Tehran, December 27, The Iran Project – Continuing the registrations for both Iran’s Assembly of Experts and Parliament across Iran, the ceremony to award Mustafa (PUBH) Prize and holding the 29th International Conference on Islamic Unity in Tehran dominated Iran’s media outlets in the past week (Dec.21-Dec.27).


Politics


President Rouhani in Rey for public meeting
President Hassan Rouhani visited the city of Rey for a public meeting on Wednesday morning.


Jahangiri calls on Iran, Russia to boost economic relations
First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri called on Tehran and Moscow to boost their economic cooperation in proportion with their diplomatic relations.


Iran defuses several terrorist plots
Commander of Iran’s Law Enforcement Police Brigadier General Hossein Ashtari said his forces have foiled plans by Takfiri terrorists and anti-revolutionaries to stir insecurity in the Eastern parts of the country.


Jannati: Guardian Council to observe freedom in elections
Tehran’s Friday Prayers substitute Leader Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said that Guardian Council will observe law, tranquility and freedom in the upcoming elections.


Zarif chosen GRI Person of the Year
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was chosen Global Risk Insights (GRI) Person of the Year in Political Risk 2015.


Rouhani denounces violence in name of Jihad
President Hassan Rouhani said violence, which takes its root from a mentality and is a way of thinking, will be translated into rhetoric and then gradually develop into a discourse soon.


Int’l Islamic Unity Confab opens in Tehran
President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated the 29th session of the International Islamic Unity Conference here on Sunday.


Economy


US firms eyeing post-sanctions Iran jobs
More signs are growing that major US enterprises are preparing to set foot in the Iranian market as soon as the sanctions against the country are lifted.


Inflation rate falls to 12.6%
The Statistical Center of Iran has announced that the inflation rate for the 12-month period ended in the last day of the ninth Iranian calendar month of Azar (December 21) compared to the same period in the previous year hit 12.6 percent.


Iran, Russia ‘will benefit’ if Tehran joins Eurasian economic union
Tehran is almost sure to benefit if it joins the Eurasian Economic Union, which will, in particular, add to the development of Tehran’s ties with Moscow, according to prominent Iranian political expert Mahmoud Shoori.


US court mulls appropriation of Iran assets
The US Supreme Court is mulling a case on appropriating $2 billion of Iranian assets frozen in a bank in New York.


Iran, buyers agree on post-sanctions oil deals: CEO
Managing Director of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) said Tehran has reached agreements with buyers of its crude oil over signing of contracts after removal of sanctions adding that continued drop in oil prices will not hamper Iran’s exports.


Military


Iranian MPs seek defense budget hike
The national security and foreign policy commission of Iran’s parliament is going to hold a meeting with the ministers of defense and foreign affairs to push for an increase in the country’s defense budget, a lawmaker announced.


Iran, Oman kick off joint naval drills in Persian Gulf
The Iranian and Omani naval forces started joint exercises in the Eastern parts of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf on Wednesday morning.


Navy gives safe passage to Iran commercial fleet in Gulf of Aden
Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said naval forces have successfully provided safe passage to 3,200 Iranian commercial ships through the Gulf of Aden in recent years.


Iran to launch oceangoing ship soon
Iran plans to officially launch its oceangoing research ship in the near future, an official announced.


Supplies of S-300 air defense systems to Iran to begin in January 2016: Source
The deliveries of Russian S-300PMU-2 air defense systems to Iran will begin in January, a source in the military and technical cooperation system said on Friday.


Society


A sports-centered interview which stirred a national political controversy
A barrage of criticism has been unleashed against IRIB for not broadcasting FM Zarif’s interview, with people and officials unanimously calling for the national broadcaster’s impartiality.


First laureates of Mustafa (PBUH) Prize receive awards
Winners of Mustafa (PBUH) Prize were appreciated in a ceremony taken place at Vahdat Hall (Talar-e-Vahdat) here late Thursday.


Health minister: Iran future will astonish world
Unity and solidarity between the Iranian people will help build ‘an Iran’ that will make the world surprised, Minister of Health Hassan Hashemi said.


Renovating Azadi Stadium to encourage private sector
The fundamental renovation of the biggest national Azadi stadium in Iran will encourage the beneficial presence of the private sector in developing sports.


Supreme Leader visits martyred Christian’s family
Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei paid a visit to the house and family of a Christian-Iranian martyr.


Regional Affairs


Ansarullah sources: Efforts made to bring talks to deadlock in Yemen
Alwaght- A source close to Yemen’s Ansarullah movement has told Alwaght news that the negotiation teams of Yemen’s Ansarullah movement and the resigned Yemeni President Abd Rabuh Mansour Hadi have negotiated face to face in Switzerland without the presence of the UN envoy to Yemen.


Turkey sheltering Daesh militants: Iraqi cmdr.
A high-ranking Iraqi military commander has accused Turkey of providing members of the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group, who are wreaking havoc in neighboring Iraq, with shelter.


Yemeni forces kill Saudi prince in Ma’rib province: Report
Yemeni army forces, backed by allied Popular Committees loyal to the Houthi Ansarullah movement, have killed a Saudi prince during an attack in the oil-rich province of Ma’rib in central Yemen, a report says.


Yemeni army troops surround hundreds of Saudi-Led forces in eastern Yemen
The country’s defense ministry has announced on Saturday, the Yemeni army troops backed by popular forces have surrounded a large number of Saudi and UAE forces in Jawf province, Eastern Yemen.


Erdogan refuses to cooperate with Anti-Daesh Intelligence HQ
Turkey’s government refused the invitation to join the center set up in Bhdad to exchange intelligence on terrorists that pose a threat to the region, the Turkish president said in an interview on Saturday.