LATEST

Iran’s regime has declared that it “wins” even if nuclear talks with the 5+1 Powers (US, Britain, France, Germany, China, and Russia) fail to reach a comprehensive agreement by a July 1 deadline.

Delivering the Tehran Friday Prayer, Ayatollah Emami Kashani (pictured) explained:

If Iran and the P5+1 countries reach an agreement, both sides have won; and indeed this would form a ‘win-win’ negotiation.

But if the negotiations don’t reach an agreement…this will create a win for Iran and a loss for the P5+1, because it proves that Iran negotiated with logic….Iran has won, because it demonstrates that the people are rational….

They would show to the world that they favor bullying and ranting and wrongly imagine that Iran would bow to their hegemonic nature.

Iran’s latest discussions with the US and the other 5+1 Powers ended after four days on Thursday, with claims of Iranian concessions on key issues like uranium enrichment but no sign of an agreement. The sticking point appears to be the Islamic Republic’s condition that US and European Union sanctions are removed within months of a deal — American officials have been saying that the process will take “years”.

Meanwhile, President Rouhani’s senior advisor, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, has assured that all is well with the Government’s plans for Iran’s economy, even without a comprehensive agreement.

Nobakht said that the Government’s budget for 2015-2016 is based on “available resources” and that Parliament had drafted the bill of authorization without considering the outcome of the talks.

The Government’s budget is trying to finance itself in the face of a fall in oil revenues from about $100 billion in 2012 to an estimated $30 billion this year. Iran’s oil exports have fallen more than 40% because of US-led sanctions, and revenues have been further struck by a fall of more than 60% in global oil prices since June.

The Government contends that it can cover the shortfall through increased tax revenues, encouragement of projects in the private sector rather than through the State, and a rise in non-oil export income.

Referring to the talks with the US and other powers, Nobakht said:

Our nation can rest assured that the nuclear negotiations will not fall short of one iota of Iran’s international rights.

In no circumstance will we allow the bullying of arrogant governments and the imposition of inhumane sanctions [to affect us].

Tehran Friday Prayer leader Kashani backed up Nobakht, “It is a positive step that the budget is not relevant to the outcome of the negotiations.”


Revolutionary Guards Announces Formation of Interfaith Youth Groups in Syria

Revolutionary Guards Brigadier General Hossein Hamedani announced on Friday that the Guards have formed interfaith youth groups, “Keshab”, in Syria.

Hamedani said the groups would strengthen unity and spirituality among Alawites, Christians, and Sunnis, as well as promoting the Islamic Republic’s revolutionary values: “These measures have reached a point where fortunately today our young seminary students in Aleppo have become the centerpiece of cultural activities in Syria.”