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8 Pages Price 50,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 43rd year No.13941 Wednesday MAY 12, 2021 Ordibehesht 22, 1400 Ramadan 29, 1442

Iran: - Daei, Hejazi the best Blood donation dialogue conducted by Iranian players of up 27% during Felicitation special envoys Page 2 century: IFFHS Page 3 Qadr nights Page 7 on Eid-al Fitr rejects Pentagon’s claim, denounces U.S. ‘unprofessional’ behavior in Hormuz Bibi’s big mistake: Fall TEHRAN - The Islamic Revolutionary committing “provocative, gratuitous and Guards Corps Navy has reacted to a claim unprofessional behaviors such as flying heli- by the Pentagon that the IRGC speed- copters, firing flares and aimless shooting.” boats unprofessionally came close to an The statement said the IRGC boats See page 3 American vessel. maintained a legal distance from the The IRGC Navy said in a statement on American vessels in accordance with of fake regime? Tuesday that IRGC boats did not act unpro- international maritime regulations and fessionally and while they were conducting warned them against “dangerous and a regular and conventional operation, they unprofessional behavior.” encountered seven American Navy vessels Continued on page 3

Iranian COVID-19 Electricity projects worth over $320m enters large- put into operation TEHRAN – Iranian Energy Minister projects, as well as installing new PV sys- inaugurated major tems for nomadic households. scale production phase electricity projects worth 13.45 trillion The national electricity network’s rials (about $320.2 million) across the new dispatching center which has been country on Tuesday, in the sixth week of completed with 11.44 trillion rials (about the ministry’s A-B-Iran program in the $272.3 million) of investment is using current Iranian calendar year (started on world’s latest technologies in Energy March 21). Management System (EMS), Supervisory The inaugurated projects include Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) the national electricity network’s new and Wide Area Management System and dispatching center, numerous power Control (WAMS) systems. network modification and optimization Continued on page 4

TEHRAN – The first batch of COVIRAN the vaccine will be launched by the next BAREKAT, equaling 300,000 doses of two months. the first homegrown COVID-19 vaccine COVIRAN BAREKAT was unveiled manufactured by the Headquarters for on December 29, 2020, and started to Executing the Order of the , was be mass-produced on March 29. unveiled in a ceremony on Tuesday. Iran is among the first countries which The first large-scale production line started developing a vaccine against of the vaccine with a capacity to produce coronavirus, and now four companies three million doses is ready for operation, are endeavoring to release their products ISNA reported. by September and inoculate the whole Masoumeh Aliakbar The second production line with a population. capacity to produce 17 million doses of Continued on page 7 ISNA/

Israel likely to Tehran, discuss ways to UN says Daesh committed genocide intensify tensions deepen tourism ties against Iraq’s Izadis before a JCPOA TEHRAN – Iranian tourism minister -Asghar [implementation of] a visa waiver [program].” A UN team investigating Daesh (ISIL terrorist group) a special court. Mounesan and Yerevan’s ambassador to Teh- The envoy, for his part, said many Armenians atrocities in Iraq says it has established evidence that “It is time for the international community to do, revival: professor ran Artashes Toumanian on Monday discussed are not being introduced to Iran’s attractions. the crimes committed by the terrorist group against more than listen. It is time to act. If world leaders ways to deepen ties in the realms of tourism and “The people of do not know much about Izadis amounted to “genocide”. have the political will to act on this evidence, then BY MOHAMMAD MAZHARI cultural heritage. The officials exchanged views Iran’s tourist attractions, if [enough] information Karim Khan, the head of the UN team, said there justice is truly within reach,” Murad, who won the n American professor says it on how to boost travel when the coronavirus is is provided and tourism officials and tour oper- was “clear and convincing evidence” that the crimes 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to end the is possible that as the controlled with help of . ators of the two countries work in this regard, committed by Daesh against the Izadi people as a use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, told the chief opponent of the 2015 “We are ready to increase the tourism ties they would be interested in traveling to Iran.” religious group “clearly constituted genocide”. Security Council Monday. A between the two countries. It seems, within the Joint work on the restoration of historical sites The team, he told the UN Security Council, identi- Referring to the report of the UN team, Murad nuclear deal can raise tension over a possible revival of the agreement next few months, the tourism sector would re- and monuments was another issue discussed fied the perpetrators “that clearly have responsibility said, “The Council must now prioritize and accelerate before it tones down its rhetoric or sume as [COVID-19] is underway in the Tehran meeting. for the crime of genocide against the Yazidi (Izadi) concrete action to address the findings.” stop its malicious acts. worldwide,” Mounesan said. “The arena of Iranian cultural heritage is community.” Khan is a British lawyer who is due to become Noting that both Iran and the U.S. want The Iranian minister attached great im- important to us because it dates back to thou- Back in August 2014, Daesh terrorists overran the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor to get back to the Joint Comprehensive portance to tourism as a tool, which can foster sands of years ago,” Toumanian said. Sinjar, killing, raping, and enslaving large numbers next month. Plan of Action (JCPOA), Karl Kaltenthaler peace and friendship between various nations. “We have good experience in the field of intangi- of Izadi Kurds. According to Press TV, the report of the team, which tells the Tehran Times that “It will possibly “We pay special attention to tourism with ble cultural heritage and there are many similarities The region was recaptured in November 2015. started work in 2018, also found the “repeated de- raise tensions before it would lower them.” our neighbors because we believe tourism, in between the two countries in this regard. Armenian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, an Izadi ployment of chemical weapons by ISIL (Daesh) Iran and the five remaining parties to the addition to economic matters, helps to promote specialists can also help to restore the engravings woman who was enslaved and raped by Daesh, urged against civilian populations in Iraq between 2014 nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Com- friendship between the nations. Such relation- of Iranian churches,” the ambassador explained. the UNSC to refer the genocide against her people and 2016, as well as the testing of biological agents prehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), coupled ship with Armenia has been improved after the Continued on page 6 to the International Criminal Court (ICC) or create on prisoners.” with the United States have started talks in Vienna, to convince the Biden administration to return the multilateral agreement. Kaltenthaler says Israel and Saudi Arabia Russia says Iran’s deal with IAEA likely to be extended Bribed normalisation: do not want the United States to move back TEHRAN – A top Russian diplomat at the tended,” he said, adding, “But, as of the strictly restrict cooperation with the IAEA The reverse effects into the nuclear deal but Tehran and Riyadh Vienna nuclear talks has said that a February moment, our task is different- we need in case the West failed to lift sanctions. deal between Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog to reach an agreement on restoration of According to a joint statement issued by are in the process of normalizing ties and BY BATOUL SBEITY will “most likely” be extended. JCPOA by 21 May.” the International Atomic Energy Agency and the sides have so far held talks in . In mid-August of 2020, former U.S. President Russian ambassador to the Vienna-based The Russian diplomat was referring to a the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, the Israeli officials have warned about military Trump started brokering the normalisation of ties international organizations Mikhail Ulyanov February deal between Iran and the IAEA IAEA and AEOI agreed: “1. That Iran continues escalation if the JCPOA is revived. After between the Wrong State (Israel) and a series of told Laura Rozen that the deal has a good chance which allowed the latter to continue its to implement fully and without limitation its targeting Iran’s ships and some sabotage Arab nations, with the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and to be extended. monitoring activities in Iran ahead of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with operations in the Iran nuclear facilities, Morocco forged open and official ties. From the “I think the February understandings implementation of a parliamentary nuclear the IAEA as before. the world is witnessing Israeli aggression outward, it may seem as though the Wrong State most likely have a good chance to be ex- law obligating the Iranian government to Continued on page 3 against Palestinians. has the upper hand and is dictating the rules of It seems that since the Israeli regime engagement on its own terms, but this couldn’t have failed to find a solution to its domestic be further from the truth- indeed, the Wrong crises and its international isolation it State is only escaping forward. resorting to violent acts to start a war. Its When it was established in 1948, the Zion- attacks on the Palestinians in the West ists realised they needed to expand in order Bank and the Gaza Strip are examples. to survive; they did not tolerate being limited Following is the text of the interview: by the borders that were given to them, such The Vienna talks are going on. Presidential that in front of any siege or war, they were Are you optimistic about the results? not to be threatened or overtaken. This reality What will be the impact of any pos- candidates manifested itself with the new 1967 boarders sible agreement on West Asia? of the Wrong State, that saw the annexation of I believe these talks are the start of a the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, the West process that both the Iranian government register at Bank and the Golan Heights. and the Biden Administration want to The peak was reached during the 1982 in- work. Both sides want to get back to a Interior vasion of Lebanon, that saw the Wrong State deal where there is sanctions relief for Iran for the first time attack the heart of an Arab in exchange for verifiable commitments capital- Beirut. Indeed, when Ariel Sharon led by Iran to not develop the capability to Ministry the Israeli Army into the heart of Lebanon during produce nuclear weapons. After some the invasion and was asked what the borders initial posturing by both sides, it seems TEHRAN— As the registration of pres- of this state signify, he said the borders are like they are both working on getting to idential hopefuls opened on Tuesday, wherever their tanks stand. a deal. In terms of the impact of the deal some political figures showed up to Continued on page 5 for the Middle East (West Asia), it will register. Registration process opened possibly raise tensions before it would on 8 am to 6 pm. The registration will lower them. Israel and Saudi Arabia do Mona Hoobehfekr continue till May 15. Many prominent Dear readers, not want the United States to move back figures, including Judiciary chief Seyyed The next issue of the Tehran Times into a nuclear deal with Iran. ISNA/ Ebrahim Raeisi, are expected to show Continued on page 5 up in the coming days. will be published on Saturday, May 15. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS MAY 12, 2021

ELECTION WIRE Hopefuls start registering Bibi’s big mistake: Fall for president

POLITICAL TEHRAN— Mohammad Hassan Nami, deskSaeed Mohammad, and General were among the first figures who went to the Ministry of fake regime? of Interior to register as presidential hopefuls. Former Minister of Communications in Ahmadinejad’s POLITICAL TEHRAN — With Ben- government, Reuven Rivlin, the Israeli pres- desk administration showed up at the ministry on Tuesday to jamin Netanyahu losing ident asked Netanyahu’s arch nemesis, Yair register. the battle to the Knesset, “the army that Lapid, to form a government. If Lapid fails will never taste victory” is on its path to to secure a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, losing yet another battle to the Palestinians Israel will witness its fifth election in two in al-Quds. The main question however is years, but that is only one of his failures in why now? domestic politics. The 71-year-old Israeli prime minister He has failed to bridge the ideological is known for his thirst for power. He has differences in Israel due to various reasons. run Israel into the grounds for 15 years, but First is the sabotage attack on the mostly, he is known for his idiocy. From nuclear facility. It did not work, as Iran be- awfully wrong predictions, such as “Iran will gan producing enriched uranium with 60% have a nuclear bomb in five years from now” purity, sending a loud and clear message Nami Mohammad Dehghan to losing the 33-day war to the Lebanese that Israel should be scared of Iran, not vice Nami showed up early, minutes after the registration opened. Hezbollah, along with losing the 22-day versa. The act of sabotage at the Natanz He declared that his motto is “law and order in the light war to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. nuclear site backfired horribly on Israel. It of moral virtues.” He also said he is running independently. The old fox is charged with bribery, fraud, accelerated the process of negotiations, with Saeed Mohammad, former director of the -al An- and breach of trust. When you are Israel’s all sides coming to a mutual understanding biya Construction Headquarters, was the second famous longest-serving prime minister you make about the deal. political figure who came to the ministry to register at 11:30. stupid decisions. There is a long list of Ne- the ground. actions with what is occurring in al-Quds. Second, the Biden administration has He said that his registration in the first hours of the process tanyahu’s increasingly desperate attempts Let’s recap for just a brief moment. How Therefore, on May 10, they fired 150 rockets deep ideological differences with Netanyahu, shows his good intentions. to maintain power. From accepting gifts did it all begin? into Israel from Gaza. Clearly surprised, despite Biden’s friendship with Bibi. On the He added that he is determined to proceed forward with worth hundreds of thousands of dollars It all started on May 6, when the Israeli the Israeli army said that they have only issue of the Vienna negotiations, Israel has his presidential bid. from wealthy friends such as Hollywood Supreme Court decided a forced eviction succeeded to intercept only one rocket. repeatedly stated that it opposes the idea of ‘The independent general shows up with his wife’ film producer Arnon Milchan and Australian of the Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah, East The recent developments can be inter- negotiations, let alone the revival of the Joint Gen. Hossein Dehghan was the third person who showed billionaire James Packer to attempting to . The Palestinians protested over preted as one of Netanyahu’s desperate ef- Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). They up at the ministry to register. orchestrate favorable coverage in a major the unfair ruling, as they were forced to leave forts to stay in power. Sami Abu Shehadeh, have had various interviews, sent private Dehqan, defense minister from 2013-2017, said that he Israeli newspaper in return for restricting their homes. Sheikh Jarrah have witnessed Palestinian Knesset member and leader of messages through various channels, and did not wait for anyone, and his decision won’t be influenced distribution of a free pro-Netanyahu tabloid. many tragic scenes over the past few days; the Balad party, has said Israeli Prime Min- so on, but the Biden foreign policy team by any external factors. His recent effort, however, was to get and what makes it even more tragic is that ister Benjamin Netanyahu allowed for an is determined to revive the nuclear deal. “I came early, as I believe we have to start our work as into a full-fledged war with the Palestinians it all happened in the holy month of Rama- “escalation” in a bid to remain in power, Therefore, he played his last card. soon as possible,” Dehghan pointed out. just before celebrating their most import- dan, when the Palestinians were fasting. according to Al Jazeera. Bibi had no chance. He had lost the gam- He added that his administration will represent honesty, ant religious Eid, Eid al-Fitr, which falls on Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque, “In order to survive this political crisis ble. Therefore, he put all his cards on the and the great Iranian nation deserve a better life. May 14. There is an Islamic saying by one ’s third holiest site, and dispersed the he finds himself in now, and in order for deck, starting a dangerous battle with the of the that says “Thank God who Palestinian worshippers elsewhere in East him not to lose control and not to lose his Jerusalemites in a crucial time of the year. has made our enemies fools.” When you Jerusalem. seat as prime minister … he is ready to do Clearly, he doesn’t know that the timing look at the recent developments in al-Quds, On May 9, the Israeli forces raided the anything,” Shehadeh said. of the battle has ignited a passion in the you realize that Bibi Netanyahu falls exactly Al-Aqsa Mosque by throwing tear gas and “What is happening here is a clear polit- Palestinians to resist harder. under that saying. stun grenades into the mosque, as the de- ical decision that Netanyahu is responsible As the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Iran: Tehran-Riyadh On Sunday, Israel’s channel 7 announced fenseless Palestinians were busy worshipping. for to keep power,” Shehadeh pointed out. rightly predicted in his speech on Interna- that the Israeli security cabinet has passed The Islamic Jihad, Hamas’ fellow resistance What Shehadeh raised is something we tional Quds Day on May 7, “the downward dialogue conducted by a plan that allows the government to launch movement, warned the Israeli regime against should carefully consider. He is referring to a spiral leading to the decline of the hostile special envoys massive airstrikes on the Gaza Strip with- further aggressive actions, stating that all possibility that Bibi announces an emergency Zionist regime has started and will not stop.” out having the need to attack the area on Palestinian resistance groups align their situation. Having failed to form a coalition It is just a matter of time. POLITICAL TEHRAN— Speaking at his weekly press deskconference on Tuesday, Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said that special envoys for the governments of Iran and Saudi Arabia are conducting negotiations, adding the talks will continue until they reach a conclusion. 53 Democratic leaders tell Biden to lift Iran sanctions POLITICAL TEHRAN — Fifty-three A leading Indian academic says Trump’s with Iran parallel to the ongoing political inspections at its nuclear sites. deskDemocratic Party leaders exit from the JCPOA violated all legal, stra- talks in the Austrian capital,” Rafael Grossi Later in February, Iran and the IAEA have sent a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden tegic and diplomatic norms. told reporters on Monday. reached a technical understanding under urging him to rejoin the 2015 Iran nuclear “The U.S. President Donald Trump’s de- Representatives of Iran and the other which Iran continued to keep the camera deal. cision in 2018 to withdraw from the Iran five signatories to the nuclear agreement footage at its nuclear sites for up to three They said Monday that they have “strong nuclear deal was extremely foolish morally, -- Britain, , Germany, Russia and months in a goodwill gesture in support of support” for an initiative in the Biden ad- legally, strategically, and diplomatically,” China -- have been engaged in the Vienna diplomacy, waiting to see whether the other ministration to return to the Joint Com- Ashok Swain tells the Tehran Times. process since early April with the purpose parties to the JCPOA can manage to bring the prehensive Plan of Action, which former ‘Nuclear talks moving to crucial of finding ways to bring the United States U.S. back into full compliance with the deal. President Donald Trump quit. stage’ back to the JCPOA and the ground That deadline would come to an end on “Lifting Trump’s bad-faith sanctions - The top European Union diplomat said for its full implementation. May 21, while the prospects of reaching an which he explicitly imposed on Iran in order on Monday that negotiations in Vienna be- They wrapped up another round of talks agreement to bring Washington into com- to make a return to the JCPOA next-to-impos- tween world powers and Iran are moving in Vienna on Friday apparently without any pliance with the JCPOA look uncertain. sible - should not be treated as a concession into a crucial stage and the next few weeks breakthrough, with both sides agreeing to Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, “In order to clear up misunderstandings and disputes, two to Iran, but rather as an effort to restore U.S. will be critical to saving 2015 nuclear deal. speed up the diplomatic process. who is the head of the Iranian delegation to rounds of negotiations have been held between the two countries credibility and enhance American security,” U.S. officials returned to Vienna last week Besides re-imposing the anti-Iran sanc- the Vienna talks, told NHK on Friday that so far. In addition to bilateral issues, regional issues were also they wrote, according to The Hill. for a fourth round of indirect talks with Iran tions lifted by the JCPOA, the U.S. targeted the Islamic Republic may consider extending discussed, but we are not able to go into details until the talks The U.S. return to the deal, backed by other on how to resume compliance with the deal. the Iranian nation with several sets of addi- the deal with the IAEA on inspections of its are concluded,” the spokesman said. world’s major power, is yet to materialize “I am optimistic, there is a window of tional bans under new pretexts and labels. nuclear sites. He added that Iran is determined to clear up all misunder- in the Biden Democratic administration. opportunity that will stay open for a cou- Now, with Trump gone, Biden’s admin- “Vienna negotiations taking time standings that troubles the neighbors. The Democrats argued that Trump’s with- ple of weeks, (until) end of the month,” EU istration says it seeks to rejoin the deal, but but constructive” “(The path of) diplomacy is currently open between us and drawal “made America less safe,” saying, foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell, who is it has so far refused take meaningful ac- German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas neighboring countries, and in some cases there are positive “America’s credibility has been severely chairing the talks, told a news conference tion to regain Iran’s trust and come back also said on Monday that time is of the es- signs,” Rabiei added. damaged and its national security damaged.” in Brussels. to compliance. sence in the Vienna talks but emphasized He emphasized that all sides still need to work harder to “The Obama administration did not only “But a lot of work is needed, time is limited In excessive demand, the U.S. says Iran that despite lengthy negotiations, they are ensure that stability is restored to the region and that lasting prove that diplomacy with Iran works, it also and I hope that the negotiations will enter should first resume the nuclear commit- conducted in a good atmosphere. peace is established for all nations in the region. proved that no other policy tool advances into a phase of nonstop (talks) in Vienna,” ments it has suspended in resorting to its “The negotiations are tough and labori- American security more effectively than di- he said following a meeting of EU foreign legal retaliation rights defined in Article 26 ous but all participants are conducting the plomacy,” they wrote to Biden. “We urge you ministers. of the agreement before Washington lifts talks in a constructive atmosphere,” Maas Zarif: Referendum only to continue on this proven path of success.” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas the sanctions. Tehran has firmly rejected said on the margins of a meeting with his solution to Palestine issue Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Minneso- described the negotiations as tough and that demand, saying it is up to the US, as European Union counterparts in Brussels. ta Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) and laborious, but added that all participants the party that abandoned the JCPOA, to “However, time is running out. We aim POLITICAL TEHRAN — In a tweet on Tuesday afternoon, Democratic Ohio congressional candidate were conducting them in a constructive take the first back toward the deal by lifting for the full restoration of the Iran nuclear deskIranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Nina Turner were among the most notable atmosphere. all the anti-Iran sanctions practically and deal,” he added. Zarif condemned the brutal act of aggression by the Israeli regime signatories. “However, time is running out. We aim verifiably. EU says Vienna talks on JCPOA against the Palestinians, reiterating Tehran’s long-held princi- Former U.S. President Donald Trump for the full restoration of the Iran nuclear In his Monday remarks, Grossi point- revival moving to crucial stage pled position that only a referendum can solve the complicated abandoned the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 deal as this is the only way to guarantee that ed to a three-month deadline given to the EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell decades-long Palestinian issues. and started imposing the harshest sanction Iran will not be able to come into possession IAEA by Iran based on a temporary tech- also on Monday expressed his optimism on Iran in history. of nuclear weapons,” Maas said in Brussels. nical understanding reached between the about the Vienna talks, saying the negoti- Trump did this despite the fact that the IAEA says technical talks with Iran two sides in February and said “patience” ations are moving into a crucial stage and United Nations’ International Atomic En- going on in parallel to Vienna nego- is required to achieve outcomes from the the next few weeks will be critical to saving ergy Agency was fully cooperating with the tiations ongoing political talks in Vienna. the nuclear deal. terms of the deal, officially known as the The director general of the International “But in the event that a political agree- “I am optimistic, there is a window of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA. Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Mon- ment is not reached before May 20, I will opportunity that will stay open for a couple In fact, the Trump administration violated day that talks on the technical aspects of start direct talks with the Iranians to ensure of weeks, (until) end of the month,” Borrell, international law as the JCPOA is endorsed Iran’s peaceful nuclear program are going on that the inspections will be completed,” the whose deputy Enrique Mora is chairing the by UN Security Council Resolution 2231. in the Austrian capital Vienna in parallel to UN nuclear agency chief added, according talks in Vienna, told a news conference. Under the JCPOA, Iran agreed to put political talks on the revival of the landmark to globalsecurity.org. “But a lot of work is needed, time is limited limits on its nuclear activities in exchange nuclear deal clinched by Tehran and world In February, Iran halted its voluntary and I hope that the negotiations will enter for termination of economic and financial powers in July 2015. implementation of the Additional Protocol in a phase of nonstop (talks) in Vienna,” he sanctions. “We are in the midst of technical talks that allowed the IAEA to carry short-notice added after a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

In a video message, Zarif said that attacking Al-Aqsa Mosque and killing worshipers is the “biggest sign of the racist and criminal FM lauds moves by Iran, Saudi Arabia to reduce tensions nature of the usurping regime,” which has always been a major cause of insecurity and instability in the region. POLITICAL TEHRAN – Pakistan’s Prime Minister Khan made a three-day Foreign Minister Qureshi said “flexibil- countries and they show common view by “There is only one just solution to the Palestinian issue, and deskforeign minister on Tues- visit to Saudi Arabia starting on May 7 to ity” on the part of Iran and Saudi Arabia is the sides that the only path to stability in that is to refer the question of Palestine to the will of the people day praised the de-escalation process between reset ties. Khan’s visit to Riyadh was a sig- highly encouraging, and Pakistan feels that the region is peace and security. of this land and to refer to a referendum,” he suggested. Iran and Saudi Arabia. nificant move to rebuild relations between the wish for strengthening Islamic unity, On April 29, Pakistan’s prime minister Zarif had also reacted to the attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque on “The path for de-escalation is not short the historic allies following recent setbacks, especially in allaying concerns between Iran welcomed moves by the Saudi crown prince May 10 in a tweet in which he said: but Tehran and Riyadh have started this analysts said. and Pakistan, is being realized. for trying to heal the rift with Tehran and “It wasn’t enough for the Israeli regime to move,” Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Pointing to his meeting with the Saudi He added, “We are hopeful about these said efforts by Riyadh to mend ties with -Steal people’s land & homes; Qureshi said, according to IRNA. foreign minister in Riyadh while accom- attempts.” Tehran will benefit the Islamic community. -Create an Apartheid regime; Pakistan’s chief diplomat made the re- panying Khan in visit to Saudi Arabia, he Qureshi also called visit by the Turkish Qureshi also said he plans to visit Baghdad -Refuse to vaccinate civilians under illegal occupation. marks in a press conference in Islamabad said during the visit Saudi Foreign Minister foreign minister to Riyadh and also the Saudi in future days to follow peace negotiations It had to shoot innocent worshippers inside Islam’s 3rd Holiest as he was elaborating on the recent visit by Prince Faisal Bin Farhan-al-Saud briefed decision in inviting Qatar’s foreign minister because Baghdad has been the focus of cer- Mosque upon Islam’s Holiest Eid. Prime Minister Imran Khan to the Saudi him on the steps taken by his country in to visit the Kingdom are all indications in in tain diplomatic moves in the recent weeks #AlAqsaUnderAttack,” he tweeted. Kingdom. regard to Iran. line with reducing tension between regional to reduce tensions in the region. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MAY 12, 2021 IRAN IN FOCUS 3 Iran rejects Pentagon’s claim, denounces SPORTS Daei, Hejazi the best Iranian players of century: IFFHS

U.S. ‘unprofessional’ behavior in Hormuz SPORTSTEHRAN – and late Naser Hejazi desk 1 The IRGC Navy statement came a day courageously respond to any miscalculations have been named as the best Iranian player after Pentagon press secretary John Kirby on their [Americans] part.” and goalkeeper of the XXth century (1901-2000) respec- accused Iran of committing “harassment” The Monday encounter also elicited a tively by the International Federation of Football History against the American navy in the Strait of response from Iranian Foreign Minister and Statistics (IFFHS). Hormuz. Kirby claimed that the Iranian ves- who asked the sels maneuvered at high speed toward six U.S. Coast Guard that whose coast they are U.S. Navy ships in the Strait. According to supposed to guard. Kirby, the encounter led to a U.S. Coast Guard “@USCG: Exactly whose coast are you cutter firing two volleys of warning shots as supposed to be ‘guarding’?” he asked on Iranian boats sped toward the U.S. vessels. . But the IRGC statement said Kirby’s ac- Zarif’s tweet reflects a longstanding Ira- count of the encounter was “untrue” and aimed nian policy that the U.S. should move away to create a perception of American respon- from the West Asia region, especially the sibility toward preventing miscalculations. Persian Gulf where the U.S. has deployed “The Americans must avoid untrue stories a remarkable number of military assets. and unprofessional behaviors and seriously Iran has called on the Persian Gulf’s Arab abide by international regulations as well as states to enter dialogue on how to secure the maritime and band control laws in the the region’s security without the presence Daei represented Iran football team from 1993 to 2006 and strategic region of the Hormuz Strait and the of foreign military troops. To this end, Iran made 149 matches. He holds the record for the most number of Persian Gulf,” the statement said. has presented the Hormuz Peace Endeavor, international goals with 109 strikes. The IRGC Navy also said it will continue an initiative aimed at maintaining security in Hejazi, was Iran’s custodian from 1968 to 1980. He made 62 its missions in the Strait of Hormuz and the the Persian Gulf through cooperation among appearances for the Iranian national football team. Persian Gulf and it is ready to “decisively and its littoral states. Hejazi passed away in May 2011 due to lung cancer. Iran’s women’s football team Zarif lambasts Israeli regime for shooting innocent worshippers to play Belarus POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister rights law,” a spokesperson for the UN secretary-gen- deskon Monday criticized the Israeli regime eral said in a statement on Monday. SPORTSTEHRAN – Iran’s women’s football team desk for pursuing inhumane policies against the Palestinian “Israeli authorities must exercise maximum restraint will play a friendly match against Belarus in people during the holy month of Ramadan. and respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. All Tehran, capital of Iran. Zarif said Israeli forces are shooting worshipers at a leaders have a responsibility to act against extremists and The match has been scheduled for June 8. holy place and on a holy occasion. to speak out against all acts of violence and incitement. The warm-up game will be held as part of preparation for “It wasn’t enough for the Israeli regime to -Steal people’s The Secretary-General urges that the status quo at the the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualification in September. land & homes; -Create an Apartheid regime; -Refuse to holy sites be upheld and respected,” the statement added. Iran coach Maryam Irandoost has invited 30 players for the vaccinate civilians under illegal occupation. It had to shoot Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmad Abul Gheit one-week training camp which started on Tuesday in Tehran. innocent worshippers inside Islam’s 3rd Holiest Mosque also condemned Israeli indiscriminate attacks on Gaza. “In my opinion, a friendly match is better than 10 training upon Islam’s Holiest Eid. #AlAqsaUnderAttack,” the chief He said Tuesday that the airstrikes launched by Israel session,” Irandoost told Iran football federation’s website. “The Iranian diplomat said on Twitter. on the Gaza Strip were “indiscriminate and irresponsible.” friendly match will help us to identify our strengths and weak- The tweet came amid international outcry over Israeli In a statement, Abul Gheit held Israel responsible for this nesses, what we need.” atrocities against the Palestinian people in the West Bank “dangerous escalation” of the situation in Jerusalem and Iran are 70th in FIFA ranking while Belarus sit on 54th place. and Gaza strip. Israeli security forces, along with Jewish called on the international community to act immediately “We have difficult task ahead due to shortage of time. We settlers, besieged and attacked one of the holiest sites in The international community to stop the violence. are going to shorten the gap between the Asian top teams such Islam on Monday, injuring more than 700 Palestinians The European Union also reacted to the Israeli atroc- as Australia, South Korea and Japan. The friendlies can play a in the West Bank alone. strongly condemned Israel ities, calling for an immediate halt to violence in East significant role in our preparation,” she stated. Israeli authorities have imposed restrictions on the for confiscating Palestinians’ Jerusalem. Palestinian residents of al-Quds (Jerusalem), effectively homes and urged it to put an “The significant upsurge in violence in the occupied preventing them from practicing their faith since early West Bank, including in East Jerusalem as well as in and Akbarian to officiate Ramadan. They also tried to evict Palestinian families end to its atrocities against around Gaza needs to stop immediately,” the European from Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and give the Palestinians. Union said in a statement on Monday. their ancestral homes to Jewish settlers. Arab and Muslim countries also denounced Israel’s SPORTSTEHRAN – Mohammadreza Akbarian will The international community strongly condemned on the Strip will continue for several more days. moves against the Palestinians. But the international desktake charge Esteghlal and clash in Israel for confiscating Palestinians’ homes and urged it Meanwhile, a large number of countries and inter- outcry did nothing to stop an Israeli leadership hellbent Tehran derby. He will be assisted by Alireza Ildorom and Mahdi to put an end to its atrocities against the Palestinians. national organizations have called on Israel to stop its to score political goals by spilling the blood of Palestinian Alighadr in this match. Facing an increasingly violent Israeli crackdown, crackdown against Palestinians. children. The match will be held on Friday in Tehran’s . Palestinians peacefully staged protests against Israeli “The Secretary-General expresses his deep concern Sami Abu Shehadeh, Palestinian Knesset member and Akbarian has been named as FIFA International Referee atrocities. They turned in large numbers in the al-Aqsa over the continuing violence in occupied East Jeru- leader of the Balad party, said Israeli Prime Minister since 2013. mosque. Some 90,000 Palestinians participated in a Ra- salem, as well as the possible evictions of Palestinian Benjamin Netanyahu allowed for an “escalation” in a bid Persepolis and Esteghlal are favorites to win title of 2020/21 madan prayer called Tarawih in the al-Aqsa mosque in families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah and to remain in power, according to Al Jazeera. Iran Professional League season. what appeared to be a message to Israeli authorities that Silwan neighborhoods. He urges Israel to cease demo- “In order to survive this political crisis he finds him- The match will be 95 competitive meetings between the teams. the Palestinians will not acquiesce to Israeli measures. litions and evictions, in line with its obligations under self in now, and in order for him not to lose control and Esteghlal have won 26, Persepolis 24 and the remaining 44 games In addition to suppressing the Palestinian protests international humanitarian and international human not to lose his seat as prime minister … he is ready to do finished as draws. in Jerusalem, Israel also launched a bombing campaign anything,” Shehadeh said. against Gaza that resulted in the killing of dozens of in- Abul Gheit held Israel “All the escalation we are seeing now has a clear po- nocent people. Israel bombed Gaza because it showed responsible for this litical target from Netanyahu’s point of view, and he is Esteghlal, Persepolis in solidarity with the Jerusalemites by launching rockets ready to do anything to keep himself in power including on Israeli targets. Israel killed more than a dozen in Gaza “dangerous escalation” of the this massacre that we are going to see in Gaza,” he said. potential title decider and it vows to continue its killing campaign against the “What is happening here is a clear political decision situation in Jerusalem and SPORTSTEHRAN - In one of the long-awaited en- Palestinians. that Netanyahu is responsible for to keep power,” She- deskcounters in Iranian football, Persepolis will On Tuesday, the Israeli army threatened to intensify called on the international hadeh pointed out. lock horn against Esteghlal in the Iran Professional League (IPL) raids on the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army spokesman community to act immediately So far, Netanyahu has failed to put together a cabinet at the Azadi Stadium on Friday in Tehran. said that his army will intensify its raids during the next even though he has led Israel to hold four general elections to stop the violence. The Tehran derby is even considered one of the most exciting twenty-four hours, indicating that the military campaign in a relatively short period. matches in the world’s club competitions. COVID-19 has changed many things in Iran, including the football venues’ ambiance in the match days with crowds temporarily frozen out of the matches. Russia says Iran’s deal with IAEA likely to be extended However, it is still exhilarating and breathtaking as both teams share a great rivalry and hate to lose a Shahravard (derby) game. 1 2. To a temporary bilateral tech- Araghchi said in the interview with NHK have said some progress has been made in This is also one of the most important season games for both clubs nical understanding, compatible with is that the law of the parliament is binding the talks but they also have said the talks and could give them a huge lift for the remaining part of the season. the Law, whereby the IAEA will con- and the date of May 30 regarding the are coming up against some difficulties. Esteghlal had a poor start to their season, but they have some- tinue with its necessary verification and agreement between Iran and the IAEA Speaking at a press conference on how captured their form under the new coach monitoring activities for up to 3 months is definitive.” Monday, Khatibzadeh said, “The talks and got good results in the AFC Champions League (ACL) group (as per technical annex). 3. To keep the The spokesman said Iran is not in a in Vienna have entered the phase of stage last month. technical understanding under regular hurry to reach a conclusion in the Vienna drafting texts in the field of sanctions However, in their return to the domestic games, the Blues suffered review to ensure it continues to achieve talks but at the same time it seeks to lifting and nuclear measures. Besides, a bitter 2-0 defeat against struggling team Zob Ahan. If Majidi’s side its purposes.” prevent them from becoming draining. a third working group whose work is beat Persepolis, they could close the gap with their rival to five points On Sunday, Iran’s Deputy Foreign “We do not want any date to prevent being pursued more calmly is working. with one game in hand and probably believe they can even overtake Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who Tehran’s executive instructions from being team held Monday a tripartite meeting It is wrestling with different details, and both Persepolis and current IPL leaders Sepahan. is leading Iran’s negotiating team in strictly implemented for the negotiating with the three European signatories to these fluidities and details do not allow Persepolis, on the other hand, although they started the season Vienna, said the deal may be extended. team,” he pointed out. “In this interview, the JCPOA – France, Germany and the us to make public announcements, be- slowly, they have managed to find their consistency and form He told Japanese broadcaster NHK Dr. Araghchi pointed to only one of the UK- who act as intermediaries between cause the talks are going on and reach a with and can tie on points with Sepahan that Iran hopes enough progress will be choices for the date of May 21. If the talks Iran and the U.S. during the Vienna talks. different conclusion every day.” on the top of the table if they beat Esteghlal on Friday. made so that there will be no need for an are on the right track, with the coordination Also, three expert-level working groups He also said that as part of its commit- Persepolis shared the spoils with Sepahan in a controversial extension. But he said that if needed, Iran of both parties and Tehran’s approval, this are examining the measures needed to ments, the United States has accepted match on Sunday. The Reds have had a lot of success in the last will consider an extension at a proper time. date can be extended.” get Iran and the U.S. back to compliance much of what it ought to do. Khatibzadeh four years, and some of the current key players of the team have Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman for Khatibzadeh said the decision regard- with the 2015 nuclear deal. said there are also some sanctions that been integral to their successes, including four consecutive IPL the Iranian Foreign Ministry, announced ing the extension of the February deal will In addition, the U.S. and Russian dele- the U.S. is not willing to lift, but Iran titles and two ACL finals in three years. Monday that extending Iran’s cooperation not be made by the Iranian negotiating gations held bilateral meetings to discuss has made it clear that these sanctions Persepolis defense has been quite solid in this season, like deal with the International Atomic Energy team. Instead, it will be made in Tehran. developments related to the JCPOA. The were imposed to destroy the JCPOA and the previous seasons, and it has been one of the main reasons Agency is one of the country’s options At the same time that Araghchi hoped Russian delegation also met with the Eu- prevent Iran from reaping benefits from they have been successful under leadership of Golmohammadi. a day after the top Iranian negotiator that the technical agreement would be ropean signatories to the JCPOA. the JCPOA and thus must be removed. The key battle will be between the solid defense of Persepolis signaled a readiness to extend the deal. extended, his American counterpart “Met with Political Directors of France, “It is no secret that we have serious differ- against the Esteghlal’s threatening attacking trio, Mehdi Ghaedi, Khatibzadeh elaborated on Aragh- Wendy Sherman also expressed hope Germany and U.K. who lead their re- ences in this area. We are in talks with the Cheick Diabate, and Arsalan Motahari. chi’s comments, underlining that what that this agreement would be extended. spective delegations at the Vienna talks Joint Commission of JCPOA and Tehran is The Tehran derby result will be decisive for the title, with just Araghchi said was that the parliamentary “I am hopeful that we can reach an on full restoration of JCPOA. We had a examining this issue. Reports are reviewed a handful matches left to play. nuclear law was binding and it will expire understanding so that the IAEA technical constructive exchange of views on the in Tehran, and the positions are notified to on May 30. agreement that expires with Iran at the current state of affairs and issues to be the negotiating team every day, and they The nuclear law stipulates that the end of May can be extended,” Deputy settled in order to achieve our common follow up,” he noted. Mousavi reaches agreement Iranian government should take certain Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told goal,” Ulyanov said on Twitter after meet- There are disagreements between the nuclear measures such as raising the level of a meeting at the Atlantic Council on May ing the Europeans. U.S. and Iran over which sanctions should with Fenerbahce uranium enrichment to 20% and suspend- 7, according to Rozen. “I’m hopeful that As regards his discussions with the be removed. The U.S. wants to keep some ing the voluntary implementation of the we make enough progress that it can U.S delegation, the Russian diplomat sanctions in place to use them as leverage SPORTSTEHRAN — Iran international middle blocker Additional Protocol if the Western parties stand as the Iranian election gets un- said they were businesslike and useful. to expand talks beyond the JCPOA, some- deskSeyed Mohammad Mousavi has reached an failed to honor their obligations under the derway in June.” “The Russian and the US delegations thing that Iran has vehemently rejected. The agreement with Turkish volleyball team Fenerbahce, volleyball. 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally called Diplomats from Iran and the P4+1 at the Vienna talks on JCPOA met again sanctions have been put into three baskets it reported. The 34-year-old player has most recently played in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action group of countries as well as the U.S. to exchange views on the progress made, — green, yellow, and red, depending on how Italian volleyball club Piacenza. (JCPOA). Iran’s deal with the IAEA came are in Vienna to discuss the measures as well as the way ahead. As always, the clearly they are inconsistent with the deal. Turkish media reports suggest that Mousavi has reached an a few days before the law came into force. needed to be taken to bring Tehran and discussion was businesslike and useful,” Green will be lifted; yellow must be nego- agreement with Fenerbahce for the next season. Speaking at his Monday press con- Washington back into full compliance Ulyanov tweeted. tiated; and red will stay, according to The Mousavi will represent Iran national volleyball team in the ference, Khatibzadeh said, “What Dr. with the JCPOA. The Iranian negotiating Almost all parties to the Vienna talks New York Times. 2021 Volleyball Nations league and 2020 Olympic Games. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY MAY 12, 2021

Gas condensate output expected to reach 1.3m bpd Electricity projects worth over by Mar. 2022

ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iran’s gas condensate production deskis expected to reach 1.3 million barrels per day $320m put into operation (bpd) by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2022), the Iranian Oil Ministry announced. 1 The National Dispatching Center provinces every week. Iran is currently producing over 550,000 barrels of gas con- manages the entire power grid, including In the last week of the previous Iranian densate on a daily basis, part of which is directly exported to power plants, transmission lines and sub- calendar year (which was the last week of foreign destinations, and a part is used as the feedstock for do- stations throughout the country. the second phase of the A-B-Iran scheme) mestic refineries. Also, according to the mega project for Ardakanian had inaugurated several new Gas condensate, also called condensate, is a low-density mixture modification and optimization of the power systems for improving services in the water of hydrocarbon liquids that are present as gaseous components network in 10,000 villages during the current and electricity sectors. in the raw natural gas produced from many natural gas fields. year, the power grid connecting 560 villages The mentioned systems were put into Some gas species within the raw natural gas will condense to a with 70,000 households will be optimized operation in various areas including resource liquid state if the temperature is reduced to below the hydrocarbon in the first phase. consumption improvement, asset utilization, dew point temperature at a set pressure. Also, based on a program for supplying human resource management, financial re- Most of Iran’s gas condensate is produced from the country’s nomadic households with solar power, the sources management, and reforming work giant South Pars gas field which Iran shares with Qatar in the Energy Ministry plans to provide such house- processes in order to create transparency Persian Gulf waters. holds with portable PV systems. According and to facilitate and accelerate affairs while to the mentioned program, 20,000 nomadic eliminating possible bottlenecks. households will benefit from solar power A smart system for improving the Energy through PV systems. Ministry’s support and emergency centers The first phase of the A-B-Iran program called Homa, as well as a new customer (the acronyms A and B stand for water and services system called Chavoush were also electricity in Persian) was initiated in the among the launched systems. Iranian calendar year 1398 (ended on March A mechanized network monitoring system 19, 2020), during which 220 major projects was carried out in the previous Iranian cal- The third phase of the program was of- called Sanam was also put into operation; this with a total investment of 335.6 trillion rials endar year (ended on March 20) 250 water ficially started in early April and like the system is aimed at monitoring the electricity (about $7.99 billion) were put into operation and energy projects worth 500 trillion rials previous phases, this year, too, the Energy networks of various provinces in order to across the country. (about $11.9 billion) were inaugurated in Ministry is planning to inaugurate numer- reduce electricity losses and improve the In the second phase of the program that several provinces. ous water and electricity projects in various efficiency of the country’s power network.

Iran used to export much of its condensate to Asia, with South Domestic knowledge-based companies to build ICT, electronic equipment for ports Korea and Japan being major customers, but U.S. sanctions in 2018 led to a sharp decline in the exports. ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iranian knowledge-based The official noted that PMO has held numerous meetings desk Therefore, back in May 2020, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Nam- companies have signed four deals with the with the country’s knowledge-based companies for brain- dar Zanganeh said that his ministry planned to halt direct gas Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) for manufacturing storming on the issues and the technological needs of the condensate exports to create products with more added value. electronic as well as Information and Communications Tech- ports and maritime sectors and to be able to benefit from Zanganeh said the plan is to process the condensate in the nology (ICT) equipment for the country’s ports. their capabilities and capacities in this regard. country’s refineries in order to produce products like naphtha The signing ceremony was attended by the PMO Head According to Rastad, the U.S. sanctions on the industry and gasoline and to supply feedstock to local refineries. Mohammad Rastad as well as the head of the mentioned have acted as a driving force for PMO to push for domestic “All the gas condensate will be refined in the Persian Gulf Star companies and officials from the country’s maritime industry, production of the products needed in the industry and to and Siraf refineries ... to gasoline and feedstock for petrochemical IRIB reported on Monday. move toward self-sufficiency. units,” Zanganeh said. According to Rastad, the mentioned projects will be com- “We had a lot of problems during the sanctions, many of Persian Gulf Star Refinery currently receives 420,000 barrels pleted and the equipment will be unveiled by the end of the the foreign manufacturers that had sold equipment to us did per day (bpd) of gas condensate. current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2022). not meet their obligations and refused to provide after-sales Zanganeh said South Pars and other nearby fields can produce Speaking in the signing ceremony, Rastad underlined services, and this caused us a lot of problems in this area,” he up to one million bpd of gas condensate. the technological needs of the country’s maritime and port said, adding: “We are now moving in a direction where our In early February 2020, the minister had said that about 130,000 sectors and said: “Currently, fields like ports and commercial dependence on foreign products has decreased.” bpd of the country’s gas condensate were used as feedstock for the maritime shipping have some equipment requirements that “In the meetings we had with industrial and knowledge-based the companies active in various maritime sectors during the country’s petrochemical plants and 80,000 bpd go to domestic we must meet.” companies, they announced their readiness to produce the current Iranian calendar year (began on March 21). refineries, apart from Persian Gulf Star. The mentioned equipment is required in areas like port needed equipment and therefore we are moving towards “In line with the current year’s motto which is “Production: operations, loading and unloading of goods from ships, as complete self-sufficiency in port and maritime industries.” support and the elimination of obstacles”, PMO has put it well as storage of goods in warehouses, and finally ensuring Back in April, Rastad had announced that his organiza- on the agenda to provide necessary supports for domestic 15 idle mines to be revived in safety and protection of the marine environment, he explained. tion plans to take all the necessary measures for supporting producers,” he said. province by next March

ECONOMY TEHRAN — As announced by a provincial deskofficial, 15 idle mines are planned to be revived Industry Ministry allows approved producers to export steel products in Iran’s central Qom province by the end of the current Iranian ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iranian In- As ISPA data indicated, the exports of steel percent growth. calendar year (March 20, 2022). deskdustry, Mining, and Trade products, intermediate steel, and sponge iron The country’s major steel producers also Mahmoud Sijani, the head of the province’s Industry, Mining, Ministry has issued a three-month waiver all declined last year, and despite significant manufactured 14.588 million tons of steel and Trade Department, said, “When reviving the idle mines, the for some approved steel production units to output growth and the demand decline in the products last year to register a three-percent issues of processing and value-added are of high significance, and be able to export steel products especially domestic construction sector, the exports rise year on year. given the existence of 45 idle mines in the province, it is hoped long sections, ILNA reported. of the mentioned products did not increase Iran is currently the tenth largest steel- that we can revive these mines through a long-term planning.” The mentioned waiver will come into due to the pandemic. maker in the world and is estimated to climb In terms of paying facilities to the mines, the official stated effect as of May 15, the report said. Based on the Industry Ministry data, to seventh place by the Iranian calendar that there is no limit in this due, and 11 trillion rials (about $262 The Industry Ministry had restricted the major Iranian steel producers managed to year 1404 (March 2025). million) of facilities will be paid in the current year. exports of steel products and obliged all produce over 22.54 million tons of steel The country produced 7.5 million tons The head of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development steel producers to offer their products at ingots in the previous calendar year, reg- of crude steel in Q1 2021, to maintain its and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) has announced that 253 Iran Mercantile Exchange (IME). istering an eight percent rise year on year. place as the 10th biggest steel producer idle small-scale mines were revived throughout the country in the Iran’s export of steel during the previous (ISPA) showed. had the best in the first three-month of 2021, Iranian previous Iranian calendar year. Iranian calendar year 1399 (ended on March Based on the mentioned data, over 2.839 performance with a production of 9.8 million Mines and Mining Industries Development 20) declined 13.1 percent compared to the million tons of steel products were export- tons of the mentioned product while the and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) figure for the preceding year, data released ed in the mentioned year, registering an highest production growth was registered announced referring to the data released by by the Iranian Steel Producers Association 18-percent decline year on year. by Sirjan Steel World Company with 141 the World Steel Association (WSA).

TEDPIX jumps 21,900 points on Tuesday ECONOMY TEHRAN — TEDPIX, the main index of Vienna have reduced the foreign currency exchange rates in speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Governor of the Cen- deskTehran Stock Exchange (TSE), gained 21,934 the domestic market. The stock market, however, had already tral Bank of Iran (CBI) Abdolnaser Hemmati, Finance, and points to 1.179 million on Tuesday. anticipated this agreement. In fact, the anticipation of the agree- Economic Affairs Minister Farhad Dejpasand, and the Head Over 5.986 billion securities worth 47.423 trillion rials (about ment has already caused the correction of prices in the capital of Iran’s Securities and Exchange Organization (SEO) Moham- $1.129 billion) were traded at the TSE on Tuesday. market,” the analyst said. mad-Ali Dehqan Dehnavi gathered at the country’s parliament The first market’s index rose 19,664 points, and the second Unprecedented fluctuations in the Iranian stock market to explore ways for supporting the stock market and resolving According to Vajihollah Jafari, the plan for reviving idle mines market’s index climbed 31,903 points. over the past few months have led shareholders, experts, and its current issues. in the previous year was realized by 126 percent. A capital market analyst says that TEDPIX is going to improve scholars to call for the government to increase its support for the After the mentioned meetings, SEO unveiled a new directive Saying that the mentioned mines have been reactivated as part over the next 1.5 months in comparison to the first 1.5 months of market, some shareholders want the government to guarantee package dubbed “7+3” which include allocation of one percent of a comprehensive program for reviving idle small mines across the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21). the return of their stocks, some believe providing infrastructure of the National Development Fund (NDF) resources to the stock the country, Jafari also announced that under the framework of Rouzbeh Shariati believes reaching a possible agreement on is the best way to help this market. market stabilization fund, lifting the ban on capital market finan- the mentioned program 200 mines are planned to be put back the nuclear deal, the stability of the national currency, as well Following the rising concerns over the market conditions, cial institutions to use banking facilities, and granting five-year into operation in the current year. as the less attractive situation of the parallel markets are the in early April, the Government Economic Coordination Head- residency to foreign investors who buy shares in the Iranian The official noted that the successful implementation of the said important factors that would contribute to the improvement quarters, in its 216th meeting, approved some new directives capital market. program in the previous year was achieved despite the problems of the capital market. for regulating the stock market. The above-mentioned directives have been implemented in created by the outbreak of coronavirus. “Prospects of a political agreement and positive signals from Also in late April, senior officials including the parliament the capital market as of April 27th, according to Dehqan Dehnavi. Emphasizing that the above goals have been achieved as a result of productive cooperation among the Industry, Mining, and Trade Ministry, provincial industry organizations, Iran Mines houses, and private sector companies, Jafari noted that since the beginning of the program in March 2019 up to the end of the previous year, East Azarbaijan ranked 2nd in terms of reviving stagnant production units 303 mines have been revived. ECONOMY TEHRAN — Reviving 107 those units, and reviving them created jobs in the productive sectors.” As reported, under the framework of the mentioned program, deskidle production units, East for 1,612 persons. He also mentioned an 85-percent rise in 672 idle mines were identified and prioritized in the previous year, Azarbaijan province, in the northwest of Iran, As announced by Deputy Industry, Mining, the allocation of land for establishing indus- and diagnostic procedures were performed on 194 mines to de- was ranked the second in the country in terms and Trade Minister Mehdi Sadeqi Niaraki, trial units across the country and noted that termine the reasons for the halt in their production. of making such units active during the past 1,500 idle industrial units have been revived over 4,500 hectares of land were handed over The program, which has been at the forefront of IMIDRO’s mis- Iranian calendar year (ended on March 20), in the country during the past year. to applicants in the previous calendar year. sions over the past two years, is being pursued in several provinces. a provincial official announced. According to Niaraki, over 6,500 new in- According to the official, there are over Khodadad Gharibpour, IMIDRO’s former head had mentioned Morteza Niroomand Oskuei, the managing dustrial units were also established across the 46,000 small and medium-sized industrial this plan as one of the most significant plans of “Resistance Econ- director of the province’s Industrial Parks country during the mentioned year which units in Iran’s industrial parks and zones, of omy”, saying that IMIDRO is strongly determined to carry out it. Company, said that the number of revived created jobs for over 121,000 people. them about 9,200 units are inactive. Reviving the small mines not only is a major step for supporting units was the same as planned. Touching upon the Industry Ministry’s Iran’s industrial parks play a significant role and boosting domestic production, it also plays a significant role The official said that the mentioned units plans for the realization of the motto of the utive bodies should be towards supporting in making the country independent through in job creation throughout the country, Gharibpour said back in were inactive mainly because of the banking, current year which is named the year of the country’s industrial and mining units.” boosting production, which is a major strategy June 2020. insurance, and tax problems, and returned “Production: support and the elimination of Niaraki pointed to a 40-percent increase of Iran to combat the U.S. sanctions. Following this program, so far various small-scale mines including to the production cycle through the serious obstacles” by the Leader of the Islamic Revo- in the issuance of establishment licenses for In fact, strengthening domestic production chromite, manganese, hematite, and dolomite, iron ore, copper, support of this company and other related lution, the official said: “In the year that has industrial units in the previous year, saying: to achieve self-reliance is the most important and construction stone mines have been surveyed by monitoring provincial organizations. been dedicated to the production sector by “The number of establishment licenses in- program that Iran is following up in its in- and diagnosing the problems of the mines and providing solutions He announced that over three trillion rials the Leader of the revolution, the orientation creased to more than 36,000 last year, which dustry sector in a bid to nullify the effects of for resolving their issues. (about $71.42 million) were invested to revive of all government organizations and exec- shows that people are encouraged to invest the U.S. sanctions on its economy. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MAY 12, 2021 ANALYSIS/INTERVIEW 5

Palestinian resistance Bribed normalisation: launches Operation al-Quds Sword as Israeli airstrikes The reverse effects kill 25 in Gaza Palestinian resistance factions say they have launched ‘Op- 1 With the success of the Islamic not active governments that pose real eration al-Quds Sword’ in retaliation for the Israeli regime’s Revolution in Iran, in addition to the seed threats, they are just a ‘number’ from the acts of aggression against Palestinians in Jerusalem al-Quds, of the resistance movements that grew in many countries running policies that are saying their goal is to liberate the holy city from Israeli Lebanon and Palestine, the balance of pow- not even in their hands and have always occupation. ers in the region began to shift gradually; been puppets of their masters who direct The factions operating under the Joint Operations Room an- what was considered an ‘undefeatable’ army, them; hence they lack effectiveness. nounced in a statement that resistance fighters have fired that sought to expand ‘from the Nile to the Whilst the normalisation of ties in some hundreds of rockets towards the occupied territories as part Euphrates’ by time began to deteriorate, respects is empowering the West, through of the operation. culminating in the unilateral withdrawal facilitating actions that would otherwise The rocket fire was in retaliation for the Tel Aviv regime’s of the Wrong State from Lebanon in 2000 not be easily done under the cover, such raids on al-Aqsa Mosque and Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, and Gaza in 2005. as preparing the setup and facilitation they said. With this, the central idea of consolidat- for them to conduct security and military “Operational-Quds Sword is meant to achieve the liberation ing their presence, as a State that is capable missions in the open, it is benefiting the of the holy city, and is in response to the Occupation’s crimes of life began to diminish; they were unable Axis of resistance in some important and against its residents as well as cries by its freedom-loving to expand practically on the ground, since prominent respects. That is, despite the locals,” the statement stressed. the growth of the real resistance movements collapsed and despaired state of the Arab Israeli sources confirmed that as many as 250 rockets were and the environment of enmity that sur- countries, the people of Egypt and Jor- fired from the Gaza Strip towards the occupied territories, rounded the Wrong State created rules of dan after all these years are predominantly adding the Israeli military conducted waves of bombard- engagements, that increased in favour of against such normalisation, in addition to the ments against 130 targets in the besieged enclave that they the resistance movements, despite what (Persian) Gulf states, Sudan and Morocco, claimed killed 15 Hamas members. was considered a betrayal through the nor- which isn’t different from the mainstream The Joint Operations Room said Palestinian resistance malisation tactics with the Arab States, that public opinion of the Arab world that are factions launched precise strikes against Israeli-occupied started at the Camp David Accords (with State is withdrawing from the region be- Indeed, the normalisation of ties we are and will by default consider normalisation lands, struck an Israeli car near the Gaza border and later Egypt), to the Wadi Araba Treaty (with cause their plots have been defeated, their witnessing cannot and should not be con- a red line and betrayal; indeed, this fact carried out intense missile strikes against targets in the Jordan) and the Oslo Accords (with the presence has become increasingly limited sidered as a weakening factor for the Axis of is not being understood by America and coastal city of Tel Aviv in addition to other places. PLO itself). and under surveillance, whilst the balance resistance, the same Axis that managed to their puppets. Furthermore, a senior leader of the Palestinian Hamas In facing this situation, the Wrong State of power is not in their favour. The balance penetrate with its few numbers and resources This enhances the ability of the resistance resistance movement said his fellow fighters will continue began to substitute its expansion territori- will continue to shift in favour of the Axis of into the whole region that was all situated to win the hearts and minds of the people to stage retaliatory rocket attacks against the Israeli-occu- ally with expansion through penetrating the resistance, and the proof of that is America’s in the American camp to begin with, and to of the region and facilitating relations with pied territories as long as the regime and its military forces political sphere, which includes the use of continued shrinking presence in the region. thwart all the American plots of giving birth the people, as the resistance’s credibility press ahead with their brutal hostilities in the occupied intelligence to conduct security missions, This shift is a reality, whilst the West to a ‘New Middle East’, one after the other. surfaces, and its increased popularity and Jerusalem al-Quds and the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. attempts of resistance figures can’t shift the balance to their favour on Additionally, it is not the case that the acceptance allows it to navigate with more and Iranian scientists, and the increased the ground, so they resort to illusionary (Persian) Gulf states, Sudan and Morocco tools and expand its capabilities in the region. open normalisation of ties with surrounding actions and fake talks, and the open nor- were ever a part of the Axis of Resistance The reality is that the masses of the peo- Turkish politician calls for Arab states. malisation of ties is an example of this. for the resistance to have ‘lost’ anything, ple want those who walk the talk, who hold solidarity with Palestine Indeed, this shift from territorial The West are seeking to solve the issue and it is also not the case that the Wrong the flag up high, and it is becoming crystal expansion to political interference has with sound bombs, but the reality is that State has gained any new allies in their clear who the real forces on the ground and Condemning Israel’s inhumane attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque, demonstrated the Wrong State’s dimin- it has changed nothing. The reality is that fight against the Axis; the (Persian) Gulf who the traitors are, whilst pressure from leader of Turkish Vatan Party has urged to show ishing power; the evidence for this is that America is leaving because they have no states were coordinating with the Wrong the nations people against the corrupt do- solidarity with Palestine. all the previous attempt other choice, what is left for them is their State under the cover and it is now simply ings of their government will mount onto In a statement issued, Vatan Party chief Dogu Perinchek of the Iranian nuclear scientists to stop gang actions of boycotts, embargoes, and a case of exposure. a threaten against them. said that “the oppression that Palestinian people is facing is nuclear programme, led to more nuclear sanctions- they really have nothing else to Indeed, the governments of the UAE, Indeed, the normalisation of ties in the beyond condemnation.” enrichment and advancements. do or talk about. Bahrain and the others that followed are apparent is not about opening the way for “Israel attacked all humanity and Asia at forefront of In addition, the normalisation of ties certain victories, for the normalisation has humanity at Al-Aqsa Mosques,” the statement added. with Arab State’s has not succeeded; the “The normalisation of ties we are always existed and the sole reason it has Pointing to U.S. support for Israel, Perinchek noted in his evidence for this is that after four decades witnessing cannot and should not be gone public is because the masters of the statement that “the U.S. and Israel not only are threatening of the historic treaty with Egypt, economic (Persian) Gulf states have asked them to Palestine, but also Asian countries especially , Russia, relations between the signatories have been considered as a weakening factor for the do so. It is also imperative to see such de- Iran and China with their weapons.” very limited, whilst 85% of Egyptians oppose Axis of resistance, the same Axis that velopments in light of the real work being According to the Turkish politician, the U.S. and Israel are achieved on the ground. On the balance, diplomatic recognition of the Wrong State. managed to penetrate with its few numbers facing people of the region and Turkey not only in Jerusalem, Indeed, the Palestinian Authority them- the Wrong State’s achievements are not but in the Mediterranean, the Aegean and north of . selves, who have on many levels compro- and resources into the whole region that real, therefore the curve illustrating their In recent days, Israeli forces have stormed the Al-Aqsa mised with the Wrong State, cannot see eye was all situated in the American camp to power is declining, nor are they able to Mosque, assaulting Palestinian worshippers and fired sound to eye with America’s plans- from the Deal reverse the power of the resistance and bombs that caused a fire to break out in trees inside the of Century to brokering the open normal- begin with, and to thwart all the American its development; even if it stays where it Al-Aqsa compound. isation of ties. plots of giving birth to a ‘New Middle East’, is, it is time high for the Wrong State to After a raid by the Israeli police on the Al-Aqsa Mosque reach zero point, even without there being The reality is that America, the entity one after the other.” in Jerusalem left hundreds of Palestinians wounded, resist- fighting the battle on behalf of the Wrong a physical war. ance forces in Gaza responded by firing a barrage of rockets at Jerusalem. Israel likely to intensify tensions before a JCPOA revival: professor Resistance News 1 Also, both countries do not want Iran to be out policy of the U.S. government. Biden has a much more Al-Qassam Brigades from under sanctions pressure claiming that that frees negative perspective on Saudi Arabia than Trump did. up more Iranian money for weapons, support of proxies, It seems that Saudi Arabia sees what can be done to strongly responds to dawn etc. Thus, while a nuclear deal between Iran and the reduce tensions with Iran because they feel vulnerable. Israeli airstrike United States could improve relations between those That can easily change and I would not be surprised if two states, it might actually prompt states like Israel and it does. Iran is not about to abandon its allied forces in INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed Saudi Arabia to take measures to weaken Iran or scuttle the Middle East (West Asia), such as the militias in Iraq deskwing of Hamas, said Tuesday it had launched the deal. This is more likely to come from Israel than or the Houthis in Yemen. The Houthis, in particular, a salvo of rockets towards the occupied city of Ashkelon in Saudi Arabia because Israel is a more capable military are a matter of grave concern for Saudi Arabia. I am response to the dawn aerial attack on apartments in the west force in the region and has more political leverage in not convinced that the Saudi posture toward Iran will of Gaza City. Washington compared to Saudi Arabia. really change that much. “If the enemy persists in attacking civilian homes, we will Israeli officials warn about a war if the U.S. U.S. administration is going to pull its troops turn Ashkelon into an inferno,” al-Qassam Brigades said in reaches an agreement with Iran over restoring from . Do the Americans want to a communiqué. the JCPOA? Given Israel’s repeated sabotage focus on China instead of West Asia? According to a statement released by Barzilai Hospital in operations against Iran and the assassination of Yes, that is part of it. China is viewed as the biggest Ashkelon, 26 Israelis were injured, some seriously, after Pales- Iranian nuclear scientists, do you expect more threat to U.S. national security in the American national tinian rockets struck three buildings in the heart of Ashkelon. escalation after the agreement? security establishment. The other reason why the U.S. is Israel’s Channel 13 said that Ashkelon city saw 10 minutes I think it is entirely possible that Israel will try to pulling out of Afghanistan and arguably from the Middle of unprecedented rocket fire. stop the movement toward the deal. Also, even if a deal East (West Asia) is that Biden believes that there is no Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper claimed that at least 50 rockets is reached between the United States and Iran, Israel longer the stomach in the American electorate for “forever from Gaza landed in Ashkelon within few minutes and injured will continue to look at Iran as a very significant threat wars.” A great deal of the U.S. security establishment a number of Israeli residents. to its national security and will try to stop any Iranian believes pulling out of Afghanistan is a mistake and will Earlier Tuesday morning, an Israeli airstrike on an apart- efforts to develop the know-how or capacity to develop diminish U.S. national security. There certainly was no ment building in Gaza claimed the lives of an elderly woman nuclear weapons or missiles that threaten Israel. consensus that it was the smart thing to do. and two other civilians, including her special needs son. Apparently, Saudi Arabia is going to change its Biden recognized the Armenian genocide. U.S.-Turkish relationship. Turkey under Erdogan is policy towards Iran as it showed more flexibili- Politically what was his purpose? What will be not viewed as a steadfast ally of the U.S. anymore. Er- ty to Qatar. Are Saudis getting directions from the possible consequences? dogan’s authoritarian politics, his aggressive policies Haneyya to Erdogan: We Washington to change their foreign policies? There has been a great deal of pressure on American in the region, and his willingness to buy weapons from And do you expect the end of the war in Yemen? politicians for some time to recognize the Armenian Russia despite being part of NATO have all been major will defend Al-Aqsa and The Saudis are feeling somewhat isolated on Iran genocide. The Armenian lobby is fairly strong in the irritants in Washington. Thus, part of the rationale for Jerusalem now as the Trump policy of giving Saudi Arabia the U.S. This is part of the reason for the decision. But the decision was to signal to Erdogan that U.S. patience benefit of the doubt on most matters is no longer the part of it is also based on the changing nature of the with Turkey is waning. The last aspect of the decision to mention is the expected minimal fall-out from the INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN— Ismail Haneyya, the political deskbureau chairman of Hamas, on Monday af- The reason why the U.S. is pulling out of Afghanistan and decision. Turkey needs the U.S. more than the U.S. needs Turkey. Turkey’s precarious economic situa- ternoon briefed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arguably from the Middle East (West Asia) is that Biden tion, general diplomatic isolation from the West, and over the phone on the dangerous developments in Occupied believes that there is no longer the stomach in the American lower importance in the fight against ISIS have really Jerusalem and the courtyards of the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque. decreased Erdogan’s ability to leverage his position Haneyya also informed Erdogan of the Israeli plans for electorate for “forever wars.” against Washington. the displacement of the indigenous Palestinian residents from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Occupied Jerusa- lem, calling for an emergency Islamic summit to check the Israeli schemes. Amnesty International demands end to Israel’s brutal repression of Palestinians in al-Quds Haneyya said, “Our decision and the decision of our people is to defend the Al-Aqsa Mosque and defend Jerusalem.” Amnesty International has called for the largely peaceful Palestinian protesters in residents – such as those in Sheikh Jarrah exist and protesting against their forced He stressed that he would not allow in any way the Judaiza- cessation of the repeated, unwarranted recent days. Some of those injured in the – to make way for Israeli settlers. These displacement. tion of the holy city or altering its landmarks, pointing out that and excessive force used by Israeli forces violence in East Jerusalem (al-Quds) in- forced evictions are part of a continuing “Mere expressions of concerns about the real goal of the Israeli occupation is to change the religious against Palestinian protesters in occupied clude bystanders or worshippers making pattern in Sheikh Jarrah, they flagrantly Israel’s utter disregard for its obligations character of the city and to end the Islamic presence in it. East Jerusalem al-Quds, which is boiling Ramadan prayers,” Deputy Director for the violate international law and would amount under international law are not sufficient. The Hamas leader appreciated Turkey’s position on all over with anger over the planned expulsions Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty to war crimes.” There must be clear and strong denuncia- official and popular levels in support of Al-Aqsa and the Je- of Palestinian families from their homes International, Saleh Higazi, said. According to Press TV, the senior Am- tions of the flagrant violations, including rusalemites. in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. He added, “The latest violence brings nesty International official further said the forced displacement, the expansion of il- For his part, Erdogan affirmed that his country has already “Evidence gathered by Amnesty Inter- into sharp focus Israel’s sustained cam- Tel Aviv regime must not be allowed to legal settlements and the and the brutal started contacts with various international institutions and national reveals a chilling pattern of Israeli paign to expand illegal Israeli settlements continue its rampage against Palestinians, repression of people protesting against such the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Coop- forces using abusive and wanton force against and step up forced evictions of Palestinian who are simply defending their right to grave violations,” Higazi said. eration on the issue. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 HERITAGE & TOURISM MAY 12, 2021

Moveable properties in Qom UNESCO to assess Hamedan made national heritage

TOURISM TEHRAN –A total of 10 historical moveable deskproperties in Qom province, have recently been caravanserais for World Heritage inscribed on the national heritage list. The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts announced the inscriptions on Tuesday in a letter to the gover- HERITAGE TEHRAN – The Unit- Iran ranks 10th in the world in terms of nor-general of the central province. desked Nations Educational, the number of historical monuments and Scientific and Cultural Organization is sites registered on the UNESCO World set to assess two historical caravanse- Heritage list. rais, which are located in the west-central Before the Islamic Revolution, Perse- province of Hamedan, for inclusion in polis, Naghsh-e Jahan Square, and Chog- the World Heritage list. haznabil were the only three UNESCO-list- “The UNESCO assessors are pro- ed monuments, but today the number jected to visit Safavid-era (1501–1736) has been increased this number to 24 caravanserais of Farasfaj and Taj-Abad historical sites, of which “Arg-e Bam” by mid-June to evaluate them as a part (Bam Citadel) represents an outstanding of a shortlist of Iranian historical cara- example of an ancient fortified settlement, vanserais for a possible inscription on is located in province. the UNESCO World Heritage list,” the “Bisotun” in western provincial tourism chief has said. province, which is notable for its Achae- Unlike most caravanserais in Iran, menid-era inscription carved on a lime- which have rectangular-shaped designs, stone cliff, lavish “” in Taj-Abad has a circular plan, which is downtown Tehran which is a masterpiece extremely rare among Iranian caravan- of the Qajar era (1789 to 1925), and mil- serais, and it makes it one of the most lennium-old “Gonbad-e Qabus” which Ancient teapots, cups, vases, and pots, all discovered in the interesting historical monuments in the is a mudbrick tomb tower for Qabus ibn Sarm Tepe, an ancient hill near Kahak, are among the properties province, CHTN quoted Ali Malmir as Wushmagir, are among the other UNE- added to the prestigious list. saying on Tuesday. SCO-designated sites in Iran. The ancient items are being kept in the historical Zand Mansion. A popular attraction in Tuyserkan, Known in classical times as Ecbat- The country’s second-holiest city after , Qom is home Farasfaj, also known as Shah Abbasi caravanserai is a compound word he ordered the construction of network ana, Hamedan was one of the ancient to both the magnificent shrine of Hazrat-e Masumeh (SA) and Caravanserai, is nestled in the pristine combining “caravan” with “sara”. The caravanserais across the country. world’s greatest cities. Pitifully little the major religious madrasas (schools). nature of the region, the official explained. first stand for a group of travelers and Such roadside inns were originally remains from antiquity, but significant Apart from sightseers and pilgrims who visit Qom to pay In 2019, the tourism ministry an- sara means the building. They often had built in various epochs along ancient parts of the city center are given over to homage at the holy shrine, the city is also a top destination for nounced that Iran is developing a dossier massive portals supported by elevated caravan routes in the Muslim world to excavations, and there’s a scattering of Shiite scholars and students who come from across the world to for a selection of its historical caravan- load-bearing walls. Guest rooms were shelter people, their goods, and animals. historical curiosities. learn Islamic studies at its madrasas and browse through eminent saries for a possible inscription on the constructed around the courtyard and The former Silk Roads may be the most Hamedan never falls short of offer- religious bookshops. UNESCO World Heritage list. stables behind them with doors in the famous example dotted by caravanserais. ing cultural heritage sites to its visitors. The city’s antiquity goes back to the Sassanid era (224 CE–651) In this regard, cultural heritage experts corners of the yard. For many travelers to Iran, staying Scenic natural landscapes, traditional and several historical mosques, mansions, and natural sceneries are assessing such monuments that are Iran’s earliest caravanserais were built in or even visiting a centuries-old cara- restaurants, public gardens, and colorful have been scattered across the city as well as towns and villages scattered across the country to make a during the Achaemenid era (550 -330 vanserai, can be a wide experience; they outdoor markets, and more importantly, nearby. shortlist in terms of their architecture, BC). Centuries later, when Shah Abbas have an opportunity to feel the past, a its hospitable people make for an unex- historical and cultural values. I assumed power from 1588 – to 1629, time travel back into a forgotten age! pected slice of the city. Archaeologists resume work on Sassanid site of Vigol Tehran, Yerevan discuss ways to deepen tourism ties HERITAGE TEHRAN – The ancient site Vigol in central deskIran, which had previously yielded a Sassa- 1 Talking about the coexistence of religions which were collectively inscribed on the UNESCO nid-era fire temple, is being excavated for the second time by in Iran, Mounesan said: “In different cities of Iran, World Heritage in 2008. They are dotted in fresh archaeologists. including , there are places of worship for Mus- and green lands of northwest Iran and are important In [the Iranian calendar year] 1389 (March 2010 – March 2011), lims, Jews, and Christians, which makes a nation pilgrimage sites for Armenian-Iranians and others Iranian archaeologists discovered the central part of a Sasanian proud. We have even managed to register several from across the globe. (Zoroastrian) fire temple with its relatively intact bedding fire- churches on the World Heritage list.” Also known as the Qareh Klise (“the Black Church”), place, CHTN quoted Mohsen Javari, who leads the excavation, Armenian churches St. Thaddeus, as one of the oldest surviving Christian as saying on Monday. To the untrained eye, Iran’s earliest churches may monuments in the country, is situated in Chaldoran In this season, the completion of the plan of the fire temple seem modest structures to some but they bear testimony some 20 kilometers from Maku, adjacent to and its related spaces is on the agenda, the archaeologist said. to a vast panorama of architectural and decorative the borders of Armenia, , and Turkey. “Situated in the central Iranian plateau, this fire temple is scenes associated with Armenian culture blended The Chapel of Dzordzor stands tall on the outskirts considered as one of the exceptional examples of its kind. And with other regional cultures: Byzantine, Orthodox, of Maku. The name narratively originates from a available evidence indicates the presence of a religious center of Assyrian, Persian, and Muslim. famous painter Hovans Yerz, known as Dzordzortzi, the Sassanid period in this area.” St. Thaddeus, St. Stepanos, and the Chapel of who supervised the chapel’s restoration for a while. and exterior walls. It bears verses of Old and New “So, this excavation and its results are of special importance Dzordzor are three photogenic ancient churches that The ancient Church shows off elaborate bas-reliefs Testament in Armenian calligraphy as well. in the field of Sassanid archeology,” he said. constitute the Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran, of flowers, animals, and human figures on its façade In 2005 the site of Vigol was identified and a joint team of archaeologists from the universities of , Tehran, and led by Javari began their work on 120 hectares of the ancient site. Vigol is located approximately 10 km north of Aran- Bidgol near Kashan. Millennia-old tomb, relics unearthed in southwestern Iran In many ways, Iran under Sassanian rule witnessed tremendous HERITAGE TEHRAN – An ancient life. Sightseers may live with a nomadic Empire, ruled by the Achaemenids (ca. achievements of Persian civilization. Experts say that during the desktomb in Chitab, south- or rural family for a while or enjoy an 550 – 330 BC) and sites such as Pasarga- Sassanid era (224-651 CE), the art and architecture of the nation western Kohgiluyeh, and Boyer-Ahmad independent stay and assist them with dae and Persepolis. However, there are experienced a general renaissance. province has been discovered accidentally day-to-day life. It also opens up an op- tens of prehistorical sites as the Burnt by local farmers. portunity to feel rustic routines, their City in Sistan-Baluchestan, While working on their agricultural agriculture, traditions, arts, and culture. in Kashan, , and in lands, the farmers stumbled upon an an- Iran is home to one of the world’s oldest the , and cient tomb, which is estimated to date back continuous major civilizations, embrac- in Hamedan which predate the Achae- to the first millennium BC, the deputy ing settlements dating back to 4000 BC. menid period. provincial tourism chief has said. It also hosts some of the world’s oldest From a wider point of view, Iranian Also found in the tomb were three cultural monuments including bazaars, history can be divided into Pre-Islamic 3,000-year-old clay utensils, Rahim museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, and Islamic eras. The unified Iran Dadinejad announced on Tuesday. madrasas, gardens, rich natural, rural as a nation and empire in 625 BC. The A team of archaeologists and cultural designed to reach agricultural farms, the landscapes as well as 24 UNESCO World Islamic conquest of Persia (633–656) heritage experts is exploring the ancient official added. Heritage sites. that put an end to the mighty Sassanid tomb and to continue agricultural activ- Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province The name of Iran, formerly known as Empire (224–651) was a turning point ities, a temporary water canal has been is known for its nomads and nomadic Persia, mostly conjures up the first Persian in the history of the nation.

Qajar-era Hosseiniyeh undergoes restoration HERITAGE TEHRAN – Parts of the Qajar-era travelers, is also primarily the staging point desk(1789-1925) Aminiha Hosseiniyeh in for excursions to the famous of the Assassins Rock-carved bas-reliefs are widely deemed as the most im- the northwestern province of Qazvin has undergone and trekking in the sensational Valley. pressive and best-known works of Sassanians, of which about restoration, the deputy provincial tourism chief has said. Also known as the of the Assassins, the 12th-cen- thirty are known from the first two centuries of Sassanian rule. The basement of the historical structure as well as tury Alamut castle is nestled on top of a peak. It was The largest number is in Fars, in the majestic silent valley of its sash windows are planned to be restored within once a shelter for the followers of Hasan-e Sabbah Naqsh-e Rostam, in the small bay of rocks at Naqsh-e Rajab, on six months, Ehsan Nurani announced on Tuesday. (1070–1124) who was a spiritual leader of an Islamic the steep inclines of a gorge at . There are also other Aminiha Mansion was built in 1858 by Moham- sect. In the early 1930s, British-Italian explorer and examples across the country. madreza Amini, one of Qazvin’s reputable merchants. travel writer Freya Stark described her exploration of In 2018, UNESCO added “Sassanid Archaeological Landscape Parts of the building were endowed as a Hosseiniyeh, the place in her book “The Valleys of the Assassins”. of Fars Region”, which is an ensemble of Sassanian historical a place used for religious mourning ceremonies. Qazvin is also home to one of the biggest roofed cities in southern Iran, to its World Heritage list. The property Located in the historical texture of Qazvin, the caravanserais of the country, Sa’d-al Saltaneh car- comprises eight archaeological sites, including fortified structures, monument was inscribed on the National Heritage avanserai. Dating back to the Qajar era, it’s a place palaces, and city plans in Ctesiphon, Firuzabad, and Sarvestan, list in 1948. for discovering tens of Hojreh or shops, cafes, yards, all located in modern . Qazvin was once the capital of the mighty Persian and a stunning mosque. It’s a place for visitors who UNESCO says that the archaeological landscape reflects the Empire, under Safavids, from 1548 to 98. It is a major avanserai-turned-arts precinct, some quirky muse- want to experience the culture, culinary, and hospi- optimized utilization of natural topography and bears witness to tourist destination with a wonderfully restored car- ums, and a handful of decent eating options. For most tality of Iran. the influence of Achaemenid and Parthian cultural traditions and of Roman art, which had a significant impact on the architecture of the Islamic era. In that era, crafts such as metalwork and gem-engraving grew highly sophisticated, as scholarship was encouraged by the state; Amazing Kang is where the roof of one house is the yard of another many works from both the East and West were translated into TOURISM The hill-stepped village tal of Khorasan Razavi province. The way towards atop, sightseers can per- Pahlavi, the official language of the Sassanians. deskof Kang is a heaven for village is also adjacent to Nishabur, petuate their visit by capturing amazing Encyclopedia Britannica states that a revival of Iranian na- photographers and travels who seek known for its turquoise handicrafts pictures of hospitable people and their tionalism took place under Sassanid rule. Zoroastrianism became off-the-beaten tracks. and mines. hillside houses. the state religion, and at various times followers of other faiths The village is home to tens of bi- The village offers its visitors a bi- Kang is a contender as ‘Khorasan’s suffered official persecution. The government was centralized, zarre-shaped houses that the roof of one zarre scene of architecture that can Masuleh’ that is also a homogenous with provincial officials directly responsible to the throne, and is a yard of another on the highlands more or less be found in other parts stepped village of stacked mud-brick roads, city building, and even agriculture were financed by the of Mount Binalud in northeast Iran. of the country; each house is built on homes in northern Iran. government. Kang, with an antiquity of more than another’s rooftop, most of which having The millennium-old Masuleh is The dynasty was destroyed by Arab invaders during a span 3,000 years, is situated at a distance of porch-balconies and earthen roofs. arranged to be assessed by UNESCO from 637 to 651. some 30 km from Mashhad, the capi- Upon getting there and all along the experts for becoming a World Heritage. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y MAY 12, 2021 SOCIETY 7

Iranian COVID-19 vaccine enters large- Blood donation up 27% scale production phase during Qadr nights SOCIETY TEHRAN – Iranian people donated 141,148 desk 1 Out of 16 vaccine production cases, Tests performed on volunteers who re- units of blood during Qadr nights - the 19th, four cases received a code of ethics and are ceived COVIRAN BAREKAT showed that 21st, and 23rd of the holy month of Ramadan falls on May undergoing . It is hoped that the immunogenicity of the vaccine is about 13th, 15th, and 17th this year – an increase of 27 percent another three to four cases will succeed in 90 percent. year on year. receiving license by September. With the outbreak of coronavirus, Iran Iran is also currently producing vaccines surged its production to meet the coun- jointly with three countries of Cuba, Russia, try’s need for self-protective equipment and Australia. along with medical and pharmaceutical One of the vaccines is the Cuban-Iranian items to fight against the virus, at a Soberana-02 vaccine, and the other is the time when other developed countries Russian-Iranian Gamaleya vaccine, while were struggling with a severe lack of the third joint vaccine will be produced in personal protective tools. Iran in cooperation with Australia. Iran is one of the top five manufacturers Iran started mass vaccination against of coronavirus antigen-based rapid detection COVID-19 with the Russian-made Sputnik kits in the world; as homegrown antibody V vaccine on February 9. rapid test, which can detect coronavirus in Homegrown vaccines 15 to 20 minutes, was unveiled in Tehran The second Iranian coronavirus vaccine, on November 17, 2020. The highest amounts of blood were donated in the prov- Razi Cov Pars, which started the clinical trial Sourena Sattari, vice president for science inces of Khuzestan, Bushehr, Qazvin, and Hormozgan, IRIB on February 27, will be mass-produced in and technology, told the Tehran Times in reported. early August. September 2020 that some of the knowl- Communal praying and recitations of the Holy Quran were Fakhra vaccine, the third homegrown edge-based companies reached a production held across the country during Qadr nights observing health vaccine, was unveiled and started the clin- Namaki said Iran will soon be one of the countries have asked to purchase COVIRAN capacity of more than 200-300 thousand protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic. ical trial on March 16. world’s important manufacturers of the BAREKAT, Mohammad Mokhber, the head diagnostic kits per day, which surpassed the The last 10 days of Ramadan are especially important be- On January 27, Health Minister Saeed COVID-19 vaccine. of the Headquarters for Executing the Order country’s need for diagnostic kits, and there cause the Quran was revealed in this month on Laylat al-Qadr Two European countries and three regional of the Imam has said. is a great export potential. (Qadr Night). Despite the prevalence of COVID-19, blood donation has increased by 40 percent since the beginning of the current [Iranian calendar] year (March 21), compared to the same ICRC ready to support Iran’s IRCS for vaccinating refugees period last year, Peyman Eshghi, head of Blood Transfusion Organization, said on May 4. SOCIETY TEHRAN – The International Committee gees and 28,268 Iraqi refugees, according to the UNHCR. Despite the difficult conditions of dealing with coronavirus, desk of the Red Cross (ICRC) is ready to support One of the largest and most protracted urban refugee the blood donation rate at the beginning of the holy month of the Iranian Red Crescent Society for vaccinating refugees populations in the world is living in Iran; about 97 percent Ramadan (April 13) has increased significantly compared to living in the country against the coronavirus. of refugees live in urban and semi-urban areas, while three the previous years, he added, IRIB reported. “To this end, we have put in a request to the International percent are residing in 20 refugee resorts run by the UN- COVID-19 recovered patients donate plasma Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to increase the budget HCR’s main government counterpart. On April 6, Bashir Haji Beigi, spokesman for the Blood necessary for vaccinating these vulnerable groups,” ILNA In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, undocumented Afghans Transfusion Organization, said that some 15,039 plasma quoted Daniel Munoz-Rojas, the deputy representative of have access to free primary health services and similarly free units have been donated since April 2020 by patients who the ICRC in Tehran, as saying on Tuesday. COVID-19 related testing, treatment, and hospitalization, have been recovered from COVID-19 throughout the country. Iran is hosting a large number of Afghan refugees. So, we, just like nationals. Following the outbreak of coronavirus, doctors, pharma- as the International Committee of the Red Cross, support Some 120,000 refugees residing in Iran are now covered cists, scientists, and others are looking for a way to control the Iranian Red Crescent Society for offering services to the by health insurance, According to the United Nations High the virus, and so far, many studies and researches have been refugees,” he added. Commissioner for Refugees. done in this regard. However, it should be noted that vaccines are provided Despite the challenges, Iran has continued to generously One of the studies showed that the plasma driven from by governments and the International Committee of the Red give refugees access to education and health services. Iran recovered patients can be used in the treatment of COVID-19 Cross is not in charge of buying and importing the vaccines, codes, Hemmati added. is one of the handfuls of countries in the world that offer with the help of the patient’s immune system. he explained. “If these people are among our priority groups, they will refugees the option to enroll in national health insurance Convalescent plasma therapy allows someone who has On Sunday, IRCS head Karim Hemmati said he has asked be vaccinated. For example, if an Afghan national is part of for essential secondary and tertiary public health services recovered from a coronavirus to donate their blood the ICRC to provide 2 million doses of coronavirus vaccine the medical staff in Iran, they will be vaccinated,” he noted. in the same way as Iranian nationals. plasma to someone who is critically ill. to be used for Afghan refugees. At the end of 2018, Iran hosted close to one million refu- The national insurance scheme allows for free COVID-19 The best time for plasma donation is at least 14 and preferably The population of Afghan immigrants residing in Iran is gees, making it the sixth-largest refugee host country in the treatment and hospitalization. It also subsidizes the cost of 28 days after recovery, and donors should age 18 to 60 years. about two to three million, some of whom sometimes have world. The country was also the eighth largest refugee-hosting surgeries, dialysis, radiology, laboratory tests, outpatient Blood donation in Iran problems with identity cards or do not have identification country in the world in 2019, hosting 951,142 Afghan refu- care, and more. While blood donation in 70 countries still depends on replacement or paid donors, Iran is the first country in the region that has enjoyed voluntary blood donation by 100 percent since 2007. Area of forests the size of France has regrown worldwide since 2000 More than 85 percent of all donated blood worldwide is An area of forests larger than France has hectares of trees are being burned and cut prevent grazing and “spontaneous natural in part down to work undertaken by WWF used to produce blood products, while the rate is 65 percent regrown around the world since 2000, new down each year. regeneration” where trees come back of their and the Mongolian government’s increased in Eastern Mediterranean countries. Iran ranks among the data suggests. The study is a joint venture between own accord. emphasis on protected areas. highest-income countries in terms of converting more than A mapping study undertaken by the WWF, BirdLife International and Wildlife The study highlights areas such as the Central Africa and the boreal forests of 97 percent of the blood donated by people to plasma-derived Trillion Trees project found that almost Conservation Society, which looks at areas Atlantic Forest in Brazil, where 4.2 million Canada are also regeneration hotspots, ac- medicinal products (PDMP). 59 million hectares of forests have grown around the world where woodlands are hectares have regrown since 2000, through cording to the study, which examined more Only 55 of 171 countries produce PDMP through the frac- back worldwide since the turn of the regenerating. planned efforts to restore the forest, more than 30 years of satellite data. tionation of plasma collected in the reporting country. A total millennium. They range from active restoration, where responsible industry practices and human The survey comes after a report from of 90 countries reported that all PDMP are imported, 16 coun- The regrown forest area could store almost native trees and shrubs are planted, assist- migration to cities. WWF earlier this year which highlighted tries reported that no PDMP was used during the reporting 5.9 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is ed natural regeneration, where the forest is In ’s northern boreal forests, that forests almost twice the size of the UK period, and 10 countries did not respond to the question, more than the annual emissions of the US. encouraged to regrow by measures such as the study suggests 1.2 million hectares of was destroyed in global hotspots around the according to WHO. But environmentalists warn “vastly” more clearing invasive species or fencing land to forest have regenerated in the last 20 years, world between 2004 and 2017. Iran currently has the highest blood donation rate in the Eastern Mediterranean region so that out of 9.9 million blood donation units in this region, more than two million belongs to Iran. Also, the index of blood donation is 25 per 1,000 popula- Air pollution from food production linked to 12,700 deaths in U.S. each year tions, while in the member states of the Eastern Mediterranean region, this number is 14.9 per 1000. Air pollution from food production in the United States University of California-Berkeley, who was not involved in to ammonia emissions from livestock waste and fertilizer. is linked to an estimated 15,900 premature deaths each this study. “But it turns out that agriculture is also a major Airborne ammonia reacts with other chemicals to form year, according to a new study published Monday in the contributor to our air pollution and therefore we should dangerous particulate matter. LET’S LEARN PERSIAN Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences of the United care about it for our health.” “(It happens) mostly through ammonia, which is re- (Part 181) (Source: saadifoundation.ir) States of America. The study focused on a specific type of tiny pollution leased when farmers use nitrogen fertilizer -- which they Of those, an estimated 12,700 deaths -- around 80% -- are particles known as PM2.5. use a lot of -- or is released from animal manure,” said connected to production of animal-based foods. They linger in the air we breathe and measure barely a Jason Hill, a professor at the University of MInnesota valuable Scientists have known for years that farming contrib- fraction of the diameter of a human hair. But despite their and a co-author of the study. utes to harmful air pollution, but experts say this study small size, the particles have been linked to millions of pre- The premature deaths connected to pollution from offers the first full accounting of deaths connected to the mature deaths globally, as well as serious cardiovascular and agriculture are heavily concentrated in California, Penn- production of certain types of food. respiratory problems, especially in children and the elderly. sylvania, North Carolina, and along the Upper Midwest’s “When we think of the big sources of air pollution in PM2.5 particles kicked up into the air by tilling and fuel Corn Belt, the study found. the U.S., our imagination usually turns to smokestacks and combustion in farm equipment are part of the problem, but The researchers identified ways that both consumers and tailpipes,” said Joshua Apte, an assistant professor at the the study found the majority of premature deaths are linked farmers can help reduce this type of pollution.

ENGLISH IN USE to come LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION to go Clean air bill projected to create to be ایجــاد ۱۰ هــزار فرصــت شــغلی نتیجــه اجــرای 10,000 green jobs الیحــه هــوای پــاک The clean air bill, proposed by the Department of Environment مدیــرکل دفتــر پایــش فراگیــر ســازمان حفاظــت محیــط زیســت ضمــن اشــاره بــه to curb air pollution, is projected to generate some 10,000 مــواد قانــون هــوای پــاک - کــه بــه پیشــنهاد ســازمان حفاظــت محیــط زیســت green jobs over the course of the sixth five-year national اخیــرا بــه تصویــب مجلــس شــورای اســامی رســید- از ایجاد۱۰هــزار فرصــت .development plan (2016-2021), an environmental official said شــغلی طــی برنامــه ششــم توســعه از طریــق اجــرای مــواد ایــن قانــون خبــر داد. In line with the one of the articles of clean air bill units of شــینا انصــاری در گفتوگــو بــا ایســنا افــزود: در مــاده ۱۶ الیحــه هــوای Health, Safety, and the Environment (HSE), with regard to interested پــاک، کلیــه مراکــز و واحدهــای صنعتــی و تولیــدی، بــرای انجــام امــور مربــوط health and safety of the employees, customers, and contractors بــه ســامت و ایمنــی مشــتریان و کارمنــدان و کارفرمایــان مکلــف بــه ایجــاد as well as the protection of the environment are bound to be واحدهــای ســامت، بهداشــت و محیــط زیســت )HSE( و بهکارگیــری نیروهــای ,established in all industrial and manufacturing enterprises متخصــص ایــن حــوزه هســتند بنابرایــن تعــداد زیــادی از فــارغ التحصیــان .Shina Ansari told ISNA news agency محیــط زیســت م یتواننــد جــذب هســتهها و بخشهــای زیســت محیطــی Accordingly, those graduates in the field of environment“ صنایــع متوســط و بــزرگ کشــور بــه منظــور پایــش صنایــع شــوند. .can apply for job opportunities in HSE units,” Ansari added Prayer Times Noon:13:01 Evening: 20:20 Dawn: 4:23 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:01 (tomorrow) MAY 12, 2021 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 Moscow State Museum of Oriental Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051430 Art spotlights Qajar art Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 ARTTEHRAN – An mythological heroes of the past, created desk Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 exhibition opening on a new cultural model, where the archaic May 15 at the State Museum of Oriental and the unexpectedly modern were closely Art in Moscow will showcase a collection intertwined.” Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 of artworks created during the The State Archive of Russian Federation, that ruled in Iran from 1789 to 1925. the Marjani Foundation and the Kunstkamera, No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran For the first time in Russia, more than 300 will contribute to the exhibition, which will P.o. Box: 14155-4843 items from the richest Iranian collection of showcase most of its objects for the first time. Zip Code: 1599814713 the museum, including paintings, ceramics, The exhibition, which will run until July weapons, carpets and manuscripts, historical 25, explores different aspects of the life of documents and photographs will be put on Iranian society during the 19th and early view at the exhibit entitled “Splendor of the 20th centuries. Sunset: Iran of the Qajar Era”, the museum In a press release published on Tuesday, has announced. the Iranian cultural attaché in Moscow, The collection of Qajar art of the State Qahraman Soleimani, elaborated on the Museum of the Oriental Art is one of the exhibit. richest in the world, along with the Louvre, “The Qajar era art has been regarded across the Victoria and Albert Museum and the State the world over the past few decades,” he said GUIDE TO Hermitage. and added that collections of artworks from SPIRITUAL AWAKENING The exhibition aims to introduce a little- this period have been put on display during known page of and history, the exhibitions at the world’s great museums. museum said in its statement for the event, He noted that one of these exhibits was He who is greedy is disgraced; he who discloses his hardship and added, “The rulers of Qajar dynasty came previously organized at the State Museum will always be humiliated; he who has no control over his to power in the last quarter of the 18th century Qajar ruler Fathali Shah and his ministers are depicted in a painting by Mohammad- of Oriental Art during the 1970s. tongue will often have to face discomfort. after a long and bloody internecine struggle. Ali Beik Naqqashbashi, which is preserved at the State Museum of Oriental Art The museum has always regarded Persian Imam Ali (AS) “By the middle of the 19th century they in Moscow, Russia. arts by organizing various exhibitions artworks completed the reunification of the country and Britain, the economic crisis, territorial the West in the current international situation from Iran. but were unable to overcome its economic losses and social tension within the country. did not destroy the Iranian national spirit The latest one was “Plots and Images of backwardness and resisted European colonial “European influence, technical and loyalty to traditions. Nezami”, which was held from March 11 to ECO, Sadi Foundation to expansion.” innovations, reformist ideas and modern “Two main trends in the culture of the May 3. Artworks inspired by Nezami Ganjavi, The statement called the Qajar period an tastes penetrated the country, and the need for Qajar era – an interest in modernization the Persian poet who lived during the 12th organize intl. webinar on era of decline from the former Iranian glory change and the importance of the education and European achievements and a worship and early 13th centuries, were exhibited at due to increased external pressure from Russia became obvious. But the inevitable influence of of one’s own history, the glory of kings and the showcase.

CULTURE TEHRAN – The ECO Cultural Institute and deskSadi Foundation in Tehran plan to organize Director criticizes global silence over Afghanistan school attack an international webinar on the promotion of Persian literature on May 15. ARTTEHRAN — Oscar-nominated Iranian and religion. The webinar, which has been deskfilmmaker Majid Majidi has criticized “If you are from the West, you are honorable, and if organized to commemorate the world for not speaking out against the Saturday you are an Afghan, you are forgotten, and if you are a Shia Day, will commence bomb attack outside a school in the Afghan capital of and Muslim, no one cares about your blood that has been at 12 a.m. with speeches by the Kabul that claimed the lives of over 60 people including spilled on the ground. Tajik president of the ECO schoolgirls. “I regret having to live in a time when justice is a Cultural Institute, Sarvar Bakhti, He made the remarks in a statement published by Iranian meaningless word in this age of futility… I wish we had and Sadi Foundation director news agencies. died and not seen the death of justice and humanity, and we Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, the “There was no sound from you. No candles were lit. No would not have witnessed such tragic silence over the sad foundation announced in a press flags were flown half-mast,” He wrote. martyrdom of dozens of oppressed girls from the Afghan release on Tuesday. “International organizations did not issue any statements, Hazara community.” Afghan Ambassador no condemnation came from politicians, and no hashtag Explosions on Saturday evening shook the neighborhood Abdolghafour Lival and Tajik campaign was launched. of Dasht-e-Barchi, home to a large community of Shias from Ambassador Nizamuddin “Welcome to the 21st century with colorful slogans and the Hazara ethnic minority. Zahedi will also deliver lectures concealed morals; a time when the color of human blood is The Taliban denied allegations of responsibility and during the opening ceremony Iranian director Majid Majidi. different and people are valued based on their nationality issued a statement condemning the attack. A poster for the webinar on of the virtual meeting. the by the The webinar is planned for ECO Cultural Institute and discussions on the expansion .Sadi Foundation of the Persian language and Iran to commemorate Persian poet Ferdowsi, Persian epic poet Ferdowsi’s status in the ECO member states. Ismet Mammadova of the Baku State University, Ahmad Ghani Khosrawi of Herat University and Mohammad Nasser of Punjab Khayyam in virtual celebrations University are among the scholars invited to the colloquium. CULTURE TEHRAN – The Neyshabur is Khayyam’s hometown, city of Mashhad. Interested persons are invited to register on https://webinar. deskdirector of the Khorasan which also houses his tomb. He is primarily Morvarid said that the Society of ecieco.org/ch/persianlanguage to attend the webinar. Ravazi Department of Culture and Islamic known to English-speaking readers through Cultural Works and Luminaries will be Iran’s Sadi Foundation is a Tehran-based organization that Guidance has announced that the annual the translation by English writer Edward fully cooperating with the organizers to promotes the Persian language abroad. national celebrations and meetings to Fitzgerald of a collection of his quatrains ensure that the celebrations to honor the The ECO Cultural Institute (ECI), which is affiliated with the observe Ferdowsi Day and Khayyam Day in the Rubaiyat of Khayyam. two renowned poets and their cities are Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), aims at fostering will be held online due to the pandemic. Abolghasem Ferdowsi is the composer of held in the best possible form. A statue of Ferdowsi set up near his tomb in Tus. understanding and the preservation of the rich cultural heritage Speaking during a meeting organized by the Persian epic (The Book of He added that the arrangements have for these days will be read during the virtual of its members through common projects in the field of the media, the Khorasan Ravazi branch of the Society Kings), the famous celebrated work of the been made in order to execute great meetings. literature, art, philosophy, sports and education. of Cultural Works and Luminaries, Jafar poet in which Persian poetry is presented celebrations with quality programs and Ferdowsi Day is celebrated by Iranians Founded in 1985 in Tehran by the leaders of Iran, Pakistan Morvarid said that the annual meetings in a state-of-the-art form that continues features, including academic lectures by as a day to safeguard the Persian language and Turkey, the ECO is an Asian political and economic to celebrate Khayyam Day and Ferdowsi to impress literature experts to this day. prominent figures. and literature, and the Shahnameh is intergovernmental organization. Day are to be held in Mashhad on May 15 He is buried in Tus, his hometown that Minister of Culture and Islamic honored as a book of life, which teaches Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, , and in Neyshabur on May 18. is located near the northeastern Iranian Guidance Seyyed Abbas Salehi’s message nobility, wisdom and ethics. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are other member states of the organization. “From Karkheh to Rhein” makeup artist Masud Valadbeigi dies at 86 Iranian producer Elaheh ARTTEHRAN – Makeup artist Masud Crystal Simorgh at the Fajr Film Festival for “The Last Act” deskValadbeigi, whose collaboration in “From in 1991, “From Karkheh to Rhein” in 1992 and “The Ugly Nobakht on panel of MENA Karkheh to Rhein” and several other movies earned him wide and the Beautiful” in 1998. acclaim, died of heart failure at Tehran’s Mehrad Hospital During the 2000s, Valadbeigi also starred as Najdat ibn Film Festival on Tuesday. He was 86. Amir, the leader of the Kharijites in , in the TV series ARTTEHRAN – Iranian producer Elaheh Nobakht He was admitted to the hospital twice over the past two “Mokhtarnameh”, which was about an uprising organized deskhas been selected as a member of the jury for the months, his son-in-law Nima Fallah told the Persian service by Mokhtar Saqafi after the events of , the 10th of 4th Mena Film Festival The Hague, which will take place in the of MNA. Muharram, to take revenge against the killers of Imam Dutch city from May 20 to 23. Born in Kermanshah, Valadbeigi began his career with Hussein (AS). The Algerian-born Dutch director and writer Nader Ebrahimi’s TV series “Fire without He also collaborated as a makeup artist in this project director, Karim Traidia, and the Smoke” during the 1970s. A screen version of the series called with top makeup designer Abdollah Eskandari. secretary of the Casablanca Film “The Sound of the Desert” was released in 1975. “Makeup art in Iran is indebted to him,” Eskandari said Festival, Hamadi Keroum, who He also pursued an acting career in Iran’s post-revolution after expressing his condolences to his family in an interview is a renowned Moroccan critic, cinema in the early 1980s by working with director Behruz with the Persian service of ISNA. Afkhami in the TV series “Kuchake Jangali” about the Jangali Makeup artist and actor Masud Valadbeigi in an un- “He was a veteran makeup artist, a really kind and spirited are other members of the jury. dated photo. Nobakht is also the director Movement, which took shape in the aftermath of the 1905- man. I had the honor of working with him in ‘Mokhtarnameh’ of ELI Image, an international 11 Constitutional Revolution under the leadership of Mirza with numerous celebrated directors, such as , and I saw closely how he was working with affection,” he film production and distribution Kuchak Khan Jangali in response to the period of political Mohammad-Ali Sajjadi, Masud Kimiai, Iraj Qaderi and added. company. decay brought about by the advent of World War I and the Fereidun Jeirani. He made a cameo appearance in the first season of the As an active member of the occupation of Iran by Anglo-Russian and Ottoman troops. His brilliant acting did not win him acclaim from critics TV series “Setayesh” in the 2010s, and his chronic illness Iranian Producers Association As a makeup artist and an actor, Valadbeigi also collaborated and film festivals, but his skills in makeup earned three brought Valadbeigi’s activities in cinema and TV to a halt. (IPA) and co-producer of “Holy Iranian producer Elaheh No- Bread” she was selected for the )bakht. (Photo by Sahar Qarib IDFA competition for mid-films in 2020. “Why Read Hannah Arendt Now?” at Iranian bookstores She is also the distributor of the film “Finding Farideh”, a Jacob Bernstein’s book “Why Read Hannah He explores her thinking about deconstruction, social philosophy, political co-production between Iran and the Netherlands, which was Arendt Now?” has recently been published statelessness and refugees; the right philosophy and Hermeneutics. Iran’s submission to the Oscars in 2020. in Persian in Tehran. to have rights; her critique of Zionism; His work is best known for the way in which Nobakht has previously been a member of the jury at the FIFOG Ashian is the publisher of the book the meaning of the banality of evil; the it examines the intersections between different International Festival in Geneva and the Beirut International rendered into Persian by Hamid Qanei. complex relations between truth, lying, philosophical schools and traditions, bringing Women’s Festival. Recently there has been an extraordinary power and violence; the tradition of the together thinkers and philosophical insights The Mena Film Festival The Hague aims to portray a international revival of interest in Hannah revolutionary spirit; and, the urgent need that would otherwise remain separated by the contemporary view of the cultural, political, social and artistic Arendt. She was extremely perceptive about for each of us to assume responsibility analytic/continental divide in 20th century attributes of West Asia and Northern Africa through the eyes of the dark tendencies in contemporary life for our political lives. philosophy. filmmakers from these regions. that continue to plague us. She developed a This short and very readable book will Throughout his life, Bernstein has actively Mohammad Amin, the director of the 4th International Film concept of politics and public freedom that be of great interest to anyone who wants to endorsed a number of social causes and has Festival, said, “As part of the festival’s objectives, the event aims Front cover of the Persian translation serves as a critical standard for judging what understand the forces that are shaping our been involved in movements of participatory to support young filmmakers and the independent cinema in of Richard Jacob Bernstein’s book “Why is wrong with politics today. world today. democracy, upholding some of the cardinal North Africa and the Middle East [West Asia].” Read Hannah Arendt Now?” Bernstein argues that Arendt should be Bernstein, 88, has written extensively virtues of the American pragmatist tradition, Amin further added that this region’s cinema has proven its read today because her penetrating insights about a broad array of issues and including a commitment to fallibilism, ability to create a wider audience by succeeding in humanitarian CULTURE TEHRAN – American help us to think about both the darkness of philosophical traditions including American engaged pluralism, and the nurturing of objectives and through its efforts in helping achieve world peace. deskphilosopher Richard our times and the sources of illumination. pragmatism, neo-pragmatism, critical theory, critical communities.