Russia’s defense minister arrives in Iran for talks

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February 21, 2016

Shoigu, who arrived in Tehran on Sunday at the head of a delegation, is scheduled to sit down with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani later in the day.

The trip comes less than a week after Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan paid a visit to Moscow and discussed mutual relations as well as regional and international developments with President Vladimir Putin, Shoigu and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin among other senior Russian officials.

In the meeting between Dehqan and Putin, the Russian president expressed satisfaction with mutual defense and security cooperation, which he said is in line with common interests, and called for enhanced ties within the framework of implemented agreements.

Iran and Russia signed an agreement on the delivery of the S-300 missile system to Tehran, which was banned by Moscow back in 2010 under the pretext that the deal was covered by the fourth round of the UN Security Council sanctions, which barred hi-tech weapons sales to the Islamic Republic.

In April 2015, the Russian president signed a presidential decree paving the way for the long-overdue delivery of the missile defense system to Iran after Iran and the P5+1 group of countries – the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia plus Germany – reached a mutual understanding on Tehran’s nuclear program in the Swiss city of Lausanne.

Russian presidential aide for military and technological cooperation Vladimir Kozhin said on Saturday that the technical procedures of the S-300 deal are currently underway.

“Due payments are made in accordance with it. We are strictly observing the procedure set forth in the contract. Iran is completing the work on its own details, and we on our own. The first consignment of the systems is ready to be shipped,” Kozhin stated.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Feb 21

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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February 21, 2016

Abrar:

10 nuclear meetings scheduled with Leader: Parliament Speaker
High-profile Azeri delegation arrives in Tehran
France’s Hollande warns of risk of Turkey-Russia war
Iranian, Pakistani armed forces co-operate in various areas
UNSC calls for resumption of ceasefire in Yemen

Asrar:

President: Elect candidates based on economic concerns

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also said: “Our well-informed nation needs no advice from foreigners.”

Police will protect all qualified parliamentary hopefuls: Tehran Police Chief
IRR1,100bn/d of public funds wasted on drugs
No limits to Russia’s military co-operation with Iran: Russian official
Iran’s futsal team eyes 11^th championship
Cleric: Guardian Council is the most developed monitoring body in the world
Shamkhani: Certain regional states aggravate crises

Arman-e Emrouz:

Rafsanjani: Let’s make it a historic day

The cleric called for the highest possible election turnout, with less than a week to Election Day in Iran.

President Rouhani: Iran to initiate JCPOA II

“Not even $147 oil could solve problems,” said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Pollution blankets 7 provinces: 7 provinces turned grey
Parliament Speaker: People do not vote with their shoes!

Ali Larijani, referring to anti-administration dissenters, said that they must express their opposition through dialogue.

Organized fruit smuggling in Iran

Etemad:

Economy Minister: H1 economic growth positive
First Airbus plane arrives in Iran
Aref: Reformists’ priority is the economy

Afkar:

Riyadh threatens Moscow
Iran expects 11.3% inflation for next year
Iran unveils first MS injector

Emtiaz:

Airbus A350 Makes First Landing in Mehrabad
7 major industries moved to suburbs of Tehran
Iran to continue cutting interest rates next year: Minister
Iran, Russia boost medical equipment, drugs co-operation
NIORDC ready to supply Euro 4 and 5 gasoil nationwide

Iran:

Rouhani: We need no election advice from non-Iranians
FM: Iran sees no limits to ties with Oman
Iran forms consortium to build local search engine
Boeing to join Iranian market as Airbus lands in Tehran

Payam-e Zaman:

Iran seeks to revive lost oil market share
Data: Iran’s water crises serious
Europe finances 85% of Airbus deals with Iran

Jomhouri Eslami:

UN warns Turkey over provocations in Syria
5,000 trained terrorists roaming Europe
Administration eyes 5% economic growth, 11.3% inflation next year

Javan:

NATO halts Turkey support

Hemayat:

Washington Post: Place permanent sanctions on Iran!
Judiciary Chief: West’s deception regarding women’s rights

Khorasan:

Iran loses 1 billion barrels of oil in Doroud field
6 economists offer their electoral list of candidates

Rah-e Mardom:

Martyrs killed for defending holy shrines, guardians of Iran sovereignty, security
Rouhani: All powers watching Iranian elections
Iran sanctions relief boosts many world economies
Iran unveils model for banks’ role in the Resistive Economy

Resalat:

Principalists unveil plans for promotion of people’s lives
POW: Meeting with Leader enough reward in life
Plans of principal candidates for promoting life of the nation

Roozan:

Iranian Freestyle Wrestlers Bag Three Gold Medals at Asian Champioship

Rooyesh Mellat:

Iran opens doors to foreign goods

Shargh:

Land of Churches to become Iranian tourist destination
Georgia lifts sanctions on Iran

Shorou:

Mathematics used to capture cybercriminals in Iran

Shahrvand:

Iran to become leading regional economy: Minister

Kayhan:

Analysis: Elites thumb nose at ordinary people in election campaigns
ISIS artery severed in eastern Aleppo suburbs
Syrian army arrives within 10km of Turkish border

Vatan Emrouz:

Rafsanjani: Rouhani won only 3% of votes

Asia:

US firms commence Iran talks
US’s HP gains franchise permission in Iran

Abrar Eqtesadi:

Iran increases crude oil exports to 1.5mb/d
Iraq is Iran’s serious rival in the oil market
CBI Chief: Iran freezes forex rate until March

Dog Tormentor Arrested

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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February 21, 2016

The persecutor of a poor dog has been arrested in Iran, after releasing a video on social media.

The man was traced by his car’s license plate, which was visible in the footage. He was identified as living in the city of Kordkoy in the northern province of Golestan.

The tortured dog is currently being looked after by the provincial environmental administration, and is receiving treatment.

Russia tries to mollify Iran on Saudi talks

By

Golrokh Askarieh

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February 21, 2016

The abortive effort came in the midst of Iran’s efforts to redeem its market share with stepped-up oil production after the lifting of sanctions.

Tehran was apparently taken aback after Russian Energy Minster Alexander Novak traveled to Doha and agreed with his Saudi counterpart Ali al-Naimi to freeze oil output at near-record levels.

With Tehran and Riyadh on bad terms over a series of issues, Venezuelan, Qatari and Iraqi oil ministers headed to Tehran on a whirlwind trip to seek Iran’s hand in the Doha agreement.

While little information trickled to the media about what went on in the closed-door meeting, the outcome was somehow predictable.

In a bid to keep up appearances, Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh said after the talks that Iran supported any effort to stabilize oil prices, including cooperation between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers.

Zangeneh said while he supported a production “ceiling” to stabilize oil prices, it’s the first of several steps that should be taken.

Other Iranian officials, however, cast aside the diplomatic language. Iran’s OPEC envoy said it was “illogical” to ask Iran to freeze its oil production level.

“Asking Iran to freeze its oil production level is illogical. When Iran was under sanctions, some countries raised their output and they caused the drop in oil prices. How can they expect Iran to cooperate now and pay the price?” Mehdi Asali said.

Zangeneh also indicated that Tehran would not agree to freezing its output at January levels, saying the country would not give up its appropriate share of the global oil market.

On Saturday, Novak said Iran has constructively reacted to the proposal to freeze oil production but is not yet ready to join other countries in the agreement.

“As I’ve said before, Iran has quite constructively reacted as a whole to the proposals that are currently being discussed by our four partners, but I’d say that Iran isn’t ready to join them yet,” Novak told Rossiya television network.

The remarks seemed intended at appeasing Iran as Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Anatoly Yanovsky also said a decision to provide Iran with a loan has no connection to Tehran’s stance on freezing the oil output.

“These things are not related, they are completely different. If we talk about a loan, this loan is for specific investment projects which are of mutual interest,” Deputy Minister of Energy Anatoly Yanovsky said on Saturday.

Last month, Russian Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak said that Moscow and Tehran were in talks over Russia granting a $5 billion loan to the Islamic Republic.

Two Persian leopards caught on camera

By

Golrokh Askarieh

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February 21, 2016

Talking to IRNA, deputy head of Loristan Environment Protection Organization said the pictures were recorded by camera trap in Khorramabad township.

Nabiollah Qaed Rahbar said six camera traps have been installed in several regions in Lorestan province aimed at recording the pictures of rare animals.

The Persian leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica syn. Panthera pardus saxicolor), also called the Caucasian leopard or Central Asian leopard, is the largest leopard subspecies native to the Caucasus region, southern Turkmenistan, northern Iran and parts of western Afghanistan.

It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List; the population is estimated at fewer than 871–1,290 mature individuals and considered declining.

Leopards possibly also occur in northern Iraq.

A phylogenetic analysis suggests that the Persian leopard matrilineally belongs to a monophyletic group that diverged from a group of Asian leopards in the second half of the Pleistocene.

Election Process in Complete Safety: Iran’s Interior Minister

By

Golrokh Askarieh

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February 21, 2016

Speaking at a television talk show on Saturday night, the interior minister said his ministry is fully prepared to hold the parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections on coming Friday.

Referring to the Law Enforcement as the body tasked with ensuring security during the voting procedures, Rahmani Fazli said the police will be allowed to get help from the other security forces if necessary.

According to the minister, some 129,000 ballot boxes will be available in 53,000 stations all over the country for the Friday elections.

He also slammed as vicious moves the comments made by the foreign sides on the elections, saying the Iranian people are used to the interfering behavior by the US and British governments over the past 37 years.

“The (Iranian) people will decide the fate (of elections), and the British have no place in the election campaigns,” he stressed.

In separate remarks earlier in the day, President Hassan Rouhani also underlined that the Iranian nation knows how to vote, and ruled out any advice by foreign parties on the upcoming elections.

“We do not need the advice of any non-Iranian (side), because our nation is vigilant and conscious, and well-aware of its interests,” the Iranian president said.

The remarks seem to have come in reaction to a recent move by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) encouraging the Iranians not to vote for certain candidates running for the Assembly of Experts.

The Assembly of Experts and parliamentary elections will be held simultaneously next Friday.

There are currently 290 seats in the Iranian parliament, known as Majlis, elected by direct vote of people in nationwide election for four years.

The Assembly of Experts is also a high-ranking body that elects and oversees the activities of the leader of the Islamic Revolution.

Members of the assembly are directly elected to office by people for an eight-year term. It holds biannual meetings to appoint a new chairman.

Iran, Oman trade projects to be operational soon

By

Golrokh Askarieh

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February 21, 2016

Bin Alawi made the remarks in a meeting with Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi.

The Omani foreign minister said his country is ready to make investment in Iran, adding the issue has been reviewed during talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

About Iran-Oman-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan transport corridor, bin Alawi said it needs some technical reforms.

The corridor will help the Islamic countries benefit from the Iranian and Omani ports, he said.

Referring to technological development that Iran has achieved in the ports, bin Alawi stressed importance of expansion of relations with Tehran in Iranian port of Chabahar and the Omani ports.

Maritime transport should be facilitated in the two countries, he noted.

Bin Alawi, heading an Omani delegation, arrived in the Iranian capital on Saturday.

“I Love Isfahan” in Naghshe Jahan Sq.

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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February 21, 2016

A human chain forming the words “I Love Isfahan” was created in Naghshe Jahan Square in the historic city of Isfahan, to mark the occasion of the “World Tour Leader Day”.

According to ISNA news agency, the human chain spelled out the words “I Love Isfahan” in Naghshe Jahan Sq, which was the scene of a gathering of tour leaders.

Participants chanted “Ey Iran,” a famous patriotic song, and the scene drew the attention of a number of foreign tourists, who were visiting the historic monuments during the ceremony.

Afraid of Russia’s Reaction, Saudis Won’t Attack Syria: Analyst

By

Golrokh Askarieh

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February 21, 2016

“Saudi Arabia’s ground military interference in Syria has been impossible from the very beginning for one reason, which is Russia’s objection to the issue,” the founder and director of the Washington-based Institute for (Persian) Gulf Affairs Ali al-Ahmed told Tasnim.

He said Saudis do not want to see their forces and tanks being targeted by the Russia fighter jets, noting that Moscow has already made it clear that any plan for military action inside the Syrian territories must be coordinated with the Damascus government.

Ahmed also criticized Saudi Arabia for a record of “stupid” actions, explaining that the Al Saud’s rhetoric of various military operations is nothing but a propaganda, because Saudis have no authority to do anything.

The comments came after Riyadh voiced readiness to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the US-led coalition purportedly targeting terrorists decides to start such operations.

Saudi Arabia is a member of the so-called US-led coalition that has been conducting air raids against what are claimed to be the Daesh (ISIL) terrorists inside Syria without any authorization from the Syrian government or a UN mandate since September 2014.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with Takfiri terrorists from various groups, including Daesh, currently controlling parts of it.

According to the United Nations, more than 250,000 people have been killed and one million wounded during the conflict.