Tehran, January 10, The Iran Project – The continuation of the Iranian’s protests against Saudi execution of Sheikh Nimr and 46 others, foreign senior officials' visit to Tehran and Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks in meeting with the large group of people from Qom dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week (Jan.4-Jan.10).

 

Politics

Abdullah Abdullah: Iran always helped Afghan people, gov’t
Chief Executive of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah thanked Iran for its all-out support for his country.

Djibouti Severs Ties with Tehran
Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf announced on Wednesday that his country has severed diplomatic relations with Iran.

Friday prayers leaders throughout Iran condemn Saudi atrocities
Friday prayers leaders throughout Iran in their sermons this week condemned the Saudi regime’s execution of Sheikh Nimr and that reactionary government’s irrational anti-Iranian campaign.

4 Iranians to stand trial in Saudi Arabia over security issues: Report
Four Iranian nationals will stand trial in Saudi Arabia over allegations of involvement in acts threatening the kingdom’s security, a report says.

Supreme Leader urges massive participation of people in upcoming elections
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Saturday advised people from all walks of live to take part in the upcoming parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections to safeguard the country’s integrity.

 

Economy

Iran to start exporting dairies to Russia soon
Iran’s media said on Tuesday that a leading domestic dairy company has received the authorization to export its products to Russia.

Japan’s Cosmo Oil eyes increased Iranian crude imports
Japanese refiner Cosmo Oil is looking at the possibility of buying more crude from Iran once sanctions on the Islamic republic are lifted and is also ‘actively’ looking into crude imports from the US, company president Hisashi Kobayashi told Platts in an interview Tuesday.

Emiratis won’t ditch $30 billion trade with Iran: Official
After the Saudis cut their diplomatic ties with Iran, they tried to bring on board all fellow Arab countries on the Persian Gulf in putting pressure on Iran, both economically and politically. The efforts of the Saudis do not seem to have produced results.

Iran bans import of Saudi goods amid tensions
The latest developments after Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Tehran amid a dispute over Riyadh’s execution of an opposition Shiite cleric and attacks on Saudi diplomatic posts in Iran. (All times local).

Iran, Afghanistan all-out cooperation opportunities
The Chief Executive Officer of Afghanistan unity government Abdullah Abdullah has recently paid a visit to Iran. This is the second time that a senior Afghan official is visiting the Islamic Republic in less than a year.

Iran’s 2016 economic growth seen at 5.8%
The World Bank has forecast a major growth rate of 5.8 percent for the Iranian economy in 2016 as the country starts to benefit from the economic gains that the removal of multiple year sanctions is expected to bring about.

 

Military

Commander: Armed forces ready to respond to hostile threats
Deputy Commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Force Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari reiterated that the country’s Armed Forces will give crushing response to enemies’ potential threats.

Parliament vows support for Iran missile budget
Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani pledged on Tuesday that the legislature will lend more support to the country’s missile industry by enhancing the budget allocated for the industry in the 6th quinquennial development program.

IRGC’s 2nd underground “Missile City” unveiled
Pictures from an underground missile facility of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) were released on Tuesday, after Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani paid a visit to the base.

US State Department preparing for new Iran sanctions: Kirby
The United States is preparing to impose fresh sanctions on Iran over the country’s missile program.

Iranian Parliament to propose boosting defense budget
The Iranian parliament plans to propose an increase in the defense budget of the next Iranian calendar year (starting on March 20, 2016), the head of the parliament’s defense committee announced.

 

Society

Iranian police seize 2 tons of illicit drugs
In a joint operation by the police departments of Iran’s Semnan, Qom, and Kerman provinces, a huge drug trafficking ring was disbanded and over 2 tons of illicit drugs were seized.

Iranian ‘Junk Girl’ receives American award
Junk Girl, an animated short film, bagged Twin Rivers Media Festival’s best animation award.

Top rivals at 34th Fajr Film Festival
Films by famous young and veteran directors will vie for the Crystal Simorgh awards at the 34th Fajr Film Festival next month.

MAKE Award to be granted to 3 Iranian organizations
The Most Admired Knowledge Enterprises (MAKE) award will be granted to three Iranian knowledge-driven organizations in March 2016, President of Iran MAKE award Supreme Council announced.

Iran set to construct 125 luxury hotels in 2016: Report
Iran plans to construct 125 luxury hotels in 2016 in an attempt to attract more visitors to the Islamic country, a report said.

 

Regional Affairs

Saudi warplanes attack Iranian embassy in Yemen – Iran
Iran has accused Saudi warplanes of attacking the Iranian embassy in the Yemeni capital Sana’a. Some guards were reportedly wounded in the attack, according to state news channel IRIB.

Iran’s president labels attackers at Saudi Embassy criminals
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday urged the country’s courts to prosecute protesters who stormed the Saudi Embassy and consulate over the weekend and said all diplomatic missions deserve protection.

Somalia severs ties with Iran
Somalia announced Thursday that it has severed ties with Iran, according to local media.

Pressure mounts on Nigeria to release Islamic Movement leader
The London-based Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) said it is applying pressure on various international organisations to help secure the release of the detained leader of Nigeria’s Islamic Movement, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

Pakistan declines to join Saudi Arabia’s anti-Iran alliance
Saudi Arabia’s campaign to build a broad Sunni alliance to contain Iran has apparently suffered at least a setback from Pakistan and was instead invited by Sharif to settle the dispute peacefully.