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Iran Rejects “Imaginary Story” of Role in Attack on US Vessels

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi on Thursday rejected the recent comments by US General Joseph Votel as an imaginary, suspicious and baseless story, saying the paradoxical and vague remarks by American officials over the past days signify Washington’s bewilderment.

The reaction came after Votel, head of the US military’s Central Command overseeing operations across the Middle East, told a Washington think tank on Wednesday that Iran may have played a role in a series of incidents this month that saw surface-to-surface missiles fired at the USS Mason in the Red Sea allegedly by Yemen’s Houthi forces.

Elsewhere in his comments, the Iranian spokesman recommended that US government take care of the conduct of those mired in Yemen after a “brutal and imposed aggression” against the Arab country.

The US military, which has played an undeniable role in the crimes against Yemeni people by providing direct and indirect support for the Saudi-led military coalition, should prevent more bloodshed and halt the killing of Yemenis by its allies, he concluded.

Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia and some of its Arab allies have been launching airstrikes against the Houthi Ansarullah movement in an attempt to restore power to the fugitive former President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh.

According to UN estimates, over 10,000 Yemenis, including 4,000 women and children, have lost their lives in the military campaign.

On October 8 alone, Saudi-led warplanes killed over 140 people and injured more than 600 others by bombing a crowded funeral ceremony in Sana’a.

Oscar-Winning Filmmaker Surprises Everyone with His Latest Film

trumpland

Michael Moore has unveiled his latest film Michael Moore in TrumpLand, a surprise film he screened for the first time at New York City’s IFC Center on Tuesday night for free.

According to a report by Hollywood Reporter, as covered by Khabar Online, the 73-minute film will begin its theatrical run on Wednesday in New York City and Los Angeles for one week only.

Michael Moore in Trumpland follows the theatrical release of Where to Invade Next, which was his first movie in six years. Unveiled as a surprise title at the 2015 Toronto Film Festival and released in just over 300 theaters in February, the documentary grossed $3.8 million worldwide.

“We’re flying by the seat of our pants here,” the Oscar-winning filmmaker of Bowling for Columbine, who has been an outspoken opponent of Donald Trump throughout the presidential election, told the premiere’s audience. “Our goal is to have as many Americans see this over the next five or ten days.”

The live performance film — which sees Moore speaking about the two candidates onstage, and supposing what would happen if each were to become the next U.S. president — was shot less than two weeks ago, over two consecutive nights at a venue in Wilmington, Ohio, in a county where Trump received four times as many votes as Clinton did in the primary elections.

“To us, this was TrumpLand,” Moore explained, adding that he initially eyed the Ohio town of Licking, but was denied. “I wanted to do this not in a safe place, but in a place where we’d need a lot of security, which we had.”

Since the announcement’s buzz, a handful of theaters have called to screen over the next two weeks before the election. “We’ll hopefully have an announcement on that over the next 24 to 36 hours. It’s all coming together in a very rapid-fire way,” he explained, adding that the film will soon be available on VOD as well. “Lots of people have been contacting us to see how they can help us.”

In the film, Moore notes that “white men over 35 are obsolete” in the 21st century (“Guys know it and that’s why they’re at the Trump rallies,” he says) and that women are not inherently problematic: “No women invented a hydrogen or atomic bomb, and no girls have gone into schools to shoot them up. … We’re actually quite safe from 51 percent of the population,” he explains.

The film’s official synopsis reads, “See the film Ohio Republicans tried to shut down. Oscar-winner Michael Moore dives right into hostile territory with his daring and hilarious one-man show, deep in the heart of TrumpLand in the weeks before the 2016 election.”

Moore is no stranger to politically-themed projects — his career-topping doc Fahrenheit 9/11 took on George W. Bush at a time when he was locked in a heated presidential election with John Kerry. Though Bush won the presidency, the film grossed $222 million worldwide.

Leader: US Election Shows Absence of Spirituality among American Statesmen

Leader

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei referred to ongoing competitions in the US over the upcoming elections, and said the issues raised by the two candidates are clear examples of the consequences of ‘a lack of spirituality and faith’ among statesmen.

“In upcoming weeks, one of these two presidential candidates, whose words and conditions you are seeing, will become the president of a country that has power and wealth, and the highest number of atomic weapons and world’s largest media,” Ayatollah Khamenei added.

According to a report by the Leader’s website, as translated by IFP, the Leader made the remarks in an address to a group of top university students and members of Iran’s National Elites Foundation

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader also called on Iranian authorities not to back down in the face of the United States’ ever-increasing demands.

“We have, time and again, told [Iranian authorities] that if you surrender in the nuclear [case], they (Americans) will bring up the issue of the missiles. If you back down further, they will pick on the issue of [Iran’s] support for resistance,” Ayatollah Khamenei asserted.

“If you keep backing down even further, they will bring up [the issue of] human rights. Then, if you accept their standards, they will go for eliminating the religious standards in [our] government,” the Leader added.

The Leader was pointing to recent remarks by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who has said that the Islamic Republic’s continued support for the resistance movement in the region made it “very difficult” to help Tehran improve its banking system and business practices.

Ayatollah Khamenei said that some American officials would cite his “pessimism towards the US” during their meetings with Iranian officials, asking, “How can one [ever] be optimistic towards you, given such remarks?”

The Leader further highlighted Iran’s vast capacities for making progress as well as its human and natural resources, saying even the Westerners admit this issue, Press TV reported

The praise for Iran’s potentials is not “mere rhetoric,” Ayatollah Khamenei added, warning that hindering Iran’s scientific progress is among the major goals of enemies.

ISIS Blows Up Government Building before Leaving Mosul

isis-mosul

According to a report by Al Alam News Network, as translated by IFP, a local source in Nineveh Province said that the ISIS elements have planted explosives on many parts of Nineveh Province’s government buildings located in central Mosul.
This came before they run away from Mosul amid an ongoing operation by the Iraqi army to retake the city from the extremists after two years of ISIS occupation.

Iran’s FM Favoring Durable Ceasefire in Syria

Mohammad Javad Zarif

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Behrouz Nemati gave details of Foreign Minister Zarif’s comments at a closed-door session of the parliament earlier in the day.

In a recent meeting of nine countries in the Swiss city of Lausanne for talks on Syria, the Iranian foreign minister has reiterated that the crisis in Syria has no military solution and must be resolved politically, the MP said.

And in today’s session at the parliament, Nemati added, Foreign Minister Zarif has called for a more durable ceasefire in Syria in order to let various Syrian groups express their views and open a corridor to deliver humanitarian aid for civilians or evacuate them form conflict zones.

Syria has been plagued with civil war for more than 5 years, 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.

UN humanitarian officials have pleaded with combatants in the Arab country to observe weekly 48-hour ceasefires to allow humanitarian relief into Aleppo, a major Syrian city in control of the terrorist groups.

Meanwhile, Russia, which helps the Damascus government in the fight against the terrorists, has announced plans for an eight-hour humanitarian ceasefire in Aleppo later this week.

It came after the nine-nation meeting in Switzerland failed to agree on any concrete action to stop the violence in Syria.

Iraqi Forces Move to Retake Christian Town on Way to Mosul

Iraqi forces

News of the move to recapture Qaraqosh sparked jubilation among Christians who had fled the town, with many singing in the city of Erbil.

Iraqi forces stormed Qaraqosh, about 15 kilometers (10 miles) southeast Mosul, Tuesday but the terrorists remained in the town.

Units from Iraq’s elite counter-terrorism service (CTS), which has done the heavy lifting in most recent operations against ISIL, were poised to flush extremists out of the town, officers said.

“We are surrounding Hamdaniya now,” Lieutenant General Riyadh Tawfiq, commander of Iraq’s ground forces, told AFP at the main staging base of Qayyarah, referring to the district that includes Qaraqosh.

“We are preparing a plan to assault it and clear it later,” he said. “There are some pockets (of resistance), some clashes, they send car bombs – but it will not help them.”

Displaced Christians held early celebrations Tuesday night in Erbil where they fled after ISIL seized the town.

After gathering for a group prayer outside a church in the city, some in the crowd sang and clapped their hands, while others held lit candles.

“Today is a happy moment. There is no doubt our land will be liberated and we thank God, Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary,” said Hazem Djedjou Cardomi, a journalist among the crowd.

Qaraqosh was the largest of many Christian towns and villages seized by the terrorists who swept across the Nineveh Plain east of Mosul in August 2014.

Qaraqosh was a town of around 50,000 people in 2014 and is home to at least seven churches, making it a key hub for the more than 300,000 Christians still in Iraq.

Three days into Mosul operation, Iraqi forces were closing in on the last stronghold of the terrorists from several directions, including the south where federal troops and police have been battling through Daesh defenses and retaking villages as they work their way up the Tigris Valley.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19

Iran Newspaper front pages

The major issue reported by many newspapers today was the resignation of two or three ministers in President Hassan Rouhani’s cabinet. Culture Minister Ali Jannati and Sports Minister Mahmoud Goudarzi have already resigned, but Education Minister Ali Asghar Fani has dismissed the reports about his resignation; though, he is going to be impeached by members of Iran’s Parliament.
The ongoing operation by the Iraqi army, the US-led coalition, and the popular forces also received great coverage today. The great progress made by the anti-ISIS forces was the headline in many newspapers.
The US presidential elections and their upcoming debate were also a top story today. Donald Trump’s scandal and Hillary Clinton’s remarks about Iran were discussed in today’s papers.
The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines:

Abrar:
1- Enhancement of Bilateral Ties, the Key Point Discussed in Erdogan’s Meeting with UAE FM
2- UNICEF: Almost 3,000 Yemeni Children Have Been Killed and Wounded in the War
3- AFC: Iran’s Faghani Is the Best Asian Referee of the Year

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Abrar-e Eqtesadi:
1- Conditions Announced for Foreigners Who Want to Construct Power Plants in Iran
2- Iran’s 38% Share of Middle East’s Petchem Production
3- Reuters: No Change in Amount of Iran’s October Crude and Condensate Exports
4- Luxembourg Ready to Finance Iran’s Industrial Projects

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Afarinesh:
1- Airbus and Boeing Give Iran the Right to Overhaul and Develop Plane Parts
2- Iran’s Nuclear Chief: Export of 25 Iranian Nuclear Medicine
3- Russia and Syria Cease Airstrikes on Aleppo

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Afkar:
1- Government Spokesman: US Cannot Violate JCPOA
2- Imminent Establishment of Direct Flight from Britain to Tehran
3- Russian Navy Fleet Docks at Iran’s Bandar Anzali

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Aftab-e Yazd:
1- Cabinet Improvement Started by Simultaneous Resignations of Iranian Ministers of Sports, Education, and Culture
2- How Much Is Cheating Possible in US Elections?
3- Venezuelan Economy Leads to Cannibalism! Odd Reports Released from Caracas Indicate a Prisoner Has Been Eaten Due to Extreme Hunger
4- Health Minister: Those Who Have a Tribune Should Not Get on People’s Nerves

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Amin:
1- Erdogan: One Step Left to Dream of Changing the Ruling System
2- Population Movement in Iran: 7% in Every 10 Years

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Arman-e Emrooz:
1- One City Is Evacuated Each Year: Annually, 150,000 Young and Educated Iranians Immigrate
2- Clinton’s Private Remarks about Rouhani
3- Politician: Saudi Arabia Is Harming Itself to Harm Iran

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Asrar:
1- Iran Remained Immune from Economic Shock to Middle East
2- Shamkhani: Iranian Officials’ Demands from the Foreign Sides Should Not Be Interpreted as Failure
3- IRGC Commander: Al Saud and Zionist Regime’s Conspiracy against Iran
4- Deputy Nuclear Chief: Arak Nuclear Reactor Is Being Redesigned with China’s Help

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Donya-ye Eqtesad:
1- Improvement in Quality of Iranian Life: Controlled Inflation Rate Improved Iran’s Position in World Life Quality Index Ranking from 80 to 49

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Etemad:
1- Once Again Ceasefire over the Ruins of Saudi Crimes: UN Announces 72-Hour Cessation of Fire
2- Developers of Suez Canal to Visit Iran to Resolve Water Crisis

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Ettela’at:
1- Iraqi Army and Popular Forces Make Rapid Progress in Mosul Operation
2- First VP: Future of Iran’s Economy Is Very Bright
3- Health Minister: Stressful Rumours Have Caused Behavioural Disorders in Iranian Society; People Are Exposed to Stressful Rumours Everyday through Officials, IRIB, or Those Who Have Tribunes

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Hemayat:
1- Civil Defence Chief: JCPOA Didn’t Remove the Economic Threat
2- SNSC Secretary: Post-JCPOA Era Should Be Passed Skilfully

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Iran:
1- Ayatollah Rafsanjani: Troubles Made for Rouhani’s Government Have Been Unprecedented in Post-Revolution Era
2- Concerns about Migration of ISIS Elements to Other Countries amid Continued Progress of Iraqi Forces in Mosul Operation

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Javan:
1- Tehran Prosecutor-General: 60 Years in Prison for 6 Who Spied for US; Each of the Spies Received a 10-Year Term

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Jomhouri Eslami:
1- Al Saud’s All-Out Scandal at Global Level: US Senator Says Saudi Arabia Had Helped Israel Assassinate Rafic Hariri
2- Saudi Arabia’s Religious Schools Spread Terrorism in the World: US Foreign Relations Council Member
3- Europe Worried about Consequences of ISIS’ Defeat in Mosul
4- Minister of Industry: Iran’s Steel Production Capacity Increased to 31m Tons per Year

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Ka’enat:
1- Rouhani’s Cabinet to Become Fresh! Three Non-Economic Ministers to Be Replaced

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Kayhan:
1- SWIFT Is Open, But No Money Is Exchanged: Iran Chamber of Commerce
2- Iraqi Popular Forces Commander: We Are Sons of John [John bin Huwai] and Wahab [Abdullah ibn Omayr Abu Wahab al Kalbi]. We’ll Bury ISIS in Mosul [These two were Christian companions of Imam Hussein who were martyred in Battle of Karbala]
3- Amazing Progress: Iraqi Army ahead of Its Plans in Mosul Operation

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Khorasan:
1- Trump’s Wife: It’s Women Who Come for My Husband!

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Shargh:
1- IRGC Commander: Iran Was Likely to Be Attacked from 2005 to 2007
2- Shamkhani: Safe Passage of Oil Tankers Thanks to Iran’s Military Presence in Persian Gulf

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19


Vatan-e Emrooz:
1- Third Scandal: In Last US Presidential Debate, Will Hillary and Clinton Disgrace Each Other Once Again?
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on October 19

 

Iran Raps US Interference in Judicial Affairs

Bahram Qassemi

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi on Wednesday lashed out at the US for attempting to link the rulings issued by independent Iranian courts against “foreign criminals and spies” to the international business ties with Iran.

He also described the interfering comments about decisions made by Iran’s Judiciary as an example of “futile and fruitless attempts to undermine international cooperation with Iran.”

Slamming the US government for “implicit threats” against Iran, Qassemi said such unconstructive moves would only fortify the “wall of the Iranian nation’s distrust of the US.”

He made the comments in reaction to remarks by Mark C. Toner, deputy spokesperson of the US Department of State, who has voiced concern about an Iranian court’s sentence against Iranian-American citizens Siamak Namazi and Baqer Namazi.

The son and father have been sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of cooperating with the US.

Toner said the two had been “unjustly detained” in Iran, and called for their immediate release.

Izadi Women Sold by ISIS on Online Messaging App

isis-women-sale

The ISIS terrorist group is selling Izadi [also referred to as Yazidi] women and girls on Telegram messaging app and outrageously put them up for auction.

According to a report by YJC, as translated by IFP, the following pictures show Izadi girls and women being sold on Telegram by ISIS terrorists.

The terrorists’ atrocities against innocent Muslims know no borders as they slaughter their men and sell their women disgracefully.

As it is seen in these picture [which are in Arabic], they had the audacity to release details about these girls and women such as their age, appearance, etc. and literally put them up for auction at prices around $7,000 to $7,500.

In 2014, the terrorists waged an attack on several Kurdish villages in north of Baghdad and captured a large number of Izadi girls and women there.

ISIS has also created groups on WhatsApp for the same shameful purpose.

Izadi Women Sold by ISIS on Online Messaging App

FM Calls for Removal of Obstacles to Promotion of Iran-EU Ties

mohammad javad zarif

The European Union should not be influenced by other countries and powers in development of its cooperation with Iran, Zarif said Tuesday in a meeting in Tehran with EU commissioner for internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), Elzbieta Bienkowska.

He pointed to the various grounds for collaborations between the private and public sectors of Iran and the EU, underlining the need for removing the obstacles to the expansion of the relations.

Iran’s top diplomat also highlighted the EU’s role in taking advantage of the atmosphere created after the lifting of anti-Tehran sanctions.

All nuclear-related sanctions against Iran were terminated after coming into force in January of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

Bienkowska, for her part, called for promotion of long-term cooperation between Iran and the EU in different areas.

She referred to European citizens’ willingness to visit Iran and described tourism as one of the most prepared grounds for boosting cooperation between the two sides.