September 17, The Iran Project – Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif visit to Iran and meeting with senior officials, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif travel to Russia, Ayatollah Khamenei receiving new chairman and members of Council of Expediency, 19th Iran Cinema Celebration, US imposing new restrictions on Iran, extending sanctions relief under nuclear deal, Chamber of Representatives of Belgium Siegfried Bracke trip to Iran and President Rouhani leaving for New York to participate in 72nd UNGA dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week (Sep 11–Sep 17).


 

Politics

Ayatollah Khamenei urges action against Myanmar govt. over Rohingya Muslims 


Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called on Islamic governments to exert political and economic pressure on Myanmar’s “cruel” government to make it stop a deadly crackdown on minority Rohingya Muslims in the Southeast Asian country.

Iran arrests Daesh-linked terrorist in Tehran Province 


A division of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has arrested a Takfiri terrorist linked to a Daesh-affiliated ring, which planned to carry out hundreds of terror attacks in the capital, Tehran.

FM Zarif: IAEA inspections no pretext for spying on Iran military secrets 


Foreign Minister Zarif said Wed. that the IAEA’s inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities cannot be used as a pretext to learn about the Islamic Republic’s military secrets.

Iran’s FM hails ‘Positive’ talks with Putin 


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif described as substantial and positive his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying they discussed Tehran-Moscow ties, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and regional issues, including Syria.

US imposes new restrictions on Iran, extends sanctions relief under nuclear deal 


The United States has announced economic sanctions on 11individuals and companies in Iran accused of supporting Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) or engaging in cyber attacks on US banks, but has decided to continue for now to exempt Iran from nuclear-related sanctions.

World must end nuclear cooperation with Israel: Iran 


Iranian Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Reza Najafi has denounced the West’s double standard approaches on the possession and development of atomic technology, urging a complete end to any nuclear cooperation with the Israeli regime.

Iran’s Zarif, US’s Tillerson may meet in New York next week: Report 


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his American counterpart Rex Tillerson are expected to meet on the sidelines of the 72nd annual session of the UN General Assembly next week, a report said.

President Erdogan to visit Iran in October: Turkish TV 


Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told a television channel in the country that he will pay an official visit to Iran on October 4, to hold talks with Iranian top officials.

Top Security Official: US threats unable to block Iran’s defense progress 


Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani underlined that Washington’s threats can no way make Tehran change its principled policies in the region and block its increasing defense advancements.

President Rouhani off to New York to attend 72nd UNGA 


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani left here for New York Sunday morning to participate in the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

 

Regional Affairs



Iraqi President hails Iran’s help against terrorism 


Iraqi President Fuad Masum has acknowledged Iran’s support for Iraqi nation, particularly in ‘fight against terrorism’, a statement by his office read on Tuesday.

OIC urges Myanmar to allow in UN investigators 


The world’s largest Muslim organization has called on Myanmar to allow United Nations investigators into a violence-stricken state in the country where the military and Buddhist mobs are conducting “systematic brutality” against minority Muslims.

Turkey, Iran and Russia to deploy observers around Syria’s Idlib, Turkey says 


Russia, Iran and Turkey have agreed to deploy observers on the edge of a de-escalation zone in northern Syria’s Idlib region, which is largely controlled by Islamist militants, Turkey’s foreign ministry said on Friday.

Lawmakers of Iraq’s Kurdistan region approve independence referendum 


Iraqi Kurdish legislators of the country’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region have approved a plan to hold a referendum on independence from Baghdad later this month, a contentious move spearheaded by regional President Masoud Barzani  that has faced bitter opposition from the central government and several other countries, including neighboring Iran, Turkey and Syria.

Iran’s aid for Rohingyas reaches Bangladesh border with Myanmar 


Forty tons of Iran’s relief aid has reached the Bangladesh border with Myanmar, where tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims are stranded after fleeing what has been called “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing” by the UN.

 

Economy

Mercedes-Benz Trucks signs contract with Iran Khodro 


Germany’s Mercedes-Benz Trucks signed a contract on Tuesday with Tehran-based automaker Iran Khodro, parent company Daimler AG (DAIGn.DE) told Reuters, laying the foundation for resuming distribution of its trucks in Iran.

US House votes to prevent sale of aircraft to Iran 


US House of Representatives adopted different measures to ‘prevent sale of commercial aircraft to Iran’, The Hill , an American political website reported on Wednesday.

China signs deal to provide Iran with $10bn in loans 


China has signed an agreement with Iran to provide a credit line of $10 billion for its infrastructure projects – what is seen as the biggest economic deal between the two countries after the removal of sanctions against the Islamic Republic in 2016.

Norway’s Scatec Solar in talks to boost Iran’s solar power 


Norway’s Scatec Solar is in talks to build its first solar power plants in Iran, its chief executive told Reuters, joining a wave of foreign energy firms looking to invest in the oil major.

South Korea is Iran’s new natural gas client 


State-run Korea Gas Corp (KOGAS), the world’s second-largest single buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), says it plans to import natural gas from Iran as well as explore opportunities to acquire gas field stakes in the country.

 

Society

Iran to send man into space by next 8 years 


While Iran has already sent two monkeys to space and successfully returned them to the Earth, a senior Iranian official says the country plans to send a man into space within the next eight years.



19th Iran Cinema Celebration names winners 


The best of Iranian cinema this year were awarded during a special ceremony of the 19th Iran Cinema Celebration on Tue., with Asghar Farhadi’s ‘The Salesman’ scooping the most awards.

Iran appoints 1st female manager of gas field development project 


An Iranian woman has been appointed for the first time as the manager of a major gas field development project in the country.

Zahra Nemati wins gold at 2017 World Archery Para C’ships 


Iranian two-time Paralympic Champion Zahra Nemati earned a gold medal in women’s individual recurve open with a 6-2 win over her Turkish opponent at the World Archery Para Championships in Beijing.

Future wars in Mideast probably on water: Iranian diplomat 


Iran’s deputy foreign minister says the water crisis in the Middle East is getting worse and more serious day by day so much so that “probably the future wars in this region would be on water.”