Editorials
– Afarinsh newspaper handled Lausanne talks on Syria.
– Jahan Sanaat questioned about the laws issued by Khamenei concerning elections.
Iranian News Roundup
– New European sanctions on the Iranian National Company for Oil Transportation.
– Deputy-Foreign Minister makes releases about the nuclear deal.
– Iranian MPs handle the Minister of Culture’s resignation and its impact on the government.
Afarineshdaily Newspaper
Political weight in Lausanne
Afarineshdaily Newspaper in its editorial today discusses the Lausanne talks concerning the Syrian crisis. The editorial assumes that it does not seem that the assembled nations have a consolidated vision of what at least should be addressed, with no identified insight about the topics details for discussion. The participant countries split into two groups, one comprising America, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey and another one includes Russia, Iran and Iraq, and Egypt to be neutral between the state parties. The article suggests that the United States seeks to waste time until the presidential election is over and a new president comes to the United States since engaging in an armed confrontation would not have a positive impact on the Democratic candidate in the elections. Besides, America’s allies are not amenable to disarm the opposition factions that they support. Turkey is greatly concerned about forming a homeland for Kurds in northern Syria, and their next phase would be developing a strong alliance with the Turkish Kurdistan Workers’ Party. Turkey also has practical benefit of arming and aiding the “Free Army” to obtain their objectives; add to that its ambitions in northern Iraq, and Mosul, and it is not expected to recede Erdogan’s ambition and greed from one moment to another. For Russians, they vigorously attempt to terminate Aleppo task before new US president takes power. Accordingly, Aleppo is going to be a trump card in their hands that enhance their strength in the ongoing negotiations. Consequently, no participating party in Lausanne has the willingness to shift his strategy in Syria, or even to cooperate with others. The peak gains that Lausanne will achieve is to open the door for more talks, and that will likely increase benefits on the battlefield. The solution for the Syrian crisis already requires a political will, but now the crucial determinant that encourages the parties of the crisis, or forcing them to find a solution will be obtained only through the air and ground battlefields.
Jahan Sannat Newspaper
Concerns over new electoral legislation
An editorial in Sunday’s Jahan Sannat newspaper questioned the purpose of law issued the day before by Ayatollah Khamenei concerning supervision of the electoral process in Iran. The editorial asserted that disputes over the course of previous elections among the political elite confirm the need for clear laws governing electoral practices, adding that current practices don’t reflect Iran’s designation as an ‘Islamic Republic,’ being inconsistent with both Islam and republicanism. The new legislation has been issued by Khamenei, like all Iran’s laws, without consulting the country’s legislative bodies or holding any public consultation or discussion, even amongst the political elite in the country, the editorial adds.The editorialist further questions the Guardian Council’s additional intervention in the election process despite its existing extensive monitoring and control of the elections and of enacting legislation. While the primary stated objective of the new legislative amendments introduced by Khamenei is to prevent members of Iran’s armed forces from engaging in politics or interfering in the electoral process, the editorial concludes. That has not prevented reformists from condemning the imposition of the legislation without political consultation, or of objecting to other sections of the bill expanding the Guardian Council’s powers at the expense of the country’s dwindling democracy, which the editorialist warns is further reduced by this new law.
Doniae Eghtesad Newspaper
Heavy caliber of Boeing and Airbus
Doniae Eghtesad Newspaper, in its editorial today discusses the standards of aircraft options that Iran will purchase after the US Treasury Department to grant its permission to Boeing and Airbus to sell planes to Iran. The editorial says that Iran has currently 156 civilian aircraft serving in the airlines; it is scheduled to rise that number to 377 aircraft. The article asserts that the comparison of the safety standard of the plane between the two US and French companies attests that the US Boeing safety standard is higher than the French Airbus, where it has got five terms of security while Airbus met only three, but Boeing is much expensive than Airbus. However, Boeing has another advantage that it manufactures all the parts of the plane, but Airbus depends on US-made parts. Although, Boeing aircraft involves another risk, the navigational devices, can be controlled by another user that means the United States can disable the plane even after selling it, which must be taken into account due to the nature of political relations between the two countries. Currently, Iran has three Boeings of the 400-747 model that does not have the authorization to fly because of the US ban. Boeing Co. has the full privileges to track its product in any country in the world. Add to that, after-sales service of Airbus considerably done smoothly with Iran, while Boeing was punishing companies that carry out these services to Iran. Overall, the editorial encourages Iran to make its contract with the French Airbus rather than with Boeing despite the defect safety factor and multiple manufacturers.
♦ Three challenges to face the Iranian economy next year
Murtaza Imani Rad, the economic expert said that the Iranian economy would be facing three challenges next year, and in case the budget is ratified without taking these challenges into consideration, it would face serious setbacks. The first challenge is the constant market changes, the second is fixing the exchange rate of currency in case market forces determine this rate, and the third is that the budgets of 2015 and 2016 were prepared under difficult circumstances. In the 2017 demand is expected to increase, which will raise the prices creating a new challenge for the Iranian economy.
Abrar Eghtisadi Newspaper
♦ Sea route between Masqat and Chabahar in service
General Manager of Ports and Sea Navigation in the Iranian Baluchistan and Sistan provinces, Bahroz Aga’i announced the start of a sea route that links the Omani capital Muscat with the Iranian chabahar port next November. Aga’i asserted that this way would enhance trade and tourism in the region, noting that it has been established by an Omani private sector’s investment.
Mehr Agency
♦ Number of addicts is doubled in Iran
The Iranian Social Care president said that the number of addicts has doubled in Iran and reached 325 thousand people. As for addicted soldiers, he stated they have been given 3 months to cure from addiction.
Arman Amroz Newspaper
♦ Increase in petrochemical imports to South America and Africa
Production Manager in the Iranian National Company for Petrochemical Industries, Mohammed Ali Basaq Zadeh said that the Iranian petrochemical exports to South America, Africa, and some European countries are increasing. “After providing the local needs of these products, we prepare to export to other nations,” Zadeh explained.
Abrar Eqtisadi Newspaper
♦ Salhashouri: Acceptance of Jannati’s resignation puts the government in question
Member of the parliamentary reformist “Amid” coalition and head of Women Committee in the parliament, Barvanah Salhashouri said that if President Rouhani accepts the resignation of the Minister of Culture Ali Jannati, he will put the government in question, noting that the ministry’s performance does not meet people’s expectations.
“Other ministries are facing problems that must be resolved, and the acceptance of Jannati’s resignation is inappropriate,” Salhashouri added about Hashimi Rafsanjani’s era when Mohammed Khatami faced the same situation of Jannati.
Salhashouri criticized the party’s considerations that dominate politics in Iran saying, “During Ahmadinejad’s era musical parties were frequently held with no fuss like what the Ministry of Culture is now facing, and traditional parties do not contradict with the Iranian culture and beliefs, or with Islam.”
Shargh Newspaper
♦ Iran’s floating oil reserves are running out
An Iranian well-connected source announced that the Iranian light floating oil “loaded on tankers” has decreased. On the same issue, the International Affairs Manager in the National Oil Company, Muhsin Qamsari said that the Iranian exports of liquefied gas exceeded 600 thousand barrels per day, which exceeds production, leading to a noticeable decline in liquefied gas reserves because of exportation.
In his response to a question about Iran’s floating oil reserves, Qamsari said that Iran does not have any unsold shipments and all produced oil is being sold.
Asr Iran Website
♦ Expulsion of Iranian students from Indian universities
The Iranian scientific advisor in India, Mohammed Riza Khalili said that the Iranian students studying Medicine, and Dentistry in the Indian universities are about to leave. Based on a rule of the Indian higher court, students should pass the “Neet” admission test to get to these subjects, which means that only Indian students can get to these majors. Khalili added that the Iranian students are enrolled in the universities of” GR Chinai,” “Manibal,” and the “Binjab.” Those students paid about $90 thousand tuition fees and now are obliged to leave, but the Indian universities informed them that they could not make a refund to all fees.
Asr Iran Website
♦ Iranian warships are headed to Azerbaijan
The Iranian destroyer Damavand and rocket launcher Joshin will leave Iran headed to the Caspian Sea and then to Azerbaijan aimed at carrying the Iranian flag and a message of peace and friendship to the regional countries.
Jam-e-Jam Newspaper
♦ New long-term sanctions against the Iranian National Oil Company for Oil Carriers
A European court has imposed new 30-year sanctions against the Iranian National Company for Oil Carriers. The penalties included investors in the company such as the Social Insurance Investments Company “Shista” and the Retirement Fund of the oil industry.
According to the rule, no European court is eligible to repeal this it for 30 years, and the European insurance companies cannot make insurance on the Iranian Oil Carriers.
On the same issue, Fares News Agency said that one of the most severe sanctions imposed on Iran during the past years was the sanctions on oil carriers that created too many problems to these tankers in most ports of the world.
Mashriq Website
♦ Iraqchi: We are facing internal and external challenges and impediments in our banking systems
Deputy- Foreign Minister for the International and Legal Affairs, Abbas Iraqchi said in his meeting with the Nuclear Committee in the Iranian parliament that the nuclear deal had removed all obstacles facing the Iranian economy that will be apparent during the coming years. He added that the implementation of the nuclear deal is going well, especially in the oil sector and what is left linked to Iran’s goals and activities.
“Limitations on the Iranian banking transactions were removed, but we are facing internal and external problems and other problems related to the readiness of our banking systems,” Iraqchi explained.
Deputy-Foreign Minister continued, “The first benefit of the nuclear deal is buying airplanes and solving other problems related to human rights and terrorism. Opposing the FATF deal creates some problems to the Iranian financial activities, and the extremist currents in America, Zionists, and some other Arab countries hostile to Iran are obstacles that hinder the fruitful gains of the nuclear deal.”
Iraqchi concluded, “We have paved the way to attract $70 million investments to Iran from European and other countries, and we are in the final stages concerning these investments.”
Asr Iran Site
