Tehran’s History in Photos: House of Malek
Affiliated to the National Library and Museum of Malek, the house is situated between the Imam Mosque (formerly Shah Mosque) and the Jameh Mosque of Tehran.
Built in a large area of 2500 m2, the House of Malek formerly included Andarouni (in its eastern part) and Birouni (in the western part). The house owner, Haj Hossein Agha Malek, demolished the Andarouni in Pahlavi era in order to construct a three-story building on the site, which became a library allocated for research. Hossein Agha and his family started to live in the western part of house afterwards.
The National Library and Museum was moved to a new building in the historical area of Tehran National Garden later in 1996.
Brickwork, tiling, stucco, stone carving, wood carving, wooden and metal ornaments are used in the house’s decoration beside Qajar-style wall coverings.
The building is indeed an attractive example of combining the traditional Iranian architectural style with the European one.
The House of Malek, which is more than 150 years old, was registered in the list of Iran’s national heritage sites in 1997.
What follows are IRNA’s photos of this historical house in the heart of Tehran:
Oil Shipment Seized by US Already Sold, Paid for: Iran
Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said the consignment did not belong to Iran.
“The US has claimed it has seized Iran’s petrol shipment. However, although the consignments had been shipped from Iran, neither were the vessels Iranian nor did the shipment belong to Iran,” said the oil minister.
“The shipment was Iranian petrol already sold to a customer,” he noted, adding that the customer had paid for the consignment.
The US claims it has seized Iranian fuel cargoes aboard ships bound for Venezuela.
Iran’s Ambassador to Venezuela Hojjat Soltani had already rejected Washington’s claim as another “lie” and an instance of “psychological warfare.”
“Neither are the tankers Iranian, nor do their owner or flags have anything to do with Iran,” he had already said in a Twitter post.
Soltani said that the fake news was aimed at covering up the failure of the US administration’s policy vis-à-vis Iran.
Diplomat Reaffirms Iran’s Support for Syria in Talks with Assad
In the meeting, Khaji referred to the recent parliamentary elections held in Syria, and expressed the Islamic Republic’s resolve to continue supporting the Syrian nation and government in their fight against terrorism and the unfair sanctions imposed against them.
He also underlined the need for continued consultations between the two countries on bilateral and regional issues ahead of the virtual meeting of the leaders of the guarantor states of Astana Process in Tehran as well as the upcoming meetings in Geneva on the Syrian Constitutional Committee.
President Assad, in turn, praised Iran’s stances towards the Syrian nation and government, and highlighted the strategic importance of Tehran-Damascus bilateral relations as well as the reinforcement of the Axis of Resistance.
He also stressed his country’s resolve for coordination and cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran in a bid to neutralize the US’ economic terrorism plots and its sanctions.
During his trip to Damascus, the Iranian diplomat also held talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem on the latest status of bilateral ties and the Arab country’s developments.
The two sides discussed the Israeli regime’s continued occupation and its aggressive measures against the rights of Palestinians and regional countries, and underlined the need for vigilance against the regime’s plots.
Khaji arrived in Syria on Sunday to confer with the Arab country’s top officials on the latest developments in bilateral ties and the issues related to the upcoming meeting of the Astana Process and the country’s Constitutional Committee.
Iran Marks 30th Anniversary of Return of War Prisoners
During the friendly virtual meeting held on Monday, Araqchi congratulated the honourable veterans on the recent Islamic Eids (Eid al-Ghadir and Eid al-Adha) and the anniversary of the return of the prisoners of war.
Araqchi described former prisoners of war as the assets of the Islamic Revolution, and said the large number of war prisoners linked to the Iranian Foreign Ministry is a source of pride for the Ministry.
“In addition to the war prisoners of the Sacred Defence era [the eight-year war imposed by Iraq on Iran], the Iranian Foreign Ministry also has a number of former prisoners who were tortured in the prisons of the Pahlavi regime before the 1979 Revolution as well as prisoners who were held captive by Takfiri terrorist groups,” he said, describing it as a distinctive point for the Foreign Ministry.
Araqchi also pointed to the Ministry’s efforts to venerate war veterans and their families, and said, “The Foreign Ministry feels duty-bound to fulfill its legal duties in this regard seriously and without the usual procedural complexities.”
The former war prisoners, in turn, thanked Mr Araqchi, and expressed their views about various issues including the reinforcement and promotion of the culture of sacrifice at the Foreign Ministry and the country’s foreign policy.
30 years ago on August 17, 1990, the first group of Iranian prisoners of war was released by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussain and they could finally return to their motherland.
The event was considered as the most important step for complete enforcement of the UN Security Council’s Resolution 598 to provide peace between Iran and Iraq.
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on August 17
Iranian Newspapers
Afkar Newspaper:
1- DM: Iran’s Space Program Permanent
* Iran to Export Weapons after Lifting of UN Bans
Aftab-e Yazd Newspaper:
1- Benefits of a Proposal for Putin
* Why Did Russian President Offer P5+1-Iran Online Talks?
Arman-e Melli Newspaper:
1- Putin against Activation of Snapback Mechanism
2- Six Million People Lose Their Jobs Because of COVID-19
Ebtekar Newspaper:
1- Raisi and Qalibaf Write to Leader against Rouhani’s Plan for Economic Opening
Ettela’at Newspaper:
1- FM: US Knows It Can’t Use Trigger Mechanism against Iran 
Iran Newspaper:
1- This JCPOA Was Not Dead: Zarif’s Sarcasm against Domestic Opponents
Javan Newspaper:
1- Iran’s Top General Advises UAE to Reconsider Its Deal with Israel Before It’s Too Late
Kayhan Newspaper:
1- Top General: Iran’s Approach to UAE Will Change
2- Syria Rejects Trump’s Call for Talks
Khorasan Newspaper:
1- Europe’s Bullet Fired at US Trigger Mechanism
Mardom Salari Newspaper:
1- US’ Hands Tied for Using Trigger Mechanism
2- Trump Won’t Back Off against Iran Before Nov. Elections: Analyst
3- Saudi’s Silence over UAE-Israel Deal
Shahrvand Newspaper:
1- JCPOA Defends Itself
* Europe: US Not in Position to Use Snapback Mechanism
2- Three to Six Million Iranians Lose Their Jobs
Iran’s COVID-19 Cases Hit 345,000: Health Ministry
In a press briefing on Monday, Sima-Sadat Lari said the virus has killed 165 patients since Sunday noon, increasing the overall death toll to 19,804.
So far, she added, 299,157 patients have recovered from the disease or been discharged from the hospital.
Lari said 3,773 patients are also in critical conditions caused by more severe infection.
The spokeswoman noted that 2,887,938 COVID-19 tests have been taken across the country so far.
She said the high-risk “red” zones include Tehran, Mazandaran, East Azarbaijan, Isfahan, Ardabil, Khorasan Razavi, North Khorasan, Gilan, Semnan, Golestan, Markazi, Kerman, and Yazd provinces.
The “orange” zones also include West Azarbaijan, Bushehr, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Hormozgan, Zanjan, Alborz, Hamadan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Lorestan, Ilam, Fars, Qazvin, and Qom provinces, according to the spokeswoman.
Iran Digs Ancient Cup Out of Fallen Soldier’s Chest
Among the most important finds at the site is a 3000-year-old golden cup discovered in the bosom of a wounded soldier.
The discovery of the cup is regarded as one of the most important scientific discoveries in the history of archaeology both in Iran and in the whole world and is one of the rarest historical, religious and artistic antiquities of the ancient world.
The cup was dug out during excavations in 1958. It was found on the chest of a soldier fallen to the ground with a dagger plunged into his back and driven into the cup on the other side of the soldier’s body.
The said cup weighs around 950 grammes and is made of gold. It is shaped like a goblet with rather angular walls. The cup is almost 20 centimetres high and is roughly 18 centimetres in diameter around the rim.
The decorations on the cup, which are drawn in two upper and lower rows, can be interpreted as a story.
The cup is being kept at the National Museum of Iran.
‘Iran Great Travel Destination for Globetrotters during Pandemic’
The La Vanguardia daily has proposed destinations for travel whenever the COVID-19 outbreak remains dormant.
In order to draw up this attractive list, the publication has consulted individuals who have had a lifestyle similar to the of Marco Polo or who have travelled to 193 countries and shared their experiences of the trips.
Jorge Sánchez is one of three Spanish globetrotters who has travelled to five continents and 193 countries from which he has selected Iran, Taj Mahal in India, Kamchatka in Russia and Jerusalem in occupied Palestine as extraordinary travel destinations.
Sánchez says Iran is a fantastic country with several thousand years of history and the most lovable and honest people in the world.
Sánchez has been touring the world for 49 years now. Somalia was the last country he visited before the coronavirus pandemic.
La Vanguardia is the fourth widely circulated newspaper in Spain. The daily has drawn on the experiences of the other two tourists who have a lifestyle similar to that of Sánchez, and has introduced other attractive places which have impressed tourists the most as ideal travel destination whenever the coronavirus pandemic allows for making trips.
Most of the countries recommended by these three adventurous individuals are rarely found on the list of attractive tourist spots or common travel destinations.
Tanzania, Mongolia, oases in Tunisia and Algeria and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bolivia, Florence in Italy, Strasbourg in France, Alaska and the South Pole are among other travel destinations recommended.
The coronavirus pandemic has stopped most tourists from going about their adventures, forcing them to remain in one place. Moreover, most countries have not yet adopted firm decisions to reopen their borders to international tourists or have enforced strict regulations when it comes to admitting foreign visitors.
