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IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

Iran News
Politics
Business
Society
- Education
- Environment
- Health
- Human Rights
- Incidents
- Lifestyle
- Sport
- Women
Culture
- Art
- Architecture
- Books
- Cinema
- Cultural Heritage
- Food
- Handicrafts
- Media
- Religion
World
- Africa
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- Asia
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Home Blog Page 4869

Italian Companies Eyeing Investment in Iran

January 10, 2015

A senior Italian trade official has acknowledged that the Iranian economy is growing despite Western sanctions, stressing that a large number of Italian companies are ready to invest in Iran.

“We did not expect to see the Iranian people and companies in such welfare and comfort: rather we thought that the sanctions have paralyzed the life and economy of Iran,” Head of the Italian Chamber of Commerce Silvano Pascuno said on Thursday.

“Today we are witnessing a reverse condition and have been surprised; therefore next year we will come to Tehran along with two or three times as many businessmen,” he added.

He reiterated that the Italian companies like other European firms have been under pressure due to the sanctions imposed against Iran.

“The Italian companies have come to Iran with the help of the Italian government and after their close observations of Iran they are interested in cooperating in the field of industry, heavy machineries and other economic areas,” Pascuno said.

In November, Iran’s Ambassador to Rome Jahanbakhsh Mozaffari enumerated the various advantages of the Iranian market for investment, including oil and gas projects, and invited the Italian companies to seize the existing opportunities.

During a seminar to introduce Iran’s economic potential to the Italian businesses in Rome on Thursday, Mozaffari encouraged Italian companies to play a more active role in the Iranian markets.

During the meeting, members of Iran-Italy joint trade chamber discussed existing potential for bilateral economic cooperation, referring to Iran as a proper place in the region for investment and production.

Zarif, Kerry to meet in Geneva on January 14

Emad Askarieh

January 10, 2015

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry will hold a bilateral meeting in the Swiss city of Geneva on January 14 for talks on Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program, a top Iranian negotiator said.

Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, a senior member of the Iranian team of nuclear negotiators and a deputy foreign minister, announced on Friday that the top Iranian and US diplomats will travel to Geneva to “offer the necessary guidance” before their deputies hold nuclear talks.

According to Araghchi, negotiating teams from Iran and the US are slated to hold bilateral meetings in the Swiss city from January 15 to 17.

Later on January 18, Iran and the group of six world powers (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) will resume nuclear talks in Geneva at the deputy ministerial level, he added.

Araghchi also unveiled plans for bilateral meetings between Iran and Russia ahead of the Geneva talks.

“On Monday, January 12, Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister and that country’s representative in the nuclear talks, will travel to Iran for bilateral nuclear negotiations,” he noted.

Negotiations on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program will resume after a one-month hiatus. The parties concluded a round of deputy-level talks in Switzerland on December 17.

The talks in Geneva was the first round of negotiations between the two sides after they wrapped up a week of intensive nuclear talks in Vienna on November 24 without reaching a long-awaited deal they were supposed to hammer out by the November 24 deadline.

The parties, however, decided to extend for more 7 months the deadline for signing a comprehensive agreement.

Negotiations between Iran and the sextet aim to hammer out a final agreement to end more than a decade of impasse over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program.

Iran ready to annul visa requirements with neighbors

Emad Askarieh

January 10, 2015

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared to waive visa [requirements] or facilitate the process of issuing visas for all countries, especially the neighbors, if they take similar action,” said Hassan Ghashghavi, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary and Iranian Expatriates’ Affairs.

Ghashghavi cited Kuwait as an example, saying that Iran is planning to annul visa requirements for Kuwaiti nationals as the Arab country no longer requires Iranian visitors to obtain visas.

The high-ranking Iranian diplomat, who was addressing a national conference on health tourism, said that Iran has nearly halved tariffs for issuing health visas compared to the fees charged for ordinary visas.

“…this shows Iran’s cooperation … to ease traveling to Iran for foreign nationals,” he said.

He noted that Iran is a safe destination for foreign tourists as there has been no report of any incident for foreigners visiting the country over the past few years.

Terrorism, violence in name of Islam reprehensible: Rouhani

Emad Askarieh

January 10, 2015

“We condemn extremism, violence and terrorism whether in Palestine, Lebanon and the Levant or in Paris and the US,” Rouhani said in a meeting with the delegates to the Islamic Unity Conference in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Friday.

“Those who are unrightfully killing people and carrying out acts of violence and extremism in the name of Jihad, religion or Islam are, wittingly or unwittingly, treading the path of [promoting] Islamophobia and [are actually] fighting against Islam,” he added.

Rouhani once again reaffirmed the Islamic Republic’s support for nations that stand up and resist terrorism.

“We are very happy that Muslim people in the region from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine to Pakistan and Afghanistan resist extremism, violence and terrorism and achieve new victories on a daily basis,” the Iranian president stated.

Rouhani emphasized that Iran condemns any person who supports terrorism and violence whether in the regional countries or in Europe and the US.

The Iranian president’s remarks came after masked gunmen stormed the Paris headquarters of the satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo, on Wednesday, gunning down a dozen people, including eight journalists, two police officers, a maintenance worker and a visitor.

A policewoman on Thursday also succumbed to injuries she sustained in a separate shooting in southern Paris.

On Friday, a shootout, followed by a hostage-taking at a kosher grocery shop northeast of Paris, left at least two people dead.

Tehran Friday prayer leader condemns France’s terror attack

Emad Askarieh

January 9, 2015

The Friday prayer leader of Tehran Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami has strongly condemned Wednesday’s terrorist attack in Paris and said, “Islam does not approve of killing innocent people, whether in Paris, or in Syrian, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The following is the translation of part of Ayatollah Khatami’s sermon as reported by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on January 9:

In comments aimed at Western powers, the Friday prayer leader said, “These terrorists are part of a problem of your own making. They live off the political support you and your allies lend them.”

He urged Western powers to quit mischief and said the approach the West has followed in the past decade – support for terrorists – leads nowhere and should be abandoned.

Ayatollah Khatami also criticized the Bahraini government for its heavy-handed tactics in dealing with the peaceful protests of its people.

Divisive moves linked to Western spy agencies: Leader

Emad Askarieh

January 9, 2015

“The hands that sow discord among Shias and Sunnis are linked to the spy services of the enemies of Islam,” said the Leader in a meeting with the delegates to the Islamic Unity Conference underway in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Ayatollah Khamenei noted that the Western-style leanings alleged to be Islamic, in fact, run counter to Islam.

“The [so-called] Shiism linked to the UK’s MI6 is not [real] Shia [Islam], nor is the [so-called] Sunnism which is the mercenary of America’s CIA [real] Sunni [Islam], but both are against Islam,” the Leader said.

The Leader further called on Muslim nations to close ranks and foster their unity.

Ayatollah Khamenei then noted that certain Middle East states which are pursuing a hostile approach vis-à-vis Iran have set foot in the wrong path.

“Some regional governments have based their foreign policy on enmity toward Iran; this is a big mistake and runs counter to common sense and wisdom,” the Leader said.

“On the contrary, Iran has based its policy on friendship with neighboring Muslim nations.”

Afghan media team visits refugees’ schools in Tehran

Emad Askarieh

January 8, 2015

A media delegation from Afghanistan on Wednesday paid a visit to the schools the Afghan refugees and nationals attend. Fars News Agency released photos of the Afghan team’s visit in Tehran on January 7. Take a look:

Iran, OPEC states pursuing sliding crude prices

Emad Askarieh

January 8, 2015

Iran and other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are pursuing the issue of falling oil prices, says Iran’s oil minister.

“The issue of global oil prices is not that simple, but Iran and [other] OPEC members are following up the issue [of plummeting price],” Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told reporters on Wednesday.

He described plunging oil prices as complicated, saying that the issue is affected by both economic factors and political intentions.

A rise in the production of petroleum products could not help lower crude prices, Zanganeh added.

“Global oil supply and demand as well as products are all significant. More products will bring us further added value, but given the present circumstances, oil prices will not change. Nevertheless, the cost of petroleum products has fallen, too,” Zanganeh added.

On Wednesday, the price of Brent crude oil fell below $50 a barrel for the first time since May 2009. Meanwhile, the West Texas Intermediate crude has already fallen below $50.

Oil prices have plunged about 50 percent since June last year over increased supplies by certain countries such as Saudi Arabia, the largest OPEC producer, and slowing global economic growth.

Observers say that oil price could see further declines in the coming weeks as OPEC seems unlikely to do anything about over-output.

We need to get closer to religions through rationality

Emad Askarieh

January 8, 2015

Iran-Larijani PUIC Troika must urgently meet on Gaza — Iran’s Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani

The speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly said that the group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has been formed based on warmongering attitudes. Ali Larijani went on to say that the ISIL warlords are likely to be led by others, but the group members have their own ideologies and this shows that something serious and practical must be done. The top MP also underscored efforts to keep interfaith dialogue alive and a focus on commonalities as what is direly needed for peaceful coexistence.

Larijani made the remarks in a ceremony celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him) and the graduation of students of the University of Religions and Denominations on Thursday in the central city of Qom. The following is the translation of his comments as reported by Fars News Agency on January 8:

Formation of a university which could focus – along with the seminary schools – on [different] religions and denominations was of great significance. Today we see that such a university is flourishing in Qom.

It is a must to delve deeply into religions and denominations from different angles. In the past, controversies arose in the East and West for which biased people waged wars against each other. Today we witness that ignorant prejudice against and improper attitudes toward religion have brought disgrace [on nations].

A look at this condition reveals that research into religions and denominations is highly essential. The current situation in the region has caused the potential of several Islamic countries to be wasted; only the US and Israel take advantage of this situation.

The ISIL group has emerged drawing on a warlike mentality, and their warlords seem likely to have been led by others. They have ideologies of their own and this shows serious scientific studies should be carried out.

Conflicts have given rise to multiple problems in the world of Islam. These conflicts have even been taken to their TV channels.

Religions have been practiced by a large population throughout the world. They share many questions and this is the potential which should not be ignored.

Where people are to be guided to is the centerpiece of a religious way of thinking. Commonalities [among various religions] should be highlighted, and peaceful coexistence – not division and discord – should be the core of [religious] principles.

Proximity with religions should be accompanied through a rational view. It should be noted that all religions have mystic views and orientations. Positive results will be produced if we pay due attention to mystic questions on top of rational matters.

Dialogue among religions should be kept alive. Socially speaking, today’s world is in need of interfaith dialogue, and the existing voids should be filled in this regard.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Jan. 8

Emad Askarieh

January 8, 2015

The comments of the Supreme Leader about important issues such as national unity and nuclear talks dominated the front pages of the Iranian dailies on Thursday. The president’s remarks at an Islamic Unity conference in Tehran also made front-page headlines. Last but not least, the deadly terrorist attack in Paris that claimed 12 lives appeared on the cover of almost every newspaper.

Abrar Eghtesadi: Parliament has rejected a government plan to keep unchanged the National Development Fund’s share of oil revenues.

Aftab-e Yazd: The Law Enforcement Force has urged promoters of virtue to talk softly to the public.

Aftab-e Yazd: Oil prices dropped by as much as $3 in a single day.

Arman-e Emrooz: “I am not against talks. Everyone should help the government. Creation of division is against our ideals and national interests,” said the Supreme Leader.

Arman-e Emrooz: “Laws can be changed,” is what Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani thinks of referendum.

Ebtekar: “Floating the idea of holding a referendum is not illegal,” said the government spokesman.

Etemad: There are conflicting reports about messaging and phone apps LINE, WhatsApp, and Tango being blocked.

Etemad: Black Wednesday in Paris. Gunmen stormed the offices of Charlie Hebdo satirical weekly in Paris, killing 12 people and wounding five others.

Ettela’at: “Recognition of each other and tolerance are the requirements of unity,” President Rouhani told an Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran.

Hemayat: “Tying the country’s economy to nuclear talks is the same as reassuring the enemy,” said Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani.

Iran: Terrorists staged a bloody show in Paris, killing 12 people.

Iran: The government spokesman has said it is shameful that some have insulted the president following his call for a referendum on major issues.

Javan: “American companies have expressed readiness to screen Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah,” said Majid Majidi the director of the movie which will premiere at the 33^rd Fajr International Film Festival later this year.