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Iran can help facilitate Syria solution: France

French President Francois Hollande welcomes his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani for a meeting during the 70th UN General Assembly in New York City

French President Francois Hollande has said Iran can be a “facilitator” in a political solution to the ongoing crisis in Syria, a French diplomat says.

The diplomat whose name was not revealed said Hollande made the remarks during a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in New York on Sunday.

“Iran is a player [in the region], but also a facilitator,” the unnamed French official said.

The official, however, added that Hollande said “the question of [Syrian President Bashar] Assad could not be offered as an answer.”

The two sides held talks on the sidelines of the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

On September 24, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tehran and the Assad government must be part of negotiations aimed at resolving the crisis in Syria.

“We have to speak with many actors; this includes Assad, but others as well. Not only with the United States of America, Russia, but with important regional partners, Iran, and Sunni countries such as Saudi Arabia,” Merkel said.

[…]

[President Rouhani also held talks with Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall, Bolivian President Evo Morales, and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. In those meeting regional and international developments as well as bilateral ties came up for discussion.]

Syria’s Assad should remain in office: President Rouhani

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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says there is widespread agreement among countries that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should remain in office.

Rouhani said in an interview with CNN on Sunday that “everyone has accepted” that President Assad must remain.

He added that the initial objective in Syria is to “drive out” the IS terrorists, which can only be done by strengthening the central government.

The president also said after levels of success are gained in defeating terrorists in Syria, “other plans must be put into action so as to hear the voices of the opposition as well.”

President Rouhani also stated that Iran was not engaged in talks with the US over the conflict in Syria. “Iran does not have any direct talks with the United States over Syria.”

US prisoner swap

Rouhani, who is currently in New York for the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, said Tehran will consider the release of three Americans held in Iran if the US frees Iranian prisoners.

“If the Americans take the appropriate steps and set them free, certainly the right environment will be open and the right circumstances will be created for us to do everything within our power and our purview to bring about the swiftest freedom for the Americans held in Iran as well,” said Rouhani.

Nuclear agreement opposition

Questioning the reliability of US Republican candidates who are currently attacking Iran’s recent nuclear agreement with P5+1, the Iranian president said some of them could not even find Iran on the map.

President Rouhani calls for enhanced Iran-Japan relations

Rouhani2

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for the expansion of political, cultural, and scientific ties with Japan.

The president made the comments during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in New York on Sunday.

He said the nuclear agreement of July 14 is an opportunity for the expansion of relations between Tehran and Tokyo in various fields such as nuclear energy.

Referring to the spread of Takfiri militant groups in the Middle East, Rouhani stated that in order to eradicate terrorism, steps should be taken toward enhancing welfare and development in the region, so that the terrorists lose their foothold.

Rouhani, who is currently in New York for the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, hailed Japan as a strategic partner of the Islamic Republic.

Abe, for his part, stressed that Tokyo wishes for an active role in further developing Iran’s economy.

Japan is ready to have cooperation with Iran in the fields of science, culture, environment, medicine, nuclear safety and technology, Abe said, adding that Tokyo will support deals with Japan’s private sector and the implementation of commercial agreements with Iran.

The Japanese prime minster also offered his condolences on the death of Iranian pilgrims killed in the recent deadly incident that claimed the lives of hundreds of pilgrims during the Hajj rituals in Saudi Arabia.

Shamkhani: Saudi inefficiency bore tragic outcome for Islamic world

Shamkhani

Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said the inefficiency of the Saudi government cost the Islamic world dearly.

He said the Mina catastrophe was definitely due to the inefficiency of the Saudi government whose top priority was not the safety of the pilgrims.

He noted that the Saudi government is focusing on Yemen instead of efficient management of the Hajj ritual.

The official said that the Supreme National Security Council has been closely following the incident from the moment of its occurrence.

He regretted the fact that the Saudi government refused to collaborate with the Iranian medical teams.

Afkham: Anti-Iran human rights report lacks legal foundation

Marzieh Afkham

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkhan said the recent report on adverse human rights situation in Iran lacks any legal grounds.

She made the comments in reaction to a report presented by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to the 70th UN General Assembly meeting on human rights in Iran.

She said such reports have to be based on authentic and documented sources while the recent one is relying on sources which are biased.

She went on to elaborate that Iran had already provided comprehensive and convincing response to those who drafted the report and naturally expected them to compile a fair and balanced report.

Afkham said the final version of the report embarks on misinterpreting human rights situation in Iran, thus losing the chance to offer an impartial analysis.

She said the document fails to pay due attention to issues such as the destructive outcomes of unilateral and illegal sanctions on the human rights situation, Iran’s progressive moves in areas pertaining to women rights and fighting drugs trafficking.

She said this attitude makes the report an invalid document which could be not reliable.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson highlighted Iran’s sustainable cooperation with international bodies and said Tehran has regularly offered periodical reports to supervising committees monitoring human rights situation.

Windcatchers in central Iran

A windcatcher is a traditional Persian architectural structure to create natural ventilation and cool the air in buildings in desert areas.

Photos of windcatchers in the central city of Kashan posted online by Mehr News Agency:

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

Iranian Newspapers Headlines
Iranian Newspapers Headlines

The comments President Rouhani made in a speech at the UN Sustainable Development Summit and his meetings in New York dominated the front pages of Iranian newspapers on Sunday.

 

Ettela’at: “We aim to ease tensions and hostilities,” President Rouhani told a UN Sustainable Development Summit.

The president further signaled Iran’s readiness to “play its role in building a more sustainable world”.


 

Abrar: “American companies too can take advantage of the conditions created in the post-sanctions era,” said President Rouhani.

Abrar: The Saudi charge d’affaires has been summoned to the Foreign Ministry for a third time.

Abrar: Senior Iraqi Shiite cleric Ayatollah Al-Sistani has called for adoption of all necessary measures to prevent the repeat of what happened in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Amin: Volkswagen and Mercedes are likely to produce cars in Tabriz, northwestern Iran.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Arman-e Emrooz: Architects of the deal in New York

Zarif: The top priority of the talks is the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Kerry: We need to secure peace.

Arman-e Emrooz: The minister of culture and Islamic guidance has denied that a group with links to foreigners has infiltrated Iranian media.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Bahar: Seyyed Hassan Khomeini [the grandson of the architect of the Islamic Republic] is preparing to run for the Assembly of Experts.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Ebtekar: Iranian women have made history by being crowned Asian futsal champions.

Ebtekar: Babak’s Treasure [a sarcastic reference to the wealth amassed by Babak Zanjani who stands accused of massive embezzlement] can be traced to Japan and Tajikistan.

The revelation comes ahead of the scheduled trial of the young billionaire.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Emtiaz: Muhammad directed by Majid Majidi is to represent Iran at the Oscars.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Etemad: Is Babak Zanjani on the list of the world’s top 20 rich individuals?

An MP has said that the money Zanjani [a young billionaire who stands accused of fraud and corruption] owns is €25 billion and not €2 billion as previously reported.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Hambastegi: The Iranian Foreign Ministry has rejected reports that 30 Iranian nationals have been arrested in Mina.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Hemayat: “The Iranian people are unhappy about US policies,” the president told a news conference.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Iran: Regional crises came up for discussion at a meeting between President Rouhani and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Javan: Islamic countries to hold a special meeting in New York to demand Hajj be administered by the world of Islam.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Jomhouri Islami: “To ensure sustainable development, terrorism should be uprooted,” President Rouhani told a UN Sustainable Development Summit.

Jomhouri Islami: Global protest against the incompetence of Al-Saud family is growing.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Kayhan: The Iranian government has overtaken the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action which has yet to be approved!

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Mardomsalari: The Expediency Council has given the green-light to the formation of a special system to register the possessions of public officials.

Mardomsalari: “The Saudi government should do something about the mismanagement of Hajj,” said the Iranian foreign minister.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Resalat: “Problems between Iran and the US won’t be solved with a handshake,” said President Rouhani.

Resalat: The secretary of the Expediency Council has called for a fact-finding mission to investigate the deadly incident in Mina.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Sayeh: “President Obama and I sometimes exchange letters,” said President Rouhani.

Sayeh: MERS is likely to find its way into Iran from Saudi Arabia.

A special commission has been formed at the Health Ministry to prevent an outbreak of MERS.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Setareh Sobh: “We may talk with the US over issues other than the nuclear case,” said President Rouhani.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Shahrvand: Violence against nature and violence against humans are two big tragedies unfolding in West Asia, President Rouhani told a UN Summit on Sustainable Development.

Shahrvand: The head of the Red Crescent Society has expressed Iran’s readiness to treat Iranians and non-Iranians injured in the Mina incident.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 


 

Sharq: Those who claim a group with links to foreigners has infiltrated the Iranian media should present evidence, said the minister of culture and Islamic guidance.

 

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on September 27

 

 

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on September 27

Ettelaat

 “We aim to ease tensions and hostilities,” President Rouhani told a UN Sustainable Development Summit.

The president further signaled Iran’s readiness to “play its role in building a more sustainable world”.

 A first round of Iran-Europe talks will have been held by mid-December.

At a meeting between the Iranian foreign minister and EU foreign policy chief, the two sides underlined the need for the war in Syria to come to an end.

 Huffington Post has reported that Saudi Arabia has aligned itself with Alqaeda in Yemen.

The Saudis do not bomb the positions of Alqaeda terrorist grouping in Yemen.

 The Iranian attorney general has said, “Iran will pursue the Mina incident through international courts and circles.”

 The Iranian female futsal players have been crowned the 2015 AFC Women’s Futsal champions.

 The head of the Foundation for the Preservation and Promotion of Sacred Defense Values has inspected Ettela’at institute.

 

Iran summons Saudi envoy over Mina crush for third time

Iran Summons Swiss Envoy over US Accusations
Iran foreign ministry

Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned Saudi Arabia’s charge d’affaires Saturday over Thursday stampede in Mina near Mecca that led to the deaths of about 2,000 pilgrims, including 136 Iranians.

The Saudi envoy was summoned to the Foreign Ministry for the third time since the incident and received Tehran’s official protest over Riyadh’s failure to ensure the safety of Hajj pilgrims.

Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that the responsibility for the deaths of Hajj pilgrims in Mina lies with the Saudi government, calling on Riyadh not to shift the blame onto destiny.

“The Saudis’ refusal to assume responsibility for the Mina disaster is unacceptable,” he said.

He also deplored as “not satisfactory” the handling of the situation in Saudi Arabia following the deadly incident.

[…]

Iran ready to export oil, LNG to Poland

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Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said on Saturday that Iran is ready to sell crude oil to Poland.

The first step for a new round of relations between Iran and Poland is signing contracts for buying crude oil from Iran, Zanganeh said in a meeting with visiting Polish Deputy Prime Minister Janusz Piechocinski in Tehran.

“Poland has expressed readiness to cooperate with Iran in different energy sectors and since Polish refineries have been modernized, they can use Iranian crude oil,” the minister said.

“Iran has suggested Poland purchase crude oil in the first step,” Zanganeh said, adding that LNG is also on the agenda of negotiations with Polish officials. Terminals have been built in Poland for LNG imports and Iran will export LNG to Poland.

Once the projects are completed, Iran will go ahead with LNG exports to Poland, he said.

A high-level Polish delegation, including pharmaceutical, chemical and railway executives is in Tehran to discuss post-sanctions trade opportunities.

Poland’s economy minister is leading the group of about 60 businesses, including railway transport firms, Newag and Pesa.

During this visit, Piechocinski said that Poland is interested in exporting foodstuff as well as home appliances and furniture to Iran.