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Migratory Birds in Iran’s Miankaleh Peninsula

December 9, 2019

Miankaleh is a peninsula at the south-eastern end of Caspian Sea. It is located 12 km northeast of Behshahr city. The peninsula has been defined as a conservation area since half a century.

What follows are Mizan News Agency’s photos of migratory birds in the beautiful Miankaleh in autumn 2019:

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Zarif in Istanbul for High-Level Meeting on Afghanistan

IFP Editorial Staff

December 9, 2019

Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Istanbul on Monday morning, the top Iranian diplomat said, “The Heart of Asia conference, or the Istanbul Process, has been held to coordinate regional cooperation with Afghanistan in order to create stability and security in Afghanistan and also inclusive development.”

“Different countries have taken on different responsibilities, while the Islamic Republic’s responsibility deals with training in Afghanistan,” he noted.

“Under the current circumstances, the situation in Afghanistan is special, considering the presidential election and the developments surrounding the peace negotiations; and it is necessary, particularly for the regional countries and for Afghanistan’s neighboring states, to play a more active role in the peace process and the process of reconstruction of Afghanistan,” Zarif added.

“Therefore, this conference is a good opportunity for different countries to discuss these issues, the fields they can help Afghanistan, and also contribution to peace in Afghanistan,” the Iranian foreign minister stated.

The 8th Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia (aka Istanbul Process) is themed Peace, Partnership, and Prosperity.

During the conference, Turkey is going to hand over its co-chairmanship, which it assumed in 2017 at the 7th Ministerial Conference in Baku, to Tajikistan.

14,000 Apply for Candidacy at Iran Parliamentary Elections

IFP Editorial Staff

December 8, 2019

14,000 Apply for Candidacy at Iran Parliamentary Elections

In comments on Sunday, the spokesperson for the Iranian Election Headquarters said 13,896 people across Iran have applied to run for the Parliament, saying the number has grown by more than 15 percent compared to the previous round of polls.

The people who have applied to run for the Parliament include 1,605 women (12% of total) and 12,291 men (88% of total), the spokesman added, noting that 37 percent of the applicants are under the age of 40.

During the week-long process of registration, there was widespread speculation about the presence of renowned figures from the reformist and principlist parties in the polls.

The major figures who have dropped out from the race for the 11th parliamentary elections include the incumbent Speaker of the Parliament Ali Larijani, chairman of the Parliament’s reformists faction Mohammad Reza Aref, reformist lawmaker Parvaneh Salahshoori, former principlist speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel, and former president of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Meanwhile, a number of famous principlist politicians and activists have registered for candidacy, including former Ahmadinejad ministers Mohammad Hosseini and Ali Nikzad, former lawmakers Hamid-Reza Rasaee and Alireza Zakani, and Iranian state television host Vahid Yaminpoor.

Moreover, former mayor of Tehran and presidential candidate Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf applied for candidacy in the final minutes before conclusion of the registration period.

Among prominent reformist figures applying for candidacy for the Parliament seats are former Vice President for Legal Affairs Majid Ansari, former Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Shahindokht Molaverdi, former mayor of Tehran Ali Afshani, as well as incumbent lawmakers Mahmoud Sadeqi, Ali Motahari, and Eliyas Hazrati.

The Iranian Election HQ also saw other renowned figures register on Saturday, including Chairman of the House of Parties of Iran Abdul-Hossein Ruholamini, University of Tehran’s philosophy professor Saeed Zibakalam, and Eliyas Naderan who had a seat in the Parliament for three terms.

The parliamentary elections and the mid-term election of the Assembly of Experts will be held on February 21, 2020.

Iran, Georgia Hold Political Consultations in Tehran

IFP Editorial Staff

December 8, 2019

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Alexander Khvtisiashvili, who has visited Tehran for the third round of political consultations between Iran and Georgia, held a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi on Sunday, December 8.

In the meeting, Khvtisiashvili highlighted the historical ties between the two countries, and expressed Tbilisi’s readiness and willingness to broaden relations with Iran in all fields.

The Iranian diplomat, for his part, pointed to the extensive cooperation between the two countries in the past years, and described the advantages that Georgia offers in the transit of energy and commodities as a good opportunity for the promotion of mutual cooperation.

Pointing to the problems caused by the imposition of the US’ unilateral sanctions against Iran, Araqchi said the sanctions could provide new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.

Iran’s relations with its neighbours in the region, including with Georgia, are not affected by the foreign factors, he underlined, stressing the need for independent expansion of the bilateral relations.

Referring to the presence of a considerable number of Iranian nationals in Georgia, the Iranian deputy foreign minister emphasized the necessity for the resolution of consular problems and for the immediate signing of judicial documents between the two governments.

Araqchi also expressed hope that the extradition of prisoners and convicts between the two countries would be possible soon.

The Iranian and Georgian delegations also discussed the JCPOA and the regional issues, including the developments in the Persian Gulf and Abkhazia, in the fresh round of political consultations.

On Saturday, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Khvtisiashvili travelled to Isfahan and visited the Iranian city’s attractions.

Blood Bank Centrifuges Produced by Iranian Researchers

IFP Editorial Staff

December 8, 2019

Blood Bank Centrifuges Produced by Iranian Researchers

According to Iran’s scientific calendar just four decades ago, glass capsules containing ampule drugs were imported from abroad, but today, in the wake of dramatic developments, significant advances have been made in the field of medical equipment.

Domesticising all the needed medical equipment is part of the country’s strategic plan for the foreseeable future, which is now being implemented by creative youth and dynamic companies.

Sina Ebtekar Samen is an engineering knowledge-based company in Mashhad that has focused on manufacturing medical devices. The company has been able to consolidate its position as one of the leading companies in the field by selling blood bank centrifuges as one of the few manufacturers of the device.

An official from the company says a similar foreign sample is priced at more than 35,000 USD, but the Iranian centrifuge is priced at about 15,000 USD.

For a brief review of Iran’s achievements in various fields of science and technology, check the book “Science and Technology in Iran: A Brief Review – 2019”

He added that on the sidelines of the Exhibition of Laboratory Equipment and Supplies, they have been in direct contact with blood transfusion sites across the country and have been able to reach preliminary agreements to sell the product.

Blood banks spin a variety of containers as small as serology tubes and as large as blood collection bags. The things that set blood bank centrifuges apart are the need for temperature control, ergonomics, noise reduction, and high capacity

Sina Ebtekar Samen engineering company is working in four fields of biomedical refrigerators, medical and laboratory centrifuges, storage and transportation of blood and biotechnology products, and stem cell processing and maintenance systems.

The 7th Iranian Exhibition of Laboratory Equipment and Materials will be held at Tehran International Fairground from December 17 to 20. Those interested can visit the exhibition’s website at www.iranlabexpo.ir or call +982183533555.