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18 - 31 December, 2019

Army holds first theoretical research conference
In a statement in February, Ayatollah Khamenei entrusted the young generation with 7 missions for the second long stride of the Islamic Revolution in the fields of science and research, spirituality and ethics, economy, justice and fighting corruption, independence and freedom, national honor, foreign relations and setting boundaries with enemy and lifestyle. The first version of the Army’s theoretical research gathering was held in the Kowthar center of the self-sufficiency jihad and research department, Tehran, several senior military officials attended the meeting. (TEHRAN TIMES, 18th December, 2019)
Energy minister calls Iran Russia’s strategic partner
“Iran has turned into Russia’s strategic partner and good efforts were made in the past six years in line with mutual and regional cooperation, and relations between the two countries have developed in all fields,” Novak said at the meeting in Moscow, reported Fars News Agency. (IRAN DAILY, 18th December, 2019)
Muslim cooperation essential amid global powers’ pressure: Rouhani
Rouhani told Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in Kuala Lumpur “Cooperation among Muslim countries is essential to resist the pressure of big powers” Mahathir denounced “illegal” US sanctions, saying Malaysia supports Iran and is determined to boost trade with the Islamic Republic.“We condemn the illegal sanctions on Iran, which are in violation of UN Charter,” he said. Both leaders said the Kuala Lumpur summit was an opportunity to increase cooperation among Islamic nations. (IRAN DAILY, 19th December, 2019)
Iran opposes US-Taliban talks
Iran’s top security official said; the Islamic Republic opposed US negotiations with the Taliban, as the talks excluded Afghan people and government. Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said; “The Taliban are a reality of Afghan people that cannot be ignored. But are all Afghans Taliban (members)? No”. (IRAN DAILY, 19th December, 2019)
PM Mahathir: Muslim nations pondering gold, barter against sanctions
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said; Iran, Malaysia, Turkey and Qatar are considering trading among themselves in gold and via barter trade as a hedge against any future economic sanctions on them. (IRAN DAILY, 22nd December, 2019)
Majlis votes to attach 2 southeastern ports to Chabahar Free Zone
In an open session of Majlis, the MPs approves the general outlines of a bill on attaching Shahid Kalantari Port and Shahid Beheshti Port to Chabahar Free Trade Zone in southeast of Iran, Tasnim news agency reported. (TEHRAN TIMES, 23rd December, 2019)
Iran installs Arak heavy water reactor’s secondary circuit
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) started the first stage of installing equipment of the Arak heavy water reactor, including secondary circuit. (TEHRAN TIMES, 24th December, 2019)
Rumors that General Hajizadeh has been martyred are dismissed
Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the aerospace unit of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), is safe and sound , Fars news agency quoted informed sources as saying after some media reports claimed that he was martyred in recent Israeli attacks on Syria. (TEHRAN TIMES, 24th December, 2019)
Iran, China, Russia to hold joint navy drills on Dec. 27
Iranian military spokesman said: Armed forces of Iran, Russia and China will launch a joint naval exercise in northern part of the Indian Ocean and Sea of Oman. (IRAN DAILY, 26th December, 2019)
Iran, Afghanistan to link up through railway: Official
A senior Iranian official said a major railway connecting Iran and neighboring Afghanistan will be ready in March as construction of a key cross-border line is nearing completion. (IRAN DAILY, 30th December, 2019)

10 - 17 December, 2019

Defense chief: No force capable of countering Iranian nation
Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami said, No force is capable of countering the Iranian nation. He added, “Without doubt, such nation with such transcendent culture is victorious and glorious,” ISNA reported. He also pointed out that Iran has been able to withstand the bullies and tyrants for forty years, saying such achievement is a result of firm belief in martyrdom. (Tehran Times, 11th December, 2019)
Iran, Pakistan keen on boosting naval cooperation: Rear Admiral
In an exclusive interview with Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) in Islamabad, Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said that, “Our main approach is to broaden cooperation between Iran and Pakistan at sea and we are pursuing it seriously in various operational, technical and educational areas besides information exchanges”. (Iran Daily, 11th December, 2019)
UN can’t verify anti-Iran weapons claim in Saudi oil attack: Guterres
The United Nations is “unable to independently corroborate” that missiles and drones used in September attacks on Saudi oil facilities “are of Iranian origin,” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council. (IRAN DAILY, 12th December, 2019)
Tehran, Moscow, Ankara call for restoration of peace to Syria’s Idlib
The three mediators of the Astana peace process on Syria; namely Russia, Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Iran, have expressed concern about the presence of terrorist groups in Idlib, underlining the need for restoration of peace to the northwestern Syrian province, which is the last militant bastion in the Arab nation. (IRAN DAILY, 12th December, 2019)
Iran repels major foreign cyberattack: Minister
Iranian Minister of Communication and Information Technology Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi said the country has managed to foil a very big organized cyber attack on its electronic infrastructure. “We (recently) faced a highly organized attack on the e-government infrastructure,” Azari Jahromi told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet session in Tehran, Tasnim News Agency reported. (IRAN DAILY, 12th December, 2019).
US sanctions amount to silent warfare, terrorism: Iran
The Iranian government spokesman denounced the United States sanctions against the Islamic Republic as “silent warfare” and a genocidal campaign of “terror”, following the US treasury secretary’s remarks which had described the Iran embargoes as some alternative for war.(IRAN DAILY, 17th December, 2019)
Russia hasn’t stopped cooperation in Fordo: Iran
Tehran said Russia has not retreated from cooperating with Iran at Fordo’s enrichment facility, rejecting claims that a recent halt in the Russian contribution has been prompted by US sanctions. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said the cooperation was halted because of “technical” issues which are being sorted out by Iranian and Russian experts. (IRAN DAILY, 17th December, 2019)
Envoy: Japanese firms very optimistic about Iran’s future
Japan’s ambassador to Tehran said that the volume of trade exchange between Tehran and Tokyo is not enough, stressing that Japanese companies are very optimistic about Iran’s future and to the same reason they are present in the country. (IRAN DAILY, 17th December, 2019)
Rabiei rejects Rouhani resignation rumors
Iranian Government spokesman Ali Rabiei has dismissed speculation that President Hassan Rouhani is considering resigning as president. Rabiei made the remarks during a press conference. (TEHRAN TIMES, 17th December, 2019)
EU chief diplomat: Iran has not violated JCPOA
Josep Borrell, the new EU foreign policy chief, has said Iran is moving within the framework of the JCPOA and has not violated it, IRNA reported on Monday. Borrell also said the 2015 nuclear deal has benefits for Europe and efforts must be made to preserve it. (TEHRAN TIMES, 17th December, 2019)

1 - 9 December, 2019

Tehran, Beijing ‘sync efforts’ to save Iran nuclear deal
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi and his Chinese counterpart Ma Zhaoxu attended a joint press conference after a consultative meeting in Beijing to salvage the 2015 multinational nuclear deal. Araqchi welcomes China’s political and diplomatic efforts to find solutions to the JCPOA crisis, adding, “We believe that saving the JCPOA would be per se a great multilateral diplomatic success.” Three EU signatories to Iran deal welcome new European additions to INSTEX. Araqchi told to IRNA that the fact that the Europeans are still serious about the INSTEX financial system and consider it as a mechanism to keep financial ties with Iran and bypass American sanctions. (DAILY IRAN, 1st December, 2019)
Oman’s top diplomat visits Iran after US trip
The Oman’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawicame visit Tehran after a week of meeting in Washington with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Zarif said to his counterpart from traditional mediator Oman that Iran was serious about a plan – dubbed the Hormuz Peace Endeavour – which Tehran earlier put forward to reduce regional tensions. (DAILY IRAN, 2nd December, 2019)
Iran has no problem resuming ties with Saudi Arabia: Rouhani
President Hassan Rouhani said that the Islamic Republic of Iran has no issues with resumption of ties with Saudi Arabia. the Iranian president during a meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Yousef bin Alawi in Tehran said, “From Iran’s points of view, there is no problem in developing ties with neighbors and resuming relations with Saudi Arabia, as all countries require to stay together in order to create peace and stability in the region,” IRNA reported. Rouhani noted that Iran and Saudi Arabia need to leave aside their past and look ahead to solve regional problems through cooperation. The Iranian president stated that Iran’s Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE) is aimed at bringing regional countries together to secure stability. (DAILY IRAN, 3rd December, 2019)
Rouhani: Iran still ready for talks if US lifts sanctions
Rouhani said in remarks aired live on national television, “If they are prepared to put aside the sanctions, we are ready to talk and negotiate, even at the level of heads of the 5+1 countries”. (IRAN DAILY, 4th December, 2019)
Strategic Iran-China roadmap drawn up: Baqeri
The senior military official Admiral Hussein Khanzadi made the remarks in a meeting with Deputy Chief of the Chinese Army's International Relations and Chairman of the Iran-China Joint Military Committee Lieutenant General Shao Yuanming in Tehran on a roadmap document about the strategy of 25-year relationships between Iran and China. Khanzadi recently revealed that the three navies Iran, China and Russia would hold military exercises in the northern Indian Ocean in the 'near future'. (IRAN DAILY, 6th December, 2019)
Lavrov: U.S. sanctions on Iran absolutely illegal
The Russian foreign minister Lavrov said at a session of the Mediterranean Dialogue conference in Rome “Problems in Iran are very serious, to a large extent because of the U.S. sanctions that were imposed on that country absolutely illegally, because the Americans withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and are seeking to make others implement it,”.He also said that it is not the first time that the United States was using such a scheme, adding, “If the U.S. wants to stifle Iran economically and instigate people’s discontent, we see such a scheme being used in Venezuela. It is a pattern”. (TEHRAN TIMES, 7th December, 2019)
Cutting-edge combat drone, destroyer delivered to Iran’s Navy
A combat reconnaissance tactical drone and a modern destroyer were delivered to the Navy in a ceremony in southeastern Iran on Saturday. Simorq is a domestically-manufactured and multi-purpose drone with high range flight capability of 1,500 km up to 24,000 feet altitude for a period of continued 24 hours. The drone can be utilized in surveillance and combat operations. (IRAN DAILY, 7th December, 2019)
IAEA’s Grossi reiterates he seeks to establish constructive relations with Iran
Grossi officially took office as director-general of the UN nuclear watchdog. “As DG Grossi has previously stated, he aims to establish constructive working relationship w/ Iran,” the IAEA said in a tweet on its website. “IAEA Director-General @rafaelmgrossi met Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister @araghchi on Friday to discuss the Agency’s safeguards activities in Iran, including verification and monitoring of the country’s nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA, and other issues.” (TEHRAN TIMES, 8th December, 2019)
Iran’s new ambassador to Pakistan starts his diplomatic mission
Mohammad Ali Hosseini started his diplomatic mission as Iran’s new ambassador to Pakistan. He said boosting economic interaction between the two neighbors is on his agenda. Hosseini served as the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman and Tehran’s ambassador to Italy. (TEHRAN TIMES, 8th December, 2019)
Released professor Massoud Soleimani: ‘U.S. jailors told other inmates I was a terrorist’
U.S. Released Professor Massoud Soleimani on prisoner exchange mediation efforts by Switzerland. Iran also freed an American graduate student Xiyue Wang who had been imprisoned in Tehran for more than three years on charges of being a spy. Zarif said he was happy that Soleimani and Xiyue are joining their families. (TEHRAN TIMES, 8th December, 2019)

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