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8 Pages Price 50,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 42nd year No.13910 Monday APRIL 5, 2021 Farvardin 16, 1400 Sha’aban 22, 1442

Strategic partnership 12 countries to partake at Nanotech increasing Owj docudrama chronicles with China is a warning International Athletic Imam pace of development life of war filmmaker to Washington Page 2 Reza Cup Tournament Page 3 in Page 7 Morteza Avini Page 8

Sanctions should be lifted ‘all at once and completely’: parliament See page 3 – Iranian parliament repre- the “general policies of the establishment sentatives issued a statement on Sunday and the Majlis law.” saying that a return to the 2015 nuclear The statement followed as Iran and deal – JCPOA- by the United States will the remaining parties to the JCPOA – be dependent on a lifting of sanctions “all the three European countries of Britain, at once and completely” that can be veri- France Germany, Russia and China – held fied by experts. a virtual conference within the framework Calling the sanctions oppressive, they of the JCPOA Joint Commission on Fri- said any negotiations for “synchronized day. The virtual conference, led by senior Stab in steps” with the current JCPOA parties European Union diplomat Enrique Mora, will actually lead to a procrastination was held to explore ways to revitalize the in fully lifting sanctions and that will be nuclear agreement. “unacceptable” and will run counter to Continued on page 2

Annual production by major Iranian automakers rises 4% the back TEHRAN - Three major Iranian carmakers, cles, which was 21.9 percent more than namely Company (IKCO), the output in its preceding year, that was Saudi Arabia faces SAIPA Group, and Pars Khodro, man- 393,812 vehicles. ufactured 900,714 vehicles in the past SAIPA manufactured 317,321 vehicles, Iranian calendar year 1399 (ended on with 12.6-percent fall from 363,379 ve- accusations of involvement March 20), which was 4.3 percent more hicles manufactured in 1398. than the figure of its previous year, the And Pars Khodro manufactured data released by Codal website showed. 103,055 vehicles in the past year, showing in palace intrigue According to the data, during the past 2.8-percent drop from the output of its year, IKCO manufactured 480,338 vehi- previous year, which was 106,072 vehicles.

Charity foundation supports treatment of 7,000 infertile couples TEHRAN – Barekat Charity Foundation, IRNA quoted head of the foundation, Amir affiliated to Headquarters for Executing Hossein Madani, as saying on Sunday. the Order of the Imam, has financially The Barakat family growth plan has been Illustration by Bahman Vakhshour supported 7,000 infertile couples in rural implemented since 2015, which resulted in areas to receive necessary treatments. the identification of 13,270 infertile couples So far, 7,000 infertile couples in disadvan- in rural areas, and 7,000 of whom have been taged rural areas have received full treatment introduced to medical centers and received free of charge through a family growth plan, treatment, he explained. Tehran Times/ which has resulted in the birth of 800 infants, Continued on page 7

IPL: Three teams in Iran-China strategic partnership: a roadmap Iraqi resistance groups reject talks with U.S., hunt for glory for mutual prosperity demand full withdrawal

BY FARROKH HESABI BY EBRAHIM FALLAHI of Iran’s important industries. A prominent Iraqi anti-terror group has react- “strategic dialogue” with Iraq this month. ran Professional League TEHRAN – Iran, and China have signed a com- The above-mentioned claims are just part ed to the upcoming round of so-called strategic according to Press TV, the talks, which began (IPL) title race has been wide prehensive long-term cooperation agreement of the efforts made by the U.S. and its allies for talks between Baghdad and Washington, whose last June under the administration of former U.S. open in recent weeks, with with the aim of cementing their economic and discrediting and sabotaging an agreement which key agenda item is reportedly the U.S. combat president Donald Trump, would be the first under I political alliance as both countries are subjected seems to be a big threat to American unilater- deployment, emphasizing that armed resistance President Joe Biden. On the agenda is an array three top teams eagerly in the hunt for glory. to U.S. sanctions. alism in the region. and operations against American occupation forces of issues, primarily the presence of U.S. military With 11 games remaining, , The agreement which will significantly expand The question, however, is how much the will continue until they are fully removed from forces on Iraqi soil. Sepahan, and Esteghlal have formed a the two countries’ economic cooperation is seen mentioned claims are true? And does this the Arab country. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has tight title race at the top of the table of the to be a great blow to Washington’s efforts for agreement really jeopardize Iran’s integrity “The message that the occupying United States, told reporters he is approaching dialogue with 2020/21 Iran Professional League season. isolating the Islamic Republic of Iran’s econ- and interests in any way? To answer these its allies, supporters and subordinates need to Washington as a chance to push for the withdrawal Persepolis lost two points on Saturday omy and therefore has raised concerns in the questions some major aspects of this com- comprehend is that the resistance is determined of American troops. as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with United States. prehensive agreement should be looked into to extend its operations until the occupiers leave, Kata’ib , another Iraqi anti-terror group, Shahr Khodro in . The draw left Since the signing of the deal on March 27, a in more detail. and close all their military bases throughout Iraq, dismissed the upcoming Iraq-U.S. talks, which are Persepolis sitting on shaky ground at the wave of negative press has been created around To add to our body of knowledge in this re- including in Kurdistan region,” Jawad al-Talibawi, scheduled for next week, as “futile and worthless.” top of the table with just one point ahead the issue both on news platforms and on social gard, the Tehran Times conducted interviews a spokesman for Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq movement, Meanwhile, Senior cleric and political leader of Sepahan and one more game than the media. with economists and board members of Iran which is part of the Popular Mobilization Units, Ammar al-Hakim also said Iraq’s sovereignty will -based team. Sephahn will visit The agreement is claimed to be a deal based Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and wrote in a post published on his page on be complete once American occupation forces fully Saipa in Tehran on Monday and can lead on which Iran is giving China great power and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Ali Shams Ardakani and Saturday. withdraw, underscoring that the United States the league with two points more than the authority over the country’s resources and the Kaveh Zargaran. White House press secretary Jen Psaki late- should not have a permanent military base in the Reds in case of winning the game. Chinese will soon become a stakeholder in most Continued on page 4 ly said that the United States would engage in a Arab country. Esteghlal had a great chance to pile the pressure on Persepolis and Sepahan as they hosted Paykan in Tehran. How- Vali-e Asr St., longest in West Asia, being prepared for possible UNESCO registration The second coming of ever, things did not go to plan for ’s side as they dropped two points TEHRAN – Over the past years, Tehran’s Vali-e carried out on the southernmost section of the “Vali-e Asr Street is the best example which Ben-Gurion to keep their four points distance from Asr Street, famed as the longest in West Asia, has thoroughfare, which is situated in the district. witnesses the persistent exercises of creating the their archrivals Persepolis. undergone countless maintenance works as a “Vali-e Asr Street, which is the longest in West concept of Garden-Street as a destination of an BY ABIR BASSAM The table of the highest division of prerequisite for a possible UNESCO registration. Asia, has undertaken extra maintenance and res- urban area from the Safavid era up to the modern The reasons behind capsizing the Taiwanese cargo professional , for now at The leafy street runs for over 17 kilometers toration works as a prerequisite for a possible time,” according to the UNESCO website. ship “Ever Given”, on the 24th of March, has become least, appears closer than ever and surely from the railway station in the south of the me- UNESCO registration…. Four Kilometers of it “A variety of architectural styles from tradi- clear. The cargo ship capsized in the Suez Canal for there will be much more tension injected tropolis to the square in the north. It is situated in the district 11 and others in the tional to modern and eclectic is a representation of more than 6 days. Failing to float the ship is not into a title race of a league that has been is lined with many shops, restaurants, parks, districts of 6, 3, and 1, respectively,” Abadian said. eastern and western values synthesis in a specific the news, or that the reasons behind the accident dominated by Persepolis for the last four cinemas, and cultural centers. Landscaping and the beautification of urban spaces, geographical point, which carries a true definition were a human failure. But the real news behind it years. Tehran’s District 11 Mayor Nasrollah Abadian flooring, and the protection of green spaces of the of an architectural and spatial place.” is the reviving of the old-new plans that was and is Sepahan with Moharam Navidkia, as has recently talked about restoration works is has street are amongst tasks being practiced, he explained. Continued on page 6 still alive in the dreams of the Zionist entity which their head coach, have been a fighting is enlivening the “Ben-Gurion Canal” project. Yes, team so far with a lot of motivation to Ben-Gurion Canal has surfaced once more. win the title. It is likely that Sepahan will The project aims to connect the Mediterranean keep up their current pace as they have Sea to the Red Sea through the Gulf of Aqaba to the shown the kind of consistency in their Mediterranean through the Negev desert. The idea results that up to this point has elevated of digging a canal opposite to the Suez Canal began them to the top. in 1963. It is recommended in a memo submitted by Esteghlal also after the changes on their Lawrence Livermore Patriot Laps in the United States bench, have had a good run in terms of A fox steals of America. The memorandum was proposed as a results and their performance’s rise has response to the decision taken by President Gamal perhaps been overlooked. Their focus is to Abdel Nasser to nationalize the Suez Canal in 1956. progress and to bring the title for their fans. the show in The memorandum suggested: In order to ensure Persepolis’ inconsistent start of the the flow of navigation in the Red Sea, an alterna- season saw them drop points to teams tive canal should be opened in the Gulf of Aqaba. It like Saipa, Nasaji and Naft Masjed Soley- Iran football will be drilled through the Negev desert, which was man. But ’s side TEHRAN - A fox has stolen the show in described as an empty area that can be dug using were recovered and came again to the Iran football in recent days. nuclear bombs: Firstly, the project was halted due top with consecutive wins. They are the The fox entered the empty Imam to the radiation that nuclear bombs could cause; main favorites to win the IPL league for Khomeini Stadium in Arak during the and secondly due to the opposition that the project a record-breaker fifth time in row. match between Aluminum and Foolad would face by the Arab countries, led by Nasser. Iran Professional League is alive, and in Iran professional league. Today, political alliances have changed the face of the exciting race among the contenders Its picture sitting on the stage quickly the region, particularly after implementation of the of the title makes it more attractive in went viral on social media. Abraham Accords by several Arab countries. Therefore, the weeks towards the end of the league. The football matches in Iran are being a political atmosphere is compatible. Hence, serious Persepolis, Sepahan, and Esteghlal are held behind closed doors for more than deliberations of the project, after the Ever-Given cap- expected to keep on title race until the one year due to coronavirus. sizing, provide the idea that the accident was contrived. end of the season. Continued on page 5 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS APRIL 5, 2021

Zarif urges E3 to act Strategic partnership with China is a ‘constructively’ in Vienna meeting

POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Moham- deskmad Javad Zarif on Saturday urged the three warning to Washington, Qalibaf says European parties to the 2015 nuclear agreement – Britain, France and Germany - to honor their commitments under the pact and act constructively in the meeting in Vienna on Tuesday. POLITICAL TEHRAN — The signing now the world’s economic look has changed Mohammad Javad Zarif made the remarks in a telephone call deskof 25-year comprehensive from the West to the East with the centrality with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, which was made on strategic partnership between Iran China of China. the British side’s request. was an “important warning” to the U.S., The head of the Majlis Oil and Energy The current parties to the 2015 nuclear deal – JCPOA – held a Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Committee said through implementation virtual conference on Friday on how to revitalize the accord now Qalibaf told an open session of parliament of the BRI project and according to expert that Joe Biden, the vice president under President Barack Obama, on Sunday, reminding Washington that the views more than 70 countries in different has taken the power at the White House. course of developments at the international parts of the world will join the economic The participants at the Friday meeting agreed to hold a JCPOA scene are not in line with the interest of the and commercial projects with China and the Joint Commission meeting in Vienna on Tuesday. White House. geographical status of Iran, as the Chinese Senior diplomats from Iran, France, Britain, Germany, Russia Qalibaf also said the U.S. is no longer in themselves acknowledge, is very effective and China will attend the joint commission in what appears to be the a position to unilaterally impose a “model”, in the BRI. first serious push to reinvigorate the deal. The U.S. will be present “plan” or an “agreement” to independent It should be acknowledged that China in the Vienna meeting. However, there will be no direct or indirect states. will turn into a giant economic power in the talks between Iranian and U.S. representatives The comprehensive strategic partnership, world in the future years, he added. The Vienna meeting was scheduled during a virtual session of the which sets the roadmap for cooperation Saeed Leilaz, a professor of economics JCPOA Joint Commission led by senior European Union diplomat in different areas, was signed in Tehran at Shahid Beheshti University, says the Enrique Mora on behalf of Josep Borrell, the bloc’s chief diplomat. on March 27 between Iranian Foreign cooperation document with China should Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, adopted a policy of “max- Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and be viewed in tandem with Iran’s independence imum pressure” against Tehran after he quit the deal in violation Chinese State Councilor and Foreign and keeping the country powerful. of international law. Minister Wang Yi. Writing in the Iran newspaper on Saturday, Iran was patient for one year. But with no palpable shift in cir- Speaking in favor of the partnership, the Leilaz said the partnership is a document in cumstances, Tehran began a gradual process of reducing its nuclear speaker said the document shows that the the post-Trump world which Iran can once undertakings. The decision was taken as Iran’s right under paragraph world is not just limited to the West. again create a balance between the East and 36 of the JCPOA. “We clarify that we welcome this move. plans and economic and political cooperation.” and will brief the public about its details. the West through it. (Paragraph 36 provided a mechanism to resolve disputes and If the signing of the document is based on He also suggested that ties with other Hossein Hosseinzadeh, the chairman of He suggested even the proponents of allows one side, under certain circumstances, to stop complying this belief that the world is not just the West countries, especially neighbors, should the Majlis Oil and Energy Committee, told relations with the West should be happy with the deal if the other side is out of compliance.) and that the future century (21st century) be upgraded to “strategic level” and be IRNA on Sunday that after the signing of the about the document because it can prompt According to Press TV, during the phone call, Zarif underlined is Asia’s century it would be considered a implemented immediately. partnership with China a number of European the West to return to the negotiating table the need for the United States to fully lift the illegal and unfair strategic step,” the pragmatic senior lawmaker Mojtaba Zonour, chairman of the countries and big European companies have and show them that Iran’s hands are not tied sanctions against Iran in a “verifiable” manner, adding, “Only then pointed out. Parliament National Security and Foreign expressed readiness to do business with Iran. in finding ways for an “independent life” and we will return to our commitments.” The parliament speaker went on to say Policy Committee, has said Iran is seeking The MP also said uneasiness of certain that “it is not alone”. For his part, Raab said Britain will work for a fruitful new round that the document could have been inked such a long term and strategic partnership countries, including the United States, about Andrew Korybko, an American geopolitical of talks. earlier because “we believe that a lot of time with Russia. the partnership shows the importance of the analyst, has told the Tehran Times that “China Also, Zarif and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian held for shaping real economic and political Calling the strategic partnership a “general document. is arguably the best partner that Iran could a phone conversation late on Saturday. In the conversation Zarif cooperation and also effective resistance roadmap”, Qalibaf said certainly when the He said Iran has signed the document, ever have.” called on France to live up to the JCPOA obligations and stop ad- against the oppressive U.S. pressure has times arrives for implementing the document which contains valuable contents, with “open Korybko says, “The reportedly promised hering to the U.S. sanctions. been wasted.” by the two governments, the Majlis will eyes” and with a “strategic outlook” Chinese investments will enable the Islamic “I urged France to show a constructive stance on the JCPOA in “However,” he added, “the moment supervise “treaties and agreements” and Pointing to China’s One Belt, One Road Republic to modernize its economy and next week’s meeting in Vienna,” Zarif tweeted. should be seized and turn this document, will act to its duty to precisely study approve Initiative (BRI), which is the reactivation of the emerge as a regional production powerhouse Malley to lead U.S. team in Vienna by considering national interests, to projects, them in accordance with national interests 2000-year-old Silk Road, Hosseinzadeh said with time.” The U.S. administration is sending a team of diplomats to Vi- enna. Washington also reportedly appointed its special envoy for Iran Robert Malley to head its team there. While Iranian and American diplomats are not expected to meet face to face on Tuesday, the Biden administration has not been An accessible passkey to the West Asia crisis unwilling to hold direct and indirect talks with the Iranian side. Iran rejects the notion of holding talks with the U.S. before the How the nuclear deal can create a new solution? White House returns to compliance with the JCPOA. On Sunday, By Mehrdad Pahlavani Vali Nasr, who is always sensible in his views, in a who are indirectly affected by the deal that their activities Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi emphasized that the two recent article titled “The Middle East’s Next Conflicts could jeopardize the deal, non-proliferation principles, sides would have no direct or indirect talks in the Austrian capital. The circle of tensions in West Asia runs slow, and after Won’t Be Between Arab States and Iran”, describes power and stability of the region. In this vein, the more ambiguity “We will have no talks, whether direct or indirect, with the a slow or modest pace, it can potentially plunge. Like a equation in the region, therefore to forge resolutions to the deal, the more X will be enlarged to the region’s Americans in Vienna. We will negotiate with the Joint Commission multi-pointer watch, West Asia has several cogwheels. two factors including security-based and a non-Arab power equation, which amplifies self-help rules. Full and the P4+1 and pronounce our condition for the [U.S.] return As one of the cogwheels of conflict bounces, the rest solution are necessaries and available. operation of the 2015 nuclear deal can stop or return the to the JCPOA. Our demand is that the U.S. must first fulfill all its will pursue. Alleviation of a single tension in the region Iran’s nuclear program is one of the most available tick of watch against the interests of states that follow obligations and remove all the sanctions it has imposed, then we doesn’t help immune others, but the escalation of tension options that both is exercised and is a multilateral nuclear ambitions or military programs in the region. will verify and return” to the point where Iran had not taken the in West Asia needs to be defused, at least by quitting solution-based resolution which is a subtitle of security When the nuclear piece of the crisis domino stops remedial measures yet, Araqchi said. one of the cogwheels of pointers. and non-Arab one. falling, automatically other pieces will follow and the Appeasement of tension is something that the region is in The deal at least can quench the appetite of the region motivation of other pieces would face failure. Since dire need of, and it can’t afford another war. Furthermore, for nuclear balance and enable the non-proliferation consensus-oriented measure in the region has been Sanctions should be lifted in case of breakout of a war, warfare expenditures won’t be principles, and at most, it can push the region both rarely materialized, the deal can be tested in this way, ‘all at once and completely’: limited to particular sources due to transregional states’ toward the idea of a West Asia nuclear-free zone and and artificial taboos could be broken by addressing new tendency to show of power. New players are added to subsequently prioritize economy as the new path of phenomena. Iranian parliament West Asia’s playground. Russia and China are intended rivalries. Therefore, a multidimensional outcome for the region to be marked as the focal point of that arena. Moreover, If the ambiguity in the nuclear deal status continues, is a fantasy, and excessive idealism is doomed to fail. 1 In follow-up to Friday’s meeting, the parties plan to hold a regional or local states are eager to spend much more two levels of measures would be predicted. At the first Small steps towards a solution and choosing a parcel of meeting in Vienna on Tuesday in which the United States will also be in the area to upgrade their image and cover up their level, the main negotiating countries will do activities the crisis to be removed, are pragmatic. As security is a present but there will be no negotiations between Iran and the U.S. previous weakness. aimed at having the upper hand on the negotiation common concern of the region, deciding on the nuclear Even the representatives of Iran and the U.S. will not be in the The conflicts and feuds in West Asia have a prolonged table in the future. deal as a tested route is a doable assignment. If there is same room. list that the primary ones are enumerated as follows: The second level belongs to regional states or players a molecule of will, there is a clear way. The EU is responsible for holding the joint commissions. 1) Security factors: The ceiling of security In part of their statement, the MPs said what is being pursued buildings is the sky, and governments try to expand these days within the JCPOA Joint Commission “we insist that security scope. In this way, West Asian countries based on the Majlis law and insistence by all the establishment’s in comparison to other regions are greedier to officials and Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, the lifting guarantee hard security. of sanctions should take place fully and after verification by Iran.” ****Nuclear capability is one of the security They said the government should inform the parliament’s energy problem’s subtitles, as some regional players after and national security committees through a technical and political Iran’s nuclear program were incited to be captioned report about verification mechanism. as “nuclear state”. After such steps the parliament will finally approve it and declare 2) Ideologies: Full spectrum of ideologies that that the U.S. can return to the JCPOA. are going onward against each other are alive and reinvigorated in the region. Sunni-Shia, Arab and non-Arab, and self-other factions are only some Iran vows ‘good news’ ostensible instances that when foreign interventions are augmented, the result is a full-spectrum of about nuclear propulsion radicalism, extremism, and fundamentalism. in coming months 3) The Israel-Palestine tension: This conflict is disguised as a low-level issue during Trump’s TEHRAN — The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran presidency due to the normalization of relationship (AEOI) has highlighted recent achievements in the country’s nuclear by some Arab countries with Israel, but still, it sector, promising “good news” about nuclear propulsion. is a major concern for the region. Speaking on the social media forum Clubhouse on Friday, Ali-Akbar 4) Good governance: Although the ballot box is Salehi said that Iran accepted restrictions under the 2015 nuclear deal a weird thing in some countries in West Asia, an with the world powers, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive overwhelming majority of states have nothing in Plan of Action (JCPOA), but did not relinquish any of its rights. common with democracy; in other words, democracy “We suspended some rights for a while. For example, we did not is not institutionalized, and decisions are made produce metal uranium and plutonium,” he added. mostly based on human love and hate, not logic. Salehi noted that the Islamic Republic was supposed to produce Therefore, cherry-pick decisions are more likely 120 kilograms of 20 percent enriched uranium within a year after the to make than logical or institutional-based ones. implementation of the Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions, The cherry-picking decision stems from a law passed last December by the Iranian Parliament. elements rooted in the region, including in the “Now, we have reached 50 kilograms,” he estimated. Sykes-Picot agreement that humiliated Arab Salehi said, “If there is an agreement and America returns to states, long term foreign intervention, dismay from the JCPOA and Iran verifies that, Tehran can instantly stop 20% coalitions, switching West Asia into a playground, enrichment and other expansions. But removing them will take self-help norms, concerns of transregional players, 2-3 months.” economic backwardness, etc. All these can turn “In the coming months, we will inform the people of good West Asia into tender box put the region to blaze. news regarding the nuclear propulsion,” he said. To solve West Asia’s troubles and given the The future of the JCPOA has been in doubt since May 2018, complexity therein, an idealistic, comprehensive, when former U.S. president Donald Trump unilaterally pulled and full-scale solution is farfetched. The flipside the U.S. out of the deal and imposed the “toughest ever” sanc- is a doable, practical, and accessible solution that tions on Iran. covers all the players’ common concerns begin Despite throwing verbal support behind the JCPOA, the Eu- from tough ones but simultaneously easy aspects ropean parties to the deal — France, Britain and Germany — have of accessible sub-titles of problems. succumbed to Washington’s pressure and failed to fulfill their Among all aforementioned factors that can contractual commitments to protect Tehran’s economic interests. be potentially assessed as sparks of conflict, as That prompted Tehran to suspend some of its obligations of today, on the one hand, security has been the as part of its legal rights stipulated in Article 36 of the JCPOA. most powerful component, and on the other, all (Source: Press TV) factors have a hidden layer of security concerns. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 5, 2021 IRAN IN FOCUS 3 SPORTS 12 countries to partake at Stab in the back International Athletic Imam Saudi Arabia faces accusations of involvement in palace intrigue Reza Cup Tournament SPORTS POLITICAL TEHRAN — High-pro- people in charge of the Neom project. He TEHRAN – A total of 12 countries will par- desk deskfile figures in Jordan, in- also enjoyed close relations with the UAE, ticipate at the first edition of the International cluding a member of the royal family and a where he was appointed as a member of Athletic Imam Reza Cup Tournament. longtime confidant of King Abdullah II, were the Board of Directors of the Dubai School The competitions will be held arrested on Saturday in what appeared to be of Government in 2008, according to Al- in Mashhad, Iran on April 11 a nascent palace intrigue nipped in the bud. Khaleej Al-Jadid. and 12. Jordan state news agency, Petra, reported The strong relationship between Awadal- International Athletic Imam on Saturday night that Sharif Hassan bin lah and bin Salman is confirmed by the for- Reza Cup Tournament, which Zaid, a member of the royal family, and mer’s appearance at the economic conference serves as a qualification event Bassem Awadallah, a longtime confidant of held by Saudi Arabia in October 2018, days for the Tokyo , King Abdullah II, were arrested for “security after the killing of the Saudi journalist Jamal will be held in honor of Iranian reasons” after a close security investigation. Khashoggi at the Kingdom’s consulate in athlete Ali Baghbanbashi. Citing a security source, the news agency . Awadallah also accompanied the Long-distance runner Bagh- said an investigation into the issue was un- Saudi crown prince during Eid prayers, Al- banbashi competed in the 1952 derway. It also said that other people were Khaleej Al-Jadid said. and 1956 Summer Olympics arrested along with the two high-profile fig- Hassan bin Zaid, who holds Saudi citi- and claimed a gold medal in ures but it stopped short of naming them. zenship alongside his Jordanian one, served the 5,000 meters event in 1951 The news came as a surprise to political as the Jordanian king’s envoy to Saudi Ara- . circles in the region as it was the first time bia, a position that was previously held by “We are planning to hold the competition annually. Until now, that a Jordanian Sharif (nobleman) was being Awadallah. a total of 12 countries have shown readiness to take part in the arrested and as Sharif Hassan bin Zaid has Malik al-Othamna, a political analyst, be- event but we hope to hold the competition with more countries in not been an active figure in the public since BBC, Prince Hamzah denied reports of him accusations of conspiring with a foreign lieves that the Jordanian government’s move the next years,” head of Athletic Federation of Islamic Republic he resigned his post as the head of the royal being part of a foreign-backed conspiracy group or country were in the cards. to arrest Awadallah is considered a strong of Iran (AAFIRI) Hashem Siami said in the press conference court in 2009. but described the ruling system as corrupt. The Jordanian government has so far message to Saudi Arabia, which now faces on Sunday. Another high-profile figure - Hamzah “[Jordan’s] well-being has been put sec- refrained from leveling the accusation of accusations of orchestrating the plot against The two-day competition will take place at the well-equipped bin Hussein - was claimed to be arrested. ond by a ruling system that has decided that interference against a certain country but a king long seen as a close ally of . Imam Reza Stadium. Unverified news reports claimed that bin its personal interests, financial interests, regional news media outlets were abuzz with Israeli media also reported that bin Sal- The purpose of this competition is to encourage the young Hussein, a half brother of King Abdullah, that its corruption is more important than reports of a potential Saudi and Emirati role man and bin Zayed may have been implicated athletes to promote spiritual and physical health. was arrested. But Jordanian Army Chief the lives and dignity and future of the ten in the Jordanian melodrama. in the palace intrigue. Israeli newspaper of Staff Major General Yousef Huneiti said million people who live here,” he asserted. Awadallah and bin Zaid both had close Yedioth Ahronoth claimed that the Saudi Gucci to leave PEC Zwolle at “claims that have been published about his Prince Hamzah also said that he was connections to the leaders of Saudi Arabia crown prince and his counterpart in Abu highness Prince Hamzah having been ar- effectively under house arrest. and the United Arab Emirates. Despite having Dhabi were aware of what happened in end of season rested are not true.” “Since then, a number of the people I quickly expressed support for King Abdul- Jordan, according to the Alaraby Aljadeed. According to Huneiti, Prince Hamzah know — or my friends — have been arrest- lah II, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Citing Jordanian sources, the newspaper SPORTSTEHRAN – Iranian forward Reza Ghoochanne- had been asked to “stop movements and ed, my security has been removed, and the Salman together with Abu Dhabi Crown said, “The Saudi Crown Prince and one of the deskjhad has been deemed surplus to requirements activities that are employed to target the internet and phone lines have been cut,” the Prince Mohammad bin Zayed emerged as leaders of one of the [Persian] Gulf states, by Dutch football club PEC Zwolle. security of Jordan and its stability.” prince lamented. “This is my last form of standing behind the failing plot against the apparently the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, The side are not going to continue with nine play- “Investigations are ongoing and the out- communication, satellite internet, that I have, Jordanian king. Mohammed bin Zayed, were aware of the ers and will not extend their contracts at the end of the season. come will be announced with all due trans- and I have been informed by the company Awadallah worked as Minister of Finance attempted coup in Jordan.” , Xavier Mous, , Thomas parency,” he noted, adding, “All measures that they are instructed to cut it so it may and Planning, and former head of the Jor- The Jordanian government has not yet Lam, Virgil Misidjan, , , Marc-Olivier have been taken according to the law, and be the last time I am able to communicate.” danian Royal Court, then King Abdullah pointed the finger at Saudi Arabia and the Doue and Nigel Bertrams are the players whose deals will not no one is above the law. Jordan’s security Prince Hamzah was keen to deny any appointed him as an envoy to Saudi Ara- UAE but it said that Prince Hamzah was be renewed. is above all considerations.” ties to a foreign-backed intrigue, a move bia. In 2018, he was fired from his job and implicated in a foreign-backed plot against “I was going to leave the club at the end of the season. I had In a video passed by his lawyer to the that raised questions about whether some became close to bin Salman and one of the King Abdullah. already said I would be here for two years. It’s time to play in a new team,” Gucci said in reaction to the news. The 33-year-old forward had been previously linked with a move to the Iranian clubs for several times. Iranian, Afghan diplomats discuss mutual cooperation at border point Ghoochannejhad started his football career at POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iranian Deputy Foreign smuggling and international terrorism, facilitating aid in 2005 and has also played at Belgian teams Sint-Truiden and deskMinister for Legal and International operations by both sides in times of natural disasters and Standard Liège. Affairs Mohsen Baharvand has met with Afghan Deputy emergency, as well as other mutual issues. Reza Ghoochannejhad was a member of Iran national football Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Mirwais Nab at the In mid-February, a huge explosion occurred at the team in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and scored the only goal of Dougharoun-Islam Qala border point, the Iranian Foreign Dougharoun-Islam Qala border point. The explosion caused a Team Melli in the tournament against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ministry said in a statement. massive fire but it did not affect a key crossing on the eastern He also was in Russia for the 2018 World Cup but remained During the meeting on April 1, the two diplomats inspected border with Afghanistan, a local Iranian official said at the an unused substitute in all three matches against Morocco, operations to renovate and refurbish the border crossing time. Videos and footages circulating on social media at the Spain and Portugal. between the two countries and discussed border affairs, time of the explosion showed dozens of fuel tankers were including cross-border travel. damaged in the massive explosion in Islam Qala. The two sides agreed that operations to rebuild and ren- The fire also caused massive damage to infrastructure Iranian Paralympic athletes ovate the border crossing should continue full steam ahead in the area, including pylons that transmit electricity from get COVID-19 vaccines without affecting border and legal issues, and that such issues Iran to the urban regions in Herat. At least 60 people were should be reviewed and settled only by the two countries’ as well as the need to make efforts to regulate trips to and injured in the blaze. SPORTSTEHRAN – he Iranian Para athletes, who will joint border commission, the statement continued. from the two countries by Iranian and Afghan nationals. Iran is a major supplier of goods to Afghanistan. Dogha- deskparticipate at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, They also exchanged views on the significance of de- Among other topics discussed were the necessity of in- roon and Islam Qala terminals are busy with tanker trucks have been vaccinated against COVID-19. velopment and a trade balance between the two countries tensifying the campaign against human trafficking, drug that transport fuel across the border. The Para athletes rolled up their sleeves at the Iran Sports Federation for the Disabled headquarters in Tehran on Sunday. Iran plans to send 50 athletes to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games - more than half the size of the delegation that competed No talks whatsoever with Americans in Vienna, Araghchi says at Rio 2016. POLITICAL TEHRAN — Deputy ed States and Iran through this process, diplomat tweeted on Friday. reimposed or relabeled under Trump. Ant The Paralympics are scheduled to take place in Tokyo from deskForeign Minister of Iran though the United States remains open Iran has said there is no need for new ne- these [sanctions] should be identified and the 24 Aug. 24 to Sept. 5. Seyed Abbas Araghchi has ruled out any to them,” he added. gotiations over the U.S. return to the nuclear U.S. must lift them. We will verify and then This will mark the second time Tokyo has hosted the Paralym- kind of talks with the United States in the However, Iran insisted that there will be deal. Moreover, Iran has made it clear that return to our commitments,” Araghchi noted. pics, as they were first hosted there in 1964 alongside the 1964 upcoming meeting of the 2015 Iran nuclear no meeting with the U.S. in Vienna. any step by Iran to resume full compliance He underlined that this “final step” should Summer Olympics. deal’s signatories in Vienna. “The Vienna meeting which will be at- with the JCPOA would require the U.S. to be defined. In other words, what Iran and the These Games will see the introduction of badminton and The parties to the Iran deal, officially known as tended by the Iranian delegation is a meeting lift all sanctions first. U.S. should do to revive the JCPOA should be taekwondo to the Paralympic programme, replacing sailing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), of the JCPOA Joint Commission aimed at Following the Friday meeting of the JCPOA specified. “This will be discussed only in our and 7-a-side football. are expected to hold an important meeting in discussing the U.S. possible return to the Joint Commission, an informed source told talks with the P4+1,” Araghchi pointed out. In a press briefing on Sunday, Health Ministry’s spokesper- Vienna on Tuesday. The meeting was arranged nuclear deal, and will be attended only by the Press TV that the only way the United States Earlier on Saturday, Saeed Khatibzadeh, son Sima-Sadat Lari confirmed 11,680 new cases of COVID-19 during the Friday meeting of the JCPOA Joint current parties to the JCPOA. The U.S. will not could see Iran stop its counter-measures under spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, ech- infection, raising the total number of infections to 1,932,074. She Commission, which was held virtually. be present at any meeting attended by Iran, the 2015 nuclear deal is for Washington to oed a similar position, saying that Iran is added that 1,650,569 patients have so far recovered, but 4,057 “We will have no direct or indirect talks including the meeting of the JCPOA Joint lift all the sanctions it imposed on the Islamic not considering any step-by-step process remain in critical conditions of the disease. with the Americans in Vienna. We will ne- Commission, and that is definite,” Araghchi Republic in the aftermath of its withdrawal for lifting the sanctions. During the past 24 hours, 161 patients have lost their lives, gotiate with the Joint Commission and the said in a statement on Friday shortly after from the agreement some three years ago. “As has been clearly stated many times, bringing the total number of deaths to 63,160, she added. P4+1 and will announce our demand and the JCPOA Joint Commission. The source referred to the negotiations no step-by-step plan is being considered,” So far, 13,111,118 COVID-19 diagnostic tests have been per- condition for returning to compliance with He said it is up to other JCPOA parties if earlier on Friday within the framework of the Khatibzadeh told Press TV on Saturday. formed in the country. the JCPOA. We demand that the United States they would like to hold bilateral or multilat- joint commission of the parties to the deal Khatibzadeh reiterated the position of first fulfill all of its obligations and lift all the eral consultations with the U.S. regarding and said Iran, during the session, emphasized Ayatollah Seyed , the Leader sanctions it has imposed, and then we will the measures it must take, either in Vienna the necessity of a “consistent removal” of all of the Islamic Revolution, underlining the to be held on verify and return,” Araghchi said in remarks or in any other place. the U.S. sanctions and its verification before need for the U.S. to lift all sanctions. May 12 to Iran state TV. “That is something which has happened Tehran’s return to full compliance. “The definitive policy of the Islamic Repub- He said the Vienna talks will be purely before,” Araghchi said. The source added that Iran will accept lic of Iran is the lifting of all U.S. sanctions, SPORTSTEHRAN – The date of Tehran derby between technical, implicitly rejecting political talks “The Iranian delegation, however, will nothing from the JCPOA Joint Commission whether those which Trump reimposed after deskPersepolis and Esteghlal football teams in the with the U.S. not hold negotiations with the American but the removal of all the sanctions by the withdrawing from the JCPOA or those which second half of the Iran Professional League (IPL) season has “Our talks with the P4+1 in Vienna will be delegation at any level,” he emphasized. United States. According to the source, in he initiated, as well as sanctions imposed been revealed. completely technical and they will be about Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Friday’s meeting, the consensus in Iran on under any other heading,” the spokesman said. Persepolis will host Esteghlal on May 12 in Tehran’s Azadi the sanctions that should be lifted, the meas- Javad Zarif also ruled out any prospect for the issue was emphasized. The Leader laid out Iran’s policy on the Stadium. The first match of the season finished in a 2-2 draw at ures that should be done and the sequencing a meeting between Iran and the U.S. Iran also rejected any gradual lifting of nuclear deal in a recent speech delivered on the . Persepolis and Esteghlal are both favorites of what Americans should do. There must “At virtual JCPOA JC meeting, Iran & U.S. sanctions. Araghchi said on Sunday that the occasion of the Persian New Year. to win the IPL title in the current season. be verification,” the deputy foreign minister EU/E3+2 agreed to resume in-person talks Iran will not accept any step-by-step process He outlined a process in which the U.S. Persepolis sit top of the table while Esteghlal are third. pointed out. in Vienna next Tues. Aim: Rapidly finalize for lifting the sanctions. should lift all sanctions first in order for Iran Following the Friday meeting of the JCPOA sanction-lifting & nuclear measures for cho- “We don’t have and don’t accept any step- to fully resume implementing the JCPOA. Joint Commission, there has been a wave of reographed removal of all sanctions, followed by-step offer and initiative. In our view, there “This policy is that the Americans should out of speculation about possible direct talks be- by Iran ceasing remedial measures. No Iran- exists only one step according to which the U.S. lift all sanctions. After that, we will verify. If tween Iran and the U.S. in the next meeting in US meeting. Unnecessary,” the chief Iranian must lift all the sanctions that were imposed, the sanctions have been lifted, we will return Olympics Vienna as many Western news media outlets to our Barjam [JCPOA] commitments. We broke the news that U.S. officials will be in will return without any problem. This is a SPORTSTEHRAN – Jordan Burroughs failed to Vienna at the time of the Tuesday meeting. “We don’t have and don’t accept any step- definite policy. We do not consider American deskqualify for the Olympics, after making all The U.S. confirmed that it will participate by-step offer and initiative. In our view, promises to be valid. If they say that they will nine previous Olympic or world championships teams dating in the Vienna meeting and said it was open there exists only one step according to lift them on paper, this is of no use. What to the start of his senior career in 2011. to holding direct talks with Iran. is necessary is action! They should lift the Kyle Dake ended Burroughs’ decade of dominance in American “These remain early days, and we don’t which the U.S. must lift all the sanctions sanctions in practice. Subsequently, we will , making it to the Olympics for the first time with a sweep anticipate an immediate breakthrough as that were imposed, reimposed or relabeled verify their statements to make sure that the in the men’s freestyle 74kg finals at the US trials Saturday night. there will be difficult discussions ahead. But sanctions have been lifted. Then, we will re- “It just sets in that a run is over for me,” Burroughs, a 32-year- we believe this is a healthy step forward,” U.S. under Trump. Ant these [sanctions] should sume our commitments,” the Leader said on old who said before trials he planned to continue wrestling State Department spokesman Ned Price said be identified and the U.S. must lift them. March 21. Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that beyond 2021, said on NBCSN. on Friday of the meeting in Vienna. We will verify and then return to our “this policy will not be violated in any way.” Burroughs gave no indication he planned to retire. “We do not anticipate presently that Araghchi also said that Iran will pursue “It’s hard. It’ll be hard for a while. … The future is still bright there will be direct talks between the Unit- commitments,” Araghchi noted. this policy in the Vienna talks. for me, although it just might not be in Tokyo,” he added. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY APRIL 5, 2021

Zanganeh outlines oil Iran-China strategic partnership: ministry’s major plans for current year ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Nam- a roadmap for mutual prosperity deskdar Zanganeh has announced his ministry’s programs for realizing the current Iranian calendar year’s (start- ed on March 21) motto which is “Production: Support and the 1 Deal or agreement China is the quality of the deals that are going Elimination of Obstacles.” The first and most important issue that to be signed in the future under the framework Zanganeh made the announcement on Saturday during a should be taken into consideration with regard of this comprehensive agreement. meeting with the deputies of the country’s four major oil and to the Iran-China comprehensive agreement “For analyzing different aspects of the gas industry companies including National Iranian Oil Company is the fact that it is not a “deal” in the sense accord, we must analyze the conditions (NIOC), National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), National Pet- of an economic or political contract, this based on which the agreements concluded rochemical Company (NPC), and National Iranian Oil Refining means that no price or value has been set in under this comprehensive document will and Distribution Company (NIORDC). any aspects of the agreement and no strict be signed,” he said. In this meeting, the minister addressed the most important obligations are defined. “If these contracts lead to the development programs and goals for materializing this year’s slogan and In other words, the agreement is just a of the country’s infrastructure and increase emphasized: “The main goal [of these programs] is to focus on roadmap that outlines the framework of the investment in productive areas, they should issues and problems that can be addressed and solved within two countries’ cooperation in various areas be supported by the government and people.” the oil industry.” over the next 25 years. Ardakani suggested that a headquarter Benefits for Iran comprising of high-ranking national entities Regarding the advantages of this accord should be established in order to make the for Iran, the first issue would be the huge necessary decisions and choices with regard impact that the strategic accord can have to the companies and organizations that are on Iran’s political stance during the nuclear going to be partnered up with the Chinese talks with world powers. side in the future. In a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister The ICCIMA board member believes Wang Yi prior to the signing ceremony in infrastructure scheme intended to stretch due to the lack of funding for productive that the accord should not become a tool Tehran, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani from East Asia to Europe; this means that projects, Chinese investment in such areas for political parties inside the country and said: “Cooperation between the two countries Iran’s political and strategic stance in the could be a great opportunity for Iran’s pro- the government’s focus should be merely on is very important for the implementation region will become stronger. ductive sector to thrive. guarding the national interests. of the nuclear accord and the fulfillment of Another significant aspect of the accord In this regard, Ali Shams Ardakani, IC- Also, according to the Head of ICCIMA’s obligations by European countries.” is its focus on the promotion and develop- CIMA’s chairman of the Macroeconomics Internal Trade Committee Kaveh Zargaran, So clearly the U.S. whose interests are on ment of the cooperation between the two Committee, told the Tehran Times that China can be a financial channel through the line here would be against Iran forging countries’ private sectors. Iran-China accord is a great opportunity which Iranian companies could conduct The official mentioned a letter that he had written to the heads alliance with other world powers like China. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Saeed for Iran to merge local and foreign invest- business despite the U.S. sanctions. of the four major companies regarding the main plans for the The agreement which is expected to include Khatibzadeh said earlier that the agreement ments in order to rise among the world’s In the political sense too, this agreement current year, saying: “I expressed my views on the subject and Chinese investments in Iran in a variety of was a “road map” for trade and economic and top economies. is drafted with the aim of promoting regional asked the heads of the four companies to draft a document to sectors including oil, gas, petrochemical, re- transportation cooperation, with a special According to Ardakani, one of the most and international peace, stability, and de- determine the measures that should be taken in the months to newables and energy infrastructure will also focus on both countries’ private sectors. important issues that should be taken into velopment, and therefore is not intended come.” bring the Islamic Republic into China’s Belt Considering the fact that currently a lot consideration while assessing the benefits to oppose any third party or to interfere in Zanganeh further mentioned the great progress made in the and Road Initiative, a multi-trillion-dollar of the Iranian private sector’s problems are or disadvantages of the strategic accord with the affairs of any other country. oil industry during the previous year, and noted that sanctions were a determining factor that had a strong impact on the plans and programs of the Oil Ministry. Elsewhere in the meeting, Deputy Oil Minister for Planning Annual natural gas consumption rises 8% Houshang Falahatian briefed the attendees on the Oil Ministry’s ECONOMY TEHRAN — Head of National Iranian Gas year, registering a six-percent rise compared to 1398. programs for the current year. deskCompany (NIGC)’s Dispatching Department Mentioning the average gas consumption during the According to Falahatian, the oil industry’s executive plans for said the country’s natural gas consumption in the previous current Iranian calendar month (started on March 21), the current year are prepared with a focus on the three sectors Iranian calendar year (ended on March 20) increased eight the official put the figure at 606 million cubic meters for of production, support, and barriers in order to fulfill the motto percent compared to the preceding year (1398). Saturday, April 3. of the year. Some 233 billion cubic meters of natural gas was consumed Iran is currently producing over 810 mcm of natural Maintaining and increasing oil production, managing subsid- in the country during the previous year while the figure gas on a daily basis which is mostly used inside the coun- iaries, manufacturing in-house equipment, and goods required stood at 216 billion cubic meters in 1398, IRNA reported, try for the domestic sector and also as fuel for the power by the oil, gas, petrochemical, and refining industries, reducing quoting Mohammadreza Jolaei as saying. plants and a small portion is also exported to neighboring paperwork and eliminating unnecessary regulations in the oil According to Jolaei, of the total gas consumption in the countries like Iraq. industry, optimizing and upgrading existing refineries, develop- previous year, 122 billion cubic meters was consumed by According to NIGC Managing Director Hasan Montazer ing downstream oil and petrochemical industries, reducing gas domestic, commercial, and non-major industries, 24 billion Torbati, of the total produced gas, some 25 percent goes to consumption, increasing the production capacity of natural gas, cubic meters was the share of major industries and 66 billion household consumption, 37 percent is supplied to the power development of the petrochemical industry and accelerating the cubic meters was allocated to power plants. plants, 30 percent is used in the industry sector, four percent implementation of projects related to the second and third leaps The official noted that during the past year, the consump- used as CNG and four percent is for other consumptions. of petrochemical industry were among the major goals that the tion by domestic sector and power plants hit new record reached 181 million cubic meters per day in the previous Montazer Torbati stated that gas supply has been developed ministry has put on the agenda for the current year. highs but NIGC managed to prevent any major blackouts year, indicating a 5.1 billion increase in the power plants’ significantly in the cities and villages of the country over even during the peak consumption periods. gas consumption. the past seven years due to the increase in gas production Solar farms’ installed capacity The country’s power plants received an average of 167 According to Julaei, some 262 billion cubic meters of gas in the South Pars gas field (Iran shares with in the million cubic meters (mcm) of gas per day in 1398, which was injected into the national gas network in the previous Persian Gulf). stands at nearly 900MW

ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran’s installed capacity of solar deskfarms stands at nearly 900 megawatts (MW), according to the Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian. Production of 8 major minerals, mining industry products up 54% Highlighting that many good strides have been taken in this ECONOMY TEHRAN — The pro- Development and Renovation Organization minerals such as lead and zinc, gold, copper, field in the country over the recent years, the minister said that deskduction of eight major (IMIDRO) has announced the identification iron, coal, brine, etc. have been issued for the significant increase in the capacity of the country’s power minerals and mining industry products has of 1,700 new promising mineral zones across IMIDRO and its subsidiaries, and exploration plants, which is the result of the efforts of domestic experts, can increased by an average of 54 percent in Iran the country. operations are being pursued in licensed meet all the electricity needs of the country, while boosting Iran’s in the first 11 months of the past Iranian According to Ali Asgharzadeh, the men- areas,” he said. electricity export. calendar year 1399 (March 20, 2020-Feb- tioned regions cover a total area of 110,080 “Also, licensing processes are underway The share of solar power plants in Iran’s renewable electricity ruary 18, 2021), the latest data released by square kilometers. for 30 zones, and discovery certificates have generation capacity has reached 49 percent, according to the Industry, Mining, and Trade Ministry show. The official noted that IMIDRO carried out been issued for four regions,” he added. data released by Iran’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Based on the mentioned data, during the reconnaissance and prospecting operations Back in May 2020, the Iranian Industry, Organization (known as SATBA). mentioned period, production of crude steel on over 478,343 square kilometers of land Mining, and Trade Ministry had signed a and steel products, copper cathode, alumi- during the previous Iranian calendar year, trilateral memorandum of understanding num ingot, coal concentrate, glass containers, of which 66,000 square kilometers have (MOU) with IMIDRO and the Geological and cement increased compared to the same zinc, and iron; so there are numerous large, been handed over to the private sector to Survey and Mineral Explorations of Iran (GSI) period in 1398. medium, and small-sized mines across the be explored. for expansion of the country’s mining sector. According to the Industry Mining, and country that are being operated by the gov- Noting that the necessary licenses for ex- Development of cooperation in the fields Trade Ministry, the mining sector account- ernment or the private sector. ploration must be issued for IMIDRO by the of exploration, extraction, and processing of ed for 25 percent of the country’s non-oil So, the country has set a new target for Industry, Mining and Trade Departments of minerals, utilization of capacities, experiences, revenues in the Iranian calendar year 1398. further development of its mining sector the provinces in which the mines are located, and abilities of each sector, and attracting Iran is one of the top 10 mineral-rich as the country’s economy is moving away Asqarzadeh said: “So far, IMIDRO has ap- more investment from the country’s private countries in the world in which 68 types of from oil toward becoming oil-independent. plied for exploration licenses for 492 regions sector and cooperatives in this industry minerals have been identified so far, includ- Head of the explorations department of with an area of 32,120 square kilometers.” were some of the main goals of the signed ing the world’s largest deposits of copper, the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries “Some 63 exploration licenses for various agreement.

Commodities worth $200m traded at IME in a week Renewables, including hydropower, account for seven per- ECONOMY TEHRAN — During the past Iranian 172,049 tons of commodities with a trading value of $103 cent of Iran’s total energy generation, versus natural gas’s 90 deskcalendar week (ended on Friday), 367,605 million. percent share. tons of products worth $200 million were traded at Iran Items sold on this floor included 36,100 tons of vacuum Overall, in the next four years, Iran is aiming for a 5,000 MW Mercantile Exchange (IME). bottom, 41,971 tons of bitumen, 35,155 tons of polymeric increase in renewable capacity to meet growing domestic demand According to a report by the IME’s International Affairs products, 31,941 tons of chemicals, 25,000 tons of lube and expand its presence in the regional electricity market. and Public Relations Department, the exchange sold on cut, 1,346 tons of base oil and 50 tons of sulfur. According to SATBA, the number of small-scale solar power its mineral and industrial trading floor, 195,158 tons of Moreover, the IME’ side market saw trade of 398 tons plants across the country which are used by households or small various types of commodities valued at nearly $99 million. of commodities within the same week. industries is also increasing noticeably as Iranian households Commodities traded on this floor were 194,528 tons IME is one of the four major stock markets of Iran, the and small industries are embracing the new technology with of steel and 630 tons of aluminum. other three markets are (TSE), open arms and investors also seem eager for more contribution Also, within this week, the IME sold on both domestic Iran’s over-the-counter (OTC) market known also as Iran in this area. and export pits of its oil and petrochemical trading floor, Fara Bourse (IFB), and Iran Energy Exchange (IRENEX). Iran is also planning on expanding its presence in the region’s renewable energy market. According to the energy minister, the country has great poten- tials in the field of renewable energies and can have a significant TEDPIX drops 13,000 points on Sunday role in developing the region’s market for such energies. “Relying on the high potential of renewable energy sources, ECONOMY TEHRAN — TEDPIX, index fell 22,938 points. Iranian Capital Market Analyst Soheil Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) main index, including solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, etc., the Energy Min- deskthe main index of Teh- TEDPIX had risen eight percent in the Kolahchi believes the stock market is not the expert said: “The stock market is istry has planned good measures in order to implement new ran Stock Exchange (TSE), fell 13,414 last week of the past Iranian calendar going to go through many ups and downs in a good condition both technically policies for creating positive changes in the development of the points to 1.269 million on Sunday. year (ended on March 20). over the next six months and the market and fundamentally, but despite the country’s renewable energy sector,” the minister said. Over 1.364 billion securities worth The index increased 101,000 points is expected to follow a stable trend. positive measures that the Securities Back in December 2020, Mohammad Satakin, who heads 18.069 trillion rials (about $430.2 to 1.307 million in that week. “In the coming months, the market and Exchange Organization (SEO) has Iran’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization million) were traded at the TSE on After several weeks of decline, growth will not fall heavily, but we also can’t put on the agenda to improve the market, (SATBA), said the capacity of the country’s renewable power Sunday. finally returned to the TSE, Iran’s major expect the index to enter an uptrend it is still following a downward trend; plants was going to reach 1,000 MW (one gigawatt) by the end The first market’s index dropped stock exchange, as TEDPIX rose 2.4 soon,” Kolahchi told IRNA last month. and this has increased the shareholders’ of the current government’s incumbency (August 2021). 11,030 points, and the second market’s percent during the last week of February. Pointing to the recent decline in the skepticism and anxiety.” I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 4, 2021 ANALYSIS/INTERVIEW 5

When democracy lacks morality Iraqi resistance groups reject talks with U.S., demand full By Mohammad Mazhari It seems that the U.S. needs to prior- itize repairing its value system before withdrawal Capitol Hill is witnessing sad days after the sanctification of democracy; ethical an attack on the U.S. Capitol complex rules and human rights must be con- A prominent Iraqi anti-terror group has reacted to the upcoming in Washington DC which has left one sidered as sacred as a democracy so round of so-called strategic talks between Baghdad and Wash- police officer dead and another injured. that the elected person in a democratic ington, whose key agenda item is reportedly the U.S. combat This incident recalls storming Cap- country cannot decide impulsively with deployment, emphasizing that armed resistance and operations itol building just few days before Joe regard to domestic foreign policy mat- against American occupation forces will continue until they are Biden’s inauguration, a day is known ters; he won’t be free to withdraw his fully removed from the Arab country. as dark Wednesday. country from the international treaties “The message that the occupying United States, its allies, It was not only the Wednesday overnight. supporters and subordinates need to comprehend is that the that turned to a debacle but the U.S. This is a completely irresponsible resistance is determined to extend its operations until the policies over the last decades disap- way of governance when you disregard occupiers leave, and close all their military bases throughout pointed many people all around the fundamental values. This is a very ex- Iraq, including in Kurdistan region,” Jawad al-Talibawi, a world who used to look at the country ample of an irresponsible democracy. spokesman for Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq movement, which is part as a dreamland. So, not only the governments must be of the Popular Mobilization Units, wrote in a post published Though Donald Trump was a symp- encouraged to be democratic, but de- on his Twitter page on Saturday. tom not a cause, approaches followed mocracy must be responsible based on White House press secretary Jen Psaki lately said that the by former president have not only morality and human values. United States would engage in a “strategic dialogue” with Iraq ruined Washington’s reputation and Political systems always need to this month. credibility but also called into question be updated and reevaluated at least according to Press TV, the talks, which began last June under the principle of modern democracy in every decade to find their defects. For the administration of former U.S. president Donald Trump, would the United States. instance, today many experts consider be the first under President Joe Biden. On the agenda is an array of Trump came to power through Amer- the electoral college an outdated un- issues, primarily the presence of U.S. military forces on Iraqi soil. ican democracy, which has always been democratic mechanism that is partly Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has told reporters claiming it represents a model of good Democracy certainly helps us to hold rooted in slavery. he is approaching dialogue with Washington as a chance to push governance in the world. But Trump governments more responsible, but Likewise, absolute power in the hands for the withdrawal of American troops. showed how impulsive decisions of democratically elected president can Kata’ib Hezbollah, another Iraqi anti-terror group, dismissed could push American democracy into cannot guarantee accountability. act against democracy and peace. the upcoming Iraq-U.S. talks, which are scheduled for next week, abyss, and how the country is at risk A responsible government must Democracy also needs boundaries as “futile and worthless.” by semi-Hitlers. be democratic, but a democratic drawn by morality and fundamental Though Adolf Hitler is dead, yet the human rights. Suppose people of a world is witnessing lunatic leaders who government is not necessarily country vote for the atomic bombing Jordan prince ‘under think like him. accountable. of a neighboring country. Obviously, this Decades after the fall of the Third would be a violation of human rights. house arrest’ amid security Reich, one of the most important is- sanity and justice in their foreign policy? politics may help us to deal with immoral Then respecting valuable experiences sues in modern political history is to Israel and its apartheid policies policies in democratic governments as of the past is a must, especially when it crackdown find out how Hitler came to power in against the Palestinians can be a good a step towards responsible governance. comes to democracy as one of the most a democratic political system. Hit- example; and of course, American for- Democracy certainly helps us to important achievements of human ra- The former crown prince of Jordan says he has been confined ler took the reins of power through a eign policy is another instance. hold governments more responsible, tionality. But we must also learn from to his house and his communications have been restricted amid democratic process, but he destroyed In recent decades, the United States but cannot guarantee accountability. A our mistakes. an ongoing crackdown on alleged coup plotters. all those democratic institutions in has not only been involved in futile wars responsible government must be dem- Our democracies are supposed to In a six-minute video provided to the BBC by his lawyer on Satur- Germany. that have had no result other than in- ocratic, but a democratic government serve peace, equality, and development, day, Prince Hamzah bin Hussein, the half-brother of King Abdullah The questions are: Is uncontrolled stability and insecurity in the Middle is not necessarily accountable. regardless of nationality, religion, or II, said he and his family have been placed under house arrest in his democracy is sufficient to provide great- East, it has also consolidated its ties with Being unrestricted, relying on mon- ethnicity. palace outside and all his staff have been arrested. er human well-being and security? Do the tyrannical regimes in the region. etary cartels and pure capitalism rath- Undoubtedly, something is wrong He denied being part of “any conspiracy, or nefarious organ- countries that claim democracy in the Trump used to talk about his “favorite er than human rights may undermine when a democracy helps apartheid policy ization or foreign-backed group,” accusing the kingdom’s ruling world necessarily offer a better life for dictators”. democracy and mislead the masses, as or wages war. system of corruption, incompetence and harassment. their citizens? Apart from domestic pol- Acknowledging these contradictions we have seen in right-wing populist de- Mohammad Mazhari is an Iranian journalist “I had a visit from chief of general staff of the Jordanian armed icy, have all democratic states follow as a reality and part of international mocracies. & political analyst. forces this morning in which he informed me that I was not allowed to go out, to communicate with people or to meet with them because in the meetings that I had been present in or on social media relating to visits that I had made, there had been criticism of the government or the king,” he said. The second coming of Ben-Gurion “Since then a number of… my friends have been arrested, 1 It was intended as a new window for the return of Eventually, the U.S. would have the upper hand to my security has been removed and the internet and phone lines the talks over finding an alternative to the Suez Canal. prevent the Chinese route from reaching its ultimate have been cut. This is my last communication, satellite internet In principle, that the accident was premeditated is destination to the Mediterranean Sea. However, the that I have.” a fair assumption. In an article I previously published reasons behind Biden’s escalating tone towards China on the Al-Ahed website, I talked about Israel’s attempt and Syria were revealed once Iran and China signed the to control and expand access to the gates of the water document for cooperation. The protocol also revealed routes to the Mediterranean through the Abraham the hidden options Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah spoke U.S. biggest violator of Accords. It was not a peace agreement. Rather, it was of in his speech on the 18th of March. human rights around the actually an economic treaty with Morocco, the Emirates, The developments in the region may change the and Sudan. Once Oman signs it, Israel will be able to course of the Syrian crisis. The “One Belt and One world: Syria control the water routes from the Strait of Gibraltar Road” project will not achieve its real success until it to the Persian Gulf, and finally control the Red Sea reaches the port of Latakia, or/and the port of Tripoli, Syria says the United States’ latest annual report on human rights through the upcoming Ben-Gurion Canal, which will if the Lebanese desire, in exchange for the ports of around the world is based on “delusions and lies” and represents provide enormous income for Israel. Haifa and Ashkelon in Palestine. However, this cannot the “height of hypocrisy” as Washington itself is the largest rights Firstly, Israel and the United States are in dire need be achieved as long as Syria is still fighting its new violator both inside and outside its borders. of the project to compensate for the severe economic Thirdly, preparations are underway for the imple- independence war against America and Turkey. Yet, Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department released the 2020 contraction due to Coronavirus pandemic and un- mentation of the New Levant Project, which extends the coming of the Chinese dragon to Iran may mark Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. stable conditions. The treaties were signed between from Iraq to Jordan to Palestine across the Arabian a new era. Syria constitutes one of the main disputes On release of the report, Secretary of State Antony Blinken Israel and the Arab countries so as to guarantee Israel’s Peninsula to the Sinai Desert. The project aims to between China and the United States. It seems that painted a grave picture of the deterioration of human rights in political and economic stability, and to maintain its create a new trade route that does not pass-through the withdrawal of the latter to Jordan under the new multiple countries and regions throughout the world, including presence in the region. Syria and , but rather through the New Levant military cooperation agreement has become imposed in Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, China, Iran and Syria. And secondly, the project is driven by the need lands extending from the Persian Gulf in the south to by the new coming reality. The Americans can manage Regarding Syria, the report accused the government of Pres- to restrain the rise of the economic power of China, the Mediterranean in the north, and through it will from there any new conflicts in the region or prolong ident Bashar al-Assad of “atrocities” against the Syrian people. and to hold back its ongoing project known as “One pass new oil and gas pipelines from Iraq to Jordan, the life of the crisis and thus obstruct the Chinese “Assad’s atrocities against the people of Syria continued unabated, Road, One Belt”. The Chinese project aims to build a which will replace the Tabline line. project without any direct clashes. and this year marks ten years of their struggles to live in dignity train line that starts from the provinces of China in The New Levant project might forfeit Syria’s ge- The construction of Ben-Gurion Canal may take and freedom,” it claimed. the west towards West Asia and secure water routes ostrategic importance for the Americans as one of several years. However, the project is now put into In a statement on Saturday, Syrian Foreign and Expatriates around the world. It is a multi-billion-dollar investment the most important global and historical trade lines action. Thanks to “Ever Given” capsizing, the canal Ministry dismissed the allegations, saying they have all been taken project. For example, before the Corona pandemic, between the north and the south throughout history. building is now scheduled around May 2021. It is clear from reports by terrorist organizations and their supporters and several parties in Lebanon hosted the Chinese am- However, the project lost its momentum at this stage now who is the main beneficiary of this calamity, which financiers in the region and beyond. bassador, who explained the benefits of the project, because of Israel’s drive to be part of it, which forced hit one of the most important global navigation points, According to Press TV, the people in Syria are suffering in which will employ tens of thousands of workers, em- the Iraqi government to cease working on it. namely the Suez Canal. their food, health, and various aspects of life as a result of the ployees and specialists along the train line, which will The secrecy of the canal project’s memorandum Normalization agreements were primarily aimed inhumane economic blockade that has been imposed by the be used mainly to transport goods between China and was revealed in 1994. It was waiting in the drawers for to expand Israeli influence over waterways. The dis- West with the aim of starving and impoverishing the nation, Europe. Therefore, the U.S. is trying to hamper the new conditions to revive it. It seems that the capsizing astrous consequences on the region are starting to be the statement added. Chinese trade route by creating an alternative route of the ship was the perfect plan. The capsizing oddly unwrapped. The major target is going to be Egypt. The ministry further accused Washington of hypocrisy over to compete with. So, the new stage of struggle will coincided with the signing of the 25-year comprehensive Egypt’s revenue from the Suez Canal is estimated to claims that human rights are a priority in its foreign policy. witness an economic war aiming to control sea ports strategic partnership between Iran and China. The be 8 billion dollars. Once Ben-Gurion is activated it and global trade routes. current events are evidence that the need to change will drop into 4 billion dollars. Egypt cannot econom- Resistance News This American-Israeli project has overlapped with alliances has become inevitable in the region. This ically tolerate the marginalization of the role of the joining several agreements and draft agreements. For explains the economic pressure on Syria and Lebanon Suez Canal as one of the most important sources of example, the United States and the United Arab Emirates and the continued decline in the price of lira in the its national income, especially after the completion IOF arrests child, other have joined the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum sister countries. The Americans hoped that through of the construction of the Renaissance Dam in Ethi- Palestinians in West Bank as observers. And starting Monday, March 29th, the sanctions they would impose conditions for reconcilia- opia. Confinement of the Nile water behind the water Military Cooperation Agreement between Jordan and tions with “Israel”, impose the demarcation of borders scarcity will cause the Egyptians to starve. It will have and Jerusalem the United States will take effect, which probably aims between the Palestinian and Lebanese boarders to the disastrous consequences on Egypt and Europe. Since to find an alternative place for the American forces best interest of Israel, and prevent Hezbollah and its the latter will receive most of the Egyptian immigrants; INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN— Israeli occupation forces outside Iraq and Syria. allies from participating in the coming government. however, this is another story to be told. desk(IOF) launched an arrest campaign on Saturday night and at dawn Sunday in various areas of the West Bank and Jerusalem. In Nablus, the IOF soldiers raided the eastern town of Lub- Two rockets hit near Iraq airbase hosting U.S. soldiers ban, south of Nablus, and were deployed in its neighborhoods. IOF arrested Shaher Hanani after breaking into his place of Two rockets hit near an Iraqi airbase removed from the Arab country. tion of top Iranian and Iraqi anti-ter- work in the industrial zone in Beit Furik town, east of Nablus. hosting U.S. soldiers north of Baghdad “As resistance groups, we have taken ror commanders – General Qassem In Jenin, IOF stormed Ya’bad town, southwest of Jenin, and on Sunday, a security source told AFP. up and will continue to take up arms to Soleimani, commander of the Quds arrested Majd Atatreh while he was passing through an Israeli There was no immediate claim of re- destroy any U.S. or U.S. military presence Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution military checkpoint near Ya’bad. sponsibility for the strike, which caused on Iraqi soil,” Qais Khazali said. Guards Corps (IRGC), and Abu Mah- In Occupied Jerusalem, the Israeli police stormed Hizma town, no casualties or property damage. “There is no room for American military di al-Muhandis, deputy head of Iraq’s northeast of Jerusalem, and clashes erupted with the townspeople. Sunday’s was the 14th attack against bases, neither in al-Assad nor in al-Harir,” PMU – near Baghdad airport in a drone IOF fired stun grenades and tear gas canisters at the residents. American interests -- including troops, the he said. “This is the decision and promise strike authorized by former U.S. Pres- Meanwhile, local sources reported that the occupation police Baghdad embassy or Iraqi supply convoys of the men of resistance.” ident Donald Trump. shot and wounded a young Palestinian from Qatana town and to foreign forces -- since US President Joe Iraqi lawmakers, last year, approved Anti-American sentiments rose sharply arrested him near the separation wall in Khirbet Umm al-Lahim, Biden took office in January. a bill requiring the Baghdad government following the assassination of the two top northwest of Jerusalem. The leader of Iraqi anti-terror move- to end the presence of all foreign military commanders, who played a major role in On Saturday evening, eyewitness said that the Israeli police ment Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq has said the armed forces in the Arab country. the defeat of the Daesh terrorist group in stationed near the Separation Wall in Khirbet Umm al-Lahm, resistance against American forces occu- The Iraqi MPs’ decision came two Iraq. It is estimated that there are currently Qatna, fired live bullets at Yaqoub al-Faqih, 20. He was injured pying Iraq will continue until they are fully days after the high-profile assassina- 2,500 American troops in Iraq. in his foot and was left bleeding before arresting him. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 HERITAGE & TOURISM APRIL 5, 2021

Over 1.1m visits to Documentary to unravel fascinating Khorasan Razavi sites registered in Noruz secrets of Iron Age site in western Iran TOURISM TEHRAN – A total of 1,176,415 visits to deskthe historical sites and natural sights of HERITAGE TEHRAN – Iranian [domestication of plants and animals] the northeastern Khorasan Razavi province was recorded deskfilmmaker Keyvan started in the region, which is situated in during the two-week New Year (Noruz) holidays (March Tabatabaei-Samimi has made a the central Zagros mountain range. 20-April 2). documentary on Ganj Dareh, which was Prof. Ezatollah Negahban (1926 – 2009), Historical city of Tus, the mausoleum of the epic Persian once an Iron Age settlement in western who was an Iranian archaeologist known as poet , the mausoleums of poets Attar and Khayyam, Iran. The site is also one of the cradles of the father of Iranian modern archaeology, and Naderi Garden were among the most visited sites, the agriculture and livestock domestication believed that caves and rock shelters were deputy provincial tourism chief said on Sunday. in West Asia. particularly attractive living places for the Strict health protocols were demanded to be observed Titled “Ganj Dareh”, the film takes a hunter-gatherers of the early Paleolithic by the travelers during their visits, Marjan Akbari added. behind-the-scenes look at one of the most period and the geographic situation of important archaeological discoveries in the Iranian Plateau with its bordering the country, jointly conducted by Iranian, mountain systems including the Zagros Danish teams of cultural heritage experts. range on the west and the range In 2019, Iranian and Danish on the north has meant that there were archaeologists and cultural heritage many cave sites which would have been experts discovered new traces of Iron Age suitable for an early cave-dwelling man. occupation in a prehistorical cave during a In general, the Zagros highlands have follow-up archaeology season carried out been subject to more Stone Age research based on an agreement previously signed and investigation than have the Alborz between the Razi University of Kermanshah Mountains, and therefore a more detailed and the University of Copenhagen. picture of early cave-dwelling life has been Supervised by Iran’s Research Institute developed for the Zagros region where of Cultural Heritage & Tourism, the project traces of cave dwellers from the Lower was co-led by Iranian archaeologist Hojjat Paleolithic to the Middle Paleolithic, Upper Darabi and Professor Tobias Richter was inhabited some 50,000 years ago. The cave was previously excavated by Paleolithic, and Epipaleolithic periods have from the Department of Cross-Cultural “Preliminary results indicate that the cave Danish archaeologists in the early 1970s, been found. Although other parts of Persia and Regional Studies at the University of was inhabited about 50,000 years ago and however, the excavations were renewed have been less investigated than the Zagros The capital city of Mashhad is home to the holy shrine Copenhagen. appears to be used both by the Neanderthals using new scientific methods, he added. highlands, traces of cave dwellers have also of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam, which attracts Discoveries were made in Mar-Gurgalan for residing and hunting and by the early The team managed to collect new evidence been found at sites scattered throughout thousands of pilgrims from various Iranian cities, neigh- [Sarab] cave that, according to Darabi, Homo sapiens,” Darabi explained. concerning how sedentism and agriculture the Iranian Plateau and in the lowlands. boring countries, and even across the globe. According to official statistics, some 37 million Iranian pilgrims and travelers visited the shrine city of Mashhad during the first ten months of the Iranian calendar year 1398 (March 21, 2019- March 20, 2020). Historical core of Shahedieh made national heritage Dozens of five-star hotels and hostels are dotted around TOURISM TEHRAN – The historical texture of nat systems, which have supplied water for them in the the holy shrine. The metropolis has the highest concentration deskShahedieh, a mudbrick town in Iran’s heart of the desert, the historical texture of Shahedieh of water parks in the country, and it also embraces a variety province, has been added to the national heritage is one of a kind. of cultural and historical sites that are generally crowded. list, the provincial tourism chief has said. The concept of “Persian Qanat” was registered on the The historical texture, which has been recently de- UNESCO World Heritage list in 2016, representing a marcated, was inscribed on the prestigious list last week, selection of eleven aqueducts across Iran. Vali-e Asr St., longest in West ISNA quoted Seyyed Mostafa Fatemi as saying on Sunday. According to UNESCO, the qanats provide exceptional The registration will allow for better preservation testimony to cultural traditions and civilizations in desert Asia, being prepared for and to prevent destruction and illegal constructions, areas with an arid climate. possible UNESCO registration the official added. The qanat system relies on snow-fed streams, which flow Historical textures of some other cities across the down the foothills of surrounding mountains channeling 1 In the 19th century, the route once passed through province such as Yazd, , Meybod, Abarkooh, through sloping aqueducts, often over far distances to dis- gardens, barren fields between Tehran and Shemiran, and have also been registered on the national charge into the city’s underground reservoirs or ab-anbars. , , and Behjat Abad ending at its south- list, he noted. Such constructions are still in practice, many of which ernmost tip inside the then Qajar-era town of Tehran. Referring to the historical structure of the city of Yazd, were made from the 13th century onwards. Yazd is among which was named a UNESCO World Heritage in July 2017, to be accepted as a World Heritage in the years to come. ancient cities which have applied this concept to make he expressed hope that the historical texture of Shahedieh With mud-brick houses and several gardens and qa- urban settlements possible in central Iran.

Authorities rescue ancient hill from flattening by

landgrabbers First Announcement IN THE NAME OF GOD TOURISM TEHRAN – Iranian police have ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN BROADCASTING deskrecently saved an ancient hill Vali-e Asr Street, which is registered on Iran’s National Herit- from the hands of landgrabbers attempting to age list, was added to the UNESCO’s temporary list in 2019. The flatten the archaeological site situated in Siraf, a INTERNATIONAL TENDER No: 99/103-80/03 street is one of the main urban elements of the Iranian capital in historical port in southwestern province. Tender Holder: the north-south direction. “While patrolling the historical grounds, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN BROADCASTING (IRIB) cultural heritage guards witnessed a loader was demolishing an ancient hill to make way for an Iran says no plan yet to illegal construction,” CHTN quoted Abdolhamid Subject of Tender : suspend Turkey flights Haqani, a senior police official in charge of pro- Broadcasting the TV networks of English iFilm , Press TV and Hispan TV on Galaxy 19 for three years tecting cultural heritage, as saying on Sunday. in accordance with the technical specification and other terms and conditions mentioned in the tender due to virus There have been arrests in this regard and documents. some individuals were handed over to the judi- TOURISM TEHRAN – The Association of Iranian cial system for further investigation, the police Deadline and how to receive the tender documents: deskAirlines (AIA) on Sunday announced that official added. From Tuesday 06 April 2021 (1400/01/17) until Saturday 10 April 2021 (1400/01/21) by 02:00 p.m with presentation of it has no plan at present to suspend flights to and from Turkey Talking about the history of the port and val- introductory letter by company or its representative and the receipt of paying the documents fee. due to the spread of a new coronavirus variant. uable artifacts discovered from its ancient sites, “Flights between Iran and Turkey are operated on schedule he hailed cultural heritage guards as competent Place of receiving the tender document: and there is no plan yet to suspend them until [we receive] and well-versed forces, who are protecting the Interested participants may refer to purchasing (KALA) Dept., 4th Floor of IRIB Administration Complex, Hotel Esteghlal an official announcement from the National Headquarters sites and monuments with all their might. St. Vali –Assr Ave,Tehran, Iran for Coronavirus Control,” said Maqsoud As’adi-Samani, the Back in February Cultural Heritage, Tourism secretary of the association. and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan The fee of the tender documents and how to deposit it: He added that the issue is to be conferred in the next ses- announced that Iran seeks to register Siraf port Submission of payment receipt for the amount of 1,000,000 Rials to account 4101029171204273 with BIC No.IR sion of the national headquarters. “Airlines flying to Turkey and several other southern seaports on the UN- will [immediately] halt the service if the headquarters votes ESCO World Heritage list in near future. 310100004101029171204273 IRAN Central Bank in the name of IRIB. to its suspension.” Last year, the national heritage site announced it would develop a data bank on fragments of his- Type and amount of guarantee for participation to tender: torical ceramics and pottery discovered through The amount of deposit for participant in tender is USD 62640 fixed or its equivalent in Rials 15660000000 which should various seasons of excavation in the port by British be in the form of Bank Guarantee. archaeologist David Whitehouse and his Iranian colleagues during the 1970s. Time and place of delivering Bidding Envelopes: The historical port of Siraf was the most im- The sealed (A,B&C) packages/envelopes and the qualification evaluation packages/envelopes separately packed , should portant Iranian port from the Sassanid period to be submitted no later than 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday 11 of May 2021 (1400/02/21) and at the address mentioned in 4th clause. the 4th century AH. It bears plentiful evidence of Persian mastership and genius in seafaring, Time and place of opening Qualification Evaluation envelopes: international relations, and interaction with other The date of opening the Qualification Evaluation envelopes onWednesday 12 of May 2021 (1400/02/22) at 10:00 a.m in near and far cultures and civilizations. the office of International Purchasing Dept. Between 1966 and 1973, the British Institute of Persian Studies conducted seven seasons of Time and place of opening Envelopes: excavation and survey at Siraf, which was a major city on the Iranian shore of the Persian Gulf that The envelopes A of those eligible participants who meet the qualification criterion and approval of Technical and Com- played a leading role in the network of maritime mercial committee will be opened on Sunday 16 May 2021 at 03:00 p.m (1400/02/26) in the office of Financial Vice trade that supplied Western Asia with the prod- President .In case of complete content in the envelopes A the envelopes of B and C of eligible participants will be opened ucts of India, the Far East, and Eastern Africa at the same time and place. Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki on Saturday issued between 800 CE and 1050. The participant must be qualified by the competent authorities. an order, restricting travels to and from Turkey for a week in At one time, the port had been one of the Fore more information please see : a bid to help contain the new coronavirus variant. In a letter major centers for marketing pearls and silk in www.iriboffice.ir/tenders and http://iets.mporg.ir/ Tel: 00982122167053 to the interior minister, Namaki stressed the need for closing the region, but it was gradually submerged over air and land borders with the neighboring country for a week. the centuries. Purchasing (Kala) Dept.,IRIB Flights between the two neighbors have repeatedly been Siraf had a population of about 300,000 dur- suspended in recent months for the sake of coronavirus con- ing the early Islamic era and this fact shows that cerns though passengers are required to observe strict health it was a large city. However, today, just about protocols and hold a well-being certificate with a negative 7,000 people live in Siraf in a small area. The coronavirus PCR test result. port city is a national heritage. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 5, 2021 SOCIETY 7

Charity foundation supports COVID-19 screening for 100,000 passengers at borders treatment of 7,000 infertile couples SOCIETY TEHRAN – Approximately 100,000 passen- deskgers have so far been tested for coronavirus at 1 Intrauterine insemination (IUI), a calendar] year 1390 (March 2011-March 2012) the country’s official borders, head of the Iranian Red Crescent fertility treatment that involves placing sperm was equal to 1,382,118, which increased to Society said on Sunday. inside a woman’s uterus to facilitate fertili- 1,528,053 births in the [Iranian calendar] Since March 10, some 18,151 rapid tests and 6,462 PCR tests zation, In vitro fertilization (IVF), a process year 1395 (March 2016-March 2017). have been done and 35 individuals have been temporarily quar- of fertilization where an egg is combined However, the number of births in the antined, IRNA quoted Karim Hemmati as saying. with sperm outside the body, in vitro (“in whole country faced a downtrend over the With the cooperation of ministries of health and transport, a glass”), intracytoplasmic sperm injection past three years, as registered births de- plan was implemented with the goal of rapidly identifying and (ICSI), an in vitro fertilization procedure creased to 1,196,135 over the past [Iranian testing incoming passengers and keeping them in quarantine in which a single sperm cell is injected di- calendar] year; a difference of roughly over facilities, if necessary. rectly into the cytoplasm of an egg, as well 120,000 to 16,000 per year. Thirty border checkpoints have been selected, including 18 as medications, etc. to treat infertility are Nicholas Eberstadt, the Henry Wendt land borders, nine air borders, and three sea borders, all incoming offered to these couples. Chair in Political Economy at the Ameri- passengers will be tested and referred to the quarantine facilities Moreover, in addition to infertility treat- can Enterprise Institute (AEI) wrote in an in case of necessity. ment costs the hospital birth costs are covered article in July 2020 that the fertility rate Some 5,000 members of the IRCS cooperate for carrying out by the Barekat insurance. in Iran has dropped by 70 percent over the the plan; while around 8,000 individuals enter the country via Infertile couples can refer to Barekat in- past 30 years, which has been the highest borders on a daily basis, Hemmati said on March 26. surance agents in local centers in all provinces decline in human history. New cases and mortalities nationwide to use the services free of charge. Melinda Gates, an American philanthropist In a press briefing on Sunday, Health Ministry’s spokes- Population growth policies and co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates person Sima-Sadat Lari confirmed 11,680 new cases of Some 14 policies to support childbearing Foundation, also wrote on her Twitter ac- COVID-19 infection, raising the total number of infections and the family were announced by the Leader count that “The fastest decrease in the rate to 1,932,074. She added that 1,650,569 patients have so in [the Iranian calendar year] 1389 (March of childbearing per woman in the history of far recovered, but 4,057 remain in critical conditions of 2014-March 2015) when he stressed that the world has happened in Iran!” the disease. social, cultural, and economic development quality of the population if it is timely and year (March 2019-March 2020) with a birth Seyed Hamed Barakati, deputy health During the past 24 hours, 161 patients have lost their lives, should be done in accordance with these gen- continuous implemented. rate of 1.2, according to the data recently minister for family and school popula- bringing the total number of deaths to 63,160, she added. eral policies to support families. On March 15, the Majlis (Iranian Par- published by the Statistics Center. tion, said last year that Iran’s population So far, 13,111,118 COVID-19 diagnostic tests have been per- The policies address the need to increase liament) approved the implementation of The total fertility rate in simple terms growth rate has decreased to less than formed in the country. the population and the various dimensions of a population growth and family support refers to the total number of children born one percent for the first time over the it, including childbearing, facilitating marriage plan for 7 years to change the declining or likely to be born to a woman in her lifetime past four decades. and strengthening the family, reproductive trend of childbearing. if she were subject to the prevailing rate of At the beginning of the Islamic Revolution health, promoting the Iranian-Islamic life- Demographic issues age-specific fertility in the population. (in 1979), the country’s population grew by Consumption habits of style, empowering young people, honoring The fertility rate in Iran has been declining According to the data released by the Na- 2.5 percent annually, however, suddenly, person in rich country drives the elderly, and the environment, which over the past eight years, the lowest of which tional Organization for Civil Registration, the population growth reached about 1.5 percent can lead to an increase in the quantity and was related to the past [Iranian calendar] number of births registered during the [Iranian in the 1980s, he highlighted. loss of ‘four trees each year’

Each person living in a G7 country causes nearly four trees to be lost each year through their consumption of goods such as Nanotech increasing pace of development in Iran coffee, cocoa and meat, a new study estimates. By Faranak Bakhtiari nanotechnology articles, according to StatNano’s monthly The research uses fine-scale data to map the global impact evaluation accomplished in WoS databases. of international trade on the world’s forests, which act as vital TEHRAN – Nanotechnology’s trend of development is grow- Iran ranked 43rd among the 100 most vibrant clusters carbon stores and hubs for biodiversity. ing in Iran, as the number of nanoproducts and equipment of science and technology (S&T) worldwide for the third It finds that G7 countries and the emerging economies of developed in the previous [Iranian calendar] year (March consecutive year, according to the Global Innovation Index China and India generally saw decreases in domestic deforest- 20) increased to 750, compared with 647 a year before. (GII) 2020 report. ation between 2001 and 2015. Some 223 product manufacturing companies and 59 The country experienced a three-level improvement However, foreign deforestation linked with their imports and equipment manufacturing companies are active in the field compared to 2019. consumption patterns increased, the research says. of nanotechnology and by the end of last year, which devel- Sourena Sattari, vice president for science and technology, Dr Nguyen Hoang, study lead author and a senior researcher at oped a total of 750 products and equipment. has said that Iran is playing the leading role in the region the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature in Japan, told The Of the 750 products and equipment registered in the in the fields of fintech, ICT, stem cell, aerospace, and is Independent: “While obtaining net forest gains domestically, nanotechnology product database, 535 were related to unrivaled in artificial intelligence. many major economies have mostly expanded their non-domestic nano-products and 215 were related to nano-equipment, Iranian nanotechnology companies have increased sales deforestation footprints in all forest biomes.” both of which have experienced a growing trend over the by 100 percent over the Iranian calendar year 1398 (March The research, published in the journal Nature Ecology and past few years, although nano-products have grown more 2019-March 2020), and it is predicted that their revenue Evolution, compares fine-scale forest loss data and patterns of significantly. will reach up to 80 trillion rials (nearly $1.9 billion at the leading to import reduction. international trade to map how different countries are contributing The field of “civil engineering and construction” with official rate of 42,000 rials), Sattari announced. Sattari told the Tehran Times in October 2020 that “U.S. to deforestation through their imports and exports. 20 percent had the largest share among nano products and Knowledge-based companies sanctions caused exports of knowledge-based companies to The scientists considered all types of forest in their analysis, equipment, followed by “medicine, health” and “industrial Currently, over 5,700 knowledge-based companies are decline three years ago, however, it has returned to growth from northern-latitude boreal forests to carbon-rich mangroves services and supplies” each with 13 percent. active in the country, manufacturing diverse products to and is projected to reach the pre-sanctions level of more and rainforests. Iran among five pioneers of nanotechnology meet the needs of the domestic market while saving large than $1 billion by the end of the current [Iranian calendar] They examined the impact of the trade of goods linked to Iran has been introduced as the 4th leading country in amounts of foreign currency. year (March 20, 2021). agriculture and forestry, including meat, timber, coffee, soy- the world in the field of nanotechnology, publishing 11,546 The fields of aircraft maintenance, steel, pharmaceuticals, Fortunately, last year, companies achieved a record sale of beans and cocoa. scientific articles in 2020. and medical equipment, oil, and gas are among the sectors 1.2 quadrillion rials (nearly $28.5 billion), which is expected The findings suggest that tropical rainforests, which store a The country held a 6 percent share of the world’s total that researchers in technology companies have engaged in, to increase by 40 percent this year.” quarter of all the carbon locked up by land, are particularly threat- ened by the impacts of international trade. Many of the “hotspots” for deforestation associated with in- ternational trade are also biodiversity hotspots, the research Over 81,000 classrooms built in 8 years says. Such areas include the Amazon and the forests of southeast Asia, Madagascar and Liberia. SOCIETY TEHRAN – Some 81,500 The national budget bill for the next amounting to 650,000 people inside and China and India have rapidly expanded their “deforestation desk classrooms have been [Iranian calendar] year (March 2021-March 1,000 people outside the country. footprints” since the 2000s, the research says. It finds that the constructed over the past 8 years across the 2022) has foreseen a significant rise for the A total of 36 trillion rials (nearly $857 amount of deforestation associated with commodity imports to country, Mehrollah Rakhshanimehr, director renovation and retrofit of schools compared million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) both countries increased by six times from 2001 to 2014. of the Organization for Development, Ren- to previous years, as a total of 86 trillion rials has been allocated to renovate the schools However, on a per person basis, it is the G7 countries that are ovation, and Equipping Schools, has said. (nearly $2 billion at the official rate of 42,000 nationwide over the past 8 years, Seyed responsible for the highest levels of trade-related deforestation, The number of old classrooms in need rials) was proposed for school renovation in Mohammad-Ali Afshani, former head of the the authors say. of reconstruction and renovation has been the budget bill. Organization for Development, Renovation, “While China and India have been expanding their footprints reduced from 30 percent to 19.5 percent over Rakhshanimehr said in August 2020 that and Equipping Schools, said on Saturday. most rapidly, their average tree loss per person is much less than the past four years, he said. some 30 percent of the country’s schools There are some 107,000 schools na- a person in a G7 country,” said Dr Hoang. So far, about 280,000 classrooms have benefactors donated 85 trillion rials (near- have been constructed by school-building tionwide with 530,000 classes, 160,000 of The research estimates that, each year, consumption from an been retrofitted to meet the safety standards, ly $2 billion at the official rate of 42,000 benefactors; there are 450 school-building which are dilapidated, not meeting safety individual in a G7 country drives an average loss of around 3.9 trees. he added, ILNA reported on Sunday. rials) to constructs classrooms nationwide, charities in Iran. standards, accounting for 30 percent of the In 2015, consumption patterns in the US drove an average loss Over the past 8 years, school building he also noted. Iran has many school-building benefactors schools nationwide. of five trees per person, the research says, while consumption in the UK drove the loss of around two trees per person. ENGLISH IN USE LET’S LEARN PERSIAN LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION (Part 152) (Source: saadifoundation.ir)

امحــای زبا لههــای بیمارســتانی بــا کمــک Medical waste disposal become possible using plasma technology in Iran فنــاوری پالســما Using plasma gasification, Iranian researchers managed to محققــان کشــورمان بــا بهــره گیــری از فنــاوری پالســما موفــق شــدند ضمــن امحــای dispose medical wastes and disassemble all its hazardous تمــام زبالههــا، گازهــای خطرنــاک آن را توســط فیلتــری جداســازی کننــد. .gases by filters, IRNA reported on Sunday محمــود قــرآن نویــس مجــری طــرح امحــای زبالههــای بیمارســتانی بــه روش Considering numerous problems encountered in medical پالســما گفــت: بــا توجــه بــه مشــکالت زیــادی کــه در حــوزه زبالههــای بیمارســتانی and urban waste management in the country, we decided و شــهری در کشــور وجــود داشــت، بــه ایــن نتیجــه رســیدیم کــه بایــد ایــن مشــکل to employ high technology to overcome them, Mahmood را از طریــق فنــاوری »هــای تــک« حــل کنیــم. Quran-Nevis, an official with Vice Presidency for Science وی افــزود: در حــال حاضــر در بیمارســت انها بــرای امحــای زبالــه از اتوکالوهــا اســتفاده .and Technology has said م یشــود کــه دمــای حــرارت ایــن اتوکالوهــا ۱۳۰ درجــه بــوده و بیشــتر باکت ریهــا در He went on to add that currently, autoclaves are used as ایــن دمــا از بیــن نم یرونــد و مشــکالت زیســت محیطــی زیــادی را بــه وجــود م ی آورنــد. waste disposal facilities in hospitals; the temperature of رئیــس مرکــز تحقیقــات فیزیــک پالســما دانشــگاه آزاد بــا اشــاره بــه ایــن موضــوع the autoclave is 130 degrees and most of the bacteria are کــه هیــچ کشــوری حاضــر نشــد فنــاوری »هــای تــک » را بــه مــا عرضــه کنــد، not killed and subsequently they can contribute to various بیــان کــرد: بــا توجــه بــه اهمیــت امحــای زبالــه بیمارســتانی بــر آن شــدیم تــا بــا .environmental problems حمایــت مــادی و معنــوی معاونــت علمــی و فنــاوری ریاســت جمهــوری )مرکــز Referring to the foreign countries reluctance to provide us طــرح هــای کالن ملــی فنــاوری(، واحــد علــوم و تحقیقــات دانشــگاه آزاد، مرکــز with high technology machines, he noted that regarding the تحقیقــات فیزیــک پالســما و بــا همــکاری برخــی شــرکتهای داخلــی، ســاخت importance of medical waste disposal and disinfection, we و تولیــد تجهیــزات مــورد نیــاز ایــن طــرح را انجــام دهیــم و در داخــل کشــور managed to domestically produce the necessary equipment بوم یســازی کنیــم. .needed for healthcare waste treatment and disposal Prayer Times Noon:13:07 Evening: 19:48 Dawn: 5:18 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:44 (tomorrow) APRIL 5, 2021 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Mohammad Shojaeian Editor-in-Chief: Ali A.Jenabzadeh Owj docudrama chronicles life of Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051430 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 war filmmaker Morteza Avini Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 ARTTEHRAN – A making the documentary “A City in the Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 deskdocudrama produced Sky” about the fall of and at the Owj Arts and Media Organization the liberation of the southwestern Iranian recounts the life of Morteza Avini, the city during the Iran-Iraq war. Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 writer and documentarian whose films He became famous for “The Narration chronicled the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war of Triumph” and was called “the master of No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran P.o. Box: 14155-4843 known as the Sacred Defense in Iran. martyred writers” by his colleagues and Zip Code: 1599814713 Entitled “Mr. Morteza”, the documentary war veterans due to the fervent narrations has been directed by Abbas Seyyed- he wrote for his documentaries. Ebrahimi. Avini has been commemorated “This series covers the entire life of by various Iranian personalities and martyr Avini from his birth until his organizations on different occasions. martyrdom, and we have tried not to Leader of the Islamic Revolution ignore any significant topic from his life Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei participated story,” producer Mehdi Motahhar told in his funeral procession that began on the Persian service of IRNA on Sunday. Tehran’s Qarani Street at the Revayate “Many books and various works have Fath (Narration of Triumph) Cultural GUIDE TO been produced about martyr Avini, and to Institute, which was established by the SPIRITUAL AWAKENING avoid any parallel trend we did out best to Leader’s order in 1991 to produce films recount all details about him in the seven- on the Sacred Defense. Whoever delights his/her parents, has delighted episode series,” he added. The Cinéma Vérité festival, Iran’s major He also noted that the series has been international event for documentary films, Allah and the one who displeases them has made based on the information gathered A poster for filmmaker Abbas Seyyed-Ebrahimi’s documentary “Mr. Morteza”. also honors films on the war and resistance displeased Allah. from people who had close relations with which was broadcast from IRIB Channel Mohammadreza Shahidifar also make every year with Avini Awards in a special Prophet Muhammad (S) Avini. 3 on Sunday. commemts about Avini in this series, which section. Filmmakers , In addition scholars such as Masud has been produced in collaboration with the In addition, the Art Bureau of the Islamic Rasul Sadr-Ameli, Nader Talebzadeh, Naqibi, Mohammad Avini, Maryam Amini, Islamic Revolution Documentary House. Ideology Dissemination Organization Kiumars Purahmad, Behruz Afkhami and Shahriar Zarshenas, Mohammad Rajabi, Avini was martyred by a landmine in commemorates Avini’s martyrdom Fereidun Jeirani have been interviewed Yusefali Mirshakkak, Amir-Hushang 1993 during his last trip to the former Iran- anniversary in April every year by organizing Tehran center to host for the documentary, the first episode of Ardalan, Qasem Bakhshi, Reza Borji and Iraq war zone in southwestern Iran while the Islamic Revolution Art Week. exhibition by Afghan artists ARTTEHRAN – An exhibition of artworks by “The Inheritance”, “That Night’s Train” win awards at deskAfghan artists living in Iran will open at the Iranian Artists Forum in Tehran on Monday. Over 70 paintings, calligraphy works, illuminations, sculptures New Delhi Film Festival and photos have been selected to be showcased at the exhibition Directed by Sadeq Sadeq-, the film is about her/his own imagination, and this gives the teacher entitled “Housemate”. Adel, a 16-year-old boy whose parents have divorced material for her new story. The artists include from one another and his mother lives abroad. The film was crowned best at the 49th Roshd Mohammad-Hossein Ahmadi, He lives a very happy and extravagant life with International Film Festival in Tehran in November 2019. Mohammad Arzgani, Zahra his father in Tehran, until his relatives who live in “Thaen” by Indian director Ganesh Vinayakan won Esmaeili, Batul Akbari, Fatemeh another province ask his father to remarry. Despite the award for best film from the Asian continent, while Akbari, Mohammad-Musa Adel’s disapproval, his father travels there in hopes “Killing the Dead” by Hugo Giménez from Paraguay Akbari, Gol-Ahmad of getting married. However, on the way there he dies was also awarded at the New Delhi Film Festival. Balkhi, Sorayya Jafari, Batul in a tragic accident. Adel’s relatives want to take over The award for best film from the European continent Rahimi, Ali Rahimi, Zara Rasuli, his guardianship until the age of 18 so he can decide was shared by “Fires in the Dark” by Lienhard Dominique Hamideh Sohrabi, Shakila wisely regarding his inheritance. However, Adel wants from France and “Amaryllis” by Tom Lawes from the Uk. Alemi, Alikhan Abdollahi, his independence immediately. Iranian movies “Shahre Qesseh Cinema” by Keivan Bahramshah Mahmudi, “That Night’s Train” directed by Hamidreza Qotbi Alimohammadi and “Taxi Is Here” by Sara Aqababayan Mohammd-Mehdi Mirzai and received the Red Rose award for best released film were also screened in various sections of the festival. Fatemeh Mirzai. A poster for the exhibition between September 2019 and December 2020. However, they failed to win an award. The eight-day exhibition will A scene from “That Night’s Train” by Hamidreza Qotbi. The film also won the best adaptation screenplay “Shahre Qesseh Cinema” centers on Davud, a projector “Housemate” by Afghan artists. be organized in collaboration ARTTEHRAN – The 4th New Delhi Film award. Qotbi and Behruz Rashad co-wrote the screenplay repairman for a movie theater and a movie maniac who with Iran’s Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs. deskFestival has honored Iranian movies based on a short story of the same title by Ahmad falls in love with a girl whose father is a big opponent of Iran has recognized Afghan expatriates living in Iran over “The Inheritance” and “That Night’s Train”. Akbarpur. cinema. He tries his best to gain her father’s approval. the past few years. Linda Kiani won the award for best supporting actress “That Night’s Train” is about a writer who also works The short movie “Taxi Is Here” is about a mysterious In December 2020, the Iranian National Commission for for her role in “The Inheritance” on the closing day of as a teacher. She narrates the story of an orphan girl woman who decides to share a secret with a taxi driver UNESCO organized the Afghanistan Art Week in Tehran. the festival on March 28. to her students. Each student continues the story with who seems to be on familiar terms with her. The weeklong virtual festival was held on the theme of “My Beloved, Where Are You?” The festival was organized by the commission and the Embassy of Afghanistan to express their sympathy with the victims of the Nine movies from Iran competing in Brazil Ecocine festival ISIS terrorist attack on Kabul University in early November 2020. The victims of the ISIS terrorist attack inspired the theme ARTTEHRAN – Nine “Balance” directed by Barzan Rostami is show the efforts and solidarity of two peoples desk of the art exhibition. Iranian movies are competing in the animation category. The who strive to improve their lives by removing Several gunmen attacked Kabul University, shooting at students competing in the Ecocine International film tells the story of the soldiers who are divergent ideologies. in their classrooms and clashing with security forces for hours. Film Festival, a Brazilian event dedicated sacrificing their lives and resist in order that Over 130 movies by filmmakers from Some of the students had calls from their mothers and fathers. to productions on the environment and the people of the city and future generations Brazil, Spain, India, Germany, Portugal, One of the victims had 142 missed calls, and there was a final human rights. can live in peace. , Mexico, Italy, , the message that read, “My beloved, where are you?” “Balance”, “One of the Obvious Rights “One of the Obvious Rights of Citizenship” United States, Greenland, South Africa, of Citizenship”, and “Sarevo” are among by Reza Khodadadi centers on the difficulties Singapore, Venezuela, Indonesia, Turkey, the film selected to be screened in various facing the disabled. England, Pakistan, Montenegro, France, sections of the festival, which is currently Directed by Mohammad Abdollahi, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Malawi, Egypt, Liam Callanan’s “ by the going online. “Sarevo” is a documentary about Saeid and Colombia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Greece, The Iranian lineup also includes “Snowy Abdollah, two rural Iranian teenagers who Russia, Ecuador, Yemen, Croatia, Bosnia Book” published in Persian Heart” by Alireza Biglari, “The Colorless Leaf” A scene from the documentary “Sarevo” by have decided to revive a camel farm in a and Herzegovina, China, Poland, Australia, by Behzad Yaqmuri, “The Sea Swells” by Mohammad Abdollahi. remote region near the border between Iran Hungary and Ireland are being screened CULTURE TEHRAN – American writer Liam Callanan’s Amir Gholami, “The Silent Cry” by Hassan Mohammad Heidari-Khalili and “Wood” and Afghanistan. in the event. desknovel “Paris by the Book” has recently been Mokhtari, “Under the Walnut Tree” by by Yasin Zohrabi. The purpose of this documentary is to Ecocine will announce winners on Monday. published in Persian. Nima Farahi is the translator of the book released by the major Tehran-based publisher, Saless. The book is about a missing person, a grieving family, a curious Iranian pre-Islamic elements in Islamic art clue: a half-finished manuscript set in Paris. Heading off in search of its author, a mother and her daughters find themselves in France, Part 1 Two buildings in Damghan share similar significant fea- was connected primarily, if not exclusively, with the iwan rescuing a failing bookstore and drawing closer to unexpected truths. Numerous Iranian pre-Islamic elements have contributed tures, namely a Sassanid building at Tepe Hissar and the (ayvan) hall, with or without a domed chamber in back”. When eccentric novelist significantly to the formation and development of Islamic Tarikhaneh Mosque (dating from the 8th century. With regard to the affinity between the pillared hall/ Robert Eady abruptly vanishes, art, and they can be easily recognized in various contexts, The vestibule of the Sassanid building divided into three ayvan with a square domed chamber at Tepe Hissar near he leaves behind his wife, Leah, from town-planning to architecture, from the continuity of aisles shows two arcades resting on massive round piers and Damghan and the Emarat-e Khosrow at Qasre Shirin (dated their daughters, and, hidden techniques of both manufacture and decoration to iconog- side walls supporting three parallel tunnel-vaults opening 590-628), Bier says: “the Imaret-i Khusraw is a fantasy based in an unexpected spot, plane raphy and some of its symbols. into the courtyard, a layout also used in Tarikhaneh. partly on Damghan itself, the arrangement at Damghan tickets to Paris. Among the latter, one may mention the Sassanid crowns Both in the Sassanid building and in Tarikhaneh, the round must remain an anomaly.” Hoping to uncover clues — illustrated in the mosaic of the Dome of the Rock in Jeru- piers, constructed of baked bricks, are set vertically and hori- However, the same complex is in the Dar al-Emara in and her husband — Leah sets off salem (dated 691), or the interesting image on the reverse zontally in alternate courses, without foundations (the same Kufa, in Iraq, and, as regards the three-aisled hall, Masudi, for France with her girls. Upon of an Arab-Sassanid dirham of 694-99, preserved in four alternate courses are employed also in the Masjed-e Digaran in the 10th century, makes reference to the prototype of their arrival, she discovers an examples and showing a lance within an arch. at Khazara); moreover, their diameters are nearly the same. Hira. The last section of Bier’s study, however, is focused unfinished manuscript, one The lance “was one of the formal symbols of the prophetic The later Friday Mosque of Nain (dating from ca. 960), on the most probable methods of transmission of elements Robert had been writing without and caliphal power”, and when placed within an arch, it also while possessing narrower round pillars, is entirely covered from Sassanid to Islamic architecture. her knowledge… and that he had represented an axis mundi connecting the earth to the sky, with stucco decoration like the Sassanid building at Tepe The Sassanid four axial ayvans fronting a domed room settled in Paris. The Eady women in the sense of the vault of heaven. Hissar (for other Iranian mosques deriving from Sassanid in the fire temple can be found in Abbasid palaces follow the path of the manuscript The most striking example of such town-planning is the architectural prototypes). of the 8th and 9th centuries in the Dar al-Emara of Marv, to a small, floundering English- round city of Baghdad, the Abbasid capital founded by caliph Lionel Bier was skeptical of the supposed influence of the most important palaces of Samarra, and probably Abu Jafar al-Mansur in 762. This circular plan, originally Sassanid palace architecture on early Islamic architecture. Mansur’s palace in Baghdad. Front cover of the Persian version language bookstore whose weary proprietor is eager to sell the derived most probably from the structure of Assyrian military Making reference to Gertrude Bell, who in Bier’s words, in The synthesis of the Parthian four ayvns opening in of Liam Callanan’s novel “Paris camps (circular or oval enclosures), was a characteristic her survey of the Sassanid palaces “was sometimes obliged to a courtyard and the Sassanid complex formed by an ay- by the Book”. whole store. Yes, today, but Leah’s biggest surprise comes feature of major Parthian and Sassanid towns. make analogies with the better-preserved palace at Okhayzer van and a domed chamber in the back is also used in the when she hears herself accepting the offer on the spot. Baghdad is particularly similar to the Sassanid circular in Iraq to fill in the missing parts,” Bier sarcastically states: Ghaznavid palaces in Lashkari Bazaar and Ghazni. In As the family settles into their new Parisian life, they can’t cities of Ardashir I, especially Ardashir Khorra, later known “Put less delicately, it seems to me a fine example of how the Islamic religious buildings, the four ayvans opening help but trace the literary paths of some beloved Parisian classics, as Firuzabad, which according to Ibn al-Faqih was built on Sassanid architecture can be influenced by early Islam.” on a courtyard (with a domed chamber) appear later in including Madeline and The Red Balloon, while hoping for more the model of Darabjerd. There is evidence in the Islamic Although the ayvan and the domed chamber are certainly Iranian Seljuk architecture. clues to arise. But a series of startling discoveries forces Leah to architecture of some planimetric solutions and building the most important elements of Sassanid architecture sur- The triple-ayvan structure of Parthian origin in Hatra is consider that she may not be ready for what solving this mystery techniques suggesting that they were derived from pre-Is- viving in the Islamic context, Bier hesitates to acknowledge a clearly recognizable in the Bab al-Amma, the monumental might do to her family — and the Paris she thought she knew. lamic Iranian precedents. precise correspondence between the continuity of the Sassanid facade of the Abbasid palace called Jawsaq al-Khaqni, built at At once haunting and charming, “Paris by the Book” follows The plan of the Sassanid chahar taq has met with consid- court ceremonial which survived into the Islamic period, Samarra by the caliph al-Motasem in 836, overlooking the . one woman’s journey as her story is being rewritten, exploring the erable success in Iranian religious architecture. According and the continuity of form and function of the architectural The palace of Firuzabad features a particular bayt formed power of family and the magic that hides within the pages of a book. to some scholars, the mosque (of uncertain date) in the background, which is not clearly recognizable either in the by an ayvan flanked by two rooms that can also be seen Callanan is also a professor at the University of Wisconsin– village of Yazd-e Khast, on the border between Fars and sources or from the archeological evidence. in ; an ayvan with a pair of flanking rooms and Milwaukee, where he serves as the chair of the English Department Isfahan, was established on a chahar taq. Concerning the Umayyad throne complex at Mosatta a portico of three arches is in the Emarat-e Khosrow at and teaches creative writing and coordinates the Ph.D. in creative The Masjed-e Digaran at Khazara, near Bukhara, had (dated to 743-44), now a ruined structure in Jordan, Bier Qasre Shirin and the castle of Okhayzer, located about 50 writing program there. He also conducts workshops in creative a similar plan, surrounded by a corridor (on the Islamic states: “neither the triconch nor the pillared hall is known kilometers south of Karbala. writing for graduate students at other universities. chahar taq functioning as Imamzadeh). in Sassanid palace architecture..., the Sassanid audience (Source: Iranica)