In a meeting at the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) on Sunday, he said that IAEO is no longer under sanctions and that concerns over cooperation with it have been removed.
He also said that with implementation of the nuclear Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the affiliated companies of IAEO have been instructed to adapt themselves to the new international conditions.
‘IAEO deems it a duty to provide whatever it has within its might for the development of the country,’ he added.
Iran eyes competitive marketing of nuclear products
Syrian army urges gunmen to lay down weapons, have their legal status settled
According to the Syrian News Agency (SANA), the General Command addressed on Sunday the citizens in Daraa, the Eastern Ghouta in Damascus countryside and in the eastern countryside of Aleppo province to be part of the national reconciliation and return to their normal lives.
On February 4, the General Command of the Army and Armed Forces called on gunmen in the northern countryside of Homs to lay down arms to have their legal status settled and to be part of the national reconciliation.
Syrians, Not Others, Should Decide for Syria’s Future: Leader
“We believe that a solution cannot be prescribed for a nation from outside that country,” Ayatollah Khamenei said Sunday in a meeting with visiting Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama here in Tehran.
“Americans and Europeans cannot decide for the Syrian nation, and it is the Syrian people who should decide for their future,” the Leader said.
Imam Khamenei also underlined Iran’s firm policy of “advocating peace” on the Syrian issue.
Elsewhere, Imam Khamenei referred to hegemonic powers, particularly the United States and the Zionist regime of Israel, as the root causes of all problems, stressing that their interests are served by creating insecurity and wars in different parts of the world.
“Terrorist groups in our region and in Africa are trained by the spy agencies of the US, Britain, and the Zionist regime,” the Leader said.
Ayatollah Khamenei added that the solution to such issues as the Syrian crisis, terrorism, and the sufferings of the Palestinian people lies in close cooperation of independent countries.
The Leader further highlighted the capacities of Iran and Ghana and hoped that the visit by the African country’s president would lead to enhancement of cooperation between Tehran and Accra.
Mahama, for his part, praised Iran’s serious fight against terrorism, and expressed the hope that the Syrian issue would be resolved with the effective role Iran plays in the anti-terror campaign.
He also appreciated Iran on behalf of African nations for its support for the continent’s freedom-seeking movements, the anti-Apartheid movement of South Africa in particular.
Jaberi Ansari: Switzerland Officially Hosts Iran and Saudi Arabia’s Interests Sections
The Foreign Ministry spokesman answered a question about the diplomatic role Switzerland is playing as regards the interests sections of Iran and Saudi Arabia, saying “The Islamic Republic of Iran, during a diplomatic consultation with the Swiss government, requested that this country represent Iran’s interests section in Saudi Arabia.”
He added, “The Swiss government has also announced that they are ready to play this role, but finalizing it depends on consultation with Saudi Arabia. Now, with Switzerland officially receiving the same request from Saudi Arabia, will take over Iran’s interest section in Riyadh and Saudi Arabia’s in Tehran, after processing the necessary diplomatic actions.”
Saudi Arabia severed their diplomatic relations with Iran on January 3rd 2016, after the attack on their embassy and consulate in Tehran.
Iran’s Purchase of T-90 Tanks Not Cancelled: Commander
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Force General Kiomars Heidari said the Army has been ordered not to purchase the military gear without transferring the technology to the country.
Back in December 2015, Army Ground Force Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan had unveiled plans for furnishing the armored units with the Russian-made T-90 tanks.
But later in February, he said Iran was not interested anymore in purchasing them, saying homegrown products can meet the country’s need for the battle tanks.
Elsewhere in his Sunday’s comments, General Heidari said the country’s domestically-made tank, dubbed Karrar, is now in service.
Karrar enjoys modern technologies, he explained, noting that the Army also owns another type of tank, known as Zolfaqar.
Earlier this month, Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said the homegrown Karrar tank “is as good as, if not better than, Russian-made T90 tanks”.
Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made great headways in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient in the arms sphere.
Iran’s oil production increases 400,000 pbd
The shipment of the first oil cargo to Europe after a five-year halt has opened a new chapter in broadening economic cooperation between the two sides, he said.
Iran has signed a deal with Total of France for daily export of 160 to 180 thousand barrels of crude oil per day.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has vowed to increase its production and exports of its crude oil after removal of economic sanctions to one million barrel per day in two phases.
A number of European oil tankers have shipped crude oil from Iran after removal of economic sanctions.
Iran to create first carpet village
‘The plan to create a carpet village has been ratified in the province and for final approval, we have presented it to Iran’s National Carpet Center,’ Ali-Reza Jeilan told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Sunday.
All the steps in producing a carpet, from preparing the raw material to designing, weaving and showcasing, etc. take place at the village, said he.
The rural district of Chaleshtar is among one of the oldest areas where people have been engaged in carpet weaving for centuries, he added.
‘The carpets woven here have been registered in the national heritage list.’
Defending Palestine A Religious Duty: Iran’s Larijani
Speaking in a meeting with members of different Palestinian groups, Larijani said the issue of Palestine has always been high on agenda in the Islamic Republic.
“The Iranian people and officials defend the Palestinian nation as their religious duty,” the parliament speaker noted.
“The issue of defending Palestine is a pivotal issue in Iran and all (political) parties and groups in the Islamic Republic have the same view in this regard,” he said.
Larijani further stressed the need for the unity of Muslim countries in support of the Palestinian nation.
The remarks came against the backdrop of a report by London-based newspaper Asharq al-Awsat on January 31 that claimed Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook, a senior political member of the Palestinian Resistance Movement, Hamas, had criticized Iran for not supporting Palestine, especially after 2009.
Earlier this week, however, Abu Marzook praised Iran for backing Palestine, saying, “Up to now, no Islamic or Arab country has assisted the Palestinian Resistance as much as Iran, particularly since 2006 when the Islamic Republic threw its support behind the Palestinian government in the Gaza Strip.”
He also described Tehran-Hamas relations as “significant and strategic” and called for the Islamic Republic’s continued support for Palestine’s resistance against Israeli aggressions.
Decision on Syria’s Fate in Hands of People: Iran’s FM
“The decision about Syria’s future should be made by the Syrian people. People have the right to express their views, and such decision (Syria’s political fate) must be taken only by the Syrian people,” Zarif told reporters on Saturday evening before leaving Germany for Iran, after attending the Munich Security Conference (MSC).
Asked about the US or Saudi Arabian officials’ views on Syria, Zarif underscored that a political solution to the five-year-old crisis in the Arab country will be possible only with President Bashar al-Assad.
“Neither they (Americans and Saudis) nor we (Iran) can comment on this issue (Syria’s presidency),” he stressed.
While the Syrian President Assad’s government has made great headways in the battle against the terrorist groups, Iran maintains that ending the conflicts will require a political solution excluding the foreign forces.
Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with Takfiri terrorists from various groups, including Daesh (ISIL), 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.
Iran, Ghana sign deals for ‘new epoch’
Mahama on Sunday said there are many grounds for cooperation in a variety of fields, including oil and gas, agriculture, power generation and production of cement, home appliances and engineering products.
“We think Iran enjoys a good advantage in these fields and can become a suitable partner for Ghana,” he told a joint news conference with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani.
Mahama thanked Iran for its “very high quality health services which it offers at very reasonable prices to the Ghanaian people.”
He also thanked President Rouhani for “Iran’s educational support” and the fellowships which it grants to the Ghanaian youths to study medicine and engineering in Iran.
Mahama said Iran’s establishment of an Islamic Azad University in Ghana had allowed the Ghanaian youths of all religious denominations, including Muslims, Christians and Buddhists, to carry on their graduate studies.
“I also thank Iran for its agricultural services which it offers to poor and remote areas in Ghana which have led to better production and food security in these regions,” he added.
