Iran removes Arak reactor core vessel

By

-

January 14, 2016

“We carried out the last stage of the removal of the Arak reactor’s heart and today our job was completely done,” Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said on Thursday.

“The calandria’s cavities, and not its heart, will be filled with concrete,” he added.

Kamalvandi said Iran has met its obligations in the Arak reactor, adding that inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will verify the calandria’s removal later in the day.

The development comes ahead of implementation of Iran’s landmark nuclear agreement with the world powers, known under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) up to the weekend.

The agreement was reached between Iran and the P5+1 – the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany – in July last year.

Under the JCPOA, limits are put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, the removal of all nuclear-related economic and financial bans against the Islamic Republic.

Kamalvandi said Iran is now in “very proper conditions” for producing nuclear fuel.

He noted that “big powers” have recognized Iran’s nuclear rights.

He also said that “unjust sanctions” will be lifted on Iran on JCPOA Implementation Day.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Jan 14

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

January 14, 2016

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps seized two US boats in Persian Gulf waters and detained 10 American marines but freed them after they apologized for trespassing Iranian territories. This story preoccupied almost all the Iranian press on Thursday. The Supreme Leader’s meeting with the organizers of a conference held in Iran to review Islam’s view on art and artistic activities also grabbed a number of headlines in the press.

Iran expects the final IAEA nuclear report on Tehran’s nuclear activities on Friday and this has soared optimism in the country’s stock market, has diminished foreign exchange rate and boosted the stocks. All the newspapers allocated at least a headline to these developments.

Following are the highlights of the dailies on Thursday, January 14, 2016.

ABRAR:

1. Russian premier: We shall prepare for the world economic scenario

2. Iran among world’s 4 most welcoming countries for foreign refuge seekers

3. Indonesia’s Jokowi writes letters to Iran, Saudi leaders

4. FIFA offers $500k to Iran football federation

ABRAR EQTESADI:

1. Pertonas returns as Iran oil buyer

2. Power export instead of crude oil during price slump, suggested Power Minister to Iranian Ministry of Petroleum

3. Iran in talks with France, Germany, Belgium to construct LNG carriers

4. Airbus ready for swift return to Iran

AFKAR:

1. Leader: Islam approves of arts, encourages artists

2. US calls for seizing Iran’s blocked assets

3. Iran’s Petroleum Minister: Emergency OPEC meeting needs members’ consensus

AFTAB:

1. US thanks Iran [for swiftly freeing American marines]

2. Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation office under attack in Somali

DONYAYE EGHTESAD:

1. Wave of optimism in Iran market

Gold, forex price diminishing

Stock market poised for a leap as sanctions are to be lifted on Friday

2. US, EU issue final manual of style to lift Iran sanctions

3. Obama knocks US politics

US President Barack Obama slammed trading US politics

EBTEKAR:

1. JCPOA implementation on Sunday

2. US sailors freed, received respectful treatment

A report by Ebtekar about seizing and freeing US marines in Persian Gulf waters.

ETEMAD:

1. Diplomacy of Boats

The ten US marines who had trespassed on Iran’s territorial waters and had been taken into Iranian custody by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps forces, were released after less than a day.

2. Historic week in Iran

IAEA final nuclear report on Friday

Iran expects to see sanctions removed by weekend

3. Splendid funeral of Sacred Defense martyrs in Fars Province

4. Health Minister: People must be informed about the realities of AIDS

ETTELA’AT:

1. Leader: Islam approves of arts, encourages artists

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei told a meeting of the organizers of the Fiqh of Art congress that not only does Islam endorse art, it also encourages it.

2. Saudis offer $10k monthly to terrorist mercenaries

3. Obama calls on US congress to authorize use of military force against ISIS

4. Funeral of 94 Sacred Defense martyrs

A ceremony was held in the southern province of Fars to bury the remains of 94 martyrs of the Iraq-imposed war on Iran (1980-88).

5. US thanks Iran for swift release of 10 Navy sailors

HEMAYAT:

– US joins Saudi coalition to use Yemen as arms laboratory

Wednesday attacks by Saudi-led coalition killed 20, injured 14 in Yemeni territories.

IRAN:

1. Time arrives for sanctions removal

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araqchi said.

Iran stock market suddenly leapt as time approaches for removal of the US-led sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program.

2. Iran’s seizure of 10 US navy sailors from beginning to end

From nightly telephone conversations of Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif with his US counterpart to the wise decision making of Iranian military commanders.

JAHAN-e EQTESAD:

1. Special patients: sanctions hostages

A report on the bitter days of sanctions for supplying medicine for the sufferers of special diseases in Iran.

2. Iran tankers to recall at green continent ports

JAHAN SANAT:

1. Speculations about imports of US goods

Edibles no; Cars yes

2. Obama defends his legacy in SOTU

US President Barack Obama vigorously defends his legacy in his final State of the Union address.

3. Islamic treatment towards US marines

JAMEJAM:

1. US apology

US marines freed by Iran

2. Leader stresses need for setting Islamic framework for art

The organizers of the National Conference on Fiqh of Art visited the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

3. Cyberspace: A cleanable world

4. Birthday parties pricier than weddings

JAVAN:

1. US wealth in the hands of a few: Obama in a rare confession in SOTU

2. US marines apologized, won freedom

3. French gov’t seeks Iranian artists

France offers Iranian painter Aydin Aghdashloo legion of honor badge.

JOMHOURI ESLAMI:

1. No sanctions next week

2. Saudi air strike kills brother of fugitive Yemen president in Sana’a

3. Egyptian military in Saudi-led coalition against Yemen

4. Major tourism shock by Istanbul blast

KEYHAN:

1. US tests, IRGC browbeats [US army in Persian Gulf]

God father of Persian Gulf sheiks humiliated

US marines freed after apologizing

2. Mamasani citizens’ impressive welcoming of martyrs’ convoy

3. Yemen used as laboratory to test US arms: world media

REALAT:

1. Iraqi FM mocks Arab Leagues’ accusation of Iran as a terrorist supporter

2. Iran to offer 160,000 Mehr Houses in Fajr Decade

Iran has prepared 160,000 houses in the Maskan-e Mehr housing initiative and will offer them to their owners during a 10-day period which marks the anniversary of the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in February.

SMT:

1. Stock market soars, forex rate slides

Only a few days to implementation of the nuclear deal and the long-sought sanctions relief on Iran’s nuclear program, Iran’s stock market prepares to recover from recession while foreign exchange rate drops.

2. Iran eyes unfreezing of $30bn

Iran says it has started the proceedings for the much-awaited unfreezing of a total of around $30 billion as envisaged by a nuclear deal it struck with the P5+1 group of countries last July.

3. US seeks trade delegation swap with Iran

SHAHRVAND:

1. Iran frees 5,000 manslaughter convicts in 9 months

2. New campaign supports labor kids

A report on how business owners carry out their social responsibilities in Iran.

TA’ADOL:

1. The melody of sanctions relief

A report by Ta’adol on the effects of sanctions relief on Iran’s economy.

2. 4 stock peaks conquered

Iran’s stock market is soaring a few days prior to the sanctions removal.

UNICEF calls for urgent help for 10 million Yemeni children

By

Emad Askarieh

-

January 14, 2016

“With no end in sight to the deadly conflict in Yemen, nearly 10 million children inside the country are now facing a new year of pain and suffering,” Julien Harneis, the UNICEF representative in Yemen said in a statement.

Harneis said the “continuous bombardment and street fighting are exposing children and their families to a deadly combination of violence, disease and deprivation.”

More than 7,500 people have been killed and over 14,000 others injured since Saudi airstrikes began in Yemen in March 2015. The Saudi war has also taken a heavy toll on the country’s facilities and infrastructure.

Harneis further suggested that “what is really needed– above all else — is an end to the conflict.”

“Only in that way can the children of Yemen look forward to 2016 with hope rather than despair.”

According to the UN body, children make up at least half of the 2.3 million people estimated to have been displaced from their homes.

More than 19 million people struggle to get water on a daily basis; 1.3 million children under five face the risk of acute malnutrition and acute respiratory tract infections.

And at least two million children cannot go to school, UNICEF estimated.

Iran among top 4 nations with highest refugees

By

Emad Askarieh

-

January 14, 2016

According to the Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2015 Revision, refugees are mainly in Pakistan, Lebanon, Iran, Jordan – and come mainly from three countries – Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia, reports un.org.

Iran continues to host one of the largest and most protracted refugee populations in the world, despite the voluntary return of hundreds of thousands of Afghan (and Iraqi) refugees to their countries of origin over the past decade.

Iran is located in a region that remains home to one-third of the world’s refugees with over three million and a half people. Nearly, 70% of the refugees in the region are Afghans, the majority living and working in Iran (and Pakistan).

The Iranian government is the primary contributor to the country’s refugee program through various ministries and organizations. Additional support is provided through semi-governmental organizations and charities. The government grants the refugee population on its territory access to: medical services, education for students, literacy classes for out of-school children and the labor market.

According to Iran’s Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs (BAFIA), as of October 2011, the number of refugees registered with the authorities stood at over 882,000 (over 840,000 Afghans and some 42,000 Iraqis). And 97% of all refugees live in urban and semi-urban areas with only 3% in settlements. Besides, nearly 1 to 1.5 million are non-registered refugees.

The government was actively involved in the process leading to the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR), endorsed in May 2012, which aims to enhance the prospects for sustainable solutions for Afghan returnees.

Following the international sanctions and deterioration of economic conditions in Iran over the years plus reports on crime blamed on the Afghans, governments in Tehran regularly informed the world body and the leaders in Kabul that the refugees leave sooner rather than later. But it seems most refuse to leave due to the poverty, joblessness, civil war and insecurity in their country.

Between January 2002 and July 2013, UNHCR, the UN refugee agency assisted over 913,000 Afghans to return home voluntarily, and almost 30,000 Iraqi refugees have also been assisted to repatriate voluntarily since 2003, according to unhcr.org. The number of refugees who returned in 2013 also remains low in comparison with the previous years.

The main populations of concern in 2015 in Iran continue to be Afghan refugees, the majority of whom arrived before 2001 as prima facie refugees.

RSD Procedure

Following the comprehensive registration program of refugees in 2001, all Afghan asylum-seekers were required to have their refugee status determined on an individual basis through the government refugee status determination (RSD) procedure.

Also of concern are Iraqi refugees, most of whom were registered in 2002 as prima facie refugees. New Iraqi asylum-seekers are now also required to have their refugee status determined individually through the government RSD procedure. The majority of newly arrived Iraqi refugees originate from central Iraq.

BAFIA, which has the overall responsibility for coordinating refugee affairs in cooperation with other line ministries, remains UNHCR’s main partner in coordinating refugee affairs.

Over the past several years, the financial requirements for UNHCR’s operation in Iran have steadily grown from $36.5 million in 2010 to a revised 2013 budget of $59.6 million, to address the increasing needs of the Afghan and Iraqi refugees.

In 2014, the operation’s financial requirements were set at $69 million, an increase of $9.4 million compared to the revised 2013 budget. This is due partially to an increase in the number of vulnerable individuals relying on UNHCR’s support, owing to rising costs in Iran.

The UN survey also said that nearly two-thirds of international migrants live in Europe (76 million) or Asia (75 million). North America has the third largest number of international migrants (54 million), and globally, women comprise half of all of them. Meanwhile, two thirds of all international migrants were reported to be living in only 20 countries, with the largest number in the US – about a fifth of the world’s total migrants. The next in line is Germany, followed by Russia.

“When we get into a period of dealing with migration and refugee issues, it’s important that we have the facts,” UN deputy secretary general, Jan Eliasson, told reporters at a press briefing, at the UN Headquarters presenting the key findings of the latest United Nations survey on international migrant trends.

“Back in 2000, there were 173 million international migrants, in 2010 there were 222 million, and this past year in 2015, 244 million migrants.”

“Not included in this figure are around 40 million internally displaced people – refugees inside a country,” he added. (Financial Tribune)

Spokesman: US marines’ entry to Iranian territorial water was not hostile

By

Emad Askarieh

-

January 13, 2016

‘After explanations the US gave and the assurances they made, we determined that violation of Iranian territorial waters was not deliberate, so we guided the boats out of Iranian waters.’

He said cooperation in line with convention of Safety of Life at Sea and the international law and humanitarian approach towards the issue were the criterion of Iranian Navy at high seas and the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

The spokesman said that Tuesday evening, two US military boats, carrying 10 US marines, were monitored by Iranian Navy as they stopped and stranded around Farsi Island territorial waters.

They were directed to the Navy Forces’ base within framework of the irrevocable policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding guaranteeing security and safety of sailing in the Persian Gulf.

He said that since deliberate entry of military boats to territorial waters of the Islamic Republic of Iran is in violation of the country’s laws and regulations, the cause of the boats’ entry was taken into consideration.

Ansari added that it became clear that their presence in the region was due to technical fault of the vessels navigation system. So, the vessels were released.

Regarding approach of the date for implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif and the US Secretary of State John Kerry are in contacts. The issue on the US marines’ entry was also among topics discussed in the contacts and the two sides prepared the ground for settlement of the issue soon.

Iran’s FM Pleased with Release of US Sailors through Diplomacy

By

Emad Askarieh

-

January 13, 2016

“[I am] happy to see dialog and respect, not threats and impetuousness, swiftly resolved the [US] sailors’ episode,” Zarif said in a post in his Twitter account.

“Let’s learn from this latest example,” he added.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday released 10 US Navy sailors captured inside Iran’s territorial waters in the Persian Gulf a day earlier.

The IRGC Public Relations in a statement on Wednesday said the sailors were freed following an apology from the US and after technical and operational investigations indicated that the intrusion into Iranian territorial waters was “unintentional”.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman said the communication between Foreign Minister Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry accelerated the release of the sailors.

The issue of US sailors detained by the Iranian naval forces was pursued in a phone call between Kerry and Zarif, and the grounds were set for its swift resolution, he added.

Cooperation for the facilitation of safe navigation based on the principles of international law and dealing with extraordinary cases humanitarianly has been and will be the main criteria for the Iranian Armed Forces in their missions in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman, he went on to say.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Jan 13

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

January 13, 2016

ABRAR:

1. North Korea faked missile test footage: experts

2. Tehran mayor: Some hinder solving Tehran air pollution

3. Thinkers of invading Iran seek suicide: Top IRGC Cmdr.

4. Iraqi forces retake Ramadi from ISIS

5. Rouhani to visiting Gerhard Schröder: Tehran, Berlin have started enhancing ties

6. Persian poetry dwindling in cyberspace

ABRAR EGHTESADI:

1. $30bn of frozen cash accessible by next week

2. Iran, Russia start bank ties

3. 18.8% average customers duties

4. Gov’t spokesman: CBI sanctions removal in a few days

5. NIOC Chief: Gas income to exceed petrodollars

6. Bloomberg: Iran Plans to Sell New Oil Grade in March

7. Falling oil price diminishes Iran economy by $123bn

AFATB-E YAZD:

1. The Emirate brag

Head of Iran-UAE commerce chamber said UAE’s decision to reduce its diplomatic ties to a lower level has no impact on its trade with Iran.

2. Professor: Giving bonuses to well-covered students makes others indignant

Earlier this week, another university lecturer has suggested that university professors and lecturers should offer extra bonuses to students who observe Islamic dress codes in their classes.

3. Brigadier General Naqdi: US behind Saudi embassy break-in

4. Professor: Sooner nuclear deal with Jalili as President

AFKAR:

1. Arak reactor not dismantled

2. 95% of bulged discs treated without surgery

3. Iran cancels electronic voting in upcoming elections

ARMAN-E EMROUZ:

1. 80 restaurants in 2 kilometers

Illegal ownership of mountainous lands north of Tehran has left nothing from Darband resort.

2. Iran to sell US 40t of heavy water

3. Goodbye sanctions!

The US-engineered international sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program will be removed by Friday.

4. Gov’t to sue Saudi embassy attackers

DONYAYE EGHTESADI:

– Henri Kissinger: Israel will disappear in 2022

EBTEKAR:

1. Gov’t will sue embassy attackers: Spokesman

2. Obama vows to veto bill to restrict Iran sanctions relief

ETEMAD:

1. Riyadh seeking anti-Tehran policy

2. 4,000 foreign investors in Tehran Chamber of Commerce since July deal

3. 12% rise in salaries of state staff next year

Government spokesman: The monthly salary of no working or retired staff will be less than IRR 15m next year.

4. Saudi loss of $1.3bn from Umrah trip ban by Iran

5. Traffic fines rise

EGHTESAD-E POUYA:

1- Iran handicraft popular in Canary islands

2- German banks welcome investment in Chabahar port

The Islamic Republic welcomes contributions to the development of Chabahar Port in southeast Iran.

ETTELA’AT:

1- President: Iran ready to employ all capacities in fight against terrorism

2- Terrorist blast kills 10 in Istanbul

3- Plans to overhaul transportation fleet

4- Suicide attacks kill 52 in Iraq

JAHAN-E EGHTESAD:

– Head of Iran’s chamber of commerce: 60% of banks’ assets frozen

HEMAYAT:

1- Assad: We are indebted to Iran for containing regional terrorism

2- 2,000 smuggling gangs dismantled

3- Putin: Execution of Sheikh Nimr, unfortunate

4- IRGC’s intelligence blow and rebalance of power in BBC

JAHAN-E SANAT:

1- 1.4% Saudi, Bahraini share in Iran sky

3- Pancreatic cancer in economy

JAVAN:

1- Cleric: Guardian Council sole screener of candidates’ qualities

2- US sanctions radars fixed on Iran missile frequency

3- German bear in Iranian cinema honeymoon

4- Erdogan poised to boost Kurdish crackdown

JOMHOURI ESLAMI:

– Isfahan steel on the path to supremacy

KEYHAN:

1. Traffic fines manifold

2. 2nd Intifada begins; West Bank armed

KHORASAN:

– Turkish partner takes up Zanjani’s assets

IRAN:

1- Iran woes foreign investments in energy sector

2- JCPOA implementation new chapter in Tehran, Berlin ties: Rouhani

3- Everything about a cinema school in Iran

4- Eye-opening facts about Wikipedia

RESALAT:

– US democrats join republicans against Iran

SHAHRVAND:

1. White House message to anti-Iran representatives

2. 80% of Zanjani money overseas

SMT:

1. Liquidity boost, legacy of 10th administration

2. Iran among world’s safest countries in mining

TA’ADOL:

1. Germany preparing to enter Iran infrastructures

2. Provincial taxi drivers: a capital issue

3. Afghan peace in Pakistani hands

4. Economic diplomacy superior to privatization

TAFAHOM:

1. Air pollution bothering 30m Iranians

2. Activation of rural economy: Iran to launch production units in rural areas

IRGC Releases Sailors after US Apology

By

Emad Askarieh

-

January 13, 2016

The IRGC Public Relations in a statement on Wednesday said the sailors were freed following an apology from the US and after technical and operational investigations indicated that the intrusion into Iranian territorial waters was “unintentional”.

It also underlined that the US has pledged to prevent such mistakes in the future.

The seizure took place at 4:30 P.M. local time, Tuesday, when the two American combat vessels, with 10 armed sailors on board, entered Iran’s territorial waters near the island of Farsi.

The IRGC said the captured US troops, including 9 men and a woman, were treated properly, are fully safe and have been transferred to an appropriate location.

The USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier had been drifting out southeast of the Iranian island of Farsi in the international waters when the Iranian forces seized the two boats, while the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle had been also patrolling in the international waters northeast of the island at the time of the seizure, the IRGC added.

Later, US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif about the issue.

Commander: US in new crisis if not for Iran’s goodwill

By

Emad Askarieh

-

January 13, 2016

Were it not for the good intentions of the Iranian commanders, he said, the US was facing yet another crisis now.

The incident showed the vigilance of the Iranian armed forces, the commander noted.

Iran released ten US marines it was holding for crossing into Iranian territorial waters.

IRGC Public Relations Department, in a statement, said that the US navy boats were stopped Tuesday at 4:30 PM (local time) when they entered Iranian territorial waters near Farsi Island in the middle of the Persian Gulf.

IRGC declared that the US navy boats entered Iranian territorial waters illegally.

The US boats lost contact with their central commanding units due to technical problems but were rescued by Iranian forces.

Rudkhan castle (PHOTOS)

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

-

January 13, 2016

Located 25 km southwest of Foman city north of Iran in Gilan province, it is a military complex which had been constructed during the Sasanian era (224-651), and later rebuilt during the Seljuq era.

1 of 13