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.13232 Tuesday OCTOBER 16, 2018 Mehr 24, 1397 Safar 6, 1440 Iran says studying Luxury rail travelers Team Melli will be Religious play crew opening of EU office on excursion different in AFC Asian pays tribute to actor in Tehran 2 across Iran 10 Cup: Carlos Queiroz 15 Anushirvan Arjmand 16 Joint committee formed to UN condemns ‘horrific’ attack spur exports to 15 countries ECONOMY TEHRAN — A joint impediments and facilitation of trade of deskcommittee with co- goods, the interior minister told reporters operation of Foreign Ministry, Islamic on the sidelines of a meeting. Republic of Iran Customs Administra- Highlighting the key role of free zones, on passenger buses in Yemen tion (IRICA), NAJA (Iranian police), and Rahmani fazli also underscored the sig- Ministry of Intelligence has been formed nificance of injecting exporters’ revenues to protect and improve Iran’s exports to back to domestic financial system and also See page 13 15 countries across the globe, Interior combating traffic of goods at the border Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli was areas as the main objects of the govern- quoted by IRNA as saying on Monday. ment on the way to encourage exports of The committee seeks removal of exports Iranian products. Trump has launched ‘economic terrorism’ by halting Iranians’ access to medicine: Hatami POLITICS TEHRAN – Defense dom, sanctions which are inhumane deskMinister Amir Hatami and contrary to principles of human said on Monday that the Donald Trump rights. It [the U.S.] even prevents the administration has launched “econom- people from accessing medicine and ic terrorism” by preventing Iranians’ basic needs by resorting to economic access to medicine, calling the move terrorism,” he said during a speech “inhumane”. at the 4th ICMM Pan-Asia Pacific “The U.S. has sanctioned us, be- Congress on Military Medicine in cause of our independence and free- Tehran. 2 Assad stresses importance of upgrading historic Syrian-Iraqi relations Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on victories achieved in combating terrorism Monday received Iraqi Foreign Minister in Syria and Iraq are in common because Ibrahim al-Jaafari and the accompanying the field in the two counties are one, where delegation. blood of the heroes who achieved these During the meeting the two officials victories in both countries is mingled. discussed the latest developments at the President al-Assad stressed the impor- Syrian and Iraqi arenas and the regional tance of upgrading and consolidating the and international situations. Syrian-Iraqi historic relations particularly File photo President al-Assad stressed that the at the two peoples’ level, 13 EDITORIAL Khashoggi case will force Trump to do something: ex-senior CIA official ARTICLE Mohammad Ghaderi EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Following is the text of the interview: a regular contributor to a major newspaper in Masoud Hossein Tehran Times editor-in-chief By Javad Heirannia Due to the relations between the West Washington. Another reason is the shock factor Head of the Sport Desk of @ghaderi62 and the United States in particular with Saudi involving the nature of the alleged crime, with the TehranTimes TEHRAN — Professor Paul Pillar, who was CIA Arabia, the subject of Jamal khashoggi has a possible murder and dismemberment inside intelligence analyst for 28 years, tells the Tehran become widespread. Usually, in the case of a diplomatic mission. Terror business in Times that Khashoggi case will force Trump to human rights violations, Western countries Some believe that as Saudi Arabia did not Para athletes do something, but his administration will resist condoned Saudi Arabia because of Saudi arms lower the price of oil at request of Trump, the Macron’s style doing more than a necessary minimum, because purchases and guarantying oil sales by Sau- United States is putting pressure on Saudi Arabia beyond it does not want to upset its overall relationship dies. But in this case it is different. What are through khashoggi subject. What is your opinion? n an exclusive interview with FRANCE with Saudi Arabia. the reasons? A: It is very unlikely that the Trump adminis- expectations 24 and RFI, French President Em- Pillar also says, “Most likely there will be some A: There does indeed seem to be a difference tration is thinking along any such lines. A close Imanuel Macron said: “It is incorrect sort of sanctions placed on the individual Saudi between how the Khashoggi case is being viewed relationship with Saudi Arabia is a centerpiece head of the 2018 Asian Para Games, to state that Saudi Arabia is important officials whom Turkey has identified as being and how previous human rights violations in- of that administration’s policies in the Middle the National Paralympic Commit- economically to France in any area. With directly involved, but Trump will resist placing volving Saudi Arabia have been treated. One East. The Khashoggi affair, far from being a tool Atee’s officials said Iran would par- Saudi Arabia and the UAE, we have a co- blame all the way up to the level of Crown Prince reason is Jamal Khashoggi’s relative prominence of the administration, is a very unwelcome de- ticipate in the Games to defend its fourth operative relationship based on the whole Mohammed bin Salman.” in the United States, where he resided and was velopment for it. 7 place in Incheon but the sportspersons truth and clarity, but it’s a strategic tie. performed beyond the expectations. The fight against terrorism goes hand in Iranian para athletes came fourth in hand with these two countries.”. inaugural edition of the Asian Para Games But according to the latest polls in France, Iran, India should bolster tourism cooperation in Guangzhou 2010, winning 27 gold, 24 most citizens in the country are calling for By Uzair Hasan Rizvi economic ties with friendly countries, including A report says that 72,809 Indians traveled to silver and 29 bronze medals. a ban on arms sales to Riyadh. French au- TEHRAN — Is it safe for an Indian tourist to India. One of them is tourism. Iran during the last Iranian fiscal year (March Not bad for the west Asian giant in thorities nevertheless continue to engage travel to Iran? How cheap is Iran for an Indian Although India is yet to taken its final decision 2017-18), accounting for 2.3% of total foreign Paralympic sports. in “terrorist business” with Saudi Arabia. tourist? on oil imports from Iran, reports suggest that the visitors. Iranian tourism authority’s data indicates Four years later in 2014, in the second In a recent YouGov poll, 75 percent of While I was looking for ways to travel to Iran Indian government would most likely continue a 6.6% drop in the number of Indian visitors, edition of the games, held in Incheon, French people want Macron to suspend as a tourist, these were some of the common ques- oil trade with Tehran, defying U.S. sanctions. Two compared with the year before. South Korea, Iran once again finished in arms exports to countries involved in the tions I came across on Google while researching major Indian oil companies recently put orders for Although Iran boasts of a diverse landscape fourth place but with 10 more gold medals. war on Yemen, including Saudi Arabia and for tourism avenues for an Indian traveler. Iranian crude oil for November, when the petroleum which offers plenty of recreational opportunities, In that game, one more gold medal the United Arab Emirates. But Emanuel The coverage of Iran in the mainstream global related sanctions take effect, which is an indication tourism is largely confined to holy pilgrimage sites could have earned Iran third place instead Macron, and Le Drian and other Elysée media has largely been toxic for obvious rea- that India won’t buckle under the U.S. pressure. like Mashhad and Qom which are highly revered of Japan, a missed opportunity for Iran. officials ignore their citizens’ requests and sons. The news that comes out from the country Nevertheless, looking beyond the energy by Shias across the world, including in India. In the 2018 Asian Para Games in Ja- continue to support the Saudis. is either about the nuclear program, regional cooperation between India and Iran, tourism A large percentage of Indians who are not karta, Indonesia, Iranian para athletes It is obvious that the symbol of the al- rivalries or the crippling economy due to U.S. is one area that can bring the two time-tested Muslims have to be lured in a different way. Defi- surprised everyone by winning 51 gold, leged terrorism claimed by Macron and other sanctions. Whether Iran has the right to pursue allies closer and bolster their ties further. nitely, Iran with its Islamic and cultural heritage 52 silver and 53 bronze medals. European officials are the innocent Yemeni nuclear program for peaceful energy purpose is Iran, known for its rich culture, is home to can be transformed into a lucrative tourist hub, Iran has participated in the last eight edi- people who have been killed by bombing or a different debate. many historical places, but its tourism sector the way Turkey has remodeled itself, where both tions of the Paralympic Games and has always starvation during this war. French officials With the Trump administration re-imposing remains largely underdeveloped due to myriad sets of tourism, religious and recreational, co-ex- displayed power in the prestigious event. are also well aware of Saudi interventions draconian sanctions on Iran, this is an opportunity problems ranging from infrastructural issues ist.