West admits oil sanctions on Iran ineffective
SHAFAQNA - An Iranian industry official says the country has dealt with Western sanctions on its oil industry by ramping up non-petroleum exports, adding the country is able to run its economy by reliance on non-oil revenues.
The US and Western powers have admitted that Iran has overcome the toughest pressures they have put on the country, saying Iran is shifting from petrodollars to revenues from non-oil exports, said Deputy Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Alireza Shojaee.
“ … foreign Researchers have acknowledged that Iran has taken a new step, and even if it completely halts its oil exports, it will be able to run its own economy as an at least average country, and have a say in the world,” he said.
He said the country’s non-petroleum exports grew by 20 percent in the last Iranian calendar year (which ended on March 20, 2013).
Highlighting that non-oil exports are projected to cross the 50-billion-dollar mark by March 20, 2014, the deputy minister underscored that Iran currently exports more than 3,300 types of goods to well over 150 countries, which, he added, shows the country has “a very good trading system.”
He underlined that Iran’s industrial and mineral exports show a tremendous growth, which makes up for a drop in revenues in other sectors.
He said handicrafts and agriculture are among other sectors contributing to the country’s non-oil exports.
At the beginning of 2012, the US and the European Union imposed illegal sanctions on Iran’s oil and financial sectors in a bid to prevent other countries from purchasing Iranian oil and conducting transactions with the Central Bank of Iran.
The illegal US-engineered sanctions were imposed based on the unfounded accusation that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.
Nevertheless, Iran has cushioned the impact of sanctions by pumping up non-petroleum exports and developing economic ties with other countries.
Iran to publish Holy Quran in 22 languages
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – Hujatoleslam Mohammad Naghdi stated that so far the institute has released the translation of the holy Quran into 7 languages; besides it has finished working on translation of the book into 6 other languages and is having them edited.
Moreover, the center has called for translators to render the holy book of Quran into 9 other languages.
Elsewhere in his interview, Naghdi highlighted the great need of the Islamic community in the world for translation of the holy book of Quran into various languages to be accessible by more people in the world so that the great divergences and conflicts between various Islamic groups and human societies are resolved with clinging to Quranic instructions and guidelines.
He went on to say that Iran is making every effort to present translations of the holy Quran to the world so that every free human can learn about the book’s content.
He posited that the translations are being provided without any considerations for different religions or sects.
Tarjoman Vahy has so far published translation of the holy Quran in English, French, Spanish, Turkish and Chinese, and has had them distributed in the countries of the US, France, the UK, Canada, India and Azerbaijan.-www.shafaqna.com/English
Source: Abna
Iran will answer enemies' threats in battlefield
SHAFAQNA-- Iran Deputy Defense Minister Brigadier General Majid Bokaei says if the enemies of the Islamic Republic make a mistake, they will receive their response in the battlefield.
Bokaei also described on Friday the US and Israeli officials’ recent anti-Iran threats as “psychological warfare” and “ranting.”
“If enemies make a mistake we will answer their threats in the battlefield,” he said.
The Iranian official noted that Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has set a clear framework for dealing with threats posed by the Zionist regime of Israel and the US, noting that the Leader's orders will be definitely carried out.
In an address to a large crowd of people in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad in March, Ayatollah Khamenei said the Iranian nation will respond in kind to any possible attack on its soil by the US or Israel.
Bokaei stressed that Israel is incapable of executing its threats because “the Zionist regime is grappling with major economic, political and geopolitical problems.”
His remarks came after US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, on April 21, supported the Israeli regime’s warmongering rhetoric against the Islamic Republic, saying Washington and Tel Aviv see “exactly the same” threat from Tehran.
A few days later, on April 26, Israeli Military Chief of Staff Lt. Gen Benny Gantz said that the US and Israel have their plans and forecasts and will decide on whether to take military action against Iran if the time comes.
Israel has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran's nuclear facilities. The threats are based on the unsubstantiated claim that Iran’s nuclear program includes a military component.
The Iranian officials have promised a crushing response to any military strike against the country, warning that any such measure could result in a war that would spread beyond the Middle East.
Attacking Iran will be Israel last mistake: Vahidi
SHAFAQNA-- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi says military action against Iran will be the Zionist regime’s last mistake
“The US and the Zionist regime’s threats have no value and at the same time, show their aggressive nature, and reveal their deceitful and misleading claims,” Vahidi said on Wednesday.
He reiterated Iran’s complete readiness to give a swift response to any military aggression against the country.
Vahidi advised US authorities to try and solve the problems in their own country instead of making warmongering remarks.
The Iranian Defense Minister made the remarks after US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel supported the Tel Aviv regime’s warmongering rhetoric against the Islamic Republic on April 21, saying Washington and Israel see “exactly the same” threat from Tehran.
Vahidi said the United States issues inhuman threats while proudly donating weapons and funds to the criminal regime of Israel, which is notorious for killings and terrorist actions.
On April 16, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee adopted "Senate Resolution 65," according to which the US will provide the Israeli regime with diplomatic, economic and military assistance if Tel Aviv decides to launch an attack against Iran.
Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen Benny Gantz said earlier on the same day that, "We have our plans and forecasts.... If the time comes, we'll decide" on whether to take military action against Iran.
The US, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with the Israeli regime repeatedly threatening to attack Iran's nuclear facilities based on the unfounded allegation.
Iran has rejected the allegations and warned that any military action could result in a war that would spread beyond the Middle East.
Iran rejects Canada’s claim about terror suspects's links
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) –Iran has strongly rejected a recent claim by the Canadian government over alleged links between the suspects in a foiled terrorist attack in Canada and Tehran.
Canada said on Monday that its police had arrested two ‘foreign nationals’ who were planning to derail a VIA passenger train traveling between Toronto and New York, claiming that the suspects had links to “al-Qaeda elements inside Iran.”
In his weekly press conference in Tehran on Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast rejected the unfounded allegation, saying, “Al-Qaeda’s mindset is by no means congruent with [the ideology of] the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Mehmanparast stated.
He also noted that Canada has even failed to provide any reliable evidence on the suspects claimed to have been detained in relation to the case.
The Iranian official said Tehran was opposed to any type of terrorist act that jeopardized the lives of people.
Mehmanparast dismissed Canada’s allegation as part of its Iranophobia campaign.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is the biggest victim of terrorism, but the extremist administration of Canada has put Iranophobia on its agenda over the recent years,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
Mehmanparast also slammed the West’s double standards in dealing with terrorism, calling on the Western countries, particularly Canada, to stop supporting terrorist activities in the world, specifically in Syria.
Source:Press TV
Russian deputy FM to visit Iran for talks on regional issues
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov will pay an official visit to Iran discuss regional issues, particularly the Syrian situation, Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Reza Sajjadi says.
He added that Bogdanov would travel to Tehran for a two-day visit at the invitation of Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on April 24.
Iran and Russia has always held political consultations on different matters, particularly on issues of mutual interest such as Afghanistan, Iraq and the Middle East, he noted.
“Russia and Iran have always had concerns about the future of Syria and opposed foreign interference and the imposing of [an] intervention on Syrians,” Sajjadi said.
He noted that the two sides would also discuss issues pertaining to the Middle East, Libya and Bahrain.
Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of security personnel, have been killed in the violence.
Damascus says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of militants are foreign nationals.
"Qatar Spends Oil Income Against Muslims"
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) –A top Iranian religious cleric criticized some regional Arab countries for their decision against Islamic Republic of Iran saying Qatar spends it gas, oil income against Islam and Muslim community.
Senior Iranian cleric, grand Ayatollah Noori Hamedani, slammed the enemies for hijacking the Islamic Awakening and turned the path to Shiaphobia and confrontation with Iran.
Ayatollah Noori Hamedani said Islam does not recognize monarchy because the imamate rules the country and the corruption they have brought in the Islamic government Muslims were detoured.
According to the jurisprudent, during the absence of Imam Mahdi (AS), the last Shia Imam and savior of the world, a capable jurisprudent leads the Islamic nation and today Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei is in charge of the mission.
Grand Ayatollah Hussien Noori Hamedani, senior Iranian jurisprudent and professor at Qom Seminary also blasted a recent meeting of some Arab states to decide on closing their embassies in Tehran calling Iran against regional peace. -www.shafaqna.com/English
Source:abna
Imam Khamenei: "Iran Slams Innocent Killings Anywhere"
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) –“Pursuant to Islamic logic, the Islamic Republic of Iran opposes any blast or the killing of innocents be it in Boston in the US or Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq or Syria and condemns it,” Ayatollah Khamenei told a group of Army commanders on Wednesday.
“The US and other so-called human rights advocates remain silent on the massacre of innocents in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, but they cause a ruckus after a few blasts in the United States,” the Leader stated.
Ayatollah Khamenei underscored the “contradictory” behavior of the US and its allies regarding human rights issues, calling their position on the Islamic Republic “illogical”.
“What kind of logic is this[?] … if children and women are killed by Americans in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and [if] in Iraq and Syria the terrorists backed by the US, West and Zionists cause tragedy, it is not considered a problem but if an explosion happens in the US or another Western state, the entire world must pay the price for it?”. -www.shafaqna.com/English
Source:abna
Israel repeats warmongering rhetoric against Iran
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) –Chief of Staff Lt. Gen Benny Gantz made the remarks in an interview on public radio in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) on Tuesday, AFP reported.
"We have our plans and forecasts... If the time comes we'll decide" on whether to take military action against Iran, he said.
Similar remarks were made by other Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister for Military Affairs Moshe Ya'alon.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu said that US-engineered sanctions against Iran over its nuclear energy program might not be enough.
Ya'alon also said Iran’s nuclear energy program is the most dangerous threat to the world.
The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program with the Israeli regime repeatedly threatening to attack Iran's nuclear facilities based on the unsubstantiated allegation.
Iran rejects the allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that Iran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production.
Unlike Iran, Israel, which is widely believed to possess between 200 to 400 nuclear warheads, is a non-signatory to the NPT and continues to defy international calls to join the treaty.
At the beginning of 2012, the US and the European Union imposed sanctions on Iran’s oil and financial sectors with the goal of preventing other countries from purchasing Iranian oil and conducting transactions with the Central Bank of Iran. The sanctions took effect last summer.-www.shafaqna.com/English
Source:Islam times
Niger denies Western reports about uranium talks with Iran
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) –Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou says his country and the Islamic Republic have not held any talks regarding uranium trade, dismissing certain Western media reports about the issue.
In a joint press conference with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday, following the signing of cooperation agreements by Niger and the Islamic Republic, Issoufou flatly rejected media reports that the two countries had discussed uranium trade, emphasizing that Iran has uranium mines of its own and is considered a uranium producer.
President Issoufou further stressed that Iran is a developed country with plenty of expertise and experiences in the fields of geology and mines and both countries are determined to cooperate in these fields.
The Nigerien president also said that his country and Iran share common positions with regards to important international and regional developments, adding, “Niger, like Iran, believes that all nations should collaborate and cooperate for the establishment of peace, friendship and security across the globe.”
During the press conference, President Ahmadinejad further expressed Iran’s willingness to share its expertise in the fields of agriculture, technology and engineering with the Nigerien people, reiterating that “the Islamic Republic of Iran sees no limits in the expansion of ties with its brother nation Niger.”
The Iranian president said that, during his state visit to the West African country, “major steps” were taken toward the expansion of bilateral ties, including in the field of oil exploration, and that the two nations hold common positions with respect to regional and international issues.
“We consider Niger’s advancement as that of Iran’s and both of us desire peace and progress for all nations,” Ahmadinejad noted.
The Iranian chief executive then reiterated that, “Domineering powers seek to plunder the wealth of nations and want the entire resources of the world for their own. They regard themselves as the owners of the world and consider no rights for the nations… but despite their wishes, we are determined to move toward comprehensive development.”
Leading a high-ranking delegation, President Ahmadinejad left Tehran on April 14 for a three-day tour of Africa. He visited the West African Republic of Benin before arriving in Niger. Ahmadinejad arrived in Ghana for the third and final leg of his tour on Wednesday.-www.shafaqna.com/English
Source:Press TV
