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Iran Says New US Sanctions Show Trump’s Desperation

Iran Says New US Sanctions Show Trump’s Desperation

Mahmoud Vaezi, the chief of staff of the president, said all US efforts to harm Iran in recent years have been to no avail.

“The Trump administration has used all its power in the past three years to deal a blow to the Iranian nation, from the Warsaw conference to the recent efforts by this country (the US) at the UN Security Council, but all their efforts failed,” he said.

“Although the Americans’ hostile and cruel moves have created problems for our people and put pressure on them, the US has failed to achieve any of its stated objectives,” Vaezi said.

“The US put Iranian people under heavy pressure to force them into submission, but failed to,” he said.

“Their efforts to activated the trigger mechanism and bring back UN sanctions also failed thanks to Iran’s effective diplomatic demarches, and they (the Americans) found themselves more isolated than ever in the international community,” he said.

“These back-to-back defeats have unprecedentedly undermined the US government’s credibility, and the recent sanctions imposed by this country are just a show to overshadow this loss of credibility,” he said.

Vaezi dismissed the US sanctions on Iranian banks as completely illegal, against international regulations and a blatant violation of human rights.

“Still, the sanctions will not sap the will of the Iranian government and nation,” he said.

He said Washington’s anti-Iran moves are linked to US presidential elections as Trump is seeking to improve his dwindling approval ratings.

“The US government’s very poor performance in tackling the coronavirus pandemic as well as Washington’s adventurism in its foreign policy have pushed Trump’s popularity to its lowest level possible, and part of the United States’ anti-Iran moves are rooted in this reality,” he said.

“Most opinion polls and public opinion surveys indicate Trump is not in a good position in comparison with his rivals, which has made him seek to cover up this major failure through publicity stunts in the foreign policy domain, including confrontation with Iran,” he said.

Vaezi added Washington’s new sanctions aimed at blocking the financial transactions of some other Iranian banks are doomed to fail, too.

He said the sanctions aimed at preventing food and drug sales to Iran show that the US do not abide by any ethical principles and international regulations.

Iran Welcomes Cessation of Hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh

Photo by Reuters

In a tweet on Saturday, Zarif also urged the two countries to “engage in substantive dialogue based on respect for international law and territorial integrity.”

“We appreciate constructive efforts of our Russian neighbors,” the Iranian top diplomat added.

Zarif’s comments came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a ceasefire and will begin “substantive talks” over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region after nearly two weeks of heavy clashes.

Speaking after hours of Moscow-brokered negotiations between the two sides in the capital, Lavrov announced early on Saturday that Yerevan and Baku had agreed to a ceasefire which begins at 12pm local time (0800GMT).

“A ceasefire is announced from 12 hours 00 minutes on October 10 on humanitarian grounds,” Lavrov said, reading from a statement.

The ceasefire — mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross — allows the two warring sides involved in the conflict in Karabakh to exchange dead bodies and prisoners.

Russia’s top diplomat also said that Armenia and Azerbaijan had agreed to start seeking a lasting solution to the territorial dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

“Azerbaijan and Armenia begin substantive negotiations with the purpose of achieving a peaceful settlement as soon as possible,” Lavrov told reporters, adding that the talks would be mediated by the Minsk Group of international negotiators.

Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and his Azeri counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov, declined to speak to reporters following the negotiations that marked the first diplomatic contact between Baku and Yerevan since fighting over the breakaway enclave erupted on September 27.

Iran’s Central Bank Governor Downplays News US Sanctions

Iran’s Central Bank Governor Downplays News US Sanctions

Abdolnasser Hemmati made the comment in reaction to the fresh US sanctions imposed on 18 Iranian banks.

“A number of these banks are tasked with transferring finances in order to buy drugs and food, and the foreign banks which had transactions with these [Iranian] banks have practically received the necessary exemptions and permits to provide funding for medicines and foodstuffs,” he said.

The top banker said Tehran has had problems over the past months in terms of providing medicines and food for people due to Washington’s “maximum pressure” strategy.

“But so far, by using certain methods, we have not allowed the country to face any shortages,” he noted.

“From now on, too, the CBI along with the private sector will do its utmost through different ways to provide drugs and basic commodities needed by the people, and will not allow this issue to put more pressure on people,” he said.

He noted the US sanctions show this country’s claims of being an advocate of human rights are a lie.

Iran’s Historical Uramanat Region to Be Registered Internationally

Iran’s Historical Uramanat Region to Be Registered Internationally 5

Uraman is a historical area that covers parts of the western provinces of Kurdistan and Kermanshah

Hessam Mahdi, an assessor of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and a representative of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) recently visited Uraman to examine the possibility of its international registration. He arrived in Kurdistan province where he visited a village and four nomads’ temporary settlements.

Hessam Mahdi, assessor of UNESCO
Hessam Mahdi, assessor of UNESCO who v isited Uraman to examine the possibility of its international registration

During the visits, he talked to villagers and saw for himself their lifestyle, local costumes and jobs.

The UNESCO assessor began his trips on September 22, 2020 by visiting Uraman in Kermanshah province. He had an aerial inspection of the cultural and historical Uraman region. He is scheduled to visit other provincial cities in the coming days.

Uraman has a terraced structure. Its people have very special customs and traditions.

Iran sent the Uraman file to UNESCO last year for registration of the world list of ancient and historical sites.

What follows are ISNA’s photos of the site:

How to Write Admission Paper for College

How to Write Admission Paper for College

Professionals from Edu Jungles find, you also need to have an excellent admission essay.

You are the Focus

When preparing an admission essay, the essential thing to remember is that it should be about you. The admission panel in your desired college wants to know the kind of person you are. By reading your paper, they should be able to paint a clear image of your person. As such, Essay pro writers recommend that you delve into something personal. For example, use a life-changing experience as the basis of your paper. Still, do not make the entire paper a story. Instead, focus on providing lessons learned and your views given your life-changing experience. This will help those admitting you to understand your view of the world. This will be a significant determinant of their decision to admit you. Do not be afraid to research on admission paper writing or pay someone to write my paper. Added information always helps to shape what you come up with.

Be Yourself

Those who are admitting you would also like to see how you are in person. When you communicate, are you confident? Do you place too much doubt on yourself? These are some of the personal traits that may come out in writing. So, the crucial thing here is to be confident. Cheap pre written essays online providers find that you need to avoid words and phrases such as “maybe,” and “I think.” This is because it is vital to portray your seriousness about joining the college you are writing to. But remember, it is imperative that you remain yourself during the writing process.

Do not use fancy words you would not usually use. If you like movies, write an admission essay based on a favorite film. Please make it so that it relates to your situation as a student joining college. And it does not have to be about films. You can write about anything else you are passionate about. As long as it communicates who you are and why you want to join that particular institution.

Take Your Time

As noted, joining college is the most significant step in one’s life. Writing your admission essay is even more critical. It would be best if you took it very seriously. As a result, you need to divide enough time within your schedule to write the paper. Please do not rush to complete it like a school assignment. Instead, take time to think about what you are going to write. Inquire from your friends what they are thinking of writing about. Draw comparisons from what they are thinking about with your thoughts. Ask yourself the kind of person you are and how you would go about preparing such a paper. Prepare a draft and add to it regularly. Avoid writing every day to give yourself time to think about what you can add. Do not write under pressure. And once you are done with the essay, go through it and edit it.

Pose a Question

A story that makes the reader beg to know what happens next is always interesting. Hence, you should incorporate a question that the reader should seek to answer. The way to use a question when re-imagining an experience is with an initial hook.How to Write Admission Paper for College 2

This should be in your first paragraph. This is because you want to capture the attention of the reader immediately. So, create a compelling hook. This will make the reader want to find out what happens next. To find out about how best to use suspense, revisit your written assignments. Look for essays you wrote while in high school. Select a few that you think are the best. Re-read them so that you can remind yourself how you came up with such gripping stories. Or, you can visit Big Future and find out more about how to create compelling essays.

Open Up

A crucial part of being admitted into college involves the administration knowing you. This is a technique that is also used by employers in interviews. The person who is taking you on needs to know the kind of person you are. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What kinds of situations make you vulnerable? All these are essential elements that define who you are. According to Khan Academy experts, readers feel connected when you disclose a vulnerability. So, do not be afraid to share them.How to Write Admission Paper for College 1

Get college admission essay samples from your older friends. Please read them and identify how they were able to open up about their most intricate details.

Don’t Dwell on The Past

A common mistake students make when writing admission essays is focusing on the past. The college admission wants to know what you have learned through your experiences. Also, they want to know what you are looking forward to as a result of your past. So, it is not healthy to talk about your past alone. Instead, keep your paper balanced. This is why it is vital to research how to write a quality admission essay. Research helps you identify areas you are failing in. Also, it provides you with knowledge of new areas you should focus on. This is how you should go about writing your paper. Make it clear that you understand what the readers expect of you while telling your story.

Experiment with Your Writing

This is usually a risky move for many. Still, experimenting is what makes some of the greatest writers in the world. You need to leave your comfort zone and write something no one would have expected. In most institutions, this is received as a show of rare character. In most cases, such students are even more likely to be admitted. Still, the majority prefer to remain safe. They write what is expected and end up getting admitted depending on their grades. But, they will be viewed as average students who still need help learning how to write an assignment. Yet, if you surpass the required expectations, you become a promising student. Also, you gain a competitive edge over your peers in the selection process. In the long run, your experimentation should also help you become a better writer.

Conclusion

Discussed above are tips you should use when writing a college admission essay. Remember that you are the focus. So be yourself and take your time. Also, do not dwell too much on the past. Instead, open up and use experimentation in your writing. Also, pose a question as you start to create interest in the reader.

 

Iran Blasts US’ ‘Terroristic’ Attempt to Block Sales of Food, Medicine

Iran Blasts US’ ‘Terroristic’ Attempt to Block Sales of Food, Medicine

President Hassan Rouhani says Washington has, so far, done whatever it could to put pressure on Iranians.

“But they cannot shatter the Iranian nation’s resistance with such inhumane moves,” said the president during talks with Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Abdolnasser Hemmati.

“The US government’s moves are in line with propagandist-political attempts to serve their own domestic objectives,” the president added.

President Rouhani underlined such moves and behaviours are the fallout from the continuation of US President Donald Trump’s strategic mistake of pulling out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“Based on its own wrong analysis, the US government believed that these sanctions will break Iran’s resistance and create problems for us, but the passage of time showed that this analysis has been a far cry from reality,” he added.

President Rouhani said the US faces more defeats each time it repeats its strategic mistakes, a clear example of which was its efforts to reinstate international sanctions on Iran.

“All countries are seeing that these US moves are against law and international regulations, and amid the coronavirus pandemic, these moves by Washington are completely inhumane, and those claiming to be supporters of human rights should condemn such actions,” he added.

For his part, the CBI governor said banks which have come under the United States’ new sanctions will continue to use the SWIFT system to provide the necessary funding for basic goods.

“Under different pretexts, the US government creates serious obstacles and problems in the way of transfer of foreign currency to provide finances for medicines and food, but the CBI, other banks and respected businessmen have used special methods to make up for any shortage in that regard,” he added.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif Arrives in China’s Yunnan

Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif Arrives in China’s Yunnan

Heading a high-ranking delegation, Foreign Minister Zarif arrived in Yunnan on Friday and was welcomed by Chinese officials upon arrival.

He will meet and hold talks with his Chinese counterpart on Saturday, October 10, 2020.

Over 28,000 Iranians Killed by Coronavirus: Ministry

Iran’s COVID-19 Cases Hit 600,000: Ministry

In a press briefing on Friday, Sima-Sadat Lari said 492,378 patients have contracted the virus so far, including 4,142 new cases identified in the past 24 hours.

So far, she added, 401,379 patients have recovered from the disease or been discharged from the hospital.

Lari said 4,392 patients are also in critical conditions caused by more severe infection.

The spokeswoman noted that 4,257,766 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, and Kerman provinces.
The “orange” zones also include Golestan, Hormozgan, Kurdistan, and Fars provinces, she added.

Iranian People to Survive Latest of US Cruelties: Zarif

Iranian People to Survive Latest of US Cruelties: Zarif

In a tweet on Thursday, Zarif said, “Amid Covid-19 pandemic, US regime wants to blow up our remaining channels to pay for food & medicine.”

“Conspiring to starve a population is a crime against humanity,” he added.

Zarif, however, pledged that “Iranians WILL survive this latest of cruelties,” adding, “Culprits & enablers—who block our money—WILL face justice.”

His comments came after the United States Treasury Department levied bans against as many as 18 Iranian banks.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) specified two of the targets as Iran’s Bank Maskan, and Bank Keshavarzi. The former is relied on by the biggest part of the country’s 80-million-strong population for loans assisting them to buy houses, while the latter has the biggest stakes countrywide in the agricultural sector.

Bank Refah Kargaran that is favored by the country’s laborers and technical workers, Bank Gharzolhasaneh Resalat that is reputed for its small and low-interest loans, and entrepreneurship-focused Karafarin Bank were three others of the financial institutions.

The rest of the sanctioned institutions were named as Pasargad Bank, Saman Bank, Sarmayeh Bank, Tose’e Ta’avon (Cooperative Development) Bank, Tourism Bank, and Amin Investment Bank.

The OFAC alleged that the relatively across-the-board measure was in line with the US’ general policy of targeting the Iranian entities that “may” be used to support Iran’s nuclear program, missile program or, what it called, its “terrorist” activities and “malign regional influence.”

Iranian Maestro Mohammad-Reza Shajarian Dies at 80

Iranian Maestro Mohammad-Reza Shajarian Dies at 80

Shajarian was widely praised not just for decades of memorable songs he performed at various junctures of Iran’s contemporary history, but for siding with people at difficult times like the 2009 post-election protests.

He was under an unofficial ban up until his death at Tehran’s Jam Hospital.

Born on September 23, 1940, in the northeastern city of Mashhad, Shajarian started recitation of the Holy Quran and singing at the age of five under the supervision of his father.

At the age of 12, he began studying Radif, the Iranian repertoire of classical melodic figures, with some of the prominent maestros of his time, including Ahmad Ebadi, Esmaeil Mehrtash, Abdollah Davami, and Nour-Ali Boroumand.

In 1959, Shajarian officially began his singing career at Radio Khorasan and rose to prominence across the country in the 1960s with his distinct style of singing.

Meanwhile, he continued learning different vocal styles from other virtuosos, including Reza Gholi Mirza Zelli, Fariborz Manouchehri, Ghamar Molouk Vaziri, Eghbal Azar, Taj Isfahani and Gholam Hossein Banan.

Shajarian had cited legendary Iranian tar musician Jalil Shahnaz as the most influential to his development, saying that Shahnaz’s playing style was what he most tried to mimic throughout his artistic life.

To better understand and perform the traditional repertoire, Shajarian also started playing the santour, a percussion-stringed Persian instrument, under the instruction of prominent virtuosos Jalal Akhbari and Faramarz Payvar.

The iconic vocalist continued his career in different spheres, including teaching at Tehran University’s Department of Fine Arts, working at National Radio and Television, conducting research on Iranian music, and creating a repertoire of recordings.

He also collaborated with several other iconic Iranian musicians, including Pariviz Meshkatian, Mohammad Reza Lotfi, Hossein Alizadeh and Keyhan Kalhor, recording numerous historic albums and performing many famous concerts across the world with the ensembles Aref, Sheyda, Ava and Shahnaz.

Collaboration with the ensembles Art and Culture, also known as Payvar, and Aref have been considered as some of the brightest episodes in Shajarian’s singing career.

Shajarian received some of the world’s most prestigious awards for his legacy of art works, including UNESCO’s Golden Picasso Medal (1999), UNESCO’s Mozart Medal (2006), the French National Order of the Legion of Honour (2014), Iran’s National Radio and Television Golden Cup (1977), Iran’s Best Classical Vocalist (2000) and NPR’s 50 Great Voices (2010).

He was also nominated for Grammy Awards in Best World Music for his albums Without You in 2003 and Faryad in 2005.

The inspiring works of Shajarian have put an unforgettable signature on the Iranian life and culture, becoming an inseparable part of the life of Iranians from different social strata.

For decades, Shajarian’s breathtaking performance of Rabbana prayer has been reminiscent of the holy month of Ramadan for Iranians, even though Iran’s state TV has stopped airing it after his support for protesters in 2009.

He selected and combined four different Arabic verses of Quran, each beginning with the phrase “Our Lord,” and sang it based on the Dastgah Segah, one of the seven musical modes in the Persian traditional music.

People listen to Rabbana during every Iftar ceremony when they want to break their fast. The prayer has been interwoven with every big family gathering and other religious festivals in Iran during the month of Ramadan.

Prominent Quran reciters, including the late iconic Egyptian reciter, Ragheb Mustafa Ghalwash, have praised the work as a unique masterpiece in the history of Quran recitation.