A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on August 14

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August 14, 2016

Newspapers on Sunday covered the order by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to pardon or commute the sentences of 750 prisoners on the occasion of Imam Reza’s birthday anniversary.

They also highlighted the first gold medal bagged by Team Iran in Rio Olympic Games 2016. Kianoosh Rostami, the Iranian weightlifter, was the one who seized the medal.

The remarks by senior conservative figure and a probable presidential candidate Mohammad Reza Bahonar about the house arrest of Iranian opposition figures Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi also received great coverage.

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

Abrar:

1- Those Who Support MKO Terrorist Group Can’t Restore Life to This Dead Body: IRGC

2- Obama Gave Iraq and Its Oilfields to Iran Like a Piece of Cake: Trump

3- S-300 Missile Defence System to Be Fully Delivered to Iran by Year-End: MP

Abrar-e Eqtesadi:

1- Iran-Norway Oil Talks

2- 71% Increase in Iran-Russia Trade

3- Grounds to Be Prepared for Development of Iran-Kazakhstan Economic Ties

4- Renault’s Bad Fate in Iran

5- Boeing Official Once Again Start Talks with Iran

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Was Rouhani Successful in Countering Astronomical Salaries?

2- Weightlifter Rostami Wins First Gold Medal for Team Iran

3- Diplomatic Efforts for Promotion of Tourism: Visa Regime Lifted between Iran and Armenia

4- Iran Lifts Ban on Tourism to Turkey

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- Bahonar’s Suggestion: Continuation of House Arrest! [for the two opposition figures Mousavi and Karroubi]

2- Senior Conservative: If a Court Is Held for Mousavi and Karroubi, They’d Receive Stiff Sentences

3- Chinese Products Dominate Iran’s Lucrative Stationary Market

4- Former MP Urges Reformists to Launch Campaign in Support of Rouhani

Asrar:

1- Saudi Arabia Slaughters 50 Yemeni Students

2- Mismanagement Hindered the Country’s Progress: Aref

3- Zarif: Saudis Want Middle East to Seem Instable

4- Radicals Are in a Minority: Analyst

5- Iran’s First Gold Coined for Rostami

Emtiaz:

1- 13 Benz and Porsche Cars Illegally Smuggled into Iran Will Be Destroyed

2- Health Minister Underlines Reinforcement of All-Out Ties with Cuba

Etemad:

1- Opinions of Aref [reformist] and Bahonar [conservative] about House Arrest

Aref: President Rouhani Hasn’t Forgotten the Issue of House Arrests
Bahonar: Best Decision under Current Circumstances Is to Continue House Arrests

2- Fidel Castro Turns 90: Last Survivor of the Red Time

3- Beginning of Iran’s Golden Week in Olympics

Ettela’at:

1- Rouhani: Iran Wants Freedom of Trade in Global System

2- Several Students Killed in Saudi Airstrike on Yemeni School

3- Iran’s Volleyball Team among Top 8 in Rio Olympics

4- ISIS Abducts 2,000 Civilians in Syria’s Minbaj

Haft-e Sobh:

1- MasterCard to Become Available in Iran: Minister

2- How Iranian Social Media Users Judge and Issue Sentences for Public Figures in Shortest Time!

Hemayat:

1- Israel Not Capable of Countering Resistance Movement: Nasrallah

2- Regional Dictators Are Adopting Suicidal Policies against Iran: Zarif

Jame Jam:

1- Killing Children Silently: Saudi Arabia’s Massacre in Yemeni School

2- Leader Pardons or Commutes Sentences of 750 Prisoners

Javan:

1- Next War with Israelis Will Be inside the Occupied Territories: Nasrallah

2- Arab Governments Face Vital Challenges: Zarif

3- US Wants a War of Attrition in Aleppo: Analyst

4- Malnutrition Is the Main Factor behind 1,300% Increase of Cancer in Iran

Jomhouri Eslami:

1- We Shouldn’t Victimize JCPOA Because of Electoral Campaigns: Zarif

2- Imposition of Sanctions Is a Wrong and Futile Instrument: Rouhani

3- Resistance Front Has Defeated US and Israel in Middle East: Nasrallah

Kayhan:

1- Sanctions Remained after JCPOA; Only 10% of Oil Incomes Are Received: Oil Official

2- Israel Can No Longer Confront Hezbollah: Nasrallah

Khorasan:

1- Lebanon’s 33-Day War Should Be Named a National Holiday in Iran [Editorial]

2- A Report on Costs of Higher Education in Iran

Resalat:

1- If Rouhani Fails to Do Anything Serious in Next 6 Months, He’ll Have Problems in 2017 Presidential Elections: Bahonar

2- Revolutionary Outrage Once Again in Bahrain

3- Hassan Nasrallah a Clear Example of a Revolutionary Cleric: Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani

Sayeh:

1- A Cold and Delicious Bite: On Occasion of Popsicle Day

2- Influence in Global Markets Using Components of Power Economy

Shahrvand:

1- We’ll Definitely Achieve 5% Economic Growth This Year: First VP

2- For First Time in History of Iran’s Higher Education: Turkish and Kurdish Languages to Be Taught in Iranian Universities

3- Mousavi Didn’t Accept to Stop His Political Activities If He’s Released from House Arrest: Bahonar

4- First International Credit Card in Iran

Sobh-e Now:

1- A Joint Meeting May Be Held between Rouhani, Putin, and Erdogan: Results of Turkey’s Political Turnaround

Vaghaye Ettefaghieh:

1- Americans’ Economic Tour of Iran: Boeing Officials Arrive in Tehran, Deal Signed for Production of Euro-5 Petrol

2- Turkey Will Maintain Its Orientation to West: Political Analyst

3- Fight over Khorasan: After Cancellation of Concerts, Is Mashhad Going to Be Culturally Autonomous?

Vatan-e Emrooz:

1- Treasonous Commitment to FATF: Secrets behind Government’s Secrecy about a Deal

2- Unclear Fate of 26 Iranian Fishermen

Iran’s Shamkhani, Iraqi Kurdistan’s Sinjari Discuss Security Issues

By

IFP Media Wire

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August 14, 2016

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s Interior Minister Karim Sinjari held talks on a range of issues, including ways to boost cooperation on security issues.

In the meeting in Tehran on Sunday morning, Shamkhani and the visiting Iraqi official from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), exchanged views about enhancing security along common borders.

The two officials also discussed the security situation in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region and ways to boost cooperation between the two sides in various security areas.

In an earlier meeting in Tehran with former prime minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan region, Barham Ahmad Salih, Shamkhani reaffirmed Iran’s support for unity among all Iraqi groups, including Kurds.

“Increasing integrity and friendship among the Kurdish groups for active partnership in the political and economic structure of united Iraq is the Islamic Republic of Iran’s unchanging policy,” he said in that meeting on Tuesday.

Iraq has been facing the growing threat of terrorism, mainly posed by the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group, which made swift advances in much of northern and western Iraq over the summer of 2014 but has been forced by the Iraqi military and volunteer forces to withdraw from many of the areas.

Iran Dismisses US Report on Religious Freedom

By

IFP Media Wire

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August 14, 2016

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi on Saturday described the US Department of State’s annual report on human rights practices as an unreal, exaggerated and unconstructive document that contains repeated and unsubstantiated claims made “on the basis of enmity and political intentions.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran recognizes the rights of religious minorities according to its Constitution. All Iranian citizens are equal in enjoying their basic rights under the law,” he added.

Qassemi then highlighted the UN’s expression of concern in a recent report about the widespread violation of rights of religious minorities in the US, calling on Washington to address the blatant violations of Muslim rights instead of giving advice to the others.

“It is necessary for the US administration to stop violating the rights of religious minorities, particularly of Muslims, and show more serious commitment to its human rights obligations,” Qassemi underlined.

Tehran condemns any political exploitation of the issue of human rights against the interests of the independent countries, he concluded.

Women’s Key Role in Iran’s Shahsevan Tribe

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

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August 14, 2016

Hectic women of Shahsevan nomadic tribes play key roles in the economic life of their community, which is usually hosted by Sabalan outskirts during spring and summer.

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Moradi Clinches 2nd Gold Medal for Iran’s Caravan

By

IFP Media Wire

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August 14, 2016

Iran had deployed two representatives to the Men’s 94 kg weightlifting encounter at Rio 2016 who lifted weights on Sunday and won a gold medal to take the country to the 21st place in overall medal standings.

Sohrab Moradi first requested 178 kilograms though he managed to lift it in the second try. Meanwhile, he fulfilled the ambition of lifting 182 kilograms in his third try only to confirm his position on top of the snatch table.

Moradi overcame the 221kg weight in his first try of clean and jerk which was enough for him to win the gold medal. The Iranian champion devoted his two remaining attempts to 231 and 233 kilogram weights in order to break the world record though he failed to do so and finished with 403 kilograms overall to stand in top of the podium.

Vadzim Straltsou of Belarus bagged silver with a total of 395 kilograms and Lithuania’s Aurimas Didzbalis claimed bronze on 392 kilograms.

Iran’s other weightlifter in the same category Ali Hashemi, who was the first Iranian weightlifter to make his attempts on Sunday, only managed to snatch 173 kilograms in his third try and lifted 210 kilograms in the clean and jerk to finish in the seventh place with a total of 383 kilograms.

Earlier on Friday, Iran’s first gold in the 2016 Olympic Games was received by weightlifter Kianoush Rostami who won the men’s 85-kilogram category with a new world record of a total of 396 kilograms.

These two golds put Iran in the 21st position in the Rio Olympics rankings between Switzerland and Sweden.

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Iran, Armenia Abolish Mutual Visa Regime

By

IFP Media Wire

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August 13, 2016

The removal of mutual visa regime between Iran and Armenia follows a relevant agreement signed recently between the two neighboring countries in Tehran, the Iranian embassy said in a statement.

The agreement for abolishing the visa regime came into effect on August 6, 2016, it added.

Earlier, Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia Kazem Sajjadi was quoted by the Armen Press news agency as saying that the issue had been discussed in a meeting between Iran’s Justice Minister and Armenia’s Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan.

Armenia announced in early June that it has approved signing an agreement with Iran to abolish the visa regime between the two countries.

The country’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan was quoted by media as saying that the agreement will help develop relations between Iran and Armenia.

The agreement, signed June 5 during a visit to the Iranian capital by Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, will allow Iranians and Armenians to travel to the two countries with citizens and diplomatic passports without a visa and stay there for maximum 90 days within a 180-day period, the media reported at the time.

Best Decision Is to Resume House Arrest of Iranian Opposition Leaders

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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August 13, 2016

Here’s IFP’s translation of excerpts from Bahonar’s interview with ILNA:

“The best situation … is the house arrest. If these two men [Mousavi and Karroubi] are to be tried in any court of justice based on the country’s regulations, they would receive a stiff sentence, and it may not be in the country’s interest to carry out such a sentence for them,” Bahonar said.

He further raised the question that why the Establishment does not release them now that they are not going to be tried.

“We can’t find anyone in the world that does something against a ruling system and live freely. Someone may talk against our party, and that is normal. But sometimes some people become the opposition of the ruling system. The opposition figures don’t have the right to be active anywhere in the world. It is like telling someone that you have the right to launch a revolution,” he answered.

He further hinted that they could be free if they wanted to live their lives without interfering in politics. However, according to Bahonar, they want to create a chaos in the country once they are released.

“In such cases, the Establishment would never let them do so,” he went on to say.

Bahonar revealed that he had recently sent a message to Mousavi and asked him to declare that he would avoid any political activity for years if he is released.

However, he added, Mousavi has apparently rejected the offer.

Mousavi, his wife Zahra Rahnavard, and Karroubi has been under house arrest since February 2011. The three were arrested following the 2009 post-election protests and riots.

During the unrest and riot that broke out following presidential election, supporters of Karroubi and Mousavi, the two candidates that had lost the election, raised allegations of electoral fraud and held sporadic violent rallies in Tehran and some other cities.

Skeleton of 7,500-Year-Old Man Found Almost Intact in Iran

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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August 13, 2016

Here’s IFP’s translation of excerpts from Mehr’s interview with Hamid Farahi, the head of the team dispatched to the site by the National Institute for Conservation and Restoration of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHTO):

The 7,500-year-old skeleton was discovered 6 metres down the earth in Sar Sakhti-ye Olya village in Shazand, and was transferred to Chahar Fasl (Four Seasons) Museum in Arak.

“Since the skeleton had been buried deep in the earth, the transfer team had great difficulty in moving the skeleton to the museum,” Farahi said.

“Before transferring the skeleton to the museum, we had to apply techniques of cutting and plaster moulding,” he noted.

It takes two months before the skeleton bones become stiff, he said, adding, “Once we finish strengthening the skeleton, it will be displayed to the public.”

Some significant objects including turtle shell and a series of grinding tools were also found buried with the man, he added.

Fathollah Niazi, the leader of the excavation team, mentioned that the man had been buried squatted and probably facing to the sun.

“He was buried with a few heating items such as a heater, because people at that time believed that life continues after death,” he underscored.

Niazi further pointed to the healthy teeth and bones of the skeleton, adding that “the type of the soil and the existence of some elements such as lime, very low levels of acid and high amount of salt are the main reasons.”

Here are Mizan‘s photos of the skeleton and the transfer process:

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Russia Had Warned Turkey of July Coup: Media Reports Confirm

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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August 13, 2016

Western and Arab media outlets and journalists are confirming earlier media reports that said Russia had warned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of an imminent coup by the army on July 15.

Last month, Rai Alyoum revealed that Turkey’s President Erdogan had been alerted by Russia against an imminent army coup hours before it was initiated, and added that Erdogan asked his supporters to remain in the streets after receiving advice from Tehran.

Several Arab media outlets, including Rai Alyoum, quoted diplomatic sources in Ankara as saying that Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization, known locally as the MIT, received intelligence from its Russian counterpart that warned of an impending coup in the Muslim state.

Now Rai Alyoum Editor-in-Chief Abdel Bari Atwan has confirmed the report in an interview with Russia Today Arabic news network, saying, “The Russian intelligence came to find out about the coup in Turkey before anyone else and the Russian President informed his Turkish counterpart in an urgent hotline phone call.”

Asked about his sources and the reliability of his report, the renowned journalist said, “We earned this piece of news from several sources; the Russian intelligence service had managed to monitor and pick up abnormal and massive moves of the Turkish army through the Tartus base in Syria.”

He further stated that the move has caused a U-Turn in President Erdogan’s foreign policy towards Russia, especially with regard to Syria, as reported by Fars and edited by IFP.

In the meantime, Robert Fisk, who heads the Middle-East desk of Independent, also confirmed the report in an article on Tuesday, August 9.

“Russia and, indeed, Iran played an intelligence role in warning Erdogan of the military coup plotted against him,” Fisk wrote.

“The Arabs have already been told by their Russian collocutors that Putin, being the old KGB boss that he was, personally sent a message to Erdogan after learning of the coup from Turkish army communications, which were picked up and listened to by Russian technicians at their air base just outside Lattakia in Syria,” he added.

The Iranians – who would be happy to see Turkey turned against their Sunni Islamist enemies in Syria – also tipped off Erdogan about the coup, so the Arabs have been told,” Fisk said.

Fisk also presented an analysis identical with Atwan in his Independent article, saying that Turkey is now leaning towards Russia and turning its back to the former Arab and western allies.

Boeing Representatives in Tehran: Minister

By

IFP Media Wire

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August 13, 2016

“Right now, Boeing representatives including three financial, legal and technical groups are in Tehran and negotiating” the sale of jetliners to Iran, Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhundi said on Saturday.

Those negotiations with Airbus have concluded and the two sides were waiting for the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to issue a license for the purchase to go ahead, he added.

The two aviation rivals have signed initial accords with the flag carrier Iran Air to sell about 200 aircraft worth more than $50 billion to the country which is seeking to renovate its aging fleet after decades of sanctions.

However, they are facing stiff opposition from pro-Israeli members of US Congress who are seeking to block the planned sales. The lawmakers plan to debate a raft of measures, including one that would prohibit the US Treasury from licensing the sales.

US President Barack Obama and his allies are expected to oppose the legislation, but if the bills are written into law, they would prevent other firms from selling aircraft to Iran as well.

US equipment allegedly accounts for more than 10% of the content used in almost all modern jets, requiring export licenses from the American government for any contract to be implemented.

Akhundi expected deliveries by Airbus to start in the Iranian month of Aban which begins on October 22 if OFAC issues a license within the next two or three weeks.

“As for Airbus, all technical, contractual and financial negotiations have finished and we are waiting for OFAC’s license in which case all work will be wrapped up in time,” he said.

“Everything depends on this license and politicians are saying that OFAC’s licenses for Airbus and Boeing are interrelated,” Akhundi added in remarks quoted by the Tasnim news agency.

As regards Airbus, most of the technical specifications have ended and only the time of the authorization remains to be announced by OFAC, the minister said.

Iran Air agreed in January to buy 118 jets worth $27 billion at list prices from Airbus. Another MoU was signed in June, calling for Boeing to sell a total of 80 aircraft to Iran and help the country lease a further 29 in a deal worth $25 billion.

Boeing has proposed to sell its 737, 777 and 787 models and promised after-sales support, according to Iranian officials who have said the country needs as many as 500 jets for its fleet.

Iran’s current civil aviation fleet consists of 248 aircraft with an average age of 20 years, of which 100 are grounded.

Some media reports have said US Treasury might be putting off its decision on the sales until after the Nov. 8 presidential election in the US, where both Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump are stalwart supporters of Israel.

Amid those speculations, Iranian carriers have begun talks with Canada’s Bombardier and Brazil’s Embraer as well as Japan’s Mitsubishi Aircraft for its regional passenger jet currently under development.

China’s single-aisle C919 airliner which rolled off the assembly line last November is another option, but neither choice is without hurdles.

While none of the companies has an aircraft for delivery in its inventory, both rely on the US and Europe for key parts in their manufacturing.

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

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on August 14

Iran’s Shamkhani, Iraqi Kurdistan’s Sinjari Discuss Security Issues

Iran Dismisses US Report on Religious Freedom

Women’s Key Role in Iran’s Shahsevan Tribe

Moradi Clinches 2nd Gold Medal for Iran’s Caravan

Iran, Armenia Abolish Mutual Visa Regime

Best Decision Is to Resume House Arrest of Iranian Opposition Leaders

Skeleton of 7,500-Year-Old Man Found Almost Intact in Iran

Russia Had Warned Turkey of July Coup: Media Reports Confirm

Boeing Representatives in Tehran: Minister

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