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Britain Has Been Source of Misery in Mideast for Two Centuries: Iran’s Leader

supreme leader

London’s policies and measures over the past two centuries have been a source of evil and misery in the regional countries, Ayatollah Khamenei said on Saturday, taking a swipe at British officials, particularly Prime Minister Theresa May, for their recent anti-Iran allegations.

“In recent days, the Britons have labeled – in the most shameful manner – the oppressed and dear Iran as a threat to the region but everybody knows that contrary to such allegations, this is the British (officials) who have been always the source and root cause of threat, corruption, danger and misery,” the Leader added.

According to a report by IFP, Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the British government’s divisive bids in India, Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq, and blamed the killing of Muslims, from Myanmar in East Asia to Nigeria in Africa, as well as the face-off between Muslims in the Middle East, on “divisive plots” by the arrogance.

“In these circumstances, British Shiism and American Sunnism, like two blades of a pair of scissors, are fanning the flames of division.”

Ayatollah Khamenei then warned against a plot that enemies of Islam have seriously put on the agenda by getting inspiration from the age-old British policy of creating division to achieve purposes.

Revealing the “savage and cruel” nature of the enemies despite their neat appearance or claims about flexibility, Ayatollah Khamenei called on the Muslim countries to gear up for confrontation with such “immoral, secular and unfair” adversaries.

The Leader’s remarks came after British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Thursday summoned the Iranian and Russian ambassadors to convey his profound concern over Tehran and Moscow’s role in the suffering of Aleppo’s residents.

Johnson alleged that Iran and Russia had failed to uphold “humanitarian law” by not helping aid get to Aleppo when it was under siege, Tasnim reported.

In the meantime, British Prime Minister May has also said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russia and Iran “bear responsibility for the tragedy in Aleppo.”

Earlier in December, May said at a summit of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) in Bahrain that Britain would contribute to counteracting what she called “aggressive regional actions” from Iran, and unveiled plans for a four-billion-dollar military investment in the region for the next 10 years.

Iran’s President Hopes for Peace, Stability in Muslim World

President Rouhani

President Rouhani sent separate messages to leaders of the Muslim countries on Friday to congratulate them on the auspicious occasion, which falls on the 17th day of the lunar month of Rabi al-Awwal.

In his messages, the Iranian president expressed the hope that Muslims would enhance unity, fraternity and rapport, and refer to the great Prophet’s way of life as their role model to pave the way for the establishment of peace, calm and stability in the Islamic world.

The 17th day of the month of Rabi al-Awwal on the lunar Hijri calendar marks the birth anniversaries of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Imam Jafar Sadeq (AS), the sixth Imam of Shiites.

The holy occasion is celebrated by some 1.6 billion followers of Islam in the world, who make up over 23% of the world population.

Iran, Russia, Turkey to Hold Trilateral Meeting on Syria

bahram-ghasmei

In a statement issued late on Friday, Qassemi pointed to Zarif’s intensive diplomatic efforts on the situation of Syrian civilians and many phone calls with his counterparts from Syria, Turkey and Russia in recent days and said it was agreed that on December 27, Iran, Russia and Turkey finalize a plan to hold a trilateral meeting on the ongoing crisis in Syria.

He further highlighted reasons behind the more than five-year-old conflict in the Arab country and said, “…Unfortunately, what we have witnessed over the past years (in Syria) is the result of the interference of some countries and terrorist groups trained by them.”

Qassemi denounced the recent propaganda campaign waged by some Western and Arab media outlets on the situation of civilians in Aleppo, saying that whenever terrorists in Syria suffered heavy defeats, the media outlets called for a ceasefire and protection of civilians.

The remarks came as terrorists shelled a corridor used by the Syrian government to evacuate civilians from eastern Aleppo in the Ramuse district, according to a Syrian state-run TV. Syrian army was sent to the area.

Moreover, the evacuation of militants and their families from east Aleppo has been suspended as they violated an agreement with the Syrian government by trying to take hostages with them.

More than 6000 people including militants have left eastern Aleppo in the first 24 hours of the evacuation operation, the Russian reconciliation center said Friday.

Turkish President’s Son Is ISIS’ Oil Dealer

Bilal Erdoğan

In an article about the oil ISIS terrorists smuggle from Syria to Turkey, a German newspaper referred to Necmettin Bilal Erdoğan, the son of Turkish President, as the “ISIS Oil Minister”.

“Despite his efforts to look innocent, Bilal has a bad background which supports Russia’s claim that Turkey buys ISIS’ oil at a low price,” wrote Handelsblatt, a well-known German business newspaper.

According to a Farsi report by Kayhan newspaper, Handelsblatt pointed to Bilal Erdoğan’s history of financial crimes such as embezzlement and money laundry using his father’s assets, adding, “A Turkish prosecutor has gathered evidence for it, including photos and recorded telephone conversations of the father and his son. During these calls, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the then Prime Minister, asks his son to return all his assets.”

Another telephone conversation in early 2014 shows that Bilal Erdoğan has received $10m for piping oil.

“Meanwhile, regarding the export of ISIS’ smuggled oil from Iraq to Asian countries, the finger of suspicion is pointed at ‘Erdoğan, the son’.”

The German paper went on to say that Turkish media keep asking why Bilal Erdoğan’s ships always settle near Syrian waters.

Furthermore, several photos are published in Russian sources, which show Erdoğan the son having meetings with ISIS members in different occasions. Based on these sources, Bilal Erdoğan is ISIS’ dealer in the black market who helps it sell oil, especially the oil exploited in Syria.

Iranian President to Visit Russia in January

rouhani and putin meeting in china

A source familiar with the preparations for the visit told Russia’s TASS news agency that Iranian foreign minister will visit Moscow in December to prepare Rouhani’s visit to Russia.

Russia, a staunch ally of Syria, has been providing military assistance to Damascus in its battle against foreign-backed terrorism. Iran, also an ally of Damascus, has been lending advisory support to the Syrian counter-terrorism push.

Russia and Iran hold regular and close consultation concerning the situation in Syria toward coordinating their efforts in helping purge the Arab country of terrorism, Tasnim reported.

Wahhabis Funding Terrorism and Sedition in Muslim World: Iran Leader’s Advisor

velayati

According to a report by Fars News Agency, Ali Akbar Velayati, who is Ayatollah Khamenei’s international aide, said on Thursday that Saudi Arabia is behind all regional crises, from Syria and Iraq to Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, and the like.

“Wahhabism is still creating sedition in the Muslim world by the means of its money,” he went on to say.

Torture Devices and Ammo Discovered at Terrorists’ Bases in East Aleppo (+Video)

halab

A military operation against terrorists in Aleppo, once Syria’s second-largest city with booming industries and now the worst-hit place in the country, cornered the militants into a small 2.5-km sliver of land.

Footage from the scene suggests that in eastern Aleppo, civilians were apparently subjected to torture and abuse, Russia Today reported on Friday.

Syrian Army soldiers showed cells and large chains that appear to be torture devices inside a building allegedly used as a firebase by militants in the Al-Jazmati district.

“This is one of the means of torture that was used by the militants. When we came here and liberated this residential block, civilians were sitting here in the prisons. We released them,” said Muhammad Hamud, a Syrian Army soldier, pointing at chains hanging from the ceiling.

He added that the army liberated around 15 captives in that location, afterwards showing black flags purportedly belonging to ISIS and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly known as Al-Nusra Front).

A sizeable stockpile of mortar rounds as well as a large machine used to manufacture ammunition, are also seen in the building – a sign of the militants’ capacity to produce sophisticated weaponry right on the frontline, RT reported.

The mortar shells and ammunition production technology may originate from ISIS-controlled territories in either Syria or Iraq.

Emirati Commander Blames Turkish President for Aleppo Defeat

Khalfan

According to a Farsi report by Al Alam, Khalfan said in a post on his Twitter account that Erdogan is to blame for entrapment of Syrian ‘revolutionaries’ in Aleppo and their embarrassing defeat.

“It was Erdogan who encouraged and provoked Syrian revolutionaries to fight [President] Bashar al-Assad, but now Ankara is standing by Assad and Russia, taking stances against the revolutionaries,” he noted.

His comments came as the Syrian army has almost completed a military operation to liberate Aleppo, with the remaining militants withdrawing from their strongholds.

Hundreds of foreign-backed militants or so-called rebels have surrendered in Aleppo in recent days.

Iran’s Submission to Academy Awards among 9 Shortlisted Films

The Salesman - Asghar Farhadi

According to a report by IFP, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced a shortlist of nine pictures competing for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 89th Oscars.

The shortlist was chosen by a host of Academy members, and will be whittled down to five nominees by an Academy committee in January.

The nine films on the Best Foreign Language Film shortlist, by their country of origin:

  • Australia, “Tanna,” Bentley Dean, Martin Butler, directors
  • Canada, “It’s Only the End of the World,” Xavier Dolan, director
  • Denmark, “Land of Mine,” Martin Zandvliet, director
  • Germany, “Toni Erdmann,” Maren Ade, director
  • Iran, “The Salesman,” Asghar Farhadi, director
  • Norway, “The King’s Choice,” Erik Poppe, director
  • Russia, “Paradise,” Andrei Konchalovsky, director
  • Sweden, “A Man Called Ove,” Hannes Holm, director
  • Switzerland, “My Life as a Zucchini,” Claude Barras, director

The Salesman, which premiered in Iran on August 31, was recently nominated for Golden Globe Awards as well.

It also won two prizes in the Cannes Film Festival in May. Lead protagonist Shahab Hosseini won a Palme d’Or for best actor and Farhadi scooped the best screenplay award during the 69th edition of the festival.

The movie is a taut moral drama about a married couple who are acting in Death of a Salesman, a play by Arthur Miller.

In 2012, Farhadi’s A Separation won Iran’s first Oscar for best foreign film.

Iran’s Leader Pardons, Eases Sentences of over 1,200 Iranian Prisoners

Leader

According to a report by IFP, the clemency was granted by Ayatollah Khamenei at the request of the country’s Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani on the occasion of birthday anniversaries of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his grandson Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (AS).

Article 110 of the Constitution grants the Leader the right to pardon or reduce the sentences of convicts upon a recommendation from the head of the Judiciary.

The clemency, however, does not apply to certain types of convicts, including those who have been sentenced for their role in armed struggle against the country, armed or organized drug trafficking, armed robbery, arms smuggling, abduction, bribery and embezzlement.