In a Saturday statement, Qassemi said neighbours and their calm, stability and security are a major priority for Iran.
“Like before, we are ready to expand and deepen our relations with Armenia in all fields,” he said.
Armenia’s parliament elected Nikol Pashinyan as the country’s new prime minister on Tuesday.
The appointment ended weeks of street protests led by Pashinyan against the election of Serzh Sargsyan, Armenia’s president for the past 10 years, to the premiership office.
This is the third time that Iran is going to host the WCC-West Asia Sub-Region over the past years.
According to a report by the Miras-e Arya News Agency, the new round of World Crafts Council-West Asia Sub-Region will be held in September with all member states in attendance.
Headed by Ghada Hijjawi Qaddumi from Kuwait, the WCC-West Asia Sub-Region has twelve members including Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrain, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Yemen and Iran.
This year’s jury of WCC-West Asia Sub-Region includes one or two experts from Iran, one from Kuwait, one from Oman and two others from Asia and European countries.
Those Iranian handicrafts which received National Seal of Excellence for Handicrafts in Iran last year will represent the country during this year’s competition.
From 70 to 100 handicrafts picked up out of 356 pieces by Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran will compete this year.
The competition is aimed at encouraging artisans to produce quality products using original and traditional techniques and design in order to ensure their continuity and sustainable development.
A hat-trick to Sara Shirbeigi and further goals to tournament MVP Fereshteh Karimi and veteran Fahimeh Zarei sealed an outstanding victory for Sharhzad Mozafar’s side, who also won the inaugural title in Malaysia three years ago.
Japan had the better of goalless first half but failed to capitalise, before Iran produced a blistering scoring burst that included three goals in two second-half minutes, to take the game away from Kenichiro Kogure’s side.
Masami Kato had two shots in the first six minutes, before Mika Eguchi forced Iranian goalkeeper Farzaneh Tavasoli into an excellent save six minutes later, and volleyed over the crossbar after tricking her way into space not long after
The player who had arguably done the most to get Japan to the final, four-time player of the match Anna Amishiro, hit the side netting in the 18th minute before Tavasoli made another fine save to deny Misato Komura a minute later. Despite spending extended periods under pressure, Iran looked as though they might take a half-time lead when Sara Shirbeigi ran right through the Japanese in the dying seconds, only for Eguchi’s last-ditch defending to snuff out the chance.
It took less than 30 seconds for Ryo Egawa to force Tavasoli into another save, and less than two minutes for Shirbeigi to blast her effort over the crossbar as the battle intensified at the start of the second half.
Fahimeh Zarei looked certain to put Iran in front in the 24th minute, but failed to make contact with the ball with the goal at her mercy, then watched as Seyedehnastaran Moghimidarzi’s follow-up flew harmlessly over the crossbar.
Iran’s breakthrough came in the 27th minute when a lighting fast counter-attack drew Ayaka Yamamoto out of position, before Moghimidarzi rounded the Japanese goalkeeper and kept her cool to find Shirbeigi whose one-touch finish made it 1-0 from close range.
Having scored the winning goal in the final three years ago, Karimi made her mark on the 2018 final when she scored directly from a kick-in with the help of a Komura deflection at the half-hour mark.
That signalled the start of an Iranian goal-rush as Karimi set up Shirbeigi to make it 3-0 just seconds later, and three became four when Shirbeigi completed a magnificent hat-trick by scoring another in the following minute.
The goal also brought Shirbeigi level with teammate Fatemeh Etedadi as the tournament’s top scorer with nine.
Japan head coach Kencihiro called a time-out, and his side re-emerged in a power play formation, which paid immediate divivdeds when Eguchi finally got a reward for constant goal threat to make it 4-1.
Not content with her goals, Shirbeigi turned provider to set up Zarei for one of the goals of the tournament when masterfully flicked the ball past Yamamoto in the 36th minute.
Amishiro scored her ninth goal of the tournament in the final minute to create a three-way tie in the race for the tournament’s top scorer, but it had little bearing on the final outcome as Iran celebrated a wonderful win.
Iran women’s futsal team had been crowned as the inaugural champions of the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship in September 2015 in Malaysia.
Iran beat Japan 1-0 in the final in the inaugural final in Malaysia three years ago, with the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Fereshteh Karimi scoring the decisive goal and Farzaneh Tavasoli making a number of key saves.
Both players have been outstanding again in Bangkok this year, with able support from the likes of nine-goal top scorer Fatemeh Etedadi and Sara Sirbeigi.
On the way to the final clash Iran beat Turkmenistan 14-0 and Uzbekistan 9-2 to reach quarterfinals as the table-topper of the Group D.
In the clash against China in quarterfinals, Iran won 4-2 to reach the semifinal game where it hammered Vietnam 5-0 to pave the way to the final game.
Iran has long been an Asian futsal powerhouse. Men’s national team has dominated the AFC Futsal Championship, winning the competition 12 of the 15 times it has been staged.
The tournament, which was the second edition of the games, was started on May 2.
The AFC Women’s Futsal Championship is the premier national women’s futsal competition of Asian Football Confederation nations.
Speaking in the meeting, Meredow said he is pleaded to visit Tehran and that his country is “ready to expand relations with Iran in various fields.”
Zarif, in turn, said Tehran welcomes greater cooperation between the two countries in political, economic and cultural sectors.
“We see no limit to expansion of relations and are eager to deepen bilateral relations with the neighbouring country, Turkmenistan,” he said.
Zarif and Meredow conferred on a wide range of grounds for cooperation including gas, oil, industries, agriculture, tourism, education and culture.
The two officials also discussed efforts to establish a legal regime for the Caspian Sea, the two countries’ joint investments, the water crisis in the region, holding of Nowruz (Persian New Year) ceremony, facilitating travels between the two countries, and road and railroad cooperation.
Iraqi President Fuad Masum expressed regret over Trump’s decision while praising the other signatories to the JCPOA for remaining committed to the agreement.
In a statement earlier this week, the Iraqi president called on the US not to harm the Iran nuclear deal and not to prevent other parties from fully implementing the agreement.
He urged the US to rethink its decision, saying the Iran nuclear deal is regarded as a major achievement to promote the opportunity to establish peace and ensure progress for all regional countries as well as the whole international community.
He further expressed Iraq’s opposition to all types of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear arms. He noted concerns over the US decision to unilaterally pull out of a historic deal on Iran’s nuclear program will not help reinforce security and stability in the Middle East region and other parts of the world.
Qatar also reacted to the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, calling for talks with Iran to settle the existing problems.
Doha said efforts to rid the Middle East of nuclear weapons should be a priority, urging regional powers not to get involved in an arms race.
Qatar’s foreign ministry announced that Doha is not a signatory to the deal like other Persian Gulf Arab states, but given Qatar’s geographical position as well as its political and historical relations with the parties to the JCPOA, pays attention to the consequences of whatever decisions the signatories make.
Qatar noted that it supports efforts by all influential international and regional players as well as parties to the deal to prevent a potential crisis. According to Qatar, it will be in the interests of all sides to exercise restraint and judiciously iron out the existing differences through dialogue.
Oman’s foreign ministry also announced that it follows up on the developments unfolding in the wake of Washington’s decisions to leave the JCPOA.
The ministry said in a statement that the option of confrontation will be to the benefit of no signatory, and that Oman supports the stance of the other five parties to the agreement.
In a controversial move earlier this week, a group of conservative lawmakers set the US flag and a copy of the Iran nuclear deal on fire while chanting “Death to America” on the Parliament floor.
Vice-Speaker Ali Motahari immediately slammed the burning of the US flag as irrational, saying that such moves insult the American nation, two-third of whom are reportedly against Trump’s decision.
Lawmaker Alireza Rahimi also wrote on his Twitter page that the move has no place in the Islamic culture and is rejected in political logic.
After seeing the US flag and a symbolic copy of the JCPOA being set ablaze, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani dismissed Trump’s comments as cheap.
“Trump lacks rational competence, but Iran can bring him to his senses,” said Larijani, a report by Khabar Online said.
Although at this sensitive juncture Parliament is expected to unanimously support the government to confront the US, we are seeing different approaches at the legislature.
Hardline lawmakers, who were against the JCPOA from the outset and have, time and again, said ironically that the “deal was ratified in the Parliament in 20 minutes,” are seizing the opportunity nowadays to settle their political scores with the government.
Some of them have begun whispering that Iran should scrap the JCPOA, arguing that Europe is not reliable. Some MPs have described working with Europe on JCPOA as “out of the frying pan into the fire.” Some have called for Iran to pull out of the agreement.
However, some legislators while condemning Trump’s move believe that the efforts made by the Iranian nuclear negotiating team which led to the conclusion of the JCPOA should not go to waste.
“The honest efforts by the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran should be appreciated, especially [efforts by] the nuclear negotiating team, which, under the guidelines of the Leader, held talks with major world powers and defended the rights of the Iranian nation,” read a statement by a group or lawmakers.
“Trump’s unwise move is a stain on [the record of] US authorities and shows their hegemonic temperament, and the flames of such behavior could spread to other nations and governments if it is not controlled by international circles, intellectuals and the public opinion in the US,” the statement also read.
Several papers today covered the West’s reaction to Iran Leader’s disclosure of a secret letter by US President Donald Trump to certain Arab countries.
The ongoing efforts by the European countries and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to save the Iran nuclear deal also received great coverage.
The recent developments in Syria and the Golan Heights were also a top story. Many papers blasted the Israeli regime’s attacks on Syrian positions and described it as a move to escalate the tension and provoke Iran into getting engaged in a military conflict.
The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines and top stories:
19 Dey:
1- World United in Defending Iran Nuclear Deal
2- Iran Leader during Visit to Tehran Book Fair: Book among Necessities of People’s Lives
Abrar:
1- Iranians Hold Protest Rallies to Protest US Withdrawal from Iran Nuclear Deal
2- Germany, Russia Agree on Preserving JCPOA, Resolving Syria Crisis Politically
Aftab-e Yazd:
1- Ignored by Everyone, Iranian Female Futsal Players Make It to Asian Final
2- Diplomats, from Tehran to Berlin, Working Hard to Preserve JCPOA
3- Water May Be Transferred from Sea of Oman to Three Provinces as of Next Year
Arman-e Emrooz:
1- Trap of Golan War
2- Self-Restraint Shown by Iranian Officials, Armed Forces against Israel Receive Positive Coverage
Ebtekar:
1- Israel’s Dangerous Game in Syria
Etemad:
1- Iran Leader: Anyone Familiar with Islam Offers More Social Services
Ettela’at:
1- Oil Minister: We’ll Have No Problem in Oil Exports
2- Trump: We Knew Kerry Didn’t Have a Chance against Zarif
Hamshahri:
1- Europe Poised to Gain Independence from US
Hemayat:
1- Mohammad-Javad Larijani: Iran Currently Has No Commitment under JCPOA
Iran:
1- Europe Working Hard to Preserve Iran Nuclear Deal
2- Israel Flying Missiles on Self-Fabricated Pretexts
Jahan-e Eqtesad:
1- Oil Minister: Threats Are Long Gone
Jame Jam:
1- Trump’s $380-Billion Partners
Javan:
1- Night of Missile Retaliation in Golan: Occupied Territories Hit by 68 Syrian Missiles
2- Entire Iran Chant “Trump, Like Hell You Will!”
3- New York Times Confirms Iran Have Received Copy of Trump’s Letter to Arabs
Jomhouri Eslami:
1- Iran FM to Start Negotiations with 5 Parties to JCPOA
2- EU Worried about Awful Humanitarian Situation in Yemen
Ka’enat:
1- American Letters!
Kayhan:
1- Analytical Review of “Over 10 Lies Told by Trump”
2- Western Media Surprised by Iran Leader’s Access to Trump’s Letter to Arabs
Resalat:
1- Tehran Friday Prayers Leader: Europe No Different from US in Violating Commitments
Rooyesh-e Mellat:
1- Araqchi: It’s Possible to Save JCPOA If Sufficient Assurances Provided
Sazandegi:
1- Return of Malaysia’s Father
Shahrvand:
1- Orhan Pamuk in Iran: To Me, Iranian Readers Different from Other Readers
Shargh:
1- Around the World to Save JCPOA
2- Intelligence Minister: Environmentalists Arrested Not Spies
Vatan-e Emrooz:
1- First Post-ISIS Elections
Around 7,000 candidates, representing 205 political entities, are vying for 329 seats in the parliamentary elections.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 6 p.m local time. The independent body overseeing the election is estimating high turnout, because it comes amid a relative lull in terrorist attacks.
The electoral commission has said results will come hours after polls close. The Iraqi constitution sets a 90-day deadline for forming a government after the results are formally announced.
Despite relative calm across the country, security is already high nationwide as Baghdad says terrorists still pose a major security threat.
This is the fourth such polls since the 2003 US invasion.
The Saturday race features four main contenders: Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, his predecessor Nouri al-Maliki, former transport minister Hadi al-Ameri, and former prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Barham Salih.
Prime Minister Abadi, who takes credit for the hard-fought battle against ISIS, appears marginally ahead.
Former premier Maliki, who was forced to step down after ISIS overran large swathes of country in 2014, still wields considerable influence.
Another new alliance entering the elections for the first time is Conquest (Fatah) Alliance, which consists of 18 political parties. Many of the parties are former factions of the popular mobilization forces. The alliance is led by Ameri, the secretary general of Badr Organisation.
The PMF, more commonly known by its Arabic name as Hashd al-Sha’abi, was the key in defeating ISIS terrorists last year. The main units have handed over their weapons to the state in order to enter the political process.
Sa’iroun (Marchers) alliance is another new coalition contesting the key vote for the first time. The Sadrist movement led by cleric Moqtada Sadr forms the backbone of the alliance. The senior Shia cleric himself, who has strong support, will not contest the elections.
Also, the National Coalition, and the Uniters for Reform Coalition are two big Sunni majority alliances to take part in the election. The National Coalition leader is Iraq’s vice president, Ayad Allawi. He won a high number of seats in hotly contested elections in 2010.
The semi-autonomous northern Iraq Kurdistan Region is represented at the polls by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), a report by Press TV said.
The Kurdish heavyweights have had their clout seriously damaged after an independence referendum last year. The vote was announced by KDP leader Massoud Barzani, prompting domestic and international warning that it would throw the violence-wracked country into more disarray.
This has paved the way for Barham Salih, a former KRG prime minister, and the fledgling New Generation Movement’s leader Shaswar Abdulwahid to emerge as new contenders.
Iraqi security forces cast their ballots in early voting on Thursday, while over 850,000 Iraqi expatriates living in 21 foreign countries went to the polls on Thursday and Friday.
The Iranian military chief made the remarks on the sidelines of a meeting with the visiting Bolivian Army Commander Rear Admiral Yamil Octavio Borda Sosa in Tehran on Saturday.
“The Bolivian army has expressed interest in technical and military cooperation, housing projects of for the armed forces, and training programs, which are all welcomed,” Baqeri said.
Baqeri said he hoped that the visit will usher in a new era of ties between the two nations and the armed forces.
“Our nation regards Bolivia as a country which has resisted the US evil wishes. Iran hails the efforts made by the Bolivian armed forces toward the country’s independence” he added.
Bolivian army chief, for his part, said his visit aimed to bring the two nations closer.
He extended his nation and government’s “sincere message of friendship” to Iran, and hoped that the visit will lead to certain agreements in the area of defence.
Sosa was set to meet with senior Iranian officials, including the defence minister, later Saturday.
“The scientific movement in the Muslim world should gain momentum and the Ummah must once again rise towards the peak of its scientific and civilizational capabilities,” the Leader said on Saturday.
This way, enemies of Islam and Americans would not be able to order the heads of Muslim countries what to do and what not to do,” Ayatollah Khamenei told a gathering of participants in an international congress on the role of the Shiite school in developing Islamic sciences.
The Leader’s comments came shortly after he disclosed a letter by US President Donald Trump to certain Persian Gulf leaders, in which the former had noted, “I’ve spent $7 trillion on you, and you must do what I say.”
No More Bullying
Ayatollah Khamenei said an ongoing awakening among Muslims has prepared the ground for their progress, and it is up to leaders and elites in Muslim countries to encourage scientific growth.
The Leader said the Muslim world’s scientific backwardness is the main reason enabling the hegemony of western powers over Muslims.
“The western world, after centuries of scientific backwardness, managed to use scientific achievements of Muslims to increase its wealth and scientific, military, political and propagation powers and eventually adopt colonial [policies] that led Muslim countries to the current situation,” he said.
The Leader said Muslim countries must move to boost their scientific power so they can stand up to bullying by western powers.
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”
Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran could be a successful model for Muslim nations, as it has achieved rapid scientific progress in recent years and is ready to share experiences and achievements with other Muslim countries.
“According to reports by global scientific centres, Iran’s scientific progress has been 13 times faster than the world average. We will continue this path to reach edges of science,” he said.
“Unlike western countries, Iran is ready to transfer its achievements to other Muslim countries,” he said.
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