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Interrogator of Saddam Hussein Reveals Untold Stories about Iraqi Dictator

Saddam Hussein

According to a report covered by ISNA in Farsi, “Debriefing the President: The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein” is the book written by CIA officer Nixon about his meetings with Saddam. Hussein was certainly a brutal dictator, but the man described by Nixon was not on a mission to blow up the world, as George W. Bush’s administration had claimed to justify the invasion.

photo_2016-12-24_15-12-19Nixon was an analyst in Iraq when the United States military captured Hussein, and he was asked to identify him so the Americans could be certain they had the right man. Nixon confirmed Hussein’s identity by checking for a tribal tattoo on the back of his right hand and a scar from a 1959 bullet wound.

Regarding Iraq’s supposed weapons of mass destruction, the justification for the 2003 invasion, Hussein admits to Nixon that it was a mistake for him not to make clear before the war that he had long since gotten rid of them.

The findings from Nixon’s interrogations of Hussein that cast doubt on the Bush administration’s original justifications for the war, Nixon says, were ignored by senior officials at the CIA and the White House. “The policy makers at the White House and the leadership on the seventh floor at the CIA didn’t want to hear that many of the reasons for going after Saddam were based on false premises,” he writes.

“I asked about the CIA’s belief that Saddam suffered great pain from a bad back and had given up red meat and cigars. He said he didn’t know where I was getting my intelligence, but it was wrong. He told me he smoked four cigars every day and loved red meat. He was also surprisingly fit.”

Senior Member of Turkish Ruling Party Killed in Armed Attack

Yılmaz Bulut-Senior Member of Turkish

According to a report by IFP, Bulut was assassinated by unknown gunmen and lost his life immediately after the attack.

Turkish media reported that investigation has been kicked off to capture the suspects.

Iranian MP: US May Have Been behind Russian Envoy Assassination

alaedin-broujerdi

Speaking to reporters in Tehran on Friday evening, Boroujerdi denounced the recent assassination of the Russian ambassador to Ankara, Andrey Karlov, saying, “I think it is more likely to be a plot hatched by Americans.”

Since Turkey is a NATO member and has established close relations with Russia, the US is not pleased with that, the Iranina parliamentarian noted.

It seems that the killing of the Russian envoy is more like a warning to Turkey to make the country take steps in line with the US interests, he went on to say.

Karlov was shot dead at an art exhibition in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Monday evening. He was shot by a gun while making a speech at a photography exhibition in the Turkish capital.

Israeli-Saudi Plots for Insecurity in Iran Foiled: IRGC Chief

General Mohammad Ali Jafari

Two regimes, which may seem unimaginable, such as Israel and Saudi Arabia, are making broad attempts and are in close contact with each other to create insecurity in Iran, the top commander said in a meeting in Tehran on Saturday, but underlined that all those hostile plots have been foiled by Iran.

Hailing the “popular sustainable security” in Iran, Major General Jafari added, “Today, the security domain has gone beyond the borders of our country, because one of the (Islamic) Revolution’s achievements has been the export of revolution.”

Pointing to the latest developments in Syria, the top commander described the liberation of Aleppo as “a big defeat” that the axis of resistance and the Islamic Revolution inflicted on the enemies, mainly the US and Israel.

In a statement on Thursday, Syria’s army announced it has regained full control over the northwestern city of Aleppo, clearing the city from foreign-backed terrorist groups after more than four years of fighting.

The Syrian security forces encircled Aleppo on July 17 after closing off the last terrorist-controlled route into the city.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL), currently controlling parts of it.

According to a report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the country’s pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24

Newspapers on Saturday covered the return of President Hassan Rouhani from his 3-nation tour of Eurasian countries, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, and the achievements of his tour.

The quadcopter shot down in central Tehran on Friday morning was also a top story. The drone was reportedly used for making a documentary, but it had trespassed on a no-fly zone near the house of Iran’s Leader and the President’s office.

US President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s calls for enhancement of their nuclear capabilities also received great coverage.

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

 

19 Dey:

1- Ayatollah Yazdi Explicitly Criticizes Charter on Citizens’ Rights

2- Ayatollah Rafsanjani: I Consider Nuclear Deal as a Very Successful One

3- Achievements of Rouhani’s Trip to Central Asia: Export of Goods, Lifting Visa Requirements

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Abrar:

1- Rouhani, Erdogan, Putin to Meet in Kazakhstan in Mid-January

2- US Treasury Dept. Facilitates Medical Exports to Iran

3- Brazilian President Refuses to Resign

4- Int’l Resolution Ratified to Prosecute War Criminals in Syria

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Abrar Eqtesadi:

1- Japan Interested in Expanding Trade with Iran

2- President: Iran and Kyrgyzstan to Swap Oil

3- Airbus 380 Dropped from List of Iran’s Purchases: Tehran Withdraws from Buying World’s Biggest Airliner

4- Trump’s Signal to Oil Market: Room to Be Opened for Iran’s Oil

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Afkar:

1- Trump Calls for Reinforcement of US Nuclear Arsenal

2- US Issues Directive for Facilitation of Trade with Iran

3- Ayatollah Seddiqi: Aleppo Victory Was Triumph of Pure Islam

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Friday Prayers Imam of Isfahan: Some Clerics Are Opposed to Alliance with Russia

2- Ayatollah Rafsanjani’s Different Account of Nuclear Deal While Government Is Harshly Criticized: How Will Those Who Deny Impacts of JCPOA Respond to God?

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- Vice-President’s Speech in Yazd Disrupted

2- Suspicious Drone Shot Down in Tehran

3- Academic: Conservatives’ Ship Is Wrecked

4- Denying Nuclear Deal Is Most Bitter than Sanctions: Politicians

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24

 


Asr-e Iranian:

1- Putin: Iran, Russia, and Turkey Formed Triangle of Aleppo Liberation

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Asrar:

1- 10 Killed in Bloody Shoot-Out in Kerman: Young Man Opens Fire on His Family Members

2- Advisor to Iran’s Leader: Qatar Is Number One Criminal in Aleppo Crimes

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Ebtekar:

1- Souvenir of Eurasia: Rouhani Returns to Tehran after Visiting Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Etemad:

1- Airbus Comes to Iran after Boeing

2- Foreign Ministry Spokesman: There Was No Mistake either in Negotiations or in JCPOA

3- Important and Meaningful Meeting: An Analysis of Recent Meeting between Iranian Deputy FM and Lebanon’s Hariri

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Ettela’at:

1- Putin: Aleppo Liberation Not Possible without Iran

2- Iran Signs Deal to Buy 100 Airbus Planes

3- Assad Appreciates Iran’s All-Out Support for Syria

4- Larijani: Investment Conditions Are Improving

5- Iran and Kyrgyzstan Announce Road-Map for 10-Year Cooperation

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Ghanoon:

1- Iran’s 5 Scenarios for Dealing with a Giant Named Trump

2- Iranian Women Waiting for Int’l Federation’s Approval: Women Wrestling on Path of Standardization

3- Captain Not Accessible: A Report on Latest Efforts to Release Iranian Prisoners Captured in Somalia

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Iran:

1- Armenians’ Contribution to Iran’s Construction and Defence: A Report on Verge of Jesus Christ’s Birthday

2- 15 Documents of Cooperation Signed during Rouhani’s Visits to Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


Jame Jam:

1- Aleppo Smiles: People Celebrate after Full Liberation of Syrian City

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


Javan:

1- Putin and Trump Start Relations with Nuclear Confrontation: American and Russian Presidents Underline Enhancement of Nuclear Capabilities

2- Day of US Frustration in Syria: Kerry Is the First One Everyone Talks about His Frustration with Results of US Policies in Syria

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


Jomhouri Eslami:

1- Opening of New Chapter in Iran’s Political and Economic Cooperation with Central Asia

2- Syrian Army Declares End of Aleppo Liberation Process

3- Mossad Delegation Visits Bahrain in Form of Jewish Commercial Delegate

4- Trump: Attack on Berlin Confirms My Plan to Prevent Muslims from Entering US

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


Kayhan:

1- Zarif’s Honest Confession, Frustration of Those Who Embellished Nuclear Deal

2- Guardian: Britain Has Turned to Saudi Arabia’s Accomplice in Slaughtering Yemenis

3- Nasrallah: US and Its Allies Supported Terrorists in Aleppo until Last Moment by Spending Huge Money

4- US State Dept. Spokesman Desperate about Celebration of Aleppo Victory by Syrian People

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Khorasan:

1- War of New Stars: Putin’s Order and Trump’s Stance on Reinforcement of Nuclear and Military Weapons

2- Christmas with Security Concerns

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Payam-e Zaman:

1- No Aggressor Dares to Invade Iran: Chief of Iran’s Armed Forces

2- New Corridor Opened for Export of Iran’s Oil

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Saheb Qalam:

1- One Airbus Plane to Be Delivered to Iran before Trump’s Inauguration

2- The Quadcopter Shot Down in Tehran Was Not of Security Type

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Shargh:

1- Suspicious Drone Shot Down in Forbidden Airspace

2- Tehran in State of Emergency: Monster of Air Pollution Wakes Up Once Again

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24


 

Vatan-e Emrooz:

1- MP Asks Foreign Ministry Spokesman and Media Professionals to Listen to Audiotape of Zarif’s Remarks in Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Session about US Extension of ISA: Here You Are, Listen to It Yourself!

2- Nasrallah: Turkey Burning in Fire of Supporting ISIS

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 24

Effective Terror Fight Sole Solution to Mideast Crises: Iran Diplomat

e41c76ec-f183-4492-86a6-032bc46808bb

“It is not possible to settle the ongoing crises in the region without an effective fight against extremism and terrorism,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari said after a meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut on Friday.

He added that conflicts must also be resolved through a political solution based on negotiations.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has a clear standpoint in this regard and believes that these two issues must be pursued in parallel [with each other],” the Iranian diplomat said.

He noted that Lebanon has in two areas been a role model for all nations and states in the region over the past few decades.

“Resistance against foreign occupation and the expansionism of the Zionist regime [of Israel] and coexistence among people of various ethnicities, faiths, political and social groups are these two very important exemplary [features],” Jaberi Ansari said.

He expressed hope that regional governments and states would see better days in the future and the existing differences would be solved through understanding and dialogue.

Jaberi Ansari’s meeting with Nasrallah

The Iranian diplomat also on Friday held a meeting with Secretary General of the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah.

Effective Terror Fight Sole Solution to Mideast Crises: Iran Diplomat

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the latest political developments in the region, particularly in Lebanon.

Fighters with the Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah defended Lebanon against Israel during the 33-Day War in 2006 and Tel Aviv was forced to withdraw its troops without the achievement of any of its objectives. Hezbollah has also been successfully helping the Syrian army fight Saudi-backed Takfiri militants in order to prevent the Syrian conflict from spilling over to Lebanon.

Rouhani’s message to Lebanese counterpart

Meanwhile, in a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun in Beirut on Friday, the Iranian diplomat conveyed President Hassan Rouhani’s message to him.

In the message, the Iranian president had stressed the importance of developing mutual relations in all fields, particularly after the election of Aoun as the Lebanese president.

Effective Terror Fight Sole Solution to Mideast Crises: Iran Diplomat

It added that Aoun’s election carried the message of understanding and cooperation among all the Lebanese based on wisdom and prudence.

On October 31, Lebanese legislators elected Aoun as president, ending a 29-month presidential vacuum. The Maronite Christian founder of the Free Patriotic Movement succeeded Michel Sleiman.

On Sunday, the country announced forming a new 30-minister cabinet led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri. The government brought together the country’s whole political spectrum except for the Christian Phalangist party, which did not accept the portfolio it had been offered.

Elsewhere, Jaberi Ansari reaffirmed the Islamic Republic’s support for the Lebanese leaders’ approach of settling the country’s political differences through dialogue and national agreement, calling for such a policy to be adopted by all regional countries to resolve discords.

The Lebanese president, for his part, hailed Rouhani’s attempts to strengthen mutual relations and said the Islamic Republic plays a positive role in regional developments.

Aoun added that the recent meeting among the Iranian, Russian and Turkish foreign ministers in Moscow was an important step to settle regional crises, particularly the Syrian issue.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Russian and Turkish counterparts Sergei Lavrov and Mevlut Cavusoglu, respectively, held a meeting in Moscow on Tuesday and discussed the latest developments in Syria, particularly those concerning the newly liberated strategic city of Aleppo.

Jaberi Ansari arrived in Lebanon after he wrapped up a visit to Syria, where he had met separately with President Bashar al-Assad, Prime Minister Imad Khamis and Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem.

Iran Should Boost Export of Oil Products Rather than Crude Oil: Rafsanjani

photo_2016-12-24_12-06-17

Addressing a group of top sailors in Kharg Island in southern Iran, Ayatollah Rafsanjani said conditions should be prepared for moving away from crude sale and selling oil products instead.

He said, “What observed in Kharg Island proved development and progress. I have paid many visits to Kharg Island but this time was dramatically different from the former ones; today, Kharg Island is alive and refreshed. Never before or after the 1979 Revolution had I seen oil reserves as they are today.”

“We are so happy that oil exports are at such a great level. Conditions should be prepared to distance ourselves from crude sale and move towards export and sale of oil products.”

He noted that many entrepreneurs and Iranians residing abroad are interested and ready to invest in the Islamic Iran. “Iran is getting globalized.”

Ayatollah Rafsanjani said Iran’s general policy prior to the 9th government [Ahmadinejad’s] was movement towards minus crude oil sale economy and export of oil products but within the eight years of Ahmadinejad’s presidency, the conditions mandated the country to export crude oil for a period.

Elsewhere in his address, Ayatollah Rafsanjani said for the time being, 600,000 tons of methanol are produced in Kharg Island and necessary conditions to hit the target of 2.5-fold increase are prepared.

He said for the time being, there are many flares burning in Kharg Island and necessary investment is needed to turn the gas into methanol, Shana reported.

Damascus Water Supply Cut after Being Polluted by Militants

Syria

According to a Farsi report by Al-Alam, the Damascus water authority has been forced to cut supplies coming into the Syrian capital for a few days and use water reserves instead after militants [anti-government rebels] polluted the water with diesel.

The al-Fija spring which supplies Damascus with water is in the militant-held Wadi Barada valley northwest of the capital in a mountainous area near the Lebanese border, Reuters reported on Friday

Iran Starts Winter with Heavy Snow

Here are photos taken by various news agencies of the winter snow across Iran:

US Refuses to Veto Anti-Israel Resolution in UNSC

UNSC Vote on Israel

According to a report by IFP, Resolution 2334 was approved with 14 member states voting in favour, none voting against and one abstention — the United States.

There was applause in the chamber following the vote, which represented perhaps the final bitter chapter in the years of antagonism between President Barack Obama’s administration and Netanyahu’s government.

In an intense flurry of diplomacy that unfolded in the two days before the vote, a senior Israeli official had accused the United States of abandoning Tel Aviv with its refusal to block the resolution with a veto.

The Palestinian Authority hailed “a day of victory” and Palestinians were delighted by their rare diplomatic coup.

“This is a victory for the people and for the cause, and it opens doors wide for the demand of sanctions on settlements,” said Mustafa Barghouti, a Palestinian leader.

Speaking at the Security Council after the vote, US Ambassador Samantha Power said the decision underlined the Council’s long-standing position that “the settlements have no legal validity.” She claimed the US position was “fully in line with the bipartisan history” of how US presidents have approached the issue for decades.

The US did not agree with every word of the resolution, she said, and therefore had not voted in favor. But “we cannot stand in the way of this resolution,” she said, in the quest for “two states living side by side in peace and security.”

“The settlement problem has gotten so much worse,” she said, that it was now endangering that solution. “One has to make a choice between settlements and separation,” she said.