Here are Mehr‘s photos of the Ash Reshteh due to be served for fasting people:
Iran, Kazakhstan to boost railway co-op
According to Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, Ashouri said other regional countries like China and Turkmenistan could also use this railway corridor. He noted that Kazakhstan already has a suitable railway infrastructure.
Explaining Kazakhstan’s contributions in developing Iranian railway infrastructure after launching the Iran-China railway, he said that Kazakhstan’s income will experience growth.
Ashouri added that the new railway will increase the capacity of transporting Kazakhstan’s wheat to Iran, which now stands at over 10 million tons per year.
Iran, along with other regional countries, is keen to facilitate access to the high seas through Chabahar port and enhance transportation activities among regional countries by developing its eastern railway corridor.
Iranian Ambassador: Zarif’s Paris Visit Important
Tuesday’s official visit to Paris of an Iranian Foreign Minister will be the first in over a decade.
About a year ago, the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius paid an official visit to Tehran, and Zarif’s visit to Paris is taking place within the framework of a bilateral agreement on political talks signed between the two countries during the visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to France in late January.
In Paris, Zarif plans to hold talks with his French counterpart and some other top officials there. He will also attend an Iftar (fast-breaking meal) ceremony with the participation of a number of ambassadors of Islamic countries, as well as officials of Islamic bodies there.
During Rouhani’s January trip to Paris, 35 documents of cooperation were signed by the two sides. Among those documents was an agreement on the formation of a joint economic commission which was signed by the two countries’ foreign ministers.
This Paris visit is an ample opportunity for following up the process of the implementation of the mentioned agreements.
Various issues, including bilateral cooperation in scientific, cultural, economic and political fields, the removal of obstacles to that cooperation, and international and regional developments, as well as finding diplomatic solutions in combating terrorism and extremism will be discussed by the two sides during Zarif’s stay in Paris.
Zarif Travels to Paris to Start European Tour
While in Paris, Zarif is to discuss bilateral and regional developments with senior French officials and outline Iran’s atmosphere in post-JCPOA era. This is Zarif’s first official visit to France, and he will later pay a visit to the Netherlands.
Zarif has made two rounds of visits to a number of European countries over the past few months with the purpose of discussing ways to expand relations after the implementation of the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) which was signed in January.
In the first round of his tour, he visited Poland, Sweden, Finland and Latvia in late May and early June. He also travelled to Norway and Germany in mid-June.
Larijani: Stripping Cleric’s Citizenship Sign of Bahrain Gov’t’s ‘Last Breaths’
Ali Larijani made the remark in today’s open session of Parliament, adding, “This was an impolitic and quite an adventurous move by the Bahraini regime, which assumed that by revoking the citizenship of this prominent spiritual leader, it could lead calm the country’s domestic political crisis.”
“The move must be analysed within the context of a series of irresponsible actions by this regime which, on the one hand, has undermined its own sovereignty under the rule of Western military bases and tanks of an Arab country, and on the other, has imprisoned all liberty-seekers who sought to express their democratic opposition through peaceful means, including Sheikh Salman, another Bahraini cleric,” Larijani said.
Larijani further compared the Bahraini move to the “babbling of the ill-fated Shah of Iran” who had threatened anyone refusing to join the Rastakhiz Party – a monopoly on political activity in Iran – with revocation of their Iranian citizenship. “This kind of overplayed bravado and talking nonsense was what overturned his monarchy, and the Al-Khalifa regime must take a careful look at this historical record, which clearly shows once a government starts threatening the influential figures of its nation with revocation of citizenship, it is taking its last breaths.”
Larijani further added that Iran’s Parliament denounces Al-Khalifa’s move, and warns the Bahraini authorities that this “brazen adventurism” will destroy all hopes for achieving a peaceful solution and spark new protests among the tormented Bahraini people deprived of their basic rights.
The Al-Khalifa regime on Monday revoked the citizenship of prominent Shia cleric Isa Qassim on charges of using his position to “serve foreign interests” and promote “sectarianism and violence”. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at least 250 people have been stripped of their Bahraini citizenship in recent years for alleged disloyalty.
Khamenei: JCPOA Breaches by US Must Be Publicized by Poets
A group of cultural figures, professors of Persian literature and poetry, young and veteran Iranian poets, as well as poets from India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan all had a meeting with Imam Khamenei in Tehran on Monday evening, June 20.
One of the possible fields for writing poems at present is “Broadcasting the Americans’ breach of the JCPOA,” the Leader stressed at the meeting, adding, “In addition to politicians, artists, and poets in particular, should let the public know about these facts.”
The Leader was referring to Washington’s lack of commitment to 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).
Elsewhere at the gathering, Ayatollah Khamenei described poets as a valuable asset to the country, and highlighted the significant role they can play in critical conditions.
Poets should take action and help the country at critical junctures, when the nation needs help in dealing with political and cultural issues and in confrontation with external enemies, the Leader underlined.
“We are now on the battlefield of soft war, political, cultural and security war, and countering infiltration, while thought and willpower are fighting on this field, and one of the major and most influential tools in this battle is poetry,” the Leader explained.
Iran’s Gas Exports to Turkey Increased by 11%
The caretaker manager of the Dispatching Department of the NIGC told Shana that Iran has been sending an average of 21.5 mcm/d of gas to Turkey since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year on March 20.
Abdolreza Ebrahimian said that the injection of gas to oil reserves has reached 4.540 bcm during the said period, which is a considerable boost from a year ago, and 0.5bn cubic meters higher than the envisaged volumes.
He also said 551 mcm of gas is being recovered from the gas reserves of the country on a daily basis, which is 5% higher than the same period last year.
The household sector consumed a daily amount of 196 mcm/d over these 86 days, 9% higher year-over-year. The power sector also consumed 172 mcm/d during the same period and the industrial sector consumed 98 mcm/d of gas during spring.
Furthermore, NIGC supplied 95% of the fuel consumed by power plants as gas.
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 21
The top story in all Iranian newspapers was a recent response by Major General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of IRGC’s Quds Force, to the rulers of Bahrain, who recently stripped top Bahraini Shiite cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim of his citizenship. Soleimani warned that such moves would leave no choice for Bahrainis but an armed resistance.
As in previous days, the issue of astronomical salaries is still being discussed by many papers.
Newspapers also covered the bombing operations planned by Takfiri (extremist) terrorists for different Iranian cities, including Tehran, which had been foiled by Iranian security forces.
Abrar:
1- Iraqi Army Surprised the World: PM
2- Euro or Dollar: Point of Conflict in Iran-Boeing Deal
3- Zarif Expresses Hope about Increased Banking Ties with Pakistan
4- Kim Jong Un Spends £29m on Cigarettes
5- Ahmadinejad Implemented Some of Leader’s Orders Reluctantly: Politician
6- Ghanoon Newspaper Shut Down
7- Obama Administration to Consider Iran’s Deal with Boeing
8- Authorities Not Paying Attention to Issue of Dust Pollution: MP
Abrar-e Eqtesadi:
1- Positive Wall Street Reaction to Boeing’s Deal with Iran
2- First Direct Flight Launched from Tehran to Paris
3- Four Countries Open LCs for Iran’s Mines
4- New Challenge in Selling Iranian Oil to Japan
Aftab-e Yazd:
1- Astronomical Salaries Traced Back to Ahmadinejad’s First VP [who is now in jail]
2- The Commander without a Brigade: No One Supported Aref in Parliament’s Domestic Votes
3- [Hardliners] Angry about a Change in Foreign Ministry [change of deputy FM]: Where Were They When Ahmadinejad’s FM Was Dismissed While On an Official Visit to Senegal?
4- End of Arab Role in Importing Cars to Iran?
Arman-e Emrooz:
1- Rafsanjani to Those Who Attack Gov’t: You Shouldn’t Take Revenge on People
2- Secret behind President’s Silence over Opponents’ Attacks: Mr. Rouhani! Break Your Silence
3- Conservatives Have No Option for Presidential Elections: Politician
4- Chances of Populism in US and Iran
5- General Soleimani Warns Al Khalifa Regime
Asia:
1- 200 Chevrolets En Route to Iran with Total Value of $7m
2- Middle East’s Biggest Medical Exhibition in Tehran
Asrar:
1- Embezzlement Was Not Deemed to Be a Bad Thing in Previous Gov’t: Reformist Figure
2- 17% of University Students Smoke Hookah
3- Ignorance of Al Saud Will Only Result in Notoriety: IRGC General
Bani Film:
1- Qatar’s BeIN Sport to Sue IRIB for Broadcasting Euro 2016
2- Iranian Film and Music Archive to Be Uploaded on VOD
Ebtekar:
1- Sport Championships, Antidote for Iranophobic Propaganda: Rouhani
2- Looking for a Miracle to End the Oldest Construction Project: First Section of Tehran-North Freeway to Be Opened by March 2017
3- Zarif’s Third European Tour Begins by Visiting France and Netherlands
Emtiaz:
1- Summer Water Scarcity in 301 Cities
2- Private Sector Free to Export Natural Gas
Etemad:
1- General Soleimani’s Unprecedented Warning to Bahrain
2- A Group of Literati, Poets, and Cultural Figures Meet Ayatollah Khamenei
3- France’s Performance Not as Good as Expected by Iran: Diplomat
4- Repercussions of Stripping Sheikh Qassim of Citizenship
Ettela’at:
1- Large-Scale Terrorist Operation Thwarted in Tehran
2- General Soleimani’s Serious Warning to Al Khalifa Regime
3- $14.5bn Goods Smuggled into Iran
4- 350 Izadi Women Rescued from ISIS in Iraqi Army Operation
5- Biggest Anti-Diabetes Medicine Producer to Invest in Iran
Hamshahri:
1- Strange Excuses for Huge Salaries
2- 35m Iranians Gripped by Water Worries
Iran:
1- Multi-Million-Dollar Bonuses in Previous Gov’t
2- Britain’s Exit from EU in Historic Referendum?
3- Foreign Teachers in Private Schools
Jame Jam:
1- Forbidden List: A Report on List of Imported Goods with Homegrown Counterparts
2- Big Hunt: Details of Foiling Takfiri Terrorist Operations in Tehran
3- Online Sale of History and Culture
Javan:
1- Al Khalifa Declares War on Shiite Clerics
2- People: Take Back Astronomical Salaries
3- Bombs Attacks in Tehran and Other Provinces Foiled
4- 4,000 Faculty Members Write Letter to Leader: We Hear Your Deep Remarks in Our Hearts
Jomhouri Eslami:
1- $6bn Decrease in Smuggling of Iranian Goods and Fuel to Other Countries
2- Al Khalifa on Path of No Return
3- Bahraini People Hold Massive Protests against Revocation of Sheikh Qassim’s Citizenship
4- Takfiri Terrorists Commissioned to Create Margin of Safety for Zionist [Israeli] Occupiers
Kayhan:
1- Fighting Astronomical Salaries, First Test of 10th Parliament: People’s Expectations from Majlis
2- General Soleimani: Sheikh Qassim Is Redline, Any Violation Will Set Bahrain and Entire Region Ablaze
3- Iraqi Armed Forces’ Victory in Fallujah Was Amazing: American General
4- Takfiris’ Plot for Bombing Tehran and Other Provinces Thwarted by Security Forces
Khorasan:
1- Al Khalifa Shocked by Iranian General’s Warning [Editorial]
2- Every $5,000 of Imports Kills 1 Job: VP
Qods:
1- Who Is in Charge of Iran’s Foreign Policy in the Middle East? [Editorial]
2- Offending Executives Will Definitely Be Dismissed: Spokesman
Resalat:
1- Astronomical Salaries Rooted in Reformist Gov’t: Court of Audit
2- 6 Killed and 100 Wounded in Police Clash with Mexican Teachers
3- Secrets behind Putin’s Bitter Confession: Which Governments Are Going to Be Deceived by US This Time?
4- Tehran Is Safer than Paris: Shamkhani
5- 80% of Imported Goods Can Be Produced inside Iran: First VP
Shahrvand:
1- 24 People Displaced Every Minute in the World: 65m Refugees
2- Telegram Messaging App Is Not an Enemy, It’s a Rival
Shargh:
1- “We Want Food”: Legacy of Ahmadinejad’s Close Friend; Venezuela’s Economy on Verge of Complete Collapse
2- A Report on Political and Economic Denigration of Rouhani’s Administration
Sobh-e Now:
1- Be Prepared for Bahraini People’s Armed Resistance: General Soleimani’s Stern Warning against Al Khalifa
2- Turks Claiming Ownership of Rumi in Cooperation with Hollywood
3- Reasons for Astronomical Salaries in an Islamic Establishment
Vaghaye Ettefaghieh:
1- Arrest of Terrorists in Tehran
2- On Kiarostami’s Brithday: A New Look at the World
3- Judiciary Chief Urges Authorities to Maintain National Unity and Solidarity
Vatan-e Emrooz:
1- Ultimatum to Bahraini Rulers: Continued Pressure on Shiite Cleric Would Leave No Option but Armed Resistance for Bahrain’s People, General Soleimani Warns
2- Huge Salaries Paid from Empty Treasury?
General Soleimani Warns Bahrain’s Regime against Any Insult to Shiite Cleric
Major General Qassem Soleimani, commander of IRGC’s Quds Force, said on Monday that overstepping the redline would “leave the people [of Bahrain] with no other choice but armed resistance.”
Bahrain on Monday revoked the citizenship of Sheikh Isa Ahmed Qassim, claiming that he has been involved in spreading extremism.
“Definitely, Al Khalifa will pay the price for this and it will result in nothing but the collapse of this bloodthirsty regime,” the IRGC commander said.
Soleimani warned that supporters of Bahrain’s Al Khalifa regime must know that any disrespect to Sheikh Qassim and the continuation of excessive crackdown on Bahraini people will “trigger a bloody intifada,” whose consequences would be upon those who legitimize the outrageous behaviour of Bahrain’s rulers.
The IRGC commander further noted that the Al Khalifa regime is committing more crimes on a daily basis and represses the people of Bahrain while the United Nations, the US and Western countries maintain their “meaningful silence.”
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry claimed in a statement that Sheikh Qassim actively sought the “creation of a sectarian environment” through his connections with foreign powers.
The ministry claimed that the cleric had misused his religious position to advance a political agenda and serve foreign interests.
The Interior Ministry’s statement added that the senior cleric “caused harm to the interests of the Bahraini kingdom or had acted contrary to the duty of loyalty to the government.”
Describing as illegal the donations to Sheikh Qassim by his followers in Bahrain, the statement further accused the cleric of receiving money and using it without obtaining the required legal licenses.
Global Companies Looking to Invest in Iran’s Petchem Projects: PCCI
Issa Mashayekhi, the managing director of PCCI, said companies from Japan and South Korea have voiced interest to participate in Iran’s petrochemical projects, and that they are expected to invest €520 million in form of a Usance LC (Letter of credit), Shana reported.
A Korean credit line worth €13bn is now available for the Islamic Republic, he said, adding that a Japanese credit line worth €10bn will be also allocated in 2017.
PCCI is in charge of holding talks with international companies for financing petrochemical projects and attracting investments for PGPIC projects.
