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Felicitations
“You will not enter paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another É I was delegated as a prophet to perfect moral virtues.“ Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
August 11 coincides with the feast of Mab’ath, the anniversary of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) public announcement of his prophethood.
On this auspicious occasion, Iran Daily felicitates all Muslims, especially the Iranian nation as well as its readers.
Since it’s a public holiday, our next issue will be out on Sunday.
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FM Criticizes Contradictory
US, UK Approach
Message for PGCC Chief
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Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki (l) address a ceremony on the occasion of Journalist Day in Tehran on Wednesday.
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TEHRAN, Aug. 8--Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the contradictory US approach toward developing countries since the 9/11 terrorist attacks has inclined those states to stick to their national principles, IRNA reported.
Addressing a ceremony on the occasion of Journalist Day on Wednesday, Mottaki pointed out that the US has invaded Muslim countries after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, claiming that it was leading a war on terrorism.
Noting that Washington has claimed that restoring peace and stability to Afghanistan was the reason behind the occupation of that country, he asked, “Has the US slogan of bringing stability to Afghanistan materialized now? Actually the US is fighting those who were originally raised by the US itself,“
The terrorist group of Taliban was originally funded by the US to serve its interests in the region.
Mottaki noted that since Britain had claimed success in controlling drug production in Afghanistan, it should explain the 30-fold increase in drug output.
He urged US officials to accept the fact that the power of people is stronger than the power of weapon.
Meanwhile, Mottaki sent a message to Secretary-General of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al-Attiyah on Tuesday.
The PGCC Secretariat reported that the message focused on cementing political and economic relations between Iran and the six members of the council.
The Iranian official who handed over the message was not mentioned in the report.
The PGCC groups Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman.
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Presidential Message
For Erdogan
TEHRAN, Aug. 8--A message from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was submitted to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Tuesday.
Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific and Commonwealth of Independent States Mehdi Safari handed over the message in a closed-door meeting with the Turkish premier.
Safari arrived in Ankara on Tuesday to confer with Erdogan on issues of mutual interest.
An informed source at Iran’s Embassy in Turkey told IRNA that the message focused on strengthening Tehran-Ankara relations.
The source added that Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was also present at the meeting.
The Iranian and Turkish sides declined to make any comments at the end of their 40-minute meeting.
Safari headed for Tehran after the meeting.
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Case of American-Iranians
At Judiciary
TEHRAN, Aug. 8--Intelligence minister said on Wednesday new people have been summoned to the ministry in relation with the case of American-Iranian academics.
The ministry has indicted Haleh Esfandiari and Kian Tajbakhsh on charges of endangering national security and espionage, ISNA reported.
Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei told reporters that the summoned persons are free now.
On the case of a former member of Iran’s team of nuclear negotiators, Hossein Mousavian, who has been accused of nuclear espionage, the minister said his dossier has been handed over to the judiciary for undergoing due legal process.
Ejei noted that some of the detained Amir Kabir University students have been released but others are in prison for further investigation.
The crisis at Amir Kabir University started on April 30 with the publication of student newsletters that carried articles, which university officials deemed insulting to Islam.
These newsletters, bearing the names and logos of four student publications, were distributed throughout the campus.
Following the incident, the students involved were arrested by the ministry.
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3 Ministers Notified
TEHRAN, Aug. 8--Three lawmakers notified Intelligence Minister Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei and Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Wednesday to investigate the underground tunnel between British Embassy and Iran’s Carpet Center.
Jiroft-Anbarabad MP Ali Zadsar, Taft-Meibod MP Jalal Yahyazadeh and Mashhad-Kalat MP Ali Asgari signed the notification, IRNA reported.
Meanwhile, an MP from Tabriz Mohammad Reza Mir-Tajeddini and an MP from Isfahan Hassan Kamran notified Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hossein Saffar Harandi over permits issued for publishing books that weaken national unity and create ethnic discord.
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Flight Delay Protested
TEHRAN, Aug. 8--A long international flight delay at the Imam Khomeini International Airport led to loud protests.
On Wednesday, when the Tehran-Dubai flight IR655 was rescheduled tentatively from 17:00 hours to 23:45 local time without any prior notice, the stranded passengers protested, Iran Daily was informed by a number of passengers by phone.
Airport officials told passengers that they are willing to cancel their booking, but refused to apologize or provide any facilities. About 50 passengers signed a petition, protesting the irresponsible behavior of the airport officials. Such incidents, which harm Iran’s image, can be easily avoided if the concerned officials prevent such delays that have become chronic.
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Foreign Ministry
Site in Arabic
TEHRAN, Aug. 8--The Foreign Ministry has launched the Arabic section of its website to give Arab users direct access to Iran’s stance on regional issues. Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Mostafavi noted that it was essential to issue Iran-related news in Arabic with the utmost speed and accuracy, Presstv reported.
“Arab users can be directly informed about Iran’s foreign policies instead of referring to other news outlets,“ Mostafavi said, adding that this also prevents agencies from issuing biased news and straining Iran’s relations with Arab countries.
Mostafavi expressed hope that the Foreign Ministry’s website would have sections in other languages to provide users across the world with an authentic source of information about the country’s policies.
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Road Death Toll
KAR-O-KARGAR: Many factors are involved in the high death toll resulting from road accidents. First of all, most roads are not standard and have many hazardous spots, which endanger the lives of drivers. Secondly, car manufacturers do not abide by safety standards and their products are full of technical problems. Thirdly, there is also human error. Some drivers of public transport vehicles are not in good health, as we observe fatigue or drug addiction. It would be more meaningful if all state institutions related to the public transportation sector were to get together and discuss ways of reducing the number of road accidents.
Free Market Gasoline
HAMBASTEGI: Forty days ago the gasoline rationing plan was imposed and the Ministry of Oil announced it will not distribute non-subsidized gasoline any more. The government’s insistence on not providing gasoline at the free market price has created problems for private car owners who ply the streets. While seeking a serious solution to increasing gasoline output, it should control gasoline consumption through means other than rationing. If the government fails to meet these conditions, the people will face tough economic conditions. Uncontrolled consumption of gasoline, which leads to higher imports, destroys a major portion of the country’s natural resources. But the government’s refusal to offer free market gasoline along with rationed gasoline has led to loud protests at least from one main quarter. Some low-income people, who use their cars as taxis after working hours, are now facing difficulties because they do not find the gasoline quota to be sufficient.
Changing Attitude
KARGOZARAN: When people observe governmental bodies reacting to similar phenomena differently, they begin to doubt whether these bodies are functioning properly. If the same institutions play a supervisory role, their double standards will make people even more annoyed. The manner in which the current Majlis dealt with the previous government’s contracts with other countries is discriminatory. Those who pursue political and economic developments remember how the Majlis acted vis-ˆ-vis the former government’s foreign contracts, namely the manufacture of Logan (L-90) automobile and the launch of the second mobile phone operator by French and Turkish companies. Some lawmakers criticized those contracts but when the incumbent government took office, the attitude of these lawmakers toward these very same contracts changed.
Basketball Vs Football
TEHRAN-E EMROUZ: While Iran’s basketball players managed to win the Asian Cup, people wonder at the poor performance of football players who enjoy much better facilities and are more popular in the recent Asian competitions held in Malaysia. What this should tell us is that firstly, when players are not motivated, even their advanced skills will not matter. Secondly, a team that is not in the spotlight will do its best to make its mark. Thirdly, coaches are important in directing a team toward success. Fourthly, athletes learn new things and when they play in international competitions and discuss what they have learnt. Fifthly, since basketball players are not in the media focus like football players, they are more daring and not concerned about problems in the playground.
Private Cars
ETEMAD-E MELI: Many citizens wonder why urban managers are reluctant to use the experience and models of developed countries for easing traffic congestion and cutting air pollution. In developed nations, up to 90 percent of people use public transport vehicles such as metro and buses to go to work and the rest use private cars. This is while in Iran, it’s the reverse. Expanding metro lines requires fundraising and the municipalities always face shortage of credits for this purpose. With regard to the other public transport vehicle, i.e. the bus, it should be noted that related organizations (the municipalities and Interior Ministry) should prioritize importing environment-friendly buses to luxury cars. From the viewpoint of air pollution, the current public bus fleet are unhelpful, as they are rundown. Only if these problems are removed will the people turn to public transport vehicles.
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