September 2, The Iran Project – Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier-General Amir Hatami trip to Syria; Iran hauls US before intl. court over ‘illegal’ sanctions; Rouhani in parliament to answer economic questions; Leader receives Pres. Rouhani, his cabinet members; FM Mohammad Javad Zarif slams Netanyahu for ‘shameless’ threat of ‘nuclear annihilation’ against Iran; Iran remains compliant with 2015 nuclear deal, IAEA reports; Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Visit to Turkey and Pakistan and meeting with senior officials; Eid al-Ghadir celebrated across Iran; Iran, Britain start new round of talks; Foreign attaches visit defense achievements exhibition in Tehran and Iraq, Russia, Iran, Syria military chiefs discuss security, intel cooperation are among major headlines dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week (August 27– September 02).


 

Politics

Iran has full control of Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz – Revolutionary guards chief


Earlier, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) held large-scale military drills in the Persian Gulf. The IRGC said they were ready to disrupt other countries’ oil shipments through the strait if Iran’s own exports were impeded.

Iran hauls US before intl. court over ‘illegal’ sanctions


The International Court of Justice has begun hearing a lawsuit brought by Iran against new US sanctions ordered by the Trump administration.

Iran says ‘no third party’ will limit its support to Syria


Iran’s defense minister said Sunday his country will continue its support of the Syrian government to ensure improved security in the region, adding that the nature of the two countries’ cooperation won’t be decided by a “third party.”

President Rouhani in Majlis to answer MPs


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani attended Majlis (Parliament) morning session to answer a number of questions raised by the Iranian lawmakers about current economic situation.

Rouhani vows to defeat ‘anti-Iranian’ officials in the White House


Iran will overcome newly reimposed U.S. measures against Tehran, sanctions that will only serve to unify the nation, President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday.

Rouhani fails to convince Parl. on 4 out of 5 economic-related questions


Iranian lawmakers were not convinced by President Rouhani’s answers to four out of five questions about his government’s handling of the country’s economic situation.

Tehran confirms Israeli ex-minister was Iran’s spy


Iran’s Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi has confirmed a former Israeli energy minister arrested by the Israeli regime for espionage had been working for Iran.

Leader awards ‘Medal of Victory’ to Iran’s former Air Force commander


Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei awarded the ‘Medal of Nasr (Victory)’ to Brigadier General Hassan Shah Safi, the former Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) commander, for his valuable efforts and service.

Leader receives Pres. Rouhani, his cabinet members


Leader of the Islamic Revolution received President Hassan Rouhani and his cabinet members on Wednesday.

Iran’s leader asks government to work ‘day and night’ to resolve economic problems: state TV


Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asked the government to work “day and night” to resolve economic problems, as parliament increases pressure on President Hassan Rouhani over handling the economic hardship following U.S. sanctions.

Zarif arrives in Ankara to meet with Turkish officials: Anadolu


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has arrived in the Turkish capital Ankara to hold meetings with the neighboring country’s officials on bilateral ties and regional cooperation.

Iran FM, Turkey president discuss Syria


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a meeting in Ankara Wednesday discussed bilateral relations and developments in Syria.

Iran is complying with nuclear deal restrictions: IAEA report


Iran has remained within the main restrictions on its nuclear activities imposed by a 2015 deal with major powers, a confidential report by the U.N. atomic watchdog indicated on Thursday.

Iran FM, Pakistani PM meet in Islamabad


Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met and held talks with Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad to discuss bilateral relations and economic and political issues.

UK minister holds talks in Iran in first visit since U.S. quit nuclear deal


A junior British minister held talks with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran on Saturday, Iran’s television reported, the first visit by a UK minister since U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers.

Iran plans to boost ballistic and cruise missile capacity: state news agency


Iran plans to boost its ballistic and cruise missile capacity, as well as acquire a new generation fighter planes and submarines, the Iranian state news agency IRNA quoted a senior Defence Ministry official as saying on Saturday.

Foreign attaches visit defense achievements exhibition in Tehran


A host of foreign military attaches residing in Iran paid a visit, on Saturday, to Iran’s defense industries’ achievements to get briefed with the latest accomplishments of Iranian defense ministry.
Iraq, Russia, Iran, Syria military chiefs discuss security, intel cooperation
Senior military commanders from Iraq, Russia, Iran and Syria have met in Baghdad and exchanged views on security and intelligence cooperation.



Economy


Sinopec, world’s largest oil refiner, wary of secondary US sanctions on Iranian crude importers


China imported 31 million tonnes of crude from Iran last year, and some of state-backed refiner’s plants are designed especially to process Iranian crude.






US accuses Iran of misusing World Court with suit aimed at lifting sanctions


US lawyers have called on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – the United Nations’ highest court –to dismiss the Iranian lawsuit calling for a lifting of sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Iran in talks with Swiss oil giant over $1Bln deal – Reports


Iran is seeking to extend or renew a $1 billion oil deal with the Swiss giant Vitol Group ahead of the promised return in November of crippling US sanctions, media reported.

Iran ditched single-currency rate policy to avoid US trap, top banker says


Governor of the Central Bank of Iran defended ditching the idea of a single dollar exchange rate as a strategy to avoid the US government’s trap and counter its attempts at stepping up economic pressure on Iran.

Hearing session of trial for people accused of misusing Forex market begins


The hearing session of trial for 13 people charged with importing mobile phones with official exchange rate but selling them at free market price began in revolutionary courts in Tehran.

 

Regional Affairs



Erdogan urges all Turks to demonstrate commitment to combat attack on economy


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on his nation to demonstrate “commitment and determination” as firm guarantees needed to combat “attacks” on Turkey’s economy amid the country’s deepening financial crisis triggered by an array of sanctions imposed by the United States over the detention of an American pastor.

Israeli military can’t avoid defeat in spite of advanced weapons: Nasrallah


The secretary general of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement says the Israeli military cannot escape defeat despite its apparent capabilities, stressing that thousands of Israeli troops are now seeking mental health treatment.

Hatami: Victory over terrorism in Syria deepens regional peace, security


Iranian Minister of Defense, Brigadier General Amir Hatami stressed that the situation in Syria is much more better than what it used to be over the previous years and that the victory over terrorism in it has further deepened peace and stability in all regional states.

Israeli forces attack Palestinian protesters in Gaza, injure 240


At least 240 Palestinians have been injured in attacks by Israeli forces on a protest held in the Gaza Strip near the fence between the besieged enclave and the occupied Palestinian territories.

US prepared initial list of Syria targets for possible strike: Report


The United States has reportedly drawn up a preliminary list of facilities in Syria that could be targeted in case of a false flag chemical weapons attack in the war-torn country.

 

Society



Int’l Conference of Hamedan kicks off in Iran


The International Conference of Hamedan as the “ACD Tourism Capital, 2018” started in this western Iranian provincial capital city on Monday.

Iran to officially protest over Indonesia’s unfair medals in Asian Games: NOC head


The head of Iran’s National Olympic Committee (NOC), Reza Salehi Amiri said that Indonesia’s medals in the unknown and indigenous sport of pencak silat is a gift from Olympics Council of Asia (OCA) and Iran will officially protest against these medals in OCA.

Pollution-hit Tehran embraces new bike-sharing start-up


A bike-sharing start-up was officially launched in the Iranian capital Tehran on Tuesday, in a move that city officials hope would help ease problems in the densely-populated, highly polluted city.

Fatemeh Motamed-Aria on Orizzonti jury panel


The 75th Venice Film Festival opened on August 29 with the world premiere of Damien Chazelle’s First Man, starring Ryan Gosling as American astronaut Neil Armstrong. Among the participants in the opening ceremony was Iranian actress Fatemeh Motamed-Aria who is a member of the jury in the Orizzonti (Horizon) section.



20th Iran Cinema Celebration names winners; ‘No Date, No Signature’ rakes in awards


The 20th Iran Cinema Celebration has announced the top of Iranian cinema productions in the past year, with ‘No Date, No Signature’ directed by Vahid Jalilvand winning as many as five awards in various categories.