Enemies’ Psychological War to Have No Effect on Iran’s Missile Power: DM

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July 19, 2016

Speaking in a ceremony in Tehran on Tuesday, July 19, held by the Defence Ministry to officially deliver 8 helicopters to civil and military organizations, Dehqan praised the country’s self-sufficiency in manufacturing military hardware and said the Islamic Republic is continuously progressing in all areas of defence, including the missile sector and modern technologies, whose aim is increasing the country’s deterrence power.

“The psychological warfare and the propaganda campaign of the enemies have no effect on the dynamic, alive and growing process (of strengthening the country’s defence power),” he added.

The Defence Minister also emphasized that the delivery of the 8 choppers to civil and military organizations is a sign of high capabilities of domestic experts and their resolve to supply the country’s needs.

Back in March, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) test-fired a number of advanced ballistic missiles with pin-point accuracy, which were followed by hue and cry in the West.

Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defence, and that Iran’s defence capabilities will be never subject to negotiations.

In late March, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei underscored the need for boosting Iran’s defence capabilities, warning that enemies are making use of every tool available to undermine the Islamic Republic.

Ayatollah Khamenei said at the time that if the Islamic establishment seeks technology and negotiations but lacks defence might, it will have to buckle in the face of any weak country posing threats.

Spokesman Hits Back at French UN Envoy over Anti-Iran Comments

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IFP Media Wire

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July 19, 2016

Speaking on Tuesday, July 19, Qassemi took a swipe at France’s representative to the United Nations François Delattre for biased comments against Tehran’s regional activities and its missile program, saying his remarks contradict those of other French authorities.

During a July 18 meeting of the UN Security Council, held to study the progress in implementation of a comprehensive nuclear deal between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), France’s Delattre expressed concern over what he called “destabilizing actions by Iran”, including the testing of ballistic missiles he claimed are capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

He also voiced Paris’ concern about reports of foreign travel by top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who Delattre said is still subject to a travel ban. “It is important for regional stability for Iran to abstain from any destabilizing and dangerous activity,” he said.

In reaction, the Iranian spokesman said Delattre’s biased comments on Tehran’s regional policies are divorced from reality and are meant to “cover up France’s broad interference” in the internal affairs of Syria, which has inflicted heavy losses upon the Syrian people.

Highlighting Iran’s constant support for reforms and cessation of violence in Syria and its push for the establishment of peace and stability in the region, Qassemi decried France for its attempts to destabilize the region by alignment with the creators and supporters of the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group.

He also censured Paris for hosting a recent meeting of the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) and supporters of terrorist groups like Daesh, al-Qaeda and the Taliban, without directly naming Saudi Arabia, whose diplomat attended the July 9 gathering of MKO terrorists in Paris.

As regards the French UN envoy’s concerns about Iran’s missile program, Qassemi reiterated that Tehran’s missile activities are part of its legitimate defence doctrine that is meant to protect its territorial integrity and counter the threat of terrorism.

The spokesman underscored that it is outside the purview of the UNSC resolutions to comment on Iran’s military equipment, stressing that nothing in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal between Iran and the Group 5+1, should be interpreted in such a way that would directly or indirectly translate into Tehran’s acknowledgement of legitimacy of the Western sanctions.

Iran maintains that its missile program has nothing to do with the JCPOA and does not violate the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 either.

In July 2015, Iran and the Group 5+1 reached a conclusion on the JCPOA. Afterwards, the UN Security Council passed a resolution that endorsed the nuclear deal.

Resolution 2231 calls upon Iran “not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.”

FM Zarif Praises Iran’s Ability to Restore Nuclear Program

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IFP Editorial Staff

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July 19, 2016

mohammad javad zarif-FM — Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

Zarif said a document, submitted by Iran to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and outlining plans to expand Iran’s uranium enrichment program, is a “matter of pride.”

He said it was created by Iran’s “negotiators and industry experts” and that even foreign media have noted Iran is likely to strive for restoring its full enrichment after 10 years.

Zarif’s remarks, as reported by Fars, followed revelations the day before of the confidential document — an add-on agreement to the nuclear deal with world powers — that Iran gave the IAEA.

The document, obtained by The Associated Press in Vienna, outlines Tehran’s plans to expand its uranium enrichment program after the first 10 years of the nuclear deal.

It’s the only text linked to last year’s deal between Iran and six world powers — Russia, China, the United States, Britain, France, and Germany — that has not been made public, although US officials say members of Congress who expressed interest were briefed on its substance.

Zarif said the addendum to the nuclear deal will soon be made public, but he did not elaborate.

“God willing, when the complete text of the document is published, it will be clear where we will stand in 15 years,” he said.

The document was given to the AP by a diplomat whose work has focused on Iran’s nuclear program for more than a decade, and its authenticity was confirmed by another diplomat who possesses the same document. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share or discuss the document, the New York Times reported.

It says that as of January 2027 — a date which will mark 11 years after the implementation early this year of the deal, reached last July between Tehran and world powers — Iran will start replacing its mainstay centrifuges with thousands of advanced machines.

Centrifuges churn out uranium to levels that can range from use as reactor fuel and for medical and research purposes to much higher levels. From year 11 to 13, says the document, Iran will install centrifuges up to five times as efficient as the 5,060 machines it is now restricted to using.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 19

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IFP Editorial Staff

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July 19, 2016

Newspapers on Tuesday widely covered the recent remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif who had criticized the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for his ‘biased’ report on JCPOA implementation.

They also highlighted the first court hearing of those who attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran.

The post-coup developments in Turkey including the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s purge of his opponents were also a top story today.

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

Abrar:

1- Mr President! People Should Talk! [In reaction to people’s complaints about economic conditions, Rouhani had told them ‘you don’t listen to me!’]

2- Economic Prosperity and Employment Are Government’s Top Priorities: Rouhani

3- Was Turkey Coup a Fake One?

Abrar-e Eqtesadi:

1- Iranian Carpet Breaks Dam of US Markets

2- Iran-EU Trade Talks Enter Second Phase

3- 50 New Planes Added to Iran’s Cart

4- Draft of Iran’s New Oil Contracts in Final Stages

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Names of Those Who Attacked Saudi Embassy Should Be Disclosed: MP

2- Mogherini Warns Turkey against Execution of Putschists: Forget about EU Accession

3- 110 Iranian Passengers Planes Are Practically Crippled: MP

4- First S-300 Batch Arrives in Iran

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- Rouhani Hails Return of Stability to Turkey in Phone Call with Erdogan

Asia:

1- US and Europe Urge Turkey to Observe Democracy and Human Rights

2- Grounds Are Prepared for Iran’s Accession to WTO: Minister

Ebtekar:

1- First Court Hearing: Those Who Attacked Saudi Embassy Pins the Blame on Law Enforcement

2- True Islam Has Nothing to Do with Terrorism: Judiciary Chief

3- Poor Conditions of Iranian People in Storm-Hit Sistan and Baluchestan

4- Zarif Criticizes Ban Ki-moon’s Report as Being Detrimental to JCPOA

5- Troubles for the Popular “Apple”: Iran to Start Mobile Phone Registration Plan to Confront Smuggling of Goods

Emtiaz:

1- 1.5m Iranian Men Have Refused to Do Their Military Service

2- Increase in Tendency of Iranians towards Alcoholic Drinks

Etemad:

1- Those Who Attacked Saudi Embassy: We Regret What We Did

2- Secretary-General’s Political Dance: A Report on Ban’s Report on JCPOA Implementation

3- CBI Governor Once Again Promises Iran Will Achieve 5% Economic Growth: We’re Ready for Economic Boom

4- Violent Crimes Growing among Iranian Teenagers

Hemayat:

1- Use of the Word “Islamic Terrorism” Aimed at Promoting Islamophobia: Judiciary Chief

2- Assad Warns of Erdogan’s Abuse of Coup

3- All Terrorist Groups Identified and Confronted: Intelligence Minister

Jame Jam:

1- Tsunami of Arrests in Turkey

2- Al Saud’s Dirty Hands: Riyadh’s Role in 9/11 Attacks Revealed

3- The Old Wound of Racism, the Historical Pain of the US

4- USA’s Low Grade in JCPOA Implementation

Javan:

1- 2 Executives, Who Had Received Astronomical Salaries, Became Presidents of 2 Banks!

2- No One in Judiciary Receives Huge Salaries: Chief

3- EU: Erdogan Had Prepared List of Opponents in Advance

4- Iranian Government’s Plan to Prevent Reduction in US Dollar Price

5- IRGC to Build Houses for 20,000 Deprived Iranians This Year

6- Leader of Kashmir’s Muslims Calls for Islamic Countries’ Help: 45 Killed and 3,100 Wounded in Past 10 Days

Jomhouri Eslami:

1- Bahraini People Hold Protest Rallies against Dissolution of Al-Wefaq Society

2- Erdogan Begins All-Out Coup against His Opponents

3- 11 Oil MoUs Signed after Nuclear Deal

4- Value of EU’s Imports from Iran Tripled

5- JCPOA Maintained Iranian Nation’s Honour and Prevented Imposition of New Sanctions: Zarif

Kayhan:

1- French Security Official: We’re on Verge of Civil War

2- Erdogan Starts Purging Tens of Thousands

3- Innocent Muslims of Kashmir Cry for Help

Khorasan:

1- Zarif Urges UN’s Ban Not to Damage JCPOA

2- The Route That Will Change Face of Syria’s War [Editorial]

Quds:

1- Poisoned Atmosphere of Telegram Channels and Groups Threatening Iranian Teenagers

2- 400 Villages in Iran’s Southeastern Province of Sistan and Baluchestan Buried under Sand

3- Canada Is Serving to Israel by Raising Human Rights Accusations against Iran

Resalat:

1- Leader’s Aide: Repercussions of Proxy Wars Have Reached Europe

2- US Main Suspect of Turkey Coup: What Are Coup Plotters Doing in the US?

Shahrvand:

1- Pokémon Go in Streets of Tehran

2- We’ve Signed a Nuclear Deal, Not a Submission Deal: Zarif, Criticizing US Performance

3- Cause of Kiarostami’s Death to Be Announced Tomorrow, 15 Days after His Demise

Shargh:

1- Iran Has Stood and Will Stand by Nation and Legitimate Government of Turkey: Rouhani

2- Trump’s Presidency Will Give Iran More Bargaining Power

3- JCPOA Is Not a Great Victory, But Is Totally Defensible: Zarif

Sobh-e Now:

1- Mr Ban! No Intervention!

2- Je Suis Kiarostami: How People Deal with Medical Errors

3- Kashmir’s Eye and Cry of Foua and Kefraya [Editorial]

4- Strange Increase in Number of Applicants and Price of Visiting Turkey: Selfie with Tanks and Turkish Dialect

Coup Sign of Domestic Instability in Turkey: Iranian Minister

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IFP Media Wire

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July 19, 2016

Turkey boasted about its abilities but was beset with domestic instability after getting involved in developments in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, the Iranian minister said at a meeting of state officials on Tuesday.

As regards the abortive coup that plunged Turkey into chaos for days, Rahmani Fazli said Iran is opposed to transition of power in regional countries through the use of force, coercion, interference or violence.

His comments came after Turkey’s government crushed a coup launched by a faction in the army against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Following the Saturday coup attempt, Turkish authorities rounded up nearly 3,000 suspected plotters and ordered thousands of judges detained.

On Tuesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a Twitter post that he has held a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Erdogan to hail the restoration of calm to Turkey after the coup attempt.

President Rouhani has also voiced satisfaction over the return of “stability” and “security” to Turkey.

Temperature Rise Cause Saudi Crude Oil Exports to Plummet

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IFP Editorial Staff

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July 19, 2016

Here is IFP’s coverage of various reports recently released on the plunge in Saudis’ crude oil exports:

According to IRNA, the rise of temperature in summer, together with a quantum leap in power consumption in the Middle East, has upset the balance in Saudi Arabia’s oil exports.

However, the situation has been totally different in Iran as the country’s power plants consume natural gas instead of diesel and heavy fuel oil. The sour gas in Iran’s South Pars Gas Field has turned out to be the bargaining chip for Iran’s oil exports.

“Under the current circumstances, Iran has increased its natural gas output, especially from new phases of South Pars, with the goal of transferring further gas to its power plants,” IRNA reported.

Saudi Power Plants Devour Its Oil

According to a report by Mehr, Saudi Arabia does not have rich gas reserves and thus encounters problems when it comes to the crude oil exports in the hot season of summer.

Rise of temperature in Saudi Arabia has resulted in a fast growth of electricity consumption, which means the country’s power plants are consuming a huge surplus of crude oil and petroleum products, insofar as the statistics and figures indicate a dramatic decline in Saudis’ exports of crude oil.

According to the reports published by reliable energy institutions, during the past month, Saudi Arabia’s crude oil exports have dropped to its lowest level in 6 months.

The overhaul of some oil refineries and an unexpected increase in demands by power plants are described as the root causes.

Saudi Arabia’s oil exports in 2016 have declined by 100,000 barrels per day to stand at 7,440,000 bpd.

The country’s power plants, as the figures indicate, consume over 500 bpd, which shows a consumption surplus of 100 barrels when compared with March.

Power plants that are fed by crude oil have lower production efficiency than the ones that consume natural gas.

In the current situation, the increase of gas production is a bargaining chip for Iran’s oil trade and export.

Ban’s JCPOA Report Written Based on Flawed Information: Iran’s FM

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Fatemeh Askarieh

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July 19, 2016

“The report has been compiled based on incomplete information, while he [Ban] was not informed of the developments at the time of negotiations; as we have earlier said, the UN played no role in the development of the nuclear deal and as witnessed, they have done something that is not beneficial to the nuclear deal,” Zarif told Fars on Tuesday, July 19.

Also asked about the allegations raised in Ban’s report on Iran’s arms supplies to Iraq, he said, “In a statement we issued concurrently with Resolution 2231, we stated that we would continue our actions in the campaign against terrorism and it is our policy and is not related to the nuclear deal.”

Ban claimed in a report to the Security Council that Iran’s missile tests after the nuclear deal were “not consistent” with the spirit of the agreement signed with world powers last July. His words, however, did not imply Iran’s violation of the Resolution.

Before Zarif’s reaction, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi had also lashed out at Ban’s “unbalanced and biased” report on the implementation of the UNSC Resolution 2231, stressing that Tehran will not allow anyone to even talk about its defence capabilities.

“The report has been compiled under the blatant pressures of the US on the UN Secretariat and the allegations raised against the Islamic Republic of Iran in this report are baseless,” Qassemi said on Monday, July 18.

Qassemi described the UN’s report as inconsistent with the spirit and content of the nuclear deal and even Resolution 2231, and said, “The concerns raised in the report on Iran’s missile tests are fully biased.”

Female Bikers in Shiraz National Championship

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Fatemeh Askarieh

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July 19, 2016

Iranian female bikers took part in National Biking Championship in Shiraz, Fars Province, on Monday, July 18.

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Police in Iran’s Coastal Province Seize Huge Contraband Cargo

By

IFP Media Wire

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July 19, 2016

Speaking to Tasnim on Tuesday, July 19, the provincial police chief, General Maleki, said the operation was preceded by months of extensive intelligence activities to identify and track a number of fake corporations involved in forging documents and smuggling big hauls of goods into the country.

In their recent operation, the police forces sized 210 containers of smuggled commodities, including toys, glassware, auto parts and house appliances, the commander added, estimating the value of the cargo at over $60 million.

The general also noted that 17 members of the smuggling band, some of whom were on their way to flee the country, have been arrested.

The southern province of Hormozgan, lying on the coasts of the Persian Gulf, is known as a major hub for exports and imports, with a large number of ports.

Photo Exhibition in Tehran Marks Nelson Mandela’s Birthday

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Fatemeh Askarieh

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July 19, 2016

Photo Exhibition -Nelson Mandela’s Birthday

A photo exhibition was held on Monday, July 18, in Negarestan Garden in Tehran to mark the birthday anniversary of Nelson Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist.

The exhibition displays the works of Iranian photographer Meysam Shahbabaei, who claims to have been the only representative of Iran in Mandela’s funeral ceremony held in late 2013. He says he has tried to take photos of the African figure’s last days.

“On his birthday anniversary, I tried to do something different, so I organized exhibitions of my photographs [from the funeral ceremony] in five countries, including South Africa, France, the US, Australia, and Iran,” Shahbabaei noted.

The opening ceremony of the exhibition was attended by Iran’s Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Ali Jannati, Director of the United Nations Information Centre in Tehran Maria Dotsenko, and a representative from South African embassy.

In this ceremony, Jannati also unveiled Nelson Mandela’s stamp in a move to commemorate the anti-apartheid hero.

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