Montag, 25. Februar 2013

IRGC Tests Tanks, Armored Vehicles' Firepower

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force tested its tanks and armored vehicles' capability of launching home-made anti- armor missiles in the last stage of Payambar-e Azam 8 wargames in Southern Iran on Monday.

The IRGC's T72S tanks and BMP2 personnel carriers embarked on firing Tondar and Tousan missiles at designated targets after the IRGC air defense units repelled the hypothetical enemy's air support.

Tondar anti-armor missiles can hit targets in a distance of 4km and Tousan is capable of destroying targets 4.5km away.

The IRGC's three-day wargames, codenamed Payambar-e Azam 8 (The Great Prophet 8), started on Saturday and will be wrapped up later today. The massive wargames are underway in Iran's Southern and Southeastern regions of Kerman, Zarand, Shaabjareh, Siriz, Toghroljerd, Yazdanabad and Sang.

Earlier today, Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Brigadier General Hossein Salami said that the IRGC Ground Force demonstrated just part of its capabilities during the current military drills in the Southeastern province of Kerman.

"What has been done in the wargames was (a demonstration of) the IRGC's capabilities in a small scale," Salami noted, adding that the drills simulated actual battlefield conditions.


Zafar cruise missile successfully fired from IRGC speedboat

Source :   Tehran Times

TEHRAN – A Zafar (Victory) cruise missile was fired from a speedboat of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in the Persian Gulf on Sunday and successfully hit the designated target, according to the Persian service of the Fars News Agency.

The production line of the domestically manufactured Zafar cruise missile was officially launched in February 2012.

The Zafar is a short-range anti-vessel radar- guided cruise missile, which can target small and medium-sized targets with high precision.

The missile can be installed on various types of vessels and enjoys remarkable features such as light weight, capability to repel electronic attacks, and high destructive power.

It loses altitude after being launched, and then cruises at low altitude in order to be hidden from sight of the enemy, and in the final stage identifies the target at a low altitude and destroys the target.

On February 5, 2012, the commander of the IRGC Naval Force, Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi, said that IRGC vessels, helicopters, and vehicles would be equipped with Zafar missiles.

AM/PA


Navy commander: Iran's Naval Forces cross Malacca strait for first time since Islamic Revolution

Source : Trend.Az

Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announces that the country's 24th fleet has crossed the Strait of Malacca for the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Press TV reported.

"For the first time since the Islamic Revolution the Naval Forces of the Islamic Republic have crossed the Strait of Malacca," Sayyari said on Monday.

He added that the Navy's 24th fleet of warships, comprising Sabalan destroyer and Kharg helicopter carrier, would enter the Pacific Ocean from the Strait of Malacca on Tuesday.

Kharg helicopter carrier is 207 meters long and the largest of its kind in West Asia. The carrier operates as a backup aircraft transport for the Iranian Navy's destroyers in international waters.

Sayyari stressed the importance of the north Indian Ocean and southeastern Asia to Iran because of the commercial vessel traffic through the Straits of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb and Malacca.

The Strait of Malacca is a narrow 805-kilometer (500-mile) stretch of water between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

After leaving the Strait of Malacca, the Iranian fleet will cruise northwards into the Pacific Ocean and dock at the Chinese Port of Zhangjiagang and the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka, the Iranian commander added.

The dockings are aimed at "extending the Iranian nation's message of friendship to the countries of China and Sri Lanka," Sayyari said.

In recent years, Iran's Navy has been increasing its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for Iranian merchant vessels and tankers.

In addition, in line with the international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.


Sonntag, 24. Februar 2013

Iran Claims Downing 'Foreign Spy Drone

Source : RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, February 24 (RIA Novosti) – Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards have brought down a foreign reconnaissance drone during a military exercise in southeast Iran, the official news agency IRNA reported.

“A foreign spy drone was hacked outside the field of Payambar-e Azam 8 wargames on Saturday,” spokesman for the military exercise, General Hamid Sarkheili was quoted by the agency as saying.

The agency gave no details of the origin of the drone.

Iran has claimed to have captured several US drones. In December 2011, Iran said it had captured a CIA spy drone that had entered its airspace. Iran claimed to have extracted top- secret data from the stealth-technology equipped RQ-170 Sentinel drone.

Iranian Warships to Dock in China, India, Sri Lanka

Source : Global Research

Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said a fleet of Iranian warships is moving towards Southeast Asia to pass through the Strait of Malacca.

The Strait of Malacca is a narrow, 805 km stretch of water between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of matra.

e Navy commander told the Islamic Republic news agency that nian warships have already started their voyage to the East of the dian Ocean, and will likely dock in Sri Lanka, India or China.

his fleet of warship will definitely traverse through the Strait of alacca in the very Eastern point of the Indian Ocean and will then turn to Iran,” Sayyari noted.

eantime, the commander rejected the speculations about joint litary exercises with China, stressing that such drills are not on the enda of the Iranian Navy.

December 2012, Sayyari had said that the Iranian Navy has been able successfully expand its operational zone to the Northern waters of e Indian Ocean and is now operating in a vast area.

retching the Navy’s operational range from a small limited zone to the rthern waters of the Indian Ocean and an area of 2,000,100 square ometers was another golden page in the history of the Navy’s glories,” said at the time.

added that the Navy’s ability to expand its presence in the sea is vital r Iran’s progress.

Samstag, 23. Februar 2013

IRGC Starts Massive Ground Wargames

Source : Islamic Invitation Turkey

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force started massive wargames, codenamed Payambar-e Azam 8 (The Great Prophet 8), which include exercising different defense tactics in Southern Iran.

Speaking to reporters, Spokesman of the Wargames General Sarkheili said at the first stage the participating IRGC units started “stable regional defense” after they were joined by Basij (volunteer) units.

“In this phase, units entered the battlefield backed by aerial and artillery firepower and intelligence support by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in a bid to fulfill the (specified) objectives and bring the targets under direct fire,” Sarkheili stated.

He also added that the IRGC’s electronic warfare systems successfully identified and thwarted the hypothetical enemy’s electronic jamming campaign at this phase of the wargames.

On October 2, The IRGC conducted three-day massive missile wargames, codenamed Payambar-e Azam 7 (The Great Prophet 7), during which it conducted heavy missile tests in various sites across the country.

Earlier, Commander of the IRGC Ground Force Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour had told reporters that the massive wargames will be held in Iran’s Southeastern regions of Kerman, Siriz and Sirjan.

The IRGC drills are aimed at maintaining and improving the combat preparedness of the IRGC ground forces, testing the latest combat systems of the IRGC Ground Force and exercising different asymmetric warfare tactics.

Freitag, 22. Februar 2013

IRGC has control over world’s strategic energy reserves: commander

Source : Tehran Times

TEHRAN – Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Mohammad Ali Jafari announced on Friday that the IRGC has control over world’s strategic energy reservoirs, and called the enemies to stop the policy of intimidation against Iran.

The IRGC chief made the remarks during a tour of the vessel and missile units of the IRGC Navy in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Jafari also said, “Our naval force is working in terms of a vast geopolitical outlook, and is part of the country’s defensive strategy.”

“Given the actual and potential defensive and offensive power of the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially the strategic deterrence might of the Sepah (IRGC), the hegemonistic system must revise its behavior toward the Islamic Republic,” Commander Jafari stated.

Iran plans to produce three tons of caviar in next calendar year

Source : Trend.Az

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.20 / Trend F.Mehdi/

Iran's caviar output is projected to reach three tons in the next Iranian calendar year which starts on March 21, IRNA quoted the Iranian Fishery Organisation director Gholamreza Razeqi as saying.

Over one ton of caviar has been produced so far in the current year, half of it having been exported, he added.

Some five million sturgeon fries were released by the fishery organisation in the Caspian Sea, he noted.

In October 2012, Razeqi said the value of exports of Iran's fishery sector will surpass $350 million in the current calendar year.

"Exports stood at $210 million last year," Razeqi said.

Some 4000 tons of shrimp valued at around $17 million, was exported last year to the UAE, Kuwait, Lebanon, Australia and Spain, he said, adding that infrastructures have been provided to export 500 kilograms of caviar in the current year.

Iran to Build Oil Refinery in Pakistan

Source :  Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Pakistani officials announced that Islamabad and Tehran have reached an agreement upon which Iran will help Pakistan build an oil refinery.

Pakistan's Advisor to Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr. Asim Hussain, said Wednesday that Iran with the cooperation of Pakistan's State Oil (PSO) will set up an oil refinery in the Southwestern city of Gwadar.

Talking to reporters after holding a meeting with Iran's Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi, he said that the refinery would refine 400,000 barrels of oil per day.

He added that President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari would soon visit Iran to finalize the agreement on establishment of oil refinery.

Qassemi and Managing Director of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Javad Oji arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday to hold the final talks on the IP gas pipeline construction.

The Iranian oil minister and his accompanying delegation agreed with their Pakistani counterpart to set up a joint contracting company between the two countries in a bid to complete the construction of the IP gas pipeline in next 15 months. The mega project will come on stream in December 2014.

Apart from it, both countries also discussed the finances involved in the project. The interest rate for Iran's 500-million-dollar loan to Pakistan and the date for the start of the repayment of the loan by Pakistan were among other topics in the discussions.

Last week, Tehran and Islamabad discussed the scope of work under the mega project of $1.5 billion IP gas line.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari underlined his support for the completion of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline which will help soothe Pakistan's energy crisis.

Zardari said that Pakistan attaches great importance to early completion of Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline project in view of the energy crisis in the country, and called for stepped up efforts for early completion of all Pak-Iran bilateral projects.

The IP gas pipeline stretches from Iran-Pakistan border to Navabshah region in Pakistan and it covers 781 km of the total 1,881 km of the pipeline.

Donnerstag, 21. Februar 2013

West will be biggest loser if talks with Iran fail

Source :   Tehran Times

Political analyst Sadallah Zarei says that if the upcoming talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany) fail, it will only harm the interests of Western governments and Iran will be less affected.

In an interview with the newly established Tasnim News Agency in Tehran on Wednesday, Zarei said, “During the previous rounds of talks in Istanbul, Baghdad, and Moscow, the Western side has shown that it is not willing to reach a common modality with Iran over how to resolve the nuclear dispute.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always declared that it is ready to engage in talks with the world powers and allay the international concerns regarding its nuclear program.

“From Iran’s point of view, the talks should be conducted in a specific framework in order to attain positive results that can benefit the two sides. However, the Western side has yet to respond to Iran’s logical proposal and is continuing to postpone the completion of talks through obstructive tactics.

“It will be the West that will suffer from the failure of the upcoming talks because Iran has always been successful in turning threats into opportunities, and nothing can prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear expertise.”

MS/HG

Dienstag, 19. Februar 2013

Iran-Ecuador relations at highest level - Iranian FM

Source :  Trend.Az

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says diplomatic relations between Iran and Ecuador are at their highest level ever, Press TV reported.

During a meeting with the new Ecuadorian ambassador to Tehran on Tuesday, Salehi congratulated the Ecuadorian nation and government on the recent presidential election in the South American country.

He expressed hope that bilateral ties between Tehran and Quito would expand during President,
Ecuadorian Ambassador Umberto Vinuesa Rodriguez said that he would do his best to consolidate relations between the two countries and promote cooperation in all areas.

In a letter published on the Iranian president's official website on Monday, Ahmadinejad congratulated Correa over his reelection, saying it would lead to "independence and progress" in the Latin American country.

"I believe that your reelection has once again displayed the hope and the unwavering will of the great nation of Ecuador clearly," Ahmadinejad stated.

The Iranian president also said Correa's election victory would lead to the expansion of ties between Latin American countries and other revolutionary countries in the world.

On Sunday, the 49-year-old Ecuadorian president got 56.9 percent of the vote against 23.8 percent for his closest challenger, Guillermo Lasso.

Thousands of his supporters gathered at the presidential palace in Quito to celebrate the victory after the results were announced.

Addressing his supporters from the balcony of the Carondelet Palace, Correa described his reelection as a victory for the "citizens' revolution" and vowed to continue to fight poverty in the country.

"We are only here to serve you. Nothing for us. Everything for you," Correa said.

"Thank you very much for this tremendous trust," he told throngs of cheering supporters.

Montag, 18. Februar 2013

Iran to establish naval base near Gwadar

Source :   thenews.com.pk

TEHRAN: The Iranian Navy is establishing a new naval base on its coast of the Gulf of Oman. The location is Pasabandar, near Iran's border with Pakistan, reported Fars news agency.

The move came as Pakistan prepared to sign an agreement with a Chinese firm to hand over the control of Gwadar Port. "The naval base which is under-construction is located in our country's far east coasts in the Gwatr Gulf along the borders with Pakistan," Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Sunday.

He said that the Navy has intensified its efforts to develop the Makran coasts, which stretches from Iran's port city of Bandar Abbas to Makran (also known as Pasabandar). (Monitoring Desk)


Sonntag, 17. Februar 2013

U.S. proposal of direct talks with Iran "propaganda": speaker

Source :   Xinhua | English.news.cn

TEHRAN, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani said U.S. officials are spreading "propaganda" through proposing direct talks with Iran, Tehran Times daily reported Sunday.

On Feb. 2, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said the United States is prepared to hold direct talks with Iran over the country's nuclear program when the Iranian leadership is "serious."

The U.S. proposal of direct talks with the Islamic republic is a "propaganda," said Larijani, adding that the United States is seeking to influence the Iranian people's determination by bringing up such issues.

Washington has no intention to respect the rights of the Iranian nation during negotiations they are talking about, Larijani was quoted as saying.

Those who "fall in the trap" of believing such rhetoric may provide opportunities for the enemies, he added.

Iran to Hold Int'l Eurasia Conference in Days

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Tehran is slated to host an international conference on 'Iran and Regional Cooperation in Eurasia' on Monday.

The participants in the conference, which kicks off on Monday, will discuss issues pertaining to the Eurasia region at the three levels of security, economic and political cooperation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, Vice-Chairman of the Russian State Duma Nikolay Levichev and Head of Iran-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group Mehdi Sanayee are due to address the opening ceremony of the conference.

Sanayee said that experts from Iran, China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Kazakhstan are slated to attend the two-day conference.

In relevant remarks earlier, Sanayee had stressed Iran's major role in the Eurasia region, underlining that Iran's role cannot be denied given its special position in Eurasia.

Undoubtedly, Iran is a major regional power and plays a key role in Eurasia, Sanayee said at a round table on 'Iran's role in Eurasia's geopolitics and geo- economy' held at Eurasia Research Center (IRAS) here in Tehran in May 2010.

He underlined that Iran's strategic role in the Eurasia region needs activation of cultural, historical, communication potentials and huge investments in the oil and gas sectors as well as an increase in exchanges with the Eurasian states.

Sanayee cited Iran's geopolitical and geo-economic situation, religious ideology and energy as the three main factors contributing to Tehran's influence in area of foreign policy affairs.


Samstag, 16. Februar 2013

Finland Wants Closer Ties, Cooperation with Iran

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Helsinki's Envoy to Tehran Harri Kamarainen expressed Finland's willingness to further boost ties and cooperation with Iran, specially in port and tourism fields.

"There are good grounds for cooperation among Iran and Finland's ports," the Finnish diplomat said during a visit to the Shahid Rajaee port complex at Iran's Southern city of Bandar Abbas.

He also had a visit to Iran's Southern Qeshm Island.

During his meeting with Qeshm Island's Governor Masood Salari, Kamarainen asserted that Iran's Hormozgan Province, in particular Qeshm Island's natural resources, productions and capacities, are dreamlike.

Kamarainen underlined the Qeshm Island's tourism potentials, adding that Finland's tourists are keen to visit such beautiful islands.

"There are good grounds for collaboration between the two states in exchange of students interested in studying tourism, Qeshm Island fishes are peculiar in beauty internationally," the Finnish diplomat was quoted by Islamic republic news agency as saying.


Donnerstag, 14. Februar 2013

Iran ready to host talks between Syrian reconciliation minister, opposition leader: ambassador

Source : Tehran Times

TEHRAN – Tehran is ready to host a meeting between Syrian National Reconciliation Affairs Minister Ali Haidar and Syrian National Coalition leader Moaz al-Khatib should they decide to hold talks, according to Iranian Ambassador to Syria Mohammad Reza Sheibani.

Iran’s policy is to help resolve the Syrian crisis through diplomatic means and pave the way for national dialogue in the Arab country, Ambassador Sheibani told the Persian service of IRNA on Tuesday.

According to Reuters, Khatib said on Sunday that he was willing to hold peace talks with President Bashar al-Assad’s representatives in rebel-held areas of northern Syria.

In addition, Haidar told the Guardian in an interview published on Monday, “I am willing to meet Mr. Khatib in any foreign city where I can go in order to discuss preparations for a national dialogue.”

In explaining the purpose of the national dialogue, Haidar raised the prospect of a genuine contest for a multiparty parliament and for the presidency when Assad’s mandate runs out next year.

“The dialogue is a means to provide a mechanism for reaching free parliamentary and presidential elections. This is one of the subjects which will be discussed at the table. Such a thing could be the result of negotiations, but not a precondition,” he said. “We reject a dialogue that is just to hand power from one side to another.”

EP/PA


Dienstag, 12. Februar 2013

First time in Middle East, Iran creates 3D printer

Source : Trend.Az

the first time in Middle East, Iran has managed to create a 3D printer, Mehr reported.

3D printing is a process of making a three-dimensional solid object of virtually any shape from a digital model.

This type of printing is achieved using an additive process, where successive layers of material are laid down in different shapes.

The printer created in Iran has the ability to print three-dimensional objects in microscopic scale.

Prior to Iran creating such a printer, the technology was only available in Germany and the United States.

Iranian experts spent 3 years working on the 3D printer project, eventually creating one, which can be used for military purposes, medicine, and education.

The 3D printer was approved and patented by Iran's Isfahan University of Technology.

Due to imposed sanctions, Iran was not able to purchase one such printer from abroad.

Iran converting some of its 20-percent enriched uranium to reactor fuel – Iranian official

Source :   Voice of Russia

Iran is converting some of its higher-grade enriched uranium into reactor fuel, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

"This work is being done and all its reports have been sent to the International Atomic Energy Agency in a complete manner," Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as saying on Tuesday by state news agency IRNA.

He was responding to a question on news reports that Iran has converted some of its 20-percent-enriched uranium into fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor, IRNA said.

Voice of Russia, Reuters

Sonntag, 10. Februar 2013

Iran Tests New Air-to-Air Missile

Source : Fars News Agency

"The new missile dubbed as Fakour 90 is fired from F14 fighter jets," General Farahi said.

Meantime, he noted that Qader and Nasr air-based cruise missiles will be tested in coming days.

Last week, a senior Iranian military commander announced that the Iranian Armed Forces plan to unveil its latest achievements in the production of armored vehicles, missiles and aircraft in the next few days.

Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazzayeri said new achievements will be unveiled during the Ten-Day Dawn ceremonies from January 31 to February 10, celebrating the victory of the Islamic Revolution back in 1979.

"In addition to new home-made fighter jets, new missile advancements will be displayed in coming days," Jazzayeri mentioned, adding that the new missiles produced by Iranian experts have different ranges.

"During the Ten-Day Dawn new tanks and armored vehicles will also be unveiled," he added.

Elsewhere, the commander stressed the Iranian Armed Forces' capability to chase and hit enemies in long distances, adding that Iran will announce its capabilities in due time.

Last month, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced that his ministry would display several defense achievements in the next few days.

The minister informed that a space observing base or space observatory, dubbed as 'Imam Sadeq', will be inaugurated during the Ten-Day Dawn ceremonies, adding that the base will be tasked with monitoring the country's expeditionary space missions.

The Iranian minister further announced that Iran would unveil the latest home-made fighter jets in the coming days, and said, "The aircraft will be different from the other fighter jets Iran has already made."

He added that important projects are underway in missile fields and will be announced later.

Iran has also taken wide strides in designing and manufacturing different types of light, semi-heavy and heavy weapons, military tools and equipment. Tehran launched an arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter planes.

Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country's military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.

Explosive device blast injures people in central Damascus

Source : Xinhua | English.news.cn

DAMASCUS, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- An explosive device affixed under a car went off Sunday in a street in the heart of the Syrian capital Damascus, injuring many people, the state-run SANA news agenc said.

SANA said the bomb went off at Arnous Street in central Damascus, adding that the blast left man injuries but without death.

In another district of Damascus, a suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt detonated himself at the Rukkin Addien area, injuring four people, SANA said.

Meanwhile, the opposition Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said clashes renewed Sunday at outskirts of Damascus' eastern suburb of Jobar. Clashes also continued in Daraya, Qaboun and Zamalka, which was hit three times by air strikes.

The clashes in the eastern suburbs of Damascus have been raging since last week when the rebel waged attacks to sap the resolve of the government troops that keep strong rein of power on the capital.

DM: Iran Building 20 Types of Drones

Source : Fars News Agency

He said late Saturday in an interview with Iran's state-run tv that the process of building the new drone capable of attacking air-to-air missiles is underway.

On the indigenous long-range spy and reconnaissance drone, Karrar, he stressed that the Iranian Army forces will unveil the latest drones capable of attacking air-to-air missiles in the near future.

In relevant remarks yesterday, Deputy Defense Minister for Industrial and Research Affairs  Eslami underlined Iran's great achievements in manufacturing different types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and announced that Tehran plans to unveil its long-range drone late in May.

"We are producing 20 types of UAVs inside the country, which are classified in the three categories long, short and mid-range and altitude," Eslami said on Iranian TV.

He said the long-range category is known as a strategic class, and added the mid-range drones are used for reconnaissance missions, while the short-range drones are suitable for training courses an wargames.

He noted the production of the strategic class of drones, and said, "We hope to soon unveil new strategic drones which can fly up to 30,000 feet in altitude and 24 hours of nonstop flight."

He noted that the drones are used in different ranges depending on their missions, and stated, "Go willing, the country's newest hi-tech, long-range drone will be unveiled on May 24."

Iran has recently made giant advancements in aerospace industries, specially in designing and manufacturing pilotless drones.

In September, Iran announced that it has started using UAVs for its air defense units as part of its broader plans for strengthening the country's air defense capability.

Speaking to reporters on the occasion of the National Day of Air Defense here in Tehran on September 3, Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeel said Iran has equipped its air defense units with Haazem drones.

The drone can be used as a target for air defense systems and also for reconnaissance missions.

Haazem can also be equipped with missiles and used for aerial bombardments as well.

Iran "not to back down on its basic rights" in face of pressures: president

Source : Xinhua | English.news.cn

TEHRAN, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday that the Islamic republic "will not back down on its fundamental rights even a single iota" in the face of pressures.

Ahmadinejad made the remarks alluding to Western sanction pressure to curb the country's controversial nuclear program which the West considers as "suspicious" and Iran insists on its " peaceful" nature.

His remarks is significant in that hopes have recently been raised to find a way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue in the new round of nuclear talks between the world powers and Iran scheduled for Feb. 26 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

When addressing the ceremony held to mark the 34th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, he said that the West made all its efforts to "stop Iran from turning into a nuclear country" but " they failed."

The Islamic republic has turned into a nuclear state and will continue its pace to take advantage of "peaceful nuclear energy program," the president emphasized.

Enemies have done their utmost to stop Iran's progress, he said, adding that, however, no one has been able to impose its will on the Iranian nation.

Ahmadinejad downplayed Western sanction pressures on the country's energy sector and economy, saying that "We do not sell oil to you and will run the country with non-oil revenues."

On Wednesday, Washington expanded sanctions on Iran by further tightening up economic measures against the Islamic republic and adding more names to its blacklist.

The Iranian president meanwhile praised the achievements of the Islamic revolution in a number of scientific and technological areas, and said that the country has made remarkable progresses during the past 34 years which have redeemed the country's " independence."

Hailing the recent "successful" program of sending a living creature into space, he asserted that Iran will "soon put its satellite at an orbit of 36,000 km above the earth.

Samstag, 9. Februar 2013

Islamic Iran to Orbit New Home-Made Satellite

Source : Islamic Invitation Turkey

Iran plans to send a new home-made satellite into the space by the next few days, a senior Iranian space research official announced on Saturday.

Addressing a gathering in Iran’s Northeastern city of Mashhad, Head of the Space System Research Center Mohammad Ebrahimi praised Iran’s achievements in space fields, and said now the world knows Iran as “a country with space technologies”.

He said Iran has so far launched several satellites into orbit and achieved the technology to build satellite-carriers and has successfully sent living creatures into the space.

As regards Iran’s future space programs, Ebrahimi said the country will launch a new satellite into space by the next few days and will be able to send man into space by the next five years.

Earlier this month, Iran’s Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said sending a biocapsule to the space and retrieving it successfully was Iran’s first step on the path to sending a human to the space after his agency announced that it had sent a monkey to the orbit, brought it back to the Earth and retrieved the animal and the relevant data successfully.

On January 28, the Defense Ministry’s Aerospace Industries Organization announced that it has sent a monkey into the space on the back of Pishgam (Pioneer) explorer rocket, and that it has brought back and recovered the living cargo.

The Aerospace Industries Organization said it had sent the living creature into space aboard an indigenous biocapsule as a prelude to sending humans into space.

The Aerospace Industries Organization said the capsule was sent to an orbit beyond 120km in altitude and carried out telemetry of the environmental data records.

The explorer rocket was launched by the Aerospace Industries Organization and it returned to the Earth after reaching the desired speed and altitude, and the living creature (monkey) was retrieved and found alive.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had announced in 2010 that Iran plans to send astronauts into space in 2024. But, later he said that the issue had gone under a second study at a cabinet meeting and that the cabinet had decided to implement the plan in 2019, five years earlier than the date envisaged in the original plan.

Iran to Unveil Home-Made Long-Range Drone in May

Source : Islamic Invitation Turkey

Deputy Defense Minister for Industrial and Research Affairs Mohammad Eslami underlined Iran’s great achievements in manufacturing different types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and announced that Tehran plans to unveil its long-range drone late in May.

“We are producing 20 types of UAVs inside the country, which are classified in the three categories of long, short and mid-range and altitude,” Eslami said on Iranian TV.

He said the long-range category is known as a strategic class, and added the mid-range drones are used for reconnaissance missions, while the short-range drones are suitable for training courses and wargames.

He noted the production of the strategic class of drones, and said, “We hope to soon unveil new strategic drones which can fly up to 30,000 feet in altitude and 24 hours of nonstop flight.”

He noted that the drones are used in different ranges depending on their missions, and stated, “God willing, the country’s newest hi-tech, long-range drone will be unveiled on May 24.”

Iran has recently made giant advancements in aerospace industries, specially in designing and manufacturing pilotless drones.

In September, Iran announced that it has started using UAVs for its air defense units as part of its broader plans for strengthening the country’s air defense capability.

Speaking to reporters on the occasion of the National Day of Air Defense here in Tehran on September 3, Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli said Iran has equipped its air defense units with Haazem drones.

The drone can be used as a target for air defense systems and also for reconnaissance missions.

Haazem can also be equipped with missiles and used for aerial bombardments as well.

Syria's Assad orders minor cabinet shake-up

Source : Xinhua | English.news.cn

DAMASCUS, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ordered Saturday a minor cabinet reshuffle, according to the state- run SANA news agency.

The reshuffle brought the change of seven ministries, including housing, public work, labor, agriculture, oil, finance and social affairs.

The ministry of social affairs and work was split into two ministries, one for social affairs and one for work.

The state media spelled no details about the reasons behind the reshuffle, but it apparently came as part of the practical steps by the Syrian administration to implement the political vision put forward last month by Assad himself.

Related:

Syrian troops repulse rebels' attack against army post near Damascus

DAMASCUS, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian troops repulsed Saturday an armed group's attack on a military post in the countryside of the capital Damascus, a military source was quoted by the state- run SANA news agency as saying.

The troops confronted the group, which tried to attack the military post in Kafr Nasej, SANA said, adding that the troops dealt heavy losses to the assailants. Full story

Disruption of sanitation services in Syria putting children's health at risk: UN agency

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The severe disruption of water and sanitation services and a lack of access to basic hygiene in Syria have increased the risk of water-borne diseases among children, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned on Friday. Full story

Senior MP Blasts Western Media Hype on Iran

Source : Fars News Agency

Western media in their reports are pretending that Iran is facing a critical situation due to differences among its officials.

"The western media are trying to reflect the (country's) smallest problem as a crisis through magnifying Iran's domestic problems, hence the officials should utilize their capabilities to serve the people by avoiding differences," member of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Nozar Shafiyee told FNA on Saturday.

He said the western media, due to their lack of a proper understanding of the Iranian society, suppose that people's support for the Islamic Republic has declined due to economic pressures, but this is wrong.

Shafiyee said that the Iranian people like previous years will take part in tomorrow's nationwide rallies marking the 34th victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in the country in a bid to show their unity to the world without paying attention to the western media hype.

Last week, Rapporteur of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Seyed Hossein Naqavi Hosseini said Tehran's intelligence supremacy over the enemies has foiled the western media plots against the country.

The Iranian lawmaker praised intelligence forces for the arrest of several elements cooperating with a Western media network, stressing that the operation thwarted a US-British media and security plot against Iran.

He added that the US and British intelligence agencies try to identify potential assets via BBC Persian, the Voice of America (VOA) and media organizations, and use them against Iran.

In a statement released last month, the Iranian Intelligence Ministry dismissed the western media ballyhoo about the recent arrests in Iran in the last few days, and said it is conducting thorough investigations into the case, which has already led to an established link between the detainees and the BBC.

The statement said the intelligence ministry "has succeeded in uncovering one of the biggest networks (of informants and agents) linked with the media camp of the arrogant powers".

The ministry statement said "the network was run by the British government's psychological operations organization (known as the BBC) in cooperation with several western governments and used a multilayer, extensive and well-equipped structure and very special methods of communications for sending its reports", adding that the BBC and its western co-conspirators used the experience they had gained in the post- election unrests in Iran in June 2009 to better run the network.

The statement said the Intelligence Ministry watched the operations and moves of the network for months and collected the needed judicial proofs and evidence before it made the arrests.

"Owing to the special sensitivity of the case and numerous intelligence, security and judicial considerations, the collected information fully substantiate the link between the detained individuals and the psychological operations network of the British government and reveals the type and nature of the organized move by the alien media, even without considering the confessions made by the suspects," it said.

The statement also mentioned that because those connected with this network both inside and outside the country had different types and levels of cooperation and contact with the group and because some of the them might have been in contact with the network unknowingly or might have been unaware of the fact that the network finds its roots in a foreign entity, some of the detainees might be released, while some others might be summoned to the ministry to present explanations.

Thus, the ministry said it would continue the probe until all individuals affiliated to this network are summoned to the investigation and "the media ballyhoo of the psychological war machine of the arrogance (the arrogant powers) and its affiliated so-called human rights organizations and the massive statements issued by numerous fake… organizations will leave no impact on the will and determination" of the in9 © ©9\Media\9107\Images\jpg\B0112\B1127622.jpg,\Media\9107\Images\jpg\D0112\D1127623.jpg,\Medi  ,…ج1گ1´ ˆ¦ث ¨ü¨ˆt@a12013-02-091t…,`گf®ˆ, ah11aHôœ„,گ `@ثü¬H|‌O  !®Xط!,†¤ ُ 1‹ˆ®a115L†,ن¨ ®  `ہي€ˆ¯M11üô…,ذhط ِذ P®!T‡,!!€®|‰! ® ®

Donnerstag, 7. Februar 2013

Iran plans to boost output at oilfield shared with Oman

Source : Trend.Az

Iran  has plans to increase output by up to 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) at the Hengam oilfield shared with Oman by the end of the current Iranian calendar year which ends on March 20, the Shana News Agency quoted National Iranian Offshore Oilfields Company official Mohammad-Baqer Soleimani as saying.

The field is estimated to hold 700 million barrels of crude oil and 2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Some $450 million has been invested in the first phase of development.

Previously, the company's managing director Mahmoud Zirakchianzadeh told the Mehr news agency that "at present, Iran extracts some 22,000 barrels of oil per day from the field."

In April 2012, Zirakchianzadeh said that Iran has launched projects to develop four oilfields located in the Persian Gulf and raised its total output by 100,000 bpd this calendar year.

"Some $9 billion worth of contracts were signed last year to develop Salman, Lavan and Forouz B fields," Zirakchianzadeh told the Mehr news agency.

This year, we plan to boost outputs at Reshadat, Forouzan, Hengam and Hendijan fields by 100,000 bpd.

Iran announced that it will implement 11 plans by the Iranian calendar month of Mordad 1392 (July 22-August 22, 2013) aimed at boosting oil production by 175,000 barrels per day (bpd).

The plans are related to the first phase of development of the Yadavaran, Sarvestan, Saadatabad, Hengam, Forouzan, Reshadat, Aban and Paydar oilfields, according to a report published by the National Iranian Oil Company on August 25.

Once all the phases of the development plans are implemented, output will be increased by 500,000 bpd.

Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi has said that the country's oil output is projected to increase by 1.5 million bpd by 2016.

Dienstag, 5. Februar 2013

Iran's Army, Active Force in Int'l Peacekeeping Missions

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran is among active forces in the UN peacekeeping missions and has so far dispatched peacekeepers to other countries.

The Iranian Army's present peacekeeping unit, formed in 1992, is doing observing and peacekeeping missions in various countries now.

In a bid to learn the UN standard criteria for peacekeeping operations, 12 Iranian officers have recently been dispatched to Italy, India, Turkey and Switzerland to take part in relevant training courses.

The army sent 4 of its peacekeeping troops to Eritrea and Ethiopia in 2003 and later dispatched 4 peacekeepers to Sudan and South Sudan.

Right now, Iranian peacekeepers are in a mission in Darfur.

In October 2011, Iranian Army Ground Force Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan said Iran's well-trained and skilled peacekeeping forces are ready to be sent to any necessary mission called by the UN.

The commander added that the forces were familiar with three English, Arabic and French languages and have accomplished various courses in combat and guerrilla warfare.

Iran's nuclear sites impervious to any attack by U.S., Israel: commander

Source : Xinhua

TEHRAN, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian commander said that the nuclear facilities of the Islamic republic are impervious to any potential attack by the United State or Israel, Press TV reported on Tuesday.

"Today, we have achieved the defense capability to make vital infrastructure, especially nuclear installations, completely impenetrable," Deputy Commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base General Shahrokh Shahram was quoted as saying on Monday.

Iran has tested the impenetrability of its nuclear sites with various weapons and tactics in different military drills, said Shahram, adding that it can now be assured that the country has reached the capability to defend its sensitive sites with an indigenous defense system in the best possible way.

The West and Israel suspect that the Iranian nuclear program, which the officials of the Islamic republic insists is "peaceful," may have military dimensions.

The United States and Israel have not ruled out the possibility of striking Iran's nuclear facilities. The Islamic republic has threatened that it will retaliate if its nuclear establishments are hit.

Larijani urges enhanced Iran-India ties

Source : IRNA

Tehran, Feb 5, IRNA – Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani on Tuesday stressed the need to provide suitable opportunities for expansion of Iran-India relations.

In a meeting with Indian Ambassador to Tehran Serio Stava here, Larijani said Tehran-New Delhi political and economic relations are in a good track and the Iranian Majlis favors expansion of mutual relations in various fields, in parliamentary domain in particular.

He said by adopting prudent policies, Tehran and New Delhi should broaden ties at bilateral and regional levels.

The Indian diplomat, for his part, said talks between Iranian and Indian officials on regional issues would be effective.

He said upcoming visit of the Iranian Majlis speaker to India would serve as an important step towards expansion of friendly cooperation.

Montag, 4. Februar 2013

Iran unveils models of two new satellites

Source :   Tehran Times

TEHRAN – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unveiled the models of two new domestically designed satellites, named the Nahid and the Zohre, on Monday during his visit to an exhibition of the country’s achievements in the aerospace industry, which is being held on the occasion of the National Space Technology Day.

Experts at the research center of the Iranian Space Agency, in cooperation with scientists at Amirkabir University of Technology, have designed the Nahid satellite.

The missions of the satellite are to assess the efficiency of the solar panels which have been used for the first time in a domestically manufactured satellite and to take photographs and transmit them to Earth.

The Zohre, which is a communications satellite, has been designed to transmit radio and television broadcasts and provide telecommunications, banking, and internet services.

The satellite has a life of 15 years and will be sent into a geostationary orbit.

A geostationary orbit is a circular orbit 35,786 kilometers above the Earth’s equator and following the direction of the Earth’s rotation. An object in such an orbit has an orbital period equal to the Earth’s rotational period, and thus appears motionless, at a fixed position in the sky, to ground observers. Communications satellites and weather satellites are often given geostationary orbits, so that the satellite antennas that communicate with them do not have to move to track them.

Iran launched its first satellite, called the Omid (Hope), in February 2009. The Rasad (Observation) satellite was also sent into space in June 2011.

In February, 2012, Iran successfully put its third domestically manufactured satellite, named the Navid (Promise), into orbit. On February 8, 2012, Iran received the first image sent by the Navid satellite.

The Navid is designed to collect data on weather conditions and monitor for natural disasters. It has advanced control technology, a higher resolution camera, and photocells to generate power.

As part of its space program, Iran also plans to put the Sharifsat satellite into orbit by the end of the current Iranian calendar year, which concludes on March 20.

According to officials, the Fajr (Dawn) satellite will most probably be sent into space before the current year ends.

The Fajr, which is a reconnaissance satellite powered by solar energy, will be Iran’s first new- generation satellite to be sent into orbit.

Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi also announced on Monday that the Tolou (Sunrise) would be sent into space aboard the Simorgh satellite-carrier rocket from the Imam Khomeini space center in the near future.

He also said that the project to build the Imam Khomeini space center is in its final stage.

Sonntag, 3. Februar 2013

Iran to unveil upgraded domestically manufactured tanks

Source : APA

Baku-APA. The Islamic Republic of Iran will be unveiling upgraded versions of two domestically designed and manufactured battle tanks this week, APA reports quoting Press TV.

The Zolfaqar and Samsam tanks will be put on display on Monday as part of the Ten-Day Dawn celebrations commemorating the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979.

The commander of the Iranian Army, Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, and a number of other high-ranking military officials will be attending the unveiling ceremony.

On January 15, Pourdastan said that the fire control system and the stabilizer of the new version of the Zolfaqar tank have been upgraded, adding that the tank will be mass-produced after receiving the approval of the office of the chief of the general staff of the armed forces.

Iran’s Zolfaqar tank has a distinctive box-shaped, steel-welded turret and is operated by a crew of three.

The tank is armed with a 125mm smoothbore 2A46 gun, which is fitted with a fume extractor. Its secondary armament consists of a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a 12.7mm machine gun.

The Samsam tank is said to be an upgrade of the M-60A1 battle tank.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.

Tehran has repeatedly assured other nations that its military might poses no threat to other countries, saying that the Islamic Republic’s defense doctrine is entirely based on deterrence.

Germany says it will help pave the way for Iran-U.S. direct talks

Source : http://www.mehrnews.com/

TEHRAN, Feb.3 (MNA) – German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Friday that Berlin would help pave the way for direct talks between Iran and the United States, expressing hope that Iran would accept the offer of bilateral talks.

He made the statement in Berlin in reference to the remarks that U.S. Vice President Joe Biden made in an interview with the German Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily on Friday in which he said, “We are continuing with the 5+1 group to work for a diplomatic solution, and we have said from the beginning that we are prepared to hold a bilateral meeting.”

Westerwelle said, “This is a hand that he is extending to the Iranian government, and we will urge the Iranian government to take them up on this offer.”

“Direct talks between Washington and Tehran are in the interest of all of our security, also in our interests as Europeans so we will make our contribution to creating the necessary atmosphere,” the German minister said after a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who leads the negotiations with Iran over the country’s nuclear program on behalf of world powers, namely the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany.

In addition, Ashton said in Berlin on Friday that she hoped a new round of talks between Iran and the six major powers would resume “very shortly,” AFP reported.

The latest round of talks between Iran and world powers was held in Moscow on June 18 and 19, 2012, and a new round of talks is expected to be held in February.

According to sisterszone.com, Ashton also called on the Iranian leadership to accept the offer of bilateral talks with the United States, but she added that it was not the task of Europe to arrange talks between Washington and Tehran.

Army: Satellite network isn’t for Facebook

Source : Military News

Soldiers are using a war zone logistics satellite network to surf Facebook, Twitter and other sites that are off limits on Army computers.

And the Army is ordering them to knock it off.

An Army bulletin warns soldiers that the mobile satellite network is not for non-Army uses like file- swapping networks, checking e- mail or visiting non-Army web sites. Army deputy chief of staff for logistics Lt. Gen. Raymond Mason issued the message Jan. 13.

The terminals and mobile network are commonly used by lower enlisted soldiers to request supplies in the war zone, according to source familiar with them. The Army blocks their ability to access the commercial, classified and non-classified Internet.

Those who misuse the called Combat Service Support — Very Small Aperture Terminal, or CSS-VSAT, will find their systems or terminal blocked from the network, the message warns. The Army product director for Defense-Wide Transmission Systems, which procures the terminals, has been tapped to monitor their use.

Restricted sites not only jeopardize cyber security and mission essential capabilities, but they can “can overload the network and cause overall poor network performance,” the bulletin states.

Proxy servers, which allow anonymous web surfing, and other technology that circumvents blocked internet capabilities are “strictly prohibited,” unless they have received prior approval from the product director.

The CSS-VSATs are authorized for units based on war time missions, and are not for garrison use alone, the message reads.

The systems were procured as part of an Army program to provide network connectivity to logisticians. In fiscal 2012, the Army budget allocated $23 million for the systems to go to combat service support units.

Manufactured by L-3 Communications, the systems allow troops to users to share documents, pass requisitions, collaborate and conduct meetings online and make voice-over-internet telephone calls, according to the Army

Samstag, 2. Februar 2013

Iranian FM confers with German, Italian counterparts

Source : http://www.irna.ir/en

Salehiˈs meetings with Guido Westerwelle of Germany and Italyˈs Giulio Terzi were held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Salehi and Westerwelle discussed avenues for fostering all-out relations as well as the latest international developments.

Prior to this meeting, Westerwelle in a joint press conference with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressed satisfaction over participation of Salehi in the Munich Security Conference.

ˈI know Salehi very well and we have had a proper and reliable relation in the past years,ˈ Westerwelle said during the press conference.

Salehi and his Italian counterpart also called for further promotion of all-out relations.

Salehi in separate meetings also held talks with UN special envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mighati last night.

Salehi arrived in the south German city of Munich on Saturday to address the 49th Munich Security Conference.

Toothless sanctions? Iranian oil trade booming, China top buyer

Via : http://www.mehrnews.com

TEHRAN, Feb.2 (MNA) – Iran has quickly found ways to circumvent the EU sanctions imposed on its oil trade in July. After dipping sharply in summer of 2012, Iranian crude oil exports rose again by the end of the year.

So far, Iran’s December crude oil sales were the highest recorded since the sanctions were first imposed. Iran exported 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) in December, compared to less than 900,000 bpd in September.

EU sanctions, introduced in January 2012 and put into effect in July, aimed to curb Iran's civilian nuclear program.

Analysts believe that sales to Asia and the expansion of Iran’s tanker fleet helped the Islamic Republic circumvent the sanctions. In countries like China, India and Japan, Iranian oil constitutes more than 10 percent of the total crude supply – and demand from Asia is only growing.

"China is saying let's up the numbers because no-one is doing anything about it and it looks like Obama has made a political decision not to go to war with Iran," a senior source at a large independent trading house told Reuters.

Iran is also improving its delivery channels, despite the numerous bans and restrictions imposed by the international community.

"Iran bought a number of tankers from China and can now do more deliveries. It's taken some pressure off Iran and facilitated tanker traffic and we are seeing higher exports to China," analyst Salar Moradi at oil and gas consulting firm FGE told Reuters.

Source: rt.com

Iran Unveils New Home-Made Fighter Jet

Source : Fars News Agency

he advanced Iranian aircraft was displayed in a special ceremony attended by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmed Vahidi, Iranian Air Force Deputy Commander General Mohsen Darebaqi and a number of senior military commanders were also present in the ceremony.

The new achievement was unveiled on the occasion of the Ten-Day Dawn ceremonies, celebrating the victory of the Islamic Revolution back in 1979.

Iran has also taken wide strides in designing and manufacturing different types of light, semi-heavy and heavy weapons, military tools and equipment. Tehran launched an arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter planes.

Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country's military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.

Freitag, 1. Februar 2013

President Ahmadinejad: Iran to Continue Progress Regardless of Sanctions

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the Iranian nation will continue its progress in different scientific fields irrespective of the pressures and sanctions imposed by the enemies.

"Despite the fact that enemies of the Iranian nation are doing their best to stop Tehran's technological advancement, Islamic Republic is committed to continue its approach towards the highest scientific levels," President Ahmadinejad said.

The enemies of the Iranian nation are unable to impede Tehran's scientific progress, the president reiterated.

He also deplored the arrogant powers for their efforts aimed at blocking Iran's scientific progress.

Last month, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said the arrogant powers grew united to exhaust the Iranian nation through sanctions, but to no avail.

"Despite the past, the arrogant powers now acknowledge very frankly that the goal of the sanctions is making the Iranian nation exhausted to provoke them against the Islamic Republic, increase pressures on Iranian officials and as a result make the (Iranian) officials change their calculations," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

He downplayed the effects of the enemies' pressures and sanctions, and said, "But the inclination of the people of this great land to the principles of Islam and the Revolution and the national honor of Iranians are on the increase every day and this is exactly the counterpoint of what the enemies want."

Ayatollah Khamenei called on the Iranian nation and officials to keep more vigilant against the arrogant governments' plots.

Washington and its Western allies accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program, while they have never presented any corroborative evidence to substantiate their allegations. Iran denies the charges and insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Tehran stresses that the country has always pursued a civilian path to provide power to the growing number of Iranian population, whose fossil fuel would eventually run dry.

Despite the rules enshrined in the NPT entitling every member state, including Iran, to the right of uranium enrichment, Tehran is now under four rounds of UN Security Council sanctions for turning down West's calls to give up its right of uranium enrichment.

Tehran has dismissed West's demands as politically tainted and illogical, stressing that sanctions and pressures merely consolidate Iranians' national resolve to continue the path.

Tehran has repeatedly said that it considers its nuclear case closed as it has come clean of IAEA's questions and suspicions about its past nuclear activities.

Iran threatens to sue BP over pollution from Caspian Sea oil platforms

Via :  Tehran Times

Iran believes BP-operated Azeri oil platforms have polluted the Caspian Sea and may sue the UK oil group if it continues, Iran's deputy environment chief has been reported as saying by Iranian media.

Iranian officials have complained that Azeri oil has washed up on Iranian beaches over the last year, with Iran's Press TV reporting on Sunday that Tehran may sue Azerbaijan.

Mehr news reported on Tuesday that deputy chief Abdolreza Karbasi had accused BP of dumping oil waste into the Caspian Sea and that Iran might target BP in court if it continued.

"Last year, southern coasts of the Caspian Sea were covered with oily patches, and in the last such case, four months ago, 25 tons were cleared from Iranian coasts," Karbasi was quoted by Mehr as saying.

He did not say which court Iran might try to sue BP in.

A spokesman for BP said the company had committed to officially report any leaks in the Caspian and had not had to for years.

"We are a responsible operator in the Caspian and as such we have rigorous [health, safety and environment] processes and procedures in place in line with international standards," BP said in an emailed statement.

Last October, the Azeri President, Ilham Aliyev, attacked BP - the biggest foreign investor in Azerbaijan - over declining output from the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) fields in the last few years.

BP's partners on the AGC project include Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Statoil.