Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses Kenneth Katzman Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs December 17, 2014 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL32048 Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses Summary Since the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, a priority of U.S. policy has been to reduce the perceived threat posed by Iran to a broad range of U.S. interests. In 2014, a common enemy emerged in the form of the Islamic State organization, reducing gaps in U.S. and Iranian interests. During the 1980s and 1990s, U.S. officials identified Iran’s support for militant Middle East groups as a significant threat to U.S. interests and allies. A perceived potential threat from Iran’s nuclear program emerged in 2002, and the United States has orchestrated broad international economic pressure on Iran to try to compel it to verifiably confine that program to purely peaceful purposes. The pressure has harmed Iran’s economy and might have contributed to the June 2013 election as president of Iran of the relatively moderate Hassan Rouhani, who campaigned as an advocate of ending Iran’s international isolation. Subsequent multilateral talks with Iran produced an interim agreement (“Joint Plan of Action,” JPA) that halted the expansion of Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for modest sanctions relief. The United States and its partners negotiated intensively to reach a comprehensive agreement on the nuclear issue by the November 24, 2014, deadline for the JPA expiration,but agreement was not reached and the parties extended the JPA until June 30, 2015. The parties stated intent to reach a political outline of the agreement by March 1, 2015. The main outstanding issue continues to be the size and scope of Iran’s program to enrich uranium. A final nuclear agreement could significantly improve U.S.-Iran relations. Senior level U.S.-Iran talks are held regularly, primarily on the nuclear issue but also including regional issues such as how to defeat the Islamic State organization. The nuclear negotiations have eased tensions between Iran and its neighbors in the Persian Gulf region—all allies of the United States. However, the Gulf states, Israel, and other regional states express concern that an Iran that is reintegrated into the region and the international community would give Iran additional resources to support movements and regimes that oppose U.S. and U.S.-allied interests. State Department reports on international terrorism assert that Iran continues to provide funds and arms to a wide range of movements, including Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas, the embattled government of Bashar Al Assad of Syria, Iraqi Shiite militias, and rebels in Yemen and Bahrain. On the other hand, Iranian support to Iraqi forces fighting the Islamic State organization largely furthers U.S. efforts to degrade and ultimately defeat that group. Rouhani’s unexpected election win—a result of a large turnout of reform-minded voters such as those who protested the 2009 election results—demonstrated strong support not only for reducing Iran’s isolation but for domestic reform. Rouhani has sought to satisfy this constituency, in part by orchestrating the release of some political prisoners and easing some media restrictions. But, Iran’s judiciary remains in the hands of hardliners who continue to restrict social freedoms and prosecute regime critics and dissenters. For further information, see CRS Report RS20871, Iran Sanctions, by Kenneth Katzman; and CRS Report R43333, Iran: Interim Nuclear Agreement and Talks on a Comprehensive Accord, by Kenneth Katzman, Paul K. Kerr, and Mary Beth D. Nikitin. Congressional Research Service Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses Contents Political History ............................................................................................................................... 1 Regime Structure, Stability, and Opposition .................................................................................... 2 Unelected or Indirectly Elected Institutions: The Supreme Leader, Council of Guardians, and Expediency Council ...................................................................................... 2 Council of Guardians and Expediency Council .................................................................. 3 Elected Institutions: The Presidency, the Majles (Parliament), the Assembly of Experts, and Recent Elections ................................................................................................ 8 The Presidency .................................................................................................................... 8 The Majles ........................................................................................................................... 9 The Assembly of Experts .................................................................................................... 9 Recent Elections and Their Implications ............................................................................. 9 Human Rights Practices ................................................................................................................. 13 Iran’s Defense Capabilities and Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs .................................... 17 Conventional Military/Revolutionary Guard/Qods Force ....................................................... 17 Nuclear Program and Related International Diplomacy .......................................................... 19 Iran’s Nuclear Intentions and Activities ............................................................................ 20 Early International Diplomatic Efforts to Address Iran’s Nuclear Program ..................... 23 Developments During the Obama Administration ............................................................ 25 Missiles and Chemical/Biological Weapons............................................................................ 31 Chemical and Biological Weapons .................................................................................... 31 Ballistic and Cruise Missiles and Warheads ...................................................................... 32 Foreign Policy and Support for Terrorist Groups .......................................................................... 34 Support for International Terrorism ......................................................................................... 34 Foreign Policy: Relations with the Persian Gulf States ........................................................... 35 Yemen ................................................................................................................................ 37 Iranian Policy in Iraq and Syria/ Islamic State Crisis .............................................................. 38 Iraq .................................................................................................................................... 38 Syria .................................................................................................................................. 39 Al Qaeda .................................................................................................................................. 40 Militant Anti-Israel Groups ..................................................................................................... 41 Iran and Hamas.................................................................................................................. 42 Iran and Hezbollah ............................................................................................................ 43 The Caucasus and Central Asia ............................................................................................... 44 South and East Asia ................................................................................................................. 44 East Asia ............................................................................................................................ 44 South Asia: Afghanistan .................................................................................................... 45 Pakistan ............................................................................................................................. 46 India ................................................................................................................................... 47 Latin America .......................................................................................................................... 47 Africa ....................................................................................................................................... 49 Sudan ................................................................................................................................. 50 U.S. Policy Approaches and Additional Options ........................................................................... 51 Obama Administration Policy: Pressure Coupled with Engagement ...................................... 52 2009-2013: Emphasis on Pressure .................................................................................... 53 Response to Rouhani ......................................................................................................... 53 Congressional Research Service Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses Containment and Military Options: U.S. Posture in the Gulf .................................................. 54 Military Action: Pros and Cons ........................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Guardian Politics in Iran: a Comparative Inquiry Into the Dynamics of Regime Survival
    GUARDIAN POLITICS IN IRAN: A COMPARATIVE INQUIRY INTO THE DYNAMICS OF REGIME SURVIVAL A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Georgetown University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Government By Payam Mohseni, M.A. Washington, DC June 22, 2012 Copyright 2012 by Payam Mohseni All Rights Reserved ii GUARDIAN POLITICS IN IRAN: A COMPARATIVE INQUIRY INTO THE DYNAMICS OF REGIME SURVIVAL Payam Mohseni, M.A. Thesis Advisor: Daniel Brumberg, Ph.D. ABSTRACT The Iranian regime has repeatedly demonstrated a singular institutional resiliency that has been absent in other countries where “colored revolutions” have succeeded in overturning incumbents, such as Ukraine, Georgia, Serbia, Kyrgyzstan and Moldova, or where popular uprisings like the current Arab Spring have brought down despots or upended authoritarian political landscapes, including Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Libya and even Syria. Moreover, it has accomplished this feat without a ruling political party, considered by most scholars to be the key to stable authoritarianism. Why has the Iranian political system proven so durable? Moreover, can the explanation for such durability advance a more deductive science of authoritarian rule? My dissertation places Iran within the context of guardian regimes—or hybrid regimes with ideological military, clerical or monarchical institutions steeped in the politics of the state, such as Turkey and Thailand—to explain the durability of unstable polities that should be theoretically prone to collapse. “Hybrid” regimes that combine competitive elections with nondemocratic forms of rule have proven to be highly volatile and their average longevity is significantly shorter than that of other regime types.
    [Show full text]
  • Mullahs, Guards, and Bonyads: an Exploration of Iranian Leadership
    THE ARTS This PDF document was made available CHILD POLICY from www.rand.org as a public service of CIVIL JUSTICE the RAND Corporation. EDUCATION ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT Jump down to document6 HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit NATIONAL SECURITY research organization providing POPULATION AND AGING PUBLIC SAFETY objective analysis and effective SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY solutions that address the challenges SUBSTANCE ABUSE facing the public and private sectors TERRORISM AND HOMELAND SECURITY around the world. TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE Support RAND WORKFORCE AND WORKPLACE Purchase this document Browse Books & Publications Make a charitable contribution For More Information Visit RAND at www.rand.org Explore the RAND National Defense Research Institute View document details Limited Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law as indicated in a notice appearing later in this work. This electronic representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for non-commercial use only. Unauthorized posting of RAND PDFs to a non-RAND Web site is prohibited. RAND PDFs are protected under copyright law. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of our research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please see RAND Permissions. This product is part of the RAND Corporation monograph series. RAND monographs present major research findings that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND mono- graphs undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity. Mullahs, Guards, and Bonyads An Exploration of Iranian Leadership Dynamics David E.
    [Show full text]
  • RADICALIZATION DURING the ROUHANI YEARS Iran’S Political Shifts and Their Implications Contents
    ANALYSIS Political momentum in Iran now lies with the radicals. In the wake of U.S. sanctions, PEACE AND SECURITY President Hassan Rouhani’s policy of moderation has failed to produce promised RADICALIZATION economic growth. DURING THE Political shifts in Iran have up- ended the usual dynamics of inter-factional competition to not only affirm the radicals’ ROUHANI YEARS positions, but to also radical- ize the more moderate forces themselves. The hard-liners Iran’s Political Shifts and Their Implications remain a heterogenous group, with intense disputes over ideology and power. David Jalilvand and Achim Vogt (eds.) March 2021 Tehran’s nuclear and regional policies look set to become even more assertive while Iran’s progress in economic diversification renders con- cessions on its part less attractive. PEACE AND SECURITY RADICALIZATION DURING THE ROUHANI YEARS Iran’s Political Shifts and their Implications Contents Introduction 2 1 THE END OF MODERATION? SOCIAL AND POLITICAL RADICALISM UNDER HASSAN ROUHANI 4 Azadeh Zamirirad 2 RADICAL IRAN: GENERATIONAL CHANGES AND OUTLOOKS 9 Narges Bajoghli 3 IRAN’S HEZBOLLAH: A RADICAL AND DECISIVE POLITICAL CURRENT 15 Walter Posch 4 THE FUTURE OF IRAN’S NUCLEAR POLICY AND APPROACH TO THE JCPOA 23 Dina Esfandiary 5 A RADICAL IRAN: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PERSIAN GULF AND THE LEVANT 29 Hamidreza Azizi 6 IRAN’S RESISTANCE ECONOMY: AMBITIONS AND REALITY 36 David Jalilvand About the Authors 48 1 FRIEDRICH-EBERT-STIFTUNG – RADICALIZATION DURING THE ROUHANI YEARS Introduction At the start of 2021, the political momentum in Iranian stitutions.1 In February 2020, hard-liners constituted the domestic and foreign affairs lies squarely with the radicals.
    [Show full text]
  • Iran Economy Weekly News”
    Volume 141 “Iran Economy Weekly News” Compiled by: Economic Section, Iran Embassy, New Delhi Highlights: Iran oil minister arrives in Vienna for OPEC meeting Iran, Belarus sign customs agreement Iran's petroleum minister, Russia's Lukoil chief discuss OPEC oil cuts in Vienna Increased export in Iran's petrochemical products despite sanctions Iran, Russia discuss boosting port, maritime ties National Conference on Eco-tourism development opens in Mashhad Iran exports 1st salt consignment to Russia Kerman ready to develop exports to Eurasia Iran to host Telecommunication Regulatory Standardization Summit in G5 Armenia ready for forging trade exchanges between Iran, Eurasia Tajikistan invites Iranian firms to join power plants projects Iran, Tajikistan to use national currencies in trade transactions TPO to dispatch trade-marketing delegation to Russia in mid-Feb. 2020 Kiwi export generates $97 million foreign currency Iran, Azerbaijan eyeing on ICT joint project EAEU exclusive expo to be held in Tehran Iran, Senegal explore avenues of economic co-op NIOC announces expected discovery of a new oil field Tehran hosting 13th Iran-Tajikistan Joint Economic Committee meeting 1 Iran celebrates National Exports Day Iran to open new shipping line in eastern Mediterranean Iran exports $315m of agro products to Eurasia Iranian firm produces veterinary medicine in Tabriz Austrian envoy confers with Alborz private sector Iranian shipping playing important role in reviving maritime Silk Road 22nd ACI Iran Chapter Annual Convention slated for late Dec Iran indigenizes technology for 85% of oil industry equipment Iran to host 1st Int'l Iran Grain confab Iran to develop Middle East’s largest gas storage facility Tehran hosting 2 intl.
    [Show full text]
  • Iranian Justifications for Repeated Intervention I
    Artical Name : Iranian Justifications for Repeated Intervention in the Region Artical Subject : Iranian Justifications for Repeated Intervention in the Region Publish Date: 09/11/2016 Auther Name: Future for Advanced Research and Studies Subject : 9/24/2021 10:04:23 PM 1 / 2 Iran no longer hides its intervention or negative influence in the internal affairs of the region¶s states, which has resulted in the escalation of different regional crises. On the contrary, Iran has started to shed light on such interventions with the aim of sending direct messages to the regional and international powers concerned with these crises. These messages imply that Iran is an important figure not to be ignored and that it will impede the efforts exerted to reach political settlements if such resolutions are not in their direct favor, or in line with its endeavors to prop up its regional role in the Middle East.In this context, Iran was keen to take advantage of the lack of interest by major international forces, particularly the US, in these interventions, as the latter still prioritizes Iran¶s implementation of the nuclear agreement articles agreed upon in July 2015. The Obama administration considers the agreement a significant achievement which, from the point of view of many orientations, makes up for the consecutive failures caused by the poor foreign policy the U.S. has adopted over the last eight years towards main international and regional crises, including the Ukrainian and Syrian crises, as well as peace talks between Israel and the Palestine.Several JustificationsIran has begun to put forth several justifications to explain its constant interventions in the internal affairs of regional states, namely through establishing strong ties with armed organizations and local groups.
    [Show full text]
  • Yemeni Ambassador Submits Credentials to Zarif
    WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13476 Monday SEPTEMBER 2, 2019 Shahrivar 11, 1398 Muharram 2, 1441 Iran is forerunner Attack on detention center Hezbollah determined Iran’s “Child Eater” of justice and marks newest Saudi war to respond to Israeli wins grand prix at freedom 2 crime in Yemen 3 drone incursion 13 Danish festival 16 Iran’s external debt Yemeni ambassador drops 7% TEHRAN — Iran’s debts to foreign $8.678 billion, $6.969 billion was mid-term lenders in the end of the third Iranian and long-term debts and $1.708 billion month of Khordad (June 21, 2019) stood was short-term debts. at $8.678 billion, showing seven percent As reported, Iran’s foreign debts were submits credentials to Zarif decrease compared to the announced figure $9.339 billion at the end of the past Iranian at the end of the past Iranian calendar calendar year. year (March 20, 2019), IRIB reported The country’s external debts stood at See page 2 on Sunday. $8.816 billion at the end of the second According to the latest data released Iranian calendar month of Ordibehesht by Central Bank of Iran (CBI), of the total (May, 21), the CBI data showed. 4 Iran unveils drone capable of hitting targets ‘far beyond its borders’ TEHRAN — Iran has unveiled a new do- one of which enjoys high-speed capabilities mestically-built drone that can hit targets for tracking and identifying targets while “far beyond its borders”, Mehr reported.
    [Show full text]
  • World Should Not Remain Silent on Inhumane Conduct of the U.S
    WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 16 Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13542 Sunday DECEMBER 1, 2019 Azar 10, 1398 Rabi’ Al thani 4, 1441 Iran views IAEA Intelligence Ministry says Esteghlal left frustrated Turkey picked as guest inspector’s act as arsonists backed by Iran as IPL tie with Sepahan of honor at Tehran ‘industrial sabotage’ 2 International TV arrested 3 ends in stalemate 15 Intl. Book Fair 16 Tehran, Rome explore ways World should not remain silent of boosting trade TEHRAN – Officials, businessmen and forum which was held following the visit entrepreneurs from Iran and Italy gathered of an Iranian trade delegation to the Eu- together in Milan on Friday to discuss ropean country. on inhumane conduct of the U.S. ways of expanding economic cooperation, Addressing the forum, the Iranian am- IRNA reported. bassador underlined the two countries’ See page 12 As reported, Iranian Ambassador to positive economic and political relations Italy Hamid Bayat and representatives of and emphasized the need for further ex- Iran-Italy Joint Chamber of Commerce pansion of cooperation between the two were among the attendees of the business sides’ private sectors. 4 Foreign institutions exaggerating death toll in Iran unrest TEHRAN — The Iranian deputy inte- Jamal Orf said the figures released by rior minister for political affairs said on these bodies are invalid. Saturday that international bodies have “Such statistics are not valid,” Orf said been exaggerating the death toll that fol- when asked about the international in- lowed the protests over increase in gas stitutions’ statistics.
    [Show full text]
  • August 2013 No. 83, Volume 7
    ran nvestment TURQUOISE Monthly PARTNERS August 2013 - Volume 7, No 83 Latoon Waterfall, Gilan, Iran Market Overview 2 In July, the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) continued its upward trend following the release of the [rst quarter earnings reports. The 2013 year to date performance of the TSE has been its best performance since 2010. The average P/E of the market increased to 7 at the end of July. Following the recent share price gains, traders are now waiting to see if the current investment environment will continue its bullish trend in the coming months. Country Overview 6 Recent developments of the new government will be discussed in this section. Economy 8 Iran’s foreign trade outlook in the [rst four months of 1392, its steel output in the month of June and an overview of the country’s in\ation rate are covered in this section. Iran Investment Monthly is produced by Turquoise Partners Turquoise Partners, No. 17 East Gord Alley, Bidar St., Fayyazi (Fereshteh) Ave. and distributed electronically by exclusive subscription. Tel : +98 21 220 35 830 Fax : +98 21 220 49 260 Chief Editor: Ramin Rabii Email : [email protected] Authors: Shervin Shahriari To nd out more about Turquoise Partners, visit our website at: Sanam Mahoozi www.turquoisepartners.com. Elham Fotovat © 2013 All rights reserved Radman Rabii Market Overview Volume 7, No. 83 Following the release of the [rst quarter earnings 38% and experienced a price increase of nearly reports in the month of July, the Tehran Stock 19.3%. Zob Ahan (iron smelting) Isfahan Co, Exchange (TSE) continued its upward trek, with Iran’s third largest steel producer, published its the market’s main index rallying by 9.4%.
    [Show full text]
  • Report Twenty-Sixth Session of the Comcec
    OIC/COMCEC/26-10/REP COMCEC Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Conference REPORT TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION OF THE COMCEC İstanbul, 5-8 October 2010 COMCEC Coordination Office Ankara, October 2010 1 Address: COMCEC Coordination Office State Planning Organization Necatibey Cad. 108 Ankara-TURKEY Phone : 90-312-294 55 10 Fax : 90-312-294 55 77 Website: http://www.comcec.org e-mail : comcec @ dpt.gov.tr 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS P A R T O N E Page RESOLUTIONS OF THE OIC FORMING THE BASIS AND GUIDING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL COOPERATION OF THE OIC I. Resolution adopted at the Third Islamic Summit Conference Establishing the Standing Committees of the OIC chaired by Heads of State ............................................ 9 II. Final Communique of the Fourth Islamic Summit Conference Entrusting the Chairmanship of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation to the President of the Republic of Turkey ............................. 11 III. Resolution No. 1/11-E (IS) on the Activities of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) .................................................... 13 P A R T T W O LIST OF BASIC DOCUMENTS AND REPORT OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL COOPERATION I. List of Basic Documents Considered and/or Presented at the Twenty-sixth Session of the COMCEC ......................... 23 II. Report of the Twenty-sixth Session of the COMCEC......... 29 3 Page A N N E X E S 1. List of Participants of the Twenty-sixth Session of the COMCEC...................................................................................... 43 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Spotlight on Iran
    Spotlight on Iran August 19, 2013—Mordad 28, 1392 Editor: Dr. Raz Zimmt Socio-civic campaign against the sanctions launched in the wake of Rowhani’s election for president Top Iranian economists and academia members have recently launched a public relations campaign with the aim of bringing about the removal of the economic sanctions imposed on Iran. Those behind the campaign are seeking to take advantage of the election of the new president to raise international public awareness of the harm caused by the sanctions to Iranians and enlist the aid of major figures and civil society institutions in Iran and the West to fight the sanctions. In recent weeks the campaign has been joined by academia members of Iranian descent living in the West, notable Iranian intellectuals affiliated with the reformist faction, civil activists, and private sector leaders. Those taking part in the campaign are not only demanding that the West lift the sanctions, but also calling on decision-makers in their country to take a realistic, pragmatic stance that will make it possible to reach an agreement with the West on the nuclear issue. The campaign against the sanctions is increasingly gaining prominence in the Iranian press and on social networks. It reflects the efforts made by its initiators, most of them affiliated with Rowhani’s supporters and allies, to give a boost to the president’s efforts to promote a political arrangement that will allow the economic situation to improve as well. 132-13 2 Top Iranian economists and academia members have recently launched a public relations campaign with the aim of bringing about the removal of the economic sanctions imposed on Iran by appealing to public opinion in Iran and elsewhere.
    [Show full text]
  • Spotlight on Iran
    Spotlight on Iran October 3, 2013—Mehr 11, 1392 Editor: Dr. Raz Zimmt “Haqqani” and “Alavi”: hotbeds for the growth and development of Iranian leaders In August 2013 the Iranian president presented his new government, which is largely comprised of technocrats with an extensive academic education. One of Rowhani’s government’s distinctive characteristics is the prominent presence of graduates of “Alavi” high school and “Haqqani” religious seminary. Ever since the Islamic revolution of 1979, these two educational institutions have been considered a “hotbed” for the growth and development of high ranking officials in the upper echelons of the Iranian regime, who maintain their relations and form a network of allies within the government’s various branches. The political influence of the graduates of “Haqqani” religious seminary (established in Qom in 1964), many of whom are identified with the Iranian politics’ radical right, reached its peak during President Ahmadinejad’s first government. This can be partly attributed to the close relations between the former president and the senior conservative cleric Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, who was one of the founders of the religious seminary. Rowhani’s government features two “Haqqani” graduates: Minister of Justice Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi and Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati. These two ministers first met as undergraduates in the religious seminary. Graduates of the “Alavi” high school (established in Tehran in 1955), which combined high-level general studies with religious studies, were also integrated into the Islamic republic’s political and administrative elite. The current government includes several graduates of the school: the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Javad Zarif; the Minister of Industry and Mines, Mohammad-Reza Nematzadeh; and the chief of staff of the president of Iran, Mohammad Nahavandian.
    [Show full text]
  • 13836 Thursday DECEMBER 17, 2020 Azar 27, 1399 Jumada Al Awwal 2, 1442 Iran Voices CAS Rejects Appeal Indonesia Leader’S Book “Islamic Concern Over U.S
    WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 Pages Price 50,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 42nd year No.13836 Thursday DECEMBER 17, 2020 Azar 27, 1399 Jumada Al Awwal 2, 1442 Iran voices CAS rejects appeal Indonesia Leader’s book “Islamic concern over U.S. over Alekasir’s ban denies in talks Thought in the Quran” nuclear tests Page 2 in ACL final Page 3 with Israel Page 5 published in Urdu Page 8 Rouhani says happy over Trump’s leaving, but ‘not excited’ over Biden’s coming TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani He described Trump as a person has said his administration is “not ex- who even blocked the provision of cited” about U.S. President-elect Joe vaccines to patients because he did Biden’s victory, but it’s happy about the not adhere to any moral and humane defeat of Donald Trump. principles. Clear “Some say you are excited about The remarks came two days after the Biden’s coming [into power]. No, we’re U.S. Electoral College voted to confirm no excited, but we’re very happy about the final electoral result of 306 to 232 Trump’s leaving,” Rouhani said at a in favor of Biden. cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Continued on page 2 message ICCIMA offers suggestions to amend next year’s budget bill TEHRAN – Iran Chamber of Commerce, that the budget bill is important to them Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCI- from two perspectives: the impact of the Ayatollah Khamenei urges MA) Research Center, after examining the budget on macroeconomic variables and strengths and weaknesses of the budget bill its impact on the business environment.
    [Show full text]