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Casualties Reported after 5.7-Magnitude Quake Hits SW Iran

The earthquake hit an area near the city of Masjed Soleyman in Khuzestan at 11:30 a.m. (local time) on Monday, according to the Seismological Centre of the Institute of Geophysics of Tehran University.

The epicentre, with a depth of 17 km, was determined to be at 31.95 degrees of north latitude and 49.50 degrees of east longitude.

The location of the quake has been reported to be 19 km from Masjed Soleyman and 29 km from Qaleh-ye Khajeh, data from the seismological centre showed.

According to initial reports, a middle-aged man, frightened by the quake, has lost his life over a heart attack. 64 others have also been wounded.

The quake has been so strong that several other provinces neighbouring Khuzestan have been jolted. It has also been felt in the neighbouring country of Kuwait.

Iran is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, being crossed by several major fault lines that cover at least 90% of the country. As a result, earthquakes in Iran occur often and are destructive.

Iranian Clothing; Small Window to World

Iran is a country where large companies in globally successful sectors have no representation because of the economic blockade and sanctions imposed by the international community, as a consequence of Iran’s nuclear program. Apart from this situation, for Sharifabadi, the owner of the Zarir Design clothing brand, the importance of fashion in Iran is the same as in other parts of the world. Iranians have a vast history in the textile industry, they always design beautiful designs focusing primarily on textures, but because of some limitations they may not pay enough attention to this problem in the past.
Fortunately, everything has changed in recent years and they have started a new path. Now they have Iranian designers who created their own brands, festivals are held … all of this helps the rebirth of this field, which is in full growth.
Zarir Design is a reference in elegance because it has successfully integrated traditional elements in sewing lines, where warm colours and Persian identities prevail. Always with innovation as a distinguishing element. Persian identity seems to find itself back on the international stage. Even many London wedding photographer services take ancient Persian details in each of their shots, adding ethnic elements to produce something that will be remembered long enough.
Today, many Iranian designers combine sound tones using modern patterns and prioritize that tones can be used every day. While it’s true that there are creators who want to delete topics related to the state in terms of style, there are still some who survive. For example, if you travel to Iran, visitors must comply with the mandatory dress code.

Iranian clothing
At Tehran Fashion School, girls complain that their designs cannot be worn in Iran’s daily life, only at private parties. But it seems that this situation will not last long as the “revolution” spreads among young Iranians.

Indeed, there are several rules of the game that must be followed if you want to enter the area. To receive a visa, women must cover their hair, not necessarily fully, with a headscarf, which can be replaced with an “appropriate hat”, as long as the neck is not shown, or with a tight bandana around the head, known in Persian as Roosari. Another requirement, for women too, is that they have to cover their bodies with loose clothes: the legs cannot be opened, “tight jeans are not a problem,” they said. The only prohibition for men is to wear shorts.
Since the 1979 Revolution, Iran has generated a stereotypical image of women covered with black veils. But this is a rather incomplete picture of reality. While it is true that this historical moment was revealed in a model that is aesthetically inherent in tradition that wants to fight the canon of Western beauty, 35 years later, on the road, that perception is very different. This country has one of the highest youth population levels in the world. With almost 80 million residents, 4.4 million of them are students, and, of these, 65% are women. This is an increasingly dynamic society, where opening scenarios – like fashion – was unthinkable some time ago.

Remains of Ancient Neanderthal Horses Found in Iran’s Qazvin

Remains of Ancient Neanderthal Horses Found in Iran’s Qazvin

The head of team said the second phase of excavations is underway in Qaleh Kord Cave of Avaj, Qazvin province; where the team found the remains of neanderthal horses.

Hamed Vahdati Nasab told IRNA that the first stage of excavations was carried out last year. An Iranian-French archaeology team is working on the second phase in the form of a joint mission; which is to continue until the end of July.

Remains of Ancient Neanderthal Horses Found in Iran’s Qazvin
First Joint Habitat of Neanderthals, Homo Sapiens Found in Iran

According to him, Qaleh Kord Cave of Avaj is one of the highest caves in Iran, and is about 2,100 metres above the sea level.

The cave has turned into a tourist attraction during past few years; so numerous unauthorized excavations took place there.

“The cave is very long, however the archaeologists have focused on its entrance; which is very rich in terms of cultural remnants. Most activities in the Paleolithic period took place there. We have found several thousand heads of arrows and animal remains from teeth to bones and horse skulls.”

Pointing out that the main hunt of Neanderthal people was wild horse, he said based on his studies, several different remains of such horses have been found in this cave.

The general size of these horses is about one and a half times larger than today’s ones, he added.

During the first phase of joint Iran-France archeological exploration in Qaleh Kord Cave of Avaj in Qazvin Province, over 6,000 cultural works from two boreholes were discovered.

Saudis Recruiting Son of Iran’s Ex-Shah for Anti-Iran TV Show

Informed sources say a number of Saudi intelligence officers have been deployed to the UK since a while ago to start the production and broadcast of a television program featuring Reza Pahlavi, who considers himself an opposition leader in exile. A media advisor group is also scheduled to give them assistance.

Noor News has quoted some sources as saying that Reza Pahlavi had asked for a large amount of money, but ultimately and under the pressure of a European intelligence service he accepted to appear in the show receiving one-fifth of his initial request.

The goal of the program is to lift up the Pahlavi monarchy and to eliminate the hatred in the Iranian society towards the treachery of this family and also to create a positive mindset about them using psychological and media operations.

The initial proposal was set forth by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in order to create an internal division in the Iranian society.

The MKO, which is strongly against Reza Pahlavi as one of the opposition elements of the Islamic Republic, has warned Saudis and some sponsors of the program that in case of producing such program, they will disclose secret information about them.

Based on the information received, Reza Pahlavi is scheduled to travel to several countries and meet with leaders of some of the opposition movements.

Earlier, the Guardian revealed that the UK-based TV station is being funded through a secretive offshore entity and a company whose director is a Saudi businessman with close links to bin Salman.

It also said that Saud al-Qahtani, the crown prince’s information tsar, who was among two senior officials removed in connection with the Khashoggi case, was involved in the funding of Iran International TV.

Back in 2017, Iran International TV abruptly emerged on the London media scene. Many of the 100-strong staff network were offered generous salaries, often double what rivals paid, but was elusive about its source of funding.

Busts of Top Iranian Artists, Elites on Display at Tehran Symposium

During the event, which is being held at Tehran’s Einoldoleh Mansion, the busts of 26 contemporary Iranian artists have been put on display.

Busts of Top Iranian Artists, Elites on Display at Tehran Symposium
Persian Architecture in Photos: Einoldoleh Mansion

According to Honar Online, the artists participating in the event were selected based on their background and with the vote of an art council.

The sculptors will have to create the portraits of the figures assigned to them. At the end of the symposium, the sculptures will be molded and the works will be installed at the designated locations in the city. Cash gifts will also be handed to the artists.

The symposium tries to provide the young generation of sculptures with the chance to make use of the experience of veterans. The event is open to the public for free from 9 am to 5 pm.

 

Iran Weighing Plan to Collect Toll from Ships at Hormuz Strait

Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi said in remarks published on Sunday that the parliament bill to charge foreign ships passing through the narrow waterway which accommodates around a third of global seaborne oil traffic is meant to reciprocate hostile actions by the United States and its allies in the region.

Ghazizadeh said the toll would also be a scheme to compensate Iran’s efforts to ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz and in the wider Persian Gulf region.

“If Iran is the real guarantor (of security) in the region and in international waters, then the parliament believes that commercial hubs and all ships in the region should pay the cost in the form of tolls based on the international norms and (due to conducts of) the United States,” he said in an interview with the Sobhe No’ newspaper.

The lawmaker said the bill has yet to be approved for an official debate in the parliament, saying it had raised objections from political forces who seek “normalization for Iran” and believe Tehran should maintain the status quo in the Parisian Gulf.

Ghazizadeh said that Iran could introduce its own preferential charging mechanism for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Since the bill is based on our country’s internal laws, (the toll) could be levied on unfriendly countries, meaning those who have no trade relations with us and have recognized US sanctions (against Iran),” he said.

Iran controls much of the northern part of the Strait of Hormuz as it is situated within the country’s territorial waters.

The waterway and the wider Persian Gulf region has been the scene of some unprecedented tensions between Iran and the US over the past months. The tensions escalated on June 21 when Iran shot down an intruding US drone.

Iran has repeatedly warned that it would close the Strait of Hormuz and stop the oil traffic through the waterway if the United States manages to succeed in its plans to cut Iran’s oil exports to zero.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 7

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 19

Abrar:
1- Europe’s Inaction Cooridnated with US: MP
2- We Expect Iran to Remain Committed to Nuclear Deal: German Official

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 7


 

Aftab-e Yazd:
1- If Tension between Iran, US Heightens, Afghan Refugees Head to Europe: Luxemburg
2- Macron Calls Rouhani Again

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 7


Arman-e Emrouz:
1- Second Phase of Iran’s Reduction of Commitments after EU’s Non-commitment
2- “INSTEX without Selling Oil is Meaningless”
3- Stopping Tanker; Heightening Tensions, UK’s Withdrawal from JCPOA: Expert
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 7


 

Donyay-e Eqtesad:
1- Trump’s Ties with Evangelists
2- 2- Special Tariffs to be Set for Bitcoin Miners

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 7


Ebtekar:
1- Europe’s Uses Inaction Gesture
2- Iran’s Action Has Nothing to Do with Board of Governors: IAEA Envoy

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 7


Etemad:
1- Unconstructive Inaction of Europe
2- Iran Takes Second Step As EU Does Not Fulfil Its JCPOA Commitments

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 7


Etela’at:
1- Suspension of All Sanctions Can Be Beginning of Resumption of Talks Between Iran and P5+1: Rouhani
2- US, Some Iraqi Army Officers’ Plot against Hashd al-Shaabi Revealed
3- Board of Governors to Hold Meeting on Iran on Wednesday
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 7


 

Farhikhtegan:
1- Nuclear Retreat
2- Recent Sanctions Funny, Ineffective: US Professor
3- EU the Same as the US!
4- Four frames of Javad Zarif’s Memoirs

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 7


 

Hemayat:
1- Continuity of Strategy; Commitment for Commitment
2- End of 60-Day Deadline

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 7


Jomhouri Eslami:
1- Iran’s New Decisions on JCPOA Commitments
2- US Violator of JCPA; Board of Governors Must Not Pay Heed to US Requests: Iran
3- More Jewish Protests against Racial Discrimination in Israel

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 7


Kayhan:
1- 60-day Deadline Over; Return to Pre-deal Point
2- CIA’s Spy Captured by Iraqi Army

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 7


Khorasan:
1- Historic Records Hit at Tehran Auction
2- ISIS in Afghanistan to Stand against Russia or Iran?: Expert

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 7


Ta’adol:
1- End of 60-Day Deadline
2- Would Iran Take 2nd Step?
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on July 7

What Foreign Tourists Think about Iran

What follows are photos of a number of foreign tourists writing their opinion about the country at the request of Mehr News Agency’s reporter:

Iran Says Nuclear Measures Reversible If E3 Comply with JCPOA

“Today, Iran is taking its second round of remedial steps under Paragraph 36 of the JCPOA,” Zarif said in a Sunday tweet, shortly after the country announced the beginning of the second phase of reducing its nuclear commitments.

“We reserve the right to continue to exercise legal remedies within JCPOA to protect our interests in the face of US Economic Terrorism,” he added.

“All such steps are reversible only through E3 compliance,” Zarif stressed.

The Iranian foreign minister at the same time called on the European parties to support Iran’s measures, which Tehran says are actually aimed at saving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

“Having failed to implement their obligations under JCPOA – including after US withdrawal –EU/E3 should at minimum politically support Iran’s remedial measures under Paragraph 36, including at IAEA,” he said.

“E3 have no pretexts to avoid a firm political stance to preserve JCPOA and counter US unilateralism,” Zarif noted.

Iran on Sunday officially announced it is boosting the level of its uranium enrichment to a level beyond the 3.67% limit set by the JCPOA.

The decision was announced by Iranian Government Spokesman Ali Rabiei in a press conference also attended by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi and the spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi.

“Today we will surpass the 3.67% limit on uranium enrichment. The purity level will be based on our need, and that will be officially realized today,” Rabiei said.

Araqchi said the second phase begins as the 60-day deadline Iran had given the other JCPOA parties is over without Iran’s demands being fulfilled.

‘US Asks Iran to Let It Conduct Limited, Face-Saving Operation’

Brigadier General Gholam Reza Jalali, the Head of Iran’s Civil Defence Organization, said Iran vehemently rejected the US request, saying that it will respond to any act of aggression.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran responded that it views any operation as a war and will give a crushing response to it. You may initiate a war but this is Iran which will finish it,” he said Sunday.

The official underlined that the US image as a super power was tarnished by the downing of its spy drone in Iranian airspace.

On June 20, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) shot down an advanced US-made RQ-4 Global Hawk that had intruded into Iranian airspace. In a tweet early the next day, US President Donald Trump said he had initially approved military strikes against Iran but had called them off just 10 minutes before they were launched.

On June 21, Reuters claimed that two unnamed “Iranian officials” had told the news agency that Trump had notified Tehran via Oman of imminent attacks after the downing of the drone.

“In his message, Trump said he was against any war with Iran and wanted to talk to Tehran about various issues…,” it cited one of the officials as saying. “However, we told the Omani official that any attack against Iran will have regional and international consequences.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, General Jalali said last year, the US strategy was focused on using cyberspace to create chaos in Iran but the strategy was foiled by Iranian officials’ vigilance.

“That’s why in this current Persian year, they have resorted to military options. They have come to this conclusion that through military options they can make divisions within the Iranian society. But with the downing of the American drone, the plot was foiled and the Iranians came to understand the hollowness of the US military power,” he noted.

The US sent over 60 diplomatic delegations to Iran as mediators to hold talks with Iran but the leader of the Islamic Revolution rejected the US calls for talks and Iran began to scale back its commitments under the JCPOA.