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12 Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13631 Saturday APRIL 4, 2020 Farvardin 16, 1398 Sha’aban 10, 1441 moves against Iran ‘even U.S. lost historic IOC president thanks “The Soldiers of exceed what would be opportunity to review Iran for support the Commander” permissible on battlefield’ 2 wrong Iran approach 2 to Olympics 11 published in Turkish 12 Annual non-oil trade at $85b TEHRAN — The value of Iran’s non-oil The official further pointed to the trade stood at $85 billion in the past Iranian measures taken by IRICA in the past We need further surge calendar year of 1398 (ended on March year including facilitation of trade and 19, 2020), the head of Islamic Republic removing customs barriers in line with of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) supporting the government’s plans in announced. different sectors. Mehdi Mir-Ashrafi put the weight of As one of the major organizations help- the country’s annual non-oil trade at 170 ing economic growth, IRICA launched in production million tons and said this amount of trade smart customs project in the previous year was achieved despite the severe sanctions, as a move to meet today’s requirements See page 2 IRNA reported. in trade sector, Mir-Ashrafi underscored. Iran strongly warns U.S. about military threats TEHRAN — Iran’s chief diplomat and U.S. military base in Iraq after the Pentagon top military commander on Thursday assassinated Iran’s legendary anti-terrorism warned the United States against any commander Qassem Soleimani. It was the act of military action, warning the U.S. first attack on the U.S. since World War Two. will face the “most fierce response” if it Zarif warned Trump, “Don’t be misled makes the slightest move against Iran. by usual warmongers, again.” Writing on his Twitter account, Foreign The warning by the Iranian foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, minister came after Trump claimed on “Iran starts no war, but teaches lessons Twitter on Wednesday that Iran was to those who do.” plotting a “sneak attack” on U.S. troops Iran fired ballistic missile on a major or facilities in Iraq. 3

U.S. hijacking mask shipments in rush for coronavirus protection By staff & agencies counterparts were paying, the Guardian U.S. buyers waving wads of cash man- reported. aged to wrest control of a consignment Jean Rottner, a doctor and president of of masks as it was about to be dispatched the GrandEst regional council, said part of from China to one of the worst-hit coro- the order of several million masks heading navirus areas of France, according to two for the region, where intensive care units French officials. are inundated with Covid-19 patients, had The masks were on a plane at Shang- been lost to the buyers. hai airport that was ready to take off “On the tarmac, they arrive, get the when the U.S. buyers turned up and cash out … so we really have to fight,” he leader.ir offered three times what their French told RTL radio. 10 ARTICLE An efficient economic system necessary for a new Islamic civilization: expert Iranian Faranak Bakhtiari By Mehdi Garshasbi choosing a specific name for the year? Meanwhile, the executive branch of the govern- ambassador Tehran Times journalist TEHRAN — As an annual tradition, Leader As the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Aya- ment tries to plan its future actions accordingly. of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali tollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei is looking for the es- The legislative body of the government, also, tries bashes racist Khamenei addresses the nation and determines a tablishment of an Islamic system. Systematization to revise existing regulations according to the new name for the new year. This year has been named is a process that requires institutionalization and issue or pass new laws if needed. Finally, relevant propaganda during Nature Day the year of “Surge in Production.” cultural evolution. One of the measures taken institutions will try to inform the public of different Economist and university professor Hojjatol- by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution yearly characteristics of the issue. COVID-19 crisis manifests national lah Abdolmaleki, in an interview with the Tehran to prepare the bedrock for systematization is Therefore, naming the years is a clever and Times, said the Leader’s emphasis on “production” naming the years. By naming a year with a spe- scientific strategy to lead the Iranian society step While the world witnesses the spread of empathy against in recent years is mainly rooted in the fact that in the cific pivot, more attention will be paid to certain by step towards the favorable Islamic system and the COVID-19 pandemic, all countries country’s goal of creating a new Islamic civilization features of the goals behind that pivot and all to prepare all the factors which are going to be should shoulder their responsibility and coronavirus is through strengthening the national economy and executive branches of the government, elites, crucial and effective in that ideal Islamic system. provide joint leadership, especially in the creating an efficient economic system. scientists, and the public will acknowledge the Each year has a different name. Are these United Nations, the Iranian Ambassador ature Day was another manifestation Below is the full text of the interview. importance of the issue. names connected or should they be analyzed to China, Mohammad Keshavarz Zadeh, of empathy of the Iranian nation Every year, on the first day of Noruz, the The Leader always explicates the main conceptual separately? has told China.org.cn. in fight against the coronavirus, as N Leader of the Islamic Revolution addresses the specifications of every issue. Then scholars and Each year’s name is related to the past. Each He warned that the world should be people stayed home, despite their thou- nation and assigns a specific name to the year. scientists of the country study those specifications name is like a piece of a puzzle and these pieces vigilant against any xenophobic, racist sand-year-old tradition. What is the purpose and philosophy behind to explain the goals and outcomes of every issue. collectively make a bigger picture. 7 or intolerant propaganda. Sizdah Bedar, also known as Nature “It’s absolutely wrong and inappropri- Day, is an Iranian festival held annual- ate to label the novel coronavirus as the ly on the thirteenth day of Farvardin, ‘China Virus’ or ‘Wuhan Virus,’” said the the first month of the Iranian calen- Five Iranian publishers announce top 10 bestsellers of the year ambassador, referring to the practice of dar (falling on April 1 this year), during tying the virus to China by U.S. President By Seyyed Mostafa Mousavi Sabet The story of “Silent House” is set in winter San’avi came next. which Iranians reconcile with nature Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike 1979 when Kurosh, a young Iranian engineer, The list also includes Turkish writer Elif Shafak’s spending time in resorts, gardens and TEHRAN — Iranian publishers Nimaj, Ruzbehan, Pompeo earlier in March. buys a listening device from a German engineer novels “The Hidden” and “Three Daughters of Eve”, natural areas. It marks the end of the Qoqnus, Cheshmeh and Afraz have announced The ambassador said this kind of on his mission to Germany. He begins to use the both translated into Persian by Saber Hosseini. Noruz holidays in Iran. their top ten bestselling books published over propaganda is not a new type of igno- device to learn the hidden secrets of some people “Beizai/Crocodile”, two plays by Seyyed Mo- An outbreak of the COVID-19, origi- the past year as the Iranian New Year began on rance and racism, but such language who live around him. hammad Mosavat and “The Hole/The Deep Sound nating at a seafood market in the central March 20. from the top leadership of a major The fourth book is “Journeys of the Writers” of the Snow”, two plays by Jaber Ramezani and Chinese city of Wuhan in late December; Nimaj’s bestsellers power is unprecedented in the 21st by Abutorab Khosravi. The book tells the story Payam Saeidi, polled ninth and tenth places has spread in Iran killing at least 3,294 Iranian writer Ruzbeh Moein’s romantic novel century. of Saeid and Eqlima, two scholars who team up respectively. and infected 53,183 people since April “The Cold Coffee of Mr. Writer” leads Nimaj’s Trump’s language has also drawn do- to do research into the role of the saints in the Ruzbehan’s bestsellers 3, while about 1,034,116 cases have been bestsellers, which is followed by “Rakhshid’s mestic criticism. “It’s certainly not the development of societies. Ruzbehan’s bestseller list begins with Ira- confirmed in 180 other countries, claiming Secret was Revealed”, another romantic novel way the leadership of the United States, “The Lion’s Wound”, a collection of 11 short nian writer Nader Ebrahimi’s novels “Fire 54,465 lives so far. by Ali Soltani. the secretary of state, and the president stories by Samad Taheri, grabbed fifth place. without Smoke” and “On the Red Marine In response to the epidemic, Iran Iranian writer Sanaz Zamani’s story “Silent of the United States, ought to be behaving And the Persian translation of Spanish writer Roads”, two masterpieces of modern Persian has implemented a social distanc- House”, not to be confused with a novel of the in the best of times - but certainly not in Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s first adult novel “La sombra literature from the early 1970s the publisher ing plan, which began nationwide same title by Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk, was a crisis.” The Hill quoted former White del viento” (“The Shadow of the Wind”) by Ali republished in 2017. on March 27, culminated on April 1; inscribed as third on Nimaj’s bestseller list. 12 House national security adviser Susan which prevented the people to join Rice as saying on Tuesday. social gatherings and encourage them In the short term, Keshavarz Zadeh to stay at home. Fairgrounds called on all countries and the United The outbreak reached its peak concur- Nations to make effective arrangement rent with the Iranian New Year celebration, to lead global efforts in sharing data which has made Noruz different with years converted into about the COVID-19, coordinating and even centuries ago. international research, providing and However, in Sizdah Bedar, people 2,000-bed encouraging greater funding of the World were also asked to stay at home and resist Health Organization, and humanitarian picnicking outdoor to break the chain of hospital within assistance. coronavirus transmission. According to the diplomat, Iran, the It can now be said that Iranian families hardest-hit country in Middle East, has who have been involved with coronavirus 48 hours entered a dire situation at a time when the infection have come to the conclusion that government was already under extreme The Iranian Army has converted the Tehran they will not get rid of the disease except pressure by U.S. unilateral sanctions. This

Permanent International Fairgrounds into by observing healthcare methods, and has hampered Iran’s ability to purchase a field hospital with 2,000 beds to prepare social distance. and access vital medical equipment and for a probable surge of COVID-19 patients. Although police forces have stayed on pharmaceuticals from the international Built on March 25, the hospital has the guard to prevent people’s entrance to the market. capacity to add 1,000 more beds. parks and resorts, it seemed that people “Iran has been unable to purchase Leader of the Islamic Revolution Aya- themselves resisted the social gatherings. medical equipment and medicine even

Hasan Zarifmanesh tollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has assigned With the efforts of the responsible bod- from European companies due to fears the Armed Forces to work on the necessary ies, law enforcement and media, resorts by European banks of being sanctioned methods to prevent a further spread of the and gardens were closed down and traffic by the U.S. Treasury Department if they

Tasnim/ Tasnim/ coronavirus through establishment of field in the country was minimized and even traded with Tehran,” the ambassador hospitals and convalescent homes. zero in some cases. 9 wrote. 2 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS APRIL 4, 2020

IPU president sends message Rouhani: U.S. lost historic opportunity to Larijani, says coronavirus will be defeated to review wrong Iran approach POLITICAL TEHRAN – In a message to Iranian Majlis deskSpeaker Ali Larijani who has tested positive POLITICAL TEHRAN — President statement. for the coronavirus, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union deskRouhani told a cabinet While the Iranian nations had pinned Gabriela Cuevas Barron has said that the coronavirus pandemic meeting on Wednesday that the U.S. their hope on the lifting of sanctions will be defeated through collective efforts. missed the “best historic opportunity” with the conclusion of the 2015 nuclear to rectify its mistakes by lifting illegal agreement -JCPOA - President Donald sanctions against Iran which is hit hard Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from by the deadly coronavirus outbreak. the agreement in May 2018, returned the “They did not realize what they had to previous sanctions, and imposed new ones. do. This was the best historic opportunity Trump even introduced a total embargo for the Americans to review their wrong on Iran’s oil export in order to choke off the approach, and tell their nation, for once at Iranian economy. Trump did this despite least, that ‘we are not against the Iranian the fact that the JCPOA is endorsed by nation’,” the president remarked. the UN Security Council Resolution 2231. “Unfortunately, the Americans did Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad not learn a lesson even amid these acute Zarif has said the U.S. “economic and tough international circumstances,” terrorism” against the Iranian nation Rouhani lamented, according to Press TV. has expanded to “medical terrorism”. The Trump administration has refused As the worst hit country in the West The public relations department of the Majlis issued a state- calls by the United Nations and a number Asia region, the Covid-19 has so far killed ment on Thursday announcing that Larijani has tested positive of world leaders to lift or even suspend 3,036 Iranian cities and infected 47,500. for the coronavirus. sanctions against Iran. Ironically, the U.S. According to the Health Ministry, 3,871 “Following certain symptoms, he was tested for the coronavi- Treasury added to the list of its sanctions sanctions imposed on countries to ensure Michelle Bachelet, the UN high of infected persons in critical condition. rus and since the test was positive, he is now in quarantine and against Iran last week. access to food, essential health supplies, commissioner for human rights, also said In his Wednesday remarks, Rouhani under treatment,” the statement said. On March 24, United Nations leadership and COVID-19 medical support. This is on March 24 that “in a context of global said the U.S. has “always acted against Speakers of People’s Council of Syria and State Duma also sent called for rolling back international the time for solidarity not exclusion,” pandemic, impeding medical efforts in one the Iranian people, and, today, their separate messages to Larijani, wishing him immediate recovery. sanctions regimes around the world, UN Secretary-General António Guterres country heightens the risk for all of us.” opposition towards the people came to The total number of people diagnosed with the coronavirus saying they are heightening the health wrote in a letter to the G-20 economic “At this crucial time, both for global be witnessed more clearly.” in Iran has reached 53,183 of whom 3,294 have died and 17,935 risks for millions of people and weakening powers, according to Foreign Policy. public health reasons, and to support the Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Majid recovered. the global effort to contain the spread of “Let us remember that we are only as rights and lives of millions of people in Takht Ravanchi has warned that failure the new coronavirus. strong as the weakest health system in these countries, sectoral sanctions should to contain the deadly virus in Iran will IAEA to send RT-PCRs “I am encouraging the waiving of our interconnected world.” be eased or suspended,” she said in a affect the entire world. to Iran POLITICAL TEHRAN — Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s am- Ayatollah Khamenei: We need a further surge in production deskbassador to the Vienna-based international organizations, said on Thursday that the International Atom- POLITICAL TEHRAN – In a New Year message on witnessed instances of that. Well, these tasks have been Of course, they have inflicted some damage until now, ic Energy Agency will send two sets of reverse transcription deskMarch 20, Leader of the Islamic Rev- carried out in the country and it is not the case that no work but they have also generated profits as well because they polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to Iran to help fight the olution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said a further surge in has been done. However, what I want to say is that what have made us think about our own resources, about man- coronavirus. production is needed in the country, saying the slogan of has already been done is not even one-tenth of what the ufacturing products and about satisfying the needs of the “In addition to these two sets, personal protective equipment the New Year is “Surge in Production”. country needs. Of course, “one-tenth” is not a hard statis- country through relying on domestic resources. This is for the users of the sets, equipment for commissioning, upgrading “Last year’s slogan was ‘Boosting Production’. This year, tical figure, but I estimate it to be around one-tenth. This very valuable to us and by Allah’s favor, it will continue. and calibrating them and diagnostic kits using three techniques I want to say that we need a further surge in production means that we need to do ten times more work – including Therefore, we continue to need production. will also be sent,” Gharibabadi said, according to IRNA. - as the slogan of the year. This year is the year of ‘Surge research, work related to production and various other Last year’s slogan was “Boosting Production”. This year, The IAEA issued a statement on Wednesday announcing dis- in Production’. This is the slogan of the year.” Ayatollah tasks – so that boosting production can exert its effects in I want to say that we need a further surge in production - as patch of diagnostic machines and kits to more than 40 countries. Khamenei said. the lives of the people. the slogan of the year. This year is the year of “Surge in Pro- According to official website of the IAEA, the first batch Following is an excerpts of his remarks published by In the year 1398, production was roused and it moved duction.” This is the slogan of the year. Officials should act in of supplies, worth around €4 million, will help countries use Khamenei.ir: forward, but its effects in the lives of the people were not yet a way that production will witness a surge, God willing, and the technique known as real time RT-PCR). This is the most As for the slogan of the year, the year 1398 was the year tangible. We should make production reach a point where that there will be a tangible change in the lives of the people. sensitive technique for detecting viruses currently available. of boosting production and I will tell the Iranian nation it can influence the people’s lives. Of course, the economic Of course, this requires planning. The Planning and “Real time RT-PCR is an established and accurate method that this slogan was welcomed in practice. In the begin- issues of the country are many. There are issues such as Budget Organization, the Islamic Consultative Majlis as to detect pathogens. We’ve seen the number of Member State ning, experts welcomed it, saying that production was reforming the banking system, the customs regulations, well as its research center and the judiciary branch have requests for support to run such tests more than double in the past the main criterion, but it received a warm reception in the taxing system and improving the business environment a role, each in a different way. The judiciary branch has two weeks,” said Ivancho Naletoski, technical officer at the Joint practice as well. According to reliable reports that I have and other such issues, but the role of production is a unique a part to play as well. Knowledge-based companies and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/ received, the production of the country moved forward. and peerless one. young and innovative organizations, which are thankfully IAEA Division for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. Some of the factories that had stopped working and that Considering the large market that exists inside the country, large in number, have a role to play as well. Throughout “Laboratories will receive diagnostic kits and accessories needed had closed down returned to work and in the case of those if we manage to boost production, the main activity will be the year – the year 1398 – and the year before that, I had for the analysis, disposable protective gear and equipment for which worked below their capacity, they increased their in our domestic market with our eighty-million population, very good and valuable meetings with some of them. I saw the molecular detection of this specific viral genome.” capacity. Knowledge-based companies entered the arena despite the fact that production needs foreign markets. them and listened to them up close. They are youth who are and various organizations made good endeavors as a result Of course, we can interact with foreign markets as well. If interested in working and who are really hopeful, energetic, of which, production was boosted. we can move production forward, God willing, economic motivated, talented and creative. Such groups of people ‘No one is fooled’ by The issue of research which is the fountainhead of problems will definitely come to an end and the sanctions thankfully exist and they should participate in planning. Washington’s disinformation production was seriously pursued in the country and we that they imposed will prove to be to our advantage. This task should move forward with planning, God willing. campaign envoy Zarif: U.S. moves against Iran ‘even exceed Medical body: History will judge silence of POLITICAL TEHRAN —Iran’s ambassador to the United deskNations says nobody will be duped by Washing- what would be permissible on the battlefield’ world bodies toward cruel sanctions ton’s campaign of disinformation against Tehran, after the U.S. secretary of state accused “Iranian diplomats” of “involvement” in an alleged assassination in Turkey. “The U.S. administration’s Iran-bashing is limitless,” Ma- jid Takht Ravanchi tweeted on Thursday, adding that despite Washington’s efforts to spread disinformation about Tehran, “No one is fooled.” Takht Ravachi’s tweet came after Mike Pompeo, the most notorious Iran hawk in the Trump administration , leveled the accusation in an earlier tweet, calling Iranian diplomats “agents of terror.” “While the world focuses on cooperation to defeat #COV- ID19 — and calls on U.S. to lift its #economic terrorism — @ SecPompeo disregards this and instead spreads disinformation: this time against Iranian diplomats,” Press TV quoted the am- bassador as saying. POLITICAL TEHRAN — Foreign Trump administration is adding to the list of POLITICAL TEHRAN — The Acad- ple,” he wrote. Takht Ravanchi had already blasted the United States’ back- deskMinister Mohammad its sanctions on Iran. The newest ones were deskemy of Medical Sciences In May 2018, Trump unilaterally pulled to-back attempts at spreading “disinformation” about Iran. Javad Zarif has said that the U.S. “economic announced on Thursday by the U.S. Treasury of Iran has written to the UN to complain the U.S. out of the 2015 nuclear deal ratified “U.S. disinformation campaign vs Iran continues,” he tweeted terrorism” on Iran has been expanding to the Department. about the world’s body failure to push for the by the UN Security Council and reinstated in mid-February. new level of “medical terrorism” which is not In a letter to the G-20 economic powers lifting of cruel U.S. sanctions at a critical time sanctions on Iran. The Trump administration This came after the U.S. military claimed that one of its war- even permissible on the battlefield. on March 24, UN Secretary-General António when Iran is fighting a deadly coronavirus not only returned previous sanctions lifted ships had seized Yemen-bound weapons believed to be of Iranian “This even ‘exceeds what would be per- Guterres wrote: “I am encouraging the waiving pandemic, Press TV reported on Thursday. under the Resolution 2231 it also ordered “design and manufacture.” missible on the battlefield,” Zarif tweeted on of sanctions imposed on countries to ensure In the letter addressed to UN Secretary new ones, including a total ban on Iran’s March 29. access to food, essential health supplies, and General Antonio Guterres, the academy’s oil export. The Trump administration has slapped COVID-19 medical support. This is the time President Alireza Marandi criticized the UN The purpose behind the sanctions, which Iranian ambassador bashes the harshest ever sanctions in history against for solidarity not exclusion.” and its affiliated organizations for taking “no Trump himself has called the “worst ever racist propaganda during Iran. It has introduced a total ban on Iran’s Guterres added, “Let us remember that we effective measures” to ease the restrictive sanctions in history” under his “maximum oil export with the aim of strangulating the are only as strong as the weakest health system U.S. measures, which are hampering Iran’s pressure” policy toward Iran, are intended to COVID-19 crisis Iranian economy. in our interconnected world.” fight against the fast-spreading disease. strangulate the Iranian economy and drain These illegal moves are taking place while On the same date, Michelle Bachelet, the “Following correspondence about the the country of foreign currency reserves. 1 Since Iran detected its first coronavirus case on Feb. 19, Iran is hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, UN high commissioner for human rights, also U.S. government’s illegal sanctions against The Trump administration has threatened there has been an upsurge in confirmed cases. According to Iran›s killing more than 2,600 people and infecting said, “In a context of global pandemic, impeding the Islamic Republic of Iran and its direct to penalize any country that does business health authorities, by April 3 the total number of confirmed coro- about 39,000. medical efforts in one country heightens the impact on the health of the Iranian people, with Iran. navirus cases in Iran reached 53,183 and the death toll hit 3,294. Zarif enumerated a series of U.S. actions risk for all of us.” unfortunately, so far, the United Nations and “It is certain that history will judge the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has announced the ex- against Iran, from cyberattacks on the country’s “At this crucial time, both for global public other relevant organizations including the ineffectiveness and silence of international tension of social distancing plan for another week until April 8. infrastructure, the January 3 assassination of health reasons, and to support the rights and World Health Organization, which claim to organizations claiming protection of inter- Iran›s healthcare system faces mounting pressure with the influx General Qassem Soleimani, mass punishment lives of millions of people in these countries, defend the rights of humanity, have taken no national law and human rights against such of patients, said the ambassador. of Iranians through “maximum pressure” policy sectoral sanctions should be eased or suspend- effective measures to lift the cruel sanctions crimes. These institutions have become Earlier in February, Beijing sent to Tehran several humanitar- to closing all pathways to transfer of medical ed,” she said in a statement. against our dear children, women, men and toothless, if not complicit, and we will un- ian aid consignments including testing kits and medical supplies, equipment and medicine to the country. Tehran’s ambassador to the UN said on patients,” Marandi wrote. doubtedly see the unraveling of our world along with a volunteer group of medical experts from the Red “US has gone from sabotage & assassinations Wednesday that the sanctions against Iran have Marandi, a former health minister, also order because of this refusal to take action Cross Society of China to assist Iran›s response to the outbreak. to waging an economic war & #EconomicTer- endangered “the lives of many people not just lashed out at the Donald Trump administra- against crass violations of international and Following that, many Chinese people have also sent their un- rorism on Iranians—to #MedicalTerror amidst in Iran, but also across the globe.” tion for turning a deaf ear to international humanitarian law by the U.S. regime,” Ma- disputed assistance to Iran in fight against the epidemic, said the #covid19iran,” Zarif tweeted. “The continuation of the illegal U.S. sanc- calls demanding sanctions relief and instead randi concluded. ambassador, expressing gratitude in a tweet. The chief diplomat urged the international tions on Iran will only negatively affect Iran’s imposing even more anti-Iran sanctions. As of Thursday, April 2, the pandemic He said, «China had a unique and unprecedented public health community to stop supporting U.S. “war crimes” ability to contain the disease. Consequently, “Instead, despite the urging of scien- coronavirus has infected more than 50,000 response that reversed the escalating cases and the country is al- against Iran, urging the world to “stop obeying the Iranian people will suffer more as a result tists, physicians and even some elected US Iranians and killed about 3,200. ready beginning to see success from the government›s measures.» immoral and illegal sanctions” against Iranians. of this bankrupt policy, as will the other nations officials to lift sanctions amid a worldwide Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad The ambassador said it›s good to see the number of new cases While the United Nations and many coun- on our interconnected planet,” Majid Takht-e Covid-19 disease pandemic, this irrational, Zarif has said the U.S. “economic terror- in China declining, which opens the door for hope in controlling tries have called on Washington to lift sanc- Ravanchi said in an opinion piece published ruthless American government has further ism” against Iranians has been expanding the disease. tions at the height of the global pandemic, the by USA Today. tightened sanctions against the Iranian peo- to “medical terrorism”. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 4, 2020 IRAN IN FOCUS 3

Congressional Dems warn Trump Iran advises U.S. to avoid adventurous moves in Iraq

against Iran escalation POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iranian Foreign Ministry Abbas POLITICAL TEHRAN — Eight mem- calling for the suspension of sanctions deskMousavi on Wednesday urged U.S. forces in Iraq deskbers of the U.S. Congress against Iran amid the coronavirus out- to respect the demands of the Iraqi people to leave the country have urged President Trump to consult break which has affected the lives of and avoid creating tension in the Wes Asia region. Congress before taking any military action millions of Iranians. against Iran. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Oc- The Democratic members of Gang of 8, asio-Cortez and Rep. Ilhan Omar led nearly who received high-level briefings on intelli- three dozen lawmakers in urging the Trump gence matters, warned in a March 27 letter Administration to ease sanctions against Iran. that the administration had legal obligations The letter comes just two weeks after the to keep congressional leadership informed Trump Administration levied additional of potential military escalation. sanctions against Iran in the midst of the “While there are well-understood pandemic. and narrow self-defense exceptions, the “Rather than continue to invoke new Constitution and U.S. law require you to sanctions in the Iranian people’s hour of consult with Congress before engaging in need, we urge you to substantially suspend military action or actions likely to lead to sanctions on Iran during this global public war,” read the letter, which was obtained health emergency in a humanitarian gesture by CBS News. to the Iranian people to better enable them The letter was signed by House Speaker to fight the virus,” the letter read, according Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority leader Chuck to a press release by the official website of On January 5, the Iraqi Parliament voted to obligate Iraq’s Schumer, House Intelligence Committee chair- Sen. Sanders. government “to work towards ending the presence of all foreign man Adam Schiff and Senate Intelligence “Additionally, we encourage the U.S. to troops on Iraqi soil”. The vote represented a rebuke of the United Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner. find a way to deliver aid directly to the Iranian States over its targeted airstrike on Iranian anti-terror commander The lawmakers also cited the January people to support the Iranian people’s fight Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi military commander Abu Mahdi strike on Iran’s top general Qassem Soleim- against coronavirus, as many other nations al-Muhandis at Baghdad International Airport on January 3. ani, saying the Trump administration had have done,” the members of Congress con- Mousavi said while the UN secretary general and the inter- “largely failed” to date to fulfill those legal cluded. national community are insisting on the need to pull back from obligations. “Iran is facing a catastrophic toll from hostilities and focus on containing the coronavirus pandemic, Following the attack which led to the the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. sanctions the U.S. moves in Iraq are in contrast to “the official demands of death of General Soleimani, the Trump ad- forces in Iraq. of ‘proxies’.” should not be contributing to this humani- the Iraqi government, parliament, people and create tension.” ministration claimed the strike was carried “Upon information and belief, Iran or its “Unlike the US—which surreptitiously tarian disaster,” said Sanders. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman warned these moves out to forestall an attack on U.S. interests proxies are planning a sneak attack on U.S. lies, cheats & assassinates—Iran only acts “As a caring nation, we must lift any sanc- “can push the region toward instability and a catastrophic situation.” in the region. troops and/or assets in Iraq,” Trump wrote in self-defense. Openly,” he said. tions hurting Iran’s ability to address this According to Press TV, Iraqi security sources have said new The Gang of 8 Democrats said at the time in a tweet. “If this happens, Iran will pay a Zarif warned, “Iran starts no wars, but crisis, including financial sanctions. Every U.S. troops had been deployed to Ain al-Asad in the western Iraqi that they were not briefed in advance of the very heavy price, indeed!” teaches lessons to those who do.” country on earth is going to be affected by province of Anbar amid reports that the Pentagon was preparing strike. Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad On Tuesday, more than 30 members the coronavirus. We are all in this together. for a new escalation. Trump on Wednesday claimed the U.S. Zarif later responded to the threat, tweeting, of the U.S. Congress sent a letter to U.S. If there was ever a moment to show each The reported deployment came after the New York Times said had received intelligence regarding an Ira- “Don’t be misled by usual warmongers… Iran Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other unprecedented cooperation and sup- that the Pentagon had ordered military commanders to plan for nian-backed “sneak attack” on American has FRIENDS: No one can have MILLIONS Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, port internationally, this is that moment.” an escalation of American combat in Iraq. Several American officials told the paper that the Pentagon had ordered planners at the Central Command and in Iraq to draw up a strategy to dismantle Kata’ib Hezbollah, which is part Russia welcomes INSTEX progress of the anti-terror Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) or Hashd POLITICAL TEHRAN — Russian Foreign Ministry with Tehran. al-Shaabi. deskspokesperson Maria Zakharova has wel- “Now the first transaction is complete, INSTEX and its The U.S. has time and again targeted PMU positions, blaming comed the progress made by the three European countries Iranian counterpart STFI (Special Trade and Finance In- the major anti-terror force for rocket attacks against American regarding the INSTEX financial mechanism. strument) will work on more transactions and enhancing troops based in Iraq over the past few months, a charge the pop- In a weekly press conference on Thursday, Zakharova the mechanism,” the German Foreign Ministry said. ular group has strongly denied. said the need for such a tool, especially in the face of chal- In her press conference, Zakharova referred to the first Iraq’s Al Hadath news agency has also raised the possibility lenges such as the coronavirus outbreak, is felt more than transaction carried out within the INSTEX framework and of a large-scale military operation by American forces against ever before, IRNA reported. stated that obviously, progress in implementing INSTEX pro-government forces in Iraq. She stressed that unilateral sanctions in such circumstances will help promote countries’ cooperation with Iran and the It also reported that the spokesman for U.S. forces in Iraq had that Iran is scrambling to contain the deadly coronavirus development of legal economic and trade cooperation with advised people to stay away from U.S. military bases as well as are completely illegal, cruel and immoral. the country in the face of sanctions imposed by the United facilities run by Iraqi resistance groups. According to the latest numbers released by Iran’s Health States. Kuwaiti newspaper al-Qabas reported that the number of Ministry on Friday, 53,183 Iranians have contracted the Russia welcomed it when the mechanism was creat- American Apache helicopters and drones flying over Iraq was disease, 3,294 of which have lost their lives. Another 17,935 ed and “today we are pleased with its development”, the unprecedented since the U.S. invasion of the country in 2003. people have also recovered from the disease. spokesperson said. The Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) Zakharova went on to say that it took about a year for has been designed by the European Union to facilitate legit- INSTEX to be actually launched and information about the Biden calls for sanctions imate trade with Tehran. It was introduced on January 31, mechanism was first released in June 2019. 2019, by France, Germany, and Britain, the three countries The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said her relief for Iran during party to the nuclear deal. country was aware of the fact that it is difficult for the Eu- INSTEX was supposed to be a financial channel and a ropean Union to work out effective mechanisms that can coronavirus pandemic special mechanism for transferring money in spite of U.S. which Iran said was unfruitful. eliminate the impact of U.S. illegal sanctions. sanctions on Iran. Its objective was to facilitate Iran’s trans- On Tuesday, the German Foreign Ministry said Germany, She added, however, that certain results have been achieved (The Hill) — Former Vice President Joe Biden called for the actions with European companies. France and Britain “confirm that INSTEX has successful- and efforts must be made now to complete the projects and government to ease its sanctions on Iran as the country struggles In May 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally ly concluded its first transaction, facilitating the export of improve the quality and speed of work. to contain an exploding coronavirus outbreak. withdrew the United States from the Iran nuclear deal, also medical goods from Europe to Iran.” Zakharova said that the safeguarding of this mechanism “In times of global crisis, America should lead. We should be known as the JCPOA, and reinstated old sanctions and in- “These goods are now in Iran,” it said in a statement, is the rapid inclusion of the list of goods subject to U.S. the first to offer help to people who are hurting or in danger. That’s troduced new ones on the Islamic republic. giving no further details. sanctions, as well as the expansion of the list of countries who we are. That’s who we’ve always been. And, in the midst of Since then, the other signatories to the JCPOA have been The German Foreign Ministry added that Berlin hopes participating in it, with the participation of countries out- this deadly pandemic that respects no borders, the United States trying to save the deal, partly by opening up the INSTEX, to enhance the mechanism and carry out more transaction side the European Union and Iran’s major trading partners. should take steps to offer what relief we can to those nations hardest hit by this virus — including Iran — even as we prioritize Iran strongly warns U.S. about military threats the health of the American people,” Biden said in a statement. [kicker] Zarif to Trump: Iran starts no war, but teaches lessons to those who do 1 “Upon information and belief, Iran are fully guarding “land, marine and aerial or its proxies are planning a sneak attack borders”. on U.S. troops and/or assets in Iraq. If this The major general went on to say that happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, the moves that have been taking place in indeed!” Trump wrote. recent weeks against American military In response, Zarif said “Iran has friends” bases in Iraq are a “normal reaction by but “no one can have millions of ‘proxies’.” the Iraqi people and resistance forces He added, “Unlike the U.S.- which surrep- against U.S. ‘satanic measures’ in as- titiously lies, cheats and assassinates- Iran sassinating General Soleimani and Abu only acts in self-defense.” Mahdi al-Muhandis, the commander of Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, armed Iraqi resistance forces, and has no nothing forces chief of staff, also said Iran has to do with us”. no intention to attack U.S. forces in He said the fact that the U.S. is attribut- Biden said the Trump administration was cruel to “[inhibit] the region but warned if the Americans ing these moves to Iran is a psychological access to needed humanitarian assistance.” have an “ill will against our country’s projection. The former vice president specifically called for issuing “broad security” or make the slightest move The Iranian military chief said, “Americans licenses” to pharmaceutical and medical device companies, easing against Iran “they will face our most are well aware that the people of the region moves in Iraq and the Persian Gulf region, Mobilization Units. the path for international banks, transportation companies and fierce reactions”. and the dear people of Iraq are opposed to launched an extensive media and psycholog- He added Iran is “closely monitoring insurers to provide medical treatment and issuing new sanctions The major general said in recent days U.S. their military presence in these countries ical operations and have “intentions” against the activities and moves of Americans” in guidance to those groups and international aid organizations forces have been increasing their military and it is their normal reaction.” Iraqi resistance forces, including Popular the region and the Iranian armed forces regarding how they can combat COVID-19 in Iran. While the Trump administration has already offered aid to Iran, Biden said the gesture would do little good if not accom- panied by sanctions relief. Trump admits U.S. has ‘moral responsibility” to ease Iran sanctions “The administration’s offer of aid to Iran is insufficient if not U.S. President Donald Trump said he would have a Russia, the United Kingdom and Germany in 2015 - said during the Thursday news conference. backed by concrete steps to ensure the United States is not exac- “moral responsibility” to help Iran in its fight against Tehran scaled back its nuclear program in exchange Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has refused erbating this growing humanitarian crisis. Whatever our many, the coronavirus pandemic if leaders of the country for sanctions relief. American assistance to fight coronavirus, suggesting it many disagreements with the Iranian government, it’s the right asked for assistance. Over the last month, as the virus spread rapidly in could be man-made by the U.S. government. But Iranian and the humane thing to do,” he said. “To stop this pandemic However, he said, they had not yet asked. Iran, the U.S. repeatedly tightened sanctions designed officials have demanded the end of crippling American effectively, every country on earth will need to work together.” “Well they haven’t even asked us to do that,” said to choke off Tehran’s oil exports. sanctions that have devastated Iran’s economy. The call comes as Iran scrambles to curtail the spread of the Trump, when asked by Al Jazeera correspondent Kim- Last week, the Trump administration imposed new The United Nations has repeatedly urged countries highly infectious coronavirus within its borders. More than berly Halkett if the United States would consider easing sanctions on 20 Iranian people and companies. to alter their sanctions against several countries in light 50,000 Iranians have been infected with the illness, and more sanctions on Iran in light of the global outbreak. Iran has been particularly hit hard by the outbreak, of the pandemic. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, than 3,000 have died in Iran. “If they want to meet, we’d love to meet and we’d which has left governments across the world reeling in a letter to G20 economic powers in March, said the Iran has said the lifting of U.S. sanctions would help it in the settle the whole thing out,” he added. with more than one million people infected globally restrictions should be waived “to ensure access to food, fight against COVID-19, but expressed skepticism that the White Since 2018, the Trump administration has imposed and nearly 53,000 deaths. essential health supplies, and COVID-19 medical support”. House would agree to such a move. a policy of “maximum pressure” sanctions against Teh- Tehran has reported nearly 50,500 infections in UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet called for “American leaders are lying. ... If they want to help Iran, all ran after Washington withdrew from the landmark the country of 82 million, with nearly 3,300 deaths, any sanctions imposed on countries such as Iran to they need to do is to lift sanctions. ... Then we can deal with the nuclear agreement. Under the deal - reached between including several members of the government. be “urgently re-evaluated” to avoid pushing strained coronavirus outbreak,” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran, the U.S., the European Union, China, France, “I put it out very publicly with respect to Iran,” Trump medical systems to collapse. in a televised speech last week. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY APRIL 4, 2020

Annual worth of trades at Domestic production TSE rises 2.6 folds ECONOMY TEHRAN — The value of trades at Tehran to save Iran over $3b deskStock Exchange (TSE), the main stock exchange of Iran, jumped 2.6 folds in the past Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19), TSE Head Ali Sahraei announced. The official also put Return on Investment (ROI) at 180 per- cent at TSE in the previous year, Mehr new agency reported. in a year TSE is one of the four major stock exchanges of Iran, the other three exchanges are Iran’s over-the-counter (OTC) market known ECONOMY TEHRAN — Domestic According to the minister, of the men- desk as Iran Fara Bourse (IFB), Iran Mercantile Exchange (IME), and production of industrial tioned total $10 billion reduction in imports, Iran Energy Exhange (IRENEX). and mining products is planned to save the $1.2 billion will be in the textile and garment country over $3 billion in the current Iranian industry, $500 million in cellulose products, calendar year (began on March 20), Iranian $2.7 billion in petrochemicals, $2.4 billion deputy industry, mining and trade minister in mining, $600 million in steel industry, Four scenarios for the global for planning announced. $650 million in home appliances, $650 million Saeed Zarandi further reiterated that the in machinery, $1.4 billion in the automotive economy after Covid-19 ministry will follow its plan of strengthening industry, and $250 million in electrical and domestic production more seriously in the electronic appliances. [with domestic producers] with the support years in order to increase its independence. In this fast-moving environment, we need to think in scenarios, current year, which is the year of “Surge in And in mid-January, Mehdi Sadeqi Niaraki, of the domestic production promotion expert To this end, the Iranian government has put rather than pretending to know how the economy will evolve Production”, IRNA reported. deputy industry, mining, and trade minister desks have resulted in a reduction of foreign supporting domestic producers atop agenda. over the next 1 ½ years. In October 2019, Industry, Mining and for industry affairs, said that domestic pro- currency expenditure by 1.2 billion euros,” Providing the required working capital We’ve developed four scenarios of how the virus, the lock- Trade Minister Reza Rahmani had announced duction has saved the country over €1.2 billion he informed. for the production units and offering them down measures and consequently the different economies that the ministry plans to reduce the country’s since the beginning of the previous Iranian Improving and boosting domestic pro- facilities is one of the major measures being could evolve. Needless to say, even these scenarios cannot imports by $10 billion by the Iranian calendar calendar year (March 21, 2019). duction has been one of the major strategies pursued by the government to support such try to fully predict reality, but we hope they can provide a year 1400 (March 2021-March 2022). “So far, the contracts and agreements signed that Iran has been following in the past two units. benchmark for both the extremes and the middle-ground. In each case, we’ve laid out some possible health factors that may be driving the scenarios - although we’d emphasize these are not meant to be interpreted as forecasts. Power plants receive 61 bcm of gas Over $713m worth of state-run shares Scenario 1: Our base case divested in a year We’ve discussed our base case, and what that means for the in a year major economies, in other parts of our latest monthly update. ECONOMY TEHRAN — National ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iranian ment has been under the spotlight over It assumes that the lockdowns eventually manage to flatten deskIranian Gas Company deskFinance and Econom- the past decade. the curve, although not entirely. Given socio-economic ten- (NIGC) Dispatching Director Mehdi Jam- ic Affairs Ministry announced that over The law on implementation of the general sions and the significant economic fallout, the first European shidi Dana announced that 61 billion cubic 29.98 trillion rials (about $713.8 million) policies of the Article 44 of Iran’s Constitu- governments decide to begin relaxing the lockdown measures meters (bcm) of gas has been supplied to the worth of the shares of state-run compa- tion on privatizing state-owned companies at the end of April. Others will follow in May. The return to country’s power plants during the past Iranian nies has been transferred to the private was declared in 2006 in a bid to downsize normality is gradual, and social distancing continues for at calendar year (ended on March 19). sector during the past Iranian calendar the government and promote the private least the entire summer. Speaking to IRNA on Friday, the official year (ended on March 19, 2020), IRNA sector’s role in the national economy. A proportion of those who can work from home continue said NIGC has defined some programs to reported on Friday. The government envisioned a large pri- to do so for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, places, where boost transfer of gas from production spots Finance and Economic Affairs Minis- vatization program in the Fifth Five-Year you can socialise (pubs, cinemas etc), begin to open with strict to different areas throughout the country. ter Farhad Dejpasand has previously an- National Development Plan (2010-2015), distancing rules in place. Global travel remains restrictive, but a He also announced that some parts of the the unprecedented snowfall and cold weather nounced that offering the shares of state- aiming to privatize about 20 percent of the combination of vaccine development, more widespread testing the Ninth National Gas Pipeline which are which blanketed the country during January owned companies, which are planned to state-owned firms each year. Under the capacity and higher surge capacity within critical healthcare under construction in the south of country will and early February. be privatized, will be sped up. present interpretation of the Article 44, services, means full lockdowns can be largely avoided if the be put into operation in the current Iranian Iran is currently producing over 810 mcm He has also said that the government some state-owned companies have been virus spreads again as we approach the northern winter. calendar year. of natural gas on a daily basis which is mostly should amend its policies and methods privatized to reduce their financial burden Meanwhile, constructing several pressure used inside the country for the domestic sector of setting the prices and transferring the on the country’s budget and also increase boosting stations is on the agenda, he added. and also as fuel for the power plants and small shares in the process of privatization. their productivity. “We delivered 900 million cubic meters portion is also exported to the neighboring In Iran, implementation of privatization Downsizing the government is on the (mcm) of gas per day to the country’s refin- countries like Iraq. plan aimed at more productivity, invest- agenda, but a number of factors has been eries during the peak time in the past year”, Currently, about 30,000 villages with 4.6 ment making, job creation, promotion of hindering privatization trend in the country, Jamshidi Dana further informed. million households as well as 1,148 cities with trade balance, more competition in do- among them government’s high interfer- Iran’s daily natural gas consumption hit a over 18 million households are connected to mestic economy, and reducing financial ence in the management of the transferred record high of nearly 600 mcm a day due to the national gas network in Iran. and management burden on the govern- companies is a challenging one.

ISIPO revives 1,185 idle production Annual loading, unloading of cargos units in a year at Iran’s ports rise 6%

As a result, the economic recovery will be u-shaped. Still, most countries will experience a more severe contraction of economic activity than during the financial crisis. Scenario 2: Winter lockdowns return This is a slight variation of our base case scenario. It starts off in much the same way, with a gradual easing of lockdown measures in May and June. However, in this scenario, the virus returns in the autumn and despite more widespread testing efforts and contact tracing, the new spread pushes most economies back into lockdown. Crisis management is more experienced than in Spring 2020 and containment measures could be more tailor-made, keeping some regions and sectors up and running. For indicative pur- poses, we’re assuming it will take until April 2021 before the virus is back under control and economies, as well as societies, begin to return to normality. This is a ‘W-shaped recovery’. GDP growth would be lower in 2020 but higher in 2021 ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iran Small production, ISIPO managed to revive 529 ECONOMY TEHRAN — Loading the country’s ports as the major gates than in our base case scenario. However, it may well take un- deskIndustries and Industri- idle production units in the first half of deskand unloading of of exports and imports play some til late-2022 before most economies have returned to their al Parks Organization (ISIPO) managed to the past Iranian calendar year (March commodities at the ports of Iran have significant role in this battle. This pre-crisis levels. revive 1,185 idle production units across 21-September 21, 2019). risen six percent during the past Iranian role makes all-out support to ports Scenario 3: The ‘best’ case the country during the past Iranian cal- According to Mosaheb, one of the ap- calendar year (ended on March 19), and more development of them serious In our ‘best’ case scenario, the Western world follows in endar year (ended on March 19), Tasnim proaches through which ISIPO is plan- the head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime and vital. the footsteps of China by ending the lockdowns as soon as the news agency reported quoting a deputy ning to help inactive units get back in the Organization (PMO) announced. Such necessity has led the curve of new infections has been flattened. with ISIPO. production cycle is to see their knowledge Mohammad Rastad also announced government to define projects for A quick return to normality is assumed to materialise to- Ali-Asghar Mosaheb, ISIPO deputy and technology needs. that the entrance of ocean vessels to more development of the ports and wards the end of April. This scenario also assumes that the head for small industries affairs, said the “The country’s technology units and the ports of country has increased also take some measures to encourage virus doesn’t come back again in the winter, either because a mentioned units returning to operation scientific and research centers have come to eight percent in the previous year, investment making in ports, in addition larger-than-expected proportion of people have already had created direct jobs for 21,618 persons. believe that they can help the industry and PMO published on its website. to facilitate loading and unloading of the virus and built immunity, or because control measures The official had previously said, “Fol- that the industry can use their potentials While Iran is combating the U.S. goods, especially basic commodities, become much more effective. lowing a program for boosting domestic and capacities,” he said. unilateral sanctions on its economy, there. Even so, some economic losses would not be offset imme- diately. But government measures like guarantees, liquidity support and short-time work schemes foster a quick and strong rebound, notwithstanding some differences across countries How to read Friday’s U.S. jobs data and beyond for virus impact depending on when the lockdown measures end. This is effec- America’s once-robust labor market is collapsing faster than at A BLS spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the tively a ‘v-shaped’ recovery scenario. any point in the last century. The details are about to start showing agency “will be reviewing our birth-death model and all other In this scenario, most economies would experience a mild in the monthly jobs report. aspects of our methodology very carefully.” recession of some 2-3% year-on-year but growth in 2021 would Nearly 10 million jobless claims have been filed in the past Read More: Reliability of U.S. Economic Data Could Take accelerate, returning most economies to their pre-crisis levels. two weeks as government-mandated shutdowns to contain the Hit From Virus Scenario 4: The ‘worst’ case coronavirus force companies large and small, and industries from In addition to that issue, the figures on payrolls -- as well as To give a sense of how the worst-case scenario for the glob- restaurants to manufacturers, to close their doors. wages and hours -- may be less reliable than usual because stretched al economy might look, we assume here that the lockdown Payrolls are forecast to decline in March for the first time or shuttered businesses might skip responding to the monthly measures last until the end of the year. since 2010 as the early impacts of the pandemic began moving survey. Typically the numbers are based on voluntary responses We’re assuming that things return to normal from 2Q21, through the economy. But the reference week for Friday’s data from about 145,000 businesses and government agencies. perhaps if a vaccine is developed and able to be deployed over ended just before business closures, along with employee layoffs One other quirk to watch: Census workers are poised to add the winter months. The recovery here may be a little faster and furloughs, became more widespread. about 17,000 to the March payrolls figure, according to the bureau’s and stronger than in the other scenarios, as the virus is as- That means reports in the coming months will provide a more tally of temporary hiring for the decennial count. But looking sumed to be completely under control. This is an ‘L-shaped’ comprehensive and detailed picture of how the virus-containment ahead, even the anticipated surge in census hiring in the coming recovery. Needless to say, this is an extreme scenario with lots measures are crippling the nation’s jobs engine. months is unlikely to offset the millions of Americans out of work. of economic, social and political turmoil, and one that looks “This survey is not going to capture the extreme job loss that of business can play havoc with the payrolls count. The Bureau of Unemployment pretty unlikely at this stage. has clearly occurred in the last few weeks,” said James Sweeney, Labor Statistics adjusts job numbers by accounting for business Unemployment rate, median forecast: 3.8%, highest in a year, In this scenario, most economies would experience an un- chief economist at Credit Suisse Group AG. “The horror show” “births” and “deaths” -- but uses a statistical model to do so, given up from 3.5% precedented and almost unimaginable contraction in 2Q20 of will come in the April employment report, which is scheduled determining how many new businesses open and shut down in Over the coming months the jobless rate is expected to surge, around 50% quarter-on-quarter annualised. The year 2020 for May 8. real time is extremely challenging, if not impossible. with some estimates expecting it to rise into the mid-teens -- above would go down in the history books as the year with the most Here’s a guide to how to read the jobs reports both Friday The problem is exacerbated now, since firm “births” typical- the financial-crisis era’s 10% peak. However, the U-3 rate, as it’s severe recession on record, seeing most economies shrinking and in coming months: ly drop sharply in bad times, leading to potential challenges in formally known, may fail to capture the full extent of unemploy- at double-digit rates for the year as a whole. Payrolls accurately presenting the data. ment, because it only includes people actively looking for a job. The rebound in 2021 would be relatively muted and it would Change in nonfarm payrolls, median forecast: Minus 100,000 The model “works very well during normal expansion times, That means other measures, including the participation rate take until 2023 before most economies have returned to their Besides the timing of the survey, there are several reasons to which is most of the time,” said Erica Groshen, who was BLS and employment-population ratio, should also be looked at to pre-crisis levels. take the March payroll figures with a grain of salt. commissioner from 2013 to 2017. “It doesn’t work as well during gauge the decline in employment. (Source: think.ing.com) First, the extent to which companies are completely going out turning points.” (Source: Bloomberg) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 4, 2020 ENERGY 5

Global natural gas prices for 2020 After record rally, oil prices fall expected even lower, set to feel Covid-19 symptoms for years on doubts over output deal The world’s demand for natural gas is being impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and although it will not be curtailed to the same extent as oil, Rystad Energy estimates international gas prices will reach Oil prices fell on Friday, coming off their said they would boost output in April amid lower averages than previously expected in 2020. Prices had already biggest one-day gains in the previous their price war, raising the prospect of a been low due to an abundance of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the session after United States President flooded market. market, and it will take years before the virus’ effect fully dissipates. Donald Trump said he had brokered a Analysts said even if Russia and Saudi Prices in Europe (TTF) for 2020 are now forecasted at $3.2 per deal between Saudi Arabia and Russia to Arabia agreed to cut production by as much million British thermal unit (MMBtu), a drop of $0.62 per MMBtu cut output, but made no offer to reduce as 15 million bpd, that would not be enough from our February forecast. Similarly, our price forecast for Asian US production. to balance the market in the face of a deep Spot prices has been revised down to $3.80 per MMBtu. The lower Brent crude futures fell 4.2 percent to economic recession. forecast is based on the weaker demand seen globally throughout $28.67, after having soared 21 percent “The 10-15 million bpd oil production the year as a result of the lower commercial and industrial activity, on Thursday. cut reportedly being brokered by President which will exacerbate the looseness in the market. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Trump is a great start, but deeper cuts will Prices in 2021 and 2022 have also been revised down on lower crude futures fell 5.7 percent to $23.87 likely be needed to get through a difficult economic growth and ample LNG supplies. Given the recent drop a barrel, after having surged nearly 25 [second quarter],” said Stephen Innes, in oil prices and Rystad Energy’s downward revision in the oil price percent on Thursday. chief global market strategist at AxiCorp. forecast, our oil-indexed price has also been revised down. Our new Friday’s drop reflected market A deal between Russia and Saudi Arabia oil-indexed price forecast for 2020 is $7.45 per MMBtu (-4%). skepticism over whether a deal to call could effectively establish a floor for WTI Given the six-month lag in oil-indexation in most contracts, the off a damaging Saudi-Russian price war in the $30s, he said. oil-indexed price is expected to reach the bottom in 2021 at a level would go ahead if there was no cooperation With the coronavirus pandemic of $5.68 per MMBtu, which is $1.05 per MMBtu below our previous from other producers including the US. worsening, the global market is facing a forecast (-16%). We also see US Henry Hub gas prices remaining Trump told reporters at the White House huge oversupply of around 25 million bpd. below $2.5 per MMBtu for a protracted period, averaging at $1.94 late on Thursday he had made no offer to Cutting 10 million bpd of supply would at per MMBtu in 2020 and at $2.43 per MMBtu next year. cut US output. least help ease a shortage of crude storage Rystad Energy expects global market fundamentals will remain “Both Riyadh and Moscow will also capacity, Rystad Energy said. loose through 2022 before prices tighten significantly as LNG demand be looking for participation from US Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Even with the huge gains on Thursday, “Running out of storage capacity would growth outpaces liquefaction capacity due to more delays in project producers, and this may prove now to be and Russian President Vladimir Putin on prices have still slumped nearly 60 percent result in a complete collapse of the oil sanctioning. Rystad Energy forecasts a tight LNG balance in 2024 the biggest obstacle to an agreement,” Royal Thursday, and said he expected they would this year as oil demand has plummeted market,” Rystad’s head of analysis, Per and 2025, and along with it, a price spike. Bank of Canada analysts said in a note. cut oil output by as much as 10 million to due to the coronavirus pandemic slashing Magnus Nysveen said. Following this period, we see downside risk for prices for 2026 Trump said he had spoken with both 15 million barrels per day (bpd). demand even as Saudi Arabia and Russia (Source: aljazeera.com) and 2027 driven by potential overinvestment in 2019 as new supplies begin coming onto the market. However, the downside in prices during this period is more limited than our previous estimate as the lower number of liquefaction projects moving ahead will help This oil shock is the worst Petrobras says talks among Russia, Saudi keep a better market balance. Much of the demand losses this year come from limited appetite in history Arabia, U.S. ‘irrelevant’ for oil prices for LNG, with buyers scaling down orders amid reduced industrial and commercial activity and oversupply, as low prices sometimes make shipping uneconomical. As a result of the lower demand and the low prices, exporters have had to adjust their LNG production, and the US is among the countries that will see the biggest impact on LNG exports. The feed- gas volume flowing into liquefaction plants on the US Gulf Coast has slowed during the last two months, with some redirected to domestic consumption instead, boosting coal-to-gas switching in the power sector. Feedgas reached a peak of 9,502 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd), or about 269 million cubic meters per day (MMcmd) on 31 January and has been on a declining trend since, averaging at 7,900 million cubic feet (224 MMcmd) in March. Feedgas into Sabine Pass LNG has dropped from 4,227 MMcfd (120 MMcmd) on 31 January to as low as 1,743 MMcfd (49 MMcmd) on 17 March. “While LNG exports from the US have dropped, demand from the power sector continued to increase in March, boosted by low gas prices. US gas demand from the power sector has recently reached close to 32 billion cubic feet per day (Bcfd), or a 30% increase year- The world has seen some oil shocks before, react to falling prices like they usually Recent negotiations involving leaders lize the oil market. Still, Brazilian Energy on-year. However, as the epicenter of Covid-19 moves from Europe but “none has hit the industry with quite do—by consuming more. So for as long from major oil-producing nations and the Ministry officials have remained silent on to the US, we could see a drop in gas demand from power and other the ferocity we are witnessing today,” the as the pandemic lasts, boosts in demand United States will prove irrelevant for oil any potential negotiations. sectors, adding more downward pressure for Henry Hub prices” says IEA said on Wednesday in an article on that were seen during other oil shocks are prices, which are low because of depressed Petrobras and government officials say Rystad Energy’s Head of Gas and Power Markets Carlos Torres-Diaz. its website, referring to the effects of the “highly unlikely.” demand, the chief executive of Brazil’s the company is run without any political On the production side, in the US we expect gross natural gas coronavirus crisis that have caused oil “Instead, a rapid buildup of oil stocks Petrobras said on Thursday evening. interference, although the government is production to drop from 116 Bcfd in the fourth quarter of 2019 to prices to crumble. is starting to saturate available storage During an online event hosted by Brazil- by far the biggest shareholder in Petroleo about 108 to 109 Bcfd in the same period this year. “The impacts will be felt throughout oil’s capacity, pushing down prices further,” ian brokerage XP, Petrobras CEO Roberto Brasileiro SA (PETR4.SA), as the firm is We estimate that in a $30 WTI oil price scenario, Permian dry gas global supply chains and ripple into other the IEA said. Castello Branco said the dispute between known. Government and company officials production might decline by more than 400 MMcfd, even before year parts of the energy sector,” the IEA said. The IAE also outlined five key dimen- non-OPEC member Russia and the group’s are known to communicate frequently. end, and may fall by another 1 Bcfd over 2021 to 2022, if oil prices do While focusing on the coronavirus, sions to the current crisis, which it prom- de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, showed that Crude prices crashed in early March as not improve. While this pace of decline may not sound significant, the IEA also mentions the supply shock, ises to detail further in its upcoming Oil the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting talks between Russia and Saudi Arabia fell it is a big difference compared to the original expectation of 4 Bcfd which it tactfully blames on the “end of Market Report that will be forthcoming Countries had no medium- or long-term apart. Demand has since taken a severe hit growth over 2020 to 2022. restraints on production from OPEC pro- in a couple of weeks. Those five elements pricing power. as the economies of many countries have The Permian Highway and Whistler pipelines will most likely still ducers and Russia (OPEC+),” stopping are current production grinding to a halt, “I sincerely think that this dispute be- ground to a halt amid efforts to battle the come online and achieve adequate utilization rates, but the utilization short of singling out a few OPEC producers “sharp” cuts to new investments all the tween Russia and Saudi Arabia - although global coronavirus outbreak. of some legacy pipelines, and the need for future projects, is now at that have promised to purposefully flood way down the supply chain, pressure on the markets reacted positively to some news Brent oil prices and U.S. benchmark WTI serious risk. The lower gas production from associated wells could the market with millions of extra barrels of refiners, “massive” strains on fossil-fu- about President Trump getting involved both rose over 20% on Thursday after U.S. help balance the market and push Henry Hub prices back to $2 per oil per day, such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, el-revenue-dependent countries, and low and what not - has become irrelevant amid President Donald Trump said he brokered MMBtu towards the end of the year. and the UAE. oil prices spilling over into the rest of the the dimension of the (coronavirus) crisis,” a deal between Russia and Saudi Arabia to (Source: hellenicshippingnews.com) The reason the shock is unique this energy sector such as natural gas. Castello Branco said. cut supply. But the details of any potential time around, the IAE says, is because The IEA said that comparing the current “Oil prices are low because global de- accord remained unclear. Officials in other one of the usual stabilization factors, shock to previous oil market disruptions mand has gone down.” oil-producing nations, including Mexico, Oman welcomes U.S. consumers, is not able to do its part. As “are inevitable but misplaced,” adding that Castello Branco’s comments may temper signaled an openness to multilateral talks billions of people around the world still we have “never seen anything like 2020. speculation that Brazil will enter a potential to stabilize oil prices. invitation to OPEC to discuss in lockdown, consumers are unable to (Source: oilprice.com) deal among oil-producing nations to stabi- (Source: Reuters) oil price decline

Oman welcomes a U.S. invitation to OPEC members to discuss ways of halting a collapse in oil prices, the country’s oil minister LNG’s plummeting price in Asia should drag down thermal coal said, according to the Omani al-Watan newspaper on Thursday. There is an increasing disconnect between the price of In theory, Japanese and South Korean utilities should Oman is not in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting thermal coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Asia, with now be planning to use more LNG and less coal, although Countries, but is a member of the OPEC+ alliance of OPEC and the dirtier fuel holding its value while LNG is dragged this has yet to show up in the trade flows data. non-OPEC nations that struck an oil output deal that had led to down by the collapse in crude oil. Japan, the world’s biggest LNG buyer, imported 6.67 relatively stable oil prices since 2017. In theory, the crash in LNG prices, both spot and million tons in March, down from 7.18 million in February The agreement collapsed last month after Russia refused to contract, should result in several Asian countries switching and 7.06 million in March last year, according to vessel- support deeper production cuts to support prices hit by the coro- more electricity generation to LNG and away from coal, tracking data compiled by Refinitiv. navirus outbreak. but as yet there is little evidence this is occurring. South Korea, the third-biggest buyer behind China, In response, OPEC’s de facto leader Saudi Arabia slashed its The spot price of LNG in Asia LNG-AS fell to $2.80 imported 3.83 million tons in March, down from 4.42 export prices and said it would raise production to maximum per million British thermal units (mmBtu) in the week to million in February, but slightly higher than the 3.28 capacity. March 27, down from $3.50 the prior week and only just million in March 2019. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had spoken above the record low of $2.70 from the week of Feb. 14. Turning to coal, and Japan imported 7.5 million tons to the leaders of both Saudi Arabia and Russia and believed the It has dropped 59% from its winter 2019-20 peak of thermal coal in March, down slightly from 7.74 million two countries would reach a deal to end their price war within of $6.80 per mmBtu, reached in mid-October, and is in February and 7.58 million in March last year, according a few days. 86% below its all-time high of $20.50 in February 2014. to the Refinitiv data, which was filtered to show only “The invitation addressed by the United States … to main The spot market accounts for about a third of LNG cargoes identified as thermal coal, thereby excluding OPEC member countries to return to negotiations may rekindle volumes, with the rest being sold under mainly longer- coking coal volumes. hopes of reaching practical solutions to controlling the oil price term contracts linked to the price of crude oil. South Korea’s thermal coal imports rose to 4.76 million decline,” Omani oil minister Mohammed bin Hamad al-Rumhy The contract prices will also be dropping rapidly, other commodities as the coronavirus that started in tons in March, up from February’s 4.48 million, but said, according to al-Watan. given the 66% drop in Brent crude futures since the China spreads across the world. below the 5.0 million from March last year. “We don’t support countries in increasing production at this peak this year of $71.75 a barrel on Jan. 8 to the close It ended last year at $67.70 a ton, rose as high as The drop in imports for LNG in both countries could be sensitive stage, as it doesn’t serve the global oil industry nor the on Wednesday of $24.74. $72.25 on Jan. 13, before dropping to the low so far this partly explained by the slowing of the economies due to states’ interests.” While the terms of the contracts vary, it’s likely that year of $65.15 on March 9, and has traded in a gentle the coronavirus and the passing of peak winter demand. “The oil market is going through a critical stage and the eco- the cost of LNG supplied will soon drop below $4 per uptrend since then. But it’s worth noting that the imports of thermal coal nomical and financial losses, especially for countries dependent mmBtu for many, although the price reduction won’t The stability of Australian thermal coal and the plunge in didn’t drop by as much in Japan’s case, and actually rose on oil revenues, will be large if prices remain where they are come as quickly as for spot deals, given most contracts LNG prices has altered the economics of power generation month-on-month in South Korea. now,” he added, ruling out the possibility of price drop to about have built in lags when it comes to implementing price in Japan and South Korea, the two Asian countries most If Japanese and South Korean utilities do start to $15 per barrel. changes. able to switch fuels. switch from coal to LNG, it may not do much for the International crude prices have fallen by around 50% to below While LNG prices are plummeting, the same cannot According to Refinitiv data, the current average coal- LNG price, given the global surplus and the looming $26 a barrel since the OPEC+ output deal collapsed. be said for Australian thermal coal, the main grade used to-gas switching price is $4.76 per mmBtu for a combined world recession. Al-Rumhy announced ambitious plans late last year to invest for power generation in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. cycle gas turbine in Japan and $6.61 in South Korea. However, a switch away from coal should lead to more than $20 billion in downstream operations in the next five Newcastle coal futures ended at $66.70 a ton on This means the current spot LNG price, and quite a fall in prices as demand will drop, and thermal coal years. However, the impact of current economic conditions will Wednesday, down from the prior close $67.85. likely the contract prices from next month onwards, may end up joining other commodities in feeling the put on hold any investments in new fields and projects, he was However, the contract has been remarkably steady are below the level at which it becomes cheaper to use coronavirus chill. reported as saying on Thursday. so far this year, despite the mayhem being wreaked on natural gas than coal to generate power. (Source: hellenicshippingnews.com) (Source: Reuters) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 ADVERTISEMENTS APRIL 4, 2020 TEHRAN TIMES Iran’s Leading International Daily Modern Stadium of Advertising Dept Martyrs of Khuzestan Football Club (KSC)

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tehrantimes79 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 4, 2020 ANALYSIS 7

An efficient economic system necessary Cautious optimism as Italy shows initial signs of crisis slowing for a new Islamic civilization: expert Initial signs of a slowdown in Italy’s coronavirus epidemic, the world’s deadliest, have started appearing across the country in recent days, say officials, providing a beacon of cautious hope 1 So there is a precise direction in naming each (or even a surge in production) at its disposal. Ironically, to other Western nations where authorities are implementing year which acts as the plot that interconnects all the our main problems are privative, meaning the obstacles similar containment strategies - but where the infection rate is names. The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, since the which exist in our way to boosting production rate. By still growing fast. first year in which the process of naming the year start- removing these obstacles, we achieve the production leap. Following a national lockdown that began on March 10, Italy has ed, has chosen the names in an order that illustrates a I want to briefly talk about the infrastructures and become an international litmus test to understand the dynamics certain transcendental goal once you analyze the names capacities of production in Iran. Hardware-wise, produc- of the virus’s spread, and the relative success of strict measures to collectively. tion requires five factors. The first factor is the market. stem the contagion. Though statistics vary, many hard-hit coun- During several past years, the names chosen by the The second factor is the workforce. The third is knowl- tries could be around three weeks behind Italy in their domestic Leader of the Islamic Revolution have been related to edge and technology. The fourth factor is capital, and infection spread. economy. When you study the names, you will realize they the fifth factor is natural resources. If a country would On Thursday, Italy announced that the number of deaths here are small parts of a big economic plan which all together, possess all these factors, it has a phenomenal capacity had risen by 760 in 24 hours, to 13,915, as new cases grew at a steady will help us move towards creating an ideal functional for production. Our country is rich in all those factors. rate by 4,668, against the previous day’s 4,782, to a total of 115,242. economic system. In fact, the concepts considered by the As of market factor, we already have a population of Similar rates of growth in total cases have been recorded in Italy Leader (e.g. boost in domestic production, improvement of 84 million which means a huge ipso facto market. We over the past five days, shifting between a maximum of 5.6 percent consumption patterns, innovation and prosperity, flourish also have 15 neighboring countries with a population of and a minimum of four percent, showing a tentative steadying of in production, and surge in production) all together form over 400 million people. These countries, collectively, the contagion curve. the structure of the aforementioned ideal economic order. spend $2 billion on different merchandise and services Silvio Brusaferro, president of the National Institute of Health, The Leader’s emphasis on the category of “production” of which, $1.2 billion are imported from other countries. told a press conference on Tuesday that the country seemed to in recent years is mainly rooted in the fact that in our Iran can be one of the good exporters to these neighbor- be arriving at a plateau, showing that the movement restrictions path towards creating a new Islamic civilization, the most ing countries because, first, for most of these countries, is while our population has multiplied by 2.8 and this were working. He also hinted at the possibility of having reached important challenge to overcome at the moment in the Iranian merchandises are well qualified enough and sec- means that real per capita production rate in Iran is now a peak in the contagion. country is the strengthening of the national economy ond, most of these countries are culturally close to us. 7 times more than before the Islamic Revolution. This is Although experts mostly agree there are some initial signs of and creating an efficient economic system. For example, most of our neighbors did not/will not a rare growth that is distinguished once compared with a improvement, they still warn that official numbers could be failing Therefore, the concepts behind these names alongside acquiesce to sanctions programs against us. This means country like the United States which over the same period, to provide a clear picture of the overall situation. each other illustrate the perfect picture of a convenient our domestic and regional market is a rich one and no had its per capita production rate multiplied only by 2. “Technically, the peak is the day when the highest number of economic order. matter how much we produce; the market exists out there. It is a true argument that the U.S. has more population daily infections is reached,” Nino Cartabellotta, a leading Italian As an economist, what’s your idea about the im- As of the workforce, our country possesses over 40 than Iran and its two-times growth worth more than our public health expert, told Al Jazeera. portance of “production” in economic empowerment? million young workforces of which, 15 million are aca- seven-times growth, but our growth ratio during the past “After March 21, when Italy had a high of 6,500 cases, we wit- Given the fact that our country has been under suffocat- demically educated and account as expert workforces. 40 years has been significant and we expect it to increase. nessed a decrease. We are now in a sort of a plateau, where numbers ing international sanctions for over four decades, isn’t This gives us a high capacity for production. We may see less emphasis on the production empow- still go up and down, since they also depend on the number of tests the expectation of a production leap rather unrealistic? In the science and technology sector, Iran is a leading erment during the last few years. One reason is that those conducted on a daily basis. This might last up to three weeks, when First of all, in every country which endeavors to achieve country in the field of new technologies in the region or who are responsible for the lubrication of the production a [decrease] should begin.” development, the element of “production” is the most as in some cases, in the world. We have 100,000 univer- process, especially in the executive branch of government, But based on the different virus transmission rates seen across significant factor in economic planning. Production is also sity professors who can run knowledge enterprises and have focused way more on foreign interactions and po- Italy’s varied regions, and with discrepancies in testing policies, vital to the “resistive economy”. In a resistive economic perform activities in the technology sector. We also have litical exchanges with western countries than activating Cartabellotta says discussing a contagion peak in Italy was like strategy, production is the fundamental factor for economic more than 4,600 active knowledge enterprises in Iran domestic capacities for production. This approach drew talking about a fabled phoenix. growth. Production has very serious effects on obtaining which almost have produced any merchandise they have the attention of economic activists away from the domestic “The number of infected patients [announced] depends on the economic goals in every country. Production results in been ordered to produce. Many of these enterprises are capabilities of the country in the fields of production. daily changes in the number of tests, meaning this figure cannot be the abundance of merchandise in an economy, meaning producing productions that only one or two countries Authorities of Iran have been engaged in nuclear taken as an objective measure. [It is like] looking through a keyhole the people of the country, industries, and all economic are capable of producing in the world. These knowledge negotiations with different countries of the world since that keeps constantly changing in size,” he says. activists including the final consumer and production enterprises and the technological power in Iran which 2003. From 2004 to 2013 the production process was Experts say the number of infected people in the country is units can find whatever they want in the market. This is has been flourishing since not long ago have proved there not marginalized by intense nuclear negotiations and certainly higher than has been announced, as the vast majority of the first influence of production growth. are no dead-ends in fields of technology and technical moved progressively forward parallel to diplomatic ne- tests have only been conducted on people who have been hospital- The second influence is the containment of inflation. skills in the country. gotiations and interactions. But, unfortunately, since ised, leaving infected citizens with no or few symptoms uncounted. The most effective method to control or reduce the infla- As of the capital, we have over $550 billion of liquidity 2004 on, more than 90 percent of countries’ power was Meanwhile, officials said on Tuesday the number of deaths could tion rate is the production growth which can even end of which, if only one third would be directed towards the dedicated to negotiations and we fell short of power to have also been underestimated, since their data did not include the up in price reduction. production, causes a production blast rather than a pro- strengthen domestic production. Those negotiations fi- deaths of people who died at home or in nursing homes. In Berga- The third influence of production growth is the re- duction leap. So we don’t even need foreign investments nally resulted in The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action mo, the city in Italy most badly affected by the infection, fatalities duction of the countries’ dependency on foreign mer- to boost production and there is enough cash flow in the (JCPOA) which didn’t last long and had no positive effect in the first three weeks of March increased more than four times chandise and consequently reducing the demand for country to achieve that goal. on production units. compared with the same period in 2019. foreign currency. Through this strategy, the impacts of As of the natural resources, Iran is a very rich country. What role each part of the government should play But more positive signs have also emerged this week, with the financial and bank-related sanctions against a country Iran, alone, possesses natural resources equivalent to a to boost the production rate? rate of hospital admissions starting to slow, alongside a decline will decrease. group of European countries combined. Iran is three times Various entities have different responsibilities. Cen- in the number of patients in need of intensive care in some of the The next influence of growth in production is the incre- bigger than France in the size of the land. The land is an tral Bank and the banking network of the countries’ country’s worst-hit areas. ment of job opportunities which results in the increment important element for production. As of geographical responsibility is directing the heavy mass of liquidity A doctor working in a COVID-19 ward at a hospital in Cremona, of revenue and welfare of the society. location, Iran is located on the 30th parallel north which towards production. The responsibility of the Ministry one of the provinces most affected by the crisis, told Al Jazeera The last but not least influence is the increase of states’ is considered as the best agricultural climate in the world. of Industry, Mining, and Trade is regulating the trade that the number of patients who were hospitalised with serious revenues from taxing without increasing the taxes. This We have rich sources of groundwater, surface water, and policies; partly to manage and control the importations, infections had slightly decreased since the weekend, along with has two effects: first, for economies like what we have precipitations and also deep waters which are recently and partly to empower the exportations. This minis- the number of ambulance service interventions. here in Iran, it will decrease the dependency of the gov- being studied. We have 40 million hectares of fertile ag- try is also responsible to provide the infrastructures Virologist and University of Florida Professor Ilaria Capua, a ernment on revenues from selling oil, and second, it ricultural land for traditional agricultural methods and if necessary for production and lifting the bureaucratic former Italian MP, told Al Jazeera she felt “cautiously optimistic”, will expand the governmental services and increment we use modern agricultural methods, the entire width of obstacles in the way of increasing the production rate although she also acknowledged that an overall statement about the of public welfare. Iran can be used for agriculture. As of oil and gas which which is almost the most important obstacle amongst course of the epidemic was difficult to issue in light of the different To sum up, strengthening national production will are the most important minerals and raw materials of the all for entrepreneurs. The Ministry of Economic Affairs sampling procedures carried out in different Italian regions. result in public welfare for citizens and economic authority world, Iran is the richest country and ranks first among and Finance is another part of the executive body of “I am beginning to feel optimistic because recent data are show- for the country on a global scale. So, the “production” is others for total oil plus gas resources. As of other sorts the government which accounts for removing those ing that there is no significant increase in the number of deaths or considered as a fundamental factor in economic planning of minerals, except for a handful of minerals, all other obstacles (which most of them are solvable merely by in severe clinical forms that require hospitalisation,” she told Al and when we analyze the national and international eco- resources exist in the country. signing an order on a paper). The Presidential Deputy Jazeera. “The biggest problem of this pandemic is the overload nomic status of more developed countries of the world In terms of man-made infrastructures, Iran is in very for Science and Technology is another effective entity in of the healthcare services. The number of hospitalisations is not which hold an economic hegemony or authority in global good shape. Our roads network has expanded in every this process which fortunately has been very positively significantly increasing, meaning that the restriction measures that level, we realize there has been a substantial program in corner of the country interconnecting every rural and active in recent years both in reinforcing the technology were put in place are actually working. Therefore, we are hopefully fields of production. They have empowered their national urban zone with appropriate routes. The ICT (Information in the country and canalizing those technologies toward stabilising before the epidemic curve starts decreasing.” production and consequently increased public welfare and Communications Technology) network is desirably production. The taxation system of the country must try Capua said the epidemic curve might also be impacted by the and economic power internationally. developed all over the country. The energy network is to lift the burden of taxation pressure off the shoulders growing presence of antibodies across society. Those people who Strengthening domestic production requires vari- well expanded. Every populated area enjoys an electricity of the real production activist who mainly have a clear have been affected by an asymptomatic or mild form of COVID-19 ous infrastructures. Our country has been struggling to network and most of the villages in the furthest corners of tax file. Taxation pressures should be focused on the should have in fact produced antibodies, which are one of the likely make its way through uncountable impossible-to-defeat the country have access to gas networks. In sum, all of the part of the economy that doesn’t produce value-added. barriers to the transmission of the virus, contributing to the effects challenges to establish these infrastructures for more necessary infrastructures for boosting the production are (e.g. capital gain tax, etc.) of the restriction measures. than 40 years. What’s our status today? Do we have those favorably developed across the country since the Islamic What role does society play in the realization of the But if Italy relaxed now, it could still witness new peaks. infrastructures? Revolution in 1979. goals set forth by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Officials say a full lockdown will continue until at least Easter First, I should point out that we had a relatively good So, it is true to say we have extensive land which is every year? (April 12), while many are already expecting further extensions. advancement in the “flourish of production” which was armed and has all the requirements of the production leap There are two main role-players in a resistive econo- Cartabellotta warns that it could be potentially very dangerous if last year’s name. Even though our revenues from selling at its disposal. It means we have everything we need to my: state or government, and people as the main body of politicians start discussing what to do next and ways to reopen the petroleum reduced and our oil-oriented economic growth boost high-quality production on a global scale and the society. These two form the foundations of the resistive country while basing their assumptions on the way their numbers rate was negative, the economic growth rate of Iran was main challenge to achieve that goal is removing the ob- economy. The main task of government is planning and are currently being recorded. positive last year. This means that our real production stacles in the way of becoming an international economic providing the infrastructures, but those plans will go He also urged more clarity concerning the category of people rate in sections like agriculture, industries, and services power. Once these obstacles are defeated, an economy, no further than papers and books if the society would authorities define as “recovered/discharged”. As of Thursday, 18,278 increased and we got past the economic depression of in essence, tends to increase the production rate. not act accordingly. Indeed, the government acts as the individuals fall into this category. previous years. So if everything is ready, if all factors are gathered brain and operational arms are the people. For example, It was not specified whether all those in this category underwent So, it is true to say that the prosperity of production right here right now, why we can’t feel a sensible change investments are conducted by the body of society. It is the double testing the World Health Organization requires for a began last year. But, as the Leader mentioned in his new in approaches towards the production process? The sta- also the same about working, selling, marketing, pro- case to be declared closed. The Italian health agency considers a years’ speech, this prosperity was limited and Iranian tistics even imply a considerable decrease in the produc- ducing and this list goes on and on. The word “people” case closed when someone heals and ceases to be contagious. Often, people didn’t feel its influence in everyday life. That’s tion rates within the last few years. You even argued that here means university professors, workers, engineers, people who were discharged were not tested twice, meaning they why the current year was named “Surge in Production” growth in the production rate will dramatically decrease families, etc. For a country that is seeking to achieve a could still be potentially contagious, or active cases. which one of its results is a sensible effect in public live- the impact of different international sanctions. What part production leap, it is crucial to have a pure and unmixed “We are at risk here of letting people out who shouldn’t go lihood so that people feel the economic conditions are of the government is responsible for eradicating those public opinion and a culture consonant with this goal. around,” Cartabellotta says. getting better. obstacles mentioned above? The members of the society, also by purchasing nation- At the same time, more guidelines from European officials are The surge in production certainly needs infrastructures After the Islamic Revolution of Iran, the real produc- al productions, can accelerate the progress. Those who needed to standardise metrics in measuring the contagion, thus and some factors. Fortunately, Iran is one of the few tion growth rate is multiplied by 16.4 which means we produce merchandise or prepare services are responsible helping scientists research and plan for the next steps to be rooted countries in the world which has all the infrastructures have moved from $100 billion of PPP (Purchasing Power to increase both the production rate and quality of the in scientific analysis. and factors required for strengthening of the production Parity) in 1979 to $1,650 billion of PPP in 2019. This productions. “In order to study it we need to be speaking the same language,” Capua says. “But we need to do it now. We cannot go back in time and generate data that we didn’t collect in the right way. Because everything that we didn’t collect is then gone, we don’t have it an- ymore.” Norway pleads for more aid to help Palestinians tackle coronavirus Male individuals also appear more likely to develop severe clinical Norway called Friday for more money health disaster than we think it can be, expects the needs to grow and the Soereide said there had been positive cases of COVID-19 in Italy, and preliminary data suggest a similar to help the Palestinian Territories get especially in Gaza, but also in the West measures already taken to limit the Israeli-Palestinian cooperation in tackling scenario in other countries, though that requires more data and through the COVID-19 pandemic. Bank,” Norway’s Foreign Minister Ine spread to hit the Palestinian economy the coronavirus pandemic. standardised methods to confirm. Although there has only been one death Eriksen Soereide told Reuters. and budget. However, she did not expect that the Researchers aren’t sure what’s behind this apparent trend, but and 161 reported cases of the coronavirus “We are urging donors to step up their She urged donors to deliver on United States would resume funding to the Capua says this preliminary evidence could represent a stepping stone in the Palestinian Territories, the outbreak efforts both through the World Bank and previous commitments, including to the United Nations’ Palestinian aid agency, as we head towards “the new normal”, knowing it could represent is expected to worsen there. also directly to the Palestinians,” she said. United Nations and non-governmental or to the Palestinian Authority, which a criterion to enact measures for the next phase of the emergency. Globally cases have now passed 1 Norway chairs the Ad Hoc Liaison organisations, and step up their efforts. it suspended in 2018. “If these data are confirmed, it would seem wise to start repop- million, with more than 53,000 fatalities, Committee (AHLC), which is the donor Concerns are particularly high in the “We have been urging them to do so for ulating the workforce with a higher number of women than men with most in the United States, Italy and group to the Palestinians. West Bank’s crowded refugee camps and a long time ... we do not necessarily expect initially,” she said. “Because if women are more resistant, they’ll Spain after the initial outbreak in Asia. The Palestinian Authority estimates the densely populated Gaza Strip, where there will be a change in the American have a tendency to get less seriously affected, and therefore they “We need to work together to prevent it needs $120 million to respond to the Palestinian groups have cancelled mass line in the short-term,” Soereide said. won’t be another burden on the healthcare system.” this from being a bigger humanitarian and coronavirus outbreak, but Soereide rallies on the border with Israel. (Source: Reuters) (Source: al Jazeera) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 HERITAGE & TOURISM APRIL 4, 2020

Three human-like species lived side-by-side in ancient Africa Age-old Noruz traditions

Two million years ago, three different human-like species were living side-by-side in South Africa, a study shows. The findings underline a growing understanding that the altered by coronavirus in Iran present-day situation, where one human species dominates the globe, may be unusual compared with the evolutionary past. By Afshin Majlesi The new evidence comes from efforts to date bones uncovered at a cave complex near Johannesburg. Iranians experienced totally-changed The research has been published in the journal Science. traditions during this Noruz (the two- The new work also revealed the earliest known example of week New Year holidays started March Homo erectus, a species thought to be a direct ancestor of modern 20) in the face of the novel coronavirus humans (Homo sapiens). pandemic that has crippled the tourism The three groups of hominins (human-like creatures) belonged and hospitality industries worldwide. to Australopithecus (the group made famous by the “Lucy” fossil The virus, also known as COVID-19, from Ethiopia), Paranthropus and Homo - better known as humans. caused air, road and rail travels a meltdown Andy Herries, from LaTrobe University in Melbourne, Aus- in the country such as the whole world. tralia, and colleagues evaluated remains found at the Drimolen In an act that is far different from the Cave Complex using three different scientific dating techniques: sole of the age-old Noruz traditions, a electron spin resonance, palaeomagnetism and uranium-lead majority of people stayed home instead of dating. coming together, visiting the loved ones, “We collated all of the dates from each of these techniques or spending time in the nature. and together they showed that we had a very precise age. We now Each Noruz, hoteliers, airliners, know that the Drimolen Main Quarry and all of the fossils in it tour operators, restaurants, and local are dated from 2.04 to 1.95 million years ago,” said co-author communities prepare to reap a bonanza Stephanie Baker, from the University of Johannesburg. over a traditional peak season, which starts The Drimolen complex has produced multiple ancient fossils days before Noruz. over the years, including those of ancient hominins. The nation by tradition make hundreds But a few years ago, researchers uncovered two new skullcaps. of trips, mostly domestic ones, when most One of these belonged to the relatively primitive species Paran- businesses and workplaces are closed, thropus robustus. The other was more modern in appearance as are schools. The number of domestic and was identified as Homo erectus. They named the H. erectus travelers is sometimes difficult to gauge skullcap DNH 134. accurately because many use their own cars Homo erectus is one of our direct human ancestors and may to get around. In addition to Iran’s popular have been the first early human species to migrate out of Africa tourist sites, including the historical into the rest of the world. Not only is this the earliest example of the cities of Isfahan and Shiraz, hundreds species anywhere in the world, but it’s the only specimen known of thousands head for the coasts of the from South Africa. Caspian Sea. “Until this find, we always assumed Homo erectus originated However, local and government from eastern Africa. But DNH 134 shows that Homo erectus, one of authorities, this year, issued severe our direct ancestors, possibly comes from southern Africa instead,” warnings, urging to limit travel between said Stephanie Baker. major cities in order to contain the virus. File photo shows an Iranian boy buying a flower vase, ahead of the Iranian New Year, Noruz. “That would mean that they later moved northwards into East They also warned that may use “force” Africa. From there they went through North Africa to populate the to limit travel throughout the country if This year, parks and gardens witnessed during the two-week holidays (starting their reservations in time after virus is rest of the world.” needed. an unusual serene and quiet picture on March 20 this year) in a bid to combat controlled.” We once thought of human evolution as a linear progression, Last year, Iranians made 74 million Wednesday. the coronavirus outbreak in the country. Indoor traditions did not suffer much with modern humans emerging at the end as the pinnacle of evo- overnight stays in their domestic trips From days before Sizdah Bedar, Commenting on cancelled travels, form the virus. Every nooks at homes lutionary development. But everywhere we look, it’s increasingly during Noruz holidays, which showed authorities closed parks, recreational Mounesan asked the nation to postpone are cleaned and colorful Noruz tables clear the real picture was much messier. an increase of 20 percent year on year. areas and access to the countryside and or reschedule tours so as to help the are symbolically rearranged as part of a As a case in point, another study published this week in Nature Sizdah Bedar, also known as Nature mountains to avoid crowds and the further tourism industry over the virus outbreak. string of customs to herald the spring and journal used modern techniques to date a well-preserved skull found Day, puts an end to Noruz rituals when spread of the virus. “My suggestion to my dear people is that celebrate rebirth. in a quarry at Kabwe, Zambia, in 1921. The skull which is more millions of people flock to the parks with Prior to Noruz, tourism minister Ali- they do not cancel their hotel reservations The pandemic is also putting thousands primitive than those of modern humans, but more advanced than picnics to spend a day in nature with family Asghar Mounesan announced no official and domestic tours as far as possible in of jobs, particularly tourism-related ones Homo erectus, was considered to be around 500,000 years old and friends on the 13th day of Farvardin, celebrations or public gatherings, even order to help the tourism industry and at risk, with traveling likely to slump for based on its anatomy. the first month of the Iranian calendar. the pre-scheduled ones, would be held prevent it from bankruptcy by making months to come. It is considered by many researchers to belong to a species called Homo heidelbergensis - a common ancestor of modern humans and Neanderthals. But scientists who have dated small samples of bone and teeth from the skull, as well as other material associated with the speci- UNWTO calls for action to help virus-hit tourism men, have shown that it is much younger - between 324,000 and TOURISM TEHRAN – The come back stronger and more sustainable. 276,000 years old. deskUNITED Nations Recovery plans and programs for tourism Lead author Prof Chris Stringer, from the Natural History Mu- World Tourism Organization will translate into jobs and economic seum in London, UK, said: “This is surprisingly young, as a fossil at (UNWTO) has recently released a set growth.” added the Secretary-General. about 300,000 years old would be expected to show intermediate of recommendations, calling for urgent Pololikashvili stressed that “for features between H. heidelbergensis and H. sapiens. But Broken and strong support to help the global tourism to fulfil its potential to help Hill shows no significant features of our species.” tourism sector in the face of the novel societies and whole countries recover The discovery implies that at least three different Homo species coronavirus pandemic that has crippled from this crisis, our response needs to be co-existed at this time in Africa. traveling and jeopardized related jobs quick, consistent, united and ambitious”. (Source: BBC) all over the globe. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Formulated with the support of the is also collaborating with World Health World Health Organization (WHO), the Organization (WHO) in launching “Healing ROUND THE GLOBE recommendations calls on innovators Solutions for Tourism”, an innovation and entrepreneurs to put forward new challenge to help the tourism sector recover Morne Trois Pitons solutions to help the tourism sector from COVID-19, where millions of jobs are recover from COVID-19. at risk as the pandemic hits hard. In the National Park “I am deeply convinced that there face of an unprecedented challenge, the is no other way to deal with global UNWTO, with the support of the WHO, A rugged mountain range featuring steep volcanoes and deep challenges, than with global responses,” calls on innovators and entrepreneurs canyons forms the natural spine of Dominica, a volcanic island UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres innovators to submit ideas that can be of the Lesser Antilles. said, according to the World Tourism implemented immediately in destinations, A World Heritage, Morne Trois Pitons National Park (MTPNP) Organization. businesses and public health efforts to help protects a scenically striking part in the central and southern “This challenge is a global call to the tourism sector mitigate the impact highlands with an extension of 6,857 hectares, roughly 9 percent reach the most disruptive startups, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization Zurab Pololikashvili and Iran’s of the pandemic and kickstart recovery of the country’s land area. entrepreneurs and drive solutions to tourism chief Ali-Asghar Mounesan visiting Tehran’s Golestan Palace on Nov. 12, 2018 efforts. mitigate Covid-19 impacts on tourism / Photo by ILNA According to the nonprofit World through health, economic and destination Travel and Tourism Council, which management solutions. A step forward support the companies that are at risk. the most vulnerable and preparing for represents the international tourism for Sustainable Development in a crisis “These specific recommendations recovery, must be our key priorities,” industry, travel and tourism contributed situation,” the UNWTO noted. give countries a check-list of possible Pololikashvili explained. $8.8 trillion to the global economy in 2018 Commenting on recommendations, measures to help our sector sustain the “We still do not know what the full and was responsible for 10.4 percent of all UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab jobs and support the companies at risk at impact of COVID-19 will be on global economic activity. The council estimates Pololikashvili has said they are aimed this very moment. Mitigating the impact tourism. However, we must support the that travel and tourism are responsible to safeguard tourism-related jobs and on employment and liquidity, protecting sector now while we prepare for it to for 319 million jobs around the world.

Why ‘can I get a refund?’ is travel’s biggest issue: Coronavirus Q&A Customers are all asking the same question of an industry the travel and tourism sector because of the pandemic. panies can be more adaptable but he’s also critical of The centerpiece is Morne Trois Pitons, one of five live volcanic in freefall. As one tour operator says, how firms respond “From waiters to taxi drivers, tour guides to chefs and companies that are refusing refunds. “Lots of companies centers within the park. Above 1,300 m.a.s.l., this spectacular will shape whether or not they have a future. caterers, pilots to cleaners, the relentless cascade of job in our position aren’t being as flexible.” dome complex is the highest peak within the property. The For the past two weeks we’ve addressed several ques- losses is plunging millions of families into terrible hard- He also said he doesn’t support Abta’s call for changes to park’s landscape is dominated by the extreme relief covered by tions in our Q&A but increasingly readers want to know ship and debt. The domino effect of Covid-19 is right now the PTR rules and believes there is “a lot of love being lost various types of tropical forest against the dramatic backdrop the answer to just one: can I get a refund? We answered having a massive impact, wiping out an entire economic between the travel industry and consumers. If customers of diverse volcanic topography and features. one specific query on this last week and my colleague sector,” said WTTC president and CEO Gloria Guevara. bought under those terms, they should be honoured.” The scenic beauty is further complemented by numerous Miles Brignall also outlined consumer rights in this Where does this leave holidaymakers? For some tour operators that is simply not possible. natural lakes and pools, including Boeri Lake and Freshwater piece. But as it keeps being raised, we thought it worth As Brignall says, you should keep contacting your travel They are being asked to give full refunds for air-inclusive Lake, the country’s largest lakes. Countless rivers and creeks addressing again. provider for a refund. If the government acts on calls holidays, often without being able to recoup money from originate in MTPNP, often forming magnificent waterfalls on Under the Package Travel Regulations (PTR), you are from Abta for the refund window to be extended from 14 airlines – leaving tour operators out of pocket. “Until their way towards the ocean. entitled to a refund if your holiday provider cannot fulfil days to four months, you will wait longer for the money. governments step up, and bring the airlines to heel, the Within MTPNP there are massive volcanic piles surround- the holiday but – and it’s a big but – tour operators are But tour operators are pleading with customers to consumer has to rely on the quit wits and sympathy of ed by precipitous glacis slopes and soufrieres, in particular struggling to meet this legal obligation while facing a mas- postpone instead of cancelling, warning that mass can- small tour operators,” said Douglas Durrant of Caribbean the Grand Soufriere or Valley of Desolation. In this large am- sive loss of income and, in some cases, repatriation costs. cellations will lead to a meltdown of the sector. Credit Fun Travel. phitheater-like area surrounded by mountains, the volcanic In short, the travel industry is in freefall. It has weathered notes are protected in the same way as holidays and if As Bruce sees it, this is a test of loyalty – those com- activity is displayed in the form of streams of various colors problems from natural disasters to terrorism to recession, the company does go under, the Atol scheme means you panies that work with customers during this challenging interspersed with fumaroles and hot springs, bubbling mud but nothing comes close to the Covid-19 crisis, which will be compensated. time will be the ones that benefit in the long term. ponds and the aptly named Boiling Lake. is disastrous for countries and tourist destinations all The most responsible tour operators are being as flex- “There are a lot of travel companies making rash de- The latter is a massive hot spring with a water temperature over the world. A ludicrous, hypothetical scenario – what ible as possible. Much Better Adventures, for example, is cisions, and they may not come out of this looking too of about 95°C. Surrounded by steep cliffs, the lake is one of would happen if no one could travel? – is now a shocking offering refunds as an option but incentivising customers rosy at the end. This is about treating customers well so the largest of its kind in the world. It constantly bubbles and and surreal reality. to postpone by offering a 5% discount (for life) on future the terms know who to trust when this passes.” churns, with steam emitting an almost surreal sound. Water Of course, many sectors are on perilous ground, but the trips. So far it has worked: 80% of customers have opted That is small comfort if you are trying to get money level and coloration vary greatly. knock-on effects of this global paralysis are arguably worse to postpone instead of cancel. There will be no increase back right now, but worth bearing in mind when you (Source: UNESCO) for travel. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in the cost of trips for 2021, and no expiry date for credit come to book a future holiday. estimates that a million jobs are being lost every day in notes. Co-founder Sam Bruce admitted that small com- (Source: The Guardian) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 4, 2020 SOCIETY 9

Iran’s fight against COVID-19 to improve OFID provides $500,000 to Iran in fight against noticeably in coming days: health minister coronavirus SOCIETY TEHRAN — As more new in the country, how have the identified cas- deskcases of the coronavirus es increased?” he noted in response to the SOCIETY TEHRAN — The Organization of Petroleum infection are identified in the country, those question that “With achievements in the deskExporting Countries Fund for International undergone treatments will improve and Iran’s screening of the disease, we have been able Development (OFID) has provided Iran with $500,000 to combat situation in fight against the pandemic will to identify more new cases of COVID-19, COVID-19 pandemic, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance improve noticeably in coming days, Health and in the coming days, the healing of those announced on Friday. Minister Saeed Namaki has announced. identified will become more apparent and The OPEC Fund has delivered the assistance to the World In a meeting held through video confer- will change Iran’s situation globally.” Health Organization to purchase medical equipment needed to encing on Thursday with WHO officials in the People should know that we are in the contain the disease in Iran. Eastern Mediterranean region in attendance, disease management phase and are still op- It is noteworthy that the Organization for Investment Economic experts praised Iran for implementing the erating to control and the disease, he said, and Technical Assistance has coordinated to receive cash and national coronavirus fight plan and called adding, “However, in some provinces, due to non-cash assistance from the OPEC Fund for World Development for Iran to share its experience throughout proper disease management, the detection (OFID), the World Bank (WB), the Islamic Development Bank the Eastern Mediterranean. rate of new cases has dropped.” (IDB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). To date, we have been able to cover more He further expressed hope that with the This contribution was made to support national efforts to than 90 percent of the target population help of people and all responsible bodies, the combat the coronavirus, and OFID has earlier provided a similar through the national plan, Namaki stated, implementation of the social distancing plan urgent assistance to our country in the advent of flood last year. Tasnim reported. continues strongly until April 8, concluding The total number of people diagnosed with the coronavirus in Iran Among the public and experts, a question that the people’s companionship certainly has reached 53,183, of whom 3,294 have died and 17,935 recovered, was raised that “When we say that we could made a favorable position in the country Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said on Friday. managed the first heavy wave of the disease among the Eastern Mediterranean countries.

Nature Day manifests national empathy against coronavirus Wrecked sea life could be 1 But photos went viral on social me- emptied of private car traffic, so that mostly from other cities; Tehran citizens consciously to an end, the implementation of the so- largely revived in 30 years dia showing family gathering at home which trucks can be seen on the roads. chose to stay at home on Nature’s Day; and cial distancing plan continues until April taught us that the Nature’s Day aims to keep It was also reported from Khuzestan prov- Piruz Hanachi, Tehran Mayor, wrote on his 8, which means that intercity traffic and under action plan, say families together and protect nature as same ince that with the participation of people, the Twitter account on Tuesday that “I would community gatherings are prohibited; scientists as it was centuries ago. suburban traffic of this province was reduced like to express my sincere gratitude to those offices are open with one-third of their Significant reduction in traffic by 100 percent. who accepted our advice and resisted to go to staff, while schools, universities and kin- Minimizing urban traffic on the coun- Empty tourist destinations the forest and urban parks on Nature’s Day dergartens remain closed. Sea life and ocean ecosystems could substantially rebound within try’s roads were another achievement of Favorable conditions were also reported in order to break the chain of coronavirus Despite all the people’s cooperation, ac- 30 years if humanity takes serious action to protect species and people’s empathy on Nature’s Day, as all in the tourist destination provinces; many transmission.” cording to Alireza Zali, Tehran’s coronavirus rebuild natural habitats, scientists say. provinces reported a 50 to 90 percent residents in the northern provinces stayed at This cooperation was followed by the management commander, although we are The world is at a point at which people must choose whether reduction in traffic on this day; East home, and a small number of those attempt- appreciation of the Minister of Interior to- seeing a relative decrease in the prevalence to leave future generations a resilient, vibrant ocean or an “ir- Azerbaijan reported that 90 percent of ing to go on nature despite the restrictions, ward the people. Abdolreza Rahman Fazli of the disease, we should be cautious and reversibly disrupted” one. road traffic has decreased compared to faced a strong barrier of law enforcement. expressed appreciation to the people for this should not be deceptive. Marine life can be revived – but the window for doing so is the same day last year. In Gilan province, a limited number of their full and commendable observance of Zali said that the situation, with regard now very narrow, they caution. Or even in North Khorasan, the traffic citizens who ignored the warnings were fined, the social distancing plan as a manifestation to people’s return from Noruz trips in the An action plan that includes tackling climate change would bring police announced that the people’s coop- including 120 cars. of the ancient civilization on Nature’s Day. coming days, requires speculation and tech- about a “substantial” recovery, the international team of researchers eration in the implementation of the social In Tehran, as the most populous city of Social distancing plan continues nical investigation and we are preparing these announced, as they set out a vision of restoring marine life by 2050. distancing plan has caused the province to be Iran, the conditions were not much different Although the Noruz holiday has come possible scenarios. The scientists said the focus should be on actively rebuild- ing depleted wildlife populations and ecosystems, not simply on conserving what remains, and efforts to remove pressure on the oceans must be expanded. Climate monitoring and research could fall victim to coronavirus, Steps needed include protecting vulnerable habitats and spe- cies; exercising caution in fishing; restoring habitats; reducing scientists fear pollution and, critically, curbing the climate crisis. And the plan can succeed only if the most ambitious goals The coronavirus pandemic has stalled scientific fieldwork A five-year Nasa project to study the impact of severe to limit global temperature rises within the international Paris and may even start to affect the monitoring of the climate, thunderstorms that enter the stratosphere is now mired Agreement on climate change are reached, the experts writing scientists have warned. in uncertainty. Researchers from several universities have in the journal Nature warn. Major projects to gather environmental data have been partnered with Nasa to use its high-altitude ER-2 aircraft to Extending protection across half of the oceans could cost postponed or canceled over concerns that teams of researchers take measurements this summer but this work is now on hold. $10bn-$20bn (£8bn-£16bn) a year, the report finds. But it would working together will spread the Covid-19 virus. “Because of the delays we haven’t started tests yet and it’s deliver far more in returns, through ecotourism, sustainable The crisis has so far mainly stymied long-term studies, not clear if we are going to be able to do that,” said Kenneth fishing and reductions in insurance claims from storms if coastal but concerns have been raised that routine monitoring of Bowman, a climate scientist at Texas A&M University, who areas are protected by mangroves or saltmarshes. weather and the climate crisis may be affected if the pan- is working on the project. “We don’t really know the timings, Rising temperatures are further undermining the oceans’ demic drags on for an extended period. we are taking it week to week. It’s always frustrating having productivity and rich wildlife by damaging coral reefs. Petteri Taalas, secretary general of World Meteorologi- all of your plans disrupted, not knowing when we will do But substantially rebuilding marine life, so that populations cal Organization, said: “The impacts of climate change and what we want to do.” rebound by 50-90 per cent, within a human generation is largely growing amount of weather-related disasters continue. Bowman said routine climate monitoring is “robust” achievable, if action happens at a large scale, the experts say. “The Covid-19 pandemic poses an additional challenge, and that he would be surprised if the pandemic disrupted The scientists point to examples of “impressive resilience” in and may exacerbate multi-hazard risks at a single-country has dented the collection of ambient temperature and wind this work unless it spooled out for many months or years. marine wildlife, such as the recovery of fish populations during level. Therefore it is essential that governments pay atten- speed taken in-flight by sensors fitted to commercial airlin- Gabriel Vecchi, a climate modeler at Princeton University, the first and second world wars when fishing was reduced. tion to their national early warning and weather-observing ers through an initiative called the Aircraft Meteorological said while he was concerned about the impact of the pandemic Curbing hunting, better management of fisheries, regulating capacities despite the Covid-19 crisis.” Data Relay program. A coalition of national weather ser- on data collection he was “quite heartened” that observa- pollutants and creating protected areas have already reduced the Wealthy countries that have deployed land- and ocean- vices across Europe are discussing how to compensate for tions of the Earth’s surface have continued unabated so far. toll on ocean life and helped revive some species. based instruments, as well as satellites, to gauge temperature the decrease in the 700,000 climate observations normally “We should all be grateful for the people and organizations that Humpback whales migrating from Antarctica to Australia, changes and other readings mostly have done so with fully provided per day by aircraft. are continuing these essential forecast and monitoring operations, for instance, have returned from the brink of extinction in 1968 or partly automated systems. In the US, a swath of climate research work has been in spite of the severe challenges they are facing,” he said. to more than 40,000 today. This means that data will continue to flow without much called off or delayed. Nasa-led missions to survey the loss of If the pandemic lingers then climate scientists will face And northern elephant seals have increased from just 20 hands-on human input but should the pandemic stretch land in the Mississippi River delta and hurricane recovery challenges shared by some other professions – meetings breeding animals in 1880 to more than 200,000 today. out for many more weeks then missed repairs and replace- in Puerto Rico have been suspended. With all flights to and of teams will have to be reorientated, the maintenance of Lead author Carlos Duarte, professor of marine science at ments of instruments will become an “increasing concern”, from Greenland suspended, a project to collect cores from equipment will somehow have to be done and trips to re- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi according to the WMO. the country’s vast ice sheet has been voided for the year. search sites will be curtailed. Arabia said: “We have a narrow window of opportunity to deliver Furthermore, in many developing countries measurements Nasa has asked staff to work remotely where possible, This is occurring at a time when air pollution, as well a healthy ocean to our grandchildren’s generation, and we have are routinely taken manually by scientists in the field and with a spokesman telling the Guardian that the agency has as planet-heating gases, has declined considerably in Chi- the knowledge and tools to do so. there are indications this work has dropped off. a continuity plan to ensure that there is “no interruption of na and Europe due to a reduction in human activity. (Source: The Independent) A huge slump in air travel since the start of the pandemic climate-relevant data”. (Source: The Guardian) WORDS IN THE NEWS ENGLISH IN USE Sino-Indian relations

(May 14, 2003) LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION Indian officials have announced that a landmark visit to China by prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will take place in June. It will be the first visit of an Indian prime minister to China for more than a decade Iran spends $477m on refugee and is the culmination of a recent steady thawing in previously chilly :diplomatic relations. This report from Jill McGivering ایران سالی 2 هزار میلیارد تومان برای education annually Sino-Indian relations have moved from cold to cordial. Now both -sides are trying to go further and establish a friendlier, more co-oper دانش آموزان اتباع خارجی هزینه می کند Iran spends about 20 trillion rials (nearly $477 million at the official ative climate. There’s a lot to overcome. China is a traditional ally of Pakistan and accused by India of helping ایــران هــر ســال حــدود 2 هــزار میلیــارد تومــان بــرای ۵۵۸ هــزار دانــش آمــوز اتبــاع rate of 42,000 rials) every year on the education of foreign national Islamabad develop its nuclear program. China has watched India’s خارجــی در مــدارس سراســر کشــور هزینــه مــی کنــد. students residing in the country, head of the international affairs department of the Ministry of Education has said. own nuclear program with just as much alarm - evidence, it says, of .Indian aggression بــه گــزارش روز چهارشــنبه ایســنا، غالمرضــا کریمــی رئیــس مرکــز امــور بینالملــل But prime minister Vajpayee’s visit is the strongest sign yet of plans to و مــدارس خــارج از کشــور وزارت آمــوزش و پــرورش گفــت از ایــن تعــداد ۴۷۴ هــزار Over 558,000 foreign national children are receiving education in Iran completely free of charge, 474,000 of whom are Afghan turn things around. Motives are partly economic. China wants to learn نفــر آنهــا اتبــاع افغانســتانی هســتند. children, ISNA quoted Gholamreza Karimi as saying on Wednesday. from India’s success in IT and expand international outsourcing, such as call centers, a booming sector in India. Indian manufacturers کریمــی بــا بیــان اینکــه در حــال حاضــر ۱۳۷ هــزار دانــش آمــوز غیرمجــاز در کشــور Karimi said that there are currently about 137,000 undocumented complain of being overwhelmed by cheap Chinese goods now flood- داریــم گفــت پــدر و مــادر ایــن افــراد مــدارک اقامتــی معتبــر ندارنــد امــا مــا شــرایط Afghan students in the country, adding that their parents do not have ing India’s domestic market and want to find ways of competing. Greater warmth between these two Asian giants would also affect ثبــت نــام آنهــا را مــدارس فراهــم کردیــم. valid residency documents, “but we have provided the conditions .the broader strategic picture تعــدادی از اتبــاع کشــورهای همســایه بــه خاطــر بحرانهــای متعــدد منطقــه ”.for enrolling them in schools Words ای و جنگهــای داخلــی در طــول چهــار دهــه گذشــته بــه ایــران آمدنــد. A number of foreign nationals from neighboring countries came to Iran over the past four decades due to numerous regional crises Sino: Chinese (cordial: warm and friendly (formal word پــس از صــدور فرمــان مقــام معظــم رهبــری در پایــان ســال ۱۳۹۳ هیــچ and civil wars, he lamented. climate: here, atmosphere کــودک ایرانــی و خارجــی مســتقر در ایــران نبایــد از تحصیــل محــروم بمانــد. ally: friend, supportive country to turn things around: here, to make an improvement IT: short for ‹information technology’ PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM international outsourcing: the practice of companies in one country giving work to companies in another country “mal-, male-” Rely on Do a good turn call centers: large offices in which a company’s employees provide information to its customers, or sell or advertise its goods or services Meaning: bad, evil Meaning: to count on, depend on; trust Explanation: If you do someone a good turn, you by telephone For example: nearly 67% of the country’s population For example: Don’t worry. You can rely on me. I act in a helpful way flooding:overwhelming, dominating suffers frommal nutrition. can keep a secret. For example: Mike is a great guy - always ready to broader strategic picture: wider political situation and perspectives do a good turn. (Source: BBC) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 10 INTERNATIONAL APRIL 4, 2020

U.S. hijacking mask shipments Iraq’s PMU warns Trump, resistance groups in rush for coronavirus protection say on alert for false-flag U.S. operations Commander of aircraft carrier hit INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — Iraq’s Ka- In another development a member of deskta’ib Hezbollah resistance the Iraqi parliament’s security and defense by coronavirus removed for ‘poor group, which is part of the Popular Mobi- committee has strongly condemned the judgment’ after sounding alarm lization Units (PMU), has warned U.S. deployment of Patriot missile systems at President Donald Trump about taking any the bases hosting U.S. troops in Iraq as a 1 Rottner would not identify the buyers, who they were hostile measures against the Iraqi nation breach of the Arab country’s sovereign- working for or which U.S. state the cargo was flown to, but another and resistance groups. ty, urging senior government officials French official also involved in procuring masks from China said In a statement on Thursday, Kata’ib to detail any agreement pertaining to the group were acting for the U.S. government. Hezbollah said providing that all Ameri- the U.S. move. USS Theodore Roosevelt can troops in Iraq kept withdrawing from “The decision about the withdrawal of The commander of a U.S. aircraft carrier that has been hit by the Arab country until the last soldier, no foreign forces, including U.S. troops, is not a major outbreak of coronavirus has been relieved of command attack would be launched by the resistance reversible as it represents the Iraqi nation’s for showing “poor judgment” days after writing a memo warning group against them. will to respond to Washington’s crimes in Navy leadership that decisive action was needed to save the lives The resistance group also strongly warned Iraq, its flagrant intervention in the country’s of the ship’s crew, acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly Trump not to get “involved in any aggres- domestic affairs in addition to its repeated announced on Thursday. sive action” against the Iraqi people and the targeting of Hashd al-Sha’abi forces (Popular “Today at my direction the commanding officer of the USS “sacrificing” resistance groups. Mobilization Units) and its leaders,” Karim Theodore Roosevelt, Captain Brett Crozier, was relieved of com- “At a time when the world is facing the Alawi told Arabic-language al-Maalomah mand by carrier strike group commander Rear Admiral Stewart danger of the coronavirus pandemic, and the news agency in an exclusive interview on Baker,” Modly said during a Pentagon press briefing. United Nations and humanitarian organi- Thursday. Modly told reporters that Crozier was removed for showing zations are stressing the necessity of halting According to Press TV, he noted, “Ac- “extremely poor judgment” and creating a “firestorm” by too the wars waged by the forces of arrogance in cording to the available information, the widely disseminating the memo detailing his concerns, copying the world; so that nations can combat this for any false-flag U.S. operation aimed at has tasted them at Taji military base. U.S.-built Patriot missile was installed in some 20 to 30 people. imminent danger, stupid Trump or one of his creating further unrest in the Arab country. Trump on Wednesday threatened Iran three military bases where American forc- He said Crozier was not removed because of any evidence underlings threatens the resistance groups Asbat al-Thaireen, or League of the Revo- with a “heavy price” if the Islamic Republic es are stationed. This runs counter to the suggesting he leaked the memo to the press, but rather for al- in Iraq, particularly the Kata’ib Hezbollah, lutionaries, showed off its intelligence power or its allies in Iraq attack American troops sovereignty of Iraq.” lowing “the complexity of his challenge with the Covid breakout with impudent remarks almost on a daily by releasing its drone footage of U.S.-occupied in Iraq. News reports suggest the U.S. deployed on the ship to overwhelm his ability to act professionally when basis,” the statement added. Ain al-Asad Airbase. The group also released “Upon information and belief, Iran or its Patriot missile systems to Iraqi military bas- acting professionally was what was needed the most at the time.” The group also emphasized the pure pa- drone footage of another U.S.-occupied base, proxies are planning a sneak attack on U.S. es to purportedly protect American troops “I have no information nor am I trying to suggest that he leaked triotic nature of its resistance, stressing that the Harir Camp north of Erbil. troops and/or assets in Iraq,” Trump wrote against potential missile attacks. One of the the information. It was published in the San Francisco Chronicle. it is not influenced by any foreign country, Asbat al-Thaireen had earlier issued a on Twitter. “If this happens, Iran will pay a Patriot batteries was reportedly deployed It all came as a big surprise to all of us that it was in the paper, rejecting U.S. allegations that the group is statement to caution Iraqi forces against very heavy price, indeed!” to the Ain al-Asad facility in Iraq’s western and that’s the first time I had seen it,” he added. supported by neighboring Iran. staying close to Americans in order to pro- The U.S. deployed Patriot missile systems province of Anbar. The information in question was contained in a memo written The development came just a few days tect their lives. to Iraq last week, apparently as a precaution Last week, the New York Times reported by Crozier earlier this week to the Navy’s Pacific Fleet. after U.S.-led coalition forces withdrew from The group said it had prepared itself for against possible rocket attacks. that the Pentagon had ordered a secret direc- Modly called Crozier’s note “a blast-out email to everyone K1 Air Base, which lies 15 kilometers (9 miles) an attack on Ain al-Asad as the U.S. under- However, Iraqi resistance groups are on tive, which called on U.S. military command- he knows.” northwest of Kirkuk, and submitted it to secretary of defense and a number of other high alert for any possible false-flag operation ers to prepare a campaign against Kata’ib “We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die. If we do Iraqi forces during a ceremony. American officials visited it but called off by the U.S. forces, which are supposed to Hezbollah, which is part of Hashd al-Sha’abi. not act now, we are failing to properly take care of our most The coalition has already said that the the operation after realizing a number of leave the Arab country. But the United States’ top commander in trusted asset — our Sailors,” it read, three US defense officials transfer of U.S.-led military forces had noth- Iraqi troops were nearby. The Iraqi military has called for an im- Iraq has warned that such a campaign could confirmed to CNN. ing to do with the missile attacks against The anti-terror resistance group says the mediate withdrawal of all foreign troops be bloody and counterproductive. Modly said Crozier was relieved because he went outside the Iraqi bases hosting the coalition forces, or operation was called off despite the fact that from the country in accordance with the Lieutenant General Robert P. White chain of command and sent his memo over an unsecured system, the outbreak of COVID-19. American reconnaissance drones had not parliamentary resolution passed earlier wrote in a blunt memo that a new military adding to the chances it could be leaked. Meanwhile, Iraq’s anti-terror resistance noticed the resistance fighters. this year following a string of U.S. strikes campaign would also require that thousands “He sent it out pretty broadly, and in sending it out broadly he groups have reiterated their readiness to The statement also warned that the against multiple PMU positions. more American troops be sent to Iraq and did not take care to ensure that it couldn’t be leaked, and that’s counter any possible attack by U.S. occupation group possesses equipment and weapons Patriot missile system deployment divert resources from the so-called fight part of his responsibility, in my opinion,” Modly said. forces, saying that they are also on high alert that the enemy would not even imagine, but breach of Iraqi sovereignty against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group. “I have received absolutely no pressure. I have had no com- munication with the White House about this,” he added. “I did, when I was arriving closer to this determination yesterday, I called Secretary Esper and told him that this was the direction Lebanon complains to UN Security Council against Israel over violating airspace I was heading and he told me he would support my decision whatever that might be.” Lebanon has lodged a complaint to the United Nation The Lebanese foreign ministry then urged the Security Lebanon’s government, the Hezbollah resistance move- Top Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee against the Tel Aviv regime for violating the country’s air- Council to “put a permanent end to the Israeli violations,” ment and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have slammed the move in a statement Thursday. space after Israeli military aircraft carried out airstrikes noting that “Israel violates the Lebanese aerial, maritime repeatedly condemned the overflights, saying they are in “While Captain Crozier clearly went outside the chain of on multiple targets in Syria’s central province of Homs. and territorial sovereignty on a daily basis.” clear violation of UN Resolution 1701 and the country’s command, his dismissal at this critical moment -- as the Sailors “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants has filed Late on Tuesday, Syria’s official news agency SANA re- sovereignty. aboard the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt are confronted with the a complaint before the UN Security Council in New York over ported that the country’s air defenses had intercepted and UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brokered COVID-19 pandemic -- is a destabilizing move that will likely put the dangerous Israeli violation of Lebanese sovereignty, after shot down a number of Israeli missiles before they reached ae ceasefir in the war of aggression Israel launched against our service members at greater risk and jeopardize our fleet’s three Israeli aircraft bombed Syrian sites from the Lebanese their targets in Homs. Lebanon in 2006, calls on Tel Aviv to respect Beirut’s sov- readiness,” they said. airspace, which represented a threat to Lebanese civilians,” The missiles were fired by the Israeli air force from Leb- ereignty and territorial integrity. “The COVID pandemic presents a set of new challenges and the ministry said in a statement released on Thursday. anese airspace, it quoted a military source as saying. In 2009, Lebanon filed a complaint with the UN, present- there is much we still do not know. Captain Crozier was justifiably “This violation comes at a time when the entire world There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. ing over 7,000 documents pertaining to Israeli violations concerned about the health and safety of his crew, but he did not is facing the threat of the spread of the coronavirus pan- Israel violates Lebanon’s airspace on an almost daily of Lebanese territory. handle the immense pressure appropriately. However, relieving demic,” it added. basis, claiming the flights serve surveillance purposes. (Source: Press TV) him of his command is an overreaction,” the lawmakers added. Democrats delay presidential convention Turkish forces, militants shell Syria’s Global cost of virus could top until August Hasakah; two civilians killed $4 trillion: ABD

The coronavirus pandemic could cost the global economy $4.1 trillion as it ravages United States, Europe and other major econ- omies, the Asian Development Bank warned Friday The estimated impact is equivalent to nearly five percent of worldwide output based on a range of scenarios, but the lender said losses from “the worst pandemic in a century” could be higher. “The estimated impact could be an underestimate, as addi- tional channels such as...possible social and financial crises, and long-term effects on health care and education are excluded from the analysis,” the ADB said.

The U.S. Democratic Party postponed its largely moved online, and many states At least two people have lost their lives in the same province. presidential nominating convention by a have delayed votes for party nomination and several others sustained injuries when Separately, Turkish troops and their month until August, citing the coronavirus contests. Turkish military forces and allied mili- allies also fired mortar shells at Zarkan health crisis which has upended life in Democratic front-runner Joe Biden tants launched barrages of mortar shells at town and Muharmal village in the same the country. on Wednesday had called for delaying residential neighborhoods in the western district of Hasakah province. The shells The delay is the latest sign the coronavi- the convention, speaking in a television sector of Syria’s northeastern province of damaged residential buildings, but there rus pandemic is having a profound impact interview from what he called a “make- al-Hasakah. were no reports of casualties. on the presidential race and will continue shift studio” in the recreation room of his Local sources, speaking on condition Also on Wednesday, the Observatory re- to do so for months to come. Wilmington, Delaware, home. of anonymity, told Syria’s official news ported that Turkey had dispatched new Democrats will use the convention Biden, who was vice president under agency SANA that Turkish troops and their reinforcements to Syria’s northwestern in Milwaukee to formally pick their President Barack Obama, currently leads proxies targeted buildings in the villages province of Idlib, as Ankara beefs up its nominee to challenge Republican Pres- the Democratic nominating contest against of Qabr al-Saqir and al-Abosh, which lie in military presence in the embattled region The Manila-based bank said a shorter containment period ident Donald Trump in the November his rival, Bernie Sanders, a U.S. senator the Tall Tamr district of the province, on following a ceasefire reached earlier this could pare the losses to $2 trillion. election. It had previously been sched- from Vermont. Thursday afternoon, leaving two civilians month with Moscow to halt an escalation The crisis has sent equity markets spinning as traders fret over uled for July. White House medical experts have dead and four others injured. of violence there. the long-term impact on the world economy, though governments “In our current climate of uncertain- forecast that even if Americans hunker The sources added that the projectile The Britain-based war monitor, citing and central banks have stepped in to ease the pain, pledging ty, we believe the smartest approach is to down in their homes to slow the spread of inflicted material damage on people’s activists requesting anonymity, report- more than $5 trillion in stimulus and easing monetary policy. take additional time to monitor how this COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by property in the targeted areas as well. ed that a Turkish convoy, consisting of Officially reported COVID-19 cases worldwide topped the situation unfolds,” said Joe Solmonese, the coronavirus, some 100,000 to 240,000 The development came only a day af- dozens of tanks, personnel carriers and one million mark Thursday, with tens of thousands dead, while chief executive of the Democratic National people could die from the disease. ter the so-called Syrian Observatory for armored vehicles, crossed into the Syrian there are warnings the numbers will continue to balloon as the Convention Committee. Already, some 5,340 Americans have Human Rights reported that a family of territory through Kafr Lusin border cross- disease rapidly spreads. With much of the country under stay- died and over 225,510 cases have been four was injured after Turkish forces and ing on Thursday afternoon, and headed With billions of people in lockdown and economies at a stand- at-home orders from local and state au- confirmed, according to a Reuters tally. their allied militants shelled their home towards Turkish positions. still, the ADB said Asia is forecast to grow 2.2 percent this year, thorities, presidential campaigning has (Source: Reuters) in Rabia’at village in Abu Rasin district (Source: agencies) its slowest pace since a 1.7 percent expansion during the Asian financial crisis in 1998. “No one can say how widely the COVID-19 pandemic may spread, and containment may take longer than currently pro- UK’s worst case coronavirus toll is 50,000 dead jected,” ADB chief economist Yasuyuki Sawada said. The British government’s worst case scenario envis- Easter Sunday. would be doing well if it kept the coronavirus death toll “The possibility of severe financial turmoil and financial crises ages a coronavirus death toll of 50,000 people if self A so-called best case scenario in the circumstances would below 20,000. cannot be discounted,” he added. isolation is not adhered to, but the United Kingdom be a death toll of 20,000, according to the source. According to a study by Imperial College last month, the forecasts assume the coronavirus outbreak will be con- is not right now on course for a toll of that scale, a A Downing Street spokeswoman declined immediate if no measures were taken then the outbreak would have tained this year and a return to normality in 2021. source familiar with the government’s emergency comment. caused more than half a million deaths in Britain and 2.2 However, there is still the potential for additional outbreaks discussions said. The United Kingdom’s coronavirus death toll rose 24 million in the United States. and the severity of the pandemic remains uncertain. According to the source, who spoke on condition of an- percent in one day to 2,921, as of April 1. Worldwide, coronavirus deaths have reached more than (Source: AFP) onymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, the worst day Stephen Powis, the medical director of National Health 47,000, according to a Reuters tally. for deaths is projected to be April 12, which this year is Service England, said on Sunday that the United Kingdom (Source: daily Star) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 4, 2020 SPORTS 11

Year in review: Iran sports Ex-Iran football coach Iraj Ghelichkhani dies SPORTS TEHRAN — The Iranian desksports teams and sport- SPORTS TEHRAN— Former Iran National Football spersons experienced some bright moments deskTeams Iraj Ghelichkhani passed away. and some dark in the Iranian year. He died at the age of 74. Ghelichkhani had lived with Par- In the current Iranian year which started kinson’s disease for several years. on March 20, 2019, the country’s sports ex- Ghelichkhani had worked as coach in grassroots football in Iran. perienced sweet moments and bitter times. He had also worked as head coach in Iranian football clubs We take a look at a few of them here. Rah Ahan, Homa, Shamooshak, Fath and Nirooy-e Zamini. Tough task ahead of Iran foot- Ghelichkhani will be laid to rest on Friday in Tehran’s Be- ball team hesht-e Zahra Cemetery. Iran national football team started the Tehran Times offers its heartfelt condolence to his bereaved 2022 World Cup qualification on high note, family. beating Hong Kong 2-0 and Cambodia 14-0 but suffered two successive losses against Bahrain and Iraq. The Team must win four remaining Iran to play Croatia in matches to book a place in the next round. Croatian coach Dragan Skocic was named friendly, coach says as Team Melli coach in early February as Belgian coach Marc Wilmots’s replacement. SPORTS TEHRAN— Iran national football team will Iran are seeking to qualify for a third deskmeet Croatia in an international friendly match, consecutive FIFA World Cup. Team Melli coach Dragan Skocic said. Volleyball at Olympics for sec- In a meeting which was held in Croatian Football Federation’s ond time headquarters in late February, Skocic and Croatian Football Iran national volleyball team claimed Iranian female weightlifters make Iranian wrestling teams claim Games (2010 Guangzhou, 2014 Incheon and Federation president Davor Suker underlined their willingness the title of the AVC Men’s Tokyo Volleyball history at IWF Worlds Asian title 2018 Jakarta). to promote cooperation in football. Qualification tournament in January and Iran sent four women to the 2019 In- Iranian Greco-Roman and Freestyle Iran football federation’s elec- Now, Skocic has revealed that they had negotiated about will participate at the 2020 Olympic Games ternational Weightlifting Federation (IWF) teams claimed the title of the 2020 Asian tions deferred a warm-up match between two teams after the end of the as the best Asian team. World Weightlifting Championships for the Wrestling Championships in February in The Football Federation Islamic Republic Covid-19 outbreak. In the previous edition in Olympics, Team first time ever in September. New Delhi, India. of Iran (FFIRI) elective General Assembly Iran have already played Croatia two times. Team Melli lost Melli finished in fifth place. Iran’s volleyball The prestigious competition was held The Iranian Greco-Roman wrestlers won was postponed. to Croatia 2-0 in June 1998 in Rijeka and drew 2-2 with the has improved in the recent years thanks to in Pattaya, Thailand and Poupak Basami three gold and two bronze medals on the FIFA had already ordered FFIRI to European giants in Lovech in May 2006. stars namely, Saeid Marouf, Mohammad (55kg), Abrisham Arjomandkhah (64kg), second day of the competition and claimed postpone the elections until the national Iran have must-win matches in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Mousavi, Amir Ghafour, Shahram Mahmoudi, Elham Hosseini (71kg) and Parisa Jahanfe- the title with 190 points. governing body amends its current statutes. qualification against Hong Kong, Cambodia, Bahrain and Iraq. and Milad Ebadipour. krian (87kg) represented Iran in the event. The Iranian freestylers won eight med- The elections were scheduled for March The team, headed by Igor Kolakovic, will The Iranian sportswomen have shown als in 10 weight categories in the two-day 15 (Sunday). meet Japan, Poland, Italy, Canada and Ven- that they have the potential to make the na- competition and topped the standings with The FFIRI provided some documents ezuela in Pool A at the 2020 Olympic Games. tion proud after shining in the international 168 points. and appealed to FIFA so that the General Igor Kolakovic no more Iran Pool B consists of Brazil, the U.S., Russia, events in the last years. Paralympic Movement mourns Assembly could be held as planned. volleyball coach Argentina, France, and Tunisia. The immigration of Iranian passing of Siamand Rahman The documents were not enough and FIFA Basketball dream of making sportspersons The strongest ever Paralympian Siamand asked FFIRI officials once again to revise history Alireza Faghani, Iranian international Rahman passed away at the age of 32 on the statutes before holding the elections. SPORTS TEHRAN— The Islamic Republic of Iran Vol- Iranian basketball team are going to write referee, made the decision to migrate to March 1 after suffering a heart attack. All sporting events in Iran halted deskleyball Federation (IRIVF) has parted ways with their name into book history at the 2020 Australia with his family in September. The two-time gold medalist in London due to coronavirus Igor Kolakovic following cancelation of 2020 Olympic Games Olympic Games in Tokyo. Iranian judoka Saeid Mollaei was cleared 2012 and Rio 2016, was preparing to win Iran›s Minister of Sport and Youth Ma- due to the pandemic coronavirus (COVID-19). Team Melli secured a spot at the 2020 Olym- to represent Mongolia at Tokyo 2020 after his third successive gold at the Tokyo 2020 soud Soltanifar on March 11 announced the The 2020 FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) had been pic Games in China in September. It will be his switch of allegiance was approved by Paralympic Games. suspension all sporting events in the country also postponed because of coronavirus risk. Iran’s third presence in the prestigious event. the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Rahman broke the 300kg barrier in the men´s until April 20. The Montenegrin coach was under contract with the Iranian Iran’s men’s basketball team have qualified Executive Board. over 107kg at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Iran’s death toll from the coronavirus sur- federation until 2020 Tokyo but Iran has opted to part company for the competition after 12 years. It will be Iran›s only female Olympic medalist lifting an unprecedented 310kg. The mark he passes 1,000, with the total number of infected with him after postponement of the Games. the last Olympics for 35-year-old big man Kimia Alizadeh in January said she plans set is the equivalent of three baby elephants. people across the country has reached 17,361. “After the IOC decided to reschedule the Olympic Games, Hamed Haddadi, who have been an iconic to compete for Germany after fleeing her The Iranian powerlifter had already won The virus has now infected more than Mr. Davarzani (IRIVF president) decided to stop cooperation player for Team Melli in the past years. home country. three gold medals in the last three Asian Para 200,000 people in at least 144 countries. with Kolakovic,” Iran volleyball team director Amir Khosh- khabar said. “Iran are determined to make a splash at the Games, so the Iranian federation would prefer a foreign coach, however, an Persepolis’s Hosseini chosen as Iranian ACL legend Iranian coach could be chosen,” he added. SPORTS TEHRAN — Persepolis football both Sepahan and Naft Tehran. in a quarter-final win over Qatar’s Al Duhail. Team Melli will meet Japan, Poland, Italy, Canada and Ven- deskteam captain Jalal Hosseini has been It is, however, in more recent times as captain of Perse- Persepolis then edged past Al Sadd in the semi-finals, ezuela in Pool A at the Olympic Games. chosen as the Iranian legend in the AFC Champions polis that Hosseini has had his biggest impact, captaining allowing Hosseini to lead his side out in the final. Unfor- Pool B consists of Brazil, the U.S., Russia, Argentina, France, League era. the Tehran giants to a first-ever semi-final appearance in tunately for the now 38-year-old, Kashima Antlers’ 2-0 and Tunisia. A legend of Iranian football with well over 100 caps for 2017 and then going one better a year later. win prevented them from becoming Iran’s first-ever AFC Kolakovic had replaced Raul Lozano as Team Melli coach his country, Hosseini first appeared in the AFC Champions In a campaign noted for drama at Azadi Stadium, Hosseini Champions League winners. in February 2017. League when he reached the quarter-finals with debutants scored a last-minute winner against the UAE’s Al Jazira in Hosseini defected Esteghlal’s Farhad Majidi in Saipa in 2008 before he also reached the last eight with the Round of 16 before his goal began a remarkable comeback the poll. Olympics postponement was Iran Ministry of Sports warns teams IOC president thanks Iran for support predictable: Soltanifar not to train to Olympics SPORTS TEHRAN— Iran’s Minister of Sports and deskYouth Affairs Masoud Soltanifar said that postponing the Olympics was predictable. Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games are postponed until next year because of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. “We were mostly prepared for the games but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to postpone the competitions. Our athletes have secured 51 berths so far and were going to book more possible quota places but the games are postponed,” Soltanifar said. “We will wait and see what happens with the sports federations and then draft a new qualification schedule. Iranian athletes and para athletes will continue their training to preserve the readiness,” he added.

SPORTS TEHRAN — Iran’s Wednesday after the players and staff SPORTS TEHRAN — Interna- the athletes first,” said Bach in the letter. Persepolis, Esteghlal not deskMinistry of Sports and undergone medical tests. Sepahan are desktional Olympic Com- “Naturally, your athletes will have many Youth spokesman has warned the Iranian another team that are going to start train- mittee (IOC) president Thomas Bach has operational questions in relation to the allowed to hire foreigners football teams not to start their training ing in the coming days. thanked Iran Olympic Committee for its postponement and therefore I would ask amid coronavirus crisis. The outbreak of coronavirus has caused support to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which for your indulgence whilst the IOC team SPORTS TEHRAN— Iran’s Sports and Youth Ministry Maziar Nazemi tweeted that Iran Profes- sports events to be suspended or postponed has now been shifted to 2021 because of works through the details with our Japanese deskhas reportedly told football clubs Persepo- sional League (IPL) teams are not allowed in Asia and Europe, including both domestic the global coronavirus pandemic. partners. Let me assure you that all your lis and Esteghlal to stop hiring foreign coaches and players to start the training. and international affairs. An agreement was reached on Mon- questions will be answered. from now on. Referring to the seven statements previ- Iran Football Organization released day, Olympics will be held from July 23 “I am deeply touched by your support and The two Iranian clubs could be banned from signing players ously issued by the Coronavirus Combat and a statement announcing that all football to August 8 in 2021. confidence. I am convinced that by working for several transfer windows after they failed to pay the wage of Prevention Headquarters, the spokesman competitions of every level have been post- “Thank you for your letter of support together, the Olympic Movement can master their coaches and players. tweeted: “Premier league clubs, who ignored poned until April 19, 2020. for the IOC’s decision to postpone the this new unprecedented challenge. Human- The clubs’ debts stand at almost USD 4 million and they are the seven statements of the Coronavirus Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 which I highly kind currently finds itself in a dark tunnel. unable to pay off debts. Combat and Prevention Headquarters, Jahanpour announced on Wednesday appreciated. As you are aware, this post- These Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 can be The United States has imposed a new set of sanctions against are responsible for the health and lives that over the past 24 hours, 1,762 new ponement comes after many complex but a light at the end of this tunnel. Iran and the state-run clubs have come under heavy pressure. of the players. There will be serious legal cases of coronavirus have been diag- fruitful conversations with the Japanese “Thanking you again for your contin- While no official announcement has been made regarding consequences for such a decision.” nosed in the country, bringing the total Government and Tokyo 2020 Organizing ued confidence and wishing you and your what will happen to the clubs, the media reports suggest that According to media reports, Nassaji number of infected persons to 27,017 Committee. This decision demonstrates family good health and all the very best,” Iran’s Minister of Sport and Youth Masoud Soltanifar is going Mazandaran have started training since in the country. our clear commitment to put the health of he concluded. to ban Persepolis and Esteghlal from hiring foreigners. Iran football federation’s elections to be Mohammad Nabi appointed as Acting held in September Secretary General of FFIRI AS Roma praises devoted SPORTS TEHRAN — The Foot- and appealed to FIFA so that the General SPORTS TEHRAN — Mehdi Executive Advisor to the President of the Iranian couple doctors in deskball Federation Islamic Assembly could be held as planned. deskMohammad Nabi has FFIRI, Deputy Secretary General, head of Republic of Iran (FFIRI) elective General The documents were not enough and FIFA been named as the Acting Secretary General the Competition Committee. fight against Covid-19 Assembly will be held in September. asked FFIRI officials once again to revise the of The Football Federation of the Islamic Mehdi Mohammad Nabi has also The elections were scheduled for March statutes before holding the elections. Republic of Iran (FFIRI), as reported by worked as the General Manager of Gos- SPORTS TEHRAN— Italian professional football club, 15 but it was deferred since FIFA had FIFA had hinted that the current version of FFIRI official website. taresh Pars Khodro club, a member of the deskAS Roma, in its official Twitter account has ordered FFIRI to postpone the elections the FFIRI statutes contains several particularly Mohammad Nabi replaced Ebrahim Board of Directors and vice-president of praised an Iranian doctor and her husband for their commitment until the national governing body amends problematic provisions such as government Shakouri, who had started his work as Persepolis as well. in fight against the coronavirus. its current statutes. interference in the FFIRI elections. Acting General Secretary in December In a message, Heydar Baharvand, the “Khojasteh Samadi & her husband Khashayar Abbasi are World football’s governing body had sent Now, the Iranian football officials have 2018. acting president of the FFIRI, appreci- doctors in the Iranian city of Bahar. Throughout Nowruz - Persian a letter to the Iranian federation on Feb. 24, announced that the elective General As- Mohammad Nabi has taken on impor- ated the efforts of Shakouri during his New Year - the couple have spent the entire holidays taking care stressing that the event should be delayed. sembly will be held in September after the tant roles in recent years in the Iranian period as the Acting General Secretary of Covid-19 patients & haven’t been able to see their families for The FFIRI provided some documents current statutes modification. football, including the Secretary General, of the FFIRI. nearly two months. Respect,” the tweet reads. Prayer Times Noon:13:07 Evening: 19:47 Dawn: 5:19 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:45 (tomorrow) APRIL 4, 2020 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Mohammad Shojaeian Editor-in-Chief: Ali A.Jenabzadeh Five Iranian publishers announce top Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051450 10 bestsellers of the year Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 1 Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 Zahed Barkhoda’s novel “He” placed www.eshterak.ir Distributor: Padideh Novin Co. third and Ebrahim’s another story “A Man Tel: 88911433 in Permanent Exile” came next. Webmaster: [email protected] “Stories” containing 40 short stories Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 by Palestinian author Ghassan Kanafani selected by translator Gholamreza Emami Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimesdaily stands fifth on Ruzbehan’s bestseller list. The sixth bestseller is “Scorched”, the No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran second play from a tetralogy by Lebanese- P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Canadian writer Wajdi Mouawad translated Zip Code: 1599814713 into Persian by Mohammadreza Khaki. Ruzbehan’s other bestselling books are French writer Jean-Paul Sartre’s play “No Exit” translated by Behrang Esmaeiliun, British theater director and vocal coach Cicely Berry’s book “Voice and the Actor”, “Professional Acting”, a collection of articles by Scott Zeigler, Melissa Broder and several other experts translated by Ahmad Damud, and a Persian translation GUIDE TO of American director David Mamet’s book SPIRITUAL AWAKENING “On Directing Film” by Damud. Qoqnus bestsellers Most of those who lose their wisdom, do so because A Persian translation of Shafak’s novel of being dazzled by greed, and shutting their eyes “The Forty Rules of Love”, about the Persian against fact. mystic and poet Jalal ad-Din Rumi and his Imam Ali (AS) companion Shams, leads Qoqnus’s popular books of the year. The book has been translated into Persian by Arsalan Fasihi, a Persian translator of Turkish literature. Iranian writer Abbas Marufi’s story “The Soldiers of the “Symphony of the Dead”, about the clash People visit the Tehran Book Garden, a major bookstore of the Iranian capital, in an undated photo. (Tehran Book Garden) between tradition and modernity, came Commander” published in next while his love story “Year of Turmoil” are Qoqnus’s other bestsellers. The seventh place was taken by “Autumn Saeid Jozani’s story collection “A Year Turkish earned third place. Cheshmeh bestsellers is the Last Season of the Year” by Nasim Has Two Seasons” appeared as third. The A Persian translation of Gabriel Garcia Australian writer Steve Toltz’s 2008 Marashi. The novel tells the stories of three collection contains four short and long novel “A Fraction of the Whole” is on the women in their thirties. stories, all of which are set in the northern CULTURE TEHRAN — “The Soldiers of the Marquez’s “Love in the Time of Cholera” deskCommander” a book by Iranian writer by Bahman Farzaneh was ranked fourth. top of Cheshmeh’s bestseller list. The book “A Guide to Die with Herbal Medicines” Iranian region of Gilan. Morteza Keramati about Lieutenant General Qassem “The Tears of My Soul”, an autobiography translated into Persian by Peyman Khaksar by Iranian writer Atieh Attarzadeh captured The fourth place was taken by “An Soleimani’s relationship with his soldiers has been published of the former North Korean agent Kim follows three generations of the eccentric eighth. The novel is about a blind girl whose Opera to Silence Rudaki Hall” by Jamshid in Turkish. Hyun Hee who had been transformed by Dean family in Australia and the people world is defined in terms of her collaboration Malekpur that narrates a story with artistic Translated by Aykut Pazarbasi, the book has been published her country into an obedient killing machine, who surround them. with her mother at home to prepare herbal characters. by Feta Publishing in Istanbul under the title “Haci Kasim was fifth on the list. “Like the Blood in My Veins”, a collection medicines. However, attending a family “Museum of Trash Objects”, a story by Suleymani ve Harem Savunuculari” (“Hajji Qassem Soleimani The list also includes Canadian author of Persian blank verse poet Ahmad Shamlu’s meeting outside of home makes her into Toktam Tavssoli about a woman who has and Harem Defenders”) in March 2020. Margaret Atwood dystopian novel “The love letters to his wife Aida Sarkissian, a different person. been treated like a boy from childhood In 2016, Se Noqteh publishing company released the original Handmaid’s Tale” translated into Persian came next. “Theory of Music” by veteran composer by her father, and Leila Babai’s detective book in Tehran. In the first chapter, the writer gives an account by Soheil Somi. French writer Jean Teule’s 2006 black Mostafa-Kamal Purtorab and “Art as romance book “The Crickets in Qavam us- of Soleimani’s leadership as the Quds Force commander. “Dear Leader: My Escape from North comedy novel “The Suicide Shop” and Therapy” written by the Australian-Scottish Saltaneh Garden” were slotted in fifth and The second chapter carries the memories of his soldiers in Korea”, in which North Korea’s senior German writer Heinrich Boll’s 1955 novella art historian John Armstrong and Swiss- sixth places on the list. the fight against the ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq. propagandist Jang Jin-sung exposes “The Bread of Those Early Years” occupy born British philosopher Alain de Botton Four other bestsellers of the Afraz Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani was assassinated shocking truths behind the regime, was the third and fourth places on the list. were the last of Cheshmeh’s bestselling publishing company are as follows: in a U.S. terrorist attack on January 3 in Baghdad. the seventh on the list. “No Friend But the Mountains: Writing books of the year. American writer Robert McKee’s “Dialogue: Turkish writer Ahmet Umit’s book “The from Manus Prison”, an autobiographical Afraz bestsellers the Art of Verbal Action for Stage, Page Dervish Gate” translated into Persian by account of Behrouz Boochani’s perilous “T”, a novel by Zahed Barkhoda, tops and Screen” translated by Mahtab Safdari, Fasihi occupied eighth place. The story journey to Christmas Island and his Afraz’s bestseller list. The story narrates Hungarian writer’s “Theory of the Film Italian writer Paolo uncovers the secret behind the murder of subsequent incarceration in an Australian the internal voice of the autistic mind of its Character and Growth of a New Art” Shams, the companion of Rumi. government immigration detention facility central character, which is continuously translated by Morteza Latifi-Nezami, Giordano’s “How Contagion “Nine Stories”, a collection of short on Manus Island, was slated in fifth place. involved in playing with letters of the Franco–Belgian writer Eric-Emmanuel Works” published in Persian stories by American fiction writer J. D. “Outside of Door”, a novel by veteran alphabet and numbers. Schmitt’s “When I Was a Work of Art” Salinger translated by Ahmad Golshiri, and Iranian writer Mahmud Dowlatabadi that “At the Depth of 1.5 Meters” by Hanieh translated by Faramarz Veisi and Asieh CULTURE TEHRAN — An e-book version of Italian Iranian writer Yasaman Khalilifard’s story recounts a small portion of Afaq’s life before Soltanpur was listed as second. It is about Heidari, and American writer Stephen deskphysicist and novelist Paolo Giordano’s “It Seems that I’m Not Myself” about the the victory of the Islamic Revolution in a man who plans to marry, yet is strongly King’s apocalyptic novel “Cell” translated latest book “How Contagion Works: Science, Awareness disorientation of people in modern times 1979 came next. under the influence of his mother. by Mandana Qahramanlu. and Community in Times of Global Crises” has recently been published in Persian. Tehran gallery to hold retrospective of The book is currently available on Taaghche and Fidibo, two Iranian center publishes book on social, major Iranian institutes that create digital content services. cultural implications of coronavirus pandemic expressionist artist Manuchehr Niazi Translated by Mahya Bayat, the book has been released by Borj Publications that has acquired the copyright to the book from the Giulio Einaudi Editore, a Turin-based Italian publisher. “How Contagion Works” reflects on the crises in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic. Writing from Italy in lockdown, Giordano explains how the disease spreads in our interconnected world and why it matters and how it impacts us. Giordano is the author of the critically acclaimed “Like Family” and “The Human Body”, as well as the international bestsellers “The Front cover of the book “Studies on the Social and Cultural Aspects of Coronavirus in Iran”. Iranian artist Manuchehr Niazi poses in an undated photo. Front cover of the Persian Solitude of Prime Numbers” version of Italian writer CULTURE TEHRAN — Iran’s “Healthcare Workers and Gender ARTTEHRAN — to draw,” Niazi told ISNA in January 2018 and “Heaven and Earth”, which deskInstitute for Social Inequality” by Leila Falahati, “Coronavirus, deskMojdeh Gallery in during the inauguration of his exhibition at Paolo Giordano’s book “How have been translated into several Contagion Works”. and Cultural Studies (ISCS) has recently Observers and the Development of Human Tehran plans to hold a retrospective Tehran’s Boom Gallery as a record played languages. published a book on the social and cultural Relations” by Khadijeh Keshavarz, of Manuchehr Niazi, an Iranian a Bach symphony. In a video released by some Iranian publishers, Giordano has implications of the coronavirus pandemic and “Coronavirus, Nationalism and expressionist artist who has created “I was a singer and used to perform asked Iranian people to stay at home during the coronavirus in Iran. Internationalism” by Reza Mahuzi are lots of invaluable artworks over his opera, so music has a great influence over pandemic. The book titled “Studies on the Social some of the articles published in the book. career spanning over six decades. me; when I listen to Beethoven’s Symphony He also expressed his hope that he will take a trip to Iran and Cultural Aspects of Coronavirus in Iran” “Modern Theology and the Future of Science The exhibition will be organized during No. 5, it gives me the forms and I begin to after the fears of the coronavirus contagion abate. contains over ten articles by the scholars in Iran” by Jabbar Rahmani is one of the most autumn, the Persian service of Honaronline draw,” he said. of the ISCS, the institute that is affiliated informative articles of the collection. announced on Wednesday. “Schubert has also been a source of with the Ministry of Science, Research The article gives an analysis of the The 83-year-old Niazi, who follows inspiration for me,” he noted. Children’s writer Sorayya and Technology has recently announced. Islamic clerics’ outlooks on the coronavirus his own specific technique to create Niazi, who has lived for several years In a preface to the book, ISCS director epidemic in Iran. artworks, once said that Western classical in the United States, has said that human Qezel-Ayaq dies at 77 Hossein Mirzai has announced the The country is fighting the worst music has provided inspiration for his beings cannot continue living without institute’s plan to publish another book coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East collections created in the forms of painting creating art. CULTURE TEHRAN — Iranian children’s writer on developments in higher education about with its death toll climbing to 2898, the and collage. In his view, everything is art and even deskSorayya Qezel-Ayaq died on Thursday at the coronavirus outbreak in the world. Health Ministry announced on Tuesday. “Classical music gives me many ideas a baker who shapes the dough is an artist. a Tehran hospital. She was 77. “Qezel-Ayaq was at the hospital since February, however, I have no exact information about her illness,” Iranian Children’s “Colors of the Homeland” painter Edman O’Aivazian dies from Book Council director Nushafarin Ansari confirmed. “She left us concurrent with the International Children’s Book coronavirus in London Day. She was so in love with children and children’s literature ARTTEHRAN — The London-based Iranian- Painters in the UK. His thulth and Kufic calligraphic designs “When you hold an exhibition, you can find your way and spent all her life on her love and interest,” she added. deskArmenian painter Edman O’Aivazian embellish several mosques in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman. to people’s hearts and there is no place where you can hide She said that there are plans to hold a memorial ceremony at passed away from a coronavirus infection at the age of 89 Aivazian, who attained his professional education in something there,” O’Aivazian had said after opening his a more favorable time after fears of the coronavirus contagion in London, the Persian service of Honaronline announced Europe, had a wide scope of interests in painting, graphic exhibition in Tehran. abate in the country. on Wednesday. art, architecture and design. “An exhibition helps form a connection, and you can get a “She made great efforts in promoting children’s literature. O’Aivazian was admitted to the hospital in London a He had made the interior designs for some Armenian good lesson from people there that you would otherwise never She was one of the most influential figures in this field, and month ago over his dizzy spells and blood pressure disorders. churches and public and sacral buildings in Europe, the learn at your work. This is the result of a direct relationship the book council is missing her so much today,” she added. Fourteen days after, he was transferred into another ward due Near East and Iran. with people,” he had stated. Qezel-Ayaq was a member of the Iranian Children’s Book to a high fever, and finally, he tested positive for coronavirus His works are preserved at the House-Museum of Aram He had a strong dislike for selling his artworks. “Selling Council. four days ago. Khachaturian in Yerevan, Armenia, and several other museums an artwork is like selling one’s own child,” he had asserted, “Parnian and Water, with Lullaby to Dreamland”, “Lullabies Some of O’Aivazian’s paintings and architectural designs around the world. adding “I am financially secure and therefore I prefer my and Caressing Songs from Birth to Age Three,” and “Singing were showcased in an exhibit entitled “Colors of the Homeland” However, O’Aivazian wanted his paintings to adorn works to be hung on the walls of houses. That way instead of with Children from Birth to Three” are among her noteworthy at Tehran’s Niavaran Cultural Center during September 2016. the walls of people’s homes rather than to be kept in the having to dust my paintings, other people do the dusting,” credits. He was the sole Iranian member of the Royal Institute of Oil collections of art dealers. he had remarked.