Iran Has No Special Plan to Control Ronaldo, Iniesta: Queiroz

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May 30, 2018

Team Melli is to face Spain in Kazan on 20 June before meeting Portugal in Saransk five days later. Queiroz has been in charge of Team Melli since April 2011. He led the team in World Cup 2014, during which Team Melli showed a brilliant performance in the match against Argentina.

In an interview with the Spanish-language daily Marca, former coach of Read Madrid has elaborated on his views about the upcoming World Cup. Here is what he told the daily, according to a report by Tasnim News.

What do you remember of the elimination of Portugal during World Cup 2010?

It was a highly difficult game for us during which the best team finally won. But if there was a more attentive referee or if there was a Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the story could have been changed. That is the past.

You are usually not lucky when it comes to referees; for example, the penalty against Argentina in the World Cup 2014.

The referee’s decision inflicted a heavy blow on us. We played very well against Argentina, but Messi came up with a magical pass. Two people turned the table on us during the game: Messi, with his fantastic pass, and the referee who didn’t see a penalty for Ashkan Dejagah. If we were awarded the penalty kick, that could have been 1-0 for us. Meanwhile, Zabaleta should have received a red card. But we always have to move on.

You have said once in an interview with the FIFA website that Messi should be banned.

(Laughing) He should have been banned from playing in the World Cup 2014. He does things that shouldn’t be allowed in football. To me, Ronaldo is the best player in the world, but Messi does things that are far beyond human capabilities.

What do you think about your draw, which grouped you with Spain, Portugal and Morocco?

It’s a very difficult and the most complicated group. But we have a clear mission: facing things, moving forward and seeking to advance. This is our goal. Our unity was very good, with a consistent sense of belonging. But we aren’t as unified as in the past. Our goal is to appear in the World Cup with a better and more competitive spirit to honour the national team’s jersey.

Your first match in the World Cup is against Morocco. How do you see it?

Iran and Morocco are two teams which seek to advance the stage group. This is better for everyone. It goes without saying that Spain and Portugal don’t play just to pass this stage. They have come to become world’s champion. But Morocco and Iran seek to be in the last 16.

How do you see today’s Spain?

Firstly, Spain has returned to its glorious days. They play beautifully, controlling the space and the ball. They are in full control of the game. Under Lopetegui, they have made progress. They have the same creativity as they had under Vicente Del Bosque. But today they have progressed and are creative in every 10 minute. This makes them a fierce rival. They not only control space and rhythm of the game but also play with high intensity.

What are the weak points of Spain in your view?

I don’t see any weak point. During the World Cup, we are going to face Spain’s football rather that its basketball. We are not going to play against an NBA team. Football is a matter of moments, decisions and inspirations. It is a game during which everything seems possible. It is a unique sport making it the most attractive one in the world. There is no winner beforehand in football. Iran will play every game, every minute and has plan for every ball. So, let’s allow the football god do its justice and make the best team win.

Do you have special plans against Ronaldo or Iniesta?

No, not at all. We are seeking to be a competitive team trying just to have a plan for 90 minutes. We know that there should be a big change before Spain. During our qualifying matches, we controlled the ball for 60 or 70% of the time but we have to push the team toward this sense that this is going to be the other way around during World Cup. We need to change our mindset. Inspiration is our greatest rival. We don’t need to make a special plan against Iniesta because Spain’s head coach may decide to put Silva, Isco, Asensio or Pique in his list for the game. We should not think of individuals. We need to be well prepared and then work on each game. We should find the origin of the possible problems.

You are going to face Ronaldo again.

It is a special occasion for me because we lived with each other for a long time. He is the best player in the world, but when there is a match, your team matters more than anything else.

How do you see Iranian football players?

They are strong and determined. We have team with a high personality and high sense of belonging. The top players of Iran are included in the national team. We don’t have stars in prestigious teams like Real Madrid, Manchester United or Inter Milan. Our star is our team. We always work together with the same mentality. We try to perform well and achieve victory through unity. The players have adapted themselves to the principles set for them. Each player knows well what expectations the team has of him.

Is it easy to work with Iranian players playing in Portugal and Belgium leagues?

It is not easy at all. We have players playing outside Iran who have international experiences. On the other hand, we have players who are playing in Iran’s league. That’s why we have sought to hold some training courses to raise their capabilities for the World Cup 2018.

And finally, this World Cup will be Iniesta’s final World Cup.

It is bad for football world that such a great player like Iniesta is going to leave Barcelona. He was part of voting that never did him justice. The world of football owes a lot to him. It is hard to believe that he has never been chosen as the best player in the world. Such things happen in football sometimes.

Minister Vows to Prevent Plunge in Iran’s Oil Exports

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IFP Editorial Staff

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May 30, 2018

“We have ideas and plans to sell oil and will work to use our experience to prevent a decrease in the oil export,” Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

“We have [already] taken measures that cannot be announced, as the US could move to create obstacles,” he said as reported by IRNA.

The minister said Iran is negotiating with Europeans to finalise an arrangement for selling them oil and receiving insurance and shipping services.

“Although less than a third of Iran’s oil export is sent to Europe, reaching agreement with them is of importance as other costumers of Iranian oil will follow in their footsteps,” he said.

Iran, which has the world’s fourth-biggest oil reserves, produces some 3.8 million barrels of oil per day, 70 percent of which goes to China and other Asian countries, and 20 percent to Europe.

Zanganeh said Tehran has also talked with China and India about their purchase of oil from Iran, and “positive messages” have been relayed to and from them.

Total Withdrawal

On the possible exit of French oil company Total from Iran South Pars 11 gas field development, Zanganeh said the energy giant has 60 days to decide whether or not it wants to remain in Iran.

Total has announced it will unwind all related projects by November 2018 unless it is granted a specific waiver by the US.

If Total decides to exit Iran for the fear of US sanctions, China’s National Petroleum Company is ready to replace it, Zanganeh said.

US President Donald Trump pulled the country out of the Iran nuclear deal on March 8, when he announced he will impose “the highest level” of economic bans on the Islamic Republic.

Iran has announced the deal could remain in place only if European parties to the pact give Tehran firm assurances that its interests will be served if they remain in the deal.

Iran and the EU have been holding intense talks to finalize a mechanism to prevent anti-Iran US sanctions from hampering trade between Iran and the green continent.

During a visit by EU Commissioner for Energy and Climate Miguel Arias Canete to Iran earlier this month, the EU agreed to open up a banking channel to allow conduction of transactions with Iran.

Iran and the EU have also agreed to form a joint working group to address challenges confronting Iran’s oil trade.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on May 30

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IFP Editorial Staff

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May 30, 2018

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 19

The top story in several papers today was the sexual harassment of a group of boys in a high school in Western Tehran by a school official. Following the sensitive scandal, Iran’s Leader Ayatollah Khamenei urged the Judiciary to immediately punish the perpetrators.

Also a top story was the move by a large number of celebrities to decline an invitation to attend President Hassan Rouhani’s Iftar (fast-breaking) ceremony. They have cited people’s economic problems and Rouhani’s unfulfilled promises as the main reasons behind their decision; however, conservative papers and government officials have criticized the move, saying that the conditions have not changed since last year when the same celebrities expressed their support for Rouhani.

The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines and top stories:

Aftab-e Yazd:

1- Bloomberg Discusses Why India Opposed to US Sanctions against Iran

Arman-e Emrooz:

1- Girl Who Criticized Iran Leader Received Gift from Him

2- Education Minister Summoned to Parliament after Sexual Harassment of High School Students

Bahar:

1- Duel with Big Boss

Aref, Haji Babaei to Compete with Larijani to Win Speaker’s Seat

Donya-ye Eqtesad:

1- Erdogan’s Campaign against Lira, Opposition Group

Will Economic Crisis Cost Dearly for Erdogan?

Ebtekar:

1- Trump, Killer of International Agreements

After Paris Climate Agreement, JCPOA, Not It’s Time for NAFTA

Etemad:

1- Education Ministry under Fire after Sexual Harassment Scandal

People, Lawmakers React to Harassment of Boys in Tehran High School

Ettela’at:

1- Gov’t Spokesman: We Need National Unity to Counter New Sanctions

Ghanoon:

1- Expert: Chabahar Goof Alternative to Oil Industry

Hamdeli:

1- One-Third of Republicans to Compete with Trump in Primary Elections

Hamshahri:

1- Leader Urges Judiciary to Mete Out Divine Punishment to Those behind Sexual Harassment Case

Iran:

1- Gov’t Allocates IRR 700,000 Billion [$16bn] to End Poverty

2- Roads Ministry: Truck Drivers Back on Road after Nationwide Strikes

Jahan-e San’at:

1- Celebrities Decline Invitation to Attend Rouhani’s Iftar Ceremony

2- Who Will Become New Parliament Speaker? Larijani’s Chance More than Aref’s

Javan:

1- Iftar Time

Rouhani Now Understands Consequences of Relying on Celebrities, Forgetting Poor People

2- MPs: JCPOA Not to Do Any Miracle, We Must Think of Domestic Production

Jomhouri Eslami:

1- Mogherini: JCPOA Very Important for Europe in Terms of Security

2- German FM: We’re Prepared to Help Iran’s Economy

3- Muqtada al-Sadr: We Won’t Ever Let US Interfere in Iraq’s Internal Affairs

4- Iran Leader: We Must Move towards Our Causes with Faster Pace, More Power

Kayhan:

1- Mogherini: We Have No Conflict of Opinion with US on Iran’s Missile Program

2- Belgians Put One Pair of Shoes for Every Palestinian Martyr in Front of EU HQ

3- How Casualties of US School Shootings Outnumbered Those of War Fronts

Kelid:

1- Necessity of Serious Fight against Sexual Harassment: 36 Parents Sue School Official

Khorasan:

1- Zarif’s Two-Day Visit to New Delhi Over: Iran, India Agree to Defy US Sanctions

Shahrvand:

1- Government Spokesman Criticizes Celebrities Who Refused to Attend Rouhani’s Iftar

Were People’s Economic Conditions Better than Today When You Supported Rouhani?

Shargh:

1- Where Is Iraq Heading to?

Ammar al-Hakim’s Representative: Whoever Wants to Form Gov’t Must Form Coalition with Us

Tejarat:

1- Russia, China Ready for Railway Cooperation with Iran in Case of Europeans’ Withdrawal

Vatan-e Emrooz:

1- Pasteurized Parliament: Third Attempt to Summon Rouhani Fails Thanks to Lobby Groups, Threats

Iran Leader Appoints New Air Defence Commander

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IFP Media Wire

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May 30, 2018

In a decree on Tuesday, Ayatollah Khamenei put Brigadier General Sabahi Fard in charge of the Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base (the central headquarters of Iran’s Air Defense).

Sabahi Fard succeeded Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili as the Air Defense chief.

The following is the full text of the edict, released by Khamenei.ir:

In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful,

Brigadier General Alireza Sabahi Fard,

Considering your commitment, qualifications, and valuable experiences, I appoint you as the commander of Khatam al-Anbia Anti-Aircraft Base of the Army.

Increased growth and strength of the anti-aircraft organization, along with identifying goals and actions of the enemies, enhancement of training, updated maintenance of tools and equipment and optimum usage of them, awareness and timely preparations, using various methods in countering aircrafts, while in an effective and efficient correlation with the great entity of the Army -the AJA (Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces)- and other related military and non-military sections are expected.

I thank the efforts and services made by Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili during the time he held this responsibility.

I ask Allah the Great to bestow success on everyone.

Sayyid Ali Khamenei

May 29, 2018

Ask Foreign Tourists about Security in Iran!

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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May 30, 2018

Jonathan Betkolia, the representative of the Assyrian community at the Iranian Parliament, has urged media to introduce Iran to foreign visitors very well, saying foreign tourists are the best promoters of tourism in Iran as they let their friends and compatriots know more about the country.

“Embassies and mass media should show the real picture of Iran to foreign visitors and, in addition to introducing tourist attractions, inform the whole world [through foreign tourists] about the country’s security and tranquility,” said the lawmaker, who is also a member of Parliament’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Commission.

Speaking in an interview with IRNA, he also touched upon the diversity of ethnic groups and religions in Iran.

“Iran has diverse cultural and historical attractions for foreign tourists, and the existence of numerous historical and religious sites is one of the advantages of the country’s tourism sector,” the MP noted.

“As a religious site, the Vatican hosts 30 to 40 million visitors annually, and Iran, too, has thousands of invaluable historical and religious monuments which should be introduced to tourists on the international stage,” said the legislator.

He highlighted the need to use the power of the media to promote the country’s tourist attractions. He further highlighted that the productions of certain multilingual and visual media outlets play an effective role in that regard.

“Unlike the negative propaganda by foreign media outlets, the Islamic headscarf is no impediment to the attraction of foreign tourists; rather, the thing that has had a negative impact on the attraction of tourists is efforts to paint a negative picture of Iran and create the impression that there is no enough security in the country,” Betkolia said.

He said there are 1.5 billion Muslims in the world, the majority of whom wear the Islamic headscarf.

“How many of these Muslims have we been able to attract as tourists?” he asked.

So, he added, the claim that some foreign tourists are reluctant to visit Iran because they have to wear the headscarf is “just a pretext.”

He underscored that security is a prerequisite for absorbing tourists.

“A tourist who visits the country should enjoy full security and be confident that he/she will face no problems in his/her tourist destination,” he said.

Unfortunately, he said, tourists are sometimes robbed and disrespected in small towns.

“Such moves will produce an unpleasant reflection at the global level and in the tourism industry, and such move must be stopped,” the legislator said.

When tourists see good and appropriate behaviour at the entry points on the country’s borders, or when they are respected, they will turn into couriers who will promote the rich Iranian culture, and this very direct promotion [of the Iranian culture] will further boost the country’s tourism industry,” the MP noted.

“Many countries such as Turkey have tourism revenues higher than oil earnings, simply by creating more facilities for tourists of every ethnicity, race and religion,” he said.

Another reason behind the underdevelopment of Iran’s tourism industry is a lack of proper infrastructure, he noted.

“The necessary facilities and infrastructure have been provided in addition to some attractions to develop the tourism industry,” the lawmaker said.

He said the private sector plays an effective role in promoting tourism.

“The tourism industry, which enjoys a high turnover and creates many jobs, can be expanded through investment by the private sector,” he said.

“By having unique historical and religious attractions such as world-famous ancient churches, Iran enjoys excellent capacity to attract foreign tourists,” he said.

He then stressed the need to establish the Tourism Ministry.

“The outlines of establishing this ministry have been approved with the aim of attracting tourists,” the lawmaker said.

In today’s world, the development of the tourism industry is one of the key factors that governments should pay attention to, in order to secure economic progress. The tourism industry needs to be viewed from a new perspective, so that it could be overhauled to put the country on the path to progress and delineate a bright outlook for the tourism sector.

Farhadi Named Jury President of Sarajevo Film Festival

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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May 30, 2018

The festival slated for August 10 to 17 will screen Farhadi’s latest movie “Everybody Knows” in its “Open Air” Section, ISNA reported.

Starring Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, the Spanish-language film by Farhadi was premiered as the opener of the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month.

Among other awards, Farhadi has received a Golden Globe Award as well as two Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film for his films A Separation (2012) and The Salesman (2017).

This has made him one of the few directors in the world who have won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film twice, along with prestigious film directors such as Akira Kurosawa and René Clément.

His third film, Fireworks Wednesday, had won the Golden Hugo at the 2006 Chicago International Film Festival. His fourth film, About Elly, won him the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 59th International Berlin Film Festival and also Best Picture at the Tribeca Film Festival.

In 2012, he was included on the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world.

Last year, Mexican filmmaker Michael Franco presided over the five-person jury of Sarajevo Film Festival during which an overall 235 films from 54 countries were screened. At least 100,000 viewers watched the movies during the ten days of the festival.

Georgian Director Ana Urushadze’s “Scary Mother” took home the festival’s top prize, the Heart of Sarajevo, for best feature film, which includes an $18,500 financial award.

“Iran, Hungary Can Join Hands to Promote Int’l Peace, Security”

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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May 30, 2018

In a Tuesday message, President Rouhani congratulated Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on his re-election and expressed hope that bilateral ties between Tehran and Budapest would further deepen.

Rouhani pointed to the complicated conditions of the global community, in which “we are witnessing dangerous, illegal and unilateral actions against international rules and regulations,” and said, “Efforts and actions of independent countries like Hungary can encourage observing international obligations and regulations.

He also expressed the hope that Iran and Hungary would take serious, fundamental steps to deepen and cement bilateral relations and promote international peace and security given the common will.

The Iranian president finally wished health and success for Orbán and prosperity and felicity for the people of Hungary.

Orbán on May 10 took the oath of office before the Hungarian Parliament, starting a third consecutive and a fourth overall term as the country’s leader.

Leader Urges Immediate Punishment of School Official Accused of Sexual Harassment

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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May 30, 2018

Ayatollah Khamenei made the demand in a letter to Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani.

“The news of the crime in one of the schools of western Tehran caused grief and regret. It is appropriate to immediately mete out divine punishment after the trial,” the Leader wrote.

The deputy headmaster of a private boys high school accused of harassing students was arrested by police on Tuesday. The arrest was made following complaints by the families of several students.

The shocking news of widespread sexual abuse has prompted outrage among Iranians, particularly parents who fear the same fate could await their children.

Education Minister Mohammad Bathaei said the school had recruited the perpetrator without passing due legal process.

The minister vowed to tighten monitoring of the recruitment process in schools.

The head of the school was also sacked by the Education Ministry following the scandal.

Ali Larijani Re-Elected as Iran Parliament Speaker for 11th Time

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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May 30, 2018

In an open session of the parliament this morning, the MPs held an election to appoint the parliament’s presiding board.

During the polls, Larijani secured 147 votes out of 270 valid votes.

His initial rivals were the reformist lawmaker Mohammad-Reza Aref and the conservative MP Hamid-Reza Haji Babaei. In the first round of the election, Aref secured 114 votes, Larijani 101 votes, and Haji Babaei 54 votes, but none of them won the majority of the votes, leading the election to a run-off.

For the second round, Haji Babaei withdrew his candidacy in favour of Larijani, and that helped the latter secure the majority of votes in the run-off. 123 lawmakers voted for Aref in the second round.

In a later election, Massoud Pezeshkian and Ali Motahari were also re-elected as the vice-speakers of the Parliament.

The Iranian Parliament has currently 290 representatives, changed from the previous 272 seats since the 18 February 2000 election. The most recent parliamentary polls were held on February 26, 2016.

The lawmakers take the seats for a four-year term.

The Zoroastrians and Jews each elect one representative in the parliament, Assyrian and Chaldean Christians jointly elect one representative, and Armenian Christians in the north and the south are each represented by one lawmaker, according to the Parliament’s official website.

Dowlatabad Garden: Jewel of Persian Architecture

By

Fatemeh Askarieh

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May 29, 2018

Dowlatabad Garden: Jewel of Persian Architecture

Dowlatabad garden, which spans an area of 72,000 square metres, attracts a wide range of visitors. It offers a memorable glimpse on the coexistence of ancient history and beautiful nature.

This is one of the nine Iranian gardens listed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List under the common title of Persian Garden.

The garden was built about 270 years ago as a residence for Mohammad Taqi Khan, also known as the Great Khan, who governed Yazd in the 18th century.

The complex has been built according to the original Iranian architectural style; and consists of a large garden and a number of buildings.

Like other Persian gardens, water plays an important role in the ornamentation of the Dowlatabad garden. There are indeed several qanats, waterways, and ponds within the garden.

The lush garden is a paradise where different trees. Pine and cypress, various flowers like roses and fruit trees like grape and pomegranate abound in the garden, and offer it a green carpet panorama.

This complex includes a southern frontispiece building, a vestibule building and a wind catcher, a summer building, Behesht (Paradise) building, a mirror hall building, the Tehrani building, the main frontispiece building and a double-spanned water cistern.

The soaring 34-metre-high wind catcher, the highest one in Iran, makes the estate really unique, creating a spectacular vista. Dowlatabad’s famous wind catcher has octagonal panels that guide the wind inside the building.

What follows are photos of the garden retrieved from various sources:

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