Reactionaries and Westernized people waste Iran’s young talents

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August 29, 2015

The secretary of the Expediency Council says United States failure to lift sanctions against Iran and its measures to frustrate our efforts to boost our defense capabilities would amount to a declaration by Washington that it does not want to befriend the Iranian nation.

Mohsen Rezaei made the remarks in a ceremony – in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province on Wednesday – to honor the memory of Rajaei and Bahonar, former Iranian president and prime minister who were killed in a bomb explosion [34 years ago], and added that the US government has a long record of animosity toward the Iranian nation over the past 70 years. The following is the translation of part of his remarks as reported by tabnak.ir on August 26:

Imam’s path

The path the late Imam walked down was neither the path of Westernized intellectuals nor the path of care-free reactionaries [those who favor ossification]. His path was neither the path of American-style Islam nor that of the clergymen of the royal court. He walked down the path of Pure Muhammadan Islam. Imam and the martyrs walked down the path of freedom and independence of the Iranian nation. The path he took helped the Iranian nation gain power and win glory and pride.

Domestic enemies

Two groups fit into this category: those with extreme liberal views because they say Iran will not make progress and achieve prosperity as long as it fails to give in to the demands of the West, led by the US; and reactionaries who hold that economy is not what matters and should not be given priority in our lives. The fruit of these two lines of thinking is the stoppage of the progress of the Iranian nation. Those who say “Economy does not matter and worldly affairs should be abandoned” and those who say “Wait until the US comes” both cause the Iranian nation to lose time and cause the youth’s potential at national and local level to remain untapped.

[…]

According to Imam’s line of thinking, it is nothing but a mirage if we wait for the US. Do not waste the time of the Iranian nation. The liberals and Westernized people proudly tell the revolutionaries about the West’s headway, US support for its allies such as South Korea, Germany and Japan or they cite Sino-US cooperation as an example to claim that cooperation with the US is the only way for the Iranian nation to make progress.

[…]

Now that you have closed your eyes, how can we make you understand that the US does not want to help the Iranian nation? The US does not want to see the Iranian nation make progress. If it had sought to help Iran, it would not have staged a coup against the national government of Mossadegh who extended a hand of friendship to the US. As for your examples about South Korea, Japan and China, I should say that they tapped into self-belief and self-confidence before they embarked on their plans.

[…]

Nuclear misunderstandings

If the US accepted a nuclear Iran, it had to do so; it is not out of its well-wishing or friendship. In other words, the Iranian nation and the Supreme Leader left no options for the US other than: honorable withdrawal. Therefore, the US pulled back, but the Americans showed hostility and resorted to double-dealing as they were pulling back. Let’s say that they have opened the route, but it is full of landmines.

The restrictions they have imposed on [Iran’s] nuclear activities or the longtime [limits] they have set are dubious and tricky. They hope to see a regime change in Iran in ten years [the time P5+1 has set to restrict part of Iran’s nuclear activities], and they see the downfall of the Islamic Republic in their dreams.

[…]

US behavior

Some may say that the US has acknowledged its mistakes and is trying to strike up friendship. [In response] we say that friendship has some signs. Is the US ready to display such signs? Is it ready to drop meddling in Iran’s internal affairs and stop efforts to influence and divert people’s slogans? Is it ready to lift sanctions once and for all and not prevent other countries from doing business with and making investment in Iran and not impose new sanctions?

Another sign is that the US should not hamper Iran’s efforts to expand its defensive capabilities, boost security and develop missiles. The US should also unfreeze Iran’s assets.

If the US is seeking to improve its position in the region, it should not bear hostility toward Iraq, Syria and Lebanon and not engage in confrontations in the region.

If Israel gets crazy and wants to attack Iran, we will smack it hard enough in the mouth to lose all its teeth. If this happens, will the US support Israel and stand up against Iran? If the US is honest, it should come forward and say that it seeks to break with the past. United States failure to lift sanctions against Iran and its measures to frustrate our efforts to boost our defense capabilities would amount to a declaration by Washington that it does not want to befriend the Iranian nation. […]

The return of people like me to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps indicates that we are ready to fight to the bitter end and defend the revolution’s values.

Iran’s demands

Gone are the days of unilateral interaction with the West in Iran. I want to once again tell Westerners that they should abandon the dreams of ties [similar to] the Qajar and Pahlavi periods. The Iranian government and nation want to have equal ties based on respect.

The Iranian people are not ready to deviate from the path of Imam and the martyrs. They don’t want to stay silent because of you and keep mum over the injustice and aggression you and your friends pursue in the region. The Iranians are not willing to trade their national wealth with your consumer products. The Iranian nation does not want to stop its progress simply to win your consent. The nation does not let you interfere in its domestic affairs.

Some may say that the revolutionaries like you – thanks to your morale – cannot open a door in international relations and will be isolated in the world. If it had been the case, the world’s six big powers would not have sat at the negotiating table with Iran for 12 years and would not have given any concession to Iran. We believe we will open our way in international relations through power and logic and break the West’s monopoly in global trade.

Fifteen years ago prior to the imposition of sanctions, the Supreme Leader stressed the need for producing science and technology and developing modern sciences such as peaceful nuclear technology. This helped Iran acquire this knowhow and forced the West to negotiate with Iran. The Supreme Leader’s prudence earned Iran nuclear science and contributed to the country’s development. […]

If the noble endeavors of Iran’s courageous diplomats have produced a result, it is the result of the Leader’s guidelines during the previous governments encouraging development of nuclear science.

Darabad Botanical Museum in Tehran (PHOTOS)

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

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August 29, 2015

Darabad Botanical Museum, which seeks to make the public familiar with different medicinal and ornamental plants, houses 600 of the 8,000 plant species that exist in Iran.

The species on display have been collected in two years.

The following are photos of the museum posted online by tpaa.ir:

Resalat daily urges reaction to Hammond comments

By

Emad Askarieh

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August 27, 2015

Resalat daily-26 August — Resalat newspaper front page on August 26

President Rouhani has always insisted on staying true to the late Imam Khomeini’s line of thinking. But an editorial by Seyyed Masoud Alavi published by principlist daily Resalat on August 26 argued that the remarks of British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond during his Iran visit cast doubt on such commitment.

The following is the translation of an excerpt of the editorial:

[…]

Iran, a Persian-language daily which is affiliated with the government, published an opinion piece by the British foreign secretary on August 25 titled “Iranian Audacity to Explore New Ways”.

In an interview with the BBC before meeting with President Rouhani toward the end of his Tehran visit, Philip Hammond said that Iran has shown a more nuanced approach toward Israel.

His comments came despite the fact the whole world knows well that during more than three decades since the Islamic Revolution, Iran’s stance on usurping Israel has remained unchanged.

The key question here is what Hammond meant by saying that Iran has shown a more nuanced approach with Israel.

Time and again, the late Imam Khomeini said that every Muslim is duty-bound to equip himself against Israel. The late Imam also said “I have repeated warned about the threat posed to the nation by the Israeli government and its agents.” He also said that Israel must be wiped off the face of the earth.

Given the clear stance of the late Imam on the Zionist regime of Israel, is it right for Hammond to talk of a shift in the stand of the Iranian government toward Israel in Tehran?!

If the government, as the president says, feels committed to fulfilling the ideals of Imam Khomeini, the editorial of the government-run daily should have criticized Hammond for his remarks and laid out the stance of the establishment on Israel rather than let the British foreign secretary write a piece in the state-run newspaper and talk about “testing the new waters” in Iran.

In a speech at the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini, the president said “We should not let the late Imam’s line of thinking and ideals be misinterpreted by some”. That remark is very true. But, shouldn’t president have fleshed out a foreign policy in line with the late Imam’s principles and talked about the unwavering stance of the late Imam on the US and Israel?

Shouldn’t he have – in his speech at the late Imam’s mausoleum – touched on the ominous anti-Iran plots of hegemonic and arrogant powers who seek to extend their influence in the country and across the region? Shouldn’t he have elaborated on his government’s measures to prevent the infiltration of the intelligence services of the enemies and the danger of seditionist return to the political scene?

[…]

At Imam’s mausoleum, the president should have said that the US is still the enemy of the Iranian nation, and a classic example of an arrogant power. He should have said that on behalf of the Iranian nation, his government would not let the American dream of regime change in Iran come true.

In support of the late Imam’s beliefs, the president should have said loud and clear in his speech that his administration would stand up to the US bullying even if it involved use of force and that Iran seeks to wipe out the corrupt roots of Zionism around the world.

Such a stance would have stopped any possible misinterpretation by the enemies of the establishment and would have presented a correct interpretation of Imam Khomeini’s brave stance in the face of the sworn enemies of the establishment.

On top of that, it could have reaffirmed the fact that the foreign policy of the 11^th government is in line with the Imam Khomeini’s positions.

Women braver than men in bungee jumping

By

Emad Askarieh

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August 27, 2015

The mountain resort of Touchal in northern Tehran was the first place in Iran to put up a bungee-jumping pole (40 m in height). But women were not allowed to bungee jump there.

The following is the translation of a report filed by the Iranian Students’ News Agency on August 25 about the passionate interest of women in bungee jumping in Tehran:

Four years ago, another bungee-jumping center opened in Velayat Park in Tehran where women were allowed to jump off its 40-m pole. That attracted many tourists.

Even the holiday resort of Ganjnameh in Hamedan, which is home to the highest bungee-jumping pole in the Middle East, did not impose a ban on women keen on jumping off its 45-m-high platform.

It’s still unclear why unlike the other two centers, women are not allowed to go for the extreme sport in Touchal, nor has the reason behind the ban been officially announced, but some believe that religious issues may play a role in it.

Managers of Touchal are now seeking to lift the ban on the bungee jumping of women.

Interestingly, according to those in charge of bungee-jumping centers, female bungee jumpers outnumber men.

A bungee-jumping trainer at Tehran’s Velayat Park says 80 percent of those who apply for a jump are women aged between 14 and 60, adding, “I have never seen a woman climb up the pole and then back off, but there have been many men who have gone back on their decision to bungee jump.”

A Tehran cab with an exotic interior

By

Emad Askarieh

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August 27, 2015

A cabbie in Tehran is using dolls and stuffed toys to give a different look to the interior of his taxi. Passengers getting into his cab are usually surprised at the sight of the toys dangling from the roof and the rearview mirror or placed on the dashboard and by the windscreen.

The following is the translation of an excerpt of the comments of the taxi driver filed by SMT, a daily, on August 23:

Since childhood, I have been fond of animals. Actually I wished to become a vet. It was because of my love for animals that I developed an interest in toy animals. At first, I had a few toys in my cab but the number went up at the request of my passengers. In fact, the positive reaction from some of the passengers inspired me to have more in my taxi.

My passengers write down their ideas in a passenger book I keep in my taxi; I do value their opinions and try to meet their requests. Once a woman wrote, “I was on the verge of a divorce, getting in your taxi took me back to my childhood years. That prompted me to abandon the idea of divorcing my husband.”

A few years ago I opened a Facebook account. At first, I did not plan to introduce my taxi on the Internet, but some people told me that they had seen photos of my cab posted online in the name of others. So I decided to have a Facebook page.

Although I am not a famous person, the number of likes I get on my Facebook page at times equals those of celebrities. Through social networking sites, I have even made friends with Iranians abroad. When they visit Tehran, they want me to drive them around.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on August 27

By

Emad Askarieh

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August 27, 2015

The comments of the Supreme Leader at a meeting with President Rouhani and his Cabinet to mark Government Week dominated the front pages of Iranian newspapers on Thursday. Also on the covers of dailies was the unveiling of a new gold coin and a traveler’s check at a ceremony attended by the president and the Central Bank governor.

Ettela’at: “Economy is the top priority of the country,” said the Supreme Leader at a meeting with President Rouhani and his Cabinet.

At the meeting [which came during Government Week] Ayatollah Khamenei thanked the president and his Cabinet for their efforts.

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on August 27

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on August 27

Abrar: The director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has arrived in Beijing for talks [with Chinese officials over nuclear cooperation].

Abrar-e Eghtesadi: Members of parliament have called on the oil minister to make efforts to reclaim Iran’s share of the global petroleum market.

Afkar: The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has called on Washington to free Iranian nationals imprisoned in the US.

Aftab-e Yazd: The Supreme Leader has thanked the Rouhani administration for cutting inflation, creating economic stability and bringing the nuclear talks to conclusion.

Aftab-e Yazd: The Mountain of Muscle [a nickname of Iranian professional bodybuilder Beitollah Abbaspour] has passed away.

Arman-e Emrooz: At a meeting with the president and his Cabinet, the Supreme Leader called for formation of a resistance-based economy headquarters.

Etemad: Tehran MP Ali Motahari has called for measures to guarantee freedom of assembly for all sides.

His appeal came in reaction to a gathering by the so-called Worriers in protest at the nuclear deal between Iran and P5+1.

Etemad: Tax evasion by the big shots

Of the 5 million or so taxpayers in the country, only 503 individuals pay more than $17,000 in taxes.

Iran: A European leader arrives in Iran, a first in 11 years.

Heading a 200-member delegation, the Austrian president is expected to visit Tehran.

Jomhouri Islami: “This year is the year of transitioning from sanctions and giving momentum to efforts to secure economic prosperity,” President Rouhani said.

Jomhouri Islami: In a ceremony attended by the president, a new gold coin and a new traveler’s check have been unveiled.

Kayhan: “Iran is single-handedly standing up against the disintegration of regional countries,” said the Iraqi ambassador to Tehran in an exclusive interview with Kayhan.

Khorasan: An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale has hit Firuzkooh to the west of the capital.

Mardomsalari: “Iran stands ready for talks with all regional countries,” said the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.

Mardomsalari: The unforgettable stars of the world soccer are converging on Tehran for a charity matchup at Azadi Stadium on Friday with an Iranian all-star team.

Resalat: The deputy interior minister has said that the Guardian Council has the final say in vetting candidates running for public office.

Roozan: The deputy interior minister has said that electoral campaigning in mosques is forbidden.

Roozan: The Australian foreign minister has called on Iran to join the anti-IS coalition.

Sharq: “The Supreme Leader views suffrage as a public right, some consider it decorative,” said Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Siasat-e Rooz: The Supreme Leader has called on officials not to mince their words in laying out the country’s revolutionary stance.

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on August 27

By

Golrokh Askarieh

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August 27, 2015

♦ “Economy is the top priority of the country,” said the Supreme Leader at a meeting with President Rouhani and his Cabinet.

At the meeting [which came during Government Week] Ayatollah Khamenei thanked the president and his Cabinet for their efforts.

♦ Private firms launch activity in selling landlines.

The minister of communications further said that 51 companies have applied to offer cell phone services to the public.

♦ Yemen’s Ansarullah have thanked the Iranian people and the Supreme Leader for their support.

In another development, Saudi warplanes bombed a Red Cross storage facility in Aden.

♦ President Rouhani: Farsi is the language of wisdom, ethics, dialogue and moderation.

A message from the president opened a conference to promote the Farsi language in Ardebil.

♦ “To run the country, there is no other way but to respect the views of the public,” said the chairman of the Expediency Council.

Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said that a government that does not have the support of the public turns dictatorial.

♦ Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said that he has full confidence in Iran and Russia.

He added that relations between Tehran and Damascus create a balance in the Arab world.

Iranian female athletes crowned in world cadet taekwondo event

By

Emad Askarieh

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August 27, 2015

Young Iranian female taekwondo artists have impressed the crowd at the second edition of the WTF World Cadet Taekwondo Championships in South Korea, standing on top of the podium.

On Wednesday, the Iranian girls’ national taekwondo team landed in the first position of the chart with 83 points after earning five gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal at the end of the event at the T1 Arena in the city of Muju.

The Russians finished runner-up with 48 points, bagging one gold medal, two silver medals and one bronze.

The United States claimed one gold medal, one silver and one bronze to come third with 37 points.

Meanwhile, the Iranian boys’ taekwondo team won two gold medals plus two silvers and one bronze medal, capturing the runner-up podium with 58 points.

South Korea clinched the victory of the tournament with 63 points, snatching three gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal.

The male Russian taekwondo practitioners were awarded one gold medal, two silver medals and one bronze, and stood in the third place with 47 points.

The 2nd edition of the WTF World Cadet Taekwondo Championships opened in Muju on August 23 and wrapped up on August 26.

The tournament brought together 465 young male and female taekwondo artists from 59 countries, including Britain, France, Germany, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Thailand and the United States.

Tehran in Talks with Moscow to Purchase Sukhoi Superjet 100

By

Emad Askarieh

-

August 27, 2015

Three Iranian airliners have conducted negotiations with the Russians to buy “Sukhoi Superjet 100” passenger planes, an Iranian vice-president announced on Wednesday.

“Superjet 100 is a joint product of Boeing and Airbus aircraft manufacturing companies and 80 percent of its parts are made by the Russians,” Iranian Vice President for Science and Technology Sourena Sattari, who is also the President of Iran National Science Foundation (INSF), said on the sidelines of the International Aviation and Space Show (MAKS-2015) in Moscow.

He said Iran’s Kish Air, Zagros, and Caspian airline companies have been in talks with the Russians over the purchase of the modern airliner.

Sattari also noted that INSF and a Russian organization are to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to boost mutual cooperation in various areas of science and technology.

“The MoU is to be inked in a meeting held by officials from INSF and the Russian RFBR,” he said.

Sattari said on Tuesday Iranian officials will sign 10 economic agreements with the Russians during their visit to MAKS-2015 in Moscow.

“Iran and Russia have numerous potential for cooperating in various fields, specifically in aerial industries and industrial centers,” Sattari said in a meeting with Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov in the Russian capital.

The Russian official voiced his country’s willingness to expand all-out ties with Iran for his part and invited Iranian investors to participate in Russia’s economic projects.

Manturov will visit Tehran in December.

The first session of the Iran-Russian Joint Commission of Science and Technology will also be held with Sattari and Russian deputy prime minister Dmirty Rogozin.

An Iranian delegation arrived in Moscow on Monday to discuss the delivery of Russian S-300 missile systems and take part in the MAKS 2015 air show.

The five-day space show kicked off on Tuesday in the town of Zhukovsky near Moscow.

More than 700 Russian and foreign companies from 30 countries will put their products on display at the show.

According to the exhibition director, 40 Iranian companies are also showcasing their products and achievements in MAKS-2015, including Iran Air Show, Qom International Airport, and Sharif Hamrah Pazhouhan Science and Technology Co.

Unlike previous years, Iranian firms and companies have been provided with a larger space in the exhibition this year.

Iran, China discuss construction of nuclear plants

By

Emad Askarieh

-

August 27, 2015

The Iranian and Chinese nuclear chiefs have stressed bilateral cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear energy – especially in the construction of nuclear power plants.

Director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi and Xu Dazhe, the head of China’s Atomic Energy Authority, discussed cooperation between the two countries in Beijing on Wednesday, ISNA reported.

During the meeting, the two sides stressed the implementation and execution of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) reached between Iran and P5+1.

Under JCPOA, limits will be put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, the removal of all economic and financial bans against Tehran.

The two sides also had discussions on the construction of new nuclear plants by China in Iran.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the construction of 100-megawatt power plants, capable of desalinating water and producing electricity and industrial steam.

They also agreed that the construction of such plants alongside 1000-megawatt power plants can cover Iran’s need for nuclear electricity.

The head of China’s Atomic Energy Authority emphasized the necessity of the approval of JCPOA in Iran and the other six countries as a launch pad for further cooperation.

Salehi, who is at the head of a high-ranking AEOI delegation on a three-day visit in China, is scheduled to meet with senior Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

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

Reactionaries and Westernized people waste Iran’s young talents

Darabad Botanical Museum in Tehran (PHOTOS)

Resalat daily urges reaction to Hammond comments

Women braver than men in bungee jumping

A Tehran cab with an exotic interior

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on August 27

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on August 27

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on August 27

Iranian female athletes crowned in world cadet taekwondo event

Tehran in Talks with Moscow to Purchase Sukhoi Superjet 100

Iran, China discuss construction of nuclear plants

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