Rouhani: Everyone happy with JCPOA except Zionists

By

-

January 17, 2016

Addressing the Iranian parliament here on Sunday morning, the President said no one suffered any defeat neither in nor out of Iran due to nuclear agreement except for the Zionists, those who are seeking to sow discord within the Islamic Ummah and also extremist lobbies inside the United States.

He said the JCPOA will pave the way for Iran to move towards progress, interaction with the world and coordination.

He also termed the nuclear talks as a golden page in the book of country’s history and said during the negotiations Iran managed to bring big powers to acknowledge its nuclear rights while at the same time foiling an Iranophobia scheme.

The President added removal of sanctions is a great opening for Iran’s economy as it will provide access to international banking services as well as high-tech resources to Iran and will enable the country to absorb direct foreign investment and increase its non-oil exports.

He went on to reiterate the importance of avoiding focusing on any marginal issues in a bid to help better implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Now in the post-sanctions era, he said, the government is going to focus on working out productive ways to use the released assets to enhance economy.

Larijani thanks Supreme Leader’s guidelines for settling nuclear issue

By

Golrokh Askarieh

-

January 17, 2016

Larijani made the remarks in Majlis open session on Sunday.

President Hassan Rouhani is attending Majlis to submit budget bill for the next Iranian year beginning on March 20.

‘Today is an auspicious day for Iranian nation due to removal of anti-Iran sanctions,’ Larijani said.

Larijani also thanked President Rouhani and the negotiating team for their efforts to lift sanctions.

Yesterday, President Rouhani felicitated the Iranian nation on the occasion of removal of sanctions and the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

‘The JCPOA reached conclusion. I pray God … and congratulate you the great Iranian nation on the occasion of this victory,’ the President said in his Twitter account on Saturday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a report on Saturday, confirming that Iran honored commitments to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Australia to lift sanctions on Iran

By

Golrokh Askarieh

-

January 17, 2016

“I welcome today’s announcement that Iran has met its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal,” said the Australian minister in a statement appeared on the country’s Foreign Ministry official website on Sunday.

“It is expected that sanctions on Iran, under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, will be lifted after the Security Council has received the IAEA report in coming days.

“The Australian Government will then move to lift relevant UN and certain autonomous sanctions, including economic sanctions.

“The easing of these sanctions will ensure that Australian business is not disadvantaged in pursuing opportunities in Iran.”

The Implementation Day started on January 16 when Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the EU Foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini read a joint statement in Vienna, Austria, announcing the beginning of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The joint statement was read after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Yukyia Amano released a report on Saturday, confirming that Iran honored its commitments to the JCPOA.

Beginning of the JCPOA implementation will pave the way for removal of all sanctions against Iran.

However, Bishop added that Australia “will continue to enforce sanctions on military exports for five years, and maintain restrictions on ballistic missile-related materiel for eight years.”

World’s response to implementation of Iran historic nuclear deal

By

Golrokh Askarieh

-

January 17, 2016

During a joint press conference held in Vienna late on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced that sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear program have been lifted. The announcement was made after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed Iran’s commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“Today marks the moment that the Iran nuclear agreement transitions from an ambitious set of promises on paper to measurable action in progress,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry after the announcement.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also hailed the agreement implementation.

“This achievement demonstrates that international proliferation concerns are best addressed through dialogue and patient diplomacy,” said Ban’s spokesman in a statement. “This is a significant milestone that reflects the good faith effort by all parties to fulfill their agreed commitments,” he added.

In a statement released by the IAEA, the agency’s Director General Yukiyo Amano said that “Relations between Iran and the IAEA now enter a new phase. It is an important day for the international community. I congratulate all those who helped make it a reality.”

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said that Iran gained its “right” through support from the Iranian nation and Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond released a statement saying that “Years of patient and persistent diplomacy, and difficult technical work, have borne fruit as we now implement the deal.”

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius also welcomed the deal, calling it an “important step for peace and security implementation.”

“At a time when the region is seeing immense challenges and strong tensions, I hope that the spirit of cooperation that marked the conclusion of the deal can also be brought to all the other regional issues,” he said.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also hailed the announcement as a “historic success for diplomacy.”

He added that the diplomatic victory could lead to success “in defusing other urgent crises and conflicts in the region, especially regarding the civil war in Syria,”

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama signed an executive order for the removal of sanctions on Iran, the White House announced.

Leading US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton praised Obama for implementing the nuclear agreement, yet claiming that concerns still remain.

“Iran is still violating UN Security Council resolutions with its ballistic missile program, which should be met with new sanctions designations and firm resolve,” Clinton said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also repeated Tel Aviv’s anti-Iran rhetoric, saying, “Even after signing the nuclear deal, Iran has not relinquished its ambition to obtain nuclear weapons.”

Iran has always rejected such allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the IAEA, it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Netanyahu added that Israel would “follow the implementation of the deal and warn of any violation.”

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States – plus Germany finalized the JCPOA in Vienna, on July 14, 2015.

Under the JCPOA, limits are put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for the removal of sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Iran opens new chapter in relations with world: Rouhani

By

Golrokh Askarieh

-

January 17, 2016

In a Sunday statement, President Rouhani congratulated the Iranian nation on the implementation of the historic nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries on July 14, 2015.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and European Union foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, announced the implementation of JCPOA during a joint press conference in Vienna on Saturday.

Yukiya Amano, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also said on the same day that Iran had taken the “necessary preparatory steps to start the implementation of” JCPOA.

The Iranian president noted that the official announcement of the implementation of JCPOA has desecuritized Iran’s nuclear case, and has led to removal of the “cruel” sanctions against the Islamic Republic, while establishing the nuclear rights of Iran.

Rouhani added that implementation of JCPOA will pave the way for Iran’s economy to be reintegrated into the global economy.

The Iranian president also stated that Iran reached the agreement with the world through “professional and complicated” negotiations while maintaining its dignity and strength.

“Implementation of JCPOA does not harm any country. Iran’s friends are happy and its rivals must not be worried. We are not a threat against any government and nation,” President Rouhani emphasized.

“While being fully ready to safeguard Iran’s sovereignty, we are the messenger of peace, stability and security in the region and across the world,” he said.

Rouhani added that JCPOA is the outcome of resistance, determination and wisdom of a nation that opposes war and violence and has chosen the path of logic and negotiation.

The president noted that Iran has weathered the period of economic hardships and its national strategy is still “the strategy of the Economy of Resistance,” which will connect the country’s economy to global economy.

Marathon Talks on Iran’s Nuclear Issue End as Implementation of JCPOA Starts

By

Emad Askarieh

-

January 17, 2016

The joint statement read out by the two top diplomats announced the implementation of the nuclear deal – known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – which terminates all nuclear-related anti-Iran sanctions.

Here is the full text of the joint statement:

Today, we have reached Implementation Day of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Ever since Adoption Day, we worked hard and showed mutual commitment and collective will to finally bring the JCPOA to implementation. Today, six months after finalization of the historic agreement, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has verified that Iran has implemented its nuclear related commitments under the JCPOA.

As Iran has fulfilled its commitments, today, multilateral and national economic and financial sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program are lifted in accordance with the JCPOA. The EU and E3+3 countries, consisting of the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America, and Iran will also cooperate in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in the framework of the JCPOA.

UN sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program are lifted. United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 (2015), which endorsed the JCPOA, will from now onwards, together with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), be the sole international legal framework related to Iran’s nuclear activities, terminating provisions of resolutions 1696 (2006), 1737 (2007), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008), 1929 (2010) and 2224 (2015).

The EU has confirmed that the legal framework providing for the lifting of its nuclear-related economic and financial sanctions is effective. The United States today is ceasing the application of its nuclear-related statutory sanctions on Iran, including terminating relevant Executive Orders and licensing of certain activities, as specified in the JCPOA. The EU and the United States have issued relevant guidelines on the details of sanctions which have been lifted thus facilitating international engagement in Iran’s economic development.

As foreseen, we will continue to thoroughly monitor and oversee the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA as exactly agreed on 14 July 2015 through the Joint Commission, consisting of the E3/EU+3 and Iran, coordinated by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. On its side, the IAEA is entrusted with the responsibility for the monitoring and verification of the JCPOA as well as of Iran’s obligations as a Party to Non-Proliferation Treaty and its safeguards agreement and the provisional application of its Additional Protocol.

We would like to use this opportunity to thank the Austrian Government for their hospitality and all those countries that supported the negotiation process and helped to implement some of the commitments under the JCPOA. We also wish to express our appreciation to all those who led these negotiations on behalf of Islamic Republic of Iran and E3/EU+3 since 2003.

All sides remain firmly convinced that this historic deal is both strong and fair, and that it meets the requirements of all; its proper implementation will be a key contribution to improved regional and international peace, stability and security.

This achievement clearly demonstrates that with political will, perseverance, and through multilateral diplomacy, we can solve the most difficult issues and find practical solutions that are effectively implemented. This is an encouraging and strong message that the international community must keep in mind in our efforts to make the world a safer place.

IAEA Releases Statement on Iran’s Nuclear Deal

By

Emad Askarieh

-

January 17, 2016

Iran Calls for IAEA’s Impartial Verification of Saudi Nuclear Activities

The document was what the implementation of the deal hinged upon, and now the beginning of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – the nuclear deal – is going to be announced shortly.

Here is the full statement by the IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano:

Today, I released a report confirming that Iran has completed the necessary preparatory steps to start the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The report was submitted to the IAEA Board of Governors and to the United Nations Security Council.

It was issued after Agency inspectors on the ground verified that Iran has carried out all measures required under the JCPOA to enable Implementation Day to occur.

This paves the way for the IAEA to begin verifying and monitoring Iran’s nuclear-related commitments under the agreement, as requested by the UN Security Council and authorized by the IAEA Board.

Relations between Iran and the IAEA now enter a new phase. It is an important day for the international community. I congratulate all those who helped make it a reality, especially the group of countries known as the E3/EU+3, Iran and the IAEA Board.

In line with its commitments, Iran will start to provisionally implement the Additional Protocol to its Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA. Together with other nuclear-related measures under the JCPOA, this increases the Agency’s ability to monitor nuclear activities in Iran and to verify that they are peaceful.

We have come a long way since the IAEA first started considering the Iran nuclear issue in 2003. A lot of work has gone into getting us here, and implementation of this agreement will require a similar effort. For our part, we are ready to get on with the job.

Aviation companies have no choice but to apply commercial principals

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

January 17, 2016

I can not tell people be content with minimum services because airliners with their small assets want to operate. Thus, increasing the capital is a priority because sustainable development could not be achieved without upholding commercial principals. Capital of airlines should be increased at least 10 fold, said Roads and Development Minister on Saturday Jan 16, 2016.

According to Ministry of Roads and Urban Development Website, Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mr. Abbas Akhoundi in meeting with officials of air transportation and members and managers of Airlines Associations said in a near future by implementation of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JOPA), sanctions against Iran will be lifted and airlines should have appropriate plans for renovation of their fleets.

While referring to lack of adequate financial resources of aviation companies in Iran at present, Mr. Akhondi said proper means for securing financial resources are not available in the country to develop aviation industry, adding that National Development Fund as a foreign currency fund has not considerable resources.

Mr. Akhoundi said we should work based on international financial models that have proved successful in acquiring financial resources.

He then talked about the need for renovation and face-lift of aviation industry and said now that price of air tickets have become floating, airliners should pay for their expenses and settle their debts.

According to Minister of Roads and Urban Development, figures released by Civil Aviation Organization, the total debt of airliners to various institutions is estimated as Rls.52 trillions (some 1.5 billion Dollars) while value of their total assets is estimated at around Rls.35 trillions (roughly one billions Dollars) and that figures are quite worrying because country’s aviation is financial in negative side.

He went on to say that both people and government are not pleased with services provided by airlines and when everyone is unsatisfied then the only alternative is to rectify the shortcomings and the first step on this direction is to adhere to commercial principals.

The share of Transportation is only 0.0001 of capital market

Minister of Roads and Urban Development said airlines should have adequate capital to operate adding that the share of transportation industry in country’s GDP is less than 0.0001 of the capital market and if we want to improve the situation, airlines need to increase their capital as much as 10 time of existing level. He said the needed capital should be provided by existing shareholders, new investors or establishing holding companies and the best practice to achieve this objective, is to follow the international models for securing financial resources.

Possibility of creating institution in Imam Khomeini Airport Township for provision of financial assistance

Mr. Akhoundi said in Imam Khomeini Airport Township, under construction by a Dutch Co. we can establish financial institutions for securing financial assistance for Air transportation industry. In addition a number of leasing companies also could be set up at the same township.

Iranian Minister said his ministry is willing to have meetings with airlines’ mangers to discuss their prevailing problems adding that by implementation of the nuclear deal a new horizon will be opened for interactions with outside world and boosting of aviation industry.

Iran Releases Four Prisoners with Dual Citizenship

By

Emad Askarieh

-

January 16, 2016

Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the prosecutor-general of Tehran told reporters that the decision to release the prisoners has been taken based on the country’s general interests.

Dolatabadi, however, did not mention the names of the prisoners.

The Washington Post’s reporter Jason Rezaian, former US Marine Amir Mirzaee Hekmati, Saeed Abedini, and Siamak Namazi are the prisoners who were previously urged by US officials to be released within any prisoner swap mechanism.

Meanwhile, an informed source told the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) that Hekmati, Rezaian, Abedini, and Nosratollah Khosravi are the prisoners who were released today.

In reaction to the rumors on the release of these prisoners, Hekmati’s lawyer told the Tasnim News Agency that his client as well as Abedini have been summoned to the country’s judiciary earlier in the day.

IRNA also reported that the United States in return also released seven Iranians held in US prisons. The source named Nader Madanlou, Bahram Mekanik, Khosro Afghahi, Arash Qahreman, Touraj Faridi, Nima Golestaneh and Ali Sabounchi as the seven Iranian nationals who have been released.

The release comes as implementation of the nuclear deal finalized by Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) back in July 2015 is slated to begin in a few hours.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini are expected to announce today as the “implementation day” of the deal, also known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Zarif and Mogherini will make a joint statement on the issue.

When the JCPOA takes effect, all nuclear-related anti-Iran sanctions will be removed.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Jan 16

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

January 16, 2016

As clock ticks for lifting of US-led sanctions on Tehran’s nuclear agenda, the Iranian nation prepares for the post-sanctions setting. The news of sanctions relief on Monday grabbed almost all the country’s press headlines on Saturday, January 16, 2016.

The Assembly of Experts election and the parliamentary vote were also highlighted by the headlines on the day. The screening panel of Assembly of Experts candidates has also announced the list of qualified hopefuls.

The following are the highlights of the press on Saturday:

ABRAR:

1. EU extends Iran sanctions freeze by extra two weeks

2- Kerry to meet Suadi FM Al-Jubeir on Iran Tensions

3- Top Iran athletes visit Leader

4- Putin, Obama call for de-escalation of tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran

5- Security Council calls emergency meeting on Syrian sieges

6- Normalization of Tehran-Riyadh relations not a short-term possibility: professor

7- Majlis Speaker: Press oppressed in Iran

AFKAR:

– Severing ties with Iran is playing the victim: Leader Advisor

ARMAN-e EMROUZ:

– Assembly of Experts hopeful: We have no way but to count people in

Seyyed Hassan Khomeini (grandson of Imam Khomeini, leader of the Islamic Revolution) who is a prominent candidate for the upcoming Assembly of Experts election, said, “We must learn from the past,” and cautioned those who brag about democracy against defying the regulations.

ASRAR:

1- $800bn: capital of Iranian expatriates: Tehran Chamber of Commerce

2- Public insurance under way: Minister

Iran’s Labor and Social Welfare Minister Ali Rabiei said the Welfare Organization is a chief pillar of the administration’s welfare policies and plans are under way to provide social insurance for all Iranian citizens by the administration.

3- World eager for sanctions relief on Tehran

Landmark moments for implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA)

4- Russia: Turkey safe haven of terrorists

EMTIAZ:

1- Bioterrorism risk in satellite programs: Health Minister

2- Tehran Forest parks diminishing annually

3- Iran among 10 top greenhouse gas emitters

4- Phase III of campaign to clean Tehran of addicts

ETEMAD:

1- January 16: Day of Announcement, Implementation

Two historic events are scheduled to take place on January 16 in Iran; one will be implementation of Iran’s nuclear deal and the second one will be announcement of the qualified candidates for the upcoming Assembly of Experts election.

2- China’s President to visit Tehran after 14 years

The Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Tehran on January 22 for the first time since 2002 that a Chinese president travelled to the country.

3- Expediency Council Chief: Disqualifications shall not fed up anyone

ETTELA’AT:

1- Expert nuclear negotiator: Blissful moments in Iran history

Iran Sanctions Seen Lifted by Monday Once Nuclear Deal Verified: Bloomberg

Sanctions removal, realization of nation’s rights

2- Iran plans to boost crude oil exports to 6 countries

Iran has loaded crude oil cargoes to China, Turkey, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

3- 80% of Mazandaran coastal lands sold

4- Terrorist Al-Shabab fighters seize African Union base in Somalia, kill 63

EGHTESAD-e POOYA:

1- Contraband, biggest textile industry challenge: deputy minister

Majlis Speaker: Oil price slump temporary

2- Iran gold mine for Italy

3- Illiterate, elderly painter gains global recognition

HEMAYAT:

1- US humiliated in Persian Gulf: Reports

2- King Salam may hand over reign to son

3- Health care billboard in Tehran

4- Iran, US FMs to meet in Geneva, Saturday

HAMDELI:

1- Coastal pirates at Caspian banks

Illegal land owners have occupied more than 80% of the coastal lands of the Caspian Sea in Iran.

2- Chomsky slams Erdogan as Turkey detains anti-war academics

IRAN:

1- Post-Sanctions era begins; day of diplomatic victory [for Iran]

2- Extremists absent in future parliament

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s adviser for religious and minority affairs, Ali Younesi, said.

3- Cultural openings by JCPOA implementation: Culture Minsiter

4- Iranian wrestlers shine in Takhti Cup

5- German Ex-Chancellor: US, EU committed to JCPOA implementation

6- ISIS backers claim responsibility for Paris-style terror attack in Jakarta

7- Petchem feedstock pricing finalized

8- Pension raises to exceed inflation rate

JAMEJAM:

1- JCPOA train at implementation station

2- Health auction at satellite ads

A report on the risks of consuming health products and cosmetics promoted by satellite channels.

JAVAN:

1- Time to hold out JCPOA vows

2- 11 anti-Iran initiatives line up for US Congress passing

JOMHOURI ESLAMI:

1- Veteran doctor to be honored

A ceremony will be held at the National Library of Iran to honor Dr. Abbas Sheibani, the first president of the Islamic Republic of Iran Medical Council (IRIMC) after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

2- Saudi Arabia, Israel call for maintaining pressure on Iran

3- Proper management of admin, FM, IRGC ended the US marine’s issue: Head of Expediency Council