Iranian people are nice and hospitable: US coach

June 22, 2015

The US volleyball coach John Speraw has lauded the Iranian people and said that the people have treated them so kindly.

“Two nights ago, I thought that the environment and play in this gym with these fans affected the way we played the game. Tonight [Sunday], Iran affected the way we played. We got beat by a better volleyball team by significant margin,” Speraw said in the post-match news conference.

“They outplayed us in every facet of the game: block, defense, passing, serving, and offense. So there is only one thing we can do, and that is to learn from this volleyball match to hope that we can improve.”

“We are a team and have some physical gifts, some big players who can jump high and beat the ball, but we have to play the entire game much better if we hope to be as a team as well-coached and skilled as Iran,” he added.

Regarding Iran and his message to Americans, Speraw said, “My first impression was that everyone here has been incredibly hospitable. Everyone has been very nice. They have gone out of their way to make sure that we had really nice experience here. I think we have enjoyed it tremendously. Iranian people are wonderful people and have treated us kindly.”

“We had the opportunity to get out into the city one day. We went to the [Milad Tower] and learned a little more about Tehran. I think that is good for us. We went to a nice lunch on the hills….”

“Yes, Iran’s a great place, so the message we would bring back is this: it was a great trip and we look forward to coming here again. And I think we have much better understanding of what the environment is both inside the arena and outside,” Speraw concluded.

Parliamentary motion does not tie government’s tactical hands

Golrokh Askarieh

June 22, 2015

A member of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee says Speaker Ali Larijani played a unique role in revising the text of a motion which requires government to safeguard the country’s nuclear rights and achievements.

Abbas Ali Mansouri Arani made the comment in an interview with Khabaronline.ir on June 21 and added nobody else could have played such a role in the revision of the draft. The following is the translation of what else the MP representing Kashan, Aran and Bidgol in parliament said about the motion whose general outlines were adopted in an open session of the chamber on Sunday:

The deputies tried to remove the ambiguities which could have surrounded and obstacles which could have stood in the way of nuclear talks by debating the motion that cleared parliament today. But government may have other views. The president is expected to share his views and concerns with the MPs.

Looking at what happened this past month, we learn that the motion the MPs put forward a few weeks ago differs sharply from what was debated on the floor today. The representatives revised most of its provisions and finally ratified a much better text than the previous draft.

Previous motion would have stalled the talks

What was to be put to the vote on the floor would have stopped the talks from continuing. I had frankly said in my interviews that the motion would spell an end to the talks, thus I expressed opposition when it was being discussed at the National Security [and Foreign Policy] Committee. But what we discussed today will not bring the talks to a halt; rather, it would draw up a clear roadmap.

Government should be thankful to parliament speaker

We discussed the motion in many sessions, but our efforts failed to bear fruit because of varied positions of some MPs, but Mr. Larijani built on his position as speaker and a member of the Supreme National Security Council as well as his popularity among fellow MPs to convince the deputies to revise the motion. That’s why government should be appreciative of the top MP who adopted a hands-on approach and did effective consultations for editing the motion.

Government’s views may be different from what has been included in the motion. It is quite natural if parliament and government do not see eye to eye over certain issues, because they have different responsibilities. This motion will not tie government’s hands, because it entails the red lines the Supreme Leader and the Supreme National Security Council have stressed. So we have not tied the hands of government and the nuclear negotiating team in adopting tactics; rather, we have only clarified the red lines.

President should speak frankly with MPs

Meetings between government and parliament could help boost solidarity. The president and parliament speaker should transparently speak their minds in such meetings. The president is expected to carefully explain the problems government is grappling with and share his concerns with the deputies.

Impeachments of Cabinet ministers

Impeachments of ministers will harm government and make people think poorly of the chamber. That’s why the president should transparently discuss the problems standing in the way. National interests carry weight for the deputies. The MPs, who sign an impeachment motion, think what they are about to do is in line with national interests; if they suspect that their signatures would harm the country, they would not definitely try to question a minister.

If the president fails to speak frankly with the MPs, a bad-case scenario will unfold. Despite the designation of this year as the Year of Solidarity and Harmony between government and nation, the year will see the most impeachments, questionings and notices. This would be in contravention of the Supreme Leader’s remarks and would create a paradox for people who might think the Leader – who forms the backbone of the establishment – calls for solidarity on the one hand and the three government branches which are supposed to implement the Leader’s guidelines are divided on the other.

This is a good opportunity to prevent the impeachment of the education minister from happening. If parliament can help in this regard, it should intervene and do its share.

Iran-P5+1 nuclear talks at sensitive stage: Rouhani

Golrokh Askarieh

June 22, 2015

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries over Tehran’s nuclear program have reached a sensitive stage.

“The issue of negotiations relates to the whole country and we hope that we will be able to reach an acceptable and promising result while preserving the nation’s rights and the country’s national interests with the help of the Parliament and support of the [Iranian] people,” Rouhani said in a joint meeting of Cabinet members and lawmakers in Tehran on Sunday.

He added that the nuclear talks between Tehran and the six global powers are one of the Islamic Republic’s most important diplomatic dialogs.

Rouhani emphasized that the nuclear talks have always been based on the guidelines of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as well as the criteria set by the Supreme National Security Council and the Constitution.

Ali Larijani Iran’s parliament speaker, for his part, stressed the importance of making efforts to fully support the Iranian negotiating team headed by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

“The nuclear talks are complicated negotiations. So, our country’s negotiating team should enjoy all-out support,” the Parliament speaker added.

He expressed hope that Iran and the six powers would manage to reach an appropriate outcome.

Larijani warned against the adverse consequences of distrust among Iranian authorities on domestic issues such as the nuclear case and said, “We currently need convergence more than ever and we should trust each other.”

The meeting came on the same day that Iranian legislators unanimously approved the generalities of a motion requiring the government to safeguard Iran’s nuclear rights.

The text of the motion said any agreement with the six powers should include the complete and immediate removal of all sanctions against Iran “on the day Iran starts fulfilling its obligations.”

Iranian lawmakers added that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be only permitted to “conduct conventional inspections” of Iran’s nuclear facilities within the framework of the Safeguards Agreement, noting that access to Iran’s “military, security and sensitive non-nuclear sites, documents and scientists is forbidden.”

The motion also calls on the Iranian government not to accept any restrictions on the acquisition of peaceful nuclear technology, research and development.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on June 22

Golrokh Askarieh

June 22, 2015

Approval by parliament of the general outlines of a bill that urged the government to safeguard the nuclear achievements of the nation dominated the front pages of Iranian newspapers on Monday. Reformist-leaning dailies also put the comments of Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in condemnation of what the previous government did on their covers.

Ettela’at: “We need to fully tap into our potential to counter social harms,” said President Rouhani.

A session of the Anti-Drugs Headquarters presided over by the president voted for a plan that protects the families of the addicts who go into rehab.

“The West, Europe in particular, should understand that the scourge of drugs is not only for Iran to deal with. They too should share the burden,” President Rouhani added.

Ettela’at: The Supreme Leader has donated some $30,000 to help inmates who are in prison because of their inability to pay back their debts.

Ettela’at: The multimedia software depicting the characteristic traits of Martyr Chamran has been unveiled.

Ettela’at: [Newly released] WikiLeaks documents suggest that Saudi Arabia wanted a regime change in Iran.

In one of those documents the Saudi ambassador [in Tehran] has said that unemployment and inflation offer perfect ground for creation of despair among the Iranians.

Ettela’at: Parliament has approved the general outlines of a bill that requires the government to safeguard the nuclear achievements of the country.

An open session of the chamber will look into the details of the plan on Tuesday.

Ettela’at: The per capita number of businesses in Iran is five times the world average.

Ettela’at: More than 300 unauthorized buildings have been demolished in Damavand.

Abrar: [Iranian negotiators] Araghchi and Takht-e Ravanchi have continued the nuclear talks with [Wendy] Sherman and Helga Schmid.

It came as French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that his country wants a firm deal to be struck with Iran.

Abrar: There are speculations that an operation to liberate Mosul is around the corner.

The Iraqi city has been under the control of IS terrorists for over a year.

Afarinesh: Parviz Mazloumi has made an unexpected return to Esteghlal Football Club.

Mazloumi has signed a contract with the club to take over as head coach of the capital’s heavyweight club.

Afkar: There has been a hike in the number of deaths caused by hospital infections in the country.

Aftab-e Yazd: Iran brought the world champions to their knees.

Iran has defeated the United States 3-0 in the FIVB World League for a second time.

Arman-e Emrooz: “During the eight years the previous government was in power, we were dealt a heavy blow,” said Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

He further said that injection of liquidity during the eight-year period was like “rabies”.

Asrar: “The Health Transformation Plan won’t suffer the same fate as the [cash] Subsidies Plan and Mehr Housing Plan [introduced by the previous government],” said Health Minister Hassan Hashemi.

Ebtekar: Revisions of the Speaker

“The nuclear case should not be soft-pedaled to the level of potato sales, it needs coordination and consultations with the Supreme National Security Council,” said Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.

Hosban: “The enemy does not dare attack Iran,” said the commander of the ground forces of the Iranian Army.

Iran: Baharestan [A Tehran street where parliament building is located] and Pasteur [Another street of the capital where the Presidential Office is located] are in tune.

President Rouhani: “Nuclear talks are an issue for the entire nation. With parliament’s contribution and public support, we hope to be able to reach an acceptable and satisfying result.”

Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani: “Definitely all officials should support the nuclear negotiating team.”

Kaenat: The judiciary chief is to present a televised report to the public on Monday.

Kayhan: The plan to safeguard the nuclear rights of the country was watered down in parliament!

Roozan: “Some clergymen are to blame for introducing Ahmadinejad [to the public],” said Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

The chairman of the Expediency Council has taken a swipe at the previous government and its supporters.

Maritime terrorism fearful of Iran’s power: Navy chief

Golrokh Askarieh

June 21, 2015

Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says pirates and maritime terrorists are fearful of the power of the Islamic Republic’s naval forces.

Sayyari said on Sunday that the Iranian naval forces are strongly present in the Middle East region and in high seas.

He added that Iranian naval forces have managed to safeguard the Islamic Republic’s resources and interests in high seas through their power and capabilities.

In recent years, Iran’s Navy has increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.

In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has been also conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 in order to safeguard merchant containers and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran or other countries.

Iran’s Navy has managed to foil several pirate attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers during its missions in international waters.

Sayyari further said that the Iranian naval forces’ success to build equipment, destroyers and missile boats has proved that the country can rely on domestic capabilities.

[…]

New Movie Mocks Anti-Iran Films

Golrokh Askarieh

June 21, 2015

An Iranian film titled Stupid Philosophers, which depicts several political figures including US President Barack Obama, is to serve as a response to anti-Iran films produced in the US and some European countries.

According to filmmakers, Stupid Philosophers, directed by Saeed Chari and produced by Hadi Meshkat, mocks anti-Iran and anti-Islam motion pictures.

“This film is Iran’s first official response to satellite channels and anti-Iran films produced in Hollywood, and mocks such films as Argo, 300, Rosewater, Robocop, and the anti-Islamic movie Innocence of Muslims,” the producers said.

The movie will also relate the events that happened on September 11, 2001, in the US.

“After the 9/11 events, George W. Bush invades Afghanistan and then Iraq, and is considering an attack on Iran as well. However, since he knows Iranians would not tolerate any invasion of their territory, the fear of defeat in a man-to-man conflict with Iran makes him give up the plan,” the summary of film’s story reads.

“Instead (of a military attack), the US resorts to soft war and targets Iran’s culture and family ties by producing anti-Iran films like Argo, 300, Rosewater, and the like, and launching anti-Iran satellite channels,” the summary reads.

Several other infamous individuals including Benjamin Netanyahu (Israeli prime minister), Ariel Sharon (former Israeli premier), Terry Jones (anti-Islam American pastor), Osama bin Laden (founder of Al-Qaeda terrorist group), Sam Bacile (producer of Innocence of Muslims) are also depicted in the film.

Sirous Kahurinejad will play the role of US President Obama, and comedian Hamid Lolaee will play Netanyahu. Reza Rooygari, Touraj Nasr, Seyed Javad Hashemi, and Sharareh Rokham are also among other cast members appearing in this movie.

Iran parliament approves general outlines of nuclear bill

Emad Askarieh

June 21, 2015

The Iranian MPs on Sunday adopted the general outlines of a motion which obliges government to safeguard the country’s nuclear achievements. The chamber will go into session on Tuesday to review the details of the motion.

Fararu on June 21 published a report on the parliamentary motion and its articles read out by Speaker Ali Larijani in an open session as well as Larijani’s remarks and the reactions they drew from fellow MPs. The following is the translation of the report:

Larijani said to protect national interests and comply with the Safeguards [Agreement] of the NPT, the results of nuclear talks with P5+1 would be reliable if they transparently meet the following requirements:

One: The removal of sanctions should be fully and comprehensively included in the text of the [final] agreement. Termination of sanctions should be carried out the day Iran starts to fulfill its commitments.

Two: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is allowed to run conventional inspections of [Iran’s] nuclear sites within the framework of the Safeguards Agreement. The agency is not allowed to have access to sensitive non-nuclear, security and military sites as well as [the country’s] documents and scientists. The decisions of the Supreme National Security Council should be implemented.

Three: No restriction is accepted when it comes to acquisition of peaceful nuclear technology and knowhow as well as research and development, and the decisions of the Supreme National Security Council should be implemented.

Note One: Under Articles 77 and 125 of the Constitution, the results of the talks should be presented to the Islamic Consultative Assembly.

Note Two: The foreign minister is required to present a report to the Islamic Consultative Assembly on the implementation of the agreement every six months.

Parliament’s National Security [and Foreign Policy] Committee will submit a progress report of the agreement to the MPs every six months.

After Larijani read out the articles of the legislative motion on safeguarding nuclear achievements, the MPs voted on its general outlines. The motion was adopted 199-3. There were five abstentions out of a total of 213 votes cast.

Prior to reading out the general outlines of the motion, the top MP said that efforts made by the deputies to piece together this motion have proved successful, adding the motion has taken everything into account.

When Larijani was reading out the motion, a number of MPs protested by asking why the Supreme National Security Council [should be involved]?

The speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly replied, “The Supreme National Security Council is supervised by the Supreme Leader and we should not tie the Leader’s hands. We have to obey what the Supreme Leader decides on this.”

Larijani went on to stress that the Supreme National Security Council is not linked to the executive and that it is supervised by the Supreme Leader.

Ahrar al-Najran Movement calls for independence from Saudi Arabia

Emad Askarieh

June 21, 2015

Tribal political activists in Saudi Arabia’s Najran region, which borders Yemen, have formed a grouping called Ahrar al-Najran Movement, calling for independence from Saudi Arabia.

The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted the website of Nabaa TV as reporting that the newly-formed group has called on Yemeni popular forces to offer its members military training.

The following is the translation of a report IRNA filed on June 21on the movement and its demands:

Abu Bakr Abi Ahmed al-Salami, a leader of Ahrar al-Najran, says the movement which brings together different tribal groups is set to launch its first battle in parts of south Najran occupied by the Saudi army.

Areas of Najran where members of the movement hail from were originally part of Yemen’s territory which was occupied by the Saudis in 1934.

There are four main reasons why the movement wants to declare independence from Saudi Arabia:

1. General dissatisfaction in Saudi Arabia with the way officials in Riyadh handle day-to-day administration of affairs,

2. Riyadh’s policy to keep the south impoverished,

3. Aggression against Yemen and the massacre of defenseless people there by the Saudi regime,

4. Failure of the Saudi government to view the residents of the south as first-class citizens, thus violation of their legitimate rights.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on June 21

Emad Askarieh

June 21, 2015

The WikiLeaks documents on Saudi Arabia’s behind-the-scenes measures and the comments of the judiciary spokesman about a number of high-profile cases dominated the front pages of Iranian newspapers on Sunday.

Ettela’at: Major WikiLeaks revelations about the behind-the-scenes of Saudi dictatorship

Some of the newly released documents show that the former Saudi King had ordered Iran’s Arabic-Language TV Channel Al-Alam be jammed immediately.

Ettela’at: The legislative and executive branches of government will have a joint meeting later today.

The meeting to be hosted by the Executive is designed to promote interaction and consultations between the two branches.

Ettela’at: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will hold bilateral meetings with three European counterparts in Luxembourg Monday.

The foreign ministers of P5+1 will fly to Vienna before June 30.

Ettela’at: Some 244,000 babies were born across Iran in the first two months of the year [started March 21, 2015].

During the same period more than 26,000 divorces were registered across the country.

Ettela’at: Bushfires in the forests of the northern provinces of Golestan and Mazandaran

The fire blackened more than 10 hectares of forests and orchards in Kojur. It also partially destroyed a village in Golestan Province.

Ettela’at: Youngsters have recited the holy Koran in the holy shrine of Masoumeh in Qom.

Ettela’at: Police have sounded alarm bells: Hackers lie in wait to pounce on those who shop textbooks online.

Abrar: “The impeachment of the education minister is not politically-motivated,” said a parliament representative.

Afkar: An Iranian official has denied reports that Iran and Australia have struck a deal on forced repatriation of Iranian asylum-seekers.

Aftab-e Yazd: The Tehran-Washington education diplomacy

A delegation of American academics has visited Iran, inspecting a dozen higher education facilities.

Arman-e Emrooz: Those who disrupted the speech of senior officials in Imam Khomeini Mausoleum have been identified.

Will this bring a chapter on extremism to a close?

Asr-e Iranian: Up to 5 million Iranians are unemployed.

Etemad: “The case of Mehdi Hashemi has been sent to the division that implements the verdicts,” the judiciary spokesman told a news conference.

Farhikhtegan: “Iran will place orders for 400 aircraft in the near future,” said the minister of roads and urban development.

Iran: “I don’t think an extension of nuclear talks will be needed,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Iran: “Serial impeachment of the Cabinet ministers won’t serve the interests of the nation,” said a principlist MP.

Kayhan: Newly released WikiLeaks documents show that the Seditionists [a reference to those who disputed the results of the 2009 presidential elections and thus sparked widespread unrest] were in contact with the Saudi Royal Court.

Resalat: “There is no such thing as PMD (Possible Military Dimensions) in Iran’s nuclear program,” said FM Zarif.

The top diplomat further said that sanctions have failed to produce their intended results.

Resalat: The head coach of the Iranian volleyball team has expressed hope his team will pull off a second win against the US.

Iran is to line up against the US on Sunday. In the first FIVB World League game on home soil, Iran defeated the US in straight sets on Friday.

Iran censures US double standards on terrorism

Emad Askarieh

June 21, 2015

Tehran has rejected the anti-Iran accusations in the annual global terrorism report by the US Department of State, censuring Washington for adopting a double-standard approach in dealing with the issue of terrorism.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham on Saturday described the content of the US report as repetitive and said a politically-motivated stance on terrorism further complicates the issue.

“The growing and complicated scourge of terrorism is rooted in applying double standards and a political approach toward this evil and inhumane phenomenon,” Afkham said.

In its annual global terrorism report released on Friday, the State Department accused Iran of supporting terrorist groups and conducting terror-related activities.

The Iranian official also described Iran as the “biggest victim of terrorism” over the past three decades, adding that leveling accusations against a country which spearheads international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism and violence is part of a “blame game” played against the Islamic Republic.

The Iranian official took a swipe at the real supporters of terrorist groups as well as the so-called advocates of human rights for the surge in terror threats in the world.

Afkham questioned the US claim of fighting terrorism, saying the presence and unhindered operations of terrorists in the US, Washington’s failure to take a serious and firm action against terrorist and extremist groups as well as its indifference to Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people discredit such so-called terrorism reports.

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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

Iranian people are nice and hospitable: US coach

The US volleyball coach John Speraw has lauded the Iranian people and said that the people have treated them so kindly.

Parliamentary motion does not tie government’s tactical hands

Iran-P5+1 nuclear talks at sensitive stage: Rouhani

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on June 22

Maritime terrorism fearful of Iran’s power: Navy chief

New Movie Mocks Anti-Iran Films

An Iranian film titled Stupid Philosophers, which depicts several political figures including US President Barack Obama, is to serve as a response to anti-Iran films produced in the US and some European countries.

Iran parliament approves general outlines of nuclear bill

Ahrar al-Najran Movement calls for independence from Saudi Arabia

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on June 21

Iran censures US double standards on terrorism

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