President Hassan Rouhani said Iran would make or buy any weapons it needed to defend itself in a region beset by "invading powers", as the military paraded missiles and soldiers in front of him on National Army Day.

Fighter jets and bombers flew overhead as Rouhani told the Tehran crowd and a live TV audience on Wednesday that Iran's forces posed no threat to its neighbours.

"We tell the world that we will produce or acquire any weapons we need, and will not wait for their approval ... We tell our neighbouring countries that our weapons are not against you, it's for deterrence," Rouhani said.

"We are not living in a normal region, and we see invading powers have built bases around us. Disregarding the principles of international law, they intervene in regional affairs and invade other countries without UN&nbsp;permission," Rouhani added.

US, British and French forces pounded Iran's ally Syria with air strikes early on Saturday in retaliation for a suspected April 7 chemical weapons attack, which they blame on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Britain, France and Germany have proposed fresh EU sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missiles and its role in Syria’s war, in a bid to persuade US&nbsp;President Donald Trump to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.

Trump has delivered an ultimatum to the European signatories to fix what he saw as the "terrible flaws" of the deal, threatening to refuse to extend US&nbsp;sanctions relief on Iran.

US&nbsp;sanctions will resume unless Trump issues fresh “waivers” to suspend them on May 12.

We are not living in a normal region, and we see invading powers have built bases around us, said Rouhani

President Hassan Rouhani said Iran would make or buy any weapons it needed to defend itself in a region beset by "invading powers", as the military paraded missiles and soldiers in front of him on National Army Day. Fighter jets and bombers flew overhead as Rouhani told the Tehran crowd and a live TV audience on Wednesday that Iran's forces posed no threat to its neighbours. "We tell the world that we will produce or acquire any weapons we need, and will not wait for their approval ... We tell our neighbouring countries that our weapons are not against you, it's for deterrence," Rouhani said. "We are not living in a normal region, and we see invading powers have built bases around us. Disregarding the principles of international law, they intervene in regional affairs and invade other countries without UN permission," Rouhani added. US, British and French forces pounded Iran's ally Syria with air strikes early on Saturday in retaliation for a suspected April 7 chemical weapons attack, which they blame on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government. Britain, France and Germany have proposed fresh EU sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missiles and its role in Syria’s war, in a bid to persuade US President Donald Trump to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran. Trump has delivered an ultimatum to the European signatories to fix what he saw as the "terrible flaws" of the deal, threatening to refuse to extend US sanctions relief on Iran. US sanctions will resume unless Trump issues fresh “waivers” to suspend them on May 12.

Iran will make or buy any weapons it needs: Rouhani

A number of protests have broken out in Iran since the beginning of the year over water, a growing political concern due to a drought which residents of parched areas and analysts say has been exacerbated by mismanagement.

The demonstrations have been relatively small, sporadic and limited to towns around the central city of Isfahan and Khuzestan province in the west. But they have highlighted an issue that played a role in earlier unrest and the authorities have cracked down, while recognising the need for change.

In early March, the turnout was light in a town near Isfahan, with dozens of farmers chanting the tongue-in-cheek slogan "Death to farmers, long live oppressors!", according to online videos. A week later the protests became more tense.

Dozens of riot police on motorcycles faced off against farmers in the same town, Varzaneh, another video showed. Smoke swirled around the protesters and the person filming said tear gas was being fired. A second person reported clashes. Police in the city of Isfahan were not immediately available to comment.

“What’s called drought is more often the mismanagement of water,” said a journalist in Varzaneh, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the subject.

“And this lack of water has disrupted people's income.”

Farmers accuse local politicians of allowing water to be diverted from their areas in return for bribes.

While the nationwide protests in December and January stemmed from anger over high prices and alleged corruption, in rural areas, lack of access to water was also a major cause, analysts say.

At least 25 people were killed and, according to one parliamentarian, up to 3,700 people were arrested, the biggest challenge yet for the government of president Hassan Rouhani, who was reelected last year.

Displaced

In Syria, drought was one of the causes of anti-government protests which broke out in 2011 and led to civil war, making the Iranian drought particularly sensitive.

Approximately 97 percent of the country is experiencing drought to some degree, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Meteorological Organization. Rights groups say it has driven many people from their homes.

“Towns and villages around Isfahan have been hit so hard by drought and water diversion that they have emptied out and people who lived there have moved,” said Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director for the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), a New York-based advocacy group.

“Nobody pays any attention to them. And people close to Rouhani told me the government didn’t even know such a situation existed and there were so many grievances.”

Rouhani and Iran`s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei mentioned drought as a problem that needs to be addressed in the country during their speech last week commemorating Nowruz, the Iranian new year, while condemning "lawlessness and violence".

An ad running on state TV which encourages Iranian citizens to conserve water shows a man sitting in a chair in the middle of a desert with the slogan, "Drought is closer than you think".

A United Nations report last year noted, "Water shortages are acute agricultural livelihoods no longer sufficient. With few other options, many people have left, choosing uncertain futures as migrants in search of work."

In early January, protests in the town of Qahderijan, some 10 km (6 miles) west of Isfahan, quickly turned violent as security forces opened fire on crowds, killing at least five people, according to activists. One of the dead was a farmer, CHRI said, and locals said water rights were the main grievance.

Videos posted on social media show protesters chanting outside a police station and throwing Molotov cocktails at the building, one of the most violent incidents documented during the nationwide protests.

A journalist in Qahderijan who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue said the attack on the police station was not the right thing to do but that water mismanagement had deprived farmers of their livelihoods.

Security

Hassan Kamran, a parliamentarian from Isfahan, publicly criticised energy minister Reza Ardakanian this month, accusing him of not properly implementing a water distribution law.

"The security and intelligence forces shouldn’t investigate our farmers. The water rights are theirs," he told a parliamentary session.

In early March, Ardakanian set up a working group comprising four ministers and two presidential deputies to deal with the crisis.

Since the January protests, Rouhani has repeatedly said the government will do what it can to address grievances. But there is no quick fix for deeply rooted environmental issues like drought, observers say.&nbsp

“These are local grievances but the solutions are with the national government,” said Tara Sepehri Far, Iran researcher for Human Rights Watch, adding that the government had limited power and widespread corruption.

Rouhani`s office was not immediately available to comment.

Iranian security forces are aware of the potential for water issues to cause instability. A senior Revolutionary Guards commander, Yahya Rahim Safavi, noted in a public speech in late February that water will play a key role for both the Islamic Republic’s national and regional security.

Environmentalists have found themselves in the firing line.

In late January, Kavous Seyed-Emami, the director of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, and six other environmentalists were arrested.

Two weeks later, authorities said Seyed-Emami had committed suicide in jail after confessing to being a spy for the United States and Israel. His family has denied the allegation.

State TV later aired a report saying Seyed-Emami and his colleagues were telling Iran`s enemies the country could no longer maintain domestic agriculture production because of a water shortage and needed to import food.

In late February, three more environmentalists were arrested and three weeks ago, Seyed-Emami’s wife was prevented from leaving Iran, according to family members.

“Public opinion has become sensitised to environmental issues,” said Saeed Leylaz, a Tehran-based economist and political analyst. “So the government may see the organizations and institutions who work on environmental issues as problematic.”&nbsp

A number of protests have broken out in Iran since the beginning of the year over water, a growing political concern due to a drought which residents of parched areas and analysts say has been exacerbated by mismanagement

A number of protests have broken out in Iran since the beginning of the year over water, a growing political concern due to a drought which residents of parched areas and analysts say has been exacerbated by mismanagement. The demonstrations have been relatively small, sporadic and limited to towns around the central city of Isfahan and Khuzestan province in the west. But they have highlighted an issue that played a role in earlier unrest and the authorities have cracked down, while recognising the need for change. In early March, the turnout was light in a town near Isfahan, with dozens of farmers chanting the tongue-in-cheek slogan "Death to farmers, long live oppressors!", according to online videos. A week later the protests became more tense. Dozens of riot police on motorcycles faced off against farmers in the same town, Varzaneh, another video showed. Smoke swirled around the protesters and the person filming said tear gas was being fired. A second person reported clashes. Police in the city of Isfahan were not immediately available to comment. “What’s called drought is more often the mismanagement of water,” said a journalist in Varzaneh, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the subject. “And this lack of water has disrupted people's income.” Farmers accuse local politicians of allowing water to be diverted from their areas in return for bribes. While the nationwide protests in December and January stemmed from anger over high prices and alleged corruption, in rural areas, lack of access to water was also a major cause, analysts say. At least 25 people were killed and, according to one parliamentarian, up to 3,700 people were arrested, the biggest challenge yet for the government of president Hassan Rouhani, who was reelected last year. Displaced In Syria, drought was one of the causes of anti-government protests which broke out in 2011 and led to civil war, making the Iranian drought particularly sensitive. Approximately 97 percent of the country is experiencing drought to some degree, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Meteorological Organization. Rights groups say it has driven many people from their homes. “Towns and villages around Isfahan have been hit so hard by drought and water diversion that they have emptied out and people who lived there have moved,” said Hadi Ghaemi, the executive director for the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), a New York-based advocacy group. “Nobody pays any attention to them. And people close to Rouhani told me the government didn’t even know such a situation existed and there were so many grievances.” Rouhani and Iran`s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei mentioned drought as a problem that needs to be addressed in the country during their speech last week commemorating Nowruz, the Iranian new year, while condemning "lawlessness and violence". An ad running on state TV which encourages Iranian citizens to conserve water shows a man sitting in a chair in the middle of a desert with the slogan, "Drought is closer than you think". A United Nations report last year noted, "Water shortages are acute agricultural livelihoods no longer sufficient. With few other options, many people have left, choosing uncertain futures as migrants in search of work." In early January, protests in the town of Qahderijan, some 10 km (6 miles) west of Isfahan, quickly turned violent as security forces opened fire on crowds, killing at least five people, according to activists. One of the dead was a farmer, CHRI said, and locals said water rights were the main grievance. Videos posted on social media show protesters chanting outside a police station and throwing Molotov cocktails at the building, one of the most violent incidents documented during the nationwide protests. A journalist in Qahderijan who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue said the attack on the police station was not the right thing to do but that water mismanagement had deprived farmers of their livelihoods. Security Hassan Kamran, a parliamentarian from Isfahan, publicly criticised energy minister Reza Ardakanian this month, accusing him of not properly implementing a water distribution law. "The security and intelligence forces shouldn’t investigate our farmers. The water rights are theirs," he told a parliamentary session. In early March, Ardakanian set up a working group comprising four ministers and two presidential deputies to deal with the crisis. Since the January protests, Rouhani has repeatedly said the government will do what it can to address grievances. But there is no quick fix for deeply rooted environmental issues like drought, observers say. “These are local grievances but the solutions are with the national government,” said Tara Sepehri Far, Iran researcher for Human Rights Watch, adding that the government had limited power and widespread corruption. Rouhani`s office was not immediately available to comment. Iranian security forces are aware of the potential for water issues to cause instability. A senior Revolutionary Guards commander, Yahya Rahim Safavi, noted in a public speech in late February that water will play a key role for both the Islamic Republic’s national and regional security. Environmentalists have found themselves in the firing line. In late January, Kavous Seyed-Emami, the director of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, and six other environmentalists were arrested. Two weeks later, authorities said Seyed-Emami had committed suicide in jail after confessing to being a spy for the United States and Israel. His family has denied the allegation. State TV later aired a report saying Seyed-Emami and his colleagues were telling Iran`s enemies the country could no longer maintain domestic agriculture production because of a water shortage and needed to import food. In late February, three more environmentalists were arrested and three weeks ago, Seyed-Emami’s wife was prevented from leaving Iran, according to family members. “Public opinion has become sensitised to environmental issues,” said Saeed Leylaz, a Tehran-based economist and political analyst. “So the government may see the organizations and institutions who work on environmental issues as problematic.”

Water crisis spurs protests in Iran

President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday said Iran is ready to discuss regional security issues with its Gulf Arab neighbours as long as foreign powers are kept out of any potential talks.

&quot;We don&#39;t need foreigners to guarantee the security of our region,&quot; Rouhani said in a speech broadcast on state television.

&quot;When it comes to regional security arrangements, we are ready to talk to our neighbours and friends, without the presence of foreigners,&quot; he added.

&quot;We are, have been and always will be good neighbours,&quot; Rouhani said, addressing Gulf Arab countries including Iran&#39;s regional rival Saudi Arabia.

Rouhani was speaking in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas overlooking the Gulf -- a flashpoint of tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The two powers, who severed diplomatic ties in January 2016, have taken opposing sides in wars in Syria and Yemen.

Shiite-dominated Iran is the main regional backer of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against Sunni rebels supported by Saudi Arabia. In Yemen, a Saudi-led coalition has been bombing since 2015 Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels opposed to the internationally recognised government.

Western powers and their Gulf Arab allies say Iran is a destabilising influence in the Middle East.

Tehran, however, has regularly called for dialogue with its neighbours free of any foreign interference.

Rouhani&#39;s comments came a day after the United States and three European allies condemned Iran after the United Nations found Tehran had violated the arms embargo on Yemen by failing to block supplies of missiles and drones to Huthi rebels.

The condemnation came after Russia vetoed a British-drafted resolution renewing sanctions on Yemen and citing &quot;particular concern&quot; about a report&#39;s findings on Iran.

Rouhani paid tribute to &quot;Russia&#39;s just and intelligent stance&quot;.

Western powers and their Gulf Arab allies say Iran is a destabilising influence in the Middle East

President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday said Iran is ready to discuss regional security issues with its Gulf Arab neighbours as long as foreign powers are kept out of any potential talks. "We don't need foreigners to guarantee the security of our region," Rouhani said in a speech broadcast on state television. "When it comes to regional security arrangements, we are ready to talk to our neighbours and friends, without the presence of foreigners," he added. "We are, have been and always will be good neighbours," Rouhani said, addressing Gulf Arab countries including Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia. Rouhani was speaking in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas overlooking the Gulf -- a flashpoint of tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The two powers, who severed diplomatic ties in January 2016, have taken opposing sides in wars in Syria and Yemen. Shiite-dominated Iran is the main regional backer of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against Sunni rebels supported by Saudi Arabia. In Yemen, a Saudi-led coalition has been bombing since 2015 Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels opposed to the internationally recognised government. Western powers and their Gulf Arab allies say Iran is a destabilising influence in the Middle East. Tehran, however, has regularly called for dialogue with its neighbours free of any foreign interference. Rouhani's comments came a day after the United States and three European allies condemned Iran after the United Nations found Tehran had violated the arms embargo on Yemen by failing to block supplies of missiles and drones to Huthi rebels. The condemnation came after Russia vetoed a British-drafted resolution renewing sanctions on Yemen and citing "particular concern" about a report's findings on Iran. Rouhani paid tribute to "Russia's just and intelligent stance".

Rouhani says Iran 'ready' to talk to Arab neighbours

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who landed in New Delhi on Friday, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he was accorded a ceremonial welcome.

PM Narendra Modi and Iran President Rouhani are issuing a joint statement.&nbsp;

Watch live:&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="550" id="frmwion" scrolling="no" src="http://wionews.dittotv.com/?header=no" width="100%"></iframe>

Delegation-level talks between PM Modi and Hassan Rouhani took place in the national capital's Hyderabad House

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who landed in New Delhi on Friday, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he was accorded a ceremonial welcome. PM Narendra Modi and Iran President Rouhani are issuing a joint statement. Watch live:

Watch: PM Modi and Iran President Rouhani issue a joint statement

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today, the last leg of his<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/why-iranian-president-hasan-rouhanis-visit-to-india-is-significant-32959">&nbsp;three-day visit</a> to India.

The two sides held &quot;substantive and productive discussion on cooperation in trade and investment, energy, connectivity, defence and security and regional issues,&quot; the external affairs ministry said on Twitter. 
&nbsp;

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Civilizational connect, contemporary context! PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> welcomed President of Iran Dr. Rouhani to India. Both leaders held substantive &amp; productive discussion on cooperation in trade &amp; investment, energy, connectivity, defence &amp; security &amp; regional issues. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DustemanIran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DustemanIran</a> <a href="https://t.co/LICDykC5F6">pic.twitter.com/LICDykC5F6</a>
&mdash; Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/964766462165561349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The Iranian president earlier met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind was earlier accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of the Indian prime minister and president. 
&nbsp;

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Iranian President Rouhani poses for a picture with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind at New Delhi&#39;s Rashtrapati Bhavan on February 17. (ANI)
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a>: Iran President Hassan Rouhani inspects guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhawan. <a href="https://t.co/CX9YVWX6in">pic.twitter.com/CX9YVWX6in</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/964707463063834629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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This was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Raj Ghat.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a>: Iran President Hassan Rouhani pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. <a href="https://t.co/TeDENjZOQY">pic.twitter.com/TeDENjZOQY</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/964712741696167936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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India&#39;s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj also called on the Iranian President.&nbsp;

&quot;Strengthening cooperation in energy, connectivity, IT, education, culture and people-to-people contact came up for discussion,&quot; the external affairs ministry tweeted.

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A close friend in our extended neighbourhood! EAM <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SushmaSwaraj</a> called on President of Iran Dr. Hassan Rouhani. Strengthening cooperation in energy, connectivity, IT, education, culture and people-to-people contact came up for discussion. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DustemanIran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DustemanIran</a> <a href="https://t.co/xFxycjVNYU">pic.twitter.com/xFxycjVNYU</a>
&mdash; Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/964735006567555073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The two sides&nbsp;are expected to sign an agreement allowing India to run operations in the first phase of the strategic Chabahar port project. The port is about 72 km from the Pakistani port of Gwadar, which China is developing. It will bypass Pakistan to open a trade and transport route to landlocked Afghanistan.&nbsp;

India has committed $500 million to the Chabahar port which is expected to boost trade relations between India, Afghanistan and Iran, and will also give access to India to the resource-rich countries of central Asia.

The two sides are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and discuss oil and gas cooperation.

The Iranian President was in Hyderabad on February 15 where he visited the Salar Jung Museum, Golconda Fort and Qutb Shahi Tombs. He <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/muslims-non-muslims-hindus-sikhs-are-coexisting-in-peace-in-india-iranian-president-33113">addressed a Muslim congregation</a> in the Southern city yesterday and praised India for the peaceful coexistence of people of different faiths.

The trip comes amid US pressure to review a 2015 international nuclear deal and re-impose sanctions on Iran.

India&#39;s ties with Iran came up in New Delhi in November last year during talks with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who said America would not stand in the way of projects that help the Iranian people.

(With inputs from agencies)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today, the last leg of his three-day visit to India. The two sides held "substantive and productive discussion on cooperation in trade and investment, energy, connectivity, defence and security and regional issues," the external affairs ministry said on Twitter. Civilizational connect, contemporary context! PM @narendramodi welcomed President of Iran Dr. Rouhani to India. Both leaders held substantive & productive discussion on cooperation in trade & investment, energy, connectivity, defence & security & regional issues. #DustemanIran pic.twitter.com/LICDykC5F6 — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 17, 2018 × The Iranian president earlier met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind was earlier accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of the Indian prime minister and president. Iranian President Rouhani poses for a picture with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind at New Delhi's Rashtrapati Bhavan on February 17. (ANI) × #Delhi: Iran President Hassan Rouhani inspects guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhawan. pic.twitter.com/CX9YVWX6in — ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018 × This was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Raj Ghat. #Delhi: Iran President Hassan Rouhani pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. pic.twitter.com/TeDENjZOQY — ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018 × India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj also called on the Iranian President. "Strengthening cooperation in energy, connectivity, IT, education, culture and people-to-people contact came up for discussion," the external affairs ministry tweeted. A close friend in our extended neighbourhood! EAM @SushmaSwaraj called on President of Iran Dr. Hassan Rouhani. Strengthening cooperation in energy, connectivity, IT, education, culture and people-to-people contact came up for discussion. #DustemanIran pic.twitter.com/xFxycjVNYU — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 17, 2018 × The two sides are expected to sign an agreement allowing India to run operations in the first phase of the strategic Chabahar port project. The port is about 72 km from the Pakistani port of Gwadar, which China is developing. It will bypass Pakistan to open a trade and transport route to landlocked Afghanistan. India has committed $500 million to the Chabahar port which is expected to boost trade relations between India, Afghanistan and Iran, and will also give access to India to the resource-rich countries of central Asia. The two sides are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and discuss oil and gas cooperation. The Iranian President was in Hyderabad on February 15 where he visited the Salar Jung Museum, Golconda Fort and Qutb Shahi Tombs. He addressed a Muslim congregation in the Southern city yesterday and praised India for the peaceful coexistence of people of different faiths. The trip comes amid US pressure to review a 2015 international nuclear deal and re-impose sanctions on Iran. India's ties with Iran came up in New Delhi in November last year during talks with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who said America would not stand in the way of projects that help the Iranian people. (With inputs from agencies)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, PM Modi hold 'substantive' bilateral talks

With a message to walk the path together, President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said India and Iran should join hands &quot;firmly and decisively&quot; to defeat the menace of terrorism and ensure peace, stability and security in the region.

In his speech at the banquet hosted in honour of visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Kovind expressed happiness over the deepening of relationship between the two countries.

He said, &quot;Our bilateral trade has expanded. Our energy partnership is growing. Iran&rsquo;s abundant hydrocarbon resources and India&rsquo;s rapidly growing energy demand provide new opportunities.&quot;

As developing nations facing similar challenges, India and Iran have much to share and gain from each other, Kovind said.

&quot;Our young people are our biggest strength. They are brimming with ideas, energy and entrepreneurship. We need to bring them together,&quot; the president said.

He said both the countries have shared interest in peace, stability and security in the region.

&quot;Terrorism poses a constant and daily challenge to our peace-loving society. Our people have been suffering its violent and inhuman brutality. Let us join hands, firmly and decisively, to defeat these forces.&quot;

He assured India&#39;s complete support to Iran and said the two countries have expressed strong willingness to lift bilateral relations to a higher level.

&quot;We have stood by Iran during difficult times, and we will continue to support and stand by you in the future. There is strong willingness in our two countries to lift our relations to a higher level,&quot; the president said and recited a couplet in Urdu which meant &quot;where there is a will, there is a way. Let us walk the path together&quot;.

He said Iran has played an important role in connecting people, cultures and civilizations for centuries and added the Chabahar Port, the Ashgabat Agreement and the International North-South Transport Corridor together would open immense opportunities for development and prosperity, not just in Iran, India and Afghanistan, but way beyond in the larger region.

&quot;These would directly impact the welfare of common people as we have recently seen with the wheat shipment sent to Afghanistan,&quot; he said.

The president said in Persian that Iran and India are very old friends and &quot;we wish to remain so ever&quot;.

Kovind started his speech with Rabindranath Tagore&#39;s views about Iran who had described Persia as an everlasting inspiration. The thought and wisdom of great Persian luminaries deeply moved him.

He quoted Tagore&#39;s letter to a friend in which he had said: &quot;Culturally speaking, Persia comes nearer to us than most Asian countries. In language, religion, literature and arts, we have very real affinity and all through the course of past history, communication of the mind has been constant.&quot;

The president said Tagore described Indo-Iranian people as &#39;one&#39; who like a giant river got divided into two streams, one finding its destination to the west of Hindukush and other pouring into the plains of India.

The president said on these strong and deep-rooted cultural links, both the countries have built a modern partnership.

India and Iran should join hands 'firmly and decisively' to defeat the menace of terrorism and ensure peace, stability and security in the region

With a message to walk the path together, President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said India and Iran should join hands "firmly and decisively" to defeat the menace of terrorism and ensure peace, stability and security in the region. In his speech at the banquet hosted in honour of visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Kovind expressed happiness over the deepening of relationship between the two countries. He said, "Our bilateral trade has expanded. Our energy partnership is growing. Iran’s abundant hydrocarbon resources and India’s rapidly growing energy demand provide new opportunities." As developing nations facing similar challenges, India and Iran have much to share and gain from each other, Kovind said. "Our young people are our biggest strength. They are brimming with ideas, energy and entrepreneurship. We need to bring them together," the president said. He said both the countries have shared interest in peace, stability and security in the region. "Terrorism poses a constant and daily challenge to our peace-loving society. Our people have been suffering its violent and inhuman brutality. Let us join hands, firmly and decisively, to defeat these forces." He assured India's complete support to Iran and said the two countries have expressed strong willingness to lift bilateral relations to a higher level. "We have stood by Iran during difficult times, and we will continue to support and stand by you in the future. There is strong willingness in our two countries to lift our relations to a higher level," the president said and recited a couplet in Urdu which meant "where there is a will, there is a way. Let us walk the path together". He said Iran has played an important role in connecting people, cultures and civilizations for centuries and added the Chabahar Port, the Ashgabat Agreement and the International North-South Transport Corridor together would open immense opportunities for development and prosperity, not just in Iran, India and Afghanistan, but way beyond in the larger region. "These would directly impact the welfare of common people as we have recently seen with the wheat shipment sent to Afghanistan," he said. The president said in Persian that Iran and India are very old friends and "we wish to remain so ever". Kovind started his speech with Rabindranath Tagore's views about Iran who had described Persia as an everlasting inspiration. The thought and wisdom of great Persian luminaries deeply moved him. He quoted Tagore's letter to a friend in which he had said: "Culturally speaking, Persia comes nearer to us than most Asian countries. In language, religion, literature and arts, we have very real affinity and all through the course of past history, communication of the mind has been constant." The president said Tagore described Indo-Iranian people as 'one' who like a giant river got divided into two streams, one finding its destination to the west of Hindukush and other pouring into the plains of India. The president said on these strong and deep-rooted cultural links, both the countries have built a modern partnership.

India and Iran should join hands firmly, President Kovind tells Iranian counterpart

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Friday evening reached New Delhi after a two-day visit to southern city Hyderabad.

In Delhi, Rouhani will hold bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi on Saturday. He will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind.

Both Iranian and Indian sides would review the progress achieved in bilateral relations and also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Earlier in the day, The Iranian leader addressed the Muslim congregation at Makkah Masjid in Hyderabad, after performing the Friday prayers at the historic mosque.&nbsp;

Religious scholars from different schools of thoughts will also participate in the session.

This is the second time that President Rouhani is visiting Hyderabad, and the first visit after assuming charge as the President of Iran in 2013.

In Delhi, Rouhani will hold bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Friday evening reached New Delhi after a two-day visit to southern city Hyderabad. In Delhi, Rouhani will hold bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi on Saturday. He will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind. Both Iranian and Indian sides would review the progress achieved in bilateral relations and also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Earlier in the day, The Iranian leader addressed the Muslim congregation at Makkah Masjid in Hyderabad, after performing the Friday prayers at the historic mosque. Religious scholars from different schools of thoughts will also participate in the session. This is the second time that President Rouhani is visiting Hyderabad, and the first visit after assuming charge as the President of Iran in 2013.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reaches Delhi

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in Hyderabad on a three-day state visit to India on Thursday evening. The two countries will discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest during the visit.

Union Minister of State for Power R K Singh and Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan received him at the Begumpet airport.

&quot;He is scheduled to address Muslim intellectuals, scholars and clerics in the city at 6.30 pm today,&quot; an official said.

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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrives in Telangana&#39;s Hyderabad. He will offer Friday prayers at Makkah Masjid tomorrow. He will also visit Golconda Fort and Salar Jung Museum. <a href="https://t.co/gYBZibYbYu">pic.twitter.com/gYBZibYbYu</a>
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During his two-day visit to the city, President Rouhani, who is accompanied by a 21-member delegation, will also meet people of Iranian-origin living in Hyderabad.

He will address a congregation at the historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad tomorrow after offering Friday prayers, the official said, adding that religious scholars will also participate in the session.

Rouhani is also expected to visit historic sites, including the Qutub Shahi tombs at Golconda here.

This is Rouhani&#39;s second visit to Hyderabad and the first after becoming president.

He would stay at the Taj Krishna hotel tonight and leave for New Delhi tomorrow evening.&nbsp;

Locals say Iranians are very fond of India and Hyderabad in particular.

The Iranian president will leave for New Delhi tomorrow evening.&nbsp;

Union Minister of State for Power R K Singh and Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan received him at the Begumpet airport.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in Hyderabad on a three-day state visit to India on Thursday evening. The two countries will discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest during the visit. Union Minister of State for Power R K Singh and Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan received him at the Begumpet airport. "He is scheduled to address Muslim intellectuals, scholars and clerics in the city at 6.30 pm today," an official said. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrives in Telangana's Hyderabad. He will offer Friday prayers at Makkah Masjid tomorrow. He will also visit Golconda Fort and Salar Jung Museum. pic.twitter.com/gYBZibYbYu — ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2018 × During his two-day visit to the city, President Rouhani, who is accompanied by a 21-member delegation, will also meet people of Iranian-origin living in Hyderabad. He will address a congregation at the historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad tomorrow after offering Friday prayers, the official said, adding that religious scholars will also participate in the session. Rouhani is also expected to visit historic sites, including the Qutub Shahi tombs at Golconda here. This is Rouhani's second visit to Hyderabad and the first after becoming president. He would stay at the Taj Krishna hotel tonight and leave for New Delhi tomorrow evening. Locals say Iranians are very fond of India and Hyderabad in particular. The Iranian president will leave for New Delhi tomorrow evening.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrives in Hyderabad on three-day India visit

Iran&#39;s President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday called for a &quot;year of unity&quot; after recent protests as Iran celebrated 39 years since the Islamic revolution.

Rouhani said conservative officials should not block candidates they dislike from future elections, and that there should be greater trust in the people, including the use of referenda on key issues.

&quot;I request that the 40th year of the revolution, the coming year, be the year of unity. I ask conservatives, reformists, moderates and all parties and all people to come and be together,&quot; he said in a speech before a huge crowd in Tehran.

Rouhani, a long-time regime insider who won power in 2013 and again in 2017 with the backing of reformists, has faced tough criticism from conservatives over his efforts to rebuild relations with the West and ease civil liberties.&nbsp;

He has tried to use protests that hit dozens of cities over the new year as a way to convince conservatives that they must follow his calls for reform.&nbsp;

&quot;We should trust the people. We must allow all inclinations to participate in elections,&quot; he said in an apparent swipe at the conservative-dominated Guardian Council, which regularly blocks hundreds of reformist candidates from standing in presidential and parliamentary votes.

&quot;Our revolution was victorious when we were all together,&quot; he said.

&quot;And today we must once again invite everyone to get on board the successful and victorious train of the revolution.

&quot;All Iranian races, all Iranian religions, Shiites and Sunnis, Muslims, Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians -- whoever believes in the constitution, that is our criteria. He is a revolutionary and he must be respected,&quot; Rouhani said.&nbsp;

He raised a controversial demand to use referenda, which are allowed under article 59 of the constitution that was passed after the 1979 revolution, but have not been used for decades.

&quot;If there are differences of opinions on a couple of issues... bring the ballot box and according to the article 59 of the constitution, whatever people say, act accordingly,&quot; said Rouhani.

His words immediately triggered support on social media, including tweets with the hashtag #referendum.

Rouhani did not specify which issues could be put in question, but his comments come amid growing debate over social freedoms including an imposed headscarf for women, which has triggered unprecedented protests by a small number of people in recent weeks.&nbsp;

Rouhani&#39;s office issued a study last month saying half of Tehranis did not support mandatory hijab, making it very difficult to enforce.

&quot;We should leave people alone and not interfere in their private sphere,&quot; said Rouhani.&nbsp;

He referred to an order from revolutionary founder Ruhollah Khomeini, which banned the authorities from intruding in people&#39;s private lives.

Rouhani said conservative officials should not block candidates they dislike from future elections, and that there should be greater trust in the people, including the use of referenda on key issues

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday called for a "year of unity" after recent protests as Iran celebrated 39 years since the Islamic revolution. Rouhani said conservative officials should not block candidates they dislike from future elections, and that there should be greater trust in the people, including the use of referenda on key issues. "I request that the 40th year of the revolution, the coming year, be the year of unity. I ask conservatives, reformists, moderates and all parties and all people to come and be together," he said in a speech before a huge crowd in Tehran. Rouhani, a long-time regime insider who won power in 2013 and again in 2017 with the backing of reformists, has faced tough criticism from conservatives over his efforts to rebuild relations with the West and ease civil liberties. He has tried to use protests that hit dozens of cities over the new year as a way to convince conservatives that they must follow his calls for reform. "We should trust the people. We must allow all inclinations to participate in elections," he said in an apparent swipe at the conservative-dominated Guardian Council, which regularly blocks hundreds of reformist candidates from standing in presidential and parliamentary votes. "Our revolution was victorious when we were all together," he said. "And today we must once again invite everyone to get on board the successful and victorious train of the revolution. "All Iranian races, all Iranian religions, Shiites and Sunnis, Muslims, Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians -- whoever believes in the constitution, that is our criteria. He is a revolutionary and he must be respected," Rouhani said. He raised a controversial demand to use referenda, which are allowed under article 59 of the constitution that was passed after the 1979 revolution, but have not been used for decades. "If there are differences of opinions on a couple of issues... bring the ballot box and according to the article 59 of the constitution, whatever people say, act accordingly," said Rouhani. His words immediately triggered support on social media, including tweets with the hashtag #referendum. Rouhani did not specify which issues could be put in question, but his comments come amid growing debate over social freedoms including an imposed headscarf for women, which has triggered unprecedented protests by a small number of people in recent weeks. Rouhani's office issued a study last month saying half of Tehranis did not support mandatory hijab, making it very difficult to enforce. "We should leave people alone and not interfere in their private sphere," said Rouhani. He referred to an order from revolutionary founder Ruhollah Khomeini, which banned the authorities from intruding in people's private lives.

Iran's Rouhani calls for 'year of unity' after protests

If Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman&rsquo;s foreign policy track record is anything to go by, the ongoing situation in Iran could tempt him to embark on yet another risky adventure. This is following the&nbsp;widespread anti-government protests&nbsp;in Iran, which is the real focus of his multiple regional quagmires that include the devastating war in Yemen and the failed effort to force Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to resign.

In many ways, Prince Mohammed faces the same considerations in deciding how to respond to events in Iran, as does US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;In January, the&nbsp;president&nbsp;not only has to choose whether to certify Iranian compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, but also whether to waive US sanctions on Iran. A decision to re-impose economic sanctions could mean a US withdrawal from the agreement.

At the core of Trump&rsquo;s decision, as well as Prince Mohammed&rsquo;s deliberations on how and if to respond to the Iranian protests, is the question of whether the US and/or Saudi Arabia see a strengthening of hardline conservative factions in Iran as serving their national interests. This is includes containing the Islamic Republic and possibly engineering a situation that would be conducive to regime change.

&ldquo;The most likely scenario is that the evidence of popular dissatisfaction and the inevitable repression will harden the Trump administration&rsquo;s position on sustaining the deal and provide additional incentives for ratcheting up new economic pressure on the government,&rdquo; said Brookings fellow and former State Department policy planning Iran expert&nbsp;Suzanne Maloney. &ldquo;They also may see some possibility of flipping the Europeans if the crackdown is fierce and well-documented.&rdquo; The European Union has urged President Trump not to nix the nuclear agreement.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in contrast to hardliners, has sought to reach out to the protesters. He has recognized their right to criticize the government, while denouncing violence and promising to address their economic grievances. Rouhani may be able to tackle some issues like the fraudulent financial institutions that have deprived many of their savings, but he will struggle to fix the country&rsquo;s structural economic issues, including the power of hardline institutions such as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. He may also be able to institutionalize and anchor in law the right to protest with the&nbsp;backing of hardliners. Moreover, addressing economic issues would be even more daunting if Trump withdraws from the nuclear deal.

Ultimately, the odds are that hardliners, irrespective of what scenario unfolds, will emerge strengthened by the current crisis. This will either be the result of protests losing momentum as the regime curbs access to social media, a brutal squashing of the protests as a last resort, or because increased external pressure will initially unite rival factions and reinforce widespread disillusionment with the nuclear deal, which has failed to provide tangible economic benefits to a majority of Iranians.

Prince Mohammed

Looming in the background is the risk that Prince Mohammed &mdash; with or without US backing or cooperation &mdash; will seek to exploit the Iranian government&rsquo;s problems by attempting to further destabilize the Islamic Republic. This could be by stirring unrest among already restive ethnic minority groups such as the Kurds and the Baluchis. Kermanshah, a city in the predominantly Kurdish western Iran, was one of the first cities to which the protests spread after initially erupting in the conservative stronghold of Mashhad.

&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia has funneled large amounts of money in the last 18 months to militant groups and madrassas or religious seminaries in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan, which borders the Iranian region of Sistan and Baluchistan &mdash; both populated by restive Baluchis. In 2017, a Riyadh-based think tank believed to be supported by Prince Mohammed, published a&nbsp;blueprint&nbsp;for stirring unrest among the Iranian Baluch.

President Trump

In recent days,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;and the&nbsp;US State Department&nbsp;have expressed support for the protesters. They have urged the international community to chirp in, and also said they back those in Iran who are seeking a peaceful transition of government.

Various US analysts have argued that Trump&rsquo;s anti-Iranian track record, including his attempted bans on granting visas to Iranians, curtails the impact of his support for the protesters. It may even strengthen the hardliners by allowing them to point fingers at alleged foreign instigation. &ldquo;While we&rsquo;re on Trump, the impact of his tweets has been marginal at best. They&rsquo;ve triggered a slew of angry comments, packed with ridicule. Across classes, factions and generations in Iran, there is a shared contempt for&nbsp;#POTUS&nbsp;whose policies look erratic and hypocritical,&rdquo; tweeted Bloomberg&rsquo;s Iran correspondent,&nbsp;Golnar Motevalli.

Rather than speaking out, the analysts proposed concrete steps the United States could take to support the demonstrators.&nbsp;Maloney&nbsp;and journalist&nbsp;Maziar Bahari&nbsp;suggested the US could use its influence with technology, satellite internet providers and social media networks to try keep communications channels open for protesters.

In an article for Lobe Log, former State Department official&nbsp;Reza Marashi&nbsp;argued that advice he and others proffered in 2009, when the Iranian government faced far larger protests against alleged election fraud, remained valid in the current situation. &ldquo;We advised our superiors to express concern about the violence against protestors, and highlight the importance of respecting free speech, democratic process, and peaceful dissent. We also emphasized a need for the US government to publicly express its respect for Iranian sovereignty, its desire to avoid making America the issue during a domestic Iranian protest, and its belief that it is up to Iranians to determine who Iran&rsquo;s leaders will be,&rdquo; Marashi recalled.

Much of that advice has been ignored by the White House. In doing so, the Trump administration has not only allowed Rouhani and the hardliners to point to a scapegoat. It has seemingly gone out of its way to raise Iranian fears that US policy, with the Saudis in tow, is focused on regime change. Marashi added: &ldquo;Washington would be wise to acknowledge the limits of its power inside Iran. Policymakers and pundits cannot change this simple truth: The problems are Iranian, the protestors are Iranian, and the solution will be Iranian.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

&nbsp;

This <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/middle_east_north_africa/iran-protests-hassan-rouhani-saudi-arabia-donald-trump-latest-news-34069/" rel="nofollow" target="blank">article </a>was originally carried by the <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/" rel="nofollow" target="blank">Fair Observer</a>.

&nbsp;

Protests in Iran raise tricky questions for American and Saudi policymakers, amid Iranian fears that US policy, with the Saudis in tow, is focused on regime change.

If Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s foreign policy track record is anything to go by, the ongoing situation in Iran could tempt him to embark on yet another risky adventure. This is following the widespread anti-government protests in Iran, which is the real focus of his multiple regional quagmires that include the devastating war in Yemen and the failed effort to force Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to resign. In many ways, Prince Mohammed faces the same considerations in deciding how to respond to events in Iran, as does US President Donald Trump. In January, the president not only has to choose whether to certify Iranian compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, but also whether to waive US sanctions on Iran. A decision to re-impose economic sanctions could mean a US withdrawal from the agreement. At the core of Trump’s decision, as well as Prince Mohammed’s deliberations on how and if to respond to the Iranian protests, is the question of whether the US and/or Saudi Arabia see a strengthening of hardline conservative factions in Iran as serving their national interests. This is includes containing the Islamic Republic and possibly engineering a situation that would be conducive to regime change. “The most likely scenario is that the evidence of popular dissatisfaction and the inevitable repression will harden the Trump administration’s position on sustaining the deal and provide additional incentives for ratcheting up new economic pressure on the government,” said Brookings fellow and former State Department policy planning Iran expert Suzanne Maloney. “They also may see some possibility of flipping the Europeans if the crackdown is fierce and well-documented.” The European Union has urged President Trump not to nix the nuclear agreement. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in contrast to hardliners, has sought to reach out to the protesters. He has recognized their right to criticize the government, while denouncing violence and promising to address their economic grievances. Rouhani may be able to tackle some issues like the fraudulent financial institutions that have deprived many of their savings, but he will struggle to fix the country’s structural economic issues, including the power of hardline institutions such as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. He may also be able to institutionalize and anchor in law the right to protest with the backing of hardliners. Moreover, addressing economic issues would be even more daunting if Trump withdraws from the nuclear deal. Ultimately, the odds are that hardliners, irrespective of what scenario unfolds, will emerge strengthened by the current crisis. This will either be the result of protests losing momentum as the regime curbs access to social media, a brutal squashing of the protests as a last resort, or because increased external pressure will initially unite rival factions and reinforce widespread disillusionment with the nuclear deal, which has failed to provide tangible economic benefits to a majority of Iranians. Prince Mohammed Looming in the background is the risk that Prince Mohammed — with or without US backing or cooperation — will seek to exploit the Iranian government’s problems by attempting to further destabilize the Islamic Republic. This could be by stirring unrest among already restive ethnic minority groups such as the Kurds and the Baluchis. Kermanshah, a city in the predominantly Kurdish western Iran, was one of the first cities to which the protests spread after initially erupting in the conservative stronghold of Mashhad. Saudi Arabia has funneled large amounts of money in the last 18 months to militant groups and madrassas or religious seminaries in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan, which borders the Iranian region of Sistan and Baluchistan — both populated by restive Baluchis. In 2017, a Riyadh-based think tank believed to be supported by Prince Mohammed, published a blueprint for stirring unrest among the Iranian Baluch. President Trump In recent days, Trump and the US State Department have expressed support for the protesters. They have urged the international community to chirp in, and also said they back those in Iran who are seeking a peaceful transition of government. Various US analysts have argued that Trump’s anti-Iranian track record, including his attempted bans on granting visas to Iranians, curtails the impact of his support for the protesters. It may even strengthen the hardliners by allowing them to point fingers at alleged foreign instigation. “While we’re on Trump, the impact of his tweets has been marginal at best. They’ve triggered a slew of angry comments, packed with ridicule. Across classes, factions and generations in Iran, there is a shared contempt for #POTUS whose policies look erratic and hypocritical,” tweeted Bloomberg’s Iran correspondent, Golnar Motevalli. Rather than speaking out, the analysts proposed concrete steps the United States could take to support the demonstrators. Maloney and journalist Maziar Bahari suggested the US could use its influence with technology, satellite internet providers and social media networks to try keep communications channels open for protesters. In an article for Lobe Log, former State Department official Reza Marashi argued that advice he and others proffered in 2009, when the Iranian government faced far larger protests against alleged election fraud, remained valid in the current situation. “We advised our superiors to express concern about the violence against protestors, and highlight the importance of respecting free speech, democratic process, and peaceful dissent. We also emphasized a need for the US government to publicly express its respect for Iranian sovereignty, its desire to avoid making America the issue during a domestic Iranian protest, and its belief that it is up to Iranians to determine who Iran’s leaders will be,” Marashi recalled. Much of that advice has been ignored by the White House. In doing so, the Trump administration has not only allowed Rouhani and the hardliners to point to a scapegoat. It has seemingly gone out of its way to raise Iranian fears that US policy, with the Saudis in tow, is focused on regime change. Marashi added: “Washington would be wise to acknowledge the limits of its power inside Iran. Policymakers and pundits cannot change this simple truth: The problems are Iranian, the protestors are Iranian, and the solution will be Iranian.” (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL). This article was originally carried by the Fair Observer.

Opinion: Iran protests raise risk of regime change

Iran&#39;s President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday that government bodies must provide &quot;space for criticism&quot; as he sought to head off days of unrest, but also warned protesters that violence was unacceptable.

Hundreds of protesters marched through Tehran and other cities in a fourth day of demonstrations as authorities cut access to social media.

Rouhani finally broke his silence on the protests that mark the biggest test for the regime since mass protests in 2009.

They began as demonstrations against economic conditions in second city Mashhad on Thursday, but quickly turned against the Islamic regime as a whole with thousands marching in towns across Iran amid chants of &quot;Death to the dictator&quot;.

&quot;The people are absolutely free in expressing their criticisms and even protests,&quot; Rouhani said at a cabinet meeting, according to the state broadcaster.

&quot;But criticism is different to violence and destroying public property.&quot;

He sought a conciliatory tone, saying that government bodies &quot;should provide space for legal criticism and protest&quot; and calling for greater transparency and a more balanced media.

US President Donald Trump said the &quot;big protests&quot; showed people &quot;were getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism&quot;.

&quot;Looks like they will not take it any longer,&quot; he wrote on Twitter.

In a later tweet, Trump accused Iran of &quot;numerous violations of Human Rights,&quot; and commented on the disruption to social media, saying it &quot;has now closed down the Internet so that peaceful demonstrators cannot communicate. Not good!&quot;

Rouhani dismissed Trump&#39;s comments.&nbsp;

&quot;This man who today in America wants to sympathise with our people has forgotten that a few months ago he called the nation of Iran terrorist.&quot;

&quot;This person whose whole being is against the nation of Iran has no right to feel pity for the people of Iran.&quot;

200 arrests in Tehran

Two hundred people were reported to have been arrested in Saturday night&#39;s unrest in Tehran, and officials confirmed two people had been killed in the small western town of Dorud.&nbsp;

In an apparent attempt to stave off more unrest, the authorities began blocking access to photo sharing and online messaging services on mobile phones, including Telegram, which the government accused of being used to foment violence, local media and Telegram&#39;s CEO said.

Conservative news agency Fars said Tehran shops had closed on Sunday &quot;for fear of damage to their shops by rioters.&quot;

After initial silence, state media has shown footage of unrest, focusing on young men violently targeting banks and vehicles, an attack on a town hall in Tehran, and images of a man burning the Iranian flag.

&quot;Those who damage public property, disrupt order and break the law must be responsible for their behaviour and pay the price,&quot; Interior Minister Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli said on state television.

&quot;The spreading of violence, fear and terror will definitely be confronted,&quot; he added.

There have been reminders of the continued support for the regime among conservative sections of society, with pro-regime students holding another day of demonstrations at the University of Tehran.

They had outnumbered protesters at the university on Saturday.

Dozens arrested

Rouhani came to power in 2013 promising to mend the economy and ease social tensions, but anger over high living costs and a 12-percent unemployment rate have left many feeling that progress is too slow.&nbsp;

Unemployment is particularly high among young people, who are generally considered less deferential to authority.

&quot;Rouhani has run an austerity budget since 2013 with the idea that it&#39;s a tough but necessary pill to swallow to manage inflation and currency problems and try to improve Iran&#39;s attractiveness for investment,&quot; said Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder of the Europe-Iran Forum.&nbsp;

&quot;But choosing years of austerity immediately after a very tough period of sanctions is bound to test people&#39;s patience,&quot; he told AFP.

The total number of arrests from the protests around the country remained unclear.

An official in Arak, around 300 kilometres (190 miles) southwest of Tehran, said 80 people had been detained there overnight.

Police have so far taken a relatively soft approach to the unrest. They deny shooting the two men killed in Dorud, and information has been hard to obtain amid a near-total media blackout.

The authorities have blamed external forces for fomenting violence, saying the majority of social media reports were emanating from regional rival Saudi Arabia or exile groups based in Europe.

Since the ruthless repression of the 2009 protests against a disputed presidential election that gave hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term, many middle-class Iranians have abandoned hope of securing change from the streets.

But low-level strikes and demonstrations have continued, with groups such as bus drivers, teachers and factory workers regularly protesting against unpaid wages and poor conditions.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday warned protesters that violence was unacceptable

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday that government bodies must provide "space for criticism" as he sought to head off days of unrest, but also warned protesters that violence was unacceptable. Hundreds of protesters marched through Tehran and other cities in a fourth day of demonstrations as authorities cut access to social media. Rouhani finally broke his silence on the protests that mark the biggest test for the regime since mass protests in 2009. They began as demonstrations against economic conditions in second city Mashhad on Thursday, but quickly turned against the Islamic regime as a whole with thousands marching in towns across Iran amid chants of "Death to the dictator". "The people are absolutely free in expressing their criticisms and even protests," Rouhani said at a cabinet meeting, according to the state broadcaster. "But criticism is different to violence and destroying public property." He sought a conciliatory tone, saying that government bodies "should provide space for legal criticism and protest" and calling for greater transparency and a more balanced media. US President Donald Trump said the "big protests" showed people "were getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism". "Looks like they will not take it any longer," he wrote on Twitter. In a later tweet, Trump accused Iran of "numerous violations of Human Rights," and commented on the disruption to social media, saying it "has now closed down the Internet so that peaceful demonstrators cannot communicate. Not good!" Rouhani dismissed Trump's comments. "This man who today in America wants to sympathise with our people has forgotten that a few months ago he called the nation of Iran terrorist." "This person whose whole being is against the nation of Iran has no right to feel pity for the people of Iran." 200 arrests in Tehran Two hundred people were reported to have been arrested in Saturday night's unrest in Tehran, and officials confirmed two people had been killed in the small western town of Dorud. In an apparent attempt to stave off more unrest, the authorities began blocking access to photo sharing and online messaging services on mobile phones, including Telegram, which the government accused of being used to foment violence, local media and Telegram's CEO said. Conservative news agency Fars said Tehran shops had closed on Sunday "for fear of damage to their shops by rioters." After initial silence, state media has shown footage of unrest, focusing on young men violently targeting banks and vehicles, an attack on a town hall in Tehran, and images of a man burning the Iranian flag. "Those who damage public property, disrupt order and break the law must be responsible for their behaviour and pay the price," Interior Minister Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli said on state television. "The spreading of violence, fear and terror will definitely be confronted," he added. There have been reminders of the continued support for the regime among conservative sections of society, with pro-regime students holding another day of demonstrations at the University of Tehran. They had outnumbered protesters at the university on Saturday. Dozens arrested Rouhani came to power in 2013 promising to mend the economy and ease social tensions, but anger over high living costs and a 12-percent unemployment rate have left many feeling that progress is too slow. Unemployment is particularly high among young people, who are generally considered less deferential to authority. "Rouhani has run an austerity budget since 2013 with the idea that it's a tough but necessary pill to swallow to manage inflation and currency problems and try to improve Iran's attractiveness for investment," said Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder of the Europe-Iran Forum. "But choosing years of austerity immediately after a very tough period of sanctions is bound to test people's patience," he told AFP. The total number of arrests from the protests around the country remained unclear. An official in Arak, around 300 kilometres (190 miles) southwest of Tehran, said 80 people had been detained there overnight. Police have so far taken a relatively soft approach to the unrest. They deny shooting the two men killed in Dorud, and information has been hard to obtain amid a near-total media blackout. The authorities have blamed external forces for fomenting violence, saying the majority of social media reports were emanating from regional rival Saudi Arabia or exile groups based in Europe. Since the ruthless repression of the 2009 protests against a disputed presidential election that gave hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term, many middle-class Iranians have abandoned hope of securing change from the streets. But low-level strikes and demonstrations have continued, with groups such as bus drivers, teachers and factory workers regularly protesting against unpaid wages and poor conditions.

Iran's Rouhani rejects violence but vows 'space for criticism'

The year 2017 has a significant share of world events which has redefined the cultural and political boundaries of the world. From&nbsp; Robert Mugabe&#39;s fall from grace to the rise of Catalan independence movement, many events in 2017 made headlines.

Below are the top ten news events that shaped the world in 2017:

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/the-inside-story-of-mugabes-downfall-25195">Robert Mugabe&#39;s ouster</a>: Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for thirty seven years and planned to rule for longer, even if that meant running the economy aground and becoming increasingly ruthless. The trigger was Mugabe favouring his wife, Grace Mugabe, to &quot;usurp constitutional power&quot; shoving aside his vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mugabe clung onto the presidency even after tanks rolled into the streets of country&#39;s capital Harare in November. Rather than going out quietly, the man known as &quot;the Crocodile&quot; - because of his ruthlessness - struck back by refusing to vacate his seat despite coming under tremendous pressure from his own party the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the members of the public who rallied behind for years. He quickly lost the support of his party, and after some hesitation, finally resigned. Zimbabweans rejoiced at the news of his ouster, and Mnangagwa promised to hold new elections next year. But if Mnangagwa&#39;s moves are anything to go by, he looks more like his former boss.

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Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years, was forced of power in November. Mugabe is seen here with his wife Grace. (Reuters)
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/harvey-weinstein-resigns-from-weinstein-company-board-22580">Harvey Weinstein&#39;s fall from grace</a>: In early October 2017, The New York Times and The New Yorker reported that dozens of women had accused Harvey Weinstein, a prominent Hollywood film producer and executive, of engaging in sexual harassment, sexual assault, or rape. More than 80 women in the film industry subsequently accused Weinstein of such acts. Weinstein denied &quot;any non-consensual sex&quot;. Shortly after the first allegations, Weinstein was dismissed by his company, The Weinstein Company, and expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and other professional associations. Criminal investigations into complaints from at least six women are ongoing in Los Angeles, New York City, and London. The scandal triggered many similar allegations against powerful men around the world and led to the ousting of many of them from their positions. It also led a great number of women to share their own experiences of sexual assault, harassment, or rape on social media under the hashtag #MeToo. The scandal&#39;s impact came to be called the &quot;Weinstein effect&quot;.

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File photo of disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. (Reuters)
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rohingya-group-urges-bangladesh-to-pressure-myanmar-on-return-to-ancestral-land-12444">The Rohingya crisis</a>: The Rohingya may be the most persecuted minority group in the world. They have lived in Myanmar for centuries. The latest and ugliest surge of violence began in August when Rohingya began fleeing into neighbouring Bangladesh telling stories of mass killings, systematic rape, and torture. At last count, more than 4,00,000 have fled Myanmar and thousands more have been displaced internally. The Myanmar military denies committing atrocities, insisting that it is combating attacks on police posts and army bases by Rohingya insurgents. But it&#39;s clear, as the US government has charged, that the Myanmar government is engaged in ethnic cleansing. Aung San Suu Kyi, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and Myanmar&#39;s most prominent political face, has done little publicly to end the violence.

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Rohingya refugees stand in a queue at a refugee camp in Bangladesh (Reuters)
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-kings-son-named-new-crown-prince-17086">Saudi Arabia&#39;s modernisation</a>: Back in June, Saudi Arabia&#39;s King Salman made thirty-two-year-old prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud his heir, after deposing the previous crown prince, the king&#39;s nephew, Mohammed bin Nayef. Prince Saud immediately got to work. His vehicle for remaking the country is Vision 2030, a two-year-old initiative that seeks to modernise Saudi Arabia&#39;s economy and society. The idea is to prepare the country for a post-oil future and to loosen its conservative social structure. The former goal has Saudi Arabia proposing to take its state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco, public, while the latter has it allowing women to drive. Prince Saud moved quickly to consolidate power. In November, he had 11 of his cousins arrested on corruption charges (Their jail cell was a Ritz-Carlton). Some experts think that MBS - as the prince is colloquially known - is Saudi Arabia&#39;s best chance for a moderate and prosperous future. Others worry that he is reckless. A lot depends on which side is right.

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File photo of Saudi Arabia&#39;s crown prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud. (Reuters)
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rouhani-sweeps-to-second-terms-as-iran-chooses-engagement-with-world-15832">Hassan Rouhani&#39;s election win</a>: Riding a large turnout from Iran&#39;s urban middle classes, Rouhani won re-election in a landslide, giving him the mandate to continue his quest to expand personal freedoms and open Iran&#39;s ailing economy to global investors. Out of 41 million votes cast, Rouhani won 23 million (or 57 per cent), soundly defeating his chief opponent, Ebrahim Raisi, who received 15.7 million (38.5 per cent). Turnout was heavy, with more than 70 per cent of Iran&#39;s 56 million voters casting ballots. After his victory, he said after invoking the name of God, &quot;With more than 41 million of your votes, you have pulled out the history of our country away from inertia and doubt.&quot; Rouhani, long known as a cautious and mild-mannered establishment insider, reinvented himself as a bold champion of reform during the election campaign, which culminated in his victory. In his first televised speech after the result, Rouhani appeared to openly defy conservative judges by praising the spiritual leader of the reform camp, former President Mohammad Khatami. A court has banned quoting or naming Khatami on air.

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Hassan Rouhani won this year&#39;s Iran re-election in a landslide (Reuters)
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/macron-party-wins-massive-majority-in-french-parliament-16985">Emmanuel Macron winning France&#39;s election</a>: Macron, the pro-European centrist, resoundingly won France&#39;s landmark presidential election, heading off a fierce challenge from the far-right in a pivotal vote for the future of the divided country and Europe. The victory was an extraordinary rise for the 39-year-old former investment banker, who became country&#39;s youngest-ever leader. The result resonated worldwide, particularly in Brussels and Berlin, where leaders heaved a sigh of relief that Le Pen&#39;s anti-EU, anti-globalisation programme has been defeated. After Britain&#39;s vote last year to leave the EU and Donald Trump&#39;s victory in the US, the French election was widely watched as a test of how high a tide of right-wing nationalism would rise. Outgoing President Francois Hollande, who plucked Macron from obscurity to name him minister in 2014, said voting &quot;is always an important, significant act, heavy with consequences&quot; as he cast his vote.

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File photo of France President Emmanuel Macron (Reuters)
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Catalan independence movement: Although deemed illegal by the Spanish government and Constitutional Court, the referendum was held on October 1, 2017. In a vote where the anti-independence parties called for non-participation, results showed a 90 per cent vote in favour of independence, with a turnout of 43 per cent. Based on this result, on October 27, 2017, Catalonia&#39;s Parliament approved a resolution creating an independent Republic unilaterally, by a vote considered illegal by Spain&#39;s Parliament. On October 10, 2017, in the aftermath of the referendum, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, declared the independence of Catalonia but left it suspended. On October 21, Spain&#39;s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced that he planned to remove Puigdemont and the rest of the Catalonian administration from office, with the central government in Madrid directly ruling over Catalonia until a new President is elected. On October 27, 2017, the Catalan Parliament voted in a secret ballot to approve a resolution declaring independence from Spain by a vote of 70-10 in the absence of the constitutionalist deputies, who refused to participate in a vote considered illegal for violating the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Spain. On December 21, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/catalan-elections-analysts-predict-government-formation-wont-be-easy-for-puigdemont-27432">snap polls were held</a> in Catalonia and the pro-independence parties won the majority, though the Catalan Republic is still unrecognised by the international community.

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A woman casts her ballot in Catalonia&#39;s regional elections on December 21. (Reuters)
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-suspected-nuclear-test-triggers-sharp-reactions-6122">North Korea defies the world</a>: Successive US presidents have insisted that they would prevent North Korea from acquiring nuclear weapons. They backed that up by offering carrots, imposing sanctions, and threatening military action. But North Korea hasn&#39;t listened. In early September, North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test. Three months later, it tested a ballistic missile that looks capable of hitting any US city. President Trump says he will stop North Korea in its tracks, vowing that North Korea &quot;will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen,&quot; tweeting that &quot;military solutions are now fully in place, locked and loaded,&quot; and calling North Korean leader Kim Jung-un &quot;Little Rocket Man&quot;.

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People in Seoul watch the news about North Korea&#39;s launch of ICBM. (Reuters)
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/xi-joins-mao-in-communist-constitution-tightening-grip-on-china-22842">Xi Jinping&#39;s &quot;extraordinary elevation&quot;</a>: Xi&#39;s biggest success came in October at the nineteenth Chinese Communist Party Congress. It was a coronation. Xi was named to his second five-year term as party general secretary. He was also named a &quot;core leader,&quot; a title denied to his immediate predecessor, Hu Jintao. The Congress also wrote &quot;Xi Jinping Thought&quot; into the party&#39;s constitution, an honour previously bestowed only on Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Best of all for Xi, the congress ended without naming anyone as his successor. When Trump called Xi &quot;king of China&quot; during his November &quot;state visit-plus,&quot; he wasn&#39;t far off the mark. Xi is China&#39;s most powerful leader since Mao, and he&#39;s likely to be around for a while.

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File photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Reuters)
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-proclaims-start-of-new-era-under-grey-skies-11520">Donald Trump&#39;s inauguration</a>: Donald Trump campaigned on a pledge to do things differently and to do different things in foreign policy. He has been good to his word since getting to the White House. He has canceled US participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, withdrawn the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, refused to certify that Iran is in compliance with its nuclear obligations, recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, ramped up the use of drones, and relegated democracy and human rights to the sidelines of US foreign policy. To be sure, Trump hasn&#39;t enacted all of his campaign promises. He beefed up rather than withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, and he hasn&#39;t declared China a currency manipulator or kicked NAFTA to the curb. But his tough campaign trade talk may soon be US policy. Trump is poised to take punitive actions against Chinese trade practices, his demands for a revamped NAFTA look to be unacceptable to Canada and Mexico, and he&#39;s waging a low-level war against the World Trade Organisation.

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File photo of US President Donald Trump. (Reuters)
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Other stories of note in 2017: In January, Antonio Guterres became the ninth secretary general of the United Nations. In February, Israel announced plans for its first new settlement in the West Bank in more than twenty years. Violent protests wracked Venezuela in April, a critical point in the country&#39;s constitutional crisis. The G-20 met in Hamburg in July and failed to agree on climate action. In November, thousands attended a far-right nationalist rally in Warsaw. The Australian Parliament voted in December to legalise same-sex marriage, making Australia the twenty-fifth country to do so.

The year 2017 has a significant share of world events which has redefined the cultural and political boundaries of the world.

The year 2017 has a significant share of world events which has redefined the cultural and political boundaries of the world. From Robert Mugabe's fall from grace to the rise of Catalan independence movement, many events in 2017 made headlines. Below are the top ten news events that shaped the world in 2017: Robert Mugabe's ouster: Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for thirty seven years and planned to rule for longer, even if that meant running the economy aground and becoming increasingly ruthless. The trigger was Mugabe favouring his wife, Grace Mugabe, to "usurp constitutional power" shoving aside his vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mugabe clung onto the presidency even after tanks rolled into the streets of country's capital Harare in November. Rather than going out quietly, the man known as "the Crocodile" - because of his ruthlessness - struck back by refusing to vacate his seat despite coming under tremendous pressure from his own party the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the members of the public who rallied behind for years. He quickly lost the support of his party, and after some hesitation, finally resigned. Zimbabweans rejoiced at the news of his ouster, and Mnangagwa promised to hold new elections next year. But if Mnangagwa's moves are anything to go by, he looks more like his former boss. Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years, was forced of power in November. Mugabe is seen here with his wife Grace. (Reuters) × Harvey Weinstein's fall from grace: In early October 2017, The New York Times and The New Yorker reported that dozens of women had accused Harvey Weinstein, a prominent Hollywood film producer and executive, of engaging in sexual harassment, sexual assault, or rape. More than 80 women in the film industry subsequently accused Weinstein of such acts. Weinstein denied "any non-consensual sex". Shortly after the first allegations, Weinstein was dismissed by his company, The Weinstein Company, and expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and other professional associations. Criminal investigations into complaints from at least six women are ongoing in Los Angeles, New York City, and London. The scandal triggered many similar allegations against powerful men around the world and led to the ousting of many of them from their positions. It also led a great number of women to share their own experiences of sexual assault, harassment, or rape on social media under the hashtag #MeToo. The scandal's impact came to be called the "Weinstein effect". File photo of disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. (Reuters) × The Rohingya crisis: The Rohingya may be the most persecuted minority group in the world. They have lived in Myanmar for centuries. The latest and ugliest surge of violence began in August when Rohingya began fleeing into neighbouring Bangladesh telling stories of mass killings, systematic rape, and torture. At last count, more than 4,00,000 have fled Myanmar and thousands more have been displaced internally. The Myanmar military denies committing atrocities, insisting that it is combating attacks on police posts and army bases by Rohingya insurgents. But it's clear, as the US government has charged, that the Myanmar government is engaged in ethnic cleansing. Aung San Suu Kyi, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and Myanmar's most prominent political face, has done little publicly to end the violence. Rohingya refugees stand in a queue at a refugee camp in Bangladesh (Reuters) × Saudi Arabia's modernisation: Back in June, Saudi Arabia's King Salman made thirty-two-year-old prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud his heir, after deposing the previous crown prince, the king's nephew, Mohammed bin Nayef. Prince Saud immediately got to work. His vehicle for remaking the country is Vision 2030, a two-year-old initiative that seeks to modernise Saudi Arabia's economy and society. The idea is to prepare the country for a post-oil future and to loosen its conservative social structure. The former goal has Saudi Arabia proposing to take its state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco, public, while the latter has it allowing women to drive. Prince Saud moved quickly to consolidate power. In November, he had 11 of his cousins arrested on corruption charges (Their jail cell was a Ritz-Carlton). Some experts think that MBS - as the prince is colloquially known - is Saudi Arabia's best chance for a moderate and prosperous future. Others worry that he is reckless. A lot depends on which side is right. File photo of Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud. (Reuters) × Hassan Rouhani's election win: Riding a large turnout from Iran's urban middle classes, Rouhani won re-election in a landslide, giving him the mandate to continue his quest to expand personal freedoms and open Iran's ailing economy to global investors. Out of 41 million votes cast, Rouhani won 23 million (or 57 per cent), soundly defeating his chief opponent, Ebrahim Raisi, who received 15.7 million (38.5 per cent). Turnout was heavy, with more than 70 per cent of Iran's 56 million voters casting ballots. After his victory, he said after invoking the name of God, "With more than 41 million of your votes, you have pulled out the history of our country away from inertia and doubt." Rouhani, long known as a cautious and mild-mannered establishment insider, reinvented himself as a bold champion of reform during the election campaign, which culminated in his victory. In his first televised speech after the result, Rouhani appeared to openly defy conservative judges by praising the spiritual leader of the reform camp, former President Mohammad Khatami. A court has banned quoting or naming Khatami on air. Hassan Rouhani won this year's Iran re-election in a landslide (Reuters) × Emmanuel Macron winning France's election: Macron, the pro-European centrist, resoundingly won France's landmark presidential election, heading off a fierce challenge from the far-right in a pivotal vote for the future of the divided country and Europe. The victory was an extraordinary rise for the 39-year-old former investment banker, who became country's youngest-ever leader. The result resonated worldwide, particularly in Brussels and Berlin, where leaders heaved a sigh of relief that Le Pen's anti-EU, anti-globalisation programme has been defeated. After Britain's vote last year to leave the EU and Donald Trump's victory in the US, the French election was widely watched as a test of how high a tide of right-wing nationalism would rise. Outgoing President Francois Hollande, who plucked Macron from obscurity to name him minister in 2014, said voting "is always an important, significant act, heavy with consequences" as he cast his vote. File photo of France President Emmanuel Macron (Reuters) × Catalan independence movement: Although deemed illegal by the Spanish government and Constitutional Court, the referendum was held on October 1, 2017. In a vote where the anti-independence parties called for non-participation, results showed a 90 per cent vote in favour of independence, with a turnout of 43 per cent. Based on this result, on October 27, 2017, Catalonia's Parliament approved a resolution creating an independent Republic unilaterally, by a vote considered illegal by Spain's Parliament. On October 10, 2017, in the aftermath of the referendum, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, declared the independence of Catalonia but left it suspended. On October 21, Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced that he planned to remove Puigdemont and the rest of the Catalonian administration from office, with the central government in Madrid directly ruling over Catalonia until a new President is elected. On October 27, 2017, the Catalan Parliament voted in a secret ballot to approve a resolution declaring independence from Spain by a vote of 70-10 in the absence of the constitutionalist deputies, who refused to participate in a vote considered illegal for violating the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Spain. On December 21, snap polls were held in Catalonia and the pro-independence parties won the majority, though the Catalan Republic is still unrecognised by the international community. A woman casts her ballot in Catalonia's regional elections on December 21. (Reuters) × North Korea defies the world: Successive US presidents have insisted that they would prevent North Korea from acquiring nuclear weapons. They backed that up by offering carrots, imposing sanctions, and threatening military action. But North Korea hasn't listened. In early September, North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test. Three months later, it tested a ballistic missile that looks capable of hitting any US city. President Trump says he will stop North Korea in its tracks, vowing that North Korea "will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen," tweeting that "military solutions are now fully in place, locked and loaded," and calling North Korean leader Kim Jung-un "Little Rocket Man". People in Seoul watch the news about North Korea's launch of ICBM. (Reuters) × Xi Jinping's "extraordinary elevation": Xi's biggest success came in October at the nineteenth Chinese Communist Party Congress. It was a coronation. Xi was named to his second five-year term as party general secretary. He was also named a "core leader," a title denied to his immediate predecessor, Hu Jintao. The Congress also wrote "Xi Jinping Thought" into the party's constitution, an honour previously bestowed only on Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Best of all for Xi, the congress ended without naming anyone as his successor. When Trump called Xi "king of China" during his November "state visit-plus," he wasn't far off the mark. Xi is China's most powerful leader since Mao, and he's likely to be around for a while. File photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Reuters) × Donald Trump's inauguration: Donald Trump campaigned on a pledge to do things differently and to do different things in foreign policy. He has been good to his word since getting to the White House. He has canceled US participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, withdrawn the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, refused to certify that Iran is in compliance with its nuclear obligations, recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, ramped up the use of drones, and relegated democracy and human rights to the sidelines of US foreign policy. To be sure, Trump hasn't enacted all of his campaign promises. He beefed up rather than withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, and he hasn't declared China a currency manipulator or kicked NAFTA to the curb. But his tough campaign trade talk may soon be US policy. Trump is poised to take punitive actions against Chinese trade practices, his demands for a revamped NAFTA look to be unacceptable to Canada and Mexico, and he's waging a low-level war against the World Trade Organisation. File photo of US President Donald Trump. (Reuters) × Other stories of note in 2017: In January, Antonio Guterres became the ninth secretary general of the United Nations. In February, Israel announced plans for its first new settlement in the West Bank in more than twenty years. Violent protests wracked Venezuela in April, a critical point in the country's constitutional crisis. The G-20 met in Hamburg in July and failed to agree on climate action. In November, thousands attended a far-right nationalist rally in Warsaw. The Australian Parliament voted in December to legalise same-sex marriage, making Australia the twenty-fifth country to do so.

Ten news events that shaped the world in 2017

On December 3, 2017, President of Iran Hassan Rouhani inaugurated the much-awaited Chabahar port. The inauguration follows the successful operationalisation of the port on October 29; which marked a major shift as to how Afghanistan trades with the world and vice versa.&nbsp;

India dispatched first of the six consignments of wheat (India&rsquo;s commitment to send 1.1 million tonnes of wheat) to Afghanistan via Chabahar, Iran bypassing Pakistan. Traditionally, Afghanistan due to its landlocked nature has been dependent upon Pakistan to receive international aid and conduct trade. With the opening of the route via Iran, Afghanistan&#39;s dependence on Pakistan will reduce significantly and it will get access to the seaport, increasing trade volume considerably.

The Chabahar, which is in Iran, is connected to Afghanistan via 635 km road connecting Chabahar to Zahedan and improved the 206 km to Zaranj on its side of the Iran-Afghan border. India as part of its Afghanistan development assistance initiative has constructed 218 km long Zaranj-Delaram highway in western Afghanistan that runs to the Iran border, thus providing much-required sea access.

The passage of India&#39;s first consignment of wheat through Iran&#39;s Chabahar port to Afghanistan recently is significant for several reasons. First, it helps in boosting trade ties between Afghanistan and India which have suffered due to transit issues for Indian goods via Pakistan. Afghanistan has the potential to become a major transit hub for Central Asian goods reaching South Asia and beyond via this port facility. The port access is also expected to encourage domestic trading communities in Afghanistan to utilise this facility.&nbsp;

Second, it alters regional geopolitical calibrations i.e. bringing Iran as a player in Afghanistan&#39;s reconstruction efforts as well as much needed developmental activity in the Sistan and Baluchistan province of southern Iran.&nbsp;

Third, for Iran, the operationalisation comes at a time when the US has been changing its stance on the nuclear deal. The port is also key to INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) which provides trade connectivity from Russia to the Persian Gulf via different trades routes.

India, Iran and Afghanistan may have overcome many challenges to make trade and transit through Chabahar port a reality. But challenges remain. First, the location of the port itself i.e. the port is located just 72km away from the Gwadar port of Pakistan which is part of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Second, the US policy with respect to Iran is changing again, the recent decision by the US to decertify Iran as per the Iran Nuclear Deal or JCPOA has renewed fear of economic sanctions on Iran. However, the US Secretary of State Tillerson on his recent visit to India has assured the Indian government that Chabahar port will be out of the purview of any such decision of the US government.&nbsp;

But the impact of the sanctions on the associated economic activity will have an adverse impact on the economic viability of the port. Third, the port would need more than India-Afghan trade to stay afloat. Several countries, including Japan and South Korea, have expressed interest in the port facility and should be roped in. The materialisation of the INSTC will bring much-needed trade traffic to the port facility and provide access to the Central Asian, East European markets for East Asian economic powerhouses.

In addition, the poor security situation in the Sistan-Baluchistan province where Chabahar is located may raise some concerns as the province has the restive Sunni population in Shia-dominated Iran. The deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, too, could undermine the region&#39;s capacity to tap Chabahar&#39;s full potential.

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

With the opening of the route via Iran, Afghanistan's dependence on Pakistan will reduce significantly and it will get access to the seaport, increasing trade volume considerably.

On December 3, 2017, President of Iran Hassan Rouhani inaugurated the much-awaited Chabahar port. The inauguration follows the successful operationalisation of the port on October 29; which marked a major shift as to how Afghanistan trades with the world and vice versa. India dispatched first of the six consignments of wheat (India’s commitment to send 1.1 million tonnes of wheat) to Afghanistan via Chabahar, Iran bypassing Pakistan. Traditionally, Afghanistan due to its landlocked nature has been dependent upon Pakistan to receive international aid and conduct trade. With the opening of the route via Iran, Afghanistan's dependence on Pakistan will reduce significantly and it will get access to the seaport, increasing trade volume considerably. The Chabahar, which is in Iran, is connected to Afghanistan via 635 km road connecting Chabahar to Zahedan and improved the 206 km to Zaranj on its side of the Iran-Afghan border. India as part of its Afghanistan development assistance initiative has constructed 218 km long Zaranj-Delaram highway in western Afghanistan that runs to the Iran border, thus providing much-required sea access. The passage of India's first consignment of wheat through Iran's Chabahar port to Afghanistan recently is significant for several reasons. First, it helps in boosting trade ties between Afghanistan and India which have suffered due to transit issues for Indian goods via Pakistan. Afghanistan has the potential to become a major transit hub for Central Asian goods reaching South Asia and beyond via this port facility. The port access is also expected to encourage domestic trading communities in Afghanistan to utilise this facility. Second, it alters regional geopolitical calibrations i.e. bringing Iran as a player in Afghanistan's reconstruction efforts as well as much needed developmental activity in the Sistan and Baluchistan province of southern Iran. Third, for Iran, the operationalisation comes at a time when the US has been changing its stance on the nuclear deal. The port is also key to INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) which provides trade connectivity from Russia to the Persian Gulf via different trades routes. India, Iran and Afghanistan may have overcome many challenges to make trade and transit through Chabahar port a reality. But challenges remain. First, the location of the port itself i.e. the port is located just 72km away from the Gwadar port of Pakistan which is part of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Second, the US policy with respect to Iran is changing again, the recent decision by the US to decertify Iran as per the Iran Nuclear Deal or JCPOA has renewed fear of economic sanctions on Iran. However, the US Secretary of State Tillerson on his recent visit to India has assured the Indian government that Chabahar port will be out of the purview of any such decision of the US government. But the impact of the sanctions on the associated economic activity will have an adverse impact on the economic viability of the port. Third, the port would need more than India-Afghan trade to stay afloat. Several countries, including Japan and South Korea, have expressed interest in the port facility and should be roped in. The materialisation of the INSTC will bring much-needed trade traffic to the port facility and provide access to the Central Asian, East European markets for East Asian economic powerhouses. In addition, the poor security situation in the Sistan-Baluchistan province where Chabahar is located may raise some concerns as the province has the restive Sunni population in Shia-dominated Iran. The deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, too, could undermine the region's capacity to tap Chabahar's full potential. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: With Chabahar India gains upper hand over Pakistan

The first phase of the strategic Chabahar port which has been developed by India will be inaugurated by Iranian president Hassan Rouhani today.

Representatives from India, Afghanistan and a few other countries in the region will also be in attendance.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday made a stopover in Iran on her way back from Russia to meet Iran foreign minister of&nbsp;Dr Javed Zarif in Tehran. The two counterparts discussed the implementation of the Chabahar port.

The port will bypass Pakistan to open a trade and transport route to landlocked Afghanistan.&nbsp;

India has committed $500 million to the Chabahar port which is expected to boost trade relations between India, Afghanistan and Iran, and will also give access to India to the resource-rich countries of central Asia.

New Delhi plans to send seven shipments of wheat to Afghanistan through Chabahar by the end of January, Reuters earlier reported, adding that the port is being viewed by Iran critics US and the United Kingdom as a transport corridor to Afghanistan rather than for advancing Iran&#39;s agenda in the Middle-East.

The first shipment of wheat arrived last week from India&#39;s Kandla port in Gujarat, after years of political wrangling with Pakistan, government officials in New Delhi and Kabul told Reuters. The wheat will be trucked from Chabahar to western Afghanistan.

The United States, which wants India to do more to help stabilise Afghanistan through economic and security assistance, has held off public criticism of India&#39;s efforts to develop the Iranian corridor.

India&#39;s ties with Iran came up in New Delhi last month during talks with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who said America would not stand in the way of projects that help the Iranian people.

The government has set up the India Global Ports Ltd (IGPL) to lead the Chabahar project.

The IGPL has held talks with Iranian authorities to begin interim operations, an Indian government source earlier told Reuters.

In August, the IGPL applied for permission to establish a company to run the port, the source said. The plan is for IGPL to build two new terminals, one for container vessels and one for multipurpose ships.

The first phase is known as the Shahid Beheshti port.

Iran has reportedly asked the Indian government to operate the first phase until work for the second phase is finalised.

(With inputs from Reuters) 
&nbsp;

The first phase of the project will be inaugurated by Iranian president Hassan Rouhani today

The first phase of the strategic Chabahar port which has been developed by India will be inaugurated by Iranian president Hassan Rouhani today. Representatives from India, Afghanistan and a few other countries in the region will also be in attendance. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday made a stopover in Iran on her way back from Russia to meet Iran foreign minister of Dr Javed Zarif in Tehran. The two counterparts discussed the implementation of the Chabahar port. The port will bypass Pakistan to open a trade and transport route to landlocked Afghanistan. India has committed $500 million to the Chabahar port which is expected to boost trade relations between India, Afghanistan and Iran, and will also give access to India to the resource-rich countries of central Asia. New Delhi plans to send seven shipments of wheat to Afghanistan through Chabahar by the end of January, Reuters earlier reported, adding that the port is being viewed by Iran critics US and the United Kingdom as a transport corridor to Afghanistan rather than for advancing Iran's agenda in the Middle-East. The first shipment of wheat arrived last week from India's Kandla port in Gujarat, after years of political wrangling with Pakistan, government officials in New Delhi and Kabul told Reuters. The wheat will be trucked from Chabahar to western Afghanistan. The United States, which wants India to do more to help stabilise Afghanistan through economic and security assistance, has held off public criticism of India's efforts to develop the Iranian corridor. India's ties with Iran came up in New Delhi last month during talks with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson who said America would not stand in the way of projects that help the Iranian people. The government has set up the India Global Ports Ltd (IGPL) to lead the Chabahar project. The IGPL has held talks with Iranian authorities to begin interim operations, an Indian government source earlier told Reuters. In August, the IGPL applied for permission to establish a company to run the port, the source said. The plan is for IGPL to build two new terminals, one for container vessels and one for multipurpose ships. The first phase is known as the Shahid Beheshti port. Iran has reportedly asked the Indian government to operate the first phase until work for the second phase is finalised. (With inputs from Reuters)

Chabahar port, developed by India, to be inaugurated today in Iran

The first phase of the Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman was inaugurated on Sunday by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. The port will open&nbsp;a new strategic route connecting Iran, India and Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan, and reflecting growing convergence of interests among the three countries.

The port in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich nation&#39;s southern coast is easily accessible from India&#39;s western coast and is increasingly seen as a counter to Pakistan&#39;s Gwadar Port, which is being developed with Chinese investment and is located at distance of around 80 kms from Chabahar.

An India-Iran-Afghanistan ministerial-level trilateral meeting on Chabahar also took place on the sidelines of the event where the three countries resolved to work towards integrated development of connectivity infrastructure including ports, road and rail networks to open up greater opportunities for regional market access and integration of their economies.

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Minister of State (Shipping) Pon Radhakrishnan represented India at the inauguration of the Phase 1 of the Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar in Iran <a href="https://t.co/LdR5eFpMfv">pic.twitter.com/LdR5eFpMfv</a>
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The Chabahar port is being considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with central Asian countries besides ramping up trade among the three countries in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi.

&quot;The routes of the region should be connected by land, sea and air,&quot; Rouhani said at the inauguration ceremony, according to his office.

India has been closely working with Afghanistan and Iran to create an alternative, reliable access routes for trade.

Under the agreement signed between India and Iran in May last year, India is to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar Port Phase-I with the capital investment of USD 85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of USD 22.95 million on a 10-year lease.

The MEA, in a statement, said Radhakrishnan also represented India in the second India-Iran-Afghanistan ministerial-level trilateral meeting on Chabahar port in Chabahar today. Iran was represented by its Transport Minister Abbas Akhoundi and Afghanistan by its Trade and Commerce Minister Humayoon Rasaw.

In the meeting, the three countries assessed the progress in the development of the port and reiterated their commitment to complete and operationalise it at the earliest, which they felt would provide alternative access to landlocked Afghanistan to regional and global markets.

A joint statement issued after the meeting said the ministers also deliberated on trilateral pact relating to the mega connectivity project and expressed satisfaction on the completion of the ratification procedures by Afghanistan and India. They welcomed the steps taken by Iran to complete the ratification process.

In May 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan had inked a pact which entailed establishment of Transit and Transport Corridor among the three countries using Chabahar Port as one of the regional hubs for sea transportation in Iran, besides multi- modal transport of goods and passengers across the three nations.

&quot;The ministers discussed the next steps for full implementation of the agreement and moving towards its operationalisation. Towards this endeavour, it was decided to finalise protocols related to transport and transit, ports, customs procedures and consular affairs. It was also decided to convene an expert-level meeting of senior officials of the three countries at the earliest,&quot; the joint statement said.

Reiterating the importance of Chabahar as a hub for regional economic connectivity and their commitment to work towards this objective, the ministers also commended the joint efforts of the three countries in the recent successful transit of wheat from India to Afghanistan through Chabahar.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Rouhani noted that transit is the best communication tool for nations, adding &quot;the routes of the region should be connected on land, sea and air,&quot; according to his office.

(With PTI inputs)&nbsp;

The Chabahar port is being considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with central Asian countries

The first phase of the Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman was inaugurated on Sunday by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. The port will open a new strategic route connecting Iran, India and Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan, and reflecting growing convergence of interests among the three countries. The port in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich nation's southern coast is easily accessible from India's western coast and is increasingly seen as a counter to Pakistan's Gwadar Port, which is being developed with Chinese investment and is located at distance of around 80 kms from Chabahar. An India-Iran-Afghanistan ministerial-level trilateral meeting on Chabahar also took place on the sidelines of the event where the three countries resolved to work towards integrated development of connectivity infrastructure including ports, road and rail networks to open up greater opportunities for regional market access and integration of their economies. Minister of State (Shipping) Pon Radhakrishnan represented India at the inauguration of the Phase 1 of the Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar in Iran pic.twitter.com/LdR5eFpMfv — ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2017 × The Chabahar port is being considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with central Asian countries besides ramping up trade among the three countries in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi. "The routes of the region should be connected by land, sea and air," Rouhani said at the inauguration ceremony, according to his office. India has been closely working with Afghanistan and Iran to create an alternative, reliable access routes for trade. Under the agreement signed between India and Iran in May last year, India is to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar Port Phase-I with the capital investment of USD 85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of USD 22.95 million on a 10-year lease. The MEA, in a statement, said Radhakrishnan also represented India in the second India-Iran-Afghanistan ministerial-level trilateral meeting on Chabahar port in Chabahar today. Iran was represented by its Transport Minister Abbas Akhoundi and Afghanistan by its Trade and Commerce Minister Humayoon Rasaw. In the meeting, the three countries assessed the progress in the development of the port and reiterated their commitment to complete and operationalise it at the earliest, which they felt would provide alternative access to landlocked Afghanistan to regional and global markets. A joint statement issued after the meeting said the ministers also deliberated on trilateral pact relating to the mega connectivity project and expressed satisfaction on the completion of the ratification procedures by Afghanistan and India. They welcomed the steps taken by Iran to complete the ratification process. In May 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan had inked a pact which entailed establishment of Transit and Transport Corridor among the three countries using Chabahar Port as one of the regional hubs for sea transportation in Iran, besides multi- modal transport of goods and passengers across the three nations. "The ministers discussed the next steps for full implementation of the agreement and moving towards its operationalisation. Towards this endeavour, it was decided to finalise protocols related to transport and transit, ports, customs procedures and consular affairs. It was also decided to convene an expert-level meeting of senior officials of the three countries at the earliest," the joint statement said. Reiterating the importance of Chabahar as a hub for regional economic connectivity and their commitment to work towards this objective, the ministers also commended the joint efforts of the three countries in the recent successful transit of wheat from India to Afghanistan through Chabahar. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Rouhani noted that transit is the best communication tool for nations, adding "the routes of the region should be connected on land, sea and air," according to his office. (With PTI inputs)

Chabahar port inaugurated, allows India to bypass Pakistan on trade route to Afghanistan

The first phase of the Chabahar port was inaugurated by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday in the presence of representatives from several countries of the region.

The port which will open a new transit between India, Afghanistan and Iran is expected to boost trade between the three countries.&nbsp;

Also known as &quot;Gateway of golden opportunities&quot;, the Chabahar port, which is easily accessible by India&#39;s Western Coast,&nbsp;is located in the Sistan-Balochistan province.&nbsp;

The Ministry of External Affairs said that the Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan represented India at the inauguration of the post which was&nbsp;constructed bypassing Pakistan.&nbsp;

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The first phase of the Chabahar port project is known as the Shahid Beheshti port.&nbsp;

Pakistan had been denying access to India for trade with the two countries. The Chabahar port is expected to boost the trade relations between the countries.&nbsp;

In an agreement signed between India and Iran in May 2017, India will equip and operate two births in the Chabahar port phase 1. India&#39;s capital investment accounts for $85.21 million, while its annual revenue expenditure is $22.95 million on a 10-year lease.&nbsp;

Marking opening of the new transit route, India had sent its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The first phase of the Chabahar port was opened today after it was inaugurated by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani

The first phase of the Chabahar port was inaugurated by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday in the presence of representatives from several countries of the region. The port which will open a new transit between India, Afghanistan and Iran is expected to boost trade between the three countries. Also known as "Gateway of golden opportunities", the Chabahar port, which is easily accessible by India's Western Coast, is located in the Sistan-Balochistan province. The Ministry of External Affairs said that the Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan represented India at the inauguration of the post which was constructed bypassing Pakistan. Minister of State (Shipping) Pon Radhakrishnan represented India at the inauguration of the Phase 1 of the Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar in Iran pic.twitter.com/LdR5eFpMfv — ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2017 × The first phase of the Chabahar port project is known as the Shahid Beheshti port. Pakistan had been denying access to India for trade with the two countries. The Chabahar port is expected to boost the trade relations between the countries. In an agreement signed between India and Iran in May 2017, India will equip and operate two births in the Chabahar port phase 1. India's capital investment accounts for $85.21 million, while its annual revenue expenditure is $22.95 million on a 10-year lease. Marking opening of the new transit route, India had sent its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port.

First phase of Chabahar port inaugurated in Iran

Iran welcomes cooperation at all levels to bring stability to the Middle East, President Hassan Rouhani told his French counterpart on Monday, hours after US President Donald Trump lambasted Tehran again as he tours the region.

In a telephone call, Rouhani told France&#39;s new president Emmanuel Macron he was hopeful that Europe would not copy Trump&#39;s stance against the Islamic Republic.

Visiting Iran&#39;s arch-foe Saudi Arabia on Sunday, Trump singled out Iran as a key source of funding and support for militant groups in the Middle East, sending a tough message to Tehran the day after Rouhani won a second presidential term.

He said on Monday in Jerusalem that shared concern about Iran was driving Israel and many Arab states closer, calling Tehran a real threat in the region.

&quot;The Islamic Republic is ready for cooperation in all levels with other countries, including France, to fight against terrorism and to resolve the Syrian crisis,&quot; Rouhani was quoted saying to Macron by Iran&#39;s state news agency IRNA.&nbsp;

The French leader had called to congratulate him on being re-elected in Friday&rsquo;s presidential vote.

&quot;We should bring peace and stability back to the region. We hope Europe does not fall into the trap of countries that promote their wrong interpretations of the region,&quot; Rouhani was also quoted as saying.

Paris, which is at odds with Iran over the crisis in Syria, took one of the hardest lines against Tehran during negotiations between Iran and major powers in 2015, but has been quick to restore trade ties.

French carmakers PSA and Renault are taking advantage of their lack of US operations by piling into a resurgent Iranian market that is still off-limits to rivals fearful that Trump&#39;s administration will impose sanctions.

France has said it backs Trump&#39;s call to strengthen the monitoring of the deal, but that it is committed to implementing it, including the lifting of sanctions.&nbsp;

Asked earlier on Monday whether Paris agreed with Trump&#39;s call to isolate Iran, the French foreign ministry said it would &quot;work towards developing political dialogue that should be part of a constructive approach with regard solving regional crises&quot;.&nbsp;

Rouhani said at a news conference on Monday that stability could not be achieved in the Middle East without Tehran`s help.

(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

In a telephone call, Rouhani told France's new president Emmanuel Macron he was hopeful that Europe would not copy Trump's stance against the Islamic Republic

Iran welcomes cooperation at all levels to bring stability to the Middle East, President Hassan Rouhani told his French counterpart on Monday, hours after US President Donald Trump lambasted Tehran again as he tours the region. In a telephone call, Rouhani told France's new president Emmanuel Macron he was hopeful that Europe would not copy Trump's stance against the Islamic Republic. Visiting Iran's arch-foe Saudi Arabia on Sunday, Trump singled out Iran as a key source of funding and support for militant groups in the Middle East, sending a tough message to Tehran the day after Rouhani won a second presidential term. He said on Monday in Jerusalem that shared concern about Iran was driving Israel and many Arab states closer, calling Tehran a real threat in the region. "The Islamic Republic is ready for cooperation in all levels with other countries, including France, to fight against terrorism and to resolve the Syrian crisis," Rouhani was quoted saying to Macron by Iran's state news agency IRNA. The French leader had called to congratulate him on being re-elected in Friday’s presidential vote. "We should bring peace and stability back to the region. We hope Europe does not fall into the trap of countries that promote their wrong interpretations of the region," Rouhani was also quoted as saying. Paris, which is at odds with Iran over the crisis in Syria, took one of the hardest lines against Tehran during negotiations between Iran and major powers in 2015, but has been quick to restore trade ties. French carmakers PSA and Renault are taking advantage of their lack of US operations by piling into a resurgent Iranian market that is still off-limits to rivals fearful that Trump's administration will impose sanctions. France has said it backs Trump's call to strengthen the monitoring of the deal, but that it is committed to implementing it, including the lifting of sanctions. Asked earlier on Monday whether Paris agreed with Trump's call to isolate Iran, the French foreign ministry said it would "work towards developing political dialogue that should be part of a constructive approach with regard solving regional crises". Rouhani said at a news conference on Monday that stability could not be achieved in the Middle East without Tehran`s help. (Reuters)

Iran: President Rouhani hopeful Europe will not copy Trump's stance against Islamic Republic

After his re-election triumph, President Hassan Rouhani must now grapple with a fiercely hostile United States and hardliners at home as he struggles to build a more moderate and connected Iran.

Iran&#39;s entrenched conservative establishment -- particularly in the judiciary and elite Revolutionary Guards -- remain deeply suspicious of Rouhani&#39;s talk of civil liberties and building ties with the West.

&quot;The non-elected institutions will try to prevent Rouhani from applying his reform agenda,&quot; said Clement Therme, Iran analyst for the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

&quot;So he will focus on the economic side. If the daily lives of the population improve, he will be in a stronger position to push for structural reforms on civil rights.&quot;

Fixing the economy will not be easy. Despite a nuclear deal with world powers, Washington still maintains a raft of sanctions that are scaring off global banks and foreign investors.

US President Donald Trump has gone further, threatening to tear up the nuclear deal and visiting Iran&#39;s bitter regional rival Saudi Arabia this weekend, where he signed a $110 billion arms deal described as targeting &quot;malign Iranian influence&quot; in the region.

Nonetheless, European and Asian governments are determined to keep the nuclear deal alive and take full advantage of the lucrative investment opportunities in Iran.

They are cheered by Rouhani&#39;s victory over hardliner Ebrahim Raisi, who had threatened a tougher, more insular approach to foreign relations.

&quot;A lot of investors I hadn&#39;t heard from for three months were suddenly phoning me this morning. Some are already booking their tickets,&quot; said Farid Dehdilani, international adviser for the Iranian Privatisation Organisation after results were announced on Saturday.

&quot;Dr Rouhani will more aggressively pursue his economic agenda -- investing in factories, production and absorbing foreign capital. I think he&#39;ll make his cabinet younger and more agile,&quot; he said.

&#39;A smarter politician&#39;&nbsp;

Challenging the security forces, which control large swathes of the economy and need Iran&#39;s resources as a source of patronage, will be tough.

And Rouhani notably failed to win the release of jailed opposition leaders or prevent the arrest of several dual nationals by intelligence services outside his control.

Many fear his second term could mirror that of reformist president Mohammad Khatami in the early 2000s, when every attempt at reform was frustrated by the hardline establishment.

But Rouhani, a long-time regime insider, may be better placed than his predecessors, said politics professor Foad Izadi, of Tehran University.

&quot;Rouhani has shown himself to be a smarter politician than Khatami was,&quot; said Izadi.

&quot;He&#39;s been part of the system long enough to know how to navigate it. Khatami was more ideological which reduced his ability to get things done.&quot;

Crucially, Rouhani&#39;s technocratic approach has allowed him to co-opt key conservatives such as parliament speaker Ali Larijani.

&quot;The alliance with Larijani has been very helpful to Rouhani in getting his ministers and policies approved. That will continue to be crucial in his second term,&quot; said Izadi.

Next supreme leader?&nbsp;

The big long-term question is whether Rouhani can influence the rise of the next supreme leader after the death of the ageing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Raisi, touted as a possible successor, is now out of the running, said Izadi.

&quot;Maybe he will come back in four years, but with this type of showing we can rest assured that Raisi will not be the next supreme leader. The leader must show popular support.&quot;

But with hardliners firmly in control of the Assembly of Experts that will choose the next leader, Rouhani and his allies have little influence over the succession.

Nonetheless, this weekend&#39;s election has given a clear indication that Iran&#39;s youthful population supports his vision for the country&#39;s future.

&quot;Iranian people no longer believe in economic populism and radical change,&quot; said Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group.

&quot;They have the maturity to understand that the solution to their country&#39;s predicaments are in competent management of the economy and moderation in international relations.&quot;

(AFP)

The Iranian non-elected establishment is keenly distrubed by Hassan Rouhani's talk of expanding civil liberties and building bridges with the West

After his re-election triumph, President Hassan Rouhani must now grapple with a fiercely hostile United States and hardliners at home as he struggles to build a more moderate and connected Iran. Iran's entrenched conservative establishment -- particularly in the judiciary and elite Revolutionary Guards -- remain deeply suspicious of Rouhani's talk of civil liberties and building ties with the West. "The non-elected institutions will try to prevent Rouhani from applying his reform agenda," said Clement Therme, Iran analyst for the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "So he will focus on the economic side. If the daily lives of the population improve, he will be in a stronger position to push for structural reforms on civil rights." Fixing the economy will not be easy. Despite a nuclear deal with world powers, Washington still maintains a raft of sanctions that are scaring off global banks and foreign investors. US President Donald Trump has gone further, threatening to tear up the nuclear deal and visiting Iran's bitter regional rival Saudi Arabia this weekend, where he signed a $110 billion arms deal described as targeting "malign Iranian influence" in the region. Nonetheless, European and Asian governments are determined to keep the nuclear deal alive and take full advantage of the lucrative investment opportunities in Iran. They are cheered by Rouhani's victory over hardliner Ebrahim Raisi, who had threatened a tougher, more insular approach to foreign relations. "A lot of investors I hadn't heard from for three months were suddenly phoning me this morning. Some are already booking their tickets," said Farid Dehdilani, international adviser for the Iranian Privatisation Organisation after results were announced on Saturday. "Dr Rouhani will more aggressively pursue his economic agenda -- investing in factories, production and absorbing foreign capital. I think he'll make his cabinet younger and more agile," he said. 'A smarter politician' Challenging the security forces, which control large swathes of the economy and need Iran's resources as a source of patronage, will be tough. And Rouhani notably failed to win the release of jailed opposition leaders or prevent the arrest of several dual nationals by intelligence services outside his control. Many fear his second term could mirror that of reformist president Mohammad Khatami in the early 2000s, when every attempt at reform was frustrated by the hardline establishment. But Rouhani, a long-time regime insider, may be better placed than his predecessors, said politics professor Foad Izadi, of Tehran University. "Rouhani has shown himself to be a smarter politician than Khatami was," said Izadi. "He's been part of the system long enough to know how to navigate it. Khatami was more ideological which reduced his ability to get things done." Crucially, Rouhani's technocratic approach has allowed him to co-opt key conservatives such as parliament speaker Ali Larijani. "The alliance with Larijani has been very helpful to Rouhani in getting his ministers and policies approved. That will continue to be crucial in his second term," said Izadi. Next supreme leader? The big long-term question is whether Rouhani can influence the rise of the next supreme leader after the death of the ageing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Raisi, touted as a possible successor, is now out of the running, said Izadi. "Maybe he will come back in four years, but with this type of showing we can rest assured that Raisi will not be the next supreme leader. The leader must show popular support." But with hardliners firmly in control of the Assembly of Experts that will choose the next leader, Rouhani and his allies have little influence over the succession. Nonetheless, this weekend's election has given a clear indication that Iran's youthful population supports his vision for the country's future. "Iranian people no longer believe in economic populism and radical change," said Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group. "They have the maturity to understand that the solution to their country's predicaments are in competent management of the economy and moderation in international relations." (AFP)

President Rouhani's next challenge? Battling hawks in Iran and US

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani won a resounding re-election victory on Saturday as voters backed his efforts to rebuild foreign ties and kickstart the struggling economy.

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli confirmed the result on state television, saying Rouhani had won 23.5 million votes -- 57 percent -- compared to 15.8 million -- 38.3 percent -- for hardline challenger Ebrahim Raisi.

It followed a huge 73 percent turnout on Friday which forced authorities to extend polling by several hours.&nbsp;

&quot;I congratulate the great victory of the Iranian nation in creating a huge and memorable epic in the continuation of the path of &#39;wisdom and hope&#39;,&quot; tweeted Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, referring to the government&#39;s slogan.

Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate cleric who spearheaded a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, framed the election as a choice between greater civil liberties and &quot;extremism&quot;.&nbsp;

Hardline cleric Raisi, 56, had positioned himself as a defender of the poor and called for a much tougher line with the West.

But his revolutionary rhetoric and efforts to win over working class voters with promises of increased handouts gained limited traction.&nbsp;

&quot;Rouhani&#39;s vote, particularly in rural areas, shows that Iranian people no longer believe in economic populism and radical change,&quot; said Ali Vaez, Iran analyst for the International Crisis Group, a think tank.&nbsp;

&quot;They have the maturity to understand that the solution to their country&#39;s predicaments are in competent management of the economy and moderation in international relations,&quot; Vaez told AFP.

Rouhani&#39;s central first-term achievement was a deal with six powers led by the United States that eased crippling economic sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran&#39;s nuclear programme.

He gained a reprieve this week when Washington agreed to continue waiving nuclear-related sanctions, keeping the deal on track for now.

But the election comes at a tense moment in relations with the United States, with President Donald Trump still threatening to abandon the accord and visiting Iran&#39;s bitter regional rival Saudi Arabia this weekend.

&#39;Voting to keep that&#39;&nbsp;

Although Rouhani has been deeply entrenched in Iran&#39;s security establishment since the early days of the revolution, he has emerged as the standard-bearer for reformists after their movement was decimated in the wake of mass protests in 2009.&nbsp;

&quot;We&#39;ve entered this election to tell those practising violence and extremism that your era is over,&quot; he said during the campaign.

At recent rallies, his supporters chanted the names of reformist leaders under house arrest since 2011 for their part in the protests.

International affairs researcher Foad Izadi, of Tehran University, said Rouhani may now have the leverage to push for more freedoms, despite opposition from the conservative-dominated judiciary and security services.&nbsp;

&quot;A number of years have passed (since the 2009 protests) and the country is demonstrating a high level of stability -- this gives the system confidence, which means more room for change,&quot; Izadi said.

But the economy remains the number one challenge.&nbsp;

Although Rouhani brought inflation down from around 40 percent when he took office in 2013, prices are still rising at nine percent a year.

Oil sales have rebounded since the nuclear deal took effect in January last year, but growth in the rest of the economy has been limited, leaving unemployment at 12.5 percent overall, and at almost 30 percent among young people.

&quot;We are still not pleased with the situation, but in the four years of Rouhani there has been a relative improvement and I&#39;m voting to keep that,&quot; said Alireza Nikpour, a 40-year-old photographer in Tehran, as he queued to cast his ballot on Friday.

Last month, the Guardian Council&nbsp;excluded all but six candidates for the election but still left a stark choice between moderate-reformists and hardliners.&nbsp;

Two dropped out to back Raisi and Rouhani, respectively, while the remaining candidates -- reformist Mostafa Hashemitaba and conservative Mostafa Mirsalim -- won only a marginal percentage of the votes.&nbsp;

(AFP)

Hassan Rouhani has won the re-election with a resounding 57 per cent of the vote

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani won a resounding re-election victory on Saturday as voters backed his efforts to rebuild foreign ties and kickstart the struggling economy. Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli confirmed the result on state television, saying Rouhani had won 23.5 million votes -- 57 percent -- compared to 15.8 million -- 38.3 percent -- for hardline challenger Ebrahim Raisi. It followed a huge 73 percent turnout on Friday which forced authorities to extend polling by several hours. "I congratulate the great victory of the Iranian nation in creating a huge and memorable epic in the continuation of the path of 'wisdom and hope'," tweeted Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, referring to the government's slogan. Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate cleric who spearheaded a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, framed the election as a choice between greater civil liberties and "extremism". Hardline cleric Raisi, 56, had positioned himself as a defender of the poor and called for a much tougher line with the West. But his revolutionary rhetoric and efforts to win over working class voters with promises of increased handouts gained limited traction. "Rouhani's vote, particularly in rural areas, shows that Iranian people no longer believe in economic populism and radical change," said Ali Vaez, Iran analyst for the International Crisis Group, a think tank. "They have the maturity to understand that the solution to their country's predicaments are in competent management of the economy and moderation in international relations," Vaez told AFP. Rouhani's central first-term achievement was a deal with six powers led by the United States that eased crippling economic sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear programme. He gained a reprieve this week when Washington agreed to continue waiving nuclear-related sanctions, keeping the deal on track for now. But the election comes at a tense moment in relations with the United States, with President Donald Trump still threatening to abandon the accord and visiting Iran's bitter regional rival Saudi Arabia this weekend. 'Voting to keep that' Although Rouhani has been deeply entrenched in Iran's security establishment since the early days of the revolution, he has emerged as the standard-bearer for reformists after their movement was decimated in the wake of mass protests in 2009. "We've entered this election to tell those practising violence and extremism that your era is over," he said during the campaign. At recent rallies, his supporters chanted the names of reformist leaders under house arrest since 2011 for their part in the protests. International affairs researcher Foad Izadi, of Tehran University, said Rouhani may now have the leverage to push for more freedoms, despite opposition from the conservative-dominated judiciary and security services. "A number of years have passed (since the 2009 protests) and the country is demonstrating a high level of stability -- this gives the system confidence, which means more room for change," Izadi said. But the economy remains the number one challenge. Although Rouhani brought inflation down from around 40 percent when he took office in 2013, prices are still rising at nine percent a year. Oil sales have rebounded since the nuclear deal took effect in January last year, but growth in the rest of the economy has been limited, leaving unemployment at 12.5 percent overall, and at almost 30 percent among young people. "We are still not pleased with the situation, but in the four years of Rouhani there has been a relative improvement and I'm voting to keep that," said Alireza Nikpour, a 40-year-old photographer in Tehran, as he queued to cast his ballot on Friday. Last month, the Guardian Council excluded all but six candidates for the election but still left a stark choice between moderate-reformists and hardliners. Two dropped out to back Raisi and Rouhani, respectively, while the remaining candidates -- reformist Mostafa Hashemitaba and conservative Mostafa Mirsalim -- won only a marginal percentage of the votes. (AFP)

Moderate Rouhani wins Iran's presidential election

Iran has chosen the &quot;path of engagement with the world&quot; and rejected extremism, President Hassan Rouhani said following his resounding re-election victory on Saturday.

Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate cleric who spearheaded a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, said voters had shunned those who wanted to turn the country back to the past.

&quot;The Iranian people want to live in peace and friendship with the rest of the world, but will not accept any threat or humiliation,&quot; he said on state television.

With 57 per cent of the vote, Rouhani scored a convincing victory over hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi on 38.3 per cent.

But he faces a stark challenge from US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to tear up the nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions.

Rouhani made an apparent dig at regional rival Saudi Arabia, which is currently hosting Trump, saying: &quot;Our people have declared to neighbouring countries and the whole region that the path to ensuring security is the reinforcement of democracy and not relying on foreign powers.&quot;

There were jubilant scenes in the capital Tehran, with hundreds of young people singing and dancing in the central Vali Asr Square, in spite of police efforts to move them along.

Iranians flocked to the polls on Friday, with the turnout reaching 73 percent and forcing election officials to extend voting by several hours.

Raisi, 56, had cast himself as a defender of the poor and called for a tougher line with the West, but his revolutionary rhetoric and promise of increased handouts gained limited traction.

The result &quot;shows that Iranian people no longer believe in economic populism and radical change,&quot; said Ali Vaez, Iran analyst for the International Crisis Group think tank.&nbsp;

&quot;They have the maturity to understand that the solution to their country&#39;s predicaments are in competent management of the economy and moderation in international relations,&quot; Vaez told AFP.

Putin, Assad congratulate&nbsp;

Russia, which fights alongside Iran in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was among the first to congratulate Rouhani.

President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram confirming &quot;his readiness to continue active joint work... in line with maintaining stability and security in the Middle East and the world as a whole&quot;, the Kremlin said.

Assad also congratulated Rouhani for earning &quot;the trust the Iranian people gave him to continue bolstering Iran&#39;s position&quot;.

But European and Asian officials have also welcomed Rouhani&#39;s re-election as they pursue lucrative investments in the wake of the nuclear deal, that lifted global sanctions in exchange for curbs to Iran&#39;s atomic programme.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini tweeted her vow to work for greater &quot;engagement, regional peace... (and the) expectations of people in Iran&quot;.

&quot;A lot of investors I hadn&#39;t heard from for three months were suddenly phoning me this morning. Some are already in the process of booking their tickets,&quot; said Farid Dehdilani, international adviser for the Iranian Privatisation Organisation.

&#39;Era of extremism over&#39;&nbsp;

Rouhani put civil liberties at the heart of his campaign, and pointedly thanked reformist former president Mohammed Khatami, who has been banned from appearing in the media since supporting mass protests in 2009, in his acceptance speech.

He pushed boundaries over the past fortnight with his veiled criticism of the conservative-dominated judiciary and security services, telling supporters: &quot;We&#39;ve entered this election to tell those practising violence and extremism that your era is over.&quot;

But the economy remains Rouhani&#39;s top priority.

&quot;Dr Rouhani will more aggressively pursue his economic agenda -- investing in factories, production and absorbing foreign capital,&quot; said Dehdilani.&nbsp;

&quot;I think he&#39;ll make the cabinet younger and more agile.&quot;

Although Rouhani brought inflation down from around 40 percent when he took office in 2013, prices are still rising at nine percent a year.

Oil sales have rebounded since the nuclear deal took effect in January last year, but growth in the rest of the economy has been limited, leaving unemployment at 12.5 percent overall, and at almost 30 percent among young people.

&quot;Not everyone who voted for Rouhani thought his record was excellent, but the majority decided his competitor would be even worse,&quot; said Tehran University political researcher Foad Izadi.

(AFP)

An election framed as moderates versus extremism, Hassan Rouhani's win underlines the country's desire to eschew isolation

Iran has chosen the "path of engagement with the world" and rejected extremism, President Hassan Rouhani said following his resounding re-election victory on Saturday. Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate cleric who spearheaded a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, said voters had shunned those who wanted to turn the country back to the past. "The Iranian people want to live in peace and friendship with the rest of the world, but will not accept any threat or humiliation," he said on state television. With 57 per cent of the vote, Rouhani scored a convincing victory over hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi on 38.3 per cent. But he faces a stark challenge from US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to tear up the nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions. Rouhani made an apparent dig at regional rival Saudi Arabia, which is currently hosting Trump, saying: "Our people have declared to neighbouring countries and the whole region that the path to ensuring security is the reinforcement of democracy and not relying on foreign powers." There were jubilant scenes in the capital Tehran, with hundreds of young people singing and dancing in the central Vali Asr Square, in spite of police efforts to move them along. Iranians flocked to the polls on Friday, with the turnout reaching 73 percent and forcing election officials to extend voting by several hours. Raisi, 56, had cast himself as a defender of the poor and called for a tougher line with the West, but his revolutionary rhetoric and promise of increased handouts gained limited traction. The result "shows that Iranian people no longer believe in economic populism and radical change," said Ali Vaez, Iran analyst for the International Crisis Group think tank. "They have the maturity to understand that the solution to their country's predicaments are in competent management of the economy and moderation in international relations," Vaez told AFP. Putin, Assad congratulate Russia, which fights alongside Iran in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was among the first to congratulate Rouhani. President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram confirming "his readiness to continue active joint work... in line with maintaining stability and security in the Middle East and the world as a whole", the Kremlin said. Assad also congratulated Rouhani for earning "the trust the Iranian people gave him to continue bolstering Iran's position". But European and Asian officials have also welcomed Rouhani's re-election as they pursue lucrative investments in the wake of the nuclear deal, that lifted global sanctions in exchange for curbs to Iran's atomic programme. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini tweeted her vow to work for greater "engagement, regional peace... (and the) expectations of people in Iran". "A lot of investors I hadn't heard from for three months were suddenly phoning me this morning. Some are already in the process of booking their tickets," said Farid Dehdilani, international adviser for the Iranian Privatisation Organisation. 'Era of extremism over' Rouhani put civil liberties at the heart of his campaign, and pointedly thanked reformist former president Mohammed Khatami, who has been banned from appearing in the media since supporting mass protests in 2009, in his acceptance speech. He pushed boundaries over the past fortnight with his veiled criticism of the conservative-dominated judiciary and security services, telling supporters: "We've entered this election to tell those practising violence and extremism that your era is over." But the economy remains Rouhani's top priority. "Dr Rouhani will more aggressively pursue his economic agenda -- investing in factories, production and absorbing foreign capital," said Dehdilani. "I think he'll make the cabinet younger and more agile." Although Rouhani brought inflation down from around 40 percent when he took office in 2013, prices are still rising at nine percent a year. Oil sales have rebounded since the nuclear deal took effect in January last year, but growth in the rest of the economy has been limited, leaving unemployment at 12.5 percent overall, and at almost 30 percent among young people. "Not everyone who voted for Rouhani thought his record was excellent, but the majority decided his competitor would be even worse," said Tehran University political researcher Foad Izadi. (AFP)

Rouhani sweeps to second terms as Iran chooses 'engagement' with world

Vote counting began in Iran on Saturday after a high turnout in an unexpectedly tight presidential election pitting President Hassan Rouhani, who wants to normalise ties with the West, against a hardline judge who says he has already gone too far.

More than 40 million votes were cast, the interior ministry said, indicating a turnout of about 70 per cent in Friday&#39;s vote, roughly similar to the showing in 2013 elections when Rouhani swept into office in a landslide victory.

Voting was extended by six hours because many people were still waiting in line. Iranian newspapers praised the turnout, carrying headlines like &quot;a historical victory for Iranians&quot;.

Pro-reform news websites said Rouhani was the victor. They offered no evidence, but the big turnout could favour Rouhani, whose backers&#39; main worry has been apathy among reformist-leaning voters disappointed with the slow pace of change.

Rouhani, 68, who took office promising to open Iran to the world and give its citizens more freedom at home, faced an unexpectedly strong challenge from hardliner Ebrahim Raisi, a protege of supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

The election is important &quot;for Iran&#39;s future role in the region and the world&quot;, Rouhani, who struck a deal with world powers two years ago to curb Iran&#39;s nuclear programme in return for the lifting of most economic sanctions, said after voting.

Raisi, 56, has accused Rouhani of mismanaging the economy and has travelled to poor areas, speaking at rallies pledging more welfare benefits and jobs.

He is believed to have the backing of the powerful Revolutionary Guards security force, as well as the tacit support of Khamenei, whose powers outrank those of the elected president but who normally steers clear of day-to-day politics.

&quot;I respect the outcome of the vote of the people and the result will be respected by me and all the people,&quot; Raisi said after voting, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

However, Raisi later appeared at the Ministry of Interior in Tehran on Friday and complained of a shortage of ballot sheets at many polling stations, according to Fars. More ballot sheets were subsequently sent out, the agency reported.&nbsp;

In the last election, Rouhani won more than three times as many votes as his closest challenger. But this time the outcome might be much closer, as other conservative rivals have backed out and thrown their support behind Raisi.

The Guards and other hardliners hope that a win for Raisi will give them an opportunity to safeguard economic and political power they see as jeopardised by the lifting of sanctions and opening of the country to foreign investment.

During weeks of campaigning, the two main candidates exchanged accusations of corruption and brutality in unprecedentedly hostile television debates. Both deny the other&#39;s accusations.

Rouhani has urged the Guards not to meddle in the vote, a warning that reflects the political tension. Suspicions that the Guards and the Basij militia under their control falsified voting results in favour of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad led to eight months of nationwide protests in 2009, which were violently suppressed.

Stark Choice

For ordinary Iranians, the election presents a stark choice between competing visions of the country.

Rouhani, known for decades as a mild-mannered establishment insider rather than a gung-ho reformer, has taken on the mantle of the reform camp in recent weeks, with fiery campaign speeches that attacked the human rights records of his opponents.

&quot;I voted for Rouhani to prevent Raisi&#39;s victory. I don&#39;t want a hardliner to be my president,&quot; said Ziba Ghomeyshi in Tehran. &quot;I waited in the line for five hours to cast my vote.&quot;

Many pro-reform voters are still lukewarm Rouhani supporters, disappointed with his failure to make broader changes during his first term. But they are anxious to keep out Raisi, who they see as representing the security state at its most fearsome: in the 1980s he was one of four judges who sentenced thousands of political prisoners to death.

&quot;I am on my way to vote for Rouhani. I like his detente policy with the world. I know he is not a reformist, but who cares? What matters is that he is not Raisi,&quot; government employee Yousef Ghaemi, 43, said by phone in the western city of Kermanshah.

For conservatives, the election represents a chance to restore the values of the 1979 revolution, which requires elected officials to be subordinate to the Shi&#39;ite Muslim clergy and supreme leader.

&quot;I cast my vote already - I voted for Raisi because he is a follower of Imam Khamenei. He will not confront the leader if elected. He will protect our Islamic identity,&quot; said Mehran Fardoust, 36, a shopkeeper near the Imam Reza Shrine in the holy city of Mashhad, Raisi&#39;s home town.

Despite the removal of nuclear-related sanctions in 2016, lingering unilateral US sanctions that target Iran&#39;s record on human rights and terrorism have kept foreign companies wary of investing, limiting the economic benefits so far.

Raisi has focused his campaign on the economy, visiting rural areas and villages and promising housing, jobs and more welfare benefits, a message which could have resonated with millions of poor voters angry at the Tehran elite.

If no candidate wins more than 50 per cent of the vote, the top two, presumably Rouhani and Raisi, will face each other a second time in a run-off in a week.

(Reuters)

More than 40 million votes were cast, the interior ministry said, indicating a turnout of about 70 per cent in Friday's vote

Vote counting began in Iran on Saturday after a high turnout in an unexpectedly tight presidential election pitting President Hassan Rouhani, who wants to normalise ties with the West, against a hardline judge who says he has already gone too far. More than 40 million votes were cast, the interior ministry said, indicating a turnout of about 70 per cent in Friday's vote, roughly similar to the showing in 2013 elections when Rouhani swept into office in a landslide victory. Voting was extended by six hours because many people were still waiting in line. Iranian newspapers praised the turnout, carrying headlines like "a historical victory for Iranians". Pro-reform news websites said Rouhani was the victor. They offered no evidence, but the big turnout could favour Rouhani, whose backers' main worry has been apathy among reformist-leaning voters disappointed with the slow pace of change. Rouhani, 68, who took office promising to open Iran to the world and give its citizens more freedom at home, faced an unexpectedly strong challenge from hardliner Ebrahim Raisi, a protege of supreme leader Ali Khamenei. The election is important "for Iran's future role in the region and the world", Rouhani, who struck a deal with world powers two years ago to curb Iran's nuclear programme in return for the lifting of most economic sanctions, said after voting. Raisi, 56, has accused Rouhani of mismanaging the economy and has travelled to poor areas, speaking at rallies pledging more welfare benefits and jobs. He is believed to have the backing of the powerful Revolutionary Guards security force, as well as the tacit support of Khamenei, whose powers outrank those of the elected president but who normally steers clear of day-to-day politics. "I respect the outcome of the vote of the people and the result will be respected by me and all the people," Raisi said after voting, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. However, Raisi later appeared at the Ministry of Interior in Tehran on Friday and complained of a shortage of ballot sheets at many polling stations, according to Fars. More ballot sheets were subsequently sent out, the agency reported. In the last election, Rouhani won more than three times as many votes as his closest challenger. But this time the outcome might be much closer, as other conservative rivals have backed out and thrown their support behind Raisi. The Guards and other hardliners hope that a win for Raisi will give them an opportunity to safeguard economic and political power they see as jeopardised by the lifting of sanctions and opening of the country to foreign investment. During weeks of campaigning, the two main candidates exchanged accusations of corruption and brutality in unprecedentedly hostile television debates. Both deny the other's accusations. Rouhani has urged the Guards not to meddle in the vote, a warning that reflects the political tension. Suspicions that the Guards and the Basij militia under their control falsified voting results in favour of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad led to eight months of nationwide protests in 2009, which were violently suppressed. Stark Choice For ordinary Iranians, the election presents a stark choice between competing visions of the country. Rouhani, known for decades as a mild-mannered establishment insider rather than a gung-ho reformer, has taken on the mantle of the reform camp in recent weeks, with fiery campaign speeches that attacked the human rights records of his opponents. "I voted for Rouhani to prevent Raisi's victory. I don't want a hardliner to be my president," said Ziba Ghomeyshi in Tehran. "I waited in the line for five hours to cast my vote." Many pro-reform voters are still lukewarm Rouhani supporters, disappointed with his failure to make broader changes during his first term. But they are anxious to keep out Raisi, who they see as representing the security state at its most fearsome: in the 1980s he was one of four judges who sentenced thousands of political prisoners to death. "I am on my way to vote for Rouhani. I like his detente policy with the world. I know he is not a reformist, but who cares? What matters is that he is not Raisi," government employee Yousef Ghaemi, 43, said by phone in the western city of Kermanshah. For conservatives, the election represents a chance to restore the values of the 1979 revolution, which requires elected officials to be subordinate to the Shi'ite Muslim clergy and supreme leader. "I cast my vote already - I voted for Raisi because he is a follower of Imam Khamenei. He will not confront the leader if elected. He will protect our Islamic identity," said Mehran Fardoust, 36, a shopkeeper near the Imam Reza Shrine in the holy city of Mashhad, Raisi's home town. Despite the removal of nuclear-related sanctions in 2016, lingering unilateral US sanctions that target Iran's record on human rights and terrorism have kept foreign companies wary of investing, limiting the economic benefits so far. Raisi has focused his campaign on the economy, visiting rural areas and villages and promising housing, jobs and more welfare benefits, a message which could have resonated with millions of poor voters angry at the Tehran elite. If no candidate wins more than 50 per cent of the vote, the top two, presumably Rouhani and Raisi, will face each other a second time in a run-off in a week. (Reuters)

Counting of votes begins for Iran's Presidential election

Iranians head to the polls Friday for a vote that has become a referendum on President Hassan Rouhani&#39;s policy of opening up to the world and efforts to rebuild the stagnant economy.

He faces stiff competition from hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi, 56, who has positioned himself as a defender of the poor and called for a much tougher line with the West.

Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate cleric, has sought to frame the election as a choice between greater civil liberties and &quot;extremism&quot;.

He has pushed the boundaries over the past fortnight, criticising the continued arrest of reformist leaders and activists, and calling on security agencies not to interfere in the vote.

Raisi says he will stick by the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, that saw curbs to Iran&#39;s atomic programme in exchange for sanctions relief, but he points to the continued economic slump as proof that Rouhani&#39;s diplomatic efforts have failed.

&quot;Instead of using the capable hands of our youths to resolve problems, they are putting our economy in the hands of foreigners,&quot; Raisi said at a final rally in the holy city of Mashhad on Wednesday.

Rouhani responded by calling on voters to keep hardliners away from Iran&#39;s delicate diplomatic levers.&nbsp;

&quot;One wrong decision by the president can mean war and a correct decision can mean peace,&quot; he said at his own Mashhad rally.

The election comes at a tense moment in US-Iran relations.&nbsp;

Rouhani gained a reprieve on Wednesday when the administration of US President Donald Trump agreed to continue waiving nuclear-related sanctions, keeping the deal on track for now.

But Trump has launched a 90-day review of the accord that could see it abandoned, and is visiting Iran&#39;s bitter regional rival Saudi Arabia this weekend.

Economic slump 
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said a massive turnout was needed to show the continued popularity of the Islamic regime.

&quot;Faced with the enemy, the people should show their determination and calm,&quot; he said this week.&nbsp;

Despite the global implications, it is the economy that has dominated the campaign.

Rouhani has brought inflation down from around 40 percent when he took over in 2013, but prices are still rising by nine percent a year.

Oil sales have rebounded since the nuclear deal took effect in January 2016, but growth in the rest of the economy has been limited, leaving unemployment at 12.5 percent overall, and almost 30 percent for young people.&nbsp;

Rouhani has vowed to work towards the removal of remaining US sanctions that are stifling trade and investment deals with Europe and Asia, but he is unlikely to receive much assistance from Trump.

Raisi has instead promised to triple cash hand-outs to the poor, hoping to pick up voters that once supported hardline populist Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.&nbsp;

Having proved too independent for the conservative establishment, Ahmadinejad was dramatically barred from standing by the Guardian Council last month as it disqualified all but six of the 1,636 people who signed up for the election.

The presidential race has since narrowed to a two-horse race as the other candidates either pulled out or called on their supporters to back Rouhani or Raisi.

Iranians will also be voting Friday for their local councils, with reformists particularly hoping to undo the conservatives&#39; narrow majority in Tehran.&nbsp;

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The choice is between current President Hassan Rouhani and his policy of opening up to the world and the hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi who has called for a much tougher line with the West

Iranians head to the polls Friday for a vote that has become a referendum on President Hassan Rouhani's policy of opening up to the world and efforts to rebuild the stagnant economy. He faces stiff competition from hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi, 56, who has positioned himself as a defender of the poor and called for a much tougher line with the West. Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate cleric, has sought to frame the election as a choice between greater civil liberties and "extremism". He has pushed the boundaries over the past fortnight, criticising the continued arrest of reformist leaders and activists, and calling on security agencies not to interfere in the vote. Raisi says he will stick by the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, that saw curbs to Iran's atomic programme in exchange for sanctions relief, but he points to the continued economic slump as proof that Rouhani's diplomatic efforts have failed. "Instead of using the capable hands of our youths to resolve problems, they are putting our economy in the hands of foreigners," Raisi said at a final rally in the holy city of Mashhad on Wednesday. Rouhani responded by calling on voters to keep hardliners away from Iran's delicate diplomatic levers. "One wrong decision by the president can mean war and a correct decision can mean peace," he said at his own Mashhad rally. The election comes at a tense moment in US-Iran relations. Rouhani gained a reprieve on Wednesday when the administration of US President Donald Trump agreed to continue waiving nuclear-related sanctions, keeping the deal on track for now. But Trump has launched a 90-day review of the accord that could see it abandoned, and is visiting Iran's bitter regional rival Saudi Arabia this weekend. Economic slump Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said a massive turnout was needed to show the continued popularity of the Islamic regime. "Faced with the enemy, the people should show their determination and calm," he said this week. Despite the global implications, it is the economy that has dominated the campaign. Rouhani has brought inflation down from around 40 percent when he took over in 2013, but prices are still rising by nine percent a year. Oil sales have rebounded since the nuclear deal took effect in January 2016, but growth in the rest of the economy has been limited, leaving unemployment at 12.5 percent overall, and almost 30 percent for young people. Rouhani has vowed to work towards the removal of remaining US sanctions that are stifling trade and investment deals with Europe and Asia, but he is unlikely to receive much assistance from Trump. Raisi has instead promised to triple cash hand-outs to the poor, hoping to pick up voters that once supported hardline populist Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Having proved too independent for the conservative establishment, Ahmadinejad was dramatically barred from standing by the Guardian Council last month as it disqualified all but six of the 1,636 people who signed up for the election. The presidential race has since narrowed to a two-horse race as the other candidates either pulled out or called on their supporters to back Rouhani or Raisi. Iranians will also be voting Friday for their local councils, with reformists particularly hoping to undo the conservatives' narrow majority in Tehran. (AFP)

Iran votes today

US President Donald Trump said late on Friday (February 10) aboard Air Force One that he is considering issuing a revised travel ban executive order, after the initial order was rejected by an appeal court a day earlier.

In a step that triggered the most serious legal confrontation yet for the new Republican administration, Trump two weeks ago issued an executive order banning entry into the United States by refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, triggering nationwide protests and legal challenges.

A federal judge in Seattle last week issued a temporary restraining order putting the travel ban on hold. That suspension was upheld by an appeals court in San Francisco on Thursday, raising questions about Trump&#39;s next step.

In a surprise visit with reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Florida from Washington, Trump said he was considering &quot;a brand new order&quot; that could be issued as soon as Monday or Tuesday if he decides to move in that direction.

Trump&#39;s order, which he called a national security measure meant to head off attacks by Islamist militants, barred people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days, except refugees from Syria, who are banned indefinitely.

President Trump tweeted on the travel ban, once again taking a pot shot at the judiciary.

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Our legal system is broken! &quot;77% of refugees allowed into U.S. since travel reprieve hail from seven suspect countries.&quot; (WT) SO DANGEROUS!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/830389130311921667">February 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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On Air Force One, Trump said regarding the 9th Circuit court fight: &quot;We will win that battle. The unfortunate part is that it takes time statutorily ... We need speed for reasons of security.&quot;

In separate remarks, Trump also said that Iran President Hassan Rouhani &quot;better be careful&quot; after Rouhani was quoted as saying that anyone who speaks to Iranians with threats would regret it.

Trump was asked about Rouhani&#39;s reported remarks to a rally in Tehran to celebrate the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

Rouhani was quoted in media reports as saying Iran had shown in the 38 years since the revolution that &quot;it will make anyone who speaks to Iranians with the language of threats regret it&quot;.

&quot;He better be careful,&quot; Trump said.

Trump, on February 2, had put Iran &quot;on notice&quot; over charges that Tehran violated a nuclear deal with the West by test-firing a ballistic missile, taking an aggressive posture toward Iran that could raise tensions in the region.
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Transcribed interview of President Trump onboard Air Force One:

TRUMP: &quot;Hello, everybody. Everything good? Press conference, good? I think it was great, huh? Really good. Are you comfortable?

REPORTER: &quot;Can you talk about some of what you said?&quot;

TRUMP: &quot;Some what?&quot;

REPORTER: &quot;Some of what you said in the press conference.&quot;

TRUMP: &quot;Sure.&quot;

REPORTER: &quot;You spoke about you--, you, you&#39;re going to win this--, this court battle against the--, the-, the immigration travel ban.&quot;

TRUMP: &quot;We will win that battle. The unfortunate part is it takes time statutorily. So, it takes a little time. We&#39;ll win that battle but we also have a lot of other options, including just filing a brand new order on Monday.&quot;

REPORTER: &quot;Is that your plan to--&quot;

TRUMP: &quot;Could very well be. But I like to keep you, you know, I like to surprise you. We need speed for reasons of security, so it could very well be that we do that.&quot;

REPORTER: &quot;What are some of the changes that you are looking at?&quot;

TRUMP: &quot;Very little. Just--, in honor of the decision we will, perhaps, do that. We&#39;ll see. But, Monday or Tuesday.&quot;

REPORTER: &quot;You talked about new security measures. Is that separate from, potentially, running a new--&quot;

TRUMP: &quot;We&#39;re going to have very, very strong vetting. I call it extreme vetting and we&#39;re going to have very strong security in our country. We are going to have people come into our country that want to be here for good reasons.&quot;

REPORTER: &quot;What do you think of reports, Mr. President--. What do you make of reports that General Flynn had conversations with the Russians about sanctions before you were sworn-in?&quot;

TRUMP: &quot;I don&#39;t know about it. I haven&#39;t seen it. What report is that? I haven&#39;t seen it.&quot;

REPORTER: &quot;(Unintelligible) reporting that he talked to the ambassador of Russia before you were inaugurated about sanctions being--&quot;

TRUMP: &quot;I haven&#39;t seen that. I&#39;ll look at that.&quot;

REPORTER: &quot;Mr. President, what is your response to the Iranian president who, earlier today, told people that any--, any nation that threatens the nation of Iran is going to regret it eventually.&quot;

TRUMP: &quot;He better be careful. Thank you. Thank you very much.&quot;

(Reuters)
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Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump had a message for the Iranian president - 'better be careful'

US President Donald Trump said late on Friday (February 10) aboard Air Force One that he is considering issuing a revised travel ban executive order, after the initial order was rejected by an appeal court a day earlier. In a step that triggered the most serious legal confrontation yet for the new Republican administration, Trump two weeks ago issued an executive order banning entry into the United States by refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, triggering nationwide protests and legal challenges. A federal judge in Seattle last week issued a temporary restraining order putting the travel ban on hold. That suspension was upheld by an appeals court in San Francisco on Thursday, raising questions about Trump's next step. In a surprise visit with reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Florida from Washington, Trump said he was considering "a brand new order" that could be issued as soon as Monday or Tuesday if he decides to move in that direction. Trump's order, which he called a national security measure meant to head off attacks by Islamist militants, barred people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days, except refugees from Syria, who are banned indefinitely. President Trump tweeted on the travel ban, once again taking a pot shot at the judiciary. Our legal system is broken! "77% of refugees allowed into U.S. since travel reprieve hail from seven suspect countries." (WT) SO DANGEROUS! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 11, 2017 × On Air Force One, Trump said regarding the 9th Circuit court fight: "We will win that battle. The unfortunate part is that it takes time statutorily ... We need speed for reasons of security." In separate remarks, Trump also said that Iran President Hassan Rouhani "better be careful" after Rouhani was quoted as saying that anyone who speaks to Iranians with threats would regret it. Trump was asked about Rouhani's reported remarks to a rally in Tehran to celebrate the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. Rouhani was quoted in media reports as saying Iran had shown in the 38 years since the revolution that "it will make anyone who speaks to Iranians with the language of threats regret it". "He better be careful," Trump said. Trump, on February 2, had put Iran "on notice" over charges that Tehran violated a nuclear deal with the West by test-firing a ballistic missile, taking an aggressive posture toward Iran that could raise tensions in the region. Transcribed interview of President Trump onboard Air Force One: TRUMP: "Hello, everybody. Everything good? Press conference, good? I think it was great, huh? Really good. Are you comfortable? REPORTER: "Can you talk about some of what you said?" TRUMP: "Some what?" REPORTER: "Some of what you said in the press conference." TRUMP: "Sure." REPORTER: "You spoke about you--, you, you're going to win this--, this court battle against the--, the-, the immigration travel ban." TRUMP: "We will win that battle. The unfortunate part is it takes time statutorily. So, it takes a little time. We'll win that battle but we also have a lot of other options, including just filing a brand new order on Monday." REPORTER: "Is that your plan to--" TRUMP: "Could very well be. But I like to keep you, you know, I like to surprise you. We need speed for reasons of security, so it could very well be that we do that." REPORTER: "What are some of the changes that you are looking at?" TRUMP: "Very little. Just--, in honor of the decision we will, perhaps, do that. We'll see. But, Monday or Tuesday." REPORTER: "You talked about new security measures. Is that separate from, potentially, running a new--" TRUMP: "We're going to have very, very strong vetting. I call it extreme vetting and we're going to have very strong security in our country. We are going to have people come into our country that want to be here for good reasons." REPORTER: "What do you think of reports, Mr. President--. What do you make of reports that General Flynn had conversations with the Russians about sanctions before you were sworn-in?" TRUMP: "I don't know about it. I haven't seen it. What report is that? I haven't seen it." REPORTER: "(Unintelligible) reporting that he talked to the ambassador of Russia before you were inaugurated about sanctions being--" TRUMP: "I haven't seen that. I'll look at that." REPORTER: "Mr. President, what is your response to the Iranian president who, earlier today, told people that any--, any nation that threatens the nation of Iran is going to regret it eventually." TRUMP: "He better be careful. Thank you. Thank you very much." (Reuters)

Aboard Air Force One: Trump mulls 'brand new order' to revise travel ban

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has supported attempts to stabilise the global oil market and raise prices, the Iranian oil ministry&#39;s SHANA news agency reported.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Instability and falling oil prices are harmful to all countries, especially oil producers,&quot; SHANA quoted Rouhani as saying. 
 
&quot;Tehran welcomes any move aimed at market stability and improvement of oil prices based on justice, fairness and fair quota of all the oil producers,&quot; the president said, referring to a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC producers in Algeria next week, SHANA said. 
 
Rouhani, who is in Venezuela for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, was holding talks with the Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, SHANA reported.&nbsp; 
 
Tehran had earlier refused to join a previous attempt this year by OPEC and non-members such as Russia to stabilise production, and talks collapsed in April. 
 
Iran is OPEC&#39;s third-largest producer and has been boosting its oil output after the lifting of Western sanctions in January. 
 
OPEC members are set to meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum (IEF), which groups producers and consumers, in Algeria on September &nbsp;26-28. with Non-OPEC producer Russia also attending. 
 
OPEC might revive talks on freezing oil production levels when it meets non-OPEC nations in Algeria, Reuters reported. 
 
Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed to cooperate in oil markets earlier this month, saying they could limit future output. 
 
The OPEC secretary general Mohammed Barkindo, however, appeared to play down suggestions of a major agreement by saying the Algiers meeting would be an informal meeting for consultations and not for decision making, Algerian state news agency APS reported on Saturday. 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters)

Tehran had earlier refused to join OPEC and non-members like Russia in their attempt to stabilise oil production levels

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has supported attempts to stabilise the global oil market and raise prices, the Iranian oil ministry's SHANA news agency reported. "Instability and falling oil prices are harmful to all countries, especially oil producers," SHANA quoted Rouhani as saying. "Tehran welcomes any move aimed at market stability and improvement of oil prices based on justice, fairness and fair quota of all the oil producers," the president said, referring to a meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC producers in Algeria next week, SHANA said. Rouhani, who is in Venezuela for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, was holding talks with the Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, SHANA reported. Tehran had earlier refused to join a previous attempt this year by OPEC and non-members such as Russia to stabilise production, and talks collapsed in April. Iran is OPEC's third-largest producer and has been boosting its oil output after the lifting of Western sanctions in January. OPEC members are set to meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum (IEF), which groups producers and consumers, in Algeria on September 26-28. with Non-OPEC producer Russia also attending. OPEC might revive talks on freezing oil production levels when it meets non-OPEC nations in Algeria, Reuters reported. Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed to cooperate in oil markets earlier this month, saying they could limit future output. The OPEC secretary general Mohammed Barkindo, however, appeared to play down suggestions of a major agreement by saying the Algiers meeting would be an informal meeting for consultations and not for decision making, Algerian state news agency APS reported on Saturday. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Iran backs calibration of global oil market

Iran released images of its first domestically built long-range missile defence system today, a project started when the country was under international sanctions.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Iran displays first home-made missile defence system, Bavar 373, begun when sanctions suspended sale of Russia S-300 <a href="https://t.co/PnWuUfhMUe">pic.twitter.com/PnWuUfhMUe</a>
&mdash; Eric Randolph (@EricWRandolph) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricWRandolph/status/767275210521341952">August 21, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Images released on multiple state news agencies showed President Hassan Rouhani and minister of defence Hossein Dehghan standing in front of the new Bavar 373 missile defence system. 
 
The system has been designed to intercept cruise missiles, drones, combat aircraft and ballistic missiles, according to earlier statements by Dehghan. 
 
It was intended to match the Russian S-300 system, the delivery of which was suspended in 2010 due to sanctions imposed over Iran&#39;s nuclear programme. 
 
&quot;We did not intend to make an Iranian version of the S-300. We wanted to build an Iranian system, and we built it,&quot; Dehghan told the IRNA news agency on Saturday. 
 
Rouhani said in a televised speech that Iran&#39;s military budget had more than doubled compared with last year.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;If we are able to discuss with world powers around the negotiating table, it is because of our national strength, because of our national unity,&quot; he said.&nbsp; 
 
In 2015, shortly before the conclusion of an international agreement on the nuclear programme, Moscow re-authorised the delivery of the S-300 system in a move criticised by the United States and Israel.&nbsp; 
 
Iran&#39;s army said in May that it was now equipped with the S-300 system, though further parts are due over the coming months. 
 
Rouhani also unveiled the first Iranian-made fighter jet engine today, saying it was capable of flight at 50,000 feet.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The Islamic republic is one of eight countries in the world who have mastered the technology to build these engines,&quot; the President said.&nbsp;

(AFP) 
 
 
&nbsp;

The domestically-built system is designed to intercept combat aircraft, drones, and cruise & ballistic missiles

Iran released images of its first domestically built long-range missile defence system today, a project started when the country was under international sanctions. Iran displays first home-made missile defence system, Bavar 373, begun when sanctions suspended sale of Russia S-300 pic.twitter.com/PnWuUfhMUe — Eric Randolph (@EricWRandolph) August 21, 2016 Images released on multiple state news agencies showed President Hassan Rouhani and minister of defence Hossein Dehghan standing in front of the new Bavar 373 missile defence system. The system has been designed to intercept cruise missiles, drones, combat aircraft and ballistic missiles, according to earlier statements by Dehghan. It was intended to match the Russian S-300 system, the delivery of which was suspended in 2010 due to sanctions imposed over Iran's nuclear programme. "We did not intend to make an Iranian version of the S-300. We wanted to build an Iranian system, and we built it," Dehghan told the IRNA news agency on Saturday. Rouhani said in a televised speech that Iran's military budget had more than doubled compared with last year. "If we are able to discuss with world powers around the negotiating table, it is because of our national strength, because of our national unity," he said. In 2015, shortly before the conclusion of an international agreement on the nuclear programme, Moscow re-authorised the delivery of the S-300 system in a move criticised by the United States and Israel. Iran's army said in May that it was now equipped with the S-300 system, though further parts are due over the coming months. Rouhani also unveiled the first Iranian-made fighter jet engine today, saying it was capable of flight at 50,000 feet. "The Islamic republic is one of eight countries in the world who have mastered the technology to build these engines," the President said. (AFP)

Iran releases images of new missile defence system

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