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8 Pages Price 50,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 42nd year No.13919 Thursday APRIL 15, 2021 Farvardin 26, 1400 Ramadan 2, 1442

Mass failure of centrifuges Iran Greco-Roman Israel’s Mossad in Iraq Iranian writer Dowlatabadi’s at Natanz untrue, says wrestling team crowned attacked, a number of Israelis novel “Kelidar” published senior MP Page 2 Asian champions Page 3 killed, wounded: Sources Page 5 in Balochi Page 8

60% enrichment is response to mischiefs, Rouhani says Natanz sabotage TEHRAN — President Hassan Rouhani took place at the Natanz nuclear facility, said on Wednesday that Iran’s decision a move which is considered a “war crime” to enrich uranium to a purity of 60 per- in terms of international law. cent and install IR6 centrifuges at the Iran considers the Zionist regime of Natanz nuclear plant were a response to Israel as the prime suspect for the sabotage. mischiefs against Iran, declaring that all Rouhani added, “The fact that we have reveals Iran’s strengthSee page 3 Iran’s activities are peaceful and under the stated that we will operate IR-6 centrifuges supervision of the UN nuclear watchdog. in Natanz or we will increase enrichment to “If the Zionists conspire against our 60 percent, this is the answer to your malice. nation, we will respond. This (60% uranium You cannot conspire against the Iranian enrichment) is the first step,” Rouhani nation and commit crimes in Natanz. When told during a cabinet meeting. you commit a crime, we cut your hand.” On Sunday morning a sabotage attack Continued on page 2

Iranian heavy crude oil price rises 6% in March: OPEC TEHRAN- Iranian heavy oil price increased According to the report, the country’s $3.64 in March to register a six-percent average heavy crude price was $60 from Five countries seeking to purchase rise compared to the previous month, ac- the beginning of 2021 up to the report’s cording to OPEC’s latest monthly report publishing day, in comparison to $49.32 published on Tuesday. in the previous year’s same period. Iranian COVID-19 vaccine Iranian heavy crude oil price followed The report put Iranian crude output for its upward trend for the fifth consecutive March at 2.304 million barrels per day in- month to reach $64.3 per barrel in the dicating a 137,000-bpd increase compared mentioned month, compared to February’s to the figure for the previous month. $60.66 per barrel. Continued on page 4

TEHRAN – Currently, two European 2020, started to be mass-produced countries and three regional countries on March 29. have asked to purchase homegrown coro- At least two European countries and navirus vaccine (COVIRAN BAREKAT), three countries in the region are now

Mohammad Mokhber, the head of the seeking to negotiate on purchasing vac- Headquarters for Executing the Order cine, but we will export once the domes- of the Imam has said. tic needs are met, he noted, adding, the COVIRAN BAREKAT, the first production capacity of COVID-19 vaccine coronavirus vaccine made by re- in the world is about 2 billion doses per

Maryam Kamyab Maryam searchers at the Headquarters for year, while the need for a vaccine is about Executing the Order of the Imam 14-16 billion doses. which was unveiled on December 29, Continued on page 7 Mehr/

Athletes among priority Zionism is the Ebola virus of American Minnesota protests continue over police killing groups to receive political afflictions… of Black man COVID-19 vaccine BY MARTIN LOVE Back in the U.S. these stories go almost Protests continued for a third night in Brooklyn Resignations A Palestinian boy is shot in the eye by an Israeli unmentioned by the press, and ever more com- Center in the U.S. state of Minnesota follow- The third night of protests was held on the BY FARROKH HESABI sniper with a rubber bullet, and loses the eye, mitments are made to Israel. More money, ing the death of Duante Wright, a Black man same day as the Minneapolis police officer who holamreza Norouzi, head of Iran’s while he is browsing in a food store. A Pales- more (im)moral support, more lies and ob- who was shot by a white police officer during fatally wounded 20-year-old Wright, and the Sports Medicine, confirmed that no tinian grandmother is run over and killed by a fuscations, more insanity. And it never stops. a traffic stop. police chief who called the killing an apparent one except the athletes and officials G “settler” for no reason. A man is released from It can seem like the U.S. has no friends since Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on accident both resigned in the face of civil unrest. who will participate in the 2020 Olympic an Israeli prison after more than a decade of it only seems to court and support the most Tuesday at the heavily guarded police head- The mayor of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, Gemas received a COVID-19 vaccine. solitary confinement, but when he arrives home outrageous, undemocratic regimes in the quarters where police in riot gear and National said the two quit one day after the chief told On April 13, the athletes’ vaccination his mind has been so scrambled that he does Middle East (West Asia). Guard soldiers stood watch. news reporters the officer who shot Wright started with cooperation between the Iran not recognize any of his relatives, including his President Biden meanwhile intends to After nightfall, scores of protesters lobbed appeared to have drawn her gun by mistake National Olympic Committee (NOC) and the mother. give back some of the funds taken away by bottles and other projectiles over a fence in front when reaching for her Taser. Sports Medicine Federation of the Islamic Every single day one can read of one or more Trump, arguably the worst President in U.S. of police headquarters. Mayor Mike Elliott said the City Council passed Republic of Iran. fresh atrocities by the only Apartheid state on history, to UNWRA and the Palestinian Au- State police declared the gathering unlawful a resolution calling for the dismissal of both Chief Dr. Norouzi stated that the Olympians and earth. After nurse Rezan an-Najjar was shot and thority. But make no mistake, it’s aimed and ordered the crowds to disperse ahead of a Tim Gannon, and the officer, Kim Potter. Paralympians are eligible to jump the queue killed near Gaza’s fence with Israel by a sniper, at giving the PA, and feeble “leaders” like 10pm curfew. The announcement set off clashes “I’m hoping this will bring some calm to the for the COVID-19 vaccine. It was authorized the Israelis claimed few shots were actually fired Mahmoud Abbas more wherewithal to amplify between the police officers and protesters. community,” Elliott said, adding he had yet to by the country’s health officials, Iran’s NOC, and none directly at her, so it was not a random collaboration with the Zionists to further Demonstrators launched fireworks and threw accept Potter’s resignation, leaving open the and the Ministry of Sports and Youth. stray bullet that killed her. This assertion by suppress the millions of Palestinians west objects at police, who launched tear gas, non-le- door to firing her. “We want to send a message “There is no possibility that someone ex- the IDF actually supports the fact that she was of the Jordan River. thal rounds, and flash-bang rounds and tried to the community that we are taking this situ- cept the athletes and the executive people of targeted. And so on. Continued on page 5 to force back the crowd, U.S. media reported. ation seriously.” Iran’s Olympic delegation to be vaccinated,” Norouzi said when asked about the rumors of some non-athlete’s vaccination. “The process is done based on each West Asian endgame when the lying dead is in the morgue Requesting more person’s national ID number and the an- BY TIM ANDERSON contained old centrifuges. The Jerusalem Post to subjugate Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. concessions from Iran is nounced list by the NOC. So, every step of It seems fairly clear that Israel was responsible reported “Western sources … said the attack, The Israelis have made repeated attacks on the vaccination process could be scrutinized for Natanz sabotage, as (1) the sabotage is con- which was initially referred to as an “accident” Iranian backed movements in Syria and more deal-breaker: Entessar and controlled by the authorities,” he added. sistent with a long line of Israeli attacks; (2) the by Iran, was carried out by the Mossad.” At the recently have been attacking Iran’s shipping on Norouzi also mentioned that: “The In- Israeli media rapidly gloated over it and (3) quoted least the Zionists seem happy for people to believe the open sea. To carry out a direct attack on a BY MOHAMMAD MAZHARI ternational Olympic Committee (IOC) has anonymous sources saying that the Mossad was that they or their agents were behind it. nuclear facility while talks were afoot in Vienna - TEHRAN - Nader Entessar, a professor emeritus of not made it mandatory for the Olympians responsible. The apparent motive is to sabotage any lessening supposedly to restart US involvement in the JCPOA political science from the University of South Ala- to be vaccinated against COVID-19. It is, The Israeli media seems to have given exagger- of tension between Iran and the new Biden adminis- nuclear deal - suggests a motive of sabotaging bama, says an insistence on extracting concessions however, recommended when available in ated accounts of the damage, as the few Iranian tration. Israeli leaders have made it clear they would the process, provoking Iran into retaliation and from Tehran in a way to weaken Iran’s deterrent athletes’ home countries. reports that give any detail say that damage was like Washington to remain on a war footing towards then forcing the US to back the Zionist colony. capabilities would put Iran in harm’s way. “Fortunately, Iran’s domestic vaccination has confined to one of the halls at Natanz, which Iran. This is despite the ongoing failure of US attempts Continued on page 5 “Requesting more concessions from Iran, espe- already started slowly. Olympians and Paralym- cially concessions that will lead to the weakening of pians are among the priority groups after medical Iran’s deterrent capabilities against obscenely-armed workers and high-risk people,” Dr. Norouzi said. regional opponents, is a recipe for disaster and in- Iran administered the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine vites aggression against Iran’s national interests and “Sinopharm” to athletes, staff, and journalists Leader: territorial integrity” Entessar tells the Tehran Times. in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. While the remaining parties to the Joint Compre- “The vaccination is not limited to the ath- Nuclear hensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) have started talks to letes who will participate at Olympic Games, revive the 2015 nuclear deal, a sabotage attack took but the athletes who are participating in Olym- deal talks place on Iran’s key nuclear site on Sunday morning. pic qualifiers and those who are at training Israel is considered the chief suspect for the sabotage. camps as an alternative, are included in the Sabotage operations against Iran’s peaceful list of athletes vaccination,” added the head must not be nuclear program raises questions about Western of National Headquarter of Administrating negotiators’ intentions who support Israel on the the coronavirus at Sports. prolonged one hand and call for Iran to limit its deterrent ca- The Paralympians were vaccinated against pabilities on the other. COVID-19 at the Iran Sports Federation for TEHRAN — In a televised speech “Sabotaging Iran’s infrastructural assets and fa- the Disabled headquarters last week. broadcast late on Wednesday, Leader cilities, including the country’s nuclear plants and “There are 292 people on the Olympic of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah economic assets, will be part of Israel’s long-term delegation list, of whom 185 have been Ali Khamenei pointed to the ongoing strategy to confront Iran,” Entessar says. vaccinated so far. Also, 145 names are on negotiations in Vienna for a possible Following is the text of the interview: the Paralympic list, 115 of whom have been revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, saying What’s your comment on Israel’s sabotage vaccinated. The remaining athletes and staff negotiations must last long. operation against Iran’s nuclear facilities? should be vaccinated in the coming days,” “We do not argue (about the nego- It is increasingly apparent that Israel will pur- Dr. Norouzi concluded. tiations), but care must be taken not to sue a multidimensional strategy to sabotage any A total of 58 Olympic berths have been prolong the negotiations,” the Leader meaningful rapprochement between Tehran and secured by Iranian athletes in 12 sports so far, remarked. leader.ir Washington. and there are still more spots to grab for the Continued on page 2 Continued on page 5 country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS APRIL 15 2021

Dangerous spiral unleashed 60% enrichment is response to by nuclear terrorism can only be contained by lifting sanctions, Zarif warns Biden mischiefs against Iran, Rouhani says POLITICAL TEHRAN – In a tweet on Wednesday, For- ‘When you commit a crime, we cut your hand,’ president warns Zionist regime deskeign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the “nuclear terrorism” at the Natanz nuclear site “has unleashed 1 Rouhani went on to describe this act must also be held accountable as a dangerous spiral that can only be contained” by ending the sabotage in Natanz as “nuclear terrorism.” an accomplice to this war crime.” “economic terrorism” that started against Iran during Donald Writing on his Twitter account on Mon- ‘We are negotiating based on the Trump’s presidency. day, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad framework assigned by the Leader’ Now Joe Biden and his vice president Kamala Harris have a Javad Zarif also said, “Deliberate targeting Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani clear choice and that is either restore the Obama era nuclear deal of a safeguarded nuclear facility—w/ high said Iran is not in hurry to revive the 2015 or follow Trump’s “maximum failure” campaign, Zarif asserted. risk of indiscriminate release of radioactive nuclear deal. The chief diplomat, who helped craft the 2015 nuclear deal – material—is nuclear terrorism & a war crime Deputy foreign ministers and political JCPOA- said there is “no alternative” other than choosing one Israel threatened and now boasts about ac- directors from Iran and the p4+1 group held of these two approaches. tion to prevent restoration of JCPOA after talks in Vienna on April 6 and 9 in Vienna At the same time, Zarif warned the Biden administration that US election.” on how to put the nuclear deal - officially “no much time” left to revive the nuclear deal. “Iran will not stand still” called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Rouhani stated that Iran will not stand Action - back on track. The next round of still and watch countries conspire against it. talks, which are mainly technical, are set Leader: Nuclear deal talks The president said installing IR-6 cen- to be held on Thursday. trifuges and increasing the level of uranium The United States is also involved in the must not be prolonged enrichment to 60% are proofs that Iran is talks indirectly. not passive. “We are in no hurry to conclude the nego- 1 He advised the parties not to delay the negotiations “We cut your hands, one with IR-6 and tiations. The framework of our negotiations because it is detrimental to the country. one with 60%. It is clear that we do not has been clearly defined by the Leader of The Leader also said, “In some private meetings that we hear stand still.” the Revolution, and we are moving forward about, the Europeans admit that Iran is right and that this (Iran’s) The president explained that all Iran’s accordingly.” policy is right, but they do not have the independence to make nuclear activities are legal and under the Speaking at the cabinet, Rouhani added decisions, and the United States is a bully,” the Leader said. supervision of the IAEA, reiterating that the United States should end the “economic Pointing to the real intentions of the U.S., Ayatollah Khame- the Islamic Republic will not deviate from in their place, so that you cannot, with have become a human and environmental war” on Iran. nei said, “What Americans call direct and indirect negotiation the legal path. your malice prevent us from having this catastrophe.” He insisted that Iran’s position toward a is not to negotiate to accept the right word, but to impose the “What we were supposed to do in 20 power and technology.” In his letter, Zarif said this “war crime” revitalization of the 2015 nuclear deal is clear. wrong word.” days or a month, we are doing now and we “We enter the negotiations with must not go unpunished given its high risk “Our words are clear. We say that the will give you the answer,” he said. fuller hands” of releasing dangerous materials. United States should return to the same Sabotage at Natanz is Israel’s All analysts and officials are unanimous Addressing the adversaries of Iran, Pres- “The deliberate targeting of a highly year that it signed the Joint Comprehensive in their view that the sabotage in the nuclear ident Rouhani said, “You want to empty sensitive safeguarded nuclear facility— Plan of Action; that is the year 2015.” modus operandi: Vaezi facility is intended to undermine the Vien- our hands in the negotiations, but we will with the high risk of potential release of He added, “As soon as the United States na talks to restore the nuclear agreement. enter the negotiations with a fuller hand. radioactive material—constitutes reckless implements changes, and we see that the POLITICAL TEHRAN — Mahmoud Vaezi, the president’s Israel has since autumn of 2020 openly Our response in Natanz was that instead criminal nuclear terrorism,” Zarif said in changes are verifiable and operational, we deskchief of staff said on Wednesday that there are threatened to carry out operations to prevent of IR-1, we would use IR-6 and instead of part of his letter. will act immediately.” traces of Israel in the sabotage done at the Natanz nuclear site on the restoration of the nuclear deal. 3.67% enrichment we would do 60% enrich- Iran’s chief diplomat added, “Consid- In a tweet on Tuesday, Zarif called on Sunday morning. “If the Zionists take action against ment, but at the same time our activities ering the possible indiscriminate human U.S. President Donald Trump to choose be- “Based on the fact that we witnessed a terrorist sabotage, the Zi- our nation, we will respond. They got the will definitely be peaceful and under the and environmental consequences of this tween the nuclear deal concluded during onist regime was behind it based on what the signs show,” Vaezi told first answer. The first answer was that supervision of the (International Atomic international crime, those who planned, President Barack Obama or the one pursued reporters after a cabinet meeting. if you have a problem with IR-1 (cen- Energy) Agency.” ordered, participated and carried out this by Donald Trump. He also said the new decisions by Iran to enrich uranium to the trifuges) on the ground, we will not put In a letter to the UN secretary general on cowardly act committed a grave war crime; “@POTUS must choose: either the deal level of 60 percent and install IR6 centrifuges at the Natanz site a IR-1 (centrifuges) anymore, but we will Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Moham- one that must not go unpunished. Any pow- Obama made, or failed economic terrorism result of “the actions of the other side”. collect them and put IR-6 (centrifuges) mad Javad Zarif said the sabotage “could er with knowledge of, or acquiescence in, of Trump,” Zarif remarked. In the sabotage attack on the electricity grid of the nuclear site a number of IR-1 centrifuges were destroyed. Experts at the International Atomic Energy Agency of Iran (AEOI) are working hard to repair the damages. Vaezi also dismissed rumors that a large number of centrifuges Nuclear chief says 60% uranium is used for radiopharmaceuticals have been decommissioned, saying, POLITICAL TEHRAN — The head of the Atomic Iran used to import a significant amount of molybdenum Natanz has not stopped… Only one of our halls is defective, “We were able to fix these problems in a short time and the activities deskEnergy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said from abroad, Salehi said. and as soon as possible and within the next two days, the have started again and now the centrifuges are being replaced and on Wednesday that Iran’s move to produce uranium up to He also said the decision to enrich uranium to the level of main power supply will be connected, and the process of these claims are just rumors.” 60% purity is in line with the parliamentary ratification, 60 percent is entirely within the framework of the JCPOA, replacing the damaged centrifuges will be started accurately Elsewhere in his statements, Vazei called for a change of behavior noting that this level of enrichment is needed for producing which is referred to as molar fusion (molybdenum resulting and quickly.” by the U.S. government, saying that the current U.S. administration radiopharmaceuticals. from nuclear fission). On the decision by the AEOI to install an additional 1,000 is following the footsteps of Donald Trump and his “maximum pres- Speaking to ISNA, Ali Akbar Salehi said, “We do not want “We have been researching this process for a long time centrifuges at the Natanz site, Salehi said, “This action is in sure” policy by keeping the sanctions. to use 60% enriched uranium as fuel for the Tehran reactor. and will use 20% targets for testing in the next week or two, line with Iran’s steps to reduce its JCPOA obligations and in The new round of negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear We want to produce U3O8 (uranium oxide, or yellowcake) but the further we go, the higher the richness, because the accordance to Articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA.” deal and lift the sanctions will take place on Thursday in Vienna. targets, which needs uranium with 60% purity. Thus, we higher the richness, the higher the efficiency and quality The law on Strategic Action for Lifting Sanctions was produce targets, using 60% uranium.” of our products in a shorter duration,” explained Salehi, a passed by the parliament in December 2020. Since then, He went on to explain about the procedure of producing nuclear physicist. Iran has reduced its compliance with the JCPOA. Yemen’s National Salvation various types of radiopharmaceuticals, which is the main He also confirmed that a number of the centrifuges at According to the text of the law on Strategic Action for purpose of enriching uranium to up to 60%, stating, “These the Natanz nuclear site were damaged. However, he ruled Lifting Sanctions , “The (Atomic Energy) organization (of Government, Ansarallah targets will be placed in the Tehran reactor. After being out rumors about the extent of the damage uttered by some Iran) is also obliged to fully meet the country’s need for condemn sabotage act at Natanz exposed to atomic radiation for some time, a substance foreign media outlets. peaceful uses of uranium enriched above 20% without delay.” called molybdenum is produced, which we must separate Sabotage attack on the Natanz nuclear facility on April At his cabinet meeting on Wednesday, President Rouhani POLITICAL TEHRAN — Both Yemen’s National Salvation to remove the molybdenum. This molybdenum is the raw 11 disrupted the electricity grid. said that Iran was supposed to start enriching 60% uranium deskGovernment (NSG) and the political office of material for the manufacture and production of many ra- Salehi added, “We have made the preparations for im- in twenty days, or a month, yet Israel’s sabotage act at Natanz the Ansarallah movement have strongly condemned the sabotage diopharmaceuticals.” plementation of 60% (enrichment), and the enrichment in nuclear plant accelerated the process. attack on the Natanz enrichment facility. According to Al Masirah, Ansarallah issued a statement called it a “cowardly” act and said Iran has the right to appropriately respond to perpetrators of the mischievous act. Mass failure of centrifuges at Natanz untrue, says senior MP In another part of the statement issued on Wednesday, the POLITICAL TEHRAN — Ebrahim Azizi praised the hard work of the Iranian of the Natanz site has been damaged, but it is not true and I deny that thousands of movement added the United States, which is full of nuclear arse- deskAzizi, head of the security nuclear scientists, describing Iran’s nuclear in general, the incident is not so important centrifuges are out of service.” nals with a “criminal history”, and Israel as its “child”, have “no sub-committee of the National Security and industry as “progressing with the efforts of and experts are seriously investigating the “The enemy has not achieved its objectives right to worry about Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.” Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian domestic experts.” problems and trying hard to solve them.” and has not been able to inflict the desired Ansarallah also stressed that Iran’s nuclear program is an Parliament, stated on Wednesday that the The senior MP stated that the enemies He also noted that decommissioned damage,” Azizi said, adding that only a very example of an independent will. recent incident in the Natanz nuclear site has of the Islamic Republic do not expect to centrifuges will be replaced with the more small part of power cables has been damaged An official at the NSG Foreign Ministry also expressed support damaged part of the supply and transmission see these “successes and the prosperity” advanced ones. and now they are being repaired. for Iran’s security and stability, saying his country is standing cables, denying rumors that thousands of of Iran’s nuclear industry, so they try to “Experts and specialists are inspecting He also pointed that there is no sign of by Tehran’s side. centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear site have undermine the industry via mercenaries. and checking all the centrifuges of this fa- leakage whatsoever at the Natanz nuclear He also said the sabotage was carried out with the aim of de- been damaged. Azizi described the sabotage act at the cility. Most of the IR1 centrifuges operate plant. railing the current negotiations on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal. Referring to a visit by a delegation from Natanz plant as a “blind effort,” stating that in Natanz, and some of these centrifuges Sara Falahi, another representative This is an action that endangers the security of the region and the parliamentary committee to the Natanz “minor damage has been caused to a part of need to be inspected for repair,” the MP said. present at the field trip stated, “According the world, he added. nuclear facility, he said, “This visit was carried the power supply units of this facility, which He denied rumors by Western media to the experts of the Natanz site, the new In his weekly press briefing on Monday, Saeed Khatibzadeh, out in order to investigate the dimensions has disrupted the power supply process. outlets about the failure of thousands of cen- centrifuges will be replaced by mid-May Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, called the sabotage at the Natanz of sabotage at Natanz.” Also, a part of the power transmission units trifuges, stating, “According to our research, at the latest.” nuclear site “nuclear terrorism” and a “crime against humanity.” Ali Rabiei, spokesman for the Iranian government, also stressed that “the punishment will be carried out in the land of the aggressor.” U.S. has a destructive role in the region, Rouhani tells Barham Salih Sabotage at Natanz must be POLITICAL TEHRAN — On Wednes- and the whole region. We believe that se- cooperation.” with the Americans that will continue until deskday, the Iranian president curity in the region should be provided by In the telephone conversation, Saleh also the final result is achieved,” the Iraqi pres- pursued internationally, says named Iraq a good friend and neighbor, the countries themselves.” congratulated the government and people ident stated. Natanz MP stating that Tehran and Baghdad can play The president also said the United States of Iran on the holy month of Ramadan, call- In continuation of his regional consulta- an important role in regional developments. has always left a legacy of destruction in the ing the relations with the Islamic Republic tions, President Rouhani had a phone con- POLITICAL TEHRAN — Representative of the people of In a telephone conversation with Iraqi West Asia region. “strategic and developing”. versation with the Emir of Qatar on Tuesday deskNatanz in the parliament said on Wednesday that President Barham Salih, Rouhani also noted “The Americans have always played a Pointing to the long-standing cultural and night. The two sides congratulated each other the sabotage at the Natanz nuclear plant must be pursued interna- that the U.S. presence in Iraq has not helped destructive role in the region, and the pres- historical commonalities between the two on the holy month of Ramadan, and stressed tionally through legal channels, suggesting that the international stabilize the region. ence of American troops in the region is not countries, the Iraqi president emphasized the need to develop Tehran-Doha relations community must be held accountable for this act. Rouhani also congratulated the govern- helping to bring peace,” he said relations in all fields, especially economic in all fields, with a particular reference to Speaking to ISNA, Rahmatollah Firouz Abadi ment and people of the neighboring Muslim The Americans are playing a hypocrit- and trade relations. the economic and financial relations. described the incident as “a sabotage act done out of ignorance.” country on the arrival of the holy month of ical role in the fight against terrorism and President Saleh noted, “The Iraqi gov- Rouhani also said the Americans should He called on the government and the intelligence system to uproot Ramadan. their actions on the Iraqi-Syrian border are ernment is determined to seriously pursue have known by now that the path of pressure such malicious acts and identify local and foreign agents behind it. The president also reiterated the Islamic “ambiguous”, Rouhani remarked. and implement all agreements in various and sanction against Iran is not a correct path. The MP predicted that this act “will not end here and the Republic’s support for stability, security, Rouhani continued the conversation fields between the two countries, which will “The Americans should return to the details” must be clarified “and agents must be identified.” independence and territorial integrity in Iraq. by emphasizing the need to accelerate the be in the interests of both countries and nuclear deal between the seven countries Firouz Abadi remarked, “If, after examining the dimensions “Strengthening the independence and implementation of previous agreements, the region.” and United Nations Security Council Res- of this incident, the officials and the responsible bodies come to authority of Iraq and the promotion of the including the Shalamcheh-Basra railway Saleh also stressed on the importance olution 2231,” calling it “the only solution” the conclusion that the Zionist regime was behind this incident, regional and international position of this project and the connection of the two coun- of establishing peace and stability in the to revitalize the 2015 nuclear accord. they should be given a decisive and deterrent response. Even if country is special to us.” tries’ railways. region and cooperation of all neighboring For his part, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad necessary, retaliatory action must be taken against them.” Sab- Rouhani said that Iran considers the He remarked, “Iran and Iraq can, given countries to achieve this goal. al-Thani expressed his support for dialogue otage in the Natanz nuclear site occurred on Sunday morning. security of Iraq as its own security. their economic potential, as two supplemen- “The decision of the Iraqi government and negotiations to solve the problems and Israeli media claimed that Mossad has conducted the attack. He added, “We oppose any foreign inter- tary economies work together and increase to end the presence of foreign troops in this hoped that all parties of the JCPOA would An official at the Iranian Intelligence Ministry has said the vention in the internal affairs of Iraq and we the volume of exchanges and trade rela- country is serious and continuous strategic return to their obligations and revive the saboteur has been identified. consider it to the detriment of this country tions by strengthening freight and transit negotiations in this regard have been done international and multilateral deal. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 15, 2021 IRAN IN FOCUS 3 SPORTS Natanz sabotage reveals Iran Greco-Roman wrestling team crowned Asian champions

SPORTSTEHRAN – Iran Greco-Roman wres- Iran’s strength desktling team claimed the title of the 2021 Asian Wrestling Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan POLITICAL TEHRAN – The sabotage of potential sabotage at Natanz, said the on Wednesday. deskthat targeted Iran’s key next step after 60% enrichment would be Pejman Poshtam, last year’s silver medalist at 77kg, nuclear enrichment facility was mainly meant enriching uranium up to 90%. walked off with the gold this time without a fight, as Daler to undermine Iran’s nuclear program and “60% uranium enrichment is only one Rrza Zade (TJK) defaulted due to injury, wiping away his throw a wrench into its scientific progress phase of 20%. It does not require more tech- chance to become Tajikistan’s first-ever Asian champion but the country emerged even stronger than nology and the next phase would be 90%,” in Greco. before this week’s sabotage. he said on Twitter, adding that raising the A new Iranian face on the international scene emerged While Western intelligence sources enrichment level to 60% is only one part of victorious in unheralded Nasser Alizadeh, who claimed the were boasting that the Israeli sabotage “Iran’s credible response.” 87kg gold with a 3-1 victory Atabek Azisbekov (KGZ), who targeting the Natanz nuclear enrichment Whether Iran will further boost enrich- had to settle for the third Asian silver medal of his career. plant undermined Iran’s ability to enrich ment to 90% remains to be seen. Nuclear At the 97kg, Mehdi Bali won the gold by beating Seungjun uranium for nine months, Iranian author- talks in Vienna are underway and it’s likely Kim from South Korea. ities surprised the world by announcing that Iran and the West would reach an un- In the 130kg final, 2019 world junior and U23 champion the resumption of uranium enrichment derstanding about how to restore the JCPOA. Aliakbar Yousofi picked up his first major senior title when at Natanz, not at the level of 20%, but But even these talks now may be suspended he scored two takedowns in the final two minutes to defeat this time at 60%, an unprecedented move because some people in Iran are now calling Alimkhan Syzdykov (KAZ) 5-1. that caught many international observers for the suspension of talks. Mehdi Mohsennejhad claimed a silver at the 60kg and off guard given the fact that the Iranian Fereydoon Abbasi, the head of Iran’s Meysam Dalkhani wrestled with Kazakhstan’s Sultan As- government was in the midst of renewed Parliament Energy Committee, said there setuly and lost to him 8-3 in the final bout at the 63kg. diplomatic talks with the P4+1 (Russia, is no need for the Vienna nuclear talks. Poya Dadmarz won a bronze medal at the 55kg weight China, France, and the UK plus Germany) “In my view, these talks should not be category. Hossein Asadi clinched a bronze at the 67kg. And over how to restore a 2015 nuclear deal, held at the present time because the Islamic Amin Kaviyaninejhad also seized a bronze medal at the 72kg. officially known as the Joint Comprehen- Republic’s position is clear after the Par- sive Plan of Action (JCPOA). liament’s [nuclear] law,” Abbasi told the The move to raise the enrichment level power and evacuate the power accumulated raise the level of uranium enrichment to 60% Tehran Times, referring to a nuclear law Taremi scores sensational sparked debate over whether sabotage acts by the implementation of the parliamentary some pundits said this may not happen soon. passed by the Parliament obligating the could hamper Iran’s nuclear progress or, as law. The beginning of 60% enrichment will But Iran followed through on its promise, government to step up nuclear activities bicycle kick against Chelsea some pundits said, undermine its position regenerate the leverages in a much stronger boosting enrichment to 60%. In a meeting if the West failed to lift sanctions on Iran. in the Vienna nuclear talks. Abbasi said the Americans must lift SPORTSTEHRAN – Iranian international forward way,” he said on Twitter. with the members of Iran’s Assembly of desk Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad sanctions and return to the JCPOA. Mehdi Taremi scored an extraordinary But regardless of the what was the Experts, the Leader had said that Iran “is last-minute goal for Porto but it was not enough for the Javad Zarif said Israel, by sabotaging Na- purpose of the Natanz sabotage, it re- determined to acquire nuclear capabilities “The Americans must lift the sanctions tanz, wanted to derail the Vienna talks. “The and then return [to the nuclear deal] and Portuguese giants to book a place at the UEAF Champions vealed how Iran became even stronger commensurate with the needs of the coun- League semifinals. Zionists want to take revenge on the Iranian scientifically in recent years. In addition, try, and therefore, Iran’s enrichment limit that there is no need for technical talks. people for their success in lifting the cruel There is no need to say how they should Sérgio Conceição’s side had lost 2-0 to Chelsea last week the sabotage showed that Iran still has will not be 20%, and it will act [to raise the at Seville’s Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium. sanctions, but we will not allow this and we many elements of power while its West- level of uranium enrichment] whenever the lift the sanctions and how we should do our will take revenge for these actions from the obligations. This can be done with a stroke Taremi played in the last 30 minutes and did something ern adversaries have exhausted almost country needs, for example, we may even magical. Zionists themselves,” he said. all of their options vis-à-vis Iran. The raise the [uranium] enrichment [level] to of a pen,” Abbasi, a nuclear scientist, told Mehdi Mohammadi, an advisor to the the Tehran Times. “I think we played a good match but we were a little bit U.S. has imposed far-reaching economic 60% for nuclear propulsion or other work.” unlucky. Porto had a good performance against Chelsea speaker of the Iranian parliament in stra- sanctions on Iran over the past few years. Now that Iran has started 60% uranium He also said that following a possible tegic affairs, echoed a similar assessment. lifting of the sanctions, Iran will need to but it was not enough to qualify for the next stage,” Taremi Now it has no significant sanctions to enrichment, there are some voices in Iran said in the post-match news conference. Accusing the United States of having a role impose on Iran. calling for a further boost by raising the verify that. According to Abbasi, it will take in the sabotage, he said the U.S. wanted to at least six months to verify the lifting of the “We started the campaign with the aim of winning title This is while Iran has just begun using enrichment level up to 90%. but we failed to do that and it’s part of football,” he added. take out Iran’s leverage by attacking Natanz. its elements of power. When the Leader of Malek Shariati, spokesman for the Ira- sanctions. “After that, the U.S. can return to “The U.S. goal in the terrorist attack on the JCPOA and Iran resume implementation He became the first Iranian player to score a goal in the the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali nian Parliament’s Energy Committee, who UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. Natanz was to seize leverages of Iranian Khamenei said in February that Iran may was the first lawmaker who publicly spoke of its commitments,” Abbasi pointed out. 2021 ACL: Ghaedi, Abdi Iran to get first batch of 60% enriched uranium next week: ambassador among six starlets to watch POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iran will accumulate the first “As always Iran is very transparent in its deviations from guarded nuclear facility with high risk of potential release deskbatch of 60% enriched uranium within a JCPOA. Needless to say that we aren’t happy with this but of radioactive material constitute irresponsible criminal SPORTSTEHRAN – With the newly expanded AFC desk week, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Tuesday after Iran we are used to think big. We need to focus not on current nuclear terrorism,” Gharibabadi said, adding that Iran’s Champions League 2021 group stage just announced that it is starting to enrich uranium to up to difficulties but on restoration of JCPOA. If we succeed, this timely containment measures prevented what could have around the corner, the-AFC.com picked six up and coming 60% purity in its most important step ever in the nuclear and other problems will be settled soon,” Ulaynov said on become a human and environmental catastrophe. youngsters who could be set to break through in this year’s standoff between Tehran and the West. Twitter, referring to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal by its acronym. The Iranian diplomat pointed to Israeli threats against edition of the competition. The diplomat, Kazem Gharibabadi, who is Iran’s Am- A few hours earlier, the Russian ambassador had said the Iran issued by Chief of Staff of Israel’s Armed Forces Some of these starlets are established players for their bassador and Permanent Representative to international next meeting of the JCPOA Joint Commission will discuss Aviv Kochavi, who has said he had instructed his forces club sides and some have even appeared in previous AFC organizations in Vienna, also said that Iran is using more the latest nuclear move by Iran. to prepare a number of operational plans to strike Iran’s Champions League seasons, while several are just breaking advanced centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear enrichment fa- “The meeting of the Joint Commission of JCPOA is post- nuclear facilities. into the starting XI, but those U23 players are all eyeing a cility, which suffered a blackout on Sunday due to sabotage poned for one day. It will take place in Vienna on April 15 “Unfortunately, history of the Middle East [West Asia] is milestone campaign over the next three weeks. Iranian officials blamed on Israel. in physical format. No doubt that in addition to previous full of evidence of such vicious terrorist acts by Israeli regime Esteghlal and Persepolis forwards, Mehdi Ghaedi and “Enriching UF6 up to 60% will be done in two cascades issues the Commission will address the latest steps of Iran under unbelievable eyes of the Agency and others wide shut. Mehdi Abdi, are among the six starlets along with Nass- of IR-4 and IR-6 centrifuges in Natanz. Modification of the in the nuclear field, including 60% enrichment,” he added. Israeli regime has twice conducted military strikes against the er Al Dawsari (Al Hilal SFC), Ibrahim Bayesh (Air Force process just started and we expect to accumulate the product The meeting was scheduled to be held on Wednesday but nuclear facilities of other states, namely Iraq in 1981 and Syria Club), Ibrokhimkhalil Yuldoshev (Pakhtakor), and Khalid next week. This will improve significantly both the quality it was postponed due to a European diplomat contracting in 2007. In fact, it is becoming accustomed to it mainly due Al Ghannam (Al Nassr). and quantity of radiopharmaceutical products,” Gharibabadi Covid-19. It will be held in a charged atmosphere. Iran said to the combination of a number of shortcomings: lack of its Mehdi Ghaedi - Esteghlal said on Twitter on Tuesday. the sabotage at Natanz was aimed to derail the Vienna talks. compliance with its obligations under the relevant international Perhaps the most established name on this list, it is a His tweet came hours after Iran announced that it will Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the agreements, lack of proper reaction to such acts on the part of testament to the talents of Ghaedi that at the age of 22, he start 60% uranium enrichment for the first time ever. On Israelis want to disrupt the ongoing nuclear talks in Vienna. the relevant international organizations, and deafening silence is already considered Esteghlal’s main man as they look Tuesday, as upon his arrival in Vienna for a new round of The chief Iranian diplomat said, “The Zionists want to take by the states proclaiming concerns about the safety and security to improve on last year’s Round-of-16 exit. nuclear talks, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas revenge on the Iranian people for their success in lifting the of nuclear installations,” Gharibabadi noted. Although he was both the team’s most creative outlet Araghchi announced that Iran has sent a letter to the Inter- cruel sanctions, but we will not allow this and we will take He added, “These are proofs beyond any doubt that Is- with seven chances created and their biggest goal threat national Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) informing the UN revenge for these actions from the Zionists themselves.” raeli regime does not recognize any limits in its inhuman with seven shots on target taken in the 2020 AFC Cham- body that the Islamic Republic intends to start enriching Underlining the need for Iranian people and officials to activities and is not duty bound to any international rules pions League, the next challenge for the young attacker is uranium to up to 60% purity. He underlined that another avoid falling in the “deceitful trap set by the Zionist regime,” and regulations. These acts are in gross violation of Article 2 to improve on his output of one goal and one assist. 1,000 centrifuges with 50% more capacity will be added to Zarif reiterated that the political and military officials of (4) of the Charter of the United Nations which necessitate an Mehdi Abdi - Persepolis the existing machines in Natanz, in addition to replacing the Zionist regime had explicitly stated that they would not appropriate response from the international community.” Another starlet looking to build on a promising 2020 AFC the damaged ones. allow progress in lifting the cruel sanctions and now they The ambassador said the Islamic Republic of Iran looks Champions League, Abdi’s 42nd minute header against Al Earlier this week, an incident occurred at the Natanz think that they will achieve their goal, but the Zionists will forward to effective preventive measures being taken by the Nassr in the semi-final was voted as the fans’ best goal of nuclear facility for the second time in less than a year amid get their answer in further nuclear progress, according to Agency and its peace-seeking member states against such the tournament - while his debut goal, a 90th minute effort heightened tensions between Iran and Israel. Iranian au- state news IRNA. ruthless remarks and actions. in the 4-0 thumping of Sharjah FC was nominated for ‘The thorities said the incident was an act of sabotage that dam- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also accused Israel “The responsibility for any failure in this respect will lie best last-minute goal’ of the competition. aged the facility’s electrical distribution grid and pointed of sabotaging Natanz, saying Iran’s move to raise the level solely with the Agency and others who indirectly render their the finger at Israel. of uranium enrichment was a response to the act. support by closing their eyes on these reckless behaviors. It Following the sabotage, a batch of reports suggested that He said on Wednesday that Iran’s decision to enrich is highly imperative that this matter be immediately attended Iranians have scored six Iran’s ability to enrich uranium at Natanz was hurt for several uranium to a purity of 60 percent and install IR6 centrifuges to by the Agency to not only safeguard the nuclear instal- goals against Chelsea so far months, a claim that was rejected by Iran. at the Natanz nuclear plant was a response to mischiefs lations against such acts or threats, but also the credibility “Enrichment in Natanz is not stopped; Iran will react in- against Iran, declaring that all Iran’s activities are peaceful of the Agency. Undoubtedly, if the peaceful uses of atomic SPORTSTEHRAN – Iranian players have a long cluding by planning to implement several technical measures and under the supervision of the UN nuclear watchdog. energy are threatened, the confidence of the non-nuclear deskhistory of scoring against English side which the Agency will be informed this week. Replacement “If the Zionists conspire against our nation, we will re- weapons state on the rule of law at the international level Chelsea. Chelsea have conceded six goals from the Ira- process of the damaged centrifuges including with the same spond. This (60% uranium enrichment) is the first step,” would be severely damaged,” he continued. nian players. machines with more capacity has immediately begun,” Ghar- Rouhani said during a cabinet meeting. Gharibabadi noted that Iran will take all necessary measures On May 18, 1973, Chelsea played a friendly match with ibabadi said on Twitter. Gharibabadi writes to IAEA director-general to protect and defend its citizens, interests and installations Persepolis in Tehran and the match finished in a 1-1 draw. Gharibabadi’s tweet about the start of 60% uranium en- Gharibabadi also wrote a letter IAEA director-general against any terrorist or sabotage acts. Tommy Baldwin was on target for the visiting team in richment elicited a response from his Russian counterpart, Rafael Grossi, calling the sabotage at Natanz a “nuclear “Iran, as before, strongly warns against any adventurism the 18th minute but Iraj Soleymani levelled the score with Mikhail Ulyanov, who said Iran has always been transparent terrorism.” by Israeli regime and will decisively respond to any threat a long-range shot in the 90th minute. about its nuclear measures. “Such deliberate targeting of a highly sensitive safe- or wrongful act perpetrated by this regime,” he warned. Chelsea lost to Tehran Team 1-0 a few days later at the Amjadieh Stadium. Ali Jabbari was on target just three minutes into the match. On Sept. 21, 1999, Hertha Berlin defeated Chelsea 2-1 at Iran summons Portuguese ambassador over EU sanctions the Olympiastadion in the UEFA Champions League group POLITICAL TEHRAN – The Iranian tor general for the West Europe affairs at the for putting the names of several Iranian officials as human rights,” said the spokesman. stage. Iranian forward Ali Daei made a brace against the deskForeign Ministry has sum- Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the Eu- and institutions on its human rights sanctions list. “In reaction to this European Union move, visiting team in the 2nd and 69th minutes. moned the Portuguese Ambassador to Tehran, ropean Union’s move as politically motivated, “The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ministry of 21 years later, Alireza Jahanbakhsh scored a phenomenal Carlos Costa Neves, to protest at the European dismissing it as a double-standard approach condemns this move and considers it invalid,” Foreign Affairs suspends comprehensive overhead kick against the London based giants in English Union’s “impudent” move to blacklist a number on human rights issues.” said Khatibzadeh, according to a statement talks with the European Union, including Premiere League. On Jan. 1, 2020, Brighton held the Blues of Iranian officials and bodies. “As we have already announced, Iran will, issued by the ministry. human rights discussion, and all cooperation to a point on New Year’s Day. “Following the European Union’s impudent in reaction, suspend comprehensive talks “Such acts are committed by those who thereof, especially in the domains of terrorism, “When I saw the ball, I just tried to hit it as hard as I move to put the names of several Iranian offi- with the European Union and cooperation claim to be supporters of, and falsely preach narcotics and refugees,” Khatibzadeh noted. could and the bicycle kick was the only option. I’m going cials and institutions on its list of human rights thereof, including in the domains of [fighting] [respect for] human rights with political mo- “In reaction to this move by the Euro- to watch it a couple more times,” Jahanbakhsh said at the sanctions, Portuguese Ambassador to Tehran terrorism, narcotics and refugees,” he said. tives, but they have not only remained silent pean Union, the Islamic Republic of Iran is end of the match. Carlos Costa Neves, whose country holds the It was also stressed that Iran is consid- in the face of violations of Iranian people’s considering [imposing] reciprocal sanctions, Tuesday night, Mehdi Taremi scored the sixth goal in EU’s rotating presidency, was summoned to ering imposing reciprocal sanctions as well. rights due to the United States’ inhuman which will be announced in due time,” he said. the second-leg of UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. the Iranian Foreign Ministry and received a The top Portuguese diplomat, in turn, and illegal sanctions, but also approved of On Monday, the EU imposed sanctions Porto shocked Chelsea thanks to a stunning bicycle kick strong note of protest from Tehran over the said he will inform Brussels of Iran’s protest. such violations,” he noted. on several Iranian military and security from substitute Taremi, but it proved too late for the Dragons European Union’s illegal action,” the ministry Earlier on Monday, Saeed Khatibzadeh, the “Such acts are rejected and will further officials over their alleged role in human to overturn their quarter-final first-leg deficit. Porto had said in a statement. “Accordingly, the direc- Foreign Ministry spokesman, condemned the EU disgrace those who abuse lofty concepts such rights violations. lost to Chelsea 2-0 in the first-leg. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY APRIL 15, 2021

Exclusive exhibit of Iranian Iran capable of boosting electricity products to be held in Erbil in mid-June ECONOMY TEHRAN— An exclusive exhibition of Iranian exchange with neighbors to 10GW deskproducts will be held in Erbil of Iraqi Kurdistan during June 9-12, the head of Trade Promotion Organization of ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iranian Currently, the Iranian power industry Iran (TPO)’s Arab and African office announced. deskEnergy Minister Reza consists of one million kilometers of trans- Farzad Piltan said that this exhibition will be held in line with Ardakanian has said the country is ca- mission, distribution, and super-distribu- the plans of the TPO, with the aim of introducing the country’s pable of boosting its electricity exchange tion networks, about 500,000 mega-volt export capabilities to the neighboring markets. with the neighboring countries to 10,000 ampere capacity of high and low-pressure The construction industry, steel, casting, mining, home appli- megawatts (10 gigawatts), IRNA reported substations, and about 85,000 MW ca- ances, decoration and furniture, food and agriculture, detergents on Wednesday. pacity of power plants, Ardakanian said. and health and pharmaceuticals will be among the most important Speaking in the monthly meeting of As one of the major players in West topics of the exhibition, the official stated. the members of the Iranian Energy Club Asia’s energy market, Iran is now emerging Iran had also held an exclusive exhibition of Iranian products which was held through video conference, as a major electricity hub in the region as in Sulaymaniyah of Kurdistan in late January 2020. Ardakanian put the country’s current ca- the country is following a comprehensive pacity for electricity exchange with the plan for synchronizing its power grid with neighbors at 3,500 MW. the neighboring countries. Referring to the positive measures tak- The synchronization of power grids en by the Energy Ministry for expanding with the neighboring countries, not only the possibility of energy exchange with enhances Iran’s electricity exchanges with neighboring countries, the minister said: them, but it will also increase the political “Now, we have the possibility to exchange stance of the country in the region. electricity with all countries that share Currently, Iran has electricity exchange land borders with us.” with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Turk- The Energy Ministry, however, is also menistan, and Afghanistan. pursuing a plan for exporting electricity to Earlier this week, Energy Ministry’s the southern Arab neighbors through sea. Spokesman for Electricity Industry Mo- Ardakanian also mentioned the syn- of all three countries, an Iranian contractor cooperation. stafa Rajabi Mashhadi also announced chronization of the country’s power has been selected to study this project; The mentioned plans are to be pur- that the country is pursuing a plan for grid with Iraq back in November 2019, the relevant contract was prepared and sued in the two countries’ upcoming Joint exporting electricity to the southern Arab and the plans for synchronizing of the signed, and the primary studies are hoped Economic Committee meeting which is neighbor Oman through the sea. Having over 500 kilometers of shared borders, Iran and Iraqi electricity network with Russia through to begin soon,” Ardakanian explained. going to be held in Kabul, he noted. Iran’s total electricity exchanges de- Kurdistan can use this capacity to expand their trade relations, Armenia-Georgia or Azerbaijan, saying: According to the official, in addition Referring to the follow-up on the nego- pend on the hot and cold seasons of the Iran’s Commercial Attaché in Iraq Naser Behzad said on the “Whichever of these routes that is agreed to Iraq and Russia, negotiations are also tiations with Qatar in previous years, he year since, during the hot season which is sidelines of that exhibit. on sooner will become operational.” underway with Afghanistan and some noted: “The chairmanship of the Iran-Qa- the peak consumption period, the coun- He described Sulaymaniyah as the gateway to Iraqi Kurdistan “The Iran-Azerbaijan-Russia route is a new projects have been defined in or- tar Joint Economic Committee has also try’s electricity exports decrease and the and said: “Due to the stability and security of this region, it is more feasible route, and with the consent der to expand the two country’s energy been assigned to the Energy Ministry.” country even imports some electricity. possible to transport goods from this center to other neighboring provinces such as Erbil, Halabja, Diyala and Kirkuk and even other areas of Iraq.” “Having two official border crossings of Bashmaq and Parviz- khan and the great interest in Iranian goods in the region would Iranian heavy crude oil price rises 6% in March: OPEC be a reliable capacity for developing the two countries’ trade 1 Based on OPEC data, the country’s average coronavirus pandemic. relations,” he stated. crude output in the first quarter of 2021 stood at 2.190 Earlier in February, Fitch Solutions Incorporation, a Pointing out the fact that currently half of the goods available million barrels per day indicating a near 197,000-bpd rise subsidiary of Fitch Ratings, which is one of the U.S.’s three in the Sulaymaniyah market are Iranian products, the official said: compared to the figure for the last quarter of 2020. biggest credit rating agencies, forecasted a 6.8-percent “Food products, carpet, plastic products, machinery, building OPEC Basket prices also rose $8.82 or 17.2 percent growth for Iranian oil exports in 2021 if the U.S comes materials, agricultural and technical services especially in the to reach $60.22 a barrel in March from the same month back to the 2015 nuclear deal. fields of transportation, construction and urban development in 2020. In one of its latest reports dubbed “Iran Oil and Gas are important priorities for contribution of Iranian companies In addition to the devastating impacts of the coronavirus Report”, Fitch also saw the Islamic Republic’s crude oil in this market.” pandemic on the global oil industry which resulted in the exports double in 2022 compared to 2020. More than 150 Iranian companies participated in the exclusive drastic fall in oil prices, the Iranian oil industry has also “The prospects for the Iranian oil sector have bright- exhibition of Iranian products in Sulaymaniyah to showcase their been under pressure from the U.S. efforts to isolate the ened significantly following Joe Biden’s victory in the U.S. latest products and services in this market. country by re-imposing sanctions. presidential election on November 3. President Biden has The country, however, has been ramping up its oil pro- indicated that he will seek to re-enter the U.S. into the duction over the past few months following the recent Iranian nuclear deal, paving the way for a roll-back of TEDPIX falls 1,300 points on developments in the White House and also the recovery secondary sanctions and recovery of around 2.0 million Wednesday of the global markets from the negative impacts of the barrels per day (bpd) in oil production,” the report said.

ECONOMY TEHRAN — TEDPIX, the main index of Teh- deskran Stock Exchange (TSE), lost 1,320 points to 1.243 million on Wednesday. Annual iron ore concentrate output touches 50m tons Over 4.49 billion securities worth 39.208 trillion rials (about ECONOMY TEHRAN — Production produced 902,454 tons of granulated iron production of 55 million tons of steel per $933.5 billion) were traded at the TSE on Wednesday. deskof iron ore concentrate in ore, to register a decrease of 54 percent com- annum, and to achieve this target the country The first market’s index dropped 2,389 points, and the second Iran during the previous Iranian calendar pared to the preceding year (1,965,733 tons). requires to extract 160 million tons of iron ore. market’s index fell 2,248 points. year 1399 (ended on March 20) reached Iran had produced 24.6 million tons of In a bid to prevent the exports of unpro- After several days of drops, TEDPIX had climbed on Tuesday. 49.714 million tons, registering a five-per- iron ore concentrate during the first half of cessed minerals, creating more value-added The index rose 18,457 points to 1.244 million. cent rise compared to the preceding year, the previous Iranian calendar year (March and meeting the requirements of domestic The index had risen eight percent in the last week of the past IRNA reported. 20-September 21, 2020), which was also producers for the raw materials, Iran has Iranian calendar year (ended on March 20). According to the Industry, Mining and four percent higher than the figure of the levied a 25-percent duty on the exports of It increased 101,000 points to 1.307 million in that week. Trade Ministry data, of the mentioned fig- same period of time in the preceding year. raw minerals (especially iron ore) since Market analysts and experts suggest investors to focus more ure 3.533 million tons were produced in the Also, the monthly iron ore concentrate September 2019. on long-term investment in the Iranian stock market and to invest last month of the previous year (February produce about 47.306 million tons of the output during the sixth month of that year The duty is aimed at encouraging the through intermediary tools like exchange-traded funds (ETFs) 19-March 20). mentioned product in the Iranian calendar had risen six percent on an annual basis. production of more processed minerals to prevent possible losses in the current Iranian calendar year As reported, the country’s major iron year 1398. In its outlook plan for the Iranian calendar such as pellets and concentrate instead of (began on March 21). ore concentrate producers had managed to Last year, major mining companies also year 1404 (2025-2026) Iran has envisaged selling the raw minerals. They also advise shareholders to avoid impulsive decisions for quitting the market rattled by the surprising fluctuations in the stock market in the previous year. Over 3,600 industrial projects with over 80% progress underway in Iran ECONOMY TEHRAN — There are 3,639 semi-fin- will create employment for 1.092 million people.” deskished industrial projects with over 80 In total, so far 83,780 establishment licenses and percent physical progress across Iran, Director Gener- more than 74,000 operation licenses have been issued in al of Planning and Financing Office of the Ministry of the country’s industrial sector, according to the official. Industry, Mining, and Trade Alireza Hadi announced. The official further noted that currently, the Industry According to Hadi, over 119 trillion rials (about $2.833 Ministry’s priority is to fund pioneering projects with billion) is needed to be invested in the mentioned pro- over 80 percent of physical progress. jects which can provide job opportunities for 155,000 Like the previous year, reviving idle units is also an- people, IRNA reported. other important program that the ministry is pursuing The number of projects with physical progress be- in the current year which has been named the year of tween 60-80 percent is 12,993 993 projects with a to- “Production: support and the elimination of obstacles.” tal investment of about 289 trillion rials (about $6.88 Earlier this month, Deputy Industry, Mining, and In this regard, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at Tehran billion) which can provide jobs for 463,000 people, Trade Minister Mehdi Sadeqi Niaraki announced that Stock Exchange Javad Eshqi-Nejad said the “exit strategy” is the the official said. 1,500 idle industrial units were revived in the country worse course of action that a shareholder can take. Nearly 19,185 projects also have physical progress during the previous Iranian calendar year (ended on “For some hasty shareholders, exiting the market is their first between 20-60 percent with 579 trillion rials (about Hadi put the number of projects with less than 20 March 20). choice after any fluctuation, while we have repeatedly stated that this $13.78 billion) of investment and the possibility of em- percent of progress as 28,909 projects, saying: “The According to Niaraki, over 6,500 new industrial units is the worst type of strategy in this market,” Eshqi-Nejad told IRNA. ployment for 747,000 people are underway across the investment needed for these projects is estimated at were also established across the country during the men- “Only those shareholders who invest in this market with a long- country, he added. about 977 trillion rials (about $23.26 billion), which tioned year which created jobs for over 121,000 people. term vision should expect profit,” he stressed. According to the official, people who are looking to invest in this market with small capitals and do not have much experience in this regard should invest through intermediary tools such as ETFs. “Investing directly in the market is only for people who have Commodities worth over $3b exported from East Azarbaijan enough experience in this market and are familiar with the risks,” ECONOMY TEHRAN — As an- The official further put the value of import was 34.4 million tons worth $38.5 he emphasized. desknounced by a provincial imports to the province at $800 million billion in the past year, the official added. Market analyst Alireza Tajbar believes that investors should official, commodities worth over $3 bil- in the previous year and said the imports Among the country’s non-oil export consider the trend of stock exchange transactions in the past year lion were exported from East Azarbaijan fell 15 percent in terms of weight and 34 destinations, China was the first, with im- as a criterion for their investment in the current year and to avoid province in the northeast of Iran during percent in terms of value in the previous porting $8.9 billion worth of products, Iraq entering the market directly. the past Iranian calendar year (ended on year. was the second with importing $7.3 billion, People should invest in this market through intermediaries such March 20). As announced by the head of Islamic the United Arab Emirates the third with as financial institutions in order to obtain a reasonable return on Habib Aminzadeh, the head of Indus- Republic of Iran Customs Administration importing $4.6 billion, Turkey the fourth the market and prevent possible losses, he said. try, Mining and Trade Department of the (IRICA), the value of Iran’s non-oil trade with importing $2.5 billion, and Afghani- According to Tajbar, in addition to stock market analysis, share- province, said the commodities have been stood at $73 billion in the past year. stan the fifth with importing $2.2 billion, holders must be careful and consider the value of companies’ prof- exported to 97 countries and named min- Mehdi Mir-Ashrafi also put the weight Mir-Ashrafi announced, and named gas- of products to the Islamic Republic, the itability and spend more time for market analysis when investing. eral fuels, mineral oils, mineral waxes, of non-oil trade at 146.4 million tons, and oline, natural gas, polyethylene, propane, UAE with $9.6 billion, Turkey with $4.3 Stock market expert Mohammad Eqbal-Nia also suggests in- plastics, cast iron, iron and steel, edible said that the figure shows a 25-million-ton and pistachio as Iran’s major exported billion, India with $2.1 billion, and Ger- vestors to have always a long-term vision for investing in the fruits, cereals, flour, milk and confection- annual decline, which is the result of sanc- products during the past year. many with $1.8 billion, respectively, and stock market, and if they do not have enough knowledge or time ery, copper and copper products, sugar, tions and coronavirus pandemic. He further named Iran’s top sources mentioned corn, cellphone, rice, oil meal to spend in the market, it is better to enter the market through glass and glass products and cocoa and Iran’s non-oil export was 112 million of non-oil imports in the said time, as and oil seeds, wheat, and raw oil as the indirect methods such as mutual funds. its products as the major exported items. tons valued at $34.5 billion, and that of China with exporting $9.7 billion worth major imported items. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 15, 2021 ANALYSIS/INTERVIEW 5

Requesting more concessions from Biden to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by September 11 Iran is deal-breaker: Entessar United States President Joe Biden will leave U.S .troops in Afghanistan past the current May 1 deadline but will withdraw them by September 1 Sabotaging Iran’s infrastructural Fourthly, pro-war Iran hawks still exert 11, U.S. officials said. assets and facilities, including the country’s considerable influence on the contours of “After a rigorous policy review, President Biden has decided to nuclear plants and economic assets, will be Washington’s Iran strategy. For them, the draw down the remaining troops in Afghanistan and finally end the part of Israel’s long-term strategy to confront ultimate goal of U.S. strategy should be “re- U.S. war there after 20 years,” a senior administration official told Iran. So far, Iran has not been able to devise gime change” in Tehran and the restoration reporters. a deterrent or retaliatory strategy against Is- of a compliant regime in Iran. The new withdrawal date will coincide with the 20th anniversary rael. Absent such a strategy, Israel will most Last but not least, foreign lobbies repre- of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11, likely expand its war of attrition against Iran. senting the interests of Iran’s regional ad- 2001 attacks on the United States carried out by al-Qaeda. Are you optimistic about the recent versaries in Washington have become more Biden, who will lay out his plan during a speech on Wednesday, talks to revitalize the Iran nuclear deal? effective in recent years, and they frame their has been signaling that he would likely miss the May 1 deadline ne- I am neither optimistic nor pessimistic interests in the context of perpetuating and gotiated by the Donald Trump administration and the Taliban as it about the prospects of recent talks in Vienna. exacerbating tensions between Tehran and became clear that withdrawing the remaining 2,500 troops would However, there are significant obstacles on Washington. be difficult and potentially unsafe. Washington’s path to return to the Iran nuclear Do you predict Iran to leave the ne- According to al Jazeera, the senior Biden administration official deal, or the JCPOA, as it existed before the gotiation table if Israel continues its stressed that the pullout would not be subject to further conditions. Trump administration unilaterally withdrew sabotage acts? “The president has judged that a conditions-based approach, which from it. The JCPOA has been comatose for I think as long as Iran sees the light at the has been the approach of the past two decades, is a recipe in staying some time, and it may be very difficult to bring end of the tunnel, it will continue negotiating in Afghanistan forever,” the official said. this patient back from its current vegetative with the 4+1 countries and indirectly with the As officials disclosed Biden’s pullout plans, the U.S .intelligence state to a semi-normal existence. United States. At present, effective diplomacy community renewed deep concerns on Tuesday about the outlook for Why is Biden refusing to take the remains Iran’s best strategy. the U.S.-backed government in Kabul, which has struggled against first step to revive the nuclear agree- interests. Neither President Biden nor his Senate Foreign Relations Committee) as pow- Do you think putting new conditions, a resurgent Taliban. ment? What are the main challenges top foreign policy planners support the Iran erful Democratic senators who are among the such as Iran’s missile program, on the “The Afghan government will struggle to hold the Taliban at bay that he faces? nuclear deal as it was originally agreed upon staunch opponents of the Iran nuclear deal. table will be helpful? if the coalition withdraws support,” said the U.S. assessment, which There are several important reasons for the between Iran and the so-called 5+1 countries. Even Senator Chris Muphy, who has been No, that would be a deal-breaker. Re- was sent to Congress. Biden administration’s reluctance to take the Secondly, there exists significant opposition among the most vociferous critics of Trump’s questing more concessions from Iran, es- “Kabul continues to face setbacks on the battlefield, and the Tal- first step and return to the JCPOA. First, Joe to the nuclear deal and normal relations with Iran policy, supports the U.S. return to the pecially concessions that will lead to the iban is confident it can achieve military victory.” Biden wants to ascertain that Washington’s Iran in Congress, and the opposition to the nuclear deal as a first step to expand the scope weakening of Iran’s deterrent capabilities It remains unclear how Biden’s move would affect a planned 10- return to the nuclear deal will lead to further deal is not limited to the Republicans either. of the JCPOA to non-nuclear issues. against obscenely-armed regional oppo- day summit about Afghanistan starting on April 24 in the Turkish concessions from Iran on several fronts, includ- For example, one can name Senator Chuck Thirdly, the Biden administration appears nents, is a recipe for disaster and invites city of Istanbul that is due to include the United Nations and Qatar. ing in areas that limit Iran’s defense capabilities Schumer (the Senate Majority Leader) and to be divided on what steps the U.S. should aggression against Iran’s national interests Senator Robert Menendez (the Chair of the take towards Iran. and territorial integrity. and impinge upon Iran’s national security Biden administration proceeding with $23 billion West Asian endgame when the lying dead is in the morgue weapons sales to UAE 1 and Syria, as Washington’s image has not been improved Washington and the Israelis certainly collaborate The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden is moving forward with closely on strategic matters, but I am not yet convinced by the series of losing wars. Trump, both in the West Asian wars and through his over $23 billion in weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates, which that they were completely together on this latest sabotage include advanced F-35 aircraft, armed drones and other equipment. attack. I am of the school that does not believe that the Zi- bungled management of the COVID19 epidemic at home, drove the ‘leadership’ image of the US amongst its allies to The Biden administration would proceed with the proposed sales onist tail wags the imperial dog, and so I see some tensions to the UAE, “even as we continue reviewing details and consulting in the relationship. an all-time low. That losing reality in West Asia, which the Pentagon un- with Emirati officials” pertaining to the use of the weapons, a State The US and Israelis have collaborated in previous attacks Department spokesperson said on Tuesday. on Iran’s nuclear facilities, such as the 2010 joint CIA - Mossad derstands very well, will not exactly sharpen the US appetite for more open conflict with Iran, which they understand The deals had been agreed to by former Republican president cyber-attack which used the computer virus Stuxnet. However, Donald Trump, but the Democratic president’s administration had in the current circumstances, Israelis leaders have made it would fail even more comprehensively. Nevertheless, it re- mains possible that Washington could simply ‘green light’ paused them for review. clear they prefer the approach of Trump, who abandoned In November, the White House informed the Congress about the the JCPOA; while Biden seems to want to rehabilitate the autonomous Israeli attacks, as providing some fodder for ambit claim negotiations. That could only work if Iran were planned $23.37 billion package which contained products from General agreement, or at least to de-escalate tensions with Iran. Atomics, Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Technologies Corp, Trump ramped up the rhetoric against Iran, but without to make the mistake of re-entering JCPOA negotiations. Iranian believe that the International Atomic Energy including 50 F-35 Lighting II aircraft, up to 18 MQ-9B Unmanned and real follow through plan. He believe threats and bluster Aerial Systems and a package of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. were a good preliminary to bargaining. The Biden regime Agency and JCPOA parties should clarify their stances and condemn this sabotage, as it’s been done while Iran has The sales were approved following the so-called Abraham Accords, seems to want a ‘smart power ‘civility’, while sub-contract- a US-brokered agreement in September in which the UAE agreed ing subversion and terrorism to proxies and client states. been trying to revive the agreement in Vienna. Officials in these multilateral organizations do not generally take such may have an unexpected outcome. It has already catalyzed to normalize relations with Israel. Yet Biden is hampered by an inability to simply return Some U.S. lawmakers had criticized the UAE for its involvement to the treaty without demonstrating that he continues to initiatives, as it would threaten their positions. A courageous Iran’s resolve to upgrade its nuclear processing, increasing official would likely be removed by NATO state bullying. the improbability of resurrection of the JCPOA. However, in Saudi devastating war on Yemen, which according to the United exert some sort of leverage over Tehran. That is quite dif- Nations, has caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. ficult in practice, because Tehran has complied with the I am of the opinion that the JCPOA is lying dead in the Biden regime, if it is set on strategic realignment, may the morgue, with no-one yet ready to collect the corpse effectively abandon that mechanism and look for another The sales’ opponents had warned that the transactions were be- agreement in a way that Washington has not. For that reason ing rushed through, without sufficient assurances that the advanced the Israeli attack on Natanz may not help find a face saving and give it a proper burial. Iran has no real incentive to way to retreat from the brinkmanship. offer anything new. The JCPOA never had anything to Professor Tim Anderson is an Australian distinguished weapons would not fall into the wrong hands or fuel instability in retreat for Biden. the Middle East. US analyst and former weapons inspector Scott Ritter do with the control of nuclear weapons. It was always an author, university lecturer and Director of the Sydney-based says the Israeli attack on Natanz was done “behind the back” attempt to impose a partisan and asymmetrical regime of Centre for Counter-Hegemonic Studies. In 2014, he was of their US allies. He may be right. Despite this, the Biden surveillance and control over the leader of the West Asian awarded Cuba’s medal of friendship. His most recent books Israel’s Mossad in Iraq regime seems unlikely to alter its strategic realignment. resistance bloc. That plan has failed and what matters now are: The Dirty War on Syria (2016); Countering War Pro- There may even be some continuity between the Trump is the endgame. paganda of the Dirty War on Syria (2017); and the Axis attacked, a number of Israelis and Biden regimes with respect to Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen Taking all these factors into account, the attack on Natanz of Resistance (2019). killed, wounded: Sources

Israel’s Mossad spy agency has come under attack in Iraq, security Zionism is the Ebola virus of American political afflictions… sources say, with a number of Israeli forces killed or wounded in what was described as a “heavy blow” on the Zionist regime. feed. The actual extent of the damage is so far who flooded the country over the past decade. very bad things. 1 Palestinians are supposed to have Iraq’s Sabereen News, citing security sources, reported late on Tues- not publicly known And the Houthis have done remarkably well Emptying Palestine and filling it with anyone an election this year for a parliament of sorts, day that a facility affiliated with Israel’s Mossad spy agency had been About this recent attack on Natanz, Biden against the Saudis and the Emiratis. nominally a “Jew” (Ethiopians who are ill-treated as they did earlier this century, but one can attacked by “unknown resistance forces” in the north of the country. is silent when he ought to be outraged because The biggest question is why the various U.S. in Israel are lately being sent to the West Bank to bet the election won’t be honored because, as The Iraqi media said the attack resulted in the death and injury it could mess up the JCPOA revival that he is administrations persist and have persisted for modify its demographic character!) has always likely, some of those who will be elected to of a “number of Israeli forces,” dealing a “heavy blow” to the regime trying to push. (And, by the way, deep gratitude so long against countries which, like Iran and been the ultimate aim of Zionists who early on represent the Palestinians will not be, well, and its spy agency. to Russian warships which allegedly escorted others, far lesser countries, are NOT a danger were actually anti-Semitic. This was expressed kosher. They may even be devotees of HAMAS The sources fell short of providing details on the location of the some Iranian tankers leaving the Suez Canal to to the United States or to the American people over a century ago by Theodore Herzl even and or some other resistance faction. attack and the extent of damage, however, Sabereen said, “Tomorrow, supply Syria with badly needed energy supplies and never have been. If anything, these coun- a bit later by Vladimir Jabotinsky, the spiritual Also, and frankly it’s better than the noth- we’ll share some pictures of the operation.” like gasoline.) Of course Biden, if he had more tries have merely challenged the horrific idea and intellectual leader of Zionist radicals and ingness of Trump, the Biden regime alleges it Reacting to the incident, a high-ranking Iraqi military commander marbles, would call a halt to the war on Yemen pushed by Zionist American Neocons of U.S. revisionists before 1948. (Netanyahu’s father will rejoin the JCPOA and drop at least some of said in an interview with Russian TV network RT that they had not and as well end the U.S occupation and theft “empire” and their insistence on “full spectrum served as Jabotinsky’s secretary.) the economic sanctions that Trump imposed so far received any news about the attack. of Syria’s oil and wheat production areas east dominance” over the entire globe, something U.S. support for Zionism, amplified this on Iran. But Biden in his fog may recognize just Media outlets in northern Iraq have yet to comment on the attack. of the Euphrates. which has virtually bankrupted the U.S. and century especially while the U.S. has been losing one thing clearly: the U.S. is in no position to The incident came hours after an Israeli ship was attacked in the Biden and company really are severely schiz- created widespread chaos. its luster (probably beginning with the loss of kick off a war with the Israelis against Iran, Emirati port of Fujairah, causing damage but no casualties. something the Zionists fervently want or else ophrenic. One the one hand, the Biden gang If all a country can project to control oth- the war on Vietnam) will sink the U.S. such they would not object to ANY measures that seems to want less chance of a lambent, new er people and countries is potential force to that it WILL become a failed state if it’s not would oblige Iran to scale back its peaceful war in West Asia that the U.S. cannot afford, instill fear, control does not truly exist – just one already just hiding behind a proposed, Resistance News nuclear advances, and especially its uranium but on the other hand it’s slamming China the temporary chimera of it. obscene “defense” budget of $753 billion for enrichment activities. To try to spoil the emerg- (obviously worried about growing alliances And does one have to guess why this concept the coming fiscal year. It’s a tragedy for most ing JCPOA revival, the Zionists (again) attacked between China and Russia and Iran and the of world dominance by the U.S. has been and Americans like no other but not understood Hamas: There is no going Natanz, this time by screwing up its electricity advances of the Belt and Road initiative and remains so important to Zionists who infest yet by many given the propaganda suffusing back on the elections also Taiwan). But at the same time it’s telling government and Wall Street and advocate the U.S. mainstream media. About this recent the corrupt Ukraine puppets that Russia must for it? The answer may well be because such INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Hamas Movement affirmed on attack on Natanz, give back the Crimea and allow resupplied dominance (and it needs constant provocation To try to spoil the deskTuesday that there will be no going back on the Ukrainian forces to mount fresh attacks on and attention and upset to maintain) provides emerging JCPOA election process and the Palestinians will choose their leadership that Biden is silent the Donbass. This could incite a world war. a huge shield behind which bloody “leaders” unite them and leads the stage of national liberation. when he ought to be Russia is no pushover. in Israel like Netanyahu and Benny Gantz and revival, the Zionists The Movement condemned the continued “terrorism” of the Israeli outraged because it What the world witnesses here and there is a others can continue to enact a kind of bloody (again) attacked government against the Palestinian people and its leaders. desperate U.S. which literally has been defeated slow dance of human and cultural genocide Natanz, this time It called on the international institutions and the world community could mess up the by the Taliban in Afghanistan and can’t quite against the Arabs of Palestine and take the to impose a comprehensive boycott on Israel for its “state terrorism” JCPOA revival that admit it and leave quickly when it’s evident to entirety of historical Palestine and expel all by screwing up its and attempts to impose its control on the will of the Palestinian people he is trying to push. all. Even Syria under popular Assad, mightily non-Jews. This shield limits visibility towards electricity feed. through arrest and intimidation. damaged, still stands tall against the terrorists the things the Zionists are doing to others – Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raided on Tuesday the house of the prisoner Sheikh Shaker Amara, one of Hamas’s leaders, in Aqbat Jaber refugee camp in Jericho. Local sources reported that IOF stormed Amara’s house, searched Argentina lashes out at UK over planned military exercises in Malvinas Islands it and tampered with its contents. Amara is held in administrative Argentina has lashed out at Britain over its plan territory illegitimately occupied by the United The Argentinean statement slammed the According to the Buenos Aires Times, the detention in the Israeli prisons since May 2020. to hold military exercises and missile tests in the Kingdom,” Argentina’s Foreign Ministry said proposed maneuvers as an “unjustified show government of President Alberto Fernandez Clashes erupted in the refugee camp and the Palestinian youths occupied Malvinas Islands, which the British in a statement on Wednesday. of force and a deliberate departure from the sent London a stern note of protest over the threw Molotov cocktails at the IOF soldiers near the entrance to the call Falkland Islands, saying they are part of a This came after the United Kingdom’s For- appeals” for Argentina and the UK to resume plan to hold military exercises on the islands camp, according to the sources. “pattern” of “hostile acts” and an “unjustified eign Office last week informed Argentina that it negotiations on the dispute. after receiving the news, threatening to file a Amara is one of Hamas’s leaders in Jericho city and he is a former show of force.” intended to carry out military drills, including It said the UK’s military presence in the region complaint with the UN and the International prisoner who was arrested more than 13 times by the occupation. “Argentina rejects in the strongest terms the Rapier missile tests, in the occupied archipelago contradicted another UN resolution, which urges Maritime Organization.Separately, the Argentine He was held in administrative detention during all his arrest period. carrying out of military maneuvers, and the in the South Atlantic Ocean, to which Buenos the two sides “to honor the South Atlantic region Hydrographic Service, which is a branch of the Hamas nominated the leader Amara on its electoral list, “Jerusa- launching of missiles in particular, in Argentine Aires and London both lay claims. as a zone of peace and cooperation.” Ministry of Defense, issued a warning. lem unites us” for the 2021 Palestinian Legislative Council elections. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 HERITAGE & TOURISM APRIL 15, 2021

Iran suspends flights to and Rig-e Jenn: discover bizarre from France

TOURISM TEHRAN – All flights to and from France have deskbeen suspended due to the outbreak of the coro- navirus, the spokesman of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) landscape named after elves! has announced. Flights to and from 39 countries with special conditions are also TOURISM TEHRAN – Situated in Narratives say that even caravans used to canceled until further notice, Mohammad Hassan Zibakhsh said deskeastern Iran, Rig-e Jenn skip passing through Rig-e Jenn, believing on Wednesday. (“Dune of the Jinn”) is a barren and desolate it to be a place where evil spirits and “jinn” However, Iran’s flag carrier IranAir is set to resume flights to place dominated by enormous dunes that defy dwell. A “jinn” is a spirit in Islamic culture and from the United Kingdom after months of suspension imposed avid skillful sightseers, adventurers, and mo- and Rig-e Jenn was once (and in some places to curb the spread of a novel coronavirus variant into the Islamic torists driving 4WD vehicles. still) believed to accommodate evil spirits! Republic, the official added. The bizarre landscape is home to giant Even today, amongst the neighboring towns dunes, vast swamps that could pose a serious and villages some still hold this belief. Sourc- challenge even to passionate trekkers with es say that Sven Hedin, the famous Swedish arduous hikes and scarcity of water. desert explorer avoided the area during his People who have been there believing that 1900s travels to Iranian deserts and in the it feels almost like walking across an ocean 1930s, Alfons Gabriel only managed to cross floor without water. It is where eye-catching the southern ‘tail’ of the desert on his way structures and shapes are only formed by con- from Ashin to Aroosan. stant winds blowing across vast areas of sand Finally, a feasible path through the Rig-e that can almost look unreal and “too” smooth. Jenn was found some years ago by trial and Ones who set up camps are well rewarded error using modern equipment such as 4WDs, when the sunsets. It’s the right time for a very maps, aerial photos, laptops, GPS devices, bright moon and extremely vivid stars to show and aids. off in the absolutely clear sky of the desert. If you are planning to pay a visit, bear Also known as the “Desert of Spirits”, it is in mind that sometimes fierce winds howl not a place where a novice trekker goes alone! Rig-Jenn is situated in a border area between Rig-e Jenn assumed its name from whom throughout Rig-e Jenn voicing fears to pas- Back in February, Iran suspended flights to and from 32 coun- But why? Because it’s in the middle of no- Semnan and Isfahan provinces. In another believed that it was haunted by spirits and sersby! tries including Angola, Bolivia, Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde, where with no roads and some parts with no world, it is part of Dasht-e Kavir (the central de- the devil. This say-so was strengthened by, Eastern Iran is dominated by vast deserts Chile, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, mobile coverage. Experts say even seasoned sert of Iran). The bizarre desert can be reached or probably originated from the fact that per- known worldwide for having harsh sun- Eswatini, French Guinea, Lesotho, Guyana, Malawi, Mauritania, voyagers must plan prudently before setting after hours first on asphalt roads, and then haps many had entered the desert and never scorched landscapes, parts of which more Mauritania, Rwanda, Sicily, Suriname, Tanzania, Uruguay, Ven- foot on the desert. for some hours through uninhabited terrain. returned. attractive for adrenaline chasers. ezuela, and Zambia. Earlier, Iran announced it would reduce the validity of negative COVID-19 PCR test results from 96 hours to 72 hours for inbound and outbound passengers. Bagh-e Narenjestan: an element of ‘surprise’ while in a city of poets and nightingales The new regulation replaced a role that required to bar passengers HERITAGE TEHRAN – Named after the bitter or- Under tourists’ eyes from boarding if they do not have a negative COVID test within 96 deskanges (called “Narenj” in Persian) that Here is a selection of comments that visitors to the garden hours of departure. line the courtyard, Bagh-e Narenjestan is one of the most have posted to TripAdvisor, one of the most popular travel All passengers are subject to the medical screening on arrival, and admired destinations in Shiraz. websites in the world: if they are suspected of having the disease, non-Iranian nationalities The garden (“Bagh”) and its scenic pavilion were built “A surprise!” will be quarantined at a place specified by the Health Ministry at their for the wealthy and powerful Mohammad-Ali Khan Qavam We went to the gardens on our last day in Shiraz and we own expense and Iranian citizens will need to self-isolate for 14 days. al-Molk in the late 19th century. were so glad we made the effort. The architecture here was The worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 has brought the world Also called Narenjestan Garden, Qavam House, or Naren- different from anything we had seen in Iran. to a standstill, and tourism has been the worst affected of all major jestan-e Qavam, the property was set, according to tradition, The work on the building was very delicate, feminine, economic sectors. as a “Boruni” or public reception area of his family home. It and white. We had never seen a corrugated tin roof before. World tourist arrivals fell by 72% over the first ten months of got the nickname “Narenjestan” since the garden embraces A unique building! (Sue P from Perth, Australia; reviewed 2020, according to data compiled by the World Tourism Organi- an abundance of bitter orange (Narenj in Persian) trees. November 3, 2017) zation (UNWTO) in December. For the time being, Narenjestan-e Qavam and its under- “A traditional aristocratic house” Restrictions on travel, low consumer confidence, and a global ground museum are open to the public as one of the main You will certainly enjoy visiting this place. The rooms struggle to contain the coronavirus pandemic are amongst factors attractions of the ancient city. are decorated with mirrors (aayeneh kari). The orange trees contributing to the worst year on record in the history of tourism. Iran It is an exemplar Persian Garden, which is a UNESCO and the coffee shop are very pleasant. (Ghaferi from Los has also suffered the same fate as its foreign arrivals plunged 72% World Heritage. The genuine concept of the Persian Garden Angeles, California; reviewed March 2019) gives us a spectacular impression because of the reflections. during the first eight months of 2020 when compared to 2019. that is deeply rooted in time interweaves natural elements “A must-see” (Piotr M. from Warsaw, Poland; reviewed October 23, 2018) with manmade components to embody an idea of creating This is one of the places which I enjoyed the most in “Nice for a late afternoon visit” a paradise on Earth by the means of artistic, philosophical, Shiraz. The building has so many beautiful rooms with dec- This house was quite small and didn’t take more than a Hegmataneh documentation figurative, and religious notions. orations from floor to ceiling. A must-see in Shiraz. Allow half-hour to enjoy. Doesn’t quite compare to the houses in underway according to schedule The pavilion is connected to the Khan-e Zinat ol-Molk, at least one hour to see. (LarsSoholm from Skanderborg, Kashan but was still beautiful. It’s near the Pink Mosque which was once the “Andaruni” (private quarters) for the Denmark; reviewed Feb. 2019) and a few other sites so it’s quite simple to include on your HERITAGE TEHRAN – An all-inclusive documentation of family, the two are linked via an underground passage that “Majestic Mansion” “must-see” list. (A. M. from Lisbon, Portugal; reviewed deskHegmataneh Hill, which Iran expects to be regis- is not open to the public. The historical Narenjestan-e-Ghavam Mansion in Shiraz October 2018) tered on the UNESCO World Heritage list, is underway according to The basement of the pavilion is where archaeological dates back to 1880; and is called “Narenjestan” because of “Beautiful pavilion with small museum under- schedule, the tourism chief of Hamedan province said on Wednesday. relics have been put on a show. The relics have been put the large number of sour-orange (Narenj) trees that are neath” “The collection of file information on the ancient site, which was together by Arthur Upham Pope, an American scholar who planted in the garden area! The small, but traditional Persian garden here is beautiful an important and time-consuming task, has been finished. Now, the taught at the Asia Institute in Shiraz between 1969 and 1979. The Narenjestan Mansion consists of the Bagh-e Nar- and peaceful. The pavilion has some amazing glasswork production of maps is underway, and after this stage, we would start Celebrated as the heartland of Persian culture for over enjestan (a small garden) with a beautiful stone pool and and tiles that show how wealthy the family who owned the compiling a dossier for UNESCO,” Ali Malmir said, ISNA reported. 2000 years, Shiraz has become synonymous with, poetry, fountains plus the adjacent Naranjestan-e Ghavam pavilion. grounds were. Underneath there is a museum that houses Back in March, the deputy tourism minister, Mohammad-Has- nightingales, culture, and education. It was one of the most Both were set up by a wealthy Qajar some artifacts, including a gentleman that makes and plays san Talebian, announced there were some problems and issues on important cities in the medieval Islamic world and was the era Shirazi family. The pavilion has richly decorated traditional Persian musical instruments. (R0hanL from the way of developing the dossier that the ministry tries to remove. Iranian capital during the Zand dynasty when many of its rooms, with mosaic-mirror walls, unique paintings, intricate Amman Governorate, Jordan; reviewed June 2018) most beautiful buildings were built or restored. tiles, and inlaid wooden panels. “Gorgeous” Shiraz is home to some of the country’s most magnificent Make sure to go there, and don’t forget to visit its mu- Stunning tiles and mirrors. The gardens were nice to see buildings and sights. Increasingly, it draws more and more seum and its gift shop! (Shirazi35 from Portland, Oregon; too. The stained glass made gorgeous patterns when the foreign and domestic sightseers flocking into this provincial reviewed October 29, 2017) sun shone...have a guide to fully understand the history. capital which was the literary capital of Persia during the “Mirrors everywhere” (tryingtoseetheworld from Seattle, Washington; reviewed Zand dynasty from 1751 to 1794. The walls and ceilings are made up of mirrors, which September 24, 2017) Police confiscate 254 ancient objects in southern Iran HERITAGE TEHRAN – Iranian back to various historical periods,” CHTN The smugglers have been surrendered in the late 6th or early 5th century BC. deskpolice have seized 254 quoted a senior police official as saying to the judicial system for further inves- The capital city of Shiraz is home to historical relics from smugglers in the on Wednesday. tigation and trial, he added. some of the country’s most magnificent southern Fars province. Secondly, the police managed to con- The ancient region of Fars also spelled buildings and sights. Increasingly, it draws “In the first stage, the police forces fiscate 43 items of historical and cultural Pars, or Persis was the heart of the Achae- more and more foreign and domestic recovered 211 historical objects from the objects from another smuggler. The relics menian Empire (550–330 BC), which was sightseers flocking into this provincial house of a smuggler in Shiraz…. The rel- date from various eras of Achaemenid, founded by Cyrus the Great and had its capital which was the literary capital of The ruined Hegmataneh (Ecbatana) which is partly beneath the ics included coins, rings, seals, daggers, Seleucid, Parthian, Sassanid, the police capital at Pasargadae. Darius I the Great Persia during the Zand dynasty from modern city of Hamedan (the capital city), is widely believed to be headbands, arrowheads, etc. which date official explained. moved the capital to nearby Persepolis 1751 to 1794. once a mysterious capital of Medes. According to ancient Greek writers, the city was founded in about 678 BC by Deioces, who was the first king of the Medes. 40 prehistoric, ancient French Assyriologist Charles Fossey (1869 – 1946) directed the first excavation in Tepe Hegmateneh for six months in 1913. relics restored to closest Vacancy Notice Erich Friedrich Schmidt (1897 – 1964), who was a German and American-naturalized archaeologist, took some aerial photos from original states Hamedan between 1935 and 1937. According to the Greek historian Xenophon of Athens (c.430-c.355), HERITAGE TEHRAN – A total of 40 Iranian The Office of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Ecbatana became the summer residence of the Achaemenid kings. deskrelics, which date from the pre-

Their palace is described by the Greek historian Polybius of Mega- historical times to the Islamic era, have recently I.R.Iran, intends to recruit a Programme Analyst/Reproductive lopolis. He writes that the city was richer and more beautiful than been restored to their closest original states. Health and Humanitarian all other cities in the world; although it had no wall, the palace, built “40 historical and cultural objects have been on an artificial terrace, according to Livius, a website on ancient restored in Markazi province. Dating from various for its office in Tehran, Iran. history written and maintained since 1996 by the Dutch historian prehistorical eras to the Seljuk era, the relics in- Jona Lendering. clude a needle, arrowhead, clamp, crucifix, plate, Details of the vacancy can be found on UNFPA website on the following link: An inscription, unearthed in 2000, indicates that Achaemenid cup, glass, coin, ax, a bird figurine, and so on,” the deputy provincial tourism chief, Mohsen Rahmati, king Artaxerxes II Mnemon (404-358) built a terrace with columns https://erecruit.partneragencies.org/psc/UNDPP1HRE/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_ in Ecbatana. Some twelve kilometers southwest of Hamedan is Ganj said on Tuesday. CE.GBL?Page=HRS_CE_JOB_DTL&Action=A&JobOpeningId=35447&SiteId=1&PostingSeq=1 Nameh, where Darius I and his son Xerxes had inscriptions cut “Reparation, eliminate of deposits, cleaning, into the rock. stabilizing, and protecting against moisture were Polybius, a Greek historian of the Hellenistic period noted for performed during the restoration projects, which his work The Histories, tells that the builders used cedar and cy- cost some 300 million rials ($714 at the official Please apply online by 30 April 2021, 5 PM Tehran Time. This vacancy is press wood, which was covered with silver and gold. The roof tiles, exchange rate of 42000 rials per dollar),” the of- columns, and ceilings were plated with silver and gold. He adds ficial said. open only for Iranian Nationals. that the palace was stripped of its precious metals in the invasion Moreover, a Seljuk-era stucco, which belongs of the Macedonian king Alexander the Great and that the rest was to the 12th-century Jameh Mosque of Saveh, was Notice: seized during the reigns of Antigonus and Seleucus. Later, Ecbatana restored to former glory, he added.  “There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application was one of the capitals of the Seleucid and the Parthian Empires, Sometimes referred to as “a museum of Islam- sometimes called Epiphaneia. ic architecture”, the mosque is still a big source process”. Ecbatana is deemed to be remaining a riddle, wrapped in a mys- of charm for the faithful, sightseers, and buffs of  “UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV/AIDS or tery, for decades or even centuries to come as the site of the ancient history and Islamic architecture. It comprises a disabilities and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status and city lies partly within the modern city of Hamedan, which has never courtyard, porch, minaret, dome, and two archaic disabilities”. altars ornamented with Kufic calligraphic works. been excavated before.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 15, 2021 SOCIETY 7

Iran, China explore ways to UNFPA introduces new representative to Iran expand anti-narcotics co-op SOCIETY TEHRAN – The United Nations Population deskFund (UNFPA) appointed Sathya Doraiswamy SOCIETY TEHRAN – Iranian of about 41 percent compared to 2019, as a new representative to Iran, ISNA reported. deskdeputy anti-narcotics he stated. The new representative of the UNFPA met Foreign Minister police chief Naghi Mahmoudi in a meeting This success has been achieved with Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday to present his credentials with the Chinese anti-narcotics officer in the martyrdom of 10 law enforcement and at the beginning of his mission in Iran. Iran discussed enhanced cooperation on counter-narcotics forces in the global front According to the Iran UN website, Doraiswamy has over 20 fight against drug trafficking. against drug transit, he further noted. years of experience in academia, government, NGOs, and in In a meeting held on Wednesday in Teh- After the Islamic Revolution (in 1979), the United Nations (UNHCR and UNFPA). He holds a Ph.D. ran, Mahmoudi emphasized the exchange 3,800 were martyred, 12,000 were wound- in Health from the University of Bath, UK, and has worked of specialized information is one of the ed and disabled in the fight against drug and taught in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and West areas of joint cooperation that can greatly trafficking, Momeni announced. Asia in various capacities. help in the fight against opium trafficking The United Nations Office on Drugs Doraiswamy replaced Leila Joudane, former UNFPA Rep- in the region and internationally. and Crime (UNODC) has praised Iran’s resentative to Iran. He further expressed readiness to ex- efforts to fight against narcotics traffick- Joudane in November 2020 said that Iran’s successful expe- pand joint cooperation between the two ing on the occasion of International Day riences such as free vaccination and control of the coronavirus countries in various fields, including the Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. pandemic in the face of sanctions in centers covered by the Welfare exchange of information on the main net- The organization also officially an- Organization can be a good example for other countries. works of drug trafficking and experiences nounced that the world’s first place in the related to police equipment, educational discovery of opium, heroin, and morphine cooperation, detection of drug traffick- belongs to Iran. ing, training of detection dogs, and the According to UNODC, Iran remains Noisy environments can have pursuit of anti-narcotics cases between one of the major transit routes for drug detrimental effect on plants, the two countries. trafficking from Afghanistan to European The Chinese anti-narcotics police force countries and has had a leading role at the study finds is fully prepared to increase the level of global level in the drug-control campaigns. bilateral cooperation with Iran in the field in more than 20 regional and international The counter-narcotics agencies and po- UNODC World Drug Report 2020 es- As humans proliferate, we have penetrated deeper into wildlife of countering the transit and trafficking of events online, in cooperation with the UN- lice forces succeeded in detecting about timates that in 2018, 91 percent of world habitats, creating a pervasive rise in environmental sound with narcotics at the international level. ODC office in Tehran, Eskandar Momeni, 1,150 tons of various types of narcotics, opium, 48 percent of the world morphine, our gadgets, traffic and industry. A growing body of research Last year (March 2020 – March 2021), the director of headquarters for the fight which is a new and unprecedented record and 26 percent of the world heroin were has shown how noise pollution adversely affects animal be- amid the pandemic, Iran has participated against narcotics, said on Tuesday. in the fight against drugs showing a growth seized by Iran. haviour – but a study suggests the detrimental effects have trickled down to plants as well. To investigate the long-term ecological effects of persistent Five countries seeking to purchase Over 35,000 housing units to be built noise, researchers chose the Rattlesnake Canyon habitat man- agement area in New Mexico. Dominated by woodland plants, Iranian COVID-19 vaccine for the deprived the area in the US south-west contains a high density of natural gas wells, some of which are coupled with compressors that run 1 “We have achieved great success in SOCIETY TEHRAN – The continuously and generate chronic noise at up to 100 decibels. developing vaccine; as clinical trials were deskWelfare Organization That is as loud “as being next to the speakers at a Black Sabbath conducted successfully, and the third phase will provide 35,169 residential units concert or standing right next to the train tracks as the train goes of the human trial will start by the next two for the underprivileged families across by”, said Dr Jenny Phillips, who was lead author of the study while or three weeks, but what is more important the country over the current [Iranian at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. is mass production of vaccines,” he noted. calendar] year (started March 20), Other wells are devoid of compressors. Mokhber went on to say that the produc- IRNA reported on Wednesday. The vegetation and human activity across both types of wells tion line of three million doses of vaccine Also, the construction of 10,000 are similar – so in 2007 one set of researchers compared vege- per month has been fully completed and housing units will also begin this year, tation in both contexts, finding that noise pollution disrupted we have gained valuable achievements Zolfaqar Yazdanmehr, deputy head of the natural community in two ways: seedling dissemination and in the field of research and development. the Organization said. germination (known as recruitment) of the woodland species – In the beginning, our scientists could world’s important manufacturers of the In the Iranian calendar years of 1398 tourism, and ecotourism are alternatives pinyon pine – was reduced as the community of animals that get 100 doses of vaccine per liter of the COVID-19 vaccine. (March 2019- March 2020) and 1399 or complementary economic activities feed upon and disperse the plant’s seeds were adversely affected. virus, which increased up to 1,000 doses Mass-vaccination (March 2020-March 2021), 14,700 and that could further stimulate rural devel- Hummingbirds, meanwhile, thrived amid the noise, which led by now, he highlighted. Iran started mass vaccination against 16,500 residential units have been provided opment while decreasing rural community to increased flower pollination. “In the first phase, we can produce 3 COVID-19 with Russian-made Sputnik V to the deprived, respectively, he noted. dependency on one main economic sector Twelve years on, researchers sought to assess the long-term million doses of vaccine per month and we vaccine on February 9, with the priority Earlier in April, some 5,700 residen- (agriculture, forestry, energy, or mining). ecological impact of this noisy ecosystem. They resurveyed the are determined to submit the first shipment given to medical staff, the elderly, and tial units were inaugurated and provided Mohammad Omid, the vice president plots following initial data collection to determine whether the of BAREKAT vaccine with a capacity of one people with underlying diseases; which to deprived families residing in rural for rural development, said in November previously reported patterns for pinyon seedlings persisted, but million doses to the Ministry of Health is also going to be co-produced by the areas of the southeastern Sistan-Bal- 2020 that for the first time in the country, also included analyses of another tree species, the Utah juniper, and the Iranian people in May,” he said. two countries. uchestan province. the migration of people from rural areas as well as other flora. However, out of those 115 plots initially The second line of vaccine production The first shipment of the COVAX vac- These units have been built under a joint to cities has reached zero. surveyed, some had changed from noisy to quiet because com- with a capacity of 12 to 15 million doses cine was delivered to Tehran in early April. memorandum of understanding between A total of 220 trillion rials (nearly $5.6 pressors had been removed, and vice versa. will also be operational in two months, “Currently, about 250,000 people in the the Management and Planning Organiza- billion) has been approved for the develop- In terms of the pinyon – the researchers found seedlings its construction stages have been com- country have been vaccinated and about tion and the Housing Foundation to build ment of villages in the current year (March were found less in noisy areas (in line with the 2007 findings) pleted and it is planned to be launched 56,000 others have received the second 115,000 residential units for low-income 2020-March 2021), Omid said. and the saplings (plants between two and 12 years old) had also in mid-July, he added. dose of the vaccine,” Alireza Raeisi, spokes- families across the country. Some 140 trillion rials (about $3.3 grown more slowly in the persistently loud environment. The At the end of June, the vaccine pro- man for the National Headquarters for Development of deprived areas billion) have so far been spent, he noted, same pattern was observed in the juniper plants. duction capacity will reach 18-20 million Coronavirus control said. Currently, 26 percent of the country’s adding, the unemployment rate in rural However, when looking at plots that were previously noisy doses per month, which can definitely New cases and mortalities population lives in villages, around 39,000 areas has reached 7.4 percent, which has but turned quiet, they saw more recruitment for juniper than increase in case of any changes in con- In a press briefing on Wednesday, Health villages have more than 20 households decreased by over one percent compared for pinyon, according to the study published in the journal Pro- dition, he also stated. Ministry’s spokesperson Sima-Sadat Lari and 23,000 villages have less than 20 to last year. ceedings of the Royal Society B. Homegrown vaccines confirmed 25,582 new cases of COVID-19 households. In October 2020, Omid stated that the This disparate rate of recovery could be attributed to the dif- The second Iranian coronavirus infection, raising the total number of infec- Thus, more than 97 percent of the coun- rural development projects worth 130 tril- ferent seed dispersers for each plant, said Phillips. vaccine, Razi Cov Pars, which started tions to 2,143,794. She added that 1,739,002 try’s rural population lives in villages with lion rials (nearly $3 billion) inaugurated The California scrub jay eats the seeds of the pinyon, but they the clinical trial on February 27, will be patients have so far recovered, but 4,539 over 20,000 households. on the occasion of the National Day of also bury them to save for later. Then they forget about the seeds mass-produced in early August. remain in critical conditions of the disease. Many efforts have been made over Villagers and Nomads. and that is what keeps the forest regenerating. Fakhra vaccine, the third homegrown During the past 24 hours, 304 patients the past couple of years by the gov- He went on to state that 6,750 construc- “What we think is potentially happening … is that jays are vaccine, was unveiled and started the have lost their lives, bringing the total num- ernment to support villagers and slow tion projects will come on stream in various smart birds, they have episodic memory and they can remember clinical trial on March 16. ber of deaths to 65,359, she added. down the trend of migration from rural fields such as roads, communications, etc. negative experiences. So if they did explore an area a couple of On January 27, Health Minister Saeed So far, 13,964,570 COVID-19 diagnostic areas to cities. In addition, a total of 26,512 projects will years ago and if it’s noisy, then they would remember that and Namaki said Iran will soon be one of the tests have been performed in the country. Rural tourism, agritourism, religious be launched throughout the country. not go back to that area,” she said. Juniper seedlings were more often dispersed by mammals and other birds for which the noise was not quite as disruptive, she added. ENGLISH IN USE “We don’t really have the ability to say how severe the im- pacts [of noise pollution] are, especially if we’re looking at LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION the ecosystem level,” said Sarah Termondt, who was a study co-author while at Texas A&M University. LET’S LEARN PERSIAN کیتهــای ایرانــی تشــخیص کوویــد 19 مــاه All-Iranian COVID-19 diagnostic kits to be released within month (Part 158) (Source: saadifoundation.ir) آینــده روانــه بــازار م ی شــوند Iran will commercialize domestically-made COVID-19 diagnostic دبیــر ســتاد توســعه زیسـ ـتفناوری معاونــت علمــی و فنــاوری ریاســت جمهــوری گفــت: kits by the Iranian calendar month of Farvardin (March 21-April کیتهــای تشــخیصی کوویــد 19، فروردیــن مــاه وارد بــازار م ی شــوند. 22), secretary of biotechnology development of Vice Presidency مصطفــی قانعــی، دبیــر ســتاد توســعه زیسـ ـتفناوری معاونــت علمــی و فنــاوری ریاســت .for Science and Technology announced جمهــوری، اظهــار داشــت: بــه دنبــال فراخــوان ایــن ســتاد بــرای ســاخت کی تهــای Following a call by the headquarters for the production of آزمایشــگاهی تشــخیص کوویــد 19، بــا پنــج شــرکت دان شبنیــان بــرای ســاخت ایــن COVID-19 diagnostic kits, a contract was signed with five کی تهــا قــرارداد منعقــد شــده اســت. knowledge-based companies and manufacturing process تشخیص، مه مترین راه ورود به درمان بیماری کرونا است. .began, ISNA quoted Mostafa Qane’ei as saying on Monday Diagnosis is the most important part of coronavirus treatment, در حــال حاضــر بیمــاران مبتــا بــه کرونــا بــه وســیله کیتهــای تشــخیصی کــه در قالب he highlighted. مســاعدت و خریــد از طریــق ســازمان بهداشــت جهانــی، کشــور چیــن و یونیســف وارد Patients suspected to coronavirus are currently being identified ایــران شــدهاند شناســایی م یشــوند؛ امــا ســتاد توســعه زیسـ ـتفناوری معاونــت علمــی by diagnostic kits that have entered Iran in the form of assistance و فنــاوری ریاســت جمهــوری بــا انتشــار فراخوانــی از دان شبنی انهــای توانمنــد دعــوت and purchases by the World Health Organization, China and کــرد تــا بــه حــوزه ســاخت ایــن کی تهــا ورود کننــد. .UNICEF, he said به گــزارش از مرکــز ارتباطــات و اطــاع رســانی معاونــت علمــی و فنــاوری ریاســت So, the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology decided جمهــوری، وی افــزود: کی تهــای وارد شــده تــا دو مــاه آینــده کافــی هســتند امــا بعــد .to manufacture the kits domestically, he noted Existing imported kits are sufficient for the next two months از ایــن مــدت بــا کمبــود کیتهــای تشــخیص کرونــا مواجــه خواهیــم شــد. بــه همیــن but after this period we will be faced with shortages of kits, دلیــل بــا کمــک توانمند یهــای داخلــی ایــن نیــاز را مرتفــع م ی کنیــم. .however, the domestic ones will enter the market, he concluded Prayer Times Noon:13:04 Evening: 19:56 Dawn: 5:02 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:30 (tomorrow) APRIL 15, 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 Iranian writer Mahmud Dowlatabadi’s Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051430 novel “Kelidar” published in Balochi Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 CULTURE TEHRAN – Iranian even before the publication of its final Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 deskwriter Mahmud Dow- volumes. The first three volumes appeared latabadi’s monumental 3,000-page saga in the turbulent years before and after “Kelidar” has recently been published in the revolution of 1979 and were a huge Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 Balochi. commercial success. Twenty thousand Translated by late Balochi writer and copies were sold before the publication No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran translator Vahedbakhsh Badpa, the book of the complete five-volume set in 1984. P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Zip Code: 1599814713 has been published by Rabidan Publica- Dowlatabadi earned high critical ac- tions in Tehran. claim for his complex depiction of char- The Persian version of the book was acters, who often reveal their true nature published in five volumes consisting of through their physical characteristics and ten books over the period 1978 to 1984. appearances; his vivid descriptions, his “Kelidar” narrates the life of a nomadic ability to offer a well-substantiated docu- Kurdish family that moved to Sabzevar, mentary on the physical, social, and politi- Khorasan. The story is set against the cal features of the region, his playful use of highly charged political climate in Iran language, conveyed through the interplay after World War II, between 1946 and of sand, cloud, and wind to describe the 1949. The locale of the story covers a desert climate, and his creation of verbal GUIDE TO rather vast area in this region with its rhythms and crescendos to accentuate SPIRITUAL AWAKENING surrounding plains, villages, and small the more dramatic moments of the story. towns, an area where Dowlatabadi was The novel, which was described by a There is reward for kindness to every living thing. born and later chose as the stage for most critic as an “epic of decline”, also won the of his fictional work. praise of commentators as a significant Prophet Muhammad (S) Based on actual events, the novel follows matriarch of the family and the linking plants the seeds of hostility in Maral’s event in the history of modern Persian the trials and tribulations of the Kalmisi thread for the novel’s events and charac- former fiancé, Delavar. literature, the author has been also deemed family and is peopled with an array of ters, and her husband, Kalmisi, have three As the story progresses, the tension a qualified nominee for a Nobel Prize in supporting characters. It begins with a sons and a daughter: Khan Mohammad, among different clans and families esca- literature. memorable scene, which is described Gol-Mohammad, Beg Mohammad, and lates, and in the course of quarrels and Mahmud Dowlatabadi was born in 312 Iranian films submitted in heroic, lyrical, and sensual language. Shiru. Severe drought has deprived this feuds over various issues, Gol-Mohammad the Dowlatabad Village of Sabzevar in Maral, a young Kurdish girl, proudly sheepherding family of their livelihood, kills a man from another family. 1940. Self-educated and forced to work to Fajr Intl. Film Festival and majestically leads her horse toward and the dry farming they have resorted “Kelidar” derived its name from a from childhood, Dowlatabadi spent part the town’s prison to visit her father, Ab- to yields no crops. mountain with the same name situated of his younger adult years as a stage actor TEHRAN— A total of 312 productions have CULTURE dus, and her fiancé, Delavar. It is through Gol-Mohammad, the second son of in proximity to the cities of Sabzevar, in Tehran. deskbeen submitted to the 38th annual Fajr Inter- Maral’s visit to the town and her traveling the family, having just returned from Neyshabur, and Quchan. “Desert Strata”, “The Trip”, “The Legend national Film Festival, which is scheduled to be held from May back to the Kalmisis that the other main mandatory military service and already According to Encyclopedia Iranica, of Baba Sobhan”, “The Cowherd”, “Aqil”, 21 to June 2 in Tehran, with Iranian filmmaker Mohammad characters of the novel are introduced. married, falls in love with his cousin, “Kelidar” enjoyed immense popularity “Man” and “Missing Soluch” are among Mehdi Asgarpur as the director. Maral’s paternal aunt, Belqays, the Maral, and marries her. The marriage and created a stir in intellectual circles Dowlatabadi’s noteworthy credits. The entries consist of 190 documentary short films, 82 feature films, and 40 feature documentaries, the organizers have announced. After calls for participation were announced 251 Iranian Paulo Coelho praises Iranian village for naming alleys after masterpieces of world literature films were submitted to the festival by the end of March, af- ter which the deadline was extended to April 7 and the total among Persian readers, has praised an Iranian vil- initiative in Rasulabad on Monday. number of participants reached 312. April 10 was the final lage for naming its alleys after the masterpieces of The initiative was launched two years ago by Qobad deadline for submissions. world literature. Yari, a member of the Rasulabad Rural Council, after The Fajr International Film Festival has a reputation for fea- The Rural Council in Rasulabad, a village with Kurdish he saw the villagers’ great deal of interest in reading, turing productions that highlight moral values, as well as films population in the western Iranian province of Hamedan, the Persian service of the IRNA said on Wednesday. that seek justice and freedom. The festival celebrates cultural has selected Coelho’s “The Alchemist”, Persian poet Therefore, he with supports from a number of other diversity through displaying creative productions of renowned Sadi’s Gulistan and Bustan, Persian poet Ferdowsi’s rural officials decided to name 30 alleys in the village filmmakers as well as showcasing selected productions from Shahnameh, French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s after the masterpieces of world literature. beginners whose work possesses a high standard and has a po- “The Little Prince”, Colombian author Gabriel Garcia The signs of the alleys designed and created by tential for excelling in the film industry. Marquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude” to name Hamed Saniei-Aram bear the titles of the masterpieces Productions from West Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and its alleys. inscribed in Persian, English and Kurdish. Anatolia are the main focus of the festival, with a lot of attention In addition, “‘Quiet Flows the Don’ by Russian writ- “The Witch of Portobello”, “The Zahir”, “Manual of the and interest from the organizers towards Islamic featured films er Mikhail Alexandrovich Sholokhov and ‘The Green Warrior of Light”, “Veronika Decides to Die”, “Aleph”, depicting the true teachings of Islamic prophets. Mile’ by American writer Stephen King have adorned “Adultery”, “The Spy”, “Hippie”, “The Archer” and several the village’s alleys,” Coelho wrote in his Instagram other books by Coelho have been published in Persian. At The unique platform provided by the Fajr International Film A sign bearing the title of Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho’s Festival in this diverse geographic region offers the opportunity post on Tuesday. least, three Persian translations of his “The Alchemist” “The Alchemist” is seen on a wall in the Iranian village of “The initiative by book readers and literature lovers have so far been published in Iran. for international collaboration on a professional basis for the Rasulabad. (Paulo Coelho’s Instagram) advancement of media production and development of a regional has given Rasoul Abad village a unique status and has He visited Tehran and Shiraz, the southern Iranian filmmaking industry at the highest standards. CULTURE TEHRAN—Paulo Coelho, Brazilian made it known in the region,” he noted. city that is home to the mausoleums of the great Persian The previous edition of the festival was canceled due to the deskwriter who is immensely popular The Tehran Times published a report about the poet Sadi and Hafez, in 2000. coronavirus pandemic.

Part 2 “White Winged Horse” leads The modern literature of Iran By Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak brief introductory writing, the following poems and prose nominations at ISFA Awards passages may help give an idea of the range of concerns In 1922, Mohammad-Ali Jamalzadeh (1892-1997) covered by contemporary Iranian poets and fiction writers. TEHRAN – Iranian director Mahyar Man- ART published a little book in Berlin entitled “Once Upon Yushij poem Makhola: In this poem by Nima Yushij the deskdegar’s “White Winged Horse” received nom- a Time”. With this book, the short story as it is known description of a flowing river running toward it manifest inations in eight categories, including best film and best director, in Western literatures found its way into Iranian cul- destination gradually merges with the expression of the at the 11th edition of the Iranian Short Film Association (ISFA) ture. In his preface, Jamalzadeh set forth his innovative poet’s feeling about his mission as a poet who carries a Awards, the organizers announced on Monday. ideas concerning “literary democracy” and his view of familiar message to his readers: The movie is about a man who returns to his Iranian hometown, Persian literature as a “mirror of Iranian society.” Lit- Makhola, the figure of the tall river which was destroyed in the war 20 years ago. He is searching for erature, he said, must be more accessible to the masses Goes heedlessly his childhood sweetheart who had promised him, eternal love. of the people and more reflective of their lives. Around Roars ceaselessly Written by Mandegar, the film has also been nominated for the same time, the young poet known as Nima Yushij Thrusts its body from rock to rock the award for best screenplay. (1887-1960) was beginning to express his views about As a refugee “White Winged Horse” is followed by director Iman Salehi’s a new kind of poetry in his critical writings and through Shunning the beaten path “Fear Moves Itself”, Sahand Kabiri’s “Dash” and Maryam Es- the example of his own poems. Together with Sadeq Rushes to the depths mikhani’s “Emergency”, each with five nods. Hedayat (1903-1951), Jamalzadeh and Nima are today Rises to the heights The ISFA award ceremony is planned to be held online within a month. considered founders of modern Persian prose literature a long time, the phrase she’r-e now (New Poetry) meant Flows restlessly and poetry respectively. nonsensical poetry. Together with the dark The stories of “Once Upon a Time” provide a good sample Nevertheless, Nima finally succeeded in converting One lunatic accompany another. Iran’s “The Son” to compete of the main themes of modern Persian fiction. The first story, enough poets to his point of view to perpetuate the writing Its long it treads its way entitled “Persian is Sweet,” is about the language problem of poetry in the new way. This new way meant essentially Joining many a stream in Moscow film festival in modern Iran. Its characters, consisting of a Westernized three things. First, the poet was expected to be true to his No one, it’s long, has heeded it Iranian, a traditional clergyman, and a local servant boy, observations, describing things as they are in nature not And there it goes chanting its mute song ARTTEHRAN –Iranian director Nushin Meraji’s fail to communicate even though they all speak Persian. The as they had been expressed by the old system of poetic Fallen from all eyes deskdebut movie “The Son” will be screened in the message is obvious; in order to foster the sense of a single expression. It should not matter that in classical poetry In this desert’s lap. main section of the 43rd edition of the Moscow International national identity, Iranians must find a way to overcome the beloved’s hair is described in variably as pitch-black, In the mute murmuring of its waters Film Festival. the speech varieties that prevail in various geographical her cheeks as rose- petal, or her stature is always com- Makhola carries a familiar message regions and among different social groups. pared to a cypress. Poets should be allowed to describe And the world of a manifest destination Another story in this collection, entitled “With Friends their beloved exactly as she appears to them. Secondly, Yet it flows Like This,” laments the degenerate state of the country’s Nima argued that the old idea of meter and rhyme was Over what lies in its way government and army, which seem incapable of resisting mechanical and therefore unnatural. He simplified and A stranger trampling another. foreign aggression and the resultant atrocities to which expanded the metrics of Persian poetry, and changed the Goes heedlessly innocent and kind-hearted Iranians are subjected. use of rhyme from predetermined sound at the end of the Roars ceaselessly Hedeyat is particularly important and enigmatic lit- line to one that would follow and highlight the meaning To what home unknown erary figure. His famous book, “The Blind Owl”, written of the poem. Most importantly, however, he changed the A homeless vagrant tramping on its way. in 1948, has attracted worldwide attention for innovative conventional classification of poetry into genres such as Farrohhzad poem “The Bird was Only a Bird”: This poem narrative technique and the depth of its message. Besides ghazals, qasidahs or Masnavis. Poets would now make their by Forugh Farrokhzad, the most important female poet this haunting novella, Hedayat has written a large number poems as long or as short as they wished and would simply in the entire history of Persian literature, contrasts the A scene from “The Son” by Iranian director Nushin Meraji of novels, short stories, and other literary works which call their compositions poems rather than a specific kind of condition of a bird with that of human beings: often preset a realistic, if not always happy picture of life poem which dedicated formal and structural restrictions. The bird said: “What smells what sunshine, ah spring The film is about forty-year-old Farid, who lives with his mother. in Iran in the first half of the twentieth century. Influenced Following these pioneering authors, a large number of has come He is very vulnerable and escapes loneliness, but in the meantime by such Westerners as Freud, Proust, and Kafka, Hedayat Iranian writers and poets have contributed to the gradual And I will go searching for my mate.” tries to prove himself independent and supportive of his mother. often paints a dark and dreary picture of a society that has emergence of a modern literary tradition that is rich, di- The bird flew away from the portico’s edge However, her sudden death makes Farid frustrated. To escape broken away from its traditional way of life without being verse and far more accessible to modern readers- especially Like a message it flew off and disappeared. from this unfamiliar situation, he clings to anyone he encounters able to establish its place firmly in the modern world. He unfamiliar with the Persian language- than the classical The bird was small outside home to make this loneliness bearable, but he does not remains the single most important influence on the following canon. In poetry, it has attained to heights that are already The bird did not think know how to communicate and the situation gets worse each time. generations of Iranian writers. comparable in aesthetic quality to the best examples to The bird did not read the paper The Son will be competing with 13 more movies including “Blue In poetry, it is Nima Yushij who is regarded as the father classical Persian poetry, far surpassing it in social signifi- The bird was not in debt Heart” by Miguel Coyula from Cuba, “The Time of Indifference” and the founder of the modern outlook in Iran. During a cance. In fiction, the significance of the modern tradition The bird did not know people. by Leonardo Guerra Seragnoli from Italy, “The Inner Glow” by very productive poetic career of almost forty years, Nima a record of life in contemporary Iran, especially where it The bird flew through the air above the red lights Andres Eduardo Rodriguez and Luis Alejandro Rodriguez from diligently wrote poetry and single-handedly explained his concerns the life of the poor and the downtrodden, cannot At the height of oblivion Venezuela, and “The Women” by Nobuteru Uchida from Japan. critical views about it. Often misunderstood and ridiculed, be overemphasized. And experienced madly Moscow International Film Festival is scheduled to be held Nima’s poetry was different from anything that Iranians Although it is extremely difficult to ill such a vast body Blue moments. in the Russian capital from April 22 to 29. had been trained to recognize as poetry. As a result, for of literature through as small a sampling as is possible in a The bird, ah, was only a bird.