Iran Presidential Election Might Be Held Electronically in Big Cities

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January 23, 2017

Electronic voting, changes in the schedule of elections, and an increased authority for provincial boards supervising the City and Village Councils elections are among the issues mentioned in a proposal to be discussed by Iran’s Parliament, explained Abolfazl Aboutorabi, an Iranian Parliament member, about the amendments to the Iranian electoral law, according to a Farsi report by ICANA.

“11,000 electronic devices have been prepared for electronic voting,” he added. “The Commission maintains a positive opinion about electronic voting. The tests on devices have yielded good results, and the electronic elections are very likely to be held in big cities.”

“Any complaint about the results of candidates’ qualification reviews in Iranian provinces will be handled by the Provincial Supervisory Boards so that they won’t be referred to Tehran,” he said, referring to the increased authority of provincial authorities.

Raised and approved in the Iranian parliament’s Councils and Domestic Affairs Commission, the proposal to amend the Iranian electoral law has changed some parts of the comprehensive bill on electoral system.

“Now it is on the agenda of the Parliament’s open session, and will be considered in a few days.”

“It will be implemented in the upcoming elections if accepted,” he added.

Iranian Diplomat Calls for Immediate Action on Syria Crisis

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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January 23, 2017

In his address to Syria peace talks which ended in Astana earlier on Monday, Iran’s diplomat Hossein Jaberi Ansari urged immediate action to restore stability to the hard-hit country.

Here is the full text of his speech:

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent the Merciful

Your Excellency, Kairat Abdrakhmanov, the honorable Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Distinguished heads and members of participating delegations

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the outset, I would like to express my gratitude to the great nation and state of Kazakhstan, and to appreciate their warm hospitality towards the participating delegations.

Once in Kazakhstan, the homeland of Al-Farabi, we feel at home and we regard the decision of Kazakh brotherly government and nation to host this conference in line with Islamic teachings to help our brothers.

As we are sitting here in comfort, men, women and children in Syria are struggling with difficulties, agony and ravages of war, terrorism and displacement within or out of their homeland. In some parts, including Damascus, they are even deprived from drink water.

As an Iranian, I can feel their misery. It was not long ago when Iran fell victim to an imposed war that left hundreds of thousands of martyrs, wounded and displaced people and led to destruction of vast areas of the country. Everybody in my accompanying delegation have lived those days.

In the human world, the divergence of beliefs and interests are natural, but war is the ugliest manifestation of such disagreement. The utmost goal of our joint efforts to end the Syrian conflict must be an irreversible cessation of hostilities that enables the people of Syria to get back to the normal life they deserve, like any other nation. Syrians shall enjoy a sovereign state in an integrated territory within safe borders.

All nations shall enjoy the inherent right of self-determination and no external powers should or can interfere with the right of people. Syrian nation is no exception and shall exercise this right of theirs, free from any external pressure. Those who seek the prolongation of the Syrian crisis for their own interests hinder the fulfillment of people’s right.

Dear colleagues

Today, we have assembled in Astana to re-orient our endeavor towards peace and to remedy the shortcomings of past processes, in order to help a dialog between the Syrian government and the Syrian armed opposition groups who have joined the process of current talks, in framework of tripartite initiative consisting of Russia, Turkey and Iran, to win an agreement on the eventual political solution. To this end, we need to have a clear road map. Specifically, all participating parties to these talks need to denounce acts of violence and respect not only the ceasefire, but cessation of all kind of hostilities.

We shall welcome the adherence of non-participating groups to this process, once they abide by principle of non-violence.

The international community should join efforts to curb the illegal transfer of arms, financial aids and fighters into Syria that enables the terrorist groups to continue suppressing the local population and commencing chains of armed confrontations anywhere in the country. An effective mechanism of ceasefire should be in place, ensured by the Astana tripartite initiative to guarantee the irreversibility of ceasefire and cessation of hostilities.

Meanwhile, a joined effort to confront ISIL, Fath al-Sham Front (former Al-Nusra) and their associated terrorist groups should be on the agenda.

Dear friends,

The Syrian government and the Syrian opposition, helped by the tripartite initiative, can start a dialog to reach a political solution that ends in free, inclusive and transparent elections based on national unity and territorial integrity. Upon successful completion of this process, we hope to see the end of Syrian crisis.

At the same time, all friends of Syria should join hands to remove sanctions and blockage, to help the reconstruction, to facilitate the free return of the displaced population in urgent response to the dire human situation in Syria. Changes begin in people’s minds. The vicious cycle of violence and terrorism can be stopped only if extremist ideologies that justify barbarism, more than often in the false name of religion, are denounced and renounced. This may begin with introducing the true merciful and blessing face of divine religions and an intercultural dialog among regional neighbors and in the world at large.

Dear colleagues,

Time is short and as the history shows, next coming generations will hold us responsible for our deeds. Let us opt for peace and construction.

“Cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And keep your duty to Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in punishment.”

(Quoted from the Holy Quran)

Official Reaction to Israeli PM’s Message to Iranian People

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IFP Editorial Staff

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January 23, 2017

“I don’t like to talks about a Zionist official who makes nonsense remarks all the time and has the blood of Palestinians on his hands,” Bahram Qassemi said in his weekly press conference on Monday.

“If he is worried about Iranian people, he’d better decrease the number of Palestinians he kills, and this might be the best thing he can do. He’d better not to talk about Plasco [building collapse] and Iran,” he added, according to media reports.

In video message posted to Facebook, Israeli PM Netanyahu said both Israeli and Iranian people ‘can work together for more peaceful and hopeful future’.

He stressed that Israel does not consider the Iranian people to be the enemy, but ‘only the regime that rules them’.

“I plan to speak soon with President Trump about how to counter the threat of the Iranian regime, which calls for Israel’s destruction,” Netanyahu said in the video, speaking in English with Persian subtitles.

French, Kuwaiti FMs to Visit Iran in Coming Days: Spokesman

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IFP Editorial Staff

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January 23, 2017

Iran Blasts Saudi Airstrike on Civilians in Yemen

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who is also the head of Iran-France Joint Economic Commission, will lead an economic delegation in an official visit to Tehran soon, Qassemi said in his weekly press conference on Monday.

His visit will likely be made within the next week, he noted.

“Our ties with France are age-old, and the current trend of ties is a good one. I hope we can reach good agreements on economic issues,” Qassemi went on to say.

He also expressed the hope that Iranian and French officials would exchange views on global and regional issues.

“I hope the talks would be useful for Iran, and lead to further openings in bilateral ties,” the Iranian spokesman added.

Kuwaiti FM Due in Iran for Regional Talks

Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah will also lead a delegation in a visit to Tehran in coming days.

“It has been a long time that the issue of Kuwaiti delegation’s visit to Tehran is being discussed. Dates were announced once or twice, but the Arab side changed it due to technical reasons.”

“The Kuwaiti Deputy PM and FM will visit Tehran in the next two or three days, and we will hold talks with them,” he added, according to a Farsi report by ILNA.

Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah had earlier this month announced that the State of Kuwait would relay a message to Iran from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member states.

Al-Jarallah said in a statement that contacts were underway “with the Iranian brothers to set a proper date to deliver that message.” However, he stopped short of elaborating on its contents, KUNA reported.

In December, following the PGCC summit hosted by Bahrain, Al-Jarallah declared that Kuwait had conveyed an identical message to Iran, “expressing the [P]GCC states’ view regarding dialogue” with the Islamic Republic.

Relations between Tehran and some Persian Gulf Arab states have been damaged over differences on some regional issues.

Efforts Underway to Find 11 Bank Safes in Collapsed Plasco Building

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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January 23, 2017

One of the branches of Iran’s Bank Tejarat was located in Plasco Building, which collapsed on Thursday. There are at least 11 huge bank safes under the rubble, and efforts are underway to find them.

4 Bodies Detected in Rubble of Collapsed Plasco Building

By

IFP Media Wire

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January 23, 2017

Rescue teams dug an underground passage from the parking garage of an adjacent building and reached the boiler room of the 17-story Plasco building that was razed to the ground on Thursday.

At least 4 bodies were detected in the boiler room in the wee hours of Monday, but the rescue teams have not still retrieved them due to dangerous situation.

Firefighters, soldiers and other emergency responders have been digging through the smoky debris over the past four days, looking for survivors, if any.

Some 25 people are believed to have been inside the steel-and-concrete building when it collapsed.

Top stories of the Plasco building caught fire at around 8 a.m. on Thursday morning, and the whole building crumpled to the ground four hours later.

Authorities say they had repeatedly warned tenants about blocking stairwells with fabric from cramped garment workshops on its upper floors.

The structure was inaugurated in 1962 and named after a plastics manufacturing company. It was the tallest building in the city at the time of its construction. It included shopping centers and clothing workshops.

Syria Peace Talks Kicks Off in Kazakh Capital

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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January 23, 2017

Representatives of the Syrian government and opposition groups sat at the same round table as Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov delivered an opening speech.

The face-to-face talks are the first time armed rebel groups have negotiated with President Bashar al-Assad’s government since the conflict erupted in 2011.

The talks have been welcomed by all parties in the war, but the two sides have arrived in Kazakhstan with apparently divergent ideas on their aim, and officials have cast doubt on whether they will in fact sit down at the same table.

Just before the talks were set to begin, opposition spokesman Yehya al-Aridi told AFP that the opposition will “participate in the talks but the first negotiating session will likely be in separate rooms.”

Kazakh deputy foreign minister Roman Vasilenko told reporters Monday morning that the format was still under discussion.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said in a press conference on Monday that Astana meeting is a result of Iran, Russia, and Turkey’s efforts, and its first priority is to stabilize the nationwide ceasefire brokered last month.

“The three countries [Iran, Russia, and Turkey] started their efforts, and the UN envoy arrived in Astana on Sunday to chair the session. The three countries will guide the talks, and whenever needed, they will facilitate the negotiations,” Qassemi said, according to Farsi media reports.

The Iranian spokesman said it is unlikely that issues other than the ceasefire would be raised, and this can be a first step to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery.

It is reported from Astana that the Syrian delegation has refused to meet Turkish diplomats.

The head of Syria’s diplomatic delegation has also stressed that the talks have to be intra-Syrian.

Earlier, the United Nations representative in the new round of Syria peace negotiations in Astana said the trilateral group – comprised of Iran, Russia and Turkey – which has initiated the Astana talks is not going to replace the International Syria Support Group (ISSG).

The trio of Iran, Russia and Turkey is not a replacement for ISSG, special envoy of the UN secretary-general for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said at a meeting with head of Iran’s diplomatic delegation in the peace talks, Hossein Jaberi Ansari, on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Assad has insisted that rebels lay down their arms in exchange for an amnesty deal, and called for a “comprehensive” political solution to the foreign-sponsored conflict.

Organized by Turkey, Russia and Iran, the talks come a month after the government recaptured rebel areas of Aleppo, scoring its biggest victory since the war began.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on January 23

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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January 23, 2017

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 19

The efforts to rescue or recover the bodies of firefighters entrapped after the Thursday collapse pf Plasco Building in central Tehran remained the top story in today’s newspapers.

Newspapers also released interviews with a number of firefighters and shop owners of Plasco Building regarding the tragic incident and the damages they have suffered.

A lawsuit filed by former president Mohammad Khatami against former Basij Commander Brigadier General Naqdi also received great coverage. Naqdi recently accused the reformist ex-president of receiving money from Saudis.

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

19 Dey:

1- Cancer Needs Some $2.6 Billion Each Year: Health Minister

2- Transport Minister: Renovation of Iran’s Old Ground, Sea, and Air Fleet to Begin Soon

Abrar:

1- Plasco, City Council, and the People Who Vote for Singers and Athletes

2- Almost 1.5 Million Hectares of Forests in Northern Iran Destroyed over Past 50 Years

3- Erdogan: Turkish Nation Will Have the Final Say in Referendum

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Melania; A Light on Scary Face of Trump! A Report on the Ways Melania Trump Is Different from Previous US First Ladies

2- They Shouldn’t Have Confined Themselves to Warnings in Plasco Case

3- How Much Firefighters Receive in Other Countries?

4- Babak Zanjani Informed of His Sentence

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- We’re All Firefighters: Thursday, the Day of Bidding Farwell to Firefighters

2- Increase in Number of Wounded People: Specialized Committee Formed in Iran’s Parliament to Probe into the Incident

3- Will Qalibaf [current mayor and a possible rival for Rouhani in Presidential votes] Leave Municipality?

4- Iranian Counterattack on Trump: Iran’s Nuclear Chief Says Any Threat Will Restore Iranian Nuclear Energy Program to Previous Status

Ebtekar:

1- Four Days, Three Bodies

2- Will Astana Talks Lead to Syria’s Peace?

3- Our Position Is to Maintain JCPOA: French FM

Etemad:

1- People Waiting to Hear of Firefighters: 100 Hours after Beginning of Debris Removal, No One Knows What Has Happened to Missing Ones in Plasco Building

2- Spokesman Says Judiciary Is Investigating Former Reformist President Khatami’s Lawsuit against Former Basij Commander Naqdi

3- Women’s Riot against Trump: Women’s March in Washington Marks First Crisis for US President

Ettela’at:

1- Private Sector’s Presence Saves Iran’s Economy: First VP in a Ceremony to Appreciate Private Entrepreneurs

2- Existence of Dangerous Centres in Tehran Threatens People’s Lives: Civil Defence Organization Chief

3- 500 Ceremonies to Be Held in 60 Countries to Commemorate Iran’s Revolution

4- Tens of Thousands of Palestinians Hold Demonstration in Protest at Israeli Regime’s Crimes

Farhikhtegan:

1- We Don’t Know What to Tell Our Mother: The Firefighter Who, Together with His Two Brothers, Is Looking for His Fourth Brother

Haft-e Sobh:

1- Plasco Had Three Fathers: Municipality, Labour Ministry, and Mostazafan Foundation: Which One Is to Blame in Plasco Incident?

2- Symphony of Those Who Lost Their Money: Two Malls Considered as Temporary Alternatives

Iran:

1- Reconstruction of Plasco; President Rouhani Orders Ministers to Immediately Bring Shop Owners Back to Work

2- US Ambassador’s Symbolic Presence in Astana Talks

Javan:

1- First VP: We Were Not Successful in Post-JCPOA Finance

2- We’re All Firefighters

3- Iran’s Nuclear Chief Warns Trump

Jomhouri Eslami:

1- Unprecedented Global Opposition to New US President Continues

2- Pope Warns against Beginning of New Era of Populism in US

Kayhan:

1- Plasco’s Message Is to Focus on Action instead of Political Fight: Lessons to Be Taken from a Disaster

2- West Terrified that Trump May Become another Gorbachev

Khorasan:

1- Will Plasco Turn into Iran’s Triangle?

2- 100,000 SWU Warning: Nuclear Chief Says Iran Ready to Reach 100,000 SWU in 1.5 Years

Nasl-e Farda:

1- Hush! Murderers Don’t Talk! [Reaction to Netanyahu’s Comments about Friendship with Iranian People]

Payam-e Zaman:

1- JCPOA Prepared the Grounds for Working with the World: First VP

2- Women Hold Rallies against Trump in Washington

3- Four Judges and Three Lawyers Arrested: Judiciary Spokesman

Resalat:

1- Five Judges and Three Lawyers Prosecuted: Judiciary Spokesman

2- Political Quake in West: What Do Massive Protest Rallies against Trump Mean?

Sayeh:

1- Guns that Do Not Fire Water: Child Soldiers in Bloody Phenomenon of War

Shahrvand:

1- Removing an Incident’s Debris

We Die Soon: Firefighters Talk about How Difficult Their Job Is
Our Homes Are Totally Ruined: Workers and Employers of Plasco
Unknown Lost Ones: 10 Citizens Entrapped under Plasco Rubble

Shargh:

1- Lawsuit Filed against Brigadier General Naqdi

2- Most European Visitors of Iran Are from France, Germany, and Italy: Official

Siasat-e Rooz:

1- A Pretext Called Trump

Tamashagaran:

1- White House Knight: Trump Rises! New Controversy: Trump’s Remarks Were Similar to Those of Batman’s Bad Man

Tragedy Tainted with Politics in Iran

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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January 23, 2017

In a recent article, Asr-e Iran news website has criticized the way tragic incidents in Iran are being used as a means of achieving one’s political goals.

Here is the full text of the Farsi article written by Mostafa Danandeh:

Iran is going through bitter days. Fire broke out and a building caved in, getting the whole nation clad in black. The gloom was prompted by tears, sadness and sorrow, but it got darker by certain ugly acts.

At a time when everyone was concerned about the firefighters trapped under the rubble, a few were busy creating hashtags. And some sought to put their own political spin on the tragedy.

Around the world they usually make efforts to join hands in the wake of such incidents to solve the problems and alleviate the suffering of the people. In Iran, however, things are different. Political currents usually seek to cash in on such incidents to deal a blow to rivals.

These days, folks have a question in mind: Are certain people really concerned about their fellow countrymen? How could it be that citizens are losing their lives while certain other individuals seek to make political gains? What are we people coming to? We have no reservation about making political capital from a collapsed building crammed with people.

It was not the first time, either. We witnessed similar behaviour from politics-ridden individuals in the recent train crash in Semnan [November 25, 2016] as well as in the Mina tragedy [September 24, 2015]. Such behaviour is reminiscent of that of those who storm quake-stricken cities and loot homes.

Such individuals are like those who take photos or selfies at the scene of an accident rather than helping the victims.

It is a sad fact that some political parties in Iran are biding their time to seize every opportunity to deal a blow to their rivals. While the people are worried about their relatives or fellow countrymen, some individuals are waiting to see how they can use the incident against President Hassan Rouhani or Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

Unfortunately, it has been years that all aspects of people’s lives have been associated with politics. In Iran, cinema, sports, culture, education, agriculture, issues related to the youth, marriage, etc. have all been politicized. The most pressing issue facing Iran today is that people’s lives have been politicized throughout. As long as we are unable to rid the Iranian society of politicization, major problems will linger on.

Conservatives and reformists alike are all seeking power these days. Unfortunately in Iran, it has been years that gaining power has been the one and only objective pursued by some.

Niccolò Machiavelli, whose viewpoints about politics are known as Machiavellianism, mentions in his book that any political act is aimed at achieving power. So, he believes politics is bound by no moral principles. Hence, he argues it would be fine to use whatever means in politics to achieve one’s ends. He draws a distinct line between politics and ethics.

Today in Iran, those who are into politics and claim to be Muslims as well have turned into top students in the Machiavellian school and use whatever means available to achieve their ends.

Iran Welcomes Gambia’s Peaceful Power Transfer

By

IFP Media Wire

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January 23, 2017

The Islamic Republic has always paid particular attention to the developments in the Gambia as an important Muslim country in West Africa, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Sunday.

He commended the appropriate efforts by the West African countries and the role of regional organizations, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in the peaceful handover of office to the country’s elected president.

The Iranian spokesperson said such moves led to the promotion of democracy in the region and the establishment of peace and calm in the Gambia.

Jammeh left the Gambia on Sunday after finally conceding defeat in an election under increasing international pressure.

The former Gambian president lost the presidential election in December last year to Adama Barrow but said he would not relinquish power, claiming that there had been irregularities in the vote and pushing the country to the edge of war.

West African nations, which had been peacefully trying to convince him to leave, gradually turned to the idea of removing him militarily and put a regional force on standby as the official end of Jammeh’s mandate approached.

On Saturday, some two days after the expiration of his mandate, Jammeh finally announced a decision “to relinquish the mantle of leadership” and, now with his exit from the Gambia, the way was paved for Barrow to return home from Senegal, where he was inaugurated on January 19.

President Barrow has said he would return to the Gambia once a security sweep is complete.

On January 19, the United Nations Security Council voted on a draft resolution to ensure a transfer of power in the Gambia.

Jammeh, who took power in a 1994 coup, urged negotiators that he be given amnesty and safe passage out of the Gambia and that his political party be recognized. However, no deal on amnesty was finalized with the negotiators and Jammeh was forced to go into exile.

His family and aides were to depart on a separate plane.

The fate of his party was not immediately clear.

During Jammeh’s reign, his government was accused of harsh treatment of opponents.

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

Iran Presidential Election Might Be Held Electronically in Big Cities

Iranian Diplomat Calls for Immediate Action on Syria Crisis

Official Reaction to Israeli PM’s Message to Iranian People

French, Kuwaiti FMs to Visit Iran in Coming Days: Spokesman

Efforts Underway to Find 11 Bank Safes in Collapsed Plasco Building

4 Bodies Detected in Rubble of Collapsed Plasco Building

Syria Peace Talks Kicks Off in Kazakh Capital

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on January 23

Tragedy Tainted with Politics in Iran

Iran Welcomes Gambia’s Peaceful Power Transfer

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