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8 Pages Price 50,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 42nd year No.13912 Wednesday APRIL 7, 2021 Farvardin 18, 1400 Sha’aban 24, 1442

Defense minister says Taftian not satisfied Electricity projects Islamic Revolution Artist has no limit to with holding camp worth over $690m put of the Year announces export arms Page 2 in France Page 3 into operation Page 4 2021 finalists Page 8

Iran begins mechanical test of new Iran and P4+1 resume advanced centrifuge – Iran announced on Tuesday be unveiled in the Saadabad complex.” that it will unveil a new, advanced kind of One of the advances in the field of nu- centrifuge on April 10 in the latest move to clear enrichment is the beginning of the rachet up nuclear activities as diplomats from mechanical test of IR-9 centrifuge, which nuclear talks: what to expect? Iran and 5+1 nations gather in Vienna to has the capacity of 50 SWUs (separative discuss ways to revive a 2015 nuclear deal. work units), he continued. Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for He pointed out that this machine is the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran one of the most important completely See page 3 (AEOI), said, “This year, on the anniver- indigenous centrifuges in Iran, which sary of Iran achieving peaceful nuclear manufactures and operates with new energy on April 10, 133 achievements and standard methods. breakthroughs in the nuclear industry will Continued on page 2

1,500 idle industrial units revived in Iran in a year TEHRAN – Iran’s Deputy Industry, Mining, plans for the realization of the motto of the and Trade Minister Mehdi Sadeqi Niaraki current year which is named the year of announced that 1,500 idle industrial units “Production: support and the elimination have been revived in the country during of obstacles” by the Leader of the Islamic the previous Iranian calendar year (ended Revolution, the official said: “In the year on March 20). that has been dedicated to the production According to Niaraki, over 6,500 new sector by the Leader of the revolution, the industrial units were also established across orientation of all government organizations the country during the mentioned year and executive bodies should be towards which created jobs for over 121,000 people, supporting the country’s industrial and IRNA reported. mining units.” Touching upon the Industry Ministry’s Continued on page 4

“The Zeinabi Division” documentary to be broadcasted soon TEHRAN - The documentary “The Zeinabi is to meet and talk with the families Division”, the first part of the documentary of the martyrs. So far, the Leader of series “These Stars”, including the meeting the Islamic Revolution has personally of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution visited the families of hundreds of mar- with the families of the martyrs, will soon tyrs from different parts of the country be broadcast on IRIB Channel 1. in their homes and talked closely with According to the Mehr news agency, these families. one of Ayatollah Khamenei’s regular plans Continued on page 8 Iran football Iran cancels outbound tours to due Israeli forces have detained 230 Palestinian totally shocked by to new coronavirus variant minors since January appointment of TEHRAN – All outbound tours to Turkey have to and from Turkey for a week, Namaki stressed. Israeli military forces continue to target young Pal- Marking Palestine Children’s Day, the Pales- been canceled due to the spread of a new coro- “Iranian citizens who are in Turkey and intend to estinians and violently arrest them across the oc- tine Prisoners’ Club revealed that there are 140 National Team director navirus variant, the secretary of the Association turn back to the country, as well as Turkish citizens cupied territories, having detained 230 minors Palestinian children languishing in Israel jails, of Iranian Airlines has announced. who are in Iran, can leave the country observing since the beginning of the current year. including two under administrative detention. BY FARROKH HESABI According to the Interior Ministry, and the the relevant protocols and doing PCR test to make The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) said Separately, the Defense for Children Inter- fter months of talking about National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control, sure no infection spreads,” he highlighted in the in a report that the arrests were mostly in the national - Palestine (DCIP) said in a statement it, the Football Federation tourist tours to Turkey have been canceled until letter. For Iranians entering the country from land occupied city of Jerusalem al-Quds. that 85 percent of Palestinian children arrested of the Islamic Republic of further notice, IRNA quoted Maqsoud Asadi and air borders, quarantine is also required for The rights group further noted that the last year were “subjected to physical violence.” A Samani as saying on Tuesday. suspicious or positive cases, he stated. detainees are often released on bail or placed According to Press TV, the Geneva-based Iran (FFIRI) has finally done it. A new director of football is finally in However, flights between Iran and Turkey On February 22, the spokesman of Iran’s under house arrest, without announcing the movement noted that it has documented 27 cases place at Iran national team. are operated on schedule, the official added. Customs Administration Rouhollah Latifi said number of those who were freed. in which Israeli forces held children in solitary Mojtaba Khorshidi has been named Earlier this week the official announced that Iran has closed five crossing points with to “The imprisoned children are subjected to confinement citing investigation purposes for as the new director of the Iran national there is no plan at present to suspend flights to prevent the spread of the UK variant of coro- various forms of abuse, including being denied two or more days. football team. His appointment was the and from Turkey. He added that airlines flying navirus, ISNA reported. food or drink for long hours, verbal abuse and The organization said the practice amounts matter of debates in the Iranian sports to Turkey will immediately halt the service if the Flights between the two neighbors have being detained under harsh conditions,” it said. to “torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading media and among the Iranian football National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control repeatedly been suspended in recent months The report came just a day before Palestinian treatment.” experts and fans. The choice seems a lit- votes to its suspension. for the sake of coronavirus concerns though Children’s Day, which is marked annually on It said it has registered the issuance of admin- tle wired since Khorshidi has not enough Considering the widespread of the mutated passengers are required to observe strict health April 5 with cultural, educational and media istrative detention orders against 36 Palestinian experience for the position. coronavirus in Turkey, it is necessary to halt, by the protocols and hold a well-being certificate with activities aimed at raising awareness on the children since October 2015, two of whom are This FFIRI’s decision was met by crit- next 48 hours, traveling via land and air borders a negative coronavirus PCR test result. plight of Palestinian children. still in detention. icism, and it was not the first decision of the new FFIRI president facing criticism. Most football veterans and experts be- lieve that the national team’s position is an 6 Iranian universities in QS Rankings 2021 Arab monarchies worried important position that should be seated BY FARANAK BAKHTIARI The QS World University Rankings portfolio, As per the data published on QS World Univer- about U.S. exit from the by an experienced and well-known figure. TEHRAN – Six Iranian universities have been inaugurated in 2004, has grown to become the sity Rankings official website, Sharif University Among the critics of the FFIRI’s deci- placed among the world’s top universities an- world’s most popular source of comparative data of Technology, ranked 409, Amirkabir University region: Iraqi expert sion is Behnam Abolghasempour, former nounced by the prestigious Quacquarelli Symonds about university performance. of Technology, ranked 477, , and Iran national team player. (QS) World University Rankings 2021. Some 1,000 of the world’s top universities are ranked between 591 to 600, Iran University of BY REZA MOSHFEGH In an exclusive interview with Tehran QS is the world’s leading provider of services, ranked using six different indicators to compile QS Science and Technology, ranked between 601 to TEHRAN - An Iraqi analyst says that Arab mon- Times, Abolghasempour expressed his view analytics, and insight to the global higher education World University Rankings 2021. Universities are 650, University, ranked between 801 to archies in the Persian Gulf are worried about the about the issue. “It was shocking. Mr. Khor- sector, whose mission is to enable motivated people evaluated according to the following six metrics: 1000, and Shahid Beheshti University are the U.S. move to gradually pull out its troops from West shidi has worked for many years in some anywhere in the world to fulfill their potential academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/ top 6 Iranian universities among world-class Asia while China is establishing a comprehensive Iranian teams, and I respect him as a person. through educational achievement, international student ratio, citations per faculty, international universities. strategic partnership with Iran. However, you cannot deny that there were mobility, and career development. faculty ratio, and international student ratio. Continued on page 7 “They see that their strategic ally (the U.S.) is much better choices for the national team’s gradually withdrawing and that Biden has even frozen director position than Khorshidi. large arms deals with Saudi Arabia and the (United “If I just want to name some of the peo- Arab) Emirates,” Ali Fahim tells the Tehran Times. ple who deserve this position, I have to say After Donald Trump ordered assassination of Gen- Mohammad Khakpour, who has been played eral Qassem Soleimani near Baghdad International in Iran national team for many years and COVID-19 Airport on January 3, 2020, many Iraqi political groups speaks English fluently, or I will say Nima and resistance groups have called for the expulsion Nakisa, former national team goalkeeper, vaccination of U.S. forces from the Iraqi territory and the region. Mehdi Mahdavi Kia, one of the legends of However, some Arab regimes in the Persian Gulf the Iranian football’s history, are deserved region prefer the U.S. to continue its presence and for the position,” Aboulghasempur added. for nurses in support their governments. “We need a charismatic director for the While Biden is going to withdraw some parts national team, someone who is accepted by of U.S. antimissile batteries from West Asia, Iran the big players of the national team, most of is planning to consolidate its ties with Russia and them are playing in European leagues and have On Tuesday, nurses at emergency depart- China. This is a move that certain Arab states in the worked with great managers in their careers. ments of hospitals in the city of Qom re- Persian Gulf are unhappy about it. “The federation must announce what ceived the coronavirus vaccine. Following is the text of the interview with Ali has been their measures for such an ap- According to the national vaccination Fahim: document, vaccination against coronavi- pointment. In my opinion, it was kind of Could you update us about the latest devel- disrespect to Iran’s football community. I rus started with priority given to health opments regarding an exit of the U.S. forces think some external pressures have made workers, vulnerable and high-risk groups, from Iraq? the FFIRI president to make such a deci- and then ordinary people will receive the A: It is obvious that America does not intend to sion. Mr. Azizi Khadem is in his first days vaccine. pull out of Iraq at the present time, despite the Iraqi as the leader of the Iranian football, and Ahmad Zohrabi On January 27, Health Minister Saeed parliament’s explicit decision calling for exit of all he has to choose the best path and the Namaki said that Iran will soon be one foreign forces from Iraqi lands, which was supported of the world’s important manufacturers best people from the very beginning for ISNA/ by popular demonstrations all around the country. the progress of football,” he concluded. of the COVID-19 vaccine. Continued on page 5 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS APRIL 7, 2021

10 officials indicted for Ukrainian plane crash incident Defense minister says Iran

POLITICAL TEHRAN — Indictment has been issued deskagainst 10 officials involved in the Ukrainian plane incident and necessary conclusions will be made in court, has no limit to export arms Tehran military prosecutor Gholam Abbas Torki announced on Tuesday. POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iran has suffered was the U.S. assassination of Lt. “The indictment of the case of the Ukrainian plane was also desk issued and a serious and accurate investigation was carried out no problem to export Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the legendary and indictments were issued for 10 people who were at fault,” military products after the termination of commander in the war against terrorists. Mizan news agency quoted Torki as saying. a UN embargo in 2020, Iranian Defense For his part, the visiting Tajik defense A Boeing 737 belonging to Ukraine International Airlines Minister said in a meeting minister voiced his country’s willing- with flight number 752 and 167 passengers and 9 crew members on Tuesday with his Tajik counterpart ness to enhance political, military and on board flew to Kiev from Imam Khomeini Airport at 6:12 AM Sherali Mirzo in Tehran. defense cooperation with Iran, saying on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. Shortly after taking off, the “Fortunately, the arms embargo on the two countries have achieved suita- aircraft was shot down unintentionally and fell in Sabashahr in the Islamic Republic of Iran terminated ble and strategically valuable results by Tehran province. All the passengers on board died. in October 2020 under the (UN) Secu- capitalizing on their cultural and social The victims included 82 Iranians, 63 Iranian-Canadians, 11 rity Council resolution, and we have affinities. Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans, and three no problem in exporting defense items Colonel General Mirzo also highlight- British nationals. and equipment,” Hatami told Colonel ed the importance of cooperation be- Torki, who spoke at a ceremony for introducing new Tehran General Sherali Mirzo, Tasnim reported. tween Tehran and Dushanbe in ensuring military prosecutor, said the Judicial Organization of the Armed The Iranian defense minister also regional peace, stability and security, Forces has issued an indictment against 10 officials who have warned against spread of Daesh terror- stressing that the conflicts and inse- been involved in the unintentional downing of the Ukrainian ists and other extremist groups in the curity in the region necessitate closer plane. He continued by stating that the necessary conclusions region including Central Asia. cooperation between the two countries will be made in court. Daesh operatives have so far commit- in the battle against terrorism and drug The passenger plane was mistaken for an invading missile ted several terrorist acts in Afghanistan, trafficking. as Tehran had attacked a U.S. military base in western Iraq in a southern neighbor to Tajikistan. Tajikistan recently hosted a conference retaliation for the U.S. assassination of Major General Qassem Elsewhere in his remarks, General on Afghanistan. The conference titled Soleimani five days earlier. Hatami said, “We have always expressed “Heart of Asia” brought foreign ministers opposition to the presence of extra-re- Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami (left) welcomes visiting Tajik counterpart Colonel from regional countries together. gional forces in wars and various conflicts, General Sherali Mirzo. Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif partic- Israeli spy arrested in whether in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan or ipated in the conference and held talks elsewhere.” that Iran has paid for restoring peace Iran’s defense chief said the greatest with the Tajik president and foreign Eastern Hatami also pointed to the high price and stability in the region. and most irreparable damage that Iran minister.

POLITICAL TEHRAN — A local Intelligence Ministry offi- deskcial has announced that several spies, including an Israeli spy, have been arrested in Eastern Azerbaijan province. “Israeli spy and several spies in connection with the security Vienna talks ‘can be win-win situation for all,’ Takht Ravanchi says services of different countries in the province have been arrest- POLITICAL TEHRAN – Majid Takht Ravanchi, Iran’s illegal and unjustified sanctions. ed,” the director general of East Azerbaijan intelligence office deskambassador to the New-York based United Iran has said even there will be no indirect talks with the said on Monday. Nations said on Tuesday that the Vienna talks “can be win- American side in Vienna. He did not give further details about the Israeli spy. win situation for all”. Takht Ravanchi said the new U.S. administration “has Iran has blamed Israel for last year’s assassination of Mohsen The remarks by Iran’s top diplomat to the UN, who was so far failed to honor” campaign promises by President Joe Fakhrizadeh, a noted nuclear expert. involved in crafting the 2015 nuclear deal, came as senior Biden to rejoin the nuclear agreement. diplomats from Iran and the P4+1 nations met in Vienna The diplomat suggested that “this opportunity should on how to revitalize the agreement. not be wasted.” Iran begins mechanical test of The U.S. also sent its diplomatic team, led by President He reiterated Tehran’s long-held position that if the U.S. new advanced centrifuge Biden’s special envoy for Iran Robert Malley, to Vienna for lifts all sanctions, then the Islamic Republic will “cease all backchannel talks with diplomats from P4+1 group. remedial measures”. 1 According to an anonymous official from the AEOI, The talks took place within the JCPOA Joint Commission Former U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a withdrawal the advanced IR-9 centrifuges have a capacity of 40-50 SWUs, which the European Union is responsible for. of the U.S. from the JCPOA in May 2018 and returned previ- which are “practically twice the capacity of IR-8 centrifuges.” The Tuesday meeting in Vienna was arranged in the ous sanctions and ordered new ones within his “maximum virtual talks between Iran and P4+1 countries on Friday. pressure” policy. Iran waited for a year to see whether the Iran’s actions were in accordance to paragraph 36 of The U.S. was not present in Friday’s talks. European trio – Britain, France and Germany - would com- the JCPOA which has “provided a mechanism to resolve Although the new U.S. administration has expressed pensate Iran for the U.S. sanctions. However, Iran started to disputes and allows one side, under certain circumstances, willingness to enter direct talks with the Iranian side, official gradually remove limits on its nuclear activities after seeing to stop complying with the deal if the other side is out of in Iran has said there will be no talks until the U.S. lifts all no concrete action by the European side. compliance.”

U.S. started nuclear standoff with Iran and should move first to end it: MSNBC In an opinion piece published on Mon- Thankfully, the gears are finally being Malley, the U.S. special envoy for Iran, told ter deal” to arise. And yet, like clockwork, day, Hayes Brown, an MSNBC Opinion set in motion. The U.S. and Iran attend the “PBS NewsHour” on Friday. the naysayers who were against the deal Columnist, has said it was the U.S. that Vienna meeting, though they did not take But since the presidential election, what in the first place are cropping back up to quit the 2015 nuclear deal - JCPOA - with part in direct talks with each other. Instead, we’ve seen from Washington and Tehran is offer nothing but the same failed strategy. Iran and started standoff with Tehran and the other members of the talks — China, a bit of a dance, in which each side insists That’s a tactic that has proved, at best, a naturally it must be the first party to fix it. Russia, Germany, the , that the other go first before returning to distraction and, at worst, a poison pill for Following is an excerpt of the article France and the European Union — were the deal’s limits. any talks. titled “Biden’s Iran nuclear diplomacy working on separate deals with Iran and That’s ridiculous on America’s part. This is no time for revenge needs to fix Trump’s mistakes”: the U.S. designed to lay out a series of steps We left first. We should return first, with The most frustrating part of the discord The Austrian city is where, after months to return to compliance. Biden immediately rolling back sanctions between the U.S. and Iran is how much of The official who spoke with the local newspaper Khorassan of negotiations, the and five With that in mind, there are three things issued in the last 18 months. That revoca- it remains based on events that happened on the condition of anonymity in 2019, said the capacity of IR-9 other world powers signed a pact with Iran to that U.S. negotiators should be mindful of tion should come with the message that two generations ago. We remain trapped in centrifuges is “50 times more than the IR-1 centrifuges currently limit its nuclear capabilities in 2015. On if the talks are to succeed in the long run: the clock is ticking for Iran to do the same, the same cycle of vengeance that kicked off being used at Natanz.” Tuesday, representatives of all seven coun- The U.S. needs to be the bigger through decommissioning centrifuges it with the in 1979 and the tries were back to figure out whether the country if it wants the moral high has spun up or reducing the stockpile of subsequent hostage situation. Everything deal can be salvaged. ground back enriched uranium it has produced since else, from Iranian support for militias to Nuclear partners agree to Of course, it needs to be salvaged only The JCPOA came together only after 2018 or both. U.S. support for Israel, is background to continue expert talks because the Trump administration unilat- the U.S. persuaded the world to essentially Keep focused on the problem at this lingering trauma. erally withdrew from the Joint Compre- agree that, yes, Iran’s nuclear program is a hand The result is a series of foreign policy POLITICAL TEHRAN — The first round of talks in Vienna hensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, back in problem and that we need to work together As written, the JCPOA’s scope is limited decisions that are based almost entirely in deskon Tuesday resulted in an agreement to continue 2018, thinking that leaving the deal and to fix it. But the international buy-in, which to Iran’s nuclear program, offering global domestic politics. Given bipartisan support expert-level talks, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement reimposing sanctions would lead to Iran’s took almost a decade to craft, including sanctions relief for Iran’s rolling back its for the campaign against Iran, congres- following the end of the meeting of the JCPOA Joint Commission. acceding to an even stricter accord. That, numerous American overtures that Iran atomic development. That annoyed Amer- sional leaders would be hard-pressed to Two expert-level groups held separate meetings on Tuesday to clearly, is not what happened. rejected, was blown to bits in 2018. ican hawks by inconveniently allowing the find the votes to roll back sanctions, let discuss “technical” issues related to lifting sanctions and reverse Instead, President Joe Biden’s nation- American diplomats can’t avoid that, U.S. to lessen its economic war on Tehran alone ratify a treaty between the U.S. and nuclear measures. al security team has had to deal with an yes, the situation is the U.S.’s fault. The while the Iranian system remained intact. Tehran. And Iran’s legislature passed a law “These expert-level meetings are to discuss technical aspects emboldened Iran, which has spent most International Atomic Energy Agency had Since before the deal was signed, crit- last year requiring the country to ramp up and details pertaining to the removal of sanctions and nuclear of the last few years expanding its nuclear continually certified that Iran was complying ics of diplomacy with Iran have advocated its nuclear work so long as American sanc- issues and report the result of their discussions to the [JCPOA capabilities in defiance of former President with the deal’s terms through 2018. There against any U.S. relief without a total change tions are in place. Joint] Commission,” the statement said. It also quoted Abbas Donald Trump’s hostility. On the simple ba- was never any justification for withdrawal in Tehran’s behavior. That would include Neither side wants to be seen as weaker Araghchi, the senior Iranian nuclear negotiator in the Vienna sis of asking whether Iran’s nuclear program aside from “we want more,” which goes severing ties with militias in the region than its great adversary. The U.S. has its talks, as saying that “lifting U.S. sanctions is the first and most is larger or smaller now, it’s clear that the against the basis of good-faith negotiations. and ending its ballistic missile program. wounded pride and its far-flung interests essential move to revive the JCPOA.” Trump-era “maximum pressure” campaign The Biden team has said it wants the Which is exactly the sort of one-sided ask to consider. ‘Constructive’ failed. This left foreign policy hands who U.S. and Iran back to where things were in that allows hawks to continue arguing that The JCPOA isn’t perfect. But it’s clear Enrique Mora, the European Union’s senior diplomat who led favored the initial deal, as well as me, con- 2018 — at least. “We want to get Iran back diplomacy can’t work. that the alternative is a more dangerous the Tuesday meeting called the talks “constructive”. fused and concerned that it seemed like into compliance. The United States knows At no point in the past three years have I situation without any support from the rest “Constructive Joint Commission meeting. There’s unity and the Biden administration might miss the that, in order to get back into compliance, heard where the tipping point is, exactly how of the world. Biden’s getting the U.S. back ambition for a joint diplomatic process with two expert groups window for the U.S. to rejoin the deal and it’s going to have to lift those sanctions crushed the Iranian people must be under in the game — let’s see to it that we don’t on nuclear implementation and sanctions lifting,” Mora wrote get things moving again. that are inconsistent with the deal,” Robert American sanctions, for a hypothetical “bet- lose to ourselves thanks to an own goal. on his Twitter account. The EU is the coordinator of the JCPOA Joint Commission. “As Coordinator I will intensify separate contacts here in Vi- enna with all relevant parties, including the U.S.,” Mora added. Iran, Pakistan hold joint maritime exercise in Persian Gulf Mikhail Ulyanov, the Russian ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, also called the talks “successful” Iranian naval forces and a visiting flotilla of warships — meant to ensure that the navies are able to commu- “The Joint Commission meeting of #JCPOA was successful. from the Pakistan Navy on Tuesday staged joint exer- nicate and cooperate in times of war or humanitarian Two expert-level groups (on sanctions lifting and nuclear issues) cises in the Persian Gulf, which extended to the Strait relief — in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of were tasked to identify concrete measures to be taken by Wash- of Hormuz and the northern part of the Indian Ocean. ??Oman during the war game. ington and Tehran to restore full implementation of JCPOA,” “The Pakistan Navy flotilla was sent from Bandar He went on to say that the Iranian naval units, consist- Ulyanov tweeted. Abbas to the region to hold a combined naval exercise in ing of Alborz destroyer, a missile-launching vessel and a He added, “The groups started to work immediately.” the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of ??Oman,” helicopter, together with marine and logistics units of the Diplomats from Iran and the U.S. did not meet face to face. Staff Officer of the First Naval District of the Islamic Pakistan Navy were present in the joint naval exercise. Representatives from Europe, Russia and China were to serve Republic of Iran Navy Captain Reza Sheibani said. The Pakistani flotilla berthed at the southern Iranian as a go-between. Both the U.S. and Iran insist the other needs to He added that the joint drill was meant to improve port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday for a three-day make a concession first. Iran insists the U.S. should lift sanctions the combat capabilities of the two countries’ naval forces visit, and was officially received by the Iranian Navy’s because it is the U.S. that has quit the nuclear deal. However, the and exchange information and military expertise. officers. U.S. says Iran should scale back its nuclear program. “The exercise sought to demonstrate naval prowess The visiting flotilla consists of two vessels and is un- Robert Malley, who was present in Vienna on Tuesday leading and ensure closer coordination. It also aimed to estab- der the command of Commodore Khan Mehmood Asif. the American team, told Morning Edition a day before that it’s only lish constructive and dynamic interactions in order to During the visit, the Pakistan Navy delegates held a first step in a long and difficult process with the goal of bringing create lasting peace and security in the region,” he said. A warship, part of a visiting flotilla from the Pakistan Navy, meetings with Iranian Navy and military officials and both countries back into compliance. Sheibani further said the drills included aerial and docks at the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas discussed mutual areas of interest. (See full text at tehrantimes.com) maritime transfers, and a passing exercise (PASSEX) on April 3, 2021. (Photo by Mehr news agency) (Source: Press TV) I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 7, 2021 IRAN IN FOCUS 3 SPORTS Iran and P4+1 resume Taftian not satisfied with holding camp in France

SPORTSTEHRAN – Fastest Iranian athlete Hassan deskTaftian says that he would rather hold his train- nuclear talks: what to expect? ing camps in his homeland but there are not enough facilities for his preparation. POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iran and something that is evident from American deskother signatories to the officials’ insistence that negotiations over Taftian is preparing for the 2015 Iran nuclear deal began important reviving the JCPOA would be difficult and Tokyo Olympics, where he will series of meetings that are aimed at reviving hard. Malley said on Tuesday that Vienna compete at the 100 meters the nuclear pact amid a race against time talks are the first step in a long path aimed event. He took part in Rio’s to reach an understanding on the deal in at bringing Washington and Tehran back 100m semifinal race at the the next few months. to compliance with the JCPOA. Olympic Stadium, and clocked Hopes for a swift revival of the nuclear This is while Iran has announced that 10.23 seconds to come last in deal, officially known as the Joint Compre- it wants the U.S. to lift the sanctions in his group, failing to claim a spot hensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), gained one major step. It has also ruled out any in the final challenge. steam on Friday when the remaining parties prospect of Iran and the West negotiating Now, the Iranian sprinter to the deal agreed to continue the talks in an over non-nuclear issues, namely Iran’s trains hard to make splash in To- in-person way in Vienna with Iranian and missile program and its influence in the kyo. Taftian works with French American officials in attendance, though region. sprint coach Ontanon Guy and these officials will not be engaged in any Whether Iran and the U.S. would over- hopes to run in the upcoming Games in less than 10 seconds. kind of direct or indirect talks. come obstacles to an understanding about “I prefer to train in Iran but there are difficulties in terms of Intense negotiations have been going reviving the nuclear deal remains an open facilities. Being away from my family is annoying but I am forced on between different delegations in the question. But some believe that the Rouhani to leave Iran,” Taftian said in an interview with Tehran Times. Austrian capital where the joint com- government is working hard to get the deal “I’ve participated in the 60 meters event in French champi- mission of the 2015 nuclear deal met on revived in the next weeks. A source close to onships and the competitions have helped me improve for the Tuesday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry the government told Lebanese newspaper Olympics. I hope to run in less than 10 seconds in Tokyo but said in a statement on Tuesday. agreement, two expert-level groups held roundly rejected the idea of holding talks Al-Akhbar that the Rouhani government it will be very difficult to win a medal in the Olympics since, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Po- separate meetings to discuss “technical” with the U.S. while sanctions remain in is looking for a breakthrough concerning as you know, the world’s best sprinters will participate in the litical Affairs Seyed Abbas Araghchi led issues related to removing sanctions and place. Before leaving Tehran for Vienna, the JCPOA “as soon as possible and in the Games,” Taftian stated. the Iranian negotiating team in Vienna. nuclear measures. Araghchi had told state media that Iran’s coming days” to leave behind a remarkable Taftian will compete at the first edition of the International He met with the head of the Chinese ne- “These expert-level meetings are to negotiation team will have no direct or legacy and strengthen the hand of JCPOA Athletic Imam Reza Cup Tournament which will take place in gotiating team on Monday night and the discuss technical aspects and details indirect talks with the Americans in the supporters in the upcoming presidential , Iran. head of the Russian delegation earlier on pertaining to the removal of sanctions Tuesday meeting. He made it clear that this election of Iran set to be held in June. “The competition will help the Iranian athletes gain experience. Tuesday. The Iranian diplomat also sat and nuclear issues and report the result meeting will only serve as a venue for Iran Al-Akhbar noted that the gap between The tournament will surely be significant for me to prepare for down with Enrique Mora, the European of their discussions to the [JCPOA Joint] to announce its demands and conditions the U.S. and Iran expectations seems too the Olympic Games,” he concluded. Union’s coordinator and the chairman of Commission,” the statement said. It also for a U.S. return to the JCPOA. huge to be bridged in the upcoming months. Taftian won the gold medal in 100 meters at the 2012 the JCPOA Joint Commission. quoted Araghchi as saying that “removing “We demand that the United States Therefore, it seems that serious diplomacy Asian Junior Athletics Championships in Colombo, Sri The first round of the Vienna talks result- U.S. sanctions is the first and most essential first fulfill all of its obligations and lift all between Tehran and Washington has been Lanka. In 8 July 2017 Taftian became the first Iranian to ed in an agreement to continue expert-level move to revive the JCPOA.” the sanctions it has imposed, and then postponed until after the June election. “It ever win the gold medal in 100 meters in an Asian Ath- talks, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Rob Mal- we will verify and return,” Araghchi said. is unlikely that there will be significant and letics Championships after finishing with a time of 10.25 statement following the end of the meeting ley was present in Vienna but he did not But the U.S. doesn’t seem to be willing real progress within the next few weeks,” seconds at the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships in of the JCPOA Joint Commission. Under the have any meeting with Iran, which has to lift its sanctions on Iran all at once, the newspaper concluded. Bhubaneswar, India. Reza Salehi Amiri meets FM Zarif holds talks in Bishkek IFBB President Santonja POLITICAL TEHRAN – The Iranian Foreign Min- touching upon age-old, historical and cultural relations deskister held on between Iran and countries in the region. SPORTSTEHRAN - Head of Iran’s National Olympic Tuesday talks with Kyrgyz leaders including President He at the same time noted that the extent of trade deskCommittee (NOC) Reza Salehi Amiri met with Sadyr Japarov and Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev and economic relations between Iran and Kyrgyzstan President of the International Federation of Fitness and Body- on the second leg of his four-nation tour of Central Asia. is not on a par with the existing potential, calling on building (IFBB) Rafael Santonja. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on both sides to utilize the great potentialities which ex- Santonja, accompanied by Polish Federation President Tuesday that during his visit to Kyrgyzstan Zarif discussed ist in order to boost mutual cooperation, especially in and IFBB Executive Pawel Filleborn, arrived in Iran early a range of bilateral, regional and international issues. technical-engineering, road-building, dam construction Tuesday and met with Salehi Amiri in NOC’s headquarters The top Iranian diplomat congratulated Japarov on and transportation domains as well as building thermal, in Tehran. his election as the Kyrgyz president, and touched upon solar and hydro-power stations. The IFBB numbers 199 national federations and is recognized the existing potential for enhancing bilateral coopera- Zarif highlighted some of the impediments to the en- by or affiliated to numerous other international organizations tion on different fronts, the statement said, noting that importance of boosting cooperation with Tehran, and added hancement of mutual cooperation, including the corona- but is not yet an Olympic or Asian Games sport. Zarif also expressed gratitude to the Kyrgyz president the existence of ongoing political relations between the virus pandemic and Washington’s unilateral, illegal and “We need support to become an Olympic sport and Iran for paying due regard to reciprocal ties, and highlighted two countries shows that both sides are keen to upgrade cruel sanctions. can help us in this regard. International Olympic Committee the need to follow up on the decisions already made in mutual cooperation. He expressed hope the pandemic could be tackled (IOC) has already shown flexibility but the country’s commit- the previous round of talks by the two countries’ joint He also expressed pleasure with parliamentary ties through vaccination. tee can give us a roadmap because IFBB wants to take some economic cooperation commission. between the two sides, and underscored the great potential He also said he hopes the U.S. would lift sanctions and responsibility in Olympics given the fact that we have good The Iranian chief diplomat expressed Tehran’s readiness for mutual economic cooperation, especially in agriculture, make good on its commitments, paving the way for Iran relations,” Santonja said. for a third meeting of the commission. pharmaceutical and construction domains. and Kyrgyzstan to benefit from mutual cooperation in Zarif also referred to cultural and civilizational com- The Iranian Foreign Ministry also said that Zarif and economic and trade areas. monalities between the two countries, saying Iran attaches Kazakbaev discussed bilateral issues, regional cooperation Kazakbaev, in turn, expressed gratitude to Iran for Esteghlal, Pesrepolis learn great importance to the welfare, security and peace of and international issues. sending humanitarian aid to Kyrgyz people in the fight fate at Hazfi Cup’s Round of 16 the Kyrgyz people. The Iranian foreign minister congratulated the Kyr- against COVID-19, especially at a time when Iran is feeling In the meeting, the Kyrgyz president emphasized the gyz on the successful presidential election and Nowruz, the pinch of sanctions. SPORTSTEHRAN – Esteghlal and Persepolis football deskteams have discovered their fate at Round of 16 of Iran’s Hazfi Cup. Iran calls for verifiable lifting of sanctions: report Esteghlal will have to travel to to play Zob Ahan, while Persepolis host second-tier Shahin Bandar Ameri. POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iran will news media outlets broke the news that In return, Iran will be ready to reverse its to the JCPOA to respect their commitments Titleholders Tractor will face Aluminum in Arak. desk accept nothing but a U.S. officials will be in Vienna. remedial measures, which were taken be- under the deal and play a constructive role The competition will be held in April 28 and 29. “verifiable” removal of U.S. sanctions, a The U.S. confirmed that it will participate cause of the opposite sides’ violation of the in the Tuesday talks in Vienna. Draw in full: source familiar with the matter told Press TV. in the Vienna meeting and said it was open pact,” Khatibzadeh said. The UK foreign secretary, in turn, said *Zob Ahan v Esteghlal The report came as Iranian and U.S. to holding direct talks with Iran. He added that the Tuesday meeting in his country will try to help negotiations *Persepolis v Shahin Bandar Ameri delegations arrived in Vienna for resum- “These remain early days, and we don’t Vienna is no different from previous sessions bear fruit. *Tractor v Aluminum ing talks over the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. anticipate an immediate breakthrough as of the Joint Commission of the nuclear deal, The two sides also exchanged views on * Khooshe Talaei v Sepahan “The United States has no other choice there will be difficult discussions ahead. But officially known as the Joint Comprehensive certain political and consular issues. *Gol Gohar v Pars Jonoubi but to remove all anti-Iran sanctions in a we believe this is a healthy step forward,” Plan of Action (JCPOA), and is just a peri- Iranian officials have welcomed the pros- *Qashqai v Foolad verifiable way,” the informed source was U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price odical meeting between Iran and the P4+1 pect of reviving the JCPOA. Iran’s First Vice *Nassaji v Malavan quoted by Press TV as saying. said on Friday of the meeting in Vienna. similar to those held in the past months. President Es’haq Jahangiri said on Saturday *Kheybar v Sanat Naft The source said Washington’s response “We do not anticipate presently that there The Iranian foreign minister held phone now that Americans have admitted their The Iran’s Hazfi Cup was founded in 1975 and Esteghlal are to Iran’s unilateral commitment to the Joint will be direct talks between the United States talks with two of his European counterparts maximum pressure policy has met failure, the most successful club with seven titles, followed by Persepolis Comprehensive Plan of Action is nothing but and Iran through this process, though the ahead of the Vienna talks to encourage them the entire proponents and opponents of the who have won six titles. a unilateral move to remove all the sanctions. United States remains open to them,” he to show a “constructive” stance on the re- JCPOA in Iran are now demanding all sides to “Tehran will not accept any outcome added. newed nuclear talks. resume its full observation, according to the of the Vienna meeting other than the re- But Iran said it will not have any talks “In a telephone call with French FM official website of the Iranian government. Iran chosen to host moval of all sanctions,” the source said on with the U.S. in Vienna. @JY_LeDrian today, I urged France to “If the government had not preserved the Monday night. “We will have no direct or indirect talks show a constructive stance on the JCPOA JCPOA, the enemy could have once again 2022 Asian Handball The source said the Iranian team’s with the Americans in Vienna. We will ne- in next week’s meeting in Vienna. I called spoken about the need for new negotiations, Championship agenda in the Vienna talks is clear. “Iran gotiate with the Joint Commission and the on France to honor its commitments under that could have taken another five years, or will start its measures to return to JCPOA P4+1 and will announce our demand and the accord, and to cease abiding by illegal more, but now the path is quite clear,” said SPORTSTEHRAN – Asian Handball Federation (AHF) commitments only after the removal of all condition for returning to compliance with sanctions imposed by the U.S.,” Zarif said in Jahangiri in his meeting with Khorasan deskhas chosen Iran as host of the 2022 Asian Men’s U.S. sanctions and verifying it.” the JCPOA. We demand that the United a tweet following a call with French Foreign Razavi university students, political and Handball Championships. “Robert Malley will have to leave Vienna States first fulfill all of its obligations and lift Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. economic activists. The competition is scheduled to be held in January in Shiraz. empty-handed if the Tuesday meeting would all the sanctions it has imposed, and then The French foreign minister also said He said that besides the JCPOA case, The competition will serve as qualifying event for the 2023 result in anything other than the removal we will verify and return,” Deputy Foreign a similar thing. “I encouraged Iran to be there is no precedence for any other country IHF World Men’s Handball Championship. of all U.S. sanctions,” the source added, Minister of Iran Seyed Abbas Araghchi said constructive in the discussions that are set to that was under the Chapter 7 of the UN The 2023 World Handball Championship will be held in referring to the U.S. president’s special en- in remarks to state TV. take place,” Le Drian said. “They are meant Security Council to be exempted from that and Sweden from January 12 to 29, 2023. voy for Iran who was to lead the American Iran has said that the main subject that to help identify in the coming weeks the status only by participation in negotiations. Iran had been chosen to host the 17th Asian Men’s Junior team in the Vienna talks. will be broached in Vienna is the lifting of steps that will be needed in order to return Jahangiri also described former U.S. Handball Championship but the competition was relocated to Reuters also quoted an Iranian official as all U.S. sanctions. to full compliance with the nuclear deal.” President Donald Trump as an “illogical Bahrain due to coronavirus fears. saying a similar thing. “Our agenda during “The agenda of this [joint] commission Shortly after this call, British Foreign man,” who came to power as a “sworn enemy the meeting (in Vienna) will be removal meeting is the removal of all U.S. cruel sanc- Secretary Dominic Raab requested a tele- of Iran” and contributed to the unilateral of all U.S. sanctions against Iran ... as our tions against Iran, and in other words, clar- phone conversation with Zarif. They dis- U.S. exit from the JCPOA. Fekri takes charge of Naft Supreme Leader has said repeatedly, an- ification of how parties [to the deal] should cussed the latest developments surrounding The first vice president said that the ything less than that will not be accepted fulfill their commitments,” Iranian Foreign the JCPOA. government tolerated all the hardships Masjed Soleyman by Tehran,” the official said. Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh “In this phone call, the two sides conferred imposed from inside and outside to remain The parties to the Iran deal, officially said at his weekly press briefing on Monday. on the latest developments related to the in JCPOA, believing that even a torn apart SPORTSTEHRAN – Mahmoud Fekri has been named known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of “The path is clear. All U.S. sanctions [against JCPOA, especially the upcoming meeting nuclear deal is an obstacle in the way of deskas new head coach of Naft Masjed Soleyman Action (JCPOA), were expected to hold an Iran] must be removed at once. Then [this of the Joint Commission in Vienna,” the the enemies’ serious antagonistic moves. football team. important meeting in Vienna on Tuesday. measure] must be verified [by Tehran], and Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “All European Union members, as well On March 2, he was sacked as Esteghlal coacch after five months The meeting was arranged during the Friday only then the Islamic Republic will take its Zarif once again underlined the necessity as Russia and China, were claiming to be in charge. Now, he has returned to Iran Professional League once meeting of the JCPOA Joint Commission, step [to return to full commitments under of the full and final removal of the U.S.’s favoring the preservation of the JCPOA, again.This will be Fekri’s second stint with Naft Masjed Soleyman. which was held virtually. the nuclear deal],” the spokesman continued. “unlawful and unfair” sanctions in a way but they could not take any practical step The 51-year-old coach headed the team in 2017/18 season. Following the Friday meeting, there has “In other words, we have only one step that Iran can verify. and only held Iran at the political scene to Naft Masjed Soleyman parted company with Dariush Yazdi been a wave of speculation about possible and not step-by-step [lifting of sanctions], “This is how we will return to our com- block the path for Trump’s effort to pass on Monday following the poor results in the league. direct talks between Iran and the U.S. in and this one step includes the lifting of all mitments,” Zarif said. a UN Security Council resolution against The club are only four points clear of being in danger of rel- the Tuesday meeting as many Western sanctions imposed by the United States. He also called on the European parties Iran,” he said. egation. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 4 ECONOMY APRIL 7, 2021

Annual power generation rises over 5% 1,500 idle industrial units

ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iranian power plants managed deskto generate over 434 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in the previous Iranian calendar year (ended revived in Iran in a year on March 20) to register a 5.1-percent rise compared to the preceding year. 1 Niaraki pointed to a 40-percent In fact, strengthening domestic produc- Based on the data released by Iran’s Power Generation, increase in the issuance of establishment tion to achieve self-reliance is the most Distribution, and Transmission Company (known as Tavanir), licenses for industrial units in the previous important program that Iran is following some 337 billion kilowatt-hours of the mentioned figure year, saying: “The number of establishment up in its industry sector in a bid to nul- was generated by the power plants run by the government licenses increased to more than 36,000 last lify the effects of the U.S. sanctions on and the private sector, and the rest was generated by power year, which shows that people are encour- its economy. plants owned by major industries. aged to invest in the productive sectors.” In this due, the current Iranian calen- According to the mentioned data, the total production He also mentioned an 85-percent rise dar year (began on March 21) has been capacity of the country’s power plants reached 58,076 in the allocation of land for establishing named the year of “Production: support megawatts (MW) in the previous year’s peak consump- industrial units across the country and and the elimination of obstacles”, and all tion period, indicating an increase of 5.8-percent in the noted that over 4,500 hectares of land were governmental bodies, as well as the pri- production capacity of the country’s thermal power plants. handed over to applicants in the previous vate sector, are moving in line with the The production capacity of hydropower, nuclear and calendar year. materialization of this motto. renewable power plants, however, decreased by 15.2 percent According to the official, there are over Regarding its significant role in the real- to stand at 9,098 MW. 46,000 small and medium-sized industrial ization of the mentioned goal, the Industry, units in Iran’s industrial parks and zones, Mining, and Trade Ministry has already of them about 9,200 units are inactive. defined its main programs for supporting Iran’s industrial parks play a significant domestic production in the current year. role in making the country independent In this regard, the development of in- through boosting production, which is a dustrial parks and supporting the units major strategy of Iran to combat the U.S. located in these areas is one of the major sanctions. programs underway by the ministry.

Electricity projects worth over $690m put into operation ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iranian Energy Minis- The third phase of the program was officially started on deskter inaugurated five Tuesday and like the previous phases, this year, too, the major electricity projects worth 29 trillion rials (about Energy Ministry is planning to inaugurate numerous water $690.4 million) across the country on Tuesday, to mark and electricity projects in various provinces every week. the beginning of the third phase of the ministry’s A-B- In the last week of the previous Iranian calendar Iran program. year (which was the last week of the second phase of the Iranian Energy Ministry managed to supply electricity to The inaugurated projects comprised of 8,142 sub-projects A-B-Iran scheme) Ardakanian had inaugurated several 339 rural areas across the country, increasing the number including numerous electricity supply projects, as well as new systems for improving services in the water and of villages with access to the electricity network to 57,759. power network modification and optimization projects. electricity sectors. Tavanir data also show that the total installed capacity The first phase of the A-B-Iran program (the acronyms The mentioned systems were put into operation in var- of the country’s power plants increased by 2.2 percent in A and B stand for water and electricity in Persian) was ious areas including resource consumption improvement, the previous year to reach 85,313 MW. initiated in the Iranian calendar year 1398 (ended on asset utilization, human resource management, financial Last year, four units of gas power plants with a total ca- March 19, 2020), during which 220 major projects with resources management, and reforming work processes pacity of 685 MW, five units of combined cycle power plants a total investment of 335.6 trillion rials (about $7.99 in order to create transparency and to facilitate and ac- with a capacity of 794 MW, some distributed generation billion) were put into operation across the country. celerate affairs while eliminating possible bottlenecks. gas units with a capacity of 270 MW, several renewable In the second phase of the program that was carried A smart system for improving the Energy Ministry’s power plants with a total capacity of 53 MW and a hydro- out in the previous Iranian calendar year (ended on March support and emergency centers called Homa, as well as am was also put into operation; this system is aimed at electric power plant with a capacity of two MW were put 20) 250 water and energy projects worth 500 trillion a new customer services system called Chavoush were monitoring the electricity networks of various provinces into operation across Iran. rials (about $11.9 billion) were inaugurated in several also among the launched systems. in order to reduce electricity losses and improve the ef- As reported, a total of 1,804 MW capacity of new power provinces. A mechanized network monitoring system called San- ficiency of the country’s power network. plants were added to the country’s power generation ca- pacity during the previous year. Back in February, Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian had said that some good investments have been made in the country’s electricity sector and the development of 1b tons of new copper reserves discovered the country’s power industry is going to continue in the current year. ECONOMY TEHRAN – Managing NICIC’s total copper reserves across the that three major copper-related projects deskDirector of National Ira- country have currently surpassed eight will go operational in the current year nian Copper Industries Company (NICIC) billion tons. which is going to add more than 400,000 Exports from Alborz has announced the discovery of one billion The official put the country’s total tons to the country’s copper concentrate tons of new copper reserves in Iran, IRIB copper reserves at 40 billion tons, say- output, boosting the company’s annual province rises over 100% reported on Tuesday. ing that Iran currently has the world’s incomes by $800 million. in a year NICIC carried out 101,000 meters of seventh-largest copper reserves, and According to Sa’d-Mohammadi, NICIC deep drilling to identify new copper re- hopefully the country will climb to sixth has defined more than €2.4 billion plus ECONOMY TEHRAN— The value of exports from serves across the country in the previous place in the current Iranian calendar year. 300 trillion rials (about $7.1 billion) worth deskAlborz province has increased by over 100 Iranian calendar year (ended on March Sa’d-Mohammadi further mentioned of projects to be implemented over the percent in the past Iranian calendar year (ended on March 20), which resulted in the discovery of the new record achieved in the country’s next four years, which will increase the 20), according to a provincial official. one billion tons of new reserves, Ardeshir copper cathode production and noted that company’s total copper concentrate ca- Jahangir Shahmoradi, the deputy governor general of Sa’d-Mohammadi said in a press con- over 280,000 tons of the mentioned prod- pacity to 2.3 million tons. Alborz, also said that the province’s planned amount of ference. also discovered 523 million tons of cop- uct were produced in the country during He further noted that the country’s export was realized by 112 percent in the past year, which Sa’d-Mohammadi put the value of the per reserves across the country during the previous year which was 12 percent copper exports increased in the previ- proves that the province managed to realize the motto of discovered reserves at 350 trillion rials the Iranian calendar year 1398 (March more than the preceding year. ous year despite the negative impacts of the past year, which was “surge in production”. (about $8.3 billion). 2019- March 2020). Pointing to the NICIC’s new projects the coronavirus pandemic and the U.S. As the result of taking proper decisions, and also the According to the official, NICIC had Considering the new discoveries, for the current year, the official noted sanctions. follow-up measures by the governor general of Alborz, there were some noticeable achievements in the economic sector of the province in the previous year, which is hoped to continue in this year as well, the official stressed. Bid Boland Refinery’s daily worth of products stands at $9.5m ECONOMY TEHRAN — The managing director of Bid Bolad Refinery project was recently nominated deskPersian Gulf Bid Boland Gas Refining for the International Project Management Association Company put the value of the refinery’s products at 400 (IPMA)’s Global Project Excellence Award at the energy billion rials (about $9.5 million) per day. sector; it was also awarded as Iran’s top mega project by Mahmoud Amin-Nejad said this value of products is the Ninth National Project Management Award. under the condition that 45-48 percent of the feedstock Meanwhile on Monday, Persian Gulf Bid Boland Gas is supplied. Refining Company signed three deals worth €165 million Bid Boland project is leading in terms of benefiting with domestic companies for collecting and recovering from domestic capabilities. flare gases of Rag-Sefid offshore oilfield. In mid-January, President official- The deals were signed in a ceremony attended by ly inaugurated Persian Gulf Bid Boland Gas Refinery Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and the through videoconference. managing director of Persian Gulf Bid Boland Gas Re- Bid Boland Refinery, in the southwest of Iran, has fining Company. been put into operation with the aim of increasing the The mentioned deals cover construction of 24 cen- production of sweet gas, reducing the consumption of trifugal compressors as well as Rag-Sefid’s flare gas petroleum products, production of propane, butane, and This complex receives about 13.500 tons of sour gas recovery station. gas condensate, the export of by-products, the supply per year from NGL 900 and 1000 Plants while receiv- As reported, the deals for construction, installation, As announced by the head of Islamic Republic of Iran of natural gas to urban areas, and supplying ethane ing 2.25 million tons of sweet gas from NGL 1200 and and commissioning of 24 centrifugal compressors worth Customs Administration (IRICA), the value of Iran’s non- required by petrochemical units in the region. 1300 Plants. €75 million were signed with Oil Turbo Compressor oil trade stood at $73 billion in the past year. The refinery, which took 36 months to complete, As the largest gas refinery project in West Asia, Bid Construction Company (OTC) and Mapna Turbine En- Mehdi Mir-Ashrafi also put the weight of non-oil trade has a daily processing capacity of more than 56 million Boland will have an annual production capacity of 10.4 gineering and Construction Company (TUGA), while at 146.4 million tons, and said that the figure shows a cubic meters of associated gas and when operating at million tons of methane, 1.5 million tons of ethane, one the contract for the construction of the Rag-Sefid flare 25-million-ton annual decline, which is the result of sanc- full capacity it will generate $700 million of revenue million tons of propane, 600,000 tons of gas conden- gas recovery station worth €90 million was signed with tions and coronavirus pandemic. every year. sates, and 500,000 tons of butane. Energy Industries Engineering and Design (EIED). Iran’s non-oil export was 112 million tons valued at $34.5 billion, and that of import was 34.4 million tons worth $38.5 billion in the past year, the official added. Among the country’s non-oil export destinations, China TEDPIX drops nearly 2,000 points on Tuesday was the first, with importing $8.9 billion worth of products, Iraq was the second with importing $7.3 billion, the United ECONOMY TEHRAN — TEDPIX, to 1.307 million in that week. the market rattled by the surprising Arab Emirates the third with importing $4.6 billion, Turkey deskthe main index of Teh- After several weeks of decline, growth fluctuations in the stock market in the the fourth with importing $2.5 billion, and Afghanistan the ran Stock Exchange (TSE), fell 1,934 finally returned to the TSE, Iran’s major previous year. fifth with importing $2.2 billion, Mir-Ashrafi announced, points to 1.26 million on Tuesday. stock exchange, as TEDPIX rose 2.4 In this regard, Vice Chairman of the and named gasoline, natural gas, polyethylene, propane, Over 3.531 billion securities worth percent during the last week of February. Board of Directors at Tehran Stock Ex- and as Iran’s major exported products during 55.813 trillion rials (about $1.328 bil- Market analysts and experts suggest change Javad Eshqi-Nejad said the “exit the past year. lion) were traded at the TSE on Tuesday. investors to focus more on long-term strategy” is the worse course of action He further named Iran’s top sources of non-oil imports The first market’s index dropped investment in the Iranian stock market that a shareholder can take. in the said time, as China with exporting $9.7 billion worth 2,482 points, and the second market’s and to invest through intermediary tools “For some hasty shareholders, exiting of products to the Islamic Republic, the UAE with $9.6 index fell 231 points. like exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to the market is their first choice after any billion, Turkey with $4.3 billion, India with $2.1 billion, TEDPIX had risen eight percent in the prevent possible losses in the current Ira- fluctuation, while we have repeatedly and Germany with $1.8 billion, respectively, and mentioned last week of the past Iranian calendar nian calendar year (began on March 21). stated that this is the worst type of strat- corn, cellphone, rice, oil meal and oil seeds, wheat, and year (ended on March 20). They also advise shareholders to egy in this market,” Eshqi-Nejad told raw oil as the major imported items. The index increased 101,000 points avoid impulsive decisions for quitting IRNA. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 7, 2021 ANALYSIS/INTERVIEW 5

Arab monarchies worried about U.S. Gunmen free more than 1,800 inmates from exit from the region: Iraqi expert Nigerian prison More than 1,800 inmates escaped from a Nigeria prison in the 1 This is what Commander of the Iraq toward entering futile agreements southeastern city of Owerri after an attack by gunmen carrying United States Central Command, General to exhaust its wealth and energy. rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns, explosives and rifles, Kenneth F. McKenzie, explicitly said a However, this trip was important to the prisons authority said. couple of months ago. He emphasized Saudi Arabia, as it was evident through Nigerian police said it believed a banned separatist group, that American forces would not withdraw the great hospitality that the visit received the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was behind the attack, from Iraq but there would be a reduction especially escorting the al-Kazemi plane but a spokesman for the group denied involvement. of military forces. with warplanes and his reception by the The secessionist movement in the southeast is one of sev- He also said that the remaining forces Saudi crown prince and artillery firing eral serious security challenges facing President Muhammadu would work to monitor and confront any a 21-gun salute in celebration of al-Ka- Buhari, including a decade-long insurgency in the northeast, a move from Iran in the future, and there zemi’s visit to Saudi Arabia. spate of school kidnappings in the northwest and piracy in the has been a redeployment of American But what was announced about the Gulf of Guinea. forces to other areas in Iraq, which par- achievements of the visit were not at allels withdrawals from several bases in the expected level for the two countries. Taji and a-Qaim on the Syrian border. They announced the establishment of In his visit to Washington, al-Ka- a joint investment fund of only 3 billion U.S. military forces smuggle zemi urged former American President dollars. What are the real aspects behind Donald Trump to complete withdrawal this visit that were not disclosed, espe- grain from northeast Syria to of all American forces from Iraq within cially on the security side? Saudi Arabia three years, but that goal failed to be has blamed Iraq for missiles and drone Iraq again strikes on its oil facilities and economic translated into reality due to Trump’s A convoy of more than a dozen U.S. military trucks has reportedly interests, accusing factions close to Iran defeat in elections in 2020. carried tons of grain from Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah of targeting Saudi facilities. After coming to power, Joe Biden to the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region in northern Iraq. Do you expect Iraq to establish showed that he has new plans and pri- Local sources, requesting anonymity, told Syria’s official strategic relations with Saudi Ara- orities that differ from Trump’s. news agency SANA that 14 military vehicles loaded with wheat bia? His first step was increasing NATO crops from silos of Tal Alou village in al-Ya’rubiyah region en- Iraqis never forget their bloody history Iraq is looking for its interests through forces in Iraq in order to train the Iraqi tered the Iraqi territories on Monday after crossing al-Waleed establishing relations with all countries army. NATO Secretary-General Jens that was characterized by Saudis border crossing. of the world, and this is a normal policy. Stoltenberg said that “the number of A few days earlier, 12 U.S. military vehicles passed through sending thousands of suicide bombers But is the Iraqi political decision based NATO forces will gradually increase Semalka border crossing and headed towards northern Iraq. who blew themselves up in Iraqi on free will, or is it affected by American from 500 to about 4,000, and they will They were carrying wheat from silos in northeast Syria. interference that tries to push Iraq toward be deployed out of Baghdad.” markets, schools and and left Local sources in Syria’s northeastern town of al-Malikiyah also the circle of the Israeli axis? Pentagon spokesperson Commander reported back on March 26 that 18 U.S. military vehicles, loaded thousands of victims. Certainly, the answer is no. Iraq is Jessica McNulty said on February 19, with wheat crops, had crossed Semalka border, and entered the not free in its political decision and its “The U.S. is participating in the force an ad hoc group of defense policy and Jumima border port in the Samawah Iraqi territory, Press TV reported. government pursues a policy that is nei- generation process for NATO Mission military experts—to find ways to help desert, which was part of a large invest- This comes as U.S. forces also continue to smuggle crude oil ther neutral nor independent but rather Iraq and will contribute its fair share the oil-rich kingdom protect its facilities ment project to be taken by Saudi Arabia, from Hasakah to Iraq. sacrifices the interest of Iraq to serve to this important expanded mission.” and oil installations. but it was temporarily postponed due The U.S. military has stationed forces and equipment in American interests. Meanwhile, John Kirby, the assistant This is a strategic shift in the U.S. to popular objections. northeastern Syria, with the Pentagon claiming that the troops It was evident in freezing the Iraqi-Chi- to the Secretary of Defense for Public approaches in Biden’s presidency that These visits are aimed to repair Saudi deployment is aimed at preventing the oilfields in the area from nese agreement, which was considered Affairs wrote in a post on his Twitter ac- differs from Trump’s previous vision. Arabia’s image in the minds of the Ira- falling into the hands of Daesh terrorists. a lifeline for Iraq by its participation in count that “we support NATO’s expanded This is what Biden pledged in his elec- qi people, who used to regard Saudis’ Damascus, however, says the deployment is meant to plunder the Silk Road and reconstructing the mission in Iraq and will continue to do tion campaign, although it did not refer moves with great suspicion for their bitter the country’s resources. large port of Faw and the extension of so, but there are no plans to increase to reducing the military presence in Syria experience about Saudi sponsorship of the railway to Syria, Turkey, and Europe. U.S. force levels there.” and Iraq or a complete withdrawal from terrorism in Iraq. But the American veto deprived us of In a related context, the Daily Mail the (Persian) Gulf, but reducing them in Iraqis never forget their bloody his- this deal and Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned quoted military sources as saying that West Asia and directing them to other tory that was characterized by Saudis China’s Liaoning aircraft under the pressure of the demonstrations the international coalition forces intend regions within a strategic change plan. sending thousands of suicide bombers that paralyzed the country. to increase their soldiers’ number in Iraq In Biden’s priorities plan confront- who blew themselves up in Iraqi markets, carrier leads naval After the al-Kazemi took up the reins of to 5,000. ing the Chinese dragon, West Asia is no schools and mosques and left thousands power, all demonstrations calmed down exercise off Taiwan The newspaper said that hundreds longer important for Washington as it of victims. In Baghdad, you can hardly and ended. of British soldiers would be sent to Iraq was in the past as America is now able find a family that was not affected by the The U.S imposed its hegemony in A Chinese carrier group is exercising near Taiwan and such drills in the largest increase of British forces to secure oil from other resources. crimes of the takfiri groups. Iraq in canceling the contract with the will become regular, China’s navy has announced, in a further there since the last (Persian) . This is why America’s allies in the Then they opened the chapter of ISIS, German company Siemens in favor of escalation of tensions near the island that Beijing claims as its All of this comes within a new policy region are worried about, especially the which threatened the Iraqi sovereignty American companies, as the German sovereign territory. adopted by the Biden administration (Persian) Gulf monarchies, while China and integrity with the full support of Saudi ambassador in Baghdad stated. Taiwan has complained of an increase in Chinese military to organize priorities in confronta- is establishing a comprehensive strategic Arabia, which allowed the crossing of So Iraq is relatively deprived of its activity near it in recent months, as China steps up efforts to tion with the United States’ supposed partnership with Iran that extends 25 thousands of Saudi fighters and neglect- rights when it cannot make a decision assert its sovereignty over the democratically run island. enemies. years in which it envisions great coopera- ed promises to seize money collected in freely while it is free just within limits In a statement late on Monday, China’s navy said the carrier A couple of days ago, the Wall Street tion in military and infrastructure fields. the mosques to support the fighters in that it should not cross. group, lead by the Liaoning, the country’s first aircraft carrier Journal said that U.S. President Joe They see that their strategic ally Syria and Iraq. How can we trust in the Iraqi political put into active service, was carrying out “routine” drills in the Biden directed the Pentagon to begin (the U.S.) is gradually withdrawing These all were under the Saudi author- decision-makers when we are talking waters near Taiwan. removing some military capabilities and and that Biden has even frozen large ities’ gaze, and the religious discourse about strategic relations that stand on According to al Jazeera, the aim is to “enhance its capabil- forces from the (Persian) Gulf region arms deals with Saudi Arabia and the was directed to demonize Shias. fragile foundations built on the debris ity to safeguard national sovereignty, safety and development in the first steps of an effort to realign (United Arab) Emirates. Saudi Arabia made every effort to of bitter experiences that date back to an interests”, it said. the U.S. global military footprint away Biden’s move is disappointing in the clean this ugly image out of the Iraqi 8-year war that Saddam Hussein waged “Similar exercises will be conducted on a regular basis in the from West Asia. face of their supposed enemy (Iran). public opinion after the October demon- on Iran under the pretext of protecting future,” the navy added, without elaborating. The newspaper added that the U.S. How do you read al-Kazemi’s strations, in which some Iraqi youth the eastern gate of the Arab world with has removed at least three Patriot an- recent visit to Saudi Arabia? supported Saudi Arabia fiercely, blaming direct Saudi payment? timissile batteries from the (Persian) Al-Kazemi’s visit to Saudi Arabia came Shia parties for the deterioration of the Once King Fahd told Saddam, “We Gulf region, including one from Prince after several visits by diplomatic, mili- situation in Iraq. Putin passes law that may supply the money, and you should pro- Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia that had tary and ministerial delegations. These All of this preceded the visit of al-Ka- vide fighters,” in a statement that shows been put in place in recent years to help visits rose dramatically after al-Kazemi’s zemi, which came to detach Iraq from keep him in office until 2036 direct (Persian) Gulf regimes’ support protect American forces. visit to Washington and the Iraqi gov- the resistance axis and pushing it to- for the former Iraqi dictator. Vladimir Putin has signed a law that will allow him to run for The Wall Street Journal pointed out ernment’s shift towards Riyadh under wards the American-Saudi-Israeli axis After the end of the Iran-, oil the presidency twice more in his lifetime, potentially keeping that the number of American forces in American pressure and push Iraq into in preparation for normalization of ties prices fell and (Persian) Gulf monarchies him in office until 2036. West Asia reached 90,000 during the what is called the “Arab embrace”. with the latter. asked Iraq to repay its debts, which led The Russian president signed the legislation on Monday, tension with Iran in 2018, revealing This move has an economic nature in This move is not isolated from other to the invasion of Kuwait and then the ending a year-long process to “reset” his presidential terms by that Washington decided to maintain the first place, preceded by the opening developments, especially Iraqi rapproche- unjust blockade of Iraq. rewriting the constitution through a referendum-like process that the (THAAD) air defense missile system of the Arar border crossing, then the ment with Jordan and Egypt and pushing in the region, stressing that Washing- During the blockade, the Arab bor- his critics have called a crude power grab. ton is moving its equipment in order to ders were completely closed and only Putin has been Russia’s most powerful politician since he confront Russia and China because they During the blockade, the Arab borders the Iranian border was open to Iraqis. assumed the presidency in 2000, after the resignation of his are the most important threat. were completely closed and only the If it had not for Iran, the situation of predecessor, Boris Yeltsin. In recent weeks, it revealed that the Iranian border was open to Iraqis. Iraq would have been more tragic than If he remains in power until 2036, his tenure will surpass Pentagon assembled a “tiger team”— what happened. even that of Joseph Stalin, who ruled the Soviet Union for 29 years, making Putin the longest-serving Moscow leader since the Russian empire. Officially, the new law limits Russian citizens to two presi- Sino-Iran agreement right move to balance foreign policy dential terms in their lifetime, outlawing the kind of shuffling between the presidency and the role of prime minister that Putin By Payman Yazdani between the Islamic Republic and a major international employed earlier in his career. player in more than four decades. It also is the correct But the law specifically does not count terms served until it TEHRAN - Prof. of political science says Iran-China move by Iran to finally take a major step to balance its entered into force, meaning that Putin’s past four terms (including agreement is the correct move by Iran to finally take a foreign policy by recognizing the ongoing transformations the current term) do not count and he can still serve two more. major step to balance its foreign policy by recognizing in international relations. Russians say that he has “zeroed out” his terms. the ongoing transformations in international relations. What will be the economic importance of such Iranian and Chinese Foreign Ministers Mohammad an agreement both for Iran and China? Javad Zarif and Wang Yi signed a comprehensive coop- If all the provisions of the agreement are implement- Resistance News eration agreement between the two countries on Satur- ed without undue delays and unforeseen glitches, this day afternoon at the complex of the Iranian Ministry of agreement will help routinize China-Iran economic re- IOF kidnaps senior Hamas Foreign Affairs in Tehran. lations and will allow both countries to devise effective The two countries began consulting and work on the mechanisms to combat Western economic sanctions. Of official, two ex-detainees important cooperation agreement six years ago during course, overcoming the myriad of Western sanctions is an President Hassan Rouhani’s visit to China. arduous and relatively long process, but the agreement in Bethlehem During Rouhani’s visit to China, Iran and China issued is the right step in that direction. statements announcing the promotion of the level of In the meeting between Mr. Larijani and Mr. Yi, What is the significance of China’s One Road INTERNATIONAL TEHRAN— The Israeli occupation forces relations between the two countries to a comprehensive which took place on Saturday morning, the two sides One Belt initiative for the country’s ambitions desk(IOF) at dawn Tuesday kidnaped senior Hamas strategic partnership. consulted with each other about the expansion of and what is the importance of Iran’s role in the official Hasan Wardyan, a candidate in the upcoming Palestinian At the time, the two sides declared that they were bilateral relations. country’s project? elections, and other citizens from their homes in Bethlehem. ready to negotiate a long-term cooperation document. This very important political document contains stra- China’s Belt and Road initiative is indeed an ambitious Wardyan is an ex-detainee who spent over 20 years in Israeli Later, , the former Speaker of the Iranian tegic, regional and international cooperation. project, and it is arguably the most important initiative jails. He is one of Hamas’s noted figures in Bethlehem province Parliament went to China and took the lead on the con- To know more about the significance of the agreement undertaken by any major country in the past 50 years. The and one of its candidates on its electoral list. sultations that led to the signing of the agreement today. and the grounds that it prepares for both countries, we scope of this project is wide and encompasses a number The IOF also kidnaped two ex-detainees from their homes in Larijani was in charge of the talks with the Chinese side reached out to Nader Entessar, professor emeritus of of countries. Iran is an important West Asian piece in Bethlehem identified as Nader Abiyat, from al-Fureidis village, on the matter. political science from the University of South Alabama. the implementation of China’s Belt and Road project. and Adel Hijazi, from the central district of the city. The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in How do you see the significance of this agree- Iran’s unique and unmatched geostrategic location and Local sources said that the IOF physically assaulted two cit- Tehran late on Friday to hold meetings with his Iranian ment between the two countries in respect to Iran’s its potential as an indispensable trade artery for China’s izens from the family of Abu Mahmid during its raids on homes counterpart Foreign Minister Zarif and President Has- efforts to diversify its partners and balancing its expanding relations in the (West Asia) and in al-Fureidis village. san Rouhani as well as the ex-speaker of the Iranian relation with western countries? Central and South Asia will allow Iran to play a key role The IOF also raided an exchange store belonging to a Pales- parliament Larijani. A: The Iran-China pact is the most significant agreement in China’s foreign economic policy. tinian citizen in al-Mahd street in Bethlehem City. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 6 HERITAGE & TOURISM APRIL 7, 2021

Historical arch bridge to undergo Iranian handicrafts enhance sense urgent restoration near Tehran

HERITAGE TEHRAN – Restoration and vital rehabilitation deskworks will commence soon on Pol-e Khatun; a of aesthetics in interior design centuries-old arch bridge near capital Tehran. The deck of the monument, which is situated in Karaj, the HERITAGE TEHRAN – Using Ira- verse] handicrafts”. Malayer was made a capital of Alborz province, was slightly collapsed last December desknian handicrafts in the global hub for woodcarving and carved- reportedly due to severe rainfalls. interior design of houses creates a sense of wood furniture. Zanjan gained the title of The provincial tourism chief on Sunday said that the project aesthetics, while boosting sales of handi- a “world city of filigree”. And Qassemabad to repair and reconstruct the historical bridge will be starting crafts, the deputy tourism minister has said. village, which is nationally known for its next week, referring to the favorable weather conditions, which The use of handmade products of the traditional costumes, was also promoted to makes it possible to conduct masonry, CHTN reported. experienced crafters and artisans of differ- a world hub of handicrafts. Shab, ent regions of the country will also make a kind of homemade outer-garment for interior design more affordable, Pouya women, was, however, the main subject Mahmoudian announced on Tuesday. for the WCC assessment for the village. The ministry is working to develop the Iran exported $523 million worth of concept of the “Iranian Home”, in order to handicrafts during the calendar year 1398 give Iranian families an idea of how their (ended March 19, 2020). Of the figure, homes should look with national prod- some $273 million worth of handicrafts ucts, which could lead to the expansion were exported officially through customs, of products and activities of craftsmen, and about $250 million was earned via she added. suitcase trade (allowed for customs-free It is also a good way to familiarize people and tax-free transfer) through various with the traditional arts of each region provinces, according to data provided by while giving creative ideas to the archi- the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism tects, construction engineers, and interior and Handicrafts. Days after the collapse, the monument taped the Cultural designers, the official added. Ceramics, pottery vessels, handwoven Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Moune- With 14 entries, Iran ranks first glob- cloths as well as personal ornamentations san for a personal inspection to the province, some 30 km from ally for the number of cities and villages with precious and semi-precious gem- Tehran in a westward direction. Visiting the bridge, the minister registered by the World Crafts Council, Last January, the cities of Shiraz, Ma- Pacific Region, putting Iran’s number of stones are traditionally exported to Iraq, stressed the need to speed up emergency protection operations as China with seven entries, Chile with layer, and Zanjan and the village of Qas- world crafts cities and villages from ten to 14. Afghanistan, Germany, the U.S., the UK, to prevent further destruction of the Khatun [“Girl”] Bridge and four, and India with three ones come next. semabad were designated by the WCC- Asia Shiraz was named a “world city of [di- and other countries. to provide the necessary conditions for the reconstruction and restoration of this historical monument. “Emergency protection operations, proper coverage, and instal- lation of warning signs should be carried out as soon as possible to save the lives of citizens…. and a suitable space should be cre- Iran to unveil Monastery of Saint Thaddeus stamp ated to prevent further destruction of the bridge.” This is a brick TOURISM TEHRAN – Iran’s Post Company plans kilometers form Maku, adjacent to the borders of Armenia, bridge, and despite proper and continuous maintenance, some deskto unveil a commemorative postal stamp Azerbaijan and Turkey. part of it has collapsed and most of it is still standing, he added. to honor the Monastery of Saint Thaddeus, a historical The ancient Church shows off elaborate bas-reliefs of The foundation of the bridge was constructed during the Sel- monument in West Azarbaijan province. flowers, animals and human figures on its façade and exterior juk era (1037–1194) while its other sections were thoroughly The unveiling ceremony is scheduled to be held during walls. It bears verses of Old and New Testament in Armenian renovated in the time of Safavids (1501–1736). Arch bridges have the joint exhibition of Iran and Armenia postal stamps in calligraphy as well. been built since ancient times due to the easy accessibility of Arch Bishop Ardak Manoukian Museum in Tehran on April Together with St. Stepanos Monastery and the Chapel of stone masonry, which is an appropriate material for sustaining 11, Iran’s Post Company announced on Tuesday. Dzordzor, Qareh Klise was placed on the UNESCO World compressive forces. Organized by the Post and Communications Museum and Heritage list in 2008 under the name “Armenian Monastic An arch bridge carries loads primarily by compression, which Arch Bishop Ardak Manoukian Museum, the exhibit, which Ensembles of Iran”. All the three sites are located in West exerts on the foundation both vertical and horizontal forces. Arch will be held online due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, Azarbaijan and are of high significance from historical foundations must therefore prevent both vertical settling and will showcase a selection of historical Armenian stamps and cultural perspectives. They bear credible testimony to horizontal sliding. Despite the more complicated foundation as well as Iranian stamps issued on Persian New Year interchanges with the ancient regional societies in particular design, the structure itself normally requires less material than (Noruz). the Byzantine, Orthodox and Persian. a beam bridge of the same span. Also known as the Qareh Klise (“the Black Church”), the UNESCO has it that the churches bear examples of Arch bridges can be classified into deck arch bridges (featuring monastery is one of the oldest surviving Christian monuments outstanding universal value of the Armenian architectural arches below the deck) and through arch bridges (those with in the country. It is situated in Chaldoran county some 20 and decorative traditions. arches above the deck, generally tied arches). In all arch bridges, the structural difficulty can be found in the minimization of the misalignment of the arch axis and the line of thrust, as well as a sufficient bending and buckling resistance. General design rec- ommendations focus principally on the arch-to-span ratio, the Divandarreh worthy to be turned into tourism hub, expert says arch and deck slenderness, and the number of hangers or piers. TOURISM TEHRAN – Divandarreh in this area, he explained. attracting foreign tourists considering its Recent innovative arch bridges include high-speed railway deskcity in the western prov- Back in February the deputy tourism common border with neighboring Iraq, the (HSR) bridges, concrete-filled steel tubular and precast concrete ince of Kordestan could be developed into minister Vali Teymouri announced that official explained. arches, high-performance concrete or ultra-high performance one of the main tourism hubs of the country, Kordestan province holds the potential to The name Kordestan refers to the region’s concrete arches, and steel-concrete composite arches, and feature the provincial tourism chief has said. be a dynamic hub for nature tourism due to principal inhabitants. After the Turkish in- innovative erection methods. Recent research has been dedicated Considering the city’s historical sites and its beautiful and pristine landscape. vasion of Iran in the 11th century CE (Seljuq to the shape and magnitude of equivalent geometric imperfections, natural sights as well as tourism-related pro- However, the province is needed to be period), the name Kurdistan was applied fatigue detailing, erection methods, reduction of the arch’s self- jects, which are currently underway across promoted more properly in the fields of na- to the region comprising the northwestern weight, and new materials for arches, hangers, and ties. the city, its tourism industry can be improved ture tourism and cultural tourism, he added. . It was during the reign in near future, CHTN quoted Yaqub Guylian , , and the provincial capital of Abbas I the Great of Iran’s Safavid dy- as saying on Tuesday. tourists and nature lovers, the official added. are among the most popular tourist nasty (1501–1736) that the rose to Batch of Sassanid coins The ancient Karaftu Cave, which is one of However, to achieve these goals, the city’s and travel destinations, which require further prominence, having been enlisted by Abbas the major attractions of the region, could also tourism infrastructures need to be upgraded, elaborate introduction, the official noted. I to help stem the attacks of the marauding restored in southeastern Iran be promoted more properly to draw more and the private sector is expected to cooperate Kordestan can play a significant role in Uzbeks from the east in the early 17th century. HERITAGE TEHRAN – A batch of Sassanid coins were deskrestored at a cultural heritage laboratory in Iran’s southwestern Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari province over the past Iranian calendar year (ended March 20), the deputy pro- Objects, once smuggled to Switzerland, to go on show at home vincial official said on Tuesday. HERITAGE TEHRAN – A once-smuggled collection monochrome and the others show complex compositions. deskof glazed bricks, which has been returned The glazed objects from the regular excavations were to Iran from Switzerland, will go on show in the city of , curated in Museum and Tehran National Museum. which is said to be their place of origin in western Iran. The artifacts are connected to the Mannai civilization, Back in December, a total of 49 glazed bricks attributed which was once flourished in northwestern Iran in the to the Qalaichi archaeological site in West Azarbaijan 1st millennium BC. Mannai, also spelled Manna, was an province, which had been looted and smuggled out of ancient country surrounded by three major powers of the Iran some four decades ago, were returned home with time namely Assyria, , and Media. the aid of Swiss officials. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the The exhibit will be running for a month as of May 18. are first recorded in the annals of the Assyrian And the event is intended to highlight the history and king Shalmaneser III (reigned 858–824 BC) and are last culture of the region to the visitors, the provincial tourism mentioned in Urartu by Rusa II (reigned 685–645 BC) and chief, Jalil Jabari, said on Tuesday. in Assyria by Esarhaddon (reigned 680–669 BC). With Situated about nine air km northwest of Bukan, Qalaichi the intrusion of the and the rise of the (or Ghalay-chi) is an ancient settlement that so far yielded in the 7th century, the Manneans lost their identity and “A total of 314 coins, which date back to the Sassanid era (224 a large number of glazed objects. Some of which are were subsumed under the term Medes. CE–651), have been restored and cleaned over the past year,” Kourosh Babaein, the provincial tourism chief, announced on Tuesday. In about 220 CE the Sasanian dynasty of Iran introduced the concept of thin flan coins, issues that were struck in relief on both Entrance gate of Bahabad Castle restored sides. In order not to produce intolerable stresses in the dies, since HERITAGE TEHRAN – Restoration The official also noted that several relics Uruk in ancient Sumer (Mesopotamia) the thinner the material the more force necessary to make it flow deskof the façade of the en- and artifacts have been discovered from the is one of the world’s oldest known walled into the recesses of the die’s design, the depth of relief on such trance gate of Bahabad Castle in the central castle, which are dating back to the different cities. The Ancient Egyptians also built for- coins was of necessity much shallower than with earlier currency. province of has been completed, a historical eras from the Safavid period to tresses on the frontiers of the Nile Valley to Such techniques spread by way of Byzantium to northern Europe, local tourism official announced on Sunday. the Pahlavi era (1925-1979). protect against invaders from neighboring where the emperor Charlemagne struck thin flan deniers (small Over the past centuries, the historical The castle consists of residential build- territories. silver coins), or pennies, which became characteristic of both his castle has sustained damage due to erosion, ings, educational centers, religious mon- Many of the fortifications of the ancient own and neighboring kingdoms. and currently many parts of it are on the uments as well as public bathhouses, and world were built with mud brick, often leav- In many ways, Iran under the Sassanian rule witnessed tremen- verge of destruction, Alireza Kazemi said. Ab-Anbar (cisterns). ing them no more than mounds of dirt for dous achievements of Persian civilization. Experts say that the art Castle, which is regarded as the first nu- From very early history to modern times, today’s archaeologists. and architecture of the nation experienced a general renaissance cleus of the town, has undergone several defensive walls have often been necessary With its winding lanes, forest of badgirs during Sassanid rule. In that era, crafts such as metalwork and rounds of restoration projects over the past for cities to survive in an ever-changing (wind catchers), mud-brick houses, atmos- gem-engraving grew highly sophisticated, as scholarship was three years to strengthen and repair the world of invasion and conquest. pheric alleyways, and centuries of history, flat plain ringed by mountains. encouraged by the state; many works from both the East and worn-out parts, the official added. Fortifications in antiquity were designed Yazd is a delightful place to stay, referring Yazd Jameh , Dowlatabad Gar- West were translated into Pahlavi, the official language of the The Safavid-era (1501–1736) fortification primarily to defeat attempts at the escalade, to as a ‘don’t miss’ destination by almost all den, the Yazd Atash Behram, also known Sassanians. is a quadrilateral structure with irregular and to the defense of territories in warfare, travel associates in the region. The oasis city as Atashkadeh-e Yazd, Towers of Silence, sides with five towers, of which now only and were also used to solidify rule in a region is wedged between the northern Dasht-e and adjacent desert landscape are among its tourist sites. Padideh Real Estate one remains, he explained. during peacetime. Kavir and the southern Dasht-e Lut on a “Dezashib” 3,200 sq.m building in 14 residential units in 4,000 sq.m garden land, 2 and 3 bedrooms Iran cancels outbound tours to Turkey due to new coronavirus variant For Rent to Companies and Embassies 1 Last November, the World Tourism Organization the main factor. the crises caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus continue. For more information, pls. contact: announced that international tourist arrivals to Iran plunged Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Min- In August, Mounesan said that Iran’s tourism has suf- 72% during the first eight months of 2020 when compared ister Ali-Asghar Mounesan in October warned that Iran’s fered a loss of 12 trillion rials (some $2.85 billion) since 09359123317 to 2019, highlighting the severe impact of COVID-19 as cultural heritage and tourism will be in a critical situation if the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y APRIL 7, 2021 SOCIETY 7

Over 15,000 COVID-19 recovered Pollution from Europe’s coal plants responsible for ‘up to patients donate plasma 34,000 deaths each year’ Air pollution from Europe’s coal plants could be responsible SOCIETY TEHRAN – Some tors were from the provinces of Tehran, desk for up to 34,000 deaths across the continent each year, a new 15,039 plasma units have West Azerbaijan, Yazd, and Khuzestan, study suggests. been donated since April 2020 by patients Haji Beigi noted. Coal-fired power is the single-largest driver of global tem- who have been recovered from COVID-19 Since the beginning of April 2020, some perature rise and phasing it out of the world’s electricity supply throughout the country, Bashir Haji Bei- 18,219 patients who recovered from COV- as soon as possible will be key to meeting the world’s climate gi, spokesman for the Blood Transfusion ID-19 referred to blood transfusion centers goals, scientists say. Organization has announced. across the country, while 15,039 units of The burning of coal for power also causes the release of Following the outbreak of coronavirus, plasma were donated. pollutants that can be seriously harmful to human health, doctors, pharmacists, scientists, and others More than 85 percent of all donated blood including fine particulate matter (PM2.5) – tiny particles less are looking for a way to control the virus, and worldwide is used to produce blood prod- than 2.5 micrometres in diameter that can penetrate deep into so far, many studies and researches have ucts, while the rate is 65 percent in Eastern the lungs when inhaled. been done in this regard. Mediterranean countries. Iran ranks among This PM2.5 pollution has been linked to a wide range of One of the studies showed that the plasma the highest-income countries in terms of con- health conditions, including respiratory illnesses, strokes and driven from recovered patients can be used verting more than 97 percent of the blood heart attacks. in the treatment of COVID-19 with the help donated by people to plasma-derived me- The new research finds that PM2.5 pollution from Europe’s of the patient’s immune system. dicinal products (PDMP). coal plants causes at least 16,800 excess deaths from cardio- Convalescent plasma therapy allows some- Only 55 of 171 countries produce PDMP vascular and respiratory diseases each year. However, the real one who has recovered from a coronavirus through the fractionation of plasma col- level of pollution from coal plants could be higher than official infection to donate their blood plasma to lected in the reporting country. A total of tolls, so this figure could be as high as 33,900, the study says. someone who is critically ill. 90 countries reported that all PDMP are Dr Jolinda Kushta, study lead author and a research scientist The best time for plasma donation is at imported, 16 countries reported that no at the Climate and Atmosphere Research Centre at The Cyprus least 14 and preferably 28 days after recov- PDMP was used during the reporting pe- Institute, told The Independent: “We indicate that there is likely ery, and donors should age 18 to 60 years. riod, and 10 countries did not respond to an underestimation of coal power plant source strengths in the The highest number of plasma dona- the question, according to WHO. official emissions inventory.” The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, uses data from the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Reg- ister, which stores information on the pollution emitted by Second Iranian COVID-19 vaccine to be mass-produced in August coal plants in the EU and nearby countries, including the UK, immune system against the virus by producing antibodies. second dose of the vaccine,” Alireza Raeisi, spokesman for Norway and Switzerland. Through the first phase of the human trial, 120 people the National Headquarters for Coronavirus control said. The researchers used this real-world data to create a sim- have so far received the first dose of vaccine, and 42 others Homegrown vaccines ulated map of air pollution levels across Europe in 2015, and the second dose, Mohammad-Hossein Fallah, deputy head COVIRAN BAREKAT, the first coronavirus vaccine made a second map of what air pollution levels would have been if of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute said. by researchers at the Headquarters for Executing the Order there were no coal power plants. In terms of vaccine safety, those who received the vac- of the Imam which was unveiled on December 29, 2020, “We simulate air pollution levels with and without coal- cine have not had any problems so far, and the situation is started to be mass-produced on March 29. fired power plant emissions,” said Dr Kushta. improving, he added. Fakhra vaccine, the third homegrown vaccine, was un- The researchers then used modelling to work out the dif- The vaccine is developed in 3 doses, the first two doses veiled and started the clinical trial on March 16. ference in annual deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory are injectable and the third dose is intranasal. The second On January 27, Health Minister said Iran diseases between the simulations with coal power plants and dose of the vaccine will be injected into the volunteers 21 will soon be one of the world’s important manufacturers of the simulations with no coal. days later and the third dose will be inhaled 51 days later, the COVID-19 vaccine. The scientists studied deaths from lung cancer, coronary he further explained. New cases and mortalities heart disease, lower respiratory disease and chronic obstructive Iran started mass vaccination against COVID-19 with In a press briefing on Monday, Health Ministry’s spokesper- pulmonary disease (COPD), among others. Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine on February 9, with the son Sima-Sadat Lari confirmed 17,430 new cases of COVID-19 The findings suggest that, across Europe, PM2.5 pollution SOCIETY TEHRAN – The second Iranian corona- priority given to medical staff, the elderly, and people with infection, raising the total number of infections to 1,963,394. from coal power plants causes at least 16,800 excess deaths deskvirus vaccine, Razi Cov Pars, which started underlying diseases; which is also going to be co-produced She added that 1,667,079 patients have so far recovered, but from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases each year, with the clinical trial on February 27, will be mass-produced in by the two countries. 4,138 remain in critical conditions of the disease. a possible range of 14,800 to 18,700. early August, ISNA report on Tuesday. The first shipment of the COVAX vaccine was delivered During the past 24 hours, 174 patients have lost their lives, However, when underestimates in official coal power pollution Developed by the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research to Tehran on Sunday. bringing the total number of deaths to 63,506, she added. data are taken into consideration, this figure rises to 33,900 – Institute, the vaccine is protein-based, which employs “Currently, about 250,000 people in the country have So far, 13,256,820 COVID-19 diagnostic tests have been with a possible range of 33,000 to 37,600. recombinant versions of the spike protein and tutors the been vaccinated and about 56,000 others have received the performed in the country. The scientists also studied the impact of coal power air pol- lution on different countries in Europe. The findings show that the number of excess deaths from coal power pollution are high in the European countries with Six Iranian universities in QS Rankings 2021 the greatest number of existing coal power plants, including Poland and Germany. 1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology which shows an increase of 7 universities to 16 in 2019. However, the highest excess death rates from coal were found (MIT) tops the list for a record ninth consec- compared to the last year. Iran ranks first in terms of the number in the eastern European countries located downwind of major utive year in QS ranking. MIT is one of five With 47 Iranian universities ranked among of universities in the region and among emitter Poland. These countries included Bulgaria, Lithuania, American institutions in this year’s top 10. 1,527 top universities of 93 countries in the Islamic countries, according to Shanghai Romania, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Croatia. In a ranking that evaluates universities world in 2021 rankings, Iran achieved a great Ranking’s Academic Ranking of World The study finds that PM2.5 pollution from coal plants is re- in six selected subject areas, the three Ira- improvement in the academic field. Universities (ARWU) 2020. sponsible for at least 1,800-2,260 excess deaths each year in nian universities advanced in three fields of Some 21 Islamic countries were also list- Two Iranian universities have been ranked Germany, 1,470-1,840 in Poland, and 2,800-3,600 in Romania, engineering, natural sciences, and medical ed in the ranking, however, Iran holds the among the top 100 universities in Asia, ac- Bulgaria and Greece. sciences; the University of Tehran was listed highest share with 47 universities. cording to Webometrics Ranking of World Even the UK – a country that has witnessed a dramatic de- in all three subject areas. With a scientific growth rate of 10.4 per- Universities for July 2020. of Science and Technology. cline in coal-fired power use over the last few decades – sees a Meanwhile, Tehran University of Medical cent in 2019, Iran ranked second among the Moreover, 7 Iranian universities have In June 2020, THE Asia University Rank- relatively high level of excess deaths as a result of coal power Sciences was the only university from Iran top 25 countries in the world, next to China been listed among the best 1000 worldwide; ings 2020 ranked five Iranian universities pollution on a annual basis, according to the findings. that was listed in the field of medicine. with a growth rate of 12.9 percent, according including, Tehran University of Medical among the top 100 universities worldwide. The study estimates that coal plant pollution causes at least Iranian universities shine at world to the Web of Science website. Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of The Center for Science and Technology 1,270 to 1,670 excess deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory rankings According to statistics released by the Medical Sciences, Sharif University of Studies Leiden Ranking has placed 36 Iranian disease each year in the UK. Times Higher Education has published its International Web of Science Database, Iran’s Technology, Tarbiat Modares University, universities in the list of over 1,000 major One major reason for deaths occurring even in countries annual ranking of the world’s top universi- citation rank has always been on the rise Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Isfahan universities worldwide in 2020 compared which are phasing out coal power is that, once formed, PM2.5 ties for 2021, listing 47 Iranian universities, over the last eight years, from 24 in 2012 University of Technology, Iran University with 26 universities in 2019. particles are able to travel hundreds of kilometres across na- tional borders – meaning the health of people living in countries located nearby to major emitters can be affected. In addition to exploring the current health burden caused Scientists produce biodegradable plastic made from fish waste by coal-fired power in Europe, the researchers also investigated Scientists working on an alternative to polluting plastic have based plastics could provide an environmentally friendly Then, carbon dioxide was added to the epoxides and the possible health benefits that could be provided if it were discovered a biodegradable material derived from fish waste solution while also tackling food factory waste. the resulting molecules combined with nitrogen-contain- to be phased out. that would otherwise be thrown away, which could be used Previous studies have developed methods for producing ing chemical compound amines to form the new material. The findings suggest that a total phase out of coal power in a variety of products including packaging and clothing. plastics from fish waste, but the latest research goes further “It is important that we start designing plastics with an plants in Europe could save between 18,400 and 105,900 lives Canadian researchers say fish heads, bones, skin and guts in determining how the material might be easily broken end-of-life plan, whether it’s chemical degradation that turns per year – depending on what actions are taken to address other heading for landfill can be turned into useful material that down again at the end of its useful life. the material into carbon dioxide and water, or recycling and sources of PM2.5 pollution at the same time. could replace crude oil-derived polyurethanes, which are To produce the new material, the researchers used oil repurposing,” Ms Kerton said. “The phase-out of coal power plant emissions would make found in everything from shoes and clothes to refrigerators extracted from bits of salmon left after the flesh had been “When we start the process with the fish oil, there is a a major contribution to the improvement of public health, es- and construction materials. removed and processed for human consumption. faint kind of fish smell, but as we go through the steps, that pecially when applied simultaneously to emission reductions Existing polyurethanes come with a large carbon footprint They developed a way of converting the fish oil into a smell disappears.” in other sectors,” said Dr Kushta. and are slow to break down. polyurethane-like polymer, first by adding oxygen to the Since last summer, the team has been tweaking that But the team, led by Francesca Kerton, who is based at the oil in a controlled way to form epoxides, molecules similar process to simplify and speed up the breakdown of the fish Memorial University of Newfoundland, found that fish-oil to those in epoxy resin. oil-derived plastic. LET’S LEARN PERSIAN (Part 153) (Source: saadifoundation.ir) ENGLISH IN USE LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION

اولین المپیاد مجازی برگزار می شود Iran to hold first national online project Olympiad فاطمــه مهاجرانــی رئیــس مرکــز ملــی پــرورش اســتعدادهای درخشــان و The first round of online project Olympiad will be held in دانشپژوهــان جــوان گفــت: ســال آینــده اولیــن المپیــاد مجــازی بــا عنــوان Iran in the next Iranian calendar year (starting on March ›المپیــاد پــروژه ای‹ برگــزار مــی شــود. Fatemeh Mohajerani, an official with the Ministry of ,(21 فاطمــه مهاجرانــی روز یکشــنبه در گفــت و گــو بــا خبرنــگار ایرنــا اظهــار .Education has said داشــت: ایــن المپیــاد یــک موضــوع خــاص را بــه عنــوان یــک مســاله تعریــف The project Olympiad will focus on special subjects and is very کــرده و بــه آن مــی پــردازد و در واقــع شــبیه جشــنواره خوارزمــی اســت بــا much like Khwarizmi International Award the only difference ایــن تفــاوت کــه نیــازی بــه حضــور افــراد نیســت بلکــه بــه صــورت مجــازی is that the Olympiad will be carried out online, IRNA news برگــزار مــی شــود. .agency quoted Mohajerani as saying on Sunday وی افــزود: شــرکت کننــدگان و نخبــگان از طریــق یــک پورتــال ، طــرح هــا و The participants can submit their projects online via a website موضوعــات خــود را ارســال مــی کننــد تــا مــورد داوری قــرار گیــرد. .and a jury will evaluate them, she added Prayer Times Noon:13:07 Evening: 19:48 Dawn: 5:16 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:42 (tomorrow) APRIL 7, 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 Islamic Revolution Artist of the Year Editorial Dept.: Fax: (+98 21) 88808214 — 88808895 [email protected] Switchboard Operator: Tel: (+98 21) 43051000 Advertisements Dept.: Telefax: (+98 21) 43051430 announces 2021 finalists Public Relations Office: Tel: (+98 21) 88805807 ARTTEHRAN – Five Doostmohammadi was nominated Subscription & Distribution Dept.: Tel: (+98 21) 43051603 deskcultural figures have for designing a number huge posters Printed at: Jame Jam Bartar Borna - 44197737 be shortlisted as the final nominees on the Islamic Revolution and also for to compete for the title of the Islamic creating “Only for Gid’s Sake”, a comic Revolution Artist of the Year in 2021. strip representing Lieutenant-General Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 Tehrantimes79 The finalists include director and Qassem Soleimani’s life style. screenwriter Jalil Saman, poets Afshin Yaminpur received the nomination No. 18, Bimeh Alley, Nejatollahi St., Tehran, Iran Ala and Ali-Mohammad Moaddab, and for “Apostasy”, an alternate history novel P.o. Box: 14155-4843 graphic artist Mohammadreza Doostmo- about the Islamic Revolution, as well as, Zip Code: 1599814713 hammadi and author Vahid Yaminpur, for his travelogue of Japan “The Jinja the Organizers of the Islamic Revolu- Monk”. tion Art Week announced during a press The Islamic Revolution Artist of the conference on Monday. Year will be announced on April 14 on Saman has been nominated for his the closing day of the Islamic Revolution trilogy “Gift of Darkness”, “Butterfly” Art Week, which opens today. and “Breath” on the Islamic Revolution The art week is organized by the Art and the popular TV series “The Antique”. Bureau of the Islamic Ideology Dis- Ala has been selected for “his timely semination Organization every year literary response to events in society and to commemorate the martyrdom an- GUIDE TO creating the poetry book ‘Sarbaznameh’ niversary of documentarian Morteza SPIRITUAL AWAKENING (‘Book of Soldiers’) in mourning for Gen- Avini who was martyred by a landmine eral Qassem Soleimani.” in 1993 during his trip to the former What actions are most excellent? To glad- Moaddab received the nomination Iran-Iraq war zone in southwestern for “his hard efforts to grow up a new Iran while making the documentary den the heart of human beings, to feed the generation poets and writer, which are “A City in the Sky” about the fall of hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the committed to the Islamic Revolution, as Organizers attend a press conference at the Art Bureau in Tehran on April 5, 2021 to Khorramshahr and the liberation of sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the well as, for his timely literary response announc the final nominees of the Islamic Revolution Artist of the Year. (Mehr/Moham- the southwestern Iranian city during sufferings of the injured. to events in society.” madreza Abbasi) the Iran-Iraq war. Prophet Muhammad (S) Victoria and Albert Museum in London launches “Epic Iran” Exhibition Iran” exhibition featuring a variety of art works sian Empire, following this; the “The Book of Documentary on ranging from sculpture, ceramics and carpets, to Kings” sections sheds light on how was textiles, photography and film dating back 5000 introduced in Persia featuring poetry works by “The Zeinabi Division” years according to its official website. renown Iranian poets such as Ferdowsi and its to be broadcasted soon The exhibition was just launched and is open to famous ‘Shahnameh’. Further sections of the visitors until 12th September 2021. The ten sections exhibition include the “Change of Faith” sec- 1 Hosting various gatherings of the martyrs’ families and in the exhibition feature the remarkable Iranian tion which dwells into the emergence of Islam talking to them is also one of Leader’s regular plans. culture starting with a show of Iran’s landscapes in Iranian culture with a fascinating lead into The documentary series “These Stars” aims to convey parts in the “Land of Iran” section, then displaying dec- the next section named “Literary Excellence” of what is happening in these meetings to Iranian people. orative objects in a portrayal of Iran’s significant showcasing Iran’s advancement in literature “The Zeinabi Division” is the first part of this series, which is civilization before the Persian Empire in the Ex- with the emergence of the Arabic script as a dedicated to an overview of a number of meetings of the honorable hibition’s “Emerging Iran” section. literary language in royal courts. families of the martyrs who defended the holy shrines in Iraq In a somewhat controversial move, the museum The “Royal Patronage” and “The Old and the and Syria, which were held in the office of the Supreme Leader. has announced that several archeological artefacts New” sections feature the rebirth of the kingship which are “on loan from the British” as well as col- and royal customs in Iran and the imposing of the lections from the Oxus Treasure Museum which western culture in Iran by the Qajar dynasty under consist of the “Cyrus Cylinder” and “gold armlet” the pretext of “modernization”. The bitter fate of Hazaras A 10-metre-long painted reproduction of the tiled are on display in the Exhibition’s “Persian Empire” The exhibition’s final section is the “Modern girls from myth to reality dome interior of Mosque of Sheikh Lutfollah, Isfahan, section with the aim of providing an insight into and Contemporary Iran” which according to the in preparation for the Epic Iran show. Photograph: “kingship and royal power” as well as the trade and museum’s official website covers a period of “social Peter Kelleher governance in the society during that era. and political change”, as well as political changes ARTTEHRAN — Emad Rasouli, director of the The additional sections of the exhibition which led to the Islamic Revolution, and conse- deskplay “Forty- Girl Mountain”, explained the for- LONDON — One of the world’s largest arts mu- consist of “Last of the Ancient Empires” sec- quently the establishment of the Islamic Republic mation of this play and the bitter narrative of the fate of Hazaras seums has launched what it has dubbed the “Epic tion which covers the overthrowing of the Per- of Iran by Imam Khomeini (ra). girls and their resistance to oppression. Saadi Foundation announces final deadline of registration for AMFA International Exam

ARTTEHRAN — Ac- This will be the second international has institutionalized an official curric- deskcording to the official Proficiency exam and ulum for the teaching of the Persian website of the foundation, the Persian it will be held simultaneously in Iran, Language which is regulated by Iran’s Language Proficiency Test (PLPT) Russia and Iraq. Supreme Council for Cultural Revolution known as AMFA in Farsi, is due to be AMFA is the only valid and interna- and aims to establish the International held on 10th of April 2021. AMFA is tional certificate to assess and verify AMFA certificate as a core requirement Emad Rasouli, the Afghan director of the play “Forty- Girl the Persian abbreviation for Persian the Proficiency of Persian Language for the teaching of the Persian Language Mountain”, who has staged this play in Mehregan Theater, told Language Proficiency Test and it is learners. In line with International abroad. Mehr News Agency about this performance: “We staged this designated to measure the proficiency academic standards, the test assesses Some of the advantages of obtaining play twice on March 28, but unfortunately the theaters were of Persian language learners. Similar the learners’ level of ability in Persian the AMFA certificate are listed on the closed and the play was halted to stage. With the reopening of to other international language profi- Language within the framework of four Saadi Foundation website as the oppor- the theaters, we had 3 performances on April 3, 4, 5 and it was ciency tests such as IELTS & TOEFEL, main skills; listening, reading, speaking tunity of employment in companies in decided not to stage the play in April but due to the reception it offers successful candidates an in- Proficiency Certificate”. Recently the and writing. partnership with the Islamic Republic, that has been shown in just a few performances of the play, we ternationally recognized certificate foundation extended the deadline for Saadi Foundation, which is directed by as well as serving as a valid certificate are going to take the stage again in May.” known as the “International Persian registration to 7th of April 2021. the Iranian Vice President as chairman, for foreigners living in Iran. He explained the theme of the work: “This play narrates the bravery of Hazaras girls against the tyranny of Abdul Rahman Khan, one of the commanders of the time under British rule in Oruzgan. These girls resisted for 7 days and the leader of this resistance was a girl named Shirin. Finally, Shirin decides to die Tunisian professor: We must bring dimensions of oppression of voluntarily and threw herself from the top of the mountain to avoid captivity and humiliation.” Palestinians to attention of world The theater artist said about the time of this event: “Because some people consider this event a myth and do not accept that it ARTTEHRAN — “We must be able to support for the Palestinian cause in the internation- really happened, the exact time of this event is not known, but deskbring the dimensions of the oppres- al community, support for resistance activists and according to research that I did, it is about a hundred years ago sion of the Palestinian people to the attention of the writers in this field, among other effective measures when the British entered Afghanistan for colonization. Unfor- world,” said Fouad Fakhfakh, a professor of Islamic of the Islamic Republic of Iran in this field. tunately, not much information is available about this incident, civilization at Carthage University in Tunisia, during Referring to Earth Day, Farahani said that the and there is a dichotomy between the Hazaras people and other a meeting with Iran’s cultural attaché in Tunisia. unity of the word in expressing the crimes of the ethnic groups in Afghanistan as to whether this incident is real According to the Mehr news agency, quoting the Zionist regime and explaining the various dimen- or not, which has led to this incident not being recorded in Iranian cultural attaché office in Tunisia, Meysam sions of the occupation of Palestine was one of the history and being distorted. But in my research in the area, I Farahani, the cultural attaché of the Islamic Re- most important issues emphasized on this day and came across graves that the people of this province believe are public of Iran in Tunisia, met with Fouad Fakhfakh, announced the readiness of Iran’s cultural attaché the graves of these girls.” professor of Islamic civilization at Carthage Univer- office to hold this occasion as glorious as possible. Rasouli noted: “I myself am from Afghanistan and live in sity. In this meeting, referring to the importance of Fakhfakh also stated in this meeting that one of the Iran and I am interested in folklore stories and the subjects and expanding relations between university professors most important areas for deepening and expanding topics that I choose to perform or make a short film about are and benefiting from existing scientific capacities cultural relations between the two countries was to related to this in Afghanistan. At first, I was supposed to stage to strengthen bilateral cultural and scientific rela- benefit from the capacity of universities and bilateral a play about Rabe’e Balkhi, but at the suggestion of my friend, tions, Farahani said: “The history of scientific and scientific fields, which had been used well so far. I decided to work on the Hazaras girls, because this play is a academic cooperation between the Islamic Republic Referring to the publication of his new book on feminine work and at the same time, it is bitter and sweet. Since of Iran and the Republic of Tunisia is very bright Farahani also praised Fakhfakh for writing and Palestine, the Professor of Islamic Civilization at little information is available about this incident, despite my and growing. There is progress, and in the mean- publishing the book on the Palestinian issues and Carthage University assessed and emphasized it research, I, along with Amir Hossein Alemi and Ahmad Ata’ie, time, university professors and thinkers have an described it as a lasting and effective step in ex- as a basis for further explanation of the Palestinian who are other playwrights, enriched the story in order to make important and effective role to play in deepening plaining the issue of Palestine and the oppression issue in the current situation and went on to say: it more attractive to become a play. This may not be a true story, these relationships.” of the Palestinian people. “The Palestinian issue will never be forgotten in any but such events are the reality of the women of my country every Farahani added: “So far, many joint scientific He noted: “The issue of Palestine as the most time and all of us as Muslims have a duty to use all day, and there are many such incidents.” meetings have been held in Tunisia with the par- important issue in the Islamic world has been consid- available capacities at our disposal to explain and The theater director concluded by pointing out that he had ticipation of the elites of the two countries and in ered by thinkers, elites, people of culture and politics enlighten the dimensions of the oppression of the been focusing on this play for the past 4 years and that he had cooperation with the Iranian Cultural Attaché Office, and Islamic societies, and the Islamic Republic of Palestinian people and to raise the voice of support planned to stage it two more times before, which was not possible which led to very desirable and lasting results in the Iran after the Islamic Revolution, has paid special and freedom of the Holy Quds to the world.” for some reason, and stated: “This play is post-modern and at development of bilateral relations and it is hoped attention to this issue and has tried in every way to He added: “The Palestine has always been one of the same time, it is absurd that we are witnessing the creation that by taking advantage of the capacity of bilateral declare the illegitimacy of the occupying regime in the most important issues in Tunisia for all political of a traditional atmosphere. The play is a combination of form scientific agreements between the universities of Beit-ol-Moqaddas and the oppression of the Pal- parties and cultural and popular communities, and movements of actors and dialogue. we first see the story is nar- Tunisia and Iran, we will be able to hold various estinian people.” during the year, especially on Earth Day and Al- rated by one of the warlords to his wife who witnessed this event, scientific meetings and programs in the new Iranian Iran’s cultural attaché in Tunisia termed the desig- Quds Day, effective measures have been taken in and then we see the presence of these girls in the wife’s dreams, year on the subject of modern Islamic civilization and nation of the International Day of Quds, holding this regard and this year, various programs will be which is accompanied by form movements.” cultural commonalities between the two countries.” numerous intellectual and scientific meetings, explicit implemented more glorious than previous years.”