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Saudi Newspaper Portrays Foreign Workers as Rats

foreign workers

According to a Farsi report by Al-Alam, the cartoon released by Al-Hayat shows a Saudi employee who rides a wheel on a rope while carrying a barbell with two weight plates. On one plate is written “low wages” and on the other “lack of job opportunities”. At the same time, he is staring at a black rat named “foreign workers” that chews the rope to cut it.

Many Saudi citizens and foreign workers slammed this cartoon and described it as offensive and racist. Ghassan Yassin, a Syrian journalist, urged Al-Hayat to apologize for publishing such an inappropriate picture.

“Is it right to describe foreign workers like that?” wrote Wael Kurdi, a Saudi activist, in his Twitter page.

The Saudi National Organization for Human Rights noted that by publishing this cartoon, Al-Hayat has insulted human dignity and violated the principles of international humanitarian conventions.

However, Nasir Khamees, the designer of this cartoon, refused to apologize and justified his move by saying, “The audience misunderstood my cartoon. I was just referring to some particular foreign workers.”

Ayatollah Khamenei to Lead Ritual Prayers at Ex-President Rafsanjani’s Funeral

139504161727023018087614

Imam Khamenei is planned to lead the prayers at the funeral service, due to be held at the University of Tehran, for the iconic cleric who died in Tehran at the age of 82 on Sunday.

Ayatollah Rafsanjani will be laid to rest at the mausoleum of late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini south of Tehran.

Iran’s cabinet on Sunday declared three days of public mourning and announced Tuesday as public holiday following the death of the former president.

Five days of mourning will also be observed in the southern province of Kerman, where Ayatollah Rafsanjani’s hometown of Rafsanjan is located.

Ayatollah Rafsanjani was an influential figure in a campaign led by Imam Khomeini that resulted in the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The deceased became president for two terms and was the chairman of the Expediency Council for some 20 years.

World’s Reaction to Death of Iran’s Ex-President

hashemi rafsanjani

In addition to world media that immediately covered the death of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani on Sunday evening, many politicians and states have also showed official reactions to his death.

hashemi rafsanjaniThe US State Department sent condolences to family of ex-president Rafsanjani, and called him a “prominent figure” in post-revolution Iran.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a post in his Twitter account that he is “deeply saddened by demise of Hashemi Rafsanjani, former president of Iran. May Allah rest his soul in peace. Condolences to family and people of Iran.”

Former President and Prime Minister of Turkey Abdullah Gul, who was a minister of state when Rafsanjani was Iran’s President, also noted in Twitter that “I am very sad to learn about the demise of President Rafsanjani. May Allah rest his soul in peace.”

In one of the earliest reactions, the Foreign Minister of Bahrain, which long has accused Iran of meddling in its internal affairs, simply said “God bless Rafsanjani” in a post on Twitter. A separate condolence from King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to Iran said he was “praying to almighty God for his soul to rest in peace and inspire Iran’s president, its people and his family.”

Kuwait’s ruling emir, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, sent condolences over Ayatollah Rafsanjani, saying he “prayed to Allah the almighty to bestow blessings on the deceased.”

Qatar, which shares a massive offshore natural gas field with Iran, sent condolences from ruling Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani over Rafsanjani’s death.

hashemi rafsanjaniThe seven-sheikhdom federation of United Arab Emirates, home to Dubai, which has a large ethnic Persian population, sent condolences from its leaders to Iran over Rafsanjani’s death. Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash, who is among the most-vocal Persian Gulf officials in criticizing Iran, said on Twitter that Rafsanjani was “one of the voices of political realism and moderation in Iran.” The emirs of Dubai and crown prince of Abu Dhabi also sent condolences.

Iraqi President Muhammad Fuad Masum, former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, and Head of the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq Ammar Hakim have sent messages of condolence over the passing of Ayatollah Rafsanjani.

Moreover, representative of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement in Tehran, Nasser Abu Sharif, described the passing of “an age-old friend of Imam Khomeini and a pillar of the Islamic Revolution’s struggles” as a great sorrow felt by the Islamic Revolution lovers around the world, particularly the Palestinians.

He also paid tribute to Ayatollah Rafsanjani for devoting long years of his life to supporting the cause of Palestine.

Secretary-General of Lebanese Resistance Group Hezbollah Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah called Rafsanjani “a great man” and a “protector and supporter” of modern political Shiism in the Middle East. He lamented Rafsanjani’s passing as a loss to the Muslim world, Associated Press reported.

hashemi rafsanjaniA Hamas representative in Tehran also sent condolences and expressed grief over the demise.

However, Saudi Arabia, which has severed its relations with Iran since the beginning of 2016, noticeably did not immediately send condolences over Rafsanjani’s death. One of its state-run television channels aired an interview with an MKO [anti-Iran terrorists] official who raised accusations against Rafsanjani over his alleged role in 1988 executions in Iran.

Meanwhile, Emomali Rahmon, the President of Persian-speaking Tajikistan, sent a message of condolence to Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani.

Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah has also offered his condolences to Iran over the top cleric’s death.

Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif also expressed deep grief over the death of Rafsanjani, and described him as an influential figure not only in Iran but also a symbol of reconciliatory peace efforts at the international level.

Terming Rafsanjani a “rational pragmatist”, the Pakistani Prime Minister stated that his reform agenda for Iran also provided much needed guidance for the unity of the Muslim world.

Nawaz Sharif prayed for the departed soul and conveyed condolences on behalf of the people and Government of Pakistan to the brotherly people of Iran.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also issued a message of condolence on the occasion of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani’s demise.

Also, Gary Lewis, the UN resident coordinator in Iran, posted a message on his Twitter account, saying, “Entire UN family in Iran extends sincere condolences on sad demise of Fmr Pres Hashemi Rafsanjani”.

hashemi rafsanjani

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

Death of Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the Chairman of Iran’s Expediency Council, a former president and parliament speaker, and the country’s second-in-command during the eight-year war with Iraq in the 1980s, shocked Iran and the world on Sunday evening.

A pillar of Islamic Revolution and a key figure in establishment of Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Rafsanjani was widely known as a moderate figure and a companion of Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Newspapers on Monday widely covered his demise, with many of them focusing on Ayatollah Khamenei’s message of condolence.

Some of them also pointed to the fact that Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani’s death took place on the eve of Amirkabir’s death anniversary. Hashemi was known as the modern day’s Amirkabir, the prominent Prime Minister in history of Iran who was widely known for his brilliant efforts to develop Iran. Hashemi had even written a book about Amirkabir.

Here are the selected papers that highlighted the Ayatollah’s death:

19 Dey:

1- People’s Voice Is Silenced: Great Warrior, Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, Passes Away

2- Iran Leader’s Description of Ayatollah Rafsanjani’s Demise: Overwhelming Death

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Abrar:

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


Abrar-e Eqtesadi:

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Iran in Grief: Companion of Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei Passes Away

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Arman-e Emrooz:

1- Iran in Grief of Modern Day’s Amirkabir: News that Shocked the World; Ayatollah Hashemi Passes Away

2- Leader’s Message of Condolences on Ayatollah Hashemi’s Death: Loss of My Comrade Is Hard to Bear and Overwhelming

3- 3 Days of National Mourning Declared

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Asrar:

1- Ayatollah Hashemi Passes Away: Leader in a Message Offered His Condolences over the Painful Development

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Bahar:

1- I Can Now Die Comfortably [this is Ayatollah Rafsanjani’s own words]; Man of All Seasons, Rest in Peace

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Besharat-e Now:

1- Death of Modern Day’s Amirkabir on Anniversary of Amirkabir’s Martyrdom: Man of Hard Days and Crises Dies

2- Leader’s Letter of Condolences: Hashemi Rafsanjani Was a Reliable Support for Me

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Ebtekar:

1- Adios Amirkabir

2- Death of Modern Day’s Amirkabir on Eve of Amirkabir’s Death Anniversary [Editorial]

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Emtiaz:

1- Ayatollah Hashemi, the Great Man of Iran’s Revolution, Passes Away

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Esfahan-e Emrooz:

1- Farewell to Ayatollah

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Etemad:

1- Companion of Imam Khomeini Dies

2- Leader’s Message: Loss of a Comrade with Whom You Have Had 59 Years of Cooperation Is Overwhelming and Hard to Bear

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Ettela’at:

1- Pillar of Islamic Revolution Passes Away

2- Leader Releases Message of Condolence on Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani’s Demise

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Farhikhtegan:

1- Death of the Great [Kabir] on the Day of Emir [referring to death of Amirkabir]

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Forsat-e Emrooz:

1- Man of Overcoming Crises Passes Away

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Ghanoon:

1- Hashemi Is Alive, Because the Movement Is Alive

2- Leader’s Message to Old Comrade

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Haft-e Sobh:

1- Goodbye General: 82 Years of Life, 60 Years of Struggle

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


 

Hamdeli:

1- Last Flight of Phoenix: Man of Losses and Victories in Iran’s Contemporary History Dies

2- Leader His Brilliant Intelligence and Outstanding Kindness Was a Reliable Support for Me

3- Rouhani: He Was the Great Man of Revolution and Politics, a Symbol of Patience and Perseverance

4- World Media Show Reactions to Ayatollah Rafsanjani’s Death

5- People in Tehran’s Jamaran District Mourn in Middle of the Night

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Hamshahri:

1- Death of Iran Leader’s Old Friend

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Hemayat:

1- Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani Passes Away

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Iran:

1- Iran is Grief

2- Leader: After Loss of Hashemi, I Know No One Else with Whom I Have Had Such a Long History of Common Experiences in All Ups and Downs of This Historic Period

3- Hashemi Was Favoured by Imam Khomeini and Always Served Iranian People in Any Position He Had. He Was a Source of Calm for Imam and Leader

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


Jahan-e Eqtesad:

1- Suddenly and Abruptly

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


Jame Jam:

1- Old Friend of Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei Leaves This World

2- Leader in Message of Condolence: 59 Years of Cooperation and Sympathy

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


Javan:

1- Man of Hard Days of Struggle and Companion of Imam and Leader Passes Away

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


Jomhouri Eslami:

1- Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, the Oppressed Companion of Islamic Revolution, Passes Away after Years of Struggle: Imam Khomeini’s Honest Friend Joins Him

2- Leader: Sudden Death of My Old Comrade and Friend Is Overwhelming and Hard to Bear

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


Ka’enat:

1- Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani Passes Away

2- Leader: Differences of Opinion Never Could Tear Apart Our Friendship Bonds

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


Kar-o Kargar:

1- Leader’s Message: Loss of One’s Comrade Is Hard and Overwhelming

2- In His Memory [Editorial]

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


Kayhan:

1- Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani Passed Away Last Night after Heart Attack

2- Leader’s Message: His Brilliant Intelligence and Friendship Was a Reliable Support for Everyone, Including Me

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Mardom Salari:

1- Senior Backer of Islamic Establishment, Resistant Warrior, and Chairman of Expediency Council Passes Away

2- Widespread Reactions to Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani’s Demise

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Nasl-e Farda:

1- A Grief in Winter: Ayatollah Hashemi Joins His Old Friend Imam Khomeini

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Noavaran:

1- Iran in Grief of Hashemi Rafsanjani

2- Iran without Ayatollah’s Presence [Editorial]

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Payam-e Zaman:

1- Hashemi Passes Away: Farewell Ceremony to Be Held on Tuesday

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Seda-ye Eslahat:

1- Patience of Hashemi, the Symbol of Patience, Is Finally Over

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Setareh Sobh:

1- Saying Goodbye to the Key Man of Iran’s Revolution

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Shahrvand:

1- Moderate Revolutionary Dies at 82 after Years of Struggle and Efforts to Realize Revolution’s Causes

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Shakhe-ye Sabz:

1- Ayatollah Hashemi Passes Away

2- Leader: Hashemi Was a Reliable Support for Me

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

 


Shargh:

1- Goodbye Man of Expediency

2- Leader’s Letter of Condolence

3- On Comfortable Death of a Great Man [Editorial]

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


Siasat-e Rooz:

1- Heart of the Companion of Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei Stops Working

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


SMT:

1- Goodbye Hashemi

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


Sobh-e Now:

1- In a Historic and Special Message, Leader Talked about His Old Friend and Comrade and Partner in Years of Islamic Republic

2- Hashemi Is Alive …

3- … Because the Movement in Alive [Editorial]

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


Ta’adol:

1- Death of Construction General

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


Tamashagaran:

1- Heart of Revolution Breaks: Ayatollah Hashemi Passes Away at 82

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


Vaghaye Ettefaghieh:

1- Death of General on Eve of Amir: 165 Years Ago, Amirkabir Died in a Similar Day, and Now Rafsanjani Makes Iran Mournful through His Death

2- His Loss Is Overwhelming: Leader

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9


Vatan-e Emrooz:

1- Sudden Death of Ayatollah

2- Loss of Old Comrade Is Hard to Bear and Overwhelming: Leader

Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani in Iranian Newspapers on January 9

President Zuma Calls on South Africans to Show Solidarity with Palestinians

south africa’s president

Speaking at the 105th anniversary celebration of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), President Zuma reiterated the party’s solidarity with the “oppressed people of the world”, citing “Palestine” as an example.

“The people of Palestine continue to suffer in their rightful quest for self-determination … We reiterate that we firmly discourage travel to Israel for causes not related to fostering peace in the region,” Zuma was quoted by the Africa News website as having said in a speech heard by thousands of party supporters.

Zuma also said his party supported of UN Resolution 2334, which was passed last month by the Security Council and which condemned Israeli presence in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. He called on the Palestinian people to unite and achieve their goal, according to Africa News.

Zuma and other members of his party have continuously expressed anti-Israel sentiments in recent years.

South Africa has also imposed rules requiring that goods imported from Judea, Samaria and eastern Jerusalem display special labels.

Ayatollah Khamenei Condoles Demise of Ex-President Rafsanjani

Leader - Rafsanjani

The Leader in his message of condolence expressed his regret and sorrow over Ayatollah Rafsanjani’s ‘sudden death’, and described him as ‘an old friend’ and ‘a comrade’ during the struggles of Islamic Revolution.

Ayatollah Khamenei further referred to 59 years of his cooperation with Rafsanjani, and stressed that his loss was overwhelming and very hard to bear.

Ayatollah Khamenei added that he and Rafsanjani had gone through many hardships and difficulties in these years.

The Leader said Rafsanjani’s high intellect and unique intimacy in their years of friendship had been a reliable support for all those years working with him, Press TV reported.

Ayatollah Khamenei further stated that some differences in opinion between the two, which occurred at times during this long period, could never sever the friendship ties between him and Ayatollah Rafsanjani.

The Leader also condoled with Rafsanjani’s wife, children, brothers and the rest of his family, wishing God’s mercy and forgiveness for the deceased cleric.

Rafsanjani JamaranIn separate messages, President Hassan Rouhani, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, Secretary of Guardian Council Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani, and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also condoled his demise.

In his message, Zarif described Rafsanjani as “a great scholar and scientist” and the “old friend of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and the late Founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini.”

Ayatollah Rafsanjani passed away at a hospital in northern Tehran on Sunday at the age of 82 due to a heart condition.

He was among the main aides to the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini.

He played an influential role both during the anti-Shah struggles before the victory of the Islamic Revolution and afterwards through various stages of the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Rafsanjani was also a key figure during the eight years of Iraq’s imposed war on Iran (1980-88), serving as substitute to commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Iran’s Ex-President Rafsanjani Dies at 82

Hashemi Rafsanjani

Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani was taken to Shohada-ye Tajrish Hospital in northern Tehran after a reported heart attack on Sunday evening. However, he passed away in spite of doctors’ efforts.

Rafsanjani was one of the pillars of Islamic Revolution’s victory in 1979, and the establishment of the Islamic Republic.

He served as the country’s deputy commander during the eight-year imposed war against Iraq in the 1980s, and later served two four-year terms as the president of Iran.

Until the end of his life, he remained an influential figure in Iran, and headed the Expediency Council, a body which is intended to resolve disputes between the parliament and the Guardian Council.

Iran Making $3m Investment in Production of Haemophilia Drug

factor viii

Hassan Alamolhodaei, the head of Khorasan Province’s Science and Technology Park, announced that Astan Quds Razavi – a non-governmental institute that manages the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza [eighth Shiite Imam] in Mashhad, northeastern Iran – has financed a knowledge-based project to produce homogeneous drugs for patients suffering from Factor VIII deficiency.

“Astan Qods Razavi invested $3m in one of the largest Iranian drug manufactory plants which will produce recombinant factor VIII and is to come into operation soon,” he said.

“The knowledge-based firms of this complex have taken important steps in turning knowledge to product, producing wealth and meeting the technological needs of national and provincial executive organs in different industries.”

He went on to say that the technological plans of these firms have been implemented in cooperation with Iranian refineries, ministries and organizations, as well as public and private institutions, according to a Farsi report by Khorasan newspaper.

Mohammad Sadeq Qazizadeh, the chief of Iran’s Power Research Centre, also noted that the knowledge-based firms of this park have the potential to turn the Park into an economical hub in Iran if they put their abilities together.

Factor VIII is one of the proteins involved in blood coagulation. It is a protein which helps blood coagulation in consecutive reactions.

Lack of the factor causes Haemophilia A.

While there are over 100 recombinant drugs in the world, Factor VIII is one of the most complicated ones.

Iran would be able to save at least $60m if it could mass-produce the drug.

Iran in Talks with American and Italian Firms to Revive 2 of Its Oldest Brands

Iran’s ARJ household production company

The announcement was made by Abbas Hashemi, the director general for household devices affairs of the Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade.

Hashemi was quoted by the domestic media as saying that the companies with which talks to were underway on the same front were multinational conglomerate corporation General Electric (GE), the American multinational manufacturer and marketer of home appliances Whirlpool Corporation, and the Italian Ariston Thermo Group.

“A number of old plants in which household devices were produced were not renovated over the past decades and the technologies used in them belong to the first day of their establishment,” Hashemi told Iran’s IRNA news agency.

“To the same effect, the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade has stepped forward to hand over companies like ARJ and others to the private sector so that they can form joint ventures with reputable foreign brands.”

The official emphasized that Iran’s private sector alone lacks the capability to make the required investments to revive companies like ARJ and Azmayesh.

The solution, he said, is to hand over such companies to the private sector so that they can form joint ventures with foreigners to revive these brands.

Established in 1937, ARJ was the first and the biggest producer of home appliances in Iran which started its activities by producing water coolers and refrigerators.  It later expanded its production line to include gas heaters, washing machines, freezers and other devices.

Azmayesh is ARJ’s biggest domestic rival that was established in 1959 to produce an almost similar line of products.

Reports emerged in the media in May 2016 that both companies had already gone bankrupt.  Officials rejected this at the time but emphasized that both companies would be handed over to the private sector in what they said was part of a plan to salvage them.

French FM to Attend Economic Meeting in Tehran

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault

The French foreign minister will arrive in Tehran late in January to participate in a session of Iran-France joint economic commission, which is slated to be held with the participation of the two countries’ officials.

Iran and France will reportedly hold the economic session after some 17 years.

Former French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius paid a day-long visit to Tehran in late July at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif. He held talks with senior Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, Zarif, Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh and Head of the Department of the Environment, Massoumeh Ebtekar.

Fabius’ visit to Iran, the first by a French foreign minister to the Islamic Republic in 12 years, came few months after Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China – plus Germany started implementing the nuclear agreement they signed last year.

Iran and the P5+1 group of countries signed the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), on July 14, 2015.

During the Iranian president’s historic visit to Paris in January 2016, Iran and France signed a series of basic trade deals thought to be worth billions of dollars.

Rouhani and his French peer Francois Hollande oversaw the signing of the deals that concerned cooperation in a range of sectors such as aviation, car manufacturing and oil among others.