Friday, April 10, 2026
Home Blog Page 5012

Australia supported the Iranian-fugitive-turned-Sydney-hostage taker; Western media hype the Islamophobia scenario

Manteghi

An Iranian national wanted at home, through Interpol, for fraud was behind the bloody hostage-taking that unfolded in Sydney, Australia on Monday. The hostage-taker, who was granted asylum by the Australian officials who turned a deaf ear to appeals by their Iranian counterparts to extradite him to face trial at home, was out on bail despite being implicated in 40-plus sexual assault cases and being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife. The following is the translation of two reports the Islamic Republic News Agency filed, one on the Western media hypocrisy and the other on the comments of the Iranian police chief:

What is reported in Western media is meant to hide the support the Australian government has lent to this fugitive wanted by Interpol. That Western media call the hostage taker an Iranian national is also designed to associate the tragedy with the Iranians and Islam. It comes despite the fact that the hostage taker had previously renounced Shiism on his website and despite the Iranian government’s appeal almost two decades ago for his extradition.

Iran Police chief: Ahmadi Moghadam
Iran Police chief: Ahmadi Moghadam

On Tuesday Iranian Police Chief Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam said the Sydney hostage taker [Mohammad Hassan] Manteghi was a fraudster who ran a travel agency in 2006 and fled to Australia through Malaysia.

He further said the Australian police failed to return him to Iran, citing the absence of an extradition deal between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Canberra. “Instead he was granted asylum on the grounds that he was a [dissident] clergyman facing persecution in Iran.”

The top police officer went on to signal the readiness of the Iranian law enforcement force to help the Australian police with the investigation.

[…]


Sheikh Haron Monis: I am no longer Rafezi!

sheikh-haron

 

Wildlife of Golestan National Park in Photos

Iran-Wildlife-Golestan National Park6

Golestan National Park, in northern Iran, is the oldest registered national park in the country and a unique haven for wildlife. This park is home to more than 1,350 species of flora and around 300 fauna species.

 

Some 2 million Iranian manuscripts are in poor conditions abroad

manuscripts

Ettela’at newspaper on December 14 quoted Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri, the director of the National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI), as saying that some two million Iranian manuscripts are kept in less-than-perfect conditions in foreign museums. The following is the translation of what the director of the national library had to say to Mehr News Agency:

SAlehi Amiri
Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri

Currently about one million Persian and Arabic manuscripts which belong to Iran are kept in India and Pakistan, and around 500,000 copies are in Central Asian countries.

The conditions in which these copies are kept, both on the Indian Subcontinent and in Central Asia, are regrettable. We need to provide money to get back these handwritten texts.

These copies are part of Iran’s cultural heritage. We have only two options: either buy the original copies and transfer them to Iran or bring in digitized versions which are the imitations of the original copies. To do both, we need foreign currencies.

Recently I visited Paris to attend the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) World Library and Information Congress. While there I learnt that the National Library of France alone is home to 2,600 rare, priceless manuscripts. That number is even higher in Spain. Therefore, we should try to bring these valuable collections back to our country.

The information we have received suggests that the Iranian manuscripts are in poor condition in foreign countries and this is alarming. We have entered talks with the government for retrieving the collections of Iranian manuscripts; they have made some pledges. I hope they could be materialized.

Iran’s missile capabilities not negotiable at all: Velayati

Ali-Akbar-Velayati

A senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has ruled out any negotiations whatsoever over the Islamic Republic’s defensive missile capabilities.

“Iran’s missile issue is not up for any type of negotiation,” Ali Akbar Velayati told reporters on Monday.

The senior Iranian official added that the issue of the country’s missile program would not be part of the upcoming nuclear talks with the P5+1 group of countries in the Swiss city of Geneva.

Some Western officials, particularly in the US, have called for Iran’s missile program to be included in the country’s nuclear talks with the P5+1 – Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany.

“Iran will do whatever is necessary for its defensive purposes,” Velayati, who also serves as Head of Iran’s Strategic Research Center, pointed out.

He emphasized that Iran’s missile program is solely designed for peaceful defensive objectives.

“Deterrence is the most important feature of [Iran’s] missiles,” Velayati said, adding, “In order to strengthen its defense [capability], Iran does not need to obtain permission from anybody.”

His remarks came as senior officials from Iran and the P5+1 are scheduled to resume a new round of talks in Geneva on December 17.

Iran, Russia must be engaged to defeat ISIL: EU

Federica-Mogherini

The European Union’s foreign policy chief says the 28-Nation bloc must engage Iran and Russia to defeat the ISIL Takfiri terrorists and end the conflict in Syria, Press TV reports.

Federica Mogherini made the comments on Monday, following a meeting by EU foreign ministers.

“Iran is not only the country with which we have nuclear talks, it is also a regional important player and this practically means that we will have to engage with Iran also on its neighborhood,” said Mogherini during a news conference.

Over the recent months, EU member states have been debating the union’s approach to Syria.

“The European Union is ready to engage with all regional and international actors with influence over the Syrian parties,” Mogherini added.

She added that the EU backs efforts by the United Nations to arrange a ceasefire between government troops and foreign-backed militants in Syria’s northwestern city of Aleppo.

The aim of the ceasefire is to help ease the desperate plight of people in Syria’s second-largest city.

Syria has been grappling with a deadly conflict since March 2011. Western powers and their regional allies – especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey – are the main supporters of the ISIL militants operating inside Syria.

More than 200,000 people have so far died in the conflict, according to the UN.

Iranian doctors successfully conduct thyroplasty surgery

surgery

Iranian surgeons successfully conducted thyroplasty type III surgery to change a patient’s female voice to a male one at a hospital in Mashhad City, northeastern Iran.

Dr. Ehsan Khadivi, an Otolaryngology Associate Professor at Mashhad medical Sciences University said the operation was conducted on a 21-year old patient from Mashhad.

The surgery is conducted on people who have signs of maturity but their voice is still a female type.

He said speech-language pathology is prescribed for these kinds of patients before the surgery, but operation is offered in case it fails.

According to Khadivi, the surgery can be conducted for people who have gone through sex reassignment surgery. Female voice frequency stands at 180-200 for women and reaches 100-120 for men.

The patient has gone through the surgery one year after speech-language pathology, he said, adding the operation took half an hour and under Local anesthesia during which frequency of the patient’s voice was investigated.

Iran voices satisfaction with US talks

Abbas-Araqchi

A top Iranian nuclear negotiator has expressed satisfaction with the general atmosphere of the ongoing negotiations between representatives of the Islamic Republic and the United States over Iran’s nuclear program.

Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, who is also Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, made the remarks after the two sides ended their first day of the new round of talks in Geneva on Monday.

The Iranian negotiating team is headed by Araghchi and Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht-e Ravanchi, while Acting Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman leads the US team.

The Iranian official said that the two sides had detailed discussions, including on the US-led sanctions against Iran, during the expert-level meeting.

Iran will hold another round of talks with the US negotiating team on Tuesday morning.

Araghchi said Iran would also hold one-on-one talks with the other members of P5+1 later on Tuesday.

Iran and P5+1 – Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany – will begin their new rounds of nuclear talks on Wednesday. The two sides failed to reach a final agreement by a previously-set November 24 deadline. Given the progress that had been made, however, Iran and P5+1 agreed to extend their discussions for seven more months until July 1, 2015. They also agreed for the interim deal they had signed in Geneva in November 2013 to remain in place during the negotiations.

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Dec. 16

Iranian Newspapers Headlines
Iranian Newspapers Headlines

Monday’s deadly hostage taking in a café in Sydney, Australia appeared on the front pages of most Iranian dailies on Tuesday. Also on the front pages were the comments of President Rouhani that sanctions will be lifted and those of Ali Akbar Velayati, the Supreme Leader’s advisor, that Tehran’s missile capability is not negotiable as well as the call by one-time parliament Speaker Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri for the formation of political parties to smooth the day-to-day administration of affairs in the country.

 

Abrar: “Members of parliament cannot question the judiciary,” said a deputy judiciary chief.

Abrar: The minister of science, research and technology has explained why some speeches planned for University Student Day were called off. “Some of the speeches had not been given the go-ahead in the first place.”

 

Abrar newspaper 12 - 16


Abrar-e Eghtesadi: The price of the standard gold coin in Iran has hit the 10 million rial [around $300] mark.

 

Abrare eghtesadi newspaper 12 - 16


Afkar: “We have full trust in our nuclear negotiators,” said President Hassan Rouhani.

Afkar: Talks between [Iranian deputy foreign ministers] Araghchi and Takht Ravanchi and American Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman opened in Geneva, Switzerland.

 

Afkar newspaper 12 - 16


Aftab-e Yazd: “The previous government printed forty-something percent of the entire bills the country has printed ever,” said President Rouhani.

Aftab-e Yazd: Some 11 million young men and women across Iran are of marriage age.

 

Aftabe yazd newspaper 12 - 16


Arman-e Emrooz: “Some urge us to conclude a deal fast; others want us to quit the talks altogether,” the president has said of efforts to prevent nuclear talks to produce results.

 

Armane rmruz newspaper 12 - 16


Asrar: “Wisdom requires us to thrive politically as we interact with the rest of the world,” said Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Asrar: Hostage taking in Sydney Australia comes to a bloody end.

 

Asrar newspaper 12 - 16


Eghtesad-e Pooya: The president has blamed the 40 percent inflation rate [his government inherited from the previous government] on Mehr Housing Project his predecessor launched.

Eghtesad-e Pooya: A new 20,000 rial bill [roughly 60 cents in value] has been unveiled.

 

Eghtesade puya newspaper 12 - 16


Emtiaz: “As many as 220 thousand illegal abortions are conducted [across the country] annually,” said a deputy health minister.

Emtiaz: “Prices of energy forms are likely to rise by 30 percent next year,” said a member of parliament’s Budget Committee.

 

Emtiaz newspaper 12 - 16


Etemad: “We will bring down the sanctions [barrier],” President Rouhani told a host of banking managers as he urged banks to roll up their sleeves to enter the investment market.

Etemad: “Reformism will never take on the role of the opposition,” vowed Mohammad Reza Aref, President Khatami’s deputy.

 

Etemad newspaper 12 - 16


Ettela’at: “Present laws prevent liquidity to be channeled to the manufacturing sector,” said Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.

 

Ettelaat newspaper 12 - 16


Hambastegi: “Less reliance on oil in the budget bill is imperative,” said Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor for international affairs to the Supreme Leader.

Hambastegi: “We do not know the rules of the game, nor do we have the tools of democracy at our disposal,” Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri told a national conference on the role of research in lawmaking.

 

Hambastegi newspaper 12 - 16


Hemayat: “Western sanctions against Iran are against [principles of] human rights and amount to international crimes,” said the secretary of the Iranian Judiciary’s Human Rights Commission.

 

Hemayat newspaper 12 - 16'


Iran: In the first eight months of the year 1,762 people have died of addiction to illicit drugs [across Iran].

 

Iran newspaper 12 - 16


Iran Daily: South Korea’s Iran oil imports up 6.5 percent.

Iran Daily: Italy set to build steel plant in northern Iran.

 

Iran daily newspaper 12 - 16


Javan: Parliament’s Research Center has announced that next year’s budget would entail more than $10 billion in deficit if it is based on oil prices of $70 a barrel.

 

Javan newspaper 12 - 16


Kaenat: “Inflation rate should land in single-digit territory,” the president told a number of banking managers.

 

Kaenat newspaper 12 - 16


Kar va Kargar: “Iran’s missile capability is off limits in talks,” said Ali Akbar Velayati, a onetime foreign minister.

Kasb va Kar: “Those who fish in the troubled waters of sanctions are worried about the prospects of their termination,” President Rouhani said.

 

Karo kargar newspaper 12 - 16


Kayhan: “Economic sanctions were what top seditionists [those who disputed the results of the 2009 presidential elections and sparked unrest] asked the US for,” said Managing Editor of Kayhan Hossein Shariatmadri in a speech at the University of Tehran.

 

Kayhan newspaper 12 - 16


Mardomsalari: The Iranian Drug Commission has said it is opposed to abolition of the death penalty in cases involving drug traffickers.

 

Mardom salari newspaper 12 - 16


Roozan: “Reports that Iran made concessions to have the talks extended are false,” said Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to the Supreme Leader.

Roozan: A staunch supporter of the Mashaei-Ahmadinejad camp has denied that the former president’s chief of staff has distanced himself from his boss. [It came after Mashaei was reported as saying that he was distancing himself from Ahmadinejad so that he could win back the support of his advocates.]

 

Ruzan newspaper 12 - 16


Sepid: “Doctors used to receive as much as $3 billion in unreported [illegal] fees from patients annually,” said the Iranian health minister.

 

Sepid newspaper 12 - 16


Shahrvand: The head office of South Pars Company [in Asaluyeh] was engulfed in flames.

Shahrvand: The life of Iranian asylum-seekers at detention camps on Manus Island [in northern Papua New Guinea] is hellacious.

 

Shahrvand newspaper 12 - 16


Sharq: “We don’t have the tools of democracy at our disposal,” said Ali Akbar Nategh-Nouri, a former parliament speaker as he supported the formation of parties.

 

Shargh newspaper 12 - 16


SMT: “Under the proposed budget some 50 percent of the costs of research conducted by the private sector would be reimbursed,” said the minister of industries, mines and trade.

 

Samt newspaper 12 - 16


Tafahom: “Khatam al-Anbia Base [the development arm of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps] has completed more than 2,000 projects so far,” said the commander of the base Brigadier General Abdollahi.

Tafahom newspaper 12 - 16


Vatan-e Emrooz: The chairman of parliament’s Article 90 Committee has said American tobacco company Philip Morris International is owned by the Zionists. Still, there is insistence [on the part of government] on importing Marlboro cigarettes.

 

Vatane emruz newspaper 12 - 16

 

Iran becomes champion of world bodybuilding contest for second year

FIBB
FIBB

Iranian athletes won one gold, one silver and a bronze medal in the IFBB World Classic Bodybuilding Championships 2014 in La Nucia, Spain on Monday to be crowned champions for a second straight year.
The host, Spain, received one gold and another silver medal to finish second.
South Korea clinched a gold and a bronze medal to land in the third spot.
One hundred forty athletes from 36 countries took part in the 4-day competitions.
Iran had five representatives in the final stage, more than all the participating countries.

Iran strongly condemns hostage taking in Australia

Australia-hostage

Iran has vehemently condemned hostage taking at a café in Australia’s most populous city Sydney.

“Resorting to inhumane methods and creating terror and panic in the name of the divine religion of Islam is not justifiable under any circumstances,” Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said on Monday.

She noted that the Australian police have been totally abreast of psychological conditions of the hostage taker, who had immigrated to Australia about two decades ago.

The hostage taker has been identified by local media as an Iranian, who had moved to Australia 18 years ago.

Some blame the incident on those who support terrorism, including the United States, Israel, and certain regimes in the Middle East region that support such Takfiri groups as al-Nusra Front and ISIL.

On December 1, in a message posted on his Tweeter account, the hostage taker had described Iran and the supporters of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as terrorists.

Australian security forces raided the Lindt Café in Sydney’s central business district on Monday, ending the siege that lasted for more than 16 hours.

According to police sources, the gunman and two hostages were killed during the operation.

In recent months, Australia has been on high alert after the Canberra government raised concerns over the return of the citizens who have joined the Takfiri terrorists operating in Syria and Iraq.

Earlier this month, Canberra said at least 20 Australian nationals fighting for terrorist groups, including ISIL, had been killed in the two neighboring Arab states. Over 90 Australians have joined ISIL Takfiri militants there.