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Iran Officially Declares Cancellation of This Year’s Hajj Pilgrimage

Iran Officially Declares Cancellation of This Year's Hajj Pilgrimage

The Tuesday statement came after the Saudi Hajj authority announced that Hajj rituals would be held on a limited scale and on a domestic basis this year.

Iran’s official statement reads that the necessary arrangements had been made for sending Iranian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

“Moreover, due to the coronavirus outbreak, several expert meetings had been held with health experts and officials to draw up health protocols for all executive procedures of Hajj,” read the statement.

“As a result, binding health protocols had been drawn up,” it added.

“However, given the cancellation of Hajj plans for Iranian pilgrims [this year,] pilgrims’ licenses for the Hajj trip shall remain valid in order of priority and will be postponed until next year,” the statement read.

Iran Condemns New US Sanctions on China

Iran Condemns New US Sanctions on China

In a press conference on Tuesday, Ali Rabiei dismissed Washington’s move as interference in Beijing’s internal affairs.

“We have expressed our concern over these interventions. And in an official letter to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, we have voiced our full support for China,” he said.

The spokesman underlined that the White House is in no position to adopt such measures.

“Here, once again we emphasize the stances of our government. The US is in no position to adopt such interventionist positions, and such interference is in flagrant breach of international regulations and of nations’ right to self-determination,” he added.

The US-Chinese relations have been strained over an array of issues, including the trade war, US sanctions on China’s military, and US ties with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province.

The two countries are also at loggerheads primarily over Washington’s assertions that China uses predatory tactics, including technology theft, in a drive to become the global leader in robotics, self-driving cars and other advanced technology.

Washington has also imposed billions of dollars in tariffs on Chinese goods as part of the trade war.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rabiei touched upon good Tehran-Beijing cooperation.

He said the draft version of a 25-year cooperation plan between the two countries has been approved, which shows how deep-rooted Sino-Iranian ties are.

He noted the cooperation program proves the United States’ attempts to isolate Iran and cut off its relationship with the international community have failed.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 23

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 19

Iranian Newspapers

Aftab-e Yazd Newspaper:

1- MP: All Phone Calls of Officials Must Be Tapped
2- Iranian Official Criticizes Media Efforts to Create Disagreement between Iran, Afghanistan
3- We’ll Get Used to US Dollar Rate of 200,000 Rial, TooA Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 23


Arman-e Melli Newspaper:

1- Latest Updates on Reformists’ Pick for 2021 Presidential Votes
2- Trump’s Opponents Have Become Stronger: Analyst
3- Conservatives Will Lose If Reformist Voters Don’t VoteA Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 23


Ebtekar Newspaper:

1- Big Electoral Challenge for Reformists
* Are Reformists Suffering from Shortage of Candidates?
2- Bolton’s Account of Trump-Trump Conflict
* Trump Both Wants a Deal and Tries to Seem Tough
3- Iran-Afghanistan Ties in Path of InteractionA Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 23


Etemad Newspaper:

1- Former Ambassador Says He Didn’t Let US Influence Iran-Brazil Ties
2- Is Iranian Judge Alive? New Speculations about Mansouri’s DeathA Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 23


Iran Newspaper:

1- Deal between Two Neighbours for Border Security
2- Afghan Delegation’s Visit to Iran Unprecedented: AnalystA Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 23


Javan Newspaper:

1- Kerry Talks of Revolution, Bolton Speaks of QuagmireA Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 23


Kayhan Newspaper:

1- Why Is Forex Rates Rising? How Can They Be Decreased?
2- Bodies of Afghan Martyr, 191 Comrades Expatriated
3- Electoral Scandal for Trump: Only 6,000 Show Up at His Rally
4- First Big Iranian Supermarket to Be Built in Venezuela
5- Bolton’s Account of Cancelling Reaction to Iran’s Downing of US DroneA Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 23


Khorasan Newspaper:

1- Anti-Iran Secrets from Bolton’s New Book
2- Bolton: Angel of Death or Saviour of Trump?A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 23


Mardom Salari Newspaper:

1- Iran’s Great Role in Bolton’s Controversial Book
2- Stock Market Gaining More Popularity as US Dollar Rate Rises to 200,000 RialA Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 23


Shahrvand Newspaper:

1- Iran, Afghanistan Take Long Stride to Strengthen RelationsA Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 23


Shargh Newspaper:

1- Ambiguities of Suspicious Death
* Iran’s Prosecutor General Writes to Romanian Counterpart
2- Zarif: Black Box of Ukrainian Plane to Be Sent to France
3- New Parliament’s Space Concerns
4- Most Anti-Iran White House Official Talks of Trump’s Iran ApproachA Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on June 23

Iran Blames Int’l Psy-War for Historic Devaluation of National Currency

Iran Blames Int’l Psy-War for Historic Devaluation of National Currency

“Psychological warfare against Iran as well as the creation of an unrealistic anxiety among people are the main causes of the recent fluctuations in the foreign exchange market,” President Rouhani said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a meeting of the government’s economic coordination headquarters, President Rouhani vowed that the current slump in the value of Iranian rial is temporary.
“The shock created in the foreign exchange market is temporary and has no fundamental economic reason and balance must return to the exchange market,” he noted.

The president said the reopening of Iran’s borders and the return of exports and imports to normal conditions will be effective in restoring calm to the foreign exchange market.

“Expansion of exports and successful efforts to return the forex revenues to the country … will create a calmer situation in the foreign exchange market,” he added.

He highlighted the role media outlets can play in creating a calm atmosphere in the country’s economy and allay the people’s concerns over “short-term” fluctuations in the forex market, and called on all officials – from the central bank to supervisory bodies – to join forces against profiteers.

“We all should strive to prevent the rise in forex rates from impacting other commodities and goods, and try to control the short-term and temporary fluctuations,” Rouhani added.

A US dollar was traded for about 205,000 rials on Tuesday, up from 188,200 rials on Friday and 198,000 rials on early Monday.

Iranian authorities said last week that the country’s oil revenues have dropped to $8.9 billion in the year to March, from $119 billion in 2011.

Iran’s COVID-19 Cases Near 210,000: Ministry

Iran's COVID-19 Cases Near 210,000: Ministry

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Sima-Sadat Lari said 121 people have died of the virus in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall fatalities to 9,863.

The spokeswoman said 169,160 patients have so far recovered from the disease, and been discharged from hospital.

2,846 patients are also in severe conditions of the disease, she added.

Lari noted that 1,475,331 COVID-19 tests have been taken across the country.

According to the spokeswoman, Hormozgan, Khuzestan, and West Azarbaijan provinces have recorded the highest number of patients hospitalized for coronavirus.

However, she added, the number of fatalities has decreased in Khuzestan, while the number of hospitalized patients has risen in Fars province.

The number of hospitalizations has considerably decreased in Kermanshah, Golestan, Kerman, Bushehr, and Hamadan provinces, Lari noted.

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Iran in Photos: Hidden Layers of Earth in Badab-e Soort

Hidden Layers of Earth in Badab-e Soort 1

Terraces of Badab-e-Soort are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock formed by the flow of water from two separate mineral springs.

They were formed during the Pleistocene and Pliocene geological periods. The carbon dioxide is released after the water, saturated with calcium carbonate and iron carbonate, reaches the surface. Then the mineral carbonates are deposited.

Iron carbonate and calcium carbonate are separated as soft gels by water, but eventually turn into the hard travertine.

The following photo collection, retrieved from Fars News Agency, tries to draw the viewer’s attention to the process of sediment formation, which creates unique shapes and colors in Badab-e Soort springs.

Iran Not to Enter into Talks with US Easily: Analyst

Iran Not to Enter into Talks with US Easily

On Friday, the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution against Iran in which it asked the Islamic Republic to cooperate with IAEA inspectors immediately and allow them access to two sites of interest. This resolution was passed after 8 years with the votes of Britain, France and Germany, the three European countries which have taken no positive step to convince Iran despite claiming to be supporting the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Moreover, in reaction to a tweet by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif who had said Iran has nothing to hide, Brian Hook, the head of the Iran Action Group at the US State Department, noted that the IAEA Board of Governor’s resolution was very important and a cause for serious concern. Hook said IAEA inspectors should not have any problems gaining full access.

In an interview with Khabar Online, Mahdi Motaharinia, an expert on international issues, weighed in on the issue. The highlights of the interview follow.

What is going on at the Board of Governors is making efforts to set the stage for increasing the pressure on Iran and returning the country’s nuclear dossier to the pre-JCPOA era. The domestic situation in Iran indicates strong signals about the current circumstances in the country within the framework of the crises which have emerged over the past four decades following the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, growing expectations of people, especially the younger generation, and the pressure exerted on people from different walks of life as a result of revolutionary struggles.

On the other hand, crippling sanctions coupled with the “maximum pressure” policy adopted by the US following its withdrawal from the JCPOA have, to a great extent, had conspicuous impacts within society. Moreover, we are seeing that a very harsh war of words exists between Iranian and American officials at the political level, with the JCPOA at the centre of the dispute, which has led to confrontation in the form of a “war of honour”. All this comes at a time when the United States, with Donald Trump as its president, has announced it would tear up the JCPOA. Furthermore, in reaction, the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei spoke of setting the JCPOA on fire.

Now, two years on since the US pullout from the JCPOA, with Iran having taken 5 steps to scale down its commitments under the nuclear deal and having given a 60-day ultimatum in the wake of those steps, Tehran has adopted no other measure to further decrease its obligations. Under such circumstances, the Americans realized that pursuing the “maximum pressure” policy against Iran in addition to crippling sanctions might work. Accordingly, we can say that the Americans have assessed those measures as a positive step.

Limited Military Action against Iran

The US want a resolution passed that would maintain the arms embargo against Iran, so that Trump would emerge victorious in the November election. Based on the chaos paradigm and by pursuing a mega policy of ambiguity and complexity and with reliance on the Jujitsu strategy, Trump has always announced the Washington is ready for talks with Tehran. He knows that Iran’s Leader has always ruled out the possibility of talks with the US, and that no negotiations will take place at last. So, Iran’s rejection of Washington’s offer of talks would see the world public opinion lean toward the US. Hence, Trump can take advantage of the situation and, given the backing of public opinion, may enter a limited military action against Iran, arguing it was Tehran that did not accept America’s offer of talks.

What is clear is that Iran will not easily come to the negotiating table with the US. Iran knows well that if it sits down for talks with America, it will have to give numerous concessions to Washington.

Trump seeks to get a resolution passed at the UN Security Council that would ban any arms trade for Iran. He has also set the scene for activating the “trigger mechanism” in cooperation with the European Troika at the IAEA. Trump also wants to get through the coronavirus crisis and the anti-racism protests in the US to lay the groundwork for reviving America’s economy. All these moves are aimed at allaying concerns during his election campaign.

How to Find a Cheap Plumber

How to Find a Cheap Plumber

From cooking to cleaning, washing, bathing, and flashing your body’s byproducts down the sewer drain; many household tasks can be brought to a standstill when there’s a problem with your plumbing. The sight of a blocked toilet can be overly intimidating, not forgetting the awful smell and the health risks the situation can pose to you and your family.

We can go on and on about similar scenarios, but simply put, a plumbing problem could easily evict you from your own home! This is why it’s important to have contacts of All Service Plumbers on speed-dial so you can have the problem fixed as soon as it is noticed or suspected. From drain cleaning to sewer repair, hydro jetting, repiping, leak detection, water heater installation, and much more, expert plumbers provide a wide range of professional services to ensure your plumbing system is functioning at its best.

But then again, plumbing services don’t always come cheap. So, how can you get your plumbing woes or needs addressed by a professional without feeling much of a pinch in your pocket? Well, here are some guidelines on how to find a cheap plumber:

Get References and Recommendations

This is one of the first and most common ways to find a product or service. There’s a big chance that at some point, your contacts have encountered experiences that needed the services of a plumber. It is easier to seek recommendations than starting from scratch to find an ideal plumber in your local area. Simply ask your neighbors, friends, and family to refer you to their favorite one. The best thing about this is that most people will hardly recommend someone they’ve had a bad experience with. However, you’ll want to contact as many people as you can so you get several options to choose from. Next, you’ll need to compare and contrast, which brings us to the next important point.

Get Price Estimates

Once you have collected recommendations from your family and friends, you’ll then want to make comparisons to land on the ideal service provider. Different plumbing service providers will charge differently for their services. While at it, remember that expensive quotations do not necessarily reflect quality services. On the other hand, just because a quote favors your budget doesn’t necessarily mean that the plumber is fit for the job. While choosing the plumber with the lowest quote, other factors to consider may include:

⦁ Their experience
⦁ Their reputation (including positive testimonials and reviews online)
⦁ Insurance and workmanship guarantee

All the same, the assumption here is that since you have recommendations from people you can trust, you can be a bit confident that the services are up-to-standard.

Schedule Work on Weekdays

Just like any job, plumbers need some time off work to attend to their personal stuff. That makes it difficult for you to get your emergency plumbing service attended to on a weekend, holiday, or after-work hours. However, many service providers will provide the requested service, but at a higher price. In layman’s language, you can call it “overtime” because you are asking them to work when they are supposed to be resting or attending to their businesses. To save that penny, consider contacting and booking their services on a weekday.

Make Sure Your Plumber is Licensed

Leaking pipes can get you spending heavily on water bills. Getting your repairs and installation done by an incompetent contractor will make it worse, with the possibility of exposing you to plumbing-related health hazards. If they are licensed, it means that you’re working with a qualified and certified professional. Professionalism means that you get work completed as agreed, and you are satisfied with the results. Before hiring a plumber just because they’re charging you less for a service, consider confirming if they’re licensed and registered.

Beware of Ads and Scams

Plumbing corporations, especially large-scale companies, are known to misuse family photos. Some of them will post a random picture of a small family, creating the impression that they are a small family-owned business. Normally, small family-owned businesses lower their charges because they do not work on commission, and customer satisfaction is their virtue. It’s also important to be on the lookout for misleading ads and plumbers who advertise on radio and TV. Airtime on any media platform is quite expensive, meaning that their services are equally expensive. By all means, avoid rushing for those as you may end up losing so much money reaching for services that will not fit your expectations.How to Find a Cheap Plumber

You will not run out of options when finding an affordable plumber. In addition to the above tips, you can also find one by focusing on family-owned businesses, getting enumerated item estimates, and looking out for discounts. Most importantly, make sure that the plumber is renowned for providing quality services to get value for your money.

Why Some Canon Printers Are More Cost Effective Than Others

Why Some Canon Printers Are More Cost Effective Than Others

However, you may be unsure as to why this is the case – why are some Canon printers more cost effective than others? To help you find out, we have done some digging and found that there are a range of reasons. Read on to find out more.

What Is Your Printer Made to Do?

If you have changed from an inkjet to a laser printer then you can expect big changes in ink consumption. This is because they are essentially two different types of machines, doing different jobs with the same printed result. An inkjet printer uses ink whereas a laser printer uses toner that lasts far longer.
However, before you rush out to get yourself a laser printer you may want to know that this type of unit is usually reserved for offices and places where there is a significant amount of printing that needs to be done!

Is It in the Ink?

Probably the most obvious cost when it comes to printers is the ink that you are installing! Canon cartridge replacements can be an expensive hobby and when you consider that most genuine ink cartridges are not even full then you will begin to see that buying from the manufacturer may not be a good idea!
Save yourself some cash by trying a replacement ink for Canon printers from an online supplier like Smart Ink. You are sure to be amazed by how good the quality of this ink is and how much money stays in your account!

How Cheap Was Your Unit?

Not surprisingly, cheaper printers tend to use more ink. The reason for this is because they do not have the up to date and expensive component parts like more expensive models do. Many of us get sucked into buying them because of the low cost but it is important that you do your ink consumption research so that you can accurately estimate how much the yearly ink bill is going to be!

Do You Need to Add Colour?

Lots of us buy colour printers because we worry that we may need to print something out in colour one day and that makes sense. What does not make sense is installing colour ink before you need to use it and letting it dry up. Instead, buy your ink (the CLI 281XXL for example) and store the colour cartridges until you need them, opting to print just in black and white until you do.

It is true that some Canon printers are more cost effective than others but it is also true that lots of the money we spend on our printers could be avoided with a bit of careful planning and consideration. Take some time to check if you are printer savvy before you spend money buying a new printer or ink.