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Iran supports any Muslim fighting extremism

By
Emad Askarieh
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Rouhani-Islam

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani gave an assurance on Wednesday that the Islamic Republic, as an “Islamic world’s big regional power”, will support any Muslim nation or entity in the fight against violence, extremism and terrorism.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will stand beside and defend the Muslims who fight for the sake of freedom of their land against usurpers,” President Rouhani said, addressing the opening session of the 28th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran on Wednesday.

He underlined that Tehran’s support is not confined to a specific area, and Muslims that are battling with violence can enjoy Iran’s backing either in Gaza, Damascus, Mosul, Kurdistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan or elsewhere.

“Should we seek unity in the Islamic world, we must regard as a unified Ummah all around the Muslim world, the Sunnis in Gaza, Alawites in Damascus, Zaidis in Yemen or Kurds in northern Iraq,” he added.

Pointing to the gruesome atrocities committed by the ISIL terrorist group, Rouhani condemned a muted response to the devastation of towns and houses in the name of religion and caliphate.

The president also lashed out at certain countries for arming and funding ISIL terrorists, whom he described as “murderers meaner than wild animals.”

President Rouhani further touched on the procedures for unity in the Islamic world, saying, “When the whole Muslims and denominations have a share in the government in an Islamic society, the way for unity will be paved.”

He also urged consolidate efforts to ensure solidarity in the Islamic world, calling on Muslims to condemn with a “unified voice” the TV channels that confront other faiths in the name of defending Shiite or Sunni Muslims.

Titled “Unified Islamic Ummah: Challenges and Strategies”, the international conference has brought together some 1,200 Islamic scholars and intellectuals from around the globe.

Attendees at the event include educated Muslim figures, ministers of Islamic countries, clerics, scholars and representatives of scientific and cultural circles from Iran and across the world.

President Rouhani congratulates Muslim counterparts on Prophet’s birthday

By
Emad Askarieh
-
Rouhani issues

President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday congratulated his counterparts in the Islamic world on the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him).

In separate messages to the heads of the Islamic states, President Rouhani expressed hope that those “who care about the Muslim Ummah and lovers of the Holy Prophet of Islam would pay due attention, more than ever, to the necessity of the Islamic unity.”

Now that the world of Islam is burning in the fire of extremism, provocative acts intend to trigger tribal and religious prejudice, and enemies of Islam are painting a distorted image of the holy prophet and Islam – which is a religion of peace – the Islamic unity is a must, the president stressed.

President Rouhani also hoped that true lovers of Islam would “pave the way for the spread of peace, justice, progress and spirituality among Muslim nations by following the morals of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his attitude which was based on tolerance.”

Muslims hold week-long celebrations worldwide – designated as the Islamic Unity Week – to mark the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The Islamic Unity Week is marked between 12 and 17 of Rabi’ al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. The occasion in which Muslims ponder on the fundamental call of unity according to the Holy Koran was initiated by the late Imam Khomeini following the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979.

Each year Muslims in Iran and other countries around the world celebrate the Islamic Unity Week, which has played an important role in bringing the various Islamic schools of thought on a single platform.

Trans-regional actors sowing discord among Muslims

By
Emad Askarieh
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Rouhani-Cabinnet

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned that certain trans-regional countries are implementing plots to create rift among Muslims, and urged strengthening unity between Shiites and Sunnis.

“Under the circumstances prevailing in the world today and with all the dangers threatening the Muslim world, the Shiite and Sunni Muslims are necessitated to side with each other and we should stand hand in hand to create unity in the Muslim world,” Rouhani said, addressing a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

He cautioned that those outside the Muslim world are widening natural and theoretical differences among Muslims to stir religious and sectarian strife in a bid to block the region and the Muslim world’s development.

In relevant remarks in November 2013, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei urged the Muslim Ummah (community) to increase vigilance as enemies of Islam are hatching plots to stir sectarian strife among them.

“A major problem of the Muslim World today is the imposed, intentional and wicked problem of kindling differences among the Muslim Ummah and (Islam’s) religious sects,” Ayatollah Khamenei said addressing Hajj officials in Tehran.

[…]

“The confrontation (that the enemies are trying spark) among the religious sects will not be limited to the Shiite-Sunni confrontation and if the enemies of Islam can institutionalize these confrontations, they will put on their agenda sparking internal differences inside the different Shiite sects and Sunni sects,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

Iran FM: Divisive schemes to backfire on plotters

By
Emad Askarieh
-
zarif-Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says that those countries seeking to sow the seeds of discord among Muslims will be haunted by their divisive scenarios.

“Those inciting sedition should know that the aftermath of their acts will eventually come back to haunt them,” Zarif said in a meeting with Syrian Grand Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun in Tehran on Wednesday.

The Iranian foreign minister warned that Muslims would not benefit from rifts and divisions, and said that common threats facing Muslim countries are imposed on them by those who do not seek Muslims’ interests.

Zarif also highlighted the invaluable role of scholars in putting an end to religious differences in the Islamic world and countering moves aimed at tarnishing the image of Islam.

Sheikh Hassoun, for his part, highlighted Iran’s role in fostering unity among Muslims and praised Tehran’s support for his country.

The meeting came on the sidelines of the 28th International Islamic Unity Conference which opened in Tehran on Wednesday.

Hundreds of Sunni and Shiite scholars and intellectuals from more than 60 countries are attending the conference titled Unified Islamic Ummah: Challenges and Strategies.

The participants are scheduled to discuss ways to promote unity and solidarity in the Muslim world and will focus on problems facing the Islamic world, such as the threat posed by Takfiri militants.

Crisis of succession brewing on the Red Sea

By
Emad Askarieh
-
Malek Abdollah-Saudi

There are rumors about Saudi King Abdullah’s state of health. Some go as far as suggest that the monarch is already dead and some say he’s slipped into a coma. Riyadh is not the only capital worried about the monarch’s health and who succeeds him. Many countries in the region and around the world are closely following the news coming out of the kingdom.

The question of succession is not an easy one and the rise to power of whoever succeeds King Abdullah will have a deep impact on regional issues. On January 6, Ebtekar, a reformist daily, published an interview featuring the views of Hossein Rouyvaran, a Middle East expert. The following is the translation of the report:

Hossein Rouyvaran, an expert in Middle Eastern affairs, believes there are some factors that complicate the question of succession.

First, the ailing monarch has set up a council that names the king and the heir to the throne. So the succession won’t be automatic as is the case in other monarchies.

Second, the current crown prince Salman Al Saud is suffering from Alzheimer’s and eventually many won’t approve of his accession to the throne. Of course, one should not forget the fact that King Fahd was suffering from the same disease toward the end of his reign. Back then Crown Prince Abdullah ran the day-to-day administration of affairs. That the selection of Salman is bound to draw objections makes the question of succession more challenging.

Third, Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, second in line to the throne, is another factor. Naming a second heir to the throne is unprecedented in Saudi history, but that is what King Abdullah has done. Prince Muqrin is not a member of the ruling elite.

Accession to power is dynastic in Saudi Arabia. So far all Saudi monarchs have written wills naming all their sons to rule one after another after their demise. Their sons have not necessarily been from the same mother. The first three kings, Faisal, Khalid and Fahd were mothered by the same woman. Abdullah’s mother came from Al Rashid family. But Muqrin’s mother used to be a slave and his inclusion in the club of elite has drawn objections.

Fourth, the grandsons of Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud are demanding changes to the power structure. That has created serious challenges to the Saudi political establishment. A new generation of leaders needs to replace the old princes to settle the serious challenges the political system is faced with.

The sons of Sultan bin Abdulaziz, a former crown prince, led by Bandar, those of Prince Nayif led by Interior Minister Muhammad Nayif, and the sons of Faisal led by Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal are going to great lengths to pave the way for the rise to power of a third generation.

Foreign factors are at play too. By keeping oil prices low Saudi Arabia has helped lift the West out of recession and put it on the path to growth. The West seeks to see a reliable individual rise to power in Riyadh.

So, in addition to domestic variables, foreign elements are exerting efforts to make sure someone who listens to the voice of the West rises to power. That has further complicated the selection of a new king.

Anyone who rises to power will need time to solidify his position. Buying time to cement his foothold will definitely be a pillar of the policies the next king adopts. So the next king will try to ease disagreements. Whoever takes that position won’t try to pursue the controversial policies of his predecessor as strictly and that amounts to an opportunity for Iran.

So, a change of guard in Saudi Arabia might result in solutions to some regional crises. If the ailing king dies, Iran will definitely adopt a logical stance and won’t celebrate his passing. Rather, it will send a delegation to attend the king’s funeral. Saudi Arabia is a key regional player and one cannot ignore the kingdom.

Iran is in favor of a Saudi kingdom that pursues Muslim unity. As long as Saudi Arabia acts in a sanctimonious way and follows divisive rather than uniting policies in the world of Islam, it will remain on a collision course with Iran. But if and when Riyadh quits this policy, Iran and Saudi Arabia can be the best of friends.

Iran has condemned terrorist attack in France

By
Emad Askarieh
-
Marziyeh-Afkham
Marziyeh-Afkham

According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham on January 7 condemned Wednesday’s terrorist attack in Paris and said any act of terrorism targeting innocent individuals runs counter to the teachings of the Muslim faith. The following is the translation of a report the official news agency released on the statements of the spokeswoman:

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham described as unacceptable any abuse of freedom of expression, fanaticism, and disrespect for individuals endeared by followers of different faiths. She also condemned lack of respect for divine religions and their values.

The spokeswoman went on to say that such behaviors [what happened in Paris on Wednesday] are a continuation of a wave of extremism and violence that spread across the world in the past decade. “Unfortunately wrong polices and double standards in dealing with violence and fanaticism have fanned the flames of such measures.”

She recalled President Rouhani’s World against Violence and Extremism initiative and expressed hope leaders of the world will avoid double standards and adopt a unified approach to dealing with the root causes of violence and extremism.

A thousand health centers with physicians on hand are to open in rural areas

By
Emad Askarieh
-
Health minister

On January 6, Javan, a daily, quoted Health Minister Seyyed Hassan Hashemi as saying that a thousand health centers will open in rural areas with physicians who are to take up residence in such villages to offer medical services. The following is the translation of what the minister said about the initiative as well as other moves envisioned in the Healthcare Transformation Plan:

“One of the key principles of the Healthcare Transformation Plan which was approved in the 11th government and is now underway was provision of towns home to less than 100,000 with easy access to midwives, doctors and basic medical services like health centers, dietary supplements for pregnant women and newborn infants.

“After the passage of the Administrative Healthcare Plan, as many as 7 million people who had not been provided with any health coverage were insured by the healthcare insurance.

“Among other measures, promotion of hoteling services at hospitals, renovation of run-down hospitals, introduction of proper medical tariffs, provision of medical emergency services by air, natural birth delivery and plans to encourage doctors to stay in deprived areas to offer services are baby steps toward the implementation of the plan.

“In spite of 44-percent inflation, medical fees and tariffs all but stayed the same between 1985 and 2010, because governments and parliaments in charge over that period did not pay enough attention to reviewing and raising tariffs. Besides, for as many as 1,700 medical services, no tariff was set.

“By the release and implementation of the booklet featuring the relative assessment of healthcare services, we seek to raise medical tariffs, secure the satisfaction of doctors and put a lid on illegal medical fees which are charged by some doctors.

The implementation of the Healthcare Transformation Plan has won 70-percent public approval. At first, doctors and nurses were not much pleased because of the amount they were paid. However, with the passage of time things have started to look up. We hope that we can earn their satisfaction through the cooperation of complementary insurance companies with the government.

“Based on figures released by the Statistical Center of Iran, the implementation of the plan has seen copayment fall by 31 percent.”

Iran must be immunized against sanctions: Ayatollah Khamenei

By
Emad Askarieh
-
Supreme Leader

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says Iran needs to be immunized against sanctions imposed on it over its nuclear program.

“Sanctions have created problems for the country but if the enemy sets a condition for the removal of them in return [for Iran] to back down on basic… issues, including Islam, independence or scientific progress, definitely the [national] pride of no official will accept that,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in an address to thousands of people in Tehran on Wednesday.

The Leader said that the only way that Iran could counter enemy’s power is for the country to be immunized against sanctions.

Ayatollah Khamenei underlined the need for weaning Iran’s economy off petrodollars and said officials should know that the enemy will move ahead if Iran retreats even an iota.

“We should act in a way that even if the enemy does not lift sanctions the nation’s progress, prosperity and welfare will remain unharmed,” said the Leader.

Ayatollah Khamenei also slammed US officials for what he called their shameless rhetoric that they won’t lift anti-Iran sanctions all at once even if Tehran gives concessions over its nuclear program.

The Leader said he does not disagree with the continuation of nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers.

The next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers will be held on January 18.

Nuclear negotiators from Iran and P5+1 – the US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany – wrapped up their latest round of talks on Tehran’s nuclear program in Geneva on December 17, 2014.

The three-day Geneva discussions were held almost three weeks after Tehran and the six countries failed to reach a final agreement by aNovember 24 deadline despite making some progress.

The two sides agreed to extend their discussions for seven more months until July 1, 2015. They also agreed that the interim deal they had signed in Geneva in November 2013 should remain in place during the negotiations.

Iran’s FM, Afghanistan’s National Security Adviser Meet in Tehran

By
Emad Askarieh
-
Iran-Afghanistan-Flags

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday met with Afghanistan’s national security adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar in which they discussed different bilateral and regional issues.

During the meeting in Tehran, Zarif stressed the Islamic Republic of Iran’s preparedness to expand relations with neighboring countries, including Afghanistan and develop cooperation to enhance stability and security in Afghanistan.

He also referred to the presidential elections in Afghanistan and said, “The outcome of popular votes (in Afghanistan) led to the formation of the national unity government and we support and welcome what is based on the will and desire of (Afghan) people”.

Afghanistan’s two main presidential candidates Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah in September last year signed a treaty to create government of national unity. The deal that shares power between the two politicians ended months of turmoil over a disputed election that destabilized Afghanistan.

Hanif Atmar, for his part, appreciated Iran’s continued friendship with Afghanistan during the turbulent years in the latter country, saying, “We will never forget the Islamic Republic of Iran’s help and kindness.”

Hanif Atmar added that deepening ties with Tehran is a priority for the national unity government.

“We will never allow a threat to be posed to Iran from Afghanistan,” he further stressed.

The Afghan official also renewed an invitation to Iran’s top diplomat to visit Kabul.

Lake Orumiyeh’s surface area is growing

By
Emad Askarieh
-
Urumieh Lake

On January 6, Ebtekar, a daily, quoted an environment expert in charge of natural habitats at West Azerbaijan Environment Protection Department as saying that Lake Orumiyeh is no longer shrinking. The following is an excerpt of what Hojat Jabari, had to say about the largest lake in the Middle East:

The lake’s water surface area has expanded almost 100 percent, standing at 1,800 square km over last year’s 900 km². The lake has experienced a 7-meter fall in its water level of late. Thanks to rainfall in the fall, it presently stands at 1,270.55 meters above sea level, 31 centimeters up over September 2014 when it was 1,270.24 meters.

Measured over the past 15 months, at its deepest point the water does not go beyond four meters, a drastic drop in comparison with 15 meters in the years before the lake was gripped by the crisis.

Lake Orumiyeh, one of the largest salt lakes in the world, has been ravaged by severe droughts over the recent years. Some 90 percent of the surface area of this beautiful huge lake which used to be as vast as 5,700 km² has dried up and approximately as little as two billion cubic meters of water is left in it.

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