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Iran to stand by Iraq in fighting ISIL: Larijani

By
Emad Askarieh
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larijani-obeidi

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has been trying to help establish democracy and a national unity government in Iraq since the beginning of the new era in the country and now that Iraq suffers from the scourge of the ISIL terrorist grouping, the Islamic Republic considers it a duty to help its Iraqi brothers,” Larijani said during a meeting with Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi in Tehran on Tuesday.

Larijani added that Iran has stood and will stand by the Iraqi government and people.

The Iranian official said big powers created terrorism in a bid to undermine the trend of development and democracy in Syria and Iraq and now the scourge threatens the entire region.

Larijani also praised the reinforcement of the national unity government in Iraq and said solidarity among different Iraqi groups would help resolve problems and development.

Obeidi, for his part, praised Iran’s help to his country in different areas. He also said Baghdad is resolute in wiping out terrorists in the country.

The Takfiri ISIL militants hold some parts of Iraq and Syria under their control.

Iraqi forces, supported by the nation, have made gains against the terrorists in different parts of the Arab country, liberating towns and villages.

Iran has said, on numerous occasions, that it does not engage in military acts in Iraq but only provides advice to the Baghdad government in the fight against militants.

How Iranians contribute to tourism

By
Emad Askarieh
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On December 29, www.ichto.ir, the official website of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), quoted Morteza Rahmani Movahed, the deputy director of the organization for tourism affairs as saying that the stage has been set for public sharing of information about Iran’s tourist attractions. His comments come ahead of a 4-day International Exhibition on Tourism Industry which opens on Tehran’s Permanent International Fairgrounds on February 12, 2015. What appears below is the translation of his remarks:

Morteza Rahmani MovahedAt present, the stage has been set for the sharing of travel experiences to different parts of the country through #tehransmiles. Internet users can try to introduce Iran’s tourism potential and attract people around the world to this international exhibition which is to be held for the first time in a fashion that lives up to the name of Iran.

With the rise of the capabilities of the virtual world, traditional ways to attract tourists have changed. Today’s tourists have quick access to online information about tourist attractions and plan their trips based on such information, so Internet users at home can use the opportunity to introduce Iran as a great cultural destination in the world.

Through public contribution and national determination to wisely and responsibly introduce the tourism assets of Iran, tourism, as a major job-creating industry in Iran, can play an important role in introducing Iran to the world on the Internet.

The upcoming exhibition offers a great opportunity to introduce Iran as a hub of culture and civilization to the world. A change in the international approach as a result of the wise strategies of the Government of Prudence and Hope has fostered an online atmosphere brimful of interest and attraction to Iran’s tourist assets. Undoubtedly, effective steps such as holding international exhibitions, marketing and advertisement along with seeking advice from the countries which have been be successful on this front could unlock the country’s tourism potential.

Red carpets rolled out of black tents

By
Emad Askarieh
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Iran-Black tents

Thousands of foreign tourists are expected to arrive in Iran and be settled in nomadic black tents as part of grand tours in 2015 and 2016. The following is the translation of a report on the tours filed by the website of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization:

Appearing on “Hi, Good Day” show on Jaam-e Jam [an external TV service of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting], Director of the Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization Masoud Soltanifar said that arrangements are being made for the settlement of thousands of foreign tourists in the so-called black tents in nomadic areas across the country.

Recalling the success of the 11th government in promoting tourism, he said a decade ago only five villages in the country were capable of accommodating foreign tourists, but now thanks to foreign interests in rural tourism, most villages can put up foreign tourists who can live in rural houses and see firsthand what kind of life people in the Iranian countryside lead.

He further said Muslim and Arab tourists are more interested in northern provinces of the country as well as those home to religious sites, while European tourists are fond of villages on the edge of deserts.

 

US calls for exchange of spy held in Iran

By
Emad Askarieh
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Amir Mirzaei Hekmati

Washington has requested Tehran to exchange Amir Mirzaei Hekmati, a spy that is serving a 10-year prison term in Iran, his attorney told Tasnim on Tuesday.

The US has submitted the request via its Interest Section in Iran, the prisoner’s attorney Seyyed Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaei told Tasnim News Agency.

He said the request has been submitted to Iran’s Judiciary, but Tehran has not responded to it so far.

Asked about any specific individual or individuals Washington may have considered as part of the proposed exchange deal, the attorney declined to specify any name, saying it would be made public at the Iranian Judiciary’s discretion.

Mirzaei Hekmati, an Iranian-born now in his 30s, was arrested in Iran on December 7, 2011, on a charge of working for hostile states and the CIA against Iran.

He was initially sentenced to death, but an appeals court overturned the verdict and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

Iran ranks first among Islamic states on invention registration

By
Emad Askarieh
-
Iran science

Iran stands first among Islamic states in terms of registering inventions, a ‘Science-Innovation Atlas of Islamic States’ report released by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) said.

Based on the report presented in the 7th meeting of Islamic ministers of educations in Morocco, Iran ranks first among the 57 Islamic countries in terms of science and research.

Up to 50 percent of Islamic countries’ research papers are produced in Iran and Turkey, it said.

The report said that Tunisia, Malaysia, Turkey and Iran have covered most of their research and development expenses from their Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Tunisia, Jordan, Turkey and Iran are the four Islamic countries which have the highest number of researchers per each 100.000 people.

ISIL hampered in Iraq with help of Iran’s armed forces: Speaker

By
Emad Askarieh
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Ali Larijani
Ali Larijani

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Monday hailed the country’s armed forces for their effective and timely assistance to Iraq that helped the Arab country obstruct an offensive by the ISIL “savage” terrorists.

Addressing a Monday meeting of a parliamentary faction, Larijani highlighted the role that Iranian military forces play in ensuring security across the region.

He said the Iranian armed forces rushed to provide assistance to neighboring Iraq and “blocked the savage terrorists who posed a serious threat to Iraq”.

Pointing to his recent visit to Iraq and Kurdistan semi-autonomous region, Larijani said all Iraqi officials expressed gratitude to Iran for its “timely and genuine action” in the fight against the ISIL terrorist group.

He said Iran took practical measures to help crisis-ridden Iraq while others were just talking without taking any action.

“Therefore, our armed forces played a significant role both in deterrence and in providing security in the region,” he concluded.

Tehran has already made it clear that its assistance to Iraq is confined to consultation and advisory help.

Iranian officials say Iraq is capable of defending itself and there is no need for Iran to send any combat forces to the Arab country.

The ISIL militants made swift advances in much of northern and western Iraq over the summer, after capturing large swaths of northern Syria.

However, a combination of concentrated attacks by the Iraqi military and the popular forces, who rushed to take up arms after top Iraqi cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa calling for fight against the militants, have blunted the edge of the ISIL offensive.

They have been committing heinous crimes in the areas they have taken, including the mass execution of civilians as well as Iraqi army troops and officers.

Amid tensions in Iraq, Iran is known as the first country to help the Arab country and has always voiced support for Iraq’s solidarity and prosperity.

Saeid Marouf happy to join Zenit Kazan

By
Emad Askarieh
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Iranian national volleyball team captain Saeid Marouf said that he is happy to join Russia's Zenit Kazan.
Iranian national volleyball team captain Saeid Marouf said that he is happy to join Russia's Zenit Kazan.

Iranian national volleyball team captain Saeid Marouf said that he is happy to join Russia’s Zenit Kazan.

The Russian giant announced the signing of Marouf on Saturday.

He will join his new team as soon as he gets a Russian Visa.

The excellent setter has signed a contract until the end of the season, with an option to extend it.

“Perhaps before going to Russia I will hold a press conference, but now I just want to say that I am glad because all the problems have been solved,” Marouf told khabaronline.ir.

“And” he added “I am glad that I can finally play volleyball in Europe.”

Navy foils pirate attack on Iranian tanker

By
Emad Askarieh
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Navy foils pirate attack

The 32nd Fleet of the Iranian Navy rescued an Iranian oil tanker from a pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden on Monday.

The flotilla, which includes the Jamaran destroyer and Bushehr logistic vessel, was attending the ‘Mohammad Rasoulallah’ wargames in the north of the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden to protect the Islamic Republic’s interests in the international waters, and along naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.

The Iranian tanker was passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait when it was chased by armed pirates riding in eight speedboats.

The Iranian Army started the massive ‘Mohammad Rasoulallah’ six-day military drill to display the country’s military prowess on Dec 25.

The exercises cover an area of 2.2 million square kilometers stretching from the east of the Strait of Hormuz all the way to the north of the Indian Ocean.

Iran ready to boost defense, military ties with Iraq: Dehghan

By
Emad Askarieh
-
Iran-Iraq-Dehqan

Iran’s support for the Iraqi armed forces is part of the Islamic Republic’s defense and security strategies, Dehghan said in a meeting with Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi in Tehran on Monday.

He added that support for Iraq’s unity and territorial integrity, promotion of democracy based on the country’s constitution, full establishment of security and the war-stricken country’s progress in all fields are among Iran’s fundamental and sustainable policies.

The Iranian minister further commended the recent victories by Iraqi armed forces over the ISIL Takfiri militants and expressed hope that the fight against terrorism would seriously continue in the country.

Dehghan strongly criticized unilateral measures under the pretext of battling the ISIL militants and said such moves would lead to the persistence and spread of terrorism in the region.

He emphasized that any military intervention in Iraq and Syria against the terrorists must be carried out in coordination with the two countries’ governments.

Obeidi, for his part, said Iraq regards Iran’s support for its armed forces as a strategic imperative.

He also called for Iran’s cooperation in countering terrorism and corruption as well as the reconstruction of the war-torn country.

Iraqi forces have made fresh gains against the ISIL Takfiri terrorists in recent weeks. The most notable of all operations came in November when Iraqi forces retook the strategic town of Baiji and its refinery from the terrorists. The Iraqi army also managed to liberate key districts in the city of Samarra in early December.

Iran has repeatedly stressed that it will not interfere militarily in Iraq and Syria, but the Islamic Republic continues to provide support to both countries against ISIL in the form of defense consultancy and humanitarian aid.

The wrinkled Mona Lisa on display in a Tehran gallery

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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wrinkled Mona Lisa

On December 28, honaronline.ir filed a report on an exhibition featuring wrinkled portraits by Mohammad Hamzeh. What follows is a partial translation of the report which was accompanied by a photo gallery:

Portraits of figures dating back to the Renaissance have become the theme of a painting exhibition by Iranian artist Mohammad Hamzeh, who has taken a look at the magnificence of that era through an esthetic prism. He has tried to depict the past glory by means of creases that the passage of time has imposed on his subjects. The portraits have developed wrinkles and aged, but their nobility has remained intact.

As for what distinguishes his fourth collection of wrinkled works from previous ones, Hamzeh said, “My fourth collection is not intended to create deformity. Such subtle wrinkles and tiny cracks have opened up slowly. In fact, that’s the way through which I look at the world. I don’t seek to create deformity, that’s why I have tried to make my new wrinkled works seem more real.”

Instead of causing damage to the portraits, wrinkles help the artist inject fresh blood into the paintings and make them stage a strong comeback from the past.

Describing the wrinkles as a symbol representing the passage of time, he said, “Wrinkles don’t merely appear on faces, even historical monuments get them too. Facial wrinkles might age people but they fail to totally ruin their beauty. They have no impact on their nature and even help people look more mature. As a matter of fact, wrinkles are not a reflection of death, or annihilation; rather they are a sure sign of life. They represent aging which is still beautiful.”

 

In an introductory booklet of the exhibition, Omid Rouhani, an art critic and actor said, “These portraits depict centuries-old aristocrats and the elite of the Renaissance who are still bathed in glow of pride. They have been detached from their world to appear on a background which is devoid of time and space to let their beauty and glory shine and reflect the height of their individuality, elegance and grandeur. […] By marring their apparent beauty, the artist has sought to explore new esthetics.”

Mohammad Hamzeh is 51 years old. The exclusive exhibition which displays his wrinkled portraits painted through the acrylic technique is his 12th. Earlier, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art and art galleries in New York and Germany displayed his works along with those of other artists.

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