Tehran, Oct. 25, The Iran Project – The leader's acknowledgment of JCPOA and his guidelines for the accord's implementation, the President's response to the leader's letter and Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani trip to Russia to attend the annual meeting of 2015 Valdai Discussion Club dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week(18 Oct.-25 Oct.).


Politics


Iran’s top diplomat in London for talks on regional issues




Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian left Tehran for London on Monday for talks on different regional and international issues.

No solution to Syria crisis without Iran: German FM

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier stressed there will be no solution to the crisis in Syria without Iran’s participation in the peace process.


Leader acknowledges JCPOA approval by SNSC
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday acknowledged the approval of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action reached with six world powers in Vienna on July 14 by the Supreme National Security Council.

US, allies demand UN action after Iran missile test, report says
The United States, Britain, France and Germany called on Wednesday for the United Nations Security Council’s Iran sanctions committee to take action over a missile test by Tehran.

President Rouhani thanks Supreme Leader for acknowledging JCPOA
President Hassan Rouhani on Thursday thanked the Supreme Leader for acknowledging the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Moscow played positive role in Iran nuclear talks: Larijani


Iran’s Parliament (Majlis) speaker has praised Moscow’s positive role during the nuclear talks with six world powers that culminated in an agreement over Tehran’s nuclear energy program, expressing hope that bilateral ties between the two countries would further develop.

 Putin: US deceived Russia, entire world speaking of Iran’s nuclear threat


Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is convinced the United States deceived the Russian Federation and the entire world speaking of Iran’s alleged nuclear threat.


Economy


$100 billion prospects for Iran oil investment: CEO




Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) said there is the capacity of huge investments in Iran’s lucrative oil industry before foreign firms following removal of sanctions.


Total ready to tech transfer, finance Iran post-sanction oil projects


The President Middle East and North Africa of Total Exploration and Production said France’s energy giant is ready for financing Iran’s oil projects as well as for transferring of technology following removal of sanctions.


Switzerland to ease Iran sanctions


The Swiss government says it plans “in principle” to ease sanctions against Iran in line with the European Union and the United Nations following an international accord on Tehran’s nuclear energy program.


Microsoft preparing to invest in Iran


Officials in Tehran said on Wednesday that Microsoft as well as several other leading US tech enterprises are preparing to enter the Iranian market in the near future.


Iran to start oilfield-investor bidding process by end of March


Iran is preparing by the end of March to start soliciting bids from international companies for rights to develop oil fields as the country looks ahead to the removal of economic sanctions that have hobbled its crude production and exports.


Iran, Russia agree to establish joint bank


Iran and Russia on Thursday agreed to establish a joint bank in a bid which is meant to facilitate financial transactions between the two countries.


Tehran to host new Iran oil contracts conference on Nov 28-29: Official


The conference to unveil Iran’s new oil contracts will be held in Tehran on November 28-29, said an official in the Ministry of Petroleum.


Military




Deputy Iranian defense minister urges great Asian coalition against terror




A deputy Iranian defense minister has urged the formation of a great Asian coalition to counter terrorism.


Iran Army begins day 2 of massive drill


The Iranian Army, backed by the Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base, begins a second day of a large-scale military drill in west and northwestern Iran.


Iran to build own missile defense based on knockoff of Russia’s S-300


Iran plans to deploy a missile defense system built around an indigenous analogue of Russia’s S-300 missile system before 2017, Russian media reported on Tuesday.


Air defense stages drills at Khondab nuclear site


Iranian army and air defense forces held a preparation maneuver at Khondab nuclear site in Arak, central Iran, a provincial official said on Tuesday.


Iranian Army wraps up drills in Kermanshah


The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army staged the second and final day of a large-scale military maneuver, code-named “Muharram”, whose aim was to enhance the forces’ preparedness against any foreign threats.


Iran-Russia relations help in stabilizing region: Iran defense minister


Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan says his country’s relations with Russia have helped in stabilizing the Middle East.


U.N. council will examine details of Iran’s missile test: Russia


Russia’s U.N. envoy on Thursday said the United Nations Security Council will examine the technical details of a ballistic missile test by Iran, which the United States and its European allies have said violated U.N. sanctions.


Society



Iran to hold 1st marathon of digital content production
The first marathon of producing Iran’s digital content hosted by Sharif University of Technology will be held in late November, 2015.
Iran determined to adopt new environment policies


Iran’s VP Ebtekar commented on the alignment of domestic environmental policies with global plans like the SDGs.
Iran remains eighth at FIVB World Ranking


The Iranian national volleyball team stayed in eighth place in the FIVB Men’s Senior World Ranking.
Iranian researchers offer new hope for treating Alzheirmer’s


Iranian researchers form Amirkabir University using a type of polymer and carbon nanotubes have offered a nontoxic method for differentiating bone marrow cells into nerve cells for treating neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Iran: Sanctions relief big boon to climate

The removal of draconian sanctions on Iran will enable the country to quadruple its efforts to curb fossil fuel emissions, the country’s lead envoy at UN climate negotiations says.
Telecom giants eye Iranian ICT market


Telecommunications giants in Europe and the US by attending Iran’s pavilion at Gitex expressed willingness to enter Iranian ICT market, Director General of international business development for science and technology Ruhollah Estiri said on Wednesday.

 

Regional Affairs

Kissinger: Defeat of ISIL more important than Assad ouster




Former US Secretary Of State Henry Kissinger argues that the United States strategy in Syria should focus more on defeating the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist network than removing President Bashar al-Assad.


Senior MP: Roknabadi seen alive in S. Arabia, claims on his death not acceptable


Chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi rejected the claims that Tehran’s former ambassador to Beirut, Qazanfar Roknabadi, who went missing during the recent crush in Saudi Arabia is dead, and said there is a growing body of evidence vindicating his abduction in Saudi Arabia.
Israel under fire by UNESCO for acts of aggression in occupied territories


The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has approved a resolution, criticizing Israel for restricting Muslim worshipers’ access to the al-Asqa Mosque and failing to protect Muslim heritage sites in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Assad-Putin talks open way to ceasefire in Syria


US experts claim that Bashar Assad’s visit to Moscow and talks with Vladimir Putin opens the way at last for a negotiated political solution to the Syrian civil war.

Germany to Bibi: No, we’re responsible for the Holocaust, not Palestinians


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempt to blame the Holocaust on a Palestinian religious leader has drawn condemnation from Palestinians, politicians, and historians. To that list of critics, now add Germany.
Russia action in Syria timely, prudent: Iran speaker


The Iranian speaker of parliament (Majlis) says Russia’s military intervention in Syria against terrorist groups was well timed and considered.
Another Iranian General, 7 other IRGC members killed in Syria


A top commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) was killed in clashes in Central Syria last night, bringing the number of IRGC casualties in the war-torn country in the last couple of days to 8.
Tony Blair: Invasion of Iraq contributed to rise of ISIL


Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said that US-led intervention to Iraq in 2003 contributed to the rise of ISIL.
Syria’s President Assad ready for early elections – Russian delegation to Damascus


The Syrian President Bashar Assad has agreed to hold preliminary elections in the country, on the condition the move has the backing of the population, a member of Moscow’s Parliamentary delegation has told the TASS news agency.