January 27, The Iran Project – US gained nothing after spending $7,000bn in Iraq, Syria: Iran military chief; Ghasemi not confirms reports on summoning Iran’s charge d’affaires in Germany; Polish deputy FM in Tehran over anti-Iran conf. due in Warsaw; Iran slams Germany’s ‘hasty, unjustifiable’ ban on Mahan Air; Mogherini not to attend anti-Iran Warsaw conf.; Iran’s top security official blasts US dual behavior towards ISIL; Iran capable of mass production of IR-8 centrifuges: Nuclear chief; Defense Min.: Iran to launch 2nd satellite soon; Leader receives researchers from Cognitive Science Studies institute; United States frees American-born anchor of Iran’s Press TV; Gen. Soleimani tops Foreign Policy’s list of global defense & security thinkers; Oil-rich Iran cannot be barred from global energy market: Rouhani; EU says preparations for Iran SPV are at ‘advanced stage’ ; Zarif: Iran will support Venezuelan government and people against conspiracies; Ghasemi reacts to France, says Iran missile program non-negotiable; Iran Army kicks off massive ‘Eghtedar 97’ war games; Expediency Council leaves decision on Palermo bill to next session; Iran advances to AFC Asian Cup semifinals after thrashing China 3-0; Any move against Iran to cost invaders’ economy, security: Military spox and Rouhani forwards act of amendment to anti-money laundering law are among major headlines dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week (January 21- January 27).


 

Politics

Not strange to see enemies seeking to damage Iran-EU ties: Spox

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi on Saturday slammed security accusations for marring Iran-EU long-standing ties, saying that it is not strange to see such moves on behalf of the enemies.

US gained nothing after spending $7,000bn in Iraq, Syria: Iran military chief

Iran’s top military commander says although the United States spent a total of 7,000 billion dollars in Iraq and Syria, it has achieved nothing while the Islamic Republic gained a lot despite its very low spending in those countries.

Iran cooperating with some neighbors in providing regional security

Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) stressed on the need to provide regional security by residents of the region, announcing that IRIAF is cooperating with some neighboring countries in this area.

Ghasemi not confirms reports on summoning Iran’s charge d’affaires in Germany

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghasemi did not confirm the reports suggesting that Iran’s charge d’affaires has been summoned to Germany’s Foreign Ministry over the suspected espionage case.

Polish deputy FM in Tehran over anti-Iran conf. due in Warsaw

Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Maciej Lang met and held talks with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi in Tehran this morning regarding the recently erupted disputes over an anti-Iran conference.

Iran slams Germany’s ‘hasty, unjustifiable’ ban on Mahan Air

Iran has slammed Germany’s “hasty and unjustifiable” move to revoke the license of Iran’s Mahan Air, saying the decision runs counter to the spirit of deep-rooted relations between the two countries.

Mogherini not to attend anti-Iran Warsaw conf.

EU’s High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said that she would not attend an anti-Iran summit in Poland because she will be making other visits in that time.

Iran impatient to destroy Israel: IRIAF cmdr.

Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) said on Monday that Iran is ready and impatient to destroy the Zionist regime.

Iran’s Zarif criticizes US for violating civil rights

Iranian Foreign Minister in a message referred to detaining Iranian journalist Marzieh Hashemi and criticized the US administration for violating the civil rights.

Iran does not allow any coalition against its interests: Deputy FM

Iran’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs says the Islamic Republic does not allow any country to build a coalition against its interests either within the Middle East or outside.

Iran’s top security official blasts US dual behavior towards ISIL

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani lashed out at the US for its paradoxical attitude towards the ISIL, adding that Washington is keeping alive the terrorist group like a “weakened virus” for later use despite claiming to be in fight against it.

Negotiation with US useless: Iran’s Shamkhani

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said given the US move to violate its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), any negotiation with such a government would be futile.

Iran appoints Rigi as ambassador to Brunei

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Homeira Rigi Zirouki has been appointed as Iran’s new ambassador to Brunei.

Iran will remain in Syria as long as we’re asked to – Top Security Official

In an extensive interview published by the Mehr news agency, Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said that Tehran would continue providing assistance to Syria as long as Damascus needs its help in fighting terror.

Iran capable of mass production of IR-8 centrifuges: Nuclear chief

Iran’s nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi says that Iran has been injecting uranium hexafluoride into IR-8 centrifuges since 3 years ago, adding that the country has the capability of mass production of the machines.

Iran calls for ending Israel impunity of anti-Palestine crimes

Iran’s Chargé d’affaires to the United Nations in a statement urged the world to put an end to Israel impunity of its crimes against Palestinians.

Defense Min.: Iran to launch 2nd satellite soon

Iran is planning to launch its 2nd satellite to space on the occasion of the 40th victory anniversary of the Iranian Islamic Revolution, Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami said.

Larijani highlights US failure to cut Iran’s oil exports to zero

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani highlighted the futility of US plots to hit the Islamic Republic’s economy and said Washington has failed in its attempts to cut Tehran’s oil exports down to zero.

Leader receives researchers from Cognitive Science Studies institute

A number of researchers and officials from the Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS) met with the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei on Wednesday.

S Arabia, UAE deploy 7k ISIL terrorists in Afghanistan: Military official

Brigadier General Ahmadreza Pourdastan said that the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have deployed 7000 ISIL terrorists in Afghanistan.

United States frees American-born anchor of Iran’s Press TV

An American-born anchor for Iran’s state-run Press TV was released after 10 days of detention in the United States as a material witness in an undisclosed U.S. federal investigation, the English-language news channel reported on Thursday.

Gen. Soleimani tops Foreign Policy’s list of global defense & security thinkers

Major General Qassem Soleimani, who commands the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), has topped Foreign Policy (FP)’s 2019 list of Global Thinkers in the defense and security field.

Oil-rich Iran cannot be barred from global energy market: Rouhani

President Hassan Rouhani says Iran, as a country rich in oil and gas resources, cannot be excluded from the global energy market despite US attempts to cut the country’s oil exports.

Iran to pardon highest no. of convicts on 40th anniv. of Revolution

The Iranian Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani said it is likely that this year, which marks the 40th anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, the highest number of convicts will be pardoned by the Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

EU says preparations for Iran SPV are at ‘advanced stage’

The European Commission said it’s seeking to launch “very soon” a special purpose vehicle to help European companies bypass U.S. sanctions on Iran, with three European diplomats saying the official unveiling could come as early as Monday.

Iran slams UNSC for addressing unrelated issues

Iran’s Chargé d’affaires to the United Nations in a statement criticized the United Nations Security Council for addressing issues which are out of its responsibility scope.

Zarif: Iran will support Venezuelan government and people against conspiracies

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Friday that Iran will support the Venezuelan government, which is currently facing a political crisis.

France tells Iran new sanctions loom if missile talks fail

France is ready to impose further sanctions on Iran if no progress is made in talks over its ballistic missile program, the French foreign minister said on Friday.

Ghasemi reacts to France, says Iran missile program non-negotiable

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghasemi has strongly rebuked France for threatening to impose new sanctions against Tehran over its missile program, saying the country’s missile program is non-negotiable.

Iran Army kicks off massive ‘Eghtedar 97’ war games

The Iranian ground forces kicked off their large-scale ‘Eghtedar 97’ military drills in the central province of Isfahan on Friday.

Iran, Turkey FMs discuss regional issues, Venezuela

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, held a telephone conversation on a range of issues, including regional developments, reports said.

Expediency Council leaves decision on Palermo bill to next session

The Expediency Council’s Saturday meeting on joining the UN Convention on Transnational Crime (Palermo bill) ended without conclusion, leaving the final decision to the next session.

Delay on Palermo review due to technical, not political reasons

The delay of Expediency Council’s announcement on Palermo convention is due to technical reasons, not political, says Chairman of National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iranian Parliament Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh.

Any move against Iran to cost invaders’ economy, security: Military spox

An Iranian military official warned enemies about any unwise move against Iran which could cost their own economy and security.

Offensive capabilities of Army ground forces to strengthen to highest possible level: Commander

Commander of Iran’s Army Ground Forces Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari has said that his forces did well in carrying out their offensive tactics during recent exercises, adding that their offensive capabilities will increase to highest possible level.

Erdo?an: Turkey, Iran, Russia determined to save region 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an says Ankara, along with Tehran and Moscow is determined to save northern Syria from terrorism.

Rouhani forwards act of amendment to anti-money laundering law

President Hassan Rouhani has forwarded the Act of Amendment to the Law of Anti Money Laundering to the Ministry of Economy and the judiciary.

Economy

CBI Chief: Japan resumes Iran oil imports

After China, South Korea, India and Turkey, Japan has also resumed importing Iran oil, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) said.

Anti-Sanction Committee in Iran’s parliament formed

An Iranian parliamentarian while pointing to the US efforts to reduce Iran’s oil sales, stressed that in order to circumvent the sanctions, the Anti-Sanctions Committee in the parliament was formed and the ways to skirt oil sanctions were presented.

Iran discovers oil in Abadan region: minister

Iran has discovered oil in the southwestern Abadan region for the first time, Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency on Wednesday.

Iran, 3rd largest natural gas producer: BP

The latest statistical report by British Petroleum (BP) suggests that by the end of 2017, Iran was ranked third among the world’s largest natural gas producers.

Europe taking final steps to implement SPV, says German envoy

The German Ambassador to Iran Michael Klor-Berchtold says that the European Union will implement the promised financial channel to Iran in the coming days.

Regional Affairs

Iraq’s Hashd al-Sha’abi warns Israel against possible attacks, pledges strong response

Iraq’s Hashd al-Sha’abi has warned Israel against “playing with fire” after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hinted that Tel Aviv may attack the anti-terror volunteer fighters.

Jordan protests inauguration of new Israeli airport near Aqaba

Jordan on Monday announced it has filed a complaint against Israel’s opening of Ramon Airport just across the border with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Syria’s UN envoy threatens to strike Tel Aviv airport should Israeli raids continue

Syria’s UN Ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari strongly denounced IAF’s military operations against Iranian targets on Syrian soil on Tuesday, on the heels of Israel’s latest air raid in Syria.

EU adds S. Arabia to draft terrorism financing list

The European Commission has added Saudi Arabia to an EU draft list of countries that pose a threat to the bloc because of lax controls against terrorism financing and money laundering, two sources told Reuters on Friday.

Hezbollah says can retaliate against Israel in case of new airstrikes on Syria

Lebanon-based military group Hezbollah does not rule out that it, Iran, and Syria could retaliate against Israel if it conducts another airstrike on Syria, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said.

Society

Iran beat Oman 2-0 to book quarterfinal date with China 

Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Ashkan Dejagah were on target as Iran beat Oman 2-0 to advance to the quarterfinal of the AFC Asian Cup 2019.

Child born to Iranian mother, foreign father closer to Iranian nationality

he newly approved bill on giving Iranian nationality to a child born to an Iranian mother and foreign father awaits further debate and vote by parliament in a bid to turn into national law.

Iran, Iraq discuss cooperation in development of space technology

Iranian Communications and Information Technology Minister Javad Azari Jahromi and his Iraqi counterpart Naeem Thjeel al-Rubaie in a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday conferred on ways to further increase cooperation between the two countries in different fields, including space technology.

Int’l Oil, Energy Exhibition opens in Kish

The 15th International Oil and Energy Exhibition opened in Kish Island late on Monday to introduce the opportunities and investment capacities of Iran.

Iran advances to AFC Asian Cup semifinals after thrashing China 3-0

The national Iranian football team took on China on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and trounced its east Asian rival with three goals.