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.13903 Saturday MARCH 13, 2021 Esfand 23, 1399 Rajab 29, 1442 We will break Bahrain chosen to host National document drafted Moqaddasi tops at Iran’s the bones of World Cup qualifiers for water management, International Quran criminal U.S. Page 2 in Group C Page 3 environment protection Page 7 Competition Page 8 Iran joins group of countries at UN in forming coalition against sanctions Iran: KRG’s friend of TEHRAN – Iran joined a group of more in Defense of the Charter of the United than a dozen countries in forming a coali- Nations,” seen by Reuters, states that tion to defend the UN Charter by opposing multilateralism “is currently under an the use of force and sanctions. unprecedented attack, which, in turn, Reuters reported on Friday that China, threatens global peace and security.” Russia, North Korea, Iran and others are Other founding members of the group difficult days seeking support for a coalition to defend are Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Bolivia, Cam- the United Nations Charter by pushing bodia, Cuba, Eritrea, Laos, Nicaragua, KRG official underlines the back against the use or threat of force and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Syria unilateral sanctions. and Venezuela. need to avoid any interference See page 3 A concept note for the “Group of Friends Continued on page 3 in the region’s countries Iran’s export to Russia rises 105% in 2020 TEHRAN- The value of Iran’s exports to He stressed the existence of various Russia has increased 105 percent in 2020, fields for economic relations between Iran Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem and Russia and said, “Russia’s economy Jalali announced. is a large economy and this country has The ambassador put the worth of about $260 billion in imports, so we, as Iran’s export to Russian at $390 million Russia’s neighbor, can provide some of in 2019, and at $800 million in 2020, and the goods it needs and have our share of reiterated that the Russian market has a the market of this country.” good capacity for the Iranian products. Continued on page 4 American decision-makers lack ability to understand Iranian civilization: professor BY MOHAMMAD MAZHARI share interests in the region and beyond, TEHRAN — Professor Arshin Adib- the conversation between Persepolis Moghaddam, chair of the Centre for and Washington DC can only lead to re- Iranian Studies at the London Middle peated misunderstandings,” Professor East Institute, says that the conversation Adib-Moghaddam tells the Tehran Times. between Persepolis and Washington DC However, Professor Arshin can lead to repeated misunderstandings Adib-Moghaddam says, contrary to the due to Americans’ failure to understanding U.S., China and Russia have a better un- Iran’s civilization. derstanding of Iran. File photo File “While it is true that the U.S. and Iran Continued on page 5 Why should S.Korea Tehran, Tashkent discuss Number of migrant children in U.S. border release Iranian cultural heritage ties facilities soars amid growing crisis frozen funds? TEHRAN – The Islamic Republic of Iran and historical structures could also promote tourism The number of refugee children being held in spiked, with more children transferring to in- the Republic of Uzbekistan have held talks to in both countries, he added. U.S. border facilities is more than four times the creasingly crowded notorious federal shelters. BY EBRAHIM FALLAHI widen ties in the arena of cultural heritage. For his part, Sadiqov asked for ease of visa number in late February, highlighting a growing Last week, U.S. health officials lifted corona- nce one of Iran’s major oil Iran deputy tourism minister Moham- issuance between the two countries in the field humanitarian and political crisis for President virus-related capacity restrictions on shelters buyers, South Korea has mad-Hassan Talebian met on Wednesday with of tourist exchange in the shortest possible time. Joe Biden’s administration. for unaccompanied minors and this has posed a been holding back the re- Uzbekistan’s deputy minister of foreign affairs, Referring to the establishment of an Islamic More than 3,600 migrant children, up from serious COVID-19 health risk to children and staff. O Farhat Sadiqov, to explore possibilities for deeper research center in Bukhara and a center for Islamic around 800 on Feb. 22, were held in the “facili- The Biden administration has been sharply lease of several billions of dollars of Iranian oil money under the pres- cooperation on museum affairs as well as pre- civilization in Tashkent, and conducting a research ties” as of Thursday morning, U.S. officials said. criticized by both fellow Democrats and Re- sure from White House. serving and restoring historical monuments. project on Quranic and Islamic manuscripts by Some reports, however, said the number of publicans for its handling of the refugee crisis The country was one of the first Asian Based on the development of cultural relations Uzbek scholars and students, he called for the detained asylum-seeking children is much higher. at the border. countries that stopped importing Iranian between the two countries and the capacity to assistance of Iranian masters in these projects. An estimated 8,800 migrant children who Republicans have ripped the president for crude oil when a U.S. sanctions wavier cooperate in specialized fields of cultural heritage, There are 740 museums across Iran, some came to the United States alone are in federal rolling back Trump’s hardline policies, saying ended back in 2019, and since then the Talebian said that both sides could exchange half of which are associated with private collec- care facilities, a U.S. Health and Human Services his administration has encouraged illegal im- country has not paid over seven billion views and experiences on preparing joint dossiers tors or various institutions. Some three million (HHS) spokesperson told Sputnik on Friday. migration. dollars worth of Iranian oil it previously on tangible and intangible cultural heritage for historical objects are currently being kept in Biden vowed to undo many of the immigra- Democrats criticized Biden for using noto- shipped in. global registration as well. Iranian museums which are affiliated with the tion policies of former president Donald Trump rious Trump-era detainment facilities in Texas The South Korean’s reluctance for Setting up tours during Noruz (Iranian new tourism ministry. Iran is home to one of the when he assumed offices on Jan. 20, to house migrant children. Democrats had used standing up against the U.S.’s unilater- year holidays, which is also celebrated in some world’s oldest continuous major civilizations, Detentions, however, on the U.S. border the detainment facilities to accuse Trump of alism comes in a situation where many other countries in the region) as well as tourist embracing settlements dating back to 4000 BC. have surged since January as the number of putting “kids in cages.” other Iranian oil buyers including China tours for visiting the Silk Road and restored Continued on page 6 asylum-seeking unaccompanied minors has Continued on page 5 are defying Washington’s unjust sanctions and paying for their oil imports through various payment mechanisms. The situation has raised several ques- Centrist Biden is unlikely to take bold actions toward West Asia: Hunter More refugees in tions the answers to which could be of BY M.A. SAKI to reverse Trump’s policies and make fundamental Hunter notes, adding, “The conservative-liberal Iran under insurance great interest for both sides; why is it in TEHRAN - Shireen Tahmaasb Hunter, a professor changes in U.S. foreign policy, some political divide is more significant in the domestic area.” South Korea’s best interest to put on a of political science at Georgetown University, observers are doubtful that he can make any The case of the Khashoggi killing and the coverage stronger face against the U.S. regarding says Joe Biden is reluctant to take bold decisions, significant reforms. role of Mohammed bin Salman in it was a good the release of Iranian frozen assets? Is especially when it comes to West Asia. Moreover, many are doubtful of a real dif- test. While Biden promised to penalize the Saudi BY FARANAK BAKHTIARI South Korea choosing the right approach “Biden is a centrist and is not likely to take very ference between Democrats and Republicans crown prince, his administration exempted him. TEHRAN – The number of refugees covered by social in dealing with the situation? And finally, bold actions, especially in regard to the Middle in regard to American foreign policy. Biden’s move has raised serious questions insurance services has increased by 20 percent in what ways can the country use for returning East (West Asia),” Hunter tells the Tehran Times. “Except for the far left, in foreign policy, es- about his proclamation in upholding human rights. Iran, as 120,000 foreign nationals will be under the the Iranian funds? However, she says, Biden’s “approach towards pecially regarding the Middle East (West Asia), Following is the text of the interview with insurance coverage. One thing that South Korea and other China and Russia, too, is quite hardline.” there is not much difference between the con- Shireen Hunter: In order to support the refugees living in the Iranian trade partners should keep in mind While Biden pledged in his election campaigns servatives and the more liberal U.S. politicians,” Continued on page 5 country, the seventh phase of the health insurance is that no sanctions can last forever and sooner plan will cover 120,000 vulnerable refugees through or later Iran will reclaim its rightful share in a memorandum of understanding signed between the energy market and it would be best for the Health Insurance Organization and the United them to be on friendly terms with the Islamic Leader: Iran’s Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.