A number of demonstrators gathered in TehranÕs Palestine Square to hold the second anniversary of HezbollahÕs victory in 33-day war against Israel.

Lebanon’s freed prisoner Samir Qantar has announced that in case of any threat against Iran his fighters will not remain bystanders and help the Islamic Republic defend itself.
“In case of any attack against Iran, we will not remain idle. Any harm to the Islamic state is a blow the deprived nations,“ Qantar told Alalam Tuesday.
“We have learned the lesson of allegiance from the school of the late Imam Khomeini.
Drawing on that lesson we say that we will not leave the Iranian nation alone. This is a pledge by any fighter for the cause of God,“ he said.
Qantar, Lebanon’s longest-held prisoner in Israel by the time of his release, was freed along with five other Palestinian prisoners as part of a prisoner exchange deal between the Israeli occupying regime and the Hezbollah movement last month.
The agreement saw the occupying regime exchange the prisoners and the remains of some 200 resistance fighters for the bodies of two of its soldiers captured before the Israel-Lebanon war in the summer of 2006. The deal was seen as a major blow to the Zionist state while the war shattered the myth of Israeli invincibility.

Inspiration
Qantar told the Arabic satellite TV network that the Islamic Revolution led by Imam Khomeini “inspired Lebanese groups and boosted their spirit of resistance and fighting.“
Under the guidance of the late Imam, Lebanese resistance was revived and now it has become an influential power in the region.“
Iran’s support for the Lebanese people contributed to their successes in 2000 and 2006 against the usurper state, he added.
“The Lebanese people will never forget the Islamic Republic’s help and support nor will it leave the Iranian nation alone in tough times.“
Qantar was given a hero’s welcome by thousands of supporters in southern Beirut on July 16. The event was so important that it prompted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah to emerge for his first public appearance in a year.
“The era of defeats has ended and now we embark on an era of victories,“ said Nasrallah, who has become a revered leader - in a region beset by corrupt and ineffectual politicians - since Hezbollah fighters drove out Israeli forces from Lebanon in 2000.

Culture of Resistance
An overwhelmed Qantar told his well-wishers he had “returned from Palestine, only to return back to Palestine.“ “The resistance has turned into a power that will never be defeated,“ he said. “Its weapons have become a culture that will build a country of resistance. This is the culture of the next generation that will fulfill our dream to destroy this oppressive entity.“
Earlier, in scenes unthinkable two months ago, when a threatened crackdown on Hezbollah by the US-backed government brought the country to the brink of civil war, the Lebanese prime minister, Fouad Siniora, stood with Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s deputy leader, to greet Qantar and five fighters captured during the war with Israel two years ago.
“You should be proud of your country, your people, your army and your resistance,“ Michel Suleiman, the president, told the returning fighters.
Qantar, a Lebanese Druze who fought for the Palestine Liberation Front, was convicted by an Israeli court of killing three Israelis during a 1979 raid on the coastal town of Nahariya. He was sentenced to multiple life terms.
“This shows the success of kidnapping Israeli soldiers. Lebanon is the land of jihad,“ said Nabil Qaouk, Hezbollah’s commander in south Lebanon, his voice cracking with emotion as he welcomed the freed prisoners home across the Naquora border post.
Many observers saw Hezbollah’s successful deal-making with Israel as a major blow to Israel and so-called moderate Arab leaders, such as the Palestinian Authority chief, Mahmoud Abbas, who is currently pursuing US-backed peace talks with Israel.

Manouchehr Mottaki

Events in Iraq and Afghanistan indicate the failure of the theory of using force in international relations, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Wednesday.
Criticizing the present hegemonic system in the world, Mottaki said scientific apartheid and imposing the ideas of one state on others are “unacceptable“, IRNA reported.
He made the remarks in a meeting with a visiting member of the Japanese parliament, Yama Naka, who is currently in Iran to discuss ways to help boost Tehran-Tokyo cooperation.
Referring to the increasing presence of Asian women on the social landscape, Mottaki proposed establishment of an Iran-Japan women’s parliamentary friendship association.
He stressed that the association would prepare the grounds for building cooperation of Iranian and Japanese women.
Tehran has decided to launch a “unity for peace movement“ with the help of peace-loving nations in the region, Mottaki added.
The Japanese lawmaker who is also chairperson of the women group of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, stressed the need for exchange of delegations between the Iranian and Japanese parliaments to forge a better understanding of the two nations.
She referred to Iran and Japan as peace-loving nations.
Referring to Tehran’s nuclear standoff with western governments, she hoped that the problem would soon be resolved through diplomatic channels.

A recent poll suggests Washington has a double standard policy when it comes to dealing with Iran’s and India’s nuclear programs.
Seventy two percent of almost 4067 respondents to an online Press TV poll said US insistence on a nuclear deal with India, and its opposition to Iran’s nuclear program indicate Washington’s double standards.
The poll indicates that a mere 5 percent believe Washington is trying to pave the way for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to conduct inspections of Indian nuclear facilities with the aim of enforcing the NPT.
Some 22 percent, however, said Washington seeks to extend its influence in India after the collapse of New Delhi’s former ally, the Soviet Union.
Major world powers accuse NPT signatory Iran of pursuing a military nuclear program and have pressured the UNSC to impose three rounds of sanctions on the Islamic state.
This is while the UN’s nuclear arm, the IAEA, has confirmed that Iran’s uranium enrichment program does not exceed 3 percent and is therefore within the limits of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Iranian and independent observers in the West (with no love for Iran) have often maintained that the US and other nuclear weapon powers do not hold the high moral ground to tell other nations how to handle their nuclear and other affairs.
Experts point out to the fact that the small nuclear-weapon club is the biggest proliferator of atomic weapons and its members routinely report of building new generations of nuclear weapons while accusing other smaller states of undermining the NPT. There have also been verifiable reports of some western nuclear powers helping Israel build banned weapons including atomic warheads and toxic gasses.
Israel is the sole nuclear weapons power in the Middle East and stands accused of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika underscored the need for further expansion of relations.
The two presidents stressed the importance of materialization of the agreements signed earlier by the two sides, IRNA reported.
Expressing their satisfaction with the process of bilateral cooperation, the two presidents in a joint statement called for boosting cooperation in housing, infrastructure, cement and pharmaceutical industries, manufacturing auto parts, oil and gas.
Voicing their concern over the critical situation in the Palestinian occupied lands, in particular the Gaza Strip, they said Israeli atrocities are a stain on all acceptable international norms and basic human principles.
The two men appealed for solidarity of the Palestinian nation, adding that the rights of the oppressed Palestinians will not be restored unless the occupied lands are liberated. They also called for the liberation of the Golan Heights from Israeli occupation.
Expressing satisfaction with the positive developments in Lebanon and the establishment of a democratic government in Beirut after the Doha agreement.
They voiced their support for the process of national consensus in Lebanon.
They underscored the need for preserving the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iraq and called for the withdrawal of the occupying forces from the war-ravaged Arab country.
Expressing support for Sudanese stability and security in line with the country’s national interest, the two presidents criticized the arrest warrant issued against President Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court.
Based on the joint statement, the two countries stressed that producing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is the legitimate right of all nations and called for full implementation of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
They condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and urged the United Nations to devise mechanisms to confront the scourge across the globe.
The Algerian president invited Ahmadinejad to visit his country in the near future.
President Bouteflika, heading a high-ranking economic and political delegation arrived in Tehran at the weekend on the official invitation from President Ahmadinejad.
He was accompanied by senior aides and key ministers including foreign affairs, oil, health, housing, and science.
During his stay, he conferred with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, the president and several senior officials on issues of mutual concern and interest.

RESALAT: Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in his meeting with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika Tuesday said that the key to resolution of the predicaments of the Muslim Ummah is strong faith of the people and officialdom in Islam and their resilience. The leader’s comments deserve further attention. Rulers and the ruled in Islamic countries have normally prevented the domination of infidel movements in their lands. Infidel groups never had and will never have spatial or time limitations. Old imperialism, it modern counterpart and for the matter post-modern imperialism are chip of the same block and manifest infidel movements. It is actually a divine task to withstand infidel currents irrespective of time and space. Throughout history true Muslims have challenged and defeated infidel thoughts and currents. The case in point was the victory of Lebanon’s Hezbullah against the Zionist infidels in the Israel-Lebanon war in 2006. In fact, resistance to dominance of infidels is what has mobilized true Muslims. The Leader also said that Tehran and Algiers have immense capacity for cooperation. The two important Muslim states can and should collaborate to help overcome the problems of the Islamic world. They can also build closer economic ties in key domains such as gas OPEC. They also can work together in addressing the Palestinian crises and help redefine the orientation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Both states possess sufficient potential for mediating dangerous and intermittent crises in the Muslim world. It is obvious that understanding and unity of purpose of these two Islamic powers can help resolve many ills in the troubled Middle East.

Vested Interests
KAYHAN: After the victory of the Islamic Revolution and fall of the former monarchy, one of the fundamental priorities of the Islamic system has been to Islamize laws and regulations in the judicial modus operandi. However, some have regularly lambasted the Islamic penal code and claim that the laws do not comply with the implications of time, and are inhumane and provoke violence. These people have spared no effort to distort Islamic teachings and tenets and promote their absurd views. Those who consider themselves advocates of human rights have actually turned into puppets of the West, wittingly or otherwise. The crux of the mater is that the real aim of such folks is not safeguarding human rights, rather they want to confront the popular Islamic Republic system. As such, the agenda of such groups should be sought beyond geographical borders and within the framework of the enemy’s soft war. These people, who promulgate imperialist interests, have set out to tarnish the image of genuine Islam, which is indeed the main barrier to the ominous objectives of imperialists whose appetite for demands is insatiable. At the time when the bill for amending Islamic penal code is under study in the Majlis, some vested interests want to get rid of selected Islamic codes in the penal laws. Their intention is to replace some items of the Islamic penal code with tested and failed western punitive codes.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said that Intelligence Ministry should move forward strongly and not be disrupted by political upheavals.
“The Intelligence Ministry is one the best and most loyal institutions established after the victory of the Islamic Revolution. Due to its painstaking efforts and its silent endeavors, the ministry has been helping safeguard the Islamic Revolution, Islamic values, and is protecting the people against the enemies. All the people should be grateful for this.“ Fars news agency quoted him as saying.
In a meeting with officials and staff of the key ministry, the leader referred to the spiritual award for the silent and selfless endeavors of its personnel in the divine court of justice and said the prerequisite for silent endeavor is praising God and improving the ability of self-restraint and piety.
Ayatollah Khamenei said the people have a positive impression of the ministry despite their abhorrence of the former regime’s feared security apparatus commonly known as the SAVAK.

Corresponding Move
“One strong point of the Islamic system is the Intelligence Ministry, which should strive to enhance bonds with the people and use their help (on different issues),“ pointed out the leader.
He referred to the extensive activities of the intelligence apparatus and spy agencies of enemies and said, “the Intelligence Ministry should organize moves and effective innovations that correspond with the moves of the enemies.“
Meanwhile, Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejeie briefed the leader on the performance of his ministry in the past three years.
He said by virtue of its activities the ministry on the one hand has made the atmosphere pretty unsafe for criminals and opponents of the establishment, and on the other made the ambiance calm and peaceful for the common people and officialdom.

America imposed unilateral sanctions on Wednesday on five more Iranian organizations over their alleged links to and support for Iran’s nuclear program.
The US Treasury Department accused the Iranian entity of providing materials to Iran’s nuclear program and banned American companies from conducting
business with those institutions, Presstv reported.
The new sanctions would also freeze any assets that the Iranian companies might have in the United States.
The five entities have been identified as the Nuclear Research Center for Agriculture and Medicine in Karaj, the Isfahan Nuclear Fuel Research and Production Center, Safety Equipment Procurement Co. and Jaza Industrial Co. and Jaber Ibn Hayyam.
The organizations are active in nuclear research, education programs, laboratory services for nuclear fuel production and establishment of industrial units related to civilian unclear energy.
“These five nuclear and missile entities have been used by Iran to hide its illicit conduct and further its dangerous nuclear ambitions,“ said Stuart Levey, the Treasury Department’s undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
The West has so far imposed three rounds of sanctions against Iran, threatening the country with a fourth round should it refuse to halt uranium enrichment.
The EU ratcheted up trade restrictions on Iran Friday, introducing restrictions on public loans and tougher cargo inspection.
Also in late June, the EU agreed to ban Iran’s largest bank (Bank Melli) from operating in Europe for allegedly ’providing services to the country’s nuclear program’. The EU announced it would exercise vigilance in dealing with all Iranian banks, in particular Bank Saderat.
Bush’ America and its European allies accuse Iran of trying to acquire a nuclear weapons capability under cover of its civilian nuclear program. Iran has strongly denied the charges saying its uranium enrichment is geared to producing fuel for nuclear power production. The country is currently facing critical electricity shortages.

Managing director of Bank Keshavarzi, Mohamad Talebi gave word of design of special Islamic financial instruments for some agricultural projects.
Addressing a press meeting after taking office eight months ago, he said promoting micro credits, improving the performance of the bank and playing an effective role in the agro sector are his top priorities.
“The seven year vision of Bank Keshavarzi has been compiled and related strategic plans have been prepared,“ he added.
At the press conference held concurrent with the annual Journalists’ Day, Talebi lauded the efforts of journalists in various arenas.
He referred to establishment of an information system and utilization of the mechanism of “dashboard management“ as among the plans for running the bank.
Talebi also referred to creating a mechanized supervision model in the agro sector and expansion of communications in international banking as his other plans.
He recalled that 90 percent of the bank’s loans are below 50 million rials and are known as micro credit in international banking parlance.
“This credit can be used as a tool for entrepreneurship and help generate jobs.“
He noted that “Our focus on core banking is serious and currently 100 branches of the bank are subject to this modality.
In the near future, all branches of the bank will join this system. Although implementing core banking is a tough task when it comes in Islamic banking, we have done our best to this end.“

Firouz Dolatabadi

Iran’s former ambassador to Turkey, Firouz Dolatabadi, said that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to Turkey is a historical development.
“Given the sensitivities of the region, the meeting of Iranian and Turkish presidents is important at both the regional and international scale. Cementing mutual relations in all domains can have a major influence on regional equations,“ he told Iran Daily’s Maryam Nabizadeh.
On the nuclear stalemate, he noted, “Strong bonds among regional powers can convince the European Union to be more careful in making decisions. Today the EU knows that if it makes decisions about Iran under the influence of countries like the US, it will not be acceptable to the international community, especially regional states. “

Major Strides
He went on to add that “Currently we have a stable climate when it comes to trade with Turkey. The two nations are all set to take major strides in bilateral investment ventures.“
Asked about the pressures exerted by Israel to disrupt relations between Tehran and Ankara, the former envoy said, “ In view of the recent crises in Israel, including its humiliating defeat in the war in Lebanon in 2006, the financial corruptions of embattled prime minister, Ehud Olmert, it is highly unlikely Israel is in a position to negatively affect Iran-Turkey ties.“
Turkey, he recalled, now has a great deal of independence and will not submit to external pressures in its dealings with other countries.
Stances of the two neighbors are similar in many cases, the stressed.
“Meeting of high-ranking officials of the two sides in the fields of economy, politics, security and culture is important. I personally believe that the pivot of such meetings is economic development and promoting regional peace and stability.“
On the issue of Turkey’s membership in the EU, he noted, “The path to membership in the EU is complicated and tough. Turkey has been seeking membership in the Union for years. At any rate, Turkey’s accession to EU will have a clear message for the entire region. Iran as a matter of policy has supported Ankara’s drive for membership.“
Expressing satisfaction over the fact that Turkey’s ruling party, the AK Party, can continue to operate, he said that the Islamic orientation of the two nations can contribute greatly to improving two-way relations.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is due give an interview to CNN Turk prior to his departure to the Turkish capital.
He will speak to the satellite TV network late Wednesday night ahead of his tour of Turkey on Thursday where he will meet President Abdullah Gul and other senior officials to review regional and international developments, Presstv reported.
Iranian and Turkish officials are also expected to explore new vistas for boosting Tehran-Ankara relations, including a boost in two-way commerce.
Analysts say Ahmadinejad’s visit to Turkey is significant as it comes at a time when the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is popular in that country despite heavy odds, has delivered the goods in key sectors, and the country is enjoying decent levels of growth and development.
The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) entered the Turkish political scene on 14 August 2001 under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Party immediately set out to develop its organizational structure and experienced rapid growth. A nationwide network was built in one year. Simultaneously, the Party’s Women and Youth branches were set up and began activities all over Turkey.
AK Party entered the general elections of 3 November 2002 despite its infancy. The will of the voters established the party as the predominant political party in the elections. It defeated all other established parties, winning 34% of the vote. AK became the ruling party, marking the end of the era of coalition governments that began in 1991. Almost 34% of the national vote gave AK 363 seats in the 550-seat parliament. After the interim election in the province of Siirt and new participation in the Party, AK’s seats rose to 367.
The local elections of 28 March 2004 were an important second test for the AK PARTY. The Party increased its 34% vote in the 3 November 2002 elections to 42%.
Prevailing in 12 of the country’s 16 metropolitan municipalities, 46 of 65 provincial municipalities, 425 of 789 county municipalities and 1,216 of 2,250 district municipalities, AK achieved a landslide victory in the local elections.

The visit of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) was rather unexpected. A glance at CBI history shows that apart from a few exceptions, political figures at the level of head of state(s) of other countries did not express much interest in going to an institution like the CBI. So, the key question for CBI officials, including its governor, was: What was the Algerian leader looking for?
Bouteflika’s queries posed to CBI officials in his three-hour tour were rather unexpected. He asked a variety of questions.
Why are private banks authorized? Would a foreigner be allowed to purchase equity in Iranian banks? What is the difference between a financial and credit institution and a bank? To what degree are regulations of international financial institutions acceptable? If you were in may place would you sell 51 percent of the stocks of your biggest bank to the private sector?
Interestingly enough, Bouteflika did not visit the CBI’s world famous Museum of Gold and Jewelry. One CBI official opined that the museum shows the past wealth of Iranians while Bouteflika was more interested in the CBI’s present programs and future direction.
This is perhaps why the Algerian chief executive spent three hours at the top bank and preferred to see the CBI’s Information Center instead of the world famous Kouh-e Nour diamond.
Bouteflika’s tour, which was beyond the common diplomatic clichŽs, ultimately emerged as a training workshop. This is something that he did not mind.
In his visit, Bouteflika heard from the CBI chief Tahmaseb Mazaheri that he could sell over 50 percent of the stocks of the top bank even to foreign buyers provided the monetary and economic regulations of the country are amended.
The Algerian president who displayed great interest in banking was informed about the law for banks’ working capital, which demands that the working capital of a bank should not be less than a certain designated minimum.
He asked his economy minister why issues of the sort were not brought to his attention earlier. Bouteflika was also briefed on the challenges and opportunities of e-banking and expressed interest in encouraging Algerian banks to cooperate with their Iranian counterparts.
It is apparent that that monetary and fiancŽ are not the priorities of only executive officials, but also have a special status in the economic plans of other developing countries.
Bouteflika’s CBI tour showed, among other things, that the Iranian banking system has learnt a lot and its valuable experience can be shared with other Muslim states.

Commander of the Islamic Republic Navy General Habibollah Sattari said Wednesday that Iran’s naval forces are prepared to safeguard the Persian Gulf more effectively than before.
“The forces, serving under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, will protect the country’s land and sea borders with full strength and power,“ he said in a talk with reporters on the sidelines of his visit to a naval base in the provincial city of Sirjan, IRNA reported.
Sattari said faith, unity and integrity of the armed forces guarantee the strength of the Islamic establishment and success of the armed forces.
The naval forces are vigilant and monitor all movements in the strategic region, he told the reporters.