April 22, The Iran Project – Iran Army unveils new chopper gear;  Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif participate in the 23rd ECO meeting in Tajikistan; Parliament Speaker Larijani visit to Vietnam and Sri Lanka and meeting with senior officials; Iran Defense Minister meets with top Iraqi officials in Baghdad; Iran marks National Army Day and unveils new missile system; Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci trip to Iran; Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif trip to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-level Meeting on Sustaining Peace; Iranians commemorate National Day of Saadi and United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura travel to Iran are among major headlines dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week (April 16–April 22).


 

Politics

Iran Army unveils new chopper gear 


The airborne division of Iran’s Army Ground Force on Monday unveiled a series of homegrown equipment and achievements extending the capabilities of its helicopters.



EU foreign ministers fail to agree on new sanctions against Iran


The European Union foreign ministers have failed to agree new sanctions against Iran as London, Paris and Berlin seek to appease US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to pull out of the landmark Iran nuclear deal.

23rd ECO meeting kicks off in Tajikistan


The 23rd meeting of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) started work Tuesday in Tajikistan.

Iranian speaker, Vietnamese PM call for deepening bilateral ties


Tehran and Hanoi should make progress in economic cooperation as they have already done in political ties for 45 years, Iran’s Majlis (Parliament) speaker said on Tuesday.

Erdogan, Rouhani agree to maintain Turkey, Iran, Russia cooperation in Syria


Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani agreed on Tuesday to maintain the cooperation between Turkey, Iran and Russia for a political solution to the conflict in Syria, a source in Erdogan’s office said.

Iran marks Army Day with nationwide parades


Iran is commemorating its Army Day, marking the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army, on Wed. during a ceremony attended by President Hassan Rouhani and top military brass.

Iran unveils new missile system on Army Day


Iranian Army unveiled ‘Kamin-2’ missile system during a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of National Army Day in Tehran today.

Enemy intel services have failed to inflict any harm on Iran: Leader


Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says enemies have waged a large-scale intelligence war against Iran, but that foreign spy agencies have failed in their attempts to inflict any harm on the country.

Iran, Iraq hold defense cooperation meeting


The defense ministers of Iran and Iraq weighed plans for closer military interaction between the two Muslim neighbors in a meeting of a high commission on defense cooperation.

Hundreds of European lawmakers urge US Congress to preserve JCPOA


Over 500 parliamentarians from the three European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran have called on US Congress to support the accord amid threats by US President Donald Trump to scrap it.

Iran’s defense minister blasts crimes by claimants of peace


Today, the so-called peace advocates have turned to be the most criminal governments committing crimes against innocent, defenseless people in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, said Iran’s Minister of Defense in the Iraqi capital on Thursday.

Iran FM, UNGA president discuss issues of mutual interest 


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamad Javad Zarif met President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Miroslav Lajcak on Friday.

Iran’s AEOI ready to take expected, unexpected actions


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani Said on Saturday that the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) has been ordered to be prepared for ‘expected as well as unexpected’ actions if US quits the nuclear deal.

Israel releases photo of Tehran as proof of Iran’s presence in Syria! 


In yet another desperate attempt to fabricate evidence against Iran and justify its recent attack on the T-4 airbase in Syria’s Homs, the Israeli regime recently released a number of satellite images trying to create the illusion that Tehran has military bases in the Arab country.

Iran FM advisor, UN envoy review ways to implement Astana agreement 


Senior advisor to Iranian foreign minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari in a meeting with UN secretary-general’s envoy Staffan de Mistura discussed ways to implement Astana talks agreement.

Iran open to prisoner swap if US has ‘change of attitude,’ says Foreign Minister 


In an interview with “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan, Iran’s top diplomat denounced American attempts to secure the release of U.S. citizens being held in Tehran. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian Foreign Minister, said American “demands” are hampering “genuine dialogue.”

 


Regional Affairs

US could not attain any goals from missile strikes on Syria: Nasrallah 


The secretary general of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement says the United States and its allies, Britain and France, could not achieve any goals from the recent missile strikes on conflict-ridden Syria.



US senator: Chemical attack used to ‘galvanize the world’ against Assad 


US Republican Senator Rand Paul says he has seen no evidence that could justify claims about the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad carrying out the suspected chemical attack in the town of Douma, and that the attack was used as a pretext to “galvanize the world” against the Syrian leader.

No reason not to supply Syria with S-300 defense systems: Russian FM 


Russia says the latest US missile strikes against Syria have removed any moral obligation for Moscow not to deliver advanced S-300 missile defense systems to Syria.

Natalie Portman backs out of Israeli award ceremony 


Natalie Portman, the Oscar-winning actress, has backed out of a major award ceremony meant to honor her in Jerusalem, with her representatives citing her distress over “recent events” in Israel.

Heavy gunfire, explosions reported from vicinity of royal palace in Riyadh 


Heavy gunfire and explosions has been reported from outside the royal palace in Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh.

 

Economy

S.Korea’s March Iranian crude oil imports down 39.3 pct y/y 


South Korea’s March crude oil imports from Iran dropped 39.3 percent from a year earlier on slowing demand for Iranian oil, the country’s customs data showed on Sunday.



Ministry of Intelligence’s duties include combat against economic corruption 


The minister, managers and officials of the Ministry of Intelligence met with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei on Wednesday morning April 18, 2018.


Iran to get 14 ATR, Airbus, Boeing aircraft this year 


Iran will receive 14 new passenger aircraft this year based on agreements signed with Airbus, Boeing and ATR plane-makers, said a former deputy roads and urban development minister.

Iran vows “Stunning” response to return of US sanctions 


Iran’s nuclear chief says the country is ready to give an “stunning” response to a possible return of unilateral US sanctions on Iran, expressing hope the US administration will “come to its senses”.

World Bank: Iran’s growth to stabilize above 4 percent 


As the impact of the previous year’s boost in oil production and exports dissipates, Iran’s overall growth rate is expected to stabilize at around 4.2%, with a larger contribution from the non-oil sector.

 

Society



Top Iranian officials leave Telegram messaging app 


A number of channels on the Telegram messaging service attributed to top Iranian officials, including that of the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, have stopped activities on Wednesday morning in a move that may signal the imminent blocking of the messenger.

Govt. offices banned from using foreign social messaging services 


Iranian President’s Office has issued an order banning the government offices from using dominant foreign messengers such as Telegram.

36th Fajr Festival opens on 120th anniversary Iranian Cinema 


The 36th edition of Fajr International Film Festival opened last night as the country celebrated the 120th anniversary of the Iranian Cinema.

World commemorates Persian poet Sa’di 


Aficionados of literature across the world and in Persian-speaking countries are preparing to commemorate the world-renowned Persian poet and literary scholar of the medieval period Sheikh Sa’di on April 21.

Int’l Heritage Day marked amid preservation woes 


Iran celebrated the International Day for Monuments and Sites on April 18 by various events and seminars while the preservation of the country’s myriad of heritage sites is facing challenges.