May 20, The Iran Project – IPU Palestine Committee meeting opens in Tehran; New ambassadors submit credentials to Iranian president; Iranians hold rally in Tehran to condemn Israel’s massacre of Palestinians; Iran marks National Ferdowsi Day; Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif trip to Russia and Brussels and meeting with his French, British and German counterparts, the EU's FP chief Federica Mogherini over salvaging the nuclear deal; NISOC, Pergas sign HOA for developing Iran oilfield; President Rouhani addresses extraordinary OIC summit in Istanbul and EU Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete travel to Iran and meeting with senior officials are among major headlines dominated the country’s media outlets in the past week (May 14–May 20).


 

 

Politics

IPU Palestine Committee meeting opens in Tehran


The extraordinary meeting of the Palestine Committee of Islamic Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) opened in in Tehran on Monday.

Tehran, Moscow set to save nuclear deal: Iranian FM 


Tehran and Moscow say they will preserve the 2015 Iran nuclear deal despite Washington’s decision to withdraw.

Iran committed to fight terrorism: Defense minister


Iranian defense minister said on Monday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to fight terrorism.

Iran’s FM Sends Letters to UN Chief, EU’s Mogherini on JCPOA


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said he has sent separate letters to secretary-general of the United Nations and the European Union foreign policy chief about future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the US breach of the nuclear deal.



Iran, EU, UK, France, Germany issue joint statement in support of JCPOA


European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini read out a joint statement about the future of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers at a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday.

Mogherini says EU determined to preserve JCPOA


European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini terming the Tuesday night meeting of the foreign ministers of Iran, UK, Germany and France on Iran Deal as positive noted ‘We are determined to preserve the deal.’

Iran will not surrender to US pressure, even threats of war – Rouhani 


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stated that Tehran will not surrender to the US pressure, sanctions and even threats of war, Iranian state-run news agency ISNA reports.

Iranians hold rally in Tehran to condemn Israel’s massacre of Palestinians


Iranian people held rallies in Tehran on Wednesday in protest at the relocation of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to the Holy Qods.

Syria warring sides, mediators close 9th round of peace talks in Astana


The ninth round of crisis resolution talks between the Syrian government and armed opposition, mediated by Iran, Russia and Turkey, has come to an end in Astana, building a positive outlook for momentous follow-up negotiations.

EU’s Tusk asks: ‘With friends like Trump, who needs enemies?’


U.S. President Donald Trump has “rid Europe of all illusions” by quitting the Iran nuclear deal and driving trade disputes, the European Union chairman said on Wednesday, underlining the depth of trans-Atlantic discord.

News agency says violent protest leaves 1 dead in south Iran


Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency is reporting that a violent protest in the southwest city of Kazerron has left at least one person dead and six others injured.

Palestine will finally be freed from enemies: Ayatollah Khamenei


Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says Palestine will finally be freed from the clutches of enemies and that Jerusalem al-Quds will be the capital of Palestinian state despite US attempts to distort this reality.

OIC emergency meeting on Palestine opens in Istanbul 


An emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) opened late Thursday in Istanbul to explore recent developments in Palestine and protest the Zionist regime’s crimes in Gaza and relocation US embassy to Holy Quds.

Iranian president urges world to boycott Israel, revise ties with US


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called on Muslim countries and other world nations to revise their ties with the US and sever all their relations with Israel in response to their hostile policies against Palestine.

Situation in Iran’s Kazeroun city under control: Provincial governor


The governor of Iran’s southern Fars Province says the situation in the city of Kazeroun is under control following protests against a plan to separate some districts of the city and merge them into a new town.




U.S. wants to restart nuclear talks with Iran, but hasn’t budged on demands


Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will outline a new strategy on Monday for constraining Iran, centered around a demand that the United States’ European allies have already rejected: that Tehran enter negotiations in a new deal that would permanently ban Iran from any substantive manufacturing of nuclear fuel and, in turn, forever cut off a pathway to building a bomb.




Joint Press Statement following today’s meeting btw Commissioner Arias Cañete and Vice President Salehi, Head of AEOI


We met today to confirm the continuing commitment of the European Commission and the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran towards the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and in particular its Annex III which addresses civil nuclear co-operation. We believe that the continuing implementation of the JCPOA, which was unanimously endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231, is crucial for the development and progress of the region as well as the global peace and security.

Rouhani: US plot to encourage Iran to quit JPCOA fails


President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that US plots to encourage Iran to withdraw form JCPOA quickly failed as the first big plot neutralized by Iran.

 

Regional Affairs

Iran, Turkey, Russia issue joint statement on Intl. Meeting on Syria in Astana


The Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey as guarantors of the observance of the ceasefire regime in the Syrian Arab Republic issued a joint Statement on the International Meeting on Syria in Astana.



US, Persian Gulf Arab states impose sanctions on top Hezbollah officials 


The United States, in a joint action with its Persian Gulf Arab allies, has imposed a new round of “terrorism-related” sanctions on the leadership of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement, citing the group’s involvement with Iran.

Arab intelligence report says Bin Salman could be dead


The Tehran-based newspaper Kayhan says it has obtained a copy of a report by an Arab intelligence apparatus that claims Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has mysteriously disappeared for weeks, could be killed in a shooting incident late April.

Putin, Assad declare Syria ready for political process


Russian President Vladimir Putin has told his Syrian counterpart that the situation in Syria is now favorable for the beginning of a “political process.”

Trump Jr. met with Persian Gulf Arab, Israeli figure ahead of his dad’s 2016 victory 


The eldest son of US President Donald Trump reportedly met with a Persian Gulf Arab, who assured him of support by crown princes of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

 

Economy

France’s Total to quit Iran gas project if no sanctions waiver


Total (TOTF.PA) will pull out of a multibillion-dollar gas project in Iran if it cannot secure a waiver from U.S. sanctions, the French energy company said on Wednesday.



Maersk latest company to shun Iran as EU scrambles to save nuclear deal


Shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk (MAERSKb.CO) on Thursday joined a growing list of companies preparing to call a halt to doing business with Iran, casting doubts on whether European leaders can keep alive a nuclear deal with Tehran.

EU considers Iran central bank transfers to beat U.S. sanctions


The European Commission is proposing that EU governments make direct money transfers to Iran’s central bank to avoid U.S. penalties, an EU official said, in what would be the most forthright challenge to Washington’s newly reimposed sanctions.

Iran, Eurasia sign agreement on preferential trade


Agreement on preferential trade between Iran and member countries of Eurasia Economic Union was signed in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, on Saturday in presence of Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Mohammad Shariatmadari.

Iran oil Minister: Every new decision in OPEC needs unanimity


Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh says Tehran’s oil exports to remain unchanged if the Iran nuclear deal is salvaged by the EU following the US withdrawal from the multinational accord.

 

Society

Iran observes Persian Language Day, Ferdowsi commemoration day 


May 15 is considered a major cultural event for Iranians to both commemorate the great Persian poet Ferdowsi and celebrate Persian Language Day. The day will be celebrated with a miscellany of programs across Iran today.

Holy month of Ramadan starts in Iran, Muslim states Thursday 


Holy month of Ramadan starts in Iran and several Muslim countries including Egypt, Oman, Yemen, Iraq, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as of Thursday.

8 dead, over 480 poisoned in Iran by toxic mushrooms


At least eight Iranians including a baby have died over the past days after eating toxic mushrooms in western and northwestern regions of the country.

Iran, France establish Mideast’s largest blood bag factory


In a project financed by France, Iran has established the largest blood bag manufacturing factory in the Middle East, creating at least 200 new jobs, said the Director General of Iran Blood Transfusion Organization.

Iran’s Panahi among 2018 Cannes winners


The 2018 Cannes jury announced the awards of the festival’s 71st edition, with Japan’s ‘Shoplifters’ winning Palme d’Or and Iran’s Panahi sharing best screenplay prize for ‘3 Faces’.