What follows are photos of the two cubs retrieved from the Young Journalists’ Club (YJC):
Russia’s Work at Fordow Halted for Technical Problem: Iran
TVEL, a company that is part of Russia’s atomic agency Rosatom, recently decided to stop work at Iran’s Fordow nuclear site, raising allegations that Moscow is complying with the US sanctions on Iran.
Speaking in a press conference in Tehran, Mousavi denied such allegations and said Russia has not withdrawn cooperation with the Islamic Republic.
“We do not infer that Russia has withdrawn cooperation with Iran,” he said.
He then referred to Moscow’s explanation about the decision, and said, “We acknowledge the technical problem as the reason for the halt.”
“Iranian and Russian technical experts are examining the problem,” the spokesman went on to say.
TVEL announced earlier this month the suspension of its work to upgrade the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant because Iran fed uranium hexafluoride (UF6) into two gas centrifuge cascades located in the same room as the cascades meant to be reengineered for stable medical isotope production.
TVEL said it was “technologically impossible” to implement the Fordow project at this time.
Uranium enrichment and stable medical isotope production cannot be sustained in the same room because air and equipment are exposed to UF6 “leftovers”, making the produced stable medical isotopes unsuitable for medical purposes, TVEL said on December 5.
“To resume this work, it will be necessary to stop and dismantle the cascades in which uranium enrichment takes place and to thoroughly clean the premises and equipment. Until these conditions are met, work on the project from the Russian side has been suspended,” it said.
Since 2017, TVEL has been engaged in modifying two gas centrifuge cascades at the Fordow facility, intended for producing stable isotopes (xenon and tellurium) for medical purposes. The works were carried out in compliance with the JCPOA dated 14 July 2015. The International Atomic Energy Agency and the JCPOA Joint Commission were regularly updated on project progress, TVEL said.
TVEL’s suspension follows a US announcement last month that the waiver allowing foreign companies to work at Fordow will end on 15 December.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said earlier this month that this pressure had “created a difficult environment” for Russia and other participants in the JCPOA.
Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted Ryabkov as saying that Russia is suspending its participation in the project to “analyse the possibilities and potential negative consequences of the American measures” but was not stopping it altogether.
Iran President’s Japan Visit Unrelated to US Talks: Spokesman
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Ali Rabiee said President Rouhani’s upcoming trip to Japan will include bilateral talks and “focus on the promotion of economic ties.”
“The president’s trip to Japan will have nothing to do with the issues like the talks with the US”, he underlined.
However, Rabiee added, the Japanese friends usually have messages or initiatives, which Iran will hear and consider seriously.
“We will listen to them (Japan’s messages) according to humanitarian customs… But there is no pre-arranged plan on this issue,” he stressed.
Hailing Japan as one of the “friendly countries and a major economic partner” for Iran, the spokesperson said the “achievements of regional negotiations” could help organize more talks during the presidential visit to Tokyo.
According to Rabiee, President Rouhani will be accompanied by the Iranian minsters in charge of the economic and banking sectors, as well as by people from the trade and industrial sectors.
“President Rouhani’s participation in a summit of heads of the Islamic countries in Malaysia will be a good opportunity to hold a lot of bilateral talks in there,” the spokesperson added.
The Iranian president is going to visit Malaysia for Kuala Lumpur Summit 2019 -an international platform for Muslim leaders- before traveling to Tokyo at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.
Abe visited Tehran in June to become the first Japanese leader to travel to Iran in more than four decades.
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on December 16
Abrar:
1- Zionist Media: Ankara Ready for Talks with Israel on Gas Transfer to Europe
2- US Sanctions against Fordow Begin
3- Army Chief: Enemies Can Test Our Equipment If They Doubt They’re Up-to-Date
Ebtekar:
1- Iran and North Korea! Has FATF Blacklisted Iran?
2- Trade Ceasefire between China, US
3- Zarif at Doha Summit: Is Security in Region Purchasable?
Etemad:
1- Labyrinth of Impeachment: Purposes of Impeaching Interior, Oil Ministers
2- Tehran’s Peace Plan Versus Washington’s War Plan
* Zarif: Region Needs Revision of Current Approach
Ettela’at:
1- Iranian Scientist Freed from US Jail: US Upset about Iran’s Scientific Development
2- Zarif: Security Not a Commodity to Be Bought from Outside
Hamshahri:
1- Farewell to Petrol-Based Transport
Iran:
1- Zarif at Doha Forum Calls for Comprehensive Non-Aggression Treaty among Hormuz States
Javan:
1- Polluted Cities
* Tehran and Most Industrial Cities Engulfed by Awful Air Pollution, Trash Smell
2- Bitter Experience of JCPOA Shouldn’t Be Repeated in Japan [Editorial]
Jomhouri Eslami:
1- Trump’s Impeachment to Be Put to Vote at Congress Wednesday
2- Iran Chief Banker: Inflation Rate to Keep Going Down
Kayhan:
1- Stigma of Myanmar Genocide Remains on Suu Kyi
2- Al-Sudani and Hariri Possible Candidates for Iraq, Lebanon Prime Minister
Mardom Salari:
1- Protests in Baghdad against US Sanctions
Rooyesh-e Mellat:
1- Parliament Speaker: Asian States Believe Regional Sustainable Security Hinges on Working with Iran
2- DM: Enemy Has Accepted Reality of Our Power in Maintaining National Security
Setareh Sobh:
1- Tehran Engulfed by Smoke
2- Iranian Film Shines at French Festival
* Iranian Actress Wins Award in Competition with Penelope Cruz and Keira Knightley
Shargh:
1- FATF Was Supposed to Be Approved Easily during Ahmadinejad’s Term
Iran Develops Stem Cell Therapy for Urinary Incontinence
Dr. Reza Moqadasali, manager of a research project on treatment of urinary incontinence with stem cells, says the studies on the new therapy have been carried out and the research results are going to be tested in clinical trials.
He also noted that clinical trials have been already conducted in two phases involving 10 and 20 patients, saying a group of 80 patients will be enrolled in the next stage of the clinical trial.
According to Moqadasali, the new therapy uses mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at the urethral sphincters -two muscles controlling the exit of urine- in order to improve bladder contraction and help the patient gain control over these muscles.
He also noted that a number of similar therapeutic trials have been conducted in the other countries, while their effectiveness and safety has been verified in some cases.
“We hope to offer an appropriate therapy for this problem by carrying out this stage of the plan,” the Iranian researcher added.
Moqadasali also noted that the homegrown therapy employs stem cells for the treatment of stress incontinence, which is more common in women.
Multiple and difficult labors, obesity and stress are the major risk factors for urinary incontinence in women, he concluded.
Iran FM Meets Members of Western, Arab Think Tanks
During the meetings, which were held separately or collectively on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2019, the Iranian foreign minister elaborated on the Islamic Republic’s stances on important regional and international issues.
Earlier in the day, he also held talks with his Nicaraguan counterpart.
In the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations as well as the developments of Latin America.
Book on Iranian ISIS Sympathizer to Come Out in Coming Days
“Snakes and Ladders” is the title of the latest book by Iranian publisher, Shahid Kazemi.
The book narrates the story of an Iranian woman who used to be the administrator of a channel advocating the ISIS terrorist group.
The untold story of the woman, a mother of three children in her twenties, could be interesting for readers, some of whom might not imagine that a diminutive lady living in an eastern, western or southeastern province of Iran was running a social media channel in support of ISIS.
“Snakes and Ladders” tells how “Ms. Admin” joined ISIS, found pleasure in watching the gruesome images of people being killed by the ISIS fighters, and supported the enforcement of the law introduced by the self-proclaimed caliphate.
The book also contains shocking confessions from the woman after arrest.
Iran’s New Envoy to Russia Meets President Rouhani
Kazem Jalali, Iran’s incoming ambassador to the Russian Federation, held a meeting with President Rouhani in Tehran on Sunday.
In the meeting, President Rouhani highlighted the good bilateral relations and the close regional and international cooperation between Iran and Russia, and wished the new ambassador success in his mission.
The president also stressed the need for efforts to present Iran’s capabilities and potential to the Russian investors as well as private and state-run sectors, and urged the new ambassador to try to expedite the implementation of the agreements between Tehran and Moscow and to enhance relations with the “friendly and neighboring” state of Russia in all fields.
For his part, Jalali gave a brief report on the latest status of relations between Iran and Russia in various areas, and reaffirmed his resolve to fulfill the duty to broaden the economic ties and promote inclusive cooperation between Tehran and Moscow.
Iran Confectionery Contamination A Security Issue: Health Minister
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Health Minister Saeed Namaki said the conspiracy to contaminate the factory-made confectionery with pills is a security issue, committed for the purpose of galvanizing public opinion and damaging the image of the domestic food industry.
He explained that the bad cakes have been contaminated in a process outside the official production and delivery network, adding that the security and intelligence forces were following up the case.
Namaki also gave an assurance that there has been no report of toxemia caused by the contaminated cakes, saying more details about the perpetrators will be soon publicized.
In remarks on Saturday, the Iranian Food and Drug Organization spokesperson described as an act of “sabotage” drugs intentionally inserted in the confectionery products, saying its food industry was targeted in a bid to spread “terror.”
More than a month has passed since initial media reports emerged alleging that drugs have been placed in confectionery products such as cakes, biscuits and wafers.
The bad products have so far been confirmed to have been found in Iran’s eastern provinces of Kerman, Hormozgan, Sistan and Baluchistan near the Pakistani border and the western Ilam province, which borders Iraq, according to officials.
