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RUSSIA Iran and Russia are close to a deal to $ 20 billion

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The Iranians are about to find a new way to export some of its oil by signing a partnership with another country under economic sanctions. Tehran and Moscow are preparing to conclude an agreement for $ 20 billion for the delivery of 500,000 barrels of Iranian crude per day in Russia – for two to three years – in payment for Russian equipment. Threads – launched in November – would be well advanced, even indicating Reuters Wednesday he left for them to agree on the price of oil.

This agreement, known as the “Oil-for-Goods” in reference to the “Oil-for-Food” program established by the United Nations in the 1990s to prevent the Iraqis suffer (too) sanctions against the regime of Saddam Hussein, would be a real snub to Washington and Brussels. Indeed, the Iranian oil embargo is in Western, while Russians close to power are denied access to the international banking system since the annexation of the Crimea. Already in January, while rumors circulated around such an agreement, the White House had expressed its “great concern”. And indicated that it might undermine the ongoing negotiations with Iran on the nuclear issue.

Why the Islamic Republic, which has resumed its dialogue with the international community, would it take the risk of any collapse? “Everything is related to the effects of economic sanctions,” said Mohammad-Reza Djalili, Honorary Professor at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. And it pointed out that, since hardening in 2012, exports of Iranian crude oil fell 1 million barrels per day. Against nearly 6 million before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Economically asphyxiated and private access to the channels of the dollar, Iran today just as much need of an agreement with the major powers “to quickly sell its oil on world markets,” said the specialist. “She already trading with China and agreed to be paid in rupees Indians and gold by the Turks, says he. But this is not enough. “The most optimistic forecasts indicate a growth of just 1% this year, he notes again.

For their part, the Russians, who are not related to sanctions against the Iranian oil, see the agreement as a way to buy cheap crude for domestic consumption. This then allows them to sell their own produce, Europeans, for example, at a higher price. “Before the Islamic Revolution, the Soviet Union already proceeded in this way with Iranian gas,” says Mohammad-Reza Djalili. As for Iran, it is the same with the gas it buys in Turkmenistan for its needs in the north of the country, then it sells to Turkey that produced in the south.

Thursday, April 10, 2014,
Stéphane © armenews.com

Iran sends 30,000 tons of food supplies to Syria: report

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April 8, 2014 – 17:56 AMT

177790 Iran has sent 30,000 tons of food supplies to help President Bashar Assad’s government deal with shortages amid civil war, the Associated Press reported, citing Syrian state media.

State TV said Tuesday, April 8, that the massive shipment has arrived at a port on the Mediterranean Sea.

The aid is part of Iran’s broader support for Assad as he prepares to run for a third presidential term while his troops fight rebels trying to oust him.

Last May, Iran opened a credit line of $3.6 billion for Syria, enabling Assad’s government to buy oil products.

Iran, Armenia Approve New Energy Deals

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TEHRAN (Press TV)—Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian and his Armenian counterpart have signed three agreements for the implementation of joint Iran-electricityhydropower projects.

The agreements were reached in Tehran on Tuesday as Chitchian and Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsesian met to discuss enhancement of mutual cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the meeting, Chitchian pointed to the high level of cooperation between Iran and Armenia in the electricity and energy sectors and noted that the new agreements were related to bartering electricity for natural gas, construction of a new hydroelectric power plant on the border river, Aras, and further electricity exchanges between the two countries.

He noted that transit of Iran’s electricity to Russia was also discussed in the meeting.

The Iranian minister stated that based on the existing agreements, Iran’s electricity will be transmitted to Russia through Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Iran has bartered more than 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas with Armenia’s electricity over the past six years.

The National Iranian Gas Company said recently that around 1.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas has been traded with Armenian electricity during the 2007-2012 period.

Last year, the Islamic Republic exchanged some 481 million cubic meters of gas with the neighboring country’s electricity, the largest amount of barter between Iran and Armenia in six years.

Iran, Armenia sign trade pact in Yerevan

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Iranian and Armenian trade officials in a meeting in Yerevan on Wednesday have signed a trade agreement. The trade agreement was signed by the chairmen of the chambers of commerce of Tehran and Yerevan in the Armenian capital yesterday, Asbarez reported.

g_image-IranHead of Tehran’s Chamber of Commerce Yahya Al-e Eshaq, heading a ranking trade delegation, is in Armenia to discuss bilateral ties with senior Armenian officials.

At the meeting, head of Yerevan’s Chamber of Commerce Robert Haratounyan pointed to the current Iran-Armenia relations and said the Iranian delegation’s visit to Armenia provides the two sides with a good opportunity for boosting mutual cooperation between the two countries.

Earlier in the day, Al-e Eshaq called for the further expansion of trade ties between Iran and Armenia, saying that the Islamic Republic can open new horizons to its northern neighbor.

“Iran can open the doors to Armenia for the transit of goods to 14 neighboring countries,” Al-e Eshaq told Armenpress new agency.

The Iranian official noted that if certain problems between the two countries are settled, the two countries’ economic relations will improve.

He pointed to a possible establishment of a copyright-free trade regime between Iran and Armenia as a very important issue and said, “As far as I know, the Islamic Republic does not have any problem with this regime and it is up to the Armenian officials to decide about the establishment of such a regime in their economic relations with Iran.”

“The second problem pertains to the 20 to 30 percent rate of customs tariffs, which is too high for Armenia, who is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO),” Al-e Eshaq said.

Last month, Armenian Ambassador to Tehran Grigor Arakelyan urged Tehran and Yerevan to further broaden their relations in different areas.

Arakelyan made the call in a meeting with Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Relations Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi in Tehran.

“I hope that during the presidency of Iranian President-elect Hassan Rouhani, Iran and Armenia will further expand their relations in all fields,” the Armenian ambassador said.

In recent years, Iran and its northern neighbor Armenia have boosted cooperation, signed agreements on energy cooperation, and agreed to cooperate in technology and research and to enhance ties in commerce and economy.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Armenian counterpart pledged in December 2011 to further expand “high-level relations” between their nations and, in particular, give new impetus to the implementation of joint energy projects that have fallen behind schedule.

 

Iran, Iraq, Syria sign telecommunication agreement

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BY: PressTV
Iran, Iraq and Syria have signed a tripartite telecommunication agreement aimed at establishing an optical fiber network linking the three countries.

shamsara20130306051653893The agreement was concluded by the representatives of the Telecommunication Infrastructure Company of Iran (TIC), Iraq’s Al-Sard Group and Syria Telecom at a meeting hosted by TIC in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Tuesday.

Based on the telecommunication deal, data and voice signals will be transmitted from Iran to Iraq and then to Syria and European countries.

“In line with its international macro policies, TIC seeks to establish telecommunication connections with all neighboring countries and the new opportunity that will be created by the [planned] optical fiber via Iraq will have mutual benefits for the three countries and will also be highly beneficial for the region,” said TIC Managing Director Mahmoud Khosravi.

The project will enable Syria to utilize TIC’s network via a secure and reliable route for communicating with other countries across the world.

ASH/HSN/HJL

Iranian website: Distortion of history among priorities of Azerbaijan’s policy

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Distortion ofCapture 3 history is among the priorities of Azerbaijan’s policy, says an article posted on Iranian website Arannews.ir.

According to Yaqub Mahmudov, Director of the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan cooperates with Turkey in writing common history for Turks, says the article.

Commenting on this statement by the Azerbaijani historian, the Iranian website says, “This information makes it clear how Azerbaijan, a center of support for pan-Azerbaijanism, and Turkey, a center of pan-Turkism, will distort history with joint efforts.

As for Azerbaijan, this state has been distorting history since the communist era as well as since its independence.”

Armenia-Iran relations could serve an example for other countries: Mohammad Reisi

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12:56, 12 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS: There is a willingness to cooperate with Armenia pertain to various fields aimed at developing the relations between the two Iran Ambasadorcountries. Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia, Mohammad Reisi had a briefing with the reporters on February 12. Ambassador noted he  is proud for these relations, Armenpress reports.

”These relations may serve an example for other countries. I am ready to care no efforts to further develop the cooperation. The heads of the two countries show readiness in this issue”, Ambassador stated. In the words of Ambassador there are numerous  new projects, the exploiting of railway is one of the major projects, which will  further contribute to the Armenia- Iran relations. According to the Ambassador Armenia has all the opportunities to develop cattle breeding and reportedly cooperation may be developed in that sphere as well. Yet as of now there is no practical cooperation in that sphere”.

The relations between Islamic Republic of Iran and Armenia date for ages. Those relations are friendly and based on mutual respect.  The relations between Armenia and Iran have recorded success in regional and bilateral cooperation sphere in 2012. Mutual visits have been paid by high ranking officials during the year.

Armenia-Iran railroad and North-South road corridor open up new opportunities – Serzh Sargsyan

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January 23, 2013 | 13:23

YEREVAN.- Armenian President said the railroad connecting Armenia and Iran as well as North-South transport corridor will open up new opportunities for country’s external communication.

Serzh Sargsyan met with voters in Meghri within the framework of his campaign events in Syunik Region in Armenia’s south.

Addressing residents of Meghri, Sargsyan called them “protectors of Armenia’s southern gates”, Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent reported. He thanked the locals for “protecting Armenia with your peaceful work.”

Development of transport communication amid blockade by two neighboring states is a key challenge for Armenia.

“After a large-scale preparation we have launched road construction of North-South road corridor. It is a time-consuming project, we plan to finish construction in 2017. The new highway, meeting international requirements, will connect us with two neighboring states – Iran and Georgia,” presidential candidate said.

Speaking about advantages of highway, he said the government would spare no effort to implement the project.

He touched upon Iran-Armenia railway project stressing an agreement had been signed several days ago.

“I want to thank Islamic Republic for efficient cooperation on this and other projects,” President said, adding that Armenia values friends who extend a helping hand in a difficult period for the country.

Iranian Foreign Minister: Right of peoples to self-determination should be respected

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The vital right of peoples to self-determination should be respected, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi stated during the ministerial meeting of D-8 Economic Cooperation Organization in Pakistan, Iranian Foreign Ministry’s official website said.

The Iranian FM, slamming the use of dual standards towards human rights in many countries, said, in part, “Democracy does not belong to some country or region and therefore the right of peoples to self-determination and their right to master their own fate is of vital importance. All efforts, which are aimed at overthrowing the order established by peoples on the basis of Constitution and democracy, should be rejected.”

The D-8 comprises Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt and Nigeria.

The modern phase of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) conflict broke out in 1988, when, as a response to the peaceful demand for self-determination of the people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), annexed to Soviet Azerbaijan in 1921, the Azerbaijani authorities carried out ethnic cleansing of Armenians – at first in the big cities of Azerbaijan, and then in Artsakh.
In September 1991 Artsakh declared independence, and, as a result, Azerbaijan exacerbated the violences and started large-scale military actions against Artsakh. After number of defeats on the frontlines, in May 1994 Azerbaijan was forced ask for a cease-fire from the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic).

Currently, the negotiations on the settlement of the conflict are being conducted under the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Russia, USA and France), based on the Madrid proposals, presented in November 2007.

Armenian president urges enhanced cooperation with Iran

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Reported By: PressTV
Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan has stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation with Iran in various political, economic and cultural fields.

“Armenia is interested in enhanced relations with its neighbor, Iran, and bolstering effective cooperation between the two countries. This will help increase bilateral commercial exchanges,” Sarksyan said in a meeting with Iran’s Energy Minister Majid Namjou on Friday.

He lauded the growing ties between Yerevan and Tehran and expressed confidence that the Iran-Armenia joint state commission would play a leading role in the further expansion of cooperation in all areas.

The Armenian president said the construction of Meghri hydroelectric power plant over the Aras River, which forms the common border between two countries, would begin soon as another instance of constructive bilateral cooperation.

According to an agreement reached by the Iranian energy minister and his Armenian counterpart, Armen Movsisian, in June, the hydroelectric power plant, which will straddle the border river, will have the capacity to produce 130 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

Namjou, for his part, said he would spare no effort to implement agreements already reached by the Iranian and Armenian presidents.

In December 2011, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Armenian counterpart signed five documents for cooperation and memoranda of understanding (MoUs).

The agreements included cooperation on the construction and launch of hydroelectric power plants on the Aras river, joint cooperation between the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran and Armenia’s National Institute of Standards, cooperation in social welfare and affairs as well as bilateral environmental cooperation.