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Home Blog Page 4810

Iran busts terrorist group at eastern border

Golrokh Askarieh

July 11, 2015

Iranian border police on Saturday smashed a team of terrorists that intended to cross the border in the eastern part of the country, killing some of the intruders and arresting some others, a top commander said.

Speaking to reporters in the southeastern city of Zahedan, Commander of Iran’s Border Police Brigadier General Ghasem Rezaei said the clash took place in the wee hours of Saturday.

On Friday evening, the police forces were deployed to the border area of Mirjaveh, in the province of Sistan and Baluchestan, following reports that a group of terrorists had planned to enter the country.

During an exchange of fire, which began at 1 a.m. local time and continued for two hours, a number of the terrorists were killed and three were arrested, one of whom has been injured, Rezaei noted.

One of the Iranian border police forces was also martyred in the operation, he added.

According to the commander, weapons and ammunition, including three rifles and 140 detonators, have been seized from the terrorists.

The arrested criminals confessed they had planned to carry out terrorist attacks in the Iranian cities of Zahedan, Kerman and Bam, he pointed out.

In a similar operation back in April, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Ground Force disbanded a terrorist cell affiliated with foreign espionage services in the same province.

It is the turn of others to let go of sanctions

July 11, 2015

US Sanctions to Trigger Further Spread of Coronavirus Pandemic: Iran

The president’s cultural advisor has said that Iran has made its hard choice long time ago, adding it is now the turn of others to let go of sanctions and learn how to speak with respect.

Hessamoddin Ashena wrote this on his Facebook page where he also offered a review of President Hassan Rouhani’s short trip to Russia on July 9 and a meeting with President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a joint summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Council (SCO) and BRICS [which groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa]. The following is the translation of Ashena’s note on Facebook as reported by the Iranian Students’ News Agency on July 11:

Dr. Rouhani went to Russia one day ahead of schedule. He had a meeting with his Russian counterpart which lasted longer than expected. [Russian Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov was also present in the meeting.

The long meeting [between Presidents Rouhani and Putin] caused a half-an-hour delay in the opening of the joint summit of 14 leaders of SCO and BRICS. All through the meeting, Lavrov was busy texting and receiving messages.

The Iranian president cut his trip short and returned home. He arrived in Tehran after midnight and attended International Quds Day rallies in the morning [on Friday].

On the same day, [President] Putin said that sanctions imposed against Iran should be immediately lifted. In the afternoon, news spread that nuclear talks were moving forward at a fast speed.

It’s now a long time since Iran has made its hard choices. The time has come for others to [make hard choices] scrap sanctions and learn how to speak respectfully.

We are the ones who fast and celebrate the religious Eid [al-Fitr] as well. Happy Eid al-Fitr which will mark the climax of three decades – not simply 30 days – of resistance by the Iranians, in advance.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on July 11

Golrokh Askarieh

July 11, 2015

The massive turnout of Iranians for International Quds Day rallies dominated the front pages of Iranian newspapers on Saturday. Another extension of nuclear talks between Iran and P5+1 also appeared on the covers of dailies.

Ettela’at: The world shouted for the liberation of Quds.

“Islamic prospects are bright. Through unity, resistance, jihad and self-sacrifice, Muslims, including the Palestinian nation, can achieve their long-term objectives,” said President Rouhani.

“The massive turnout of the Iranians for Quds Day rallies amounts to declaration of readiness to strive for the restoration of Palestinian rights,” said the judiciary chief.

The intelligence minister said that the diplomatic battlefield provides a test that is far more difficult to ace than the real war and that the Iranian negotiating team has the support of the Supreme Leader and the nation.

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on July 11

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on July 11

Abrar: “We will never allow [foreign] access to military sites,” said Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri, the deputy chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces.

Aftab-e Yazd: “The same people who are opposed to nuclear talks today kept silent in the face of a public funds plunder yesterday,” said the Friday prayer leader of Yazd.

Arman-e Emrooz: “There remain no insurmountable problems; the parties to the talks are trying to win as many concessions as they can,” said Javid Ghorban Oghli, a former Iranian ambassador.

Asr-e Rasaneh: The minister of communications and information technology has said that two new social networking platforms will be unveiled shortly.

Asrar: Excessive demands are a major hurdle standing in the way of a deal.

“You can’t change horses in midstream,” Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told Westerners.

Asrar: “Reestablishment of ties between Iran and the US takes a long time,” said secretary of the Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei.

Ebtekar: Seventy French companies have expressed readiness to invest in Iran.

Ebtekar: The balcony diplomacy

Diplomats will stay in Vienna until Monday [to hammer out a deal].

Emtiaz: There has been a 20 percent rise in bushfire across the country.

Hemayat: “The reason why the Supreme Leader said he was not optimistic about talks with the US is coming to light,” said Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani.

Iran: Veteran Saudi diplomat Saud al-Faisal has passed away at the age of 75.

Kar va Kargar: Millions of Iranians shouted for the liberation of Palestine and an end to infanticide in Yemen during Quds Day rallies.

Kayhan: The Worriers were right; the US is not trustworthy.

Mardomsalari: The public threw its weight behind the nuclear negotiating team during Quds Day rallies.

Qods: The secretary general of the Lebanese Hezbollah has said that Iran offers the only glimmer of hope for the liberation of Quds.

Resalat: President Putin has told President Rouhani that cooperation between Iran and Russia is necessary for regional stability.

Setareh Sobh: Some 115 environmental institutions in a letter to the parliament speaker have said that wrong decisions have put Iranian health in danger.

Setareh Sobh: World-known Egyptian actor Omar Sharif has passed away.

Sharq: A selfless worker at Maroon Petrochemical Complex who put his own life in danger to turn off a tap and prevent a tragedy has died of organ failure.

When a fire raged through the complex, Shahram Mohammadi rushed into the flames to warn fellow workers and turn off the tap. He suffered severe burns and died in a Tehran hospital a few days later.

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on July 11

Golrokh Askarieh

July 11, 2015

♦ The world shouted for the liberation of Quds.

“Islamic prospects are bright. Through unity, resistance, jihad and self-sacrifice, Muslims, including the Palestinian nation, can achieve their long-term objectives,” said President Rouhani.

“The massive turnout of the Iranians for Quds Day rallies amounts to declaration of readiness to strive for the restoration of Palestinian rights,” said the judiciary chief.

♦ The government has given the green-light to the early retirement of civil servants.

Those who retire early won’t be entitled to full termination of employment benefits.

♦ Some 100 Yemeni military personnel who supported Ansarullah [the Houthis] were killed in a Saudi airstrike.

An additional 250 were injured in the air raid.

Meanwhile, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal died at the age of 75.

♦ “Iran stands ready to expand its cooperation with emerging economies,” said President Rouhani in a speech at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Russia.

“Fortunately, thanks to wisdom and understanding nuclear talks are close to conclusion and Western powers have admitted that Iran’s scientific development is unstoppable,” the president added.

On the sidelines of the summit, the president met with his Russian, Chinese, Afghan, and Belorussian counterparts as well as the Indian prime minister.

♦ “Iran has fallen victim to its proximity to drug producers,” said the UNODC envoy in Iran.

He further said that Europe should appreciate Iran’s efforts to stop the transit of illicit drugs to the green continent.

♦ Nuclear talks between Iran and P5+1 have been extended through Monday (July 13).

The Iranian foreign minister said that Iran has made its stance known and is waiting for the other side to make a decision.

He further said that unfortunately some parties to the talks have changed their stance and are putting forth excessive demands.

♦ Three narcotics traffickers killed in southeastern Iran

♦ German delegation to visit Tehran

Iranian negotiating team is the winner, with or without a deal

Emad Askarieh

July 11, 2015

Ahmad Tavakoli, a Tehran MP, says that the Iranian nuclear team is the ultimate winner of the talks with or without a nuclear deal at the close of the nuclear negotiations with P5+1.

Tavakoli made the comment in an interview with Nasim Online News Agency and added that the nuclear team has been defending Iran’s nuclear rights for the past 18 months. The following is the translation of the principlist MP’s remarks released by his website, alef.ir on July 9:

Agreement and commitment

Under the Constitution, anything which causes the Iranian government to take on a commitment vis-à-vis a foreign country should be approved by parliament. What name such a commitment carries is not important; what matters is whether it requires Iran to meet a commitment or not. If there is no commitment, the legislative go-ahead is not necessary, but if there is a commitment, no matter what its name, it should win the blessing of parliament. The reason: if what they [government] agree to is binding, it should clear parliament.

[Article 77: International treaties, protocols, contracts, and agreements must be approved by the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Article 125: The President or his legal representative has the authority to sign treaties, protocols, contracts, and agreements concluded by the Iranian government with other governments, as well as agreements pertaining to international organizations, after obtaining the approval of the Islamic Consultative Assembly.]

A deal which remains unsigned makes no [legal] sense. What does it mean to agree on something, but fail to sign it? What’s an agreement without signature good for? Signature is an essential part of any agreement. An agreement which lacks signature is not obligatory with parties to the agreement likely to go back on it, citing the absence of their signature.

Nuclear team and the Supreme Leader

What is certain is that the Iranian nation and the Supreme Leader have put their trust in the country’s nuclear team. If something comes up which is not consistent with the Supreme Leader’s remarks, this team will take no measure unless they consult the Leader. I’m sure about it.

The Supreme Leader has repeatedly prayed for the nuclear negotiating team. Iran’s nuclear team, which is undertaking a heavy responsibility, deserves to receive the nation’s prayers. [Members of] the team are expected not to say anything but the truth, not to listen to anything but the truth and not to sign anything unless they make sure it is the truth. They are expected to come back home successfully and honorably.

Iran’s team and future of nuclear talks

I think the country’s negotiating team will be successful and honorable no matter what comes out of the talks, because for the past 18 months they have been defending the rights of the Iranian nation and have not given in. They will have no other option but not to sign an agreement if the US insists on its acquisitiveness. The Iranian team is the [ultimate] winner [with or without a nuclear deal].

No deal will be inked if the United States does not give up its acquisitive demands and continues its bullying tactics. The Iranian nuclear team, however, will emerge victorious even if no deal is signed because they have done everything by the book. They will be the winning side if a deal is inked; if so, they should be praised and their services should be appreciated.

Iran Asia trade soars amid West’s sanctions

Emad Askarieh

July 11, 2015

Iran’s trade with Asia is climbing to new heights as the void left by the Europeans in the wake of sanctions is filled by new partners in the world’s largest continent.

According to new statistics released by the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI), about 94% of the country’s exports went to Asian nations in the two months to May 21.

Iran’s Asia exports rose nine percent to more than $5 billion in the 60-day period over corresponding period last year, the official figures showed.

Iran sent 11.92 million metric tons of goods to Asia, which constituted 94.2% of its total exports, TPOI said.

That compared with $242 million of Iranian exports to Europe which has seen traditional trade ties forged over centuries unravel in the wake of sanctions.

Europe accounted for about three percent of Iran’s exports during the period which declined four percent.

Iran’s exports to Africa and the Asia-Pacific region rose to $122 million and $3 million respectively in the period.

In the absence of viable ties with Europe, Iran has sought to forge closer relations with the bloc of emerging economies known as BRICS which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

BRICS is currently holding a summit in the Russian city of Ufa, with President Hassan Rouhani attending the event as a special guest.

The bloc accounts for approximately 40% of the world’s population and 20% of the world’s gross product.

BRICS’s ideals are also in sync with those cherished by Iran, which call for an “equitable, democratic and multi-polar world order” not dominated by the West or the US dollar.

Iran has been trying to ditch the dollar in its international transactions – a goal which was echoed by President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

The Russian leader said his country was interested in using national currencies with other BRICS members after agreeing on such an arrangement with China.

China and India are two of the largest importers of Iranian oil and those exports have soared after the announcement of the Lausanne nuclear understanding.

For the Chinese, Iran represents a crucial part of a massive economic plan to revive the Silk Road. Iran is also a huge market which offers Asia enormous investment opportunities.

A deal will be inked if P5+1 acts in good faith, makes political decision

Emad Askarieh

July 11, 2015

A member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team says that the country is expected to clinch an honorable agreement with P5+1.

Majid Takht-e Ravanchi, who is also deputy foreign minister for Euro-American affairs, made the comment on Friday and added that Iran builds on popular support to settle its nuclear dispute [with the West] honorably, and trades its honor with nothing. The following is the translation of his remarks as reported by Mizan Online News Agency on July 10:

The Iranian negotiator said the other side has changed horses in midstream and has gone far beyond [what has been envisioned in] the Lausanne agreement. Thursday was not an unusual day. The Americans had to meet a deadline which was not important to Iran. Tehran had already said that it preferred to reach an agreement before the deadline, but that it saw nothing wrong in striking the agreement past the deadline.

Talks come with many ups and downs, he said, adding, “Sometimes during the talks we realize that the other side has changed its demands asking for more, but we stand up to its acquisitive demands”.

He went on to say that we hope the other side displays goodwill and makes a political decision, so that we can arrive at an agreement.

The deputy foreign minister said that there are some unwritten agreements in the talks which are mutual, adding that some changes are made to those agreements during the talks and some interpretations are made which change the course of the negotiations.

Nothing odd has come up and the talks are continuing, he said, adding we hope we can produce a deal as we stick to our principles.

Takht-e Ravanchi said that the talks have come to an end when it comes to some documents and appendixes, but there are still a few outstanding issues [which need to be settled before clinching a deal].

As for the extension of nuclear talks, he said that as far as Iran is concerned, there is no deadline. “We will continue the talks until we reach the intended result”.

Negotiating team not to bargain national dignity: Top negotiator

Emad Askarieh

July 10, 2015

UN Security Council Weakened by US Support for Israel: Iran Envoy

The negotiating team will not bargain national dignity in nuclear talks with P5+1, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Euro-American Affairs Majid Takht-e Ravanchi said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters, he said that the negotiating team will continue talks, considering the red lines.

Takht-e Ravanchi said if necessary Iran would continue the talks beyond the deadline to reach an agreement.

The Western governments are not bound to their verbal promises and change them at the time of writing the context of the deal, he added.

Takht-e Ravanchi left Vienna for Tehran on Thursday night to attend mourning ceremony of his wife’s mother.

Iranians observe International Quds Day

Emad Askarieh

July 10, 2015

Iranians from all walks of life turned out in droves in the capital, Tehran, and in over 770 towns and cities across the country to show support for Palestinians in the face of Israel’s crimes and atrocities.

Hundreds of local and foreign journalists covered the rallies on International Quds Day.

Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani and Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli-Larijani also joined the event.

Meanwhile, millions of people in other countries also marked the occasion by turning out en masse to vent their anger at the Israeli regime.

In a statement issued at the end of the nationwide demonstrations, the Iranian marchers referred to the liberation of al-Quds from the clutches of the Israeli regime as the top priority of the Muslim world, denouncing any scheme meant to distract the Muslims’ public opinion from the Palestinian cause.

They also demanded the return of all Palestinians to their homeland as well as a subsequent referendum for the Palestinian nation to freely decide its own future.

The protesters further slammed the international community’s deafening silence in the face of Israel’s attempts to Judaize the occupied Palestinian lands and destoy historical Palestinian identities, calling on regional and global organizations to take serious and practical measures to counter the regime’s plots.

They also censured the Takfiri violence fueled by ISIL terrorists in Iraq, Syria and Libya as well as the Al Saudi regime’s ongoing onslaught against Yemen as a plot hatched by the US, Israel and their raectionay allies in the region in an attempt to create division in the Islamic world.

Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic, named the last Friday of the lunar fasting month of Ramadan as International Quds Day. The event fell on July 10 this year.

Each year, millions of people around the world stage rallies on this day to voice their support for the Palestinian nation and repeat their call for an end to the Tel Aviv regime’s atrocities and its occupation of the Palestinian territories.

Zarif insists on continuing nuclear talks ‘as long as possible’

Emad Askarieh

July 10, 2015

Speaking to the press from the balcony of his hotel in Vienna, Zarif reiterated that he was prepared to continue the ongoing negotiation process with six world powers — the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany.

Asked about his interpretation of his twitter message ‘Mark my words; you can’t change horses in the middle of a stream’, Zarif smiled and replied, I wanted you to guess, otherwise I would have said it in a more straightforward way.

I wanted to make this a little bit interesting, Iran’s top diplomat said.

Another reporter asked about the time the Iranian team will return home, Zarif said, “We will leave God willing.”

Asked whether he was optimistic of the accord, Zarif said, “Had we not been, we would not have been here.”

Talks on a comprehensive nuclear deal were scheduled to continue through the night and tomorrow as foreign ministers of the seven countries were trying to find ways to overcome lingering differences on a final agreement.

Deputy Foreign Minister Abbass Araqchi and Presidential Aide, Hossein Fereydoun were also at the Palais Coburg balcony along Zarif at the time of the press conference.