Iran Army Chief Blasts Western Calls for Missile Talks

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April 29, 2018

Speaking to reporters in Tehran on Saturday, Major General Mousavi deplored recent remarks made by some European officials about a new possible deal with Iran to curb its defense capabilities and said, “The comments are… nothing new; only their methods and tactics change.”

“The global hegemonic system led by the US is confronting with the Islamic Revolution (1979),” he said, adding that some Western countries have been deceived by the US.

“One day, they raise the nuclear issue and the other day, they talk about human rights (situation in Iran), and today, they are talking about the country’s defense and missile capabilities, which is not new,” the commander added.

The remarks came as French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump have indicated they want to aim for a new deal to curb Iran’s ballistic missiles program that would run alongside the existing international nuclear pact, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), according to media reports.

Iran has repeatedly announced that test of missiles is an issue relating to defense of its territorial integrity and has nothing to do with the JCPOA.

Trump in January set a 120-day deadline for US lawmakers and European allies to “fix” the JCPOA or face a US exit from his predecessor Barack Obama’s main foreign policy achievement.

Since the historic deal was signed by Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) in Vienna in July 2015, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly confirmed the Islamic Republic’s compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA, but some other parties, especially the US, have failed to live up to their undertakings.

First Iranian Women Weightlifters Make History in Uzbekistan

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IFP Editorial Staff

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April 29, 2018

The four-strong team is currently in Uzbekistan to attend the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship. The team is led by Reyhaneh Tariqat, the deputy chairwoman of the Iranian Weightlifting Federation for women’s affairs.

As the Iranian women athletes are first-timers, naturally they are not expected to set very good records in their first overseas event.

Still, the breaking of a 70-year spell is a significant development for Iranian female weightlifters. This will blaze a trail for Iranian women weightlifters to wrestle with steel and tussle for international and Olympic medals as men do.

The four members of the Iranian Female Youth Weightlifting Team include Parmida Mahmoudian, Elnaz Bajelani, Mahdieh Kolali and Seyyedeh Narges Mirzaki in the 58, 63, 69 and plus 75kg categories, respectively. The four athletes had an interview with the Persian-language Varzesh3 sports website while in Uzbekistan for the contests.

Mahmoudian: I was afraid of standing behind the weight, but …

Parmida Mahmoudian, whose name has gone down in history as Iran’s first female weightlifter in international contests, competed in the 58kg division and finished sixth. The presence of this weightlifter received extensive coverage and even led to the creation of the Parmida Hashtag on social media networks in support of the Iranian sportswoman. This is what she said about her first experience in the Asian competitions:

“Although I was the first athlete to go on the deck, I had a very good feeling. I had very strong rivals and they had a high level of preparation. Maybe it was frightening for me to go on the deck and stand behind the weight when I looked from the outside, but when I lifted the weight for the first time, I had a very sweet feeling. I was very excited and, thank God, I lifted all the weights properly.”

Concerning the fact that she was the first Iranian woman with the Islamic headscarf that took part in the contests, she said, “They had designed very good clothes for us, and lifting weights caused me no discomfort.”

Bajelani: Women, Too, Can Succeed in Weightlifting

Elnaz Bajelani, Iran’s second representative in the women’s weightlifting contests, competed in the 63kg category and has, so far, had the best performance of all team members by having finished fifth. This is what she told Varzesh3 about her sweet experience:

“I feel proud for having taken part in the contests for the first time and being a member of Iran’s first female team. That we could lift weights with Islamic outfits approved by officials made us happy.”

In reaction to those who believe weightlifting is a man’s sport, she added, “It’s right that weightlifting is a physically demanding sport, but it’s no reason for women not to succeed in it. I assure you that Iranian women, too, can pull off many successes in the future.”

Kolali: I’m Thinking of Grabbing Medals for Coming Years

Mahdieh Kolali has attended the competitions in the 69kg category. As for how she felt during the competitions, she said, “I’m very glad to be a member of the first women’s team in Iran’s weightlifting history. I wasn’t stressed out at all, and I managed to repeat the records I had set during my exercises. I had a very good experience, and the kind of outfit I was wearing indicated my difference with others. I assure you that wearing the Islamic headscarf is not a limitation for us, whatsoever, and I promise to bring medals for my country in the coming years with this very

outfit.”

Mirzaki: We Showed That Girls Can Also Do It

Narges Mirzaki, the athlete in the plus 75kg category, is the last of the four Iranian weightlifters to compete in the championship. In her interview, she told Varzesh3 about her presence in Uzbekistan and the contest ahead.

“It’s a good feeling to be attending Uzbekistan competitions as the first Iranian women weightlifters. We take pride in being exercising and attending the contests while observing the Islamic dress code. I will redouble my efforts in the future, and I’d like to finish among the top three as of next year. Some say women cannot be weightlifters and cannot succeed. This is not true. We four people have been practicing for four months and we’ve got here now. Definitely, other girls can come forward and succeed.”

Uzbekistan’s Weightlifting Federation has been honoured by the Asian Weightlifting Federation to host the 19th Asian Youth (qualification event for the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games), 24th Asian Junior Women and 31st Asian Junior Men Weightlifting Championships from April 20-30 in Urgench.

Iranian Villagers Defend Women’s Right to Go to Stadiums

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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April 29, 2018

These days, many government officials and Iranian people in social networks are talking about the presence of women in sports stadiums, and at the same time the issue has sparked a lot of reactions among its opponents and proponents.

At such a time, photos released of a football match in a remote village with the presence of female spectators grabbed the headlines in media and social networks.

Here is a report by the Persian-language daily newspaper Sobh-e Now about this village and its inhabitants:

A few simple photos were enough to make Shahijan village of Bushehr Province famous. It was the place in which a football match was held and women sat to watch it. During the match, one of the players raised his shirt to show the slogan “It is women’s right to enter stadiums” to the cameras. At the end, a few ladies were honoured, but few people know where the village is located and what its people do.

Shahijan is one of the small villages of Bushehr province. 209 people live there and the main job of the inhabitants is farming. Abouzar Omrani-Nasab, the secretary of football department in the village, says all the residents are from a clan called Omrani.

“The move was totally spontaneous and that player had not coordinated anything with us. We did not know about his decision,” added Omrani-Nasab.

He also talked about the presence of women saying “since the beginning of the tournament, the women of the village have been supporting us. The aim of holding such tournament was to commemorate Shahijan’s late football player Haj Morteza Omrani. In fact, his memorial ceremony was held in 2007 as he passed away, and a football match was started to be held to commemorate him. As his family and the village inhabitants participated in this memorial ceremony, a tradition was established based on which women of Shahijan along with their families could watch the matches. Their presence creates a lot of joy among the villagers, especially during Nowruz holidays.”

He further added that the presence of women created a friendly atmosphere and contributed to the discipline of the tournament.

“With the presence of women, many things were taken into consideration and this was a great pleasure for us as the organisers. On the final day, all the women in the village came to see the match. Even the mothers and ladies, who had not watched any football match over the year, came to watch the game and their move created a great atmosphere.”

Omrani-Nasab further explained how they decided to appreciate these women’s move and their enthusiasm for watching the match.

“We appreciated their move by honouring a grandma on behalf of the village’s women. This grandma had attended all matches as a spectator. She walked with a stick to receive the prize while all the spectators applauded her for several minutes. Those who are opposed to the presence of women in the stadiums would have changed their minds if they attended this ceremony.”

Ali Omrani, who is the village’s former chief and a member of Shahijan’s football team, says there has always been a belief among the villagers that women could work along with men in economics, agriculture and farming.”

“From the very first day, it was planned to allow women to enter the stadium so that they could watch the matches,” he noted, stressing that the move has sparked a lot of positive reactions in the media.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 29

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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April 29, 2018

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on November 19

The top story in almost all papers today was a trilateral meeting between Iran, Turkey, and Russia in Moscow which was held to discuss ways to resolve the Syria crisis.

The recent historic meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea also remained a top story. A key point of analysis was a possible decision by the US to negotiate another JCPOA, this time on the North Korean nuke program.

The visit of Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, to the US and her meeting with Trump on the Iran nuclear deal was also a top story today. Many papers described her stances as a ‘betrayal of the deal’ and denounced Berlin for its double-standard policies.

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

19 Dey:

Zarif: Change of JCPOA Not Acceptable
ICT Minister: Iranian Digital Currency Prepared
Central Bank Governor: Iran Not Worried about Trump’s Withdrawal from JCPOA

Abrar:

EU Has Invested in Iran Nuclear Deal
Trump: Iran Won’t Achieve Nuclear Weapons

Abrar-e Eqtesadi:

India Main Rival of Iran in Global Handmade Carpet Market
French Firms Eager to Work with Iranian Companies in Petchem Industry

Aftab-e Yazd:

Economic Analyst: Rouhani’s Gov’t Has Made Good Use of Oil Revenues
Triangle of 2021
Rouhani Will Likely Support Nateq Noori, Larijani in Next Presidential Votes

Arman-e Emrooz:

250 European Banks Working with Iran
ISIS Elements behind Tehran Parliament Appear in Their First Court Sessions
Judge: 26 People Accused of Complicity in the Attack

Asrar:

Energy Minister: Water Crisis Influences 17 Million People in Iran

Donya-ye Eqtesad:

Iran-Europe Banking Talks
New Aspect of Problems in Working with Trump Disclosed

Ebtekar:

European Saviour of JCPOA!
After Macron, Merkel Heads to Washington to Meet with Trump
Maximum Punishment Called for Eight People Involved in Tehran Parliament Raid
FATF, Prison Guard of International Banking

Etemad:

Iran, Turkey, Russia Hold Trilateral Meeting in Moscow
Efforts to Achieve Consensus on Syria

Ettela’at:

Iran First VP: Some Are Trying to Prevent Problems from Being Resolved
Funeral Held for Saleh al-Samad in Yemen

Iran:

Merkel in Meeting with Trump: JCPOA Has Been Effective

Jame Jam:

Europe, Continent of Harassment
How Sexual Abuse of Female Immigrants Turned into Common Practice in Germany

Javan:

Epic Funeral held for al-Samad under Saudi Bombardment
Merkel, Latest Leader to Betray Iran Nuclear Deal

Jomhouri Eslami:

France 24: Europe United against Trump on Iran Nuclear Deal
Iran, Turkey, Russia Hold Firm Stance on Final Eradication of ISIS, Nusra Front in Syria

Kayhan:

Leaving NPT Must Be Iran’s Response to Betrayal; Don’t Give More Concessions
Ansarullah, Al Saud Exchange Heavy Fire
Revolutionaries Attack Jizan with 8 Ballistic Missiles

Resalat:

Germans Betray Iran Nuclear Deal

Rooyesh-e Mellat:

Peace in Peninsula: Trump Thinking of Korean JCPOA?

Roozan:

Triangle of Astana Renew Allegiance in Moscow

Sazandegi:

What JCPOA?
It’s Totally Wrong to Compare Iran with North Korea
Iran Nuclear Deal Better than Possible Korean JCPOA

Sepid:

MP: Iran’s Regional Rank in Health Cares Down to 10

Shargh:

Zarif: Syria Has No Military Solution

Sobh-e Now:

Dream of JCPOA Gone
Deputy Transport Minister Resigns as Boeing Breaks Promises

Vatan-e Emrooz:

Pompeo: It’s Unlikely that We Won’t Withdraw from Iran Nuclear Deal

“Europe’s Interests in Danger If It Remains Indifferent to Trump Policies”

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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April 28, 2018

Addressing at the sixth Iran-EU banking conference on Saturday, Abbas Akhoundi, Iran’s minister of roads, housing and urban development, said, “We are at a point in history when Europe has a determining role in that it can push the world towards peace or [on the contrary] contribute to the expansion of war and unrest across the globe with one single mistake or not doing enough.”

He said the world is passing through a transition period at the moment.

“Undoubtedly, the world is undergoing a bipolar change at this juncture, and events have taken place in the world that have led to tugs of war which are too serious to be included in a diplomatic framework and dialogue,” he said.

“The developments unfolding amid this dialogue are tough and deep-rooted, and we cannot deny that and we cannot get past it with just a few diplomatic sentences,” he added.

He said some forces have emerged in the domain of the global power that are undeniable, adding a kind of “numbness” and “backwardness” can be seen in the United States’ role and status on the world stage.

“This comes as the US once regarded itself as the guardian, protector and base of a free world and the economy of market and a competitive economy; this can be seen well in the Cold War era,” said Akhoundi, who is also a member of Iran’s Money and Credit Council.

He said the Israeli regime is now doing risky actions.

“There is also a dubious power in the world, which belongs to Europe; it means, on the one hand, the volume of transactions and [trade] exchanges with the US, which takes place within the framework of a strategic alliance, cannot be overlooked easily and cannot be ignored overnight; on the other, it is completely clear to European intellectuals that what is being pursued by the American system will not lead to global development,” he said.

“I believe that although European scholars do not say this straightforwardly, Europe’s concern about the US behaviour is expressed in many articles,” he said.

“Of course, in the talks we have with the Europeans, they say the volume of Europe’s trade with the US is very high, but what is strategically important is that if Europe does not adopt a clear stance about the US, will it be able to keep benefiting from its current economic advantages?” the minister underlined.

He said if the current American system, as it is, further fuels insecurity, it will definitely wreck Europe’s current interests as well.

“Regarding this, we believe that we know our historical situation as well as political and economic geography more or less, though we have clear errors and weaknesses as well,” he said.

“Anyway, we are heir to an Iranian civilisation which is thousands of years old, and we have played a key role in forming this civilisation. Moreover, we have also contributed to the formation of the Islamic civilisation, so we are not a little-known nation in the world,” he noted.

Akhoundi said Iran is reviewing its role in the world, and although it may have some errors, it will find its place.

“In this regard, we remain committed to our agreements. Furthermore, Iran is a civilisation comprising different ethnic groups. So, we have been good at tolerance and adaptation and accepting the existence of one another,” he said.

“We are certainly a reliable partner for talks, and we accept that we need to play with international regulations; so, we understand that navigation and aviation are not possible without joining international contracts.”

He said the banking system is based on international regulations as well.

“Although there may be agreements that we have not joined, at the end of the day, we will solve problems in a regional and win-win dialogue,” the minister noted.

He then said peace can lay the groundwork for economic development.

“The point we are facing now is more fundamental than the banking issue; it means we should learn how to preserve peace in the region as a base for economic development. My understanding is that what the US is doing is not an economic move; rather, it is a dangerous return and an inappropriate move to sustain instability across the world, and, as a nation, we expect Europe to prevent a return to mercantilistic systems, and urge it not to think that it can safeguard its interests if it is indifferent towards that issue,” he said.

Iran FM Holds Talks with Russian, Turkish Counterparts

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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April 28, 2018

The meetings were held prior to a trilateral meeting among the three foreign ministers aimed at discussing the latest developments in Syria.

Zarif and Lavrov discussed various dimensions of bilateral relations and followed up on agreements made in a meeting of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkish capital of Ankara early April.

According to a statement by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the Iranian and Russian officials also talked about cooperation in the energy sector, the anti-terror fight against terrorism in the region, the legal regime of the Caspian Sea, the fate of the Iran nuclear deal, latest developments in Yemen and Syria, and progress of the Astana process.

Zarif and Cavusoglu also conferred on bilateral banking cooperation and international and regional issues, including the situation in Syria and the Astana process.

Later in the day, the three foreign ministers held a trilateral summit to discuss ways to end the Syria crisis. Zarif, Lavrov, and Cavusoglu issued a joint statement saying that they have agreed to increase joint efforts to help achieve “a lasting political settlement in Syria”.

The three states “agreed to increase joint efforts aimed at facilitating the achievement of a lasting political settlement in Syria envisaged by the UN Security Council resolution 2254 and through full use of multi-level mechanisms of the Astana format,” the top diplomats said in the joint statement.

The Astana process refers to crisis resolution talks, which have been underway in the Kazakh capital of Astana since late 2016, when the trio (Tehran, Moscow, Ankara) started working together to end the crisis in Syria.

Russia has been lending air support to Syria’s ground operations, while Iran offers military advisory assistance to the Syrian army. But Turkey supports militants fighting to bring down the government.

Moscow’s tripartite meeting comes as the Syrian government forces have made major gains against foreign-backed terrorists, pushing them out of their stronghold in the eastern Ghouta region near the capital Damascus.

American Girl Visits Iran’s Kish Island as Part of Guinness Record Attempt

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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April 28, 2018

Taylor Demonbreun, 23, is on a mission to become the youngest and fastest person to visit all 195 of the world’s sovereign countries.

Demonbreun graduated from Vanderbilt University last May, with degrees in economics and public policy. After a semester abroad, however, she realized that she no longer wanted to become an investment banker, as she had originally intended.

Instead of spending her last semester in typical senior fashion, Demonbreun used every free minute to plan a record-breaking voyage around the world.

On June 1, less than a month after graduating, she set out for her first country on an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for fastest and youngest person to visit every country around the world. Since starting her journey in the Dominican Republic, Demonbreun has visited over 100 different countries from South America to Europe and Asia over the course of nine months.

Demonbreun blogs about her experience travelling at Trek With Taylor, as well as on Twitter and Instagram, and hopes to inspire other people to push beyond their comfort zones, explore new cultures and learn more about themselves in the process.

She hopes to finish the entire journey by September, but she has until December to finish the trip and still break two Guinness world records.

What follows are her photos in Kish Island retrieved from Tasnim News Agency:

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French Start-up Promoting Iranian Handmade Shoes “Giveh”

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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April 28, 2018

Iranian people have heard its name a lot, but few are ready to wear Giveh. Hence, this type of Iranian handicraft is common in a few parts of Iran, especially in rural areas of Kermanshah Province. Many others, however, use it for decorative applications.

A few years ago, the traditional rural shoes caught the attention of a French tourist visiting local markets across Iran.

The tourist, a young girl, found the shoes soft, comfortable and durable and then came up with an idea to launch a start-up to sell them across Europe.

The girl eventually put into action her idea a few months ago. She has helped revive a traditional craft in Iran and provide many Giveh-makers living in Iranian villages with a stable source of revenue.

In an exclusive interview with the Persian-language newspaper Hamshahri, Oceane Castanet, the founder of the French start-up Amrose, recounted the story of launching her start-up.

An Idea Not Taken Seriously

Castanet, who has been active in the fashion business for years, was amazed by the beauty of Giveh when she first saw it in Isfahan and Kurdistan provinces during her visit three years ago.

“All the shoes I had seen before that were made of either leather or wood. I had never seen people weaving shoes. Giveh was a unique and handmade shoe I had never seen before,” she said.

Castanet bought several pairs of Giveh and wore them all the time, even after returning to France.

“I came up with an idea to launch a startup selling the shoes on the Internet. But many people underestimated the idea, saying Giveh is worn by villagers and foreigners won’t embrace it,” she said.

Castanet’s friends in France thought the shoes were super nice, but they were a little too rustic for the city.

However, one year ago, Castanet decided to abandon her previous career and dedicate herself to launching her Giveh start-up.

Castanet introduced her project on crowd-funding Internet portal Kickstarter.com and managed to gain the trust of visitors and raise enough funds to start her start-up.

Finally, Amrose started selling Giveh three months ago.

Selling the Story of Giveh

Castanet tried to make the shoes appealing by creating a story for each set of them, besides emphasising on their major selling points, being handmade and unique.

Each Giveh has its own design. There is also an identity card in the box of shoes containing their name, a painting and other things.

The Amrose founder says, “These stories are based on my experiences during my life or trips to Iran. One of the shoes is named ‘Shore of Seine River’, telling the story of my childhood. Another shoe is called ‘Isfahan’, telling the story of my visit to Isfahan, which changed my life.”

“These are all attractive for costumers and create added value,” she said.

Joint Cooperation of Iran, Portugal, France

Castanet supplies raw materials to female Giveh-makers in Kurdistan, Isfahan, Zahedan and Zanjan, and takes back the hand-woven shoes.

In the next stage, the shoes are transferred to Portugal, where their fitting is finalized at a cheap cost comparing to other parts of Europe.

“The total cost of production could be less if the shoes could be finalised inside Iran. But I’ve been unable to find such a workshop in Iran,” she said.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on April 28

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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April 28, 2018

Many papers today covered the remarks made by the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with the participants of the International Quran Competition in Tehran.

The top story in several papers was the historic meeting between the North Korean Leader and the president of South Korea.

Warnings by top Shiite clerics like Ayatollah Javadi Amoli on the need for the government to pay attention to people’s demands also received great coverage today.

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

19 Dey:

Energy Minister: This Year to Be Iran’s Driest Year in 50 Years
Historic Reconciliation between North, South Korean Leaders

Abrar:

Leader: Iran Has Stood against US, Progressed Based on Quran Teachings
US Defence Secretary: No Decision Taken Yet on US Withdrawal from Iran Deal

Afkar:

Cleric: Government’s Borrowing from Central Bank Deadly Poison for Economy

Aftab-e Yazd:

ICT Minister on Telegram Filtering: Don’t Expect Me to Do Anything Illegal

Arman-e Emrooz:

Transparency Best Way to Fight Corruption: Imam Khomeini’s Grandson

Asrar:

Ayatollah Javadi Amoli: People Not to Tolerate Embezzlement, Incompetence

Ebtekar:

Historic Day in Korean Peninsula

Etemad:

Deputy Head of Environment Dept.: Without Consensus, Lake Urmia Will Die

Ettela’at:

Iran Leader: Muslim States Suffering from Humiliation Disease
Historic Meeting of North, South Korean Leaders after 65 Years

Iran:

Top Clerics Warn about Consequences of Ignoring People’s Demands

Javan:

Wings of Iran Nuclear Deal Broken
Planes Purchased on Virtue of JCPOA Now Gone
Iran Gov’t Ends Its Agreement with Telegram

Jomhouri Eslami:

Banks, Private Sector Support Government’s New Forex Policy

Kayhan:

What Happened in Council of Foreign Relations Meeting?
FM Zarif Must Apologize Instead of Denying Clear Evidence
26 Zionist Military Officials to Trump: JCPOA Ensures Our Security; Don’t Pull Out of It!
Iran Leader: Quran Orders Us to Stand against Infidels, Bullies of the World

Khorasan:

Six Percent Decrease in Number of House Deals
30% Hike in House Prices in Tehran

Rah-e Mardom:

MP: Iran to Pull Out of JCPOA If US Leaves It

Resalat:

Dear Officials! The Country Cannot Increase Your Wages: Top Cleric

Rooyesh-e Mellat:

Iran Top General: Enemies Well Understood Iran Won’t Change Its Strategy

Sayeh:

Ayatollah Javadi Amoli: You Cannot Expect Poor Nation to Show Resistance

Shargh:

Imam Khomeini’s Grandson: City Council No Place for Political Moves

Vatan-e Emrooz:

US President’s Ridiculous Comments about Iranian People
Iranians Don’t Chant ‘Death to America’ during My Term in Office: Trump
Ansarullah: US Main Culprit behind Assassination of al-Samad

Iran’s Beauties in Photos: Farmlands of Tuyserkan

By

IFP Editorial Staff

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April 28, 2018

Faryazan is one of the largest of these villages. It is located 12 km away from the city of Tuyserkan. Farmlands of Faryazan, Moradabad and surrounding villages are quite suitable for growing crops such as wheat, canola, garlic and cucumber.

What follows are photos of the farmlands of this village retrieved from the Mehr News Agency:

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