Iran Deplores French DM’s ‘Neocolonialist’ Ploy
In remarks on Monday, General Hatami deplored the meddlesome comments from a European defence official made at a recent conference in Manama.
The Iranian Defence Minister said the Western colonialism that reigned over the region a century ago and was forced out of the region after confrontation with the popular resistance now fancies returning to the region and seeks to milk a cow that US President Donald Trump has mentioned.
“But they (Westerners) should know that people of the region are vigilant and have not forgotten their cruelty and plundering, and that they (Westerners) cannot provoke them (people of region) with rhetoric,” General Hatami added.
There is no doubt that the US government’s soft and hard power has declined across the world, the Iranian Defence Minister noted, and advised his French counterpart to notice the statistics for the number of French nationals who joined the ISIL terrorist group and committed crimes in Syria and Iraq instead of pinning the blame on the others and making provocative comments that are meant to fulfill France’s financial interests.
The French defence minister should explain what positive role her country has played in the fight against the Takfiri ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq, the Iranian general underlined.
“The Takfiri terrorists in the region were defeated at the hands of the armed forces and people of Iraq and Syria and with the help and assistance from Iran and Russia, while the Western powers, including the US and others, did nothing against them other than attempts to manage those groups in their own favor,” the Iranian general stated.
He further slammed as “neocolonialist and irresponsible methods” the plans that the Western officials, including the French defence minister, have proposed for security in the region, saying, “The Western presence and meddling would further complicate the security conditions in the region, which have been already upset by the excessive demands of the US and the Zionist regime.”
The Iranian minister also advised the Western officials to abandon their meddlesome and hegemonic ploys and find a remedy for “the brain death of their own security institutions.”
General Hatami further pointed to the downing of an intruding American drone in the Iranian airspace, saying the powerful Armed Forces of Iran are capable of protecting the country’s territories and airspace.
Iran has spared no effort in recent years to ensure regional stability and security, will continue to strengthen its defence capabilities, and will contribute to the establishment of security in the region according to the Islamic teachings and the Islamic Republic’s policies, he added.
“The extra-regional powers and their opportunistic interference is the main reason for instability and insecurity in the region, and the regional countries have the needed capacity to ensure regional security within a cooperative framework, without interference from the alien powers,” he concluded.
Iranian University Develops Auto Glass Adhesive
Director of the Sharif University of Technology’s office for interaction with the industries hailed the production of auto glass glue as one successful example of cooperation between the university and the industrial centers.
Researchers at the Sharif University have been working on the project to make the adhesive used in manufacturing auto glass, because the material has been always imported from abroad.
Manufacturing float glass for a single car requires approximately one kilogram of adhesive, whose export to Iran has become an arduous task in recent years due to the escalation of sanctions.
Although a series of efforts had been made to make the special auto glass glue in Iran, a product that would be suitable to use in the weather conditions of Iran and meet the automotive standards had not been developed until recently.
Now the Sharif University of Technology has gained the technical know-how to manufacture the adhesive, which is undergoing the final tests.
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 2
Abrar:
1- Araqchi: JCPOA International Achievement, Everyone Duty-Bound to Save It
2- US Claims Damascus Delegation Trying to Fail Constitutional Committee’s Mission
3- Republicans Believes Trump Even Better than Lincoln
Aftab-e Yazd:
1- If You’re Not Competent Managers, Don’t Assume Responsibility: Leader
2- Abdul Mahdi’s Resignation Necessary but Futile: Analyst
Arman-e Melli:
1- Iran Leader: Don’t Accept Responsibility If You’re Not Capable
2- Oman Continues Mediatory Efforts: A Report on Bin Alawi’s Tehran Trip
3- Flu Still Killing People in Iran: 56 Die of Influenza
Ebtekar:
1- IRGC Says Visiting Families of Those Killed in Recent Riots
2- Saving JCPOA an Important Diplomatic Success: Six EU States Join INSTEX
3- Mogherini Bids Farewell to EU
Jomhouri Eslami:
1- Borrell Takes Helm at EU External Action Service
2- E3 Welcomes Other States Joining INSTEX
* US Outraged by NATO Members’ Joining INSTEX
Kayhan:
1- Ex-Chief of Mossad: Netanyahu May Get Killed
2- E3 Parties to JCPOA Threaten Iran Instead of Implementing Commitments
Mardom Salari:
1- Unhappy Days of JCPOA: A Report on Europe’s Behaviour towards Iran
2- Baghdad Looking for New Prime Minister: Abdul Mahdi’s Resignation Accepted in Parliament
Setareh Sobh:
1- Registration for Iran’s Parliamentary Election Kicks Off
2- Iraq Parliament Accepts Abdul Mahdi’s Resignation after Ayatollah Sistani’s Call
Zarif Urges EU to Save Iranian Kids with EB Instead of Threats
“Instead of arrogant threats or hollow paper promises, E3/EU—and future INSTEX shareholder Sweden—should start with something very simple; a minimal human duty: Ask Mölnlycke Health Care to SELL products enabling Iranian kids with EB to cover their wounds,” Zarif said Monday.
“Economic Terrorism kills,” Zarif added in his tweet, referring to the US economic sanctions on Iran, which have also kept European states from working with the country.
“Pompeo once again admits that US Economic Terrorism on Iran is designed to starve, and in the case of medical supplies, kill our innocent citizens,” he added.
Iranian children suffering from the rare skin condition known as EB are losing their lives as US economic sanctions hamper the flow of vital medical products, an NGO says.
Hamid Reza Hashemi-Golayegani, the head of the NGO that helps such patients, said last month that at least 15 Iranian children with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) have died since the US launched its new sanctions on Iran in August.
That is because Swedish medical companies which provided protective bandages for such patients have halted supplies due to the restrictions, he said.
Often known as butterfly children because their skin is as fragile as the wings of a butterfly, EB patients need special care. Even mild frictions or bumps cause severe blistering of the skin which is very painful.
They often have difficulty with their daily activities, such as walking, eating and even breathing, but without proper protective bandages, their agony would be heartbreaking.
Zarif’s Monday comments came shortly after six European countries announced they will join INSTEX, the bartering system created to enable Iran to side-step US sanctions, but they urged Tehran to stop what they called violating the landmark 2015 deal reached between Tehran and world powers.
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden will join France, Germany and the UK as shareholders in INSTEX. No transaction has been conducted under the mechanism so far.
US President Donald Trump renewed sanctions on Iran last year as he pulled the US out of the 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), and described it as too weak.
As a result, Iran has begun reducing its commitments under the treaty after Europe failed to live up to its obligations and compensate for the US withdrawal.
Iranian, Omani FMs Hold Key Talks in Tehran
The meeting was held on Monday noon at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, and was focused on bilateral relations and regional developments.
In the meeting, the two sides discussed a broad range of bilateral subjects, as well as the regional and international issues. They also talked about the political, economic, scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries at the bilateral and multilateral levels.
Highlighting Oman’s positive and constructive role as a neighbouring state, Zarif hailed the extensive and very good relations between the two countries, and also welcomed the expansion of ties in all fields.
Emphasizing the necessity of reducing tensions in the region, particularly in Yemen, Zarif said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran would welcome and support any move and initiative that comes with goodwill for the reduction of tensions in the region.”
He also highlighted the Islamic Republic of Iran’s fierce determination to hold talks with all regional countries, adding, “The Hormuz Peace Endeavour has been put forward to that end.”
Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi, for his part, said the current regional situation requires further dialogue and understanding, saying, “In this regard, holding an inclusive and comprehensive conference with the presence of all countries with a stake (in the region) could be helpful.”
The two sides discussed the Hormuz Peace Endeavour (HOPE) initiative proposed by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the UN General Assembly this year.
Kuwait’s Al-Jaridah newspaper had earlier reported that Bin Alawi’s trip to Iran would be aimed at expressing Muscat’s agreement with the HOPE initiative proposed by Iran.
Last month, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi announced that three countries have given positive written responses to President Rouhani’s letter, and others are reviewing the issue in group meetings.
IAEA Picks Iran Envoy as VP of Its Special Session
The Second Special Session of the IAEA General Conference was held in Vienna on December 2 to approve the appointment of the IAEA’s new Secretary-General Rafael Grossi.
At the beginning of the session, Iran’s permanent representative in the international organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharibabadi, was appointed by the IAEA’s Middle East and South Asia regional group as the vice president of the Special Session of the General Conference.
Back in October, the International Atomic Energy Agency picked Argentina’s Grossi as the UN nuclear watchdog’s next director general.
Grossi, 58, managed to secure the necessary two-thirds in a vote by the agency’s 35-nation Board of Governors to become the next chief of the nuclear watchdog, some three months after his predecessor, Yukiya Amano, died in office.
In a press conference following his victory, Grossi pledged to act independently and neutrally as the new chief of the IAEA.
“I will do my job and I think my job is to implement the mandate in a manner which is independent, which is fair, which is neutral,” Grossi told reporters when asked about Iran’s nuclear deal, which is arguably the most significant challenge he will have to tackle on his road ahead.
Iran, Tajikistan Discuss Economic Cooperation in Tehran
The meeting of Iran-Tajikistan joint commission of economic cooperation opened in Tehran on Monday morning with the presence of Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian and Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources, as well as a number of senior Tajik officials.
In comments at the opening of the meeting, Ardakanian highlighted the numerous cultural and historical commonalities between Iran and Tajikistan, adding, “These commonalities could give a special nature to the relations between the two countries in the region, and make the mutual cooperation outstanding and unique among the other countries.”
The minister also expressed confidence that determination of the two countries’ top officials and using the ample capacities available in the two countries would enhance the ties and elevate cooperation.
Calling for efforts to raise the volume of trade exchanges between Iran and Tajikistan, Ardakanian said there is a long way to achieve a target set by the administration, particularly after a constructive meeting between presidents of the two countries on the sidelines of the summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), held in Dushanbe back in June.
The Iranian Energy Minister also stressed the need for practical action on the financial statements of the Sangtuda-2 power plant project, the banking and educational cooperation, facilitation of Iranian investment and economic activities in Tajikistan, and completion of the Istiqlol tunnel in Tajikistan.
He also called on the Tajik administrative organizations to work in cooperation with Iran and show greater determination to carry out those projects.
Canadian Influencer Fascinated by Delicious Iranian Foods
Trevor James is a Canadian citizen. He is on trips almost 250 to 300 days of the whole year. He eats foods and produces content about that country’s food culture. He is in love with the taste of street and local cuisine.
He has recently travelled to Iran and has had the chance to taste the foods that tourists may not have the chance to try. In his opinion, the taste of Iranian foods is “unique”.
He has been living in China since about five years ago to learn the language of the people of this country. As a food adventurer, he has been producing content for nearly six years. He has around 3 million followers on YouTube and 6,000 followers on his Instagram page. He is widely recognised as one of the most influential figures in the field of food culture on social media in Iran.
“I really love Iran and I’m sure I’ll get back to the country again,” he says. “There are some unique places in this country that I have to see.”
He has travelled to Tehran, Mazandaran, Gorgan, Mashhad and Chabahar in two weeks, having seen four seasons of Iran and got to know the country’s cultural diversity, nature and people. He explains that in the north of Iran he got familiar with the way the “stuffed lambs” are cooked which he had never seen before in any country.
“I had heard a lot about Iranian food. I had information from movies and photos. I had heard from tourists,” he told ISNA. “So I got interested in travelling to Iran to make videos of this country’s food culture. I believe the media is dividing and separating people across the world, so I want to do the opposite with these videos.”
More than food, the Iranian people’s behaviour and their culture have attracted his attention. Trevor says, I will never forget the hospitality of the Iranian people and it will certainly be the highlight of my videos on Iran.
“If anyone in the world tastes Tahchin, Koubideh Kebab, Damnoush [herbal tea], Albaloo polo [rice and sour cherries], or saffron, they will know what Iran is like. Iran means the smell of colourful and delicious foods that can be famous around the world. When I think of Iran’s colorful foods, I remember its culture, and its amazing nature. The taste of Iran is sweet like saffron.”
Trevor’s videos and photos of Kalleh Pacheh, a dish of boiled cow or sheep parts, have gone viral on social media.
This food influencer, who was accompanied by an Iranian food blogger on the trip, has not received money for the videos and photos and had not advertised for restaurants. Of course, his guide says that, in some places, they have paid for some special foods. However, in many places, people’s hospitality has kept them from paying money.
The focus of this Canadian influencer has been on local kitchens. He did not go to stylish restaurants, but instead spend time with a family in the north of Iran to have Ash Reshteh (vegetable, and beans soup). He has tasted Baluchi kebabs in Chabahar and tried hot beans and beetroots sold on street.
Trevor has become fascinated with baking bread in Iran and has produced a full video of a bakery believing that baking in the oven can be attractive to tourists.
He believes in the power of social media and cyberspace to change mindsets. He says “Negative propaganda about Iran is overwhelming and unfortunately tourists are affected by the news.”
He says the image that is engraved on his mind about Iran is the image of a smiling person. “What I can do as an active person on social media is to highlight this part of Iran more. Film and photography is the most expressive language in the world,” he maintained.
Trevor is unaware of the laws the US government has imposed to restrict travel to Iran. Although he may have trouble traveling to the United States, he says, “I usually travel without planning and I am used to such news. I traveled to Pakistan this way. I went to the border and asked for permission to enter. Now that I have come to Iran, I am sure I will proudly show my passport to everyone that I have visited Iran. I feel that the US wants to control everything, but I do not like this.
“I think Iran has one of the friendliest and most hospitable people in the world. I will never forget these. Any tourist can travel to Iran without worries,” he continued.
Trevor James, also known as “The Food Ranger” on YouTube, is a Canadian-born food and travel blogger and YouTube personality. He is famous for his street food tours on YouTube, which have been viewed over 410 million times. James started filming his food and travel videos in March 2013. He has filmed food and travel videos in Malaysia, India, Turkey, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Mexico, and Iran.
Biotech Products Account for Lion’s Share of Iran’s Knowledge-Based Exports
Biotechnology is a science that has great potential for value and wealth creation in the world and this has been of particular interest to countries.
The popular science in Iran has also been welcomed by Iranian students and youths, and a large number of pupils are graduating each year in this field.
The Secretary of Biotech Development Centre at Iran’s Vice Presidency for Science and Technology is also working to develop this applied science in the country by implementing various programs.
One of the most specialised and advanced fields is the pharmaceutical industry; an industry that is directly in touch with human health.
The Biotech Development Centre has also entered the field and taken major steps in developing the country’s pharmaceutical industry by introducing applied and effective knowledge-based issues.
One of these measures is to support a meeting of the heads of pharmaceutical research centres in Iran at the University of Medical Sciences with the participation of managers and policy makers of the Iranian pharmaceutical industry.
“More than 50 percent of the tax deductions for knowledge-based companies, as well as about 60 percent of its exports are related to biotech,” Qane’i said in a recent meeting with Iran’s pharmaceutical industry executives and policymakers.
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”
Given the good performance of pharmaceutical scientists in the country, we can claim that Iran has achieved remarkable growth in biotechnology, noted Qane’ie.
He added that Iran’s development in the field of medical biotechnology is acceptable, and with the help of native experts in the country, we have been able to think about exports along with meeting domestic needs.
“Iranian bio-products are welcomed by other countries. For example, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Malaysia and Turkey are regular customers of these Iranian products. Argentina, also wants to buy Iranian bio-products that we are negotiating and consulting with the country over this.”
Emphasising that the value of bio-products in the country is significant, Qane’ie said, Iranian bio-products brought about $ 1.2 billion to the country, and we should try to increase this amount with pursuing the right plans.
“Qane’i said that bypassing sanctions with the help of biotechnology is one of the applications of this science, and stressed on the increase of the production of bio-products in the country.”
According to him, the sanctions are the best opportunity to boost domestic production.
