September 18, The Iran Project � Iranians commemoration of Eid al-Adha, IRGC Navy unveil of long-range fast cruising vessel, start of The 48th edition of the Armenian Olympics in Tehran and Iran�s President Rouhani attendance in NAM summit dominated the country�s media outlets in the past week (Sep 12 � Sep 18).

 

Politics

 

IRGC navy equipped with new high-speed craft


The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy on Tuesday brought into service a new high-speed military vessel with an immense operational range and the capability to carry helicopters.





Saudis using petrodollars to export ideology of hate: Iran FM


Iran�s foreign minister says the Saudis have long spent their petrodollars to export the extremist Wahhabi ideology, a �death cult� inspiring terror groups, emphasizing that the regime cannot continue to play the��Iran card� to keep its allies on board in this �folly.�



Non-Aligned Movement meeting kicks off in Venezuela


The ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, headed by Iran�s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif started in Venezuela on Thursday.





Interference in others� affairs, extremism threaten world peace: Iran FM


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has warned that interference in�the�domestic affairs�of other countries, occupation and extremism constitute serious threats to the world peace, security and development.



Iran keen to have nuclear interaction with regional states: Salehi


The Iranian nuclear chief says the Islamic Republic is ready to cooperate with regional countries on the development of nuclear energy.



Israel has �200 nukes all pointed at Iran�, former US secretary of state says


Israel has 200 nuclear weapons which all have been �pointed at Iran�, according to former US secretary of state Colin Powell�s leaked emails.





NAM undeniable part of solutions to world crises: Iran�s Rouhani


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for further cooperation among the member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), saying the bloc plays an �undeniable� role in resolving the crises across the world.



Iran�s IRGC speedboats send shivers down US spine: Top commander


The chief of staff of Iran�s Armed Forces has stressed the role of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in safeguarding the country, saying the forces have �humbled� US warships.

Iran rejects alleged report over EU demand for centrifuge details


The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has rejected an alleged report by an international news outlet suggesting that the European Union has demanded full details on manufacturing of centrifuge parts by Iran.




Leader receives IRGC commanders on Sept 18


Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei meets with a group of commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Sunday.












Economy







Leader: National census key factor in successful conduct of Resistance Economy


Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that national census will play a very decisive role in successful carrying out of Resistance Economy.





Shamkhani: Supreme Leader should put seal of approval on implementation of FATF


Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said on Wednesday that the SNSC has reached consensus to implement the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) but this should be approved by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.




Oman-Iran gas pipeline cost to rise due to new route: source


A planned subsea natural gas pipeline between Iran and Oman is expected to have a higher estimated cost after the two countries had to change the project�s route and design to avoid waters controlled by the UAE, an industry source said on Thursday.

Salehi, Hammond discuss restrictions facing Iran banking sector


Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi and UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond�have exchanged viewpoints on the banking restrictions facing Iran�and a new dawn for the country�s�economy after nuclear-related sanctions were lifted following the landmark agreement between Tehran and the six world powers.



Huge rise of 200% in UK tour sales to Iran


The media in the UK say the resumption of direct flights to Iran by major airlines has already made the Islamic Republic as one of the hottest tourism destinations with one travel agency already reporting a whopping rise of 200 percent in sales of tours to the country.

 




Society

 

Iran�s potentials in medicinal plants and diversity of plant species


Iran not only cultivates such unique crops as barberry and saffron and a copious amount of varied medicinal plants, but is also in the vanguard of rose essential oil extraction, which is worth around $18,000 per litre.



Iranian female Paralympic archer wins gold medal


Iranian female Paralympic archer Zahra Nemati took Iran�s seventh gold medal at Rio 2016 Paralympics.




Cinema celebrities launch �Together for SDGs� campaign


�Together for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),� a campaign launched in Tehran on Tuesday 13 September by renowned Iranian artists, seeks to introduce the newly-adopted SDGs to Iranian public.




Iran: Armenia, Georgia only countries invited to Armenian Olympics in Tehran


Following media controversy over display of the emblem of disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in the opening of the 48th edition of Armenian Olympics in Tehran, Iran�s embassy in Baku explained that Armenia and Georgia are the only foreign countries invited to the games.




Rio Paralympics 2016: Iranian Para-cyclist dies following crash


An Iranian Para-cyclist has died after a crash during the men�s C4-5 road race at the Rio Paralympics.










Regional Affairs







Significant lull in Syria fighting after ceasefire deal, UN says


UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura says there has been a �significant drop� in violence after a ceasefire brokered by Russia and the United States came into force in the crisis-hit Arab country.

Parliamentary advisor: Bahraini Sheikh Qassim belongs to all Muslims


Senior Iranian official blasted Bahrain�s government for trying that country�s senior Shia cleric Sheikh Naeem Qassim.




Iran�s Zarif, Syrian envoy to UN hold talks in Venezuela


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari held a meeting in Venezuela and exchanged views about Tehran-Damascus cooperation in various areas.




Terrorists using Syria truce to regroup: Russia�s Putin


Russian�President Vladimir Putin has accused Takfiri terrorists operating in Syria of abusing a recently implemented ceasefire in the crisis-hit Middle Eastern country to regroup.

Over 3,000 non-military sites struck in Saudi strikes against Yemen: Report


A survey has revealed that Saudi Arabia has targeted more than 3,000 civilian sites, including schools, hospital and mosques, in its war on Yemen.