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FATF Extends Suspension of Financial Restrictions on Iran

Foreign Ministry Condemns FATF’s Blacklisting of Iran

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) says due to the steps taken by Iran, it has decided to extend the suspension of its restrictions against the Islamic Republic.

“In light of Iran’s demonstration of its political commitment and the relevant steps it has taken in line with its Action Plan, the FATF has decided to continue the suspension of counter-measures,” FATF said in a press release on Friday.

The body has added that it will keep monitoring progress in the implementation of the Action Plan and consider next steps.

Elsewhere in the press release, which was published following the FATF’s plenary week from 18-23 June in Spain’s Valencia, the organization said that Iran will remain on the FATF Public Statement until the full Action Plan has been completed.

“The FATF urges Iran to fully address its AML/CFT deficiencies,” the statement went on to say.

The anti-money Laundering organization has stressed that it will continue to engage with Iran and has called on its members to continue their business with the Islamic Republic.

“The FATF, therefore, calls on its members and urges all jurisdictions to continue to advise their financial institutions to apply enhanced due diligence to business relationships and transactions with natural and legal persons from Iran, consistent with FATF Recommendation 19,” the statement reads.

Despite the call by US radical circles to US President Donald Trump to block the decision, Washington joined consensus and acknowledged Iran’s effective measures.

Experts believe that the decision by the EU, US and major global economies ensures the expansion of banking and financial relations with Iran as provided by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

In June 2016, the FATF welcomed Tehran’s measures to upgrade its status saying that active countermeasures against the country would be suspended. It also gave Tehran one year to improve aspects of its anti-money laundering program.

Iran Strongly Condemns Terrorist Attempt on Mecca’s Grand Mosque

Bahram Qassemi

“The recent failed attempt by a number of criminal terrorists to attack the Masjid al-Haram [Grand Mosque of Mecca] once again revealed the fact that the unbridled and growing terrorism – which is currently targeting the entire world, region and particularly the Muslim nations – knows no faith, religion, geography, race, and nationality, and can target the holiest Muslim sites to achieve its inauspicious goals,” Qassemi noted in a statement on Saturday.

“Therefore, the Islamic Republic of Iran once again warns all governments, particularly [those of] the regional states, about this despicable scourge, and calls on all regional nations to remain vigilant and make relentless efforts in fight against this symbol and manifestation of grudge, hatred, violence, and crime,” he went on to say.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns terrorism, no matter where, in what form, and for what motive it happens,” the Iranian spokesman said, adding that Tehran is prepared, as it has ever been, to help other countries counter these terrorists and ignorant hatemongers.

Qassemi’s statement came a few hours after the Saudi Interior Ministry declared that the country’s security forces have foiled a suicide attack on the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, cornering the alleged potential attacker before he blew himself up.

In a statement read on state television, the ministry said that three cells had planned the attack on worshippers and security forces at the mosque as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan nears its climax.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24

The top story in Iranian newspapers today was the International Quds Day rallies held across Iran and the world to support the cause of Palestine and show opposition to the Israeli regime’s policies.

On the sidelines of the rallies, however, a group of hardliners insulted President Hassan Rouhani. The issue was widely covered by newspapers, with many critics of Rouhani’s administration even denouncing the attacks.

Another top story was the move by members of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), including the EU and the US, to extend the suspension of banking and financial restrictions on Iran.

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

 

Abrar:

1- Iranian Nation Gave US Decisive Response: Rouhani

2- Moscow: No Major Difference between Iran, Russia, Turkey

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Abrar-e Eqtesadi:

1- Germany’s Cooperation with Russia in Iran’s Oil, Gas Projects

2- Iran Gives Greenlight for Gas Exports to Iraq

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Iran Leader: Fight against Zionist Regime Today Is Fight against Arrogance

2- Support for Axis of Resistance, Intifada Emphasized in Quds Day Rallies

3- Great Loss for Those Who Seek to Divide Iran’s Society

  • A Few People Insult President Rouhani in Quds Day Rallies

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Arman-e Emrooz:

1- Solidarity against Terrorism

  • Calls for Quds Liberation Heard in Iran on Friday

2- A Small Number of People Insult President, Other Officials

  • Twitterstorm in Support of Rouhani
  • Interior Minister Orders Prosecution of Norm-Breakers

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Ebtekar:

1- Everyone for Quds: Iranians Hold Rallies across Country

2- Against Republicanism, Against People: A Report on Insults to President

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Etemad:

1- Quds Not Left Alone

2- Nasrallah: Saudi Arabia Not to Engage Itself in War on Iran

3- Europe Supports Extension of FATF’s Deal with Iran

4- Analysts Warn against Bin Salman’s Being Saudi Crown Prince

  • Tehran-Riyadh Tension to Get More Serious

5- University of St Andrews Praises Iranian Maestro

  • Beyzai Receives Doctor of Letters

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Ettela’at:

1- Iran Repeats Its Hatred towards Zionism

2- Larijani: Nothing More Despicable than Zionism in History

3- 30 Killed, 100 Wounded in Series of Terrorist Blasts in Pakistan’s Parachinar

4- 3 Iranian Companies to Buy 88 New Airbus, Boeing Planes

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Iran:

1- Iran Leader: Without People’s Votes, Islamic Establishment Couldn’t Survive

2- Iran Should to Shoulder with Palestine

3- National Hatred towards Organized Slogans against President

  • Trace of Hardliners from Attack on Saudi Embassy to Friday Insults

4- Iran’s Top Officer: Missile Attack Proposed by IRGC, Welcomed by SNSC

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Javan:

1- Death to Israel

2- Countdown Begins for Israel’s Destruction

3- France Opposing US

  • Paris Holds Joint Drill with Qatar, Gets Closer to Russia, Accepts Assad as Syria’s Legitimate President

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Jomhouri Eslami:

1- Show Muslim Unity for Liberation of al-Quds

2- IRGC’s Missile Attack Conducted with Leader’s Will, SNSC’s Approval

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Kayhan:

1- Nation’s Integrated Scream: We’ll Stand Firmly until Israel’s Annihilation

2- Europeans Support Iran’s Inclusion in Grey List of FATF

3- Zionists Thrilled by Bin Salman’s New Post: Israel Reveals Past Ties with Him

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Khorasan:

1- Imminent Death of ISIS in Iraq

2- Insults to President on Sidelines of Quds Day Rallies Widely Condemned

3- Fasting People in 900 Iranian Cities Rise to Support al-Quds

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Resalat:

1- Larijani: No Phenomenon More Inauspicious than Zionist Regime in Past Century

2- Al-Quds Liberation First Priority of Muslim World

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Setareh Sobh:

1- Occupation, Zionism Condemned

2- Former Central Bank of Iran Official: FATF Accession Is in Iran’s Interest

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Shahrvand:

1- United with the Oppressed

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Tejarat:

1- 5-Fold Increase in Europe’s Imports from Iran

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24


Vaghaye Ettefaghieh:

1- Freedom from Hegemony: Cause of Quds Day

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 24

Iran President Congratulates Junior Weightlifters on World Title

Iranian president

In a Friday message on his Twitter account, President Hassan Rouhani hailed the brilliant performance of junior weightlifters who finished in first place at the 2017 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Junior World Championships in Japan.

He also congratulated the Iranian nation, the weightlifting team, and their coaches on the world title, which was claimed for the second consecutive time.

First Vice-President Es’haq Jahangiri and the Iranian foreign ministry also sent messages of congratulations to the junior weightlifters.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi in a message offered congratulations to the Iranian nation, the sports community, and the title-winning junior Iranian weightlifters on claiming the world championship.

The 2017 IWF Junior World Championships wrapped up on Friday in Tokyo and Iranian weightlifting team won the title by grabbing 423 points.

The title was achieved thanks to the outstanding performance of Reza Biralvand, Ali Davoudi and Rahman Ourameh, who received 6 medals, including two precious gold ones.

Pakistan Attacks Show Link between Terrorism, Zionism: Iran

In a statement on Friday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi denounced the two separate terrorist attacks in Pakistan’s Parachinar and Quetta, and sympathized with the bereaved families of the victims as well as the Pakistani nation and government.

On the day when Muslim people held demonstrations across the world to show their support for the Palestinian cause and their opposition to the Zionist regime of Israel in a beautiful way, terrorists killed the fasting people of Pakistan in cold blood, Qassemi noted.

These attacks served the Zionist regime’s interests and revealed the link between terrorists and Zionism, the Iranian spokesman added.

At least 37 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in two separate attacks in Pakistan, according to local officials.

Early on Friday, a suicide car bomber killed 12 people in Quetta in the country’s volatile south-west.

In the afternoon, twin blasts hit a bazaar in Parachinar, the largest city in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, killing at least 25 and injuring more than 100, according to medical officials.

The blast in Quetta seemingly targeted the office of the inspector general of police. Four police officers were among those killed in the explosion, which occurred after a car laden with explosives was pulled over by a checkpoint.

Tel Aviv Mother of Terrorism: Iran’s Parliament Speaker

Addressing Friday prayers worshippers in Tehran on the International Quds Day, Larijani said no terrorist group has ever displaced millions of people [Palestinians] other than the Zionists.

“Even ISIS which is widely known as a brutal terror group across the globe has not yet displaced a nation,” he added.

Larijani went on saying that the Zionists have been using the most cruel terror mechanisms in the world to achieve their goals.

“The Zionists’ crimes are still fresh in the memory of the past century, from the establishment of Israel’s regime based on an evil plan to crimes in Deir Yasin, Gaza, Qafr Qasim, Sabra and Shatila and so on,” he noted.

The Iranian parliament speaker went on saying that the establishment of Tel Aviv was the beginning of the massive adventurism of the Zionists in the Missile East to embroil all Muslims nations in a regional conflict.

“So, the Muslims are now facing a criminal entity called Zionism which, despite its connection with Judaism, has always been misused by the great powers as a pretext to develop their colonial plots against Muslims,” he added.

The Iranian official said there are many Jews in Iran who are living in peace with the Muslims and added Iranian Jews hate the Zionists and condemn their acts.

Larijani quoted the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, as saying the Muslims should preserve their unity against right and left-wing arrogant powers, especially the US and Israel.

“The colonial powers have created a cancerous tumor (Israel) in the region to keep Muslim nations involved in internal conflicts,” he added.

According to Larijani, Zionism has been created with the aim of returning the Jews to a fake homeland. He added the Zionists have been using some false pretexts over the past two centuries to press ahead with their projects in the region.

He then called Zionism an evil phenomenon which has always proclaimed itself as the real owner of the Palestinian lands, while historical facts show that the ownership claims of the Zionists have no legal basis.

Larijani stressed that Palestine has always been the centre of Islamic thought throughout the history, adding the main aim of Imam Khomeini to announce the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan as the International Quds Day was to make Islamic nations wake up.

“Imam had repeatedly warned against negligence of the Muslim nations of the enemy plots. Quds Day is a reminder for all Muslims to take serious their duty to fight arrogant powers,” he said.

Elsewhere in his speech, Larijani said the Zionists’ terrorism knows no border and the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists were the latest case of the regime’s terrorist attacks.

He blamed the US and its allies for remaining silent towards Israel’s crimes and added the US has never spoken out against the Zionists terrorism. “It not only remains silent towards such crimes but also supports them,” he stressed.

Larijani also accused the US of double standards when it comes to terrorism, saying Washington blames the Iranian nation for sponsoring terrorism while Iran is one of the main victims of terrorism across the globe.

He called shameful the US decision to remove the name of the armed anti-Iran terrorist group known as MKO from its list of terror and said the US speaks of war on terror on the one hand but sponsors terrorist groups in Syria on the other hand.

The Iranian official further blamed Saudi Arabia for pushing US presidents into waging war on Iran and said the enemies should beware of the fact that by any attack on Iran they would sink in the mire of the Iranians’ revenge.

“The US president portrayed Saudi Arabia as the sponsor of terrorism during his presidential campaign and now he is backing the tribal regime of the KSA and democratically transferring power in Iran. And now he is blaming Iran for terrorism instead of Saudi Arabia. This is shameful,” he said.

He also referred to the latest diplomatic crisis in the region between Saudi Arabia and Qatar and said the US first blamed the crisis on Qatar but after a while signed a deal with Doha to sell planes to the country and now they are going to hold a joint drill.

“Today the US is looting the Islamic states’ wealth. To this end, they clearly support any tribal regime in the region to take their money,” he noted.

He said Iran is paying a price for fighting terrorism and added Tehran will remain undeterred by any threats in its war on terror.

He also touched on Iran’s latest missile strikes on ISIS in Syria and said, “We target the terrorists inside and outside of the country and the latest strikes were just the tip of the iceberg of Iran’s military might. Iran will not sit idle against enemies’ attacks.”

Iranian People Mark Int’l Quds Day (+Photos)

Quds Day 36 (2)

Here is a selection of photos from the anti-Israel rallies in Iran:

Iranian People Mark Int'l Quds Day (+Photos)
Demonstrators in Tehran chant anti-Israel slogans during International Quds Day rallies, June 23, 2017. (Photo by Mehr)
Iranian People Mark Int'l Quds Day (+Photos)
Young demonstrators pose for a picture during the Quds Day rallies in Tehran, Iran, June 23, 2017. (Photo by Mehr)
Iranian People Mark Int'l Quds Day (+Photos)
Demonstrators bun a US flag during the anti-Israel rally in Tehran, Iran, June 23, 2017. (Photo by Fars)
Iranian People Mark Int'l Quds Day (+Photos)
The Iranian Zolfaghar ballistic missile is displayed during the rally in Tehran, June 23, 2017. (Photo by Fars)
Iranian People Mark Int'l Quds Day (+Photos)
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani attends the Tehran rally on International Quds Day, June 23, 2017. (Photo by Mehr)
Iranian People Mark Int'l Quds Day (+Photos)
People in the Iranian city of Qom take to the streets to commemorate International Quds Day (Photo by IRNA)
Iranian People Mark Int'l Quds Day (+Photos)
Demonstrators mark International Qudy in Tehran, Iran, June 23, 2017. (Photo by IRNA)

 

Iranian People Mark Int'l Quds Day (+Photos)
Iranian Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani (C) attend the Tehran rally on Quds Day, June 23, 2017. (Photo by Mehr)

“Israel Manipulating Historical Facts about Al-Aqsa Mosque”

Quds

Palestinian experts believe that the Israeli regime is after replacing the Al-Aqsa Mosque with Dome of the Rock in the minds of people across the world.

Since its establishment in 1948 in the occupied Palestine, the Israeli regime has had no hesitation in manipulating the historical facts about the holy sites in addition to its aggressive policies to wage war, create bloodshed and carry out terrorist attacks to achieve goals in the region.

Introducing Dome of the Rock as Al-Aqsa Mosque has been one of these manipulations which have been in the making secretly by some suspicious movements inside the Arab World and unfortunately have managed to influence the minds of Muslims. Dome of the Rock is just part of Al-Aqsa Mosque. To unveil this manipulation, the Tasnim News Agency has interviewed some Palestinian experts.

“Israel Manipulating Historical Facts about Al-Aqsa Mosque”

A member of Popular Resistance of Palestine, Khaled al-Zabt, said it is a pity that most Muslims have believed the lie.

“This is mainly due to the smart campaign of the Zionist regime. The regime is seeking to manipulate the historical facts and replacing Al-Aqsa Mosque with Dome of the Rock is a part of the project,” he said

He went on saying that Dome of the Rock, which has a golden dome, is located inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Dome of the Rock was built later. And now the Zionist regime is trying to change facts about the two historical buildings. The manipulation is part of a larger plan to destroy Al-Aqsa mosque.

“Israel Manipulating Historical Facts about Al-Aqsa Mosque”Sho’aib Abu Sanineh, former Palestinian inmate who is also an expert on al-Quds history, said unfortunately the Muslim nations have believed the Zionists’ lies.

“Today, most Muslims don’t know the differences between the two historical mosques. This is mainly due to first, Israel’s occupation of Al-Aqsa Mosque since 1967 and second, the Zionists’ plots to manipulate facts about the mosque,” he said.

The expert noted that back in 2000, when Ariel Sharon, escorted by Israeli forces, tried to enter the mosque, he faced strong resistance by the Palestinian worshippers inside the mosque, and was forced to change his mind and leave the scene.

“Then Sharon said he intended to enter the mosque’s compound to carry the message of peace for the Muslims. He was speaking in a way as if the compound has nothing to do with the mosque itself,” he noted.

“Israel Manipulating Historical Facts about Al-Aqsa Mosque”Fuad al-Razm, a leader of Islamic Jihad Movement, said it is widely known that Al-Aqsa Mosque includes Dome of the Rock as well as other historical buildings.

“There are nearly 200 ancient buildings inside Al-Aqsa Mosque. So, Rock of the Dome is just one part of the mosque,” he noted.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock are situated in Haram al-Sharif or Temple Mount in al-Quds, which was occupied by Israel in 1967. The mosque is the third holiest site in Islam after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina. The site is also holy to Christians and Jews.

In August 2015, Israel imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the compound, which is under the administration of Jordan, sparking a fresh wave of tensions with Palestinians.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed by Israelis in recent months.

IRGC Says Over 170 Terrorists Killed in Its Sunday Missile Attacks

In a statement released late on Wednesday, the IRGC Public Relations Department described the recent operation, code-named “Laylat al-Qadr”, as successful and said it inflicted heavy casualties on the terrorists in Syria.

“Over 170 Takfiri terrorists, including several of their commanders and ringleaders, were killed and in addition to injuring many others… (it caused) the destruction of their (military) equipment, gears and systems,” the statement read.

The IRGC further emphasized that the operation was carried out under the command of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces.

In the operation on Sunday night, the IRGC fired six mid-range ballistic missiles at various targets within a range of 650 to 700 kilometers, including the headquarters, ammunition and logistic depots of the terrorists.

Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Head of the IRGC Public Relations Department General Ramezan Sharif said, “The firing of these missiles had previously been coordinated with Syria.”

He added that the missile attacks were carried out in response to the recent Daesh-claimed terror attacks in Tehran, adding that Zolfaqar high-precision missiles were among those used in the attack.

The IRGC public relations office statement said Sunday that the missiles were fired from the IRGC aerospace force’s bases in Iran’s western provinces of Kermanshah and Kurdistan.

Saudi Arabia Close to Political Suicide

An Iranian expert on the Middle East affairs says the elevation of Mohammad bin Salman as the new crown prince of Saudi Arabia to replace his cousin Mohammad bin Nayef reveals an underlying competition among the Saudi princes to take control of levers of power in the kingdom.

In a Farsi interview with Khabar Online, Hassan Hanizadeh said the replacement was among the consequences of the latest visit of the US President, Donald Trump, to Saudi Arabia.

“Mohammad bin Salman played a key role in the signing of the $500b arms deal between the US and Saudi Arabia. Before Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, bin Salman had made a deal with him: Putting pressure on Saudi King to elevate bin Salman to crown prince in return for signing the multi-billion arms agreement,” he noted.

The analyst went on saying that the elevation, made after consultation with Trump, is the beginning of a process to turn bin Salman into the future king of Saudi Arabia.

“This is the goal which the US has always been seeking to achieve in Saudi Arabia. Bin Salman has played a key role in Saudi Arabia’s regional adventures in recent years. He has also established a close relationship with the US president, secretary of state and some other senior Republican figures. So, the US played a role in the replacement.”

“This means that we are going to witness some new developments in the region. Due to his adventurous characteristic, bin Salman can trigger new crises in the region,” he said.

Hanizadeh went on adding that bin Nayef and bin Salman have different views on regional issues including ties with Qatar, war on Yemen and even Iran.

“Bin Nayef is relatively moderate compared with other Saudi officials. He sought to keep a moderate stance towards the mentioned issues. So, the Saudi king decided to side-line him by promoting bin Salman. The US officials are of this opinion that the death of the Saudi King is imminent,” the expert said.

He blamed bin Salman for the diplomatic crisis between Saudi Arabia and Qatar and said the politics of Saudi Arabia has reached the point of no return in a sense that unlike the previous moderate officials who sought to lead the kingdom towards moderation and hold adventurous moves at bay, the new rulers are adventurous politicians.

“Now with his new decision, the Saudi king is pushing the country towards more adventures and crises. This will also raise tensions inside the Saudi family. Meanwhile, more tensions are predicted in relations between the Saudi Arabia and its neighbours.”

Touching on the thorny relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the analyst said the two sides are now at loggerheads with each other.

“Now that the Saudi king has appointed his adventurous son as crown prince, we cannot expect normalization in ties between the two sides. The appointment may even put the two countries on a collision course. Bin Salman is one of the Saudi princes who have an aggressive view towards the Axis of Resistance.”

Meanwhile, he added, bin Salman already established a good relationship with Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He is interested to make his country a follower of the US and the Zionist regime.

“So, with the mentioned points in mind, the US has reached to this conclusion that only through the monarchy of bin Salman, it can achieve its goals in the region. So, it exerted a huge pressure on King Salman to make the replacement,” he concluded.