Iran Nuclear Chief Says IAEA Will Remain Impartial

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September 18, 2017

Ali Akbar Salehi, who heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), made the remark in a speech at the 61st IAEA General Conference in Vienna on Monday.

The IAEA is the official institution in charge of verification of Iranian compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was struck between Iran and six other countries in July 2015.

The agency has consistently verified Iran’s adherence to its contractual obligations.

In return, a range of nuclear-related sanctions that had been imposed on Iran by the United Nations Security Council, individual countries, or the European Union were terminated.

However, the current US administration, which took office a year after the JCPOA began being implemented, has been opposed to the deal and is seeking a withdrawal.

In its efforts to undermine the deal, the White House has recently attempted to sway the IAEA’s reporting on Iran. Last month, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley traveled to Vienna to press the IAEA to request access to Iran’s military sites, a move that Washington hoped would undermine the JCPOA.

The IAEA has withstood that pressure, making it clear that Iran is abiding by its obligations and that there is no need to request access to Iranian military sites.

In his Monday remarks, Salehi referred to those attempts by the US and said US demands from the IAEA went beyond the provisions of the JCPOA.

He said the US’s hostile behavior was in contravention of both the JCPOA’s letter and spirit.

He said, however, that Iran was confident the IAEA would resist such unacceptable requests and would protect sensitive technical and industrial information obtained during inspections in Iran.

The 61st IAEA General Conference started in Vienna on Monday and will last until September 22.

No Province, Region Allowed to Secede from Iraq: PM

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 18, 2017

No Province, Region Allowed to Secede from Iraq: PM

The Iraqi Supreme Court on Monday ordered the suspension of an independence referendum scheduled to be held in the northern Iraqi Kurdistan region.

In a statement, the court said the poll, which was convened by regional Kurdish president Masoud Barzani, was unconstitutional.

Shortly after the court ruling, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abdi also declared that he has ordered suspension of Kurdistan referendum.

“I will not allow any province or region to separate from Iraq,” he said, stressing that the referendum invalidates the Iraqi constitution, and threatens Iraq’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.” he stressed.

Earlier, Abadi had warned that the Iraqi Army would interfere in the Kurdistan independence plebiscite if it escalates.

While the entire Middle East, except for the Israeli regime, is against the independence of Iraqi Kurdistan, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has insisted on holding an independence referendum on September 25.

Gunfire at Weddings; A Wrong, Fatal Iranian Tradition

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 18, 2017

Iranian media outlets every so often publish reports on incidents at wedding ceremonies, where the wrong custom of celebratory gunfire leads to tragic deaths and injuries.

According to a Farsi report by the Khabar Online news agency, sometimes the victims are the bride or groom and their wedding day, which must be their best day of life, turns into their mourning ceremony.

The wrong practice is followed at wedding or mourning circles in some cities of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Khuzestan, Lorestan and several other provinces of Iran. In the past, skilled people used to shoot the firearm into the air in various events, which, of course, was performed with the utmost care.

Unfortunately, in recent years, the aerial firings have mostly been performed by unskilled people leading to many unfortunate incidents such as the deaths of the families’ loved ones.

A proper and wise approach must be taken to eliminate this false culture; a culture which is more common in southwestern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province.

In some countries, such as the United States, the use of weapons has been authorized for citizens after obtaining a license. The criminal systems of these countries argue that citizens must have weapons in confrontation with criminals. Of course, massacres that occur every now and then in public places like schools have turned many people into critics of such strategy.

However, in most countries, governments do not allow the use of weapons by citizens, and certain individuals are allowed to use weapons only under some exceptional circumstances. The Islamic Republic is among the second group of countries and has a heavy punishment for carrying unauthorized weapons.

In Iran, there are very strict rules regarding carrying of all kinds of weapons. In the Islamic Penal Code, there are many prohibitions on the carrying of firearms. The carrying, use, sale and trafficking of firearms is prohibited and punishable. Of course, some people receive permits to carry and hold firearms for hunting, and sometimes they use these unlicensed or licensed weapons in wedding and mourning ceremonies.

World Powers behind Plight of Myanmar Muslims: Analyst

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 18, 2017

Hamid Reza Moqaddam-Far, who is also an advisor to the chief-commander of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said the US and China play a key role in the suppression of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

The expert went on saying the West under the leadership of the US has managed to pave its own way into Myanmar since 2012 under the pretext of defending human rights in the Asian country.

“Today, Myanmar has turned into a rivalry scene between China and the US. The two sides are trying to change the power balance in the country to meet their own economic interests,” he said, according to a Farsi report by Tasnim.

On the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, Moqaddam-Far said this is not the first time that Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar are being targeted by extremist Buddhists.

He blamed the US for fueling the flames of Islamophobia across the world and said the current massacre of Muslims in Myanmar are just one of the consequences of the US efforts against Muslims.

“However, despite the US efforts, Islam is gaining more and more momentum attracting more followers day by day,” he added.

“The violence against Muslims in Rohingya should be viewed and analyzed as a political crisis. This is not a war between two religious groups,” he said.

He also referred to the western media coverage of Myanmar crisis and said a brief review of the Myanmar coverage in the western media reveals the double standards of the media towards human rights.

The expert also denounced the silence of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and said the West has always stood by Suu Kyi as the defender of human rights, “but today the Nobel Peace Prize laureate has remained silent towards the violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.”

He also noted that Suu Kyi’s silence reveals the real image of the Western countries and their double standards towards human rights across the globe.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 18, 2017

Newspapers today widely covered the remarks made by the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, about Tehran’s response to the US violation of Iran nuclear deal.

President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to the US city of New York to attend the UN General Assembly also received great coverage in today’s papers.

The upcoming referendum on the Iraqi Kurdistan’s independence also remained a top story.

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

Abrar:

1- Parliament Speaker: Terrorist Problems in Region Common Pain of All Regions

2- American Official: We Won’t Let Iran Take Control of Syria

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Afkar:

1- Senior MP: Ban on Selling Planes to Iran Clear Violation of Nuclear Deal

2- Larijani: Iran to Continue Nuclear Program More Strongly after JCPOA Termination

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Iran Leader Vows Reaction to Any Wrong Move on JCPOA

2- Rouhani Urges US to Stop Its Bad Behaviour

3- Hamas Agrees to Give up Gaza to Abbas’ Government

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- Architect of Global Moderation Dialogue in New York

Good Opportunity for Expressing Voice of Iranians

2- No One Is Arrested for One’s Beliefs: Judiciary Spokesman

3- Aref: We Won’t Form a Coalition in Next Parliamentary Elections

End of Coalition with Non-Reformists

4- Iran Finally Manages to Defeat France, Win World Volleyball Medal

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Asrar:

1- Rouhani: Nuclear Deal Contributes to Security, Stability of Region, World

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Ebtekar:

1- Challenges of a Referendum: Possible Scenario of Iraqi Kurdistan’s Separation

2- UNGA Good Chance for Resolving Ambiguities of West’s Public Opinion

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Etemad:

1- Labour Minister: We Have 3.3 Million Unemployed People in Iran

2- Iraqi Kurdistan’s Envoy to Tehran: Independence Referendum May Be Postponed

3- Rouhani’s Fifth Visit to New York

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Ettela’at:

1- Increased Int’l Efforts to Maintain Iraq’s Integrity

2- Rouhani before Departing for New York: Iran Looking for Interaction with World

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Javan:

1- Judiciary Spokesman: Increase in Number of Heinous Crimes Caused by Cyberspace

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Jomhouri Eslami:

1- Mogherini: JCPOA Not Limited to Two Countries, Is Supported by UN

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Ka’enat:

1- Warning! Shamkhani Declares Iran’s Stance towards Iraqi Kurdistan Referendum

Independence Will Lead to End of All Agreements between Iran, Kurds

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Kayhan:

1- Iran Leader: Nuclear Deal Proves US Is Great Satan

2- Official Statistics: Multiplication of Imports from Europe in Post-JCPOA Era

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Khorasan:

1- Kalpourgan Village Registered in UNESCO

Sistan and Baluchestan Province Home to First Global Village of Pottery

2- Palestine Moving towards National Reconciliation

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Setareh Sobh:

1- Leader: Iranian Nation Not to Bow

2- 12 Million People in Iran Living in Absolute Poverty: IKRF Chief

3- Iraqi PM Says Army Ready to Interfere on Iraqi Kurdistan’s Separation

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Shahrvand:

1- Leader: Iran Nation Not to Give in to Bullying

2- Providing Relief in Zero Point: A Report on Iranian Red Crescent’s Aid for Myanmar Muslims

3- Camp of Wander: A Report on Families Whose Working Children Were Arrested

300 Child Labourers So Far Collected from Tehran Streets

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Shargh:

1- Gov’t Starts National Employment Plan by Allocating IRR 300,000 Billion

2- Shamkhani: We Only Recognize Iraq’s Border

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Vaghaye Ettefaghieh:

1- Saudi Arabia Turning to Syria: No One Interested in Assad’s Removal Anymore

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 18

Numerous Foreign Investors en Route to Iran: Central Bank

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 18, 2017

Central Bank Governor Valiollah Seif said the government of Iran is set to sign a number of agreements with foreign investors in the next couple of weeks.

“I hope with the attraction of new foreign investments, we would be able to create more jobs in our country,” he noted in an address to a ceremony marking the beginning of two national plans for job creation in Iran.

He added new financial deals with foreign investors are being signed, saying, “Today we are witnessing a growing demand for signing agreements from foreign companies.”

“Given economic experiences of the Islamic Republic over the past decades as well as vulnerability of Iran’s economy against domestic and foreign shocks, the Iranian officials have adopted certain economic measures to cope with the economic problems under the guidelines of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution,” he added, according to a Farsi report by Al-Alam News Network.

Imperial College Lecturer Appointed to Iran’s Dept. of Environment

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 18, 2017

Issa Kalantari, the Iranian Vice-President and head of the Department of Environment, has appointed Madani as his new deputy.

Following the appointment, Madani said in a post in his Twitter account, “[I’m] Thrilled and determined to help Iran’s environment through meaningful collaboration with dedicated Iranian and international activists.”

Madani is an environmental management lecturer at the Imperial College of London. Before joining the College in 2013, he was an Assistant Professor of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering and an Alex Alexander Fellow at the University of Central Florida.

Madani served as the Secretary of Iran’s First International Conference on Climate Change in February 2017. He was recognized as one of the ten “New Faces of Civil Engineering” by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2012.

In 2016, he was selected by the European Geosciences Union (EGU) as one of the four recipients of the Arne Richter Award for Outstanding Young Scientists for fundamental contributions to integrating game theory and decision analysis into water management models.

Madani also received the Walter L. Huber prize for ground-breaking research in developing methods for the allocation of scarce water resources merging conflict-resolution and game-theoretic concepts for application to complex water resources systems.

Iran to Give Due Response to Violation of Nuclear Deal: Rouhani in New York

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IFP Media Wire

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September 18, 2017

Iran to Give Due Response to Violation of Nuclear Deal: Rouhani in New York

Speaking at a meeting of Iranian expatriates in New York, where he is to attend the 72^nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), President Rouhani said Iran would give “the due response” to any such violation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“Withdrawing from the JCPOA,” he said, “would mean trampling on a clear political obligation that a government has. This is nothing to be proud of.”

He said Iranian people have always lived up to their word throughout history but added that Iran would honor its obligations under the JCPOA as long as the other side honors its.

“We will never initiate a violation of the international agreement, but if the other side wishes to assault the rights of the Iranian people, Iran will certainly give the due response,” the Iranian president said.

The JCPOA was struck in July 2015, after some 22 months of negotiations between Iran and six other countries. Iran agreed under the deal to apply certain limits to its nuclear program, and its partners — the US, Russia, China, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom — agreed in return to terminate a series of sanctions against the Islamic Republic, including those unilaterally imposed by individual countries.

When the presidency in the US switched to the incumbent, Donald Trump, a year after the implementation of the Iran deal had begun, his administration started actively seeking a pretext to withdraw.

It has found none, but has nevertheless signaled that it may not offer to the US Congress verification of Iranian compliance necessary to renew waivers of unilateral, American sanctions against Iran at a next deadline in mid-October. The Congress would then have 60 days to decide whether to continue to waive the sanctions, although it would be unlikely to do so without a White House verification.

Iran has said it would work to sustain the JCPOA but has contingency plans in the event of a US withdrawal. On Sunday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei warned that Iran would respond to any “wrong move” concerning the JCPOA.

In New York, President Rouhani said “whether the US is happy or worried,” the JCPOA is to stay in political history as a sign of how complex international issues can be resolved via dialog.

During his stay in America, the Iranian president plans to meet world leaders and possibly discuss with them the JCPOA and the US stance.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is also in New York, and a meeting of foreign ministers from the parties to the JCPOA may take place.

Meanwhile, all the other parties to the deal have voiced determination to keep the agreement in place.

Iran Slams US Treasury for Imposing Bans on Several Iranian Nationals

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 17, 2017

In a Sunday statement, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi condemned the US Treasury’s imposition of sanctions against a few Iranian nationals as a politically motivated, injudicious and groundless move.

Qassemi said the United States has, over the past few years, always been one of the countries which have been the origin and hub of cyber-attacks against Iranian organizations and state institutions.

“Levelling untrue and unfounded accusations against Iranian nationals and claiming they have been involved in cyber-attacks is an irrelevant and unwarranted allegation, and runs counter to individuals’ basic right to have access to free flow of information and the cyberspace,” he noted.

“The US government’s move is in breach of all known legal and international regulations,” said the spokesman.

Qassemi rejected the accusation that Iranian nationals have been involved in cyber spying, and added, “The United States’ recent move was in line with perpetuating the policy of Iranophobia adopted by statesmen ruling the White House, and the new sanctions against Iranian nationals are another example of Iranophobia and imposing restrictions on the Iranian people, who have stood up to the United States’ excessive demands and bellicose policies.”

He warned the US government against continuing such hostile policies against Iran, and urged American decision-makers and policy-makers to think more about the consequences of their failed and wrong policies as well as their Iranophobia strategy.

The spokesman called on them to stop unwise behaviour and go for rationality.

Iran’s Beauties in Photos: Indian lotus in Anzali Lagoon

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 17, 2017

Nelumbo nucifera, also known as Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, Egyptian bean or simply lotus, is one of two extant species of aquatic plant in the family Nelumbonaceae.

Here are IRNA’s photos of the beautiful flowers blooming every summer in the lagoon:

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