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Prayer Time (Tehran)
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Dawn: 5:45
Sunrise: 7:15
Noon: 12:09
Evening: 17:25
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Weather Guide
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SAT |
SUN |
Tehran: |
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High: |
-1 oC |
-3 oC |
Low: |
-3 oC |
-8 oC |
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Athens |
11 |
11 |
Ankara |
-4 |
-6 |
Cairo |
18 |
18 |
Copenhagen |
1 |
3 |
Frankfurt |
6 |
6 |
Karachi |
22 |
20 |
Kuwait City |
18 |
12 |
London |
9 |
7 |
Madrid |
12 |
14 |
Moscow |
-17 |
-17 |
New Delhi |
22 |
23 |
Paris |
10 |
8 |
Riyadh |
18 |
17 |
Rome |
13 |
13 |
Vienna |
-4 |
3 |
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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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Nation Will
Confront Aggression
US Ties Depend on Iranian Interest
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Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei
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TEHRAN, Jan. 4-- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said no one can trace the slightest sign of warmongering in this nation and its elected system, but this peace-loving nation would humiliate any aggressor.
Ayatollah Khamenei, who is also the commander-in-chief of Armed Forces, made the remark in a gathering of Yazd province’s Armed Forces on Friday, IRNA reported.
Referring to the self-confidence, power of piety and the will of Iranian nation, the leader said the pride inspiring the defensive conduct of Iran’s Armed Forces throughout the eight years of Sacred Defense (the 1980-88 Iraq-imposed war) is a valuable asset.
“The Iranian nation, by maintaining their might and the needed level of readiness, would keep on moving forward toward advancement in various fields, amid security and wellbeing,“ he said.
Appreciating the bravery of Yazd province’s Armed Forces during the war, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Our country’s Armed Forces got their pass marks during the tough years of the imposed war.“
The commander-in-chief of Armed Forces praised the high competence of Iranian nation in all fields.
In his address to Yazd’s university students on Thursday, Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran must have produced nuclear energy several decades ago to meet the growing need for electricity.
The leader said Iran needs 20,000 megawatts of electricity in the next 20 years from nuclear energy to keep up with growing demand and the economic development plans.
“Thanks to God, the US has failed to get in the way of Iranians’ civilian nuclear program,“ he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that once Americans could not see Iran having even five centrifuges and was demanding Iran stop its national nuclear program, but they have called for Iran to stay at the current stage.
Recalling the US attempts to deal a blow to Iran, the leader said national self-confidence is needed more than ever and the students, scholars and officials should envisage new methods to foil the conspiracies of enemies.
Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran does not need relations with the US, but it does not mean that Iran wants relations to remain severed forever.
“When we see that relations with the US serve Iranian interest, I will be the first to approve ties with US,“ he said.
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Mottaki
In Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Jan. 4--Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki called on President Pervez Musahharf on Friday and discussed bilateral and regional issues, the state-run television reported.
The Iranian minister expressed shock and grief over the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and conveyed condolences on behalf of the Iranian government and people, IRNA reported.
Mottaki arrived in Islamabad on a daylong visit and also held bilateral talks with Pakistani caretaker Foreign Minister Inam-ul-Haque.
He also discussed bilateral and regional matters with his Pakistani counterpart. Officials said the two foreign ministers also reviewed progress in talks about the multibillion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline.
Mottaki also visited the central secretariat of Pakistan People’s Party of Benazir Bhutto in Islamabad and expressed condolences with the party leaders.
He laid flowers at the photograph of Benazir Bhutto and offered prayers for her departed soul.
The foreign minister wrote in the condolence book that the death of Benazir Bhutto is a great loss.
Prior to Mottaki’s arrival in Islamabad, Pakistani Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said, “He is arriving today, his visit was preplanned and various issues, including economic relations, IPI gas project, Iranian nuclear issue, situation in the South Asia, war on terror and Afghan situation would top the agenda during meetings of Iranian foreign minister with Pakistani leadership.“
The Iranian foreign minister was also scheduled to meet caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro late Friday.
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Top Mideast Ranking in Seven Scientific Courses
AHVAZ, Khuzestan, Jan. 4--Science, Research and Technology Minister Mohammad Mehdi Zadehi said Iran has ranked first in the Middle East in seven scientific courses.
Speaking in a ceremony held to commemorate martyred university students in the southern city of Ahvaz on Friday, Zahedi enumerated the scientific courses as mathematics, mechanics, polymer, chemistry, chemical engineering, nano-engineering and medical engineering, IRNA reported.
Referring to the fact that the achievement of Iranian students is due to their self-esteem, the minister said, “Under the current situation, the enemy and world arrogant powers do not want Iran to achieve self-sufficiency in different fields. Hence, university students should continue their cultural, scientific and technological struggle by maintaining vigilance.“
He stressed that no one fears the enemy’s plots, rather the nation is more determined to achieve the objectives of the Islamic system.
“As it is the motto of the ninth government, God willing, Iran will try to reach the highest peaks of development as envisaged in the Vision 2025,“ he said.
Zahedi pointed out that the Iranian youth, especially the young Basijis (volunteer forces) should be prepared to meet all the country’s needs and be able to resolve many national problems.
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US Commander In Iraq: Iran’s Role Positive
Crocker: Ready For Talks
BAGHDAD, Iraq,
Jan. 4--Iran is not supplying weapons or training to Islamic militants in Iraq, the spokesman for the top US commander in Iraq told The Washington Times.
Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of US forces in Iraq, sees Iran’s positive role in Iraq, spokesman Col. Steven Boylan said.
’We are ready to confirm the excellence of the senior Iranian leadership in their help to quell violence in Iraq,“ he said.
The disclosure comes just weeks after a National Intelligence Estimate pruned back its assessment of Iran’s nuclear program, saying “with high confidence“ that the Islamic Republic had halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003.
“We are very much in the wait-and-see mode to see what happens,“ Col. Boylan said.
The confirmation of Iran’s cooperation also comes at a time when US military officials have confirmed a 60-percent decrease in violence, including improvised explosive device attacks and civilian deaths in Iraq.
Col. Boylan stated that despite Iran’s current cooperation, terrorist groups still pose a serious danger to stability in the region.
Iranian officials have repeatedly dismissed the US allegations that Tehran is fueling insurgency in the war-torn country.
The Islamic Republic says the US accusations are aimed at scapegoating Iran in a bid to cover up Washington’s failures.
Tehran has always reiterated that the presence of US troops in Iraq is the main cause of insecurity in the country and that a secure Iraq is in the interests of Iran.
Meanwhile, US envoy to Iraq Ryan Crocker said on Friday that his country is ready to hold a new round of talks with Iraqi and Iranian officials on Iraq’s security.
“We are in contact with the Iraqi government to determine the date of the talks and we hope that there will be a decision soon on this matter,“ Crocker said.
“We on our part are ready to conduct these talks at any time.“
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari announced last month that the US postponed the talks that were due to be held December 28.
Iran agreed with the postponement although its delegation had arrived in Baghdad for the next round of talks.
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Hezbollah Seeking Veto Power
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Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah
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BEIRUT, Lebanon, Jan. 4--The leader of the Lebanese resistance group said no president will be elected in Lebanon unless the Hezbollah-led opposition gets veto power in the future government.
Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah accused the western-backed parliamentary majority of creating the current presidential deadlock by refusing a partnership with the opposition, AFP reported.
“A solution lies in a partnership through a constitutional guarantee (and) through a veto power for the opposition, which represents more than half of the Lebanese people,“ Nasrallah said in a TV interview.
A parliamentary session to elect a new president was postponed for the 11th time on December 28 with feuding factions deadlocked over a constitutional amendment and the shape of a future government.
A new parliament session has been set for January 12.
Nasrallah accused the US of obstructing the presidential vote by telling its allies in the parliamentary majority not to give the opposition a veto power in any future government.
“As long as there is a US decision not to give the opposition a veto power, this means there won’t be a presidential election,“ he said.
Nasrallah said his party supports Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman for president to replace President Emile Lahoud, whose term ended on Nov. 23 without a successor being chosen.
But Suleiman’s election “will not solve the problem without a national unity government in which the opposition gets a veto power,“ he said.
Nasrallah blamed the deadlock on the ruling coalition which he said “wants to fully control authority and rejects partnership with the other party ... A veto power means that the opposition becomes a partner in government.“
The Hezbollah leader warned that the opposition would take decisive measures against the government for ’violations’ in the country’s politics.
There would be meetings and consultations within 10 days on decisive measures against the “violations of the government“, he said.
Nasrallah, meanwhile, expressed Hezbollah’s readiness to discuss its arms in the framework of a national unity government and national defense
strategy.
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Oil-Gas Talks With India
NEW DELHI, India, Jan. 4--India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corp and the Hinduja Group will meet again with Iranian firms on developing an oil and a gas field in Iran and downstream projects in India, a Hinduja Group official said on Friday.
Officials from ONGC Videsh, the overseas arm of state-run ONGC, and Hinduja’s Ashok Leyland Project Services met officials of Iran’s state-run Petropars and Naft Iran Intertrade Co. Ltd , a subsidiary of National Iranian Oil Company, on Thursday, Reuters reported.
Subir Raha, executive vice chairman of Hinduja Group India, said the upstream and downstream projects could cost $20 billion.
“This is the ballpark number at current prices. But the exact number will be known after a detailed feasibility report,“ he said.
“Negotiations will continue; we will meet shortly,“ said Raha.
An ONGC official said no agreement has been signed on the Indian firms’ participation in the Iranian projects, but a basic understanding on some issues has been reached.
“There are still some open issues. We are moving ahead. Commercial issues have yet to be worked out,“ said the ONGC official, who asked not be named as the negotiations were ongoing.
The two sides have yet to finalize gas pricing, project cost and supply commitment from Iran.
ONGC and Hinduja Group are looking at joining the development of the South Pars Phase 12 gas field and the Azadegan oilfield in Iran.
ONGC has offered the Iranian firms an equity stake in its proposed refinery and a liquefied natural gas terminal in southern India, which Hinduja Group will also be involved in.
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Pak Stability
By Tahmineh Bakhtiari
During his one-day visit to Islamabad, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki conveyed condolences on behalf of the Iranian nation and government over the assassination of Pakistan’s former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto.
Bhutto was assassinated on Dec. 27 while leaving a large gathering of her supporters by a suicide bomber, who also killed at least 14.
Upon his arrival in Islamabad, Mottaki emphasized the urgency of establishing stability and calm in Pakistan. He said Iran’s main priorities are to help bring about more security and political stability to the Islamic state of Pakistan.
After Bhutto was assassinated, Pakistan faced violent demonstrations and political turmoil. President Pervez Musharraf held an emergency meeting in the hours after the death. Police warned citizens to stay home as they expected rioting to worsen and cause more violence.
The continuation of internal crisis in Pakistan has been the main cause of concern for Pakistan’s neighboring countries, including Iran. Tehran and Islamabad are two Muslim neighboring countries with a long history of bilateral relations.
Continuation of political turmoil in Pakistan will not only heighten insecurity, but will also affect bilateral relations. Hence, one of the objectives of Mottaki’s meetings is that Pakistani officials should look for a solution to prevent the country’s political crisis from spiraling out of control. This calls for utilizing diplomatic means and interaction with all Pakistani political parties and groups. This alone will ensure that the fury over Bhutto’s assassination will subside and peace will be restored to Pakistan.
Experience has shown that continuation of critical conditions in Pakistan will have dangerous consequences and also provide a pretext for the presence of foreign forces for allegedly bringing back security to that country. Moreover, the necessity of fighting terrorism compels Muslim countries of the region to take part in serious and constant consultations.
Iran has always denounced terrorist acts and violence. The continuing unrest in Afghanistan and Iraq shows that in the years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, war on terrorism has turned into a pretext for the interference of big powers in other countries.
This is while Muslim countries can fight terrorism through reciprocal cooperation and by using their potentials.
Under the present conditions, the major concern about domestic developments inside Pakistan is that foreigners, by creating a chaotic atmosphere in that country, have made political groups to fight with each other and prevent political stability in that country.
Since parliamentary elections are coming up in Pakistan, the consensus of political parties to help bring about stability in that country is inevitable. Mottaki’s one-day visit to Islamabad and his meetings with Pakistani officials also show Iran’s goodwill in helping remove the prevailing problems and establish stability and security to that country.
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