It is not yet clear why the 14-metre-long Bryde’s whale has died.
Dead Whale Washed Ashore on Iran’s Kish Island
Iran’s President Hopes for Closer Ties with Thailand
President Rouhani on Saturday sent a letter to Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha to congratulate the Thai people and government on the Southeast Asian country’s National Day.
In the congratulatory message, President Rouhani expressed hope for the promotion of relations between Iran and Thailand in light of their age-old friendship and the mutual determination of the two countries’ authorities, and also for the expansion of bilateral ties in all fields.
The president also wished the Thai prime minister, people, and government health, success and prosperity.
Thailand marks its National Day, also the National Father’s Day, on December 5, commemorating the birth of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1927.
Iran Overturns Death Sentences of Three Convicts Involved in 2019 Fuel Protests
Upon a decree by the head of the Supreme Court, the three convicts, Amir-Hossein Moradi, Mohammad Rajabi, and Saeed Tamjidi will be tried again in another court branch.
They had been found guilty of involvement in unrest and riots in the country in late 2019, and sentenced to death.
The Supreme Court had earlier upheld their sentences and they were awaiting execution.
Retrial is an extraordinary proceeding which can take place only with the approval of the Supreme Court.
COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Shouldn’t Keep People from Observing Protocols: Rouhani
President Hassan Rouhani said compliance with health measures should not decrease at any rate.
“Abidance by health protocols should not decrease in the hope that a vaccine may be developed, and we know that no vaccine is 100% effective,” he said.
Rouhani noted relevant measures are enforced depending on how affected an area is.
“Any place which is declared as a red, orange or yellow area, we will act in accordance with protocols again,” he said.
“The restrictions have had positive effects, and this trend (drop in infections) will continue only if people keep wearing masks, do not hold gatherings and minimize travel,” he added.
The president underlined the number of COVID-19 tests will soon reach 100,000 per day.
He said those ordered to remain in quarantine must do so or they will have to pay fines.
“If it becomes evident to us that someone has violated quarantine instructions, they will be fined,” he noted.
The president then said the capital, Tehran, is in an “orange” state, but that it is on the verge of turning “red.”
“Seven cities are in an “ultra-red” state which is getting worse,” he said.
“We will re-impose the restrictions in any place which is in a red state,” he noted.
IAEA Duty-Bound to Ensure Confidentiality of Safeguards Information: Envoy
Kazem Gharibabadi made the remarks in a post on his twitter account on Friday as the confidential IAEA report obtained by Reuters said the Islamic Republic plans to install three more cascades, or clusters, of advanced IR-2m centrifuges in the enrichment plant in the central city of Natanz.
“In a letter dated 2 December 2020, Iran informed the Agency that the operator of the Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) at Natanz ‘intends to start installation of three cascades of IR-2m centrifuge machines’ at FEP,” the IAEA’s report to its member states said.
Gharibabadi wrote, “@iaeaorg confidential report, based on Iran’s confidential letter, appeared in Media immediately even before the BoG Members could track it down,” referring to the IAEA Board of Governors.
“Agency is not merely responsible to update the development, but shall ensure confidentiality of safeguards information,” he added.
“If neither the Agency nor its Member States are to be blamed for this crack in confidentiality, @iaeaorg should revise its confidentiality mechanisms including regarding using GovAtom as the safe and confidential means for communications.”
GovAtom is a service provided by the IAEA to its Member State representatives. It provides them with online documentation on the work of the Board of Governors and its Committees.
Additionally on Friday, Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov criticized the leaking of the confidential IAEA report on Iran.
“Yet another confidential #IAEA report on #Iran was leaked to mass media immediately upon its circulation in Board of Governors. The Ambassador of Iran in his Twitter account has already reacted by suggesting to strengthen mechanisms of confidentiality. Good idea but will it help?” he asked.
Iran showed to the world the peaceful nature of its nuclear program by signing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with six world states — namely the US, Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China — in 2015. The nuclear deal was also ratified in the form of a UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
However, Washington’s exit in May 2018 and the subsequent reimposition of unilateral sanctions against Tehran left the future of the historic agreement in limbo.
Tehran remained fully compliant with the JCPOA for an entire year, waiting for the co-signatories to fulfill their end of the bargain by offsetting the impacts of Washington’s bans on the Iranian economy.
As the European parties failed to do so, Tehran moved in May 2019 to suspend its JCPOA commitments under Articles 26 and 36 of the agreement covering Tehran’s legal rights.
Iran Urges UNESCO to Condemn Assassination of Fakhrizadeh
Iran’s Ambassador to UNESCO Ahmad Jalali asked the organization not to seal its lips in the face of such terror acts.
“You are all aware that terrorists assassinated the fifth Iranian top scientist six days ago … Today, not as an Iranian, nor as an academic, but as an individual, who has spent 20 years of his life in this house, I urge UNESCO not to remain silent, but to condemn it,” he said.
“It hurts the human conscience, let’s find a solution together,” the official added.
“Terrorism must be condemned, no matter who it targets, scientists, teachers, journalists or anyone else,” he said.
“For many years, hundreds of scientists from developing countries have been killed and we are doing nothing,” he said.
“Dear colleagues, if there is only one world organization to address this serious issue, it is UNESCO,” said Iran’s ambassador.
US Sanctions Targeting Iran’s Medical Sector amid COVID-19 Pandemic: Minister
Speaking at a virtual meeting of the UN, Saeed Namaki described Washington’s sanctions as economic terrorism.
“The unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States will have a negative impact on the trend of fighting the [coronavirus] pandemic in my country,” said the minister.
“Illegal unilateral actions impede people’s easy access to basic medial items and needs, and hence, jeopardizes Iranian citizens’ health,” he added.
“This pandemic reminds us of how much honesty, solidarity and cooperation we need at local, regional and global levels,” he said.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the world and has offered numerous lessons to learn for all, which shows the international community lacks enough preparedness to counter the disease.
“Global readiness and emergency reaction should top the agenda of governments and international agencies for the decades to come,” said Namaki.
“Leadership, solidarity, cooperation among different sectors, intervention based on evidence and coordination between countries are the necessary tools to manage the COVID-19 pandemic,” he highlighted.
“Moreover, we should reinforce the information technology infrastructure to provide more reliable medical data and virtual education in the new era,” he added.
“I urged international financial institutions to offer considerable financial support to member states regardless of political impediments,” the minister said.
Croatia Sympathizes with Iran over Fakhrizadeh Assassination
In the phone call, the Croatian top diplomat offered condolences over the assassination of Martyr Fakhrizadeh and expressed sympathy with the Iranian nation and government.
Grlić-Radman and Zarif also conferred on bilateral relations, the regional and international conditions, and the issues related to the JCPOA.
It should be noted that the Croatian Foreign Ministry had earlier, in a statement, condemned the act of terrorism which resulted in Dr Fakhrizadeh’s martyrdom, and sympathized with the Iranian nation and government on behalf of the Croatian people and government.
Zarif Hits Out at German Foreign Minister’s Anti-Iran Comments
“Here’s what Heiko Maas & E3 (France, Germany and the UK) must do before speaking about what Iran should do,” Zarif tweeted Friday.
“Stop despicable Covid Apartheid, honour your obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, and stop violating JCPOA,” Zarif noted.
He also urged Berlin to end “its malign behaviour” in Iran’s region, including $100 billion arms sales to Persian Gulf and blind support for Israel terror.
Attached to Zarif’s tweet was a screenshot of a news story by TRT World which highlighted Germany’s discrimination against Palestinians by inclusing Israel, not Palestine, in its European vaccine programme.
Zarif made the remarks after Maas said that a new broader Iran nuclear accord must be reached to also rein in Tehran’s ballistic missile programme, warning that the 2015 deal was no longer enough.
Iran Urges IAEA to Condemn Assassination of Fakhrizadeh
In a letter to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, Iran’s ambassador to international organizations in Vienna Kazem Gharibabadi also urged the agency to denounce any move to sabotage Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“The agency should disavow the assassination of nuclear scientists and moves to sabotage peaceful atomic installations of one of the signatories to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the IAEA,” read the letter.
“There is fundamental and clear evidence suggesting the involvement of the Israeli regime in this terrorist act and its responsibility for it, especially when Israeli officials had time and again mentioned Dr. Fakhrizadeh’s name several times,” read part of the letter.
He also asked the IAEA chief to stop releasing unnecessary detailed information about Iran’s nuclear program.
He said the agency is expected not to release confidential information and to remain committed to the principles of confidentiality.
