soon aspossible. as position in Iranianfootball from their of thefootballfederation shouldresign networks, the board of directors’ members social shownatmediaaswell outrage, mistake. costly their for pay must scandal and contract, arealsoresponsiblefor sucha Wilmots’ Marc signed have all who tors, disgrace. management themselves fromthecontractscandaland the dealwithWilmots,soughttodistance ation, includingthosewhoinvolved in verdictreceived thefromFIFA. had they of endingthecontractwithhim. market value, butalsooverthemanner mots, whowaspaidmuchmorethanhis Wil Marc with contract the concluding not onlyoverthemannerofselectingand football fans. Theyhavevoicedtheiranger amongtheIranianauthoritiesand anger tions by the Iranian Football Federation’. what hecalled‘seriouscontractualviola as justaftersixmatchesinchargedueto position his left appearance,but Cup World lead Iran intheirquestforasixthFIFA to contract three-year a with 2019 May 6,500,000 euros to Wilmots. pay sentenced to FFIRI was the so that Status CommitteewasagainsttheIranians lawsuit, but the verdict of the FIFA Players’ hadalotofhopestowinthe federation his timeasheadcoach. non-payment during for FIFA FFIRIto of themistakesintheircontracts. much, andsomeotherstakeadvantage Some ofthecoachesareearningfartoo who signedtheforeignplayersandcoaches. N all time biggest scandalof Iran football’s Wimots’s case, but finally admitted that ly deniedtheissueoffailurein tract withaforeigner. gal issueswhenconcludingacon le and financial many consider to haveclubs andfootballfederations but generallyinmodernfootball, nian football, and, notonlyinIran president.ir By FarrokhHesabi Tehran Times journalist It seemsthatinresponsetothepublic Members of the FFIRI’s board of direc The top officials of the football feder and astonishment caused has case The Wilmots filed a complaint against the However, thereisnoexcuseforpeople The Iranian football federation first The Belgiancoachwasappointedin football Iranian the of directors The simple, especially in the Ira inthe simple, especially from far is contract coach’s head aforeign egotiating Iran willfail complaintU.S. against Takht-Ravanchi says WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM ------2 Country beingrun by non-oilexport was internationally needed as a damned sword on the a “U” turn back to the starting point. The declaration the indictment list on the 18th of August was clearly Rafic Hariri. Minister Prime Lebanese the of assassination The tribunewascommissionedtoinvestigatethe brought bytheInternationalTribune. should be waiting for fifteen years for the alleged justice that been have people Lebanese the years, Fifteen 12 Pages Tehran Times/ Shahab Ghayoumi By AbirBassam But, after the long waiting for the indefinite results, handicrafts incentralIran Tens ofprojectstopromotetourism, create 280 job opportunities, he noted. has beenallocatedtotheprojects, whichwill gurated acrosstheprovince. that 40 tourism-related projects will be inau official in Yazd, also announced on Wednesday opportunities for 400 people, the official added. lion), the mentioned projects will generate job with abudgetof1.6trillionrials(about$38mil- said onWednesday. provincial tourismchiefFereydounAllahyari willcomeon sectors stream in Isfahan province, casion of the Government Week (August 24-30). Iranian provinces ofYazdandIsfahanontheoc are scheduledtobeinauguratedacrosscentral TEHRAN — The projectsincludeeco-lodgeunites, tradi A budget of 1.1 trillion rials (about $26 million) Mirshamsi,Mohammad aprovincialtourism sector and private the with In collaboration Some 55 projects in tourism and handicrafts Price50,000Rials A total of 95 tourism-related projects record high power plantshits Gas supplyto 1.00EURO International Tribune: chapter Anon-closed 4.00AED - - - with an editor to unspecified Israeli newsletter. working was wife his because resign to Roth forced the vice president of the tribune Robert International Tribune, Sir David Baragwanath, anese newspaper al-Akhbar, the president of the directly involved in it. from the start by judges and investigators who were international investigations because it was doubted necks of Syria and Hezbollah. 5 42ndyear According to an article published by the Leb However, it is difficult to trust the results of the the coronavirus isanewexperienceindealing the virus stoptourism?the Certainlynot. Forus, standstill.“Coronaisafact,complete butcan rus pandemicshouldnotbringtravelingtoa Ali-Asghar Mounesansaidthatthecoronavi tourism destination in 2019. a countrythatrankedthethirdfastest-growing impact wouldbetemporaryandshort-livedfor boom aftercoronaviruscontained, believingits since theoutbreakofcoronaviruspandemic, rials) 42,000 of rate official the at billion $2.85 sector has suffered a loss of 12 trillion rials (some forbetterplanning.”opportunity thankfully governments areturningthisintoan disaster,and a such with deal to how world the with crisesthatteachestourismexpertsaround tional restaurants, andaccommodationcenters. Some expertsexpectIrantoachieveatourism However, on Monday, he noted that Iran’s travel Earlier thismonth,thetourismminister not permanent and ‘cruel’ sanctionsare House’ ‘tyrannical White President says No.13741

Thursday

AUGUST 8 cancelled friendly Iran, Uzbekistan 20,2020 - - the country. across stadiums 48 and mosques) (large experts aremonitoring theexamprocess. outbreak, seventhousandenvironmental health of artandforeignlanguages. human sciencesalongwithtwoother groups ematical sciences, experimental sciences,and compared tolastyear. didates, which shows an increase of 274,440 and will run through August 22. health protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic exam (Konkur) started on Wednesday under TEHRAN – take tosupposed was parade Hariri roads or road the about information had who person only the was Wissam al-Hassan assassination in 2012. Al-Hassan the investigators, especially the facts related to the facts involved the inquiry was totally ignored by manyinterview, said recorded he a In evidence. another accusation of deliberately dropping crucial the evidence. And Mrs. Roth was accused of tampering with See page2 See Konkur kicks Due tothespecialconditionscaused bythe Konkur includesthreemaingroups ofmath The exam will be attended by 1,393,233 can Former UN investigator Bo Astrom announced The examisbeing heldat10mosallas .

Mordad 30,1399 amid ongoing protests U.S. protests:Police declareriot in Portland provide programs. and pandemic the address to efforts support other services. Kafouryaskedthatresidents she said. the spreadofcoronavirus isdistributed, a lobbywhereprotectiveequipmentagainst OregonLive reported. There was damage to sion chair Deborah Kafoury, the commis- county said vandalized, and fire on OfficeSheriff’s said. “burning material”inside, theMultnomahCounty smashing windows on the first floor, and threw ordered peopletoleavethearea. Peoplewere day nightoutsidethebuilding, policesaid. They ongoing protestsoverracialinjustice. U.S. pandemic

7 “In such a difficult, uncertain time, our com - The MultnomahCountyBuildingwasset According toAP,theriotwasdeclaredTues The buildingisusedformarriages,among off amid I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y

11 police havedeclaredariotinPortlandamid Iran’s national university entrance

9 Organization (JQA) and the Internation Assurance Quality Japan the by 15 to 7 which isco-organizedforchildrenaged winners of first prizes at the competition, Children’s Drawing Contest in Japan. the 20th JQA International Environmental been honoredintheinternationalsectionof AmjadianandNasimZamaniMelika have TEHRAN – the pastyear. million tonsinthesametimespanof 9.468 was figure the while year, this the four-monthperiodofin produced million tonsofspongeironhasbeen previous year. pared tothesameperiodoftimein calendar year (March 20-July 21) com- first four months of the current Iranian in Iran increased 12 percent during the iron sponge of TEHRAN — Production involved innationalprogramssuchas industries andminescommittee. meeting with members of the parliament’s driving forceforotherindustries. the defenseindustryisapioneeringand is advancing,notingthat industry defense Iran’s that Wednesday on said Hatami —DefenseMinisterAmir TEHRAN Production ofspongeProduction ironincreases Melika Melika and Nasim are among the 23 As reported by IRIB, more than 10.581 The defensechiefsaidthemilitaryis Hatami madetheremarksduringa Japanese environmentaldrawing contest Iran tounveiltwo new missiles

Dhul Hijjah Dhul Hijjah honors paintings byIranianchildren Paintings byIranianchildren 12% in4monthsyr/yr 30, 1441

Oregonian/ - - on Thursdayon from the JCPOA in May 2018 and has not par- a JCPOA participant. subsequently, the UScannotbeconsideredas ticipated in any JCPOA structures or activities UN sanctions because it withdrew from the JCPOA. the U.S. hasnolegalrighttotrigger thesnapbackof that announced Council, theEUhas Security UN the in defined as process snapback the trigger to of allUNsanctionsonIran. highly controversialprocessoftriggeringareturn the resolution, theU.S. isnowpoisedtoinitiatethe Council rejectedtheresolution. Withthefailureof of aUNarms embargoonIranbuttheSecurity put forwardaresolutioncallingfortheextension U.S. the Friday, On (JCPOA). Action of Plan sive which is officially known as the Joint Comprehen Iran’s non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, to theUNSecurityCouncilaboutwhatU.S. calls Council presidentforAugust. UN AmbassadorDianTriansyahDjani,theSecurity retary-General Antonio Guterres and Indonesia’s Sec UN including officials UN the with meet to Thursday on York New travelto likely will Pompeo UN sanctionsonIran,of SecretaryStateMike snapback a trigger to efforts U.S. the for support fromtheinternationalcommunity. opposition sanctions onIranwilllikelyfacestrong back UN theTehranTimesthatU.S.tell move tosnap sanctions onIranreachesacriticalpoint,analysts —AstheU.S.TEHRAN pushtoreinstateallUN sanctions onIran over snapbackofUN E3 facesdilemma - “Given thattheUSunilaterally withdrew According toaReutersreport, inabidtomuster While theU.S. claimsithas thelegalauthority Pompeo isalsoexpectedtosubmitacomplaint recovering. has beenreleasedfromahospitalandis in astatement. Thevictim oftheassault saidpolice 25, Love, Marquise suspect, authoritiessaid. assaulted, courthouse. Thedriver crashedandwasthen truck afewblocksfromthedowntownfederal 10:30 p.m. Sundayofprotesterschasinga demonstrations. pickup truckonasidewalknearongoing a mantothegroundafterhecrashedhis a suspectaccusedofpunchingandkicking Floyd inMinneapolis. George of killing police the following months racked Oregon’s biggest city for more than two allofustoworktogether,”munity needs shesaid. to go on stage at Rudaki Rudaki at stage on go to performances Tazieh Open-Air Theater Theater Open-Air - Authorities aretryingtotrackdownthe Police onTuesdaysaidtheyhaveidentified Demonstrations thatoftenturnviolenthave Authorities hadreceivedareportaround Children andYoungAdults. forIntellectualDevelopmentof Institute awardedhonorablementions. were Hosseinnejad Sama and Eshqi Hannaneh Mirhaj,Arefeh SarinaRabiHamedani, Tokyo Office. (IQNet). It is also supported by the UNICEF Network Organization Certification al month inthepastyear. (May 21-June 20) compared to the third third Iranian calendarmonthKhordad creased 16 percent to 661,466 tons in the produced in the first quarter of this year. quarter ofthepreviousyear. (March 20-June 20) compared to the first during the first quarter of the current year sponge iron in Iran has also risen 12 percent pabilities. ca deterrence and its defense promote many playersanditisnecessarythatIran region wherethereare in astrategic ed is readytohelptheprivate sector. istration. admin the and (parliament) Majlis by “space program” and other fields favored The children are the members of Iran’s In addition, theIranianchildren Meanwhile, sponge iron output in output iron Meanwhile,sponge Over 8.213 tons of sponge iron has been As previously reported, productionof Hatami alsosaidthedefenseindustry TheministeralsosaidIranislocat

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12 ------I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS AUGUST 20, 2020

Time for Washington Takht-Ravanchi says U.S. to change tack, Zarif says of 1953 US-UK coup against Iran complaint against Iran will fail POLITICAL TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Moham- deskmad Javad Zarif has said that the United POLITICAL TEHRAN — Majid vote, the U.S. resolution received support desk States keeps getting humiliated by the Iranian people Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s only from the Dominican Republic, leav- and it is time for it to change tack. ambassador to the United Nations, has ing it far short of the minimum nine yes “67 years ago today, US/UK tried to suffocate the said that the United States’ move to file a votes needed. Iranian people’s demand for dignity in a coup over- complaint against Iran at the UN Security Russia and China voted against the throwing their elected government. Since 1979, the US Council will fail, calling it a “defeated resolution. The other members, including has desperately tried to resuscitate the past. Yet it keeps policy”. France and Britain as permanent members getting humiliated by the Iranian people. Time to change Washington is reportedly planning to of the council, and Germany refused to tack?” he tweeted on Tuesday. submit a complaint to the UN Security vote in favor of the U.S. resolution. Council over allegations of Iran’s non-com- After Washington’s humiliating failure pliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, even at the Security Council, U.S. President though the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from Donald Trump announced that he intends the historic pact in May 2018. to trigger the snapback mechanism, which U.S. diplomats and a UN official said would reimpose international sanctions Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is likely against Iran at the United Nations. to travel to New York on Thursday to seek Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad a return of all UN sanctions on Iran and Zarif said on Monday that the U.S. “killed” meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio the JCPOA, “buried” it and held a “funeral” Guterres, Reuters reported. for it, but even the corpse of the nuclear Pompeo is likely to meet with Indo- pact defeated the United States. nesia’s UN Ambassador Dian Triansyah The chief Iranian diplomat argued that Djani, the Security Council president for the Americans thought they could secure August, to submit the complaint, diplo- 9 votes, which would prompt Russia and mats said. China to veto the resolution, but it didn’t Takht-Ravanchi said, “The United even needed those countries using their States should learn lesson from the former veto power. UN’s arms embargo against Iran, which is On 19 August 1953, the democratically elected govern- session of the Security Council in which it against Iran cannot be called diplomacy. According to Zarif, the fact that Russia due to expire in October under the Joint ment of Iran led by Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddeq could just be able to have the Dominican On Friday, the UN Security Council and China voted against the resolution Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). was overthrown. The coup was orchestrated jointly by the Republic as accompany.” almost unanimously refused to back a demonstrated the two countries’ insistence During the 15-member Security Council United States, under the name “Pejak Project”, and the He noted that the U.S. policy of pressure U.S.-drafted resolution on extending the on their stance. United Kingdom, under the name of “Operation Boot”. The coup saw the formation of a military government under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, who progressed from a constitutional monarch to an authoritarian one who relied heavily on United States’ support to hold Rouhani: Country being run by non-oil export on to power until his own overthrow in February 1979. President says ‘tyrannical White House’ and ‘cruel’ sanctions are not permanent In 1989, the U.S. State Department first released coup-related documents, but edited out any reference to POLITICAL TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani “tyrannical White House” and “cruel” sanctions are not American or British involvement. Since then, the omission desksaid on Wednesday that the Iranian econ- permanent. of CIA’s role has been widely criticized by historians. omy is being managed by non-oil exports, which he said “We have stood against the sanctions which will come Finally, in 2013, the CIA publicly admitted for the is “unprecedented” in the past several decades. to an end. If anyone in Iran thinks that this tyrannical first time that it was behind the coup. It also released “We are managing the country with non-oil export. administration of the White House and the cruel sanctions documents that showed how the British government This is a very important issue. It is unprecedented in the are permanent, they are mistaken, because both tyrants in tried to block the release of information about its own history of Iran. Neither before the (1979) Revolution and the White House and the sanctions will not last forever,” involvement in overthrow of Mosaddegh. nor after the Revolution,” Rouhani said during a cabinet the president stated. meeting. He added, “Sanctions will fall apart… We made them He added, “This year only 10% of the budget relies understand that they have made a mistake through our on oil.” resistance and the White House has fully understood Saudi Arabia issues Iran’s current year started on March 20, 2020. that they were wrong, but they were helpless in the way The president went on to say that in certain years, they took, and it is difficult for them to find a way out.” desperate calls for extension when the oil price was high, Iran’s oil income reached ‘Snapback mechanism is doomed to failure’ of anti-Iran UN arms ban about 100 billion dollars. He said even in 2011 Iran’s oil Elsewhere, Rouhani said that the U.S. attempt to trigger income hit 102 billion dollars. snapback mechanism is doomed to failure. (Press TV) — The Saudi regime has issued a desperate “Our dear people should know this reality that once in a He noted that the U.S. is not a party to the 2015 nuclear and the move is opposed by the remaining parties to the call for the extension of a UN arms embargo against Iran year 100 billion dollars of oil money were deposited in the deal anymore and all sides have condemned Washington’s accord - Germany, Britain, France, Russia, China and Iran. only days after the UN Security Council said a resounding treasury… today there is no such 100 billion dollars and attempt to try resort to such a ploy. Only the Dominican Republic voted in favor of the U.S. ‘No’ to a U.S. resolution seeking an illegal extension of this is an honor for the government to say that is managing “The world is aware what will happen if the United draft resolution to extend arms embargo against Iran. 11 the embargo. its trade” with the least reliance on oil, Rouhani stated. States takes step in this dead-end path. They themselves other countries, including Europeans, abstained. China The cabinet, chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al The Trump administration, which unilaterally withdrew have burned the bridge and imagine that there is still a and Russia opposed. Saud on Tuesday, demanded the extension of the arms from the 2015 nuclear deal in May 2018, has imposed a total bridge for them to cross,” the president remarked. Rouhani thanked all the 11 countries, especially Russia embargo on Iran, alleging that the removal of the sanc- oil embargo against Iran in violation of international law. After a defeat at the UN Security Council on Friday to and China, which did not vote for the resolution. tions will lead to “more destruction” and further fuel Before the sanctions, Iran was the third largest oil extend arms embargo on Iran which expires in October, The Security Council has 15 members. The five permanent conflicts in the Middle East region. producer within OPEC. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration plans to use members (China, France, Russian Federation, the United It also pledged the kingdom’s support for all inter- Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani said the current the snapback provision, even though it quit the deal in 2018 Kingdom, and the United States) and 10 non-permanent national measures that contribute to stopping Iran’s members. regional clout. “They themselves (Americans) have burned the bridge The current non-permanent members are Belgium, and imagine that there is still a bridge for them to Dominican Republic, Estonia, Germany, Indonesia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Tunisia cross,” Rouhani notes. and Vietnam. Vaezi says tankers seized by U.S. do not belong to Iran POLITICAL TEHRAN — Presidential its legal rights, and so far has not permit- likely only be seized by U.S. authorities if deskchief of staff Mahmoud ted any country to take such actions,” the the tankers enter U.S. territorial waters. Vaezi said on Wednesday that the tankers source said. In the civil-forfeiture complaint, U.S. seized by the United States and the cargo Iranian Ambassador to Venezuela Hojat federal prosecutors aim to stop delivery of they were carrying did not belong to Iran. Soltani tweeted on August 14, “Another lie Iranian gasoline aboard the Liberia-flagged “These tankers do not belong to Iran. and psychological warfare by the United Bella, Bering, Pandi and Luna, according Anyway, oil is being sold and purchased States’ imperialism propaganda machine. to the lawsuit, first reported by the Wall The Security Council on Friday rejected a U.S. reso- in international waters. About the issue The tankers are neither Iranians, nor their Street Journal. lution to extend the arms embargo on Iran that is due that the oil may have belonged to Iran, owners or flags have anything to do with Boasberg issued the warrant for the to expire in October under a 2015 nuclear agreement we do not follow the oil that we sell and Iran. The terrorist Trump cannot make up seizure of the gasoline in the tankers based between Tehran and six other world countries. receive its money,” he told reporters on for his humiliation and defeat towards the on probable cause that the fuel is forfeitable, Besides the U.S., only one of the Council’s 15 mem- the sidelines of a cabinet meeting. great Iranian nation through fake prop- the Justice Department said. bers — the Dominican Republic — voted in favor of the “The tankers were not Iran-flagged aganda.” The lawsuit also aims to stop the flow U.S.-drafted resolution, which had the support of the and others have purchased their cargo,” U.S. prosecutors filed a lawsuit in July to of revenues from oil sales to Iran. Saudi regime and its allies at the Persian Gulf Cooper- he noted. seize four tankers sailing towards Venezuela Five Iranian oil tankers by the names of ation Council (GCC). U.S. officials claimed on August 13 that ship owners, insurers and captains with with gasoline supplied by Iran. Petunia, Forest, Faxon, Clavel, and Fortune The vote highlighted the division between Washing- the Trump administration has seized the sanction to force them to hand over their The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District carried fuel to Venezuela despite the United ton and its European allies since U.S. President Donald cargo of four tankers which was targeting cargo, which now becomes U.S. property, Court for the District of Columbia, was States’ sanctions. The last of them entered Trump unilaterally withdrew from Iran’s nuclear accord, for transporting Iranian fuel to Venezuela, the official said. followed by a warrant issued by U.S. Venezuelan waters on June 1. which is officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan The Associated Press reported. An informed Iranian source told Nour District Judge James Boasberg for the The tankers carried 1,520,000 barrels of Action (JCPOA) and has been endorsed by Security A senior U.S. official told AP that no News that no Iranian tanker has been seized. seizure of the more than 1.1 million barrels of gasoline and diesel fuel to Venezuela. Council Resolution 2231, in May 2018. military force was used in the seizures and “As it has been announced for several of gasoline in the four vessels, Reuters There was also a team of Iranian engineers Prior to the session, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the that the ships weren’t physically confis- times, the Islamic Republic of Iran will reported. and specialists from the oil industry on UN Abdul Aziz al-Wasel had called for the extension of cated. Rather, U.S. officials threatened respond to any hostile action that limits Legal sources said the gasoline could board heading for the country. the arms embargo on Iran, claiming that Tehran funnels weapons to certain groups to disturb the peace in the Middle East. The allegations come despite the fact that Saudi Arabia is known to be actively supporting and aiding the Takfiri Iran expresses readiness to help Afghanistan peace process terrorist groups wreaking havoc across the region. Moreover, the oil-rich conservative kingdom has POLITICAL TEHRAN — In a telephone conversation comprehensive agreement between Iran and Afghanistan. been engaged in a bloody campaign against neighboring deskwith his Afghan counterpart on Wednes- Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry also issued a statement Yemen since March 2015 with the aim of reinstating a day morning, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the call, saying that Iran expressed readiness to host Riyadh-friendly former government there. expressed Iran’s readiness to help peace negotiations the Afghanistan peace talks. The Riyadh regime has not been alone in the atrocious in Afghanistan. According to the Afghan statement, the two sides campaign. It has been flanked by regional allies and enjoys The two sides exchanged views on many issues includ- exchanged views on a broad range of issues including arms supplies from its Western backers. ing Afghanistan’s peace process, the need to continue strengthening regional and international consensus on Over 100,000 people have been killed, according to the intra-Afghan talks without any foreign interference, the peace, reducing hostilities, releasing the remaining some semi-official figures. preserving the achievements of the past 18 years, and prisoners, and the decisions made by the Loya Jirga, a The war has also destroyed and shut down Yemen’s Iran’s readiness to help the Afghanistan peace negotia- consultative system made up of high-ranking Afghan figures. infrastructure. The Yemeni population has been subject- tions, according to a statement issued by Iran’s Foreign The call came days after reports in the U.S. media ed to large-scale hunger and diseases aggravated by the Ministry. accused Iran of offering bounties to the Taliban for tar- naval blockade imposed on the country by the coalition Zarif also discussed with Hanif Atmar, the acting geting American and coalition forces in Afghanistan, a of aggressors. foreign minister of Afghanistan, the issue of finalizing a claim that Iran firmly denied. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 20, 2020 IRAN IN FOCUS 3

U.S. attempts to fight multilateralism Iranian Defense Ministry to unveil two new missiles doomed to failure: ambassador on Thursday POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iranian Am- continuation of the hegemony of a power Defense industry is a pioneering and driving deskbassador to Paris Bahram with a long record of breaching international force, Hatami says Qassemi has said U.S. attempts to fight law and human rights. multilateralism and violate international Multilateralism is the only solution to 1 “We have to increase our domestic deterrent and defense norms is doomed to failure. the current problems the international com- power, and we need independent research budget to reach objec- In a statement on Tuesday, Qassemi munity is suffering from, he noted. tives of our strategic policies. We hope the 11the Majlis (sitting wrote that what happened at the UN Se- Following Washington’s failure at the UN parliament), as before, would pay attention to this important curity Council meeting was a new process Security Council, Trump announced that he issue,” General Hatami pointed out. which can lead to fascinating consequences, intends to trigger the snapback mechanism, IRNA reported. which would reimpose international sanc- He was pointed to the United States’ ef- tions against Iran at the United Nations. forts to extend an arms embargo on Iran, In response, Foreign Minister Moham- which ended in a humiliating defeat at the mad Javad Zarif said in a tweet on Sunday UN Security Council on Friday. Only the that United States’ recourse to the snapback Dominican Republic backed the U.S.-anti- mechanism under resolution 2231 has “no Iran resolution. The vote highlighted the leg to stand on,” as Trump has withdrawn division between Washington and its Eu- the U.S. from the nuclear deal, officially ropean allies since Trump withdrew from called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of the nuclear accord in May 2018. Action (JCPOA). According to Qassemi, the U.S., as a In his Monday night televised interview, Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, permanent member of the UNSC faced a the foreign minister also said the U.S. is not Hatami also said three defense projects will be inaugurated on historic defeat which can be considered a dominant power in the world anymore, Thursday, which coincides with National Defense Industry Day. a turning point in the contemporary era. hinting at its failure with the UNSC vote The production line of the engine used in the Kowsar fighter jets and He described the role of Iran’s diplomacy considered precisely, fairly and reasonably. favor and against the U.S. draft resolution on Friday as a sign of the decline of Wash- two new missile products will be unveiled, the defense minister said. as undeniable, saying such role should be The ambassador said that the votes in indicated that the world is concerned about ington’s power. Speaking in a press conference on Sunday, Hatami said, “There are also achievements in missile, drone, marine and aerial areas which will be unveiled with the presence of the president by the Trump regards accepting Putin’s Bolton raps Trump for ‘not seeking end of the year.” The current Iranian calendar year ends on March 20, 2021. proposal as defeat, expert believes regime change’ in Iran The defense minister also said that the country will send sat- ellites into space by its two indigenized carriers named Simorq POLITICAL TEHRAN — An inter- POLITICAL TEHRAN — Former (Phoenix) and Zol Janah. desk desk national affairs expert U.S. national security He noted, “The Islamic Republic of Iran’s space program is believes U.S. President Donald Trump adviser John Bolton has criticized U.S. a permanent program which has passed several phases and has thinks accepting the proposal put for- President Donald Trump for not adopting several other phases ahead.” ward by his Russian counterpart Vladimir the policy of “regime change” in Iran. “The country needs heavier cargos over 100 kilogram to be Putin would be an acknowledgment of In an interview with BBC Persian broad- carried into space and we plan to carry heavier cargos to the defeat for him. cast on Tuesday night, Bolton claimed that higher altitude orbits which will be done by the Simorq and Zol “Trump thinks by [accepting] this the Islamic Republic’s current situation is Janah satellite carriers,” Hatami explained. proposal, the world would get out of his vulnerable, saying the way to change the “We have the Sarir satellite carrier for cargos weighing between hand and he regards accepting Putin’s establishment is through unrest. 300 kilogram to 1,000 kilogram and we will, of course, have So- proposal as a defeat for himself,” said The Iran hawk further said it is a great roush-1 and Soroush-2 satellite carriers for higher altitude orbits The Russian president’s call for de-es- adopted a policy of regime change,” he Sabah Zanganeh, in an interview with tragedy that the U.S. and other countries at 36,000 kilometer,” the Fars news agency quoted him as saying. IRNA published on Wednesday. calation came after the United States’ ef- have failed to help Iranian people “over- claimed. “I think that’s a mistake.” In a statement on Friday, Russian Pres- forts to extend an arms embargo on Iran throw the regime.” Bolton and some other former and ident Vladimir Putin proposed an online ended in a humiliating failure at the UN He also claimed that as long as the cur- current officials of the Trump adminis- summit with the U.S., Britain, France, Chi- Security Council. rent government is in power in Iran, the tration have attended the MEK’s meetings. E3 faces dilemma over snapback na, Germany and Iran in a bid to avoid “As the U.S. gets closer and closer to the region will not experience peace. Bolton has praised the terrorist group as “confrontation and escalation” at the UN. presidential elections, Trump gets more Trump ousted Bolton on September a “democratic alternative” to the Islamic of UN sanctions on Iran “The issue is urgent,” the Russian pres- and more inflicted with overexcitement 10, 2019. Bolton was infamous for his Republic. ident said, adding that the alternative was and behavioral changes,” Zanganeh said. ultra-hawkish stance toward Iran. The MEK was established in the 1960s “only further escalation of tensions, in- Zanganeh, a former Iran’s represent- Bolton ditches questions about to express a mixture of Marxism and Is- 1 We therefore consider that the US is not in a position to creasing risk of conflict - such a scenario ative at the Organization of the Islamic his ties with MEK lamism. It launched bombing campaigns resort to mechanisms reserved for JCPOA participants (such as the must be avoided.” Cooperation (OIC), also said everything Speaking at the National Press Club on against the Shah, continuing after the 1979 so-called snapback),” the DPA news agency quoted a spokeswoman The call was welcomed by some coun- the U.S. president is doing shows his in- Tuesday about his promise to celebrate Islamic Revolution, against the Islamic for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell as saying on Sunday. tries, including China and France, but ability in such circumstances. regime change in Iran in 2019, Bolton Republic. Iran accuses the group of being With the U.S. insisting on the triggering of the snapback pro- Trump dismissed it. “Trump’s numerous measures, such as dodged a question about his ties with the responsible for 17,000 deaths. cess, the European signatories to the JCPOA -France, Germany, The U.S. national security adviser inviting [others] to extend the Iran arms terrorist Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) group, Based in Iraq at the time, MEK mem- and the UK (E3) - seem to be caught in the middle between Iran Robert O’Brien said on Sunday that the embargo, encouraging the Emirates and the and called for “regime change” instead. bers were armed by former Iraqi dictator and the U.S., analysts told the Tehran Times. Russians are proposing a summit with Zionist regime to reach an agreement on “I didn’t hear the excerpt from my Saddam Hussein to fight against Iran during If the U.S. notifies the Security Council of Iran’s “non-com- the UN Security Council’s five permanent establishing political relations, threatening speech but I can tell you what I did say in a war that lasted for 8 years in the 1980s. pliance”, the Council would then have 30 days to solve the issue. members to try to “bully” the U.S. back to use the snapback mechanism and even 2018 was that the objective of the United In 2012, the U.S. State Department Some experts believe that the E3 can stop the U.S. efforts to re-im- into the Iran nuclear deal, officially called changing the U.S. special representative States’ policy should be regime change in removed the MEK from its list of desig- pose the UN sanctions by building consensus among countries the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for Iran, show his anger and inability in Iran before the 40th anniversary of the nated terrorist organizations under intense on the Security Council, and if the UN sanctions reinstated, the (JCPOA), which Trump walked away from exerting pressure on the Islamic Republic 1979 revolution,” he said. lobbying by groups associated with Saudi Europeans can mitigate the effects of sanctions. in May 2018. of Iran,” he added. “The Trump administration never Arabia and other regimes opposed to Iran. “The Europeans can save the JCPOA. They can prevent the Security Council from holding a session on Iran or refuse to participate in the session. They also can convince their allies to refrain from taking part in the session. Furthermore, if the U.S. succeeds in reinstating the UN sanctions on Iran, the Europeans can The Trump administration is hungry for war with Iran refrain from implementing the sanctions,” Hassan Beheshtipour, (Excerpt from The Independent) — As the world bat- 2018 to carry out covert operations against Iran, with the provoked into escalating the situation. Israel also appears an expert on Iran’s nuclear program, told the Tehran Times. tles a deadly pandemic and the global community calls for objective to destabilize or collapse the country, according to have a hand in the alleged acts of sabotage, something it The Europeans didn’t say what they will do if the U.S. re-im- worldwide cooperation and ceasefires, Donald Trump’s to former officials. has carried out many times in the past. poses the UN sanctions on Iran. However, Beheshtipour believes hawkish policy on Iran has not changed. The international The most outspoken Iran hawk in the current adminis- As 1,000 Americans are dying per day from Covid-19, that the U.S. will fail to achieve its goals even if it succeeds in consensus on Iran has been centered around diplomacy and tration, Mike Pompeo, has been integral in Trump’s Iran this open and reckless antagonism against Iran appears slapping the international sanctions because other countries, the survival of the nuclear deal, which was confirmed again policy. Two weeks after Pompeo swore in as secretary of state, to be growing in scale – for instance, a recent egregious including the E3, would not cooperate with the U.S. in an unprecedented defeat of the U.S. at the UN Security Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear move by a U.S. fighter jet, which flew dangerously close to “The U.S. could trigger the snapback through a complicated process Council last week. Even America’s closest European allies, deal. Since then, none of the stated or supposed goals of the an Iranian civilian plane, or a sitting U.S. senator openly at the Security Council. However, it will not get the desired result, which the UK, Germany, and France, refused to vote for the U.S. administration’s “maximum pressure” policy have come to calling for the “collapse of the regime”. While we hear talk- is the return of the Security Council’s previous resolutions, because it resolution to extend an arms embargo on Iran. pass. Instead, Iran took measured steps to reduce its com- ing points that are familiar for anyone who lived through doesn’t coordinate with other countries. The implementation of the Iran hawks see this time of global crisis as an opportune pliance with the nuclear deal and we have seen a persistent the invasion of Iraq, there is little accountability for the resolutions is contingent on the cooperation of other countries such moment to go after a country of over 80m people, in a region increase in tensions, which almost led to war in January fallout of such a “collapse”. as Germany, Russia, the UK, France, and China with the U.S. These already beleaguered by decades of conflict and U.S. militarism. after the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. If Iran becomes a theatre of war, it will draw global geo- countries won’t implement the resolutions because they disagree with Rising tensions between Washington and Tehran since The upcoming appointment of another long-time Iran political actors to play out their own clashes in yet another the U.S. on the reinstatement of the UN sanctions,” Beheshtipour Trump unilaterally exited the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, and hawk to the post of Iran envoy, Elliott Abrams, who was West Asian country. The case of Iran today is nothing like argued, adding that “if the U.S. reinstates the UN sanctions, countries the belligerent rhetoric of this administration – especially involved in the Iran-Contra scandal under the Reagan the case of Iraq in 2003. It is not truly analogous to Syria opposing unilateralism won’t implement them.” from the Department of State led by Mike Pompeo – recalls administration, signals diminishing hopes for any di- either, and would likely have a much greater adverse impact. Some experts hold the belief that the U.S. push to reinstate the the build-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. However, the plomacy with Iran. Currently serving as Trump’s special What we do know for certain is that no one can afford UN sanctions could create a situation rarer than hens’ teeth, with pithy slogan, “Don’t Iraq Iran”, is not an accurate analogy representative for Venezuela, Abrams has been pushing another fruitless and devastating war. Millions of innocent some countries around the world refraining from implementing the to the situation of Iran today. In fact, a potential conflict for regime-change there and will most likely incorporate Iranians will bear the brunt of the havoc, but as we well UN Security Council’s resolutions while others implement them. with Iran will not be like the war in Iraq, instead, the more a similar policy in his new role. know, there will be reverberations throughout the world. Fowad Izadi, a professor of American studies at the University plausible comparison is Syria. As we near elections in November, the Trump administra- A Syrian-style civil war in Iran would devastate the entire of Tehran, previously told the Tehran Times that a U.S. move to Even the most determined hawks in Washington re- tion has failed to deliver few foreign policy victories. Protests region and even beyond the Middle East. snap back the UN sanctions on Iran would divide the world into alize that the war with Iraq was a mistake and that the against racism and police brutality continue unabated, the In the case of Iran, a peaceful solution is not only possible, two blocs: some countries would be obliged to follow the U.S. American people have no appetite for war. Yet, not only U.S. is first in the world in Covid-19 cases and deaths, and it already exists in the framework of the nuclear deal. The while others could ignore the U.S. pressure. has the U.S. under the Trump administration become in- the economy is inching towards recession. Seeing the likely Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is not only a “We know that the United States doesn’t follow international creasingly isolated from the international community, on scenario of a Biden victory, Iran hawks have doubled down deal on Iran’s nuclear program, it is a door to more diplo- law and they use different instruments that they have to engage the issue of Iran it is acting against the will of the global on their failed approach in hopes of sparking a conflict before macy between Tehran and the West and can pave the way in illegal activities. So the end result is going to be some countries consensus and America’s closest allies. Despite running on Trump may leave office. for negotiations and potential agreements on many issues. follow the U.S. dictates because they have no other choice, and a platform against the Iraq war and U.S. militarism in the A series of recent explosions and fires in Iran reflect apparent Neither Iranians nor Americans want war. At a time when some countries are going to be more independent and able to Middle East, and claiming that he wants a deal with Iran, efforts to destabilize the country, the fact that some were at the global community is facing insurmountable challenges, withstand the U.S. pressure,” the professor said. reports reveal that President Trump greenlit the CIA in crucial infrastructure sites rises the idea that Iran is being it is crucial to move towards peace. Whether the E3 withstand the U.S. pressures remains an open question. But if the U.S. administration follows through on its promise to force the return of UN sanctions on Iran, the E3 could soon find themselves standing at a crossroads in their policy toward Iran. If they choose the U.S., they may lose the Ron Paul warns Trump’s failed Iran policy may lead to war JCPOA. And if they choose to preserve the JCPOA, they could TEHRAN (Press TV) — Former U.S. con- of “arrogance at it greatest”, insisting that another indicator that the Trump admin- foaming at the mouth for war with Iran for risk deepening the schism between the two sides of the Atlantic gressman Ron Paul has warned that the Trump the use of force, and bullying a country to istration was on the wrong path and other years, along with the various neocons like Ocean. It remains to be seen which choice the E3 would make. administration’s failed Iran policy was leading submit to U.S. demands, was not the right members of the UNSC had understood this. Eliot Abrams who serve as cogs in the war It seems that the Europeans are giving up on their efforts to Americans to war in the West Asia region. direction for the Iran policy. Paul said U.S. Secretary of State Mike machine,” the article reads. preserve the nuclear deal, because they think the U.S. is hell-bent In an interview attached to a featured article “If people really, really cared about it they Pompeo and Special Representative for According to Paul, Trump’s West Asia pol- on dismantling the deal. European diplomatic sources told the titled Trump’s Failed Iran Policy Is Leading would be going in a different direction,” he Iran Elliot Abrams, who were currently icies had resulted in an escalation of tensions, Asharq Al Awsat newspaper that the E3 have not yet found the Us To War, Paul said Trump’s failed hostile said, pointing out that diplomatic relations running U.S. foreign affairs, were hawkish driving the region towards war. means to ward off what they consider as an “imminent danger”, “maximum pressure” policy against Iran had and trade deals were the right path to peace. neocons (neoconservatives), pursuing the “The friction is growing. It is growing very a threat to U.S.-European relations, and a weakening of the au- received no support by most other countries. “We should be able to talk to people. We objectives set by the deep state, which were much,” he said. thority of the Security Council. The former Republican congressman and should be able to trade with people,” he said. devised to benefit the owners of the military– Paul noted that, “It has been aggravated According to the European sources, the goal of Donald Trump presidential candidate referred to the Trump He noted that America’s defeat at the industrial complex. with the recently signed treaty between the and his administration is to “embarrass Iran, and force it out” administration’s Iran policy as an example United Nation Security Council (UNSC) was “Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been UAE and Israel,” he said. of the JCPOA. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY AUGUST 20, 2020

4.5m new trading accounts Production of opened in stock market in 4 months sponge iron ECONOMY TEHRAN — The head of Iran’s Securities deskand Exchange Organization (SEO) said that 4.5 million new trading accounts have been opened in the country’s stock market during the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-July 21). increases 12% in Hasan Qalibaf-Asl said it is while the number of trading accounts opened in the stock market was 820,000 in the past year and 50,000 in its preceding year, IRNA reported. 4 months yr/yr 1 Iran’s production of sponge iron the country increased four percent to 26.965 has climbed six percent to 27.907 million million tons from 25.826 million tons on an tons in the past Iranian calendar year (end- annual basis. ed on March 19), from 26.359 million tons Three projects each with a capacity of in its preceding year, according to the data 800,000 tons were launched in the country the country. through the direct reduction of iron ore in released by Iranian Steel Producers Asso- during the past Iranian year. Iran is only second to India globally in the strong state. It is a substitute for scrap ciation (ISPA). The projects were put into operation in terms of the volume of sponge iron produc- and therefore is mostly applicable in mak- The country’s export of sponge iron has the southeastern province of Kerman, South tion. The country is the 10th largest steel ing steel through the secondary route. The also risen 77 percent in the past year. Khorasan Province in east and Chaharma- producer in the world. procedure of sponge iron making aims to Meanwhile, sponge iron consumption in hal-Bakhtiari Province in the southwest of Sponge iron is a metallic product produced expel the oxygen from iron ore.

7th ship carrying Indian wheat for Afghanistan arrives in Chabahar ECONOMY TEHRAN — The seventh cargo ship cargo have started at Chabahar Port. Container transport The SEO head further announced that the new shareholders deskcarrying Indian donated wheat for Af- logistic costs to CIS countries will be reduced by 20 percent have entered the stock market with the average capital of 100 ghanistan with 352 containers has docked at Shahid Be- through Chabahar. So far, cargo to CIS countries from million rials (about $2,380) – 150 million rials (about $3,571). heshti port in Chabahar, southeastern Iran, a provincial India could be sent only via China or Europe,” he added. It should be noted that in late February, SEO set new official told IRNA on Wednesday. “If we want to send containers to CIS countries we regulations for the opening of trading accounts for the new Behrouz Aqaei, the director-general of Ports and Mar- can only send via Europe or China. There was no other shareholders in the country’s stock market. itime Department of Sistan-Baluchestan Province, where connectivity with CIS countries. Now, we have developed Based on an announcement by the SEO, the new applicants the strategic Chabahar Port lies, said that the consignment Chabahar Port and there is direct connectivity to these can conduct trade one month after opening their trading weighs about 8,800 tons. countries via Afghanistan,” the Indian minister noted. accounts and they are required to pass an exam given by He added that some 1,700 containers weighing 43,000 In 2016, Iran, India, and Afghanistan decided to Securities and Exchange Brokers Association (SEBA) or SEO tons of India’s wheat for Afghanistan have so far arrived jointly establish a trade route for land-locked Central during the one-month time, while they are also committed in Chabahar Port. Asian countries. to avoiding signal selling and some other actions, and if they The shipment has been sent to Afghanistan through the India sent its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan do so, their accounts will be blocked. Milak border in the southern part of Sistan-Baluchestan. through Iran’s Chabahar Port back in 2017. As decided by SEBA, the applicants are required to take India aims to donate some 75,000 tons of wheat to Later on, in February 2019, the Afghanistan-Iran-India the mentioned exam in person or virtually, and it is in line Afghanistan via the Iranian port city of Chabahar. trade corridor for the trade between the two countries with elevating the knowledge of shareholders. Refereeing to the arrival of other humanitarian wheat through Chabahar Port was officially inaugurated. Elsewhere in his remarks, the SEO head said that the Earlier, Union Minister of State for Shipping and Union from India to Afghanistan in the upcoming months of India which initially committed up to $500 million for capital market was not paid attention by the people in the Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilizers of India the current year, Aqaei said, “While the world economy the development of Chabahar Port along with associated past years, adding, “But this market is currently highly wel- Mansukh Laxmanbhai Mandaviya said his country will is affected by the coronavirus pandemic, we observe the roads and rail lines, doubled the allocated funding for comed which has made a real change and development in it.” save 20 percent logistic costs by using Chabahar Port for development of exports and imports in Shahid Beheshti the development of the port in its national budget bill He said while the total investment in the capital market transporting to Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). port.” for 2020. reached 350 trillion rials (about $8.33 billion) in the previous “In a strategic development, loading and unloading of year, the figure was one quadrillion rials (about $23.8 billion) just in the four first months of the current year. Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Farhad Dejpasand has recently said, “We try to save the liquidity attracted Commercial property offered at IME for 1st time by the capital market and lead it toward production and ECONOMY development.” TEHRAN — A establishment of the country’s real 25 percent is given to private sector deskcommercial property estate stock exchange is going to promote companies. was offered at Iran Mercantile Exchange transparency in this market. “Companies wishing to participate TPO hosts Commodity- (IME) for the first time on Wednesday. According to Hossein Selahvarzi, must submit their initial application; As reported by the IME International establishing this stock exchange is these companies will be allocated up Country Desk meetings Affairs and Public Relations Department, going to be an opportunity for making to 2.5 percent of the total capital which the side market of the IME hosted the the transactions in the housing market would be 1.25 trillion rials (equal to with Turkey offering at the base price of 10.639 more competitive and transparent, and nearly $29 million)”, he added. billion rials (about $253.3 million). will gain people’s trust for participation Underlining the great capacities of ECONOMY TEHRAN — Director General of the On July 25, a member of Iran’s in mass construction projects. this exchange, Selahvarzi said the capital deskAsia-Pacific Office at Iran’s Trade Promo- Securities and Exchange High Council Earlier this month, speaking in a market has the ability to define practical tion Organization (TPO) says his organization has hosted a announced that the country’s real estate meeting with the officials from Iran’s tools for financing the real estate market Commodity-Country Desk on trade with Turkey, with a focus stock exchange would be established Mercantile Exchange, which is in charge and large construction projects, and on developing the exports of agricultural, foodstuff products. by the next four-six months. calendar month (early July). of the establishment of the real estate it will make people more confident in In the meeting, which was attended by traders and busi- The establishment of such exchange When established, it will be the exchange, Selahvarzi said: “We are participating in the implementation nessmen active in the field of agricultural and foodstuff prod- is in line with the government’s policy country’s fifth major stock exchange. studying various aspects of the project.” of such projects. ucts, ways to develop exports to Turkey were discussed, Reza of providing housing units for the The four other ones are TSE, Iran’s The official noted that the Real I late June, Finance and Economic Seyed Aqazadeh said. underprivileged, and many efforts over-the-counter (OTC) market, Estate Exchange Company is going to Affairs Minister Farhad Dejpasand have been already made to prepare known as Iran Fara Bourse (IFB), Iran be established with an initial capital announced the establishment of the the required infrastructure in this due. Energy Exchange (IRENEX), and Iran of 50 trillion rials (about $1.2 billion), country’s real estate stock exchange. The head of Tehran Stock Exchange Mercantile Exchange (IME). of which 50 percent will be offered to The minister had stated that the (TSE) had previously announced that Deputy Head of Iran Chamber people in the form of underwriting, Economy Ministry was finalizing the the exchange was due to be established of Commerce, Industries, Mines, while 25 percent will be shared among issue with the Securities and Exchange in the middle of the previous Iranian and Agriculture (ICCIMA) says the government agencies and another Organization (SEO). Iranian customs bans rice imports as of August 22 ECONOMY TEHRAN — The Islamic Repub- The country’s rice production stood between desklic of Iran Customs Administration 2.2 and 2.3 million tons in the preceding year 1397 (IRICA) has banned any registration for imports of (March 2018-March 2019) and the increase in the rice as of the beginning of the next Iranian calendar production consequently decreased the imports of month of Shahrivar (August 22) until further notice. the commodity. As reported by the TPO portal, food products, and conversion As Mehr News Agency reported, IRICA Deputy Iran’s annual rice consumption stands at about industries are among Iran’s advantages in the global markets, Head Mehrdad Jamal Orounaqi told a local radio three million tons. That means nearly 400,000 tons including Turkey, and the Trade Promotion Organization program that the plan for the seasonal ban on rice of the product is required to be imported into the manages the export development process by identifying the imports, which aims at supporting the domestic country, according to Shayeq. country’s foreign trade priorities. farmers, should have been implemented in the be- However, customs data show that nearly 700,000 “It was decided that the issues and problems of Iranian ginning of the current Iranian calendar month (July tons of rice was imported into the country in the first companies and businessmen raised in this meeting would 22) but was postponed to the next month. quarter of the previous year (March 21-June 21, 2019). be followed up by the Asia-Pacific Office of the TPO,” Aqa- According to Orounaqi, nearly 800,000 tons of More than 90 percent of Iran’s rice is produced zadeh said. rice was imported into the country and was cleared in the northern provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran, As reported, the Commodity-Country Desk on trade with from various customs in the previous Iranian cal- and less than 10 percent of the commodity is pro- Turkey was held at the place of the Trade Promotion Organ- endar year (ended on March 19). duced in the provinces of Isfahan, Ilam, Kurdistan, ization of Iran in collaboration with the Iran-Turkey Joint The official noted that rice imports have decreased Khouzestan and so on. Chamber of Commerce. by about 20 percent in the current year, saying: “About Based on official statistics, over 620,000 hec- In late July, the chairman of Iran-Turkey Joint Chamber 390,000 tons of rice has been cleared through cus- Jamil Alizadeh Shayeq, Iranian farmers managed tares of the country’s agricultural lands are under of Commerce said the coronavirus pandemic has decreased toms, while some cargoes are still stored in customs.” to produce 2.6 million tons of rice during the past rice cultivation, of which 520,000 hectares are in Iran’s exports to Turkey by 90 percent in the current Ira- According to the Secretary of Iran Rice Association Iranian calendar year 1398. Mazandaran, Gilan and Golestan provinces. nian calendar year (started on March 20) compared to the previous year. Mehrdad Sa’adat said there is no reason for such drop rather than the coronavirus pandemic, adding that trade Stationary retail sales fall 70% between the two countries has been fortunately increasing ECONOMY TEHRAN – Head of the closure of schools and universities, products. after reopening of the borders, and the traders are trying to deskthe Iranian Union of the stationery sales experienced a sharp He stated that the stationary sellers compensate for the four-month drop in the bilateral trade. Stationery and Engineering Equipment decline; Thus, the sales of such prod- were not among the groups considered “We are now witnessing some long lines of trucks at the Sellers said the sales of the mentioned ucts decreased by about 60 to 70 percent hurt from the pandemic and have not border crossings waiting for entering Turkey”, he added. products have fallen up to 70 percent in the compared to the previous year,” Mousa received any support from the govern- Sa’adat had told IRNA on June 27 that Iran’s export to current Iranian calendar year (started on Farzanian said. ment so far. Turkey was continuing via the roads and railway. March 20) compared to the previous year The official also pointed to the ban on “It might cause serious problems He said, “The number of trucks waiting in Bazargan Border due to the closure of schools following the the imports of some stationery products for some of them. Our efforts for per- to enter Turkey indicates that Iran’s export to its neighbor coronavirus pandemic, ISNA reported. like pens, markers, and polish corrector suading the National Headquarters for is increasing, adding that Iran’s transit of commodities via “Although [the Iranian calendar since the calendar month of Ordibehesht Coronavirus Control to place this sector Turkey has also risen noticeably after the reopening of this months of] Mordad and Shahrivar [July (started on April 20) and said considering among the corona-affected industries border.” 22- September 21] are the peak months the decline in sales and enough domes- also failed. Of course, the government In early June, land borders between Iran and Turkey re- for the sales of stationery products, due tic production no problem is expected does not have enough funds to help all opened after more than three months. to the outbreak of the coronavirus and regarding the supply of the mentioned units,” he said. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 20, 2020 ENERGY 5

Gas supply to power plants COVID-19 positive Russian oil minister will join OPEC+ meeting hits record high Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak will take part in the virtual meeting of the OPEC+ monitoring panel on Wednesday, ENERGY TEHRAN – Head of the ucts is worth about $500 million in the global desk despite testing positive for COVID-19, Russia’s energy ministry National Iranian Gas Com- markets, so saving two billion cubic meters of said on Tuesday. pany (NIGC) Hassan Montazer Torbati said gas supply to power plants means $1 billion Earlier on Tuesday, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin the cumulative gas supply to the country’s in revenue from product exports,” he said. said that Novak had tested positive for the coronavirus while he power plants in the first four months of the Gas supply to power plants reaches its was on a visit to Russia’s Far East. Novak returned to Moscow current Iranian calendar year (March 20-July maximum level during the summer peak con- and will work remotely, the ministry said. 21) has hit a new record high of 26 billion sumption period (the Q2 of the year) in Iran. cubic meters. Currently, all the country’s gas and thermal According to Torbati, the figure has in- power plants are connected to the national creased by about two billion cubic meters gas network, however, in the cold seasons, compared to the same period in the previous with the increase in gas consumption by year, IRIB reported. the domestic sector the supply to the pow- “The cumulative supply of gas to power er plants will be reduced and replaced with plants was about 24 billion cubic meters in the liquefied fuel. previous year (1398)’s same period,” he said. Earlier in May, Acting Director of Iranian “In the year named by the Leader as the Gas Transmission Company (IGTC) Mehdi Year of “Surge in Production “, the National Jamshidi Dana had said that during the peak Iranian Gas Company has increased the supply consumption period in summer power plants of gas to power plants with the aim of reducing would need 310 mcm of gas per day, a figure liquid fuel consumption and creating excess that could be easily met by the National Gas capacity for the export of oil products,” the Company given its network capacity. official added. Iran is currently producing over 810 mcm He stated that despite the beginning of the of natural gas daily which is mostly used in- overhaul period for the country’s gas refineries side the country for the domestic sector and Novak feels good and doesn’t have any symptoms, and he plans in the mentioned period of the year, an aver- with proper management of the production, consumption relatively decreases the use of also as fuel for the power plants and a small to take part in the OPEC+ panel’s meeting on August 19 via video age of 210 million cubic meters of natural gas transmission and distribution networks. other liquid fuels like gas oil. portion is also exported to the neighboring conference, a representative of the Russian energy ministry told was delivered to the country’s power plants Torbati noted that the increase in gas “Every billion liters of oil and gas prod- countries like Iraq. Russian outlet RBC. Prime Minister Mishustin and Vladimir Putin’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov have recovered from COVID-19 after contracting the virus earlier this year. Oil markets retreat after API reports large gasoline build The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) holds A large build in gasoline inventories which offset a modest draw ry reports, and this week is also complicated further by the meetings every month until the end of 2020, instead of ahead of in crude oil inventories cooled bullish sentiment in markets scheduled OPEC meeting, although most analysts agree that every full OPEC+ meeting only, because of the volatile oil market somewhat on Tuesday afternoon, oilprice.com reported. the meeting will likely prove rather uneventful. and the highly uncertain trajectory of global demand recovery. The American Petroleum Institute (API) reported on Tuesday Oil production in the United States now appears to be The JMMC is meeting this week, but it will not discuss any a draw in crude oil inventories of 4.264 million barrels for the leveling off after falling from a high of 13.1 million bpd on revisions of the ongoing production cut pact and is not expected to week ending August 14—a near mirror of last week’s draw figure. March 13 to 10.7 million bpd on August 7, according to the make any major decisions to tweak the deal, Novak said last week. Analysts had predicted a modest inventory draw of 2.670-mil- Energy Information Administration—the loss adding to The OPEC+ coalition saw its compliance rate with the oil pro- lion barrels. OPEC’s production cuts. duction cuts at 95 percent in July, four sources from the group In the previous week, the API reported a draw in crude oil The API reported a build of 4.991 million barrels of gaso- told Reuters on Monday, which is a level similar to the previous inventories of 4.401 million barrels, after analysts had predicted line for the week ending August 14—compared to last week’s month, if the additional one-month voluntary cuts from Saudi a draw of roughly half that. 1.310-million-barrel draw. This week’s build is not what an- Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait for June are excluded. Oil prices were trading down on Tuesday afternoon before alysts had expected, which was a 1.057-million-barrel draw At last month’s panel meetings in mid-July, the JMMC noted the API’s data release, and just minutes before the release, WTI for the week. an improved compliance rate with the cuts. The overall compliance had fallen by $0.33 (-0.77 percent) to $42.56. The Brent crude Distillate inventories were down by 964,000 barrels for rate for the OPEC+ group was a record-breaking 107 percent in benchmark had fallen by $0.30 (-0.66 percent) to $45.07, even the week, compared to last week’s 2.949-million-barrel draw, June, but it was due to the additional voluntary contributions as OPEC showed this week that its overall July compliance rate while Cushing inventory fell by a modest 590,000 barrels. from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, which was about as good as it could get. At 4:33 pm EDT, WTI was trading at $42.58 while Brent cut a total of 1 million bpd in June on top of their shares of the Still, traders are leery in the runup to any of the invento- was trading at $45.09. cuts. Without those three voluntary outperformers, the OPEC+ group’s compliance was 95 percent in June, which still was the highest since the cuts started in January 2017. Low oil prices hamper China’s efforts to meet U.S. trade deal target Norway’s oil fund fears China has stepped up its purchases of U.S. from the U.S. for the first three quarters lion at an average price of around $57.59/b, crude oil in recent trading cycles in an effort of 2020 may reach around $3.42 billion customs data showed. Dated Brent fell to market disconnect from to comply with the Phase 1 trade deal with based on the average Dated Brent price of a year-low of $13.24/b in April from as Washington struck in January, but low oil $40.87/b up to August 17 this year. high as $69.96/b in early January. real economy prices may severely impede Beijing’s efforts If China can import 10 VLCCs (20 mil- Downstream challenges The world’s largest sovereign wealth fund has warned over the to meet the purchase target for energy prod- lion barrels) of U.S. crude a month in the In addition, small-scale independent disconnect between the financial markets and the real economy ucts in terms of dollar value. fourth quarter, worth $100 million each at refineries, which account for over a quarter as U.S. stocks set a new intraday record on Tuesday. As reported by Platts, the acceleration an oil price of $50/b, it would only amount of China’s refining capacity, are running Buoyed by record-low interest rates, equity markets have staged of purchases comes at a time when a review to another $3 billion, a trader with a U.S. out of crude import quotas. a fierce rebound since hitting lows in March when governments of the trade deal due over the weekend was crude supplier said. China’s state-owned The independents were the first Chinese across the world imposed lockdowns to curb the spread of coro- postponed indefinitely, but tough market refineries can accommodate a maximum refineries to buy U.S. crude in May, when navirus, Financial Times reported. conditions this year mean that any targets through October-November. of 10 VLCCs of light U.S. crude a month imports of U.S. crude resumed, and ac- The recovery in equities, turbocharged by central banks’ stim- dependent on a revival of the economy or Meanwhile, August is on track to have due to their configuration. counted for a large portion of the volumes ulus, helped Norway’s $1tn oil fund, the world’s largest sovereign energy demand will be out of reach. the largest amount of U.S. crude delivered to This far below the Phase 1 commit- till August, Platts data shows. wealth fund, to the second-best quarter in its history, returning These include coronavirus-related de- China in a given month, expected to cross 30 ment, which calls for an additional $18.5 Without them, the onus for U.S. crude 13.1 percent in the three months to the end of June. struction of demand for transport fuel, poor million barrels, according to data intelligence billion of U.S. energy purchases in 2020 procurement falls on state-owned refiner- Trond Grande, deputy chief executive of Norges Bank Investment downstream economics as Asian refinery firm Kpler. This reflects the resumption of over 2017 levels, and $52.4 billion worth ies who are a lot less flexible in changing Management, which manages the fund, said on Tuesday: “We’ve margins are wafer thin, no sign of recovery U.S. crude loadings in May and June, after a of purchases over 2017 levels across the their crude slate. seen an unexpectedly sharp recovery in the financial markets for key products like jet fuel, and swelling four-month hiatus, while China’s economy next two years. One Sinopec refiner told Platts that but maybe we haven’t seen the full effect on the real economy.” queues of VLCCs waiting weeks to discharge started to recover from the pandemic. China’s purchases of U.S. energy goods, state-trader Unipec has been trying to push Asked whether he was concerned about the disconnect, Grande crude cargoes at Chinese ports. U.S. crude arrivals in China in August including crude, LNG and petrochemicals, them to buy West Texas Intermediate crude, told the Financial Times: “Yes, I think it’s something to have on State-owned Chinese oil companies will be double the previous high of 14.71 amounted to only about $2.9 billion by the but the refinery has been reluctant due to the radar.” returned to buying U.S. crude oil for Sep- million barrels in January 2018 recorded end of June, way below the target, according the high volume of light distillates that At a press conference in Oslo, Grande added that the pandemic tember-loading and the volume is expect- by China’s General Administration of Cus- to Panjiva, a business line of S&P Global don’t have buyers in the current market. “doesn’t seem to be under control in any shape or form”. ed to exceed the last buying spree in May, toms. As a result, around 85 million barrels Market Intelligence that provides news A surge in tanker freight rates in the The caution from the fund, set up almost a quarter of a century according to trading sources. of U.S. crude will be delivered to China by and analysis about global supply chains. first half of this year, despite the contango ago to help manage the income from Norway’s oil industry, came as At least seven China-bound cargoes, car- September, Kpler data showed. Crude was expected to take the lion’s in crude prices, also closed the arbitrage a widely watched survey showed global investors are increasingly rying around 14 million barrels of crude, By comparison, China imported 376 mil- share of the purchases, on account of it window for China to import U.S. oil. Addi- anxious that the sharp rally in equities, bonds and gold since the have been scheduled for September load- lion barrels of crude in total in July, GAC being a high-value commodity, but its price tionally, rapidly deteriorating U.S.-China darkest days of the coronavirus crisis has left assets “overvalued”. ing in the U.S. Gulf Coast in recent days data showed. has taken a pummeling in 2020. relations mean that no Chinese refiner According to the latest Bank of America survey of investors, with China as their destination, S&P Global Crude price plunges In 2017, China imported about 153,000 wants to expose their crude shipments who collectively manage $489bn, a portfolio with equal holdings of Platts fixtures data showed. These will arrive In terms of value, China’s crude imports bpd of U.S. crude oil that was worth $3.2 bil- to the vagaries of geopolitics. stocks, bonds and gold is the most expensive it has been since 2008. Despite the angst over valuations, the survey also found that investors remained upbeat on global markets as almost 80 percent expect economic growth to improve. Russia’s crude oil exports to Europe may not stay low for long Grande said the value of the wealth fund had continued to Russia’s seaborne crude oil exports are trending lower so far in While Russian shipments to Europe were at record low recover over the summer and it was now flat or slightly up for August compared to July, but with Russia ramping up produc- levels in July, crude oil cargoes from the U.S. to European the year as a whole. tion with the easing of the OPEC+ cuts, this summer’s trend importers strengthened in July, following three months of very He added: “That said, we often see disconnects between the of low volumes of exports to Europe may not last long, IHS low activity. U.S. cargoes loaded for Europe in July exceed- two. At some stage, and in the long run, you would expect them Markit said on Tuesday. ed 1.2 million bpd for the first time since March 2020, while to be equalised.” Russia has already increased its crude oil production in early shipments in the first half of August remained above 1 million As debate rages over valuations, the fund is currently in the August to 9.8 million barrels per day (bpd), up from below 9.4 bpd. Refineries in north Europe are importing most of the U.S. midst of the biggest political storm in its history over the botched million bpd last month, Fotios Katsoulas, Liquid Bulk Principal crude oil as they prefer U.S. grades to Russia’s flagship crude appointment of a new chief executive. Analyst, Maritime & Trade, at IHS Markit wrote. export grade Urals, Katsoulas noted. Norway’s parliament is considering whether to try to block As OPEC+ is easing the record collective cuts of 9.7 million In Russia’s refined products exports, an interesting develop- Nicolai Tangen, a former hedge fund manager, from becoming bpd to 7.7 million bpd as of August 1, Russia plans to raise its ment in recent weeks is increased Russian flows to the United chief executive because of alleged conflicts of interest. All the oil production by 400,000 bpd. States, especially of fuel oil. According to IHS Markit, “trade opposition leftwing parties have come out against Tangen as long Russian seaborne crude oil exports plunged by 42 percent seems to be following seasonality, as August is typically a strong as he retains ownership of AKO Capital, the London-based hedge year-on-year in July and declined by 14 percent compared to compared to August 2019. month for flows of refined products from Russia to the US.” fund he founded and where he owns a 43 percent stake. June, according to data by IHS Markit Commodities at Sea. “Other suppliers have been quickly filling the gaps so far, Nevertheless, Russia has generally exported more refined Norway’s largest political group, the Labour party, which could In the first half of August, cargoes loaded from Russian ports but the increase in Russian production since early August could product volumes to the U.S. this year than in 2019, IHS Markit’s win next year’s elections, has expressed its concerns about Tangen are 10 percent lower compared to July and 34 percent lower bring this trend to an end,” IHS Markit’s Katsoulas said. data showed. in unusually strong terms. Tangen declined to comment on the mounting opposition. Grande said he had not heard any concerns “directly” from business partners about the row. But he added: “Obviously it’s Saudis keep pressure on OPEC+ laggards before ministerial talks something you would have wanted to avoid. Hopefully we have Saudi Arabia kept up the pressure on OPEC+ ings, state-run Saudi Press Agency said on Their level of compliance will be one of the the supply boost hasn’t derailed oil’s fragile built a reputation over more than 20 years that can withstand nations that have been exceeding their oil-out- Wednesday. main subjects of discussion at a video confer- recovery, which has seen prices climb to a some turmoil.” put targets, hours before a meeting to discuss Nigeria, Iraq and several other nations have ence later on Wednesday of the OPEC+ Joint five-month high. The fund’s deputy chief executive also applied to succeed Yngve their agreement, Bloomberg reported. consistently fallen short of their pledges to cut Ministerial Monitoring Committee, which is But continuation of that trend will depend Slyngstad, who has been chief executive of NBIM since 2008. He King Salman bin Abdulaziz called Nigerian production as the Organization of Petroleum chaired by Saudi Arabia and Russia. on maintaining discipline and ensuring that refused to say how he felt about missing out on the job. Asked if President Muhammadu Buhari to emphasize Exporting Countries and its allies seek to offset The coalition of producers is restoring Nigeria, Iraq and other nations fulfill their he was ready to become interim chief executive if Tangen could the importance of complying with production the sharp drop in oil demand triggered by the some of the vast quantities of crude halted promises to compensate for cheating on their not be confirmed by September 1, he said it was a “hypothetical targets and compensating for past shortcom- coronavirus pandemic. during the depths of the Covid-19 crisis. So far quotas in earlier months. question” and that the fund was planning for Tangen to take over. 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tehrantimes79 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 20, 2020 ANALYSIS/INTERVIEW 7

Beirut blast caused social International Tribune: A non-closed chapter

1 In addition, the tribune announcement was politically manipulated. Judge David Ray revealed on the 18th of August, solidarity: Lebanese expert as he was reciting the verdict that most of the evidence depend- ed on telephone communication data. Telephones were used By Mohammad Mazhari In addition, Lebanon has been promised to orchestrate the assassinator(s). However, the investigations assistance from the World Bank, and through could not link the numbers to its users. TEHRAN – The Beirut blast on August 4 a relative change in America’s approach to Furthermore, the persons who were charged with the assas- not only caused human and financial losses the Lebanese file; an about-face from the sination were all Shiites. As if Hezbollah was foolishly pointing but also raised doubts about time of the path of strangulation and sanctions imposed the fingers towards him. In fact, the accusations were pointed incident and its location. by the U.S. Treasury on Lebanese banks to freedom fighters, who were preparing exploding charges that It prompted the Lebanese government and companies via a historic telephone allegedly targeted the Israelis in South Lebanon. to take a series of measures to face the re- conversation between the Lebanese and The final investigation revealed that three of the accused persons percussions of the massive explosion. American presidents, and the dispatch of were discharged. Hezbollah and Syria are the main parties that The Lebanese government decided to U.S. envoy David Hill, who adopts a less benefited from the assassination of Hariri; however, there are no form an administrative investigation com- hardline approach than David Schenker. proofs to support the accusations. Hence, the carefully planned mittee headed by Prime Minister Hassan The broad title and main objective of Diab, whose government resigned on August assassination was declared as an act of political vendetta. And it the Western return to Beirut from the port took the stupid tribune fifteen years to announce these results. 10, to submit a report that takes the most gate are to prevent the collapse of Lebanon severe penalties against those who have and change Eastward direction for recon- failed to do their duties properly. struction. The government requested the Supreme What are the possible scenarios for Defense Council to impose house arrest on the post-government resignation? everyone who has managed works related A: We are at a flashpoint; applying the to storing and guarding the ammonium same measures adopted at the 1991 Taif nitrate since June 2014. Agreement has proved fruitless. Further, Besides economic losses and deaths, the Lebanon is facing a Homeric challenge; massive explosion may affect the Lebanese should Beirut apply similar methods used political future. Some observers say it has different density, pushing the heavy liquid, ‘post-Hariri assassination of 2005’ status in the past, instead of embarking on reforms deepened the division between the rival thus producing the mushroom shape. is unfeasible due to local, regional and in- that mitigate the power of the entrenched political parties, while others prefer to un- It is expected that the investigation, which ternational developments. oligarchy, thereby denying the existing derline that the blast will cement solidarity is separated in three phases, will include Given Lebanon’s primary political par- clientelist system via the construction of a in the Lebanese society. identifying the source of the payload and ties, including Hezbollah, the Amal Move- productive, diversified economy, and a con- In this regard, Ali Yahia, a Lebanese con- its intended destination (especially since it ment, the Free Patriotic Movement, and the certed effort to complete the Taif Agreement sultant in international relations, tells the entered Beirut port months after the confis- Future Movement are trying to maintain by the abolishment of political sectarianism, Tehran Times that the Beirut blast triggered cation of weapons from the ship Lutfallah II, the cohesion of the state whilst preventing It is important to dissect the political gain, especially the one governmental reforms will stagnate. a global sympathy and helped create social which was en route to the Syrian opposition), the collapse of the remaining institutions, that was achieved by Syria and Hezbollah from the assassination! How do you evaluate the positions of solidarity between the people of Lebanon as was announced by Lebanese President external factors have become more influen- Before the assassination, Hezbollah was leading fruitful talks Western countries, including France, whose The text of the interview is as follows: Michel Aoun. Additionally, the results of tial, active and necessary. However, many with Hariri, relations with the late prime minister were about There are unconfirmed reports that the chemical tests require a longer waiting international actors are only now involving president came and issued orders for reform to become at its best since 1991. Total coordination in the next the blast was caused by a missile or fighter period than that for radiation tests. themselves once faced with the danger of and also America’s approach to the Beirut elections was about to be reached. jet? What authorities in Lebanon think? How may the explosion affect the economic and societal collapse. blast and their solutions for rebuilding the Secondly, Hezbollah, before the 14th of February 2005, did A: As of now, there exists no evidence Lebanese political future? What are the reasons for the resig- port? Is Lebanon going to internationalize not aim to be part of the Lebanese political maze. that targeted missiles were responsible A: There is no doubt that the Beirut nation of Hassan Diab’s government? How its port? Meanwhile, the Syrians, with their presence in Lebanon, for the Beirut blast; investigators have yet blast triggered a response of global sym- do you see the role of foreign interference, A: No doubt that Beirut’s port is critical to protected his back. The Hezbollah was indeed presented in the to identify any rocket remnants and the pathy and social solidarity with the people especially the economic pressure imposed Lebanon’s bottom line as it is the backbone Lebanese Parliament, but it was not among its plans to be part preliminary results of perimeter samples of Lebanon. With the immediate assistance on Lebanon? of internal trade and 50% of the nation’s of Lebanon’s corrupt governments since the Taif Agreement in collected and tested by both Lebanese and of the Palestinian Civil Defense, Lebanese A: No government, especially a demo- GDP (it has contributed $250 billion to the 1989. Hezbollah’s main focus was on protecting the South, lib- French laboratories show no indication of Red Cross, and Lebanese civil society in cratic parliamentary system such as that in economy over the past decade). Lebanon erating the Shebaa and Kafer-Shoba farms, and liberating the an external attack. addition to the generosity of many Syrian Lebanon, can withstand and respond to the imports more than 70% of its consumer goods Lebanese war prisoners in the Israeli dungeons. Three aims were I do want to note that the two explo- citizens, including workers and refugees who ramifications of such a disastrous explosion. through the port, and it is one of the ten most not to be granted to Lebanon on a silver plate, and the Israeli sions were separated by 33 seconds. The were helping pull victims buried under the This, combined with external factors such as important ports in the Mediterranean Sea. knew that if it were accomplished, they would distort his image first occurred after the ammonium nitrate rubble; laymen could hear different dialects French President Emmanuel Macron calling It is also a fundamental node in the War as the ultimate power in the region. experienced an explosive shockwave with as they lent a hand. for a national unity government and existing of Ports and strategic straits, especially in On the other hand, the Syrians were perfectly aware of the a temperature of more than 210 degrees However, internal political divisions internal tensions following, the resignation response to Chinese efforts to establish the winds of international political changes accompanied by electing Celsius (the minimum required to trigger and the soft counter-war that continues of some parliamentary figures. “String of Pearls,” to complement the “One George Bush junior. such an explosion), and equivalent to the to exploit existing tensions exacerbated The Beirut port explosion has significantly Belt One Road” initiative and its entrance to The Syrians were alerted by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Pow- explosive force of 2,750 tons of ammonium. the situation. reduced the financial and political blockade the ports of Piraeus in Greece and Ashdod ell about the consequences of their continuous support for the This was essentially similar to a tacti- For example, Dr. Milton Friedman’s declared upon Lebanon during the previous in Palestine. resistance against Israel in Lebanon. cal nuclear bomb that formed a massive ‘Shock Doctrine’ promotes economic pol- phase, whether through tactical assistance In an effort to compete with Haifa, Beirut’s They urged the Syrians to disarm Hezbollah military wing. mushroom-like cloud. icies that cannot be accepted in “normal such as the Paris Conference ($298 million), port was considered as an alternative. As for Nonetheless, the Syrians refused American demands. Resolution According to some experts, it is known situations,” as witnessed in Chile, Argentina, promises of strategic assistance via the Seder calls for an international investigation, the 1559 appeared on the horizon, and the Syrians refused to leave as “Riley Taylor’s Instability,” which indi- Indonesia and Brazil, East Asia, Iraq, Libya. conference funds ($11 billion) in exchange U.S. and France have committed to assist Lebanon unless the Lebanese government asked them. It seemed cates the movement of two liquids with a The attempt to restore the nation to the for the start of reforms. under the authority of the Lebanese judiciary. that the situation was still water running deep. When Hariri was assassinated, it was the huge eruption that made it possible for the Americans to fulfill at least one part of their demands: the Syrian Army withdrew from Lebanon. Why Zionist stooges like Pompeo spewing insane nonsense against Iran The Syrian departure resulted in non-humanitarian results. Syrian workers were attacked in the streets, more than 100 were By Kevin Barrett So, why are the so-called Americans—people like Pompeo killed, and no official investigations were seriously held. Until are really, of course, representing Netanyahu, Trump was today no indictments were directed to anyone. This, for sure, So, Mike Pompeo has been leading the charge in the Trump inserted into the Oval Office by Netanyahu’s people, precisely created sentiments of fear and hatred among the Syrians towards administration to try to trigger the snapback provisions in to carry out all of these insane Likud policies—so why are the Lebanese. Even Syrian businesspeople were kidnapped in the Iran nuclear deal, the JCPOA. And this has led to a cho- they so desperate? Why are they acting so irrationally, out several areas of Lebanon. The same was about to happen in Syria; rus of derision and mockery from all over the world, not of sheer desperation? however, the Syrian police arrested several attackers, and re- just from sources one would expect, like Foreign Minister I think the reason is that they have won a certain battle strictive rules were issued in 2005 to control such irregularities. Zarif from Iran, but from elsewhere as well even including in terms of trying to remake the Middle East (West Asia) It was the Israeli war in 2006 that could bring back the Syrians from John Bolton, who was former (Pompeo’s) extremely region, on behalf of Israel, but they’ve lost the war. Because and the Lebanese sentiments of pride. hawkish anti-Iran colleague. they’ve painted themselves into a corner, both in terms of The Americans thought they had created a deep ditch of hate Everybody is laughing at Pompeo at this point because global public opinion and now regional public opinion as the among the brothers; nonetheless, it was in vain. Pompeo’s position is that even though the United States has Emirates have made this treasonous deal with the Israelis It is important to study the atmosphere that prevailed after left the JCPOA and is out of the deal, it is still somehow in alienating the entire region, the entire Arab world. 2005, on the political and social level, to understand who ben- the deal, and able to trigger snapback. Pompeo also claims And this is at a moment when the Arab oil states are in the whole world, Iran will come roaring back. efited from the assassination. The ridiculous legal pleading of that the United States is going to unilaterally trigger mul- serious decline. They’re about to really step off the stage of Meanwhile, the Arab world will see massive unrest, as Judge David Ray was totally dependent on the testimonies given tilateral sanctions. history, as discussed in Patrick Cockburn’s column “There’s a the poor majority of pious Muslims gets on board with the by the same people and parties that have benefited from Hariri’s So, everyone is scratching their heads and wondering Historic Change Taking Place in the Middle East (West Asia).” Islamic Revolutionary spirit against their extremely corrupt assassination, which paved the way for a golden era for all the what Mike Pompeo is smoking. He thinks that he can be in He points out these Arab oil states, because of the col- Zionist secularist elite rulers. parties who became fully in control. and out of the deal at the same time. He thinks he can impose lapsing price of oil, among other things, are now essentially And all of this does not bode well for the genocidal Zionist Walid Jumblatt became the defender of Hariri. He took the unilateral multilateral sanctions. This violates elementary about to lose their whole base and their population is going entity occupying Palestine. No wonder they’re so desperate. family and the country under his “wings.” Fouad Siniora was logic in a rather amusing way. to be impoverished. And the leadership, such as the leaders No wonder the Zionist stooges like Pompeo are barking out nominated to be the next prime minister after the resignation It’s like Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland, saying of the Emirates, and the Saudis and the other Persian Gulf this kind of insane nonsense as the Trump administration of Omar Karami. The main beneficiary was Samir Geagea, the you can believe six impossible things before breakfast. Well, sheikhdoms in particular, are all going to be overthrown. collapses and as its Iran policy collapses. We’re probably murderer of Lebanese politicians, and the executor of massacres Pompeo was already got two of them. And it is also reminiscent So, who will be left? The countries that have actual econ- going to see more of this kind of insanity—hopefully, nothing in Lebanon was given a full pardon. of the complete lack of logic in the U.S.-Iran policy. They’re omies other than just oil, countries that are not just gas that will lead to any explosions of extreme violence or larger The previous group worked closely with the Americans to basically running on fumes, and they’re desperately clutching stations in the desert. And that includes not just Turkey, of war—but you can’t put anything past them, as we saw with that disarm Hezbollah during the 2006 war and later in 2007 during at these illusory remedies for their bankrupt position by course, which has a strong economy, but also Iran, which has presumably Israeli bomb that destroyed the port of Beirut. the attempt to control Hezbollah’s communication sector, which invoking these kinds of crazy contradictions. built its own DIY - Do It Yourself -- local economy because And so, the region needs to be on its guard. Better things provided protection for the secret telephone lines among the You know, maybe Pompeo is living in a quantum world of all the sanctions. will be coming, but it may be a very rough period before freedom fighters and with their commandants. where Schrodinger’s cat can be alive and dead at the same Iran is not dependent on oil exports partly because it’s they finally arrive. There was a far greater conspiracy to displace the Shiites in time, the U.S. can be in and out of the deal at the same time been sanctioned so heavily. So now it’s the leading auto Kevin Barrett is an American author, journalist and radio South Lebanon if Israel had won the war in 2006. This was the and sanctions can be unilateral and multilateral at the same manufacturer in the region. It’s putting satellites in space. host with a Ph.D. in Islamic and Arabic Studies. He has been end means of the assassination of an important man as much as time. But nobody else is in that quantum world. And he’s And once it gets through this Trump sanctions period which studying the events of 9/11 since late 2003. Hariri was. The International Tribune has failed to read in poli- going to have to come back to Earth at some point. is happening because Trump and his people have alienated (Source: Press TV) tics these facts, as much as it was able to read the other version. When Marwan Hamadeh’s attempt of assassination took place in 2005, Syria without a certified investigation was directly accused. In a paradox, the same kind of explosion which was used in the Millions of Yemenis facing death amid lack of funding, UN warns attempt to kill Hamadeh was used to kill Harir in Damascus. The The United Nations has warned that mil- According to the UN, the underfunding diseases. try - will cease, if funding is not urgently French revenged the killing of their ambassador in Lebanon by lions of Yemenis are facing death amid lack had a dramatic impact, including having The supplies needed to treat trauma received within weeks. using a similar charge in the al-Azbakia neighborhood in 1981. of funding that forced the organization food rations for over eight million people patients, who will almost certainly die Saudi Arabia and a number of its re- Bernard Emie, the French ambassador, was the first to go to shut or severely cut half of its major in northern Yemen in April, as well as without immediate treatment, were cut. gional allies launched the devastating around giving consultation and provoking the different parties programs in Yemen. slashing or cutting health services in a Medicines and essential supplies for 189 war on Yemen in March 2015 in order after the attempt to end Hamadeh’s life. Judge Ray called it a She urged donors to provide the funds further 275 specialized centers for treating hospitals and 2,500 clinics - representing to bring former president, AbdRabbuh Syrian warning. needed to continue the UN programs in people with cholera and other infectious half of the health facilities in the coun- Mansur Hadi, back to power and crush However, it can be easily called as the first attempt to threat- Yemen, which had a “real impact.” the Houthi Ansarullah movement. en the Syrians. In case they failed to comply with the American “Humanitarians have prevented large- The US-based Armed Conflict Loca- demands in disarming Hezbollah. scale famine, rolled back the worst cholera “We have a moral obligation to warn the tion and Event Data Project (ACLED), a It seems that we need to wait another month before the date epidemic in modern history, and provided world that millions of Yemenis will suffer nonprofit conflict-research organization, of the sentence on the 21st of September. Nothing is special about help to millions of displaced people.” and could die because we don’t have the estimates that the war has claimed more the date. Salim Ayyash is going to be sentenced after declaring the Five years of Saudi-led aggression on than 100,000 lives over the past five years. innocence of the three other suspects. The next month, Ayyash, the impoverished country have left over funding we need to keep going,” the UN Riyadh and its allies have been widely a simple man, will be accused of plotting, preparing, and killing 24 million Yemenis in dire need of human- humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Lisa criticized for the high civilian death toll a state’s man for personal vengeance. And that is why the Leb- itarian aid, including 10 million suffering resulted from their bombing campaign anese taxpayers paid 800 million American dollars so that an from extreme hunger levels. Grande, said Wednesday.US in Yemen. American cliche verdict is achieved. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 HERITAGE & TOURISM AUGUST 20, 2020

A glimpse of Muharram mourning rituals across Archaeologists find Paleolithic Iran: Tasht Gozari (Part 2/8) HERITAGE TEHRAN – One of the most famous rituals in sites in southeast Iran deskArdabil is Tasht Gozari during the mourning HERITAGE TEHRAN – A team of as a chemical precipitate or a diagenetic season of Muharram. People of Ardabil, who are Azeri, love Imam deskIranian archaeologists has replacement. Hussein (AS) and his young brother Hazrat Abulfazl Abbas (AS). recently discovered first-hand Prehistorical Kerman province is bounded by the Before Muharram, people in Ardabil begin Tasht Gozari ritual, human settlements believed to date back to provinces of Fars on the west, Yazd on the which is dated back to several years ago. People in other cities the Paleolithic era on the outskirts of Fahraj north, South Khorasan on the northeast, Sis- near Ardabil also hold Tasht Gozari ritual. in Kerman province, southeast Iran. tan-Baluchestan on the east, and Hormozgan Led by archaeologist Shahram Zare’, on the south. It includes the southern part of the team has launched extensive research the central Iranian desert, the Dasht-e Lut. on the eastern edge of Kerman province on The southern Lut is relatively dry and is not the margins of the UNESCO-registered Lut saline, while in the east are sand dunes and desert. The research is part of a greater pro- in the west, wind-carved ridges 180–240 feet ject, supervised by the Research Institute of (55–70 meters) high, called kalut. Cultural Heritage and Tourism, to develop Paleolithic toolmaking an extensive archaeological map of Iran. According to Britannica, at sites dating Zare’ said most of the newly-identified from the Lower Paleolithic period (2,580,000 sites are linked with the Middle Paleolithic to 200,000 years ago), simple pebble tools epoch that is the second subdivision of the have been found in association with the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. The Middle remains of what may have been some of Paleolithic broadly spanned from 300,000 the earliest human ancestors. A somewhat to 30,000 years ago. more-sophisticated Lower Paleolithic tra- People gather in Jame mosque of the city and fill some big “Dating of these sites is being carried out dition known as the Chopper chopping-tool washtubs and put them in a corner of the mosque. Then they based on the morphology of stone artifacts industry is widely distributed in the Eastern begin mourning ceremony including reciting prayers and some collected from the surface as well as making Hemisphere and tradition is thought to have eulogy and chest thumbing ritual. After mourning, some men [direct] comparisons with similar samples been the work of the hominin species named put the washtubs on their head and people in mosque drink the [previously found] in other parts of the Ira- and some of which are of volcanic origin, Chert is a hard, fine-grained sedimentary Homo erectus. It is believed that H. erectus water as their will as blessing water. nian plateau, the ones that have been dated relatively severely eroded due to high-tem- rock composed of crystals of quartz that probably made tools of wood and bone, al- Origins of Tasht Gozari ritual beforehand.” perature fluctuations between the day and are very small. Chert is often of biological though no such fossil tools have yet been Despite being thirsty, Imam Hussein (AS) asked his compan- “Most of the stone tools are made of chert night,” Zare’ explained. origin but may also occur inorganically found, as well as of stone. ions to pour water they bring with themselves in a washtub for their enemy army and their horses. This indicates the sacrifice of Imam Hussein (AS) and Ardabil citizens hold Tasht Gozari in commemoration of Imam Hussein (AS) thirst and also his sacrifice. Sprawling on a high, windswept plateau, whose altitude av- 50 Iranian properties on tentative list of UNESCO erages 3,000 meters above sea level, Ardebil is well-known for HERITAGE TEHRAN – A total of 50 Iranian prop- In the file submitted to UNESCO, there are 25 cara- having lush natural beauties, hospitable people and its silk and deskerties have already been placed on the vanserais, selected from hundreds of caravanserais from carpet trade tradition, it is also home to the UNESCO-registered tentative list for [possible] inclusion on UNESCO’s World all over Iran. Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble. Heritage list in the years to come. As Iran historically is located between the main ancient “They are the foundations of tourism industry develop- civilizations, the historical roads are playing a critical role ment in the country,” Mehr quoted deputy tourism minister in Persian civilization. From the beginning of the history to Tens of projects to promote Mohammad Hassan Talebian as saying on Tuesday. the current time, the role of Iran as a bridge has encouraged Talebian made the remarks in a visit to historical and the rulers and people to always care about roads and related tourism, handicrafts in cultural monuments in the ancient town of Bastam, near structures as one of the main financial income resources. central Iran Shahroud, Semnan province. For example, Silk Road is one of these long-lasting corri- “Among the properties are some caravanserais located dors which played an important role in the Persian Empire 1 With its winding lanes, forest of badgirs (wind catch- in Semnan province.” during history. ers), mud-brick houses, atmospheric alleyways and centuries The case for Bastam and Kharaghan includes the complex The historical roads have had several elements related to of history, Yazd is a delightful place to stay, referring as a ‘don’t of Sheikh Bayazid Bastami, the chief mosque, the towering their functions. Bridges, checkpoints, castles, bazaars and miss’ destination by almost all travel associates in the region. The dome of Kashaneh, and a part of the old wall of the city. The caravanserais as the main element of the historical road in oasis area is wedged between the northern Dasht-e Kavir and complex of Sheikh Bayazid Bastami comprises the grave of Iran, were not only a simple place for travelers to rest and southern Dasht-e Lut on a flat plain ringed by mountains. Yazd Sheikh Bayazid Bastami, one of the five elevated Sufis of the keeping safe their belongs, also were a meeting point for improvement, and evolution of this kind of buildings. Jameh Mosque, Dowlatabad Garden, the Yazd Atash Behram, world. For the same reason, from the 19th century onward, travelers, merchants, scientists, and many other scholars The most characteristic element of Persian caravanserai also known as Atashkadeh-e Yazd, Towers of Silence, and adjacent several important properties have been constructed around who wanted to exchange knowledge and ideas, as well as is the central courtyard, this design is very functional and desert landscape are among its tourist sites. it. The oldest property of the complex dates back to the 8th discover new civilizations. it’s the result of evolution. The central court allows the best Isfahan is also one of Iran’s top tourist destination for good and 9th centuries CE. Caravanserais are usually a place that provides safety for form of fortification and provides four rows of rooms around reason. Its profusion of tree-lined boulevards, Persian gardens Authenticity and integrity have been kept for one thousand Caravans and travelers against natural risks like rain, snow, the yard. On the back of the rooms, there are four halls for and important Islamic buildings gives it a visual appeal some- years. Scientifically, the properties have been confirmed through storms, and floods, or danger of robbers on the roads. That’s animals and stores. what unmatched by any other Iranian provinces, and the many excavations and renovations. The complex of Sheikh Bayazid why the structure of caravanserais is like a castle and good Caravanserais are from unique examples of Iranian ar- artisans working here underpin its reputation as a living museum Bastami can be compared with other religious complexes in fortified. From a simple enclosure building at the first pro- chitecture that in each historical period and in different parts of traditional culture. the Islamic world but its remarkable issue is that it has had a totypes to the highly decorated ones in the middle centuries of Iran, significant examples have remained which can be regular trend of development through one thousand years. or the very fortified types of it, are the evidence of progress, considered as architectural masterpieces. One more suspension bridge to be built in Ardebil Nomadic art of making Siah-Chador revived in western Iran TEHRAN— One more suspension bridge will HERITAGE TOURISM TEHRAN — The art of black goats, which don’t let water pass Embossed kilim, wooden products, tra- deskbe constructed in Ardebil province, northwest deskof making Siah-Chador through and are available, cheap, light, ditional glassware, zilou floor coverings, Iran, a provincial tourism official has said. (nomadic black tents), that had been fallen and easy to collect and carry. ceramics, and wool felt products constituted Measuring 700 meters in length, the bridge is planned to be into oblivion in western Ilam province, Men are responsible for setting up the the lion’s share of the exports, of which built in Jabdaraq village in Meshginshahr city with the aim of has been revived. tents and nomads usually live and rest embossed kilim is the most sought-after. boosting the tourism in the region, Farzad Keysan said, CHTN Making Siah-Chador is a valuable in- under these black tents in summers and Dozens of Iranian handicrafts have reported on Wednesday. dustrial art with a history close to the winters. gained the UNESCO Seal of Excellence The city also has another suspension bridge, which was in- nomadic life, that had been forgotten, but Reviving this field of handicraft will during the past couple of years. augurated in 2015. With 345 meters long, 3 meters wide and 80 now it has been revived and reached the contribute to the prosperity of the nomadic Home to almost half of Iran’s UNESCO meters high, it is said to be the largest of its kind in West Asia. production stage with the careful planning economy, as well as generate job oppor- sites, western Iran is a land of hospitable The project will be implemented by the private sector in an in collaboration with the private sector, tunities, Shanbehzadeh added. people, wild extremes, and wilder history, area with pristine nature, which can provide a basis for the de- in April 2018, some 75 percent of Iranian CHTN quoted provincial tourism chief Back in May, the official announced and it may be an independent traveler’s velopment of the region and can make the region a tourism hub handicrafts are produced by females, and Abdolmalek Shanbehzadeh as saying on that Ilam has exported more than $50 adventure playground. The region also in the country, the official added. making Siah-Chador is not an exception. Wednesday. million of handicrafts to neighboring Iraq witnessed the rise and fall of many great Back in July, provincial tourism chief Nader Fallahi noted The field has been practiced by women As Masoumeh Ebtekar, vice president through the Mehran border since the last empires once bordering Mesopotamia, that Ardebil can be named the province of suspension bridges, among Iranian nomads for generations. for women’s and family affairs, announced Iranian year 1398 (started March 21, 2019). Ottoman Turkey, and Czarist Russia. pointing to Meshginshahr suspension bridge and Hir curved The black tents are woven from the hair glass suspension bridge as well as Azna suspension bridge, which is under construction and will come on stream in June 2021. Rey to host online meeting on tazieh TOURISM TEHRAN— The ancient city of Rey will be and his 72 loyal companions, including Tazieh, Sineh-Zani deskhosting a virtual meeting on tazieh, Iranian [beating the chest] and Nazri, food offerings during Muhar- passion play, on the occasion of the lunar month of Muharram ram in every village, township, city or metropolis, which are (starting Friday) in which Shia Muslims commemorate the usually sponsored by wealthy benefactors. martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS). Rey was one of the capital cities of the Parthian empire The Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Depart- (3rd century BC–3rd century CE) and it was captured by ment of Rey is scheduled to host on online meeting on tazieh the Muslim Arabs in 641 CE. During the reign of the Muslim in the near future, in which various aspects of the religious caliph al-Mahdi in the 8th century, the city grew in impor- dramatic art will be discussed, CHTN reported. tance until it was rivaled in western Asia only by Damascus Tazieh represents religious events, historical and mythical and Baghdad. stories and folk tales. Each performance has the four compo- According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Islamic writers Inaugurated in January, Hir curved glass suspension bridge nents of poetry, music, song, and motion. However, stories described it as a city of extraordinary beauty, built largely is the first of its kind in the world. Measuring 220 meters in about the uprising of Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions of fired brick and brilliantly ornamented with blue faience against the oppressive Umayyad dynasty in 680 CE are more (glazed earthenware). length, the bridge’s all-glass parts and metal cables have been Tazieh, which has a long history in Iran, was registered constructed by domestic engineers using high-quality materials. highly regarded by tazieh troupes and audiences. It continued to be an important city and was briefly a As Rey is considered a religious center in the southeast on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of capital under the rule of the Seljuqs, but in the 12th century, Earlier in April tourism authorities of the province announced Humanity in November 2010. that they have developed extensive plans to draw more tourists of Tehran, tazieh has been performed in this city for a long it was weakened by the fierce quarrels of rival religious sects. time every year, and the meeting will discuss the history of Iranians, who are mostly Shia Muslims, hold special cere- In 1220 the city was almost entirely destroyed by the during the winter season to the province and make it the winter monies during the first ten days of the lunar month of Muhar- tourism hub of the country. tazieh performances as well as boost the religious tourism in Mongols, and its inhabitants were massacred. Most of the the region, Rey’s cultural heritage department director Amir ram to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Imam survivors of the massacre moved to nearby Tehran, and the In December 2019, Fallahi announced that seventeen tourism Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) projects, worth 1,500 billion rials (some $35 million) would be Mosayeb Rahimzadeh said on Wednesday. deserted remnants of Rey soon fell into complete ruin. inaugurated in the province in the near future. Ha said that the objective to launch tourism projects in the province is to provide tourists from all over the world and domestic tourists as well with the opportunity to use these facilities and Sheikh Fazlollah Noori Mosque in Tehran being restored, reinforced select Ardebil as their prime destination. TOURISM TEHRAN – A team of and geometric ornamentations, pillars, prominent Shia Muslim cleric who held Sprawling on a high, windswept plateau, Ardebil is well-known deskcultural heritage ex- and ceilings of the mosque are subject many religious and political gatherings for having lush natural beauties, hospitable people, and its silk and perts, architects and restorers have com- to the project, which is now complete by at the mosque. He was one of the leading carpet trade tradition. It is also home to the UNESCO-registered menced a project on Sheikh Fazlollah Noori 20 percent, Seyyed Majid Ghamkhar, an scholars trying to establish the Persian Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble. Mosque in a bid to bring the centuries-old official with Tehran Municipality, said Constitutional Revolution that took place The province is very cold in winter and mild in summer, at- monument, which is located in downtown on Tuesday. between 1905 and 1911. The revolution tracting thousands every year. The capital city of Ardebil is usually Tehran, back to its former glory. The mosque is named after Hajj Sheikh paved the way for a fundamental change recorded as one of the coldest cities in the country in winter. The dome and colorful tiles, walls, Fazlollah Noori Tabarsi (1843-1909), a in Persia (Iran), heralding the modern era. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 20, 2020 SOCIETY 9

SDSs generated by Lake Urmia $240m earmarked to reduce pollution, natural resources hotspots reduced by 90% degradation ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — Some 10 trillion rials (nearly ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — After the this lake will have favorable conditions at desk$240 million at the official rate of 42,000 desk beginning of restoration the level of 1,272 meters and more than 95 rials) has been allocated in order to reduce pollution and measures, the sand and dust storms (SDSs) percent of the dust sources will be eliminated, prevent the destruction of natural resources in the country. generated by Lake Urmia hotspots has been Sarkhosh emphasized. The fund operates using financial resources along with reduced by 90 percent, even has reached Lake Urmia, located in the northwest of legal instruments with the support and participation of the zero in some critical areas, head of the Lake Iran, was once the most extensive permanent private sector for sustainable development and comprehen- Urmia Restoration Program has said. hypersaline lake in the world. Unsustainable sive protection of the environment, which has so far taken Prior to the start of the executive activities water management in response to increas- appropriate action in this regard, Amir Arsalan Mohajeri, for Lake Urmia rehabilitation, an area of ap- ing demand together with climatic extremes head of the National Environment Fund, explained. proximately 100,000 hectares was considered has given rise to the lake’s depletion during According to the law, all fines, taxes, and resources depos- as a land sensitive to wind erosion due to the last two decades. The lake’s restoration ited in the fund account are spent on environmental issues the lake’s retreat, Farhad Sarkhosh stated. program was established in 2013 and aims and prevention of destruction, he added, IRNA reported. In addition to the specialized measures to restore the lake within a 10-year program. The National Environment Fund needs the cooperation in controlling the critical hotspots of SDSs, The level of Lake Urmia reached about of economic sectors, the private sector, and investors with a 50 percent increase in the Lake’s surface 1271.56 meters on July 21, equivalent to the aim of improving the protection and sustainable devel- and an eightfold increase in its water level 3,004 square kilometers surface area and opment of natural resources and biodiversity, along with caused many lands prone to wind erosion to 4.19 billion cubic meters in volume, while reducing pollution, and enhances cooperation in different return to normal again, he explained. at the beginning of Lake Urmia Restoration parts of the country, he also stated. He went on to note that the government has Program in 2013, the Lake’s level was about spent 100 trillion rials (about $2.3 billion at 1270.32 meters, 1783 square kilometers in the official rate of 42,000 rials) to implement surface area and 1.14 billion cubic meters in rehabilitation projects on the lake. volume, which indicates a 50 percent increase Crimean-Congo fever kills 5 During a five-year period until last year, a in the lake’s surface area. total of 673 billion rials (nearly $16 million) Achieving sustainable rehabilitation re- in Iran have been earmarked to counter sand and quires countless efforts, such as prevent- SOCIETY TEHRAN — Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic dust storms generated by the resources sur- were put into operation in January this year He went on to state that despite this rela- ing the lake’s water flow from entering the desk rounding Lake Urmia, 70 percent of which and will increase the water level of the lake tive increase in water level, the 30-year chart agricultural land. Lake Urmia’s condition Fever (CCHF) has claimed five lives in the has so far been provided, he noted. by about one meter annually. of changes in Lake Urmia based on satellite stabilized with a positive trend due to heavy country since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar The SDSs control operations in the area are The lowest amount of water in Lake Ur- data shows that the lake is still far from its rainfall, but there is a fear that this trend will year (March 21), director of zoonotic diseases management either completed or in its final stage, which mia was recorded in 2012, a year before the good condition and increasing rainfall and be reversed by drought in the coming years. office at the Ministry of Health has said. is a significant measure as saved 14 million start of the practical work of the restoration optimal use of water resources can continue The above normal levels of rain came to Behzad Amiri said that over the past five months 38 people, he further stated. program, with 500 million cubic meters of to increase the water level and lead to its help conservation measures to preserve the people have been diagnosed with the disease but were cured Referring to the operation of water transfer water, which now reached more than 4 billion complete restoration. Lake Urmia, however, it still needs 9.5 billion and survived death. projects from the south of West Azerbaijan to cubic meters showing an eightfold increase, Although the level of 1,274 meters has cubic meters of water to reach its ecological Last year, 119 persons were diagnosed with Crimean-Congo Lake Urmia, Sarkhosh said that these projects he highlighted. been announced as the lake’s ecological level, level of 1274.10 meters. fever in the country, of whom 11 died, he regretted, add- ing, since the beginning of this year, 38 people have been identified with Crimean-Congo fever, of whom 5 have lost their lives, unfortunately. Conservation plan prepared for Persian FAO strengthens agricultural drought Mohammad Nabavi, deputy director for communica- ble diseases department of the Ministry of Health, said Gulf humpback dolphins monitoring, warning systems in Iran that some 10 percent of the people who are diagnosed with Crimean-Congo fever and receive proper medical care may ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — An ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — The Food desk desk die, while this number increases to 50 percent for the people action plan for the and Agriculture Organ- who do not get any treatments. protection of Persian Gulf humpback ization of the United Nations (FAO) has According to the Health Ministry, some 100 to 150 cases dolphins has been prepared and will be helped Iran to establish a country-specific of Crimean-Congo fever are annually reported in Iran. implemented with the participation of agricultural drought monitoring system, According to the World Health Organization, the Crime- the three coastal provinces, head of the enabling the national authorities to de- an-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus causes severe viral hem- department of environment of Bushehr tect periods of water stress and forecast orrhagic fever outbreaks. province, said on Wednesday. crop yields more accurately in the Lake CCHF outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 40 The project is the result of years of Urmia basin. percent. efforts and monitoring of dolphins in In this regard, FAO organized a three- The virus is primarily transmitted to people from ticks the Persian Gulf ecosystem, which will day workshop to equip Iranian experts with and livestock animals. Human-to-human transmission can be implemented by the three coastal Gholinejad also mentioned the very operational knowledge and skills required to implement drought mitigation activities occur resulting from close contact with the blood, secretions, provinces of Bushehr, Khuzestan, and important and vital role of local commu- to establish a country-level Agricultural in agriculture, including the payment of organs or other bodily fluids of infected persons. Hormozgan, Farhad Gholinejad said, nities, non-governmental organizations Stress Index System (ASIS). parametric crop insurances and the pro- IRNA reported. and the media in protecting the Persian Designed by FAO to assist the countries vision of social protection schemes, on a Under the program, in addition Gulf humpback dolphins, and called on in monitoring agricultural drought and timely basis. These results are also useful for to constant monitoring, efforts are all concerned in this field to take an active managing its risk, ASIS as a part of the guiding public investments such as water Konkur kicks off amid being made to preserve the species part in the action plan. Global Information and Early Warning harvesting, irrigation, and water reserves,” and its habitat, he said, adding, the Humpback dolphins are character- System on Food and Agriculture uses satel- Rojas added. pandemic monitoring and protection of habitats ized by the conspicuous humps and lite data to detect agricultural areas where In this endeavor, and as part of the “In- of species whose habitats have been elongated dorsal fins found on the crops could be affected by drought and as a tegrated Programme for Sustainable Water 1 All participants and invigilators must wear face masks severely and extensively destroyed is backs of adults of the species. They result, it helps the countries to strengthen Resources Management in the Lake Urmia and receive a hygiene package including a mask, alcohol our priority. are found close to shores along the their agricultural drought monitoring and Basin” project jointly implemented by the pad, and hygiene gel. He went on to note that the destruc- coast of West Africa (called the Atlantic early warning systems. FAO and Lake Urmia Restoration Program Large halls have been selected with a suitable capacity and tion of natural habitats is indirectly species) and right along the coast of “ASIS can monitor the crop-specific (ULRP) and funded by the Embassy of Japan. the seats are arranged with an approved physical distance related to environmental pollution such the Indian Ocean from South Africa to areas during the crop cycle, detecting “ASIS can assist in close monitoring of 180 cm from each other. Meanwhile, the venues and all as industrial and municipal wastes and Australia (known as the Indo-Pacific water stress and forecasting drought, that of the agricultural stress within the Lake equipment are disinfected. effluents, therefore the development species). Adults can reach from 1.8 to can produce a production reduction, two Urmia basin in order to manage the impact Some 61 candidates of the national university entrance of a comprehensive action plan plays 2.6 meters and weigh in the range of months ahead,” Oscar Rojas, FAO Natural of those stresses on water resources man- exam are infected with the virus that will take the exam at a vital role. 100 to 139 kilograms. Resources Officer who led the three-day agement. Moreover, adding a probabilistic hospitals approved by the Ministry of Health. Oil spills and other pollutants dumped A total of 47 Indo-Pacific hump- workshop said. forecast to the ASIS which is going to be The oldest candidate is 83 years old and the youngest into the Persian Gulf, such as munici- back dolphins have been spotted in Initially developed by FAO-HQ covering implemented within the extension of the is aging 15. pal and industrial wastewater as well the Dayer Nakhiloo National Marine all around the world, the country-specific ULRP-FAO project would be a proper tool for In this year’s national exam, 58.28 percent of the total as tourist traffic, are the main causes Park in Bushehr province since a field version of ASIS once calibrated with field decision-makers,” Behdad Chehrenegar, the candidates are female and 41.72 percent are male. of habitat destruction of this valuable monitoring project was launched in data, including land-use maps, sowing dates, Head of Research Division of ULRP noted. Konkur is held annually in June or July in Iran and in species, he lamented. February 2014. crop cycle duration, and crop coefficients; FAO is the lead UN agency dedicated some other countries as well, however, this year due to Given all these habitats threaten- The dolphin is listed as ‘nearly threat- it will detect periods of water stress in crops to increasing the resilience of agricultural the pandemic, it was postponed till August. Every year the ing conditions, it seems that special ened’ by the International Union for Con- and forecast crop yields more accurately. livelihoods and food systems and supports participants sit for the multiple-choice exam to vie to get attention should be paid to the issue servation of Nature, but some argue that “The tool simplifies the results in the its member countries in their efforts to the best results possible as the seats at tuition-free public of natural habitat protection, he em- it meets the IUCN’s requirements for a form of easy-to-interpret maps enabling develop and establish agricultural early universities are limited. Based on the figures only 20 per- phasized. ‘vulnerable’ status. decision-makers at national and local levels warning early action systems. cent of the students would manage to win the seats at top charge-free public universities. ENGLISH IN USE LET’S LEARN PERSIAN LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION (Part 5) (Source: saadifoundation.ir)

ایجاد بیش از یک میلیون و ۵۰۰ هزار شغل Relief foundation creates over برای محرومان در کشور 1.5m jobs for the deprived Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation has generated over کمیتــه امــداد امــام )ره( از ســال ۹۰ تاکنــون بیــش از یــک 1.5m job opportunities for those financially struggling میلیــون و ۵۰۰ هــزار شــغل بــرای محرومــان کشــور ایجــاد since the past 7 years, Hojatollah Abdolmaleki, the کــرده اســت. .Foundation’s deputy director has announced بــه گــزارش خبرنــگار باشــگاه خبرنــگاران جــوان، حجــت اهلل عبدالملکــی Job generation for the underprivileged is among the معــاون کمیتــه امــداد امــام خمینــی )ره( اظهــار کــرد: ایجــاد اشــتغال most important and tough responsibilities of the Foundation, he stated, YJC reported on Monday. امــری ســخت اســت، تولیــد اشــتغال بــرای محرومــان ســختترین Since Iranian calendar year of 1390 (March 2011– اقــدام بــرای کمیتــه امــداد اســت کــه در حــال انجــام اســت. ,(March 2012) to 1396 (March 2017- March 2018 وی افــزود: از ســال ۹۰، یکمیلیــون و ۴۰۰ هــزار شــغل بــا تســهیالت the Foundation has earmarked 100 trillion rials ۱۰ هــزار میلیــاردی بــرای محرومــان ایجــاد شــده اســت، در ســال nearly $2.4 billion) to open up over 1.4 million job) گذشــته نیــز بــرای ۱۴۸ هزارنفــر بــا ۲ هــزار و ۳۰۰ میلیــارد تومــان opportunities in order to facilitate income generation تســهیالت توســط کمیتــه امــداد شــغل ایجــاد شــده اســت. .for the deprived, he explained I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 INTERNATIONAL AUGUST 20, 2020

No recognition of Israel unless Palestinians in Gaza rally Palestine freed: Imran Khan

Pakistn Prime Minister Imran Khan has categorically said that Pakistan could not recognise Israel as a state unless it gave against Israel-UAE deal freedom to Palestine. In a two-hour late-night interview with Dunya TV on Tues- Don’t follow UAE lead in betraying Palestine: Abbas tells Arab states day, he touched upon several issues, from the government’s strategy to deal with Covid-19, sugar and wheat crises, poor By staff & agencies UAE trying to ‘deceive’ Palestin- civic amenities in Karachi, government-opposition relations Hundreds of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip ians and FBR reforms to Pakistan’s foreign relations. Wednesday rallied against the U.S.-brokered Elsewhere in his comments, the Palestin- On foreign policy, the prime minister said: “The Quaid-i- deal to normalize ties between Israel and the ian president accused the UAE of turning its Azam had said in 1948 that Pakistan could not recognise Israel United Arab Emirates. back on Palestinians while trying to justify unless it gave freedom to Palestinians. Protesters burned Israeli and American the deal with Israel by arguing it helped stop “If we recognise Israel and ignore tyranny faced by the Pal- flags, trampled on posters of Israeli Prime West bank annexations. estinians, we will have to give up (the cause of) Kashmir as well, Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President “They added the term annexation and and this we cannot do.” Donald Trump, and chanted «normalization attempted to give the others and the world ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD is betrayal to Jerusalem and Palestine.» the illusion that the UAE had come up with In the context of the UAE, which has recently established According to AP, unlike Palestinian pro- a great achievement for us and that is the ties with Israel, the prime minister said every state had its testers last Friday near the Al Aqsa Mosque rejection of annexation, as if the Palestinian own foreign policy. compound in Jerusalem›s Old City who also issue is only about annexation while they He refuted an impression that Pakistan-Saudi Arabia re- burned posters of the Emirati crown prince, disregard everything else: the rights of the lations had been shaken over Kashmir issue. “Saudi Arabia the Gaza demonstrators stopped short of Palestinian people, the Palestinian state, the is one of our key friends and our relations are still fraternal burning symbols of the UAE - apparently not two-state vision, holy Jerusalem [al-Quds]…. and unchanged,” he said. to antagonize the Persian Gulf Arab coun- This is deception, and this is totally unac- The PM said Pakistan’s future was linked to China as China try, where tens of thousands of Palestinians ceptable. We consider it a stab in the back defended Pakistan in all difficult times. He said Chinese President work and live. of the Palestinian cause,” he emphasized. Xi Jinping would visit Pakistan in the winter. The demonstrators in Gaza City also voiced Abbas also stressed that only the Pal- support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Dhabi’s footsteps. have signed off,” he said. estinians have the right to speak on the Abbas for his rejection of President Donald He made the remarks at a meeting of the Last week, Israel and the UAE announced Palestine issue. Trump›s Mideast plan, which the Palestinians Palestinian leadership in the West bank in a joint statement, issued by the White “You cannot can take our place…Palestine Mali soldiers promise say unfairly favors Israel. city of Ramallah on Tuesday night, which House, that they had agreed to the full speaks in its own name. She is who will say The protest was organized by the Ha- was also attended by representatives of normalization of relations, sparking anger ‘yes’ or ‘no’. You [are] not responsible for the elections after coup d’etat mas group, which rules the Gaza Strip, different Palestinian factions, including the among Palestinians and other supporters Palestinian cause, we alone, the Palestinians and other factions. Gaza-based resistance groups of Islamic of the Palestinian cause against Israeli oc- here, will speak on behalf of the Palestinian Soldiers who overthrew Mali’s president in a coup d’etat that Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, Jihad and Hamas. cupation. cause,” he said. drew international condemnation pledged on Wednesday to denounced the Israeli-Emirati deal. Abbas condemned the UAE’s decision to Upon a request by U.S. President Don- Palestinians ‘united against con- restore stability and oversee a transition to elections within a «Normalization with the occupation harms normalize ties with Israel was a “stab in the ald Trump, it claimed, Israel “will suspend spiracy’ “reasonable” period. us and doesn’t serve us,» he said. «Instead, back of the Palestinian people.” declaring sovereignty” over parts of the Additionally, Abbas hailed the presence President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigned and dissolved it serves and promotes the occupation in its He reminded the Arab countries that occupied West Bank. of representative from different Palestinian parliament late on Tuesday, hours after the coup leaders detained projects that target Palestine and the region.» based on the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative Abbas delivered the warning after media factions at Tuesday’s meeting as a show of him at gunpoint, plunging a country already facing an armed ‘Don›t follow UAE lead in betray- any Israeli normalization should come after reports, citing experts, speculated that Bah- unity. movement against it as well as mass opposition protests deeper ing Palestine’ an agreement is reached between the Pal- rain was likely to toe the UAE line in nor- “I welcome our brothers in Hamas, Jihad, into crisis, al Jazeera reported. Meanwhile, authority President Mahmoud estinians and Tel Aviv, and not the other malizing ties with Israel. General Command and Al-Saiqa who are here Colonel-Major Ismael Wague - a spokesman for the Abbas has railed against the United Arab way around. On Tuesday, Israeli media also cited Su- today. This indicates that the Palestinian coup-makers calling themselves the National Committee Emirates (UAE) — which long portrayed “Some countries have begun moving, both danese government sources as announcing people are united against the conspiracy, for the Salvation of the People - said they acted to prevent itself as an advocate of Palestine’s cause — openly and in secret…this is rejected, and we an “impending” normalization agreement regardless of the differences between us, but Mali from falling further into chaos. for stabbing the Palestinian nation in the the Palestinians will continue to absolutely with Tel Aviv. Sudan’s acting foreign min- in adversity we stand together and have on “The social and political tension has undermined the proper back by making peace with Israel, warning reject this, no matter which country does this. ister, however, denied knowledge of such position against anyone who wants to attack functioning of the country for quite a while,” said Wague, other Arab countries not to follow in Abu You must respect the decisions on which you talks with Israel. our cause,” he said. flanked by soldiers. “Mali descends into chaos day by day [with] anarchy and insecurity because of the fault of the people in charge of its Russian major general dies, two Several rockets strike U.S. military destiny. Real democracy doesn’t go with complacency, nor weakness of the state authority, which must guarantee free- servicemen injured in Syria base in eastern Syria dom and security of the people.” A Russian major general has lost his life Syrian state media say a U.S. military and two servicemen have sustained injuries base located near an oilfield in the eastern when an improvised explosive device went part of the Arab country has come under Lukashenko says opp. off near their military convoy in Syria’s a rocket attack. eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr. Syria’s official news agency SANA an- attempting coup with formation Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a nounced late on Tuesday that several statement that the roadside bomb explod- rockets had targeted a U.S. military base of transitional council ed while the convoy was returning to its near the Conoco oil field controlled by American troops and Kurdish militants Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko has accused the op- base from a humanitarian operation near in the eastern Syrian province of Dayr position of attempting to stage a coup by forming a council to the provincial capital city of Dayr al-Zawr, al-Zawr. supposedly oversee a political transition in the country. located 450 kilometers (280 miles) north- the death and injuries of our servicemen There was no immediate report on On July 30, during his testimony to The opposition, which contests the re-election of Lukashenko east of the capital Damascus, on Tuesday. is not just our duty, it is also a matter of the possible casualties. the Senate Foreign Relations Commit- in the August 9 presidential vote, announced the formation of The statement added that three ser- honor,” the committee announced in a This comes a day after a U.S. air raid tee, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pom- the 70-person “coordination council” on Tuesday. vicemen were wounded in the blast, of statement. on a Syrian military checkpoint in the peo confirmed for the first time that an The council, which includes the representatives of political whom a “senior military advisor with According to Press TV, earlier this northeastern city of Qamishli killed a American oil company would begin work parties and cultural figures, is meant to be “a single representative the rank of major general” succumbed month, Russia raised the alarm at “an soldier and injured two others. in areas controlled by the U.S.-backed body of the Belarusian society,” according to the opposition. to his injuries. aggravation of the situation” in the oil- Since late October 2019, the United Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in north- Aides to the self-exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhano- The Russian Investigative Committee reach areas of Dayr al-Zawr Province, States has been redeploying troops to the eastern Syria. vskaya also said she was ready to serve as a “national leader” said early on Wednesday it had launched which are occupied by American forces oil fields controlled by its Kurdish mer- Syria says the deal is “an affront to until a new election was arranged. a criminal case following the incident. and where remnants of the Takfiri Daesh cenaries in eastern Syria, in a reversal of national sovereignty” that amounts to Lukashenko, who has already ruled out holding a repeat elec- “The crime that left a Russian army terror group are active. President Donald Trump’s earlier order “theft.” tion, said on Tuesday that he “definitely consider[s] this as an general killed and two more servicemen Over 120 Russian servicemen have to withdraw all troops there. The presence of U.S. forces in eastern attempt to seize power.” injured will not be an exception. Forces of so far lost their lives in Syria since the The Syrian government views the U.S. Syria has particularly irked the civilians, Attending a meeting of Belarusian Security Council, he warned the Investigative Committee, who are now country went on a mission in Septem- military presence as an illegal occupation and local residents have on several occa- that “adequate measures” would be taken against those who doing their service in Syria, will establish ber 2015 to help the Arab country in its of the country aimed at plundering its sions stopped American military convoys “joined this headquarters,” referring to the opposition council. all details of this criminal offense as part counter-terrorism operations. natural resources. entering the region. “But strictly in accordance with the constitution and the of the case. Establishing those guilty for law. We have enough of those measures to cool some hot heads,” he added. He said that the council comprised “the formers, the sore, Russia worked to help Trump in 2016 election: U.S. Senate panel who had a taste of power in the past; as well as deliberate Nazis.” The United States Senate intelligence enough evidence that President Trump’s relationship between Trump campaign Lukashenko won Belarus’ presidential election earlier this committee concluded that the Kremlin campaign coordinated or colluded with chairman Paul Mananfort and Konstantin month by a landslide, securing a sixth term in office. But his launched an aggressive effort to meddle Russia to sway the election to him and Kilimnik, who the committee describes political opponents organized protests and claimed electoral in the 2016 presidential contest on behalf away from Democrat Hillary Clinton, without equivocation as a Russian intel- fraud. The allegations were echoed by Western states. of Donald Trump as the Republican-led leaving its findings open to partisan in- ligence officer. The Belarusian president has expressed concern about panel on Tuesday released its fifth and fi- terpretation. The panel found Manafort’s role and foreign meddling in the internal affairs of his country. Last nal report in its investigation into election Former Trump campaign chairman Paul proximity to Trump created opportunities for week, he also warned about potential military action by NATO interference. Manafort worked with Russians, the report Russian intelligence, saying his “high-level against Belarus. The report (PDF) also alleged the WikiL- alleges, including oligarch Oleg Deripaska, access and willingness to share information “(NATO) tanks and jets are on standby within 15 minutes’ eaks website played a key role in Russia’s before during and after the 2016 election with individuals closely affiliated with the reach of our borders. This is not for nothing. NATO forces are effort to influence the 2016 election and likely that pitted Trump against Clinton. Russian intelligence services ... represented rattling tank tracks at our doors. Military power is building knew it was assisting Russian intelligence. It lays out significant contacts be- a grave counterintelligence threat”. up on the western border of our country,” he said on Sunday. The report purposely does not come to tween Trump associates and Russians, The report notes how Manafort shared posed”. The bipartisan investigation lasted a final conclusion about whether there is describing for instance a close professional internal Trump campaign polling data with almost three and a half years, much longer Visual point of view Kilimnik and says there is “some evidence” than the other probes. Resistance News that Kilimnik may have been connected The latest assessments were contained to the Kremlin’s operation to hack and in the fifth and final chapter of the Senate Israeli warplanes target leak Democratic emails, though it does Intelligence Committee’s report on alle- resistance site in Gaza not describe that evidence. In addition, gations that Russia sought to help Trump the report says that “two pieces of infor- defeat Clinton. mation” raise the possibility of Manafort’s Previous chapters have ratified U.S. spy INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN— The Israeli occupation army on potential connection to those operations, agencies’ findings, made public in January deskTuesday night waged aerial attacks on a Pales- but what follows next in the document is 2017, that Russia had sought to help Trump tinian resistance site in the Gaza Strip, with no reported casualties. blacked out. in 2016 by denigrating Clinton, making A reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) said Russia tried to discredit investigations it harder for her to win, and harming her that eight Israeli airstrikes targeted the same resistance site in into its role in election meddling, according presidency if she did. the south of al-Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City. to the Senate document. A group of Republicans on the panel The aerial aggression caused damage to civilian property and “The Committee observed numerous submitted “additional views” to the report panic among families in the bombed area. Russian-government actors from late saying that it should state more explicitly The Israeli army claimed the new airstrikes were in response 2016 to at least January 2020 consistently that Trump’s campaign did not coordinate to rocket fire from Gaza on Tuesday evening. spreading overlapping false narratives with Russia. But Democrats on the panel For over a week, the Israeli army has been attacking Gaza in submitted their own views, arguing that Abbas Goudarzi which sought to discredit investigations response to incendiary balloon launched by young protesters into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. the report clearly shows such cooperation. from the besieged coastal enclave. elections and spread false information about The last chapter of the committee re- The authorities in Gaza describe the flying of balloons the events of 2016,” the report said. port, released as Trump prepares to face off carrying incendiaries towards Israel by young men as acts The Senate panel described its report, against Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential of protest against Israel’s failure to honor previous ceasefire totaling more than 1,300 pages, as “the election, is likely to be the most defini- pledges to ease the blockade on Gaza and its persistence in Tehran Times/ most comprehensive description to date tive public account of the 2016 election attacking fishermen. of Russia’s activities and the threat they controversy. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 20, 2020 SPORTS 11

Iran, Uzbekistan friendly cancelled FFIRI to file appeal with CAS

SPORTS TEHRAN — The friend- ation issued a joint statement saying the Tasnim — The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic desk ly match between Iran delay is to protect the health and safety of of Iran (FFIRI) is going to file an appeal with the Court of and Uzbekistan has been cancelled following all participants from COVID-19. Arbitration for Sport (CAS). changes to the men’s and women’s interna- Iran, who sit third in Group C behind Iraq FIFA has ordered FFIRI to pay Marc Wilmots the sum of six tional match calendars in response to the and Bahrain, have four must-win matches million euro but the Iranian federation want to file an appeal global disruption caused by the COVID-19 ahead in the competition. against the fine. pandemic made by FIFA. Deagan Skocic’s team were due to host The Belgian left his position as coach of Iran after six matches These changes follow a thorough con- Hong Kong and Cambodia on Oct. 8 and Oct. in charge in early December. sultation process with the Confederations 13 in Tehran and Phnom Penh, respectively. Under leadership of Wilmots, Iran beat Hong Kong and and football stakeholders. This process Iran also had two matches against Bah- Cambodia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers but was defeated resulted in proposals via the FIFA-Confed- rain and Iraq on Nov. 12 and 17 in Tehran against Bahrain and Iraq in Group C that left Iran in the third erations COVID-19 Working Group that but the games will be held in 2021. place in the group. maintain the previously agreed principle The eight group winners of the World “The Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation has to pay that a tailor-made and flexible approach Cup qualification’s group stage and four EUR 6,137,500 to Marc Wilmots as compensation for breach of between Confederations is required, re- best runners-up will advance to the AFC contract,” FIFA wrote in a letter sent to Iran football federation. flecting the varied circumstances of the Asian Cup China 2023 Finals and the final In accordance with articles 15 and 18 of the procedural Rules, pandemic across the world. round of qualifying for the FIFA World this correspondence only communicates the findings of the de- The warm-up was originally scheduled Cup Qatar 2022. cision without grounds. for Sept. 7 but FIFA replaced the window The next best 24 teams from the second Should any of the parties wish to receive the grounds of the from 31 Aug. to 8 Sept. and it means the round of the joint qualifiers will compete in decision, a written request must be received by FIFA, within ‘Persian Leopards” will have to change a separate competition for the remaining 10 days of receipt of notification of the findings of the decision. their fixture. 12 slots in the 24-team AFC Asian Cup Failure to do so within the stated deadline will result in the de- The friendly match between Iran and China 2023. cision becoming final and binding and the parties being deemed Syria scheduled for Sept. 3 had been pre- The 2022 World Cup qualifiers scheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The FIFA World Cup in Qatar will run to have waived their rights to file an appeal. viously cancelled. this year were postponed to 2021 last week FIFA and the Asian Football Confeder- from November 21 to December 18, 2022.

IPL: Do or Die Time No Iranian teams allowed to sign foreigner FC Porto one step closer to sign Taremi SPORTS TEHRAN — On the SPORTS TEHRAN — Iranian desklast day of Iran Pro- deskfootball teams are not PLDC — FC Porto, defending champions of Primeira Liga, are fessional League (IPL), six teams will permitted to sign foreign coach and player in on the verge of signing a contract with Iranian striker of Rio remain in the fight for the competition’s the 2020-21 Iran Professional league (IPL). Ave Mehdi Taremi. survival and three teams remain in the The decision has been ratified by the Taremi’s shining in his first year of presence in the European fight for AFC two quotas. executive board of Iran Football League football have increased speculations about his future team. He One of pars Jonoubi, Machine Sazi, Organization on Wednesday. managed to score 18 goals for Rio Ave and named the league’s Paykan, Saipa, Gol Gohar and Zob Ahan “Due to the challenging situation of the top scorer along with two other players. will join Shahin who were relegated to currency exchange and the recent hike in The Iranian striker is reportedly on the radar of FC Porto, Azadegan League last week. the dollar’s value against the rial, there is Sporting Lisbon, Benfica, and also teams from England, Russia, On the other hand, three teams will have no possibility for Persepolis and Esteghlal Germany, and France. to look for two places in the next season’s clubs to sign foreign coach or player. These Among these, though, FC Porto seems to be more serious, AFC Champions League. clubs can renew their current squad and according to the Portuguese outlets. Persepolis became the first team to coaching staff contracts ant focus on signing Iran football, can extend their contracts O Jogo newspaper dedicated its Tuesday’s front page to Taremi’s qualify for the continental competition egated Shahin since Foolad and Tractor Iranian players rather than foreigners,” with their teams. transfer, writing that the striker will probably join Porto in the and now, Tractor, Sepahan and Foolad will meet on the last day and their result Mehdi Alinejad, the Iranian Deputy Minister The new season of Iran Professional next 24 hours with contract worth €5 to 6 million. will fight for two places. will guarantee Esteghlal’s place in the next of Sport and Youth, had said last week. League (IPL) will start in early October, Meanwhile, Abola daily claimed on Wednesday that the transfer Esteghlal have also sealed a place in season’s ACL. Now the organization has approved Fariborz Mahmoudzadeh, head of the has been completed with a 4-year contract worth €6 million. the event. The Blues will remain among All this will be decided on Thursday the decision however the current foreign Transfer Committee of the Iran Football top four even if they lose to already-rel- and it’s the definition of do or die. coaches and players, who are working in League Organization, had previously said. Barcelona appoint Pahlevani wrestling registered on National Heritage list Koeman as new coach to lead recovery from SPORTS TEHRAN — Pahlevani wrestling or ko- to abuse power and oppress the weak. deskshti pahlevani has been registered on the Practiced in a domed structure called Zurkhaneh (House of disastrous season National Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Strength), training sessions consist mainly of ritual gymnastic Traditional Iranian wrestling dates back to ancient movements and climax with the core of combat practice, a Persia and was said to have been practiced by Rustam, form of submission-grappling. Barcelona have appointed Ronald Koeman as their next coach, mythological Iranian hero of the Shahnameh epic. The The spiritual power of Pahlevani Sport is so high that in the club said in a statement on Wednesday, as the Catalans original purpose of these institutions was to train men as today’s world we see it as one of the widespread, influential look to rebuild after their 8-2 thrashing by Bayern Munich warriors and instill them with a sense of national pride and popular sports throughout the world and the culture in the Champions League last week. in anticipation for the coming battles it carries within is so rich. Koeman, who has left his role as manager of the Neth- As a physical training for a Pahlevan, Koshti is a kind In Iran, the pahlevani sport has a special role among erlands, has signed a two-year-deal with Barcelona, who of grappling, using some combat techniques, that its spirit Iranians and its culture and spiritual as well as physical sacked Quique Setien on Monday after he presided over the strongly relies on chivalry, bravery and generosity contrary elements are so influential and impressive on people’s life- club’s worst defeat ever in European competition and a first to some other sports and traditions that are mostly practiced styles and even the society’s trend and orientation. trophy-less season for the club since the 2007-08 campaign. Koeman, who will be officially presented at the Camp Nou stadium later on Wednesday, is dearly loved at Barca for his role in Johan Cruyff’s hugely successful side known as the Tianjin appoint Wang to Manchester United, Manchester City ‘Dream Team’ and for scoring the goal that delivered the club’s first ever European Cup in 1992. replace Stielike given extended summer break The defender later became the club’s assistant coach be- Chinese Super League (CSL) side Tian- Manchester United and Manchester City fore embarking on a career as a head coach, managing Dutch jin Teda have terminated the contract of are set to miss the opening weekend of sides Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord plus head coach Uli Stielike and replaced the the Premier League after being granted Premier League sides Southampton and Everton and La Li- German with former Henan Jianye coach an extended summer break following ga’s Valencia. Wang Baoshan, the club announced on their European commitments, sources “Barcelona and Ronald Koeman have come to an agree- Wednesday. have told ESPN. ment for him to be the team’s coach until 30 June 2022,” Stielike had been under pressure fol- The two Manchester clubs will be given said Barca’s statement. lowing a poor start to the delayed 2020 a 30-day break between their final games “A club legend and Barca’s hero at Wembley who gave fans CSL campaign, with Tianjin picking up of this season and the new campaign. their first European Cup, Koeman is coming back to the Camp just one point from their first five games City lost to Lyon in the Champions Nou. But this time he will be in the dugout to lead the team.” of the season so far. League quarterfinals on August 15 while Koeman has frequently been linked with the Barcelona The German, who had previously led United were knocked out of the Europa job in the past, in spite of a somewhat patchy club record Korea Republic to the final of the 2015 League by Sevilla 24 hours later. which included disappointing stints at Valencia and Everton. AFC Asian Cup finals in Australia, had It means they are unlikely to have fixtures But he worked wonders with the Dutch national team, been in charge of Tianjin since September scheduled for the opening weekend of the leading them to 2019 UEFA Nations League final as well 2017 when he steered the club away from Premier League season on September 12-13 as earning qualification to the postponed European Cham- the relegation zone in the final weeks of and will instead play their first games two pionships after they had failed to reach Euro 2016 and the the season. or three days later in midweek. 2018 World Cup. Tianjin again narrowly avoided However, City and United may have to relegation in 2018 when they finished play each other or one of the teams through in 14th position, one place above the to the Champions League or Europa League drop zone, before showing a marked Wang, who has significant experience group stage in their opening matches. The hopeful of giving his squad a two-week improvement in 2019 when Stielike working in the Chinese Super League after 13 clubs without European football will be preseason before playing their first game steered them to seventh. stints with Chongqing and Henan, also in Carabao Cup second-round action in the of the new season. Tianjin have made a dreadful start to previously served as an assistant coach midweek of Sept. 15, while Tottenham play Both City and United are set to organ- the current season, losing four and draw- to the China national team. their first Europa League qualifying fixture. ize warm up games to help them prepare, ing one – against Chongqing Lifan – of The new coach’s first game will be on United’s players have been given two weeks although sources have told ESPN it is “un- their first five games to sit at the bottom of Saturday, when Tianjin take on newly pro- off following their 2-1 defeat to Sevilla and are likely” either will use preseason to schedule Group B of the reformatted Chinese Super moted side Qingdao Huanghai. expected back in training early next month. international friendlies. League standings. (Source: AFP) Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is (Source: ESPN) PSG fans arrested, urged to stay at home after club make Champions League final French police said there were 36 arrests made in the heading outside amid the coronavirus pandemic. capital on Tuesday after Paris Saint-Germain support- “It’s truly sad that we couldn’t have any PSG sup- “Over the past two and a half years, I have done everything ers celebrated on the streets after the club reached the porters at the stadium last night,” she told France Info. I can to achieve success with the team,” Koeman told the Champions League final for the first time in their history. “I appeal to their responsibility so they can celebrate website of the Netherlands’ soccer association, the KNVB. PSG cruised to a 3-0 victory against RB Leipzig to the victories of our clubs by staying at home with their “I look back with pride on what we have achieved together in set up a clash against Bundesliga champions Bayern closest friends in order to reduce the contamination that period. The Dutch national team has a bright future, I am Munich or fellow Ligue 1 side Lyon in the final on Sunday. risks. We have to avoid gatherings in the street.” convinced of that. Everyone knows that Barcelona is my dream Thousands of the club’s fans gathered on the There were similar scenes in England last month club. It feels very special to me to be able to become a coach there.” Champs-Elysees to celebrate the victory with a num- when a police officer was seriously injured after thou- The KVNB’s director Eric Gudde added: “We regret Ronald’s ber of them failing to wear masks and adhere to health sands of Leeds United supporters celebrated the club’s decision, but respect his choice. In the period that Ronald protocols. promotion to the Premier League. has been national coach, he has achieved good results and The police said arrests were made due to a number Liverpool fans were also condemned by the club given the team color back in their cheeks after a number of of individuals performing violent acts against officers and police when supporters defied social distancing difficult years.” and damaging shops in the city. rules to celebrate the club’s first league title in 30 years Assistant coach Dwight Lodeweges will act as interim French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu re- in June. national coach until the KNVB has appointed a successor. sponded to the images and urged supporters to avoid (Source: ESPN) (Source: Reuters) Prayer Times Noon:13:08 Evening: 20:06 Dawn: 4:58 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:28 (tomorrow) AUGUST 20, 2020 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Mohammad Shojaeian Editor-in-Chief: Ali A.Jenabzadeh Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 Tazieh performances to go on [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051430 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 stage at Rudaki Open-Air Theater Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 ARTTEHRAN — The hosting over 50 tazieh performances on Webmaster: [email protected] desk Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 Rudaki Open-Air Imam Hussein (AS) in a program titled Theater will be hosting tazieh performances “Mourning of the Sun”. during the first ten nights of the lunar A number of the performances will also Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 month of Muharram amid the coronavirus take place in the courtyards of Imamzadehs, pandemic. the tombs of the Shia Imams’ descendants. No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran During the Muharram rituals, millions The courtyards of the cultural centers of P.o. Box: 14155-4843 of Muslims commemorate the martyrdom Khatam, Eshraq, Razi and Bahman, as well Zip Code: 1599814713 anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the as Imamzadeh Ali-Akbar (AS) in Chizar, grandson of Prophet Muhammad (S). Imamzadeh Ahl ibn Ali (AS) in Khavaran, Rudaki Foundation Managing Director and Imam Hossein Square are among the Mehdi Afzali has invited taizeh expert main locations for the tazieh performances. Ahmad Azizi, the head of Sayyid al-Shuhada According to the director of the Khatam Tazieh Troupe, to give performances. Cultural Center, Seyyed Ahmad Musavi, Azizi said that the troupe will begin the performances will take place in open their performances every night after the spaces observing health protocols. evening azan (call to prayer) for ten nights. The performances will begin on Friday “A big stage has been set up in the area and will continue until September 17. GUIDE TO and rows of seats observing social distancing Hojjatoleslam Meisam Amrudi, the SPIRITUAL AWAKENING have also been situated, observing health director of Art and Cultural Organization protocols proposed by the Health Ministry of the Tehran Municipality, had also [O Allah] What did he find he who lost You? so that the mourners can make the best announced earlier that the courtyards And what did he loose he who found You? use of these days and nights,” Azizi said. of its cultural centers will be dedicated Truly he has failed who is contented with Pointing to the high position of ritual to Muharram mourning ceremonies. other than You. art and plays especially tazieh among the He added that the decision has been Iranian nation, Azizi said, “We know that Thespians perform a tazeih in Tehran an undated photo. (Tasnim/ Mohammadreza made to support the mourning groups Imam Hussein (AS) we are experiencing a different situation Jafarzadeh) across capital. this year due to the spread of coronavirus, “The management of the Rudaki make the best use of the performances,” “About 60 cultural centers and culture but the love of the Muslim nation towards Foundation in addition to Iran’s Dramatic he concluded. houses with a capacity of over 20,000 Imam Hussein (AS) cannot be disturbed Arts Center have had good cooperation with In addition, several cultural and individuals will be dedicated to the groups,” without repercussions.” he said. Japanese environmental the troupe, and we hope the audience will religious centers across Tehran will be drawing contest honors paintings by Iranian children Book of Shahnameh stories illustrated by Morteza Momayyez published CULTURE TEHRAN — A book containing a “The price offered by the calligrapher was high and the 1 The Environmental Best Prize, the top honor of the contest, deskselection of stories taken from Ferdowsi’s project was halted, but after a while Momayyez requested went to the Japanese 10-year-old girl, Kitahara Kokomi. epic masterpiece Shahnameh, and bearing illustrations permission to keep the illustrations and use them for a “When I look at the works gathered here, I feel as if I am by Morteza Momayyez, has been published by Yasavoli book on Shahnameh,” he added. communicating with the mind of each child,” Kinutani Koji, Publications in Tehran. “Later I obtained permission from the Momayyez president of the jury, has said in his statement for the closing The stories have been rewritten by writer, translator Foundation and published them in the book,” he noted. day of the contest. and literary critic Hassan Golmohammadi in the book The Shahnameh millennium was accepted on “I always learn a lot from the entries, some of which are innocent named “Selections from Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh”. UNESCO’s 2010 calendar of events. and spontaneous, others are heavily tinged with the air of their Momayyez, who is considered to be the father of The Shahnameh, in which the Persian national epic native countries, and yet others modern graphic art in Iran, died of cancer in 2005 at found its final and enduring form, was completed in 1010. have strong messages to bring the age of 70. It was written for Sultan Mahmud of Ghazna. However, to a wide audience,” he added. The book is a selection of the stories in poetry and he didn’t welcome it because of the Shia religion of In the international section, prose, and it is very useful for the younger generation Ferdowsi. Denis Avdic, a 14-year-old boy who are not very familiar with Shahnameh. According to some historical sources on Persian from Bosnia and Herzegovina, The book tries to encourage the youth to read Shahnameh literature, Ferdowsi spent 30 years writing the Shahnameh, won the best prize, while the with its attractive form of narration, while the illustrations by which is comprised of nearly 60,000 verses. American 13-year-old girl Momayyez have made the appearance of the book very special. Also known as “Book of Kings” in English, the Lindsay Qin was presented “It was in 1970s and 1980s I got to know Momayyez, Shahnameh is based mainly on the Khwatay-namak, a with the UNICEF Prize. and he gave me some of his illustrations on Shahnameh history of the kings of Persia in Pahlavi (Middle Persian) Hossain Shahadat from so that I choose poetry suitable for the designs from from mythical times down to the 7th century. Bangladesh, Lara Hine Chinita Shahnameh and later published them with inscriptions For nearly 1000 years, Shahnameh has remained one Front cover of the book “Selections from Ferdowsi’s from Portugal, Samaddar Tanuj by a famous calligrapher,” Golmohammadi said. of the most popular works in the Persian-speaking world. Shahnameh” published by Yasavoli Publications in Tehran. from India and Nutthanicha Veerasenee from Thailand received the JQA Special Prize. A painting by 11-year-old Iranian The jury special prize in girl Melika Amjadian won first the international category Veteran, young illustrators working on prize at the 20th JQA Interna- was awarded to Ang Jia Yi from tional Environmental Children’s Malaysia. new IIDCYA books Drawing Contest in Japan. “We hold this contest to give ARTTEHRAN — Over which played a major role in developing this for the veterans to work alongside the young an opportunity for children desk75 veteran and young new art form in Iran and across the world and novice artists, creating increased of the future generation to become more aware of their global illustrators have joined forces to illustrate with such masters as Morteza Momayyez, motivation for both to work harder. environment through drawing pictures under the theme of the the latest productions done by the Institute Farshid Mesqali, Ali-Akbar Sadeqi and He hoped that this process would environment of our Earth,” the organizers have said in their for Intellectual Development of Children several others, remains active today 55 continue so that new talented illustrators statement for the competition. and Young Adults (IIDCYA). years later with new artists alongside the could be introduced. The illustrators are busy in these days veterans. Maneli Manuchehri, also an expert at An illustration created by the illustrators of the pandemic to produce the best they Kamal Tabatabai, an expert on art at the IIDCYA, said that most of the works are being Anne Wiazemsky’s “One Year at the Institute for Intellectual Development can for children of different ages. institute, says that the current situation of the produced by the young illustrators, which of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA). Later” appears in Persian The graphic design work of the institute, pandemic has provided a good opportunity demonstrates their love and motivation.

CULTURE TEHRAN — A Persian translation of French deskauthor Anne Wiazemsky’s novel “Un An “Cycling Wind” competing in Glasgow DMZ festival picks Iran’s Après” (“One Year Later”) has been published by Markaz Short Film Festival “The Unseen” Publications in Tehran. The book has been rendered into Persian by Qassem Rubin. ARTTEHRAN — “The ARTTEHRAN — Iranian “The hunt for students continued on Boulevard Saint-Germain deskCycling Wind” from deskdirector Behzad Nalban- and Rue Saint-Jacques,” reads part of the book. Iranian director Nazanin Sobhan- di’s animated movie “The Unseen” will be “Groups of young people, Sarbandi is competing in the Glasgow screened at the 12th DMZ International boys and girls mixed together, Short Film Festival in Scotland. Documentary Film Festival, in South Korea. fought with their bare hands Produced by the Institute for “The Unseen” is about homeless women against the police batons, others Intellectual Development of Children in Iran who are locked away, banished to threw various objects picked up and Young Adults (IIDCY), the film tells the outskirts of the city, and made invisible. on the sidewalks,” it adds. the story of a young wind that comes Nalbandi secretly conducted interviews in “Sometimes, smoke into possession of a bike, which helps the camps and creates a world of his own: prevented me from making the wind to blow even faster without cardboard animations make those affect- out who was attacking whom. expending much energy, and to truly ed visible again.The DMZ festival, which We would learn later that it enjoy its time. intends to discover and introduce talented was tear gas. The phone rang. The festival, which is going filmmakers and Asian documentaries, will It was Jean-Luc, very worried, A scene from “The Cycling Wind” by online, will announce winners on Nazanin Sobhan-Sarbandi. take place in Gyeonggi Province, Paju and A scene from “The Unseen” by Behzad who feared that I had not had August 23. Goyang from September 17 to 24. Nalbandi. the time to get back to our apartment,” it adds. Anne Wiazemsky was a French novelist and a New Wave Front cover of the Persian actress who appeared in seven Arri joins up with Iranian director in short film translation of French author films directed by her husband, Anne Wiazemsky’s novel “Un Jean-Luc Godard including “La An Après”. Chinoise” (The Chinese) (1967) “When I Killed the Cat” and “Week End” (1967). Wiazemsky was the granddaughter of the Nobel literature CULTURE TEHRAN — The Arri Group, a “Due to our plans for numerous locations and laureate François Mauriac. She was a leading lady in Godard deskGerman manufacturer of motion special shootings, we needed the work to be highly films, a chronicler of his pioneering role in the New Wave, which picture film equipment, has joined up with Iranian professional. Therefore, all the members of the technical swept France in the 1960s, fueled by the revolutionary stirrings director Mansur Foruzesh to produce a short film crew have an extensive background in large productions that culminated in volatile strikes and demonstrations in 1968. entitled “When I Killed the Cat”. in Hollywood,” he added. She became an instant star in 1966 when she was barely 18 This 15-minute movie, which will be a joint production The project will be filmed in late August on location after a family friend, actress Florence Delay, introduced her to of Iran, England and Hungary, is about a man who kills his in a forest near the Hungarian capital of Budapest, director Robert Bresson. He immediately cast her in his film “Au cat to erase some of his bad memories. and Marci Ragályi, the Hungarian cinematographer Hasard Balthazar” (Balthazar, at Random). “We spent about six month finding a company to sponsor for big productions such as “Inferno” and “Houdini”, After abandoning her movie career in the late 80s, Wiazemsky the project, as the screenplay had been completed a year ago,” will be collaborating in this project. began writing critically acclaimed fiction and memoirs. Foruzesh said in a press release published on Wednesday. Foruzesh expressed his hope that the pandemic would Her 1993 novel “Canines” was awarded with the Prix Goncourt “The equipment provided by the Arri Group is of great not halt his project. des Lycéens, while “Une Poignée des Gens” (A Handful of People), value, and if we did not have their support it would have been His previous shorts “A Few Knots Away” and “The Hose” a novel she published in 1996, won the Grand prix du roman of almost impossible to use such equipment in the production,” have been screened at several international events, including A poster for Iranian filmmaker Mansur Foruzesh’s short the Academie Française. he noted. the Religion Today Film Festival in Italy. film “When I Killed the Cat”.