IAEA Dismisses Reports of Explosion at Iran’s Fordo

Source : http://www.almanar.com

The International Atomic Energy Agency has dismissed Israeli and Western media reports claiming there had been an explosion at the Fordo uranium enrichment facility and stated that it had seen no sign of such an event at the Iranian nuclear site.

On Tuesday, IAEA spokeswoman Gill Tudor told The Associated Press that Iran’s denial of “an incident” at the Fordo plant is “consistent with our observations.”

On Monday, Iran categorically rejected the reports about an explosion at the Fordow nuclear facility.

MP Alaeddin Boroujerdi, who is the chairman of the Majlis (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, described the news stories as Western propaganda designed to influence the upcoming round of talks between Iran and the P5+1 group (Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, and Germany).

Iran Sends Monkey into Space aboard Kavoshgar Rocket

Source : http://www.almanar.com

Iran has successfully launched a live monkey into space, declaring an advance in a missile and space program that has alarmed the West and the Zionist entity.

The state news agency IRNA said on Monday that the Islamic Republic has launched Pioneer Explorer Satellite and placed it into space, taking a giant stride in the field of space bio- research concurrent with the auspicious birth anniversary of Holy Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

Citing the Public Relations Department at Iran Aerospace Organization, IRNA reported that the explorer was put in the orbit as per schedule and altitude.

IRNA said the monkey was sent into space on a Kavoshgar rocket. The rocket reached a height of more than 120 km (75 miles) and "returned its shipment intact.”

The Islamic Republic's state-run, English-language Press TV said the monkey was retrieved alive.

Iran launched its first indigenous satellite, Omid (Hope), in 2009. The country also sent its first bio-capsule containing living creatures into the space in February 2010, using the indigenous Kavoshgar-3 (Explorer-3) carrier.

In June 2011, Iran put the 15.3- kilogram Rasad (Observation) orbiter in space. Rasad’s mission was to take images of the Earth and transmit them along with telemetry information to the ground stations.

Iran launched Navid-e Elm-o Sanat (Harbinger of Science and Industry), another indigenous satellite, into the orbit on February 3, 2012.

The satellite was a telecom, measurement and scientific one, whose records were reportedly used in a wide range of fields.

Western powers are concerned that the long-range ballistic technology used to propel Iranian satellites into orbit could be used to launch nuclear warheads. Tehran denies such suggestions and says its nuclear activity is for peaceful energy only.

Iran is one of the 24 founding members of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which was set up in 1959.

Iran Starts Mass-Production of Ya Zahra Air Defense System

Source : Fars News Agency

The production line of Ya Zahra air defense missile system was officially inaugurated on Sunday in a special ceremony attended by Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi.

Addressing the ceremony, Vahidi said that the system has completed the chain of self-sufficiency in designing and producing short-range air defense systems.

"The air defense weapon is capable of identifying, intercepting and destroying aerial targets, including different types of aircraft, choppers and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)," Vahidi said.

He further stated that Ya Zahra is a mobile system and can be linked to the country's integrated air defense network and is capable of engaging and destroying several aerial targets simultaneously and also has a powerful fast reaction and full detection capabilities.

In November, different systems with the capability of intercepting incoming cruise missiles as well as optimized and indigenized 'Ya Zahra 3' missiles were tested in the massive aerial exercises code- named "Modafe'an-e Aseman-e Velayat 4 (Defenders of Velayat Skies 4).

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the wargames, Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeelii said Ya Zahra-III is a low-altitude missile system.

"This low-altitude missile system has been designed and produced in a short period of time based on domestic needs. Ya Zahra missile system's capabilities include deployment under all types of weather conditions and on different lands as well as its mobility."

Iran calls for formation of "Islamic military organization"

Source : APA

Baku-APA. Iran's defense minister on Saturday called for the formation of a joint military organization among Muslim states, APA reports quoting Press TV.

"We have proposed the establishment of a military organization comprising Muslim countries' armed forces in order to defend the rights of the oppressed people" including Palestinians, Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi was quoted as saying.

Muslim states should not be third-rate powers, but must turn into one superior military power and do not allow any aggressor to think about invading Islamic countries, said the Iranian defense minister.

According to the report, Iran first called for the establishment of a defense treaty among Muslim countries in August 2012, with its defense minister saying that "If a strong and strategic defense alliance is formed among Muslim countries to defend Palestine, the Zionist regime (of Israel) will have no choice but to accept the resolve and demand of the Palestinian nation."

On Saturday, Vahidi described Israel as "the worst enemy" of Islamic countries and called for their unity against it.

Leader’s advisor denies reports of Iran-U.S. direct talks

Source :  Tehran Times

TEHRAN – Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to the Supreme Leader, has dismissed the news reports claiming that Iran has held direct talks with the United States.

“I have not held any talks with the Americans either in Oman” or any other country, Velayati told the Persian service of the Mehr News Agency in an interview published on Saturday when asked about rumors that he has held talks with U.S. officials in Oman.

“As far as I am informed, in view of the fact that such fundamental foreign policy affairs fall within the ambit of the Supreme Leader and that the Supreme Leader has not given such a permit to anyone so far, talks with a legal basis and the Leader’s permit have never been held,” added Velayati, who formerly served as foreign minister.

U.S. should revise policy toward Iran nuclear issue

Commenting on the dispute between Tehran and the West over Iran’s nuclear program, he said that the U.S. must revise its policy toward the issue.

“The nuclear issue is our strategic issue, and peaceful use of nuclear energy is a right which the Islamic Republic of Iran will never relinquish, and this is agreed by all of us,” Velayati said.

“There may be people who do not approve of certain policies of the system, but there is a consensus among all on this policy,” he added.

On threats of military action that the U.S. has issued against Iran over its nuclear program, Velayati said, “The Americans suffered a defeat in the attacks against Iraq and Afghanistan and suffered huge losses of life and financial losses, and if sanity is prevailing, they should stop mulling over a military attack.”

He added, “Today, the United States is much weaker than when it attacked Iraq and Afghanistan, and Iran is today much stronger than Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Velayati also commented on the Syrian crisis and criticized those reactionary Arab countries which he said “attacked” the “golden” link in the chain of resistance against Israel.

Any attack on Syria will be taken as an attack on Iran - Tehran aide

Source : Voice of Russia

Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser on international affairs to the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamanei, warned Saturday that any attack on Syria will be taken as an attack on Iran or its allies, according to the Reuters news agency.

Tehran has already made strongly-worded warnings against an overthrow of al-Assad, who’s engaged in a large-scale armed struggle against the opposition forces that are doing their utmost to come to power.

The conflict in Syria has been raging since March 2011.

According to the United Nations, over 60,000 have already fallen victim to the fighting.

The government in Damascus claims that they have to deal with resistance by heavily-armed gunmen, relying on outside support.

Voice of Russia, Reuters

Iran approves Syrian loan

Iran has allocated a $1 billion loan for Syria to develop its energy sphere.

An agreement to this effect was signed after Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi’s visit to Tehran.

Half of the sum will go to the construction of new wind power plants in Syria.

The parties also sealed seven energy deals, namely on Iran funding the construction of a power plant in Syria and supplying energy to the country.

Egypt in talks with world powers to host Iran nuclear talks

Source : Tehran Times

TEHRAN – Egypt is holding talks with the six major powers to host a new round of talks between Iran and the powers over Tehran’s nuclear program, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi announced on Wednesday.

“Egypt is in talks with the 5+1 countries to host the meeting,” Salehi told reporters when asked about a new round of talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany), the latest high-level round of which was held in Moscow on June 18 and 19, 2012.

“When I was in Egypt, after coordination with the Supreme National Security Council, it was suggested that the next meeting be held in Cairo, and this was welcomed by our dear ones in Egypt,” he added.

The Iranian foreign minister visited Cairo from January 9 to 11, marking the first official visit by a high-ranking Iranian official to the Arab country since the ouster of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in February 2011.

Salehi also said, “The date and venue of the talks have not been fixed yet. Consultations are being held by Mr. Jalili and Ms. Ashton, and correspondence has been exchanged.”

Saeed Jalili is the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and the country’s chief nuclear negotiator, and European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton represents world powers in nuclear negotiations with Iran.

Iran’s nuclear facilities meet highest safety standards: UN ambassador

Source : Tehran Times

TEHRAN – The Iranian ambassador to the United Nations has said that Iran’s nuclear facilities, including the Bushehr power plant, meet the highest international safety standards.

Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee made the remarks in a letter to the New York Times published on January 15 in response to an op- ed article entitled ‘The Next Chernobyl?’, which was published on the paper on January 3.

Following is the text of Khazaee’s letter entitled ‘Nuclear Safety in Iran’:

Iran’s nuclear safety regulations ensure that nuclear facilities are designed in accordance with the latest state-of-the-art technology and without undue risk to the health and safety of their personnel, public, next generations, and the environment, during construction, commissioning, operation, and decommissioning stages of nuclear facilities.

Accordingly, application of the highest safety standards has always been and continues to be the first priority in design, construction, and operation of the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

Over the past several years, the International Atomic Energy Agency has sent about a dozen missions to the Islamic Republic of Iran to address various aspects of the plant’s safety. Before the plant began operation, an international team of nuclear safety experts led by the agency paid a visit to the plant and also reviewed the effectiveness of its safety regulations. After extensive investigation, the agency found that Bushehr enjoys the safety standards analogous to other modern and advanced nuclear power plants worldwide.

Considering the fact that the responsibility for nuclear safety rests exclusively with the individual states, Iran is fully committed to the application of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s safety standards in all its nuclear facilities, including Bushehr. Iran has also started the internal legal procedure to accede to the Convention on Nuclear Safety.

Iran to Dispatch More Fleets of Warships to High Seas

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian Navy plans to dispatch its 24th flotilla of warships to the high seas in the next few weeks, a senior Navy commander announced on Wednesday, adding that the Iranian warships will patrol a larger area in this mission.

"The 23rd fleet of warships of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy will return home next week and the 24th fleet will be dispatched to the far seas for a 3-month mission," Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari told FNA in Iran's Northern city of Rasht today.

The commander added that the Iranian warships will patrol the Northern parts of the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea and even have a voyage in the waters of Southeast Asia.

The commander, however, underlined that the Iranian Navy's activities and its combat capabilities "pose no threat to any country in the region" as they just carry a message of peace and friendship for nations.

Iran started dispatching warships to the high seas after its cargo vessels and tankers came under attack and were hijacked by Somali pirates. The Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008, when Somali raiders hijacked the Iranian-chartered cargo ship, MV Delight, off the coast of Yemen.

According to UN Security Council resolutions, different countries can send their warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia against the pirates and even with prior notice to Somali government enter the territorial waters of that country in pursuit of Somali sea pirates.

The Gulf of Aden - which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea - is an important energy corridor, particularly because Persian Gulf oil is shipped to the West through the Suez Canal.

Iran's President, Syrian PM Discuss Crisis in Syria, Bilateral Relations

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Syrian Prime Minister Wael Nader al-Halqi in a meeting in Tehran conferred on the latest developments in Syria, and stressed further expansion of relations between Tehran and Damascus.

During the meeting on Tuesday evening, President Ahmadinejad pointed to the efforts made by enemies to prolong the crisis in Syria, and stated that he is sure Syrians will victoriously pass through the current difficult situation.

"There is no way to stop the Syrian conflict except through national reconciliation and holding elections," the Iranian president underscored.

As regards bilateral ties, President Ahmadinejad called for the expansion of ties between Tehran and Damascus in all areas, adding that cooperation between the two countries will benefit Iranians and Syrians as well as regional nations.

The Syrian Prime Minister, for his part, said the enemies of the Syrian nation began targeting the infrastructure of Syria after they failed to realize their objectives.

"The global arrogance is sparing no effort to put Syrians under financial burdens. However, the Syrian nation will firmly resist their plots," he stated.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country.

The US and its western and regional allies have long sought to topple Assad and his ruling system. Media reports said that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups have received significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States.

The US daily, Washington Post, reported in May that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups battling the President Assad's government have received significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States.

The newspaper, quoting opposition activists and US and foreign officials, reported that Obama administration officials emphasized the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the Persian Gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Opposition activists who several months ago said the rebels were running out of ammunition said in May that the flow of weapons - most bought on the black market in neighboring countries or from elements of the Syrian military in the past - has significantly increased after a decision by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Persian Gulf states to provide millions of dollars in funding each month.

Iran is planning to send a monkey into space

Source :  Voice of Russia

Iran is planning to send a monkey into space for a ten-day period starting January 31 which marks the 34th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, head of the Iranian space agency Hamid Fazeli said in Teheran on Tuesday.

He said two monkeys were trained for the flight. At present, they are in quarantine. A launch of a monkey will be the first stage of a manned flight which will be carried out by Iran in 5-8 years, Fazeli said.

Since 2009, Iran has launched three satellites and a capsule carrying a rat, turtles and worms. An attempt to launch a monkey into space ended in failure in 2011.

Islamic Revolution Guards Corps forces hold naval drill in Persian Gulf

Source : Islamic Invitation Turkey

Naval forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) held the fifth stage of a naval drill in the Persian Gulf, Iranian news agencies reported on Sunday. The drill was held to identify weak and strong points of IRGC forces, increase their combat capabilities and speed, test new pieces of military hardware, and practice tactics of modern warfare.

On the sidelines of the exercise, the commander of the IRGC’s first naval zone highlighted the importance of maintaining the country’s military preparedness and boosting the country’s defense capability and said that the military capabilities of armed forces have increased significantly compared with the past.

From December 28, 2012 to January 2, Iran held a major naval exercise, named the Velayat-91, in an area covering about one million square kilometers from the east side of the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman to the northern Indian Ocean.

The six-day maneuvers were conducted in international waters and the country’s territorial waters with the participation of various units of the Iranian Navy, including submarines, warships, destroyers, missile systems, and special forces.

The war games were held to test the country’s new defense and missile systems, combat vessels, submarines, drones, and torpedoes, and provide naval forces with the opportunity to perform combat and reconnaissance missions, repel mock attacks, and practice countering electronic warfare measures.

Iran ready to cooperate with Senegal in rescue, relief operations

Source : Trend.Az

Head of Iran's Red Crescent Society Abolhassan Faqih voiced IRCS's preparedness to help Senegal in rescue and relief operations, Fars News reported.

Faqih made the remarks in a meeting with the Head of Senegal's Red Cross Abdel-Aziz Diyalu in Tehran on Sunday.

"We are sufficiently prepared in areas of treatment issues, health training and upgrading relief and rescue operations" to launch cooperation with Senegal's RC "and we can sign a memorandum of understanding after studying the existing grounds for cooperation," Faqih said.

Diyalu and his accompanying delegation arrived in Tehran earlier today to closely see the Iranian Red Crescent Society's capabilities. The visit to Iran by the Senegalese delegation will last for two days.

Iran has sought hard in the last few years to boost ties and cooperation with both Africa and Latin America and has established a strong foothold in the markets of the countries in both continents.

Tehran has prioritized promotion of its economic and political ties with the African and Latin American states and the country is now considered as one of the African Union's strategic partners.

Iran's IRGC holds naval exercises: report

Source :  Xinhua

TEHRAN, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy conducted military drills in the Persian Gulf waters as a part of the tactical training for modern warfare initiatives, Press TV reported Sunday.

The exercises aimed to boost combat readiness of the IRGC forces, familiarize them with the latest achievements, increase their response time, ensure well-timed responses to natural and manmade disasters, and allow IRGC forces to operate new weapons, said the report without detailing on when the drills were held.

"Our present capabilities are incomparable to the past. Today, our youth, banking on the past experiences and modern science, have managed to show their capabilities to the world and be prepared for any threat," the IRGC Navy Commander Rear-Admiral Reza Torabi was quoted as saying.

On Jan. 2, Iranian Navy wrapped up its six-day naval drills in the southern waters of the country. In the drills, the navy forces practised swift reactions to unexpected incidents, exercised prompt stretch of the commandoes and military units, carried out rapid transfer of the forces by the helicopters, launched missiles with high precision and destructive powers, and implemented full utilization of communication system, said an Iranian officer.

IRGC Navy tests new equipments in 5th tactical drills

Source : Islamic Invitation Turkey

Sources say that the drills were held for preparedness, increased combat abilities, getting familiarity with recent advancements in modern warfare, speed-up, proper action in times of natural and artificial disaster, and getting familiarity with the use of new weaponry ,with Rear Admiral Torabi, Commander of the IRGC 1st Naval Zone, participating. In the course of the drills, based on prior assessments advantages and disadvantages were corrected according to the personnel’s capabilities. With all the forces from regional units in different classes of new warfare brigades, the new equipments were tested and operationalized.

In the sidelines of the drills, commander of the IRGC 1st Naval Zone, stressed the need for preparedness and boost of defense and operational power, and said “our abilities today are incomparable to those in the past. Using past experience and current technology, our youth have proved their abilities to the world and are prepared for any threats.”

“At the IRGC 1st Naval Zone, we have a power beyond what is needed and with the arrival of new forces and equipment, the power is increasing.”

Former Israeli PM accuses Netanyahu of wasting billions on Iran-related defense projects

Source : Tehran Times

TEHRAN – Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert accused Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday of spending billions of shekels on unnecessary defense projects related to Iran.

In an interview with Channel 2 News, Olmert said that the current prime minister “wasted” NIS 11 billion on “harebrained adventures that haven’t, and won’t, come to fruition,” the Times of Israel reported.

“We are dealing with expenditures that go above and beyond multi-year budgets,” said Olmert, adding that he believes “the projects won’t be carried out because 2012 was the decisive year.”

“They scared the world for a year and in the end didn’t do anything,” charged Olmert, referring to Netanyahu’s ongoing campaign to lead the world into action against Iran’s nuclear program both by toughening sanctions and by using the threat of military strikes to derail the Islamic Republic’s uranium enrichment drive.

Olmert, who resigned the premiership in 2008 after being embroiled in multiple allegations of corruption — most of which he was later cleared of — also addressed comments made last week by former Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin.

Diskin had said that Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak held sensitive meetings dealing with the alleged Iranian threat, while smoking cigars and drinking alcohol. Olmert confirmed that he too had heard similar accounts and expressed support for Diskin for airing the issue publicly.

“Did I hear about it? Yes. Should Diskin have talked about it? I’m glad he didn’t reveal operative details, but when it comes to issues like this, it was his duty to speak up,” said Olmert. “If a man like Diskin, who has behaved responsibly during all his years of public service, reaches the conclusion that the Israeli public must know what’s going on when their fates are being decided on, it is vital he does so.”

Iranian FM Meets President Mursi

Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in a meeting with Egyptian President Mohammad Mursi in Cairo on Thursday conferred on bilateral ties as well as the latest regional and international developments.

The issue of Palestine and Syria were among the topics dealt by the two officials.

Salehi had earlier on the day, held talks on the Syrian crisis with his Egyptian counterpart Mohammed Kamel Amr, officials said, a day after he met peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.

Egypt's foreign ministry said that Salehi and Amr "exchanged views on the Syrian crisis and means of finding a solution" to the conflicts in Syria.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country.

The US and its western and regional allies have long sought to topple Assad and his ruling system. Media reports said that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups have received significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States.

The US daily, Washington Post, reported in May that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups battling the President Bashar al-Assad's government have received significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States.

The newspaper, quoting opposition activists and US and foreign officials, reported that Obama administration officials emphasized the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the Persian Gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Opposition activists who several months ago said the rebels were running out of ammunition said in May that the flow of weapons - most bought on the black market in neighboring countries or from elements of the Syrian military in the past - has significantly increased after a decision by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Persian Gulf states to provide millions of dollars in funding each month.

Iran will continue 20% enrichment at Fordo, Natanz: official

Source :  Tehran Times

TEHRAN – Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Director Fereydoun Abbasi has said that Iran will continue the production of enriched uranium to a purity level of 20 percent at Fordo and Natanz uranium enrichment facilities.

“5 percent uranium enrichment is continuing at Natanz, and we will continue 20 percent enrichment at Fordo and Natanz to meet our needs,” Abbasi told reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony held in Tehran on Wednesday to commemorate the first anniversary of the martyrdom of Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, a graduate of Sharif University of Technology in chemical engineering and an official at the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, who was assassinated in Tehran on January 11, 2012, when a magnetic bomb attached to his car detonated.

On the relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), he said that Iran is fully cooperating with the UN nuclear watchdog within the framework of regulations.

“We are committed to the NPT (nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) and will continue our work according to it. Regular inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities are being carried out on a daily basis, and our colleagues are cooperating with the agency’s inspectors within the framework of regulations,” he stated.

In addition, he said that Iran will not agree to the demands made outside the framework of the NPT.

Iran and the IAEA will hold a new round of talks over the country’s nuclear program on January 16.

The latest round of high-level talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) over the country’s nuclear program was also held in Moscow on June 18 and 19, 2012. A new round of talks is expected to be held in January.

The main bone of contention between Tehran and the West is Iran’s uranium enrichment program.

Iran says all its nuclear activities are totally peaceful, and, as an IAEA member and a nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signatory, it has the legal right to produce nuclear fuel for its research reactors and nuclear power plants.

The major powers have demanded that Iran halt 20 percent enrichment of uranium, shut down the Fordo uranium enrichment facility, and ship all of its stocks of 20 percent enriched uranium out of the country.

Iran’s main demand is that its right to uranium enrichment, as enumerated in the NPT, be recognized.

Bushehr nuclear plant reconnected to national grid

Elsewhere in his remarks, Abbasi said that the Bushehr nuclear power plant was reconnected to the national grid on Saturday.

He said that plant will become fully operational in two to three years.

He also said that a number of Western companies have proposed to build new nuclear power plants in Iran.

The Bushehr plant, which is located near the port of Bushehr on the coast of the Persian Gulf, will produce 1000 megawatts of electricity once it becomes fully operational.

The plant, a symbol of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, was shut down in October for the removal of nuclear fuel as part of a normal procedure.

On November 30, a spokesman for the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), which built the power plant, said the fuel discharge had been a planned removal for safety testing. He denied a Reuters report that the shutdown had been because of safety concerns after stray bolts had allegedly been found under fuel cells at the plant.

Iranian court issues indictment for former president's son

Source : Xinhua | English.news.cn

TEHRAN, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari- Dolatabadi announced that a 125-page indictment has been issued for Mehdi Hashemi, the son of former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi- Rafsanjani, Tehran Times daily reported on Thursday.

Iran's Judiciary spokesman Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejeii had previously said, "As soon as the indictment is issued, efforts will be made to hold the court hearing," according to the report.

Mehdi Hashemi was released from prison on Dec. 17, 2012, on a bail of 100 billion rials (about 8,156,606 U.S. dollars).

He faces charges including inciting unrest after Iranian presidential election in 2009.

Syrian people must decide own fate: Iran foreign minister

www.islamicinvitationturkey.com

Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says the people in Syria must be allowed to determine their own fate, rejecting any foreign interference in the Arab country’s affairs.

“The Syrians should determine their destiny on their own, and a prescription should not be offered from outside this country,” Salehi told reporters upon arrival at Cairo International Airport on Wednesday night.

He said that Iran did not seek to interfere in Syria and reiterated that, under international conventions, no country is allowed to meddle in the affairs of other countries. The Iranian foreign minister, however, added that the friends of Syria could act in such a way as to keep the region safe from disastrous consequences and help restore peace and stability in the region.

The top Iranian diplomat said that different peace plans have been offered to resolve the unrest in Syria, including the ones proposed by Iran and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and added that the common points of the plans need to be found and the viewpoints of influential countries should be brought together with the aim of finding a domestic solution to the crisis in Syria.

Salehi said that the aim of his visit to Egypt is to hold talks with Egyptian officials, including President Mohamed Morsi and Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr, on matters of mutual interest as well as regional issues, including Syria.

“This is an official visit that I am paying to Egypt. We will be discussing bilateral issues of course and also important regional issues; the issue of Syria and other issues of mutual interest,” he said.

He said that Egypt, as a significant and influential country, can play a major role in the settlement of the unrest in Syria, which he stressed must be resolved in a peaceful way and without foreign interference.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of army and security personnel, have been killed in the turmoil.

Iran's ministry denies drop in oil, gas sales

Source :  Xinhua | English.news.cn

TEHRAN, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Oil Ministry Spokesman, Alireza Nikzad-Rahbar has denied the report of 40 percent reduction in Iran's oil sales and 45 percent in oil and gas earnings.

Nikzad-Rahbar said that "Iranian Oil Ministry has passed the initial hard days of sanction (on its energy sector) thanks to the industrious staff and the special attention given to the oil industry in the country," according to semi-official Mehr news agency.

Directors and workers in oil industry work day and night and employ special ploys to ward off the sanctions and they will leave the enemy disappointed, indicating that the sanctioning agents possess nothing by which to pressure the Iranian oil industry, he was quoted as saying.

On Monday, local media, quoting Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi, reported that due to the Western sanctions, Iran's oil sales had dropped by 40 percent in the past nine months.

Also, head of Iran's Majlis (parliament) Plan and Budget Commission, Gholam-Reza Kateb, referring to the oil minister's remarks in the parliament, told semi-official ISNA news agency that oil sales in the country have dropped by 40 percent, while gas and oil revenues fell by 45 percent compared to the same period last year.

Iranian officials, including the oil minister, had consistently denied that the Western sanctions had any impact on the country's oil sales or revenues.

Iran for decades has been a large oil provider to the global energy market. Oil exports provide over 70 percent of the Iranian government's revenues. However, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the country's oil exports declined from 2.5 million barrels per day in December 2011 to about 1.25 million barrels per day as of December 2012.

Iran is under unilateral Western sanction pressure on its crude oil and natural gas exports. The West has accused Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons under the guise of its civilian nuclear program, a charge Tehran has consistently denied.

#TopNews: http://www.tehrantimes.com/|#Iran FM #Salehi is scheduled to arrive in #Cairo today, marking the first official visit ... [#Hamas also]

UN Official: Iran Well-Equipped in War on Drugs

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Deputy Chief of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Branimir Bratonov hailed Iranian law enforcement police squad for their relentless efforts in combating drug-trafficking, and said despite the West's sanctions, Iran's police troop is well equipped for fighting drug-traffickers.

Bratonov, who is also Bulgaria's representative in counternarcotics affairs, made the remarks in a meeting with Commander of the anti-narcotics squad of Iran's Law Enforcement Police General Ali Moayyedi in Tehran on Tuesday.

"Despite sanctions, Iran has, in fact, no shortage of equipment for fighting and confronting the narcotics," he said, praising Iran's achievements in the war on drugs.

"I believe that one of the achievements of these meetings should be finding ways to supply the equipment needed for controlling Iranian borders, although my studies and also what I have heard of the Iranian officials indicate that Iran has managed to have a serious and efficient combat against drugs despite the short supply of equipment" Bratonov said. Eastern Iran borders Afghanistan, which is the world's number one opium and drug producer. Iran's geographical position has made the country a favorite transit corridor for drug traffickers who intend to smuggle their cargoes from Afghanistan to drug dealers in Europe.

Iran spends billions of dollars and has lost thousands of its police troops in the war against traffickers. Owing to its rigid efforts, Iran makes 89 percent of the world's total opium seizures and has turned into the leading country in drug campaign.

The Iranian police officials maintain that drug production in Afghanistan has undergone a 40-fold increase since the US-led invasion of the country in 2001.

While Afghanistan produced only 185 tons of opium per year under the Taliban, according to the UN statistics, since the US-led invasion, drug production has surged to 3,400 tons annually. In 2007, the opium trade reached an estimated all- time production high of 8,200 tons.

Afghan and western officials blame Washington and NATO for the change, saying that allies have "overlooked" the drug problem since invading the country 12 years ago.

Iranian, Danish Officials Discuss Expansion of Bilateral Ties

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Denmark's Ambassador to Tehran Anders Christian Hugard and Co-Chairman of Iran- Denmark Parliamentary Friendship Group Abbas Moqtadaei called for the expansion of bilateral ties and cooperation between the Iranian and Danish nations.

The remarks were made in a meeting held in Tehran on Sunday.

Moqtadaei expressed the hope that enhanced cultural relations would lead to expansion of parliamentary relations between the two countries.

To attain the goal, it is incumbent upon both sides to explore and identify untapped potentials and capabilities in various fields, he said.

Constructive, effective and friendly talks bring mutual understanding between the two nations and prepare grounds for expansion of bilateral relations, Moqtadaei pointed out.

Hugard, for his part, termed formation of Iran-Denmark parliamentary friendship group as significant and effective to develop relations and cooperation between the two countries.

The current cooperation in the field of culture, tourism, science and academic exchanges are satisfactory, he said calling for boosting ties.

The ambassador expressed the hope to witness expansion of parliamentary relations and economic cooperation between the two nations.

Late in 2011, Hugard voiced pleasure in the "good cultural and trade ties" between the two countries, and said Tehran-Copenhagen relations are developing.

Speaking to FNA on the sidelines of the 18th Media and News Agencies Exhibition in Tehran, the Danish envoy said, "At present, the two countries have good cultural and trade ties and I intend to promote these relations."

He reiterated that "there is not impediment to the further boosting of the relations between Tehran and Copenhagen", and said issues and differences of the past should not be brushed up.

"The presence of Iran's current ambassador in Denmark and the large number of the Iranian students studying in my country indicate the two sides' interest in developing relations," the diplomat underscored.

FM: Iran Committed to Expand Ties with Africa

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, who is in Ghana on the second leg of his tour of Africa, underlined Tehran's determination to further boost ties and cooperation with African states.

Addressing Iranian nationals residing in the Ghana's capital city of Accra on Sunday evening, Salehi said relations with Africa set a priority for Iran's foreign policy.

"Iran is committed to expand relations with African countries including Ghana," the Iranian minister stated, and added, "Despite pressures, Iran has made good progress in various fields of science, including the launch of satellites, peaceful nuclear energy and animal cloning."

Salehi noted that Ghana has a good percentage of growth and there is a bright economic future for it.

During his stay in Accra, Salehi will meet Ghana's senior officials to discuss the latest regional and international developments as well as bilateral relations.

Tehran has prioritized promotion of its economic and political ties with the African states and the country is now considered as one of the African Union's strategic partners.

Tehran's efforts to boost ties and cooperation with Africa have led to its acceptance as an observing member of the African Union (AU), where it has shown an active presence in the AU summit meetings.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, who is in Ghana on the second leg of his tour of Africa, underlined Tehran's determination to further boost ties and cooperation with African states.

Addressing Iranian nationals residing in the Ghana's capital city of Accra on Sunday evening, Salehi said relations with Africa set a priority for Iran's foreign policy.

"Iran is committed to expand relations with African countries including Ghana," the Iranian minister stated, and added, "Despite pressures, Iran has made good progress in various fields of science, including the launch of satellites, peaceful nuclear energy and animal cloning."

Salehi noted that Ghana has a good percentage of growth and there is a bright economic future for it.

During his stay in Accra, Salehi will meet Ghana's senior officials to discuss the latest regional and international developments as well as bilateral relations.

Tehran has prioritized promotion of its economic and political ties with the African states and the country is now considered as one of the African Union's strategic partners.

Tehran's efforts to boost ties and cooperation with Africa have led to its acceptance as an observing member of the African Union (AU), where it has shown an active presence in the AU summit meetings.

China criticizes new U.S. sanctions on Iran

Source : Tehran Times

China has censured the United States for the imposition of new sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing on Friday that her country “has consistently opposed” sanctions against Iran over its peaceful nuclear energy program.

She renewed China’s call for the resumption of talks between Iran and the P5+1 group -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany -- about Tehran’s nuclear program.

“We have always seen negotiations and cooperation as the best way to solve the Iranian nuclear issue,” Hua said.

The new sanctions are included in the $633-billion military bill for 2013, which U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law on Wednesday night.

Also on Friday, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili said the Islamic Republic has agreed to resume talks with six major world powers about the country’s nuclear energy program this month.

Iran and the six major world powers have held several rounds of talks with the main focus being Iran’s nuclear energy program.

The United States, Israel, and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

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.

Iranian Scientists Make Disease Detection Biosensor

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian scientists at Isfahan University synthesized biosensors with the ability to detect biological single mutation.

The biosensors can be used in the production of kits to diagnose various illnesses such as biological mutation ailments, in laboratorial industry, and in hospital equipment.

Sometimes a single mutation in a sequence of gene can cause illness. Biological mutation changes the structure of protein produced by the gene, and sometimes eliminates it. As a result, it causes disorder in biological phenomena in the body.

"The initial objective of the research was to produce a biosensor to detect biological single mutation with high accuracy in order to help diagnose of disorder in biological phenomena," Dr. Laleh Enayati Ahangar, a member of the research group, stated about the objectives of the research.

The use of gold nanoporous electrode and ferrocene covalent connection to the end of the detector DNA chain are among the characteristics of the project.

In this research, some modifications and changes have been made in order to analyze blood DNA samples taken from the patient. The results are in progress to be patented. In addition, the nanoporous surface of gold electrode in this research improved the sensitivity of the biosensor and increased the accuracy to diagnose genetic and other illnesses.

Results of the research have been published in October - December 2012 in Biosensors and Bioelectronics, vol. 38, issue 1. For more information, visit the full abstract of the article on pages 252-257 of the same journal.

Israeli far-right politician detained by police after attempting to pray at Temple Mount

Source : Xinhua | English.news.cn

JERUSALEM, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Israel's far-right politician from the Likud Party, Moshe Feiglin, was detained and then released on Tuesday after trying to pray at Temple Mount.

An undercover cop who was at the scene removed Feiglin from the premises, without any violence ensuing.

According to a report on the Ynet news website, Feiglin was detained for a brief questioning and was asked to sign a paper in which he will state he would not attempt to pray at the site again, yet he refused to do so.

Nonetheless, the police forces in the capital released the politician without any restrictions.

Temple Mount is a holy site to both Jews and Muslims. There are restricted regulations at the site meant to prevent clashes between crowds of believers and it is heavily monitored. Jews are only allowed to visit the site but not worship there, fearing a backlash from the Muslim community.

While the Islamic Waqf runs the site, the Israeli police are in charge of the security there.

This is not the first time Feiglin is detained after attempting to pray at the holy site. In October, Feiglin was arrested along with four other Jewish worshippers, for attempting to pray at the scene.

In August, Knesset (parliament) member Arieh Eldad introduced a bill offering to divide prayer times at the site. The bill suggested making a calendar dividing weekdays and holy days for Muslim and Jewish worshippers to pray at

Commander: Iran Testing Subsystems of Home-Made S-300 Air-Defense System

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Senior military officials announced on Tuesday that Iran is now testing the subsystems of Bavar (Belief) 373 missile defense system - the Iranian version of the sophisticated S-300 long- range air-defense missile system.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony here in Tehran on Tuesday, Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli said "laboratory tests" are underway on subsystems of the long-range Bavar 373 air-defense system.

"We are in good status in this regards and the Defense Ministry and Khatam ol-Anbia base are pursuing the project," Esmayeeli continued.

Late in September 2012, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced that his ministry would soon release sensitive information about the production of the indigenous version of the sophisticated S-300 air defense system which is currently underway in Iran.

"The works pertaining to the designing and building of the (S-300) system are underway and the relevant information will be released soon, God-willing," Vahidi told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting here in Tehran at the time.

Also in September, Esmayeeli had said that Iran has already completed one-third of the project.

Speaking to reporters on the occasion of the National Day of Air Defense here in Tehran at the time, Esmayeeli said that Iran has already completed 30% of the missile system's production project, and expressed the hope that Iran would complete the system by the end of this Iranian year (March 2013) or the next year.