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Iranian oil minister meets Venezuelan president in Caracas

Nicolas Maduro shaking hands with Iranian oil minister Javad Owji in Caracas

In a tweet, Maduro described his meeting with Oji as constructive and said the talks were aimed at deepening friendly relations and energy cooperation between Tehran and Caracas.

The Venezuelan state TV aired images of the meeting.

Oji earlier met with his Venezuelan counterpart Tariq al-Asimi in Caracas The two discussed ways of overcoming the US’s unilateral sanctions.

Venezuela sits on the largest proven oil reserves and Iran is also a big crude producer in the world.

Last month, the Islamic Republic’s production reached its highest level since 2018 when the US reinstated sanctions on Tehran.

Iran and Venezuela have been enjoying strong ties since 1999 when Maduro’s predecessor Hugo Chavez was in office.

The relations have grown under Maudro.

Iranian FM: Vienna talks continuing through different channels

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian

Amir Abdollahian told Al Masirah TV Channel that the negotiations are continuing in other ways, with Iran and the US communicating with each other through the EU envoy to the Vienna talks.

He added that this is aimed at getting the anti-Iran sanctions removed.

The Iranian Foreign Minister said, “Our aim is to reach a robust and lasting deal and we have demanded the US side be realistic”.

Amir Abdollahian added that the removal of sanctions in all sectors and provision of economic guarantees are key points on the Islamic Republic of Iran’s agenda.

“I think the US side is well aware of Iran’s red lines and we continue the negotiations and once we reach the point of entering into a deal, our envoy to the Vienna talks will take care of the last stages of the agreement”, he noted.

Face to face talks between Iran and the P4+1 group of countries in Vienna have halted due to the recent international developments including the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions between Iran and the US over some remaining issues. The talks began after Joe Biden took office as the US president in 2021 with the aim of reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and removal of US sanctions on Tehran.

Iran says the US should remove all anti-Tehran sanctions in a verifiable manner and give the necessary guaranteed that it will not exit from the deal again.

Tehran has also reiterated removing Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) from the US’s so-called terror list is a must before any deal could be reached.

Iran’s speaker congratulates counterparts and Muslims on Eid al-Fitr

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf

In separate congratulatory messages to the Parliament speakers of Islamic countries on Monday, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote, “Accept my most sincere and warmest congratulations on the auspicious occasion of Eid al-Fitr, the feast of mercy and forgiveness.”

“I believe that, in the current situation, relying upon the sublime teachings of the Holy Quran and strengthening unity and amity will ensure prosperity and well-being of the Islamic Ummah,” he added.

He emphasized, “Through the vigilance and wise guidance of leaders of Islamic countries, I hope that we will witness strengthening of brotherhood, establishing peace and stability and promoting the level of all-out cooperation among Islamic countries.”

Iranian Parliament Speaker took the opportunity to wish success, prosperity and well-being to people and governments of Islamic countries from the God Almighty.

Vet: Triplet of Iranian cheetah doing fine

Iran Triplet of Iranian cheetah

The vet said Iran has done its first hunt after the caesarean section. Iran delivered the cubs by caesarean section at the Touran Wildlife Refuge in the Semnan province east of Tehran.

The head of the Iranian environment department said this is the first birth of an Asiatic cheetah in captivity.

An Iranian official said in January that the Asiatic Cheetah was down to just 12, from an estimated 100 in 2010.

The cheetah is the fastest terrestrial animal on earth and is found in Africa, Iran and India.

The cheetahs of Iran and India are classified as the ‘Asiatic’ subspecies, which are a bit different from the African animals.

Israeli media speculate President Herzog visited Riyadh

Israeli President Isaac Herzog

Iran’s Far News website cited Israeli media reports as saying that a 9H-JPC private jet had earlier left the Tel Aviv airport for the Saudi capital.

Later, s flight tracking website said that the aircraft made a short stop in Jordan after leaving Tel Aviv and then headed to Riaydh, where it landed.

The reports come after Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in an interview on Monday that he is willing to visit Saudi Arabia and called on the kingdom to join the normalization agreements with some Arab governments signed with the regime.

“The Saudis need to join the family of the Abraham Accords and I would definitely be happy to openly visit Saudi Arabia,” he said in an interview with Israeli media.

Saudi Arabia has so far refused to acknowledge existence of any ties with Israel despite reports of clandestine relations with the regime.

“Questions, ambiguities rife in Hamid Nouri’s case”

Hamid Nouri

Iran’s Nour News says he has been deprived of his rights and a fair trial.

It says Swedish prosecutors called for life imprisonment, which is the maximum sentence, based on testimony from members of anti-Iran terrorist group Mojahedine Khalgh (MKO), adding that there are still many questions and ambiguities in the case.

Nouri was arrested in 2019 upon arrival at Stockholm airport and was directly transferred to solitary confinement and, contrary to all international laws, was not allowed to contact his family for four months.

The Swedish judiciary also did not allow him to meet anyone for two years in violation of his basic rights.

Nour News says he was not given a fair chance to defend himself at the Swedish court and the lawyers appointed by the government were not willing to cooperate honestly with him.

“Now, after 90 court hearings, the Swedish prosecutor has submitted a request for life imprisonment, but the court did not give Hamid Nouri a chance to defend himself, and it is said that out of a total of 550 hours of trial, he had less than 20 hours to defend himself,” the web site affiliated with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, explained.

In a total of 90 court hearings, more than 80 witnesses, mostly members of the terrorist organization, had the opportunity to testify against Hamid Nouri, while the court did not allow witnesses who volunteered to testify in favor of Nouri to come forward, Nour News says.

Hamid Nouri, a retired employee of the Iranian judiciary is being tried in Sweden for involvement in the trial of the members of the Mujahedin Khalq terrorist group in the 1980s. His accusers claim he was involved in the execution of the group’s members back then. Nouri vehemently denies such claims.

Amir Abdollahian congratulates Muslim FMs on Eid al-Fitr

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian

In his messages to the foreign ministers of Muslim countires, Amir Abdollahian said marking Eid al-Fitr as the feast of humanity and the day of happiness and gratitude for one month of worshiping.

He said servitude to God is the manifestation of brotherhood and unity among Muslims to realize the goals of the lofty religion of Islam.

Amir Abdollahian also said coordination among the leaders of these countries plays an effective role in strengthening unity in Islamic societies and in their progress.

Official: Iran-Syria trade grew 60% last year

Iran Trade

“Seeing the improved conditions for transit through Iraqi borders, increased flights to Syria and trade agreements of government officials, the prospects for expansion of economic cooperation with this country is positive in the current year,” Keyvan Kashef told IRNA.

The official said the issue of transportation is a key factor in mutual trade, adding that any businessman will need its product at the destination in the shortest possible time.

He said Iran and Syria are not neighbors and this raises the transit costs and the required time.

Kashef said Iraq enforces strict transit regulations that make goods transit through the country very difficult.

He said getting goods to Syria through Turkey is also costly and time consuming.
“Since last year, Iraq took steps to activate transit routes that can be very helpful for Iran,” he said.

“Syria is subject to sanctions and, under the Caesar regulations, any trade with the county subjects the seller to sanctions and for this reason we are also facing the problem of money transfer.”

Kashef also called for preferential trade regulations with Syria to reduce or zero customs rates to further speed up transactions with the country.

He said both Iranian and Syrian businessmen are interested in trade with the other country describing such trade as “win-win” and in line with the interests of both countries.

70+ year old Iranians urged to get 4th shot of Covid vaccine

COVID in Iran

Kamal Heydari added that the Health Ministry announced last March the requirement that these age group must get their fourth shot of vaccine.

He noted that citizens above the age of 70, the healthcare staff and people with an immune system condition have priority over others.

He urged all those who have not yet received their third shot to do it, adding that the nationwide inoculation campaign is credited with the declining numbers of Covid deaths and infections.

Heydari said thanks to the vaccination process, many cities have no deaths.

The deputy of the Iranian Health Ministry warned people to not relax health protocols so “we will not witness a resurgence of the pandemic”.

There are currently no red cities in Iran while the number of blue ones have increased to 94. The two colors respectively indicate the highest and lowest level of risk from the Coronavirus.

Iranians mark Eid al-Fitr with mass prayers in Tehran, other cities

Eid al-Fitr in Iran

Mass Eid prayers were significantly scaled down over the past two years due to the Coronaviurs pandemic. But this year, the prayers were held with fewer curbs in place.

In Tehran, official congregational prayers were performed at the University of Tehran, which also hosts iconic weekly Friday prayers.

After the prayers, Tehran’s temporary prayers leader Kazem Seddighi hailed the nation’s turnout in the demonstrations, last Friday, to mark the International Quds Day.

“On Quds day, both people of Iran and people of other Islamic countries turned out and, two years of Coronavirus conditions, showed nothing can make the Palestinian issue lose its significance. The cause of Quds and Palestine is always alive and the Islamic nation has stood up in support of Palestine,” he said.

Seddighi also talked about the recent terrorist attacks on worshippers in Shia and Sunni mosques in Afghanistan.

He said the dual approach of champions of human rights when one compares their treatment of Afghanistan and Yemen on the one side and Ukraine on the other shows “they are devoid of a sense of human rights.”

“We seriously urge the ruling body in Afghanistan to provide the nation with security and identify and eliminate terrorist networks as soon as possible,” he said.