July 8, The Iran Project – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif meets his Omani counterpart; Iran's President Hassan Rouhani trip to Switzerland and Austria and meeting with senior officials; US will never be able to stop Iran oil exports: Rouhani; Victims of MKO terrorism to send protest petition to UN; Iranian Army commander-Chinese military delegation meet in Tehran; Iran commemorates 30th anniversary of US downing of passenger plane; EU parliament supports EIB’s work with Iran in defiance of US threats; Tehran summons French, Belgian, German diplomats over diplomat arrest; Iran, five world powers hold talks on fate of JCPOA; Iran executes 8 Daesh members over 2017 terrorist attacks in Tehran and Heads of Iran trio branches discuss new economic conditions are among major headlines dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week (July 02–July 08).


 

Politics

Trump signals sanctions on EU companies over Iran


US President Donald Trump warned European companies that they would face secondary sanctions if they violated US restrictions on doing business with Tehran following Washington’s move to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal.

Iran, Oman FMs discuss issues of mutual interest


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his accompanying delegation met with Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah in the city of Salalah within the framework of regular consultations between the two countries.

Iran slams US 2018 Trafficking in Persons report as ‘biased, politicized’


Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has dismissed the US Department of State’s 2018 Trafficking in Persons report, saying it aims to divert world’s attention from ‘US interventionist policies’.

Iran not to leave any threat unanswered: Military cmdr


Any threats to Iran at any level will not be left unanswered as the Iranian armed forces will give a knockout response to the enemies, a senior commander said here on Monday.

Austrians say aligned with Iran, against anti-JCPOA moves of US


The Austrian Chancellor Kurz and President Van der Bellen issued statements in the run-up to President Rouhani’s visit to Austria voicing strong support for nuclear deal.

Claims against Iran diplomat, false flag ploy: Zarif


 Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the claims about an Iranian diplomat arrested over allegations of plotting a bomb attack on a meeting of the notorious anti-Iran terrorist group, the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO), in France was a “sinister false flag ploy.”

Iran, Switzerland Presidents hold private talks


The Presidents of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Swiss Confederation Monday night discussed ways of expanding relations between the two countries in all areas of mutual interest.

Swiss FM hails talks with Iranian guests


Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis in a message hailed holding meetings with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Iran’s new IAEA envoy submits credentials to Amano


Iran’s new ambassador and permanent representative to the international organizations including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna Kazem Gharibabadi submitted his credentials to Director General Yukiya Amano on Monday.

Victims of MKO terrorism to send protest petition to UN


An Iranian human rights NGO is going to a send a petition on behalf of Iranian victims of Mojahedin Khalq Organization to international organizations including the United Nations, demanding that the terrorist outfit be brought to justice.

Iran commemorates 30th anniversary of US downing of passenger plane


Iran is marking the 30th anniversary of the downing of its civilian aircraft by a US Navy guided-missile cruiser over the Persian Gulf.

Iranian Army commander, Chinese military delegation meet in Tehran


A visiting delegation from China’s Ministry of National Defense held talks with Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Force Brigadier General Kiomars Heidari on boosting the defense ties between Tehran and Beijing.

Iran: Japanese PM visit to Iran was not on agenda


Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi announced that there was nothing on the agenda regarding Japanese PM Shinz? Abe visit to Iran.

President Rouhani officially welcomed by his Austrian counterpart in Vienna


Visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was officially welcomed by his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen in Hoffenheim Palace in Vienna.

Rouhani says Tehran will remain in nuclear deal if its benefits are guaranteed


Iran will remain in its 2015 nuclear deal only if its benefits are guaranteed by other signatories after the United States withdrew from the accord, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told a news conference on Wednesday.

General Soleimani praises Rouhani’s “Timely, Wise” remarks


IRGC Quds Force Commander Major General Qassem Soleimani has thanked Iranian President Hassan Rouhani for his recent remarks on the US’ bid to cut Iran’s oil exports as well as his comments on the Zionist regime of Israel.

Tehran summons French, Belgian, German diplomats over diplomat arrest


Iran’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the French and Belgian ambassadors as well as Germany’s chargé d’affaires to protest the arrest of an Iranian diplomat.

Iran to cooperate with Europe if nuclear talks succeed Friday: Rouhani


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Tehran will continue cooperation with Europe in their multilateral nuclear deal if the remaining parties to the landmark accord can meet Tehran’s expectations during their upcoming ministerial meeting.

Iran FM, EU foreign policy chief discuss nuclear deal


Iranian foreign minister and the European Union (EU) foreign policy chief on Friday morning discussed implementation of the nuclear deal reached between Iran and world powers in 2015.

JCPOA joint commission meeting kicks off in Vienna


The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) joint commission meeting kicked off in Vienna’s Cobourg Hotel on Friday to discuss the future of this multilateral agreement.

JCPOA Joint Commission issues statement after Vienna ministerial meeting


A Friday meeting among senior diplomats from Iran, Russia, China, Britain, France, Germany and the European Union, held in Vienna to discuss the ways to save the Iran nuclear deal, came to an end with a statement from the JCPOA joint commission.

Iran executes 8 Daesh members over 2017 terrorist attacks in Tehran


Eight members of the Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) terrorist group convicted of carrying out attacks on Iranian parliament and the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini in June 2017 were executed on Saturday.

Heads of Iran trio branches discuss new economic conditions


The fourth meeting of heads of Iran’s three branches of power was held in Tehran on Saturday to discuss the economic conditions in the aftermath of the US exit from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Ghasemi dismisses claims on Germany’s holding Iranian forex assets


Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ghasemi dismissed as untrue claims that Germany has seized a portion of Iran’s frozen foreign exchange assets due to US new sanctions, deeming the circulation of such rumors a psychological warfare aimed to disrupt Iran-EU’s relations.

 

Economy

US will never be able to stop Iran oil exports: Rouhani


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has lashed out at certain American officials for threatening to stop Iran’s oil exports, saying they would never be able to carry out such a threat.




Iran tells Trump: Stop tweeting, it’s driving up oil prices


The war of words over oil prices continues between U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran, and the latest salvo from Iran is for Trump to stop tweeting.

EU lawmakers back plan for European Investment Bank work in Iran


EU lawmakers gave approval on Wednesday for the European Investment Bank (EIB) to do business in Iran, overcoming a blocking attempt and keeping alive plans to save the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran that Washington has abandoned.

Mogherini: G4+1 agree to maintain Iran oil & gas exports


EU Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini said that the G 4+1 reached an agreement to maintain Iran oil and gas exports.

Leader orders Pres. Rouhani to compile report on corruption


After a series of unauthorized documents were released recounting some cases of corruption in Iranian gold and currency markets, Ayatollah Khamenei ordered president to follow up the case.

French shipping firm CMA CGM ends Iran ops due to U.S. sanctions threat


French shipping group CMA CGM has decided to pull out of Iran following the Trump administration’s decision to renew sanctions on companies operating in the country, its chief executive said on Saturday.

 


Regional Affairs




Dozens of civilian bodies found in mass grave in Iraq’s Mosul


Iraqi security forces have found a mass grave in the northern province of Nineveh, which contains the bodies of dozens of civilians believed to have been executed by Daesh Takfiri terrorists when they were in control of the area.

UNICEF slams ‘carnage’ of over 2,200 Yemeni children


The UNICEF chief has slammed the “carnage” of over 2,200 children during the ongoing war in Yemen, warning that millions of other children are currently suffering the agonies of the humanitarian crises in the country.

HRW urges international community to hold Israel responsible for killings in Gaza


Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the international community to hold accountable the Israeli regime for the cold-blooded killing of unarmed Palestinian demonstrators in the besieged Gaza Strip, as more than 130 inhabitants of the impoverished sliver have been killed recently by the live fire of Israeli soldiers.



Iran eager to establish science, technology park in Syria


Iran’s science minister says the country’s scientific community is willing to develop technology parks in Syria, as they could play a big role in boosting scientific productions of the Arab country and restoring Syria’s status in the global scientific community.

Saudi coalition acting on behalf of Israelis in Yemen: Houthi


The leader of Yemen’s popular Houthi Ansarullah movement says the Saudi coalition’s aim is to carry out the Zionist regime’s goals in the region.

 

Society

Queiroz to remain Iran’s coach till 2019 AFC Asian Cup


President of Iran Football Federation Mehdi Taj claimed that he had reached agreement with Team Melli’s coach Carlos Queiroz for continuing cooperation till 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

Acid attack victim pushes for law banning sale of acid in Iran


An Iranian girl who has fallen victim to an acid attack is pushing for legislation that would ban the purchase and sale of acid to prevent further acid attacks in the future.

Major project inaugurated to end water crisis in southern Iran


A huge water transfer project named Ghadir II became operational in southern Iran on Wednesday night, ending the residents’ water problem after long time.

Kimia Alizedeh to bear flag at 2018 Asian Games


Kimia Alizadeh, the first Iranian woman to win an Olympic medal, will bear the flag of Islamic Republic of Iran at the opening ceremony of 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Account of flame still burning after over 1,500 years


Yazd fire temple (Atashkadeh in Persian), also known as Bahram fire temple, is a sacred site among Iranian Zoroastrians’ — followers of Prophet Zoroaster — located in the central Iranian province of Yazd.