‘Biden’s Victory to Keep Iran’s Hardliners from Winning 2021 Votes’

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November 2, 2020

Ali Motahari, the former vice-speaker of the Iranian parliament, says the results of US elections won’t impact Iran’s pursuit of its “strategic policies” and won’t change the Islamic Republic’s long-term goals, but they will definitely influence Iran’s domestic politics and certain short-term policies.

“If Donald Trump is elected, things will get more difficult [for Iran]; but if Biden wins the US elections, the atmosphere will change to some extent,” Motahari said in an interview with reformist daily newspaper Shargh.

“Of course Biden will face numerous obstacles for removal of the sanctions imposed by Trump, because Trump has put many of the US sanctions against Iran under the categories of human rights and fight against terrorism, the lifting of which would require the Congress approval. Without that, it will be impossible to remove them,” he noted.

“If Biden’s decision is to return the US to the JCPOA (2015 nuclear deal), Iran’s initial condition is the removal of all those sanctions, for which he’ll be faced with such obstacles,” Motahari noted.

However, he added, if Biden wins, there will be openings for Iran naturally and because of psychological reasons.

“If Trump is elected and he’d maintain his current policies and the problems continue to exist, the cold political atmosphere will remain in place, and people will once again show little turnout in the 2021 elections,” he said.

But with Biden’s victory, he added, the relative improvement of Iran’s economic problems will make people hopeful about their livelihood, and there will be bigger turnout in the elections.

“In case of a big turnout … hardliners will naturally fail to win the elections, and a moderate will [once again] become the president.”

Motahari said there is no problem with bilateral negotiations between Tehran and Washington on regional issues or Iran’s missile program if the latter removes all the sanctions.

“Iran’s stances on the region include the liberation of Palestine and the withdrawal of US troops from the region, and this stance will never change. Relying on such a principle, I believe there is no problem talking about issues like Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. But all these depend on the entire Establishment’s decision,” he added.

Autumn Best Season for Air Sports in Iran’s Yazd

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Photo of the Day

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November 2, 2020

Photos by Majid Dehghanizadeh, Mehr News Agency

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 2

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

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November 2, 2020

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 18

Iranian Newspapers

Aftab-e Yazd Newspaper:

1- EU Worse than China, but in Smaller Scale

2- Post-Election Riots in US

3- Obama’s Last-Minute Efforts to Realize a World without Trump

Arman-e Melli Newspaper:

1- Iran Must Change Its Approach: Analyst

* Trump Moves World toward Third World War, Won’t Accept Biden’s Victory

2- FM Warns about Presence of Terrorists Near Iran Borders

3- Russia and Israel Would Welcome Trump’s Victory; Europe Prefer Biden

Ebtekar Newspaper:

1- Chairman of Tehran City Council Warns about Delay in Shutting Down Capital

2- Why Do Iranian Hardliners Prefer Trump’s Re-election

3- Parliament Trying to Change Iran’s Election Law

Etemad Newspaper:

1- Controversial Changes to Iran’s Election Law

Ettela’at Newspaper:

1- Gov’t Mulling over Two-Week Shutdown of Tehran to Contain COVID-19

2- Int’l Crisis Group Warns about Post-Election Civil War in US

Hemayat Newspaper:

1- Shadow of Civil War in US

Iran Newspaper:

1- Day of Battle in US

Jame Jam Newspaper:

1- Americans Competing in Hostility towards Iran

Javan Newspaper:

1- Tensions of the United States!

Kayhan Newspaper:

1- Mismanagement, Not Sanctions, Is to Blame for Price Hikes

2- COVID-19 Kills 700 in Trump’s Rallies

3- No Patient with Emergency Problem Will Be Left Out of Hospital

4- Fans of Trump, Biden Clash with Each Other

5- Elections in US, Hostage-Taking in Iran!

Mardom Salari Newspaper:

1- US Big Gamble on Electoral Votes

2- Zarif Strongly Warns about Presence of Terrorists in Karabakh

Shahrvand Newspaper:

1- Red Crescent Distributing Masks, Give Instructions to Poor People in Southern Tehran by Going to Their Houses

2- Game of Thrones [in US]

Shargh Newspaper:

1- Trump Wishes to Repeat 2016 Miracle

2- If Biden Wins, Hardliners Won’t Be Elected in Iran Elections: Motahari

Coronavirus Kills 440 More Iranians: Ministry

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IFP Editorial Staff

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November 2, 2020

Coronavirus Kills 440 More Iranians: Ministry

In her press briefing on Monday, Sima-Sadat Lari reported 8,289 new cases of COVID-19 infection, raising the total number of cases to 628,780.

So far, she added, 491,247 patients have recovered from the disease or been discharged from the hospital.

Lari said 5,315 patients are also in critical conditions caused by more severe infection.
The spokeswoman noted that 5,001,422 COVID-19 tests have been taken across the country so far.

She said the high-risk “red” zones include Tehran, Qom, Mazandaran, East Azarbaijan, Isfahan, Yazd, Ardabil, Khorasan Razavi, Khuzestan, Hamadan, West Azarbaijan, Bushehr, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Alborz, Lorestan, Markazi, Ilam, South Khorasan, Kermanshah, North Khorasan, Semnan, Gilan, Zanjan, Qazvin, Kurdistan, and Kerman provinces.

The “orange” and “yellow” zones also include Golestan, Hormozgan, Fars, and Sistan-and-Baluchestan provinces, she added.

Iranian Diplomat, UN Envoy Discuss Syria Developments

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IFP Editorial Staff

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November 2, 2020

Iranian Diplomat, UN Envoy Discuss Syria Developments

In the talks held on Monday morning, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy briefed the Iranian diplomat on the results of his recent negotiations about Syria in a number of regional countries.

Pedersen and Khaji also talked about the latest progress in holding the next meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, hoping that the fourth session of the committee would convene in the near future.

The two officials further discussed the issues surrounding a conference on the return of Syrian refugees and displaced persons, due to be held in Damascus later this month.

In the Monday talks, Khaji emphasized the necessity of addressing the problems of Syrian refugees and displaced persons as a humanitarian issue that would build trust among the Syrian sides.

Highlighting the positive impacts that the upcoming conference would have on the political settlement of the crisis in Syria, Khaji called for the international community’s active participation in the conference.

‘Iran’s World-Famous Handicrafts Ideal Advantage to Promote Tourism’

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IFP Editorial Staff

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November 2, 2020

'Iran’s World-Famous Handicrafts Ideal Advantage to Promote Tourism'

Ali-Asghar Mounesan noted that October 31 is named World Cities Day to create an opportunity for governments and all organizations and institutions involved in urban issues, urban development, urban planning and other related topics and domains.

“’City’ is a frequently used word which, in the human culture, has always been associated with civilization, progress, success and industry, … and is regarded as one of the most supreme social achievements of mankind,” he added.

“In Iran, since the oldest times till now, cities have been places for growth, progress, development and improvement of people’s lives,” he said.

The minister noted that handicrafts produced in different Iranian cities can play a key role in making those cities internationally known.

“One can establish a historical and multifaceted link between the handicrafts of residents of different cities and the fame of those cities, and probably that is why some cities have become famous and found a special identity due to their handicrafts,” he added.

“One of the most significant cultural features of Iran have been handicrafts and traditional arts of cities, villages and different regions, which have, throughout history, even in ancient times, always been known internationally, and their products would be sent to other territories in different ways, particularly through the Silk Road,” he said.

China to Respect Int’l Rules on Arms Exports: Envoy to Iran

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IFP Editorial Staff

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November 2, 2020

China to Respect Int’l Rules on Arms Exports — Photo by the Chinese Defence Ministry

Speaking in an interview with the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), Chang Hua said Beijing will cautiously continue its trade in weapons.

His comments come as Iran and China are expected to start their arms trade following the recent removal of the UN Security Council’s arms embargo against the Islamic Republic.

The Chinese envoy said the expiration of the weapons ban on Iran on October 18, 2020, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2231 amounted to the implementation of phase one of the resolution.

He said the development is a significant moment in the implementation of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and reflects the international community’s common ground on the maintenance of multilateralism, accepting that the UN Security Council is an authority.

It also proved the effectiveness of the JCPOA, he added.

The Chinese ambassador underlined that Beijing will keep working with all signatories to move forward with the implementation of the JCPOA and UN Security Council Resolution 2231, make headway with the political and diplomatic settlement of Iran’s nuclear issue, protect the international nuclear non-proliferation system and help establish peace in the Middle East and in the Persian Gulf region.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the top Chinese diplomat touched upon a peace plan for the region proposed by his country.

He said China’s proposals urge all sides to follow the UN Charter and the world body’s objectives in order to boost security in the Persian Gulf region.

The ambassador further called on the UN to fully play its role in mediation efforts and easing negotiations.

He also underscored that China would like to see a new forum created for multilateral talks among Persian Gulf countries based on preserving the JCPOA.

The top diplomat then noted that China will cooperate with Persian Gulf states in combating the coronavirus pandemic.

He said whenever his country completes the process of production and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, it will supply the medicine to Persian Gulf countries including Iran as well.

Karabakh Crisis to Be Settled Despite Failure of Talks: Iran

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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November 2, 2020

Karabakh Crisis to Be Settled Despite Failure of Talks: Iran

Seyyed Abbas Araqchi said the proposals put forward over the past thirty years to settle differences between the Azerbaijan Republic and Armenia have failed as the proposed plans were far from reality.

“Although the Karabakh talks have been inconclusive so far, Iran is still hopeful,” said Araqchi, the Iranian president’s special envoy who recently visited Baku, Yerevan, Moscow, and Ankara to offer Iran’s initiative to help settle the crisis.

“The proposal that the Islamic Republic of Iran presented to resolve the Karabakh conflict takes the circumstances into consideration, and can be effective in settling the crisis if both [warring] sides respect one another’s rights,” he said.

Araqchi said he had presented Iran’s proposal to Azerbaijani officials, and that they have had a positive view about it.

“This initiative is based on a regional approach and contains principles including respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, the unchangeability of borders, the necessity of ending occupation, the need for respecting the rights of minorities’ rights, the return of refugees and the pullout of foreign elements from the region,” he noted.

“If both sides accept these proposals, it would be possible to settle the conflict,” he said.

“Putting aside hostilities and kicking off talks with the help of influential, supportive and guaranteeing countries are among other provisions of this plan,” he added.

Iran Architecture in Photos: Tabatabaei House

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IFP Editorial Staff

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November 2, 2020

The historical Tabatabaei House is a popular tourist attraction in an old neighborhood of Kashan city in Isfahan Province, central Iran.

The house- an architectural masterpiece– was built by Seyyed Jafar Tabatabaei, a famous businessman, in 1835.

Like other historical structures, Tabatabaei House is magnificently designed with an architectural style well-adapted to the cultural, climatic features of the region.

What follows are IRNA‘s photos of Tabatabaei House, which has been registered in the list of Iranian National Heritage:

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