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8 Pages Price 50,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 42nd year No.13816 Tuesday NOVEMBER 24, 2020 Azar 4, 1399 Rabi’ Al thani 8, 1442 Iranian envoy, Yemeni names 12 Yemeni missile targets Congratulations FM discuss Saudi war players for FIBA Cup Saudi Aramco facility on birthday of Imam on Yemen Page 2 Qualifiers Page 3 in Jeddah Page 5 Hassan Askari (AS)

Advisor says Iran to continue treading on dangerous defending – Hossein Amir Abdollahian, a with the UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir senior foreign policy advisor to the Iranian O. Pedersen. Parliament speaker, has said Tehran will During the meeting, the advisor said ground as secret meeting revealed continue to defend Syria and its security Iran welcomes UN’s efforts intended to with all its power. preserve Syria’s territorial integrity and “We also support the United Nations’ national sovereignty. See page 3 constructive efforts in helping Syria and “Unfortunately, certain dangerous ter- judging the issues surrounding Syria in- rorist groups are trying to get removed from dependently,” Amir Abdollahian said on the United Nations blacklist of terrorists Monday, according to Mehr. by changing their names, He made the remarks in his meeting Continued on page 2

Non-oil trade exceeds $44b in 8 months TEHRAN – The value of Iran’s non-oil The total volume of traded goods was trade during the first eight months of the estimated at about 97.7 million tons, of current Iranian calendar year (March which over 75 million tons were related 20-November 20) reached $44.6 billion, to exports and about 21.8 million tons according to Head of the Islamic Republic were imported goods. of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) According to Mirashrafi, the imports Mehdi Mirashrafi. in the said period declined one percent In the mentioned eight months, Iran im- and 18 percent in terms of weight and ported $23.1 billion worth of goods, while the value, respectively. exports stood at $21.5 billion, IRIB reported. Continued on page 4

Memoirs of Koniko Yamamura rendered into five languages TEHRAN – “Immigrant from the Land of ogy Dissemination Organization is the the Sun”, the latest book by Iranian writ- publisher of the book. er Hamid Hesam containing memoirs of Yamamura is the only Japanese mother the mother of martyr Mohammad Babai whose son was martyred during the 1980- Koniko Yamamura, has been published 1988 Iran-Iraq war, and the book covers in several languages. the memories of the mother of the martyr. The book has been translated into Arabic, Yamamura chose the name Saba after Turkish, Russian, Urdu and Pashtu, and will she married an Iranian Muslim in Japan

File photo be distributed in the destination countries. and moved to Iran afterwards, The Art Bureau of the Islamic Ideol- Continued on page 8 Aquaculture The world looks as Pompeo mocks U.S. protests: Trump supporters, counter- development to international law protesters rally at Georgia Capitol after recount materialize surge in BY M.A. SAKI BDS, will be regarded as “anti-Semitic”. Trump’s supporters called for a recount of the gin of 12,670 votes Friday after a hand recount TEHRAN — On November 19, Mike Pompeo Moreover, he described the BDS movement, election over the weekend outside the Georgia in the state. production, boost toured the occupied West Bank a year after he which tries to pressure Israel to end its occupa- Capitol building — where they were met by scores Meanwhile, Trump’s legal team has filed pa- shockingly said the settlements did not contradict tion of the Palestinian territories, as a “cancer”. of counterprotesters. perwork to appeal a federal judge’s ruling that non-oil export international law. Contrary to what Pompeo claims, his ap- Hundreds of pro-Trump demonstrators gath- struck down the campaign’s attempt to stop It was the first such visit by a top U.S. official. proach in general is cancerous and his support ered Saturday at the capitol building in Atlanta votes being certified in Pennsylvania. BY MAHNAZ ABDI Media outlets said Pompeo’s visit broke with for unlawful settlements lead to anti-Semitism for a “Stop the Steal” rally in response to Georgia Attorneys for the Trump campaign filed a aying attention to strengthen- decades of U.S. policy toward settlements in and extremism. officials certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals ing the infrastructure of non- the West Bank. What Pompeo is doing or saying is rejected by win in the state, news station 11Alive reported. for the Third Circuit on Sunday — a day before Poil exports is one of the ways After visiting the occupied West Bank, Pompeo many Jews in Israel and outside. He is basically “Stop the session!” crowds could be heard Pennsylvania’s 67 counties were set to certify to achieve the goals of a resistance took a helicopter to the Golan Heights, again an ideologically-driven person who supports chanting in video posted to Twitter. their results and send them to state officials. economy, and the field of aquacul- celebrating the Trump administration’s foreign Zionism and not Jews. The demonstration was held across from Judge Matthew Brann dismissed the cam- ture and fisheries has an effective policy, which recognized Israeli sovereignty in Moreover, he mocked UN Security Council anti-Trump protesters who had shown up for paign’s lawsuit Saturday. role in this due, through promot- the territory taken from Syria in 1967. resolutions that clearly state that Israel must a “Refuse Fascism” march, the outlet reported. The suit had sought to throw out millions of ing entrepreneurship and employ- At a winery in the occupied West Bank, Pom- withdraw from the lands it has occupied by The two dueling rallies were kept apart by votes in the Keystone State, claiming election offi- ment, as well as bringing foreign peo also said the U.S. would label settlement force. a heavy police presence and barricades, Fox cials in heavily Democratic counties violated the currency. products as “made in Israel”. That he called settlements “part of Israel” News reported. equal protections clause under the Constitution Aquaculture is one of the most im- Again he made another surprising remarks, and “a recognition of the reality” was an insult No arrests had been reported as of Saturday by allowing voters to fix mail-in ballots that had portant branches of agriculture and its saying the boycott, divestment, and sanctions to the reason of the world in the world. afternoon, 11Alive reported. problems — while mostly-Republican counties share should be properly strengthened movement against Israel, commonly known as Continued on page 2 Biden was determined to have won by a mar- had not alerted voters about faulty ballots. in the strategies of Iran’s resistance economy. Therefore, development of this sector is being pursued to materi- COVID-19: economic pressure plundering nature River flood swamps alize “Surge in Production”, which BY FARANAK BAKHTIARI a benefit for wildlife and cannot prevent needs further investigation, he highlighted. Sassanid-era dam in is the motto of the current Iranian TEHRAN – Rising economic pressures and de- greedy poachers from laying their hands Using people’s participation to help preserve calendar year (began on March 20), clining public revenues since the onset of the on natural resources. wildlife is one way to protect nature from profi- southwest Iran and also the objective of boosting coronavirus outbreak have caused profiteers and Mahmoud Shakiba, head of the provincial teers and poachers, he noted. non-oil exports, which is one of the poachers to once again attack natural resources department of environment (DOE), said that The restrictions that reduced the people’s TEHRAN – The rain-swollen river of Karun has major strategies of Iran to nullify and plunder the environment to make up for despite the presence of DOE forces around the entry into natural areas, gave unique tranquil- submerged a significant ancient dam in southwest the U.S. sanctions. their income shortcomings. clock in the habitats of the province, poachers ity to the animal and plant species, the result Iran. The Sassanid era (224–651) monument is Fishery production has increased Four carcasses of mouflon which were still take up illegal hunting. of which can increase the species’ reproduction one of the satellite sites situated adjacent to the noticeably in the country in recent found in Golestan province in late Novem- Statistics of recent discoveries and arrests of and even save some endangered animals from UNESCO-registered Shushtar Historical Hydraulic years. ber from 6 poachers shows that the isola- poachers show that the link between the increase extinction, he stated. System in Khuzestan province. Iran’s annual fishery output stood tion of nature due to the pandemic is not in poaching and the prevalence of coronavirus Continued on page 7 Water rose to the maximum height of Mizan (Va- at 1.28 million tons in the past Iranian lerian) Dam as Karun River overflowed its banks calendar year (ended on March 19), caused due to heavy rains, a phenomenon that the while the planned figure was 1.25 mil- director of the World Heritage site calls as “natural.” lion tons. This amount of output was “No abnormalities have occurred in Mizan [Dam],” achieved despite the sanctions and Mohammadreza Bahadori said on Monday. related difficulties in the previous year. “Due to the location and nature of Mizan Dam, The output is anticipated to reach it is quite natural for this dam to be submerged.” 1.5 million tons this year. Traffic “The nature of the Mizan dam is to divide and The country’s fishery export stood regulate water for Gargar River (a tributary stream at 146,000 tons worth $538.9 million branched from Karun) and this way, Mizan is con- in the past year, while the import was restriction sidered a regulatory dam,” the official explained. 29,000 tons valued at $98.9 million, “It could occur several times a year after the so Iran’s fishery trade balance was [heavy] rains…..and for the time being we are $440 million in the previous year. aims to curb waiting to have calm weather to start a dredging The export is anticipated to reach operation immediately after the conditions return 150,000 tons valued at $600 million COVID-19 to normal.” in the current year. The UNESCO-tagged Historical Hydraulic Sys- The National Headquarters for Coro- Enjoying high quality, Iran’s fish- tem involves the creation of two main diversion ery products were sold easily in the navirus Control has issued a directive, canals on the river Karun one of which, Gargar export markets, and also some new banning private vehicles from 9:00 p.m. canal, is still in use providing water to the city export destinations welcomed these to 4:00 a.m. in cities which are on high of Shushtar via a series of tunnels that supply products in the past year. alert in a bid to control the spread of water to mills. New markets including China, coronavirus. The ensemble, as a whole, demonstrates out- South Korea, and the Eurasian Union Abdollah Heydari Health Minister Saeed Namaki has standing universal value as in its present form, it nations opened up for Iranian fishery warned that the new restrictions are “the dates from the 3rd century CE, probably on older products in the previous year. IRNA/ last chance for the (health) system to stand bases from the 5th century BC. Continued on page 4 against” the virus. Continued on page 6 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS NOVEMBER 24, 2020

Advisor says Iran to continue Iran has the most transparent nuclear defending Syria

1 so adopting an impartial approach and not witnessing double standards is of great importance for the Islamic Republic program in the world, says envoy of Iran,” the career diplomat remarked. “We believe that in the work of the Constitutional Commit- POLITICAL TEHRAN – Kazem Ghar- expressed concern about “Iran’s actions, tee, all parties are responsible and should be held accountable,” deskibabadi, Iran’s ambassa- which are hollowing out the core nonpro- Amir-Abdollahian pointed out. dor and permanent representative to the liferation benefits of the deal.” Vienna-based international organizations, “It is now critical that Iran immediately says Iran has the most transparent nuclear reverses its steps and returns to full compli- program in the world. ance with the JCPOA without further delay. “Iran is the most transparent country We remain committed to working with all in terms of its nuclear activities. We have JCPOA participants to find a diplomatic had more than a fifth of the world’s total way forward and we intend to pursue these inspections by the [International Atomic discussions within the framework of the Energy] Agency (IAEA),” Gharibabadi said JCPOA,” the statement added. in an interview with Khabar Online pub- Gharibabadi said on Thursday that the lished on Sunday. lack of full and effective implementation of “It’s because of this level of cooperation the commitments by France, Britain and UN Special Envoy for Syria Pedersen (L) talking to Amir Abdollahian and transparency that we do not consider Germany as enshrined in the JCPOA to the remarks of some countries as sincere,” remedy the situation have brought about He added that blaming the Syrian government is in conflict with he added. serious challenges to the historic deal. the policy of neutrality. He said Iran’s latest nuclear move was “Unfortunately, the EU/E3 didn’t fulfill The Islamic Republic was the first country to rush to Syria’s as- the injection of uranium hexafluoride, or its sanctions-related commitments, and sistance after the Arab nation came under the scourge of the Takfiri UF6, into the IR-2m centrifuges, which was commitments related to the civil nuclear terrorist group of Daesh in 2014. dealt with at a quarterly meeting of the IAEA cooperation with Iran in this period either. Iran has warned that it will “Unfortunately, Board of Governors. 14 July 2015 between Iran and six world ests against the United States’ “toughest Hence, calling on Iran to fully implement deliver a “crushing response” to certain However, the envoy continued, after powers, including the U.S., Russia, China, ever” sanctions. its commitments while knowing the fact any party seeking to trouble the that the European troika (France, Britain France, Britain and Germany, and also the In a joint statement on Thursday, the that Iran’s legitimate benefits from the deal Islamic Republic’s presence in dangerous and Germany) issued another statement European Union. Trump’s unilateral with- three European signatories to the JCPOA have not been realized, is neither reason- the Arab country. terrorist groups against Iran and accused it of violating the drawal from the JCPOA was deplored by reiterated their commitment to the preserva- able nor a practical approach,” he stated. “Anyone, who could try to ob- are trying to nuclear agreement, officially called the Joint all other parties to the deal. tion and full implementation of the JCPOA. “I would also like to reiterate the already struct Iran’s advisory presence in Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). On May 8, 2019, exactly one year after “We E3 have worked hard to preserve the pronounced position of the Islamic Repub- Syria will be served with a crush- get removed The Iranian ambassador criticized Eu- Trump’s withdrawal, Iran began to grad- agreement. We have been consistently clear lic of Iran that whenever the lost balance ing response,” Foreign Ministry from the ropean parties to the deal for paying lip ually reduce its nuclear commitments that we regret the U.S. withdrawal from the between the rights and commitments of spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh United Nations service to the illegal U.S. withdrawal from the according to the JCPOA, citing the other JCPOA and re-imposition of U.S. sanctions,” the JCPOA participants as stipulated by the said on Sunday. The Israeli re- JCPOA, while continuing to express concern parties’ failure to secure its interests under the three countries’ statement read. deal is restored through lifting sanctions gime, he said, “knows this that blacklist of about Iran for reducing its commitments the deal. However, Tehran has repeatedly They accused Iran of making “numer- and implementing commitments in this the era of hitting and running terrorists in a tit-for-tat measure. said that it will return to its commitments ous, serious violations of its nuclear com- field, Iran is ready to reverse its remedial is far over. It [therefore] treads The JCPOA was reached in Vienna on if the other parties can protect its inter- mitments” for a year and a half now and actions,” the Iranian ambassador added. carefully.” by changing However, Tel Aviv’s aggressive their names, attitude is “irremediable” and can only be confronted with compre- so adopting hensive resistance on every front an impartial Zarif to attend 2020 Afghanistan Conference where it seeks to create distur- approach and POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister portant opportunity for Afghanistan and the international bances, Khatibzadeh added. deskMohammad Javad Zarif will attend the community to commit to common objectives for promoting Iran’s Foreign Minister Mo- not witnessing virtual 2020 Afghanistan Conference in Geneva, Foreign sustainable development, prosperity and peace in the country. hammad Javad Zarif said earli- double Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Monday. A central aim of the conference is to determine shared er that all the “cruel and unfair” The Geneva conferences for Afghanistan are held once development objectives and commitments for the period sanctions against Syria’s govern- standards in every four years with a focus on the commitment of world 2021–24 for the Afghan government and the international ment and nation must be lifted, is of great countries to establishment of peace and stability in Afghan- community. not least at the time of the deadly importance istan and its development, Khatibzadeh said, the Foreign The shared development objectives will guide development coronavirus pandemic. Ministry website reported. cooperation and provide financial support for Afghanistan. All unjust and illegal sanctions for the Islamic 66 countries and 32 international organizations are ex- In addition to the pledges of financial support, a new devel- against the Syrian government Republic of pected to attend this year’s conference, which will be held opment framework, a joint political declaration and a new aid and people must be lifted, par- virtually because of the COVID-19 restrictions. architecture supporting Afghanistan’s development needs ticularly under the current condi- Iran,” Amir The conference is scheduled to take place on November and priorities are the anticipated outcomes of the conference. tions caused by the coronavirus Abdollahian 23 and 24. Iran has strongly supported talks between the government chief diplomat reaffirmed Tehran’s support for the government pandemic, Zarif said in a separate tells the UN The conference plenary will take place on November 24, and the Taliban without foreign interference. Zarif has also of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the peace process meeting with Pedersen in Tehran with side events on November 23. The conference is expected appointed an envoy for the purpose. under the leadership and management of Afghans, and the on Saturday. special envoy to involve civil society representatives as well. It was last Chairman of Afghan peace council Abdullah Abdullah agreements among the participants in the intra-Afghan talks. He also criticized certain coun- for Syria. held in 2016 in Brussels and in Tokyo in 2012. made a three-day visit to Iran last month to hold talks with Zarif also admired Abdullah for his participation in the tries for obstructing the political According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in top Iranian officials. political process and assuming responsibility to run Afghan- resolution of the crisis in the Arab country. Afghanistan, the quadrennial pledging conference is an im- In his meeting with Zarif at the Foreign Ministry, Iran’s istan’s High Council for National Reconciliation. “In recent years, good opportunities have arisen to end the cri- sis” in Syria, but they were squandered by certain states, Iran’s top diplomat added. Iranian envoy, Yemeni FM discuss Saudi war on Yemen Judiciary chief asks UN POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iranian Am- Yahya Ali al-Raee. the president of the Supreme Political Council deskbassador to Yemen Hassan He pointed to granting of more scholarship of Yemen. to issue human rights Irlou says he has discussed Iran’s stance with to Yemeni students in all fields and promised The appointment of Irlou sparked a wave resolution against Canada regard to the Saudi-led aggression against to develop bilateral relations in various fields. of speculation among some regional players Yemen during a meeting with Yemeni Foreign Yahya Ali al-Raee, for his part, appreciated who have seen the appointment of the new TEHRAN (FNA) – Iran’s Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi blasted Minister Hisham Sharaf. Iran’s role in supporting the Yemeni people ambassador as a step toward strengthening Ottawa for sponsoring a human rights resolution against his country, “In the meeting with Mr. Hisham Sharaf, and standing by the country against the ag- ties between Tehran and Sanaa. saying that Canada is itself one of the main violators of human rights the foreign minister of Yemen, Iran’s stance gressors, stressing that his nation will never Foreign Minister Mohamad Javad Zarif and a safe haven for criminals. with regard to support for all international forget Iran’s honorable position. has elaborated on the appointment of Irlou, “Countries have understood that human rights has been seriously efforts aiming to terminate the aggression In a tweet on Thursday, Irlou had strong- saying Iran has already had an embassy in in Yemen, which is the worst humanitarian ly deplored the Saudi regime for 6 years of the Yemeni capital, and Iran has appointed politically-tainted and has turned into an instrument to pressure the Ambassador Irlou holding talks with Yemeni disaster, was discussed,” Irlou wrote in a tweet aggression against the Yemeni people and a new ambassador to Yemen because Iran’s independent countries,” Raisi said, addressing the judiciary officials FM Sharaf (R) in Tehran on Monday. on Sunday. destruction of the infrastructures of the coun- former ambassador there had become sick. He added that most coun- He also said that the two sides discussed saying Iran is determined to develop its ties try, emphasizing that the country’s people “Relations between Iran and Yemen are tries opposed the UN so-called Tehran’s willingness to grant more scholar- with the Arab country. will stand steadfastly against the aggressive good and strategic. The Iranian embassy was human rights resolution against ship to Yemeni students to study in Iranian Iran will spare no effort to support the and criminal Saudi regime till gaining victory. located in Sanaa, although it was not possible Iran, sponsored by Canada and universities. Yemeni people and transfer experiences in Irlou has recently been appointed as Iran’s to travel for a while, but we had an ambassador supported by the US and Israel, and On Saturday, Irlou highlighted the Islamic all fields, he said in a meeting with Speaker ambassador to Yemen. On November 4, he in Sanaa,” the chief Iranian diplomat said on said, “Canada, itself, is a violator Republic’s full support for the Yemeni people, of the House of Representatives of Yemen submitted his credentials to Mahdi al-Mashat, November 3. of human rights and a safe haven for the corrupters and criminals and a resolution should be issued against it.” thinks Iran will gain power if JCPOA survives: analyst Elsewhere, Raisi referred to POLITICAL TEHRAN – A senior political analyst has withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal – which was clinched Iran’s efforts and sacrifices to block desk the transit of illicit drugs to Europe said Saudi Arabia believes that a U.S. return under Barack Obama – and cheered the U.S. president for his and the US, voicing surprise at the to the 2015 nuclear deal will strengthen Iran and will boost subsequent sanctions on Tehran that caused more than two UN and the western states’ move Tehran’s influence in the region. hundred billions of dollars in losses. to issue resolution against Tehran The Persian Gulf’s Arab states led by Saudi Arabia regarded The nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive instead of appreciating the country. the nuclear deal as an agreement that could reduce Iran’s ten- Plan of Action (JCPOA), was reached in Vienna on 14 July 2015 An anti-Iran resolution was passed with 79 ‘yes’ votes at the third sions with the West and that’s why they attempted to destroy between Iran and six world powers, including the U.S., Russia, committee of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, even though the deal, Davoud Hermidas Bavand said in an interview with China, France, Britain and Germany, and also the European 32 countries had voted against it and 64 others abstained from voting. IRNA published on Monday. Union. Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA was Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh blasted “Although Biden’s intention is not to return to the same deplored by all other parties to the deal. Canada for sponsoring the anti-Iran human rights resolution, calling nuclear deal which was signed in 2015, but countries such as In the meantime, hopes to revitalize the nuclear deal were on Ottawa to stop compliance with the US in sanctions and pressures Saudi Arabia, the (United Arab) Emirates and Israel disagree raised after Biden was elected president. Biden has promised if it really cares for the Iranian people. with any agreement,” Bavand added. Arabia and certain other Arab countries have pushed for a to “change course” and rejoin the accord “as a starting point for Khatibzadeh deplored the UN resolution, drafted and proposed by Since Trump assumed office in January 2017, Israel, Saudi harsher U.S. foreign policy against Iran. They supported Trump’s follow-on negotiations” if Iran returns to compliance with it. Canada, as a rehash of “groundless” claims about the Islamic Republic’s human rights situation, saying it instead proves the “hypocrisy” of the “notorious” group of countries that voted for it. He described the resolution as “unacceptable”, saying it “lacks any legal grounds and effect”. The world looks as Pompeo mocks international law Khatibzadeh noted that the move made by the Ottawa government 1 According to CNN, in the Golan Heights, Pompeo acts, said, “Today the United States Department of State Iran within their “maximum pressure” policy. and other sympathizers of the resolution is a clear example of “abusing visited Mount Bental and said, “This is a part of Israel and stands strongly to the recognition that settlements can be The inaction by the international community in four years lofty human rights concepts and values in order to achieve short-sighted a central part of Israel.” done in a way that are lawful and appropriate and proper.” of Trump’s presidency encouraged his administration to political objectives.” One wonders how unashamedly he is manipulating the According to Pompeo’s ideology, now any country can replace international law with violation of international law. He expressed regret that the Canadian government is using human facts by calling the stolen lands as part of Israel. capture and annex another country’s land and then describe Trump and his secretary of state’s records have also done a rights and its international mechanisms as a means for achieving its His maddening remarks that settlements are a recognition it as legal and justifiable. According to this ideology, violation great blow to the Republicans. goals and political ambitions. of reality is nothing except pursuing a new Machiavellianism of international law is permissible and justifiable. It was essential that the world react strongly to Pom- “Such unconstructive actions will not only fail to help promote in the 21st century. This is like killing a person with prior This man that Trump picked as his chief diplomat adopted peo’s visits to the stolen Palestinian and Syrian lands. The the status of human rights and respect for human rights at the in- planning and then try to say it is a reality and the murderer such an annoying approach toward Iran’s nuclear accord countries across the world should feel assured that acting ternational level, but will only trigger moves to form negative clichés should go unpunished. backed by the UN Security Council. He and his master Trump, passively in the face of such acts, which are a flagrant vio- against, and attach political stigmas to independent countries,” the In his tour of the West Bank, the chief diplomat who who was a disaster for the world, demonized Iran’s legal lation of international law, will make them look impotent spokesman added. will be remembered as the promoter of motivator of illegal nuclear work and adopted a Machiavellian ideology toward and shameful in the eyes of the next generations. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 24, 2020 IRAN IN FOCUS 3 SPORTS Saudi Arabia treading on dangerous Iran names 12 players for FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers ground as secret meeting revealed SPORTSTEHRAN — Mehran Shahintab has named deskhis 12-man team for Window 2 of FIBA Asia POLITICAL TEHRAN — In a highly of Israel by the two Arab countries, which Cup 2021 Qualifiers. deskcontroversial move, Saudi have never fought wars with Israel and do Iran are scheduled to meet Saudi Arabia and Syria on Nov. Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Sal- not share borders with it. These deals were 27 and 30, respectively in , . man held on Sunday a secret meeting with signed with the behind-the-scene support of Iran squad: visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Saudi Arabia, which itself is widely expected Mohammad Torabi, , Mohammad Netanyahu in the Saudi city of Neom. to normalize relations with Israel. Hassanzadeh, Hamed Hosseinzadeh, Mike Rostampour, Arman Hebrew media said that the Israeli prime Last week, Mossad’s chief said in closed Zanganeh, Aaron Geramipoor, Sajad Mashayekhi, Meysam Mirzaei, minister did not use an official plane. In- talks that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was , Saeid Davarpanah and Sina Vahedi stead, he used a private plane belonging awaiting the U.S. presidential elections in Sichuan Blue Whales center failed to join Iran to businessman Udi Angel, which he has order to present a “gift” to the elected pres- due to China’s travel restrictions. also used for past diplomatic trips. The plane ident, according to Aljazeera. missed the matches because he has recently recovered from Covid-19. left Israel at 5 p.m. on Sunday and returned “There is a very great effort in the Saudi The team will travel to Doha Monday night. after midnight, according to The Jerusalem arena, great pressure. We hope that some- Iran are going to play a friendly match with Qatari club Al Post. The Israeli newspaper also said that thing will bear fruit. It seems that the Sau- Rayyan in Doha as part of preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and dis are waiting for the American elections 2021 Qualifiers. Israel’s Mossad chief Yossi Cohen also met to present a gift to the elected president,” There are 24 teams competing in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 with Netanyahu and bin Salman. Cohen said. Qualifiers. Once the three windows of the Qualifiers conclude, But Saudi Arabia denied that such a But the Saudi leadership seems to be the top two teams in each group will qualify directly to Asia Cup meeting took place on Sunday. fearing the backlash of its own people as 2021. The six last-placed teams in each group are eliminated. “I have seen press reports about a pur- well as public opinion in the Arab world, Meanwhile, the six third-placed teams in each group will then ported meeting between HRH the Crown which overwhelmingly support boycotting play in a separate qualifying tournament. Teams will be placed Prince and Israeli officials during the recent Israel. In early October, Saudi news network into two different groups of three teams. The top two teams of visit by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. No Alarabiya aired a three-part interview with those respective groups will then lock in their spots at Asia Cup such meeting occurred. The only officials the influential former Saudi national se- 2021, completing the 16-team roster who will also compete in present were American and Saudi,” Saudi the WSJ said, adding that Pompeo and Cohen In an October meeting with his Saudi curity advisor Bandar bin Soltan in which the FIBA World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers. Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said in attended the meeting. counterpart, Pompeo called on Saudi Arabia he castigated the Palestinian leadership a tweet on Monday noon. Israeli officials also confirmed the meeting, to normalize relations with Israel. “We hope for failing to take advantage of the Saudi But the Saudi denial did not reduce the according to Israeli news website Ynetnews, Saudi Arabia will consider normalizing its efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli damage to Saudi Arabia’s reputation. Social which reported that Israeli Education Min- relationships as well, and we want to thank conflict. This interview was widely seen as War of statements in IPL media users in the Arab world, especially ister Yoav Galant on Monday called the talks them for the assistance they’ve had in the an attempt to delegitimize the Palestinian an “amazing achievement”. success of the Abraham Accords so far,” SPORTSTEHRAN — Just two weeks after start of in Palestine, strongly criticized Riyadh for cause in the eye of Saudi youth and pave desk embracing Netanyahu, after the Hebrew “The very fact the meeting happened, and the U.S. secretary of state said at the time. the way for a Saudi-Israeli normalization, Iran Professional League (IPL), the teams media broke out the news that the Israeli was announced publicly, even if semi-official- Following the Neom meeting, Pompeo which the Americans and Israelis see as a have started to release statements against each other. prime minister has secretly traveled to Saudi ly for now, is a matter of great importance,” said he held “constructive” talks with bin great prize. In the first match of the week, Persepolis protested the referee Arabia and met with the country’s crown Galant said. Salman, but he did not say whether these But even if the public opinion in Saudi due to ’s sending off. prince. Some Twitter users even took the In addition, Netanyahu himself refused talks included normalization with Israel. Arabia come to terms with the normalization, Esteghlal also released a statement and protested the Refereeing Saudi denial with a pinch of salt, saying Net- to confirm or deny the meeting. “Constructive visit with Crown Prince bin Salman will get into trouble because Committee of Iran Football Federation for choosing Moham- anyahu could be called American because he The alleged meeting came a day after the Mohammed bin Salman in NEOM today. millions of ordinary people in the Arab madhossein Zahedifar as referee for their match against Foolad. has been an American citizen twice, and has Saudi foreign minister announced that his The United States and Saudi Arabia have world will view him as a ruler who handed Esteghlal suffered a late 2-1 loss against Foolad and their twice renounced his citizenship, according country supports a conditional peace with come a long way since President Franklin over the control of Muslim sanctities to the head coach Mahmoud Fekri used bad language in front of a TV to his former aide, Michael Oren. Israel. In remarks during a virtual interview Delano Roosevelt and King Abdul Aziz Al Zionists. In addition, bin Salman himself camera and the video footage quickly went viral on social media. The Saudi foreign minister rebuffed press on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders Summit Saud first laid the foundation for our ties said that his life will be in danger if he cuts Shortly after, Foolad club released a statement and asked reports about the Netanyahu-bin Salman hosted by the kingdom, bin Farhan pointed 75 years ago,” Pompeo said in a tweet on a peace deal with Israel. The Saudi crown the federation’s Disciplinary Committee to ban the coach for meeting even though many leading news out that Riyadh supports full normalization Monday. prince told Israeli-American billionaire Haim insulting their coach and players. organizations have confirmed the meeting with Israel, but first, a permanent and com- Pompeo has played a crucial role in bro- Saban he would fear for his life if he struck Esteghlal also answered the Foolad club by releasing a statement. through their Saudi sources. For example, The plete peace agreement should be approved kering normalization deals between Israel a normalization deal with Israel, Haaretz Zob Ahan on Monday threatened the football federation to Wall Street Journal confirmed the meeting. that guarantees the Palestinians their state and Bahrain and the UAE. reported. Bin Salman said following in the pull out of this season’s Iran Professional League in a dispute “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- with dignity. The UAE and Bahrain signed normali- steps of the UAE and Bahrain would get over refereeing’s mistakes. yahu met Saudi Arabia’s crown prince in Saudi Arabia is being urged by Pompeo zation deals with Israel in mid-September him killed by his own people and others. Shahr Khodro coach slammed Paykan the kingdom on Sunday, according to two to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel in a move that sent a diplomatic shockwave Therefore, bin Salam knows for sure that for time wasting and the Tehran based club in response to Saudi government advisers, in their first just like what two of its close allies – Bahrain across the region and brought them into dis- any normalization deal between Riyadh and the claims released a statement and accuse him of spreading known meeting and amid a U.S. push to and the - did earlier repute. Many Muslim countries around the Tel Aviv would amount to playing with fire immorality in football. normalize ties between the longtime foes,” this year. world strongly condemned the recognition and political suicide. Last year, the Iran Football Federation had said it would use VAR for the 2020/21 season but it has failed to launch the tech- nology and the teams are protesting the decisions. It may have been the most unsatisfying reason and the feder- Biden will not lift Iran sanctions, MP predicts ation has to solve the problem as soon as possible. POLITICAL TEHRAN — Hossein Mirzayee, an tions for us. As a UN member and a permanent member deskIranian lawmaker, has predicted that a of the UN Security Council, the U.S. is duty-bound Biden administration would not lift sanctions on Iran. to implement Resolution 2231. If the resolution is Alekno pens contract with “Sanctions are not an issue that will be lifted when implemented, the sanctions will be removed. Iran has Iran volleyball federation Biden takes office, because containing Iran is central announced that in that case, it will resume honoring to American policy,” Mirzayee told the Islamic Con- its commitments under the JCPOA,” Foreign Minis- SPORTSTEHRAN — Vladimir Alekno penned a contract sultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA) on Sunday. ter Mohammad Javad Zarif said. “Thus, first, if the deskwith the Islamic Republic of Iran Volleyball He added, “The Americans’ policy has always been U.S. meets its commitments under Resolution 2231, Federation (IRIVF) on Monday. based on containing the Islamic Republic of Iran in various we will fulfill ours under the JCPOA. Second, if the Alekno, who led Russia to a bronze and gold medal in the 2008 fields such as regional influence and missile capabilities.” U.S. seeks to join the JCPOA again, we are ready to and 2012 Olympic Games respectively, was chosen by IRIVF However, the lawmaker pointed to the difference negotiate the terms and conditions of Washington’s technical committee as new Iran coach last week. between Democrats and Republicans in terms of their membership in the deal.” The 53-year old tactician Alekno, who replaced Montenegrin ways to counter Iran. According to Mirzayee, Dem- The foreign minister made the remarks in an in- Igor Kolakovic, will start his work on Nov. 21. He will be assisted by ocrats and Republicans both seek to undermine the terview with the Iran newspaper that was published Tomaso Totolo, the Iran Volleyball Federation announced on Tuesday Islamic Revolution of Iran. last week. Alekno will lead the reigning Asian champions at the 2021 FIVB The lawmaker also pointed to the 2015 Iran nuclear Speculations about a possible thaw in Iran-U.S. Volleyball Nations League and at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. deal – formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan allies should pay Iran $200 billion in compensation relations have gained momentum after U.S. leading Iran are grouped with hosts Japan, Poland, Italy, Canada and of Action (JCPOA) – as an experience that will remain for the JCPOA failure. news organizations projected Biden to win the U.S. Venezuela in Pool A. The other pool comprises of Brazil, the U.S., vivid in the memory of the Iranian people, reminding “The withdrawal of the United States from the November presidential election. Biden himself had said Russia, Argentina, France and Tunisia. them of the American “lies and deceit”. Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and that he would rejoin the JCPOA if he won the election. Mirzayee called on the U.S. to lift sanctions on Iran. the non-fulfillment of JCPOA commitments by the “I will offer Tehran a credible path back to diplomacy. “If White House officials intend to negotiate gen- Europeans have caused damage of between 150 and If Iran returns to strict compliance with the nuclear uinely, they should lift the sanctions in the first place 200 billion dollars to our country,” Salimi told ICANA. deal, the United States would rejoin the agreement as IPL Matchday 2 talking points and then compensate the JCPOA [failure],” the law- According to the legislator, the U.S. and Europe a starting point for follow-on negotiations. With our maker remarked. have created a kind of division of labor not to imple- allies, we will work to strengthen and extend the nuclear SPORTSTEHRAN — There are plenty of talking points Earlier on Saturday, a member of the Iranian Par- ment the nuclear deal. “And now, if the U.S. wants to deal’s provisions, while also addressing other issues of deskto catch up on as the Iran Professional League liament’s presiding board, Alireza Salimi, also called rejoin the JCPOA, it should compensate Iran,” he said. concern,” Biden said in a September op-ed for CNN. (IPL) returned this week after the international break. on the U.S. to make up for the losses Iran incurred Iran has called on the U.S. to unconditionally return But Biden did not make any remarks about his Iran It was the second week of the league and it would be ex- following Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the nu- to its commitments under the JCPOA. policy since the election. He did not say how he would tremely rash to judge about what will happen in the future. It clear deal. Salimi said Washington and its European “The U.S. is definitely in no position to set out condi- rejoin the JCPOA. was a week full of controversies after leaked video which went viral showing Esteghlal coach Mahmoud Fekri who insulted his opponents at the end of the match. Here are some talking points of the IPL weekend. Iranian, Syrian foreign ministers hold phone talks Controversial Matchday 2 Esteghlal lost 2-1 to their host Foolad Khuzestan in on POLITICAL TEHRAN — Foreign Iran has expressed sympathy with neutralize the attempts made and to ruin Friday. , head coach of Foolad, was successful deskMinister Mohammad the people and government of Syria over those chances,” the statement quoted against his former club and gained the first win of the season Javad Zarif spoke by phone on Sunday the passing of al-Muallem. In a message Zarif as saying. in an important game. In the controversial match, Esteghlal with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad addressed to Chairman of the Council of The Iranian foreign minister also striker Cheick Diabate argued with Fekri when he was supposed to congratulate him on his appointment Ministers of the Syrian Arab Republic highlighted the necessity of lifting cruel to go to the field as a substitute. Mohammad Daneshger, the as the foreign minister of Syria. Hossein Arnous, Zarif expressed condo- and unfair sanctions against the Syri- Blues’ defender, was sidelined for a few minutes due to injury, “During the phone call, the top Irani- lences on the passing of Foreign Minister ans, particularly amid the coronavirus but no one on the Esteghlal’s bench noticed his absence! And an diplomat congratulated Mekdad on Muallem, the Foreign Ministry said in a outbreak. finally, the release of the video of Fekri was enough to spark a being appointed as the foreign minister statement on Monday morning. Pedersen, in turn, presented a report war of statements between the two clubs! of the Syrian Arab Republic. He once “I received the news of the passing of on the latest status of the Syrian Constitu- Angry coach again offered condolences on the de- the late Walid al-Muallem, Syria’s Deputy tional Committee as well as his efforts for Persepolis, champions of the four past editions and the finalists mise of Walid al-Muallem, the former Chairman of the Council of Ministers and the committee to hold its next meeting. of the 2020 AFC Champions League, won their first match of the foreign minister of Syria, and underlined Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatri- offering condolences on the passing of Pederson also met with Ali Asghar season with a narrow victory (1-0) over visiting team Sanat Naft. the continuation of strategic coopera- ates, and with great regret and sadness,” al-Muallem. Khaji, an assistant to the Iranian foreign The talking point of the match was what Persepolis coach tion between Tehran and ,” Zarif said in the message, offering his On Sunday, the chief Iranian diplomat minister for special political affairs. did at the end of the match. The Reds’ the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a condolences to Arnous, the family of the also met with United Nations Special During the meeting, Khaji criticized head coach, who is well-known for his calmness, was nervous statement on Monday. late foreign minister, and his colleagues Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen to dis- Western countries which did not partic- during the game. He was shown a red card after kicking the Mekdad was appointed on Sunday in the Syrian Foreign Ministry. cuss the latest developments related to ipate in the International Conference on ball with anger and protesting the referee’s decision. He will as Syria’s foreign minister following Zarif praised al-Muallem’s role in the Syria crisis. Return of Syrian Refugees, which took be absent in the next match against Naft Masjed Soleyman. the death of the country’s top diplomat serving his country, saying that the late In a statement on Sunday, the Foreign place recently in Damascus, according The Nigerian effect Walid al-Muallem. Syrian President foreign minister “played important role Ministry said in the meeting Iran’s chief to Syria’s state news agency SANA. Godwin Mensha scored a brace in a 2-0 away win for Gol Gohar Bashar al-Assad issued presidential in serving and defending the national diplomat touched upon attempts by cer- “The Western countries, which claim to secure the top of the table for Sirjan based team. The Nigerian decrees appointing Mekdad as foreign interests and security of Syria.” tain countries to undermine the trend of to support humanitarian issues, have striker’s performance made him the top scorer of the league with minister, Bashar al-Jaafari as deputy Several other Iranian officials, -in the political settlement of Syria issues. made political goals and they tried to three goals. ’s side is the only team with 100 per- foreign minister, and Bassam al-Sabbagh cluding Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor “Good opportunities emerged in re- hinder the convening of the Interna- cent of the points at the end of the second week. The low quality as Syria’s permanent representative to to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution on cent years to end the Syria crisis, but tional Conference on Return of Syrian of Shohada Stadium’s artificial turf in Rafsanjan was the match’s the United Nations. international affairs, issued a statement each time we saw some countries try to Refugees.” negative point, which provoked protests from Gol Gohar officials. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY NOVEMBER 24, 2020

Aquaculture development to materialize surge in production, Non-oil trade exceeds boost non-oil export

1 The latest report released by Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) shows that the country’s fishery export has $44b in 8 months risen 10 percent in terms of value, and four percent in terms of weight, during the first seven months of the current Iranian cal- 1 The exports also experienced five sources of imports during this period endar year (March 20-October 21), compared to the same period fall of 14 percent and 19 percent in terms were China with $6 billion, the UAE with of time in the past year. of weight and value, respectively. $5.4 billion, with $2.6 billion, India Some 12 aquatic species are Noting the downward trend of the coun- with $1.4 billion, and Germany with $1.1 already bred in Iran and the fig- try’s foreign trade is ending and the trade billion worth of imports. ure is planned to reach 17 by is getting back to normal, the official said: Most of the imported goods into the the end of the Sixth Five-Year “As we announced in previous months, country in the mentioned time span were National Development Plan fortunately, the downward trend of our basic goods or raw materials, Mirashrafi (March 2021). country’s exports is approaching normal stressed. Among the plans and pro- conditions month by month, and we hope Also in the said period, 4,471,000 tons grams that the country is im- to have better conditions in terms of exports of goods were transited through Iran to the plementing in the present year by the end of the year.” neighboring countries, showing a decrease to develop the aquaculture in- Iran’s top five non-oil export destinations of 15 percent compared to the same period dustry, it could be referred to during this period were Iraq with over $5.3 last year. the continuous monitoring of billion worth of exports, China with the Like all other countries around the world, fishery exports, evaluating and same amount, the United Arab Emirates Iran’s trade with its foreign partners has monitoring of the performance (UAE) with over $2.7 billion, and Turkey been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, of provinces, holding specialized with $1.6 billion as well as Afghanistan with however, the situation is getting back to desks in TPO to release related $1.5 billion. normal and the country’s trade borders are reports and discuss the compet- According to the IRICA head, the top opening one by one. itive advantages of the products to be exported, and recognizing new export markets. Chabahar Free Zone laying Annual automobile exports hit $5.7m ground to attract investors ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iran exported 1,300 automo- the UAE with $4,662 were other buyers of the mentioned deskbiles valued at $5,722,007 in the previous products from Iran, Latifi added. ECONOMY TEHRAN — The managing director of Chaba- Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19), the spokesman Car manufacturing in Iran rose 23.4 percent during the deskhar Free Zone Organization said that through of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration first six months of the current Iranian calendar year (March implementation of development programs, this organization is (IRICA) said. 20-September 21), compared to the same period of time in preparing the ground for the attraction of investors. The destinations for the mentioned products were nine the past year, the data released by the Ministry of Industry, Abdul-Rahim Kordi said these programs are creating trust for countries namely Hong Kong, Taiwan, Syria, UAE, Spain, Mining, and Trade showed. the investors in the zone. China, Iraq, and Turkey, according to Ruhollah Latifi. During this period, 425,925 passenger cars were pro- “Through implementing railway, gas-supplying, and port He pointed out that Iraq with $3,122,900, Azerbaijan duced in the country, registering a growth of 21.9 percent development projects in Chabahar, we will soon witness great with $1,159,400, Syria with $981,825 of imports were the compared to the first six months of the previous year. development of the zone”, the official noted. top three destinations for Iranian cars. The production of trucks reached 39,519 units in the said Lying on the coast of the Gulf of Oman in Iran’s southeastern Hong Kong with $116,862, Spain with $96,362, Taiwan time span, which has increased by 40.4 percent compared Sistan-Baluchestan Province, Chabahar is the country’s only oceanic with $79,521, China with $36,600, Turkey with $7,000, and to the last year’s same period. port and given its strategic location in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) development of the port is of high significance for Iran, so the government has some major projects to create multi-dimensional transportation facilities in this port. Iran’s 9-month trade with China Exports to CIS countries amount The port has two significant docks, namely Shahid Beheshti stands at $11.19b to $692m in H1 and Shahid Kalantari, which are mostly referred to as ports, i.e. Shahid Beheshti Port and Shahid Kalantari Port. ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iran’s ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran ex- year, although imports from Russia and Development of Shahid Beheshti Port, construction of Chabahar desktrade with its top trading deskported $692 million Ukraine increased slightly due to imports International Airport, and building Chabahar-Zahedan (center partner China stood at $11.19 billion in worth of commodities to the Common- of basic agricultural items, according to of Sistan-Baluchestan Province) railway are three of the major the first nine months of 2020, registering wealth of Independent States (CIS) during the official. projects to make Chabahar a complete logistics platform. a 38.5 percent decline compared to the the first six months of the current Iranian Iran exported a total of $13.566 billion same period in 2019. year (March 20-September 21), the portal to its trade partners in the mentioned Iran-China trade in the January-Sep- of Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) period. tember period of 2019 exceeded $18.17 reported. The country exported a total of 4.79 billion, data released by the General Ad- According to Behrouz Olfat, director million tons of goods worth more than ministration of Customs of the People’s of Europe and America Department at $1.75 billion to the Commonwealth of Republic of China showed. are mineral and chemical products. TPO, among the 12 CIS countries, Iran’s Independent States during the last Ira- According to the data, both China’s China Customs had previously an- exports to Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, nian year (March 2019-March 2020) to exports to and imports from Iran have nounced that the trade between Iran and Russia, Tajikistan, and Moldova in the register a 133 percent rise in value com- decreased in the first nine months of 2020, China reached $5.26 billion in the first four mentioned period increased compared pared with the year before, according to but the decline in Chinese imports from months of 2020, 40 percent less than the to the same period last year, while the ex- the spokesperson of the Islamic Republic Iran has been much greater than China’s same period last year. ports to Georgia, Turkmenistan, Armenia, of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA). exports to Iran. As reported, the two countries’ trade Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan “Our main export destinations in the CIS Iran and China have had a long history of turnover stood at $8.76 billion in the last experienced a decline. region were Russia with more than $457 cultural, political, and economic exchanges year’s four-month period. “The outbreak of coronavirus and con- million, Azerbaijan with $429 million and along the Silk Road since at least 200 BC, Iranian imports from the Asian country sequently health restrictions and border Armenia with $231 million,” Rouhollah In addition, Chabahar Free Zone has been suggested as a transit and possibly earlier. To this day, China and reached $2.92 billion in the January-April closures in some countries in addition to Latifi said in September. and logistic gateway for Iran’s domestic market which, while reducing Iran have developed a friendly economic period, indicating a three percent rise com- the border disputes between Azerbaijan The official noted that around 1.17 the cost and time of transportation it has also provided profitable and strategic partnership. pared to the same time span in 2019. and Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh million tons of commodities worth $1.56 economic opportunities in the development of logistics facilities. However, in the current year, the trade The commercial exchange between the region as well as the U.S. sanctions have billion were imported from the CIS states Chabahar Free Zone is a multi-purpose zone with educational, between the two countries experienced a two countries stood at $3.94 billion during been effective in reducing our country’s last year, registering a 10 percent year- industrial, tourism and transportation sectors. significant decline mainly due to the nega- the first three months of 2020 to register exports to the Commonwealth of Inde- on-year decline. Chabahar Free Zone Organization has a plan for the development tive impacts of the coronavirus pandemic a 30.4 percent decline compared with the pendent States,” Olfat explained. Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Uzbeki- of specialized industrial parks with the participation of the private and also the U.S. sanctions on Iran’s oil corresponding period of 2019. Iran’s imports from the mentioned re- stan, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Ka- sector in the fields of industry, logistics, education, healthcare, industry. Iran’s exports to China totaled $1.81 gion in the first six months of this year zakhstan, and Moldova are permanent tourism, etc., which the establishment of logistics industrial park is Approximately 80 percent of China’s billion in Q1 2020, indicating a 52.7 percent were estimated at $811 million, down members and Turkmenistan has observer followed in the framework of upstream programs and documents. total imports from Iran are oil and the rest year-on-year decrease. two percent from the same period last status in CIS. At present Chabahar Free Zone is considered as a transit gateway in eastern Iran and based on national plans and also the interest shown by international parties, it is noteworthy as a center for providing logistics support, transportation and transit services. Chabahar Free Zone with the aim of facilitating trade and min- NIDC digs 82 oil, gas wells in 8 months imizing transportation costs and focusing on services has allocat- ECONOMY TEHRAN — National Iranian Drilling works, drilling fluid recycling systems, mission centrifugal ed 150 hectares of land to create a logistics industrial park. This deskCompany (NIDC) dug and completed pumps, top drives, and drilling rig slow circulation rate industrial park will be assigned to the international investors and digging operation of 82 oil and gas wells during the first pressure systems. or Iran-foreign joint venture. eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (March The company has also managed to indigenize the know- Considering the geographical location, this industrial park can 20-November 20), according to an official with the company. how for manufacturing 242 parts highly-applied in the be connected to the Chabahar railway and will be established to Saeed Akbari, the acting director of NIDC’s digging drilling industry during the first half of the current Iranian have full support services. Centers such as public warehouses, cold operation department, said the drilled wells consisted of calendar year (March 20-September 21). storages, special warehouses for storing liquid and bulk goods, 23 development/appraisal wells, 57 workover wells, and In order to indigenize the technology to manufacture container warehouses, required laboratories, as well as personnel two exploratory wells. these parts, NIDC inked six research deals with domestic service facilities have been predicted. He said 45,460 meters of digging has been conducted universities and knowledge-based companies. Chabahar-Zahedan railway is going to go operational in the for the mentioned onshore and offshore wells. At the beginning of the current Iranian year, NIDC next Iranian calendar year (begins in March 2021). After the U.S. reimpostion of sanctions against Iran, Managing Director Abdollah Mousavi had said that his Considering the important role that the free zones play in pro- indigenizing the know-how for the manufacturing of the company’s performance will be more outstanding in this moting the country’s export and employment, Iran is seriously parts and equipment applied in different industrial sectors year, which is named the year of surge in production. pursuing development of its existing free zones and establishment is one of the major strategies that the Islamic Republic The official’s saying has already come true, as his company of new zones as well. has been strongly following up to reach self-reliance and managed to indigenize the know-how for manufacturing More development measures in this field have been taking nullify the sanctions. genize the knowledge for manufacturing 6,000 drilling some significant parts, and also in completing the digging since the U.S. re-imposition of sanctions on the Iranian economy Oil, gas, and petrochemical industries have outstanding equipment in collaboration with domestic manufacturers operations sooner than the schedule. in November 2018, as Iran is reducing its dependence on the oil performances in this due, with indigenizing the knowledge and engineers in the previous Iranian calendar year (ended Holding 70 onshore and offshore drilling rigs as well as income while elevating its domestic production and non-oil exports. for manufacturing many parts and equipment that were on March 19). equipment and facilities for offering integrated technical Although the sanctions have disrupted Iran’s economic activities, previously imported. Before this success, the technology for manufacturing and engineering services, the National Iranian Drilling they could not impede the development of Iranian free zones; in Among different sectors of the mentioned industries, the mentioned equipment was in the possession of a handful Company accounts for a major part of drilling exploration fact, the development of these zones has been even accelerated. drilling could be mentioned as a prominent example in of foreign companies. as well as appraisal/development wells in Iran. Many strides made for increasing activities in the free zones this regard. The equipment indigenized by NIDC includes drilling As previously announced, the company has dug over 240 have played a significant part in boosting the country’s non-oil National Iranian Drilling Company managed to indi- mud pumps, blowout preventers, traction motors, draw- oil and gas wells across the country in the past two years. exports and brought prosperity in the other economic sectors. The secretary of Free Zones High Council also said, “We have started the creation of some infrastructure for the production activities since the past year which will increase production and investment making in these zones.” TEDPIX rises 16,000 points on Monday Development of the existing free zones and establishment of ECONOMY TEHRAN — TEDPIX, and the second market’s index gained 12,844 witnessed drop of its main index every week, new zones is currently one of the major economic approaches of deskthe main index of Tehran points. except for the week ended on September 18, Iran and in a bid to attract more investments to these zones Iranian Stock Exchange (TSE), gained 16,682 points, TEDPIX gained 124,000 points, or 10 the week ended on November 6, and the government offers various incentives to the investors. or one percent, to 1.375 million on Monday. percent, to 1.345 million points during the previous week. Tax exemption is one of those incentives which has been offered Over 11.816 billion securities worth 117.411 past Iranian calendar week (ended on No- TEDPIX had hit the record high of two for more than a decade to the investors in the free zones. trillion rials (about $2.795 billion) were traded vember 20). million points on August 2, and while it Such incentives have encouraged investment making in these in the TSE on Monday. Since the week ended on August 14, the had been experiencing an unprecedented has witnessed several weekly drops since zones. The first market’s index rose 17,734 points, TSE, which is Iran’s major stock exchange, trend of rising for some months, the index mid-August. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 24, 2020 ANALYSIS/INTERVIEW 5

Yemeni missile targets Saudi Syria: The complicated scene Aramco facility in Jeddah By Abir Bassam deposit’s estimations. Its assessment ranges from 20 billion dollars to 42 billion Yemeni forces have launched a missile attack on a distribution It is a dirty war that has been going on in dollars. The blockade has been going station operated by the Saudi Aramco oil company in the city of Syria, Libya, and Yemen. Almost nine and on for years. He added the crisis began Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. a half tragic years have passed. The three years before the Caesar Law and began The spokesman for Yemen’s Armed Forces, Brigadier countries were subjected to all kinds of years after the siege. It coincided with the General Yahya Saree, said in a statement on Monday that terror and brutally destroyed. Actually, money disappearance in the Lebanese the distribution station was targeted by the Quds-2 winged what has been going on is a world war! banks. Furthermore, al-Assad declared missile with high precision. All weapons were used and tested and that we do not know what the real number He noted that ambulances and fire engines have rushed to many countries were involved. It was is, and this figure for an economy like the scene after the attack. a real dirty war, in which the West and the Syrian one is a frightening number. According to Saree, the Quds-2, a new generation of locally-made the Americans and their allies in the Al-Assad’s declaration became one winged missiles, recently entered service after successful tests region have used the worst kind of men: week before ICRRD to which in the depths of Saudi Arabia which have not been disclosed yet. a group of collaborators and barbaric was invited. Was this a message to The spokesman stressed that the attack came in response to terrorists. Lebanon? It could be, although many the ongoing Saudi military aggression and siege. The worst kinds of mercenaries from observers have denied it. The denial He also urged Saudi citizens and foreign companies working all over the world were sent to Syria. is basically based on Syria’s previous in the kingdom to exercise caution and “stay away from vital They practiced the ugliest inhumane special treatment of Lebanon. Lebanon installations” as “operations will continue”. deeds: they decapitated heads, literally in the Syrian considerations are two A video circulating on social media accounts appears to show ate hearts, and burned people alive to contradictory facts: the first, Lebanon a column of smoke rising from burning fames at the facility, while death. is an opening to the western world sirens of emergency vehicles can be heard in the background. These groups were directly led by with bipolar swings. The first swing Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched generals from the U.S., France, and expressed in the historical Arab and their devastating war on Yemen in March 2015 in order to bring Turkey. This information was supported regional ideology. And the second former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, back to power and by different informed resources that swing is expressed in the lining towards crush the Houthi Ansarullah movement, Press TYV reported. reported capturing French, British, a Western ideology, with the tendency The U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data and Turkish officers since 2015, in to sign normalization agreements with Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, particular, during the invasion of “Israel”. The second group was of great estimates that the war has claimed more than 100,000 lives Idlib. The district was invaded by a with the Syrian government’s refusal to in which the world is suffering from concern to the Syrians since the creation over the past five years. tenth of thousands of terrorists from allow building the Qatari gas pipeline Covid-19 epidemic, which spread in Syria of Lebanon. It is known as the right-wing Riyadh and its allies have widely been criticized for the high Nusra, especially its group Fateh al- to Turkey through its territories. Syria as well. In addition, Syria needs to deal groups, who allied with the Americans civilian death toll as a result of their bombing campaign in Yemen. Sham which is directly supported and saw that a move that would discomfort with the issue of the Syrian refugees. It and the Israelis. The UN says more than 24 million Yemenis are in dire need of trained by Turkey, and Ahrar al-Sham its allies in Russia and Iran. However, is a dilemma that needs to be dealt with The second fact, Lebanon as a state is humanitarian aid, including 10 million suffering from extreme which was directly supported by the Erdogan had bigger plans in Syria. In appropriately. The refugees’ dilemma based on providing services and tourism. levels of hunger. The world body also refers to the situation in Americans. The invasion was directly the northwest region, Erdogan mainly is used as a political card to force the It is considered to be the lung that Syria Yemen as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. led by the Turkish tank battalions and saw the Idlib and Aleppo districts as Syrians to submit to the American needs to breathe with. However, this the NATO alliances. the extent of Turkey, and a head start political demands, which are set on lung health became worse since 2011, By December 2015, the northeast to initiate the Ottoman dream. two levels: national and international. when the United States accused the of Syria was also invaded by another This dream vanished to thin air On the national level, the international Lebanese Canadian Bank of laundering UN urges civilian protection terrorist group, the Islamic State in Iraq when Syria started liberating the area community wants to pressure the Syrian terrorism money. And then again in after Ethiopia’s 72-hr and Syria [ISIS]. ISIS was created with occupied by ISIS in West Euphrates, government into implementing a new 2016, since many banks faced the same the utmost attention of Hilary Clinton, and al-Gab plain after cleaning the constitution based on the sectarian accusations and were prohibited to deal deadline for Tigrayan forces during Barak Obama’s administration. Damascus area, Homos and the center division of power, just like Lebanon, with customers that the U.S. listed them This was revealed by Donald Trump of Syria from terrorism with unlimited which would diminish the presidential as Hezbollah members. The United Nations urged Ethiopia on Monday to ensure the during his election campaign in 2016. support from Russia. The second shock authority and redistribute it, as it Accordingly, the Lebanese banks froze protection of civilians, a day after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ISIS swept over the al-Jazeera region Erdogan received when the Americans happened in Tunisia and Sudan, which several balances for many customers and gave Tigrayan forces 72 hours to surrender before a military and extended to Palmira through the started supporting the establishment of would divide the power of the head of in particular the Syrian customers that offensive on the regional capital of Mekelle. Syrian Desert and occupied Homos, the the Kurdish federation in al-Hassaka. the state. The second issue is related to were importing goods to Syria through Hundreds, possibly thousands, have been killed in fighting biggest Syrian district. It was directly The Kurdish militia was founded in the question of the forcibly disappeared Lebanon after imposing an embargo that erupted on Nov. 4 between Ethiopian federal forces and protected by the American extending October 2015 under the name Syrian people, who were kidnapped or killed by on Syria. It is clear for the Syrians, Tigray’s regional army, sending more than 30,000 refugees into military bases in northern Syria and the Democratic Forces [SDF]. SDF in its the rebel groups, and treating the killers regardless of the unique relationship neighbouring Sudan< Reuters reported. eastern base in al-Tanf. ISIS attacked formation includes Kurds from Syria and and kidnappers as political opponents with Hezbollah, it is about time that Catherine Sozi, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Ethio- both the Syrian government forces and others who came mainly from Turkey without subjecting them to trials. This Lebanon should release these balances, pia, told Reuters that she hoped for the guarantee of safety and the opposition factions. and other countries, most of them do not issue will be a matter of conflict, and will and pay its debts to Syria, especially security of aid workers and the “protection of more than 525,000 The plan was to allow ISIS invasion speak Arabic, unlike the Syrian Kurds. not be accepted by those whose families the debts that have been accumulating civilian (non-combatants) who live in Mekelle”. of northern-eastern Syria territories and 60% of the militia includes Arab Syrians, and friends were kidnapped or killed. since 1990, which are the revenues from western-northern Iraqi territories in order according to the Pentagon. There are This fact was revealed a few days ago by selling electricity. to terminate the opposition factions in other nationalities included among the the new Syrian Foreign Minister, Mr. Syria, as President al-Assad the region. It was carefully planned by formation of SDF, who are Turkmens, Feisal Muqdad. explained, will need its money in the U.S. to target 89 Chinese Obama’s administration and in particular Armenians, Circassians, and Chechens, On the international level, the process of rebuilding the country’s main firms with military ties his vice president Joe Biden, the new who came from all over Asia. requirements of the international infrastructure and vital installations, president of the United States of America. In 2016, SDF updated its constitution community, i.e. the U.S., have become which were destroyed during the from a separate federal state into an common knowledge. Since 2003, after The Trump administration is close to declaring that 89 Chinese Under the pretense of fighting liberation war against the terrorist aerospace and other companies have military ties, restricting terrorism, the Americans were back in Autonomous Administration of Northern the invasion of Iraq, the U.S. secretary groups. It is a call for Lebanon to join and East Syria [NES] and declared of state, Colin Powell, came to Syria them from buying a range of goods and technology made in Iraq and restored bases in Iraq, built forces with Syria to demand lifting the the United States, according to a draft copy of the list seen new ones in Syria and reestablished SDF as its official defense force, which and laid down the U.S. demands: embargo and to be excluded from Cesar complicated the Syrian political scene, dismantling Hezbollah arms, ending by Reuters. new militia groups in the area of the Law consequences because Lebanon The list, if published, could further escalate trade tensions northeast, mainly Kurdish groups. furthermore. Now NES or SDF are Syrian support to the resistance groups in needs to open up to Syria for commercial cooperating with the official American Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq, and ending with and hurt U.S. companies that sell civil aviation parts They were trained and equipped by trades towards the east, in particular, and components to China, among other industries. the Americans. For the U.S., it was a forces in east-north of Syria and serve as cooperation with Iran in the region. to Arab countries, or Lebanon will be “the Southern Lebanese Army, [SLA]” The end means, as usually explained, A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Commerce, which necessary step to launch a Kurdish demanded to pay back its debts. produced the list, declined to comment. The Chinese foreign federalism on the Syrian territories. in South Lebanon during the Israeli is ensuring the security of Israel. The Americans were pushing Syria occupation in South Lebanon. As SLA Naturally, the Syrians refused ministry did not immediately respond to a request by Reuters Nonetheless, the U.S. had set the and the region since 1973 towards for comment. return plan before withdrawing from has tried to establish an independent American demands. Therefore, we should peace and normalization treaties with state in South Lebanon, SDF or NES make no mistake and assume that what Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd (COMAC), which is Iraq in 2010. Upon its departure, the “Israel”. However, Syria has proven that spearheading Chinese efforts to compete with Boeing and Airbus, American administration empowered the is trying to acquire the same course. had happened in the Arab region under such an agreement would be difficult Since 2018 the Syrian army, with the pretense of “Arab Spring” was meant is on the list, as is Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) al-Qaeda group in Iraq, and supported its to execute unless it was a “peace for and 10 of its related entities. existence, as Trump declared and accused the help of allies - Russia, Iran, and for the destruction of Syria in order to land” agreement, which would ensure Hezbollah- has been able to liberate dismantle it into minor sectarian states The list is included in a draft rule that identifies Chinese and Hillary Clinton of being the mastermind the right of return of the Palestinian Russian companies the U.S. considers “military end users,” a behind it. ISIS was basically the American most of the occupied lands. However, that can be easily controlled to the best people. An equation, nor the Israeli, the liberation coincided with the rise interest of “Israel” and America. designation that means U.S. suppliers must seek licenses to sell approach to siege Syria, and eventually, neither the Americans are willing a broad swath of commercially available items to them. apply the plan of division in the region of economic pressure on Syria. The Hence, Syria requires two essential to sign for. In addition, Syria’s main price of the Syrian lira if compared to needs to start its reconstruction process: According to the rule, applications for such licenses are more and establish a Kurdish state. condition, during the negotiations held likely to be denied than granted. Saying that may seem to be naive the American dollar dropped and its the first is lifting the sanctions imposed in Oslo in 1992, was the return of all and simple. However, executing the purchasing value decreased. It was due on it; and the second is to end the occupied Arab territories. However, plan required initiating “revolutions” to the economic sanctions that were American occupation in the northeast the series of recognitions Trump has Resistance News in other Arab countries, recruiting media imposed on Syria, and lately “Caesar area. However, the West insists on approved throughout his reign made the specialists, recruiting special personnel Law” which was activated in the mid linking lifting the sanctions to the return to the negotiation table almost Hamas calls Netanyahu’s to initiate eruptions by social media, of June 2020. political process. But when it comes to impossible. It also pushed into more and consuming billions of dollars in the In 2018, the American troops the achievement of the liberation from complications with the relation between Saudi trip ‘dangerous,’ process, of which the Saudi kingdom withdrew from the north of Syria and the Americans this process cannot be Syria and Lebanon since the assassination and Qatar were the main contributors. were redeployed in the al-Hassaka realized unless the national resistance of Rafiq al-Hariri in 2005. The need to demands explanation In 1992, I was on a visit to al-Hassaka district around the Syrian richest oil would be highly activated in the northeast separate the Syrian-Lebanese course in INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman and al-Qamishli. I was just a young fields. The American companies, in of Syria. It is America that we all know. the peace process is becoming a must deskfor Hamas, responded to a reported meeting beginner in journalism. I was conducting particular ARAMCO, are now draining It did not end its occupation of Vietnam, for the Americans. A need until today on Sunday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Saudi an investigation report about the Yazidis. the Syria oil to the interest of NES and Korea, and eventually Iraq in 2010 until could not be achieved. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, calling At that stage, a large number of Yazidis financing the American troops stationed the number of causalities becomes Syria now is subjected to American it “dangerous” and calling on Saudi Arabia to “clarify what and Kurds were immigrating to Syria. in the northern-eastern area of the unbearable in the American community. pressure that requires its approval happened because this represents an insult to the nation and They escaped the biased and brutal Euphrates in Syria. Actually, Syria is Syria’s essential needs were clearly to initiate peace and normalization the squandering of Palestinian rights.” treatment of Saddam Hussein and the facing an internal problem with the lack stated by its president Bashar Al-Assad in agreements with Israel. This goal so Israeli media are reporting that prime minister Benjamin fanatic Turks. These Kurds were building of petroleum resources. The hard winter two occasions, the first was during a video far was difficult to achieve, especially Netanyahu met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a wide network in Europe. They bought is coming and the lines for buying the call with Russian President Vladimir after Trump’s recognition of the Golan and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a secret visit to sympathy and support to establish a diesel needed for heating the houses Putin on the 10th of November. The Heights as part of Israel. Even Syria’s Saudi Arabia Sunday. federation in Iraq in 1996. The process will be crowded as much as the lines second time was in his speech at the allies, in particular Russia, cannot force Israel’s Kan public radio and Army Radio said on Monday that was facilitated by the Americans after for gasoline. opening of the International Conference the Syrians to give up part of their land. Netanyahu made the clandestine visit to the Saudi Arabian city of the second Persian Gulf War in 1991 as After burning and stealing the wheat on the Return of the Refugee in Damascus Syria’s war on terror has spared all its Neom, where bin Salman and Pompeo had a scheduled meeting. Saddam’s power was fading. plains in the al-Jazeera district by the [ICRRD] on the 11th of November. allies the tragedy of dragging this war Netanyahu was reportedly accompanied by director of the The idea of having a similar kind of Americans and the Turks, the bread During his visit on the 5th of into their own territories. Israeli spy agency Mossad Yossi Cohen during the visit. federation in Syria became appealing prices went 25% higher. Shortage in November to the exhibition “Producers Hence, Syria prepaid in blood for the Avi Scharf of Israel’s Haaretz newspaper published aviation to both the Americans and Israelis. bread supplies was triggered by the 2020” in “Tekia Sulaymaniyah” in the security of its “friends” now. History will, tracking data showing that a business jet had made a brief trip The size of Israeli foreign intelligence government’s decision to set the bread capital, Damascus. It was attended by sooner or later, reveal this fact. Syria’s from Tel Aviv to Neom. service Mossad’s presence in the Iraqi rations. The Americans were literally producers from the Aleppo governorate insistence on the unity of its land, and Israeli education minister Yoav Gallant confirmed the media Kurdistan is not a secret anymore. It applying Kissinger’s policy which whose facilities, workshops, and shops its refusal to have any divided authority reports on Monday, saying, “The very fact the meeting happened, is an established fact. The Americans states that nations are ruled by bread, were damaged during the war. President is now a fact. The Syrians cannot and was outed publicly, even if half-officially right now, is a matter also facilitated the Israeli presence in not by arms. The shortage of bread and al-Assad talked about the economic compromise it, and the allies cannot go of great importance.” northeast Syria, especially those who petroleum products is new to the Syrian impact of the issue of shortage of oil against it. The course of negotiations the Pompeo has tried to coax Riyadh into following the lead of came with American nationality to work population; therefore, the successive supplies and burning the wheat fields allies led in Astana and Sochi has affirmed other Arab countries of the Persian Gulf to normalize relations in the oil fields. Syrian governments are facing major in northeastern regions. it. However, this fact has complicated with Israel. The Turkish president Erdogan was challenges since the beginning of 2019. He also explained that the economic the Syrian scene furthermore. It might Mossad’s chief said last month he believed that Saudi Ara- one of the supporters of the American Caesar Law added additional pressure problem was clearly becoming worse even force the Americans to lead directly bia would normalize relations with Israel, but would do so plan to dismantle Syria. Erdogan was on the countries that may establish when the banks in Lebanon blocked the the war in the region, whether in arms after the US election, to capitalize fully on such a move with able to recruit Qatar to the best interest of economic and commercial deals with Syrian deposits. President al-Assad said or diplomacy, since the proxies have the next president. Turkey. Both countries were discontent Syria. The law was imposed at a time that there is vagueness about the Syrian proven their disabilities. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 HERITAGE & TOURISM NOVEMBER 24, 2020

River flood swamps Sassanid- Tehran ‘oldest’ era dam in southwest Iran

1 It forms a spectacular cliff from which water cascades into a downstream basin. It then enters the plain situated south of the city where it has enabled the planting of orchards and clock to start farming over an area of 40,000 ha. known as Mianab (Paradise). ticking again

TOURISM TEHRAN – An old enced Iranian horologists, is scheduled to deskclock, which is said to come to an end by the end of the current be the oldest in Tehran, is being restored Iranian calendar year (March 20), the to its glory days, an official with Tehran official added. Municipality has announced. He added some rehabilitation works The 120-year-old clock, which is in- are being commenced on the exterior walls stalled at the Qajar-era (1789–1925) Moshir of the mosque as well. al-Saltaneh Mosque in downtown Tehran, Also known as Clock Mosque, Moshir The property has an ensemble of remarkable sites including is considered as Tehran’s oldest clock …. al-Saltaneh mosque and school was built the Salasel Castel, the operation center of the entire hydraulic and it has been broken for almost 70 years in 1903 by Mirza Ahmad Khan Monshi- system, the tower where the water level is measured, damns, and hasn’t been working, IRNA quoted bashi- Moshir al-Saltaneh, who was one bridges, basins, and mills. It bears witness to the know-how Nasrollah Abadian as saying on Monday. of the ministers during the reign of two of the Elamites and Mesopotamians as well as more recent The restoration/repairing project, Qajar kings, Mozaffar ad-Din Shah and Nabatean expertise and Roman building influence. which is being done by the most experi- Mohammad Ali Shah. The Shushtar system, according to UNESCO, is as rich in its diversity of civil engineering structures and its constructions as in the diversity of its uses (urban water supply, mills, irrigation, river transport, and defensive system). It also testifies to the heritage and the synthesis of earlier Elamite and Mesopotamian UNESCO sites shut down amid third wave of COVID-19 in Iran knowhow; it was probably influenced by the Petra dam and TOURISM TEHRAN — Most of Iran’s UNESCO and [this trend] should not be stopped,” he explained. tunnel and by Roman civil engineering. deskWorld Heritage sites, cultural heritage Referring to the investment of 1,370 trillion rials museums, and historical sites across the country have gone (around $32 billion at the official rate of 42,000 rials) on lockdown for at least two weeks in cities defined as the in the tourism sector he added that this volume of in- Tehran webinar to discuss high-risk “red” zones due to the coronavirus pandemic. vestment indicates that investors recognize the growing intangible cultural heritage, The Iranian authorities have imposed a two-week tourism sector as a new economy in the country and lockdown in the capital and some 150 Iranian cities from have high hopes for it. traditional medicine November 12 as the country is battling a third wave of The minister said the coronavirus pandemic should the virus. not bring traveling to a complete standstill. “Corona TOURISM TEHRAN — Iranian intangible cultural According to the National Headquarters for Coro- is a fact, but can the virus stop tourism? Certainly not. deskheritage and traditional medicine will come navirus Control, the sites’ staff must be present at work For us, the coronavirus is a new experience in dealing up for discussion during a three-day webinar in Tehran. during this period, but the sites and museums are closed with crises that teaches tourism experts around the Participants will also exchange their views on traditional to the public to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, on world how to deal with such a disaster, and thankfully medicine and knowledge and their roles in society as well Sunday said Farhad Azizi who presides over the World governments are turning this into an opportunity for as their relation with cultural diversity, biodiversity, and Heritage Affairs Office at the Ministry of Cultural Her- better planning.” climate diversity. itage, Tourism and Handicrafts. Optimistic forecasts, however, expect Iran to achieve Organized by Tehran Intangible Cultural Heritage Center, The cultural heritage museums and historical sites a tourism boom after coronavirus contained, believing the webinar will be held from March 7 to 9. have so far been closed and reopened for times from the its impact would be temporary and short-lived for a Photography competition and some workshops will be held pandemic’s early days onward in a preventive measure crafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan warned that Iran’s country that ranked the third fastest-growing tourism on the sidelines of the webinar as well, according to organizers. to curb the disease. cultural heritage and tourism will be in a critical situation destination in 2019. Iranian traditional medicine Due to a sharp rise in the number of coronavirus in- if the crises caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus Iran ranks 10th in the world in terms of the number fections and deaths, all historical sites as well as all art continue. of historical monuments and sites registered on the and cultural centers, universities, schools, seminaries, Iran’s tourism has suffered a loss of 12 trillion rials UNESCO World Heritage list. Amongst the UNESCO-des- English schools, libraries, movie theaters, mosques, beauty (some $2.85 billion) since the outbreak of the corona- ignated sites in Iran are “Arg-e Bam” (Bam Citadel) salons, and several other entities have been shut down virus pandemic, he said in August. that represents an outstanding example of an ancient once again. “The tourism industry of the country was growing fortified settlement, “Bisotun” in western Kermanshah However, the tourism ministry has arranged online and progressing well but unfortunately, it has faced province, which is notable for its Achaemenid-era in- visits and virtual tours on the country’s 24 World Heritage the coronavirus outbreak, which brought the industry scription carved on a limestone cliff, lavish “Golestan sites as well as other historical sites and museums, while into a standstill.” Palace” in downtown Tehran which is a masterpiece people have to stay home during the quarantine time. “Many tourism projects have been completed, or are of the Qajar era (1789 to 1925), and millennium-old Corona may cause critical situation being implemented, showing that a very good capacity “Gonbad-e Qabus” which is a mudbrick tomb tower In October, Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handi- has been created in the field of tourism in the country for Qabus ibn Wushmagir.

According to the analytical report of the Journal of Eth- nopharmacology, Iran ranked fifth among all participating Coronavirus: Iranian Zoroastrians observe Azargan online countries for publication of articles in the field of indigenous HERITAGE TEHRAN – With the In ancient Iran, Azargan was practicing anism. The oasis city is wedged between pharmacology, traditional medicine, and medicinal plants deskcoronavirus capsizing along with other major national festivities of the northern Dasht-e Kavir and southern in 2011-2018. Azargan, Iran’s Zoroastrians on Mon- Noruz and Mehregan, Arghavani, he noted. Dasht-e Lut on a flat plain ringed by moun- So far, about 30,000 plant species are identified in the day observed the ancient ritual online, “Cleanliness, including combing hair tains. Its historical structure enjoys a very world, with Iran’s share of about 8,000 species that its plant IRNA reported. and cutting fingernails, was good on this harmonious public-religious architecture diversity is more than the whole of Europe. Azargan is a festivity that is observed day, and they believe that on this day, that dates from different eras. Currently, about 2,300 species of medicinal plants have every year on the 9th of the Zoroastrian counseling and consultation on differ- With its winding lanes, a forest of bad- been identified in the country; while medicinal plants account month of “Azar” or “Atar” which falls on ent matters and difficulties would lead girs (wind catchers), mud-brick houses, for one-third of the medicines used in human societies, the November 23, Manouchehr Arghavani, to the desired outcome,” IRNA quoted atmospheric alleyways, and centuries of share of world trade in these products is about $124 billion the head of Yazd Zoroastrians association, the religious figure as saying. history, Yazd is a delightful place to stay, and Iran’s share is $570 million, which is only 0.5 percent told the news agency that Yazd province has an interesting mix of being referred to as a ‘don’t miss’ desti- of the total. He said that the Zoroastrians celebrate praying upon God and cooking special people as well, some 10 percent of whom nation by almost all travel associates in The per capita consumption of medicinal plants in Iran is this day by joyful ceremonies, as well as foods. follow the ancient religion of Zoroastri- the region. about one kilogram of dried plants, in other words, 83,000 tons of medicinal plants worth 1.2 trillion rials (around $29 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) are consumed in the country, while in Europe this amount is 900 grams and Italian diplomat visits National Museum of Iran, discusses ways to expand ties in the United States is 2.5 kilograms. HERITAGE TEHRAN — Yaroslava Romanova, the “Lions and Bulls from ancient Persia in Aquileia” that deskcultural attaché of the Italian Embassy was held in 2016. Five historical relics donated in Tehran, paid a visit to the National Museum of Iran He further referred to the recent exhibition of “Iran on Monday. and Italy: 60 Years of Collaboration on Cultural Heritage”, to Kerman cultural heritage She also met with the museum’s deputy director which was held in 2016 at the National Museum and was department Fereidoun Biglari, discussing ways to expand coopera- supported by the Embassy of Italy in Tehran, ISMEO, tion in museum studies. Research Institute of Cultural Heritage & Tourism of Iran. HERITAGE TEHRAN – Residents of Kerman province They exchanged views on the past and current state The Iranian official expressed hope that in the future, deskhave recently donated five objects with his- of relations between the Iran National Museum and Ital- by holding exhibitions on common cultural relations torical values to the cultural heritage and tourism department ian museums and universities by the means of bilateral between the two ancient civilizations in the museums of the southwestern Iranian province. exhibitions and archaeological studies. of both countries; another step can be taken to deepen Some of the citizens of Jiroft and Kahnouj (two historical Romanova referred to the long history of cultural re- these relations. towns in Kerman province) donated five relics to Kerman cul- lations between the two nations, which have a history of In the end, Romanova expressed her hope that after tural heritage department, IRNA reported on Monday. several thousand years. the closure of the museum due to the pandemic, she will She further expressed hope that these close relations standing of each other. be able to visit the Museum and get acquainted with the would be expanding in particular collaboration between Referring to the close connection between the National ancient cultures of Iran. At the end of the meeting, the the National Museum and Italian museums. Museum of Iran and Italian museums and universities, cultural deputy of the museum presented several publi- She stressed that previous collaborations between Biglari said that over the past two decades, the Nation- cations of the National Museum to the Italian diplomat Italian museums and the National Museum of Iran have al Museum has participated individually or in museum to get more acquainted with the Iran National museum been very fruitful and gave both nations a better under- groups in six exhibitions in Italy, the last of which was and its previous exhibitions, especially those held in Italy.

Webinar to address threats to migratory birds, actions for conservation TOURISM TEHRAN – Threats to nian Birds Reference Book’, is scheduled season comes to an end. In a wider scene, deskmigratory birds, scientific to attend the event to address Mazandaran the mid-winter population of the migratory Know-hows, and proper actions for their migratory birds, proper ways to treat them birds is estimated to exceed over a million conservation will be discussed in a webi- as well as actions for their conservation, he in the whole southern sandy shorelines of nar organized by the tourism department of noted. the Caspian Sea that spans some 700km. Iran’s Mazandaran province, which its many Mazandaran has long been a traditional The northern provinces of Mazandaran, The objects include earthen potteries and clay vessels, which wetlands long been hosting seasonal birds. haven for birdwatching as it is one of the Gilan, and Golestan embrace a variety of have been submitted to cultural heritage experts for being as- An educational webinar on migratory birds provinces receiving many migratory birds freshwater lakes, wetlands, and lagoons, sessed, the report said. will be held on Azar 6 (November 26) on the each year, the official added. which are the main destinations for trave- Kerman is bounded by the provinces of Fars on the west, Yazd occasion of World Birdwatching Day, depu- The south Caspian Sea retreats are amongst ling pelicans, flamingos, ducks, swans, coots, on the north, South Khorasan on the northeast, Sistan-Baluch- ty provincial tourism chief Mehran Hasani the most famed spaces for birdwatching, usu- and some other species. estan on the east, and Hormozgan on the south. It also includes announced on Saturday. ally being dominated by its northerly guests Bird-watching, the observation of live pastime and scientific sport that developed the southern part of the central Iranian desert, the Dasht-e Lut. Dr. Jamshid Mansouri, the author of ‘Ira- until about mid-May when the migration birds in their natural habitat, is a popular almost entirely in the 20th century. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y NOVEMBER 24, 2020 SOCIETY 7

Rich biodiversity: Climate crisis: CO2 hits new record despite Covid-19 Iran shares five ecoregions lockdowns Climate-heating gases have reached record levels in the ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — Each region Azarbaijan to Firoozabad city of Fars prov- atmosphere despite the global lockdowns caused by the desk is defined by its character- ince covering an area of 5,440,494 hectares. coronavirus pandemic, the UN’s World Meteorological Or- istics that play a significant role in a land’s One of the criteria for determining the bor- ganization has said. biodiversity and richness, based on which, der of this area is its dominant plant species, There is estimated to have been a cut in emissions of be- Iran shares five ecological zones with specific Quercus persica. But the area also grows the tween 4.2% and 7.5% in 2020 due to the shutdown of travel flora from the lowest to the highest parts. main species of Persian turpentine, almond, and other activities. But the WMO said this was a “tiny blip” The great difference between the two Acer monspessulanum, and wild pear. in the continuous buildup of greenhouse gases in the air latitudes of the north and south of the coun- Two important functions of Zagros oak caused by human activities, and less than the natural vari- try and the existence of different plains, forests are water and soil protection, which ation seen year to year. altitudes, and climates have given a very are of undeniable importance due to the pre- diverse view to the vast land so that a variety dominant arid and semi-arid climate in the of vegetation and plant species are grown country, as any kind of conservation and across it. Here, five ecological regions of rehabilitation investment is justified. Zagros Iran are briefly introduced below. forests are considered protected forests due Hyrcanian or Caspian ecological to their limited growth. zone Persian Gulf-Omani ecological The Hyrcanian ecological zone covers zone the green belt, the southern margin of the The forests of the Persian Gulf-Om- Caspian Sea, and the northern profile of the ani ecological region include part of the Alborz mountain range. The forested areas Based on topographic and altitude conditions, sphere reserves due to their rare and unique southwest and all southern coasts, cover- of the region stretch to 2.4 million hectares this region is divided into two mountainous plant species and rich biodiversity. A variety ing 2,039,963 hectares. Due to ecological covering Astara in Gilan province to Glidaghi regions with a cold climate and a desert with of plant species is a special feature of this differences, the main vegetation is divided in Golestan province. a hot and dry climate. vegetation area; as over 775 plant species into two territories of the Persian Gulf Due to soil fertility, temperature changes, Although the climatic conditions of the have been identified in the protected area and the Sea of Oman. and numerous rainfalls, this ecological area region have caused the dispersal and distance alone, 55 of which have been reported for In the Persian Gulf area, which ex- is rich in plant species, so that more than of trees, due to its vastness, a variety of plant the first time in Iran. tends from Qasr-e Shirin to the border 80 species of broadleaf trees, 4 species of species constituting 69 percent of the total There are many forest species in the Hyr- of Bushehr and Hormozgan provinces, conifers, and 50 species of shrubs have been flora of Iran is located in this area. canian vegetation area. However, the main the plant species of Christ’s thorn jujube, The WMO report said the monthly average CO2 for Sep- identified so far, most of which are beech, The main species of the mountainous re- species of beech and alder have not grown Prosopis farcta, and desert poplar grow. tember at the benchmark station of Mauna Loa in Hawaii hornbeam, oak, maple, and alder. gion are Persian turpentine, almond, and in Arasbaran, which has caused this area to While in the Oman Sea area, which in- was 411.3ppm, up from 408.5ppm in September 2019. The The forests of this region, as an intact juniper and the main species of the plain be separated from the Hyrcanian ecological cludes a part of Hormozgan province to same was seen at Cape Grim in Tasmania, Australia, with a and healthy generation, form a belt of de- region are genus Tamarix, Haloxylon, Zy- area in the divisions. Sistan-Baluchestan (border of Iran and rise to 410.8ppm from 408.6ppm in 2019. ciduous trees of the third geological period. gophyllum, and Calligonum. The main flora species of the Arasbaran Pakistan), Mesquites and acacia species It said there had been a “growth spurt” in the average CO2 These forests, which are called wet or Cas- Arasbaran ecological zone region are water oak, white oak, common are the main vegetation covers. level for the whole of 2019, rising by more than the average pian forests, have high environmental and The forests of this region, which are among hornbeam, English yew, and maple. Gum arabic tree, used in the boat rate over the last decade. The data shows action to cut emis- economic values, which are considered as the semi-humid forests of the country, are Zagros ecological zone production, are scattered in this area. sions is currently far from what is needed to avoid the worst world natural heritage. located in the province of East Azarbaijan Some sources date the Zagros oak forests Mangrove forests, which consist of two impacts of the climate emergency, the Guardian reported. Iran-Turani ecological zone and northwest of Ardebil province, which to 5,500 years. The creation and expansion species of grey mangroves and loop-root Scientists calculate that emissions must fall by half by The area of forests in the Iran-Turani covers 174,838 hectares. of these forests are due to rainfall raised by mangroves, are also spread in this area. 2030 to give a good chance of limiting global heating to 1.5C, ecological region, which covers most of the Arasbaran forests have been protected the Mediterranean system and the Black Sea, The mangrove forest habitat is located beyond which hundreds of millions of people will face more central plateau of Iran, is 4,666,941 hectares. by UNESCO since 1976 as one of the bio- which extends from the Sardasht area of West between the tides of the seas. heatwaves, droughts, floods and poverty. Nations had pledged to ramp up their emissions cuts at a UN summit in Glasgow this month but the meeting has been postponed by a year COVID-19: economic pressure plundering nature due to Covid-19. “The lockdown-related fall in emissions is just a tiny blip 1 “Since the early days of the outbreak, when Golestan “why, when human activity as a member of the ecosys- on the long-term graph. We need a sustained flattening of was still involved in the pandemic lockdowns, the mating tem decreases, not only does nothing happen, but the the curve,” said Petteri Taalas, the WMO secretary-general. season of common pheasant began in the forested areas of condition of nature improves.” “We breached the global [annual] threshold of 400ppm in the province with minimal encroachment and the presence Think of bees being removed from nature. In this case, 2015 and, just four years later, we have crossed 410ppm. of people, which also facilitated the wild goats’ delivery in the integrity of the Earth’s environmental property, the re- Such a rate of increase has never been seen in the history the forested areas and minimized wildlife casualties. production of many species and humans themselves will be of our records. In the aquaculture sector, the Caspian Sea and Gorgan damaged, or if brown bears are removed, soil fertility will “CO2 remains in the atmosphere for centuries. The last Bay reserves have been given the opportunity to reha- decrease, or if wild boars are removed, water permeability time the Earth experienced a comparable concentration was bilitate, and the spawning season of bony fish and their will decrease and floods will increase, he explained. 3m-5m years ago, when the temperature was 2-3C warmer migration to rivers ended with the least number of attacks Therefore, there have been wise in the creation of all plant and sea level was 10-20 metres higher than now. But there by illegal fishermen,” he explained. and animal species or even insects, and have contributed weren’t 7.7 billion [human] inhabitants.” He went on to note that the same happened for the plant to the earth’s resilience, he emphasized. The WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, published on Monday, species and seedlings. Why has it now happened that man, who considers him- shows CO2 in the atmosphere is now 50% higher than in 1750, Illegal hunting self the best of creatures, that must be more responsible, before the Industrial Revolution. CO2 traps two-thirds of the Issa Kalantari, the DOE chief, said that economic pressures has behaved in such a way that his absence is in favor of heat retained on the Earth’s surface by greenhouse gases, imposed on the people by the pandemic and restrictions is nature and the earth? and this warming effect has increased by 45% since 1990. a reason for increased poaching, so that they go to deserts willingly or unwillingly, gave nature an opportunity to re- I hope that such happening gives up a lesson to change Methane, which is produced by cattle, rice paddies and and nature to hunt for a living, implying that the conflicts habilitate after years. our development programs in favor of nature and try to fossil fuel exploitation, is responsible for 17% of the heating between poachers and rangers have been increased. For more than half a century, the Hyrcanian forests in understand the laws of nature, instead of spending budgets effect. Its concentration is now two-and-a-half times pre-in- Coronavirus seemed to prosper nature northern Iran have been plundered by humans, and its plant on warfare, larger and more horrific weapons, he noted, im- dustrial levels. Another important greenhouse gas is nitrous Although the outbreak of coronavirus caused great dam- and animal species, such as the Caspian tiger or the ancient plying that environmental research and health is now more oxide, which comes from overuse of farm fertiliser and forest age to various sectors and with the closure of economic English yew, are extinct or in danger of extinction. essential as well as improvement of the education system burning. It is now 23% higher than in 1750. and educational centers, tourism and traffic ban, disrupted The implementation of the social distancing plan in the so that in the post-corona crisis world we can appear wiser, The greenhouse gas data is collected by the Global Atmos- the movement of the country’s economic cycle; the disease, wake of the widespread outbreak could play an important and more knowledgeable, and more responsible. phere Watch network, which includes stations in the Arctic, key role in promoting sustainability, health, and improving high mountains and tropical islands. These have continued to For more than half a the quality and quantity of natural habitats. The declining human traffic in operate despite Covid-19 restrictions hampering resupplies century, the Hyrcanian The declining human traffic in nature had a great impact nature had a great impact on and rotation of staff in often harsh and isolated locations. on the improvement of wildlife, while the continuation Talaas said a “complete transformation of our industrial, forests in northern Iran have of this process requires the implementation of cultural the improvement of wildlife, energy and transport systems” was needed. “The changes been plundered by humans, plans and more familiarity of people with the impact of while the continuation of are economically affordable and technically possible and and its plant and animal nature on their lives. this process requires the would affect our everyday life only marginally,” he said. “It is Human absence welcome that a growing number of countries and companies species, such as the Caspian Pointing out that protecting the planet is important implementation of cultural have committed themselves to carbon neutrality. There is tiger or the ancient English to humans, Mohammad Darvish, a member of the Na- plans and more familiarity no time to lose.” tional Security Council for the environment said that yew, are extinct or in danger the pandemic has caused the earth to breathe deeply, of people with the impact of of extinction. and now the wise man is faced with the question that nature on their lives. LET’S LEARN PERSIAN (Part 65) (Source: saadifoundation.ir) ENGLISH IN USE LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION

امحای زبالههای بیمارستانی با کمک Medical waste disposal become possible فناوری پالسما using plasma technology in Iran محققــان کشــورمان بــا بهــره گیــری از فنــاوری پالســما موفــق شــدند ضمــن امحــای Using plasma gasification, Iranian researchers managed to تمــام زبالههــا، گازهــای خطرنــاک آن را توســط فیلتــری جداســازی کننــد. dispose medical wastes and disassemble all its hazardous gases محمــود قــرآن نویــس مجــری طــرح امحــای زبالههــای بیمارســتانی بــه روش .by filters, IRNA reported on Sunday پالســما گفــت: بــا توجــه بــه مشــکالت زیــادی کــه در حــوزه زبالههــای بیمارســتانی Considering numerous problems encountered in medical and و شــهری در کشــور وجــود داشــت، بــه ایــن نتیجــه رســیدیم کــه بایــد ایــن مشــکل urban waste management in the country, we decided to employ را از طریــق فنــاوری »هــای تــک« حــل کنیــم. high technology to overcome them, Mahmood Quran-Nevis, an وی افــزود: در حــال حاضــر در بیمارســت انها بــرای امحــای زبالــه از اتوکالوهــا اســتفاده .official with Vice Presidency for Science and Technology has said م یشــود کــه دمــای حــرارت ایــن اتوکالوهــا ۱۳۰ درجــه بــوده و بیشــتر باکت ریهــا در He went on to add that currently, autoclaves are used as waste ایــن دمــا از بیــن نم یرونــد و مشــکالت زیســت محیطــی زیــادی را بــه وجــود م ی آورنــد. disposal facilities in hospitals; the temperature of the autoclave is رئیــس مرکــز تحقیقــات فیزیــک پالســما دانشــگاه آزاد بــا اشــاره بــه ایــن موضــوع کــه degrees and most of the bacteria are not killed and subsequently 130 هیــچ کشــوری حاضــر نشــد فنــاوری »هــای تــک » را بــه مــا عرضــه کنــد، بیــان کــرد: .they can contribute to various environmental problems بــا توجــه بــه اهمیــت امحــای زبالــه بیمارســتانی بــر آن شــدیم تــا بــا حمایــت مــادی و Referring to the foreign countries reluctance to provide us معنــوی معاونــت علمــی و فنــاوری ریاســت جمهــوری )مرکــز طــرح هــای کالن ملــی with high technology machines, he noted that regarding the فنــاوری(، واحــد علــوم و تحقیقــات دانشــگاه آزاد، مرکــز تحقیقــات فیزیــک پالســما importance of medical waste disposal and disinfection, we و بــا همــکاری برخــی شــرکتهای داخلــی، ســاخت و تولیــد تجهیــزات مــورد نیــاز managed to domestically produce the necessary equipment ایــن طــرح را انجــام دهیــم و در داخــل کشــور بومیســازی کنیــم. .needed for healthcare waste treatment and disposal Prayer Times Noon:11:51 Evening: 17:21 Dawn: 5:13 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:49 (tomorrow) NOVEMBER 24, 2020 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Mohammad Shojaeian Editor-in-Chief: Ali A.Jenabzadeh Rafsanjan to host street performances Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051430 of Divine Commander Theater Festival Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 ARTTEHRAN — The “When the Muscles Turn to Stone” by Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 deskorganizers of the 2nd writer and director Kianush Ahmadi is Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 Divine Commander Theater Festival among the entries picked by a selecting have announced that the street theater committee that is composed of Shahram performances will take place in various Ahmadzadeh, Mehdi Nasiri and Maziar Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 places in the southern Iranian city Rashid-Salehi. Rafsanjan near Kerman, Commander “Carnelian” by Shahram Soltani is No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Qassem Soleimani’s hometown, from another highlight of the lineup, and Zip Code: 1599814713 December 21 to 26. director Morteza Asadimaram will stage The festival was established to “Standing like a Cypress to Watch the commemorate the IRGC Quds Force Sun” written by Hashem Purmohammadi. chief who was assassinated during a “Dragunov” written by Zeinab Zavalan U.S. airstrike in Baghdad on January 3. will be directed by Doosti Irani, and “The performances will take place across director Mohammad-Hamed Esmaeilpur the city while social distancing and health will stage “Tiny Little Birds” written by protocols will be observed, and the stage Govan-Mehr Esmaeilpur. performances will be held in the city of “1:20 AM” by Pejman Shahverdi, Sirjan or the cities of participating troupes “Soldier” by Mohammad-Hossein Nazari, GUIDE TO considering the COVID-19 condition,” “Cold Breathe” by Mohammad Qasemi SPIRITUAL AWAKENING the director of the Kerman Department and “January 3” have also been selected. of Culture and Islamic Guidance, The lineup also includes “The Sociology Mohammadreza Alizadeh, said on Monday. of Death” by Asghar Garusi, “Wave” by Keep yourself far from envy; because it eats up In the stage section, the troupes have Sajjad Mansuri and “An Appointment in and takes away good actions, like a fire eats up been invited to give five performances in A poster for the Divine Commander Theater Festival. Damascus” by Nasser Hajibaqeri. and burn woods. their cities. In addition, troupes will travel The Association of the Revolution and to stage performances in nearby villages. during the festival. The stage plays are coming from 22 Sacred Defense Theater and the Revayat Prophet Muhammad (S) Twelve stage plays as well as over 70 Over 70 plays will also be competing provinces and the street performances Foundation are the main organizers of street theater plays will be performed for the award for best script. from 24 provinces. the event.

Memoirs of Koniko “Driving Lessons” runner-up at Hebden Bridge Film Festival Yamamura rendered into Fox and Goose jury 2nd prize at the Hebden Bridge Film The Peter David Properties jury prize for best short Festival in England. went to “We Are All Here” Hannah Currie from Scotland. five languages The film is about Bahareh who, according to Iranian law, The documentary explores what happens when Glasgow must have her traditional, chauvinistic husband accompany rapper Lumo takes his own life, and his family and friends 1 where her life was totally changed after her 19-year old her driving lessons so she and her instructor will not be alone. uncover hidden messages in the lyrics and video diaries son Mohammad was martyred. “Driving Lessons” has been screened in numerous he left behind. What makes her life distinguished are the events that changed international festivals, some of which have honored the The audience award was presented to “Joy Uncensored” by her life. short with awards. Natasha Hawthornthwaite from the UK. It is a documentary “I never thought my life story would turn into a book, because It won the audience award at the 25th Aichi International about when 63-year-old Joy France takes on the male- if I were living in Japan with my parents, I would have had a Women’s Film Festival in Japan in September. dominated rap battling world by going head to head in her typical life, but marrying an Iranian Muslim changed my life The film also received the award for best short narrative at first rap battle competition. totally,” she has said. the 21st Through Women’s Eyes International Film Festival The winning movies along with some entries, including “After the martyrdom of my (TWE) in Sarasota, Florida, the U.S. in March. “Jaybirds” by Jess Wheeler, “The Gods of Tiny Things” by son, several writers proposed The Hebden Bridge Film Festival, which is annually Deborah Kelly, “Seven Planets” by Milda Baginskaite, “Stripey to write my biography but I did organized in the market town of the Upper Calder Valley Socks” by Michelle Bailey and “Dominique” co-directed “Driving Lessons” by Iranian filmmaker Marzieh Riahi. not agree, but in a journey to in West Yorkshire, was first scheduled to be held in March, by Tatiana Issa and Guto Barra, are being screened online Hiroshima I met Hesam and I ARTTEHRAN — Iranian short “Driving however, it was postponed to September 25 to 27 due to the by the organizers in a program, which has been underway trusted him, and the interviews deskLessons” by Marzieh Riahi has won the COVID-19 pandemic. since November 19. began for the book,” she added. Hesam has also said that he met Yamamura in 2014 during a visit to Hiroshima along with Abu Dhabi Art showcases works by Iranian artists a number of Iranian cineastes, ARTTEHRAN — Works one of Tehran’s distinguished art centers, of artists, leaving a lasting impact on authors and war veterans who deskby three Iranian artists with a background in organizing showcases contemporary art and culture. attended the Hiroshima Peace are on display at the 12th edition of the of contemporary art. Currently representing a diverse roster of Memorial Ceremony. Front cover of a Persian copy Abu Dhabi Art underway in the United The gallery organizes monthly Western and West Asian artists, the gallery The ceremony is held of “Immigrant from the Land Arab Emirates. exhibitions throughout the year, ranging is also active in the American, European annually to commemorate the of the Sun” by Hamid Hesam. Works by Iranian artists selected by the from photography and painting to and West Asian secondary art markets. anniversary of the tragedy of Tehran-based gallery Khak and the Leila installation and performance. Simon Njami, Sung Woo Kim, Nada the U.S. nuclear attack on the Japanese city. Heller Gallery in the UAE are on view at Leila Heller Gallery founded in 1982 Raza, Ashwin Thadani, Maya El-Khalil, “I met Yamaumura at the airport where she was introduced the art show, which opened on November has gained worldwide recognition as a and Rose Lejeune are the curators of the to us as the translator of the team. I noticed that she was reciting 19 and will run for eight days. pioneer in promoting creative dialogue 12th edition of the Abu Dhabi Art. verses of the Holy Quran while onboard or when she sometimes Marcos Grigorian, Reza Derakhshani and exchange between Western and Asian Iran’s Institute for Promotion of told me short memories of her life,” Hesam said. and Aref Motazeri are among the artists artists. Contemporary Visual Art displayed works “Later, I noticed that she patiently listened to the survivors of whose works are on display at the art fair, In 2010, the gallery moved from the by four Iranian artists, Parvaneh Razzaqi, the Hiroshima atomic bombardment and those Iranian veterans which is being organized virtually due to “Flutista” by Marcos Grigorian whose works Upper East Side to its flagship space in Amir-Hossein Kulivand, Hossein Akrami injured in Iraqi chemical attacks as she was in tears. It was in the COVID-19 pandemic. are on display at the Abu Dhabi Art underway Chelsea where it has garnered a reputation and Alireza Bandgolestani, at the Abu Dhabi those years that I began talks through interviews, and gradually Established in 2002, Khak Gallery is in the United Arab Emirates. for identifying and cultivating the careers Art in November 2018. I was successful in writing her untold stories,” Hesam said. Hamid Hesam was honored at the Islamic Revolution Artist of the Year in 2018. Over 1000 movies from 85 countries to compete at Tehran animation festival ARTTEHRAN — Over 1,000 movies from by Sasha Svirsky from Russia won the award for the best Istanbul exhibit hangs works desk85 countries will be screened in the experimental animation. international competition of the 12th Tehran International The acclaimed Iranian animation “The Last Fiction” by by Iranian artists Animation Festival. Ashkan Rahgozar won the award for best feature-length The animations are coming from Japan, China, France, movie, while “Wicked Girl”, a co-production between France ARTTEHRAN — Works by Iranian artists in various Austria, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Brazil and dozens and Turkey by Turkish director Ayce Kartal, received the deskmedia, including painting and photography, of other countries. special jury prize. are on view in an exhibition underway at the Luna Art Gallery About 460 Iranian animations will also be competing in “The Blissful Accidental Death” by Sergiu Negulici from in the Turkish city of Istanbul. the national section of the festival, which will be running Romania received the award for best artistic and technical The gallery is organizing the showcase named “Bright Fountain” from February 28 to March 4. achievement, and the CIFEJ Prize was presented to “Trunky” with the contributions of the Nily Art Gallery in Tehran. The Institute for Intellectual Development of Children by Ekaterina Filippova from Russia. Among the Iranian artists are Mehdi Nasiri, Nazanin Sheikhvand, and Young Adults (IIDCYA) is the organizer of the festival. In the national section, “Fox” by Sadeq Javadi was picked Abolfazl Karimi, Hiva Rezaiju, Rozha Rashedi and Zahra Ghamangiz. “This Magnificent Cake!”, a joint production of Belgium, as best animation. The weeklong exhibit also showcasing works by artists from France and the Netherlands, was named best film at the The film is about a young fox on the verge of experiencing Turkey, Syria, Spain and Russia opened on Saturday. previous edition of the festival in 2019. the first love. Meanwhile, it gets trapped by a hunter. Thus Co-directed by Marc James Roels and Emma De Swaef, the begins the fox’s effort to survive and love, and seek revenge. A poster for the 12th Tehran International Animation Festival. story of the film is set in colonial Africa in the late 19th century. “Am I a Wolf?” was selected as second best film and The anthology film tells the stories of five different characters, “Patchwork Pals” by German director Angela Steffen won “Maned and Macho” by Shiva Sadeq-Asadi won the award including a troubled king, a middle-aged Pygmy working the award for best children’s film, while “My Little Goat” for best third movie. in a luxury hotel, a failed businessman on an expedition, a by Tomoki Misato from Japan received the award for the The special jury award was presented to “Eaten” by lost porter and a young army deserter. best student animation. Mohsen Rezapur. “Am I a Wolf?” by Iranian animator Amir-Hushang Moein The award for the best TV production went to “One Veteran Iranian film scholar Akbar Alemi also was honored won the second award, and the award for third best movie Thousand Myths” co-directed by Asghar Saffar and Abbas for his lifetime achievements during the ceremony. went to “Peripheria” by David Coquard-Dassault from France. Jalali Yekta from Iran, and “9 Ways to Draw a Person” Akbar Alemi died of COVID-19 last month. He was 75. Carl Zimmer’s “A Planet of Viruses” comes into Iranian bookstores CULTURE TEHRAN — A Persian In this eye-opening tour of the frontiers of contains more DNA from viruses than our own desktranslation of Carl biology, where scientists are expanding the genes. Meanwhile, scientists are discovering Art enthusiasts visit the exhibition “Bright Fountain” at the Luna Zimmer’s “A Planet of Viruses” has recently understanding of life as known, readers learn viruses everywhere they look: in the soil, in Art Gallery in Istanbul on November 21, 2020. (Luna Art Gallery) been published by Now Publications in that some treatments for the common cold the ocean, even in caves miles underground,” The Nily Art Gallery spent over three months accumulating Tehran. do more harm than good; that the world’s the book says. the artworks for the exhibition. The gallery has always made The book has been translated into Persian oceans are home to an astonishing number Zimmer is a lecturer at Yale University, worthwhile endeavors to promote Iranian art across the globe by Kaveh Feizollahi. of viruses; and that the evolution of HIV is where he teaches writing about science and by organizing mutual exhibitions with international centers. This fascinating book explores the hidden now in overdrive, spawning more mutated the environment. He is the author of numerous The Luna Art Gallery has also featured Iranian artists in its world of viruses, the world that all humans strains than man cares to imagine. books, including “Microcosm”, “Parasite Rex”, previous exhibitions. inhabit. Zimmer, popular science writer “Viruses are the smallest living things “Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea”, “At the In September, works by 22 Iranian artists were showcased and author of Discover magazine’s award- known to science, yet they hold the entire Water’s Edge” and “Soul Made Flesh”. in a group exhibit with the central themes of peace and women winning blog “The Loom”, presents the latest planet in their sway. We are most familiar His numerous essays and articles on the at the gallery under the title of “Color of Peace”. research on how viruses hold sway over lives with the viruses that give us colds or the life sciences have appeared in the pages of “Color of Peace”, which was held from September 19 to 25, and the biosphere, how viruses helped give flu, but viruses also cause a vast range of the New York Times, Scientific American, was the third edition of the exhibit that also put on view 70 works rise to the first life-forms, how viruses are other diseases, including one disorder that Discover, Time, Science, Popular Science by 22 other artists from across the world. producing new diseases, how people can makes people sprout branch-like growths and National Geographic. His work has been Sara Asef, Leila Imani, Sohrab Ahmadi, Fatemeh Badri, Kiana harness viruses for their own ends, and how as if they were trees. Viruses have been a anthologized in both “The Best American Hassanzadeh, Zahra Maqsadi, Puran Ghaffari and Afsanh Nikdel viruses will continue to control people’s fate part of our lives for so long, in fact, that we Science Writing” and “The Best American Front cover of the Persian translation of were among the participating Iranian artists. for years to come. are actually part virus: the human genome Science and Nature Writing” series. Carl Zimmer’s “A Planet of Viruses”.