All parties determined to honor JCPOA commitments: Araghchi

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October 20, 2015

Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araghchi said Monday in Vienna that all parties honor commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and regular consultations to enforce the deal.

A draft agreement on Arak heavy water reactor is to be finalized and will be made public after the ministers of Iran and P5+1 endorsed it, he said.

On his assessment of the first round of consultations to implement JCPOA, he said the first meeting was held with the aim of reviewing JCPOA with the focus on the annex four and reciprocal commitments.

The two sides agreed to hold consultations every three months and the next meeting is to be held probably in the second half of November, he said.

The first meeting was held in a very constructive atmosphere in which all parties reaffirmed commitments to implementing JCPOA, he added.

The two parties agreed to make preparatory works to implement JCPOA soon, Araghchi said.

Good measures have been taken to modernize Arak reactor, he said.

A declaration was drafted between Iran, China and the US based on which the three parties voiced their willingness to modernize Arak reactor in due time, he said.

Iran and P5+1 are now preparing a draft agreement which should be signed by all parties and after that, work on Arak reactor will get underway.

Mina tragedy must not be forgotten: Leader

By

Emad Askarieh

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October 19, 2015

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the “bitter and shocking” crush which happened during the Hajj rituals in Mina near the holy Saudi city of Mecca must not be forgotten.

In a meeting with Hajj authorities on Monday, the Leader lashed out at governments, especially the Western states, and institutions which only claim to be advocates of human rights, for remaining tight-lipped in the face of the Mina tragedy.

“This incident mustn’t be forgotten, and the [Iranian] diplomacy apparatus as well as the Hajj [and Pilgrimage] Organization have a duty to follow up on the issue with determination,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

The crush happened after two large masses of pilgrims converged at a crossroads in Mina during one of Hajj rituals on September 24. Saudi Arabia claims nearly 770 people were killed in the incident, but officials at Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization say about 4,700 people, including 464 Iranians, lost their lives in the tragedy. Still, foreign officials offer a different figure, putting the total death toll at 1,829.

The Saudi government is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Muslims in the tragic event, said Ayatollah Khamenei, adding, Muslim nations should have expressed their protest with one voice on the heels of the incident, but it was only Iran which spoke up in protest at the tragedy.

“Even states who had lost pilgrims did not express much protest in the face of the tragedy,” the Leader underlined.

The Leader said the Mina tragedy should be seriously pursued, adding the silence of so-called human rights institutions in the US and Europe is among the issues which can be followed up on.

“Hypocritical and liar institutions, which claim to be supporters of human rights, together with Western governments, which sometimes kick up a fuss around the world for the death of a single person, maintained absolute silence in this saga in favor of their friend government,” Ayatollah Khamenei noted.

The leader demanded the Mina tragedy not slip into oblivion, saying the issue should be brought up at international forums for years.

Three players and three scenarios for the region

By

Emad Askarieh

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October 19, 2015

The secretary of the Supreme National Security Council has said that Iran’s military power and missile capabilities have defensive and deterrent purposes.

Ali Shamkhani made the comment in the preliminary meeting of the Munich Security Conference in Tehran on Saturday and added that based on its military doctrine Iran will never launch the first strike, but it will stand up to the attackers if a war erupts.

He further said that talks – to block the Islamic Republic of Iran’s technical progress and bar Tehran from accessing a capability it has never been after (nuclear weapons) – were the only option of the other side [of the nuclear negotiations]. Thanks to Iran’s pursuit of a policy of constructive interaction, these talks resulted in the birth of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Shamkhani laid out three scenarios that may play out after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in line with the goals of regional and trans-regional players, saying that the first scenario which Iran is pursuing is the creation of a new atmosphere of constructive interaction and cooperation.

The second scenario, which the United States favors, focuses on destructive rivalry based on the balance of power, and the third scenario – backed by the Zionist regime – proposes belligerent measures and crisis creation in the region.

Khabaronline.ir on October 18 published a report on Shamkhani’s remarks and the details of the three scenarios he outlined. The following is the translation of what he said:

Scenario One

* Iran is a regional heavyweight, but it has never tried to have hegemony over or impose its governance model – the Islamic Republic – on the region. Iran believes a zero-sum game (in which one side wins and the other loses) cannot help bring security and stability to the region.

* Regional crises have regional solutions. It is certain that sustainable solutions cannot be worked out for regional crises without Iran’s help.

* Iran’s military power, especially its missile capabilities, serves defensive-deterrent purposes. In keeping with its military doctrine, Iran will never start a war, but it will appear strong [to defend itself] if a war breaks out.

* According to national security estimates, Iran faces two constant threats: one from the Zionist regime and the other from the US. Iran does not view regional countries as a threat; a number of countries cause some nuisances, and some seek to intrigue those countries against Iran and toward confronting Iran, but we do not view them as a threat.

* Iran’s military budget is less than that of Persian Gulf countries. Iran is not seeking to launch an arms race and is content with the minimum.

* To make progress, we need security. Iran’s security is tied to that of the region. Iran favors security in the region. When our allies are dominant in the region, they naturally need security to succeed. That’s why the charges by certain Western figures and the Zionist regime that Iran is seeking to destabilize the region have no foundation.

* Iran is trying to shore up regional cooperation and convergence through institutionalizing bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to cement security and consolidate stability in the region.

* If Article 8 of Resolution 598 had been enforced, the Invasion of Kuwait would not have happened, the region would not have been entangled in a cycle of foreign military interference and occupation, and the ensuing incidents would not have occurred.

(The Article 8 further requests the Secretary-General to examine, in consultation with Iran and Iraq and with other States of the region, measures to enhance the security and stability of the region.)

* Today, terrorism poses the gravest threat to the region. To counter such a threat, we need to 1) Take comprehensive and all-inclusive measures and 2) Encourage collective participation of regional countries. Interference of trans-regional powers will complicate this crisis (the problems they create outweigh the assistance they offer).

Scenario Two

* Iran’s regional power should be confronted – not directly – through Iranophobia and measures to identify Iran as a threat. In doing so, they [Western countries] can mobilize the capabilities of regional countries to stand up to Iran and increase their reliance on Western countries. [As a result] countries in the region would invite them over and they can bolster their military presence in the region and sell their arms to these countries.

* US treatment of the [Persian Gulf] Cooperation Council, France’s efforts to strengthen [its] military presence in the Persian Gulf, and Britain’s plan to increase [its] military presence in the Persian Gulf amount to one thing: militarization of the region and fanning the flames of war here.

* Five months ago in the buildup to the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Obama invited heads of PGCC countries to the Camp David resort, put on the agenda a plan to remove concerns and give assurances about the alleged threat Iran poses, and sparked off a new fake crisis over the question of Iran’s power.

* The riches of Arab nations which should have been spent on efforts to improve the welfare of their people and develop their countries were funneled into arms arsenals. The military power of Arab nations which should have been directed at the main threat of the world of Islam – i.e. the Zionist regime – was diverted.

Formation of the army of Arab countries was put forward to address the idle threat of Iran although the idea of setting up an army to defy the aggression of the Zionist regime was never mulled. To counter hostilities toward Israel and liberate the occupied Arab lands, they opted for compromise and dialogue instead of resistance, but they picked confrontation in handling their misunderstandings with Iran.

Based on what we have learnt, enmity is not what they [Arab nations] chose, but they were pushed toward such a strategy thanks to hidden a management [which was leading them] in the direction of this scenario.

* We have convincing evidence at hand that the United States is not seeking to effectively take on ISIL and terrorism in the region. The US has adopted a selective approach to the fight on ISIL and is managing it [the fight].

Waging controlled ethnic-identity wars simply to offset Iran’s power comes in line with US regional strategies. Today the flashpoints where crises have hit are mainly the places in which Iran holds sway. The crisis erupted first in Iraq and Afghanistan and it has today spilled over into Syria, Yemen and Lebanon. Enlarging the geographical extent of crisis in areas Iran has influence is on the US agenda.

* The US has kept silent over the Saudi-led aggression against Yemen and even encourages it simply to maintain the balance of power and undermine Iran’s regional power. After JCPOA, the US will more seriously follow the strategy of involving Iran in defending its regional allies.

* Manipulating oil prices, seeking adventurism in other cases, and leveling baseless claims such as human rights [violations] and sponsoring terrorism [against Iran] are what the second scenario really needs.

Scenario Three

* We guess that the current US administration does not support this scenario. Only the Zionist regime favors it.

* The Zionist regime, which has failed to win America’s support for this scenario and is grappling with its problems at border areas and inside the occupied territories, does not see the stage set for developing such a scenario.

* Following its failure to talk the US into torpedoing the negotiations and resorting to military option, the Zionist regime has – for the time being – given priority to efforts to cause JCPOA to lead to a breakdown so that a military mindset prevails [in the region]. If the Zionist regime fails in this strategy too, it would inevitably rally around the second scenario.

Summing up

1. Neither of regional crises can be solved militarily. There is no denying the fact that having the upper hand will help parties to the crisis hold an edge in the negotiations, but finally they have to reach an agreement at the negotiating table.

2. The Islamic Republic of Iran needs domestic and regional security and stability for its development and pursuit of constructive interaction with the region and the world.

3. Iran believes solutions to regional crises can be worked out through regional mechanisms. Tehran has voiced readiness to hold meetings with the main parties to the conflict – namely Saudi Arabia and Turkey – and review regional questions, and will once again call for the talks to be launched at political, military or security levels.

4. The Munich Security Conference, which opens up an opportunity [for the participants], should show proper reaction to double standards [practiced by certain countries] in dealing with terrorism, arming the opposition, supporting the bombardment of residential areas, and killing civilians including children and women, and the refugee crisis.

What the region direly needs today to solve the crisis is dialogue based on logic and justice, not propaganda, financial and military power. Iran has always signaled its preparedness to tap into its potential to resolve the crises in the region.

A Saudi woman details life in Iran

By

Emad Askarieh

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October 19, 2015

The experiences of a Saudi woman who has lived in Iran for the past ten months were covered by observers.france24.com on October 15. One day later Jamejamonline, an Iranian website, released the Farsi translation of the report on Sara Masry and what she thinks about her 10-month-long stay in Iran. IFP found the original report on the website of the French international broadcaster. The following is the original report in its entirety:

With tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia running feverishly high, this may seem like an odd time for a young Saudi woman to choose to study in Iran. Yet that’s exactly what our Observer is doing. She details her experiences on her blog, “Saudi in Iran”.

Iran and Saudi Arabia have never had very good relations. Iran is a Shiite theocracy, while Saudi Arabia is the home of Wahhabism, an ultra-conservative branch of Sunni Islam. And today, because of proxy wars between the two countries in Syria and Yemen, their relationship is more volatile than ever. Their latest feud is over the stampede that killed more than 1,600 people in Mecca: several hundred Iranians were among the pilgrims who perished, and were blamed by Saudi authorities for allegedly starting the stampede. Tehran, meanwhile, placed the blame for the tragedy squarely on the Saudi authorities.

After the Mecca stampede, Iranians demonstrated in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the Saudi consulate in Mashhad. In Saudi Arabia, some imams declared that killing Shiites was ‘halal’, or allowed.

In this context, Saudi blogger Sara Masry, who has lived and studied in Tehran for the past ten months, chooses to focus in her blog on her day-to-day life there, avoiding all politics. She did, however, make a small exception to address the Mecca tragedy: “This event is now polarizing the two populations even further … while pushing the possibility of mutual understanding and empathy back another few decades”.

“Iranians are very hospitable, and are able to separate between politics and people in a way that I think is really unique to the Middle East”

Sara Masry grew up in Saudi Arabia before attending university in London. She is now following a course on Iranian studies in Tehran.

“I have always been interested in Iran, its culture, and its history, and was able to study it in depth in London. But one day, I decided studying from afar was not enough: I wanted to see the reality of this country myself.

When I told my Saudi friends and family about my plan, some of them were very worried and tried to dissuade me. In part, this was because I had a good job opportunity in London, but it was also because there’s not a lot of positive news about Iran in the media!

However, living here, I have found vast majority of Iranians are very hospitable, and are able to separate between politics and people in a way that I think is really unique to the Middle East. Not one person I have come across has cared that I’m Saudi, and not one has cared that I’m Sunni. When I meet new people, many think that I’m Indian because of my accent in Persian. When they learn I’m Saudi, the questions begin: Why are you here? Do you like our country? Are you having a good experience in Iran?

I honestly can’t tell you of a single bad experience. I know, of course, that racism and chauvinism exist here, like in many countries, but fortunately in ten months, I have not experienced it.

“I want to create a bridge between people in both nations”

A few months ago, I lost my wallet. In it, there was a lot of money, since I had just changed some British pounds to Toman. There was also my Saudi identity card. A few days later, a woman called me and said she had my wallet. She was the wife of the taxi driver who had found my wallet, and she had been searching for me for days!

After the Hajj stampede, I was paying for lunch at the cafeteria and one of my friends came up and made a joke to the cashier: ‘Don’t sell her anything, she’s Saudi!’ and ran off. A woman who had heard this came up to me and for five minutes apologized to me for her countryman’s behavior. Even after I told her it was just a joke, she said there was no place for such jokes here!

Most of the time, I blog about social and cultural experiences, and about my travels throughout the country. My goal is to create a bridge between people in both nations, to dispel myths and stereotypes. Right now, I write in English, but I plan to translate it into Arabic… Next step, Persian!

Discovery of 30 dead sharks on board boat (PHOTOS)

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

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October 19, 2015

Wildlife rangers off the coast of Sistan and Baluchestan in southeastern Iran have uncovered the chopped bodies of 30 baby sharks hidden on board a boat.

The owner of the launch, which is now impounded, will have to pay almost $10,000 for each one of the sharks it was smuggling.

An increase in the number of poached sharks which are used in restaurants and for industrial and treatment purposes has seen their ranks shrink in recent years.

The following images have been released by www.iew.ir:

Caspian seals rescued from the trawl (PHOTOS)

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

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October 19, 2015

In Golestan Province two Caspian seals caught in a trawl of local fishermen were handed over to rangers who in turn rushed them to a wildlife center in Ashuradeh before releasing them back into the sea.

Before the breakup of the Soviet Union the number of seals in the landlocked sea stood at approximately one million; their ranks shrank to 100,000 in 2008 when the most recent statistics were released.

Russia allows as many as 10,000 seals to be hunted on a yearly basis. The following images have been released by www.iew.ir:

Who replaces FM spokeswoman who will soon become ambassador to Malaysia?

By

Emad Askarieh

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October 19, 2015

Mohammad Hassan Sheikholeslami, Ph.D., who currently serves as president of the Foreign Ministry’s School for International Relations, will soon be named Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, replacing Marzieh Afkham who will move in Malaysia to become the Islamic Republic’s first female ambassador.

On October18, Entekhab.ir, a news website quoted Diplomat monthly as reporting that Sheikholeslami is a veteran public and media diplomacy expert with a Ph.D. in international relations from the University of Tehran.

Dr. Sheikholeslami has penned a number of articles on public and media diplomacy as well as on the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The outgoing spokesperson – Marzieh Afkham – has been in the post since the rise to power of the Rouhani administration in 2013.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Oct. 19

By

Emad Askarieh

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October 19, 2015

Developments related to the launch of a process to implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action dominated the front pages of Iranian newspapers on Monday.

Ettela’at: President Rouhani has said that the revolutionary culture does not prescribe harsh rhetoric and sloganeering.

Speaking at a gathering on knowledge-based economy, the president said that the post-deal era would be ideal for research, elites and knowledge-based companies.

Ettela’at: The Supreme Leader has paid a visit to the residence of Brigadier General Hossein Hamedani [who was recently martyred near Aleppo, Syria] to meet with his family.

Ettela’at: As many as 300 terrorists have been killed in a Syrian Army offensive on the outskirts of Lattakia.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said that more than 50 IS positions have been demolished in Syria over the past two days.

Ettela’at: President Obama has ordered the Iran sanctions lifted; it came as the European Union terminated all sanctions against Iran.

Ettela’at: Foreign Minister Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini have issued a joint statement on the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

A joint Iran-P5+1 commission will convene on Monday to take all the measures necessary to implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Ettela’at: The Iranian Army holds a two-day rapid response maneuver involving the most advanced weaponry in the west and northwest of the country starting Monday.

Abrar: “I have had no role in reviewing the nuclear case which is the Supreme Leader’s,” said Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.

Abrar-e Eghtesadi: Fifteen aircraft will join the Iranian fleet by the end of 2015.

Afkar: The Guardian Council has given its blessing to the electronic equipment to be used in upcoming elections.

Aftab-e Yazd: “The Americans are unlikely to breach the nuclear deal,” said the chairman of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee.

Arman-e Emrooz: Germans are to secure an investment foothold in Iran.

Asr-e Rasaneh: Germany has expressed readiness to launch joint ventures in Iran.

Asrar: Managers of eight Russian oil giants will accompany the Russian energy minister on a visit to Iran later this week.

Asrar: Iran’s nuclear measures will start as of next week, said the director of the Atomic Energy Organization.

Asrar: The Iranian oil minister has said that leaders of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum will converge on Tehran in December.

Ebtekar: The German foreign minister has hailed [Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar] Hashemi Rafsanjani as instrumental in boosting ties between Iran and the rest of the world.

Etemad: The National Iranian Oil Company has said the defense attorneys of Babak Zanjani [a billionaire on trial for corruption] have yet to pay back any of their client’s debts.

Hemayat: The director of the Legal Medicine Organization has said that forensic experts will be sent to Saudi Arabia to examine the information [provided by Saudi authorities] on the Iranian pilgrims killed in the Mina stampede.

Iran: A poll by the Islamic Republic News Agency shows that the Rouhani administration’s approval rating has increased.

Jamejam: A road accident involving a truck and a minibus has left as many as 20 killed.

Javan: Termination of sanctions on the paper for now

Practical measures by Iran and notes by the West marked the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Jomhouri Islami: “The fight against terrorism requires global determination,” said Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in a meeting with visiting German foreign minister.

Kayhan: Kayhan takes a look at the rival camp in the run-up to the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Payam-e Zaman: Seventy hackers have been identified and arrested by the Iranian cyber police.

Payam-e Zaman: Iran is the leading generator of electricity in the Middle East.

Qods: Coordination on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was conducted at the highest levels of the establishment, said Speaker Ali Larijani.

Resalat: The deputy foreign minister has said that Iran will ramp up its advisory role in Syria.

Saheb Ghalam: Iran is to invest in Afghan mines.

Top MP outlines parliamentary review of JCPOA

By

Emad Askarieh

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October 18, 2015

Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly Ali Larijani says that parliament took into account different aspects of the nuclear case when it reviewed the bill on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Larijani made the remark in a gathering on the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Tehran on Sunday and added that he had no personal interest in the nuclear case and did what he did based on the responsibilities he had undertaken.

The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Sunday covered the speaker’s remarks which mainly focused on the passage in parliament of JCPOA and the critical comments on its approval. After his speech a woman approached the top MP and criticized what she called the ceremonial passage of JCPOA in the chamber. The following is the translation of part of his remarks in response to that woman’s criticism:

[Addressing the woman] I appreciate your critical comment. This amounts to promotion of virtue and prevention of vice. But why did you use the word “ceremonial”? In promoting virtue, a soft tone should be adopted.

Nuclear talks lasted almost three years. One year during the previous government’s tenure and two years in the current government’s; Iran pursued the talks and moved forward with eyes wide open. The Supreme National Security Council and other councils were involved in the [process of concluding the] Iran nuclear deal and provided parliament with explanations. Finally we reached the final stage and an agreement was concluded which came with certain frameworks.

Some said that JCPOA is to the detriment of the country and should be shelved. In case of rejection, what would have been the consequences? Others said that it is a good document and should be fully implemented, but there was a third view in between suggesting that the document should be controlled within the framework of certain conditions. The last view sounded more sensible.

We did not want to disapprove JCPOA, nor did we want to implement a US version of the deal. That’s why debates got more heated in the Supreme National Security Council with some wondering what should be done and others insisting that we should reject JCPOA. But we said that it could be implemented with some strings attached.

In the end, the Supreme Leader asked for the review of JCPOA in an open parliament session. We did not want to limit a parliamentary decision to a report released by one of its committees. To that end, we tried to pass a law so that parliament does not have to play an inactive role.

[…]

Parliament debated the JCPOA implementation bill after listening to the JCPOA Review Committee’s report. The chamber voted for the bill’s general outlines after a four-hour-long debate. That day some came and asked for the rejection of JCPOA and others came and said that the bill on JCPOA should be shelved in parliament. You may not believe your ears if I reveal the names of these people. They were saying that parliament does not need to decide on the bill, but we said that we need to make a law because the Supreme Leader has stressed that JCPOA should be reviewed in parliament. […]

In light of a threat that the Western side wants to implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in a different fashion, we passed the JCPOA implementation bill to prevent it from happening. According to one article of the bill, JCPOA should be brought to a halt if sanctions are not terminated or the other side fails to remove them on any grounds.

[…]

German FM Frank-Walter Steinmiere’s second day in Tehran (PHOTOS)

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

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October 18, 2015

On Sunday, the second day of a state visit by Frank-Walter Steinmiere to Tehran, the German foreign minister met with Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

After the meeting, the German top diplomat visited different parts of the Expediency Council building and was impressed by the delicate Khatam (inlaid designs set into the walls of the building).

He also delivered a speech at the University of Tehran on the role of education in sustainable development. In the speech, he praised the steadfastness of Iranian students and called for more grants and scholarships to Iranian students, especially those majoring in architecture, and cultural and scientific programs.

At the close of the ceremony he was given a present by the university officials in praise of his appearance in the oldest modern university in Iran.

The following images of the German FM’s day in Tehran have been released by Fararu.com and ana.ir: