'Neo Ottoman conqueror' Turkey Has 'Plan B' if Not Involved in Mosul Offensive: Erdogan.

'Neo Ottoman conqueror' Turkey Has 'Plan B' if Not Involved in Mosul Offensive: Erdogan.(SP).

Mosul has been under control of Daesh since 2014, and remains their main stronghold. The US-led coalition of more than 60 nations has been conducting airstrikes against Daesh in Iraq since then.

"We are determined to take part in an operation by coalition forces in Iraq. If they [the US-led coalition] do not want Turkey's involvement, a Plan B or Plan C will be implemented," Erdogan said addressing participants of a rally in the city of Konya. Hmmm.....As i said earlier (See tweet Below).

@EjmAlrai Good morning Eli. Thank you for your insight, my guess #Turkey will amass enough armor at the #Iraqi border to eventually go in.

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) October 13, 2016

Yemen - Two Iranian warships head to Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Yemen - Two Iranian warships head to Bab el-Mandeb Strait. (TAz).

Two Iranian warships have headed to international waters on a mission that includes sailing in the waters off the southern coasts of Yemen.

Iranian navy dispatched its 44th fleet, comprised of Alvand destroyer and Bushehr logistic warship to the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Tasnim news agency reported Oct. 13.

The report added that the move is aimed at safeguarding the country’s trade vessels sailing in the international waters against pirates.

According to the report, the fleet is expected to reach the waters near Somalia and Tanzania through the Indian Ocean.

Earlier this week, a US destroyer launched three missiles against Houthi held territories in Yemen destroying three radar control facilities.


The Pentagon later announced that the missiles were launched in self-defense.

'Wahhabism Even More Evil than Israel': Hezbollah leader Nasrallah

'Wahhabism Even More Evil than Israel': Hezbollah leader Nasrallah. (IFPNews).

Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of Hezbollah, made the remark during his annual meeting with Muslim eulogists and the people responsible for commemoration ceremonies during the Lunar month of Muharram, Lebanon’s Al Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The Hezbollah chief said he considered Wahhabism to be responsible for damaging Islam’s image worldwide. “Wahhabism is more evil than Israel, especially [in] that it seeks to destroy others and eliminate whatever thing that has to do with Islam and its history,” he said.

Not a Shia, Sunni matter.

“This project was launched in 2011, and it not a Shia and Sunni matter. The role played by spy services is completely evident here. We should use this opportunity to pin Wahhabism down and deal a blow to it,” he added.

The existent conflict, Nasrallah said, was not between Shias and Sunnis, but with Wahhabism.
Wahhabism is the radical ideology dominating Saudi Arabia, freely preached by government-backed clerics there, and inspiring terrorists worldwide.

Daesh and other Takfiri terror groups use the ideology to declare people of other faiths as “infidels” and then kill them.

Nasrallah also said what posed a yet bigger threat than Wahhabism and Zionism was “British Shiism,” which, he said, was being promoted by pseudo-religious figures, whom he called mercenaries of intelligence services.

Hezbollah has been crucial to keeping Wahhabi terrorism out of Lebanon, while helping neighboring Syria in holding back the scourge, too.

The Hezbollah chief said Saudi Arabia had escalated tensions to a climax and was trying, with the help of the US and Britain, to portray conflicts as sectarian.

Referring to the Syrian conflict, he said there were no “moderate” armed groups in Syria, warning that all those fighting Damascus were either working with Daesh or al-Nusra, which has recently renamed itself.

Nasrallah also said he saw no prospect for a political solution for the Syrian conflict. “Developments on the [battle] ground will ultimately determine [the outcome],” he said matter-of-factly.


Syria has been fighting a foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. Hezbollah fighters have been assisting Syrian government forces fighting back the militants, including Daesh and other dangerous groups.

Iranian-Backed Group “Al-Sabirin” members Arrested in Bethlehem.

Iranian-Backed Group “Al-Sabirin” members Arrested in Bethlehem. (Aawsat).

Ramallah- Palestinian security forces in the West Bank managed to abort an attempt on establishing an infrastructure for the “Al-Sabirin [The Patient] for the Victory of Palestine.”. The movement is present in Gaza and is known for its direct affiliation with the Iranian regime.

Security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that five activists affiliated with the newly-founded movement in Bethlehem, located east of the West Bank, were arrested. They had received funds from “Al-Sabirin” in Gaza, and are presumed to harbor intentions of establishing movement units in the West Bank.

Sources clarified that this is not the first time the Iranian government has attempted to form armed factions in the West Bank. During the Second Intifada, they tried to support militant factions via the Lebanese Hezbollah, yet they failed.

“Al-Sabirin” is a movement that was launched in Gaza, over two years ago. Hisham Salem, founder of the movement, is an ex-Islamic Jihad leader and one of those who broke away from their factions to launch movements supported by Iran.

It is believed that the arrested activists in Bethlehem belong to families who had previously converted to Shi’itism. Moreover, Salem did not hide the presence of “Al-Sabirin” agents in both the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Salem said that he had received full-on support from the Iranian government, just the way Hezbollah did. Salem clarified that his movement is not a Shi’ite one; however Palestinians, especially in Gaza, found his declaration hard to believe.

Sources also told Asharq Al-Awsat that Iranian support flowing in for “Al-Sabirin” clearly defines the orientation of the movement.

Many consider Salem a mere Iranian proxy promoting Shi’itism across the Gaza Strip. Other Islamic movements and the Salafists had broadcasted several times videos in which events and rituals relevant to the Shi’ite sect being held in Gaza. What makes accusations real for observers, is the YouTube videos showing Salem talking about historical events that are important to Shi’ites, such as the battle of Karbala and the killing of Imam Hussein.

Palestinians are concerned that movements like “Al-Sabirin” will lead to an outbreak of sectarian strife in the Gaza Strip.

Muslim Brotherhood 'Godfather' Qaradawi Regrets Trying To Reconcile Sunnis & Shiites.

Muslim Brotherhood 'Godfather' Qaradawi Regrets Trying To Reconcile Sunnis & Shiites. HT: GlobalMuslimBrotherhoodReport.

Saudi media is reporting that Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi has “expressed his regret again over the years he spent trying to reconcile Sunnis and Shiites.” According to the Asharq Al-Awsat report:

The Egyptian preacher Yusuf Al-Qaradawi who is also the President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) expressed his regret again over the years he spent trying to reconcile Sunnis and Shiites. 

He launched a sharp attack on Shitte religious authorities and praised Saudi Arabian scholars who realised the true nature of Lebanese Hezbollah’s secretary general early on. He added that the Saudi Arabian scholars were more mature than him with regards to their stance on Shiites. 

Al-Qaradawi also commented on the deep crisis faced by the Muslim Brotherhood and called on its leaders to hold comprehensive elections at home and abroad to overcome their current crisis. 

Al-Qaradawi reposted a clip of himself filmed during a conference to help the Syrian people which was held in Qatar. The clip showed Al-Qaradawi addressing a group of Sunni scholars and religious leaders whilst saying that the idea of rapprochement between sects has worked in favour of the Shiites and that the Sunnis have not benefited from it at all. 

He added that “after this long period of time I do not see the benefit of rapprochement between Sunnis and Shiites. The Sunnis lose and the Shiites gain.” 

In what appears as the most important acknowledgement of the depth of the split in the Muslim Brotherhood’s ranks in Egypt, Al-Qaradawi called the group to hold comprehensive elections in Egypt and abroad to overcome the current crisis facing the Muslim Brotherhood. 

He also called on the conflicting parties to stop bickering until elections are held. However, former members of the group played down the importance of Al-Qaradawi’s initiative and told Asharq Al-Awsat that the group’s crisis has exceeded its regulatory limits and argued that the announcement of the initiative itself is a sign of failure. Hmmm.......Someone has a hard time digesting Iran's success.

Read the full story and more on the Muslim Brotherhood here.

Prayers in Iran prepare for protests to rally cross-country and chant "death to House of Saud"

Prayers in Iran prepare for protests to rally cross-country and chant "death to House of Saud" (Taz).

Iranian prayers are preparing to rally against the execution of a prominent Shia cleric, Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia, after Friday Congregational Prayer.

The rallies will be launch in all Iranian cities on Jan.8, ISNA reported.

"The Islamic Propagation Coordination Council called prayers to rally cross-country to chant "death to House of Saud", the report says.

Over the past few days, the relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia deteriorated following the kingdom’s execution of a prominent Shia cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, on Jan. 2.

Reacting to al-Nimr’s execution, a group of hardline Iranians stormed Saudi embassy in Tehran, smashing furniture and setting fire to the building before being dispersed by police.

Officially, Iran expressed strong protest regarding the execution, and the fragile relations between the two countries started going even further downhill from there.


Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said Jan. 7 the country’s embassy in Sanaa was hit in an airstrike by Saudi Arabia. However, the Saudi-led coalition as well as Yemen's Foreign Ministry denied Iran's accusation. Hmmm.......The Religion of peace.

Official: Iran Ready to Replace Arab States, Turkey with Russia for Export of Food Products.

Official: Iran Ready to Replace Arab States, Turkey with Russia for Export of Food Products. (Fars).

Iranian producers are ready to replace Russia for the transit and export of their food and agricultural products after some Arab countries severed their ties with Iran and also due to the Ankara-Moscow strained relations, a trade official announced.

"Russia as a consumer and a bridge between Iran and the European countries will replace Turkey and Arab countries for export of our food products," presiding board member of Iran's Food Industries Association Alireza Moravatpour told FNA on Wednesday.

He reiterated that the replacement of Russia for export of Iran's food products will inflict heavy losses on Arab trading companies, and said, "Instead Russia's big market will open doors to the Iranian producers and traders."

The official noted that the Arab countries acted as a broker for export of Iran's food products, and Iran is now to replace them.

"Given the recent developments in the region, Russia will act as a bridge for export of Iran's food products to replace the Arab countries," Moravatpour added.

In relevant remarks in mid-December, the executive director of the Iranian Trade Association Hedayat Asqari outlined the prospects of replacing Turkish fruit, meat and fish with Iranian products in the Russian market.

Asqari said that an Iranian delegation had already clinched a preliminary agreement with a Moscow-based wholesale company on the supply of Iranian fruits and vegetables to the Russian capital.

“We have bought 60,000 tons of apples, kiwis, cucumbers and other produce, as well as about 10 million cans of fruit syrup, which are ready to ship to Russia as soon as we get a go-ahead from our Russian partners,” he said.

The official said that the Iranian Trade Association is also ready to supply fish, eggs and meat to the Russian market to fully satisfy the Russian consumers’ demand for such products.

Now that Russia has sanctioned Turkey as one of its main suppliers of agricultural products, the Iranian businessmen have doubled their efforts to take the Russian market.

On November 23, High-ranking Iranian and Russian officials inked 7 cooperation Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) in the presence of President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Hmmm........Will do wonders for the Turkish Economy.

Iran calls off Major Hajj to Mecca.

Iran calls off Major Hajj to Mecca. (IH).

The spokesman of parliament's Judicial and Legal Affairs Committee has said Major Hajj has been cancelled due to the severance of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Commenting on the impact of a break in ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia on this year’s Hajj, Mohammad Ali Esfanani said, "Iran should have taken the first step to cut its ties with Saudi Arabia after the Mina tragedy. After committing all these crimes, Saudi Arabia should not have been allowed to make a decision in this regard because the Saudis martyred many innocent pilgrims and now they have shamelessly executed Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr."


Update: 

Organizing Hajj pilgrimage for Iranians will be decided by top officials of the government, head of Hajj and pilgrimage organization Saeed Ohadi said on Monday, IRNA reported.

Ohadi made the remarks in a statement in reaction to public query concerning Hajj pilgrimage in Iranian year of 1395 (2016).

In the statement, Ohadi said that any decision concerning Hajj should be taken by Supreme Leader Office and the government.

He said that he released the statement following the public query carried by the media and the cyber space news networks about Hajj pilgrimage next year.

💥 ⬆️ #Saudi authorities removed signs at Iranian pilgrims locations in Mecca after Tehran called off Hajj. #Iran" pic.twitter.com/jsv0aKo8kq

— Hasan Sari (@HasanSari7) January 4, 2016

Video - Nasrallah in Response to Al-Nimr Execution: This Will Spell the End of the Saud Regime and Clan

In a January 3 address, Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said in response to the execution of Saudi Shiite Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr: "This blood that has been shed will spell the end of the [Saud] regime and clan." Nasrallah further said: "When a regime loses its mind and loses even the slightest shred of humanity... it means that it has reached the brink of the abyss." The address was broadcast by Al-Manar TV.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrein cut ties with Iran, expels Tehran envoys.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain cut ties with Iran, expels Tehran envoys. (NCRI).

Saudi Arabia announced late Sunday that it would officially sever ties with Iran after having two of its diplomatic posts attacked in the Islamic republic.

Saudi’s Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir, speaking in an address aired by Al Arabiya News Channel, said Iran’s diplomatic mission staff and related structures in Saudi Arabia had been given 48 hours to leave.

He also accused Iran of having a long-track record of violating diplomatic missions, and called Tehran a regional menace for its smuggling of arms and explosives and its harboring of Al-Qaeda militants since 2001.

💥 ALERT: MORE: #Bahrain severs its relations with #Iran , demands its diplomatic mission staff in Tehran leave within 48hrs. #SaudiArabia"

— Hasan Sari (@HasanSari7) January 4, 2016

#BreakingNews UAE downgrades #Iran diplomatic representation to the level of charge d’affaires https://t.co/FePVremEFf via @AlArabiya_Eng

— Elijah J. Magnier (@EjmAlrai) January 4, 2016

Iran's Greatest Military Advantage over Saudi Arabia: SEA POWER. 395 vessels to 55, plus IRGC naval assets pic.twitter.com/JXNyHQpW0i

— Micha'el Tanchum (@michaeltanchum) January 4, 2016

One of the reasons that made #SaudiCutsTiesWithIran was assaulting diplomatic missions says @Infographic_ksa #Iran pic.twitter.com/7QrwOwaTxY

— Elijah J. Magnier (@EjmAlrai) January 4, 2016

Video - Saudi TV Host on the Iranian Threats: We Represent Two Billion Muslims, Iran Only 200 Million.

Video - Saudi Cleric Ali Al-Malki: Our Ruler May Kill One Third of the People So That Another Third Can Live in Peace.

Video - Saudi Cleric Ali Al-Malki: Our Ruler May Kill One Third of the People So That Another Third Can Live in Peace.

In a TV interview, Saudi cleric Ali Al-Malki said: "It was written in books by some Islamic scholars that if the ruler decided to kill one third of the people so that the other third could live in peace, this would be permitted according to Islamic law." Al-Malki was speaking on Rotana Khalijiyya TV on January 2, 2016.

Iran accuses Saudis of supporting terrorism,will pay a high price for it's policies after execution of Shia cleric

Iran accuses Saudis of supporting terrorism,will pay a high price for it's policies after execution of Shia cleric. (Taz).

Iran strongly condemned the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, top Shia cleric, by Saudi Arabia, accusing the Saudi government of supporting “terrorist” groups.

The Saudi government supports “terrorist and extremist” groups, while executing and suppressing domestic critics, the spokesman of Iran's foreign ministry, Hossein Jaber Ansari said, semi-official Fars news agency reported Jan. 2.

He further referred to Sheikh Nimr’s execution as “imprudence and irresponsibility.”

Jaber Ansari also said that the Saudi government will pay a “high price” for its policies.

The Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry said Jan. 2 that 47 "terrorists" including al-Nimr and al-Qaeda-affiliated Faris al-Zahrani were executed.

In a press release read on state TV, the ministry listed the names of all those it said were already convicted on charges of terrorism.

The death sentence of al-Nimr, who led anti-government protests in the country's east, was confirmed by the Supreme Court in last October.


Iran and Saudi Arabia, the region's foremost Shiite and Sunni Muslim powers hold different views over several regional issues such as the situations in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.

Vice Chairman of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said on Saturday that the commission in a letter to Foreign Ministry has called for reducing the number of personnel in Saudi Arabia Embassy in Iran, IRNA reported.

Hossein Sobhani-nia told IRNA that the parliamentary demand to downgrade diplomatic ties with the Saudi government comes in reaction to martyrdom of Saudi Shia Cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr.

The letter also made a reference to the Saudi hostile policies against Iran, failure of the Saudi government to pay reparations to Iranian families who lost their loved ones at Mina tragedy and failure to punish the Saudi policemen for harassment of two Iranian pilgrims in Jeddah airport.

The letter was forwarded to Foreign Ministry Saturday by Chairman of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi.

Sobhani-nia MP of Neishbour, further noted that currently 22 people are working in Iran's Embassy and Consulate in Riyadh while the number of Saudi Arabia Embassy and Consulate staff stands at 60, which is requested to be brought down due to the Saudi Kingdom's hostile policies.


In a blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the Geneva Convention about Human Rights, the Saudi government martyred 47 people including the Shia religious leader.

Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday afternoon summoned the Saudi Arabian chargé d'affaires in Tehran to condemn execution of prominent Saudi Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, IRNA reported.

According to IRNA, Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian summoned the Saudi chargé d'affaires Ahmad al-Movaled to voice Iran's strongly worded protest against execution of prominent Saudi Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

BREAKING: Iran set to execute 27 Sunni clerics and preachers according to human rights group

— The Int'l Spectator (@intlspectator) January 2, 2016

#Iran - #Saudi execution of cleric #Nimr You know this might do wonders for the price of #Oil with a bit of press coverage & speculation. :)

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) January 2, 2016

Protesters reportedly burn down the Saudi consulate in #Mashhad, #Iran, after Saudis executed Shia cleric al-Nimr. pic.twitter.com/aKnm980EP7

— Lina Arabi (@LinaArabii) January 2, 2016

#Iran leader's site publishes following picture over Shia cleric execution in #SaudiArabia. https://t.co/fYrVzaqZrC pic.twitter.com/U37uqOOgMT

— Abas Aslani (@abasinfo) January 2, 2016

Iraqi Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani criticises 'Neo Ottoman conqueror' Turkey's deployment.

Iraqi Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani criticises 'Neo Ottoman conqueror' Turkey's deployment. (ET).

Iraq’s top Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani criticised the deployment of Turkish troops and tanks to the country’s north.

The Iraqi capital of Baghdad says the movement took place without its approval.

Iraq has demanded that Ankara remove the newly-deployed forces, which were sent to a base near the city of Mosul, but Turkey has pushed for them to stay.

No country should “send its soldiers to the territory of another state under the pretext of supporting it in fighting terrorism without the conclusion of an agreement… between the governments of the two countries,” Sistani said in remarks delivered by a representative at weekly Friday prayers.

Abadi said Friday that he directed the foreign ministry to make a “formal complaint” over “the Turkish incursion.”

And he called on the United Nations Security Council to “protect Iraq and its security, sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity, which were violated by Turkish forces”, a statement from his office said. Read the full story here.

P. #Erdogan is declaring himself the defender of the Sunni-Umma in #Iraq. Competing with #ISIS? https://t.co/gBxvw4fSA0

— Elijah J. Magnier (@EjmAlrai) December 11, 2015

@EjmAlrai Pretty obvious Erdo wants the #Sunni part of #Iraq to join #Turkey. This will mean WAR.

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) December 11, 2015

Video - Saudi TV Host Abdulellah Al-Dosari Celebrates Death of Iranian Pilgrims in Hajj Stampede in Mecca

Saudi TV host Abdulellah Al-Dosari recently praised Allah for the death of some 300 Iranians in the recent Hajj stampede in Mecca. "Praise be to Allah, who relieved Islam and the Muslims from their evil," he said. "We pray that Allah will usher them into Hell for all eternities." The statements aired on the Saudi Wesal TV channel on October 3, 2015.

Iran Threatens Saudi Arabia: "The IRGC...Will Take Vengeance" On The Al-Sa'ud Regime;

Iran Threatens Saudi Arabia: "The IRGC...Will Take Vengeance" On The Al-Sa'ud Regime; "Our Responses Will Be... Harsh And Decisive" HT: Memri.

In recent days, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the top echelons of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) dispatched threatening messages to Saudi Arabia's rulers in response to the hundreds of Iranians killed in the stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia, which claimed the lives of over a thousand Hajj pilgrims.

Khamenei, along with IRGC commanders and ideological camp leaders, were furious at the Saudi royal family, holding it responsible for the disaster and promising a "harsh and decisive" response if Saudi Arabia continued what they called its deliberate anti-Iran conduct.

The daily Kayhan, which is close to Khamenei, even claimed that Saudi authorities had intentionally caused the stampede after it was planned by the Israeli Mossad.

In fact, in the past 18 months, Iran has repeatedly threatened Saudi Arabia and the Al-Sa'ud royal family, as tensions between the two countries escalated against the backdrop of the nuclear negotiations, the Saudi policy of lowering oil prices, and the wars in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq.

Thus, for example, Iran's leadership threatened to "use all means at its disposal against Saudi Arabia," including targeting Saudi oil transports, sparking Shi'ite uprisings in eastern Saudi Arabia, threatening to set oil wells on fire, and more, in order to cause the collapse of the Al-Sa'ud regime." Read the full story here.

Iran oil won’t lead to decrease in oil prices in world markets. - Russian Expert.

Iran oil won’t lead to decrease in oil prices in world markets. - Russian Expert. (Taz).

The lift of sanctions imposed on Iran won’t lead to decrease in oil prices in world markets, Sergey Pikin, director of Russian Energy Development Fund said in an interview with Trend.

Iran will not immediately deliver large volumes of oil to the market, he said, adding that at best, it will be able to increase the oil supply by one million barrels per day throughout a year.

The expert said that it is not such a large volume to have a significant affect on oil prices.

Pikin pointed out that in order to considerably increase the oil production, Iran needs investments worth tens of billions of dollars in oil projects.

“But for the present, Iran is in such a situation that the sanctions can be imposed again and no one will make large volumes of investments,” he added.

Foreign investors will not make serious investments in Iran until it becomes clear that this country fulfills all its obligations, according to the expert.

“If the sanctions imposed on Iran are lifted much later (than planned), this will positively affect the price hike,” said Pikin.

The futures prices for crude Brent oil and WTI oil totaled $52.8 per barrel and $49.47 per barrel, respectively as of Oct.7.

Most analytical agencies do not expect significant growth in oil prices in the short term. Hmmm.....I said it before and say it again, 'Iran will use it's huge stockpile as leverage to gain back their OPEC Share, if OPEC doesn't give in to their demands the will dump all their stocks on the market crashing the OIL market prices.' Nobody wants $20/Barrel prices. Read the full story here.

Confusion continues over Total, Shell gasoline retail sites issue in #Iran: http://t.co/KwmjZhbvEB

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) October 8, 2015

Iran determined to reclaim its share in global oil market: Zanganeh.

Iran determined to reclaim its share in global oil market: Zanganeh. (PressTv).

Iran's oil minister says the Islamic Republic is determined to reclaim its share in global oil markets once sanctions imposed on the country’s energy sector are lifted.

“Immediately after lifting sanctions, it’s our right to return to the level of production we historically had,” Bijan Zangeneh said, adding, “We have no other choice.”

The Iranian minister made the remarks in an interview with Bloomberg, which was published on Wednesday, at the Iranian Oil Ministry in Tehran.

Iran lost part of its share in the global oil market after sanctions were imposed on the country by the United States and the European Union at the beginning of 2012, with Western countries claiming that there was diversion in Iran's nuclear program toward military purposes. Iran rejected Western countries’ claims categorically, insisting that its civilian nuclear program was only meant for peaceful purposes.

Iran reached an agreement with the P5+1 group of countries – the US, the UK, France, Germany, China, and Russia – in Vienna on July 14, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). According to JCPOA, sanctions against Iran's economic sectors, including oil and gas industry, will be lifted in return for certain restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program.

Elsewhere in his interview, Zangeneh said Iran plans to produce 3.8-3.9 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil by March 2016.

He noted that the country will raise its output by 500,000 bpd soon after sanctions are lifted and by 1 million bpd within the following five months.

He added that Iran's oil output currently stands at 2.8 million bpd, which is the highest level the country has achieved in three years, and is exporting more than 1 million bpd.

Referring to the drastic oil price fall in global markets, the Iranian oil minister emphasized that the oil price slump will not slow Iran's return to the market.

Oil has dropped by about half in the past year from more than USD 100 a barrel in September 2014 after the 12-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided during meetings in December 2014 and June 2015 not to reduce output despite a global crude glut.

In another part of his interview, Zangeneh said most OPEC members would like to see crude prices at $70-$80 a barrel and the organization does not need to coordinate with other oil suppliers to determine output levels.

An oil price at $70-$80 a barrel would be “fair,” he said, adding that OPEC is open to coordinating its action with non-members, although it won’t wait for others to determine or approve its action.
Hmmm.....I said it before and say it again:
1.'Iran will use it's huge stockpile as leverage to gain back their OPEC Share, if OPEC doesn't give in to their demands the will dump all their stocks on the market crashing the OIL market prices.' Nobody wants $20/Barrel prices. 
2.Worst case scenario Iran blocks the strait of Hormuz even if it s for a few weeks the price of oil will sky rocket.

OPEC willing to talk to other oil producers, but vows to protect own interests.

OPEC ready to talk to other oil producers, vows to protect own interests.(Taz).

OPEC stands ready to talk to all other oil producers, but this has to be on a level playing field, the cartel said in its report published on its official website.

“OPEC will protect its own interests. As developing countries, its members, whose economies rely heavily on this one precious resource, can ill afford to do otherwise,” the report said.

OPEC stressed that today’s continuing pressure on oil prices, brought about by higher crude production, coupled with market speculation, remains a cause for concern for OPEC and its members.

“Apart from the obvious loss of much-needed revenue required for member countries’ socio-economic development, there are growing fears that, under the current low-price scenario, investment in future capacity additions will continue to be shelved or cancelled altogether,” OPEC said.

With the long lead times associated with bringing new oil to market, the industry cannot afford a lapse in spending, particularly in view of the long-term expectations for oil demand, which point strongly to a considerable rise in world oil consumption over the next two decades at least, according to the report.

Failure to invest now could mean prices in the coming years spiking to levels inconsistent with what is considered ‘reasonable’ for both producers and consumers, OPEC believes.

“There is no quick fix, but if there is a willingness to face the oil industry’s challenges together, then the prospects for the future have to be a lot better than what everyone involved in the industry has been experiencing over the past nine months or so. Only time will tell,” OPEC stressed.

Global oil market experienced a historic price fall as US oil prices fell below $40 a barrel on Aug. 28 for the first time since the 2009 financial crisis.

OPEC is not due to meet until Dec. 4.

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, and other Gulf states pushed OPEC's strategy shift last year to defend market share rather than cut output to support prices. Hmmm.....I said it before and say it again, 'Iran will use it's huge stockpile as leverage to gain back their OPEC Share, if OPEC doesn't give in to their demands the will dump all their stocks on the market crashing the OIL market prices.' Nobody wants $20/Barrel prices.

Obama's BFF Iran says OPEC members in favor of $70/b oil price.

Iran says OPEC members in favor of $70/b oil price. (Taz).

Iranian oil minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said that the price of $70-$80 for each barrel of crude oil is fair, and most OPEC members are in favor of it, Iran’s Mehr news agency reported Aug. 29.

“We should make efforts to increase the oil prices in global markets,” Zanganeh said, meanwhile arguing that "Tehran is not concerned about oil price fall”.

“If we are concerned about this issue, so we should stop oil production, but we will not give up our historic share in the world market at any cost,” the minister stressed.

Zanganeh earlier blamed the latest drop in oil prices on some members of OPEC and questioned whether any OPEC emergency meeting would reach an agreement.

"To balance the oil price... OPEC members should balance their production. An emergency meeting has been requested and we don't have a problem with that," the Iranian minister said.

Global oil market experienced a historic price fall as US oil prices fell below $40 a barrel on Aug. 28 for the first time since the 2009 financial crisis.

OPEC is not due to meet until Dec. 4.

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, and other Gulf states pushed OPEC's strategy shift last year to defend market share rather than cut output to support prices.

Hmmm.....I said it before and say it again, 'Iran will use it's huge stockpile as leverage to gain back their OPEC Share, if OPEC doesn't give in to their demands the will dump all their stocks on the market crashing the OIL market prices.' Nobody wants $20/Barrel prices.