Hemmati said on Wednesday with the legal follow-ups of the Central Bank, the US effort to seize and transfer the CBI’s funds in Europe was thwarted.
Hemmati underlined that $1.6 billion worth of assets belonging to the central bank at Luxembourg’s Clear Stream, has now been released.
The money had been frozen since January 15, 2015 at the international central securities depository (ICSD).
“By intelligently monitoring the efforts of the United States and taking the lead in legal action, as well as following the judicial proceedings in Luxembourg, two victories were achieved by the Islamic Republic and the Central Bank of Iran at the beginning of the New Persian Year,” he noted.
First, $1.6 billion belonging to the Central Bank was released and then another branch of the Luxemburg’s court issued an interim order not to transfer the same funds to the United States to be distributed among the false claimants of the September 11 incident, underlined Hammati.
Under the US pressure, billions of dollars of Iran’s oil money and other funds are held up in several countries at a time when they are urgently needed to fight the deadly coronavirus.
1- Parliament Removes from Its Agenda a Triple-Urgency Motion to Shut Down Country for One Month
2- Macron Urges Iran to Return to Its JCPOA Commitments
3- Interior Minister: Coronavirus Trend Slowing Down in Many Provinces
Afkar:
1- Parliament Speaker: Corona Threats Must Be Turned into Opportunity
Aftab-e Yazd:
1- Johnson on Standby
2- Who Has Become Richer Thanks to Corona?
Donya-ye Eqtesad:
1- Health Minister: We Hope Corona Will Be Contained by Mid-May
Ebtekar:
1- Impossible Mission of Social Distancing!
2- Rouhani: No Rush to Reopen Schools and Universities
Hamshahri:
1- Gradual Farewell to Corona
* Denmark, France, Austria, Spain, Germany, Italy, Czech Cautiously Returning Life to Normal
Jame Jam:
1- UK in Coma: Johnson Who Made Fun of Corona Transferred to ICU
Kayhan:
1- Health Minister Praises Leader’s Unmatched Support for National Corona Fight Headquarters
2- Corona Taking More Victims in US: New York Parks Turned into Mass Graves!
3- Iran Leader’s Speech to Be Televised Live on Thursday
Rooyesh-e Mellat:
1- Corona Has Impact Government’s Financial Resources: VP
2- Tehran Still a Hotspot of COVID-19: Official
Setareh Sobh:
1- People Under Pressure of Sanctions, Corona: MP Warns
2- There’s No Clean Spot in Tehran: Official
* 4,000 ICU Beds Allocated to Corona Patients All Full
Shahrvand:
1- Nurses Victims of Private Hospitals
Shargh:
1- Newspapers Can Publish Print Version as of Saturday: Official
2- Tehran Has Yet to Reach Peak of Corona: Official
The Asian Football Confederation posted an opinion poll on its website on April 01, 2020 to introduce Asia’s best footballer of all World Cup competitions.
Finally, Beiranvand secured 66 percent of the vote and was named Asia’s best football player in the World Cup history.
Beiranvand represented the Iran national team at the 2015 and 2019 AFC Asian Cups and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
At the World Cup, he made the headlines by saving a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo, as Iran drew 1–1 with Portugal.
In 2017, Beiranvand became the first Iranian ever to be nominated for an individual award at The Best FIFA Football Awards. He has been the best goalkeeper in the Persian Gulf Pro League for four consecutive seasons from 2014 to 2019 and has also been the Iranian footballer of the year in 2019. With 23 clean sheets in 37 matches in 2017–18 season, he ranked as the second goalkeeper in the world for the most clean sheets.
In a thread on his Twitter account, posted in Russian language, Foreign Minister Zarif welcomed Russia’s idea of creating a green zone amid the outbreak of COVID-19.
“In order to contain the situation of coronavirus, different countries have closed their geographical borders, but opened them to provide assistance,” Zarif said on Wednesday.
“(US President) Donald Trump continues to resist the international demand for lifting the sanctions on Iran in order to counter the coronavirus infection. Coronavirus may spread to the neighbouring countries,” the top Iranian diplomat warned.
Speaking via teleconference to the leaders of the G-20 group of nations last week, Putin urged the creation of ‘green corridors’ to transport essential goods and technologies without sanctions as the world continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic.
Health Ministry Spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour on Wednesday confirmed 1,997 new cases of infection in 24 hours, increasing the total number to 64,586.
According to the spokesman, 121 people died in the past 24 hours from the novel coronavirus, increasing the death toll to 3,993.
The number of new deaths also decreased for the fourth day in a row.
The recovery process has gained momentum in the past few days, Jahanpour said, adding that 29,812 patients have so far recovered and been discharged from the hospital.
The spokesman also noted that 3,956 patients are in severe conditions of the disease.
So far, 220,975 tests for the novel virus have been taken in the country.
Majid Takht Ravanchi noted Washington’s unilateral sanctions will further contribute to the spread of the coronavirus.
“In order to effectively fight the coronavirus, the lifting of the United States’ illegal sanctions is a must and is in the interest of the whole world,” he said in a letter to the chairperson of the UN General Assembly.
In his letter, the Iranian envoy touched upon requests for the lifting of sanctions made the UN secretary general, director general of the World Health Organization, the UN high commissioner for human rights, world leaders, NGOs and the civil society.
“Instead of agreeing to those requests, the US has not only refused to lift its illegal and unilateral sanctions, but has, in some cases, intensified its sanctions,” he added.
He said US sanctions will not only be detrimental to citizens of countries, but will deal a blow to the global fight against COVID-19 and harm the health of all people on the planet earth.
He further called for a concerted global effort to contain the disease.
“Under the current tough times when the flames of the coronavirus have engulfed all regions and countries, international unity and cooperation is a must because all countries are on the same front when it comes to fighting this widespread disease,” he said.
Two weeks ago in a joint letter to the UN Secretary General António Guterres also signed by seven permanent UN members, the Iranian ambassador had underlined the need for the US to remove its sanctions in order to help sanctioned countries boost their capability in the fight against the coronavirus.
Ten more countries signed the letter over the past few days.
President Hassan Rouhani said Washington’s medical terrorism should be added to its economic terrorism.
“As for this disease, the Americans continue the same wrong trend [of unilateralism] and their inappropriate thoughts. This is a historic issue, and it will go down in history that the White House has been a terrorist in economic issues, and now is a terrorist with regards to medical issues as well,” said the president.
“This will amount to a historical stigma for the ruling elite of the US, which keeps its pressure on the great Iranian nation under the current circumstances,” he added.
Elsewhere in his remarks, President Rouhani asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to discharge its responsibilities regarding Iran’s loan request.
“ … the IMF should fulfill its duty with regards to the Iranian nation,” he said.
“Iran is a member of the IMF, a member of the World Bank, pays its share, and part of Iran’s funds are with them,” he said.
“We requested a loan from them. If they are going to practice discrimination against us, obviously that would not be tolerated by us and the world public opinion,” the president noted.
“Over the past 50 years or so, we have not requested anything from the IMF … If they are not going to discharge their responsibilities, the world will judge them differently,” he said.
In a statement issued by the National Headquarters, these people can get their activity licence upon registration.
Here is the full text of this statement:
Considering the nature of the COVID-19 disease, social distancing is the best way to control the spread of the disease. Therefore, it is necessary to observe it as long as the disease is circulating in the society, because it can prevent up to 95% of the virus spread.
“Smart Social Distancing” is the next phase of the Social Distancing Plan that has been implemented in Iran since March after the outbreak of the coronavirus.
At this stage, only “low-risk” jobs with the obligation to comply with the health guidelines approved by the Ministry of Health will be licensed to begin work in the provinces as of April 11 and in Tehran as of April 18.
The general policy and strategy of the Headquarters is to continue the principle of “staying home.” Leaving home is only allowed in an emergency – very limitedly, with strict adherence to health guidelines to deal with the virus.
Production sectors – guilds and occupations specified in the plan – will also be able to begin business activities by implementing specialised and general health guidelines approved by the Ministry of Health.
With continuous efforts and coordination between the Chamber of Commerce and Trade Unions and the Ministry of Health, business health guidelines will be developed and made available to the public in the coming days, and any trade union activity will be subject to the implementation of these guidelines.
According to the plan, all guilds must register on the website of the Ministry of Health (based on compliance with health guidelines) and after receiving the code, an activity license will be issued for them.
With the implementation of this plan, the basic shutdowns (including the closure of schools, universities, stadiums, cultural and artistic centres, high-risk jobs, etc.) as well as the ban on inter-provincial traffic will continue until further notice.
Administrative centres will work with two-thirds of their employees instead of one-third as of April 11, and the working hours will be from 7 am to 2 pm.
Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi
In his message, Vice President of Iran and chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali-Akbar Salehi appreciated efforts by all those working in the country’s nuclear sector.
What follows is the full text of the message marking National Nuclear Technology Day:
In these high-risk days, and amid the relentless fight by brave men and women in the health sector to allay patients’ sufferings and pain, I sympathize with families of those who lost their lives or who suffered harm during recent incidents and events.
Hereby, I take it upon myself to commemorate April 8, which marks National Nuclear Technology Day. This year, the occasion falls on the anniversary of the birth of Imam Mahdi (the twelfth Shiite Imam). I appreciate relentless and praiseworthy attempts by every single member of the country’s honourable nuclear community and industry.
I deem it necessary to announce, with pride, that the 122 new achievements over the past year, which have been the result of untiring efforts by a huge number of researchers at the AEOI, usher in a new era in the all-out development of the glorious activities of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.
In the meantime, I briefly inform you that the ever-growing development of products and services pertinent to the nuclear medicine sector and the procurement of medications needed by medical and health sectors across the nation are underway on a large scale and at an acceptable pace. It goes without saying that under the current trying circumstances when the Islamic Iran is affected by unfair sanctions imposed by global hegemony, it is a national and moral duty to meet the needs of the country’s medical community and is of special importance to us.
Moreover, redoubled efforts are underway to advance major objectives in the nuclear fuel cycle sector, including the expansion of activities related to the exploration and extraction of raw material for the nuclear industry, expedite activities in the uranium enrichment research and development sector, and press ahead with plans to construct units 2 and 3 of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, and develop new nuclear technologies.
In addition, it is noteworthy that the renovation and completion of the Khandab (Arak) Heavy Water Reactor is underway in keeping with the provisions stipulated in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). It should be noted that those working in the nuclear industry have turned their attention to the outlook depicted by the wise Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei] as well as the guidelines of the respected president [Hassan Rouhani], and put on their agenda the ever-growing development of this strategic industry with a vengeance and on all fronts.
It is also noteworthy that as planned, arrangements had been made to mark National Nuclear Technology Day like previous years in a ceremony to be attended by President Hassan Rouhani and other local and foreign guests, including state and military officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Nevertheless, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and in order to ward off potential hazards, and based on the directives and regulations set by the National Coronavirus Headquarters, we were unable to hold the ceremony, and after consulting Dr. Rouhani, it was decided that the national occasion be marked later in a ceremony at the right time and place. I hope that by God’s grace and special attention of Imam Mahdi, the time will be ripe in the shortest possible time to directly introduce our achievements and explain their details to the people.
But at the moment, this organization intends to inform them of these accomplishments through the cooperation of the country’s media outlets. I am confident that in light of unity, cooperation and rapport of people from all walks of life, and thanks to the prudent management of officials, especially senior managers in the domain of health, and on the back of unforgettable sacrifices of medical personnel, we will weather these times of suffering and sorrow, and the great Iranian nation will successfully pass this difficult test and reach the peak of prosperity and health.
Speaking on the sidelines of a visit to a mask-producing factory on Tuesday, Mohammad Reza Shanehsaz said before the COVID-19 outbreak, the number of three-layer industrial masks produced in the country was 100,000 to 150,000 a day, which has now reached over one million.
With the cooperation of the industry ministry, it is expected that in the next two to three weeks, the production capacity of the three-layer masks will reach five million per day, in which case we can export masks to other countries, he added.
He also talked about the production of N95 masks, adding that before the spread of COVID-19, the daily production capacity in the country was less than 5,000, and now this figure has reached over 140,000.
The production capacity of clothing needed by medical staff, which was very limited in the past, also increased with collaboration of the industry ministry.
“In addition to the production of protective clothing fabrics in the country, the production capacity has reached 50,000, which we hope will increase and we will be able to fully meet the domestic needs.”
Next to the production of industrial masks, the production of trade union products are also followed after obtaining the necessary licenses from the General Directorate of Medical Equipment, he pointed out.
According to the official, the production capacity of sanitary items such as solutions and disinfectant gels has increased by eight times, stressing that there is no shortage of these items at pharmacies.
