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FATF Deal against Iran’s National Security: MP

Mohammad Javad Jamali

Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Mohammad Javad Jamali, a member of the presiding board of the parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, expressed concerns that the deal between Iran and the FATF could endanger the country’s national interests.

He said the Westerners are seeking to further interfere in the internal affairs of the Islamic Republic through the agreement.

They are trying to secretly monitor Iran’s banking system and financial exchanges with other countries, he added.

“… If the deal is implemented, the security of the Islamic establishment will be threatened,” the MP said.

He further made assurance that the parliament will not allow Iran’s national security to be undermined.

In late June, FATF hailed Iran’s adoption of an action plan to address shortcomings in its anti-money laundering policies and its decision to seek assistance with implementation.

In its plenary meeting in South Korea, the body took into account Iran’s implementation of an anti-money laundering law and its membership at the Eurasian Group, a FATF-style regional body.

Iran, however, will remain on the FATF blacklist until the full implementation is complete, the body said. Moreover, if it fails to demonstrate “sufficient progress” at the end of the yearlong suspension, the restrictions will be re-imposed.

The body is under the influence of the US, which is keeping pressure on Iran by maintaining sanctions despite coming into force of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a lasting nuclear deal between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).

Over 3m Saudi Women Don’t Have ID Cards

burqa

The Arab country’s Civil Affairs has referred to a lack of special offices for registration of women and giving ID cards to them as one of the main reasons for this problem, as reported by Fars and translated by IFP.

Many Saudi women are deprived of their basic rights. Until 2004, these women were banned from having ID cards, and their names used to be registered first in their fathers’ and then in their husbands’ ID cards.

However, the country’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin-Abdullah al-Sheikh says portraying the face is forbidden for women, and thus they cannot have ID cards with photos.

Therefore, the Saudi Interior Ministry has proposed a plan to fingerprint women instead of issuing ID cards with photos for them.

Iran, Britain Appoint New Envoys

Hamid Baeedinejad- Nicholas Hopton

Iran has appointed Hamid Baeedinejad, former director general for political and international affairs at Iran’s foreign ministry, as the new ambassador to London.

Mr. Baeedinejad was a member of the Iranian team of negotiators in around two years of nuclear talks with the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).

Britain has also named Nicholas Hopton as its new ambassador to Tehran. Mr. Hopton used to serve as Britain’s chargé d’affaires to the Islamic Republic of Iran. He was an ambassador to Qatar from 2013 to 2015.

Baeedinejad and Hopton met simultaneously with Foreign Minister Zarif on Monday.

An informed official at Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that the two countries reopened their embassies more than a year ago, and that chargés d’affaires were handling the whole issues in the meantime.

With the conditions being ready for an upgrade in the diplomatic ties, Tehran and London decided to appoint ambassadors, the official added, but emphasized that such an upgrade would not translate into settlement of the whole problems.

“The Islamic Republic will continue to explicitly express its views in a bilateral manner, and so on,” the official added.

Iran-Britain ties soured in 2011. On November 27, 2011, a large majority of Iranian lawmakers voted to downgrade diplomatic ties with Britain, following Britain’s decision to impose sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran.

Later, angry Iranian students stormed the British embassy in Tehran and pulled down the European country’s flag.

Following the incident, Britain withdrew its diplomatic staff from Tehran on November 30 and asked Iran’s diplomatic delegation in London to leave within 48 hours.

The two countries made diplomatic efforts afterwards to amend ties.

In August 2015, the British embassy in Iran reopened after a 4-year closure. Britain’s Foreign Secretary Hammond attended a ceremony in Tehran to mark the reopening on August 23. It was the first visit by a British foreign secretary to Iran since 2003.

Simultaneously, Iran’s embassy in London also reopened.

FATF Has Nothing to Do with JCPOA: Spokesman

FATF

“FATF has nothing to do with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and we do not have any problem or concern about it. It has existed since years ago,” Qassemi said, as reported by ISNA.

“Some excuses and concerns are nonsense and we reject them. There are some false information and understanding. Of course, some concerns are because of good will and we understand them.”

Bahram Ghasemi- FM Spoksman“The regulations are against categorized child-killing terrorist groups such as the ISIS, al-Qaeda and al-Nusra. We believe that Hezbollah is a pride for Lebanon and the Islamic World,” he went on to say.

The remarks came after a wave of attacks against the government, which began with the release of two letters issued by Iranian banks Sepah and Mellat, denying ForEx services to IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbia Headquarter for being listed in the EU sanctions list.

The Leader’s top adviser on foreign policy Ali Akbar Velayati joined critics of the so-called FATF-CBI deal, saying that the FATF restricts activities of some of Revolutionary bodies, Mehr News Agency reported.

valiollah_seifEarlier today, the Governor of Iran’s Central Bank Valiollah Seif notified Iranian banks and financial institutions, in a letter, that they are banned from imposing any restriction.

“Restriction based on US, EU or other international sanctions have no basis in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or other international commitments of the Islamic Republic”, and thus must be avoided, according to the letter.

Tughrul Tower, 12th Century Monument in Southern Tehran

Tughrul Tower

The 20-metre tall brick tower is the tomb of Seljuk ruler Tuğrul Beg, who died in Rey in 1063. Originally, like other monuments of its time, it was capped by a conical dome, which would have added to its height. The dome collapsed during an earthquake.

Here are Tehran Picture Agency’s photos of the tower:

 

 

Iran to Host 300 Professional Tour Leaders from across Globe

Soltaniyeh Dome

Talking to reporters Sunday night, member of Iran Federation of Tourist Guides Associations Oveis Kiyani said the international tour leaders will travel to Iran to participate in the “17th WFTGA Convention: Iran.”

He encouraged officials working in all relevant areas like construction and administrative sectors to get involved in preparations programs for the event nationwide.

He said the guests of the event will have the opportunity to get familiar with Iran’s tourist capacities and then embark on sending tourist groups to Iran when back to their own countries.

WFTGA is a non-profit making professional organization dedicated to the promotion of high standards of training and ethics within the profession.

The event will be held in the northwestern city of Zanjan in February 2017 for two weeks, he noted.

According to the official, tour guides from 40 world countries have so far applied for participation in the event.

The WFTGA aims to establish contact with tourist guide associations throughout the world, to reinforce their professional ties and to promote and protect the interests of professional tourist guides; to represent professional tourist guide associations internationally and to work for the improvement of the quality and reputation of the profession of tourist guides worldwide.

Its events are held every two years in different parts of the world.

Zanjan province hosts many tourist attractions among them Gonbad Soltaniyeh which is located some 240 kilometres (150 mi) to the north-west of Tehran.

Darougheh House in Iran’s Mashhad Wins UNESCO Conservation Award

darougheh

 A total of 13 winning projects from six countries – Australia, China, India, Iran, Japan and Pakistan – have been recognized in this year’s Heritage Awards. A panel of international conservation experts met in Bangkok to review the 40 Heritage Awards entries, including 34 in the Conservation category and six for New Design.

According to UNESCO, the conservation of Darougheh House has reinstated a significant component of the historic townscape of Mashhad. Based on in-depth historical research, verified through archaeological excavation, the project preserved the original building’s scale and footprint with a focus on the retention of original materials and reuse of materials from demolished adjacent buildings.

darougheh
Photos: Darougheh House in Mashhad

Local artisans specializing in traditional architectural decoration carried out the work, and new features were carefully identified in keeping with established conservation practice. Amidst the rapid pace of development now transforming Mashhad, the restored Darougheh House provides validation for the continuing relevance of traditional spaces in contemporary urban life.

Meanwhile the Restoration of the Sanro-Den Hall at Sukunahikona Shrine in Ozu City, Japan, Ehime Prefecture, has received the Award of Excellence in this year’s UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, as reported by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC).

Duong Bich Hanh, Chair of the Jury and Chief of UNESCO Bangkok’s Culture Unit, said she was pleased to see the Heritage Awards encourage good conservation practices in the region. “Jury members were delighted with the quality of this year’s entries to the Heritage Awards,” Ms. Hanh said. “This showed increased knowledge and higher standards in conservation work across Asia-Pacific’.

This year’s Award of Excellence winner, the Sanro-Den Hall, a prayer hall at Sukunahikona Shrine in Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture, is an exceptional example of community stewardship enlisted in the conservation of a heritage site of unique architectural and cultural value. The project epitomizes the efficacy of grass-roots advocacy, coupled with traditional building practices, in extending the life of distinctive 20th-century Kakezukuri structure, successfully returning it to a central place in the cultural life of the local community.

Jury members also agreed to revise the regulations regarding how old a site must be to be eligible for the awards, reflecting a growing awareness in the conservation field of the importance of recognizing cultural heritage that is less than 50 years old, which is in growing danger. The revised regulations will be available via the UNESCO Bangkok website at the end of this year, and will be applied to entries submitted for next year’s awards.

Iran Principally Opposed to Appointment of UN Human Rights Rapporteurs

Iran Blasts Saudi Airstrike on Civilians in Yemen

“We have been principally opposed to the appointment of (UN) rapporteur on Iran,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said at his weekly press conference on Monday, in response to reports that Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jahangir will succeed Maldivian diplomat Ahmed Shaheed as the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran.

He explained that certain institutions decided to appoint such a rapporteur for Iran after victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, stressing that Tehran rejects the move that “pursues certain objectives.”

“The historical irony is that the human rights rapporteur on Iran is appointed with the endorsement of Saudi Arabia, which is a child-murderer regime,” Qassemi deplored.

The spokesman also bemoaned the fact that those UN officials receive information from “inauthentic sources” that are hostile to the Islamic Republic.

In June 2011, the UN Human Rights Council, under pressure from the US and its allies, named former Maldivian foreign minister Shaheed as its human rights investigator on Iran. On March 24, 2016, he was appointed to the position for the sixth year.

Tehran insists that the appointment of a UN special rapporteur on Iran’s human rights situation is a selective, politically-motivated and unacceptable move.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5

Iran Newspaper front pages

Almost all major newspapers on Monday covered Iran’s deal with the government’s controversial deal with Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which is an international task force against money laundry. All conservatives described it as treason and called for its termination.

The US President Barack Obama’s visit to Hangzhou, and China’s controversial reception also received great coverage. Newspapers pointed to Obama’s humiliation following China’s refusal to give him red carpet treatment.

The election of Rasoul Khadem, the former Iranian wrestler and President of Iran’s Wrestling Federation, as a bureau member of United World Wrestling was also a top story as it was the first of its kind in the past years.

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

 

Abrar:

1- Obama: Differences with Russia over Syria Still in Place

2- Turkey Backs Off in Dealing with EU

3- Merkel Doesn’t Regret Accepting Refugees

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Abrar-e Eqtesadi:

1- Iranian Banks to Open Branches in Germany

2- 137 Luxury Cars [Illegally Smuggled into Iran] Exported to Other Countries

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Afkar:

1- FATF Deal Not in Iran’s Interests: Leader’s Advisor

2- 37 Intangible Heritages Registered in Iran’s National Heritage List

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Rouhani to Take Longer Steps in His Second Term: Rafsanjani

2- Iranian Music Maestro Shahram Nazeri: I’ve Stayed in Iran Because of My Love for the Country

3- FATF Membership Was Ahmadinejad Government’s Suggestion

4- Historical Tiles Stolen from Tehran Are Displayed in Louvre!

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- I Knew the Leader Wanted the Nuclear Case to Be Resolved: Rafsanjani

2- Efforts Being Made to Persuade Zarif to Run for Presidential Elections

3- Car Accident, First Cause of Iranian Children’s Death

4- Haddad Adel [senior conservative and former MP]: I Won’t Run for Presidential Votes

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Ebtekar:

1- Unhealthy Lifestyle of Iranian Youth Has Exposed Them to Heart Diseases

2- Great Development for Iran’s Wrestling: Khadem Becomes Bureau Member of United World Wrestling

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Emtiaz:

1- Ultimatum for Stopping Production of Flavoured Tobaccos

2- Inter-Governmental Schools to Be Established in Iraq: Education Minister

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Etemad:

1- Victory of Traditionalists in Economy: Shafe’i Elected as Head of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Ettela’at:

1- Chomsky: US and West Have Closed Their Eyes on Saudi Arabia’s Support for Terrorism

2- Saudi Warplanes’ Attacks on Yemen’s Infrastructure

3- Zarif: Cooperation Should Replace Competition in Middle East

4- Easy Marriage Ceremonies Held across Iran on Occasion of Wedding Anniversary of Imam Ali and Prophet Muhammad’s Daughter Fatimah

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Haft-e Sobh:

1- Story of Rafsanjani’s Love for Germany and Japan: How the Ayatollah’s Devotion to Economic Development of These Two, and Also That of China, Led to Free Trade Zones in Iran

2- Cold Swedish Cars for Warm-Blooded Iranians: About New Luxury Models of Volvo in Iranian Streets

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Hamshahri:

1- Knife Used in 45% of Murders in Iran

2- Dismissal of Executives with Dual Nationality

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Jame Jam:

1- Death, the Last Stage of Addiction

2- Europe Becomes Main Source of Iran’s Imports

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Javan:

1- People Wouldn’t Accept the FATF Humiliation: Continued Reactions to Self-Imposition of Sanctions

2- China Refused to Give Obama Red Carpet Treatment

3- The Comments [written by Ayatollah Khamenei] which Made People Interested in Reading Books: People Consider Leader of Islamic Revolution as a Reliable Guide for Buying Books

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Jomhouri Eslami:

1- Expansion of Iran-Europe Banking Ties with Removal of Barriers and Establishment of Branches in Other Countries: Iranian Banks Open Branches in Germany

2- Turkish Army Enters Kobane as Part of Its Continued Invasion of Syrian Territory

3- Saudi Coalition’s Numerous Attacks on Civilian Areas and Yemen Airports

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Kayhan:

1- Immediate Termination of FATF Deal, a Public Demand

2- The Chinese Didn’t Give Obama the Red Carpet

3- Salafis’ Faith Isn’t that of Prophet Muhammad, It Is the Religion of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab: Al-Azhar Mufti

4- Saudi Ambassador to Iraq Is Tasked with Supporting ISIS: Missionary

5- Al Saud’s Huge Expenses Have Failed to Prevent Spread of Shiism in the US: One of World’s 50 Most Influential Muslims

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Khorasan:

1- Humiliation in China: Obama’s Visit to China Becomes Controversial

2- Death Toll in Iranian Roads as Much as that of One Plane Crash Every Day

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Resalat:

1- Justifying US Violation of Its Commitments Is Cooperating in Their Crimes: Senior Cleric

2- FATF Deal Doesn’t Serve Iran’s Interests: Velayati

3- Abiding by FATF Worse than Capitulation: Political Analyst

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Shahrvand:

1- Wrong Privatization of Government-Owned Companies Is Major Cause of Poverty: 2 Ministers

2- Ista, a Timeless Village: A Report on the Village Whose People’s Lives Stopped 100 Years Ago

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Sobh-e Now:

1- Halt to Project for Self-Imposition of Sanctions? Danger of Joining FATF

2- Champion of Breaking Records: Rasoul Khadem and End of Iran’s Absence in World Wrestling Bureau

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Vaghaye Ettefaghieh:

1- UNESCO Holds Commemoration Ceremony for Iran’s Music Maestro Shahram Nazeri

2- Saudis Bite Off More than They Can Chew: Riyadh Threatens Iran to War

3- Constructive Cooperation Should Replace Illusion of Competition in Middle East: Zarif

4- 25% Decrease in Divorce Rate Is an Optimistic Statistic: VP for Women Affairs

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5


 

Vatan-e Emrooz:

1- Damocles: Officials, MPs, Political and Economic Experts Warn against Dangers of Treasonous Disaster of FATF Deal

2- Aleppo Once Again under Full Siege: Syrian Army Takes Control of Arms Faculty

3- Obama Humiliated by the Chinese: Sidelines and Meetings of G20 Leaders

4- Symphony of Imprudence in Northern Iran Flood: Huge Crisis in Mazandaran and Golestan Provinces

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 5

Iran Ready to Boost Security Cooperation with Iraq: Envoy

Hassan Danaeifar

During a meeting with Secretary General of Iraq’s Islamic Dawa Party and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad on Sunday, Hassan Danaeifar, the Iranian envoy, said Tehran seeks to broaden its amicable relations and cooperation with Baghdad in all spheres, including security issues and the campaign against ISIS.

He also congratulated Iraq on the recent liberation of the western city of al-Khalidiya from the grip of ISIS.

On August 27, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the full liberation of Khalidiya, which is located about 83km (50 miles) west of Baghdad, stating that Iraqi forces had dealt a “humiliating” defeat to ISIS Takfiris with the liberation.

Iraqi Lieutenant General Rashid Falaih also announced that over 1,000 ISIS elements had been killed during the Iraqi army’s operations to free the strategic town.

During the Sunday meeting, Maliki, for his part, emphasized that Iraqi security forces, fighters from the pro-government Popular Mobilization Units and Kurdish Peshmerga forces are resolute to put an end to ISIS’ presence in Mosul and eventually eliminate the terrorists from Iraqi soil.

The Iraqi politician also praised the Islamic Republic of Iran’s support for his country in the fight against terrorism.

The northern and western parts of Iraq have been plagued by gruesome violence ever since ISIS terrorists mounted an offensive there more than two years ago.

The militants have been committing vicious crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians.

The Iraqi army and fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units have been engaged in joint operations to retake militant-held regions.