Gagrule.net

Gagrule.net News, Views, Interviews worldwide

Turkey, Iran to use national currencies in bilateral trade

By

Turkey and Iran have agreed to use national currencies in trade in a bid to ease the parity risks over their bilateral trade, the leaders of both countries announced on October 4.

At a joint news conference in Tehran with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the goal of raising Turkish-Iranian trade volume to $30 billion from $10 billion remains on the agenda, adding that some decisions were made to reach this target.

“Iran and Turkey agreed on the use of national currency in bilateral trade to ease foreign currency risks on the road to increasing trade volume,” he said, according to Hurriyet Daily News.

He also added that the officials from both countries’ central banks would next meet to finalize the steps to be taken in this key field, while also adding Turkey was interested in opening Turkish banks in Iran.

Rouhani said three customs gates between Turkey and Iran would work for 24 hours.

“Two customs gates will work 24 hours a day by tomorrow. As soon as technical and construction issues are resolved in the third gate, it will also start to work 24 hours a day,” he noted.

Iran, Muslims mark Ashura with mourning ceremonies “battle of karbala”

By

Iraqi Shias watch a reenactment of the Battle of Karbala ahead of the annual Ashura events, which mark the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the third Shia Imam, in the southern city of Basra on September 29, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

In their millions, Muslims have staged passionate mourning ceremonies in commemoration of the day in history that witnessed the martyrdom of the icon of sacrifice to the faithful.

The occasion, known as Ashura, marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussein and 72 of his companions in 680 AD in a land that is known today as Iraq, after they refused to pledge allegiance to the tyrant Yazid.

Ashura is the culmination of a 10-day annual mourning period in the lunar month of Muharram for the third Imam of Shia Muslims, who was a grandson of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).

The rituals are observed in ultimate magnificence in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, the latter of which hosts Imam Hussein’s holy shrine.

On Sunday, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, traveling from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Lebanon and many other countries, descended on Karbala, with officials putting their numbers at 3 million.

An Iraqi TV channel said authorities had created a security belt around the holy city to protect it from possible terrorist attacks. In the past, Daesh and other Takfiri groups have targeted the pilgrims on their way to Karbala or carried out bombings inside the city.

Across Iran, millions of mourners started the processions shortly after the sunrise, lining up in coordinated and orderly bands of passion plays and recitations of elegies which continued until the afternoon.

Sunni Muslims in the Iranian provinces of Kurdistan and Sistan and Baluchestan as well as devotees of other faiths such as Armenians joined Shia mourners, distributing free food in a show of solidarity.

Ashura is also an occasion for unity when Iranians of all ethnic backgrounds, including Azerbaijanis, Arabs, Kurds, Lors, Baluchis and Turkmen, commemorate it in their local languages and dialects.

On Saturday, huge masses in Iran and other countries such as Pakistan and Yemen held mourning rituals on the ninth day of Muharram to mark Tasu’a, the ninth day of lunar month.

In Iran, devotees in cities, towns and villages across the country listened to elegies recounting the indescribably tragic events in the Battle of Karbala during which Imam Hussein and some members of his family and his companions were brutally massacred.

More than 5,000 people marched through the center of Sydney, slapping their chests in a sign of grief. A procession of mourners marched down Wilmslow road in Rusholme, south Manchester, joining other devotees across the world to mark the occasion.

The Battle of Karbala between a small group of supporters and relatives of Imam Hussein and a larger military detachment from the forces of the Umayyad caliph represents the war as one between good and evil.

Source: http://presstv.com/Detail/2017/10/01/537063/Islam-Shias-Ashura-Imam-Hussein-Iran-Karbala

Iran Temporary Bans Its Companies Transporting Petroleum From Iraqi Kurdistan

By

Despite claims to stay ‘eternal friend of Kurds’, Iran reportedly temporary banned its companies transporting petroleum products from Iraqi Kurdistan.

Earlier in the week, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated that Iran would remain an eternal friend of Kurds despite their recent vote to split from Iraq.

Iran is the only country with a large proportion of Kurdish population which manages to cultivate decent relations with them. With Iraqi Kurds Tehran has a long-standing relationship which has deepened after 2014 when Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps started to back Kurdish Peshmerga’s efforts to counter Daesh.

Zarif predicted the Monday referendum, in which 92 percent of 3.4 million people in northern Iraq’s three main Kurdish provinces and in multi-ethnic Kirkuk region voted to have a separate nation state, would have consequences that would not be limited to Iraqi Kurdistan.

Iran and Turkey criticized the referendum amid fears it might strengthen separatist feelings in their own ethnic Kurdish minorities. The United Nations and the United States also decried the Iraqi Kurdish authorities for potentially destabilizing the region. Baghdad has called the vote illegal and has refused to engage in a dialogue with Kurdish leaders.

Iran closes airspace to all flights to and from Iraqi Kurdistan

By

Iran has closed its airspace to all flights to and from the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq at the request of the country’s federal government, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) says.

“At the request of the central government of Iraq, all flights from Iran to Sulaymaniyah and Erbil airports as well as all flights through our country’s airspace originating in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region have been halted,” Keyvan Khosravi, a spokesman for the SNSC, said on Sunday.

He added that the decision had been made during an emergency session of the SNSC earlier in the day after Iran’s “political” efforts proved ineffective in the face of Kurdish officials’ insistence on holding a planned referendum on the independence of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

The Iranian official warned that hasty decisions made by some officials of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region would limit the power of the Iraqi Kurds for engaging in constructive dialogue within Iraq’s government structure and would also pose serious challenges to security of the Kurdish people, the entire Iraq and the region.

There are conflicting reports as to whether a referendum on possible independence of the Iraqi Kurdistan on Monday will go ahead as planned after several regional officials warned the vote could have serious consequences.

The high council for referendum affairs, which is supervised by Iraqi Kurdish leader, Massoud Barzani, rejected reports of a postponement as rumors, the Kurdistan 24 news station said.

Iraq’s government has called the referendum unconstitutional with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi rejecting it “whether today or in the future.”

The planned referendum has raised fears of a fresh conflict in the region, which is trying to emerge from years of Daesh campaign of death and destruction.

In a statement on September 18, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged Iraq’s Kurdish leaders to scrap an upcoming independence vote, saying it would undermine the ongoing battle in the Arab country against Daesh terrorists.

Armenia should ally with Georgia and Iran to counteract to Turkey-Azerbaijan-Georgia bloc – expert

By

Turkey is now spearheading a special plan to pursue its interests in the South Caucasus in coalition with Georgia and Azerbaijan, an expert in oriental studies said today, commenting on a recently held meeting between the three countries’ foreign ministers.

According to Ruben Safrastyan, Director of the National Academy’s Institute on Oriental Studies, Armenia’s best choice in the circumstances is to create an alliance with Georgia and Azerbaijan.

“I think our diplomacy  must try to counteract to this process by creating a bloc uniting Armenia, Georgia and Iran and deepen [the relations between the three countries]. This is the only choice left,” he said at a news conference.

Safrastyan also warned of potential hazards to the region.

“The future for the South Caucasus is, in my deepest conviction, a bloc of integrated states working on joint solutions to economic development issues. The chances decrease in case of opting for isolation,” he said, citing forecasts also by western theorists.

Asked to comment on the “Azerbaijani laundermat” scandal, Safrastyan said he expects far deeper processes and developments in the near future.

“We have repeatedly stated that Azerbaijan uses unlawful methods to push ahead with its interests,” he said, stressing the necessity of strong diplomatic, as well as civil society efforts to raise the urgency of the problem.

Iranian Parliament ratifies Iran-Armenia border cooperation agreement

By

An Iranian MP, while pointing to ratification of Iran-Armenia border cooperation agreement by the Parliament, said the deal aims at boosting goods transit between the two sides, Mehr News Agency reports.

Zahra Saei said the agreement pertained to Norduz Border Terminal and was part of the plan for common border management with neighbors.

“The project, which is in accordance with the recommendations of Kyoto Convention and Chapter VII of the International Covenant on coordination of border control, has been put on agenda of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA).

The official said the common border gateway plan mainly aims at avoiding similar measures in border customs of the two countries in order to facilitate and speed up customs formalities.

Other merits of the plan include development of business diplomacy with neighbors which is a part of general policies of Resistance Economy since it leads to stronger economic and trade relations with neighbors, facilitates goods transit as well as that it reduces border trade costs, customs offenses parallel workload and smuggling of goods.

Three major Iranian cities host Armenian Movie Week

By

Three major Iranian cities – Tehran, Mashhad and Shiraz – held screenings of Armenian films as part of the Armenian Movie Week, a weeklong program initiated and organized by the Armenian Embassy in Iran from 23 to 29 July, the press service of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry told Panorama.am.

From the dozens of films submitted for screening by Armenia’s Ministry of Culture, the program organizers selected 10 works by Aram Shahbazyan, Aren Vatyan, Vigen Chaldranyan, Michael Poghosyan and the other filmmakers, with the film screenings organized by Art and Experience Iranian culture center.

During the film screenings, the Armenian and Iranian filmmakers and experts held discussions on the history of the Armenian cinema, the film industry, as well as the modern filmmaking trends.

Highly appreciating the weeklong program, Ambassador of Armenia to Iran, Artashes Tumanyan highlighted the commitment of the Armenian side to hold similar events periodically. “Our key purpose is to properly present the Armenian culture and Armenia in Iran. Thus, this event marked an important step in that respect,” the Ambassador said.

 

Source Panorama.am

Armenian Movie Week kicks off in Iran

By

Armenian Movie iranThe Armenian Movie Week officially launched in the House of Artists of Iran on Sunday, in attendance of Ambassador of Armenia to Iran Artashes Tumanyan, the Embassy staff, as well as Armenian filmmakers Aram Shahbazyan and Aren Vatyan, together with a large number of guests.

As the press service of Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Panorama.am, the participants were briefed on the films featured in the weeklong program of the Armenia Movie Week, slated for July 23-29 in the Iranian cities of Tehran, Mashhad and Shiraz.

Ambassador Artashes Tumanyan also delivered remarks at the event, touching upon the path of the Armenian cinema, as well as Armenian-Iranian cultural ties.

The opening ceremony was followed by the screening of the movie “Moskvitch, My Love” by Aram Shahbazyan. Afterwards a joint discussion was held with the participation of Armenian film directors, focusing on the history of the Armenian cinema and the perspectives of Armenian-Iranian cooperation in film industry.

 

Source Panorama.am

Iran draws line in the sand in Syrian desert

By

Iran draws line in the sand in Syrian desertAli Hashem writes, “The war for the Syrian Desert is in fact a war for the heart of the Middle East. The Iranian-led coalition in Syria is racing against the US-backed forces there, as both seek to defeat the Islamic State (IS), the group that has shaped the face of the region for the last four years. It is a war in the desert to draw a line in the sand, some might say, or a war to draw a line across borders and connect four capitals: Tehran, Baghdad, Damascus and Beirut. Hence the battle is between two different regional and international agendas, with each side viewing the other as the real threat after the defeat of IS in Iraq’s Mosul and Syria’s Raqqa.”

He continues, “The Tehran-Beirut route is a symbolic connection, one that announces that the Iran-led resistance axis is intact, as it was before the eruption of the Syrian revolution in 2011 and IS’ capture of Mosul in June 2014. That said, from the Iranian point of view, the regional stage is now different.” The advance of Syrian forces has been “concomitant with progress toward the same border by the PMU [Popular Mobilization Units] in Iraq, led by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who announced on June 10 that his forces had reached the frontier and ‘liberated 4,200 square kilometers [1,622 square miles] and 142 villages.’ Of note, however, his forces have no intention of entering Syrian territory.”

A US airstrike on Syrian positions in al-Tanf on June 6 is a sign that the United States and Iran are taking sides on opposite sides of this latest fault line in the region. Arash Karami reports that Iran on June 18 for the first time launched missiles against IS positions in eastern Syria. “The timing of the strikes,” Karami writes, “has led some to believe the message was also intended for the new US administration, which is adopting a policy of regime change for Tehran and is reportedly seeking to confront Iran militarily in Syria.”

Hashem explains that the notion of a “road link” or “land bridge” from Tehran to Beirut “might, however, be an overstatement or a bit of hyperventilating analysis, given that in the past Israeli fighter jets have on several occasions hit alleged arm supplies near and around Damascus. A longer route, mainly through a no man’s land in remote areas of Iraq, is likely to be vulnerable to hits by the Israeli or US air forces, not to mention possible attacks by insurgents, including IS.”

The battle for eastern Syria introduces further complexity, and uncertainty, about the role of Iraq, which faces pressure from both Tehran and Washington. While the battle against IS on the Iraqi side of the Syrian desert border is being led by the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Units, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is walking a tightrope between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Omar Sattar writes.

Abadi visited Riyadh on June 19 and Tehran on June 20, and he may be seeking to defuse tensions between the two countries, without upsetting either.

Arash Karami reports that Abadi and Iranian leaders discussed a shared concern about plans for a referendum on independence by the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It is hard to envision Iraq staying neutral, let alone antagonizing Iran, given the stakes in Syria.

The US alliance with the Syrian Democratic Forces, made up primarily of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), is also at a “critical juncture,” according to Fehim Tastekin.

“In an unusual move, Kurdish officials have made statements supportive of Riyadh regarding its tension with Qatar,” Tastekin reports. But these comments may reflect a broader unease about what comes next, given the many interests, actors and high stakes in play. He continues, “A senior YPG commander who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity said the YPG is ready to go to anyplace in Syria to fight IS, but they will not agree to any alliance beyond that. He said the Kurds see Iran as a problem but will not become part of a battle against it. They have no plans to move to al-Tanf, he said.”

Hamas, Gaza on edge over Gulf crisis

Adnan Abu Amer writes this week that the demand by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that Qatar sever ties with Hamas carries risks for the Gaza Strip, and could push Hamas further into the Iranian camp.

“Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Al-Monitor that the knife could cut both ways. Arab division and tension in the region could tempt Israel to take advantage of the situation and move against the Palestinians, or, as Qassem put it, ‘commit crimes’ against them in Gaza,” Abu Amer reports. “’Hamas hopes this Arab crisis will [soon] come to an end, because it mainly serves Israel, and the movement stresses that any Israeli escalation against Gaza would be met with all the resources it can get to defend the Palestinian people,’ Qassem said. ‘The ongoing blockade on Gaza would lead Palestinians to confront their true oppressor, the Israeli occupation. Hamas is greatly offended by the hostility and pressure by the Palestinian Authority, Israel and some regional parties.’”

Abu Amer, reporting from Gaza, observes that “an increasing number of Israeli surveillance drones have recently been flying over Gaza at low altitudes, and daily episodes of violence are taking place between Palestinian demonstrators approaching Gaza’s eastern border and Israeli soldiers on the other side. One Palestinian was shot and killed June 6 when Israeli soldiers fired on the protesters.”

Abu Amer concludes, “Hamas has largely remained silent about the Gulf crisis, perhaps not wanting to provoke Arab states’ hostility. The movement’s leadership may well recognize that with the political, financial and military shadows cast by the Gulf crisis, it should forgo any military confrontation with Israel for the time being. Hamas alone, however, does not control the situation in the Gaza Strip. Israel, Egypt and the PA also have a say, and they have not hidden their hostility toward Hamas. This raises the possibility of their potentially seizing the opportunity to eliminate it once and for all.”

This column, commenting on Abu Amer’s reporting earlier this month, noted that the “US-Saudi-Islamic summit forced a rethink by the Hamas political leadership” in favor of support for Iran’s resistance axis.

Iran security forces neutralize terror group

By

Iran security forces neutralize terror groupIran’s security forces have managed to neutralize a terrorist cell, Iranian news agency Tasnim told Panorama.am.

As the Iranian media reports, in an armed operation conducted in Chabahar City in the south-eastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan of Iran, the country’s intelligence forces managed to arrest five members of a terrorist cell and kill two others.

To note, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry released a statement on June 9, informing that 41 Wahhabi terrorists of Daesh (Islamic State) had been arrested due to the operations conducted in Iran’s Kermanshah, West Azerbaijan and Kurdistan Provinces, as well as in the capital city of Tehran.