Iran Frees Iranian-Canadian Academic on Humanitarian Grounds

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September 26, 2016

“Homa Hoodfar, the retired professor of Canadian universities, who had been detained in Iran on certain charges, was released this afternoon on humanitarian reasons such as [her] illness,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Monday.

He added that the scholar had left Tehran for Canada through Oman.

Hoodfar, a retired sociology and anthropology professor from Montreal’s Concordia University, was detained in Iran in June on several charges, including “collaboration with a hostile government.”

The report of her release came after Qassemi announced that Tehran and Ottawa have been holding bilateral meetings in recent months to improve the severed relations.

In his weekly briefing session on Monday, Qassemi told reporters in Tehran that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Canadian counterpart Stéphane Dion met in New York on September 21 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The sides discussed mutual relations, regional issues, and consular affairs. The meeting came as the two countries had severed bilateral relations more than four years ago.

“The expert-level talks will be continued in future, and if we manage to overcome political and legal issues, a major change can be made in Tehran-Ottawa bilateral ties,” he said, as reported by Tasnim and translated by IFP.

“Given the presence of hundreds of thousands of elite Iranians in Canada, our consular presence in the North American country is of great importance. I think, given the regional position of Iran, the issue is important for Canada as well. However, we should wait and see what it will lead to,” Qassemi said.

Saudi Rulers to Be Held Accountable for Sponsoring Terror

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 26, 2016

“[Given] the situation, which Saudi Arabia has gotten itself into, and in the light of international circles’ acquaintance with the country [‘s activities], its measures [to advance its agenda] would be of no avail and the country would have to answer for its support for international terrorism,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said.

Qassemi was referring to the Saudi Kingdom’s campaign to propagate its radical ideology of Wahhabism and inculcate extremism worldwide, as well as Riyadh’s lavish financial support for terrorist outfits in the Middle East region.

Speaking in a press conference on Monday, Qassemi also addressed US President Barack Obama’s recent veto of a bill that would have allowed family members of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia, saying even that would not keep the kingdom from being held accountable for backing terror.

“This measure (the veto) was taken due to some considerations, despite the US Congress’ 28-page report and the fact that today, it is evident to what extent Saudi Arabia has been involved in the September 11 incident.”

The congressional report, recently released by the US administration, links members of the Saudi government to the attackers.

“This measure by the United States is not unexpected. The US acts in the region and the world follow a set of double standards. The country changes its positions in accordance with immediate, temporary, and midterm goals,” Press TV quoted him as saying.

He further rejected Saudi Arabia’s claim of Iran’s presence in Yemen, saying the kingdom tries to play a blame game in the region.

“Saudi Arabia has launched an offensive against an independent country, bombarding and killing innocent people. Now that there’s no way forward for Saudi Arabia, it tries to shift the blame on others. We have, time and again, rejected these claims. We haven’t had and will never have any role in Yemeni developments,” the official asserted, saying it is the Yemeni people, who are resisting the Saudi invasion.

Saudi Arabia has been incessantly pounding Yemen since March 2015, with the UN putting the toll at 10,000. The offensive was launched to reinstate former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, and undermine Ansarullah.

Qassemi also slammed the Arab kingdom for playing an unconstructive role in the Middle East. He said Riyadh is using any means to put pressure on Tehran and sabotage its relations with regional countries.

The senior diplomat later advised the Saudi authorities to take a lesson from the tragic fate of certain regional dictators such as Saddam Hussein and refrain from treading down the same path.

Iran Seriously Warns US against Failure to Implement JCPOA

Elsewhere in his weekly press conference, Qassemi slammed the US for reneging on a nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), saying that the issue was raised in a recent meeting of the two sides’ officials in New York.

Qassemi pointed to the meeting of the foreign ministers of Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) in New York last week, saying that during the talks, Iran seriously warned against the US failure to fully implement the JCPOA.

In the implementation process of the JCPOA, the main instances of reneging on the agreement have been those by the US, he noted.

The foreign ministry spokesman went on to say that in recent negotiations the Iranian side seriously warned the Western parties on the US moves.

The first joint commission of the JCPOA at the level of foreign ministers was held in New York on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

While the JCPOA, a 159-page nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1, came into force in January, some Iranian officials complain about the US failure to fully implement the accord.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 26

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 26, 2016

Newspapers on Monday reported the unveiling of Iranian missiles in a ceremony, and also the remarks made by Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan during an open session of the parliament, where he highlighted the technological advances made in the country’s missile industry.

They also covered the upcoming presidential debate between US candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

IRGC General Mohsen Rezaei, who was Iran’s commander during the imposed war with Iraq, also appeared on front pages with his confessions about the continuation of war with the Arab country after the liberation of Khorramshahr in 1982.

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

Abrar:

1- Merkel Calls for Prevention of Illegal Immigrations to Europe

2- DM: Qadir, Sejjil, and Khorramshahr Missiles to Be Mass Produced by March 2017

3- National Interest: Direct Communication Channel Should Be Created between Iran and US Navies

4- Italian Ambassador to Iran: Tehran and Rome Have Friendliest Ties

5- South Korean Defence Minister: We’ll Kill North Korean Leader

Abrar-e Eqtesadi:

1- Beginning of Iran-US Water Talks

2- Armenia Ready for Preferred Trade with Iran

3- Italian Airline Starts Flights to Iran

4- Decrease of Imports and Increase of Exports in Iran’s Preferred Trade History

5- Iran’s New Oil Talks with Shell and Total

Afarinesh:

1- Rouhani in Meeting with Kenyan Parliament Speaker: Expansion of Ties with Africa, a Principle of Iran’s Foreign Policy

2- Zarif: Saudis Doing Anything Not to Lose US Support

3- President Rouhani’s Chief of Staff: Iran’s Diplomacy Looking for Those Who Want to Have Friendly Ties

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Economy Minister: We Were Removed from FATF Black List without Giving Any Concession

2- Export of 3m Tons of Wheat for First Time in Iran’s History

3- Former IRGC Commander: IRGC Ground Force Five Times Bigger than That of US

Amin:

1- New York Times Officially Supports Clinton’s Presidency

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- Analyst: Conservatives Are Supporting Rouhani Because They Have No Other Option

2- Politician: Rouhani to Be Focal Point of Conservatives’ Scenario for Elections

Asrar:

1- Rouhani’s Chief of Staff: Europe Echoing Iran’s Stances against US

2- Historic Advancement of Iran’s Futsal Team to World Cup Semi-Finals

Ebtekar:

1- Ayatollah Rafsanjani’s Account of Iran-Iraq War: We Would Keep Standing against Iraq Even If the War Continued for 20 Years

Emtiaz:

1- Deputy Prosecutor-General: Serious Action to Be Taken against Betting Websites; Betting Is a Type of Gambling and Is Considered a Crime

Etemad:

1- Top Secrets Revealed by War Commanders: Iran’s Commander during War with Iraq Says If Time Goes Back to 1982, Iran Would Consider Ending the War after Liberation of Khorramshahr

2- Hekmatyar Talks about Salafism and Democracy at Same Time

3- Former IRGC Commander: We Have 6m Warriors Ready to Fight

4- Crisis in Aleppo: Europe and US Consider Russia as the Culprit

5- Lovely Ambitious Guys: Iran Beats Paraguay to Advance to FIFA Futsal World Cup Semi-Finals

Ettela’at:

1- Defence Minister: Iran Capable of Developing Accurate Missiles with Any Range and Any Destructive Power

2- Iraqi Forces’ Counter-Attack on ISIS in Hit Kills 60 Terrorists

Iran:

1- Isfahan, World Centre of Handicrafts: 18th General Assembly of World Crafts Council Kicks Off in Isfahan with 200 Representatives from 22 Countries in Attendance

Jame Jam:

1- Zolfaqar Missile to Be Mass Produced; DM: No Limit in Accuracy and Range of Missiles

2- Iran’s Top Officer: Russia’s Request for Transfer of Iran’s Drone Technology

Javan:

1- 200 New ‘Barakat’ Schools, a Gift by Ayatollah Khamenei to Students in Deprived Regions

Jomhouri Eslami:

1- Iran’s Agriculture Minister Signs MoU with China: $3bn Investment to Be Made in Iran’s Fishery

2- Syrian FM Reveals Roles of Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia in Promotion of Terrorism in Syria: Wahhabism Is Root Cause of Terrorism

3- Nahed Hattar, Anti-Saudi Journalist, Shot Dead in Jordan

Kayhan:

1- Admitting US Violation of Its Commitments Not Enough: Compensate for JCPOA Damages

2- Deputy Agriculture Minister: Wheat Production Has Increased, No Need for Imports

3- Guardian: Britain Preventing Investigations into Al Saud’s Crimes in Yemen

Khorasan:

1- Psychological War ahead of First Debate; Trump: I’ll Take Bill Clinton’s Former Lover to Presidential Debate

Resalat:

1- President’s Chief of Staff: US Has Yet to Lift Anti-Iran Sanctions

2- Senior Conservative Bahonar: We Hope We’ll Have a Single and Efficient Candidate in Next Year’s Presidential Elections

Rooyesh-e Mellat:

1- Abu Dhabi Encourages Warmongering Policies: Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman

Roozan:

1- Ahead of Most Important Event of US 2016 Elections: A Presidential Debate Just for Victory

2- Conservatives Welcome Removal of Ahmadinejad; Analyst: He Could Cause Rift among Conservatives

Setareh Sobh:

1- Expert: Key to Decrease of Tehran-Riyadh Differences Lies in Iraq and Syria

Shargh:

1- Erdogan’s Support for Reza Zarrab

2- Minister Defends the Way Oil Was Sold during Ahmadinejad’s Era

Vaghaye Ettefaghieh:

1- Sunni Clerics’ Attack on Wahhabi Beliefs: Even Sunnis Outraged by Saudis

Use of Telegram Banned in Iran’s Government Offices

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IFP Editorial Staff

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September 26, 2016

According to a report by ISNA, as translated by IFP, Khoramabadi announced that using Telegram is prohibited in state-run institutions.

Khoramabadi pointed to the use of Telegram by some institutions and said, “They have been reprimanded and a directive was further issued about the prohibition of using Telegram messaging app in state-run institutions.”

He said that if the institutions’ negligence in this regard results in leakage of confidential information out of the country, criminal aspects will be added to the case.

“If we are notified that an institution is using Telegram in its administrative affairs, it will be seriously prosecuted and definitely charged with breaking the law,” Khoramabadi asserted.

“I have heard that Telegram is currently being used at some schools under the supervision of the Ministry of Education as a means of communication between students, school and parent-teacher association,” he said.

“Hereby, I warn them against foreign social networks and invite them to use domestic ones which are quite many.”

“Domestic social networks should replace the foreign ones,” he urged.

“We are pursuing the issue through the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology; however, since the Supreme Council of Cyberspace is in charge, we have demanded the Prosecutor General as a member of this council to investigate the issue as well,” he noted.

Attack on Syrian Forces Proved US Support for Terror Groups: Larijani

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IFP Media Wire

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September 26, 2016

“While parties were about to reach an agreement on Syria, they (the US) bombed the Syrian army. They showed that they are completely siding with the terrorists, and that their purported war on terror is nothing but a lie,” Larijani said in a joint press conference with Syrian Parliament Speaker Hadiya Khalaf Abbas in Tehran on Monday.

Larijani was making reference to the September 17 airstrike, which claimed the lives of more than 80 Syrian soldiers and left a hundred others injured. The Russian army said in a statement that two F-16 and two A-10 jets had entered the Syrian airspace from Iraq to carry out the attacks.

A week-long truce, brokered by Russia and the US, came to an end across Syria on September 19. Damascus refused to extend the deal over the aerial attack.

The top Iranian legislator noted that democracy cannot be promoted in Syria by instigating crises, exclaiming that the call for establishing democracy in Syria comes from certain countries in the region that have never held any elections.

Larijani said the world has now come to the realization that the issue of terrorism is not limited to Syria; rather, it a menace that can afflict other countries including the United States and Europe. “Terrorism is a global issue, and efforts are needed to strike terrorism at the root,” he noted.

Larijani advised against using double standards in tackling terrorism. “It is not possible to fight terrorism in other countries, but fuel terrorism in Syria,” the Iranian parliament speaker pointed out.

Larijani highlighted that Iran is assisting Iraq and Syria in their fight against terrorists at the request of the governments in Baghdad and Damascus.

Khalaf Abbas, for her part, praised the Iranian people and officials for their full support to Syria, noting that Damascus could not have been able to resist pressure from foreign-backed terrorists without Tehran’s backing.

According to Khalaf Abbas, Syria is going through a militancy sponsored by more than 80 countries, adding the conflict has devastated historic monuments and inflicted heavy losses on her country.

The top Syrian parliamentarian also dismissed US allegations that the aerial attack on Dayr al-Zawr had been a mistake, underscoring that American military aircraft had been flying over the area for about 45 minutes.

Khalaf Abbas said the Syrian government is in possession of documents that prove Americans launched the airstrikes to assist ISIS terrorists, noting that Washington has acted against Syria any time government forces have made gains against the Takfiri militants.

Syria has been gripped by a bloody foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. Over the past few months, the Takfiri militants have suffered major setbacks as the army has liberated several areas.

Major Change Expected in Iran-Canada Bilateral Ties: Spokesman

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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September 26, 2016

A few days ago, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Canadian counterpart Stéphane Dion met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly four years after the two countries stopped their diplomatic relations in 2012.

Asked about the meeting between Zarif and Dion, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said in his weekly press conference, “In the past few months, upon the other side’s request, Iran has held negotiations [with Canada] at the level of experts in a third country.”

Finally, he added, the negotiations led to the meeting between Iranian and Canadian foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UNGA.

“The expert-level talks will be continued in future, and if we manage to overcome political and legal issues, a major change can be made in Tehran-Ottawa bilateral ties,” he said, as reported by Tasnim and translated by IFP.

“Given the presence of hundreds of thousands of elite Iranians in Canada, our consular presence in the North American country is of great importance. I think, given the regional position of Iran, the issue is important for Canada as well. However, we should wait and see what it will lead to,” Qassemi said.

During their meeting in New York, Zarif and Dion talked about “mutual relations, regional issues, and consular affairs,” ISNA news agency reported on September 21.

After the meeting, Dion updated his Twitter account with a post that read, “First meeting with Irans Foreign Minister Zarif at the UNGA: [we] addressed status of relations between [the] two countries in [the] context of Middle East. [We also] discussed consular cases.”

There were no details about the talks, but Mashreq raised the possibility that the “consular” part of the talks may have included the Iranian-Canadian Homa Hoodfar who is under arrest in Iran under security charges.

Tehran and Ottawa halted their diplomatic ties after former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in July 2012 called Iran the “world’s most serious threat to international peace”, as reported by Trend.

The current Canadian government, however, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has already expressed willingness to improve relations with Tehran.

Damascus Has Audio of ISIS’ Talks with US Military before Strike on Syrian Army

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

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September 26, 2016

“The Syrian Army was wiretapping conversation between the Americans and ISIS before the air raid on Deir ez-Zor”, Hadiya Khalaf Abbas said as quoted by the Al Mayadeen broadcaster and reported by Sputnik.

US warplanes hit Syrian government troops near the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor on September 17, leaving 62 military personnel killed and a hundred wounded.

The Pentagon said initially that the airstrike was a mistake and targeted ISIS militants. The head of the Syrian parliament, added during her visit to Iran that after the coalition’s airstrikes on the government troops US military directed terrorists’ attack on the Syrian army.

The attack on government positions put to test a US-Russia brokered nationwide ceasefire that came into being in Syria earlier that week. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last Friday it was necessary to separate ISIS terrorists from “moderate” opposition forces in order to salvage the truce.

Britain, Australia and Denmark confirmed their air forces’ participation in the deadly airstrikes.

Turkish Singer Ebru Files for Divorce from Iranian-Turkish Businessman Zarrab

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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September 26, 2016

Zarrab’s lawyer, Volga Gökçe, said in a statement that Gündeş initially conveyed the divorce decision on June 13, adding that the singer wanted to speed up the divorce process.

“Gündeş sent divorce papers to Zarrab on September 23,” Gökçe said, as reported by Hürriyet and covered by Jame Jam Newspaper.

Gökçe also added that Zarrab welcomed his wife’s decision with respect despite his troubled situation.

Speaking to Hürriyet daily, Gündeş also confirmed the news about her divorce.

“Mr. Zarrab spoke his piece. My decision is real,” she said.

Gündeş and Zarrab were married on February 11, 2010, and had a daughter one year later.

Zarrab was arrested in Miami in March over attempting to evade US sanctions on Iran.

Nusra Front Commander: Americans Are on Our Side

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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September 26, 2016

Here’s IFP’s translation of excerpts from an interview with the Nusra Front commander, originally published in German by Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger:

Ten days ago, we conducted an interview with a commander of the Al-Qaeda branch “Jabhat Al Nusra”. The interview was arranged through a rebel from Aleppo.

Abu Al Ezz reported very openly about his backers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait.

His fighters were partially masked, i.e. easily identifiable. Some of his statements were almost literally confirmed shortly afterwards by the Mufti of Aleppo. Other predictions about the disinterest of the rebels on a ceasefire and international aid convoys were also confirmed; just as his predictions about planned military activities in several cities of Syria.

Abu Al Ezz, the commander, said about Jabhat al Nusra, which has now changed its name to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, “We are a part of Al Qaeda. Our principles are: combating vice, honesty and security.”

“Our issues and our path have changed. For example, now Israel is giving us support because they are at war with Syria and with Hezbollah.”

“The USA supplied the group with anti-tank missiles of TOW type.”

“The missiles were given to us directly,” the Nusra Front commander said when asked whether the US had given them the weapons through the Free Syrian Army, the so-called moderate rebels.

“The Americans are on our side,” the fighter said.

“Even America has changed its mind about us. Actually we are the “ISIS”, but the “ISIS” has been used in accordance with the interests of such big countries as the US for political purposes. It steered away from our principles. We, the “Al Nusra Front”, made our way. They were once with us, they were our supporters.”

He further referred to the recent strike on a UN aid convoy, and said, “The Syrian regime has to withdraw from all the territories if it wants us to let the truck pass. Otherwise, we will arrest the driver if the truck wants to pass.”

Our goal is the overthrow of the dictatorial regime, the tyrant regime, the regime of the renegades. Our goal is the implementation of conquests, as did [the Arab commander] Khaled Bin Al Walid. Only in the Arab world and in Europe.”

“We will fight until the fall of the regime.” The aim was “the creation of an Islamic state in accordance with Islamic Sharia law,” he said, adding that “we do not accept the secular state.”

Rouhani: Iran Dismantled Iranophobia Plot

By

IFP Media Wire

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September 26, 2016

“Iran’s image today is different from what it used to be a few years ago,” he told a ceremony marking World Tourism Day in Tehran on Monday.

Rouhani credited his administration with “dismantling the Iranophobia plot,” saying Iran’s nuclear agreement has lightened up the mood for travel to the country.

“The situation today is such that those governments which deterred their citizens from traveling to Iran are advising their tourists to visit Iran as a safe country,” he said.

“We made a big investment for this security,” President Rouhani added.

The president touched on 12-13 years of unannounced visits to Iran’s nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors, saying they finally declared Iran’s activities as peaceful.

“They finally said that the case of possible military dimensions has been closed and that they would now look at Iran’s future nuclear program and not the past. This marked an end to an important aspect of Iranophobia in the world.”

Rouhani described tourism as “one of the launchpads” of development, progress and growth, saying Iran must use its tourism attractions to achieve those goals.

“One of our important goals is the issue of employment, technology and investment. Through the tourism industry which apparently is an easy but in fact a complicated field, we should achieve these objectives.”

Rouhani said, “Iran is one of the top 10, or according to some people, five countries in the world in terms of natural, climatic, historical and cultural attractions.”

“The cultural heritage of this land is one of the most important attractions in its ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity and tradition which can become an important tourism target,” he added.

The president also touched on Iran’s celebration of Defense Week which marks the Iraqi invasion of the Islamic Republic under the former dictator Saddam Hussein in 1980 and hailed the sacrifices of “the great Iranian nation.”

“Like the beloved youths who managed then to defend Iran’s territorial integrity, national sovereignty and independence, our nation and its youths today have the same preparedness to defend the country and its revolutionary achievements.”

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

Iran Frees Iranian-Canadian Academic on Humanitarian Grounds

Saudi Rulers to Be Held Accountable for Sponsoring Terror

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 26

Attack on Syrian Forces Proved US Support for Terror Groups: Larijani

Major Change Expected in Iran-Canada Bilateral Ties: Spokesman

Damascus Has Audio of ISIS’ Talks with US Military before Strike on Syrian Army

Turkish Singer Ebru Files for Divorce from Iranian-Turkish Businessman Zarrab

Nusra Front Commander: Americans Are on Our Side

Rouhani: Iran Dismantled Iranophobia Plot

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