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

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Home Blog Page 4967

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Jan. 12

January 12, 2015

The Iranian national soccer squad’s 2-0 win over Bahrain in the AFC Asian Cup in Australia dominated the front pages of the Iranian newspapers on Monday. Harsh exchanges in parliament after an MP appealed for an end to the house arrest of the two candidates who disputed the results of the presidential elections in 2009 and President Rouhani’s condemnation of violence against all religions at a meeting with the Cypriot foreign minister grabbed front-page headlines too.

Afkar: The Iranian foreign minister says he’ll visit a number of European countries this week.

Afkar: Because of bureaucratic problems created by Afghan officials, exports of oil derivatives to Afghanistan have stopped.

Aftab-e Yazd: Smuggling in goods has increased 16-fold.

Arman-e Emrooz: [Principlist MP] Ali Motahari’s speech on parliament floor remained unfinished after fellow deputies heckled him.

Arman-e Emrooz: The value of smuggled items is twice as much as the country’s development budget.

Asrar: “Sanctions have cut by $100 billion dollars Iran’s foreign revenues,” said the secretary of the Expediency Council.

Asrar: A door-to-door inquiry is on to identify school-age children who are not receiving education.

Ebtekar: “Iran is all for expansion of cooperation with the EU,” President Hassan Rouhani told the visiting Cypriot foreign minister.

Etemad: “Violence against any nation and religion is condemned,” President Rouhani said at a meeting with the Cypriot foreign minister.

Etemad: “Talks with the US are and will remain unique,” Iranian top diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif said.

Ettela’at: Parisians have staged a million-strong unity march to condemn terrorism.

Ettela’at: Two suicide attacks in Tripoli, Lebanon have claimed 11 lives.

Ettela’at: Over $20 billion in goods were slipped into the country illegally last year.

Hemayat: Death penalty still awaits those who trade in illicit drugs.

Javan: MPs have protested against the seditionist mission in parliament. [The front-page headline refers to the loud protests of some MPs against a fellow deputy during a speech in which he called for an end to the house arrest of two 2009 presidential candidates whose doubting of the election results sparked unrest.]

Jomhouri Islami: Germans stage a rally in protest at Islamophobia.

Kar va Kargar: The Iranian national soccer team had a promising start in the AFC Asian Cup, beating Bahrain 2-0 in their opening match.

Kayhan: Without a referendum, the Government of Prudence has raised bread prices for a second time in a month!

Kayhan: The anti-revolutionary media have widely hailed Ali Motahari [for his call in parliament for the release of seditionist leaders].

Kayhan International: Afghan president due in Iran.

Kayhan International: Iranian volunteer combatant martyred in Iraq.

Sayeh: “Formation of an Islamic Union is what the Muslim world needs now,” said the Supreme Leader’s representative in Golestan Province.

Shahrvand: Archeologists have found a 7,000-year-old corpse in Tehran.

Shahrvand: Around 8 million Iranians were offered health insurance in eight months.

Sharq: “Talks with the United States solely focus on the nuclear issue,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Tehran Times: NATO chief: Muslims the biggest victims of terror.

Iran FM rejects Der Spiegel claims as ‘ridiculous’

Emad Askarieh

January 12, 2015

Speaking at a Sunday news conference with visiting Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides in Tehran, Zarif said such claims are part of a scaremongering campaign targeting the Islamic Republic’s peaceful nuclear work, paving the way for adopting wrong policies vis-à-vis Syria.

In an article published on Friday, Der Spiegel claimed that the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is making efforts to build nuclear bombs, adding that Damascus may be getting assistance from the Islamic Republic to produce nuclear arms.

The top Iranian diplomat further described the claims as “ridiculous” and said such reports are aimed at inciting fears and promoting Iranophobia in the international community.

Iran has repeatedly voiced opposition to the possession of nuclear weapons either on its soil or anywhere else in the world, said Zarif, adding that Tehran favors the removal of all nuclear arms as they are to the detriment of everyone.

“Based on the fatwa by Leader [of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei], we have never been and will never be after nuclear weapons,” added the Iranian foreign minister.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

Iran strongly rejects the allegations that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran says it needs the nuclear program for peaceful purposes, including generating electricity and producing radio-isotopes for medical purposes.

Violence, brutality deplorable anywhere: Rouhani

Emad Askarieh

January 12, 2015

“For us, the massacre of the Iraqi, Pakistani, Afghan, Lebanese and Syrian people is as condemnable as any act of terror in Paris, London, Berlin or Washington,” Rouhani said in a meeting with Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides in Tehran on Sunday.

He pointed to the ongoing developments in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region, calling on regional states to strengthen cooperation, particularly in the fight against extremism, terrorism and violence.

The Iranian president stated that bolstering cooperation would prevent the spread of violence and extremism among countries in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region.

He further stressed the importance of improving Tehran-Nicosia relations in different political, economic and cultural sectors given the two sides’ great potential, saying that increased cooperation serves the interests of both nations.

Rouhani added that Iran seeks to bolster close cooperation with the European Union and noted that Cyprus, as a member of the 28-nation bloc, can play a more effective role in this regard.

The Cypriot foreign minister, for his part, said his country seeks to use all its potential to enhance economic cooperation with Tehran, adding that the severe 2013 economic recession in Cyprus can be traced to the illegal US-led sanctions against Iran.

Kasoulides said the EU has made certain changes to its policies on the fight against terrorism and added that the bloc seeks a peaceful solution to the ongoing crisis in Syria and appreciates Iran’s role in establishing peace and stability in the region.

Syria has been grappling with a deadly crisis since March 2011. The violence fueled by Takfiri groups has so far claimed the lives of over 200,000 people, according to reports. New figures show that over 76,000 people, including thousands of children, lost their lives in Syria last year.

Iran looks to invest more in mineral extraction: Official

Emad Askarieh

January 11, 2015

Iran is one of the top ten countries in the world in terms of mineral diversity – it has 68 different kinds of minerals. It is also among the world’s top ten countries as far as the volume of deposits is concerned.

The country extracted 390 million and 420 million tons of minerals in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Its mineral extraction is projected to rise to 570 million tons in 2015, the final year of the Fifth National Development Plan.

The Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) has recently reported that it has been implementing a plan to explore mineral resources in an expanse of land 200,000 square kilometers in area in Sangan, Khorasan Razavi Province.

This is what Amir Khorami Shad, an IMIDRO vice president, said on January 11. The following is the translation of what else he told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA):

The three-year exploration plan which got underway in December 2013 has absorbed more than $400 million in finances. Some 100,000 kilometers of land was explored in the first year.

The plan is in line with the agreements the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Trade has inked with IMIDRO and the Geological Survey of Iran.

IMIDRO has additional plans – worth $9 billion in investment – for development of the mining sector in areas such as iron ore, coal, steel, copper, aluminum, gold and magnesium.

IMIDRO gives priority to the Iranians, at home and abroad, when it comes to investment absorption. Foreign investors come next if they seek to put their money into Iran’s mines and industries.

Iran has enacted laws on foreign investment [the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act (FIPPA)] and the Organization of Investment and Economic and Technical Assistance of Iran has been required to secure the inflow of foreign capital.

IMIDRO has invested some $17 billion in different sectors, something which has generated around 70,000 job opportunities.

Iran sits on almost 60 billion tons of mineral deposits – valued at around $750 billion in foreign exchange. Less than 15 percent of the country has been explored.

Iran enjoys a special status in the world thanks to its position in the Middle East, its proximity to 15 countries home to over 500 million people, its easy access to high seas, and rich energy and mineral reserves.

Double standards in fight against terror must end

Emad Askarieh

January 11, 2015

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says there should be an end to the double-standard policies adopted by certain countries with regard to the issue of terrorism.

Zarif made the remarks during a Sunday joint press conference with Foreign Minister of Cyprus Ioannis Kasoulides in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Referring to the recent terrorist attacks in France that left 17 people dead, Iran’s foreign minister said that the world needs a comprehensive response based on a global consensus.

Iran swiftly condemned the incidents in Paris because there were no connections between the acts of violence and Islam, Zarif said.

He added that his talks with Kasoulides were focused on security cooperation between Iran and Cyprus and fighting terrorism in the region.

“Cyprus as a neighbor of Syria and Lebanon can play a positive role” in ending the crises facing the two Arab countries, Zarif said.

Kasoulides, for his part, described Iran as an important regional power which can help establish peace in the region.

The Cypriot, who is in Tehran for a two-day visit, was scheduled to hold separate meetings with President Hassan Rouhani, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and other top Iranian officials.

Iran defeat Bahrain 2-0 in the AFC Asian Cup 2015

Emad Askarieh

January 11, 2015

The Iranian national soccer team’s effort to end an almost four-decade-long drought of Asian Cup got off to a winning start on Sunday, January 11.

Ehsan Haj-Safi scored the opener in the injury time before the interval. In the second half Iran kept up the pressure and found the back of Bahrain’s net through Masoud Shojaei in the 70^th minute.

After the final whistle, Haj Safi was named the most valuable player of the game.

Earlier in another match at Group C, the UAE trounced Qatar 4-1 to secure the top place in the table. Iran are now second on three points. Qatar and Bahrain are pointless.

Translation of The Role of Iranians in the History of World Civilization hits bookstores in the Egypt

Emad Askarieh

January 11, 2015

The Role of Iranians in the History of World Civilization by Abdolrafi Haghighat, an Iranian historian and poet also known as Rafi, was published in 576 pages in 2008 by Koomesh Publishing House in Tehran. The book has been rendered into Arabic by a professor at al-Azhar University. What comes below is the translation of a report Ettela’at, a daily, ran on the book on January 10:

By having the book published, the Egyptian elite who always view Egypt as the flag bearer of human culture and civilization seem to have confirmed the fact that based on the evidence presented in the book, the Iranians have been in the lead in the history of world civilization.

On January 1, the Society of Iranian Researchers at its monthly gathering was informed that the book has been translated by a distinguished professor at al-Azhar University and the news was met with a warm welcome.

At the meeting the efforts of Mr. Haghighat to carry out research and compile the book were appreciated, among others, by Professor Mohsen Farshad and Professor Hossein Baher.

Bahram-e Gur Protected Area is home to various species (Photos)

Emad Askarieh

January 11, 2015

Bahram-e Gur Protected Area in Fars province is the birthplace and habitat of the Persian Zebra, a subspecies of Asian Zebra (Equus hemionus) and large mammal belonging to the horse family. The Persian Zebra, which is similar to donkey but larger in size, is now critically endangered.

Wild goats, rams, ewes, foxes, wild boars, agamas [small, long-tailed, insect-eating lizards of the genus Agama], and monitor lizards live together with other animals in the conservation area.

The back-to-back droughts the area has experienced in recent years have jeopardized the lives of animals living there.

Tasnim News Agency on January 6 released photos of the protected area in southern Iran. Take a look:

Soul of late maestro Jalil Shahnaz is happy with performance of young musicians

Emad Askarieh

January 11, 2015

A number of young Iranians representing a non-governmental organization have organized a music festival in memory of Jalil Shahnaz, one of the greatest maestros of Persian classical music and the soloists of tar who passed away in Tehran on June 17, 2013. Isfahan hosted the First National Shahnaz Music Festival featuring two competitive and non-competitive sections.

On January 10, Arman-e Emrooz, a daily, carried a brief report about the music festival. What appears below is the translation of the piece:

“At the Shahnaz Music Festival, some young musicians performed so emotionally and adeptly that I must say they made the soul of Jalil Shahnaz happy. Given the capabilities of the tar [a Persian string instrument], the young artists taking part in the festival superbly played this Iranian instrument, raising hopes that the future of our music will be promising,” Houshang Zarif, who sits on the festival jury, told journalists.

“The festival should receive more support, so that more young artists can take to the stage and perform,” he added.

“The style of [Persian classical] music taught and promoted in Isfahan has qualities which deserve more attention,” Fereydoon Shahbazian, a composer, told journalists on the sidelines of the festival.

Describing as interesting the presence of young artists among soloists and bands at the festival, Shahbazian added, “Fortunately, the young artists taking part in the festival have so far presented great works. Mr. Zarif and I were impressed by the remarkable skill that the young musicians displayed.”

Hailing some of the solo performances as immensely impressive, he said, “Some of the performances have struck me as so remarkable that I can say we can be hopeful about the future of Iran’s music.”

Iran strongly condemns fatal bomb attack in Lebanon’s Tripoli

Emad Askarieh

January 11, 2015

On Sunday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham offered condolences to the Lebanese government and nation as well as the families of the victims of the deadly attack, saying the perpetrators of the heinous attack targeted Lebanon’s unity, integrity and stability.

She further expressed assurances that Lebanon’s wise authorities, and political leaders and groups will stymie sinister divisive plots hatched by their enemy through enhancing national unity and dialog.

At least seven people were killed and more than 30 others sustained injuries in the attack on Saturday.

Security officials said explosions targeted the Omran café in the majority Alawite neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen.

According to Lebanon’s Daily Star, the ISIL Takfiri terrorist group has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks.

According to sources from the Arab Democratic Party, the dominant party in Jabal Mohsen, two bombers were behind the attacks. One of them entered the café, but the second one could not and blew his bomb outside.

Over the past months, Lebanon’s second largest city, Tripoli, has been rocked by turmoil due to the conflict between supporters and opponents of the government of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad.