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

8 Pages Price 50,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 42nd year No.13877 Saturday FEBRUARY 6, 2021 Bahman 18, 1399 Jumada Al thani 23, 1442

Russia eyes close Esteghlal earn a late South Pars Fajr Theater Festival’s lineup cooperation with EU on win over struggling development nearly features over ten plays on JCPOA, Lavrov says Page 3 Nassaji: IPL Page 3 completed Page 4 Commander Soleimani Page 8

Iran to U.S.: Objecting to ICJ ruling ‘not a good fresh start’ TEHRAN – Iran has criticized the U.S. on Wednesday expressed displeasure over for objecting the ruling by the Interna- the ruling. The reaction by the State De- Macron’s gambit tional Court of Justice (ICJ) in which partment drew a response from Iran’s it has ruled it can hear a case brought Ambassador to the United Nations Majid See page 3 by Iran against the U.S. in a bid to end Takht-Ravanhi, saying this is “not a good sanctions that the Trump administration fresh start.” reimposed in 2018 after pulling out of Hopes have risen for a revival of the the 2015 nuclear deal. JCPOA – the official name for the nuclear A majority of a panel of 16 judges on deal - now that the Trump administration Numerous development projects inaugurated Wednesday found that the ICJ, also known is gone and the new Biden administration as the world court, has jurisdiction in the has said it will cherish multilateralism across Iran to mark Ten-Day Fajr celebrations dispute. and diplomacy. However, the U.S. State Department Continued on page 2 IRIB official calls “Salman Farsi” international, interreligious series TEHRAN – Islamic Republic of Iran crew on location in the Iran Television Broadcasting (IRIB) deputy managing and Cinema Town near Tehran. director has called the Iranian TV series The series, which is about the life story “Salman Farsi” an international and in- Salman Farsi, the Iranian companion of terreligious project. the Prophet of Islam (S), is being made “This project needs IRIB’s full support by Davud Mirbaqeri, who is best known and we strongly back the international and for the series he had directed about the interreligious series,” Hamid Shahabadi history of Islam. said on Thursday in a visit to the series’ Continued on page 8

BY EBRAHIM FALLAHI the year of “surge in production” by TEHRAN – Over the past few years the Leader of the Islamic Revolu- and especially after the re-imposition tion Seyed Ali Khamenei, the gov- of the U.S. sanctions on the Iranian ernment has urged various bodies economy, the country has started and ministries to take the necessary to follow new strategies in order to measures for the realization of the distance the economy from the reli- year’s motto. ance on foreign sources and also to Consequently, new programs have empower the domestic productive been defined based on which every sectors. week several major projects have gone In this regard, since the beginning operational by various ministries in of the current Iranian calendar year a variety of sectors. (March 20, 2020), which is named Continued on page 4

Global Innovation Tourism projects worth $15.3m to be Nuclear war with China, Russia is ‘real Index puts Iran 4th inaugurated in Yazd possibility’: U.S. commander in West Asia TEHRAN – A total of 43 tourism-related projects, augurated, the official added. A top U.S. military commander has warned bility of nuclear use is low, but not ‘impossible,’ worth 645 billion rials ($15.3 million at the offi- In July 2017, the historical structure of the city about the possibility of a nuclear war with particularly in a crisis.” BY MEHDI GARSHASBI cial exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar), are of Yazd was named a UNESCO World Heritage. Russia or China. Richard pointed out that the Pentagon “must ran has ranked 60th in the world scheduled to come on stream across the central Wedged between the northern Dasht-e Kavir and The head of U.S. Strategic Command (STRAT- re-frame how it prioritizes the procurement and 4th in West Asia in the 2021 Iranian province of Yazd on the occasion of Fajr the southern Dasht-e Lut on a flat plain, the oasis COM), Admiral Charles Richard, accused Moscow of future capabilities” as Russia and China — Global Innovation Index which cerebrations (Jan. 31- Feb. 10, marking the victory city enjoys a very harmonious public-religious and Beijing of having “aggressively challenge whom he called “our nuclear-armed adversar- I anniversary of the Islamic Revolution). architecture that dates from different eras. international norms” and becoming a threat ies” — continue to “build capability and exert analyzes dozens of criteria using seven equally weighted metrics, in- Nineteen eco-lodge units, two traditional With its winding lanes, forest of badgirs (wind to his country and the region. themselves globally.” cluding research and development accommodation centers, seven traditional res- catchers), mud-brick houses, atmospheric alleyways, He wrote in the U.S. Naval Institute’s monthly “Our record in this regard is not stellar,” he spending, manufacturing capabili- taurants, two tourist complexes as well as seven and centuries of history, Yazd is a delightful place magazine, Proceedings that Washington needs said. “We must ensure that all of our capabilities ty, and concentration of high-tech projects in the field of cultural heritage, and to stay, referring to as a ‘don’t miss’ destination by to seek new ways to face what he called imminent map to an overarching strategy.” public companies. six projects in the field of handicrafts will be almost all travel associates in the region. threats from both military powers. The commander also accused Russia and The 2021 rankings reflect a world inaugurated, a provincial tourism official said The UNESCO-registered capital city of Yazd “There is a real possibility that a regional crisis China of destabilizing behaviors, which “if left where the fight against Covid-19 has on Thursday. is located close to the Spice and Silk Roads. It is a with Russia or China could escalate quickly to a unchecked, increase the risk of great power crisis brought innovation to the fore –- from The mentioned projects will come on stream living testimony to the intelligent use of limited conflict involving nuclear weapons,” he wrote. or conflict.” government efforts to contain the pan- in different cities across the province including available resources in the desert for survival. Richard accused both Moscow and Beijing of Richard specifically warned about Russia’s demic, to the digital infrastructure that’s Bafq, Taft, Ardakan, Meybod, and Mehriz, Mo- Water is brought to the city by the qanat system. conducting cyber-attacks and posing “threats in nuclear capabilities, including the development allowed economies to work through it, hammad Mirshamsi added. Each district of the city is built on a qanat and space,” as well as heavily investing in advanced of “bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles and the race to develop vaccines that The projects are expected to generate 247 has a communal center. nuclear weapons. (ICBM) and submarines.” can end it. job opportunities for the locals after being in- Continued on page 6 He warned that the United States’ “proba- Continued on page 5 Iran ranked fourth next to the United Arab Emirates (43), Qatar (52), and Saudi Arabia (53) in the ranking, Bloomberg Tehran ‘strongly’ condemns Belgian court’s ruling against Iranian diplomat reported. Biden faces difficult The International Labor Organization, TEHRAN – Iran has categorically denounced a against him or the conviction, were all unlawful Therefore, he added, they must be held accountable job to rebuild divided the International Monetary Fund, the Belgian court’s ruling against Iranian diplomat and amounted to blatant violation of internation- for their flagrant violation of the Iranian diplomat’s World Bank, the Organization for Eco- Assadollah Assadi. al law, especially the 1961 Vienna Convention on rights, including the inhumane conditions of the time America: professor nomic Cooperation and Development, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Diplomatic Relations, and the Islamic Republic of he faced under arrest in Germany and Belgium. World Intellectual Property Organization, Khatibzadeh issued a statement on Thursday Iran will never recognize it,” Khatibzadeh asserted. “The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the BY MOHAMMAD MAZHARI and the United Nations Educational, Sci- saying that Iran strongly condemns the 20-year “Unfortunately, Belgium and some [other] right to resort to all possible legal and diplomatic TEHRAN - An American professor is of the opinion entific, and Cultural Organization were jail term issued by a court in the Belgian city of European countries have taken such illegal and means to realize the rights of Mr. Assadollah Assadi that President Joe Biden has a long road to repair the the sources of information. Antwerp against the Iranian diplomat. unjustifiable actions [against Assadi] under the and to hold accountable the governments that deep-rooted division in America, especially when South Korea regained the crown from “As we have repeatedly announced earlier, all influence of the atmosphere that has been creat- have violated their international obligations,” it comes to structural issues like racism, poverty, Germany, which dropped to fourth the procedures that have so far been taken against ed by the hostile Mojahedin Kalq Organization Khatibzadeh concluded. and Red-Blue division. place. Singapore and Switzerland the diplomat, including his arrest, the case brought terrorist group on Europe’s soil,” he continued. Continued on page 3 “Biden can undo many of Trump’s executive each moved up one spot to rank sec- orders - which he is trying to do - but he will have ond and third. to push legislation through a deeply divided Con- Iran ranked 43rd among the 100 most gress, which will be very difficult,” Professor Ronnie vibrant clusters of science and technology Cemetery Lipschutz tells the Tehran Times. (S&T) worldwide for the third consecutive Many observers say that Biden’s victory in the year, according to the Global Innovation November presidential election would not heal the Index 2020 report. of martyrs wounds of division in America. The total ranking of Iran was 67 in the Donald Trump and his supporters’ efforts to cast GII 2020 report, which was 61 in 2019. of divine doubt on the integrity of the election have further Technology development in Iran exposed the depth of divisions. Despite sanctions putting pressure on religions “The fact that 74 million voted for Trump and the country, a unique opportunity was most of the Republicans are terrified of getting provided for business development and on his wrong side, and there will be (already is) a the activity of knowledge-based companies flowered lot of resistance and attacks on Biden’s ‘socialist’ in the country. agenda,” argues Lipschutz, who is also a president Currently, some 5,000 knowl- Concurrent with the arrival of the 42 anni- and co-director of Sustainable Systems Research edge-based companies are active in the versary of the Islamic Revolution, the cem- Foundation. country, manufacturing diverse products etery of Chaldeans in which the martyrs of The following is the text of the interview: to meet the needs of the domestic mar- divine religions are laid to rest were flowered. Do you believe Biden can make a mean- ket while saving large amounts of foreign The flowering was done with observation of ingful change in America and contain the currency. health protocols in view of the coronavirus deep divide in the society? The fields of aircraft maintenance, pandemic on Thursday, February 4. The I am skeptical, notwithstanding his good inten- steel, pharmaceuticals, and medical soldiers buried in the cemetery were mostly tions. Biden can undo many of Trump’s executive martyred during Saddam Hussein’s war equipment, oil, and gas are among the orders--which he is trying to do--but he will have to sectors that researchers in technology against Iran in the 1980s. It also includes push legislation through a deeply divided Congress, companies have engaged in, leading to IRNA those killed during the struggle against the which will be very difficult. import reduction. despotic Pahlavi regime. Continued on page 5 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS FEBRUARY 6, 2021

EU’s Borrell: We need to move from ‘maximum Hatami hopes to boost military pressure’ to ‘maximum diplomacy’ toward Iran “All JCPOA participants are ready to ties between Iran and India engage,” EU chief diplomat says POLITICAL TEHRAN — Brigadier waters with the aim of both increasing their deskGeneral Amir Hatami, defense readiness against potential threats POLITICAL TEHRAN — Josep Borrell, the European Iran’s defense minister, says Iran and India and ensuring the security of international desk Union foreign policy chief, said on Thursday enjoy great capacities to promote defense and trade in the region. that it is high time the former Donald Trump administration’s military ties given the many affinities that Since the termination of the UN arms em- “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran is abandoned in the two states share, including their position bargo on Iran in 2020, the Islamic Republic favor of diplomatic engagement and interaction. on various international issues. intends to buy advanced weapons from Asian Borrell reminded how the Trump administration undermined In a meeting on Wednesday with Indian states notably India and China. the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers through Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat in Addressing the Bangalore Air Show on his “maxim pressure” campaign against Tehran. the city of Bangalore, Hatami said, “Tehran Friday, Iranian Air Force Commander Amir “We need to move from ‘maximum pressure’ to ‘maximum and New Delhi have cultural and historical Aziz Nasirzadeh also said his Air Force has diplomacy’ through the JCPOA Joint Commission,” Borrell commonalities, common approaches toward started a speedy campaign toward building told Interfax news agency before making a trip to Moscow. many regional and international issues and drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) through By the Joint Commission, the EU official, meant a mech- geographical capacities, particularly in the using nanotechnology and artificial intel- anism that is joined by the signatories’ representatives and Indian Ocean.” ligence. monitors the deal’s implementation. Highlighting the capacities of both states to Noting that the Air Force is the most con- Under the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Com- expand ties, the Iranian defense chief noted, crete example of national power in the air prehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran was obligated to put “These capacities can play a significant role in and space, the commander said the quick limits on its nuclear activities in exchange for termination of expanding the two countries’ relations, par- endeavor by Iran to gain access to drones economic and financial sanctions. The JCPOA was turned into ticularly in the defense and military sectors.” with such a technology is the right of Iran. international law as it was endorsed by UN Security Council The Iranian minister participated in the Speaking the air show through a video- Resolution 2231. opening ceremony of Aero India 2021, which conference from Tehran, the Air Force chief The JCPOA was singed between Iran, the 5+1 nations and started at an air force base in Bangalore on also said, “On behalf of the Air Force of the the European Union in July 2015. Wednesday. Islamic Republic of Iran and the great and 5+1 refers to the five permanent members of the UN Se- For his part, General Rawat hailed the ancient nation of Iran who is gifted with a curity Council – the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France- and current visit by the high-ranking Iranian cooperation. of the total ocean area of the world stretch- shining civilization I wish God to bestow Germany. defense delegation to India and its partici- As one of the largest states in the IOR, ing between the southern tips of Africa and health to the entire Indian armed forces.” Under his signature “maximum pressure” policy against pation in the inauguration of the 13th Aero Iran has over the past years expanded its Australia. He concluded his remarks by wishing Iran, Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the landmark India air show, saying this shows that the presence in the northern part of the Indian The Islamic Republic’s naval forces a world free from threat, dominance and deal and restored sweeping economic sanctions on Iran. His two countries have the will to strengthen Ocean, which covers approximately one-fifth usually hold military drills in the strategic full[as1] of justice and peace. administration not only returned sanctions lifted under the JCPOA it also added new harsh ones. His administration introduced a total ban on Iran’s oil embargo, the main source revenue for Tehran. Despite pleas IRGC general: Russia has admitted Iran has changed global equations by the United Nations, the Trump administration even refused to relax sanctions against Iran as the Islamic Republic was POLITICAL TEHRAN — Brigadier General Hos- In a military gathering on Friday, General Nejat said Trump ordered drone strikes that assassinated Lieuten- fighting the coronavirus pandemic. desksein Nejat, a commander of the Islamic the U.S. hid the reality of what had happened in Ain ant General Soleimani. Five days later, Iran retaliated The Trump administration also threatened third countries Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), says the last year’s al-Assad air base after it was targeted with a barrage by firing dozens of missiles at the air base in al-Anbar with “secondary sanctions” if they violated the American bans. retaliatory missile strike on the U.S. military base of Ain of IRGC missiles in January 2020 in retaliation for the Governorate. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in March al-Assad in western Iraq was so impressive that Russia assassination of top Iranian commander Lt. General According to the Pentagon, over 100 American sol- 2020 that Trump’s “economic terrorism” is supplanted by admitted that Iran has changed the world equations, Qassem Soleimani. diers suffered traumatic brain injuries as a result of the “medical terrorism” against Iran. according to Tasnim news agency. On January 3 last year, former U.S. president Donald missile strike against the airbase. “U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA and ‘maximum pressure’ policy, including secondary sanctions, had a negative impact,” the chief European diplomatic and security official regretted. “The JCPOA could not reach its full potential - including in Iran to U.S.: Objecting to ICJ ruling ‘not a good fresh start’ the economic field,” Borrell added. 1 “New US admin purports to sup- plication of the Treaty of Amity,” Yusuf said, said that the world’s top court had issued arising from sanctions imposed on Iran in John Tirman, an executive director and principal research port multilateralism, yet is “disappointed” according to al Jazeera. a decision in the case of violations of the the field of medicine and medical items, food scientist at the Center for International Studies, says that Iran by @CIJ_ICJ rejection of its objection to ‘Legal victory’ 1955 Treaty of Amity, saying that the court and agricultural products, parts and services could resist America’s “maximum pressure” successfully while case on US sanctions (on basis it is outside Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad rejected preliminary U.S. objections and related to civil aviation safety previously Europe failed to help Tehran. Court’s jurisdiction),” Takht Ravanchi wrote Javad Zarif referred to Wednesday’s decision considered itself competent to investigate on October 3, 2018, but the U.S. has so far “Iran has done well to resist Trump and Pompeo’s ill-conceived on his Twitter account. as another legal victory for Iran. the lawsuit against the U.S. government and refused to comply with the court’s order in maximum pressure,” John Tirman tells the Tehran Times. By quitting the 2015 nuclear deal, the “Iran has always fully respected interna- thus the case would enter into substantive line with the policy of “maximum pressure” The CIS researcher also said Trump followed “braggadocio Trump administration violated international tional law. High time for the US to live up to proceedings. and economic terrorism against the Iranian in foreign affairs.” law as the agreement is endorsed by UN its international obligations,” Zarif tweeted. The ICJ issued its verdict in the case of government and nation. Borrell said Trump’s course of action has to be set aside Security Council Resolution 2231. Iran has already filed a suit in the ICJ violations of the 1955 Treaty of Amity on The Islamic Republic of Iran has in- in order “to try and build a new positive momentum and to “US also violating UNSCR 2231 with against the U.S. reimposition of unilateral Feb. 3, 2021, Khatibzadeh said. formed the court of the issue of pursuing ensure once again full implementation of the agreement, in- illegal sanctions on Iran. Not a good fresh sanctions as Washington withdrew unilat- He stated that based on the evidence the implementation of the interim order cluding by Iran.” start,” Takht-Ravanchi remarked. erally on May 8, 2018 from the nuclear deal, and legal defenses presented to the court and its violations by the United States, now, According to Press TV, Borrell, meanwhile, reminded how Lawyers for the U.S. argued at hearings formally known as the Joint Comprehensive by the legal team of the Islamic Republic with a court decision issued, there is an Trump successor Joe Biden has voiced a willingness to return last year that the case should be thrown out Plan of Action (JCPOA). of Iran with the participation of the Center opportunity for the court to review the U.S. the U.S. to the JCPOA, saying, “The new U.S. administration by the ICJ for lack of jurisdiction and admis- Earlier on Wednesday, the Iranian em- for International Legal Affairs, the Ministry failure to enforce the interim order during has clearly indicated a new approach and all JCPOA partici- sibility but the court’s president, Abdulqawi bassy in The Hague tweeted, “Today, the of Foreign Affairs, and other lawyers and the substantive proceedings, he reiterated. pants are ready to engage.” Ahmed Yusuf, said that judges rejected U.S. ICJ strongly rejected the U.S. preliminary advisors, the court rejected preliminary U.S. “Although the verdict issued today relates Iran says the United States’ potential return to the JCPOA arguments that Iran could not base claims objections and reaffirmed its jurisdiction objections and considered itself competent to a competent phase, it shows the legitimacy could only be meaningful if Washington lifted all of the illegal at the ICJ on a 1955 bilateral friendship to hear the case brought by Iran against to investigate the lawsuit filed against the of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s demands sanctions it has imposed on Iran. pact, known as the 1995 Treaty of Amity. the U.S. on violations of the 1955 Treaty.” U.S. government and thus the case would at this stage of the proceedings, and with Even the supposed expression of interest in rejoining the Judges found the treaty, signed decades “Previously in this case, the ICJ rendered enter into substantive proceedings. this success, the case will enter the final JCPOA has not been followed by a favorable gesture on the before Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution and an Order obligating the U.S. to remove any The second legal success was achieved proceedings of the case,” he noted. part of Washington. the sharp deterioration of ties with the U.S., impediment arising from the measures an- in the proceedings of this case, which re- Khatibzadeh stressed, “The use of in- With respect to the issue of who makes the first move to could be used as a basis for the court’s ju- nounced on 8 May 2018 to the free expor- lates to the reimposition and escalation of ternational legal mechanisms is part of the revive the JCPOA, Foreign Minister Zarif noted that EU foreign risdiction. tation to the territory of Iran of medicines inhumane U.S. sanctions against Iranians approach of the government of the Islamic policy chief can “choreograph” the process of reviving the deal. “The court unanimously rejects the pre- and medical devices; foodstuffs and agri- since May 8, 2018, with the issuance of this Republic of Iran and the Ministry of Foreign Zarif made the suggestion in an interview with the CNN liminary objections to its jurisdiction raised cultural commodities,” Iran’s diplomatic decision, he noted. Affairs in the application of the rights of the on Monday. by the United States of America according mission added. He further noted that the court issued noble nation of Iran in the international According to Zarif, there can be a mechanism through to which the subject matter of the dispute Moreover, Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokes- an interim order in favor of Iran requiring arena, which has always been on the agenda which Borrell would synchronize or coordinate what can be does not relate to the interpretation or ap- man for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United States to remove any obstacles of the ministry.” done to revive the JCPOA. “JCPOA has a mechanism built into the deal that is the Joint Commission. And the Joint Commission has a coordi- nator. The coordinator has two hats – it used to be Federica Rouhani praises legal victory of Iranian diplomats over U.S. Mogherini now it is Josep Borrell. He has two hats. One hat is he is the high representative of the European Union for POLITICAL TEHRAN — Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s In a ruling issued on Wednesday, the United Nations’ desk foreign defense policy. The other hat is the coordinator of the president, on Thursday welcomed the highest court unanimously refuted several of the juris- Joint Commission. He can put his hat as the coordinator of the International Court of Justice’s ruling on a lawsuit per- diction-related objections that had been brought up by Joint Commission and sort of choreograph the actions that taining to the U.S. violation of the 1955 Treaty of Amity as the United States. Regarding the rest of the objections, are needed to be taken by the United States and the actions a “beautiful and brilliant victory” for the Iranian nation Washington managed to secure only one favorable vote that are needed to be taken by Iran,” Zarif stated. over a superpower, according to Tasnim. against 15 negative ones. Exactly one year after Trump quit the deal and started to Speaking during inauguration of several industrial The Islamic Republic of Iran lodged a complaint against implement his “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, projects via a videoconference, Rouhani said, “The great the U.S. with the ICJ three years ago when former president the Islamic Republic announced that its “strategic patience” is Iranian nation has won a beautiful and absolutely brilliant Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the landmark 2015 over and started gradually remove limits on its nuclear program victory against a superpower after the International Court nuclear deal and restored the sanctions, saying Washing- at bi-monthly intervals. At the time Iran announced that if of Justice dismissed the U.S. objection that the court lacks ton violated the Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations the remaining parties to the JCPOA, especially the European jurisdiction to hear the lawsuit Tehran has brought against signed by the two countries in 1955. trio – Germany, France and Britain –, protect Iran from the Washington for breach of the 1955 Treaty of Amity and Iran brought the lawsuit before the ICJ in 2018, strong- sanctions Iran will reverse its decisions. Economic Relations.” with reliance on its jurists and diplomats,” he added. He ly protesting the strictly illegal nature of Washington’s Asked just how swiftly Iran could scale back its uranium “Although the U.S. had mobilized thousands of experts also emphasized “it shows Iran’s capability to win great withdrawal from the deal, officially known as the Joint enrichment program to comply with the nuclear deal if the to win this political war, the Iranian nation won the case victories in all arenas.” Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). U.S. lifts sanctions, Zarif said, “8,000 pounds of enriched uranium can go back to the previous amount in less than a day.” Zarif, a former Iranian ambassador to the UN, said that Iran has acted in accordance with dispute mechanisms writ- Macron seeks to add Israel and Saudi Arabia to negotiation with Iran ten into the JCPOA, since the U.S. withdrawal. “Iran used POLITICAL TEHRAN – French Pres- he added. In 2018, former U.S. President Donald the mechanisms in the nuclear agreement in order to limit deskident Emmanuel Macron Iran has already objected to the inclusion Trump quitted the JCPOA, which was designed its cooperation. If you read paragraph 36, we acted in strict has praised the U.S. decision to engage with of Saudi Arabia to the JCPOA let alone Is- to restrict Iran’s peaceful program in return accordance with the nuclear agreement,” he said. Iran and said Saudi Arabia and Israel must rael which Iran does not recognize and that for the lifting of U.S. and other sanctions. Rob Malley, the new U.S. Iran envoy, spoke with British, ultimately be involved in the negotiation with it opposes a nuclear weapons free zone in His successor, President Joe Biden, has said French and German officials on January 28 as the United Iran, according to Reuters. West Asia. that if Iran returns to “strict” compliance States explores how to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, two sources Speaking with the Washington-based In remarks on Wednesday, President Has- with the deal, the U.S. will too. familiar with the matter said on January 29. Atlantic Council think tank in a video con- san Rouhani said there will be no changes to The Trump administration restored the “It was to take stock of the dossier and to assess what our ference from Paris, Macron noted, “We do the content of the JCPOA and that no other U.S. sanctions that Obama removed in 2015. state of mind is,” a European diplomatic source said of Malley’s need to finalize, indeed, a new negotiation country will be added to it. Trump and his secretary of state Mike Pompeo conversation with the British, French and German Foreign with Iran.” Rouhani emphasized, “The undue words perused a “maximum pressure” campaign Ministry political directors, according to Reuters. “I will do whatever I can to support any should not be said. We did a job resulted against Iran with the aim of strangulating A second source confirmed that the discussion took place initiative from the U.S. side to reengage a from hard work. It took more than ten years the Iranian economy. Macron claimed it was time for a new but offered no details. ... dialogue and I will be here ... I was here, to gain the achievements (JCPOA). In the In 2019, French president sought to bring negotiation because Iran was closer to a nu- The talks with the British, French and German officials are and available two years ago and one and a beginning of the eleventh government, we Washington and Tehran back to the nego- clear weapon. He also said the international likely only the first step in consultations that will ultimately half (years) ago, to try to be an honest broker made efforts during the first two years” to tiating table and to provide opportunity for community has to deal with Iran’s missile bring in China and Russia, and eventually Iran itself. and a committed broker in this dialogue,” reach the multilateral agreement. wider future talks. program. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 6, 2021 IRAN IN FOCUS 3

POLITICAL TEHRAN — French Pres- before rejoining the JCPOA, France went so deskident Emanuel Macron has far as to include these allies in the upcoming once again called for broader negotiations nuclear negotiations even though Iran has SPORTS with Iran and involvement of Iran’s archrivals voiced opposition to such an idea. Esteghlal earn a late win over in the negotiations, a stance that could derail Following last week’s comments of Macron the very much anticipated talks between Iran on the need to involve Saudi Arabia in the struggling Nassaji: IPL and the West even before they go ahead. expected nuclear talks between Iran and the In a repetition of his last week’s remarks West, a senior Iranian lawmaker strongly SPORTSTEHRAN – Esteghlal football team earned desk that elicited a strong response from Iran, the rejected the comments. a late win over struggling Nassaji here at the French president called for a “new negotia- “Saudi Arabia has nothing to do with the Azadi Stadium in Matchday 14 of Iran Professional League tion” with Iran to address thorny issues such nuclear agreement,” Abolfazl Amouei, the (IPL) on Friday. as Iran’s defensive missile program and its spokesman for the Iranian Parliament’s Na- Farshid Bagheri scored the winner in the 86th minute with regional activities. He said Saudi Arabia and tional Security and Foreign Policy Commit- a fierce shot from edge of the area. Israel should be involved in such negotia- tee, told the Qatari-owned Al Arabi Al Jadid The Blues remain top of the table with 26 points, one point tions while expressing readiness to play the newspaper, declaring Iran’s opposition to above Sepahan. role of “honest broker” in facilitating these the inclusion of Riyadh in any possible talks Earlier in the day, Sepahan defeated Zob Ahan 3-1 in Isfahan negotiations. with the parties to the JCPOA. derby at the Fooladshahr Stadium. Sepahan striker Mohammad “I do welcome a willingness to re-engage Macron is expected to pay a visit to Saudi Mohebi gave the visiting the lead just two minutes into the a dialogue with Iran. And this is a common Arabia soon, where he will mostly likely dis- match. Danial Esmaeilifar doubled Sepahan’s advantage in challenge for peace and security in [the] cuss the issue of reviving the JCPOA. If he the 78th minute on a counter attack. Hossein Shanani pulled Middle East [West Asia]. I will do whatever does so, he will be throwing a wrench in the a goal back two minutes later. Substitute Yasin Salami made I can to support any initiative from the U.S. works of the Biden administration’s efforts it 3-1 in the injury time. side to re-engage demanding dialogue. I to resuscitate the JCPOA even before they Sanat Naft and Foolad shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in Abadan will be here, where I was available one and start simply because Iran has said time and derby. Reza Khaleghifar headed home from Hassan Beitsaeid’s half year ago to try to be an honest broker, again that it will not accept any expansion cross in the 65th minute and Foolad Malian defender Moussa a committed broker in this dialogue. But I of the nuclear talks’ format. Coulibaly leveled the score eight minutes later. do believe that we do need to finalize indeed Macron’s gambit Whether Macron would proceed with his Aluminum earned a late draw against Saipa in Arak. Mehrdad a new negotiation with Iran,” Macron said idea remains an open question. It may turn Heydari gave the visiting team the lead in the injury time with a in a conversation with the Atlantic Council in this discussion Saudi Arabia and Israel U.S. president has refused to articulate out to be an opening gambit aimed to extract header and Meysam Majidi equalized the match from a set-piece on Thursday. because they are some of the key partners of his strategy in this regard. more nuclear concessions from Iran or simply in the dying moments of the match. He pointed out that U.S. President Joe the region directly interested in the outcome.” Meanwhile, France along with Germany set the stage for a broader negotiation with Gol Gohar were held to a goalless draw by Naft Masjed Soley- Biden would have a “critical role” in the ne- The comments, which were unsolicited, and the UK have sought to strike a tough Iran, but either way, he will complicate things man in Sirjan. gotiation with Iran for two reasons: first, come amid heated debates in foreign policy tone on Iran in a bid to revive the JCPOA and make them more difficult than ever. And rock-bottom Machine Sazi battled back from two goals down because Iran is allegedly closer to develop- circles in the U.S. and Europe about how to and “improve” it in the process, something Also, it remains to be seen whether France to draw 2-2 with Paykan in Tehran. Saman Fallah and Farzad Hatemi ing a nuclear weapon than it was before the deal with the Iran nuclear deal, officially Iran strongly opposes. would succeed in convincing other JCPOA scored for Paykan but Mohammadamin Asadi and Peyman Babaei signing of the 2015 nuclear deal. known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan In addition, France has moved to include parties and the U.S. into pursuing its agenda. scored two goals within one minute. Paykan defender Fallah was “Second, because we have to address of Action (JCPOA). Saudi Arabia and Israel in the coming nego- On Friday, the foreign ministers of France, sent off in the 75th minute after receiving his second yellow card. the ballistic missile issue and we have to During his election campaign, Joe Bid- tiations between Iran and the West, a move Germany, the UK and the U.S. held a meet- address the stability of the region. This is en had vowed to rejoin the JCPOA on the that will not only endanger the renewed dip- ing to discuss issues related to the JCPOA. a comprehensive agenda. This needs to be condition that Iran resumes strict com- lomatic efforts to revive the JCPOA but will Regardless of what the foreign ministers negotiated now because this is the right pliance with the deal. He reaffirmed this highly likely kill the deal in its entirety. discussed in the Friday meeting, any effort Former Persepolis defender timing,” Macron claimed. position after winning the U.S. presidential While Biden officials vaguely said that to expand the deal or add new members to Ali Ansarian laid to rest He added, “We have to find a way to involve election in November. However, the new the U.S. will consult with its regional allies it will be counterproductive. SPORTSTEHRAN – Ex-Iran and Persepolis defender deskAli Ansarian, who died of coronavirus, was laid to rest on Thursday. Russia eyes close cooperation with EU on JCPOA, Lavrov says He was buried at the Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery on the out- POLITICAL TEHRAN — The chief Russian diplomat has made reference to that, there are places and issues skirts of the Iranian capital, Tehran. deskhas said his country would continue to on which we can also work together: the Joint Compre- Ansarian passed away at the age of 43 at the Farhikhtegan work with the European Union on the 2015 nuclear deal hensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is a good example,” the Hospital in Tehran, capital of Iran on Wednesday. with Iran and hopes that the United States would decide to chief EU diplomat said. He started his footballing career in Fajr Sepasi in 1996 and return to the deal in the near future. Borrell called for maximum diplomacy with Iran before joined Persepolis two years later. Speaking at a joint news conference with European making a trip to Moscow. Ansarian also represented Iran national football team from Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Moscow, Russian “We need to move from ‘maximum pressure’ to ‘maximum 1998 to 2007. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that the diplomacy’ through the JCPOA Joint Commission,” Borrell Last week, Mehrdad Minavand, who represented Iran in Kremlin is ready to work with the EU on implementing told Interfax news agency. the 1998 FIFA World Cup, died of COVID-19 in Tehran. the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Com- He reminded how former U.S. President Donald Minavand was also a member of Persepolis football club prehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Trump undermined the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and Ansarian’s teammate. “We have entered a difficult period concerning the and world powers through his “maximum pressure” Tehran Times extends deepest sympathy to Ansarian’s Iran deal, and everything depends on the actions of the campaign against Tehran. family, loved ones, and friends over his demise. United States. We hope that the United States will soon a critical moment. We are counting on the U.S. adminis- Earlier on Tuesday, Russian state media reported that be able to explain its actions concerning Iran,” Lavrov tration, as the country that negotiated and concluded the Maria Zakharova also expressed Moscow’s readiness to work said, according to Fars News. JCPOA, to decide the extent to which it can return to the with the United States on salvaging the Iran nuclear deal. He pointed out that Russia and the EU will continue to most important international document, which has been “We look forward to working closely with the members of Iranian Para athletes to work with the Europeans on the JCPOA. recognized as an achievement of multilateral diplomacy the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to achieve partake at Dubai 2021 GP “We [Russia and the European Union] continue to work and has served as an example of the efforts that need to be this goal (preserving the JCPOA) and to engage constructively together to ensure the implementation of the JCPOA. We hope made both to defuse tensions and to strengthen the nucle- with the new U.S. administration in this regard,” Zakharova SPORTSTEHRAN – Iranian Para athletics team will that this U.S. administration will be able to decide whether ar nonproliferation regime.” was quoted by Sputnik News as saying. deskparticipate at the Dubai 2021 World Para Ath- to return to this important international document. This On the other hand, Borrell also expressed Europe’s On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei letics Grand Prix. agreement is a means to strengthen the non-proliferation readiness to work with Russia on international issues Ryabkov and Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs The Grand Prix, which is also a qualifying competition for the regime and reduce regional tensions,” Lavrov continued. such as the JCPOA. of the European External Action Service Enrique Mora dis- Olympic Games, runs from Feb. 6 to 14. According to UrduPoint, Lavrov said, “We are approaching “On the international arena, I think that the minister cussed the JCPOA in a meeting in Moscow. Iran will send 16 Para athletes to the event. Iranian Chef de Mission Hadi Rezaei has already said the nine Para athletes will be sent to Tokyo. The Tokyo Paralympic Games are expected to take place from Tehran ‘strongly’ condemns Belgian court’s ruling August 24 to September 5. against Iranian diplomat 1 The Belgian court claimed that the MKO. Bahram Ghassemi, then a spokesman for Infantino offers condolences Assadi and three others sought to kill top A spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry the Iranian Foreign Ministry and now on the passing of Ansarian leaders of the MKO during a rally near told ISNA that Assadi was the victim of a Iran’s ambassador to France, said he deeply Paris in 2019. “Western trap,” and that his diplomatic regretted the decision, saying it was part SPORTSTEHRAN – FIFA President Gianni Infantino Iran has called the bomb plot allega- immunity had been violated. of a “staged conspiracy” to sever relations deskhas expressed his deep condolences to Iran tions a “false flag” stunt perpetrated by At the timed that Assadi was arrested, between Europe and Iran. Football Federation over the passing of former Iran and Perse- polis defender Ali Ansarian. Ansarian passed away at the age Araghchi warns of ‘forces of darkness’ trying to prevent JCPOA revival of 43 at the Farhikhtegan Hospital in Tehran, capital of Iran on Wednesday POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iranian Deputy Foreign ing has been reduced and to it nothing has been added,” after losing battle with COVID-19. deskMinister for Political Affairs Seyed Abbas Araghchi said. He started his footballing career in Araghchi has warned that “forces of darkness” comprised He added, “They must return to the JCPOA and fulfill Fajr Sepasi in 1996 and joined Perse- of regional and extra-regional forces are hell-bent on their obligations, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready polis two years later. preventing the revival of a 2015 nuclear deal between to do so. There is no way to achieve this goal other than Ansarian also represented Iran na- Iran and major world powers. maximum diplomacy.” tional football team from 1998 to 2007. “All parties must beware of those who have been hos- Earlier on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Moham- “Words seem inadequate to express tile to this nuclear deal right from the start and have mad Javad Zarif proposed that the EU foreign policy the sadness I feel. Ansarian’s legacy repeatedly acknowledged it. These forces include the chief “choreograph” the process of reviving the JCPOA. and his achievement, especially his Zionist regime [Israel], some Arab states, some groups According to Zarif, there can be a mechanism through personality, his work ethics and his inside America, and some groups in Europe who acted which Borrell would synchronize or coordinate what can human qualities will not be forgotten, and he will be truly missed.” against the JCPOA right from the start and rejoiced at be done to revive the JCPOA. “On behalf of the international football community, I wish to Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from “JCPOA has a mechanism built into the deal that is extend our deepest sympathy to the Iran Football Federation, and the JCPOA. They are the sworn enemies of the Islamic the Joint Commission. And the Joint Commission has a to his family, friends and loved ones,” FIFA President Infantino Republic and thus can be called the forces of darkness,” coordinator. The coordinator has two hats – it used to be said in his condolence message to Iran. Araghchi said in remarks delivered at a gathering of Ira- Federica Mogherini now it is Josep Borrell. He has two Last week, Mehrdad Minavand, who represented Iran in the nian entrepreneurs on Thursday. “If this happens, no one will roll out the red carpet for hats; One hat is he is the high representative of the Eu- 1998 FIFA World Cup, died of COVID-19 in Tehran. He said these forces are working hard to destroy the them,” Araghchi said, adding that the Islamic Republic ropean Union for foreign defense policy. The other hat is Minavand was also a member of Persepolis football club and Iranian nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Com- has adopted measures to protect its dignity and prestige. the coordinator of the Joint Commission. He can put his Ansarian’s teammate. prehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). However he predicted that the revival of the JCPOA hat as the coordinator of the Joint Commission and sort of “All these forces of darkness are determined to prevent may happen in the coming weeks. choreograph the actions that are needed to be taken by the the revival of the JCPOA. They are well aware that the “If they are ready to change course, we will welcome United States and the actions that are needed to be taken Islamic Republic of Iran, which is moving so strongly into it, and this is something that may happen in the coming by Iran,” Zarif said in an interview with CNN›s Christiane Sepahan remain top of Iran the future without the JCPOA, will become an undisputed weeks. It is also possible that the forces of darkness Amanpour late on Monday. power in the region and the world if it can strengthen its will try to prevent this from happening. The path of Borrell has responded positively to this offer by calling Volleyball Super League economy by relying on its own capabilities and by lifting independence, dignity and honor is very important to for maximum diplomacy between Iran and the United SPORTSTEHRAN – Iran Volleyball Super League sanctions. Everyone must be vigilant of the forces that us and there will be no change in this path,” Araghchi States to restore the deal. desk are everywhere seeking to defeat this movement, and pointed out. He said on Thursday that the former Donald Trump leaders Sepahan stretched their winning streak pursue their policies in the right and wise direction,” The senior Iranian diplomat also welcomed the EU administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against to 12 matches on Friday. the deputy foreign minister continued. foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s idea of pursuing “max- Iran should have long been abandoned in favor of dip- Sepahan eased past Shahrdari Qazvin in straight sets (28-26, He said the revival of the nuclear deal is a “good thing” imum diplomacy” instead of what came to be known as lomatic engagement and interaction. 25-16, 25-18) in Tehran’s Khaneye Volleyball. for Iran but “we are not begging for it.” “maximum pressure.” Borrell reminded how former U.S. President Donald The Isfahan-based volleyball team lead the table with 62 points, He pointed out that the United States and its allies “Mr. Borrell, the EU›s senior foreign policy coordinator, Trump undermined the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran followed by Shahrdari Urmia with 53 points. think that the JCPOA is useful in terms of maintaining is the coordinator of the implementation of the JCPOA. In and world powers through his “maximum pressure” cam- Furthermore, Saipa defeated Rahyab Melal 3-1 (25-16, 25-18, security and strengthening non-proliferation efforts in an interview yesterday, he spoke of replacing maximum paign against Tehran. 22-25, 25-15). the world. diplomacy with maximum pressure. Maximum diplomacy “We need to move from ‹maximum pressure› to Shahrdari Gonbad emerged victorious over Hoorsun 3-1 The deputy foreign minister said they must return is definitely something we will welcome. Of course, it should ‹maximum diplomacy› through the JCPOA Joint (25-21, 25-19, 25-27, 25-14) in Iran Volleyball Federation’s Hall. to their commitments under the deal and then “we will be noted that this diplomacy will be successful when it leads Commission,” Borrell told Interfax news agency Shahdab Yazd edged past Labanyat Haraz 3-2 (23-25, 25-16, do the same thing.” to the complete restoration of a JCPOA from which noth- before making a trip to Moscow. 23-25, 25-14, 20-18) and moved to fourth place. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY FEBRUARY 6, 2021

Renewable power generation Tire output climbs 20% capacity exceeds 850 MW

ECONOMY TEHRAN — The capacity of Iran’s renewa- deskble power plants reached 859.17 megawatts (MW) in the tenth Iranian calendar month of Dey (December 21, in 10 months on year 2020-January 19, 2021), IRNA reported on Thursday. As reported, Iranian renewable power plants managed to ECONOMY TEHRAN — Production of 426,000 tons of tire, Iran accounts for produce 5.738 billion kilowatt-hours (Kwh) of electricity in the deskof tire in Iran has risen 41 percent of tire output in the West Asian mentioned month, 50 percent (426.17 MW) of which was pro- 20 percent during the first ten months of region, according to the deputy director of duced by solar power plants. the current Iranian calendar year (March the non-metal industries office of the Ira- 20, 2020- January 19, 2021), compared to nian Industry, Mining, and Trade Ministry. the same period of time in the past year. Mohsen Safdari has said that 11 tire Some 225,269 tons of tires have been production units are active in the country produced during the ten-month period of creating jobs for 14,500 people. this year. He said 426,000 tons is the nominal In terms of number, a 20-percent growth capacity, while the real output is less than has been also achieved through the produc- this figure as some units are working with tion of 20.913 million tires. 60-70 percent of their capacity. As reported, 132,741 passenger car tires “Iranian tire industry is dependent on were produced in the mentioned time span, foreign raw materials by 40 percent, so showing a 24-percent growth. we are self-reliant by 60 percent in this Some 20,695 tons of van tires were pro- field”, the official announced. duced, indicating a nine-percent growth. In a bid to nullify the U.S. sanctions, Wind power plants also accounted for 35 percent (303.18 Also, 47,859 tons of truck and bus tires Iran is determined to strengthen its do- MW) of the total output, followed by hydropower plants which were produced, showing a 15-percent rise. mestic production to achieve self-reliance. had a 12-percent share (105.65 MW) of the total production. Production of the tires of light agricul- stood at 16,182 tons, indicating 32 percent is noticeable in Iran due to the country’s big Selecting the motto of “Pickup in Pro- Back in December 2020, Mohammad Satakin, who heads tural vehicles experienced a growth of 49 growth. transportation fleet. duction” for the previous Iranian calendar Iran’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization percent to stand at 3,609 tons, and that of In early August 2020, an official with Iran’s “Now the ground is properly prepared year (March 2019-March 2020), and the (SATBA), said the capacity of the country’s renewable power the heavy ones rose 13 percent to stand at Industry, Mining, and Trade Ministry said for the production of light and heavy ve- slogan of “Surge in Production” for the plants is going to reach 1,000 MW (one gigawatt) by the end of 15,081 tons. that increasing the amount of investment hicle tires in the country, and investment current year indicates the Islamic Repub- the current government’s incumbency (August 2021). Meanwhile, 5,284 tons of road building making for the production of the tire in the making will play a significant role both for lic’s determination to achieve this goal. Also, Director General of SATBA Potential Assessment and and industrial vehicle tires were produced, country is a necessity. the establishment of new production units To this end, the Iranian ministries Resource Evaluation Office Mitra Gholami has said that over the with a 13-percent growth compared to the Kamran Kargar, the acting head of plan- and for launching development projects”, besides the private sector have been past three years, SATBA has successfully identified regions for the first ten months of the past year. ning, supplying, and market regulating office the official noted. outlining their programs for the surge construction of 121,500 MW capacity of renewable power plants The bicycle and motorcycle tire output of the ministry, said the consumption of tires Having an annual production capacity in production. across the country by conducting potential assessment studies. Overall, in the next five years, Iran is aiming for a 5,000 MW increase in renewable capacity to meet growing domestic demand and expand its presence in the regional electricity market. Numerous development projects inaugurated across Iran to mark Ten-Day Fajr celebrations According to SATBA, the number of small-scale solar power 1 East Azarbaijan on January 31), President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated five plants across the country which are used by households or small In addition to the mentioned programs, every year during the Fajr Ten-Day celebrations (this year from Several development projects with a total investment major production and industrial units with a total investment industries is also increasing noticeably as Iranian households and of 2.166 trillion rials (about $51.5 million) were also inau- of 70 trillion rials (about $1.6 billion) in Zanjan province small industries are embracing the new technology with open arms January 31 until February 10) usually numerous projects are inaugurated in various sectors to mark the anniversary gurated in East Azarbaijan province on Friday. through videoconference. and investors also seem eager for more contribution in this area. Urban and rural information technology development These projects include a steel production complex, a Iran is also planning on expanding its presence in the region’s of the victory of the Islamic Revolution. Like the previous years, this year too billions worth of projects worth 1.748 trillion rials (about $41.6 million) were steel rolling complex, a fabric production unit, an industrial renewable energy market. among the mentioned projects. and mining complex, and a plastic production company. Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said in December projects has been inaugurated all over the country over the past few days: West Azarbaijan The inaugurated projects are going to create direct job 2020 that the country has great potentials in the field of renew- Some 11 industrial and mining units were also put into opportunities for over 1,768 people. able energies and can have a significant role in developing the Yazd Earlier on Wednesday, Deputy Industry, Mining, and operation in West Azarbaijan province on the occasion of Khuzestan region’s market for such energies. the Fajr Ten-Day celebrations. Some 102 electricity supply projects with a total invest- “Relying on the high potential of renewable energy sources, Trade Minister Saeed Zarandi inaugurated four major In- dustrial projects worth 6.72 trillion rials (over $160 million) Over 11 trillion rials (about $261.9 million) was invested ment of 749.76 billion rials (about $17.85 million) were also including solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, etc., the Energy Min- in the mentioned projects which have created jobs for 175 put into operation in Khuzestan province on the occasion istry has planned good measures in order to implement new in Yazd province. The mentioned projects which included a sanitary prod- people. of the 42nd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. policies for creating positive changes in the development of the A flour production factory, an aluminum composite Kermanshah country’s renewable energy sector,” the minister said. ucts production unit, an iron ore concentrate production unit, a production unit of polymer products, as well as a tile production unit, and a marble mine were among the in- Several power supply projects worth 420 billion rials production unit, are going to create direct job opportunities augurated projects. (about $10 million) were also put into operation in Ker- TEDPIX drops 2.8% in a week for 310 people. Hamedan manshah province to celebrate the Fajr Ten-Day. Bushehr Seven production and service units with an investment Khorasan Razavi ECONOMY TEHRAN — TEDPIX, the main index of Tehran Also during the Fajr Ten-Day celebrations, 13 fishery of 1.18 trillion rials (about $28 million) were put into op- To mark the 42nd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution deskStock Exchange (TSE), fell 2.8 percent in the projects with a total investment of 3.7 trillion rials (about eration in Hamedan province on Friday to mark the 42nd victory, the Agriculture Jihad Organization of Khorasan past Iranian calendar week. $88 million) are going to go operational in Southern Bushehr anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. Razavi also put 169 projects into operation across the men- The index closed at 1.173 million points on Wednesday (the provinces, some of which were inaugurated on Friday. Knowledge-based units for the production of oil suction tioned province. last working day of the week). A complex of 20 shrimp farms, the second phase of two and medical equipment, a greenhouse, a livestock farm, and The mentioned projects, which have been implemented During the past week, the indices of Iran Khodro Group, Saipa fish farming projects with a capacity of 1000 tons per year, a unit for making wooden handicrafts were among these in various sectors including animal husbandry, horticulture, Company, Social Security Investment Company, and Isfahan Oil a Spirulina algae farm, a leech breeding project, and the projects that employ 69 people. agriculture, and aquaculture, have cost 2.792 trillion rials Refinery were the most widely followed indices. first phase of Shif fishing port are among the mentioned Zanjan (about $66.47 million) and will create jobs for 798 people After several weeks of drop, TEDPIX could finally register growth projects. On the fifth day of the Fajr Ten-Day celebrations (started across the province. in the Iranian calendar week ended on January 29. The index rose two percent to stand at 1.207 million points in that week. In early August 2020, when all the major stocks around the ‘India will resume Iran’s oil imports if sanctions eased’ world were experiencing serious declines, TEDPIX surpassed two ECONOMY TEHRAN — The chair- Surana told a news conference on Thursday. sanctions imposed by former U.S. President there,” he said. “Let us wait for how things million points. desk This situation created some skepticism among investors regarding man of state-run Hin- Surana said Iran was previously offering fa- Donald Trump. unfold.” the creation of a bubble in the market, and some economists and dustan Petroleum Corp said that the Indian vorable terms for payment and freight discounts Meanwhile, Indian Oil Minister Dharmen- The South Asian economy is heavily reliant market analysts also warned about the government’s over-inter- refiners will resume imports of Iranian oil if the among others which made its oil “preferential” dra Pradhan has recently said that his country on energy imports and its refiners struggled to fering in this market. United States eases sanctions against Tehran, compared to other grades. hopes to boost its oil imports from Iran under cope as the White House’s aggressive foreign The government, however, continued offering more and more Reuters reported. After stopping purchases from Iran, Indian the U.S. new administration. policy over the last few years restricted access of its entities on the market and further encouraged people to invest “Iranian crude had been in the (import) refiners have diversified their crude imports. Making the remarks in an interview on to Iranian oil. in the market. basket of Indian refineries ... we will be happy India, which was Iran’s top oil client after Bloomberg TV in late January, the minister India halted imports from Iran, previously its to take that crude as and when the situation China, had stopped oil imports from the OPEC reiterated the comments that he had made third-largest oil supplier, in mid-2019 after the warrants and the crude is available,” M.K. nation in mid-2019 under pressure from the in December. “Some geopolitical changes are expiration of U.S. exemptions from sanctions.

South Pars development nearly completed ECONOMY TEHRAN – The managing director of Pars According to Meshkinfam, the first train of the South The POGC head further mentioned the construction of deskOil and Gas Company (POGC), which is Pars phase 14 Refinery is going to go operational early next the platforms for the development of the mentioned field, in charge of developing Iran’s giant South Pars gas field, has Iranian calendar year (begins on March 21), after which every saying: “at the beginning of the work we built five offshore said that the development of the mentioned field is nearly three months another train will be inaugurated, and by the platforms abroad, but after that, we designed and built the completed and all phases of the field will be fully operational end of the next Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2022) this remaining 35 platforms entirely inside the country.” in near future. refinery will be fully operational. Stating that today Iran has reached complete self-suffi- “This [Iranian calendar] year (ends on March 20), the Underlining the reliance of domestic capacities and capabil- ciency in all aspects of gas production from South Pars field, Turning the fears of the investors into reality, TEDPIX started development of the large gas field will be nearly completed ities for the development of the mentioned field, Meshkinfam Meshkinfam added: “In the fields of drilling, platform building, a downward trend in mid-August and has since slumped about and we will not have any work left except for phase 11 in the noted: “In the beginning, only 33 percent of the required pipeline construction, and onshore refineries, which are our 38 percent. offshore sector and the refinery of phase 14 in the onshore equipment in this field was produced in Iran, but today 75 four main sectors in extracting gas from South Pars field, all What President Hassan Rouhani called one of the most “aston- sector; which will be operational early next year,” Mohammad percent of the necessary equipment has been indigenized.” equipment and machinery have become indigenized and the ishing rises” in the history of the stock market, became one of the Meshkinfam told IRIB on Thursday. Initially, the first two projects of the field, namely phase operators are also domestic companies.” most dramatic swings on record. South Pars, which Iran shares with Qatar in the Persian two and three and phase four and five, were carried out with South Pars gas field covers an area of 9,700 square kilome- Now, the big question would be “what is on the horizon for the Gulf waters, is currently divided into 24 standard offshore the participation of France’s Total and Italy’s Eni, but after ters, 3,700 square kilometers of which are in Iran’s territorial Iranian stock market?” phases, the output of which is processed by 14 gas refineries that, the remaining phases were developed by Iranian com- waters and the remaining 6,000 square kilometers, called Farhang Hosseini, a capital market expert, has told the Tehran on land. panies, he explained. North Dome, are situated in Qatar’s territorial waters. Times that although several external factors, including the disputes between the oil and economy ministries over the offering of the second ETF (dubbed First Refinery, or Dara Second), increase in interest rates, the ambiguities in the next year’s national budget bill, and etc. have contributed to the decline of the TSE’s main index over the past Mazandaran’s caviar, sturgeon meat export rises 15% few months, the main reason for this decline is the unconventional ECONOMY TEHRAN — The export In early October 2020, the deputy head this sector and entrance of new investors valuation (to be more precise the over-valuation) of entities in this deskof caviar and sturgeon of Iran Fisheries Organization (IFO) had in this area.” market for encouraging liquidity inflow. meat from Iran’s northern Mazandaran said that Iran is anticipated to experience a Fishery production has increased notice- Behzad Samadi, a market analyst and board member of a major province has increased 15 percent in the surge in the annual production of sturgeon ably in Iran in recent years. broker in Iran, believes that the recent declines in the main index current Iranian calendar year (began on meat in the current Iranian calendar year IFO Head Nabiollah Khoun-Mirzaei has of the TSE has nothing to do with the fundamental and technical March 20, 2020), as compared to the same (ends on March 20). put the country’s annual fishery output at issues of the market. period of time in the past year, according to Hossein Abdolhay put the country’s 1.28 million tons in the past Iranian calendar He believes the main reason for this situation is the interference a provincial official. sturgeon meat output at 2,500 tons in the year (ended on March 19, 2020), and said of the government and over-encouraging of the masses for entering Hassan Es’haqi, the director-general of the past year. the figure is anticipated to reach 1.37 million the market without having the slightest knowledge even about the province’s fisheries department, announced Iranian Agriculture Minister Kazem Kha- tons in this year, and surpass 1.5 million tons fundamentals of this market. that 1,029 kilograms of the mentioned prod- vazi has stated that his ministry supports the in the next year. “Like its decline, the drastic growth of the market did not have ucts worth $532,000 has been exported from cage culture plans. Khoun-Mirzaei has announced that the any technical and standard basis,” he said. Mazandaran since the year start. The minister also said that the Iranian this sector, Khavazi said, “This sector was country’s fishery export stood at 146,000 tons According to Samadi, the bubble created in the TSE’s main index The official named Britain, Qatar, Azer- Fisheries Science Research Institute helps those unknown in the country at the time of its worth $538.9 million in the past Iranian year, was partly the result of the excitement instilled by the government, baijan, Russia, and United Arab Emirates active in the implementation of these plans. establishment; related issues and the probable while the import was 29,000 tons valued at and partly due to the huge gap between some entities’ real value (UAE) as the main export destinations of Referring to the request of the units active problems were unclear, but now we do not $98.9 million, so Iran’s fishery trade balance and the prices for which they were offering their shares. the province’s caviar. in the cage culture for the development of have any limitation for the development of was $440 million in the previous year. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 6, 2021 ANALYSIS/INTERVIEW 5

Tripoli riots: The third step to topple Lebanon U.S. warship sails near By Abir Bassam sons. The news was directly connected Chinese-controlled South to the role the Turkish intelligence has A few days ago, one of my friend’s comments been playing actively in Lebanon since China Sea islands attracted my attention. He said: “America the harbor explosion. It also referred to loves Lebanon, as much as Juha loves his the Turkish-Saudi competition to assert A U.S. warship sailed near the Chinese-controlled stepmother”. Juha is an authentic Arab control over the Sunni community in Paracel Islands in the disputed South China Sea on character, who is known for his exceptional Lebanon. The competition was manifested Friday in a freedom of navigation operation, the U.S. anecdotes that grew as parables in people’s in the struggle of the al-Hariri brothers Navy said, the first such mission under President Joe perceptions. He was an exceptional figure in Lebanon. Bahaa openly declared his Biden’s new administration. in the Arabic culture. position on Hezbollah’s weapons, while The busy waterway is one of a number of flashpoints Going back to the love of the stepmoth- Saad is still conservative towards the in the U.S.-China relationship, which include a trade er, when Juha was told that his stepmom matter because he knows the unrealistic war, U.S. sanctions, Hong Kong and Taiwan. loved him, he said she must be going nuts demands behind excluding Hezbollah China has been infuriated by repeated U.S. sailings because his stepmom always treated him from the Lebanese scene. near the islands Beijing occupies and controls in the with cruelty and hate. Actually, this mad- No one can deny the difficult situation South China Sea. China says it has irrefutable sover- ness applies to everyone who believes in the and the high level of poverty in Tripoli. It is eignty and has accused Washington of deliberately American love for Lebanon. America loves the highest in Lebanon. However, the riots stoking tensions. only one party, which serves its interest. of Tripoli are analogous to the ones started The U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet said the USS John S. Mc- Since the American’s main interest in the in Daraa in Syria in 2011. The same groups Cain “asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the region is “Israel”, it is difficult to accept of terrorists and radicals who manipulated vicinity of the Paracel Islands, consistent with inter- the love of Lebanon. “The Syrian achievements sent a clear the riots in Daraa were dormant in Tripoli. national law”. The comment was not in vain. It was In particular, the ones who threw bombs The freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, related to the excessive American diplomatic message that it is going to be impossible at the army soldiers and burned Tripoli’s freedoms and lawful uses of the sea recognized in inter- visits to Lebanon in the last two years. In to defeat Syria and altering its political municipality destroyed documents and national law by challenging the “unlawful restrictions fact, these visits coincided with the tre- archives. on innocent passage imposed by China, Taiwan, and mendous achievements of the Arab Syrian decision as to the supporter of the They were demanding concessions from Vietnam”, it said. Army and its allies in liberating most of resistance movements against the Zionist President Aoun and Hezbollah, although its occupied territories by terrorists, by and the American existence in the region.” both parties did not nominate al-Hariri the end of 2018. as the coming prime minister after the The Syrian achievements sent a clear the country into its own interest. situation escalated to become a call for the resignation of Mr. Diab. Nuclear war with China, message that it is going to be impossible The initial plan was to turn Hezbollah resignation of President Aoun. On Thursday, another act towards top- Russia is ‘real possibility’: to defeat Syria and altering its political Party’s social base against it by imposing The second main attempt to topple pling the Lebanese state was performed, decision as to the supporter of the resist- an economic blockade. Mainly, the Party’s al- Ahed, [an expression used to describe which is the assassination of a political U.S. commander ance movements against the Zionist and supporters were targeted, but it failed. The the presidential era of President Michel opponent, Luqman Salim. He was found the American existence in the region; in partisans were aware that it was an Amer- Aoun] was through the tragedy that shocked shot dead in South Lebanon. Certain media 1 “More than a decade ago, Russia began aggres- addition, it is impossible to dismantle the ican blockade and it targeted the whole Lebanon, which resulted from the tragic choirs have already named him as a mar- sively modernizing its nuclear forces, including its strategic alliance between Syria and Iran. Lebanese population; ironically, the least explosion in Beirut’s Harbor. Lebanon tyr and started pointing the accusations non-treaty-accountable medium- and short-range It was a crystal-clear message so that affected people were Hezbollah members once again witnessed riots in the streets, against Hezbollah. Salim was living all systems,” he wrote. it pushed the American administration and immediate supporters. demonstrations, and attacks on the Par- his life in the al-Dahia, i.e., the Southern He said that Russia’s “modernization is about 70 into retreating to a backup plan to secure The economic blockade did not serve liament and the Council of Ministers. The Suburb, the largest gathering of the Shiite percent complete and on track to be fully realized in “the Zionist regime” and their interests in its intended purposes. Therefore, there result was the resignation of the Hassan community. However, naming him as a a few years.” the region. The plan B was mainly set to was an additional need to stimulate the Diab’s government, which calmed the martyr is a matter of inquiry. “In addition, Russia is building new and novel systems, end Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon as well streets and reestablish the “Arab Spring” streets for a short period of time. The riots The big question is, why now? Why such as hyper-sonic glide vehicles, nuclear-armed and as any Iranian existence near the northern experience in Lebanon, which would even- after the explosion of the harbor raised the would Salim be shot now and in the South nuclear-powered torpedoes and cruise missiles, and Palestinian borders. tually lead to toppling the regimes or to numbers of the daily infected population of Lebanon? The second question that may other capabilities,” the commander added. Plan B was based on stirring the Leb- massive chaos. The first step was after the of Coronavirus from several hundred to follow, how many assassinations are going anese population against Hezbollah and visits of American diplomats to Lebanon reach almost 2000 people. to take place to start a series of riots in the pushing towards a new civil war in Leba- in September 2019 and one month later Tripoli’s riots do not fall far from the South, Or in al-Dahia? It is most likely non. It seems that the American mentality the riots started in Beirut on the 17th of goals set behind the two attempts to topple never! However, this does not deny the Turkey scolded as cannot elevate its comprehension beyond October, and it spread all over Lebanon. “al-Ahed’ to siege Hezbollah and his allies. fact that the tendency to eliminate Hez- its colonial perception, and the colonial It is unrealistic to say that the first dem- The American’s manipulation in the Leb- bollah’s existence as an armed resistance ‘irresponsible NATO ally’ occupation of Palestine and the Arab lands. onstrators, who were in the streets of Beirut, anese streets is very clear in Tripoli’s riots. has become an international effort. after interior minister America has enormously invested in the were not people who were living in difficult However, there were far more dangerous Many regional powers are involved in creation of Israel so that it is impossible economic conditions and were demanding manipulations in the recent events. Outside the process. It is clear that plan B is needed blames U.S. for 2016 to retreat from its project now. transparency and reforms of the politi- powers and protesters were present. Many as a process against the national resistance Accordingly, the American decision cal system. However, the demonstrations unfamiliar persons were arrested by the and to create a vertical crack in the Shiites coup attempt was to end Hezbollah in Lebanon and by were manipulated and were steered and police. The prisoners were Syrians who community in Lebanon. The main goal is Turkey’s interior minister has accused the United States the Lebanese people. Therefore, a huge redirected against Hezbollah and its allies were active as part of the terrorist groups clear, which is to push Lebanon towards of orchestrating a coup attempt that rocked the country in campaign is now led against Hezbollah in Lebanon by the pro-American friends of al-Nusra in Lebanon. normalization with the “Israel”, or at least 2016, prompting a denial from Washington, which blasted by accusing it of being the main reason and allies. And eventually, demands were In addition, news leaks spread on the towards another civil war that may lead the claim as unbefitting of a NATO partner. behind starving the Lebanese people and redirected to be against the current par- relation between Qatari officials’ inter- to the ultimate division of Lebanon as we Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu alleged the U.S. gov- disempowering the political decision in liament and called for new elections. The ference and releasing the unfamiliar per- know it today. ernment played an unspecified role in the July 15, 2016 coup d’etat attempt, Turkish daily Hurriyet reported, suggesting on a local television program that American officials “man- Biden faces difficult job to rebuild divided America: professor aged” the ill-fated takeover. “Was it only FETO behind the July 15 coup? Did it just 1 Add the fact that 74 million voted for Trump Do you predict a revival of the JCPOA? How do it alone? No,” Soylu said on Thursday, referring to the and most of the Republicans are terrified of getting on can the parties to the deal guarantee their com- movement led by U.S.-based Turkish preacher Fethullah his wrong side, and there will be (already is) a lot of mitments? Gulen, labeled the “Fethullah Terrorist Organization” (FETO) resistance and attacks on Biden’s “socialist” agenda (if I think Biden wants to return to the JCPOA, although by authorities in Ankara. only). The deeper structural issues--racism, poverty, I’m not sure he wants to return to the original agreement. The U.S. State Department hit back at the charge later on Red-Blue division-will continue to defy the best efforts Obviously, commitments are premised heavily on Thursday, issuing a curt statement emphatically denying to address and change them. I am hopeful but I think good faith rather than ever more complicated inspection any connection to the revolt. we might end up with Obama-plus and not much more. and reporting protocols. The situation has progressed “The United States had no involvement in the 2016 Do you think U.S. foreign policy will change since Trump withdrew; too - indeed, one might almost attempted coup in Turkey and promptly condemned it. during Biden’s presidency when it comes to Arab say (if one believed in such conspiracies) that U.S. Recent assertions to the contrary made by senior Turkish regimes like Saudi Arabia and the Emirates? withdrawal was meant to revive Iran’s nuclear program officials are wholly false,” read the statement, attributed It was difficult to see much logic in Jared Kushner’s so that Israel would be provoked into attacking it. And to spokesman Ned Price. Middle East (West Asian) policy, but he seemed to be it is Israel that should worry everyone, especially if pursuing a Sunni-Israeli alliance against Iran as a way Netanyahu looks to be in trouble before the coming of minimizing American involvement. I am adamant- “The invasion of the Capitol election. Resistance News ly opposed to pandering to Israel -which has nuclear may have been, indeed, only What are the implications of the impeach- weapons - and encouraging the Saudis and associates ment of Trump for America? Israeli troops kill unarmed to threaten Iran on that basis. My hope would be that the first skirmish in what I’m all for impeachment, conviction and removal Palestinian in West Biden pursues better relations with Iran, returns to the could turn out to be civil of his right to run for public office ever again. But that status quo ante Trump (which wasn’t all that great), will almost certainly anger his followers and turn him Bank settlement and breaks up the incipient coalition. I have not really conflict and even war.” into a martyr. I suspect he will be tried by the Senate gotten a sense of what Biden’s advisors want. What I fear most is that he will be persuaded by but not convicted and that we will have to deal with INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN— The Israeli military said What is Biden’s strategy to curb China? the anti-China strategists into rattling sabers in Asia. him for the coming 4-8 years. deskFriday that an unarmed Palestinian Does he have one? The U.S. has lost the most from Whatever one thinks of the CCP and the PRC, that is not That will make many Congressional Republicans man was shot and killed in a West Bank settlement the various trade barriers set up by Trump (although a good idea. To me, it is reminiscent of German-British extremely anxious about (not) getting re-elected. And after he tried to break into a home and fought with not that many people are sensitive to that) and they relations prior to World War One, and we know what the crazies will be out in force. The invasion of the a guard. will only drive China to become more self-sufficient happened there. And would the U.S. ever go to war Capitol may have been, indeed, only the first skirmish Radi Abu Fkheideh, the head of the local council in and less dependent on exports. over Taiwan (certainly not Hong Kong)? in what could turn out to be civil conflict and even war. the nearby Palestinian village of Ras Karkar, identified the deceased as Khaled Nofal, 34, the married father of a four-year-old boy. He said the army stormed No- fal’s home in the village early Friday and arrested his Yemenis not to be fooled by U.S. words on ending support for Saudi war: Houthi father. He had no information about the circumstances Reacting to the news of the U.S. pres- President Joe Biden announced an end Yemen’s former pro-Riyadh government happening, and they understand our of Nofal’s death. ident’s decision to stop supporting to Washington’s support for Saudi-led and crushing the popular Houthi An- reasoning and rationale.” the Saudi war on Yemen, Yemen’s Su- aggression on Yemen, in a reversal of sarullah movement. ‘More than 1,000 Yemenis killed preme Political Council said that Yemenis the Donald Trump administration’s The war, which has also been accom- by Saudi cluster bombs’ Hamas: Israel’s will not be fooled by mere U.S. statements. foreign policy. panied by an all-out siege of Yemen, has Earlier this week, the director gener- “We consider any move that does not “This war has to end,” Biden said in killed more than 110,000 people and al of the Yemen Executive Mine Action demolitions in Himsa end the siege and aggression against his first foreign policy speech as presi- turned the impoverished Arab country Centre (YEMAC) said that the Saudi-led Yemen as just a formality and do not dent. “To underscore our commitment, into the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. coalition has dropped 3,179 cluster bombs al-Fuqa “ethnic cleansing” pay any attention to it,” Mohammed Ali we are ending all American support for “We have spoken with both senior offi- on Yemen since the beginning of its mil- al-Houthi, a council member said via offensive operations in the war in Yemen, cials in the UAE and senior officials in Saudi itary campaign. INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — The Hamas Movement desk Twitter Friday morning. including relevant arm sales.” Arabia,” Biden’s national security adviser Ali Sofra said the civilian casualties has denounced the Israeli occupation “We are not those who are deceived Riyadh, together with its allies chief Jake Sullivan said earlier on Thursday. of the bombardments who are mostly army’s demolition of homes and displacement of by statements no matter how they are among them being the United Arab Emir- “We are pursuing a policy of no sur- women and children have exceeded 1,000, families in Himsa al-Fuqa hamlet in the northern expressed,” al-Houthi noted. ates (UAE), launched a war on Yemen in prises when it comes to these types of and most of them were in agricultural Jordan Valley, describing the measure as part of the The remarks came hours after U.S. March 2015 with the aim of reinstalling actions, so they understand that this is and grazing areas. ethnic cleansing policy pursued by Israel against the Palestinian “The crime of demolishing homes in Himsa al-Fuqa is part of the systematic organized terrorism that is UN Security Council demands Myanmar coup leaders free Suu Kyi as U.S. weighs sanctions practiced by the Zionist entity on a daily basis against our people everywhere,” Hamas spokesman Hazem The United Nations Security Council called for the re- step down as the administration considered slapping became the latest to join a widening campaign of civil Qasem said in a press release on Thursday. lease of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others sanctions on the generals responsible for Monday’s coup disobedience. Spokesman Qasem said that the escalating displace- detained by the military as diplomatic and financial in the Southeast Asian country. “We only support the elected government and we ment of citizens and the ongoing annexation of Pales- pressure grew on the generals who seized power this Streets in the commercial capital Yangon echoed will always stand with them,” university lecturer Nwe tinian lands in the West Bank reflect Israel’s disregard week to restore democracy. again overnight with the clanging of tin pots as peo- Thazin said. “We absolutely don’t accept the government for the international law. U.S. President Joe Biden said the military should ple denounced the military takeover, while teachers which took power by force.” I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 HERITAGE & TOURISM FEBRUARY 6, 2021 Sistan-Baluchestan loses $34.2 million in Tourism projects worth $15.3m to be inaugurated in Yazd 1 Buildings are built of earth. The use of earth in tourism earnings as a result of COVID-19 buildings includes walls and roofs by the construction of vaults and domes. Houses are built with courtyards below ground level, TOURISM TEHRAN – Iran’s travel industry across Sistan-Baluchestan desk serving underground areas. Wind-catchers, courtyards, southeastern Sistan-Bal- province is among the top priorities for and thick earthen walls create a pleasant microclimate. uchestan province has lost 1,440 billion the ministry. rials ($34.2 million at the official exchange “I am interested in Sistan-Baluchestan, rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) in earnings and the development of this province is from tourism as many potential visitors a priority for this ministry and the gov- stay away due to the impact of the coro- ernment,” the minister stated. navirus, according to Alireza Jalalzaei, “The majority of my travels during my the provincial tourism chief. tenure has been to Sistan-Baluchestan, “Sistan-Baluchestan is a four-season which I consider it as a safe province with travel destination and even though the significant values in terms of culture, his- province holds vast tourism capacities, it tory, handicrafts, and tourism.” has taken some 1,440 billion rials hit from The collective province -- Sistan in the the coronavirus outbreak from mid-Esfand north and Baluchestan in the south -- ac- 1398 (early March 2020) to the end of the counts for one of the driest regions of Iran month Dey (January 19),” the official said with a slight increase in rainfall from east on Wednesday. to west, and an obvious rise in humidity The official noted that Sistan-Bal- in the coastal regions. In ancient times, uchestan has set sights on [a significant] the region was a crossword of the Indus tourism development, and its travel infra- Valley and the Babylonian civilizations. Partially covered alleyways together with streets, public structure has been drastically extended The province possesses special signifi- squares and courtyards contribute to a pleasant urban over the past couple of years. cance because of being located in a strategic quality. The city escaped the modernization trends that “From the year 1396 (2017) onwards, and transit location, especially Chabahar destroyed many traditional earthen cities. the number of travel infrastructure in years, adding the campaign ‘Let’s see “For instance, the occupancy rate of ho- which is the only ocean port in Iran and the Yazd Jameh Mosque, Dowlatabad Garden, the Yazd Sistan-Baluchestan has raised from 40 Sistan, let’s hear Baluchestan’ has taken tels in [the city of Chabahar] is [currently] best and easiest access route of the middle Atash Behram, also known as Atashkadeh-e Yazd, Towers to 200 ones…. Nowadays tourism of this a noticeable impact on the tourism thrive more than 90 percent….. and currently, Asian countries to free waters. of Silence, and adjacent desert landscape are among its province has come to fame and distinc- of the province mainly by the means of some 100 to 110 ecolodge unites are active The vast province is home to several tourist sites. tion,” he explained. on-line programs. across the province,” the official said. distinctive archaeological sites and natural Elsewhere in his remarks, the official “Despite all the bottlenecks, the Last year, Cultural Heritage, Tour- attractions, including two UNESCO World pointed to various tourism campaigns province’s tourism has not been forced ism, and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Heritage sites, namely Shahr-e-Soukhteh Museum of anthropology, being launched over the past couple of to shut….” Mounesan said that the development of the (Burnt City) and Lut desert. cultural heritage to open in northwest Iran New tourist complex inaugurated in Tehran HERITAGE TEHRAN – A local history museum dedicat- TOURISM TEHRAN – Shams ol-Emareh tourist Ten accommodation centers including hotels, apartment desked to the anthropology and cultural heritage deskcomplex was inaugurated in Baqershahr, hotels, eco-lodge units as well as tourist complexes, res- of the ancient town of Kowsar and its surroundings will soon south of Tehran province, on Wednesday on the occasion taurants, and handicrafts workshops will come on stream, open its doors to the public in the northwest Iranian town. of Ten-Day Dawn (Jan. 31- Feb. 10, marking the victory he explained. “The firsts phase of Kowsar’s cultural heritage museum anniversary of the Islamic Revolution). He also noted that a budget of seven trillion rials (about is scheduled to be inaugurated in near future,” Jahangir A budget of 370 billion rials (about $ 9 million at the $167 million) has been allocated to the projects, which are Shahbazi, the tourism chief of the ancient town, said on official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) has been expected to generate a total of 930 job opportunities. Wednesday. allocated to the project, Parham Janfeshan, the provincial The mentioned projects will also add 816 beds to the Anthropology and handicrafts sections of the museum will tourism chief, addressing the opening ceremony. hospitality sector of the Iranian capital, the official added. be coming on stream in the next phase, he added. Constructed in an area of 11 hectares, the project is ex- Hugging the lower slopes of the magnificent, snowcapped pected to create 30 job opportunities, the official added. Alborz Mountains, Tehran is much more than a chaotic Referring to tourism as being “advantageous” for the jumble of concrete and crazy traffic blanketed by a miasma whole province, the official noted the tourism sector and of air pollution. This is the nation’s dynamic beating heart relevant infrastructure are being developed and strength- and the place to get a handle on modern Iran and what its ened in all districts [and counties] of Tehran province even future will likely be. The first time Tehran is mentioned in historical accounts in low-income and deprived areas. The metropolis has many to offer its visitors including is in an 11th-century chronicle in which it is described as a Earlier this week, the official announced that a total of 206 Golestan Palace, Grand Bazaar, Treasury of National Jew- small village north of Ray. It became the capital city of the tourism-related projects are scheduled to be inaugurated els, National Museum of Iran, Glass & Ceramic Museum, Seljuk Empire in the 11th century but later declined with across the Iranian capital during the ten-day Fajr (dawn) Masoudieh Palace, Sarkis Cathedral, Tehran Museum of factional strife between different neighborhoods and the ceremonies and celebrations. Contemporary Art, Carpet Museum of Iran, to name a few. Mongol invasion of 1220. Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad seeks to rocket sports tourism TOURISM TEHRAN – The local competitions and festivals after the events such as Olympics and World Cups deskgovernor-general coronavirus crisis comes to an end, the can be a catalyst for tourism development of the southwestern Kohgiluyeh and official added. if successfully leveraged in terms of Kowsar is one of the earliest human settlements in Iran, Boyer-Ahmad province has said that Sports tourism is one of the fastest- destination branding, infrastructure the official said. sports tourism in this region needs to growing sectors in tourism. More and development, and other economic and “Based on available evidence and works [which have been be developed. more tourists are interested in sports social benefits. unearthed so far], Kowsar is one of the most historical regions Having a considerable wealth of human activities during their trips whether sports Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province of the country. There is evidence of life and civilization in talents in [the traditional, rural and are the main objective of travel or not. is known for its nomads and nomadic this region that goes back to the Iron Age, and even beyond.” nomadic] sports, vast natural capacities, Sport events of various kinds and life. Sightseers may live with a nomadic Moreover, a new round of archaeological work is scheduled and a large number of villages, where have sizes attract tourists as participants or or rural family for a while or enjoy an to commence in the town, which is hoped to add more to the long been heavens for the local games, spectators and destinations try to add local independent stay and assist them with day- historical values of the region. the province can easily be promoted in Paying attention to the development of flavors to them to distinguish themselves to-day life. It also opens up an opportunity Sprawling on a high, windswept plateau, whose altitude the arena of sports tourism, Hossein indigenous and local sports could make and provide authentic local experiences. to feel rustic routines, their agriculture, averages 3,000 meters above sea level, Ardebil is well-known Kalantari announced on Thursday. the province a hub for indigenous and Travel insiders say that mega sport traditions, arts, and culture. for having lush natural beauties, hospitable people, and its silk and carpet trade tradition, it is also home to the UN- ESCO-registered Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble. The province is very cold in winter and mild in Ancient festival of Pir-e Shaliar canceled due to virus summer, attracting thousands every year. The capital city TEHRAN — Pir-e Shaliar, an ancient all villagers. of Ardabil is usually recorded as one of the coldest cities in HERITAGE deskannual ceremony celebrating abundance People come out from their terraced houses, which roof the country in winter. and good fortune, has been called off due to concerns over of one is the courtyard of another, to witness the ritual. the coronavirus outbreak. Daf, a local drum, is played and the dervishes of the region Eleven Iranian earthenware The public ritual was supposed to be held, like previous gather to chant and dance while swaying their long hair years, on the 15th day of the month Bahman (February through the air. made national heritage 3) in Uraman Takht rural district of Kordestan province, Before night, men meet in the house of Pir-e Shaliar and western Iran. continue their ritual of chanting prayers and playing the HERITAGE TEHRAN – Eleven moveable properties, all The annulment was announced by the governor of Sarv- dafs to pay their ultimate tribute to the legendary figure deskhistorical earthenware belonging to Iran’s abad county upon the directive of a local committee for of the region. Mazandaran province, have recently been inscribed on the coronavirus control. The legend says that Pir-e Shaliar magically cured ‘Shah-Ba- national heritage list. Pir-e Shaliar, a legendary folk figure for Iranian Kurds, har Khatoun’ the beloved daughter of the king of Bukhara The Ministry of Cultural is warmly remembered for his allegedly magical healing so that he was rewarded with getting married to the girl. Heritage, Tourism and Handi- qualities and mojo that locals believe could populate the Uraman region is considered a cradle of Kurdish art and crafts officially announced the land with livestock and crops in times of trouble. The figure culture from the days of yore. Stretched on a steep slope of inscription on Thursday in a is associated with the pre-Islamic, Zoroastrian times. Sheep and goats are slaughtered as the day breaks. Then Sarvabad county, the village is home to dense and step-like letter to the governor-general The festival usually starts before dawn with children several hours are spent cooking a special soup called ‘Veloshin’; rows of houses in a way that the roof of each house forms of the northern province. distributing walnuts as gifts, knocking on the villagers’ doors, meanwhile, people celebrate the event with blessings and the yard of the upper one, a feature that adds to its charm Clay utensils including and getting sweets from them in return. prayers. The soup will be ultimately distributed amongst and attractiveness. jugs, pitchers, and cups, which are being kept in Sari’s City History Museum are the new items added to the prestig- A peek into pottery skills in Kalpurgan ious list. An early civilization TOURISM TEHRAN — According lennium B.C. After the clay utensils are created, they are flourished at the beginning deskto the specialists, the pot- The unique characteristic of potteries exposed to sunlight to dry completely. Then of the first millennium BC in tery of Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province in this region is that the technique of their they are painted with reddish-brown colors Mazandaran (Tabarestan). traces back to many thousand years ago. The production has not changed since thousands that turn black after firing. Its insecure eastern and three villages of Kalpurgan, Kuhmitag, and of years ago and the artist potters who are This color is a kind of mineral pigment southeastern borders were crossed by Mongol invaders in Hulanchgan are the most important centers mostly tasteful women of this region, make that is produced from a stone called Tituk. the 13th and 14th centuries. Cossacks attacked the region in of pottery in the southeastern province. the potteries with no use of machinery and This stone is excavated from “Tapeh Achar” 1668 but were repulsed. It was ceded to the Russian Empire “Amongst them, Kalpurgan is more fa- only by their hands. in one of the counties of Zabol. To make by a treaty in 1723, but the Russians were never secure in mous and original than the others and is The motifs of these potteries also have the pigments, the stone has grinned on a their occupation. The area was restored to Iran under the known with the names of this region. This roots in thousand of years ago and are gen- bigger rock and the powder is mixed with Qajar dynasty. village is located three hundred and ninety erally geometric and abstract. Kalpurgan a bit of water to make a slurry. Then they The northern section of the region consists of lowland kilometers far from Zahedan and close to potteries lack glaze and are made using a are decorated with ancient motifs of pot- alongside the Caspian and upland along the northern slopes the borderline between Iran and Pakistan,” kind of soil that men gather from a region teries by use of thin branches of the palm glasses. In 2017 the village of Kalpurgan was of the Alborz Mountains. Marshy backlands dominate the according to Visit Iran. called “Mash Takuk” located two kilometers tree as brushes. registered as the living museum of pottery, coastal plain, and extensive gravel fans fringe the mountains. The potteries of this region are very away from the village. Finally, the potteries are fired inside tra- and the World Council of Handicrafts chose The climate is permanently subtropical and humid, with similar to the discoveries of archeological This soil turns red after firing which is ditional kilns made as pits in the ground. The this village to be the first global village of very hot summers. excavations that trace back to the 3rd mil- another trait of the potteries of Kalpurgan. potteries are bowls, jars, chalices, jugs, and the pottery. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y FEBRUARY 6, 2021 SOCIETY 7

Iran imports Sputnik V vaccine, 10-year plan being developed to counter SDS hotspots

ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN — A 10-year national plan is being AstraZeneca on agenda deskprepared to deal with internal sand and dust SOCIETY TEHRAN — The first COVIRAN BAREKAT, the first corona- storm (SDS) hotspots, in which the task of all related bodies deskconsignment of Sput- virus vaccine made by Iranian researchers is specified, Ali Mohammad Tahmasebi, head of the national nik V, the Russian-made vaccine for the of the Headquarters for Executing the working group for SDS mitigation, has said. coronavirus, was imported on Thursday. Order of the Imam, was unveiled and In the last four years, about €370 million has been spent “We have signed an agreement with the injected into three volunteers during a from the National Development Fund to combat SDSs, which Russian side to receive two million doses ceremony on December 29, 2020. had good results, but it seems that the annual credit is declining of the vaccine,” ISNA quoted Mohammad Shanehsaz said on Wednesday that the as conditions improve, he added. Reza Shanehsaz, head of the Food and country’s potentiality in the pharmaceu- Drug Administration (FDA), as saying. tical sector is so great that every medicine This is for ten thousand people, he which was introduced to be effective on said, adding that the next batches will the coronavirus was produced inside the be imported within the next one or two country within less than three months. months. “Test kits and ventilators were also “Of course, we will not import just the produced and the last measure was the Russian-made vaccine. There are other production of vaccines,” he noted. reliable sources, as well that have success- Currently, 11 knowledge-based com- fully passed clinical phases and we will panies are working on the five vaccine receive them by the end of the [Iranian production methods which are being calendar] year (March 20).” practiced around the world, he explained. Importing vaccine from COVAX, a President Hassan Rouhani has said global initiative to ensure rapid and eq- the government is trying its best to start uitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, is FDA spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour country, procurement from the World mass vaccination against the coronavirus Last [Iranian calendar] year (March 2019-March 2020), also on the agenda, he noted. has said that those other vaccines made Health Organization’s COVAX facility, by the next two months with the prior- €100 million was earmarked in this regard, but the next year’s The Iranian Ambassador to the UK in India, China, and Russia are also under a joint production with a Cuban com- ity given to medical staff and high-risk budget bill has proposed €20 million for SDS mitigation, which Hamid Baeidinejad wrote on his Insta- evaluation. pany as well as domestic production of individuals. experts believe will even destroy those measures, he explained. gram page that 4.2 million doses of the On January 27, Health Minister Saeed the vaccine. Meanwhile, Iran and Cuba have formed Tahmasebi went on to say that internal dust sources es- Anglo-Swedish AstraZeneca vaccine will Namaki said that there are four different He emphasized that Iran will soon be a ‘strategic alliance’ through working joint- timated at 34.6 million hectares, with an average amount of be imported in the near future within the ways to supply the coronavirus vaccine, one of the world’s important manufac- ly on a project for producing a potential 4.22 million tons of dust per year, of which 122.7 kilograms of framework of the agreement with COVAX. including direct purchase from a foreign turers of the COVID-19 vaccine. coronavirus vaccine. dust per hectare is raised annually. “Based on this, various measures have been taken to de- sign and prioritize the regions, including, planting seedlings on about 110,000 hectares of dust centers in the past three years, as well as managing grazing in 2 million hectares of the Smart monitoring in Golestan National Park at final stage protected areas and natural resources.” Bordering the Caspian Sea, the national park is a goat, fox, and coyote. And plant species growing in the Conservation agriculture (sustainable agriculture) was con- unique refuge for wildlife that has been facing problems region consist of several endemic ones such as Alma ducted on 50,000 hectares of farming lands because about 4.5 in recent years due to man-made damages. saffron, Persian Ironwood. million out of 34.6 hectares of SDSs hotspots are agricultural Stretched to 87,402 hectares, it is home to one-sev- In the past, the Asiatic cheetah also lived in the area lands, in addition to 200 to 300 km of dredging, he added. enth of Iran’s plant species, one-third of all birds, and of Mirzabaylu plain, but the last cheetah was seen in In the meantime, about 1.4 million hectares of wetlands are half of the country’s mammals, hosting 1,350 plant the area at least 40 years ago. Of course, in October generating dust, which with dredging, the water enters the wet- species and 302 wildlife species. It has been listed as 2014, a cheetah was observed in this plain, but no one land’s bed and prevented it from dust generation, he noted, add- one of the top fifty ecosystems on the UNESCO World could photograph it. ing, about 3,000 kilometers Heritage List in 1930. Weather in Golestan National Park varies from also undergone plantation to Iran has been Some 135 billion rials (about $3.3 million) has been very humid to semi-arid with precipitation of less than reduce dust rising. spent on the project so far, IRNA reported. 200 to 1000 mm. Temperatures in Golestan National “Moreover, we were mon- repeatedly Using the Internet of Things, data are sent via smart Park vary from -25 degrees to +35 degrees depend- itoring 188 dust measuring exposed to cameras and detectors sensitive to some, dryness, and ing on the different months of the year. The highest stations, and about 60 new SDSs due to temperature installed at regions that are difficult to absolute temperature reported in the park was 42 C stations have been estab- lished that can measure ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN – A project for smart moni- pass and are checked by a monitoring room in the in the southeast of the park. its presence in desk national park. So far, 150 species of birds have been identified in particulate matter less than the arid and toring of Golestan National Park, which 2.5 microns and 10 microns.” started in 2019, is near completion and is scheduled Golestan National Park is facing the danger of wildfires Golestan National Park. Golden Eagle, eastern impe- semi-arid parts every year. However, there is a lack of forces to patrol rial eagle, saker falcon, falcon, and bearded vulture are “We are also preparing a to come on stream by the end of the current Iranian 10-year plan based on mitiga- calendar year (March 20). the protected areas, for example, only 40 rangers protect among the endangered birds of the park. Other birds of the world; the entire area of the park, which does not correspond of Golestan National Park include common pheasants, tion of internal dust hotspots. Golestan, the oldest national park in Iran, is strug- In this plan, the task of all consumption, gling with environmental issues such as wildfire, so the to the size of this habitat. shrikes, griffon vulture, rosy starling, typical warblers, Wildlife species living in the area include Persian wheatears, finches, and common blackbirds. responsible bodies during the changing the Department of Environment (DOE) with the help of 10 years leading up to 2032 is the Ministry of Communications, is trying to promote Leopard, Brown bear, jackal, Persian ibex, wolves, wild The park holds a share of 3 species of amphibians pattern of cat, Caspian Red deer, wild boar, gazelle, mountain and 24 species of reptiles. specified, in addition to the electronic protection through technological advances. amount of credit, and oper- cultivation, and ations,” he also said. climate change The SDSs hotspots in other have increased Companies from 21 countries to attend TIM 2021 countries stretch to 330 mil- lion hectares, with an average the negative SOCIETY TEHRAN — Forty for- Milad Sadrankhanloo, deputy secretary of and gas are among the sectors that researchers of 150 million tons of dust effects of this deskeign investment compa- the event, stated. in technology companies have engaged in, generation per year, which is nies from 21 countries will attend the 3rd This edition focuses on the participa- leading to import reduction. raised from Turkmenistan, phenomenon. Technology Investment Meeting (TIM 2021) tion of international investors, and in the In recent years, the vice presidency for Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, of the D-8 Organization for Economic Co- startup sector, 24 Iranian startups will be science and technology has been supporting Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, he highlighted. operation which will be held on February introduced at the event, he said, adding, the knowledge-based companies active in the A practical plan is also being developed to counter external 16-17 in Tehran. main indicator in the selection of startups production of sanctioned items. hotspots, and we are looking to prepare a sub-plan with each of the Pardis Technology Park will host the was their activities in the international Sattari also told the Tehran Times in countries and regions, which will be prepared by May, he added. event both virtually and in-person, aim- era and the capacity to participate in in- October 2020 that “U.S. sanctions caused Since the past decade, southern and western provinces of ing to address the investment potentials ternational markets. exports of knowledge-based companies to the country are frequently hit by severe sand and dust storms, in Islamic developing countries in order Some 30 percent of these startups are decline three years ago, however, it has re- as well as drought, which is caused by both internal and ex- to open up an opportunity for foreign and active in the field of health, others in fintech turned to growth and is projected to reach the ternal hotpots. Major external SDSs sources are Syria, Saudi domestic investors. (financial technology), ICT, oil and gas, and Technological achievements of Iran pre-sanctions level of more than $1 billion Arabia, and Iraq. D-8 includes major Muslim developing artificial intelligence, he further noted. There are 6,000 knowledge-based com- by the end of the current [Iranian calendar] It was around the year 2005 that the first signs of sporadic countries namely, Bangladesh, Egypt, In- Good opportunities, such as abundant panies active in the country, manufacturing year (March 20). SDS appeared in southwestern Iran. Just seven years later, sand donesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, manpower alongside cheap knowledge-based diverse products to meet the needs of the Fortunately, last year, companies achieved and dust storms became so persisting and terrible that PM con- and Turkey. and technological products, have attract- domestic market while saving large amounts a record sale of 1.2 quadrillion rials (nearly centration reported 22 times above the safe levels. Due to the prevalence of coronavirus and ed foreign investors, despite unilateral of foreign currency. $28.5 billion at the official rate of 42,000 In fact, Iran has been repeatedly exposed to SDSs due to the observance of social distancing, some sanctions, to consider the Iranian knowl- The fields of aircraft maintenance, steel, rials), which is expected to increase by 40 its presence in the arid and semi-arid parts of the world; con- side programs of this event are held virtually, edge-based ecosystem. pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment, oil, percent this year.” sumption, changing the pattern of cultivation, and climate change have increased the negative effects of this phenomenon. A sandstorm or dust storm is a meteorological phenom- enon usually caused by strong and turbulent winds blowing ENGLISH IN USE over loose soil or sand and sweeping up large quantities of sand or dust particles from the ground, clouding the air and LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION reducing visibility drastically. LET’S LEARN PERSIAN (Part 124) (Source: saadifoundation.ir) پــروژه توســعه روســتایی بــه ارزش ۱۳ هزار Rural development projects worth میلیــارد تومــان بهــره بــرداری می شــود $3b to be inaugurated معــاون توســعه روســتایی و مناطــق محــروم ریاســت جمهــوری از بهــره Rural development projects worth 130 trillion rials (nearly $3 بــرداری از پروژههــای روســتایی بــه ارزش ۱۳ هــزار میلیــارد تومــان billion at the official rate of 42,000 rials) will be inaugurated on همزمــان بــا روز ملــی روســتا خبــر داد. the occasion of the National Day of Villagers and Nomads, which بــه گــزارش ایســنا، محمــد امیــد امــروز شــنبه در تشــریح برنامــه هــای .is marked on October 5 روز روســتا، گفــت: در حــال حاضــر ۲۶ درصــد جمعیــت کشــور در ,Currently, 26 percent of the country’s population lives in villages روســتاها ســاکن هســتند کــه از ایــن میــان ۳۹هــزار روســتا بــاالی ,Mohammad Omid, the vice president for rural development, said ۲۰ خانــوار و ۲۳ هــزار روســتا زیــر ۲۰ خانــوار هســتند. بــه ایــن ترتیــب adding that around 39,000 villages have more than 20 households بیــش از ۹۷درصــد جمعیــت روســتایی کشــور در روســتاهای بــاالی .and 23,000 villages have less than 20 households ۲۰ هزار خانوار ســاکن هستند. Thus, more than 97 percent of the country’s rural population lives in وی افــزود: ۶۷۵۰ پــروژه عمرانــی در ایــن روز بــا اعتبــار ۳۷۰۰ میلیــارد تومــان .villages with over 20,000 households, he added در حــوزه هــای مختلفــی همچــون راه روســتایی، ارتباطــات و ... بــه بهــره He went on to state that 6,750 construction projects will come on stream بــرداری مــی رســد. در کنــار ایــن پــروژه هــای اشــتغال زا نیــز مجموعــا on this day in various fields such as roads, communications, etc. In addi- ۲۶ هــزار و ۵۱۲ پــروژه در ســطح کشــور بــه بهــره بــرداری خواهــد رســید. .tion, a total of 26,512 projects will be launched throughout the country وی ادامــه داد: در حــوزه واحدهــای روســتایی نیــز ۷۱ هــزار واحــد مســکونی بــرای -Moreover, some 71,000 newly-built residential units will be in روســتاییان توســط نهادهــا و از محــل تســهیالت بانکــی بــه بهــره بــرداری می رســد. .augurated, he noted Prayer Times Noon:12:18 Evening: 17:56 Dawn: 5:34 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:59 (tomorrow) FEBRUARY 6, 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 IRIB official calls “Salman Farsi” Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051430 international, interreligious series Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 1 “We should give this good news to The story of the series will be narrated Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 the Iranian people, who will be waiting for over three seasons starting with ancient Iran, an amazing work from Mr. Davud Mirbaqeri, followed by the Byzantine Empire and finally which portrays major events from the history early Islam. Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 of our country and the advent of Islam in Scenes of the project have been filmed at Iran,” he noted. locations on Qeshm Island in southern Iran. No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran Mirbaqeri expressed his thanks for IRIB’s Mirbaqeri’s crew was scheduled to shoot P.o. Box: 14155-4843 regard for his TV series and briefed Shahabadi some scenes in Turkey and Armenia, however, Zip Code: 1599814713 about the sets made for the great project. the plan was canceled due the COVID-19 He also expressed his hope that IRIB would pandemic and they filmed the scenes on sets provide the necessary support in due time built in the Iran. so that his crew would be able to build the Salman Farsi was one of several individuals sets as planned. of Persian origin residing in Arabia, probably “We are currently shooting the mid-season as a consequence of Sassanid’s involvement in of the series, in which Salman Farsi leaves Yemen. He was among the freedmen (mawali) Iran when he is a young adult, converting of the Prophet Muhammad (S) and became to Christianity and spends years praying at the model of Persian converts and the symbol churches and monasteries in the Byzantine of the role that Persia and Persians would GUIDE TO Empire,” he added. play in the future of Islam. SPIRITUAL AWAKENING Mirbaqeri started shooting “Salman Farsi” According to certain traditional narrations, in the deserts of Kerman Province in late Salman Farsi was the first who translated December 2019 as he said that it was expected parts of the Holy Quran into Persian during The one who gets married has completed to be completed in five years. A scene from “Salman Farsi” by Davud Mirbaqeri. the 7th century. half of his/her religion. Prophet Muhammad (S) Fajr Theater Festival’s lineup features over ten WHAT’S IN ART GALLERIES plays on Commander Soleimani Painting/drawing was a father, a brother and a friend with others, and the play by Alireza Mahmudi and “I Am Staring at the Sea so No One Sohrab Gallery is hanging a had an interesting narration about his character,” he said. Takes It Away” by Hassan Sobhani. collection of paintings and drawings He also added that the festival is a venue where interesting The plays in the guest section are “Ajax” by Fateh Baadparva, by Yahya Ruydel in an exhibition topics such as history and revolutionary identity are portrayed. “Amongst Great Number of Fish” by Amir Delfani and “A entitled “Ground 2”. “The play is so attractive and important that it does not Cassette” by Mohammad Akbari. The exhibit will run until February require any box office draw. We actually are indebted to the In addition, 12 plays have been picked for the Soldier 13 at the gallery located at 142 main character of the play,” Parsai, who is also the writer of the Revolution, a section dedicated to street theater, Somayyeh St. of the play, had already said. this year. Painting Thespians perform “The Soldier” by director Hossein “The style of my narrative is quite different in this play The plays have been selected by a team of stage artists: Paintings by a group of artists, Parsai at Vahdat Hall on January 2, 2021. (Mehr/ since the main character of this play is known as a national Tohid Masumi, Saeid Kheirollahi and Mohammad Larti. including Samaneh Rumiani, Mohammad Khodabakhsh) hero,” he added. “Those Years” by director Bahareh Saeidinia, “His Fatemeh Panah, Fatemeh Abbasi, According to the organizers, 28 plays have been selected is Champion Akbar” by Mostafa Dehasht and Bahar ARTTEHRAN – Over 10 plays on Lieutenant- Shima Moradi, Masumeh Akbari, for the national competition section of the festival. Bordbar, “Cocoon of the Revolution” by Puya Emami, deskGeneral Qassem Soleimani have been and Sanaz Sangi, are currently The selection includes “Smoking Room” by director Saeid “Life with the Taste of Gunpowder” by Mojtaba Khalili performed during the 39th Fajr Theater Festival, currently on view in an exhibition at Ayrik Zarei, “Pinocchio” by Mohammadreza Mahmudi, “Bodies” and “In the Name of” by Akbar Qahremani are among underway in Tehran, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Gallery. by Alireza Marufi, “Rashomon” by Ehsan Abdolmaleki, the plays. Seyyed Abbas Salehi said on Thursday. The exhibition entitled “Flying “Bloody Tuesdays” by Mohammad-Mehdi Khatami and Also included are “The Ring” by Nesa Soleimani, “General” He made the remarks after seeing the play “The Soldier” Windows” will run until February “Naskh” by Amirhossein Ghaffari. by Saeid Badini, “Soldier of the Commander” by Amin by director Hossein Parsai about Martyr Soleimani at 10 at the gallery located at Ayrik Also included are several award-winning provincial plays. Purmand, “Commander of the Shrine” by Amir Amini, Vahdat Hall. Center on East Ferdows Blvd. The collection includes “Pandemic” by director Reza “Messenger” by Hessameddin Iranmanesh, “No One Is a “The play has a specific type of narration about the An exhibition of paintings Purtorabzadeh, “Bob Bara” by Nima Imanzadeh, “Awakening Man like You” by Behnam Kaveh and “When Hell Freezes characteristics of Martyr Soleimani, a character who was by Saeid Eskandari is currently in Time of Blood” by Ehsan Janami, “Growing” by Shoaib Over” by Mehrdad Kavus Hosseini. a hero in the war and a kind companion with people. He underway at Vista Gallery. Maktabdari, “Reboot” by Amirhossein Ajir Arshad, “Uninvited” The festival will be running until February 9 this year. The exhibit entitled “The Forgotten Village” will run until February 15 at the gallery located at No. 11, 12th (SA) Alley, Mir Emad St. French writer Claire Joubert’s latest book on Hazrat Fatima published Paintings by Sheida Mahmudi are CULTURE TEHRAN – The latest Joubert was honored at the 11th when she got married. currently on view in an exhibition deskbook by the Tehran- edition of the Ammar Popular Film She illustrates her stories herself. at Negah Gallery. based French writer and illustrator Festival early January. With a cursory look at her works, one The exhibit named “Untitled” will Claire Joubert has recently been She received the Nane Esmat Gloves, can easily perceive her preoccupation run until February 17 at the gallery published by Rud-e Abi Publications a special award of the festival. with issues such as faith and religion, located at 64 Ghaffari St., Jam St., in Qom. Joubert has written several books in identity, children’s relations with their Motahhari Ave. In the book named “Like You, My Lady, Persian, including “In Search of God”, surroundings, etc. Most of the writer’s An exhibition of paintings by Fatima”, Sama, a little girl who lives near “God’s Cookies”, “Goodbye, Old Raccoon”, works are for primary-age children. Payam Firuzi is currently underway the house of the Prophet Muhammad “The Little Mouse’s Prayer”, “The Stories She is also interested in doing at Farmanfarma Gallery. (S), tells the story of the birth of Hazrat of the Little Green Lizard” and “The Most research on children’s literature and The exhibit entitled “Descent” will Fatima (SA) to other children. Trustworthy Friend”. philosophy for children. She writes both continue until February 19 at the Joubert has also illustrated the book, Joubert was born in Paris in May in Persian and French and has published gallery located at 2nd Araabi St., North and Fahimeh Shaneh is the editor and 1961. She was brought up in a Christian some French books in Lebanon and Kheradmand St. off Karim Khan Ave. Hamideh Soleimani is the graphic Cover of the book “Like You, My Lady, family. She converted to Islam at the France, but her preference is to write Drawing designer of the book. Fatima” by Claire Joubert. age of nineteen and immigrated to Iran in Persian. Inja Gallery is playing host to an exhibition of drawings by Sogol Kashani entitled “Body Is All”. The exhibit will run until February Iranian cineastes express sympathy over death of Ali Ansarian 19 at the gallery located at 4 Pedram Alley, Neauphle-le-Chateau St. ARTTEHRAN – Iranian cineastes have In his Twitter account, Ministry of Culture and desk Multimedia expressed their sympathy over the Islamic Guidance Seyyed Abbas Salehi also offered Artworks by a group of artists death of actor and former footballer Ali Ansarian who his condolences over the death of Ansarian. in various media, including died of COVID-19 on Wednesday. “A symbol of love of mother left us on Mothers’ Day Manuchehr Niazi, Mohammad One of the messages of condolences came on Thursday joining Him. Iran mourns for Ali Ansarian.” In Iran Ehsai, Ali Golestaneh, Ali-Akbar by the organizers of the 39th Fajr Film Festival, currently Mother’s Day is celebrated annually on the birthday Sanati, Reza Bangiz, and Ebrahim underway in Tehran and several other cities across the of Hazrat Fatima (SA), the daughter of the Prophet Faraji, are on view in an exhibition country, which is screening his film “Romanticism of Muhammad (S). at Artibition Gallery. Emad and Tuba” directed by Kaveh Sabbaghzadeh. A pretty, rustic affection for his mother was Ansarian’s The exhibit runs until February “As a nationally popular figure, Ali Ansarian was trademark. 43-year-old Ansarian never married in 14 at the gallery located at Qandi the Iranian people’s beloved. He was passing through order to be totally at his mother’s service and, once, Alley, Sasanipur St., Golnabi St., some traumatic days of his life, and we had hoped that on a TV program, he conceded that he wished that he off Shariati Ave. he would return and shine at the festival with his first would die before his mother did. A group of artists, including appearance at the event,” they wrote. He started his footballing career in Fajr Sepasi in Abolfazl Amin, Qasem Ahmadi, “Of course, he remains as a star and shins, and now 1996 and joined Persepolis two years later. He also Nazanin Tayyebeh, Tajesar Jafari, has joined the Light,” they added. represented Iran national football team from 1998 Davud Kuchaki, and Sakim Karami, In a press conference organized during the festival to 2007. are showcasing their artworks in on Thursday for “Once Upon a Time in Abadan”, Hamid He quit football at the age of 34, trying his hand at various media in an exhibition at Azarang’s directorial debut, producer Ali Owji asked acting with several TV series and movies, including Actor and former footballer Ali Ansarian pose with his Mohsen Gallery. journalists and critics to observe a minute of silence “The Reward of Silence”, “Good Sense of Life” and mother in an undated photo. The exhibit runs until February 15 at in remembrance of Ansarian. “Ajdar”. the gallery located at 42 East Mina Popular actress Fatemeh Motamed-Aria, a star of the grief than that over Ansarian’s death,” she added. Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique Blvd., Naji St., off Zafar St. film, also pointed to the death of Mehrdad Minavand, Speaking at a press conference for director Ruhollah (FIAP) president Riccardo Busi, who had met Ansarian Artworks from various media by another former footballer who passed away of COVID-19 Hejazi’s drama “Bright” at the festival, actor Reza at the 36th Milano International FICTS Fest, also Ramana Moshiri, Arian Javadian, last week, and said, “We lost two role models in life Attaran said that he has good memories of times with sent a message of condolences to the Focus Photo Narges Jebeli, Maryam Hami, and championship.” Ansarian and Minavand, and asked the government to Club, Iran’s branch of the International Federation Golchehreh Rohani, Fatemeh Abbasian “I think that if I were to die, people would feel less buy COVID-19 vaccine soon to prevent more casualties. of Photographic Art (FIAP). and several other artists are on view in an exhibition at Ehsan Gallery. The exhibit entitled “incident” will run until February 10 at the gallery Persian translator of Turkish literature Iraj Nobakht dies at 88 located at No. 22, East 14th St. in CULTURE TEHRAN – Persian in Mazandaran Province. Land” and “The Song of the Sun the Ajudanieh neighborhood. desktranslator of Turkish He had collaborated with several Drinkers” were also rendered into Print/sculpture literature Iraj Nobakht has died. He was magazines, including Ferdowsi, Khusheh Persian by Nobakht. Prints and sculptures by Tahereh 88 years old. and Ketab-e Jomeh. Persian translations of Orhan Pamuk’s Fallahzadeh and Mostafa Nader Nobakht was born in Tabriz in 1932 and Most of his books and translations “I Am a Tree” and “Silent House” by are on display in an exhibition at passed away on February 2 in the United were published by Donya-ye No (New Nobakht were also published in Iran. Delgosha Gallery. States of America where he was buried. World) Publications. He also translated Yasar Kemal’s “They The exhibit entitled “Parents He was in the U.S. to visit his daughter He was the translator of Turkish Burn the Thistles”. without the Past” will run until who lives in the country. historian and author Ismail Hakki He was also the author of several March 2 at the gallery located at Nobakht had a Ph.D. in the history of Uzunçarsili’s “Grand Ottoman History”. books, including “Molana, Family and 30 Mohajer Alley, Iranshahr St., art from the University of Istanbul and Nazim Hikmet Ran’s “Blood Doesn’t Friends” and “How Happy We Can Be Karim Khan Ave. was a lecturer at Tonekabon University Tell”, “Portraits of People from My Here”. Translator Iraj Nobakht in an undated photo.