Tehran, June 5, The Iran Project – Iran's FM Javad Zarif visits Poland, Finland, Sweden and Latvia in his EU tour, Iranians marking anniversary of Imam Khomeini’s departure and Iran volleyball advance to Rio 2016 Olympics dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week (May 30–June 5).

 

Politics
Zarif, Polish counterpart sign MoU on expanding political consults


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Polish counterpart Witold Waszczykowski signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost political consultations between the two countries.


Iranians not attending Hajj due to Saudi obstructionism: Official


The head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization says Iranians will not attend this year’s Hajj, blaming Saudi Arabia for creating obstacles in the way of Iranians seeking to perform the ritual.
Zarif to discuss regional issues in Helsinki political meeting


Iran’s FM Zarif upon arrival in Finland early Tue. said he will attend a political meeting in Helsinki where he will discuss regional issues with the Finnish senior officials.


Iran developing homegrown alternative to GPS


Iran’s defense minister on Wednesday unveiled three of the latest technological achievements made by local experts, including the transmitter of an indigenous positioning and navigation system that could be a substitute for the Global Positioning System (GPS).


Iran, Sweden ink MoU on political consultation


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Swedish counterpart Margot Wallstrom discussed a range of issues at a meeting in Stockholm, and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on periodic political consultations between the two countries’ foreign ministries.


Iran to produce stable isotopes at Fordow site





Iran began production of stable isotopes project facilities, according to the statement of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).





Zarif meets Latvian president


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met and conferred Thursday with Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis in the latter’s residence Jurmala, 25 km of capital of Latvia.







Late Imam’s grandson: Islamic Revolution a divine revolution


Grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic said leadership of the late Imam Khomeini brought dignity, kindness and unity for the Iranian nation through the Islamic Revolution which he said is a divine revolution.


Kerry: Editing of State Department Iran video ‘stupid,’ ‘inappropriate’


Washington (CNN)Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday slammed the selective editing of a video of a State Department press briefing on the Iran deal, calling it “stupid and clumsy and inappropriate.”


Amano raps former patterns of engagement with Tehran


The nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers demonstrates the fact that “stonewalling didn’t work” against Tehran, says the head of the United Nations nuclear agency.


Economy


Iran’s economy recovering to pre-sanctions level – President


The Iranian economy is gradually recovering to the level before the sanctions against Tehran related to its controversial nuclear program were imposed, local media reported Monday.


‘Iran safest partner for economic cooperation’


Iran’s FM Zarif at Stockholm business forum on Wed. reassured all countries that Iran is the safest partner in economic cooperation, not due to ‘military security’ but rather the ‘trust’ it has in its people.




Boeing says Iran can buy planes in euros


Global aviation giant Boeing announced on Thursday that Iran’s airlines could purchase its passenger jets in euros rather than in dollar if the United States’ financial system does not open up to Iran.




JCPOA had positive impact on Int’l banking ties


The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran’s nuclear deal with the six world powers) has had a “tangible” effect on Tehran’s international banking relations as it helped remove curbs on domestic lenders’ interaction with their overseas peers, says Parviz Aqili Kermani, CEO of the privately-owned Middle East Bank.

Zangeneh stresses calm atmosphere of OPEC meeting in Vienna


Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh underlined the calm atmosphere of a meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) here on Thursday.




Society


Iran’s Rezvani to referee Rio Olympics water polo contests


Iranian referee Masoud Rezvani has been elected to officiate the water polo events at the forthcoming 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which will be held over a 15-day-period in August.

Farhadi: Iranian cinema among top 5


Iranian film director Asghar Farhadi said that due to his several trips to other countries, he believed that Iranian cinema is one of the best in the world.





Iran to ramp up space coop. with other countries


Head of Iranian National Space Agency (INSA) said the agency is planning to increase international cooperation in the field of space sciences and technology.








Iran volleyball team outdoes Poland, earns place at Rio Olympics Games


Iran’s national volleyball team has secured a quota place for the high-status event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, following a deserved victory over the Poles at the Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan.



President congratulates Iran volleyball advance to Rio 2016 Olympics


President Hassan Rouhani, in a message on Friday, congratulated the Iranian nation on the advance of Iran’s national volleyball team to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after 52 years.




Regional Affairs




Turkey warns EU it will abandon refugee deal if no visa-free travel


Turkey has threatened to quit a deal with the European Union (EU) to stem the flow of refugees if its citizens are not granted visa-free travel to the 28-nation bloc.



Iran’s Gen. Soleimani needed in Iraq, PMF crucial to win: Al-Anbar council chief


The anti-terror assault on Fallujah made headlines in the Arab as well as global media with the arrival of the zero hour and after the Iraqi forces launched their anti-ISIS operation to recapture the ISIS-held city in Al Anbar province.





Iran, Russia, Afghanistan hold security meeting in Kabul: Sources


National security officials from Iran, Russia and Afghanistan held a trilateral meeting in Kabul on Thursday to coordinate action against terrorism and narcotics, Afghan sources reported.





Iran, UN urge Yemen ceasefire to continue in Ramadan


Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian and Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the UN special envoy to Yemen, called for a ceasefire that has been in place in Yemen since April to continue as the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan is approaching.





Iraq forces retake control of strategic city north of Fallujah


Iraqi armed forces have fully liberated a key city in the embattled Anbar Province as they continue to gain more ground in their military operations to retake the Daesh-held city of Fallujah.