices made by Hezbollah forces to keep their country away from civil war and the sedition of ISIS and also their efforts to cleanse their homeland of multinational terrorism, it is surprising that Saad Hariri, at the same time as his Israeli counterpart regretted the failure of ISIS in Syria, suddenly returned to the days before his premiership and called for Hezbollah to be disarmed!
What has happened in Lebanon that forced the young prime minister to show a 180-degree turn in his positions? Is the Hebrew, Arab, and Western-backed Zionism going to turn this country into a (new) battlefield and spill the civil war from Syria and Iraq to Lebanon while the terrorists are fleeing the Iraqi and Syrian territories? Should Lebanon once again experience a bitter power vacuum and be flooded with internal disputes?
On Friday, the special envoy of Iran’s Leader to Lebanon, Ali Akbar Velayati, who had travelled to the Lebanese capital to attend the Union of Resistance Ulema Summit, met with the country’s officials, including Saad Hariri. He expressed satisfaction with the continuation of the victories of the axis of resistance (in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, next to their allies, Russia and Turkey). This satisfaction was reflected on TV screens for a few moments and drew the attention of the opposite side (terrorists and their regional and trans-regional supporters). Now the question is that if Hariri’s surprise resignation in Riyadh, and its announcement by the Al-Arabia network in Saudi Arabia, is linked to the joint satisfaction expressed by the host and the guest?
Should the Lebanese Prime Minister quit playing with Saudi’s fire only because of giving a warm laugh (not an artificial or diplomatic one) to Velayati and his inability to conceal his apparent satisfaction with the victory of a number of citizens against ISIS and al-Nusra Front?
A remarkable point in Hariri’s resignation was expressing that the conditions of Lebanon today is similar to his father’s term. Has the young Saad been afraid of meeting a similar fate to the late Prime Minister of Lebanon?!
The mystery of today is: who scared off Hariri? Bin Salman or Hassan Nasrallah?!
In a Saturday statement, Qassemi has reacted to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)’s release of documents pertaining to Al-Qaeda some of which contain accusations that Iran has ties to the terrorist group.
“Although US authorities have not yet made any comments on these alleged documents, the American government and intelligence agencies have a dark record of fabricating such documents and deceiving the world public opinion and even American people to achieve their political and strategic objectives,” said Qassemi.
“Such moves are a clear example of shamelessly fabricating documents in order to prove the US president’s groundless remarks against the Islamic Republic of Iran and to use them for domestic consumption,” the spokesman highlighted, adding that such documents have no other value.
“There is no doubt that such futile propaganda campaigns by American intelligence services are only aimed at saving some of the United States’ allies in the Middle East region which are seriously gripped by multiple domestic and regional crises, and those in the international community that have a conscience have no doubts about their (US allies’) role in creating and ideologically training terrorist groups in the past two decades,” said the spokesman.
“Levelling such accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran is completely irrelevant, farcical and unfounded, and releasing them ahead of November 4, the day Iranian people express their opposition to the US government’s policies and decades of interference in our country, shows that such campaigns against our country lack any credit and value,” he said.
He then touched upon the current US statesmen’s misleading American people regarding the role that some of Washington’s allies played in the September 11 attacks in which around three thousand American citizens were killed.
“While the US government intentionally refuses to release a full report by the national 9/11 commission and shed light on the real perpetrators behind the incident, the publication of such illusionary and fabricated documents will not change the proven international belief regarding what countries in the region are ideologically feeding terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda, and what country or countries have contributed to their formation and have offered them military, political and logistical support,” Qassemi said.
“Mr. Hariri’s sudden resignation and announcing it in another country is regrettable and at the same time surprising; it shows Hariri is playing in a field prepared by those who wish ill for the region, and the winner of this game is both Arab countries and the Zionist regime [of Israel] whose survival is contingent upon tension in and among Muslim countries in the region,” said the spokesman in a Saturday statement.
He said at a time when the life of ISIS and other terrorist groups in some regional countries is coming to an end, efforts should be made to calm the situation and repair the damage caused by terrorists trained and sponsored by the US and its regional allies and reconstruct the countries suffering from the ravages of years of war and destruction.
The spokesman rejected Hariri’s comments against Iran’s role in the region, saying, “The resigned Lebanese premier’s repetition of unfounded accusations levelled against Iran by the Zionists, Saudis and Americans bears witness to the fact that this resignation, too, is a new scenario to create new tension in Lebanon and in the region; but we believe that strong Lebanese people will easily pass through this phase, too.”
He said Iran has always wanted to see peace and stability in the Middle East countries and has defined its interests based on the security, stability and economic growth of all neighbouring and regional countries.
“Accordingly, top of Iran’s regional policies is to fight insecurity and instability as well as extremist and terrorist groups to ensure tranquility for all countries,” he added.
He concluded by saying that Iran and Lebanon enjoy good relations.
“As the Lebanese president highlighted the good political relations between the two countries and rejected any accusations of Iran’s interference in Lebanon, the Islamic Republic of Iran, too, has always respected Lebanon’s independence and [the necessity of] maintaining stability and tranquility, and has expressed its readiness to cooperate with the Lebanese government in areas of mutual interest,” the spokesman noted.
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 hundreds of young Iranian people.
The Saturday papers also covered the accusations raised by the CIA about Iran’s ties with Al-Qaeda based on a series of documents, which CIA says are Bin Laden’s memoirs.
Among other top stories were the criticisms raised by a number of newspapers, particularly reformist ones, against a controversial journalism bill introduced by the Iranian government. Reformist papers believe the bill will destroy the independent nature of journalism in Iran and further restricts the profession.
The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines and top stories:
Abrar:
1-Iran Leader: Appeasement to Embolden US
2- Iraqi PM: We’re Opposed to Boycotting Residents of Kurdistan Region
3- IRGC Quds Force General: Islamic Republic of Iran Cannot Be Stopped
Abrar-e Eqtesadi:
1- Iran Signs $30bn Strategic Oil Deal with Russia during Putin’s Visit
2- Germans to Renovate Iran’s Obsolete Railway Management System
Aftab-e Yazd:
1- Fabricating Documents Using Bin Laden’s Memoirs
2- Larijani: Gap Created between US and Europe on Iran Nuclear Deal
Ettela’at:
1-Leader: Prosperity of Iran to Be Realized by Young People
2- Russia Warns US about Withdrawing from Iran Nuclear Deal
3- Deir ez-Zor, Last ISIS Stronghold in Syria, Liberated
Iran:
1- Media Should Have Security, Freedom of Speech: Iran Top Security Official
Javan:
1- Iran Leader: Americans Show No Mercy Even to One Who Pins His Hope on Them
2- Iran Deputy FM Urges Private Sector to Cooperate in Syria’s Reconstruction
Jomhouri Eslami:
1- Iran Leader: US to Take Most Evil Measures to Spoil Iran Nuclear Deal
2- Netanyahu: Arab States Consider Israel Their Ally in Countering Iran
Kayhan:
1- Russian PM: No Place for US Dollar in Int’l System
Rah-e Mardom:
1- Iran Leader: Promotion of Illicit Drugs, Prostitution Is Enemy Plot to Deviate Young Generation
Resalat:
1- Iran Leader: Only Way Is to Counter US
2- Aoun: Zionist Regime to Be Defeated in Possible War against Lebanon
Ta’adol:
1- Tehran Air Pollution Goes on 10th Consecutive Day
2- Portal Launched for Forex Transactions First Step after JCPOA
The city has been nominated as the capital of Islamic tourism in 2018.
One of the programs includes an agreement with Turkish Airlines to publicize the city’s tourism in all its flights and in travel agencies cooperating with the airline worldwide.
Speaking at a meeting to discuss preparations for the upcoming event, Mohammad Moheb-Khodaei, tourism deputy at ICHHTO, said Turkey’s national flag carrier could act as Iran’s link to international platforms.
Using the potentials of Iranians living abroad is also among other programs.
“Arrangements have been made to reward Iranians who bring in five foreign tourists [to Tabriz] with a free travel ticket to Iran,” he said.
The official did not elaborate on the scheme’s mechanisms.
Reportedly, some 5 million Iranian expatriates are living all over the world, among which around 130,000 are from East and West Azarbaijan provinces.
Various festivals, including carpet sales and art and cultural programs, will be held to mark the event.
Moheb-Khodaei argued that tourism authorities believe the industry’s shortcomings will be addressed solely by strengthening travel infrastructures.
“We should include more national and international festivals in the city’s calendar to globally introduce its valuable art and ancient culture,” he said.
Based on plans, Tabriz Bazaar, a historical market, which is one of the oldest in the Middle East and the largest covered marketplace in the world, will continue its trading operations.
Moheb-Khodaei regretted that although on a par in terms of history and art, tourism in Tabriz lags far behind that of Isfahan.
Officials believe the occasion should bring about a leap in tourism industry so efforts should be focused on making the best of the opportunity in the fast-approaching year.
Reportedly, the government has allocated 7.7 trillion rials ($203 million) to 22 organizations for implementing projects related to Tabriz 2018.
Tabriz Municipality has also allocated 2.6 trillion rials ($69 million) to the cause. Besides, related bodies are obligated to earmark 10% of their budget for the event.
“Back in 1979, taking over the US embassy in Tehran seemed the best choice and the students managed to prevent many damages by revealing the evil plots of the US government in Iran,” Ebtekar was quoted as saying on Saturday in a Farsi interview with Khabar Online.
She went on saying the students took over the embassy as a pre-emptive measure against a US plan to mount a coup in Iran.
“We did what WikiLeaks is doing today, that is revealing the secret documents of the US embassies in the world. In my book, Takeover in Tehran, I’ve explained in details what we made during the embassy seizure,” she said.
Ebtekar, who is now the Vice-President for Women and Family Affairs, went on saying during the takeover, which lasted for 444 days, many international and US delegations were allowed to visit Tehran and hold talks with the US embassy staff.
“In the early years of the Islamic Revolution, we didn’t have any constitution and the country lacked many of its legal institutes like parliament. So, we had an unstable condition.”
As one of the students who took part in the US embassy takeover in Tehran, Ebtekar also said the students thought the takeover would put an end to the US meddling in the country’s internal affairs.
“Since the takeover of the US embassy, we have seen at least 70 cases of the US interference in Iran from civilian to military. Meanwhile, US meddling in other countries’ affairs is not secret any more. We also had the experience of the US coup against our democratic government back in the 1950s,” she noted.
The Iranian politician, who was known as Sister Mary in the time of Iran Hostage Crisis, said today none of the students who took part in the takeover operation regrets being involved in it. “They may now confess to some negative consequences of the takeover but no one regrets about the whole operation.”
Ebtekar stressed that the US is interested in promoting this cliché that the takeover of the embassy is the source of all the problems that Iran is now suffering from. “The takeover just prevented the US from meddling in our country’s affairs.”
She rejected any similarity between the takeover of the US embassy in 1979 and those of the Saudi Arabia and the UK embassies in Tehran in recent years and added the takeover of the US embassy was a massive popular move.
“The takeover of Saudi Arabia and the British embassies in Tehran in the past few years were totally wrong and inflicted heavy blows on our country. Such incidents tarnished our image across the world,” she emphasized.
The Iranian vice president also referred to the US meddling in the regional states like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen and said today the US has established hundreds of military bases around Iran and threatens the whole region. “I don’t say our takeover had no bad consequence but its overall affect was positive.”
In response to a question on whether or not Iraq’s war on Iran in the 1980s can be categorized as one of the consequences of the US embassy takeover in Iran, she replied the war had nothing to do with the embassy takeover “because Saddam had decided to attack Iran earlier and was just waiting for a good opportunity.”
In a move that seems to be influenced by his meeting with Saudi Arabian officials, Hariri announced an unexpected resignation in a televised address on Saturday.
The 33rd prime minister of Lebanon said that he fears there’s a “plot to target his life,” according to local media.
Hariri claimed that the atmosphere in Lebanon resembles that before the assassination of his father, former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, who was killed in 2005.
The politician pointed out he “sensed what is being plotted covertly to target my life,” according to Reuters.
Hariri also lashed out at Iran and its ally the Lebanese Resistance Movement Hezbollah, accusing the Islamic Republic of interfering in other countries’ affairs.
“Iran’s hands in the region will be cut off,” he further claimed.
Hariri’s extremely close ties to Saudi Arabia and his resignation in such a way reminds one of Mansour Hadi, the fugitive ex-president of Yemen who is trying to retake his office with the help of Riyadh’s deadly airstrikes on Yemenis.
What makes Hariri’s unexpected resignation even weirder is that earlier on Friday he held a meeting with Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior international advisor to the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, in Beirut.
During the meeting, Hariri offered a warm welcome to Velayati, saying that “we are faced with serious challenges from the terrorists, extremists and the Takfiri currents. We must do our best to stand against them to achieve victory.”
Hariri also referred to the developments in Lebanon and added “despite some differences, stability and security has been provided in Lebanon, and all the groups are collaborating to promote it.”
Velayati, for his part, stressed that Lebanon’s victory against terrorism is a victory for all the region, adding that “Lebanon and Iran’s relations have always been very good and constantly growing, and the Islamic Republic of Iran supports the stability of Lebanon.”
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