A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on March 9

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March 9, 2015

The comments of the Supreme Leader at a meeting with environment officials dominated the front pages of Iranian papers on Monday. At the meeting Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei described the environment as a national issue and called for those who line their pockets at the expense of the environment to be seriously dealt with.

Afarinesh: Iran has signed an MoU with Russia to produce fuel for Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.

Afkar: A new [domestically-developed] cruise missile named Soumar has been unveiled.

Aftab-e Yazd: Chinese exports to Iran have registered a 31 percent decline.

Arman-e Emrooz: Iran’s giant stride has resulted in a change of attitude in the ranks of critics [of nuclear talks].

Another round of Iran-US talks will be held in the Swiss city of Lausanne next week.

Asrar: “Wisdom is the only weapon with which one can counter extremism,” said Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Ebtekar: Those who are not officially in charge of trade should stop their involvement in imports of goods.

The president has ordered unauthorized quays to be closed down.

Emtiaz: Four million Iranians are suffering from diabetes.

Ettela’at: “Officials should resolutely deal with those who destroy forests,” the Supreme Leader said.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the comment at a meeting with officials in charge of protecting natural resources and the environment. “Land grabbers should be prosecuted.”

Ettela’at: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has ordered 7,000 ISIL militants to be deployed to Iraq from Syria.

This comes following back-to-back defeats the terrorist group has suffered in Iraq.

Hemayat: Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani has vowed to seriously deal with those who grab national lands.

Iran: Tel Aviv has been the scene of the largest anti-Netanyahu rally.

Jamejam: Those who distributed blinding fake drugs [recently used in three clinics] have been arrested.

Jomhouri Islami: The interest rates banks charge for loans to producers will be moderated.

Resalat: “A tortuous road lies ahead,” said the director of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization of nuclear talks between Tehran and P5+1.

Rooyesh-e Mellat: “Reports suggest [Iranian border guard Jamshid] Danaeifar [who was kidnapped by terrorists who fled across the border to Pakistan] has been martyred,” said the deputy interior minister.

Shahrvand: “IS has been cracked down on in border towns,” said the deputy interior minister.

He further said that the terrorist group sought to create insecurity in Iran’s border towns through proxy, but its attempts were foiled by security forces.

Sharq: “My foray into politics would depend on conditions on the ground,” said the grandson of the late Imam Khomeini.

Tejarat: “We have things to say people so badly want to hear about,” said the deputy Judiciary chief.

Iran condemns deadly bomb blasts in Nigeria’s Maiduguri

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Emad Askarieh

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March 9, 2015

Iran has condemned deadly triple bomb blasts in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri in Borno State, underscoring the need for peace and security in the restive African country.

“Nigeria now needs peace, security and unity more than any time before,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Marzieh Afkham, said on Sunday.

At least 58 people were killed and 139 wounded in three separate bomb attacks in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri on Saturday.

The first attack took place at the Baga fish market which was followed by the second and third blasts that respectively hit the Monday Market and a busy Borno Express bus station.

No one has so far claimed responsibility for the deadly explosions but they bear the hallmarks of the attacks by Boko Haram Takfiri militant group.

The terrorists have recently increased their bombings and village attacks as Nigerian and Chadian forces have pushed them out of a score of towns along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon.

Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden,” controls parts of northeastern Nigeria and says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government.

It has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly shooting attacks and bombings in various parts of Nigeria since the beginning of its militancy in 2009, which have left over 13,000 people dead and 1.5 million displaced.

Boko Haram has also conducted terrorist attacks in Nigeria’s neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.

Iran plans to send delegation to Pakistan to have terrorist leader extradited

By

Emad Askarieh

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March 8, 2015

Iranian Deputy Interior Minister Hossein Zolfaqari

Iran on Sunday announced plans to send a delegation to Pakistan to extradite the recently captured terrorist leader, Abdo-Sattar Rigi, whose notorious brother Abdolmalek Rigi led the Jundollah terrorist group and was arrested and executed by Iran in early 2011.

“No delegation and team has yet been sent to Pakistan to pursue the case, but we have demanded the foreign ministry to make the necessary coordination,” Iranian Deputy Interior Minister Hossein Zolfaghari told reporters in Tehran on Sunday.

“If the Pakistani government declares its agreement, a delegation will be sent from the Islamic Republic of Iran to that country to pursue the case against Sattar Rigi,” he added.

Asked if Abdo-Sattar Rigi can be extradited to Iran, Zolfaghari said given the fact that he has been prosecuted in Iran, he could be extradited to Iran based on the international protocols.

[…]

Iran unveils domestic cruise missile ‘Soumar’

By

Emad Askarieh

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March 8, 2015

A new domestically-manufactured land-based cruise missile named ‘Soumar’ has been unveiled and delivered to IRGC Aerospace Force along with long-range land-to-land ballistic missiles.

The unveiling of the land-based cruise missile Soumar and the delivery of long-range land-to-land ballistic missiles named ‘Qadr and ‘Qiam’ took place during a ceremony Sunday in Tehran, attended by senior Iranian officials, including Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan and IRGC Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh.

During the event, Dehghan said Soumar had been designed and produced by Iranian experts at the Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), adding it “enjoys different characteristics in terms of range and pinpoint accuracy in comparison with the previous products.”

Dehghan also maintained that such significant achievements are “considered as crucial steps toward increasing the country’s defense and deterrence might.”

Dehghan also announced that the long-range ballistic missiles of Qadr and Qiam have been delivered to the Aerospace Division of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC). “These missiles have the ability to destroy a variety of targets under any circumstances due to their high tactical abilities, long endurance in the battlefield and stealth,” he said.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and reached self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.

Iran has repeatedly assured other countries that its military might poses no threat to other states, insisting that the country’s defense doctrine is entirely based on deterrence.

Supreme Leader stresses frank, serious action to solve air pollution

By

Emad Askarieh

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March 8, 2015

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei stated serious planning, good management and constant efforts are required to fight air pollution and particulates.

The Supreme Leader made the remarks in a meeting with a number of officials and activists in the field of the environment protection on Sunday. The meeting was held to mark Iran’s Natural Resources Week which started on March 6.

During the week, particularly on March 6, the Tree-Planting Day, the Iranians attend ceremonies in parks, gardens, and also plant trees in the private gardens of their house yards.

He stressed that it was for the government to protect the environment by compiling necessary documents and carrying out projects.

He said damaging the environment should be regarded as a grave offense.

Referring to environmental woes as being global, the leader said the experience of different countries prove that many of the problems could be prevented even before they afflict Mother Nature.

IAEA team planning Iran visit on Monday to discuss two remaining issues

By

Emad Askarieh

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March 8, 2015

Spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi announced that a high-ranking team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is due to arrive in Tehran on Monday to discuss the two remaining issues in Iran’s nuclear dossier.

“The IAEA team will have a two-day visit to Tehran on Monday and they plan to hold negotiations with the AEOI officials and experts,” Kamalvandi said on Saturday, adding that “the team will be headed by the IAEA Deputy Director General (and Head of the Department of Safeguards Tero Varjoranta). ”

Noting that the IAEA has delayed declaring the results of its analysis of the information sent by Iran about the two recent issues that were mentioned in the third stage of their cooperation agreement, he said one of these cases is about the alleged initiation of explosives in Marivan, and the other one is related to papers published in Iran in relation to neutron transport and associated modeling and calculations and their alleged application to compressed materials.

“Iran has told them that if they think some explosions have taken place, they should specify its location so that we will give them access (to such alleged sites),” Kamalvandi said.

He explained that Iran and the IAEA’s step-by-step cooperation is based on the agreement that the two sides can start to deal with other steps only after finalizing different subjects mentioned in the previous step, and thus, Tehran and the UN nuclear watchdog will not deal with other issues before wrapping up the issues of Marivan and neutron transport case.

[…]

Mideast to see security when Israel crimes stopped: Iran’s Rouhani

By

Emad Askarieh

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March 8, 2015

Security and stability in the Middle East will only reach “an acceptable level” when the international community and regional countries make concerted efforts to compel the Zionist regime to stop its acts of aggression and crimes, Rouhani said in a meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister, Nasser Judeh, in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Saturday.

“It would be possible to establish sustainable security and stability in the region if all regional countries play a positive role,” he added.

Rouhani said Iran seeks regional security, stability and development, stressing that only regional countries, through collective cooperation, can solve the problems of the region.

“Today, terrorism is a challenge and threat to all and this is an undeniable fact. The Islamic Republic of Iran has warned against the spread of terrorism from the very beginning, stressing that the only way to stop it is cooperation and a collective campaign,” he said.

Pointing to regional developments including those in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, the Iranian president said regional issues can only be settled through diplomatic solutions without any foreign interference in the domestic affairs of countries.

Rouhani also said Tehran is ready to work with Amman for the full restoration of the Palestinians’ right and the liberation of the holy city of al-Quds (Jerusalem) from Israeli occupation.

Touching on bilateral ties, the Iranian president said the Islamic Republic sees no limits to the improvement of relations with Jordan and called for the enhancement of Tehran-Amman cooperation.

The Jordanian official, for his part, underlined the development of ties with Iran, describing the Islamic Republic as a significant neighbor for the Arab world.

Judeh added that Jordan supports the Palestinian nation’s right to establish a government with Quds as its capital.

He also voiced his country’s support for Iran’s talks with P5+1 – the US, the UK, Germany, France, Russia and China – to settle the dispute over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

Possibility of Iran-P5+1 nuclear deal over 50%: Zarif

By

Emad Askarieh

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March 8, 2015

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the removal of the UN Security Council’s sanctions on Tehran is contingent upon ‘political will’, adding the two sides are likely to clinch a final deal.

“Lifting the Security Council’s sanctions has no complications and only depends on political will,” Zarif said in an interview with a weekly affiliated to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) published on Saturday.

He said parties to the negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program are likely to reach an accord.

“I believe chances of success are greater than failure,” said the top diplomat.

“The odds of [reaching] a [final] deal are more than 50 percent,” he said

“I feel both sides believe it will be more useful if the talks yield an agreement rather than break down,” he underscored.

Nevertheless, he emphasized that everything should be agreed on before a final deal is to be struck.

“Nothing is agreed upon unless everything is agreed on,” said the foreign minister.

“The negotiations will go on, and as long as [Iran and P5+1] have not agreed on all details, there is the possibility of the talks breaking down,” Zarif pointed out.

Iran and P5+1 – Britain, France, the United States, China, Russia and Germany – are seeking to seal a comprehensive nuclear deal by July 1. The two sides have already missed two self-imposed deadlines for inking a final agreement since they signed an interim one in the Swiss city of Geneva in November 2013.

Deputy foreign ministers of Iran and the six powers wrapped up deputy-level negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program in the Swiss city of Montreux on Thursday.

The deputy-level talks came a day after Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his American counterpart, John Kerry, wrapped up intense negotiations in Montreux. Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi and US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz also attended the talks.

An informed source close to Iran’s negotiating team has said that a next round of talks at ministerial level is slated for March 15-20.

US, Israeli advisors arrested in Iraq’s offensive on ISIL: Report

By

Emad Askarieh

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March 8, 2015

In an operation in an outlying area in Iraq’s province of Nineveh, counter-terrorism forces arrested four foreign advisors – three of them from the US and Israel – who were employed as military advisors to the ISIL fighters, Iraqi sources said.

According to Iraq’s Sama News Agency, three of the arrested advisors have American and Israeli passports, and the fourth is a national from a Persian Gulf Arab state.

The foreign advisors have been captured in a headquarters responsible for the control of ISIL operations, located in the northern province of Nineveh.

The report also added that a number of other ISIL fighters have been killed in the operation, codenamed the Scorpion Sting.

The detained foreign advisors have been transferred to a security center in capital Baghdad.

Since March 2, the Iraqi troops, backed by voluntary forces, have launched an offensive to recapture Tikrit and the surrounding province of Salahuddin.

The offensive is the biggest military operation in the province since the ISIL terrorists seized swaths of north Iraq last June and advanced toward the capital Baghdad.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on March 8

By

Emad Askarieh

-

March 8, 2015

The report that the Expediency Council has started to draft the 6^th Development Plan dominated the front pages of Iranian dailies on Sunday. Also on the covers of newspapers were the meeting between the visiting Jordanian foreign minister and President Rouhani and reports that France is erecting new hurdles in the way of a deal between Iran and P5+1.

Abrar: UNESCO has denounced as war crimes the destruction of ancient heritage in Nimrud by IS terrorists.

Afarinesh: Countdown is on for the complete defeat of IS in Saladin Province in Iraq.

Aftab-e Yazd: Plans to offer free opiate to drug users will be examined [in parliament].

Arman-e Emrooz: The Jordanian foreign minister is in Iran on a strategic visit.

Nasser Judeh has called for talks between Iran and the Arab League.

Asrar: A planned 5 percent increase in fuel prices next year has been scrapped.

Ebtekar: France is throwing a wrench into the works despite agreement over technical issues.

The French foreign minister has described Iran’s commitments as insufficient and called for a review of the talks.

Eghtesad-e Pooya: “The Supreme Leader has sent a draft of the general policies of the 6^th Development Plan to the Expediency Council,” said the government spokesman.

Emtiaz: The minister of culture and Islamic guidance has said that Fajr Clothing and Fashion Festival has made remarkable progress.

Ettela’at: “Regional problems should be solved through collective efforts,” President Rouhani told the visiting Jordanian foreign minister.

The president further said that regional and international pressures should be brought to bear to compel the Zionist regime to stop committing crimes.

“The only thing the Islamic Republic of Iran seeks is to cement regional security, stability and development,” the president added.

Ettela’at: “Transparency and competitiveness hold the key to curing the country’s economic ills,” said the president’s chief of staff.

Ettela’at: Each year some $5 billion worth of fuel is smuggled out of the country.

Hemayat: “Iran has the safest skies in the Middle East,” said the commander of Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base.

Jomhouri Islami: One hundred Islamic thinkers have protested against Saudi Arabia’s support for terrorism and the animosity of Al Saud family toward faith.

Kaenat: Reports that Iranian nationals based in the UAE are being deported have been denied.

Kaenat: Gasoline consumption has jumped 1.8 percent.

Kayhan: The President has named the presidents of eight universities across the country.

Kayhan: Israeli and American military advisors have been taken captive in a raid on an IS command center by the Iraqi army.

Qods: A second presence of an Iranian squadron in the Strait of Malacca.

Sayeh: More than $33 billion is spent on cigarettes in the country each year.

Sayeh: “Talks are more likely to produce a deal than to collapse,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Shahrvand: More than 91,000 residents have suffered injuries in street brawls and road rage violence in the capital.

Shahrvand: A school guardian has returned a briefcase containing some $500,000 in cash and check to its owner.

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

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on March 9

Iran condemns deadly bomb blasts in Nigeria’s Maiduguri

Iran plans to send delegation to Pakistan to have terrorist leader extradited

Iran unveils domestic cruise missile ‘Soumar’

Supreme Leader stresses frank, serious action to solve air pollution

IAEA team planning Iran visit on Monday to discuss two remaining issues

Mideast to see security when Israel crimes stopped: Iran’s Rouhani

Possibility of Iran-P5+1 nuclear deal over 50%: Zarif

US, Israeli advisors arrested in Iraq’s offensive on ISIL: Report

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on March 8

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