WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 16 Pages Price 20,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 39th year No.13257 Sunday NOVEMBER 18, 2018 Aban 27, 1397 Rabi’ Al awwal 10, 1440 Salih’s trip is New sanctions showed Iran drawn with Russia Troupes from Italy, India, ‘negative response’ U.S. irresponsibility: at FIVB Olympic Germany to perform at to sanctions 2 Kimball 7 Qualification 15 Iranian children’s festival 16 Exports to bring back $47b of hard currency by Mar. 2019 ECONOMY TEHRAN — Some $47 system, creation of jobs, and increase in Unity is the way deskbillion of hard currency people’s income, Abdolnaser Hemmati will be injected back to domestic financial announced that CBI will do its best to system via exports by the end of the present facilitate return of hard currency to the Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2019), country regarding the difficulties caused by the governor of the Central Bank of Iran the U.S. unilateral sanctions against Iran. (CBI) announced on social media. Considering the U.S.’s re-imposition Referring to exports as the prerequisite of sanctions on Iran’s oil industry, non-oil of reaching sustainable economic growth exports could be the key for the devel- out for Iraq and the gateway for re-injection of for- opment of the country’s economy in the eign currency into the country’s financial current situation. 4 See page 2 Turkish, Syrian teams met 6 times in Iran: report POLITICS TEHRAN — Chair- cooperation between Turkey and Syria deskman of Turkey’s ul- regarding the Turkish military’s cross-bor- tranationalist Homeland Party (VP) der operations in Syria. Dogu Perincek has said delegations Iran, Russia and Turkey have also held from Turkey and Syria met six times several rounds of peace talks in Kazakh- in Iran recently. stan’s Astana and elsewhere to help end Perincek told Sputnik news that the the conflict in Syria. The fourth round meetings were organized at the request of of those talks in May 2017 produced a Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, memorandum of understanding on de-es- the Turkish Minute reported on Thursday. calation zones in Syria, sharply reducing He added that there is also military fighting in the country. CIA concludes MBS ordered Khashoggi’s assassination The CIA has concluded that Saudi Crown The CIA’s assessment, in which of- Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the ficials have said they have high con- assassination of journalist Jamal Khashog- fidence, is the most definitive to date gi in Istanbul last month, contradicting linking Mohammed to the operation and khamenei.ir the Saudi government’s claims that he was complicates the Trump administration’s not involved in the killing, according to efforts to preserve its relationship with Iraqi President Barham Salih (L) meets with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei people familiar with the matter. a close ally. 13 EDITORIAL Why Nigerian government so afraid of Sheikh Zakzaky? ARTICLE Mohammad Ghaderi an interview with TehranTimes, he talks about Syed Zafar Mehdi Tehran Times editor-in-chief EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Journalist By Mohammad Fatemizadeh the latest army crackdown on the supporters of @ghaderi62 IMN and the horrendous atrocities unleashed from New Delhi TEHRAN — Last week, on the day of Arbae- on Nigerian Shias by the Buhari government, en, thousands of Islamic Movement in Nigeria backed by Western and Arab powers. Decoding Macron’s (IMN) supporters took part in a series of peaceful Following are the excerpts: Pakistan PM’s protests in the Nigerian capital Abuja to demand Nigerian police at the behest of Buhari remarks: Is France the release of their incarcerated leader Sheikh government carried out another gory massacre Saudi affair likely to Ibraheem Zakzaky. Nigerian security forces used against Shiites on the day of Arbaeen this year. really a U.S. ally? live ammunition to crush the protest, leading to Can you tell us exactly what happened? backfire the death of at least 50 people. A: The army claimed that the Shiites attacked n his latest remarks in response to the Human rights groups quoting eyewitness tes- government, despite the global outcry and court their convoy that was escorting ammunitions akistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia U.S. President Donald Trump, Ema- timonies said the Nigerian military dispersed orders, continues to keep IMN leader Sheikh and attempted to overpower them, but the video flourished during the previous gov- Inuel Macron, French President, has peaceful gatherings by firing indiscriminately Zakzaky behind bars. circulated online only shows the army shooting at Pernment headed by Nawaz Sharif, claimed that Paris is the U.S. ally, and not without warning, in blatant violation of inter- Oluyemi Fasipe is a Nigerian political analyst, them while they run away. The Nigerian Shiites primarily due to his personal business a vassal state! Beyond that, Macron has national and Nigerian law. Muhammadu Buhari social activist and communication strategist. In are known for peaceful protests. 7 interests in the Kingdom and friendly stated that Trump’s anti-French tweets association with members of the Saudi have not hurt his feelings, and he has no royal family. Despite the criticism at home, intention of responding to these contro- Sharif never missed an opportunity to versial tweets. How China is helping Iran skirt U.S. sanctions eulogize the Saudi rulers and support The French president’s remarks By Syed Zafar Mehdi importantly China, Turkey and India – three of its opposition to the unilateral U.S. sanctions. their wrongs. came after U.S. President attacked TEHRAN — Shortly after the Trump admin- Iran’s largest oil customers. “China feels sorry for the U.S.’ decision and we During Sharif’s tenure as Prime Min- Macron and France over its near de- istration reimposed sweeping sanctions on the While India has its own strategic interests noticed that the international world as a whole ister, while Pakistan’s ‘love affair’ with feat to Germany in two world wars Islamic Republic of Iran, Secretary of State in maintaining good relations with Tehran, for opposes the practice of such unilateral sanctions,” Riyadh blossomed, relations with Teh- and Macron’s approval ratings. Trump Mike Pompeo made an important announce- instance the Chabahar port project in Sistan-Bal- foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying ran plummeted. When the ambitious posted these tweets after his visit to ment. It was a calculated move to avoid a ma- uchistan, Turkey’s relations with Washington said at a press briefing. gas pipeline project was shelved by the France for the centenary of the end of jor embarrassment. The hawks in the power have hit a new low following sanctions and trade She said Iran has been seriously fulfilling its Sharif government in 2015 under the Saudi World War I, during which Macron corridors of Washington had anticipated the tariffs imposed by the U.S. obligations under the JCPOA and its efforts have pressure, some experts couldn’t resist the pushed his proposals for an EU army backlash of sanctions on U.S. foreign policy China, which has emerged as a viable coun- been recognized by the International Atomic En- temptation of reading obituary of Iran-Pa- and said France has to protect itself with many global powers rebuffing Trump’s terweight to U.S. hegemony in the world and a ergy Agency dozen times. She also affirmed that kistan friendship. It seemed game over. with “respect to China, Russia and even foolhardy move. protagonist of new international economic policy, China will firmly safeguard its lawful rights while But the political transition in Islam- the United States”. Pompeo said eight countries would be exempted has unambiguously reaffirmed its commitment continuing to adhere to JCPOA and urged relevant abad this year rekindled hopes of a new “(Paris) suggests building its own army from the draconian sanctions on buying Irani- to keep alive the Iran nuclear deal and stand by parties to stand on the “right side of history”. foreign policy taking shape in Islamabad to protect Europe against the U.S., Chi- an crude oil due to special circumstances. The the Islamic Republic of Iran. China has maintained that implementing the under the populist premier Imran Khan. na and Russia. But it was Germany in countries included China, India, Italy, Greece, On November 5, when the petroleum relat- Iranian nuclear deal is akin to safeguarding the In his victory speech, Khan made it World Wars One & Two - How did that Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey. ed sanctions came into effect, Chinese foreign authority of UN Security Council, basic norms categorically clear that he would like to work out for France? They were starting Many of these countries had quite clearly ministry said it will continue to “hold a fair, ob- of international law, international non-pro- strengthen ties with allies in the Middle to learn German in Paris before the U.S. indicated that they would not be cutting oil im- jective and responsible attitude” and “resolutely liferation treaty and peace and stability in the East, including Iran and Saudi Arabia. came along. Pay for NATO or not!” reads ports from Iran under the U.S. pressure, most safeguard its legitimate rights”, while reiterating Middle East. 6 During his first meeting with the Iranian Trump’s tweet. envoy to Islamabad, Khan reiterated his But Macron’s response to Trump’s desire to bolster ties with Tehran and re- tweets wasn’t that severe; “I don’t think vive important projects that had been put the French expect me to respond to tweets, National on backburner by the previous political I think he’s playing politics, and I let him dispensation, including the gas pipeline.