S t r a i g h t T r u t h W W W . T E H R A N T I M E S .

C O M

8 Pages | Price 100,000 Rials | 1.00 EURO | 4.00 AED | 45th year | No. 14636 | Tu e s d a y | November 14, 2023 | Aban 23, 1402 | Rabi’ Al-thani 29, 1445

sive Secret recording reveals Zionist anxiety over public opinion U.S. messages to
Exclu
American Youth Break Free Iran resemble pleas,
not threats: IRGC

from Zionist Yokes Page 5

commander
TEHRAN – Talking about the current situ-
ation in West Asia, a top Iranian commander
has clarified that the U.S. is not in a position
to threaten Iran, saying Washington has been
pleading with Tehran to refrain from opening
a new front against Israel.
The commander of the Islamic Revolution
Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Division, de-
clared on Monday that American officials had
to deliver three hasty messages to Iranians
in just one day.
“Iran is not in a position to be threatened
by anyone, we are at the peak of power and
have prepared ourselves for all conditions,”
said Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh.
Regarding the current abilities of the IRGC
Air Force, Hajizadeh explained that Iran has
now become a global power in terms of its
missiles, drone, air defense, and space capa-
bilities. “These capabilities have been show-
cased during maneuvers and operations in-
cluding the attack on Al-Assad air base and
Hezbollah’s 33-day war against the Zionist
regime. They have been on full display and I
don’t think there is anyone that doubts our
power,” he continued. Page 3

Iran says prioritize

end to war as
Getty Images

U.S. backs Israeli

atrocities in Gaza
An aerial view of protestors at the Freedom Plaza on November 4, 2023 in Washington D.C. Protestors gathered to hold a pro-Palestinian rally and condemn the Israeli attacks on Gaza.
TEHRAN- Iran has urged the international
community to take action against the “unbri-
dled” Israeli regime and stop it from carrying
Hamas: Gaza will only be ruled Gaza war: More than 11,1080 Lebanese Resistance targets Israeli out “horrible crimes” against the downtrod-

by its people
By Ali Karbalaei
TEHRAN - Hamas has said that the Gaza Strip
belongs to the Palestinians and will “only be ruled by its
people” while expressing disappointment at the Riyadh
Summit as alarm bells ring over Gaza’s largest hospital.
There has been speculation in the West about the
future of the Gaza Strip and who will take control over
the besieged territory once the war is over.
The Israeli prime minister’s office has hinted that the
regime’s occupation will expand to the Gaza Strip when
the war on Gaza ends.
Last week, Netanyahu told ABC News that the Israeli
regime will “for an indefinite period” have security
responsibility of the enclave.
In essence, this is a Zionist prelude to ethnically
cleanse the Palestinians for the umpteenth time since
1948.
The United States has alluded to the Palestinian
Authority in the occupied West Bank to take the
responsibility. Page 5
Palestinians have been martyred
More than 11,180 Palestinians have been martyred in
Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. Most of the victims
are children and women.
In Israel, the death toll from Hamas’s attacks stands at
more than 1,200.
On Saturday, October 7, 2023, the Palestinian resistance
forces launched a surprise operation called Al-Aqsa Storm
against Israeli positions. The Israeli regime, to retaliate and
compensate for its defeat and stop the resistance operations,
has been pounding the besieged enclave since that date.
The Israeli army continues raids in the Shati refugee camp
on the outskirts of Gaza City.
Hospitals including al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip have
been targets of the occupation army.
About 650 patients, 500 healthcare workers, and an
estimated 2,500 displaced people remain inside the hospital.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society says a Palestinian
man was killed during the latest Israeli raid in the occupied
West Bank.
UN compounds around the world lowered the blue-and-
white UN flag to half-mast to honor its 101 workers killed so
far by Israeli attacks.
sites, infantry
The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement announced
Monday that its fighters targeted an Israeli infantry unit at
the al-Dhayrah site with rockets, resulting in direct hits.
Earlier, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon
reported that a salvo of missiles was fired at western al-Jalil.
Our correspondent confirmed that the Israeli Marj site in
the eastern sector was targeted with direct fire from Lebanon,
reporting seeing white smoke billowing from the site.
Simultaneously, Israeli media reported that sirens
sounded in the north, specifically in western al-Jalil.
Israeli media mentioned that there were initial reports
of anti-tank fire in the north and several casualties at
the scene. They reported that the northern settlement of
“Netu’a” came under fire, leaving two injured.
Israeli media also reported that two rockets fell in an open
area in western al-Jalil without any casualties reported.
“It is a tense day on the northern front,” Israeli media said
after reporting that 18 rockets were fired at the Arab al-
Aramsha area, all of which allegedly fell in open areas.
According to Israeli media, residents in the western and
upper al-Jalil were instructed to retreat to fortified areas and
bunkers.
den Palestinian people living in the blockad-
ed Gaza Strip.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing on
Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Nasser Kanaani said the Zionist regime “bra-
zenly” bombards and sieges hospitals while
the rest of the world remains silent.
“It is the responsibility of the world to take
action against the unbridled regime which
is committing horrible crimes … with impu-
nity under the support provided by the U.S.
government at the UN Security Council,” he
added.
“We hope that the world will come to its
senses and not allow the continuation of the
crimes, take heed of the cry of the oppressed
people of Gaza, and take practical action.”
In addition, Kanaani asked the Security
Council to pressure the Israeli regime to stop
the use of phosphorus bombs and other un-
conventional weapons in Gaza.
After Hamas launched a surprise attack
against the occupying regime on October 7,
Israel launched a relentless brutal war on the
Gaza Strip. Page 2

National Housing Tehran residents Iranian artists, cineastes

Movement, a top priority stage protest condemn massacres in
of current government performance in Gaza, call for immediate
support of Gaza ceasefire
By Mahnaz Abdi
TEHRAN – Iranians in the capital TEHRAN – Tehran Peace Museum and
TEHRAN- The National Housing Movement House of Cinema condemn the non-
is one of the major policies of the 13th Tehran flocked to the Palestine
combatant massacres occurring Gaza
government in the housing sector, and square to watch a protest
Strip, exhibiting their concern for the
according to this policy, the construction of performance held to condemn the escalating violence, and impel an expeditious
four million residential units is planned in atrocious killing of children in the termination to the bloodshed through an
four years. Gaza Strip. immediate ceasefire.
The National Housing Movement is one of The Performance was In a joint statement published on Sunday,
the projects through which the government more than 100 signatories, including
accompanied by live music, and
is trying to help low-income individuals in chemical warfare veterans from Tehran Peace
acted out in three languages
society become homeowners. Museum, as well as artists, filmmakers, and
IRNA/ Ali Sharifzadeh

including Farsi, Arabic, and English.

As announced on Monday by Deputy intellectuals from the House of Cinema asked
About 4,000 shrouds were for the end of the violence in Gaza and an
Transport and Urban Development Minister
Hadi Abbasi-Asl, 1,867,719 National Housing also laid out on the ground in a immediate ceasefire.
Movement units are currently under symbolic move to draw attention The statement, which is addressed to Antonio
construction in the cities and villages across to the mass killing of children by Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United
the country. Page 4 Israel in the past month. Nations, reads as follows: Page 8

POLITICS
2
NOVEMBER 14, 2023
S t r a i g h t T r u t h
TEHRAN TIMES
TEHRAN PAPERS
Bloomberg and justifying an amateur gaffe
In the following column, we take a look at some important
contents and views in the yesterday’s Iranian newspapers.
In an analysis, Kayhan discussed Bloomberg’s
claim and wrote: While Bloomberg’s claim and
in fact, amateur gaffe about the agreement be-
tween Iran and the United States was getting
weaker day by day, this media outlet discussed
in a report this week the inability of the United
States to sanction Iran’s oil sales to China. But the
reason for the increase in Iran’s oil exports to Chi-
na is not an illusory agreement, but Iran’s exten-
sive networking. Bloomberg also wrote that new
U.S. oil sanctions against Iran will face problems
with China’s appetite for discounted oil and Iran’s
extensive transportation and payment networks.
Iran’s oil trade is highly complex with multiple in-
termediaries, making it much more difficult for
the United States to sanction it. Meanwhile, Iran
doesn’t even sell oil at a discount, but Bloomberg
turns to more childish gaffes to cover up a gaffe
and admit America’s failure. It is enough to pay
attention to the process of adjusting Bloomberg’s
ideas regarding its initial claim about the secret
agreement between Iran and the United States to
answer the question of whether the Biden gov-
ernment is easing the sanctions or whether the
Iranian government has been able to neutralize
the U.S. oil sanctions to some extent.
Iran: Tehran’s influential role in the Riyadh
summit
In a note, the Iran newspaper addressed the
important presence of the president in the Riyadh
summit and quoted Saadollah Zarei, an expert on
regional issues, as saying: The presence of the
president of Iran in the recent summit is very im-
portant from two aspects; one aspect is that the
Islamic Republic has been the most important
supporter of Palestine in the past few decades.
Iran has been the only country that has prevent-
ed the Palestinian flag from falling in the wake of
various events that have occurred during these
five decades. Iran has a special position as the
most important and truthful supporter of Pales-
tine. The second aspect is that the Islamic Repub-
lic is not just a country in the current scenario, but
it is a front. As a member of the Resistance Front
and on behalf of this front, Iran covers a range of
governments and movements. Between the two
seas of Oman and the Mediterranean, there are
countries, governments, movements and nations
that have an intellectual and spiritual connection
with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Therefore, the
position adopted by Iran in this meeting is the
collective position of some countries and govern-
ments, whose effects are beyond the position of
one government among the 57 participating gov-
Israel suffered major setback at hands
of Palestinian resistance: IRGC
TEHRAN- The second-in-command of the Is-
lamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Rear Ad-
miral Ali Fadavi, said on Sunday that the Israeli
regime and its supporters have suffered a “stra-
tegic defeat” at the hands of the Palestinian resis-
tance fighters’ precise rockets.
The conflict in Gaza, according to Rear Admi-
ral Fadavi, is between the axis of good and the
axis of evil.
He asserted that because the vile Zionists and
their supporters are aware that they cannot en-
gage resistance fighters head-on, they are at-
tacking Gaza with bombs and missiles, demolish-
ing non-military structures like hospitals.
The senior IRGC commander denounced the
West for its backing of Israel’s atrocities and de-
clared that since the onset of the assault on Gaza
on October 7, all the decades-long efforts of those
attempting to provide a positive picture of the re-
gime have gone up in smoke.
According to Fadavi, the resistance front is now
capable of smashing cutting-edge Israeli and U.S.
drones in both Gaza and Yemen.
On Saturday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi
spoke at a joint emergency summit of the Arab
League and the Organization of Islamic Cooper-
ation (OIC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, saying the Is-
raeli regime must be brought to justice in interna-
tional courts for genocide against the Palestinian
people in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Raisi also said, “This platform is not one for
mere speech and announcement of positions, but
must be a platform for action to quickly stop the
bombings, lift the blockade of Gaza, and open the
ernments in the Organization of Islamic Coopera-
tion Summit.
Ettelaat: Iran’s focus on Blue Economy
In a commentary, Ettelaat discussed Iran’s Blue
Economy in the future. It wrote: The Islamic Re-
public of Iran, with more than 3000 kilometers
of coastline and access to the Caspian Sea in the
north and the wide shores of the Persian Gulf and
the Oman Sea along its southern borders, prac-
tically can become a blue economic power in the
region. The historical past shows that Iran had
maritime shipping in the Indian Ocean area. The
historical ports of Iran on these coasts have been
indicative of this important role. With the changes
that have occurred in Russia’s relations with the
West, the inactive North-South Corridor is now
getting discussed again, with the possibility of es-
tablishing a significant route facilitating Russia’s
communications with the Persian Gulf and the
Indian Ocean. This corridor needs infrastructure
and logistics investments. Especially, the water
route in the Caspian Sea, which can provide safe
exchanges between Iran and Russia, is a very im-
portant and fundamental option, which eliminates
the need to build a railway line west of the Cas-
pian Sea connecting Rasht to Astara railway on
the border of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan
because the future of relations between Iran and
Azerbaijan does not have the necessary stability.
Hamshahri: UN Secretary General’s demand
to Iran
In an article, Hamshahri addressed the UN Sec-
retary-General’s demand of Iran and said: Antonio
Guterres is worried about the spread of the Gaza
war to the occupied West Bank by Israel and then
its expansion to Lebanon, and this country will be
greatly hurt by the all-out war between Israel and
Hezbollah. He emphasized that Iran has always
denied its role in the current conflicts. On the oth-
er hand, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, had
previously declared that “Hamas and Hezbollah
are liberation groups that work for the security
of Palestine and Lebanon. We have a strong po-
litical relationship with them.” Western security
and military support especially from America to
Tel Aviv under the pretext of self-defense is prac-
tically a green light and a license for this regime
to brutally kill Palestinian children and women.
For this reason, UN Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres has asked Iran to convince Hamas to
release its prisoners and prevent Lebanon’s Hez-
bollah from entering the conflict.
way to help the oppressed and authoritative peo-
ple of this region, as well as to achieve the rights
of the Palestinians, which was basically the main
philosophy of the establishment of the Organiza-
tion of Islamic Cooperation.”
In his speech at the summit, President Raisi re-
iterated the need for action, saying the high-level
meeting was an opportunity to take historic ac-
tion in defense of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Speaking to media in Tehran early Sunday after
returning from Riyadh, Raisi said that the U.S. is
the primary source of weaponry that the Israeli
regime uses to murder Palestinian women and
children, describing it as playing a major role in
ensuring the regime’s survival.
“I introduced the United States as the main
culprit in these crimes that are being com-
mitted by Israel in Gaza,” the Iranian president
stated at the conference.
Raisi went on to add, “The most important
role that the United States plays is both in help-
ing the Zionist regime survive and in arming
and supporting it in its massacre of Palestinian
women and children.”
OIC-Arab League Summit highlights
Palestine significance once more: Iran FM
TEHRAN- Hossein Amir Abdolla- He noted, “The Israeli regime col-
hian, the Foreign Minister of Iran, has lapsed on Oct. 7 and is now alive on
stated that the emergency summit American artificial respiration.”
of the leaders of Arab and Islamic Referring to a recent phone call
nations emphasized the signifi-
with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh
cance of Palestine and the holy Qods Shoukry, the top Iranian official stat-
as a crucial element for the Islamic ed, “today is our test day.”
world’s unification.
On Sunday night, Amir Abdolla-
According to him, Cairo plans
to open Rafah, which is located on
hian posted a story on the social Gaza’s southern border with Egypt,
media platform Instagram about
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi
in order to provide water and med-
ication, among other humanitarian
and his delegation’s trip to attend supplies, to the people affected by
the urgent summit of the heads of the conflict in the Strip.
Arab and Islamic nations over the In a news interview on Saturday
Palestinian issue. night, he asserted that efforts by
“We left for Riyadh on Saturday Arab and Muslim nations can put a
along with President Raisi to partic- halt to Israel’s ongoing war crimes
ipate in the emergency meeting of against the Palestinian people in the
the heads of Islamic and Arab coun- beleaguered Gaza Strip.
tries,” Amir Abdollahian said.
“The meeting was held tardi-
He went on to say that, since the ly. However, we believe that if the
early days of the Zionist regime’s leaders of Muslim countries and the
horrific crimes in Gaza, the president general secretaries of the Organiza-
was sent to the OIC’s Secretariat.
has suggested holding a high-level a decisive decision for the benefit tion of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and
political meeting in which the lead- of the Palestinian nation. These He went on to say that one of the Arab League make necessary ef-
ers of Islamic nations would gather included stopping the killing and the most significant aspects of the forts, we can witness the cessation
to make decisions collectively in genocide in Gaza, lifting the hu- extensive preparations for this trip of war crimes by the Zionist regime
favor of Palestine. This idea would man blockade completely, and was having bilateral discussions at this juncture,” he said.
take advantage of the Organization cutting off any political and eco- with top officials from Egypt, Malay- The summit denounced “the Is-
of Islamic Cooperation’s diplomatic nomic relations with the Zionist sia, Saudi Arabia, Mauritania, Nige- raeli aggression against the Gaza
capacity and should be taken into regime by the Islamic countries. ria, Syria, Qatar, Lebanon, and Sudan. Strip and the war crimes” and the
consideration during diplomatic The Iranian foreign minister re- The most recent status of bi- “barbaric, inhumane and brutal
consultations. massacres” carried out by the occu-
iterated that, as has always been lateral ties and potential areas for
pying regime against the Palestinian
He emphasized the establish- stressed at the highest political lev- improving them were considered at
people in the final communiqué.
ment of an international court to els, the Islamic Republic of Iran views these sessions, along with develop-
prosecute and punish the leaders holding a referendum to decide the ments in Palestine. Additionally, it demanded that the
and criminals of the Zionist regime future of Palestine with the partici- UN Security Council make “a decisive
’U.S. waged full-fledged war on
and the United States, the estab- pation of all legitimate Palestinians and binding decision” to put an end
Gaza; Israel collapsed after October 7’
lishment of a special fund for the inside and outside of this land as the to the slaughter in Gaza.
immediate reconstruction of Gaza, primary and permanent solution in In a post on his X account late on
On October 7, following Hamas’s
and the large-scale dispatch of accordance with international law. Sunday, Amir Abdollahian said that
Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against
convoys carrying humanitarian aid Amir Abdollahian continued Israel crumbled on October 7, when the usurping entity, Israel launched
to the Palestinian people from Is- that the senior expert meeting, the Palestinian resistance launched its brutal war on Gaza which left
lamic countries. held in accordance with proto- a surprise offensive against the re- thousands dead and injured.
Iran’s top diplomat also point- col to prepare the summit’s final gime, and the regime is currently
Additionally, it has established a
ed out that President Raisi, who statement, was attended by Iran, surviving on “U.S. life support.”
complete siege on the coastal sliver,
attended the summit with ten which expressed its reserva- “The world is witnessing the full-
depriving the more than two million
important, operational, and ur- tions about certain clauses in the scale American war against Gaza,”
Palestinian residents of their water,
gent proposals, decided to make statement in a formal note that Amir Abdollahian added. food, fuel, and power supplies.
Iran says prioritize end to war as U.S. backs Israeli atrocities in Gaza
From page 1 Over 28,200 Palestinians have support of Palestine tions that anti-Israeli resistance groups in the
been injured by the Tel Aviv regime since the inva- The spokesperson also pointed to the Arab-Is- region follow commands from Tehran.
sion began, and at least 11,180 Palestinians, primarily lamic summit on Gaza in the Saudi capital of Ri- “We have made it clear several times that
women and children, have been killed in Gaza. yadh on Saturday, stating that it was evidence the resistance groups in the region do not
Additionally, it has established a “complete of Iran’s successful efforts to unify Arab-Muslim take orders from Iran. We do not issue any or-
siege” on the coastal sliver, depriving the more nations and the region around the Palestine issue. ders either,” he insisted.
than two million Palestinian residents of water, He elaborated on Iran’s four primary aims, The spokesperson dismissed Washington’s
food, medicine, fuel, and electricity. which include ending the conflict, easing the siege claims that Iran is in charge of the resistance
Israel prevents supplies from reaching Gaza on Gaza, creating humanitarian corridors, and de- fighters, adding that the U.S. is attempting to
Kanaani further stated that the Zionist regime livering humanitarian aid to the enclave, as well misrepresent the facts and level unfounded
has thwarted humanitarian aid from entering as fighting Israel’s coercive actions and forced charges against Iran.
Gaza and that donor nations have been unable to displacement of Palestinians. The resistance groups make their own de-
send relief aid to Palestinians. Kanaani also responded to Washington’s an- cisions, he emphasized, suggesting that the
“Most of the aid is stored in Egypt and its ti-Iran charges over recent attacks on American U.S. should reevaluate its unacceptable pol-
amount is like a drop in the ocean based on the occupation bases in the region by saying the U.S. icies of supporting the Zionist regime rather
statistics provided by global sources. This shows should focus on its own “unacceptable” acts in than accusing Iran.
that all humanitarian principles and rules are be- support of Israel rather than making accusations. Kanaani reiterated Iran’s worries about the
spread of war following the Zionist regime’s un-
ing violated by the regime,” he lamented. “We have declared many times that neither
Iran believes in ‘from river to sea’ Palestine resistance groups in the region take orders from stoppable assault on Gaza, warning that new
fronts in the war will be generated by the U.S.’s
The Islamic Republic supports the establish- Iran, nor do we give them orders,” he asserted.
steadfast backing for the crimes of the Israeli re-
ment of “a unified Palestinian government from He also pointed to “contradiction” in U.S. ac- gime and its staunch opposition to a truce.
the [Jordan] River to the [Mediterranean] Sea,” the tions, saying that Washington is sending mes-
sages claiming that it is not trying to expand the “The U.S. must realize that it can prevent
top diplomat underlined.
conflict while effectively supporting the Zionist the possible spread of the war to the other
He also reiterated Tehran’s long-held diplomat- regions only with an immediate end to the
regime and stalling the approval of a UN resolu-
ic solution to the Palestine issue, which involves massacre (of Palestinians), the full removal
tion to terminate the war.
holding a referendum in which all Palestinian in- of humanitarian blockade (of Gaza) and the
habitants could vote on their country’s fate. Iran denies commanding resistance forces
pullout of (American) military forces from the
Tehran does its best to mobilize nations in Kanaani diametrically rejected the U.S. allega- region,” he stated.
UK-based anti-Iran TV channel announces closure
TEHRAN- Manoto TV, a UK-based will bid farewell to the network. turbulent year for anti-Iran fronts, formations in media ownership
media outlet criticized for its an- Manoto TV, a longstanding play- where media outlets sharing simi- and allegiance underscore the
ti-Iranian stance and recognized as er in Iran’s media landscape, has lar ideologies grappled with cred- intricate interplay of political
a platform for monarchists living ibility challenges and a decline in and financial forces shaping the
been a source of controversy due
outside the country, has announced audience engagement. narrative in the region.
to its alignment with anti-Iran
the cessation of its operations by the The development draws par-
end of January 2024. sentiments. Accused of propagan- Having operated for over 14 years,
dist inclinations and aligning with allels with the fate of Iran Inter-
Manoto TV attempted to propagate
Keyvan and Marjan Abbassi, the national TV channel, once funded
monarchists, this media outlet has news against the Iranian govern-
heads of this network, communi- by Saudi capitalists. Compelled
faced substantial criticism for its ment, serving as a mouthpiece for
cated the decision via a Telegram to undergo a paradigm shift due
message, stating that they might productions. to a change in ownership, the particular political and religious
continue broadcasting until the end The recent announcement un- network found itself aligning groups who are mostly funded by
of January 2024, after which they folds against the backdrop of a with Zionists’ views. The trans- foreign spy agencies.
Iran eying world leadership in military high-tech: defense official
TEHRAN- Iran’s Deputy Minister of Defense salaries of 40,000 American advisors exceeded prestigious and deterring on the global stage.
Brigadier General Mehdi Farahi has declared Iran’s the entire Imperial Guard’s budget. Despite historical limitations, Iran witnessed
intention to establish itself as the leading force in “The Ministry of Defense is now strategically an unprecedented $1 billion revenue in military
cutting-edge military technology in the world. focused on advancing future-oriented technolo- exports last year, marking a significant shift. This
During his speech at a ceremony commemo- gies to excel in modern warfare,” he stated. milestone underscores Iran’s growing influence
rating martyr Hasan Tehrani-Moghadam, Farahi Farahi envisioned Iran becoming the prima- in the international market, setting the stage for
emphasized the nation’s newfound self-reliance, ry innovator in high-tech military products and continued advancements in military technology
contrasting it with pre-revolution era when the equipment, aiming for achievements that are both and strategic capabilities.
 Israel prevents Iranian humanitarian
aid from reaching Gaza
TEHRAN- There are some reports
confirming that Israeli authorities
have asked Egyptian officials to
refuse the 60 tons of humanitarian
assistance that Iran had delivered
to the Northeast African country
to be sent to the beleaguered Gaza
Strip via the Rafah border crossing.
Citing anonymous political
sources, Lebanon’s Arabic-
language al-Mayadeen television
news network said that Egyptian
officials had apologized to Iranians
for preventing them from receiving
any aid intended for the country
because the Israeli regime would
not permit it to cross the border.
On October 20, Iranian state-run
media reported that food, medical
supplies, and medications were
included in the relief cargo.
In cooperation with the Iranian
Red Crescent Society, Iranian aid
was transported to Egypt from
the Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA),
which is located 30 kilometers
(18.6 miles) southwest of Tehran,
the capital of Iran.
Iran is prepared to provide relief
supplies and humanitarian aid to
Egypt in order to assist the people
living in the Gaza Strip, as stated by
Pir-Hossein Kolivand, the chairman
of the IRCS, last week.
In a phone conversation with
his Egyptian counterpart Rami
al-Nazer, Kolivand emphasized
the need of “continuing support
for the oppressed people of Gaza”
and reiterated Iran’s willingness to
provide assistance supplies to the
Palestinian enclave through Egypt.
Kolivand cited the lack of
gasoline needed to run generators
at Gaza’s hospitals and said that
the Iranian Red Crescent Society
is willing to provide the required
fuel, highlighting the fact that
this action would help the injured
and address the medical facilities’
energy issues.
The second-largest hospital
in Gaza, al-Quds, has stopped
operating owing to a fuel shortage
while Israeli troops continue to
bombard the beleaguered territory,
according to a statement released
on Sunday by the Palestine Red
Crescent Society (PRCS).
“The hospital has been left to
fend for itself under ongoing Israeli
bombardment, posing severe risks
to the medical staff, patients and
displaced civilians,” the PRCS said.
It added, “This cessation of
services is due to the depletion of
available fuel and power outage.
Medical staff are making every
effort to provide care to patients
and the wounded, even resorting to
unconventional medical methods
amid dire humanitarian conditions
and a shortage of medical supplies,
food, and water.”
The PRCS also demanded
accountability from the
international community and
Fourth Geneva Convention
signatories for the total collapse
of Gaza’s healthcare system
and the ensuing horrendous
humanitarian disaster.
Al-Quds Hospital has been
isolated from the outside world
for the past six to seven days,
according to Tommaso Della Longa,
a spokesman for the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies.
Ashraf al-Qudra, a spokesman
for the Gaza Health Ministry, said
that Israeli fire is “terrorizing
medical officials and civilians alike.”
last Monday in a phone
conversation between Iranian
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir
Abdollahian and his Egyptian
counterpart Sameh Shoukry, they
discussed the latest developments
in Palestine.
Amir Abdollahian highlighted
Iran’s and Egypt’s stances as two
important Islamic countries, saying
continuing bilateral talks is crucial
in putting an end to the ongoing
crisis in Palestine and the Israeli
regime’s savage strikes against
civilians in Gaza and the West Bank,
according to the Iranian foreign
ministry.
The Iranian foreign minister
also noted that the summit of
the Islamic countries in Riyadh
was significant and signaled
Tehran’s readiness to continue
consultations with Cairo.
Amir Abdollahian asserted that
the Iranian Red Crescent Society
was ready to send humanitarian
aid to Gaza through Egypt.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian foreign
minister shed light on Egypt’s
measures to send international
humanitarian aid to the people
in Gaza, and hailed the positions
adopted by Arab and Islamic
countries as well as those of the
Islamic Republic of Iran and their
efforts in this regard.
Shoukry also underlined the
necessity of continuing bilateral
and multilateral talks to help stop
the conflict, establish a truce in
Gaza, and send humanitarian aid to
the people in the besieged enclave.
On October 7, following Hamas’s
Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against
the usurping entity, Israel launched
its brutal war on Gaza which left
thousands dead and injured.
Additionally, it has established
a complete siege on the coastal
sliver, depriving the more than
two million Palestinian residents
of their water, food, fuel, and
power supplies.
IRAN IN FOCUS
TEHRAN TIMES
Iran ready to meet
England in 2023
FIFA U17 World Cup
TEHRAN – After coming from two goals down
to beat Brazil 3-2, the young Persians are ready to
meet England in their second match in the 2023
FIFA U17 World Cup.
Iran are scheduled to face England on Tuesday
at the Jakarta International Stadium in Group C.
Regarding that New Caledonia are not a team
to beat, a win or a draw could guarantee a place
for Hossein Abdi’s team in the next round.
Iranian expert Asghar Maziar says that the Team
are capable of winning a place in the next round.
“I believe that Iran did a great job against Brazil
in their first match. They played better than their
opponents in the second half and were motivated
to win the game,” Maziar said.
“Iran have even the chance of qualifying for the
next round as one of the four best third-placed
teams. The players must forget the win against
Brazil and just concentrate on their second
match,” he added.
Iran made history in the 2017 edition held in
India, beating Guinea (3-1), Germany (4-0) and
Costa Rica (3-0) in the group stage. Iran defeated
Mexico 2-1 in the Round of 16 but failed to advance
to the semifinals after losing to Spain 3-1.
Now, the Iranian team can repeat the success
once again, despite having a tough task ahead
of strong England, who have defeated New
Caledonia 10-0 in their opening match.
3
NOVEMBER 14, 2023
S t r a i g h t T r u t h
The 40-year-old, who replaced Spanish coach
Carlos Inarejos in the Ghaemshahr-based team in
June, resigned shortly after 2-1 loss against Zob
Ahan.Rahmati led Aluminum Arak last season.
Under the leadership of the former Iran and
Esteghlal goalkeeper, Nassaji failed to book a place
in the 2023 AFC Champions League next round.
FIFA World Cup
2026 Qualifiers:
Hong Kong trio
miss trip to Iran
TEHRAN - Hong Kong’s men’s football national
team has been hit by a trio of key withdrawals
before it travels to face Iran in a World Cup
qualifier on Thursday.
Star player Everton Camargo has been ruled
out of the trip to Tehran with a knee injury, while
center-back Helio Goncalves has made himself
unavailable because of “a family reason”. Also,
Fernando is staying at home, with his wife set to
give birth.
In addition to the trio, Sun Ming-him, who came
off the bench in both World Cup play-off matches
against Bhutan last month, has not recovered
from the injury that has sidelined him for the past
three weeks, South China Morning Post reported.
A Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA)
spokesperson said changes to the squad for
next Tuesday’s home match with Turkmenistan
were “possible”.

U.S. messages to Iran resemble pleas, not threats: IRGC commander The absence of Camargo is a hammer blow
for head coach Jorn Andersen, after the Lee
to get criticized for speaking the truth about
Israel, but today it has been proven to everyone
They will have to spend more in the future and
use the money of American taxpayers to fund the
Iran down Man forward made a dazzling start to his
international career.
that the regime is nothing but a child-killing killing of children,” Hajizadeh said. Kazakhstan at The Brazil-born player made his debut in
terrorist organization.
The IRGC general also hailed Operation Al-Aqsa
Hajizadeh also called on Arab countries to take
action and help stop the regime’s crimes against
2023 IBSA Goalball September, soon after obtaining a passport,
and has scored three goals in as many Hong
Storm as a historic victory for Palestinians, stating, innocent civilians in Gaza. Asia/Pacific Kong appearances. He was sorely missed when
“This victory is not perishable with tactical actions Israel unleashed relentless onslaughts against Andersen’s team suffered a humbling 2-0
and criminal operations and killing of children, and the Gaza Strip after the Hamas resistance defeat in Bhutan, after hurting his hamstring
TEHRAN – Iran’s men’s team overpowered
they are absolutely victorious and in the future. movement managed to carry out a successful in the 4-0 first-leg win.
Frome Page 1 Addressing the situation in Kazakhstan 10-0 in their opening match of the
The whole world will see this”. operation inside the occupied territories. The 2023 IBSA Goalball Asia/Pacific Championships
the besieged Gaza Strip, the commander said
regime has so far killed more than 11,000 people, on Monday. Team Melli are scheduled to play
that the issue of Palestine has now turned into
a global one.
He said the current Israeli attacks against Gaza
seem to be part of Benjamin Netanyahu’s revenge
with thousands of children among the dead. It Mongolia and South Korea in Group B. Dwight Buycks
has been routinely targeting hospitals, schools,
“The criminality of the Zionist regime, which
was mentioned by the late Imam and officials
against Palestinians, warning that the longer
these attacks go on, the more devastating their
refugee camps, and other civilian sites, while Group A consists of China, Australia, Thailand,
and Pakistan.
joins Zob Ahan
of the Islamic Republic of Iran more than 40 consequences will be for the Israeli regime.
justifying the large number of civilian casualties as
“collateral damage”. Western governments have Iran, which won a bronze medal in the recent basketball team
years ago, is now understood by nations on all “All of this is a prelude to the Israeli regime’s full also been backing the Zionists in their killing spree, Asian Para Games, are in a very good position to
continents,” he asserted. collapse. Americans are bringing the same fate by sending weapons to the regime and obstructing get their ticket to Paris 2024. TEHRAN – Iranian basketball team Zob Ahan
Hajizadeh added that Iranian officials used upon themselves and paying the price for Israel. peaceful pro-Palestinian rallies in the West. China will be participating, but they have has completed the signing of American point
already qualified for the Paralympics. Japan, guard Dwight Buycks.
Female students from war-torn Gaza to receive education in Iran which won a silver medal in the same competition, Buycks is familiar with European, Asian, Latin
decided not to participate in this continental American, and of course North American leagues.
TEHRAN – An Iranian vice students from Gaza will receive history, sending their children to the stressed. She called on regional
championship, opening up all the possibilities for He has played previously professionally in
president has announced that scholarships to study at Bou Ali Sina resistance front with courage and countries to take cohesive action
the Persian squad. Belgium (Oostende), China (Sturgeons and
Tehran will allow female students University in Hamadan as a symbolic not bowing their heads in shame,” in order to put an end to Israel’s
from the Gaza Strip to enter Iranian move, so that we can witness the she noted. massacre of Palestinian women and Aviators), France (Gravelines Dunkerque and
JSF Nanterre), Greece (Olympiacos), Puerto Rico
universities, as education in the
besieged Palestinian territory
expansion of this movement in
other universities,” announced the
She also stated that hosting
children.
Since October 7, Israel has been
Torabi’s goal (Grises, Mets and Indios), Qatar (Al Shamal), Spain,
students from other countries can
remains halted due to relentless VP on Monday, adding that women’s
universities should particularly try
be effective in introducing Iran’s bombing civilian sites across the among ACL Goals Venezuela (Trotamundos), NBA (Detroit Pistons,
OKC Thunder and Toronto Raptors), NBA G League
Israeli attacks. besieged Gaza Strip including
Ensiyeh Khazali, the vice president
to extend a helping hand to female culture to the world.
“In the face of the crimes of
schools, universities and other of the Group Stage (OKC Blue, NAZ Suns and Grand Rapids Gold).
students in Gaza. education centers. Students in The 34-year-old player has also played in
of Iran for women and family the usurping Zionist regime, no Iranian team Chemidor.
Khazali said it is important to Gaza are currently unable to attend TEHRAN – Persepolis winger Mehdi
affairs, said Iran is willing to support practical action, restraint, sanction,
show support for female pupils, as classes, as they struggle to stay Torabi’s goal has been chosen among the Buycks was selected to Asia-Basket.com
Gazan students who are struggling or resistance by those who claim to
women are the ones that shape the alive under relentless Israeli attacks. goals of the Matchday Four of the AFC Iranian Superleague All-Imports Team in 2022.
to continue their education in the future of their societies. “The women be advocates of human rights and Half of the buildings in Gaza have so Champions League 2023-24.
face of Israeli aggressions. of Gaza are among the most patient women›s rights is visible, which is far been destroyed, and more than
Strikes of sheer quality were witnessed
“In the first step, three female and resistant women in world regrettable for humanity,” Khazali 11,000 people have been killed.
across the continent and the-AFC.com has Iran start 2023
Border guard killed in clashes with terrorist group southeast of Iran
chosen 10 for the fans - to not only feast their
eyes on but to also choose their favorite. World Para Volley
TEHRAN – Terrorists have opened fire on The chief prosecutor of the province on Iranian international Torabi showed great World Cup on high
border guards in the Southeastern city of Monday announced that three individuals who skill as he steered his right foot effort over
Saravan in the Sistan and Balushestan Province, had plotted and carried out terrorist attacks in the Istiklol defensive wall and into the top left
TEHRAN – Iran defeated Japan 3-0 (25-13,
killing one soldier and wounding two others. the city of Zahedan have been executed. corner of Rustam Yatimov’s goal.
25-14, 25-22) in their opening match in the
“The general condition of the wounded “The court sentenced the defendants to Kodjo Laba (Al Ain FC), Igor Golban (Navbahor), 2023 World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World
Michael (Al Hilal SFC), Anderson Talisca (Al Nassr), Cup on Monday.
is reported to be favorable, and the current membership in the Jundallah terrorist group,
Kim Do-hyeok (Incheon United FC), Yan Matheus
situation in the region is calm,” said Saravan’s corruption on earth through participation in Iran are scheduled to meet Algeria in Group
(Yokohama F. Marinos), Heberty (Johor Darul
governor Saeed Tajalli, adding that the attack terrorist acts, explosion of 2 bombs at a police B on Tuesday.
Ta›zim), Masahiro Sekiguchi (Ventforet Kofu)
occurred Wednesday morning. station in Zahedan in 2018, participation in a The World Cup is a Paris 2024 Paralympic
and Pham Tuan Hai (Hanoi FC) are the other
The border guard who was killed was terrorist act by exploding a bomb on the route of qualifier, where one berth per gender is available
candidates for the accolade.
identified as Mehdi Nouri Afshar. The governor a passing police car in 2019, as well as smuggling for the winners or the highest placed non-
said anti-Iranian elements carried out the of weapons,” explained Ali Mostafavi Niya. borders and southern borders and intended qualified team of the tournament.
attack by targeting a patrol car carrying four
soldiers. He did not elaborate on what entity the
Another top judiciary official has also
declared the dismantlement of a large
to distribute it in the central provinces of the
country,” the official said.
Nassaji coach France (hosts), Iran, and Brazil have previously
booked their place in the Paralympics.
terrorists belonged to. smuggling network which was trying to At least 36 weapons were confiscated from Rahmati resigns: IPL Egypt, Rwanda, and Iraq are in Group A.
Meanwhile, the Iranian judiciary and supply weapons to terrorists through Iran’s the group. Iranian authorities have announced Group B consists of Iran, Japan, and Algeria.
intelligence forces have initiated new eastern and southern borders. the discovery and confiscation of several TEHRAN - Mehdi Rahmati stepped down as Group C has Brazil, China, India, and Nigeria
measures to ensure security in the Sistan and “Smugglers were bringing a shipment of shipments of weapons and ammunition in head coach of Iran’s Nassaji football team on while Great Britain, France, Ukraine, and
Baluchestan province. weapons into the country from the eastern recent months. Sunday. Germany are in Group D.

ECONOMY
4
NOVEMBER 14, 2023
S t r a i g h t T r u t h
TEHRAN TIMES
Iran’s 7-month export to Uzbekistan
stands at $189m
TEHRAN- Iran exported 279,775 tons of goods
valued at $189 million to Uzbekistan during
the first seven months of the current Iranian
calendar year (March 21-October 22), the Islamic
Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA)
reported.
According to the IRICA report, the Islamic
Republic imported 34,559 tons of commodities
worth $51 million from Uzbekistan during the
mentioned seven-month period.
In mid-June, Iran and Uzbekistan signed
several memorandums of understanding in
various fields including transportation, transit,
investment, and insurance for expanding
economic ties.
Iranian Transport Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash
and his Uzbek counterpart signed a document
on comprehensive transportation and transit
cooperation.
Iranian Finance and Economic Affairs Minister
Ehsan Khandouzi also signed two MOUs with
the Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade
of the Republic of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov
for establishing joint free zones and expanding
cooperation in investment and insurance sectors.
Also, the ministers discussed the establishment
of an investment company to transfer Iran’s
technical know-how to Uzbekistan.
It should be noted that the mentioned
agreements and MOUs have been signed as
Steel products output up 2% in 7 months
part of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat
Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Iran on top of a high-
ranking politico-economic delegation.
Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines
and Agriculture (ICCIMA) also hosted an Iran-
Uzbekistan business forum concurrent with the
visit of Uzbekistan’s president to Tehran.
The forum was attended by high-ranking
officials from both countries including Kudratov
and Iranian Industry, Mining and Trade Minister
Abbas Ali-Abadi, and ICCIMA former Head
Gholam-Hossein Shafeie.
Representatives from 50 different Uzbek
companies also participated in the event.
The Uzbek companies attending the forum
were active in different areas including
agriculture, sweets, chemicals, cosmetics
and drugs, construction materials, digital
technologies, mining and geology, irrigation
systems, plastic and textile industries, electronic
equipment, leather, jewelry, and auto industries,
energy, and transportation.
Also on September 22, Iran and Uzbekistan
signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
to expand cooperation in petrochemical industry.
The MOU was signed between Iran’s National
Petrochemical Company (NPC) and Uzbekistan’s
Uzkimyosanoat, on the sidelines of Iran’s 17th
International Exhibition of Plastic, Rubber,
Machinery, and Equipment (Iran Plast 2023).
Morteza Shah-Mirzaei, the NPC managing
director, and Korzhikov Evgeniy Aleksandrovich,
the deputy chairman of the board for Investments
and innovations of Uzkimyosanoat, inked the
mentioned MOU.
The document was signed following the
agreement of the presidents of the two countries,
and finalizing the fields of joint cooperation, and
reviewing the cooperation method are among its
provisions.
National Housing Movement, a top
priority of current government
From page 1 While explaining underway by the Headquarters
the performance of the Ministry for Executing the Order of Imam
of Transport and Urban Khomeini in 27 provinces.
Development in implementing Also, as announced by an official
the National Housing Movement with the Islamic Revolution
plan, the official emphasized the
acceleration in implementing the
Housing Foundation (IRHF), the
foundation has constructed
Housing Construction Leap Law
to achieve the goals of the 13th
167,700 affordable housing
units under the framework of
government. the National Housing Movement
In late September, Transport across the country.
and Urban Development Minister In addition to the mentioned
Mehrdad Bazrpash announced units, the Islamic Revolution
the launching of a program Housing Foundation is also
The operation for the Headquarters for Executing the
for allocating free land (in the constructing 16,500 units for
construction of 209,212 Order of Imam Khomeini.
framework of the National low-income groups, Hamidreza
Housing Movement) to young residential units of the National The mentioned units were Sohrabi, the foundation’s deputy
couples in order to help them Housing Movement began in delivered to the applicants in head for urban housing affairs,
build houses. February 2022. five provinces throughout the said on October 21.
The National Housing The ceremony to begin the country.
The official noted that so
Movement to construct four mentioned operation and also The Headquarters for Executing
far 9,000 units of the National
million housing units in four to launch some development the Order of Imam Khomeini
Housing Movement have been
years is one of the major plans projects in the housing sector was has signed a memorandum
handed over to the applicants
of the current government in the attended by former Transport of understanding (MOU) with and another 9,000 units are also
housing sector. and Urban Development Minister the Ministry of Transport planned to be handed over to
According to the plan, out of Rostam Qasemi. and Urban Development to owners by the end of the current
these four million residential Also, in July 2022, the minister construct 100,000 units under Iranian calendar year (late March
units, 3.2 million units will be inaugurated a project for the the framework of the National 2024).
constructed in cities and 800,000 construction of the first group Housing Movement.
President Ebrahim Raisi has
units in villages. of affordable housing units for According to Norouzi, the stated that the National Housing
After the National Housing laborers under the framework of headquarters also completed and Movement is the flagship project
Action Plan (started in 2018), the the National Housing Movement. handed over 2,000 such units of the 13th government to meet
National Housing Movement is On September 10, 1,278 units of back in April. the needs of the people, and
the government’s second major the National Housing Movement Speaking at the opening in addition to Transport and
program to provide affordable were handed over to the applicants ceremony, the official said Urban Development Ministry, all
housing units for the low-income in a ceremony attended by Aref construction of the National relevant organizations are also
classes. Norouzi, the acting director of the Housing Movement units is striving to achieve it.
NICICO exploratory excavations rise 20%
TEHRAN - The managing director of the The official said the company managed to copper production is going to reach one million
National Iranian Copper Industries Company conduct 200,000 meters of exploratory drilling tons in the next six years.
(NICICO) said the company has conducted in the previous year. He noted that in case of reaching the above-
240,000 meters of exploratory excavation Back in June, NICICO’s former head Ali mentioned output, the country’s copper export
since the beginning of the current Iranian Rostami said the company was following a new is also going to hit $10 billion.
calendar year (March 21) which is 20 percent program to increase its annual revenues to $10 According to Rostami, NICICO managed to
more than the figure for the previous year. billion. export $1.6 billion worth of copper products in
According to Amir Khorami-Shad, NICICO’s According to Rostami, based on the the Iranian calendar year 1400 (ended on March
total exploratory excavation conducted in the mentioned program, the country’s production 20, 2022).
current Iranian calendar year (ends in late capacity is going to increase by threefold and Iran saw its copper exports double in that year
March 2024) is expected to increase by 50 more than 50,000 people will be working in the despite a series of bitter sanctions imposed
percent compared to the previous year, IRIB industry. by the United States aimed at hampering the
reported. Earlier in March, Rostami said the country’s Islamic Republic’s trade of lucrative metals.

on year Over 13.4m car tires produced in 7 months

TEHRAN- As announced by the Iranian Steel
Producers Association (ISPA), production of steel
products in Iran rose two percent in the first
seven months of the current Iranian calendar year
(March 21-October 22), as compared to the same
period of time in the past year.
According to the data released by the
association, 13 million tons of steel products were
produced in the country during the seven-month
period of this year.
As previously announced by the ISPA, 11.112
million tons of steel products were produced in
Iran in the first half of the current Iranian calendar
year (March 21-September 22).
The latest report by the World Steel Association
(WSA) indicates that Iran’s steel output reached
22.1 million tons in the first nine months of 2023,
registering a 0.6 percent decline as compared to
the same period in the previous year.
Iran was ranked 10th among the world’s top steel
IRISL revises roadmap to achieve
producers during the first nine months of 2023.
The Islamic Republic’s monthly crude steel
output stood at 2.4 million tons in September,
indicating a decrease of 12.7 percent compared to
the figure for September 2022.
The WSA put the crude steel output by the
world’s top 64 producers at about 1.406 billion
tons in the mentioned time span, 0.1 percent less
than the figure for the previous year’s January-
September period.
The Iranian Steel industry has been constantly
developing over the past years against all the
pressures and obstacles created by outside
forces like the U.S. sanctions and the coronavirus
outbreak that has severely affected the
performance of the world’s top producers.
The country is expected to climb to seventh
place among the world’s top steel producers by
the Iranian calendar year 1404 (March 2025).
TEHRAN- Iranian tire
manufacturers produced
13,478,931 car tires in the first
seven months of the current
Iranian calendar year (March
21-October 22), falling two percent
from the output in the same period
of time in the previous year.
This number of produced tires
weighed over 146,363 tons, with
a five percent decline year on year.
According to the statistics,
in the mentioned period, 11.931
million passenger car tires were
produced, showing a five-percent
decrease year on year.
Meanwhile, 802,890 van tires
were produced, indicating a
10-percent fall.
Production of the tires of
agricultural vehicles experienced
a decline of six percent to stand at
270,624, and that of road building
and industrial vehicles fell 41
percent to 27,910 in the period
under review.
In the first seven months
of the present year, 4,447,406
bicycle and motorcycle tires were
also produced, with no change
compared to the previous year.
Production of tubes increased
by nine percent to stand at
7,717,181.
The tire industry has a 60-
year history in Iran. Currently, 11
tire manufacturing companies
are active across the country
that produce tires for passenger
cars, trucks, buses, vans, road
construction, and agriculture
machinery, as well as bicycles and
motorcycles in addition to other
types of tubes.
Some 15,000 people are directly
employed in this industry and
more than 250,000 people are
indirectly involved in the value
chain of this industry.
The Iranian tire industry, despite
the continuation of sanctions
and the coronavirus pandemic
conditions, as well as some
domestic restrictions, has been
following a thriving and successful
path over the past few years.
In addition to the successes
achieved in terms of the
output amount, Iranian tire
manufacturers have entered new
areas including production of the
wide-base tires and the tires of
SUVs.
Wide base tires, which are a
new generation of heavy vehicle
tires, have been produced for the
first time in West Asia by Iranian
producers.

maritime economy goals

TEHRAN – The head of the Islamic Republic of
Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) said the company has
revised its five-year comprehensive roadmap
to align with the new policies of the country’s
maritime economy, Iranian Maritime News
Agency (MANA) reported.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines,
like previous years, has prepared and revised its
strategic roadmap for the horizon of [the Iranian
Dam reservoirs increase by 11%
TEHRAN - The total volume of water in Iran’s
dam reservoirs has reached 19.8 billion cubic
meters since the beginning of the current water
year (September 23, 2022) up to November 11,
showing a 11 percent increase compared to the
same period last year.
According to Firouz Ghasemzadeh, the
spokesman of the Energy Ministry’s water
industry, the total volume of water inflow to
the country’s dams since the beginning of
the current water year up to November 11 is
reported to be 2.12 billion cubic meters, which
calendar year] 1406 (begins in late March 2027),
which will be revised again according to the policies
announced by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution,”
Mohammadreza Modares Khiabani said.
“The comprehensive roadmap has been
prepared to provide and promote specialized
and committed human resources to be
employed in the national shipping fleet of the
Islamic Republic of Iran,” the official added.
shows a 21 percent increase compared to the
same period last year.
The volume of water outflow from the dams
in the mentioned period is estimated at 4.03
billion cubic meters, also indicating an increase
of 31 percent. The figure was 3.08 billion cubic
meters in the same period last year.
Ghasemzadeh stated that the Zayandeh Rud
watershed is in a better condition than last year,
saying that the five dams of Tehran Province are
also currently 17 percent full, which indicates a
two percent increase compared to last year.
Shrimp exports increase 22% in H1
TEHRAN - The value of Iran’s shrimp
export has risen 22 percent in the first half
of the current Iranian calendar year (March
21-September 22), as compared to the same
period of time in the past year, according to the
secretary of the Aquatics Production and Trade
Union of Iran.
Ali-Akbar Khodaei announced that 13,500
tons of shrimps worth $60 million were
exported during the six-month period of this
year.
He named Russia, the United Arab Emirates,
China, Lebanon, Egypt, Spain, France, Britain,
and regional countries as the main export
destinations of the Iranian shrimps in the
mentioned time span.
Iran’s aquaculture industry is on a wave of
TEDPIX gains 2,300 points on Monday
TEHRAN- TEDPIX, the main index of the
Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE), gained 2,330
points (0.11 percent) to 2,055,964 on Monday,
which is the third day of the Iranian calendar
progress and has world ranks in the production
of some fishery products.
According to the head of the Iran Fisheries
Organization (IFO), the country exported
$600 million worth of fishery products in the
previous Iranian calendar year 1401.
Announcing a positive balance of $520
million in the previous year, Hossein Hosseini
said that there is a capacity of up to $2 billion in
exports for the country’s fishery industry.
It is worth mentioning that the growth and
development of Iran’s aquaculture industry
has reached the point where the country has
become a model for the countries of the region
and the world.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture
week.
TSE is one of the four Iranian stock
exchanges, and the most important one.
The other three ones are Iran Mercantile
Organization (FAO) believes that Iran plays a
responsible and central role in the fishing and
aquaculture industry in the region, and for this
reason, it can be considered a model for the
countries of the region.
Now the world markets have become the
target of the export of the country’s fishery
products, so that, the value of fishery exports
also increased by 67 percent in the Iranian
calendar year 1400 compared to the preceding
year.
In addition to the executive role of the IFO,
the role of research and knowledge-based
activities in this field is very important, and
the entry of young specialists and knowledge-
based experts in various sectors of the fishery
industry has made the sanctions ineffective.
Exchange (IME), Iran Energy Exchange
(IRENEX), and Iran’s over-the-counter
(OTC) market, known as Iran Fara
Bourse (IFB).
 American youth break free
from Zionist yokes
By Sadegh Fereydounabadi
TEHRAN – The unprecedented
brutality of Israel against the Gaza
Strip has revealed a strategic shift
in public opinion in the United States
in favor of Palestine, prompting the
Zionists to tackle the increasing trend
of opposition to Israeli barbarism.
Ever since early October, the Israeli
regime has been relentlessly bombing
the defenseless Palestinians in the
besieged Gaza Strip, where more than
11,000 civilians have been killed, mostly
women and children. The massiveness
of the atrocities of the Israeli regime
was beyond imagination, rightly
causing global uproar and drawing
criticism of Tel Aviv.
Thousands of people around the
world, including in the U.S., have taken
to the streets to put pressure on their
leaders to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.
For instance, more than 10,000 people
attended a protest at the Texas Capitol
to call for a ceasefire in the Israeli war
on Gaza. Similar demonstrations were
held across the world.
The global outcry appears to
have spooked Zionists in the West,
prompting them to issue stark
warnings about the diminishing
support for Israel. One such warning
came from Jonathan Greenblatt,
the director of the so-called Anti-
Defamation League, whose function
is centered on spreading defamation
against anyone criticizing the
apartheid regime of Israel.
In a recent private meeting with
a group of Zionist propagandists,
Greenblatt sounded the alarm bells
about Israel losing the messaging
battlespace in the U.S., according to a
recording of the meeting exclusively
obtained by the Tehran Times.
“But I also, wanna point out that we
have a major major major generational
problem, all the polling that I’ve
Hamas: Gaza will only be ruled by its people
seen, ADL’s polling, ICC’s polling,
independent polling suggests this is
not a left or right gap folks, the issue
in United States’ support for Israel is
not left and right, it is young and old,
and the numbers of young people
who think that Hamas’s you know
massacre was justified is shockingly
and terrifyingly high, and so we
really have a Tik-Tok problem a Gen-Z
problem that our community needs
to put the same brains that gave us
Tagly(?) the same brains that gave us
all these other amazing innovations
need to put our energy toward this
like fast, cause again like we’ve been
chasing this left right divide, it’s the
wrong game, the real game is the next
generation and the Hamas and their
accomplices the useful idiots in the
West are falling in line in ways that are
terrifying,” Greenblatt said.
A former Obama official,
Greenblatt has been actively
defaming any criticism of Israel since
early October when the Israeli regime
launched a genocidal campaign
against the Gaza Strip following an
operation by Palestinian resistance
groups in the occupied territories.
Interestingly, he even defamed
Jews who bravely stood against
Israel, labeling them as “anti-Israel.”
Interestingly, he is married to Marjan
Keypour, a Zionist of Iranian origin.
The spouse has been fiercely
acting as a Zionist propagandist in
the U.S., spreading slanted reports
and analyses on behalf of the Israeli
regime. The global wave of awareness
about the terrorist nature of Israel
has led them to double down on their
activism in recent weeks.
In the private meeting, Greenblatt
told the participants that this wave
has something to do with Iran!
He said, “The last thing I’ll just say,
we saw a dramatic change in the
language of the activists here in the
America on Oct. the 8th, the language
of groups that we’ve long tracked,
to have long been problematic, like
Student for Justice in Palestine and
Jewish Voices for Peace, they flipped
like this and went to like Iranian
Propaganda, the language I could
show you from their toolkits, cause
they’re endless in their groups, we
saw this again on October the 8th ,
it was that fast, like the language in
their toolkits was all about Zionist
entity, and lots of other language
that we recognize from Iranian
propaganda. We think that there
is something more to this that’s
below the water line, it’s the young
generations that we need to focus
our energy on, there is something
happening with Iran, and how it’s now
their propaganda, in their language in
their tactics, seem to be bleeding into
the American kind of activists face, in
ways that is very different than NIAC
and very very problematic.”
Unlike the frightened Greenblatt’s
allegation, the wave of Israel-bashing
awareness has nothing to do with
Iran because Israel’s oppression
against the defenseless Palestinian
nation is so glaringly obvious that
every human being with the slightest
moral conscience would naturally
take the side of the Palestinians in this
disproportionate war. That Zionists
like Greenblatt find it difficult to
understand why Palestinians deserve
solidarity stems from their minds
being inundated with Hasbara, the
unique Israeli propaganda strategy
that left many Israelis and their
supporters unable to criticize the
bombardment of hospitals replete
with incubator babies.
Overall, American students do
not need Iran or any other country
to “indoctrinate” them that Israel
is committing crimes against
humanity. They see with their own
eyes on global televisions how Israel
is killing women and children in Gaza,
the largest open-air prison of the
world. With its carnage in Gaza, the
Israeli regime has turned into a moral
burden for its supporters. Today,
defending Israel means a complete
lack of moral compass. At the end of
the day, no human being should be
forced to undergo surgery without
anesthesia in the 21st century. Israel,
however, forced Gazan doctors to
perform such surgeries, not just for
the elderly, but also for babies.
INTERNATIONAL
TEHRAN TIMES
WORLD HEADLINES
Israeli cabinet
approves decision
to shut down Al
Mayadeen network
The Israeli war cabinet approved regulations
that would allow the occupation regime to ban
and shut down Al Mayadeen Media Network,
which comprises a foreign channel as per
the emergency regulations descriptions and
broadcasts in “Israel” in three languages:
Arabic, English, and Spanish.
According to the decision, Al Mayadeen is
said to “harm national security.”
In accordance with the emergency regulations
enacted by the occupation government to
prevent any foreign broadcast corporation from
compromising “national security” and after the
minister of security was convinced of the actual
threat to “national security”, the war cabinet
approved early this morning the proposal by
the minister of communications to shut down
Al Mayadeen Media Network.
The occupation’s war cabinet has issued an
order to block Al Mayadeen’s online operations
in occupied Palestine, and an order to seize its
broadcasting equipment will be issued later today.
Among the decisions taken is issuing an
order addressing all Internet service providers
to prevent all users of the services from
accessing the following websites “that were
found, after examination by the Ministry of
Information, to be Internet sites through
which Al Mayadeen channel broadcasts”.
UK home secretary
sacked over
controversial
5
NOVEMBER 14, 2023
S t r a i g h t T r u t h
The group urged the ministers attending
the meeting to call for an “immediate” cease-
fire by all parties to the conflict.
“While the EU has largely failed to reach a
consensus position that is in line with international
law or to outright call for a ceasefire, some member
states, including Ireland, Belgium and Spain have
called for a ceasefire, criticized human rights
violations by Israel and Hamas and other armed
groups, and respected people’s right to peacefully
protest,” Eve Geddie, director of Amnesty’s European
Institutions Office, said in the statement.
US running low
on air-defense
systems – WSJ
An increasingly hostile environment in the
Middle East has prompted the US to deploy an
additional six batteries of the MIM-104 Patriot
missile system, doubling the total number in
the region, the Wall Street Journal reported on
Sunday. The Pentagon is now running low on the
equipment, the newspaper said.
The reported relocation was conducted amid
a spree of missile and drone attacks on American
military bases in Iraq and Syria. The additional
batteries were sent to Bahrain, Kuwait and
Saudi Arabia, which host dozens of US military
installations, the WSJ said, citing people familiar
with the deployments and the Pentagon’s
recruitment advertisements for Patriot operators.
One of the more visible consequences of the
increased demand for the long-range air-defense
systems, as identified by the WSJ, is Washington’s
decision not to send a Patriot battery to the Dubai
Airshow, which started on Monday. The Pentagon
had planned to display all three principal elements
of the system, including the launcher, radar
truck and command station, but announced the
diversion of the hardware in late October.

Resistance “disappointed” by Riyadh summit comments about

From page 1 U.S. Secretary of State Antony
Blinken said in Tokyo on Wednesday that there
may be a need for “some transition period” at
the end of the Israeli war.
“Gaza should be unified with the (occupied)
West Bank under the Palestinian Authority”
he added. Speaking at a press conference,
the Hamas political leader, Osama Hamdan,
stressed that “Gaza will only be governed by its
people,” and “ur blood and our lives will be the
price for our freedom.” Experts believe that the
people of Gaza have suffered from Israeli savagery
on a number of occasions over the past decades
and their ongoing support for the resistance
against Israeli wars gives them an undeniable
right to determine their future governance.
The Hamas party was elected to power by
the Palestinian people in Gaza in free and fair
elections.Hamdan also addressed the final
statement of the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh,
expressing the group’s disappointment at the
outcome of the meeting.
“We expected our Arab and Muslim brothers to
activate their strengths during the Riyadh Summit
to stop the suffering of the people of Gaza.”
The summit’s final draft statement stressed the
necessity of breaking the siege on the Gaza Strip
and allowing immediate entry of humanitarian aid,
including food, medicine, and fuel.
The joint extraordinary summit was held
to discuss the dangerous and unprecedented
developments in Gaza and the occupied West
Bank.Hamdan stressed that “confronting the
Zionist entity is a global humanitarian mission,”
while thanking all the people who came out to
demonstrate in support of Gaza.
Turning to the Israeli ground offensive, the
Hamas official highlighted that “the occupation
army is receiving painful strikes around the clock
on every square meter in the streets of Gaza,”
noting that “the occupation troops who are not
killed in the field will suffocate in a Merkava tank
from Al-Yassin 105 shells.”
The Israeli regime says two more of its troops
have been killed fighting in Gaza, adding to the
dozens of fatalities that the Palestinian resistance
has inflicted on invading ground forces. The Israeli
military named the troops, a commando brigade
officer and a staff sergeant.
The Israeli military also acknowledged
casualties among members of its Oketz canine
unit. Hamdan added, “Israel has not and will not
succeed in getting out of the cycle of defeat on
October 7, which provided a historic opportunity, at
a regional level, as opposed to sitting and waiting
for Palestinians to be slaughtered.”
A few days ago, Hamdan told regional media
outlets that “there will either be a complete
exchange of prisoners, or a ceasefire will coincide
with the release of dual nationals.”
He also pointed out that the occupation tried
to hide the massacre it committed at the al-Ahli
Baptist hospital, but today, “Zionist warplanes are
bombing all hospitals”.
Reports have emerged that Hamas has
suspended hostage negotiations because of
Israeli attacks on Gaza’s largest hospital.
A Palestinian official briefed on the hostage
talks told Reuters that the Israeli attack on al-
Shifa hospital led to the suspension of the talks.
A spokesman for the Gaza health ministry in
Gaza says an Israeli tank has reached the gate
of the hospital. “The tank is outside the gate of
the outpatient clinic department, this is how the
situation looks this morning,” Ashraf al Qidra said.
Israeli media, citing three anonymous sources,
reported there was progress toward a deal, which
would have seen several brief pauses of the Israeli
bombardment to clear the way for 50 to 100
women, children and elderly to be released.
For days now, the hospital has come under
intense fire as Israeli forces close in on the facility.
Israel accuses Hamas fighters of being in the
facility without providing any evidence.
Hamas has denied the accusations as
fake propaganda. The group has said it is not
associated with the hospital in any way, and the
center is under the authority of the Palestinian
health ministry.
If anything, analysts have noted that the
armed wing of Hamas has a duty to make its
way to the hospital and defend the patients
and innocent Palestinians taking shelter from
Israeli war crimes at the medical center.
Images shared by news agencies show newborn
babies placed in a bed after being taken off
incubators at al-Shifa hospital. There were 39
babies in the neonatal intensive care unit.
A power outage has rendered the incubators
unusable, and Palestinian officials say at least
three babies have died so far as a result.
The hospital is in a “perilous” situation and
“not functioning as a hospital any more”, the
head of the World Health Organisation (WHO)
has warned. “The constant gunfire and bombings
in the area have exacerbated the already critical
circumstances,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
“Our blood and our lives will
be the price for our freedom”
wrote on social media. “Tragically, the number of
patient fatalities has increased significantly.”
He said the hospital has been without
electricity or water for three days, as well
as “very poor internet which has severely
impacted our ability to provide essential care”.
“Regrettably, the hospital is not functioning
as a hospital anymore. The world cannot stand
silent while hospitals, which should be safe
havens, are transformed into scenes of death,
devastation, and despair,” he added.
Netanyahu says the regime will not stop its
attacks on al-Shifa hospital, despite multiple
reports of families being shot at as they
attempt to flee the facility.
Reports also say the intensive care unit had been
bombarded, while dead and injured people were
still lying on the ground at the hospital entrance.
In an interview with U.S. media, Netanyahu was
asked how Israel, which claims Hamas fighters
are in the hospital, would ensure injured patients
would not be caught up in the Israeli attacks.
“Well, we’ve called to evacuate all the patients
from that hospital,” he said, without elaborating
on how Palestinians should evacuate critically ill
patients. Pressed on the issue again, the Israeli
PM replied, “We’re telling them to leave”.
Experts say it is very obvious that the occupying
regime has no interest in the very genuine and
serious attempts by Hamas to release hostages.
These are Hamas attempts to release non-
combatant hostages on humanitarian grounds in
exchange for nothing in return.
It has become clear that the Israeli war is aimed
at indiscriminately bombing the civilian population
of Gaza (in what the West intentionally refers
to as collateral damage) to appease its settler
population, as some form of revenge for the
Hamas retaliatory operation on October 7.
pro-Palestinian rally
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak fired
Home Secretary Suella Braverman who drew
anger for accusing police of being too lenient
with pro-Palestinian protesters.
The government says Braverman left her
job as part of a cabinet shuffle. Sunak was
under growing pressure to dismiss Braverman,
a divisive figure popular with the authoritarian
wing of the governing Conservative Party.
In a highly unusual attack on the police last
week, Braverman said London’s force was
ignoring lawbreaking by “pro-Palestinian mobs”.
She described demonstrators calling for a
ceasefire in Gaza as “hate marchers”.
Ex-PM David
Cameron named
new UK foreign
secretary
Former Prime Minister David Cameron was
appointed as the new UK foreign secretary in a
cabinet reshuffle on Monday.
Cameron, who served as prime minister from
2010 to 2016, took the new role after James
Cleverly, who was foreign secretary, replaced
Suella Braverman as the home secretary.
Amnesty
International
urges EU leaders to
call for immediate
cease-fire in Gaza
As a human rights “catastrophe” is unfolding
in Gaza, the EU countries “must” call for an
immediate cease-fire, rights group Amnesty
International said on Monday.
“The expanding humanitarian and
human rights catastrophe unfolding in
Gaza urgently needs to end,” Amnesty
International said in a statement ahead of
the European Union Foreign Affairs Council
meeting in Brussels on Monday.
Scholz says he’s
ready to talk
with Putin
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has indicated
that he is ready for fresh talks with Russian
President Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine conflict,
while stressing his position that Moscow must
make serious concessions to Kiev to convince it
to come to the negotiating table.
Speaking to the German daily Heilbronner Stimme
on Sunday, Scholz claimed that Russia’s campaign
against Ukraine “is the return of imperialism in Europe,”
saying that Berlin intends to support Kiev with arms
and other forms of assistance “as long as necessary.”
However, he left the door open to diplomatic
engagement with Russia, explaining that he had
held discussions with Putin in the past and is ready
to do so in the future. Nevertheless, “negotiations
[with Ukraine] require a decisive step from Russia,”
the chancellor said, urging Moscow to withdraw
its troops from the territory Kiev claims as its own.
The last time Scholz and Putin spoke by phone
was in December 2022. At the time, the Russian
leader objected to “the destructive policy of
Western countries to pump the Kiev regime
with arms” and provide training to the Ukrainian
military. This support led Ukraine to refuse any
kind of talks with Russia, the Kremlin said.
Al Jazeera
photographer injured
in Israeli attack in
southern Lebanon
Al Jazeera photographer Issam Mawasi
has been lightly wounded as a result of an
Israeli bombing in the town of Yaroun in
southern Lebanon.
Al Jazeera’s broadcast vehicle was also
damaged during the attack. The strike occurred
as a group of journalists toured the area. No
immediate response from Israelis was available.
Lebanon›s Hezbollah in a statement
strongly condemned the actions of the Zionist
occupying forces in targeting journalists in
southern Lebanon and announced that this
was an open aggression to prevent the media
from covering the terrorist acts.

TOURISM
6
NOVEMBER 14, 2023
S t r a i g h t T r u t h
TEHRAN TIMES
Iranian nomads launch major
tourism festival
TEHRAN – On Monday, tens of nomads
from various Iranian provinces launched a
major festival to highlight their cultural heri-
tage and tourism magnetism.
The five-day event is held in Shiraz near
the Hafez mausoleum, which stands tall in
a spiritual atmosphere that stems from the
14th-century poet.
According to Fars province’s tourism chief,
this is the first time that such a national
nomadic festival has been organized in the
southern Iranian city.
Organizers hope the event will encourage
domestic tourists and holidaymakers to visit
nomadic tribes.
The highlights include traditional mu-
sic, folk dance, workshops, and cultural and
culinary shows around stands set up by
tribespeople from the provinces of Fars, Cha-
harmahal-Bakhtiari, Kohgiluyeh-Boyerah-
mad, Kerman, and Khuzestan.
Such festivals, on the other hand, are in-
tended to establish bonds between Iranian
nomads. Earlier this year, Lorestan prov-
ince’s tourism director stressed the need to
reinforce cultural ties between the nomadic
tribes of the ancient land. “Iran is a rainbow
of different ethnicities, which have lived to-
gether for millennia,” Ata Hassanpur said.
The official pointed to festivals, confer-
The Lighthouse of Alexandria: An ancient
Greek engineering marvel
The Lighthouse of Alexandria, the last stand-
ing of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World,
was an engineering marvel that served to guide
ships to the port city.
It was completed in the 3rd century BC
during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus,
the son of Ptolemy I, the Macedonian Greek
general of Alexander the Great, on the island
of Pharos off the coast of the city of Alexan-
dria in Egypt.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was a beacon,
safely guiding seamen sailing the Mediterranean
to Egypt for fifteen centuries.
It was one of the greatest architectural feats
of antiquity, serving as a symbol of power of the
Ptolemaic Dynasty, the successors of Alexander
the Great, who was the founder of the city of Al-
exandria.
An important landmark of the Hellenistic pe-
riod, the Lighthouse of Alexandria had travelers
from all over the world who were encouraged to
visit the port city to admire the tower.
Design of an architectural wonder
The ambitious project was commissioned
around 300 BC by Ptolemy I Soter. He was a gen-
eral of Alexander the Great and the first Macedo-
nian King of Egypt who reigned from 323 to 282
BC.
It took twenty years to complete the massive
construction, and by the time it was ready, Pto-
lemy II Philadelphus was sitting on the throne
as the second king of the Ptolemaic Dynasty in
Egypt.
Ptolemy II completed the Lighthouse of Alex-
andria. Furthermore, he developed commerce,
exercised skillful diplomacy, and made Alexan-
dria a center of the arts and sciences.
According to Strabo, Greek architect and en-
gineer Sostratus of Cnidus, a friend of Ptolemy,
designed and constructed the lighthouse and
presumably funded the works.
Pliny says that Sostratus was the architect and
that Ptolemy graciously allowed him to “sign” the
ences, seminars, and familiarization tours as
opportunities to be grasped to bring the eth-
nic groups closer to each other.
Iranian nomads mainly live in the provinces
of Fars, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, Khuzestan,
Isfahan, and some other provinces. They usu-
ally change between their winter quarters in
steppes (Qishlaq or warmer areas) and sum-
mer quarters in green mountainous regions
(Yeylaq or cooler countryside).
Sightseers may visit nomads at different
times of the year. However, the best seasons
are spring and summer. There are several
nomadic tribes you can meet or stay with,
each of them having its own unique lifestyle,
culture, customs, foods, and musical perfor-
mances.
Held every year on 21 May, the World Day
for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and De-
velopment celebrates not only the richness
of the world’s cultures but also the essen-
tial role of intercultural dialogue in achieving
peace and sustainable development.
The United Nations General Assembly first
declared this World Day in 2002, following
UNESCO’s adoption of the 2001 Universal
Declaration on Cultural Diversity, recognizing
the need to enhance the potential of culture
as a means of achieving prosperity, sustain-
able development, and global peaceful coex-
istence.
monument with: ”Sostratus of Dexiphanes the
Cnidian to Savior Gods for the seafarers.”
Another source claims that Ptolemy forbid
Sostratus from putting his name on his work.
Nevertheless, the architect wrote an inscription
on the walls of the base.
The inscription was hidden under a plaster
layer, covered by another inscription in honor of
Ptolemy. Centuries later, the layer was gone, and
the name of the architect was revealed.
Construction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria
The lighthouse was constructed for practical
purposes: It aided ships in safely detecting the
Alexandria harbor. With two observation plat-
forms, it also served as a military lookout for ap-
proaching enemy ships.
The lighthouse stood 110 meters high (350
feet). This would have made it the second
tallest structure in antiquity after the pyra-
mids of Giza.
Information on the structure of the Lighthouse
of Alexandria comes from a German archaeolo-
gist, Hermann Thiersch, in his 1909 work Pharos,
antike, Islam und Occident.
According to the ancient sources he consulted,
the lighthouse was constructed with large blocks
of light, colored stone and was built in three
stages. The blocks all sloped slightly inward.
The lowest was square; the second lowest was
octagonal; and the top was cylindrical. A spiral
ramp led to the top.
Near its summit, there were two beacons. At
night, a great bonfire generated the light and,
during the day, a great mirror, made with a con-
cave disc of polished metal, reflected and direct-
ed the sun rays.
In entering the lighthouse, one would go up
a long vaulted ramp from which a spiral stair-
case led up to numerous chambers, probably
utilized by slaves for carrying fuel for the fire
of the beacons.
(Source: Greek Reporter)
Tehran mulls visa-free regimes for 68
countries, including Japan and Saudi Arabia
TEHRAN – Iran is considering who are willing to visit Iran in their
abolishing visa requirements for private cars.”
passport holders from 68 coun- According to available data,
tries, including Japan, Saudi Ara- Iran’s tourism had constantly
bia, and Russia. been growing before the COVID-19
The border-easing scheme was
first proposed late last year by
pandemic, reaching more than
eight million visitors in the Iranian
the Ministry of Cultural Heritage,
Tourism, and Handicrafts and
calendar year 1398 (started March
21, 2019).
aimed to reinforce tourism. Although the country’s perfor-
It is the first time that the ten- mance as a tourist destination is
tative list of target countries has still far below that of 2019, which
been released, though investiga- was before the start of the pan-
tions and inquiries from relevant demic, it is improving slightly
bodies have not been finalized yet, compared to last year’s statistics.
Mehr reported on Monday. Based on the latest United Na-
The scheme is aimed at in- tions World Tourism Organization
creasing incoming tourists and (UNWTO) World Tourism Barome-
facilitating travel. Still, available ter, foreign tourist arrivals in Iran
evidence suggests it will not be A foreign couple poses for a photo during their visits to the ancient
reached some 2.93 million be-
finalized to be implemented soon, city of Kashan, central Iran. tween January and July 2023.
the report said. The average statistics of Iran’s
stan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Cam- eign Affairs and relevant author-
According to Ali-Asghar Shal- eroon, Croatia, South Korea, Co- ities.” tourism from January to August
bafian, the deputy minister for lombia, Comoros, Kuwait, Guinea, 2023 is 50% lower than the same
tourism, those names include He said the proposal was sub- period in 2019 based on the ba-
Poland, Luxembourg, Libya, Lith- mitted to the President’s office
some neighboring countries as rometer that tracks the sector’s
uania, Malaysia, Maldives, Hunga- after Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi vis-
well as those considered emerg- post-pandemic recovery through-
ry, Macedonia, Mexico, Mauritius, ited the tourism ministry.
ing markets with a considerable out 2023 up to the end of July.
Mali, Madagascar, Niger, Vietnam,
population and per capita income. The number of tourist arrivals Another statistic compiled by
Yemen, Greece, and India consti-
The tentative list includes Ar- is estimated to reach six million Iran’s tourism ministry indicates
tute other states whose nationals
gentina, South Africa, Indonesia, by the end of the current year the country saw 3.35 million
may be granted visa-free access.
Jordan, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Es- (March 19, 2024), Shalbafian said tourist arrivals in the first half of
Over the past couple of months,
tonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ecuador, last month. “With the [steady] the current Iranian calendar year
the ministry cited different num-
Algeria, UAE, Bahrain, Bolivia, increase in the arrival of foreign (started March 21), which soared
bers for the target countries; once
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, tourists, it is expected the number 38 percent year on year.
50, once 60, and once more than
Belarus, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, of international arrivals will reach The Islamic Republic expects to
Paraguay, Peru, Tanzania, Tajiki- 60 countries were announced, the about 6 million by year-end.”
reap a bonanza from its numer-
stan, Thailand, and Turkmenistan. report said. He said the tourism ministry
ous tourist spots such as bazaars,
For example, Shalbafian in July
Tunisia, Czech Republic, Rus- has devoted a great deal of effort museums, mosques, bridges,
sia, Romania, Japan, Ivory Coast, said: “The ministry’s proposal to to helping facilitate arrivals in the bathhouses, madrasas, mausole-
Singapore, Senegal, Sudan, Sey- waive visa requirements for 60 country. “Moreover, we have sim- ums, churches, towers, and man-
chelles, Chile, Serbia, Saudi Arabia, countries is currently under con- plified overland journeys for tour- sions, of which 27 are inscribed on
Ghana, Finland, Cyprus, Kyrgyz- sideration by the Ministry of For- ists from neighboring countries the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Urgent restoration starts on Seyyed Mosque, a
lesser-known gem of architecture in Isfahan
the official said: “Unfortunately, for several de- However, the designers considered no sepa-
cades, the heirs of the founder of this historic rate space for the education of students. For
mosque have been in dispute regarding the example, vertical sash windows, which are
management of this mosque, and this point more common in houses, are applied here to
has made it difficult to protect the mosque…” create a proper space for students.
So, we are working with the provincial au- The mosque embraces four main entrances,
two spacious Shabestans, a dome, three iwans,
thorities to help stabilize the situation of this
and some 45 chambers, but there are no mina-
mosque as soon as possible, Mohaqeqian said.
rets. Shabestan is an underground space that
Covering an area of 8075 square meters,
can be usually found in the traditional architec-
that place of worship, which is somehow a
ture of mosques, houses, and schools in ancient
forgotten gem of architecture, is located on a
Iran.
street with the same name.
Isfahan was once a crossroads of interna-
The whole structure of the congregational
mosque largely benefited from the flourishing
tional trade and diplomacy in Iran and now
it is one of Iran’s top tourist destinations for
architectural style of the Safavid period and its
good reasons. When Shah Abbas the Great be-
exemplary decorative arts.
came ruler of Persia’s Safavid dynasty in 1587,
The eye-catching decorations inside the he chose Isfahan as his capital and undertook
dome include moldings, mirrorwork, geldings, to make it eclipse all other cities. During his
and stuccos, combined with curving calligra- reign, he built so many palaces, mosques, gar-
phists. dens, and bridges that the inhabitants boast-
The mosque’s overall tilework is dominat- ed: “Isfahan nesfe Jahan”— “Isfahan is half the
ed by light red, which can be traced to other world.” The subtle nickname implies that see-
A view of the the cenruries-old Seyyed
mosques of the Qajar era, such as Rahim Khan ing Isfahan is relevant to seeing half the world.
Mosque in Isfahan
Mosque and Rokn al-Molk Mosque. Shah Abbas’s immediate successors con-
tinued the beautification. According to a con-
TEHRAN – The Qajar-era Seyyed Mosque has Narratives say that the land of the mosque
undergone urgent restoration work aimed at was bought in the Safavid era, during the reign temporary, Isfahan, a city of 600,000, had 162
mosques, 48 colleges, 273 public baths, and no
fixing cracks appearing in its dome and walls. of Shah Sultan Hossein, but its construction
fewer than 1,802 caravanserais — open court-
Over the past three weeks, a team of restor- was kept on hold because of the Afghans’ in-
vasion. yards surrounded with buildings, which served
ers commissioned by Isfahan’s tourism direc- as medieval tourist parks where travelers
torate have been analyzing to find the best Later, during the reign of Mohammad Shah could find water for their camels and food and
possible strategies to deal with the cracks, the Qajar, the congregational mosque was com- lodging for themselves.
provincial tourism chief said. missioned by Hojjat al-Islam Shafti, a wealthy
Isfahan is filled with many architectural
The project is aimed at reinforcing the whole religious figure of the Qajar era.
wonders, such as unmatched Islamic build-
structure and preventing potentially serious Construction work started in 1825 and the ings, bazaars, museums, Persian gardens, and
damage triggered by the autumn rains, Ha- whole process including decoration work took tree-lined boulevards. It’s a city for walking,
midreza Mohaqeqian stated. some 130 years. getting lost in its mazing bazaars, dozing in
Referring to the current state of the mosque, The mosque doubled as a madrasa as well. beautiful gardens, and meeting people.
Glimpses of World Heritage sites: Wieliczka and Bochnia
Royal Salt Mines
Situated in southern Poland, the tuting one of the earliest and most since the early 19th century. mine, Bochnia salt mine, and the
deposit of rock salt in Wieliczka important European industrial op- The two mines, which over a long Saltworks Castle in Wieliczka.
and Bochnia has been mined since erations. Both mines present the diversity
period were combined as one com-
the 13th century. This major indus- of the ensemble, in mining, tech-
The two mines include a large pany with royal status (Kraków
trial undertaking has royal status Saltworks), were administratively nical, and artistic terms, and the
ensemble of early galleries which
and is the oldest of its type in Eu- completeness of the evidence of
extend to great depths. The resid- and technically run from Wieliczka
rope. the historically ancient working of
ual excavations have been altered Saltworks Castle, which dates
rock salt in this region of what is
The UNESCO-designated site is and made into chapels, workshops, from the medieval period but has
today Southern Poland. The Wiel-
a serial property consisting of the storehouses, etc. A substantial en- been rebuilt several times in the
iczka Saltworks Castle, which his-
Wieliczka and Bochnia salt mines semble of statues and decorative course of its history.
torically administered the mines
and Wieliczka Saltworks Castle. elements sculpted into the rock According to the UN body, this and managed sales of salt for the
They were located close to each salt has been preserved in both serial property consists of all benefit of the princes and kings of
other and worked in parallel and mines, along with an ensemble of three components historically Poland, gives a new dimension to
continuously from the 13th century tools and machinery. An under- constituting one royal enterprise the Outstanding Universal Value of
until the late 20th century, consti- ground tourist route has existed Kraków Saltworks: Wieliczka salt the ensemble.
 Afghan nationals being screened
for tuberculosis SOCIETY
7
TEHRAN – Some 69,000 Afghan Program (RCCE) is one of the most NOVEMBER 14, 2023
nationals have so far been screened important health promotion pro- S t r a i g h t T r u t h
for tuberculosis in the city of Za- grams the program was a combi-
hedan, the capital of southeastern nation of information campaigns,
TEHRAN TIMES
Sistan-Baluchestan province. health promotion, social mobiliza-
A total of 33 patients with TB tion, attracting people participation
have been identified so far, ISNA and other organizations, and estab- Anti-narcotics headquarters,
quoted Khodadad Sheikhzadeh, a lishing effective communication.
provincial health official, as saying Services provided to refugees UNICEF ink MOU
on Monday.
For over four decades, Iran has
Previously, a campaign was car- TEHRAN –The Iranian anti-narcotics head- and Crime (UNODC) on the sidelines of the 66th
been hosting one of the largest and
ried out for three months by the UN quarters and the United Nations Children’s Fund session of the United Nations Commission on
most protracted refugee situations
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNICEF) office in Tehran signed a memoran- Narcotic Drugs (CND) that was held in Vienna
in the world and has provided asy-
from January 21 to April 20, in which dum of understanding to launch a joint plan of from March 13-17.
lum to refugees, mostly from Af-
around 75,000 non-Iranian nation- action for the prevention and treatment of drug The agreement opens a new chapter in Iran’s
als were screened and 29 patients ghanistan.
abuse among teenagers. cooperation with the United Nations in the four
were diagnosed as having tubercu- Iran is home to over 800,000 The joint plan of action is to be implemented areas of dealing with the supply and demand of
losis, he added. issue is not limited to non-Iranians, gious diseases was started on De- registered refugees and some 2.6
that is, 30-40 percent of the people cember 31, 2022, and is progressing over 2023-2024. It will be the main base of co- narcotics, and offering treatment and rehabili-
On June 22, a new campaign million undocumented Afghans. operation with UNICEF in combating narcotics. tation services, Momeni said, IRIB reported.
who may be covered by vaccination according to the schedule.
started with the help of the Global Today, more than 500,000 Afghan
or TB treatment in this program are The program was started in 27 The joint activities will be defined and carried “Valuable measures to reduce the rate of in-
Fund and will go on until the end of children- including undocumented fectious diseases such as HIV (AIDS) and hep-
Iranians,” she explained. universities of medical sciences in out in cooperation with relevant national insti-
2023, the official said. Afghans and those who have newly atitis among addicts have been taken. Setting
“Family members of tuberculosis the country, and fortunately, the tutions, Fars reported.
So far, more than 69,000 Afghan arrived in Iran are benefitting from up healthcare, rehabilitation, and consultation
patients, people with HIV infection, work has progressed well and has Iran’s inclusive education policies, Also, in the past four years through imple-
nationals have been screened by people who have kidney failure and been welcomed by the target com- menting two joint plans of action, some activi- centers, and empowering women and girls in
Zahedan University of Medical Sci- one of the most progressive in the cooperation with the UNODC and UNICEF offices
are on dialysis, those who have pul- munity, Mohsen Zahraei, the head ties have been carried out for the prevention and
ences. Out of 627 suspected cases, world. in the cities of Tehran, Kerman, and Kermanshah
monary silicosis or are candidates of the preventable diseases depart- treatment of drug abuse among adolescents.
33 patients were diagnosed with TB for transplantation, and patients ment of the Ministry of Health,  said Despite the sanctions and eco- were among the measures.”
and they are undergoing treatment, Setting up two health and rehabilitation cen-
who, due to the treatment process, on January 11. nomic pressures, Iran continues In October, Iran anti-narcotics police chief, Iraj
he explained. ters for at-risk adolescents in two provinces of
need suppressive treatments, are By referring to health centers its comprehensive policy of provid- Kakavand, in a meeting with the United Nations
the country, which are known as exemplary cen-
Treatment for all the main groups that we are re- and bases, they receive the oral ing services to refugees, and this Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) represen-
ters providing services to the target community,
On February 7, the Ministry of sponsible for checking their status,” vaccines of polio, double measles, is appreciable, UNHCR’s Officer in tative in Tehran, Alexander Fedulov, called it es-
was one of the measures taken in this regard.
Health provided diagnosis and Nasehi pointed out. and rubella, he said. Charge, Inna Gladkova, said in No- sential to support Iran in the fight against drug
Previous co-op trafficking.
treatment services for people in- “Other groups such as people vember 2022.
On December 23, 2022, a national On October 15, UNICEF and the Iranian an-
fected with tuberculosis regardless who live in underdeveloped areas, specialized workshop for ‘risk com- In the provision of educational
of their nationality. homeless people, drug addicts, and ti-narcotics headquarters cooperated to devel-
munication and social participa- services, there are different as-
op an emergency protocol for staff working with
The infected person will be ex- immigrants coming from countries tion’ was held in order to empower pects, she said, adding, “School
at-risk adolescents to enhance their capacity
The MOU was inked
with a high prevalence of tubercu-
amined with tests and X-rays, and
will receive treatment services losis are also our second priority.”
health workers in the supplemen-
tary vaccination campaign for the
construction, equipping schools, for addressing youth needs during emergen- for the prevention
providing teachers and human re- cies. They also held two workshops in August
completely free of charge, IRNA Vaccination of foreign nation- refugee population with the partic- sources, and providing quality edu- and September, the UNICEF website reported.
and treatment of
quoted Mahshid Nasehi, a health als ipation of UNICEF.
ministry official, as saying.
cational services are the main and
Thanks to these programs, social workers, drug abuse among
A plan for the vaccination of for- Considering the Risk Commu- important work done by the Minis-
“The important thing is that this eign nationals against three conta- nication and Social Participation try of Education.”
experts, counselors, volunteers, and peers will
be able to provide much more effective services
teenagers.
in case of any emergencies to vulnerable youth,
adolescents, and their families.
Iranian students grab colorful medals in ISIF 2023 The aim of these workshops was to expand
During the meeting, Fedulov said the Islamic
front of judges and other visitors. ent their latest products and innovations and the technical needs of those working with vul-
Republic of Iran has always been committed to
Ilya Rezazadeh and Padra Qazvinian in the exchange information. nerable and at-risk girls to provide more effi-
a serious and decisive fight against narcotics at
Technical-engineering field won the gold med- At ITE, excellence in innovation is highlighted cient services to them in case of emergencies.
the regional and global level, IRIB reported.
al. Amir Hossein Manafi in the Nano-chemistry through the Invention & Innovation Award, it During the workshops, in addition to capacity
Iran has spent a huge sum of money fighting
field won the silver medal. brings recognition to the best inventions, inno- building on crisis management and specialized
the war on drugs, and apart from that, many
In the online section, the Iranian team was vations, and trade, adding to its merit is sup- interventions, a protocol for UNICEF-supported
anti-narcotics forces have sacrificed their lives
represented by Arshia Jannat Makan and ported by many international delegates. Adolescent Wellbeing Centers in Mashhad and
in this way. The high number of martyrs and in-
Siavash Beheshti, who grabbed 2 silver medals. Delegations from 34 countries participated Kermanshah was developed to strengthen their
jured shows Iran’s serious determination to deal
in the competition and Iranian students suc- emergency response capacity.
Mohammad-Emad Moradi, Arsas Afshar, with this scourge, the UN official added.
ceeded in winning eight medals, IRNA reported In May, Eskandar Momeni, the secretary gen-
Vendad Razmi, Kian Karbaschi, Amir-Ali Maz- “Considering the fact that the Islamic Repub-
The students attended the competition vir- eral of the Iranian anti-narcotics headquarters,
rouei Sabdani, Mahsa Zolqadri, Barbod Ren- lic of Iran is at the forefront of the fight against
tually and won three gold medals, four silver said some 1,700 regional and international drug
deh zadeh, Mohammad-Behrad Qasemi, drug trafficking, the UNODC and the interna-
TEHRAN –Iranian students won fourteen medals, and a bronze medal. Amir-Hossein gangs were dismantled by Iran in the year 2022.
Nafas Esmaeilzadeh Afshar, and Seyed Moham- tional community support of Iran should be pro-
colorful medals in the International Science mad-Samyar Sari Won Bronze medals in the Manafi was granted a specific award. “Iran is located next to Afghanistan, the larg- portionate to the activities and actions at the
and Invention Fair (ISIF) 2023. fields of Technical-engineering, Nano-chemis- In the ISIF 2022 tournament, which was at- est producer of opioids, the second largest pro- regional and global level.”
The competition was held in Bali, Indonesia, try, Physics, Biotechnology, and Social Sciences. tended by 570 teams from 32 countries, the ducer of cannabis, and recently the producer of He stated since new smuggling routes and
from November 7 to 11. Udayana University Iranian team won a total of 13 colorful medals glass (methamphetamine),” he added. concealment methods are emerging, it is neces-
On the sidelines of the ISIF2023 Indonesia In-
(Unud) collaborated with the Indonesian Young and a special award. The students won 4 gold, 7 Momeni made the remarks in a meeting sary for the anti-narcotics police to be equipped
ternational Science and Invention Competition,
Scientist Association (ISYA) to hold the 2023 silver, and 2 bronze medals. with Iraqi Interior Minister Abdul Amir Kamel with new detection equipment and tools. Need-
Ibn Sina International Festival awarded special
ISIF at the Widyasabha Auditorium, Unud Jim- The ISIF gold-medal-winning team consisted Al-Shammari on the sidelines of the first Bagh- less to say, the UNODC in Tehran plays a promi-
prizes to the top five teams from Malaysia, In-
baran Campus. of Mehrbod Bani Amerian and Arvin Yaghoubi dad International Drug Control Conference nent role in providing some of these tools.
donesia, Romania, and Kazakhstan.
The students grabbed one gold medal, 3 in the field of technical engineering and elec- which was held from May 9-10. Kakavand, for his part, highlighted the need
Previous achievements
silver medals, and 10 bronze medals in the tronics, in addition to Pariya Kadkhodaei who Setting up about 800 coastal checkpoints in to promote regional cooperation and said, “The
ISIF2023 Indonesia, IRIB reported. On October 11, Iranian students won eight grabbed a gold medal in the field of chemis- the Persian Gulf, strengthening and developing Anti-Narcotics Police of Iran has always an-
ISIF is an international competition orga- medals in the Fifth International Invention and try-nano. electronic and electro-optical equipment, and nounced its readiness to collaborate and im-
nized by IYSA. The 2023 competition involved Trade Expo (ITE 2023) which was held in Lon- Hasan Kakanejadi and Kousha Rostami won installing land-based radars and specialized prove cooperation with all the countries in the
the participation of 860 teams from 21 coun- don. the silver medal in the field of computer sci- cameras are among Iran’s measures to deal with region and the world to eradicate narcotics.”
tries. Kingston University hosted the event from ence. maritime smuggling, Momeni explained. Holding meetings with the anti-narcotics po-
The competition was attended both online October 5 to 6. Annually organized by the Indonesian Young Momeni signed a memorandum of under- lice of Pakistan and Afghanistan in the form of a
and in-person by students from various coun- ITE 2023 provides a business platform for Scientist Association, the competition was held standing with Ghada Fathi Waly, the director tripartite initiative in previous years is a strong
tries who showed their work or research in inventors, manufacturers, and dealers to pres- in Bali, Indonesia, from November 1 to 5. general of the United Nations Office on Drugs proof of this claim, he noted.

ENGLISH IN USE
LEARN NEWS TRANSLATION

‘Green taxes not used for ‫عوارض آالیندگی َصرف ارتقای‬

environmental development’ ‫محیط زیست نمی شود‬
IRNA / Ehsan Fazli Osanlou

Taxes paid by pollutant industries are not used for developing the
environment or improving the industries, Ali Moridi, an official with
the Department of Environment, has said.
The DOE is trying to revise the law and receive green taxes to use
it toward eradicating air and water pollution, wastewater treatment
and environmental issues, along with technology and industries im-
provement, he said, IRNA reported on Tuesday.
“There are rules which obliges the waste management affairs of
the DOE to make the manufacturing and import industries pay taxes
and spend the taxes on waste management and recycling.”
‫عوارض اخذ شده از صنایع آالینده در محل خودش و با هدف رفع چالش‬
.‫محیط زیست هزینه نمی شود‬
‫ «علی مریدی» از مسئوالن سازمان حفاظت‬،‫به گزارش روز سه شنبه ایرنا‬
‫ در تالش برای بازنگری این قانون هستیم تا عوارض‬:‫محیط زیست گفت‬
‫آالیندگی به حساب صندوق ملی محیط زیست وارد و صرف حل مسایل‬
‫زیست محیطی شود و بتوانیم به صنایع برای ارتقای فناوری و تصفیه‬
.‫پساب ها کمک کنیم‬
‫البته قوانین خوبی در زمینه مدیریت پسماند تصویب شده است که سازمان‬ Persian fallow deer refuge in northern Iran
‫محیط زیست را مکلف کرده تا از صنایع تولیدی و وارداتی درصدی را به‬
‫عنوان مالیات اخذ و به صندوق ملی محیط زیست واریز کند تا صرف‬ Dasht-e Naz is a wildlife refuge for Persian fallow deer in Sari, northern Mazandaran prov-
.‫هزینه پسماند و بازیافت شود‬ ince.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the Persian fallow deer
as endangered in 2010.

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NOVEMBER 14, 2023
GUIDE TO SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
The world is a road for going to the next one, and if it had been created
for itself, man would have lived eternally in it.
Imam Ali (AS)
Prayer Times Noon:11:49 Evening: 17:18
Keyvan Saket to perform in Tabriz
TEHRAN-Iranian tar and setar virtuoso Keyvan
Saket will perform at a concert in Tabriz, East
Azarbaijan Province today along with his group,
Vaziri Music Band.
The concert will be held at the amphitheater of
Tabriz petrochemical Complex in the northwestern
city on Tuesday, Honaronline reported.
Atabak Atri will sing Persian and Azeri songs
from the compositions of Saket as well as folk
songs at the performance.
Saket, 62, is an acclaimed Iranian composer and
music researcher. He has held many concerts in Iran,
Canada and Australia. He established Vaziri Band in
1996 and has since performed numerous pieces with
them. He has also worked with many great Iranian
musicians, including the late Parviz Meshkatian.
Saket is the fastest tar and setar (traditional
Iranian instruments) player in Iran. He has
always believed in introducing Iranian traditional
music to the world. One of his ways of doing so
was to promote through his shows what Iranian
instruments were capable of playing.
To demonstrate this, he tried to perform well-
known pieces from classical composers like
Beethoven, Mozart, Paganini, Vivaldi, Strauss, and
more. This mission seemed impossible at first; tar
was played with plectrum and most of western
classical pieces with the violin - a bowed string
instrument. This meant that a tar player had to have
a very quick plectrum to keep a rapid repetition of
one note, or a tremolo. And yet, Saket was the only
one with an impossibly blistering speed.
Along with his traditional albums, Saket released
Iran’s “Laleh” wins award at Milano
sports film festival
TEHRAN – “Laleh” by Los Angeles-based Iranian
filmmaker Asadollah Niknejad won the FICTS award
at the 40th edition of Milano International FICTS
Fest, an event for sports movies and TV, which was
held in Milan, Italy from November 7 to 11.
The film tells the true story of the first female
Iranian race car driver, Laleh Seddiq, who defied
gender norms and societal expectations to pursue
her dream of racing cars.
Set in post-revolution Iran, “Laleh” follows the
Cartoon of Day
Gaza hospitals
Cartoonist: Sanouni Imad from Morrocco
Editor-in-Chief: Mohammad Sarfi
P.o. Box: 14155-4843 Zip Code: 1599814713
Dawn: 5:13 (tomorrow) Sunrise: 6:40 (tomorrow)
two modern albums that once again stunned
everyone. In his albums, he performed extremely
fast and complex pieces like “The Flight of the
Bumblebee”. His astonishing performance at the
International Music Exposition in France in 2006,
showed the significance of tar and setar globally.
Saket was born in 1960 in Mashad. In 1989, he
joined the Aref Ensemble under the leadership of
the late musician composer Meshkatian; Saket’s
collaboration with the ensemble continued steadily
into 1996; during this period, they released several
albums and performed extensively throughout
Iran and abroad.
Around the same time, Saket established the
Vaziri Music Band. The band’s primary goal was
to bring about a revival of the traditional style of
Iranian master Col. Alinaghi Vaziri.
Together, Saket and the Vaziri Band have
performed on a regular basis in Iran; their works
include pieces such as ‘Ey Vatan’ (Oh, Homeland),
which is a dedication to the legacy of Vaziri.
protagonist’s journey as she faces opposition from
her family, society, and even the authorities, who
view racing as a male-dominated sport. Despite
these challenges, Laleh remains determined
to achieve her goals, pushing boundaries and
breaking barriers along the way.
The Federation Internationale Cinema Television
Sportifs (FICTS) is the organizer of the event,
which was the final phase of the World FICTS
Challenge that runs in 20 countries around the
world including Iran.
Iranian artists, cineastes condemn massacres
in Gaza, call for immediate ceasefire
Frome Page 1 “In the name of
God,
Mr. Antonio Guterres, the
honorable Secretary-General of the
United Nations,
As Iranian artists, together with
chemical warfare veterans and
survivors of the Iran-Iraq War (1980-
1988), we humbly request that you
exert all possible efforts to prevent
the blatant injustice being inflicted
upon the women, children, and
innocent civilians who are besieged
in Gaza.
Mr. Guterres, the position you hold
represents the conscience of human
history today and its impact will be
judged by future generations. In the
name of humanity, stop the war.
Respectfully,
Tehran Peace Museum - House of
Cinema Iran
November 12, 2023.”
This statement has been signed
by several well-known figures such
as Davud Mirbaqeri, Majid Majidi,
Parviz Parastui, Reza Kianian,
Leila Hatami, Homayoun Asadian,
Kamal Tabrizi, Mohsen Tanabandeh,
Rambod Javan, Alireza Davoudnejad,
Farhad Tohidi, Ahmadreza Darvish,
11th Iranian Film Festival Australia to be held in six cities
TEHRAN-The 11th Iranian Film
Festival Australia (IFFA) will
commence on November 16 in
Sydney and will continue for
about a month in five other cities.
The only nation-wide
Australian festival dedicated to
Iranian cinema, the event will
showcase a total of 21 feature,
short and documentary films
from the latest productions in
Iran, ISNA reported on Monday.
Sydney will be the first of six
cities to host the festival for
a week, from November 16 to
22. The festival will continue in
Canberra for three days, from
November 17 to 22. The next stop
will be Melbourne, where movies
will be screened for another
week, from November 23 to 29.
Taking the films to Brisbane,
the festival will run from
November 30 to December 6.
In the meantime, and for three
days, Adelaide will also play host
to the event form December 1 to
3. Perth will be the last stop in
the festival, where the movies
will hit the silver screen from
December 7 to 13.
Among the most notable
Iranian works at the festival,
there are feature films by award-
winning directors such as Vahid
Jalilvand, Reza Mirkarimi, and
Ahmad Bahrami as well as a
documentary about the world-
renowned filmmaker Abbas
Kiarostami.
The third and latest film
written and directed by Vahid
Jalilvand, “Beyond the Wall”
is about a blind man named
Ali who attempts suicide, but
is interrupted by his building
concierge; he then tells Ali about
an escaped woman, named Leila,
who is hidden in the building.
Ali becomes determined to help
Leila.
The film stars Navid
Mohammadzadeh and Amir
Emil Zola’s short stories available in Persian
TEHRAN-The Persian translation of
the book “The Paradise of Cats,” which
is a collection of five short stories by
the French author Emile Zola have
been released in the market.
Translated by Mojgan Hosseini
Ruzbahani, the book has been
published by Qoqnoos Publications,
Mehr reported.
The short stories included in the
book are “The Paradise of Cats,” “The
Legend of Cupid’s Little Blue Mantle,”
“The Blacksmith,” “The Slack Season,”
and “Memories”.
The stories were originally written
in 1874 along with more stories.
Rasoul Sadrameli, Mohsen Amir
Yousefi, Hadi Hejazifar, Mohammad
Hossein Mahdavian, Mohsen Kiaee,
Shabnam Moqaddami, Mojtaba
Mirtahmasb, Seyed Reza Mir-
Karimi, Majid Entezami, Amir Esbati,
Afsaneh Baigan, Hanieh Tavassoli,
and others.
New names will be announced in
subsequent updates.
Scenes from Vahid Jalilvand’s “Beyond the Wall” (L) and Seifollah Samadian’s
“Kiarostami at Work”
Aghaei, who both worked with
Jalilvand in his previous film “No
Date, No Signature,” which won
the Orizzonti Award for Best
Actor and Director at the 74th
Venice Film Festival.
“Beyond The Wall” has so far
received several nominations
at the 79th Venice International
Festival and Asia Pacific Screen
Awards.
Another participant in this
year’s edition of the IFFA is Iran’s
submission to the forthcoming
96th Academy Awards in the
best foreign-language film
category “The Night Guardian” by
Reza Mirkarimi.
It is about a man named Rasoul
who has left the village due to
drought. He is glad to find a job
as a night guardian at a complex
under construction. However, in
the deserted construction site,
something wrong is going on
and Rasoul finds himself trapped
in the strange circumstances
around him.
The film, which will have its
Australian premiere, received the
best director award and special
mention for the best actor at the
Fajr Film Festival in 2022.
Mirkarimi, 56, has so far
made 10 feature films, winning
numerous national and
international awards for them
including the 40th International
Critics Week Best Feature Award
at the 2001 Cannes International
Film Festival, Best Director Award
However, in 2019, Éditions Gallimard,
a leading French book publishing
company, published five of those
stories in a book, which has been
now translated into Persian.
The short story that has given its
name to the title of the book, “The
Paradise of Cats,” is about a fat,
comfortable cat who longs to leave
his luxurious life and run wild on
Paris rooftops. Told in the cat’s own
words, the cat soon discovers that
life in the street is not as free and
beautiful as he expected.
Zola was a lover of animals. The
story teaches the true essence of
paradise. It is based on the pet cat’s
Since October 7, Hamas launched
Operation Al-Aqsa Storm in
response to the escalating Israeli
abuses against Palestinians in
the occupied West Bank. As a
result, Israel has been conducting
airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.
Shockingly, more than 10,000
Palestinians, with 4,800 of them
being innocent children, have fallen
and the Special Jury Prize at the
Tokyo International Film Festival
in 2001, and the Golden Peacock
Award at the International Film
Festival of India.
“The Wastetown” is the title of
the movie written and directed
by Ahmad Bahrami, which was
the winner of best director award
at the Tallinn Black Night Film
Festival in 2022.
Set against the backdrop of a
car breakers yard, the film shows
Bemani who has been temporarily
released from jail after 10 years,
attempting to find out the
whereabouts of the son she was
forced to give up in prison.
With his second film “The
Wasteland,” Bahrami, 50, won
many awards in international
film festivals including Orizzonti
Best Film Award at the 77th
Venice Int’l Film Festival in 2020.
“The WasteTown” is the third
feature film he has written and
directed.
Baran Kosari, Ali Bagheri,
Babak Karimi, and Behzad Dorani
are in the cast among others.
The documentary shown at
this year’s IFFA is “Kiarostami at
Work,” which is about one of the
most influential directors in the
world, the late Abbas Kiarostami.
Kiarostami’s longtime friend
and collaborator Seifollah
Samadian has directed, edited,
and produced this 76-minute
documentary.
realization that one must be content
with where one is placed in life. For
the cat, the home was paradise even
though it was completely locked up.
The pet cat did not realize how
good his life was. He always thought
that the grass is greener on the
other side. He realized the value of
‘home’ only once he left it and had
to struggle for his existence. It is
important to be content and grateful
for wherever one is placed in life.
Through the character of the pet
cat, the readers understand that
in order to live a free life, one must
sacrifice comfort and wherever they
are happy and comfortable, it is a
victim to these devastating Israeli
bombings.
Israel’s relentless bombings on
Gaza have taken an alarming toll on
the lives of the civilian population.
The sheer number of casualties,
especially children, is deeply
concerning and highlights the
immense suffering inflicted upon
the Palestinian people.
Depicting Kiarostami’s
boundless passion for work
and creativity, the film features
images captured by Samadian
during their thirty years of
friendship and travels together,
as well as behind-the-scenes
footage of “Shirin” and “Certified
Copy” by the late Hamideh Razavi,
and “Taste of Cherry” by Bahman
Kiarostami. Juliette Binoche,
Martin Scorsese, and some
others have also shared insights
into Kiarostami’s creative works
in the movie.
Kiarostami’s first movie
“Where Is the Friend’s Home?”
(1987) was awarded the Bronze
Leopard at the Locarno Film
Festival in Switzerland. “Close-
Up” (1990), one of his films,
was ranked 42nd in British Film
Institute’s The Top 50 Greatest
Films of All Time.
He was the only Iranian
filmmaker who won the Palme
D’Or, the top prize at Cannes,
with his 1997 film ‘Taste of
Cherry’, a film to appreciate life in
a delicate way based on Iranian
values.
Samadian, 69, has worked
in close collaboration with
Kiarostami as the cameraman of
“A.B.C Africa,” “Five” and “Roads
of Kiarostami”.
His documentary “76 Minutes
& 15 Seconds with Abbas
Kisrostami” (2016) has been
selected and screened at the
Venice Film Festival and at over
hundred festivals and cultural
centers.
The Iranian Film Festival
Australia seeks to showcase a
diverse range of the best and
most interesting of current
Iranian cinema, one of the world’s
most exhilarating national
cinemas, and through cinema to
introduce Iranian culture to other
Australians, providing a better
cultural understanding.
paradise for them.
Zola (1840-1902) was a novelist,
critic, and political activist who
was considered one of the most
prominent French novelists of the
late 19th century and as a man of
action—a defender of truth and
justice, a champion of the poor and
persecuted. He was nominated for
the first and second Nobel Prize in
Literature in 1901 and 1902.
He was an influential French
novelist, the most important
example of the literary school of
naturalism, and a major figure in the
political liberalization of France.