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Ahmadinejad’s Office Reacts to Accusations over US Seizure of Iranian Assets

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Since the recent move by the US to confiscate nearly $2bn of Iranian assets in order to give it to the families of the victims and survivors of 1983 Beirut bombing, Iranian media has been covering the issue from two perspectives. The conservatives have been blaming the incumbent administration of President Hassan Rouhani and have criticized the government’s excessive optimism towards the West (the US in particular).

On the other hand, the pro-government and reformist media, while strongly condemning the move by the US Supreme Court, have been pinning the blame on the former government for their purchases of US bonds in spite of the hostile relations at the time between Tehran and Washington.

Among the critics who have blamed the former administration are the current Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Valiollah Seif, as well as the former CBI Chief Tahmasb Mazaheri, two of the most important figures in finance.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Public Relations Department of the office of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the ex-president, rejected these criticisms and claimed that Rouhani’s government has made the country seem weak enough for the US to dare to make such a move.

Here is IFP’s translation of excerpts from the statement published by the website of Ahmadinejad’s office.

 

The recent move by the authoritarian US government … has become a new pretext for [Iranian] statesmen and political and media figures close to them to attack the former government.

The US administration has looted the Iranian nation’s assets in the current year and under the incumbent government, while the pretext for which the court ruling was issued dates back to 1983. It is not clear why, and for what hidden motivation, this cruel move by the US is being attributed to Ahmadinejad’s government.

They have claimed the managers of Iran’s Central Bank during the previous government were not careful enough, and should not have trusted in the international rules and regulations governing the global banking ties. They claim such trust has resulted in the assets seizure this year.

The US government did not dare to encroach upon the Iranian nation’s resources at that time, because the government of Ahmadinejad always behaved in a wise way and maintained the country’s honour and dignity.

The Iranian nation, however, has been portrayed as a weak nation in the international arena in recent years, and this has emboldened US statesmen. So the question is: isn’t this the reason behind the recent “plunder”?

The money was stolen right at the time when the Iranian foreign minister was in the US, holding private, long, secret, and repeated meetings with his US counterpart. Isn’t the seizure of assets related to the meetings and the topics discussed by the two? Isn’t this the continuation of a long-running drama to humiliate the Iranian nation and government?

The incumbent government says that Ahmadinejad’s cabinet members should not have trusted the Americans, or even in international rules and regulations. If that is true, why did they curb, dismantle, and shut down the country’s nuclear program, including facilities that were worth almost $30bn, based on the US Secretary of State John Kerry’s ambiguous promises without any guarantees?

The government’s trust in US statesmen and their promises, and the subsequent weakening of Iran’s international position in the past three years have led to a sharp drop in the Iranian nation’s most valuable asset, crude oil, from $105 to $35. If this remains unchanged, almost $150m a day and almost $55bn a year will be picked from Iran’s pocket and given to the negotiating sides [from the nuclear talks] or their allies.

People expect the government to avoid illogically pinning the blame on others, accept their own responsibilities, try to pursue the issue, and reclaim the nation’s rights.

 

Source: The Public Relations Department of the office of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Iran’s Forests Grow despite Global Shrinkage: World Bank

By
Golrokh Askarieh
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Based on the assessments provided by the World Bank, Iran is among the few countries that have seen an increase in their forest vegetation between 2000 and 2015, Tasnim reported.

Countries with the same status include: Iceland, China, France, Egypt, Denmark, Germany, India, Iraq, Spain, and the U.S.

Meanwhile, countries such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Mexico, Portugal, and Zimbabwe are countries experiencing a decrease in their vegetation.

Generally, forest vegetation in the Middle East increased by 0.88% per year, in Europe increased by 0.1% per year, in East Asia increased by 0.17% a year, in South Asia increased by 0.37% a year, and in North America increased by 0.06% a year, according to the report.

Sub-Saharan Africa set the record for the highest amount of deforestation, with an average of 0.48% annual decrease, followed by Latin America with 0.36% decrease each year over the same period.

“I’ll Come Back Again as a Tourist” – Zuma Falls in Love with Isfahan

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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As reported by ISNA, and translated by IFP, Jacob Zuma visited Naqsh-e-Jahan Square and Chehel Sotoun. He said, “Seeing the great pavilion of Chehel Sotoun and Naqsh-e-Jahan Square would make anyone feel awe-struck. It’s wonderful that all the buildings in the square have their own philosophy – it is not merely an open space.”

He added, “I thought I was only going to visit a square, but after my visit I realized that all the structures have a philosophy behind them. To see the great mosque among these other buildings makes you notice how religion and philosophy sit together.”

“It’s right to call Isfahan a tourist destination – we should all come to visit these sites.”

Iran’s Gasoline Exports Double

By
Golrokh Askarieh
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Touching upon the status of Iranian gasoline exports, Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) Seyed Naser Sajadi noted “In the time span of March 20 to April 25, a daily average of 9 to 9.2 million litres of Iranian gasoline has been exported to world markets.”

The official highlighted that the last year’s figure was 4.5 to 5 million litres per day, asserting “The export volume of the oil product so far in the current year has experienced a twofold increase when compared with one year earlier.”

Sajadi further enumerated the main reasons for the soar in gasoline exports: “The rise in natural gas production and gas supply to industries and power plants, as well as the implementation of consumption management projects – these are the major reasons for the leap in exports,” he underlined.

“The average consumption of gasoline has approximately decreased by seven million litres since last year as the result of a new gas supply plan,” stressed the NIORDC managing director, maintaining “Since the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 20), the country’s daily gasoline consumption has been about 58 million litres.”

He recalled that the figure for the previous year had been around 73.5m litres, commenting “In other words, the consumption of the oil product in Iran has decreased by about 21.22%.”

Sajadi estimated that the export volume of Iranian gasoline will hit more than 15 million liters in the current year. “The product is currently being exported to neighboring countries and world markets through marine and land trade routes.”

“Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan, as well as some Central Asian and Caucasus countries comprise the regional market for Iranian gasoline,” said the oil official, concluding “Moreover, several shipments of gasoline have been exported to international markets by sea.”

Iranian Speaker Hails Constructive Talks with Belgian MPs

By
Golrokh Askarieh
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Speaking at a joint press conference with President of the Senate of Belgium Christine Defraigne in Tehran, Larijani said that in their talks held earlier on Wednesday, they weighed plans for closer parliamentary ties between Iran and Belgium.

The bulk of negotiations revolved around economic cooperation, including ways to remove trade barriers, he explained.

According to Larijani, another subject discussed in the meeting was the threat of terrorism and the situation in the region as well as the issue of terrorist groups that have become a source of concern for Europe, including Belgium.

The Belgian delegation arrived in Tehran on Wednesday, and is going to hold meetings with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Chairman of Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, and a number of other officials.

The trip comes against a backdrop of international enthusiasm for enhanced ties with Iran after Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14, 2015 reached an agreement on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program and started implementing it on January 16.

Tehran from Above – Aerial Photos of the Capital

By
Fatemeh Askarieh
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IFP: Tehran, the sprawling metropolitan capital city, has all the facilities and infrastructure you would expect in a major industrial, commercial and economic hub. With a population of over 8 million residents – just shy of New York City – Tehran is a busy, bustling, sometimes confusing urban maelstrom. Seen from the air, however, some of its underlying patterns are laid out for all to see. These photos from IRNA give us another perspective on the capital, highlighting some of the residential, industrial, agricultural and architectural designs that you might miss from the ground.

Leader: US Deception Hindering Iran Trade

By
Golrokh Askarieh
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“On paper, the Americans say banks can trade with Iran but in practice they act in such an Iranophobic way that no trade can take place with Iran,” the Leader told a group of Iranian workers in Tehran Wednesday.

US and European businesses are reluctant to do business with Iran over the fear of being penalized by Washington despite the nuclear agreement which requires countries to lift sanctions on Tehran.

Iranian officials have hit out at the US and the EU for failing to honor the nuclear agreement by keeping Iran locked out of the international financial system.

“An American official has said the bulk of sanctions has been maintained so that the investors are scared away and do not come here,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

“The Americans are engaged in obstruction and deception. Then, they claim that we are pessimistic,” the Leader added.

Officials in the US State Department and Treasury have frequently said that Iran would not be given any access to the American financial system.

US Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged earlier this month that Iran deserved access to the system because it had met its obligations under the nuclear agreement.

US Seizure of Iran’s Assets is “Blatant Theft”: President Rouhani

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Here are Rouhani’s remarks, as reported by the President’s website and translated by IFP.

“That a court or legislature in another part of the world would make decisions about the Iranian nation’s rights and property is totally illegal and in contradiction of international laws, based on which central banks are legally immune in all parts of the world,” Rouhani said in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

“No thief can be proud of his or her theft and think that the stolen properties are his or hers,” the Iranian president stressed, telling Americans to understand that Iran’s property cannot be looted.

Such pressures and illegal rulings by the US judiciary and congress are “International theft and a legal scandal” for the US, he noted, expressing surprise over an “unprecedented” move by the US Congress to put the judiciary under pressure over the issue.

Rouhani stressed that, in politics, the US move means the continuation of hostilities against the Iranian nation, and vowed to resist the incorrect verdict and reclaim the country’s rights.

“These assets belong to the Iranian nation, and any encroachment upon them is considered hostile and illegal,” he added, emphasizing that the Americans will not be able to use the assets without facing repercussions.

Unbeatable “Buddy’s” Fish Kebabs

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Apart from its gorgeous landscape, trees and natural features, Zrebar Lake (3km west of Marivan, Kurdistan) boasts other special characteristics, too – all of these combine to make the lake a unique destination.

All around the lake, there are 24 small kiosks spreading a wonderful smell into the air. They are famous for a special fish kebab recipe that, as they claim, is unique.

Rafigh (meaning Buddy) is one of these kiosk owners at the lake. He drops a fresh grass carp onto the chopping board and slices it into two with the tip of his knife.

He puts a couple more on the board, explaining, “Our local fish are grass carp, common carp and silver carp.”

He positions the fish above the red, hot coals and turns the net every few seconds. A few minutes later, he separates the loose skin of the fish with a stick.

When the fish as red as the coals, he out takes a pot and spreads its contents all over the fish, “When the fish has cooked a bit, we add onion juice on both sides, then score the flesh with a stick so the juice gets into it.”

Rafigh takes the fish off the coals again and adds more things: Hawraman local sumac, oil and lemon juice. Then covers the top with onion and tomato and puts it back on the coals again.

“This type of kebab is exclusive to Zrebar Lake – nowhere else in the world can you find fish kebabs with these ingredients, and cooked in this way. It takes half an hour for the fish to be ready. All this time, we keep scratching the flesh so the ingredients get into the centre.”

He then talks about the fishing season, “There are only 36 fishermen allowed to fish in the lake, who have permission from the Iran Environmental Organization, which is limited to only six months: autumn and winter.”

The fish is now as red as the coals, and Rafigh takes it off and puts it on a tray, “Each of the lake’s fish is enough for at least two people. Some people order one for four, and some Iraqis have such great appetites that they order one fish per person!”

Rafigh has been making fish kebab in this way at Zrebar Lake for 25 years.

 

 

3 Iranian Police Killed in Clashes with Armed Drug Dealers

By
Golrokh Askarieh
-

Brigadier General Hossein Rahimi confirmed the attack on the checkpoint by a group of culprits and the death of three policemen, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic incident.

He added that another police officer was injured in the attack.

General Rahimi said efforts are underway to arrest the armed group, adding that his forces will fight “until the last drop of blood” to defend Iran’s territorial integrity and security.

In recent decades, Iran has been hit by drug trafficking, mainly because of its 936km shared border with Afghanistan, which produces more than 90% of the world’s opium.

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the Islamic Republic is netting eight times more opium and three times more heroin than all other countries in the world combined.

The war on the drug trade originating from Afghanistan has claimed the lives of nearly 3,700 Iranian police officers over the past three decades.

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