2 12 Gov’t spokesman: Two-time Oscar winner Non-accession to FATF Farhadi’s ‘A Hero’ negatively affected trade shooting done Number 6645 ● Wednesday December 23, 2020 ● Dey 3, 1399 ● Jamadi al-Awwal 8, 1442 ● Price 20,000 Rials ● 12 Pages ● www.irandailyonline.ir ● newspaper.irandaily.ir resolved to stop Zarif urges Europe to grasp US destabilizing acts ‘last chance’ to salvage nuclear deal in West Asia Inclusive political solution best guarantee China, Russia FMs: US should rejoin JCPOA unconditionally for lasting peace in Afghanistan: Iran FM

Political Desk They also expressed their readiness to “positively ad- from the JCPOA and its “maximum pressure” policy on the dress” the possible return of the to the accord Islamic Republic are the root causes of challenges pertain- oreign Minister on Monday in a “joint effort”. ing to Iran’s nuclear program, Press TV wrote. called on the European signatories to the 2015 Iran Outgoing US President Donald Trump stepped out of the Wang added that the Iran nuclear situation has come to a Fnuclear deal not to miss the “last chance” for saving deal unilaterally in 2018 and reinstated tough sanctions on critical juncture as Biden has pledged to rejoin the JCPOA, the multilateral pact. Iran. But his successor President-elect has prom- but Washington has been at the same time mounting more “Last chance for E3/EU to save the JCPOA,” Zarif ised to rejoin the accord, which was negotiated while he pressure on . tweeted after a videoconference at which foreign ministers was vice president, and seek diplomacy with Iran. He also called on Iran to fully resume its nuclear commit- of Iran, France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China as well In his tweets, Zarif noted that “Iran-EU 2014-2019 trade ments as per the JCPOA and proposed that the deal’s signa- as the ’s foreign policy chief discussed the data proves E3/EU have gravely breached their JCPOA ob- tories hold consultations in this regard as soon as possible future of the nuclear agreement – known as the Joint Com- ligations”. so as to start the process of US returning to the agreement. prehensive Plan of Action. During the virtual meeting, the JCPOA parties “agreed to continue dialogue to ensure full JCPOA implementation by all sides”, a joint statement released by the EU said. IRNA Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (L) holds talks with Afghan security official Hamdullah Mohib in Tehran on Iran welcomes Dec. 22, 2020. Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said on Tuesday Iran is resolved to stop the United States and its allies from Russian investors destabilizing the region and to eventually force a complete US military withdrawal. Speaking at a meeting with Afghan president’s National Security as Zanganeh ends Adviser Hamdullah Mohib in Tehran on Tuesday, Shamkhani said that the US acts of insecurity in the West Asia region reached their peak Moscow visit with the “cowardly” assassination of top Iranian and Iraqi anti-terror commanders, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Iran’s Minister of Oil called “The Islamic Republic of Iran is resolved to prevent the continua- Russia a “strategic partner” during a visit to Moscow tion of the terrorist, tension-fueling and destabilizing acts of the United and invited Russian companies to invest in the Is- States and its stooges and make them leave the region by exacting a lamic Republic. severe revenge against those who ordered and perpetrated a crime that “We welcome the investment of Russian com- will go down in history,” he added, according to Press TV. panies in the required sectors of the oil industry” in US President Donald Trump ordered a fatal strike on General Solei- Iran, Zanganeh said after meeting Russia’s Deputy mani upon his arrival in International Airport on January 3 at Prime Minister Alexander Novak and new Energy the invitation of the Iraqi government. Minister Nicolai Shulginov, Press TV reported. The attack also killed Muhandis, the second-in-command of ’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), as well as eight other Iranian and Iraqi people. AFP The two commanders were highly popular because of the key role German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (L), Britain’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (C) and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves they played in eliminating the US-sponsored Daesh terrorist group in le Drian pose for a photograph in Kent County, Britain, on Sept. 10, 2020. the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria. Elsewhere in his remarks, Shamkhani referred to the threats facing “E3 share the blame with US for irreparable harm to Ira- The Chinese foreign minister said disputes related to the both Iran and Afghanistan and their common interests, especially the nians,” he pointed out, referring to the European members JCPOA fulfillment should be resolved fairly and objective- need to stop the spread of terrorism and to restore stability and security of the JCPOA. ly, adding that dialogue and cooperation are needed to sup- in the region. Iran’s top diplomat said they “collectively decided to ex- port the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its Warning of increased Daesh activity in Afghanistan and the dangers clude” issues related to the Middle East. verification of Iran’s nuclear activities and handle properly it posed to regional states, he called for collective vigilance and coop- “All must return to effective JCPOA compliance,” Zarif the UN Security Council’s concerns about the issue. eration to fully eliminate “the cancerous tumor.” SHANA said, stressing that renegotiation of the nuclear deal is “out Emphasizing that the JCPAO cannot solve all problems, Iran’s security chief also highlighted Tehran’s principal policy of Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh (R) holds of question”. he warned that linking regional security issues directly to strengthening good neighborliness. talks with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak The deal promises Iran economic incentives in exchange the accord is setting a self-imposed roadblock in the process “Afghanistan has a special place in Iran’s foreign policy due to nu- (2nd L) in Moscow, Russia, on Dec. 21, 2020. for curbs on its nuclear program, but with the reinstatement of restoring the deal’s implementation. merous commonalities that bond the two nations,” he said. of American sanctions, the other member nations failed to Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the US Shamkhani stressed Iran’s firm support for the legitimate govern- Novak said a broad range of trade and economic protect Iran. should not put forward any preconditions for its return ment of Afghanistan, underlining the need for enhanced Tehran-Kabul cooperation matters is “successfully explored be- A year after Trump’s “unlawful withdrawal and bla- to the JCPOA. cooperation and interaction in political, economic and security areas. tween our countries”. tant E3 breaches”, Iran took several steps away from the “We believe that the US return to the JCPOA should be He also expressed his satisfaction with the opening of the Khaf- “Although this year has become a tough challenge JCPOA in retaliation. without any preconditions. Our partners and we are ready Herat railroad and hoped that the project could play an effective role in for the whole global community, economic relations Zarif said Iran “will rapidly reverse remedial measures” for meaningful work in this area, and we are ready to help promoting bilateral relations and improving the welfare of the Afghan between Russia and Iran do not lose prior dynamics when “US/E3 perform their duties”. the Americans to step on the path of correction. This is in people. but become more active and meaningful instead,” he He said the Iranian people “MUST feel the effects of our shared interest,” Lavrov added. The historic joint railway project – which links eastern Iran to west- said. sanctions lifting”. Lavrov said Russia has taken note of Iran’s statements, ern Afghanistan – was inaugurated on December 10, with presidents When Novak visited Iran in June 2019 with a del- which assert that the country is ready to return to full adher- of the two neighboring countries delivering remarks through video- egation of 120 businesspeople, including representa- No preconditions ence to the JCPOA as soon as the US does the same. conference and expressing hope it would enhance trade links across the tives of private and public companies, the two sides “We hope that not only the current members of the region. said they had signed a dozen cooperation agreements Addressing the online meeting, the foreign ministers of JCPOA, but Washington as well, take note of this signal. Mohib voiced the readiness of the Afghan government and nation to covering energy, railway, agriculture, pharmaceuti- China and Russia said the US should return to the JCPOA Strict adherence to the UN Security Council Resolution boost cooperation with Iran, which he described as his second home. cals and tourism. “unconditionally” at an early date and lift sanctions against 2231 by the American side is not a matter of choice, it is He appreciated the unwavering support and hospitality Iran has of- Continued on Page 4 Iran as well as third-party entities and individuals. an obligation of any state stipulated in Article 25 of the UN fered to the Afghan people over the past 40 years. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said US withdrawal Charter,” the Russian foreign minister stated. Continued on Page 2

Britain, stuck in COVID-19 isolation, strives to lift France’s freight ban

The United Kingdom was stuck in COVID-19 isolation on freight by Wednesday. and more than 67,000 in Britain. Tuesday after much of the world cut off travel ties due to “We speak to our colleagues in France constantly on a range The main worry is that the variant is significantly more trans- a highly infectious new coronavirus strain, halting one of of issues and that work has been underway over the last 24 hours missible than the original strain. Europe’s most important trade routes. and we’ll continue today,” British Home Secretary Priti Patel Scientists say there’s no evidence that vaccines currently be- With queues of trucks snaking to the horizon in England and told Sky News. “We’ll see what materializes today.” ing deployed in the UK – made by Pfizer and BioNTech – or supermarket shelves stripped just days before Christmas, British One option is to roll out mass COVID-19 testing for truck other COVID-19 shots in development will not protect against Prime Minister scrambled to get French President drivers, though such tests usually take 24-48 hours for a result so this variant, known as the B.1.1.7 lineage to lift a ban on freight from Britain, Reuters it was not immediately clear how swiftly trucks could be moving The United Kingdom is in effective COVID-19 quarantine REUTERS reported. again with Christmas days away. just nine days before it is due to part ways with the EU after a Johnson and his advisers said the mutated variant of the novel Johnson spoke to Macron on Monday about lifting the freight transition period – considered to be one of the biggest changes in Cases of the new strain have also been detected in some other coronavirus, which could be up to 70% more transmissible, was ban, adding that the French leader wanted to move within hours. post-World War Two British history. countries, including Denmark and Italy. Experts said the preva- spreading rapidly but that it had been identified because British Patel said details could be announced later on Tuesday. Dozens of countries across Europe and beyond have suspend- lence found in Britain might be down to better detection. scientists were so efficient at genomic surveillance. The discovery of the new strain, just months before vaccines ed travel from Britain since the weekend. Germany imposed a Britain’s border crisis led to some panic-buying in the coun- BBC cited France’s Europe Minister Clément Beaune as are expected to be widely available, sowed a fresh wave of panic ban on UK travelers from Tuesday that could remain in place try: shoppers stripped shelves in some supermarkets of turkey, saying that Britain and France would announce a deal to restart in a pandemic that has killed about 1.7 million people worldwide until Jan. 6. toilet roll, bread and vegetables.