Japanese FM and UN officials in Tehran

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, on 12OCT15 at the Sadabad Palace in Tehran.

According to Channel News Asia:

Japan and Iran have reached agreement on an investment accord, which may give a boost to Japanese investments into the Islamic Republic once sanctions are lifted as early as next year, the countries' foreign ministers said in a statement.

Japan is keen to boost ties with Iran and invest in resource projects there, as well as increase crude imports from the Middle Eastern country.

Japan's crude imports from Iran plunged more than 40 percent from 2011 levels before tough Western sanctions were introduced in 2012 over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme.

Japan's top oil and gas explorer Inpex Corp, which in 2010 was forced to give up a stake in Iran's Azadegan oil field because of the sanctions, was among dozens of companies that visited Iran in August.

Iran's chief negotiator for new oil contacts said last week the country would introduce more than 50 exploration and production projects to investors in the near future.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, on 12OCT15 at the Sadabad Palace in Tehran.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida with Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, Vice President and Head of Management and Planning Organization, on 13OCT15 in Tehran.

Japanese and Iranian delegations in conference with Japanese Foreign Minister Kishida and Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, Vice President and Head of Management and Planning Organization, on 13OCT15 in Tehran.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida with Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, Iran's Minister of Industries, Mines, and Trade, on 13OCT15 in Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Jan Eliasson, Swedish diplomat and Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, on 12OCT15 in Tehran.

According to Tehran Times:

UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson said on Monday that the UN still has a lot to do in putting an end to conflict, poverty, inequalities and repression, noting the UN mission is not accomplished yet.

Eliasson made the remarks while delivering a speech on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the UN celebrated in Tehran.

During his speech in which some Iranian officials and UN diplomats were present, Eliasson admitted that there is much left to be done in the UN. “We all have work to do. Our mission is not accomplished. We need to continue to reform our organization and adapt it to the new global landscape.”

COMMENTARY: Eliasson was part of the UN mission that attempted to mediate the Iran–Iraq War from 1980 to 1986.

Deputy Secretary-General of the UN Jan Eliasson with Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Chairman of Expediency Discernment Council, on 12OCT15 in Tehran.

Deputy Secretary-General of the UN Jan Eliasson with Ali Akbar Velayati, President of Expediency Discernment Council's Center for Strategic Research, on 12OCT15 in Tehran.

Deputy Secretary-General of the UN Jan Eliasson with IRIN Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, on 12OCT15 in Tehran

Deputy Secretary-General of the UN Jan Eliasson with Seyed Kamal Kharazi, Head of Iran's Strategic Foreign Relations Council, on 13OCT15 in Tehran

Ján Kubiš of Slovakia, Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on 11OCT15 in Tehran.

According to Mehr News Agency:

UN Secretary-General Special Representative for Iraq Ján Kubiš who is in Iran to discuss latest Iraqi developments with Iranian officials was received on Sunday evening by Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Minister and head of diplomatic machinery of the country, where he expressed gratitude for the attempts by Mr. Kubiš waged to bring stability and security to crisis-stricken Iraq.

Mr. Kubiš believe[s] that the key to safely coming out of the current situation in Iraq is national unity. He also said that international and regional players were also important in helping manage the situation in the country; “promoting national reconciliation process, supporting strong central government, and focusing global participation in tackling economic, security, and social issues in Iraq are UN’s priorities,” he added.

Mr. Kubiš asserted that he would speak to any country and player as his mission for reaching a realistic analysis of the pandemonium in Iraq and finding a viable and effective solution, and believed that Iran’s role in Iraq and its benign advice on Iraq was absolutely invaluable for this reason.

Ján Kubiš of Slovakia, Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), with Ali Akbar Velayati, President of Expediency Discernment Council's Center for Strategic Research, on 11OCT15 in Tehran.

 

Wilfried Lemke of Germany, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, looking over photos of disabled Iran-Iraq War veterans engaging in sport, on 12OCT15 in Tehran.

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

Larijani flies Lufthansa A380 first class to NYC for UN conference

For travel to the United Nations on 29AUG15, Iranian Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani flew first class on a Lufthansa A380-841. (Flight details provided below, sourced from Flightradar24.)

According to PressTV:

[Larijani] is scheduled to participate in the Fourth World Conference of Parliament Speakers convened by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in cooperation with the United Nations at the UN headquarters.

The Iranian official is expected to hold talks with his counterparts attending the conference on various issues including mutual interaction, economic development and joint ventures as well as key regional and international matters.

During his stopover in Frankfurt, Germany, the Iranian parliament speaker had a telephone conversation with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, where Larijani said Germany played a positive role in nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries - the US, the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China.

He expressed hope that exchange of visits between Iranian and German officials would improve economic relations.

The German foreign minister, for his part, said the ground is prepared for the expansion of ties with Iran in all fields given Tehran’s great capacity for enhanced economic cooperation.

Larijani met with his Japanese counterpart Tadamori Oshima on the sidelines of the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament convened by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in New York. According to PressTV:

The top Japanese parliamentarian... said his country stands ready to work with Tehran to help promote peace and stability at regional and international levels.

Japan is prepared to open up a new chapter in its relations with Iran on political, parliamentary, economic, trade and cultural fronts, Oshima further said.

Meanwhile, Hossein Sheikholeslam stated that two unnamed U.S. senators have requested for a meeting with Parliament Speaker. According to Tasnim News Agency:

Hossein Sheikholeslam, the adviser [to Larijani] pointed to requests by two unnamed American lawmakers for a meeting with Iran’s parliament speaker, saying, “There has been talks (on the issue), but nothing is finalized yet.”

Sheikholeslam also announced that there are speculations about Larijani’s meeting with a Saudi Arabian delegation, saying that if it happens, it would be aimed at showing Iran’s goodwill as well as reminding Riyadh of the repercussions of its behavior.

COMMENTARY: Iranian Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani is a supporter of JCPOA.

File photo of aircraft that transported Larijani to JFK International Airport in New York City: Lufthansa A380-841, reg. D-AIMM (cn 175).  [photo: Miguel Alia]

Motorcade and security provided to Larijani's diplomatic delegation, including New York City Police Department Highway Patrol escort vehicle.

Motorcade and security provided to Larijani's diplomatic delegation, on the move from JFK to Two United Nations Plaza

U.S. diplomatic security detail assisting Iranian Speaker of Parliament Larijani upon his arrival at Two United Nations Plaza in New York City.

Iranian Speaker of Parliament Larijani makes his way to hotel accommodations at at Two United Nations Plaza in New York City.

Iranian Speaker of Parliament Ali  Larijani seen 31AUG15 participating in the Fourth World Conference of Parliament Speakers convened by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in cooperation with the United Nations at UN headquarters.

Iranian Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani with Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations

Iranian Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani with Pietro Grasso, President of the Italian Senate

Exchange of gifts between Ali Larijani and Pietro Grasso

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

President Rouhani's trip to NYC aboard IRIG A340 - correction

President Rouhani boards Airbus A340-300 series aircraft 22SEP14 at THR / OIII, bound for JFK / KJFK to attend 69th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Aircraft appears to be Iran Aseman A340-311, reg. EP-APA (cn 002) in new IRIG livery.

Aircraft is Islamic Republic of Iran (Mahan Air) Airbus A340-313, reg. EP-MMC (cn 282). See below:

Photos: Mahmoud Hosseini at Tasnim News Agency and Shahram Sharifi

Rouhani charters Iran Aseman A340 for UN trip

 

President Rouhani departs Tehran aboard a chartered Iran Aseman Airlines Airbus A340-311 bound for New York City and the United Nations General Assembly.

                                    Operator: Iran Aseman Airlines
                                    Aircraft type: Airbus A340-311
                                    Reg: EP-APA (cn 002)
                                    Date: Sept. 23, 2013
                                    Notes: Aircraft is one of the oldest A340 types in the world still currently flying.
                                    Iran National Football Team support emblem removed from fuselage for
                                    presidential flight.

Photo: Mahdi Marizad at FARS News Agency