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Iran to launch massive missile maneuver soon: IRGC commander

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A senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has said that Iran is set to hold a massive ballistic missile maneuver in the near future.

On Friday, Commander of the Aerospace Division of the IRGC Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said that Iran has never suspended its ballistic missile programs, adding that a massive missile maneuver will be held in the near future to show Iran’s military power to enemies.

The senior military official further rejected claims that the IRGC has called off its ballistic missile program and drills or bargained over such issues, saying the defense development remains on the agenda of the forces, and that the IRGC’s missile maneuvers have continued and will continue as planned.

The Islamic Republic will press ahead with its missile program and has clinched important victories in this field over the past two years, he said.

During nuclear negotiations between Tehran and P5+1 – the US, Britain, Russia, China, France and Germany – the six states exerted pressure on Iran over its military capabilities.

Iran, however, said it would only discuss its nuclear program and that its missiles are solely used as a deterrent against any potential foreign aggression.

The two sides reached a landmark agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in Vienna, Austria, in mid-July.

Under JCPOA, among other things, Tehran and P5+ 1 agreed that an embargo on Iran’s import and export of conventional arms and ballistic missiles will eventually be lifted.

‘Swift and crushing response pledged’

Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan hailed the preparedness of the country’s armed forces in the face of enemy threats, saying they are fully ready to ward off any act of aggression against the country in the quickest time possible.

Dehghan made the comments in an address to worshipers before the Friday prayers sermons in Tehran.

The Iranian defense chief further emphasized the country’s defense doctrine, saying the Islamic Republic has never intended to attack any country in and outside the region, but it is ready to give a crushing response to the aggressors.

Dehghan also hailed the self-sufficiency of Iranian armed forces in the development of defense systems, saying, “Our industrial power allows us to design and mass produce any system without the help of foreigners.”

In recent years, the Islamic Republic has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector, but it has repeatedly said that its military might poses no threat to other countries, reiterating that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence.

Iranian embassy to reopen in London on Sunday

Iran embaccy london

The reopening ceremony of the Iranian embassy in London will be held on Sunday with senior Iranian and British diplomats in attendance.

The Iranian Non-Resident Chargé d’affaires to London Mohammad Hassan Habibollahzadeh, a number of British and Iranian guests, including members of Britain-Iran parliamentary friendship group and heads of Iranian institutions and the Iranian residents of London will attend the reopening ceremony of Iran’s embassy.

The reopening of the Iranian embassy in London will come at the same time as British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond visits Tehran to reopen the British embassy.

It is expected that Tehran-London relations will be normalized, including in consular affairs and issuance of visas, after the two countries diplomats and embassy staff return to their works.

British newspapers extensively covered the reopening of the Iranian and British embassies.

Rice harvest season in northern Iran (PHOTOS)

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With crops ripe on rice paddies, farmers in Gilan Province are hard at work to collect their product.

Images of rice paddy harvesting posted online by jamejamonline.ir:

Iran nuclear deal to boost Tehran-Moscow trade ties: Official

Asadollah Asgaroladi

The head of Iran-Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce said that ratification of the nuclear agreement recently clinched by the Islamic Republic and six world powers will promote Tehran-Moscow bilateral trade.

“Of course, the ratification of this agreement will seriously boost the growth of trade and economic partnership between Iran and Russia,” Asadollah Asgaroladi was quoted by Sputnik as saying.

In 2014, bilateral trade between Tehran and Moscow amounted to about $1.7 billion, an increase of some five percent compared to 2013.

Asgaroladi stressed that trade turnover between Russia and Iran could significantly increase as soon as 2016, after the agreement is ratified by the signatories in December 2015 or in January 2016.

Iran and P5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14 reached a conclusion on a lasting nuclear agreement that would terminate all sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear energy program after coming into force.

The 159-page deal has its own opponents and proponents both in Iran and the other countries that are parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), particularly the US.

While the United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution to endorse the deal, the text of the document needs to be ratified by both Iran’s parliament and the US Congress.

Jalili symbolizes glory and Zarif embodies beauty of the establishment

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President Hassan Rouhani’s cultural advisor has said that [Saeed] Jalili, the former Iranian chief nuclear negotiator, embodied the [Islamic] establishment’s glory and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif embodies the beauty of the establishment.

Hessamoddin Ashena wrote this on his Google+ page and added that in the course of Iran’s nuclear negotiations with P5+1, Zarif put on the table the assets the country accumulated when Jalili was Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator [during Ahmadinejad’s presidency].

The following is the translation of a report by Mehr News Agency on August 19 on Ashena’s view on and comparison of Iranian delegations during nuclear talks led by Saeed Jalili and his successor Mohammad Javad Zarif:

From a strategic view, Jalili manifested the glory of the establishment and Zarif has symbolized its beauty.

When you think about the two recent rounds of nuclear talks, you can classify the rounds led by Jalili and Zarif as either two separate rounds or connected ones.

I think the two rounds should be analyzed as interconnected. As one American negotiator has put it, Iran – during the talks under the stewardship of Jalili which were very important for Iran – showed to the United States that it would not give up its nuclear rights.

Furthermore, it was in this period that Iran earned assets Zarif [later] placed on the negotiating table so that he could conclude an agreement which recognizes Iran’s nuclear rights.

Salehieh Seminary School (PHOTOS)

Salehieh-School

Salehieh is an old mosque and seminary school built in Qazvin in 1832 by Mohammad Saleh Barghani, a famous scholar.

Salehieh is one of the largest seminary schools in Iran. It once served as a major Shiite philosophy center.

Photos of the seminary school published online by shabestan.ir:

Iran must boost defense power: Rouhani

Rouhani

“We should strengthen our defense capability, so that the [nuclear] agreement [reached with the P5+1 group] and stability will remain sustainable in this country and our cordial ties with the region and the world will remain amicable and lasting,” Rouhani said during a ceremony in Tehran on Saturday marking National Defense Industry Day.

He added that Iran’s defense industries are there to defend the country’s territory, interests and people, saying Tehran has never sought to launch aggression against other countries.

Iran pursues a deterrent and defensive strategy and its policy is based on détente, convergence and confidence-building with other countries, he said.

He added that such a policy does not contradict Iran’s “defense power and military industry.”

Deterrent power cannot be achieved only through defense and military industries, Rouhani said, adding the country needs cultural, scientific, political and economic might as well to realize national strength.

“If a country lacks strength, independence and stability, it cannot seek real peace,” the Iranian president reiterated.

 

Iran’s readiness for anti-terror coalition

Rouhani further said Iran’s power would ensure regional stability and expressed the country’s readiness to form a coalition with countries in the region, which share common goals with Iran, to fight terrorism.

He reaffirmed Iran’s determination to enhance its military power and defend national territory and interests.

In the presence of President Rouhani, Iran unveiled on Saturday a new solid-fuel precision-guided missile, named Fateh 313, which has been designed and manufactured by experts at the Defense Ministry’s Aerospace Industries Organization.

 

Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan (3rd L) speaks to President Hassan Rouhani during a ceremony on August 22, 2015 to unveil a new solid-fuel precision-guided missile, named Fateh 313. © president.ir
Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan (3rd L) speaks to President Hassan Rouhani during a ceremony on August 22, 2015 to unveil a new solid-fuel precision-guided missile, named Fateh 313. © president.ir

Fateh 313, with a range of 500 kilometers, is an advanced generation of missiles which runs on combined solid fuel using a domestically-designed sensor.

 

Iran unveils solid-fuel precision-guided missile

Missle

The new state-of-the-art rocket with a range of 500 kilometers was unveiled during a ceremony in Tehran on Saturday marking National Defense Industry Day in the presence of Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani and a number of senior Iranian officials.

Fateh 313 is an advanced generation of missiles which runs on combined solid fuel using a domestically-designed sensor.

The missile had been previously test-fired and successfully hit targets.

Iran’s Defense Ministry plans to begin the mass production of the rocket.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.

The Islamic Republic has held several military drills to enhance the defense capabilities of its armed forces and to test modern military tactics and equipment.

Iran has repeatedly said its military might poses no threat to other countries, insisting that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.

Iranian policymakers should deliberate on key issues in weeks ahead: Mousavian

Mousavian

Former deputy head of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council, Hossein Mousavian, says Iranian politicians should think of a number of sensitive issues regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in the weeks ahead.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with IRNA, Mousavian said the issues due to be considered are Zionists’ lobby, poor knowledge of the US Congresspersons, possibility of a plot in the shortest possible time and the likely rejection of JCPOA.

Mousavian said to this end, think tanks can prove more influential than expected.

“Perhaps that’s why the pro-JCPOA thinkers have come to Washington DC from four corners of the world to help the Obama administration,” he said.

Describing the Vienna accord “a diplomatic miracle”, Mousavian added that had it not been for God’s grace, it would not have happened.

He said that’s the only international accord, endorsed by all world powers who recognized Iran’s right to enrichment.

He added that neither the US nor any other member of the UN Security Council has in any official accord formally recognized the right to enrichment for any country.

He said a majority of world experts hardly believed world powers will both recognize Iran’s enrichment right and lift sanctions, adding, “Of course, that’s not an ideal accord for anybody in the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

He said the US Congress does not have the final say on the accord: Even if Congress rejects it, the president will have the legal authority to veto it. “So, JCPOA will be implemented and the rejection of Congress will have little effect on it.”

He said what’s going on in the US is very serious, adding, “In my opinion, it has nothing to do with the nuclear issue. The concern of the opposition elements in Congress, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and those opposing JCPOA is something else. They favor continuation and even severance of international sanctions against Iran because they pursue regime change in Iran. At any rate and in case Congress gives a negative vote to JCPOA, the US president will lose the veto power and Iran should from now on take its own choice on such a possibility into consideration and make a decision,” said Mousavian.

Under US law, members of Congress have until September 17 to fully review the final nuclear deal with Iran and pass or reject the Iran-P5+1 nuclear agreement, reached on July 14.

US President Barack Obama has threatened to veto any resolution of disapproval from Congress. In order to block a presidential veto, both the House of Representatives and Senate would have to secure a two-thirds majority vote.

On recent media rumors on Parchin, Mousavian said, “The Zionist regime has made huge investment within the very short span of time left until the review of JCPOA in the US Congress. The time is too short. They do not have more than one and half a month. For the same reason, they write articles mostly for the media; they are highly active in sessions, seminars, busy lobbying in Congress, and are busy in other fields. Each member of Congress meets at least one person opposing the agreement (JCPOA) daily.”

The professor of Princeton University said that unfortunately, contrary to expectations, members of Congress are not much competent in international and diplomatic issues. “You may not believe, but that’s true: 60 percent of the US Congress members do not have passports, have not gone overseas. Their information is at a very low level. This provides Zionists with perfect ground to be influential.”

He said, “I am confident, Obama and the US administration are fully serious up to the end to enforce the deal; however, pressure inside and the propaganda there are very high. Due to the same reason, I believe the problems of Obama inside the US are many times higher than what the Iranian party faces.”

If Israelis manage to win the votes of two-thirds of Congress members through any means, thus depriving Obama of the veto right, the UN resolutions on JCPOA will go in effect, Mousavian said. “Europe and other countries will lift sanctions; this means the world minus the US will implement the agreement. In such case, the US will be isolated.”

Close cooperation between parliament and SNSC supplements JCPOA: Official

ali-shamkhani

The review of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the nuclear accord Iran and P5+1 struck in Vienna in mid-July) should not be political or factional in nature, Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said in an exclusive interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency on Thursday.

The following is the translation of the brief interview the official news agency released on August 20:

Shamkhani said that the technical, industrial, economic, and inspection- and transparency-related aspects of the nuclear accord Iran and six world powers clinched in Vienna last month are being closely examined in different expert meetings at the Supreme National Security Council.

He went on to say that any review of JCPOA with political or factional interests in mind would undermine both the right and left and play into the hands of the enemies and rivals of the Islamic Republic.

Shamkhani said the result of the review would be announced roughly at the same time other signatories to the deal make the results of their reviews public.

He said securing consensus on the nuclear deal is imperative. “Proper mechanisms are being tapped in the review of JCPOA at the Supreme National Security Council. To that end, establishment of close interaction between the council and the Islamic Consultative Assembly is on the agenda.”

The former defense minister added such cooperation would supplement JCPOA before the results of the steadfastness of the heroic Iranian nation are officially announced.

“It was the Iranian steadfastness in the face of excessive demands by the enemy that brought the Western countries to the negotiating table. Otherwise, P5+1 would not have sat across the table from Iranian diplomats,” he said.

Shamkhani further stated that Iran’s technological progress on the nuclear front forced the enemy which initially insisted on bringing all nuclear activities of the country to a halt to recognize Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

In conclusion, he expressed hope the nuclear deal would eventually consolidate Iranian unity.