Wednesday, December 24, 2025
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Iran FM Due in Pakistan to Pursue Fate of Abducted Guards

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said Zarif will head a political and military delegation in his visit to Islamabad, which will be made after the end of his ongoing trip to Turkey.

“The latest measures taken by the Pakistani government to ensure the security and freedom of 12 Iranian border guards abducted by terrorist groups would be high on the agenda,” Qassemi said.

He also noted that bilateral relations and the most important regional and international developments would also be discussed during this visit.

At least 12 Iranian guards were kidnapped on the joint border with Pakistan earlier this month.

Later, the Jaish al-Adl terrorist group published photos of the kidnapped border guards claiming that they have seized a large amount of weapons at the time of capturing the Iranian forces in Mirjaveh.

Iran Denies Denmark’s Accusation of Assassination Attempt

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi on Tuesday dismissed such claims saying that the allegations are in line with the conspiracies and plots of the enemies of Iran who cannot stand the good and growing relations between Tehran and Europe in the current special situation.

Denmark claimed on Tuesday it suspected an Iranian intelligence service had tried to carry out a plot to assassinate an Iranian opposition figure on its soil.

Swedish security police said a Norwegian citizen of Iranian background was arrested in Sweden on Oct. 21 in connection with the plot and extradited to Denmark.

In protest at the alleged attempt, Copenhagen on Tuesday recalled its ambassador to Tehran.

Iran Thanks Iraq for Warm Hospitality towards Arba’een Pilgrims

In a Tuesday phone conversation with Iraqi President Barham Salih, Es’haq Jahangiri appreciated Baghdad’s warm hospitality during Arba’een.

“For his part, the Iraqi president thanked Arba’een pilgrims, particularly the Iranians,” he noted.

Arba’een Paves Way for Further Friendship between Two Nations

In a separate meeting with the Governor of Najaf Seyyed Javad al-Yasiri, the Iranian official also thanked the Iraqi top Shiite cleric for their guidance to hold Arba’een ceremony with more grandeur and dignity.

“Arba’een has always played a key role in strengthening of ties between the two nations,” he noted.

For his part, Najaf governor expressed delight that the enemies have failed in their plots to create division between the two nations and added despite the recent attack on Iranian consulate in Basra, the ties between Iran and Iraq are deepening.”

He also said Iranian pilgrims observed the laws of Iraq during the procession and added the Iraqi government thanks Iranian pilgrims for their cooperation with the officials in charge to hold Arba’een ceremony smoothly and without any serious problem.

Iran’s first vice president arrived in the holy city Najaf earlier Tuesday for a one-day visit to Iraq. He visited the holy city of Karbala after paying tribute to the shrine of first Shiite Imam in Najaf.

He took part in Arba’een march from Najaf to Karbala on foot. Jahamgiri is accompanied in the visit by Iran’s Sports and Youths Minister Maso’ud Soltanifar and Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi.

Millions of Pilgrims Converge in Karbala to Mark Arba’een

Shiite Muslims to Observe Arbaeen Remotely over Pandemic: Iran

The pilgrims converged on Karbala after an 80km march from the holy city of Najaf.
The procession has been held so far in full security thanks to efforts by the Iraqi army and popular forces.

Arba’een marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, in 680 AD.

According to Iraqi officials, pilgrims from 30 countries came to Iraq in Arba’een last year, but the number of countries this year has increased to 60.

Karbala, which hosts the holy shrine of Imam Hussein, has attracted millions of pilgrims, even non-Muslims, who create the world’s hugest human gathering in modern history.

Massive Arba’een Procession Held in Tehran as Shiites Convene in Karbala

A main road to southern Tehran leading to the holy shrine of Abdol Azim al-Hasani (AS) in Rey was blocked to motorists to allow a packed crowd to go on the pilgrimage on foot.

Since a couple of years ago, Tehran residents, calling themselves those “left behind” (for not having had the opportunity to take part in the annual Arbaeen march in Iraq), walk long distances from different parts of Tehran to Rey on Arbaeen.

Arbaeen is a national holiday in Iran. It marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), in 680 AD.

The Iraqi city of Karbala, which hosts the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS), has attracted millions of pilgrims, even non-Muslims, who create the world’s hugest human gathering in modern history.

Iran Condemns Killing of Arba’een Mourners in Nigeria

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi on Monday highlighted the need to respect religious ceremonies held by Shiite Muslims in the country.

“We have received conflicting news about the incident, and we are closely monitoring relevant developments and news, waiting for the different dimensions of the incident to come to light,” Qassemi told Fars News Agency.

“Initial information about the incident shows clashes erupted between police forces and mourners which left a number of demonstrators dead and wounded. While condemning this killing, we sympathize with the families of those killed,” he added.

He urged Nigerian security forces to exercise self-restraint and stressed that the dignity of peaceful religious ceremonies held by Shiites should be respected.

The spokesman further expressed hope that both sides will, through peaceful and legal means based on respect for civil rights, be able to manage the situation in order to maintain tranquility and stability and prevent further clashes and tension.

At least 10 people were killed in a raid by Nigerian security forces on members of the country’s Shia Muslim community.

Reports by local Nigerian media said scores of people had also been injured after Nigerian security forces opened fire on Muslim worshippers gathering for a procession in Zuba, in Gwagwalada area of the capital Abuja.

Those killed in the attack were members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), a group that has been subject to a harsh government crackdown over the past three years.

Local media said the Muslim worshipers had gathered near Abuja from Suleja, in Niger state, for a three-day procession to commemorate the annual Arba’een occasion, which marks the 40th day since the anniversary of the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein.

Arba’een Pilgrims Earn Iraq $80m in Revenues

The head of the Iraqi General Authority for Border Ports, Kazim al-Aqabi, told a press conference on Monday that the visa fee for each pilgrim is $40, and that has generated $80 million for the government.

This Iraqi official stated that the police, security forces and other institutions are involved in providing security.

The Iraqi forces have taken tight security measures on the paths leading to Karbala to prevent any possible attack by the ISIS and other terrorist groups.

Shiites, Sunnis, and people of other faiths from across the world have been on a spiritual journey to the Iraqi city of Karbala since almost three weeks ago. Many of them are from Iran going on foot to the holy Shrine of third Shiite Imam, Hussein ibn Ali, in Karbala.

Over two million Iranians have so far entered the Iraqi territory for this year’s Arba’een.

Many people, mainly Iranians and Iraqis, are doing volunteer work along the routes to Karbala. They offer everything from drinking water, meals, and shoe polishing service to the pilgrims free of charge.

Iran FM Attends Opening Ceremony of Istanbul Airport

The new Istanbul airport / Photo by Murad Sezer, Reuters

The ceremony, hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was attended by a number of presidents, foreign ministers, and other high-ranking officials from several countries of the world.

The massive new airport project is expected to become one of the world’s largest once complete in 2028.

More than 50 foreign dignitaries from at least 18 countries attended the lavish opening ceremony of the first phase of the new facility, called Istanbul Airport, local media reported.

“We see Istanbul Airport as investment not only in our country but also in our region and the world,” Erdogan said at the ceremony which coincided with the 95th anniversary of the Turkish Republic.

It is expected that a daily 2,000 aircraft from more than 250 carriers will go through the airport by the end of 2018 to over 350 destinations, said Anadolu.

Constructed at an initial cost of $7.2 billion, the new facility is expected to provide more than $30.65b in revenue for the government and host 90 million passengers by the end of the 2018 and up to 200 million upon completion in 2028.

According to preliminary 2017 figures from the Airport Council International, Atlanta airport in the United States hosted almost 104 million passengers last year.

Next came Beijing with 95.7 million passengers, Dubai with 88.2 million, Tokyo with 85.4 million and Los Angeles with 84.5 million.

Among other officials present at the inauguration ceremony were Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and leaders from Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Albania and Serbia.

Iran Congratulates Brazil on Successful Presidential Election

In a Monday statement, Qassemi hailed the election in Brazil and wished success for President-elect Jair Bolsonaro.

“We do hope that under the new administration, relations between Tehran and Brasilia will continue to expand and flourish in all economic and political fields,” added Qassemi.

The Iranian spokesperson further noted that Iran and Brazil have a 118-year-old history of bilateral relations, which have always been growing, firmly established and stable.

Far-right politician Bolsonaro won a sweeping victory in Brazil’s presidential election on Sunday.

Bolsonaro had 55.2 percent of the votes in the run-off election against left-wing hopeful Fernando Haddad of the Workers Party, who had 44.8 percent.

The 63-year-old seven-term congressman has vowed to crack down on crime in Brazil’s cities and farm belt by granting police more autonomy to shoot at criminals. He also wants to let more Brazilians buy weapons to fight crime.

What Foods Should We Eat to Remain Healthy?

As the first step, you should fill your refrigerator with all types of healthy, colourful and nutritious foods. While choosing your foods, you should be very careful about the amount of proteins, antioxidants, vitamins, probiotic products, minerals, fibres and fats within them.

Food security means equal physical and economic access by all people, wherever and whenever, to all healthy, sufficient and nutritious foods for having a healthy and active life.

Malnutrition usually leads to death. 60 percent of children’s death in the world is due to malnutrition. One in ten children who have lost their lives suffered from severe malnutrition. 1.2 to 3 million children in the world die of vitamin A shortage. 20 percent of mothers lose their lives because of iron deficiency anemia. Meanwhile, the high number of low-birth-weight infants is mainly due to their mothers’ weakening diseases.

Disorders resulted from shortage of iodine usually lead to a decrease of 13.5 in IQ. Meanwhile, malnutrition dramatically reduces children’s capabilities in the schools and hampers their educational progress. Families play a leading role in the nutrition of their members. The combination of the family nutrition basket hinges on a number of elements with culture and nutrition knowledge as the most important ones.

For a more detailed review of Iran’s achievments in various fields of science and technology, check the book “Science and Technology in Iran: A Brief Review”, released by the Science and Technology Department of the Iranian President’s Office.

Each complete and healthy diet is set according to the food pyramid. For example, it’s better for you to have some eggs, avocados and trail mix for breakfast, various types of vegetable soup for lunch and spinach and other vegetables or some plant proteins, fish, meat or rice for dinner.

Note that you don’t need to overuse healthy foods. Eat your food slowly and whenever you feel hungry. Vegetables should be among the main priorities of your healthy diet before proteins and cereals. Meanwhile, care about use of various types of sausage or pickles. These foods usually contain a large amount of sugar, salts and many types of preservatives which are not usually enlisted as the main ingredients of healthy foods.

What Foods Should We Eat to Remain Healthy?When you decide to eat a food, view it in a big picture instead of an individual meal. For example, vegetables are ranked as healthiest foods but you should not eat vegetables for breakfast or dinner. If you do so, you wouldn’t have a healthy diet any further and your daily calories are not procured.

So, if you eat vegetable soups for lunch, there is no need any more to have proteins, fats, iron anemia or calcium during breakfast and dinner. Pay attention to the foods you take during each day.

You should be aware whether or not the food you take includes fibres, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins or other healthy ingredients. This helps you to gradually fill your food basket with healthy materials ensuring your own and your family members’ health.