2020-08-05: News Headlines

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-05). Iran to send 2000 humanitarian packs to Beirut. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 05 (MNA) — "2,000 packages weighing 9 tons of food, as well as medicine and medical supplies, will be sent to Lebanon by IRCS", Iranian Red Crescent Society spokesman announced.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-05). Leader pardons, commutes sentences of 2,135 prisoners. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 05 (MNA) — Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has agreed to pardon or commute the sentences of as many as 2,135 prisoners.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-05). 2,697 new COVID-19 cases registered in Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 05 (MNA) — The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has infected 2,697 people and claimed 185 lives in Iran in the past 24 hours, a senior health official said.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-05). Zarif says Iran ready to assist Lebanon after explosion. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 05 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed the country's full readiness to render any necessary help to Lebanon after a massive explosion rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-05). Iran, Afghanistan ink MoU in transit field: official. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 05 (MNA) — The Director General of Sistan and Baluchestan Ports and Maritime Department General revealed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Afghanistan's private sector in the field of transit via Chabahar Port.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-05). Iran standing by Lebanon: Ghalibaf. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 05 (MNA) — Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that Tehran stands by the government and nation of the Lebanon for getting through this crisis.

Paul Ham (2020-08-05). Did the Atomic Bomb End the Pacific War? zcomm.org The use of the atomic weapon must be seen as a continuation and a start: the nuclear continuation of the conventional terror bombing of Japanese civilians, and the start of a new "cold war."

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-08-04). "Wipe the Soviet Union Off the Map", 204 Atomic Bombs against 66 Major Cities, US Nuclear Attack against USSR Planned During World War II. globalresearch.ca According to a secret document dated September 15, 1945, "the Pentagon had envisaged blowing up the Soviet Union with a coordinated nuclear attack directed against 66 major urban areas.

MintPress News Desk (2020-08-04). Shadow Wars: Leaks by Mossad Point to Israeli Involvement in Deadly Attacks on Iran. mintpressnews.com The drumbeat for war with Iran seems to be intensifying as 2020 reaches its halfway point and the narrative that cyberattacks are to play an inciting role in the coming conflict is being drilled into the collective mind.

_____ (2020-08-04). Truman's 'Human Sacrifice' to Subdue Moscow. strategic-culture.org Peter KUZNICK | Sumiteru Taniguchi was one of the "lucky" ones. He lived a long and productive life. He married and fathered two healthy children who gave him four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He had a long career in Japan's postal and telegraph services. As a leader in Japan's anti-nuclear movement, he addressed thousands of audiences and hundreds of thousands of people. He traveled to at least 23 countries. The organizations in which he played a prominent role were nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize. | Many of the more than 250,000 who lived in Nagasaki on August 9, 1945 were not so…

Thierry Meyssan (2020-08-04). Imperialist Iran becomes anti-imperialist 1/2. thealtworld.com The history of Iran in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries corresponds neither to the image that Westerners have of it, nor to the image that the official discourse of Iranians gives of it. Historically linked to China and for the past two centuries fascinated by the United States, Iran is struggling between the memory of its imperial past and the liberating dream of Rouhollah Khomeiny. Considering that Shiism is not only a religion, but also a political and military weapon, it hesitates between proclaiming itself the protector of the Shiites or the liberator of the oppressed. We publish a two-part study by…

Simon Watkins (2020-08-04). Despite Official Reports, China Has Been Importing Millions of Barrels of Iranian Crude Oil. globalresearch.ca A number of high-profile reports last week cited data released on 26 July by China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) as clear evidence that China did not import any crude oil from Iran in June 'for the first time since …

Thierry Meyssan (2020-08-04). L'Iran impérialiste devient anti-impérialiste 1/2. thealtworld.com

| L'histoire de l'Iran du XXème et XXIème siècles ne correspond ni à l'image que les Occidentaux en ont, ni à celle que les discours officiels des Iraniens en donnent. Historiquement lié à la Chine et depuis deux siècles fasciné par les États-Unis, l'Iran se débat entre le souvenir de son passé impérial et le rêve libérateur de Rouhollah Khomeiny. Considérant que le chiisme n'est pas qu'une religion, mais aussi une arme politique et militaire, il hésite entre se proclamer protecteur des chiites ou libérateur des opprimés. Nous publions une étude de Thierry Meyssan, en deux volets, sur l'Iran moderne.

sputniknews (2020-08-04). 'Lacks Any Legal Status': US-SDF 'Oil Deal' Violates Syria's Sovereignty, Iran Says. sputniknews.com The deal between an unnamed American company and the Kurdish militia controlling oil-rich northeastern parts of the Arab Republic was announced on 2 August by US Senator Lindsay Graham despite the armed groups having no authority to strike deals on behalf of the Syrian government.

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-08-03). Secret Meeting on the Privatization of Nuclear War Held on Hiroshima Day 2003. globalresearch.ca At no point since the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945, has humanity been closer to the unthinkable. All the safeguards of the Cold War era have been scrapped. "Offensive" military actions using nuclear warheads are now described as acts of "self-defense"

Juan Cole (2020-08-03). Iran's Khamenei: Not going to help Trump get Reelected by Negotiating. zcomm.org Khamenei said that even if Iran met all of Washington's demands, that would just encourage the insatiable American elite to start making new demands…

Linda Pentz Gunter (2020-08-03). The Resistible Rise of Nuclear Gangsters…and Their Downfall. counterpunch.org It would be tempting to describe last week's nuclear scandals — in three states — as something out of the Wild West. But Al Capone's Chicago would be a more accurate analogy. While no actual shots were fired, some pretty powerful metaphorical ones were, warnings that engaging in criminal racketeering and fraud to fleece ratepayers

Paul Dobson (2020-08-03). Blacklisted Iranian Consortium Defies US to Open Caracas Superstore. venezuelanalysis.com Venezuelan and Iranian officials claim the commercial deal is part of a "win-win" relationship between the sanctioned countries.

Ilya Tsukanov (2020-08-03). US Blasts Venezuela-Iran 'Alliance of Pariah States'. globalresearch.ca The new grocery store, which features over 2,000 products from Iran, was made possible after the Islamic Republic sent half a dozen cargo ships carrying fuel, food, medical supplies and spare parts for Venezuela's oil industry to the South American …

S. Brian Willson (2020-08-03). Nicaragua Targeted for US Overthrow in 2020-21. globalresearch.ca The USA failed State continues to seek destruction of Nicaragua (among other nations such as Venezuela, Cuba, Syria and Iran, who refuse to obey US demands for neoliberal privatization that enrich the already rich. | Introduction | George Washington, who waged …

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-03). Drive-in movie theater in Qeshm Island. en.mehrnews.com QESHM, Aug. 03 (MNA) — Qeshm Island, southern Iran, has launched its first drive-in movie theater to help cinema aficionados watch their favorite movies while observing health protocols during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-03). Iran exports 2nd non-oil cargo to Oman via Sirik port. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 03 (MNA) — Governor of Sirik said on Monday that the second shipment of Iran's non-oil goods was exported via Sirik Port Complex to the Sultanate of Oman.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-03). Ulyanov reacts to Dubowitz's remarks on Iran nuclear deal. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 03 (MNA) — Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said that the atomic opportunities were given to Iran by NPT are absolutely legitimate.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-03). Oil industry activities on track despite sanctions: Zanganeh. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 03 (MNA) — Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh says Iran's oil industry activities have been going on strongly in the past two years since the US pulled out of the nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-03). PCR certification mandatory for Iraqis entering Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 03 (MNA) — Iraqi ministry of transport has made it mandatory for all Iraqis aimed at traveling to Iran to take Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to diagnose infection by the lethal respiratory coronavirus before taking the trip.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-03). Police bust 400kg of drugs in Yazd province. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 26 (MNA) — The police forces of Yazd province in central Iran have seized 401 kilograms of illicit drugs in two separate operations.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-03). Iran registers 2,598 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 03 (MNA) — The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has infected 2,598 people and claimed 215 lives in Iran in the past 24 hours, a senior health official said.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-03). 'US unilateral anti-Iranian sanctions unfair'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 03 (MNA) — Naming the unilateral US sanctions against Iran 'unfair', the Austrian Ambassador to Iran Stefan Schulz voiced readiness of 250 Austrian firms for establishing economic relations with Iran.

yenisafak (2020-08-03). One person is dying of COVID-19 every seven minutes in Iran: state TV. yenisafak.com One person is dying from COVID-19 every seven minutes in Iran, state television said on Monday, as the Health Ministry reported 215 new deaths from the disease and state media warned of a lack of proper social distancing.Health Ministry spokesman Sima Sadat Lari was quoted by the state TV as saying the 215 deaths in the past 24 hours took the combined death toll to 17,405 in Iran, and the number of confirmed cases rose by 2,598 to 312,035.State television showed several Iranians in a busy Tehran street without wearing face masks or social distancing.Some experts have doubted the accuracy of Iran's official corona…

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-02). Iranian Film Week to open in Japan. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 03 (MNA) — The third Iranian Film Week, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Iran in Japan, is set to open in the Japanese city of Minato.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-02). Minister urges nation to observe health protocols in Muharram. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 02 (MNA) — Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli has called on the Iranian nation to fully observe anti-coronavirus health protocols during Muharram rituals.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-02). Army Ground Force signs MoU to receive geographical data. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 02 (MNA) — National Geography Organization and the intelligence branch of Iran Army's Ground Force signed an MoU to develop cooperation in the fields of science, education, and research interactions.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-02). 2nd round of Iran-Ukraine talks to be held in Oct. in Tehran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 02 (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to Ukraine announced that the second round of talks between Iran and Ukraine over the issue of the Ukrainian aircraft's crash will be held in October 2020 in Tehran.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-02). Austria seeking cultural, economic ties with Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 02 (MNA) — Austrian Ambassador to Iran Stefan Schulz said that Austria seeks to expand cultural and economic relations with Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province in Iran.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-02). Police seize over 631 kg of narcotics in central Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 03 (MNA) — The police forces of Isfahan Province have seized over 631kg of illicit drugs in Nain County.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-02). Zarif stresses need to update document on Iran-Russia coop. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 02 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister in his meeting with with Chairman of the Russian Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee stressed the need to update the document of long-term cooperation between the two countries.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-02). Sunflower farm in NE Iran. en.mehrnews.com BOJNURD, Aug. 02 (MNA) — Some 15,000 hectares of farms in North Khorasan province, northeast Iran, are under cultivation of oily seeds, producing some 70,000 tons of different seeds including sunflower and rapeseed on an annual basis.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-02). Iran COVID-19 update: 2,685 new cases, 208 deaths. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 02 (MNA) — The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has infected 2,685people in Iran in the past 24 hours, increasing the total cases to 309,437, said Health Ministry Spokesperson Sima Lari on Sunday.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-02). Intelligence min. dismisses speculations on Sharmahd's arrest. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 02 (MNA) — Iranian Ministry of Intelligence has categorically dismissed any speculation on the arrest of the ringleader of a US-based terrorist group "Jamshid Sharmahd".

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-02). Govt. to set up work group to remove production barriers. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 02 (MNA) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the government will establish a special workgroup for removing production barriers.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-02). Promoting missile capability, defense ministry's top priority. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 02 (MNA) — Iranian Minister of Defense said that improving and promoting the missile capacity of the country is the main and top priority of his ministry.

sputniknews (2020-08-02). Iran Imposes Sanctions Against Former Aid to John Bolton for 'Economic Terrorism'. sputniknews.com Relations between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran have become increasingly strained in recent years, following the 2018 withdrawal by the Trump administration from the 2015 joint agreement pledging a peaceful development of nuclear power.

yenisafak (2020-08-02). Top Iranian aide praises Turkey's Hagia Sophia move. yenisafak.com A senior advisor to Iran's supreme leader on Sunday congratulated Turkey for reopening the Hagia Sophia Mosque after 86 years as a museum."We congratulate the Turkish people for this important Islamic success," Ali Akbar Velayati, an aide to Ali Khamenei told Iranian state television.Velayati also criticized US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for recent comments urging Ankara to reconvert the Hagia Sophia into a museum."His ancestors converted all museums of the world into churches. The Hagia Sophia, which has been a mosque for 500 years, will remain as a mosque until the apocalypse," Velayati stressed.Ankara has…

yenisafak (2020-08-02). Iran's stock market surges past key level to record high, as analysts warn of bubble. yenisafak.com Iran's main stock index broke through the key 2 million point mark for the first time ever on Sunday, state media reported, amid warnings that the market is overheating.The Tehran Stock Exchange's benchmark TEDPIX index gained 46,844 points in early trading, the official IRNA news agency said, up 2.4%.The index closed at 1,961,649 on Saturday after surging by over 57,325 points, or 3.01%, on the day, according to the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) website.Iran's clerical rulers have been encouraging ordinary Iranians to invest in local stocks to boost the country's economy, which has been hard hit by the reimpositio…

RT (2020-08-01). Iran says leader of US-based 'terror group' arrested in intelligence operation. rt.com Iran has nabbed the alleged ringleader of a group of Iranian exiles in California accused of carrying out terrorist attacks against the Islamic Republic, the country's ministry of intelligence announced. | The leader of Tondar (Persian for 'thunder'), identified as Jamshid Sharmahd, was captured in an intelligence operation, state media reported on Saturday. The US-based group seeks the overthrow of the Iranian government and the return of the country's monarchy that ruled the country prior to the Revolution and the fall of the Shah in 1979. | Sarmahd was apprehended while "leading armed and sabotage operation…

RT (2020-08-01). UAE becomes first Arab country to harness nuclear power following successful reactor launch. rt.com The United Arab Emirates has become the first nation in the Arab world to produce nuclear energy, following the start-up of a newly constructed plant in Abu Dhabi. | The Barakah Nuclear Power Plant's Unit 1 is now using nuclear fuel to produce energy after the facility successfully executed initial tests on Saturday. Three other reactors are still under construction and the plant still needs to be connected to the country's power grid, local media reported. | The

RT (2020-08-01). US 'working on nuclear non-proliferation agreement with Russia,' Trump says after discussing New START with Putin. rt.com US President Donald Trump has said that "it would be great" if Moscow and Washington agreed on a new nuclear non-proliferation deal. The admission comes after rare phone talks between the Russian and US leaders last week. | Trump has not provided any details as to the current state of the negotiations, which have been underway for quite some time. | Last Thursday, Trump held a rare phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which the two touched on a range of issues, among them the New Start Treaty, the last standing pillar upholding the nuclear arms control framework in…

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-01). Iran dismantles US-based terrorist group. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 01 (MNA) — Iran's Ministry of Intelligence announced on Saturday that its forces have dismantled a US-based terrorist group.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-01). IRGC's military exercise serious warning to enemies. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 01 (MNA) — Colonel Anatoly Tsyganok, a member of the Russian Center for Political-Military Studies believes that the recent IRGC's military exercise was a serious warning to the enemies of Iran, especially the United States.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-01). Iran-Russia coop. expected to be promoted: Ghalibaf. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 01 (MNA) — Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that comprehensive cooperation between Islamic Republic of Iran and Russian Federation is expected to be enhanced.