WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 16 Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13519 Saturday NOVEMBER 2, 2019 Aban 11, 1398 Rabi’ Al awwal 4, 1441 Iran is in Cleric warns Iraqi, IPL: Esteghlal Ali Baqeri finishes second post-victory Lebanese nations of stun Tractor at Weather Photographer situation 3 enemy’s plots 3 in Tabriz 15 of the Year contest 16 Iran, Iraq power grids synchronized TEHRAN — Power grids of Iran and Underlining the positive steps taken U.S. targeting Iraq were synchronized on Friday, IRNA by the two countries for expansion of co- reported quoting Iranian Energy Minister operation in the energy sector, the official Reza Ardakanian. mentioned his negotiations with his Iraqi “As of today, the two countries’ power counterpart last year, saying “we decided to networks are operating in coordination take serious steps in a three-year period,” with each other,” Ardakanian said on the “Synchronizing the two countries Lebanon’s economy, sidelines of the synchronization operation electricity networks, reducing losses in in Tehran. Iraq’s electricity grid, 5 Iran underscores support for development Afghan-Afghan peace talks See page 13 TEHRAN — Iranian First Vice President back peace talks under leadership and Es’haq Jahangiri said on Friday that peo- ownership of Afghanistan. ple in Afghanistan should decide their He further said, “Iran-Afghanistan’s own fate, reaffirming Tehran’s support collective cooperation document has been for Afghan-Afghan peace talks. finalized and we hope to be inked soon.” In a meeting with Afghanistan’s Chief Jahangiri also congratulated successful Executive Abdullah Abdullah on the implementation of Afghanistan’s presiden- sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation tial election to Abdullah, adding, “Iran will Organization (SCO) meeting in Uzbeki- continue promotion of cooperation with the stan, Jahangiri said that his country will newly-elected government in Kabul.” 2 Iraq’s top Shia cleric urges end of bloodshed, warns of civil war PRESS TV — Iraq’s top Shia cleric Aya- of many innocent people from both tollah Ali al-Sistani has urged the end of sides and damages to public and pri- bloodshed in the Arab country, warning vate properties. of a civil war and chaos after dozens of “The innocent blood shed during the deaths during the recent wave of protest past few weeks is very valuable to us, and rallies across Iraq. measures must be taken to prevent further In a statement on Friday, Ayatol- bloodshed,” the top cleric said. lah Sistani expressed regret over the “The country must be kept from slipping continued clashes between demonstra- toward the edge of the precipice of a civil tors and security forces, which have war, chaos, and destruction,” Ayatollah File photo resulted in the deaths and injuries Sistani urged. 13 ARTICLE Assad: Liberating northern Syria from Kurds ‘ultimate goal’ PERSPECTIVE Ramin Hossein Abadian PRESS TV — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad the aim of establishing a “safe zone” that areas in a final deal with the Kurds that restores Masoud Hossein Mehr News Agency says his country’s ultimate goal is to restore state Ankara claims will be used to repatriate some state control. Head of the Sport Desk of journalist authority over Kurdish-controlled northeast- of the three-million-plus Syrian refugees it ‘Erdogan Syria’s enemy’ the TehranTimes ern regions in the wake of an abrupt US troop currently hosts. The Syrian head of state said he did not intend withdrawal and a Turkish offensive against the Assad said during the interview that agreement to call Turkey an “enemy”? but Turkish Presi- Intensifying Kurds there. is “temporary.” dent Recep Tayyip Erdogan and many Turkish Iran volleyball’s In an interview with state TV on Thursday, “We have to distinguish between ultimate or political elite were enemies of Syria because of pressure on Abdul the Syrian president also said an agreement last strategic goals... and tactical approaches,” he said, their hostility towards the Arab neighbor. future remains week between Turkey and Russia to drive out stressing that his forces will eventually reclaim “We must ensure that we don’t turn Turkey Mahdi to resign Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units (YPG) territory taken by Ankara’s latest offensive. into an enemy and here comes the role of friends” unclear militants from a 30-kilometer “safe zone” along The Kurdish YPG militia had reached a deal such as Russia and Iran, he said. omestic and foreign pressure for the border was a step that would help Damascus with Damascus to take up positions near the border “Erdogan and his group are enemies, because ith about three months until ousting Iraqi Prime Minister Adil in regaining control, though gradually, over the after US President Donald Trump’s announce- he leads these policies, but until now most of the the AVC Continental Olympic DAbdul Mahdi appear to have in- northeastern areas. ment of pullout of US troops in northeastern political forces in Turkey are against Erdogan’s WQualification Tournament, Iran creased more than ever. The Turkey-Russia deal, which would halt Syria left them feeling abandoned. policies,” he argued. volleyball’s status is still unknown and is Iraq’s President Barham Salih has the weeks-long Turkish invasion, calls for Assad, however, added that Damascus will Assad noted that Iran and Russia, as state-guar- managing by an interim president. also recently made a statement in this the withdrawal of Syrian Kurdish militants not demand that armed groups there hand over antors of Syrian peace efforts, have been nego- Iran are favorites to book a place at regard, saying, “The prime minister the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, but the from areas along the Turkish border with weapons immediately when the army enters those tiating with Turkey over the past year. 13 had previously agreed to submit his uncertain situation keeps Team Melli in resignation, if the blocs agree on an suspense. acceptable replacement in order to Yemeni forces shoot down U.S.-made ScanEagle spy drone The top eight teams will participate at adhere to constitutional and legal AVC Continental Olympic Qualification frameworks”. PRESS TV — Yemeni armed forces have shot Resistance by Yemeni forces, led by the Houthi war in Yemen. The true death toll is much higher Tournament in Jiangmen, China from Condemning the violence against the down a US-made spy drone while on a mission Ansarullah movement, has, however, pushed the when fatalities related to the lack of medicine, food January 7 to 12, 2020 and the winners protesters, Salih claimed that he will stand over the battle front near the southwestern Saudi Saudi war to a stalemate, largely stalling Riyadh’s and clean water are taken into account.” will qualify for the Games. beside the Iraqi people. province of Asir. ambitions in the country. “This should act as a wake-up call to all sides Iran volleyball has no president for The prime minister added that he is The spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces The war has, nonetheless, taken a heavy to agree a nationwide ceasefire and to return to months and the six candidates have been against quelling the protesters. Addressing Brigadier General Yahya Saree said on Friday toll on the country’s population and infra- the negotiating table in order to reach a lasting confirmed but it’s still not exactly clear the protesters, he said the Iraqi people that the aircraft was a ScanEagle type. structure.On Thursday, the US-based Armed peace. Arms exporting countries should stop when the elections will be held. and security forces are on the same side. Yemeni forces have managed to down nu- Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) fueling the fighting by sending weapons to the Other Asian teams, namely China, Noting that forcible action is not the way merous US-made drones in recent years, notably published a report saying that 100,000 people warring parties,” he added. Australia and South Korea are armed to to deal with the protestors, Salih said that destroying a US-operated advanced MQ-9 Reaper have been killed since the onset of the conflict. The newly published death-toll comes as the the teeth for the event and are preparing reforms is the only solution. attack drone most recently in August. The report said 20,000 people had been killed US is by far Saudi Arabia’s largest arms supplier, for the important competition while the There are two point regarding the The US has been a major backer of Saudi Arabia only this year, making the second deadliest year with Riyadh spending about 70 percent of its Iranian volleyball doesn’t know what will remarks by the Iraqi president. The first ever since it formed a so-called military coalition of the war after 2018. arms imports on US-made weapons. happen. point is that Abdul Mahdi has only an- campaign against Yemen in March 2015 in a bid Addressing the report, Oxfam Country Director in According to numerous reports, the supplied “We need long-term plan for our vol- nounced his consent for resignation, to bring the government of former President Abd Yemen Muhsin Siddiquey said that it served as “further weaponry has been a lead factor in mass civilian leyball but I don’t understand why Iran’s and considered its dependent on the Rabbuh Mansur Hadi back to power. proof of the mindless destruction and injustice of the deaths in the country. 13 Ministry of Sports and Youths spends time agreement of political parties about a doing nothing. There is no reason in de- replacement.