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Araqchi: No obstacles for foreign banks in transactions with Iran

Talking in a live program on the state TV on Sunday, he said the literature the CBI governor used in relation with the problems foreign banks are facing in transactions with Iran led to the announcement by the US Foreign Secretary John Kerry that non-American banks have no problems in their dealings with Iran.

He said this announcement is a clear achievement for Iran’s diplomacy.

He noted that many European banks are breathing in the pre-JCPOA era and need to be updated about the new conditions.

He said Iran certainly faced problems in transferring inside the money Iranian government possesses outside the country but were blocked because of sanctions.

He said what the US officials are saying about the amount of Iran’s blocked assets are pointless because the assets are now freed and the CBI is supervising the process of the transfer.

The foreign ministry deputy further noted the blocked assets include the money Japan, China, India and a number of other countries owe to Iran in return for the oil they have purchased. He added certain problems on transfer of the price of the oil to the country will be solved.

Stressing that the JCPOA has nothing to do with the US sanctions on Iran regarding use of dollar and access to American banking system, he said Iran entering into the US banking system has its own risks as American courts have already issued a number of unfair verdicts against Iran.

Iran is after replacing use of dollar in its banking transactions with other currencies like euro and is pursuing the goal of reducing reliance on dollar in dealings with foreign countries, the official added.

He said that Iran’s banks have a long way to go before the problems are removed, adding that the US is still going on with its sabotages in the process.

Araqchi further stressed that the signing of the JCPOA was not the end to the hostility between Iran and the US because it had no effect on the nature of interactions between the two countries.

Bombardier to Set Up Own Airline in Iran

Bloomberg in a report has announced that officials from Iran’s Qeshm Free Trade Zone had recently met Pierre Beaudoin, executive chairman of Bombardier’s board, on a project to set up an airline in the southern Qeshm island.

The island, located in the Persian Gulf, needs to invest in air transportation as part of plans to boost revenue from tourism, Bloomberg quoted an unnamed Iranian official as saying.

Qeshm Free Zone officials have held talks with several companies though they are keen to reach an agreement with Bombardier within the next two month, the report added.

No details have still come out about the cost of the project nor the scope of Bombardier’s possible involvement.

“We’ve had continued discussions, they’re exploratory discussions, with a number of people there for transport solutions required for the region and what we can offer,” Marianella de la Barrera, Bombardier’s manager for public affairs and communications, has told Bloomberg.

While confirming Beaudoin’s travel to Iran, she declined to comment on the content of the talks. The company has “identified significant opportunities in the region with regards to commercial aviation sector,” she said.

Iranian officials have already emphasized that the country will need to buy 500 commercial jets of various models for various short-, medium- and long-distance routes.

Iran has already signed a deal worth $27 billion with Airbus to purchase 118 new planes. It has also conducted advanced trade talks with Boeing.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25

Iran Newspaper front pages

The state visit by South African President Jacob Zuma and his meetings with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani received a lot of coverage across Iranian media.

The recent controversial remarks by Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Chief Valiollah Seif – who pinned the blame on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government over the US seizure of Iran’s frozen assets – also continued to garner reactions from different factions.

 

Abrar:

  1.  Iran’s Judiciary Urged to Open Legal Case for Ahmadinejad over Seizure of Iranian Assets

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Afarinesh:

  1.  Iranian Female Athletes Break Records of Booking Olympic Tickets
  2. Obama: It Would be a Mistake to Deploy Ground Forces to Topple Syria’s Assad
  3.  Syrian Free Army Threatens to Cancel Ceasefire

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Asr-e Rasaneh:

  1.  Iran’s Share in Global IT Market
  2.  60 Historical Sites Waiting to Be Registered by UNESCO

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Ebtekar:

  1. Iran Won’t Forget Sanction-Era Friends: Rouhani to South Africa

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Emtiaz:

  1. Prosecutor-General Warns against Use of Alcoholic Drinks, Especially among Athletes and Artists
  2.  60-70 Earthquakes Occur in Iran Every Day
  3.  Lucrative Iranian Cosmetics Market
  4.  3 Tramlines to Be Built in Tehran

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Ettela’at:

  1. Independent Countries Should Remain Close to Each Other: Leader
  2. Iran and South Africa Sign 8 Cooperation Documents
  3. Using Homegrown Products Should Make People Feel Proud

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Etemad:

  1. Iran’s VP: Laws on Women to Be Reformed

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Ghanoon:

  1. Iran Pessimistic about Extraditing Banker Who Fled to Canada: Judiciary

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Hamshahri:

  1. More Colourful Blood: $10m Compensation for American Marines, $40k for Afghans and Yemenis
  2. Saudi Arabia Launches Propaganda Campaign to Escape Crisis

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Hemayat:

  1. Huge Bribery Gang Arrested in Iran’s Tax Administration

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Iran:

  1. Imprisoned Physicist Omid Kokabi’s 10-Year Verdict Is Final and He Is under Medical Treatment: Judiciary Spokesman
  2. Iran’s Culture Minister Slams Saudi Arabia’s Stonewalling in Hajj Talks

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Jomhouri Eslami:

  1. MPs Urge Prosecution of Officials in Ahmadinejad’s Gov’t over US Seizure of Iranian Assets
  2. Hundreds of Israelis Attack al-Aqsa Mosque
  3. Barriers to Iran’s Int’l Shipping Removed
  4. Iran Exports Record-Breaking 4.1m Tons of Steel Products

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


Javan:

  1. South African President: Iran a Great Example of Self-Reliance

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Kayhan:

  1. Rouhani Administration’s Response to US Seizure of Iranian Assets: Hail the JCPOA!
  2. 250 Iraqi Girls Preferred Death to Marriage with Takfiris

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Khorasan:

  1. Ahmadinejad’s Minister Reacts to CBI Chief’s Accusations of US Seizure of Iranian Assets
  2. Source: Over $16bn of Iranian Property Still in Danger of Being Confiscated by US

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Rahe Mardom:

  1. General Soleimani’s Offer to Syria’s Assad: Iran’s Intelligence Minister
  2. Main Challenges for Tehran: Noise and Air Pollution

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Resalat:

  1. Iran’s Response to Enemy Aggression Not Predictable: Armed Forces Spokesman
  2. We Expected Rouhani to Take Firm Stance against US on Asset Seizure: Politician

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Sayeh:

  1. Degrees in Iranian Society: I Cannot Live without Academic Degree
  2. Anti-Narcotics NGO Urges Popular TV Series Shahrzad Not to Show Smoking

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Sharq:

  1. MPs Unaware of American Bond Purchase by Ahmadinejad Gov’t: How Iran Lost $2bn
  2. Trump’s Victory in Iran’s Interest: JCPOA to Be Implemented Strictly If Hillary Wins

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25


 

Siasate Rooz:

  1. Families of 185 Victims of Mina Crush Sue Saudi Arabia
  2. There Is Always a “Former Gov’t” to Be Blamed

(Another response to CBI Chief who blamed Ahmadinejad’s gov’t over US seizure of Iranian assets)

 

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 25

 

Festival of Tulips in City of Karaj

Visitors ar5e seen attending the Festival of Tulips held in the city of Karaj. Tulip in the Iranian culture is among national flowers as it is regarded as a symbol for martyrdom.

 

 

Belgian Parliamentary Delegation Due in Tehran Wednesday

The delegation, headed by President of the Senate of Belgium Christine Defraigne, will arrive in Tehran on April 27.

Defraigne is planned to sit down with Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani. The two will also hold a joint press conference after the meeting.

The president of the Senate of Belgium is also scheduled to hold talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Chairman of Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a top adviser to Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani on international affairs, Vice-President for Women and Family Affairs Shahindokht Molaverdi, and a number of other officials during the 5-day visit.

The trip will come 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.

Leader Underlines Closer Ties among Independent States

Imam Khamenei raised the issue at a meeting with visiting South African President Jacob Zuma in Tehran.

“The interests of independent states depends on closer cooperation in different sectors and the obstacles certain powers are raising against such cooperation should be countered,” the Leader said.

As regards Iran’s ties with the African state, Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran holds a “positive and constructive view” of South Africa.

The Leader further described the relations between Iran and South Africa are very warm, but at the same time noted that economic and trade ties between the two sides should match their existing capacities.

Also at the meeting, Zuma reiterated the necessity for cooperation between independent nations.

He reminded Pretoria’s stances towards Iran, and said the country had opposed the sanctions the Western governments imposed on Iran.

Zuma said there is now proper ground for cooperation between the two countries, adding that his country will restart economic and trade ties with Iran.

In a ceremony held in Tehran on Sunday, high-ranking officials from Iran and South Africa signed eight memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to broaden the relations between the two countries in a range of fields.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his South African counterpart attended the ceremony.

 

“I Could Never Complain about Iranian Acting”

Alexander Sokurov, the famous Russian film director, attended the 34th Fajr International Film Festival. He talked about his knowledge of Iranian cinema and his reasons for being at the festival, “I know Iran more through its history. Of course, I’m familiar with Abbas Kiarostami and some of his works, but unfortunately I don’t have a good knowledge about Iranian documentary cinema. I’m definitely interested and try to get to know this cinema more.”

 

He continued, “Unfortunately, Iranian cinema is heavily based on social issues. I don’t know why Iranian filmmakers are so interested in social matters and less in artistic ones. If I am being picky, I could say that social cinema exists everywhere in the world, but not to this extent.”

 

He added, “The main difference between Iranian films and those of other countries is that Iranian films look much neater and cleaner on the screen. In a way, I can say they are more organic. The acting in them is also extremely precise and surprisingly natural. I personally could never complain about their acting.”

 

Sokurov also talked about the quality of Iranian cinema in comparison with the Middle East, “There’s much less development in Arab cinema than in Iran. I can say that they are not even close, and it’s wrong to compare them.”

Rally Held in Tehran to Remember Armenian Killings of 1915

A large crowd of Armenian citizens, sporting purple signs, converged on Saint Sarkis Cathedral in central Tehran to mark the 101st anniversary of the 1915 massacre of Armenians in what they say was a genocide by the Ottoman Turks.

An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed and their property destroyed or confiscated during the period of 1915 to 1923 when the Ottoman Empire collapsed, and many survivors and their descendants scattered into a diaspora that has placed Armenian enclaves in more than 100 countries.

 

 

Turkey’s government has expressed condolences to Armenians but has denied that the killings constituted a genocide, arguing that many Ottoman Turks also were killed in that era of war and upheaval.

Ankara believes that up to 500,000 Armenian were killed, but mostly due to war and starvation.

In 2014, the then Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan made unprecedented condolences to the grandchildren of Armenians killed at the time, but the legacy remains an obstacle to reviving frozen relations between Ankara and Yerevan.

Natanz Jame’ Mosque

Natanz Jame’ Mosque is located near Sheikh Abdol Samad Isfahani Tomb in Isfahan province. Its dome house is a heritage of Al-e Bouyeh dynasty.

 

 

Iran, South Africa Ink 8 MoUs

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his South African counterpart, Jacob Zuma, who arrived in Tehran earlier in the day for an official visit, attended the ceremony.

 

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The documents signed in the gathering include MoUs on trade and industry, establishment of a joint task force on investment, agriculture, management of water resources, insurance services, exchange of financial information to counter money laundering, cooperation between the Research Institute of Iran’s Petroleum Industry and the Petroleum Oil And Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA), as well as a document on culture and the arts.

Zuma is heading a 180-member politico-economic delegation in his trip to Tehran.

He had been expected to visit Iran in late February, but his trip was postponed.

Expansion of relations with African nations in all political, economic and cultural fields is top on the agenda of Iran’s foreign policy.

President Rouhani has repeatedly stressed his administration’s interest in boosting relations with African states.