Soon after the beginning of their work, the members of 115th US Congress introduced two anti-Iran laws on January 3.
One of them is a proposal introduced by Alcee Hastings, a member of the Congressional Committee of Foreign Affairs, to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces to achieve the goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The other bill entails imposing new sanctions on Iran to prevent its missile program.
“New measures taken by the Congress, as well as statements by American officials, prove how Washington is afraid of Iran’s military power and its progress in missile industry,” said Ardeshir Nooriyan, an Iranian lawmaker, according to a Farsi report by ICANA.
“The hostile approaches and pretexts adopted by American authorities were predictable after the nuclear deal with Iran,” he added.
“It is Washington’s strategy to create an atmosphere of Iranophobia in the international community and impose political and economic sanctions against Iran.”
He went on to say that Washington is using Iran’s missile program and humanitarian activities as a pretext to implement anti-Iran policies. “Our Leader has always warned us about the hostile positions of the United States.”
Nooryian stressed that the US sanctions won’t stop Iran from developing its missile defence industry. “It is an essential part of our homeland security. We endeavor to expand it.”
New US Congress Using Old Ways in New Year: Sanctions and Military Threat
Prerequisites of Attracting Foreign Investment to Iran’s Mining Industry
While there is no detailed information about Iran’s mining sector, authorities endeavour to introduce mining opportunities to foreign investors during conferences and meetings.
“Despite the small number of international meetings held in Iran, they have proved to be effective in attracting foreign investment,” said Kourosh Shabani, a manager in Iranian Mining Engineering Organization.
“Of course we should show the realities of mining as they are so that foreign investors know how are the conditions of this industry.”
“Many groups of investors have travelled to Iran, but just to examine the circumstances. No one has invested in mining industry. Banks didn’t provide facilities as they should. No goal will be realized by the mere participation of foreigners in conferences.”
“It is better to distinguish between domestic and foreign investors,” he noted, referring to international investors who tend to analyse all circumstances before taking action.
“By adopting a different approach to foreign investors, we can encourage them to take part in Iranian mining sector,” he added, according to a Farsi report by SMT newspaper
“We should build necessary infrastructure, improve business conditions and stabilize our rules to make foreign investors sure that they can transfer their money into Iran to take part in mining industry. Any investor – domestic or foreign – wants to be certain of his investment profitability.”
While Iranian mining industry has a huge capacity for international investment, imperfect infrastructure may put off measures, he added.
“Government and related organizations should develop the required infrastructures such as transportation, water and gas,” he noted.
“We can also cooperate with foreign investors in infrastructure planning and building.”
Shabani also emphasized the importance of accurate information about mining sector.
“While Iranian Engineering Organization is very well-informed about active mines and level of sources, we still haven’t collected any detailed, reliable data.”
“We lack a comprehensive data bank in mining sector to be used by international investors. If a particular organization is responsible to develop such a system, the information will lag the factual data just for a few months.”
Photos of Egyptian Kids Getting Married Spark Outrage in Arab Media
According to a report by IFP, the issue of forcing young children into engagement or marriage is an ongoing problem in Egypt as the government claims it is to enforce harsh penalties to counter the practice.
The engagement ceremony photos of Zain, a 7-year-old second grader, and his 4–year-old cousin Faridah, hit the internet by storm and provoked a debate on social media over the ‘rights’ and wrongs of the practice, Al Arabiya reported
According to some tweets from sources close to the children’s family in the al-Qalyubia province, Faridah’s father selected his nephew as the future husband for his daughter as an “incentive for excelling academically at school,” a decision that apparently received the backing of the family.
According to other sources, a dowry of $1,000 was paid to the girl’s family with the agreement that both children would wed when they reached legal age.
Leader Warns of Enemy Plots to Destroy Iran’s National Authority
Speaking on Saturday in a meeting with thousands of people from the holy city of Qom, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the recent wave of attacks against Iran’s Judiciary, and said the enemy “attacks the apparatuses that typify the country’s national authority.”
“What would frustrate the enemy in its goals is for us to have a powerful judicial branch and a courageous and strategist government. These [qualities] should be reinforced.”
Elsewhere in his comments, Ayatollah Khamenei warned against schemes at work in British circles against the Islamic Republic and the entire region and said partitioning regional countries are among such plots.
“They say the era of a unified Iraq, a unified Syria, a unified Libya and a unified Yemen is over, but do not proceed to name Iran because they are afraid of Iran’s public opinion.”
By introducing bans, the enemy seeks to afflict people with economic woes, and thus separate the nation from the Islamic establishment, the Leader said, adding that even when the enemies lift the sanctions on paper, they make sure their afflictions will stay, Press TV reported.
Ayatollah Khamenei further described “a powerful and resistant” economy as “the antidote” to the economic pressure against the country.
After consulting with the Expediency Council, Ayatollah Khamenei announced in February 2014 the general policies of the economic approach. Resistant Economy is a long-term policy aimed at localizing development theories, shaping ones that are predicated on the Islamic economic model, and thus differ from those of the world’s predominant economic theories, namely liberalism and socialism.
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on January 8
Newspapers today covered the government’s reaction, particularly those of Central Bank and Intelligence Ministry, to the Judiciary Chief’s comments about the case of Babak Zanjani, the imprisoned billionaire who has failed to reimburse his debts to Oil Ministry.
A decision by Iranian Parliament to ban doctors working for the government from working in private sector also received great coverage.
The US-Russia conflict also continued to be covered by Iranian media, with several papers focusing on Washington’s claims that Russian President has ordered the hacking of US elections.
The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines:
19 Dey:
1- Babak Zanjani Had Links with Previous Governments
Abrar:
1- Central Bank Denies Babak Zanjani’s Claims
2- MP: People with Dual Nationality Not Allowed to Possess Immovable Properties
3- Iranian Envoy to Australia Declares Agreement to Establish Flight between Tehran and Canberra
4- Trump Dismisses All US Ambassadors
Afarinesh:
1- First VP: Iran’s Foreign Exchange Conditions Are Very Good
2- Nothing Found on Babak Zanjani’s Links with Government: MP
3- Iran Sells over 13 Million Barrels of Reserved Oil
Aftab-e Yazd:
1- Secrets behind Deputy FM Abbas Araqchi’s Long Absence in Media: Speculations Say He Has Conflict on Opinion with Zarif and His Absence Has Nothing to Do with ISA Extension
2- Health Minister: We Haven’t Had Good Performance in Social Welfare; Sleeping inside Graves Means Iranian Society Has Pains
Amin:
1- Tehran-Washington Ties May Change in 2017: Western Media
2- Saudi Arabia’s Dream of Becoming Dominant Arab Power Has Gone Down in Flames: Independent
Arman-e Emrooz:
1- Reformist MP Sadeqi: Ahmadinejad’s Government Found Guilty in 1,050 Cases
2- 20 Couples Get Divorce Every Hour: Separation before First Wedding Anniversary
3- We Should Beware of Escape of Our Assets to Saudi Arabia: Analyst
Asrar:
1- Advisor to Iran’s Leader: We Welcome Ease of Tensions with Neighbours
2- Iranian Spokesman: It Is Necessary for World Peace and Security that Saudi Arabia Changes Its Behaviour
3- Bob Corker: Trump Won’t Scrap Nuclear Deal
Ebtekar:
1- Masculine Economy Main Barrier to Women’s Presence in Job Market
2- Baghdad and Ankara Reach an Agreement: Turks to Withdraw from Iraq
Emtiaz:
1- Environment Dept. Chief: Iran’s Nature in a Fragile Point
2- Beginning of Iran’s Talks with Argentinian Gas Giant
Etemad:
1- Filmmaker’s Use of Wig for Actresses Leads to Removal of His Film from Iran’s Fajr Film Festival
2- Ahmadinejad’s Oil Minister: JCPOA Has Influenced Iran’s Oil Sale
3- Analyst: Trump’s Policy Should Be Appreciated by Saudi Arabia
Ettela’at:
1- Golden Window Opened to Iran: Iran’s Population Is Like that of East Asia in 1960s to 1990s; That Helps 7-Fold Increase in GDP: UN Representative
2- Biggest US Armored Brigade since USSR Dissolution Deployed near Russian Borders
Haft-e Sobh:
1- Parliament’s Shock to Doctors: Based on Bill Ratified by Parliament, Doctors Working in Hospitals and Public Clinics Won’t Be Allowed to Work in Private Clinics and Offices
Hemayat:
1- Chief of Iranian Judiciary’s Human Rights Office: US Violation of Its JCPOA Commitments Should Be Pursued without Any Tolerance
Iran:
1- Female Spectators Can Have Active Presence in Iranian Stadiums: AFC’s Best Futsal Player in Western Asia
2- American and Italian Customers of Iranian Brands Arj and Azmayesh; Industry Minister Says General Electric and Whirlpool from the US and Ariston from Italy Want to Make Investment in These Two Iranian Home Appliances Factories
Javan:
1- Delegitimizing Trump in Front of White House: US Intelligence Says Putin Had Ordered Support for Trump in US Election
Jomhouri Eslami:
1- First VP: Reforming Iran’s Banking System Is the Priority of the Country’s Economy
2- Obama Warns against Unprecedented Division in US
3- Saudi Officer Resigns from Army Because of Saudis’ Crimes in Yemen
Kayhan:
1- Agriculture Ministry: 2 Million Tons of Wheat to Be Exported in 3 Months
2- $2.4 Billion Ship Deal with Foreign Companies to Weaken Iran’s Domestic Industry
Payam-e Zaman:
1- Advisor to Iran’s Leader Announced Final Decision to Build Nuclear Propulsion and Supply of Its Fuel
2- Fresh Wave of Purge: Over 60,000 Arrested in Turkey
Resalat:
1- Former Oil Minister: US Violation of Its Commitments Doesn’t Let JCPOA Bear Fruit
2- Mayor of Tehran: Pollution of Air, Water and Soil Is Tehran’s Challenge
3- FM Zarif Should Publish His Letter of Complaint to EU
Saheb Qalam:
1- US Intelligence Agencies Accuse Putin of Giving Order for Hacking US Election
2- Health Minister: People Will Suffer If Doctors Are Forced to Work Either in Public or Private Sector
Setareh Sobh:
1- Iran’s Oil Price Rises to $53
2- Saudi Arabia and Israel’s Anger Shows Success of JCPOA: Analyst
Shargh:
1- This Angry Group: How Trump’s Cabinet Think about Iran and JCPOA? Proposed Cabinet Consists of Men and Women Who Are All against Iran
Vaghaye Ettefaghieh:
1- Maedeh Borhani Joins Bulgarian Team: Iran’s First Female Volleyball Player Playing for a Foreign Team
2- Ayatollah Mousavi Tabrizi: Government Should Avoid Responding to Lies
3- A Number of Iranian People Residing in US in a New Letter to Trump Urge Him Not to Scrap Nuclear Deal
5 Iranian Pilgrims Killed in Huge Blaze in Karbala
According to media reports, a huge fire in central Karbala has so far killed five Iranian pilgrims and wounded several others, including 2 Iranians.
An Iranian official announced that the entire hotel has been burnt to the ground, and all passports and documents have been destroyed by the blaze.
192 Iranian pilgrims were reportedly residing in the hotel, but at the time of the fire, the majority of them were outside, and only old pilgrims had remained in the hotel.
Seyyed Ali Marashi, an official with Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), told ANA that the incident was caused by an electrical fire in Qasr al-Mawla Hotel in central Karbala, which was hosting 192 Iranian pilgrims dispatched to the Iraqi city by an illegal travel agency in Iran’s Mashhad.
He also noted that one of the two wounded Iranians has been severely burnt and is in dire conditions.
Over 60 Killed and Wounded in Fresh Baghdad Explosion
According to a Farsi report by Fars News Agency, the Iraqi police announced that at least 12 have been killed and 50 injured in the blast.
The Sunday attack took place at a vegetable market in Jamila, a mainly Shiite district of eastern Baghdad.
US Just Pretending to Be Pacifist on Issue of Palestine: Iranian MPs
“Washington’s paradoxical behaviour has been evident for a long time,” said Massoud Goudarzi, an Iranian lawmaker, referring to the Palestinian conflict and now, the Syrian crisis.
“It is their strategy to look after their colonialist interests in the region but prepare a showcase to dissemble. Their implemented policies differ from what they pretend.”
He went on to say that the US paradoxical strategies have been bold in some periods after the occupation of Palestine, “Especially after the literature of resistance was introduced to politics in 2001. The US pretends to be active as a peacemaker, but is always trying to hamper the resistance.”
“At the end, the American oil strategy in the Middle East doesn’t change. They only adopt different methods,” he added, according to a Farsi report by ICANA.
“The temporary conducts of Washington never show its real policy,” said Mohammad Reza Amir-Hassankhani, another Parliament member.
“Recently, the United States came up with a plan to recognize the Jewish Administration of Israel, so that displaced Palestinians wouldn’t have the right to return to their land,” he stressed.
“On the other hand, the UN Security Council didn’t veto the anti-Israel bill that interdicts the construction of Israeli residential buildings in occupied lands; a move that seems to be a gesture of peace-making.”
“Late in his tenure, Obama is showing sympathy for Palestinians, but he is faking it,” he emphasized.
“But Palestinians know that the US isn’t upholding their rights, and they should continue to defend their land, Jerusalem,” Amir-Hassankhani added.
Advisor to Iran’s Leader Hails Turkey’s Withdrawal of Forces from Iraq
According to a report by IFP, Velayati said on Saturday that Iran welcomes friendly relationships between regional countries.
Hailing the de-escalation of tensions between Ankara and Baghdad, he said prosperity of the region requires regional cooperation and avoiding any tension among neighbours, Tasnim reported.
Velayati described the Turkish government’s decision to respect the principles of good neighbourliness and Iraq’s territorial integrity as a “positive step”, hoping for detente in Ankara-Damascus ties as well.
He then hoped that Turkey would once again adopt a policy of “zero problem” toward its neighbours, noting that stable relations between Turkey and Syria require regard for equal rights, mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.
His comment came hours after Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said an agreement has been reached with Turkey over an Iraqi demand that Turkish forces withdraw from the town of Bashiqa in northern Iraq.
Iraq has been facing the growing threat of terrorism, mainly posed by the ISIS (also known as ISIL or Daesh) terrorist group. ISIS militants made advances in northern and western Iraq over the summer of 2014, after capturing swaths of northern Syria.
First Civilian Airplane Lands in Aleppo Int’l Airport
The flight by a government airplane on Friday was a trial attempt in preparation for the total reopening of Syria’s second largest airport in the near future.
Government sources said the Aleppo International Airport was likely to reopen to the public by February but cautioned that things will be contingent on the military situation in the province of the same name.
If the airport in Aleppo resumes work, Syria will have at least four functioning airports open to the public. Authorities started rehabilitating Aleppo’s airport a few days after the city was fully liberated from Takfiri terrorists in late December 2016, according to Press TV.
Aleppo’s liberation is seen as a crushing blow to the militants and their foreign supporters, who have been actively working to topple the Damascus government since March 2011.
Separately, six Syrian civilians were killed in Turkish airstrikes on Syria’s northwestern city of al-Bab. Turkey has been conducting unauthorized sorties over Syria to target Kurdish militants, whom it considers enemies of the Turkish state.
Meanwhile, Syrian military forces have launched an operation to recapture 11 villages from Takfiri terrorists in the Wadi Barada Valley, where springs and water facilities providing water for millions in the capital city are located.
Water supplies from the militant-held area of Wadi Barada near Damascus have been cut since December 22, when Syrian army soldiers and fighters from popular defense groups launched a major offensive to recapture the mountainous area near the Lebanese border.
The Takfiri militants had also earlier contaminated Damascus’ drinking water supply with diesel. The city’s water authority had to cut supplies to Damascus and resort to using water reserves over the act of sabotage, which saw extremists polluting the Ain al-Fijah spring in Wadi Barada.
On Friday, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) expressed concern about the risk of waterborne diseases among children in Damascus.
The head of the UN-backed humanitarian taskforce for Syria, Jan Egeland, told reporters in the Swiss city of Geneva on Thursday that just in December 2016 “5.5 million people have had their water supplies cut or minimized.”
He stressed that “to sabotage and deny water is of course a war crime,” warning that civilians “will be affected by waterborne diseases” if clean water is not supplied to them.
On Friday, the Syrian national reconciliation minister, Ali Haidar, said the country is prepared for an “open war” against the foreign-backed militants in the northern city of Idlib.
Idlib, which is currently considered the biggest remaining militant stronghold in Syria, has become home to thousands of Takfiri terrorists evacuated from key areas under reconciliation agreements with the government.
Haidar said Syria would not allow Idlib to remain under militant control indefinitely unless there was an international deal to resolve the situation.
Over the past almost six years, Syria has been fighting foreign-sponsored militancy. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimated in August that more than 400,000 people had been killed in the Syrian crisis until then. The UN has stopped its official casualty count in Syria, citing its inability to verify the figures it receives from various sources.
