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Iran Echoes Malley’s Remarks, Says Elections No Factor in Timetable for Nuclear Talks

“The JCPOA is a deal which was negotiated for a long time, and finally turned into a final document. Since the JCPOA was signed, several elections have been held in the countries that signed the deal, and all except for the US have remained committed to maintaining the JCPOA,” Ali Rabiei said on Tuesday.

He made the remarks when asked about Robert Malley’s remark that the June elections in Iran is not a factor in the timetable for nuclear talks.

“We were not surprised by this stance, because the recent US elections, too, had no bearing on our policy of being ready to immediately return to full compliance wit the JCPOA once the US returns to its obligations, lifts the sanctions, and implements the UN Security Council Resolution 2231,” Rabiei said.

He said even during Donald Trump’s tenure Iran believed wasting time in returning to commitments is wrong for all parties and will lead to harmful consequences.

According to Rabiei, the current window of opportunity to settle the differences through a consensual way will be closed soon, and if this chance is not seized, they will regret missing it in the near future.

“In our view, the JCPOA is a document that cannot be opened up, and there’s no need to hold negotiation on it once again. The important point is the rapid return of the US to the 2015 deal, and the implementation of its commitments, especially by lifting the sanctions in practice,” he added.

Iran Begins Clinical Trial of Another Homegrown Coronavirus Vaccine

That came in a Tuesday ceremony in Tehran where Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki and Defence Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami were also present.

He said the vaccine has been produced using domestic scientific achievements and technologies. Namaki said the new COVID-19 vaccine is called Fakhra and is the fourth coronavirus vaccine developed by Iran.

He noted the animal trial phase for the vaccine has successfully been conducted.
The Iranian health minister said his country has been unable to procure medicines and medical equipment from abroad to tackle coronavirus due to US sanctions.

However, he added, Iran has not just relied on vaccine imports to tackle the disease as it has produced four coronavirus vaccines so far.

Namaki also said the national vaccination drive will kick off in Iran soon.

Iran Marks Nowruz in Ceremony Attended by Local, Foreign Delegates

The event was attended by the Iranian minister of foreign affairs, minister of science, research and technology, minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts, as well as representatives of more than eighty countries and international organizations residing in Tehran.

Addressing the participants, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif congratulated them on the arrival of Nowruz (the ancient feast marking the beginning of the Persian New Year).

Zarif described Nowruz as an international occasion, saying the Persian Year 1399 will come to an end on March 21, 2021, ending the 14th century on the solar calendar, a century littered with numerous wars and sanctions and many instances of discrimination against humanity.

He expressed hope the Persian New Year 1400 (beginning March 22, 2021) will mark the beginning of a century in which natural disasters, diseases, wars and sanctions will end.

Zarif also congratulated all peace-loving nations on the occasion of Nowruz.

The ceremony also featured performances by different artists from various provinces of the country, including traditional rituals associated with Nowruz.

 

Iran Says Will Consider All Options If Israel’s Role in Vessel Attack Proved

No Change in Iran’s Borders as Karabakh Peace Deal Unfolds: Spokesman

“The spokesman for General Staff of Iranian Armed Forces is the one who should comment on this issue, but the place and geographical location where this act of sabotage has taken place makes the occupying regime of Israel the prime suspect,” Khatibzadeh said in his weekly press briefing.

“The aggressive behaviours and temperament of this regime also back up this assumption,” he added.

“Whenever the region was moving towards peace and calm, the Zionist regime has created unrest in the region, for a quite clear reason: this regime has, since the very first day, sought its entire existence in crisis, war, and unrest, and believes it can continue its illegitimate existence only if there is a crisis, war, and unrest in the region.”

Khatibzadeh said if the role of any party in this incident is proven, the Islamic Republic of Iran would naturally consider all options, and will use all options to defend its inalienable rights.

IRGC Navy Unveils New Underground Missile Base

The missile base was unveiled in a ceremony attended by IRGC Chief Commander Major General Hossein Salami, IRGC Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri, and a number of other top military officials.

The missile base is home to a wide range of defence systems as well as cruise and ballistic missiles with different ranges.

During the Monday ceremony, new missile equipment and systems were also delivered to the IRGC Navy.

The new equipment, which boost the Navy’s capabilities in terms of accuracy, damage level, range, and electronic warfare, have all been developed by Iranian experts at the Defence Ministry, the IRGC research centres, and knowledge-based companies.

Zarif Says Regional Cooperation Necessary for Afghan Peace

During the meeting, the Pakistani Prime Minister’s special envoy expressed his pleasure with his earlier consultations, and elaborated on Islamabad’s views about Afghanistan developments.

Foreign Minister Zarif, in turn, underlined the need for regional cooperation to help establish peace in Afghanistan and to preserve the Afghan people’s achievements.

Ancient Cup Inspires Logo of Iran’s Team at Tokyo Olympic Games

The Arjan cup, a visual identity, has been inspired by the “Olympic Flame” motif and illustrations on the Arjan Cup and designed using the colours of the Iranian flag.

It was the first time that the Iranian squad heading for the Olympic Games was seeking to design a special symbol for the team. Back in June 2020, three logos with sports signs going back thousands of years were proposed.

Ancient Cup Inspires Logo of Iran’s Team at Tokyo Olympic GamesThe Arjan Cup (the Cup of Life) is a tray-shaped cup depicting sports and group activities of Iranians going back 3,200 years. The Hassanlou Cup is one which dates back to the time before the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece. This cup is over three millennia old and bears sports signs. Another cup proposed was the Admiralty Metal Cup of Lorestan.

Finally, the Arjan Cup was picked as the sign which would represent the Iranian team at the Olympic Games.

The cup dates back more than three thousand years and clearly illustrates a group event that looks like a ritual (something similar to today’s Olympic Games) taking place in 1235 BC.

According archaeologists, a major ceremony used to be held in Iran more than three thousand years ago. The event was a combination of combat and sports rituals.

Accordingly, inspired by the “Olympic Flame” motif which draws on the designs of the Arjan Cup, the sign of the Iranian team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games was designed.

Iran, Pakistan Discuss Peace Trend in Afghanistan

In the Sunday meeting, the two sides exchanged views on developments in Afghanistan, particularly the peace trend in the country.

During the talks, Sadiq Khan underlined both Iran and Pakistan are affected by developments in Afghanistan, calling for closer cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad to help establish lasting peace in Afghanistan.

Araqchi, in turn, expressed hope that opportunities for peace will be seized.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran supports peace coupled with respect for the basic rights of Afghan people and the maintenance of the accomplishments secured over the past two decades,” Araqchi explained.

He welcomed Sadiq Khan stance regarding closer cooperation between Iran and Pakistan on issues related to Afghanistan, and expressed Tehran’s readiness in that regard.

The two sides also voiced concern over the presence of the ISIS terrorist group in Afghanistant and its threats to peace and security in the region.

They also agreed to move forward with their consultations on developments pertaining to peace in Afghanistan.

Iran’s Water, Soil Sectors Revolutionized in Past Eight Years: Rouhani

President Rouhani said on Sunday the major progress made in these sectors can best be described as a “revolution.”

“Not only a leap, but a revolution has taken place in the water and soil sectors during the tenure of the 11th and 12th administrations,” he noted.

He made the comment in a ceremony where several major national water transfer projects were inaugurated.

The president noted that the country’s officials have always longed to see desalinated water be transferred to the eastern part of the country.

He emphasized the importance and necessity of development in eastern Iran while reiterating that the projects have been implemented while taking all environmental concerns into consideration.

President Rouhani said the projects, which will take water from the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman to central and eastern Iran, are very significant and historic projects which contribute to the “balanced development” of the country.

Iran Opens Several Major Water Desalination Projects

That came in a virtual ceremony where five sections of the water transfer network became operational.

A section of the pipeline taking water to Mes Sarcheshmeh in Kerman province and another section pumping water to the city of Ardakan in the province of Yazd came on line in the ceremony, which was also attended by President Hassan Rouhani.

Work also got underway for the construction of a part of the network to take water to Isfahan province, the second pipeline taking water to the city of Mashhad as well as a pipeline supplying water to the southeastern city of Zahedan.

With the 5 phases of the project becoming operational, desalinated water is taken from the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman to the provinces of Hormozgan, Kerman, Yazd, Isfahan, South Khorasan, Korasan Razavi and Sistan-Baluchestan.