WWW.TEHRANTIMES.COM I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 8 Pages Price 50,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 42nd year No.13892 Saturday FEBRUARY 27, 2021 Esfand 9, 1399 Rajab 15, 1442 Iran says UN investigator has Iranian duo shortlisted for Rouhani inaugurates “Sun Children” star Zamani no authority to comment on International Women’s Day major freeway near cast in war drama “The Ukrainian plane crash Page 3 Recognition awards Page 3 capital Tehran Page 4 Bakeri Martyrs” Page 8 Zarif stresses Iran committed to back Syria in terror fight TEHRAN - Mohammad Javad Zarif, the that the Islamic Republic will continue to Biden shows U.S. Iranian foreign minister, has assured his support Syria in various fields, notably Syrian counterpart that Tehran will keep in combatting terrorism. supporting the Damascus government in Zarif also asserted the need for efforts See page 3 the fight against terrorism in the efforts to restore security and stability to all Syr- to guarantee security and stability across ian territories and achieve a solution that Syria. would preserves the interests, sovereignty, true colors In a telephone conversation on Friday independence and territorial integrity of with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mek- Syria, Tasnim reported. dad, the top Iranian diplomat emphasized Continued on page 2 S. Korea to release $1b of Iran’s frozen assets soon TEHRAN – Head of Iran-South Korea and determined in coordination with the Joint Chamber of Commerce has said Health Ministry. that $1 billion of Iran’s frozen funds in The mentioned developments regard- South Korea will soon be transferred to ing the release of Iranian frozen funds in an Iran-Switzerland financial channel South Korea have been achieved following to be paid for foodstuff, medicine, and a meeting between the Governor of the medical equipment. Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Abdolnaser According to Hossein Tanhaei, the Hemmati and the South Korean Ambassa- medicine items that are set to be import- dor to Tehran Ryu Jeong-Hyun on Monday. ed into the country have been negotiated Continued on page 4 “Book of Defense” studying Imam Khomeini’s leadership role in Iran-Iraq war released TEHRAN – The Sacred Defense Research ies Department of the center, Mohsen and Archives Center has released a book Qazi, said that the book contains Imam entitled “Book of Defense” that surveys Khomeini’s discourses on the war derived the leadership role of the founder of the from Sahifeye Nur, a series containing Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, during Imam Khomeini’s speeches on various the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, which is topics. known as Sacred Defense in Iran. He said that the Institute for the Compi- Speaking during the unveiling ceremony lation and Publication of Imam Khomeini’s organized at the center on Wednesday, Works had approved the book. the director of the Socio-Cultural Stud- Continued on page 8 Expert Mozafari I invite all travelers interested in culture to One martyred, four wounded as U.S. attacks supports referees visit Iran: Venezuelan tourism minister anti-terror forces on Iraq-Syria border in FFIRI’s elections TEHRAN – “I invite all [potential] travelers who and his Iranian counterpart Ali-Asghar Moune- One person has lost his life and four others have retaliation for recent attacks against American BY FARROKH HESABI are interested in culture to visit Iran and see san inked a memorandum of understanding to been wounded in the U.S. military’s air raid bases and missions in Iraq, which Washington n less than 48 hours, Iranian that Iran is a peaceful and hospitable country,” deepen mutual tourism ties. against positions of resistance forces operating has blamed on so-called “Iran-backed” Iraqi football federation will see its new Venezuela’s Minister of Tourism and Foreign Back in October, Mounesan exchanged views against terror groups on the Iraqi-Syrian border, resistance groups. president in the elections which Trade Ali Padron Paredes has said. with former Venezuelan Tourism and Foreign an informed source tells Press TV. accordingIn the latest such attacks, I “I am stunned by the beauties of Isfahan”, Trade Minister Felix, Ramon Plasencia Gon- The casualties were caused in the early hours Rockets hit Baghdad’s Green Zone, which will be held on Sunday, Fab. 28. Ali Karimi, Mostafa Ajorloo, Sha- Padron Paredes added in an interview with CHTN zalez, in a video conference to deepen tourism of Friday, as the American airstrike targeted houses the U.S. embassy and other missions, habeddin Azizi Khadem, and Kiumars on Thursday while touring the ancient city dur- relations, especially through simplifying visa facilities used by forces of Iraq’s Popular Mobi- on Monday. The American military base Hashemi are the final four candidates ing his four-day visit to the Islamic Republic. rules, launching fam tours, and setting up exhib- lization Units (PMU) — better known as Hashd at Erbil International had similarly been who will compete for the presidential seat. The minister had toured several travel desti- its. They also agreed to sign a memorandum of al-Sha’abi — at a border point in eastern Syria, attacked days earlier. But apart from the presidency of the fed- nations and museums in Kerman before flying to understanding in a bid to broaden bilateral ties. where the resistance group has been fighting The Iraqi resistance groups and many Iraqi eration, the competing for membership in the Isfahan. He called his visit to Kerman as memorable. Last November, Mounesan said that visa-free remnants of the Takfiri Daesh terror group in officials have, however, roundly dismissed Wash- board of directors of the Football Federation “I convey to the people and the government access and direct flights are the two important coordination with the governments in both ington’s allegations, blaming rogue elements. of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) is also of Iran greetings of the people and the govern- advantages for Iran and Venezuela to develop Arab countries. ‘This is nothing!’ Lavrov says U.S. fierce. Based on the new FFIRI statutes, the ment of Venezuela.” tourism cooperation. In a statement issued after the assault, Pen- notified Russia few minutes in advance number of board members has increased “I enjoyed the journey to Iran and I want to The relationship between Venezuela and Iran tagon spokesman John Kirby said the raid had Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Segei Lavrov from 9 to 11. In the list of the FFIRI’s board experience this pleasure again. Iran has very hos- became more serious following an official visit been “deliberate” and meant to “de-escalate the of Russia, an ally of Syria, said on Friday that candidates, the eye-catching point is the pitable and friendly people who are also friendly by the then Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez overall situation in both eastern Syria and Iraq.” the United States had notified Moscow of the presence of 13 ex-referees. with the Venezuelan people,” the minister stated. to Tehran in 2001. The military action, the first of its kind un- impending attack on the PMU facility “four or Navid Mozafari, former Iranian referee Before setting off for Isfahan, Padron Paredes Continued on page 6 der U.S. President Joe Biden, was said to be in five minutes ahead of time.” and the AFC Regional Referee Instructor, believes that some of the referee candidates have no chance to be elected as the board Scholar says it’s not clear Biden can overcome polarization soon Resolution in the of directors’ member. “It was shocking to me that a lot of BY M.A. SAKI The rise of polarization over the past years history of the United States. hands of Yemeni former referees have registered for the TEHRAN – An American academic says she is not has made many Americans worried about the For this reason, Joe Biden has a long road ahead elections. I have no idea why some of them sure Biden can deal with the polarization in the U.S. state of politics. to repair the deep-rooted division in America, parties, says ex-U.S. have participated in the elections because which has resulted from Donald Trump’s policies. Republicans and Democrats are more divided especially when it comes to polarization between ambassador to Sanaa they clearly have no chance to win. How- “It is not clear that President Biden can over- along political and ideological lines – and parti- the two main parties: Democrats and Republicans. ever, about some others, I believe that come the polarization any time soon, though san antipathy has been going deeper and more Following is the text of the interview: the American people very much hope for that,” extensive – than at any point over the last two What are the repercussions of Biden’s BY MOHAMMAD MAZHARI they deserve to be in the new federation’s TEHRAN – Urging regional powers to cooperate board of directors because of what they Elizabeth Sanders tells the Tehran Times. decades. These trends manifest themselves in win in presidential elections domestically “Since the Civil War of 1861-65, the two parties myriad ways, both in politics and in everyday life. and internationally? Do you predict any for a settlement of conflict in Yemen, the former have done during their careers both as a U.S. ambassador to Sanaa, says the key to ending referee and as a director,” Mozafari said in have not been so polarized. That is a very unfor- Many pundits consider the attack on the Capitol fundamental shift in U.S. policies? tunate situation,” Sanders points out. building on January 6 as a turning point in the Continued on page 5 the conflict in Yemen lies in the hands of the Yem- an exclusive interview with Tehran Times.