WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y

12 Pages Price 50,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 42nd year No.13679 Saturday JUNE 6, 2020 Khordad 17, 1399 Shawwal 14, 1441 Russia defends ’s historical towers FFIRI removes Global music streaming satellite launch against turn off lights in honor Sport Minister from providers offeringAlizadeh’s U.S. opposition 3 of Imam Khomeini 8 its statutes 11 “Radif Navazi” 12

Iran inks 2-year agreement for exporting electricity to TEHRAN – Iran has signed an agreement held talks with Iraqi President Barham with Iraq for exporting electricity to the Salih, the country’s Energy Minister Majid country for two years, Iranian Energy Mahdi Hantoush, as well as Prime Min- Kneeling Minister , who visited ister Mustafa al-Kazemi, Ali Abdul Amir the Arab neighbor on Wednesday, said. Alavi, Iraq’s minister of finance, and heads Heading a delegation of electricity ex- of central bank and Trade Bank of Iraq. perts, Ardakanian arrived in Baghdad, According to the minister, the elec- capital of Iraq, on Wednesday, and met tricity export contract that used to be with his Iraqi counterpart and some other a one-year agreement was extended senior officials of this neighboring country. during the current year to cover 2020 on neck is During his daylong visit, the minister and 2021. 4 Coronavirus: Iran preparing to reopen doors to foreign travelers TEHRAN — Iran’s tourism ministry has littoral states, and the European Union, an U.S. natureSee page 2 forecast that the country will start hosting initial forecast suggests that Iran will open foreign travelers as of mid-summer with land borders to neighbors as of 15th of Tir the priority given to travelers from the (July 5) and some of its air borders as of 1st neighboring countries. of Mordad (July 22),” ISNA quoted Mo- “Based on our tourism marketing pro- hammad-Ebrahim Larijani, the director of gram monitoring and data analysis from the ministry’s advertising and marketing the neighboring countries, the Persian Gulf office, as saying on Friday. 8

World Environment Day: Iran outlines plan to protect its rich biodiversity By Faranak Bakhtiari Colombia this 2020, is the most renowned TEHRAN — Because the most important day for environmental action. Since 1974, part of wildlife conservation is habitat it has been celebrated every year on 5 preservation, the Department of Envi- June, engaging governments, business- ronment (DOE) have developed several es, celebrities and citizens to focus their national programs, 10 of which are under- efforts on a pressing environmental issue. way, and 10 others will soon be finalized This year, the theme is biodiversity – a to implement, Shahaboddin Montazemi, concern that is both urgent and existential. director of wildlife’s conservation office Recent events, from bushfires in Brazil, the khamenei.ir at the DOE told the Tehran Times. United States, and to locust infes- Environment Day, hosted by tations across East Africa – and now, 9 PERSPECTIVE Iranian students rally in solidarity with Over 10,000 arrested, protests against Mahmood Monshipouri African Americans Floyd killing continue Francisco State University and the — Iranian students and rights activists is systemic and is yet to take a break. By staff & agencies Some police departments in major cities, California, Berkeley gathered outside the Swiss embassy in Tehran U.S. police has a long track record of unpun- More than 10,000 people have been arrested in such as Houston, say while hundreds have been on Wednesday to express solidarity with African ished violence against black people. According protests that have rocked the United States since arrested, “this is an extremely low number … The implications Americans over the shocking killing of George to a study conducted in 2019 and published on the police killing of George Arbery, an unarmed considering the thousands of people in our Floyd at the hands of a white police. LA-times website, about 1 in 1,000 black men Black man, according to an Associated Press tally. community demonstrated peacefully”. of declining U.S. Demonstrators held placards that read and boys in the U.S. can expect to die at the Arbery, the black jogger who fatally shot by Several major cities scaled back or lifted “No to racism” and “I can’t breathe”. They hands of police. That makes them 2.5 times more two white men on Feb. 23 in Georgia curfews imposed for the past few days. As pro- leadership also held candle-lit vigil for the victims of likely than white men and boys to die during an According to the tally, Los Angeles has record- tests continue, police in riot gear charged into a U.S. police brutality, Press TV reported on encounter with cops. ed 2,700 arrests since the protests, followed by crowd of about 1,000 protesters defying a local Wednesday. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has strong- New York City with some 1,500 arrests. Police curfew in New York City’s Brooklyn borough, he Trump administration’s ongoing They also chanted anti-racism slogans while ly denounced rampant bloodshed of Afri- in Dallas and Houston, Texas, and Philadelphia, albeit peacefully, near an outdoor plaza, and policy of withdrawal from inter- holding pictures depicting the U.S. police bru- can-Americans in the United States and the Pennsylvania, have also arrested several hundred clubbed demonstrators and journalists as they Tnational institutions—including tality against demonstrators. country’s suppression of the protests that people. The toll is likely much higher. scurried for cover in heavy rain. the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the 2016 In the crowd, there were also non-Iranian have engulfed the U.S. in the aftermath of The arrests come amid a crackdown on pro- The tally comes as protests continue to erupt Paris Climate Change Accord, the Open students who used the chance to condemn racism. Floyd’s death. tests against the killing of Floyd and broader nationwide over the killing of Floyd, who died after Skies Treaty, and now the World Health Demonstrations in Tehran came against the “Iran regrets the tragic murder of black acts of police brutality. a white officer knelt on the 46-year-old’s neck for Organization (WHO) in the middle of backdrop of days of angry protests across the Americans, denounces deadly racial profiling Many have been arrested for curfew viola- nearly nine minutes. Video of the incident shows the greatest global health crisis—demon- U.S., with people setting police cars ablaze and in the United States & urges authorities to do tions, which major cities have imposed to quell Floyd repeatedly pleading with the officer, saying: strates the declining U.S. leadership clashing with police. justice for every case,” the ministry said in a demonstrations that have at times turned violent, “I can’t breathe.” Floyd eventually appears motion- ever since the post-World War II order In Tehran, students believe racism in America tweet on Friday. 3 with looting, vandalism and fires. less, with the officer’s knee still on his neck. 10 was created. This latest move is made at a time when the world relies heavily on the WHO’s leadership to steer the COVID-19 pandemic response. Annual minerals export of $10.5b projected N.Korea expresses While as recently as two months ago praising in the hope of sal- TEHRAN — Iranian acting minister of indus- Production”, IRNA reported. According to Deputy Industry, , support for China’s vaging bilateral trade ties between try, mining and trade announced that reaching The official said that the ministry’s policy and Trade Minister Saeed Zarandi, the said the two countries, Trump has now the minerals export of $10.5 billion is planned is moving toward production of products with projects are going to be implemented under measures in Hong Kong turned against China and the WHO. for the current Iranian calendar year (ends on higher value-added and strengthening exports a new program called “Persistent Produc- The latter has been instrumental in March 20, 2021). for the whole steel chain. tion-Effective Employment-Sustainable North Korea’s foreign minister met with the Chinese managing and treating the worldwide Making the remarks during a meeting He said the minerals and mining projects Exports”. ambassador to express support for China’s meas- spread of malaria, tuberculosis, SARS, with the board members of Iran Mine House, constitute the main part of the 200 major in- As reported, some 1.69 quadrillion rials ures in Hong Kong, North Korea’s KCNA state news HIV-AIDS, and other infectious and Hossein Modarres Khiabani also elaborated dustrial, mining, and trade projects, which are (about $40.23 billion) has been invested agency said on Friday. non-communicable diseases. Trump’s on the industry, mining, and trade ministry’s planned to be inaugurated across the country in the mentioned projects that are going “The Hong Kong issue is China’s internal affairs recent announcement (May 29, programs for the mining sector in the current by the Iranian calendar year of 1400 (begins to create job opportunities for 41,000 and external interference violates China’s sover- 2020) to permanently end the U.S. year, which is named the year of “Surge in on March 20, 2021). people. 4 eignty, and North Korea will actively support the contribution to the WHO, and even Chinese party and government to defend national to withdraw U.S. membership, is yet sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity,” KCNA another attempt to distract the public cited foreign minister Ri Son Gwon as saying. from his mishandling of the current Seal tangled Chinese Ambassador Li Jinjun expressed grat- coronavirus crisis—a move that will itude for North Korea’s support, it said. lead to further global U.S. isolation, in net North Korea’s comments come after Beijing im- ironically putting China in a much posed a new national security law on Hong Kong stronger position to influence that that Western countries say could restrict freedoms organization’s policies. recovered, in the former British colony. Over its more than seventy-year North Korea said on Thursday the United States life, since its inception in 1948 within returned was in no position to criticise China over Hong Kong the UN framework, the WHO has had or human rights when Washington threatens to major achievements, such as eradi- to sea “unleash dogs” to suppress anti-racism protests, cating smallpox, and failures, such a reference to a tweet by president Donald Trump. as its sluggish reaction to the Ebola A Caspian seal which had been caught in a fishing Hong Kong legislature passes national outbreak in 2014. On balance, how- net around Ashuradeh, the only island of the anthem bill ever, the World Health Organization’s Iranian coast of the Caspian Sea, was released The Legislative Council (LegCo) of China’s Hong raison d’être has never been called back into the sea after being rehabilitated. Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) ap- into question. The significance of the Caspian seal is endangered according to the proved the national anthem bill at the third reading organization will be amplified when International Union for Conservation of Nature debate on Thursday afternoon. and if a second wave of the coronavirus and Natural Resources (IUCN), as recently The bill was passed with the support of 41 law- returns, again posing an existential demonstrated to have declined by more than makers and one voting against. threat to all the countries around the Raheleh Hesari 90 percent since the start of the 20th century. The legislative meeting starting in the morning world. Second waves have a history According to the latest census conducted was once suspended for four hours because of the of striking back even harder than the in 2016, the population of Caspian seals has obstruction of opposition lawmakers, who repeatedly IRNA/ initial outbreak, as was the case for reached less than 70,000. committed disruptive acts, even pouring foul-smelling the 1918 Spanish flue pandemic. 7 liquid on the floor. 10 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS JUNE 6, 2020

Tehran confirms talks with Rouhani to Trump: Holding Bible to justify Richardson over Michael White’s release violence against Americans is ‘shameful’ POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iran confirmed on Friday that POLITICAL TEHRAN – President Rouhani condemns crimes against pro- deskForeign Minister had deskHassan Rouhani said on testers in the U.S. discussed prisoner releases with former U.S. ambassador Bill Thursday that it is “shameful” that President Protests have started across the U.S. over Richardson. Donald Trump holds Bible in his own hand brutal killing of the African-American man. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Friday to justify violence against Americans who George Floyd died on May 25 after being they had discussed the release of U.S. navy veteran Michael White are protesting the death of a black man by pinned down by a white officer despite yelling: “months ago”. a White policeman. “I cannot breathe” under the knee of a white “We have always responded positively to humanitarian efforts Rouhani was referring to Trump’s pho- U.S. police officer. that would lead to the release of Iranian hostages in the United to-op at a church and his use of the Bible for Reportedly, the unrest over Floyd’s death States and elsewhere,” Mousavi said. his political purposes. came to Trump’s doorstep as demonstrators Tehran confirmed on Thursday a prisoner swap between Iran “Bible is a divine and holy book which circled the White House grounds on May and the United States. invites all the people to peace and humanity. 30, chanting “I can’t breathe” and “Black Bible is not a book that orders killing of inno- Lives Matter.” cent people. It is shameful that a president Iran’s Foreign Ministry has urged the Unit- Iran urges France to stop who wants to take actions against his own ed States to listen to its people and change nation holds a holy book,” Rouhani said. its bankrupt policies. interference in its Trump’s walk across Lafayette Square “Failed to keep its promise of stopping domestic affairs on Monday evening to St. John’s Episco- wasting money on foreign adventurism & pal Church that took place after authorities embattled in a Covid19 crisis of its own making, POLITICAL TEHRAN — Foreign Ministry spokesman forcibly pushed out peaceful protesters has US regime now employs army, ‘vicious dogs deskAbbas Mousavi has urged France to stop in- drawn criticism from lawmakers and public & ominous weapons’ to intimidate protesters. terfering in Iran’s domestic affairs. figures, including former Defense Secretary Instead, US should listen to its ppl & change Mousavi’s comments came as French Foreign Minister Jean- James Mattis. During the police effort to clear eyewitness accounts that canisters were shot contained an irritant that made people choke its bankrupt policies,” the Foreign Ministry Yves Le Drian reiterated his demands for Iran to release Fariba the crowd Monday, there were reports and in the crowd, putting off thick smoke that and cough, CNN reported. tweeted on Sunday. Adelkhah, a research fellow at Sciences Po University in Paris, in a statement on Friday. Mousavi said, “As we have said for several times, the issue of Iranian national Fariba Adelkhah has been subject to an in- Ayatollah Khamenei: Kneeling on neck is U.S. nature dependent and fair judicial procedure. She has been sentenced POLITICAL TEHRAN — A police States has lost face over its poor handling of in scope. When you consider someone and with this characteristic: the characteristic proportionate to the crime she committed.” deskofficer put his knee on a the coronavirus pandemic. some organization as ‘Satan’, it is clear how of steadfastness, resistance and refusal to He noted that the sentence will not be affected by political black man’s neck and pushed until he dies, “By God’s favor and grace, the United you should behave and feel towards them. give in to problems and obstacles,” he said. pressure. Leader of the Islamic Revolution lamented States has been disgraced as a result of its Until the last day, Imam had the same feeling He added, “During revolutionary activities, A court in Iran has sentenced Adelkhah to six years in prison on Wednesday, noting it shows the nature own actions. Their management of the coro- towards America. He used to use the term many individuals became exhausted and they on national security charges. of the United States’ governments. navirus brought them disgrace, and their ‘The ’ and he believed in it with were on the verge of despair, but Imam stood According to Adelkhah’s lawyer, she was sentenced to five Speaking in televised speech commem- weak handling of the situation caused them all his heart and soul,” he said. firm. He stood firm on the path of fighting years in jail for “gathering and conspiring against national orating the demise anniversary of Imam to have several times as many casualties as He also said, “Imam was in the camp which without the slightest retreat. This was related security,” as well as one year for “propaganda against the Is- Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Rev- other countries. The American people feel was against international bullies and arro- to pre-revolutionary era. After the victory lamic Republic”. olution, the Leader said such crimes have embarrassed and ashamed of their govern- gant powers and he did this in an outspoken of the Revolution too, other comprehensive “We have appealed and if accepted, the sentence will drop to frequently happened in the past, and the U.S. ment.” way. He showed no considerations for them. pressures loomed large before him, but he five years,” lawyer Saeid Dehghan told the Reuters news agency. has done the same things in many countries ‘Imam Khomeini proved super- This was why in the confrontation between did not lose the essence of resistance and Adelkhah, a 60-year-old anthropologist and researcher at including Iraq, Afghanistan, and other powers can be defeated’ bullies, arrogant powers and the thugs of the steadfastness. He resisted.” Sciences Po’s Center for International Studies (CERI) in Paris, countries. Ayatollah Khamenei also said that Imam world, and the oppressed, Imam was in the The Leader continued, “What does re- was reportedly arrested in June 2019 on charges of espionage. The annual ceremony marking the death Khomeini proved that the superpowers can latter camp. He used to announce this in an sistance mean? Resistance means that you of Imam Khomeini was not held in his mau- be defeated. outspoken way and without any considera- choose a path that you deem legitimate and Russia says sanctions for soleum due to the coronavirus. “Imam showed that superpowers can be tions and fear. He was an ardent advocate of true. It means moving on this path and not Pointing to the slogan of “I cannot breathe,” defeated which was proven in the future. You the oppressed all over the world. He did not allowing obstacles to prevent you from taking Iran oil supply to which the U.S. people have been chanting in saw what happened to the Soviet Union and compromise with arrogant powers.” that path. This is what resistance means. recent days, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “This you are seeing what is going on in the United ‘Resistance form the cornerstone Imagine that you face an obstacle or a deep are unacceptable is what the nations that have been the victims States,” the Leader pointed out, according of Imam Khomeini’s school of thought’ hole when you are taking a road or imagine of United States’ oppressive usurpation want to Khamenei.ir. Ayatollah Khamenei also said that resist- that you face a rock when you want to reach By staff and agency to say from the bottom of their hearts.” Imam Khomeini coined the phrase ance and refusal to give in to problems and the peak of a mountain. When some people Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, A 46-year-old African-American man, died ‘The Great Satan’ obstacles form the cornerstone of Khomeini’s confront this rock, this obstacle or this thief said on Thursday that threats hurled by the United States at on Monday after being handcuffed and pinned The Leader said that Imam Khomeini was school of thought. or wolf, they return and they change their other governments of imposing sanctions in case they facilitate to the ground by a white police officer’s knee against international bullies and arrogant “Imam had a certain characteristic which minds about continuing the path. However, supplies of Iranian oil to Venezuela are unacceptable. in an incident that was recorded on video. powers and he did this in an outspoken way, I would like to explain more today. That some people do not do so. They look around “Certain warnings voiced According to the New York Times, Chauvin, adding that “The Great Satan” was an aston- characteristic is resistance: resistance and and see how they can get around the rock and a few days ago by the U.S. ad- the policeman, kept his knee on black man ishing term that Imam coined. firmness. What introduced Imam as a man maneuver the obstacle. They find the way, ministration to governments for eight minutes and 46 seconds. “The ideological and practical implications with a school of thought and philosophy in remove the obstacle or pass through it in around the world regarding any The Leader went on to say that the United of the term ‘The Great Satan’ are very vast his own time and in history had more to do an intelligent way. Resistance means this.” cooperation in Iran oil supplies to Venezuela go beyond any acceptable limits,” TASS quoted her as saying during a briefing. Zarif says Trump advisors made a ‘dumb bet’ by inciting him to quit JCPOA She added, “To add to the previously put forward threat POLITICAL TEHRAN — Foreign Minister Moham- “So great to have Michael home. Just arrived. Very excit- “No need for cherry picking. Iranian hostages held in—and against insurers and ship own- deskmad Javad Zarif said on Friday that U.S. ing. Thank you to Iran. Don’t wait until after U.S. Election on behalf of—the US should come home.” ers, Washington now threatens President Donald Trump’s advisors, that now most of them to make the Big deal,” Trump said in his tweet on Friday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in a port administrations, owners have been dismissed, made a “dumb bet” by encouraging In his Wednesday tweet, Zarif said Iran and other sig- statement on Thursday that White, who had been in jail and captains of vessels. In the him to quit the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as JCPOA. natories to the JCPOA never left the negotiating table and in Iran, was released after being granted Islamic mercy last few days, the U.S. Treasury “Your advisors—most fired by now—made a dumb bet,” even the remaining parties sent humanitarian aid to Iran to for his crimes. expanded the sanction list by Zarif tweeted. fight the coronavirus pandemic despite efforts by Trump’s White was released from jail given the time served and adding four more shipping Zarif added, “Up to you to decide *when* you want “subordinates”. in respect of human rights considerations, and left Iran companies engaged in Iran oil deliveries to Venezuela, extend- to fix it.” “We achieved humanitarian swap *despite* your sub- on Thursday, Mousavi said. ing the restrictions in place and other aggressive statements.” The Iranian foreign minister told Trump that the JCPOA ordinates’ efforts, @realDonaldTrump,” Zarif pointed out. Zarif said in December that Tehran was ready for a full Conn Hallinan, a columnist for Foreign Policy In Focus, was working when he entered the White House. Tehran has confirmed a prisoner swap between Iran prisoner exchange with the United States, tweeting: “The has said that arrival of Iranian fuel tankers in Venezuelan wa- “And we had a deal when you entered office. Iran & and the United States. ball is in the US’ court”. ters was a crack in wall of the United States’ illegal sanctions other JCPOA participants never left the table,” Zarif stated. “Pleased that Dr. Majid Taheri and Mr. White will soon Switzerland which takes care of the U.S. interests in against Caracas. Zarif’s comments came as response to a Trump’s tweet be joining their families,” Zarif tweeted on Thursday. “Prof. Iran has played a role in the recent prisoner exchange. It This action is a step in reducing “pressure” on Venezuela, in which he thanked Iran for releasing U.S. Navy veteran Sirous Asgari was happily reunited with his family on Weds.” has announced that that it is ready to act as a facilitator Hallinan said, adding the Venezuelan people were in dire need Michael White, proposing talks. “This can happen for all prisoners,” Zarif said, adding, for more prisoner swaps. of fuel. This shipment brought revenue for Iran and from this point of view it was “a crack in wall of the United States’ illegal sanc- tions,” he told IRNA in an interview published on Monday. Iran condemns new U.S. sanctions on Syria He noted that the Iranian tankers entered the Western POLITICAL TEHRAN — Foreign The Syrian government condemned rorism which has shed the blood of Syrian economic blockade, political pressure and desk hemisphere despite the U.S. sanctions which was a “thorn in Ministry spokesman Wednesday a new wave of the U.S. sanctions civilians and ravaged their achievements, smear campaign,” the source added. Trump’s side”. Abbas Mousavi on Friday condemned new against the country, calling the measures Syria’s official news agency SANA reported. He highlighted that the Caesar sanctions The 5th and last Iranian fuel tanker reached Venezuelan sanctions of the United States on Syria and “economic terrorism” that will increase the “The Syrian Arab Republic strongly con- act, which aims to sanction any party that waters on Sunday. urged removal of them. suffering of the Syrian people, according to AP. demns the imposition of further sanctions assists the Syrian government, is a flagrant Tehran’s decision to send Iran-flagged tankers to Venezuela Mousavi described the action as illegal On Wednesday, an unnamed source with on it by the U.S. administration through the violation of the most basic principles of hu- amid U.S. sanctions against both countries has infuriated those which runs contrary to humanitarian prin- the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and so-called Caesar Act. The sanctions are based man rights and international law. in the White House. ciples. Expatriates denounced the so-called Caesar on a bunch of lies and fabricated claims by By imposing these restrictions, the U.S. Iran has warned to retaliate any aggression against its tankers “Harms and negative consequences of Syria Civilian Protection Act – also known parties hostile to the Syrian nation. This falls administration will “bear main responsibility while noting that it has the inherent right to trade with other such sanctions target the ordinary people,” as the Caesar Act and expected to come into within the framework of their declared war that for the suffering of the Syrian people when it countries. he said. force in mid-June – as another form of ter- uses various methods, including terrorism, comes to their livelihoods,” the source added.

WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y Zarif censures Europe’s ‘deafening silence’ on U.S. brutality against protesters POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad deafeningly silent, Zarif tweeted. 12 Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 42nd year No.13656 Monday MAY 4, 2020 Ordibehesht 15, 1399 Ramadan 10, 1441 deskJavad Zarif has slammed Europe’s “deafening silence” The foreign minister added, “If it wants to keep lips sealed now, it should Following the Tehran Times: An audible Beheshti Revolutionary on the United States’ brutalities against people. always keep them that way.” guidelines of voice of the oppressed newspaper press should martyr Beheshti 2 people worldwide 3 9 defend truth 11 “US cities are scenes of brutality against protesters & press, as military Angry protests are spreading across the United States following the crackdown is threatened tragic death of George Floyd, a black American, by a White policeman on The Tehran Times is looking for Europe—quick to be judge & jury about non-Western societies—keeps May 25 in Minneapolis. journalists. Send your C.V. via email address Iranian parliament condemns U.S. police ‘racial terrorism against blacks’ below: See page 2 (Press TV) — Members of the Iranian Parliament a U.S. police officer kneeled on his neck for more than “Today, ‘American nightmare’ is emerging more than [email protected] (Majlis) have denounced the racist terrorism perpetrated eight minutes despite his cries that he could not breathe. ever, and the cry of the oppressed blacks is being heard, by U.S. police against defenseless African Americans, His death, captured on video, has sparked street who, like martyr Malcolm X, want to shout that we are JOB saying they have been unable to breathe for decades protests across the U.S., which are being met with an victims of Americanism; the victim of the hypocritical Required qualifications: and subjected to violence and discrimination. increasingly heavy-handed police response. system that today seems to be all over the world, as if it In an English-language statement issued on Tues- U.S. President Donald Trump has supported the has the authority to tell all the people of the world how Adequate knowledge of English day, the Iranian lawmakers expressed their outrage violent suppression of the demonstrations. to run their country,” they said. Relevant experience in media at the shocking U.S. police brutality that led to the The Iranian MPs described Floyd as just one of hun- El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, better known as Mal- VACANCY Familiarity with the principles death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, dreds of black Americans brutally killed by police every colm X, was an American Muslim minister and human of journalism saying the tragedy “revealed the inhumane nature year, saying the blacks “have been unable to breathe rights activist who was a popular figure during the civil of the U.S. regime.” for decades under the pressure of racial terrorism by rights movement. He was assassinated in New York Floyd, an unarmed African-American man, died after the U.S. regime.” on February 21, 1965. khamenei.ir khamenei.ir

ARTICLE ARTICLE Farrokh Hesabi Mohammad Jafari Tehran Times journalist Tehran Times journalist

Alireza Soleymani IRNA/ I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JUNE 6, 2020 IRAN IN FOCUS 3

Tehran urges U.S. to free all Iranian U.S. Senate approves Trump pick to lead Voice of America

POLITICAL TEHRAN — U.S. Senate on Thursday hostages after prisoner swap deskapproved President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Voice of America and other U.S. government-funded POLITICAL TEHRAN — Tehran has international broadcasters that have been criticized by the desk confirmed a prisoner swap White House over claims of unfavorable news coverage. between Iran and the United States, urging According to The Washington Post, the Senate voted Washington to release all Iranian hostages 53-38 to confirm Michael Pack, a former associate of Trump held by the U.S. government. political adviser Steve Bannon, to run the U.S. Agency for “Pleased that Dr. Majid Taheri and Mr. Global Media, which oversees VOA and its sister outlets White will soon be joining their families,” including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Asia and the Cuba-oriented Radio and Television Marti. tweeted on Thursday. “Prof. Sirous Asgari was happily reunited with his family on Weds.” “This can happen for all prisoners,” Zarif said, adding, “No need for cherry picking. Iranian hostages held in—and on behalf of—the US should come home.” Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi also confirmed on Thursday that Dr. Majid Taheri, an Iranian scientist who had been imprisoned in the U.S., was re- leased from jail. Taheri spent 16 months in prison for allegedly violating U.S. sanctions on Iran. Zarif said in December that Tehran was ready for a full prisoner exchange with the United States, tweeting: “The ball is in the US’ court”. In his statement, Mousavi also said U.S. Trump had pushed for Pack’s confirmation while launching Navy veteran Michael White, who had been in unprecedented attacks on the Voice of America for its coverage Asgari, who has a history of respira- pital as soon as possible. I don’t trust them jail in Iran, was released after being granted make a better deal now!” of China’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. tory problems, was exonerated in a U.S. at all,” the 59-year-old said at the time, Islamic mercy for his crimes. In an earlier tweet, Trump said, “We have Democrats feared that Pack, a conservative filmmaker sanctions trial last year, but Immigration amid repeated coughing fits. “If something Mr. White was released from jail given the now brought more than 40 American hostages and former educator, could turn the organization into a and Customs Enforcement (ICE) jail in happens, they are not fast responders … I time served and in respect of human rights con- and detainees back home since I took office.” Trump propaganda machine funded with more than $200 Louisiana had refused to release him or prefer to leave this dirty place.” siderations, and left Iran on Thursday, he said. “Thank you to Iran, it shows a deal is million a year in taxpayer money. allow him to return to Iran. Asgari’s story sparked international “So great to have Michael home,” U.S. possible!” he added. “Congratulations to Michael Pack!” Trump tweeted He had tested positive for coronavirus in outrage after he spoke about his fears of President Donald Trump tweeted on Friday. White’s release came a day after Iranian Thursday. “Nobody has any idea what a big victory this is prison. He broke the story in an interview COVID-19 spreading inside crowded ICE “Just arrived. Very exciting. Thank you to scientist Sirous Asgari, who had been held for America. Why? Because he is going to be running the with the Guardian on April 28. facilities with substandard cleaning practices Iran. Don’t wait until after U.S. Election to by United States immigration authorities VOICE OF AMERICA, and everything associated with it.” “It makes sense to send me to the hos- and a lack of supplies. make the Big deal. I’m going to win. You’ll for months, arrived in Tehran. Last month, Trump said, “If you hear what’s coming out of the Voice of America, it’s disgusting.” “The things they say are disgusting toward our country. Imam proved U.S. knee can be forced off the neck of the oppressed: Ghalibaf And Michael Pack would get in and do a great job,” he added. According to The New York Times, Trump has pri- POLITICAL TEHRAN — New Iranian Parliament shooting starts.” vately referred to the Voice of America as the “Voice of deskSpeaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf Tehran has condemned the U.S. government’s brutal the Soviet Union.” says Imam Khomeini proved to the world that the United crackdown on protesters, urging Washington to let the , the U.S. special representative for Iran, has States’ knee can be forced off the neck of the oppressed. American people breathe. strongly criticized the performance of Voice of America’s “57 years ago, Iranian people together with their Imam “Stop violence against your people and let them breathe,” Persian service which he said sounds more like the “Voice shouted that ‘we cannot breathe as long as Iran is backyard Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said during of the mullahs” than the “Voice of America.” to the arrogant’,” Ghalibaf tweeted on Thursday. a press conference on Monday. In a note published by The New York Post on May 27, “Imam Khomeini showed to the world that the “The world has heard your outcry over the state oppres- Hook wrote that VOA Persian “needs to do a better job criminal America’s knee can be forced off the neck of sion. The world is standing with you,” he said. of countering Iranian disinformation and propaganda.” the oppressed,” he wrote, hinting at the killing of an He also censured the U.S. government for its destructive He said he was receiving regular complaints about VOA’s African-American man by U.S. police. domestic and foreign policies, adding, “The American re- Persian service. “Iranian viewers say its American taxpayer The parliament speaker added that Imam Khomeini gime is pursuing violence and bullying at home and abroad. funded programming often sounds more like the ‘Voice delivered such hard slap on their face that they forgot all We are greatly sad to see, along with the people across the of the mullahs’ than the ‘Voice of America’,” he added. about occupation, coup and looting. world, the violence the U.S. police have recently unfolded.” Hook said that addressing such complaints was a pri- Protests erupted in various cities across the United States “We deeply regret to see the American people, who ority for the Trump administration and urged VOA to give after a video went viral which showed brutal treatment the officers no reason to be afraid. Floyd’s death has reignited seek respect and no more violence, are suppressed and access to “independent and truthful reporting.” of George Floyd under the knee of a U.S. police officer conversations over racial bias and police brutality in the U.S. met with outmost violence,” Mousavi said. This is while many observers consider Voice of America’s before his death. On May 29, U.S. President Donald Trump described the More than 10,000 people have been arrested since Persian service to be a form of propaganda tool, aiming to Floyd’s last words were “I cannot breathe”. protesters as “thugs”. the protests began in the United States, according to an sow discord and dissatisfaction among the Iranian public as A friend of Floyd’s said he did not resist arrest and gave In a tweet, he also said, “When the looting starts, the Associated Press tally. part of Washington’s decades-long policy of overthrowing the Islamic Republic. In what appeared like an order, Hook urged the network to specially focus on “human rights in Iran, corruption among Rome-Tehran relations thriving, Italian ambassador the Iranian regime and analysis that counters propaganda rather than propagating it.” He then went on to threaten the network with closure says on Republic Day if it does not follow the order. POLITICAL TEHRAN — Italian niversary of Italy’s Republic Day could not Reaffirming Italy’s commitment to “If it can’t meet these standards — and soon — Congress deskAmbassador to Tehran take place in the Iranian capital, due to the further enhance bilateral relations, Per- should consider ending its funding and shutting down Giuseppe Perrone has said the relations coronavirus pandemic. rone mentioned some flagship projects VOA Persian as a fiduciary duty to American taxpayers,” between Italy and Iran are thriving in all areas. Due to the COVID-19 emergency, this undertaken by the embassy in the past he concluded. “The relations between Italy and Iran today year the traditional reception hosted in the few months such as “Urban Art Unites”, are thriving in all areas,” Perrone said in a gardens of the Italian Ambassador’s Resi- which brings together Italian and Iranian vide message to Italian expatriates in Iran dence in Farmanieh could not take place, street artists to jointly create artworks to published on the embassy’s social media the ambassador remarked. be exhibited on the exterior walls of the Iranian students rally channels. In the video message, the Ambassador, Ambassador’s Residence; “Spotlight on in solidarity with African He said Italy has been, and still is, one underlining that Italy and Iran were both Italian Cinema”, a week long film event of main commercial and economic partners heavily affected by the pandemic, expressed in Tehran, Kish and Shiraz in partnership Americans of Iran while cultural, artistic and scientific confidence that the two countries, thanks to with Art and Experience Cinema which was relations are growing stronger than ever. the resilience and spirit of sacrifice of their temporarily suspended due to the corona- 1 Since the heart-wrenching murder, protests have He also announced that the traditional people, will effectively overcome this chal- virus outbreak but due to resume as soon been held in hundreds of U.S. cities and National Guard reception on the occasion of the 74th an- lenge and come out of it stronger. as health conditions allow. troops have been deployed in at least 23 states to handle the protests. Thousands of people have also rallied in different cities across the world in solidarity with anti-racism protests Russia defends Iran satellite launch against U.S. opposition in the U.S. nuclear weapons. more troops, long-range bombers and an aircraft car- “Iran has never possessed nuclear weapons, nor rier to the in response to what it called does it possess these weapons now, nor, we expect, a growing threat of Iranian attacks on U.S. interests will it ever possess them in the future,” Nebenzia said in the region. in a letter to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and The satellite launch was a first for the IRGC. After its the Security Council circulated Thursday. announcement, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote Since the Iran nuclear deal was adopted in 2015, on , without citing any specific incident, “I have he said, “Iran has been the most verified state by instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and the International Atomic Energy Agency” and “it is destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass an established fact that Iran does not possess, nor our ships at sea.” develop, nor test or use ballistic missiles designed Both Nebenzia and Craft called on the UN to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.” secretary-general to reflect their letters in his The Russian ambassador was responding to a letter report on implementation of the 2015 Security Russia is defending Iran’s right to launch a satellite, from U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft to the council pres- Council resolution, which is due by June 23. The dismissing U.S. claims that Tehran was defying the UN ident last month saying that “space launch vehicles Security Council has scheduled an open briefing resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear deal between incorporate technologies that are virtually identical to on the resolution for June 30 followed by closed Iran and the 5+1 nations - Russia, China, U.S., France, and interchangeable with those used in ballistic missiles consultations. Britain and Germany - by sending it into space. designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.” A UN arms embargo against Iran is set to expire in Demonstrators from Australia to Europe have identified The U.S. officially withdrew from the agreement “We once again urge the international community October and the United States circulated a draft UN with the cause of the U.S. protests and urged their own in May 2018. to hold Iran accountable for its actions,” she wrote. resolution that would indefinitely extend it to a small governments to stand up to racism and police violence. According to the Associated Press, Russia’s UN am- “Iran’s further development of ballistic missile tech- number of council members in late April. The European Union said it was “shocked and appalled” bassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said that “the ongoing nology contributes to regional tension and poses a Nebenzia has said Moscow will oppose any U.S. by the death of Floyd in police custody, calling it “an abuse attempts of the United States side to deprive Iran of the threat to international peace and security.” attempts to extend the arms embargo and reimpose of power” and warning against further excessive use of force. right to reap the benefits of peaceful space technology Craft urged the Security Council to strengthen ex- UN sanctions on Iran. He also dismissed as “ridiculous” “Like the people of the United States, we are shocked under false pretexts are a cause for serious concern isting sanctions on Iran to address the threat and to the possibility of the Trump administration possibly and appalled by the death of George Floyd ... all societies and profound regret.” consider re-imposing “binding restrictions” against seeking to use the “snap back” provision in the 2015 must remain vigilant against the excessive use of force,” He dismissed as “misleading” U.S. accusations that its repeated missile and satellite launches. council resolution, which would restore all UN sanctions Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, told reporters. the April 22 satellite launch carried out by Iran’s Islamic Tensions between Iran and the U.S. have escalated against Iran that had been lifted or eased under the The Pope has also issued a call for racism not to be ignored. Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) went against the 2015 since the Trump administration withdrew from the terms of the agreement if the nuclear deal is violated. “We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism,” he resolution, which calls on Iran not to undertake any 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 and re-imposed crippling Nebenzia said the U.S. pulled out of the agreement said. But he also condemned the violence: “Nothing is ballistic missile-related activities capable of delivering U.S. sanctions. A year ago, the U.S. sent thousands and “they have no right” to use any of its provisions. gained by violence and so much is lost.” I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY JUNE 6, 2020

Iranian cargo ship sinks Iran inks 2-year agreement for off Iraqi coast

ECONOMY TEHRAN — An Iranian cargo ship named deskBehbahan sank off the Iraqi coast on Thursday exporting electricity to Iraq night, Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) published on its website on Friday quoting a PMO official as saying. 1 During the meeting with Hantoush, Ardakanian also held talks with Iraqi which was also attended by officials from the Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, after two sides’ electricity sectors, the Iraqi minister which the Prime Minister’s office released expressed gratitude for Iran’s energy exports a statement saying that in his meeting with and cooperation in reconstructing the country’s Ardakanian, al-Kadhimi stressed Baghdad’s electricity sector. willingness to develop the best of relations Mentioning his country’s electricity dues to with its neighbors. Iran, Hantoush noted that the issue is currently The two sides exchanged views on coop- being discussed and under consideration by eration opportunities in the energy sector the country’s finance ministry. and boosting bilateral ties between the two The official put his country’s electricity neighboring states, according to the statement. imports from Iran at 1200 megawatts (MW) Kadhimi also underlined the need for max- and expressed hope that the figure wouldn’t imum efforts to resolve complicated problems decline during the summer peak consump- gripping the region. tion period. Iraq and Iran share a 1,400-kilometer-long According to Ardakanian, with the coordi- border. Except for gas and power, Iraq depends on Iran for supplying almost everything from Nourollah As’adi, the director general of Iran’s Bushehr Province’ nation of the Iranian embassy in Iraq, half of food, fruits, and vegetables to machinery and Ports and Maritime Department, said, “The ship, which had left the country’s electricity due payments worth home appliances. [Iran’s southwestern port] Khorramshahr on Tuesday transporting $400 million was received during the Energy Iranian energy accounts for between 30 and ceramic and constructional materials to Iraq’s Umm Qasr Port, Minister’s trip. 40 percent of the electricity consumed in Iraq. sank last night in the Khor Abdullah maritime canal between In the meeting, the two sides reviewed pre- Over the past months, Washington has Iraq and Kuwait.” vious agreements and discussed a three-year of energy and electricity. been pressing Baghdad to stop buying nat- Nader Pasandeh, the PMO director for marine safety, told plan for reconstructing the Iraqi electricity support for Iraq in all areas. As IRNA reported, during the meeting, ural gas and electricity from Tehran as part IRNA on Friday that of the seven crew members of Behbahan, industry by the Iranian private sector. Developing bilateral cooperation between the Iraqi president stressed the need for joint of its “maximum pressure” campaign aimed four members have been rescued, one member has died, and Iraqi president calls for expan- Tehran and Baghdad in the field of electricity, coordination and the development of bilateral at choking off Iran’s revenue. two members are missing, one of them is Iranian and the other sion of ties synchronizing the two countries’ power grids, cooperation, especially in the electricity and Last month, Iraq’s former electricity min- one is Indian. During his one-day visit to Iraq, Ardakanian cooperating in the field of training, and devel- water sectors, in line with the progress and ister Luay al-Khateeb said Iran will remain Search operation is currently underway to rescue the remain- also met and held talks with Iraqi President oping power networks were of the main topics prosperity of the two neighboring nations. a key source of energy to the Arab country ing crew, he added. Barham Salih in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, of discussion between the officials. in which the two sides exchanged views on Ardakanian for his part stressed Iran’s Iraq willing to expand all-out re- for years to come until suitable alternatives broadening bilateral ties especially in the field readiness for continuous cooperation and lations with neighbors materialize. Iran-Turkey main trade gate to reopen this week Iran, Serbia discuss expansion GSI carries out exploration operations ECONOMY TEHRAN — The main trade gate between Iran deskand Turkey, which has been closed for three of transport ties on 150,000 sq.km in a year months due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be reopened this week. Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said that Ankara will order a reopening of the Gurbulak border gate, known on the Iranian side of the border as Bazargan, to help boost trade between the two neighbors, Press TV reported. The long-awaited measure comes more than a week after Iranian and Turkish presidents discussed the reopening of air and land borders between the two countries now that the pandemic has slowed down. Iran sees trade with Turkey as key in efforts to confront the U.S. sanctions that have sought to undermine Tehran’s oil exports. Petrochemical products account for a major share of Iran’s exports to Turkey although the U.S. bans have made it difficult to settle payments between businesses in the two countries. Turkey also relies on Iran as a major market for its goods, including industrial machinery and garment, while it also sends to Iran some sizable shipments of crops and fruits that are not cultivated in the country. As announced last week by the spokesman of the Islamic Republic ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iranian tourism, mine and construction fields. ECONOMY TEHRAN – Deputy his organization has managed to identify of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), Iran and Turkey exchanged deskAmbassador to Belgrade Iranian ambassador stressed the need deskhead of Geological over 760 new promising mineral zones 6,300 wagons of commodities via railway during a 70-day period Rashid Hassanpour met with Serbian Minister for facilitating visa issuance and launching Survey and Mineral Explorations of Iran across the country. from the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20). of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure direct flight between Tehran and Belgrade (GSI) says the organization has carried out “With the new discoveries, the total According to Rouhollah Latifi, Iran’s exports to Turkey via Zorana Z. Mihajlovic on Thursday and aiming to exchange tourists. exploration operations on 150,000 square area of IMIDRO’s exploration zones has railway stood at 3,072 wagons of goods and its imports from the discussed expansion of cooperation in air Earlier, Iranian President kilometers of land in the previous Iranian reached 650,000 square kilometers,” neighboring country reached 3,228 wagons during the mentioned and road transportation. in a phone call with his Serbian counterpart calendar year 1398 (ended on March 19). Gharibpour had said. period of time. As reported by IRNA, Mihajlovic also Aleksandar Vucic underlined Iran’s readiness “Exploration operations on 60 potential Earlier last month, Dorri had said that underlined the capacity for facilitating for transferring anti-COVID experiences to areas began last year, of which 30 areas GSI was ready to carry out exploration cooperation between Iranian and Serbian Serbia, saying the U.S. cruel sanctions will were cleared and the operations for the rest projects for the countries in the region. construction companies. not disturb economic ties between the two will be carried out this year,” Mohammad- “Today, with 60 years of experience The official also expressed hope that the countries. Baqer Dorri told IRNA on Wednesday. and with access to modern equipment and two countries’ presidents would meet in the Referring to Iran’s success and planning Back in April, the Iranian Mines and facilities, GSI is able to carry out mineral near future. in fighting coronavirus such as producing Mining Industries Development and exploration activities for the countries in She also praised Iran’s principled position diagnostics test kits by Iranian knowledge- Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) the region,” the official said. with regard to defending Serbian territorial based companies, President Rouhani said Iran announced that mining exploration According to Dorri, Iran is currently integrity and national sovereignty. is ready to share experiences and to maintain operations were underway in 652,061 extracting 68 types of minerals and GSI She described Iran-Serbia air scientific and technology cooperation with square kilometers of land across the country. experts are ready to do related exploration transportation agreement as an important Serbia. According to Mohammad Aghajanlou, activities in the neighboring countries. factor in developing tourism, and cooperation Meanwhile, Vucic stressed that his country the deputy manager of the mining industries Earlier, GSI Head Alireza Shahidi had in agricultural and economic fields. is against imposing sanctions and pressure development at IMIDRO, the mentioned said that the organization carried out Hassanpour, for his part, underlined the on Iran. exploration operations were being exploration operations for Tajikistan, The official further said, “Turkey has closed Bazargan border recent phone call between Iranian and Serbian We should take advantage of the existing conducted by a consortium of IMIDRO Sudan, Nigeria, , Venezuela and with Iran since February 20, so the only way for transportation presidents and expressed Iran’s readiness for opportunities for developing cooperation in and the country’s major mining companies. Ecuador. of goods is via railway, and we hope that the air path and land reinforcing cooperation in agriculture, food trade, scientific, cultural, technology, tourism Back in March, IMIDRO Head Iran is among the top countries in the borders between the two countries will be reopened following industry, education, information technology, and academic fields, he added. Khodadad Gharibpour announced that region in terms of the mining industry. a telephone conversation between the presidents of Iran and Turkey in the coming days.” IRICA Head Mehdi Mir-Ashrafi held a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Riza Tuna Turagay, via video conference on May 5, to discuss reopening of trade borders with the implementation Annual minerals export of $10.5b projected of health and safety protocols. 1 In terms of the number of projects, Kerman Province the representatives of the country’s mining sector. Readiness to exchange health protocols for reopening trade with 26 projects and in terms of the volume of investment, Development of cooperation in the fields of exploration, borders, importing goods from Sarisu trans-boundary market, Khuzestan Province with nearly 360 trillion rials (about $8.57 extraction and processing of minerals, utilization of capacities, implementation of the third phase of e-Tir electronic project in billion) have the largest share of the said projects in the coun- experiences and abilities of each sector, and attracting more all customs offices of the two countries, online exchange of infor- try, Zarandi said. investment from the country’s private sector and cooperatives mation and X-ray in shared borders were among the important He noted that the said projects, which are characterized by in this industry were reported to be some of the main goals of topics of discussion in the said meeting. factors like completing the industry’s value chain, reducing the signed agreement. Mir-Ashrafi urged Turagay to take all the necessary measures imports, being export-oriented, using technology, and creating Also, the implementation of exploration projects by Geological to ensure the reopening of the two countries’ borders since the jobs, have been selected as national projects. Survey and Mineral Explorations of Iran and the formation Turkish borders with its other neighbors are already open. Currently, there are 12,500 projects with physical progress of of a joint committee whose task is to review the proposed ex- “The World Trade Organization (WTO) stated that trade borders over 60 percent across the country, of which 6,000 are related ploration projects were also among the important subjects between countries should not be closed under any circumstances, to leading and prioritized industries, according to the official. mentioned in the MOU. but due to the coronavirus outbreak the two countries’ largest In the current Iranian calendar year which has been named Back in April, Esmaili had said that the Industry, Mining border, Bazargan, has been closed and we expect the two sides the year of “Surge in Production” by the Leader of the Islamic and Trade Ministry has provisioned operational targets in the to take necessary measures to reopen the borders in accordance Revolution of Iran Seyed , the government is mining sector’s three major areas of exploration, extraction with health protocols”, he stressed. determined to support domestic production and promote the Iran’s investment in this sector increased last year despite and processing, for the current year. Turgay for his part expressed hope that the two countries’ country’s none-oil exports. tough U.S. sanctions and also spread of the coronavirus in the “In the mining industry sector, we have targeted a 25-per- borders will be open soon and the trade between the two sides The “Persistent Production-Effective Employment-Sus- country, the official noted. cent increase in the production of mineral products, and in is going to get back to normal soon. tainable Exports” program has been defined by the Industry, He further underscored that most mining and mineral the exploration sector, we will add about 20 percent to the “We are constantly pursuing the reopening of the borders, Mining, and Trade Ministry in line with the government’s new projects were put into operation but the official inauguration previous reserves”, the official said. however, the ministries of health and interior should also approve, strategies for developing the country’s infrastructure in order of some of these mining projects was postponed due to the The mining sector accounted for 25 percent of the country’s but we will do our best,” Turgay said. to realize the “Surge in Production” motto. coronavirus pandemic. non-oil revenues in the past Iranian calendar year, he said. In late February, Turkey closed its border with Iran as a pre- Annual investment making in mining sector The official further announced that mining and mineral The mining sector accounted for 25 percent of the country’s ventative measure against the deadly coronavirus outbreak. up 60% project worth $2.2 billion would be inaugurated in the current non-oil revenues in the past Iranian calendar year (ended on On May 1, the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPO) The spokesman of Iranian Mines and Mining Industries year, which is named the year of “Surge in Production.” March 19). hosted a meeting to explore new health and transportation pro- Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) has Last week, Iranian Industry, Mining and Trade Ministry IMIDRO plans to put projects worth $2.276 billion into tocols for trade with Turkey. announced that investment making in the country’s mining signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) operation during the current year. According to TPO office of public relations, the meeting was sector has increased 60 percent in the past Iranian calendar with Geological Survey and Mineral Explorations of Iran (GSI) According to Gharibpour, IMIDRO and its subsidiaries are attended by the organization’s head, Hamid Zadboum, along year (ended on March 19). and IMIDRO for expansion of the country’s mining sector. going to implement 31 projects in a variety of fields including with representatives of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, In an interview conducted by IRNA on Wednesday, Mo- The MOU was signed by Iran’s Deputy Industry Mining, and steel, copper, gold, antimony, nepheline syenite, phosphate Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), Iran-Turkey Joint Economic hammad Sepehr put the investment made in mining and min- Trade Minister Darioush Esmaili, GSI Head Alireza Shahidi and also mining infrastructure in the current year which is Committee, as well as the ministries of health; transport and eral sector last year at $3.2 billion, showing a considerable 60 and IMIDRO Head Khodadad Gharibpour during a meeting named the year of “Surge in Production” by the Leader of the urban development; and foreign affairs. percent growth as compared to a year earlier. between the acting minister of industry, mining and trade and Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JUNE 6, 2020 ENERGY 5

Rouhani inaugurates major water, OPEC+ to meet today on extending cuts, pushing electricity projects in 2 provinces for compliance OPEC and its allies led by Russia will meet today to discuss extending record oil production cuts and to approve a new ENERGY TEHRAN — Iranian inaugurate 250 major water and electricity desk approach that aims to force laggards such as Iraq and Nigeria President Hassan projects worth 500 trillion rials (about to comply better with the existing curbs. Rouhani, on Thursday, inaugurated $11.9 billion) during the current Iranian The producers known as OPEC+ previously agreed to cut eight electricity and water projects in calendar year (ends on March 20, 2021). supply by 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) during May and the southern province Bushehr and According to Ardakanian, in the water June to prop up prices which collapsed due to the coronavirus northwestern West Azarbaijan province sector, the mentioned projects include nine crisis. Cuts have been due to taper to 7.7 million bpd from via video conference. major dams, implementation of modern July to December. The projects included the first steam irrigation systems in 54,000 hectares of According to Reuters, two OPEC+ sources said unit of the Assaluyeh combined cycle land, 20 water, and wastewater treatment and Russia had agreed to extend the deeper cuts until the power plant in Bushehr and the Oshnavieh plants and supplying drinkable water end of July but said Riyadh was also pushing to extend them Dam in West Azarbaijan, as well as some through pipeline to more than 1400 rural until the end of August. development projects to improve and areas across the country. Benchmark Brent crude, which slumped below $20 a optimize the power distribution networks According to the A-B-Iran scheme barrel in April, was up about 3 percent on Friday to trade in both provinces. [the acronyms A and B stand for water, at a three-month high above $41. Prices had slipped from As reported, the steam unit of the electricity in Persian], Energy Ministry recent highs earlier in the week on uncertainty about when Assaluyeh combined cycle power plant plans to inaugurate some water, electricity OPEC+ would meet. which was implemented with 22.4 trillion projects across the country every week. Today’s video conferences would start with talks between rials (over $533 million) of investment is Back in May, Ardakanian inaugurated members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting going to create direct jobs for 800 people. six electricity projects in Markazi Province Countries at 1200 GMT and would be followed by a gathering The implementation of this unit is going in central Iran through video conference. of the OPEC+ group at 1400 GMT, two OPEC+ sources said. to increase the efficiency of the power plant The mentioned projects were Three OPEC sources said an extension to cuts was contingent up to 50 percent from its current 33 percent. inaugurated in the third week of the on high compliance. They said countries that produced above Over 2.44 trillion rials (about $58 implementation of “A-B-Iran” program. quota in May and June must promise to adhere to targets million) has also been invested in the During the 20 weeks of the mentioned and agree to compensate for any earlier overproduction by projects inaugurated in the mentioned Earlier this year, Iran’s Energy Minister Oshnavieh Dam project. program in the previous year, the minister cutting more in July, August and September. provinces; the projects will create direct Reza Ardakanian said following a program A total 26.3 trillion rials (over $626 made 31 trips to various provinces for The energy minister of the United Arab Emirates, Suhail employment for 1,687 people. called “A-B-Iran”, the ministry is going to million) has been invested in the eight inaugurating energy projects. Al Mazrouei, called for improved compliance in a letter sent to OPEC+ and seen by Reuters. 821MW to be added to Iran’s renewable power capacity Oil traders ask why U.S. ENERGY TEHRAN – Some 821 small-scale solar power plants are also inventory math isn’t deskmegawatts (MW) are under construction, which is an indication going to be added to Iran’s renewable power of the growing popularity of such plants in adding up generation capacity which currently stands the country. Oil traders and analysts scrutinizing U.S. inventory data for at 821 MW, IRNA reported. The volume of public investments in signs of a market recovery are being confronted by an odd As reported, the country’s renewable renewable power plants has exceeded 143 situation: the math just doesn’t add up. electricity generation capacity reached 820 trillion rials (over $3.4 billion) by May 20. As per Bloomberg, various government data sets including MW at the end of the second month of the Over 44 percent of Iran’s power plants stockpiles, production, imports and exports are signaling current Iranian calendar year (May 20). are solar farms, while 34 percent are wind that current official figures on at least some supplies are Renewable power plants across Iran farms and 12 percent are hydroelectric power excessive. While it’s unclear where exactly the discrepancy have managed to produce 4.739 billion plants and the rest are other types. lies, the difference could potentially signal a more bullish kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity preventing Renewables, including hydropower, outlook for crude prices as they claw their way back after the production of 3.232 million tons of account for just seven percent of the country’s diving below zero in April. greenhouse gases. total energy generation, versus natural gas’ The excess is showing up in the U.S. Energy Information Using renewable sources has also resulted 90 percent share. Administration’s so-called crude supply adjustment factor in a 444 million kWh reduction in power Overall, in the next five years, Iran is -- the difference between stockpile numbers and those implied grid losses. aiming for a 5,000 MW increase in renewable by production, refinery demand, imports and exports. That The number of installed renewable power capacity to meet growing domestic demand has averaged negative 980,000 barrels daily over the past plants across Iran reached 131 by May 20, and and expand its presence in the regional four weeks -- the largest in records going back to 2001, and 79 power plants are also under construction. electricity market. equivalent to more than 27 million barrels. The total capacity of rooftop PV systems According to Iran’s Renewable Energy The adjustment factor tends to swing back and forth, de- installed in the country has also reached and Energy Efficiency Organization (known used by households or small industries is also technology with open arms and investors pending on irregularities in various surveys the EIA pulls from 3,936 kW by the mentioned date. as SATBA), the number of small scale solar increasing noticeably as Iranian households also seem eager for more contribution in for its reports. For these weekly reports, the EIA is not able According to IRNA, more than 1000 power plants across the country which are and small industries are embracing the new this area. to collect domestic crude oil production, instead estimating it from its short-term energy outlook model. Some investors lay the blame for the current discrepancy on U.S. oil production numbers. While daily output fell 700,000 barrels to 11.2 million in May, they believe oil’s plunge into Annual petchem output to rise 35% by Mar. 2021 negative territory in April should have led to a steeper decline. ENERGY TEHRAN — Iran’s annual petrochem- He also emphasized moving in the way of attracting deskical production will increase 35 percent more investors to this industry. in the current Iranian calendar year (ends on March 20, The official further mentioned the production of pet- 2021), according to the managing director of National rochemical products in the past Iranian calendar year Petrochemical Company (NPC). (ended on March 19) and said, “Last year was a successful Making the remarks on Wednesday on the sidelines of year in terms of petrochemical production, there was no his visit to the different units of one of the petrochemical problem in this due, and the projected annual output complexes in the country, Behzad Mohammadi said that was achieved.” the operation of 16 petrochemical projects in the current According to Mohammadi, the petrochemical industry is year will increase the production capacity of the petrochem- not like the oil industry and it is practically unsanctionable. ical industry by 35 percent, Mehr news agency reported. “For oil, the ways of selling and the costumers are specific He pointed to the plan of increasing the production and limited but that is not the case with petrochemicals. capacity of propylene in the smartening process of the There are hundreds of holdings which are eager for buying petrochemical industry and put the current production our diverse petrochemical products”, the official has told capacity of propylene in the country at more than 950,000 the Tehran Times in a press conference on the sidelines of tons. the 24th Iran International, Oil, Gas, Refining and Petro- “This is a high frequency data series, and so there’s often Presently, the country is facing a shortage of propylene chemical Exhibition (Iran Oil Show 2019). some smoothening that results from it,” said John Kilduff, and for this reason, planning has been made for increas- Propylene is a colorless fuel gas with a naturally pun- “However, we are holding meetings with our customers a partner at Again Capital, who added the discrepancy may ing production capacity of propylene in petrochemical gent smell. Although similar to propane, it has a double to explore various aspects of possible impacts of the U.S. have to do with production figures. “When the numbers are industry, he stated. bond which gives it a combustion advantage i.e. it burns sanctions on our trade”, he added. off, you just have to make sure you’re checking everything “We have targeted production of 12 strategic products hotter. This fuel gas is extremely flammable and non-tox- As the second-biggest source of revenue for Iran, the else independently, like other ways to track import and ex- from propylene in the current year, based on which the ic. Propylene is obtained during the refining of gasoline. petrochemical industry is one of the most important pillars ports numbers.” demand of downstream industries will be met” he added. Projects worth over $11b to be inaugurated of the country’s resilient economy and one of the main Just last month, consultancy IHS Markit said that U.S. Iran has been facing a shortage of propylene for years. The deputy oil minister further pointed out that 16 suppliers of foreign currency especially the euro for the oil producers are in the process of curtailing 1.75 million The country’s propylene production in the Iranian calendar petrochemical projects, valued at over $11 billion, will be country. barrels a day of existing output by early June due to operat- year 1404 (March 2025-March 2026) will be four percent put into operation in the current year. The industry became more significant since the re-im- ing cash losses, lack of demand and storage capacity and an of its total petrochemical production. Elsewhere in his remarks, he called the current year position of U.S. sanctions on the country’s oil industry and unwillingness to sell resources at low prices. Some of that It is while this figure will be 18 percent worldwide, 21 as a prosperous and golden year for Iran’s petrochemical since then, the government has been taking serious measures lower production is already becoming evident, according to percent in China, 17 percent in the United States, and 16 industry and added, “according to the scheduled program, to expand the industry and move toward self-sufficiency. information disclosed in various company announcements percent in Saudi Arabia. a number of 16 petrochemical projects will be inaugurated Cooperating with capable domestic knowledge-based and state data. Currently, with the production of 985,000 tons of pro- by yearend but it is likely that three to four of these projects companies and startups is one of the very fruitful steps that While output may be a factor, it’s unlikely the full answer. pylene by Iranian refineries and petrochemical plants, would be put into operation with delay due to the outbreak the oil ministry has taken in its efforts to reach complete According to the EIA’s Robert Merriam, the accuracy of its there is a shortage of 175,000 tons of this product in the of coronavirus pandemic.” independence from the foreign resources for meeting its production modeling compared to subsequent monthly data country, Shana has reported. The official had said last week that making the pet- equipment needs. has been good, often within 1-2 percent in most months. In the calendar year of 1404, the amount of propylene rochemical industry smart is the only way for a stable In this regard, the country’s Petrochemical Research and Since prices started tumbling in March following the col- production will reach 1.95 million tons, while Iran will be presence in the global markets. Technology Company (PRTC) has played a very significant lapse of the OPEC+ deal to cut output, the EIA’s weekly data facing an annual shortage of about 700,000 tons of the item. Making the remarks in an interview conducted by Shana, role in collaborating with such companies for working on has recorded a production decline of 1.9 million barrels a In order to tackle this projected shortage, the first step Mohammadi reiterated, “In the petrochemical sector we innovative research projects for producing various equip- day, which he said was substantial compared with historical is to launch projects with methanol and propylene output. should have a global view.” ment and base-products needed in the industry. numbers. And while he’s also seen a wide range of analyst estimates on current production volumes, it’s not clear whether those are comprehensive or extrapolated. “The adjustment reflects the aggregate uncertainty around each of the supply and disposition elements, and the crude Solar, wind, storage link arms in push for “majority renewables” by 2030 production estimate certainly remains but one potential fac- The solar, wind, energy storage, and But the two industries have grown board chair, speaking this week at the 2030, complemented by 125 gigawatts of tor,” Merriam, the director of the Office of Energy Production, hydropower industries announced a increasingly blended, particularly among first Cleanpower event, held virtually energy storage. Traditional hydropower Conversion, and Delivery at the EIA, said. new era of cooperation between their development companies. Utility-scale because of the ongoing pandemic. “But would tick up to 9 percent of generation. He said that there have also some large weekly swings in sectors, intending to bring renewables solar now competes strongly in many of we didn’t come to the industry to wall The industry groups said the efforts reported inventory levels and refinery runs, so all the elements to constitute a majority of electricity the wind industry’s strongest markets, ourselves off and fight with each other. would build to over 1 million jobs by 2030, within the crude data are moving around far more than they generation sources by 2030. from Texas to the Midwest. Last year We came to this industry to fight against with the majority working in solar. usually do, adding that “the timing of reporting those could As per greentechmedia.com, while the the American Wind Energy Association climate change.” AWEA, along with the Solar Energy also be driving the adjustment lately, as they always do.” American solar and wind industries have (AWEA) announced it would transform Put together, solar and wind account Industries Association (SEIA), the Energy A year ago, the crude adjustment factor caught the attention long fought for many of the same policies its flagship annual Windpower conference for 10 percent of electricity generation in Storage Association and the National of energy enthusiasts when the figure was more than 800,000 on the national stage, the two markets are and exhibition to a “Cleanpower” event the United States. Add in hydro and the Hydropower Association, said the groups barrels a day for four weeks, implying the reverse -- that largely supported by different mechanisms designed to incorporate solar and storage. figure jumps to 17 percent. Under this would work together on several “advocacy something in the data was undercounted. The EIA, at the time, at the federal level, and a policy victory “What’s good for wind is not always week’s goal announced by the industries’ principles” including achieving carbon had suspected that besides understating oil production, one for one industry has not always meant a good for solar,” said Chris Brown, leading trade groups, wind and solar would reductions, building a more resilient grid of the reasons was plant condensate that was associated with victory for the other. president of Vestas Americas and AWEA each reach 20 percent of generation by and advancing fair market competition. natural gas output, but blended into the crude oil stream. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 ADVERTISEMENTS JUNE 6, 2020 Modern Stadium of First Announcement

Khouzestan Steel Company Martyrs of Khuzestan IN THE NAME OF GOD INVITATION TO INTERNATIONAL TENDER No. :417865 Football Club (KSC) KHOUZESTAN STEEL COMPANY INTENDS TO PURCHASE 12000 MT FERRO SILICO MANGANESE WITH THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATIONS: Si 16 % Min Mn 65 % Min S 0.03 % Max C 2.0 % Max P 0.25 % Max 20-60 mm Min 90 % Size Of Pieces <20 mm Max 10 % Packing Bulk in Container october ــــــــ september ــــــ Delivery Date Auqust 2019 (4000 MT) (4000 MT) (4000 MT) INTRESTED BIDDERS MAY OBTAIN SET OF DOCUMENTS, CONTAINING THE RELEVANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS BY SUBMISSION OF A WRITTEN APLICATION AND PAYMENT OF A NON-REFUNDABLE FEE OF: EUR 50 "FIFTY EURO" TO THE ONE OF BELOW ACCOUNT No.: 1) ACCOUNT No.0100013543943 AT "EXPORT DEVELOPMENT BANK OF IRAN AHVAZ CENTERAL BRANCH" 2) ACCOUNT No.1902-750-4019644-1 AT "EGHTESAD NOVIN BANK- OF IRAN AHVAZ SHARIATI BRANCH" OR Rials 5,000,000,"FIVE MILION RIALS" TO THE ONE OF BELOW ACCOUNT No.: 1) ACCOUNT No.0102513186002 AT "MELLI BANK OF IRAN AHVAZ KSC BRANCH" 2) ACCOUNT No.0100304453001 AT "SADERAT BANK OF IRAN AHVAZ KSC BRANCH" AND PRESENT THE PAYMENT RECEIPT TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: RAW MATERIAL & ENERGY PURCHASING DEPARTMENT KHOUZESTAN STEEL COMPANY (KSC) KM 10 AHWAZ – BANDAR IMAM KHOMEINI ROAD P.O.BOX: 1378 POST CODE: 61397-31398 AHWAZ– IRAN . Note1: ALL BIDS MUST BE INFORMED US WHICH PARTICIPATE IN OUR TENDER UP TO 10thJune, 2020. WHEN YOUR COMPANY IS CONFIRMED AND THE TENDER DOCUMENT IS SENT TO YOU, YOU MUST BE DELIVERED TO THE AFORESAID ADDRESS ON OR BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE 22thJune,2020.THE OPENING DATE OF ENVELOPES WILL BE AT 10 AM ON THE 23thJune,2020 IN THE BUYER'S CONFERENCE ROOM LOCATED AT THE HEAD OFFICE OF KSC AHWAZ-IRAN AND THE BIDDERS OR THEIR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES CAN ATTEND THE MEETING OF THE TENDER. Note 2: FOR MORE INFORMTION PLEASE CONTACT WITH FOLLOWING DETAILS:

Tel No. : +98 61 32908115 / 32136159 Fax No. : +98 61 32908115 Mr.M.FARZINEJAD EMAIL : m.farzinejad @ksc.ir OR VISIT:http://WWW.KSC.IR

Advertising Dept Tel: 021 - 430 51 430 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JUNE 6, 2020 ANALYSIS 7

James Mattis denounces Trump is uniting Trump, describes him as a threat to the constitution Americans — against him James Mattis, the esteemed Marine general who resigned as secretary of defense in December 2018 to protest Donald Trump’s Syria policy, has, ever since, kept studiously silent about Trump’s By Eugene Robinson masks or bandannas. Some of the face coverings bore the performance as president. But he has now broken his silence, same messages as the handwritten signs some people held up: writing an extraordinary broadside in which he denounces the The first time I witnessed the use of tear gas and brutal force “Black Lives Matter.” “Stop Police Murder.” “I Can’t Breathe.” president for dividing the nation, and accuses him of ordering against lawful, peaceful protesters was in Chile during the I ran into the Rev. Rob Fisher, rector of St. John’s, who the U.S. military to violate the constitutional rights of American reign of military dictator Augusto Pinochet. The shocking said he had been given no warning that the president intend- citizens. abuse of state power we saw near the White House on Monday ed to use his church as a backdrop for photographs that are “I have watched this week’s reminded me of that place and time — and made clear the already being used in Trump campaign ads. “The only way unfolding events, angry and peril we now face. to the next step is that voices need to be heard, not tanks and appalled,” Mattis writes. “The Pinochet had seized power in 1973 in a bloody U.S.-backed guns,” Fisher said. words ‘Equal Justice Under Law’ coup. In 1988, believing himself invincible, he called for a La Voyce Reid, a social worker who lives in the Virginia are carved in the pediment of the plebiscite to give him eight more years in power. I covered suburbs, told me that “this is my first time ever coming out to United States Supreme Court. the run-up to that vote. And when those calling on Chileans a protest.” Reid, who is African American, said she grew up This is precisely what protest- to vote “no” held rallies, Pinochet’s goon squads inevitably in South Central Los Angeles and remembered the Rodney ers are rightly demanding. It found or invented some reason to disperse the crowds with King riots in 1992. She brought along her 15-year-old daughter is a wholesome and unifying overwhelming force. The worst kind of tear gas, I discovered and her 22-year-old son because she thought it was important demand—one that all of us the hard way, was some concoction the strongman had bought for them to be there, too. “Sitting at home and watching on should be able to get behind. from the apartheid government in . television just wasn’t enough.” We must not be distracted by That sort of thing doesn’t happen here in the land of the Chris Bostick, who is black, and his friend Jordan Gault, a small number of lawbreakers. free and the home of the brave. Except this week, in Lafayette who is white, both work as bartenders and are currently out The protests are defined by tens Square. The Lafayette Square atrocity moved Trump’s first defense of work. They said it was important to them to be physically of thousands of people of con- After mounted police, flash-bang explosives, rubber bullets secretary, Jim Mattis, to finally speak out. “Donald Trump present. Gault held a sign that read, “Whites are not all rac- science who are insisting that and tear gas had cleared a path for him, President Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite ists, Blacks are not all criminals, Cops are not all killers, We we live up to our values—our values as people and our values as preened and strutted to his Dear Leader photo op like a wannabe the American people — does not even pretend to try,” Mat- are all human.” a nation.” He goes on, “We must reject and hold accountable Pinochet, trailed by his wannabe junta — Defense Secretary tis wrote in a statement published by the Atlantic. “Instead Separating the protesters from Lafayette Square and the those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution.” Mark T. Esper, Attorney General William P. Barr, daughter he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of White House beyond was a line of federal officers, clad in riot In his accuse, Mattis excoriates the president for setting Ivanka Trump and Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the three years of this deliberate effort.” gear, who wore no insignia or name tags that would allow them Americans against one another. Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was, absurdly, wearing camouflage On Wednesday afternoon, as I visited the site where to be identified and held accountable for anything they did “Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does fatigues as though he were in Baghdad or Kabul, not down- demonstrators were gassed and manhandled, I wondered during the demonstration. Behind them were military-style not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend town Washington. whether Trump’s attempt at division might not be having troop carriers; behind the vehicles, a hastily erected black to try. Instead, he tries to divide us,” Mattis writes. “We are Trump stood in front of historic St. John’s Episcopal Church the opposite effect. chain-link fence. If all of that was intended to intimidate, it witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate and held aloft a Bible as though it were some new-and-im- The passionate but entirely peaceful crowd was much spectacularly failed. effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without proved gadget he was hawking in an infomercial. Trump cuts a larger than Monday’s, and I was struck by its rainbow diver- All those years ago in Chile, Pinochet thought he could use mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the ridiculous figure, so yes, we can laugh at him. But his authori- sity; African Americans may have been a plurality, but there force to intimidate citizens into submission, too. The peo- strengths inherent in our civil society. This will not be easy, tarian, call-in-the-troops response to the protests over George were also whites, Latinos and Asian Americans in substantial ple ended up booting him out of power in a plebiscite and as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow Floyd’s killing shows — as if more evidence were needed — how numbers. It wasn’t possible to observe the six-foot rule for renewing the nation’s treasured democratic traditions. Sic citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise; dangerous he is to the very idea of America. social distancing, but most of the protesters were wearing semper tyrannis. and to our children.” He goes on to contrast the American ethos of unity with Nazi ideology. “Instructions given by the military departments to our troops before the Normandy invasion reminded soldiers that ‘The Nazi slogan for destroying us … was “Divide and Conquer.” Persian Gulf non-cooperation: Inside the flailing PGCC Our American answer is “In Union there is Strength.”’ We must As fighting raged during the 1980-1988 Iraq-Iran ate workers - also aimed to stimulate scientific the North Field, the world’s biggest gas deposit. Analysts have suggested the severe shift in summon that unity to surmount this crisis—confident that we war, neighboring countries of the Persian Gulf and technological progress, establish scientific Because of the air, sea, and land blockade, PGCC cooperation and solidarity occurred fol- are better than our politics.” region decided it was time to organize militarily research centres, and encourage cooperation has been forced to seek out new trade lowing the rise to power by Saudi Arabia’s current Mattis’s dissatisfaction with Trump was no secret inside the and economically to ensure strength in numbers. with the private sector. routes and partners, and opened up its $74bn Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, after his Pentagon. But after his resignation, he argued publicly—and to Thirty-nine years later, the union that became With its headquarters in the Saudi capital, Hamad Port. father became king in January 2015. In tandem great criticism—that it would be inappropriate and counterpro- known as the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council Riyadh, the PGCC allowed the free movement Business between and Qatar is booming with the UAE’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin ductive for a former general, and a former Cabinet official, to (PGCC) is in tatters because of a blockade im- of citizens and capital, but restrictions on some since the siege was imposed. Over the past three Zayed, the two countries moved to dominate the criticize a sitting president. Doing so, he said, would threaten posed on one of its members, the natural gas-rich economic activities were left in place. years, Qatar has also developed stronger eco- political agenda of the Persian Gulf grouping. the apolitical nature of the military. When I interviewed him last nation of Qatar. Military cooperation nomic relations with Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan. “The organisation has been usurped by Saudi year on this subject, he said, “When you leave an administration The PGCC was fractured on June 5, 2017, The PGCC formed a joint military ground Reports have emerged that Qatar, Oman Arabia and the UAE to coerce the smaller states over clear policy differences, you need to give the people who when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates force known as the Peninsula Shield in 1984 and Kuwait may establish a free-trade zone into followership,” said Andreas Krieg, an assistant are still there as much opportunity as possible to defend the (UAE), , along with Egpyt, a non-council to rapidly deploy if any of the members were independent of the PGCC. professor at King’s College London. country. They still have the responsibility of protecting this member, severed all ties with Qatar and blocked attacked. PGCC Secretary-General al-Hajraf, Kuwait’s PGCC break-up? great big experiment of ours.” He did add, however: “There air, land, and sea routes to and from the country. In 1987, PGCC nations declared any assault former finance minister, said last week the Per- Speculation has been rife that may split is a period in which I owe my silence. It’s not eternal. It’s not Three years later, with the blockade still in full on a member state tantamount to an attack on sian Gulf crisis and the pandemic represent “a with the PGCC, though a Qatari official denied going to be forever.” force, the fate of what once represented Persian the entire group. Despite these moves, however, common concern for all countries of the council”. such a move was imminent. That period is now definitively over. Mattis reached the Gulf-Arab unity is now in question. the invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq “This matter makes it imperative for all of us “Reports claiming that Qatar is considering conclusion this past weekend that the American experiment Bringing together Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bah- in 1990 was not met with Persian Gulf troops. as the PGCC system to enhance joint action and leaving the PGCC are wholly incorrect and base- is directly threatened by the actions of the president he once rain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, the PGCC faces The West Asia pro-democracy protests that collective preparedness to deal with the post-coro- less,” Deputy Foreign Minister Lolwah al-Khater served. In his statement, Mattis makes it clear that the president’s “unprecedented” challenges - including the re- erupted in 2011, known as the Arab Spring, were navirus world with its economic, health, security, said last week. response to the police killing of George Floyd, and the ensuing percussions from the coronavirus pandemic and largely avoided in the PGCC - with the exception and labour dimensions in order to protect our “Such rumours must have originated from protests, triggered this public condemnation. the diplomatic crisis caused by the siege, Secre- of Bahrain. people and preserve their gains,” he said in a people’s despair and disappointment with a frac- “When I joined the military, some 50 years ago,” he writes, tary-General Nayef al-Hajraf said in a statement In March 2011, about 1,000 Saudi soldiers statement marking the PGCC’s 39th anniversary. tured PGCC, which used to be a source of hope “I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Never marking the bloc’s 39th anniversary last month. entered the country to protect government facil- Ostracizing Qatar and aspiration for the people of the six member did I dream that troops taking that same oath would be ordered The beginning ities at Bahrain’s request, in line with the PGCC The blockade was not the first time Qatar countries. As we are reaching the third year of the under any circumstance to violate the Constitutional rights of The PGCC was formed on May 25, 1981, in defense pact. Dozens of protesters were killed, faced internal PGCC sanction. In 2014, the UAE, illegal blockade on Qatar by Saudi Arabia, UAE their fellow citizens—much less to provide a bizarre photo op Abu Dhabi, UAE, as the bloody war between many arrested, and the uprising was put down. Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain withdrew their am- and Bahrain, there is no wonder why the people for the elected commander-in-chief, with military leadership Iraq and Iran was at its peak and the region was Economics bassadors to Qatar over concerns about Doha’s of the PGCC are doubting and questioning the standing alongside.” still reeling from the Islamic Revolution in Iran Fossil fuels are the main driver of the PGCC’s independent foreign policy. PGCC as an institution. He goes on to implicitly criticize the current secretary of two years earlier. economic engine, accounting for about 90 percent Efforts to resolve the current crisis are re- “Qatar hopes the PGCC will once again be defense, Mark Esper, and other senior officials as well. “We The goals were lofty. of government revenues. portedly continuing, with Kuwait acting as the a platform of cooperation and coordination. must reject any thinking of our cities as a ‘battlespace’ that our The PGCC’s aim was to coordinate resistance The PGCC nations are facing their worst eco- main mediator since the beginning of the crisis An effective PGCC is needed now more than uniformed military is called upon to ‘dominate.’ At home, we to outside intervention in the Persian Gulf, and nomic crisis in history amid the double shock in June 2017. ever, given the challenges facing our region,” should use our military only when requested to do so, on very a Unified Economic Agreement was signed in of plunging oil prices and the coronavirus pan- Three months after the blockade was imposed, al-Khater said. rare occasions, by state governors. Militarizing our response, November 1981 and ratified in 1982. One of its demic, the Institute of International Finance Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sa- With discussions continuing, Kuwait’s as we witnessed in Washington, D.C., sets up a conflict—a false goals was to include free trade among member (IIF) noted this week. bah told a press conference with US President Prime Minister Shaikh Sabah Al Khaled said conflict—between the military and civilian society. It erodes the states in all agricultural, animal, industrial, and Overall gross domestic product (GDP) will Donald Trump: “What is important is that we on Wednesday “hopes are bigger than before” moral ground that ensures a trusted bond between men and natural resource products of national origin. contract 4.4 percent this year, despite indications have stopped any military action.” of ending the Persian Gulf crisis. women in uniform and the society they are sworn to protect, It also sought to strengthen cooperation among the coronavirus spread has been successfully The blockading nations immediately denied “We used to move one step ahead and return and of which they themselves are a part. Keeping public order its six member states and regulate areas such contained. a military incursion had been planned. two steps backwards. But now if we move forward rests with civilian state and local leaders who best understand as economic affairs, commerce, customs and Saudi Arabia, the region’s largest economy, James M Dorsey, a senior fellow at the S a step, it is followed by another step,” Al Khaled their communities and are answerable to them. communications, education and culture, social could see its real GDP shrink 4 percent this year Rajaratnam School of International Studies, told local media. In union there is strength and health affairs, information and tourism, and and its deficit widen to 13 percent. wrote in Modern Diplomacy that some Qatari But one Western official in the Persian I have watched this week’s unfolding events, angry and ap- legislative and administrative protocols. Qatar, the world’s largest producer of lique- officials believe “gaining control of Qatari gas Gulf, quoted by the Wall Street Journal on palled. The words “Equal Justice Under Law” are carved in the The PGCC - a region with a population of fied natural gas, will also suffer from low energy reserves was a main objective of the Saudi-UAE Wednesday, was far less optimistic. pediment of the United States Supreme Court. This is precisely about 50 million people, half of those expatri- prices, but it continues to develop its share of boycott”. (Source: al Jazeera) what protesters are rightly demanding. It is a wholesome and unifying demand—one that all of us should be able to get behind. We must not be distracted by a small number of lawbreakers. The protests are defined by tens of thousands of people of conscience The implications of declining U.S. leadership who are insisting that we live up to our values—our values as 1 What does the U.S. withdrawal from its current two-year budget period. This move around the world. captured on several bystanders’ smartphones. people and our values as a nation. this organization mean? It means, among oth- will most likely delay the discovery phase as well Furthermore, Trump’s disregard for the The incident has dramatically weakened Trump’s When I joined the military, some 50 years ago, I swore er things, that the United States is retreating as clinical trials necessary to develop a global detrimental effects of climate change, as well presidency, is likely to defang his entourage, an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Never did from its global leadership role—morally and vaccine. Perhaps, more importantly, this decision as his policies reversing pollution standards, and could possibly demoralize the riot police I dream that troops taking that same oath would be ordered from the standpoint of its soft power. On both will weaken the effectiveness of the organization have exacerbated the deleterious effects not in the face of widespread national and global under any circumstance to violate the Constitutional rights of accounts, the Trump administration’s unilateral and the broader cooperation among countries to only on environmental sustainability but also, protests. The nationwide and racially diverse their fellow citizens—much less to provide a bizarre photo op approach has dramatically undercut the ability stem the spread of COVID-19 pandemic around more subtly, on human sustainability. Earth protests, dominated by youth and vibrant civil for the elected commander-in-chief, with military leadership of the United States to influence the behavior the word. scientists remind us that humans are altering the society movements, have captured the world’s standing alongside. of other states through the attractiveness of its Trump has ceaselessly harkened back to his environment at a much quicker pace than at any imagination, while posing the most serious chal- We must reject any thinking of our cities as a “battlespace” that culture and the persuasiveness of its policies. outdated notions of building walls and imposing other time in history, a fact that has contributed lenge to the Trump administration. Instead our uniformed military is called upon to “dominate.” At home, The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO will further travel bans in pursuit of his populist policies at to the evolution, the mutation, and the spread of healing the wounds of racial and systemic we should use our military only when requested to do so, on very accelerate the ongoing decline in the perceived a time when the stakes have never been higher. of all types of viruses. Human encroachment discrimination and police brutality, Trump’s rare occasions, by state governors. Militarizing our response, competence of the United States to effectively All of this flies in the face of the clear lesson to into animal habitats—consider, for example, rhetoric, tweets, and public gestures have deep- as we witnessed in Washington, D.C., sets up a conflict—a false address new global challenges. Most ominous- be learned from the COVID-19 crisis that the how deforestation and forest degradation have ened the divides in an already polarized nation, conflict—between the military and civilian society. It erodes the ly, however, this development is likely to fuel virus knows no boundaries and that walls and contributed to global warming—has created significantly diminishing trust in his leadership moral ground that ensures a trusted bond between men and a great-power discord between China and the borders cannot separate one nation’s public further contact between humans and animals, skills and damaging his populist image beyond women in uniform and the society they are sworn to protect, United States, dehumanizing the former while health and safety from those of others. Need- rendering disease transmission more likely than repair. The result has been obvious: Trump’s and of which they themselves are a part. Keeping public order damaging the long-term relationship between less to say that a virus anywhere is potentially ever before. policies have been consistently unsuccessful rests with civilian state and local leaders who best understand the two countries. a virus everywhere in a world that has become At home, Trump’s mishandling of nationwide both at home and abroad. their communities and are answerable to them. To fully understand the implication of the increasingly globalized, hence the need for col- and global protests over the death of George Mahmood Monshipouri, Ph.D., is a professor James Madison wrote in Federalist 41 that “America united U.S. withdrawal from the WHO, one needs to laborative, multilateral governance. Trump’s Floyd—an African-American man who died at of international relations at San Francisco State with a handful of troops, or without a single soldier, exhibits note that the WHO relies on assessed and vol- claim that virus is “going away very soon” runs the hands of a white police officer while still in University and a lecturer at UC-Berkeley. He a more forbidding posture to foreign ambition than America untary contributions from its member states. counter to the growing spike in confirmed cases custody—was on vivid display on the Internet, as is the editor, most recently, of Why Human disunited, with a hundred thousand veterans ready for combat.” In 2019, according to one study, the United Rights Still Matter in Contemporary Global We do not need to militarize our response to protests. We need to States provided the WHO an estimated $419 “Trump’s policies have been consistently Affairs. ([email protected] and mmon- unite around a common purpose. And it starts by guaranteeing million, representing roughly 15 percent of the [email protected]) Cell #415-265-6965 and that all of us are equal before the law. World Health Organization’s total revenue over unsuccessful both at home and abroad.” landline#510-705-1533. (Source: The Atlantic) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 HERITAGE & TOURISM JUNE 6, 2020

Tehran’s historical towers Coronavirus: Iran preparing to turn off lights in honor of Imam Khomeini HERITAGE TEHRAN – Tehran’s historical towers turned reopen doors to foreign travelers deskoff lights on June 2 and remained dark to com- memorate the death anniversary of Imam Khomeini, the late 1 “We are constantly monitoring founder of the Islamic Revolution. [our target] countries and we have decided, [Exterior] lighting for ’s historical towers in the first phase, to resume tourism inter- of Tughrul and Shebeli will not be carried out on the eve of the actions with the neighboring countries.” 14th day of Khordad (the third month in the Iranian calendar) The rapid spread of the novel corona- which marked the 31st death anniversary of Imam Khomeini, virus has plunged the travel and tourism CHTN quoted provincial tourism chief Parham Janfeshan as industry and economy in the global scene saying on Tuesday. over that past couple of months as passenger traffic on airlines and hotel occupancy rates have fallen off a cliff compared to the same periods previous years. Elsewhere in his remarks, the official referred to travel demands from Oman, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Pakistan, Iraq, Tur- key, China, and Hong Kong, even in the conditions of the coronavirus pandemic, adding; “Apart from these applicants, we have had requests from European back- packers to travel to Iran.” “However, the foreign nationals have cited various reasons for their visits such as trade, medical treatment, pilgrimage, education, or visiting relatives so that whenever the Standing tall in the city of Rey, the 12th-century Tughrul Tower borders are open we can rightly determine is the tomb of Seljuk ruler Tughrul Beg, who died in Rey in 1063. the volume of travel demands.” Shebeli Tower, which dominates the Damavand’s countryside “I am sure that if the and skyline, is a roofed octagon tomb of Sheikh Shebeli, a Sufi mystic Turkey are opened right now, the demand of the Islamic Golden Age. for travel to that country would be signifi- cant because many (Iranian) people have An undated photo depicts foreign travelers trekking across the Dasht-e-Lut, a barren landscape of shifting sands and wind-hewn Fire inflicts no damage to administrative, commercial, or educational dunes, in central Iran. affairs in Turkey.” travel relations with other countries. “We said earlier in May that Iran’s tourism in- ism industry over the past two years to fo- 14th-century Rab’-e Rashidi The official also pointed to health proto- are preparing our proposals to discuss them dustry will get back on the right track sooner cus on tourism markets in the neighboring cols being developing with the assistance of with the Coronavirus Combat Operations than expected thanks to measures taken to countries, the possibility of recovering and TOURISM TEHRAN – The fire that broke out in Rab’-e the Health Ministry to protect international Headquarters to reach a joint decision.” tackle the spread of coronavirus. reviving international tourism in the shortest deskRashidi in northwestern East Azarbaijan prov- arrivals, saying: “We are in talks with the The official noted that joint consulta- “I believe that tourism industry of the possible time is predictable.” ince on Wednesday has inflicted no damage to the 14th-century Ministry of Health to draw up a protocol tion is currently underway with tourism country will get back on the right track far Some experts expect Iran to achieve a educational complex. concerning foreign arrivals to the entry ministers of 30 target countries, adding: sooner than generally expected thanks to tourism boom after coronavirus contained, Located in Tabriz, the capital of East Azarbaijan province, points. We are also setting a timetable for “Iran has announced that it will welcome the measures taken to deal with the spread believing its impact would be temporary and Rab’-e Rashidi was established during the reign of Ghazan, a reopening borders to foreign nationals and tourists from those countries as soon as of coronavirus in tourist destinations, ho- short-lived for a country that ranked the third ruler of the Ilkhanid dynasty (1256-1353). tourists, given the latest conditions of the the borders are open.” tels, stopovers, and all the centers which fastest-growing tourism destination in 2019. coronavirus, similar to classifications that “We are doing soft marketing as the gov- are affiliated with the Ministry of Cultural The Islamic Republic expects to reap a other countries, including Turkey, have ernment share and we expect the private Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts,” Tey- bonanza from its numerous tourist spots made so far.” sector also take action.” mouri said in an exclusive interview with such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridg- “Some countries are still classified in Larijani then called on travel agencies to the Tehran Times. es, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, code red coronavirus status, an issue that review the target market countries and not Referring to foreign arrivals, Teymouri churches, towers, and mansions, of which we have included in our schedule for rees- rely on the capacity of neighboring countries said that international tourism could be 24 being inscribed on the UNESCO World tablishing tourism ties.” and East Asia. The official proposed them to recovered soon because it is mostly relying Heritage list. Under the 2025 Tourism Vi- Larijani underlined that the Ministry of prepare a variety of tour packages tailored on potential travelers and pilgrims from sion Plan, it aims to increase the number Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts to the needs of specified travelers. the neighboring countries. of tourist arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 does not solely decide on the resumption of Deputy tourism minister Vali Teymouri “Given the policies of the country’s tour- to 20 million in 2025.

Iran getting Asbads ready for Coronavirus: hosts only 20 UNESCO tag foreign tourists in spring

Due to the dry vegetation in the area and the heat and wind, the fire spread to the southern parts of the complex, but it was contained and successfully extinguished by firefighters, said Seyyed Ramin Asbaqi, the director of Tabriz Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department, CHTN reported on Thursday. The historical site embraces a paper factory, a library, a hos- pital (Dar-al-Shafa), a Quranic center (Dar-al-Quran), residen- tial facilities for teachers, students’ quarters and a caravanserai amongst other facilities. Soaked in history and culture for millennia, Tabriz embraces several historical and religious sites, including Jameh Mosque of Tabriz and Arg of Tabriz, and UNESCO-registered Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex to name a few. Iran keeps an eye on possible inscription of the site on the UNESCO World Heritage list by 2025. Restoration begins on TOURISM TEHRAN – Several chambers, with each chamber housing six TOURISM TEHRAN – The cen- spread, Iran was emerging as the third Zanjan’s Chehel Sotoun deskcenturies-old wind- blades. As the area’s strong, steady wind desktral province of Yazd, a fastest growing tourism destination in the Mosque mills, locally called Asbads, that are still enters the chambers it turns the blades, traditional heaven for cultural travelers, globe in 2019, with 27.9 percent growth standing tall in Hamun county, southeast- which then turn grindstones. The struc- has hosted only 20 international tourists year on year, according to the United HERITAGE TEHRAN – A restoration project has been ern province of Sistan-Baluchestan, are tures reach up to about 65 feet in height. as well as 300 domestic travelers so far in Nations World Tourism Organization deskcommenced on parts of Chehel Sotoun Mosque being restored in order to be prepared for The Asbad used to be a smart technique spring, provincial tourism chief has said. (UNWTO). in Zanjan, west-central Iran, CHTN reported on Friday. possible inclusion in the UNESCO World to grind grains. It also bears testimony to While over two million foreign tourists Domestic travel in Iran reaches its The mosque’s columns, walls, ceiling’s insulation, arches and Heritage list. the human being’s adaption with nature by and about half a million Iranians visited climax from mid-March to early April, a gutters need some rehabilitation works, which will be done by the The restoration project was commenced transforming environmental obstacles into the province at the same period of time in time corresponding to the Persian New end of July, Zanjan province’s tourism chief Amir Arjmand said. two years ago to prepare the historical opportunities. “Asbad is a smart technique the previous year, coronavirus outbreak Year (Noruz) holidays. Iranians made windmills to join Asbads in South Kho- to grind grains, a technique which goes has hit the tourism industry in the region 74 million overnight stays in their do- rasan and Khorasan Razavi provinces for back to ancient times when the people hard, said Seyyed Mostafa Fatemi, ILNA mestic trips during the Noruz holidays possible UNESCO registration, CHTN living in the eastern parts of Iran, in an reported on Friday. last year, which showed a 20 percent quoted Alireza Jalalzai, the director of attempt to adapt themselves with nature Although the coronavirus lockdown increase year on year. Sistan-Baluchestan’s Cultural Heritage, and transform environmental obstacles has been eased, considering the begin- With its winding lanes, forest of bad- Tourism, and Handicrafts Department, into opportunities, managed to invent it,” ning of summer time and warm and dry girs (wind catchers), mud-brick houses, as saying on Tuesday. according to UNESCO website. weather of Yazd, the province won’t expect atmospheric alleyways and centuries of The rehabilitation works include debris “The earliest known references to wind- more tourist arrivals, he added. history, Yazd is a delightful place to stay, removal, reinforcement and completion mills are to a Persian millwright in 644 CE In late February, Iran temporarily referring as a ‘don’t miss’ destination by of restoration and reconstruction of the and windmills in Seistan [Sistan], Iran, in closed cultural heritage museums and almost all travel associates in the region. Asbads’ painted walls, which is being car- 915 CE,” the Encyclopedia Britannica says. historical sites across the country and The oasis city is wedged between the ried out continuously, he added. Avid visitors and researchers can ex- limited travel between its major cities northern Dasht-e Kavir and southern The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, amine the subtle yet simple mechanism in an effort to halt the spread of the Dasht-e Lut on a flat plain ringed by Tourism and Handicrafts has almost in person as several windmills have been coronavirus. mountains. completed preparations for a chain of restored and brought back to life to testify However, different provinces launched Yazd Jameh Mosque, Dowlatabad such vertical-axis windmills for possibly how ancient Iranians harnessed the wind virtual tours and online visits for the Garden, the Yazd Atash Behram, also becoming a UNESCO World Heritage. to make a living. people who were in home quarantine known as Atashkadeh-e Yazd, Towers of The restoration project aims to repair and strengthen the Made of natural clay, straw, and wood, The Islamic Republic designated the over past few months. Silence, and adjacent desert landscape mosque with the utmost sensitivity, using the most suitable an Asbad is typically comprised of eight Asbad as a national heritage site in 2002. Couple of weeks before the virus are among its tourist sites. combinations of materials and traditional executive methods, he added. The Qajar-era (1789–1925) mosque is located in the historic bazaar of Zanjan. It is the second most prestigious seminary Motorcycle rally held in memory of Imam Khomeini school in Zanjan after Jameh Mosque. The main prayer hall of the mosque is built in Chehel So- TOURISM TEHRAN – Some Iranian motorcyclists A total of 31 cyclists, riding bikes with capacities of 250cc toun (forty columns) style, which is mostly compared to the desktook part in a rally on Wednesday towards or less, attended the event, observing health protocols 17th-century Chehel Sotoun palace in . the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini to commemorate the needed to contain the coronavirus pandemic, the report said. Zanjan is one of the cities founded by Sassanid King Ar- 31st demise anniversary of the founder of the Islamic Every year on the occasion, a commemoration ceremony dashir I (180-242 CE). The province makes a base for wider Revolution. is held at the mausoleum in southern Tehran, with large explorations with the architectural wonder of Soltaniyeh, Organized by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism crowds of mourners attending. This year, however, the the subterranean delights of the Katale-Khor caves, colorful and Handicrafts, the rally started from Tehran’s Milad ceremony was canceled in a bid to observe social distancing mountains, and the UNESCO-registered Takht-e Soleiman Tower in the north to Imam Khomeini’s mausoleum in measures in place to protect against the novel coronavirus ruins are nearby. the south, IRNA reported. (COVID-19) pandemic. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JUNE 6, 2020 SOCIETY 9

World Environment Day: Iran outlines Covid-19 is nature sending us a message - we must listen plan to protect its rich biodiversity It’s World Environment Day, and our political and corporate leaders need to take note. The degradation of our planet isn’t 1 a global disease pandemic – demon- forests and was burning for almost 6 days. just an environmental problem, it presents serious global eco- strate the interdependence of humans and Issa Kalantari the DOE chief told ISNA that nomic risks too. Our economies, livelihoods and wellbeing all the webs of life, in which they exist. some 27,000 hectares of Khaeez protected rely on nature, from the food we eat, to controlling our climate, World Environment Day has grown to area was burnt in the fire. regulating disease and as a place of recreation. Without nature, become a global platform for public outreach, The whole population must avoid activities there would be no life. with participation from over 143 countries that cause a wildfire, and the DOE cannot Covid-19 is nature sending us a message. In fact, it reads like annually. shoulder the whole burden. an SOS signal for the human enterprise, bringing into sharp focus Sustainable exploitation of bio- President Hassan Rouhani has obliged the need to live within the planet’s means. The environmental, diversity a must all the responsible bodies to join hands to health and economic consequences of failing to do so are disas- “Today, all governments have come to extinguish the fire, and many of which came trous, the Independent reported. the conclusion that all aspects of human life, to contain the wildfires. However, in envi- Now more than ever before, technological advances allow as well as growth and development, depend ronmental protection, even a single mistake us to listen to such messages and better understand the natural on biodiversity. is a lot and can cause irreparable damages, world. We can estimate the value of ‘natural capital’ – the planet’s All three pillars of biodiversity namely, Montazemi stated. stock of renewable and non-renewable natural resources, like variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem Emphasizing that wildfires should not plants, soils and minerals – alongside values of produced and levels are important and must be considered happen at all, he said that the DOE is not human capital (think roads and skills), which together form a to ensure biodiversity preserve; any damage the only responsible body to put out the fire, measure of a country’s true wealth. to any of these three pillars will damage the but people should resist any fire to erupt Data from the UN Environment Programme show that – per entire biodiversity and pose a serious threat in forests. person – our global stock of natural capital has declined nearly to human life. “The wildfire happened during the 40 per cent since the early 1990s, while produced capital has Although It is believed that Iran’s geo- breeding season when many animals stayed doubled and human capital has increased by 13 per cent.The political position is the reason for its rich with their babies and could not cross the food we produce is killing us and decimating biodiversity biodiversity, I believe that it is a gift from impassable passages and escape the fire, But too few of our economic and finance decision-makers God,” Montazemi explained. therefore, many squirrels, birds, and other know how to interpret what we are hearing, or, even worse, “Indeed, Iran is not one of the megadiverse plan, he said that “the initial framework of siding around the cheetahs’ habitats are species were killed in the fire. While loosing they choose not to tune in at all. A key problem is the mismatch countries, like Brazil, , and Malaysia, but a protection program is based on promot- farmers and livestock owners, who were even a bird can hurt the ecosystem. between the artificial ‘economic grammar’ which drives public it has habitats with the richest biodiversity. ing public awareness, along with reducing trained by the NGOs on the protection Numerous oak trees turned into ashes, and private policy and ‘nature’s syntax’ which determines how However, various factors such as sustain- conflicts among wildlife species and locals. of the precious species, the importance and hundred years should pass to grow an the real world operates. able exploitation of biodiversity should come We should develop an environment re- of cheetahs in the ecosystem, and how oak tree, and it definitely will come up with The result is that we miss the message. to the center of attention to better protect the garding various factors, in which the bears to behave with the species. dire consequences. In recent decades we’ve heard repeatedly that we’ve ‘never country’s biodiversity, to do so, help local can not only survive but have a desirable This has led to good achievements in So far, there is no certain evidence whether had it so good’. Since the middle of the 20th century, humanity communities earn income, and biodiversi- life in nature. Persian cheetahs’ habitats, for instance, the fire was human-caused or natural, he has prospered at an unprecedented rate. The average person ty can also benefit from local communities’ Unfortunately, over the past year, we have locals have recently reported the existence highlighted, implying that our investigation today enjoys a far higher income, is less likely to be in absolute protection,” he said. seen an alarming increase in the slaughter of of a cheetah family of five members, and team is operating in the area to find out the poverty, and lives significantly longer than their ancestors. These He went on to say that the DOE has taken bears during conflicts with humans, which kept an eye on the animals to prevent them reason, but it might be related to negligence,” are tremendous achievements. extensive measures in various areas such as could be rooted in the encroachment on the from road accidents, he explained. he explained. But our approach has meant these successes have come hand habitat, species, and genetics; four types of habitat of these animals. He further called on the media to take Referring to the slow process of firefighting in hand with profound degradation of the biosphere, and ex- areas have been designated for protection, And after researches, we realized that steps forward to raise public awareness of operations and extinguishment, he said that tensive biodiversity loss. Last year’s global assessment by the including, 31 national parks, 46 wildlife ref- land-use changes were the reason behind wildlife protection and endangered animals. the country is facing a lack of equipment, Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and uges, 169 protected areas, and 38 natural the conflicts, as in the main bear habitats, However, the DOE is still trying to plan especially aerial firefighting facilities, which Ecosystem Services (IPBES) reported a decline since 1970 in 14 national monuments. some people or farmers, who owned lands, for the reproduction of Asiatic cheetahs and is the leading cause of slow firefighting, im- of 18 categories of nature’s contributions to people – vital areas “Today, we have been able to preserve have built small buildings to live and earn does not give up. passible areas. like water purification, air quality and disease regulation. many species of animals and provide pro- income for themselves, therefore, posed a Referring to the Cheetah reproduction We need to provide a better infrastructure These extreme contradictions are unsustainable. Simple esti- tection; as animal species include 37 species threat to the species habitat.” programs, he said that each plan is initially to protect the wildlife, ecosystem, and pro- mates of our total impact on nature now suggest that maintaining of mammals, 78 bird species, 22 species of “Instead of stopping entering natural a proposal and after numerous researches tected areas of the country by equipping the the world’s current living standards with our current economic reptiles, 6 species of bivalves, and 25 species habitats and land-use changes, we drive and sometimes investigations it will be im- DOE because currently we are not equipped systems, fuelled by unsustainable production and consumption, of fish of inland waters. the bears out, unfortunately, he lamented, plemented. with any helicopters. would require 1.7 Earths. The organization’s gene bank is also a major adding, it is why we also lost Persian leopard For instance, we have proposed a plan to It is noteworthy that “indeed, every pro- One truly worrying result of our over-demand is that critical step toward the genetic protection of species.” in different parts of the country. capture two male cheetahs living in central tection measure in national scale needs ecosystems are reaching tipping points. Ocean heatwaves have Wildlife habitat protection a When a bear enters the village, it may seem Yazd province for captive breeding, but after a nation to be addressed, but it does not already destroyed half of the shallow water corals on Australia’s main priority like a simple event, but it can have very bad numerous studies, it was rejected, of course, diminish the importance of responsible Great Barrier Reef. As the IPCC reported in 2018, scientists have “What is important in wildlife species consequences, so, we need to train the locals using them for gene bank is undeniable, he bodies’ role.” projected that a 2C global temperature rise will result in the almost conservation is the conservation of species on some certain issues like waste management, added. Media should raise public aware- complete eradication (a 99 per cent loss) of coral reefs globally. in natural habitat, therefore, the DOE’s he noted, adding, many villagers release the Forest protection needs national ness The economic impacts can be devastating. Large numbers main priority is to preserve the country’s waste in surrounding areas, which might unity He further called on the media to intro- of people depend on coral reef fisheries for livelihoods and nu- wildlife habitat. attract the animals to the villages,” he added. In reply to a question on how much the duce biodiversity value to the public and trition, particularly in developing countries. Reef tourism and For the flagship species, several national He went on to say that “this highly requires DOE is responsible to extinguish the recent make people aware of the preciousness of recreation bring significant economic benefits. protection programs have been developed, training, management, and supervision, lo- wildfires, Montazemi said that it considerably the species. Meanwhile, several scientists have shown that deforestation 10 of which are underway, such as the cal communities are supposed to help us needs national determination, first people Environment protection needs national of our tropical forests is pushing them dangerously close to tip- conservation plans for Persian leopard to protect the wildlife because humans are should be very cautious about the forests determination and unity. Public culture should ping points that would see rainforest switch to grassland. This and the brown bear. more responsible for conflicts with animals. and pastures due to the high risk of ignition. be promoted and prevent them from littering could have enormous consequences for the water cycle and cause Some 10 action plans will soon be Livestock and herding dogs are other A wildfire broke out across several for- in nature. This might seem very simple but major climatic disruption. finalized for a series of species, which causes of animal deaths, which need proper ests and protected areas in four western of great importance. So, if the language of economics is failing us, how and where do will be announced to the agencies after management to be addressed.” and southwestern provinces of Khuzestan, Different sections of society need dif- we begin to find better answers? At the end of April, the Dasgupta approval by the expert committee,” Mon- DOE not to give up on Asiatic Bushehr, Lorestan, Kohgiluyeh, and Boy- ferent training ways, for example, children Review on the economics of biodiversity – an independent, global tazemi stated. cheetah reproduction er-Ahmad on May 28. cannot be trained with methods the elderly review commissioned by the Treasury last year – published its More brown bears killed in con- Pointing to the Asiatic cheetah con- The fire also swept through Khaeez pro- are trained, each requires a specific way, and interim report. The review seeks to reconstruct our economic flicts servation project as a great success, he tected area, measuring 28,000 hectares is one the media can highly support the process, grammar by showing that our economies are embedded within, Referring to the brown bear protection stated that a vast majority of locals re- of the main habitats for wild goats in Zagros he concluded. and not external to, nature. Cleanest air on earth discovered in groundbreaking study WORDS IN THE NEWS The cleanest air in the world has been discovered in that suspend in the air. Samples were taken aboard the of the lower atmosphere,” research scientist Thomas Hill, the Antarctic Ocean, according to a groundbreaking research vessel Investigator which sailed from Tasmania co-author on the study, said in a statement. World AIDS Day new study. to the Antarctic ice edge. “For example, that the aerosols controlling the prop- (December 01, 2003) An atmospheric region called the boundary layer air, which The scientists found that the air layer was free from erties of SO clouds are strongly linked to ocean biological To coincide with World AIDS Day, the World Health Organisation feeds into the lower clouds, was found to be unchanged by particles that humans create from burning fossil fuels and processes, and that Antarctica appears to be isolated from and UN AIDS are launching a campaign to treat three million human-related (anthropogenic) activities. travelling in planes and cars. southward dispersal of microorganisms and nutrient dep- HIV sufferers with antiretroviral drugs by the year 2005. It is The discovery was made by a research group from Colo- Climate change means that scarcely any region of the osition from southern continents. called the Three by Five Plan. This report from Imogen Foulkes: rado State University’s Department of Atmospheric Science, planet is untouched by people, and the team assumed that “Overall, it suggests that the Southern Ocean is one of The WHO says preventing and treating AIDS is the most urgent the Independent reported. the air over the Southern Ocean (SO) that surrounds Ant- very few places on Earth that has been minimally affected health challenge the world has ever faced. Eight thousand peo- The scientists wanted to find out what was in the air arctica would also be impacted. by anthropogenic activities.” ple die of AIDS every single day, although it is now a treatable and where it was coming from by measuring its compo- “We were able to use the bacteria in the air over the The study was published earlier this week in the Pro- disease. Six million people, mainly in the developing world, sition of bioaerosols, the natural or artificial particles Southern Ocean as a diagnostic tool to infer key properties ceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. need antiretroviral drugs but don’t have access to them. The Three by Five plan wants to ensure that poor countries get the best quality medicines at the best prices and it aims to improve ENGLISH IN USE care, treatment and diagnosis by training thousands of new medical and community workers. LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION The WHO has simplified drug monitoring regimes in order to make it easier for patients to follow the treatment success- fully. To get three million people on to antiretroviral drugs by 2005 will cost five and a half billion dollars. Much of that mon- ey is already committed to the plan through the Global AIDS بارشهای اخیر خشکسالی کشور را جبران نمیکند Recent rainfalls not to fully address prolonged droughts: expert Fund, the World Bank and President Bush’s AIDS initiative. The WHO says the Three by Five plan is a way to challenge the مدیــرکل دفتــر کنتــرل ســیالب و آبخــوانداری ســازمان جنگلهــا، مراتــع و .unacceptable inequality surrounding the treatment of AIDS آبخیــزداری گفــت: پــس از بارشهــای اخیــر در کشــور، نمیتــوان ادعــا کــرد Despite above normal rainfalls the country has received, it cannot be But six million people need the drugs and deciding which three کــه خشکســالیهای بلنــد مــدت مــا جبــران شــده اســت. claimed that the long-term droughts are set right, director for flood control and aquifer at Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization million will benefit will be very difficult. Individual countries will have the final say, but a meeting to discuss this is due to ابوالقاســم حســینپور در گفتوگــو بــا ایســنا، اظهــار کــرد: سیاســتهای آبــی .has said .be held at the WHO in the next few weeks مــا همچنــان بایــد منطبــق بــر کمبــود منابــع آبــی باشــد. That’s why water management policies must be still drawn up with regard Words مــا نمیتوانیــم بــا یــک ســال بــارش نرمــال و ترســالی ادعــا کنیــم کــه دوره to water scarcity, ISNA news agency quoted Abolqasem Hosseinpour as saying on Saturday. antiretroviral drugs: medicines designed specially to treat certain viruses, in particular the HIV virus خشکســالی کشــور پایــان یافتــه اســت. However, with only a year of high rainfall averages we cannot say that“ don’t have access to: are unable to obtain وی ادامــه داد: تغییــرات اقلیمــی ســبب محــدود شــدن منابــع آبــی شــده اســت .drought is no longer hitting the country,” Hosseinpour said diagnosis: identifying what is wrong with someone who is ill و از ســوی دیگــر در کشــور مــا بــه دلیــل اضافــه برداشــت از منابــع آبــی بــه Climate change has resulted in a drop in water resources, on the other hand, due to excessive use of subsurface water resources, the country is drug monitoring: regular checking of drugs regimes: systems or methods of achieving something - a formal use ویــژه آبخوانهــای زیرزمینــی، کمبــود جــدی منابــع آبــی داریــم کــه بــا بــارش facing serious shortages which are not compensated by a year of normal to follow the treatment: to do what has been recommended نرمــال و حتــی بیــش از نرمــال یکســال جبــران نمیشــود. .rainfalls, he lamented to improve the condition of a sick person committed: promised; intended for use for the project. To com- mit money or resources to something means to use them for a PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM particular purpose. initiative: an important act that is intended to solve a problem “dextro-, dextero-, dextr-” Nod off Crest of a wave surrounding: associated with Meaning: right Meaning: to begin to sleep, usually when you do Explanation: If you are on the crest of a wave, you the final say: if you have a say in something, you have the For example: A good handyman is skillful, dexterous not intend to and are sitting somewhere are very successful in what you are doing right to give your opinion and influence decisions. If you have and proficient in whatever it is he is doing. For example: I missed the movie because I kept For example: Our company is going from success to the final say then you are the last to give your opinion, and you nodding off. success. We’re on the crest of a wave right now. make the final decision. (Source: BBC) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 INTERNATIONAL JUNE 6, 2020

Erdogan cancels Turkey Anti-Netanyahu protesters block Tel curfew over economy worries Aviv road shouting “I can’t breathe” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cancelled Friday a weekend curfew introduced to halt the spread of coronavirus, Hundreds of demonstrators blocked a major “Israel’s democracy has withstood years pointing to concerns over the economy. road near Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square Thurs- under the rule of Netanyahu,” the Tel Aviv Turkey has been locked down on weekends and public holi- day night, protesting new bills advanced by protest’s organizers shouted. “But then came days since April, and the interior ministry said in the early hours Israel’s right-wing coalition. the traitors, [Defense Minister Benny] Gantz, of Friday that 15 cities would again be shuttered this weekend, Close to a thousand protesters gath- [Economy Minister Amir] Peretz and [Labor AFP reported. ered at Rabin Square Thursday evening and Welfare Minister Itzik] Shmuli.” However, hours later Erdogan announced on Twitter that to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Ne- The Coronavirus Law memorandum was he had cancelled the curfew after “feedback from our citizens” tanyahu’s “Coronavirus Law” expanding published last Thursday, causing national suggested it would have a negative economic impact. police authority and power. outrage. According to Channel 13, the pro- Cafes, restaurants and other public spaces reopened this week, Israel Police began dispersing the crowd posed bill expands police authority, allow- sparking hopes that the curfew would be lifted. blocking the road early Friday morning, ing its officers to enter citizens’ apartments “We were not willing to see our citizens suffer just as they with several protesters being taken into without a warrant. began to return to their usual daily life following a two-and-a- custody, J Post reported. The bill reportedly authorizes the cabinet half-month break,” the president said. “After the protesters blocked Ibn Gabirol to sign bills into law without the approval of But he urged citizens to use masks, practise social distancing Street in Tel Aviv and disrupted public the Knesset and to sign and extend executive and ensure they were following the rules of hygiene. order in the area, attacking drivers and orders. According to Calcalist, the bill is ex- Turkey has recorded more than 167,000 cases of COVID-19 throwing bottles and paint toward vehicles, pected to be passed by the end of the week. and 4,630, but the number of daily fatalities has fallen to below police began clearing the road and carrying Earlier this week, Netanyahu said that 50 in the past couple of weeks. out arrests of the attackers,” Israel Police police will not raid citizens’ apartments dur- Spokesperson’s Unit said. ing a statement to the public in light of the “During the dispersal, objects were thrown controversy around the bill. toward police officers and some of the pro- Another law at the spotlight of recent Libyan unity govt retakes testers so much as physically attacked law by the encroaching dictatorship,” referencing Chauvin in Minneapolis, Minnesota. protests is a bill restricting citizens’ Haftar’s last redoubt in west enforcement who were doing their jobs,” the racial riots raging across the U.S. A video circulating social media and news right to counsel. According to a mem- police said. “Some twelve rioters have been Violent demonstrations have been rag- showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck orandum published in late May, the Forces loyal to ’s internationally recognised government taken into custody for further interrogation.” ing across the U.S. since the death of Af- for some eight minutes while the latter was bill will “ban the entry of visitors and said Friday they had entered Tarhouna, the last major stronghold The Tel Aviv protesters shouted they “can’t rican-American George Floyd, who was saying he could not breathe. Floyd was later attorneys to jails, police precincts, and of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar near Tripoli, capping the breathe” and that they are “being suffocated suffocated to death by police officer Derek pronounced dead at the hospital. civil and military prisons.” sudden collapse of his 14-month offensive. There was no immediate comment from Haftar’s Libyan Na- tional Army (LNA) on whether its forces remained in the town, a day after they were pushed from their last positions in the Syrian air defenses thwart Israeli airstrike on Hama capital, Reuters reported. Syrian air defenses have thwarted Israeli airstrikes over Israel has also been a main supporter of terrorist groups normalization with the Zionists.” Turkish backing has helped the internationally recog- the western province of Hama. that have opposed the government of President Bashar Late on Tuesday, Syria’s official news agency SANA re- nised Government of National Accord (GNA) to a string of “At 21:25 local time, Israeli warplanes targeted one of al-Assad since militancy erupted in Syria in March 2011. ported that the country’s air defenses had intercepted and victories in recent weeks, ending an assault on Tripoli that our military sites in the vicinity of Masyaf, but our air de- ‘ Israel’s aggression against Syria fueled by shot down a number of Israeli missiles before they reached led to battles in its southern suburbs and bombardment of fense system immediately responded to enemy missiles and U.S. bullying, coercion’ their targets in Hama. the city centre. shot down a number of them,” Syria’s official news agen- A senior official with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance The missiles were fired by the Israeli air force from Leb- The GNA operations room said in a statement that its forces cy SANA quoted a military source as saying on Thursday. Movement, Hamas, has strongly condemned the latest Is- anese airspace at 21:25 p.m. local time (1925 GMT) and had reached the centre of Tarhouna after entering from four sides. According to ’s al-Mayadeen TV channel, the raeli airstrikes against Syria’s western-central province of were aimed at a military facility on the outskirts of Masyaf, Abdelsalam Ahmed, a resident of Tarhouna, said GNA forces missiles were fired from Israeli warplanes over the Leba- Hama, saying such acts of aggression are instigated by the located about 45 kilometers (27 miles) west of the provincial had entered the town. nese airspace. bullying and coercion of the United States. capital city of Hama, SANA quoted an unnamed military Libya’s conflict is far from over, however, with the LNA still The Tel Aviv regime mostly keeps quiet about the attacks “The attack on the Syrian territories proves that the Zi- source as saying. controlling the country’s east, where there is a parallel admin- on Syrian territories that many view as knee-jerk reaction onist project has set the entire Muslim world at its target,” The airstrikes caused material damage in the targeted istration, and large parts of the south, where the country’s main to Syrian government’s increasing success in confronting Lebanon-based -language al-Mayadeen television news area but left no casualties. oilfields are located. terrorism in country. network quoted Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem as saying. Israel’s aggressive moves have been viewed by observers The LNA is backed by Russia, the United Arab Emirates and The Israeli attacks are thus considered an attempt to He added, “The arrogance of the occupying regime is as an attempt to weaken the Damascus government as it Egypt. prop up foreign-backed Takfiri terrorist groups suffering being fueled by the bullying and coercion of the United increasingly gains the upper hand in its fight against the The United Nations has warned that a recent flood of weapons heavy defeats against Syrian government forces. States in addition to the actions of some parties seeking foreign-backed terrorist groups. and fighters to both sides in Libya risks a major new escalation. Hamas calls for new strategy to counter Russian-U.S. Tensions Rise Jakarta mosques host Friday challenges facing Palestinian cause in Syria prayers for first time The head of the political bureau of the Tensions flared between Russia and the Hamas resistance movement has called United States as the Russian military in two months for a coherent national strategy in the face reportedly seeks to expand its presence of dangers and challenges that threaten in U.S.-controlled northeastern Syria, Indonesians in Jakarta returned to mosques on Friday the Palestinian cause. news outlets reported this week. for prayers after the city relaxed rules on attending places “The first component of such a strategy The latest flare-up follows the Russian of worship as part of a loosening of restrictions in place is consensus on a national plan outside military’s reported attempt to build a since late March to contain the spread of the coronavirus. the Oslo Accords [signed between the Is- base near the Turkish and Iraqi bor- Jakarta’s governor on Thursday announced some easing raeli regime and the Palestine Liberation ders last week. President Vladimir Pu- of restrictions including attending mosques for communal Organization (PLO)], and to terminate tin has ordered talks with Russia’s ally prayers but warned the fight against the outbreak was far all agreements in addition to relevant Syria on cementing Moscow’s presence from over in southeast Asia’s biggest city. security and economic annexes,” Ismail is the upshot of Nakba Day (the Day of with additional military facilities in the has been the hardest-hit country in east Asia outside Haniyeh said at a virtual conference on the Catastrophe), which is commemorated conflict-torn country. “This is not a sustainable situa- China from the pandemic and Jakarta has been the epicenter of occasion of Naksa (Setback) Day, which on 15 May every year and marks the ex- U.S. and Russian forces squared off tion,” tweeted Brett McGurk, the for- the outbreak, with 7,766 cases and 523 deaths, Reuters reported. is commemorated every year on June 5 pulsion of hundreds of thousands of Pal- in two tense encounters in the same mer U.S. envoy for the U.S.-led coalition “I feel happy that I can come back to the mosque ... because and marks the displacement of Palestinian estinians from their homeland when the area on Tuesday and Wednesday, the against Islamic State. there’s a difference in praying from home,” said Deko Ronal people after Israel prevailed in the 1967 Israeli regime was created back in 1948, Mideast news website Al-Monitor re- American officials have previously Rafiyanto, 41, at the Al Azhar mosque in South Jakarta. Six Day War. and Naksa Day. ported, citing local monitoring groups accused Russia of violating the terms Under the new rules, places of worship must limit capacity. He added, “The second element seeks according to Press TV, whilst the second and news agencies. of de-confliction in what they charac- Visitors to the Al Azhar mosque wore masks and had their tem- the launch of a comprehensive resistance challenge is strategic threats, the third Villagers reportedly protested against terized as an attempt to challenge the perature taken before entering. campaign against the Zionist Occupation common danger is U.S. President Don- a Russian patrol Tuesday near the north- U.S. presence there. “I hope it is safe, and we are following the health protocol,” (Israel) through popular, media, political ald Trump’s so-called Middle East plan, eastern Syria border town of Al-Mali- Russia, a staunch ally of the Syrian said Muhammad Yasin, 50. and economic means, and armed struggle which strongly favors Israel and has been kiyah (Derik) as U.S. convoys awaited government, launched a military air Some public transport has resumed operations and offices in particular.” rejected by the Palestinians, in addition them nearby. On Wednesday, a Russian campaign in Syria in 2015 to help Da- and malls are due to open in the city over the next two weeks. Haniyeh stressed that the third com- to the Tel Aviv regime’s plans to annex patrol was said to have come toe-to-toe mascus recapture parts of the country ponent is to restructure the PLO and large parts of the occupied West Bank, with an American convoy outside Derik, from rebels. incorporate all Palestinian factions in it, Haniyeh pointed out. blocking civilian traffic for hours. Moscow has long insisted that the Pakistan says working whilst the fourth one is aimed at the for- The Hamas leader finally called on AFP video showed U.S. and Russian U.S. military presence in Syria is illegal. mation of a regional bloc that safeguards Muslim states to work towards reduction military patrols parked on a road as local The UK-based Syrian Observatory for with India in fight the Palestinian cause. of tensions in the West Asia (Middle civilians protested the Russian presence. Human Rights monitoring group said The high-ranking Hamas official went East) region, and focus on the Pales- The latest standoffs follow a series Thursday that Russia withdrew from against locust menace on to say that Palestinians and Jordanians tinian cause and the issue of occupied of similar incidents reported in north- the village of Qesirdib where it had at- share three challenges, the first of which Jerusalem al-Quds. eastern Syria earlier this year. tempted to set up a new base. Pakistani and Indian authorities are working together to combat the worst invasion of desert locusts in decades in the region, which is threatening crops in both countries, Pakistan’s foreign Over 10,000 arrested, protests against Floyd killing continue office has said. The two countries - also bitter regional rivals - have been 1 That officer - Derek Chauvin - has been charged with and shot them stun guns, according to authorities. 46 seconds Thursday at the U.S. Capitol to honor the lives coordinating through the United Nations Food and Agriculture second-degree murder and manslaughter. The other three Police have also targeted journalists with arrests, intim- of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, all Organisation (FAO), on controlling the locust activity, sharing officers involved have been charged with aiding and abetting idation and violence, according to rights groups. unarmed black individuals whose deaths have spurred data and attending weekly meetings. a second-degree murder and manslaughter. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Minnesota worldwide protests against racism and police brutality. During a weekly briefing on Thursday, a spokesman from Crackdown on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota’s Senate Democrats, some kneeling on the marble floors Pakistan’s foreign office said a decision to work together was The protests over police violence have at times been state and local law enforcement officials, “to ensure that in Emancipation Hall — which is named after slaves who made at a ministerial-level meeting of Pakistan, India, Afghan- met with just that - more police violence, rights groups say. police officers who target journalists are held fully account- helped construct the Capitol — were led in prayer by Senate istan and Iran in March. According to videos, witness accounts, and reports, po- able for their unlawful actions”. Chaplin Barry Black, who honored the lives of Floyd, Arbery The participants decided to revive communication between lice have used tear gas, rubber-coated bullets, flashbangs, The Committee to Protect Journalism has received reports and Taylor and praised peaceful protesters. the regional countries through the FAO’s Commission for Con- batons and other tactics against protesters. Police say they of at least 125 press freedom violations from journalists cov- “We come today to acknowledge that injustice anywhere trolling the Desert Locust in South-West Asia (SWAC). are responding to protesters who are violent, pointing to the ering the protests, including reports of a number of arrests. is a threat to justice everywhere,” Black said in a prayer to a Each country, helped by the SWAC, agreed to establish a looting, vandalism and fires that have taken place. Senate Democrats, some kneeling, honor George silent hall, only broken with the sounds of camera shutters. technical and operational coordination (ToC) team to exchange In Atlanta, Georgia, six officers were charged after police Floyd with moment of silence at Capitol “We come with hope in our hearts because we know that information, enhance coordination at the border areas and in- pulled two people from their car, threw them to the ground Senate Democrats stood in silence for 8 minutes and right defeated is better than evil triumphant.” crease synchronisation to combat the desert locust outbreak in the region, said the spokesperson. Pakistan’s foreign office said the country has been participat- ing in SWAC meetings weekly, which are fruitful in exchanging N.Korea expresses support for China’s measures in Hong Kong information in the bordering areas of Pakistan and India. 1 Given the chaos, LegCo President action in her post on social media on Thurs- legislature to make national security laws postponed for about a year due to violent “On its part, the government of Pakistan remains committed Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen put the bill to day night and stressed that the disorders for Hong Kong responded to the public incidents and riots last year and the fil- to cooperating with all SWAC member states, including India, a vote shortly after the meeting resumed during the national anthem legislation appeal for stability. ibuster by opposition lawmakers in the in combating the desert locust outbreak,” the spokesman said. in the afternoon. proved that it is impossible for the LegCo Secretary for Constitutional and Main- LegCo’s House Committee. According to al Jazeera, Pakistan is facing its worst locust During a press briefing after the meet- to pass the national security law in the land Affairs of the HKSAR government China’s National Anthem Law came infestation in two decades, prompting authorities to declare a ing, Leung said the disruptive acts were foreseeable future. Erick Tsang Kwok-wai said the national into force in the mainland in 2017 and national emergency. extremely irresponsible and strongly con- Hong Kong can not tolerate intensify- anthem law will take effect on June 12, then the Standing Committee of the 12th Millions of locusts have also engulfed India’s seven heartland demned the lawmakers involved. ing violence, rising national security risks urging residents to respect the national National People’s Congress adopted the states, including the western desert of Rajasthan, and threaten HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam and continued social unrest, Lam said, anthem and not to commit insulting acts. decision to add the law to Annex III to vegetable and pulse crops such as lentils and beans. expressed support for Leung’s decisive noting that the decision of the national The legislation began in 2018 but was the HKSAR Basic Law. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JUNE 6, 2020 SPORTS 11

FFIRI removes Sport Minister Sirous Pourmousavi no longer Iran U19 coach

SPORTS TEHRAN — Sirous Pourmousavi quit as Iran from its statutes deskU19 football team head coach. He has stepped down from his role ahead of the 2020 AFC SPORTS TEHRAN— The Secre- U19 Championship. desktary General of the Foot- ball Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) Mehdi Mohammad Nabi said that the name of Sports and Youths Minister Masoud Soltanifar has been removed from the new Statutes of the federation. Speaking about the controversies that aroused over the amendment of the FFIRI Statutes and FIFA’s objections to some of its provisions, Nabi said: “We summarized the views regarding the draft statutes by holding meetings in the last week, and as a result, the reforms considered by FIFA would take place.” “We have sent the amended draft statutes to FIFA and the problems regarding this The top four teams of the tournament will qualify for the issue have been resolved,” he added. 2021 FIFA U20 World Cup in Indonesia Last week FIFA, in a threatening letter to Pourmousavia led Iran to win the 2019 Central Asian Football FFIRI, gave the federation a week (ending Association’s (CAFA). Friday, June 5) to revise its statutes. The 2020 AFC U19 Championship will be the last edition FIFA called on the FFIRI to address to be played as an U19 tournament, as the AFC have proposed some issues, including the reduction of switching the tournament from under-19 to under-20 starting the role of the Iranian sport minister in from 2023. the internal FFIRI affairs. Pourmousavi was appointed as Iran U19 coach in December Nabi announced the complete removal 2018 as replacement for Farhad Pourgholami. of the Sport and Youth Minister from the FFIRI statutes and said: “We have resolved the provisions which FIFA has objected and we would not have any problem in this regard. Iran to meet Oman prior to We appreciate the Ministry of Sport and 2022 World Cup resumption Youth for accompanying us. FIFA’s issues and objections will definitely be resolved. the FFIRI also talked about the possibility The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) meetings. It will now propose a format and Tasnim — Iran national football team will host Oman in Teh- News about the formation of the Normali- of holding the remaining matches of the is committed to completing this year’s Cham- dates for the matches for a “final review”, ran’s ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 zation Committee is not true.” group stage of the AFC Champions League pions League, after discussing the matter after which they must be approved by the and AFC Asian Cup China 2023. Meanwhile, the Secretary General of in West Asia in one host country. with member federations during online AFC Competitions Committee. Iran will have four matches in late March and early June. Iran sit five points behind leaders Iraq in Group C but having played one game fewer. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Two Iranian female riders handed four-year doping ban will reportedly resume in October. SPORTS TEHRAN — Maedeh Nazari and Fatemeh Hadavand won the junior national championships deskHadavand have been handed out four-year back in 2015, winning both the time trial and the road doping bans by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). race in the same year. Ezatolahi, Ebrahimi to Both Iranian female riders tested positive at the 2018 She went on to finish third in the elite nationals the Asian Track Championships in Malaysia. following year. leave Eupen Nazari and Hadavand had anabolic steroids in their Nazari has also claimed medals in Iran’s national system during the track competition, which resulted in championships, taking second in the time trial and third PLDC — A Belgian site has reported that Iranian players Saeid the UCI handing out bans two years later. in the road race in 2016. Ezatolahi and will leave Eupen in the summer. Nazari, 21, and Hadavand 22, have both been banned for Both riders have also claimed national titles on the track. Nieuwsblad has reported Ebrahimi, who joined the Belgian four years, with their suspension back-dated to the date the The riders were tested two days apart on February 2018 club on loan in 2019, will return to Qatari club Al Ahli. anti-doping rule violations were committed, which means at the Asian Track Champs at the Velodrom Nasional in Ezatolahi, who also joined Eupen from English Championship they will be eligible to race again in 2022. Nilai, Malaysia. side Reading, will return Rostov in the summer. Eupen are a Belgian club based in the city of Eupen in the German-speaking Community of Belgium, Jahanbakhsh, Gucci nominated for Tamas Ajan: IWF president ‘corrupt in the province of Liège. The team currently compete in the Belgian First Division A, Asia’s greatest player at highest level’ and play their home matches at the Kehrwegstadion. Iranian players An independent report has found and have nom- “corruption at the highest level” in inated for the Asia’s greatest Eredi- international weightlifting. Tahbaz 2nd at Online Asian visie player. It said former International Weight- Born in Mashad and spending the lifting Federation president Tamas Ajan, Junior Chess C’ship majority of his childhood in the Neth- 81, operated a “culture of fear”. erlands, Ghoochannejhad spent four Investigator, law professor Richard IRNA — Arash Tahbaz from Iran finished in second place at seasons plying his trade in the second McLaren, said Hungarian Ajan inter- online Asian Junior Chess Championship. tier in his early twenties, A stellar return of 21 goals in 33 matches fered in anti-doping efforts and oversaw autocratic leader, who dictated through Tahbaz came second with 6.5 points. A chess player from but it is his more recent exploits which in the 2017-18 season included two hat- financial mismanagement in his pursuit various control mechanisms everything won the gold medal with 7.5 points. have earned a place on our shortlist. tricks, and was complemented by 12 assists, of “absolute control”. that occurred within the organization,” Tabatabaie and Parham Maghsoudlu ranked 6th and 7th, After stints in Belgium, England, Qatar but Jahanbakhsh’s brilliant final campaign Ajan resigned from his role in April. said McLaren in a Zoom conference. respectively. and Kuwait, an outstanding 2016-17 sea- in the Eredivisie was the culmination of The investigation into the IWF “His (Ajan’s) obsession with control Mobina Ali Nasab, Anahita Zahedifar and Mitra Asgharza- son saw the Iranian forward finish second five years of groundwork. began in February, following a doc- made it a culture of fear that prevented a deh represented Iran’s female team and Parham Maghsoodloo, in the Eredivisie scorers’ race, netting a A shining light at NEC Nijmegen, umentary by German state broadcaster vibrant and robust sports administration. Arash Tahbaz and Mohammad Amin Tabatabaei were members history-making hat-trick against PSV and the club’s Player of the Season in ARD called Secret Doping - Lord of “We found systemic government of Iran’s male team. Eindhoven in the process. their 2014-15 promotion campaign, he the Lifters, which featured alleged failures and corruption at the highest Eight more goals the following season went on to star for AZ, finishing with corruption within the sport. level of the IWF.” preceded moves to Cyprus and Australia, 39 goals and 31 assists in just over 100 McLaren, who is from Canada, also led In a statement, the World Anti-Doping Report: Arsenal contacts with the man known as ‘Gucci’ returning Eredivisie appearances. the investigation into the Russian doping Agency (Wada) said it “welcomes the work to Dutch football with PEC Zwolle at the The Iranian duo will compete with scandal, which resulted in a four-year that has been carried out” by McLaren. Arshavin over potential beginning of the 2019-20 season. Fandi Ahmad (SIN), Brett Holman (AUS), ban from all major sport for the country. “Once Wada has had the opportu- Also, many Asian players have made an Huh Jung-moo (KOR), He served 24 years as the IWF general nity to review that evidence as well move for Azmoun impact in European leagues, but Iranian (AUS), Lee Young-pyo (KOR), Park Ji- secretary and 20 as president, joining as the report in full, the agency will winger Jahanbakhsh is one of a very select sung (KOR) and Shinji Ono (JPN) to be the organization in 1976. consider the next appropriate steps Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta has contacted his former Gunners group to have finished a season as the top named as the greatest player. “I found an organization that had been to take,” it added. teammate Andrey Arshavin over a potential move for Zenit St. goal scorer in a top-flight competition. (Source: the-afc) subject for close to half a century to an (Source: BBC) Petersburg striker . Azmoun, 25, has been in excellent form for Zenit once again this season – netting 14 goals in 29 appearances and boasting a Iranian up-and-coming star Javad Karimi awaits time to shine Javad Karimi is a promising young setter from the Iranian one who influenced me. When I was young, he would take men’s national team waiting for his turn to shine on the court. me to play volleyball with him. I trained under different There are several up-and-coming setters on the Iranian coaches and I trained hard to be invited to the youth na- roster and they all look up to captain and world-class setter tional team. I positively took one stage after another until Saeid Marouf. Karimi, who came from the junior team, rose I got a spot in the senior national team.” through the ranks to become Iran’s second setter. “When you play in the national team, it is all about With Marouf setting very high standards for the position, flag and country. Everyone’s focus would be on perfor- rookie setter Karimi plays his role solidly and has created mance. When you play in a club, it is a profession which high standards for himself by providing great plays expected can earn a living for the athlete. Playing professionally of him by his coaches and teammates. also helps you work on your skills. Karimi is big in talent and desire, and while he is waiting “Since starting my professional career, I always to step into a leadership position, he patiently waits for his dreamt about playing in the Olympic Games. That is creative side, with seven assists. But he is expected to leave this turn and performs effectively as the team’s second setter. a big accomplishment for any player. I was so happy summer, despite the health crisis. “We have good players in our team,” said Marouf about the day we earned the Tokyo 2020 berth as this is the Indeed, Arsenal is keen with doubts over the future of Karimi’s performance at the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Men’s biggest success in my career so far.” Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette. Arteta World Cup in Japan. “In each position we have young play- Karimi is set for a promising future, but for now he is has spoken to Arshavin, who is on a committee at Zenit to do ers. I think now our second setter (Karimi) is playing very just as thrilled as any young talent about what comes next. with first-team transfers. well. He has enough focus on the game.” at the FIVB World Cup in Japan truly demonstrated his The 22-year old budding star signed a two-year contract in Aubameyang is Arsenal’s top scorer and one of the biggest Karimi feels fortunate to play under a great leader like drive and passion for the game. April with Belgian club Greenyard Maaseik and will be the reasons why they aren’t in the bottom half of the Premier Marouf, but also looks up to many other setters. “The 2019 FIVB World Cup is one of the biggest tour- first Iranian player to play in that league. League table. “Playing with Marouf is a great experience. This only naments for me, probably next to the Olympic Games. “It’s great to have this opportunity to play in a foreign The Iranian is also experienced on the international netting means that I am learning from one of the world’s best Playing against the top players in the world gave me an club. Any player would welcome this kind of experience. I 31 goals in just 46 caps for his country so far. setters. I am so lucky to be in the same team as Marouf amazing experience. I played many matches in this tour- am pleased to be able to play overseas at this young age. I Azmoun has had an impressive season in Russia with Zenit. because he is such a generous leader who shares his ex- nament and I gained a lot of experience from it.” am happy that I joined a great club in Europe which is led The Iranian, still only 25, has scored 14 goals and has provided perience to the younger players,” Karimi said. He is still enhancing his reputation as a worthy suc- by a great coach. I hope I can be a good ambassador for seven assists in all competitions this season. “I follow a lot of players, especially the plays of the best cessor to the Iranian first setter Marouf, and the young- Iranian volleyball in Belgium.” AC Milan and Napoli are also interested in signing Azmoun setters in the world. I study them and their strong points ster is hopeful to bring his team similar success as he He has a simple wish for the future. this summer. However, if Arteta really wants to bring him in, and try to use them in my own game.”His latest competi- demonstrates his abilities, earns his place in the roster “I just wish my teammates, my coaches and the fans will he will be hoping that his relationship with Arshavin helps sway tion was at the Tokyo Continental Volleyball Qualification and works on his progress each day. be satisfied with my game.” the deal towards North London. tournament in Jiangmen, China, but his shining moments “I come from a volleyball family. My father was the (Source: FIVB) (Source: HITC) Prayer Times Noon:13:03 Evening: 20:39 Dawn: 5:03 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:48 (tomorrow) JUNE 6, 2020 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Mohammad Shojaeian Editor-in-Chief: Ali A.Jenabzadeh Global music streaming providers offering Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Hossein Alizadeh’s “Radif Navazi” Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051430 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 ARTTEHRAN — Several international music Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 deskstreaming and media services providers, including Webmaster: [email protected] Spotify in Sweden and Rockol in Italy, are offering “Radif Navazi” Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 (Playing Radifs), an educational album of Iranian traditional music by tar virtuoso Hossein Alizadeh. In everyday Persian usage, radif means row, order or series. Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 However, in Persian classical music, the word denotes a certain arraying of melodic structures exerting a special priority, a kind No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran of logic and esthetics declaring a cultivated vision towards music. P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Radif is used in at least 2 different and simultaneously Zip Code: 1599814713 interrelated meanings in technical music terminology: First, as an abstract term, it signifies the sum total of melodic arrangements in all of the seven dastgahs in Persian classical music. Second, used in relation to a specific dastgah, it means the ordering of existing melodies in a particular dastgah. The word dastgah in the means “system”, as well as “equipment”. The suffix “-gah” signifies a place of doing something. For instance, daneshgah (university) means the place of science (danesh). Here, dastgah is used in two different significations: First, the totality of melodies of a certain musical system, e.g. dastgah-e GUIDE TO Shur consists of Shur, Abuata, Bayat-e Tork, Afshari, Dashti and SPIRITUAL AWAKENING their related gushehs. Second, the word refers to the frets of a string instrument (dast means “hand”, hence dastgah literally denotes God has given man intelligence to deliver “the place of the hand”). Persian classical music consists of seven major systems – dastgahs himself from distress and anxiety. and five minor ones – avaz. Thus we can say that the radif is the Imam Ali (AS) totality formed by these 7 dastgahs and 5 avazes. The radifs were composed by Mirza Abdollah Farahani, a tar and setar virtuoso who lived from 1843 to 1918. The collection was performed by Nur-Ali Borumand, who WHAT’S IN ART GALLERIES also taught many Iranian singers and musicians during the Painting twentieth century. Paintings by Elahyar Najafi are Alizadeh has performed the collection based teachings from currently on view in an exhibition Borumand. at Aran Gallery. The album was originally released in 1991 by the Mahoor Institute Tar virtuoso Hossein Alizadeh performs during a concert at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on May 8, The exhibition named “The Tow- of Culture and Art, a Tehran-based label. 2018. (Honaronline/Hassan Motahhari) er of Babel” runs until June 11 at the gallery located at 5 Lolagar St., Neauphle-le-Chateau St. Tehran meeting studies influence of Imam Khomeini on Persian literature Mohammad Khalili is displaying his latest paintings in an exhibition Tuesday to discuss the influence of Imam Khomeini, which contains a selection of poetry and memories of Afghan at O Gallery. the founder of the Islamic Republic, on Persian poetry people about Imam Khomeini. The exhibit titled “Geometry of Si- and literature. “I actually tried to show the Iranian people that Imam lence” will continue until June 15 Scholar Hossein Qarai and Afghan poet Mohammad-Sarvar Khomeini has had many followers, not only in Iran but also at the gallery, located at 18 Shahin Rajai, who is also the deputy director of the Afghanistan across the borders,” he said. St., Sanai St. Literature House in Tehran, attended the meeting named For his part, Qarai, a researcher of the oral history of Entezami Gallery is showcasing “The Age of Ruhollah”. revolutionary literature, spoke about the roots of the Islamic a collection of paintings by Ali Ra- Speaking at the meeting, Rajai talked about his writing Revolution. himi in an exhibition titled “Along activity and the love and interest of Afghan people towards “I believe the root of the revolution goes back to the the Darkness”. Imam Khomeini. Iranian demonstration on June 4, 1963 which is considered The exhibit will be running until “I was interested in writing when I was a young adult. the beginning of the revolution,” Qarai said. June 10 at the gallery located at I had no one to guide and help me in writing. The very “The demonstration, which continued in several cities such No. 608 Motahhari Ave. first time I decided to write seriously was when I was in as , , Shiraz and Tehran, has been mentioned Iranshahr Gallery is playing Peshawar in Pakistan. I visited Iran’s Cultural Office there in the books by several writers and poets such as Ali-Akbar host to an exhibition of paintings Afghan poet Mohammad-Sarvar Rajai speaks at a meet- and participated in a competition of article writing with the Khoshdel Tehrani and Rahim Makhdumi” Qarai added. by Farshid Larimian. ing on the influence of Imam Khomeini on Persian poetry central theme of Imam Khomeini,” Rajai said. The program ended with poetry recitations by Ali- The exhibit titled “Unheilich: A and literature at the Iran Public Libraries Foundation on “I took third place in that competition. And later, I Mohammad Moaddab and Sara Jelodarian. Journey to the Field of the Un- June 2, 2020. traveled to Iran and continued my writing activity under The death anniversary of Imam Khomeini, which fell on canny” will run until June 24 at CULTURE TEHRAN – The Iran Public Libraries the supervision of several Iranian masters,” he added. June 3 this year, was observed in numerous cultural events the gallery located at 1/69 Sepand deskFoundation organized a session last He next pointed to his book “In the Arms of Hearts” across the country. St., Azodi St. off Karim Khan Blvd. Paintings by Morteza Khosravi, Mina Ghaziani, Mehdi Darvishi, Alireza Adambakan and several Children’s writer Susan Taqdis’s last book published other artists are currently on dis- CULTURE TEHRAN — The last book by Iranian Taqdis, the writer of the acclaimed story “The Eleventh play in an exhibition at Asr Gallery. desk Entitled “A Window to See”, the children’s author Susan Taqdis, who died Step”, died of heart disease at 61. exhibit will continue until June 16 in April, has been published. She commenced her career in writing in Kayhan Bacheha, at the gallery located at 18 Delaviz “O God… O God”, which is the first book of a three-volume Iran’s first children’s magazine, by writing the story “My St. off North Mirzaye Shirazi St. series published by Neyestan, is composed of ten supplica- Daddy Was a Thief”. Multimedia tions in the language of children. Taqdis’s works were honored at several national literary An exhibition of artworks by In this book, whose target audience is children between events. Her story “Did You See a Yellow Nose?” was hon- Jalal Shabahangi, Ali Golestaneh, the ages of eight and ten, children talk to God about their ored in 2007 at the Parvin Etesami Literary Awards, which Ebrahim Faraji, and Manuchehr needs and wishes. It actually provides new insights into are awarded for works by female literati with outstanding Niazi is underway at Negar Gallery. theism for children. achievements in Persian literature. The exhibition will run until June The book can also be viewed as a practice for composition In 2008, she was honored at Iran’s Book of the Year 9 at the gallery located at 154 near for children at school. Awards for her “The Eleventh Step” about a lion cub that Iranshahr St., Karim Khan Blvd. “O God, when I began writing this book I asked never dared to take one more step toward its freedom when Photo you to help me. I said that nobody has written a book the zookeeper forgot to lock its cage’s door. Photos by Sara Rashidi are on of prayers for children, or if there are some books of Her other credits include “Do You See the Crimson Too?”, display in an exhibition at Saye this kind, I have read none of them, so help me write “My Giraffe Is Blue”, “Once Upon a Time”, “Behind the Blue This combination photo shows writer Susan Taqdis and Gallery. good words,” Taqdis wrote in a preface to the book Wall”, “The Life Story of Prophet Noah (AS)”, “The Green her book “O God… O Gad”. The exhibit titled “Manifestation illustrated by Sara Kasiri. Kids” and “The Little Girl and Her Angel”. of a Dream Transformed” will con- tinue until June 10 at the gallery located at No. 21, 13th Alley, Sanai St. off Karim Khan Ave. Culture minister speaks at webinar on Imam Collage Amin Shojaei is displaying a Khomeini, Nelson Mandela collection of his collages in an ex- hibition entitled “Observation” at CULTURE TEHRAN — Minister of Culture and such as for members of parliament and for president, desk Platform 3 Gallery. Islamic Guidance Seyyed were held.” The exhibit will run until June 15 attended a webinar on Imam Khomeini, the founder of the He said that Imam Khomeini’s discipline made the at the gallery, which can be found Islamic Republic, and the South African anti-apartheid Islamic Revolution move towards developing social and at 29 Shahamati Alley near Valie hero Nelson Mandela on Wednesday. political systems very quickly, adding, “Imam Khomeini Asr Sqaure. Organized by the Embassy of Iran in the South African had a stable character and did not fear threats made by capital of Pretoria, the minister discussed the roles of the world powers. He had a very honest relationship with Imam Khomeini and Nelson Mandela as the great leaders people and other nations, and defended the oppressed of all time in clarifying the future path. people and stood against the arrogant.” “Damoon Jungle” competing He said that Imam Khomeini and Nelson Mandela both The minister also praised efforts made by Nelson Mandela in Taiwan Intl. Children’s fought for peace and justice and their path still continues. in fighting against apartheid, and said, “He fought against Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed “Imam Khomeini observed discipline in his life and racism for many years and the long years in prison made a Abbas Salehi in an undated photo. Film Festival made use of his time and opportunities the best way steadfast and powerful character out of this personality.” Revolution, also delivered speeches during the webinar. possible,” he said. “Imam Khomeini and Nelson Mandela both fought for Western Cape High Court Judge Siraj Desai and ARTTEHRAN — The Iranian animation “Damoon Pointing to the political thoughts of Imam Khomeini peace and justice and their path will continue forever,” researcher Haroon Aziz were among other participants. deskJungle, Yes or No”, about an elephant that is and his position among people, he said, “Imam Khomeini he concluded. The death anniversary of Imam Khomeini, which fell learning to say “no”, is competing in the Taiwan International established a political system at the very beginning of the Imam Khomeini’s grandson Hassan Khomeini, and Ali on June 3 this year, was observed in numerous cultural Children’s Film Festival (TICFF). victory of the Islamic Revolution where several elections, Akbar Velayati, a top advisor to the Leader of the Islamic events across the country. Co-directed by Hadi Amiri and Raha Faraji, the story is about Filoo, a little elephant who lives in the jungle with other animals. He is super kind to his friends, only too kind. His biggest problem is that he is unable to say “no” to the others. Being asked to take on French dramatist Antoine Rault’s “Le Systeme” to appear in Persian too many unreasonable chores, Filoo always ends up exhausted, but not for long! His encounter with a special mentor changes CULTURE TEHRAN — Iranian instead of gold. Persian,” she added. “Le Démon de Hannah” by Rault, which desk his mindset completely. dramatist and director “I first saw the play performed in Paris “Rault is a graduate of the Paris Institute is a play about the love between Hannah The film has been selected to be screened in the TV/Web Program Golchehr Damghani is currently working by director Antoine Rault and I wanted to of Political Science and is very interested Arendt and the German philosopher Martin section of the festival, which is currently underway in Taipei. on a Persian translation of “Le Systeme” translate it into Persian,” Damghani said. in the world’s political history. I am also Heidegger. “Sloth” by Julia Ocker and “Kids of Courage” by Matthias by French dramatist and novelist Antoine “A good point about works by Rault interested in politics and that is why his Rault is a playwright, a novelist and a Zirzow both from Germany, “Pichintun - Camilo, A Blind Boy” by Rault. is that his stories are based on historical works sound appealing to me. I think his screenwriter who won the prestigious Grand Karen Garib from Chile and “Operation Ouch!” by Eric McFarland, The play is about a young idealistic events. When I saw Rault’s play I became works are very special and unique,” she Prix de l’Académie Française (the French Christian Welsh and Jamie McLeish from UK are also competing Scottish card master, John Law who comes more interested in him and held several noted. Academy Prize) in 2006 and was nominated in this section of the festival, which is organized online this year. up with an ingenious system, under which talks with him during which he showed She said that this is Rault’s second for the Molières, the French equivalent of The festival will run until August 5. France would use paper notes and bonds interest in having his works translated into play, and that she has already translated the Olivier Award, for several of his plays.