IRAN’S COVERAGE – WEEKLY PRESS REVIEW (July 15 – July 21) 2019

POLITICS
 July 21, 2019

MPs call for charging foreign ships a toll to cross Strait of Hormuz
MNA – Members of the Iranian Parliament hailed the swiftness of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards
Corps (IRGC) in seizing a violating British tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, calling for putting a toll to
ships passing through the narrow waterway.
Zarif calls on UK to be prudent to thwart US ploy
MNA – In a tweet on Sunday, Iranian foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on UK to exercise
prudence and have foresight to be able to thwart US ploys seeking to pull the European country into a
quagmire.
Senior MP calls on UK to free ‘illegally-seized’ Iranian tanker in Gibraltar
MNA – A senior reformist lawmaker asked the UK to immediately free the Iranian oil tanker which was
illegally seized in Gibraltar on July 4.

Alleged audio of Iran calling on UK tanker to alter course before seizure released
Sputnik – The seizure of the British-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces took place
after UK marines detained an Iranian supertanker off Gibraltar.

Envoy urges UK to refrain from escalating tension with Iran

MNA – Iranian ambassador to London, Hamid Baeidinejad, has called on the UK government to contain
those domestic political forces who want to escalate existing tension between Iran and the UK over the
tanker incident.

US modern adventurism threatening global peace: Zarif

Press TV – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has slammed the United States for what he
has termed as its “modern wave of adventurism,” saying the policy is a serious threat to the global peace.

UK’s Hunt expresses ‘extreme disappointment’ to Iran’s Zarif over seized tanker
Reuters – British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt said he had spoken to his Iranian counterpart
Mohammad Javad Zarif and expressed his “extreme disappointment” over Iran’s seizure of a British-
flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.

Zarif, Maduro discuss bilateral ties

IRNA – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro
reviewed bilateral relations and issues of mutual interests.

IRGC releases footage of seized UK-flagged oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz

Press TV– The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps on Saturday released video of the operation to capture
British-flagged oil tanker, Stena Impero.

Saudi Arabia releases Iranian oil tanker, all crew members

MNA – After two and half months, Saudi authorities have allowed an Iranian oil tanker, all its crew
and two other ships to return to Iran as a result of related Iranian authorities’ follow-up.

Página 1 de 9
Twitter suspends accounts of Iranian media outlets
Press TV – Twitter has confirmed that it has suspended the Persian-language accounts of three Iranian
news agencies. The American online microblogging and social networking service blocked access to the
accounts of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the Young Journalists Club (YJC), and Mehr
news agency, on Friday.

Dutch court rejects link between Iranian govt. and murder of exiled Iranian
MNA– An Amsterdam court has convicted a 38-year-old Dutch guilty of organizing the murder of an
Iranian who lived in the Netherlands, thus rejecting an earlier claim of Iranian government’s
involvement in the case.
 July 20, 2019

Russia, France, Germany urge de-escalation after Iran seizure of UK tanker

Tasnim – Russia, France, and Germany called on Tehran and London to de-escalate tensions after Iran’s
Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) captured a British oil tanker for breaching international
maritime law while crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran captured UK tanker to uphold int’l maritime rules, says Zarif

Tasnim – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the country’s military forces captured a
British-flagged oil tanker, the Stena Impero, in the Strait of Hormuz to “uphold international maritime
rules”.

UK summons Iranian attaché

MNA – Due to the seizure of British oil tanker by IRGC on Friday, the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office of UK summoned Iran’s attaché in London on Saturday.

Iran confiscated British oil tanker according to intl. law: official

MNA – The Guardian Council Spokesman Abbasali Kadkhodaei said that Iran’s measure to seize a
trespassing British oil tanker was carried out according to the rule of retaliation in the international law.

US making false sense of security for allies: Zarif

IRNA – Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said that problems of the Middle East are rooted in the false
sense of security that the US is making for its allies.
Mohajer-4: Iranian drone which filmed USS Boxer
Press TV – Surveillance images released by the Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)
dismissing Washington’s claims of downing an Iranian drone over the Strait of Hormuz indicate that the
drone in question was a Mohajer-4 surveillance aircraft.

Iran denies closure of Fordow nuclear site

Tasnim – Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi
dismissed reports of closure of the country’s Fordow nuclear site, saying the facility is conducting
research on vacuum systems used to enrich uranium.

Iran raps US for seizing every opportunity to distort realities

MNA – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi has reacted to US Vice President
Mike Pence’s anti-Iran claims on “destabilizing activities”, saying the White House officials seize every
opportunity to distort the reality and spread propaganda.

Página 2 de 9
UK’s Hunt says Iran may be on ‘dangerous path’ after seizing tanker
Reuters – British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt said on Saturday that he was worried that Iran had
taken a “dangerous path” after it seized a British-flagged tanker on Friday in the Strait of Hormuz.

‘Don’t play with Iran’, Zarif tells New Yorker

MNA – Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, told the New Yorker while in New York on
Thu. that Iran would always respond to any act of hostility against its territory and interests.

Pompeo: US needs Iran to ‘come to the table’ for talks

Press TV – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calls on Iran to “come to the table” for talks, repeating
President Donald Trump’s offer that Washington was ready to conduct the negotiations without
preconditions.

Zarif: US presence destabilizing every part of world

IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif told reporters upon arrival in Caracas that presence of
the United States in every part of the world is destabilizing and that US sanctions put pressure on people
hampering the economic development and paving the way for extremism and terrorism.

Trump says US will discuss with UK IRGC seizure of British-flagged tanker

Sputnik – Earlier in the day, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that they had boarded
and seized a UK tanker in the Strait of Hormuz over a violation of international norms.

FM Zarif arrives in Caracas to attend NAM meeting

MNA – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas
early Saturday after a six-day stay in New York.

23 crew of UK tanker to remain on board for safety

IRNA – The crew of the British tanker seized by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz should remain
on board to observe safety regulations, a local Iranian official said Saturday.

Iran seize second British tanker in one day

UK Defense Journal – The MV Mesdar, originally bound for Saudi Arabia, has been seized by Iran.

 July 19, 2019

Source: Iran FM met Rand Paul to feel out possible US-Iran talks
Al-Monitor | Laura Rozen: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with Sen. Rand Paul
(R-Kentucky) in New York July 18 to feel out prospects for possible discussions between Iran and the
United States, a non-government expert in contact with the Iranian team told Al-Monitor on condition
of anonymity.

IRGC says captures British oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz

Press TV – Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has said that it has captured a British oil
tanker for breaching international maritime law while crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
IRGC releases drone footage, belying US claim of downing
Press TV – Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has released footage captured by an Iranian
drone flying over the Strait of Hormuz and monitoring a United States Navy vessel, belying a claim by
Washington that the unmanned aircraft was shot down by the American forces.

Página 3 de 9
Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif: we can’t “discount” possibility of war
The National Interest – On Thursday, National Interest Editor Jacob Heilbrunn interviewed Iranian
Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif in New York at the Ambassador’s residence on the current
state of U.S.-Iran relations. The transcript has been lightly edited for readability.

UK detention of Iran tanker extended despite promises

Press TV – Gibraltar’s supreme court has ruled that an Iranian tanker illegally seized by by Britain’s
Royal Marines can be detained for 30 more days, the territory’s attorney general says.

Zarif: Region, world indebted to Gen. Soleimani

IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hailed role of the Commander of the IRGC Quds
Force Major General Qasem Soleimani in ensuring regional security, saying that region and world are
indebted to him.

EU, Iran try to stand ground against Trump’s sanctions

Al-Monitor - When Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi
announced July 7 that Iran would surpass the uranium enrichment limits it had committed to under the
2015 nuclear arms deal, it was nothing like the last time Tehran said it would break an international
enrichment deal.

Iran FM confers with UN chief on Middle East developments

IRNA – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is in New York, met on Thursday
evening with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on regional developments in the Middle East
region.

Iran floats offer on nuclear inspections; U.S. skeptical

Reuters – Iran on Thursday signaled a willingness to engage in diplomacy to defuse tensions with the
United States with a modest offer on its nuclear program that met immediate skepticism in Washington.

Iran rejects Trump’s claim on downing of Iranian drone

IRNA – Deputy Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that the Islamic Republic of
Iran has not lost any drone in the Strait of Hormuz.

FM Zarif reminds US of its boundaries

MNA – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a tweet on Thursday posted a map showing
the borders of Iran and the United States to remind the White House of the US boundaries and the
necessity of respecting other countries’ territories.

Zarif: We have no information about losing drone

IRNA – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday evening that he was not
aware of any downing of an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump: US Navy shot down Iranian drone in Strait of Hormuz

Press TV – President Donald Trump says that a US ship has shot down an Iranian drone in the Strait of
Hormuz. Trump said that the USS Boxer fired on the drone Thursday, four weeks after Iran shot down
a US surveillance drone flying over Iranian waters near the Strait of Hormuz.

Página 4 de 9
Iran determined to keep all routes open for preserving JCPOA
MNA – The Iranian and French presidents spoke by telephone Thur. and discussed the most important
bilateral, regional and international issues, stressing that efforts for safeguarding the JCPOA should be
continued.

Trump assigns Rand Paul as Iran liaison, sources tell Politico

Press TV – US President Donald Trump has reportedly assigned Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) as a liaison to
Iran in a stated effort to de-escalate tensions with Tehran.

 July 18, 2019

Iran elected as OPEC Fund chairman
IRNA – Iranian Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Farhad Dejpasand was elected as the
chairman of the OPEC Fund International Development (OFID) in the 40th ministerial meeting of the
international organization, said Iran’s Ambassador to London Kazem Gharibabadi.

Envoy: UK not to increase its forces in region

IRNA – UK Ambassador to Tehran Robert Macaire stressed that in contrast to what some media claim,
the UK will not increase the level of its forces in the region.

Zarif to leave New York for Caracas on Friday

MNA – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will depart from New York for the
Venezuelan capital, Caracas on Friday.

UK, Gibraltar discuss seized oil tanker amid row with Iran
Press TV – British Prime Minister Theresa May has held talks with Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian
Picardo about an Iranian-owned oil tanker that was illegally seized by British marines two weeks ago,
amid pressure on London to release the vessel.

Iran’s IRGC seizes foreign vessel smuggling fuel in Persian Gulf

Press TV – Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has released details of its recent capturing of
a foreign tanker smuggling one million liters of Iranian fuel near the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian
Gulf.

EU should allow Iran to trade to preserve nuclear deal: Zarif

MNA – European countries should implement their commitments on ensuring the freedom of trade for
Iran to preserve the nuclear deal, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif told TASS on Thursday.

US ‘shot itself in foot’ by abandoning JCPOA: Iran’s FM

Tasnim – The US “shot itself in the foot” by pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and
world powers, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said.Zarif, in an interview Wednesday with Bloomberg
Television, also accused European countries that are part of the agreement of failing to carry out their
own commitments under the deal and after the US withdrawal.
Iran’s Zarif says US travel curbs on Iranian diplomats ‘inhuman’
Reuters – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday that tight U.S. travel
restrictions on Iranian diplomats and their families living in New York are “basically inhuman.”

Página 5 de 9
Iran condemns terrorist attack on Turkish diplomats in Erbil
Tasnim – The Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned a terrorist attack on members of the
Turkish consulate in Iraq’s city of Erbil that killed three people.

US sanctions greatest threat to sustainable development of Iran, neighbors

MNA – In his address to the UN Economic and Social Council meeting Wed. the Iranian foreign
minister said that US extraterritorial sanctions on Iran represent the greatest threat to the achievement
of sustainable development goals of Iran and many of its neighbors.

Iran will never start war, but will defend its soil against aggression: Zarif
Press TV – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran “will never start a war,” but “will defend
its territory” against any act of aggression.
 July 17, 2019

Iran legally accuses UK for violating international laws

IRNA- The UK has violated international laws through seizure of the Grace 1 oil tanker in international
waters, Iran said in a report issued on Wednesday, calling the move “illegal”.
US must end arms sales to Saddam’s reincarnations: Zarif
MNA – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on the US to stop selling arms to
‘Saddam’s reincarnations’ instead of complaining about Iran’s defensive program.

Iranian diplomats, families living in New York face US travel curbs

Reuters – The United States has tightly restricted the travel of more than a dozen Iranian diplomats and
their families living in New York, according to a U.S. diplomatic note to sent to the Iran mission to the
United Nations and seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

Britain to deploy 3rd warship to Persian Gulf amid tensions with Iran
Press TV – The United Kingdom has announced that it will send a third warship to the Persian Gulf
later this year, a move that comes amid intensifying tensions with Tehran over the illegal seizure of an
Iranian oil tanker.

Trump says not seeking regime change in Iran

Tasnim – US President Donald Trump said his administration is not pursuing a regime change in Iran.

Zarif: Nice statements do not provide economic benefit for Iran

IRNA – Iranian Foreign Minister says nice statements by Europeans do not provide economic benefit
for Iranians.

 July 16, 2019

Iran to give no quarter in confrontation with US: supreme leader
Reuters – Iran’s supreme leader upped the ante in a volatile stand-off with the United States on Tuesday,
warning Tehran would continue removing restraints on its nuclear program and retaliate for the seizure of an
Iranian oil tanker.

Zarif says while in US, he is allowed to be in only 3 buildings

MNA – The Iranian foreign minister has tweeted that while he is in the American city of New York to attend
a UN meeting, he is permitted to set foot in only three buildings.

Página 6 de 9
Iran not to leave UK piracy unanswered: Ayatollah Khamenei
MNA – Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei slammed the UK’s illegal seizure of
an Iranian supertanker in Gibraltar, saying the act of “piracy” will not go unanswered.
Friday prayers leaders visit Leader of Islamic Revolution
MNA – Friday Prayers Leaders from all across the country visited the Leader of the Islamic Revolution
Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Tuesday morning.

Tasnim - France’s Macron to speak to Rouhani, Putin, Trump to ease tensions

Iran VP says EU has to put pressure on US not Iran

IRNA – The European states have to put pressure on the US to give up arbitrary sanctions against Iran
rather than pressure Iran, First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri said on Tuesday.

JCPOA signatories do not see Iran’s reductions in commitments as major non-compliance

MNA – EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini says that the JCPOA is not dead, adding that none of
the signatories to the nuclear deal sees Iran’s recent steps as a major violation of the agreement.
Zarif: Hawks around Trump won’t succeed in selling war
Press TV – While warning against a potential military attack targeting Iran, Foreign Minister Mohammad
Javad Zarif says the warlike officials around US President Donald Trump will not succeed in enabling such
a course of action against the Islamic Republic.

Iran to sell oil anyway but will never sell its dignity
MNA – The Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says that Iran will find ways to sell its oil
anyway, but the country will never sell its dignity.
There is face-saving solution to exit current situation: Iran FM Zarif
IRNA – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says his country will resist any pressure,
stressing that there is “face-saving” solution to exit the current situation.

 July 15, 2019

Pompeo shows reaction to Iran’s precondition for talks with US
MNA – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo showed reaction to Iran’s precondition for talks with the
US.

Time for US to return to international community: Zarif

Tasnim – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif highlighted rejection of the US’ unilateral
policies by world countries, saying it’s time for Washington to “return to the international community”.

Ahead of Brussels meeting, EU diplomats call on Iran to return to full JCPOA implementation
MNA – The foreign ministers of the European Union are holding a meeting in Brussels to discuss Iran
nuclear deal and explore ways to reduce the tensions.

Iran: European signatories must take practical steps to implement JCPOA

Press TV – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman says European signatories to a 2015 nuclear deal with
Iran, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), must take practical steps to
facilitate implementation of the agreement.

Leader appoints three religious jurists to Guardian Council

Página 7 de 9
MNA – Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in separate decrees, has
appointed three religious jurists to the Guardian Council.

European parties to Iran deal urge dialog, end to tensions

Press TV – France Britain, and Germany have called for the resumption of dialog and an end to the
escalation over Iran’s nuclear deal, amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Europe not ready yet to ‘invest in saving JCPOA’: Zarif

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the Europeans do not seem ready yet to put investment
into saving the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, despite their claim to be willing to retain it.

ECONOMY

Launching integrated forex market in last stages: CBI

Tehran Times – Central Bank of Iran (CBI) announced that launching integrated forex market in the
country is in the last stages, IRIB reported.
In a statement, the CBI’s office of public relations also denied the news about launching this market on
Monday.
Kremlin doesn’t rule out collaboration on INSTEX payment mechanism for trade with Iran
Sputnik – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif previously noted that the EU mechanism for
bilateral transactions with Tehran bypassing US sanctions could include other interested countries, such
as Russia and Turkey.
Don’t look now, President Trump: Iran’s currency is soaring
Bloomberg | If there was a currency you wouldn’t expect to be strengthening, it would be Iran’s.
Two Iranian cargo ships stranded in Brazil without fuel due to US sanctions: report
MNA – Two Iranian vessels have been stuck for weeks at Brazilian ports due to lack of fuel, which state-
run oil firm Petrobras refuses to sell them due to US sanctions, according to a report.
Iran’s trade with EU plunges 76%
Financial Tribune – Trade between Iran and European Union member states during the first four
months of 2019 stood at €1.61 billion to register a 76.46% plunge compared with last year’s
corresponding period.
Iran to offer 3-year oil future contracts to foreign buyers
Tehran Times – Iran is going to offer up to three-year oil future contracts for certain international
buyers in an effort to offset the impacts of U.S. sanctions on its oil exports, Shana reported.
CIOFC to boost oil production in Sa’adat Abad oil field
Tehran Times – The executive operation of a development project for maintaining and enhancing oil
production at Sa’adat Abad oil field in central Iran commenced on July 17, Shana reported.
‘300 companies omitted from privatization plan for current year’
Tehran Times – Head of Iranian Privatization Organization (IPO) announced that the organization
deleted 300 state-run companies from the list of companies that their shares were planned to be
transferred to the private sector in the current Iranian calendar year (ends on March 19, 2020).
No country can replace Iran’s oil, says min. Zanganeh
MNA – Iranian Minister of Petroleum, Bijan Zanganeh, stressed that neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE
nor any other country can ever replace Iran’s oil in the global market.

Página 8 de 9
 REGIONAL AFFAIRS
Communications mins. of 4 countries attend meeting in Tehran
MNA – The quadrilateral meeting among communications ministers of Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Turkey
was held on Wednesday morning at the Iranian ICT Ministry in Tehran.

US to send about 500 troops to Saudi Arabia: Report

Tasnim – The United States is sending hundreds of troops to Saudi Arabia, two Defense Department
officials said.
Three Turkish diplomats killed in shooting in Iraqi Kurdish capital Erbil – Source
Sputnik – According to Turkish outlet Habertuk, the attack on a restaurant in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi
Kurdistan was organised by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

SOCIETY

Ayatollah Jannati re-elected as secretary of Iran’s Guardian Council

Tasnim – Members of Iran’s Guardian Council (GC) on Wednesday re-elected Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati
as the secretary of the influential body, which is tasked with vetting legislative and presidential
candidates, supervising elections and overseeing the bills passed in the Parliament.
Researchers from Iran, New Zealand develop green synthesis for silver nanostructures
MNA – Researchers from Iran and New Zealand have developed a green process for the synthesis of
multifunctional silver nanostructures, with a wide range of applications as antimicrobial agent in
modern industries.
Iran to woo Chinese tourists with visa-free entry
Financial Tribune – Iran is hoping to attract up to one million Chinese tourists from next month to
shore up its economy, hit by US sanctions.
Terrorists kill 2 IRGC forces in Southeast Iran
Tasnim – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force lost two troops in an armed clash
with a group of terrorists in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan.
4.2-mag. earthquake strikes Ahvaz, Khuzestan
MNA – A 4.2-magnitude earthquake jolted Ahvaz, Southwestern province of Khuzestan at 03:15 A.M.
on Thursday.
ELECOMP opens in Tehran
IRNA – The 25th International Exhibition of Electronics, Computers and e-Commerce (Elecomp 2019)
started with the participation of Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammad-
Javad Azari Jahromi in Tehran on Thursday.

Sunday - July 21, 2019 -Tehran

Página 9 de 9