Page 1 |No. 13|May 2019 Mehr Vision|No.13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

US anti-Iran hostility ramps up under Trump Administration Page 2 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

Contents

Trump’s decision on IRGC has nothing to do with international law 3 US move to bludgeon Iran into submission to US demands may boomerang 3 Brandishing IRGC as terrorist group an act of terror itself 4

Cover Story Cover Sanctions aimed at bringing Iran to negotiating table with US 4

What are main aims of Imran khan’s Iran visit? 6 New government formation inWest Bank is great betrayal 7 S Arabia would be different if it faced consequences for its actions 8 Execution of 37 Saudi citizens a major crime 9 S. Arabia has not really demonstrated nuclear transparency 10 Ansarollah not to allow aggressors’ control over Al-Hudaydah 11 Assad’s visit to Tehran sign of unwavering Syrian-Iran ties 12 Politics Transferring nuclear technology to al-Saud is the most destabilizing development 13 US wants to make Venezuela another Syria or Libya: ambassador 14 Iran may be gearing up to reduce nuclear coop. under JCPOA 15 S Africa, Iran to ‘weather the storm together’: amb. Khumalo 16

EGFI to issue guarantees for oil purchasers of IRENEX 18 Impossible to drive Iran’s oil export to zero 20 TSE official uncovers reasons for stocks boom 21 World financial bodies, tools for imposing US policies 22 Mehr Vision Economy IME suitable platform of economic prosperity 25 Managing Director: Ali Asgari

Editorial Board: How Trump’s oil plans backfire on him 29 Seyed Amir Hassan Dehghani, Mohammad Ghaderi, Assad’s message while in Tehran 30

Payman Yazdani, Majid Rafiee Op-ed Macron at political deadlock 31

Editorial Coordinator: Marjohn Sheikhi The ‘Verve’ of melancholy; “It’s just a feeling I carry inside” 34 Contributors: Payman Yazdani, Mohammad Ghaderi, Iran tourism sector thriving despite US sanctions 36

Marjohn Sheikhi, Mohammad Ali Culture Success in artificial insemination in Persian leopards may raise hopes for rare big cats 37 Haqshenas, Haniyeh Sadat Jafariyeh, Morteza Rahmani, Lachin Rezaian, Kamal Iranidoost, Hanif Ghaffari, Javad Heirannia, Zahra Mirzafarjouyan Tehran begins playing host to over 100 films at 37th FIFF 40 Art Director: Mahboubeh Azizi ‘Do not go gentle into that good night’;FIFF celebrates free, fighting spirits 41 2019 Fajr Intl. Filmfest. names winners; ‘A Russian Youth’ wins grand prix 46 Phone: +98-21-43051350 Dossier Email: [email protected] Fajr Intl. Film Festival gives you a cinema of all flavors 47

Address: No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran Perspolis main goal is to qualify for next stage at AFC Champion League, coach says 49 Mehr Vision welcomes contributions by What are Carlos Queiroz legacies in Iranian football? 50 readers which can be sent via email. Sport Major achievements of Iranian athletes in the past year 51 Cover Story Page 3 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Trump’s decision on IRGC has nothing to do with international law: Prof. Zonis

Interview by Payman Yazdani ignate the IRGC as a terrorist group and the reasons behind his unprece- Professor of international political dented move, he said, “The US Presi- economy in the University of Chicago dent’s decision is based on the advice believes Trump’s move against the IRGC he has been receiving from his hard- is based on the advice of his evangelical line advisers — most especially from supporters and hardline advisers. John Bolton. Bolton seeks the over- throw of the clerical establishment The White House’s increasingly and the new sanctions are meant to aggressive approaches towards Iran diminish the business success that the came to a head as the administration IRGC has enjoyed.” of US President Donald Trump desig- He went on to add, “The decision is nated the Islamic Revolution Guards also a communication to his evangelical Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist or- supporters who seek a powerful Israel decision on the IRGC. ganization through an official state- to prepare for the return of the Christ. Touching upon the consequences of ment. It is also a communication to Israel and the White House’s move and its effects In light of this development, we Saudi Arabia that the US remains an en- on the security and stability of the re- reached out to Marvin Zonis, Professor emy of their enemy. It has nothing to do gion he noted, “Iran is left with bitter of international political economy and with international law.” choices. It may take steps that would leadership in the University of Chicago. Zonis also emphasized that the re- provoke Trump to retaliate with the real Commenting on the legitimacy of flection of Trump in 2020 US presiden- possibility of an escalation to a shooting the President Trump’s decision to des- tial election is another reason behind his war.”

US move to bludgeon Iran into submission to US demands may boomerang: Entessar

Interview by Payman Yazdani chestrated by certain elements of the Trump administration to appease the Following US’ recent hostile move neocon thirst for forceful, American-in- against the IRGC Nader Entessar says duced regime change.” there is nothing more the US can gain He referred to unprecedented illegal by its most recent decision that it has move of Trump and said, “This is the not already achieved. first time in the history of international relations when the government of one The United States’ increasingly ag- nation-state single-handedly has desig- gressive approaches towards Iran came nated a military segment of another rec- to a head last night as the administration of US President Don- ognized nation-state as a terrorist organization.” ald Trump designated the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps He called the possible consequences of the White House (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organization through an official decision “dangerous” and said, “This is a move with many statement. dangerous consequences. Iran’s Supreme National Secu- In light of this development, Mehr News Agency reached rity Council has already reciprocated the latest US moves to Nader Entessar, professor emeritus of political science from against Iran by issuing a statement declaring the US Central university of South Alabama. Command (CENTCOM) and forces under its command in Commenting on the effects of the Trump’s move onthe Southwest Asia as terrorist entities. Such tit-for-tat moves IRGC, he said, “The IRGC has been under complete US sanc- may indeed generate uncontrollable spiraling consequenc- tions regime for some time now. Therefore, there is nothing es. More specifically, Trump’s latest move, which is intend- more the US can gain by its most recent decision that it has ed to bludgeon Iran into submission to US demands, may not already achieved. This is generally a political move or- boomerang.” Cover Story Page 4 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Turkish politician: Brandishing IRGC as terrorist group an act of terror itself

Interview by: Payman Yazdani Iran, declaring, in turn, the US armed forces a terrorist organization.” In an interview with MNA following He went on to add, “the broader dan- US’ recent hostile move against the ger is that these reciprocal and coun- Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, a ter-productive steps will only escalate senior member of Turkey’s Republican tensions in the MENA and Persian Gulf, People’s Party (CHP), Faruk logoglu, and vastly raise the chances of armed said “brandishing IRGC as a terrorist encounters between the two sides.” group is essentially an act of terror Any such event, he went on to note, itself.” “if and when it occurs, would be ex- tremely difficult to keep from leading to The United States’ increasingly ag- a wider military confrontation between gressive approaches towards Iran came the two adversaries.” to a head last night as the administration “This US move on IRGC follows in the of US President Donald Trump designat- is supposedly designed to increase the footsteps of President Trump’s decisions ed the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps pressure on Iran and opens a new fron- on Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, all (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organization tier beyond the realm of economic sanc- presumably serving Israeli interests just through an official statement. tions.” as much as American interests,” said In light of this development, Mehr “Trump continues to stoke the fires Logoglu, adding, however, that “this is News Agency reached to a senior mem- of tension and conflict in the region,” a misconception because all three steps ber of Turkey’s Republican People’s the Turkish diplomat stressed, adding potentially pave the way for new con- Party (CHP), Osman Faruk logoglu, who “this step will only serve to entrench the flicts while relegating the prospects of believes that “brandishing IRGC as a ter- determination of the Iranian people to peace and security in the region into a rorist group is essentially an act of terror resist US efforts to force Iran into sub- very distant future.” itself.” mission.” “By remaining calm and calibrated, He called the move as “unprecedent- About the consequences of this move, I believe Iran will defeat American de- ed, unlawful and devoid of any credibil- Logoglu maintained that an immediate signs and provocations to subjugate it,” ity or legitimacy,” adding that the “step one was the “reported response from he concluded.

Frmr. envoy to Norway tells MNA: Sanctions aimed at bringing Iran to negotiating table with US The former Iranian ambassador to tain relations with Bahrain, the United Norway and Hungary Abdulreza Farajirad Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, but it has said that the US sanctions are aimed was unclear whether someone else in his at bringing Iran to the negotiating table place could equally match the US hardlin- with the United States once again. er policies.” Farajirad added that the US move Speaking to Mehr News Agency (MNA) against IRGC was not a symbolic move and correspondent, Abdulreza Farajirad re- the Americans sought to inflict losses on ferred to the latest US move in designat- Iran economy by sanctioning IRGC and its ing the IRGC a terrorist organization, say- related companies. ing that the US seeks to impose maximum The diplomat added that the United pressures on Iran to bring it to the negotiating table. States blacklisted the IRGC to limit its activities in the region The former Iranian ambassador to Norway and Hungary and its relations with the Houthis, Iraqis, Lebanese and other said that as the US President Donald Trump has repeatedly nations of the region. He added that the IRGC has gained a lot said, the Americans want to change Iran’s behavior. of support among the nations of the region during the fight The diplomat added that the US terrorism designation of against terrorism. IRGC was also aimed at helping the Israeli regime’s prime min- At the end, he noted that the countries in the region have ister be reelected in the general elections. He said that Trump shown opposition to blacklisting IRGC because they are not so attaches great importance to Netanyahu remaining in power, sure about their future and that whether terrorist groups will adding “the Zionist regime’s prime minister was able to main- threaten them again in the future. Page 5 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Politics Politics Page 6 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY What are main aims of Imran khan’s Iran visit?

By: Mohammad Ali Haqshenas Iran-Pakistan discussions during the the United States. upcoming PM’s visit will be ways to en- Cementing ties with Pakistan will also Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan hance border security which is essential- be beneficial for Iran since this leads to a is slated to undertake an official visit to ly required if the states are determined decrease in security threats in the south- Iran on April 21 and there are different to boost cooperation in different politi- east of the country, furthermore, paving speculations about the aims of this cal, economic, and cultural spheres. the way for an enhanced economic pres- visit. There are also reports which point to ence of Iran in Pakistan and benefit from Pakistan’s close relationship with Saudi its great potential market. The two-day visit will be made upon Arabia, saying that Imran Khan may try Iran was the first country to recognize the official invitation of Iranian President to mediate between Tehran and Riadh. Pakistan as an independent state in 1947 Hassan Rouhani and can start a new era In a meeting with Iranian ambassador to and two years later, they signed a trea- of ties between Tehran and Islamabad. Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost in early Au- ty of friendship. The two countries have This will be Khan’s first official visit gust 2018, Imran Khan said that Pakistan always maintained good and friendly to the western neighbor after assuming is ready to play a constructive and posi- relations based on mutual respect for power. He has already paid official visits tive role between Iran and Saudi Arabia. each other’s sovereignty. Some experts to some regional countries, including Experts believe that the much-await- believe Iran-Pakistan ties can be a mod- Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab ed Iran-Pakistan pipeline project will el for relations between other regional Emirates but his visit to Tehran was re- also be on the agenda of negotiations. countries. portedly postponed after border secu- Pakistan has not adhered to its com- In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign rity issues, including the abduction of mitments to complete the pipeline on Ministry announced that the country’s Iranian border guards in Mirjaveh and its side with the excuse of international “relations with Iran are marked by close also terrorist attack near Zahedan which sanctions and pressures from countries historic and cultural linkages and strong killed 27 IRGC personnel. such as US. people to people exchanges,” adding On March 21, Iran announced that Some reports also speculate that the that PM’s visit to Iran will further en- four other abducted guards had been two sides will also confer on the future hance the bilateral relations between released with the efforts of the Pakistani of Afghanistan, as well as inking proba- the two countries. Army. Islamabad has vowed to gear up ble economic agreements. Imran Khan will meet with Islamic the fight against terrorism and its meas- Imran Khan has proved to be cou- Revolution Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali ures to provide western borders with rageous in supporting Iran. He and his Khamenei besides holding ‘detailed con- increased security can have a significant party are among the defenders of Iran’s sultations’ with President Rouhani, reads effect on the development of ties with peaceful nuclear activity. He also, along- the statement, noting that the PM will Iran. side Iran, strongly condemned Trump’s be accompanied by a host of high-rank- Certainly, one of the main topics of measure to ban Muslim’s immigration to ing officials and ministers. Politics Page 7 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Hamas senior member: New government formation in West Bank is great betrayal

Co-founder of Hamas and member of the Hamas leadership Mahmoud al- Zahar stressed that the Palestinian Authority doesn›t belong to the Palestinian people and also does not represent them.

The new Palestinian Authority cabi- net, headed by Mohammad Shtayyeh, recently swore before Palestinian Presi- dent Mahmoud Abbas. Formation of the cabinet by Mahmoud Abbas›s order and without the Palestinian National Consensus has been opposed by the majority of the Palestinian factions. In the new Pales- tinian Authority cabinet, 16 new minis- ters came to power and five ministers from the former government headed by prime minster Rami Hamdallah re- mained in Power. in 1995) and led to the formation of When we reject this project, the On the other hand, we witnessed the this administration in the West Bank. project will actually be cancelled. Knesset election 2019 in Israel and the This administration is not even dom- They are going to solve the problem victory of Likud party under the leader- inant over the entire West Bank and of Gaza in this way, which means that ship of Benjamin Netanyahu which was does not manage areas that are becom- the West Bank has no problem?! or also required to form a new cabinet of ing Zionist settlements. Occupied lands and camps of the Pal- the regime. estinian refugees in Syria and Leba- Accordingly, Mehr News Agency had * What is your analysis of the outcome non don’t make difficulties for them? an interview with Mahmoud Al-Zahar, of the Israeli regime›s parliamentary Their problem is Gaza, and if Gaza a senior member of the Hamas leader- election and its impact on Gaza? opposes it, it will certainly not be im- ship as follows. First of all, the enemy›s nature is plemented. aggression, and this is the case with * What is the effect of formation of a the criminal attacks of this regime * What is your position toward US new administration in the West Bank over the past ten years, four consec- designation of IRGC as a terrorist on the internal conflicts of Palestine? utive wars on Gaza. Accordingly, in group? The Palestinian Authority has not the future the occurrence of conflict Labeling an organization as a terror- naturally belonged to Palestinian peo- and war is not unlikely between us ist group is totally rejected by us. IRGC ple and also does not represent them. and Israel. In particular, this spectrum is part of the Iranian government. Is the The organization separated Gaza of Zionists has taken place among Is- Iranian government a terrorist?! If they from the West Bank and the occupied raeli citizens over the past four years are terrorist, why did the former US territories from the Palestinian issue. so they are not concerned about the administration (Barack Obama) agree In fact, this is a major project for be- general or partial failure in the elec- with Iran on the nuclear issue? traying Palestine, which began with tion. Of course, at the next stage, all So labeling IRGC as a terrorists group the Oslo Accords (a set of agreements Israeli regime parties will work on is a lie and it’s for satisfying the Zionist between the Government of Israel making coalition. regime. People and even some Europe- and the Palestine Liberation Organi- ans oppose this move. IRGC is a genu- zation (PLO): the Oslo I Accord, signed *How do you evaluate the ine part of the Iranian establishment in Washington, D.C., in 1993; and the implementation process of the so- and has challenged the Zionists› pro- Oslo II Accord, signed in Taba, Egypt, called ‹Deal of the Century’? jects in the region.

Politics Page 8 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

S Arabia would be different if it faced consequences for its actions: Geopolitical expert

Interview by Payman Yazdani the globe - finds itself once again guilty military intervention abroad - selective- in reality of what the West and Riyadh ly enforced reflecting Western interests Commenting on the reasons behind have accused nations like Syria and Iran and opportunism, not any sort of princi- violation of human rights by Saudis, of in fiction. The executions were done pled stand. Anthony Cartalucci says the US doesn’t without fair or transparent trials and base its ties with other nations on were motivated by politics, not justice. What is the responsibility of international human rights, but rather obedience If there are truly international stand- bodies to stop Saudi crimes? and utility which Riyadh has both in ards regarding human rights, Saudi Ara- In theory, we would imagine “inter- abundance. bia is blatantly in violation of them - not national bodies” be they nongovern- that it would seem so considering the mental organizations (NGOs) or institu- The Saudi Interior Ministry recent- deafening silence coming from many tions like the United Nations - would be ly issued a statement on the execution of the self-appointed arbiters of such very vocal over Saudi Arabia’s human of 37 people in the Saudi Arabia. It has standards including Western govern- rights abuses. But these same bodies been claimed that the executed indi- ments and the army of “international are mute over Saudi Arabia’s current viduals were sentenced to death for in- bodies” they have funded to allegedly war in neighboring Yemen, and Riyadh’s volvement in terrorist cases. confront such human rights abuses. sponsorship of terrorism including the The fact is that the executed people arming and funding of groups like Al Qa- are not terrorists. They were Shias who After brutal killing of Khashoggi in Saudi eda and Daesh. So to expect these bod- have been oppressed by the Saudi re- Consulate in Istanbul the international ies to speak up or act in response to the gime for decades. This is not the first community’s reaction especially the recent executions is unrealistic. time that the Saudi regime has commit- White House’s to Saudi rulers’ crime Ultimately Riyadh will be held account- ted such terrible crimes against Shias, was not serious enough. Would Saudi able when the “might” component of the and it is clear that it won’t be the last. rulers dare to commit such crimes if “might makes right” basis of US foreign Accordingly, we reached out to Bang- they had faced with strong reaction policy ebbs, and emerging global powers kok- based geopolitical researcher An- from Washington? assume more influence and responsibility thony Cartalucci. Saudi Arabia would obviously be a over regional politics. Without US protec- Following is the full text of our inter- different nation today if it faced conse- tion, Riyadh would not only be unable to view with him: quences for its actions both abroad and commit the crimes it does today both at at home. Of course, the White House home and abroad - it will be too costly What is your assessment of execution doesn’t base its ties with other nations politically and economically for it to con- of 37 Saudi citizens by the rulers of the on human rights, but rather obedience tinue doing so. It is ironic that the self-pro- country? and utility - and Riyadh has both in claimed underwriters of global human Saudi Arabia - a nation that readi- abundance. For the US and other West- rights - the US and Europe - are in fact the ly aids and abets Western interference ern nations - human rights is merely a greatest enablers of human rights abuses and even military interventions around convenient pretext for political and even - with Saudi Arabia as “Exhibit A.” Politics Page 9 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Haitham Abu Said: Execution of 37 Saudi citizens a major crime

Condemning the execution of Saudi United Nations Human Rights Commit- crime, but if we want to see the effec- citizens, High Commissioner for Human tee. The United Nations Human Rights tiveness and speed of the actions; first Rights in the Middle East Dr. Haitham Council has also condemned the exe- of all, these laws should be away from Abu also emphasized that US sanctions cutions and issued verdict about the political affairs and common interests. against Iran does not comply with necessity of adhering of all the coun- Secondly, it is necessary to refer to international fundamental rights. tries that have signed the Universal the judicial institutions and interna- Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) tional tribunals which are under the The Saudi Interior Ministry recently in 1948. policies of UN Security Council. What issued a statement on the execution of Recent executions in Saudi Arabia the world needs today is accelerating 37 people in the Saudi Arabia. It has are major crimes and unacceptable the separation of authorities and crim- been claimed that the executed indi- in accordance with law; however, the inal cases and deliberate murder. viduals were sentenced to death for Saudis have the reason for their ac- involvement in terrorist cases. tion. How do you evaluate US sanctions The fact is that the executed peo- against Iranian people from the ple are not terrorists. They were Shi- Despite the reactions of the perspective of human rights? as who have been oppressed by the international community and various US sanctions against Iran does not Saudi regime for decades. This is not governments to the murder of Jamal comply with international fundamen- the first time that the Saudi regime Khashoggi, why have the Saudis carried tal rights. The sanctions are declara- has committed such terrible crimes out new executions? tion of the world war in which US does against Shias, and it is clear that it Why do the Saudis commit execu- not benefit from it. won’t be the last. tions in Saudi Arabia despite the open We can hear the voice of countries Accordingly, Mehr News Agency in- case of Khashoggi? Because they are which protest and condemn US sanc- terviewed Dr. Haitham Abu Said, High comfort and confident about the reac- tion. On the other hand, position of US Commissioner for Human Rights in the tion of the US President Donald Trump. will be also damaged and confronted Middle East and Secretary General of He has so far delayed the prosecution with these countries. the European Organization for securi- and investigation of Saudis and satisfied US is losing and it must make deci- ty and information as follows. by the name of suspects given by Saudis. sions that are hard to implement, as Iran has options to continue the oil What is your analysis about the How effective do you consider the laws export. Of course, the price of oil may execution of 37 Saudi citizens by the of the international judicial institutions be lower than OPEC. It also causes a Saudi regime? in deterring these type of crimes? lot of dismay for US and its allies, and These executions are condemned in These laws are not only deterrent, will eventually put pressure on the US my personal opinion as well as in the but also painful for the perpetrators of itself through oil traders. Politics Page 10 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY S. Arabia has not really demonstrated nuclear transparency: Heinonen

Interview by: Javad Heirannia

Olli Heinonen, the former deputy director general for safeguards at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), says that Saudi Arabia has not really demonstrated nuclear transparency, by concluding and ratifying, for example, the IAEA Additional Protocol.

Heinonen, now a senior advisor on science and non-proliferation at Foun- dation for Defense of Democracies, also believes that “We have also not seen clear nuclear energy plans other than stating numbers of nuclear reactors to be built.” “They have also not been open on their plans to construct research reac- tors. The statements of the Saudi au- cess to “sensitive US nuclear technol- um and reprocess plutonium by itself? thorities are also worrisome with regard ogy” that could in turn “allow Saudi In my view that is out of question. to the technologies, which they may ac- Arabia to produce nuclear weapons con- This is probably something where a quire,” he added. tributing to the proliferation of nuclear bi-partisan agreement can be reached. Following is the text of the interview arms throughout an already unstable An agreement, which includes restric- with Heinonen: Middle East.” What is your opinion? tions to uranium enrichment and repro- Nuclear energy is a dual use tech- cessing. Top Trump administration officials nology, which can contribute to the advocated for a plan to build dozens of development goals of nations, but The report alleges those involved in nuclear power plants in Saudi Arabia some aspects, uranium enrichment and the planning were aiming to enrich despite warnings that the move could spent fuel reprocessing, are technol- themselves and possibly violated pose ethical concerns and violate ogies, which can in a fairly short time the Atomic Energy Act, a federal law federal law, according to a report be turned to produce fissile material, that lays out the preconditions of any released by House Democrats. Which enriched uranium, and plutonium for nuclear deals with another nation group in the US is trying to sell this nuclear weapons. States, which own and requires Congressional approval. sensitive technology to Saudi Arabia? such kind of capabilities, are nuclear What is the result of the confrontation There are several countries in the threshold states that can change their of the Congress and President Trump Middle East with programs to tap to nuclear intentions, and proceed to nu- administration in this case? nuclear energy as one of the sources to clear weapons when they see that their The dilemma arises from the state- meet increasing electricity and water security concerns so require. ments of the Saudi Arabian officials, desalination requirements. Iran, Turkey, There are no economic and technical who have stated that “what Iran gets, the Emirates, and Egypt are proceed- reasons today for a newcomer nuclear we will get” including uranium enrich- ing with concrete plans. Participation state to embark for uranium enrichment ment. The question is whether the US in these developments in the Middle or reprocessing. There is no shortage of can pursue Saudi Arabia to conclude East is attractive to the nuclear industry nuclear fuel services on the well-func- a bilateral nuclear cooperation agree- when they see their ordering books get- tioning global market in the years to ment similar to the one with the Emir- ting thinner elsewhere. The US nuclear come. This is why we should support the ates, where the UAE foregoes uranium technology providers are not an excep- policy of no reprocessing and uranium enrichment. The negotiations will be tion from that. enrichment in the Middle East, which complicated due to that fact that oth- Democrats raise concerns that the has enough security problems. er technology providers – Russia, The Trump administration aiding this effort Do you think Trump administration Republic of Korea or China – do not re- would allow the Saudi regime have ac- will allow Saudi Arabia to enrich urani- quire such guarantees. Politics Page 11 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

In May 2018, Trump unilaterally between the US and Saudi Arabia. limitations to the IAEA activities in withdrew the US from the Iran But there is more to that. Saudi Ara- Saudi Arabia, but investigations and nuclear agreement. Trump logic for bia has not really demonstrated nucle- follow-ups on intentions of Saudi Ara- the withdrawal was Nuclear Non- ar transparency, by concluding and bia, in the light of the statements of its Proliferation. But the transferring ratifying, for example, the IAEA Addi- leadership, calls for tighter monitoring “sensitive US nuclear technology” tional Protocol. We have also not seen using other tools such as analysis of that could in turn “allow Saudi Arabia clear nuclear energy plans other than open source information and satellite to produce nuclear weapons that stating numbers of nuclear reactors to imagery. When the safeguards reports contribute to the proliferation of be built. They have also not been open show that the IAEA expenditures for nuclear arms throughout an already on their plans to construct research Saudi Arabia have in last five years unstable Middle East.” How can explain reactors. The statements of the Saudi been about the same order of mag- this contradiction? authorities are also worrisome with nitude as spent, for example, for the There is no contradiction here. I have regard to the technologies, which they Vatican, some intensification of mon- not seen any US officials stating publicly may acquire. itoring is required. If this is not done, that Saudi Arabia should have uranium I would have also expected from concerns of countries regarding the enrichment or reprocessing. However, the IAEA a bit stronger scrutiny to the true intentions of Saudi Arabia will those understandings should be en- Saudi Arabian plans. It is true that the prevail, and may contribute to a prolif- shrined to a legally binding agreement current safeguards agreement puts eration cascade in the region.

Ansarollah not to allow aggressors’ control over Al-Hudaydah: Yemeni minister

Ahmed Al-Qana, Yemen’s Minister of State for National Reconciliation says that the Yemeni people will continue to resist against Saudi-led aggressors, stressing that the Yemeni Ansarollah will not agree to hand over the control of Al-Hudaydah to the other side under the UN-supervised deal.

Speaking to Mehr News Agency (MNA) correspondent, Ahmed Al-Qana, Yemen’s Minister of State for National Reconciliation, said that the Yemeni nation will continue to resist the Saudi and UAE-led aggressors, saying that Yem- enis have been taught by holy Quran to resist and stand against aggressors. Al-Qana said that victory is theirs, saying that after four years of aggression, the Saudi and UAE-led aggressors with the support of Israel and the United States have not achieved their goals. He also declared that when the resistance enters its fifth year, it will be different from the past four years, as their leader Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi had previously talks, the Yemeni official said “we count on the UN to put an predicted. end to the aggression and we hope the UN and its secretary Furthermore, the Yemeni national reconciliation minister general, as the ones who brokered the talks, could appear on referred to the UN-brokered peace talks in Sweden, saying media and reveal the side that throws obstacles on the way of that other side of the negotiating table do not have power and the peace talks.” willingness and are completely under the influence of Saudis He further noted that while his side keeps extending their and Emirates. hands for the sake of reaching peace, the other side keeps “In fact, we are talking with the Saudis and Emirates. The throwing hurdles on the way of peace talks and asks them to talks will either lead to peace or we will respond to them by hand over Yemen’s territories to the enemy and their merce- missiles, UAVs and our popular committees,” Al-Qana under- naries. scored. “We agreed to form the UN-supervised group to monitor “Anyway, we will continue negotiating with them in order the Al-Hudaydah agreement, but the other side interpreted to encourage them to return to their roots and preserve their the agreement in their own favor and called for the full hand- Yemeni identity,” he said. over of the port. But we do not accept that,” the Yemeni na- Regarding the partiality of the United Nations in the peace tional reconciliation minister underlined. Politics Page 12 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

Assad’s visit to Tehran sign of unwavering Syrian-Iran ties: Geopolitical expert

Interview by Payman Yazdani about the central role Iran has played Could the US and its allies reach their in what is essentially a Syrian victory goals in Syria? Touching upon Iran’s important role over Washington’s destructive 8 year It is likely that as US capabilities in Syrian victory over Washington’s proxy war. It says that Iran is a regional degrade in the region, its “goals” will destructive proxy war, Anthony player - that it played a role in defeat- change from achieving hegemony Cartalucci says Assad’s visit to Tehran ing terrorist organizations including Al to preserving what little influence it is a sign of unwavering Syrian-Iran ties. Nusra and the self-proclaimed Islamic has remaining. It will do this through State in ways the nearly 20 year US- subversion, terrorism, and interven- Syrian President Bashar Assad made led “War on Terror” has categorically tionism whenever and wherever the an unannounced visit to Iran, he met failed to do. weakness or miscalculations of its ad- with the leader of Islamic Revolution versaries allow. The US is still capable Seyed Ali Khamenei and other top Ira- What is the significance of Iran and of prolonging the Syrian conflict - it nian officials including President Has- Syria cooperation in foiling the US plots is still attempting to shield terrorists san Rouhani to discuss the planned US for the region? from their final reckoning in Idlib and troop withdrawal and efforts to set up This is one of many key setbacks has dragged its feet in withdrawing a buffer zone in northern Syria. signaling the irreversible decline of from eastern Syria - and may possibly Assad’s visit to Tehran was one of Washington’s unipolar international never withdraw. his rare trips to abroad since the crisis order. More specifically, Washington’s Thus while its initial goal was the broke out in the country in 2011. failure in Syria exposes its declining complete overthrow, division, and His visit to Tehran had many clear influence in the region and should destruction of the Syrian state be- message. To know more about the issue have Washington’s traditional allies in fore moving onward to Iran, the US we discussed President Assad’s visit to the region reevaluating their commit- may still be able to prolong the con- Iran with Bangkok- based geopolitical ments and investments in aiding and flict and leave Syria partially divided. researcher Anthony Cartalucci. abetting US agendas. The US’ inability This also serves the purpose of forc- Here is full text of his interview with to overthrow Syria after serial regime ing Iran to invest heavily in defense Payman Yazdani: change wars across the Middle East is a spending that could be better used in sign of weakness Washington has tried protecting and growing its economy What is the message of Assad’s visit to and failed to reverse. It will be impor- in the face of persistent US sanctions Iran? tant for Syria and Iran to consolidate and economic warfare. Syria and its Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s this victory and ensure the patient, allies - especially Iran - still have a visit to Iran - the first visit anywhere systematic eviction of the US from the long fight ahead of them. The US except for Russia since the war be- region continues without allowing an may have failed in its original plans, gan in 2011 - is highly significant. It opportunity for a resurgence of the but its overall objective of eliminat- is a sign of unwavering Syrian-Iranian sort of violence and chaos that swept ing Iran and its allies still drives its ties. It is also a very public message the region in 2011. Middle Eastern policy. Politics Page 13 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Transferring nuclear technology to al-Saud is the most destabilizing development: Entessar

Touching upon Trump’s attempt to transfer sensitive nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia, Prof. Entessar says this is the most destabilizing and dangerous development that will embolden Takfiri extremists.

The US President Donald Trump is rushing to transfer sensitive nuclear power technology to Saudi Arabia, ac- cording to a new congressional report. To shed more light on the conse- quences of such act, we reached out to Nader Entessar, professor emeritus of political science from university of South Alabama. Following is the full text of our in- terview with him:

What can be the consequences of such an act for the region? possible threats to the security of nology to Saudi Arabia without a prop- As the recently-released report of Tel Aviv despite current cooperation er review by Congress may indeed be a the U.S. House of Representative’s between Riyadh and Tel Aviv? violation of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act Committee on Oversight and Reform One of the pillars of Israeli foreign let alone its destabilizing regional im- indicated, selling and transferring policy in the region is preventing the pact. But the Trump administration’s sensitive nuclear technology to Sau- emergence of another nuclear-capa- obsession with undermining Iran’s in- di Arabia could allow that country to ble state in the region. In other words, terests and national security has led produce nuclear weapons and thus Israel’s regional foreign policy empha- to adopt irrational foreign policy de- contribute to a potential nuclear arms sizes that country’s nuclear monopo- cisions that will have unsavory conse- race in an already unstable region. ly and supremacy. Notwithstanding quences in the long run. Transferring sensitive nuclear tech- close Israeli-Saudi ties, Israel will not How do you see Trump’s son in law nology to the al-Saud regime will be welcome the development of nuclear role in selling sensitive nuclear tech- the most destabilizing and dangerous weapons capability in Saudi Arabia. nology to Saudi Arabia. development in the long and cozy re- Such a development will challenge the The report by the House Commit- lationship between Washington and burgeoning relations between these tee on Oversight and Reform does Riyadh. two regional hegemons. indeed allude to the role of Jared Kushner in this episode. It also As the Saudi Kingdom is the main Comparing the US reaction to the Saudi indicates that strong private com- sponsor of Takfiri extremism all around missile and nuclear programs with its mercial interests have been push- the world, what can be consequences reaction to Iran’s ones, isn’t the US ing for the sale of sensitive U.S. of such act globally? policy enjoying double standard? nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia At a minimum, such an act will em- Of course, it is. But this is not the for their own private gains. Iron- bolden the Takfiri groups to accelerate point. Washington’s regional foreign Bridge Group In., a subsidiary of IP3, their terrorist activities in the region policy has always been characterized has been one of these private entities, and beyond. They may reason that by double standards. There are many which through its “advisor” General since their chief sponsor is on its way reasons countries pursue certain foreign Michael Flynn has been a key propo- to becoming a nuclear power with policy goals. Fairness, even-handed- nent of the nuclear technology sale to added muscle, it is safer for them to ness, and morality are not among them. Saudi Arabia. In other words, sever- put their criminal acts in overdrive. al influential private individuals and What is Trump after in the region by groups with strong ties to the Trump The US is committed to Israeli regime’s such destabilizing acts? administration have been working on security. Can such a move create Transferring sensitive nuclear tech- this scheme for some time now. Politics Page 14 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY US wants to make Venezuela another Syria or Libya: ambassador

Interview by Negar Asadi & Javad Heirannia

Venezuelan Ambassador to Tehran Carlos Antonio Alcala Cordones says the US is seeking to create a situation similar to Syria and Libya in his country.

In an interview with the Tehran Times and Mehr news agency on Wednesday in his office, the ambassador said that the US plots against the Maduro govern- ment are intended to find access to Ven- ezuela’s abundant natural resources. Here is an excerpt of the interview:

Opposition leader Juan Guaido questioned legitimacy of President Maduro’s government on January 30 and took the people to streets that caused the current developments in Venezuela. What is your analysis of the which are against Maduro and under- ple with peace or war. crisis and the US role in it? mine legitimacy of the government to Guaido was an MP, however, Amazo- have access to the natural resources of Russia has decided to present a draft nas State and three of the MPs cheated Venezuela. resolution to the UN Security Council in parliamentary elections in 2016 and Documents have been presented to to resolve the crisis in Venezuela. The the National Assembly of Venezuela was the UN Security Council proving the US US is also making efforts to topple dissolved. So, this parliament has not actions against Venezuela. Maduro’s government through early been valid since 2016 and it is obvious election by preparing a draft bill to the that Guaido has no legal credibility in There is an initiative presented by Security Council. Do you think Russia the parliament. Mexico and Uruguay and supported by can prevent a possible U.S. military As you know, developments in Ven- Russia which proposes direct dialogue action by this draft? ezuela were guided by US President between the government and the We praise Russia’s actions at the UN Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike opponents. What is the Venezuelan for supporting the Venezuelan people. Pompeo, Vice President Mike Pence and government’s position in this respect? Russia supports our constitution and op- National Security Advisor John Bolton. In your opinion, what is the solution to poses military action against our coun- They plotted chaos and violence and the current crisis? try. It is not just Russia, China has also coup on January 23 and introduced Based on the UN Charter, all the in- supported the Venezuelan government Guaido as the president. terfering actions against Venezuela are at the Security Council. After the Bolivarian Revolution, we illegal. Certain organizations like the Since 1998, Mr. [Hugo] Chavez and have been experiencing many attempts Mercosur and countries like Mexico, Maduro have encouraged dialogue be- by the US to harm the revolution. The Uruguay, Cuba, Russia, China, Iran and tween the government and the oppo- destructive efforts of the US against the Turkey have supported dialogue and sition. However, the opposition has al- Bolivarian Revolution have been contin- peaceful ways within the framework of ways ignored results of the talks. uing since 1998 and currently the pres- international law to solve the crisis. We Guaido is not committed to any dia- sure has been intensified by the Trump also support such initiatives to achieve logue. In fact, it is the U.S. which decides government. consensus in Venezuela. for Guaido. A high ranking U.S. official They [the US officials] seek to find However, the Trump government announced that it is not the time to hold control over Venezuela’s oil, gold and has always tried to deceive the inter- talks and we should take practical action diamond resources. national community by saying that against Venezuela. They seek to enact The current government has prevent- military action is unavoidable. It is scenarios similar to Libya and Syria in ed them and the US is making efforts to upon them to decide whether they Venezuela. We use all our force to stop be accompanied by the governments seek to treat with the Venezuelan peo- their actions. Politics Page 15 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

Given that the US actions and pressure House’s orders. Presidents of Brazil and the Middle East. We never seek war. We violate the Organization of American Guyana are exerting pressure against seek a dialogue which respect the peo- States’ charter, what do you think about Venezuela through the U.S. and the op- ple’s right to determine their destiny. the organization’s role in this crisis? ponents. Fidel Castro had once said that this What is your opinion about Guaido’s organization is actually the U.S. colonial What is the best way out of the crisis? remarks on resuming ties with the office. Secretary general of this organ- The best way is the one that the peo- Zionist regime of Israel? ization does not take decisions inde- ple chose and elected Nicolas Maduro. It is obvious that Guaido supports Is- pendently. The way that countries recognized Ma- rael, because Israel is an ally to the US Recently, they held a meeting to issue duro. and we would be surprised if he did not a resolution against Maduro’s govern- So, the only way that we propose is make such remarks. ment to harm the Bolivarian Revolution. peace and diplomacy. We can solve all The US sees Guaido as a tool to reach However, we have the people’s supports problems through peace and dialogue. Venezuela’s natural resources. The main who elected Maduro in May 2018. The best way is to respect Venezuela’s objective of the US is access to our coun- The governments which are against independence and sovereignty and try’s resources. Venezuela are making efforts through also respect the government which the Lima Group and other organizations has been formed by the people’s How do you evaluate Iran’s position on to interfere in our country’s affairs. How- votes. developments in Venezuela? ever, countries such as Bolivia, Cuba, Mr. Maduro and the foreign minister First of all, I congratulate the 40th an- Nicaragua, Uruguay and certain other [Jorge Arreaza] are making any efforts to niversary of the Islamic Revolution. We Caribbean countries did not accompany show the world the realities in Venezuela. have always see Iran’s advances as role the US, being aware that such acts vio- We are ready to defend (the country) model. I praise Iran’s supports for the late UN laws. despite all the sanctions and pressures. Venezuelan government and people. On the contrary, countries like Argen- We are ready to counter military attack Both Iran and Venezuela are victims tina, Chile, Columbia and Paraguay have by the US. of the US hostile actions and I congratu- remained silent and have not supported It is obvious that no one wants war. late the Iranian people who have resist- Venezuela. They are following the White War has consequences as it has had in ed against such acts.

Iran may be gearing up to reduce nuclear coop. under JCPOA

In the light of recent developments, clients. His administration said in a Iran may be gearing up to reduce statement on Friday that it has also the level of its nuclear cooperation imposed sanctions on Iran’s export commitments under the JCPOA of enriched uranium at the same following the US’ re-imposition of time as renewed three key - waiv sanctions and further restrictions ers that will allow European allies, on Iran’s nuclear activity. Russia and China to cooperate with the Islamic Republic on civil nuclear The 2015 Iran nuclear deal program. (JCPOA), reached between Iran and In the light of US’ continued re- six world powers – the US, the UK, France, Russia, China and Ger- strictions on Iran, the country may be gearing up to reduce the many, has been in shambles ever since Donald Trump pulled the level of its nuclear commitments according to paragraphs 26 US out of the agreement and re-imposed all the nuclear-relat- and 37 of the JCPOA; the measures would still fall within the ed sanctions that had been removed under the deal. framework of the agreement and would not be considered as Despite the US’ withdrawal since May 2018, Iran has re- a violation of Iran’s nuclear-related commitments and aban- mained committed to the deal as confirmed in all of the 14 doning the JCPOA. reports issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Iran’s possible measures may include 3.67% uranium en- other sides to the deal have been trying to keep Iran inter- richment at Fordow enrichment facility; installation of IR2M ested in the agreement by proposing an alternative payment and IR4 centrifuges at Natanz nuclear facility; production and channel that would facilitate trade with Iran and bypass the storage of heavy water in quantities over 130 tons; unsealing US sanctions. The mechanism, known as INSTEX, has yet to the fuel tablets of Arak’s old reactor; and leaving the Non-Pro- become operational, and even then, many are skeptical about liferation Treaty (NPT), which Iran has been implementing vol- the effectiveness of the channel in safeguarding Iran’s eco- untarily. nomic interests. Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif recently said Meanwhile, Trump has vowed to drive Iran’s oil exports to that Tehran is weighing various options, including leaving the zero by ending sanctions waivers to eight of Iran’s biggest oil Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), in response to the US sanctions. Politics Page 16 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY S Africa, Iran to ‘weather the storm together’: amb. Khumalo

Reported by: Marjohn Sheikhi

South African embassy in Tehran celebrated the country’s Freedom Day on Wed., during which Ambassador Khumalo stressed the two countries’ resolve to continue developing relations in the face of all existing challenges.

South Africa celebrates its national day on April 27, designated as Freedom Day to mark the day in 1994 when the first democratic election was held in the country and ushered in a new era after a long period of colonialism and White minority domination, known as apart- heid. To commemorate the 25th anniversa- ry of their Freedom Day, the South Afri- can embassy in Tehran held a ceremony on Wednesday evening, with represent- ture, health, education, to name a few,” and exchange of delegations and visits atives and diplomats from a number of he said. of high-ranking officials between the embassies in Tehran in attendance. The ambassador then expressed his two sides, as well as the two countries’ The ceremony was opened by a country’s continued support to Iran, cooperation in international areas such speech by South African Ambassador saying the two countries would “weath- as the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), to Tehran, V. M. Khumalo, followed by er the storm together.” human rights and peace in the Middle a speech by assistant to Iranian For- He also noted the visit of Iranian Pres- East region. eign Minister in African Affairs, Mehdi ident Rouhani to South Africa this year, After the South African general elec- Agha-Jafari. The two then proceeded to maintaining that the visit would serve to tions on May 8, Iran and South Africa cut a South African flag cake in honor of further strengthen the existing bilateral will be planning for the 14th round of the country’s Freedom Day. relations and mutual support. joint economic commission, as well as Addressing the attendees, Ambassa- He concluded his speech by offer- technical committee meetings, Agha-Ja- dor Khumalo said Freedom Day ushered ing condolences to the families of the fari announced. in a new beginning of hope for a trans- victims of the recent floods that have He also noted the state visit of Pres- formative future for all South Africans, affected at least 23 of the country’s ident Rouhani to South Africa in 2019. as everyone for the first time in 25 years 31 provinces since heavy downpours “The Islamic Republic of Iran, as an finally had the opportunity and free- began on March 19. According to re- independent state, remains resolute on dom to exercise their democratic right ports, the floods have taken the lives of its principal positions on promoting multi- to participate in the governance of the at least 67 people and destroyed over lateralism, committing to JCPOA as a valid country. 25,000 homes around the country, with international document as long as Iran’s He thanked Iran for its contribution Lorestan and Fars provinces having the interests are covered, benefiting from and support towards the struggle for highest number of casualties. nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and freedom in South Africa, noting the vis- The ambassador called on everyone supporting the rights of the oppressed its by former President Mandela to Iran to commit to the global efforts to com- people of the world,” he said. in 1992 and 1999. bat climate change and its devastating He further voiced confidence that “For the past 25 years, Iran has re- effects on the environment. the future of relations between Iran and mained an important friend to South Also speaking at the ceremony was South Africa is “bright”, and the leaders Africa. Through the Joint Commission of the assistant to Iranian Foreign Minis- of both countries are keen on devel- Cooperation our countries have expand- ter in African Affairs, Mehdi Agha-Jafari, oping cooperation despite the existing ed engagements in a number of sectors who highlighted the strong relations challenges and unlawful pressures, such such as tourism, trade and investment, between Iran and South Africa, by not- as the imposition of sanctions by the science and technology, arts and cul- ing the high number of political talks United States. Economy Economy Page 18 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY EGFI to issue guarantees for oil purchasers of IRENEX The CEO of the Export Guarantee Fund of Iran (EGFI) announced that the fund is to issue guarantees for oil purchaser of Iran Energy Exchange (IRENEX) and related negotiations with the Iranian oil ministry are underway. will cooperate with the oil ministry considering the recent According to Afrooz Bahrami, who spoke with Mehr decision of the US about ending waiver grace period for News correspondent on Sunday, “EGFI is in charge of cov- Iranian oil customers,” she described. ering trade and political risks of oil and non-oil exports, “As the exports fund of the country, which is in contact therefore, it provides services to domestic stocks market with counterparts across the globe, we try to compensate including IRENEX and Mercantile Exchange Market (IME).” for the blocked channels,” Bahrami said. “In future transactions of the named markets, EGFI will Answering a question about the EGFI’s wages for issuing act as a facilitator by issuing guarantees,” she said, “At exports guarantees, the official explained that “wages for IRENEX we will ease oil sales, thus.” issuing guarantees for exporters to Iraq and Afghanistan “We are resolved to tighten ties between the purchas- are less than one percent presently and we are to re-re- ers from the private sector and the Iranian government and duce the wages for exports to neighboring countries.”

Iran losing regional, world gas market: energy expert Interview by Payman Yazdani Oman have not been fruitful after 1.5 bcm natural gas to Oman. Iran also many years? is interested to use Oman LNG facilities Touching upon the necessity of Iran’s Exporting natural gas to neighbors is to produce LNG and export LNG. By Oc- more active foreign and energy Iran’s priority. According to strategy of tober 2018, Oman Ministry of Oil set a diplomacy to keep and increase its Ministry of Oil, after all phases of South tender to choose a company for con- share in regional and world gas market, Pars will be online, Iran would be able struction pipeline in Oman territory. Omid Shokri believes Iran is even losing to exports about 200 mcm natural gas Turkey’s gas market. to neighbors. Iran has some natural gas Only %20 of Iran’s gas export pipeline projects. Iran-Pakistan pipeline will be capacity to Basra, Iraq is active. Why In near future, gas refineries of phas- one of Iran natural gas projects. Iran Iran has not been able to utilize the full es 13, 22, and 24 of South Pars will be completed required infrastructure by capacity of the pipeline? inaugurated officially. This means Iran’s 2014 to deliver natural gas to Iran-Paki- The major problem is due to sanc- greater share of gas field against its rival stan border. But Pakistan due to finan- tions. Iraq can’t pay for natural gas Qatar, but situation of Iranian gas- ex cial problems and capabilities did not which imported from Iran. I think there ports is not very good. build pipeline to Iran-Pakistan border. is no major problem in natural gas pro- To know more about the issue we Saudi is trying play important energy duction. During Summer Iran export reached out to Washington-based Sen- diplomacy in Pakistan. And during Bin more natural gas rather than Winter. ior Energy Security Analyst Omid Shokri Salman’s visit to Pakistan they signed During winter domestic consumption is Kalehsar. He is currently serving as a some agreements in energy sector and high and Ministry of Oil has to transit Visiting Research Scholar in the Schar, it seems that it will not be easy for Iran more natural gas to domestic pipeline School of Policy and Government at to export natural gas to Pakistan in network. It can be expected by coming George Mason University. short-term. months’ capacity of natural gas export Iran has also planned to deliver natu- to Iraq to be increased. Domestic con- Why Iran has not been successful in ral gas to Oman by 2020, but by March sumption in Iran is too high. Iran needs exporting gas despite its success in 2019, there is going to be a major devel- to use energy efficiency in all sectors gas production so that the project of opment in Iran-Oman pipeline. Accord- to increase domestic consumption. At exporting Iranian gas to Pakistan and ing to the agreement Iran must export present majority of natural gas agree- Economy Page 19 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

ments are long term (20 or 25 years) gas because of its adoptive policies. It tion between Russia, Qatar, US and Aus- and it is not clear why Iran-Iraq natural wants to be the gas hub itself, the recip- tralia. Russia is using different pricing gas pipeline period is just for six year. It ient and distributor of gas, which is by system and export policy for every coun- possible for Iran to get oil and gas debt no means accepted by Iran. In addition try in EU market to keep and increase its with Iraq currency Dinar. to the logistical and geopolitical issues share in EU market. US is against EU’s associated with Iran’s gas exports to Eu- more dependency on Gazprom. Last De- Only 5 to 6 years remain to termination rope, there is also a price dispute. cember US asked EU members to import of the contract for the sale of Iranian During past year Iran and Turkey more LNG from Qatar instead of import- gas to Turkey and Iraq, and on the other hold a round of negotiations to ex- ing natural gas from Russia. At present hand, Iran has not been able to find tend Iran-Turkey natural gas pipeline Russia has two major projects to deliver new markets for its gas. What should period. But there is no major progress natural gas to EU market. Turk Stream Iran do for exporting regarding to the in negotiations. Iran asked Turkey to and North Stream II. US is against North increase of gas production? import more natural gas and Turkey Stream II. Exporting natural gas to EU market asked Iran to give more discount in US due to shale gas revolution is is Iran second priority. Natural gas ex- natural gas price. Turkey is importing trying to export more natural gas and port to Europe requires a much longer natural gas from TANAP project from LNG to neighbors and its allies. Ger- pipeline than the Persian Gulf states. Azerbaijan and by 2019 and Turkey will many needs Russia natural gas and has As you know, the only logical route to begin to import more natural gas from welcomed North Stream II project. All export gas from Iran to Europe is Tur- Russia via Turk Stream project. Turkey developments show that Iran will face key, although in the past, several tran- also increase LNG import from Qatar major challenges to be a key player in sit routes were considered, including and doubled importing LNG from US. natural gas market in both regional and Iraq, Syria, the Islamic pipeline, Arme- Turkey also made huge investment in world natural gas markets and also in nia and Georgia, but at present, Turkey renewable energy. It means that Iran short term or midterm it will be hard to is the right option for Iran to export natural gas in Turkey energy market is Iran to be natural gas exporter to EU. gas exports to Europe. losing its importance. Iran needs more Due to US sanctions no major foreign The pipeline needed to transport gas active foreign policy and energy diplo- energy firms are interested to invest in from Assalouyeh to the Turkish border macy to keep its share in regional mar- Iran energy sector. In my opinion the is about 2,000 kilometers. Exporting gas ket and also increase its share. major problem in Iran energy sector is from Turkey to the first European coun- that to attract foreign investment you try also requires at least another 2,000 What will be the possible effect of need a legal framework, an efficient and kilometers of pipeline, which is much completion of the North Stream II fast decision process and political stabil- longer than the 200-kilometer pipeline project on the future of Iranian gas ity (especially in the international con- to the Persian Gulf states. Turkey, on the exports? text). These variables are far from being other hand, is not willing to transit Iran’s In EU market there is major competi- achieved as we speak,”. Economy Page 20 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

Turkish politician: Impossible to drive Iran’s oil export to zero

Interview by Payman Yazdani ternational law and regulations as they grow in time and this could also help transgress the sovereign right of nations Iran to sell more of its oil. Condemning the US move to force to trade freely. The sanctions are illegal Turkey to buy oil from Saudi Arabia also because they have been imposed The US is forcing Turkey to stop buying and UAE instead of Iran , Faruk logoglu unilaterally without a mandate from oil from Iran and replace Saudi and says the US move is flagrant violation the UN Security Council or by any other Emeriti oil instead of Iranian oil. What of international law and he sovereign authorized body. The US is certainly are the advantages of Iranian oil for right of nations to trade freely. entitled not to import Iranian oil or Turkey? goods itself but has no right to prevent Iran is our neighbor. We have a broad In continuation of the US hostile others from engaging in what is legal range of economic relations. Oil is one policies against the Iranian nation, the and proper. major element in the nexus of our ties White House recently announced that with Iran. The physical proximity is also it has decided not to reissue waivers on The US is making efforts to drive an important asset as far as Iranian oil is Iranian oil after they expire in May. The the export of Iranian oil to zero. Is it concerned. Given the state of our prob- statement went on to say that the Unit- possible? If no, why? lematic relations with both Saudi Arabia ed States, Saudi Arabia, and the United The US effort to drive Iranian oil ex- and the UAE, there is no incentive for Arab Emirates have pledged to ensure ports to zero is not possible. There will Turkey to buy oil from them. that the global market will have suffi- certainly be buyers of Iranian oil who cient oil supply following Washington’s will not comply with US sanctions. Chi- Considering the rivalry between Saudi decision to terminate sanctions waivers na has already declared that its trade Arabia and UAE from one side with for countries importing Iranian oil. with Iran is legal and normal. Turkey Turkey and their differences, Can’t To know more about the issue we has also taken a stance against the US request threaten Turkey’s energy reached out to Dr. Osman Faruk Logo- US move. Foreign Minister Çavuşoğ- security and maybe consequently it glu, a senior member of Turkey’s Repub- lu stated that the US decision will national security due to the fact the lican People’s Party (CHP). Following is not serve regional peace and stabil- UAE is one of the supporters of the PKK the full text of our interview with him: ity, yet harm the Iranian people and terrorist separatist group? added that Turkey rejects unilateral Even if Turkey reduces its Iranian Are the US moves to slap unilateral sanctions and impositions on how oil imports and starts to look for other sanctions against Iran and not extending to conduct relations with neighbors. sources, the alternative for Turkey will waivers for Iran’s oil importers in Iran’s exports might be curtailed for be neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE. compliance with international law and some time to come in the near future, Current conditions will not allow Turkey regulations? but over time the volume of its exports to turn in that direction. In any case, The US sanctions against Iranian oil could/should rise. We should expect the US is not in a position to ask Turkey exports are in flagrant violation of in- adverse reactions to the US decision to where it is to buy its oil from. Economy Page 21 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY TSE official uncovers reasons for stocks boom By Haniyeh Sadat Jafariyeh pact of forex rate fluctuations and rial de- preciation on the growth of stock market Under the conditions that Iran is indices, the official said that “foreign -ex experiencing the toughest US-led change rates have had a significant role, sanctions ever and its oil exports and or in better words the most influential international banking transactions are one, in domestic stock market during the under a high pressure, the stock market past two years.” indices including TEDPIX (Tehran Stock “The impact can be described by many Exchange’s main index) and IFX (the reasons. First, the majority of the listed main index of Iran’s over-the-counter companies are export ones. Their assets (OTC) market, also known as Iran Fara and products are traded at international Bourse), are enjoying their green days, markets. This lets them experience a level registering growth. of increase in the value of their sales due Iran, matches the calendar year,” he said, to rial-depreciation during the past year. The experts believe that the growth “Price-to-earnings ratio (P/E ratio), deter- They could also benefit from exemptions is due to the increase in forex rates at mining stock valuation, for the investors and incentives provided to exporters,” he domestic free market besides the rise in is expected to stand below 3 for majority described. goods prices in the global market which of the shares in the said time span, i.e. “It is worth noting that, among the 40 have brought Iranian export companies the stock market has been highly effi- industries listed at Iran’s stock market, listed at stock market a good profit and cient and its efficiency is higher than the some have been negatively affected by pulled the indices up. interest rates for investors.” the increase in forex rates,” he said, “In To have a clear overview about the Addressing the US sanctions impact particular, those who were mere import issue, Mehr news agency conducted on Iran’s economy and market, Hosseini companies or those who had previously an interview with Roohollah Hosseini Moghaddam explained that “despite the received currency facilities faced some Moghaddam, deputy head of Tehran expectations which suggested that the difficulties.” Stock Exchange’s (TSE). listed companies would experience a “Although the forex market has “Iran’s capital market including Tehran decrease in selling their shares following re-started a rising trend in the past Stock Exchange (TSE) have registered a the implementation of the final round of few days, during the past three or four growth of 15 percent as of the beginning US sanctions [in November, 2015], what months, the rates did not fluctuate se- Iranian calendar year 1398 (March 21, happened in reality was totally different.” verely, the factor that brought stability to 2019), i.e. the prices of different compa- “The listed companies continued reg- the stock market and let the investors to nies’ stakes have averagely increased by istering growth in their sales, this assured feel secure and find a relative predictabil- 15 percent,” Hosseini Moghaddam con- and lured investors to the stock market ity in the market,” he said underlying the firmed, “The positive trend has started in where they could experience a predict- transparency of stock market in compari- since a month before the new year and is able and analyzable market,” he added. son with other unofficial markets. continuing by the present time.” “There are many attractive markets Answering a question about the role “Above 250 trillion rials (about $1.78 available for investors in Iran, including of stock market in protecting domestic billion) of securities were traded at TSE foreign exchange, real estate and gold, production and exports of non-oil- ex and FIB as of the new Iranian year,’ he those which absorbed a high volume of ports under the present circumstance, said. liquidity in 1397 and the last months of Hosseini Moghaddam called for the gov- “This growth has occurred simultane- 1396 since they had experienced inflated ernment to provide incentives or exemp- ous with the rise in liquidity and transac- prices in the said time,” he noted. tions for the present production compa- tions’ turnover, in the way that the aver- “The registered growth in the past re- nies at the stock market, which enjoys a age total value of daily transactions has cent months can be due to the fact that relative transparency, to make producers grown up to six times more, in compari- the named lucrative investing markets improve the capacity of production units son with the same time in the preceding were saturated in this period,” he said, and production volume. year,” he explained. “This made the stock market seem more “Granting incentive packages to listed Being asked about the reasons of the profitable than the other ones.” export companies can spur other produc- registered growth, the stock market offi- “As predicted, Iran is to witness a neg- tion companies to start their activities at cial said that “there are many reasons for ative economic growth, however, accord- the stock market,” he underscored. the prices increase at stock market.” ing to the available documents of the “The stock market is presently capable “The listed companies registered listed companies at stock market, pro- of supplying the required fund for pro- good yearend reports. They could earn duction level is experiencing no decrease duction prosperity regarding the planned remarkable interests during the past in quantity but increase in sales prices is financing tools. It is capable of providing year and paid them to the shareholders obvious,” he added expressing content. production units with cheap financial re- at the end of the financial year, which, in Answering a question about the im- sources,” he added. Economy Page 22 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY INSTEX won’t solve Iran’s economic woes: fmr. amb.

EU’s deep economic and military reliance on the US causes Europe to be willing to limit its economic relations with not only Iran but all Middle Eastern countries in order to avoid US punitive measures, he said. He went on to add that assuming that INSTEX could solve Former ambassador to Germany, Alireza Sheikh Attar, said Iran’s economic problems is wrong, adding “because the the EU’s trade mechanism for Iran, dubbed ‘INSTEX’, will majority of those problems are caused by internal misman- not solve Iran’s economic problems, because the majority of agement, and only a small part of them are due to foreign those problems stem from ‘internal mismanagement’. sanctions.” He also noted that the EU’s payment mechanism does not Speaking to Mehr News correspondent, Alireza Sheikh At- have much confrontation with the US sanctions. tar said there is no serious disagreement between Europe He further reminded that Europe relies on free trade, and and the United States on the trade mechanism called ‘IN- if European companies and the private sectors feel that coop- STEX’, designed by the EU for legitimate business with Iran in erating with Iran would threaten their interests, they would the face of US sanctions. definitely stop their cooperation with Tehran.

World financial bodies, tools for imposing US policies Translated by Zahra Mirzafarjouyan Triangle of the US monetary ammunition Bank Melli Iran, Export Development US secondary sanctions, the stand- Bank of Iran and Bank Saderat Iran. America’s monetary ammunition ards of the Financial Action Task Force This generation of banking sanctions refers to the coordinated collection of (FATF) and Swift Services, are three sides defines a series of individuals, trans- US secondary banking sanction laws, of the monetary triangle that contain actions and institutions and then slaps the FATF recommendations and Swift the global financial system or the global sanctions against them and stipulates Services for imposing sanctions, which banking system that can be called “mon- that anyone who offers financial servic- Iran has been one of its most important etary ammunition triangle”. es to sanctioned institutions or individ- targets in recent years. Secondary bank sanctions at the top uals; it will be sanctioned or placed on of monetary ammunition triangle the America’s Specially Designated Na- The US monetary ammunition refers The US secondary bank sanctions are tionals (SDN’s) list. to the coordinated collection of US sec- at the top of monetary ammunition tri- But the second generation of bank- ondary banking sanction laws, the FATF angle. The implementation of US bank- ing sanctions imposed by US after 2010 recommendations and Swift Services for ing secondary sanctions is divided into aimed to force the world’s largest banks imposing sanctions relying on power of two generations based on the way they to be coordinated with US in imposing the dollar and its domination over glob- were enforced. The first generation, sanction. It means that it will force these al transactions seeking materialization which were created and implemented banks not to provide banking services to of American domination over the world. before 2010 on the basis of the execu- individuals and entities that are sanc- Iran has been one of the main targets of tive orders of the President.These sanc- tioned. this ammunition in recent years. tions enjoy a posteriori approach and Therefore, the focus was on the be- A look at the mentality and practical targets the end of the banking service ginning of the banking services chain, framework behind the designing of the chain. i.e. the big international banks, and the sanctions against Iran shows that there All of the financial institutions of the access to dollar payment system is the has been a turning point in how US im- Islamic Republic of Iran were affected main leverage. The approach of this posed sanctions around 2010. by this kind of sanctions, including the generation of sanctions is a priori (de- Economy Page 23 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

terrent) and aims to isolate sanctions The FATF or the Financial Action Task reduce costs for sanctions by providing targets in the global banking system. Force plays a role in this regard. The services including sanction screening, This sanction strategy was followed FATF’s 40 recommendations, which have know your customer (KYC REGISTERY), by the laws of the Comprehensive Iran been developed with US engagement, and know your customer’s customer. Sanctions, Accountability, and Divest- all seek to enhance global financial SWIFT’s new service is being devel- ment Act (CISADA), Iran’s Freedom transparency. Providing credible infor- oped in this regard and It can no longer of Law Act and the Coping with Iran’s mation to identify customers and validat- be considered as a simple messenger. In (IFCA) activities. The rules stipulated ing this information, and then sharing fact it is becoming a tool for projecting that banks either knowingly or unknow- this information with banks and foreign power in line with US administration ingly provide sanctioned targets with entities, are examples of recommenda- policies. services, will encounter restrictions on tions from this group that can lead to their brokerage accounts in US. the distinguishing of sanction targets Dollar domination on global exchanges, from non-sanctioned ones. an effective factor for US monetary FATF’s position in imposing US The FATF’s standards have focused on ammunition secondary sanctions two dimensions of producing accurate What has made the US sanctions If the the second-generation of sec- information about economic relations to be implemented through FATF and ondary banking sanctions is going to be and their sharing. These two dimen- SWIFT standards is size of the US econ- successful, the banks should be able to sions are very effective in completing omy which is bigger that the size of the track transactions that are being made the sanctions puzzle. world economy and also US dollar’s by sanctioned targets. This requires that domination on global exchanges. the actual beneficiaries of each transac- Swift role in monetary ammunition According to statistics, US owns about tion be identified. triangle 25 percent of the world’s gross domestic According to David Cohen, the US There is a need for a series of simpli- product (GDP) and about 65 percent of Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism fications and fluctuations as imposing SWIFT exchanges are traded at US dol- and financial intelligence in the years sanctions and subsequently implement- lar. This issue has led the world’s largest 2011 to 2015, there must be enough in- ing FATF standards, create barriers in banks to obey US sanctions, due to their frastructures in order to create financial the process of global business, cause dif- urgent need for the dollar. transparency so that it can be found out ficulties for economic and global inter- It should be noted that the countries whom the sanction targeted countries actions, and ultimately make no attrac- will not have problem wit dollar domi- are working. so they can be prevented tiveness and cost to the world’s banks. nation issue over the next few years, but from continuing their activities. This In this case, SWIFT is engaged in facil- they will face the US monetary ammu- transparency is essential for both gener- itating and simplifying the enforcement nition triangle that they have to look for ations of secondary banking sanctions. of sanctions standards and trying to ways to get rid of it. Economy Page 24 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

Iranian, Turkish transport mins. bolster ties at joint commission meeting in Tehran

By: Haniyeh Sadat Jafariyeh Calling the held meeting the most as expansion of transit ties between comprehensive and important mutu- West Asia and Europe, establishing Teh- The 8th meeting of the Joint Transport al meeting between Iran and Turkey in ran-Ankara railway, following up meas- Commission between Islamic Republic transportation sector, he added that the ures for implementing the trilateral of Iran and the Republic of Turkey two sides are determined to reach the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul agreement, was held on Monday at the place of set annual $30-billion-trade transac- and launching a new railway for devel- Iran’s Ministry of Road and Urban tions. oping mutual transit between Iran and Development and with participation As the Turkish minister informed, Turkey. of Iran’s Road Minister Mohammad during the meeting the two sides have “This meeting is held after seven Eslami and the Turkish Transport signed an MOU, and important deci- years in this period of time and also af- Minister Mehmet Cahit Turan. sions have been made in sectors of road ter four months after HLCC meeting,” railway, marine, and air transportation Eslami said, “It reveals the message Addressing a joint press conference as well. of the two countries’ officials for de- after the meeting, the Turkish minister Turan also underlined the role that velopment of mutual cooperation and expressed content about the ever-in- Iran and Turkey play in the region and reaching the targeted $30 billion trade creasing mutual relations between Iran the significance of their cooperation, transactions.” and Turkey and said that the two coun- which would guarantee interests of both As he further explained, worthy tries are determined to expand their sides and the region, as well. agreements have also been signed on common ties on the way to pursue the The Turkish minister added that modifying the working hours of the of- common interests. Turkey and Iran can cat as a bridge to fices at mutual borders and also short- “During the Turkish-Iranian High Lev- connect Europe to west Asia, and re- ening the long queues of trucks at the el Cooperation Council (HLCC) meeting, lated bilateral negotiations for devel- joint borders to facilitate mutual transit held four months ago in Ankara, the opment of new transportation ways at Bazargan and other borders. Presidents of the two countries ordered are underway. In his remarks, Eslami thanked the ministers to develop all-out ties and un- The Iranian minister, for his turn, Turkish government for their dispatched der the framework of our duties we pur- named four pivotal points of the talks aid to flood-stricken regions of Iran as sue joint interests as well as mutual co- and agreements between Iran and Tur- well as its political stance against the US operation and confidence,” Turan said. key during the held two-day meeting unilateralistic policies about Iran. Economy Page 25 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY IME suitable platform of economic prosperity

BY: Haniyeh Sadat Jafariyeh projects. The conditions, similar to which cannot be provided by Leader of Islamic Revolution unofficial markets. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei Under the conditions that has named the current Persian the country is dealing with the Year, 1398, as the ‘Year of toughest sanctions ever and un- Boosting Domestic Production’, predictable foreign exchange calling on all officials to make rate fluctuations and these fac- the issue of production the tors are directly influencing the pivot of their activities. prices of basic goods and raw materials, unofficial markets, on “If production is boosted, it which the government has no can solve livelihood problems, observation, exacerbate the dif- it can ensure the country’s inde- ficulties. pendence from foreigners and Producers can easily supply prises (SMEs) which ignite prosperity of their required raw material at from the enemies, it can eliminate unem- other production sectors. ployment and it can solve the problems IME at real prices. Participating in IME While, injecting liquidity and supplying would spur competitiveness among pro- related to the decrease in the value of working capital via granting banking facil- the national currency to a great extent,” ducers to improve quality of their prod- ities is the dire need of production units ucts, as previously mentioned. the Leader said in his message on the in Iran, opening their way to stock mar- occasion of the start of the new year on On the consumer side, the offered ket, where they can offer their manufac- products at IME come with reasonable March 21, 2019. tured products, is the other element that The issue comes of the highest im- prices.IME is trying to issue new financial can help production units and SMEs in- instruments to support domestic pro- portance than before, due to Trump’s crease productivity, ability to create more decision about cutting all waivers of Ira- duction, supply raw materials, and cover jobs and play their role as they should in price fluctuation risks. nian oil which will dramatically decrease the economy cycle. oil-reliant country’s oil revenues. In fact, the road to make production In Iran, mercantile offerings at do- prosper is bumpy. Supplying liquidity of The need for an indigenous economy mestic stock market are done at Iran and boosting production is more high- production units, the present banking re- Mercantile Exchange (IME). Directly and strictions in monetary transactions with lighted, now. without participation of middlemen, do- Production prosperity is the fuel other countries, the arrears of the Irani- mestic products’ prices are set via the ans banks to CBI, the value added taxes for the economy engine to run. It en- contribution of sellers and purchasers, tails growth, job creation, improving levied mostly on producers, the unstable i.e. demand and supply, the mechanism foreign exchange rates, the increased the nation’s livelihood as well as com- that guarantees interests of the Iranian bating recession, inflation and unem- prices of the raw materials, the decrease producers. in purchasing power and the increase ployment. It increases non-oil exports IME redirects the profits of selling the of the country and will consequently in production prices are considered as products and the earned added value to threatening factors to the goal. boost foreign exchange revenues; hav- the real producers, which is an important ing more foreign exchange income, For the newly started Iranian calen- factor in setting proper cushions for eco- dar year the government is determined injected back to domestic financial nomic prosperity. Cutting the hands of system, will have domestic production to review and modify its monetary poli- the middlemen and their minions, IME cies about setting foreign exchange rates, enhanced and the formed loop will go has the ability to cool down the inflated on and on. Protecting domestic produc- curb the rampant inflation and high li- prices and bring tranquility and transpar- quidity volume and supply the present tion will also lure foreign and domestic ency to the market. investments and improve the available budget deficit via relying on stock market. The significant role of transparency in Offering crude oil and gas conden- infrastructure, which will result in sci- economic activities should not be com- entific and industrial growth and again sates at Iran Energy Exchange (IRENEX) promised on the way to boost domestic is being done on a regular basis now and boost in production. Any improvement production. In a bid to impede rents and in Gross domestic product (GDP) will it is hoped that the international ring of corruption and spur transparency and IRENEX would find a way to give a breath consequently reinforce Iran’s depreciat- competitiveness among production units ed currency, rial, and competitiveness to the oil sales and revenues of Iran, fol- it seems efficient to offer their products at lowing Trump’s removal of Iran oil waiver of its products at international markets. mercantile exchange market. Transparen- Thus, lubricating the production wheel, exemptions. cy acts as a proper bed for creation of the IME, as the other pillar of Iran’s stock Iran can compete with foreign rivals. circle of income, saving, and investment, The initial key factor to reach a boom- market, can play a key role in rescuing the since it lets producers easily earn, save or country from Trump’s draconian sanc- ing economy is supporting production invest in development and infrastructure units and small and medium-sized enter- tions. Economy Page 26 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

How did the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) foil foreign plots against the rial?

By: Kamal Iranidoost rial has regained more than 40% of its The other measures that the CBI value. In fact, through the measures took to quell the volatile exchange While in early autumn, the Iranian the Central Bank of Iran took in coor- market included removing all re- national currency-the rial-was dination with other apparatuses of the strictions on the import of foreign plunging against the US dollar on Iranian government, the prices started currencies and gold into the country a daily basis, the volatile foreign to fall and in fact, reversed the course. in addition to instructing the mar- exchange market has been brought The recovery of the rial comes at a ket through injecting hard currency under control through proper time when the new round of US sanc- into the market through licensed measures that the Iranian central tions came into force in the middle of exchange shops at lower prices than bank has taken since then. autumn and many had a lot of savings those of the free market. in US dollars for the fear of further de- In early autumn 2018, the price of preciating of the rial and with the false Launch of NIMA each US dollar had risen to more than hope that they could sell their dollars The integrated Iranian FX platform, 190,000 I rials while it has been now in the free market at higher prices the integrated Iranian FX platform, also for more than 5 months that the price soon after. known as the ‘NIMA’ was launched by is standing at 120,000 rials each dollar, The recovery has been attributed the CBI to facilitate currency trades be- which indicates a remarkable recovery. to new CBI’s forex policies and restric- tween market participants who include What matters more here is the fact tions on banking transactions and pur- exporters and importers who need that foreign pressures with the aim chases of dollars as well as a ban on foreign currencies. The CBI launched destroying the Iranian economy have money send-outs by unauthorized for- NIMA, which is a CBI-administered increased much more since then. The eign exchange shops. online trading platform through which Economy Page 27 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY the exporters are obliged to sell their markets needed to be filled in order to tions as part of their commitments to foreign currency earnings to importers help both the importers and exporters. Iran nuclear deal. The Instrument in in need. He said that people must be able to Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) Although there have been com- refer to the exchange shops and bring was the special-purpose vehicle (SPV) plaints against the exporters who their banknotes into the market freely which was established in January 2019 did not bring their dollar earnings to to contribute to the formation of the by France, Germany and the United NIMA, it has relatively played an effec- organized market. Kingdom to facilitate non-dollar trade tive role in calming the volatile situa- The governor added that establish- with Iran. The INSTEX is headquar- tion along with other CBI measures. ing an organized foreign banknotes tered in Paris, France, and is headed by When the prices were plunging, market will remain a significant goal German national Per Fischer, who for- the CBI ordered the banks and ex- of the CBI, an aim that has yet to be merly served as Head of Financial In- change shops to buy the US dollars materialized. stitutions at Commerzbank, between that people were bringing to sell in As it was mentioned above, there 2003 and 2014. the market to avert further losses. was time when the prices by CBI-ad- The EU trade mechanism has yet According to Mehr News Agency re- ministered exchange shops were low- to be launched. Meanwhile, Iran has port in late November, the CBI-spon- er those of free. This shows that the repeatedly warned Europe against sored exchange shops and banks CBI governor had achieved his goal of the delays in its launch. While the would buy people’s dollars at higher bringing the differences between pric- European countries have not taken prices than the free market in order es in the free and official markets in any practical steps to help Iran cir- to help the ordinary people not lose order to set up an organized market. cumvent US secondary sanctions, more value of their properties. There Speaking to Iranian state TV-chan- the Iranian central bank with the was time when the prices in the free nel 2 (IRIB 2) last week, Hemmati said help of other economic apparatuses market went down below the prices that the organized market would be have been able to thwarts the plots offered by CBI-sponsored forex ex- launched within a month or so, while by the US Treasury against the rial. change shops. The more hurriedly he added that all the necessary steps ordinary people rushed to the mar- have been taken so far to launch the Conclusion ket to sell their dollars, the lower the organized market within next two All in all, one can say that the CBI US dollar prices went down in the weeks. But, he said that the central has brought the forex market under market. bank preferred to postpone the launch control despite some recent increase The downfall of US dollar against of the new mechanism until the final in the prices of foreign currencies the rial accelerated as the EU foreign days of the first month of the new year against the rial. When this contribu- policy chief Federica Mogherini an- of 1398, which begins on March 21. tion is being typed down, the price of nounced few days after the US sanc- each US dollar is oscillating between tions took effect on November 5, 2018 EU’s breach of promise had no 120-130,000 rials, which still is much that the promised financial mecha- negative lower the prices in early last autumn nism to Iran would be in place before impact on rial’s recovery despite the fact the US harshest eco- the year’s end. Furthermore, the Chi- As time passed, the EU delayed its nomic sanctions. The recent increase na’s Bank of Kunlun resumed receiving promised payment system to help can be attributed to an increase in payments from Iran despite the risk of European countries to get around US demands for foreign currencies, most US sanctions. sanctions with the hope of keeping notably the US dollar, by Iranian citi- Iran nuclear deal alive, but the delay zens who travel abroad on new year An organized FX market did not stop the trend of recovery of vacations. On November 22, 2018, the new- the rial against the foreign curren- The CBI governor recently blamed ly appointed Governor of the Central cies. The CBI continued to interfere the increased demands for foreign Bank of Iran (CBI) Abdolnaser Hemma- in the market as it still does, a policy currencies by the Iranian citizens for hol- ti stressed the need for bringing the which has proven to be very effective idays purposes abroad as well as the lack free and official markets into a one in stabilizing the volatile market. By of action in approving the FATF-related single organized market to fill the gap the end of autumn and start of the bills by the Iranian Expediency Council between the prices in the free and the winter each US dollar fell as low as so far for the recent slightly increased official markets in order to bring the 98,000 rials in spite of huge foreign prices. market oscillation under further con- plots against the economy, especially Hemmati has expressed hope the trol. Hemmati said that the govern- the rial. launch of the above mentioned organ- ment recognized the existence of the Finally, the EU three major power ized foreign currencies market would free market but, he said that it needed launched their previously-promised further help the CBI to keep the prices to be organized and the gap between business channel to continue legal down and prevent any other shocks in the prices of the free and the official trade with Iran under the US sanc- the market in the future. Page 28 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Op-ed Op-ed Page 29 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY How Trump’s oil plans backfire on him By: Mohammad Ghaderi Union member states in regard to sanctions against Iran’s oil. Clearly, As expected, Donald Trump, the US in this situation, Iran’s foreign min- president didn’t extend sanctions istry should officially stop JCPOA exemptions to nine countries talks with the Europe and prepare importing oil from Iran including to totally withdraw from JCPOA. India, China, Turkey, South Korea 5. Considering the strong role and Japan. of “mediators” in selling Iran’s oil in unofficial international markets, it US Secretary of State Mike Pom- seems that under current circum- peo said the decision was intended stances, approving the four bills to to bring Iran’s oil exports to zero join the Financial Action Task Force and dial up economic pressure on principle of making multilateral deci- (FATF) will only strengthen the the country. sions in international arena. West in using repressive measures and The decision led to grave conse- 3. The story doesn’t end here! controlling tools to further prevent Iran quences from the very beginning: oil Even though it seems that the conflict from selling its oil. price jumped by 3% and the oil experts between Iran, US and its two followers, Ending the sanctions exemptions to expressed strong doubt that Saudi Ara- Saudi Arabia and UAE, is only about oil countries importing oil from Iran and bia and the United Arab Emirates can but the conflict can expand to other designation of the Islamic Revolution make up the difference in oil to ensure fields as well. Washington, Riyadh and Guard Corps as a terrorist organiza- that global markets were not unsettled. Abu Dhabi can’t possibly expect that tion by Trump administration leaves no Here there are some point that are after their activities against Iran inoil room for anybody in Iran to defend the worth mentioning: market, Iran’s response will be limit- approval of FATF bills. 1. The Washington’s recent blatant ed to “oil and energy sector”! Iran will In this regard, Iran needs to take a move to hamper Iran’s oil sales was make smart, calculated moves to en- strong stand and rule out the possibil- based on Washington’s unilateral sanc- sure that US and its allies will face the ity of approving the UN Convention on tions against Iran, rather than universal consequences of their activities in oth- Transnational Crime (Palermo bill) and multilateral sanctions; this will not only er fields. The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Combatting the Financing of Terrorism undermine the legality and credibility meaningful silence is just a preliminary (CFT), unless US revise its two recent of the Trump’s decision but it will also stage when Iran prepares its serious anti-Iran measures. restrain its real practical effects. In such and effective response for the ones 6. Evidently, Trump has started a an environment, the Islamic Republic who devised this oil scheme against it. dangerous game against the Islamic Re- of Iran will have more freedom to sell 4. The US recent move against Iran public of Iran; a game that the White oil “indirectly” or “with using media- by ending sanctions exemption is an -of House started but its end will not be tors” and this means that Trump, Pom- ficial end to the Joint Comprehensive determined by Trump or his allies. peo and Bolton will not reach their goal Plan of Action (JCPOA). After Trump Let’s remember that Washington has that is to reduce Iran’s oil exports to unilaterally abandoned the JCPOA in already made wrong predictions about zero. May, the agreement lost most of its ef- reaching its goals with pressuring Iran’s 2. Washington’s move to end sanc- fects, but it was still in place; anyhow, economy. Following Washington’s tions exemptions has led to objections now that the US has imposed extensive withdrawal from JCPOA in May, Trump from countries importing oil from Iran. sanctions against Iran’s oil, there is no had claimed two critical time periods Even countries such as Japan and South reason for the Islam Republic to stay in that would force Iran into economic Korea that are Washington’s allies in this agreement. collapse, predicting that they are likely East Asia have voiced their objections On the other hand, the reaction of to be in August and November. Wash- to this decision and insist to continue European Union to the US recent de- ington high-ranking officials had also negotiating with the White House, so cision shows that the European troika claimed that based on realistic and ex- that importing oil from Iran will get has no intention to maintain its nuclear pert analysis that they have made, Iran back to its normal routine. agreement with Iran. In the meantime, will experience a major economic and Countries such as Turkey and China Federica Mogherini, the president of political collapse by November 2018! have taken a stronger stand, saying that the UN Foreign Affairs Council and the It goes without doubt that once again they will not follow Trump’s scandalous chairwoman of JCPOA Joint Commis- Washington is doing another ill-fated decision. They are, on one hand, wor- sion, had the audacity to remain com- attempt in starting an oil conflict with ried about the oil market’s future con- pletely silent. This indicates that there Iran. However, this failure will have far ditions and on the other hand think that has been a clandestine agreement be- heavier costs for the US compared to the White House decision is against the tween Washington and the European the last year. Op-ed Page 30 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

Assad’s message while in Tehran

By: Mohammad Ghaderi situation, a process that will continue Trump at the end of 2016. Trump, who, until their total destruction. like Obama, had a particular attach- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s visit With the defeat of US plans in Syr- ment to ISIS and other terrorist and to the Islamic Republic of Iran and his ia, the backbone of Takfiri terrorism insurgent groups in Syria, did not hes- meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah has been broken, a fact that has upset itate to act to support them. However, Ali Khamenei and our President Hassan the Saudis, too. If Syria was the only the triumph of the resistance front in Rouhani, has terrified once again the symbol of hostility against the sworn Syria destroyed Trump’s dreams and enemies of the axis of resistance and enemies of the resistance front, today imposed a historical defeat on them. regional security, especially the axis of it has become the symbol of “stability The failure, with the wise leadership evil – the West, Israel and Saudi Arabia. and victory” for those seeking regional of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic peace. Revolution and allies, will always be But the occurrence of this impor- These days, not only Western me- recorded in the shameful US foreign tant event, especially at the present dia but the American and European policy record. time, is very important. politicians cannot deny their defeat Therefore, Bashar al-Assad’s visit The fact is that the US is no longer in Syria. Since 2011, the US has begun to Iran, in the wake of his victory and able to cover over increasing deficits has played a dangerous game against his meeting with the Supreme Lead- in Syria and, in general, in southwest the Syrian government and people us- er, who is the most reliable support Asia. Damascus, Sanaa and even Ka- ing its Arab reactionary pawns to chal- for the oppressed people in the world bul mark the obvious defeat of US re- lenge the process of the domino effect and the most significant theoretician gional policy. Thus, Donald Trump has of the Arab revolutions in the region. of the resistance against the invasion fewer and fewer options. Also, the Western moves might have of the cruel West in the present cen- The bloody and dangerous game provided more security to Zionists. To- tury, suggest many messages. First of that Barack Obama launched in Syr- day, however, after about eight years, all, for those who stand in the great ia in 2011 is near an end. Although we are witnessing the defeat of the devil’s side, relying on money and the Washington’s conspiracy is likely to Washington game. power of weaponry, have committed continue in Syria, the failure of Takfi- In 2013, Barack Obama set up ISIS this great crime and are still not willing ri terrorism that the US supported is in Syria, along with First Vice Presi- to accept their mistakes. Secondly, for already largely apparent. The problem dent Joe Biden and Secretary of State those who, on their own front, some- is clear in Syria. The western media Hillary Clinton, and even some of the times did not see the power of God announced outright the failure of the allegedly rival White House senators and questioned the divine promise of West and Arab moves in Syria and Tak- (such as John McCain) went along with “If you help God, he will help you and firi terrorist groups in Syria continue to this. he will take your steps solid” and they find themselves in much more difficult This bloody legacy came to Donald spoke of settlement with the devil.

Op-ed Page 31 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Macron at political deadlock

By: Hanif Ghaffari concerns of the Yellow Vest movement. But some are still dissatisfied and had On April 27, French protesters came to called for demonstrations on Saturday. the streets again and challenged the Militants on social media networks capitalist system. The protests continue called for street protests in Paris, Stras- as Emmanuel Macron, the weak and bourg and Toulouse. In Paris, some failed president of France, has failed to protesters called for a ‘Media March’, take action to contain the protests and and plan to do a tour of South-East- satisfy the protesters. French protest ern Paris, where the headquarters of However, Macron did announce meas- rallies are on the 24th week. France’s main media companies are ures to improve purchasing power for based. Interior Minister Christophe Cas- France’s low-income population, and low- French President Emmanuel Macron taner remarked that “the Yellow Vests’ er tax rates from next year. He also admit- has given a long-awaited response to the statements had been written before the ted that he may have been arrogant, un- yellow vest protest movement with prom- President spoke on Thursday,”. just or tough at times when faced with the ises of tax cuts, higher pensions and a re- “The President was addressing the people’s claims or reservations. According form of the civil service. Despite insisting French people and not the 30,000 who to AFP, who spoke to a dozen Yellow Vests that order must return, he acknowledged demonstrate on Saturdays”, Castaner in the south of France, those reservations a “lack of trust” in the establishment. added. Thursday evening, President Ma- have not gone away their reactions were Protests, sometimes violent, started in cron announced long-awaited reforms summed up in one word - “rubbish” as November over rises in fuel costs but in a televised press conference. This they described Macron’s attitude as con- widened to cover a range of grievances may be seen as the President’s final an- descending. over economic inequality. Macron said he swer to the Yellow Vest protests that be- More measured, Jérémy Clément, stood by his reforms. gan six months ago. Local paper Ouest regularly cited as a spokesperson for the His speech was originally scheduled France spoke to Yellow Vest protesters movement, said that “the President has for 15 April but was postponed after the about Macron’s proposed changes. In understood our claims, but he hasn’t pro- devastating fire at Notre-Dame cathedral Saint-Lô, Normandy, a few of them con- vided the answers to them.” in Paris. cluded that the French President had He added that some of the measures As RFI reported, President Macron’s said nothing to reassure them. “Noth- had already been announced, and others speech on Thursday addressed many ing’s moving,” they said, unconvinced. didn’t go far enough. Trump seeks to destroy the EU By: Hanif Ghaffari US. He said that President Trump is “extremely supportive of such a deal as are many Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress.” During the 2016 presidential race, the President of the United BREXIT has become a major riddle in the country. Many Eng- States officially and explicitly supported the withdrawal of lish citizens do not have a complete understanding of the EU, the Britain from the European Union. However, Trump is currently British government and the UK Parliament’s move to leave the worried about how London is leaving Europe. European Union. However, the British authorities seem to have planned a tentative game. Trump has repeatedly blamed the British prime minister for The fact is that the president of the United States is still look- failing to conclude appropriate agreements with Europe. The is- ing to destroy the European Union. One of the main reasons for sue is how the British government has become a passive player Trump’s concern about how Britain leaves the EU is precisely this. in the world. Trump knows well that if the British exit experience is negative, Republicans in the White House and Congress are renewing then other European Union countries will not be excluded. their support for a US-UK trade deal after Britain leaves the Eu- It should be noted that the White House has repeatedly and ropean Union -- even as Brexit is facing significant delays across openly denied its opposition to the nature and existence of the the Atlantic. European Union and the euro area, but people like the German “If the UK regains control over its national trade policy, our Chancellor Angela Merkel, the French President Emanuel Macron two nations will have a once-in-a-generation chance to forge an and the British prime minister still remain in the illusion of a good ambitious trade pact - a truly free, fair, and reciprocal agreement relationship with Washington! Undoubtedly, many European of- that will foster economic growth, spur innovation, and define a ficials are once again seeing the consequences of their game on new global standard in trade,” Rep. George Holding, R-N.C., wrote the Trump ground, which is too late! in an op-ed for the Daily Telegraph this week. Finally, Trump and John Bolton will target the European Union Holding, who is the ranking Republican of the British American more intense in the coming months. The White House officials Parliamentary Group and co-chair of the Congressional UK Caucus, are waiting for the full realization of British withdrawal from the wrote that a US-UK free trade agreement is a “top priority” for the European Union.

Page 32 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Culture Culture Page 33 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY In Between Worlds: Sebastian Plano’s sweet, melancholic melodies on Iranian stage

By: Marjohn Sheikhi

Argentinean multi-instrumentalist musician Sebastian Plano performed two shows for the Iranian audience on 7-8 March, taking them through a musical journey on the acoustic wings of somber cello and wheels of sweet electronic music.

I will probably be forever grateful to my discovery of the Icelandic musician Ólafur Arnalds and his somber neo-clas- sical works, which carved a path for me on digital music services, paved with numerous suggestions of artists from all around the world, each unique in their own way, and yet sharing the same sweet vibe of melancholy and nostalgia, And I had the absolute pleasure to wit- him international acclaim, Plano also which I crave deeply with my battered, ness Plano’s working miracles and weav- became recognized as one of the pio- troubled soul. ing threads of magic on Friday in a small neering artists who combine acoustic Sebastian Plano was a late discov- music hall in downtown Tehran. instruments and electronic music. His ery, but definitely a case of ‘love at first Even though it is that time of the year second album, ‘Impetus’ released in sound’. His 2018-released electro-acous- in Iran when people are busy making the same year, was mastered by Nils tic single ‘Purples’ with those soothing the last minute arrangements for Now- Frahm, and combines cello, piano, per- and at the same time soul-searching ruz holidays and making plans for New cussion and light electronics. His latest melodies brought to life on a sampler, Year vacations, and despite the fact that album, ‘Verve’, has just been released and then the bleeding, sober cries of the tickets for Plano’s shows were quite a few days ago. The gorgeous ‘Purples’ the cello that wind tendrils of the pur- pricey for someone on a tight budget is on this album, and the soothing track est emotions around your heart, was and who probably had little to no idea ‘Verve’ that somehow still holds true to the first track I listened to that was com- how the performance would turn out, its title, is the artist’s most favorite. posed by him, and I know many would the Argentinean-born multi-instrumen- Plano performed for two consecutive agree that it is among his best and most talist musician opened his act to an al- nights in Tehran, both of which receiving powerful works. most full house. an enthusiastic response and standing Someone once aptly described the Born into a family of musicians, which ovation. The concert, called ‘In Between sound of violin at its best as a ‘swan’; he calls “a string quartet”, with two on Worlds’, was organized by ‘RooBeRoo graceful, magnificent and elegant, with violins, one on viola, and he himself Mansion’, an artistic-cultural institute Culture the serene feeling of being afloat in mid- on the cello, and having been classical- in the heart of Tehran, as the third in- air. Plano’s magic on his cello makes the ly-trained, the now Berlin-based Sebas- stallment of the ‘Resonance Project’, an swan soar, and you feel like soaring with tian Plano has the solid foundation of a initiative started by RooBeRoo Mansion it. The sound of string instruments like musical savvy to know what he is doing, in December 2016 with ‘Autumn Light’ violins and cellos can be grounding some- even at times when his melodies come concert by Ólafur Arnalds, followed by times, if it bleeds too much and seeps in too close to this side of erratic, because ‘Blue Hour’ concert by Italian composer too deep, but Plano’s cello melodies are the end result is always pleasant to lis- Federico Albanese in 2018. liberating, at times even therapeutic, as ten to and smooth, like fine silk draped The project’s goal is to give a spot- they soar gratefully in the air and raise you over bumps and jagged lines. light to artists working in the neo-clas- up with them. Such might be the subtle His works have been compared to, sical genre for the Iranian audience, and distinction between intimately tragic and and said to be inspired by, Ólafur Ar- it has already gained a great number of aesthetically melancholic. And Plano’s nalds, Sigur Rós, Arvo Pärt, Nils Frahm loyal followers. The project will pick up music abounds in the latter. and Max Richter. With the release of the tradition in a few months by intro- Still, his studio-recorded music can’t his debut album ‘Arrhythmical Part of ducing more of the best of the neo-clas- hold a candle to his live performance. Hearts’ in 2013, which already earned sical music to Iranian music lovers. Culture Page 34 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Interview with Sebastian Plano; The ‘Verve’ of melancholy; “It’s just a feeling I carry inside”

playing the set. There’s another element that makes the performance tricky; I am moving all the time on the stage, and not sitting down to play the cello, which makes it a bit more difficult because you have to balance your body depending on if you have to play the cello, or if you have to press something with your foot, or if you are going to play the keyboard. It’s a choreography in a way.

So how does it feel like to be in a one-man show as opposed to playing with a band? And why did you decide to go solo? It’s very fulfilling, because you’re just by yourself, so everything is riding on you; all the, let’s say, pressure, and in a way that’s beautiful. Because it’s - ex Interview by: Marjohn Sheikhi Iranian audience, who were bewitched citing. I’m mostly playing by myself, but by the sweet, and yet melancholic mel- I have also played with a string quartet Argentinean multi-instrumentalist odies that the young musician gave life many times. So I have done it both ways. Sebastian Plano talked to MNA about to on stage. The concert, called ‘In Be- There’s a difference when you go on his life as a neoclassical musician, and tween Worlds’, was organized by the stage with a band. The whole ensemble believes that the melancholic vibe to ‘RooBeRoo Mansion’, an artistic-cultural lending you their support, and the mu- his compositions stems from having institute in the heart of Tehran, as the sic relationship that you maintain with stepped into a rich world of experiences third installment of the ‘Resonance Pro- other musicians on the stage is wonder- so young, and the need to create music ject’, an initiative started by RooBeRoo ful. I have to say both playing solo and at the time he couldn’t. in December 2016 with ‘Autumn Light’ performing with a band are really nice in concert by Ólafur Arnalds, followed by their own ways. The first thing you think you have the ‘Blue Hour’ concert by Italian com- learned from the young Argentini- poser Federico Albanese in 2018. You had a classical upbringing. How an-born, multi-instrumentalist Sebas- do you describe the transition into tian Plano by watching his live- per First of all, how did you arrange all contemporary, minimalistic and formance is that he is charismatic, those sounds on the stage? Because electronic music? self-assured and sophisticated. A first from where I was sitting, things looked Well, I started playing cello when I impression that may as well be true, totally crazy. How did you make all that was seven. I come from a family of clas- given his impressive classical upbring- coordination look so easy and perfect? sical musicians, playing in symphonic or- ing. It may somehow throw you for a bit That’s a good question. It’s a long work chestra at home. At the age of 11 or 12, though, catching the Berlin-based mu- over the years in the way of trying out dif- I got into electronic music and I started sician off the stage for a short, friendly ferent things and finding things that don’t making electronic music on software. talk, as you realize he is also incredibly work and sticking to things that work. Hav- But it was all a hobby, so I continued my down-to-earth and would as readily play ing one hand on the cello and the other studies. Writing electronic music was a grand, extravagant venue for ostensi- on the keyboard…that makes the coor- just a hobby for me at the time. I just bly highbrow audience as he would for a dination rather tricky. But then, when it made, like, ten copies of an album, and small, hungry crowd at a pizzeria. comes to having the audience watching gave it to my friends, so it was a private Plano performed for two consecutive your performance, it seems very natural, thing. When I finished my master’s de- nights on 7th and 8th March in Tehran, like some kind of a choreography that’s gree in San Francisco, I decided not to both of which receiving an enthusiastic being practiced over and over for several continue that road of classical music. response and standing ovation from the times, so then you get this natural flow of I didn’t want to perform. I wanted to Culture Page 35 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY make and release my own music. At that music made in the neoclassical genre they’re quite different. But if I had to point, I started to collect the best tracks I nowadays has this distinct ‘melancholic’ choose, then the one from the new al- had and released them as part of my de- vibe to it. Why is that, exactly? What bum, ‘Verve’, has to be it. It has a lot but album ‘Arrhythmical Part of Hearts’. does this shared melancholy reflect? of history behind it. This new album, So basically, it all happened really organi- Well, that’s something I don’t know ‘Verve’, that has just come out, I wrote cally. Because originally, I wasn’t planning for sure. It’s just a feeling I carry inside. it in 2013. And then I got my comput- to release an album. I had other plans. But But it may have something to do with er stolen, so I lost everything I had writ- then suddenly I knew that I didn’t want my life experiences. I left home when I ten, and I had to redo it all. And the to perform classical music and wanted was seventeen, and I have been going track ‘Verve’ was the strongest one on to make my own music. around the world ever since. The only my memory out of all the tracks that I thing that was taking me from place to had lost, so I thought I need to do that Would you say that people nowadays place was the cello. It was always for track first. I hadn’t written any notes, connect more easily and readily with music. I think, if you leave a place so hadn’t recorded anything. It was just in your kind of music than they would young, there is going to be a lot of expe- my head. So it has that story behind it. with the classical genre? Is this the riences, emotions and feelings following And also, in my opinion, it came out as reason why many musicians like you, you. And how are you able to process really different and interesting as a piece with classical upbringing, decide to all of those things? You’re not, and you of music. The structure is pretty unique. venture into electronics? shouldn’t. I mean, it’s all of these that I don’t even know how it came to be. Yeah, definitely. There would be a shape you as a human being. But then, Because of the piano playing, it’s frantic difference with the audience. Speak- the need to create has been always – there’s three pianos going at the same ing for myself, I didn’t want to contin- there. I remember getting anxious when time. I find it quite different from -any ue performing classical music, because I was 14 or 15, or even at 20 when I was thing I’ve done so far, and for that, I liked I didn’t want to be an interpreter. I not writing music for quite a while, but it the best. wanted to become a writer. And I was writing music since I was 12, and it was always growing and growing, until there was a voice inside my head that said okay, you need to do this. You don’t need to play Beethoven, Mozart, or Haydn anymore. You need to play your own music.

How long did that take for the voice to appear? Long. It was a long process of ten years. Maybe even more; ever since I started playing music. I asked myself why I be- came a cello soloist, playing concertos with orchestras. I played those concertos, Dvorák, Elgar, etc. And then I started to no- tice that the whole thing, the whole world I needed to. So I think this sort of vibe What brought you here to Iran, though? of the classical music, was not for me. comes from that need. (Points to a girl sitting with us during It’s lovely, though, whatever the rea- the interview) They brought me here Your music has been compared to works son. This melancholy is something I al- (laughs). The RooBeRoo Mansion is do- by Ólafur Arnalds, Sigur Rós, Nils Frahm, ways look for when I’m discovering new ing these projects and different acts pro- Max Richter and the like. What do you music. It’s like it speaks more directly to moting neoclassical music. They got into think about the comparison? Would people’s hearts. contact with me and told me they want you call them as your inspiration? Life is short. And I look for things that me to play in Tehran. Yeah, I was firstly inspired by a differ- move me; whether it’s in a conversation, ent type of musicians, such as Vangelis. or a walk in the park, or a piece of music, What was your first reaction when you And then later on, I was listening to Max a piece of art, a book, anything. I guess were approached with that proposal? Richter, and he was quite a strong influ- there is a lot of care in me for that qual- I was surprised, yeah. But I also want- ence on me. Of course, I got to listen to ity, for finding things that are not just on ed to play. My wish is to share my music a lot of Sigur Rós, and my colleagues, the surface, but have depth. with people. It doesn’t matter where, like Ólafur and Nils. Definitely there is it doesn’t matter how long it will take an influence, but I also pay attention to What is your most favorite track that me to get there. I could even play at a developing my own unique sound. you have composed so far? And why is pizzeria, for friends, you know? It was that your favorite? definitely exciting to come to Iran. It’s It’s hard not to notice that most of the It’s very difficult to pick one, because a place that I’ve never been, and it’s a Culture Page 36 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY completely different culture. Then we spectator. This musical kinship has to you’ve met here, what would you call kept talking and the project evolved and be a mutual experience. So they should it, and how would it sound like? we got to make it happen. do whatever they feel like doing – even Well, I actually made one already, stand up and dance. It’s not only about and you heard it. How did you find the experience of the stage. There is no musician and a The improvisation on the stage, you playing for an Iranian audience? stage without the audience. mean, right. It’s great. I mean, you feel what you Yeah, the improvisation I played on feel when you are on the streets and How have you found your experience in the cello and the base notes I played on talking to people. There is a lot of heart Tehran so far? the keyboard. I prepared a piece for this in cultures like this. I was also in Mo- I have found many similarities be- concert based on what I felt the music to rocco and I felt the same thing. People tween Tehran and my hometown Bue- sound like in this place; how I imagined have so much care. And there is a lot nos Aires in Argentina. You know, small it to be, and how it resonates inside me. of kindness. There is a difference when similarities on the streets, the shops and If I were to write something particular, you compare these with, let’s say, Eu- the people. That’s nice. Then again, I ha- though … well, to write music, you don’t ropean countries, or North America. I ven’t had much time to go sight-seeing have to think (laughs). It’s one of those noticed that on a personal level, but I yet, but what I’ve seen so far has been things that just comes to you. The most also noticed that when I was on stage. really nice. Tehran is a massive city. I’m powerful tool is your intuition. Of course, It’s beautiful. People release this energy staying on the 12th floor of my hotel, your intuition can be surrounded by your that you feel. And it’s the first time that and it’s a horizon of houses from where experiences. When I go back to Berlin, I’m I got someone in the audience shouting I look (laughs). bringing back so many new experiences to hear a song. Remember that guy that with me, and some of them are probably called, ‘we want All Falling Skies’? That If you were to compose a piece for going into my creative process. never happened in my previous shows. Tehran based on the feedback you It’s amazing. I liked that. I like the au- received from the audience, or the Any words for you fans in Iran? dience to come out from being just an interactions you’ve had with the people Thank you! And I hope to come back.

Iran tourism sector thriving despite US sanctions

By: Morteza Rahmani the sector, but to combat the hurdles, Iranian authorities have introduced Figures disclosed by Iran’s Cultural different initiatives, including the one Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism that eliminates the need to put official Organization show that more than stamps on passports of foreign tourists 7.8 million foreigners traveled to Iran visiting Iran during the last Iranian year (ended on In another step, the government has March 20), indicating a year-on-year increased its focus on improving tourism jump of 52%% or 2.1 million visitors. infrastructures by expanding the num- ber of high-quality hotels and providing According to Ali Asghar Mounesan, cheap loans to players in the sector. the head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Iran has also strived to boost its marine tourism sector in re- Organization, the inbound tourists brought some $11.8 billion cent months; two major passenger sea routes have been acti- of revenue to the country during the period. vated with the country’s southern neighbors in recent months The big jump comes in spite of the fact that the reimposi- and as many as a half a dozen more are in the pipeline. tion of US sanctions poses a serious threat to the emerging Besides, the 2019 Travel Risk Map launched by global risk sector, the ICHHTO chief said. experts International SOS in collaboration with Control Risks, “Despite all the externals restrictions, mostly from the US, has described Iran as safe as a majority of European countries we have managed to attract more foreign travelers to the when it comes to travel security. This has had a great impact country,” Mounesan added. on attracting travelers to the country in the past months. According to Mounesan, the lower costs of Iran travel pack- The map shows the risk level in each country and territory ages were a key factor in making the country more attractive based on the current threat posed to travelers by political vi- to foreigners. olence (including terrorism, insurgency, politically motivated The huge depreciation of the rial, in the wake of the reim- unrest and war), social unrest (including sectarian, communal posed sanctions by the US, has made traveling to Iran for for- and ethnic violence) and violent and petty crime. eign tourists considerably cheaper. This seems to be an oppor- Many experts, including Mounesan, believe that expanding tunity for fostering the promising industry of tourism in Iran. tourism infrastructures could help the sector’s income replace The restrictions have also had some negative impacts to oil revenues. Culture Page 37 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

Wildlife biologist: Success in artificial insemination in Persian leopards may raise hopes for rare big cats

Interview by: Lachin Rezaian Is artificial insemination the right without any proper conservation role in method for reproduction of Persian terms of contributing their genes to the leopard? Do you think this will be Persian leopard population. Accordingly, Mohammad Farhadinia, a post- successful? during Iran-Russia exchange program in doctoral research fellow at University Artificial insemination is an advanced 2009, it was widely attempted to cap- of Oxford, said the new move to technique to increase the chance of ture leopard from the wild. use artificial insemination to breed breeding for animals. It is usually ap- Tehran Zoo has attempted natural Persian leopards could raise hopes for plied to species facing danger of extinc- mating in the past, sadly failed. I appre- conservation of big cats. tion in the wild while their capacity to ciate their efforts to keep up now with breed naturally in captivity is limited. artificial insemination, fingers crossed Farhadinia said the leopard is widely There is an increasing interest in using for their success. If successful, the Iran popular species in the Iranian communi- captive Persian leopards for the recov- Department of Environment can also ty, even losing an individual could cause ery of leopard populations in West Asia establish a sperm bank for Persian leop- a backlash in the media. and the Caucasus. Surely, the best can- ards, because few leopards are every “As long as proper evidence of CVD didates for such a recovery program can year rescued from traps, whose sperm prevalence in leopards in not available, be those pure Persian leopards in Iran. can be sampled and properly stored for calling it as a serious threat to Persian Establishing a proper breeding program future applications. leopard might trigger the community’s for Persian leopards in Iran can support emotions to react and to create expec- recovery programs in other countries or Do you think any success in tation from conservation agencies to even inside Iran. reproduction of Persian leopard deal with the problem, when there is Importantly, dozens of leopards, con- by artificial insemination will raise no evidence that the problem exists,” he fiscated from poachers or rescued from hopes regarding the reproduction in added. traps over the past half century have cheetahs? Captive breeding will not Here is the full text of his interview never bred in captivity in Iran. In fact, help Persian leopard cubs to come back with Mehr News correspondent: many leopards spent years in captivity to the nature; what do you think is the Culture Page 38 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY advantage of artificial insemination and the media. Therefore, as long as proper also endangered animals like Persian reproducing cubs by this method, while evidence of CVD prevalence in leopards leopards would be certainly affected, they are not going to return nature? in not available, calling it as a serious due to shortage in resources. Although artificial insemination can threat to Persian leopard might trigger benefit leopard conservation in Iran, as the community’s emotions to react and How can we deal with the negative well as other countries in the Caucasus, to create expectation from conserva- bottleneck effects which will hamper but learning the technique is equally tion agencies to deal with the problem, genetic diversity among leopards? important. For example, Iran Depart- when there is no evidence that the When the population of a species ment of Environment is now consider- problem exists. decreases drastically, there is a danger ing the technique for the much rarer of inbreeding and consequently genetic Asiatic cheetah. The Iran Department What measures has the government drift which could hamper the long-term of Environment has announced that taken to deal with cases related survival. Currently, there is no evidence the cheetah population has decreased to attack of the Persian leopard of decreased genetic diversity in Persian despite massive conservation invest- on domestic livestock and people, leopards; conversely moderate genetic ment, with a very tiny population now regarding the insurance, for instance? diversity is still seen in Persian leopards. alive. Although it is globally announced Raiding domestic animals, includ- Thanks to commitments and dedica- that some 50 cheetahs are left in Iran, but many local conservationists cast a doubt over this number and consider it ambitiously overestimation. Therefore, captive breeding has been agreed by Ira- nian conservation agencies to be placed on the table, besides the on-going con- servation actions in the wild. Natural mating has been already tried for Asiatic cheetahs kept in cap- tivity, which sadly failed. Now, artificial insemination is considered to be the major option for conceiving an adult female Asiatic cheetah, named Delbar. Nonetheless, the chance of pregnancy and survival of the cubs is extremely low. Any achievement of using artificial insemination to breed Persian leopards would raise hopes for Asiatic cheetahs.

What measures have been taken to deal with canine distemper, which ing dog, sheep, cattle, horse and even tions of Iran government as well as civil is pervasive among Persian leopards camels, are a major problem, both for society to leopard conservation, schol- living in habitats, where the dogs are people living alongside leopard areas, as ars perceive that at least 500 Persian suffering from the disease? well as conservation agencies in charge leopards in Iran. Although relieving for In contrary to general rumours about of protecting the leopards. As a result, conservationists in terms of number, but the prevalence of Canine Distemper affected people occasionally commit it reminds us that keeping up the good Virus among Persian leopards in Iran, retaliatory killing of leopards, despite on-going conservation work will be cru- there is no evidence of CDV occurrence extremely high monetary fine of over cial to avoid genetic problems in future. in any leopard, nor in Iran neither in 6000 $. Mohammad Farhadinia is post-doc- west Asia. We have found high preva- Thus, Iran Department of Environ- toral research fellow at University of lence of the CDV among local dog popu- ment established an innovative insur- Oxford. In 2008, he was assigned as the lations around some key leopard areas, ance scheme for leopards a few years deputy manager of the Conservation but blood tests from leopards captured ago, aiming at compensating all verified of the Asiatic Cheetah Project (CACP) near these injected dog populations did cases of people losses to leopards. Hun- – a comprehensive conservation pro- not show any evidence of CDV in leop- dreds of animals were compensated. I gram established by Iran’s government ards. Surprisingly, these dogs are widely am not aware if the scheme is contin- and United Nations Development Pro- killed by leopards, while no sign of the ued, as it was originally planned for five gram (UNDP). In 2013, he founded the CDV was seen in leopards. years. Nonetheless, with the rise in fi- Future4Leopards Foundation (www. Leopard is widely popular species nancial pressure to local people and the future4leopards.org), dedicated to the in the Iranian community, even losing concerns over the re-imposed US sanc- conservation of leopards and other wild an individual could cause a backlash in tions against Iran, not only people but carnivores. Page 39 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

37th Fajr International Film Festival Dossier

By: Marjohn Sheikhi Dossier Page 40 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Tehran begins playing host to over 100 films at 37th FIFF Curtains have raised on the 37th edition of Fajr International Film Festival in Tehran, inviting avid festival goers to its jam-packed screening program including 109 titles from 75 countries across the globe.

The 37th edition of Fajr International Film Festival opened at Felestin Cinema in downtown Tehran on Wednesday evening, with the screening of Ebrahim Hatamikia’s classic movie ‘The Scout’, originally released in 1990. The movie, which is also included in the Classics Preserved section of this year’s cinematic event, is set during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq’s war, and tells the story of a young scout who joins the front-line to help his comrades sin- gle-handedly. Last year, the festival’s curtain-raiser across the globe. The line-up is neat- about Adolf?’ from Germany, or ‘Lajko – was Majid Majidi’s ‘Beyond the Clouds’ ly drawn for nine days of back-to-back Gypsy in Space’ from Hungary. The 35th (2018); produced by Zee Studios and screening of 109 titles from 75 countries edition of FIFF had a special section for Namah Pictures, and starring Ishaan from 11:30 in the morning to 22:15 for horror movies, with the screenings all Khatter and Malavika Mohanan, Maji- the last screening. scheduled for late in the evening. Need- di’s India-set melodrama tells the sto- The international competition sec- less to say, all show times were sold out. ry of a brother and sister who grew up tion, called ‘Cinema Salvation’, includes Fajr is by no means a red-carpet in the slums of Mumbai. When Tara 30 foreign and Iranian feature and short event. Yet, that does not mean that the (Mohanan) is arrested on charges of films, from Russia, Denmark, China, Ger- event is averse to inviting A-listers. Last attempted murder, her bond with her many, Poland, India, Albania, Turkey, Ar- year, the festival made headlines by host- brother Amir (Khatter) is put to the test. gentina and many more countries whose ing three-times Oscar winner, American AR Rahman composed the film score. cinematic trends are almost swallowed director Oliver Stone, and legendary Ital- The 37th may be misleading. The up by box-office darlings of Hollywood, ian actor Franco Nero. This year, festival Fajr has only started to grow comforta- as the largest and most profitable film attendees will have the opportunity to bly into its own skin as an independent industry in the world. catch renowned American screenwriter, international event since 2016. Before As such, Fajr film festival offers a director, and film critic Paul Schrader at that, the international section of Iran’s breathing space for those high-quality his workshop on transcendental style in biggest cinematic event was a part of productions from smaller film indus- film during the festival time. Schrader is the national one, sorely overshadowed tries, many of which are either expe- best known for his script about an ob- by the intimidating presence of Iranian riencing their global premiere, or are sessed New York City taxi driver in Mar- productions that attract movie-goers only screened at festival venues. Avid tin Scorsese’s film Taxi Driver (1976) or like moths to a flame. festival-goers may find joy and pride in Raging Bull (1980). With 52-year-old award-winning di- the fact that they are among a lucky few Other special guests of the 37th FIFF rector Reza Mirkarimi in charge, the who get the chance to watch a particu- include Italian cinematographer Luca Fajr International Film Festival has al- lar movie at Fajr. Bigazzi, Dimitri Alips, international sales ready made a name for itself among The screening program, particularly manager of Courant 3d Film Festival; other longer-running festivals in the for the competition sections, is focused Julie Bertucelli, who worked as assis- region, despite its fourth year of having on aesthetics and the message rather tant Director to a series of well-known been able to stand on its own feet. As than entertainment; yet, the festival is directors including Krystof Kieslowski, many as 1,400 titles were submitted to not completely void of it. This year, a Bertrand Tavernier, and Rithy Panh; this year’s secretariat, bespeaking the special section has been dedicated to Turkish writer and film critic Rıza Oylum, festival’s popularity among filmmakers contemporary comedies, including ‘How Romanian director and screenwriter Ad- Dossier Page 41 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY ina Pintilie, and Chinese producer and provinces in Iran since March 19, have during relief efforts and natural disas- director Liu Xuan. killed over 70 people, and caused dam- ters. “The annual event is now being The sideline programs include 15 ac- ages to 438 urban houses and 87,000 held as a donation drive and this will ademic sessions and panel discussions village houses. The severity of the sit- continue next year in collaboration with national and international univer- uation triggered widespread national with the Red Crescent Society,” he sity scholars and A-listers of the mov- and international humanitarian contri- added. ie industry as key speakers, discussing butions. The 37th Fajr International Film Fes- the place of the Iranian cinema after Kassirian, the FIFF Media and Com- tival, as Iran’s most anticipated interna- the 1979 Revolution, and other cine- munications manager, said in response tional cinematic event, will roll out to- ma-related topics with the attendees. to the country’s flood, and in collabora- morrow at Charsu Cineplex and Felestin Many workshops will also be held on tion with the Iranian Red Crescent So- Cinema in downtown Tehran, and come screenwriting, producing, directing, cin- ciety, Fajr International Film Festival is to a close on April 26. ematography, editing and set design. extending a helping hand to fellow Ira- Last year, ‘Aga’ by Milko Lazarov, a This year, all proceeds from tickets nians and families who are in dire need co-production from Bulgaria, Germany, and sales of Fajr International Film Festival of help. France, won the festival’s grand prix. will be channeled to the national flood do- The Festival also plans to screen Winners of this year’s event will be an- nation collection, according to FIFF Media movies and teasers related to the nounced during an award ceremony at and Communications manager. works done by the Red Crescent Soci- Vahdat Hall on the last evening of the The recent floods, which hit many ety and the difficulties its workers face festival.

‘Do not go gentle into that good night’; FIFF celebrates free, fighting spirits

Although Fajr is not a themed festival, some movies in this year’s lineup for the intl. competition share something in common: strong characters, mostly women, who resist an outside force bent on changing them, and use their free, fighting spirits to change the force instead.

The 37th edition of Fajr Internation- al Film Festival, Iran’s biggest cinemat- ic event dedicated to world cinema, opened to avid festival goers on Thurs- day, screening from morning to mid- night noteworthy productions from near and far – distance or culture wise – from Russia, Turkey and China all the way to Egypt, Norway and Argentina. The overall screening program, com- prising 11 sections, has as many as 109 titles from 75 countries. The internation- up, unlike the previous edition, en- instead, it was difficult to ignore some al competition section, called ‘Cinema joy a more coherent structure, with shared characteristics between the se- Salvation’, includes 15 feature films and solid executions, breath-taking cine- lected movies in the international com- 15 short films, with a jury panel of seven matography, award-worthy acting, and petition: all three had ‘resistance’ and notable figures in the film industry. most importantly, thought-provoking, ‘resilience’ at the core of their stories After watching three films in the smooth-flowing subject matters, which (with women being mostly the driving international competition, and one make them both ‘festival-worthy’ and force behind it), and children played a in the Festival of Festivals (Cup -of Div ‘audience-friendly’. significant role in introducing a funda- inations), it became apparent that While FIFF is not a themed festival, mental change into the lives of the pro- the selected movies in this year’s line- more focused on diverse representation tagonists (even the film, ‘As I Fall’ from Dossier Page 42 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

Norway in the Festival of Festivals sec- band, Diego (Diego Gentile) who have it involves the environment and the fu- tion dealt with the positive change in a registered for adoption. When the call ture of the next generations. The build- young addict’s life when he started to finally comes, they are told that the child up is slow, and it takes a while to un- take care of his son and be a responsible is older than they expected. They still derstand the various characters in their father). go through with the adoption program, own unique set of behavioral and mor- The main characters of these movies, although with some reservations, and al patterns. It is based on a true story, mostly women, all faced a challenging find the 9-year-old Joel (Joel Noguera) even infused at times with actual foot- situation that threatened to take some- to be quiet and withdrawn. The prob- age from the archives, which lends the thing fundamental away from them. In- lem arrives when the school notifies story a heavier mood and more urgency. stead of giving way under the pressure, Cecilia that the parents do not wish for Resistance again is key here. Resistance and submitting to the outside force that their children to be in the same class as against what is expected of you, from sought to change, or at times, destroy Joel, who is apparently more talkative those above you and sometimes those them, the characters mustered up their among his peers, telling them wild tales around you, because your conscience free and fighting spirits to turn their about his adventures of doing drugs and has decided that some things are worth situation into their own favor by any threatening a man with a knife. more than wealth and power, which are means necessary. While Joel becomes the role model transient and unreliable at best. This attitude is a fresh and welcome ‘hero’ of his class, parents are worried In this small rural district of Wackers- perspective for the Iranian audience about the mental as well as physical dorf, where widespread protests went who are mostly used to watching home- well-being of their children and team up on to make history, commissioner Hans made dramas in which a conflict is intro- in a teacher-parent meeting that soon Schuierer (Johannes Zeiler) strives for duced and goes on to turn the lives of escalates into a heated argument, to bringing back jobs, and hence prosperi- the characters upside down, but there is force the headmaster to expel Joel, the ty, to his area, having an eye on the next no way out of the situation, no solution, outsider. election. Desperate for a way out and only a bleak realization that this is your The movie is a cautionary tale about backed by his comrades and party mem- life, you might as well get used to it, all the consequences of isolating and - re bers, he hastily falls for the plan for a in the name of ‘realism’. jecting the outsider, and subtly invites a nuclear reprocessing plant, promised by celebratory welcoming of it. ‘Joel’, in the some Bavarian top-brass politicians and first steps, shows how the arrival of the traders. Ignorant, at first, to the possible child sets the family against the whole environmental hazards of this project community, how the child isolates the and then awakened by harsh crackdown mother among the people she used to of the central government on the bur- know and be friends with, but gradual- geoning local protests, the Commission- ly the very same child becomes for her er’s conscience, alongside his family, set a motivation to resist against a system him on the path to side with protesters that wants to dissolve and integrate her, against the state. The continued local Joel (2018 | Argentina) by Carlos Sorin a reason to strive for what she feels is protests then turn into an organized Rating: 7.5/10 the right thing do, even if it clashes with movement and finally force the Bavari- This simple, yet emotionally-com- conventions and comfort. an government to back off its plan. To- plex, adoption drama, directed by- Ar The movie ends with Cecilia finally day, the unfinished Wackersdorf nuclear gentine film veteran Carlos Sorín, is easy making her decision, and leaves the con- reprocessing plant is just an industrial on the eyes, introducing the audience to sequences of her decision to the audi- site. a snow-covered small town in Patagonia, ence’s imagination. deceptively tranquil and quiet under the muting blanket of the snow, hiding away ugly, festering wounds of prejudice, dis- crimination, selfishness, insecurity and the fear of the ‘outsider’. The narrative sets a slow pace with silence at times revealing more truths than words, but the expected boredom is countered by great acting, beautiful cinematography, and the smooth execution of the com- Wackersdorf (2018 | Germany) by Erased (2018 | Slovenia, Croatia, plex moral issue that leaves the audi- Oliver Haffner Serbia) by Miha Mazzini ence in a constant struggle between ‘it’s Rating: 8/10 Rating: 10/10 not worth the trouble,’ and ‘it’s worth to Much like ‘Joel’, Oliver Haffner’s My personal favorite of the titles I fight for it.’ ‘Wackersdorf’, set in a peaceful yet fi- have watched at the FIFF so far, ‘Erased’ The story revolves around a young nancially-challenged rural district of is a novel adaptation by the same writ- couple, piano teacher Cecilia (Victoria 1990’s Germany, deals with a significant er, Miha Mazzini, published in 2014. The Almeida) and her forestry worker hus- subject matter, maybe even more so, as movie, with its gorgeous cinematogra- Dossier Page 43 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY phy, gets its name from Izbrisani (Slo- Ana says. “It’s when things go to sh*t on the ground. All gone. “This is all you,” vene for The Erased), which refers to that you realize how dependent you she says with bitterness, motioning to a group of people in Slovenia that re- are on others,” and there’s a bitter tone the wallet. Then she takes out a small mained without a legal status after the to her voice when she says it. Her situ- fragment of her broken ID, which barely declaration of the country’s independ- ation has forced her to reconnect with shows her face, and says, “and this is all ence from Yugoslavia in 1991. According her parents and the father of her child that’s left of me.” to reports, some 26,000 people were whose name she did not even put on Although her fight to take back her affected by the erasure, losing their res- the forms at the hospital. stolen identity is motivated by her need idence rights, with no possibilities for One of the most powerful moments to protect her baby, who is put up for work and social protection. in the movie occurred during the ‘wallet adoption, Ana and her resolve to be The movie’s protagonist is a kinder- scene’. Ana and her divorced husband, visible and her fighting spirit to expose garten teacher, Ana (Croatian star Ju- who has connections with higher-ups the cruel consequences of what Slove- dita Franković Brdar), who gives birth and later helps her to make a live ap- nia’s Ministry of the Interior had done at a local hospital, only to be told that pearance on TV to talk about her situa- to thousands of its citizens, becomes an her files are missing and she has been tion, are sitting on a bench in this beau- inspirational, moving story. Much like erased from the system. What follows is tiful, autumn-themed, foggy park. The ‘Joel’, the movie ends with Ana grabbing a highly-tense and breathtaking narra- husband is cynical about the severity of her baby and turning on her heels to tive of a young woman’s struggles with Ana’s problem. She asks him for his wal- leave the hospital as police sirens fill the a Kafkaesque bureaucratic system to let, and begins taking out various cards air. We don’t know if she could make it keep her baby and her identity. ‘When – ID, insurance, driver’s license, bank out with her child, but we would all like everything’s fine, living alone is so easy,” cards – and throwing them one by one to think that she did.

Women have more powerful stories to tell, Indian director Praveen Morchhale says

Indian director and script writer through her work and the caring for her with him on ‘Widow of Silence’. Praveen Morchhale, whose ‘Widow family. The Indian director attaches great sig- of Silence’ is competing at 37th FIFF Mr. Morchhale was present at the nificance to “the human aspect of the cin- in Tehran, believes that women have FIFF venue in Charsou Cineplex in ema, which is universal and can be seen more powerful stories to tell, and downtown Tehran, and he was gra- and understood by anyone in the world.” cinema can play a role to improve their cious enough to give some of his time situation in the world. for an interview with Mehr News that How were you introduced to Fajr will follow. He was also accompanied International Film Festival? Indian director, script writer, and film by Iranian cinematographer Moham- I came here in 2015 as a guest for the producer, Praveen Morchhale, is compet- mad Reza Jahan-panah, who worked festival when it was still held together ing at the main competition section of the 37th Fajr International Film Festival in Tehran with his latest movie, ‘Widow of Silence’. The film, which has recently snatched the Grand Jury prize for the ‘Best Feature’ at the 17th annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, for its depiction of “a condi- tion that most of the world doesn’t get to see”, is the story of a woman named Aas- ia (Shilpi Marwaha) who is a ‘half widow’ in the trouble-torn Kashmir. ‘Half-widow’ refers to a woman whose husband, like many other men in this Indian-controlled region, was arrested and never returned. The movie, which, apart from the lead ac- tress, uses non-professional local actors, shows Aasia’s struggles to obtain a death certificate for her husband as she goes Dossier Page 44 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY

with the national event. Later in Kolka- the productions also have what it takes Now we have Indian films in important ta, my film was chosen by Mr. Esfandi- to appeal to the taste of the general film festivals around the world, such as ari, who was a jury member in Kolkata audience, for instance, those in India? Venice, Cannes, Busan, etc. We have dif- where I won Best Film award. He told Nowadays, one can say with confi- ferent cultures, with different attitudes me to submit the film to Fajr and he dence that geographical boundaries no to cinema, and different stories to tell, would be happy to invite me. Beyond longer matter. Most of independent, so I think it won’t be fair to compare this introduction, I was also well aware high-quality films produced around the the Iranian and Indian cinemas togeth- of Fajr, since it is a very well-known film world are accessible to everyone on the er. Each has its own unique identity, and festival in Asia. digital platform and many other -differ both are flourishing. ent mediums. In India, in particular, the So, how does Fajr measure up to the Iranian cinema is held in high regard. It Let’s talk about your movie, ‘Widow of other film festivals you have so far is a very ‘human’ and attractive cinema. Silence’, which is participating at both taken part in? On the other hand, it also depends on the International Competition and When comparing Fajr with other how you market your films. The inde- ‘Olive Branches’ sections of this year’s film festivals, one thing that immedi- pendent cinema, for instance, needs a Fajr festival. Tell me about how it came ately jumps to attention is the -differ lot of money for a successful marketing, to be. ence in the audience. Here in Iran, the and in many cases, the filmmaker does Around two years ago, I came upon festival goers are very knowledgeable not have that kind of money to publicize a piece of news about the situation of about cinema, and I believe they have the film. But still, I think the Iranian cin- half-widows (whose husbands have dis- a deep understanding of cinema. Other ema has been successful in spreading its appeared but are not yet declared dead) than that, everything is well-organized influence throughout the world due to in India. It really hurt me and I was quite here. The most important thing for any its high quality and appeal. surprised, because I’ve lived all my life festival, though, is the selection of the in India and I never knew about this movies, and I believe that Fajr’s lineup is How do you compare the Iranian issue. So, I started doing research on very high-standard. So, if you take these cinema to the contemporary cinema in the topic. It is a very human story, and three factors into consideration – au- India? sadly nobody knows about it. Here are dience, organization and film selection Discussing the Indian cinema, I be- these women who are suffering, and – then you can say that Fajr is perfect, lieve, is a much wider topic, because In- their struggles and strength should be and very special in comparison to other dian films are made in many languages, brought to the world’s attention. So, I festivals. such as Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and decided to make a movie about it. there are many different film industries, You are very knowledgeable about the with Bollywood being only one part of What were the challenges that you Iranian cinema, so my next question it. But as long as the independent cine- encountered along the way while concerns that. Do you, both as a ma is concerned, I think the Iranian cine- making the movie? filmmaker and a participant at various ma is much ahead of its Indian counter- I don’t really think of any aspects of film festivals, believe that the Iranian part, if you look at festival participation. making ‘Widow of Silence’ as an actual cinema – with its recent remarkable But in the past three or four years, the challenge. The project was handled with popularity around the world – is just a Indian independent cinema has come a great passion, and when you do some- ‘festival-favorite’, or do you think that long way and made very fast progress. thing with passion and dedication, you Dossier Page 45 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY don’t perceive any aspect of the job as a the audience, make them think about Iran, because it is a very particular as- challenge. Whatever is thrown at us, we the issue the narrative is talking about. pect in Kashmir only. At the same time, face it happily and try to solve it. If you I think this human story is easily felt by focus on the challenge, then it starts to You chose to work with an Iranian everyone around the world, regardless feel like a ‘burden’, and you most likely cinematographer, Mohammad Reza of how particular the situation is. The won’t be able to enjoy the process of Jahan-panah, on ‘Widow of Silence’. movie was screened in Europe, Amer- producing the film. How was the experience? ica, Asia, and I believe everywhere the But there were physical challeng- It was a wonderful experience. impact was the same. People have the es about the area where we filmed. At Mr. Jahan-panah is very humble, very same deep feeling and sympathy for night, the temperature would drop to knowledgeable, and very thorough in the lead character. I had people coming zero, and we had electricity problems, his craft and art, and very aesthetic. The up to me after the screening, whether as well as logistic problems. There were most important thing that makes work- in France or in South Korea or here in no hotels, just very small guest houses, ing with him very enjoyable is that he is Iran, telling me how much the film had but despite all this, we were all very very down-to-earth, without the usual made them think about the situation of happy while making the film. arrogance you see in the film industry. the half-widows. My kind of cinema is His creativity added a lot to my film, and not too fond of words and the language When we talk about Indian cinema, gave it a very good flavor. He also made barrier. I prefer to show the situation by almost everyone just thinks about a lot of contribution to bringing my vi- images rather than by characters talk- Bollywood, what with how imposing sion into life. ing. This, I believe, helps the audience and profitable the industry is. What I look forward to working with him on to feel like they are in the middle of the steered you away from that path and future projects. In a few months, prob- story, experiencing the situation along- pushed you toward the independent ably, we will be shooting a new movie side the characters. I take long shots, cinema? What motivated you to take together. The story is again centered and use very little dialogue and camera on such heavy subject matters, like the in Kashmir, but it’s a very philosophical angles, in a minimalist approach, to help terrors of war and women’s plights? film, about life and death within a social the audience engage more closely with Bollywood, as you know, is very and political community, from the point of the images and feel like they are right commercial, and its basic parameters view of a gravedigger. I hope the film will there in the story. is how much money they can make out be a powerful representation about the of a story. If making more money means situation in Kashmir, and that we will be What kind of filmmaker do you consider twisting the story or even diluting it, by able to commence the project very soon. yourself? The kind that introduces a putting in songs and dancing scenes that problem and throws his characters serve no purpose but entertainment, Women are at the center of your movie, into the conflict just to watch how they will happily do it. For me, what mat- ‘Widow of Silence’, as well as in several they react, or the kind that also shows ters is the human aspect of the cinema, other films I had the opportunity to the characters, and by extension which is universal and can be seen and watch at this year’s festival. Do you the audience who are sharing the understood by anyone in the world. I think cinema can do something to help experience, a way out? wanted to tell the story as it is from a improve women’s situation in the world? Some filmmakers may wish to put for- neutral point of view; show what these I strongly believe that women are be- ward a problem and leave the solution women are going through. And for that I ing discriminated against everywhere in to the audience, or some may wish to had to be true to the story and the sub- the world, even in the most developed also provide the solution to that dilem- ject matter, rather than creating some- countries in Europe. Women still don’t ma. When the film focuses on a particu- thing superficial. Bollywood may touch have the kind of rights and status that lar solution, it runs the risk of limiting the surface of any subject, but the real they rightfully deserve. I believe that itself to a particular point of view, which issue will be lost somewhere. cinema has a strong role to play to bring may be right or wrong. I personally try these issues forward, and that women to steer away from making judgments, So, does that mean that you see have more powerful stories to tell; they and leave it up to the audience to decide yourself as a filmmaker with a mission? have a more powerful emotional, social what the right solution might be. On the The kind that feels the need to uncover and rational attitude toward everything other hand, when you provide the solu- the hidden truths and bring to attention rather than the men. They can have a very tion, there is nothing left to provoke the what has been concealed or ignored? strong impact on the society, and through audience to think for themselves. As a filmmaker, you have some re- cinema they can achieve it very fast. sponsibility. Your cinema can be without How has your experience been in Tehran a theme or a purpose, for entertain- How was the audience feedback to and with your interactions with Iranians? ment only, or it can have some soul in it, your film at Fajr? I’ve had a very nice experience in something that makes the audience to I received a very good feedback from Tehran. People are very friendly and think, and for me the latter is more im- my movie’s screening the other day. I knowledgeable here, both the ones I portant. I believe that my cinema should believe that the ‘half-widow’ phenom- interacted with at the festival venue leave an impact or a deep impression on enon is very new to the audience in and those outside. Dossier Page 46 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY 2019 Fajr Intl. Filmfest. names winners; ‘A Russian Youth’ wins grand prix

The Fajr International Film Festival announced the full lineup of winners at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall for their 37th year of celebrating independent, art house, alternate, fiction, documentary and animation films from across the globe.

Iranian and international officials, dignitaries, filmmakers and guests- at tended the closing ceremony on Thurs- day, April 25. Addressing the ceremony, Festival Director Seyyed Reza Mirkarimi said the imposed unilateral sanctions have not only targeted Iran’s economy but its cul- ture as well: Despite these difficulties, we managed to organize the annual Silver Simorgh for Special Jury Prize: cinematic event. The good news is that Best Costume Design for Spring Sparrow Muhammad Al-Ameen Award many international filmmakers, critics, by Jingxiang Li (China) Trophy and Diploma of Honor for Mu- and scholars who love Iranian cinema Silver Simorgh for Best Short Film: hammad Al-Ameen Award: Hamid by Ai- didn’t leave us alone. Excess Will Save Us by Morgane Dziur- jaz Khan (India) The award-winning director and la-Petit (Sweden) screenwriter added, “this is one of the International Competition Jury (The Certificate of Peace oldest and the most important film fes- Cinema Salvation): Wang Xiaoshuai Amina by Iyman Zidan (Syria) tivals in West Asia. I would like to extend (China), Mike van Diem (Netherlands), International Critics Award my gratitude to Ministry of Culture, Cin- Muzaffer Özdemir (Turkey), Navid Mo- Diploma of Honor to Best Feature ema Organization of Iran, Ministry of hammadzadeh (Iran), Labina Mitevska Film in Eastern Vista Section: The An- Communications, Tehran Municipality, (Macedonia), Peter Fleischmann (Ger- nouncement by Mahmut Fazil Coskun as well as many others who helped us to many), Narges Abyar (Iran). (Turkey/Bulgaria) hold this year’s event.” International Critics Jury: Cüneyt Asian Film Awards Cebenoyan (Turkey), Robert Safarian Full Lineup: Trophy for Best Asian Film: Without (Iran), Barbara Lorey (Germany) International Competition (Cinema My Friend by Mohammad Ali Talebi Salvation) (Iran) Interfaith Award Golden Simorgh for Best Film: A Rus- Diploma of Honor for Best Asian Diploma of Honor to Rona, Azim’s sian Youth directed by Alexander Zolo- Film: Rona, Azim’s Mother by Jamshid Mother by Jamshid Mahmoudi (Afghan- tukhin, produced by Eduard Pichugin, Mahmoudi (Afghanistan) istan) Alexander Sokurv (Russia) Trophy for Best Asian Director: Huo Interfaith Competition Jury: Seyyed Silver Simorgh for Best Director: So- Meng for Crossing the Border (China) Mohammad Hossein Navab (Iran), Inês roush Sehat for Dance with Me! (Iran) Trophy for Best Short Film: Sacrifice Mendes Gil (Portugal), Douglas P. Fahle- Silver Simorgh for Best Script: Gernot by Mehdi Mahmmad-Nejadian (Iran) son (Scotland) Kraa, Oliver Haffner for Wackersdorf by Eastern Vista Jury (Panorama of Films Oliver Haffner (Germany) from Asian and Islamic Countries): Khosro NETPAC Prize Silver Simorgh for Best Actress: Mar- Masoumi (Iran), Rusudan Glurjidze (Georgia) Narrow Red Line by Farzad Khoshdast tina Apostolova for Irina by Nadejda Ko- (Iran) seva (Bulgaria) Best First Film Award NETPAC Jury: Latika Padgaonkar (In- Silver Simorgh for Best Actor: Jesper Trophy for Best First Feature Film: A dia), Seyyed Gholamreza Mousavi (Iran), Christensen for Before the Frost by Mi- Russian Youth by Alexander Zolotukhin Aijaz Gul (Pakistan) chael Noer (Denmark) (Russia) The 37th Fajr International Film Festi- Diploma of Honor for Best Actor: Ali First Film Jury: Behrouz Shoeibi (Iran), val was held in the Iranian capital Tehran Mosaffa for Dance with Me by Soroush Ghassan Salhab (Lebanon), Ammar Hadi from April 18 to 26, screening 107 titles Sehat (Iran) Al-Arady (Iraq) from 75 countries around the world. Dossier Page 47 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Fajr Intl. Film Festival gives you a cinema of all flavors

The 37th Fajr International Film Festival Still, the grand prix (Golden Simorgh came to a close on Friday, after screening for Best Film) went to ‘A Russian Youth’ by as many as 109 titles from 75 countries Alexander Zolotukhin; a unique take on from near and far, offering the avid the horrors of World War I from the view- festival goers a cinematic concoction of point of a brave yet useless young boy, all flavors. who keeps a steadfast grip on the falling world around him, even as he loses his After four years of having organized sight and his hearing on the Eastern front. the international section of Fajr film fes- ‘A Russian Youth’ was supported by tival as an independent event from its legendary director Alexander Sokurov’s national section, one could now say with own non-commercial film fund. Sokurov confidence that Tehran has come a long himself is no stranger to Fajr. He was a way in such a short span of time with its guest at the 34th FIFF, with his documen- biggest international cinematic event and tary ‘Francofonia’ (2015) in the screening now is quite proud of it. program. The Fajr International Film Festival has ‘Before the Frost’ still managed to grab already proved its worth and credibility, same time as they painted a spectacular the Best Actor award for Jesper Chris- establishing itself not just as a domestic image of the sociocultural context of a tensen, who you might know from ‘Mel- venue for the Iranian festival goers who particular period of time in a specific part ancholia’ (Lars von Trier) or ‘Casino Roy- wish to experience a different kind of cin- of the world. ale’ (Martin Campbell). ema, but also as a wider arena for hun- While Fajr is not a themed festival, The Best Script award went to Gernot dreds of people around the world, who more focused on diversity of representa- Kraa and Oliver Haffner for ‘Wackersdorf’ become guests for a two-week period to tion instead, many movies in this year’s from Germany; another wonderful tale a diverse selection of movies from plac- lineup shared a number of characteristics about the environment, refusal to submit, es that they have little to no exposure in common: children, adoption or future and the power of public against the state to. Fajr gives you a taste of high-quality, generations; environment; strong female wrapped neatly in a true story. non-commercial movies from heteroge- characters; rejection of conventions and Martina Apostolova grabbed the fes- neous cultures, places that you have nev- refusal to submit to a higher power; mov- tival’s Best Actress award for ‘Irina’ by er been to, countries that you have had a ing tales based on true stories, and char- Bulgarian director Nadejda Koseva; ‘Irina’ stereotypical view on, or have been com- acters with free, fighting spirits that didn’t also features a strong female character pletely misinformed about. give up, that kept looking for solutions in that powers through the unpleasant sur- This year, the overall screening pro- the face of challenges and dire situations. roundings of a small mining town. Her gram, comprising 11 sections, had as My personal favorites in the Interna- story is that of survival, as she needs to many as 109 titles from 75 countries from tional Competition section were ‘Erased’ save her family from poverty by becoming near and far – distance or culture wise – and ‘Before the Frost’. ‘Erased’, the sto- a surrogate mother for money. from Russia, Turkey and China all the way ry of a Slovenian woman whose identity Last year, the festival made headlines to Egypt, Denmark and Argentina. The was erased, along with 26,000 others, in by hosting three-times Oscar winner, international competition section, called the wake of the country’s independence American director Oliver Stone, and leg- ‘Cinema Salvation’, included 15 feature from Yugoslavia in 1991. Refusing to be endary Italian actor Franco Nero. This films and 15 short films, with a jury panel ‘invisible’, she did everything she could to time, the guest of honor was the re- of seven notable figures in the film indus- get her identity, as well as her newborn nowned American screenwriter, director, try. baby, back, even going so far as to expose and film critic Paul Schrader, who held Personally, I found this year’s lineup to herself on national TV. ‘Erased’ was both a workshop on transcendental style in have a more coherent structure compared informative of a historical incident that is film, and attended a press conference at to the previous edition; selected movies possibly unknown to many people around Charsou Cineplex on April 24. The legend- generally had solid executions, breath-tak- the world, and it was at the same time a ary American filmmaker compared the ing cinematography, award-worthy act- breathtaking story of a strong-willed char- atmosphere of Fajr with that of Toronto, ing, and most importantly, thought-pro- acter that kept pushing forward against a Venice and Berlin, voicing surprise by the voking, smooth-flowing subject matters, hostile tide. sheer size and dimensions of it. Talking which made them both ‘festival-worthy’ ‘Before the Frost’, a rural period piece about the Iranian cinema, he praised the and ‘audience-friendly’. taking place in a wretched part of back- works of the late Palme d’Or Abbas Kiaro- Movies such as ‘Erased’, a Sloveni- woods Denmark, was noteworthy for its stami and two-time Oscar winner Asghar an-Croatian-Serbian production directed honest portrayal of an old father (played Farhadi, saying the Iranian natural cinema by Miha Mazzini, or ‘Before the Frost’ by Danish star Jesper Christensen) who shows growth and it is full of sense of life. by Danish filmmaker Michael Noer, kept would go to great lengths for the happi- The 37th Fajr International Festival was the audience on the edge of their seats, ness of her daughter; yet, his own person- presided over by 52-year-old award-win- breathless with anticipation, with their al gains were not hidden from the watch- ning director Reza Mirkarimi from April 18 tense, solid unfolding of the events, at the ful eyes of the viewer. to 26 in the Iranian capital Tehran. Page 48 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Sport Sport Page 49 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Perspolis main goal is to qualify for next stage at AFC Champion League, coach says

Interview by: Kamal Iranidoost

Persepolis football team coach Branko Ivankovic paid a visit to Mehr News Agency headquarters in Tehran and sat down for an interview with MNA journalists.

Part of the Mehr’s long interview with the manager of giant Iranian club Branko Ivankovic was conducted by the MNA English desk, while the most part of it was carried out by the Sports Desk of the MNA in Croatian through his translator. Here is the full text of the English part of the interview with Mr. Ivankovic:

Perspolis have not done very well so far year. I know that repeating such results At the end of your contract with at the group stage of the AFC Champion is very hard, especially because Estegh- Perspolis, I do not know when it League and they have only gained one lal is a very good team and has brought finishes, will you continue working point in two matches. Do you think more than fifteen players. Tractorsazi with the team and resign the contract? with this fairly poor results, your team is the same, it has brought six to seven I have to say that I have one and half will qualify for the next stage of the players, including three national team year contract, and for us, for coaches we Asian competitions? captains, like Dejagah, Shojaee and Ha- never know what will happen tomor- Our main aim is to qualify for the next jsafi, also they have brought some [for- row. We have some words, for exam- stage of [the AFC Champions League]. eign players] and they have brought a ple in all cases, we always try to move Of course we lost against the Qatari Al goalkeeper. [forward] because one bad result can Sadd, but I have to repeat that in the last Furthermore, there is Sepahan that change everything. Of course, I feel ex- two years of the AFC Champions sea- have brought six to seven good players. cellent here in Tehran, in Iran, with Per- sons, we played in the semi-final and the So, the competitions will be very hard, spolis. We are very satisfied, but there last season in the final, and we expect to very tough and very interesting for the is no guarantee for me and Perspolis repeat these results… of course, the loss football fans. who the coach will be, because we nev- against Al Sadd was not so good, but in er know what happens, because we are the last season, we again lost against the My third question deals with the professionals, and of course it depends Qatari Al Sadd 3-1 but at the end of the probable financial problems that the on many things. group stage, we collected 13 points and US anti-Iran sanctions may have caused we were the first of the table and qual- for the teams in the Iranian premier And as my last question, I would like to ified for the next stage. So, [qualifying league, including Perspolis. Have the ask you about the difference between for the next stage] is our main target and sanctions had any negative impacts on Iran and other regional countries football. that is what we want to do. the performance of your team? What are the differences between Iranian As you know, the financial problem players and their Arab rivals? Let’s talk about the Iranian Persian Gulf is not only about Perspolis. It is a prob- First of all, Iranian players are Pro League. Do you think that Perspolis lem for all of the teams in the Persian more talented players. They are more will come first at the end of the season League. The problem is not because of hard-working. I really enjoy working again like the last two seasons? the sanctions and this problem has been with my players because they try to do It is very hard to make good results there in the last few years. The main goal of their best… they put so much energy, so season by season. We took the last three the club is…to have financial discipline. The passion on the field. So, they are totally seasons, we were runner-up by goal dif- team tries to meet the financial needs of the different from. The only advantage with ference, and the next two seasons we players, their families, because they are pro- the Arab players is that they are better became champion, and now also we are fessional players. So, solving the financial paid and their payment is better than top of the table by the end of the Iranian problems is a main goal of the club. here in Iran. Sport Page 50 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY What are Carlos Queiroz legacies in Iranian football?

By: Mohammad Ali Haqshenas nalists of Mehr News Agency, which is days in the 2019 Asian Cup campaign: among leading Persian-language sports Thinking about this issue, many peo- During his 8-year stay in Iran, Queiroz media in Iran, about Queiroz legacies in ple are being reminded of ‘Performance managed to create a strong team which the Iranian football. Elite Center’, or simply PEC. Queiroz is standing at top of the Asian continent himself told that this center is his lega- and wins the world’s respect. Reza Khosravi, the editor-in-chief of cy. Maybe the construction of PEC had sports desk: been started before Queiroz, but it was In April 2011, the Portuguese start- 1) Fighting athletocracy 2) Team dis- completed with his efforts and insist- ed his adventure in Iran with the aim of cipline; he created a team which had ence. Also, one cannot neglect the dis- guiding Team Melli to 2014 World Cup the least controversies in the history of cipline that he exercised over the team. in Brazil. And he achieved the goal with Iran’s football 3) Enhancing the status of a historic 1-0 win against South Korea and respect for Team Melli in the coun- Masoud Hossein, sports journalist and in the final match of qualification. His try 4) Introducing Iran as a growing power editor in the Tehran Times Daily: raised fist gesture pointed to the Kore- in football across the world 5) Helping to 1) Fighting athletocracy but some- an manager at the end of the game best finalize Team Melli’s special camp in Teh- how just in early years 2) Discipline 3) defined his level of enthusiasm for Iran. ran dubbed as ‘Performance Elite Center’ Introducing contradictory statements and lies to Iranian football 4) Making a solid defense line so that Iranians would not worry about heavy losses 5) Having an arrogant look over Iranians who were working beside him 6) Boosting Iran’s in- ternational character. These comments are by no means comprehensive and just were in response to one particular question. Of course, Queiroz had made some mistakes as well during his tenure. He was somehow famous for his controversial remarks in times when the team needed to have more focus on the games ahead. One instance was verbal warfare between him and Perse- polis coach Branko Ivankovic; a dispute which actually and sadly distanced some Persepolis fans from Team Melli. Or dur- ing the recent campaign in UAE, Queiroz just stunned Iranian media by attacking Former Real Madrid coach managed Ali Khalaf, football journalist: the Iranian minister of sports. No matter to secure Iran’s berth to back-to-back Team discipline and international his words were true or not, maybe that World Cup finals for the first time in character was not a good place to say such words Iran’s history. He steered the team for and distract the focus of the team. 100 matches, gaining 60 victories, con- Morteza Ahmadi, football journalist: One of the failures of Iranian football ceding 13 losses and having 27 draws. Fighting athletocracy; there were al- federation was that it did not grasp this His final match was in 2019 AFC Asian ways players in Team Melli who were eight years of opportunity to train Irani- Cup semifinal against Japan which end- after obtaining privileges. The expul- an coaches by Sir Alex Ferguson’s assis- ed 3-0 for the East Asian team and also sion of [goalkeeper] Mehdi Rahmati tant. Almost all critiques of Queiroz in ended Iran’s dream to win the continen- and [defender] Hadi Aghili and then put- Iran praised his technical knowledge but tal trophy after some 43 years. ting aside [midfielder] Mojtaba Jabbari now this asset is just gone. The 66-year-old coach then left Teh- showed that Queiroz does not rely on Queiroz is still a highly popular char- ran with what he described as ‘tears in star players. acter in Iran and he will remain so. If you his heart’ and shortly after, took charge doubt it, just check out his Instagram ac- of Colombian national team. Mehdi Mortazavian, football journalist, count and read the comments, most of Here in Tehran, I asked football jour- who was beside the team for almost 40 which are coming from Iran. Sport Page 51 |No. 13|May 2019 MEHR NEWSAGENCY Major achievements of Iranian athletes in the past year By: Mohammad Ali Haqshenas Team Melli could not manage the rest of the match; a bitter defeat The Iranian calendar year 1397 but hopefully a good lesson. (March 2018 – March 2019) was Another great moment for Ira- full of joyful moments for Iran’s nian football was when Persepolis sports. Here we will take a look at secured a berth to AFC Champions major events and what came as a League final match. Although the Ira- result. nian team lost the final matched 2-0 (on aggregate), it was highly praised 2018 Asian Games for its good performance, consider- The 18th edition of Asian Games ing that the team was banned from officially kicked off on August 18, two transfer windows. And also the 2018, in Indonesian cities of Ja- successful holding of the final match karta and Palembang and closed Cup along with 2012 World Champion and cup ceremony in Tehran’s Azadi September 2. Gaining a total of 62 med- Spain, 2016 UEFA Champion Portugal Stadium proved Iran’s high potentials for als (including 20 gold, 20 silver and 22 and 2018 African Nations Champion hosting major continental events. bronze medals) Iran finished the Asiad Morocco. The team gained a 1-0 victo- with the 6th rank. China, Japan, South ry against Morocco in the first match to Basketball Korea, Indonesia and Uzbekistan topped raise hopes for next round qualification. Iranian men’s basketball team the medals table ranking. Team Melli then suffered a narrow 1-0 punched a ticket to the 2019 FIBA World As far as the number of medals is defeat against Spain and managed to Cup with a win over Australia in late Feb- concerned, Iran delivered a better per- hold Portugal in the last game, building ruary. Iran played the last games with- formance than the last 9 editions by a total of 4 points and finishing third in out two prominent stars, namely Hamed gaining 62 medals. However, the rank the group behind the two five-pointed Haddadi, Samad Nikkhah Bahrami. of the team in medal table dropped to European teams. 6 from 5 of 2014 games held in Incheon. Iran caught the eyes during the tour- Weightlifting One of the historic scenes of the nament for its fierce and fighting defense Sohrab Moradi broke world records event was when both Iranian men’s and capabilities and many experts praised of men’s 96kg category in 2018 IWF women’s teams of Kabaddi snatched the the Iranian style. However, the team World Weightlifting Championships gold medals of the tournament. lacked the cutting edge in attacks and in Turkmenistan, collecting three gold was unable to best use its rare opportu- medals as well. The Olympic gold medal- 2018 Asian Para Games nities during the games. Iran scored two ist raised 186kg in snatch, and 230kg in Under the motto of “We Can Do It goals in the campaign; one was an own clean and jerk and 416kg in total, break- with Trust and Effort,” 209 Iranian pa- goal by Moroccan player and the other ing three world records. ra-athletes represented Iran in 2018 was from the penalty spot. Also another Olympic gold medalist Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia Some six months later, Iran started a of Iran, Behdad Salimi announced re- from October 6 to 13. new campaign in UAE, this time to claim tirement after gaining the gold medal The team won a total of 136 med- the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. Team Melli first of men’s +105kg category at 2018 Asian als (51 gold, 42 silver, 43 bronze) which hammered Yemen 5-0, then won Viet- Games. was enough to win the 3rd place of the nam 2-0, before being held by Iraq with medals table, for the first time in histo- a 0-0 draw. With seven points, the team Futsal ry. The phenomenon of this edition was won the group as leader and face Oman There was two major futsal event in certainly Iran’s swimmer Shahin Izadyar in Round of 16 which ended with a 2-0 the past year, the trophy of both came who snatched six gold medals and one victory for the Persians. to Iran. Iranian women’s team retained silver being named as the best athlete Queiroz’s side managed to gain a 3-0 the title of AFC Women’s Futsal Champi- of the event. victory over Marcelo Lippi’s China in the onship with a 5-2 win over Japan in May quarterfinals, heading to face Japan in 2018, in Thailand. Football the next round. However, the Samu- And Iran’s Mes Sungun defeated Viet- Surely this was a year of football with rai Blue taught Iranian players the true nam’s Thai Son Nam FC 4-2 to clinch the two major events; 2018 World Cup in meaning of being professional. When title of AFC Futsal Club Championship. Russia and 2019 AFC Asian Cup in UAE. five Iranian players were objecting to Sports in Iran is demonstrating a grow- Let’s start with Russia. Team Melli referee for nothing, two Japanese play- ing trend and Iranian athletes are trying was drawn in Group B of 2018 World ers broke the deadlock in the game and hard to keep these developments going.