Tehran, January 31, The Iran Project – Iran’s parliament speaker at 11th meeting of PUIC in Baghdad, Rouhani trip to EU, Navy drill in Southeastern Iran, Iranian officials visit to holy shrine of the Founder of Islamic Republic, Leader awarding ‘Fath’ medal on IRGC commanders dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week (Jan.25-Jan.31). 


Politics 


Iran, Iraq discuss reciprocal visa-free travel


Iran and Iraq have discussed a reciprocal visa waiver program to boost tourism and trade transactions between the two neighbors.


Iran’s president pens letters to leaders of G5+1, neighboring states


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani sent separate letters to the heads of neighboring countries as well as the leaders of the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France, and Germany) member states, with whom Iran finalized a nuclear deal back in July 2015.


Spread of terrorism in Mideast threat to Europe: Iran’s Rouhani


Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, in a meeting with his Italian counterpart in Rome, has described terrorism as the main plight afflicting the Middle East region, warning that an unstable Middle East will also adversely affect European countries.


Leader’s foreign affairs adviser to visit Russia for talks


A top adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei will pay an official four-day visit to Moscow next week to hold talks with senior Russian officials.


Airbus jets on post-sanctions shopping list as Rouhani visits EU


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, freed from the sanctions that pinched his nation’s economy for a decade, heads to Europe this week where he may sign a deal to buy 114 Airbus Group SE jets and about 17 billion euros ($18.4 billion) of Italian contracts.


Iran plays fundamental role in Middle East stability: Italy PM


Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi says Iran plays “a fundamental role in the stability” of the Middle East region, which is struggling with years of extremism and terrorism.


Grandson of Iran’s Khomeini excluded from elections


The grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic on Iran, has been excluded from contesting elections next month, his son said Tuesday.


‘General Electric in talks to enter Iranian market’


American multinational conglomerate General Electric Co. is in talks to enter Iranian market after the recent implementation of Iran’s nuclear agreement with world powers.


The Latest: Vatican says Iran should help fight terrorism


The Vatican says Iran now should play a role in combatting terrorism as Tehran becomes a regional player to resolve Middle East conflicts.


Canada to lift Tehran sanctions, allow Bombardier to export to Iran


Canada confirmed for the first time on Tuesday that it plans to lift its sanctions on Tehran and said that if Airbus is allowed to sell to Iran, then its aircraft maker Bombardier Inc should be allowed to export there as well.


Iran-China discussing Arak reactor


Iran said on Tuesday that it has signed a basic agreement with China to re-design a heavy water reactor in Arak during the visit to Tehran by the Chinese President Xi Jinping over the weekend.


Diplomacy, logic to settle regional issues: Rouhani


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the issues in the region can be solved through a diplomatic and logical approach.


Zarif: President Rouhani’s visit to France shows power of diplomacy


Tehran, Jan 29, IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underlined that in today’s world diplomacy works and President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to France is only an example.












Iranian Navy test-fires cruise missile ‘Noor’


MAKRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Navy test-fired several coast-to-sea and sea-to-sea cruise missiles named “Noor” (Light) with a range of 150 km during a massive naval drill underway in southeastern coasts of Makran, east of Strait of Hormuz.


IRGC doubles missile activities despite US pressure: Commander


A senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Iran has stepped up boosting its missile capabilities since the US asked to curb them.


Saudis should ‘take initiative’ to defuse tensions with Iran, Rouhani tells France 24


In an interview Thursday with FRANCE 24, Le Monde and France Culture, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said restoring diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia was a priority, but that it was up to Riyadh to take the initiative.


JCPOA thwarted Iranophobia campaign: Iran FM


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries has put an end to the Iranophobia campaign.


Iran to construct new power plants in Bushehr soon: Salehi


Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi says the Islamic Republic is set to begin the construction of two more nuclear power plants in the southern city of Bushehr soon, Press TV reports.
Leader confers ‘Fath’ medal on IRGC commanders


Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has conferred the ‘Fath’ (Victory) medal on commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) naval forces for arresting US Marines who trespassed on Iran’s territorial waters.


Society


Iran’s Abasali gets bronze in Paris karate tournament


Iranian karate fighter Hamideh Abbasali has clinched a bronze medal in the 20th edition of the Open de Paris – Karate Premier League in France.


Yazd witnesses five-fold rise in tourism


Yazd Province in central Iran has seen a five-fold rise in the number of tourists in 2015, says the deputy head of Yazd Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department, according to The Iran Daily.


Iran comes 5th at Asian Handball Championship


Iran defeated South Korea in a dramatic match and finished in fifth place in the 2016 Asian Handball Championship.


Iranian shooter Khedmati wins gold at Asia Olympic Qualifying


Iranian woman shooter Najmeh Khedmati snatched a gold medal in women’s 10m air rifle at the Asia Olympic Qualifying Competition on Friday.


France to work with Iran on reducing air pollution: Official


The head of Iran’s Environmental Protection Organization (IEPO) said the country has recently signed an agreement with France for cooperation in various areas of environmental protection, including efforts to tackle air pollution in the Islamic Republic.


Economic 


President Mattarella: Italian companies counting days to start work in Iran


Italian companies counted days for removal of Iran’s sanctions and starting work in Iran, Italian President Sergio Mattarella said on Monday.


Iran, Egypt resume trade ties: Report


Iran’s first cargo of petrochemical products in recent years has left for Egypt, marking the resumption of trade ties between the two major Muslim countries, the Mehr news agency says.


Iran, Italy sign up to $18.4bn contracts


Iran and Italy have signed multi-billion dollar contracts covering various sectors including health, transportation, agriculture and energy.


Peugeot signs car deal with Iran Khodro


French car maker returns to Iran after four-year absence as sanctions lifted.


Iran, France ink 20 trade, construction deals during Rouhani’s visit


France and Tehran signed a batch of 20 trade and construction agreements, the total worth of Iran’s agreements with France has not been revealed, according to the French president’s office.


Iran container ships set for Europe sailings after five years


Iran’s biggest shipping line hopes to start calling again at European ports, with plans for a bi-weekly service connecting India, Iran and Europe as early as next month, according to people familiar with the matter.


Cameron, Hollande interested in boosting trade with Iran


British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande agreed that trade ties with Iran could be strengthened now that the sanctions had been lifted.


Regional Affairs
Syrian army takes control of Sheikh Miskeen


The Syrian army has reportedly managed to take full control of a strategic town in the southern province of Dara’a as they continue to gain ground in battles against foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants.
Turkey buying oil from Daesh: Israel


The Israeli regime, which is itself believed to be supporting militants in the region, says Turkey has been providing money to the Daesh Takfiri militants operating in Syria and Iraq through oil trade with them.


Iranian President: S. Arabia owes tens of apologies to Muslims


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani blasted Saudi Arabia for supporting terror groups and launching wars of aggression against the Muslim nations, and said Riyadh should apologize for what it has done.


Iran urges UNESCO push to protect cultural heritage in Syria, Iraq


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called on UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural organization, to make utmost efforts to protect the endangered cultural works and historic sites in Syria and Iraq from the devastating activities of terrorist groups.


Syrian, Iraqi refugees to return home after crises: Germany’s Merkel


German Chancellor Angela Merkel has defended her open-door refugee policy, arguing that asylum seekers from Syria and Iraq would go back home once the conflicts there end.


Iran-Saudi fallout seriously hits Arab airlines


Airlines in the Persian Gulf Arab countries have taken a serious hit from Saudi Arabia’s severing of diplomatic relations with Iran this month, losing millions of dollars in revenue so far.