February 12, The Iran Project – Iran starts mass production of Mohajer 6 UCAV, Qaem smart guided bomb; MoD unveils 1800 hp steerable propeller; South Korea denies smartphones to Iran, North Korea players; Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visit to Iran and meeting with senior officials; Leader receives Air Force commanders; Iran FM Zarif meets Yemen’s Ansarullah spokesman in Tehran; Foreign envoys to Tehran congratulate President on Islamic Revolution victory anniversary; Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov trip to Iran and meeting with senior officials; Millions of Iranians mark 39th anniversary of 1979 Revolution and 36th Fajr Film Festival wraps up are among major headlines dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week (February 05–February 11).

 

Politics

RSII coalition holds periodic meeting in Baghdad


The periodic meeting of the campaign against financial support of terrorist groups within the framework of quadrilateral cooperation among Iran, Russia, Iraq and Syria was held in Baghdad.

Iran starts mass production of Mohajer 6 UCAV, Qaem smart guided bomb


Iranian Defense Ministry announced on Monday that it has started mass production of Mohajer-6 advanced drone capable of carrying precision-guided projectiles.

Iranian FM outlines 4 steps to solving crisis in Yemen


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that four steps must be taken to solve the crisis in Yemen.

Iran’s Defense Ministry unveils new maritime products


Iran’s Defense Ministry on Tuesday unveiled two homegrown maritime products, one used for propulsion of speedboats and the other for protection of metallic structures in military and civilian vessels.

S Korea denies smartphones to Iran, N Korea players

South Korean officials say they will not provide Iranian and North Korean players with Samsung smartphones which are available free to all other athletes at the Winter Olympics starting Friday.

Pres. Rouhani opens Book of the Year Award ceremony


The closing ceremony for the 35th Book of the Year Award and the 25th World Award for Book of the Year of Iran has kicked off at Vahdat Hall in the presence of President Rouhani.

Macron’s visit to Iran to take place in near future


French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says that he will visit Tehran in March, adding the French President Emmanuel Macron will also visit Iran after his own trip.

Iran Leader meets Air Force commanders, staff members


Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei received here Thursday the commanders of Iran’s Air Force and its staff members.

Olympic body apologizes to Iran over Samsung gift snub


Organizers of the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games in South Korea say they have formally apologized to Iran over an earlier decision to deny its athletes gift Samsung smartphones, which sparked diplomatic furor in Tehran.

U.S. secretly offered Iran a channel for talks on prisoners


The Trump administration secretly reached out to Iran in December to propose creating a direct channel to negotiate the release of prisoners held by each side, U.S. officials and people briefed about the discussions said, marking the first U.S. diplomatic overture to Iran on the issue under President Donald Trump.

US withdrawal from JCPOA, big strategic mistake: Rouhani


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the United States will make a “big strategic mistake” if it decides to pull out of the 2015 multilateral agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program.

Iranians mark anniversary of Islamic Revolution with nationwide rallies


Millions of Iranians are taking to the streets nationwide today to mark the 39th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Iran, Uzbekistan review ways to develop ties


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Uzbek counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov discussed ways to promote bilateral relations.

Iran President: Huge turnout of people, response to US plots


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani praised the huge turnout of people in the Islamic Revolution’s anniversary rallies across the country and described it a response to the US conspiracies.

US is Iran’s No. 1 enemy: Iranian demonstrators


Iranian people continue to recognize the US as their ‘No. 1 enemy’ and condemn its violations of the nuclear deal, said demonstrators in a resolution at the end of their rally in commemoration of the Islamic Revolution anniversary on Sunday.

Massive rallies on revolution anniv. crushing response to enemies: Leader


Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says massive participation of the Iranian people in nationwide rallies marking the 39th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution gave a firm and crushing response to foreigners and enemies.



Iran displays long-range ballistic missile in February 11 rallies in Tehran


Iran displayed its home-made ballistic Qadr and Fajr 5 missiles during the nationwide rallies to celebrate the 39th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution on Sunday.

 

Economy

Total: South Pars gas project ‘progressing well’ despite Trump’s threats


Total’s work on the South Pars gas project is well on track despite US threats of new sanctions on Iran, the French oil and gas group’s Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanne says.

China voices commitment to Iran nuclear deal


China fully supports the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), said Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a meeting with the Chairman of Iran’s Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi.

IranAir CEO says no problems financing plane deals


IranAir is not having problems financing plane purchases from Boeing (BA.N) and Airbus (AIR.PA) but deliveries could be hampered if the United States does not extend export licences, Chief Executive Farzaneh Sharafbafi said on Thursday.

Bpifrance voices readiness to finance Iran’s economic projects


France’s Public Investment Bank, known as Bpifrance, has voiced readiness to expand cooperation with Iran on financing the two countries’ economic projects.

Peugeot has to procure 30% of parts for Algeria from Iran


French carmaker PSA Group has to procure 30% of auto parts at its Algeria site from Iran under its agreement with the country’s leading automaker Iran Khodro (IKCO), a car parts maker says.

 

Regional Affairs



Leaders of Turkey, Russia and Iran to discuss Syria in Istanbul: Turkish source


Turkey and Russia agreed on Wednesday that their next three-way summit with Iran to discuss the conflict in Syria will be held in Istanbul, a Turkish presidential source said.

Aoun: Lebanon military ready to confront Israel


Lebanese President Michel Aoun says he has ordered the country’s armed forces to confront any attempt by Israel to undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty, as Israeli officials stir more territorial tensions with Beirut.

Syria shoots down Israeli F-16 jet, pilots eject


The Syrian military has hit at least one Israeli F-16 warplane that attacked positions inside Syrian territory, sending it down in flames and smoke.

Israeli PM holds security consultations following Syria incidents – Reports


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding security consultations following military incidents between Israel and Syria, local media reported Saturday.

Putin urges Netanyahu to avoid any steps that lead to regional confrontation


Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has urged the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid any steps that would lead to a new confrontation in the region, following Israeli airstrikes on Syria.

 

Society

Sporting field expands for women


The sporting community in Iran has expanded the space for women by introducing two new fields.

18 Iranian universities among best in Asia


The Times Ranking Center has published the list of top Asian universities in 2018, with 18 Iranian universities ranked as the best in Asia.

Iran wins Fresstyle Takhti Cup title with 16 medals


Iranian freestyle wrestlers finished first in the 38th Freestyle Takhti Cup with 4 gold, 5 silver, and 7 bronze medals.

Iran’s female skier blazes a trail to Pyeongchang 


When Samaneh Bayrami Baher marches in Pyeongchang on Friday for the opening of the 2018 Winter Games, she will be one of only four athletes representing Iran’s national colours.

Iran president urges promotion of cinema capacities


President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday called for promotion of Iranian cinema’s capacities at national and international levels.