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Syria Ceasefire Initiative to Lead to Political Solution: Iran’s Deputy FM

By
Emad Askarieh
-

“The ceasefire in Syria is a nice turn for the country. It will help political solutions and move away from military solutions,” Sarmadi told Sputnik on Sunday.

He further reiterated Tehran’s continued support for resumption of UN-backed peace talks aimed at ending the four-year crisis in Syria.

The first peace talks in two years between the government and opposition groups in Syria collapsed on February 3 before they began in the face of the recent major advances by the Syrian troops in the city of Aleppo. The talks were scheduled to be held on February 25.

The Iranian top official also highlighted Moscow’s bids for peace in Syria and said, “We value the role of Russia and the efforts it made to reach an agreement on the ceasefire and to maintain its compliance to the present day.”

Syria’s temporary cessation of hostilities took effect on Saturday morning.

Nearly an hour before the cessation of hostilities went into effect, the United Nations Security Council unanimously demanded that all parties to the war in Syria comply with the terms of the US-Russian deal.

The demand was included in a resolution drafted jointly by Russia and the US that also urged the government and opposition to resume UN-brokered peace talks.

UN Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura said he intends to reconvene peace talks on March 7.

Both President Bashar Assad’s government and the main opposition body have agreed to the deal that allows fighting to continue against Daesh (ISIL) and other terrorist groups like the Nusra Front.

 

Iran’s first container ship heads to Europe

By
Emad Askarieh
-

Chairman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) Mohammad Saeidi said he expects the ship, carrying a cargo of petrochemical products, to call at European ports in the “next few days.”

“This is a big event as we managed to revive shipping to Europe after five years, thanks to the efforts of our management and staff, and unlock the sea transportation lock to Europe,” he said, quoted by the Mehr news agency.

“Fortunately, with the lifting of sanctions and implementation of the JCPOA (nuclear agreement) over the past five months…we managed to reopen the sea link and shipping routes to Europe,” he added.

IRISL has successfully lobbied with Germany and Italy to establish a joint shipping company to cover northern and southern Europe with their services, Saeidi added.

IRISL is also planning to establish a “regular” shipping link between Persian Gulf and Latin American ports as well as a “sustainable shipping route” running between Latin American and East Asian ports, Saeidi added.

“Furthermore, we are working out plans for Central and North American ports with the centrality of Canada and hope to accomplish this important task after the lifting of sanctions by the Canadian government.”

IRISL’s current fleet includes 160 container vessels, dry bulk carriers and tankers ships with a capacity of over 5 million TEUs, which the company plans to expand. In October, IRISL said it was seeking to expand its fleet of container ships by 579,000 TEUs by 2020.

Saeidi said negotiations were underway with both foreign and domestic yards. The official has said his company wanted to put out orders for Triple E vessels which can carry more than 18,000 containers.

Iran’s biggest operator has 41 container ships of up to 14,000 containers, but IRISL wants to join the big league and Triple Es are a priority, he said.

Once it has built up a sufficient capacity, IRISL plans to forge an alliance with the world’s top 15 container operators which control the busiest trade routes by sharing vessels, networks and port calls.

According to Saeidi, IRISL has been touring European countries with major shipping clusters such as Greece, Germany, Cyprus, France and Denmark, to lay the groundwork.

International shipping lines have stepped up port calls to Iran as the country’s massive maritime trade sector is emerging from the sanctions.

Last month, Mediterranean Shipping Co., the second-largest shipping line by volume, discharged 300 containers filled with food and agricultural commodities in Bandar Abbas.

Maersk Line, the world’s largest marine carrier, and the France’s CMA CGM, the third largest line, have also resumed service to Iran.

Era of occupation, domineering over: Larijani

By
Emad Askarieh
-

“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s policy is [based on] establishing peace in the region,” Larijani said in a meeting with visiting Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann in Tehran on Saturday.

He warned that using terrorists as a means to an end would cause problems for all countries.

Larijani pointed to “good” relations between Tehran and Bern and said the two sides have many commonalities in international issues.

The Iranian Majlis speaker said the two countries have the potential to expand cooperation in the fields of science, technology and industry and added that Switzerland can make joint investment in Iran’s industrial and technological projects.

The Swiss president, for his part, said his country is interested in promoting the policy of negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia to settle their differences.

Schneider-Ammann expressed hope that negotiations would help solve the ongoing crises in Syria, Yemen and other war-stricken countries.

He further said that the expansion of economic and scientific cooperation between Iran and Switzerland would open a new chapter in mutual relations.

Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, Schneider-Ammann arrived in Tehran on Friday.

On Saturday, he held talks and attended a joint press conference with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and also met Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Later in the day, he held a separate meeting with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

DM Highlights Iran’s Progress in Military Engineering

By
Emad Askarieh
-

Addressing a conference on Sunday, Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said the Armed Forces are among pioneers in technological fields in the country.

Dehqan noted that the capabilities of the Defense Ministry military engineering unit are so high that they can fulfil national and international demands in addition to meeting the Armed Forces’ needs.

The general had already made it clear that the country will continue to bolster its defense capabilities irrespective of comments by outsiders, warning the enemies that any wrong move will trigger Tehran’s crushing response.

Iran has in recent years made great headways in manufacturing a broad range of military equipment, including the air defense systems that use cutting edge technologies.

Tehran has repeatedly stated that its military power is defensive in nature and poses no threat to other countries.

Iran, Switzerland sign MoU on shipping, sea transport cooperation

By
Emad Askarieh
-

The MoU was singed between the representatives of shipping companies from Iran and Switzerland.

The two sides exchanged views on expansion of cooperation on transport, construction of Express train, renovation of road transport, and carrying development plans on infrastructure and rebuilding the ports.

The MoU was signed between Iran Ports and Maritime Organization (IPMO) and Swiss MSC shipping lines as the second biggest shipbuilding company.

The MoU gives green light to Swiss shipping companies to come to Iran for joint venture cooperation after implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

MSC is one of the biggest shipping companies in the world with 14.9 percent share of the global market in marine transport and have terminals in some 55 ports round the globe.

MSC is the owner of chained cruise (recreation) ships in the world.

The MoU authorizes the MSC of Switzerland to broaden scope of cooperation in the Iranian ports of Bandar Abbas, Chabahar and Imam.

Officials of the Swiss shipping lines voiced readiness for joint venture investments in the Iranian shipping and marine industry.

Salehi: Elections herald bright future for Iran

By
Emad Askarieh
-
Ali Akbar Salehi

‘The episode created by people in Iran who went to the polls on Friday has equivalent in no other developing nations,’ said Ali Akbar Saleh at a research center in Savojbolagh County in Alborz Province.

‘If we successfully reached JCPOA, it was because of the guidance provided by the Supreme Leader and were it not for his significant role, we would fail achieving the goal,’ the President’s deputy added.

Salehi also praised the courageous role President Hassan Rouhani played in the issue.

‘It was not an easy task, but the President accepted to go forward based on his courage,’ he said.

‘I am sure that the Islamic Iran has a bright future and I hope its strategic stance will be further strengthened,’ Salehi added.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Feb 28

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Iran Newspaper front pages

Abrar-e Eqtesadi:

1.  Switzerland to promote Iranian banks’ standards

2.  Paris says ready to boost economic, industrial ties with Tehran

 

Abrar-eghtesadi

 

Asia:

1.  Iran president, 400-member delegation invited to visit Switzerland

2.  Iran opens automaking show

3.  Tehran hosts world’s major car makers

 

Asia

 

Afkar:

1.  Switzerland backs Iran to join WTO

2.  IAEA report confirms Iran committed to JCPOA

3.  CBI head: no limits for publishing fresh bills

 

Afkar

 

Asrar:

1.  Parliament Speaker: Iran not seeking childish regional rivalries

2.  Switzerland center of peace, friendship, cooperation: Leader

3.  IAEA: Iran complying with nuclear deal

4.  Hashemi, Rouhani lead Assembly of Experts votes

5.  EU Foreign Policy Chief Wishes the Best for Iranian People

6.  Trump: I am Israel’s best friend

 

Asrar

 

Aftab-e Yazd:

1.  Breeze of victory

Reformist admin’s veep leads parliament election; Ahmadinejad’s veep ranked 48th in election

 

Aftab-e-yazd

 

Arman-e Emrouz:

1.  Hashemi leads Assembly of Experts candidates

2.  List of hope wins in Tehran

 

Arman

 

Ebtekar:

1.  Nation picked both lists

Most of the votes throughout the country were shared among Principlists while Reformists were set for a landslide victory in the capital.

The daily put the list of winning candidates on its front page.

2.  Leader: Interests of certain EU countries are in belligerence, fueling hostilities

 

Ebtekar

 

Ettela’at:

1.  Leader endorses enhanced Tehran-Bern ties

2.  Latest on vote counting

3.  Hezbollah: Lebanon will never become Saudi Emirate

4.  Leader’s chief of office visits Ayatollah Tabasi in hospital

5.  President Rouhani hails nation’s big election turnout

6.  Veteran Director Salahshour dies

 

Ettelaat

 

Etemad:

1.  Parliament’s house cleansing

2.  Hashemi, Rouhani lead Assembly of Experts hopefuls

3.  Reformists win 96 seats; principalists 91 seats, intendent candidates 25 seats, 52 seats waiting for runoff elections; 13 women candidates win in parliament election

4.  Time for unity, interaction following elections: Rafsanjani

 

Etemad

 

Emtiaz:

1.  Half of Iranians obese

2.  Police discovers massive money laundering case in Fars

3.  Veteran Artist Amin Tarokh receives first degree medal of art

4.  Iran introduces 20 top brands in clothing

 

Emtiaz

 

Iran:

1.  Rouhani:  Iranian, Swiss banks relations will be serious measure to enhance mutual ties

2.  Islamic Establishment, Leader, nation winners: Rouhani

3.  Servants of moderation win landslide victory

 

Iran

 

Payam-e Zaman:

1.  Business environment not favorable: Parliament Research Center

Exodus of capital from industrial sector

2.  Rouhani: Election turnout extraordinary

3.  Iran exported crude oil price breaks record

 

Payam

 

Jomhouri Eslami:

1.  CBI nods IRR1,000m housing loans

2.  Aref, Motahhari, Mahjoub lead election candidates

3.  IAEA: Iran nuclear program in line with JCPOA

 

Jomhouri

 

Javan:

1.  Parliament remains revolutionary

Counting votes is 70% complete and the majority of winners are principalist candidates.

2.  Parliament remains principalist to compel admin to stick to endogenic economy

3.  $1bn smuggled gums in Iran

 

Javan

 

Hemayat:

1.  60% turnout in Iran elections: Interior Minister

2.  “Maximum election turnout disrupted enemy equations”

3.  Report: Tax evasion prevents materialization of resistive economy

4.  Iran localizes 20 key space systems technologies

 

Hemayat

 

Rah-e Mardom:

Leader to Swiss President: Swiss traders can promote unbalanced mutual trade by investing in Iran

 

Rah-e-mardom

 

Resalat:

West bows before religious democracy

 

Resalat

 

Rooyesh Mellat:

1.  Russia says Turkey should pay compensation

2.  Nearly 70 votes cast in ballot boxes: Interior Minister

3.  Knee joint transplant 80% successful in Iran

 

Rooyesh

 

Kayhan:

1.  Principalists win majority of votes across Iran

In Tehran, reformists lead.

2.  Bloomberg: No Swift opening for Iran; Tehran sells oil for goods

 

Kayhan

 

2 Terrorist Plots Foiled in Iran ahead of Elections

By
Emad Askarieh
-
Religious Minorities Can Improve Iran's Global Image: Minister
Iran's Intelligence Minister Seyyed Mahmoud Alavi

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran on Sunday morning, the minister said the counter-terrorism operations were held in southeast and northwest of the country.

One of the operations occurred on February 8, when a terrorist element was identified and arrested at a southeastern border area, he explained.

The ammunition captured during the raid includes two improvised explosive devices (IEDs), explosive material and fuses, remote controls, and a bomb containing magnets, the minister added.

According to Alawi, in another operation, the intelligence forces detected and monitored a terrorist group that had plans to enter into the country from the northwestern borders.

The 4-strong team was busted on February 24, namely two days before the elections, he noted.

The terrorists had 6 suicide vests, 9 electronic fuses, some RDX explosive powder, as well as 4 British-made timer sensors, he added.

The minister then assured the nation that there is nothing out of the Intelligence Ministry’s radar screen, and that the terrorist groups will not take the time to make any move.

Countrywide parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections were held in Iran on Friday.

Some 55 million Iranians were eligible to cast their ballots at around 53,000 polling stations across the country.

Iranian Police Chief Brigadier General Hossein Ashtari had earlier noted that his forces successfully carried out the task of ensuring security for the country’s Friday elections.

He said the Law Enforcement secured the safety of the elections in good coordination with other security forces.

 

Syria Truce Takes Hold despite Limited Violations

By
Emad Askarieh
-

The truce, brokered by Washington and Moscow, is seen as a crucial step towards ending a conflict that has claimed 270,000 lives and displaced more than half the population.

A special international task force co-chaired by the United States and Russia hailed the ceasefire.

“The United Nations, the United States and Russia have made a positive assessment of the first hours of the cessation of hostilities,” a western diplomat said after a meeting of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) in Geneva, AFP reported.

The UN reported “some incidents” in apparent violation of the truce, but “they have been defused”, he said.

“We really need to wait for Sunday and Monday in order to make a full assessment,” the source added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry “hailed” the ceasefire in a phone call and discussed ways of supporting it through cooperation between their militaries, Russia’s foreign ministry said.

The ceasefire faces formidable challenges including the exclusion of Daesh (ISIL) group and Al-Qaeda’s Syria affiliate Al-Nusra Front, which control large parts of the country.

“I think this is the first time we’ve woken up without the sound of shelling,” said Ammar al-Rai, a 22-year-old medical student in Damascus.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said peace talks would resume on March 7 if the ceasefire prevails and more aid is delivered — a key sticking point in negotiations.

He said it was important that any incidents are “quickly brought under control” and a military response should be the “last resort”.

Moscow has vowed to keep striking Daesh, Al-Nusra and other “terrorist groups”, but said it would ground its warplanes in the Syria campaign on the first day of the truce to avoid potential mistakes.

Among the limited ceasefire breaches, Syrian media said “terrorist groups” fired a number of shells on Damascus but caused no casualties.

 

President Rouhani thanks Iranians for massive turnout in elections

By
Emad Askarieh
-

‘The name of the Islamic Republic of Iran become more famous with the manifestation of the power to choose of the Iranian nation,’ President Rouhani said in his message.

‘The government of prudence and hope will make a covenant with anyone whose name will come out of the ballot box to help create a future full of hope and dignity for dear Iran and Iranians,’ the Iranian president said.

President Rouhani said whatever will be the outcome of elections, the Islamic Republic of Iran will become more famous and the Islamic system, leadership and nation have won and the people of Iran have once again displayed their will and power to choose to empower the elected government and grant more credit to it.

‘The competition came to an end and now it is time to open a new way through consensus and convergence of the nation and government and by relying on opportunities created from outside, to open a new chapter in the growth and flourishing of national economy,’ he added.

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