June 24, The Iran Project – 3rd round of Iran-Switzerland political talks held in Tehran; 6th International Exhibition of Rail Transportation opened in Tehran; Iran, Russia, Turkey start Syria peace talks in Geneva; Iran-France’s 5th round of political consultations in Tehran; OPEC meeting kicks off in Vienna; Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali-Akbar Salehi meets senior officials in Norway on the sidelines of the Oslo Forum and Iran’s Zarif responds to Pompeo’s ‘Baseless’ demands are among major headlines dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week (June 18–June 24).


 

Politics

Former Israeli spy chief: Iran’s energy sector, ‘next 9/11 in cyber’


Former chief of an Israeli spy service unit has said that the first cyber target in any future conflict with Iran should be its energy infrastructure.

Man hanged for killing cops in Tehran mob attack


A rioter who had driven a bus into a group of police officers during a February mob attack in north Tehran was hanged at a correctional facility on Monday.

Iran, Switzerland hold 3rd round political consultations


After holding two rounds of political consultations in Bern in June 2016 and 2017, Iran and Switzerland held the 2018 edition (third round) of the talks in Tehran on Monday.

Qatar hails Iran’s support during Persian Gulf crisis


Qatari Emir praised the Islamic Republic support for Doha during the Persian Gulf crisis in which the country was besieged by the Saudi Arabia and its allies.

Iran nuclear deal must be preserved, Corbyn tells Iranian envoy


UK’s Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn says the nuclear agreement with the Islamic Republic must be preserved and clear measures shall be taken to keep peace in the Middle East, Iran’s ambassador to London said.

Iran FM says Israel’s nukes real threat to Middle East, beyond


Iran’s foreign minister has decried Israel’s nukes as a real threat to the Middle East region and the rest of the world, calling for a new focus on the occupying regime’s nuclear arsenal.

Guard chief says Iran won’t increase missile range


Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency is reporting that the country has no plan to increase the range of its missiles.

Iran, Russia, Turkey start Syria peace talks in Geneva


Representatives from Iran, Russia, and Turkey are meeting in Geneva on Tuesday to discuss establishing a committee tasked with drafting Syria’s new constitution.

UN chief: JCPOA has effective role in global security


United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday in a meeting with the Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali-Akbar Salehi that Iran nuclear deal also known as JCPOA plays an effective role in the international security.

Leader receives Iranian lawmakers


Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei met with members of Iran’s Majlis (Parliament) here on Wednesday.

No need to join Int’l treaties that are against national interests: Iran Leader


Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, says there is no need to join international treaties and conventions that do not serve the country’s national interests.

Iran’s Zarif responds to Pompeo’s ‘Baseless’ demands


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif gave detailed responses to a “baseless and insulting” statement by his US counterpart in May who had set 12 preconditions for Iran and issued threats against Tehran.

AEOI chief visits Norway’s nuclear authority center


Vice-President and Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi visited Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA) and held talks with its directors and experts on Wednesday.

Japan PM plans Iran visit in July, a first in 40 years: Report


Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering a state visit to Iran in July as Tokyo is seeking to strengthen economic ties with Tehran, government sources have said.

Iran likely to leave JCPOA in coming weeks: Diplomat


Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyed Abbas Araqchi said given the vague prospect of the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), there is a possibility that Tehran leaves the accord in coming weeks.

‘Dreadful’ future awaits world if nuclear deal collapses: Iran’s Salehi


Iran’s nuclear chief says the Middle East and the entire world will face a “dreadful” future if a 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement Tehran signed with the P5+1 group of countries falls apart.

Iran: Europe to offer JCPOA offer by end of month


Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for political affairs Abbas Araqchi said on Saturday that European Union is to offer its package which guarantees preserving the JCPOA till end of June.

 

Economy



Iran deputy FM: Sanctions, JCPOA not to go together


Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday that sanctions and JCPOA – Iran nuclear deal – cannot go together.

OPEC ministerial meeting opens in Vienna


The 174th ministerial meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) opened here Friday with Iranian Petroleum Minister Bijan Zangeneh representing Iran in the session.

Top GOPers ask Trump admin. to put Iran back on FATF blacklist


A group of senior Republican lawmakers in US Congress have asked the administration of President Donald Trump to add Iran back on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)’s blacklist and reverse one of the key agreements that paved the way for the 2015 nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic and major world powers.

Iran says OPEC, allies to increase oil output by 500,000 bpd


Iran’s oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Saturday that OPEC and its allies will increase oil output by close to 500,000 barrels per day after agreeing a new production deal on Friday.

Iran to retain daily oil exports at 2Mln barrels despite US sanctions – Official


Iran will retain stable oil exports at the level of 2 million barrels per day even after the imposition of US sanctions, as there is always a buyer for Iranian oil, spokesman for the Iranian parliament’s Presidium, Behrouz Nemati, told Sputnik on Saturday.

 

Regional Affairs




Peace marchers arrive in Afghan capital as Taliban end truce


After walking hundreds of kilometers across Afghanistan, dozens of peace marchers have arrived in the capital, Kabul, just as the Taliban militant group ends a ceasefire agreement and resumes its attacks.

Syrian president says talks with US would be ‘waste of time’


Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he does not think it is worth pursuing negotiations with administration of US President Donald Trump to reach an understanding over crisis plunging his Arab country.

Senior Iranian commander martyred in Syria


Brigadier General Shahrokh Dayeepour, one of the Iranian commanders who played an advisory role in the war on terrorism in Syria, was martyred in the town of Albu Kamal in Southeastern Deir Ezzur on Friday.

Iraqi PM Abadi, cleric Sadr announce alliance of their political parties


Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and cleric Moqtada al-Sadr have announced an alliance between the political parties.

Polls open in Turkey in biggest test for Erdogan


Turkish voters have begun casting their ballots in presidential and parliamentary elections in the biggest test for President Tayyip Erdogan since he came to power more than a decade and a half ago.

 

Society



Iran’s soccer icon Daei turns down invitation to aid quake victims


Former Iranian footballer Ali Daei has declined an invitation by the world’s soccer governing body to visit the Russian city of Kazan, where the Iran men’s national football team will take on Spain in a 2018 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup Group B fixture.

17 Iranian sailors released by Somalia


A number of imprisoned sailors who had been arrested in late 2017 on charges of trespassing into Iran’s waters were released and returned to Iran on Thursday.

Man behind massacre of 36 Iranian police forces nabbed after 19 years


The main suspect in the massacre of 36 Iranian police forces in an ambush southeast of the country was captured after 19 years, a commander said.

Iranian designer talks of her collaboration with FIFA World Cup Google Doodle


Rashin Kheiriyeh, an Iranian graphic designer, has talked about her experience of designing Google’s FIFA World Cup doodle for the Iranian national football team.

UN’s Gary Lewis still caring about Iranians despite end of mission


Gary Lewis, the UN’s former coordinator in Tehran who is now serving in Kenya, recently praised the Iranian national football team for its impressive performance at the FIFA World Cup, showing how much he still cares about the Iranian nation and their feelings.