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

8 Pages Price 50,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 42nd year No.13748 Monday AUGUST 31, 2020 Shahrivar 10, 1399 Muharram 11, 1442 U.S. doesn’t Kolahi appointed Normalization, free service ‘Tazieh represents Iranians’ ‘understand law basketball secretary from UAE to embattled culture of defending the or UN’ 2 general 3 Netanyahu, Trump 5 oppressed and pacifism’ 8

Energy Ministry to draft new bill for protecting water resources Ashura commemorated – Iranian Energy Minister Reza is more based on sustainable use and pro- Ardakanian has said that a new bill is going tection of resources. We are also going to Rouhani showers mourners with praise for observing health protocols to be drafted for the country’s “Law of do a great deal of work on updating water Fair Water Distribution,” to ensure the data so that our future planning will be See page 2 protection of the country’s water resourc- based on accurate and precise data.” es, the ministry portal PAVEN reported. “Due to the decrease in rainfall in the Speaking to the national TV, Ardaka- country, it is necessary to come up with nian said: “This year, we intend to draft a a new long-term plan based on the cur- new bill for the comprehensive water law rent conditions for the coming years and [Law of Fair Water Distribution], which decades, 4 Tehran criticizes the West for harboring MEK TEHRAN — Iran’s Foreign Ministry today, were martyred in a bombing by the on Saturday marked the National Day MEK terrorist group,” the ministry tweeted. of Fight Against Terrorism, criticizing the “Despite assassinating Irani- United States and the European Union ans & fighting alongside Saddam, MEK for sheltering the terrorist Mojahedin-e is sheltered by the U.S. & EU,” it added. Khalq (MEK) group which has killed 39 years ago on this date, President thousands of Iranians. Mohammad Ali Rajaei and Prime Min- “Aug. 29, the national Day of Fight ister Mohammad Javad Bahonar were Against Terrorism, is the time to remem- assassinated in an explosion orchestrated ber Prz Rajai & PM Bahonar who, 39yrs ago by the MEK. 3 Selection of Qatran Tabrizi’s divan published in TEHRAN – A selection of poems from the other literati about the poet who lived divan of Iranian poet Abu Mansur Qatran during the 11th century. Tabrizi has been published in Azerbaijan. Born in Sahar near Arrah, , “Qetran Tebrizi: Secilmis Eserleri” has Qatran Tabrizi was the most famous been translated into Azerbaijani by the panegyrist of his time in Iran. celebrated Azerbaijani poet and scholar Czech orientalist Jan Rypka had Mircelal Zeki, the Iran Culture Center in said, “His work has aroused the interest has announced. of historians, for in many cases Qatran Medi Bakhshi The book published by Nafta-Press has perpetuated the names of members of opens with an introduction by the transla- regional dynasties in Azerbaijan and the

Mehr/ tor that gives details about Qatran Tabrizi’s region that would have otherwise biography and poetry and comments by fallen into oblivion.” 8 By Faranak Bakhtiari Resistance movement represents the nobility of U.S. protests: 1 killed as Trump supporters Tehran Times journalist Imam Hussein: Islamic scholar clash with BLM protesters Blood donation By Mohammad Mazhari darkest chapter of Islamic history. One person has died after being shot as a large Police did not release any additional de- campaign launched TEHRAN – Muhammad al-Zoubi, a Lebanese Despite the catastrophic impact of the event procession of supporters of President Donald tails and were at the scene investigating late Islamic scholar, is of the opinion that all Yazid’s on the history of Islam, many Wahhabi think- Trump clashed with Black Lives Matter pro- on Saturday. nationwide during crimes are embodied in the Zionist regime-U.S. ers have scrambled to find justifications and testers on the streets of Portland on Saturday, The caravan arrived downtown just as a pro- axis and “we find the Husseini nobility in the excuses for Yazid in an attempt to exonerate police said. test planned for Saturday was getting under way. Muharram axis of the Islamic Republic and the resistance and distance him from this incident while other Portland, in the U.S. state of Oregon, has Police made several arrests before the shoot- movement.” Sunni scholars consider him degraded and have been the site of nightly protests for more than ing and advised residents to avoid the area. national blood dona- Like his fatherImam Ali, Imam Hussein vilified and execrated him. three months since the police killing of George The caravan marked the third Saturday in tion campaign has been enjoys an important and distinguished posi- In this regard, al-Zoubi tells the Tehran Floyd in Minneapolis. a row that Trump supporters have rallied in A launched during the month tion in the collective Islamic mind. Since he is Times that “Yazid represents aggression, in- On Saturday, fights broke out as a cara- the city. of Muharram for forty days since a “Sahabi,” a companion of the Prophet, there justice, immorality, selfishness, violation of van of about 600 vehicles was confronted The chaotic scene came two days after Trump Tasua (the ninth day of the month), is no conflict between Sunni scholars regarding religious values and morality for the sake of by protesters in the city’s downtown area, invoked Portland as a liberal city overrun with Bashir Haji Beigi, spokesman for the character of Hussein bin Ali, the grandson self-interest.” al Jazeera reported. violence in a speech at the Republican Nation- the Blood Transfusion Organiza- of the Prophet. Many Sunni scholars have been He likens the Zionist regime’s massacres to “Portland Police officers heard sounds of al Convention as part of his “law and order” tion has announced. inspired by Imam Hussein and his uprising in Yazid’s approach and behavior in history. gunfire from the area of Southeast 3rd Avenue re-election campaign theme. Following the outbreak of coronavirus, the course of history. Following is the full text of the interview: and Southwest Alder Street. They responded and The caravan had gathered earlier in the day doctors, pharmacists, scientists, and others Hussein was martyred along some members What message does Imam Hussein’s located a victim with a gunshot wound to the at a suburban mall and drove as a group to the are looking for a way to control the virus, of his family in the Battle of Karbala in 61AH by movement carry to current generations? Why chest. Medical responded and determined that heart of Portland. As they arrived in the city, and so far many studies and researches the army of the second Umayyad caliph Yazid is it said that “every day is Ashura and every the victim was deceased,” the Portland Police protesters attempted to stop them by standing have been done in this regard. in a bloody war, which was described as the land is Karbala”? 5 Bureau said in a statement. in the street and blocking bridges. One of the studies showed that the plasma driven from recovered patients can be used in the treatment of COVID-19 with the help of the patient’s immune Plan for offering oil via salaf bonds temporarily stopped Children’s tourism system. TEHRAN — Iranian Finance and Economic parallel salaf bonds on August 16, but in an an- this offering is going to be used to finance the oil company makes debut Convalescent plasma therapy allows Affairs Minister Farhad Dejpasand said that the nouncement in the mentioned date the exchange industry’s development projects. someone who has recovered from a coro- plan for offering oil via salaf bonds in Iran Ener- stated that the offering was postponed. “National Iranian Oil Company is the issuer of in Iran navirus infection to donate their blood gy Exchange (IRENEX) is temporarily stopped, National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) had the salaf bonds and the purpose of this offering is plasma to someone who is critically ill. Tasnim news agency reported. planned to offer 20 trillion rials (about $476.1 to finance the company’s development projects TEHRAN – The first company in Iran specialized Since April 20, 7,323 recovered from Speaking in a live TV program, the minister million) worth of heavy crude oil in IRENEX and its current expenses; the offering will be in children’s cultural tourism has been registered COVID-19 have referred to blood donation said that the first session for investigating the through standard parallel salaf contracts (some conducted under two separate indices,” Hosseini in the UNESCO-tagged city of aiming to pay centers, 6,000 of whom donated plasma. issue of selling oil via salaf bonds was held, the kind of Islamic contract), and IRENEX Managing explained at the time. more attention to children and make them happier. Noting that the statistic shows that Economy Council approved the plan, but it will Director Seyed Ali Hosseini had elaborated on A standard parallel salaf is an Islamic contract “The children’s tourism project started four about 2 percent of the recovered people in not be implemented now due to some reasons. the details of the offering on August 15. similar to futures, with the difference being that years ago to pay more attention to children and the whole country have referred to donate IRENEX was due to offer crude oil via standard According to Hosseini, the fund raised through the contract’s total price must be paid in advance. their happiness,” ISNA quoted Maryam Nabizadeh, plasma, he said that so far, provinces of an official with Yazd Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Tehran, Khuzestan, , Mazandaran, Handicrafts Department, as saying on Saturday. Khorasan Razavi, Kermanshah, and West “Children as future makers of our society, along Azarbaijan provinces had the most plas- with their issues in various fields including everyday ma donors. Police fire pellet life, education, and health, should be taken into During Tasua and Ashura, 25 blood account more diligently and carefully,” she said transfusion centers in different provinces guns on Kashmir back in June. of the country are ready to receive donated “Yazd can be considered as the capital of children’s blood, he stated. tourism in the country and this type of tourism can Currently, in 25 out of 31 provinces Muharram be economically exploited by bonding children to the of the country, a plan to collect plasma field of tourism, it can flourish many infrastructures from COVID-19 recovered patients is procession and attractions.” underway, he noted. The official has also underlined the need for the The best time for plasma donation is At least 40 Shia mourners in the Indian-con- participation or increasing cooperation of all travel at least 14 and preferably 28 days after trolled Kashmir were injured on Saturday agencies across the province in strengthening this recovery, and donors should age 18 to when government forces used batons, burst field of tourism necessary, noting that various pro- 60 years. tear smoke shells and fired pellets to break grams and projects have been commenced in line Plasma therapy has so far reduced up mourning processions on the ninth day of with children’s tourism. coronavirus deaths in Iran by 40 percent Islamic month of Muharram. Experts say that nomadic tourism, children’s as proved to be a life-saving method for During the police crackdown in Srinagar, tourism, virtual museums, and training guides for those recovering from COVID-19. several youths were detained and many, in- cultural heritage sites are among the untapped Blood donation in Iran cluding women were allegedly “thrashed” by potentials of the travel sector. However tourism While blood donation in 70 countries the forces. for children and adolescents is somehow a ne- still depends on replacement or paid do- Jafar Ali, a witness, told AFP the procession glected topic, despite the importance of a child’s nors, Iran is the first country in the region started in the Bemina area on the outskirts of life trajectory up to the age of 17/18 in terms of

that has enjoyed voluntary blood donation Reuters Srinagar, and was soon joined by hundreds of the psychological and social impact it has on their by 100 percent since 2007. 7 Shia mourners. 5 formation of subjectivity. 6 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS AUGUST 31, 2020

Parliament aide highlights expulsion of ‘American Ashura commemorated cowboys’ from region Rouhani showers mourners with praise for observing health protocols including social-distancing.

POLITICAL TEHRAN — In a tweet on Friday, Hussein POLITICAL TEHRAN — Mourn- for all religious associations, which planned desk deskAmir-Abdollahian, the special aide to the speak- ing ceremonies for the to commemorate the occasion. Gatherings er of the Iranian Parliament on international affairs, responded to martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) on the inside closed spaces were prohibited over remarks by former U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, day of Ashura were held on Saturday and fears of another coronavirus wave. Instead, underlining the need to expel “the American cowboys” from the region. Sunday all over Iran amid strict observation mourners were advised to hold mourning “Brian Hook refers to the Emirati betrayal to Palestine as the New of coronavirus-related health protocols. ceremonies in open areas such as squares Middle East. The White House Every year, the Iranian people, along with and streets while observing social distancing must know the New Middle East other Shiite Muslims around the world, hold rules and wearing face masks. During the [West Asia] will take shape by for- mourning rituals for the Imam’s martyr- past 10 days, many squares and streets, ever withdrawal of America from dom during the first 10 days of the Islamic among other places, have been turned the region. The New Middle East lunar month of Muharram. The mourning into new venues for mourning instead of is a region free of the American ceremonies reach their peak on the 9th traditional places such as and cowboys,” Amir-Abdollahian day of Muharram, or Tasua, and the 10th Hussainiyas. tweeted. day, or Ashura. In Tehran, mourners poured into the The special aide was referring Ashura marks the martyrdom anniver- streets and squares of the capital in large to a recent U.S.-brokered peace sary of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of numbers to listen to clergymen and eulogists deal between the United Arab the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) who was praising Imam Hussein (AS) while keeping Emirates and Israel, which was martyred in the Battle of Karbala on October a safe distance between themselves. Mem- announced on August 13 during 10, 680 (Muharram 10, 61 AH), nearly 14 bers of congregations (Heiats) also staged a ceremony at the White House centuries ago. The Imam’s heartbreaking processions while beating drums in a sign attended by senior U.S. officials in- martyrdom sent shock waves through the of remembering the Battle of Karbala. Sim- cluding President Donald Trump Muslim world as he was widely seen as a the Health Ministry announced 1,754 new “Now, the most accurate images of ob- ilar mourning rituals were held on the day and Brian Hook. hero who sacrificed his life to challenge the COVID-19 cases, raising the total number to serving social-distancing in our collective of Ashura in other provinces across Iran. Under the deal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and corrupt ruler, Yazid ibn Mu’awiya. 373,570. The ministry also announced 103 memory are the images that will remain Mourning ceremonies are not limited Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed “agreed to On Sunday, millions of Iranians held new COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours. from this year’s mourning, and what more to weeping and beating chests. Cooking the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United nationwide rituals to commemorate the The mourners observed health protocols precious pride and honor than this,” Rou- votive food, called Nazri, and distributing Arab Emirates,” according to a joint statement issued by the U.S., martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), according and social-distancing rules while taking hani said. it among passers-by and the poor is also Israel and the UAE. to a Tasnim report. part in the ceremonies across the country, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani an integral part of the ceremonies, which Speaking in the Oval Office about the UAE-Israel normalization This year’s Ashura came at a time when a move that was praised by senior officials. Fazli also issued a message to thank the is very popular among ordinary people. deal, Hook said the deal was part of a “New Middle East.” mourning ceremonies were held under In a message to the people, President mourners for observing health protocols. Some believe that serving or eating Nazri “What we see today is a new Middle East. The trend lines are very health protocols amid fears of another wave showered the mourners Before Ashura ceremonies begin, the Na- food makes their lives more blessed. During different today, and we see the future is very much in the [Persian] of coronavirus, which has killed more than with praise for observing health protocols tional Coronavirus Combat and Prevention this year’s Muharram, Nazri foods were Gulf and with Israel, and the past is with the Iranian regime,” the 21,000 people in Iran so far. On Sunday, including social-distancing. Headquarters issued strict health guidelines distributed among the people as usual. outgoing U.S. special envoy to Iran claimed. Iran strongly condemned the deal, calling it a “strategic stupidity” and a “treason” against the Palestinians. “The Islamic Republic of Iran considers this ‘shameful’ action of Abu Zarif: U.S. doesn’t ‘understand law or UN’ Dhabi in normalizing ties with the fake, anti-human and illegitimate POLITICAL TEHRAN — In a tweet on Friday, Foreign between the United States and our denying Iran access to weap- snapback process, a contested mechanism built into the Joint Zionist regime a dangerous action and warns about any interference deskMinister lambasted ons,” Craft said in response to a question from the network’s Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that allows parties to of the Zionist regime in equations of the Persian Gulf region and the U.S. administration for its insistence on triggering a highly correspondent in New York, Talal al-Haj. the nuclear deal to restore all UN sanctions on Iran in the event announces that the government of the Emirates and other accom- controversial mechanism stipulated in UN Security Council During a visit to New York on August 20, U.S. Secretary that it didn’t uphold its obligations under the deal. panying governments must admit responsibility for consequences of Resolution 2231. of State Mike Pompeo submitted what the U.S. officials call a The U.S. complaint faced firm opposition from almost all this action,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on August 14. “After thrice being rejected by SC, U.S. now threatens ‘sanc- “notification” to the UN Security Council in a bid to trigger the members of the UN Security Council and all remaining parties tioning anyone & any entity that comes between US’ & ‘its to the nuclear deal. The opponents say the U.S. lost its legal U.S. failed to return UN sanctions snapback.’ Obviously, they don’t understand law or UN. Maybe “You divorced the JCPOA authority to trigger the snapback process after it unilaterally they can grasp this: You divorced the JCPOA in 2018. Your in 2018. Your name on withdrew from the JCPOA on May 8, 2018. on Iran, senior MP says name on the marriage certificate is irrelevant,” tweeted Zarif. However, the U.S. keeps insisting that it is still a “JCPOA The foreign minister also posted a video of Alarabiya news the marriage certificate is participant state” as defined in UN Security Council Resolu- POLITICAL TEHRAN — Seyed Nasser Mousavi Laregani, network’s interview with Kelly Craft, the U.S. ambassador to irrelevant,” Zarif tells the tion 2231, and thus it has the right to restore the international desk a member of the Parliament’s presiding board, the U.S. Trump administration. sanctions on Iran, a move that could drive the final nail in the said on Sunday that the U.S. efforts to trigger a return of all UN “We will be sanctioning anyone and any entity that comes nuclear deal’s coffin. sanctions on Iran hit a dead end. “The U.S. failed to trigger the snapback mechanism because it failed to bring members of the [UN] Security Council on board. And of course, it goes without saying that Trump’s plan for such China and France should safeguard Iran nuclear deal, Chinese FM says measures is aimed at serving propaganda purposes in order to gain” POLITICAL TEHRAN — Chinese In a move to kill the deal, the U.S. triggered certificate is irrelevant,” tweeted Zarif. votes ahead of the presidential election, Laregani told the Islamic deskState Councilor and For- efforts to restore all UN sanctions on Iran on The foreign minister was responding to Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA). eign Minister Wang Yi urged France to work August 20. The U.S. submitted what it calls remarks by Kelly Crafts, the U.S. ambassa- He added, “By pursuing the snapback mechanism, Trump is with Beijing to protect major international a “notification” to the UN Security Council dor to the UN, who said that her country will working his butt off to impose what he calls ‘maximum pressure’ agreements such as the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, calling for the re-imposition of UN sanctions sanction anyone opposes the U.S. push to on Iran and portray this pressure as an achievement that can be officially known as the Joint Comprehensive on Iran despite fierce opposition from all re- restore the international sanctions on Iran. used in his election campaign.” Plan of Action (JCPOA). maining parities to the JCPOA. The deal’s “Full of lies” According to Laregani, the U.S. efforts to trigger the snapback In talks with French Foreign Minister parties rejected with one voice the U.S. push to Reacting to U.S. Secretary of State Mike process go against international law because it has withdrawn from Jean-Yves Le Drian, Wang said that uphold- trigger the snapback process, saying the U.S. Pompeo’s claim about the return of sanctions the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and that it cannot ing multilateralism is the biggest consensus lost its legal authority to initiate the process on Iran due to the activation of the trigger trigger the snapback process through the deal’s Joint Commission. reached during his trip to Europe, according after it unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA mechanism, China’s permanent mission to “The JCPOA Joint Commission holds meeting when the com- to the Chinese People’s Daily Online. on May 8, 2018. the United Nations called it “full of lies”. plaining party is committed to its obligations. The U.S. cannot par- “Under such circumstances, China and However, the U.S. keeps insisting that it China’s Permanent Mission to the United ticipate in the Joint Commission because it has withdrawn from France, as major responsible countries, should Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign has the right to restore the UN sanctions on Nations stated in a Twitter message, “U.S. the JCPOA,” the MP argued. actively promote and practice multilateralism,” Minister Wang Yi (L) touches elbows with Iran because it is mentioned as a “JCPOA claimed that whether or not a resolution He added the U.S. resorted to every ploy to gain the support of the Chinese daily quoted Wang as saying. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian participant state” in UN Security Council to continue sanctions relief is introduced, the European countries but it was snubbed. According to the daily, the Chinese foreign in Paris, France, Aug. 29, 2020. Resolution 2231. sanctions on Iran will return. Full of LIES. “In a bid to trigger the snapback mechanism, the U.S. sought to minister made a four-point proposal for China and multilateral diplomacy, such as the Iran In a tweet on Friday, Foreign Minister U.S. is no longer a participant to JCPOA, and bring European counties on board through various ploys, but it got and France. nuclear deal. Fourth, the two sides should Mohammad Javad Zarif lambasted the U.S. therefore ineligible to invoke the snapback. nowhere. These countries clearly opposed the issue [of snapback],” “First, China and France need to adhere strengthen multilateral institutions. The United administration for its insistence on triggering 13 UNSC members believe the snapback is the MP noted. to the concept of multilateralism…. Second, Nations is the most important platform for the snapback process, likening the U.S stance not triggered.” both sides should take multilateral actions…. supporting and practicing multilateralism, on Resolution 2231 to a husband who lost his Pompeo previously wrote in a Twitter Third, China and France should abide by mul- and the two sides should support the Unit- privileges mentioned in the marriage certificate message that after the failure of the Security Iran FM lambasts ‘Trump tilateral agreements. Unilateralism, including ed Nations in playing its due central role in after he divorced his wife. Council in its mission to maintain peace and regime’ for using ‘law of jungle’ irresponsible withdrawal from international international affairs,” the Chinese Daily said. “After thrice being rejected by SC, U.S. security, the United States announced the organizations or violation of international Wang made the remarks in a Saturday now threatens ‘sanctioning anyone & any en- 30-day return process of all UN sanctions POLITICAL TEHRAN — Foreign Minister Mohammad agreements, is unpopular. China and France meeting with his French counterpart in Paris, tity that comes between US’ & ‘its snapback.’ against Iran. deskJavad Zarif criticized late on Sunday the adop- should strengthen coordination and cooper- amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Obviously, they don’t understand law or UN. According to Pompeo, the sanctions will tion of “the law of jungle” as a policy inside and outside of the U.S. ation on international affairs, and safeguard other parties to the JCPOA. China and France Maybe they can grasp this: You divorced the return at midnight on September 20 (Shahrivar “‘All options on the table’ has long been a staple of US foreign major outcomes of international agreements both are signatories to the Iran nuclear deal. JCPOA in 2018. Your name on the marriage 30) Greenwich Mean Time. policy. It simply means the law of the jungle: disregard for a fun- damental principle of int’l law: Non-Use of Force. Now, the Trump regime is using the same threat against Americans. A wake-up call? God willing,” Zarif tweeted on Sunday evening. Pakistan’s Khan says imperative to enhance ties with Iran Zarif was referring to remarks by the U.S. acting homeland Prime Minister Imran Khan has praised Pakistan’s relation- border with Pakistan is to contaminate the two countries’ security secretary, who said that “all options on the table” to quash ship with Iran, stressing an imperative to expand mutual relations,” the Leader stated. the violent protests in Protland, Oregon. ties in the future. After a closed-door meeting with the prime minister, Khan said Islamabad has improved its relations inter- Rouhani said Iran and Pakistan had agreed to form a joint nationally, including with the neighbors, over the past two force to eliminate terrorist groups. Peace deal with UAE will not years, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted “We agreed to step up security cooperation between the stop dissolution of Israel: MP the prime minister as saying in an exclusive interview with two countries and their respective border security and in- the Pakistani television network, ARY, on Friday. telligence forces while also forming a joint rapid reaction POLITICAL TEHRAN — A senior Iranian lawmaker Referring to Pakistan’s relations with other countries in force on the shared borders to fight terrorism,” the Iranian deskcondemned on Saturday a normalization deal the region, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, the premier president said. between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, saying such a deal emphasized that Islamabad was resolved to play a role in Elsewhere in his remarks, the Pakistani prime minister will not prevent the collapse of Israel. de-escalating tensions. hailed advanced urban management in Iran, particularly “This disgraceful agreement will not only not serve the sin- Heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, in the capital Tehran, despite Western sanctions. Khan said ister interests of the Zionist regime, but will also lead to further Khan paid his first visit to Tehran in April where he held talks Pakistan, Karachi and Lahore for instance, could model its discredit and humiliation of the supporters of the U.S. in the with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali in the mutual relations. urban management system on that of Iran’s. region’s public opinion, and will result in nothing but political Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani. “Terrorist groups, which sow insecurity along borders, Despite all sanctions, Khan said, Iran earned revenues of scandal for them,” Hussein Nooshabadi, the head of Parliament’s Ayatollah Khamenei warned that terrorist groups backed are fed with the enemies’ money and weapons and one of the hundreds of dollars from urban management, particularly in International Diplomacy and National Interests Commission, by the enemies of Iran and Pakistan seek to cause tension goals sought through anti-security measures along Iran’s Tehran, which are spent on the development of other cities. told Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA) on Saturday. Nooshabadi said the normalization deal will not prevent “the downfall and the destruction of the occupying regime” of Israel, Vienna to host JCPOA joint commission on Sept. 1 adding that “the process of the dissolution of Israel will not be TEHRAN (MNA) – The next meeting of The event will be attended by represent- countries to the agreement, Schmid said that joint statement issued by Iran and IAEA. stopped by such agreements.” the Joint Commission of the Joint Compre- atives of France, Germany, Britain, China the next meeting of the Joint Commission In a tweet on Wednesday, Schmid wrote, He also condemned the deal, saying it will not serve the in- hensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will be held and Russia. will be held as soon as the conditions for “Good news from Tehran on cooperation terests of Islamic countries and the people of the region. in Vienna on September 1. Thus, the meeting will be held at the lev- travel are available. between #Iran and @iaeaorg. The EU trusts On August 13, the UAE and Israel reached a deal to fully The meeting will be chaired by Secre- el of deputy foreign ministers and political However, the forthcoming meeting is im- the impartial and independent role of the normalize their bilateral relations. The deal, brokered by U.S. tary-General of the European Union Ex- directors of Iran and the 4+1 group. portant because the U.S. has illegally called agency. In the meantime we continue our President Donald Trump, sparked a wave of outrage around the ternal Action Service Helga Schmid and Last July, after receiving a letter from Ira- for the reinstatement of UN Security Council work to preserve #JCPOA with Joint Com- region and fuelled anti-normalization sentiments. The Palestin- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyyed nian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sanctions against Iran. mission next week; I will chair on behalf of ians across the political spectrum strongly condemned the deal. Abbas Araghchi. regarding the non-adherence of European On August 26, Schmid reacted to the latest High Representative @JosepBorrellF.” I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 31, 2020 IRAN IN FOCUS 3 SPORTS U.S. not entitled to invoke Kolahi appointed Iran basketball secretary general

SPORTSTEHRAN — Shabnam Kolahi has been ap- ‘snapback’ mechanism, says top MP deskpointed as secretary general of the Islamic Republic of Iran Basketball Federation (IRIBF). POLITICAL TEHRAN — The chair- is not in a position to reimpose all the UN deskman of the Majlis Nation- sanctions on Iran. al Security and Foreign Policy Committee “From a legal point of view, the United has said the United States cannot invoke States has no status to use the snapback the so-called “snapback” mechanism. mechanism. Three European allies of the “The U.S. has no legal right to trigger the United States had announced clearly in snapback mechanism,” Mehr on Saturday the previous session of the United Nations quoted Mojtaba Zonnour as saying. Security Council that the United States Earlier this month, Washington offi- cannot apply this mechanism,” Zarif told cially informed the UN Security Council reporters after a cabinet meeting on Au- that it is demanding the restoration of gust 12. all UN sanctions on Iran, insisting that Trump quit the nuclear deal in May the U.S. has the legal right to “snap back” 2018 and introduced the harshest ever UN sanctions even though U.S. Presi- sanctions in history on Iran as part of his dent Donald Trump pulled out of the administration’s “maximum pressure” UNSC-endorsed nuclear deal, officially campaign against Iran. called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of On May 8, 2019, exactly one year af- Kolahi was working as acting secretary general of the feder- Action (JCPOA). ter the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, ation since June. Other parties to the nuclear deal, in- Tehran said its “strategic patience” is over Iran’s Sports and Youths Minister Masoud Soltanifar appointed cluding Russia, China, France, Britain and and began to gradually reduce its commit- her in the new role. Germany, have voiced strong opposition to ments under the pact to both retaliate for Kolahi is an ex-Iran basketball player and has served in the Washington’s push for sanctions on Iran. the snapback mechanism. has no legal standing,” the MP remarked. Washington’s departure and Europeans’ federation as women’s team’s director for many years. Zonnour explained that paragraphs However, he said, the U.S. has withdrawn He added that Washington’s hostile failure to honor their commitments. 36 and 37 of the JCPOA emphasize if one from the JCPOA more than two years ago acts against the Iranian people has led to However, officials in Tehran have of the JCPOA parties concludes that the and is not a party to the deal anymore. its isolation. repeatedly said if the Europeans honor other party is not adhering to the obliga- “That’s why Europe did not accompany Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad their commitments, Iran will immediately Shahr Khodro, tions of the deal, the other side can use the U.S. in its bid, because the U.S. argument Zarif has also argued that the United States reverse its decision. Bakhtiarizadeh part way

SPORTSTEHRAN — Iranian football club Shahr Kho- Tehran says making efforts to find out about Imam Musa al-Sadr deskdro will not renew Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh’s contract for the new season of Iran Professional League (IPL). POLITICAL TEHRAN — The Iranian Foreign Ministry dignity, dialogue among religions, and proximity of faiths. The based football club parted company with the desk has paid tribute to Imam Musa al-Sadr on Sadr’s services and endeavors are so extensive that all 47-year-old coach who had been named as Shahr Khodro coach the anniversary of his disappearance, saying Tehran has people in the region enjoy them today, particularly the ap- in mid-July until the end of the season. been making international efforts for four decades to find preciative people of Lebanon, he said. Bakhtiarizadeh replaced Mojtaba Sarasiaei who stepped down out the truth about the top Shia cleric Imam Musa al-Sadr. “He was the founder of an intellectual and behavioral from his role in Mashhad based football club. “There have been follow-ups and dialogs at bilateral school of thought in the Islamic world and the Shiite world Shahr Khodro goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati, who was sacked and international levels to find out about his fate,” Foreign whose benefits have continued until today and are becoming by Bakhtiarizadeh two weeks ago, is a candidate to take charge Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Saturday, clearer every day,” the spokesman added. of the team. according to Tasnim Khatibzadeh also attributed the victories, progress and Under tutelage of Bakhtiarizadeh, Shahr Khodro came sixth Sadr, a prominent Iranian-Lebanese Shia scholar, went achievements of the resistance movement to the presence in IPL table. missing with two companions on August 31, 1978, during of Sadr in Lebanon. Shahr Khodro sit bottom of Group B in the AFC Champions an official visit to the Libyan capital Tripoli. He was ac- “Imam Musa al-Sadr is renowned in Lebanon main- League, where the team have lost their two previous matches. companied by Sheikh Mohammad Yaqoub and journalist ly for his role in shaping the main cores of resistance Abbas Badreddine. against the Zionist regime’s occupation and in creating Khatibzadeh said Imam Musa al-Sadr is one of the most unity and peaceful coexistence among followers of re- notable figures that did his utmost to ensure Muslim unity and ligions,” he added. Ex-Esteghlal midfielder Serjik Teymourian dies

Imam Hussein (AS)’s sacrifice Iran urges world to pressure Israel SPORTSTEHRAN — Ex-Esteghlal midfielder Serjik Tey- nurtured resistance to tyranny: Zarif to join NPT deskmourian passed away at the age of 46 on Saturday. He had gone into a coma in mid-July after a road accident. POLITICAL TEHRAN — Foreign POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iran’s Teymourian, the older brother of ex-national team player deskMinister Mohammad deskDeputy Permanent Andranik, previously played for Esteghlal in Iran and the German Javad Zarif has commemorated the mar- Representative to the United Nations side Mainz 05 between 1998 to 2000 as a defensive midfielder. tyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), saying his Es’haq Al-e Habib has urged the inter- Tehran Times extends deepest sympathy to Teymourian’s great sacrifice has ingrained resistance to national community to pressure Isra- family, loved ones, and friends over his demise. tyranny and injustice in hearts and souls el into joining the Non-Proliferation of his followers. Treaty (NPT). “Since 680 CE, millions of Muslims Addressing a virtual meeting on the have commemorated martyrdom of anniversary of the Comprehensive Nucle- Ali Ferydoon joins Al-Rayyan Imam Hussein,” Zarif wrote in a tweet ar-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) on Thursday, SPORTSTEHRAN — Iranian-Kuwaiti footballer Ali Fery- on Saturday. Al-e Habib said considering the Israeli Elsewhere in his remarks, Al-e Ha- deskdoon joined Qatari top-flight football club Al-Rayyan. “Honoring his great sacrifice has in- Saturday. regime’s destructive role in the region, bib denounced the U.S. for playing a He has joined Al-Rayyan on loan from Al-Shamal for an un- grained resistance to tyranny and injustice “No power, no matter how cruel, can the International Atomic Energy Agency negative role in preventing the pro- disclosed fee. in hearts and souls of his followers for take this away from a nation ready to sac- (IAEA) should have access to the regime’s liferation of nuclear weapons, saying The 28-year-old started his professional career in Al-Ahli and centuries,” he added. rifice,” he added. nuclear facilities. with 1,054 nuclear tests, the U.S. has has also played in Al-Sadd. Zarif also wrote a quote from Imam Imam Hussein’s martyrdom is not only The destructive role of the U.S. and had the highest number of such tests Ferydoon scored 19 goals for Al Shamal in the 2013–14 season Hussein (AS): “I do not see death but bliss, a source of inspiration for the Islamic Re- Israel has prevented the realization of a compared to other countries. and was Qatari 2nd Division’s top scorer. and life under tyranny but misery.” public, but it also became an integral part Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Free Pointing to the U.S. as the only country Shia Muslims commemorate the anni- of the Iranian culture. Zone in West Asia, he remarked, according to have used nuclear weapons, he said the versary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein During the first 10 days of Mu- to Press TV. U.S. not only has no resolve to end testing (AS) and his companions with rituals that harram, cities all over Iran are filled Israel, which pursues a policy of delib- nuclear weapons and join the Comprehen- Siamand Rahman’s legacy begin every year from the first day of the with black banners and posters in erate ambiguity about its nuclear weapons, sive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) but lunar month of Muharram. memory of Imam Hussein (AS), and is estimated to have 200 to 400 nuclear also continues to modernize and strengthen lives on Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed people gather at mosques and other warheads in its arsenal. its nuclear arsenal. Khatibzadeh also marked the occasion, religious centers to mourn and cry The regime has refused to allow in- Nuclear disarmament must remain at SPORTSTEHRAN — Iranian superheavyweight pow- saying Iran’s consistency in resisting he- while eulogists recite poems glorifying spections of its military nuclear facilities the top of the international community’s deskerlifter Siamand Rahman sadly passed away gemony has roots in such culture. the martyrdom the Imam. or sign the NPT. agenda, he said. earlier this year, but his legacy lives on. “#Ashura (the day Imam Hussein was This year, the mourning ceremonies Under Article VI of the NPT, all parties The envoy added that the nuclear tests With Tokyo 2020 now just one year away, it’s time to relive martyred) is not just a day in history; it is are being held in open areas to reduce the to the treaty undertake to pursue good- must be stopped since they are against some of the greatest Paralympic moments in the decade. a constant momentum b/w right& wrong, risk of contracting the novel coronavirus. faith negotiations on effective measures the soul of the CTBT and commitment It’s not often the world gets to witness an incredible athlete like dignity& humiliation, and liberty& coer- These ceremonies are of great importance related to nuclear disarmament and the to nuclear disarmament as per Article Siamand Rahman. And while sadly the Islamic Republic of Iran athlete cion,” Khatibzadeh said via Twitter on for people from all walks of life. cessation of nuclear arms race. VI of the NPT. passed away earlier this year, his legacy lives on, Paralympic.org reported. Rahman broke records everywhere he went but one of his greatest achievements came at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The 28-year-old powerlifter, who was in the 107kg+ category, started the competition off with a lift of 270kg. Tehran criticizes the West for harboring MEK as Iran commemorates After keeping spectators and the media on their toes as to whether or not he would attempt 300kg, Rahman came out and martyrs Rajaei and Bahonar successfully lifted the bar. But would he be able to go further and be the first athlete to beak the 300kg barrier? 1 The bomb, which claimed lives of other officials Europe after being voted out by the parliament. Rajaei Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during a war which lasted as well, went off at the office of Islamic Republican Party served as the prime minister under Bani-Sadr. for 8 years. in Tehran. Rajaei and Bahonar, who knew each other for 20 In 2012, the U.S. State Department removed the MEK According to survivors’ accounts, the bomb was set years and were very active in the anti-Shah campaign, (also called MKO) from its list of designated terrorist AFC receives Iran’s bid to off when one of the victims opened a briefcase which was stood shoulder to shoulder after the victory of the Is- organizations under intense lobbying by groups associ- carried inside by Massoud Kashmiri, a security official at lamic Revolution. ated to Saudi Arabia and other regimes opposed to Iran. host AFC Asian Cup the Islamic Republican Party. The MEK was established in the 1960s to express a A few years ago, MEK members were relocated from mixture of Marxism and Islamism. It launched bombing their Camp Ashraf in Iraq’s Diyala Province to Camp SPORTSTEHRAN — The Asian Football Confederation Subsequent investigations revealed that Kashmiri was an desk operative of the MEK disguised as a state security official. campaigns against the Shah, continuing after the 1979 Hurriyet (Camp Liberty), a former U.S. military base in (AFC) received the Football Federation Islamic The assassination came 39 days after Rajaei won the Islamic Revolution, against the Islamic Republic. Iran Baghdad, and were later sent to Albania. Republic of Iran’s bid to host the AFC Asian Cup 2027. votes of the majority of Iranians in an early election and accuses the group of being responsible for 17,000 deaths. From Albania, the group has launched an intensive Four other AFC Member Associations have also indicated had become the second president of the Islamic Repub- Based in Iraq at the time, MEK members were armed disinformation campaign against Iran under the lead- their intentions to host Asia’s crown jewel including the All India lic of Iran, after Abol-Hasan Bani-Sadr, who had fled to and equipped by Iraq to fight against Iran alongside the ership of the Trump administration. Football Federation, Qatar Football Association, Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Football Association – all of whom submitted their expressions of interest by the June 30, 2020 deadline. Iran says to counter U.S. move to seize $1.7 billion held by Deutsche Boerse unit The AFC Executive Committee had earlier agreed to provide future hosts for the AFC Asian Cup, beginning with the 2027 Deutsche Boerse unit calls U.S. allegations earlier the creditors had filed the suit in a New in a statement: “After repeated legal defeats billion, according to the statement posted edition, with more preparation time ahead of the event as part against Iranian central bank unfounded York court seeking to require Clearstream to in Luxembourg, the U.S. plaintiffs are seek- on the bank’s website. of the AFC’s continued commitment towards strengthening its Iran’s central bank said on Saturday it was surrender assets that belong to Iran’s central ing legal action in U.S. courts against Clear- U.S. authorities have targeted Lux- competitions, the-afc.com wrote. taking legal steps to counter a lawsuit filed in bank. It said the clearing house considers the stream. Serious legal action is also underway embourg-based Clearstream for years in The last edition of the AFC Asian Cup in the UAE signaled a U.S. court by creditors seeking to seize $1.7 claims to be unfounded and will take steps to counter these measures.” an investigation over whether it violated a major shift for football in Asia after the tournament broke all billion of its assets held by Deutsche Boerse’s to defeat them, Reuters reported. Tayyebi Fard did not give details of the U.S. money laundering and Iran sanc- digital media engagement and TV viewership records, following the (DB1Gn.DE) Clearstream unit. Amir Hossein Tayyebi Fard, a deputy bank’s legal measures to prevent a seizure tion laws. Deutsche Boerse has denied widely acclaimed decision to expand Asia’s flagship competition The German stock exchange operator said governor of the Iranian central bank, said of the assets which he said were worth $1.7 wrongdoing. from 16 to 24 national teams. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY AUGUST 31, 2020

TPO preparing to hold Energy Ministry to draft Iran-Africa Economic Committee meeting new bill for protecting

ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iran’s Trade Promotion deskOrganization (TPO) hosted a meeting water resources on Saturday for making the necessary coordination for the upcoming Iran-Africa Economic Committee meeting, 1 and therefore, with the participation Regarding the possibility of monitoring TPO portal reported on Saturday. of government organizations, as well as uni- water resources and consumption in differ- versities and the Parliament Research Center, ent parts of the country, Ardakanian said: we started a research project on water and “Naturally, monitoring water consumption water resources protection,” the minister is not possible as much as the control we explained. have over the monitoring of electricity con- The official noted that considering the sumption, but the main thing in this field is country’s current water situation, the Energy to develop an assessment program based on Ministry has also had a structural reform in the water resources and ecosystem capacities water management, part of which including of each region.” the integration of urban and rural water and In early June, Deputy Energy Minister Regarding the water storage of the coun- Khamsi expressed hope that following the wastewater companies in the provinces has for Water and Wastewater Affairs Ghasem try’s dams, the deputy minister said: “This Energy Ministry’s planning and measures, been implemented. Taqizadeh Khamesi had announced that year, although the rainfalls across the country and the cooperation of citizens in optimizing “This has accelerated the implementation Water consumption in Iran increased by 35 decreased by about seven percent compared water consumption, there won’t be a shortage of projects by consolidating technical, finan- percent following the coronavirus outbreak to the previous year, water reserves are in a of drinking water in different provinces of cial, and human resources,” Ardakanian said. in the country. good condition.” the country during summer. South Pars daily gas production at 700 mcm Chaired by the TPO Head Hamid Zadboum, the gath- ENERGY TEHRAN — The daily production of gas tion feed is supplied from this joint field,” Meshkinfam said. ering was attended by the representatives of public and deskin Iran’s South Pars gas field has reached He further emphasized that all the stages of the imple- private bodies and institutions, as well as members of the 700 million cubic meters (mcm), the managing director of mentation of the South Pars development project and also the mentioned committee. Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC), which is in charge of maintenance operation have been carried out by local experts In the meeting, the TPO Secretariat of Economic Commit- developing the field, announced. and engineers, and POGC plans to continue to develop the tees’ proposals for expansion of trade with African nations Mentioning the 94-percent realization of the company’s country’s oil and gas industries by relying on the domestic were assessed and after necessary amendments, they were development plans for the previous Iranian calendar year capabilities and capacities. decided to be sent to the African committee’s secretariat (ended on March 19) Mohammad Meshkinfam said: “Of the South Pars gas field, which Iran shares with Qatar in the at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for final approvals and total 39 offshore platforms of the South Pars development Persian Gulf, is divided into 24 standard phases of develop- for being raised at the upcoming meeting. project, 37 have gone operational while 12 of the complex’s ment in the first stage. Most of the phases are fully operational The granting of credit lines, the facilitation of trade in- total onshore refineries are also currently operating.” at the moment. frastructure, the development of educational and technical As reported by ILNA, Meshkinfam underlined that although The huge offshore field covers an area of 9,700 square cooperation, and the activation of joint committees with the development part of the project is nearly completed, the kilometers, 3,700 square kilometers of which, called South African countries were among the TPO’s most important more important part which is maintaining the production Pars, are in Iran’s territorial waters in the Persian Gulf. The proposals. level has just begun, saying, “Currently, a large part of the remaining 6,000 square kilometers, called North Dome, are As reported, the Iran-Africa Economic committee meeting country’s energy is supplied from this joint field, so we have situated in Qatar’s territorial waters. is scheduled to be held in the next Iranian calendar month a big responsibility.” wells in the South Pars field, to continue to supply 75 percent The field is estimated to contain a significant amount of of Mehr (starts on September 22) and Iran’s First Vice The official stated that his company plans to develop other of the country’s gas needs from this field in the next 25 years. natural gas, accounting for about eight percent of the world’s President Es’haq Jahangiri is going to chair the meeting. reserves and boost the recovery factor of the currently active “Currently, 40 percent of the country’s gasoline produc- reserves, and approximately 18 billion barrels of condensate. Zahedan-Chabahar railway No trading account needed for 2nd ETF underwriting to be operational next year ECONOMY TEHRAN — No trading The offering of the second EFT had been In mid-June, the finance and economic deskaccount is required for un- postponed several times due to some technical affairs minister announced that the value ECONOMY TEHRAN — Head of the parliament’s derwriting to buy the shares of four major problems so that rumors of its cancelation of shares that are offered by the first ex- deskConstruction Committee said that Za- refineries that are going to be offered through were being heard, however in late June Fi- change-traded fund had doubled. hedan-Chabahar railway, in the southeastern province Iran’s second exchange-traded fund (ETF), nance and Economic Affairs Minister Farhad Referring to the offering of the shares via of Sistan-Baluchestan, is going to go operational in the ISNA reported on Sunday. Dejpasand announced August 26 as the date the first ETF, Dejpasand said, “The offering next Iranian calendar year (begins in March 2021), IRIB The underwriting process, which began on for the offering of the second EFT and put an was our first experience in this field. About reported on Saturday. last Wednesday will continue for two weeks end to those rumors. 3.6 million persons purchased the units of Noting that the necessary funding for the project has until Wednesday, September 9, and while there The offering of this EFT comes as the value shares offered by the first fund.” been supplied from the country’s National Development is no need for having a trading account at the of shares offered via the first exchange-traded An ETF is an investment fund traded on Fund (NDF), Mohammad-Reza Rezaei-Kouchi said local first step, the applicants for buying the shares fund has also increased significantly. stock exchanges, much like stocks. An ETF contractors like Khatam-al Anbiya Construction Headquar- through this ETF can do the underwriting by As reported, the government shares in On May 2, the TSE listed the first ex- holds assets such as stocks, commodities, or ters are working on the project and it will be completed their national ID code and then open trading Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, and Bandar-Abbas change-traded fund from a series of three bonds and generally operates with an arbitrage and operational soon. account in the coming months. refineries will be offered through this EFT, ETFs, through which shares of some state- mechanism designed to keep it trading close Rezaei-Kouchi underlined the importance of expanding The shares will be tradable one month at the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) which owned organizations and companies are to its net asset value, although deviations can the country’s national railway network, saying: “Invest- after the underwriting is finished. is the main stock exchange of Iran. planned to be offered. occasionally occur. ment in railways can be of great benefit to the country in saving fuel consumption and reducing pollution.” Iran, Turkmenistan discuss situation of borders, transportation ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iranian Transport and Ur- Iranian borders are facilitators of trade relations with deskban Development Minister Mohammad the neighboring states, the minister said, expressing hope Eslami held talks with Turkmenistan’s Minister of Foreign that the volume of trade exchange with the friendly states Affairs Rasit Meredow via video conference to discuss the including Turkmenistan would reach the previous level situation of road and rail transportation on the common before the pandemic. borders between Iran and Turkmenistan. , , , and Incheboron are four As reported by the portal of Iran Chamber of Commerce, land border crossings with Turkmenistan in the east of the Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), in the meeting, Caspian Sea and northeastern Iran. the two sides stressed the need for taking urgent measures Despite several rounds of talks and promises, Turkmeni- to lift transit restrictions between the two countries, and to stan has not yet decided to reopen its land borders with Iran. expand regional cooperation, and develop strategic, economic Back in June, Iran opened a key bridge connecting cities and trade collaboration, especially during the pandemic. on the two sides of the Sarakhs border with Turkmenistan Eslami also called for Turkmenistan cooperation for the amid efforts to expand trade with countries in the Central Referring to the country’s Sixth Five-Year National re-opening of Sarakhs and Incheboron border terminals and Asia region. Development Plan and the goals depicted in this plan for for removing obstacles to railroad links in border crossings. Sarakhs Border Bridge was officially inaugurated in the the expansion of railways, the official added: “Achiev- Referring to the healthcare measures taken in Iran, which said: “Currently, Iran’s trade exchanges are established at presence of Iran’s minister of transport and urban devel- ing a 30-percent freight transportation capacity and a have led to the reduction of the negative impacts of the 30 border crossings with neighbors, and health protocols opment, the minister of construction and architecture of 20-percent share of passenger traffic through railways coronavirus pandemic in the field of transportation, Eslami are strictly enforced at border points.” Turkmenistan, and the ambassadors of the two countries. is one of the goals that Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI) is pursuing.” He further mentioned the International North-South Transport Corridor and said that the India-Russia section TEDPIX drops for 3rd Trade via Mehran border of this route will be completed through Iran, and the consecutive week increases railway network has a major share in this section which can play an effective role for the country’s economy. ECONOMY TEHRAN — TEDPIX, inflation, parallel markets, and interna- ECONOMY TEHRAN — Trade The official emphasized the necessity of joining the deskthe main index of the Teh- tional issues, some internal factors have deskbetween Iran and Iraq country’s production centers through railways and added: ran Stock Exchange (TSE), which is Iran’s caused the recent drops in this market. has increased via Mehran border crossing, “There are many production centers in the country that major stock exchange, fell two percent in the One of the major factors was canceling according to the spokesman of the Islamic unfortunately are not connected to the railway network past Iranian calendar week (ended on Friday). the offering of shares through the second Republic of Iran Customs Administration and their cargoes are carried through road.” The index stood at 1.718 million points exchange traded fund (ETF) on due time. (IRICA). “Connection of production centers to the railway net- at the end of the past week, IRNA reported. Liberalization of “Justice Shares”, so that Ruhollah Latifi said that trade activity work can have a significant positive impact on the cost As reported, most of the trades were trading them in the stock market would be at Mehran border has increased from two of goods, reducing the time of arrival of goods to the conducted through the indices of National possible, was another contributing factor to four days a week, IRNA reported. destination, as well as greater reliability and security,” Iranian Copper Industry Company, Ghadir for the drop in the market. With the coordination made between he stressed. Investment company, Bank Saderat, Mo- The government’s plan named “Eco- the customs officials of the two countries in- The track-laying operations of Chabahar-Zahedan rail- barakeh Steel Company, and Bandar Abbas nomic Breakthrough” was the other issue cluding the director-general of the customs road was started in early July in a ceremony attended Oil Refining Company, while information affecting the stock market, as no details department of Iran’s Ilam Province, Mehran She also said that 158,000 tons of goods by Iranian Transport and Urban Development Minis- and communication, base metals, wooden were announced about this plan. border, which was previously active in two were exported to Iraq from this border point ter Mohammad Eslami and Deputy Transport Minister products, computer and electronic devic- On April 15, Iran’s stock market wit- days (Sunday and Wednesday) a week, in the past Iranian year, adding that the Kheirollah Khademi. es were the most traded items at the TSE nessed its largest-ever initial public offering, will be active in four days (from Sunday main exported goods were constructional As previously reported, the project which is aimed to during the previous week. as Social Security Investment Company to Wednesday) a week, Latifi announced. materials, chemicals, and auto parts. connect Chabahar to Zahedan (the capital city of south- TEDPIX had also experienced an (SSIC, also known by its Persian acronym Shalamcheh border in Khuzestan Shahid Soleimani border point, also eastern Sistan-Baluchestan Province) is planned to be 11.3-percent drop in the week ended on Shasta) offered eight billion shares, which province is active two days a week while known as Mehran border point, only 230 km completed by the end of the Iranian calendar year of August 21, and a two-percent fall in the account for 10 percent of its stakes, for Khosravi border in Kermanshah province away from Baghdad, is the closest Iranian 1400 (March 2022). week ended on August 14. sales in Tehran Stock Exchange. has been active on all days of the week border point to the Iraqi capital. Connecting the ports to the railway network is an is- It should be mentioned that the index Shasta’s index, which experienced a since the past two weeks, he said, adding, The economic and political relations sue seriously emphasized and followed up by Iran over had hit the record high of two million points sharp decline after being closed for three “It should be noted that Chazzabeh border between Iran and Iraq have increased the recent years, as the country is strongly pursuing the on August 2, and while it had been experi- days, has been another contributor to the is still closed.” significantly in the past few years and objective of boosting exports and transit via its ports. encing an unprecedented trend of rising TEDPIX’s recent fall. Earlier this month, Mahnaz Hemmati, the two neighbors are seeking ways to fa- Chabahar Port in southeast Iran is the most prioritized over the recent months, it witnessed several There are also some other factors leading the head of standard department of Ilam cilitate financial transactions and boost one for railway connection as the port’s exemption from days of drop in the past three weeks. to the recent drops in the stock market, of Province, announced that Iran has exported their trade ties. the new round of the U.S. sanctions on the country is an While Iran’s stock market has not re- them it could be referred to reducing the 18,884 tons of commodities to Iraq through The two countries have it on the agenda opportunity for the development of export, transit, and ceived any external shocks such as those value of brokerage credit, and conducting Mehran border since the beginning of the to increase the value of their bilateral trade also transshipment. form the foreign currency exchange rate, trades in two shifts per day at the TSE. current Iranian calendar year (March 20). to $20 billion by 2021. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 31, 2020 ANALYSIS/INTERVIEW 5 N ews Resistance movement represents the Nasrallah: Normalization, free service from UAE to nobility of Imam Hussein: Islamic scholar embattled Netanyahu, Trump Hezbollah’s secretary-general says the United Arab Emir- ates (UAE)’s move earlier this month to normalize relations 1 A: The history of nations cannot A: In fact, Imam Hussein (peace be with Israel was a “free-of-charge service” provided by Abu be separated from their present. History in upon him) described the reality of the Dhabi to the politically-embattled officials in Israel and its path is composed of the accumulations Ummah in his letter to the nobles of the United States. and experiences that shape a society’s Basra, as al-Tabari has reported in his “The Emirates’ move was service given free of charge to character. It was indeed subjected to book (History of Nations and Kings) The Donald Trump, the president of the United States, and Ben- changes that modified its path, but these Imam says: “I invite you to the Book of jamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of the Zionist regime,” changes turned into main elements of God (Quran) and the tradition of the Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said during his annual address the nation’s collective consciousness. Prophet. The Sunnah (tradition of the marking Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Therefore, in his movement Imam prophet) is dead, while heresy has been Shia Imam, Imam Hussein (PBUH). Hussein, peace be upon him, did not limit revived, and if you hear my words and Trump announced on August 13, 2020 that the UAE and his perspective to fight the tyranny of the obey my advice I will guide you to the Israel had agreed to normalize ties. Umayyad dynasty, but he was concerned path of rectitude.” The agreement was met with uniform condemnation on about the reality of the Ummah and In another speech quoted in al- the Arab street. retrogression of Muslims. Dhahabi’s book History of Islam, Imam It came in the middle of near-daily mass rallies by Israeli Justice is the main goal of all Hussein says: “The world has changed and people demanding Netanyahu’s resignation over corrup- prophets, as God said: “We have sent repudiated Righteousness, don’t you see tion and incompetence. It also coincided with widespread Our Messengers with proofs and sent the right is not fulfilled, and falsehood not unrest in the United States over racial discrimination and them with the Book and the Scales so prevented? So that the believer desires to brutality by police. that people might establish the justice.” meet with God. Because of that, I don’t When the deal was announced, Israel was openly speaking The Umayyads’ crime was not only see the death but happiness and life with of plans to annex the occupied West Bank and the Jordan distorting the message of Muhammad the wrongdoers an ignominy.” Valley. Emirati officials claimed Tel Aviv had agreed to sus- (peace be upon him and his family) but This is the reality of the Ummah in pend those plans in return for the normalization of ties. also diverting the path of the Abrahamic the era of the Umayyads. The Sunnah is But shortly after the deal was made public, Netanyahu religions and the calls of the prophets. Hussein, to reach great salvation, it quoted from Ibn Abbas, who said: God dead, and people have quitted the Book denied that those plans had been frozen. The Umayyads wanted to replace the should be instilled in us that we search told Prophet Muhammad: “I killed of God and the tradition of his Prophet, rule of justice with a tyrannical king’s for our own Karbala in our lives in order seventy thousand in revenge for Yahya while the truth is suspended and falsehood rule and the necessity of obedience. to be against Yazid of our era. Every era ibn Zakariyya (John Son of Zechariah), rules the society. Japan’s Suga hopes to succeed They invented false statements has its Yazid, and every period has its and I will kill double of this number in Al-Bukhari narrates in his book attributed to the Prophet (peace be upon Hussein.” revenge for your daughter’s son.” Sahih that al-Zahri (one of the prophet’s PM Abe, race heats up him and his family), ordering obedience Yazid represents aggression, injustice, In the Musnad of Ahmad, Musnad companions) went to Anas Ibn Malik Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga will join to the rulers and kings, regardless of immorality, selfishness, violation of al-Bazzar, and Mu’jam al-Tabarani it is (another prophet of the prophet) in the race to succeed his boss Shinzo Abe as prime minister, injustice and depraved life they had, religious values and morality for the said: Naji al-Hadrami was walking with Damascus while he was crying, and asked local media said on Sunday, as the competition heats up to banning disobedience. sake of self-interest. Imam Ali when he said that “be patient the reason of his sadness. Anas said: succeed Japan’s longest-serving leader. Therefore, the message of Imam But Hussein represents justice, truth, Abu Abdullah! Be patient Abu Abdullah “Nothing remained from the prophet’s Suga, a longtime lieutenant of Abe’s in a key supporting Hussein was to prevent the distortion sacrifice, morality, values, and supporting on the coast of the Euphrates!” I asked tradition except this prayer, and this role, had denied interest in the top job but attracted atten- of Islam, telling Ummah: Islam is not oppressed people. him what that is. He said that he had met prayer has been lost.” tion with a series of interviews, to Reuters and other news the religion of the Sultan (ruler), but its If we read our reality today, we find the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon This is an explicit confession by a organizations, in the days before Abe’s abrupt resignation mission is to bring justice for the world out that all Yazid’s crimes are embodied him), one day, and as if he was tearful companion of the prophet quoted in for health reasons, reuters reported. after establishing it among the Ummah. in the Zionist-American axis, and we and asked him if someone had made him Sahih Al-Bukhari, which shows Islam A Suga government would extend the fiscal and monetary The Muslim historian Al-Tabari, find the Husseini nobility in the axis of angry? He answered that Angel Gabriel has gone entirely. stimulus that defined Abe’s nearly eight years in office. in his book, refers to a message from the Islamic Republic and the resistance. arose from him before a moment and told To know how the Ummah reached Abe’s announcement on Friday, citing a worsening of Imam Hussein, (peace be upon him) to Although we did not attain the honor him that Hussein would be killed in the this decline to the extent that a tyrant a chronic illness, set the stage for a leadership election the people of Kufa in which he said: “I of fighting beside Hussein (peace be upon Shatt al-Furat (Euphrates). like Yazid rules the society, needs a deep within his Liberal Democratic Party. The LDP president swear by my life, the Imam is who follows him), this honor presents itself to us today Imam Ali asked Hadrami, “Do you and detailed study, and here I should is virtually assured of being prime minister because of the the holy book (Quran), who rises for the when we do not hesitate to confront the like to smell it from its soil?” and he suffice with key factors: party’s majority in the lower house of parliament. justice and who applies the educations hegemony of the U.S. said yes. So, Imam Ali grabbed a fist of Since Imam Ali and the prophet’s Suga decided to join the LDP race judging that he should of religion and devote his life for God .” We do everything possible to resist soil and gave it to him. family (Ahl al-Bayt) have been eliminated play a leading role, given expectations for his ability to The Sultan (ruler) has no legitimacy American arrogance without fatigue, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon in Ummah, the danger has begun to loom manage crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Japan’s unless by following God’s book, religion, boredom, weakness or being influenced him and his family) cried for Hussein over Islam’s horizon, while the prophet deepest postwar economic dive, Kyodo news agency said, justice, preserving the true religion from by the mainstream media pressure. before his martyrdom because he could had warned about it before. citing an unnamed source. falsification, shun selfishness or self- We must support the Husseini not witness Karbala’s tragedy. The Lord There are many hadiths (Prophet’s interest for God’s sake. revolution in our era by backing the of existence informed the prophet about words) in the books of Sunnis; for Karbala was not just a spot of land on Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Karbala and presented to him the soil example, in Musnad al-Bazzar and Mu’jam Police fire pellet guns on which a group of the oppressed people resistance to establish justice and support of Karbala to smell it. al-Tabarani, Prophet Muhammad said: were killed. Karbala was the voice of the oppressed people. How can the martyrdom of Imam “You will be tested in my family (Ahl Kashmir Muharram procession truth in history and representation of What is the status of Imam Hussein Hussein unite Muslims, Sunnis and al-Bayt).” the divine human nature that sees living among the Sunnis and their books? Shiites? In Sunan al-Nasa’i, it is quoted that 1 Witnesses told Kashmir Observer that a huge with the oppressors as humiliation. A: To answer this question, it will A: We must show the truth of Ashura when the prophet, returned from the number of policemen intercepted the mourners who were Karbala was not only a historical event suffice to mention some hadiths of and that it is the uprising of Islam against farewell pilgrimage (the final Hajj chanting “Labaik Ya Hussain” and “Hussainiyat Zindabad”. but was an epic that included all the Prophet Muhammad with brief comments: distortion. in which the Prophet Muhammad “When the mourners showed resistance and tried to values, concepts, and truths of religion: In Sunan al-Tirmidhi it is quoted from With their four schools of thought, participated) and reached Ghadeer march towards their destination (Imam Bargah), the cops faith, love, truth, justice, asceticism, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him Sunni scholars unanimously agree on Khumm, he ordered to stop. resorted to baton and fired teargas canisters to disperse generosity, sacrifice, patience. and his family) that says: “It was an angel the debauchery of Yazid, his perversion, Then he said: It seems that God has them,” Mohammad Ali, an eyewitness told Kashmir Observer. So all the lands are Karbala, and every never descended on the earth before that and his criminality, though the Wahhabis invited me, and I accepted his call. I am Ali said the situation took an ugly turn when cops fired day is Ashura. night. He asked God for permission to (the followers of Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn leaving among you, two valuable things; at the mourners with pellet guns, leaving many injured. It is our duty to read and compare greet me and me that Fatima (daughter Abd al-Wahhab) refused to follow the one of them is greater than the other; “The police action angered the mourners. They started Karbala with our life, with our place, with of Prophet Muhammad) is the master consensus of Sunnis. the Book of Allah and my family (Ahl chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans and engaged our era. The U.S. today is following the lady of the women of paradise and that Therefore, the two wings of Islam al-Bayt), and they will not separate. the cops in pitched battles.” lies of the Umayyad when it describes Hassan and Hussein are the masters of (Sunnis and Shiites) must follow the Then he said: “God is my lord, and I He said nearly six mourners were also taken into custody the Islamic Republic, which extends its paradise’s youth.” Book of God that calls for justice and am the master of every believer.” Then he by the police and taken to the nearby police post. hand to weak and oppressed people, as In the Sunan of Ibn Majah, Sunan forbids wrongdoing, and the history took Ali’s hand and said: “For whoever, “The mourners in the procession were adhering to so- a rogue state. al-Tirmidhi, the Musnad of Ahmad and and statements must be compared to I am his master, now Ali is his master. cial distancing norms and were wearing masks as well. I When Amr bin Al-Hajjaj, one of Yazid’s Mu’jam al-Tabarani, and Mustadrak the Book of God, and not to read history May God be a supporter and friend of fail to understand why police used force against a peaceful (the second caliph of the Umayyad al-Hakim on the two Sahihs and through the eyes of tyrants. As Sunnis whoever supports Ali and hostile to procession,” Kifayat Hussain, a local said. caliphate) army commanders, addressed authenticated by al-Dhahabi, it is quoted and Shiites unite in the position of whoever is hostile to Ali.” He said the procession would have concluded peacefully if Kufa’s people describing Imam Hussein that Prophet Muhammad, (peace be upon condemning injustice and immorality So, the danger began to loom over the police had not used ‘brute force’ to disperse the mourn- like a rebel, saying: “people of Kufa! Obey him and his family) said: “Hussein is from of Yazid, they must unite today in the Ummah when it excluded one of the two ers. He also alleged that police also thrashed many women the ruler, and do not hesitate to kill the me, and I am from Hussein. Allah loves face of arrogance by the Zionist regime valuable things (Quran and Ahl al-Bayt). and children while breaking up the procession. apostates.” anyone who loves Hasan and Hussein. and the U.S. Undoubtedly, the deviation increased “The procession was not just peaceful but was also fol- Thus, America today encourages They are two of my distinguished Muslims must stand by the resistance during the era of Muawiyah, who lowing health protocols,” said Sajjad Hussain, a witness. oppression, injustice, and aggression descendants.” in Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria, distorted the path of Islam and entered “They [government forces] unleashed such violence and under the slogan of following the In Sunan al-Tirmidhi and Mustadrak and support every oppressed around the predestination doctrine into Muslims’ did not spare even women mourners.” international community. al-Hakim, it is quoted from Umm Salamah world, and deal with their differences beliefs to tell people that the rulers of According to the witnesses, the clashes in the area con- It accuses those who work to defend saying: I saw the Prophet Muhammad, in a scientific way in an atmosphere of the Umayyads are a destiny from God. tinued till late evening leaving around 40 people injured, the rights of the Lebanese, Palestinians, in a dream with dust on his head and Islamic brotherhood. When his son Yazid inherited the rule, five of them with serious pellet wounds in the face and eyes. and Yemenis as rogue groups, of being beard, so I asked him what happened to How did the Islamic Ummah reach Muawiyah said that is the will of God. The injured were removed to the nearby Imam Hussain abnormal, although the international him? He said: “I witnessed the killing such a stage that a person like Yazid came This is how the Umayyads spread (AS) hospital for treatment. community today is beginning to take of Hussein earlier.” to power and manipulated the tradition throughout the Ummah that their evils Medical workers told The Associated Press they treated departure from the American dictates. In Al-Mustadrak of Sahih Al-Hakim of Prophet Muhammad and killed Imam and criminality are God’s wills, which at least 30 people, some of them with pellet and tear gas “When we wish to be with Imam authenticated by Al-Dhahabi, it is Hussein? cannot be objected to. injuries. R esistance N ews U.S. philosopher talks of Hussein’s uprising, today’s Yazid Israeli army bombs two sites By Payman Yazdani of the world keep the memory of Imam of the reign of Yazid are the people and in Gaza Hussein alive in the month of Muharram. institutions that seek to preserve the status TEHRAN– Prof. Taliaferro believes Why is the uprising of Imam Hussein quo of white privilege in America and INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — The Israeli occupation army at that today the successors of Yazid’s still dynamic despite the passage of Europe, marginalizing people of color, deskdawn Sunday bombed two resistance sites in reign are the people and institutions many years? Muslims, and the poor and under-em- the east of the besieged Gaza Strip, with no reported casualties. that seek to preserve the status quo of A: His resistance to tyranny was ab- ployed. In so many parts of the world, A reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) said white privilege in America and Europe. solute and to death. He and his family there is a harsh bifurcation of the wealthy that at least two artillery projectiles targeted two observation The Day of Ashura is the 10th day of paid the ultimate price for standing up and the working class. The need for more posts belonging to the Palestinian resistance in the east of Muharram in the Lunar Hijri calendar. with integrity to overwhelming forces. No equity and justice is very great. Deir al-Balah city (central Gaza) and the east of Fakhari town This day is significant for Shia due to wonder that the great freedom fighters of What can today’s freedom-seekers (southern Gaza). Karbala’s occurred in the year 61 AH the 20th century, Gandhi and Mandela movements, including the anti-racist The sites sustained material damage in the Israeli shelling. (October 10, 680 CE). On that day, Imam were inspired by his martyrdom. movement in countries like the United A spokesman for the Israeli army said that tanks shelled Hussein (PBUH) and his true companions In his uprising, Imam Hussein States, learn from this uprising? sites belonging to Hamas in response to the ongoing launch of were martyred in the battle against the sacrificed his position, wealth, and even A: I think that the lesson of the last incendiary balloons across the border, which sparked wildfires Umayyad army led by ‘Umar ibn Sa’d. his own family to fight against the oppres- stand at Kabala is that those of us who in southern Israel. Many freedom seekers have been in- sive ruler. What are the guidelines and of this inspiration, South Africa came are fighting racism should never give The recent sporadic skirmishes between Gazan youths spired by Imam Hussein and his uprising messages of his uprising for the popular to dismantle apartheid and repent its up. We can sometimes forget that some and Israeli soldiers near the border and the repeated balloon over history. uprisings in the contemporary time? crimes against black Africans. ideals are worth dying for. They are also launches are linked to popular demands for an end to the On the occasion of Ashura, we reached A: His message is that we should never Imam Hussein fought against Yazid worth living for. My fervent hope is that crippling Israeli siege on Gaza. out to Charles Taliaferro, a philosophy give up in the fight against systemic to institutionalize the message of free- justice may be achieved in the United Meanwhile, the Israeli government ignores Palestinian calls professor at St. Olaf College in the U.S. racism and tyranny. When Mandela was dom and resistance to oppression. In States and elsewhere non-violently. for ending its blockade on Gaza in return for calm, and insists Following is the full text of the in- in prison and was going to capitulate your opinion, who are the oppressors The malice and blindness to the racial on “calm in return for calm.” terview: to the government, he was inspired by of today’s world? injustice of the current President are The Israelis have always failed to honor previous ceasefire Every year, the freedom-lovers Imam Hussein to persevere, and because A: I believe that today the successors not helpful. pledges to ease the Gaza siege. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 HERITAGE & TOURISM AUGUST 31, 2020

Children’s tourism company makes debut in Iran Ancient human settlement

1 With its winding lanes, the forest of badgirs (wind catchers), mud-brick houses, atmospheric alleyways, and cen- turies of history, Yazd is a delightful place to stay, referring found in to as a ‘don’t miss’ destination by almost all travel associates in the region. The oasis city is wedged between the northern HERITAGE TEHRAN – Iranian ar- human settlement, which dates back to Dasht-e Kavir and the southern Dasht-e Lut on a flat plain deskchaeologists have discov- the centuries 6 to 7 AH, and it also yielded ringed by mountains. Yazd Jameh , Dowlatabad Gar- ered a human settlement, believed to be some pottery pieces and fragments of the den, the Yazd Atash Behram, also known as Atashkadeh-e prosperous during the medieval Islamic time as well, she noted. Yazd, Towers of Silence, and adjacent desert landscape are times (6 to 7 AH), in Qazvin, west-central Qazvin sits in a wide, fertile plain at the among its tourist sites. Iran. southern foot of the Alborz Mountain range. The discovery was made during a de- Originally called Shad Shahpur, Qazvin marcation project, held near Erich Tepe, was founded by the Sasanian king Shapur I during with some centuries-old relics and about 250 CE. It flourished in early Muslim shreds were unearthed from archaeolog- times (7th century), serving as a base for ical trenches, according to the Research Islamization, and was surrounded by strong Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism. fortifications by Harun al-Rashid. Genghis The survey probed evidence of human Khan laid waste the city, but it revived settlements through stratigraphy [rock lay- under the Ṣafavids when Shah Ṭahmasp I ers] across Erich Tepe (Alvand Tepe) in (ruled 1524–1576) moved the capital from Qazvin province, said Iranian archaeologist Tabriz to Qazvin. Fariba Mohammadi who led the project. Modern Qazvin is a regional communi- “23 trenches measuring one by one me- cations center, connected by road and rail ters and another measuring one by two were with Tehran and Tabriz and by road with caved during the project to propose legal the Caspian Sea and . Industries boundaries of the archaeological site and include cloth weaving, cotton ginning, wool studding its stratigraphy,” she explained. carding, flour milling, food processing, and The survey led to the discovery of a electrical equipment manufacturing.

Iran is a treasure house for some of the most gorgeous on the planet. Seemingly at every turn, Committee formed to safeguard ancient cisterns, watermills in Meybod Islam’s historical commitment to aesthetic beauty and exqui- site architecture reigns supreme. The sublime, turquoise-tiled TOURISM TEHRAN – A cultural heritage committee province, Meybod is a sprawling mud-brick town with desk domes and minarets of Isfahan’s Naqsh-e Jahan (Imam) Square has been set up tasked to lay the ground hundreds of years of history. It is home to some historical gets so many appreciative gasps of wonder, and rightly so, but for safeguarding ancient cisterns, watermills, public bath- mosques, , mansions, with the pre-Islamic there are utterly magnificent rivals elsewhere, in Yazd and houses, and (subterranean aqueducts), which are Narin Castle amongst one of the most celebrated. among others. scattered in and around the oasis city of Meybod, central Over the past couple of years, the Islamic Republic is fol- Yazd province. lowing up on possible inscription of Meybod and its cultural “Meybod is famed for having rich water-related structures landscape on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Iranian police bust gangs of because it is home to over 150 historical cisterns and some The term Ab-Anbar is common throughout Iran as a 30 watermills, a number of hammams (public bathhouses), designation for roofed underground water cisterns. It as- illegal excavators qanats and mud-brick yakhchals (ice storage structures),” sociates with water management systems in arid areas that provincial tourism chief Rasoul Moshtaqian said on Thursday. are reliant on permanent springs or on seasonal rainwater. TOURISM TEHRAN – Iranian police have recently desk A cultural heritage committee has established to oversee Such underground reservoirs or Ab-Anbars are parts of the busted five gangs of illegal diggers and an- and devise roadmap towards better conservation of his- iconic systems, which rely on snow-fed streams flowing tique dealers in the past month in the northwestern West torical Ab-Anbars (cisterns) and other centuries-old water down from surrounding mountains. Qanats, according to Azarbaijan province. structures in Meybod, the official said. UNESCO, provide exceptional testimony to cultural tradi- Situated some 50km north of Yazd, the capital of the tions and civilizations in desert areas with an arid climate.

Tehran-Sulaymaniyah flights resumed after six-month halt HERITAGE TEHRAN – Iran re- 23:00 local time [from the Imam Khomeini incoming and outgoing flights have been desksumed direct flights from International Airport based on permission suspended, and road travels restricted to Tehran to Sulaymaniyah, a city in Iraq’s issued by Iran Civil Aviation Organization] a great extent. Kurdistan, after almost six months halt and it leaves the Sulaymaniyah International The pandemic has taken a huge toll on caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Airport for Tehran on 23:00 of the same day. Iran’s civil aviation sector with reports show- The service started again on August 30 by Over the past couple of months, many ing that airlines lost hundreds of millions Mahan Air, a Tehran-based private airline. countries, including the Islamic Republic, of dollars because of flight cancellations According to the flight schedule, the once- imposed travel restrictions to help curb the during the busy New Year travel season per-week service takes off on Sundays at spread of novel coronavirus. In this line, in late March. In the latest seizure, which took place in Goytapa near the provincial capital of , three illegal excavators were detained and surrendered to the judicial system for further investigation, said Behzad Hejabi, a senior police official in Over $150,000 spent to restore Khorasan Razavi’s historical mosques charge of protecting cultural heritage, IRNA reported on Sunday. TOURISM TEHRAN – A budget of 6.6 billion rials Iran is home to countless mosques and holy shrines in West Azarbaijan embraces a variety of lush natural sceneries, desk(some $158,000 at the official rate of the country, many of which represent a combination of cultural heritage sites, and museums including the UNESCO 42,000 rials) has been spent on restoring and reviving symmetry, geometric designs, and vibrant colors creating sites of Takht-e Soleyman and Qareh Klise (St. Thaddeus six historical mosques across Khorasan Razavi province, an astonishing view which no visitor can forget easily. The Monastery), Teppe Hasanlu and the ruined Bastam Citadel. northeast Iran, over the past three years, provincial tour- architecture of the mosques in the country varies from one The region was a center of several ancient civilizations. ism chief has said. region to another. However, they often boast very complex According to Britannica, it was conquered by Alexander the Some 12 historical hosayniyas (places used for religious structures in which color variations, tiles, and symbolic Great in the 4th century BC and was named Atropatene after mourning ceremonies) have been also restored during designs are utilized. one of Alexander’s generals, Atropates, who established a small the time, CHTN quoted Abolfazl Mokarramifar as saying The holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia kingdom there. Ultimately, the area returned to the Persian on Thursday. Imam, in Khorasan Razavi’s capital city of Mashhad, (Iranian) rule under the Sasanians in the 3rd century CE. He also noted that historical Mihrabs as well as hand- attracts thousands of pilgrims, who come from various icrafts related to the mosques and the culture of prayer Iranian cities, neighboring countries, and even across the are being documented. globe each day. Ground broken for first Mihrab is a semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque Dozens of five-star hotels and hostels are dotted around recreational pier in that points out the qibla; the direction of the Kaaba in the holy shrine. The city has also the highest concentration Mecca and hence the direction that Muslims should face of water parks in the country, and it also embraces a variety Mazandaran when praying. of cultural and historical sites which are generally crowded.

TOURISM TEHRAN – Construction of the first rec- deskreational pier in the northern province of Mazandaran began on Wednesday, August 26, in the city of Qajar-era mansion turned into eco-lodge unit Ramsar, neighboring the Caspian Sea. HERITAGE TEHRAN – The historical portunities for 23 people. as its saffron and barberry which are produced Some 150 billion rials ($3.5 million at the official rate of desk 42,000 rials) has been allocated to the project, which aims to Bina mansion in the city of Bina mansion, which dates back to the in almost all parts of the province. enhance coastal and maritime tourism in the region, according Khusf, eastern South , has Qajar era (1789–1925), was inscribed on the Iran announced in 2018 that 2,000 to Mazandaran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts recently been repurposed into an eco-lodge National Heritage list in 2005. eco-lodges would be constructed across the Department General. unit after being fully restored. The house has a central courtyard. It also country until 2021. Having a very diverse With a budget of two billion rials (about has a porch with a crescent arch, as well as natural setting, Iran offers varied excursions $48,000), the eco-lodge unit was inaugurated badgir (wind catcher). to nature lovers. Sightseers may live with on Thursday on the occasion of the Government South Khorasan province is home to many a nomad or rural family or enjoy an inde- Week (August 24-30), the cultural heritage historical and natural attractions such as Bir- pendent stay. department general of the province announced. jand Castle, Dragon Cave, Furg Citadel, and Experts say each eco-lodge unit generates The six-room eco-lodge, which is the city’s Polond Desert. jobs for seven to eight people on the average fourth eco-lodge unit, has generated job op- It is also known for its famous rugs as well so that the scheme could create 160,000 jobs.

If tourism brings us together, then travel restrictions keep us apart: UNWTO Secretary-General TOURISM TEHRAN – In his latest massage regard- resources for safeguarding natural and cultural heritage desking the impact on the COVID-19 pandemic across the world, according to the UNWTO website. on tourism, the United Nations World Tourism Organization “The pandemic is far from over. As cases across the world (UNWTO) Secretary-General has said “If tourism brings us make clear, we must be ready to act fast to save lives. But together, then travel restrictions keep us apart.” it also now also clear that we can also take decisive action Zurab Pololikashvili added, “Tourism needs to thrive, to protect jobs and safeguard the many benefits tourism and this means that travel restrictions must be eased or delivers, both for people and planet,” he concluded. The private sector jointly with the province’s cultural her- lifted in a timely and responsible manner. It also means In June, the World Tourism Organization praised efforts itage department general will construct the pier with a width that policy decisions need to be coordinated across borders made by Iran’s tourism ministry to manage the travel industry of three meters and a length of 100 meters. to face up to a challenge that does not care about borders! during the coronavirus pandemic. UNWTO Secretary-Gen- This pier is one of the 134 piers, which are decided to be ‘COVID-19 and Transforming Tourism’ is a further element eral Zurab Pololikashvili said in a letter to Mounesan that built in the future across the province’s coastal strip, provincial in the roadmap for the sector to regain its unique status as the country’s measures have truly earned plaudits to miti- tourism chief Mehran Hassani said. a source of hope and opportunity for all.” gate the impact on tourism. “A series of measures that the The project, which will come on stream in one year, will also “More importantly, restrictions on travel also prevent assumed the lead role in producing. The landmark scheme Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts include restaurants, water sports space, and boat mooring. tourism from delivering on its potential to build a better makes clear what is at stake – the threat of losing tens of of Iran has taken, in accordance with the guidelines and Stretched along the Caspian Sea and Alborz mountain range, future for all.” millions of direct tourism jobs, the loss of opportunities for recommendations of UNWTO, has truly earned plaudits Mazandaran is a popular destination for domestic holidaymakers Last week, Pololikashvili launched the “Policy Brief those vulnerable populations and communities who stand as an effective practice to mitigate the impact on tourism,” and it is home to more than 3500 villages and rural areas. COVID-19 and Transforming Tourism”, which UNWTO to benefit most from tourism, and the real risk of losing vital part of the letter reads. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y AUGUST 31, 2020 SOCIETY 7

Mugger crocodile breeding an Blood donation campaign launched nationwide untapped potential in southern Iran during Muharram 1 More than 85 percent of all donated blood world- By Faranak Bakhtiari and their blood has about 10 times more wide is used to produce blood products, while the rate antibiotic properties than medicine and has TEHRAN — Mugger crocodile breeding is is 65 percent in Eastern Mediterranean countries. Iran been successful in eradicating some viruses. ranks among the highest-income countries in terms of one of the new economic projects in Chabahar Threats to the species port that can bring employment prosperi- converting more than 97 percent of the blood donated by Heavy floods in their habitat and the people to plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMP). ty while preserving the environment in the hunting of baby crocodiles by the adults southeastern region. are natural factors threatening the Iranian The mugger crocodile, also called marsh broad-snouted crocodile. crocodile, broad-snouted crocodile and mug- Sistan-Baluchestan province has expe- ger, is a crocodilian native to freshwater rienced drought spells on average every 30 habitats from southern Iran to the Indian years, and this raises concern over the ex- subcontinent. It is extinct in Bhutan and My- tinction of the precious species. anmar and has been listed as Vulnerable on The effects of drought have drastically the IUCN Red List since 1982. reduced the habitat of Muggers, so human In English, the species is called Mugger, conflicts raised. Muggers have also moved which is rooted in Hindi meaning sea monster, into artificial canals and rivers where it but the locals of southern Iran have chosen is more in danger from humans. Some of the name “Gando” for this large reptile, which them strayed into artificial ponds where in Balochi means walking on the belly. humans are present. One of the biggest Gando, one of the tourist attractions in problems for Muggers is the fact that more the Chabahar Free Zone, is the only croco- and more people want to live in the same Only 55 of 171 countries produce PDMP through the dile native to Iran and the largest reptile of places that they do. the country. fractionation of plasma collected in the reporting country. A Habitat destruction for agricultural pur- total of 90 countries reported that all PDMP are imported, It is interesting to know that the species is poses, improper water withdrawal by pumping one of the rarest in the world and has a shorter 16 countries reported that no PDMP was used during the and digging canals, various chemical con- reporting period, and 10 countries did not respond to the snout than other similar species, which can taminants such as pesticides, herbicides, be a valuable potential for attracting tourists question, according to WHO. fungicides, motor oils, and detergents can Iran currently has the highest blood donation rate in the and preserving wildlife in Iran. “Wherever Gando is, there is plenty of be catastrophic and directly or indirectly “Wherever Gando is, there is plenty of Eastern Mediterranean region so that out of 9.9 million endanger their offspring. blood donation units in this region, more than two million water” is a common belief in southern regions water” is a common belief in southern Some crocodiles are also threatened on of Sistan-Baluchestan, as they consider the belongs to Iran. regions of Sistan-Baluchestan, as they the routes due to car accidents. Also, the index of blood donation is 25 per 1,000 pop- animal as a symbol of blessing and prosper- consider the animal as a symbol of blessing Attacks on humans ity and believe that with the migration and ulations, while in the member states of the Eastern Med- The mugger crocodile might potentially iterranean region, this number is 14.9 per 1000. death of this animal, drought and famine and prosperity and believe that with the dangerous to humans. Fatal attacks have will overshadow their lives. Blood donation saves millions of lives migration and death of the animal, drought been reported, though less frequently than According to the World Health Organization, blood By digging canals that are several meters by saltwater and Nile crocodiles. Human deep and up to 15 meters long, Gando provides and famine will overshadow their lives. transfusion saves millions of lives and improves health, victims are dragged into the water and but many patients requiring transfusion do not have timely shelter for themselves to rest during the hot The mugger crocodile inhabits freshwa- observe directly, so given the high probabil- drowned but are rarely consumed. Each access to safe blood. Providing safe and adequate blood hours of the day and prevent water from ter lakes, rivers, and marshes, and prefers ity of not being observed by census teams, year, several attacks of muggers on humans should be an integral part of every country’s national health evaporating and by storing water in the canals slow-moving, shallow water bodies. It is also the estimated number of this species in the are reported in southern Iran. care policy and infrastructure. during warm seasons and drought spells. known to thrive in artificial reservoirs and region is twice the number observed about As water scarcity is hitting the Sistan-Bal- About 117.4 million blood donations are collected worldwide. The easiest and least troublesome way to irrigation canals. 400 crocodiles. uchestan province, children or adult locals 42 percent of these are collected in high-income countries, see this shy reptile is the “Crocodile Pond”, On the Iranian Makran coast near Chaba- The mating season of the Gando is in get near the muggers’ habitat to get water home to 16 percent of the world’s population. which is actually a protected pool that hosts har lives a population of around 200 mugger mid-March and lays about 30 eggs in May, and the animal defends his habitat by at- About 12,700 blood centers in 170 countries report adult mugger crocodiles, where you can safely crocodiles. Due to human activity and a long which hatch in June and July. tacking the locals. collecting a total of 100 million donations. Collections at see the rare species up close. drought in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it Economic potential Attacks out of the water are unlikely- the blood centers vary according to income group. The median Another place to find the species is its main had been pushed to the brink of extinction. These animals are sold to wildlife centers element of surprise is lost because most annual donation per blood center is 1,300 in the low-income habitat the Bahu Kalat protected area (with Following several tropical cyclones in 2007 in order to preserve their species. of them cannot move fast on the land. But countries, 4,100 in lower-middle-income countries, and an area of 465,181 hectares, Bahu Kalat has and 2010, much of the habitat of the mugger Also, some breeding and research centers some meetings are harmful especially for 8,500 in upper-middle-income countries, as compared been designated a protected area under the crocodiles has been restored as formerly dry in the field of wildlife need baby crocodiles. children. to 23,000 in the high-income countries. management of the Department of Environ- lakes and hamouns were flooded again. Crocodiles are used for their skin, flesh, Since large muggers occasionally take Data about the gender profile of blood donors show ment, and in 1982, it was renamed Gando Although the crocodile is a very intelligent and blood, as their skin is highly fire-resistant, livestock, this leads to conflict with local that globally 32 percent of blood donations are given by protected area). and shy species, it is, therefore, difficult to their flesh is used in traditional medicine, people living close to the mugger habitat. women, although this ranges widely. In 14 of the 119 re- porting countries, less than 10 percent of donations are given by female donors. Moreover, 62 countries collect 100 percent of their blood ‘Sympathetic Iran’ to donate more 6m supply from voluntary, unpaid blood donors. Some 108 million blood donations are collected globally, half of these are in high-income countries. Meanwhile, blood donation food packages by 1 percent of the population can meet a nation’s most SOCIETY TEHRAN — A national campaign 1.5 trillion rials (nearly $35 million at the official rate basic requirements for blood. deskcalled Iran-e Hamdel (literally mean- of 42,000 rials). ing sympathetic Iran) will distribute 6 million warm The second phase of the sympathetic Iran movement LET’S LEARN PERSIAN foods to help the financially struggling families during with the aim of cooking and distributing warm foods forty days from Tasua (the ninth day of Muharram) among the deprived started on Eid al-Ghadir Khumm (Part 12) (Source: saadifoundation.ir) to Arbaeen. (August 9) and will continue until the end of Safar (the The first phase of the campaign was launched at second month of the lunar-based Islamic calendar). the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan (April Iranian benefactors, charity centers, and religious 23) aiming to provide financial assistance to the needy organizations take part in the campaign by cash and affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has collected kind contributions. Infants exposed to air pollution have less lung power as adolescents – study Infants exposed to even low levels of ing in the Munich and Wesel regions level of pollution exposure as babies, in asthma risk for each increase of 6.3 air pollution experience reduced lung of Germany. The children had tests to the worse their lung function was as micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) function as children and teenagers, re- measure theeir breathing power at the adolescents. The impact was even great- in small particulate matter known as searchers have found. ages of six, 10 and 15. er on children who developed asthma. PM2.5. They also found a 16% rise in Their study found that exposure to air The researchers compared the results A second study, also presented at the asthma risk for each 8.2 µg/m3 increase pollution in the first year of life reduced with estimated levels of pollution in the congress, found that adults who were of nitrogen dioxide. lung function development from the ages areas the children had lived until they exposed to air pollution, even at low lev- The WHO limit for PM2.5 is an annual of six to 15, even at pollution levels below were one year old. After controlling for els, were more likely to develop asthma. average of 10 µg/m3, and the EU limit EU standards, the Guardian reported. factors including parental smoking, the In a study of 23,000 Danish nurs- is 25. Both the WHO and EU limits for The study included 915 children liv- researchers found that the higher the es, the researchers found a 29% rise nitrogen dioxide are 40 µg/m3.

ENGLISH IN USE LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION

آغاز طرح برقی کردن موتورسیکل تها با هدف E-motorbikes come to curb کاهش آلودگی هوا air pollution in metropolises مرحلــه نخســت طــرح برقــی کــردن موتورســیکلتها بــا هــدف کاهــش The first phase of electric motorcycles development project آلودگــی هــوای تهــران و دیگــر کالنشــهرها آغــاز مــی شــود. will be implemented aiming at reducing air pollution in Tehran and other metropolises, IRNA news agency reported. بــه گــزارش ایرنــا، رضــا اردکانیــان وزیــر نیــرو روز ســه شــنبه گفــت برقــی Energy Minister said on Tuesday that electric کــردن موتورســیکلت هــا بــا همــکاری وزارت صنعــت، معــدن و تجــارت motorcycles will be promoted in big cities in collaboration انجــام خواهــد شــد. .with the Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade وی افــزود: هــدف ایــن طــرح در گام نخســت، برقــی کــردن موتورســیکلت Through the first phase of the project, electric motorcycles هــای مــورد اســتفاده وزارت نیــرو و شــرکت هــای دولتــی اســت. will replace the regular ones used by the Ministry of Energy and state-run companies, he explained. Every action has اردکانیــان اضافــه کــرد بــر ایــن اســاس عــالوه بــر اینکــه از ایــن پــس Ardakanian went on to say that, in addition to electric motorcycles a reaction. We موتورســیکلت برقــی تولیــد و وارد بــازار مــی شــود، موتورســیکلت هــای being manufactured and marketed from now on, existing have one planet; موجــود نیــز بــرای مالــکان آنهــا برقــی مــی شــوند. .motorcycles will also change to use electricity sources one chance. Prayer Times Noon:13:05 Evening: 20:09 Dawn: 4:51 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:36 (tomorrow) AUGUST 31, 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 Tazieh represents Iranians’ culture of defending Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 the oppressed and pacifism: actor Kurosh Zarei Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051430 ART Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 TEHRAN — Actor dramatic style of storytelling],” he said. deskKurosh Zarei, who is also “Ritual performances attract larger Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 the director of the Art Bureau’s Center audiences because of their simple and Webmaster: [email protected] for Dramatic Arts, has said that tazieh freestyles of narrations. And, fortunately, Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 represents Iranians’ culture of defending the center has been able to produce and the oppressed and their pacifism. release a number of ritual plays on social Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 “Tazieh and other ritual performances are networks, something that has been warmly considered the certificate of art and culture received by individuals,” he remarked. No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran of Iran. A major part of the habits, traditions The Art Bureau’s Center for Dramatic P.o. Box: 14155-4843 and religious beliefs of the country are rooted Arts has recorded ten tazieh performances Zip Code: 1599814713 in these ritual performances, which indicate broadcasted from the Iranian TV channels the deep and rich culture of Iranians,” he said. during the first days of the lunar month of “Out of different ritual performances, Muharram, which is observed every year tazieh is the crème de la crème of the plays with rituals for the martyrdom anniversary rooted in religious beliefs and has been a of Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions. symbol for commemorating the uprising Tazieh masters and performers from the of Imam Hussein (AS) and the Ashura different cities of Arak, , Tafresh, Isfahan, movement,” he said. Qazvin and Tehran performed the passion He added that Islam is the religion of plays, and morshed Mohsen Mirza-Ali was kindness, sacrifice and peace, and the lives the coordinator for the project. GUIDE TO of Prophet Muhammad(S) and Imams(AS) The center is planning to commemorate SPIRITUAL AWAKENING are the good examples for these issues. Arbaeen across the country with several “Tazieh tries to depict part of the life of Thespians perform a tazieh in Tehran in an undated photo. (IRNA/Farzaneh Piri) additional programs. I do not see death except prosperity and life the Imams especially Imam Ali (AS), the He added that tazieh performers try to “Concurrent with the spread of coronavirus in Arbaeen marks the end of the 40-day along with the oppressors except anguish. first Imam of the Shia, and Imam Hussein reflect part of the lives and ethics the Imams the country and the big changes in our lifestyles, mourning period following the martyrdom of O Allah! You know that all there was from (AS), the third Imam of the Shia,” he noted. as the most positive role models for Muslims. we organized festivals of tazeih and naqqali [a the Imam and his loyal companions on Ashura. us was not in competition to seek power, nor to gain refuse of the world [i.e. wealth], but it was nothing other than to present “None of Your Business” wins special jury award at South Korean documentary festival the signs and essence of Your religion, and The documentary is about the life and death of Ebrahim In the international competition, “Cinema Pameer” by to promote reform in Your land, [so that] Monsefi, aka Ebram, a popular singer, songwriter and guitarist Swedish filmmaker Martin von Krogh won the grand prix. oppressed members of your servants find from the southern part of Iran. He was born 70 years ago The documentary tells the story of a cinema in safety and security, and Your laws, orders in Bandar Abbas, and passed away at the age of 50. It was where people come to escape everyday life and dream away just after his death that his works gradually became known from the war that surrounds them, “Cinema Pameer” uses and obligations are acted upon. and were published. a slice of everyday life in Kabul as a looking glass into Imam Hussein (AS) Iranian short films “Asho” by Jafar Najafi and “Gando” Afghanistan today. by Teimur Qaderi were also screened at the festival. The special jury award in this section went to “499”, a co- The grand prix in this section was presented to “Welcome production between Mexico and the USA by Rodrigo Reyes. to X-World” by South Korean filmmaker Han Tae ee. It is about a 16th-century conquistador who finds himself It is about Doosan Apartment, Guro-dong. There are stranded in modern-day Mexico encountering real-life Selection of Qatran Tabrizi’s three people living in this house: mom, grandpa and “me”. ordinary citizens whose lives have been upended in ways divan published Dad passed away 12 years ago but mom and “I” still live that the Conquistador could never have envisioned 499 with his father. From troubled marriage to moody father- years prior, when Mexico was colonized by men like him in Azerbaijan in-law, mom has a million reasons to move out, but why The Audience Award went to “How Big Is the Galaxy?”, doesn’t she? While “I” struggle with all these unanswered a co-production between Russia and Estonia directed by “None of Your Business” directed by Iranian filmmaker 1 “His best were written in his last period, where questions, grandpa tells them to move out. Ksenia Elyan. Kamran Heidari. he expressed gratitude to the prince of Ganja, Shaddadid “Daughter of the Light” by Chinese filmmaker Khashem The documentary is about the Zharkov family that belongs Fadlun, for the numerous gifts that were still recollected ARTTEHRAN — “None of Your Business” Gyal won the Audience Award. Although 13-year-old Metok to the Dolgan community, one of the last indigenous peoples by the famous .” deskdirected by Iranian filmmaker Kamran Karpo lives in a Tibetan boarding school for orphans, her pursuing their traditional nomadic lifestyle in the extreme “Qatran’s poetry follows in the wake of the poets of Khorasan Heidari has won the special jury award at the EBS International divorced parents are alive and well, leaving her to be raised north of Siberia. Nowadays, they can get homeschooling and makes an unforced use of the rhetorical embellishment.” Documentary Festival in Seoul, South Korea. by her maternal grandparents, who make her school- from teachers assigned to them by the Russian authorities. Selections of works by several Persian poets including A co-production between Iran and Czech, the film won the holidays hell by continually denouncing her father. While Seven-year-old Zakhar’s first year of schooling is with Molana Jalal ad-Din and Nezami have been translated honor in the Asian cinema competition during the closing her mother unsuccessfully remarries, Metok embarks on Nelly, a young but serious teacher. Each day, he has a into Azerbaijani by Zeki. ceremony of the event last Monday. a journey to find her father. hundred new questions about the world. Movies from Iran win awards at Hiroshima Intl. Animation Festival ARTTEHRAN — Three Iranian films have deskbeen honored at the 18th Hiroshima International Animation Festival this year, the organizers have announced. The acclaimed short “Am I a Wolf?” by Iranian director Amir-Hushang Moin has won the Hiroshima Prize. The jury praised the animation for its distinction between reality, theater and film. “The film is blurred by the outstanding and beautiful sound; a work full of suspense, adapted from the fairy tale ‘Wolves and the Seven Goats’,” the jury said in their statement last week. Produced at Iran’s Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA), the movie tells the story of a group of children who perform the familiar story of the wolf and the yearlings in school as a puppet A scene from “Malakout” by Iranian director Farnush Abedi. show. The nanny goat grieving for its yearlings and the angry wolf in its solitude face each other. the high quality of the art settings were both above the “Crab”, also an IIDCYA production by director Shiva standard and the original style was being established,” Sadeq-Asadi, has received an International Jury Special Prize. the jury commented. “It is a cruel story that makes our heart burst. It reveals It is a horror film about a pianist, who has lost one of his the brutal nature of humans,” the jury said. hands and can’t play the piano anymore. Doctors decide to The movie tells the story of a shy schoolboy who is interested transplant a dead criminal’s hand to his body. The pianist in performing in a play with his school’s theater troupe. with his new hand starts killing people. But the only part offered to him is to play the role of a crab. Moreover, the Grand Prix of the festival went to “Daughter” “Divinity” (Malakout) by director Fernush Abedi has by Dahlia Castieva from Czech. won the Excellence Award. “Each of the simple gestures of the dolls, which is caused “An extremely high respect for doll animation and by the disturbing and sometimes violent camerawork, was the enthusiasm for reconstruction by making full use of a shocking animation experience we had never seen before. a computer is a challenging work strongly felt from all of However, what is drawn is a human play that depicts the the screen. The production of the classic horror movie, heartfelt interaction of a daughter and father who pass the texture of the doll, which was unlikely to occur, and each other while thinking about each other,” the jury said. Scholars to discuss Persian requiems in Iran and India The Cultural Center of Iran in New Delhi will organize the webinar in collaboration with the Iran Public Libraries Foundation, the center has announced. Academy of and Literature director Gholam-Ali Haddad- Adel, poet Alireza Qazveh and scholar Farzeneh Azam-Lotfi are among the lecturers from Iran. Poet Mehdi Baqir Khan and Abbas Raza Nayyar of Lucknow University are among the Indian scholars attending the webinar. Iran’s cultural attaché in New Delhi Mohammad-Ali Rabbani said, “Due to the -700year-long period of use of the Persian language in India, composing Persian requiems in the country has a long history. “A great number of poets have emerged in India and composed requiems for the martyrs of Karbala in both the Persian and Urdu languages,” he said. A poster for a webinar on requiem in Iran and India. He said that India has been one of the major centers to host mourning ceremonies for the martyrs of Karbala, however, CULTURE TEHRAN — A number of Iranian and this year have been placed on holding mourning rituals due deskIndian scholars will discuss Persian requiems to the outbreak of coronavirus, and the ceremonies are being in Iran and India in a webinar on Tuesday. held either in restricted numbers or have gone online.