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Prayer Time (Tehran)
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Dawn: 5:42
Sunrise: 7:12
Noon: 12:04
Evening: 17:17
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Weather Guide
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WED |
THU |
Tehran: |
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High: |
0 oC |
2 oC |
Low: |
-5 oC |
-6 oC |
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Athens |
13 |
13 |
Ankara |
-1 |
0 |
Cairo |
20 |
22 |
Copenhagen |
5 |
6 |
Frankfurt |
-1 |
-1 |
Karachi |
24 |
21 |
Kuwait City |
13 |
12 |
London |
9 |
12 |
Madrid |
9 |
9 |
Moscow |
-4 |
-2 |
New Delhi |
23 |
22 |
Paris |
6 |
6 |
Riyadh |
16 |
15 |
Rome |
10 |
8 |
Vienna |
-4 |
-5 |
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Identification
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Published by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA)
Address:
Iran Cultural & Press Institute, #212 Khorramshahr Avenue Tehran/Iran
Executive Editor:
Editorial Dept. Tel: 88755761-2
Editorial Dept. Fax: 88761869
Advertising Dept. Tel: 88500616,88500617
Internet Address:
www.iran-daily.com
E-mail Address:
iran-daily@iran-daily.com
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Algiers Accord Irrevocable
Qomi: Al-Hayat May Have Misquoted Talabani
TEHRAN, Dec. 25--The Algiers Accord signed between Iraq and Iran in 1975 is an international border treaty and irrevocable according to the 1965 Vienna Conventions.
However, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani’s recent statement that the Iraqi government does not recognize the 1975 accord, which was published in the Arab daily Al-Hayat, has met with mixed reactions, ISNA reported.
Iran’s ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, said the Algiers Accord is an unchangeable international
document.
He noted that the border agreement (referring to the 1975 accord) is an official deed as well as an irrevocable international treaty.
Noting that newspapers at times present their own impression about statements of officials, he pointed out that he does not know what Talabani told Al-Hayat.
However, Qomi reiterated that the Algiers Accord cannot be changed and Iran is working on implementing its clauses.
Asked about differences over border checkpoints as agreed upon in the accord, he noted that the issue of border checkpoints is technical and has nothing to do with the accord itself.
“Since Talabani is a famous lawyer, it is difficult to believe that he made these statements,“ he said.
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Haj Pilgrims Returning
TEHRAN, Dec. 25--The first group of Haj pilgrims arrived in Tehran on Tuesday.
A total of 102,000 Iranian pilgrims went to Haj this year and all of them will be home by January 12, Fars News Agency reported.
Head of Haj and Pilgrimage Organization Mostafa Khaksar Qahroudi noted that 604 groups of Haj pilgrims were dispatched to Saudi Arabia from Iran.
“The number of women Haj pilgrims was 47,000 and men pilgrims totaled 45,000,“ he said.
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Nuclear Case Should
Return to IAEA
TEHRAN, Dec. 25--Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Tuesday said Iran’s nuclear case should be sent back to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“Since the world and the IAEA have been assured of the peaceful nature of the nuclear program, it is time to return the nuclear case to the IAEA agency through a brave and logical decision,“ he said, IRNA reporated.
The foreign minister made the remark in a meeting with the visiting head of the foreign relations commission of Turkey’s parliament, Murat Mercan.
On Iran-Turkey relations, Mottaki called for further expansion of cooperation in all important areas, and noted that the two neighbors enjoy historic and friendly relations.
“Existence of a powerful and developed Turkey with high potentials is in Iran’s interest.“
Mottaki said the present quality of Tehran-Ankara economic relations has been unprecedented in the history of two countries.
Referring to the two-way relations in the key energy sector as an appropriate model for developing bilateral cooperation in other areas, he called for continued exchange of views between the two sides.
For his part, the Turkish parliamentarian said Iran and Turkey are two major players in the region. “Turkey is interested in expansion of all-out ties with Iran,“ he added.
He voiced Ankara’s interest in expanding the role of its businesses in Iran.
Mercan also called for joint cooperation in promoting peace and security in the strategic region.
Bahrain Visit
Meanwhile, Iran’s ambassador to Manama, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Mottaki will visit Bahrain next week.
A session of the Iran-Bahrain High Commission for bilateral cooperation will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday.
On the recent visit to Qatar by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he said the two sides stressed holding the first session of the joint High Commission during the visit.
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Hosseini:
Sarkozy Welcome
TEHRAN, Dec. 25--Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said here Tuesday Tehran would welcome a visit by French president if the visit helps build international trust and confidence in the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear activities.
He made the remark in response to recent reports from Paris to the effect that Nicolas Sarkozy would be willing to come to Iran if Tehran expanded its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Hosseini stressed that the IAEA is the “only legal body qualified to look into Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities.“ Tehran has placed no restrictions on the UN nuclear watchdog’s access to nuclear sites and facilities in the Islamic Republic, IRNA quoted him as saying.
“Iranian officials will see President Sarkozy’s visit as an effective and constructive move, if it helps strengthen confidence of the international community in the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.“
Tehran welcomes a French proposal for joint cooperation in the civilian use of nuclear technology, he stressed.
On developments in Lebanon, the spokesman said the extended political standoff in that country demands new initiatives that can lead to a diplomatic solution to the problem of appointing a president.
“It seems France has a better understanding of the situation in Lebanon,“ Hosseini said while commenting on stances taken by Paris and Washington vis-ˆ-vis Beirut’s decision to amend the country’s constitution.
“The French position was more rational compared to that of the US,“ he said without elaboration.
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Tactical Vehicle Produced
TEHRAN, Dec. 25--Defense Ministry engineers have produced a tactical vehicle dubbed ’Safir’ (Envoy), which is capable of carrying all types of missiles.
More than 3,000 Safir vehicles have been produced and the Defense Ministry plans to manufacture at least 5,000 tactical vehicles per annum as of the next Iranian year (to start March 20, 2008), Fars News Agency reported.
Safir has been developed by Iranian engineers and employs indigenous technology.
Different kinds of missiles, launchers and machine guns can be installed on the back of this vehicle.
The vehicle’s parts are produced within the country and can be used in combat zones as the commanding vehicle, ambulance and telecommunication base.
Safir can operate in different weather conditions, because it has been equipped with powerful excels, chassis, body and engine.
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Naval Conclave With India
NEW DELHI, India, Dec. 25--Iran is likely to participate in a naval conclave at the Indian Navy’s initiative to boost regional interaction on the Indian Ocean Rim in February 2008.
Indian Navy, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, is hosting a regional Naval Chiefs Conclave and International Symposium on the Indian Ocean Rim during February 13-19 to which 31 countries, mostly of the Indian Ocean rim, have been invited, IRNA reported.
Although Iran and Pakistan, with their navies positioned in the Indian Ocean rim, have not yet given their nod for participation, a positive reply from Iran is expected soon, PTI quoted naval sources as saying.
Modeled on the lines of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium of the US Navy, the Indian Navy has set up a permanent grouping called Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.
Twenty-six countries, including regional naval powers like Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, have already confirmed their participation.
The Indian Navy is seeking to promote its influence and friendship among littoral states and also to promote security in the Indian Ocean.
At the symposium ,which would be preceded by a daylong session of the chiefs of naval staffs of the participating countries, experts would deliberate on issues like tackling piracy, terrorism and security of crucial sea-lanes such as the Bay of Bengal, Arabian sea and Red Sea.
Asked why countries like the US, Japan and UK had been kept out of the symposium, Indian naval officials said the meeting was confined to littoral states of the Indian Ocean.
But surprisingly, France would be attending because it owns an island called Reunion, some 120 kilometers east of Mauritius.
The initiative for the symposium comes close on the heels of the Indian Navy undertaking major joint exercises with most of the Persian Gulf states, including Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
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Lebanon Opposition Rejects Vote Law Change
BEIRUT, Lebanon,
Dec. 25--The Lebanese opposition on Tuesday rejected as unconstitutional the draft legislation drawn up by the government.
The cabinet on Monday unveiled a draft law for a constitutional amendment to enable the election of army chief Michel Suleiman as head of state after weeks of deadlock, AFP reported.
But Ali Hassan Khalil, an opposition MP from the Shiite Amal party of powerful parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri, dismissed the proposed legislation--which would change the constitution for one time only to allow a public servant to hold the post of president.
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Full of Contradictions
By Armin Hedayati
There has been no change in Tehran’s perception about holding talks with the United States on issues related to mutual interest and concern.
As in the past, Iran at the weekend once again dismissed any pre-condition for resuming negotiations with US officials in Baghdad. The two sides have held three rounds of talks that were limited to the security and future stability of the Arab country devastated by four years of US (and British) invasion, occupation, arrogance and ignorance.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has made it known that if the belligerent power wants to enter into negotiations without playing with words, it should (also) demonstrate its goodwill and show that it does not have any covert anti-Iran political agenda.
Mottaki’s statement came in response to remarks by his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice that she is willing to visit Iran to resolve almost three decades of hostile relations between the two countries.
In press reports published last week Rice said “the United States does not have permanent enemies. We have a policy that is open to ending conflict and confrontation with any country that is willing to meet us on those terms.“
The staunchly pro-Israel and anti-Iran member of the Bush regime was speaking at a Washington news conference and responding to questions about whether or not she would be willing to visit Iran and North Korea.
On several occasions in the past few years America’s top diplomat has officially announced that she is ready and willing to meet Mottaki “anytime and anywhere“ on the condition that “Iran stop enriching uranium“. Tehran has strongly rejected such overtures on the sole premise that the self-appointed global policeman, whose name has long become synonymous with death and destruction, is not in a position to set conditions for dialogue with the Islamic state.
This obviously will not be the last time Bush’s America has called for talks with Iran to help it get out of the Iraq quagmire.
Years ago Bush and company joined their European partners in negotiations to “resolve Iran’s nuclear issue through diplomacy“.
But as the informed world is aware, that is not the whole story. The stumbling neocon brigade, of which Bush, Cheney, Rice and the likes are top members, never missed an opportunity to intimidate the Iranian nation and government over the civilian nuclear program. Mind you this is the same program that has been endorsed by the IAEA and American spy networks as being non-military and geared to producing electricity for Iran’s huge development programs.
After the UN Security Council succumbed to the Bush’s push and issued resolutions 1696, 1737 and 1747 against Iran, the Bush war team wasted no time to further increase military, economic and political pressure on Tehran in a failed bid to reverse our civilian nuclear program.
One thing is certain; the ruling clique in Washington does not practice what it preaches. In more ways than one its Iran policy has been a contradiction of sorts that many observers believe is born out of desperation and the fact that US ability to influence world developments has indeed been of the descending order.
Rice’s non-hostile gesture comes at a time when she has more aggressively called for new punitive economic sanctions against
Iran. Add to this the paradox of the Bush’s White House over its Middle East policy in general and Iran in particular.
Double standard has been the name of the game in America’s crumbling halls of power for the past several decades. The confusion and chaos has been more conspicuous in relation to post-1979 Tehran and Bush’s desperate attempts to contain Iran’s influence in the Muslim Middle East and beyond.
Bush will no doubt leave a legacy tainted by war and aggression in Muslim lands.
How things have unfolded on the complicated world scene for seven solid years under the failed Bush-neocon leadership is there for all to see.
With only a year left before he goes into retirement, the lame duck president does not have much time for reprieve or to fix all that he decimated. But then the old adage has it that it’s never too late!
Years ago Bush and company joined their European partners in negotiations to “resolve Iran’s nuclear issue through diplomacy“.
But as the informed world is aware, that is not the whole story. The stumbling neocon brigade, of which Bush, Cheney, Rice and the likes are top members, never missed an opportunity to intimidate the Iranian nation and government over the civilian nuclear program. Mind you this is the same program that has been endorsed by the IAEA and American spy networks as being non-military and geared to producing electricity for Iran’s huge development programs.
After the UN Security Council succumbed to the Bush’s push and issued resolutions 1696, 1737 and 1747 against Iran, the Bush war team wasted no time to further increase military, economic and political pressure on Tehran in a failed bid to reverse our civilian nuclear program.
One thing is certain; the ruling clique in Washington does not practice what it preaches. In more ways than one its Iran policy has been a contradiction of sorts that many observers believe is born out of desperation and the fact that US ability to influence world developments has indeed been of the descending order.
Rice’s non-hostile gesture comes at a time when she has more aggressively called for new punitive economic sanctions against
Iran. Add to this the paradox of the Bush’s White House over its Middle East policy in general and Iran in particular.
Double standard has been the name of the game in America’s crumbling halls of power for the past several decades. The confusion and chaos has been more conspicuous in relation to post-1979 Tehran and Bush’s desperate attempts to contain Iran’s influence in the Muslim Middle East and beyond.
Bush will no doubt leave a legacy tainted by war and aggression in Muslim lands.
How things have unfolded on the complicated world scene for seven solid years under the failed Bush-neocon leadership is there for all to see.
With only a year left before he goes into retirement, the lame duck president does not have much time for reprieve or to fix all that he decimated. But then the old adage has it that it’s never too late!
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