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

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Business
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- Health
- Human Rights
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- Lifestyle
- Sport
- Women
Culture
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Home Blog Page 4878

Jewish Iranian Solayman Haim remembered in Tehran

Emad Askarieh

December 30, 2014

Literary figures and government officials attended a ceremony organized by Tehran’s Association of Jews on Sunday in commemoration of Haim and for his great services to the Persian language.

Haim, who is also known as Hayyim, dedicated almost his entire life to translation and writing dictionaries. He died at the age of 82 in February 1970 in Tehran and is known as the father of bilingual dictionary in Iran.

During the ceremony, Gholamali Haddad Adel, who serves as the director of the Academy of Persian Language and Literature, praised Haim for his great achievements and endeavors in expanding the Persian language. Haddad Adel said many Iranians of his age started learning English with Haim dictionary.

Mohammad Reza Batebi, a well-known professor of linguistics, said during the ceremony that “what Haim did was beyond the power and energy of a man,” reflecting his deep love and affection for the job.

Siamak Meresedq, the representative of the Jewish community in Iran’s Parliament (Majlis), commented on the role of the Persian language in creating solidarity among various ethnic groups in Iran. He said Iranian Jews have hugely contributed to the expansion of the Persian language as a way to facilitate their coexistence with followers of other religions in the country.

War on drugs inflicts huge cost on Iran: official

Emad Askarieh

December 30, 2014

The Iranian justice minister says the country’s war on drugs has imposed enormous costs and a huge loss of life on the country.

Mostafa Pourmohammadi said Monday that the majority of the prisoners and most of the legal cases in the Iranian courts are related to drug offenses.

He said the government has not achieved the “desired outcome” in its war on drugs, despite the “huge investment” made to improve the situation.

Pourmohammadi called for a change in Iran’s approach to the issue and said the fight against drugs should acquire social dimensions.

Sharing a long border with Afghanistan, Iran is one of the major corridors of drug trafficking in the region. Hundreds if not thousands of traffickers, most of them armed, are arrested annually by Iranian police and border guards. Based on the Iranian laws, those involved in large-scale transfer and trafficking of drugs are sentenced to death.

Secretary of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights said in early December that the government is “making a big stride” in reducing the number of death penalties being meted out for drug offenses.

Mohammad Javad Larijani said the number of drug-related death penalties could be reduced by 80 percent if the current laws change.

Iran voices readiness to develop relations with China

December 29, 2014

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expresses readiness for Iran to further develop relations with China in all fields.

He made the remarks at a meeting with Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Zhang Ming in Tehran on Sunday.

“The Iranian and Chinese presidents paved the ground to further boost ties in their last meeting in (the Chinese city of) Shanghai, and It’s necessary for the relevant sectors in both countries to take steps toward implementation of the agreements signed by them,” Zarif said.

Zarif also hailed China’s positive role in the ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 Group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany).

Zhang, for his part, referred to the growing number of meetings between Iranian and Chinese officials in the last year, saying, “Relations between China and Iran is on the rise in all spheres, and we believe the two countries’ ties are strategic.”

Regarding Iran’s nuclear negotiations with the six world powers, Zhang expressed hope that the talks would lead to a comprehensive agreement.

Beijing welcomes a comprehensive nuclear deal that can “lead to allaying concerns on both sides,” he noted.

Iran’s nuclear policy is transparent: Nahavandian

Emad Askarieh

December 29, 2014

Mohammad Nahavandian, President Rouhani’s chief of staff, said on Saturday that Iran’s policy on its nuclear program is transparent and there is no reason for concern in this regard.

He made the remark in a meeting in Tehran with new Norwegian Ambassador to Iran Aud Lise Norheim.

Nahavandian said that the negotiations between Iran and P5+1 could not proceed forever.

Underlining the need to conclude the nuclear talks within the specified timetable, Nahavandian called for further contribution of EU members, Norway in particular, to settlement of the 12-year-old dispute.

Nahavandian referred to enormous potential for investment in Iran and said that the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the presence, cooperation and investment of all EU members, including Norway, in economic and cultural areas.

Meanwhile, the Norwegian ambassador said that different Norwegian companies are willing to be present in Iran.

Norheim said that during her tenure in Tehran, she will make every effort to help boost bilateral cooperation between Iran and Norway.

Camera traps capture 4 new Asiatic cheetahs in Iran

Emad Askarieh

December 29, 2014

Head of Touran Biosphere Reserve (TBR) in Shahrud, Semnan Province has announced a recent sighting of four Asiatic cheetahs there.

Ali Akbar Ghorbanlou expressed satisfaction with the sighting and photographing of four Asiatic cheetahs in Touran Biosphere Reserve, saying that the Department of Environment has given a lot of attention to this protected area, and made necessary preparations for increasing prey there.

This has led to a rise in the number of cheetahs, he stressed.

This year’s drop in rainfalls caused a considerable reduction in the number of prey such as deer, rams, sheep and rabbits, but the problem was soon removed with the assistance of the provincial Department of Environment in Semnan which provided forage to increase the number of prey for the cheetahs to feed on.

The official then lamented over the recent death of two mature cheetahs that were struck and killed by motor vehicles on the main Tehran-Mashhad road in Khar-Touran region, calling on environmental activists to raise awareness and take proper steps to prevent such tragic accidents from happening in the future.

The territory today known as Touran (Khar-Touran) is a Protected Area within the borders of Iran in the southern part of Shahrud, covering 1.4 million hectares. Home to some 50 various species, it is the second largest biosphere reserve in the world.

Iran is home to the last known population of Asiatic cheetah. Listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Asiatic cheetah is among the rarest cats in the world at subspecies level, after the Amur leopard. Currently, the number of Asiatic cheetahs in Iran is estimated to stand at 70.

12th joint commission with Belarus in March

Emad Askarieh

December 29, 2014

The 12th Iran-Belarus Commission will be held in March, said the minister of industries, mines and trade.

In a meeting with Belarus Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei, Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh said the two countries have favorable political relations.

He called for further improvement in bilateral economic, trade and industrial ties.

Nematzadeh noted that the two sides aim to study the improvement of economic cooperation and devise strategies to bolster trade relations.

“Tehran is ready to promote cooperation with Minsk in areas such as standardization, bourse, exports of techno-engineering services and holding exhibitions and providing related services,” he said.

Makei, for his part, said Iran and Belarus have a long history of favorable cooperation.

“The two countries can further expand economic ties,” he said.

Iran and Belarus have developed good relations in recent years, particularly in economic and trade sectors, and signed a number of agreements to shore up bilateral relations.

In 2010, Iran inaugurated a large copper wire factory and the second phase of a Samand car assembly line in Belarus.

Iranian parliament Committee to study Iran-Pakistan gas project delay

Emad Askarieh

December 29, 2014

A senior Iranian lawmaker rejected the claim that Tehran has exempted Pakistan from fines for Islamabad’s delay in the completion of a long-awaited joint gas pipeline project, saying that parliament’s Energy Committee will study the issue.

Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Amir Abbas Soltani, who is a member of the parliament’s Energy Committee, said the parliament would defend the Iranian nation’s rights.

“As far as I know the remarks made by the Pakistan Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources about Iran’s agreement to Pakistani exemption from fines are not true,” Soltani said.

“There has been no agreement in this regard,” Soltani added.

The Iranian MP also said the parliament’s Energy Committee is to hold a meeting with Oil Ministry officials on Tuesday and discuss the issue.

Iran and Pakistan signed an agreement for the construction of the gas pipeline in 1995. According to the deal, if either party does not fulfill its obligation to complete the pipeline on its side by the end of 2014, it will have to pay a daily penalty of $3 million to the other side until the completion of the project.

The IP pipeline is designed to help Pakistan overcome its growing energy needs at a time when the country of over 180 million people is grappling with serious energy shortages.

The final construction phase of the IP pipeline was inaugurated on March 11, 2013. Iran has already built 900 kilometers of the pipeline on its soil.

Pakistan, however, has fallen short of constructing the 700-kilometer part of the pipeline on its territory.

Iran, Belarus set to boost economic ties amid West bans: VP

Emad Askarieh

December 29, 2014

Iran’s First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri says the country is determined to boost economic cooperation with Belarus amid Western sanctions against the two nations.

“Sanctions can never prevent a country from achieving its goals,” Jahangiri said in a meeting with Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei in Tehran on Sunday.

He added that Tehran and Minsk enjoy growing relations in the political and economic sectors, but both sides must take more serious steps to further strengthen their economic ties.

The Iranian vice president said Tehran and Minsk should support each other in the international arena.

Jahangiri emphasized that the two countries have vast potential for improving economic cooperation, adding that the private sectors can help both sides reach this goal.

The Belarusian minister, for his part, said his country would never cut relations with friendly countries over Western pressure and influence.

Makei added that Minsk is ready to boost its ties with Tehran in every field, stressing that the two sides should mainly focus on the expansion of economic cooperation.

Iran and Belarus have developed good relations in recent years, particularly in the economic and trade sectors, and have signed a number of agreements to shore up bilateral cooperation in many areas, including in technical and engineering projects.

Iran raises daily gas output by 70m cubic meters

Emad Askarieh

December 29, 2014

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh announced that the country’s daily gas output has increased by 70 million cubic meters since the new phases of the South Pars gas field came on stream.

“This increase of output (70m cm/d) will hit 100 million cubic meters by the yearend (March 20, 2015),” Zanganeh said, addressing a meeting of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) directors in Tehran on Sunday.

He noted that the NIGC is working on new phases of the giant South Pars gas field that will add an extra 100 mcm of gas per day to the country’s output once they come on line.

In October, Zanganeh announced that Iran plans to boost production in the South Pars gas field to overcome gas shortage in the country.

“We hope to add another 100 million cm/d to the country’s national grid before the end of the year,” Zanganeh told reporters.

The Iranian oil minister also said that the South Pars gas field’s output will increase to 540m cm/d by the end of the next Iranian year (March 2016).

In November, Managing Director of the NIGC Hamid Reza Araqi announced that Iran is planning to nearly double its natural gas production by 2018 even if the Western sanctions against the country stay in place.

“Over the next four years, our plan is to increase production to 330 billion cubic meters per year,” Araghi said.

The South Pars gas field, divided into 28 phases, is located in the Persian Gulf on the common border between Iran and Qatar. The field is estimated to hold 14 trillion cubic meters of gas as well as 18 billion barrels of condensates.

The field covers an area of 9,700 square kilometers, 3,700 square kilometers of which lie in Iran’s territorial waters in the Persian Gulf. The remaining 6,000 square kilometers, better known as the North Dome, are located in Qatar’s territorial waters.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Dec. 29

Emad Askarieh

December 29, 2014

On Monday President Rouhani’s comments at a ceremony to praise the services of top farmers and his criticism of the state broadcaster for its failure to fully depict the efforts of his government dominated the front pages of several reformist-leaning dailies which also reported on the call by the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council on those who use trivial matters to take a swipe at the government to stop hurting national unity. Some newspapers led on the row between the government and MPs over withdrawal of money from the National Development Fund. And a shootout between armed robbers and police in Golpayegan, Isfahan province, which left five people, including three police officers dead, and the disappearance of an AirAsia plane in the Far East also made front-page headlines.

Abrar: “The recent comments of the government spokesman damage the reputation of parliament,” Ahmad Tavakoli, [a principlist MP] said. His comments came after Government Spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht called on MPs to apologize for saying that the government has withdrawn $4.1 billion from the Foreign Exchange Reserve Fund.

Afkar: “The revenues the country secured in the 00s could have been used to ensure the sustainable growth of the economy,” said First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri.

Aftab-e Yazd: “The bank accounts of Babak Zanjani [who stands accused of massive corruption] have turned out to be empty,” a member of a panel looking into his dealings said.

Arman-e Emrooz: An armed robbery that spanned several central provinces has left five people, including three police officers, killed and seven others wounded. An armed robber was killed too. Three others are on the run.

Ebtekar: An Islamic Revolution Guard Corps general has been martyred on a mission in Iraq to advise Iraqi forces how to fight IS. Brigadier General Hamid Taghavi died in the Iraqi holy city of Samarra.

Ebtekar: President Rouhani has criticized Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting for its failure to portray the efforts of his administration to serve the public.

Eghtesad-e Pooya: “Western companies are vying to set up branches in Iran,” said the chief of staff of President Rouhani.

Emtiaz: The Iranian oil minister has said that the country’s daily natural gas production has increased by 70 million cubic meters.

Ettela’at: “Trivial things should not be used to undermine the government,” said Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

Ettela’at: An AirAsia plane with 162 people on board has gone missing.

Hamshahri: If the current energy consumption pattern persists, experts say Iran will become an importer of energy in a decade.

Hemayat: After a warning, American and European warships left the area where the Iranian army held a large-scale military exercise.

Jahan-e Sanat: The Central Bank of Iran has reported that the gap between rich and poor is growing.

Jamejam: The captain of the Iranian national volleyball team has joined a Russian club.

Jomhouri Islami: At a ceremony to award top farmers, President Rouhani said that the country’s real power hinges on self-sufficiency in the agriculture sector.

Kayhan: People in 20 countries around the world held rallies calling for an end to the [Israeli] blockade of Gaza.

Mardomsalari: “The perpetrators of all recent acid attacks, except those which took place in Isfahan, have been arrested,” announced a Tehran prosecutor who said maximum penalty will be sought for the assailants.

Mardomsalari: The Paternal House, a film by Kianoush Ayari, has been pulled due to outside pressure on the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

Resalat: “Government should abide by the laws,” said Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani. [His comments came after a row broke out between some MPs and the government over the latter’s alleged withdrawal of money from the National Development Fund.

Resalat: “The seditionist leaders cannot return to society without apologizing first,” said [principlist MP] Gholamali Hadad Adel.