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Iranian FM urges respect for sanctities

By
Emad Askarieh
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Zarif-Iran

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Wednesday highlighted the necessity for respect for sanctities of all religions and cultures after a French magazine republished a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

“We believe that sanctities need to be respected,” Zarif told reporters minutes before a meeting with his US counterpart in the Swiss city of Geneva on Wednesday.

He made the comments when asked about the most recent controversial move by satirical French weekly Charlie Hebdo that printed a cartoon on its cover depicting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

“Unless we learn to respect one another, it will be very difficult in a world of different views and different cultures and civilizations, we won’t be able to engage in a serious dialogue if we start disrespecting each other’s values and sanctities,” Zarif added.

Respecting such “sanctities” makes it easier to have respectful relations, he explained.

The French magazine has repeatedly aroused Muslim ire by publishing cartoons mocking the holy Prophet Muhammad.

Known for its caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as critical depictions of other religions and French politicians, the magazine regularly stirred controversy.

The Wednesday’s edition of Charlie Hebdo, which sold some three million copies, shows a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad holding a “Je suis Charlie”(“I am Charlie”) sign, a slogan widely used following the January 7 attack on the magazine.

Al-Azhar has voiced readiness to host a gathering of Shiite and Sunni scholars

By
Emad Askarieh
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Al-Azhar university

On January 14, Mehr News Agency quoted Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Muhammad Ahmed el-Tayeb as telling Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi that Al-Azhar University is ready to organize a conference between Shiite and Sunni scholars. The meeting is meant to have differences between the two sides discussed and resolved.

“Such disagreements have targeted the Islamic Ummah (community). By fanning the flames of division, some regional and international powers try to serve the enemies of Islam,” the senior al-Azhar official said.

Terrorist attacks aimed at hindering Islamic states’ economic progress: Iranian official

By
Emad Askarieh
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Shamkhani-Iraq

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani in a meeting with Iraqi Oil Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi warned that attacks by terrorist groups are aimed at hampering economic progress of Islamic countries.

“Destruction of the regional countries’ economic infrastructure, including Iraq and Syria, by the terrorists and the ineffective attacks by the coalition fighter jets are interrelated actions to prevent Islamic countries’ economic growth,” Shamkhani said during the meeting in Tehran on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, he referred to the falling oil prices, and said it can provide an opportunity for the oil producing countries to decrease their dependence on crude sales and reform their economic mechanisms.

Shamkhani underlined Iran’s determination to increase its economic power based on cooperation with the neighboring states and weaken the influence of oil on political attitudes.

He also pointed to Iran and Iraq’s cooperation in extracting oil from joint oil and gas fields, and said such cooperation can be a role model for other countries.

Abdul Mahdi, for his part, stressed Baghdad’s interest in deepening ties and cooperation with Tehran, and said, “We are trying to use Iran’s valuable experience to reconstruct Iraq, especially its oil, gas and petrochemical industries.”

Iran and Iraq had agreed in July 2013 to pursue development of their joint oilfields through setting up joint companies under a single management. The two countries have also held comprehensive expert talks on the same issue.

Azadegan Oilfield is the biggest oilfield which is owned jointly by Iran and Iraq.

Other joint Iran-Iraq oilfields are Yaran, Naftshahr, Azar and Karkheh.

Under the agreement signed in July 2013, the two countries will establish joint ventures to carry out the exploration and development of joint oil and gas fields.

The two sides also agreed to work together to settle territorial and ownership differences.

Iran, which sits on the world’s second largest natural gas reserves after Russia, is making efforts to raise its gas production by increasing foreign and domestic investments, especially in South Pars gas field.

On Monday, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and his Iraqi Counterpart discussed new ways to boost Tehran-Baghdad relations, particularly crude production in joint fields.

Zanganeh and al-Mahdi said that time is ripe for development of Tehran-Baghdad relations.

Iran obtains queen bee artificial insemination expertise as world’s 3rd country

By
Emad Askarieh
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queen bee

An Iranian researcher has managed to acquire knowhow for artificial insemination of queen bees, making Iran the world’s third country which has got access to the technology.

The Iranian scientist at the Science and Technology Park in Hamedan city, central Iran, has designed a tool for artificial insemination of queen bees, and developed a method for genetic improvement of bees and boosting their resistance against diseases.

Ali Ataiyan, the director of the project and German Kassel university graduate in bee breeding and artificial insemination, said the study is designed to build an artificial insemination system of bees to modify breeding and transfer positive genetic factors to the next generation of bees.

Using the device, the sperm of modified male bees is received and is injected into the queen bee. The queen bee falls unconscious by CO2 and then the artificial insemination is conducted under the microscope.

The method boosts honey production by 60 percent, keeps the hives clean and creates fewer baby bees. It also promotes resistance of the bees against the diseases.

He further added that Germany and Denmark are the only two countries which possess the artificial insemination expertise.

Iran Condemns Charlie Hebdo’s Insulting Cartoon as “Provocative”

By
Emad Askarieh
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Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham

Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday lashed out at the satirical French weekly Charlie Hebdo for printing a cartoon of the prophet of Islam on the cover, describing it as a repeated provocative move.

“We condemn the French weekly’s provocative move, because it hurts the sentiments of Muslims,” Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said in her weekly press conference on Wednesday.

“The abuse of freedom of expression in the West is unacceptable,” she underlined.

Her comments came in response to a Wednesday’s edition of the French magazine showing a cartoon on the cover that depicts Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) holding a “Je suis Charlie” sign.

The slogan in French “Je suis Charlie” (“I am Charlie”) was widely used following the January 7 attack on the magazine.

Three million copies of Wednesday’s edition have been printed.

The French magazine has repeatedly provoked Muslim ire by publishing cartoons mocking holy Prophet Muhammad.

Over one ton of narcotics seized in Saravan

By
Emad Askarieh
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Drugs-1

Some 1,460 kilograms of opium was confiscated in Saravan, the commander of Sistan and Baluchestan Border Guards said on Tuesday.

Acting on a tip-off about imminent shipment of narcotics across the border into Iran, border guards took up positions along the border where they assumed the traffickers might want to smuggle drugs into the country.

Staging targeted ambushes, they identified an automobile attempting to enter the country illegally, the commander said.

The forces immediately stopped the vehicle, but the traffickers fled a border village after minutes of armed clashes with police, he said.

Habibi further said that inspecting the village, guards found the hideout of the traffickers who abandoned the haul of narcotics and fled. The package contained over one ton of opium, he said.

Iran seeks good ties with all neighbors: President Rouhani

By
Emad Askarieh
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Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani highlighted the country’s resolve to forge good relations with neighboring states.

“We want good and friendly relations with all our neighbors,” the president said Tuesday during a visit to the southern Iranian province of Bushehr which has a long coast on the Persian Gulf.

“Development of good neighborly relations with Persian Gulf states is among the (Iranian) administration’s main policies,” he also stressed, adding, “In our relations (with any country) we think of the two sides’ interests.”

He underlined that Iran neither interferes in any country’s (affairs) nor accepts others’ meddling in its own affairs, adding that clashes and meddling are in no one’s interest.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian chief executive referred to the production of 1000 megawatts of electricity in the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant as one of the city’s main assets and said there are plans for building two more power plants near the existing one in the port city.

Last month, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi announced that the country is planning to construct four new nuclear power plants as part of its broader effort to meet the country’s energy needs.

Salehi said Iran has drawn up plans to construct the new nuclear facilities with the help of Russia.

Germans rally to oppose terrorism and Islamophobia

By
Emad Askarieh
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merkel-rally

Thousands of German Muslims, joined by the country’s political figures, staged a tolerance rally on Tuesday (January 13) to protest acts of terrorism as well as xenophobia and Islamophobia.

The Islamic Republic News Agency reported that the rally which was held at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was attended by the German chancellor, president and MPs as well as a host of party leaders, foreign ambassadors and religious leaders. The following is the translation of the report the official news agency filed:

After observing a minute’s silence in memory of the victims who lost their lives last week in Paris terror attacks, President Joachim Gauck told the rally that terrorists are seeking to create divisions in Western communities, but that these terror incidents would backfire and create more convergence among people.

He went on to say that freedom and human rights do not exclusively belong to the West or Europe; rather they belong to all humanity.

“Germany has become more diverse through immigration – religiously, culturally and mentally,” he added.

The German president then praised the Muslim community for its open opposition to terrorism and recent extremist acts in France.

The president further said that Germany-based Muslims view themselves as part of German society, adding that the Western governments are mainly concerned about the spillover of the crisis in the Middle East into Europe, growing extremism and xenophobia as well as the return of Syrian and Iraqi terrorists to Europe, calling for serious measures to fight extremism and violent acts.

Addressing the same rally, Aiman Mazyek, the head of the Central Council of Muslims, said that German Muslims have gathered here in solidarity with the French people in defiance of violent acts and extremism.

He emphasized, “The terrorists did not win and terrorist won’t win in the future.”

He then lashed out at attempts to fuel Islamophobia in the West and Europe in the wake of the recent terror attacks and pointed to a courageous act by a French Muslim who rescued some hostages during the Paris Kosher Market siege and said that Islam is bitterly opposed to acts of terror and violence.

Mazyek then addressed the terrorists and extremists and said that Muslims do not allow their religion to be taken hostage by acts of terror, adding Muslims won’t let terrorists stir hatred and divisions in communities.

Iran FM heads to Geneva to meet Kerry ahead of fresh nuclear talks

By
Emad Askarieh
-
Iran-USA

The Wednesday meeting between Zarif and Kerry is aimed at bridging the existing differences between the two sides ahead of the official start of the next round of discussions over Tehran’s nuclear energy program on January 18.

Deputy foreign ministers from the Iranian and American delegations will then launch bilateral nuclear talks on Thursday.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Ministers Abbas Araghchi and Majid Takht Ravanchi accompany Zarif during this round of talks, while Kerry is joined by US undersecretaries of state William Burns and Wendy Sherman.

Nuclear negotiators from Iran and P5+1 – Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany – wrapped up their latest round of talks on Tehran’s nuclear issue in Geneva on December 17, 2014.

The Geneva discussions were held almost three weeks after Tehran and the six countries failed to reach a final agreement by a November 24 deadline despite making some progress.

The two sides agreed to extend their discussions for seven more months until July 1, 2015. They also agreed that the interim deal they had signed in Geneva in November 2013 should remain in place during the negotiations.

Major thorny issues in the nuclear discussions include the future extent of Tehran’s uranium enrichment as well as a timetable for the removal of anti-Iran sanctions.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Jan. 14

By
Emad Askarieh
-
Iranian Newspapers Headlines
Iranian Newspapers Headlines

President Rouhani’s speech on a visit to the southern province of Bushehr in which he talked, among other things about the domestic and foreign policy of his government – the fight against corruption and nuclear talks – dominated the front pages of the Iranian newspapers on Wednesday. Also in the headlines, mostly in reformist papers, was the statement parliament deputy Ali Motahari issued detailing what happened during and after his speech in parliament which remained unfinished after fellow MPs attacked him.

 

Abrar: “Iran is among the world’s top 10 countries when it comes to possession of military equipment,” said a senior commander with the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps.

 

Abrar newspaper 1- 14

Abrar-e Eghtesadi: Iran has opened talks with three Japanese and Korean oil giants.

 

Abrare eghtesadi newspaper 1- 14

Aftab-e Yazd: “As soon as we move to eliminate corruption on a certain front, some start to accuse the government,” the president said.

 

Aftabe yazd newspaper 1- 14

Arman-e Emrooz: In a speech in the southern city of Bushehr, President Hassan Rouhani has warned P5+1 to act logically at the negotiating table.

Arman-e Emrooz: The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has complained about cancellation of concerts in the provinces. “We stand by the permits we have issued for concerts,” the ministry said.

 

Armane emruz newspaper 1- 14

Ebtekar: The secretary of the Supreme National Security Council has said that oil has lost its efficacy in political rivalries.

Ebtekar: “I won’t take part in the convergence meetings of principlists,” said Secretary of the Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei [a former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps who has unsuccessfully run for president as a principlist in the past].

 

Ebtekar newspaper 1- 14

Etemad: In a statement Ali Motahari [a principlist MP whose speech was interrupted by fellow deputies in parliament on Sunday] has made public his version of events in the noisy session of the chamber. “My hope is that the next parliament is different from this one.”

 

Etemad newspaper 1- 14

Ettela’at: “We will continue our constructive interaction with the rest of the world. Those who plotted the drop-in-oil-prices scheme will regret their decision,” said President Rouhani at a large gathering of townspeople in Bushehr.

Ettela’at: A trade and industry free zone is to be set up in Tehran.

 

Ettelaat newspaper 1- 14

Javan: President Obama has talked with Netanyahu to secure his permission ahead of a fresh round of nuclear talks with Iran.

 

Javan newspaper 1- 14

Jomhouri Islami: Thirty American, European and Asian firms have applied to make investment in Iran’s natural gas industry.

Jomhouri Islami: An Egyptian court has overturned Mubarak’s conviction.

 

Jomhorie eslami newspaper 1- 14

Kar va Kargar: “Times of threats and sanctions are gone,” said President Rouhani as he urged P5+1 to opt for a speedy, logical approach in nuclear talks with Iran.

 

Karo kargar newspaper 1- 14

Kayhan: More than 100,000 Germans have staged a rally in support of Islam.

 

Kayhan newspaper 1- 14

Qods: Foreign Minister Zarif and his American counterpart Secretary Kerry will meet in Geneva today.

 

Ghods newspaper 1- 14

Sharq: “My government won’t back down in the fight against corruption,” vowed President Rouhani.

 

Shargh newspaper 1- 14

Tafahom: President Rouhani has said the loss Saudi Arabia suffers as a result of a recent drop in oil prices will be bigger than Iran’s.

 

Tafahom newspaper 1- 14

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