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.13925 Thursday APRIL 22, 2021 Ordibehesht 2, 1400 Ramadan 9, 1442 Iran rejects gradual revival Iran advance to FIFA Imports of COVID-19 “We Are Here We Are of JCPOA as EU mulls Futsal World Cup test kits reduced Close” to compete in Fajr sequential return Page 3 Lithuania 2021 Page 3 to zero Page 7 Intl. Film Festival Page 8 Iran has taken air superiority from Powerful explosion rocks U.S., says CENTCOM TEHRAN — “For the first time since the surveillance and attack. Korean War, we are operating without He added, “What we have found is that, complete air superiority,” Central Com- particularly against Iran, they do not like sensitive Israeli missile factory mand (CENTCOM) Commander Gen. their activities to be exposed.” Kenneth McKenzie acknowledged on On June 20, 2019, Iran’s Islamic Revo- See page 5 Tuesday. lutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shot down a The Marine Corps general in charge of United States RQ-4A Global Hawk BAMS-D the U.S. CENTCOM made the acknowl- surveillance drone with a surface-to-air edgment in a House Armed Services missile over the Strait of Hormuz. Committee hearing. The U.S. has been flying surveillance McKenzie said that Iran is extensively drones in the West Asia region for many On the verge of liberation using small and medium-sized drones for years to spy on Iran. Annual iron ore pellet output up 10% TEHRAN - Latest data released by the aged to produce 41.7 million tons of pellets Iranian Mines and Mining Industries in the preceding year, IRNA reported. Development and Renovation Organi- According to the data, Golgohar was zation (IMIDRO) indicate that iron ore the largest producer of pellets in the said pellet production by major Iranian mining year with 12.2 million tons of production, companies exceeded 46 million tons in followed by Mobarakeh Steel Company the previous Iranian calendar year (ended with 7.3 million tons, MIDHCO with 6.2 on March 20), registering a 10 percent million tons, and Khouzestan Steel Com- growth year on year. pany with 5.5 million tons. The mentioned companies had man- Continued on page 4 TEHRAN – Yemeni forces have closed es have intensified their war efforts in on the strategic oil-rich city of Marib prompting Saudi Arabia to carry out in their latest efforts to liberate the city another bombing campaign in various from Saudi-backed mercenaries. parts of Yemen. The Yemeni Army and “popular com- On Wednesday, Yemeni news channel mittees” have launched an operation to Al Masirah reported that the U.S.-Saudi capture Marib, the last stronghold of the aerial aggression launched 14 airstrikes Saudi-backed forces in northern Yem- in Marib governorate, east of Sanaa. en. The Yemeni forces have successfully Citing a security source, the channel advanced toward the city and besieged said the airstrikes targeted Wadi Nakhla it but they are yet to enter Marib. in the Sirwah district. Over the last few days, these forc- Continued on page 3 AFP Israel seeks an Rouhani: Security is Iran-Pakistan U.S. protests: Black teen girl fatally shot unchecked nuclear ‘common concern’ by Ohio police monopoly: TEHRAN — In his meeting with Pakistani Foreign influential neighbors of Afghanistan, should play A Black teenage girl was fatally shot by po- Officers were responding to a call about an Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednes- their role through interaction and cooperation to lice in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday after- attempted stabbing when the shooting happened ex-Senate candidate day, President Rouhani emphasized the need manage the peace process in Afghanistan. noon, shortly before a U.S. jury found former around 4:45 pm in the southeastern part of Co- to ensure peace and stability in the region with “The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin guilty of lumbus, according to The Columbus Dispatch. BY MOHAMMAD ALI SAKI a focus on regional mechanisms and securing cooperation with Pakistan and Afghanistan to third-degree murder in the May 2020 death The verdict in the Chauvin case was an- former U.S. Senate candi- the borders of the two neighboring countries. play its role in this regard,” the president said. of George Floyd. nounced in Hennepin County court about 20 date says Israel resorts to He called security a “common concern” of “Iran-Pakistan relationship is fraternal” The shooting was confirmed on Twitter by minutes later. assassination and sabotage the two countries and said that strengthening For his turn, Qureshi described the relations with the city’s mayor, Andrew Ginther, who said “It is clear the officer took action to protect A cooperation in this field is “necessary”. the Islamic Republic of Iran as “unique, valuable and there was police body camera footage of the another young life,” Ginther said. because it needs an unchecked nu- clear monopoly in West Asia. The president noted the importance of cooperation fraternal” and emphasized the need to strengthen incident, calling on residents to remain calm Following the shooting, the girl, identified “This demonic agenda involves the need with Pakistan as Iran’s Muslim neighbor and stressed and consolidate these relations in all fields. as protesters descended on the scene. by her family as Ma’Khia Bryant, was taken to for an unchecked nuclear monopoly in the need to develop and deepen relations between the Referring to the emphasis that Pakistani “This afternoon a young woman tragically Mount Carmel East in critical condition where the Middle East (West Asia) and one not two countries in various fields, including economic Prime Minister Imran Khan puts on develop- lost her life,” he said. “It’s a tragic day in the city she was pronounced dead. under the scrutiny of the Non-Proliferation and trade relations, as well as the development and ing relations with Iran, the Pakistani foreign of Columbus. A horrible, heartbreaking situa- Meanwhile, Public Safety Director Ned Treaty (NPF) as Iran is,” Mark Dankof strengthening of the border markets. minister expressed hope that in the near future, tion. I’m not just the mayor, I’m a father. The Pettus said the death of Bryant is “devas- tells the Tehran Times. Referring to the U.S. decision to withdraw its bilateral relations will enter a new phase and city of Columbus lost a 15-year-old girl today.” tating.” “The Natanz sabotage is only the latest troops from Afghanistan by September 11, Rouhani will witness new openings in the development of He went on to say that “we do not know all of “She could be my grandchild,” Pettus said. criminal action directed by Israel against said that the U.S. military presence in the region has relations between the two countries, especially the details. There is body-worn camera footage “My heart breaks for the family tonight. No Iran within its own borders, and with the not helped maintain security and stability, adding in commercial and economic fields. of the incident. We are working to review it as matter what the circumstances, that family is full support of the United States and the that Iran and Pakistan, as the most important and Continued on page 2 soon as possible.” in agony and they are in my prayers.” West,” he argues. A power failure caused by a deliberately planned explosion struck Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment site on April 11. Lack of trust exists in Vienna talks: American foreign policy expert COVIRAN vaccine Iranian officials called sabotage “nucle- BY MOHAMMAD MAZHARI An American delegation also has been in the 2015 nuclear deal. starts third phase of ar terrorism” and held Israel’s Mossad TEHRAN - Barbara Slavin, an American foreign Vienna but not talking directly to the Iranian Speaking on March 31 on a webinar hosted responsible for the act. policy expert, is of the opinion that there is a team. by the National Iranian American Council, U.S. human trial Following is the text of the interview: lack of trust between Iran and the U.S., which “I think there is a lack of trust and a need Senator Chris Murphy and Rep. Ro Khanna, both How do you assess Israeli sabo- makes it a must to design a roadmap to restore for a mutual roadmap to compliance necessary Democrats, addressed the stalemate between the TEHRAN – COVIRAN BAREKAT, the first corona- tage operation in the Natanz nuclear the nuclear deal. for both sides,” Slavin tells the Tehran Times. U.S. and Iran regarding the return to the 2015 virus vaccine made by Iranian researchers, started facility? What are the reasons and Iran has been negotiating with five powers Many pundits and politicians inside America nuclear agreement and urged the administration the third phase of the human trial, Mostafa Qanei, motives? that remain in the agreement – France, Germany, criticize President Biden’s hesitation in taking the to be open and willing to take early steps back secretary of the biotechnology development office Israel simply wants a monopoly on Britain, Russia, and China- in Vienna over the first step to revitalize the Joint Comprehensive into the deal. of the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, nuclear weaponry in the Middle East past two weeks. Plan of Action (JCPOA), the official name for Continued on page 5 announced. (West Asia) to continue its pursuit of Developed by researchers at the Headquar- Eretz Yisrael (Greater Israel) from the ters for Executing the Order of the Imam, Tigris to the Euphrates Rivers.