Iran Eager to Receive Albanian Tourism Investors
TEHRAN (MNA) – Iranian Vice President Ahmadipour said Iran would welcome Albanian investors to build the tourist infrastructure.
Zahra Ahamadipour, Vice-President and Head of Cultural Heritage, Crafts and Tourism, made the comments on Sunday at a meeting with the visiting Albanian Foreign Minister, Ditmir Bushati.
She pointed out that the country would support the investment of foreign parties, as the positive atmosphere is available in accordance with the Joint Action Plan (JCPOA).
She also expressed the willingness to hold exhibitions, conferences, and encourage interaction between artists from both countries.
The official expressed the hope that Teheran and Tirana would resume cooperation after two decades and consider expanding cultural relations as a prerequisite for deepening bilateral relations or strengthening political cooperation.
Ahmadipour and pointed out the excellent ability to exchange tourists between Iran and Albania and declared that Iran is a country with a rich cultural heritage and an ancient history that has provided great opportunities in historical and cultural tourism, especially the world European.
At the meeting, Albania’s Bushati also underlined that his visit to Iran, in response to his country’s readiness to strengthen relations with Iran in all areas.

THE GARDENS OF SHIRAZ

 Shiraz in ancient times possessed large and pleasant gardens, which unfortunately, through the revolutions and invasions of the past centuries, have disappeared, and of many of them nothing but their name in history remains.
The natural situations, the equable climate and the sunshine in Shiraz caused such gardens to of travelers this is confirmed by the statements in past centuries, such as John Fryer, who came here in 1672, and writers as follows:-

«In our stay we had opportunity to the observe Shiraz, not only by fame, but indeed to be, second to none, except the royal city in the whole Empire. The stately gardens and summer-houses are out of the town, whither resort those invited either by curiosity or recreation; the most famous of which we visited, under whose shady bowers we were feasted from the heel of every day till midnight. Among which, that, honoured with the royal claim, and therefore styled the King’s Garden, deservedly carries the lustre from the rest, and though everyone share in some excellency or other, yet this comprehends them all in one, being a large map of the whole. Here grow the loftiest cypresses in the universe. The nightingale, the sweet harbinger of the light, is a constant cheerer of these groves, charming with warbling strains the heaviest soul into a pleasing ecstacy. »

Among the numerous Shiraz gardens a few that are larger and older are here referred to: – Bágh-i-Delgushá (the exhilarating garden); Bágh-i-Eram (the Garden of Paradise); Bágh-i-Afífábád (the Garden of the Abode of Chastity), sometimes called Bágh-i-Gulshan.

The Bágh-i-Khalílí also is a newly-laid-out garden which on account of the keen interest of its owner, Mr.Muhammad Khalil Khalili, who is one of the well-known horticulturists of Iran, is as far as the variety of its flowers goes, one of the best and most beautiful garden of Shiraz. The owner, who has excellent taste, has endeavoured, by spending much time and money, to introduce from other countries every kind of flower that might flourish in the Shiraz climate, and to grow and cultivate them here. And though the area of the garden compared with the number of the flowers and fruit-trees is small, and it lacks the spacious vistas of the Bágh-i-Eram and the Bágh-i-‘Afífábád, yet the plentiful display of flowers and fine fruit dispels this deficiency, and makes it a garden unique of its kind.
In the Bágh-i-Eram there are many cypresses, one of which in height and proportion is unexampled in its own field, and worthy to be called the King of Cypresses.

 

Iran’s Nuclear Sanctions Lifted

Sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program are lifted following confirmation of Tehran’s commitment to​ the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made the announcement during a joint press conference in Vienna on Saturday, January 16 2016.

Mogherini read out a statement in English which was subsequently read out by Zarif in Persian.

“As Iran has fulfilled its commitments, today, multilateral and national economic and financial sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program are lifted in accordance,” read the statement. “All sides remain firmly convinced that this historic deal is both strong and fair, and that it meets the requirements of all.”

“This achievement clearly demonstrates that with political will, perseverance, and through multilateral diplomacy, we can solve the most difficult issues and find practical solutions that are effectively implemented,” it added.

“UN sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear programme are lifted. United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 (2015), which endorsed the JCPOA, will from now onwards, together with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), be the sole international legal framework related to Iran’s nuclear activities, terminating provisions of resolutions 1696 (2006), 1737 (2007), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008), 1929 (2010) and 2224 (2015).”

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani responded to the announcement by hailing the Iranian nation in a tweet for the “glorious victory.”

Iranian Ambassador to the IAEA Reza Najafi announced that Amano would be traveling to Iran to meet Rouhani, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi, and other officials on Sunday, January 17 2016.

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said that Iran gained its “right” through support from the Iranian nation and Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Many world leaders and politicians respond to the implementation of Iran’s historic nuclear deal with world powers.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, also present in Vienna, confirmed the IAEA’s report, saying that “The US sanctions-related commitments… are now in effect.”

Kerry said the United States would “immediately” remove sanctions imposed on Tehran, “expanding the horizon of opportunity for the Iranian people.”

“Today marks the moment that the Iran nuclear agreement transitions from an ambitious set of promises on paper to measurable action in progress,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry after the announcement.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also hailed the agreement implementation.

“This achievement demonstrates that international proliferation concerns are best addressed through dialogue and patient diplomacy,” said Ban’s spokesman in a statement. “This is a significant milestone that reflects the good faith effort by all parties to fulfill their agreed commitments,” he added.

In a statement released by the IAEA, the agency’s Director General Yukiyo Amano said that “Relations between Iran and the IAEA now enter a new phase. It is an important day for the international community. I congratulate all those who helped make it a reality.”
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond released a statement saying that “Years of patient and persistent diplomacy, and difficult technical work, have borne fruit as we now implement the deal.”

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius also welcomed the deal, calling it an “important step for peace and security implementation.”

“At a time when the region is seeing immense challenges and strong tensions, I hope that the spirit of cooperation that marked the conclusion of the deal can also be brought to all the other regional issues,” he said.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also hailed the announcement as a “historic success for diplomacy.”

He added that the diplomatic victory could lead to success “in defusing other urgent crises and conflicts in the region, especially regarding the civil war in Syria,”

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama signed an executive order for the removal of sanctions on Iran, the White House announced.

Leading US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton praised Obama for implementing the nuclear agreement, yet claiming that concerns still remain.

“Iran is still violating UN Security Council resolutions with its ballistic missile program, which should be met with new sanctions designations and firm resolve,” Clinton said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also repeated Tel Aviv’s anti-Iran rhetoric, saying, “Even after signing the nuclear deal, Iran has not relinquished its ambition to obtain nuclear weapons.”

Netanyahu added that Israel would “follow the implementation of the deal and warn of any violation.”

Iran to buy 114 Airbus planes this week from France

The first batch of new planes will arrive in the country by March 21.

Iran will sign a contract this week to buy 114 Airbus planes from France, during a visit to Paris by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Tehran’s transport minister said on Sunday.

Abbas Akhoundi, quoted by Iranian media, said the deal “will be signed between Iran Air and Airbus” when Rouhani is in Paris on Wednesday on the final day of his first official European visit.

Rouhani’s trip follows the implementation of a nuclear deal with world powers that curbs Tehran’s atomic activities in exchange for the lifting of punishing economic sanctions.

Iran desperately needs to modernise its ageing passenger plane fleet, which has only 150 operational planes out of more than 250, according to Akhoundi.

“We have been negotiating for 10 months” for the purchase of planes but “there was no way to pay for them because of banking sanctions,” Iranian state media quoted Akhoundi as saying.

“We need 400 long- and mid-range and 100 short-range planes,” he added.

The first batch of new planes will arrive in the country by March 21, he said.

Iran, with a population 79 million, has a good road network but still needs major transport upgrades, which Tehran hopes will aid tourism.

Rouhani is to visit Italy and France on January 25-27 to boost Iran’s economic ties with Europe.

Iran currently has no deals in place with American manufacturer Boeing “because of problems with negotiating with the US,” according to Akhoundi.

State television said the US Treasury had not yet permitted Boeing to enter talks with Iran, “but we will definitely negotiate with this company too,” the minister added.

Apart from new planes, Iran’s airports also need USD 250 million worth of upgrades, he said.

Only nine of Iran’s 67 airports are currently operational.

The Islamic republic yesterday signed a USD 2 billion contract with China to electrify the railway line linking Tehran with second city Mashhad, Akhoundi said.

France and Italy mull deals with Iran on visit by Rouhani
PARIS/ROME — President Hasan Rouhani brings the case to Europe this week for Iran as a potential investment bonanza, after the lifting of financial sanctions brought his country of 80-million people back into the world of global commerce.

Mr Rouhani championed the deal under which Iran curbed its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of US, European Union and United Nations sanctions this month.

On his first trip abroad since the accord, he will lead a 120-strong delegation that includes Iranian entrepreneurs as well as the oil and gas minister and other officials for five days in Paris and Rome. He will meet Pope Francis and French President Francois Hollande.

A week after nearly all sanctions were lifted, French and Italian officials still do not expect major deals to be signed yet during the trip.

Mr Rouhani has spoken of a “long road” to Iran’s economic integration with the world.

Iran demonstrated its hunger for western goods at an aviation conference on the eve of the visit, announcing plans yesterday to buy eight A-380 superjumbo jets from Airbus and up to 100 aircraft from Boeing.

The visit also comes as global diplomats are trying to arrange the first peace talks in two years to end the Syrian civil war.

The visit to France, the first by an Iranian president since 1999, will provide opportunities to smooth over particularly awkward relations with a country that has historically been comparatively friendly.

Paris took a hard line towards Iran among the six powers that were party to the nuclear negotiations, and has been outspoken in its condemnation of Iran’s support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

“Trust needs to be built,” said a senior French diplomat.

“On the nuclear accord, the relationship is relaxed, but not on the other subjects.

“There is no change on the Iranian position for now on a number of regional issues … so the idea (of the visit) is to open a new page,” the diplomat said.

Since July, Paris has appeared more conciliatory. A senior French economic and political delegation travelled to Tehran in September.

About 130 firms took part ranging in sectors from agriculture to construction and tourism to lay the groundwork for the first business accords between the two countries since the nuclear deal.

Companies such as Total, aircraft maker Airbus and car manufacturer Peugeot are interested in the new opportunities.

“There will be some accords and progress on deals,” said another French diplomat.

“But I do sense some prudence among companies,” the diplomat said.

Without the same diplomatic constraints as France, Italian officials appear more upbeat.

Italy has traditionally had close economic ties with Tehran and is rubbing its hands at the prospect of a possible surge in new contracts following the demise of sanctions.

Italy’s export credit agency, Sace, has said Italian exports to Iran might rise by about €3bn in the four-year period between 2015-18.

Exports totalled an estimated €1.56bn last year.