Austria’s OMV to help double Iran’s oil, gas output

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September 8, 2015

Amir-Hossein Zamaniniya, Iran’s deputy petroleum minister for international and trade affairs, has told the media that OMV has announced readiness to provide Iran with technologies for operations that are known as Improved Oil Recovery (IOR) and Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR).

Zamaniniya added that IOR and EOR technologies will be used for both oil and gas fields. However, that still depends on the removal of sanctions against Iran, as envisaged by the July nuclear breakthrough reached by Iran and the P5+1 group of countries.

“OMV has voiced readiness to double the recovery rate at Iran’s oil and gas fields by using modern technologies,” Zamaniniya said.

In answer to a question on whether OMV officials have discussed the prospects to pipe Iran’s natural gas to Europe, the official emphasized that no plan is on agenda in Tehran for gas exports to Europe in the near future.

“The priority for Iran presently is to export gas to the neighboring states,” said Zamaniniya. “This will be economically justifiable and will also have immediate political benefits for Iran”.

A consortium led by Austria’s OMV is pursuing Nabucco project to pipe natural gas to Europe. It had originally designated Iran as a key supplier of the project. However, the country was sidelined from the scheme in 2008 due to a series of complications that emerged – the most important of which were US sanctions.

Iran says ready to export 200k bpd of oil to Spain

By

Emad Askarieh

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September 8, 2015

Mohsen Qamsari, the director for international affairs of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), has told reporters that discussions to increase the level of oil exports to Spain had started previously.

“We are still to arrive at a figure for oil exports to Spain,” Qamsari told reporters. “But Iran used to export 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the pre-sanctions period”.

Iran, the official added, will still have to wait for the sanctions to be removed fully to better decide how much oil it can export to Spain.

Qamsari further emphasized that a large share of future oil exports to Europe will be provided from a planned output surge of 500,000 bpd in Iran’s crude output capacity.

“We are determined to make our oil exports diverse,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting between Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh and the visiting Spanish Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism José Manuel Soria.

“The Europeans will nonetheless remain Iran’s crude clients the same way that they were before the sanctions were put in place”.

Soria arrived in Tehran on Monday heading a 70-member delegation to explore the avenues to promote Iran-Spain trade relations.

Iran’s Oil Minister Zangeneh told reporters after meeting Soria that Spain has voiced readiness to help Iran with its plans to export gas to Europe through its LNG terminals.

Zangeneh emphasized that discussions between Tehran and Madrid over the same issue will continue in the near future.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 8

By

Golrokh Askarieh

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September 8, 2015

The comments of the Supreme Leader at a meeting with members of the Supreme Cyberspace Council and the meetings of President Rouhani with European officials dominated the front pages of Iranian newspapers on Tuesday.

Ettela’at: At a meeting with members of the Supreme Cyberspace Council, Ayatollah Khamenei underlined the country’s active, impressive and effective presence in cyberspace.

The Supreme Leader also called for measures to tap into the potential of the country’s young talents and for sound policymaking as well as coordinated efforts to shed the country’s current passivity in cyberspace.

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on September 8

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 8

Afkar: An Iranian parliamentary delegation visits Belgium next month.

Afkar: There should be a political solution to the Syrian crisis, said the Iranian foreign minister.

Aftab-e Yazd: There has been a change in the tone of automotive company managers as reports suggest the number of new vehicles being issued license plates has decreased by 15 percent.

Aftab-e Yazd: “The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action cannot be renegotiated,” said the director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

Arman-e Emrooz: The chairman of the Expediency Council has described the upcoming parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections as momentous, saying, “People are set to institutionalize moderation.”

Arman-e Emrooz: Saeed Jalili, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator when Ahmadinejad was in office, has taken a swipe at the nuclear deal [his replacement hammered out with six world powers].

Asr-e Eghtesad: Iran and South Korea’s EximBank have struck a $5 billion deal.

Asrar: “The Iran visits of foreign delegations do not amount to enemy infiltration,” said the Supreme Leader’s advisor for international affairs.

Asrar: “Parliament’s decision to amend the nuclear deal throws things into disarray,” said the director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

Ebtekar: Colin Powell, US secretary of state under President Bush, says he supports the Iran nuclear deal.

The support of two more US Senators will make an executive veto unnecessary.

Eghtesad-e Pooya: We need to rid our society of the line of thinking that sees the country as being dependent on oil, said vice president for science and technology.

Etemad: Revival of high-level talks between Iran and Europe

High-level Iran-Europe talks led by Mohammad Javad Zarif and Federica Mogherini will soon get underway after a 10-year hiatus.

Hambastegi: The Iranian trade minister has said that the per capita income of Iranians is one tenth of the average income in industrialized countries.

Hemayat: “Looking into the case involving the conclusion of a contract with Crescent Petroleum is being finalized,” said the attorney general.

Hosban: The Austrians have announced readiness to invest in Iran’s oil industry.

Iran: A high-ranking European science delegation is in Iran.

Iran: World-class sculptors are in Tehran to attend a sculpture museum.

Jomhouri Islami: The US has come under increasing criticism for its failure to do something about the migrant crisis [in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe].

Kayhan: The ridiculous comments of the JCPOA arbiter [a reference to the UN nuclear chief]: There have been no diversions; we may find some later!!

Kayhan: “Acceptance of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action has deprived us of 100 of our absolute rights,” said former negotiator Saeed Jalili.

Payam-e Zaman: The director of the Management and Planning Organization has said that 240 unfinished projects will have been completed by yearend [March 21, 2016].

Qods: “The same individuals who set conditions for President Assad are to blame for bloodletting in Syria,” said Foreign Minister Zarif.

Resalat: “Politicizing the Assembly of Experts is a new precedent set by seditionists,” said Ayatollah Mohsen Heydari, a member of the assembly.

He further said the president of the reformist government [a reference to Mohammad Khatami] was a top seditionist.

Shahrvand: Thirty-eight buildings constructed without permission on the banks of the Kan River have been brought down.

Sharq: MPs and the attorney in the corruption case involving Babak Zanjani [a young billionaire who stands accused of massive corruption] have called for Zanjani’s trial to be public.

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on September 8

By

Golrokh Askarieh

-

September 8, 2015

♦ At a meeting with members of the Supreme Cyberspace Council, Ayatollah Khamenei underlined the country’s active, impressive and effective presence in cyberspace.

The Supreme Leader also called for measures to tap into the potential of the country’s young talents and for sound policymaking as well as coordinated efforts to shed the country’s current passivity in cyberspace.

♦ An Iranian inventor has worked out a method to reduce the vaporization of water in dam reservoirs.

♦ Tehran and Madrid have arrived at an agreement on the transfer of the natural gas of Iran’s South Pars field to Europe via Spain.

The Spanish development and transportation minister has said that direct flights between Iran and Spain will be established.

♦ An attack by members of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on a Turkish armored column has left 21 dead.

Immediately after the deadly attack, Turkish warplanes bombed the positions of PKK.

♦ The fallout of regional crises will haunt the whole world, President Rouhani said at a meeting with the Czech foreign minister.

The president also appealed for consultation among world nations in defeating the scourge of terror and its repercussions.

♦ The Spanish foreign minister has said that Madrid seeks to open a new chapter in relations with Tehran.

The top diplomat said that Spain could be a good political and economic partner for Iran.

♦ Former US Vice-President Dick Cheney has said that the Iranians have been the only winner of the nuclear deal.

In another development, the UN nuclear watchdog said that there has no diversion in Iran’s nuclear activities.

♦ At a ceremony to mark Print Day, the services of Davood Shayesteh have been praised.

Iran’s food industries waiting for investment to enter international markets

By

Golrokh Askarieh

-

September 8, 2015

The huge untapped potential of Iran’s food industry and a favorable regional market lend additional significance to food exports and give momentum to the country’s drive to secure self-sufficiency.

According to a report by the Iranian government on its performance over the last two years, food exports have been up 27 percent, while imports of foodstuff have dropped 9 percent.

It is worth noting that progress across the food industry has been anything but consistent. For instance, dairy products along with chocolate and confectionary account for over 50 percent of food exports, while the vegetable oil industry which once had high potential now meets merely 10 percent of the domestic needs and the rest is imported from abroad.

Experts believe that on top of setting objectives, supportive regulations are key to consistent progress in the food industry and fulfillment of its objectives.

The following is the translation of an excerpt of a report about Iran’s food industry SMT daily published on September 5:

In this industry raw materials account for most of imports and the dairy industry has had the least amount of imports over the last two years, said Secretary of Food Industries Association of Iran Kaveh Zargaran.

He added, “The dairy industry is at the forefront of food exports with a 28 percent share.”

Zargaran said that presently, the food industry is operating at 40 percent of its capacity, adding, “When it comes to food exports, Iran is heavily dependent on Iraq. In light of the good relations Tehran has established with Moscow, we can dedicate a noticeable share to Russia in order to boost our exports. Russia imports 70 percent of its food and agricultural raw materials from abroad and because of strains in Russia-EU relations, a great opportunity has arisen for Iran to capture a larger share of the Russian market.”

He went on to say, “Russia imports over $4 billion in dairy products and Iran is capable of meeting the Russian need. In other areas such as chocolate, confectionary and agricultural raw materials, Iran has tremendous potential, too.”

The secretary of the Food Industries Association said that in order to fulfill the objectives of the food industry, finding our way to new markets must top our agenda.

Meanwhile, Abolhassan Khalili, a member of the association, said, “At present, Iraq and Afghanistan are major importers of Iran’s food products.

Without doubt, following the removal of sanctions, Iran can launch cooperation and establish mutual relations with more regional and international companies and thus have robust economic relations with countries across the world. We can raise the volume of exports if production is viewed from a competitive angle.”

Khalili further said, “We can better tap into the present potential of processed food products. In fact, Iran is capable of turning into a leading exporter of processed food.”

On Iran’s potential for attraction of foreign investment to bolster exports, he said, “Given Iran’s easy access to high seas [which translates into easy transport of exports] and the borders it shares with 10 countries, Iran can be a great opportunity for foreign investment in the food industry whose infrastructure is in favorable conditions.”

Khalili went on to say, “With the establishment of new plants to complete the production chain, particularly in the packaging industry, we can promote the volume of food exports. We also need to pursue targeted investment to minimize the risk of losses.”

Since the Iranian food industry is operating at 40 percent of its capacity and the great market potential of neighboring countries, especially Russia, plans to boost food exports seem to be necessary.

To that end, steps must be taken to clear the hurdles in the way of production and exploit the untapped potential. A hands-off approach to the food industry, particularly when it comes to the pricing of raw materials, can render food exports more competitive.

Tehran welcomes foreign investors: President Rouhani

By

Golrokh Askarieh

-

September 8, 2015

President Rouhani has said that Tehran embraces foreign investors and entrepreneurs.

“Under the new circumstances and following the Vienna agreement, Tehran welcomes the presence of foreign investors and entrepreneurs and Spanish companies can enter the Iranian market as well,” said Rouhani in a meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo in Tehran on Monday.

[…]

There exists great economic, industrial, scientific and cultural potential in Iran, said President Rouhani, expressing hope Tehran-Madrid cooperation will further expand.

Iran also enjoys numerous potentialities in the areas of energy, oil and natural gas, downstream industries, infrastructure, and academic matters as well as cooperation between research and tourist centers, said the president, who noted that the presence of Spanish investors and entrepreneurs in Iran can give fresh impetus to cooperation between the private sectors of both sides.

President Rouhani also said he would like to see a direct air route established between Tehran and Madrid.

The president hit out at the development of nukes, saying, “Nuclear weapons have never ensured security for countries.”

He said Iran stands ready to work closely with Spain at regional and international levels, including in the war on terrorism.

“Today, the Middle East region is grappling with the scourge of extremism, violence and terrorism, but this scourge will never stay limited to a single region or a single territory,” said President Rouhani.

He urged all countries to join a global campaign against terror.

The visiting Spanish foreign minister, for his part, expressed hope sanctions imposed on Iran will be lifted as soon as possible.

He said the two countries have common ground when it comes to dealing with terrorism, stressing the need for political and peaceful solutions to regional crises, including the conflict in Syria.

Spanish firms are eager to set up offices in Iran, the foreign minister said.

He said Spain can serve as a conduit for the transfer of Iran’s natural gas to Europe, and expressed hope establishment of a joint Iran-Spain cooperation commission will see the full existing potential for mutual cooperation realized.

[…]

Tehran, Prague to finalize economic roadmap

By

Golrokh Askarieh

-

September 8, 2015

Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayyebnia has said that Iran and the Czech Republic are working on an economic roadmap aimed at boosting bilateral ties between the two countries.

“During my previous visit to Prague, I raised the issue of drafting a roadmap of economic cooperation between Iran and the Czech Republic. Fortunately, upon the agreement of both sides, the process started some time ago and now the roadmap is being finalized,” Tayyebnia said after a meeting with Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek in Tehran on Monday.

“We hope that this roadmap can pave the way for the promotion of economic, trade and banking cooperation between the two countries,” he added.

The Iranian minister of economy also pointed to the recent customs and investment agreements between Iran and the Czech Republic and said Tehran welcomes the presence of Czech investors in the county’s lucrative market.

Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Lubomir Zaoralek described Iran as a “credible partner” and said Prague is ready to sign economic cooperation agreements with Tehran.

“We are ready to expand cooperation with Iran in diverse industrial and trade sectors including agriculture, transportation, and technology transfer,” said the Czech foreign minister.

He also hailed the conclusion of nuclear talks between Iran and P5+1, saying that Prague seriously supports the nuclear agreement.

“Fortunately, the ground has been prepared for the removal of sanctions [against Iran] in the European Union and it is possible to expand trade ties between Iran and the EU,” Zaoralek said.

Leader calls for active, effective presence in cyberspace

By

Emad Askarieh

-

September 8, 2015

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Monday elaborated on the need for Iran’s active presence in cyberspace, and urged young people’s proactive role in the field.

Addressing the chairman and members of the country’s Supreme Cyberspace Council, Ayatollah Khamenei underlined the necessity to produce attractive and authentic Islamic content in the cyberspace.

Highlighting the cyberspace’s influence as an “excellent soft power” in different fields, including culture, politics, economy, lifestyle, faith, religious beliefs and morality, Ayatollah Khamenei called for correct policy-making, wise and coordinated measures to bring, without any further delay, the country out of the existing passivity in cyberspace.

We should shed our passivity in cyberspace by tapping into the potential of young talents and taking wise measures, Ayatollah Khamenei noted.

In a decree on Saturday, the Leader appointed new members of the council, and outlined the primary policies that members of the council should implement during their 4-year term.

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to “defining policy, macro management, planning, making necessary and timely decisions as well as efficient and up-to-date monitoring” in the cyberspace as the council’s overriding duty.

The Supreme Leader also called for efforts to elevate Iran to a cyber-power at the level of global, influential powers.

The council brings together the president, the parliament speaker, the judiciary chief, ministers of communication, culture, science, intelligence, education, defense, as well as the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and police chiefs, a number of other officials and individuals.

Established in 2012, the council is tasked with defining policy and coordinating decisions regarding cyberspace.

Iran, Russia renew call for negotiated solution to Crises in Syria, Yemen

By

Emad Askarieh

-

September 8, 2015

Senior Foreign Ministry Officials from Iran and Russia underlined the two countries’ support for finding political solutions to ongoing crises in Yemen and Syria.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian discussed in a phone call earlier on Monday the situation in war-torn Syria and Yemen.

“The sides underlined that there was no alternative to finding a political solution to the Syrian and Yemeni crises in line with international law and the UN Charter,” the ministry said in a statement.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011 as Syrian forces loyal to President Assad have been fighting several extremist terrorist groups, including the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Yemen has also been engulfed in a military conflict between Shiite Houthis, the country’s main opposition, and forces loyal to ex-President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is in exile in Saudi Arabia.

In late March, a Saudi-led international coalition began airstrikes against Houthis in Yemen at the request of Hadi. It also imposed a land, sea and air blockade on the country.

World needs Assad to save Syria: Velayati

By

Emad Askarieh

-

September 8, 2015

The Supreme Leader’s advisor for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati has blasted certain Western and regional countries for their attempts to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and said Assad is the only one to save Syria.

Velayati made the remarks after meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo in Tehran on Monday.

“We discussed the issue that settling the crisis in Syria is not possible militarily and can only be resolved through political means,” he told reporters, elaborating on the content of his talks with Garcia-Margallo.

Velayati blasted certain regional and Western states’ interference in Syria as the main contributor to “instability in Syria”, saying that Iran has repeatedly underlined the necessity for an independent government in Syria if the world does not want to have another Libya.

“Yet, some countries persisted in overthrowing Bashar Assad, which was a mistake and the world is now facing its repercussions,” he added.

Noting that militants from 80 countries are fighting in Syria, Velayati said, “No one can save Syria from this situation like Assad and the UN Security Council members as well as the neighboring and regional states should try to find a solution.”

Earlier, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on supporters of terrorist groups in Syria to stop their attempts to overthrow the Arab country’s legitimate president, and expressed regret that their insistence on toppling President Assad has blocked peace and tranquility in the country.

“Those who have set a condition about the Syrian president in the past two years should be blamed for the continued war and they should account for the bloodshed in the past few years,” Zarif said in a joint press conference with Garcia-Margallo.

Stressing that merely the Syrian people are entitled to make a decision about their country’s president, he called on supporters of the terrorist groups to give up their selfish motives and short-term benefits that they pursue at the expense of the Syrian people, and let the restoration of peace and reconciliation happen in Syria.

“We insist that everyone try the political solution to end the crisis in Syria and give up their dream of bringing about an end to the situation in Syria through military means,” Zarif said.

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

Austria’s OMV to help double Iran’s oil, gas output

Iran says ready to export 200k bpd of oil to Spain

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 8

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on September 8

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on September 8

Iran’s food industries waiting for investment to enter international markets

Tehran welcomes foreign investors: President Rouhani

Tehran, Prague to finalize economic roadmap

Leader calls for active, effective presence in cyberspace

Iran, Russia renew call for negotiated solution to Crises in Syria, Yemen

World needs Assad to save Syria: Velayati

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