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.13259 Tuesday NOVEMBER 20, 2018 Aban 29, 1397 Rabi’ Al awwal 12, 1440 Iran has made due European banking Iran football in “The Ugly Duckling”, “Les decisions to return to mechanism not chaotic situation Misérables” coming to pre-JCPOA status 2 progressing well 2 15 Hamedan theater festival 16 Rouhani: Iran won’t yield Hunt meets Zarif amid to economic war POLITICS TEHRAN — President He noted that the enemies have started deskHassan Rouhani said economic and psychological war against Iran. See page 2 on Monday that Iranians will not surrender “They think we will surrender under Trump spat to those who have started economic war the pressure. Our great people should on the country. know that we have been committed to “We will not raise our hands [for our obligations under the agreements. We surrender] to those who have imposed have been committed based on the Islamic economic war on us. We will fulfil our culture. We did not initiate the econom- national duty and continue our path,” he ic war. They have done this [economic told thousands of well-wishers in Khoy, war] because of defeats in the region,” West Azerbaijan Province. the president remarked. 2 Iran, EU joint conference on agro- food co-op running in Tehran ECONOMY TEHRAN — A Joint trade, the two-day conference is focusing deskconference on the de- on developing standards for agricultural velopment of agricultural cooperation, and food products, removing barriers in standards and agro-food trade between the way of exports and strengthening trade Iran and the European Union kicked off relations between the two sides. in Tehran on Monday, IRNA reported. Speaking in the event, the Director Gen- Attended by over 300 officials from both eral of the Office of International Affairs at the European Union and Iranian minis- Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture, Houman Fathi, tries of agriculture; health and medical mentioned the country’s potentials and ca- education; as well as industry, mines and pabilities in agro-food sector saying, 4 Europeans still unable to announce SPV, diplomat laments POLITICS TEHRAN — Iranian Dep- “The U.S. exerts pressure to prevent Majid Haghdoust deskuty Foreign Minister Abbas formation of the SPV and to cut coopera- Araqchi said on Monday that the Europeans are tion between Iran and Europe,” the senior not still able to announce the so-called special diplomat said during a speech at Allameh purpose vehicle (SPV) because of the U.S. pressure. Tabataba’i University. SPV is a European Union’s initiative He noted that no European country Tehran Times/ Tehran Times/ intended to protect trade with Iran against has so far accepted to host the SPV for newly reimposed U.S. sanctions. fear of U.S. punishment. 2 PERSPECTIVE Trump seems to have no concept of a multipolar world: Jahanpour ARTICLE Mahmood Monshipouri Syed Zafar Mehdi Francisco State University EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW way that he is trying to establish an imperial no concept of a multipolar world and he wishes Journalist and the University of By Javad Heirannia presidency at home.” to rule other countries like a global hegemon, from New Delhi California, Berkeley Following is the full text of the interview: in the same way that he is trying to establish an TEHRAN — Professor Farhang Jahanpour, The idea of forming a joint European imperial presidency at home. However, most A real European part-time tutor on Middle Eastern affairs in the army is not a new idea, but in recent days, with countries of the world are reacting to that arrogant Why no global Department of Continuing Education, University the comments of French President Emmanuel attitude and want to move towards a multipolar army: A naive or of Oxford, and a member of Kellogg College says Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel world based on the rule of law and respect for outcry over Saudi that The main reason for the idea of forming a and the reaction of Trump, it has assumed a new international treaties. prudent idea? joint European army “has been President Trump’s dimension. What are the reasons for the progress Trump has withdrawn the United States from war in Yemen? unilateral and ultra-nationalist approach that of this project by countries such as France and the landmark Paris Climate Accord that, in view new strategic debate has engulfed puts America first and, by implication, ignores the Germany? of the rapid pace of global warming, many coun- n Sunday, the U.S. intelligence not only the European continent interests of other countries and tries to impose A: The main reason for the European unease tries take very seriously. He withdrew the United agency confirmed that the brazen Abut also other great powers across his views on them.” about the latest developments has been President States from the nuclear agreement with Iran, Okilling of Saudi journalist Jamal the globe. The idea of an EU collective Former Senior Research Scholar at Harvard Trump’s unilateral and ultra-nationalist approach despite the fact that it was the result of two years Khashoggi was ordered by the Saudi defense, now dubbed as “an integrated adds that “He seems to have no concept of a that puts America first and, by implication, ig- of intense negotiations between seven countries, crown prince Mohammad Bin Salman, EU military” is not new—as it has in the multipolar world and he wishes to rule other nores the interests of other countries and tries and was unanimously approved by the EU and which must have finally given some com- past been briefly mentioned by Silvio countries like a global hegemon, in the same to impose his views on them. He seems to have the Security Council Resolution 2231. 7 fort to his restless soul. The truth was not Berlusconi when he was the Italian hidden from the world, as it was already prime minister, but more recently, by established by the Turkish authorities, Commission President Jean-Claude ‘Popular sentiment in Pakistan remains sympathetic to Tehran’ but now we have the word straight from Juncker. By Syed Zafar Mehdi kistan’s economic crisis, and Imran Khan-led Prime Minister Imran Khan constituted a set the horse’s mouth. Today, however, the idea of European Khashoggi’s killing led to unprece- TEHRAN — Imran Khan led government in Pakistan government’s foreign policy issues. of taskforces meant to fix the country’s ailing Army has been resurrected in response dented global outcry against the Saudi has been in talks with the International Monetary Following are the excerpts: economy. These taskforces include a taskforce to the Trump administration’s decision regime because of its wanton disre- Fund (IMF) to tide over an economic crisis. It has Imran Khan has inherited a flailing econ- on restructuring of civil service, one on austerity to double down on its criticism of the EU gard for human rights. It dominated also approached its allies China and Saudi Arabia for omy that needs to be revived with funds. Do you and restructuring of government, another on members that have failed to adequately newspaper headlines and primetime funds, which has however raised a few eyebrows at believe Khan will be able to tide through this telecommunication. As the country’s priority is fulfill their burden sharing obligations TV discussions for weeks as the mystery home. It remains to be seen whether Khan will be able economic crisis? macroeconomic stabilization this is a good call to insofar as their financial contributions to surrounding the dissident journalist’s to resuscitate the flailing economy without compro- A: Pakistan is no stranger to economic crises. cut wasteful expenditures. Once that is achieved NATO are concerned. Trump’s decision killing grew. mising on country’s independent foreign policy and We have endured many in the past and have government can look at long term measures. to withdraw from the Intermediate-range To their credit, Turkish government whether he will be able to strike a delicate balance in always survived them. This too will pass. But So far PM Khan’s cabinet choices, team building Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty has also authorities left no stone unturned to un- relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran. history is no excuse for the lack of progress on the and list of priorities gives me hope that he can provoked such a reaction from both ravel the murder mystery and expose the Farrukh K Pitafi is an Islamabad based sen- economic front. Two economic powerhouses that deliver on economy. France and Germany. masterminds of the most diabolical crime. ior journalist, political analyst and talk show sit next to Pakistan, China and India, achieved After his second visit to Riyadh since tak- Considering the old Franco-Ger- The whole world waited with bated breath host. With over 20 years of television and print their success in past few decades right before ing over as the PM, Khan said he was sad about man competition and the upcoming because suddenly something had stirred journalism, he is known for his distinct voice on our eyes. So the country has to take a serious the Jamal Khashoggi incident but Pakistan was European elections, it should come as people’s conscience. global and local policy issues. In an interview look at what ails its economy. ‘desperate’ for funds. How would you decode no surprise that this idea, considered Today everyone knows about to Tehran Times, Mr. Pitafi speaks about Pa- Immediately after assuming the office of these words? 6 “naïve” by some and “prudent” by oth- Khashoggi and everyone knows his ers, has defied a strong and persistent murderer.