Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Holds Session on Turkey Coup

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July 16, 2016

According to a report by Fars, as translated by IFP, President Hassan Rouhani chaired the SNSC meeting held in Tehran.

At the end of the session, the SNSC Secretary Ali Shamkhani underlined Iran’s principled policy of denying military coups and approving democratically-elected governments.

“We emphasized that we support the legitimate government of Turkey, and denied the coup, whether it is provoked and supported by domestic or foreign forces.”

“This is the official stances of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the developments in Turkey,” Shamkhani stressed.

Iran Backs Democratically Elected Gov’t in Turkey: Spokesman

By

IFP Media Wire

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July 16, 2016

The Islamic Republic of Iran recommends avoiding violence in Turkey, Bahram Qassemi said on Saturday, July 16, stressing that Tehran supports Ankara’s democratically-elected government.

The spokesman added that Iran is closely monitoring the situation in Turkey, saying, “We are deeply concerned about stability, security, unity, democracy and rule of law in Turkey.”

He further stressed that a “stable, safe and democratic Turkey” is of high priority for Iran, expressing the hope that calm would soon return to the neighbouring nation.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 16

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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July 16, 2016

Although the recent military coup in Turkey was the top story in global news outlets, the development took place in early hours of morning, and majority of Iranian newspapers had already published their Saturday issues. Only three newspapers, Shargh, Hamshahri and Vaghaye Ettefaghieh revised their front pages in last minutes and issued second prints; however, as a result of the quick pace of developments in Turkey, even their second prints did not reflect the latest news, which was the return of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the failure of the military coup.

Saturday is the first day of the week in Iran, and newspapers mostly covered the developments of the Iranian weekend [Thursday and Friday]. The most important one was the terrorist attack in the French city of Nice, where more than 80 people were run over by a truck. Newspapers used various headlines to cover the brutal attack.

The 14th of July, which was the one-year anniversary of the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, known as JCPOA, also remained a top story in many papers. Newspapers are publishing reports for and against the deal on a daily basis.

The recent inscription of Persian Qanats in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List was also highlighted in many papers.

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

Abrar:

1- France: We Have No Links with MKO!

2- 25,000 Disabled Children Born in Iran Each Year

3- French National Assembly President’s Visit to Iran Postponed after Nice Attack

4- US Congress Approves Plan to Impose Fresh Sanctions against Iran

Abrar-e Eqtesadi:

1- Smuggling of Goods Quadrupled under Ahmadinejad

2- Serious Developments in Iran-Germany Banking Ties

3- Iran Starts Talks with 2 German and British Plant Construction Giants

4- Russians to Take Iran’s Oil to Bosnia: Iran’s 10 New Customers

5- Government Allocates Budget to Settle Iran’s Debts to IMF

Afkar:

1- Persian Qanats Inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage List

2- French National Celebration Turns to National Grief

3- We Have No Security or Military Problem in Caspian Sea: Deputy FM

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Iran Trying to Resume Umrah [Minor] Hajj Pilgrimage Once Again

2- What Ayatollah Rafsanjani Does in Case of Any Disagreement with the Leader

3- Rouhani Once Again Invited to Visit Germany

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- No One Is Closer to the Leader than Me: Ayatollah Rafsanjani

2- Details of Iran-US Secret Talks in Oman

3- JCPOA, a Political Achievement amid Economic Impasse: Expert’s View

Asia:

1- 300 Bank Accounts Opened in Foreign Banks: Iran Bargaining for Billions of Dollars of LCs

2- Direct Foreign Investment in Iran to Be Increased to $8bn This Year

Ebtekar:

1- Good Terrorism, Bad Terrorism: Saudi Arabia Escaping Forward; Reactions to Nice Attack

2- Leader Extends Terms of Guardian Council Clerics

3- Javad Nekounam, Iranian Football Player, Announces Retirement

4- Hope for Life in Veins of Qanat: A Review of Iran’s Water Protection Policies

5- Why Gov’t Reshuffle Is Necessary [Editorial by Vakili, the newspaper’s chief and MP from Tehran]

Etemad:

1- Ayatollah Jannati’s Term in Guardian Council Extended by Leader

2- Iranian Firefighter Dies in an Operation against Smoke and Fire

Ettela’at:

1- 150,000 Job Opportunities to Be Created by September: Gov’t Spokesman

2- I’ll Veto All Anti-Iran Plans in Congress: Obama

Haft-e Sobh:

1- Will Tehran Catch Fever of Pokémon Go as Well?

2- Storm in Iran’s Medical Community: Benefits of Kiarostami’s Case for Doctors; How Health Ministry Can Restore People Trust

Hamshahri:

1- Coup in Turkey: Army Occupies Streets and TV Station, Declares Overthrow of Erdogan

Iran:

1- Iran, US and Europe in Talks to Remove Banking Obstacles: CBI Chief

2- Heavy Dust Pollution Paralyses Life in Southeastern Iranian City of Zabol

3- White House and Europe Once Again Voice Their Support for JCPOA

Jame Jam:

1- The Bloody Nice: French-Tunisian National Kills 84

2- French People Are Victims of West’s Instrumental Use of Terrorism

Javan:

1- Faltering JCPOA: On 1-Year Anniversary of Nuclear Deal, Zarif Criticizes USA’s Weak Implementation of JCPOA

2- Astronomical Salaries Are Cruel: Cleric

3- ISIS’s Truck of Terror Runs over France

Jomhouri Eslami:

1- Nuclear Deal Was Victory of Diplomacy over Force: Zarif

2- When Sponsors of Terrorism Hide Their Faces

3- Repercussions of Double-Standard Policies for Western Statesmen [Editorial]

Kayhan:

1- Host of Terrorists Falls Victim to Terror: 84 Killed and 130 Wounded in Nice Terrorist Attack

2- Deal with FATF Means Allowing the Enemy to Choose Passwords for Our Credit Cards: Economic Expert

3- Aristocrat Executives’ Organized Efforts to Whitewash Astronomical Salaries’ Case

4- US Celebrates JCPOA Anniversary by Approving 3 Anti-Iran Bills

5- Kashmir Muslims Brutally Killed under Support of Indian Army

Khorasan:

1- Zarif Criticizes US Violation of Promises in His Twitter

2- 1-Ton Bomb Unearthed at Turkish Customs Gate to Iran

3- France to Become Europe’s Pakistan

Resalat:

1- Iran Doesn’t Accept 13% Share of Caspian Sea: Deputy FM

2- Foreign Ministry Should Consider Sponsors of MKO [France] as a Belligerent Country: Cleric

Sepid:

1- There Is No Tsunami of Cancer in Iran: Official Dismisses Recent Remarks on Cancer Outbreak

2- When Even Acetaminophen Becomes Fatal

Shargh:

1- Coup in Turkey: Army Declares Overthrow of Erdogan’s Government

2- Erdogan Calls on People to Take into Streets

3- Rouhani Calls for Extraordinary Meeting of Supreme National Security Council

4- We Should Wait for Saudi Children to Grow Up: Expert

5- Nekounam: I Wished to Announce My Retirement in FC Esteghlal’s Shirt

Sobh-e Now:

1- Scary Thriller in Nice Beach: Truck of Insecurity Arrives at France Station; Terrorism as Terminator

2- A World of Distance from Nice to Kerrada [Editorial]

3- Fresh Wave of Tattoos among Iranians Born after 1990s: Mobile Paintings in Streets

Vaghaye Ettefaghieh:

1- Turkey under Army’s Boots: Turkish Troops Occupy Istanbul and Take over Power through a Military Coup

2- All Those Insulted by Iranians in Social Media: How the World Judges Us

3- Changing a Tradition Doesn’t Mean Changing Religious Values: Imam Khomeini’s Grandson

Vatan-e Emrooz:

1- Strange Contract with Italy: €3.6bn of Iran’s Money to Be Spent on Pavement! [Iranian government has signed a deal with Italy’s highway agency ANAS for the construction and management of a 1,200 km road project that will cost €3.6bn ($4bn).]

2- Global Community Is Asleep: 31 Killed, 640 Wounded in Recent Kashmir Clashes

Iranian and Turkish FMs Hold 3rd Phone Conversation after Turkey’s Failed Coup

By

IFP Media Wire

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July 16, 2016

In the conversation, Çavuşoğlu updated the top Iranian diplomat on the current situation in Turkey after the coup.

Hours after the coup was launched by a faction in the Turkish armed forces late Friday, the top Iranian diplomat voiced concern about the situation in the neighbouring country.

“Deeply concerned about the crisis in Turkey; Stability, democracy & safety of Turkish people are paramount. Unity & prudence are imperative,” Zarif wrote on his Twitter page.

And after reports that the coup has been crushed by the government, Zarif tweeted, “Turkish people’s brave defence of democracy & their elected government proves that coups have no place in our region and are doomed to fail.”

Earlier on Saturday, the Turkish government came under siege by a faction of military forces who sought to end the rule of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan citing the leader’s drift away from the country’s long-held secularist values.

The military attempted to use helicopters and tanks to overthrow the Turkish leadership.

According to the state-run Anadolu agency, at least 90 people were killed amid the military coup attempt in Turkey. The victims include civilians and military servicemen.

The coup attempt was led by Col. Muharrem Köse, a former Turkish military officer who was dishonourably discharged in March 2016 for his alleged association with anti-government and US-based dissident Fethullah Gülen.

Gülen’s movement known as Hizmet, once claimed as many as 2,000 officers within the Turkish military prior to crackdowns by Turkish President Erdogan.

Supporters of Gülen have long attempted to use the judiciary to advance corruption investigations against Erdogan sparking a bitter divide between the two groups. Turkish authorities accuse Gülen of attempting to form an opposing “state within a state” known by many in Turkey as the “Parallel Structure.”

Iran’s Empty Flights to Fetch Nationals from Turkey

By

IFP Media Wire

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July 16, 2016

Head of the CAO public relations department, Reza Jafarzadeh, said on Saturday, July 16, that Iranian airlines have been given permission to send empty planes to Turkey to bring the tourists back.

He also noted that scheduled flights to Turkey from Iran’s airports remain suspended.

Jafarzadeh said Iran is monitoring the situation in Turkey, adding that normal flights will resume as soon as Turkish airports return to service and there is assurance that flights would be operated in safety.

In a statement following a terrible night in Ankara and Istanbul, Iran’s Foreign Ministry called on nationals in Turkey, including residents or tourists, not to leave their places until further notice, avoid any gathering and heed warnings by the Turkish security officials.

The coup in Turkey appeared to crumble in the early hours of Saturday after crowds answered President Tayyip Erdogan’s call to take to the streets to support him.

It began with warplanes and helicopters roaring over Ankara and troops moving in to seal off the bridges over the Bosphorus Strait that links Europe and Asia in Istanbul.

Airports were shut and access to internet social media sites was cut off in the first hours of the coup attempt.

Iran to Launch Tender to Attract $12bn Green Investment

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

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July 16, 2016

Iran seeks to install 5 gigawatts of renewable energy in the next five years and an additional 2.5 gigawatts by 2030 following the removal of anti-Tehran sanctions, Chitchian said recently in an interview in London, as reported by Bloomberg and covered by Tasnim.

“We’re not going to use the money from oil in that sector at all,” he said on Friday, July 15.

“All the investment will be done by the private sector, including local and foreign companies.”

Iran currently supplies 80 per cent of its power from natural gas and wants to raise that figure to 90 per cent by the end of next year.

Anti-Tehran sanctions were lifted after Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14, 2015 reached an agreement on the Islamic Republic’s peaceful nuclear program and started implementing it on January 16.

Iranian and Turkish FMs in Contact after Attempted Coup in Turkey

By

IFP Media Wire

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July 16, 2016

Spokesman for Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Keivan Khosravi said on Saturday morning that the top Iranian diplomat is getting the latest news in Turkey from his Turkish counterpart to adopt the necessary security and political plans.

He also noted that the SNSC is going to hold a meeting in Tehran before noon to review the latest developments in neighbouring Turkey.

Khosravi said the Supreme National Security Council has been vigilantly monitoring the situation following the attempted coup in Turkey to deal with possible consequences.

The spokesman further hailed the Turkish people’s role in defending democracy and stability, and condemned the coup plot.

Earlier in the morning, an informed source in Turkey told Tasnim that there has not been any call for help from Iranian nationals and tourists in Turkey amid the chaotic situation.

The source also noted that Iran’s diplomatic missions in Turkey are safe and sound, and the unrest has not done any damage to the buildings of embassy and consulates in Turkey.

In a statement following a terrible night in Ankara and Istanbul, Iran’s Foreign Ministry called on Iranian nationals in Turkey, including residents or tourists, not to leave their places until further notice, avoid any gathering and heed warnings by the Turkish security officials.

The coup, launched by a faction in Turkey’s armed forces, appeared to crumble in the early hours of Saturday after crowds answered President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s call to take to the streets to support him.

Erdogan, who had been holidaying on the southwest coast when the coup was launched by a faction in the armed forces, flew into Istanbul before dawn on Saturday and was shown on TV appearing among a crowd of supporters outside Ataturk Airport.

The uprising was an “act of treason”, and those responsible would pay a heavy price, he later told reporters at a hastily arranged news conference. Arrests of officers were under way, and it would go higher up the ranks, culminating in the cleansing of the military, he said.

Official Denies Iranian Jets Deployment to Tabriz after Turkey Coup

By

IFP Media Wire

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July 16, 2016

Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency on Saturday, deputy governor of the province for political and security affairs, Saeed Shabestari Khiabani, dismissed the report as false rumors going around in the virtual space.

He also called on Iranian travelers in Turkey to return home immediately.

Amid the volatile situation in Turkey after an abortive coup launched by a faction in the Turkish army, Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) has permitted the country’s airlines to dispatch empty flights to Turkey for bringing back the stranded Iranian travelers.

The coup appeared to crumble in the early hours of Saturday after crowds answered President Tayyip Erdogan’s call to take to the streets to support him.

It began with warplanes and helicopters roaring over Ankara and troops moving in to seal off the bridges over the Bosphorus Strait that links Europe and Asia in Istanbul.

Airports were shut and access to internet social media sites was cut off in the first hours of the coup attempt.

US Report Hints at Saudi Involvement in 9/11 Attacks

By

IFP Media Wire

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July 16, 2016

“In the United States, some of the September 11 hijackers were in contact with, and received support or assistance from, individuals who may be connected to the Saudi Government,” reads part of the report released on Friday, July 15.

“There is information, primarily from FBI sources, that at least two of those individuals were alleged by some to be Saudi intelligence officers.”

The Joint Inquiry also hints at Saudi Arabia’s support for terrorist activities in the US and other countries, but fails to show its extent, Press TV reported.

“In their testimony, neither CIA nor FBI witnesses were able to identify definitively the extent of Saudi support for terrorist activity globally or within the United.”

The report also shows information indicating that “Saudi Government officials in the United States may have other ties to al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.”

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has welcomed the release of the pages, saying there is no proof of Saudi involvement in the attacks.

“Since 2002, the 9/11 Commission and several government agencies, including the CIA and the FBI, have investigated the contents of the ‘28 Pages’ and have confirmed that neither the Saudi government, nor senior Saudi officials, nor any person acting on behalf of the Saudi government provided any support or encouragement for these attacks,” the Saudi Embassy in Washington said in a statement.

President Barack Obama, under pressure from Congress and the public, announced in April that the secret pages, which have been kept secret since 2002, would be declassified soon.

Former President George W. Bush and his vice president, Dick Cheney, reportedly told the commission that they would not be formally interviewed in relation to the 9/11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people and caused about $10 billion worth of property and infrastructure damage.

Photo Exhibition of Late Kiarostami Underway in Tehran

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

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July 16, 2016

A number of photographs taken by the internationally-acclaimed filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami, who recently died in Paris, have been put on display since July 15 and will be open to the public until August 19 at Boom Gallery in Tehran.

The Photo Exhibition, entitled “Four Seasons”, includes six series of Kiarostami’s photos: Snow-white, Roads, Moonlight, Doors and Memories, Wall, and a Window to the Life.

The seemingly simple, yet deeply sarcastic, photos taken by the late Iranian director provide a unique opportunity for getting familiar with Kiarostami’s artistic way of thinking and the visual world of his works.

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