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

Iran News
Politics
Business
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- Education
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- Health
- Human Rights
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- Lifestyle
- Sport
- Women
Culture
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Home Blog Page 5052

Iran Establishing Ebola Control Center

Emad Askarieh

October 27, 2014

Senior Iranian health officials declared on October 26 that they are working to equip a special hospital to fight any possible Ebola outbreak, adding that they are pleased to see no case of Coronavirus infection among the country’s Hajj pilgrims who have returned from Saudi Arabia.

“I can assure you that no case of Coronavirus has been reported among the Iranian pilgrims, but we have allocated a hospital for controlling Ebola disease”, if any case of infection is diagnosed, Head of the Health Ministry’s Center for Management of Contagious Diseases Mohammad Mehdi Gouya told reporters on October 26.

The official said although no Ebola case has been diagnosed in Iran, the ministry should develop a plan for setting up more potential Ebola control and quarantine centers.

On October 25, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Medical Council (IRICM) Alireza Zali said that no case of Ebola virus contamination has been observed in Iran and no patient with such symptom of the diseases has been reported so far.

Zali said that medical system is fully ready to confront the epidemic.

“We are completely prepared to counter Ebola if any case is observed,” he said.

Earlier this month, Iranian Health Minister Seyed Hassan Qazizadeh Hashemi said that his ministry has done its best to immune the country’s Hajj pilgrims against epidemic diseases, including Ebola and Coronavirus.

“Although Ebola and Coronavirus diseases have been reported in Saudi Arabia, but there should be no worry about the Iranian Hajj pilgrims returning to the country,” Qazizadeh Hashemi said.

The health minister, meanwhile, reiterated that even if a case is observed the Health Ministry is fully prepared to do all necessary measures in a bid not to allow the disease spread.

The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and a religious duty for Muslims which must be carried out at least once in lifetime by every adult Muslim who is physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and can support his family during his absence.

The World Health organization (WHO) in its latest report said that the number of cases in the Ebola outbreak has exceeded 10,000, with 4,922 deaths.

Only 27 of the cases have occurred outside the three worst-hit countries, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.

Those three countries account for all but 10 of the fatalities.

Mali became the latest nation to record a death, a two-year-old girl. More than 40 people known to have come into contact with her have been quarantined.

Iranian book among IYL’s top works

Emad Askarieh

October 27, 2014

‘The Coach’, a book written by Iranian writer Farideh Khalatbari, has been registered as one of the five top books on the list of the International Youth Library (IYL).

“The IYL is the largest library for international children’s and youth literature in the world. For the first time, since its establishment in 1949, the library has selected an Iranian book among its five top works,” Khalatbari said.

The IYL was established in 1949, four years after the Second World War with the efforts of Jella Lepman, a German humanitarian.

Each year the IYL, in Munich, Germany, selects newly published books from across the world that it considers to be especially noteworthy. This list of books is compiled into the annual White Ravens Catalogue, which is introduced each year at the Bologna (Italy) Children’s Book Fair.

“Finally five top books are selected. This is the first time that a book from Iran has made its way to the top five works,” the writer noted.

The White Raven label is given to books that deserve worldwide attention because of their universal themes and/or their exceptional and often innovative artistic and literary style and design.

‘The Coach’ is written by Iranian writer Farideh Khalatbari and illustrated by Zila Hodaei.

Iranian libraries among ‘1001 libraries to see before one dies’

IFP Editorial Staff

October 27, 2014

Tehran’s Bazar and Mashhad’s Astan Quds Razavi libraries are among the ‘1001 Libraries to see before one dies’, a list provided by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).

At the beginning of summer, the IFLA Public Libraries Section asked all librarians from across the world to nominate ‘must see’ libraries in their respective countries, the Art and Cultural Organization of Tehran Municipality announced Sunday.

The libraries could be nominated for several reasons – the library building, location, innovative programs or community engagement.

The list holds two libraries from Iran including Bazar library, located in Tehran – Imam Khomeini Square, as well as the library of Astan Quds Razavi, which is located in Mashhad city.

The Bazar library was chosen for its historical building which belonged to a relative of Naseruddin Shah dating back to 150 years.

Iran World Heritage Attractions in Photo

Soltaniyeh shares the title of the world’s highest dome with Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari Church in Venice, Italy and Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul, Turkey.

Iran police arrest man over acid attack threat

Emad Askarieh

October 27, 2014

The Iranian police have detained a man who threatened people with acid attacks in the capital, Tehran, amid national outrage over recent cases of acid throwing.

The arrest was made after a number of citizens in western Tehran contacted the police and reported that an unknown man had threatened them with acid attacks on the phone, Tehran Police Chief Brigadier General Hossein Sajedinia told reporters on Sunday.

Police identified and arrested the man in an urgent operation on Saturday night “when he was making a call from a public booth,” Sajedinia said.

The detainee admitted that he had been “influenced by foreign satellite channels,” added Sajedinia.

According to the police chief, some others have been also arrested and are under investigation for reporting fake acid attacks to the police.

“Police will deal with those trying to threaten the citizens’ security decisively, according to law. Therefore, those who intend to annoy others by spreading rumors…about acid attacks should know that they will be dealt with by the police,” he further noted.

Reports of a spate of recent acid attacks against women in the central city of Isfahan have triggered grave concerns among the Iranian public and led to widespread speculations in the press and social media.

Iranian authorities say security forces have arrested a number of suspects in connection with the attacks, but have not confirmed claims that the women were attacked because they were not dressed appropriately as required by the Islamic dress code.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani instructed three ministries on Thursday to step up efforts to find culprits behind the attacks.

Rouhani tasked the ministries of the interior, intelligence, and justice with launching an investigation into the sensitive case.

On October 20, Iranian Judiciary spokesman, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Eje’I, pledged serious and prompt action against the attacks.

Parliament speaker comments on morality laws, acid attacks and nuclear case

Emad Askarieh

October 27, 2014

Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has thanked the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology for compiling a report on [illegal] scholarships [granted when the previous government was in office] and said, “At a time when both the executive and legislative branches of government are determined to pursue the case, some media act as if the legislature is against investigating the scholarships or that the impeachment of the former science minister had its roots in the fact that he wanted to pursue the case. Such characterization is wrong because the Supreme Audit Court, which is an affiliate of parliament, was probing the case [of unlawful scholarships].”

According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the following is part of what else the top MP had to tell his fellow deputies:

Speaking during an open session of the Islamic Consultative Assembly on Sunday, Larijani said issues such the political and cultural approaches of the former science minister and his appointments were behind the chamber’s decision to impeach him. “That some MPs criticized the former minister ahead the vote of no-confidence was because he had made the inquiry into the scholarships public through media, not because he followed the case. “Such characterization of the performance of the chamber is politically wrong. It is like accusing someone of doing something simply in order to sideline them.”

He went on to say that political parties should take account of the fact that over the years such attitudes have turned into a source of hostility and conflict. “Do they want to insist on the wrong approaches of the past and repeat them? We need to look at developments through the lens of national interests and security. Iran is a hub of calm and security in a region which is experiencing a lot of turbulence. At a time when Iran is subjected to sanctions because of the hostility major powers nurture against the country, the nation needs convergence to advance national development and sustainability.

Larijani further said, “Naturally, political rivalry should be judicious and fair. Efforts by some to seize every opportunity to hammer away at their opponents and deal them a blow in the court of public opinion will simply play into foreign hands.

The top MP criticized those who politicize the parliamentary motion to support those who promote virtue and prevent vice and said no one should ever think of enforcement of morality laws as a peripheral question and treat it in a politically motivated way.

He dismissed efforts to paint a gloomy picture of the motion in question and link it to some developments in the country. “Parliament has yet to finalize the motion, and if there are any problems associated with it, we will review them in line with rules and regulations.”

He denounced a recent spate of acid attacks in Isfahan as heinous and urged the parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee to follow the case and report its findings to the chamber. “Another mistake is that this ugly anti-social measure is being used for settling political scores. What is even worse is that some are linking the acid attacks to promotion of virtue and prevention of vice. Why should some muddy the political waters? Politicization of the attacks is sheer opportunism and politically unfair.

On nuclear talks between Iran and P5+1, he said Iran will not give in to illogical demands to curb its peaceful nuclear program. He also urged parties engaged in nuclear talks with Iran to avoid deception, citing the fact that Iran is well aware of their tactics.

Flowers line the walkway to take visitors by surprise

Emad Askarieh

October 26, 2014

Banks of Chrysanths, also known as Chrysanthemums, are piled in a place to create a beautiful scene. Floral aroma is in the air in the city of Mashhad in northeast Iran where a festival is underway to showcase Chrysanthemums, which are native to Asia and northeastern Europe. The floral arrangements in the festival help visitors enjoy the scenic view of the eye-catching environment, artificial albeit. The following are images Tasnim News Agency filed of the festival on October 22:

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Oct. 26

Emad Askarieh

October 26, 2014

A memorial service for the late Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani attended by Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was placed by several newspapers on their front pages. Also in the news were remarks by senior nuclear negotiator Seyyed Abbas Araghchi that Iran won’t step back from its atomic rights as well as a message by Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to the Saudi King on the death sentence for top Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. The ramifications of recent acid attacks in Isfahan and the Cabinet’s report on illegal scholarships granted by the science ministry of the previous administration also made headlines in a majority of newspapers on Sunday.

Abrar-e Eghtesadi:“Italy only buys crude oil from Iran,” is the banner headline of the daily quoting Italian authorities on trade with Iran.

Abrar-e Eghtesadi: “Housing market is lifting itself out of the depths of stagnation.”

Abrar-e Eghtesadi: “Utility prices are likely to be raised next year.” The energy minister has put forward a plan for the next Iranian calendar year (starting March 2015) to raise the fees Iranian households and businesses will have to pay for electricity and water.

Afarinesh: “Those who have made Iran-140 passenger planes should be held accountable,” said Tehran’s Public and Revolutionary Courts Prosecutor.

Afkar reports that around $8 billion in loans will be granted in two phases to small industries.

Afkar: “Iran will not retreat even one step from its nuclear rights,” said Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi.

Arman-e Emrooz: “[Fatemeh] Fatemeh Motamed-Arya is on her way to Oscars,” writes the daily. The famous Iranian actress has a [leading] role in Nabat, directed by Azeri filmmaker Elchin Musaoglu which has been nominated for the Oscars.

Asia: “As many as 46 giant Italian firms are to return to Tehran shortly,” said the chairman of Iran-Italy Joint Chamber of Commerce.

Asia: “Iran will not accept sanctions to remain in place, not even one of them,” said Iran’s senior nuclear negotiator, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi.

Asia: “A train carrying American tourists is due to arrive in Iran.”

Asia quoted First Vice-President Eshagh Jahangiri as saying that the stage is being set in Iran to take in more and more foreign investment.

Asr-e Eghtesad: “Iran will not have a budget deficit in excess of nine percent this year,” said the chairman of the Planning and Budget Committee of Iran’s parliament about the current Iranian year which ends on March 20, 2015.

Ebtekar: The Leader of the Islamic Revolution has praised the Iranian team for their superb performance and the colorful medals they have won in the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea.

Ebtekar: “Do not pin much hope on disqualification of reformists,” said Mohammad Reza Aref, a vice-president in Mohammad Khatami’s Cabinet, in comments aimed at principlists. His comments came in response to rumors that the Guardian Council is likely to disapprove the bulk of reformists contesting legislative elections due to be held in March 2016.

Ebtekar: “Let the dividers [among Muslims] be overcome with despair by overturning the death sentence of top Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr,” read a message by Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to Saudi King Abdullah.

Eghtesad-e Pooya: “[Greek pianist, keyboardist, composer, and music producer] Yanni [Yuzon] is to make a trip to Iran.”

Esfahan Emrooz: “The [Golden Eagle Danube] Express carrying European tourists has arrived in Isfahan,” wrote the daily, adding that more than 60 passengers from nine countries are on board the first European train to visit Iran.

Etemad:“[The release of] a report on the scholarships was courageous,” said Ahmad Tavakkoli, a Tehran MP and a vocal critic of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Ettela’at: “The collegiate community has welcomed the release [by the Iranian Cabinet] of a report on [illegal] scholarships.”

Ettela’at: “Iranian pensioners will not be charged for the healthcare services they receive as of mid-November.”

Hambastegi: “Reformists will have a strong presence in the upcoming parliamentary elections,” said Mohammad Reza Aref, the chairman of the Omid Iranian Foundation.

Hemayat: The Judiciary chief has tasked his deputy Gholamhossein Ejei to follow the case involving a spate of acid attacks in Isfahan.

Iran: “The water level at the Lake Urmia has risen by 23 cm following a recent rainfall in the region.”

Jahan-e Sanat: “Indictments have been issued for three of those implicated in [Babak Zanjani’s] oil case,” said Tehran’s Public and Revolutionary Courts Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi.

Jahan-e Sanat: “Talks are held between FAO and Iran’s agriculture minister.” The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has plans to fight drought in Iran.

Jamejam: “If acid attacks are meant to terrorize the public, they amount to Moharebeh [waging war against God],” said Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi, the prosecutor general.

Kayhan: “The decision to grant scholarships to students without requiring them to take tests was made by the science minister of the Reformist cabinet [of President Mohammad Khatami].” The daily is taking a jab at the government of President Rouhani for releasing the names of individuals who were granted the scholarships when President Ahmadinejad was in office.

Mardomsalari: “Iran will not be the party to leave the [nuclear] negotiating table,” said Ali Akbar Velayati, the foreign policy advisor to the Supreme Leader and a former Iranian foreign minister.

Shahrvand: “As many as 30 oil tankers have rolled over in Lorestan province over the last seven months, discharging several thousand liters of oil into the province’s soil and water resources.

Shahrvand: “Iranians buy 400 tons of gold annually,” reads the daily’s headline, saying that Iran is one of the world’s top six gold consumption hubs.

Shahrvand: “Good nutrition and health have taken the place of a planned rise in subsidies,” said Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri, referring to the cash handouts the Iranian government pays each month to qualified families.

Shahrvand: “The Saheb Gharani-e Palace (in Niavaran Complex) has developed cracks.” Reports have come out in recent days that big cracks have run up the northern flank of the Mirror Pavilions of the palace.

Sharq: “Untold stories about the assassination of a banker of Iranian origin in Malaysia,” is the daily’s banner headline, shedding light on the mystery death of Hossein Ahmadnejadi, a 75-year-old Iranian-Bahraini, who was shot dead in a parking lot on July 29, 2013 when he, accompanied by his wife, was departing a Chinese temple in Kuala Lumpur.

Sharq: “The first Iranian chess player who has bagged a silver inWorld Youth Championships” wrote the daily saying that Sara Sadat Khadem al-Sharieh, the Iranian master, finished second in the World Youth Chess Championship 2014 held in Pune, India (October 5-20).

Sharq: Young scholars from 46 countries are studying Islamic lessons at Al-Mustafa International University in Mashhad.

Tehran Times: “US NGOs urge Congress not to sabotage Iran nuclear talks.”

Iran, Russia Plan to Use National Currencies in Bilateral Trade

Emad Askarieh

October 26, 2014

A senior Iranian lawmaker announced that Tehran and Moscow have a plan to replace the US dollar with their national currencies in bilateral transactions.

“Replacing (the US) dollar with ruble in bilateral and multilateral transactions between Iran and Russia tops the agenda of the upcoming visit of an Iranian delegation to Russia,” member of Iran-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group Hadi Qavami said on October 25.

Qavami pointed to an upcoming visit of Iran-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group to Moscow, and said, “The Russia-Iran parliamentary friendship group has recently visited Iran and now the visit of the Iranian delegation will take place at the invitation of the Russian side.”

He noted that the Iranian delegation will discuss setting up banks along Iran-Oman border in a bid to facilitate changing Iran’s oil payments to ruble and rial and to reduce the pressure of sanctions.

In the last several years, Iran and Russia have had vast cooperation in different fields, especially in political and economic spheres.

The two states also enjoy special positions on the international scene and have long had constant and regular consultations on key regional and global issues.

Isfahan is a model of peaceful coexistence among followers of divine faiths

Emad Askarieh

October 26, 2014

The Spiritual Leader of the World Armenians Archbishop Jasliq Aram I says Isfahan is a textbook example of peaceful coexistence among followers of monotheistic faiths.

Khabar Online on October 20 covered a news story about a meeting between the Archbishop and Isfahan’s Governor General Rasoul Zargarpour during which the former focused, among other things, on good-neighborliness among people with different religious backgrounds. The following is the translation of the report:

The spiritual leader of the World Armenians said that Isfahan offers a typical example of how followers of monotheistic faiths can live peacefully alongside each other in Islamic countries.

He said that if Tehran is the political capital of Iran, Isfahan is Iran’s cultural and civilizational center, stressing that those who have not visited Isfahan can be said not to have seen Iran at all.

The governor general, for his part, said Isfahan is the focal point of monotheistic faiths, adding that the secretariat of the Monotheistic Religions is acting in full swing.

In light of the fact that Armenians and Muslims live closely together in Isfahan with mutual respect, he said peaceful coexistence between followers of monotheistic religions is a source of pride for this city, adding that we are ready to revive the Safa Khaneh Community [an old congregation hall located in a predominantly Christian neighborhood of Isfahan where followers of divine faiths used to gather for debate] in this historic city.

The governor general thanked the archbishop for his positive take on what is happening in Iran and for his support for Iran’s regional and international stances and said Iran’s realties are slanted in Western media, urging efforts to bring down the curtain on publicity campaigns against Iran.

Zargarpour then touched on the question of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and said that ISIL is the biggest headache for the Middle East.

He said efforts to take on and destroy the terrorist group will misfire in the absence of Iran, adding that it is good that Lebanon has firmly stood up to ISIL militants.

The remarks by the spiritual leader of the world Armenians are indicative of realism and idealism of Christianity, he said, adding that celebrations to mark the 350^th anniversary of Vank Church in Isfahan also show that a deep bond exists between Armenians and Iranians.

The meeting comes ahead of a Sixth International Conference of Monotheistic Religions which is to be held in Isfahan in February 2015. Representatives from the Muslim community as well as religious minorities namely Armenians, Assyrians, and followers of Judaism, Zoroastrianism and the Sabians are to attend the interfaith gathering.

Sa’adi, Cervantes to be honored in Madrid

Emad Askarieh

October 26, 2014

The Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) will host Sa’adi and Cervantes Conference on October 28-29 with Iranian and Spanish academicians attending.

Ali Asghar Mohammadkhani, the manager of Shahre Ketab (City of Book) International and Cultural Affairs elaborated on the upcoming conference and said, “Shahre Ketab hosted the ceremony to honor Sa’adi and Cervantes on April 21-22 on the occasion of Sa’adi National Day, and we planned a Madrid conference as well to be held in late October in Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). The conference is a concerted effort by Shahre Ketab International and Cultural center, the Center for Sa’adi Studies, Iran’s cultural attaché in Madrid, and UCM, where 11 literary historians and critics will deliver lectures on Sa’adi and Cervantes.”

“Iranian delegation will be in Cervantes’ birthplace in Alcala at the invitation of the University of Alcala, and will have meetings with Spain’s contemporary poets and literary figures. The delegation will also meet Persian literature professors in Madrid and Barcelona Universities,” he concluded.