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Iran Covid: 6 killed, daily caseload decreases in 24 hours

COVID in Iran

Saturday’s daily caseload was however 56 including 11 hospitalizations.

The 6-fold increase in the number of deaths on Saturday is still considered as low compared with the peak of the latest wave of the Coronavirus pandemic in Iran.

During the peak of the disease several months ago, as many as 700 people died daily and over 50,000 people contracted the virus.

Despite Iran’s success in containing the Coronavirus pandemic, Health Minister Bahram Einollahi has warned Iranians that the disease has not been completely eradicated yet.

Einollahi urged people to get their booster shots, observe health protocols and avoid underestimating the virus

Iran denies Jordan’s “drug-trafficking” accusation

Iran Flag

Hamidreza Kazemi, the deputy head of the embassy told the Middle East Eye, “We in Iran have been fighting narco-trafficking by way of the eastern borders of Jordan for 40 years.”

Kazemi noted that more than 3,000 Iranian security personnel have been martyred in this war.

He described Iran as the biggest obstacle to drug trafficking in the region.

The Iranian embassy official said the claim that Iran tries to smuggle narcotics to Jordan is not logical and is a big and unacceptable accusation.

The Jordanian military spokesman’s allegation comes as the UN has hailed Iran for its fight against narco-trafficking.

Grossi: Iran, IAEA have chance to reach understanding any time

Rafael Grossi

Grossi made the remarks in an interview with the Arabic channel of Aljazeera News Network, noting the resumption of the Vienna talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), seems to be the most rational option ahead.

There are tensions between Iran and the IAEA, but there is always a place for mutual understanding, the director-general added, expressing hope that he can travel to the Islamic country at the nearest opportunity.

Grossi, however, neglected the politicization of the IAEA in dealing with the peaceful nuclear program of Iran as well as his acceptance of the propaganda campaign hatched by the Zionist regime, warned Tehran of the consequences of Iranians’ recent moves on the process of talks in Vienna, Austria.

The international official described Iran’s reaction in switching off some IAEA cameras at its nuclear facilities as a negative move, claiming that the act is a negative measure because lowering transparency is not a good idea at all. He also alleged that Iran’s recent steps can affect opportunities to revive the 2015 nuclear deal negatively.

The IAEA chief also stated that he asked Iranian officials to take part in negotiations to focus on finding solutions.

On Wednesday, the US and three European countries of Britain, Germany, and France offered an anti-Iran draft resolution to the IAEA Board of Governors based on allegations made by the Zionist regime on Iranian nuclear activities. The anti-Iran resolution was approved with 30 votes in favor, two votes against (Russia and China), and three abstentions (India, Libya, and Pakistan).

In reaction to the approval of the resolution, the Islamic Republic of Iran halted certain collaborations with the IAEA, which were beyond safeguards agreements and were conducted by Iranians to show their good faith.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) issued a statement on Thursday, declaring that the Islamic Republic of Iran has so far shown extensive cooperation with the IAEA, which has not been appreciated, so the AEOI decided that beyond safeguards cameras measuring On-Line Enrichment Monitor (OLEM) and flowmeter to be deactivated from today.

However, the AEOI emphasized that more than 80% of the cameras available by the agency are safeguards cameras, which will continue to operate.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced that as a result of the unconstructive approach by the IAEA and the approval of the anti-Iran resolution, the Islamic Republic has taken reciprocal practices, including installment of advanced centrifuges and deactivation of ultra-safeguards cameras.

The European trio who are also signatories to the nuclear deal issued a joint statement to show their protest against Iran’s response, while they themselves are the ones who did not abide by their commitments under the JCPOA.

Iran delivers another oil tanker to Venezuela

Iran and Venezuela Presidents Raisi & Maduro

AfraMax oil tanker has been built by Sadra, an Iranian industrial company.

The documents of the delivery of the vessel were signed by CEOs of Sadra and the Venezuelan side.

This is the second tanker ordered by Venezuela in recent years.

Iran and Venezuela Presidents Raisi & Maduro

Under the contract signed between the two counties, Iran will deliver two more tankers to Venezuela.

The Aframax is 250 meters long, 44 meters wide and 21 meters high. The draft of the ship is 14.8 meters and the vessel can travel at the speed of 15 knots. It’s capable of carrying 800,000 barrels of oil.

Both Iran and Venezuela are oil-rich. But the US’s unilateral sanctions have damaged the two countries’ economies

Fatir; A Sweet Iranian Bread for Breakfast

Fatir; A Sweet Iranian Bread for Breakfast

Fatir is a bread whose dough is not brewed. Fatir’s origin goes back to the East Azarbaijan province of Iran and the city of Sarab.

Breads baked in this city are at their best in terms of variety and deliciousness. This bread has a special roughness. Some of the sweets that are cooked in some cities of Iran are also called Fatir.

Fatir Bread

Ingredients for Fatir Bread

  • Warm Water: ½ Cup
  • Sifted Flour: 4 Cups
  • Hot Water: 2 Cups
  • Salt: 1 tsp
  • Sugar: 2 tbsps
  • Yeast: 2 tsp
  • Liquid Oil: 1 tbsps
  • Sesame: A little (for garnishing)
  • Crushed Walnut: 1 Cup
  • Cinnamon: 2 tbsps
  • Sugar for Filling: ½ Cup

Fatir Ingredients

Fatir Bread Recipe

Mix the yeast with a tablespoon of sugar and warm water (40C) and place in a relatively warm place to puff. Then, mix a cup of flour with the rest of the sugar, salt and warm water and after 10 minutes add to the mixture and wait for another 10 minutes. Now, add the liquid oil and stir.

Add the rest of the flour little by little to the mixture and stir till it turns into sourdough. Knead the dough until it does not stick to the hands. Cover the prepared dough and place it in a relatively warm place for two hours until it doubles in volume. Preheat the oven to 175 C or 350 F.

Fatir Bread Recipe

Mix walnuts, sugar and cinnamon to use for the filling. Cover a smooth surface with some flour, remove 100 g of dough and roll it out with a rolling pin. Then, put some walnut and sugar mixture in the middle of the bread and gather the dough around it.

Then spread it by hand. Place the sweet bread on a greased tray for 10 minutes. Then, apply a little oil on the dough and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Place the tray in the middle of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes. If the dough sticks to your hands, add a little flour and liquid oil in addition to the given measurements to eliminate the stickiness of it.

How to make fatir bread

Additional Points for Baking Fatir Bread:

1. If you do not have an oven, you can use a large skillet and apply some oil on it before putting Fatir dough rounds inside. Now wait a little for the Fatirs to form bubbles and for their bottom side to turn gold before flipping them to let the other side get baked.

2. If the dough sticks to the hand, add some wheat flour and oil in addition to the ingredients to remove the stickiness.

Fatir recipe

3. If you are not sure you Fatir dough is ready, you can take time to raise the dough beforehand.

4. Wrap the Fatir breads in a cloth napkin after baking so that it softens.

5. You can add some ginger to Fatirs.

6. How sweet your Fatirs would be depends on your taste so you can add less sugar than mentioned in recipes.

Fatir bread

7. For the stuffing of the Stuffed Ardebil Fatirs or those of any other city, roast 100 grams of wheat flour in the skillet, let it golden bake to remove the raw taste and then add some 100 grams of butter and some sugar and stir.

When preparing the dough rounds, choose the size at will and press the middle to form a hollow where you should place the stuffing. Then once again round the dough and press with a rolling pin.

Fatir

Why Fatir breads get dry?

Adding too much flour makes the bread dry and prevents the dough from puffing up. Placing a bowl of water inside the oven creates moisture that makes your breads softer.

Iranian president describes ties with Venezuela “strategic”

Iran and Venezuela Presidents Raisi & Maduro

Raisi was speaking during a joint news conference with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro in Tehran where he described bilateral ties as strategic.

He referred to a White House spokesman’s admission that Washington’s so-called maximum pressure campaign failed humiliatingly, saying this statement proves the Iranian people has triumphed over the US and other adversaries.

The president then cited Venezuela as an example in regard to resistance against sanctions.

He added that reports coming out of Venezuela show that the country has withstood mega-inflations and is now on track toward economic growth.

The president said this is a good sign and proves to everyone that resistance and perseverance pays off and forces the enemy to retreat.

Raisi described the Tehran-Caracas relations as strategic, adding the ties are continuing in all spheres.

He noted that the signing of the 20-year partnership agreement between Iran and Venezuela is proof of the determination of the two countries to expand their ties in all areas.

Raisi said Iran and Venezuela have good cooperation in areas such as energy, trade, agriculture and military, science and technology.

The Venezuelan president also said his country went through very tough times from 2017 and 2020 but it withstood pressures and assaults from the US.

Maduro said Venezuela will finally prevail and that the country will use the experience of the Islamic Republic of Iran in this way.

Maduro added that Caracas is seeking bright prospects in ties with Tehran through signing the 20-year partnership agreement.

‘IAEA, US two blades of same pairs of scissors against Iran’

IAEA Camera

In an interview with Iran’s Radio Goftogoo on Saturday, former Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hamidreza Asefi, said, “The agency and the US are two blades of the same pair of scissors that put us under pressure from both sides,” referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He deplored a recent anti-Iran resolution by the IAEA’s Board of Governors that was approved by 30 votes in favor, three abstentions, and two against.

Asefi said the Iranian Foreign Ministry needs to shed a clear light on the Islamic Republic’s ties with countries like Senegal, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates who voted for the resolution against Tehran.

He also said the IAEA openly departed from impartiality as the agency’s chief Rafael Grossi traveled to Israel and met with Israeli premier Naftali Bennett, ahead of the nuclear body’s Board of Governors meeting on Monday.

Asefi said the UN nuclear agency needs to be cautious not to allow the US and Israel to use it as a tool and influence its independence in decision-making.

Iran to hold international traffic conventions workshop

International traffic conventions workshop

The workshop on international traffic conventions of the United Nations and the World Customs Organization is going to be held in cooperation with FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) for managers of relevant ministries and organizations in Iran, as well as representatives of tourism and motor racing clubs from Iran’s neighboring countries, which will be co-hosted by the Touring & Automobile Club of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

According to a report by Miras Aria News Agency, citing the public relations office of the Touring & Automobile Club of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the advanced training meeting of the international traffic conventions of the United Nations and the World Customs Organization, was held from June 8 to 10 at the UN’s European headquarters, in Switzerland. Mohammad Hossein Soofi, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Managing Director of the Touring & Automobile Club of the Islamic Republic of Iran, participated online in the event as the representative of the Islamic Republic.

The Touring & Automobile Club of the Islamic Republic of Iran, participated in the advanced workshop online at the official invitation of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) as one of the 12 international members of the FIA Customs Council. The body is a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe that is in charge of Conventions for the Temporary Importation of Private and Commercial Vehicles, and FIA as the operator of Carnet de Passages.

In the meeting, it was decided that a workshop on the international traffic conventions of the United Nations and the World Customs Organization will soon be held in cooperation with FIA for managers of relevant ministries and organizations in Iran, as well as representatives of tourism and motor racing clubs from Iran’s neighboring countries, which will be co-hosted by the Touring & Automobile Club of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Economic Cooperation Organization.

The Conventions for the Temporary Entry of Private Vehicles (1954, New York) and Commercial Vehicles (1956, Geneva) are the two legal and strategic tools for United Nations to facilitate the international traffic of international private vehicles for passengers (tourists and traders).
Meanwhile, Carnet de Passages is also an appendix to all three conventions as a passage for the mentioned vehicles, without paying customs duties or taxes.

The temporary papers for Carnet de Passages are also an international customs document and a valid international guarantee to cover customs duties and taxes.

Iran, Venezuela sign 20-year cooperation deal

Iran, Venezuela 20-year cooperation deal

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his visiting Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro as well as high-ranking officials from both countries were present in the signing ceremony in Tehran.

After a meeting with the Iranian president, Maduro told a press conference, “In 2022, we expanded our ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran and painted a bright future by signing a 20-year cooperation deal.”

He also added direct flights between Tehran and Caracas increased in July, which in turn is expected to boost tourism in both countries.

Maduro also praised Iran for its achievements in agriculture in recent years.
The Venezuelan president arrived in Tehran on Friday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of President Raisi.

Both Iran and Venezuela have withstood economic embargos by the United States, and have closely cooperated to cushion the impacts of the sanctions.

Iran to discuss sandstorms with regional countries

Iraq sandstorm

The head of Iran’s Department of Environment (DoE), Ali Salajegheh, said, “The environmental conditions in the world are changing, so, resources such as water, soil, vegetation, and waste have to be managed.”

Salajegheh said Iran has already held meetings with Iraq and Syria, and will continue talks with Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to find a common ground.

This year, the frequency and intensity of sandstorms in the region have increased.
Iranian officials say the phenomenon originates from neighboring countries, due to drought and dam constructions.

President Ebrahim Raisi has instructed the DoE and the Foreign Ministry to talk with the regional countries to tackle the issue.