A group of environmentalists in Gorgan, Golestan Province, got together on April 10 to remove rubbish from a forested hill.
The snapshots the Islamic Republic News Agency placed online reflect their efforts to purge the environment of waste:
World largest framed carpet unveiled
At a ceremony in Tehran on April 9, the world’s largest framed carpet was unveiled.
The machine-woven carpet features “I love Muhammad” in 40 languages along with the names of the Prophet’s Household.
What appears next is a number of snapshots that Mehr News Agency released online of the ceremony:
People in Tehran hold protest rally outside Saudi embassy
A big crowd of people gathered Saturday outside the Saudi embassy in Tehran to protest against the sexual abuse of two Iranian teens at Jeddah airport.
According to Fararu, a news website, the ralliers, who were carrying placards bearing slogans against Saudi Arabia, called for the shutdown of the Saudi diplomatic mission and the cancellation of the Minor Hajj.
The predominately young demonstrators also demanded the speedy punishment of the Saudi security agents who sexually harassed the Iranian nationals.
The following is a collection of photos Iranian news agencies released on April 11 of the protest rally in Tehran:
Tehran Stock Exchange rallies (PHOTOS)
Positive measures by the government on economic and political fronts in the past months have given Tehran Stock Exchange a shot in the arm.
What appears below is a photo gallery that Fars News Agency placed online on April 8:
If Saudi offenders go unpunished, controlling Iranian sentiments would be difficult
The director of the Iranian Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization has condemned the sexual harassment of two Iranian teenagers at the hands of Saudi police, saying those behind the abuse should be given the harshest penalty.
Seyyed Ali Ghazi Asgar said that the continuation of trips to Saudi Arabia by Iranian pilgrims for the Minor Hajj is tied to what measures Saudi officials take in response to the sexual abuse, entekhab.ir – an Iranian news website – reported on Saturday.
If Saudi officials fail to properly and severely deal with the case, the continuation of pilgrimage trips will not be expedient for Iran and Iranians, he said.
He went on to say that the obscene act, at Jeddah airport, of Saudi officials who are supposed to ensure people’s security is condemnable, adding that the toughest punishments should be handed down to the violators.
Ghazi Asgar, who is also the Supreme Leader’s representative for Hajj affairs, further said that Saudi officials have vowed that the abusers will be punished severely, adding that we are waiting to see that happen.
The unprecedented, indecent act of Saudi police has hurt the sentiments of the Iranian people, he said, adding that if the harassment of Saudi police go unpunished it will be very tough to contain Iranian feelings, and that Iran is likely to make a different decision.
He then said that officials at the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization and Foreign Ministry have taken action since the very beginning of the incident and have repeatedly lodged official, written protest [with the Saudi officials].
The Hajj official further said that Iranian officials have since traveled to Saudi Arabia and entered talks with officials there, calling for a swift investigation into the harassment and severe punishment for the violators.
Saudi officials and Jeddah police have investigated the case, provided the required documents and eventually identified and arrested those involved in the violation, Ghazi Asgar said.
On March 28, two Iranian teenagers were sexually harassed by police officers at the airport in Jeddah as they were coming back to Iran after carrying out the Minor Hajj.
A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on April 11
Comments by the Supreme Leader and President Rouhani about the nuclear talks and removal of sanctions dominated the front pages of Iranian newspapers on Saturday.
Abrar: A senior Revolution Guards commander has said that Pakistan should be held accountable for cross-border attacks on Iranian forces.
Afarinesh: “We won’t sign any deal unless all sanctions are lifted,” said President Hassan Rouhani.
Afkar: The Pakistani parliament has voted against Islamabad’s military involvement in Yemen.
Aftab-e Yazd: The names of three Iranian nationals have been taken off the EU sanctions list.
Asr-e Iranian: The vice-chairman of parliament’s Development Committee has passed away.
Ali Akbar Aghaei died of a heart attack on Thursday morning.
Asrar: Minor Hajj pilgrimage may be called off.
It comes after two Iranian teenage pilgrims were recently subjected to sexual harassment at Jeddah airport by Saudi security forces.
Emtiaz: “Up to one third of Iranian schools do not measure up to standards,” said the education minister.
Ettela’at: Iran and China have underlined closer oil cooperation.
Ettela’at: “A deal which protects [the Iranian nation’s] dignity will have my unqualified support,” said the Supreme Leader.
Jomhouri Islami: Brits are to set up an investment fund in Iran.
Jomhouri Islami: “None of Iran’s nuclear facilities will be shut down,” said Ali Akbar Salehi, the country’s nuclear chief.
Mardomsalari: “Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt seek to establish a new regional order,” said Hamid Reza Asefi, a former Iranian FM spokesman.
Mardomsalari: “We won’t allow inspections to be abused,” said Iranian nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi.
Rooyesh-e Mellat: Iran has returned to world labor market, sending workforce to eight countries.
Saheb Ghalam: “We’ll push back the timing of the nuclear deal if the leader’s ideals are not met,” said Iranian negotiator Abbas Araghchi.
Sayeh: The President and his Cabinet will travel to Gilan Province on Wednesday.
Shahrvand: “OPEC should brace for an increase in Iranian crude output,” said the oil minister.
Shahrvand: Fiery takeoff of a Qeshm Air airliner in Istanbul, Turkey.
The plane was taxiing when a loud boom was heard and its right engine went off before pieces of the engine fell onto the tarmac.
The captain skillfully called off the takeoff and brought the plane into a standstill.
No one was injured in the accident.
Book, Paper Conservation-Restoration Center at parliament’s library
At the Book and Paper Conservation-Restoration Center at the library of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, hundreds of old handwritten books, thousands of historical documents and different periodic journals and books are restored and preserved every year.
Using advanced equipment, experts at the center try to protect the documents against destructive environmental factors such as light, humidity, temperature, biological factors like fungi, molds and microbes as well as physical damage.
The following is a photo gallery Iran’s Book News Agency (IBNA) placed online on April 8 of experts at work at the center:
AEOI chief stresses no halt to Iranian nuclear sites’ activities
Director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi underlined that there will be no halt to the operation of Iran’s nuclear sites.
“None of Iran’s nuclear facilities will cease activity,” Salehi said on Friday.
He also reiterated that Iran will continue its nuclear enrichment activities like before.
President not to attend negotiations personally: Araghchi
Iranian senior negotiator Abbas Araghchi said President Hassan Rouhani does not intend to attend nuclear negotiations personally.
Araghchi told IRNA he had said the president would direct the talks which does not mean being present at the negotiating table.
Iran and six world powers (US, Britain, France, China, Russia, and Germany) will resume their negotiations shortly.
The two sides will resume talks to draw up a final agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program within days, Catherine Ray, spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, says.
At a press briefing in Brussels on Friday, she added that the negotiating sides were maintaining contact by phone and e-mail.
Ray said she would inform the media on the exact day of the talks as soon as it has been agreed upon.
Saudi chargé d’affaires summoned over Riyadh’s anti-Iran comments
The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned Saudi Arabia’s chargé d’affaires to voice Tehran’s protest at recent comments made by a Saudi commander who accused Tehran of alleged interference in the internal affairs of Yemen.
In a meeting with the Saudi chargé d’affaires in Tehran on Wednesday, a top Iranian official at the Foreign Ministry voiced Tehran’s anger over the recent remarks by Ahmed al-Asiri, the spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry official described the remarks as “untrue”, saying that the Islamic Republic of Iran denounces any use of force in Yemen and emphasizes the political resolution of problems in the Arab country.
During his daily military briefing on Wednesday, Asiri had said that the coalition reserved the right to respond to any attempt by Iran to arm Houthis, Al-Arabiya reported.
The Saudi commander had claimed that Iran is training Ansarallah forces in a bid to harm the Yemeni people and destroy the infrastructure of the country.
The remarks came as Saudi-led air strikes in Yemen have continued for the 15th day, with intense fighting occurring in the southern city of Aden, where rockets have reportedly landed on houses.
The World Health Organization said at least 643 people have died and more than 2,200 have been injured in the attacks on Yemeni soil by Saudi Arabia and its allies since March 19.
