Margit Fischer, the First Lady of Austria and the wife of President Heinz Fischer who is in Iran, toured Tehran’s Carpet Museum on Tuesday.
The Austrian President along with his wife and a large economic delegation is in Iran on a three day official visit.
The following photos of Margit Fischer in the Carpet Museum have been released by the Islamic Republic News Agency:
President Rouhani had welcomed President Fischer in an official ceremony earlier in the day. They also held a meeting prior to the press conference.
President Fischer, who is in Iran on an official three-day visit, said during the presser that the recent agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 in the Austrian capital, Vienna, on July 14 opened a new chapter in the relations between the Islamic Republic and other countries.
The agreement, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was clinched between Iran and the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia plus Germany, which together form the P5+1.
President Fischer said Austria attached especial significance to good relations with other countries. He said such relations should not be lop-sided and to the benefit of only one party.
Both sides should equally benefit from the relationship, he said.
President Fischer also said he expected Austria’s bilateral trade with Iran to grow to 300 million euros (335 million dollars) this year, and continue to “markedly” increase in the coming years.
He also said that the two governments had agreed to increase political and economic cooperation, and the agreements would benefit both sides equally.
The Iranian president, for his part, firstly thanked the Austrian government for its “good hosting” of the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 countries, which culminated in the agreement between the two sides.
In response to a question about Iran’s support for the Syrian government, President Rouhani said the priority now is putting an end to the total insecurity in the country and the misery of the people.
“The first step is to stop the bloodshed [in Syria],” the Iranian president said, adding that once that priority is fulfilled, it will be time to discuss such political issues as democracy and opposition in the Arab country.
President Rouhani emphasized that the future of Syria should be built by the Syrian people themselves through popular voting.
“No foreign country can and should decide about Syria’s future,” he said, adding that all countries should cooperate for the settlement of the Syrian crisis.
Iran is ready to sit at the negotiating table with any country or world power if the Islamic Republic deems that the result of such negotiation would be a secure, stable and democratic future for Syria.
The Austrian president is in Iran at the head of a 240-member delegation and on an invitation by President Rouhani.
Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz as well as Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner accompany Fisher on his trip to Tehran.
Fischer’s visit to Iran is a first by a leader of a member state of the European Union (EU) since former Austrian President Thomas Klestil traveled to Tehran in January 2004.
“Iran supports and welcomes any steps to help the oil market recover and escape the current conditions,” Zangeneh has been quoted as saying by the media.
He made the comment in reference to a proposal made by Venezuela to coordinate between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers.
Venezuela has for months been pushing for an emergency OPEC meeting and joint coordination with Russia to stem a tumble in oil prices, but with little success, Reuters reported.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Saturday, he has suggested to the Emir of Qatar a summit for heads of state of OPEC countries to defend oil prices.
The Venezuelan leader, who met with the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani during his visit to OPEC nation Qatar, added he had also suggested non-OPEC countries, which include Russia, take part.
Zangeneh had earlier emphasized that Iran is not opposed to an emergency OPEC meeting to discuss sagging oil prices.
“If this meeting is held, it will be effective and we will not oppose it,” he told reporters last month.
“An emergency meeting has to be held with the consensus of OPEC members and a consensus means all members are decided to reach a conclusion,” the Iranian minister said.
But I think it is unlikely that certain countries which have political motivations in the back of their minds in bringing down the prices will simply agree with it, he added.
Analysts believe that Zangeneh was alluding to Saudi Arabia which is largely believed to be leading the drive for lower prices, producing oil at full capacity despite a glut in the market.
Efforts made by previous and current negotiating teams should not be ignored, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said Tuesday.
Ali Shamkhani made the remarks on the sidelines of a sixth meeting of parliament’s Special Committee to Review the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOC).
Appreciating the active presence of MPS to review JCPOA, Shamkhani said negation of the negotiating teams’ efforts is a big mistake.
Referring to issues discussed in today’s session, he said the previous teams’ efforts brought such outcome.
Parliament continues to review JCPOA, he said, adding Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has described parliament as an effective element regarding the issue of JCPOA.
He expressed hope a national consensus would be reached on the issue to prevent any infiltration of the enemies.
Saeed Jalili, who led Iran’s nuclear negotiating team when Ahmadinejad was president, has lashed out at the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in an Instagram post.
The following is the translation of his posting Alef.ir published on September 7:
“The nuclear dossier was handed over to the 11th government after the Islamic Republic had made substantial progress in the nuclear industry. But our acceptance of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action would amount to renunciation of 100 or so of our inalienable rights.
“Unfortunately, under this deal, we have accepted to be labeled an exception. In other words, we have agreed to be entitled to fewer rights and be committed to more undertakings than other nuclear countries. Even worse, we have retreated from our entitlements under the Geneva deal.
“Many of the time-related restrictions of Iran’s nuclear industry are far from clear. Under this deal, we would need some 40 years to reach the 190,000 separative work units the Supreme Leader has underlined the country needs.
“Security is another red line of the establishment; unfortunately, under JCPOA we have agreed to unconventional access, supervision and inspections which would compromise our intelligence.
“The joint commission which is to be formed under JCPOA will act against Iran too. For instance, if a member of this commission, say the US, accused Iran of failing to act in line with its commitments, it would be easy for sanctions to snap back into place.
Also under the recent UN Security Council resolution, Iran’s case would remain under Chapter Seven for 10 years and the nuclear issue would sit on the agenda of the Security Council for a decade.”
In conclusion, the former top negotiator has said he hopes IRIB [radio and TV organization] airs in entirety the comments he made when he attended a session of the JCPOA Review Committee in parliament.
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.
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.
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.
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.
♦ 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.
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.
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