Deputy Energy Minister for Water and Water Supplies, Qassem Taqizadeh Khamesi, has written in a post on his Instagram page that March and especially April rainfalls have filled the country’s wetlands by 30 to 79 percent.
“Floods are rarely destructive and if there is no human intervention, they can always have positive effects on the environment,” he continued.
Meanwhile, reports say 650 dried aqueducts in South Khorasan province have been revived after the rainfalls of the past two months, rejoicing farmers and ranchers in the region.
According to ISNA, the average rainfall in South Khorasan since the beginning of the current water year has been 147 mm, which shows an increase of 12% compared to the same period last year and 49% increase compared to the long term.
Proper rainfall has led to a re-emergence and a significant increase in the volume of Qanats and springs in the province, and hardworking farmers who are happy and thankful for these divine blessings have increased the area under cultivation of their irrigated and rain-fed crops.
Also, the residents of some villages who had migrated to the cities in previous years have returned to the rural community so that the agriculture of the villages can be developed.
Health Ministry Spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour on Wednesday confirmed 1,073 new cases of COVID-19 infection, raising the total number of cases to 93,657.
He further noted that 73,791 patients have so far recovered and been discharged from the hospital.
The spokesman also said that 2,965 patients are in severe conditions of the disease.
So far, 453,386 tests for the novel virus have been taken in the country.
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Aftab-e Yazd Newspaper:
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Ebtekar Newspaper:
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Ettela’at Newspaper:
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2- Haftar Declares Himself Leader of Libya
3- Iran, Russia Reject US’ New Plan on JCPOA
4- Agriculture Minister: Over 10 Million Tonnes of Wheat to Be Produced in Iran This Year
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Hamshahri Newspaper:
1- Six Million Jobs at Risk: Increased Economic Restrictions May Result in Increased Unemployment
Kayhan Newspaper:
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2- US Oil Price Stands at $10: Continued Economic Crisis in West
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4- Inaction over JCPOA Makes US Greedy
Sazandegi Newspaper:
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Setareh Sobh Newspaper:
1- Iran Leader OK’s Release of ‘Justice’ Stocks at Market
2- Return of Lakes, Wetlands to Their Status 10 Years Ago
3- Trump Admin. Seeking to Restore UNSC, EU Sanctions on Iran
Vatan-e Emrooz Newspaper:
1- Virus of Lie in Paris
* Le Monde: Number of COVID-19 Victims 3-4 Times More than French Gov’t Statistics
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In a statement on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi pointed to the recent developments in southern Yemen, stressing, “On the basis of its principled policy, the Islamic Republic of Iran supports a united Yemen with the territorial integrity of that country being protected.”
On the declaration of self-rule in Yemen’s south, the Iranian diplomat said, “Such measures not only do not help the settlement of the existing problems in Yemen, but will also further complicate the situation in that country.”
Mousavi then emphasized the necessity for a halt to the war on Yemen and lifting of the cruel blockade on Yemeni people, adding, “The only way for stability and calm in Yemen is unity among the Yemeni groups and holding inclusive political talks among various groups for the formation of a united and inclusive government.”
His comments came after Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC) declared a state of emergency and announced “self-administration rule” in regions under their control, including in the port city of Aden.
The STC and the forces loyal to former fugitive Yemeni president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi are supposed allies in Yemen’s conflict and both have fought together in the Saudi-led military coalition’s war against the Houthi Ansarullah Movement.
President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday the activities in society should not be closed despite the pandemic.
“I’m telling our dear people, because it is not clear when this virus outbreak is over, we should stand ready to keep working and continue to acquire science and knowledge, conduct research, keep the society alive and give hope to the society, with the assumption that unfortunately this virus is here to stay with people for quite some time,” said President Rouhani.
The president said no one can tell when this will be all over.
“We should base our activities on this assumption because today no one in the world can predict when this epidemic will be over. No one can tell how many days or weeks or months from now the epidemic will be over. So, we should go about our activities from a pessimistic perspective and with long-term planning, keeping in mind that this virus is here to stay,” said the president.
He underlined activities should go on, but at the same time people should abide by health protocols.
“This is the solution: We should abide by all health protocols, and don’t forget that it is necessary to work, produce and conduct activities while taking the required precautions,” he added.
President Rouhani said the stay-at-home recommendation remains in force, urging citizens to leave home only when it is really necessary.
“Once, we would keep telling people to stay at home; now, we are telling people to stay home, too, if they have nothing essential to do outside. But we said they may leave home from a certain date onward to do necessary work and run essential errands while taking precautions,” said the president.
“We have urged people to stay out of home for as short a period of time as possible before returning home. That means we have moved from social distancing to smart social distancing,” he noted.
Elsewhere in his remarks, President Rouhani underlined that specifying certain spots in the country does not mean fellow countrymen are no required to observe health directives there anymore.
“Even today that we have divided the country into white, yellow and red areas, it does not mean, at all, that health protocols needn’t be observed in white areas. It’s quite the opposite and people in white areas must comply more fully with health protocols, so that the great achievement obtained in white areas can be well protected,” he noted.
“And all those who are in yellow and red areas should join hands and make every effort to turn those areas into white ones,” he added.
The president underscored that it is mainly up to the people to contain the spread of the virus.
“When it comes to the coronavirus issue, the key solution is in people’s hands. As no treatment has been developed, yet, for the disease, and no specific medicine has been made for the virus, and no vaccine has been developed, the most important thing is to take care,” said the president.
In a telephone conversation on Wednesday, President Rouhani and Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan called for the expansion of relations between Tehran and Islamabad, and stressed the need to share the experiences, knowledge and technology in the fight against the novel coronavirus.
They also emphasized the necessity for the resumption of cross-border trade, reopening of the border markets, and strengthening the trade ties in conformity with the health regulations.
The Iranian president and the Pakistani prime minister further condemned any type of discrimination or imposition of pressures against Muslims, and expressed their support for the Muslim communities.
Elsewhere in the telephone conversation, President Rouhani commended Pakistan for its opposition to the US’ illegal sanctions against Iran, and expressed hope that the two Muslim neighbors could further broaden the trade and economic relations.
He also noted that reopening of the border markets in full compliance with the health and medical instructions will contribute to the promotion of the trade and economic ties between the two countries.
“We are willing to continue the exchange of commodities and border trade with Pakistan in the same way that trading of commodities with a number of the neighboring countries is going on,” President Rouhani added.
He finally congratulated the Pakistani government and nation on the start of the holy month of Ramadan, and expressed hope that the joint agreements between Iran and Pakistan would be implemented to benefit the two nations.
For his part, Imran Khan highlighted the necessity of promoting and deepening relations with Iran, particularly the economic and trade ties, and welcomed plans on the resumption of trade activities at the common border and reopening of the border markets by observing the health instructions.
“The resumption of commodities exchange between the two countries will greatly help Pakistan’s economy, which has encountered many problems due to the coronavirus,” the Pakistani premier added.
Imran Khan then condemned the US’ sanctions and mounting economic pressures against Iran in the current tough circumstances when the world is engulfed by the coronavirus pandemic, stressing, “I deem it my duty to support Iran in the face of the US’ unlawful measures.”
Director of Persepolis World Heritage Site said on Monday that the new inscription has been discovered amid a series of archaeological operations and protective works at the ancient site.
“It seems we’d be able to find a large number of these inscriptions with more digs, because this site is very mysterious and uncharted,” Hamid Fadaee said.
There are a lot of inscriptions and decorated reliefs at the top of Mount Hussein, which ends to Naqsh-e Rustam, he noted, saying many of those stone reliefs have not been discovered yet.
“At present, a new inscription inscribed in Pahlavi script and dating back to the Sasanian Empire has been found in this place, as the experts are reading it,” he said.
“It appears that it has been a sacred site, and apart from the wall, there are ruins of a citadel and fortifications dating from the Achaemenid Empire, as well as signs of underground relics including earthenware objects, signifying the presence of various empires in this site. This part of Naqsh-e Rustam has been less discovered,” Fadaee explained.
The official also noted that two major archeological workshops have been established at the site of Naqsh-e Rustam during the last year, saying the bigger one was located at the tomb of Xerxes I.
“Good works have been carried in the sphere of emergency protection at the tomb,” Fadaee added, saying four experts of restoration of archeological sites and a master are working on the tomb of Xerxes I.
“Undoubtedly, we will be witnessing many events at the top of this mountain. The façade that is located at the bottom of the mountain stretches also to the top of the mountain for around five kilometers with great thickness,” he explained.
Almost all visitors normally see the front façade of Naqsh-e Rustam, where the rock-cut tombs are located, but one should not forget that Naqsh-e Rustam is a very large complex whose major and unseeable section is located at the top of Mount Hussein, known as the necropolis, the official noted.
Fadaee said the necropolis was at the height of its splendor during the Achaemenid Empire, noting that ancient relics dating back to the Elamite periods have been also found in the site.
He finally pointed to the efforts to inscribe Naqsh-e Rustam on the World Heritage List, saying the case of this ancient site will complement Persepolis.
Five experts on protection of archeological sites and archeology are currently working in Naqsh-e Rustam to compile the information necessary for completing the case in practice, he concluded.
President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday any other title than the “Persian” to be used for the Persian Gulf is untrue.
“And the Americans should know that this gulf is called the ‘Persian’ Gulf; it is not called the ‘New York’ Gulf or the ‘Washington’ Gulf. It is the ‘Persian Gulf’,” said President Rouhani.
“I congratulate a nation (Iranian nation) whose name is put on this gulf, which is called the Persian Gulf, which has always been the Persian Gulf, and will remain the Persian Gulf forever,” said the president.
“It is a gulf whose littoral provinces on the Iranian coast, from Khuzestan to Sistan-Baluchestan, to Hormozgan, to Bushehr and others, all provinces which lie on the Persian Gulf’s coast, even provinces near the coast like Fars province and other provinces, have protected the border well. They have always resisted and keep resisting foreigners firmly today,” he added.
The president urged Washington to look at history to realize that the name “Persian” is an integral part of this body of water.
“By the name of this gulf and waterway, and by the nation which has been living next to this water way and has protected it, the Americans should get to understand the situation and stop hatching plots against the Iranian nation every day.
He underscored that the Iranian nation and military are working in tandem to protect the Persian Gulf as they have always been.
The President made the comments on the National Day of Persian Gulf, which is annually marked in Iran on April 29.
The project will start with the screening of the latest film by Ebrahim Hatami Kia.
Hatamikia’s “Exodus” will be screened for one week in the parking lot of the iconic Milad Tower in capital Tehran.
The project is organized by the Owj Arts and Media Organisation in collaboration with Nour-Taban Film Institute, with the permission of the National Headquarters to Combat Coronavirus.
Tickets for the movie will be on sale on Cinematicket.org as of Thursday morning.
ovince, and hardworking farmers who are happy and thankful for these divine blessings have increased the area under cultivation of their irrigated and rain-fed crops.
