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Iran, Turkey will solve Syrian crisis politically: Official

Hossein-Amir-Abdollahian

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the Islamic Republic and Turkey will succeed in finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

In a meeting Tuesday with Umit Yalcın, Director General for Bilateral Political Affairs at Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, the Iranian official said Tehran and Ankara play a strategic role in the Middle East and should stay in touch about regional developments.

“Given the [present] circumstances in the region, Tehran and Ankara can play a leading political role in settling the crises and we are ready to turn consultation in this regard into practical cooperation,” Amir-Abdollahian said.

Reiterating that the Syrian conflict should be solved through democratic ways without any military intervention, he said Iran backs “broad-based national dialog” and opposes foreign governments’ arming of the Syrian opposition.

The Iranian diplomat noted that any solution to the ongoing problems in the Middle East, particularly in Syria and Iraq, would not bear fruit without Iran’s involvement.

Amir-Abdollahian further expressed Iran’s determination to cooperate with Iraq in the fight against terrorism, saying, “We respect Iraq’s national unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and explicitly oppose measures by certain parties to disintegrate Iraq.”

The Turkish official, for his part, said Iran and Turkey share views on the importance of restoration of peace and stability to the region, maintenance of territorial integrity and security of Iraq and Syria and eradication of terrorism in the region.

Yalcın added that settlement of the ongoing problems in the Muslim world is a top priority in Tehran-Ankara cooperation.

[…]

Iran, China agree to broaden cooperation in fight against terrorism, money laundering

Nasser Seraj

Iranian and Chinese officials in a meeting in Tehran Tuesday agreed to increase cooperation in several areas, including in the campaign against money laundering and extradition of financial offenders.

The agreement was reached between Head of Iran’s General Inspectorate Nasser Seraj and Chinese Deputy Prosecutor General Jiang Xian Chu.

“We are willing to increase our cooperation in the campaign against financial and political corruption, terrorism and money laundering,” Seraj said during the meeting.

The senior Chinese official, for his part, pointed to the age-old relations between the two nations, and expressed hope that mutual cooperation would further expand in the fight against terrorism and financial corruption.

[…]

Trade between Iran and China last year was estimated at $45 billion.

Iran is currently China’s third largest supplier of crude, providing Beijing with roughly 12 percent of its total oil consumption annually.

Iran condemns raid on prominent Bahraini Shiite cleric’s house

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham

The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday strongly condemned Bahraini forces’ raid on the house of prominent Shiite cleric Ayatollah Sheikh Issa Ahmed Qassem a day earlier.

“Desecration of religious symbols and insulting popular religious leaders and scholars signify the Bahraini government’s failed security and ethnic approaches to dealing with peaceful protests by the people of the country,” Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham said.

Bahraini security forces raided the house of Ayatollah Sheikh Issa Qassem on Monday. Witnesses say regime forces even took photos of the ID cards of everyone who was inside the house in Diraz, west of the capital Manama.

The Iranian spokeswoman called on Bahraini authorities to show respect for the highly respected position of Muslim scholars and religious leadership in the country and punish those who committed this “unacceptable measure” [raid on Sheikh Issa’s house].

The raid on the home of the spiritual leader of the opposition al-Wefaq group came just a few days after people voted in an alternative election held by the main opposition parties of Bahrain.

The opposition had boycotted the parliamentary elections which were held with a low turnout on the same day across the tiny kingdom.

West cannot bring Iran to knees over N-issue: Leader

Leader-meeting
Leader-meeting

Ayatollah Khamenei made the statements in a Tuesday meeting with participants in the World Congress on Extremist and Takfiri Movements in the Islamic Scholars’ View, held in the Iranian holy city of Qom on November 23-24.

“In the nuclear issue, the United States and colonial European countries got together and did their utmost to bring the Islamic Republic to its knees, but they failed, and will continue to fail,” Ayatollah Khamenei noted.

Iran and the P5+1 states – Russia, China, Britain, France, the US and Germany – wrapped up a week of closed-door nuclear negotiations in Vienna, Austria, on Monday.

The two sides decided to extend their discussions for seven more months in the search for a comprehensive agreement that would end a 12-year dispute on Iran’s peaceful nuclear work.

The Leader further referred to the violence by Takfiri ISIL extremists operating in the Middle East, stressing that such a Takfiri current serves the objectives of the hegemonic powers.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the aim of the so-called coalition, led by the United States to fight the ISIL is a “mere lie,” adding that Washington actually “seeks to keep this scourge alive, which of course it won’t be able to.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei reaffirmed Iran’s support for the Palestinians in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied territories, adding the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank should be armed to defend their land, just like the Gazans.

“We are not entangled in religious divisions, and we will provide Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Palestine with the same assistance we offered to Shia Hezbollah in Lebanon,” the Leader noted.

Ayatollah Khamenei also called on Muslim scholars to help uproot the Takfiri current, which has diverted the Islamic world’s attention from the Israeli regime’s atrocities against the holy al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem al-Quds.

 

Rafsanjani warns Islamic countries against impact of discord

hashemi-Qatar
hashemi-Qatar

Chairman of Iran’s Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Monday warned the Islamic countries about the weakening impact of discord, calling for religious solidarity.

At a meeting in Tehran with visiting Qatari Judiciary Chief Ali Bin Fatis al-Marri, Ayatollah Rafsanjani said Iran has always attached special significance to expansion of relations with the neighboring and Muslim Qatar.

‘With a population of 1.7 billion and enormous resources, nearly 60 Islamic countries could turn into the top decision-maker in regional and international arenas,’ the Ayatollah said.

Ayatollah Rafsanjani, who has also served as Iran’s president for two terms, recalled his administration’s policies for promotion of cooperation with Persian Gulf Arab states and Central Asian countries and said, ‘Cooperation with Persian Gulf states, particularly Qatar, on drinking water supplies was one of our plans.’

Rafsanjani said in addition to personal efforts, he endeavors, as part of the official policy of the Islamic establishment, to ensure Islamic solidarity.

He went on to say Islamic scholars are duty-bound to prevent ignorance from spreading to Islamic communities.

The Qatari judiciary chief, for his part, said that the Qatari Emir favors enhanced relations between the two countries, adding, ‘We know that our common ground outweighs what divides us.’

Recalling to the role of Ayatollah Rafsanjani in the Muslim world, al-Marri called on the Iranian veteran politician to step in and help narrow the gap among the Muslims.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Nov. 25

Iranian Newspapers Headlines
Iranian Newspapers Headlines

After days of speculations about the outcome of nuclear talks between Iran and world powers, which finally came to an end on November 24, all Iranian dailies, without exception, gave extensive coverage to the Vienna negotiations. The two sides have agreed to extend the negotiations for another seven months; every month, $700 million in Iran’s frozen assets will be released, they reported.

Abrar: “Mohammad Farhadi [President Rouhani’s fifth choice for the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology] will run the ministry with new faces in managerial positions.”

 

Abrar newspaper 11 - 25


Afarinesh: “Disagreements have undermined Islamic countries,” said Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in a meeting with Chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) of Qatar.

 

Afarinesh newspaper 11 - 25


Afkar: “We still look at the process of nuclear talks positively,” said Vice-Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Hassan Abutorabi.

 

Afkar newspaper 11 - 25


Arman-e Emrooz: “Seven-day negotiations have been extended for seven months.”

Arman-e Emrooz: “We are victors; the world has no choice but hold talks with Iran,” said President Rouhani.

 

Armane emruz newspaper 11 - 25


Asrar: “I am opposed to the hardline approach of the Islamic Revolution Stability Front [an ultra-principlist party],” said Ali Motahari, a principlist MP representing Tehran in parliament.

Asrar: “Cash subsidies by the government will continue next year [starting on March 21, 2015],” said Government Spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht.

 

Asrar newspaper 11 - 25


Ettela’at: “Winners of Jalal Al-e-Ahmad Literary Awards [given to the best Iranian authors each year] have been named.”

Ettela’at: “Some economic sanctions slapped against Iran have been lifted,” said the economy minister.

 

Ettelaat newspaper 11 - 25


Hambastegi: “The performance of Iran’s negotiating team reflected the decisions of the establishment,” said the Iranian defense minister.

 

Hambastegi newspaper 11 - 25


Hamshahri: “The Chinese are reigning on Iran’s car market.”

 

Hamshahri newspaper 11 - 25


Hemayat: “Tehran and Doha have cut judicial deals.”

 

Hemayat newspaper 11 - 25


Iran Daily: “[Gov’t Spokesman]: Development budget to rise by 20%”

 

Iran daily newspaper 11 - 25


Jahan-e Sanat: “Release of $700 million in Iran’s frozen assets on a monthly basis has marked the finish line of Vienna marathon nuclear talks.”

 

Jahane sanaat newspaper 11 - 25


Javan: “On the closing day of a global conference in Qom, in central Iran, Muslim scholars, who gathered to discuss Takfiri and extremist groups, have laid emphasis on consensus among Sunnis and Shiites to confront extremist groups.”

Javan: “Seven-month artificial respiration is given to nuclear diplomacy.”

 

Javan newspaper 11 - 25


Kayhan: “We should not turn to foreigners in our quest for dignity and authority,” said Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari.

Kayhan: “The village chief [a reference to America] proved untrustworthy; sanctions have been extended;” read the banner headline of the daily.

 

Kayhan newspaper 11 - 25


Khorasan: “Mobile data tariffs have dropped by 80 percent.”

 

Khorasan newspaper 11 - 25


Mardomsalari: “The Islamic Republic of Iran is looking for peaceful relations in the future,” said Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

 

Mardom salari newspaper 11 - 25


Rah-e Mardom: “Mohammad Farhadi [President Rouhani’s fifth pick to lead the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology] will get confirmation from parliament,” said a number of MPs.

 

Rahe mardom newspaper 11 - 25


Resalat: “The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has realized that the information offered by the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization was unreliable.”

 

Resalat newspaper 11 - 25


Roozan: “Disrupting the economic system of the country is the new charge facing Saeed Mortazavi, a former Tehran prosecutor.”

Roozan: “Commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij (volunteer force) have taken a harsh stance against America in a series of anti-US conferences.”

 

Ruzan newspaper 11 - 25


Sharq has described extension of nuclear talks as “renewal of hope”.

 

Shargh newspaper 11 - 25


Tehran Times: “Oil advances for a third day as Iran seeks OPEC production cut.”

Tehran Times: “Iran accounts for about 40% of Islamic banking assets: IMF, WB.”

 

Tehran times newspaper 11 - 25


Vatan-e Emrooz: “US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has been forced to resign.”

Vatan-e Emrooz: “The Geneva Interim Agreement has been extended for another seven months; one year into the Geneva deal, the achievement amounts to nothing.”

 

Vatane emruz newspaper 11 - 25

 

Iranian neurosurgeons successfully perform DBS surgery

Iranian neurosurgeons
Iranian neurosurgeons

Neurosurgeons at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences successfully conducted a Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery on two patients.

Dr. Ali Razmkon who led this surgical team called this operation one of the most advanced in medical sciences and said, “due to the sensitivity of this operation, very few centers in Iran are able to do it, and for the very first time it was performed in Shiraz on two 22-year-old patients diagnosed with dystonia, a neurological movement disorder.”

He pointed to similar operations done on these two patients with Parkinson and tremor prior to the main surgery and said, “with the success of these two surgeries, the second phase of operations started on a 22-year-old woman who had difficulties moving her limbs and could not walk on her own.”

“The other patient, too, genetically suffered from serious movement disorder, and so far no effective treatment has been identified for this kind of ailment,” he said.

Dr. Ali Razmkon maintained that more than 70 percent of these patients’ disorders have been treated during this 10-hour surgery and expressed hope for their complete recovery in the near future.

“Patients afflicted with Parkinson’s disease, movement disorders, tremors, dystonia, obsessive compulsive disorder, severe depressions and certain types of seizures resistant to treatment can undergo operation with the help of this surgical procedure,” he said.

Iranian mobile games popular among gamers

mobile game

Three Iranian mobile games with more than 450,000 downloads in less than 3 months have become extremely popular with Iranian gamers.

Fighting Cocks, Granny & the Grim Reaper, and Lazy Balls are three Iranian games which have hit the Café Bazaar (an Iranian application market for Android platform) since August, and managed to attract a large number of game enthusiasts within such a short span of time.

According to the developers of Fighting Cocks, this game with more than 350,000 downloads is the most popular Iranian game. This competitive online game is an interesting adaptation of Cocks Fighting but in a whole new style and without violence, developed at Yara Kish Company.

Lazy Balls and Granny & the Grim Reaper with 50,000 downloads each are the second and third most popular Iranian mobile games.

Granny & the Grim Reaper is a 2D Android game with beautiful graphics and has been developed by Fanoos Game.

Lazy Balls, developed by Rayan Afzar Kabir, has a simple gameplay with 80 levels in which players try to obtain the highest score.

With support from Iran National Foundation of Computer Games, game companies and developers in Iran were able to reach great achievements in less than ten years and attract a large audience among the Iranian gamers.

Zarif: Nobody questions Iran’s enrichment program

Iran-Zarif-nuclear

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran has the right to have an enrichment program under any deal with P5+1.

Zarif made the remarks at a press conferences at the end of week-long talks between Iran and P5+1 – Russia, China, France, Britain, the US, and Germany– in the Austrian capital Vienna on Monday.

“I do not believe that anybody any longer questions Iran’s enrichment program. We believe that right of Iran to the peaceful nuclear energy, including uranium enrichment, is enshrined in the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty), which does not require anybody’s recognition. The right is there. What is important is for Iran to be able to implement that right, to exercise that right without the threat of sanctions and pressure which are, in our view, illegal,” Zarif stated.

“I believe everybody has worked hard particularly over the last week… in order to overcome rather important differences” between Iran and P5+1, Zarif said, adding, that the discussions centered on two objectives — ensuring that Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful and sanctions imposed on Iran are lifted.

“We have always said that Iran has no strategic interest in nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons don’t serve our strategic interests,” Zarif further said, adding, “Nuclear weapons are against every principle of our faith and our beliefs.”

“We seek to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” Zarif noted.

The Iranian foreign minister further touched upon the issue of illegal sanctions imposed on Iran, saying, “The sanctions are not only misguided… but are totally ineffective.”

“Sanctions do not resolve the problem,” Zarif stated. “Only, and I stress, only a negotiated resolution” can lead to the termination of standoff between Iran and the West over Tehran’s nuclear energy program.

“We believe that a negotiated resolution is within reach,” he asserted.

A political agreement between Iran and the six countries is within reach with a positive-sum rather than zero-sum perspective, said the Iranian foreign minister, adding that four months are enough to resolve outstanding issues in the nuclear negotiations.

The top diplomat further said that the rest of a now extended seven-month deadline would be used to put complicated technical issues into a final agreement.

In their last round of talks before a November 24 deadline, Iran and P5+1 held nearly a week of intense negotiations in Vienna on how to tackle the remaining obstacles that exist in the way of reaching a comprehensive agreement.

At the end of the talks, the two sides agreed to extend the Joint Plan of Action to July 1, 2015.

President Putin: Iran has right to enrichment on its own soil

Russian-President-Putin
Russian-President-Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized Iran’s right to enrichment on its own soil.

The Russian president made the remarks in a Monday telephone conversation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani after Iran and the Sextet of world powers agreed to extend the nuclear talks for seven months.

“It matters that the negotiations lead to Iran’s achievement of its rights, especially in the area of enrichment, and enrichment on its own soil is Iran’s right,” Putin stated.

He further said that during the talks between Iran and P5+1 the two sides “lacked only time for reaching a comprehensive agreement.”

Putin expressed hope that the negotiations culminate in an acceptable agreement that encompasses the interests of all sides.

The Iranian president also expressed hope that the talks lead to a comprehensive agreement which is in favor of all nations, the Middle East, and the world.

In their last round of talks before a November 24 deadline, Iran and P5+1 — Russia, China, France, Britain, the US, and Germany — held nearly a week of intense negotiations in Vienna on how to tackle the remaining obstacles that exist in the way of reaching a comprehensive agreement.

At the end of the talks, the two sides agreed to extend the Joint Plan of Action to July 1, 2015.