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8 Pages Price 50,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 42nd year No.13867 Monday JANUARY 25, 2021 Bahman 6, 1399 Jumada Al thani 11, 1442 ’s ambassador submits Mehdi Ghayedi chosen 7 Iranian companies Intel. meeting screens animation credentials to Libyan best AFC Young Player selected members on earliest example of drama Presidential Council chief Page 3 of 2020 Page 3 of CTCN Page 7 therapyy b Page 8

Iran says would welcome Saudi See page 3 foreign policy revision Not a friend; – has begun real- help them out anymore, and also having izing that its aggressive foreign policy has despaired of their former allies,” ministry ended in failure and that it seems to be spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in re- revising some aspects of its foreign policy marks to ISNA that the news agency pub- accordingly, Iran’s Foreign Ministry says, lished on Sunday, according to Press TV. underlining that Tehran would welcome The spokesman pointed out that if Ri- Saudi Arabia changing its approach. yadh seriously puts policy reforms on its definitely “It looks like the Saudi officials have agenda and concludes that the solution to begun reforming some of their policies problems lies in “regional cooperation,” concerning the interaction with some of Iran will be the first country to welcome Is Biden’s cabinet the Persian Gulf’s littoral countries, having these reforms. Iran-friendly? understood that war and bloodshed do not Continued on page 3 Iran, ink MOU on expansion of trade ties TEHRAN – Iran, and Armenia signed a Speaking on the sidelines of the sign- memorandum of understanding (MOU) ing ceremony, Razm Hosseini put Iran’s on Saturday for the expansion of trade exports to Armenia at about $300 million ties between the two countries. and noted that the signing of this MOU The MOU was signed by Iranian In- will be a great step towards improving the dustry, Mining and Trade Minister Alireza level of trade between the two neighbors. Razm Hosseini and the Armenian Econo- Pointing to Armenia’s position as one my Minister Vahan Kerobyan in Tehran. of the members of the Eurasian Economic Heading a trade delegation, Kerobyan arrived Union (EAEU), with which Iran has recent- in Tehran on Friday to discuss the expansion ly signed a preferential trade agreement, of trade relations between the two countries. Continued on page 4 Kerman organizing painting contest to boost its child-friendly image TEHRAN – Kerman, which has been selected with managers from a number of organi- as a child-friendly in a UNICEF pilot plan, zations involved in children’s issues. intends to organize a children’s painting com- He asked all the organizations to help petition to acknowledge the choice. make the competition highly effective and

“The municipality attaches great im- successful. portance to every movement and program This attitude can encourage the Kerman promoting the Child-Friendly City Ini- Municipality to continue the contest for tiative,” Kerman Mayor Seyyed Mehran future editions, he added. File photo Alemzadeh said on Sunday in a meeting Continued on page 8

Is there any gambling New U.S. administration: Challenges Seattle police officer drives SUV into group in Iran volleyball? and opportunities of pedestrians

BY FARROKH HESABI BY RAKIB AL HASAN Most observers expect carbon emissions to be A Tacoma police officer drove through a group fighting for, what type of social justice message. TEHRAN - Iranian volleyball coaches and play- Joe Biden has been elected as the new president reduced by 45-50 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. of pedestrians Saturday night, and videos being That cannot happen. That level of direct action ers are concerned with rumors about betting of the in a victory. Trump’s defeat The matter is difficult but possible and consistent shared on social media shows people falling to cannot occur. And we are going to immediately and match-fixing in the country’s volleyball. has brought global relief. with what Europe is doing. Biden return to the the ground as the police SUV speeds up through those issues.” The subject of match-fixing through the However, the world will not go back to the way Agreement doesn’t need congressional approval. the crowd. The videos show the SUV run over a The chief added that he has “been in conversa- betting system came under scrutiny last it was in 2016 or the rise of the Trump era. The new U.S. public opinion is also largely in favor of a return person as onlookers scream. tions” with Holmes who will now prosecute those month when Sasan Khodaparast, ex-coach American administration faces complicated chal- to the deal. Two-thirds of voters say climate change Meanwhile, police said that people who destroy cases. The department posted photos on Twitter of of Azar Battery, raised the issue of betting in lenges inside and outside the country. Meanwhile is a serious problem. However, in order to deal with property in Seattle will be arrested under a tighter “multiple windows” shattered at the William Kenzo the volleyball. Biden has pledged not to compromise on this problem, it is necessary to consider whether they policy coordinated between the Seattle Police De- Nakamura U.S. Courthouse, used primarily by the “Gambling could be damaging for our vol- rights and democracy, especially when it comes are ready to pay more for fuel. partment and Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes. 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. leyball. It’s two or three years that the results of to Arab regimes in the Middle East (West ). There is no doubt over the importance of The tighter policy will be enacted Saturday, CNN affiliate KOMO reported the group burned some games have been really surprising. These Let’s start with climate change. Biden said the America’s return to the climate accord. In the Seattle Interim Police Chief Adrian Diaz announced an American flag and threw objects in the streets incidents have raised suspicion about gambling United States would return to the Paris climate last four years, people all over the world have ahead of a scheduled demonstration in Seattle’s to block the path of motorists. Several vehicles in this sport and we, who are working in volley- agreement. Most countries welcomed the return noticed that not only the temperature has risen, Occidental Park. The new policy comes after po- were damaged before police ordered the group ball, understand it,” Khodaparast said before of the United States to the treaty. Biden says he but also the incidence of floods, droughts, fires lice reported several buildings were vandalized in to disperse, KOMO reported. retiring from his post. His remarks provoked wants to set a goal of zero-carbon emissions and cyclones has increased. Europe has taken downtown Seattle Wednesday night, including Additional photos posted by police showed different reactions. Some did not deny the ex- by 2050. To return to the Paris Agreement, he an ambitious approach to environment friendly the city’s federal courthouse. an Amazon Go store with shattered windows and istence of betting in volleyball but believed that would have to formally set these goals. At the projects and is working closely with , the “The events of breaking windows at a variety spray-painted anarchy symbols and anti-Biden there were no credible documents to prove it. same time, a new national commitment to re- world’s largest carbon emitter. of different locations with no meaning,” Diaz said. and anti-police graffiti, and broken windows at the Tehran Times spoke to some Iranian vol- duce carbon emissions has to be mentioned. Continued on page 5 “There was no discussion about what they were original Starbucks location in Pike Place Market. leyball figures to find out how they see the situation and what they suggest to prevent further problems in this regard. Visit Estil Lagoon, where the trees walk Iran soon becomes an Ahsanollah Shirkavand, former player of Iran men’s national volleyball team and BY SAMANEH ABOUTALEBI year, millions of tourists see and experience is Estil Lagoon. important Covid-19 current captain of the Shahrdari Varamin Vol- all over the world are important for the wonders of nature in the wetlands, which Located in the northern province of Gilan, leyball Club believes that betting is a problem the environment as they are home to a big constitute one of tourism’s greatest assets and near the road that connects Astara to Rasht, vaccine producer: in volleyball. part of all species and provide a great part of a unique setting for many tourism activities. Estil lagoon offers tourists a unique sight that “We cannot deny that there is kind of betting the food supply. Iran also has a great share of wetlands, as they may never see again elsewhere. minister and gambling in our volleyball, especially in But more importantly, they offer sig- 105 wetlands are in Iran stretching 3 million The first thing that catches visitors’ eye is nificant tourism opportunities that can hectares of land. floating alder trees. The surprising thing about TEHRAN – Iran will be one of the world’s im- the lower leagues. I’m sure that in the Ira- portant manufacturers of the Covid-19 vaccine nian Super League the betting problems are be an important source of income for the There are several domestic and foreign the trees is that their roots are actually in the countries. tourists, nature lovers, and bird watchers, water, so they are always moving through the in the near future, Health Minister Saeed Nam- so small, if any. This is due to the level and aki has said. positions of the players and coaches who work People are naturally attracted to water when who travel across Iran every year to visit the lagoon. they need to be in contact with nature. Every wetlands, of which one of the most magnificent Continued on page 6 “In the coming days, we will import the first in the super league, as well as the sensitivities batches of coronavirus vaccine from reliable and supervisions that exist in this league,” sources,” he added, ISNA reported on Sunday. Shirkavand said to Tehran Times. “Vaccination will start with the vulnerable “Betting in football and some other sports groups. At the same time, the noble scientists may be far more widespread than volleyball. I of the country are making efforts round the believe that even in our volleyball’s lower leagues clock to develop the homegrown vaccine,” he there is not an organized system of betting and explained. it is still limited to sporadic cases. However, Exhibition of Mass vaccination by next 2 months we must start the necessary measures now to On January 17, President Hassan Rouhani said prevent its further spread. It is really unfair the government is trying its best to start mass and treacherous that someone, who can be a woodworks vaccination against the coronavirus by the next player, a coach, or a referee, to bet and ruin two months with the priority given to medical the efforts of the other players and staff of a underway at staff and high-risk individuals. team,” added the 39-year-old volleyball star. The COVAX vaccines will be provided to the Mohammadreza Tondravan, head coach country by the end of the current [Iranian cal- of the Foolad Sirajan team, told Tehran Times Tehran center endar] year (March 20) or at the beginning of that he has just heard about betting in volleyball TEHRAN – The 12th edition of the Woodwork the next [Iranian calendar] year, Rouhani said and not seen anything obvious. Exhibition is currently underway at Tehran’s at a meeting of the National Headquarters for “I cannot say with certainty that there is Niavaran Culture Center. Coronavirus Control. betting in Iranian volleyball because I only A large collection of wood artworks in the Other vaccines have also been purchased have heard about it and have not seen or forms of intarsia, marquetry, wood turning, which will be available soon, he noted, adding, experienced it personally. However, it is a lattice work, inlay and bas-reliefs, all created a co-produced vaccine called “Pasteur” will also completely serious issue that should be taken by Iranian artists, are on view at the exhibition. be mass-produced during the spring. into consideration by the Iranian Volleyball Mohammad Khodabakhsh Mohammad The Research Institute of the Cultural Referring to the homegrown vaccines, he an- Federation and even the country’s security Heritage and Tourism (RICHT) is the main nounced that two domestic vaccines that have and intelligence official to prevent damage been licensed for the clinical trial will also be Mehr/ organizer of the showcase, which will run until to the reputation of our volleyball,” said the February 5. available by the next summer. former Qatari’s Al Arabi head coach. Continued on page 7 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS JANUARY 25, 2021

Global effort needed to Biden can lift economic sanctions end chilling effects of U.S. sanctions on Iran: Guardian through executive orders, expert says In a commentary on January 22, The Guardian said the U.S. POLITICAL TEHRAN — Hassan will not fulfill their obligations.” sanctions on Iran may have been unilateral, but their chilling deskBeheshtipour, an inter- He asserted, “Iran and the United States effect was global and therefore global efforts, especially by national relations expert, says new U.S. can set a zero point and say that both of them the Europeans, are needed to end them. President Joe Biden has the power to lift will start returning to their commitments Donald Trump officially exited the 2015 nuclear deal in the sanctions that were imposed against together, but it is the U.S. that has left the May 2018 and began introducing the harshest ever sanctions Iran through executive order. JCPOA.” against Iran in violation of UN Security Council Resolution In an interview with ILNA published on Noting that the two sides are clear on how 2231 that had endorsed the agreement. Sunday, Beheshtipour also said, “The U.S. to return to commitments, he said, “Biden Trump introduced a total ban on Iran’s oil export and even which has withdrawn from the JCPOA since wants to coordinate with his allies on the refused to relax sanctions during the Covid-19 pandemic. May 2018, cannot expect Iran to return to JCPOA”. He added, “Unlike Trump, who After waiting for a full year, in May 2019 Iran began to its commitments first.” does not count Europeans at all and treats gradually remove limits on its nuclear activities at bimonth- Both during his presidential campaigns them very badly, he respects his European ly intervals. At the time Iran announced if the remaining and after winning the presidency, Biden partners and may even coordinate with China members protect Iran from U.S. sanctions it will reverse had expressed willingness to return to the and Russia on this issue.” its decision. However, the Europeans did nothing tangible nuclear deal, officially called the JCPOA, Nevertheless, Beheshtipour emphasized, and they just expressed verbal support for the agreement. if Iran returns to full compliance with the “We have to be realistic, Biden needs time Following is an excerpt of the article: agreement. to consult with American allies concerning For nearly three years, the fate of the 2015 Iran nucle- Iran started to gradually remove cap on how to return to the agreement with Iran.” ar deal has hung precariously in the balance. The Trump its nuclear activities based on paragraph 36 Regarding the expectations that the two administration withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive of the JCPOA one year after Donald Trump fulfill their commitments, but they did not to its obligations and fulfill them. Mr. Biden countries have from each other, including Plan of Action (JCPOA) – to use its official name – in 2018, quit the deal and imposed sanctions on Iran. live up to their commitments. Ultimately, is expected to issue executive orders and Iran’s demand for the withdrawal of U.S. arguing that a policy of economic coercion, dubbed “maxi- By pulling out of the deal the Trump ad- Iran decided to reduce its commitments in revoke Trump’s orders to lift sanctions on forces from the region, he said, “Iran’s logic mum pressure”, would deliver an improved agreement. But ministration violated international law as five steps every 60 days,” Beheshtipour said. Iran. In the international arena, when a party is that the U.S. presence has created inse- all it achieved was the hollowing out of the existing one. the agreement has been confirmed by UN Pointing to the economic sanctions initiates a policy, it must take the initiative curity in the region and, instead of creating Europe now must seize the opportunity to help revive and Security Council Resolution 2231. imposed by Trump’s administration, Be- to compensate. When Mr. Biden lifts the security, has led to the emergence of Daesh even strengthen it. “Iran waited a year, from May 2018 to heshtipour said, “Since the United States sanctions, then Europeans have no excuse (ISIS) and Takfiri terrorists who carry out The JCPOA’s original bargain was straightforward: limiting May 2019, hoping that the Europeans would started this path, naturally it must return to say that under American pressure they various operations in the region.” and monitoring Iran’s nuclear program and in return deliv- ering relief from international sanctions built up over years. Trump’s sweeping sanctions policy undid those financial benefits, and as a result, Iran began discarding the nuclear re- strictions the JCPOA had placed on it. Raising the rate of uranium Rouhani says U.S. suffered defeat in economic war on Iran enrichment to 20% and starting activities related to uranium POLITICAL TEHRAN — President Hassan Rouhani “The projects that are being inaugurated today prove “economic terrorism”. desk metal production earlier this month were the latest in a series said on Sunday that the Iranian nation the national power of the country that is emerging, and “The Iranian nation will live forever and be proud as it of breaches that have increased in gravity as the damage from has won the economic war waged by the U.S., stressing we are witnessing that the whole country has turned into has been proud throughout history,” Rouhani underlined, U.S. sanctions cut ever deeper. Iran is now in a third successive that a bright future is awaiting Iranians. a huge workshop of self-confidence under the economic according to Fars. year of economic recession. The Iranian people succeeded to foil the plots of the sanctions,” the president said while inaugurating three “The enemy intended to reduce our foreign exchange With the Biden administration taking office, the UK, architects of the economic war, promising a brighter eco- major petrochemical projects via a video conference. earnings by limiting the oil sector,” Rouhani said in ref- and Germany (the so-called E3), which are all JCPOA partici- nomic future for the people, Rouhani added. He also said, “If this war lasts for 30 years, our people erence to a total ban on Iran’s oil export by the Trump pants, as well as the European Union, which serves as the deal’s “The goal of the architects of the economic war was to will still stand, although I believe that this war is reaching administration. coordinator, are well positioned to spearhead the JCPOA’s unsettle the Iranian economy, but I assure people that a its end and the one who ignited the war is in the last weeks “As the Leader said, the first thing to do in sanctions is revival as a first step towards engaging with Iran on broader brighter future awaits our economy,” he noted. of his political life.” for us to eliminate their effect, and the second thing is to issues. This requires a coordinated and multidimensional effort. The president added, “The angry enemies are trying to Rouhani was openly referring to the departure of Donald lift the sanctions,” he added at the time. In Washington, the nuclear deal remains deeply divisive. stop or slow down the positive trend with broad propaganda Trump from the White House who lost the November 3 Calling the sanctions a joint product of Zionism, their Despite the “maximum pressure” campaign’s clear failure in and psychological warfare.” presidential elections. regional allies, and Americans, he said, “We should defuse delivering on its stated objectives, critics will insist that Biden’s In relevant remarks in late December, Rouhani said Rouhani called U.S. economic pressure against Iran the conspiracy of the enemies and we should not let their declared intent to reengage with Tehran is folly. That is an that the U.S. economic war against his nation is nearing an economic war. When the U.S. refused to relax illegal cruel plan against our nation continue.” argument echoed by U.S. allies in the Middle East (West Asia), an end, but meantime, stressed that the Iranian nation is sanctions against Iran during the Coronavirus pandem- He vowed the government’s continued effort to improve notably , whose prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, ready for decades of resistance. ic, Foreign Minister Zarif said sanctions have reached to the living conditions of the Iranian people in the near future. is loudly urging the incoming administration to stick to its predecessor’s line and give the Islamic Republic no quarter on the nuclear front. Jahangiri: The country will see brighter Construction of phases 2, 3 of Bushehr European governments are not unsympathetic to some of the Trump team’s arguments, which regional players echo, on days in spring nuclear plant has started the need to address other aspects of Iranian policy, particularly POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iran’s ern Iran, Jahangiri said, “No one could POLITICAL TEHRAN — Hadi Beig- its full capacity the following year. its ballistic missile program and regional power projection. deskFirst Vice-President imagine the country can implement such deskinejad, a senior member Rosatom, Russia’s state atomic energy They also see room for improvement on the nuclear deal itself. Es’haq Jahangiri says “the winter days are projects under the harshest and toughest of the ’s Energy Committee, said corporation, started site preparation of the two But the record of the past three years is clear: sanctions did going to come to an end and the country U.S. sanctions in the past three years.” on Sunday that Iran has started construction new units of the power plant with a combined not solve those issues, and in many ways made them worse by will see brighter days in the spring.” Jahangiri said even in the past few of phases 2 and 3 of the Bushehr nuclear capacity of 2100 MW in September 2016. raising tensions across the board, while undoing the real progress Jahangiri made the remarks while vis- months when Donald Trump was still in power plant. On March 14, 2017 construction formally that had been made toward keeping Iran’s activities in check. iting the international oil, gas, refining and office, Iran set considerable records in the “The second and third phases of the started. Phases 2 and 3 are scheduled to be If Biden moves toward reviving the JCPOA, Europe should petrochemical fair in Tehran on Sunday. export of crude oil and oil condensates. Bushehr power plant development have been completed in 2024 and 2026 respectively. make it clear it supports a move to return the nuclear agreement “The country’s achievements in the fields “At a time when they wished to zero out signed with the Russians under 10-year and In November 2019, the concrete-casting to full strength as the best means of not just defusing a brewing of oil, gas, and petrochemicals indicate Iran’s oil sales, we achieved the biggest 8-year contracts,” Fars quoted Beiginejad operation of the phase 2 was launched in a crisis, but laying the foundation for follow-on discussions on the failure of cruel sanctions against the record in crude oil export in December as saying. ceremony attended by Atomic Energy Organ- additional issues based on dialogue and negotiations rather Islamic Republic,” Jahangiri remarked. 2020-January 2021,” he added. The foundation of the second phase of the ization of Iran (AEOI) chief Ali Akbar Salehi, than coercion. “The achievements of this exhibition Elsewhere in his remarks, the vice pres- plant is under construction and the leveling a number of state and provincial officials, The challenge will be to put this into practice. As JCPOA indicate that Iran is moving towards devel- ident, a graduate of the Sharif University works on the area considered for phase 3 has parliamentarians and manager of Russian participants, the E3 and EU should work with Iran and the opment and progress,” the vice president of Technology, said, “The construction of also began, he explained. companies active in the site. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in producing a noted. compressors and turbines made with valid Beiginejad emphasized the need for Iran “Cementing process of the nuclear reactor clear roadmap for Iran to reverse its JCPOA breaches and Praising Iran’s “great achievements” international standards by Iran indicates to diversify its power generation resources, of the Bushehr power plant’s phase II is one resume full compliance. This must include a timetable for in the fields of oil, gas, refining, and pet- the country’s ability to provide great services and called on the Parliament and the govern- of the key processes and an important event dismantling surplus centrifuge cascades and blending down rochemical, he said, “The exhibition is a in the oil industry.” ment to accelerate construction of phases 2 in the site by which we have taken a giant or shipping out excess enriched uranium stockpiles. That reason of the ‘long strides’ the country has On Thursday, President Rouhani inau- and 3 of the nuclear plant. stride towards development of nuclear power should be technically achievable within two or three months. taken to make products that can be distrib- gurated the Bidboland natural gas refinery The Bushehr facility sits 17 kilometers plants in the country,” Mahmoud Jafari, the In parallel, Europe should take immediate preparatory steps uted both inside and outside the country.” in Khuzestan. It is one of the largest projects southeast of the city of Bushehr along the executive manager for the new phases of the for reversing the economic harm caused by U.S. sanctions, Pointing to the recent inauguration of in West Asia. The value of the project was Persian Gulf coasts in southern Iran. Bushehr nuclear plant, told reporters on the which deprive Tehran of the relief the JCPOA was always the Bidboland gas refinery in southwest- $3.4 billion. It started operating in 2011 and reached sidelines of the ceremony. intended to deliver. This could be done through working with the private sector to support trade with Iran. U.S. sanctions may have been unilateral, but their chilling effect was glob- al. Giving companies the clarity and support they need to MP: Iran should not let Tel Aviv, to aggravate Iran’s ties with the West engage with the Iranian market – freely and without fear of punitive action – in the event that sanctions are relaxed or POLITICAL TEHRAN — Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi, Through a total ban on Iran’s oil export, Trump intended to desk lifted would be a critical step toward ensuring the economic a member of the National Security and strangulate the Iranian economy. benefits for all sides. Foreign Policy Committee of the Parliament, has suggested “The Americans have a bitter experience during the Trump Last year, Iran submitted an IMF loan request to help all “should support the government to manage tensions and era that failed to create a global consensus and bring Iran to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, an added burden on an challenges between Iran and the West and not allow Israel the negotiating table. Trump could not attack Iran militarily already beleaguered economy. Europe should urge the Biden and some rival countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia, and the sanctions did not bring Iran to its knees, so there is administration to support that request, and also ensure that to aggravate the situation.” no other way but to negotiate with Iran. However, this issue humanitarian trade is unimpeded while Washington pre- On his prediction of the new Biden administration’s policy needs a global consensus. I think the U.S. will consult with pares to reverse its wider sanctions policy. The U.S. could towards the JCPOA, he said, “There is a slow and complex Europe and with Israel in the region and some of its rivals, also greenlight European pre-purchases of Iranian oil, which decisions process in the U.S. government because there is a and then they will come to Iran for talks,” the MP stated. could allow Europe to provide Iran with a line of credit to be of power in the U.S.” The legislator sitting on the Majlis national security com- used for humanitarian trade or other essential purchases – an Jahanabadi added, “Apart from the division of power in the mittee also backed the Rouhani administration’s policy toward idea floated by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in U.S. political establishment, the U.S. allies, the Europeans and nuclear agreement. the JCPOA. 2019, but obstructed by the Trump administration. Israelis in the region and some Arab countries and even some “First, there is no logical and rational framework for dialogue “First of all, we need to reach a consensus to support the Iran should reciprocate these confidence-building steps. of their rivals such as China and Russia, which the U.S needs with Iran on nuclear issues except the JCPOA, and if they want current government. The current government has formed Another important element in a European diplomatic effort them to take measures (against Iran) in the Security Council, to reach a new agreement, it is not easily possible. Therefore, the JCPOA framework. We need to manage the relations lies in moving Iran and its Persian Gulf Arab neighbors from play a key role to influence Biden’s policies towards Iran.” it is better to revive the JCPOA in the same framework.” between Iran and the West. We should not allow the Israelis estrangement to engagement. To talking ISNA, the MP said currently there is no better Politicians, officials and pundits believe that Donald Trump’s and some rival countries, such as Saudi Arabia, to deteriorate agreement than the JCPOA, the official name for the 2015 “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran ended in failure. the relation between us and the West.” Illegal seizure of Iranian tankers by U.S. arrest of Iranian university professor violates human rights: ex-diplomat POLITICAL TEHRAN — Mohsen advocate human rights in the world should secret employee of the government of Iran “Dr. Afrasiabi has not been working as an POLITICAL TEHRAN — Indonesian officials declared deskPakayeen, Iran’s former endeavor to set Afrasiabi free,” the former and the Permanent Mission of the - agent of the Mission and only as a university deskthey had seized an Iranian tanker and Pan- ambassador to , has sharply criticized diplomat said, adding that the U.S. does ic Republic of Iran to the professor, and an expert on international amanian tanker suspected of carrying out the illegal transfer the U.S. for arresting Iranian university not adhere to any international standards (IMUN) “who was being paid to spread relations,” he added. of oil in their country›s waters on Sunday, January 24. professor Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi, de- with regard to human rights. their propaganda”. He further explained that Afrasiabi “has The tankers - the Iranian-flagged MT Horse and the Pan- scribing it as a severe violation of human Pakayeen suggested that internation- After his arrest, Alireza Miryoussefi, provided consultations to the Mission on amanian-flagged MT Frea - were seized in waters off Indo- rights and freedom of expression. al bodies have to condemn such acts and the spokesperson for the Iranian Mission international issues and his working rela- nesia›s West Kalimantan province, said Wisnu Pramadita, “The move has no legal basis; and the compel countries to meet international to the UN, blasted the U.S. move and said tionship with us has been open and fully a spokesman for the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency. arrest of university professors and interna- standards and avoid measures against the Trump administration is famous for transparent since the beginning.” He said the tankers are suspected of a variety of viola- tional relations experts is completely con- human rights. its anti-Iran “bigotry and bias”. Afrasiabi was arrested after he warned tions, including not displaying national flags, shutting off trary to freedom of expression and freedom The U.S. Department of Justice an- “It is unfortunate to hear of the arrest a U.S. TV show host to stop belittling and their identification systems, anchoring illegally as well as of press and is an instance of human rights nounced on Tuesday that Afrasiabi had of Dr. Afrasiabi on spurious charges, in the insulting Iran’s Lieutenant General Qassem the illegal transfer fuel between ships and spilling oil. violation,” Pakayeen told Fars. been arrested at his home in Watertown, waning hours of the Trump administration, Soleimani who was assassinated in a U.S. Indonesia escorted the two tankers to Batam Island in “I believe that the international com- Massachusetts, for alleged illegal activities. which is well-known for its anti-Iranian drone strike near International Riau Islands province for further investigation, he said. munity and the institutions that claim to It claimed that Afrasiabi was actually a bigotry and bias,” Miryoussefi noted. in January 2020. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 25, 2021 IRAN IN FOCUS 3 SPORTS Alireza Jahanbakhsh close Not a friend; definitely to January exit POLITICAL TEHRAN – While Joe Malley, Wendy Sherman, Biden’s nominee deskBiden himself has vowed for deputy secretary of state, his nominee SPORTSTEHRAN – Iranian winger Alireza Ja- desk to find a “smarter way” to tighten the noose for CIA director, and his national security hanbakhsh will most likely leave Brighton on Iran, Washington hawks and their allies Is Biden’s advisor Jake Sullivan. in January. in the region keep expressing concerns over Most of those officials have served under Jahanbakhsh has struggled for game time this season some of Biden’s picks for top foreign policy Obama in various top-level positions, with under Graham Potter and the 27-year-old was quoted re- and national security jobs. cabinet some of them even developing friendships cently as saying he is at a point in his career he has to “play A barrage of criticism was leveled at the with their Iranian counterparts. But none a lot more and have better conditions.” new U.S. president, Joe Biden, after Jewish of them are pro-Iran. Critics often ignore The Iranian international signed from AZ Alkmaar in 2018 for Insider broke the news that Robert Malley, a Iran-friendly? the fact that none of Biden’s officials will be a then club-record fee of £17m but has since endured a frustrating former Obama administration official known tasked with policymaking on their own. In time in the Premier League on the south coast. for his moderate views on Iran, is being con- fact, the U.S. policies on Iran will be crafted He made 24 appearances under Chris Hughton, without scoring sidered by the Biden administrations for a in a collective process with the participation or claiming an assist and the arrival of Potter from Swansea in position in the Biden administration as special of all relevant government agencies. 2019 saw little change in Jahanbakhsh’s fortunes. envoy on Iran. Besides, Malley was one of the officials of Jahanbakhsh said he had ‘good offers’ to move on last sum- Malley, who served as special assistant to the Obama administration who played a role mer but was made promises by the club that he would get more the president and White House coordinator in U.S. policies toward the West Asia region opportunities this campaign, brightonandhoveindependent. for the Middle East [West Asia], North Africa and that he is not an unknown quantity. co.uk reported. and the Persian Gulf region in the Obama Those who criticize Biden’s picks for top He has made 15 appearances in all competitions this season administration, has castigated former U.S. jobs ignore another fact: some of these figures and last featured for Brighton at Newport in the FA Cup, where President Donald Trump for his Iran pol- played a pivotal role in what some U.S. officials he sustained another ‘minor injury.’ icy while advocating for a more balanced the former Obama official would undo four hardline views on Iran, also railed against called “a non-proliferation achievement,” “There are offers for me in every window,” he said earlier approach toward Iran. He reportedly met years of Trump unrelenting efforts to squeeze Malley in a recent opinion piece for Bloomberg. which is the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, officially this month. “But I have a contract with the Brighton club with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Iran “until the pips squeak.” “President Joe Biden has done a good known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of and everything must be done with their knowledge and with Javad Zarif in 2019 while the chief Iranian “It’s deeply troubling that President Biden job so far of calming the anxieties of allies Action (JCPOA). their opinion.” diplomat was in New York attending meetings would consider appointing Rob Malley to that the U.S. will rush into negotiations to The nuclear deal has been a major privilege Brighton remain keen to reduce squad numbers and wages at the United Nations. He criticized Israel’s direct Iran policy. Malley has a long track re-enter the flawed 2015 nuclear deal with for the U.S. while Iran did not benefit from this January. decision to assassinate top Iranian scientist record of sympathy for the Iranian regime & Iran. Appointing Robert Malley as special this deal. In fact, the deal was so much in the “You can never know,” said Potter when asked if more Mohsen Fakhrizadeh last November, saying animus towards Israel,” Republican Senator envoy to Iran could change that,” the col- U.S. interest that the Biden administration players will leave this January. “You have to adapt until the the attack would “make it all the more difficult Tom said in a tweet on January 22, umnist wrote. seems to be intent on reviving it. end of the transfer window. for [Trump’s] successor to resume diploma- adding that Iranian authorities wouldn’t The U.S. hawks also wrote a letter to Tony Critics of Malley has falsely claimed that “You have always got to be mindful that players might cy with Iran,” according to Jewish Insider. believe their luck if he is selected. Blinken, Biden’s nominee for secretary of state, he has close ties to Iran and its allies in the be in a stage of their career where they want to play more Moreover, Malley is President and CEO of Cotton, a staunch Trump supporter calling on him not to appoint Rob Malley as region and that appointing Malley will put for themselves, it might be better for the club that they play International Crisis Group (ICG), an inter- harboring a deep grudge against Iran, also U.S. special envoy for Iran. American families at risk and endanger Is- regularly somewhere else. national think tank known for its advocacy called a radical whose appointment would The possible appointment of Malley also rael. But they failed to show how Malley’s “There are always things in January that you have to consider for de-escalation between Iran and the U.S. contradict Biden’s rhetoric of unity. concerned Israel, though he is a Jew. Israeli appointment would put American families at but be open to anything and be ready to adapt if you need to.” Malley’s track record of moderate views “Appointing radicals like Malley gives the daily newspaper Walla reported that Israeli risk. They also claimed that Iran news media on Iran drove Washington hawks crazy. They lie to all of President Biden and Tony Blinken’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was welcomed the appointment of Malley. This joined forces to dissuade the Biden admin- rhetoric of unity,” the senator continued. concerned with some of Biden’s picks for is not right. Because Iran basically opposes istration from hiring Malley, believing that Eli Lake, a Bloomberg columnist with top-level positions, which include Robert the idea for the U.S. to have an “Iran envoy.” Mehdi Ghayedi chosen best AFC Young Player of 2020

SPORTSTEHRAN – A breakout star at national, con- Iran rules out mediation on South Korean-flagged tanker desktinental and international levels, Iran’s Mehdi POLITICAL TEHRAN — Iran will not accept any third Iran’s frozen assets. Ghayedi is Asia’s Choice for the Best Young Player of 2020. deskparty mediation on the South Korean ship The South Korean delegation also failed to secure the The award recognizes Asian men’s players (aged 23 or younger seized by Iranian authorities on charges of polluting the en- release of the seized ship. Following the negotiations, Khat- on December 31, 2020) for their performances in senior club and vironment, says the spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry. ibzadeh said that legal proceedings were underway into the youth and senior national teams during the 2020 calendar year. “We don’t accept political mediation on technical issues case of the South Korean ship. Ghayedi edged out countryman Mehdi Abdi to win the award, and we informed the South Koreans of this issue,” Saeed “Legal proceedings are underway into the case of the with Korea Republic’s AFC U-23 Championship Most Valuable Khatibzadeh said in an interview with the Iranian ISNA South Korean ship seized in the Persian Gulf waters upon Player Won Du-jae finishing third. news agency, noting that the South Korean-flagged ship a judicial order due to polluting the environment,” he A creative forward who was seized because it polluted the maritime environment. noted. “So, any developments in the case are subject to turned 22 in December, Ghaye- On January 4, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps decisions by judicial officials.” di enjoyed a superb year for club (IRGC) impounded the MT Hankuk Chemi carrying 20 In his interview with ISNA, Khatibzadeh said that, during side Esteghlal, attracting attention crew members, including five South Koreans, for polluting “So far, we have tried various means to get our assets the South Korean delegation’s visit, Iranian officials asked throughout the continent with the environment. Following the seizure, Iran said that the released. The South Korean first vice foreign minister’s visit their South Korean counterparts not to seek a political solu- three goals in five matches in the South Korean ship’s seizure was “a total technical issue.” [to Iran] was in this direction,” he pointed out. tion to a technical issue. AFC Champions League. “Based on initial reports coming from local authori- Following the seizure, sent a delegation led “During the South Korean delegation’s visit to Tehran, He also scored in Iran’s ties, the issue is completely technical, and the vessel was by its First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun to Iran. The which took place a while ago according to a pre-planned Hazfi Cup final, which Esetghlal led ashore upon a judicial order because the vessel had South Korean diplomat met with several Iranian high-rank- schedule, we asked them why they seek a political solution lost to FC Tractor, and finished been polluting the sea,” Khatibzadeh said in a statement ing officials including Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad to the issue of seizure of the Korean ship, which is a technical as the Iran Pro League’s top following the seizure of the ship. Zarif but the first round of Iran-South Korea negotiations one,” Khatibzadeh stated. provider of assists as his side Tehran and are locked in a bitter dispute over Iran’s ended in failure as the East Asian country proposed to bar- South Korea made effort to secure the release of its finished the 2019-20 season blocked assets in South Korea, with the seizure of the South ter a whopping $7 billion of Iran’s assets blocked in South tanker through political negotiations and it even asked as runner-up. Korean being the latest in a series of disagreements between Korean banks for ambulance vehicles and coronavirus test to offer help in this regard after it failed to get the After appearing at the AFC U23 Championship the two Asian countries. Some 7 billion dollars of Iranian oil kits, a proposal decried by Iran as “shameless”. ship released. Qatar confirmed that it has received a re- 2020 last January, Ghayedi made his senior international debut revenues have been frozen in two South Korean banks since During his visit to Iran, Jong-kun met with Iran’s cen- quest for help from South Korea and expressed readiness for Iran against in October and scored his maiden September 2019 due to U.S. sanctions on Iran. tral bank governor Abdolnasser Hemmati to discuss how to contribute to settling the issue. goal for Iran in his second appearance, against Bosnia and While Iran says that the ship was impounded for en- to release the Iranian assets. According to Iranian media, “We have received a request from the Korean government. Herzegovina the following month. vironmental issues, South Korea implied that the ship the South Korean diplomat proposed to provide Iran with Right now, we are working on it with Iran to find a way. They Top 10 Total Points was seized in an effort to put pressure on Seoul to release ambulances and coronavirus test kits using Iran’s assets. are talking to each other directly,” Qatari Foreign Minister 1. Mehdi Ghayedi (Esteghlal/IRN) 24.40 Iran’s frozen money. But Iran rejected the offer, saying that it is willing to use its Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in a 2. Mehdi Abdi (Persepolis FC/IRN) 21.37 But Khatibzadeh denied that Iran had seized the tanker money in purchasing foods and medicines. Iran also said recent interview with Bloomberg TV. “We hope that we can 3. Won Du-jae (Ulsan Hyundai FC/KOR) 16.20 to force South Korea into releasing Iran’s blocked assets. that the Korean proposal did not include the release of all help in facilitating any talks for the release of the tanker.” 4. (Bologna/JPN) 7.83 5. Takefusa Kubo (Mallorca, Villareal CF/JPN) 6.71 6. Abdulrahman Ghareeb (Al Ahli/KSA) 3.69 7. Kaoru Mitoma (/JPN) 3.64 Iran says would welcome Saudi foreign policy revision 8. Mohanad Ali (Portimonense, Al Sailiya/IRQ) 3.08 1 “We have always underlined that spokesman continued. needs an inclusive regional mechanism and prosperous community of countries, 9. Safawi Rasid (Johor Darul Ta’zim, Portimonense/MAS) 3.07 regional countries should arrive at a The remarks came after Saudi Arabian to encourage diplomacy and cooperation free from the impositions of regional or 10. Abdullah Al Hamdan (Al Shabab/KSA) 2.81 common understanding regarding the Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan claimed and to lower the risk of miscalculation global hegemony,” the foreign minister regional problems,” he stated, noting that that their hands are extended to Iran to and conflict,” Zarif stated. pointed out. such understanding would help establish make peace, though he accused Iran of The chief Iranian diplomat once again But Khatibzadeh said Saudi Arabia has a “security mechanism” that could be used not complying with agreements and not presented Iran’s Hormuz Peace Endeavor, so far left Iran’s proposals for negotiation Bozidar Radosevic may to govern the region. being “serious about talks with Riyadh.” also known as HOPE, which Iran presented to and resolution of outstanding differences leave Persepolis Khatibzadeh voiced Iran’s readiness to On Friday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mo- the UN General Assembly in September 2019. between the countries unanswered. negotiate with Saudi Arabia if it changes hammad Javad Zarif also expressed will- Zarif said the region’s countries can Khatibzadeh reminded that Saudi Arabia SPORTSTEHRAN – Persepolis goalkeeper Bozidar tack, adding that Iran is ready to address ingness to resolve differences in the region, use this forum to “address anxieties tows a long record of violations against deskRadosevic may leave the Iranian team after Saudi concerns regarding Iran. once again floating Iran’s Hormuz Peace with confidence-building measures, re- the region, from the war on and they failed to meet their financial commitment. “The Saudis may have some concerns, Endeavor as a forum to soothe tensions. solve grievances through dialogue, and support for regional militancy and Takfi- Radosevic joined Persepolis from Hungarian team Debre- and by the way, we emphasize that we In an article published by Foreign Affairs engage in mutually beneficial efforts to ri terrorism to a 2017 Saudi-led regional cen in 2016 but has not regularly played for the team over the need to talk about these concerns. The magazine, the foreign minister said Iran solve shared problems and safeguard blockade of Qatar. past five years. Hormuz peace endeavor was in the con- is willing to discuss the problems of the collective interests.” Even if Riyadh might have some con- Now, in an interview with dalmatinskiportal.hr, the text of talking about these issues. Some region. “But the peoples of the region, not “HOPE is not a blueprint for the fu- cerns, “the answer is not war,” he suggested. 32-year-old custodian has confirmed he would likely leave concerns may be illusions that open the outsiders, must resolve these issues. Neither ture—any permanent arrangement has Khatibzadeh said the ball is in Riyadh’s Persepolis. door to other powers in the region, and the United States nor its European allies to be arrived at collectively by all regional court. “The solution is in the Saudis’ hands “I have to confirm, unfortunately, it’s true that these are we are even willing to talk about these have the prerogative to lead or sponsor powers. But the proposal reflects Iran’s and they can solve this issue whenever big debts, but I am still a Persepolis player at the moment,” illusory and imaginary concerns,” the future talks. Rather, the Persian Gulf region aspiration for a strong, stable, peaceful, they choose to.” Radosevic said. Radosevic has played 37 matches for Persepolis so far. Iran’s ambassador submits credentials to Libyan Presidential Council chief POLITICAL TEHRAN — Accredited Ambassador The newly-appointed Iranian ambassador also met with Fans to be allowed into deskof Iran to Mohammadreza Ra’ouf Libya’s Foreign Minister Mohammad al-Taher Siala on Sunday. stadiums from April: official Sheybani on Saturday submitted his letter of credence to During the meeting, Siala welcomed the new Iranian the head of the Libyan Presidential Council, Fayez Al-Sarraj. ambassador, emphasizing the depth of the historical and SPORTSTEHRAN – The stadiums will be permitted In addition to Iran, the Libyan leader received the letters brotherly and Islamic ties between Libya and Iran and deskto hold up the fans from the April, head of Iran of credence of three other ambassadors from Herzegovina, pointing to the importance of strengthening bilateral Football League Organization, Soheil Mahdi, said. South Korea and Rwanda. cooperation and initiating contacts, exchange of visits, Iranian supporters have been unable to attend football matches The new ambassadors delivered speeches at the reception especially at the general and private economic level, such since March because of the coronavirus pandemic. ceremony in , thanking Libya for the warm welcome, as the Chambers of Commerce and the Businessmen “We will allow the fans into stadiums from April but we according to the Libya Observer news website. The ambas- Council, as well as consultation and coordination in in- will have to ensure the health and wellbeing of them. The sadors also reiterated the relations with Libya, ternational forums, according to a statement issued by stadiums need to ensure that the protocols are successfully voicing support for achieving peace and stability in Libya the Libyan Foreign Ministry. implemented,” Mahdi said. as well as for boosting bilateral relations with the country. “For his part, the ambassador expressed his happiness to The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran ex- “We welcome the new ambassadors and we are happy work as his country’s ambassador to the state of Libya, and ceeded 57,380 on Sunday, while more than 1,164,000 cases have to receive their credentials today in Tripoli. We hail their that he would make efforts to restore relations to normalcy, recovered in the country. countries’ support for democracy and efforts to achieve intensify visits and hold joint committee meetings as soon Speaking at a daily press conference on Sunday, Health Min- peace and stability in Libya.” Al-Sarraj said, hoping that as possible,” the statement added. istry Spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari put the death toll from the the new ambassadors would work on boosting bilateral The Iranian ambassador also expressed his country’s National Accord in order to solve the Libyan crisis and restore novel coronavirus in Iran at 57,383, saying the disease has taken relations in different fields with Libya. readiness to provide any assistance to the Government of stability, development and prosperity to the Libyan people. the lives of 89 patients over the past 24 hours. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY JANUARY 25, 2021

Qanbari appointed as new head of IPO Iran, Armenia ink MOU

ECONOMY TEHRAN — Hassan-Ali Qanbari was ap- deskpointed as the new head of the Iranian Pri- vatization Organization (IPO). on expansion of trade ties Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Farhad Dejpasand appointed Qanbari to the post on Sunday. Having a Ph.D. degree in economics, Qanbari has been 1 Hosseini said Iran is seeking to tries is not reflecting their long history of working in the banking and investment sectors. become a permanent member of the EAEU bilateral cooperation; therefore, we hope He has been a former managing director of Bank Sepah, and and Armenia could be of significant help that by holding similar meetings, we will be Omid Investment Group, as well as a board member of Bank in this regard. able to further strengthen mutual relations Day, Hekmat Iranian Bank, and Post Bank of Iran. According to the Iranian minister, are- and witness the development of economic In mid-November last year, Alireza Saleh resigned as the as like the mining industry, foodstuff, and relations.” head of IPO, and Hassan Alaei, the deputy head of IPO, re- home appliances could be good opportunities Kerobyan also called for the development placed Saleh as the acting head of the mentioned organization. for the two countries to develop mutual of trade and economic relations between The Iranian Privatization Organization affiliated with the cooperation. the two nations, especially the fields of in- Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs is in charge of im- Kerobyan for his part expressed his vestment and production. plementing the country’s privatization programs by setting government’s readiness for cooperation Iranian trade with some partners prices and ceding shares to the general public and on the to boost mutual trade and produce joint resuming Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE). products and to pave the way for Iran to Elsewhere in his remarks, Hemmati enter the markets of third countries. pointed to the ineffectiveness of the U.S. “We are ready to support Iranian traders sanctions in disrupting Iran’s trade ties with Inflation rate rises 3.1% in to use Armenia for entering third coun- its major partners and said: “We believe tries,” he said. that the sanctions are not viable; Iran’s urban areas Iran focusing on trade with neigh- trade relations with some countries are currently resuming and it is a good time ECONOMY bors TEHRAN — The Statistical Center of Iran for Armenia, as a friend and neighbor, to desk(SCI) has announced that the inflation rate The Armenian minister also met with the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran expand its relations with Iran.” has risen 3.1 percent in the country’s urban areas in the tenth He finally stressed the importance of Iranian calendar month of Dey (December 21, 2020-January (CBI) Abdolnaser Hemmati and discussed banking issues and ways of increasing the resolving the banking issues of the two 19, 2021). Iranian Industry, Mining, and Trade Minister Alireza Razm Hosseini (R) and Armenia’s level of trade between the two sides. countries and proposed to travel to Yere- The SCI put the inflation rate at 45.5 percent in the urban Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan in Tehran on Saturday van to pursue specialized banking issues regions in the tenth month. In this meeting, Hemmati noted that trade relations between the two countries and financial exchanges with the governor According to the SCI, the inflation rate in the twelve-month Iran is currently focusing on enhancing its achieve positive economic growth this year,” and also between Iran and the EAEU as of the Central Bank of Armenia. period ended on January 19, which marks the end of the tenth trade ties with the neighboring countries. Hemmati said. a whole. During his five-day visit to Iran, Kerobyan month, stood at 32.2 percent, rising 1.7 percent from the fig- In this meeting, Hemmati pointed to He expressed dissatisfaction with the “Iran’s economic situation is improv- is going to visit some of the major Iranian ure for the twelve-month period ended on the last day of the Armenia’s significant geographical posi- current level of trade between the two neigh- ing despite the pressures imposed by the production centers, and he will also make ninth month. tion and noted that the country can have a bors, saying: “Unfortunately, the volume tremendous impact on the development of U.S. sanctions, and we have been able to of trade relations between the two coun- a trip to Isfahan Province. 32 idle mines revived in Zanjan Province Domestic company inks $33m deal to build 5 vessels for PMO ECONOMY TEHRAN — According to a provincial official, ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iran’s Ports and Maritime Head Mohammad Rastad and President of Iran University desk32 idle mines have been revived in Zanjan deskOrganization (PMO) has signed a deal of Science and Technology Jabbar-Ali Zakeri, the two sides Province during the first nine months of the current Iranian worth 1.408 trillion rials (about $33.5 million) with a domestic will cooperate in conducting research in the fields of marine calendar year (March 20-December 20, 2020). company called SADRA Iran Marine Industrial Company and port sciences and removing barriers and problems in (SIMIC), based on which SIMIC will build five small-scale the production of port equipment. vessels for PMO. Speaking on the sidelines of the signing ceremony, Rastad The deal was signed in a ceremony attended by senior noted that Iran has no shortage in the knowledge for the officials from the country’s maritime and transportation construction of various types of vessels, saying: “By the sectors including and Urban Development Min- end of this [Iranian calendar] year (March 20), domestic ister Mohammad Eslami. manufacturers will hand over a total of 26 vessels to the As reported by IRNA, the mentioned vessels are going Ports and Maritime Organization.” to be used in the country’s northern waters as coast guards The official noted that another 34 vessels are also going and guides. to be constructed and handed over to PMO by the end of the Also in the ceremony, a memorandum of understanding Iranian calendar year 1400 (March 20, 2022). (MOU) was signed between the Ports and Maritime Organ- According to Rastad, in addition to the deal which was ization and Iran University of Science and Technology for signed for the mentioned five vessels five more vessels are “Given that maritime transport is an important factor cooperation in maritime research projects. also under construction in Shahid Mahalati Yard in Bushehr in international trade, so conducting research and having Based on the mentioned MOU, which was signed by PMO Province to be used in the southern portal areas. foresight in this area is of utmost importance,” he stressed.

Nasser Faghfouri, the head of Industry, Mining and Trade Department of the province, said reviving 43 idle mines in the province has been planned for the current calendar year, Iran begins boosting oil output to reach pre-sanction level and given the 32 mines revived in the first nine months, the planning has been realized by 100 percent so far. ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iran’s Depu- country is facing for its oil exports since exports have recently increased drastically. Through implementing a program for reviving idle small-scale deskty Oil Minister Amir Hos- the re-imposition of the U.S. sanctions. Over the past few months, Iran has been mines across the country, Iran has revived 176 mines during sein Zamaninia said on Friday the country The U.S.’s newly elected President announcing its readiness for increasing the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year. has started boosting its oil production and Joe Biden, however, is expected to seek its oil production back to the pre-sanc- As announced by the Iranian Mines and Mining Indus- will be able to reach pre-sanction levels revival of the nuclear deal reached with tion levels. tries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), within two months. Iran in 2015; and officials in Tehran have Earlier this month, the managing director 12 mineral processing plants were also set up in the country Iranian oil won’t create any surplus in expressed hope that he will ease restrictions of National Iranian South Oil Company through cooperation with the private sector during the men- the oil market and the market will be able on Iranian oil exports. (NISOC) said Iran is ready to rapidly in- tioned nine-month period. to accommodate the country’s maximum Zamaninia declined to specify the cur- crease its output back to the pre-sanction According to the available statistics, the number of active oil output of around 3.9 million to four rent level of Iran’s oil exports, but said the levels. mines in the country is more than 5,600 mines, from which an million barrels a day, Bloomberg quoted numbers were “much better than many “Iran is ready to halt the deliberate re- average of 400 million tons of various minerals are extracted Zamaninia as saying on the sidelines of assume”, the report said. duction in oil production and increase its annually, and the share of construction materials is estimated Iran Oil Show in Tehran. its oil production to less than half of its Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar output to 95 percent of the pre-sanction level at 60 to 65 percent. As reported, Iran has currently curbed total capacity due to the problems that the Zanganeh has also stated that Iranian oil in just one day,” Ahmad Mohammadi said. Currently, 257 mines are being equipped as part of a com- prehensive program for reviving idle small-scale mines across the country. Reviving 200 idle mines and setting up 25 processing units have been planned for the current Iranian year (ends on March ISOICO to build 1st Iranian-made jack-up drilling rig 20, 2021). ECONOMY TEHRAN — Iran and of the major achievements of the country’s oil industry in Last year, 146 mines were revived throughout the country. deskOffshore Industries Complex (ISOICO) this regard. According to the information released by IMIDRO, the most has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Back in February 2020, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Nam- small-scale inactive mines are located in Khorasan Razavi North Drilling Company (NDCO) for the construction of dar Zanganeh unveiled a domestically-built drilling rig in a Province and the least of them are located in the south of the country’s first locally-made jack-up offshore drilling rig. ceremony held in Khuzestan province, southwestern Iran. Kerman Province and North Khorasan Province. The MOU was signed by the ISOICO Head Hamidreza The drilling rig, called Fat’h-72 was completely designed As reported, under the framework of the mentioned pro- Rezaei and the NDCO Managing Director Masoud Eydi on and constructed by experts from the province’s Academic gram, 672 idle mines have been identified and prioritized in the sidelines of the 25th edition of Iran International Oil, Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR) in the current Iranian calendar year, and diagnostic procedures Gas, Refining, and Petrochemical Exhibition (Iran Oil Show). , the of Khuzestan. have been performed on 194 mines to determine the reasons Based on the MOU, the two sides will cooperate in de- ACECR has signed a €33-million deal with the National for the halt in their production. signing and constructing the mentioned drilling rig which Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) for the construction of three The mentioned program, which has been at the forefront of will be used for the development of oil and gas fields in drilling rigs, one of which was Fat’h-72. IMIDRO’s missions over the past two years, is being pursued shallow waters of the Persian Gulf. Located on the costs of the Persian Gulf, Iran Shipbuilding in several provinces. NDCO had previously awarded the overhaul project of and Offshore Industries Complex Company is an Iranian The previous head of IMIDRO has mentioned this plan as ISOICO Head Hamidreza Rezaei (R) and NDCO Managing the Sahar 2 offshore drilling rig to ISOICO. Director Masoud Eydi exchange signed MOU documents. , active as a shipbuilder and ship-repairer of dif- one of the most significant plans of “Resistance Economy”, Since the re-imposition of the U.S. sanctions on the ferent types of vessels and offshore structures. saying that IMIDRO is strongly determined to carry out it. Iranian oil industry, the country has been taking serious its technological needs. ISOICO is a subsidiary of the Industrial Development Reviving the small mines not only is a major step toward measures for cutting reliance on foreign sources for meeting Designing and constructing drilling rigs has been one and Renovation Organization of Iran (IDRO). materializing “Surge in Production”, which is the motto of the current Iranian calendar year, it also plays a significant role in job creation throughout the country, Khodadad Ghar- ibpour has said. ‘Bid Boland Refinery leading in benefitting from domestic capabilities’ Following this program, so far various small-scale mines including chromite, manganese, hematite, and dolomite, iron ECONOMY TEHRAN — The man- commercial and household sectors. capacity it will generate $700 million of ore, copper, and construction stone mines have been surveyed deskaging director of Persian Last Thursday, President Hassan Rouhani revenue every year. by monitoring and diagnosing the problems of the mines and Gulf Bid Boland Gas Refinery, in southwestern officially inaugurated Persian Gulf Bid Boland This complex receives about 13.500 tons providing solutions for resolving their issues. Khouzestan Province, said that Bid Boland Gas Refinery through videoconference. of sour gas per year from NGL 900 and 1000 According to the head of the Iranian Mining Engineering project is leading in terms of benefiting from Bid Boland Refinery has been put into Plants while receiving 2.25 million tons of Organization (IMEO), the mines of Iran have 27 widely used domestic capabilities. operation with the aim of increasing the sweet gas from NGL 1200 and 1300 Plants. minerals, Ali-Mohammad Pour-Reza made the production of sweet gas, reducing the con- As the largest gas refinery project in West Taqi Nabi said that Iran produces 13 major minerals in the remarks when visiting the 25th edition of sumption of petroleum products, production Asia, Bid Boland will have an annual produc- world and is among the top 10 countries in this due. Iran International Oil, Gas, Refining, and of propane, butane, and gas condensate, the tion capacity of 10.4 million tons of methane, He further referred to the government’s plan for reviving the Petrochemical Exhibition (Iran Oil Show) export of by-products, the supply of natural 1.5 million tons of ethane, one million tons of idle mines across the country, and said, “The government has on Sunday. gas to urban areas, and supplying ethane propane, 600,000 tons of gas condensates, taken good steps to return the closed mines to the production Elaborating on the activities of the refinery, required by petrochemical units in the region. and 500,000 tons of butane. cycle, and good expert measures have been taken.” he said the refinery receives about 16 million The refinery, which took 36 months to Bid Bolad Refinery project was recently Mining units are given a three-month opportunity to de- cubic meters of gas per day and sends it to complete, has a daily processing capacity nominated for the International Project tor; it was also awarded as Iran’s top mega termine the status of stagnant and inactive mines in order to the first national pipeline, which is used for of more than 56 million cubic meters of Management Association (IPMA)’s Global project by the Ninth National Project Man- revive them, he added. consumption in the country in the industrial, associated gas and when operating at full Project Excellence Award at the energy sec- agement Award. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 25, 2021 ANALYSIS/INTERVIEW 5

New U.S. administration: Iraqi group claims responsibility for aerial attack on Riyadh

An Iraqi group has claimed responsibility for an aerial attack on Saudi Arabia’s capital of Riyadh, saying it was a revenge for the blood of Challenges and opportunities those killed in a twin terrorist bombing in Baghdad. The al-Wa’ada al-Haq Brigades said in a statement early Sunday 1 If Biden can formally set U.S. - Israel and the (Persian) Gulf states want the that it had “fulfilled its promise by sending drones to the Al Saud bon emissions targets by 2030 before next agreement to be stricter than the original kingdom and targeting its strongholds at the al-Yamamah year’s UN climate summit, other countries 2015 version. It should limit Iran’s ballistic and other sites inside Riyadh.” will be motivated to do the same. China will missile program and possibly Iran’s sup- The attack followed “the excessive demands and insistence of the also speed up its de-carbonization. Of course, port for militant (resistance) groups. If Iran Arab regimes on their crimes against the regional countries and their not all governments welcome the arrival of does not comply with such conditions, then continued support for the criminal Takfiri groups such as Daesh that carbon warriors in the White House, such America’s Middle East (West Asia) allies will have the blood of the innocent on their hands,” it added. as the Brazilian government. This govern- call on Biden to maintain sanctions on Iran. The Iraqi group also said its retaliatory drone operation was just the ment is destroying the Amazon rainforest. Trump has had remarkable success in beginning of its bid to draw the deterrent equation into Saudi Arabia. Biden has already threatened that Brazil will persuading Arab countries to recognize Israel. suffer extreme economic consequences if it There will be pressure on Biden to continue does not stop. that policy. Palestinians will expect Biden Ansarullah: Saudi to pay The health sector is another area where the to reverse Trump’s hostile approaches, such United States is expected greater cooperation. as shutting down their diplomatic missions heavy price for continuing Donald Trump announced the decision to in Washington and reducing aid. Neverthe- Yemen war, siege pull the United States out of the World Health less, they may not be able to persuade Biden Organization (WHO) in July, accusing it of to return to Tel Aviv from , the Yemen’s defensive Houthi Ansarullah movement says the Saudi-led being under the control of China. However, U.S.-recognized capital of Israel. coalition will pay dearly for keeping up the war and a siege that it Biden reversed the decision on the first day The populists, dictators and extremist has simultaneously imposed on the impoverished country. of his term. The process of withdrawing the nationalists who are in power in countries “Invasion of Yemen is a crime. So is the siege of the country. United States is expected to end in July 2021. to be closer to Trump’s than Barack Obama’s. no one can drag Europe into the Sino-U.S. around the world were quite comfortable And continuation of these two amounts to a double crime,” Houthi New U.S. president can stop that process Obama drew the red line in the South China hegemony. The EU wants to be a little tougher under Trump. They were also supporters of spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam wrote on Twitter on Saturday. with an executive order. Sea. He did little when China crossed that on China. However, the EU may not support Trump and wanted him to win the election. “And the fact that the criminal coalition is in no hurry to stop its The United States is the fourth largest do- line. Trump, on the other hand, vehemently Biden if he chooses the path of conflict. Trump These countries now have to deal with a U.S. crimes will run up heavy costs for it,” added the official, who also nor to WHO. In 2019, the country contributed rejected China’s claim to the sea and increased weakened NATO. Biden won’t do that, but president who has different priorities in his heads the Yemeni National Salvation Government’s negotiating team. 15 percent of the WHO budget. The United the U.S. naval presence. He reiterated Amer- he will push for NATO allies to invest more foreign policy. Even Biden had previously Saudi Arabia and some of its allies began a campaign of mili- States is expected to join a global coalition ica’s defense commitment to and sold money behind their respective armed forces. announced that he wanted to hold a world- tary aggression against Yemen in March 2015 to bring its former to fund the development of Covid-19 test arms to . He sought to restore the Two-thirds of NATO members did not wide conference on the Road to Democracy, pro-Riyadh government back to power. drugs and vaccines and their distribution to credibility of U.S. hegemony in Asia. spend 2 percent of their GDP on defense. a year after taking office, which could be a poor countries. International cooperation is China’s adversaries are concerned that Germany hopes that even if Biden talks of kind of red signal for all dictatorial and fascist expected to increase during Biden’s tenure Biden could give some leeway on spending more money on the armed forces of governments especially Arab regimes in West R esistance N ews compared to Trump. security issues as it seeks to achieve other NATO member states, the message will not Asia. If this is effective, the authoritarian Since Biden was elected, various countries goals, such as cooperation in climate change. be accompanied by the threat of imposing regimes must seek a new policy and seek Israeli police bar Aqsa have been analyzing where their national Japan’s new Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide tariffs on German vehicles. Germany further reforms to convince the Biden administration. interests will benefit or suffer. China cau- expects more relations than usual with his hopes that the dispute between the allies Regarding immigration issues, it is ex- Mosque renovation works tiously welcomed him. A Chinese magazine country’s main ally, the United States, and will be resolved in silence, not on Twitter. pected that during new administration, U.S. called him as an “old friend,” according to therefore seeks professional consultations France hopes that the United States will immigration policy to be relaxed. Under INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN — The Israeli occupation police on the Global Times. with the United States. take renewed steps to address regional con- Trump, this policy was being applied very deskSunday prevented the Islamic Awqaf authority Under Trump, China was happy that Trump severed trade agreements with flicts that could jeopardize Europe’s security, harshly. Needless to say, immigrants will get at the Aqsa Mosque from finishing restoration and maintenance American power would weaken. But China South Korea and threatened to withdraw U.S. from Turkish expansionism in the Eastern some benefits from that. The announcement works at the Dome of the Rock building. was angry with him for his warlike nature. troops from South Korean soil if Seoul did Mediterranean to instability in of new jobs in the United States during Bid- Head of the Mosque’s rehabilitation committee Bassam al-Hallaq China feared a sudden shift in U.S. policy not pay more for the presence of U.S. troops. and Libya. Both Germany and France are en’s tenure is expected to turn the tide of the said that police officers stormed the Dome of the Rock and prevented on the Taiwan problem that could bring the At the time, Biden described the threat as relieved that the end of Trump’s drive to economy. Biden also must keep a close eye Palestinian workers from carrying out renovations to the interior of two countries closer to war. Beijing hopes “irrational and reckless.” When he came to divide Europe is imminent. Yet there is a on racism that has resurfaced under Trump. the prayer building. Washington will be more vigilant under the power, he promised to strengthen the U.S. strong belief in European capitals that even Education, peace, democracy, these three Hallaq added that the officers threatened to arrest them and banish Biden presidency. Trump built the tariff wall alliance with South Korea. At the time of the under Obama, Europe began to slip out of expectations are higher than Biden. Now them from the Aqsa Mosque if they insisted on continuing their work. in a futile attempt to equalize imports of goods election, about two-thirds of South Koreans America’s sight. America is essential, but the let’s see how far the implementation goes He also said that the Israeli police on Saturday barred the reha- from China to its exports to that country. wanted Biden to win. Therefore, it is needless world has also changed. France now wants with the expectation. bilitation committee, an affiliate of the Awqaf Administration in the The Chinese are skeptical toward American to say that the relations between the two Europe to do more for itself and differently. Rakib Al Hasan is an author, activist holy city, from carrying out repairs at the Marwani prayer building policy. Rather, China expects it to reduce countries will improve during his tenure. French President Emmanuel Macron has an and youth leader from . of the Aqsa Mosque. tariffs in some cases. Trump called for an ideological fight ambitious plan to build “strategic However, China does not expect involve- against Communist China on every front. autonomy” in Europe. Biden’s team ment in the construction of the 5G network This is proof that his administration had would need to make it clear that or a change in U.S. attitudes and policies in nothing to do with diplomatic reality. It is the plan is not aimed at pushing the South China Sea. true that China is a headache for many in NATO aside. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Southeast Asia, but it has not been an ide- With Biden elected, Britain HAMRAHE Aval Launches, had high hopes for Trump’s victory. However, ological threat for decades. Indonesia be- hopes to conclude a trade agree- he did not hesitate to send a congratulatory lieves that the region’s biggest priority is to ment with the United States to offset message to Biden after his victory. Biden’s help China overcome the epidemic and seek the damage caused by Brexit and Installs 309 New BTS Sites in role in is unlikely to be very different economic recovery where China can act as to exert global influence through from Trump’s. Because it is not possible for a driving force for growth. Indonesia wants its special relationship with the the United States to strike an effective balance to welcome the U.S. presence. So neither superpower. However, Biden Khorasan Razavi Province against China without India. side wants to resort. That’s why Indonesia hinted that if Britain imposed new However, India will come under pressure recently rejected a proposal to set up a U.S. restrictions on the border between • A number of 309 new BTS mobile phone sites were installed and launched in from the Biden administration for human spy base in the country. Northern Ireland and the Republic rights abuses and insults to democracy. In Under Trump, the guardianship of mul- of Ireland, it would have to forget Khorasan Razavi province the past year in 1398, aimed at completing the launch particular, the Kashmir issue will be revived. tilateralism suddenly and unexpectedly falls about such a trade deal. Note that The Biden administration’s important on the shoulders of the European Union. The Biden himself is of Irish descent. of mobile phone network. role in the way the Modi government has Europeans hope that now after Biden’s victory, But Britain will probably lose the • In line with increasing quality and accessing subscribers of HAMRAHE AVAL turned violent in Kashmir, including human this responsibility to be shared. They also role of a bridge between the United rights abuses and torture, is beginning to hope that after rejoining the Paris agreement, States and Europe. subscribers to the ‘contact’ and ‘data’ services, a number of 309 new BTS internet be seen. In the meantime, new American the United States will abandon its attempts Reviving the Iran nuclear deal administration has embarrassed the Indian to weaken the World Trade Organization and will not be easy. Most Republicans sites of mobile phone and 1,146 various technologies were launcged in 51 government over the appointment of two revive the Iran nuclear deal. Needless to say, and some Democrats in the United and villages of this province, costing over 309 billion tomans in the past year. The women of Kashmiri descent. Biden also talked about doing these things. States oppose the deal. In that case, When it comes to asserting their power, From a strategic point of view, the main Biden could lift some sanctions aforementioned mobile phone services were launched and installed by expert U.S. allies in Asia will expect Biden’s policy goal of the European Union is to ensure that and then try to negotiate a deal. engineers of Naghsh-e Aval Keifiat as the largest subsidiary of HAMRAHE AVAL and technical contractor of this operator. Western rulers afraid of Islam’s power: analyst • Despite all challenges facing ahead of development of the network such as By Mohammad Ali Haghshenas terview with Firas Al Najim: istrations introduce terrorists as the outbreak of the coronavirus, COVID-19, passing from hard=to=pass and arduous Why has the old policy of Islamo- representatives of Islam because they TEHRAN – A Canada-based analyst phobia and hatred against fear the strength and spread of Islam in regions as well as unilateral sanctions imposed against the country, this giant says the Western governments are afraid been intensified in recent years? the West and also the Islamic lands to of Islam’s spread in their countries as The old policy of Islamophobia and become sovereign and strong and this project has been put into operation in the religious city of the country home to it will disrupt their control over puppet hatred against Muslims has been in- would disrupt and destroy their control numerous pilgrims. regimes in the West Asia. tensified because the majority of the and theft of the resources of the Islamic In a letter dated January 21, 2015, and Western administrations and especially lands as they do in the Persian Gulf lands another on November 29, 2015, Ayatollah the American admin have an evil agenda and other places, they occupy either by Khamenei elaborated on the truth of towards pure Islam and its influence and their armies or their puppet regimes. Islam and malicious attempts by certain effect that could strengthen the world Why does the power structure in Western leaders to use terrorist acts as and weaken their evil plans of dividing today’s world tend to marginalize a pretext to distort the image of Islam. and conquering the Muslim populated Islamic thought? Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the letters, lands. Imam Khomeini’s successful and They fear the revolutionary Islam addressed important points regarding the sacred revolution was a big attack on that rejects evil and corruption as it true image of Islam. The letter warned their control of the Middle Eastern (West will create strong intellectual thinkers about the approaches and political be- Asian) region. and fight the deviant narratives being havior of the West and the United States Does the public opinion of the promoted to back people away and while also informing the Western nations West have a real knowledge of Is- fear Islam. With the great letter to the of their responsibility to attain a direct lam? and from what source do they youth in the West, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali understanding of Islam. get this knowledge? Khamenei addressed the West to look One of the basic questions that the The Islam that has reached the public beyond the borders and boxes that the Leader asks in the letter is why the public opinion of the West is mainly deviant West teaches about Islam. conscience in the West wakes up with due to the Wahhabi deviant fabricated And to do their own study and at years of delay and why there has been sect that is the state-sponsored religion least stand for the common goals of a massive increase of attacks against of the Western established and backed human values and principles. Ayatol- Islam in Europe during the past years. Saudi regime. One of the main ways lah Khamenei cares about the people It is a mistake for European citizens they get this knowledge is through their being misled and wants unity based on to allow the introduction of terrorists as popular media known as the mainstream religious and humanitarian principles to representatives of Islam. Defamatory media that spreads an aggressive image stop any sedition and hate in the world. figures should not be allowed to create of Islam and this media has a big effect We hope that the Muslims work harder a gap between European public opinion on the majority of the Western nations to spread this letter all over the social and the main reality of Islam. The gap as the majority blindly trust that media. media platforms so all the people in the leads to the creation of an emotional Why does the West introduce west can truly understand the message of barrier and the possibility of impartial terrorists like ISIL as the repre- love and caring being sent by one of the judgment is further denied. sentative of the Islamic world? most important and influential scholars Following is the full text of the in- The majority of the Western admin- of the Islamic faith and world today. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 HERITAGE & TOURISM JANUARY 25, 2021

Visit Estil Lagoon, where the Coronavirus causes $59m trees walk

1 If you stay by the lagoon for a few days, you will notice that the water of the lagoon also moves. In this move- ment, short trees go underwater and in the next movement, damage to Hamedan’s tourism they come out of it, therefore, the lagoon is called the moving lake by the locals. TOURISM TEHRAN – The tour- centers, the official explained. deskism industry of the In September, Teymouri said that west-central province of Hamedan has around 1.3 million tourism workers in taken some 2.48 trillion rials ($59 million the country were facing problems due at the official exchange rate of 42,000 to the coronavirus crisis. rials per dollar) hit from the coronavirus In October, Cultural Heritage, Tour- outbreak over the past couple of months. ism, and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar As the Persian New Year (Noruz) hol- Mounesan warned that Iran’s cultural idays is the golden time for the tourism heritage and tourism will be in a criti- sector, if the restrictions and lockdown cal situation if the crises caused by the continue to the next Iranian year 1400 outbreak of the coronavirus continue. (starting March 20), irreparable damage In August, Mounesan said that Iran’s will be done to this sector, the provincial tourism has suffered a loss of 12 trillion tourism chief Ali Malmir said on Saturday. rials (some $2.85 billion) since the out- Accommodation centers, hotels, res- break of the coronavirus pandemic. taurants, and halls have suffered major The government has allocated a damages during the time as well, the 750-trillion-rial (about $18 billion) official added. package to help low-income households Tourists can experience a relaxed memorable stay in Back in December, the official an- and small- and medium-sized enterpris- dreamy cottages on the water and enjoy the view of moun- nounced that the Iranian government es suffered from coronavirus concerns. tains, forests, farms, and lush green rice paddies around has paid 70 billion rials (about $1.7 mil- Optimistic forecasts, however, expect the lagoon. lion) in loans to the tourism businesses Iran to achieve a tourism boom after Estil Lagoon, which is sandwiched between towering affected by the coronavirus pandemic coronavirus is contained, believing its mountains and the Caspian Sea coast, covers an area of 138 in the province. impact would be temporary and short- hectares. He also noted that there are 180 hotels, approved by Iran’s National Headquarters The loans would be allocated to tourist lived for a country that ranked the third The lagoon is a haven for birdwatchers as it shelters dif- apartment hotels, eco-lodge units, and for Coronavirus Control. guides, travel agencies, tourism trans- fastest-growing tourism destination in ferent species of native and migratory birds. It is also home travel agencies across the province, which He also announced that depending on port companies, tourism educational 2019. to a total of 80 species of flora and fauna, some of which are generate jobs for a total of 2,000 people. the type and activity of the businesses, institutions, eco-lodges and tradition- The latest available data show eight in the category of endangered animals. In late October, deputy tourism chief they could benefit from at least 160 million al accommodations, hotels, apartment million tourists visited the Islamic Re- The northern provinces of Gilan, Golestan, and Mazandaran Vali Teymouri said that a new support rials (some $3,800) to nine billion rials hotels, motels, and guesthouses as well public during the first ten months of the embrace a variety of freshwater lakes, wetlands, and lagoons, package to pay loans to businesses af- (some $214,000) of bank loans with a as traditional accommodation centers, past Iranian calendar year (started March which are the main destinations for nature tourists. fected by the coronavirus pandemic was 12-percent interest rate. tourism complexes, and recreational 21, 2019). Iran extends ban on UK flights once more 15 eco-lodge units to come on stream in eastern Iran TEHRAN – A total of 15 eco-lodges, Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan inaugurat- TOURISM TEHRAN – Iran has extended the previ- TOURISM deskwhich are currently being constructed ed eleven eco-lodges during his visit to the province. deskously-imposed ban on flights to and from the across the eastern South Khorasan province, will come Last November, the minister referred to the eco-lodges until the end of the current Iranian month on stream by the end of the current Iranian calendar inaugurated across the country and noted that increasing of Bahman (February 18) to prevent the spread of the new year (Mach 20). the number of units could create job opportunities in coronavirus variant. Establishing eco-lodge units could help boost tourism rural areas and boost tourist arrivals in these regions. in the region, while it generates job opportunities in He also noted that promoting ecotourism can help the rural areas, the provincial tourism chief has said. reverse migration and attract more foreign tourists. Some 80 eco-lodge units have been inaugurated Apart from eco-lodge units, there are also boutique across the province over the past four years, which hotels and traditional accommodation centers which has provided the ground for attracting more domestic could flourish the tourism sector and provide infra- and foreign tourists, Hassan Ramezani announced structure in these regions, Mounesan mentioned. on Sunday. The tourism ministry has set a target to help build Last April, the official announced that the number 2,000 eco-lodges by 2021, believing such guest houses of eco-lodge units has increased by fourfold in the could cater to sustainable development and job creation province within a year. in the countryside and rural areas. “Some 25 eco-lodge [units] existed across the prov- Experts say each eco-lodge unit generates jobs for and even tribal tourism as it is home to many regional ince at the end of the [Iranian year] 1397 (March 2019) seven to eight people on average so that the scheme people including ones with Turk and Arab elements while the figure has reached 100, eighty of which are could create 160,000 jobs. in addition to the Kurds, Baloch, Bakhtyari, Lurs, and operational.” The culturally-diverse country never disappoints other smaller minorities such as Armenians, Assyrians, In December 2019, Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and visitors when it comes to eco-tourism, sightseeing, Jews, and others.

Tehran- ticket sales, both direct and indirect, are prohibited, Iran Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) Chief Executive Touraj Dehghani Zanganeh said on Sunday, IRNA Iraqi Airways resumes flights to Iran after one-month halt reported. TOURISM TEHRAN – ’s flag that wearing masks and following health ing that airlines lost hundreds of millions In December, the Islamic Republic halted flights to and deskcareer Iraqi Airways has protocols during the flights as well as car- of dollars because of flight cancellations from the United Kingdom, preliminary for two weeks, and resumed flights to Iran after one month of rying a health certificate with a negative during the busy New Year travel season then the ban was extended for one month at the discretion hiatus over the third wave of the COVID-19 coronavirus PCR test result is mandatory in late March. of the Health Ministry to prevent the transmission of the pandemic, IRNA reported on Sunday. for travelers. Some experts expect Iran to achieve a ‘British’ variant and to try to maintain public health. Flights from Najaf to Tehran and Na- Over the past couple of months, many tourism boom after coronavirus contained, The new coronavirus variant, which prompted the UK jaf to Mashhad and vice versa have been countries, including the Islamic Republic, believing its impact would be temporary government to impose a Tier 4 lockdown in London and scheduled to be operated since Saturday, imposed travel restrictions to help curb the and short-lived for a country that ranked southeastern England, and tightened restrictions for all of the report added. spread of novel coronavirus. In this line, the third fastest-growing tourism destina- England over the festive period, is “out of control,” Health Although issuing visas on arrival for incoming and outgoing flights have been tion in 2019. Secretary Matt Hancock said on January 3 — the same day tourists has been suspended, Iraqis with suspended, and road travels restricted to The latest available data show eight mil- that the UK broke its daily coronavirus case record, recording Iranian spouses and their children, Iraqis businessmen can travel to the country. a great extent. lion tourists visited the Islamic Republic 35,928 new cases. residing in Iran or those seeking medical Back in August, senior Iranian aviation The pandemic has taken a huge toll on during the first ten months of the past Iranian The ensuing wave of travel bans has also cut off UK trave- treatment in Iran, as well as students and official, Maqsoud As’adi-Samani, announced Iran’s civil aviation sector with reports show- calendar year (started March 21, 2019). lers from much of Europe and other parts of the world. Some experts believe that there was no evidence the new variant was more deadly or would react differently to vaccines, but it was proving to be up to 70% more transmissible. Landscaping project begins on Sheikh Safi ensemble Iranian police bust gang of HERITAGE TEHRAN –A landscaping project has scorched domes, well-preserved and richly-ornamented deskbeen commenced on the Sheikh Safi al- facades and interiors, and, above all, an atmosphere of illegal diggers Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble and its surroundings peace and tranquility have all made a must-see stopover in Ardebil, northwest Iran. while traversing northwest Iran. HERITAGE TEHRAN – Iranian police have recently The project aims at altering the view and organizing The ensemble is named after Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardebili deskbusted a gang of illegal excavators in a the area around the historical complex, the provincial (1253-1334), who was a Sufi philosopher and leader of historical site in Sarchehan county, southern Fars province, tourism chief Nader Fallahi said on Sunday. Islamic mystic practices. It embodies the essence of Sufi a provincial tourism official has said. Back in September, the official announced that some traditions by having a microcosmic ‘city’, which embraces 100 billion rials (about $2.3 million at the official rate of a mosque, a , a library, a cistern, a bathhouse, 42,000 rials) has been allocated to a project for leveling kitchens, a hospital, as well as religious houses amongst of the surrounding area of the shrine. others. The place also boasts a remarkable collection of The buildings around the complex have been purchased antique artifacts. by the province’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Hand- Developed between the early 16th century and the end icrafts Department and are being demolished to expand of the 18th century, this place of spiritual retreat enjoys the area around the historical complex, he explained. principal elements of traditional Iranian architecture to He also noted that after the project is carried out com- Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble is make the best use of existing space for accommodating pletely, the surrounding area will be open to the public. a microcosm of Sufism where arrays of harmonious sun- a variety of functions.

A peek into Kharanaq, Iran’s millennia-old mud-brick village Part 2/2 designed to withstand the severe climate of its way up inside. The minaret is frequently TOURISM TEHRAN – The location the region, while benefitting from a fortified seen shaking and vibrating. The cause of Three illegal diggers were detained in this regard and deskof the nearby Chak Chak hilltop position to defend against enemy this phenomenon remains unknown. surrendered to the judicial system for further investigation, fire temple – one of Iran’s most famous attacks. Another blue-domed mosque stands out IRNA quoted Farhang Zare as saying on Saturday. Zoroastrian temples – would suggest that Important monuments in Kharanaq against the earthen colors of the surrounding The ancient region of Fars, also spelled Pars, or Persis, in pre-Islamic times this was a Zoroastrian While most of the Old of Kharanaq town and landscape. was the heart of the Achaemenian Empire (550–330 BC), settlement, existing perhaps as a stopping consists of crumbling homes and collapsing A well-preserved – a place which was founded by Cyrus the Great and had its capital at place for merchants and caravans on the roofs, there still remain a number of histor- where merchant caravans are halted – from Pasargadae. Darius I the Great moved the capital to nearby pilgrimage route. Some of the 80 houses ically important and well-preserved mon- the time of the Qajar Dynasty sits on the Persepolis in the late 6th or early 5th century BC. that compose the citadel have been dated uments, according to ancient-origins.net. edge of Kharanaq. The capital city of Shiraz is home to some of the coun- to the 14th and 15th centuries… other el- A Qajar era mosque has been fully re- The caravanserai is fortified with stables try’s most magnificent buildings and sights. Increasingly, ements suggest pre-Islamic architecture, stored and stands with a 15-meter-high for pack animals, storage areas, and rooms it draws more and more foreign and domestic sightseers in the Seljuk style associated with the 10th minaret, known as the Shaking Minaret for travelers passing through. ancient aqueducts built to irrigate the sur- flocking into this provincial capital which was the literary and 11th centuries. However all structures of Kharanaq. The 17th century minaret has Other highlights include an old castle rounding fields, and an ancient but still capital of Persia during the Zand dynasty from 1751 to 1794. share the same basic principle, having been three floors and a spiral staircase winding linked to the historical periods of Islam, functional bridge. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y JANUARY 25, 2021 SOCIETY 7

Is reproduction a solution to Persian 7 Iranian companies selected members of CTCN fallow deer conservation? ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN – Seven Iranian companies and desk By Faranak Bakhtiari tion programs, but only reproduction of this technology groups have joined the United species has been considered. Nations Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), TEHRAN – Efforts are being made to protect “Conservation is when we return the spe- IRNA reported on Sunday. endangered species of Persian fallow deer cies to its original habitat after reproduction, The CTCN is the operational arm of the UNFCCC Tech- which is reported to remain a population of and in fact, revival has not been considered nology Mechanism, hosted by the United Nations Environ- 400-500 across the country, but is this really in Iran so far,” he said. ment Program (UNEP) and the UN Industrial Development save the animals from extinction? To reintroduce species to a natural Organization (UNIDO). The main habitat of fallow deer in the habitat, three things must be considered The Centre promotes the accelerated transfer of environ- country includes western and southwestern including water, food, and opposing forces mentally sound technologies for low carbon and climate-re- areas, but the declining trend in the number that may endanger species life. For example, silient development at the request of developing countries. of this valuable species in the 1330s (falling in Ashk Island, in addition to the drying on 1951- 1961) led to measures to save them up of Lake Urmia, we encountered a large since the late decade. population of carnivorous animals, which For the past 60 years, the species are affected the life of this species. So that, it is inhabiting protected areas, and the most necessary to first eliminate the extinction important center for the reproduction of factors and then introduce the species, he fallow deer is the semi-natural breeding site further explained. of Dasht-e Naz in the city of , where in the All fallow deer in Iran today are inhab- last two years the population of the species iting in semi-captive habitats, while this has grown significantly. species has a high degree of flexibility and Another habitat for the reproduction of can live in different regions as it was in the the valuable species is the Ashk Island of past, he noted. Lake Urmia, which has become a safe place Research has not been conducted on to protect the species from extinction due to fallow deer or many other animals in the the difficult access of illegal poachers. country, because wildlife studies are ex- Persian fallow deer population in the pensive and that is why research is scarce, With the support of the Center for Progress and Development Dasht-e Naz site has increased by about he stated, adding, but now monitoring is of of Iran, 7 companies have been able to join the CTCN so far. 60 percent, amounting to 53, in less than Iran’s Environment and Wildlife great importance, as we must determine that Globally, 623 companies have joined the Climate Technology two years. Observatory recently announced that out why the species population do not increase Centre and Network, 64 of which are international institutions Over the years, 8 areas in different of 320 fallow deer counted in 2008, only despite being in captivity. and the rest are from 94 countries, with the largest number provinces were considered for the breed- As a result, lack of accurate information belonging to South Korea. ing of this species, as well as four private 30 remain in Ashk Island today, and this and constant monitoring are among the The CTCN aims to address barriers that hinder the devel- breeding centers and zoos, where fal- subspecies is on the verge of extinction. reasons that put this species at greater risk, opment and transfer of climate technologies and to thereby low deer were kept, but some of them he lamented. help create an enabling environment for reduced greenhouse did not appear successful and closed fallow deer counted in 2008, only 30 remain 2006, and endangered in 2010. A situation According to Eskandari, the extinction gas emissions and climate vulnerability improved local in- down, Shahaboddin Montazemi, deputy in Ashk Island today, and this subspecies is that has not changed much over the years. of Persian fallow deer has had various rea- novation capacities and increased investments in climate head of the Department of Environment on the verge of extinction. Conservation or reproduction? sons over the past years. For example, on technology projects. (DOE), said. The International Union for Conservation Farshad Eskandari, biodiversity expert Ashk island, Lake Urmia’s drought, lack of Iran’s Environment and Wildlife Obser- of Nature has long classified the Persian fallow said that so far, the programs implemented vegetation, and the presence of carnivores vatory recently announced that out of 320 deer as endangered in 1996, vulnerable in for the fallow deer have not been conserva- are the main causes of extinction. Iran soon becomes an important Covid-19 vaccine French company to implement $290m environmental project in producer: minister western city of Tabriz, in East province, 20 percent of the revenue from energy production will IRNA reported on Sunday. be provided to the municipality. 1 Homegrown vaccine Currently, the land required for the construction Pointing out that 40 percent of waste is separated Production of COVID-19 vaccine was followed by 16 Iranian of the power plant has been provided to the French and recycled in Tabriz city, he said that in the metrop- companies since the beginning of the outbreak, and so far 12 company for studies, and its study stages are under- olis of Tabriz with a population of 1.8 million, 1,200 companies applied to produce the vaccine, of which eight are way, Alireza Asghari, director of waste management tons of waste is produced daily, and the construction operating, one of the companies have entered the human trial organization of Tabriz Municipality said. of a waste incineration plant is one of the demands of phase, and two more companies will soon test the vaccines He added that studying the project and signing a the citizens and the urban management program for on human, Kianoush Jahanpour, head of the Information contract for the construction of the incineration plant about 15 years. Center of the Ministry of Health, said on January 10. are expected to be completed by May next year, and A waste-to-energy plant is a waste management COVIRAN BAREKAT, the first coronavirus vaccine made later it will be approved by the city council. facility that combusts wastes to produce electricity. by Iranian researchers of the Headquarters for Executing All costs for the construction and operation of this This type of power plant is also called a trash-to-en- the Order of the Imam, was unveiled and injected into three waste-to-energy plant will be spent by the French com- ergy, municipal waste incineration, energy recovery, volunteers during a ceremony on December 29, 2020. ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN – A French company is pany and after the end of a 20-year contract, it will be or resource recovery plant. On January 11, the second dose of the vaccine was injected deskplanning to spend more than $290 handed over to Tabriz Municipality, he said. Iran currently has six incineration plants operating into the three volunteers. million to build a waste incineration plant in the north- Asghari went on to note that during its operation, in the cities of Tehran, Shiraz, Mashhad, and Noshahr. So far, 14 people have received the first dose of the vac- cine, and this number should reach 56 people in the clinical study phase. After the results of the study are determined, the second UN warns most will live downstream of ageing large dams by 2050 stage begins with the injection in 500 people, and after 28 By 2050 most people will live downstream of director of the UNU’s Institute for Water, Perera, a senior researcher at the institute days, the third phase begins with mass production. a large dam built in the 20th century, many Environment and Health in Canada, and and lead author of the study. “Big floods and Hojjat Niki-Maleki head of the information center of of which are approaching the limits of the co-author of the study. “The rising frequency rainfall changes may be beyond the capacity Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam, said by useful lifetime they were designed for, ac- and severity of flooding and other extreme of these structures, and may cause a higher the next six months, vaccine production will reach up to 12 cording to global research. environmental events can overwhelm a dam’s risk of collapse,” he said. million doses per month. To avoid the potential for dam failures, design limits and accelerate a dam’s ageing One common issue is that more intense On January 18, the second homegrown COVID-19 vac- overtopping or leaks, the dams will require process,” he said. rainfall can cause upstream erosion of water cine developed and proposed by the Razi Vaccine and increasing maintenance, and some may have Dam failure risks the lives of people living courses, and floods increase the debris and Serum Research Institute has been approved to begin to be taken out of service. Many govern- downstream, and ageing dams should be silt flowing into dams, causing a buildup a clinical trial. ments have not prepared for these needs, investigated to assess the threat, but large- of sediment. COVID-19 daily new cases and mortalities warn the authors of a study by the United scale failures were likely to remain rare, the Most of the world’s large dams are concen- In a press briefing on Sunday, Health Ministry’s spokesper- Nations University. authors of the paper told the Guardian. A more trated in a small number of countries – nine large dams in the US were operating at or son Sima-Sadat Lari confirmed 5,945 new cases of COVID-19 The volume of water stored behind large likely threat is that even without major acci- out of 10 are located within 25 countries. beyond their life expectancy. The estimated infection, raising the total number of infections to 1,372,977. dams is estimated to be 7,000 to 8,300 cubic dents, countries dependent on large dams as China has the most, with nearly 24,000 large cost of refurbishing them is about $64bn She added that 1,164,794 patients have so far recovered, but km, or enough to cover 80% of Canada’s reservoirs and for hydroelectricity may face dams, while many more are found in India, (£47bn), according to the report. 4,090 remain in critical conditions of the disease. landmass in a metre of water. Good main- problems if the dams are not adequately Japan and South Korea. Nearly half of the Where decommissioning is necessary, During the past 24 hours, 89 patients have lost their lives, tenance can ensure a well-designed dam can maintained to cope with climatic changes. world’s river volume is already affected by governments will face complex problems. bringing the total number of deaths to 57,383, she added. last for 100 years without problem, but many “This is an emerging risk,” said Smakh- dams, and most existing large dams were built Few large dams have been decommissioned So far, 8,905,093 COVID-19 diagnostic tests have been of today’s large dams were built long before tin. “There is no immediate catastrophe at between 1930 and 1970, with an expected to date, so there are few examples to learn performed in the country. the risks of the climate crisis became clear. a global level, but there are 60,000 large life expectancy of 50 to 100 years. from. “It’s difficult to say how many may Lari noted that currently, 18 cities are in medium-risk Changing rainfall patterns and more ex- dams spread around the world, and they all There are about 16,000 large dams aged need to be decommissioned,” said Perera. “orange” zones, and 154 in low-risk “yellow” zones. treme weather events have been putting dams are not getting any younger.” between 50 and 100 years in North America “It is very context-specific, depending on under strains that were not envisaged by The climate crisis meant large dams across and Asia, and 2,300 that are more than 100 the age and condition – different dams age their designers, said Vladimir Smakhtin, the world should be reassessed, said Duminda years old. As of last year, more than 85% of at a different pace.” LET’S LEARN PERSIAN (Part 115) (Source: saadifoundation.ir) ENGLISH IN USE LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION

ایران کمترین تلفات کرونا اتباع خارجی را داشته است COVID-19 takes lowest toll on foreign nationals in Iran مهــدی محمــودی مدیــرکل امــور اتبــاع و مهاجریــن وزارت کشــور گفــت در Iran had the lowest coronavirus cases and mortality among refugees خصــوص ابتــا بــه بیمــاری کرونــا در بیــن اتبــاع خارجــی، ایــران کمتریــن and foreign nationals compared to the population it is hosting, Mehdi ابتــا و کمتریــن تلفــات را نســبت بــه جمعیــت داشته اســت. Mahmoudi, Director of Citizens and Immigrants Affairs of the Ministry او در گفتوگــو بــا ایلنــا دربــاره اقدامــات صــورت گرفتــه بــرای اتبــاع غیرایرانــی .of Interior has said در ایــام کرونــا گفــت: از همــان ابتــدا کــه کشــور درگیــر ایــن بیمــاری شــد، Referring to the measures taken for non-Iranian citizens during the جامعــه اتبــاع خارجــی هــم در کشــور مــا مســتثنی از ایــن موضــوع نبــود و pandemic, he said that since the very beginning, when the country برنامههــای پیشــگیری و تمهیــدات الزم نیــز بــرای ایــن گــروه نیــز در نظــر became infected with the disease, the community of foreign nationals گرفتــه شــده اســت. in our country was no exception to this issue, and prevention programs اتبــاع غیرایرانــی کــه نیازمنــد بودنــد را شناســایی کــرده و تــاش کردیــم از .and necessary measures have been taken for this group نظــر معیشــتی بــه ایــن گــروه نیــز کمکهایــی صــورت بگیــرد و همچنیــن We identified foreign nationals in need and tried to provide them with“ بســتههای بهداشــتی و اقــام مــورد نیــاز پیشــگیری از بیمــاری کرونــا در livelihood assistance, as well as health packages and self-protective چندیــن نوبــت بــه آنهــا ارائــه شــده اســت. .items needed to prevent the infection,” he explained او افــزود هــر ســال حــدود ۸۰۰ هــزار نفــر از اتبــاع غیرایرانــی کــه بــه صــورت He further added that every year about 800,000 illegal foreign nationals غیرقانونــی در کشــور هســتند دســتگیر و طــرد می شــوند. .are arrested and deported Prayer Times Noon:12:17 Evening: 17:42 Dawn: 5:44 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 7:09 (tomorrow) JANUARY 25, 2021 ART&CULTURE I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y www.tehrantimes.com Managing Director: Mohammad Shojaeian Editor-in-Chief: Ali A.Jenabzadeh Kerman organizing painting contest Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051430 Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 to boost its child-friendly image Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 1 “This is the first time the municipality of children are an integral part of public is organizing an international contest, and policies, programs and decisions. we hope it can improve the world’s children’s The vision for the global CFCI program Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 outlook of Kerman,” he noted. is that “every child and young person enjoys The Kerman Department of Culture their childhood and youth and reaches their No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran and Islamic Guidance and several other full potential through the equal realization P.o. Box: 14155-4843 organizations will be contributing to the event. of their rights within their cities and Zip Code: 1599814713 He did not give an exact date for the communities”. children’s painting contest or further details. With the support of local and national Kerman and 11 other Iranian cities were governments, NGOs, the private sector, media selected as pilot cities for UNICEF Child- and universities and in collaboration with Friendly City Initiative (CFCI) last June to UNICEF, this initiative covers more than roll out the global CFCI program in Iran, 30 million children in 3000 cities and local UNICEF earlier reported. communities in over 40 countries. The other cities selected are Bandar Abbas, It is noteworthy to mention that the Ahvaz, , Hamedan, Mashhad, Rasht, UNICEF CFCI logo and brand are awarded Semnan, Shiraz, Tabriz, Tehran and Yazd. only after the city successfully completes GUIDE TO The piloting process will officially the CFCI Cycle. During the pilot phase, the SPIRITUAL AWAKENING start after signing a memorandum of city is not yet considered a “child-friendly understanding between the municipalities city” and does not receive the logo or the of the pilot cities and the Ministry of official recognition. Richness is not having many belongings, the Interior. Cities from Ukraine, Canada, Germany, but richness is contentment of the soul. According to UNICEF regulations, a child- England, France, , , friendly city is a city or a local community and many other countries have been selected where the voices, needs, priorities and rights A painting by the 11-year-old Iranian boy, Seyyed Ali Mousavi. by UNICEF as child-friendly cities. Prophet Muhammad (S) Playing to an empty room tough experience: Iranian conductor Qorbani Instruments during a concert at Tehran’s empty Vahdat are packed with people. Something needs to be done for Intel. meeting screens Hall on Thursday, said the performance without an audience music,” he said. was a really tough experience. “I know both types of online and physical performances animation on earliest example Vocalists Vahid Taaj and Rashid Vatandoost accompanied require their special facilities. But physical concerts make of drama therapy by Avicenna Qorbani in the concert, which was performed in the two it easier for us and help music and art stay alive,” he said. sections of Iranian and Azerbaijani music with compositions “However, online concerts are also good for those ARTTEHRAN – The World Alliance of Drama- from Ali-Naqi Vaziri, Hossein Dehlavi, Farhad Fakhreddini do not live in Tehran or those who do not live in the desktherapy (WADth) shared “Abu Ali Sina”, an and several other renowned composers. country,” he added. animated movie produced by the Iranian Psychodrama and Drama “The orchestra did not have a performance for about He hoped that musicians and theatrical figures would be Therapy Association on one of the earliest examples of drama a year due to the pandemic, however, we decided to hold supported because they have experienced the most damages. therapy by Iranian scientist Avicenna during its first seasonal the online concert,” he said. “If music is not supported, we will surely witness the conference on January 22. “This was the first time we went on stage without an most serious damages,” he concluded. Inspired by a book written audience, and it was a different experience. When musicians Vocalist Salar Aqili and his ensemble, who went on stage by Persian poet Nezami Aruzi, go on stage, they make contact with the audience. The audience at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall in July and performed to an empty the animation was written by always adds additional passion to the performance, but auditorium, believed it was a really tough experience. Majid Amrai, the chair of the Ira- the online concert was void of such feeling, something that “It is very difficult for me to give a concert without an nian Psychodrama and Drama made it a tough job for us,” he said. audience. This is the first time I am doing this but I must Therapy Association and Iranian He further noted that he believes if the coronavirus say that the audience is always in my heart,” Aqili had said Ali-Akbar Qorbani conducts the Orchestra of National representative to the WADth. restrictions and lockdown remain in effect, they must be before his performance. Instruments during a rehearsal at Tehran’s Rudaki Hall. Directed by Javad Miraqa- practiced for all activities. A noteworthy point was that the concert was performed zadeh, the animation shows the ARTTEHRAN — Ali-Akbar Qorbani, who “Some activities still continue and some, like theater, on a stage where the empty seats in the hall served as a eminent Persian physician and deskconducted the Orchestra of National music and cinema, are shut down. All public transportations constant reminder of the coronavirus days. philosopher Avicenna making use of the earliest examples of drama therapy in the treatment A scene from “Abu Ali Sina” of psychosis and the earliest ex- “Carless Crime”, “Sunless Shadows”, “Tirishko” collect awards at Dhaka festival produced by the Iranian ample of drama therapy in Iran. ARTTEHRAN — Iranian The film has been screened at several “Tirishko” by Shakiba Khaleqi won Psychodrama and Drama Avicenna repeatedly joins deskmovies “Carless major international festivals and won the award for best short in the Short Therapy Association. the patient in his delusion by Crime”, “Sunless Shadows” and several awards, including the best Fiction Category. assuming a complementary “Tirishko” have won awards at the 19th original screenplay award at the Venice The film tells the story of a young woman role within the client’s frame of reference resulting in a pos- Dhaka International Film Festival in festival and the Silver Hugo of the jury at who lives alone in Tehran with her cat, itive outcome. Bangladesh. the Chicago International Film Festival. Tirishko. Having learned that her mother This is a dazzling example of Avicenna’s individualized and “Careless Crime”, co-written by Nasim “Sunless Shadows” directed by Mehrdad in Isfahan is ill, she decides to go and look patient-centered approach to a psychotic patient. He uses psy- Ahmadpur and director Shahram Mokri, Oskui was selected as best documentary after her. But as she cannot find anyone chological therapy as well as biological treatment, most likely, won the award for best screenplay during in the Spiritual Film Section of the Dhaka to take care of Tirishko, she sets off with camphor, used in Europe until the 1940s. the closing day of the festival on Sunday. festival, which was organized online from the cat in tow. Her subsequent journey is Avicenna met Prince Abu Taleb Rostam, son of Queen Sayed- The story of the film goes back to January 16. not without incident. dah of Ray, Iran as a patient around 1014 or 1015. forty years ago, during the uprising In an Iranian juvenile detention center, The award for best feature went to Prince Abu Taleb Rostam was about 21 when he had ex- to overthrow the Shah’s regime in a group of adolescent girls are serving “Senior Citizen” by Marinos Kartikkis perienced this episode of melancholy; a severe psychotic Iran, when protestors set fire to time for having murdered their father, from . depression or schizophrenia-spectrum disorder. Evidence movie theaters as a way of showing husband or another male family member. “The Road to Eden” co-directed Bakyt suggests that prince Abu Taleb was captured by one of the A scene from Shahram Mokri’s drama opposition to Western culture. Many “Careless Crime”. Oskui managed to build up a remarkable Mukul and Dastan Zhapar Uulu from most powerful rulers of the region, Sultan Mahmoud Ghaznavi cinemas were burned down. In one relationship with these inmates, whose frank won the award for best film of in 1029 and sent to Ghazna where he passed tragic case, a theater was set on fire four individuals also decide to burn conversations and playful interactions he in the Asian competition, while Ksenia away. Other resources suggest that Abu Taleb was sent to with four hundred people inside, most down a cinema. Their intended target observes, and who gradually open up about Lagutina was named best director for India, where he died. of whom were burned alive. Forty years is a theater showing a film about an the consequences of, and sometimes the “Farida”, a co-production between Members from different countries including Kenya, Ar- have passed and, in contemporary Iran, unearthed, unexploded missile. reasons for, their terrible acts. Azerbaijan and Russia. gentina, Sri Lankan, Japan, Taiwan, India and South Korea attended the virtual conference. Big Sky documentary festival picks three Iranian films “Flower, Tree and Forest ARTTEHRAN – Three movies by Iranian Frog from the 28th Energa Camerimage International deskfilmmakers will be competing in the Big Film Festival in Poland for his collaboration in the short Police” by Romain Puértolas Sky Documentary Film Festival, which will take place documentary. appears in Persian from February 19 to 28 in Missoula, in the northwestern “Khoniyar’s Children” produced by the Experimental U.S. state of Montana. and Documentary Film Center in a small village in Iran, CULTURE TEHRAN – A Persian translation of French The films are “A Horse Has More Blood Than a Human” where four siblings, all over 70 and never married, live deskauthor Romain Puértolas’s “The Flower, Tree by Abolfazl Taluni, “Khoniyar’s Children” by Arman Qolipur together. The villagers shun them, as they believe they are and Forest Police” (La Police des fleurs, des arbres et des forêts) Dashtaki and “Holy Bread” by Rahim Zabihi. doomed, damned or both, leaving the brothers and sisters has been published by Qoqnus Publications in Tehran. “A Horse Has More Blood Than a Human”, which is to live out their lives in solitude. The book has been translated into Persian Abolfazl Allahdadi. a co-production between Iran and the UK, is about an In his last film, late filmmaker Zabihi followed the Kurdish A flower that everyone is looking for could be the key to the older couple who leave Tehran to return to their idyllic Kulbars for nine years to document their lives. mystery that seized the small village of P. home town on the Turkish border, but their dreams of a The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is organized Unusual and surprising, this jubilant literary investigation quiet retirement are shattered by the realization that their every year by the Big Sky Film Institute to support by Puertolas thwarts all codes. town has become a smuggling gateway into Europe, and the people who create documentary films, vibrant During the heatwave of 1961, a police officer was sent on everyone they know is involved. events, and expand knowledge and conversation a mission to a small remote village. He must investigate the Iranian cinematographer Mehdi Azadi won a Golden “Khoniyar’s Children” by Arman Qolipur Dashtaki. around issues that matter. death of Joel, a 16-year-old whose body was found cut to pieces in a jam factory. Born in 1975 Puértolas is most noted for the bestselling French novel “The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Tehran Intl. Sculpture Symposium set for February 19 Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe”, which has been translated into English and has become an international bestseller sold ARTTEHRAN – The 10th 124 sculptors from 38 countries were November 2019. in 36 nations. deskedition of the Tehran received by the secretariat. However, Laura Marcos from Argentina, Olga An audio version of the Persian translation of Romain International Sculpture Symposium due to the coronavirus restrictions the Nechay from Belarus, Arijel Strukelj Puertolas’s novel “The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir will open on February 19 with sculptors organizers decided to select only a few from Slovenia, Georgi Minchev from Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe” was released in 2019. competing in national, international and sculptors. Bulgaria, Jiang Chu from China and Published by Novin Ketab Gooya Publications, the au- student sections. “We hope there will be better Sangam Vankhade from India were diobook has been narrated by actor Mir Taher Mazlumi. “10 sculptures have been selected out conditions next month so that foreign among the participating sculptors at The book has been translated into Persian by Abolfazl of 165 submissions, while 8 sculptures sculptors can attend the symposium,” the symposium. Allahdadi and published by Qoqnus Publications. will be competing in the student section, he added. Also included were Ulises Jiménez When the fakir, a professional con artist, arrives in and three by sculptors from Italy, Greece Several sculptors have also been Obregon from Costa Rica, Victor Arturo Paris, he has just one goal: to get to Ikea. Armed with and Turkey will be competing in the selected as reserves in each section. Guadalupe Tineo from Peru, Yeh Chuan only a counterfeit hundred-euro note in the pocket of international section,” executive director The 10th edition will be running in Hsien from Taiwan and Alex Labejof his trousers, he is confident that he has all he needs of the symposium Majid Haqiqi said in the Taraz Cultural Center from February from France. to thrive. But his plan goes horribly awry when he hides a press release published on Sunday. 19 to March 12. The Iranian sculptors were Hedayat inside a wardrobe at the iconic Swedish retailer, the first Haqiqi said that the international The previous edition of the symposium Sahrai, Hossein Molai Fumani, in a series of accidents that will send him on a whirlwind section was warmly received by the opened with five Iranian and 10 foreign Mohammad-Mehdi Ashuri, Reza A poster for the 10th edition of the Tehran tour across Europe. sculptors and 224 submissions by sculptors in the Abbasabad district in Qarebaghi and Mehdi Seifi. International Sculpture Symposium.