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Zarch; Longest Qanat of Iran, World

By
Fatemeh Askarieh
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Qanat is a gently sloping underground channel to transport water from an aquifer or water well to surface for irrigation and drinking.

The Qanat of Zarch is a plain one with a length of 100 km. Its mother well is 90 metres deep and has more than 2,000 well shafts. Zarch is a city located 15 kilometres west of Yazd in central Iran.

A collection of historical studies on the Zarch Qanat reinforces the possibility that it has been discovered around 1,300 AD.

After the conquest of Iran by Muslims, the historical mosque of Yazd was built near the Qanat of Zarch, and several wells were dug within the vicinity of this mosque to fill the large cistern under the mosque, and also provide water for the worshippers’ ablution. People used the water for drinking and sanitation purposes through pāyābs which are a kind of access corridors.

The starting point of this qanat is in the village of Fahraj located in the north-east of Yazd. The qanat runs through several other villages and passes Yazd’s main square to reach Zarch, where the water is used for irrigation in lower lands of the city of Yazd.

The history of Qanat of Zarch can be studied in terms of the formation of the city Zarch, the age of the hydraulic structures built over it and in terms of existing historical documents. The history of the city of Zarch not only can be found in history books, but also myths, fables and epic stories mention it frequently, all of which are indicative of its long history. Now if we consider this qanat as the factor behind the formation of this city, it is as old as the city itself.

At the 40th UNESCO World Heritage Summit held in Istanbul in July 2016, the Qanat of Zarch, along with 10 other Iranian qanats, was registered in the World Heritage List.

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

Lorestan’s Shami Kebab; Fairly Sour, Extremely Delicious

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Shami kebab is composed of a small patty of minced meat (generally beef, but occasionally lamb or mutton as well), with ground chickpeas, egg to hold it together, potatoes and spices. Shami is eaten as a snack or an appetizer.

The name Shami may refer to Bilad al-Sham (the Levant), the modern Syria, as many cooks from that region used to cook the dish in a perfect way. Iranians, however, believe that the name refers to the word shaam which means “dinner” or “evening” in Persian language.

Shamis are often garnished with lemon juice and served with sliced raw onions as a side salad.

In Khorramabad, people do not use potatoes in their Shamis, but there are some recipes in which potatoes are used. In this recipe, we will teach you how to cook Lorestan’s Shami Kebab without potatoes.

 

Ingredients:

½ cup pomegranate paste

Vegetables (tarragon, savory, parsley): 250 g

2 tbsp. of chickpea flour

Minced meat: 250g

2 onions

1 cup of powdered walnuts

1 egg

Salt, pepper, turmeric: As much as needed

 

Directions:

Chop and sauté the onion and add some turmeric. Then add the powdered walnuts and pomegranate paste to it. At this stage it’s time to pour in ½ cup of water and vegetables. Lower the heat and let the walnut’s oil be extracted.

Then, mix the meat, the rest of powdered walnuts, vegetables, an egg and grated onion, salt, pepper, turmeric, and chickpea flour and mash the mixture for a while. Shape the mixture into round meatballs and fry them.

Finally, put the meatballs in the stew that we made before, and let it boil for half an hour on a low heat.

As the food is sour due to the use of pomegranate paste, if desired, you can add sugar as much as you like.

Japan, Norway Say Iran Must Reap Benefits of JCPOA

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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During the talks, Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide and Japanese top diplomat Tarō Kōno expressed their countries’ support for the continued implementation of the Iran nuclear deal.

They also stressed that Iran must be able to reap the benefits of the 2015 agreement.

FM Zarif, for his part, said it is necessary for other parties to the accord to guarantee that the Islamic Republic of Iran will take advantage of the deal’s benefits.

The phone calls came a few days after US President Donald Trump defied protests and last-minute lobbying by his European partners and unilaterally decided to withdraw from the historic nuclear accord, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and impose new sanctions on Tehran.

“I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal,” Trump said Tuesday in a televised address from the White House. “This was a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made.”

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — the United States, the UK, France, China and Russia — plus Germany reached the JCPOA in July 2015 after long negotiations.

So far, the E3 – France, Germany, and the UK – as well as Russia and China have thrown their weights behind the deal in the wake of Trump’s decision. However, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Tehran will only accept to remain in the nuclear deal if the E3 gives Tehran a guarantee that it will be able to reap all the benefits of JCPOA.

Iran FM Due in Beijing, Moscow, Brussels for Intensive JCPOA Talks

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Following an order by President Hassan Rouhani, FM Zarif will start his intensive visits on Sunday with the aim of investigating the possibility of continuing the implementation of JCPOA provided that the Iranian nation’s interests are guaranteed, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said.

The Iranian top diplomat will first visit the Chinese capital of Beijing on Sunday to hold talks with high-ranking officials there, Qassemi noted on Friday.

“FM Zarif will then leave Beijing for Moscow to meet with Russian officials [on Monday],” he added.

He will finally depart for the Belgian capital of Brussels to attend a meeting with the foreign ministers of the E3 – France, Germany, and the UK – as well as EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini, Qassemi noted.

Shortly after US President Donald Trump announced his country’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal on Tuesday, Iranian President Rouhani declared that “from now on, the Iran nuclear deal will be a deal between Iran and five countries.”

He said he had ordered the foreign ministry to start talks with other parties to the nuclear deal within the coming weeks.

“After these talks, if we are assured that we can achieve what we wanted from the deal through cooperation with other parties, JCPOA will remain in place,” he noted.

“Otherwise, I’ll soon address the nation and share with them the Establishment’s decision regarding the Iran nuclear deal.”

Iran FM Due in Beijing, Moscow, Brussels for Intensive JCPOA Talks

Zarif Tells Mogherini Iran Needs Guarantees on JCPOA

In a Friday phone conversation with Zarif, Mogherini discussed the need for continued implementation of the Iran nuclear deal.

Zarif, in turn, highlighted the need for other parties to the JCPOA to provide sufficient guarantees that assure the Iranian nation of being able to reap the benefits of the nuclear deal.

During the talks, the two diplomats also conferred on plans and arrangements for a Tuesday meeting in Brussels between Zarif, Mogherini, and the E3 foreign ministers.

Iranians Hold Rallies to Protest US Withdrawal from JCPOA

By
IFP Media Wire
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Protesters in Tehran and other cities on Friday carried placards which read, “Mr Trump, you are talking nonsense,” echoing Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s remarks on Wednesday.

They also chanted “Death to America”, “Death to Israel” and “We fight, we die, but we do not accept any compromise”, to voice their denunciation of Trump’s decision to leave the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The protesters, mostly participants at weekly Friday Prayers, issued a statement in which they reiterated their loyalty to the Islamic Republic and its anti-imperialist ideals.

“The imbecile Trump’s pretexts and insane move following a psychological war and breach of contract and unilateral pullout from the JCPOA and his idiotic remarks against the powerful Iran revealed again the imperialistic nature of the criminal American leaders,” they said.

“With God’s help, we will stand up and resist until the full destruction of the enemies of Islam and the oppressed nations of the world, especially the world-gobbling America,” they said.

The show of unity came following Trump’s pullout from the JCPOA, and his announcement that the US would reimpose nuclear sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Tehran Friday Prayers leader Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said, “In his speech, Trump told at least 10 lies against our nation and made insults and accusations.”

“The answer to all that nonsense is what this great nation has always been saying: ‘America is dead wrong’ and ‘Mr Trump, you are talking nonsense’,” he added.

Only hours after Trump made the announcement on Tuesday, Iranian students and lawmakers took to the iconic Azadi Square in the capital Tehran, setting fire to US flags and shouting anti-US slogans.

Iranian lawmakers also set the Stars and Stripes ablaze inside the parliament and burnt symbolic copies of the nuclear agreement.

Iran Leader Calls for Promotion of Book Reading Culture

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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During the Friday visit, booth holders and some publishers attending the book fair elaborated on their most recent publications as well as activities regarding books.

The Leader, for his part, referred to book and reading as the necessities of people’s daily lives, particularly that of young people.

He also expressed the hope that books restore their elevated position in the society.

What follows are photos of the visit:

Iran Condemns Deadly Attack on Shiite Mosque in Durban

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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In a Friday statement, Qassemi offered sympathy to the South African nation and government, and the bereaved families of the victims of the heinous crime, in which a worshipper was killed, several others were wounded, and the Imam Hussein Mosque was set on fire.

Qassemi underlined the necessity of launching an immediate probe into the attack to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

“The crime has been committed with the aim of causing insecurity and fanning the flames of sectarian conflict and sedition,” he noted.

He also stressed the need for all countries in the world to remain vigilant, and prioritise the serious fight against extremism and radical groups and eradication of terrorism.

The attack on the mosque in Verulam‚ north of Durban‚ has been widely condemned‚ with organisations calling for a speedy investigation into the matter.

One man was killed and two others were critically injured in the attack‚ in which three men stormed the building shortly after afternoon prayers on Thursday.

“OIC Chief’s Anti-Iran Comments Serve Israel’s Interests”

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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In a Friday statement, Qassemi slammed as “irresponsible and inept” the OIC chief’s recent anti-Iran statement, which was in full support of the US government’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.

Qassemi said the statement released by Al-Othaimeen is way beyond the scope of his job, violates the OIC General Secretariat’s neutrality principle, and is in line with the anti-Islam policies of the US, the Zionist regime, and the Saudi governments.

He also described it as another move to undermine the position and reputation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Qassemi pointed to the “biased and unconstructive” stances earlier held by the OIC chief, saying that Al-Othaimeen had earlier showed his incorrect understanding of the sensitive situation of the region and the Muslim world, particularly the effective and decisive position of the OIC in fight against the Zionist regime and support for the cause of the liberation of Palestine and the Holy Quds.

“We advise him to stop taking such biased stances, which serve the interests of the global arrogance and the Zionist regime,” he added.

The Iranian spokesman referred to Tehran’s concerns over the OIC secretary-general’s stances on different occasions, which have clearly violated the General Secretariat’s neutrality principle, and highlighted the frequent requests by the OIC member states to revise its structure and regulations.

Qassemi finally reiterated the Islamic Republic’s proposal that the OIC should hold a meeting at the highest level in a place outside Saudi Arabia to deal with the Al Saud regime’s abuses of its role as the host.

In the statement shortly released after Trump’s decision, Al-Othaimeen stressed the importance that the US decision would lead to addressing what he called the danger being posed by Iran’s policies to destabilise the security and stability of Islamic countries.

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday night the country will walk out of the pact. The US withdrawal has so far met with widespread criticisms across the globe as it was a violation of Washington’s commitments under the multilateral deal.

Iran Hails Malaysian Nation’s Massive Turnout in Recent Elections

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Pointing to the high turnout of people from all walks of life, particularly youth, Qassemi said this is a sign of political maturity of the Malaysian nation.

In his Friday statement, the spokesman congratulated the people and winners of election, expressing hope that relations between Iran and Malaysia could further develop in the upcoming years.

The parliamentary elections were held in Malaysia on Wednesday.

The country’s opposition alliance headed by veteran ex-leader Mahathir Mohamad, 92, has won a historic election victory, official results showed Thursday, ending the six-decade rule of the Barisan Nasional coalition.

Mahathir became the world’s oldest prime minister after he took oath on Thursday, replacing Najib Razak, who has become embroiled in massive corruption scandal.

Iran, Russia Discuss Ways to Keep Nuclear Deal Alive

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

During the talks, which were held in the wake of the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, the the two diplomats mainly conferred on the implementation of JCPOA and how to keep the deal in place without the US.

The Russian diplomat expressed regret over the US pull-out, describing the move as a threat to international peace and security.

Ryabkov said Russia is fully committed to the implementation of JCPOA, and stressed the need to cooperate with other parties to keep the accord alive.

The Russian diplomat also said Moscow will continue to deepen its cooperation with Iran in all aspects.

For his part, Araqchi pointed to various cases of US violation of its obligations during the JCPOA, saying Iran will continue to talk with JCPOA parties to see if it is possible to keep the deal in place.

The Iranian diplomat said it could be feasible to save JCPOA if other parties to the accord provide firm assurances that Iran’s interests will be served and compensate for the repercussions of the US pull-out.

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday night the country will walk out of the pact.

The US withdrawal met with widespread criticism across the globe.

The leaders of Britain, Germany and France, which were signatories to the deal along with China and Russia, said in a joint statement that Trump’s decision was a source of “regret and concern.”

Russia and China have announced they would try to block any US attempt to sabotage the nuclear deal, which imposed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear work in return for the removal of anti-Tehran sanctions.

The Iranian government has announced it will wait a few weeks before deciding its JCPOA approach, in the hope that other parties will cooperate to keep the deal alive.

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