Alireza Davoudnejad made the promise in a letter to US PresidentDonald Trump. The full text of the letter posted on the Persian-language Khabar Online website follows.
Mr. Trump!
The great American nation will achieve whatever it wants with its artists, sportspeople and scientists, and does not need intimidation, threats and bothering by others [to do so].
A nation whose commodities are selling like hot cake everywhere, a nation whose artists are very dear to other nations, and a nation whose athletes bring health and vitality upon humans, does not need to frown upon other nations or pull a gun on them.
What humanity needs today, and it spares no effort to achieve it, is the realization of the aesthetic models of human life.
Maybe you won’t believe it, but American arms factories will, one day, change their function and use their talented, expert and creative manpower to contribute to the prosperity and promotion of the living standards of all human beings. The US nation, which is an amalgamation of all world nations, will turn into the flag-bearer of kindness and respect for mankind, and by taking the lead in dismantling nuclearweapons, will open up a new path to global friendship and peace. This great nation should be appreciated, and popularity and respect should be returned to the main symbol of every country, i.e. its flag.
I, as an Iranian artist, promise to hoist the American flag at Azadi square in Tehran once you take the lead in ridding the world of nuclear weapons.
Wish you all the best while looking forward to that day.
Several papers today covered the remarks made by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani about the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and Tehran’s reaction to Trump’s possible withdrawal from the accord.
Also a top story was the 23rd edition of Iran Oil Show, which has kicked off in Tehran with the participation of dozens of renowned energy companies from numerous countries.
The Sunday parliamentary elections held in Lebanon also received great coverage, as the country managed to hold the votes successfully after nine years.
The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines and top stories:
Abrar:
Russia, China Issue Joint Statement to Support Iran Nuclear Deal
Trump, May Hold Phone Talks on JCPOA
Jubeir Makes New Claims about Presence of Iranian Forces in Arab Countries
Aftab-e Yazd:
First Asian to Become Top Goal Scorer in Major European League
Alireza Jahanbakhsh Named Top Scorer of Dutch Football League
Iranian Media’s Different Look at Street Protests in Moscow, Paris
1,600 People Arrested in Russia Protests, While Only 200 Detained in France
Arman-e Emrooz:
Rouhani: Don’t Create Division, It’s Now Time for Unity
Beginning of Marathon for Choosing Next Mayor of Tehran
Asrar:
Oil Minister: Iran Does Not Want High Oil Prices
Donya-ye Eqtesad:
Europe’s Desperation towards Rogue Trump
Ebtekar:
Rouhani: We Have Plans for Whatever Decision Trump Makes
Etemad:
Rouhani: We Develop Weapons, We Stockpile Them, It’s None of Others’ Business
Observer Reveals Dirty Operation to Destroy Iran Nuclear Deal
Ettela’at:
Rouhani: Reformists, Conservatives All United against Israel, US
120 Countries Support Russia-China Statement in Defence of Iran Nuclear Deal
Javan:
Rouhani: We’ll Bring US ‘Historic Regret’
War Scenario Used as Scarecrow to Make Iran Fall into Trap of JCPOA II or III
Jomhouri Eslami:
Lebanon Successfully Holds General Elections after 9 Years
Parliament Opposes Formation of Ministry of Tourism, Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts
Kayhan:
Such Hike in US Dollar Rate Could Be Avoided If We Had Set Fire on JCPOA
Iraqi Jet Fighters Launch Successful Attacks on ISIS Command Base in Syria
Iran Leader: US Department of Treasury Chamber of War against Iran
Khorasan:
Pros and Cons of Elites’ Immigration
Resalat:
Former IRGC Chief-Commander: US Has to Withdraw from Western Asia
Sazandegi:
Efforts Underway to Lift House Arrest of Opposition Leader’s Wife Rahnavard
Rise of Hezbollah, Fall of Hariri
Sepid:
Iran Only Producer of Vaccine in Middle East
Setareh Sobh:
Zarif’s Ultimatum to Afghanistan on Water
Obama’s Team Trying to Preserve Iran Nuclear Deal
Shargh:
Judiciary Resolved to Continue Blocking Telegram
Netanyahu: War against Iran Better Now than Future
SMT:
Iran’s Oil Industry Hosting 600 Foreign Companies
Iran Oil Show Is Now 23 Years Old
Sobh-e Now:
Welcome to London, the World’s Capital of Acid Attacks
Tejarat:
Iranian Carmakers Find International Customers
Even US Stonewalling Couldn’t Prevent Iran’s Int’l Cooperation in Car Industry
The festival was aimed at introducing dishes from such countries as Iran, Bulgaria, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine, Lebanon, Tajikistan, Turkey, Yemen, China, Spain and Azerbaijan Republic.
The festival, which was open to the public from May 1 to May 3, attracted local, national and international visitors and food fans. It provided a unique opportunity for Silk Road countries and the member states of the ECO, particularly ECO embassies in Tehran, to share theirfood culture with visitors and display their local dishes.
ECO is a Eurasian political and economic intergovernmental organization which provides a platform to discuss ways to improve development and promote trade and investment opportunities.
The Silk Road was an ancient network of trade routes that connected the East and West. It was central to cultural interaction between them for centuries.
What follows are YJC’s photos of the festival in Zanjan:
The result, if confirmed by the final count, would boost Hezbollah politically, with parties and individuals aligned with the resistance movement securing a simple majority in parliament in Sunday’s election.
The unofficial results also indicated that Prime Minister Sa’ad al-Hariri would emerge as the Sunni Islamic leader with the biggest bloc in the 128-seat parliament, making him the frontrunner to form the next government even though he lost seats, Reuters reported.
Lebanon’s prime minister must be a Sunni according to the country’s sectarian power-sharing system. The new government, like the outgoing one, is expected to include all the main parties. Talks over Cabinet posts are expected to take time.
International donors want to see Beirut embark on serious economic reforms to reduce state debt levels before they will release billions pledged at a Paris conference in April.
The election was held under a new law that redrew constituency boundaries and changed the electoral system from winner-takes-all to a proportional one. The interior minister said official results would be declared on Monday morning.
The country’s Christian party appears to have emerged as a big winner, nearly doubling its MPs to 15 from eight, according to the unofficial indications.
Hezbollah and groups and individuals affiliated to it secured at least 67 seats, according to a Reuters calculation based on preliminary results for nearly all the seats that were obtained from politicians and campaigns and reported in Lebanese media.
Hezbollah’s allies include the Shiite Amal Movement led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the Christian Free Patriotic Movement established by President Michel Aoun and other groups and individuals.
Turnout was 49.2 percent, down from 54 percent the last time legislative elections were held nine years ago.
Lebanon should have held a parliamentary election in 2013 but MPs instead voted to extend their own term because leaders could not agree on a new parliamentary election law.
Iran holds 96 percent of the 8.5-million-dollar turnover of Saffron market in the world, Sattari noted on Sunday.
According to the Persian-language Fars News Agency, Sattari described Torbat-e Heydarieh in northeastern province Khorasan Razavi as the global hub of saffron production and said the city should leave behind the traditional mechanisms of harvesting and reaping the ‘red gold’.
He underlined that the city can strengthen its status as the hub of saffron production by establishing knowledge-based companies.
“There are about 11,000 students in the city who can play a leading role in running the knowledge-based companies,” he added.
90% of the world’s saffron is grown in arid fields in Iran. Saffron is not just grown in Iran. It’s also grown in Morocco, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Afghanistan, India, and even in the United States. However, the saffron produced in Iran is said to have the world’s highest quality.
Over centuries, saffron has been proven useful in many situations. Saffron is most commonly used in cooking.
It gives dishes its signature flavour and golden colour. It’s also used in broths, breads, and marinades. When saffron is broken down, it creates a yellow-gold dye.
In large quantities, saffron can be a potent, happiness-inducing narcotic. Research suggests it may help reduce the symptoms for Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and PMS.
Saffron comes from the saffron crocus flower. Each flower has three red stigmas and that’s the saffron.
Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said the world’s oil market should not be affected by politics because “interference disrupts the trend of activities in the oil market.”
He made the comments at the opening ceremony of the 23rd International Exhibition of Oil, Gas, Refining and Petrochemical industries.
“Iran has always been looking for logical oil prices, so that producers will be encouraged to produce [petroleum] and the global market will not be destabilized,” Zanganeh said, as quoted by the Persian-language Islamic Republic News agency (IRNA).
He said if the oil industry is supported, it will turn into the driving force behind Iran’s economy.
“In addition to bringing in revenues, the oil industry can give fresh impetus to the country’s economy,” he noted.
The minister underlined that jobs should be created in the industry and contracting sectors.
He also said the necessary financial resources should be envisaged for the implementation of plans in those sectors or contractors will make losses.
Referring to projects to connect towns and villages across Iran to the National Gas Grid, Zanganeh noted that 34 projects are scheduled to get off the ground in the oil industry, and added the plans will create more than 50,000 jobs.
Speaking in the third round of Iran-Sweden political consultations in Tehran on Sunday, Söder touched upon the nuclear deal Iran signed with six world powers back in 2015 known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
She said the deal has a message of security and non-proliferation, so Europe unanimously supports its preservation and implementation.
Every effort should be made and all opportunities should be utilized in order to keep the JCPOA alive, she said.
Söder expressed hope the US government will, as a result of the international attempts and moves underway, decide to respect the JCPOA.
She also underlined her country’s determination to continue consultations, cooperation and interaction with Iran in various bilateral, regional and international domains.
For his part, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi emphasized the importance of preserving and implementing the JCPOA amid the enhancement of cooperation and exchanges in different arenas.
“The fate of the JCPOA, which is a major diplomatic accomplishment on the international stage, is in jeopardy due to the Trump administration’s bullying behaviour and breaches of commitments,” said the top official.
“Before anything else, the JCPOA is a security pact in the domain of non-proliferation, and any move to counter it would undermine the non-proliferation system and deepen and intensify crises in the region and put us in a dilemma of choosing between security or insecurity,” he said.
“Other parties to the JCPOA, especially the Europeans, are naturally expected to make every effort, both in word and in deed, to help realize the objectives of the agreement, which could lead to the establishment of real peace and stability, especially in the region,” Araqchi said.
He underscored that any attempt to link the JCPOA with other issues and the adoption of the policy of sympathizing with and granting awards to the one that has violated the JCPOA, i.e. the US, emanate from wrong understandings and approaches and will further complicate the situation in the region and in the whole world.
He said the JCPOA is an experience and a major historic choice, and its success is contingent upon concerted efforts and common support that would guarantee the interests of the whole world.
Europe Must Make US Fulfill Its JCPOA Commitments
Earlier in the day, Söder also held talks with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. During the talks, the two sides also exchanged views on the Iran nuclear deal, US President Donald Trump’sthreats to withdraw from the agreement, developments in Yemen, and the current situation in Syria.
Zarif elaborated on Tehran’s viewpoints about regional and international issues and about Trump’s position on the JCPOA.
“Europe should try more to preserve the JCPOA and make the US fulfill its obligations,” said the top Iranian diplomat.
The Swedish official, in turn, stressed the need to preserve the benefits and achievements of the JCPOA.
Sweden’s State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Annika Söder meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran on May 7
With his hat-trick in the last fixture of the season, Jahanbakhsh managed to raise the number of his goals to 21. He has also made 12 assists this season.
This means that the Iranian winger will be the first Asian top scorer of a major European football league, a Farsi report by Varzesh3 website said.
Meanwhile he is likely to be picked up as the best player of the Dutch football league as well.
The 25-year-old, who has been starring for AZ Alkmaar football club in the Dutch league, is on the radar of several Premiere League and Serie A clubs.
Az Alkmaar considers selling him for at least £9 million, according to Daily Mail.
Watford, Bournemouth, and Burnley are among the clubs closely following Jahanbakhsh.
He can play across the front line and was first touted to make a major breakthrough by former Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz who called him into Iran’s 2014 World Cup squad.
Chelsea, Manchester United, Celtic, Ajax and PSV Eindhoven followed him when he initially moved to Holland with NEC where he won their player of the year but he opted instead to move to AZ in 2015.
Technically good on both feet and with an eye for a pass, Jahanbakhsh has continued to attract major European scouts.
Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi said the women who had moved to Syria to join ISIS and receiveterrorist training were arrested upon their return to Iran.
Based on the indictment issued by the Public Prosecute Office, the ISIS women will have to both serve their prison terms and pay the money they received as salary from ISIS and undergo some other supplementary punishment, a Farsi report by the Persian-language ISNA said.
Last week, Iranian judiciary began the trial of 26 of ISIS members which targeted the Iranian Parliament and the Mausoleum of Imam Khomeini last year, injuring and killing more than 50 people.
Following the attacks, Iran announced the death of 5 of the attackers, and 17 Iranians, with dozens wounded in the first attack by ISIS on the Iranian territory.
The five attackers were Iranian members of ISIS, and according to the prosecutor, had entered Iran in mid-February 2017 from Iraq.
The prosecutor called for the execution of those arrested after their conviction of purchasing, carrying and keeping light, semi-heavy and heavy arms and conducting terrorist attack were upheld.
The canyon with its great geo-tourism capacities is located 45 kilometres northeast of Kuhdasht. Shirz is 5 kilometres long with springs that join the stream of Seymareh River, a branch of the Karkheh River.
The valley is enclosed with walls that are 150 to 200 metres high.
What follows are photos of the canyon’s scenic tourist attraction retrieved from IRNA:
