Mehr Vision|No.6|October 2016 Once Upon a Time... Aleppo Page 2 |No. 6| October 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Contents Nojeh airbase; climax of Iran-Russia defense cooperation 3 World seeking power shift towards Iran-Russia alliance 5 Impotent rage of Washington 6 US apology for Deir Ezzor episode ‘unavailing’ 7 US call for no-fly zone in Syria foil to protect its terrorist proxies 8 Will US-Russia fragile deal on Syria survive? 10 Syrian ceasefire or shortcut to Aleppo? 11 Blindsiding game of Erdogan;Op Euphrates Shield 13 Syrian and Iraqi crisis post-US presidential elections 15 Media blackout on Saudi Yemen invasion; UN’s futile shouts 19 Yemen rallies: For democracy, against Saudi Arabia 22 Why encroaching on Iranian soil is an unattainable dream? 24 Merkel under fire over ‘open-door’ refugee policy 28 When cultural courtesy becomes diplomacy 29 Politics DAPL: A broken treaty, a lost promise 30 Once Upon a Time... Aleppo Why has Trump never been a postmodern candidate? 32 Iran’s constructive role in Iraq 35 New chapter of ties between Iran-Latin America 36 Bright future on Iran-France relations 38 Mehr Vision Renewal of Tehran-Ankara relations 39 Bright future ahead of Tehran-Berlin economic ties 40 Managing Director: Ali Asgari Iran Foreign Relations Iran Foreign EU–Iran Relations after Brexit 41 Editorial Board: Seyed Amir Hassan Dehghani, Winners and losers of cheap oil ahead of OPEC summit 46 Mohammad Ghaderi, HamidReza Gholamzadeh Kimia’s bronze shines golden in Iranian women’s eyes 50 Editorial Coordinator: Marjohn Sheikhi Puppet theater festival brings color to Tehran 54 Contributors: Lachin Rezaian, Marjohn Sheikhi, Drought, intellectual abyss and ubiquitous sand: desert traveler 57 Parnaz Talebi, Maryam Khormaei, Human rights violations in the name of democracy 60 Hossein Azari, Mohammad Ghaderi, To cycle or not to cycle: Controversy of female cyclists in Iran 61 Culture Hamid Reza Gholamzadeh, When it thunders… 63 Samad Habibi, Peyman Yazdani Art Director: Mahboubeh Azizi ‘Faithless’ Saudi rulers responsible for crimes in Muslim world 66 Phone: +98-21-43051350 Leader calls Saudis ‘sons of accursed tree’ 68 Email: [email protected] Al Saud’s black history to exclude Iranians from divine duty of Hajj 69 Address: No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Mina stampede compensation, stepping stone toward mending ties 71 Dossier Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran 5 reasons Iranians hate Saudi rulers 73 Mehr Vision welcomes contributions by readers which can be sent via email. News in Vision 74 Persians in the Land of the Incas Cover Story Page 3 |No. 6| October 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Nojeh airbase; climax of Iran-Russia defense cooperation By: Parnaz Talebi Mark Toner. He also confirmed US Sec- sharing facilities is a part of Iran-Russia’s retary of State John Kerry’s telephone strategic cooperation in combating ter- Deploying Iran’s airbase by Russia conversation with Russian Foreign Min- rorism predicting very difficult situation Air Force to attack terrorist positions istry Sergei Lavrov, adding “the United for terrorists in Syria due to “construc- in Syria has been proved highly States is looking into whether Russia tive and expansive cooperation among controversial, however, it indicates has violated a UN Security Council res- Iran, Russia, Syria and the Resistance the close ties Iran and Russia hold olution by deploying Tu-22M3 bombers Front.” countering terrorism in the region. and Su-34 strike fighters to an Iranian air Alaeddin Boroujerdi, Head of Iran’s base.” It was no surprise as, reportedly, Parliament National Security and For- It was on August 16 that Britain and Iran had admitted to provide an airbase eign Policy Commission, reacted to the US, in an attempt to undermine and halt for Russian jets under the condition that disputes on legitimacy of the issue an- the advancement of Syrian army forces Russian fighters hit the terrorist targets nouncing that the deployment had been in Aleppo, leaked the information that specified by Iranian field forces, among approved by Supreme National Security Russia would use an air base in western which there were positions Russia has Council and is in line with Iran-Russia- Iran to operate sorties against terror- been asked by US to ignore. Iraq-Syria quadrilateral agreement on ists, according to anonymous sources. Iranian side, however, kept silent till fighting terrorism. Yet, he noted that the It was just a week after President Rou- the next day when Parliament Speaker “temporary use” of the airbase is merely hani’s visit with Vladidmir Putin where Ali Larijani touched upon the issue as for fueling. he reaffirmed that Iran and Russia co- the controversies reached high on the “Iran would provide a second air- operation would continue until full res- legitimacy of the issue; “Iran is cooper- base to Russia if situation demands,” toration of security and stability to Syr- ating with Russia as one of its allies in announced Iran’s Minister of Defense, ia and the whole region. It was Russia regional issues, particularly in regard to Hossein Dehghan, underlining once Defence Ministry who put an end to all Syria. This cooperation by no means en- again that the act dose not undermine speculations officially announcing the tails that our military base is under their the constitution; “No Russian plane presence of Russian jets in Iran; “Rus- control,” Larijani told the Parliament and or fleet has been deployed in the sian long-range bombers have deployed assuring that the use of Iran’s air base airbase and they use it for fueling and and would take off from the air base in by Russia is not violating article 146 of taking off toward Syria,” he told report- Hamedan and destroy terrorists’ posi- Iran’s constitution, which bans estab- ers on August 20, announcing that no tions in Syria.” lishment of foreign military bases on its deadline would be set for the activity in US didn’t hesitate to call the act “un- territory for any peaceful reasons. the airbase. fortunate, not surprising or unexpected” The following day, August 17, Secre- Deploying Hamdan airbase for an- the same day during a press briefing ses- tary of Iran’s Supreme National Security ti-terrorist airstrikes had logistic reasons sion by State Department spokesperson Council Ali Shamkhani underlined that behind. According to Russian experts » Cover Story Page 4 |No. 6| October 2016 MEHR NEWSAGENCY using the Nojeh airbase aimed at cutting Iranian Hamadan base against terrorist Ministry Spokesman told reporters that flight times, increasing bomb capacity sites in Syria successfully accomplished the Russian airstrikes on militants in Syr- and improving response capabilities of the tasks they had set out to complete,” ia were “temporary, based on a Russian its aircraft. It was estimated that mis- Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a request, but that is finished for now.” sions launched from Iranian airbase statement. “All aircraft involved in this US reacted immediately; “I’d have to would increase the bomb capacity of operation are now on Russian territory.” refer you frankly to the governments of fighters by three times. On the other “Continued use of the Hamadan Russia and Iran to speak to what hap- hand, Russia was planning to provide air base in the Islamic Republic of Iran pened, we’re monitoring it closely, we cover for heavy Tu-22M3s bombers de- by the Russian Aerospace Forces will continue to, it’s not clear to us other ployed to Iran by bombers that take off be carried out on the basis of mutual than what we’ve seen in various press from Hmeymim base in Syria. agreements to combat terrorism and and public statements whether (Russia) And it worked. On August 16, Rus- depending on the unfolding situation in their use of this airbase has definitively sian and Syrian media reported heavy Syria,” he detailed. stopped, but we’ll continue to watch it losses by terrorists. Russian airstrikes Once again the issue attracted the at- closely,” State Department Spokesman destroyed five large ammunition depots tentions amid media hype with the most Mark Toner said. with weapons, munitions and fuel, as common speculations circulating around Some analysts believed that the an- well as militant training camps near the remarks made by Iran’s defense minister nulment of the permission was reflect- cities of Serakab, Al-Ghab, Aleppo and the day before Russia stops operations. ing the deep and historical mistrust Deir ez-Zor cities, Sputnik reported. In Dehghan accused Russia of publicizing Iranian had of Russia and signaled lack addition, Russian bombers destroyed the deal excessively, calling it a “betrayal of adequate cooperation. Still, the deal three command and control centers of trust” and “ungentlemanly.” was a historical one for Russia, as Iran near the cities of Jafra and Deir ez-Zor. Dehghan went further to say that had not allowed any foreign power to A “significant number of militants” “Russians are keen on showing that they have military bases or deploy any since were killed in what the Russian Defense are a superpower and can greatly im- World War II. The deal helped Russia Ministry described as a “concentrated pact security trends. They also wish to feel again as a super power, analysts say, airstrike.” “The Russian Armed Forces appear as an effective agent in the scene noting that the symbolism of the agree- have never carried out such a major and of operations in Syria so that they will ment was important for Moscow. well-coordinated operation in terms of be able to negotiate with the Americans Despite all media hype, it should be timing, multiple fronts and targets,” the and guarantee their own part in Syria’s noted that Iran and Russia’s alliance to media outlet reported.