May 12, The Iran Project – Supreme Leader: Decline of awakening in region due to reliance on US, Israel; US regional unpopularity cause of safety not Iran: Zarif ; Rouhani’s letter on ‘reducing compliance to nuclear deal’ presented to parties’ ambs.; Iran sets deadline for remaining JCPOA parties; Iran to up uranium enrichment level if JCPOA benefits not guaranteed; Iran says not doing anything in breach of JCPOA; Iran to make appropriate decisions based on other side’s behavior: Salehi; Iran FM visit to Russia and meeting with senior Russian officilas; EU rejects Iran’s 60-day ultimatum on JCPOA; Macron on Iran nuke deal: We need to do everything to preserve JCPOA; UN’s Guterres names JCPOA major achievement in diplomacy; Araqchi: Iranian’ interests prior to preserving JCPOA; IRGC chief: Enemies have no more options against Iran; Trump slaps new US sanctions on Iran’s metals industry; Iran blasts US new sanctions against metal industry; Zarif: US bullies Europe, EU only expresses regret; Iran to Trump: What's guarantee you won't renege; Public interest in religious concepts has increased: Iran’s Leader; Iranians hold rally in support of SNSC decision; IRGC says US doesn’t dare to wage war on Iran; E3 seriously working to operationalize INSTEX: UK, Germany; White House gives Trump's number, wants Iran to call and Iran’s Rouhani calls for unity to face ‘unprecedented’ US pressure are among major headlines dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week (May6 – May 12).

 

Politics

Iran’s army displays new achievements

Iranian Army’s Ground Force unveiled some of its new achievements here on Monday.

 

Iran’s president: Muslim countries must stop massacre of Palestinians by Israel

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says Muslim countries must take all necessary steps to mount pressure on the Zionist regime of Israel and prevent further massacre of Palestinians.

 

Leader: Decline of awakening in region due to reliance on US, Israel

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said the wave of Islamic Awakening in a number of Muslim countries was weakened because those nations relied on the US and the Zionist regime of Israel.

 

Iran will overcome psychological warfare of enemies: Defense min

Iran will overcome psychological warfare of the enemies, Iran’s Defense Minister Amir Hatami said Tuesday.

 

US regional unpopularity cause of safety not Iran: Zarif tweets

Unpopularity in the Middle East is the cause of U.S. safety concerns, not Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter on Tuesday, after Washington said it was sending a carrier strike group and bombers to the region.

 

IRGC chief commander vows to hand enemies humiliating defeat

Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami said on Tuesday that the IRGC is resolute to give the country’s enemies an unforgettable lesson.

 

FM does not approve Zarif’s interview with Sputnik

Foreign Ministry in a statement on Tuesday announced that Zarif’s exclusive interview with Sputnik published today goes back to the past months and his answers also pertain to the situations surrounding JCPOA in those days.

 

Rouhani’s letter on ‘reducing compliance to nuclear deal’ presented to parties’ ambs.

Deputy Foreign Minister Araghchi has presented President Rouhani’s letter on ‘reducing Iran’s commitments to the nuclear deal’ to the ambassadors of the remaining parties to the JCPOA.

Prisoner swap with US not new issue: FM spokesman

The subject of prisoner exchange between Iran and the US is not a new issue, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.

 

JCPOA beneficial to region, world, detrimental to Iran’s enemies

President Hassan Rouhani described the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), beneficial to the region and the world and detrimental to the enemies of Iran.

 

Islamic Awakening Assembly slams Israel attack on Gaza

Chairman of the Islamic Awakening Assembly on Tuesday condemned the Zionist regime’s attack on Gaza which has claimed the lives of at least 33 Palestinians.

 

Iran sets deadline for remaining JCPOA parties

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) issued a statement on Wednesday, saying the country is no longer fulfilling some of its obligations under the 2015 nuclear, and setting a two-month deadline for the remaining parties to fulfill their undertakings.

 

Iran to up uranium enrichment level if JCPOA benefits not guaranteed

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tehran will back off from more commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal and will raise uranium enrichment level if its economic interests under the JCPOA in the oil and banking sectors are not fulfilled within 60 days.

 

Zarif: Iran acts within JCPOA terms

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a message on Wednesday slammed the US breach of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action over the past year, saying Iran is honoring the JCPOA terms.

 

Iran says not doing anything in breach of JCPOA

Iran says the countermeasures it has vowed to unveil Wednesday are all within the framework of the 2015 nuclear deal, and the country is not leaving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

 

Iran to make appropriate decisions based on other side’s behavior: Salehi

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali-Akbar Salehi announced on Wednesday that “in case our other partners in JCPOA do not make their commitments, we will make further appropriate decisions regarding the conditions.”

 

Only Russia and China remain compliant with nuclear deal, Iranian top diplomat says

Russia and China maintain good relations with Iran in the wake of the United States’ withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) for Iran’s nuclear program, while other participants have failed to comply with their obligations, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said ahead of a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday.

 

EU rejects Iran’s 60-day ultimatum on JCPOA

The EU has rejected Iran’s ultimatum on JCPOA, which calls on the bloc to make good on their commitments to the nuclear deal in the next two months or Tehran would start suspending some of its own.

 

Macron on Iran nuke deal: We need to do everything to preserve JCPOA

On Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani informed the remaining parties to the nuclear deal about the Islamic Republic’s decision to partially discontinue obligations under the accord. He gave Europe 60 days to ensure Iran’s interests under the agreement. Otherwise, he said, Tehran is ready to take further steps on scrapping the deal.

 

UN’s Guterres names JCPOA major achievement in diplomacy

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as a major diplomatic achievement, expressing hope that the international document could be saved following the US’s withdrawal.

 

Araqchi: Iranian’ interests prior to preserving JCPOA 

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi said naturally Iran does not intend to create tension but Tehran is not biased towards nuclear deal and meeting Iranians’ interests is important.

 

IRGC chief: Enemies have no more options against Iran

Having exhausted all of their possibilities against Tehran, the enemies of Iran have no more options to use, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami said.

 

Iran blasts US new sanctions against metal industry

The Iranian foreign ministry on Thursday lashed out at Washington for imposing fresh sanctions on the country’s metal industry.

 

Zarif: US bullies Europe, EU only expresses regret

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the European Union should stop submitting to Washington’s dictates concerning Tehran instead of just expressing “regret” over the US’s anti-Iran policy.

‘What I’d like to see with Iran, I’d like to see them call me’: Trump

President Donald Trump has said that he wants Iranians to call him, amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran over the Trump administration’s hegemonic policy towards the Islamic Republic.

 

Trump not aware that Iran not interested in nuclear weapons: envoy

Iran’s ambassador to the UN Majid Takht-Ravanchi said that US President Donald Trump “is not aware that Iran is not after nuclear weapons.”

 

Public interest in religious concepts has increased: Iran’s Leader

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei on Wednesday described the general public as interested in religion, thus making it a heavier responsibility for the seminary schools to address public demands.

 

Iranians hold rally in support of SNSC decision

Iranians held nationwide rallies expressing support for the decision of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) to suspend the implementation of some of Iran’s commitments under the JCPOA in response to the United States’ withdrawal from the deal.

 

EU should not underestimate Iran’s will to reduce commitments to JCPOA: Araghchi

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that European signatories of JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) should not underestimate Iran’s will for a step-by-step reduction of its commitments to the deal.

 

IRGC says US doesn’t dare to wage war on Iran

A senior IRGC official says the Trump administration does not dare to wage a war on Iran despite its recent deployment of an aircraft carrier and bombers in the Persian Gulf.

 

E3 seriously working to operationalize INSTEX: UK, Germany

Britain, France and Germany are seriously pursuing the implementation of the Iran-EU special payment mechanism, which is supposed to facilitate trade ties between the two sides after the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on the country, senior European officials say.

White House passes phone number to Swiss, in case Iran wants to call

After President Donald Trump publicly appealed to Iran to call him amid heightened tensions with Tehran, the White House contacted the Swiss on Thursday to share a phone number the Iranians could call the President on, according to a diplomatic source familiar with the move.

 

EU spox says why bloc rejected Iran’s JCPOA ultimatum

EU’s foreign affairs spokeswoman, Maja Kocijancic, in an interview with an Iranian news agency talked about the reason behind the bloc’s rejection of Iran’s 60-day ultimatum on JCPOA implementation.

 

Iran’s Rouhani calls for unity to face ‘unprecedented’ US pressure

President Hassan Rouhani called on Saturday for unity among Iran’s political factions to overcome conditions which he said may be harder than those during the 1980s war with Iraq, state media reported, as the country faces tightening U.S. sanctions.

Economy

Iranian Parliament against increasing fuel price: Larijani

Lawmakers have decided against increasing fuel prices in the country, said Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani after a closed session on Monday.

 

Iran says it is close to EU oil sales deal despite US sanctions: report

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told Russian news agency RIA on Tuesday that Iran was close to an oil sales deal with the European Union, despite the sanctions which have been re-imposed by the United States.

Trump slaps new US sanctions on Iran’s metals industry

President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered new sanctions on Iran, this time targeting the Islamic Republic’s export revenues from its industrial metals sector, and vowed to keep squeezing Tehran unless it “fundamentally alters” its policies.

 

Agriculture min. plans to provide full food security in sanctions period

Minister of Agriculture Mahmoud Hojjati revealed the provision of food security in sanctions period.

 

Iran to launch integrated foreign exchange market next week

The Central Bank of Iran will launch its newly-devised integrated foreign exchange market next week to define the real rate of the US dollar.

 

Regional Affairs

Hamas, Israel reach ceasefire agreement: Reports

Palestinian officials said an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire agreement was reached with Israel on Monday to end a recent surge of violence in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel.

 

17 Palestinians killed in Gaza

Some 17 Palestinians, including two pregnant women and a baby, were killed and ninety more have been hurt in the Palestinian enclave, Ashraf al Qudra, a Palestinian Health Ministry spokesman,said.

 

Pompeo makes unannounced trip to Iraq amid rising tensions with Iran

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was supposed to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Tuesday afternoon, but the State Department canceled the trip over “pressing issues.” The department did not initially disclose where he was going next, though it was later revealed that Pompeo visited Baghdad, Iraq.

 

Saudi security forces attack Al Qatif, martyr 8: report

Saudi security forces have reportedly invaded the Shia-populated areas in eastern province of Al Qatif, martyring several people.

 

Houthis begin unilateral withdrawal from Hudaydah ports

Yemen’s Houthi forces have started unilateral withdrawal from Saleef and Ras Isa ports in Hudaydah province under a United Nations-sponsored peace deal, a news agency says.

 

Society

Iran starts reconstruction of schools in flood-hit areas

The ground breaking ceremony of reconstruction of schools in flood-stricken areas in northern Iran started by Iranian Education Minister Mohammad Bathaei.

 

Iran unveils 4 homegrown anti-cancer drugs

Four anti-cancer drugs produced by Iranian pharmaceutical experts were put on display on Tuesday.

 

Attempts to revive Lake Urmia using technology

The vice presidency for science and technology will take measures in accordance with Lake Urmia restoration utilizing technology advances, IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday.

 

Fire incurs $1.3 million loss to Iran’s historic Bazaar of Tabriz

A blaze that erupted at the historic Bazaar of Tabriz, northwest Iran, on Thursday is estimated to have caused about 200 billion rials ($1.33 million) to the centuries-old site.

 

Tehran to hold 27th intl. Quran exhibition

The 27th International Quran Exhibition will be opened at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosalla on Saturday evening during a special ceremony attended by Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi and a number of cultural figures.