ID :
177577
Sun, 04/24/2011 - 14:09
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Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/177577
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Iran to Open Trade Center in Brazil
TEHRAN, April 24 (FNA)- Iran plans to open a trade center in Brasilia following Brazilians' growing demand for closer cooperation with Tehran, Head of Iran-Brazil Friendship Association Mir-Qassem Mo'meni announced on Saturday.
"Egypt enjoys a special position in the region and Muslim world and Iran and Egypt are two main pillars of the Islamic world and are complementary to each other," Salehi said on Saturday, addressing Iranian envoys to foreign countries in a meeting here in Tehran today.
"Interactions between Iran and Egypt in different arenas will render help to the region's peace, stability and security to a great extent."
Referring to the recent developments in Egypt, Salehi said the two countries' officials have made verbal and written exchanges, and expressed the hope that despite the pressures imposed by certain countries on Cairo, the relations between the two countries would resume soon in future.
After the collapse of the regime of Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian dictator, the Iranian foreign minister officially invited his newly appointed Egyptian counterpart Nabil al-Arabi to pay a visit to Tehran.
According to a report by Egyptian daily al-Ahram, the invitation letter was submitted to the Egyptian foreign minister during a meeting between Director of Iran's Interest Section in Cairo Mojtaba Amani and al-Arabi.
The report quoted the spokesman of the Egyptian foreign ministry as saying that Salehi in his message had lauded the recently uttered positive remarks by al-Arabi about the promotion of bilateral ties with Iran.
Al-Arabi in his first press conference earlier this year announced Cairo's preparedness to open "a new page with Iran".
The official went on to say that the Egyptian government does not see Iran as an enemy state, noting the two countries have historically rooted relations.
He further stated that the establishment of diplomatic ties depends on the Iranian side.
In reply, Salehi also said that Iran is ready to resume relations with Cairo.
Supreme Leader Underlines Positive Outcomes of Islamic Awakening in Region (ok)
TEHRAN , April 24 (FNA)- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei underscored the profound and vast influence of Iran's Islamic Revolution on the growing wave of Islamic awakening in the region, and voiced confidence about the desirable outcomes of the current popular uprisings.
"Thanks to Islam and Islamic Revolution, a public Islamic awakening has happened in the region today, which will definitely yield its results as it has already yielded its results in certain points," Ayatollah Khamenei said, addressing a group of Iranian people here in Tehran on Saturday.
"The more the people's determination, faith and readiness for sacrifice grows, the higher the chances of victory will be," the Leader continued.
Ayatollah Khamenei also stressed that recent developments in the region have surprised the US, European and Zionists, and warned that the arrogant powers have conspired plots to gain control over these developments.
As regards the outcomes of the recent Islamic awakening in the region, Ayatollah Khamenei assured that "this movement will eventually serve the interests of the people of the region in future".
The Leader further called on the regional nations to be vigilant about enemies' plots, cautioning that enemies are seeking to derail their movement.
In recent months, a wave of revolutions and anti-government uprisings has been sweeping the Arab world.
In January, a revolution in Tunisia ended the 23-year ruling of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
In February, another Arab revolution led to the ouster of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak after three decades of his authoritarian rule.
Other revolutions are erupting in Libya, Yemen and Bahrain, while other anti-government unrests have swept Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait and Algeria.
Official: West's Double-Standard Policies Unveiled in Bahrain Uprising (ok)
TEHRAN , April 24 (FNA)- Secretary-General of Iran's High Council of Human Rights Mohammad Javad Larijani blasted the western countries' surprising stance and silence on the violation of human rights in Bahrain, and urged the West to set aside double-standard policies.
"Westerners' double-standard stances on the issue of human rights have been completely unveiled after sad events in Bahrain," Larijani said in a meeting with Norway's Ambassador to Iran Roald Naess on Saturday.
He deplored the systematic massacre of the protesting people both in Bahrain and Libya and other regional countries, and expressed the hope that the western states would break their embarrassing silence about the crimes being committed against the Bahraini and Yemeni people and end their double-standard attitude towards the current developments in the region.
"Unfortunately, Americans and the westerners pursue an anti-human rights view on popular uprisings," Larijani noted, and reminded that Manama and its Saudi allies are suppressing the defenseless people in Bahrain under the US support.
The Norwegian diplomat, too, renewed Oslo's opposition to the use of force against Bahraini protesters as well as Saudi Arabia's military intervention in the tiny Persian Gulf island.
Two months after the eruption of mass protests in Bahrain, the kingdom still kills the opposition, jailing hundreds of activists in a crackdown that has unveiled the Obama administration's support for dictators in the region.
Since February 14, Manama has been conducting a brutal crackdown on protesters who want an end to the rule of the Al-Khalifa dynasty.
In March, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait deployed their troops in Bahrain to reinforce the armed clampdowns.
Bahrain's monarchy, since calling in Saudi troops to help crush protests, has been quietly dismantling the country's opposition.
According to media reports, the harsh crackdown has so far left tens of people dead and hundreds more injured.
Iranian Minister: Israel Intimidated by Egyptian Nation's Demands (ok)
TEHRAN , April 24 (FNA)- Iranian Culture Minister Seyed Mohammad Hosseini warned that the Zionist regime of Israel is attempting to derail popular uprisings and revolutions in the region because it is deeply fearful of the demands raised by the Egyptian nation in their recent revolution.
"The Zionist regime is upset and feels much concerned about the materialization of the Egyptian people's demands and is witnessing the Islamic Awakening in the region hopelessly," Hosseini said in a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Imad Abu Ghazi in Algeria, but meantime added that the Israeli regime "is making its utmost efforts to derail the noble move of the people".
Also during the meeting, Abu Ghazi referred to the developments in the region, and underlined the necessity for the regional people to keep further vigilant.
He further pointed out that following the recent developments in his country, there is no obstacle on the way of sending humanitarian aids to Gaza via Egypt.
He also underlined eagerness of the new Egyptian government to expand cultural relations with Iran, reminding that the move would provide the ground for the consolidation of the political relations between the two countries.
After the collapse of Hosni Mubarak's regime, the Iranian and Egyptian officials voiced their interest in the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries and Iranian top diplomat Ali Akbar Salehi officially invited Egypt's newly appointed Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi to pay a visit to Tehran.
The invitation letter was submitted to the Egyptian foreign minister during a meeting between Director of Iran's Interest Section in Cairo Mojtaba Amani and al-Arabi.
Egyptian daily, al-Ahram quoted the spokesman of the Egyptian foreign ministry as saying that Salehi in his message had lauded the recently uttered positive remarks by al-Arabi about the promotion of bilateral ties with Iran.
Al-Arabi in his first press conference earlier this year announced Cairo's preparedness to open "a new page with Iran".
The official went on to say that the Egyptian government does not see Iran as an enemy state, noting the two countries have historically rooted relations.
He further stated that establishment of diplomatic ties depends on the Iranian side.
In reply, Salehi also said that Iran is ready to resume relations with Cairo.
Official: Middle-East Plays Major Role in World Management
TEHRAN, April 24 (FNA)- A senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official on Saturday underlined the deep impacts of the current developments in the Middle-East on the global management system, and added that the region has now turned into a determining factor in the world management.
Addressing a gathering of Iranian diplomats here in Tehran on Saturday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Middle-East and Common Wealth Affairs Mohammad Reza Sheibani reminded that the region links three world continents and supplies 60% of the world's energy needs.
"The capacities needed for world management are centered in the region and geopolitical observers have introduced this region as the heartland (of the world)," Sheibani added.
Heads of Iran's missions in foreign countries gathered here in Tehran today to discuss prospects of the current social and political developments and popular uprisings in the Middle-East and North Africa.
The seminar kicked off in the Iranian capital city with ranking Iranian officials in attendance, including deputies of foreign minister, member of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Zohreh Elahian and Director General of the International Affairs Department at the president's office Mohammad Reza Forqani.
Iran's Ambassadors to Lebanon, Russia, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Bahrain, Libya, Sudan, Turkey, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Algeria, Switzerland, Kuwait, Iran's interest section in Egypt are also present in the seminar.
Sheibani said the senior Iranian diplomats are slated to share their views with politicians and elites during the two day meeting.
He also mentioned that the Iranian diplomats would discuss the root causes and the inspiring factors in the recent popular uprisings in the region, analyze the political and social prospects of the region and their impacts on regional and international relations and exchange views over the chances and threats posed by these developments to Iran.
Minister: US, Israel Seeking to Boost Drug Addiction in Iran
TEHRAN, April 24 (FNA)- Enemies are attempting to impede Iran's progress and prosperity through different plots, Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said, and warned that Zionist and CIA agents are seeking to boost drug-trafficking to Iran.(ok)
"Zionists and CIA's intelligence and security agents stationed in the region are helping drug-traffickers to cross Iran's shared borders with Afghanistan," Mohammad Najjar said on Saturday.
He added that the so-called human rights advocate (the US) has is so furious at Iran that it has made large investments to replace traditional drugs with industrial drugs to change drug addiction habits in Iran.
The destructive effects of industrial drugs, like crack and Morphine, is more than the traditional ones and the enemy has planned to spread drug addiction, specially addiction to these industrial narcotics, in Iran, Mohammad Najjar warned.
Eastern Iran borders Afghanistan, which is the world's number one opium and drug producer. Iran's geographical position has made the country a favorite transit corridor for drug traffickers who intend to smuggle their cargoes from Afghanistan to drug dealers in Europe.
Iran spends billions of dollars and has lost thousands of its police troops in the war against traffickers. Owing to its rigid efforts, Iran makes 85 percent of the world's total opium seizures and has turned into the leading country in drug campaign.
Over the past five years, it has contributed more than $50 million annually to Afghan anti-narcotics efforts, but Iranian police officials maintain that drug production in Afghanistan has undergone a 40-fold increase since the US-led invasion of the country in 2001.
Late in May, UN Secretary General's Special Envoy to Afghanistan Staffan de Mistura acknowledged increased drug production in Afghanistan, and praised Iran's activities and efforts in fighting drug plantation, production and trafficking.
While Afghanistan produced only 185 tons of opium per year under the Taliban, according to the UN statistics, since the US-led invasion, drug production has surged to 3,400 tons annually. In 2007, the opium trade reached an estimated all-time production high of 8,200 tons.
Afghan and Western officials blame Washington and NATO for the change, saying that allies have "overlooked" the drug problem since invading the country nearly 10 years ago.
Iran to Implement Comprehensive Security Plan along Borders (ok)
TEHRAN, April 24 (FNA)- The Islamic Republic of Iran has drawn a comprehensive plan to establish sustainable security along the country's borders, a senior Iranian Interior Ministry official announced on Saturday.
Iranian Deputy Interior Minister for Security and Law Enforcement Affairs Ali Abdollahi said that the initial phases of the plan have already started, adding that the plan will greatly affect those residing at the borders politically, socially, economically and culturally.
Abdollahi underlined that implementation of the plan in Iran's Southeastern, Northwestern and Western border regions sets a priority for the ministry, and noted, "The plan will be implemented in all the border regions in a bid to prevent illegal border crossings, specially by terrorist groups and outlaws."
The official added that implementation of the plan would take five years.
Earlier this month Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced that Iran is building a long fence along its border with Pakistan as part of its measures to block the entry of drug-traffickers and terrorists into the country.
Iran is on a crossroad of international drug transit route linking the world drug hub, Afghanistan, to the Persian Gulf and European countries.
Iran spends billions of dollars and has lost thousands of its police troops in the war against traffickers and terrorists. The crackdown has cost Iran more than 700 million dollars over the past two years. Last year, Iran allocated millions to strengthen border security and block the entry of terrorists and drug traffickers into the country.
Strategies pursued by Tehran include digging canals, building barriers and installing barbed wire to seal its borders.
Iran to Open Trade Center in Brazil
TEHRAN, April 24 (FNA)- Iran plans to open a trade center in Brasilia following Brazilians' growing demand for closer cooperation with Tehran, Head of Iran-Brazil Friendship Association Mir-Qassem Mo'meni announced on Saturday.
"Given the expansion of Iran and Brazil's ties and Iranian companies' demand for having a foothold in this country's market which has 200 million population as well as the Brazilian companies' enthusiasm for developing cooperation with the Iranian companies, the association is seeking to set up an Iranian trade center in Brazil in a bid to facilitate the ties," Mo'meni told FNA.
"Establishment of the trade center will be a remarkable help to the expansion of economic ties with Brazil," he stressed, and announced that the center will start work late in July.
In February, Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota announced his country's eagerness to further strengthen the friendly relations with Iran and continue the policies of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tehran.
Iran and Brazil had friendly ties when Lula was president, and Patriota said the new government would maintain the same level of relations with Iran, stating, "Rousseff will stay on the path of her predecessor and mentor Lula da Silva."
Since taking office in 2005, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has expanded Iran's cooperation with many Latin American states, including Venezuela, Cuba and Brazil.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced in a report in December 2009 that Brazil is the largest trade partner of Iran among the Latin American countries.
Data also showed that Iran's trade with Latin America tripled to $2.9bln in 2008.
The report said the turnover of economic exchanges between Iran and its largest trade partner in Latin America, i.e. Brazil, reached around $1.3bln in 2008.
In January 2010, Tehran hosted a conference on 'Investment Opportunities in Brazil' to review ways of expanding economic cooperation between Iran and the Latin American state.
"Egypt enjoys a special position in the region and Muslim world and Iran and Egypt are two main pillars of the Islamic world and are complementary to each other," Salehi said on Saturday, addressing Iranian envoys to foreign countries in a meeting here in Tehran today.
"Interactions between Iran and Egypt in different arenas will render help to the region's peace, stability and security to a great extent."
Referring to the recent developments in Egypt, Salehi said the two countries' officials have made verbal and written exchanges, and expressed the hope that despite the pressures imposed by certain countries on Cairo, the relations between the two countries would resume soon in future.
After the collapse of the regime of Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian dictator, the Iranian foreign minister officially invited his newly appointed Egyptian counterpart Nabil al-Arabi to pay a visit to Tehran.
According to a report by Egyptian daily al-Ahram, the invitation letter was submitted to the Egyptian foreign minister during a meeting between Director of Iran's Interest Section in Cairo Mojtaba Amani and al-Arabi.
The report quoted the spokesman of the Egyptian foreign ministry as saying that Salehi in his message had lauded the recently uttered positive remarks by al-Arabi about the promotion of bilateral ties with Iran.
Al-Arabi in his first press conference earlier this year announced Cairo's preparedness to open "a new page with Iran".
The official went on to say that the Egyptian government does not see Iran as an enemy state, noting the two countries have historically rooted relations.
He further stated that the establishment of diplomatic ties depends on the Iranian side.
In reply, Salehi also said that Iran is ready to resume relations with Cairo.
Supreme Leader Underlines Positive Outcomes of Islamic Awakening in Region (ok)
TEHRAN , April 24 (FNA)- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei underscored the profound and vast influence of Iran's Islamic Revolution on the growing wave of Islamic awakening in the region, and voiced confidence about the desirable outcomes of the current popular uprisings.
"Thanks to Islam and Islamic Revolution, a public Islamic awakening has happened in the region today, which will definitely yield its results as it has already yielded its results in certain points," Ayatollah Khamenei said, addressing a group of Iranian people here in Tehran on Saturday.
"The more the people's determination, faith and readiness for sacrifice grows, the higher the chances of victory will be," the Leader continued.
Ayatollah Khamenei also stressed that recent developments in the region have surprised the US, European and Zionists, and warned that the arrogant powers have conspired plots to gain control over these developments.
As regards the outcomes of the recent Islamic awakening in the region, Ayatollah Khamenei assured that "this movement will eventually serve the interests of the people of the region in future".
The Leader further called on the regional nations to be vigilant about enemies' plots, cautioning that enemies are seeking to derail their movement.
In recent months, a wave of revolutions and anti-government uprisings has been sweeping the Arab world.
In January, a revolution in Tunisia ended the 23-year ruling of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
In February, another Arab revolution led to the ouster of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak after three decades of his authoritarian rule.
Other revolutions are erupting in Libya, Yemen and Bahrain, while other anti-government unrests have swept Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait and Algeria.
Official: West's Double-Standard Policies Unveiled in Bahrain Uprising (ok)
TEHRAN , April 24 (FNA)- Secretary-General of Iran's High Council of Human Rights Mohammad Javad Larijani blasted the western countries' surprising stance and silence on the violation of human rights in Bahrain, and urged the West to set aside double-standard policies.
"Westerners' double-standard stances on the issue of human rights have been completely unveiled after sad events in Bahrain," Larijani said in a meeting with Norway's Ambassador to Iran Roald Naess on Saturday.
He deplored the systematic massacre of the protesting people both in Bahrain and Libya and other regional countries, and expressed the hope that the western states would break their embarrassing silence about the crimes being committed against the Bahraini and Yemeni people and end their double-standard attitude towards the current developments in the region.
"Unfortunately, Americans and the westerners pursue an anti-human rights view on popular uprisings," Larijani noted, and reminded that Manama and its Saudi allies are suppressing the defenseless people in Bahrain under the US support.
The Norwegian diplomat, too, renewed Oslo's opposition to the use of force against Bahraini protesters as well as Saudi Arabia's military intervention in the tiny Persian Gulf island.
Two months after the eruption of mass protests in Bahrain, the kingdom still kills the opposition, jailing hundreds of activists in a crackdown that has unveiled the Obama administration's support for dictators in the region.
Since February 14, Manama has been conducting a brutal crackdown on protesters who want an end to the rule of the Al-Khalifa dynasty.
In March, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait deployed their troops in Bahrain to reinforce the armed clampdowns.
Bahrain's monarchy, since calling in Saudi troops to help crush protests, has been quietly dismantling the country's opposition.
According to media reports, the harsh crackdown has so far left tens of people dead and hundreds more injured.
Iranian Minister: Israel Intimidated by Egyptian Nation's Demands (ok)
TEHRAN , April 24 (FNA)- Iranian Culture Minister Seyed Mohammad Hosseini warned that the Zionist regime of Israel is attempting to derail popular uprisings and revolutions in the region because it is deeply fearful of the demands raised by the Egyptian nation in their recent revolution.
"The Zionist regime is upset and feels much concerned about the materialization of the Egyptian people's demands and is witnessing the Islamic Awakening in the region hopelessly," Hosseini said in a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Imad Abu Ghazi in Algeria, but meantime added that the Israeli regime "is making its utmost efforts to derail the noble move of the people".
Also during the meeting, Abu Ghazi referred to the developments in the region, and underlined the necessity for the regional people to keep further vigilant.
He further pointed out that following the recent developments in his country, there is no obstacle on the way of sending humanitarian aids to Gaza via Egypt.
He also underlined eagerness of the new Egyptian government to expand cultural relations with Iran, reminding that the move would provide the ground for the consolidation of the political relations between the two countries.
After the collapse of Hosni Mubarak's regime, the Iranian and Egyptian officials voiced their interest in the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries and Iranian top diplomat Ali Akbar Salehi officially invited Egypt's newly appointed Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi to pay a visit to Tehran.
The invitation letter was submitted to the Egyptian foreign minister during a meeting between Director of Iran's Interest Section in Cairo Mojtaba Amani and al-Arabi.
Egyptian daily, al-Ahram quoted the spokesman of the Egyptian foreign ministry as saying that Salehi in his message had lauded the recently uttered positive remarks by al-Arabi about the promotion of bilateral ties with Iran.
Al-Arabi in his first press conference earlier this year announced Cairo's preparedness to open "a new page with Iran".
The official went on to say that the Egyptian government does not see Iran as an enemy state, noting the two countries have historically rooted relations.
He further stated that establishment of diplomatic ties depends on the Iranian side.
In reply, Salehi also said that Iran is ready to resume relations with Cairo.
Official: Middle-East Plays Major Role in World Management
TEHRAN, April 24 (FNA)- A senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official on Saturday underlined the deep impacts of the current developments in the Middle-East on the global management system, and added that the region has now turned into a determining factor in the world management.
Addressing a gathering of Iranian diplomats here in Tehran on Saturday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Middle-East and Common Wealth Affairs Mohammad Reza Sheibani reminded that the region links three world continents and supplies 60% of the world's energy needs.
"The capacities needed for world management are centered in the region and geopolitical observers have introduced this region as the heartland (of the world)," Sheibani added.
Heads of Iran's missions in foreign countries gathered here in Tehran today to discuss prospects of the current social and political developments and popular uprisings in the Middle-East and North Africa.
The seminar kicked off in the Iranian capital city with ranking Iranian officials in attendance, including deputies of foreign minister, member of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Zohreh Elahian and Director General of the International Affairs Department at the president's office Mohammad Reza Forqani.
Iran's Ambassadors to Lebanon, Russia, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Bahrain, Libya, Sudan, Turkey, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Algeria, Switzerland, Kuwait, Iran's interest section in Egypt are also present in the seminar.
Sheibani said the senior Iranian diplomats are slated to share their views with politicians and elites during the two day meeting.
He also mentioned that the Iranian diplomats would discuss the root causes and the inspiring factors in the recent popular uprisings in the region, analyze the political and social prospects of the region and their impacts on regional and international relations and exchange views over the chances and threats posed by these developments to Iran.
Minister: US, Israel Seeking to Boost Drug Addiction in Iran
TEHRAN, April 24 (FNA)- Enemies are attempting to impede Iran's progress and prosperity through different plots, Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said, and warned that Zionist and CIA agents are seeking to boost drug-trafficking to Iran.(ok)
"Zionists and CIA's intelligence and security agents stationed in the region are helping drug-traffickers to cross Iran's shared borders with Afghanistan," Mohammad Najjar said on Saturday.
He added that the so-called human rights advocate (the US) has is so furious at Iran that it has made large investments to replace traditional drugs with industrial drugs to change drug addiction habits in Iran.
The destructive effects of industrial drugs, like crack and Morphine, is more than the traditional ones and the enemy has planned to spread drug addiction, specially addiction to these industrial narcotics, in Iran, Mohammad Najjar warned.
Eastern Iran borders Afghanistan, which is the world's number one opium and drug producer. Iran's geographical position has made the country a favorite transit corridor for drug traffickers who intend to smuggle their cargoes from Afghanistan to drug dealers in Europe.
Iran spends billions of dollars and has lost thousands of its police troops in the war against traffickers. Owing to its rigid efforts, Iran makes 85 percent of the world's total opium seizures and has turned into the leading country in drug campaign.
Over the past five years, it has contributed more than $50 million annually to Afghan anti-narcotics efforts, but Iranian police officials maintain that drug production in Afghanistan has undergone a 40-fold increase since the US-led invasion of the country in 2001.
Late in May, UN Secretary General's Special Envoy to Afghanistan Staffan de Mistura acknowledged increased drug production in Afghanistan, and praised Iran's activities and efforts in fighting drug plantation, production and trafficking.
While Afghanistan produced only 185 tons of opium per year under the Taliban, according to the UN statistics, since the US-led invasion, drug production has surged to 3,400 tons annually. In 2007, the opium trade reached an estimated all-time production high of 8,200 tons.
Afghan and Western officials blame Washington and NATO for the change, saying that allies have "overlooked" the drug problem since invading the country nearly 10 years ago.
Iran to Implement Comprehensive Security Plan along Borders (ok)
TEHRAN, April 24 (FNA)- The Islamic Republic of Iran has drawn a comprehensive plan to establish sustainable security along the country's borders, a senior Iranian Interior Ministry official announced on Saturday.
Iranian Deputy Interior Minister for Security and Law Enforcement Affairs Ali Abdollahi said that the initial phases of the plan have already started, adding that the plan will greatly affect those residing at the borders politically, socially, economically and culturally.
Abdollahi underlined that implementation of the plan in Iran's Southeastern, Northwestern and Western border regions sets a priority for the ministry, and noted, "The plan will be implemented in all the border regions in a bid to prevent illegal border crossings, specially by terrorist groups and outlaws."
The official added that implementation of the plan would take five years.
Earlier this month Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced that Iran is building a long fence along its border with Pakistan as part of its measures to block the entry of drug-traffickers and terrorists into the country.
Iran is on a crossroad of international drug transit route linking the world drug hub, Afghanistan, to the Persian Gulf and European countries.
Iran spends billions of dollars and has lost thousands of its police troops in the war against traffickers and terrorists. The crackdown has cost Iran more than 700 million dollars over the past two years. Last year, Iran allocated millions to strengthen border security and block the entry of terrorists and drug traffickers into the country.
Strategies pursued by Tehran include digging canals, building barriers and installing barbed wire to seal its borders.
Iran to Open Trade Center in Brazil
TEHRAN, April 24 (FNA)- Iran plans to open a trade center in Brasilia following Brazilians' growing demand for closer cooperation with Tehran, Head of Iran-Brazil Friendship Association Mir-Qassem Mo'meni announced on Saturday.
"Given the expansion of Iran and Brazil's ties and Iranian companies' demand for having a foothold in this country's market which has 200 million population as well as the Brazilian companies' enthusiasm for developing cooperation with the Iranian companies, the association is seeking to set up an Iranian trade center in Brazil in a bid to facilitate the ties," Mo'meni told FNA.
"Establishment of the trade center will be a remarkable help to the expansion of economic ties with Brazil," he stressed, and announced that the center will start work late in July.
In February, Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota announced his country's eagerness to further strengthen the friendly relations with Iran and continue the policies of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tehran.
Iran and Brazil had friendly ties when Lula was president, and Patriota said the new government would maintain the same level of relations with Iran, stating, "Rousseff will stay on the path of her predecessor and mentor Lula da Silva."
Since taking office in 2005, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has expanded Iran's cooperation with many Latin American states, including Venezuela, Cuba and Brazil.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced in a report in December 2009 that Brazil is the largest trade partner of Iran among the Latin American countries.
Data also showed that Iran's trade with Latin America tripled to $2.9bln in 2008.
The report said the turnover of economic exchanges between Iran and its largest trade partner in Latin America, i.e. Brazil, reached around $1.3bln in 2008.
In January 2010, Tehran hosted a conference on 'Investment Opportunities in Brazil' to review ways of expanding economic cooperation between Iran and the Latin American state.
