Iran’s Top Banker Urges IMF to Remain Neutral

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April 22, 2020

Iran’s Top Banker Urges IMF to Remain Neutral

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the countries that has suffered the brunt (of the coronavirus) in the MENA region,” CBI Chief Abdolnaser Hemmati said at a video conference meeting between the finance ministers and directors generals of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva on Wednesday.

Hemmati also expressed his gratitude to the IMF for offering financial aid to the countries plagued by COVID-19.

“Also, Iran was one of the first countries to request emergency support funds under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI),” the CBI chief noted.

“We worked with the IMF staff to assess the amount needed in the balance of payments due to this global pandemic,” he added.

The top official then expressed hope that the IMF would remain a neutral international entity.

“From our perspective, the IMF is an independent and non-political international institution and we hope it will remain the same,” he said.

“Our people expect the IMF as well as the World Bank to be answerable, which makes it all the more necessary for the IMF to respond impartially, seriously and immediately” Hemmati stressed.

“If the neutrality of the IMF is harmed, it will be very difficult to fix it,” the CBI chief warned.

Hemmati then asked the IMF managing director to have Iran’s RFI request brought up at the Board of Directors to be decided on.

Iran is going to use the financial aid from the RFI to procure the medical equipment needed to save the lives of coronavirus patients and stem the spread of the disease, Hemmati concluded.

Iran, Turkey Weigh Plans to Shield Trade from Coronavirus

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IFP Editorial Staff

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April 22, 2020

Iranian, Turkish Presidents Discuss Enhancement of Trade Ties

In a telephone conversation on Wednesday evening, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the “friendly, brotherly and growing” ties between Tehran and Ankara for the purpose of serving the interests of the two nations and establishing sustainable security and stability in the region.

In the conversation, President Rouhani congratulated the Turkish government and nation on the start of the Muslim month of Ramadan, expressing hope that the holy fasting month would be a source of blessing and prosperity for the entire Muslim world.

Pointing to the numerous problems that the outbreak of coronavirus has caused for the governments and nations across the world, President Rouhani said, “Iran and Turkey proved that they have stood together in the hard days and in difficulties, and we should also assist each other today by promoting cooperation.”

Highlighting Iran’s success and experiences in the battle with the coronavirus, the president stressed the need for close interaction between the Iranian and Turkish officials and the exchange of experiences between the two neighbors.

He further stressed the importance of plans to preserve the bilateral trade exchanges at the common border in conformity with the health regulations, and called on the officials of the two countries to push for the promotion of economic and trade interaction between Iran and Turkey.

President Rouhani further lashed out at the US for imposing severe pressures and cruel sanctions on the Iranian nation amid the outbreak of coronavirus and for attempting to block Tehran’s request for an emergency International Monetary Fund loan to fight COVID-19, adding, “Today, the whole countries must adopt clear and decisive stances against the US’ anti-human pressures.”

He further highlighted the importance of consultations and negotiations among Iran, Turkey and Russia for implementing the Astana Peace Process agreements, stating, “All of us should try to let the people of Syria and the regional nations enjoy stability, and I hope that the efforts from the three countries would establish peace and full security in the region to the benefit of all countries and nations.”

President Rouhani also welcomed the Turkish leader’s proposal for a summit of Iran, Turkey and Russia within the framework of the Astana format and for holding a meeting of Iran-Turkey Cooperation Supreme Council via video conference.

For his part, President Erdogan congratulated the Iranian government and nation on the beginning of the month of Ramadan, and prayed that Almighty God might turn the holy month into an occasion for health, prosperity, peace and calm among the nations.

The Turkish president also lauded Iran’s praiseworthy struggle against the coronavirus outbreak in spite of various problems, and called for efforts to ensure uninterrupted trade exchanges between Turkey and Iran in compliance with the health protocols.

Turkey has always opposed the US’ cruel sanctions against Iran and hopes that the international community would express a good state of resistance and confrontation in the current circumstances, President Erdogan noted, adding, “As two friends and brothers, Iran and Turkey will also get through these difficult days with cooperation and collaboration with each other.”

The Turkish president also proposed the idea of convening a summit of Iran, Turkey and Russia within the framework of the Astana process and holding a meeting of Iran-Turkey Cooperation Supreme Council via video conference, stressed the need for carrying out the trilateral agreements in the Astana format, and emphasized the necessity for the efforts to ensure ceasefire and sustainable peace and stability in the region.

Minister Vows to Prevent Schooling Deprivation in Iran

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IFP Editorial Staff

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April 22, 2020

Minister Vows to Prevent Schooling Deprivation in Iran

In a post on his Twitter account on Tuesday, Minister of Education Mohsen Hajimirzaee said, “I will not let any student be deprived of schooling.”

سامانه #شاد قریب 90% دانش‌آموزان را پوشش میدهد برای مابقی که یا دسترسی به اینترنت نداشته یا ابزار ندارند برنامه ویژه‌ای داریم. مدیران و معلمان عزیز بصورت حضوری و با ارایه بسته‌های آموزشی حتی با تماس‌های تلفنی آموزش را پی میگیرند. اجازه نمیدهم دانش‌آموزی از آموزش جا بماند.

— محسن حاجی میرزایی (@hajimirzaee_m) April 21, 2020

Pointing to the distance learning programs that the Education Ministry has devised after the outbreak of coronavirus and the school closures, the minister said a homegrown mobile application, dubbed SHAD, covers around 90 percent of students at home.

The Education Ministry has a special plan for the remaining 10 percent of students who have no access to the Internet or the electronic devices, he noted.

The minister emphasized that the teachers and school principals are providing schooling uninterruptedly for the students that do not have access to the Internet, through direct contacts or by giving lesson even over the telephone.

Astana Guarantors Hold Tripartite Ministerial Meeting

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IFP Editorial Staff

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April 22, 2020

The Foreign Ministers of the three guarantors of the Astana peace process (Iran, Turkey, and Russia) held a trilateral meeting via tele-conference on Wednesday, April 22.

In the meeting, held to discuss the latest developments in Syria and the region, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Mevlut Cavusoglu, and Sergei Lavrov talked about the latest developments, including the most recent situation in Idlib, Syria’s Constitutional Committee, the necessity for the removal of the unilateral sanctions, particularly given the outbreak of coronavirus, the humanitarian conditions, and the return of the displaced persons.

The Iranian, Turkish and Russian Foreign Ministers emphasized the need to continue holding consultations and coordination at the highest level among the three guarantors of the Astana format as the most important and effective process for the settlement of crisis in Syria.

The participants also had an agreement on the need to respect Syria’s independence, national sovereignty and territorial integrity, resolve the Syrian crisis politically, delineate between the terrorists and the opposition, and to keep up the fight against terrorism.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who has recently paid a visit to Syria to discuss the latest developments and hold consultations with the Syrian president and foreign minister, touched on the recent developments in Idlib during the trilateral meeting, and stressed the need for the expansion of state sovereignty over Syria’s territorial integrity and for the continued fight against terrorism.

Foreign Minister Zarif also pointed to his recent consultations with the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen, voiced support for his efforts to facilitate the Syrian-Syrian dialogue within the framework of the Constitutional Committee, and stressed the need for protecting the Committee’s independence and preventing foreign interference in the process of its activities.

The top Iranian diplomat also pointed to the far-reaching impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, slammed the unilateral sanctions as a serious obstacle to the battle with the virus, and reminded the international community and the United Nations about their responsibility to lift the sanctions, alleviate the suffering of Syrian people, and pay special attention to the status of the displaced persons at the refugee camps occupied by the US.

Zarif also described the efforts to expedite the return of the Syrian refugees and the international community’s push to provide humanitarian aids as a major step in the fulfillment of that goal and the restoration of hope and stability to the Syrian community.

The Iranian Foreign Minister also denounced the Zionist regime’s constant acts of aggression against Syria as a violation of Syria’s national sovereignty, saying they also threaten peace and stability in the region and contravene the international law.

The Iranian, Russian and Turkish Foreign Ministers finally emphasized the necessity of proceeding with trilateral consultations at all levels, including by holding the sixth Summit of Astana Process in the Islamic Republic of Iran after the normalization of situation created by the outbreak of coronavirus.

Historic Drop in Oil Price Under Spotlight in Iranian Newspapers

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

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April 22, 2020

Iranian Newspapers

Abrar Newspaper:

Iran Adapted to Oil-Free Revenues: First VP

Abrar-e Eqtesadi Newspaper:

Gold, Coin Prices Rise As Oil Price Drops

Aftab-e Yazd Newspaper:

Oil under Effects of Triangle of “Politics, Economy and Health” / Editorial
Coalition of Oil, Coronavirus against Trump!

How Does Falling Price of Oil Affect US Economy, Position of Donald Trump?

Aftab-e Eqtesadi Newspaper:

World Economy under Spectre of Coronavirus

Unprecedented Plunge in Oil Prices

Arman-e Melli Newspaper:

1- “World Economy Getting Past Dependence on Oil”
• Oil Economy Will Not Rise after Coronavirus

Ebtekar Newspaper:

1- Sanctions Have Made Iran Prepared for Fall in Oil Prices: First VP
2- Black April of Oil
• A Look at World’s Oil Market

Etemad Newspaper:

1- Oil Market’s Dark Days
• Oil Futures Go Negative for Hours for First Time in History

2- Oil Market’s Tough Test

3- Oil Market & Coronavirus

Hamshahri Newspaper:

1- Decoding Low-Price Oil
• How Do US Oil Price Fluctuations Influence Iran, World Economy?

2- A Report on Saudi Oil War & Future of Persian Gulf Economy

Iran Newspaper:

1- Sunset for Oil
• Reasons for Historic Plunge in Oil Price

Jam-e Jam Newspaper:

1- How Does Global Oil Shock Affect Iran?
• Historic Negative Oil Prices May Mark Beginning of New Era Without Dependence on Black Gold

Javan Newspaper:

1- Oil Goes South
• A Look at the Unprecedented Fall in Oil Prices in New York Stock Exchange

Jomhouri Eslami Newspaper:

1- The Catastrophe that Corona Caused to Oil

Kayhan Newspaper:

1- They Sought to Drive Iran’s Oil Exports Down to Zero, but US Oil Prices Fell Below Zero

Khorasan Newspaper:

1- Deciphering Negative Oil Prices

Mardomsalari Newspaper:

1- Iran Stock Market Indifferent to Oil Fluctuations
• Government to Sell Properties to Make Up for Oil Revenue Decline

Resalat Newspaper:

1- Oil at Bottom of Well!

Sazandegi Newspaper:

1- Oil Auctioned
2- Apocalypse of Oil

Setareh Sobh Newspaper:

1- Consequences of Black Monday on World Economy

Shahrvand Newspaper:

1- Fear of Oil Market Stagnation Spillover to Other Markets

Sharq Newspaper:

1- Black Day of Fall
• US Oil Brokers Surprised by Negative $40 Contracts for May Delivery

Tose’eh Iran Newspaper:

1- Coronavirus and Oil Curse

Vatan-e Emrouz Newspaper:

1- Black Disaster
• How Can Iran’s Economy Get Rid of Oil with Structural Reforms?
• Sustainable Tax Revenues A Remedy for Oil-Dependent Budget

Coronavirus Updates in Iran: Recovered Cases Exceed 63,000

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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April 22, 2020

Speaking at a daily press conference on Wednesday, Health Ministry Spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said 1,194 new cases of COVID-19 infection have been confirmed in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall number of cases to 85,996.

He also noted that 94 people have died of the virus in the past 24 hours, increasing the death toll to 5,391.

Among the patients undergoing treatment in the medical centers at present, 3,311 are in severe conditions, he added.

Jahanpour also noted that at least 63,113 patients have recovered from the coronavirus infection so far and have been discharged from hospitals across the country.

According to the spokesman, more than 377,000 coronavirus diagnostic tests have been carried out in Iran so far.

The number of people infected with COVID-19 across the world has surpassed 2,576,000 and the death toll has exceeded 178,800.

Coronavirus online test — If you are worried that you may have contracted the Coronavirus, take this test right now.

Lower Dependence on Oil Helped Iran Avert Price Drop Damage: President

By

IFP Media Wire

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April 22, 2020

Lower Dependence on Oil Helped Iran Avert Price Drop Damage

Addressing a weekly cabinet session on Wednesday, Rouhani said the coronavirus pandemic and the unprecedented plunge in the oil prices have harmed economies in the world and made economic forecasts pointless.

“The situation we are witnessing in the oil (industry) is rare, as all oil-rich countries, including us, will suffer losses, but our losses in such conditions would be much less,” the president said.

“The more a country has been reliant upon crude oil, the more difficult conditions it will have. But since our dependence on oil has been reduced, either intentionally or unintentionally, by design or imposed by the enemies, we will definitely suffer less harms,” the president added.

He further highlighted Iran’s success in coping with the coronavirus outbreak and containing the spread of the disease, saying the production of medical supplies and disinfectants inside the country has reached such a high level that Iran can now export those items after fulfilling the domestic needs.

The president also paid tribute to all Iranian people, entrepreneurs and knowledge-based companies for contributing to the national efforts in the battle with COVID-19.

President: Iran Ready to Share Experience in Coronavirus Battle with Oman

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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April 22, 2020

Iran Ready to Share Experience in Coronavirus Battle with Oman

In a telephone conversation with Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said on Wednesday, President Rouhani pointed to the tough conditions in the region and the world due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, and stressed the need for collective action by all countries in the fight against the disease.

The president also voiced Iran’s readiness to provide the friendly and neighboring state, Oman, with the experiences and achievements in the battle with COVID-19 and to offer whatever assistance necessary.

Paying tribute to the late sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said, the Iranian president wished the new sultan success and expressed hope for closer ties between Tehran and Muscat during Sultan Haitham’s tenure.

Highlighting a rise in the volume of trade exchanges between Iran and Oman over the past recent months, President Rouhani emphasized the necessity for the expansion of relations in all fields.

“We are interested in the immediate implementation of the agreements between the two countries, including the Iranian gas exports to Oman and the Omani investment in Chabahar port, which would serve the interests of the two governments and nations,” President Rouhani noted.

He further commended Oman for its cooperation and measures regarding the peace initiative proposed by Iran, known as the Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE), stating, “We are fully prepared to act in line with that initiative or any other initiative that would leave the crisis management of the region in the hands of the regional countries.”

Throughout history, the Strait of Hormuz has been left in peace, stability and calm in light of the good relations between Iran and Oman, President Rouhani noted, adding, “We have always tried in recent years to prevent the outbreak of war and bloodshed in the region, and we must proceed with the efforts to stop the war in Yemen which has brought about devastation and famine.”

Regional stability will be undoubtedly ensured in light of friendly ties among the regional countries, the president emphasized, saying Iran keeps calling for cordial relations among the neighbors.

Expressing hope for closer interaction between Iran and Oman and their cooperation on the bilateral and regional issues during Sultan Haitham’s tenure, President Rouhani congratulated the Omani people and government on the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.

For his part, the sultan of Oman hailed the close and amicable ties with Iran, noting, “Our relations are historic, and I give an assurance that such ties will continue like under late Sultan Qaboos’ rule.”

The Omani leader also stressed the need for the enhancement of ties between Muscat and Tehran in all arenas, noting that implementation of the previous agreements would be to the benefit of both nations.

Sultan Haitham finally praised Iran’s stance and policies on establishing peace and stability in the region and ensuring security of the Strait of Hormuz, adding, “We must all try to keep the region away from any war and worrying incident.”

Iran’s Strategic Information Power Elevated by New Satellite, Commander Says

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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April 22, 2020

Iran’s Strategic Information Power Elevated by New Satellite, Commander Says

In remarks following the successful launch of Iran’s first military satellite into an earth orbit on Wednesday morning, IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami said the multipurpose satellite will greatly enhance Iran’s defense capabilities.

He noted that the world’s powerful armies would be lacking in a comprehensive defense plan without reaching the space, adding that it was necessary for a strong defense force such as the IRGC to acquire the space technologies.

“Achieving this raising technology which takes us to space and expands the domain of our capabilities is a strategic achievement,” the commander stressed.

By launching the new satellite, the IRGC has taken a major step in promoting the scope of strategic information capabilities, the general added, noting, “Today, we can see the world from the space, which means the enhancement of the strategic data of the IRGC.”

He finally noted that the multipurpose satellite is producing “strategic added value” for Iran both in the information technology sphere and in the information warfare.

The IRGC successfully put Noor (light) into orbit on Wednesday morning. The homegrown satellite was launched with a three-stage satellite carrier, dubbed Qassed (messenger), and has been placed into an orbit 425 kilometers above the Earth.

Iran Able to Export Health Items Needed to Fight COVID-19

By

IFP Editorial Staff

-

April 22, 2020

Iran Able to Export Health Items Needed to Fight COVID-19

Hassan Rouhani said Iran is now producing a whole range of equipment, including coronavirus diagnosis kits, antibodies, face masks and other supplies.

He said the products are enough to meet domestic needs, and added some of them are surplus to requirements and can be exported to other countries.

The president thanked efforts by different sectors for their contribution to the national campaign against the coronavirus outbreak.

He then made it clear that the pandemic is not over yet, urging people to keep abiding by health protocols.

“If we think we have finished the job in the fight against the coronavirus and now we are taking the final steps, we will definitely be harmed,” he said.

President Rouhani further noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has turned into a test for all countries to gauge their efficiency and preparedness.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he took a swipe at “a small group” of people who seek to provoke anxiety among people over the coronavirus outbreak by spreading untrue words on social media and elsewhere.

He also dismissed some profiteers who have tried to cash in on the pandemic for their own gain.

“These people once took advantage of sanctions [for their own benefit] and now are taking advantage of the coronavirus,” he said.

The president urged people to keep abiding by social distancing measures and health protocols amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

He also underlined that the country’s medical personnel have become more experienced in fighting the disease.

He said the success in the fight against the coronavirus is not only because of the government’s efforts; rather, is has been due to people’s attempts.

He referred to the gradual reopening of some businesses, and added precautionary measures need to remain in place until “we get through this.’

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

IRAN FRONT PAGELatest News and Views From Iran, Middle East and the World

Abrar Newspaper:

Abrar-e Eqtesadi Newspaper:

Aftab-e Yazd Newspaper:

Aftab-e Eqtesadi Newspaper:

Arman-e Melli Newspaper:

Ebtekar Newspaper:

Etemad Newspaper:

Hamshahri Newspaper:

Iran Newspaper:

Jam-e Jam Newspaper:

Javan Newspaper:

Jomhouri Eslami Newspaper:

Kayhan Newspaper:

Khorasan Newspaper:

Mardomsalari Newspaper:

Resalat Newspaper:

Sazandegi Newspaper:

Setareh Sobh Newspaper:

Shahrvand Newspaper:

Sharq Newspaper:

Tose’eh Iran Newspaper:

Vatan-e Emrouz Newspaper:

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