Archive for the ‘Iran’ Category

Official website of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran

President Rouhani congratulates heads of Islamic countries on Eid al-Adha

President Rouhani sent separate messages to the heads of states of Islamic countries to congratulate them on Eid al-Adha.

President in cabinet session:

Govt, system not to abandon Mina martyrs blood/Saudi govt bad record intensified by blocking roads to God/Regional, global countries take coordinated measures to discipline Saudi govt/Commemorating Black Friday martyrs

The government and the whole political system of the Islamic Republic of Iran will never abandon the Mina catastrophe martyrs blood and will continue to follow up the issue both legally and politically, said President Rouhani in a cabinet session on Wednesday.

In an SCCR session chaired by President Rouhani;

Cultural, social harms in universities, higher-education centres reviewed

The Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution convened on Tuesday in a session that was presided by Dr Rouhani and reviewed cultural and social harms in universities and higher-education centres.

President in a meeting with new OPEC secretary-general:

Iran backs any move for market stability, improving oil prices based on member countries fair share

The Islamic Republic of Iran supports any move contributing to market stability and improving oil prices which is based on justice and fairness, observing member countries fair share, said President Rouhani in a meeting with the new OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo on Tuesday in Tehran.

President in a meeting with President of French National Assembly:

Rapid, accurate implementation of agreements contributes to better Tehran-Paris ties/Cementing parliamentary ties essential/Full implementation of JCPOA commitments a criterion for trust, better ties

Rapid and accurate implementation of agreements between Iran and France stated in the roadmap of development of relations well contribute to better political, economic, cultural and scientific relations between Tehran and Paris, said President Rouhani in a meeting with President of French National Assembly.

Stated in presidents order;

All ministries, public and state institutions required to strictly implement census/Orderly census needs serious govt-people cooperation/Dear compatriots cooperate with census takers

President Rouhani instructed all ministries, organisations, public organs, state institutes under the government and governmental organisations, as well as provincial governments to cooperate with the Statistical Centre in implementing the coming census strictly.

President during the session of the Social Council:

Addressing Supreme Leaders sensitivity requires extraordinary work in social issues

Addressing Supreme Leaders sensitivity requires extraordinary work in social issues, said President Rouhani during the session of the Social Council.

President during Shahid Rajai Festivals closing ceremony:

Govt approach to decide wisely, based on national values, interests/Success impossible unless we consider people as benefactors/Administrative system must be product-based/I appreciate govt employees, kiss workers hands

Achieving goals depends on our commitment to the path of martyrs Rajai and Bahonar, said President Rouhani in the closing ceremony of Shahid Rajai Festival.

Link:
Official website of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Iran escalates high seas harassment of US Navy – CNN – cnn.com

The provocative maneuver, which on Sunday brought the Iranian boat within 100 yards of the Firebolt, a coastal patrol boat that carries a crew of about 30, was assessed by the US to be unsafe and unprofessional and could have led to a collision, the official said.

There have been 31 unsafe America encounters with Iranian vessels in the Persian Gulf so far this year, up from 23 in all of 2015, the official said.

US Army Gen. Joseph Votel, Commander of US Central Command, last week called the Iranian conduct "concerning."

"In recent days, we have witnessed even more provocative activity by the IRGC and Navy vessels. That type of behavior is very concerning, and we hope to see Iran's naval forces act in a more professional manner," he said.

Votel believes the "unsafe, unprofessional" behavior is an attempt by Iran to "exert their influence and authority in the region."

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Iran escalates high seas harassment of US Navy - CNN - cnn.com

Iran – Country Profile – Islamic Republic of Iran – Persia

Background:

Historically known as Persia, Iran was one of the greatest empires of the ancient world, which was frequently invaded. Iran's hereditary monarch, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, fled the country in 1979 after decades of corrupt and authoritarian rule, and mounting religious and political unrest. Exiled Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to lead an Islamic revolution and formed the world's first Islamic republic the same year. An eight-year war with Iraq followed.

In the elections of 1992 and 1996, former president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani's support increased and at the presidential election of 1997 Mohammad Khatami, Rafsanjani's cultural adviser, succeeded him. Khatami promised greater freedom and tolerance and was supported mainly by women, younger voters and intellectuals.

In June 2005, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former mayor of the capital, Tehran, and famous for his conservative approach and for rolling back reforms put in place by modernists before him was elected president. He has not been shy of confronting the West and has pushed ahead with a national nuclear programme that has brought international condemnation. (Source: IRIN)

border countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan

Official Name: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran short form: Iran int'l long form: Islamic Republic of Iran former: Persia

ISO Country Code: ir

Time: Local Time = UTC +3.5h Actual Time: Tue-Sept-13 12:13 Summer UTC +4.5

Country Calling Code: +98

Capital City: Tehran

Other Cities: Isfahan, Tabriz, Mashhad, Shiraz.

Government: Type: Islamic republic. Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed) Constitution: Ratified December 1979, revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership.

Geography: Location: Middle East bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea. Area: 1.6 million km (636,294 sq. mi.) Terrain: Desert and mountains.

Climate: Semiarid; subtropical along the Caspian coast.

People: Nationality: Iranian(s). Population: 76 million (2012). GNI per capita PPP: $ 8 065 (year) Ethnic groups: Persians 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%. Religions: Shi'a Muslim 89%; Sunni Muslim 9%; Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 2%. Languages: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other. Literacy: 80%

Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur.

Agriculture products: Wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar.

Industries: Petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabrication, armaments.

Currency: Iranian Rial (IRR)

Iran in Figures Iran key statistical data.

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Iran - Country Profile - Islamic Republic of Iran - Persia

Iran – State

No. 39, Shahid Mousavi (Golestan 5th Pasdaran Avenue Tehran, Iran

Telephone: +(98) (21) 2254-2178 and +(98) (21) 2256-5273

Fax: +(98) (21) 2258-0432

The Swiss Government serves as the protecting power for U.S. citizens in Iran.

Virtual Embassy Tehran

All consular services require prior appointments which can be made by phone. The Foreign Interests Section can be reached by phone Sunday through Thursday between 07:45 and 15:00.

The Interests Section does not issue U.S. visas or accept visa applications.

The limited consular services provided to U.S. citizens in Tehran include: (a) Registering U.S. citizens; (b) Responding to inquiries concerning the welfare and whereabouts of U.S. citizens in Iran; (c) Rendering assistance in times of distress or physical danger; (d) Providing U.S. citizens with passport and Social Security card applications and other citizenship forms for processing at the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland; (e) Performing notarial services; and (f) Taking provisional custody of the personal effects of deceased U.S. citizens.

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Iran - State

Iran may have received up to $33.6B in cash, gold payments …

Iran may have received an additional $33.6 billion in secret cash and gold payments facilitatedby the Obama administration between 2014 and 2016, according to testimony provided before Congress by an expert on last summers nuclear agreement with Iran.

Between January 2014 and July 2015, when the Obama administration was hammering out the final details of the nuclear accord, Iran was paid $700 million every month from funds that had previously been frozen by U.S. sanctions.

A total of $11.9 billion was ultimately paid to Iran, but the details surrounding these payments remain shrouded in mystery,accordingto Mark Dubowitz, executive director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

In total, Iran may have received as much as $33.6 billion in cash or in gold and other precious metals, Dubowitz disclosed.

New questions about these payments are emerging following confirmation from top Obama administration officials on Thursday that it was forced to pay Iran $1.7 billion in cash prior to the release of several U.S. hostages earlier this year.The administration insisted that cash had to be used for this payment.

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Iran may have received up to $33.6B in cash, gold payments ...