Iran Rejects Saudi Allegations about Tehran’s Support for Terror

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September 12, 2017

Speaking at a weekly press conference on Monday, Bahram Qassemi rejected the recent anti-Iran allegations raised by Saudi officials as a failed policy.

In comments on Friday, Thamer al-Sabhan, Saudi Arabia’s minister of state for the Persian Gulf region, fired a fresh verbal salvo against Iran and Hezbollah, accusing them of being at the root of terrorism and extremism in the world and calling for global action against them.

In response, Qassemi denounced the accusations as part of a failed and threadbare plot that the US and some regional countries are still pursuing to foment Iranophobia.

Iran’s presence and influence in the region is inherent and natural, the spokesman explained.

In comments in June, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei had dismissed the US allegations that Iran was destabilizing the region, saying the US and its proxies are the cause of instability in the Middle East.

Taking a swipe at the US president for accusing Iran of sponsoring terrorism during a visit to Riyadh, Ayatollah Khamenei described it as “absolutely ridiculous” that Americans raise the issue of human rights in a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s “medieval and tribal rulers” and accuse the Islamic Republic, the symbol of democracy, in a place totally unfamiliar with democracy.

Such anti-Iran human rights allegations by the US officials during a trip to Saudi Arabia will remain a “historic shame” for the US forever, the Leader said at the time.

Iran Opposed to Any Pressure on Its Neighbours: Zarif

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 12, 2017

Iran Opposed to Any Pressure on Its Neighbours: Zarif

In the Monday meeting with Qatari ambassador to Tehran, FM Zarif stated that the Islamic Republic’s policy is clear in the region, stressing that the regional issues should be resolved through dialogue.

Iran is opposed to any pressure and threats against its neighbours by anyone, the Iranian top diplomat added.

Expansion of bilateral ties, especially in the economic and commercial spheres, was another issue discussed in this meeting.

Since June, Saudi Arabia has led close allies such as the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain in imposing a harsh trade and transport boycott against tiny, gas-rich Qatar, accusing it of financing terrorism and seeking better ties with Iran.

Qatar, however, has rejected such charges, countering that its Arab rivals are seeking to curtail its sovereignty and reign in its influential television channel Al Jazeera.

US President Donald Trump stepped into the fray in the past week, offering to mediate in the Qatari-Saudi conflict and vowing a quick victory.

Trump arranged a phone call between leaders from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which took place late on Friday, and promised a breakthrough in the bitter dispute that has plunged the Persian Gulf into turmoil and has threatened American security interests.

However, his attempt to break the stalemate ended in failure when the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, after speaking by phone for the first time in months, exchanged dueling, contradictory statements.

Within hours of the call, Qatar’s state news agency issued a statement that said the emir “welcomed a proposal” by the young Saudi prince to appoint two peace envoys to help bridge their differences.

That language infuriated the Saudis, who appeared insulted by the suggestion that they had bowed first in the dispute. The Saudi state news service retorted with its own report, citing unnamed officials, that accused Qatar of distorting the facts and declared that dialogue between the two countries had been suspended.

Myanmar Disaster Marks Death of Nobel Peace Prize: Iran Leader

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 12, 2017

Speaking in a Tuesday ceremony, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, strongly blasted the silence and inaction of international bodies and self-proclaimed human rights advocates on the ongoing atrocities against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

The Leader said the crisis in Myanmar is a political issue and should not be reduced to a religious conflict between Muslims and Buddhists, although he said religious prejudice may have been involved.

“This is a political issue because the party that has been carrying out the atrocities is Myanmar’s government, at the top of which is a cruel woman who has won the Nobel Peace Prize. And with these incidents, the death of the Nobel Peace Prize has been spelled,” he said.

Myanmar’s de facto leader, Aung Sang Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, has taken almost no action to end the deadly violence against the Rohingya in the country’s western Rakhine State. Recently, she said widespread reports of brutal violence against the Muslims were fake news.

Ayatollah Khamenei further called for practical measures by Islamic governments to end the crisis in Myanmar, and said the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should convene to discuss the crisis, Press TV reported.

“Of course, practical measures don’t mean military deployments. Rather, they (Islamic governments) have to increase their political, economic, and trade pressure on Myanmar’s government and cry out against these crimes in international organizations,” the Leader said.

The Leader said Iran has to be bold in making its stance known.

“The world today is the world of oppression, and the Islamic Republic has to maintain for itself the honour of speaking out against oppression anywhere in the world, whether in territories occupied by Zionists, or in Bahrain, or Yemen, or Myanmar,” he said.

Myanmar’s government has laid a siege to a western state where the Rohingya are concentrated. There, horrific violence has been taking place against the minority Muslims, according to reports and eyewitnesses.

Soldiers and extremist Buddhists have reportedly been killing or raping the Muslims and setting their homes on fire. The Myanmarese government says 400 people, mostly Muslims, have died in the latest bout of violence. The UN says the actual number likely tops 1,000.

Two New Percussion Instruments Unveiled in Tehran

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 12, 2017

The two percussion instruments have been made by Mohsen Farmani, an Iranian instrument designer.

According to a Farsi report by ILNA, the instruments were unveiled in a ceremony at Milad Tower in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Farmani said the quality of these two newly made instruments has been approved by two Iranian maestros: “Bijan Kamkar, famous singer and musician, and Homayoun Nasiri, a composer and musician, have put their signatures on these two instruments.”

Commenting on the features of the instruments, he said ‘Dom Dom’ is an instrument indigenous to Iran’s southern regions, adding Nasiri has always used the instruments in his performances.

“However, due to the instrument’s physical and structural problems, its old version has never been much favoured by other musicians. We made a number of changes to the instrument and invented a new kind of it.”

He added the number of wood pieces used in building the instrument and their type are what make ‘Daf-e Kooki’ different from other instruments of its kind.

Built using modern lathes, Farmani said, the instrument is made up of 60 wood bits.

He noted that a 1-kilogram version of the instrument was earlier made in Spain, adding, “What we have made weighs 650 grams which is way lighter than the Spanish one and common Dafs.”

Here are Honar Online’s photos of the ceremony where the two instruments were unveiled:

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Iran Independent of Outsourcing in Android Market: Minister

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 11, 2017

Referring to the recent removal of Iranian apps from App Store and Google Play, Jahromi said, “As Iran is looking for global markets, these restrictions will impede our international marketing. Therefore, we need to take this warning seriously and strive for new strategies for mobile phones and new businesses.”

“There are some systems in the world, especially in South Korea, in order to eliminate the absolute dependence on Android and Google. We also have put it on our agenda. But this is a very strategic issue and it cannot be decided overnight.”

“We must examine all aspects and see all the development areas and carefully study these areas in order to have a key idea. All the US efforts are to disrupt the lives of people. Therefore, our seemingly good decisions should not be such that people’s lives are affected by our good slogans. We must not disrupt the lives of the people,” Jahromi pointed out.

Jahromi, who was speaking in a telephone conversation with the state TV, said that no new sanctions have been imposed on the Islamic Republic, but the problem is that the new US administration wants to disrupt the agreements.

“Therefore, as the Islamic Republic of Iran has behaved wisely and, on the other hand, it will cost them (the Americans) much to disrupt international agreements; they (the Americans) are naturally seeking to do something to prove that they have implemented what they have chanted for earlier. So they are looking to impose some new restrictions.”

Azari Jahromi went on to say that the US Congress has not imposed a new sanction and no new executive order has been issued in this area.

“But the behaviour of US administration has raised concerns for American companies to be subject to Treasury inspections in the event of financial interactions, thus they are introducing restrictions and revisions in this area,” the Iranian communications minister concluded.

Two Digital service distributors namely Google Play and App Store have removed Iranian apps from their stores, citing US sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Companies such as Google and Apple were hosting Iranian apps reportedly under a license issued by former President Barack Obama’s administration in 2014 but it is not clear why they have stopped those services now.

Tehran is under unilateral American sanctions despite a 2015 nuclear accord which the US and its allies reached with Iran. President Donald Trump has imposed new sanctions on the Islamic Republic and threatened to tear up the agreement.

Iran has about 48 million smartphone users in the country of more than 80 million. Apple’s market in Iran is related to iPhone holders who number in the upwards of 7 million. The majority of other smartphones are also using Google’s Android as their operating system.

Iranian Jewish MP Calls for Stripping Suu Kyi of Nobel Prize

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 11, 2017

Jewish lawmaker Siamak Moreh Sedgh says the international community has revealed its double-standard policies with its silence towards the massacre in Myanmar.

“The community misuses such humanitarian concepts as human rights and human dignity as a tool to preserve its own interests.”

In a Farsi interview with the Fars News Agency, Moreh Sedgh also said killing of any innocent individual anywhere amounts to inhumane violence denounced by any monotheist religion, let alone killing of or torturing a group of innocent people for their religious, racial or national affiliations.

The Jewish member of Iranian parliament further noted that the global silence towards the massacre reveals that the community has closed its eyes to the most basic human rights of the Muslims, that is, the right to live.

“Life is a gift from heaven and no one is allowed to deprive us of this right or torture us under any pretext,” he added.

“Their silence show that these [human rights] groups have no value by themselves,” he noted.

The Iranian lawmaker called on the Nobel Foundation to take back its Peace Prize given to the Myanmar’s politician, Aung San Suu Kyi, some years ago and said the massacre of Muslims in Myanmar has deeply tarnished the image of the international community.

“It also showed that each nation should restore its rights itself without waiting for the international community’s support,” he said.

He also blamed certain countries including the Islamic ones for their passive reactions towards the mass killings in Myanmar and said these countries should have taken a more serious stance towards the issue.

Iran, Pakistan FMs Hold Talks in Tehran

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 11, 2017

During the meeting held on Monday, Zarif and the Pakistani delegation discussed various ways of developing and boosting bilateral relations, including strengthening banking cooperation, transport ties, and strengthening mutual cooperation at the joint border areas, especially in their fight against terrorism.

Regional issues of common interest, including the situation of displaced people and refugees, drug trafficking, fight against extremists and terrorist groups, as well as the situation of Muslims in Myanmar, were among the other topics explored by the Iranian foreign minister and his Pakistani counterpart.

Regarding the existing imbalance in the region, the Pakistani FM Khawaja Muhammad Asif spoke of the need to adopt a concrete policy on the situation in the region.

He pointed to the presence of a significant number of troops from different countries of the world in Afghanistan over the past two decades, saying that the security situation in Afghanistan has so far not changed much to improve.

Zarif, for his part, highlighted the efforts of the two countries to further increase the level of political ties, and underlined the necessity of cooperation between the two countries in other sectors, including strengthening of the banking cooperation.

Confronting extremism and active terrorist groups in the region and working together to establish peace, stability and security in Afghanistan through regional and multilateral political talks were among the other issues Zarif touched upon in this meeting.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 11, 2017

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

On Monday, Iranian newspapers widely covered the holding of the first Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on science and technology in the Kazakh capital, Astana. They particularly highlighted the remarks made by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in this conference and his Sunday meetings with the leaders of the Islamic states on the sidelines of the forum.

The issue of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the signatories’, particularly the US’, commitment or reluctance to carry on with the nuclear deal continued to be in the spotlight.

Also in the limelight, as has been the overall trend in the past few weeks, was the issue of the genocide of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and international reactions to the tragic event and humanitarian crises in the Southeast Asian state.

A number of newspapers have also paid attention on the awards won by the Iranian film titled ‘No Date, No Signature’ in the Horizons section of the 74th Venice Film Festival. The feature film received Horizons Awards for the best director, Vahid Jalilvand, and best actor, Navid Mohammadzadeh, during the closing ceremony of the event held on Saturday (September 9).

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

Abrar:

UN Secretary-General: North Korea Gravest Crisis in Recent Years
Ad-Diyar Newspaper: Lebanese President to Visit Tehran in October
Iran among Topics to Be Discussed in 2017 Arab League Summit

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

Afkar:

Iran Leader’s Aide: Zionists’ Plot, Horrific Crime
Iranian Judiciary Official: US’ Absence Would Make JCPOA Meaningless

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

Aftab-e Yazd:

Education Minister: 10% of People Illiterate in Iran, It’s Shameful
Lavrov: Russia, Saudi Arabia Maintaining Paradoxical Attitudes
Iranian Reformist Politician: JCPOA Nothing Per Se, Solely Road to Development
Russia to Cooperate in Electrification of Iran’s Railway

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

Arman-e Emrooz:

Tehran City Council to Address Issue of Municipality’s Heavy Spending in Iraq

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

Asrar:

Rouhani to OIC Summit: Promoting Hope, Construction to Dry Up Roots of Inclination for Extremism, Terrorism

Ebtekar

Rouhani to OIC Summit: Muslims’ Lassitude Main Cause of Islamic World’s Underdevelopment

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

Etemad:

Guardian Council Member: Iranian Women Currently Cannot Become Man of Politics (to be elected as president)
‘No Date, No Signature’ Shines at Venice Film Festival

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

Ettela’at:

Rouhani Invites OIC Heads to Making Joint Efforts to Build World Free of War, Poverty, Ignorance
Iran to Send Human into Space in Eight Years’ Time
Myanmar Army Sets Four Other Muslim Villages in Rohingya on Fire

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

Iran:

Rouhani Invites OIC Heads to Practicing Islamic Moderation
German Ambassador to Iran: Berlin Insisting Upon Full Implementation of JCPOA

Javan:

Reverse Filtering Started by App Store, Google Play Can Lead to Closure of IP Addresses, Internet Domains in Iran
‘No Date, No Signature’: Extreme Realism Helps Iran’s Cinema Win International Awards Again
Tehran-Based University Students Object to Genocide in Myanmar

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

Jomhouri Eslami:

OIC Heads Call for Ending Violence in Myanmar
Iraqi Turkmen Political Parties Urge Boycott of Kurdistan Region Poll

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

Kayhan:

North Korean Leader Urges Increase of National Nuclear Capabilities
Unemployment Rate Higher than National Average in 42% of Iranian Counties

Resalat:

Rouhani: Any Changes in Boundaries Tantamount to Creating Serious Tensions
Guardian Council Member: Iran Ready for Ultimate Condition, US Should Know

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

Shahrvand:

Rouhani to Kazakh Counterpart: Whole Region Facing Terrorism Threat

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

Shargh:

Iran FM: Hazardous Situation Awaiting World
Iranian Politician: Growth of Fake Reformism Worrisome
Rohingya’s Holocaust [Editorial]
Saudi Arabia’s Involvement in 9/11 Attacks Becomes More Probable

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

Sobh-e Now:

Looting Hurricane; Irma Paralyzes US

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

Vaghaye Ettefaghiyeh:

Rouhani Performs Maneuver of Solidarity in Astana
Middle East Expert: Peace Talks Outcome of Trump’s Family Trade Ties

Vatan-e Emrooz:

Crime Nobel: International Community Viewing Nobel Peace Prize Holder Suu Kyi as Accomplice in Genocide of Muslims in Myanmar
Western Embargoes Include Mobile Phones: Global Mobile Association Boycotts Iran in Weird Move

Iran Proposes Formation of OIC’s Tech-Savvy Women Forum

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 11, 2017

The head of the Iranian delegation to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit on Science and Technology held in the Kazakh capital, Astana, has proposed that Muslim countries set up a forum comprising women who have secured accomplishments in the domain of technology.

“A new cultural and civilizational movement is taking shape in the Muslim world,” said Abdolhossein Fereydoun, who is also an advisor to the Iranian minister of science, research and technology.

“Iran specifically welcomes the development of scientific diplomacy and technology in Muslim countries, and to that end, embraces major joint scientific projects in the fields of satellite technology, super computers and oceanic studies,” he added, according to a Farsi report by Mehr.

He said figures show Islamic countries’ share of world scientific articles has risen from 2% to 8% over the past 16 years, which, he noted, is regarded as a considerable growth.

“Moreover, the rate of publishing scientific materials in OIC member states is eight times higher than the average global rate,” he added.

He said Iran is working closely with OIC members in the field of education, science and technology, and added regional as well as international centers are contributing to the development of Sci-Tech parks and a regional oceanography center.

Fifth Urmia Grape Festival Underway in Northwestern Iran

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 11, 2017

Fifth Urmia Grape Festival Underway in Northwestern Iran 5

Chi Chest coastal village in West Azarbaijan Province, northwestern Iran, is currently playing host to the Fifth Urmia Grape Festival which was inaugurated on September 7 and will be open to visitors until September 15.

Earlier, commenting on the festival, Jalil Jabbari, the director general of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of East Azarbaijan, said the event is aimed at expanding the province’s tourism industry.

He added holding such festivals helps attract tourists and create investment opportunities for those interested in development of tourism industry in the province.

Jabbari said the holding of the festival is an outcome of collective efforts by all domestic apparatuses and a fruit of their favourable interactions with each other.

“Like the previous editions of the fest, a handicraft exhibition consisting 30 pavilions will present the province’s tourist attractions to visitors in this year’s event.”

In addition, he said, this year’s festival will feature a number of pavilions providing visitors with anthropological information about the province’s old and deep-rooted traditions and customs with a focus on grape as well as the culture of people in Urmia.

Commenting on the properties of grape and its health benefits, Jabbari noted that throughout the history, people of the province have found out about the nutritional values of the fruit and have included it in their food basket.

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