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Iran Keen to Increase Investments in Iraqi Projects

February 16, 2017

The Iranian Chairman of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce, Yahya Ale Eshaq, says Tehran plans to boost investments in Iraqi projects.

Commenting on Iraq’s efforts to achieve economic growth and self-sufficiency in a trade conference, Ale Eshaq said according to the latest statistics, following China and the UAE, Iraq is Iran’s third trade partner.

According to a Farsi report by Mizan, he went on to say that in case Iran organizes its trade with Iraq, the country will turn into a major market for Iranian techno-engineering services.

In its post-war era, Iraq is more interested in expanding trade cooperation rather than merely importing products, Ale Eshaq stressed, noting that, “In my meeting with Iraqi Minister of Trade and Minerals Naseer Al Esawi, he said they did not want to be a mere importer of Iranian or other countries’ products. They plan to achieve self-sufficiency, develop their industries and draw up a long-term plan for their country.”

To achieve this, he said, a joint committee has been set up between the two countries to organize mutual trade as well as long-term economic cooperation and identify fields of investment by holding frequent sessions.

Referring to the suspension of Iran’s cement exports to Iraq, Ale Eshaq stressed that it was due to a lack attention by Iranian investors to have a more significant presence in Iraqi projects.

“Cement was among Iran’s major export items to Iraq. The country’s growing demand for the Iranian cement was the sole reason for establishing Ilam Cement Company in west of Iran. Nevertheless, at present, given the Iraqi government’s supportive projects to develop its industries and step up its domestic cement production, Baghdad is no longer interested in Iran’s cement.”

He said recently, French companies have also voiced willingness to finance Iraqi cement production projects, adding, thus, to maintain and develop its economic relations with Iraq, Iran is also required to make joint investments in the country.

US President Accuses Iran of Seeking to Develop Nukes

IFP Editorial Staff

February 16, 2017

“I will do more to prevent Iran from ever developing, I mean ever, a nuclear weapon,” Trump said on Wednesday during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

He also called Iran’s atomic program a threat to Israel, which is believed to possess the only nuclear arsenal in the Middle East.

“The security challenges faced by Israel are enormous, including the threat of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which I’ve talked a lot about,” he said.

Iranian Officials Obliged to Fully Report Amount of Properties

IFP Editorial Staff

February 16, 2017

As per a recent bill passed by Iranian lawmakers, all the officials addressed by the Article 142 of the Constitution have been obliged to present a full report of their possessions and properties, before and after taking the post, to the country’s Judiciary Chief.

Iran’s Leader, president, vice-presidents, ministers, and their family members are the ones included in the Article 142 of Iran’s Constitution.

According to a Farsi report by Mizan, refusing to submit the information or any failure to present a complete report of the assets and belongings is considered a crime and would be subject to the sixth-degree penalty, which is deprivation of social rights.

Iran’s Parliament has focused on this issue over the course of approving the Sixth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2016-21). This is while the topic was not dealt with during the ratification of the fifth plan.

Imposition of a sanction to guarantee the strict observance of the law is indicative of the Iranian Parliament’s changed attitude towards the subject.

All bills passed by the Iranian Parliament have to be ratified by the Guardian Council before being signed into law.

One will have to wait and see what would be the stances of Iran’s Guardian Council towards the newly-passed law.

Iran Trying to Cope with Environmental Crisis in Southwest

IFP Editorial Staff

February 16, 2017

As Iranian people are grappling with a dangerous dust pollution crisis in southwestern province of Khuzestan, the country’s administration and parliament are taking several measures to resolve this problem.

Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati travelled to Khuzestan as the representative of Iranian President and his administration on Tuesday morning, according to a Farsi report by ISNA.

He has been assigned to cope with the dust problem by controlling its domestic origins.

At the beginning of his mission, Hojjati visited the origins of the dust pollution in a 130,000ha area in southern and eastern Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan.

The representatives of Khuzestan in Iran’s Parliament also met Ali Larijani, the Parliament Speaker, on February 15, according to a Farsi report by ICANA.

Pointing to the history of Khuzestan in the Islamic Revolution, the representatives complained about the Iranian authorities’ failure to address the province’s problems.

They called for immediate action to cope with the crisis, conveying Khuzestan people’s discontent with current problematic situation: environmental issues, the dust pollution, water shortage, defective water system in some areas, and insufficient funds.

They called for a workgroup to sort out these various problems by taking swift and serious measures.

“There may be problems with the constructional funds,” Larijani affirmed, “As they aren’t properly allocated in Iran. With a population of 80 million, 90% of the state’s budget is spent on current costs, leaving only 10% for the construction.”

“It was agonizing to see the dust pollution and the following power and water cut in Khuzestan,” he stressed, confirming Khuzestan’s grave situation.

IRGC’s Gyrocopters Pose Challenges to Persian Gulf States: American Enterprise

IFP Editorial Staff

February 16, 2017

“If the IRGC is successful at developing the gyrocopter for Special Forces missions, it could pose some challenge to neighboring states and the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council,” Michael Rubin wrote in a recent article in American Enterprise.

“After all, the relatively quiet and low-flying craft can evade radar notice,” the report added.

“Iran has long faced security challenges along its rugged and sparsely populated border regions, especially in its Kurdish and Baluch areas which are prone to insurgency and smuggling,” it went on to say.

American Enterprise further noted that in recent years, Iran has used unmanned aerial vehicles to conduct surveillance in these regions.

However, it added, media reports indicate the country has recently switched to using lightweight, manned gyrocopters for surveillance, and these light aircraft pose a challenge to Iran’s neighbours.