WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 16 Pages Price 10,000 Rials 39th year No.13175 Sunday AUGUST 5, 2018 Mordad 14, 1397 Dhi Al Qaeda 22, 1439 Movahedi Kermani Navy’s task is to Winfried Schaefer in Niavaran complex to calls on authorities to develop Makran, frame to be Iraq’s next host Constitutional counter inflation 2 admiral says 2 coach: report 15 Revolution exhibit 16 Arab NATO is unlikely to succeed: Askari EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW two mercenaries of the region—Egypt and By Javad Heirannia Jordan whose military are at the service New forex of anyone who can pay and who rely on TEHRAN – Professor Hossein Askari, financial handouts. It is not an effective an expert on Saudi Arabia who also teach- grouping of countries. Instead it is a mil- es international business at the George itary mishmash supported by the United Washington University, believes that if States and Israel.” you look at the members of Arab NATO, Hossein Askari, who teaches at George “it is the ‘usual suspects’ of the Persian Washington University, tells the Tehran Gulf—Saudi Arabia and the UAE plus Saudi Times that “This military coalition is un- policies approved Arabia’s tag along that is Bahrain—plus the likely to succeed.” 7 See page 4 Iran to open interest section in Riyadh POLITICS TEHRAN — After He said Mohammad Alibak, currently deskyears of diplomatic director of the Foreign Ministry’s Oman blackout between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and Yemen Office, will be appointed as Tehran plans to soon open an interest head of Iran’s interest section in Riyadh. section in Riyadh. Qassemi also voiced Iran’s readiness to In an interview with PANA news agency hold negotiations with Saudi Arabia to heal published on Saturday, Foreign Ministry the rift, saying Tehran has not rejected calls spokesperson Bahram Qassemi announced for mediation by third countries. However, that the Islamic Republic’s plan for the he said, Saudi Arabia appears to be reluctant interests section is well underway. to mend ties with Iran. 2 China won’t accept U.S. trade “blackmail” China’s state media said on Saturday the less than half of that proposed by U.S. government’s retaliatory tariffs on $60 President Donald Trump’s administration. billion of U.S. goods showed rational re- The response follows the Trump ad- straint and they accused the United States ministration’s proposal of a 25 percent of blackmail. tariff on $200 billion worth of Chinese Late on Friday, China’s finance ministry imports. unveiled new sets of additional tariffs on “China’s countermeasures are ra- 5,207 goods imported from the United tional,” the Global Times, a tabloid run States, with the extra levies ranging from by the official People’s Daily, said in a president.ir five to 25 percent on a total value of goods commentary. 13 ARTICLE ARTICLE Hanif Ghaffari Idlib in the crosshairs Chris Cook Political analyst By Farzad Farhadi the Islamic State terror group in southwestern the suburbs of Suwayda and Rif Damascus, Oil expert TEHRAN — Russian’s stance regarding northern Syria surrendered. An operation to eliminate Palmyra and and Deir ez-Zor province.” and southern Syria in the past week suggests illegal armed groups in Syria’s southwestern “Militants of the terrorist organization Hayat that new developments are underway on the provinces of Suwayda, Daraa and Quneitra took Tahrir al-Sham, known formerly as Jabhat al-Nus- Despair of Trump battlefields in Syria. place this past month. The countries acting ra along with other groups are concentrating their An Energy “The work [in Syria] is in full swing, though as guarantors in the southern de-escalation manpower in the north of Lattakia and Hama against Iran’s power a lot remains to be done. At the same time, it is zone, namely, the United States and Jordan, Governorates and to the southeast of Aleppo. Revolution necessary to strike a final blow against terrorists failed to take any measures when the situation They shelled the residential quarters” Maj.-Gen. .S. President Donald Trump and his near Idlib, who still remain there,” Lavrov said in southern Syria has deteriorated, although Alexei Tsygankov, the head of the Russian center t’s time for Iran to get real in dealing Foreign Minister Mike Pumpo have while speaking on the sidelines of the 51st As- they were regularly briefed on the situation for reconciliation of the warring sides in Syria, with current financial crisis. By this I recently called for talks with the Islam- sociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) there. The Syrian army, with the support of the said on Thursday. Imean Iran needs real world solutions U enabling access to global markets in the ic Republic of Iran. Even Trump took a step ministerial meeting in Singapore recently. Russian forces, was able to liberate the entire The Russian center for reconciliation calls on further and proposed “negotiation without Chief of the Main Operational Directorate region. The adjacent area of al-Tanf, which is the field commanders of the illegal paramilitary face of U.S. financial sanctions: solutions preconditions” with Iran. The recent positions of the Russian General Staff, Colonel General under the control of U.S. forces, are seeing groups to renounce armed provocations and to for rebuilding Iran’s domestic economy by Trump and his team about Iran have been Sergei Rudskoy, in an interview with Russia an increase in the presence of ISIS terrorists turn to the path of peaceful settlement in the using Iranian resources as far as possible addressed by many international analysts. Today, has said: “More than 160 members of trying to use the area as a base for attacking districts under their control. 7 may then follow. Many analysts believe that Trump does not Real currency have the power to confront “powerful Iran.” Having visited Iran a dozen times Analysts rightly believe that Trump, though, Amid surge in violence, Afghanistan sets date for 2019 presidential election since 2004, I now receive maybe five can manage “White House behavior” over INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Afghan authori- ted to ensuring the transparency and integrity of since Dostum, who was accused by a political times more Iranian currency for €1.00 other international issues, he will not be able deskties have announced April 20, both parliamentary and presidential elections”. rival of torture and rape, was unceremoniously than I did then. In the meantime while to handle the behavior of actors such as the 2019 as the date for next presidential election, when Almost nine million voters, including three forced by Ghani to fly to Turkey last year. Dostum the € cost of gasoline per litre has risen Islamic Republic of Iran. Regardless of what the five-year term of President Ashraf Ghani-led million women, have registered to vote for par- returned home a few weeks ago, as part of some several times more than the Riyal cost, the approach and purpose behind the recent national unity government (NUG) comes to an end. liamentary and presidential elections, despite deal with Ghani, according to sources. gasoline remains as useful in Europe and paradoxical behavior of American officials lies The announcement was made by Abdul Badi Sayed, threats from armed opposition groups, he said. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Ghani’s main rival in Iran as it was then. behind, there is a key word that can not be over- chairman of the Afghanistan Independent Election The United Nations Assistance Mission in the last presidential election and the strongman It is self-evident that a currency which looked in analyzing the recent 40-year history of Commission, who said many factors, including se- Afghanistan (UNAMA) welcomed the poll an- of northern Afghanistan, has also fell out with can be spent on useful energy (fuel for Iran and the United States: “A Powerful Iran.” curity, had to be taken into account. nouncement on Wednesday, calling it “an im- some of his powerful backers like former Balkh heat/cooling or transport) is valuable in “Powerful Iran” is not an abstract concept, Six months before the presidential election, portant moment for democracy in Afghanistan”. governor Ata Mohammad Noor, which has made exchange. Now I don’t know about you, but the output and product of a full realistic Afghanistan will also have parliamentary election, President Ghani, who has been railed for poor the election more interesting. Noor has reportedly but I do not have my own oil refinery, so calculation by most American strategists. scheduled to be held on October 20, after a lot governance and inability to stem violence, is expected expressed interest in running for the presidency. a currency which may only be exchanged Many analysts believe that the behavioral of dilly-dallying. to run again for the top office. However, observers The last presidential election in 2014 was for crude oil is not a great deal of use to paradox of Trump and other U.S. officials Abdul Azim Ibrahimi, the spokesperson for believe, there would be realignment of political marred by allegations of fraud and vote-rigging. me, even if I trust the issuer to supply towards Iran is due to their confusion in the commission, admitted that the deteriorating forces prior to the elections, since many political The two top contenders, Ghani and Abdullah, oil for which I may pay using this credit. dealing with the “powerful Iran.” security situation was a matter of concern; however leaders have switched sides in last two years. both claimed victory, resulting in a deadlock. The Venezuela’s oil-backed Petro currency In other words, Trump insists on opposing he hoped that the issue “will be solved by then”.