February 19, The Iran Project – Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn visit to Iran, Iran unveiling Tous marine outboard gasoline engine, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei receiving people of Tabriz on the occasion of Iran ranking 1st in Freestyle World Wrestling Cup dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week (Feb 13 – Feb 19).
Politics
55 million eligible to vote in presidential elections
Head of State Electoral Headquarters has said in future presidential elections, 1.2 million people will vote for the first time.
Def. Min.: Nuclear energy should contribute to marine propulsion systems
Defense minister underlined that nuclear energy should be used in marine technologies , including marine propulsion systems, to reduce the environmental effects.
Iran unveils Tous marine outboard gasoline engine
Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan has unveiled a marine outboard gasoline engine dubbed Tous through an official ceremony in Tehran.
Iran to send pilgrims to Hajj If Saudis pay blood money: Minister
In his first press conference, Reza Salehi Amiri, the Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, explained Iran’s conditions to resume sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
Leader: US saber-rattling meant to derail Iran’s attention to economic progress
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday downplayed the US threats against Iran, saying that such moves are aimed at decelerating the country’s improvement in economy.
Dialogue sole way out of ME conflicts
President Rouhani underlined that negotiations and understanding are sole ways to settle the tensions existing in the region.
No to US troops in Syria, nuclear deal to stay, Iran’s foreign minister says
Sending US ground troops to Syria to fight ISIS will fan flames of extremism in the region that will impact the security of the whole world, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour Friday.
EU, IAEA reiterate support for nuclear deal
The European Union (EU) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a joint statement reaffirmed support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) based on their respective mandates.
IRGC Commander: Possible war with Iran to harm US
Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Deputy Commander for political affairs Brigadier General Rasul Sanayee Rad stressed Iran’s deterrent power, and warned that any possible war between Tehran and Washington will inflict heavy damage on Washington.
Guterres: JCPOA important factor in international peace, stability
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres by referring to nuclear deal between Iran and Group 5+1 said that Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is an important factor in international peace and stability and announced his own and the UN support for continuation of the deal.
US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions on Iran’s aviation
Republican US senators have introduced legislation to impose fresh sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector, accusing Tehran of using civilian aircraft to support terrorism.
Economy
Watch footage of Iran’s biggest solar power plant
Watch drone footage of Iran’s biggest solar power plant project which was recently launched in the country’s western province of Hamadan.
Iran: N. deal fails if Trump refrains from withholding sanctions
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Seyed Abbas Araqchi warned that the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and the world powers would be discarded if US President Donald Trump refuses to continue vetoing the sanctions against Iran every four months.
Iran aims for annual steel exports of 20-25 million tonnes by 2025
Feb 15 Iran aims to export 20 to 25 million tonnes of steel annually by 2025, it said in an official statement on Wednesday, up from a previous goal of 10 million tonnes.
Iran’s carpet exports to U.S. go from zero to millions
About $69 million worth of Iranian carpets were exported to the United States during the first 10 months of the current Iranian calendar year, ended on January 19, while the figure was zero in the entire preceding year, ISNA quoted Hamid Kargar, the head of Iran’s National Carpet Center, on Wednesday.
Iran reaches lease financing deal for 77 Boeing, Airbus planes
Tehran has reached a deal with an international aircraft leasing company to finance the acquisition of 77 planes from Boeing and Airbus, according to local media reports.
Regional Affairs
Hezbollah leader urges Israel to dismantle Dimona nuclear reactor
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has warned against the threats posed to Lebanon by Israel, calling for the removal of the regime’s Dimona nuclear reactor.
Second round of Astana talks yields pact on Syria ceasefire monitoring
A second round of Syria talks in Astana ended Thursday in a deal by the three peace guarantors – Russia, Turkey and Iran – to uphold Syrian truce and set the stage for more in-depth negotiations in Geneva next week.
Zarif, Lavrov discuss Syria, bilateral relations in Munich
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov discussed the situation in Syria and Russia-Iran relations during a meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Iran hails ‘More Peaceful Atmosphere’ in Astana syria talks
Head of Iran’s diplomatic team in the latest round of negotiations between the Syrian government and the rebel groups in the Kazakh city of Astana hailed a “calmer and more conciliatory” atmosphere in the peace talks than the previous round.
Iraqi forces launch major push to liberate Western Mosul from Daesh
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced on Sunday the start of the operation to liberate the western part of the city of Mosul from Daesh terrorists.
Society
Iran maestro on Grammy-winning ensemble
The international Silk Road Ensemble, which enlists the virtuosity of a world-renowned Iranian traditional music maestro among other greats, has been conferred with the title for Best World Music Album at this year’s Grammy Awards.
Ski diplomacy boosts Swiss-Iran ties
As a fierce blizzard sweeps mountains outside Tehran, a team of elite Swiss ski instructors refuses to allow the deep freeze to stand in the way of warming ties with Iran.
Iran defends title after beating US in 2017 Freestyle World Cup
The Iranian men’s national freestyle wrestling team has claimed the top position at the end of the 2017 Freestyle World Cup in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah, after trouncing the American side in the title challenge.
Areas in Iran in grip of inclement weather
Blizzard, snow drifts, and flooding have besieged cities in several Iranian provinces, while cutting off access to many villages in other areas.
Iranians peace seeking, proud people: UN official
Iranians are peace seeking, hospitable, and intelligent people and they have a proud history and culture, the United Nations Representative in Tehran Gary Lewis said.
QR code