New york street festival, Iranian new year

Iranian new year in New York Norouz street festival ...

Persian gulf ... NOT gulf ! or ARABIAN gulf !!!!!!!

One of the funniest things I had ever heard in my life was in Norway. I was talking to an Arab friend from Palestine and he said that he has read an article in a newspaper claiming that Iran wants to call Persian gulf with the Persian adjective because we believe all those small Arabic countries around Persian gulf belongs to us !!! :-O

I had never heard this idea in Iran even from the most radical Iranians !!!

But anyway nowadays that everything is agianst Iran and Iranian being ( even against our ancient prides, Persian being ! ), Americans and British have left their old tactic calling Persian gulf, GULF and sometimes call it Arabian gulf.

Let's have a look at cartoons from Iran about this issue ...

Kiarash Zandi

Afshin Sabouki

Firouzeh Montazeri

Omid Massiie

Abolfazl Mohtarami

Ali Mirayi

Ali Derakhshi

Bahram Azimi

Iranians point of views on releasing sailors ...

People inside the country gave their reaction to the BBC News website and BBC Persian.com.

ALI ALIAKBARI, BUSINESSMAN, TEHRAN

It's down to negotiation that we have had a successful outcome. It's a massive relief.

Ali says he and his friends are relieved the hostages are home

I'm pleased that no-one came to any harm and the incident was resolved satisfactorily for both sides - Iranian and British.

There is a long way to go in the relationship between Britain and Iran. This crisis has been resolved but there is a lot of fence-mending to do.

I think we need an urgent review of British policy in Iran.

Politically, Iran requires diplomatic initiatives with regards to the global isolation we face.

There was a news black-out over the Iranian holiday. But since our media has been back online, all outlets have been raising this issue and asking lots of questions.

All Iranians I know are as happy as me that this issue has been resolved.

AKBAR JAVADI, NEWS ANALYST, IRAN

This situation was defused in the nick of time. I'm so pleased.

Everyone feels immense relief that this ghastly incident is now over.

People are just starting to really talk about it now.

This satisfactory solution was achieved by direct negotiations and diplomacy.

There is some speculation among the Iranian people about whether or not the boat was found in Iranian waters.

Some are wondering whether the whole thing was stage-managed.

NARIMAN MOSTOSI, STUDENT, IRAN

It is a good thing they have been released, especially the lady.

The Iranian people are glad it's come to an end.

Faye Turney and Marine Mark Banks at Heathrow Airport, April 5

We saw the pictures of the sailors on the national news service. Iranians were happy that the sailors were well cared for.

The pictures clearly show that.

The majority of people here believe the sailors were in Iranian territorial waters and the British government should apologise.

People are a little bit upset about that.

However, with the release, we hope this is the end of the problem.

SINA, TEHRAN, IRAN

It's very interesting! Passing through VIP lounge with suits and gifts!

On the other side of the Atlantic they dress them in orange clothes, blindfolded and shackled while being threatened by dogs.

I didn't exactly understand what Mr Blair's 48 hour announcement was about.

What was it that suddenly made Iran so soft? What did they whisper in their ears?

Honestly, Ahmadinejad has the world in his hands. I didn't like him before, but now I admire him.

EBRAHIM, TEHRAN, IRAN

The British sailors should thank God that they are not Iranian, nor students or teachers.

Otherwise they would have been locked up by the Revolutionary Guards and the Intelligence Services and they would never have been released so easily.

At the end of the day I'm happy that no one was harmed.

I think Blair and Ahmadinejad each think they have come out of this looking like the winner.

Source : BBCNews

P.S. My opinion : Don't forget that one Iranian diplomat who was kidnapped in Iraq was released just one day before British release and Iran is sending a diplomat to check on the other 5 arrested diplomats in American prisons. There was a deal Mr. Blair ... It's obvious ...

British sailors released, Iran to visit arrested diplomats ...

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says 15 British naval personnel captured in the (PERSIAN)* Gulf will be freed as a "gift to the British people" in eastern holidays.

At the same time, Iran sent a diplomat to visit 5 Iranian diplomats (which U.S. claims that they are Spepah Pasdaran generals ), who are under arrest of American forces in Iraq. I should add one other Iranian diplomat who was kidnapped by unknown people in Iraqi military uniform was released yesterday !!!

Both sides decline the relation between two cases.

* The news source is BBC and they call PERSIAN GULF without its international adjective called PERSIAN !!! This is one of the reasons that makes Iranians think that western powers have anti-Iranian mentality.

End of Norouz festival ...

Today is 13th of Farvardin ( first month of Iranian calender ) and is the end of New Year celebration in Iran. According to an old tradition Iranians tie grass today and wish while they are tieing the grass.

I hope a year full of peace and friendship for the whole world ...

Shahab,

Turkey, Bush and Ahmadinejad ;-)

Today Presidents G.W. Bush and M. Ahmadinejad, visited in Turkey and talked out all the problems between two countries in this one meeting !!!

After this meeting Iranian government spokesman announced in a media meeting that Iran will take part in Iraq security mission with 10,000 trained military forces.

In Washington, White house spokesman told Newsweek that U.S. is going to help Iran building two advanced nuclear reactors and full circle of enrichment of uranium.

Yooohhuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu ...

Source : Iranian tradition of 13th Lie

13, outdoor ... Iranians and traditions

13, outdoor or as it is called in Persian language "sizdabedar", is another old Persian tradition that Iranians do their best to keep it still alive between themselves. On 13th day of spring (and exactly New Iranian Year which starts with spring), cities turn to ghost cities because every single Iranian family takes a trip to countryside to spend the 13th day of spring outdoor and eat there together plus there is a tradition to say a lie on the 13th of Farvardin which is called "13TH LIE".

Lets have a look at the photos from inside and outside Iran :

Photos from inside Iran : ( Farsnews agency )

But photos from outside Iran ( U.S.A ) : - Photos from B.B.C Persian -

13th outdoor again in Tehran from BBCPersian :