The Chilean senator, who is in Tehran heading a high-ranking delegation, conferred with Zarif on ways of boosting bilateral relations between Iran and Chile.
During the Tuesday meeting in Tehran, Girardi said his trip to the Iranian capital is aimed at cementing bilateral ties, particularly in the field of science and technology.
He said Iran and Chile are important countries in their respective geographical areas. He also described as inefficient the policies adopted by certain world powers vis-à-vis Iran.
The Iranian top diplomat, in turn, said a host of areas exist for mutual cooperation between Tehran and Santiago, and added the trip to Iran by a Chilean parliamentary delegation could be a good start.
Zarif also called for enhancement of reciprocal ties on different fronts, particularly culture, tourism, science and technology. He said free trade between Iran and Chile is an example of good relations between the two sides.
Iran, Chile Discuss Expansion of Reciprocal Ties
DM Vows to Further Boost Iran’s Missile Capabilities
Speaking on a live TV program on Monday, Hatami said Iran’s current missile might was good and was “one of the main components of deterrence.”
As Iran made efforts to strengthen its defensive power, he said, enemies would try to surpass that power, “but we would carefully monitor them and would strengthen ourselves accordingly.”
The defense minister further said that the most important principle of Iran’s military doctrine was “comprehensive defense through active deterrence.”
“We will boost [our] defensive power so much that no one would dare violate Iran,” Brigadier General Hatami said.
He also announced that all the S-300 surface-to-air missile defense systems that Iran had purchased from Russia had been installed and were covering sensitive sites.
The domestically-built Bavar-373 air defense system would soon be used alongside the S-300, he added.
Semnan to Host Iranian Folk Music Festival
The first edition of the festival, which is due to be held on September 1 and 2, will host various musical bands from various provinces of Golestan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Khorasan Razavi, Northern Khorasan, and Semnan.
According to a Farsi report by ILNA, the secretary of the East of Iran Folk Music Festival, Rouhollah Kalami, said the eastern Iranian music pieces are deeply rooted in the culture and civilization of Iran.
“Semnan province is a main juncture connecting eastern and western Iranian ethnic groups together, so the region is home to different languages and dialects,” he said.
“The music and languages of the region is culturally rich and various,” he went on to say.
He further noted that the festival is aimed at unveiling the untapped capacities of the region. “In the coming years, we will do our best to turn the festival into an international event,” he noted.
Various workshops will be held on the sidelines of the two-day festival.
“Holding cultural and artistic festivals like this is a big step in paving the way for recognizing the tourist capacities of the host province (Semnan) leading to the cultural as well as economic blossom of the region,” he concluded.
A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on August 29
The top story in all newspapers today was the remarks made by the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with a group of seminary students in Tehran.
The demise of former Iranian foreign minister Ebrahim Yazdi also received great coverage. In particular, President Hassan Rouhani’s message of condolences was widely covered in today’s papers.
The ongoing crisis in the US, particularly the state of Texas which is grappling with the Harvey hurricane, was also a top story today.
The above issues, as well as many more, are highlighted in the following headlines and top stories:
Aftab-e Yazd:
1- Iran Leader: Stabilizing Revolutionary Norms, Creating Islamic Society Needs Struggle
2- Patient Politician, Former Iran FM, Ebrahim Yazdi Dies at 86
3- 80 Percent of Iran Won’t Have Water in 20 Years: Environment Chief
Arman-e Emrooz:
1- Iran Leader: Long Way to Go until Formation of Islamic Management Organisation
2- Tehran Prosecutor General: Judiciary Ready to Try Sedition (Opposition) Leaders
3- Return of Mayor to Cabinet
- Tehran City Councillor: We’re Pursuing Tehran Mayor’s Attendance in Cabinet Sessions
Donya-ye Eqtesad:
1- Iranian Entrepreneur to Take Helm of Uber
2- Project to Build Dams against Nuclear Deal Kicked Off
- White House Exerting Pressure
Ebtekar:
1- Harvey Hurricane, New Crisis in US
2- Which One Should Be Saved: Water or Agriculture?
Ettela’at:
1- Leader: Young Generation Strongly Needs New Words, Ideas
2- First VP: We Shouldn’t Prevent Development of IT on Pretext of Social Ills
3- 800 ISIS Terrorists Killed in Russia’s Heavy Attack on East Syria
4- We Should Use Term ‘Gender Equality’: VP for Women Affairs
Iran:
1- Wind of Boom in Housing Market: 23% Increase in Deals after 3 Years
2- Farewell to Well-Known Politician
- Rouhani: History to Remember Dr Yazdi’s Efforts
3- US Secretary of State Tillerson Renounces Trump
Javan:
1- Iran Leader: If Enemy Not Angry with Us, You Should Doubt Your Usefulness
2- Obama’s Deputy: American Nation Should Stand against Trump
3- Ebrahim Yazdi Dies
Jomhouri Eslami:
1- Opponents, Supporters of Trump Clash with Each Other in Berkley
2- Tillerson: Trump Talking on Behalf of Himself
Kayhan:
1- Iran Leader: Struggle Needed to Protect Revolution
2- Iran Nuclear Chief: JCPOA Was God’s Mercy; Trump’s Words for Domestic Use!
3- Lebanese Analyst: Hezbollah, Syria’s Victories in Defeating ISIS Thanks to Iran, Its Leader
Kelid:
1- Tehran Mayor’s Decree Signed by Interior Minister Overnight
- Najafi Starts Work in Tehran Municipality
Khorasan:
1- One-Month Deadline for Prohibition of 800 Goods
2- Texas under Water
3- Gov’t Ready to Unblock All Social Media
Mardom Salari:
1- Rouhani: Iran’s History Will Remember Dr Ebrahim Yazdi
2- UN Special Envoy in Iran
3- Harvey Catastrophe in Texas
Shahrvand:
1- Impact of Nuclear Deal on Global Humanitarian Relations
2- Long Way to Go until Formation of Islamic Society: Iran Leader
Shargh:
1- We Should Be Doubtful about Ourselves If Enemies Not Angry with US: Leader
2- We Won’t Stop Fighting Corruption: First VP
Tejarat:
1- Central Bank Governor: Banks to Have Strong Presence in Supporting Production
2- Global Criticism of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates
Iraq Still Alive: Thousands Celebrate Opening of Baghdad Mall
After years of war and violence, which is still claiming people’s lives in different parts of Iraq, the Arab nation used the opening ceremony of Baghdad Mall on Monday night to show that life still goes on in the streets of the Iraqi capital.
The Iraqi General Traffic Directorate on Monday closed all roads and streets surrounding the Baghdad Mall as of 3 pm in a move to control the traffic congestion expected to be caused by the attendance of thousands of people in the opening ceremony of Baghdad Mall later in the day.
Years of war, sectarian conflict and insurgencies, as well as a financial and trade embargo in the 1990s and ongoing corruption, had set back development in Baghdad, causing considerable damage.
Now, nearly two months after victory was declared against ISIS in Iraq’s second city, Mosul, and as Iraqi forces draw closer to completely defeating the group in the country’s north, it looks like the historic city may have much brighter days ahead.
Over the weekend the Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, officially opened the new “Baghdad Mall”.
The huge mall includes various shops, a five-star hotel with 33 floors, which is managed by a global hotel company, and a specialized surgery hospital managed by a global medical services company.
According to the Baghdad Investment Authority (BIC), it is one of the strategic projects carried out in the heart of the capital, in terms of geographical location and size and quality of work in it.
The total area of the project is over 24,000 square metres, to include shops of the world’s finest originals and a chain of restaurants of the finest brands.
The mall also includes a ten-storey car park. It is managed by a solid security company equipped with the latest equipment to check the wheels and provide full protection to the pioneers of this huge project, according to the BIC.
The construction project took three years to be completed.
Here are photos of the ceremony attended by thousands of Iraqi people, particularly the younger generation:
Germany Willing to Provide Iran Air with All-Out Assistance: Envoy
German Ambassador to Iran Michael Klor-Berchtold says his country’s Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure is interested in providing Iran Air, the Airline of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with all-out support.
According to a Farsi report by the Tasnim News Agency, he made the remarks in a meeting with the national airline’s first-ever woman CEO, Farzaneh Sharafbafi, who has recently taken the helm of Iran Air.
Congratulating Sharafbafi on her appointment as the first woman chief of Iran Air in its history, the German envoy expressed the hope that she could help strengthen longstanding relations between Iran Air and Germany.
Enumerating the moves and measures made and taken by the Iranian Ministry of Road and Urban Development following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in January 2016, Klor-Berchtold pledged Germany’s all-out support for Iran Air on behalf of the German Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Alexander Dobrindt.
This was the first meeting between a top official from the German Embassy in Tehran and an Iran Air CEO after the victory of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran Parliament Authorizes Expansion of Cooperation with Slovenia
In an open session on Tuesday, August 29, members of the Iranian Parliament passed a bill to enhance economic cooperation between Tehran and Ljubljana.
According to a Farsi report by the Tasnim News Agency, it is stipulated in the single article of the bill that the economic cooperation agreement between Iran and Slovenia, consisting of a preface and seven articles, is, hereby, approved and authorization is granted to exchange its related documents.
The single article of the bill also obligates the Iranian side not to breach articles 77 and 139 of Iran’s Constitution which require the country’s international deals to be approved by the Parliament prior to being finalized and signed.
First 2017 Volvo Car to Go on Display in Iranian Fair
An Iranian auto importer, Datis Khodro Company, which is the sole importer of cars manufactured by Germany’s Heico Sportiv in Iran, has eventually managed to import the first 2017 model of Volvo to the country through its German partner.
According to a Farsi report by ISNA, the model is a joint product of Heico Sportiv and Volvo Group.
Earlier, the Iranian company had announced that it was granted a license by Heico Sportiv to be the sole importer of the German firm’s products to Iran.
Datis Khodro Company has declared, “In the past, another Iranian firm used to import Volvo Group’s cars to the country, the license of which was revoked by the Swedish car manufacturer. This led to a pause in the imports of Volvo automobiles to Iran.”
The gap in the imports of Volvo cars to Iran took a few years, until, eventually, Datis Khodro managed to indirectly purchase Volvo XC90, the first 2017 model which is a Luxury SUV, from the German firm and imported it to Iran.
The car has been put on display in Datis Khodro’s car exhibition.
Mossad Agent Arrested While Disguised as ISIS Preacher
According to the Libyan authorities, the real name of ISIS preacher Abu Hafs was Benjamin Efraim, an Israeli national operating in one of Mossad’s special units which conduct espionage operations in Arab and Islamic countries.
The Libyan authorities said the Mossad spy has started his career in Libya by leading a 200-member ISIS-affiliated group and moved to Benghazi in disguise as a preacher.
According to them, Abu Hafs had attempted to infiltrate into Egypt, adding that the group, under his command, is among the most barbaric terrorist groups which had threatened to export war to Egypt.
Iran’s Private Sector to Open Hospital for Medical Tourists
The construction of Milad Hospital as the largest private hospital in western Iran is now in the final phases, according to a Farsi report by the Khabar Online News Agency.
Milad hospital, which is under construction in the city of Oroumiyeh in West Azarbaijan province, is set to be equipped with the most advanced medical technology.
Nearly $260m has been invested so far to finish the first phase of the main building of the hospital, which has been built up on a 26,000 sqm area. Including the compound of the hospital, it occupies a 45,000 sqm land in Oroumiyeh.
It has various wards including maternity, surgery, physiotherapy as well as laboratory, administrative section and specialized clinics.
The CEO and a member of the Board of Directors of the hospital, Kamran Jamshidi, said the construction project is underway with private investments of the country’s medical society.
“The idea of the project began to emerge in 2010 but it kicked off officially one year later following the purchase of a large land in Oroumiyeh.”
He went on saying that the construction process enjoys the full support of the Health Ministry, West Azarbaijan Governor’s office, and the municipality of Oroumiyeh.
Jamshidi also noted that the construction process gained momentum particularly last year and added the first phase of the project which includes 100 beds is already accomplished and will become operational in the near future.
The construction of the hospital with a capacity of 300 patients will be finished by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2018), he added.
On the main goal of the Medical Association to build up the hospital, Jamshidi said since West Azarbaijan is suffering from massive lack of medical equipment, the association has decided to take a step in this regard and remove at least a main part of the medical shortage in the stop-acne-meds.com.
“Given its closeness to some regional countries like Iraq and Turkey, the West Azarbaijan Province can offer services to foreign tourists and Milad hospital can offer services to patients from other countries,” he noted.
Jamshidi stressed that offering luxurious services to attract tourists is one of the main factors motivating the investors of Milad hospital.
He said the main shareholders of the project are members of Medical Association.
“About 200 people are taking part in the project and we hope all other members of the Association step into the fray and joint the project,” he added.
Elsewhere in his statements, Jamshidi said 90 percent of the operations to build up the hospital have been carried out by the local conductors and added about $270m has been invested so far to make operational the first phase of the project.
Finishing the whole project will cost about $540m, he went on to say.
Another member of the Board of Directors of Milad Hospital, Hassan Entezami, said the hospital is the first smart hospital in Iran which is equipped with optical fibre. “It is also capable to have online connection with other smart hospitals across the world,” he added.
“The board of directors has decided to employ skillful doctors and send them to countries like Switzerland, Germany, and Sweden to pass specialized training courses,” he said.
He went on saying that the board has decided to set up a number of hotel-apartments near the buildings to accommodate the patients and offer more services to them.
“So far, the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan has expressed its interest in dispatching its patients to Milad hospital for treatment,” he noted.
“Milad hospital is aimed at offering medical services to foreigners with the aim of attracting more tourists to the region,” he said.
The hospital also creates jobs for at least one thousand people, he concluded.
