Tehran, April 04,The Iran Project – Rouhani postponment of Austria visit, boosting Iran's defense capabilities, Iranians marking nature day dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week (March.28 - April.04).

 

Politics

 
Boosting defense capabilities a strategic policy: Iran


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says boosting defense capabilities is a “strategic policy” of the Islamic Republic while Tehran should be wary of not providing its enemies with any “excuse.”


Russia’s Putin, Iran’s Rouhani agree to intensify contacts: Kremlin


Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, agreed in a telephone call to intensify bilateral contacts at various levels, the Kremlin said on Monday.


Iran’s Rouhani urges lasting ceasefire in Syria


Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has called for the continuation of ceasefire in Syria and acceleration of political negotiations to end a foreign-backed war that has gripped the Arab country for over five years.


Iran must boost defense capabilities: Ayatollah Khamenei


Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has stressed the strengthening of Iran’s defense capabilities in the face of enemy threats.


Zarif: Iran to enhance defense power to secure national sovereignty


Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said on Wednesday that Iran will develop its defense capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty of the government.


Iran won’t need permission on defense capabilities: Minister Dehqan


Iran’s defense minister says the country will not wait for permission from “others” to boost its defense capabilities after the US and its allies urge the UN to take action over Tehran’s missile tests.


Iran nuclear deal proved diplomacy paying off: China president


Chinese President Xi Jinping has hailed the landmark nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 as a “milestone,” saying the political breakthrough has provided inspiration for the settlement of other issues through diplomacy.


Obama says U.S., allies helping Iran benefit from nuclear deal


President Barack Obama said Friday that the U.S. and its allies are taking steps to help Iran benefit from a landmark nuclear agreement reached last year, including moves to facilitate trade and banking transactions for the Islamic Republic.


Iran fully complying with JCPOA: IAEA chief


Yukiya Amano, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirmed that Iran has upheld its obligations under the JCPOA between Tehran and world powers, saying that the deal is a “clear gain for nuclear verification” in the Islamic Republic.


Larijani defends postponement of president’s Austria visit


Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani supported President Hassan Rouhani’s decision to postpone his state visit to Austria due to security reasons.


Economy


Iran’s ‘Suez Canal’: Tehran could connect Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf


One of the most ambitious initiatives that Tehran plans to launch will see an artificial channel link the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf. The project, which is expected to be completed in the 2020s, is particularly interesting for Russia due to the cold spell with Turkey, but European and post-Soviet states will also benefit from it.


Canada regrets cutting ties with Iran, wants to re-engage


Canada’s foreign minister says his country’s 2012 move to cut diplomatic ties with Iran has had no positive consequences whatsoever, expressing articulate willingness for re-engagement with the Islamic Republic.


Azargoun container ship docks at 2nd station: Port of Antwerp


Iran’s first cargo ship exporting petrochemical products to Europe after six years of stagnation berthed at Belgian port of Antwerp late on Sunday.


‘US may soon allow dollar deals with Iran’


New indications of a major opening in business with Iran appeared on Thursday when officials in Washington said the Obama administration may soon allow dollars to be used in doing business with Iran.


Iran not to freeze oil production


Iran’s oil minister says the country will not abandon its share in the oil market, adding he will ‘certainly’ attend Doha oil producers meeting ‘if he has time.’


Obama says Iran’s reintegration into global economy to take time


US President Barack Obama said on Friday it will take time for Iran to rejoin the global economy.


Iran traders urged to focus on benefits of Halal industry


On the sidelines of the 13th edition of Malaysia International Halal Showcase, Iran’s Ambassador to Malaysia Marzieh Afkham urged Iranian traders to take advantage of the economic benefits of halal industry.


Regional Affairs


Nigerian protesters call for Shia cleric’s release


People in Nigeria have held protest rallies in several cities across the country to demand the immediate and unconditional release of senior Shia cleric and leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky.


Kremlin denies report of Russia-US deal on Assad’s future


The Kremlin said on Thursday that a report by the al-Hayat newspaper on an agreement between Russia and the United States on the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was not true.


First units of Russian demining experts arrive in Syria to demine Palmyra: agencies


First units of Russian demining experts have arrived in Syria to demine the historic part of the ancient city of Palmyra, Russian news agencies quoted the Defence Ministry as saying on Thursday.


Dozens killed in Azeri-Armenia war


A new wave of fighting broke out in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region on Saturday, killing at least a dozen servicemen and drawing international calls for an immediate ceasefire to stop violence spreading in the South Caucasus.


Trump condemns protective US relationship with Saudi Arabia


US Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has denounced America’s protective relationship with Saudi Arabia.


Society


Sand therapy on world’s tallest sand dunes in Kerman


World’s largest sand dunes in Rigan County in Kerman Province have given Nowruz visitors to this part of the country a chance for sand therapy and participation in ‘sand sports’.


Iranians celebrate national Women’s Day


Iranians are celebrating the national Women’s Day to honor the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad’s daughter Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (PBUH).


NASA names asteroid after Iranian scientist


The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has named an asteroid in the solar system after Firouz Naderi, an Iranian scientist and the former director for Solar System Exploration at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).


Microsoft’s ex-manager finds Iranian students more talented than Americans


Rouhollah Rahmani, the US-born Iranian computer scientist who worked for such giant technology brands as Microsoft and Amazon for several years, has returned to Iran to build his motherland instead of developing and producing software applications and other products in the US.


GEF hails RIPI proposal to save environment


The Green European Foundation (GEF) hailed a proposal by Iran’s Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI) to clear underground water and soil in petrochemical plants, a RIPI official said.