The qualifying competitions of Iran’s national water skiing team was held in Kish Island of Persian Gulf on Friday.
President Rouhani Welcomes South African Counterpart in Tehran
President Zuma, heading a high-ranking delegation, arrived early today.
The national anthems of the two countries were played at the ceremony, and the two presidents reviewed a parade.
After that, the Iranian and South African presidents started bilateral talks.
During Zuma’s stay in Tehran, several economic documents will be signed by the two countries’ delegations.
The South African president is scheduled to leave Tehran for the historical Iranian city of Isfahan on Monday.
Tehran, Seoul to Ink Multi-Billion Dollar Deals: Report
Heading a delegation of some 200 businesspeople from such areas as construction, energy and finance, South Korean President Park Geun-hye is slated to visit Iran on May 1-3 to discuss ways to promote business ties between the two countries.
Her visit, the first of its kind by a South Korean president since the two sides established diplomatic relations in 1962, comes as Iran has been emerging as a high-potential market after international sanctions were lifted in January.
Leading Korean builders plan to sign memorandums of understanding and preliminary agreements on building railroads, a dam, petrochemical plants and hospitals, with the value of contracts estimated around 15-20 trillion won ($13-17 billion), Yonhap News Agency quoted industry officials as saying.
Daelim Industrial said it plans to ink a $4.9 billion deal on railroad projects and a preliminary agreement on a dam and water plant deal estimated at $2 billion. It has also been pushing for participating in a petrochemical project, hoping to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Iranian government during the South Korean president’s visit.
Hyundai Engineering Co. said it is set to clinch a $3.6 billion framework agreement with Kangan Petro Refining Co. to build a gas refining facility in the South Pars, the world’s largest gas field located in the Persian Gulf. The firm also plans to sign a preliminary deal to participate in a private power plant construction project estimated at $500 million.
Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. and POSCO Daewoo Corp., formerly Daewoo International Corp., will sign a deal with Iran’s health ministry to build a hospital for Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, according to the company officials.
Under the contract, Hyundai E&C will build the facility and POSCO Daewoo will provide the medical equipment, they said.
The large-scale deals in the offing are expected to give momentum to Korean companies, which have grappled with shrinking demands in the Middle East amid low oil prices.
“It would take some time to sign formal agreements and confirm the contracts in Iran. But at least they would inject fresh momentum into the sluggish Middle Eastern construction market, dragged by a prolonged oil price slump,” said a senior official at a Seoul-based construction firm.
Iran’s President Urges Long-Term Plans for Environmental Protection
Despite a whole host of political and social concerns and security problems in the region, the first item on the agenda at the first cabinet session in 2013 was a scheme to save drying Lake Oroumiyeh in northwest of Iran, President Rouhani said in an address to the 2nd edition of an international seminar on environment, culture and religion, which kicked off in Tehran on Saturday.
He referred to plans for taking high-polluting vehicles off the roads, tackling dust particles, producing gasoline in compliance with the Euro-4 emission standards, developing the South Pars gas filed and feeding the country’s power plants with gas as some of the administration’s efforts to prevent damage to the environment.
President Rouhani further emphasized that the environmental concerns cannot be settled in short term, but a long-term plan is required to deal with those problems.
Back in March, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei urged all Iranian people and officials to pay more attention to safeguarding the country’s green spaces.
The 2nd International Seminar on Environment, Religion and Culture is underway in Tehran for two days with the participation of representatives from 15 countries.
It has been organized by Iran in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on Apr. 24
Almost all newspapers today covered a recent meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his US counterpart John Kerry in New York, where the American side promised to remove barriers to Iran’s trade with Europe.
Iranian media also covered the remarks by Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Chief Valiollah Seif, who blamed the former Iranian administration for a recent US court ruling which seized $2 billion of Iranian assets.
President Hassan Rouhani’s comments on Iran’s role in the fight against terrorism and extremism, as well as his cabinet meeting on the controversial plan of “plainclothes morality” police were also discussed.
Abrar:
1-Iran and Group 5+1 Agree to Continue Cooperation on Sanctions Removal: EU
2-Kerry: Banks and Financial Institutions Should Not Be Afraid of Dealing with Iran
3-I Hope Kerry’s Remarks Allay Banks’ Concerns: Iran FM
4-US House Speaker Criticizes Purchase of Iran’s Heavy Water
5-Libya’s Darnah Fully Cleansed of Daesh Terrorists
Abrar-e Eqtesadi:
1- Ahmadinejad to Blame for US Seizure of Iranian Assets
2- 1 Million Shopping Cards Allocated to Low-Income People
Aftab-e Yazd:
1- American Promise, Iranian Confusion: Will US Keep Its Promises?
2- TV Host of London-Based Persian Channel Controversially Attends Fajr Int’l Film Festival in Tehran
Amin:
1- Carlos Queiroz to Continue as Head Coach of National Football Team
2- Iran is Flag-Bearer in Global Fight against Extremism: Rouhani
3- Why did Israel’s Bibi Suddenly Visited Moscow?
4- Asghar Farhadi: About Elly Started with a Photo
Arman-e Emrooz:
1- Shocking Confession on Possible Tehran Earthquake: No One Is Ready, Even Rescue Teams
2- Iran-US Heavy Water Deal Worth $8.6m
3- We Are Aware of USA’s Domestic Problems: Ayatollah Rafsanjani
Asia:
1- US Takes Major Steps for Cooperation with Iran
2- Oil Price Decline Stopped after Doha Meeting: Oil Minister
Asrar:
1- If It Was Not for Iran, We Would Be Facing the “Terrorist State of Daesh [ISIS]”: Rouhani
2-Iran to Collect Its Principal Money and Interest from US: First VP
3- Iran Seeks to Interact and Cooperate with the World: Rafsanjani
4-Iran’s VP Criticizes “Plainclothes Morality Police” Plan
Asre Rasaneh:
1- Iran and Azerbaijan Agree on Regulation of Radio Frequency
2- Italy to Build New Terminal in Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport
3- US to Import 41kg of Iran’s Saffron
Ebtekar:
1- Online Dating for Marriage to Become Legal in Iran!
2- Iran’s Diplomatic Pressure Works: US’s Kerry Assures Banks of Cooperation with Tehran
Emtiaz:
1- HIV Rate Declines: Social Welfare Minister
2- Iran’s Proposal to UN on Dust Pollution: VP Ebtekar
3-Number of Drug Addicts in Tehran Doubled: City Council Chief
4- Iran and South Africa to Sign MoUs for Increased Cooperation: Oil Minister
Ettela’at:
1-First Call for Dialogue of Civilizations, Interaction of Religions, and World Cooperation against Violence and Extremism Originated from Iran: Rouhani
2- UN Urges Saudi Arabia to Stop Torture of Political Activists
3-Iran’s Cabinet to Study “Plainclothes Morality Police” Plan Today
Etemad:
1-Iran Resumes Export of Saffron to US after 15 Years
2- Central Bank Chief Blames Ahmadinejad’s Gov’t for Seizure of Iranian Assets in US
Ghanoon:
1-President “Tweets” Iran’s Might to the World: Rouhani Shows Off Iran’s Regional Policies
2-The Gift Ahmadinejad Gave to US: Purchase of Bonds from “Hostile” Gov’t
3-Playing with Britain’s Cards in EU: A Reflection on US Opposition to Brexit
Hamshahri:
1-Lake Urmia to Be Drowned under Wave of Water Transfer from Caspian Sea to Central Iran
2- Central Bank Calls On People to Sue Iranian Banks That Overcharge Them
Hemayat:
1-US Court Ruling Is International Thievery: Iranian Lawmakers
2-Price of Imported Medicine Down by 18%
3-White House’s Support for Takfiri Terrorists in Aleppo
Iran:
1-VP Issues Order to Pursue Case of Iranian Woman Brutally Tortured by Husband
2- Sustainable Development Not Possible without Peace and Moderation: Rouhani
Jame Jam:
1- People’s Health Up for Auction in Beauty Salons
2- Negotiations to Put an End to Yemen’s Hiroshima
3-20-Year-Old Girl Victim of Selfie
Javan:
1-US and EU Passing JCPOA Back and Forth: Kerry Wants European Firms to Consult Washington before Cooperation with Iran
2- Sale of Iran’s Heavy Water to US “on Credit”
3-Mass Execution in US State of Ohio
Jomhouri Eslami:
1-EU Official Gives Assurance to Business Firms on Termination of Anti-Iran Sanctions
2-Saudi Regime’s Attacks on Yemen Must Be Stopped: UN Envoy
Kayhan:
1-Feigning Patriotic Fervour while Begging Americans: Result of Seeing US as the “Boss”
2-Saudis Too Weak to Defeat Iran: New York Times
Mardom Salari:
1-Beginning of Nuclear Trade
2-Cairo Rises against El-Sisi’s Betrayal: Egypt Bracing for Protests
Rah-e Mardom:
1- Missiles and Diplomacy: Interwoven and Interconnected
2- Oil Price Increases for Third Consecutive Week
3- Iran Ready to Welcome Foreign Investors: Deputy Economy Minister
Resalat:
1- US Main Barrier to Europe’s Trade Ties with Iran: New York Times
2- Humanitarian Disaster in Nigeria: Amnesty Int’l Reports
3- Differences between Iran and US Still Exist: FM Zarif
Rooyesh-e Mellat:
1-Kerry Warns against End of Ceasefire in Syria
2-Iran Supports Any Plan to Regulate Oil Market: Minister
3- Environment, Key to Unity among All Religions: President Rouhani
Sepid:
1- Telegram Is No Place to Find Your Spouse: Experts Warn
2- Iranian Doctors More Exposed to Depression
Tejarat:
1- Cost of Plane Tickets Declining after Price Dump
2-Iran’s Car Industry Coming Out of Hibernation
“Iranian Cinema Conveys its Message without being Affected by Censorship”
This is the third time she has traveled to Iran and she seems happy to participate in an Iranian festival again. In her interview with ISNA she said, “In the last festivals we had the chance to watch more Iranian films. That was great because the Iranian films we watch in Europe are very different. Not that we can’t watch Iranian films in Europe , but most of the one we see there are not addressed for general public and are considered artistic films.”
She mentioned that she has watched different films from the last festival and is looking forward to watch Iranian movies in the current festival, “Even though Iranian films in this festival are less in number, but I think in general it is good for people to be able to watch foreign and Iranian films at the same time. In fact, Fajr Festival now has the real qualities of an international festival. I’m happy to see youngsters and normal people coming to watch films. As a jury member it’s always important for me to see what type of people watch films in a festival.”
Van Reeth talked about the films she has already watched, saying, “It’s very interesting for me to see these movies start from a normal life and then expand to a global dimension. And all that happens while Iranian filmmakers should go through a censorship process. Even with that, they manage to get their messages understood.”
At the end she added, “International Fajr Film Festival screens movies from Iran and other countries. It shows a cinema which we don’t see it in Europe. That’s why I believe and hope in the effectiveness of this festival.”
Magali Van Reeth was born in 1956 in France. She is the General Secretary of SIGNIS France and President of SIGNIS Europe. She is also a journalist and film reviewer for the SIGNIS website and for a network of French Catholic parishes and French Catholic Medias (Radio, Tv and magazines). Reeth is a board member of the Fipresci through the French Union of Journalism de Cinema and member of different SIGNIS, Ecumenical and Fipresci juries since 2000.
Iran and Group 5+1 Form Special Working Group for Sanctions Removal
“The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Group 5+1 member states (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France, and Germany) held the [third] meeting of the [JCPOA] Joint Commission on Thursday and Friday at the level of experts and political deputies in Vienna,” the Iranian expert wrote in his Telegram account on Saturday, April 23.
“Members of the commission conferred on nuclear issues and the termination of [anti-Tehran] sanctions. Given the existing problems with banking transactions between Iranian banks and major European banks, the commission spent a lot of time on the issue at the level of experts and deputies,” he noted.
Given the results of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s meeting [with his US counterpart] held three days ago, the two sides of the commission discussed various ways to settle the problems, Baeidinejad added.
“In order to pursue the settlement of problems more effectively, the two sides agreed to set up a special working group to ensure the implementation of sanctions removal so that they would resolve the problems ahead of Iran with more concentration on executive issues,” he went on to say.
Unprecedented Deal Finalized for USA’s Purchase of Iran’s Heavy Water
“One of the important issues finalized on the sidelines of the commission’s session was the signing of a contract between the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and American companies for the sale of 32 tons of heavy water,” said Baeidinejad, who is the Director General of Political Affairs and International Security at the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Given the sensitivity of the heavy water nuclear materials, he added, Iran’s sale of such products was considered to be impossible in the past.
Iran Signs Climate Change Deal to Reduce Greenhouse Effects: Ebtekar
She made the remarks at the 2nd International Seminar on Environment, Religion, and Culture.
Masoumeh Ebtekar said that Iran has taken effective steps to protect the environment at the national level, and that programs have been designed to keep up with the international standards.
Referring to the signing of the Paris climate deal by Iran’s Foreign Minister at the UN on April 22, she hoped that the international community would adopt effective measures to lower greenhouse effects.
She said that destruction of green areas, reductions in water resources, and soil pollution have posed threats to the future of the Earth.
Ebtekar said that religious teachings call for protection of the environment by their followers.
She praised the cooperation between UNESCO and UNEP in holding this event.
The 2nd International Seminar on Environment, Religion, and Culture is held from April 23-24.
Falling Asleep While Listening to Symphony of F-16
Here in the IFP, we usually do not write comments or articles. Our job is to cover the reports and comments published by Iranian media on the most recent developments in the world. This is how we introduce Iran and the Iranians to non-Iranians!
However, we are sometimes tempted to write. It is like having a lump in our throat. We feel like we should shout, or else we would not get rid of it.
We are living in the Middle East, the region of war and crisis. However, in an amazing and admirable way, Iran is stable and its people live in peace. In a country where citizens are upset by the huge number of people killed in car accidents, and the media keep urging its officials to do something about the dangerous roads and improve the traffic problem, one should be happy that everything is so simple, and no one talks about getting killed by a skilled shooter or a bomb explosion!
Nevertheless, Iran has paid the price for its position in the Middle East and its oil reserves: it has had the horrible experience of an eight-year war whose memories still linger in people’s minds, especially when funerals are held every now and then for the newly-excavated bones and dog tags of soldiers.
To these people, fighter jets – whether a MiG-29, a French-made Mirage, an F-4 or F-5 or F-14, and so on – just bombard and kill innocent people, and are of no other use.
Now, something strange has happened; something that tempts one to write, even if it seems more like a dream. Is it possible to give over all fighter jets to such organizations as the Red Cross or Red Crescent, the Doctors without Borders (MSF), and the like, and stop killing people for a few years?
Saving a human’s life using an F-16 fighter jet might be a meaningful incident under the current situation in the world; in an era when fighter planes in Syria, Yemen, and Libya are competing with each other for killing more people, oh my God, is it possible for an F-16 to save a man’s life? Is it for real or is it just a dream? I do not at all want to wake up and hear someone saying that the location of operation and the patient’s nationality matter! These planes are built to kill you and your siblings! Do not think wishfully!
But no, that is a lie. All human beings are like each other. Nations are not the enemy of each other. Religion is a means of kindness and flexibility. People of the Middle East, Africa, Europe, America, etc. are not hostile to each other. They have no enemy more savage than ignorant rulers.
I fell asleep with the roar of a fighter jet. Isn’t it strange? I am not at all ready to hear Donald Trump’s voice. Trumps are like each other everywhere in the world. I do not want to wake up, even if the price is to remain asleep forever.
A critically ill patient’s life was saved after an F-16 fighter jet was used to rush specialised medical equipment halfway across Norway in less than half an hour, according to a report by the Independent.
Doctors knew the closest one available was at a hospital in Trondheim, 280 miles to the south. A 10-hour journey by car, they feared the man would die before it could arrive.
Therefore, after a moment of inspiration, they decided to contact an air force base near Trondheim to ask if there was any hope of getting the equipment to Bodø in time to save the patient, whose precise condition was unclear.
Within 40 minutes of the call being received, the medical equipment had been delivered to the hospital in Bodø.
Bright prospect for Iran-South Africa cooperation
In an article printed in Saturday issue of the Persian daily ‘Iran’, Amir Abdollahian noted that the African continent in general and South Africa in particular have had abundant attractions for the emerging economies. Therefore, he added, in the past decade markets of those countries have become an arena for intensive rivalry of foreign countries.
He stressed that in recent years the Islamic Republic of Iran has taken great strides for the strengthening of the private sector and the emphatic instructions of the Supreme Leader for the implementation of Article 44 of the Constitution and the ‘resistance economy’ require preparation for development of Iran’s presence in international markets.
Pointing to the forthcoming visit of South African President Jacob Zuma to Tehran, he said ground is now prepared for the expansion of bilateral cooperation in the private and public sectors. He announced that simultaneously with the visit of President Zuma to Tehran the grand bilateral trade assembly will be held.
Amir Abdollahian further remarked that in the past decade bilateral relations between Iran and South Africa have surpassed oil so that activities of the two big telecommunication companies of MTN and Sasol are considered successful examples of mutual cooperation and joint ventures which can be generalized in other areas.
He said prior to the imposition of unjust sanctions against Iran economic and trade ties between the two countries enjoyed a specific status on the basis of which Iran was among the 10 major trade partners of South Africa and supplied 25% of the crude oil requirements of the refineries in that country.
But, he stressed, with the escalation of the sanctions against Iran since summer of 2012 refining companies of that country stopped purchasing oil from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Elsewhere in his article, Amir Abdollahian referred to the role South Africa plays in developing peace and stability in the African continent and Iran’s role in pursuing to strengthen peace, stability and sustainable security in the region and the world.
He noted that the two countries’ approach to important international issues such as terrorism, support for Palestinian people and opposition to foreign interference in other countries, including Syria, are close to each other.
He said similarities of geographical locations, capabilities and capacities between Iran and South Africa have provided for the mutual access of the two countries to regional markets in the Middle East, Central Asia and South Africa.
Referring to bilateral relations between Iran and South Africa Amir Abdollahian said with the victory of the people, removal of the apartheid regime and election of Nelson Mandela diplomatic relations between the two countries resumed in 1994.
