November 18, The Iran Project – Rouhani hails aid to quake-hit Kermanshah as national work; Iran, Germany discuss SPV; World’s biggest tourism event commences in Iran’s Hamedan; Zarif criticizes Pompeo audacity in threatening ordinary people; Iran complying with JCPOA commitment despite US sanctions: IAEA; Iran FM confirms Riyadh plot to assassinate senior Iranians; ‘Sultan of Coins’, accomplice executed in Iran; Leader receives Iranian medalists of 2018 Asian Para Games;Iran’s president says America chose wrong path on sanctions, will be defeated; IRGC chief: Five of abducted Iranian forces freed in Pakistan; Iran’s response to S Arabia’s prattle will be ‘silent’ but ‘painful’ and Iraqi president trip to Iran and meeting with top officials are among major headlines dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week ( November 12– November 18).
Politics
Rouhani hails aid to quake-hit Kermanshah as national work
President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday appreciated all those involved in relief works, temporary housing and reconstruction of damaged units in Kermanshah province, noting that helping the quake-stricken people was a national undertaking.
Iran rejects execution of suspects linked to Ahvaz terror attack
The governor of Khuzestan Province on Monday rejected as false a recent report which claimed 22 individuals who were arrested over the September 22 terrorist attack in Ahvaz have been executed.
Zarif criticizes Pompeo audacity in threatening ordinary people
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a message slammed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for his audacity to threaten ordinary Iranians.
Iran complying with JCPOA commitment despite US sanctions: IAEA
Iran has continued to implement all its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal it signed with major global powers even as the United States re-imposed fresh sanctions against Tehran, a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says.
Iran FM confirms Riyadh plot to assassinate senior Iranians
Iran’s foreign minister has confirmed that Saudi officials close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman plotted to assassinate senior Iranian officials.
Iran, India navy commanders hold talks in Kochi
Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi met and held talks with his Indian counterpart on the sidelines of 10th anniversary of IONS establishment.
Air attack on Iran to receive crushing response: Defense minister
Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami warned the enemies that any aerial military action against the country will draw such a crushing response that the perpetrators would regret it.
‘Sultan of Coins’, accomplice executed in Iran
Iran executed two financial criminals who had hoarded two tons of gold coins in order to agitate the country’s gold market.
Leader receives Iranian medalists of 2018 Asian Para Games
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei received the Iranian medalists of the 2018 Asian Para Games today morning.
Iran’s president says America chose wrong path on sanctions, will be defeated
America has chosen the wrong path in sanctioning Iran and will be defeated, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday, according to the Tasnim news agency.
IRGC chief: Five of abducted Iranian forces freed in Pakistan
Major General Ali Jafari, the chief commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), says five of the 12 Iranian forces, who were kidnapped last month by Pakistan-based terrorists, have been freed.
US challenging Europeans’ national sovereignty: Araqchi
The Iranian deputy foreign minister for political affairs said on Thursday that dollar has turned into a weapons in the hand of the US to impose its illegitimate demands on European partners, challenging European states’ national sovereignty in practice.
Iran’s response to S Arabia’s prattle will be ‘silent’ but ‘painful’
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari says Iran’s response to Saudi Arabia’s prattle has always been, and will be, “silent” but “painful”.
Iran wins int’l military archery championship
Iran’s Armed Forces ranked first in the World Military Archery Championships held in Tehran on Friday.
Iran’s president receives his Iraqi counterpart
Iraqi president was officially welcomed and greeted by his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouani in Sa’adabad cultural and historical complex on Saturday.
Iranian President Rouhani said Sat. that the current economic transactions between Iran and Iraq stands at about $12 billion, which can be boosted to $20 billion with further cooperation.
Iraq must stand firm against foreign meddlers: Ayatollah Khamenei
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has slammed foreign meddling in Iraq, saying the Arab country must stand firm against its enemies.
Economy
SWIFT cut off sanctioned Iranian Central Bank – US Treasury
The US announced the re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran that were previously lifted under the JCPOA on 5 November. Prior to this date, Washington had warned the Belgium-based organization working with interbank transactions that it would also fall under sanctions if it continued to work with Iranian banks.
Sanctions blessings in disguise: Iran minister
Iran’s defense minister said Tuesday the newly imposed sanctions on Iran would make the country more self-sufficient in the field of defense.
German energy giant Wintershall stops activity in Iran over US sanctions
The second package of US sanctions, including restrictions targeting the country’s oil industry, came into force on November 5, which Washington insists will force all importers of Iranian oil to eventually reduce their imports to zero.
Russian firm may help develop Iranian analogue of SWIFT to bypass US sanctions
Earlier, the US Treasury announced that the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) would sever its links to several Iranian banks for the sake of the overall stability of the network. SWIFT did not say directly that it was cutting off Iranian banks due to the new US sanctions which entered force on November 5.
President: Iraq no instrument for wielding sanctions on Iran
Iraqi President Barham Salih in a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani underlined that Baghdad will never become a tool in the hands of the US to pressure Tehran through brutal sanctions.
Regional Affairs
US Treasury hits Hezbollah in Iraq with sanctions
The US Treasury expanded its attack on Hezbollah’s financial network on Tuesday, hitting key representatives of the Lebanese militant group in Iraq with sanctions.
Bin Salman ‘tried to persuade Netanyahu to go to war in Gaza’ say sources
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attempted to persuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to start a conflict with Hamas in Gaza as part of a plan to divert attention from the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, sources inside Saudi Arabia have told Middle East Eye.
CIA reportedly concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Khashoggi assassination
The CIA has found that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ordered the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul last month, directly contradicting claims to the contrary by the Saudi government, the Washington Post has reported.
US Senate blocks plan to stop an arms sale to Bahrain – one of the countries bombing Yemen
The US senate has rejected an effort by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul to block a major arms sale to Bahrain – more proof that if there’s one thing that unites Democrats and Republicans, it’s selling weapons to Middle Eastern allies.
The UN General Assembly on Friday voted in overwhelming majority in favor of a draft resolution affirming Syria’s sovereignty over the occupied Golan and considering all Israeli occupation procedures in it null and void.
Society
UNWTO to open regional office in Tehran: Official
Holding the world tourism forum in the midwestern Iranian city of Hamedan makes it stick out in the world, and therefore, a regional office of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will be opened in Tehran, a local official said.
World’s biggest tourism event commences in Iran’s Hamedan
Iran’s capital city of history and civilization, Hamedan, holds the UNWTO Affiliate Members Plenary Session on Monday to be the country’s tourism flagship in the world.
Iran considering Paris cyber-security initiative: Minister
Iran’s minister of communication said that the country is considering the initiative introduced by France on cyber warfare.
Iran ready to participate in int’l space projects
President of Iranian Space Agency Morteza Barari hailed establishing cooperation in regional and international cooperation in all fields, especially in space industry.
Iran to build football camps in Kish to prepare for co-hosting 2022 World Cup
The project of building football camps in Kish Island will start soon as a step to prepare the region for a probable co-hosting of 2022 Qatar World Cup, said sports director of Kish Free Zone Organization Bahram Afsharzadeh.