ISIS threats to attack international targets should be taken seriously

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November 16, 2015

An Iranian expert in international relations says that ISIS threats to launch attacks on international targets should be taken seriously.

Ali Bigdeli, who is an expert on US and European affairs, further said that the first thing that should be done in the fight against ISIS is to eliminate the institutes which meet the terror grouping’s economic needs. “These institutes are largely based in the Persian Gulf sheikhdoms. Backed by the West, these institutes have created ISIS in the region simply to counter the influence of Shiism.”

On November 15, Shafaqna, the Shia News Agency, published an interview with Bigdeli on recent terrorist attacks in the world and ISIS threats that its next targets will be Rome, London and Washington. The following is the translation of part of his remarks in the interview:

Multiple terror attacks were unleashed in Paris a day before international talks were held in Vienna on Syria. And a summit of world leaders at G20 in Istanbul will be held in a few days’ time. It was a while ago that ISIS addressed France in a statement warning that if Paris ratcheted up its involvement in the anti-ISIS coalition, the terror group would stage a 9/11-style attack in France.

Threats by ISIS – that London, Rome and Washington are next in line to be targeted – should be taken seriously.

What is certain is the fact that ISIS is trying to flex its muscle to terrorize other countries, and prompt people in those countries to pile pressure on their governments to leave the anti-ISIS coalition.

[…] France seems almost unlikely to announce that it will no longer get involved in the Middle Eastern issues because such a decision constitutes a chink in its armor. The world, [especially] the West, is facing a phenomenon it has helped create, but today they [a reference to Western countries] are suffering its consequences. For Westerners, this phenomenon [ISIS] has spiraled out of control. […]

ISIS has proved in practice that it can carry out attacks beyond the borders of its self-proclaimed caliphate. Prior to this, ISIS had released a statement addressing [French President] Francois Hollande [over his country’s engagement in the anti-ISIS coalition].

A few days ago, France announced that it would provide more air support [to the anti-ISIS coalition] in Syria and Iraq. The Paris attacks were a response to France’s recent decision. If Rome, London and Washington are the terror group’s next targets, officials [in Italy, Britain and the US] need to beef up security […].

All countries which have been involved in efforts which helped form this ominous phenomenon [ISIS] should cooperate [in the fight against the notorious terror grouping]. ISIS has terrorized the whole world and it is natural for people to live in constant fear. […]

ISIS has become an international institute with its geographical reach going beyond Iraq and Syria. Now a global network, ISIS is growing militarily, politically and geographically. This has rendered the battle against the terror group all the more difficult.

ISIS is transforming from a guerrilla group into a political institute which issues passports, ID cards, and stamps, establishes trade contacts [with other nations], and has [diplomatic] missions in other countries. To take on ISIS, the institutes supplying finances to the terror group should be eliminated first. Sheikhdoms in the Persian Gulf are home to these ISIS-supporting institutes which have been created to counterbalance the Shiite influence in the region. ISIS has now turned into a creeping power which has created hardships for nations, especially the Western countries.

MP: Boycotting the press was an auspicious phenomenon

By

Golrokh Askarieh

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November 16, 2015

A Tehran MP has welcomed as an auspicious phenomenon the boycott by certain principlist media of the 21^st edition of the Press and News Agencies Exhibition.

In an opinion piece, Ali Motahari wrote that although such a boycott was unprecedented, it should be viewed as a blessing. Fararu.com on November 14 published Motahari’s analytical piece on boycotting the press event. The following is the translation of the piece in its entirety:

Boycotting the press exhibition – by certain publications and news agencies which stick to the principles of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist (Velayat-e Faqih) as well as those who always talk about safeguarding the establishment and view any protest as opposition to the core essence of the establishment and even [reject it as an attempt to trigger] regime change – was unprecedented and unnecessary. What they were protesting was not strong enough to warrant a boycott.

Nonetheless, such a boycott was an auspicious phenomenon from one perspective: these individuals who are the pioneers of [obeying] the Leader and protecting the establishment acknowledged that the right to protest has been recognized in the Islamic Republic and that any protest cannot and should not be viewed as a battle against the establishment or an attempt to cause regime change.

Certainly these individuals and groups that have gone into protest mode now realize better [than before] that those who protested the election results back in 2009 were not aiming to bring about regime change. [The individuals and groups can now understand that] the charges against them have no foundation. These charges are merely rooted in the negative thought that basically “protest” does not make any sense in the Islamic Republic and that any protest amounts to opposition to the establishment and the principle of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist!

Now that the followers of the Leader have taken the lead in protest at part of the establishment’s performance, they need to see that the critics and opponents are entitled to greater latitude as far as protests and expression of opinions are concerned.

If the reformist rivals of these publications and news agencies had been behind the boycott, it is unclear what labels they would have attached to them. Probably they would have been accused of opposition to the establishment, exhilarating the enemy and carrying out the orders of foreigners. And some may have been taken into custody.

Anyway, the decision to boycott should be described as an auspicious boycott, a boycott which is perhaps a turning point in changing the approach of certain principlists toward critique and protest and in softening the tough policies on critics and protesters, including ending the strict treatment of the individuals who were arrested following the post-election riots in 2009 [a reference to Mehdi Karroubi and Mir-Hossein Mousavi, two presidential candidates who were placed under house arrest for disputing the election results and stirring unrest in the country].

Note: Fars, one of the agencies that boycotted the event, has since said the decision by some principlist media to stay away from the Press and News Agencies Exhibition has been merely guild-related and drawing an analogy between the boycott and what unfolded in the wake of the 2009 presidential elections is illogical.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Nov. 16

By

Golrokh Askarieh

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November 16, 2015

The comments of the first vice-president about Babak Zanjani and those of the intelligence minister about a spate of terrorist attacks around the world and the message those attacks send to Iran dominated the front pages of Iranian newspapers on Monday.

Ettela’at: The Vienna talks have produced a timetable for political transition in Syria.

It came as a second military airport was freed by the Syrian army in less than a week.

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on Nov. 16

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Nov. 16

Abrar: The Iraqi foreign minister has said that Baghdad has intelligence about terrorist attacks in France, Iran and the US.

Aftab-e Yazd: The great escape of automakers!

Despite the failure of the two local carmakers to keep their end of the bargain during the sale on installment of their products, their storage facilities have been emptied.

Arman-e Emrooz: The cars whose occupants are caught flouting the Islamic dress code will be denied [municipal] services, said a spokesman for the police.

Asr-e Iranian: The director of the Atomic Energy Organization has admitted to removal of centrifuges before written guarantees were secured from P5+1.

Asr-e Rasaneh: The value of luxury houses and apartments with no occupants in the country runs into $ 20b.

Asrar: The director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has said that removal of idle centrifuges has started.

Ebtekar: Turnout in upcoming elections will insure the establishment, said Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Eghtesad-e Pooya: Settling the problems facing waste management in northern provinces is on the agenda, Director of the Environment Protection Organization Masoumeh Ebtekar said.

Etemad: Two important hearings are held today: Mortazavi and Zanjani, two cases involving the same charge: [corruption].

Haft-e Sobh: Lessons from Paris

Why have we been indebted to the general [a reference to Major General Ghasem Soleimani] and his men over the past five years?

Hambastegi: The recent blasts were a serious warning to Iran, said the intelligence minister.

Hemayat: Police have apprehended 100 hackers and blocked 20 immoral Telegram [a very popular messaging app] channels.

Hosban: Seven world leaders will travel to Iran to attend a summit of Gas Exporting Countries Forum.

Iran: The first vice-president has protested the heroic gestures of Babak Zanjani [the young billionaire on trial for corruption] in court.

Javan: The commander of the Basij force has said that maneuvers involving 120 battalions will be held on Thursday.

Javan: Be on the lookout for the threat monetary excitements may cause, said an economic advisor to the president as he recalled the wide economic gaps in the country.

Jomhouri Islami: Two days after terrorist attacks in Paris and new threats by IS, Europe has turned into a big security fortress.

Kayhan: All those behind terrorist attacks in Beirut have been identified and arrested.

Mardomsalari: After a meeting with John Kerry, Foreign Minister Zarif said that the views of the Supreme Leader will be complied with in the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Payam-e Zaman: Iran’s oil reserves are up by 1 billion barrels.

Resalat: The parliament speaker has urged government to rush aid to those affected by recent flooding.

Shahrvand: Road accidents cost the national economy $ 6b, said the minister of roads and urban development.

Sharq: The justice minister has expressed hope the cases of reporters who have recently been arrested will soon land on the prosecutor’s desk.

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on Nov. 16

By

Golrokh Askarieh

-

November 16, 2015

♦ The Vienna talks have produced a timetable for political transition in Syria.

It came as a second military airport was freed by the Syrian army in less than a week.

♦ The country’s economic boom hinges on inflow of capital and interaction with the rest of the world, said the first vice-president.

Eshagh Jahangiri further said that it is unacceptable to see an individual siphon off $ 2.7b in public funds and then talk in an overbearing, heroic fashion in a court of law.

♦ An IS leader in Libya has been killed in a strike by US fighter jets against Derna.

The Pentagon says Abu Nabil al Anbari was once an Alqaeda operational commander.

♦ Recession and economic insecurity serve the interests of some individuals, said Ali Younesi, a special advisor to President Rouhani.

He further said creation of jobs should be the priority policy of the government.

♦ Scores of media outlets are using public funds to chip away at social assets, the vice-president for parliamentary affairs said.

Majid Ansari further said some are hiding behind religion, revolutionary institutions and revolutionary fervor to commit the worst sins.

♦ Foreign Minister Zarif has said that the foreign ministers of P5+1 have signed a document on the reconfiguration of Arak’s reactor.

It came after Zarif and his US counterpart held talks in Vienna to make the necessary coordination for the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

♦ The point-to-point inflation rate will slip into the single digits next month.

Masoud Nili, an economic advisor to the president, said the banking system and provision of finances to businesses are still facing problems.

Bushehr power plant to be handed to Iranian operator permanently: Official

By

Golrokh Askarieh

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November 16, 2015

Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi announced that Russia plans to permanently hand over the Bushehr nuclear power plant to its Iranian operator in the coming months.

The nuclear power plant will be fully delivered to the Iranian side by the Russian state company Rosatom by the end of the current Iranian year (March 19, 2016), Kamalvandi said on Saturday.

“Since two years ago, works (in the nuclear facility) have been done by the Iranian operator and the Russians have only supervised the activities of the Iranian experts,” he noted.

He further pointed to the recent meetings between Director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi and Deputy CEO of Rosatom Nikolay Spassky, saying the talks have had positive outcomes.

In the negotiations with the Russian officials, the latest measures on mutual cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) were also discussed, Kamalvandi said.

Iran’s only nuclear power plant in Bushehr, which produces 1,000 megawatts of electricity, became officially operational and was connected to Iran’s national grid in September 2011.

The Russian-Iranian agreement on the civilian use of nuclear energy, followed by a deal to construct Iran’s first nuclear power plant, dates back to 1992.

In 2014, Iran and Russia reached an agreement under which the latter is to build two new nuclear reactors on the Bushehr site, starting in the fall of 2015.

Iran nixed Assad ouster clause in Vienna: Deputy FM

By

Golrokh Askarieh

-

November 16, 2015

Iran says it opposed the inclusion of a clause that would have asked for the removal of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad from power in the statement that was issued following recent talks in Vienna on the Syrian conflict.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who attended the Saturday talks in the Austrian capital as a member of the Iranian delegation, said on Sunday that some foreign ministers insisted during the negotiations that the Syrian head of state be ousted from his position.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran did not allow this issue to be included in the final statement,” he said, adding, “We emphasized that only the people of Syria have the right to decide on this matter.”

Since March 2011, Syria has been beset by foreign-backed militancy, which has so far claimed the lives of over 250,000 people and displaced millions of others.

The Vienna talks were a continuation of October 30 negotiations in the Austrian capital, which had been attended by representatives from 17 countries, including Iran, as well as envoys from the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU).

The second round of the Vienna talks was attended by senior representatives from 17 countries, the UN, the EU and the Arab League.

According to the joint statement released by the UN following the second round, the participants agreed that Syria should have a transitional government in six months and hold elections in 18 months.

Amir-Abdollahian said, “Some participants insisted that if the envisaged trend goes well in a six-month period, Bashar Assad should not contest the upcoming elections,” which the Iranian official said “was an unprincipled position.”

“In response, we stressed unequivocally that only Assad himself can decide on his participation or non-participation in the elections and [that] it is only the people of Syria who can say whether they will vote for him or not.”

Ali Haidar, the Syrian minister of national reconciliation, echoed the remarks by Amir-Abdollahian, saying that no one is allowed to devise a timeframe on any Syria peace plan and that only the Syrians should decide the mechanisms to achieve peace.

“Syrians are solely responsible for making the changes to techniques and structure. Nobody is allowed to put timetables, even if they were friends or enemies. They are not allowed to say what should be changed in Syria in the structure and techniques,” he said.

“Vienna and any other meetings are requested to do one thing which is creating the international atmosphere for the dialog of Syrians among each other and any other thing is the Syrians’ responsibility.”

France, Lebanon terror raids alert to Iran, too: Intelligence minister

By

Golrokh Askarieh

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November 16, 2015

Iran’s Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi says the recent terrorist attacks in France and Lebanon are also an alert to the Islamic Republic which should exercise more vigilance.

Referring to the recent deadly blasts in the French and Lebanese capitals, Alavi said, “Of course, the recent blasts are a serious alert to us too and should be subjected to expert attention,” he said on Sunday.

A series of coordinated armed attacks and explosions hit Paris on Friday, killing at least 132 people and injuring some 350 others. On November 12, 44 people were killed and nearly 240 more sustained injuries when two large explosions rocked a security post in Hussaineya Street in the crowded Borj al-Barajneh neighborhood in a southern suburb of Beirut.

The Takfiri terrorist group of Daesh, which has overrun parts of Iraq and Syria and is tyrannizing the population there, has claimed responsibility for the terror strikes in both cities.

The Iranian minister referred to “foreign infiltration” and “Takfiri terrorists” as the most important soft and hard threats against the country respectively.

“The enemy has always been intent on infiltration and dealing a blow to the country. Currently, however, we face more of this threat considering the new circumstances,” he added.

“The main priorities of the Intelligence Ministry,” Alavi said, “are ensuring the country’s security and confronting the Takfiri movement.”

Farmers clearing once brimful water canals (PHOTOS)

By

Golrokh Askarieh

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November 15, 2015

As part of an age-old tradition, farmers in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan dredge the bottom of the canal that brings water to their farmland.

The tradition has not drifted into oblivion, the region has been in the grip of an 18-year dry spell though.

The following images have been published by the Islamic Republic News Agency:

Tourism chief: We should not be afraid of foreign tourists

By

Golrokh Askarieh

-

November 15, 2015

The director of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization has said that Iran should turn into a hub of halal, religious, cultural and historical tourism in the world.

Masoud Soltanifar made the remark in an interview with Iran newspaper’s Zahra Keshvari and added that we should not be afraid of the arrival of foreign tourists in the country. Known as the calm man of the Cabinet, Soltanifar, also a vice-president, looks calmer than expected. To prove that, it is enough to say that since taking charge of the tourism organization, Soltanifar and his plans have not been under the media spotlight. The following is the translation of part of the interview – which mainly focused on post-sanctions tourism – Iran published on November 14:

Tsunami of tourism

[…] The political developments over the past two years have pulled the tourism sector – unlike other sectors in the country – out of recession. I think the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will bring the foreign private sector on board as well. […]

The trend of foreign tourist arrival in Iran has changed remarkably over the past two years. Tourism posted a 4.6 percent growth in the world and five percent in Asia in the past two years, but the share of Iran was 12 percent, which is [almost] three times the global growth rate.

To achieve the objectives envisioned in the 20-year Outlook Plan for 2025, Iran needs to register an annual 12-14 percent growth over the next ten years.

Golden opportunity or threat

Iran’s tourism infrastructure, including hotels and roads, is not appropriate. […] Despite the shortcomings, the country has had good experiences. Tourism in Iran has grown three times that of the world. We have taken measures in the last two years to expedite the development of tourism. We need to remove the problems standing in the way. […]

Air fleet

Iranian airlines are operating with about 250 planes at their disposal, one-third of which are grounded on different grounds. […] Other airlines in regional countries have found a good market [in Iran] because we have to use their planes thanks to the existing limitations. […]

The stage is now set and the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development and private-owned airlines have entered into talks with the world’s top plane making companies.

Visa services

[…] The eleventh government has expanded its visa services. Iran issues visa on arrival for the nationals of 190 countries at seven airports across the country and has extended the previous 15-day visas to 30 days. A workgroup – comprising representatives from the Foreign Ministry, the Cultural Heritage Organization, and the ministries of Intelligence, the Interior, and Industries, Mines and Trade – is studying a plan to remove visa requirements, on a mutual basis, with a number of countries in line with diplomatic considerations.

The government has also given the go-ahead to e-visa, and the Foreign Ministry is expected to prepare the ground for issuing electronic visas in a year.

Reasons for traveling to Iran

[…] Religious tourists account for 50 percent of foreign arrivals in Iran. Muslims and people from neighboring countries come to Iran to pay pilgrimage visits to Imam Reza’s holy shrine in Mashhad, Hazrat Masoumeh in Qom and Hazrat Ahmad ibn Musa in Shiraz.

Iran’s nature also attracts tourists. Arabs who live in desert countries prefer Iran’s northern provinces, and cultural tourists from Europe, America, South and East Asia prefer to see Iran’s cultural attractions in historical cities. Europeans are very interested in Iran’s deserts. We are developing accommodation and eco-tourist centers, including makeshift structures in the desert, which are to be launched from between six months to one year from now.

Nationality of tourists

Iran has chosen 40 countries, including 15 neighbors, as its target market. […] Tourists from Iraq, a Shiite-dominated region in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman travel to Iran each year for pilgrimage and treatment purposes. Iran has launched direct flights between Kish and Muscat and is to establish direct flights from Muscat to other Iranian cities. […]

Europe has combination tours, for instance, the Italy-France tour. Iran is likely to organize a combination tour with Turkey. […]

Unlike the Saudis, Muslims in other countries such as Syria, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt and Kuwait are very much interested in having interaction with Iran.

Halal, cultural, historic tourism

Our main approach is to turn Iran into the biggest hub of halal, cultural and historical tourism. […] We need to set a target of 30-32 million [tourists] so that we can achieve 20 million. The stage has been set for Iran to turn into the hub of halal tourism.

Malaysia where Muslims make up 58 percent of the population has just embarked on the halal tourism. Although it has achieved great successes in tourism, Malaysia has just started to promote halal tourism. China and India too have carried out plans on halal tourism trying to absorb Muslim tourists.

[…]

Tourism has become a specialty area today and the number of general tourists is dropping in the world by the day. Cultural and historic tourists first study tourist attractions and then pick Iran as their destination. They used to pick Iraq, Egypt and Syria, but they now prefer to come to Iran due to war and insecurity in those countries. […]

We should not be concerned that any foreign tourist carries a message from a special culture which is in contrast with our own culture. Iran’s approach is to develop halal, religious and cultural tourism. Tourists who are seeking other things in their trips will never head for Iran in the first place. We want to turn Iran into the hub of halal, religious, cultural and historical tourism in the world.

Investment opportunities

[…] We are trying to build the hotels the tourism sector needs as quickly as possible. We try to tap into the finances of the National Development Fund and other banking resources to complete hotel projects which have posted 40-50 percent physical progress. I hope we can add more four- or five-star hotels to the country’s hospitality industry during the Rouhani administration.

The development and renovation of air fleet will get underway in coming months after the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Currently more than 900 projects worth $ 10b which are being conducted by the private sector have registered 45 percent physical progress on average.

An investment package for the tourism sector which has been pieced together for the post-sanctions era has 1,500 projects ($ 30b). It will be awarded to domestic and foreign investors. Iran’s tourism sector is booming now. I think tourism is the driving force behind efforts to pull Iran’s economy out of recession.

Iran, a regional hub for long journeys

Geographically, Iran lies at the crossroads of three continents. It can turn into a regional hub. We need to carry out airport development projects. […] We need to gradually raise the capacity of the airports and transfer more passengers if we seek to turn the country into a regional center.

Because of sanctions and lack of investment in Iran’s airports, they do not offer the kind of services regional airports render to passengers. We need to have transit hotels for transit passengers.

Iranian VP decries double standards in dealing with terrorism

By

Emad Askarieh

-

November 15, 2015

Disgusting developments are unfolding in different parts of the world these days and terrorist attacks which pose a serious threat to global peace and security are claiming innocent lives in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and France, First Vice-President Eshagh Jahangiri said at a ceremony Sunday to award the recipients of the Alameh Tabatabei Award.

He further said the war on terror requires serious international will and coordination as well as a non-selective approach.

The Iranian vice-president went on to say it is not right to remain silent in the face of terrorist incidents in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon and generate uproar when they happen somewhere else in the world. “Human conscience should react, wherever such incidents take place.”

Jahangiri said as part of a first phase of the overall fight against terrorism an intellectual front is being formed and scholars play an important role on that front.

In the next stage, those who coordinate the terrorist organizations and finance their operations should be targeted.

One cannot say IS has come into being spontaneously. Definitely, certain countries have played a role in its emergence and continued survival, the Iranian vice-president concluded.

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

ISIS threats to attack international targets should be taken seriously

MP: Boycotting the press was an auspicious phenomenon

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Nov. 16

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on Nov. 16

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on Nov. 16

Bushehr power plant to be handed to Iranian operator permanently: Official

Iran nixed Assad ouster clause in Vienna: Deputy FM

France, Lebanon terror raids alert to Iran, too: Intelligence minister

Farmers clearing once brimful water canals (PHOTOS)

Tourism chief: We should not be afraid of foreign tourists

Iranian VP decries double standards in dealing with terrorism

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