In a statement on Sunday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said, “The recent comments and agreements of the US officials on creating a safe zone in northeastern Syria are provocative and raise concerns.”
“Such kind of measures, like the other actions by the American officials, are destabilizing and will create insecurity, apart from being instances of interference in Syria’s internal affairs,” he added.
“The Americans’ behaviour in the northeast of Syria is a blatant violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and contravenes the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter,” Mousavi noted.
“It is obvious that the security concerns in Syria’s northern border would be addressed under bilateral agreements with the neighbours and through good offices, and there is no need for meddling of foreign powers,” the spokesperson concluded.
Earlier this month, the US and Turkey agreed to establish a joint operations center in order to coordinate and manage the setting up of a safe zone in northern Syria.
Northeastern Syria is currently under the control of the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), largely comprising of the People’s Protection Units (YPG). Turkey has been pressing to establish a 30-40 km deep zone within Syria, seeking the removal of the YPG from the area. But the US has tried to limit the safe zone to 10 km.
Iran Slams US ‘Provocative’ Plan for Syria Safe Zone
Gibraltar Rejects US Request to Seize Iranian Tanker
“The Central Authority’s inability to seek the Orders requested is a result of the operation of European Union law and the differences in the sanctions regimes applicable to Iran in the EU and the US,” a Gibraltar government statement said Sunday.
“The EU sanctions regime against Iran – which is applicable in Gibraltar – is much narrower than that applicable in the US.”
The statement came after a federal court in Washington on Friday issued a warrant for the seizure of the tanker, the oil it carries and nearly $1 million.
British Royal Marines seized the Iranian oil tanker on July 4 off the coast of the British Mediterranean territory of Gibraltar on suspicion of violating EU sanctions by taking oil to Syria, which Tehran denies.
Gibraltar on Thursday released the tanker after a month, claiming that Iran has given written commitment it won’t deliver its oil to Syria. However, Iran says it has not given any promise, and that it is none of anyone’s business where it heads to.
The tanker’s release is expected to facilitate Tehran’s reciprocal release of a UK tanker it seized last month on charge of violating international maritime rules.
Iran renamed Grace-1 to Adrian Darya because Panama as the previous flag state of the ship had refused to continue to keep it registered after it was detained in Gibraltar for alleged breach of sanctions on Syria, said Iran’s ambassador to the UK.
“Renaming the tanker carrying Iranian oil created this wrong perception for some that the move was meant to circumvent the sanctions,” wrote Hamid Baeidinejad in a tweet.
He said that based on maritime regulations, a ship bears the flag of the country where it is registered and therefore, it should have a name chosen by that country.
“Naturally, with the registration of the ship in Iran, a new Iranian name was picked for it,” said the envoy, reiterating that the tanker is free from any sanctions and its oil cargo belongs to the National Iranian Oil Company.
Seven Arab States Plus Iran Can Ensure Security of Persian Gulf: IRGC
“The seven countries to the south of the Persian Gulf plus Iran are fully capable of establishing security,” the top general said on Sunday, stressing that foreign military presence would be a cause for insecurity.
“Today, we can establish security in the Persian Gulf. Iran is the flag-bearer [among the countries] of establishing security,” he stressed.
He also noted that deep waterways in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman and between Iranian islands are safe and that the Islamic Republic has always worked to establish security there.
“If the region was set on fire, the foreigners would merely seek to convince regional countries that they need weapons,” he said.
“In fact, the United States and the United Kingdom want to insinuate that the region is insecure.”
The IRGC general said the Persian Gulf is an “enclosed” gulf, and that US aircraft carriers and submarines operating on nuclear fuel would cause serious trouble if “they encountered some problem.”
“[If that happened,] the very countries south of the Persian Gulf and our Muslim neighbours — which have [so many] water desalination machines — will have no water to drink,” he said.
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on August 18
19 Dey:
1- Larijani: US People Ruled by Leaders Similar to Don Quixote
2- Zarif: We’re Not Allowed to Make Choices on Behalf of People
Abrar:
1- Iran Top General: We’re on Verge of Self-Sufficiency in Plane Engine Production
2- Abdul-Mahdi’s Aide: Iraq Played a Role in Release of Grace-1
Ebtekar:
1- Future of Guerrilla War in Yemen
* Iran’s Foreign Ministry Hosts Ansarullah’s Talks with 4 EU States
Etemad:
1- Iran Mediator of Yemen Crisis
* Ansarullah Chief: We Haven’t Taken a Single Order from Iran So Far
Ettela’at:
1- Iran, Ansarullah, Four EU Ambassadors Meet in Tehran
2- Ansarullah Launches Massive Attack on Saudi Refinery with 10 Drones
Javan:
1- Yemeni Dagger in Riyadh’s Oil Heart
* Ansarullah Drones Hit Aramco Facilities in Heart of Saudi Arabia
2- American Warships Craves Being Hunted by Iran!
* US Court Issues Warrant for Seizure of Iran’s Tanker
Jomhouri Eslami:
1- Ways to End Yemen War Discussed in Tehran between Ansarullah, E4
Kayhan:
1- US Threatens Iranian Oil Tanker: Washington Desires Being Slapped by Iran!
2- 10 Ansarullah Drones Attack Biggest Oil Reserve Facility in Saudi Arabia
Shargh:
1- Judiciary Official: It’d Be Better for Fugitives If They Return to Iran
2- Intelligence Minister Must Answer MPs’ Question about Nuclear Case
Iran, Kuwait Eye Enhanced Ties in Defiance of US Pressures
In the Sunday meeting, the Kuwaiti crown prince extended Zarif a warm and friendly welcome, and said the Kuwaiti Emir was very interested in meeting the Iranian top diplomat, but the meeting could not take place over the latter’s illness.
The Kuwaiti official said regional interests are above and more important than anything, adding, “We are always prepared for cooperation and dialogue, and consider it to be in the interest of the region and its security and stability.”
Zarif, in turn, wished health and speedy recovery for the Kuwaiti Emir, and described him as one of the prudent leaders of the region.
He described as friendly and brotherly the relations between Iran and Kuwait, and called for deepening and development of reciprocal ties.
He also highlighted the necessity for cooperation among regional countries given the ongoing developments, and said, “We and you will remain in this region, and the outsiders will leave.”
The Iranian top diplomat arrived in Kuwait on Saturday for a one-day visit.
Last night, he held talks with members of Kuwait-Iran Friendship Association, where they conferred on a broad range of issues, such as the friendly and age-old relations between Iran and Kuwait.
They also exchanged views on regional issues including the Palestinians’ conditions, the necessity for cooperation in the Persian Gulf, the current situation in the region, and the US’ economic terrorism against people of Iran.
All You Need to Know about Car Rental Insurance in Iran
Tourists and all the customers who want to rent a car in Iran may have some worries and questions like, what should we do if an accident happens? Who should pay for accident damage? Are the cars covered by full insurance? These are the questions that we are going to answer in this article. So, don’t miss it.
Car Rental Insurance in Iran
If you rent a car in Iran from such reputable companies as Saadatrent, Europcar and rentkonim, they can grantee that all of their rental cars are covered by full insurance and also the highest level of CDW insurance. When you have a car rental agreement with these companies, you will also receive car insurance from them.
In this article, we are going to compare these car rental companies to see what are the conditions and facilities of each of them for car insurance.
Well, the first we want to check out is the conditions of car rental company Saadatrent. Saadatrent is one of the biggest and most trustworthy companies for car rental in Iran.
How Much We Should Pay for Car Insurance?
In Saadatrent, you do not need to pay any extra expenses for car insurance. The insurance liability ceiling for car rental in Saadatrent is €200, which is paid as a deposit.
Besides, there are two kinds of insurance that you can pay for while reserving your car rental.
Windscreen, light and tire protection that is €18 and theft protection that is 36€ that if you choose them, by paying their cost, you also receive them on your Iran car full insurance.
What will happen, if we have a car accident?
If you have a car accident, as we mentioned, your insurance liability ceiling is only €200 that you’ve paid as your deposit. That means if the accident damage for your rented car is less than €200, you will pay from your deposit and if it’s a really bad accident, you only have to pay that €200 as the damage cost.
What Will Happen, If Our Rented Car Is Stolen?
If you find out that your rented car has been stolen, there will be two situations: first is when you buy the theft protection from the car rental company, in this case, you only have to pay that €200 that you’ve paid as a deposit.
But if you haven’t bought that insurance, besides the €200, you have to pay the insurance franchise that the insurance company will calculate.
Europcar is the second car rental company in Iran that we want to check out. This company is an international car rental company in Iran with many branches around the country.
Beside a €300 deposit, Europcar has three packages that each of them recommends some kinds of insurance that you have to pay for individually. The basic package includes theft protection and basic collision damage protection that is free. The medium package includes the basic package and also personal accident protection and windscreen, glass, lights and tires protection and the premium package includes all of those protections beside personal belongings protection. The medium and premium protection packages have different prices.
And the last but not the least, rentkonim company has the same terms and conditions as Saadatrent company.
Transfer Insurance of Imam Khomeini International Airport
The CIP Hall of Imam Khomeini Airport (cip ika) is an area provided for passengers’ comfort. Various services are considered for the passengers who receive this service. When you return or enter an airport, you may ask how to get to your next destinations. One of the services presented to you is Imam Khomeini Airport transfer.
Everyone who uses this airport transfer service will receive rental car insurance and all the tips mentioned about rented cars insurance will be included as well. The passengers of the CIP will be able to opt for their insurance level after renting a car.
Iran Develops Rehab Limbs to Improve Motor Functions
The product is, in fact, limbs developed during the course of a research project at the University of Tehran which are used for rehabilitation purposes.
The rehab limbs have been developed based on a new control model capable of explaining how the balance of humans’ torso should be maintained.
Accordingly, the torso could be controlled by establishing a link between the waist and the force exerted along legs. In this research project, the control-based approach of the said model was used to design and control passive rehabilitation limbs.
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”
The project was basically aimed at producing passive rehab limbs in order to reduce energy consumption and increase strength in healthy people. Given the nature of the survey which is based on developing a product for rehabilitation and improving motor functions, its applications can be extended to such areas as the evaluation of the method proposed to design the product in order to rehabilitate patients and improve motor skills in healthy individuals, production of scientific know-how in the domain of rehab limbs, and setting the stage for the extension of this approach to other domains related to human motor skills such as the movement of the torso (e.g., hands).
Iran Strongly Condemns Suicide Blast in Kabul
Seyyed Abbas Mousavi offered condolences to the Afghan government and people, especially the bereaved families of the victims of this inhumane act.
He expressed the Iranian government and nation’s support for the Afghan government and nation, saying the perpetrators of such crimes are enemies of humanity, peace, security and stability in Afghanistan and in the whole region.
“Afghanistan is passing through tough times and a determining juncture along which lie numerous problems and obstacles,” said the spokesman.
“We are confident that Afghanistan can weather these problems and shape a bright future for the country’s future generations through unity between the government and nation and among all parties and ethnic groups, patience and far-sightedness,” Mousavi noted.
“In this path, Afghanistan will always have Iran by its side,” he said.
An explosion hit a wedding ceremony in the west of Kabul late on Saturday, leaving at least 63 people dead and over 180 people injured.
According to guests present there, the assailant set off the explosives near the stage where children and youth had gathered. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but Taliban has denied having any role in the attack.
The Afghan President has blamed the Taliban for the deadly bomb blast in the capital Kabul. In a tweet, Ashraf Ghani denounced the attack as barbaric and said the Taliban “provide a platform for terrorists.”
Taliban militants and groups affiliated with the ISIS terror group have been behind numerous such explosions in the past.
Over 600 Political Prisoners in Bahrain Go on Hunger Strike
Over 400 inmates started an open-ended hunger strike on Sunday morning, joining 196 others who had began refusing food a short while earlier on Friday.
They are also voicing solidarity with 15 political prisoners who are being held incommunicado at Jaw prison and who initiated the hunger strike campaign on Thursday.
Bahraini detainees complain about harassment during family visits, saying that they are prohibited from practicing their religious rituals in jail while being subjected to beatings, psychological pressure, and the confiscation of their belongings.
In a letter delivered to the Bahraini media, Hasan al-Ghsara, one of the 15 political inmates said that the group had decided to refuse food after spending two years in “systematic isolation” at Jaw prison.
He said that the prisoners were held under “harsh conditions,” and particularly faced “the denial of basic rights guaranteed in accordance with international and local laws.”
Bahraini authorities, he said, subject the prisoners to “psychological torture” and put them under a “monitoring process” in violation of their privacy.
“We have been placed under strict security restrictions in private rooms without being giving rational reasons for that; we suffer from clear discrimination,” read the letter. “We are not treated like the rest of the prisoners. We have been placed in rooms where we are prevented from freely practicing our religious rituals.”
Since February 2011, Bahraini people have been regularly holding peaceful protest rallies, demanding that the Al Khalifah family relinquish power and let a just system representing all Bahrainis be established.
They have also been complaining against widespread discrimination against the country’s Shia majority.
Manama has responded to the demonstrations heavy-handedly. The authorities have detained rights campaigners, broken up major opposition parties, revoked the nationality of several pro-democracy activists, and deported those made stateless.
Iran Drawing More Tourists Despite US Sanctions
In an interview with IRNA on Saturday, Amir Hassankhani quoted the head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) as saying that the number of foreign tourists who have visited Iran in the first four months of the current Iranian year (March 21-July 22, 2019) has increased by 50 percent in comparison to the previous year.
He also noted that the income from the tourism industry in the past Iranian year contributed to the inauguration of 96 new private and state-run museums.
The lawmaker then said that the ICHTO has devised plans to facilitate visits to Iran and supply the foreign tourists with electronic credit cards for shopping or leisure activities.
According to Hassankhani, a new scheme to boost the tourism industry has enabled the applicants across Iran to open a hotel in less than a month.
Referring to a plan to turn the ICHTO into a ministry, the lawmaker said efforts are underway to achieve the goal of $1.2 billion in the export of Iranian handicrafts in the current year.
In June, the spokesman of Iran’s government said the visit of foreign tourists would be eased upon an order from President Hassan Rouhani.
In recent months, Iranian officials have increased efforts to boost the tourism sector to increase foreign currency revenues and create jobs.
The decline in the national currency’s value last year has meant that travelling to and shopping in Iran has become even cheaper for foreign nationals.
