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

Iran News
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- Human Rights
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- Lifestyle
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Home Blog Page 4941

Light a lantern and make a wish for peace

Emad Askarieh

February 21, 2015

A host of Iranian artists are planning to send lanterns – bearing messages of peace and friendship – to cafés overseas. The lanterns are expected to sit on café tables and create an opportunity to promote public participation and make people from different cultures and geographical locations ponder on how to get closer to each other and help develop mutual understanding.

What comes below is a partial translation of a report Honaronline published on February 18 on the remarks of the project manager followed by a photo gallery of the unique project:

The Experience Project, which was unveiled in Tehran’s Etemad Art Gallery, is to be implemented in India, Turkey and France in next phases, said Mehran Rad, the manager of the art project.

In the first leg of a foreign tour, I will take three packages – ten Experience lanterns in each – to several Istanbul cafés which are the favorite hangouts of artists and intellectuals, he said.

One package will be given to Karga café in Istanbul, and the other two will be handed over to Barin and Ara cafés in the European portion of Turkey, Rad added. Mr. Ara Guler, the celebrated Turkish photographer, is the owner of Ara Café.

The cafés will put these lanterns on their table for 20 to 30 days, he said, adding the lanterns bound for Turkey feature pieces of writing in Farsi, English and Turkish on peace and coexistence.

This way they can make the customers contemplate the project’s subject, he said. […]

“Those interested can make a 15-second film on their wishes, upload it on their Instagram page or that of the Experience Project. Or they can email their video messages to us. […] Anybody with any mindset can make their own movies, but insults to different religions and ethnicities are red lines.”

India and France are the next destinations of the lanterns of the Experience Project. […]

Rainbow, a journey into light in Tehran

February 21, 2015

Between February 24 and April 17, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (Tehran-MoCA) will play host to Rainbow, a collection of 100 works by Otto Piene*, a leading figure in kinetic and technology-based art.

The following is a partial translation of a report by iscanews.ir on February 17 on a press conference in which participants talked about the German artist and his works:

Museum’s director Majid Mollanoruzi said Tehran-MoCA, which aims to introduce artists and the techniques and styles of contemporary art, has so far put on display the works of two artists from Group ZERO, adding the retrospective will show the works of the third member of the movement.

[…]

German envoy: German-Iran cultural ties are important

German Ambassador to Iran Michael Freiherr von Ungern-Sternberg said Germany and Iran are always identified as economic partners, but bilateral ties also cover the cultural front which is of high importance.

As for the [30^th] Fajr International Music Festival, he said a famous German musician who attended the festival is performing in Shiraz.

About the presence of German tourists in Iran, he said Berlin attaches great importance to cultural ties with Iran. […]

Piene, ambassador of peace

Till Breckner, the director of the Galerie Breckner in Dusseldorf, said, “I was moved by the hospitality of the Iranians.

“When Mr. Piene received the museum’s invitation he became very happy, but unfortunately he passed away in July 2014. Nonetheless, his family decided to complete what he left unfinished”.

As for the reason why Piene’s works should be displayed in Iran, Breckner said, “Otto Piene fought in World War II as a soldier when he was 14. One year later he was taken captive. In his childhood he used to live mostly in darkness thanks to war and bombardments. He saw the light of day, literally, when the war came to an end. Thus for him, light was a symbol of peace … and he is now in Iran as an ambassador of peace with his works.

“Piene has said, ‘I dream of a better world. […] I wish to have a wonderful world.’”

Rainbow, a performance in the sky

Heinz-Gunther Thone, Piene’s art director, said, “Rainbow’s appearance in the sky is short-lived, but it is still a performance. For an artist, the colors of rainbow are among the purest made through the refraction of light.

He said Piene’s artistic exploration of light at the Prague City Gallery in 2002 will be put on display in this museum.

Piene was interested in creating an artwork for Iran, so he made “The colors of light” based on the tiles used in [Isfahan’s] Imam Mosque.

Thone said he is interested to see the works of Iranian artists on show in Germany and added Iran is expected to take the first step.

Otto Piene studied art and also took a degree in philosophy at Cologne University. He founded the influential European postwar movement Group Zero with Heinz Mack in 1957, to transform and redefine art in the aftermath of the Second World War. His most famous work was the Rainbow [the sky work made up of five differently colored helium-filled polythene tubes, each one 600m long] that lit up the Munich sky at the end of the 1972 Olympics.

We seek innovation in talks: Deputy FM

Emad Askarieh

February 21, 2015

Iranian negotiator Seyyed Abbas Araghchi has described the first day of the latest round of talks between Iran, Europe and the US in Geneva as “positive and intense”, saying “We are after innovation and change in the way talks are held in order to speed up things.”

The Iranian deputy foreign minister said Saturday the fact that talks with US Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Helga Schmid, the deputy of the EU foreign policy chief, have been positive does not mean we have made outstanding progress. “The talks are being followed intensely.”

He further said after one year of negotiations, we are at a stage that we need to get into details, particularly in light of the fact that we want any final deal to encompass both general outlines and the details.

The Iranian, US and European diplomats held five hours of talks on Friday while talks between experts lasted two and a half hours.

Those negotiations will continue later Saturday, with the US and Iranian foreign ministers joining their deputies on Sunday.

Minister defends “music” policy while observing religious criteria

Emad Askarieh

February 21, 2015

Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati said his ministry would defend “music” programs while remaining faithful to all religious criteria.

He made the remarks in Tehran on Friday in the closing ceremony of the 30th International Fajr Music Festival.

He noted that certain political groups are manipulating the sincere religious sentiments of people to downgrade music.

He stressed that his ministry while observing all rules and regulations of the Islamic system will defend efforts to promote music.

Referring to attempts by some political groups to create a certain atmosphere around the activities in the area of music, he said that the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance truly believes that it knows all religious and government regulations much better than these groups.

He said all the concerts that have been granted permission by his ministry for public performance observe all regulations.

He said the ministry will support such performances and is not going to give in to the pressures of self-willed groups.

As for propaganda saying that women singers have been given permission for solo performances, he said all these are attempts to mar the political atmosphere in the country.

The minister said had his ministry issued such permission, it would have defended it.

However, he stressed, no such permission has ever been issued and the self-willed groups are only spreading rumors based on incorrect information they have received.

Referring to the important role of the Fajr Music Festival in safeguarding the vitality and dynamism of Iranian music, he said all should join hands to protect this wave.

Jannati added that the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance as the embodiment of the government of President Hassan Rouhani is using all its capabilities to support and protect the sublime and dignified art of music the nation possesses.

FM reiterates inefficiency of sanctions policy against Iran

Emad Askarieh

February 21, 2015

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated that the only way out of the decade-long nuclear standoff between Iran and the West is dialogue and not sanctions since pressures can only deteriorate the case.

“If they really think that their sanctions are effective, then why do they negotiate with us? They can continue their sanctions on Iran,” Zarif told reporters on Friday.

He also reiterated that respect and negotiations are the only way which would lead to fruitful results in dealing with Iran, adding Iran wants to prove that its nuclear program is merely for peaceful purposes.

On Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei warned of the arrogant powers’ plots to impede Iran’s progress in different scientific and technological fields, and said even if Tehran accepts all the demands of the world powers in the nuclear standoff, the Western states would never remove their sanctions against the country.

“Their main goal of such measures (sanctions) is humiliation of the Iranian nation and stopping the nation and Islamic Republic’s great move towards a new Islamic civilization, and I believe that even if we accept the demands that they (want to) dictate on us in the nuclear issue, the sanctions will not be removed since they are opposed to the (Islamic) Revolution in essence,” Ayatollah said in Tehran, addressing a large number of visiting Iranians from East Azerbaijan Province.

He blasted US threats and the European states’ obedience to the US policies, and said, “If sanctions are to be imposed, the Iranian nation too can slap sanctions (on them), and it will do so.”

Iran atomic energy head to join Geneva nuclear talks

Emad Askarieh

February 21, 2015

According to Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi will leave Tehran for Geneva Saturday morning to meet US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.

Salehi will hold talks with Moniz to discuss “the technical issues” of nuclear negotiations between Iran and P5+1, Kamalvandi added.

Salehi is also scheduled to meet his Swiss counterpart, reports said.

On Friday, representatives from Iran and the United States started a fresh round of intensive talks on Tehran’s nuclear program in Geneva to narrow remaining gaps ahead of the March 31 deadline for a final agreement.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araghchi and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman held talks on Friday.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry are scheduled to join the talks on Sunday and hold discussions for two days.

The negotiations will focus on the timetable for the lifting of sanctions against Iran as well as the extent of Tehran’s nuclear activities.

Iran and P5+1– Britain, France, China, Russia, the US and Germany – are seeking to seal a high-profile political deal by the end of March and to confirm the full technical details of the accord by July 1.

The scale of Iran’s uranium enrichment and the timetable for the removal of anti-Iran sanctions are seen as the major stumbling blocks in the talks.

Iran has so far suspended some of its enrichment program in return for certain sanctions relief.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Feb. 21

Emad Askarieh

February 21, 2015

Resumption of talks with the US in Geneva over Iran’s nuclear program dominated the front pages of Iranian dailies on Saturday. Foreign Minister Zarif’s comments that the US should opt for either talks or sanctions were in the headlines too. And reformist-leaning newspapers put on their front pages the comments of the grandson of the late Imam Khomeini on freedom, independence and religiosity.

Abrar: [Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas] Araghchi will meet with [IAEA chief] Yukiya Amano next week.

Abrar: Before talks with John Kerry, Foreign Minister Zarif will have a meeting with [his British counterpart] Philip Hammond.

Abrar: “Iran is among the world’s top 10 countries when it comes to building destroyers,” said the Iranian Navy commander.

Abrar-e Eghtesadi: Imports of diesel have stopped.

Aftab-e Yazd: The Supreme Court has overturned a death sentence issued against Gholamhossein Khaledi, a park ranger.

Arman-e Emrooz: The grandson of the architect of the Islamic Republic has said that the late Imam shattered the idol of backwardness by issuing religious edicts on chess and music.

Ebtekar: A wave of precipitation is sweeping the country. Snow is in the forecast for Tehran on Saturday.

Etemad: The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran says it stands ready to have a more active presence in nuclear talks with P5+1.

Etemad: Qom is satisfied with Rouhani.

Senior Shiite clerics based in the holy city of Qom have praised the performance of the government and thrown their weight behind its economic policy as well as nuclear talks with P5+1.

Ettela’at: A ban may be slapped on imports of certain products next year [starts late March 2015].

Ettela’at: “In the absence of freedom and progress, independence and religiosity won’t lead anywhere,” said Seyyed Hassan Khomeini.

Farhikhtegan: Famous Iranian film critic and director Zaven Ghookasian has passed away.

Haft-e Sobh: Temperatures in Tehran will plunge below zero Saturday night.

Iran: The president’s chief of staff has said that government takes account of the views of senior clerics in its decisions.

Jahan-e Eghtesad: “We’ll agree either on everything or nothing,” said Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Jamejam: A new Support for Family law has taken effect.

Jomhouri Islami: Phase 12 of South Pars gas field is complete and ready for inauguration.

Kaenat: Natural gas exports to Iraq and Turkey have earned Iran $7 billion in foreign revenues.

Kayhan: “Officials should not be indifferent toward cultural issues in society,” said Tehran Friday prayer leader.

Kayhan: “Either sanctions or talks, the US needs to choose one,” said FM Zarif.

Khorasan: “ISIS got started through funding from our friends and allies,” said one-time NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark.

Khorasan:Defending champions Iran have finished third in the world Greco-Roman Wrestling competitions.

Mardomsalari: “The leader is in on the details of the talks,” said Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Resalat: “Bahrain has sent arms to terrorist groups in Iran,” said Allaeddin Borujerdi, the chairman of Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee.

Sharq: President Rouhani has called for formulation of a national document on water resources in the east of the country.

Tafahom: “Next year’s budget relies more on oil than before,” said Tehran MP Ahmad Tavakoli.

Iran should keep pace with global developments

Emad Askarieh

February 20, 2015

The minister of culture and Islamic guidance has said that development should take place in parallel on cultural, political and economic fronts.

Speaking in a congress of the Moderation and Development Party Thursday, Ali Jannati said that the world is undergoing technological and economic changes, and we need to learn about global developments in order to keep pace with them and tap into all available tools to secure progress.

There are two mindsets in Iran, although they may be in pursuit of one single goal which is the promotion of Iranian-Islamic culture, he said.

“One says people should be given access to information through satellite TV, press and social networking sites, so that they could choose what they deem is the right way of thinking. The other says any idea coming from outside the country is poisonous and should be countered. It argues that if a way of thinking comes in via satellite TV channels, it should be jammed, and if it is online, it should be blocked,” the minister said.

Jannati further said, “The [eleventh] government believes we should protect the younger generations from the ill effects of certain imports, but we should let people have access to information in an open atmosphere.”

As for the press, the culture chief said that unethical items and materials which are against national security and [religious] sanctities should be blocked, but pundits can [openly] speak their mind so that people can follow the things they choose.

It is impossible to simply inject one idea into society, Jannati said, adding that some think their ideas are divine revelations and only what they think should be taken into account, but we do not share that view.

The minister further said those who have new ideas can pen books, although some issues are off-limits under the law.

“Pundits should be allowed to express what they think. Over the past 18 months many books which were rejected [by the previous government] have been given the go-ahead to be printed and that has not corrupted our society,” he concluded.

EU move to re-impose bans defies logic: Iran FM

Emad Askarieh

February 20, 2015

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the European Union’s move to put the country’s biggest tanker firm back on its sanctions list defies logic.

“Their move is against logic because the West has not yet realized that sanctions are a kind of liability rather than an asset for them, [with] which they cannot advance their objectives,” Zarif told Mehr news agency.

On February 12, European Union governments agreed to put Iran’s biggest tanker firm back on a list of sanctioned companies.

The EU move to put back the Iranian company on its sanctions list comes as Iran and the P5+1 group of countries – Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany – are in talks to reach a comprehensive final agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program.

Zarif said that a serious deal would seem unlikely as long as the US and EU regard sanctions as an effective way to press ahead with their objectives.

“If they really think that their sanctions are effective, [then] why do they negotiate with us? They [can] continue their sanctions,” he added.

Iran’s nuclear talks

Zarif reaffirmed Iran’s stance that a nuclear deal would be reached only if the two negotiating sides agree on all issues.

He said that the two sides can reach a comprehensive agreement once certain key issues are settled.

“In my opinion, we should definitely agree on all details by [Iranian calendar month of] Tir (beginning June 22). We cannot simply issue a political statement in Tir and then wait to agree on details. That would be an endless process that benefits no one,” Zarif said.

The senior Iranian official once again stressed that a comprehensive nuclear agreement would be possible if the opposite side demonstrated political will.

“If an agreement cannot be reached, it is because the other side lacks the political will to do so or because it cannot stand up to the Zionist lobby and pressure groups or because it wants to make excessive demands,” Zarif said.

Since an interim deal was sealed in the Swiss city of Geneva in November 2013, the negotiating sides have missed two self-imposed deadlines to ink a final comprehensive agreement over Tehran’s nuclear program. Iran and the P5+1 have set July 1 as the deadline for their current talks.

European concerns over Iran are groundless

IFP Editorial Staff

February 20, 2015

Yuri Honing, a Dutch jazz saxophonist who performed a quartet at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on February 15 during the 30^th edition of Fajr International Music Festival, has been quoted by Iscanews.ir as saying that his interest in Iran’s culture and its remarkable history has been the reason behind his visit to Tehran, adding the Europeans do not have a clear understanding of the Middle East, history and civilization of a country like Iran.

On the European tour of his band to mark the anniversary of 9/11 attacks, the distinguished Dutch musician said, “Widespread concern was felt throughout Europe, so it was time to go on a tour with my band. Our attention was focused on music and humanity. I was then introduced to an Iranian artist by a member of this band; that was how I learned about Iran’s annual music festival.”

Honing added, “Iran had captured my attention quite a while ago. Because it was home to those who speak Persian and I had read different things about its history. In Europe people confuse things. To them, Turkey is part of Europe. They do not know that the Middle East stretches from the west of Egypt to the north of Iraq.”

Highlighting that a majority of people in Europe do not have an accurate understanding of the Middle East and the Iranian civilization and history, he stated, “It’s hard for the Europeans to draw a line between different cultures of Middle Eastern countries. […] What one hears and reads about the Middle East in Europe does not conform to realities on the ground, including in Iran.”

Honing, a progressive musician in Europe, described his music as a combination of different styles of art music from Baroque to Rock.