Tehran Times - May 30 2020

2020·7.08 MB·English

W W W . T E H R A N T I M E S . C O M I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y
12 Pages Price 50,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 42nd year No.13675 Saturday MAY 30, 2020 Khordad 10, 1399 Shawwal 7, 1441
EU, Russia condemn EU designates Rock climber Alipour Film Museum of Iran
U.S. for ending Naghsh-e Jahan Sq. as looks to win reopens after 3-month
nuclear waivers 2 World Heritage asset 8 Olympics gold 11 coronavirus closure 12
Over $7.3b allocated for
See page 2
development projects
TEHRAN — Head of Iran’s Planning and accelerating the implementation of prior-
Budget Organization (PBO) has announced itized national and provincial development
an over 310 trillion rials (about $7.38 bil- projects and to fulfill the current year’s slogan
lion) budget allocation for development which is “surge in production”.
projects across the country in the current The resources allocated to the national
Iranian calendar year (started on March development projects are going to be 218
20), IRNA reported. trillion rials ($5.19 billion), while special
According to a PBO statement, the provincial projects will be given 16.74 tril-
mentioned budget has been allocated for lion rials ($398.5 million), 4
U.S. move to end nuclear sanction
waivers are symbolic: Shireen Hunter
By Javad Heirannia real. The ending of waivers are in the same
TEHRAN — Shireen Tahmaasb Hunter, vein,” Hunter comments.
a professor of political science at George- She also says the goal behind such a
town University, tells the Tehran Times move “is not to rescue JCPOA or even to
that the new U.S. move to end waivers for negotiate a new deal.”
nuclear cooperation with Iran by countries Following is the text of the interview:
party to the 2015 nuclear deal is “more The Trump administration ended
IRGC gets 112
symbolic than real”. sanctions waivers that allow Russian,
“Given the already extensive range Chinese and European companies to do
of sanctions against Iran, most of these work at sensitive Iranian nuclear sites.
measures have been more symbolic than Why did Trump take such a step? 3
missile-launching Iran grants loans to 21 film projects hit
by COVID-19 lockdown losses
mi TEHRAN — The Cinema Organization tion, are among the films.
di of Iran announced on Thursday that it Mohammad Kart’s directorial debut
a speed boats
h has allocated a loan of 3 billion rials (over “Butterfly Swimming”, which received
G
ali $71,000) to each of 21 film projects hit Crystal Simorghs in six categories, in-
ad by the coronavirus shutdown. cluding the audience award, at the 38th
m
m The loans are being granted to the films Fajr Film Festival, is among the films.
ha to combat the financial losses caused by Other highlights of the lineup are
o
M the COVID-19 shutdown. Peyman Qasemkhani’s comedy mov-
A/ Six films that were scheduled to go ie “Good, Bad, Garish 2: The Secret
N
S on screen at Iranian theaters during Army” and Mohammad-Hadi Karimi’s
I
Noruz, the Iranian New Year celebra- “Filicide”. 12
A R T I C L E Violent protests over deadly arrest W W W . T E H R A N T I M E S . C O M I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y
rock U.S.’s Minneapolis
Mohammad Homaeefar
Tehran Times journalist
Anger over the death of George Floyd, a hand- In St. Paul, clouds of smoke hung in the air 12 Pages Price 40,000 Rials 1.00 EURO 4.00 AED 42nd year No.13656 Monday MAY 4, 2020 Ordibehesht 15, 1399 Ramadan 10, 1441
cuffed black man in police custody, spread beyond as police armed with batons and wearing gas Following the Tehran Times: An audible Beheshti Revolutionary
guidelines of voice of the oppressed newspaper press should
Brian Hook raps Minneapolis Thursday, with looting and fires masks and body armor kept a watchful eye on martyr Beheshti 2 people worldwide 3 9 defend truth 11
set along a major St. Paul street and protesters protesters along one of the city’s main commercial
Washington’s echo returning to a neighborhood already ravaged corridors, where firefighters also sprayed water The Tehran Times is looking for
by violent protest. onto a series of small fires. At one point, officers journalists.
chamber as voice It was the third consecutive night of violent stood in line in front of a Target, trying to keep
JOB Send your C.V. via email address
protests following Floyd’s death Monday. In out looters, who were also smashing windows
of Iran footage recorded by a bystander, Floyd can be of other businesses. below:
seen pleading that he can’t breathe as Officer Hundreds of demonstrators returned Thursday reSeec pargeu 2 [e-mail]
Derek Chauvin, who is white, kneels on his neck. to the Minneapolis neighborhood at the center of
Brian Hook, the U.S. special rep-
As minutes pass, Floyd slowly stops talking and the violence, where the nighttime scene veered
resentative for Iran, has strongly
moving, AP reported. between an angry protest and a street party. At one
criticized the performance of Voice
of America’s Persian service which he said Dozens of businesses across the Twin Cities were point, a band playing in a parking lot across from VACANCY Required qualifications:
boarding up their windows and doors Thursday the police’s 3rd Precinct, the focus of the protests, Adequate knowledge of English
sounds more like the “Voice of the mullahs”
than the “Voice of America.” in an effort to prevent looting, with the Minneap- broke into a punk version of Bob Marley’s “Re- Relevant experience in media
olis-based Target announcing it was temporarily demption Song.” Nearby, demonstrators carried
In a note published by The New York Familiarity with the principles
closing two dozen area stores. Minneapolis shut clothing mannequins from a looted Target and
Post on Wednesday, Hook wrote that down nearly its entire light-rail system and all bus threw them onto a burning car. Later, a building of journalism
VOA Persian “needs to do a better job of
service through Sunday out of safety concerns. fire erupted nearby. 10
countering Iranian disinformation and
proHpaeg saanidd hae.” was receiving regular com- khamenei.ir
plaints about VOA’s Persian service. “Ira- Tehran to Washington: We shatter your max pressure witAhR ToIuCLrE max resistance Mustafa Prize ARTICLE
nian viewers say its American taxpayer TFeahrraronk Thi mHeessa jbouirnalist convenes experts TtMehorahona Tmimmeas djo Juranfaalisrti
funded programming often sounds more TEHRAN — Tehran says it shatters the Unit- yourselves,” Mousavi added. “We are taking these actions now because
like the ‘Voice of the mullahs’ than the ed States’ maximum pressure campaign with The tweet came in response to earlier threat- the regime continues to use its nuclear program discuss coronavirus
‘Voice of America’,” he added. maximum resistance and relying on domestic ening remarks by Brian Hook, the U.S. special to extort the international community,” Hook
Hook said that addressing such com- capabilities. representative for Iran. said, adding, “The Iranian regime’s threats are
plaints was a priority for the Trump ad- “We do shatter your max pressure campaign w/ Hook on Wednesday said maximum economic designed to intimidate nations into accepting TEHRAN — Prominent Muslim scientists and
ministration and urged VOA to give access max resistance,stiffening resolve & reliance on the pressure on Iran would prevent Tehran from Iran’s usual violent behavior for fear of some- health experts from over ten countries worldwide
to “independent and truthful reporting.” national capabilities,” Foreign Ministry spokesman acquiring nuclear weapons. thing worse. We refuse to play by Iran’s rules.” met virtually on Thursday within the framework of
This is while many observers consider Abbas Mousavi tweeted on Thursday night. “Because of our pressure, Iranian leaders U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also announced the 7th Science and Technology Exchange Program
Voice of America’s Persian service to be a form “It is you who face a choice: either admit have come to a decision: either negotiate with his decision to end the sanctions waiver covering all (STEP) to address scientific and technological
of propaganda tool, aiming to sow discord defeat & start respecting the Iranian Nation or us or manage the economic collapse,” he told remaining nuclear projects originating from the nuclear collaboration in dealing with the coronavirus
and dissatisfaction among the Iranian public further keep being hated,humiliating & isolating reporters at a State Department special briefing. agreement with world powers. 3 pandemic.
as part of Washington’s age-long policy of Organized by Mustafa Prize Foundation, laure-
overthrowing the Islamic Republic. ates and eminent scientists from countries such as
VOA Persian is not the first anti-Iran Angel of Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Singapore, and
propaganda tool of a hostile country Turkey shared their research findings, experiences,
that has been attacked for not being and achievements.
harsh enough toward the Islamic Re- Kindness statue Professors Jackie Ying from Singapore and Ugur
public – or as Hook put it, for failing to Sahin from Turkey, as well as Iranian professors
“effectively communicate” U.S. policies unveiled to Hossein Baharvand and Mohammad Abdolahad
to Persian-speaking audiences. delivered keynote speeches.
roBefB gICurTal”han efr’os lUy ra Koffyffe’aseai rBrrsssB, . ph Coa Plsi tebircesaeilnalyn c baclihlaeasdne d“nA ecylo,a vwteohrlaliacghhe honosrt IRNA/ Alireza Soleymani maffedical tohhpeeaeM lrUtahentaciionatenrwed,h OoNilfle azt,hth iaJoeso nR rAsge bOepi ufsCfhbihcelieevc d, f oiotehfr k eKS, avotziuhcateekh -hmd-Ssiitronaeunicstt,ht oeg rCra voooe-ff
The Mojahedin-e Khalq, an exiled Ira- inaugural messages.
nMiaEnK t,e hraros rciosmt gproaruepd b tehtet eBrB kCn oPwerns aiasn t htoe hsh Aun svtaetiuleed d autb Tbeehdr a“An’nsg Sehl oohf Kadinad-ynee Tssa”j rwisahs the “IWslaem ariec pwuotrtlidn gto to cgoentfhreorn sto tmhee cohf athllee nbgesets m brinoudsg hint
Adolf Hitler’s propaganda minister Joseph bak hospital on Thursday in honor of medical about by Coronavirus,” Chediek stated.
Gagoaeibnbste ltsh, es aPyMinOg I“/wMitEhK it, st hlaet eBsBt Cdr ihvaesl Khoda satgaaffin wsth toh ea rceo raot nthavei frourse. fTrhoen st toaft uthee m beamttole- of cFoonrs ohliisd aptairotn, Aanbdis shoelvid paoriintyt eind otove trhceo mneincegs tshitiys
take a page right of Goebbels’ note book.” ad rializes the commitment, dedication and disease, saying “We should work closely together
In an article published in November mm compassion that is demonstrated each and and openly share expertise.”
2019, the MEK, officially called the National ha every day by the country’s health sector. Ying explained about the recent works that she
Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), wrote Mo On May 19, an official with the Iranian has been conducting along with her research team
that the BBC Persian “has never apologized hr/ Medical Council has said that 107 health- to develop an effective COVID-19 test kit.
to the Iranian people for assisting Iran’s Me care workers have so far lost their lives in Sahin talked about a vaccine that he and his re-
religious dictatorship in repressing the the country in fighting the coronavirus. search team have developed and recently tested on
nation.” 3 humans. 9
I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y
P O L I T I C S MAY 30, 2020
EU, Russia condemn U.S. for
IRGC ready to transfer
technology to automotive
ending nuclear waivers
industry: commander
POLITICAL TEHRAN — Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander
d e s k of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolu-
tion Guards Corps, has said that the IRGC is prepared to transfer
defense technology to automotive industry. POLITICAL TEHRAN – Both the Eu- Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
“We have a technological industry and we are prepared to d e s k ropean Union and Russia Maria Zakharova also said on Thursday that
transfer it to the country’s automotive industry with no limita- have condemned the United States’ move to the United States was acting in a dangerous
tion,” he said during a visit to Iran Khodro projects. end sanction waivers for countries remaining and unpredictable way, after Washington
He also attached great importance to make the most use of in the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as withdrew from a key military treaty and
domestic capacities to make the United States’ sanctions inefficient. the JCPOA. moved to ramp up pressure on Iran, China
Speaking at a United Nations Security Global Television Network (CGTN) reported.
Ending nuclear waivers Council meeting on Europe-UN relations The remaining parties to the Iran nuclear
on Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Josep deal include the UK, China, France, Germany,
pulls final plug in violating Borrell highlighted the “enduring importance” and Russia.
of the deal, AFP reported. U.S. officials also said they would walk
resolution 2231: Iran envoy
According to EU’s website, he said, “Let away from the Open Skies Treaty, which
me reiterate the enduring importance of the allows each signatory’s military to conduct
POLITICAL TEHRAN — Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – the surveillance flights over another member
d e s k ambassador to the United Nations, has said so-called JCPOA - with Iran. As you know, I country each year on short notice.
that ending sanction waivers for countries remaining in the 2015 am the Coordinator of the Joint Commission “Washington’s actions are becoming more
nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, by the United States pulls and I am determined to do everything to en- and more dangerous and unpredictable,”
final plug in violating the resolution 2231. sure full and effective implementation and, in Zakharova told reporters.
“Two yrs ago @realDon- particular, Iran’s return to full compliance.” “The nature of this behavior is clearly dis-
aldTrump ceased participation “I have to regret yesterday’s decision by the ruptive,” Zakharova said, accusing Washing-
in #JCPOA. Now, in further United States not to prolong the waivers for ton of undermining international security.
violation of JCPOA & UNSCR the JCPOA-related nuclear projects,” he noted. Donald Trump withdrew the United States
2231 @SecPompeo pulls final The United States announced the end of from the landmark nuclear agreement in 2018
plug, imposing penalties for waivers that allowed countries to cooperate reactor fuel,” Pompeo said in a statement, representative to the Vienna-based inter- under which Iran had drastically curbed its
compliance EVEN w/nuclear with Iran on civil nuclear projects under the according to CNN. national organizations, on Friday called the nuclear activities and reimposed sanctions
provisions of 2231,” Takht-Ra- nuclear agreement. Pompeo said that an exception would be U.S. move a violation of the UN Charter and on Tehran.
vanchi tweeted on Thursday. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced made to provide a 90-day extension for the also the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 Washington’s new move brought the
He added, “Claiming US is on Wednesday that the waivers will end fol- waiver that covers ongoing international that endorsed the JCPOA. agreement further to the verge of collapse.
STILL ‘Participant’ is not just lowing a 60-day wind-down period that is support to the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant “The US ends sanctions waiver cover- Iran said the U.S. move to cancel the last
preposterous; it’s FALSE.” meant to allow businesses to cease operations. Unit 1 to ensure safety of operations. “We will ing #JCPOA-originating (and endorsed by remaining sanctions waivers will not impact
U.S. President Donald “I am announcing the end of the sanctions continue to closely monitor all developments #UNSC) nuclear projects in #Iran. Illegal its nuclear work.
Trump quit the agreement, ne- waiver covering all remaining JCPOA-orig- in Iran’s nuclear program and can modify US sanctions against these projects mean A spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy
gotiated under his predecessor inating nuclear projects in Iran -- the Arak this waiver at any time,” Pompeo said. further violations of UN Charter (article Organization said in a statement Thursday
Barack Obama, in May 2018. reactor conversion, the provision of enriched Russia calls U.S. move violation 25), UNSC res.2231 and #NPT (art.4). US that the Trump administration is trying to
But the Trump administra- uranium for the Tehran Research Reactor, and of resolution 2231 continues to undermine non-proliferation,” “distract public opinion” and that U.S. actions
tion until now had issued waivers to allow companies, primarily the export of Iran’s spent and scrap research Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent Ulyanov tweeted. do not put pressure on Iran.
from Russia, to keep carrying out the work of the agreement
without risking legal ramifications.
However, Washington announced on Wednesday that it was Iran’s IRGC gets 112 missile-launching speed boats
ending the waivers.
Russian Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova
said on Thursday the U.S. is acting in a dangerous and unpre- POLITICAL TEHRAN – The Islamic Revolution Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami.
dictable way. d e s k Guard Corps Navy on Thursday received During a speech at the ceremony, Salami said, “The Is-
“Washington’s actions are becoming more and more dangerous 112 missile-launching speed boats designed and built by lamic Republic has the determination. We will not give in
and unpredictable,” Zakharova told reporters. Iranian experts. to enemies. We will not back down. Progress is the nature
“The nature of this behavior is clearly disruptive,” Zakharova The new generation of offensive speed boats are of different of our work. Defense is our logic in war but not in the sense
said, accusing Washington of undermining international security. classes, which were unveiled in a ceremony on Thursday. of passivity against the enemy. Our operations and tactics
Enjoying hydrodynamic functional features, the boats are are offensive and we have shown it in the battlefield.”
Expert calls Iranian oil capable of sailing at a high speed, with a low radar cross-sec- He also said that a key portion of Iran’s maritime power
tion (RCS) and a high level of offensive power, the Sepah is still “unknown” to others.
tankers’ arrival in Venezuela News reported. “The most important and dangerous part of this power is
A number of top military officials attended the ceremo- unknown. Our enemies will see this power the day when they
a ‘political victory’
ny, including IRGC Chief Major General Hossein Salami, pursue an evil intention against this land. On that day, they the sky, and the battlefield will turn into a hell for the enemies
IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, and will get to see the real firepower of our forces at the sea and in of Iran and Islam,” Press TV quoted him as saying.
POLITICAL TEHRAN — Kourosh Ahmadi, an expert on
d e s k international affairs, has called arrival of oil
tankers in Venezuela a “political victory” for Iran. Ali Larijani named Leader advisor It was ‘strategic mistake’ to allow U.S. enter
In an interview with IRNA published on Thursday, Ahmadi said
any action by the United States against the tankers could lead to the region, Iran’s defense chief says
an international crisis.
“Obstructing route of tankers POLITICAL TEHRAN — Leader of Larijani was the speaker of the Iranian POLITICAL TEHRAN – Iranian Iran will make any effort to make the
in international waters is contra- d e s k the Islamic Revolution Parliament for three consecutive four-year d e s k Defense Minister Amir Persian Gulf, especially the Strait of Hor-
ry to international law which is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed Ali terms. His tenure ended on Wednesday with Hatami said on Friday that neighbors muz, safe, the defense minister insisted.
hard to be done even by Trump’s Larijani, the former parliament speaker, as the end of the 10th parliament’s tenure. made a “strategic mistake” by allowing “If the Persian Gulf is safe, all the re-
administration which has no re- his advisor and also a member of the Expe- Larijani did not run for parliament in the the United States to enter the region. gional countries will benefit. However,
spect for international law,” the diency Council. February elections. For the three terms he “Countries in the region are responsible if the Persian Gulf becomes unsafe, all
former diplomat noted. “Given the useful experiences you gained represented the shrine city of Qom. for establishing security in the region the regional countries will be unsafe,”
He added, “Any action against during management in various sectors, es- Before taking over as parliament speaker, and allowing the United States enter- the defense chief remarked.
these tankers could lead to an pecially three tenures as the speaker of the Larijani served as secretary of the Supreme ing the region is a strategic mistake by ‘Army to receive Saba mine-
international crisis.” Islamic Consultative Assembly, I appoint you National Security Council in the early years of the neighbors,” he told reporters on the sweeper soon’
Tehran’s decision to send as the advisor to the Leader and member of the Ahmadinejad presidency. In that post, he sidelines of a visit to a naval industrial Hatami also said that Saba mine-
Iran-flagged tankers to Venezuela the Expediency Council,” Ayatollah Khamenei also served as Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator facility run by the Defense Ministry in sweeper will be delivered to the Army
amid U.S. sanctions against both said in a decree issued on Thursday. with the West. the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. in near future.
countries has infuriated those in The Leader added, “It is hoped that this Larijani, who holds PhD in philosophy, also Hatami also noted that security in the He said the minesweeper will begin
the White House. responsibility will serve the sublime goals of acted as the head of the Islamic Republic of Persian Gulf region is a common interest to detect and counter the threat by naval
Iran has warned to retaliate the system.” Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and culture minister. for all the regional countries. mines in regional waters.
any aggression against its tankers
while noting that it has the inherent right to trade with other countries.
Mehdi Sanaei, a top advisor to Foreign Minister Mohammad
Brutal killing of African-American is demonstration of ‘systematic racism’: Iran
Javad Zarif, said on Tuesday that arrival of Iranian oil tankers in
the Venezuelan waters in the Caribbean is an end to a “unipolar
POLITICAL TEHRAN — Foreign Min- before his death. role and relationship that we must have, we the response to calls for justice is employing
system”.
d e s k istry spokesman Abbas George Floyd died on Monday after be- must have will all of our community mem- even more force.”
“Iranian oil tankers’ arrival in the Caribbean Sea is an important
Mousavi has said that brutal killing of an ing pinned down by a white officer despite bers,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria U.S. President Donald Trump has lashed
event based on international law and with international dimensions
African-American man in the United States yelling: “I cannot breathe.” Arrandondo. out at those protesting in Minneapolis over
which will remain in history as a main chapter in ending unilater-
is a harrowing demonstration of “systematic Four Minneapolis police officers were fired An ambulance took the suspect to the the death of the unarmed black man in police
alism. This event rings the bell of end to unipolar system,” Sanaei
racism” exercised by the current rulers of on Tuesday, a day after a bystander’s cell hospital, where he died a short time later. custody, calling those involved in a third night
tweeted in Persian.
the White House. phone video captured one of them pressing The Iranian Foreign Ministry said via of street clashes “thugs”.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has hailed the arrival of
“Brutal killing of #GeorgeFloyd by Min- his knee on Floyd’s neck. Twitter on Wednesday that the U.S. police’s Trump said he would not “stand back
Iranian tankers to Venezuela amid U.S. threats.
neapolis’ white man in uniform in cold blood The white Minneapolis police officer brutality against African-Americans knows and watch this happen to a great American
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has also said that arrival
is a harrowing demonstration of systematic pinned him down with his knee in the U.S. no boundaries. City”, adding that he had spoken to Minne-
of Iranian oil tanker in Venezuela breaks the United States’ “unac-
racism and white supremacism glorified by state of Minnesota, which led to his death. “6 yrs after ‘I can’t breathe’ pleas of Eric sota governor Tim Waltz and told him “the
ceptable” and criminal blockade”.
the current administration,” he tweeted on “I stand before you and the city of Min- Garner, #GeorgeFloyd, another black man, military is with him all the way”.
“The first of five Iranian oil tankers arrives in Venezuela breaking
Thursday. neapolis here to say that our deepest con- dies after a cruel, inhumane arrest,” the min- “Any difficulty and we will assume control
unacceptable and criminal blockade. #VivaLaSolidaridad Long live
A video has went viral which shows brutal dolences. The vast majority of the men and istry tweeted. but, when the looting starts, the shooting
solidarity among the peoples,” the Cuban leader tweeted on Sunday.
treatment of an unarmed African-American women who proudly put on this uniform “It seems that US #PoliceBrutality against starts,” Trump warned, according to the
So far three of five Iranian fuel tankers have arrived in Venezuela,
man under the knee of a U.S. police officer each and every day understand the important blacks knows no boundaries. And as always, Independent.
a show of defiance by two states sanctioned by the U.S.
The second oil tanker of an Iranian tanker flotilla carrying fuel
for Venezuela docked on Tuesday at a port serving state-run oil
Ghalibaf says Iran-Turkey cooperation needed to establish peace and security
company Petroleos de Venezuela’s (PDVSA) second-largest refinery,
Cardon, in western Venezuela.
The tanker, part of the flotilla carrying 1.5 million barrels of POLITICAL TEHRAN — Mohammad Bagher Ghali- since January 2017 most of which involved delegations from
gasoline from Iran, was escorted by Venezuelan naval frigates and d e s k baf, newly-elected speaker of the Iranian the Syrian government and opposition.
helicopters as it entered the nation’s exclusive economic zone. The parliament, said on Friday that cooperation between Iran and Sentop invites Ghalibaf to visit Turkey
third of the five-tanker flotilla also entered national waters on Tues- Turkey is important to establish and promote long-lasting Sentop, for his part, congratulated Ghalibaf on his election
day, according to dw.com. peace and security in the region. as the parliament speaker and invited him to visit Turkey.
Venezuelan Oil Minister Tareck El Aissami tweeted pictures In a phone conversation with Turkish Parliamentary He called for expansion of relations in various spheres.
of the Iranian-flagged tanker, the Forest, and the crew upon their Speaker Mustafa Sentop, Ghalibaf also said Iran attaches In an open session on Thursday, the new Iranian law-
arrival at the Venezuela port. great importance to unity among Islamic countries to counter makers elected Ghalibaf, a former mayor of Tehran, as the
The first of Iranian tankers, the Fortune, arrived at a port serving plots by the Zionist regime of Israel. new speaker of the parliament.
the El Palito refinery, on Monday in a show of defiance by both He also called for expansion of relations between the Ghalibaf secured 230 votes out of a total of 264 votes cast
Tehran and Caracas, which are under U.S. sanctions. two countries, especially in economic area. to become the speaker, followed by Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani
“Thank you, Iran,” Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro said on The new parliament speaker also highlighted the impor- with 17 votes, and Mostafa Mirsalim – a candidate in the
Twitter on Sunday just moments before the Fortune docked. “The tance of continuing the Astana talks on Syria. 2017 presidential elections – with 12 votes.
end of Ramadan brings us the arrival of the ship Fortune, a sign of In line with their security cooperation, Iran, Turkey, The new parliament started its work on Wednesday with
the solidarity of the Islamic people of Iran with Venezuela. In times and Russia - three power brokers in Syria - launched the President Hassan Rouhani, Judiciary Chief Hojatoleslam
where the supremacist empire intends to impose its rule by force, Astana peace talks on the Syrian conflict. The talks were to the Syrian war. Seyed Ebrahim Raeisi, and Secretary of the Guardian Council
only the brotherhood of free peoples will save us.” launched in January 2017 with the aim of putting an end Kazakhstan has hosted multiple rounds of talks on Syria Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati in attendance.
I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 3
MAY 30, 2020 I R A N I N F O C U S
MP hails fuel shipments to Venezuela
Ghalibaf takes over as Iran’s
new parliament speaker
as ‘humiliation for America’
P O L I T I C A L TEHRAN — The new Iranian lawmakers
P O L I T I C A L TEHRAN — A top MP Hojatollah Soltani said on May 25 that the d e s k elected Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf as the
d e s k who was reelected in the U.S. abstention from aggression against new speaker of the Parliament.
February parliamentary elections has hailed Iranian tankers showed that there’s still In an open session on Thursday, Ghalibaf secured 230 votes
the arrival of Iranian tankers in Venezuela wisdom in the U.S. establishment. out of a total of 264 votes cast to become the parliament speaker,
as a “humiliation” for the United States. “The U.S. act of non-aggression against followed by Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani with 17 votes, and Mostafa
“The arriving and docking of Irani- Iranian oil tankers showed that wisdom, Mirsalim – a candidate in the 2017 presidential elections – with
an oil tankers in Venezuela was a firm foresight, and tactfulness is still alive at 12 votes, Mehr reported.
response to U.S. bullying, avarice and some levels of that country’s establishment,” Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh
adventures, and it destroyed the empty Soltani wrote in a tweet. Hashemi and Ali Nikzad, both
grandeur of America,” Mehr on Friday “Those [individuals] should make the principlists, were also elected as
quoted Mojtaba Zonnour as saying. warmongers understand that observing the first and second vice-speakers.
Zonnour, who acted as chairman of the international regulations and treaties by The new parliament, domi-
Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy governments, including the U.S. government, nated by principlists, started its
Committee, in the previous parliament, will create a safer world for all countries work on Wednesday with Pres-
said the move showed the Iranian nation’s including the U.S.,” he added. ident Hassan Rouhani, Judici-
might and dignity to the world. The ambassador also said the United ary Chief Hojatoleslam Seyed
On Thursday, the Venezuelan navy said States has finally realized that fulfilling its Ebrahim Raisi, and Secretary of
it escorted a fourth tanker bringing Iranian commitments and responsibilities regarding the Guardian Council Ayatollah
fuel through its waters, Reuters reported. international treaties is a good thing. Ahmad Jannati in attendance.
The United States has criticized the However, Zonnour said the U.S.’s non-in- There are 290 seats in the Iranian parliament. The lawmakers
shipment, as both OPEC nations are terference with the Iranian tankers were are elected for a 4-year term, with no limitation for the incumbent
under sanctions. A U.S. official said ear- not due to “their decency, but rather, the or former parliamentarians to run again.
lier this month that President Donald images of its ships alongside the fourth definitely retaliate. cost-benefit formula has tied their hands.” A number of senior Iranian political and military figures in-
Trump’s administration was considering cargo, on vessel Faxon. “Although some of the U.S. measures “They know that if they undermine our cluding President Hassan Rouhani, Foreign Minister Mohammad
responses to the shipment, prompting On May 23, President Hassan Rouhani have created unacceptable conditions in national interests, they will have to pay a Javad Zarif, Presidential Chief of Staff Mahmoud Va’ezi as well
the Iranian government to warn Wash- said Iran is always entitled to defend its different parts of the world, we will not be heavy price,” he explained. as Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, Defense
ington against military action. sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the initiator of tension and clash,” Rouhani “Therefore, this trend will go on and the Minister Amir Hatami, and Police Chief Hossein Ashtari sent
Venezuela’s military has escorted each warned that if Iranian oil tankers in the said in a phone call with the Qatari Emir, Islamic Republic of Iran’s ships will continue congratulatory messages to Ghalibaf.
tanker through its exclusive econom- Caribbean or anywhere in the world get Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. to depart and arrive at their destination which Ghalibaf, who was Tehran’s mayor for more than a decade, is
ic zone. The navy on Thursday posted into trouble by the Americans, Tehran will Iranian Ambassador to Venezuela is Venezuela for now,” the top MP added. considered a pragmatist politician. Before being elected as the
mayor of Tehran in 2005 by the Tehran City Council, Ghalibaf
was Iran’s police chief.
Tehran slams U.S. sanctions on nuclear scientists He ran for president in 2005, 2013, and 2017. In 2013, he
came second after Rouhani. In 2017, he faced Rouhani but he
withdrew candidacy in favor of Raisi at the end.
P O L I T I C A L TEHRAN — The Atomic Energy Or- The Iranian hardworking researchers, especially those
d e s k ganization of Iran (AEOI) has reacted involved in the nuclear industry, consider such futile at-
to Washington’s decision to blacklist two Iranian nuclear tempts as a sign of the enemy’s failure, the statement added.
Three Iranian border guards
scientists, saying such measures are indicative of the U.S. It came after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo an-
government’s hostile approach towards Iran. nounced sanctions against “two leaders of Iran’s nuclear martyred in border clash
In a statement on Thursday, the AEOI stressed that enrichment program.”
such hostile measures would by no means undermine “Today, I am ending the sanctions waiver for JCPOA-re-
the Islamic Republic’s nuclear progress. lated projects in Iran, effective in 60 days,” he tweeted. P O L I T I C A L TEHRAN — Three Iranian border guards
The “desperate attempt and unwise move” from the “Iran’s continued nuclear escalation makes clear this co- d e s k have been martyred during a clash with armed
decision-makers at the White House to blacklist two operation must end. Further attempts at nuclear extortion thugs, IRNA reported on Friday.
Iranian nuclear scientists reveals the continuation of will only bring greater pressure on the regime.” The police said the incident happened in the northwestern
the U.S. government’s hostility against Iran, it said ac- “I am also sanctioning two leaders of Iran’s nu- province of West Azarbaijan and on the border with Iraq’s semi-au-
cording to Tasnim. confrontation with Iran that runs counter to international clear enrichment program - Majid Agha’i and Amjad tonomous Kurdistan region.
Such measures will not disturb the Iranian youths’ principles and law will only strengthen the Iranian re- Sazgar. Iran’s scientists need to make a choice: pursue The guards lost their lives in a gunfight at a border post
determination to achieve the Islamic Republic’s goals, the searchers’ resolve and will undermine the position and peaceful work outside of the proliferation realm, or near the city of Sardasht, some 730 kilometers (453 miles)
AEOI emphasized, reminding the ill-wishers that their prestige of the enemies of Iran in the world. risk being sanctioned.” west of Tehran, on Friday. A number of the armed thugs were
also killed in the fighting as well.
Tehran to Washington: We shatter your max pressure with our max resistance
U.S. move to end nuclear
1 “Today, I am ending the sanctions history on Iran as part of his administration’s between Iran, the United States, Britain, sanction waivers are
waiver for JCPOA-related projects in Iran, “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran. Germany, France, the European Union,
symbolic: Shireen Hunter
effective in 60 days,” he wrote in his Twitter Under the nuclear agreement, officially Russia, and China.
page on Thursday. “Iran’s continued nuclear known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan On May 8, 2019, exactly one year after
Georgetown University professor says ‘Trump
escalation makes clear this cooperation must of Action (JCPOA), Iran had agreed to the U.S. abandoned the deal, Tehran began
end. Further attempts at nuclear extortion will put limits on its nuclear program in ex- to partially reduce its commitments to the is running out of ways to pressure Iran’
only bring greater pressure on the regime.” change for termination of economic and agreement at bi-monthly intervals.
U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally financial sanctions. Finally, on January 5 of this year, Iran 1 A: There are elements within the Trump administration, the
quit the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in May 2018 The agreement, endorsed by the UN Se- issued a statement announcing suspension Congress, and the Washington Policy Community most of whom
and introduced the harshest ever sanctions in curity Council Resolution 2231, was signed of all limits under the JCPOA. are staunch supporters of Israel, that are in favor of even harsher
measures against Iran, including possibly even some form of military
action. A good example is Senator Tom Cotton. In response to these
Why Iran’s fuel tankers for Venezuela are sending shudders through Washington
pressures, the Trump administration has periodically taken new
measures against Iran. Given the already extensive range of sanctions
against Iran, most of these measures have been more symbolic than
(Pressenza) — The first oil tanker that came from Iran’s prevent China from establishing itself as an important pillar
real. The ending of waivers are in the same vein. However, it could
Bandar Abbas port into the Caribbean is called Fortune. of world affairs? Or does Trump intend a “limited war?” It
also be intended to push Iran towards new measures, including
The tanker entered Venezuelan waters on May 24 and was is worthwhile to be wary of the actions of the United States
higher levels of uranium enrichment. These increased levels then
then escorted by the Venezuelan Navy and Air Force to government, particularly of the Trump administration.
could be used to justify attacks on some of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
the Puerto Cabello oil terminal; the gasoline will supply Bipolarity
Why did the U.S. refuse to extend waivers at this time?
the El Palito refinery. A second tanker entered Venezuelan It is incorrect to see the “rise of China” as a threat to
A: I don’t see any special reason for the timing of these new measures.
waters on May 25, and three others are on their way. The the preeminent power of the United States. There is no
My explanation is that Trump is running out of ways to pressure Iran.
Venezuelan government paid for the gasoline at market appreciable “decline of the United States” in our time,
The U.S. extended a separate waiver covering international support
rates; in another world, it would be an ordinary commercial since the United States remains the most powerful mil-
to the Bushehr nuclear plant. What is the reason behind the decision?
transaction. Not in this world. itary force and remains in charge of the main economic
A: I believe the main reason for excluding the Bushehr reactor
In April, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the institutions (mainly through the power of the dollar as a
is concern over environmental safety and the regional ramifica-
U.S. Navy to send ships into the Caribbean supposedly world currency and through the control of the International
tions if something goes wrong there. Any incident at the Bushehr
on an anti-drug mission. These ships had threatened an Monetary Fund by the U.S. Treasury). Nonetheless, the
embargo of Venezuela. There was worry that as the Ira- United States is not prepared to tolerate the arrival of Initiative. Xu Bu, China’s ambassador to Chile, has been plant could be even worse than the Chernobyl incident and, in
nian tankers approached the Venezuelan coast the U.S. China as a second major economic pole. outspoken in his criticism of U.S. Secretary of State Mike addition to Iran, cause significant risk to other Persian Gulf states
warships would challenge their progress. As it turned China continues to indicate that it does not want conflict Pompeo and the anti-China rhetoric that the United States in terms of nuclear contamination. If Bushehr was in central
out, the U.S. Navy did not intervene. A major internal with the United States. The government has said repeatedly has tried to spawn in Latin America. In the Chilean news- Iran, it might not have been exempted.
incident was averted. that it has no interest in escalation, and that it prizes stabil- paper La Tercera, Xu Bu called Pompeo a “liar”; these are One of the goals of the JCPOA was to help Iran to develop
Why the United States did not block the Iranian vessels ity. China’s manufacturing sector has grown considerably, strong words in the world of diplomacy. China, he wrote, its peaceful nuclear program. According to the decision, how the
does not have to do with Iran or Venezuela alone. It has and it remains the most powerful industrial country in the has been actively engaged in South America to the mutual other parties can commit their duties?
to do with the presence of China behind both countries. world. Attempts by the United States to reorganize the advantage of both China and the individual countries; this A: The Trump administrations’ approach to JCPOA has been
China has deep commercial links with Iran, and it has global supply chain in the midst of COVID-19 by cutting is the same argument Chinese diplomats use about Iran. illogical. Trump is counting on Iran’s vulnerability and the fact
gradually developed such linkages with Venezuela. During out China will not work in the short or medium term; the In both Iran and Venezuela, China has provided assis- that Tehran has no good options in responding to the U.S. provo-
the global pandemic, China has flown vital supplies to both world economy relies upon Chinese manufacturing, and tance to tackle COVID-19; it has sent medical personnel cation. Any dramatic response from Iran such as withdrawal from
countries. But, crucially, at the United Nations China has many countries will not tolerate a long-term embargo on and equipment. There is every indication that China has the NPT would only be used for further pressures on Iran and
been outspoken against the regime change policy driven China’s factories. It is this reliance upon China’s industrial put its foot down to make it clear to Washington that it would prompt the Iran hawks to push for military action against
by the United States against both states. It has been this power that has inaugurated a new bipolar—rather than stands behind the governments in both these countries. at least its nuclear facilities. The goal is not to rescue JCPOA or
Chinese shield that enabled the tankers to go through unipolar—world order. Tankers even to negotiate a new deal. The goal is to force Iran accept U.S.
what is effectively a U.S. naval blockade of Venezuela. China’s ties to Iran and Venezuela The five Iranian tankers left Bandar Abbas with Iranian conditions or to exacerbate Iran’s many domestic crisis from the
Belligerence Even two decades ago, China resisted any direct con- flags flying high and with their radars on; there was no economy to Covid-19 and other challenges.
Trump is in a belligerent mood. His language against frontation with the United States. In 1999, U.S. bomb- attempt to say that they were not going directly where Given Tehran’s lack of viable options in responding to the
China has sharpened. The United States military’s In- ers—under NATO command—struck the Chinese embassy they ended. They announced their destination and waited. Trump administration’s provocations, the U.S. is not worried
do-Pacific Command released a document called “Regain in Belgrade; the United States and NATO said it was an This is very different from the journey of the Iranian oil that Iran will not stick to its commitments under the JCPOA.
the Advantage,” which breathes fire; it suggests that the accidental attack, something that they claim to this day tanker Grace 1 through the Mediterranean Sea toward
United States must do everything to prevent China from (despite evidence that shows it was a deliberate strike). Syria; that ship was held by British forces at Gibraltar in
taking possession of its own coastline. A suite of new weap- For four days, the Chinese government permitted anti-U.S. 2019, and it became an international incident. This time Brian Hook raps
ons—including the hypersonic cruise missile—threatens protests in China, but then everything went quiet (the nothing like that occurred.
that very coastline (when they deploy this missile onto a United States paid compensation). Nothing more was said. It is unlikely that the United States would have allowed Washington’s echo
submarine, it will take less than 15 minutes to hit China No such behavior is present now. If such an incident these ships to enter Venezuelan waters if it did not feel
from launch). These are disturbing developments. took place at this time, China would not tolerate it; it would that they had the backing of China (and behind it, Russia). chamber as voice of Iran
Nothing in Trump’s behavior toward China suggests make it an international incident, raise the question in There’s no question that Washington—despite all its at-
that he will do anything less than trip the United States the UN Security Council—where China is a permanent tempts to change the balance of forces in the world—had 1 Although VOA Persian has been much more overt than
into some sort of engagement with that country. And the member. China’s more visible diplomacy on behalf of to come to terms with China’s decision to stand with the the BBC Persian in their disinformation campaign against
more Trump threatens China, and the more he builds the Palestinians—especially when Trump has pushed government in Venezuela and in Iran. the Iranian government, Hook urged the network to double
up U.S. military assets along the Chinese coastline, the the Israeli government to strengthen its annexationist U.S. hybrid wars will continue; U.S. rhetorical belligerence down and to specially focus on “human rights in Iran, cor-
greater the chance that China will react toward Taiwan, policies against the Palestinians—is a sign of Chinese will continue; U.S. expenditure on arms to overshadow ruption among the Iranian regime and analysis that counters
being provoked—in other words—into a conflict that the ambitions to be more vocal in defense of those who have the rest of the world in military terms will continue; all propaganda rather than propagating it.”
world just does not need. been under the heel of U.S. power. this is true. But, at the same time, the United States has He then went on to threaten the network with closure if it does
Does Trump use the language of threats and conflict as Increasingly, China has supported both Iran and Vene- had to accept that it cannot act easily if China decides to not follow the orders.“If it can’t meet these standards — and soon —
merely a weapon in the trade war? Is this merely rash talk zuela against the United States. China has deep economic build a shield around certain countries. Evidence of this Congress should consider ending its funding and shutting down VOA
to enhance the standing of the United States as it tries to links to Iran, which is at the heart of the Belt and Road came when Fortune sailed into Venezuela. Persian as a fiduciary duty to American taxpayers,” he concluded.
4 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y
E C O N O M Y MAY 30, 2020
Over $7.3b allocated
Industry ministry inks
trilateral mining MOU with for development
GSI, IMIDRO
ECONOMY TEHRAN – Iranian Industry, Mining and projects
d e s k Trade Ministry signed a trilateral memorandum
of understanding (MOU) with Geological Survey and Mineral
Explorations of Iran (GSI) and Iranian Mines and Mining In-
dustries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO)
for expansion of the country’s mining sector, IRNA reported.
1 provincial projects 62 trillion rials “We intend to invest as much as we can
(about $1.47 billion) and miscellaneous pro- in development sector in the next [Iranian
jects, including border water projects and calendar] year, so we have increased the
tropical project will be allocated 15.2 trillion budget for this sector by 53 percent to achieve
rials (about $632 million), according to TPO. significant growth,” Nobakht said last year from oil sales to the development projects would replace oil revenues.
Back in October 2019, Nobakht had said on the sidelines of the 12th meeting of the following structural reforms in the budget bill. Following the fall in oil prices and the out-
that 430 trillion rials (about $10.2 billion) was budget headquarters on October 14. According to Nobakht, the revenues break of coronavirus, the Iranian government
going to be allocated for development projects PBO had previously announced that the gained from elimination of hidden energy has cut some of its budgetary provisions for
in the current calendar year’s budget plan. government was going to allocate all revenues subsidies as well as increased tax incomes the current Iranian calendar year.
Monthly agricultural, foodstuff Iran’s annual tea output expected
exports at $336m to rise 10%
The MOU was signed by Iran’s Deputy Industry Mining, and
Trade Minister Darioush Esmaili, GSI Head Alireza Shahidi and
IMIDRO Head Khodadad Gharibpour during a meeting between
the acting minister of industry, mining and trade and the repre-
sentatives of the country’s mining sector.
Development of cooperation in the fields of exploration, ex-
traction and processing of minerals, utilization of capacities,
experiences and abilities of each sector, and attracting more
investment from the country’s private sector and cooperatives
in this industry were reported to be some of the main goals of
the signed agreement.
Also, the implementation of exploration projects by Geological
Survey and Mineral Explorations of Iran and the formation of a
joint committee whose task is to review the proposed exploration
projects were also among the important subjects mentioned in
the MOU.
Back in April, Esmaili had said that the Industry, Mining
and Trade Ministry has provisioned operational targets in the
mining sector’s three major areas of exploration, extraction and
processing, for the current year.
ECONOMY TEHRAN — The value about 7.104 million tons worth $5.8 ECONOMY TEHRAN – Tea pro- far and said: “This amount has increased
“In the mining industry sector, we have targeted a 25-per-
d e s k of Iran’s exports of ag- billion in the past Iranian calendar year. d e s k duction in Iran is ex- by nine percent compared to the same
cent increase in the production of mineral products, and in the
ricultural products and foodstuffs stood In the previous year, over 6.941 mil- pected to rise 10 percent in the current period last year.”
exploration sector, we will add about 20 percent to the previous
at $336 million in the first month of the lion tons of agricultural and foodstuff Iranian calendar year (started on March Tea harvest season starts in farmlands
reserves.”
current Iranian calendar year (March products worth $6.392 billion were also 20), Head of Iran’s Tea Organization (ITO) across the northern provinces of Gilan
The mining sector accounted for 25 percent of the country’s
20-April 19), according to the acting imported into the country, according Habib Jahansaz said. and Mazandaran in early May.
non-oil revenues in the past Iranian calendar year (ended on
head of Agriculture Ministry’s Economic to Shajari. According to the official, so far 53,251 More than 55,000 families grow tea
March 19), he said.
Affairs Department Shahrokh Shajari. Watermelons, apples, tomatoes, po- tons of fresh tea leaves worth 2.36 trillion over 28,000 hectares of farmland in the
Earlier that month, IMIDRO had also announced that min-
The official said that while the corona- tatoes, onions, and shallots were the top rials (about $56.19 million) have been two provinces, accounting for 90 percent
ing exploration operations were underway in 652,061 square
virus pandemic slowed down the process five exported products in the previous purchased from the country’s farmers of the country’s total tea production.
kilometers of land.
of exporting the mentioned products in year in terms of weight, while in terms in the northern Gilan and Mazandaran In late December 2019, Jahansaz said
IMIDRO also plans to put projects worth $2.276 billion into
the first month of the year, the monthly of value, pistachios, apples, tomatoes, provinces. Iran exported over 4,000 tons of tea to
operation during the current Iranian calendar year (ends on
weight of exports rose 25.8 percent to pistachio kernels, and watermelons were So far 763 billion rials (about $18.16 the neighboring countries, in the previous
March 20, 2021).
680,000 tons compared to the same the five major export products. million) has been paid to the farmers which Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19).
According to Gharibpour, IMIDRO and its subsidiaries are
month in the past year, IRIB reported. Shajari further pointed to the major is 32 percent of their total money, he added. According to Jahansaz, Azerbaijan,
going to implement 31 projects in a variety of fields including
Shajari further put Iran’s imports imported items in terms of weight, saying, Jahansaz stated that 75 percent of the Iraq, and Afghanistan were among the
steel, copper, gold, antimony, nepheline syenite, phosphate and
of agricultural products and foodstuffs corn, barley, soybean meal, soybean, payment to the tea farmers will be made by top destinations for Iranian tea exports.
also mining infrastructure in the current year which is named
at 2.078 million tons valued at $831 and untreated sugar were the top five the tea factories and the other 25 percent Iran exports tea to India, Uzbekistan,
the year of “Surge in Production” by the Leader of the Islamic
million in the first month of this year. imported items, while in terms of value is paid by the government. Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan,
Republic Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.
The official has previously put Iran’s livestock corn, rice, barley, and soybeans The official estimated the amount of Iraq, Canada, Australia, Spain, the Czech
exports of the mentioned products at were the top imported products. dried tea production at 12,000 tons so Republic, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
Over $3b allocated to supply
basic goods in 2 months
Tehran, Yerevan discuss expansion of customs, trade ties
ECONOMY TEHRAN – Governor of Central Bank of Iran
d e s k (CBI) Abdolnaser Hemmati said the bank has ECONOMY TEHRAN — During a meeting via video sides are applying tariff discounts offered based on the
managed to supply over $3 billion foreign currency for importing d e s k conference between Iran’s Trade Pro- agreement and there has been no problem in this regard.”
basic goods in the first two months of the current Iranian calendar motion Organization (TPO) Head Hamid Zadboum and According to the official, the volume of trade between
year (March 20-April 19). Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Economy Avag Avanesyan, the two countries has witnessed an outstanding rise since
the two sides explored the ways for boosting bilateral co- the agreement became effective in October 2019.
operation in the customs and trade areas. “Turkey used to dominate the Armenian market, but
As reported by the TPO, Armenian Ambassador to Iran now the Iranian products are much cheaper than the Turk-
Artashes Toumanian also participated in the meeting. ish ones, which has given Iran a competitive advantage,”
While emphasizing the significance of expanding trade Yarijanian added.
ties between the two countries, Zadboum elaborated on Iran mainly imports red meat from Armenia, while
the details of the first meeting of Iran-Armenia Industry, Armenia imports polymer raw materials, machinery, in-
Mining and Trade Committee. dustrial gases, manufactured artifacts, leather, and leather
The two sides also emphasized the establishment of goods from Iran, he said.
a taskforce on the industry, mining, and trade relations He further noted that Iran has a much greater export
between Iran and Armenia. capability compared to Armenia, adding that traders have
Toumanian for his part said, “Armenia’s Ministry of not yet gotten used to the idea of the preferential trade
Economy, and Ministry of Territorial Administration and agreement and hopefully with the expansion of this deal,
Infrastructure will take part in the mentioned taskforce, During the meeting, Mohammadreza Karbasi, ICCIMA more Iranian traders will be attracted to the Armenian
and we will announce the Armenian private companies vice chairman for the international affairs, emphasized that market.
to participate as well.” Iran attaches priority to its neighbors for trade, saying, “Iran Iran and Armenia have been emphasizing the need for
Iran and Armenia also discussed the facilitation of trade and Armenia have many cultural commonalities while a preserving and expanding trade relations between the two
“In the first two months, we had a big drop in non-oil exports, between the two neighbors in a meeting held via video positive diplomatic relationship, so, there is no limitation for countries since the preferential trade deal between Iran
but fortunately [non-oil] exports were revived and the return of conference on May 23. the expansion of ties with Armenia, especially considering and EAEU was implemented.
foreign currency to NIMA [Iran’s domestic Forex Management Organized by the international affairs department of the free trade agreement (FTA) that Iran has signed with While the U.S. renewed sanctions on Iran are aimed at
Integrated System] has accelerated.” Hemmati said. the ICCIMA, the meeting was participated by Iranian the member states of Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) isolating the Islamic Republic both politically and econom-
“As we move forward, a balance will be reached in providing ambassador to Armenia, ICCIMA vice chairman for the which has improved trade condition.” ically, Iran’s relations, especially in the economic sectors,
foreign currency for the imports of basic and essential goods, international affairs, the chairmen of ICCIMA’s committees Back in mid-January, the head of Iran-Armenia Joint with its neighbors are seemed not to be affected by the
especially raw materials for factories, and this issue will be of transportation, and non-oil exports development, the Chamber of Commerce said Iran’s trade agreement with sanctions.
seriously pursued,” he said. head of Iran-Armenia Joint Chamber of Commerce, and the the Eurasian Economic Union has had a significant impact The northwestern neighbor Armenia is one of the coun-
Hemmati noted that like the previous year, the government representatives of Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and on the country’s trade relations with Armenia. tries preserving and expanding its economic relations with
is going to provide basic goods and raw materials in the current Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA). Speaking to IRNA, Hervik Yarijanian said: “The two Iran regardless of the sanction condition.
year too, despite the sanctions pressure against the country.
“We have taken important steps to control and reform the
banking system, and recent important decisions regarding
TSE witnesses 5% weekly drop of index
the bank mergers and interest rates have been the result of
disciplinary actions taken by CBI,” he said.
NIMA has been established for exporters to re-inject their ECONOMY TEHRAN — TEDPIX, the main index Organization, which provides healthcare entitlement and
earned foreign currency to the domestic forex market. That d e s k of Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE), fell pension benefits for a large proportion of Iran’s middle
means it allows exporters of non-oil commodities to sell their 48,040 points, or five percent, to 938,557 in the past and working-class members of the labor force.
foreign currency earnings to importers of consumer products. Iranian calendar week (ended on May 29), IRNA reported. Answering to a question about the number of IPOs
In late May 2019, CBI unveiled a directive package that Tehran Stock Exchange, which is Iran’s major stock planned for the current year, Sahraei said, “We try
provided the country’s exporters with guidelines about how market, had also witnessed a five-percent drop in its that more IPOs will be held this year compared to the
they should re-inject their foreign currency incomes into the index in the week ended on May 22. previous year, while it is important that the large and
country’s economy. TSE managing director said two weeks ago that the strong companies will offer their shares.”
Based on the new directive, for the petrochemical sector, country’s stock market has attracted 350 trillion rials While the past Iranian calendar year was full of success
the exporters should present at least 60 percent of their foreign (about $8.33 billion) of liquidity since the beginning of for the TSE, the market is also preserving its successful
currency incomes into NIMA, and a maximum 10 percent could the current Iranian calendar year (March 20). performance in the current year, and the noticeable
be injected into the financial system in the form of hard currency Highlighting that the stock market is welcoming point in this due is that the other economic sectors are
and the rest could be used for importing necessary goods. initial public offering (IPO) of the companies, Ali Sahraei experiencing some declining trend due to the coronavirus
The instructions aimed to lead the export revenues from the said, “We held the IPO of Shasta although it was a very pandemic.
non-oil exports back into the country’s economy through NIMA, complicated process.” We have been witnessing new record highs continuously
mandate all the exporters of goods and services to guarantee to Iran’s stock market witnessed its largest-ever initial offered eight billion shares, which account for 10 percent posted by the exchange since the year start, and climbing
bring back to the country the foreign currency amount allocated public offering on April 15, when Social Security Investment of its stakes, for sales in Tehran Stock Exchange. to the peak of one million points, something almost
to them by the government at lower prices than the free market. Company (SSIC, also known by its Persian acronym Shasta) Shasta is the investment arm of the Social Security unbelievable just some time ago, has already come true.
II NN TT EE RR NN AA TT II OO NN AA LL DD AA II LL YY 55
MMAAYY 3300,, 22002200 EE NN EE RR GG YY
Daily gas supply to power
Huge oil fields could help
Iran to seize Saudi market
plants up 20%
share in China
E N E R G Y
d e s k
Given that China’s oil demand has now recovered from the COV-
ID-19 outbreak to even higher levels than before, Iran is operating
E N E R G Y TEHRAN — National Noting that several projects were carried at full tilt to optimize the oil available to key ally Beijing from any
d e s k Iranian Gas Company out last calendar year (ended on March 19) to and all of its fields, oilprice.com reported.
(NIGC) Dispatching Director Mehdi Jamshidi increase the country’s gas network capacity,
Dana says NIGC is currently supplying 240 the official said: “Most of the mentioned
million cubic meters (mcm) of natural gas projects have been implemented in the
to the country’s power plants on a daily ninth national line, most of which will be
basis, registering a 20-percent rise. operational this year.”
“The figure stood at 200 mcm last week,” The official had previously said that 61
Jamshidi Dana told IRNA on Friday. billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas was supplied
The official noted that during the peak to the country’s power plants during the past
consumption period in summer, power plants Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19).
would need 310 mcm of gas per day, a figure Iran is currently producing over 810
that could be easily met by the National mcm of natural gas daily which is mostly
Gas Company, given its network capacity. used inside the country for the domestic
According to the official, all the fuel needs sector and also as fuel for the power plants
of the power plants connected to the national and a small portion is also exported to the
Principally this involves optimizing output from the cluster
gas network are currently met unless they neighboring countries like Iraq.
of supergiant fields in the West Karoun oil region, attempting to
are going through minor repairs in their Currently, about 30,000 villages with 4.6
increase the average recovery rate from older fields, and pushing
gas sector. million households as well as 1,148 cities with
forward on production increases from fields shared with Iraq and
Currently, 85 power plants across the over 18 million households are connected
Kuwait. All of this is geared to twin objectives: increasing Iran’s
country are using natural gas as fuel, he said. to the national gas network in Iran.
crude oil production to 5.7 million barrels per day (bpd) by the end
He further mentioned gas supply during Gas is supplied to 97 percent of people
of the sixth development plan (ending in 2021/22), and ensuring
the cold season, saying: “This winter, gas in the urban areas and 82 percent of people
that it is able to provide China with the steady flow of oil that it
supply will be better due to increased in the rural regions, according to NIGC’s
By Luke Burgess
production as well as the increased gas Earlier this month, Jamshidi Dana of the national gas network was raised to Managing Director Hassan Montazer requires. Given the variability of Russia’s support for Iran over
transmission capacity.” announced that the transmission capacity one billion cubic meters per day (bcm/d). Torbati. recent years, Tehran believes that China is a better bet for Iran’s
future. Like Russia, China has one of just five Permanent Member
votes in the United Nations Security Council (plus the U.S., U.K.,
Annual petchem output of 100m tons projected and France) but, unlike Russia, China absolutely needs both Iran
in its West Asia client-state line-up, given its multi-generational
‘One Belt One Road’ strategy.
E N E R G Y TEHRAN — Iranian Oil ports to Turkey, he said: “Iran’s gas pipeline
d e s k Minister Bijan Namdar to Turkey, which was damaged due to an ex-
U.S. crude imports surge as
Zanganeh said the country’s petrochemical plosion in the Turkish soil earlier this year,
production capacity was planned to cross 100 has not been repaired, while no more than Saudi oil ‘armada’ arrives
million tons per year in the current Iranian a few days is needed for repairing the line.
calendar year which began on March 20, ac- Iran has said it is ready to help repair the gas
cording to Shana. pipeline, but the offer has not been welcomed U.S. oil imports surged last week, with almost half of the extra crude
Speaking to Eqtesad Radio Channel, Zan- by the other side.” arriving from Saudi Arabia, as foreign producers took market share
ganeh underlined the most important plans of Currently, Iran is exporting one million from the struggling American shale patch.
the Iranian Oil Ministry in the year of “Surge cubic meters per day of gas to Armenia and The federal Energy Information Administration on Thursday said
in Production” saying: “We must all take steps Iraq through two gas routes. Moreover, a small Saudi supplies to the US jumped almost 1m barrels a day during the
in the current difficult situation with interac- amount of gas is being swapped with Azerbaijan week ending May 22, to 1.6m bpd, while commercial imports from
tive and jihadist spirit to solve the problems and Nakhichevan, he added. all countries soared to 7.2m bpd, almost 40 percent more than the
of the people and ensure the development of Asked whether Iran may extend gas exports week before, as reported by Financial Times.
the country. Now is not the time to deal with in Basra pipeline to Laodicea ad Mare in Syria, “The armada of ships bringing Saudi crude to the U.S. has arrived,”
marginal issues.” Zanganeh said there had so far been no such said Amrita Sen, a director at Energy Aspects, a consultancy.
He said continued development of West plans in this regard but Iran had no problem The vessels were launched by the kingdom before it called a halt to
Karoun fields, operation of the second petro- supplying the gas to Laodicea ad Mare if needed. the price war on April 12 and agreed new production cuts with Russia.
chemical industry leap projects, completion of U.S. treatment of Iran; Example Those supply curbs began in May — but the scale of the kingdom’s original
South Pars offshore sector and implementation of a crime against humanity assault on the US shale patch is now becoming clear, analysts said.
of phase 11 operations, implementation of crude In response to another question about “The optics for Saudi crude aren’t so great in Texas right now,” said
oil transfer pipeline from Goreh to Jask and the 62 million tons per year of feedstock (equal to ministry is that gas condensate should not be whether oil prices could be predicted in the Bill Farren-Price, director at RS Energy Group, a consultancy. “Despite
completion of rural gas supply projects were 1.4 million bpd of crude oil) will be supplied to placed directly on the export track and accord- current situation, Zanganeh said: “No one their huge cuts, the April export surge has just started unloading,
among the main plans of the Oil Ministry in the sector by 2021. ing to the plans made, it should be refined and can predict oil prices in the current situation, with yet another clue for Permian operators as to why U.S. oil prices
the year. And about the phase 11 of developing South turned into products in Persian Gulf Star and because oil prices are subject to supply and remain on the floor.”
West Karoun holds great importance for the Pars gas field (which Iran shares with Qatar in Siraf refineries.” demand. The fact is that the demand side is U.S. oil production continues to fall sharply, as operators shut
country’s oil industry since according to the latest the Persian Gulf), Petropars is developing the Zanganeh said that the Siraf refinery produces very vague, because it is not clear when the wells and reduce capital expenditures to cope with the worst crude
studies, its in-situ deposit is estimated to be 67 phase 11 project after its partners, Total and products such as naphtha that are again used global economy will be activated. Economic price crash in decades. The EIA said output dropped to 11.4m bpd in
billion barrels containing both light and heavy CNPCI, pulled out of the project due to the U.S. to feed petrochemical units. “Siraf refinery is a growth in the world’s largest economies is the week ending May 22. Many analysts say production has already
crude oils, and therefore it could have a big im- sanctions. refinery that can produce valuable products at currently negative.” fallen to as low as 10m bpd, compared with 13m bpd earlier this year.
pact on Iran’s oil output increases in the future. The project aims to generate 2 billion cubic the lowest cost. Other refineries typically need Zanganeh said: “The situation in which the Last month, West Texas Intermediate, the US benchmark, traded
With the fields fully operational, their output feet of rich gas, and transfer it to existing South an investment of $30,000 per barrel of oil, while country is currently languishing in is much more below zero for the first time in history, sending shockwaves through
could add 1.2 million bpd to the country’s oil Pars refineries and use the refinery’s processing Siraf needs only $7,000 to $8,000 of investment difficult than the eight years of the imposed a shale patch where producers need almost $50 a barrel to make a
production capacity. capacity. if it is to produce gasoline. If the refinery just war; the difference is that the casualties and the profit. WTI was up at about $33.72 on Thursday evening.
Having an estimated 67 billion barrels of Zanganeh also said that Iran’s petrochemi- produces naphtha, it doesn’t need more than wounded are not as tangible and noticeable.” The crash has dented hopes that the US could establish self-
in-situ oil, West Karoun fields definitely deserve cal revenues were projected to reach 25 billion $5,000 to $6,000 in investment.” He described the U.S. treatment of Iran a sufficiency in oil supply. President Donald Trump has repeatedly
the spotlight which has been put on them recently. dollars in the calendar year of 1399 which began Iran ready to repair Turkish gas crime against humanity, and said: “Had there lauded the U.S.’s “energy independence”. But net petroleum imports
For the second leap the in petrochemical on March 20. pipeline been an order in the world, the Americans must rose again last week to 1.2m bpd, according to the EIA, well above
production, by realization of the second leap, He said: “One of the other programs of this Regarding the situation of Iranian gas ex- have been tried for committing these crimes.” the level a year ago.
“America’s net-exporter vacation is over for now,” said Kevin Book,
managing director at ClearView Energy Partners, a Washington-
based consultancy. “But we’ll be showing the photographs for years.”
Oil refiners snap up distressed cargoes and pull crude from storage at sea
Despite the easing of virus lockdown measures around the
country, US oil demand also dropped by about 4 percent against
Asian buyers are snapping up distressed cargoes of oil from sea near Singapore, while other cargoes were purchased just Arabia and Iraq, the traders and refiners said. the previous week, the EIA said. At 16m bpd it was a quarter lower
Africa to the West Asia in another sign that demand is coming days before they were scheduled to load in June, they said. The return of prompt demand is occurring as lockdown than a year earlier.
back in the world’s biggest crude-importing region, according Indian Oil Corp., the country’s biggest refiner, has been restrictions aro und the region are eased and as consumption More than 40m workers claimed unemployment benefits in the
to Bloomberg. perhaps the most aggressive buyer of prompt cargoes, releas- of some oil pro ducts recovers. It’s helping to chip away at U.S. last week, according to the country’s labor department.
Indian, Chinese and South Korean refiners have been pur- ing a slew of tenders for African, West Asian and U.S. crude. the overhang o f unsold crude that was built up during the The extra oil imports pushed U.S. crude inventories sharply higher.
chasing the so-called distressed shipments, or crude that’s set While IOC is ramping up fuel output to meet rising domestic unprecedented supply-demand shock earlier in the year and This ate into some storage capacity, but utilization rates remain well
to load in around a month or less, according to traders and consumption, other Asian processors are seeking to make up may provide m ore support to the rally in oil prices that’s been beneath the high levels that sparked WTI’s collapse below zero last
refinery executives. Some of the oil was already being stored at for steep allocation cuts by OPEC+ producers such as Saudi underwa y since late April. month.

لوا تبون
Deja vu: OPEC’s recurring oil production dilemma 1F39i9r.1s00t9 Announcement N.I.S.O1.3C 99.1009

Two conflicting reports about OPEC’s This would be difficult, however, espe- change--namely, the Saudi oil breakeven
plans for oil production surfaced earlier cially with the wider OPEC+ group. The price. This, in turn, means economic re- NATIONAL IRANIAN SON.UI.TS.HO .OCILFIELDS COMPANY
this week--both citing unnamed sources. reason it would be difficult is the substantial forms to make the country more resilient NATIONAL IRANIAN SOUT AHH OVIALZF-IIRLADNS COMPANY AHVAZ-IRAN
One set of sources claimed that Russia difference between breakeven prices for, to oil price shocks. Riyadh has already been TENTDENEDRE RN NOO.. : : 0011--3311--992288000203 23
was considering an extension of the cur- say, Saudi and Russian oil. This difference forced by the oil price crash to implement National Iranian South Oilfields Company(NISOC) intends to purchase the following goods
rent oil production cuts beyond the end needs to be narrowed so the two can be some austerity—from its perspective— National Iranian South Oilfields Company(NISOC) intends to purchase the following goods
of June. The other set of sources said more equal partners, with a larger shared measures. Perhaps it might be a good idea
that Russia was planning to ease the interest. to keep these in place even after prices Items Material Description Quantity
cuts starting in July. This is a perfect Right now, Russia is comfy with cheap- stabilize.
38 PARTS FOR “RUSTON” GAS TURBINETA 1750 909NOS
illustration of the uncertainty reigning er oil than the Kingdom. This means it Indeed, this seems to be the plan.
over oil markets. This uncertainty, how- can reverse production cuts earlier with- “These measures that have been un- Vendors who intend to participate in aforesaid tenders are requested to send their "intention To Participate" letter
ever, needs to be mitigated, and the most out suffering too much, to prevent U.S. dertaken today, as tough as they are, are via fax to the following number along with their resume according to Qualitative Assessment Form no. 1, available
likely one to do it would be the OPEC+ shale—the ultimate adversary of the OPEC+ necessary and beneficial to maintain at: WWW.nisoc.ir , not later than 14 days after the second announcement, otherwise, their requests for
club, together accounting for more than group—from getting too bold with its own comprehensive financial and economic
participation in the tender will be disregarded.
a third of global oil production, oilprice. production plans. stability on the medium and long-term for
com reported. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, the de the interest of the country and its citizens,” The applicants should have relevant background in supplying the required goods and capability to provide and
How? By strategizing how to increase facto leader of the Persian Gulf producers, Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al
submit a bid bond of 1,940 EURO or 255,035,000 RIAL, in favor of NISOC.
oil production in such a way as to not needs much higher oil prices, which puts Jadaan said at the announcement of a
crash prices again-- but also in a way that it in the difficult position of pressing for 10-percentage-point VAT increase, the Tender Conditions material technical thorough specifications and Qualitative Assessment Forms can be accessed
will keep U.S. shale from stripping away extended cuts, often at its own expense, cancellation or delay of a number of public via: WWW.nisoc.ir-material procurement management tab
all the benefits from higher prices. It’s a as John Kemp notes. spending projects, and the discontinuing
tough conundrum. “Saudi Arabia tried to keep prices above of cost-of-living allowances for public ONLY ACCEPTABLE DELIVERY TERM IS D.D.P,, NISOCS MATERIAL APPROVAL
Reuters’ John Kemp wrote this week $100 per barrel during the first shale servants, which make up the majority of
that OPEC+ needs to think about its exit boom (2012-2014) and then above $70 the Saudi population. NO ADVANCE PAYMENT WILL BE PAID
strategy even if we are now just in the first per barrel during the second shale boom This is why U.S. shale was so success-
month of actual production cuts. OPEC (2017-2019),” Kemp wrote. “Both times, ful in growing so fast so soon, at the ex- FO FROERIEGING NP UPURRCCHHAASSIINNGG D DEEPPAARRTTMMEENNTT
already has a questionable track record informal targets were too high and led to pense of the former ruler of oil markets: BBllddgg. .N Noo.. 1 10044,, M Maatteerriiaall PPrrooccuurreemmeenntt M Maannaaggeemmeenntt C Coommpplleexx
in reversing production cuts to its own an unsustainable increase in U.S. shale it achieved much lower breakeven prices. KKoouuyy--ee--FFaaddaaeeiiaann I Issllaamm ( (NNeeww S Siittee)), ,A Ahhvvaazz,, I Irraann
benefit, Kemp noted, so the cartel might as well as limiting global oil consumption If there is one lesson OPEC should learn E.MAIL: KALA.F T.Pel@. Nnios.o: c0.6ir1 3 T4e1l .2 N46o4.:4 0 6F1a 3x4 N 1o2. :4 066414 3 4 4 F5 a7x4 N37o . : 061 3445 7437
want to consider changing things, such as growth, creating conditions for a subse- from its experiences with shale, it is to Public Relations www.shana.ir www.nisoc.ir
swiftly reacting to rising prices--as swiftly quent price crash.” lower breakevens, even if it causes some 99/3/13 مود تب وPن u9b9l/i3c/ 1R0e لlaوtا iتonبوsن : زمیات نارهت
as it reacts to falling prices. So, something fundamental needs to discomfort among the population.
WWW.shana.ir www.nisoc.ir http://iets.mporg.ir
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99/3/13 مود تبون 99/3/10 لوا تبون : زمیات نارهت
6 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y

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لوا تبون
13F99i.1r01s6t Announcement N.I.S.O13.C9 9.1016
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23 PARTS FOR “RUSTON” GAS TURBINE TYPE TA 1500 178NOS
Vendors who intend to participate in aforesaid tenders are requested to send their "intention To Participate" letter
via fax to the following number along with their resume according to Qualitative Assessment Form no. 1, available
at: WWW.nisoc.ir , not later than 14 days after the second announcement, otherwise, their requests for
participation in the tender will be disregarded.
The applicants should have relevant background in supplying the required goods and capability to provide and
submit a bid bond of 7,238 EURO or 1,005,929,438 RIAL, in favor of NISOC.
Tender Conditions material technical thorough specifications and Qualitative Assessment Forms can be accessed
via: WWW.nisoc.ir-material procurement management tab
ONLY ACCEPTABLE DELIVERY TERM IS D.D.P,, NISOCS MATERIAL APPROVAL
NO ADVANCE PAYMENT WILL BE PAID
FOREIGN PURCHASING DEPARTMENT
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I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 7 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 7
MAY 30, 2020 E N E R G MAYY 30, 2020 A N A L Y S I S
Persian Gulf Cooperation
U.S. police kill blacks with
brutality matching Israeli
Council and its internal crises
military’s
E N E R G Y
d e s k BY Robert Inlakesh
Disturbing footage of a black man being choked to death by
a Minneapolis police officer in the United States has sparked
By Fatemeh Salehi Their withdrawal from the coalition angered online outrage and street protests over what is being described
Riyadh in some cases. as the lynching of an unarmed black man by armed police. The
The Persian Gulf Cooperation Council now- The UAE and Saudi Arabia are also at log- reaction to this now opens up a wider conversation about why
adays, instead of focusing on ‘cooperation’, gerheads over Yemen. The issue of southern these incidents happen and how the follow-up to the crime
has turned into a hotbed of tension among Yemen and the growing influence of Saudi is so similar to when Palestinians are killed by Israeli troops.
Arab countries. Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in this At around 8.PM, Monday morning, Minneapolis police officers
The Council has so far failed to settle any area have caused the elements backed by were called to a Cup Foods’ store on the 3700 block of Chicago
disputes among its member states, the most both countries in southern Yemen to clash Avenue South. The suspect was a black man, named George
important example of which is the crisis in violently. Floyd, who was allegedly attempting to use forged documents.
Qatar which involves the four Arab states of Saudi Arabia’s Dominance over Police spokesperson John Elders claimed that George Floyd
the Persian Gulf. the Cooperation Council had resisted arrest and then went on to say, “Officers were
The Council consists of six countries, It is no secret to anyone that the Co- able to get the suspect into handcuffs and officers noticed that
including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab operation Council is ultimately under the the man was going into medical distress.”
Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bah- control and dominance of Saudi Arabia, and However, the alleged “medical distress,” which the police
rain. It was formed on May 25, 1981, at a any country that opposes Riyadh will be put were having the public believe and caused the death of George
meeting in Riyadh and the initiative of Jaber under pressure from the Council. Floyd, was caught on camera. The video footage shot by a
al-Ahmad al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait at When Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani was bystander and released onto Facebook this Tuesday, shows
the time. Al-Sabah made the proposal to fill in power, he did not observe the principle of 10 minutes, in which the alleged “criminal” was indeed the
the so-called “vacuum” left in the wake of impartiality regarding the crisis in Qatar, and victim of police brutality. The video shows an officer, allegedly
Britain’s withdrawal from the Persian Gulf. he always raised criticism against this country. identified as Derek Chauvin (badge number: #1087), pressing
The primary purpose of the Council was The move was not unexpected given Saudi his knee into the victim’s neck for at least seven minutes as
to strengthen unity and establish joint coor- of the involved countries have deep-seated affairs or military issues because they have Arabia’s control of the Cooperation Council. the victim screamed, “I cannot breathe” and “my neck hurts,”
dination among member states in all fields. social, cultural, and family ties with Qatar, not been able to achieve any significant re- In his remarks, he always praised Saudi whilst pleading for his life. Bystanders also scream at the three
By Luke Burgess Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Bah- these political disputes have overshadowed sults in the latter. Arabia and its policies and ignored Riyadh’s officers present, which intensifies as the victim passes out
rain, and Egypt have cut ties with Qatar and these ties. For this reason, the Council member states efforts to create divisions and discord among unconscious, at which point the officer’s knee is still planted
imposed a siege on the country for nearly three Of course, the serious dispute between have taken steps to further develop economic the member states. firmly into the victim’s neck.
years under the pretext of Doha’s support for Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain cooperation, from signing a free trade agree- Al-Hajarf, Al-Zayani’s successor, seems The officers present have now been placed on paid leave
terrorism, the Council has failed to take any did not originate in 2017. It was on March 5, ment to establishing a customs union and a to have followed suit. In his first comment and the FBI has been called to deal with the situation, which
positive steps in this regard. 2014, when these Arab countries summoned common market, but these measures have on the Qatar crisis, he downgraded the enor- many pundits have pointed out may have to do with the reaction
It is a matter of great surprise to see this their ambassadors from Doha and then, eight faced some problems due to lack of production mity of the crisis to mere disputes between to this case.
level of dispute among countries that other- months later, announced an end to the dis- and services. The volume of trade transac- Arab countries. The move was faced with The reaction to such a murder
wise share such deep roots in their language, putes during a meeting in the Qatari capital. tions between the member states amounts to opposition from Qatar’s adviser on political This is far from the first incident of its kind in the United
race, religion, income, resources, as well as However, about three years later, the only 10% of the total volume of their non-oil affairs, who said that Al-Hajarf expresses the States, where white police officers have choked to death unarmed
familial and social ties. countries resumed their disputes, which trade. What’s more is the Council’s failure to views of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin black men begging for their lives, with the most infamous case
The Qatar Crisis and No Hopeful have persisted to this day. This shows that join efforts to create an integrated monetary Salman in the Cooperation Council and he being the killing of Eric Garner, which did not result in the
Prospect for Its Settlement the disputes between these countries are not a policy for the member states. should not reduce the crisis in Qatar and the conviction of any officer.
The Qatar crisis is one of the worst crises superficial issue that could be settled through Even now, after Saudi Arabia’s move to siege of this country to mere disputes among So, what routinely happens when a case like this appears,
to be ever presented to the Persian Gulf Co- meetings or the signing of a reconciliation raise taxes, the idea of coordinated customs Arab countries. especially such a clear cut case. First of all, we see the police
operation Council since its establishment. document. measures seems highly unlikely. The future of Saudi Arabia’s interference in the deci- statements assuming no responsibility for the death, which
The Council, then headed by Abdullatif bin This is while the Cooperation Council did the Council’s economic policy is wrapped in a sions of the Cooperation Council reached occurred in their custody. We see armies of social media warriors
Rashid Al Zayani, (who was recently succeeded not take any steps to end the Arab conflicts in veil of ambiguity in the face of the members’ its peak when, in an unprecedented move, it coming out to defend the officers and claim that the black man
by former Kuwaiti Finance Minister Nayef 2014, and only Kuwait held the said meeting competition in the fields of taxes, foreign prevented a Qatari minister from attending killed was a criminal and ultimately the media follows suit by
al-Hajraf after 10 years), announced in No- through diplomatic efforts. investments, and the granting of citizenship one of the Council’s meetings. According to reporting on all the previous allegations against the victim.
vember 2017, five months after the siege of The Cooperation Council and A to foreign nationals. the predictions of U.S.-based National Interest The reactions from the public on the opposite side of the
Qatar, that it was unable to settle the crisis and New Crisis Other Disputes among the Mem- newspaper, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait are argument are usually to condemn and demand justice, usually
the solution was in the hands of the leaders In addition to the failure of the Persian Gulf ber States unlikely to need Saudi Arabia’s presence in resulting in protests and even riots.
of the member states. Cooperation Council in reaching a political It is true that the Qatar crisis is the main the Council’s next term, as the country has However, the arguments coming from the African American
In the early days of the Qatar crisis, U.S. solution to the disputes among the member point of dispute among the member states, a long history of having adopted immature community are rarely ever aired and real discussions about
President Donald Trump sought to resolve states, the Council may soon come to its end but that is by no means the only difference policies in light of its own turbulent domestic what enables a police officer to use such violence is also not
the crisis as soon as possible by holding talks in the face of a new crisis. worth talking about. situation. discussed even nearly enough.
with Qatari and Arab officials, because he Recently, Saudi Arabia has increased its Oman has long been unhappy about Sau- Saudi Arabia’s adventurous policies, in the As usual as with other places in the world where oppressed
considered tension and conflict in the camp value-added tax (VAT) rate to 15 percent di Arabia’s military presence in al-Muhra wake of the rise of Muhammad bin Salman communities are attacked, like in occupied Palestine, we see
of his Arab allies in the region as detrimental from 5 percent in response to its financial province on Oman’s and Yemen’s shared as a young and inexperienced prince, have a similar campaign of victim blaming online by the privileged
to Washington. Yet, despite all these con- crisis and as part of its austerity measures. borders. Furthermore, the Omani people cost the country its former position among community (the Israelis and their supporters). It does not
sultations, as well as exerting pressure and This would mean the end of economic de- were critical of the UAE’s acts of espionage the members of the Persian Gulf Coopera- matter how horrendous the crime, nor whether the videos
leveling threats, nothing special happened velopment and political coordination in the against their country, and in 2019, Oman tion Council. posted online show the entire incident, Israelis will jump to
to resolve the Qatar crisis. region, as the topic of economic measures sentenced 5 Emirati people to prison on Finally, it could be said that both the Arab conclusions and will claim that all the information has not yet
It is safe to say that one reason for the and the adoption of unilateral trade policies spying charges. League in Egypt and the Persian Gulf Cooper- surfaced and claim that the Palestinian victim was some sort
continued persistence of disputes among between the member states is one of the main Meanwhile, Kuwait is trying to stay neutral ation Council in Saudi Arabia appear to have of terrorist or criminal.
the Council’s member states is that while pillars of this Council. on disputed cases but is being pressured by lost their place and effectiveness among the We also see that the Israeli military and police -- if the murder
the disputes remained between the Arab Of course, in the past, there were more Riyadh and Abu Dhabi to take their side. Arab nations, as they have made no progress is committed in Jerusalem al-Quds or elsewhere inside the Israeli-
leaders and concerning their political con- areas for economic cooperation between these As for Yemen, we saw that some Arab in resolving the many Arab crises in recent occupied territory -- will instantly claim that its troops had been
sultations in the past, today these differences countries than there were for joint security countries, which were originally members of years. The disputes among the Arab coun- under instant threat and that the death of the Palestinian was
have reached among nations and concern the cooperation. The majority of member states the aggressive Saudi-led coalition, gradually tries, in light of the policies of their leaders, some sort of dramatic accident. It does not matter how many
way they treat the so-called ‘enemy country.’ believe that it is better to focus on joint eco- left the coalition after several years when will not be resolved except by a fundamental thousands of Palestinians are killed by the Israeli occupation
Regarding the crisis in Qatar, although many nomic cooperation rather than on foreign the war and invasion of Yemen dragged on. change in these policies. forces, every time the privileged Israeli community will largely
jump to defend the killing and even laugh at it. This is especially
the case as in Israel, the regime behind the occupation forces
Hong Kong gov’t warns U.S. on special status and illegal settlers, who kill Palestinians, consistently propagate
ethnic supremacy and ultra-nationalism.
The fact of the matter is that being able to kill someone
China parliament approves Hong Kong security
with such ease and be fine with lying and justifying your
actions, speaks to the lack of humanity in the murder. That
bill as tensions with U.S. rise
lack of humanity may come from many sources, whether it be
the psychology of some fake superiority complex of those in
Hong K ong leader Carrie Lam tried to rally people behind the Chinese parliament’s approval of national security uniform or whether it be both societal and systematic hatred
China’s new national security on Friday, as the government legislation for Hong Kong, which critics say will erode perpetuated against those policed. In order to kill so easily
warned the United States to stop interfering in its internal the freedoms agreed on its return to Chinese rule in 1997. and so brutally, first you must find a justification; whether
affairs, saying the withdrawal of the territory’s special The former British colony enjoys a high degree of that be through dehumanizing the victim or carrying around
status could be a “double-edged sword”. autonomy under the “one country, two systems” framework hatred which enables the rage to commit such an act.
The statement came as U.S. President Donald Trump that ended more than a century of colonial rule. When people speak of racist police murders in the United
pr epared to announce lat er on Friday his response to “Any sanctions are a double-edged sword that will States, to pass this by and claim that race does not play as a
لوا تبون not only harm the interests of Hong Kong but also factor, is utter lunacy. The way black people are viewed in the
139F9.i1r01s4t Announcement N.I.S.O1.3C9 9.1014 ssiagindi fliactaen otlny Tthhousres odfa tyh.e U.S.,” the city’s government Usonciitoe-de cSotnatoems,i pc rceosnednitteiodn isn umnadienrs wtrheiacmh lmaregdei ap,o arntido nthse o pf othoer
It added that from 2009 to 2018, the U.S. trade African American community suffer are not to be ignored.
surplus with Hong Kong was the biggest among all There is also on top of this, the racism prevalent inside the
NATIONAL IRANIAN SONU.I.TSH.O .OCILFIELDS COMPANY its trading partners, totalling $297bn of merchandise police, the lack of transparency from the police, the history
NATIONAL IRANIAN SOUT AHH OVIALZF-IIRLADNS COMPANY AHVAZ-IRAN with 1,300 American firms are based in the city. of racism against African Americans, and the deep-rooted
TENTEDNEDERR N NOO.. :: 0011--3311-9-913163161101 0 The legislation will allow Chinese intelligence stereotypes about black people in the U.S. and throughout
National Iranian South Oilfields Company(NISOC) intends to purchase the following goods agencies to set up bases in the territory. Beijing argues the Western world. This is of course only emboldened by
National Iranian South Oilfields Company(NISOC) intends to purchase the following goods
the new legislation is necessary to tackle secession, the likes of Donald Trump, sitting in the White House, who
Items Material Description Quantity subversion, terrorism and foreign interference. consistently uses language that can often be interpreted in
Hong Kong has been convulsed by sometimes two ways -- that many US voters do see as racist and do
27 PARTS FOR “DRESSER FRANCE” GAS TURBINE TYPE TA 1500 850NOS violent protests since the local government attempted identify with.
to introduce an extradition bill that would have This sort of racism is on a larger (percentage wise) and more
Vendors who intend to participate in aforesaid tenders are requested to send their "intention To Participate" letter allowed people to be sent to mainland China for obvious scale, prevalent inside of Israeli society and promoted
via fax to the following number along with their resume according to Qualitative Assessment Form no. 1, available trial. While the scale of the opposition forced the by the Israeli regime, against the indigenous population of
government to abandon the plan, the protests have Palestine. Where daily shootings of Palestinians is justified
at: WWW.nisoc.ir , not later than 14 days after the second announcement, otherwise, their requests for
evolved into broader calls for democracy amid in the eyes of Israelis over “security” concerns for the Israeli
participation in the tender will be disregarded.
concerns about China’s encroachment into Hong forces, with the assumption that the Palestinian must have
Kong’s affairs. been involved in a crime -- a racist notion -- and that, therefore,
The applicants should have relevant background in supplying the required goods and capability to provide and
After a coronavirus lull, the national security bill the murder or severe injury of the victim is somehow justified.
submit a bid bond of 46,786 EURO or 6,501,935,700 RIAL, in favor of NISOC.
has ignited the first big protests in Hong Kong for Just as a black man was choked to death yesterday, by what
months. Police moved to disperse crowds in the heart could be described as thugs in uniforms, three Palestinians
Tender Conditions material technical thorough specifications and Qualitative Assessment Forms can be accessed
of the city’s business district with pepper pellets were also shot this Monday by Israeli forces. If you are to look
via: WWW.nisoc.ir-material procurement management tab
and hundreds were arrested. Social media showed online at the responses to these two cases, you will see the
mainly young people, including schoolchildren, same thing with both. On one side there are those outraged
ONLY ACCEPTABLE DELIVERY TERM IS D.D.P,, NISOCS MATERIAL APPROVAL
being escorted onto police buses. and then there are those working to justify the act by any
NO ADVANCE PAYMENT WILL BE PAID The U.S. Department of State said in a report means necessary, even if that means ignoring the video and
on Thursday it could “no longer certify that Hong eye-witness testimony evidence.
FO FROERIGEING NPU PRUCRCHHAASSININGG D DEEPPAARRTTMMEENNTT Kong continues to warrant (differential) treatment” According to Press TV, Robert Inlakesh is a journalist,
BBldldgg. .N Noo. .1 10044, ,M Maatteerriaial lP Prrooccuurreemmeenntt M Maannaaggeemmeenntt CCoommpplleexx from Beijing. writer and political analyst, who has lived in and reported
KKoouuyy-e-e-F-Faaddaaeeiaiann I Isslalamm ( (NNeeww S Siittee)), ,A Ahhvvaazz,, IIrraann Trump’s top economic adviser Larry Kudlow from the occupied Palestinian West Bank. He has written for
E.MAIL: [e-mail] Tel. No.: 061 34 12 4644 Fax No.: 061 3445 7437 warned that Hong Kong, which has enjoyed special publications such as Mint Press, Mondoweiss, MEMO, and
Tel. No.: 061 341 24644 Fax No.: 061 3445 7437
Public Relations www.shana.ir www.nisoc.ir privileges under U.S. law based on its high degree of various other outlets. He specializes in analysis of the West
99/3/13 مود ت بPونu 9b9l/i3c/ 1R0e lلaوtا iتonبوsن : زمیات نارهت autonomy from Beijing, may now need to be treated Asia, in particular Palestine-Israel. He also works for Press
like China on trade and other financial matters. TV as a European correspondent.
WWW.shana.ir www.nisoc.ir http://iets.mporg.ir
بونج زیخ تفن قطانم یلم تکرش یمومع طباور
99/3/13 مود تبون 99/3/10 لوا تبون : زمیات نارهت
8 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y
HERITAGE & TOURISM MAY 30, 2020
EU designates Naghsh-e Jahan Sq.
Over 5,000 ancient relics
confiscated from antique
as World Heritage asset
dealer
T O U R I S M TEHRAN – Some 5,415 ancient relics have
d e s k recently been confiscated from a smuggler
in Gonbad-e Kavus, northern Golestan province.
The accused was traced and arrested in his home after police HERITAGE TEHRAN – The Horizon 2020, which
received reports from cultural heritage aficionados about him d e s k is a massive EU research and innovation
dealing relics, said provincial tourism chief Ahmad Tajari, program, has recently registered the 17th-century Naghsh-e
CHTN reported on Friday. Jahan Square in the city of Isfahan as a World Heritage
asset with the goal of making world-firsts more known and
lucrative, IRNA reported on Friday.
Naghsh-e Jahan Sq. was laid out in the very early 17th
century under the reign of the Safavid ruler, Shah Abbas
the Great, to signal the importance of Isfahan as a capital
of a powerful empire.
According to the Horizon 2020, the Naghsh-e Jahan
Square (locally called “Meidan Emam” and literary meaning
“Image of the World”) is an open-air educational hub,
oriented to preserve tradition and know-how about cultural
heritage conservation while promoting entrepreneurship
and employment.
“The square is public plaza and group of historic buildings,
a UNESCO World Heritage site [since 1979], and it is home
to various creative enterprises such as handicraft shops,
restaurants, galleries, in addition to mosques and bazaars.”
The monumental square has been registered and introduced
in the form of a research project as a wealth (asset) of cultural
Recovered objects include 5,120 coins, 291 metal fittings heritage in the world in order to attract more investment
and 22 bronze utensils, he added. for its optimal use, Iran Press reported.
He also noted that the authenticity of the discovered objects Sayyed Komeil Tayyebi, the director of the Office of
will be announced later after the examination by cultural International Scientific Cooperation of the University of
heritage experts. Isfahan, announced on Friday that Naghsh-e Jahan Square,
Gonbad-e Kavus is home to a UNESCO-inscribed brick over its unique heritage, historical, economic and urban
tower of the same name that is of high architectural importance features, has been selected and introduced as an international
as an exemplar design of the early-Islamic-era architecture. cultural heritage asset for international organizations in a
Narratives say the tower has influenced various subsequent research project conducted by the European Union.
designers of tomb towers and other cylindrical commemorative The square is hemmed on four sides by magnificent built, the only modern additions are some fountains added playing polo and for assembling troops.
structures both in the region and beyond. The UNESCO comments buildings: to the east, the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque; during the Pahlavi era. Imam Square is perhaps at its best in late afternoon
that tower bears testimony to the cultural exchange between to the west, the palace of Ali Qapu; to the north, the According to UNESCO, the square was at the heart of the when the encircling blue-tiled domes and minarets are lit
Central Asian nomads and the ancient civilization of Iran. portico of Qeyssariyeh; and to the south, the eminent Safavid capital’s culture, economy, religion, social power, up by the last rays of the sun while the mountains beyond
Imam Mosque. government, and politics. Its vast sandy esplanade was used turn red. It’s when local families, domestic travelers and
The sizeable open space has changed little since it was for celebrations, promenades, and public executions, for foreigners make the entire space a pedestrian zone.
Package unveiled to create
over 400 jobs for crafters
Easing lockdown, Iran reopens UNESCO-registered Persepolis, other tourist destinations
T O U R I S M TEHRAN – A new package aimed at
d e s k creating more than 400 jobs in the field T O U R I S M TEHRAN – Iran has recently reopened Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan announced
of handicraft has been unveiled in the northeastern North d e s k the UNESCO-registered Persepolis, that open-air recreation centers and natural landscapes
Khorasan province. which was once the ceremonial capital of the mighty could be reopened in Iran under the condition of observing
Currently, over 15,000 artisans and craftspeople are active Achaemenid Empire, as well as many other tourist health protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
in 61 handicrafts fields in the province, provincial tourism destinations to sightseers and history buffs, marking “We requested the Ministry of Interior, provincial
chief Mohammadreza Qahremanian said, CHTN reported another phase in the easing of one of the world’s restrictions authorities, police, and security guards to collaborate
on Friday. over the coronavirus outbreak. with us and prepare the ground for people to visit natural
The UNESCO-registered Dome of Soltanieh, the landscapes and use open-air recreation centers during
mausoleum of Shah-e Cheragh (“King of Light”), the a time when a lot of mental pressure is imposed on the
mausoleum of Sadi, and the National Museum of Iran society as a result of coronavirus pandemic.”
were amongst destinations being reopened over the past Iran expects to reap a bonanza from its numerous
couple of days. tourist spots such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges,
Persepolis lies just only an hour’s drive from north- bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers,
east of Shiraz, itself a major tourist destination of the and mansions, of which 24 being inscribed on the UNESCO
country. The ancient city boasts extensive structures, World Heritage list. Under the 2025 Tourism Vision
including monumental staircases, exquisite reliefs, of the ancient world. Plan, it aims to increase the number of tourist arrivals
and imposing gateways as one of the great wonders Earlier this month, Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million in 2025.
Official rejects selling Bugatti, once belonged to the last Shah of Iran, after Islamic Revolution
HERITAGE TEHRAN – Kia Par- Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, but in any case,
d e s k sa, the director of the it is a symbol of its history in Iran.”
The plan is projected to be completed by the end of the Sa’dabad Cultural-Historical Complex, “The car was later sold for $760,000
current Iranian calendar year (March 2021), he added. has rejected social media reports that a at an auction and is currently being kept
He also noted that four of the province’s handicrafts have 57C Bugatti, once belonged to Mohammad in an excellent condition at the Patterson
gained the UNESCO Seal of Excellence. Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, has been Museum in California, and occasionally
The presence of different ethnicities with diverse cultures sold after the 1979 Islamic Revolution in appears in classic car shows.”
has provided an attractive and admirable companionship for the country. Therefore, it is clear that this car was
handicraft products. Different motifs and techniques have “This is fake news because the car did not shipped out of Iran before the 1979 Islamic
spread from one ethnic group to another, which lead to eye belong to the Sa’dabad Museum at all and it Revolution and it was not part of Sa’dabad’s
catching handicraft products. had been sold before the Islamic Revolution,” property to be sold, and such news is fake
Traditional footwear, embroidery, traditional dyeing and CHTN quoted Parsa as saying on Tuesday. and unreliable.
sewing of local costumes, felt products and pottery are among The dramatic body of the car was con- Automobiles Ettore Bugatti was a French
the handicrafts fields active in the province. structed by Vanvooren of Paris in the style car manufacturer of high-performance auto-
of Figoni et Falaschi, one of the most pro- mobiles, founded in 1909 in the then-German
gressive coachbuilders of the day. Advanced city of Molsheim, Alsace by the Italian-born
Adimi to be named national
features include fully skirted fenders, a top industrial designer Ettore Bugatti. The cars
city of Khameh-Duzi that conceals beneath a metal panel when were known for their design beauty and
down, and a windshield that can be lowered their many race victories. Famous Bugattis
into the cowl. the time, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi did not unveiled at a classic car show in the United include the Type 35 Grand Prix cars, the
T O U R I S M TEHRAN – Adimi, a small city in Nimruz
d e s k County, southeastern province of Sistan- Briefing the history of the classical vehicle, use the car much until 1959, when a man States in 1984, attracting the attention of Type 41 “Royale”, the Type 57 “Atlantic”
Parsa noted: “In 1939 (1318 in the Iranian named Houshang Jalili paid 2,000 rials classic car experts, winning many awards.” and the Type 55 sports car.
Baluchestan, is planned to be named as the national city of
calendar), the Bugatti was presented to the ($275) to own the second-hand, abandoned “One of the interesting points about this Sprawled on about 110 hectares of a moun-
Khameh-Duzi, a traditional type of embroidery.
Prince Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the soon- Bugatti…..” car is the preservation of the Iranian license tainside parkland, the Sa’dabad complex was
Being recognized as a national hub of Khameh-Duzi will
to-be Shah of Iran at the time, as a wedding “For many years, the car remained hidden plate (registration plate), which of course once a royal summer residence during the
help craftspeople active in this field promote their works
gift from the French government.” from the public and traded among Bugatti is different from the first license plate that Qajar era (1789–1925) and its subsequent
more properly, CHTN quoted deputy provincial tourism chief
“Due to the low quality of Iran’s roads at enthusiasts until after a full overhaul, it was was installed on it during the ownership of Pahlavi epoch (1925–1979).
Mohammad-Behrouz Isazehi as saying on Thursday.
Qeshm Geopark could lose UNESCO tag
HERITAGE TEHRAN – Iran’s southern Qeshm which will deface the protected natural reserve.”
d e s k Geopark could lose its UNESCO status Initially added to the coveted network in 2006, Qeshm
due to years of large-scale shrimp hatchery operations that Geopark was dropped from the Global Geoparks Network
could be referred to as an example of environmental mis- (GGN) in 2013 due to the authorities’ failure to address the
management in the country. site’s problems, such as underdeveloped infrastructure and
In January, Alireza Amiri-Kazemi, the deputy director of unenforced environmental regulations.
Qeshm Trade and Industrial Free Zone, said that extensive After years of back and forth and discussions with UN-
shrimp hatchery operations could cause the Qeshm Island ESCO experts, Iranian authorities submitted the geopark’s
Global Geopark to lose its UNESCO status. dossier for review last year and it received the provisional
“According to officials at Iran Fisheries Organization, approval during the Seventh International Conference on
two [aquatic farming] companies have received business UNESCO’s Global Geoparks Network in Torquay, England.
licenses to operate on the Qeshm Island Global Geopark,” In 2017, the geopark managed to reclaim its global status, attractions in the Persian Gulf. The island is a heaven for
This field of handicraft was becoming obsolete, however Amiri-Kazemi said, Kayhan Life reported. after 10 days of deliberation by UNESCO’s Executive Board eco-tourists as it embraces wide-ranging attractions such
careful planning and great efforts have revived it in the region, “Qeshm Trade and Industrial Free Zone has, however, in Paris. Seven other geological sites were also added to the as the Hara marine forests and about 60 villages dotted
he added. issued no business operating licenses. Permits issued by other list, according to a press release on GGN’s website. mostly across its rocky coastlines.
Khameh-Duzi is done with the raw silk thread. It is popular organizations are not valid. It is also illegal to set up such UNESCO announced that the Qeshm Geopark will be a Aside from the geopark, sun and sandy beaches, the
in some small cities in southern Iran and is used for decorating operations on the Qeshm Island Global Geopark, particularly UNESCO site until 2020 when its members will be reviewed. island’s famed mangrove forests in the Hara Protected Area
traditional costumes, scarves, prayer mats, tablecloths and near the Salt Cave, which is a protected natural reserve.” Describing Qeshm as “an island shaped like a dolphin in attract a large number of domestic and foreign tourists.
bedspreads. “The Qeshm Trade and Industrial Free Zone used several the Strait of Hormuz, off the southern coast of Iran”, the press Hara Protected Area is one of the five forests in Hormozgan
Various Iranian cities and villages have been named as national legal channels to warn the companies before the start of release on GGN’s website points to the island’s geological Province and arguably the most important feature of Qeshm
hubs of handicrafts. the project a few months ago,” he explained. “They have, formations that have been shaped by erosion that created “a Geopark. With an area of 85,686 hectares, Hara is a UNE-
Zanjan for filigree, Kashan for traditional textile, Iranshahr for however, resumed construction, despite verbal and written range of spectacular landscapes and beautiful rock deserts”. SCO Biosphere Reserve. The ecological importance of the
needlework, Abadeh for wood carving as well as the village of Fash warnings from the Judiciary. The project involves digging One of Iran’s seven free zones, Qeshm Island is a top holiday forests has compelled local officials to build a new museum
for crafting indigenous musical instruments are among them. the ground, removing soil, and setting up shrimp hatcheries, destination and a treasure trove of natural and ecological dedicated to showcasing the woodland’s ecological features.
I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 9
MAY 30, 2020 S O C I E T Y
Sanctions a barrier to sustainable
Special police force to be formed
development goals, Iran says for children, adolescents
S O C I E T Y TEHRAN — The formation of a “special police
d e s k force for children and adolescents” has been
put on the government’s agenda in order to reduce the exposure
S O C I E T Y TEHRAN — The U.S. Also, referring to the paragraph 17 of Min-
of children and adolescents to dangerous situations.
d e s k sanctions has acted as isterial declaration of the high-level segment
Child and young delinquents face the police before any au-
a barrier to achieve the sustainable de- of the 2016 session of the ECOSOC, Voluntary
thority in the trial system, and this highlights the importance of
velopment goals, deputy director of the National Reports (VNRs) can promote our
a committed, experienced, and trained police force.
Department of Environment (DOE) said, efforts to ensure that no one is left behind
The police force is obliged to form a special police force within
noting that global solidarity is needed in and emphasize the importance of building
the next 6 months, IRNA news agency reported.
moving towards sustainable development national capacities for follow-up and review.
regardless of the abuse of political power Iran not only supports VNR’s preparation
to put pressure on others. but also emphasizes that it should be pre-
Mustafa Prize convenes
Narges Saffar, chief of the DOE’s in- pared in regional level because of different
ternational affairs department, made the consequences in different regions for im- experts to discuss coronavirus
abovementioned remarks in a statement plementation of SDGs.
to the Seventh Asia-Pacific Forum on Sus- Concerning our national progress,
tainable Development (APFSD7) which was Iran has invested above the regional 1 He also announced that the first results of this study are
held online on May 20. average in providing well-being for the expected by the end of June/early July.
The statement reads as follows: public and has improves the HDI, ma- Baharvand noted that infusions of stem cells are safe and
We all pledge the international social ternal and child mortality rate, agricul- well-tolerated in patients with acute or chronic respiratory
solidarity as a morality factor for achieving tural index, adolescent literacy rate in conditions.
the SDGs. We also hope no potential polit- the past years despite all the economic Abdolahad for his part talked about a detector that he and his
ical leverage could result in any attempt to challenges and sanctions. team designed that selectively detects the intensity of reactive
flout the fundamental principle of the SDGs Iran, also, has to grapple with its highly oxygen species in the sputum sample just in 30 seconds.”
“leaving no one behind”. complex environmental issues such as severe Mustafa Prize, the Iranian version of the Nobel Peace Prize,
As far as we all aware, Covid-19 pan- land degradation, water scarcity, biodiver- was launched in 2013 with the mission to promote science and
demic is interconnected with degradation sity loss, waste management, SDSs and technology in the Islamic world.
of biodiversity and manifests how human climate change. Besides, ceaseless conflicts
health is associated with planet’s health. in West Asia which eventuates insecurity and
Furthermore, its dire consequences on impurified decision-making, exacerbates More people killed by climate
achieving the SDGs are indisputable that the impacts of the common environmental
a call on global strategic recovery seems challenges we encounter especially SDSs, change than death records show
inevitable. Also, we should attend in creating transboundary river and water management
green jobs, greening fiscal and financial and new pest attacks across the borders Climate change is a killer - and a new study has found “substantial
packages so to achieve SDGs. which threats our biosecurity. underreporting” in the numbers of deaths caused by environ-
As APFSD7 aims to support countries of the At the end, we express our hopes that mental crises, the Independent reported.
region through casting around for solutions we all pledge the international social sol- The research, published in journal The Lancet Planetary Health
on transformative change based on consid- subnational achievements, we are certain, logical gap can minimize the effects of any idarity as a morality factor for achieving this month, revealed that over the past 11 years, the number of
ering the Global Sustainable Development it will, as a regional platform, play a critical attempt to harness the synergies on trans- the SDGs. We also hope no potential po- deaths attributed to excessive natural heat is at least 50 times
Report (GSDR 2019) and tries to develop a role in this period also. formative change needed for implementing litical leverage could result in any attempt greater than is recorded on death certificates in Australia.
regional roadmap for implementing SDGs According to levers for transformational SDGs that comprise a complex interplay to flout the fundamental principle of the During that time some 340 deaths in Australia were record-
in Asia and Pacific beyond the national and change, we believe financial and techno- with the governance. SDGs “leaving no one behind”. ed as excessive heat but experts from The Australian National
University (ANU) found that 36,765 could be attributed to the
environmental conditions, following statistical analysis. The
Over 18,000 multiple births occurred S. Korea sends humanitarian medical
study indicates that the heat-related mortality rate in Australia
in Iran last year aid worth $500,000 to Iran is actually around 2 per cent.
The doctors noted that the intense summer bushfires in the
country not only killed some of those directly fighting the blazes
but also those who died prematurely from smoke exposure.
Dr Arnagretta Hunter, of ANU Medical School who co-au-
thored the study, said in a statement: “Climate change is a killer,
but we don’t acknowledge it on death certificates.”
She pointed to the inclusion on death certificates of pre-ex-
isting conditions and other factors.
“If you have an asthma attack and die during heavy smoke exposure
from bushfires, the death certificate should include that information. We
can make a diagnosis of disease like coronavirus, but we are less literate
in environmental determinants like hot weather or bushfire smoke.”
The researchers said modernization of death certification
is required to account for the impact of large environmental
disasters. Other countries are exploring ways of modernizing
death records and the researchers say that it is imperative in
order to get a true picture of the consequences of climate change.
“Understanding the degree to which environmental factors
affect human health is important if the impact of climate change
S O C I E T Y TEHRAN — Some On May 20, deputy health minister S O C I E T Y TEHRAN — South about 2 million U.S. dollars in June. is to be fully appreciated,” the study noted.
d e s k 1,196,135 infants have Seyed Hamed Barakati said that the d e s k Korea sent by air a In a bid to expand humanitarian
been born during the past Iranian cal- country’s population growth rate has shipment of medical supplies and med- trade with Iran, the ROK government WORDS IN THE NEWS
endar year (Mach 2019-March 2020), decreased to less than one percent for icine worth $500,000 needed for genetic has actively carried out activities, includ-
more than 18,000 of which were mul- the first time over the past four decades. diseases to Iran on Friday. ing two briefings for Korean exporters,
Fresh fruit and vegetables
tiple births. At the beginning of the Islamic rev- The government of the Republic of consultations with Iran through such
Some 524 triplet births and 18 higher olution (in 1979), the country’s pop- Korea continued close consultations with diplomatic channels as the Iranian Em- for good health
order multiple births happened in the ulation grew by 2.5 percent annually, the United States and Iran in order to bassy in the ROK, meetings with Iranian
country last year, IRNA quoted Seifollah however, suddenly, population growth facilitate humanitarian trade with Iran importers through the Tehran office of
(November 10, 2003)
Aboutorabi, the National Organization for reached about 1.5 percent in the 1970s, with won-currency deposits made by the the Korea Trade Investment Promotion
A new campaign aimed at encouraging people to eat more fresh
Civil Registration spokesman, as saying he highlighted. Central Bank of Iran (CBI) at banks in the Agency (KOTRA), and acting as a bridge
fruit and vegetables is being launched by the WHO and the UN.
on Friday. According to the data released by the ROK. As a result of such consultations, between importers and exporters of the
It’s part of their Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and
Last year, some 616,494 of the infants National Organization for Civil Registra- the ROK government resumed human- two countries.
Health. This report from Ania Lichtarowicz.
were boys and 579,641 were girls. tion, comparing past three years shows itarian trade with Iran on April 6, which Building on the resumption of exports
An unhealthy diet together with little exercise and smoking are
A year before (Mach 2018-March some 1,196,135 infants were born in the was suspended after the U.S. tightened of humanitarian items, the ROK govern-
the key preventable risks of non-communicable diseases and
2019), there were 1,366,509 registered country whose births were registered last sanctions on the CBI in September 2019. ment will continue consultations with
it’s estimated that low fruit and vegetable intake alone causes
births across the country, of whom year, while 1,366,509 births occurred a The shipment of treatments for genetic the U.S. and Iran on ways to broaden
more than two and a half million deaths each year.
704,054 were baby boys and 662,455 year before it, and 1,487,913 births have diseases to Iran on May 29 will mark the the scope of trade items to include not
Eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day ensures
were girls. been recorded in the Iranian calendar first case of shipment of goods for the only medicine and medical equipment,
an adequate supply of micronutrients like vitamins but it can
The average age of the fathers and year 1395 (March 2016-March 2017), recently resumed humanitarian trade and which are currently the main trade items,
also reduce the amount of fatty and salty food we eat which isn’t
mothers at the time of the child’s birth was a difference of roughly over 100,000 is expected to be followed by exports of but also foods and agricultural products,
good for us. Evidence is growing about other benefits of fruit
33.8 years and 29.1 years, respectively. per year. medicine and medical equipment worth according to the Relief Web website.
and veg. too - they can help prevent heart disease, some types
of cancer, the most common form of diabetes and obesity.
ENGLISH IN USE The WHO and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, who
are behind the scheme, want to increase consumption in de-
veloping countries - which grow a lot of the global supply of fruit
LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION and vegetables - and also hope to encourage it in the developed
world, where the popularity of convenience foods means that
many people no longer eat enough fresh produce.
40,000 flood-stricken families هدزلیس راوناخ رازه ۴۰ هب یگناخ مزاول یاطعا Words
key: main, most important
non-communicable diseases: illnesses that are not infec-
received appliance packages
نابلطواد نامزاس یوس زا tious – not able to be transferred from one person to another
low fruit and vegetable intake: the eating of a small amount
of fruit and vegetables – a smaller amount than recommended
Iran Red Crescent Society (IRCS) volunteer organization یــگناخ مزاوــل یاــه هتــسب یاــطعا زا رــمحا لاــه ناــبلطواد نامزاــس ســیئر micronutrients: small substances that help people to grow
and remain healthy – for example, vitamins
provided some 40,000 packages consisting of household رد هدــید بیــسآ هداوــناخ رازــه ۴۰ دودــح هــب اــهراوناخ یــلصا مــلق ۵ لماــش
veg.: a short form of the word “vegetables”, often heard in in
appliances to the families affected by flood, head of IRCS .داد رــبخ رــیخا لیــس diabetes: a medical condition in which a person’s body is not
able to control the level of sugar in the blood
volunteer organization Mohammad Nasiri has stated. اــب وــگتفگ رد رــمحا لاــه ناــبلطواد نامزاــس ســیئر یرــیصن دــمحم
obesity: a condition in which a person is very fat, very overweight,
Each family receives a package consisting of a refrigerator, مزاوــل یاه هتــسب :داد حــیضوت زــین اه هتــسب نــیا تاــیئزج هراــبرد راگــنربخ so that it is dangerous to their health
consumption: the eating or drinking of something. This is a
oven, TV, blankets and carpets, he added, Mehr reported on ۵ لماــش دوــش عــیزوت هدز لیــس یاــه هداوناخ ناــیم تــسا رارــق هــک یــگناخ formal word
Tuesday. .دوــب دــهاوخ وــتپ و لاــچخی ،نوــیزیولت ،زاگ ،شرــف هــتخت کــی هــلمج زا مــلق convenience foods: food that can be cooked quickly without
any preparation – for example, tinned, dried or frozen food
produce: food that is grown or farmed, often in large quantities
to be sold
PREFIX/SUFFIX PHRASAL VERB IDIOM
(Source: BBC)
“by-, bye-” Open out Cross someone’s path
Without
Meaning: near or past Meaning: if a road, path, or passage opens out, it Explanation: to meet somebody, usually unexpect- earth no
For example: I took a pleasant byroad which becomes wider edly or by chance
follows the coast. For example: Beyond the forest the path opened For example: Ms. Bridgewater was my English teacher !birth
out into a track. but haven’t crossed her path since I left school.
10 I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y
I N T E R N A T I O N A L MAY 30, 2020
Violent protests over deadly
Reports of Qatar leaving
Persian Gulf bloc
arrest rock U.S.’s Minneapolis
‘incorrect and baseless’
Qatar has denied reports that it plans to quit the Persian Gulf
Cooperation Council (PGCC) as it prepares to mark three years 1 But elsewhere in Minneapolis, thou- many Guard members were mobilized or
of a blockade imposed by its neighbors Saudi Arabia, the United sands of peaceful demonstrators marched whether they would be in service Thurs-
Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt. through the streets calling for justice. day night. After calling in the Guard, Walz
However, the gas-rich state cautioned that the effort by three Earlier Thursday, Minnesota Gov. Tim urged widespread changes in the wake of
of the PGCC’s six members to isolate Qatar economically and Walz called in the National Guard to try Floyd’s death.
politically meant people in the region were “doubting and ques- to stem the violence. “It is time to rebuild. Rebuild the city,
tioning” the organization. Floyd’s death has deeply shaken Minne- rebuild our justice system and rebuild the
“Reports claiming that Qatar is considering leaving the PGCC apolis and sparked protests in cities across relationship between law enforcement and
are wholly incorrect and baseless,” Qatar’s assistant foreign min- the U.S. Local leaders have repeatedly urged those they’re charged to protect,” Walz said.
ister Lolwah al-Khater told AFP news agency on Thursday. demonstrators to avoid violence. Much of the Minneapolis violence oc-
“Such rumors must have originated from people’s despair “Please stay home. Please do not come curred in the Longfellow neighborhood,
and disappointment with a fractured PGCC, which used to be a here to protest. Please keep the focus on where protesters converged on the precinct
source of hope and aspiration for the people of the six member George Floyd, on advancing our move- station of the police who arrested Floyd.
countries,” she said. ment and on preventing this from ever In a strip mall across the street from the
“As we are reaching the third year of the illegal blockade on happening again,” tweeted St. Paul Mayor 3rd Precinct station, the windows in nearly
Qatar by Saudi, UAE and Bahrain, there is no wonder why the Melvin Carter, who is black. every business had been smashed, from
people of the PGCC are doubting and questioning the PGCC as an Erika Atson, 20, was among thousands the large Target department store at one
institution. Qatar hopes the PGCC will once again be a platform of people who gathered outside government end to the Planet Fitness gym at the other.
of cooperation and coordination. An effective PGCC is needed offices in downtown Minneapolis, where Only the 24-hour laundromat appeared
now more than ever, given the challenges facing our region.” organizers had called a peaceful protest. to have escaped unscathed.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, along with non-PGCC Many protesters wore masks because of “WHY US?” demanded a large expanse
member Egypt, cut diplomatic, economic and travel ties with the coronavirus pandemic, but there were of red graffiti scrawled on the wall of the
Qatar in June 2017 over their insistence that Qatar was too close few attempts at social distancing. Target. A Wendy’s restaurant across the
to Iran and backing hardline movements. Atson, who is black, described seeing about raising children who could be vul- officer to be held accountable.” street was charred almost beyond recog-
Qatar rejected the charge and refused to budge on the 13 de- her 14- and 11-year-old brothers tackled nerable in police encounters. Hennepin County Sheriff David nition.
mands made by the blockading nations. The demands included by Minneapolis police years ago because “We don’t want to be here fighting Hutchinson said the rally had been Among the casualties of the overnight
the closure of the Doha-based Al Jazeera Media Network, and officers mistakenly presumed the boys had against anyone. We don’t want anyone peaceful and there had been no arrests fires: a six-story building under construction
shutting a Turkish base in Qatar. guns. She said she had been at “every single to be hurt. We don’t want to cause any by late evening. that was to provide nearly 200 apartments
The dispute will enter its third year on June 5. protest” since Floyd’s death and worried damages,” she said. “We just want the police The governor’s order did not say how of affordable housing.
“Qataris are asking themselves what benefit a membership in
the PGCC still has, as the organization has been usurped by Saudi
Twitter conceals Trump tweet for ‘glorifying violence’, ramping up dispute
Arabia and the UAE to coerce the smaller states into followership,
while no initiative is being made to bring the Persian Gulf crisis
to an end,” said King’s College assistant professor Andreas Krieg. Twitter concealed one of Donald Trump’s tweets Friday Trump, who has more than 80 million followers on
Oman and Kuwait are the other two members of the body, for “glorifying violence,” ramping up a dispute with the Twitter, lashed out at the platform Thursday, signing an
which oversees regional economic and military coordination, U.S. president who says social media companies censor executive order seeking to strip social media giants of
along with Qatar and its regional rivals. conservative voices like his. legal immunity for content on their platforms.
Meanwhile, Qatar has reiterated to the United Nations Security In a move bound to infuriate one of the platform’s The order calls on government regulators to evaluate if
Council the blockade affects security and stability of the region. most followed users, Twitter said it was placing a “public online platforms should be eligible for liability protection
The meeting on Protection of civilians in armed conflict was interest notice” on a Trump tweet about violent protests for content posted by their millions of users.
held virtually on Thursday and was attended by Qatar’s permanent in Minneapolis over the death of an unarmed black man The move, which was slammed by critics as a legally
representative to the UN, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani. at the hands of the police, AFp reported. dubious act of political revenge, came after Twitter la-
In a late night tweet, Trump wrote: “These THUGS belled two earlier Trump tweets - on the increasingly
are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t contentious topic of mail-in voting - as misleading.
let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and If enforced, the action would upend decades of precedent
Ex-Malaysia PM Mahathir
told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any and treat internet platforms as “publishers” potentially
Mohamad expelled from difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting liable for user-generated content.
starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!” “As is standard with this notice, engagements with Trump told reporters at the White House he acted
own political party Hours later, the micro-messaging platform hid the the Tweet will be limited. People will be able to Retweet because big tech firms “have had unchecked power
tweet behind a message that said it “violates our policies with Comment, but will not be able to Like, Reply or to censor, restrict, edit, shape, hide, alter any form of
regarding the glorification of violence based on the his- Retweet it.” communication between private citizens or large public
Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has been torical context of the last line, its connection to violence, Users could still click through and view the full un- audiences.”
sacked by the political party he co-founded after sitting on oppo- and the risk it could inspire similar actions today.” edited tweet. “We can’t let this continue to happen,” Trump said.
sition benches during a May 18 parliamentary session.
A statement on Thursday from the United Indigenous Party of
Malaysia, known by its Malay acronym Bersatu, said Mahathir’s Syria decries European Union’s hypocrisy Afghan forces killed as gov’t urges
membership had been “revoked with immediate effect”.
after sanctions prolonged for another year Taliban to extend ceasefire
Mahathir, who was party chairman, was fired for not support-
ing Malaysia’s government, which is headed by Prime Minister
Muhyiddin Yassin, the Bersatu president.
According to al Jazeera, in a letter circulated widely on social
media, the party stated that Mahathir automatically ceased to
be a member after he made a show of rejecting Muhyiddin’s
leadership as prime minister and party president by sitting with
Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and and is subjugated to U.S. policies.” At least 14 members of the Afghan army was continuing.
the opposition when parliament met last week.
Expatriates has censured the European “The decision reconfirms the EU’s deep have been killed in a Taliban attack as the “The ceasefire is not over yet; there
An aide to Muhyiddin confirmed the letters were authentic.
Union (EU) over prolonging its sanctions involvement in the war on Syria and its Afghan government said the Eid ceasefire have been violations because it is a com-
Mahathir’s office declined an immediate response to a request
against the war-ravaged Arab country for unstinting support for terrorist groups. was not over yet. plicated technical process that requires
for comment as it had not yet seen the letter itself, an aide said.
another year, stating such measures ex- The union is, therefore, fully responsible The Ministry of Defense said on Fri- good coordination between both sides,”
Muhyiddin’s move is being widely seen as an attempt to con-
pose the hypocrisy of the bloc and spurious for Syrian bloodshed, and exacerbation of day members of the Afghan army were Faisal said.
solidate power as he faces a possible challenge to his nascent
statements of its officials. people’s sufferings due to cruel and unjust killed in the province of Paktiya. Three Earlier, Faisal had urged the Taliban
premiership.
“These sanctions are a flagrant violation sanctions,” the source pointed out. others were also wounded in the attack to extend the three-day ceasefire, which
Mahathir, now nearly 95, was the world’s oldest government
of the most basic humanitarian principles According to press TV, earlier in the that was also confirmed by the Taliban, came into effect on Sunday to mark the
leader until he unexpectedly quit in February, sparking a frantic
and the international law… They are a crime day, the European Council, headquarters of al Jazeera reported. Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr.
weeklong power struggle.
against humanity,” Syria’s official news the 27 EU countries, announced in a state- A day earlier, the Taliban killed at least “It is important to extend the cease-
The crisis ended with Muhyiddin, who founded Bersatu with
agency SANA quoted an unnamed source ment the renewal of its sanctions against 14 people from the security forces in north- fire and, to avoid bloodshed, the Afghan
Mahathir before joining a four-party alliance that won 2018 elec-
at the ministry as saying late on Thursday. Syrian President Bashar Assad and other ern Parwan and western Farah provinces. government is ready to extend it,” the
tions, being nominated as the prime minister.
He added, “It was no surprise for the EU to top political officials, military officers and Afghanistan’s National Security Adviser NSA spokesman told a news conference
Muhyiddin heads a new coalition backed by the United Malays
renew its sanctions on Syria, particularly as the business people for another year. (NSA) spokesperson Javid Faisal never- on Tuesday.
National Organization, the party once led by Najib Razak, who
United States had earlier taken the same step. The sanctions would be extended until theless wrote in a tweet on Friday that the Despite the violence, a prisoner swap
is on trial over corruption charges dating to his tenure as prime
The measure underlines that the EU has lost June 1, 2021, more than a decade after the “detente” which started during the Eid crucial to the start of peace talks between the
minister up to 2018.
its independence in terms of decision-making, Syrian conflict began. holiday, marking the end of Ramadan, warring sides in Afghanistan has continued.
Mahathir, who decided shortly after resigning that he wanted
to be prime minister again, bitterly opposed the new government
Germany confronts Russian ambassador over cyber attack
and denounced his former ally as a traitor.
Germany said it is seeking EU sanctions against a Russian to respond to cyberattacks, the ministry said. member of the GRU military intelligence agency at
man over his alleged role in the hacking of the German He referred to a warrant issued May 5 by federal German the time of the attack.”
Syrian civilians block U.S.
parliament at a time when evidence shows he was working prosecutors for Badin, an alleged officer with Russia’s GRU Chancellor Angela Merkel said earlier this month
military convoys seeking to for Russian intelligence. military intelligence agency. Badin was already being sought there was “hard evidence” that correspondence from
Germany’s Foreign Ministry said it called in Russian by U.S. authorities and is believed to be part of the hacker her parliamentary office was among the documents
enter two villages in Hasakah ambassador Sergei Nechayev to inform him in person of group known as APT28, or Fancy Bear. targeted in the attack.
the move, AP reported. German prosecutors allege that Badin, “acting jointly Russian officials have repeatedly denied any involvement
The residents of two small villages in the northern countryside Senior German diplomat Miguel Berger “strongly con- with other persons not yet identified,” had “undertaken an by Moscow in the 2015 hacking attack on the German par-
of Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah have blocked U.S. demned the attack on Germany’s parliament in the name intelligence operation against Germany for the intelligence liament, calling the German accusations groundless. They
military convoys attempting to pass through their areas, forcing of the German government” while meeting with Nechayev, service of a foreign power,” the ministry said. have similarly dismissed charges of Russian meddling in
them to return to their bases. the ministry said. “The accused is suspected of being responsible for the 2016 U.S. presidential election and alleged cyberattacks
Syria’s official news agency SANA reported that the U.S. convoys Berger told Nechayev that Germany would be pursuing the hacker attack on the German parliament in April/ on other Western nations and institutions.
were confronted by local residents in the villages of al-Qahirah EU sanctions against Russian citizen Dmitriy Badin, and May 2015 as a member of the APT28 group,” the min- The Russian Foreign Ministry did not immediately re-
and al-Dushaisha, who chanted slogans against the forces and possibly others, under a new regime established last year istry said. “There is reliable evidence that he was a spond to a request for comment.
threw stones at them.
SANA added that the convoys were forced to “go back to Erdogan blasts U.S. police killing as ‘fascist’
where they came from.” No one was hurt in the confrontations,
according to the report.
Since late October 2019, the United States has been redeploying Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ritate Turkey›s NATO ally, with relations George Floyd died Monday night af- he is pinned to the ground.
troops to the oil fields controlled by Kurdish forces in eastern denounced Friday the U.S. police killing of an between the two countries already strained ter being arrested on suspicion of using a Rioting has broken out in several U.S.
Syria, in a reversal of President Donald Trump’s earlier order to unarmed black man as «racist» and «fascist». over their differing stances on the Syria counterfeit banknote, a video of the incident cities over this incident and several others
withdraw all troops from the Arab country. Erdogan›s comments are likely to ir- conflict, AFP reported. showing an officer kneeling on his neck as where police have killed black men.