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8 Pages Price 50,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 42nd year No.13926 Saturday APRIL 24, 2021 Ordibehesht 4, 1400 Ramadan 11, 1442

Deputy FM of Iran Rostami wins gold at Annual trade with Israel confirms Syrian meets OPCW Asian Weightlifting neighbors missile landed near Dimona director-general Page 3 Championships Page 3 exceeds $36.5b Page 4 nuclear reactor Page 5

Change in mode of uranium enrichment ‘technical,’ Iran says TEHRAN – Iran’s ambassador to the Vi- Gharibabadi said on Twitter on Friday. enna-based international organizations He added, “In the new mode, two IR-6 has offered explanation about the country’s & IR-4 cascades are coupled and with one decision to change the mode by which it time UF6 injection enriched up to 5%, two was producing uranium up to 60%, saying different products of 60 & 20% is accumulated. the decision was “technical.” Enrichment operation became more efficient.” “There is no need for odd speculations. The Iranian diplomat was comment- See page 3 Change in the mode of 60% enrichment is ing on press reports suggesting that Iran Iron dumb a technical decision and was foreseen in had changed the mode of producing 60% the DIQ which was provided to the IAEA uranium enrichment. last week before the operation,” Kazem Continued on page 3

Over $1.9b of agricultural projects inaugurated TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani job opportunities for over 42,300 people. on Thursday inaugurated several agricultural Some 3,913 of the inaugurated projects projects worth 81.47 trillion rials (about $1.93 were related to installing new irrigation billion) through video conference in various systems that covered an area of 72,000 provinces, IRNA reported. hectares, while 150 projects were imple- The mentioned projects which were mented in the fisheries sector and 571 put into operation in a variety of fields projects were related to livestock and including water and soil, fisheries, live- poultry sectors. stock and poultry, are going to provide Continued on page 4

Israel’s failure to A new definition of Hijab in the intercept Syrian book “Oven of Friendship” TEHRAN - The book “Tanoor Doosti” by presenting Hijab as a blessing which authored by Zeinab Karimi, asserts the teenagers need to appreciate. missile highlights weak importance of ‘Hijab’ for teenagers in With an emphasis on the restrictions an innovative piece with the purpose placed on Muslim women in France, the spot of air defenses of safeguarding the Iranian cultural author makes a comparison between the identity. living conditions of Muslim women in The book targets teenage readers with Iran and abroad and refers to the policies a storyline about Hijab and its effects on of European governments in preventing

AP day-to-day life, with the author skillfully the spread of the Hijab culture. developing a relationship with readers Continued on page 8 Iran realizing the Let’s reverse the destructive Yemeni Army hits Aramco, rights to participate trend of planet Malik Khalid Air Base at Beach Soccer BY FARANAK BAKHTIARI of clean air, clean water, beautiful scenery, and The spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces yadh-allied officials. TEHRAN – It is the duty of each and every one everything we humans need. Therefore, we must informed that Saudi Arabia’s Aramco and Malik Tens of thousands of Yemenis have perished World Cup of us on Earth to be determined to reverse the think and pay attention to the preservation and Khalid Air Base have been targeted. during the aggression that has been accompanied destructive trend of this planet. Having a healthy protection of this valuable treasure every day The operation has been done by three drones by a crippling siege of the Arab world’s already BY FARROKH HESABI planet is not a choice, it is a necessity. and every moment, Kalantari wrote. including two Qasif-2-K and one Samad-3, he poorest nation. ran beach soccer national team In a message on the occasion of World Earth Ecosystem regeneration is the ability of an said on Friday. The Abha airport that is based in a city of the are pursuing their right to par- Day 2021, Kioumars Kalantari, head of the natural ecosystem-- specifically, the environment and Saree said that the drones hit their targets same name and the nearby King Khalid Airbase, ticipate in the FIFA Beach Soc- environment and biodiversity of the Department its living population-- to recover from damage. with precision. located close to the city of Khamis Mushait, I of Environment stressed that we must reverse The healthier and richer the biodiversity of an He said that the attack has been a response are the two locations, from which most of the cer World Cup Russia 2021. Following the Asian Football Confed- the destructive trend of the planet. ecosystem, the more useful and efficient the to Saudi Arabia’s continued aggression, siege, Saudi-led coalition’s attacks against Yemen eration (AFC) announcement, and based Held annually on April 22, the event is the ecosystem services will be. Improving the health and ongoing crimes against the Yemeni people. originate. on two agreed criteria, Japan, Oman, and world’s largest environmental movement. It of ecosystems means improving the health of According to MNA, the Yemeni military official The new retaliation came shortly after Saree United Arab Emirates have been chosen to was started in 1970 after 3 million gallons of oil the earth and the life of all its inhabitants. warned the Saudi regime that it would witness said the Yemeni defense forces were preparing represent the AFC in the FIFA Beach Soccer spilled off the coast of California the year before. There is a strong link between the threat of a wider and larger operation if it continues ag- for a large-scale counteroffensive to avenge the World Cup. It was shocking that Iran, as In Iran, World Earth Day 2021 is held on more pandemics and humanity’s destruction gression and siege against the Yemeni nation. blood of Saleh Ali al-Sammad, the first president one of the Asia’s best, were not selected April 22-29 with the national theme of “pre- of nature, according to the WHO. Revers- Malik Khalid Air Base is leading a military of Yemen’s Supreme Political Council. among the continent’s representatives serving the planet, increasing productivity for ing both trends will have multiple benefits, coalition in the aggression on Yemen since 2015. The spokesman made the remarks on the third as the team who have all the necessary sustainable development”. including climate change, but will require The Saudi kingdom and its allies have been anniversary of Sammad’s martyrdom on April criteria to be among the selected teams. Not a specific day, but every day belongs to the concerted effort. waging the war for more than seven years in 19, 2018 in an attack by Saudi warplanes against In determining the AFC’s representa- earth. A land that provides us with the blessings Continued on page 7 a futile attempt to restore Yemen’s former Ri- his vehicle in Yemen’s al-Hudaydah Province. tives for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Russia 2021, the AFC Executive Commit- tee agreed to the AFC Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee’s recommendation of Isfahan’s Imam Mosque restoration reaches final stage China seeks to balance utilizing the point system, which ranks the TEHRAN – The project to restore the dome of has been commenced on the huge dome,” CHTN Square. Its construction began in 1611 during the U.S. naval power, performances of the Continent’s top eight Isfahan’s iconic Imam Mosque has entered its quoted Allahyari as saying on Thursday. rule of the Safavid King Shah Abbas the Great teams in the last three editions of the AFC final phase, according to Fereydoun Allahyari, The official voiced hope the restoration project, who reigned from 1588 to 1629. The mosque’s Turkish expert says Beach Soccer Asian Cup. Accordingly, the head of the provincial department for the Cultural which is carried out at a height of 50 meters, topmost dome was completed in the last year three mentioned teams were selected as Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ministry. comes to an end within the next four months of his sovereignty. BY MOHAMMAD MAZHARI Asia’s representatives. “Restoration of the historical dome of Imam following more than ten years of efforts. The monument is not only impressive because TEHRAN – A Turkish political pundit says that China However, the Football Federation of Mosque, which entailed several stages, including Originally named Masjed Shah (“the Shah of its sheer size and incredible decorations but also tries to curb the U.S. naval power by developing an the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) in a the repair, reconstruction, and substructure of Mosque”), the big, grand, and imposing Imam helps to get a good impression of the needs and alternative route to the U.S. energy corridor sover- letter has questioned the AFC’s decision the lower parts, began in 2010 after its tiles went Mosque stands tall at the southern end of the challenges of always ongoing restoration works. eignty in West Asia. not to include the country’s beach soccer inflated. And now, the reinstallation of the tiles UNESCO-registered Imam (Naghsh-e Jahan) Continued on page 6 “China also purposes such as, balancing the U.S. among the top three teams. naval power by developing an alternative route to “Based on the ranking of the point system the U.S. energy corridor sovereignty, to shorten the and the teams’ performances in the last three route that takes Middle Eastern (West Asia) oil to editions of the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup, Chinese ports and to facilitate access to oil,” Tahsin Iran are the second-best team of Asia,” a source Yamak tells the Tehran Times. close to the FFIRI told the Tehran Times. Pakistan Yamak, expert on international political economy, “It is bizarre that Oman and the UAE says China is to increase its influence in West Asia by have been preferred to Iran. We have FM Qureshi “deploying near the Strait of Hormuz and disabling carefully reviewed and analyzed the AFC the Strait of Malacca by building strategic ports.” Technical Report in 2015, 2017, and 2019. On April 16, the White House welcomed Japa- Based on the calculation of the overall visits Imam nese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide’s visit to the ranking for the top eight teams of each United States who was the first foreign leader to visit edition, Iran are the second best team. Washington since Joe Biden was elected president. It’s a purely mathematical system, and Raza shrine It was announced that the cooperation in the region it’s impossible to obtain different results would be strengthened. from the same formula. We believe that The talks provided Biden, a Democrat, a chance to work Iran definitely have the right to participate in Mashhad further on his pledge to revitalize U.S. alliances that had in the 2021 World Cup,” the source added. frayed under his Republican predecessor Donald Trump. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehdi Taj, the former president of the China topped the agenda, underscoring Japan’s Mahmood Qureshi paid his respects at FFIRI, is the chairman of the AFC Futsal central role in U.S. efforts to face Beijing. the shrine of Imam Raza (AS) in Mash- and Beach Soccer Committee. The Iranian Meanwhile, China is extending its influence in had on Thursday and met the custodian football federation expects him to use his West Asia through cooperation agreements with of Astan Quds Razavi Ahmed Marvi. position to realize the rights of the beach regional powers. The meeting focused on the need for soccer national team. “The Strategic Cooperation Agreement, signed unity among Muslim world and uphold- between China and Iran on March 27, 2021, is im- The AFC has not responded to the FFI- ing the reverence of Prophet Muhammad RI’s letter so far. The 2021 FIFA Beach portant in achieving China’s goal under OBOR,” (Peace Be Upon Him). Soccer World Cup is scheduled to take ISNA Yamak says. Continued on page 2 place in Moscow from Aug. 19 to 29. Continued on page 5 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS APRIL 24 2021 CENTCOM chief: Iran ‘currently possesses one Iran only backs Yemen politically, Foreign Ministry says of the most capable militaries” in West Asia POLITICAL TEHRAN— The Ministry of Foreign Affairs deskissued a statement on Friday declaring Iran’s support for United Nations efforts to bring an end to the war in POLITICAL TEHRAN — Two days he said, “We saw they demonstrated in the Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition. deskafter his admission that attack on Al-Assad air base in January of In the statement, the ministry reiterated that the Islamic of the U.S. has lost air superiority to Iran, Central 2020, where the Iranian missiles generally Republic of Iran only provides political support to the Yemenis Command (CENTCOM) Commander Gen. hit within tens of meters of the targets they against the Saudi-led invasion. Kenneth McKenzie spoke at a press conference chose for them. That is very concerning to me.” The statement came after former petroleum minister Rostam held at the Pentagon on Thursday, reiter- He went on to explain significant military Ghasemi claimed Iran provides military advice to the Yemenis. ating that Iran knows how to use advanced achievements by Iran, saying that the Islamic Since the start of the Saudi-led war on Yemen in March 2015 military equipment. Republic has invested heavily in its drone Iran has been pushing for an end to the war on Yemen, which Responding to a question about the range program, making significant accomplishments the United Nations has described as the worst humanitarian and precision of the Iranian military equip- over the last five years. disaster in the contemporary history. ment, McKenzie stated that the Iranian mili- In response to a question about the Iranian tary equipment has grown both qualitatively nuclear program, he said “They have done and quantitatively. nothing that is irreversible up to this point.” U.S. willing to lift only financial “Over the last five to seven years, the In response to a question to clarify what Iranians have made remarkable qualitative he means about the Iranian nuclear program and oil sanctions: WSJ improvements in their ballistic missile force, he said, that is a question for the Department while it has grown quantitatively as well. Their of State, but his brief comment would be POLITICAL TEHRAN — As the nuclear negotiations are numbers, depending on how you choose to that Iran wants to see what happens in the deskprogressing in Vienna, there are so much to be count the weapons, something a little less negotiations with the United States. discussed. It seems that the main dispute is over the specifics. Iran than 3000 of various ranges. Nonetheless On Tuesday, April 20, Gen. McKenzie insists on removing all sanctions, but the U.S. has shown a positive their accuracy has become much better than admitted that “For the first time since the signal to removing oil and finance sanctions only. it used to be. That is very concerning to me.” Korean War, we are operating without com- According to people familiar with the matter, the Biden adminis- Elaborating on what he means by that, plete air superiority.” tration has indicated that it is willing to ease sanctions against crucial elements of Iran’s economy, such as oil and finance, in order to further narrow gaps in nuclear talks. Despite the progress, senior diplomats have warned that weeks of tough talks over the 2015 nuclear deal lie ahead, and that progress is Saudi Arabia has shown ‘positive signals’ for dialogue, says Iran’s Khatibzadeh shaky. Domestic politics in Washington and Tehran, as well as Iran’s POLITICAL TEHRAN — In a virtual meeting through on for four years, stressing that “this agreement does not refusal to meet directly with the U.S., complicate the talks in Vienna. deskClubhouse social media platform, hosted reflect on Iran’s relations with other countries. Our rela- Senior officials concluded five days of talks in Vienna this week, on April 20 by Al-Jazeera analyst Ali Hashem, Iranian tionship with China is separate from our relationship with with delegations returning home until negotiations resume next week. Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh answered other countries. China is one of our main partners, and it According to those involved in the negotiations, progress has been questions by reporters from credible media around the is natural for us to sign such agreements.” made as the U.S. has set out more clearly the contours of the sanctions world. ‘Verification of sanctions removal takes time’ relief it is willing to provide. The Clubhouse session lasted for 100 minutes. Regarding the possible lifting of U.S. sanctions on Tw people connected to the delegates reported that the United “It is in the interest of Iran and Saudi Arabia and regional Iran and the Vienna talks, Khatibzadeh explained that “it States is willing to lift terror sanctions against Iran’s central bank, stability and peace that we find a way to resolve disputes,” is natural that we are in a position today that we should national oil and tanker firms, and other primary economic sectors said Khatibzadeh in response to a question about recent verify America’s removal of sanctions, and we will not ac- such as steel and aluminum. According to a senior European official, reports on possible Iran-Saudi Arabia dialogue. cept the removal of sanctions on paper only, and upon Washington has also indicated future sanctions relief for industries Khatibzadeh clarified, “We are working on building verification we will return to our full commitments to the such as textiles, automobiles, transportation, and insurance, all of dialogues on the region,” refusing to confirm or deny nuclear agreement.” which Iran was expected to benefit from under the 2015 deal. news of meetings between Saudi and Iranian officials. He added, “We want to verify the removal of sanctions According to people familiar with the matter, U.S. officials in Vi- He affirmed that Iran always welcomes any positive on oil, trade and banking relations, and this is not an easy enna summarized the forms of sanctions relief being discussed, but dialogues between countries in the region and between task and what we are looking at in the Vienna negotiations did not provide a specific proposal. actors in global politics. is to look at how to verify the removal of sanctions.” The two countries disagree over Iran’s request that the United There have always been efforts by Iran to try to create The spokesman then explained the procedure, stating with Moscow, and we have various joint projects and we States remove its broad “international terrorist group” classification cooperation and dialogue with Saudi Arabia, he remarked. that the first step is the negotiations with P4+1. “First, we expect that there will be a draft of various agreements of the IRGC. According to internal sources, the U.S. is not currently “I can say that there have been many positive signals have to negotiate with the 4+1 countries and these countries with Russia, and visits have taken place between officials considering lifting terror sanctions against the IRGC. from Saudi Arabia as well,” he said, stressing that “there should negotiate with the U.S., and this needs arrangements to reach that.” According to officials, the United States’ designation of Iran’s Leader is a desire in Iran to restore relations with Riyadh.” to negotiate the way in which the sanctions are lifted.” Iran supports inter-Afghan talks Seyed Ali Khamenei’s office as a terrorist organization is also likely The Iranian official pointed out “we have many points for He also said that nobody can predict the timing of reaching Khatibzadeh also said that “the security and stability to cause friction. discussion with Saudi Arabia, including the files of Yemen, conclusions on the revival of the JCPOA and verification of Afghanistan is the security and stability of Iran”, and An Iranian official said a return to the nuclear agreement would and Iran has supported from day one internal dialogue in of the lifting of sanctions. therefore what is happening in Afghanistan has always only end 800 new U.S. sanctions and terror designations, just about Yemen and supported the efforts of the United Nations Referring to the temporary agreement between Iran and been important for Iran. half the 1,500 that Iran estimates have been imposed on its economic there, and we expect Saudi Arabia to help stop this human the International Atomic Energy Agency on snap inspections Recalling Iran’s support to achieve peace in Afghanistan, sectors, institutions, companies and individuals. tragedy and support the efforts of the United Nations.” within the Additional Protocol to the NPT, which expires the diplomat referred to the Bonn Conference in 2001 Khatibzadeh stated that Iran has always played a con- in May, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said, “Iran is in in which Iran played a key role in helping establish the Iran has not made any structive role in the region. no hurry to negotiate, but at the same time does not want government in Afghanistan and helped Afghans to draft “We always try to have a strong region, and what hap- protracted talks.” their current constitution and promote the rights of vari- irreversible nuclear moves: pened in Yemen is not because of Iran’s policy, but because He continued, “There is always light at the end of the ous groups, including women, minorities and ethnicities. of Saudi Arabia’s war on those countries.” tunnel, but the devil is in the details.” He pointed to Iran’s approach to the Taliban, saying U.S. general ‘Iran doesn’t interfere in Lebanon’ U.S. failed to turn Iran into Venezuela “The Taliban can be part of Afghanistan’s future, but not Regarding the situation in Lebanon, the Iranian For- Khatibzadeh also said, “The ‘maximum pressure’ policy all of Afghanistan’s future” and that is why Iran supports POLITICAL TEHRAN — A top U.S. general said on Thursday eign Ministry spokesman pointed out that “the situation put in place by former U.S. President Donald Trump has inter-Afghan dialogue. desk that Iran had not done anything in its nuclear in Lebanon is like the situation in the rest of the countries failed, and everyone knows that it did not reach its desired Regarding a plan by the U.S. to pull out its troops from program that was irreversible, Reuters reported. of the region, and we are far from Lebanon and we do not results, despite all the losses suffered by our economy and Afghanistan by September 11, Khatibzadeh said the exit “They’ve done nothing that is irreversible,” Marine General Ken- interfere with what is happening inside the country.” our people.” should be done in a responsible way to achieve the desired neth McKenzie, head of the U.S. Central Command, told reporters. Khatibzadeh said that he believes the U.S. policy during He continued, “Maximum pressure failed, and they failed results. However, he described U.S. policy in Afghanistan Since May 2019, one year after the Trump administration quit the Donald Trump’s presidency was to portray the region as to stop the peaceful Iranian nuclear program and failed as “still vague”. 2015 nuclear deal, Iran has removed bans on its nuclear activities in a battlefield. to make the Iranian economy similar to the Venezuelan The spokesman also blamed the current situation in response to the U.S. abrogation of the agreement and imposition of “Iran is always working to separate the conflict with economy, and here we are.” Afghanistan for the wrong policies of the United States primary and secondary sanctions. America from its policy in the region, and we do not want He explained why Iran does not care about the U.S. and called for a responsible U.S. withdrawal. In late 2020, the Iranian parliament approved a legislation obliging to make the region an arena for conflict with America,” Congress move in continuing the “maximum pressure” ‘Referendum is the final solution to Palestine’ the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) to speed up nuclear the spokesman remarked. campaign on Iran. In the final part of this virtual conversation, Khatibzadeh activities as the United States is refusing to lift illegal sanctions on Iran. Al-Jazeera analyst Ali Hashem pointed to some pub- “We started to develop the economy and make progress was asked several questions by analysts and journalists For example, it asked the AEOI to enrich uranium to the purity of 20 lished reports that some meetings have been held between in this regard. Therefore, we do not care about U.S. do- aware of the issues in Iran and the region. percent and install advanced centrifuges and suspend the voluntary Iranian security officials and countries such as Jordan and mestic policy, and if the U.S. Congress wants maximum One question was about the prospects of the disputes Additional Protocol to the NPT. the UAE, asking whether this is the same regional dialogue pressure on us to continue, we are not afraid of that.” between Iran and Israel in which the spokesman said the When voting for the legislation, the Iranian parliament gave the that Iran has been seeking for a long time. ‘Nuclear weapon contrary to Iran’s ideology’ root of the regional problems lie with the Israeli regime, U.S. side some time to remove sanctions. However, it said if it did In response, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said, “In Regarding the nature of the Iranian nuclear program, calling the Israel regime an existential threat to coun- not do so Iran would take such steps. our region, there are indigenous and endogenous initiatives Khatibzadeh stressed that “Iran’s position has been very tries and people in the region and a source of terrorism Also, in response to the sabotage operation at the Natanz nuclear and frameworks, such as the letter of the Persian Gulf clear from the beginning that it does not aspire to work on in West Asia. facility on April 11, for which Israel’s Mossad intelligence service is Cooperation Council, which was brought to Iran by the building a nuclear weapon, and this issue is contrary to While insisting that Iran does not recognize the Tel the prime suspect, Iran decided to enrich uranium to 60 percent and Emir of Kuwait, and the Hormuz Peace Initiative, which Iran’s ideology. That is why Iran has always insisted that Aviv regime, Khatibzadeh reiterated Iran’s long-held replace damaged IR1 centrifuges with advanced ones. can be pursued.” its nuclear activities will never be diverted to a weapons position that the final solution to the Palestinian issue Despite all these moves, Iran has been insisting that if the U.S. ‘China is one of Iran’s main partners’ program.” lies in holding a referendum with the participation of all lifts illegal sanction, it will reverse its remedial measures. Responding to a question about the envisioned long term ‘Iran, Russia have excellent relations’ original inhabitants of Palestine to determine their fate. Hopes are rising for a possible revival of the 2015 nuclear agree- cooperation plan between Iran and China, Khatibzadeh On the quality of ties between Tehran and Moscow, He added that the Zionist regime is the main cause of ment as the new Biden administration has expressed willingness to noted that the agreement is a roadmap, and it was worked the Iranian diplomat said, “We have excellent relations many bloody wars in the region. return to the multilateral agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Iran and the remaining parties to the JCPOA – the four permanent members of the UN Security Council – plus Germany have been holding talks in Vienna to resuscitate the agreement. The sides plan Pakistan FM Qureshi visits Imam Raza shrine in Mashhad to meet in Vienna next week. 1 Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah more than half a million Pakistani Zaireen Zarif also said the two countries of Iran hani the ways and means to strengthen close On Wednesday, a senior State Department official told reporters Mahmood Qureshi paid his respects at the who visit Mashhad every year.” and Afghanistan “agreed to enhance bilateral bilateral relations, rooted in shared history, that there had some progress during the second round of indirect shrine of Imam Raza (AS) in Mashhad on The custodian of Astan Quds Razavi cooperation and regional coordination on culture, faith and language,” according to talks with Iran. “There are still disagreements, in some cases pretty Thursday and met the custodian of Astan thanked the foreign minister for launching Afghanistan, Palestine, multilateralism, and the press release. He also underlined Prime important ones,” the official said, according to Al Arabiya. Quds Razavi Ahmed Marvi. a comprehensive policy for the convenience fighting anti-Muslim bigotry.” Minister Imran Khan’s vision to strengthen Asked about claims by Israel that the U.S. was not fully transparent The meeting focused on the need for unity of the pilgrims. Foreign Minister Qureshi also wrote a ties with Iran in diverse fields with an em- about revitalizing the nuclear deal, the official pushed back and said among Muslim world and upholding the Pakistan’s ambassador to Tehran Ra- similar tweet, saying, “Great to meet brother phasis on expanding mutually beneficial this was not true. reverence of Prophet Muhammad (Peace him Hayat Qureshi and consul general in Javad Zarif for a multi-faceted discussion economic cooperation and development. In a report on April 18, AXIOS reported Israeli military intelligence Be Upon Him). Mashhad were also present. on trade, connectivity, cultural cooperation, “Commitment to deepen relations and senior officials in the Mossad briefed a meeting of the security He said Muslim scholars must play their Earlier, the foreign minister was received establishment of border sustenance mar- with Iran” cabinet that talks in Vienna will lead to the U.S. returning to the JCPOA, role in discouraging the growing trend of by the Deputy governor general Khorasan ketplaces, opening up new border crossings On Twitter, Qureshi said he had shared two officials who attended the meeting said. Islamophobia and expressed satisfaction Razavi on his arrival at Mashhad airport and greater people-to-people. Together we with the Iranian president Pakistan’s com- The Israeli regime is pressing the Biden administration not to that the Iranian leadership was committed from Tehran. will work towards curbing the spread of mitment to deepen relations with Iran in take the sanctions pressure off Iran. to working with Pakistan at internation- Zarif calls talks with Qureshi ‘ex- Islamophobia.” trade, investment, connectivity and border The two intelligence agencies gave similar assessments on where al level to protect the honor of the Holy cellent’ In his meeting with President Hassan management for mutual economic devel- the Vienna talks stand, AXIOS said. Prophet (PBUH). Before departing to Mashhad, Qureshi Rouhani on Wednesday, Qureshi and the opment. “We are not very optimistic to say the least,” a senior Israeli official Qureshi expressed gratitude to the Iranian held talks with senior Iranian officials in- Iranian president exchanged views on the On Wednesday, Qureshi also met the who attended the meeting said. “We will not be surprised if within government for the special facilities being cluding Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad ways to strengthen the two countries’ re- speaker of the Iranian parliament, Moham- weeks the U.S. and other world powers sign a deal with Iran.” provided to Pakistani visitors as thousands Zarif on Tuesday and Wednesday. lations. mad Bagher Ghalibaf. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has told “Fox News Sun- come every year for the pilgrimage of shrines Zarif called his talks with his Pakistani Qureshi, who visited Tehran for an official During their conversation, Qureshi high- day” that the Vienna talks were “constructive” and that there is a real of Imams. counterpart “excellent”. visit on Tuesday, conveyed greetings on behalf lighted the excellent Pakistan-Iran relations effort to get back to mutual compliance of the 2015 nuclear deal. Writing on his Twitter account, Qureshi Describing Qureshi as “my brother and of the Pakistani leadership to Rouhani and and reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to In the coming two weeks the Israeli national security adviser Meir said, “Humbled to pay my respects at the friend” on his Twitter message on Wednesday lauded the Iranian president’s role in leading strengthen ties. Ben Shabbatt, IDF chief of staff Aviv Kochavi, head of Israeli military Shrine of Hazrat Imam Raza (AS), praying night, Zarif said during the Pakistani chief the nation during his tenure, a Pakistani Speaking about parliamentary coopera- intelligence Tamir Hayman and Mossad director Yossi Cohen will for peace and prosperity of and for unity of diplomat’s visit to Iran the two countries Foreign Office statement said, according tion, the minister emphasized the importance visit Washington for talks with their counterparts on Iran, officials the Muslim Ummah. Pakistan is grateful “opened new border crossing and signed to the Dawn. of frequent exchanges to develop common told AXIOS. to Iran for the excellent arrangements for MOU on border markets.” “Qureshi discussed with President Dr Rou- understanding on various issues. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 24, 2021 IRAN IN FOCUS 3 SPORTS Rostami wins gold at Asian Iron dumb Weightlifting Championships

SPORTSTEHRAN — Kinoush Rostami claimed a Israel’s failure to intercept Syrian missile highlights weak spot of air defenses deskgold medal at the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Thursday. POLITICAL TEHRAN – Top-secret “The missile that landed last night around Rostani won a silver medal in the snatch with a lift of 167kg deskIsraeli nuclear reactor of Dimona is a wake-up call,” Eran warned, in the 89kg weight class. Dimona hit global headlines Thursday after a adding that it is no longer possible in Israel The Iranian also won a silver at the clean and jerk by lifting mysterious missile coming from Syria landed to know anything for sure. 206kg. in the vicinity of the facility, setting off air Ordinary Israelis have been kept in the Rostami, Rio 2016 Olympic gold medalist, lifted a total of raid sirens and causing Israeli officials to dark about the events of the past few days. 373kg to finish first. give conflicting reports on what happened One day before the Syrian missile landed Kazakhstan’s Nurgissa Adiletuly won the silver medal with near the nuclear facility. around Dimona, several Israeli media out- a total of 372kg and the bronze medal went to Sarvarbek The Israeli military identified the projec- lets reported that a powerful explosion had Zafarjonov from Uzbekistan who lifted 368kg. tile as an SA-5 surface-to-air missile fired rocked the Tomer factory manufacturing The rescheduled 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships by Syrian forces against Israeli aircraft. advanced weapons. Netanyahu’s rival, Av- (AWC) are taking place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from April An Israeli military spokesman admittedly igdor Lieberman, seized the opportunity 16-25, 2021. said that the missile reached the Dimo- to level criticism at the embattled Israeli na area, 200 km (125 miles) south of the prime minister. Syrian border. He said that there is “no functioning Iranian woman volleyball Although the spokesman said the mis- government, and the power of the deterrence sile did not hit the reactor and exploded is spent.” Liberman noted that Netanyahu player Shirtari joins CD Aves some 30 km (19 miles) away, the fact that “is asleep at the wheel because he is busy a missile flew from Syrian territories all with his personal affairs,” and called on the SPORTSTEHRAN — Iran international setter Negin the way to Israel’s secretive nuclear reactor Knesset to “end the paralysis.” deskShirtari joined Portuguese volleyball club raised alarm bells in Tel Aviv, prompting Criticism over Thursday’s missile against CD Aves. Israeli official to acknowledge their failure Netanyahu arises from the fact that this Shirtari, 23, represented Iran volleyball team in the 2019 in intercepting the missile. missile caused serious troubles to Israel. Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship, where the Persians The Syrian missile that fell near Dimona intercept and destroy rockets and artillery format in the Austrian capital of Vienna to Israel Hayom, a newspaper close to finished in seventh place. was a sizeable blast that could be heard in shells. However, the system failed to protect revive a 2015 nuclear deal, officially known Netanyahu, said the Syrian missile should She is the first Iranian woman player to join a Portuguese team. Jerusalem, about 150km (93 miles) away Israel from missiles and rockets, bringing as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action trouble Israel for several reasons. “The first Iranian men volleyball players Mohammadreza Beik and Ehsan from the site, according to Al Jazeera. into focus the shortcomings and inabilities (JCPOA). is the urgent need to determine why the Ahmadi currently play for Sporting Clube das Caldas. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said of Israel’s military. Israeli commentators criticized the interception failed. Did it happen because Komeil Akbari also plays for Castelo da Maia. Israel’s anti-missile systems had attempted Israeli military officials have sought government of Benjamin Netanyahu for a missile operator made the wrong deci- Iranian women volleyball players have already started to play to intercept the SA-5 but were unsuccessful. to portray their capabilities in the field of demonstrating incompetence in thwarting sion or other reasons? The flight trajectory at the European leagues. Commenting on Thursday’s incident, air defense as superior and impervious to the missile flying toward Dimona, calling of a surface-to-air missile is particularly Maedeh Borhani, Zeinab Giveh, Farnoosh Sheikhi and Mahsa he said, “In most cases, we achieve other attacks. But Thursday’s missile proved oth- on the government to tell them the truth challenging because the missile alters its Saberi have played abroad. results. This is a slightly more complex case. erwise. They are now focusing on how a that there is no functioning government flight path mid-air as it constantly seeks to We will investigate it and move on.” Syrian missile traveled more than 120 km to in Israel. ‘acquire’ new targets,” the newspaper said, Gantz claimed that the missile landed land in a close distance of a heavily fortified Eran Etzion, a former Israeli diplomat adding that Israel’s interception systems, Sepahan edge Nassaji: IPL deep into Israel as a result of errant Syr- nuclear reactor thought to be producing who served as deputy head of the National which were developed to counter the threat SPORTSTEHRAN — Sepahan football team defeated ian anti-aircraft fire. The Israeli defense or hosting nuclear warheads while their Security Council in the Prime Minister’s of missile and rocket attacks, now must also deskstruggling Nassaji 1-0 on Matchday 21 of Iran minister’s remarks further exacerbated various air defenses failed to intercept it. Office, echoed this call on Thursday, de- provide a response to new threats – from Professional League (IPL) on Thursday. concerns over the effectiveness of Israel’s The Israeli failure heavily damaged the scribing the Dimona missile as a “wake-up cruise missiles and drones to surface-to- Ehsan Haji Safi scored the solitary goal of the match in the much-vaunted air defense capabilities. reputation of Israel’s air defense capabilities call” for Israel. air missiles. 25th minute with a long-range shot. This failure happened in the midst of given that the missile entered Israel’s aero- “Israel is in a dangerous twilight zone The second reason is that advanced mis- Sepahan defender Mohammad Nejhadmehdi was sent off in Israeli military buildup over the past weeks. space amid heightened tensions with Iran, - there is no cabinet, no functioning gov- siles such as the one that exploded over the the 45th minute. Israeli media have boasted about Israel’s which accused Tel Aviv of acts of sabotage ernment, the Knesset is paralyzed, there is Negev on Thursday after it was fired from a Aluminum and Paykan shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in Arak. efforts to strengthen air defenses around against various Iranian targets including a no Foreign Affairs and Defense Commit- range of hundreds of kilometers, can cause Mohammad Khodabandelou was on target for the visiting team the Dimona facility and the Red Sea port of key Iranian uranium enrichment facility. In tee, [the attorney general of Israel, Avichai] considerable distress and damage to Israel, in the 43rd minute and Hamed Pakdel scored for Aluminum Eilat in anticipation of a possible long-range addition, earlier this month, Israel targeted Mandelblit is a salt man in Sodom, the High the newspaper continued. And the third after the hour mark. missile or drone attack, according to Reuters. Iranian commercial ship Saviz in the Red Court is leaning aside like the Tower of Pisa reason is that such incidents could give the Naft Masjed Soleyman defeated Mes Rafsanjan courtesy of Israelis have been boasting about their air Sea exactly on the same day Iran and the in high gear,” Etzion wrote in an op-ed for Syrians more confidence and the impression a goal from Sasan Hosseini in the 59th minute. defense systems, including the Iron Dome P4+1 - Russia, China, France, and the UK the Israeli Zman news website, according that it can establish a new balance of power Sepahan sit top of the table with 44 points, three points ahead air defense system, which was designed to plus Germany - resumed talks in physical to Al Mayadeen. against Israel, the newspaper noted. of Persepolis who have one game in hands. Change in mode of uranium enrichment ‘technical,’ Iran says Iranian trio shortlisted for AFC Int’l Player of Week 1 On Friday, Reuters claimed that it had seen a report progress in this field, Iran’s concerns about the lack of proper by the UN nuclear watchdog indicating that Iran has reduced implementation of the confidentiality obligations by the SPORTSTEHRAN — Three Iranian players were the number of centrifuges enriching uranium to up to 60% Agency have been frequently notified, which are yet to be deskshortlisted for the AFC International Player purity at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant. properly addressed.” of the Week. “On 21 April 2021, the Agency verified that Iran had changed According to Gharibabadi, the responsibility for protecting Mehdi Taremi, Milad Mohammadi and Ali Gholizadeh are the mode by which it was producing UF6 enriched up to confidential information lies with the IAEA. vying with Ritsu Doan (Arminia Bielefeld, Japan), Sam Kerr (Chel- 60% U-235 at PFEP,” the report said, according to Reuters, “Undoubtedly, the Agency is responsible for the preser- sea, Australia), Yui Hasegawa (AC Milan, Japan) and Parvizjon referring to the above-ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant vation and protection of the confidential information and Umarboev (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Tajikistan) to win the award. at Natanz and to uranium hexafluoride, the form in which Iran has the right to request the Agency for placing any Mehdi Taremi (FC Porto, Iran) uranium is fed into centrifuges for enrichment. supportive policies, plans and procedures or revising the 74 minutes, 1 goal, 8 duels won, 2 interceptions (1-0 v Nacional) Iran was now using one cascade, or cluster, of IR-6 cen- existing ones in this regard. In fact, the credibility of the Five days after his sensational UEFA Champions League trifuges to enrich to up to 60% and feeding the tails, or verification regime and the future prospect of cooperation goal against Chelsea, last week’s winner Mehdi Taremi was depleted uranium, from that process into a cascade of IR-4 between Member States and the Agency absolutely relies at it again in league action, this time chopping off a clearance machines to enrich to up to 20%, the report said. The IR-4 “Protection of national security, involving persons, property, on the policy and ability of the Agency in protecting the from Nacional goalkeeper António Filipe before tucking cascade was previously being used to enrich to up to 60%. society and the environment, from harmful consequences confidentiality of safeguards information,” he continued. away the winning goal in a 1-0 triumph. His third in as Reuters claimed that the International Atomic Energy of sharing and releasing classified nuclear information is Gharibabadi expressed concern about the leakage of the many matches. Agency report did not say why Iran had made the change or the overall objective of a Member State especially when information that Iran provided to international inspectors Milad Mohammadi (KAA Gent, Iran) say how many centrifuges are in each cascade. cooperates with the Agency or any other States. Indeed, such in good-will. 90 minutes, 2 assists, 89% pass accuracy, 88% duels won But Gharibabadi said the decision was made in accord- information should be classified, protected and secured with “Disclosure of confidential information, especially re- (7-2 v Zulte-Wareg) ance with technical issues and that there is no need for odd appropriate measures by the IAEA,” Gharibabadi stated. garding Iran’s nuclear activities and facilities, which has A blistering display from the Iranian left-back, who set up speculations. He added, “Protecting the confidential information, which been provided to the Agency’s inspectors in good-will and two goals, won 15 of 17 duels and barely missed a pass as Genk Iran has recently started enriching uranium up to 60 is made available to the Agency by means of verification as a transparency and confidence-building measure, is of ran riot to put seven goals past Zulte-Waregem in the final went percent after Natanz, a key uranium enrichment plant, suf- activities, is crucial to ensuring, inter-alia, the security of serious concern,” the Iranian ambassador said. of the regular season in Belgium. fered a blackout due to an act of sabotage that Iran blamed sensitive information. Therefore, public release of and-or He added, “A State may request the classification of a Ali Gholizadeh (RSC Charleroi, Iran) on Israel. access to classified safeguards information, especially regard- particular document as safeguards confidential, and that in 89 minutes, 1 goal, 44 passes completed, 7 successful dribbles The Reuters report once again revived debate over the ing nuclear materials, activities and facilities of a Member no event would such a document be declassified without that (2-3 v Eupen) need to protect the confidentiality of the information that State, is a very highly sensitive matter precisely related to State’s consent. Through these documents, the Board also After a strong start, Charleroi’s Belgian Pro League season Iran had provided to the UN nuclear watchdog. In mid-Feb- the rights and interests of that State including on the subject endorsed that the Agency Statute and the Staff Regulations and ultimately petered out to a 13th-place finish, but no one would ruary, Gharibabadi sent a letter to Rafael Grossi, the IAEA of its national security.” Rules impose on Agency current and former staff members have been disappointed in the efforts of Ali Gholizadeh, who curled director-general, to inform him of Iran’s concerns about Gharibabadi noted that Iran considers protecting the an obligation not to disclose any confidential information home a lovely goal to cap a memorable individual campaign. the leakage of information. confidentiality of information as a fundamental issue. known to them due to their official position. The Agency “Upon instructions received from my Government, I am “The Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledges the fact itself, as an international person with juridical personality, writing to you regarding the urgent need for addressing that protection of confidential information has long been has international duties, the breach or non-observance of Iran U21 volleyball team the Islamic Republic of Iran’s concerns and observations a fundamental issue in the deliberations about the Agency’s which may engage Agency responsibility.” coaching staff completed on the protection of confidential information,” Garibabadi internal regulations. However, despite existing normative The Iranian ambassador underlined, “Providing the Agency regulations, the leak of or unauthorized access to confiden- with necessary information and monitoring and verification wrote to Grossi. SPORTSTEHRAN — Behrouz Ataei, head coach The Iranian ambassador highlighted the harmful conse- tial information of the Agency in the last two decades, has tools should not be done at the cost of compromising the deskof the Iranian men’s U21 volleyball team, quences of leaking confidential information for Iran’s na- been a critical challenge on the way of cooperation between rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran and obligations of has recruited coaching staff following a consensus decision tional security, urging the IAEA to take measures to protect the Agency and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Gharibabadi the Agency for preservation and protection of sensitive and made at the meeting with IRIVF President Mohammad Reza classified information. stated, noting, “During the past two decades, despite all confidential information.” Davarzani. Ataei, 51, met the IRIVF President and Secretary General Milad Taghavi to discuss a key point on forming coaching staff Deputy FM of Iran meets OPCW director-general of the Iranian men’s U21 team and the relevant matters. After the meeting, IRIVF has announced staff coaches and technical POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iranian member states and not imposing economic they have numerous problems gaining full staff to take charge of the squad in preparation for their title deskDeputy Foreign Minister sanctions on one another. access to drugs and medical equipment due defense of the World Championship to be held later this year. for Legal and International Affairs Mohsen The meeting was held on the sidelines to unilateral and cruel sanctions,” said the They comprise Behrouz Ataei (head coach), Mostafa Baharvand met with Fernando Arias, the of the 25th annual conference of the OPCW Iranian official. Karkhaneh (Technical Advisor), Alireza Toloukian, Hossein director-general of the Organisation for States Parties in The Hague. “Iran condemns the use of chemical Kazemim Mehran Zare, Vahid Sadeghi (coaches), Hossein the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons During their discussions, the two sides weapons in any part of the world and under Khuryani and Amin Ali Akbari (Statisticians), Mehrdad Sa’adat (OPCW), the Iranian Foreign Ministry exchanged views on ways of enhancing any circumstances, and, at the same time, Mehr (Therapist), Mahmoud Mohammadi (Masseur), and said in a statement. cooperation between Iran and the OPCW. respects the ideals of the Chemical Weapons Akbar Mohammad (Team Manager). During the meeting, the Iranian dip- He reiterated that Iran has been the main Convention,” Baharvand added. In 2019, Behrouz Ataei steered the Iranian men’s U21 team lomat highlighted the importance of the victim of chemical arms in the contempo- “Undoubtedly, it is not possible to have to the historic World Championship title in Riffa, Bahrain full, effective and non-discriminatory rary era. a world free from chemical arms without after pulling off a hard-fought 3-2 win against Italy in the implementation of all provisions of the “Although more than three decades completely destroying chemical weapons to keep using his good offices to make it final showdown. Chemical Weapons Convention. have passed since the bitter experience of arsenals,” he noted. possible for Iranians wounded in chemical The Iranian national men’s U21 team will commence their “It is incumbent upon member states to live chemical weapons being used by the regime He also expressed hope the United States, attacks to gain full access to all medicines intensive training on May 1, 2021 to get ready for the FIVB up to their obligations under the convention of [former Iraqi dictator] Saddam Hussein as the only country to officially possess chem- and equipment required, and to neutralize Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship, which will be regarding the exchange of chemical materi- against Iranian military troops as well as ical weapons, would make good on its com- cruel sanctions imposed in that domain. held in Italy and Bulgaria between September 22 and Oc- als and equipment for peaceful purposes,” civilians and even Iraqis themselves, still mitments and destroy its chemical arms as Baharvand then called on the OPCW to tober 3, 2021. Baharvand said, according to the statement. this harrowing memory cannot be forgot- soon as possible under the full supervision maintain its technical and expertise-oriented Among the qualified 16 teams, Iran and Korea are the Baharvand further stressed the impor- ten as those injured in the chemical attacks of the OPCW. nature, and warned certain countries against only two teams from Asia to strut their stuff in the top-tier tance of removing trade barriers between are still suffering, especially at a time when He called on the OPCW director-general using OPCW mechanisms for political gains. championship. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY APRIL 24, 2021

Over $1.9b of agricultural Annual trade with neighbors projects inaugurated

1 The inaugurated projects include some pressurized irrigation systems, several projects for increasing irrigation ef- ficiency and water consumption management, some fish and exceeds $36.5b shrimp breeding plants, improvement and organization of fishing ports, and several dairy production units. ECONOMY TEHRAN — The value navirus and the U.S. sanctions in recent Back in February, Rouhani had inaugurated 372 greenhouse deskof Iran’s non-oil trade years, the volume of foreign trade with projects as well as two livestock complexes worth 49 trillion rials with its 15 neighbors reached $36.502 neighbors has been acceptable. (about $1.16 billion) in the 47th series of inauguration ceremo- billion in the previous Iranian calendar Based on the latest customs data, last nies in the previous Iranian calendar year (ended on March 20). year (ended on March 20), according to year, Iran traded a total of 145.7 million the spokesman of the Islamic Republic of tons of goods worth $73 billion with its Iran Customs Administration (IRICA). trade partners, of which 112 million tons Iran traded 82.535 million tons of com- worth $34.256 billion were exports and modities with the neighboring countries in 34.4 million tons worth $38.4 billion were the mentioned year, Rohollah Latifi said. imports. Last year, the country exported 67.84 Increasing non-oil exports to the neigh- million tons of non-oil goods worth $20.357 boring countries is one of the major plans billion to the neighboring countries, while that the Iranian government has been pur- importing 14.7 million tons of goods worth suing in recent years. $16.145 billion. Iran shares land or water borders with Iraq was Iran’s top export destination 15 countries namely UAE, Afghanistan, by importing 25.67 million tons of com- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, modities worth $7.448 billion from the Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Islamic Republic, while the lowest volume Turkey, Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia. of exports was made to Bahrain with only According to IRICA, Iran currently ex- The mentioned projects, inaugurated concurrently with the $8.473 million, according to Latifi. ports non-oil commodities to 40 European Fajr Ten-Day celebrations (from January 31 until February 10), After Iraq, the main export destinations countries, 21 Asian countries, 28 African created direct job opportunities for 11,850 people. for Iranian products and goods were the Iran’s imports from neighboring countries Bahrain from which only $946,808 worth countries, and 12 American countries, while Of the total investment made in the mentioned projects 15.4 United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, and was made from the UAE with 5.136 million of goods were shipped in. importing from 41 European countries, 31 trillion rials (about $366.6 million) was provided by the private Afghanistan. tons of goods worth $9.757 billion, and According to the official, despite the Asian countries, 12 American countries, sector and the rest was made by the government. On the other hand, the highest volume of the lowest volume of imports belonged to difficulties created by the outbreak of coro- and 11 countries in Africa. Also in July 2020, Agriculture Ministry had announced plans for creating 2,500 hectares of new greenhouses in the country. In the past forty years, since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has witnessed a remarkable improvement in various sectors and the agriculture industry has been one of the areas in which the Iran oil exports in April still above 2020 levels: report country has undergone huge development. ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iranian crude oil exports early April and the talks will resume next week based on the Iran is situated in a dry plateau with limited water resources, deskin April have remained above the level of progress achieved so far. so most of the country’s development projects in the agriculture exports during the same period in 2020, Reuters reported, A source at another company that monitors oil shipments sector have been focused on decreasing and managing water stating that this is an indication of recovery in Iran’s oil ex- has told Reuters that exports in the first two weeks of April consumption by introducing new irrigation methods. ports as talks for reviving the 2015 nuclear deal progress. looked to be just below 500,000 bpd, down from 600,000 According to Reuters, Iranian oil exports have risen since bpd from March, but the figure could be revised. late 2020, despite U.S. sanctions. “These export levels can come in very lumpy, and I would Monthly electricity In this regard, Geneva-based Petro-Logistics told Reuters not draw any conclusion yet,” he said. consumption up 22% that the Islamic Republic’s crude oil exports in April had There is no definitive figure for Iranian exports. Petro-Logis- eased month-on-month so far to around 500,000 barrels tics and other firms assess them by tracking tanker shipments. ECONOMY TEHRAN — Electricity consumption increased per day (bpd), but were high relative to 2020. Iran has been ramping up its oil production over the past desk22 percent in Iran during the past Iranian cal- The firm initially put March exports at less than 600,000 bpd. few months following the recent developments in the White endar month (March 21- April 21), as compared to the same “Exports have continued at these elevated levels longer House and also the recovery of the global markets from the in the first quarter of 2021 stood at 2.190 million barrels per month in the past year, the managing director of Iran’s Power than we expected,” said Petro-Logistics Chief Executive Daniel negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. day indicating a near 197,000-bpd rise compared to the figure Generation and Distribution Company (TAVANIR) announced. Gerber. “And with constructive talks occurring in Vienna, The latest report by the Organization of Petroleum Export- for the last quarter of 2020. Mohammad-Hassan Motevalizadeh also stressed the necessity we may never see a return to the 2020 lows.” ing Countries (OPEC) put Iranian crude output for March Fitch Solutions Incorporation, a subsidiary of Fitch Ratings, of power consumption management in the country, and said, Tehran has been negotiating its conditions for reviving at 2.304 million barrels per day indicating a 137,000-bpd which is one of the U.S.’s three biggest credit rating agencies, “Based on a constructive, the buildings of the Energy Ministry are the nuclear deal officially known as the Joint Comprehen- increase compared to the figure for the previous month. has also forecasted a 6.8-percent growth for Iranian oil ex- required to save 50 percent of their electricity consumption, and sive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with the world powers since Based on OPEC data, the country’s average crude output ports in 2021 if the U.S comes back to the 2015 nuclear deal. this procedure is being followed in other governmental bodies.” He further announced the sending of SMS and educational brochures to high-consuming subscribers and said, “God willing, we will pass this year with the least problems through cooperation of the people.” Annual steel ingot output exceeds 22.5m tons Referring to the increase in electricity consumption due to ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iran’s major The country’s major steel producers also the pressures and obstacles created by outside the arrival of premature heat, he added, “At the same time, the desksteel producers have man- manufactured 14.588 million tons of steel forces like the U.S. sanctions and the corona- electricity generation by the hydropower plants has decreased aged to produce over 22.54 million tons of products last year to register a three-percent virus outbreak that has severely affected the by about 40 percent due to lack of rainfall.” steel ingots in the previous Iranian calendar rise year on year. performance of the world’s top producers. Previously, the managing director of TAVANIR had announced year (ended on March 20), registering an eight Mobarakeh Steel Company was the big- Iran is currently the tenth largest steel- a 33-percent increase in electricity prices for high consuming percent rise year on year. gest producer of such products among the maker in the world and is estimated to climb subscribers who would not reduce their consumption by the As IRNA reported, the mentioned compa- country’s top companies with 8.032 million to seventh place by the Iranian calendar year Iranian calendar month Ordibehesht (began on April 22). nies produced over 2.04 million tons of steel tons of output, followed by Sirjan Steel World 1404 (March 2025). Motevalizadeh had said the ingots in the last month of the previous year Company. According to the former Acting Minis- increase in electricity prices will (February 19-March 20), 17 percent more Rebars, rectangles, belts and coils, wide ter of Industry, Mining, and Trade Hossein be done according to the govern- than the figure for the same month in the sheets, galvanized sheets, and beams were Modares Khiabani, the production capacity of ment’s decree in recent years. preceding year. the main steel products manufactured by the the country’s steel chain increased from 123 He said that based on the As reported, Mobarakeh Steel Company while the highest production growth was reg- mentioned companies. million tons in the Iranian calendar year 1392 “power of Hope” program the had the best performance with a production istered by Sirjan Steel World Company with The Iranian Steel industry has been con- (ended in March 2014) to 230 million tons electricity subscribers are cate- of 9.8 million tons of the mentioned product 141 percent growth. stantly developing over the past years against all in the previous year (ended on March 20). gorized in three groups of high consuming, normal consuming and low consuming, adding that after the implementation of this program seven million Manufacturing of 16 major industrial products increases noticeably low-consuming subscribers ECONOMY TEHRAN — As announced by Iranian Touching upon some of the major industrial growth indica- were subject to a 100-percent deskIndustry, Mining, and Trade Ministry, tors in the previous year, Sadeghi Niaraki noted that industrial discount, and the number of manufacturing of 16 major industrial products was increased investment reached more than 1.8 quadrillion rials (about $42.8 the high consuming subscribers noticeably in the country during the past Iranian calendar year billion) in the first 11 months of the previous year (March 20, was decreased by six percent. (ended on March 20). 2020-February 18, 2021), registering a growth of 225 percent. He said, “Since the start of this program in last August, the The ministry’s released data indicates that despite the The upward trend continued to the end of the year, he subscribers have had some good cooperation with us, and we severe sanctions and restrictions imposed on businesses by emphasized. hope that the hot season coming this cooperation will increase.” the coronavirus condition, 16 out of the 25 selected industrial The official also pointed to a 23-percent increase in job creation Implementation of a program by the Iranian Energy Ministry items have seen an increase in production in the previous year in various industrial sectors, saying that direct employment for rewarding efficient electricity subscribers with a 100 percent due to the efforts of the country’s producers. was provided for 121,000 people during the previous year. discount on their bills, has reduced the number of high-consuming Last year, the production of passenger cars increased by Niaraki also informed about the increase in production subscribers across the country by 6.1 percent. 19.1 percent and the production of other products in this field, of 20 important industrial products and added: “We hope According to TAVANIR, this program called “Power of Hope” was including vans with an increase of 6.5 percent, production of that this trend will be maintained in the current year which aimed to change the attitudes of household consumers towards combine harvesters with an increase of about 44.5 percent named the year of “Production: Support and the Elimination the proper use of energy resources and consequently protect and production of tractors with an increase of 15.9 percent of Obstacles.” the environment. was outstanding. Since the re-imposition of the U.S. sanctions, the Iranian The Energy Ministry started the implementation of the men- Relying on domestic production has saved Iran $3.5 bil- ucts as measures taken by the Industry, Mining and Trade Industry, Mining, and Trade Ministry was tasked to pursue a tioned program in mid-August 2020. lion during the previous Iranian calendar year, Iran’s Deputy Ministry in the previous year which was named the year of program for indigenizing the knowledge for the production In late August 2020, Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian Industry, Mining, and Trade Minister Mehdi Sadeqi Niaraki “Surge in Production” by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution of major industrial equipment. had announced that the Power of Hope program was expected has announced. Seyed Ali Khamenei. The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali to reduce the country’s electricity consumption by 10 percent. Last year the indigenization of the knowledge for the pro- “The country’s industrial sector was able to grow signifi- Khamenei said in October 2019 that government officials should “This program will be implemented to both reward low-con- duction of $3.2 billion worth of such equipment in various cantly in a situation where the outbreak of the coronavirus had ban the import of goods that are also produced domestically. suming subscribers and to encourage others to consume less provinces was on the agenda, which increased to more than created unfavorable conditions for the country’s productive Back in 2019, when the mentioned program was started, and it is expected to reduce power consumption by 10 percent,” $3.5 billion, the official stated. sector; fortunately, we have witnessed a good leap in the pro- the Iranian Industry, Mining, and Trade Minister at the time Ardakanian said in a press conference on the occasion of the He mentioned investment in industrial sectors and the duction of products needed by people to fight this disease,” Reza Rahmani had said that relying on domestic production Government Week (August 23-29, 2020). increasing trend of production of important industrial prod- the official stressed. was going to save $10 billion for the country in two years. The minister noted that according to a cabinet decision, all the subscribers that cooperated well with the Energy Minis- try’s consumption management programs this summer are to be awarded. TSE witnesses 3% drop of its main index in a week “To do so, home subscribers were divided into three cate- gories, which include low-consumers, normal-consumers, and ECONOMY TEHRAN — TEDPIX, and Bank Mellat were the most widely fol- led shareholders, experts, and scholars to call high-consumers,” he said. deskthe main index of Teh- lowed indices. for the government to increase its support Energy Ministry’s Spokesman for Electricity Industry Mostafa ran Stock Exchange (TSE), dropped 36,000 TEDPIX had risen eight percent in the for the market, some shareholders want the Rajabi Mashhadi announced on Monday that the implementation points, or three percent, in the past Iranian last week of the past Iranian calendar year government to guarantee the return of their of the “Power of Hope” program has increased the number of calendar week. (ended on March 20). stocks, some believe providing infrastructure low consuming subscribers by four percent. The index closed at 1.207 million points The index increased 101,000 points to is the best way to help this market. He said, “It seems that the Power of Hope program is on its on Wednesday (the last working day of the 1.307 million in that week. Some, on the other hand, believe that way and the subscribers have been informed about this issue.” week). After several days of decline, TEDPIX the government should not interfere in Mashhadi went on to say that in the warm seasons (beginning of During the past week, the indices of Social had risen 2,824 points to 1.219 million on the stock market, saying the government’s June to the end of September), the consumption pattern changes, Security Investment Company, National Ira- Tuesday. pre-ordered and unrealistic pricing of some i.e. the low-consumption pattern for normal areas increases from nian Copper Industry Company, Iran Khodro Unprecedented fluctuations in the Iranian state-owned shares is the main reason for the 200 kWh to 300 kWh and from 80 kWh to 100 kWh. Company, Isfahan Oil Refining Company, stock market over the past few months have capital market’s current downward trend. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 24, 2021 ANALYSIS/INTERVIEW 5

China seeks to balance U.S. naval Russia to pull back troops from Ukraine border

Russia on Friday begin returning troops to permanent bases power, Turkish expert says inside the country, pulling them back from near the border with Ukraine, Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency reported. Thursday’s announcement comes after weeks of tensions 1 Following is the text of the in- deductions, providing direct support to between Moscow, Kyiv and the latter’s Western allies over a terview: strategic organizations. Incentive pro- major Russian military build-up near its western border with How do you see Iran-Turkey grams and public-backed credit practices Ukraine and in annexed Crimea, which reportedly involved tens economic relations? Do you think to ensure economic sustainability have of thousands of troops. these two countries can help to put pressure on inflation. The monetary Russia has argued that the build-up was defensive, while build a regional economic bloc policy moves of the Central Bank of Ukraine – backed by Germany and other Western powers – has in the future? Turkey to ensure price stability was not accused Moscow of attempting to provoke hostilities. Although there is a strong interaction sufficient. Another problematic area “I believe the objectives of the snap inspection have been fully between Iran and Turkey in many ar- throughout this period was the rise in achieved. The troops have demonstrated their ability to provide eas, the basic dynamics of the relations exchange rates. The moves towards a credible defence for the country,” RIA quoted Russian Defence are “competition” and “cooperation”. providing currency stability have not Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying. According to this, if “cooperation” is been successful due to the significant “In this regard, I have decided to complete the inspections in forefront in relations, economic relations decrease in gross reserves. Exchange the southern and western military districts,” he added. also increase. If “competition” is prom- rates continued to rise in the pandemic The deployments took place against the backdrop of re- inent in relations, economic relations year. Another negative impact of the newed clashes in Ukraine’s conflict-stricken eastern regions of also decrease. Of course, we should also Covid-19 Crisis on Turkey’s economy Donetsk and Luhansk, where government forces have battled say that there are cyclical events that is the increased social expenditures in Russian-backed separatist forces since the rebels seized a swath support and/or hinder this situation. response to the declining tax revenues of territory there in April 2014. In the energy trade between Turkey have increased the central government’s It was not immediately clear whether the rebasing order cov- and Iran, the international sanctions debt stock and budget deficit. The in- ered all of the forces involved in the recent military build-up. imposed on Iran have a significant im- crease in exchange rates due to the pan- The Russian military has not publicly declared the number of pact, and this determines the volume of demic reflected positively on exports additional troops that it has moved, but the European Union’s top economic relations. Even in the process and this situation caused the current diplomat Josep Borrell said after EU foreign ministers were briefed by of continued sanctions against Iran, account deficit to decline to a certain Ukraine’s foreign minister that the number was higher than 100,000. Turkey continues to import natural re- extent. However, the massive loss in According to al Jazeera, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr sources from Iran. However, we also tourism revenues negatively affected Zelenskyy welcomed the announcement. see that economic relations contracted developing an alternative route to signed between these countries on the current account balance. Bur, some during these periods. For example, in the the U.S. energy corridor sovereignty, August 13, 2020. The main purpose of this loss was partially compensated 2013-2015 periods when international shortening the route that takes Mid- of this agreement, led by former U.S. by the decrease in oil prices. Turkey in sanctions were imposed on Iran, the dle Eastern (West Asia) oil to Chinese President D. Trump, was to establish 2020, a $ 36 billion current account India’s COVID cases spiral as foreign trade volume between the two ports and to facilitate access to oil, to a new order in the Middle East (West deficit in the foreign trade deficit of $ 50 health system staggers countries decreased from 14.9 billion increase its influence in the Middle Asia) centered on Israel’s security. billion. Employment creation capacity dollars to 10.2 billion dollars. After the East (West Asia) by deploying near However, with Trump losing the U.S. in this process is greatly reduced in India is reporting record number of coronavirus cases – and Trump administration announced that the Strait of Hormuz and disabling the presidential election on November 3, Turkey and despite the partial decrease, deaths – amid an alarming shortage of medical oxygen and beds it would impose sanctions on Iran’s Strait of Malacca by building strate- 2020, this issue lost its popularity and unemployment figures remained high. in its hospitals as a brutal second wave of the virus overwhelms oil industry, the volume of 9.7 billion gic ports. The Strategic Cooperation place on the agenda. However, it is un- Despite all policy that taken, the Crisis its under-funded, fragile healthcare system. fell to $ 3 billion from 2018 to 2020. Agreement, signed between China and derstood that the active political figure has affected Turkey deeply as in other On Friday, the world’s second-most populous nation reported a As can be seen from the numbers, the Iran on March 27, 2021, is important of the Trump administration era, UAE countries, and its effects still continue. single-day high of nearly 332,730 new cases and record 2,263 deaths. economic relations between the two in achieving China’s goal under OBOR. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, Is Turkey going to bet on Eastern Hospitals across northern and western India, including the countries are of low intensity and far The relations that China is trying to continues to maintain the position he economies rather than the dream capital New Delhi, say they are fully occupied and running out of behind their potential. With the end of strengthen with other Middle Eastern achieved in this process and the idea of of joining the European Union? oxygen supplies. The death toll in a devastating fire at a hospital the Trump administration in 2021, an (West Asian) countries, especially Saudi his country being the pioneer of Arab How can Erdogan prioritize Asian in western India rose to 14 as authorities continue to evacuate important opportunity has emerged Arabia, are also related to the Belt and states. As a country with the longest economies? coronavirus patients away from the facility’s premises. for the strengthening of relations be- Road Initiative. In response to these coastline in the eastern Mediterranean, Firstly, become a member of the EU According to an official from the Vijay Vallabh Hospital, a tween the two countries. In this process, long-term moves by China, it is import- Turkey argues that resources should will not be correct to express or define spark from an air conditioner triggered the fire, which was exac- I think that diversifying foreign trade ant that the new U.S. President Biden be determined by the consensus of all as a dream for Turkey. Despite all the erbated by the heavy oxygen supply running in the facility’s ICU. and increasing foreign trade volume welcomed the Japanese Prime Minister the littoral states of equitable sharing. adaptation efforts to become a member The bodies of victims of the fire were being cremated at a should be an important agenda for both Suga as the first foreign leader, and it Against Turkey using the legitimate since the AK Party came to power in nearby crematorium. countries. On the other hand, increas- was announced that the cooperation in rights stemming from international 2002, a negotiation being conducted India’s Cadila Healthcare Ltd has received restricted emergency ing the economic relations between the the region would be strengthened. It is law, Israel seeks to guarantee its own with Turkey has been largely disrupted use approval from local regulators to use a Hepatitis C drug as a two countries both in terms of quantity understood from this that the USA will security by cooperating with Greece by some EU member states’ political treatment for moderate COVID-19 in adults, the drugmaker said. and quality has an important poten- seek new collaboration opportunities and Cyprus and getting more shares obstacles and the Cyprus problem. An- The approval follows promising results from a late-stage tial for the development of regional and initiate moves in line with its goal in the Eastern Mediterranean. The other agenda defining the EU-Turkey study of the drug and comes in the middle of a massive wave relations. The economic cooperation of balancing China. After the attempts purpose of Israel and the UAE is, in relations is cooperation in the area of of COVID-19 cases in India, which has overwhelmed its health that is currently ongoing between Iran in the Asian region, it is obvious that the collaboration with Greece and South management of international migra- system and left many hospitals short of critical oxygen supplies. and Turkey is important to turn into USA will direct its route to the Middle Cyprus, it is to ensure that Turkey’s tion. The main migration routes leading a strategic alliance contained political East (West Asia) region, where it gives alone in this area. Greece’s opposition to Western Europe, which is located and social aspects. If this occurs, this a central role in the context of global to Turkey is already apparent. At this on an important transit country, Tur- situation can provide an important im- hegemony strategy. It is not possible for point, this move of Israel and the UAE is key, is one of the main partners in the Israel confirms Syrian provement towards the solution of the the USA to allow Chinese expansion- ordinary and not surprising. However, EU’s management of migration flows. chronic problems in the Middle East ism in the Middle East (Middle East) it does not seem possible to derive a Therefore, due to the high economic missile landed near Dimona (West Asia) region. This case may ease region, where it started to dominate strategic cooperation model from the interdependence and the ongoing nuclear reactor the solution of many issues such as the with the Eisenhower Doctrine in the regional forum initiative carried out by forced cooperation due to migration, Turkey-EU relations will continue in Syrian Crisis, humanitarian immigration 1950s. The USA has noticed that the these countries that have no idea for Israel has acknowledged that its air defenses failed to intercept a controlled and pragmatic way. Thus, from the Middle East (West Asia) and passive attitude it has displayed in the fair sharing of resources in the Eastern a missile fired from Syria on Thursday that traversed 125 miles the EU-Turkey relations take it as a Asia to Europe, and global terrorism. region during the Arab Spring is caus- Mediterranean. of its highly protected airspace and landed near its secretive strategic model of economic coopera- Do you believe the Chinese Belt ing it to be in trouble in the future. It What is the impact of the Coro- Dimona nuclear reactor. tion would be more appropriate. On the and Road initiative can lead to a is likely that the USA will enter into navirus pandemic on Turkey’s The surface-to-air missile was believed to have been fired by other hand, it is seen that the COVID-19 rapprochement between coun- new collaborations with other (Persian) economy? What were the gov- Syrian air defenses against Israeli jets that were bombing a site pandemic causes problems in the global tries in the region, including Arab Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia, ernment’s policies to contain the near Damascus, but the path it flew initially led to speculation economic system, and this led to trans- states, Iran, and Turkey? which is the keystone of the regional pandemic? that Israel’s most sensitive site may have instead been a target. formation. It has been understood in The “One Belt One Road Initiative”, balances. In this period, we can say The COVID-19 pandemic has se- The defense minister, Benny Gantz, claimed the missile had the moves that EU member states have which was shared with the world public that the struggle for global hegemo- verely damaged human health, em- landed in Israel as a result of errant Syrian anti-aircraft fire. In taken against each other that in major in 2013 and also called the “Modern ny between China and the USA will ployment, and welfare in particular. doing so he raised concerns about the effectiveness of his country’s crisis situations, the nation-state idea Silk Road”, is an important project to increase. This situation will not allow In the pandemic year 2020, the world vaunted air defense capabilities, which have been entrusted to can prevail over the partnership concept. expand China’s economic sustainabil- the One Belt, One Road Initiative to economy has decreased significantly, counter such threats. Therefore, models of cooperation with ity, cultural engagement and political achieve rapprochement and strengthen and global poverty and inequality have Gantz said Israel’s anti-missile systems had attempted to many political preconditions like the influence. With the Silk Road Economic reconciliation between Middle Eastern increased. Turkey’s economy, because intercept the SA-5 but were unsuccessful. “In most cases we EU have lost their former appeal. This Belt (SREB), Maritime Silk Road (MSR) (West Asian) countries in the short term. of the pandemic, like the rest of the achieve other results. This is a slightly more complex case. We is being replaced by new win-win-based and Digital Silk Road (DSR) projects What is your comment on the re- world economy, has had a rough year. will investigate it and move on,” he said cooperation models. In these models, to be implemented within this project; cent meeting between foreign min- Turkey grew by 1.8% in 2020 and has Israeli officials claim that the impact of the missile was likely the idea of mutual gain and respect China aims to make sustainable eco- isters of Israel, the UAE, Greece been one of the few countries that have to have been inadvertent, and are now focusing on how its various for national sovereignty is at the fore- nomic development and to strengthen and Cyprus? Is Israel approaching been successful in this field. Turkey has defense systems failed to intercept it. The missile landed around front. Turkey, starting from the closest regional integration with the Middle Turkey’s Mediterranean rivals? announced packages containing various 20 miles short of the Dimona site, in Israel’s Negev desert. neighbor of Asian countries, could lead East (West Asia) and Europe, especially A: It is possible to see this negotiation fiscal measures such as minimum wage Israel has some of the most tightly protected airspace in the to the development of a local cooper- Asia-Pacific. China also purposes such process as a continuation of the United support for employees, short-term work world and has shot down drones and missiles at various points ation model. as balancing the U.S. naval power by Arab Emirates-Israel Peace Agreement allowance, prohibition of dismissal, tax over the past decade, including during a similar incident in early 2017 in which one Syrian missile downed an Israeli jet and an- other landed in the country’s north. Muslim woman burned in acid attack in New York in another hate crime Resistance News In yet another disturbing case of anti-Muslim hate crime could I have possibly done to somebody?” in the U.S. that has come to light a month later, an uni- While Nafiah has begun to talk again, she struggles to dentified man threw acid on a Muslim woman of Pakistani eat or drink, because acid burned her throat, according 100 Palestinian casualties in origin as she walked home. to her father. confrontations at Bab al-Amud The incident happened in Long Island, a suburb of New Padma Lakshmi, an Asian-American television celebrity, York City, on March 17 when 21-year-old college student took to social media to say that she was close to victim’s INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN— The streets of Occupied Jerusalem Nafiah Ikram and her mother were getting out of their car family. deskwitnessed violent confrontations on Thursday and the assailant rushed up to them and threw caustic acid, “This is their only daughter; she has her whole life ahead evening between rioting Jewish settlers backed by the occupation before whisking away. of her,” Lakshmi wrote. “This is the nightmare of any parent police and Jerusalemite young men. Dozens of Palestinians were Nafiah, a medical student at Hofstra University, was for this to happen to your child. injured in the clashes. immediately rushed to the hospital. CAIR is demanding that the attack be investigated as The Palestine Red Crescent said that the latest statistics of The attack, according to reports quoting the victim’s a “hate crime”, although police have appeared reluctant clashes in the vicinity of the Old City in Jerusalem amounted to family, left her severely burned and nearly blind. to do that. 105 injuries, of which 21 were taken to hospital for treatment, A statement from the Council on American-Islamic “CAIR (New York) is disturbed and shocked at the brutality one of whom was hit in his head. Relations (CAIR), a Muslim civil rights group, said the of this crime, and law enforcement must do everything to It added that the injuries recorded on the tenth day of Ram- attack left her hospitalized for 15 days, with severe burns ing to reports, exactly a month after the shocking incident apprehend the suspects,” the organization’s Legal Director adan were described as moderate to minor. to her face, eyes, neck, and hands. took place. Ahmed Mohamed said in a statement. The Israeli police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets at the The screaming caused the acid to go into Ikram’s mouth, The attack, which comes amidst growing incidents “Our community deserves safety. Amidst the rising youths while the Israeli mounted police forces chased citizens preventing her from breathing, according to a GoFundMe of hate crime targeted against people of color, especially hate crimes engulfing the state, it is important that this in the Sultan Suleiman and Nablus streets and sprayed them set up for the victim. Asian-Americans and African-Americans, has been widely acid attack by an unknown individual be investigated as with wastewater. Her parents, it added, ran to help her, burning their condemned by rights activists in the U.S. a possible hate crime,” it added. Meanwhile, the settler extremist “Lehava” organization called hands and arms in the process. “My whole life changed in a matter of five minutes,” the Hofstra University also released a statement, saying it for a demonstration at the Bab al-Amud. “He knew how dangerous the acid was,” the GoFundMe victim said in an interview to WCBS-TV. “We don’t realise is “shocked by this horrific attack.” On Thursday evening, the occupation police arrested 44 Pal- said, adding that if the acid had got into her lungs or her what we have until it’s gone.” A GoFundMe campaign has so far raised over $300,000 estinians, including minors. parents were not there to call 911, she would have succumbed. “I can just see colors, but that’s it,” she said in the inter- to help cover Ikram’s medical expenses. Furthermore, the Israeli police brutally assaulted two young Police have launched a hunt to nab the accused, accord- view. “I want to know, like, what’s the reason? Like, what (Source: Press TV) men and prevented ambulance crews from reaching them. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 HERITAGE & TOURISM APRIL 24, 2021

Tens of manuscripts on Sadi poetry Isfahan’s Imam being kept at Mashhad museum HERITAGE TEHRAN – A total of 300 manuscript books Mosque restoration deskon Sadi poetry are being kept at the Astan Quds Razavi Museum, a vast cultural heritage exhibition located in the holy shrine complex of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad, northeast Iran. “300 copies of manuscript books containing the works of the reaches final stage Persian poet Sadi is currently being kept at the Astan Quds Razavi Museum,” an official with the museum said on Thursday, IRNA reported. 1 The craftsmanship continues ablutions nesting in the middle. The walls The official made the remakes on the occasion of the Sadi Na- and is intricate with amazing views both of the courtyard feature sunken porches tional Day, adding “the oldest of these manuscripts is one dated on the façade and the interior. The monu- framed by seven-colored tiles of deep blue only 70 years after Sadi’s death.” ment boasts perfect proportions and iconic and yellow. Each iwan leads into a vaulted Abu-Muhammad Muslih al-Din bin Abdallah Shirazi, known blue-tiled mosaics. sanctuary covered with particularly fine floral by his pen-name Sadi, was one of the major Persian poets of the A very picturesque huge entrance portal motifs on a blue background. medieval period. Sadi is known as a mystic and metaphysician in welcomes people to the mosque. It is built The mosque’s interior and exterior walls the world”; meaning seeing it is relevant the history of Persian literature. He is recognized for the quality to face the square though the mosque is are fully covered with a polychrome, mostly keen to minimize labor costs and time by to see the whole world. The city is home of his writings and the depth of his social and moral thoughts. The oriented towards Mecca. A short corridor dark blue, glazed tile revetment above a introducing a novel technique called “haft- to many versatile artisans who underpin ancient scholar has gained worldwide fame, not only in the Per- connects the square to the inner courtyard continuous marble dado. Throughout the rang” (seven colors). its reputation as a living museum of tra- sian-speaking countries but in western societies, with his poems that is surrounded by four imposing iwans whole mosque, except for the sanctuary Isfahan has long been nicknamed as ditional culture. being quoted in a multitude of sources. (porticos) with a pool dedicated to ritual dome and portal iwan, Shah ‘Abbas was Nesf-e-Jahan which is translated into “half

French archaeologist Pierre Amiet, famed for intensive Iranian studies, dies at 98 HERITAGE TEHRAN – French archaeologist Pierre Besides, there are traces at Susa of a village inhabited deskAmiet, who joined several excavations in around 7,000 BC and painted pottery dating from ca. Iran, has died at the age of 98, ILNA reported on Friday. 5,000 BC at the site. He was very interested in the archeology of ancient Iran, The archaeological site includes the ruins of the Achae- especially Elam, and came to Iran in 1963 and collected menid palace complex of Darius I, the Great, and is locat- resources to write his book on the Elamite civilization, ed on a fifteen-meter-high artificial raised 100-hectare the report said. terrace. It has suffered greatly in the past seventy years. Later, the archaeologist traveled to Iran several times Susa became part of the Persian Empire under Cyrus to write a book about the ancient Susa. II, the Great in 538 or 539 BC. During the balance of the Born in Strasbourg in 1922, he came to his interest in Achaemenian period (to 330 BC), Susa functioned as one archaeology through his father’s interests. After World of the rotating capitals (a winter capital) of the Achae- Sadi’s best-known masterpieces are Bustan (The Orchard) com- War II he studied at the Ecole du Louvre where he received menian Kings. It is said that Alexander of Macedonia pleted in 1257 and Gulistan (The Flower Garden) in 1258. Bustan, his License es Lettres. captured Susa in 330 BC and plundered the city, seizing as his best-known work, was completed in 1257. It includes 4,000 During this period his association with R. de Mecque- some 40,000 talents of gold and silver from the treasury. verses in 183 stories about the virtues such as justice, kindness, nem, L. Le Breton, and G. Contenau led to his continuing According to UNESCO, “the excavated architectur- love, modesty, liberality, generosity, satisfaction, and happiness, interest in the excavations and collections connected with al monuments include administrative, residential, and and the ecstatic practices of dervishes addressing all people to Susa in southern Iran. palatial structures” and the site contains several layers have a better and happier life. In 1958 he was named Conservator of the Musees de of urban settlement dating from the 5th millennium BC A year after the completion of Bustan, Sadi composed his mas- Chambrey; in 1961, assistant to Andre Parrot in the De- through the 13th century CE. Relics unearthed from the terpiece Gulistan. Gulistan, comprised of 8 chapters is mainly in partment of Oriental Antiquities at the Louvre. In 1963 region demonstrate that even the earliest potteries and prose. The book widely addresses kings’ morality, dervishes’ be- M. Amiet visited Iran to study the seal collection in the ceramics in Susa were of unsurpassed quality, decorated havior, benefits of contentment, silence and talking in proper time, Archaeological Museum in Tehran and to visit Susa. The with birds, mountain goats, and other animal designs. love and youthfulness, weakness in old age, and education. Sadi next year he published his book, Elam. His lecture, Les Different archaeological seasons in Susa have yielded attempts to advise people to live freely and to improve the quality Objets d’Art inedits de Susa (Iran) au Musee du Kouvre, ample relics including pottery, arms, ornamental objects, of their lives in Gulistan. It is one of the most effective books in covered some of his current research on unpublished metalwork, bronze articles, as well as clay tablets. Susa is prose in Persian literature. materials from Susa. country in southwestern Iran approximately equivalent also a gateway to several worthy destinations such as the Sadi’s other works include Ghazals (love poems or Lyrics; son- The UNESCO-registered Susa was one of the city-states to the modern region of Khuzestan province. UNESCO-tagged ziggurat of Tchogha Zanbil, the ruins nets), qasidas (longer mono-rhyme poems or Odes), quatrains, and of ancient Elam (2700 – 539 BC), which later became Archaeological evidence suggests that Susa has been of Achaemenid Apadana Castle, Shush Castle (Akropol), short pieces in prose in both Persian and Arabic. He is known as a winter capital of the Persian Achaemenid kings, who continuously inhabited since 4,200 BC placing it among Prophet Danial Shrine, Museum of Susa, the archaeological one of the greatest ghazal-writers of Persian poetry besides Hafiz. ruled Iran from c. 550 to 330 BC. Elam was an ancient the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. mount of Haft Tapeh.

First Announcement First Announcement

Khouzestan Steel Company Khouzestan Steel Company EXTENTION OF INVITATION TO INTERNATIONAL TENDER IN TWO STEPTS EXTENTION OF INVITATION TO INTERNATIONAL TENDER IN TWO STEPTS No. :431668 No. :431667 KHOUZESTAN STEEL COMPANY INTENDS TO PURCHASE KHOUZESTAN STEEL COMPANY INTENDS TO PURCHASE 10,000 MT UHP Grade Graphite Electrode 600 mm with 3,000 MT UHP Grade Graphite Electrode 450 mm with respective nipples respective nipples WITH THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATIONS: WITH THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATIONS: Description: UHP Grade Graphite Electrode with respective nipples as per following specification Description: UHP Grade Graphite Electrode with respective nipples as per following specificatio BUIK Density: 1.65 -1.75 g/cm³ Specific Resistance 4.5-6.5 uΏm Real Density: 1.65 -1.75 g/cm³ Specific Resistance 4.5-6.5 uΩm Real Density: 2.22 -2.25 g/cm³ Bending Strength: 110-140 Kgf/cm² Real Density: 2.22 -2.25 g/cm³ Bending Strength: 110-140 Kgf/cm² Porosity: 21 -27% Young's Modules: 7.8 - 11.8 GPa Porosity: 21 -27% Young's Modules: 7.8 - 11.8 GPa Ash Content: 0.2 % Max. Co-efficient Of Thermal expansion: 0.3-1 10 ˉ⁶/°C Ash Content: 0.2 % Max. Co-efficient Of Thermal expansion: 0.3-1 10ˉ⁶ /°C Graphite Electrode Dimensions: Graphite Electrode Dimensions: Electrode Diameter: 600 mm Electrode Length: 2400 mm Electrode Diameter: 450 mm Electrode Length: 1800 mm Nipple Specification: Nipple Specification: Nipple Diameter: 317.50 mm Number of Thread: 4 Thread per Inch Nipple Diameter: 241.30 mm Number of Thread: 4 Thread per Inch Nipple Length: 457.20 mm Thread Type: Tapered Thread Nipple Length: 355.60 mm Thread Type: Tapered Thread Socket Depth : 234.60 mm Socket Depth : 183.80 mm Nipple Type 241T4L INTRESTED BIDDERS MAY OBTAIN SET OF DOCUMENTS, CONTAINING THE RELEVANT TERMS AND 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: 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.: EUR 50 "FIFTY EURO" TO THE ONE OF BELOW ACCOUNT No.: 1) ACCOUNT No.0100013543943 AT "EXPORT DEVELOPMENT BANK OF IRAN 1) ACCOUNT No.0100013543943 AT "EXPORT DEVELOPMENT BANK OF IRAN AHVAZ CENTERAL BRANCH" AHVAZ CENTERAL BRANCH" 2) ACCOUNT No.1902-750-4019644-1 AT "EGHTESAD NOVIN BANK- OF IRAN AHVAZ 2) ACCOUNT No.1902-750-4019644-1 AT "EGHTESAD NOVIN BANK- OF IRAN AHVAZ SHARIATI BRANCH" OR SHARIATI BRANCH" OR Rials 15.000.000,"TWO MILION RIALS" TO THE ONE OF BELOW ACCOUNT NO.: Rials 15.000.000,"TWO MILION RIALS" TO THE ONE OF BELOW ACCOUNT NO.: 1) ACCOUNT No.0102513186002 AT "MELLI BANK OF IRAN AHVAZ KSC BRANCH" 1) ACCOUNT No.0102513186002 AT "MELLI BANK OF IRAN AHVAZ KSC BRANCH" 2) ACCOUNT No.0100304453001 AT "SADERAT BANK OF IRAN AHVAZ KSC 2) ACCOUNT No.0100304453001 AT "SADERAT BANK OF IRAN AHVAZ KSC BRANCH" BRANCH" AND PRESENT THE PAYMENT RECEIPT TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: AND PRESENT THE PAYMENT RECEIPT TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: Consumption Material & General Goods PURCHASING DEPARTMENT Consumption Material & General Goods PURCHASING DEPARTMENT KHOUZESTAN STEEL COMPANY (KSC) KHOUZESTAN STEEL COMPANY (KSC) KM 10 AHWAZ - BANDAR IMAM KHOMEINI ROAD P.O.BOX: 1378 POST CODE: 61397-31398 AHWAZ-IRAN KM 10 AHWAZ - BANDAR IMAM KHOMEINI ROAD P.O.BOX: 1378 POST CODE: 61397-31398 AHWAZ-IRAN Note1: BIDDER SHALL SUBMIT WITH TENDER A BID BOND ISSUED BY AN IRANIAN BANK OR BY A EUROPEAN Note1: BIDDER SHALL SUBMIT WITH TENDER A BID BOND ISSUED BY AN IRANIAN BANK OR BY A EUROPEAN FIRST CLASS BANK, IN THE AMOUNT OF 240,000,000,000 Rial OR 800 000 EUR FOR 10,000 MT GRAPHITE FIRST CLASS BANK, IN THE AMOUNT OF 60,000,000,000 Rial OR 200 000 EUR FOR 3,000 MT GRAPHITE ELECTRODE Dia 600mm AND MAY REDUSED IN PROPORTION WITH THE QUANTITY OF BIDDERS OFFER. 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WHEN YOUR COMPANY IS CONFIRMED AND THE TENDER DOCUMENT IS SENT TO YOU, YOU MUST BE DELIVERED TO 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 17th May, 2021.THE OPENING DATE OF THE AFORESAID ADDRESS ON OR BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE 17th May, 2021.THE OPENING DATE OF ENVELOPES WILL BE AT 10:30 AM ON THE 18"May,2021 IN THE BUYER'S CONFERENCE ROOM LOCATED AT THE ENVELOPES WILL BE AT 10:30 AM ON THE 18"May,2021 IN THE BUYER'S CONFERENCE ROOM LOCATED AT THE HEAD OFFICE OF KSC AHWAZ-IRAN AND THE BIDDERS OR THEIR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES CAN HEAD OFFICE OF KSC AHWAZ-IRAN AND THE BIDDERS OR THEIR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES CAN ATTEND THE MEETING OF THE TENDER. Note 3: FOR MORE INFORMTION PLEASE CONTACT WITH FOLLOWING ATTEND THE MEETING OF THE TENDER. 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I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 24, 2021 SOCIETY 7

Iranian-made “Sputnik V” to Let’s reverse the destructive trend of planet

1 There is a strong relationship between the loss of natural be available by mid-June ecosystems and the risk of pandemics, described in the recently published reports on pandemics and the Global Assessment SOCIETY TEHRAN – Iran will that these vaccines can also be released Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services from the In- deskrelease jointly-produced by September. tergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Russian “Sputnik V” vaccine by the end of Sixth shipment of Sputnik V ar- Ecosystem Services (IPBES). spring (June 21), Kianoush Jahanpour, head rived of the Information Center of the Ministry Alireza Raeisi, spokesman for the Na- of Health, has announced. tional Headquarters for Coronavirus con- A shipment of cell bank for the pro- trol announced on Thursday that the sixth duction of “Sputnik V” vaccine delivered batch of “Sputnik V” vaccine, including to Iran today, and the production process over 100,000 doses, has been sent to the will start soon in Actoverco pharmaceutical country, IRNA reported. company, Jahanpour wrote on his Twitter Of the total vaccines imported so far, account on Thursday. we have received about 420,000 doses The first batch of Iranian-Russian vac- of Sputnik V, some 650,000 doses from cine will be available by the end of spring. China, and 125,000 from India. We also Three Iranian companies are volunteer- received 700,000 doses of Astrazeneca ing to co-produce the Sputnik V vaccine in vaccine from South Korea, so that a to- Iran and were introduced to the Gamaleya tal of 1.895 million doses of vaccine have Institute through the Iranian Embassy in been provided to the Ministry of Health, Russia. One of these companies is ahead of he explained. the others, of course, all three companies New cases and mortalities The main report identifies over a million species at risk of have the ability to produce this vaccine, In a press briefing on Friday Health extinction, not to mention the threats to the life-support functions he explained. Ministry’s spokesperson Sima-Sadat Lari of ecosystems – clean water and air, flood control and climate As soon as the production line is ready, confirmed 24,092 new cases of COVID-19 regulation, food, medicines, and much more. the Russian side provides cell bank to the infection, raising the total number of infec- It puts mining alongside timber extraction, settlements, and companies; so that the first vaccine products Iran is currently producing vaccines jointly tions to 2,335,905. She added that 1,823,958 agricultural expansion as leading to deforestation and forest in Iran will enter the market after 45-60 patients have so far recovered, but 5,038 degradation, and driving new contact among people, animals, days, he noted. with three countries of Cuba, Russia, remain in critical conditions of the disease. and their microbes. Iran started mass vaccination against and Australia, these vaccines can also be During the past 24 hours, 453 patients About five new infectious diseases in people are identified COVID-19 with Sputnik V vaccine on released by September. have lost their lives, bringing the total every year, and 70 percent of emerging diseases are caused by February 9. number of deaths to 68,366, she added. microbes of animal origin, says the IPBES. So far, 667,202 doses of coronavirus doses, have been injected in the country. jointly with three countries of Cuba, Russia, So far, 14,854,140 COVID-19 diagnostic Restoration measures could halt biodiversity loss, after which vaccine, including the first and second Iran is currently producing vaccines and Australia, he noted, expressing hope tests have been performed in the country. recovery begins, avoiding around two-thirds of future terrestrial biodiversity losses caused by land-use change. Biodiversity in Iran According to Iran’s Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity published on its website, Iran is located $23m allocated to waste management in coastal provinces in West Asia and borders the Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman. The mountains enclose several broad basins, or TEHRAN – A total of 1 trillion rials needs urgent measures to contain the issue. SOCIETY plateaus, on which major agricultural and urban settlements desk(nearly $23 million at the official rate Diseases such as tetanus, typhoid, intestinal parasites, are located. With an area of 1,648,000 square kilometers, Iran of 42,000 rials) has been earmarked to tackle the issue of bloody diarrhea, poliomyelitis or infantile paralysis, and ranks eighteenth in size among the countries of the world. waste management in northern coastal provinces, deputy skin lesions are among the diseases caused by solid waste Despite the fact that much of Iran is dry, the wetlands of Iran head of Iran’s municipalities and village administrators said. pollution in water, air, and soil. are globally significant. Large populations of migratory birds Highlighting that solving the waste problem in the On the other hand, a large part of these thousand tons winter at these wetlands or use them on their way. The complex country requires the participation of the private sector of waste is ending up in the Caspian Sea and the forests, and varied climates, topography, geological formations, and and the public, Ali Ghorbani said that the first step in the which can lead to many changes in the environmental cycles. anthropological management of natural resources have led to development of the country is delegating authority to the Moreover, Hossein Niaz Azari, a member of the parliament, a varied and unique biological diversity in the country. people through supervision and planning. said that some 104 aquatic species have been living in the In the Iranian ecosystems approximately 8,000 species of “We should try to increase the per capita value added Caspian Sea in the past years, while most of them have gone plants, 197 species of mammals, 535 species of birds, 227 species tax in the coastal provinces by tourism flourish,” he noted, extinct due to the high amount of waste entering the sea. of reptiles, 21 species of amphibians, 160 species of freshwater IRNA reported on Thursday. Deputy environment chief Masoud Tajrishi has referred fishes, and 710 species of marine fishes have been recorded. Waste generated in coastal provinces snowballing to the poor waste disposal in the coastal cities of the country, Iran is one of the most significant countries in West Asia for at 7,000 tons a day saying that “Unfortunately, we face not only the problem the three northern provinces of Mazandaran, Golestan, and the conservation of biological diversity. Habitat diversity in the The amount of waste generated in the northern provinces of identifying a proper place for waste disposal but sewers Gilan has risen sharply to alarming rates, Sirous Vatankhah, country allows for a wide range of animals to inhibit in Iran. of the country, neighboring the Caspian Sea, is snowballing being discharged into all rivers and lakes. secretary of energy technologies development headquar- Regarding the ecosystem diversity of marine and coastal at a rate of over 7,000 tons a day, holding accountable for In such case, mostly tourists who are littering the northern ters at the vice-presidency for science and technology, told zones in the North and South of the country, it consists of 25 14 percent of the total daily 50,000 tons of waste produced coast are blamed, however, the other main reason behind ISNA that there is a significant relationship between the ecological types and units, in which the most important are in the country, Khabaronline reported in January 2019. this is the lack of proper equipment for waste management prevalence of various diseases and the amount of waste coral reefs, bays, and small islands. In the past few years, the amount of waste produced in and recycling, he added. generation, which must be considered a “danger sign” that Threats to biodiversity There are many plans underway to protect Asiatic Cheetah, wetlands, Central Zagros Mountains, Caspian Hyrcanian Forest biodiversity from extinction and degradation either designed and Climate crisis has shifted the Earth’s axis, study shows put in motion nationally in collaboration with international entities. However, water scarcity, land degradation, and pollution are The massive melting of glaciers as a result ward in 1995 and that the average speed Geophysical Research Letters, showed three main threats to Iran’s biodiversity. Iran faces a serious water of global heating has caused marked shifts of drift from 1995 to 2020 was 17 times glacial losses accounted for most of the shortage caused by inadequate natural water supply resources in the Earth’s axis of rotation since the faster than from 1981 to 1995. shift, but it is likely that the pumping up and the development of water infrastructures such as dams. 1990s, research has shown. It demonstrates Since 1980, the position of the poles of groundwater also contributed to the Soil loss is another threat to biodiversity brought about by the profound impact humans are having has moved about 4 metres in distance. movements. water salinization, sedimentation, erosion, desertification, on the planet, scientists said. “The accelerated decline [in water Groundwater is stored under land but, deforestation, inadequate land-use planning, and overgrazing. The planet’s geographic north and stored on land] resulting from glacial ice once pumped up for drinking or agriculture, In rapidly urbanized areas, air pollution originating from south poles are the point where its axis melting is the main driver of the rapid most eventually flows to sea, redistributing vehicle emissions and industrial effluents has become a serious of rotation intersects the surface, but they polar drift after the 1990s,” concluded its weight around the world. In the past 50 environmental and public health hazard concern. The sand and are not fixed. Changes in how the Earth’s the team, led by Shanshan Deng, from years, humanity has removed 18tn tonnes dust storms in recent years have taken on new dimensions in Prof Jonathan Overpeck, at the Uni- mass is distributed around the planet cause the Institute of Geographic Sciences and of water from deep underground reser- Iran and have changed from a local problem to a national issue. versity of Arizona, US, told the Guardian the axis, and therefore the poles, to move. Natural Resources Research at the Chinese voirs without it being replaced. The primary source of the dust storms that are regularly and previously that changes to the Earth’s axis In the past, only natural factors such as Academy of Sciences. Vincent Humphrey, at the University negatively impacting Iran’s air quality lies in the neighboring highlighted “how real and profoundly large ocean currents and the convection of hot Gravity data from the Grace satellite, of Zurich, Switzerland, and not involved countries as well as dried-up wetlands inside the country. an impact humans are having on the planet”. rock in the deep Earth contributed to the launched in 2002, had been used to link in the new research said it showed how Biodiversity matters Some scientists argue that the scale of drifting position of the poles. But the new glacial melting to movements of the pole in human activities have redistributed huge Biodiversity is important for water resources, agricultural this impact means a new geological epoch research shows that since the 1990s, the 2005 and 2012, both following increases in amounts of water around the planet: “It and aquaculture productivity, and as a result the food security, – the Anthropocene – needs to be declared. loss of hundreds of billions of tonnes of ice losses. But Deng’s research breaks new tells you how strong this mass change is human health, climate, and economy. The livelihoods of millions Since the mid-20th century, there has been ice a year into the oceans resulting from ground by extending the link to before the – it’s so big that it can change the axis of people in Iran are completely dependent on the biodiversity a marked acceleration of carbon dioxide the climate crisis has caused the poles to satellite’s launch, showing human activi- of the Earth.” However, the movement of their surroundings. move in new directions. ties have been shifting the poles since the of the Earth’s axis is not large enough to emissions and sea level rise, the destruction The scientists found the direction of 1990s, almost three decades ago. affect daily life, he said: it could change the of wildlife and the transformation of land by polar drift shifted from southward to east- The research, published in the journal length of a day, but only by milliseconds. farming, deforestation and development. LET’S LEARN PERSIAN (Part 165) (Source: saadifoundation.ir) ENGLISH IN USE LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION

آرزوی آتــش نشــان شــدن پســر 8 ســاله مبتــا بــه 8-year-old boy battling cancer achieves dream of becoming a fireman ســرطان برآورده شــد Arian, an eight-year-old boy suffering from cancer, got to fulfill آریــن، پســر هشــت ســاله مبتــا بــه بیمــاری ســرطان، کــه آرزوی آتــش نشــان شــدن .his wish of becoming a firefighter داشــت، بــرای یــک روز فرمانــده عملیــات آتــش نشــانی شــد و بــه آرزویــش رســید. Arian celebrated his eighth birthday on Friday with Ahvaz بــه گــزارش ایرنــا، آریــن روز جمعــه ســالروز هشــت ســالگی خــود را بــا حضــور city’s officials, citizens and firefighters in attendance. He was جمعــی از مســئوالن، شــهروندان و نیروهــای آتــش نشــان شــهر اهــواز جشــن appointed as a commander of operations for one day, IRNA news agency reported on Saturday. گرفــت، و از ســوی رئیــس ســازمان آتــش نشــانی و خدمــات ایمنــی اهــواز بــرای At a symbolic ceremony, a fire alarm was sounded and the یــک روز بــه فرماندهــی عملیات منصــوب شــد. ,young commander while dressed in full firefighters’ uniform در مراســمی نمادیــن، آژیــر خطــر عملیــات اطفــای حریق بــه صــدا درآمــد و ایــن was dispatched to the scene along with firefighters and eight فرمانــده خردســال بــه همــراه نیروهــای آتــش نشــان و هشــت دســتگاه خــودروی .fire engines Arian’s firefighting operations were well done and the little اطفــای حریــق بــه محــل حادثــه اعــزام شــدند. وعملیــات اطفــای حریــق بــه boy’s wish of becoming a fireman finally came true thanks to فرماندهــی آریــن بــه خوبــی انجــام شــد. .Ahvaz fire department Prayer Times Noon:13:02 Evening: 20:04 Dawn: 4:48 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:19 (tomorrow) APRIL 24, 2021 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Mohammad Shojaeian Editor-in-Chief: Ali A.Jenabzadeh Tribeca Film Festival picks Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051430 “The Ballad of a White Cow” Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 ARTTEHRAN – “The Ballad “The Ballad of a White Cow” is their Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 deskof a White Cow” co-di- second joint feature as co-directors. It Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 rected by Iranian filmmakers Behtash is produced by Gholamreza Musavi and Sanaeiha and Maryam Moqaddam will Etienne de Ricaud. go on screen at the Tribeca Film Festival The film will be screened at the Tribeca Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 in New York City. Critics’ Week, a section of the festival that The film is about Mina, a young woman presents a curated slate of feature films No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran who lives alone with her deaf child while her from film critics including Eric Kohn, P.o. Box: 14155-4843 husband had been executed for a murder Hunter Harris, and Tre’vell Anderson. Zip Code: 1599814713 charge a year ago. She tries to get her life “Ailey” by Jamila Wignot and “Rita together, take good care of her child and Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go make both ends meet. However, her life for It” Mariem Pérez Riera, both from the gets more sorrowful when she finds out U.S. will also go on screen in this section. that her husband was innocent. “The Ballad of a White Cow” has also As Mina battles for a public apology been selected for the official competition from the judges who served her husband’s of the 71st Berlin International Film Fes- death sentence, a stranger, Reza, appears tival in June. on her doorstep, explaining that he has Back in February, Totem Films, a Par- come to repay a debt he owes to Babak. is-based international sales and co-produc- GUIDE TO Mina gradually opens up to him, unaware tion company, announced that it purchased SPIRITUAL AWAKENING of the terrible secret tying them together. the rights to sell the film and it brought “The Ballad of a White Cow” is the the drama to the market at the European He who has in his heart the weight of a mus- story of a woman’s struggle for justice, A scene from “The Ballad of the White Cow” by Behtash Sanaeiha and Maryam Moqaddam. Film Market (EFM) in early March. tard seed of pride shall not enter paradise. recognition, and independence in the After “Acid Rain,” Moqaddam and multi-prized doc feature, “The Invincible Tribeca Film Festival will run from world of today. Sanaeiha co-wrote and co-directed 2018’s Diplomacy of Mr. Naderi”. June 9 to 20. Prophet Muhammad (S) A new definition of Hijab in the book WHAT’S IN ART GALLERIES Note: Some of the following art ex- “Oven of Friendship” hibitions are being organized online the time he/she does not know its value, for example, if “We have never been beaten and insulted for wearing in order to prevent the spread of the rain always falls on time and the sky is always sunny a headscarf or wearing a chador. Now imagine how for novel coronavirus. when needed, and the winters are full of snow and the years in this country, women, and girls were stripped of Painting summers are always full of blessings, then we will never their headscarves, beaten and humiliated only because An exhibition of paintings by be able to understand the purpose of droughts or floods, they wanted to maintain their hijab” Hani Najm is currently underway and so we will never be able to appreciate the constant Karimi makes the argument that due to the restrictions at Negar Gallery. rain or the adequate sunshine and we will not be grateful placed on wearing Hijab, for many years Muslim women Entitled “From Far Away TO Near- for them.” in this country were not allowed to leave their homes and by”, the exhibit will be running until Following the logic of her narrative, the author im- even barred from attending schools or universities: “Im- April 28 at the gallery located at 1 pulses the reader to be alert to the fact that wearing hijab agine now that you are reading and flipping through this 33 Delaram Alley, East Roshanai Karimi dwells in the teenage world, with a text writ- in Iran is a blessing that can be easily practiced and with book, in another country like France, a girl is banned from St. in the Qeitarieh neighborhood. ten in a language familiar with the youth while distancing a reference to the Goharshad Mosque massacre in which going to school and continuing her education because of Paintings by Mohammad Tabat- herself from any stereotypes and instead of raising issues Iranian King Reza Shah killed over 2000 innocent people her hijab. What would you say to her?” abai are currently on view in an based on logical instances in an individual’s daily life. An for protesting against his westernization policies and the Qadr Velayat Publishing Institute has made the book “Ta- exhibition at Shirin Gallery. excerpt from the book reads: banning of Hijab, the author writes: noor Doosti” available in a thousand copies for distribution. The exhibit titled “The Lost Time” “It is said that when a person has a blessing, most of will run until May 5 at the gallery located at No. 5, 13th St., Karim Khan Ave. Arthibition Gallery is playing “Dream about Sohrab”, “Walnut Tree” join Iranian host to an exhibition of paintings by a number of Iranian-Armenian artists including Vazgen Avanesian, lineup at Moscow film festival Misha Shahbazian, Hacoop Var- ARTTEHRAN – Iranian lated into the English, French, Italian and that Nushin Meraji’s debut movie “The Son” tanian, and Yervand Tehapetian. deskmovies “Dream about Spanish languages. He died of leukemia in will be screened in the main competition. The exhibit entitled “New Jolfa” Sohrab” and “Walnut Tree” have been Tehran in 1980. The film is about forty-year-old Farid, will be running until May 2 at the selected for the Films around the World Mohammad-Hossein Mahdavian’s war who lives with his mother. He is very vul- gallery that can be found at Qandi section of the 43rd edition of the Moscow drama “Walnut Tree” is based on the true nerable and escapes loneliness, but in the Alley, Sasanipur St., Golnabi St., International Film Festival, which is cur- story of the profound tragedy of Iraq’s meantime tries to prove himself independent off Shariati Ave. rently underway in the Russian capital. chemical attack on the Iranian town of and supportive of his mother. A scene from “Walnut Tree” by Iranian Somayyeh Darvishi, Parisa Dama- “Dream about Sohrab” by Ali Qavitan Sardasht in 1987. However, her sudden death makes Farid director Mohammad-Hossein Mahdavian. vandi, Mina Asadi, Elnaz Tavangar, traces the mysticism and philosophy in the It tells the story of Qader Mulanpur, a frustrated. To escape from this unfamiliar Coyula from Cuba, “The Time of Indiffer- Amir Mianji, and several other art- poetry of Sohrab Sepehri (1928-1980), sec- man who was away when his family was situation, he clings to anyone he encoun- ence” by Leonardo Guerra Seragnoli from ists are displaying their paintings in ond only to poet Nima Yushij, who is known affected by the chemical attack in a village ters outside home to make this loneliness Italy, “The Inner Glow” by Andres Eduardo an exhibition at Atashzad Gallery. for his pure style of blank verse. near Sardasht. His effort to save his pregnant bearable, but he does not know how to Rodriguez and Luis Alejandro Rodriguez The exhibition will continue until As a talented artist and a gifted poet, wife and their three children is in vain and communicate and the situation gets worse from Venezuela, and “The Women” by April 27 at the gallery, which is lo- Sepehri came to prominence with the they die one by one from the fatal wounds each time. Nobuteru Uchida from Japan. cated at 3 North Abbaspur (Tavanir) publication of his collection “The Water’s sustained as a result of the chemical attack. The Son is competing with 13 more Moscow International Film Festival will St. near Vanak Sq. Footfall” in 1965. His works have been trans- Earlier last week, the festival announced movies including “Blue Heart” by Miguel come to an end on April 29. A collection of paintings by Se- pideh Todiei is on display in an exhibition at Entezami Gallery. The exhibit named “Vortex” will Iranian bookstores offer “The Man Who Loved Books Too Much” run until April 28 at the gallery located at 608 Shariati Ave. near CULTURE TEHRAN— “The Man Who Loved Books understand him better, journalist Allison Hoover Bartlett insight, and humor, she has woven this entertaining cat- Motahhari St. deskToo Much: The True Story of a Thief, a plunged herself into the world of book lust and discovered and-mouse chase into a narrative that not only reveals Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession” by American just how dangerous it can be. exactly how Gilkey pulled off his dirtiest crimes, where Kahfi Gallery is hosting an exhibi- author Allison Hoover Bartlett has recently been published John Gilkey is an obsessed, unrepentant book thief who he stashed the loot, and how Sanders ultimately caught tion of paintings by Iraj Shayestepur. in Persian by Saless Publications in Tehran. has stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of rare him but also explores the romance of books, the lure to The exhibit can be visited on the The book has been rendered into Persian by Mojtaba Veisi. books from book fairs, stores, and libraries around the collect them, and the temptation to steal them. Immers- gallery’s Instagram page Kahfi.art. The book is the true story of an infamous book thief, his country. Ken Sanders is the self-appointed “bibliodick” ing the reader in a rich, wide world of literary obsession, gallery. victims, and the man determined to catch him. (book dealer with a penchant for detective work) driven Bartlett looks at the history of book passion, collection, Multimedia Rare-book theft is even more widespread than fine-art to catch him. Bartlett befriended both outlandish char- and theft through the ages, to examine the craving that Reyhaneh Afzalian, Kolsum theft. Most thieves, of course, steal for profit. John Charles acters and found herself caught in the middle of efforts makes some people willing to stop at nothing to possess Salehi, Parinaz Gudarzian, Mahsa Gilkey steals purely for the love of books. In an attempt to to recover hidden treasure. With a mixture of suspense, the books they love. Leilabi, and Mitra Velai are show- casing their paintings and drawings in an exhibition at 009821 Projects Gallery. “The Cow”, a pioneering masterpiece of Iranian cinema Named “Scratch”, the exhibit will Part 1 comedic touch. The faces of the village people dead in the shed and her loud cries brings be running until May 5 at the gal- The 1960’s was considered to be the new (especially women & old people’s) seem to every person in the village. The villagers de- lery located at No. 25, 18th Alley, era in Iranian filmmaking. It was the dec- be burdened by the hard realities of poverty. bate on how to convey this shocking news to Kheradmand St., Karim Khan Ave. ade Forugh Farrokhzad’s excellent short/ Islam (Ali Nassirian) looks like the decision beloved Hassan. Islam comes up with the A group of artists, including documentary “The House is Black” (1963) maker in the village. The chief and others suggestion to tell Hassan that his cow has Maryam Ehterami, Marjan Jafari, and Ebrahim Golestan’s seminal film “The looks up to him in the time of crisis. The wandered off and a fellow has gone after it. Kimia Lotfi, Mona Hashemi, and Brick and the Mirror” (1964) were made. only lively factors of the village are: Masht He also proposes to bury the cow in the old Negar Roshan, is showcasing the Nevertheless, the inception of New Iranian Hassan (Ezzatolah Entezami) and his cow. well. Islam and his villagers perceive how artworks in various media in an Cinema was often associated with Dariush Hassan adores his pregnant cow like a their plan had only made things much worse exhibition at Ehsan Gallery. Mehrjui’s “Gaav” (aka The Cow, 1969). The child, taking her to graze in the open fields when Hassan gradually descends into insanity. The exhibit titled “Medusa” runs Cow, which works both as a poignant human and washing her after a long day of work. The The screenplay of “The Cow” was co-writ- until April 27 at the gallery that drama and subversive cinema, grabbed the affection he has for the cow is more than the ten by popular Iranian writer Gholam Hossen can be found at No. 22, East 14th attention of the West and inspired more film- folktale. There’s an incredibly realistic por- love he possesses for his wife (he just addresses Saedi. Saedi, who specialized in psychiatry, St. in the Ajudanieh neighborhood. makers to explore the contemporary social trayal of rural Iran’s socioeconomic situations her as ‘woman’). The ownership of the cow has has said to have traveled with renowned Ira- Drawing themes of Iran. and at the same time there are also some also brought Hassan a distinct identity and nian thinkers like Jalal Al-e-Ahmad to Iran’s A collection of drawings by Fate- In 1968, the Iranian government estab- marvelous surrealistic, eerie touches. In the social status in the village. The threat to this remote villages and wrote many ethnographic meh Farahani is on display in an ex- lished the Ministry of Arts and Culture to opening credits, we see two abstract figures identity is signaled by a threat standing on essays about his travels. Hamid Dabashi, hibition at Golhaye Davudi Gallery. work out the censorship requirements and the – one human, other an animal – moving the far horizon. When Hassan takes his cow the Iranian American professor, in his book The exhibition entitled “Sarir” will final product of “The Cow” was immediately & blending together. This image conveys outside for grazing, he sees three men from ‘Masters & Masterpieces of Iranian cinema’ be running until April 28 at the gal- banned for its ‘negative’ portrayal of rural the central conceit of the tale. The narrative nearby village (called ‘Bolouris’) in a distant, mentions the heavy influence of the Saedi’s lery located at 263 near Nejatollahi Iran. The film was allowed for a domestic opens with the scene of roving children from small mountain range looking at his cow. He short story collection “The Mourners of Bayal” St., Taleqani Ave. release only after the inclusion of a disclaim- a small village, accompanied by a grown- conveys this event to the villagers, who are in grounding the characters and realities Calligraphic painting er, stating that the events portrayed in the up bully, mercilessly harassing a mentally all worried over the cattle-rustling group. of a village life. Mehrjui and Saedi’s script Ravi Gallery is hosting an exhi- film happened long before Shah’s regime. disabled guy. The sparsely populated village Although Mehrjui conveys ominous feelings of “The Cow” offers a clear-eyed portrait of bition of calligraphic paintings by “Gaav” was smuggled out of Iran and won is visualized through the shots of passive about the Boloruis in those initial shots, the the dynamics in the village as well as they Saghar Moshiri Amin. the critics prize (FIPRESCI) in 1971 Venice spectators, a donkey cart, a dog, cluster of real threat they present to the villagers is have imbued a Kafkaesque feel in Hassan’s The exhibit named “Street” runs Film Festival (and also won a prize in the clay and stone houses, a mosque and a pond, cloaked in ambiguity. Hassan sleeps in the transformation (in the later half). “The Cow” until April 30 at the gallery located Berlin Film Festival). around which all the lively activities in the cow shed, fearing a raid from the Bolouris. isn’t devised as a representation of a single at 9 Dastan Alley, Ezzatollah En- In “The Cow”, writer/director Darius village take place. A middle-aged character The next day Hassan goes to his work after idea. The villagers’ fear for outside threat tezami St., off Movahhed-Danesh Mehrjui blends Italian neo-realism sensi- who keeps an eye on all the movements in confirming that the cow is safe. Later in the is positioned alongside their thieving and St. in the Aqdasieh neighborhood. bilities and the sensibilities of an absurdist the village through his window brings a light day, Hassan’s wife discovers the cow lying lying activities.