Tuesday, December 23, 2025
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Iran, UN Discuss Latest Syria Developments

The consultations came in a phone contact between Geir O. Pedersen, the UN secretary general’s special envoy for Syria, and Ali-Asghar Khaji, a senior assistant to Iran’s foreign minister in special political affairs.

During the Wednesday phone conversation, Pederson presented a report on the outcome of the fourth meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Committee held in Geneva last week.

The two sides also expressed support for the continuation of the committee’s meetings in the future.

The Iranian official also pointed to the Syrian foreign minister’s recent trip to Tehran, and briefed the UN envoy on his talks with Faisal Mekdad about the latest developments in Syria, the Syrian Constitutional Committee and Idlib.

As agreed by the Syrian sides, the fifth round of the Constitutional Committee negotiations is scheduled to be held in Geneva in late January, 2021.

Khaf-Herat Railway to Link Afghanistan to Europe through Iran

The Khaf-Herat railway is Iran’s sixth border railroad which links the country with its neighbours.

It is one of Iran’s significant infrastructural projects which plays a pivotal role in the economic progress and development of both Iran and Afghanistan.

The railway will also boost trade between the two countries and bring the two nations closer together.

The project is also important from a regional and international point of view as it facilitates transportation via transit routes.

The Khaf-Herat railway will stretch 225 kilometres when complete, and comes with a price tag of Rls. 4.3 trillion.

The railway will enhance economic, social and cultural exchanges between the two countries and will see more than 6 million tonnes of goods transported annually.

It will also link Afghanistan through Iran to the Caspian Sea, Russia, Europe, Turkey and the high seas.

The railroad will further enhance imports and exports between Iran and Afghanistan.

Train Like Iran’s Award-Winning Amputee Bodybuilder Mehran Beirami

You often have a truckload of excuses on why you cannot start on a job immediately, especially when it comes to working out.

You can start neglecting the importance of good health and a fit body. This was not so for Mehran Beirami, an Iranian bodybuilder. As a teenager, he went through a terrible motorbike accident due to which he lost his entire right arm.

However, it was not the end for him. His journey in fitness had just begun and the rest is history. Here is how you can build your body and get fit like Beirami.

Decide to start

According to Beirami, it all starts with the decision to start. After having lost his arm, he went through a very tough time. But instead of wallowing in self-pity, Beirami hit the gym. He started working out to get into good shape. This was not at all an easy task considering he had lost an entire arm. But that didn’t stop him. He did not do this to change the perspective of the people, rather to show that his disability would not stop him from achieving his dreams. As time passed, he grew stronger and fitter, till people started looking at him as a fierce strong competitor. This further motivated him to work harder. He competed and even won in many body building competitions getting a standing ovation towards the end. Among other inspirational body-building stories is one of Sergio Oliva, and in the full article about him, you can check out his workout routine.

A fit mind

Another very important factor is a fit mind. Most fitness experts stress on this point. If your mind is kept motivated and healthy, your body in turn will be able to do the same. This is why it is absolutely essential to have a mental image of where you want to be in the future. Draw goals and try to understand how you can utilize the resources that you have to accomplish your body building dream. Keep in mind that a strong soul can motivate a tired body but the opposite cannot happen.

Train Like Iran's Award-Winning Amputee Bodybuilder Mehran BeiramiDiet and exercise

After a healthy mind comes a healthy body. A balanced diet and plenty of exercise is vital in the journey of body building. Include in your diet proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates and all other essential nutrients that would be necessary to transform your body. Remember that exercising burns a lot of calories, so team it up by drinking energy boosters. Additionally, once you achieve the level of fitness that you wanted, do not sit back and let it all go to waste. Preserve and maintain your body, keep exercising whenever and wherever you can, go for a swim or ride your bike on the ‘no gym’ days so as to keep your body fit always.

Be determined

Very importantly, do all what it takes to get fit. Decide to meet your goals with complete certainty and conviction. When faced by challenges, look at it as obstacles that will test how eager you are to make your dreams come true. Commitment and determination is what it takes to reach success. Beirami did not focus on good luck or having less setbacks rather his focus was on the end line, and on how he had visualized himself at the finish. He was willing to learn and develop for it. Once you live like that, you become unstoppable. In order to help you reach your physical fitness goals, you can take help of online portals like Total Shape that provide you with the right exercise routines and dietary supplement details that should work for you.

No more excuses

One point that Beirami emphasizes over and over again is that if you want to achieve fitness, you can give absolutely no room for excuses. Even when the going gets tough, and those muscles ache and you feel you should give up, never quit. As a bodybuilder, complaining isn’t going to take you anywhere. So put the “I’ll work out tomorrow” habit aside and hit the gym. And who knows you might be the next person to make history!

 

Top Iranian Cleric Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi Dies at 89

Born on July 2, 1931, Ayatollah Yazdi served in several top positions in the Iranian government following the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

He served as a member of Parliament, the Assembly of Experts and the Guardian Council for decades.

He was also the Judiciary chief from 1989 to 1999.

Ayatollah Yazdi along with four other members of the Guardian Council was put on the US Treasury’s list of sanctioned officials on February 20, 2020 on charges that he prevented free elections in Iran.

He passed away on December 9, 2020 due to ill health.

Iran to Sell 2.3 Barrels per Day of Oil Next Year: President

President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday Iran will produce 2.3 million barrels of crude in the year ending March 2022 and will sell it.

“The world should clearly get the message that the conditions of the production and sale of Iran’s oil will be totally different next year than those of two years ago,” said the president.
He said those who cashed in on the sanctions for personal gain may not be happy with this message, “but this is a ray of hope for our nation in the next year.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, the president touched upon the national spending package for the next Persian year beginning March, 2021.

“The next year’s budget pays due regard to people’s livelihoods and low-income families,” he said.

Based on the next year’s budget, he added, families will not have to pay for utilities if their consumption rate remains within the limit announced.

Iran Arrests Some of Those behind Fakhrizadeh Assassination: Official

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the special aide to Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said masterminds and perpetrators of the terrorist act will not escape justice.

In an interview with the Iranian Arabic-language Al-Alam News Network, the official noted,
“As for the masterminds and perpetrators of the assassination, there is evidence suggesting Zionists were involved in the incident. But were Zionists able to do it alone and without the cooperation of, for example, the US intelligence service or another service? Definitely not,” said the official.

He said in the previous cases of the assassination of Iranian scientists, it later came to light that the Israeli regime was involved in their killings.
“Such evidence still exists and it is clear to our security services, and in the not-too-distant future you will see Iran take firm action and give a firm response to those ordering the assassination,” he noted.

The official also touched upon the passage of the Strategic Action to Lift Sanctions Act in parliament following the assassination of Fakhrizadeh.

He said MPs had been discussing the legislation since months ago, and that the slaying of the Iranian scientist “only expedited the process.”

“This law is not only the Iranian parliament’s reaction to the assassination, but it is also a response to the breach of commitments by the European countries [which are signatories to the Iran nuclear deal],” he noted.

Iran Not to Accept Any New Negotiator in Possible Nuclear Talks: Ex-Diplomat

“Due to the United States’ withdrawal from the JCPOA and the ‘maximum pressure’ campaign which came about with the cooperation of Washington’s Arab allies, the developments pertaining to Iran were in line with the demands of these countries,” he said.

Iran Not to Accept Any New Negotiator in Possible Nuclear Talks: Ex-Diplomat“Naturally, with Biden taking power, the tables may be turned and the JCPOA may be revived. So, this concern makes Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia offer to joint talks which they believe might start soon,” he added.

“This proposal, on the one hand, indicates the beginning of fresh talks while they are not involved in this diplomatic development, and on the other, shows they are impeding the process,” he said in an interview with Iran Newspaper.

“Iran will definitely not be prepared to accept this proposal, and even if talks get underway without any ifs and buts from the US and without any preconditions, the presence of another regional country in the talks will create challenges in the process of the negotiations,” added the former Iranian diplomat.

“In addition to Arab states, other countries such as Japan, too, would like to be engaged in possible talks with Iran, but such inclination will not necessarily reinforce the negotiations,” he added.

Health Ministry’s Updates on COVID-19 – December 8

Daily Rise in Iran's COVID-19 Cases at All-Time High

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Sima-Sadat Lari said the virus has also killed 323 patients since Monday noon, increasing the overall death toll to 50,917.

She said so far 754,224 patients have recovered from the disease or been discharged from the hospital.

Lari went on to say that 5,780 patients are also in critical conditions caused by more severe infection.

The spokeswoman noted that 6,477,718 COVID-19 tests have been taken across the country so far.

She said currently 64 cities are in the “red zone”, 278 in the “orange zone”, and 106 in the “yellow zone” in terms of coronavirus outbreak.

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Production, Purchase from Abroad on Agenda: Iran

President Rouhani chaired a meeting of the specialized committees of the Coronavirus Battle National Headquarters on Tuesday.

After hearing a report about the positive results of the extensive screening of people with COVID-19 rapid test kits, a rise in the domestic production of diagnostic test kits, and the development of a homegrown vaccine for the coronavirus, President Rouhani said the Coronavirus Battle National Headquarters has focused on two main priorities in dealing with the pandemic.

The first priority is to enforce the health protocols, carry out schemes for screening of people, and implement smart social distancing plans as the most reliable methods, the president noted, pointing to the positive results of the recent restrictions in curbing a new wave of coronavirus infections.

The second priority is to supply the COVID-19 vaccine, President Rouhani stated, adding, “Preparations and arrangements have been made for the production of vaccine with reliance on the capabilities of the domestic scientists and expert centers, as acquiring and purchasing it (vaccine) from abroad is also on the agenda.”

The president then lashed out at the US for obstructing the delivery of basic needs, including the coronavirus vaccine, to Iranian people.

The world will not forget the illegal, anti-human and shameful activities of the outgoing US administration, the president added.

“We will overcome this obstacle in the same way that we managed to tackle the economic war,” President Rouhani underlined, assuring the Iranian people that all administrative organizations are working to supply a reliable and certified vaccine.

Participants in the meeting agreed on a plan to immediately obtain a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), distribute it by identifying priority populations, and double efforts to produce the vaccine inside the country.

In comments on Monday, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran said Tehran has tried to purchase COVID-19 vaccine from other countries, but the US sanctions have prevented financial transactions for the sale.

Abdolnasser Hemmati said while the purchases of the coronavirus vaccine should be made officially through the WHO, Iran has faced obstacles in every single way that it has tried to make payments and transfer currency for the purchase of vaccine “because of the US government’s inhumane sanctions and the need for permission from OFAC”, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Treasury Department.