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Prayer Time (Tehran)
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Dawn: 5:23
Sunrise: 6:52
Noon: 11:52
Evening: 17:11
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Weather Guide
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SUN |
MON |
Tehran: |
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High: |
16 oC |
15 oC |
Low: |
7 oC |
7 oC |
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Athens |
18 |
17 |
Ankara |
13 |
14 |
Paris |
4 |
4 |
New Delhi |
26 |
25 |
Rome |
12 |
12 |
Riyadh |
27 |
26 |
Frankfurt |
0 |
0 |
Cairo |
30 |
30 |
Kuwait City |
25 |
25 |
Karachi |
31 |
27 |
Copenhagen |
2 |
2 |
London |
6 |
5 |
Moscow |
1 |
3 |
Madrid |
5 |
6 |
Vienna |
5 |
1 |
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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
Managing Director: Mohammad T. Roghaniha
Executive Editor: Amin Sabooni
Editorial Dept. Tel: 8755761-2
Editorial Dept. Fax: 8761869
Advertising Dept. Tel: 8753119, 8757702, 8733764
Internet Address:
www.iran-daily.com
E-mail Address:
iran-daily@iran-daily.com
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Salutations to Imam Jafar Al-Sadeq (AS)
“No eyes have ever seen, no ears have ever heard and no heart has ever found anybody greater than Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadeq (AS) in knowledge, piety and worship,“ Malik ibn Anas, the leader of a Sunni school of thought, said.
In fact, Muslim scholars of various schools never agreed unanimously on a matter as much as they agreed on the wisdom and virtues of Imam Jafar Al-Sadeq (AS) who is known as the theoretician of the Shiite school of thought.
Iran Daily expresses heartfelt condolences to our Muslim readers on the occasion of Imam Jafar Al-Sadeq’s (AS) martyrdom anniversary.
Since the day is a national holiday, our next issue will return to the newsstands on
Nov. 29.
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Nation Will Withstand Threats
Basijis Support Peaceful Nuclear Program
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President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, accompanied by military officials, inspects Basiji forces during a ceremony in Tehran to mark the 25th anniversary of Basij foundation, Nov. 26. (ISNA Photo)
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TEHRAN, Nov. 26--President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad said here Saturday the Iranian nation will firmly withstand all enemy plots.
Speaking at a gathering of thousands of Basij (volunteer) forces, the chief executive noted that the enemies had imposed a destructive war on Iran by endorsing the former corrupt regime in Iraq, but the Iranian nation struck a severe blow at the enemies by relying on the culture of Basij.
Addressing enemies, Ahmadinejad said, “You who kill hundreds of people worldwide every day and impose devastating wars on African nationsÉdo not have the right to speak about human rights. You (enemies) who support the Zionist regime and every day kill oppressed Palestinians do not have the right to talk about human rights É You should be all tried in courts, which will convene in the future, for crimes against humanity.“
Referring to the support of foreign powers for the former corrupt regime of Saddam during the Iraq-imposed war (1980-88), he said, “You deployed nuclear and chemical as well as biological warfare against nations and in Iraq you deployed nuclear weapons.“
Commenting on the accusation of foreign powers that Iran has engaged in non-peaceful nuclear activities, the president noted, “You are suspicious of Iranian (nuclear) activities while Iran suspects your own activities. We are confident that your nuclear activities are inhumane and that you have access to weapons of mass destruction É You, who threaten free nations by expanding your nuclear activities, do not have the right to tell Iran to cease its peaceful nuclear activities.“
Ahmadinejad stressed that the Iranian nation wishes well for the entire human race.
Millions of Basij forces staged demonstrations and formed human chains in different parts of the country to show their support for Iran’s legitimate right to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes.
In Tehran, nearly 1.5 million Basij forces voiced their readiness to defend the country’s borders from foreign forces.
In Mashhad, the capital of the northeastern province of Razavi Khorasan, thousands of Basij forces demonstrated in front of the UN office to show their support for Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities.
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US to Transfer Security
To Iraqis in Several Cities
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Nov. 26--US forces will soon hand over full security responsibility to Iraqi forces in a number of towns and regions, a senior Iraqi official said Saturday.
“Very, very soon, we will have an agreement signed by the prime minister to hand over control of some cities,“ national security advisor Muwaffaq Al-Rubaie told AFP.
“I very much hope it will happen before the elections“ to be held on December 15.
The transfer of some regions to Iraqi forces will help weaken claims by insurgents they are fighting US-led occupation forces, he said.
“It will undermine the claim by the terrorists that they are working against foreign troops.“
US forces have already started handing over a number of bases to Iraqi forces, most recently a complex of palaces built by ousted dictator Saddam Hussein on the outskirts of his hometown of Tikrit. The transfer of responsibility will allow the United States to gradually reduce its 158,000 troops in Iraq.
Meanwhile, AFP reported that some Iraqi rebel groups have said they are ready to engage in dialogue with President Jalal Talabani, his national security advisor said Saturday.
“We have received calls from people who said they belonged to armed groups,“ Lieutenant-General Wafeeq Al-Sammarai said, adding that the callers “said they were ready to join the political process“.
“Some are Islamists and some Baathists“ from the now banned party of deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, he said, adding that all were Iraqis.
At a meeting of Iraqi political leaders in Cairo last weekend, Talabani said he was prepared to talk to rebels in a bid to end the deadly insurgency that has gripped the country since Saddam’s downfall in 2003.
“If those who describe themselves as the Iraqi resistance want to get in touch with me, they are welcome to do so,“ Talabani said.
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SEC Discusses Special Economic Zones
TEHRAN, Nov. 26--State Expediency Council on Saturday discussed an issue disputed by the Majlis and the Guardians Council.
In this meeting, the issue of administering special economic zones, which the Majlis had ratified but failed to win the GC’s endorsement, was examined, ISNA reported.
Minister of Economy Davoud Danesh-Jafari, Minister of Industries and Mines Alireza Tahmasebi, heads of Majlis economic as well as plan and budget commissions and GC jurisprudents attended the meeting.
After the SEC Commission for Macro, Commercial and Administrative Affairs presented an expert report on the subject and other participants also expressed their views, the SEC members made the following decisions:
In the special economic zones, which are established for specific purposes, setting geographical boundaries, compilation of comprehensive plans, and the type and range of activities will be pursued on the basis of notes one and two of Article 1 of the SEC ratification and upon the recommendation of the Free Zone Organization’s Secretariat and the consent of cabinet members.
New special economic zones can be established upon the ratification of Majlis only.
The cabinet, if necessary, can establish a state organization for administering special economic zones. Articles of association of the organization will be ratified by the cabinet members upon the recommendation of the Free Zone Organization’s Secretariat.
It was also decided that the government is presently responsible for administering all related affairs.
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Nematzadeh Not Keen on Oil Portfolio
680 Firms to Attend Iran Plast Fair
By Azam Mohebbi
Managing Director of National Iranian Petrochemical Company Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh said on Saturday he is not keen on becoming the oil minister and prefers to retain his post.
Addressing a press conference related to the Fourth Iran Plast Exhibition, which will be held at Tehran’s permanent fairgrounds during Dec. 3-6.
“This year, 290 foreign companies will be attending the event along with 392 local companies. This is while two years ago only 70 foreign firms and 214 local companies participated in the event,“ he said, noting that this year’s exhibition will cover an area of about 80,000 square meters.
Seven workshops on topics such as technology and research, marketing and mechanized sales systems will also be held this year.
Nematzadeh verified that polymer production units have increased in the country.
“Given the local demand for polymers, some 90 percent of the polymer products have been allocated for downstream industries and 10 percent for exports,“ he said.
He noted that currently 1.6 million tons of polymer products are produced in the country and the figure will rise to three million tons next year upon the completion of ongoing projects.
“The company intends to produce 8 to 10 million tons of polymers in the next 10 years,“ he said.
He emphasized that development of downstream industry is a task, which the Ministry of Industries and Mines should undertake.
“Downstream industries are our main clients and we must support them,“ he pointed out.
The official also said that his company plans to produce 5 percent of the petrochemicals in the global market.
Nematzadeh said that Petrochemical Investment Company, in collaboration with five investment firms, intends to form a joint venture in the near future.
On the construction of new petrochemical complexes, Nematzadeh said, “Studies have been carried out in the eastern southeastern and central parts of the country. Research results reveal that we can establish petrochemical factories in Sistan-Baluchestan and Chabahar. We are currently examining the issue in detail.“
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Renowned Graphic Artist Dead
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Morteza Momayyez
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TEHRAN, Nov. 26--A renowned graphic artist, Morteza Momayyez, died early Saturday at Aban Hospital due to complications related to prostate cancer.
Momayyez struggled with cancer for the past three years and was hospitalized for a new round of chemotherapy about 10 days ago. However, his health conditions deteriorated on Friday and his physician said he was in critical condition.
Momayyez, 69, graduated from Tehran University’s College of Fine Arts. He also held a certificate from a fine arts college in France. He was the art manager and graphic designer of several publications, such as Iran-e Abad, Weekly Kayhan, Farhang-e Kavosh-e Negin, Roudaki and Payam-e Emrouz.
Momayyez also designed sets for 14 plays and two movies. He also directed three short films and wrote articles on artistic issues in local newspapers.
During his lifetime, Momayyez also won a number of top international prizes for graphic design.
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CIA Plane Refueled in Turkey
ISTANBUL, Turkey, Nov. 26--A plane suspected of being used by the CIA to transport US prisoners from the “war on terror“ landed in the Turkish capital last week to refuel, a report said Saturday.
Transport Minister Binali Yildirim told the Anatolia News Agency that a CIA plane had “put down“ at the Sabiha Gokcen airport here, confirming a report published earlier Saturday by the Hurriyet daily, AFP reported.
“There was a landing requested for technical reasons. Its landing was authorized. It was not carrying any passengersÐonly equipment was on board,“ the minister was quoted as saying.
“It filled its tanks with fuel and continued in its way,“ he said, adding that when planes request landings to refuel it is difficult to refuse them.
Hurriyet reported that the plane identified as a DeHavilland Dash 8-315B, registered to Path Corporation, landed on November 15 and departed the following day for Amsterdam.
Washington has come under mounting European pressure to reveal the routes and activities of its CIA prisoner flights amid concerns about human rights abuses and torture on European territory.
Reports of Central Intelligence Agency flights have come from countries as far apart as Macedonia, Finland and Portugal.
The Council of Europe said Wednesday it was opening a probe into the reports.
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Working With Iraq
By P. Mohammad
The recent visit to Tehran by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani showed the importance Baghdad and Tehran attach to improving bilateral ties in key political, economic and cultural domains.
Both Muslims nations, despite the bitter experience of the bloody Iraqi-imposed military conflict (1980-88), have now come to the conclusion that they must cooperate and collaborate at the highest levels in their own long-term interest and that of regional peace and stability.
Trade and cultural and religious traits have linked our two peoples for centuries. Common sense and common interests now strongly demand that the two countries cooperate meaningfully.
On various occasions our senior authorities have informed their Iraqi counterparts that cordial relations with Iraq is a foreign policy decision. Talabani and other Iraqi leaders who visited Tehran in the recent past have been informed that the Islamic Republic considers Iraq’s security as its own.
However, for the time being the neighboring Arab country is under foreign military occupation and has a long way to go to attain political stability. Strong and democratic pillars of power in Iraq have not yet taken shape while differences among ethnic and religious groups remain as serious as ever.
The present climate and the worsening insurgency across the occupied country obviously does not bode well for progress and stability and could be sending the wrong signals to the occupying powers.
It is an open secret that the omnipresent insecurity in Iraq provides the foreign armies to justify their unwanted and unhelpful presence in one of the most important countries in this part of the world.
Iraq’s neighbors have real and perceived concerns about the developments unfolding in post-Saddam Iraq. For a whole set of reasons they would not like to remain indifferent.
Iran is among its most important neighbors and is interested in Iraq’s peace and security not just because of good neighborliness.
Rather the prime and paramount consideration is that an unstable Iraq can in the long-term create insecurity in the entire region.
Talabani’s talks with the Iranian leadership showed that both sides are strongly committed to building effective cooperation in all areas.
Needless to say, better and closer ties will benefit both countries. The existence of important religious sites and pilgrimage centers in Iran and Iraq has brought to the fore the issue of facilitating reciprocal visits of pilgrims whose numbers have been increasingly in recent months.
All in all, despite the destabilizing foreign occupation, it seems Iran-Iraq bilateral ties on proper course as was manifested in President Talabani’s tour last week.
Iran and Iraq also have common interests and concerns in the strategic Persian Gulf. This is another reason why Iran has perpetually insisted on maintaining and supporting Iraq’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national solidarity.
Talabani is an intelligent and respected statesman in and outside the region. He and the leadership in Baghdad can and should help give the needed momentum to further enhance two-way ties.
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