January 14, The Iran Project – 2nd Tehran Security Conference; Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif two-day visit to Moscow, Brussels over JCPOA; Trump extending Iran nuclear sanctions wavier: holding OIC parliamentary conference and 1st Asian Cultural Dialogue confab in Tehran and Iranian oil tanker flaring in fire due to collision with Chinese freight ship off China coast dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week (January 08–January 14).




 

Politics

2nd Tehran Security Conf. kicks off


The 2nd Tehran Security Conference on challenges facing regional security in West Asia has opened in the Iranian capital on Mon. morning with over 200 Iranian and foreign political dignitaries in attendance.

US shamed itself by targeting Iran at UNSC: President Rouhani


President Hassan Rouhani says the United States shamed itself by trying to target the Islamic Republic at a UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting it had called on the recent events inside Iran.

Supreme Leader: US to pay price for inflicting damage on Iran


Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei blamed the US, the Zionist regime, certain regional states and Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO, also known as the MEK, PMOI and NCRI) for the recent riots and unrest in Iran, warning Washington of Iran’s response.

Iran ready for worst scenario if US quits JCPOA: Former negotiator


Iran is ready for the worst scenario if the US withdraws the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) reached between Iran and G5+1 (US, UK, Russia, China, France plus Germany) in 2015.

Iran’s easing of drug laws could halt execution of 5,000 prisoners


The lives of more than 5,000 prisoners on death row in Iran could be spared as a change in the law abolishes capital punishment for some drug-trafficking offences.

Tehran marks first death anniversary of late senior cleric


The first death anniversary of chairman of the Iranian Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was held in Tehran on Thursday with the participation of a number of senior officials.

EU confirms Iran nuclear deal works as US faces deadline for sanctions waiver 


On January 9, the US State Department announced that the US administration was expected to decide on extending the Iran sanctions waiver on Friday.

Burning Iranian oil tanker drifts into Japan’s waters


An Iranian oil tanker that collided with a Chinese freighter and burst into flames off the Chinese coast last week is now drifting into Japan’s exclusive economic zone – still burning.

Trump’s announcement on nuclear deal ‘desperate attempt’: Iran FM


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has slammed US President Donald Trump’s reluctant announcement on Iran’s nuclear sanctions waiver as a “desperate attempt” to undermine a “non-negotiable” international deal.

Trump waives Iran nuclear sanctions, but for last time: White House 


US President Donald Trump has reluctantly agreed not to reimpose nuclear sanctions on Iran, but said it would be the last time he issues such a waiver, according to the White House.

Iran will commit to nothing beyond nuclear deal: Foreign Ministry


Iran’s Foreign Ministry has announced that the country will commit to no obligation beyond those it has already agreed to under an international nuclear deal, amid attempts by the United States to change the terms of the 2015 accord.

OIC parliamentary confab begins in Tehran


The 13th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC member states (PUIC) and the related meetings started in the Iranian capital on Saturday.

Intl. Conf. of Asian Cultural Dialogues kicks off in Tehran


The 1st Conference of Asian Cultural Dialogues has opened Sat. in Tehran with 70 cultural and scientific figures from over 20 Asian countries in attendance.

Telegram officially unblocked in Iran


The Iranian government has removed the temporary restrictions it had imposed on people’s access to Telegram messaging app in order to prevent the escalation of violence amid the recent unrest.

 

Economy

No dent in Iran payment in spilled condensate cargo heading to S. Korea: NIOC


The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) said South Korea will fully pay for the condensate cargo that was destroyed in a tanker collision near China this week.



OPEC doesn’t want Brent over $60 a barrel, says Iran’s oil minister


A key OPEC minister has warned that the group risks overheating the oil market as crude prices head toward $70 a barrel.

Iran says Boeing still needs OFAC nod for jet sales


Iran says US aviation giant Boeing will have to obtain an authorization from the administration of President Donald Trump within the next month for sales of 30 planes to its Aseman Airlines.

Italy signs EU’s biggest ever credit deal with Iran


Iran and Italy have signed a major framework credit agreement which will be used to provide funds for development and industrial projects in the Islamic Republic.

Prices of Iranian light crude reaches $68 per barrel


Iranian light crude price which has started going up since the beginning of 2018 reached 68 dollars in the week leading to the 5th of January.

 

Regional Affairs

Yemen’s Houthis release video of downing Saudi jet over Sana’a


Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement has released footage of the moment its forces shot down an F-15 fighter jet belonging to the Saudi-led coalition.




Defending Palestinian cause to bring peace to world: Brig. Gen. Dehghan


Former Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan blamed US for destabilizing the region for safeguarding the security of the ‘Zionist regime.’

Turkey to finish Iranian border wall next spring


Turkey has finished building a wall along more than half of its 144 km border with Iran. The partition, meant to prevent illegal immigration, smuggling and militant infiltration, will be completed next spring, according to Turkish housing developer TOKI.

Army regains control of 13 villages in Aleppo countryside, inflicting losses upon al-Nusra


Syrian Arab Army units on Friday regained control of 13 villages in the southeastern countryside of Aleppo province, inflicting losses upon Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists in the area.

Nigerian Shia cleric Zakzaky makes first public appearance since detention in 2015


Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, rumored to have died in detention, has made his first public appearance since he was illegally detained by security forces in 2015.

 

Society

Farhadi’s ‘The Salesman’ nominated for 2018 BAFTA Awards


Academy award-winning film ‘The Salesman’ directed by Asghar Farhadi has been nominated for 2018 BAFTA Awards in the Best Film Not in the English Language category.

Last surviving Asiatic cheetahs to undergo artificial insemination


Head of the Asiatic Cheetah Conservation Project said a team of experts from France will come to Iran in a few weeks to perform artificial insemination on the last surviving Asiatic cheetahs, Koushki and Delbar.

Tehran subway hits world record in ride number


Managing Director of Tehran Urban and Suburban Railway Operation Company Farnoush Nobakht says the total number of Tehran’s subway trips exceeded 7.57 billion.

Iran’s ancient village of little people


In the first part of Jonathan Swift’s book Gulliver’s Travels, Lemuel Gulliver washes ashore on the island country of Lilliput, where he encounters the Lilliputians, who stand barely taller than 15cm.

Music maestro devotes life to introduce Iranian music to world


Globally-renowned Iranian traditional music maestro Keyhan Kalhor has invested remarkable effort in acquainting the world’s art enthusiasts with the Iranian music.