A huge number of Iranian twins, triplets, and other multiples gathered together on Thursday evening at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium in a ceremony whose motto was “Iranian Twins, Guardians of Persian Gulf Heritage”.
Pasargad wants to become ‘global bank’
Iranian banks made inroads into a number of non-banking fields, such as real estates, industry and energy when the most stringent sanctions in 2012 shriveled the economy.
With those sanctions lifted, CEO of Pasargad Bank Majid Qassemi said some of their companies will be offered for sale on the over-the-counter securities market Fara Bourse.
The initial public offering (IPO) can take place in the current Iranian year which ends in March 2017 or the next Iranian year and is expected to raise about $330 million, local media quoted him as saying.
One the of companies set for IPO is Pasargad Energy Development Co. (PEDC) which is involved in oil and gas exploration as well as refining.
According to Qassemi, PEDC is working on approximately $12 billion of energy projects, including construction of a $2.2 billion gas line to neighboring Iraq.
Iran is slowly but surely opening to international business, with many investors casting off their fears about the consequences of trade with the Middle East’s second largest economy.
Since the lifting of sanctions in January, Iran’s stock market has rallied 30% as foreign companies and investors have been scoping the market of 80 million people for opportunities.
Meanwhile, Iran’s reconnection to the global financial system has buoyed the country’s banks which mostly suffered under the sanctions.
Qassemi said Pasargad wanted to turn into a “global bank” and Europe was a priority, where the lender sought to open branches in the UK, France, Switzerland and Spain.
The bank, he said, is considering initiating joint ventures with local lenders and building a profile overseas through acquisitions.
“We’ll focus on whichever country can answer our needs,” he was quoted as saying.
Pasargad is one of the 19 privately-owned banks in Iran. According to Qassemi, the lender increased assets by 14% in 2015 to 505 trillion rials ($16.6 billion).
The international banking industry, however, remains wary of resuming normal business with Iran.
Major international banks fear falling foul of American regulations or losing crucial permits to operate in the US.
On Friday, London-based HSBC slammed US Secretary of State John Kerry for exhorting European banks to do business with Iran while Washington continues to restrict American financial firms from doing the same.
Writing in the Wall Street Journal, HSBC’s Chief Legal Officer Stuart Levey said the US government is taking a “very odd position” on trade with Iran.
“On the one hand, Washington is continuing to prohibit American banks and companies from doing Iran-related business … on the other hand, Mr Kerry wants non-US banks to do business with Iran without a US repudiation of its prior statements about the associated financial-crime risks,” he said.
In 2014, French bank BNP Paribas was fined more than $8.9 billion for breaching US sanctions on Iran. Standard Chartered was also fined nearly $1 billion for trading with Iran.
Iran Exports LPG to Africa by Using ISO Tank Containers
Esmaeil Hasham-Firouz, the NIOPDC’s director of export and import said to Shana on Saturday that for the first time, Iran has shipped several cargos of LPG to African states by using ISO tank containers.
He noted that NIOPDC has planned to find new markets for export of LPG, adding that request for Iran’s LPG product is rising.
The ISO tank containers are large stainless steel pressure vessels held within a 20-foot ISO frame that are used for the transportation and storage of bulk liquids.
Terrorists in Syria Equipped with New Weapons: Ex-Iranian DM
Speaking to reporters in Tehran on Friday, the Iranian general said the terrorist groups in Syria benefit from the backing of both regional and ultra-regional countries.
“The enemies (of Syria) equipped terrorists with very new weapons,” he deplored.
General Vahidi then gave an assurance that the strategic village of Khan Touman in northern Syria will be recaptured in the near future.
Located in south of Aleppo, Khan Touman was under the control of Syrian troops since December, but fell into the clutches of militants from the al-Nusra Front terrorist group on May 6.
Hezbollah Commander Death Strengthens Resistance: Iran’s Larijani
Ali Larijani made the remarks in a Saturday message of condolences to Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah, following the assassination of Badreddine during his anti-terrorism mission in Syria.
The top Iranian parliamentarian further hailed the sacrifices made by the late Hezbollah military official in the fight against terrorism and said “this brave martyr spent many years of his life on the front line of battles against the Zionist regime and its mercenaries in the region.”
“Hezbollah has lost a Lebanese champion and brilliant member, but this [loss] would definitely bolster the resolve of anti-Israel jihadi forces” in their resistance against Tel Aviv’s occupation, he said.
Larijani further offered sympathy to the bereaved family of the slain commander.
‘Takfiris killed Badreddine’
On Friday, Badreddine lost his life in a strike near the international airport in Damascus, Syria. Initial media reports blamed the Israeli regime for the assault.
However, Hezbollah announced following investigations on Saturday that its top military official was killed by Takfiri terrorist groups operating against the Damascus government. Israel is believed to be among the major supporters of the Takfiri militants in Syria.
Badreddine’s killing will only boost Hezbollah’s “will and intention to continue fighting these criminal gangs,” the Lebanese movement said in a statement.
Over the past few years, Hezbollah resistance fighters have been helping the Syrian army fight the Takfiri terrorist groups and liberate the militant-held areas across the country. The resistance movement says its mission is also aimed at preventing the spillover of the Syria crisis into Lebanon.
Who is the late commander?
Born in 1961, Badreddine joined the armed wing of Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement in 1982, the year Israel invaded the Arab country and occupied its southern parts. The late commander helped train resistance fighters to confront the Tel Aviv regime’s occupation.
He was appointed as the commander of Hezbollah’s central military unit in 1992 and served as a mastermind of several anti-Israel military operations.
The commander’s sacrifices and heroic acts greatly contributed to the Israeli military’s humiliating withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.
Among other achievements, Badreddine, a senior advisor to Nasrallah, also assisted the security forces in dismantling scores of Israeli spy cells on Lebanese soil during his more than three-decade career as a Hezbollah operative.
In 2009, Badreddine became head of Hezbollah’s external operations branch, replacing his cousin and brother-in-law late Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyeh, who was assassinated by the Israeli regime a year earlier.
With the outbreak of the foreign-backed crisis in neighboring Syria in 2011, Badreddine was among the first Hezbollah commanders to step on the battlefield against Takfiri terror groups.
Prior to his assassination on May 13, Badreddine was helping the Syrian army in the fight against terrorists in the countryside of Syria’s Aleppo city.
IRGC Deploys 100 Academic Forces to Syria, Iraq for Advisory Missions
General Morteza Saffari told Tasnim on Saturday that the instructors from Imam Hussein University have been dispatched to Syria and Iraq for two-month missions.
A number of those IRGC forces have returned home after accomplishing their missions, while a number of others have been martyred or wounded, the commander explained.
General Saffari, however, noted that another number of the 100 forces have remained in those two countries, where necessary.
Imam Hussein University (IHU) is a public university in Tehran, run by the IRGC, training cadets for the force.
Iran, a close ally of Syria and Iraq, has been supporting the two Arab countries in the fight against foreign-backed mercenaries and terrorists.
Tehran has already made it clear that its assistance to Syria and Iraq is confined to consultation and advisory help.
Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011, with government forces fighting an assortment of militant groups, including the Daesh (ISIL) terrorists.
Iraq has been also grappling with the threat of Daesh terrorists, who invaded the country in summer 2014.
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on May 14
Iranian press on Saturday covered the league (IPL) championship win by the unpretentious Esteghlal of Khuzestan, which left the popular giants of Tehran, Persepolis and Esteghlal of Tehran, ranking second and third.
Remarks by Ayatollah Akbar Hashehmi Rafsanjani in support of the nuclear deal [JCPOA] were also extensively discussed.
US attempts to encourage Europeans to increase trade with Tehran, as well as a growing rate of suicide in Iran have also remained hot topics.
Abrar:
1- Brazil’s Rousseff Stripped of Presidential Duties for 6 Months
2- Esteghlal of Khuzestan Wins Iran’s Pro Football League
3- Obama Defends Nuclear Deal [with Iran]
4- US Navy Fires Commander of Sailors Captured in Iran
Abrar-e Eqtesadi:
1- Iran and Japan Sign MoU on Refinery Industries
2- Iran’s Inflation Rate Higher than 213 Countries
3- South Korean President Urges Enhancement of Trade with Iran
Arman-e Emrooz:
1- Rouhani Making Same Mistake as Ahmadinejad
2- It’s an Illusion to Consider Ourselves the Centre of the World: Imam Khomeini’s Grandson
Asia:
1- Reason for Kerry and Hammond’s Meeting with Major Banks: Normalizing Iran’s Global Ties
2- Iran Can Shine Internationally with JCPOA Opportunities
3- Agricultural Exports to Russia [after Moscow’s severance of ties with Ankara]
Emtiaz:
1- Turkey to Build 10 Hotels in Iran
2- Iranian Oil Tankers Free to Dock at All Ports Worldwide
Etemad:
1- Iran’s Leicester Crowned IPL Champion [Esteghlal of Khuzestan’s championship in Iran’s professional football league]
2- [Iran’s Southeastern city of] Zabol Declared by WHO as World’s Most Polluted City
Ettela’at:
1- Zionists Benefitting from Chaos in Muslim World: Larijani
2- Economic Conditions Progressing: Rafsanjani
3- Last Year’s Birth Rate Growth Highest in 24 Years
4- Iran’s Oil Output Soars to Pre-Sanctions Level
5- Top Hezbollah Commander Killed in Israeli Airstrike
Haft-e Sobh:
1- Iranians Praise Dutch Father and Daughter Who Helped Accident Victims in Tabriz
2- Sorrow! Persepolis Celebration Spoiled after Losing Championship to Esteghlal of Khuzestan
Iran:
1- Rafsanjani: JCPOA Achievements Resolve Iran’s Problems
2- Impeachment and Fall of Populist Gov’t, This Time in Brazil
3- Elina’s Father Sues Doctors and Hospital Officials [over their medical error that caused 6-year-old girl to go on a coma]
4- Clerics Urge Culture Ministry to Secure Iranian Pilgrims’ Dignity and Security
Jahan-e San’at:
1- Hear the Voice of Neda [a 9-year-old girl harassed by her teacher]
2- Legitimacy Crisis in Arab Countries
Javan:
1- Al Saud [Royal Family] Blocks Way [of Iranian Pilgrims] to God’s House [Hajj Pilgrimage]
2- Kerry’s Futile Verbal Assurance: European Bankers Didn’t Trust US
Kayhan:
1- Don’t Present What JCPOA Took from Iran as Nuclear Deal Achievements
2- Preparations Not Ready for Major Pilgrimage: Minister
3- Iran’s Economic Prosperity Hinges on Staying Away from West: US Analyst
Payam-e Zaman:
1- Water Level behind 50 Iranian Dams Exceeds 95% of Their Capacity
2- 600,000 Barrels of Oil Sold to Europe
3- Croatian President’s Visit to Tehran
4- Cleric: US Not Committed to International Laws
Resalat:
1- People’s Lives Threatened by Cyberspace: Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi
2- Labourers Receive Their Salaries in Rials, Managers in Dollars
3- Saudis Have No Desire to Accept Iranian Pilgrims: Minister
4- Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli: This Year, No Iranian Muslims Obliged to Go on Hajj
5- Afghan President: West’s Addiction to Drugs Has Corrupted Afghanistan
Shahrvand:
1- Bridges of Death: A Report on Recent Suicides Committed in Tehran
Shargh:
1- Multi-Billionaires in Parliament [Iranian MP Reveals Wage Rates of Authorities]
2- Rousseff’s Suspension to End Iran-Brazil Honeymoon?
Vaghaye Ettefaghieh:
1- Iran’s Approach to Russia Is Emotional: Ex-Ambassador to USSR
2- Families of Afghan Holy Shrine Defenders Killed in Syria Meet Leader
Vatan-e Emrooz:
1- Terror of Hezbollah’s Zolfaqar [Badreddine]
2- Saudi Arabia Finger-Print Iranian Hajj Negotiators!
3- Scandal for Hashemi Family: Rafsanjani’s Daughter Meets a Baha’i Leader
4- Post-JCPOA Scandal [Editorial]
Iran’s Beauties in Photos: Spring in Ardabil
Ardabil is a region in the northwest of Iran, bordering the Republic of Azerbaijan, the provinces of East Azarbaijan, Zanjan, and Gilan.
Turkey to Build at Least 10 Hotels in Iran
The hotels would be built in Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz and Mashhad, the official said, under the terms of an agreement with Iran signed during a Turkish delegation’s visit to Tehran that started on Thursday.
The agreement includes incentives for investment and allows more charter flights between the neighboring countries, he said.
“We will transfer our know-how on training, planning, marketing and advertising to raise tourism standards in Iran,” the official told Reuters, declining to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Turkey and Iran will also organize joint tours for the Asian market that will include visiting cities in southeast Turkey and Iran, the official said, adding the agreement was signed during a Turkish delegation visit to Tehran that started on Thursday.
Tourism industry officials expect more than 2 million Iranians to visit Turkey this year, up from 1.7 million last year. In the first four months of 2016, there has been a 7 percent increase on last year.
That’s a rare bit of good news for Turkey’s tourism industry, which has seen revenues tumble nearly 17 percent in the first quarter, hit by a series of terrorist attacks and worsening ties with Russia.
Iran’s top tourism official said last December that the country is constructing 125 new four- and five-star hotels, stressing that the figure is a record in the Iranian hospitality industry.
Masoud Soltanifar, the head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, emphasized that the government of President Hassan Rouhani has over the past two years constructed as many luxurious hotels as the ones constructed in the country over the past century.
Iran has an ambitious target to increase annual visitor count by five folds to 20 million by 2025 in order to generate $30 billion a year.
Reports emerged earlier that international hoteliers are heartened by the plan. Hotel groups in the Persian Gulf Arab states are specifically believed to have already drawn plans to boost their portfolios in Iran as they see the country emerging as the most lucrative hospitality development market.
According to Iranian officials, hotel groups from Germany, Greece, South Korea and Singapore have recently traveled to Iran for talks.
Europe’s largest hotel group Accor has also constructed two four-star hotels at Imam Khomeini International Airport outside the Iranian capital.
The UAE-based Rotana plans to open its five-star 600-room hotel in Tehran this year and another in the pilgrimage city of Mashhad.
Source: Presstv
Commander Death Bolsters Hezbollah Anti-Israel Resistance: Iran
In a message to Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday, Zarif expressed the Islamic Republic’s condolences on the killing of Mustafa Badreddine by the Israeli regime.
The Iranian minister said Badreddine was “all passion and devotion” in defending the ideals of Islam and the resistant Lebanese people and in fighting terrorism.
In a statement on Friday, Hezbollah said it is investigating to find out whether a blast which claimed the life of its top military commander was caused by an airstrike, missile attack or artillery.
The Lebanese resistance movement added that initial information indicates Badreddine was killed in a big explosion at one of its bases near Damascus Airport in Syria.
Early reports had suggested that the commander, 55, was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike.
He was the commander of Hezbollah’s military wing which is helping the Syrian government drive out foreign-backed Takfiri terrorists from the country.
Badreddine also directed military operations against the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and was a frequent target of attempts by Israel, the US and its allies in the Middle East to assassinate or capture him.
Israel is widely known to have been supporting terrorists fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Funeral held for Commander Badreddine
A funeral was held in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Friday afternoon for the assassinated commander.
Addressing the mourners, Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s deputy secretary general, said the resistance movement will “continue the path” of Commander Badreddine.
He said there are various hypotheses regarding the death of Badreddine, adding that Hezbollah will not announce how the commander was killed before the end of the investigations.
Qassem added that his party will determine the nature of the blast and the identity of the perpetrators within hours.
Source: Presstv
