‘Illegal Migration Has Countless Consequences for Women, Children’

By

-

December 19, 2020

Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Masoumeh Ebtekar made the comment while elaborating on the issue of migration.

“The issue of migration is a global issue, especially the issue of illegal migration,” he said.

“Although migration, per se, can be a positive move, as mentioned in some verses of the holy Koran, … today we are facing different types of migration some of which cause numerous harms to humans,” she said.

“Today, the issue of the ‘World of Citizens’ has emerged, and it needs its own requirements, and if migration is not legal, it will have dire consequences for individuals and countries alike,” Ebtekar noted.

“Now, one of the global crises which we are unfortunately witnessing is forced migration due to war, problems and environmental destruction,” she said.

“Things happened in recent decades and prompted the migration of many Afghans and Iraqis, and we know it has been years that 3 to 4 million of dear Afghan people are living in our country,” she said.

“Iran has a good track record when it comes to hosting and supporting migrants, and has tried to offer them the necessary services as well, so much so that they even enjoy free coronavirus treatment services,” the vice president underscored.

“But other migrations which took place across our region such as [the ones prompted by] problems in Iraq or Afghanistan due to attacks by the ISIS terrorist group resulted in numerous harms,” she said.

Ebtekar added international organizations’ failure to offer the necessary services has added to the problems.

“Today, the world is facing forced migrations as well as illegal migrations which have gripped many countries,” she said.

She then touched upon the documentary “The Path of the Wind” by Mona Zandi which depicts the problems facing migrants.

European Parliament’s Resolution Amounts to ‘Obsequity’ to Biden: Iran

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

December 19, 2020

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the special aide to Iran’s Parliament speaker, said in a tweet that the resolution is tantamount to the violation of the rights of 80 million Iranians.

“Those behind the killing of hundreds of children suffering from special diseases due to sanctions, and those hosting hypocritical terrorists have no right to talk about human rights and demand the release of spies and dual-nationality murderers of the Iranian scientist,” the top official said in his tweet.

“Europe should care about its own interests,” he added.

Iran LAB EXPO 2020 Kicks Off in Tehran

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

December 18, 2020

The exhibition of Iranian-made laboratory equipment, held in Tehran during the Iranian Week of Research and Technology, has coincided with the 21st exhibition of the research and technological achievements.

In remarks at the opening of Iran LAB EXPO 2020 on Thursday, Vice President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari hailed the exhibition as a major breakthrough in the development of Iranian products, saying the event has created a new culture in the production and purchase of homegrown products over the past seven years and has accelerated the growth of knowledge-based companies.

The rapid pace of progress in Iran’s technology and innovation ecosystem has brought new achievements into everyday lives of people, the vice president noted.

Pointing to the formation of 43 technology parks in Iran, Sattari said the local technology ecosystem has been completed with the creation of around 10,000 startups and 5,500 knowledge-based companies.

The vice president for science and technology also noted that the domestic knowledge-based companies had a total sale of 120 trillion tomans in the past Iranian year and created employment for 300,000 people.

Highlighting the role of the domestic technology ecosystem in attracting the Iranian elites abroad, the vice president said some 2,000 Iranian students graduated from the world’s top 100 universities have returned home to work in the knowledge-based companies founded by themselves.

In separate remarks at the event, Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mansour Gholami lauded the growing position of research in the country, saying the universities and research centers have realized the significance of technological research.

He also stressed the need to prepare the market for Iranian products, saying the export of homegrown items is the only way to get rid of an oil-based economy.

In another speech at the opening of the exhibition, the deputy head of the Science and Technology Department of the Presidential Office for innovation and commercialization, Payman Salehi, said the exhibition offers an opportunity for uninterrupted sale and purchase of products for one year.

He said more than 350 exhibitors have taken part in this year’s exhibition to offer more than 9,000 items, describing the expo as a win-win interaction between the private sector and the government.

Deputy Minister of Science, Research and Technology Gholam-Hossein Rahimi also took the podium to praise the remarkable advances in the development of knowledge-based products, saying nearly all Iranian universities and research centers have been equipped with homegrown products under the auspices of the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology.

According to Rahimi, 2,938 technological products and services have been offered at the 21st exhibition of the research and technological achievements, which is attended by 1,387 universities, 664 technology parks, 272 research centers, 466 development centers, and 149 technology companies.

Iran, Pakistan to Open New Border Crossing on Dec. 19

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

December 18, 2020

In a statement released on Friday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said the second official border crossing between Iran and Pakistan is going to be inaugurated on Saturday, December 19, 2020.

During a recent visit to Islamabad, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Pakistani counterpart agreed on the opening of Rimdan-Gabad border crossing between the two countries within a short time span, the negotiations over which had been already held, the spokesperson added.

“Accordingly and under the arrangements made between the officials of the two countries and the organizations in charge, the Rimdan-Gabad border crossing will be inaugurated by the relevant high-ranking officials of the countries in the (Iranian) province of Sistan and Baluchestan tomorrow as the second official border crossing between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” he noted.

The opening of the new border crossing would raise the economic and trade exchanges between Iran and Pakistan, Khatibzadeh stated, adding, “Creation of this border crossing between the two friendly and neighbouring states and the recent inauguration of Khaf-Herat railroad demonstrate that the Islamic Republic of Iran attaches special significance to interaction and cooperation with its neighbours and considers close cooperation with the neighbouring countries as the way for the West Asia region’s progress and excellence.”

Iran’s VP Congratulates Qatar on National Day

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

December 18, 2020

Iran and Qatar to form joint working group for South Pars study

In a message for Prime Minister of Qatar and Minister of the Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz al-Thani on Friday, the Iranian Vice President congratulated the Qatari premier and nation on the National Day.

Highlighting the bonds and commonalities between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Qatar as two friendly and brotherly nations, Vice President Jahangiri expressed hope for the expansion of bilateral relations in all fields in light of cooperation and joint efforts between the two sides.

Qatar’s National Day is a national commemoration of unification in 1878. It is celebrated annually on December 18.

Rouhani’s Government Vows to Further Protect Iranian Expats’ Rights

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

December 18, 2020

The agreement was reached in a meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary, and Expatriates’ Affairs Seyyed Kazem Sajjadi and Deputy Justice Minister for Human Rights and International Affairs Mahmoud Abbasi.

In the meeting, the two sides further discussed the consular, legal, and judicial issues of Iranian expatriates as well as issues related to citizens’ rights, the national convention on children’s rights.

The two officials conferred on operational measures to facilitate the provision of legal services to Iranian people in an honourable way that protects their dignity.

It was also agreed that the two ministries develop their bilateral relations and deepen their cooperation, while preparing further grounds for the continued contact of Iranians abroad with those inside the country.

They also agreed to explain to the expatriates the attractions of making investment in Iranian developmental and construction projects, to resolve the consular, legal, and judicial issues of Iranian people living abroad, and to reach agreements with other countries to further protect the rights of Iranian expatriates.

Iran Reports Lowest Single-Day Rise in COVID-19 Deaths in 80 Days

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

December 18, 2020

According to Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima-Sadat Lari, the new fatalities increase Iran’s overall death toll to 53,273, and the new cases raise the total number of infections to 1,145,651.

Lari went on to say that 5,627 patients are also in critical conditions caused by more severe infection.

The spokeswoman noted that 6,944,462 COVID-19 tests have been taken across the country so far.
She said currently 12 cities are in the “red zone”, 288 in the “orange zone”, and 148 in the “yellow zone” in terms of coronavirus outbreak.

The “red zones” include Zarrindasht in Fars province, Baft in Kerman province, Gomishan in Golestan province, Astara, Bandar Anzali, Rudsar and Talesh in Gilan province, and Amol, Behshahr, Ramsar, Galugah, and Neka in Mazandaran province.

Iran’s Official COVID-19 Figures on December 17

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

December 17, 2020

Iran's New COVID-19 Cases, Fatalities Rise to Record-High

According to Sima-Sadat Lari, the new fatalities increase Iran’s overall death toll to 53,095, and the new cases raise the total number of infections to 1,138,530.

Lari went on to say that 5,645 patients are also in critical conditions caused by more severe infection.

The spokeswoman noted that 6,896,651 COVID-19 tests have been taken across the country so far.

She said currently 12 cities are in the “red zone”, 288 in the “orange zone”, and 148 in the “yellow zone” in terms of coronavirus outbreak.

The “red zones” include Zarrindasht in Fars province, Baft in Kerman province, Gomishan in Golestan province, Astara, Bandar Anzali, Rudsar and Talesh in Gilan province, and Amol, Behshahr, Ramsar, Galugah, and Neka in Mazandaran province.