Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Home Blog Page 3912

Two New Percussion Instruments Unveiled in Tehran

The two percussion instruments have been made by Mohsen Farmani, an Iranian instrument designer.

According to a Farsi report by ILNA, the instruments were unveiled in a ceremony at Milad Tower in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Farmani said the quality of these two newly made instruments has been approved by two Iranian maestros: “Bijan Kamkar, famous singer and musician, and Homayoun Nasiri, a composer and musician, have put their signatures on these two instruments.”

Commenting on the features of the instruments, he said ‘Dom Dom’ is an instrument indigenous to Iran’s southern regions, adding Nasiri has always used the instruments in his performances.

“However, due to the instrument’s physical and structural problems, its old version has never been much favoured by other musicians. We made a number of changes to the instrument and invented a new kind of it.”

He added the number of wood pieces used in building the instrument and their type are what make ‘Daf-e Kooki’ different from other instruments of its kind.

Built using modern lathes, Farmani said, the instrument is made up of 60 wood bits.

He noted that a 1-kilogram version of the instrument was earlier made in Spain, adding, “What we have made weighs 650 grams which is way lighter than the Spanish one and common Dafs.”

Here are Honar Online’s photos of the ceremony where the two instruments were unveiled:

Iran Independent of Outsourcing in Android Market: Minister

Referring to the recent removal of Iranian apps from App Store and Google Play, Jahromi said, “As Iran is looking for global markets, these restrictions will impede our international marketing. Therefore, we need to take this warning seriously and strive for new strategies for mobile phones and new businesses.”

“There are some systems in the world, especially in South Korea, in order to eliminate the absolute dependence on Android and Google. We also have put it on our agenda. But this is a very strategic issue and it cannot be decided overnight.”

“We must examine all aspects and see all the development areas and carefully study these areas in order to have a key idea. All the US efforts are to disrupt the lives of people. Therefore, our seemingly good decisions should not be such that people’s lives are affected by our good slogans. We must not disrupt the lives of the people,” Jahromi pointed out.

Jahromi, who was speaking in a telephone conversation with the state TV, said that no new sanctions have been imposed on the Islamic Republic, but the problem is that the new US administration wants to disrupt the agreements.

“Therefore, as the Islamic Republic of Iran has behaved wisely and, on the other hand, it will cost them (the Americans) much to disrupt international agreements; they (the Americans) are naturally seeking to do something to prove that they have implemented what they have chanted for earlier. So they are looking to impose some new restrictions.”

Azari Jahromi went on to say that the US Congress has not imposed a new sanction and no new executive order has been issued in this area.

“But the behaviour of US administration has raised concerns for American companies to be subject to Treasury inspections in the event of financial interactions, thus they are introducing restrictions and revisions in this area,” the Iranian communications minister concluded.

Two Digital service distributors namely Google Play and App Store have removed Iranian apps from their stores, citing US sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Companies such as Google and Apple were hosting Iranian apps reportedly under a license issued by former President Barack Obama’s administration in 2014 but it is not clear why they have stopped those services now.

Tehran is under unilateral American sanctions despite a 2015 nuclear accord which the US and its allies reached with Iran. President Donald Trump has imposed new sanctions on the Islamic Republic and threatened to tear up the agreement.

Iran has about 48 million smartphone users in the country of more than 80 million. Apple’s market in Iran is related to iPhone holders who number in the upwards of 7 million. The majority of other smartphones are also using Google’s Android as their operating system.

Iranian Jewish MP Calls for Stripping Suu Kyi of Nobel Prize

Suu Kyi

Siamak Moreh SedghJewish lawmaker Siamak Moreh Sedgh says the international community has revealed its double-standard policies with its silence towards the massacre in Myanmar.

“The community misuses such humanitarian concepts as human rights and human dignity as a tool to preserve its own interests.”

In a Farsi interview with the Fars News Agency, Moreh Sedgh also said killing of any innocent individual anywhere amounts to inhumane violence denounced by any monotheist religion, let alone killing of or torturing a group of innocent people for their religious, racial or national affiliations.

The Jewish member of Iranian parliament further noted that the global silence towards the massacre reveals that the community has closed its eyes to the most basic human rights of the Muslims, that is, the right to live.

“Life is a gift from heaven and no one is allowed to deprive us of this right or torture us under any pretext,” he added.

“Their silence show that these [human rights] groups have no value by themselves,” he noted.

The Iranian lawmaker called on the Nobel Foundation to take back its Peace Prize given to the Myanmar’s politician, Aung San Suu Kyi, some years ago and said the massacre of Muslims in Myanmar has deeply tarnished the image of the international community.

“It also showed that each nation should restore its rights itself without waiting for the international community’s support,” he said.

He also blamed certain countries including the Islamic ones for their passive reactions towards the mass killings in Myanmar and said these countries should have taken a more serious stance towards the issue.

Iran, Pakistan FMs Hold Talks in Tehran

During the meeting held on Monday, Zarif and the Pakistani delegation discussed various ways of developing and boosting bilateral relations, including strengthening banking cooperation, transport ties, and strengthening mutual cooperation at the joint border areas, especially in their fight against terrorism.

Regional issues of common interest, including the situation of displaced people and refugees, drug trafficking, fight against extremists and terrorist groups, as well as the situation of Muslims in Myanmar, were among the other topics explored by the Iranian foreign minister and his Pakistani counterpart.

Regarding the existing imbalance in the region, the Pakistani FM Khawaja Muhammad Asif spoke of the need to adopt a concrete policy on the situation in the region.

He pointed to the presence of a significant number of troops from different countries of the world in Afghanistan over the past two decades, saying that the security situation in Afghanistan has so far not changed much to improve.

Zarif, for his part, highlighted the efforts of the two countries to further increase the level of political ties, and underlined the necessity of cooperation between the two countries in other sectors, including strengthening of the banking cooperation.

Confronting extremism and active terrorist groups in the region and working together to establish peace, stability and security in Afghanistan through regional and multilateral political talks were among the other issues Zarif touched upon in this meeting.

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


On Monday, Iranian newspapers widely covered the holding of the first Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on science and technology in the Kazakh capital, Astana. They particularly highlighted the remarks made by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in this conference and his Sunday meetings with the leaders of the Islamic states on the sidelines of the forum.

The issue of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the signatories’, particularly the US’, commitment or reluctance to carry on with the nuclear deal continued to be in the spotlight.

Also in the limelight, as has been the overall trend in the past few weeks, was the issue of the genocide of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and international reactions to the tragic event and humanitarian crises in the Southeast Asian state.

A number of newspapers have also paid attention on the awards won by the Iranian film titled ‘No Date, No Signature’ in the Horizons section of the 74th Venice Film Festival. The feature film received Horizons Awards for the best director, Vahid Jalilvand, and best actor, Navid Mohammadzadeh, during the closing ceremony of the event held on Saturday (September 9).

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

 

Abrar:

  1. UN Secretary-General: North Korea Gravest Crisis in Recent Years
  2. Ad-Diyar Newspaper: Lebanese President to Visit Tehran in October
  3. Iran among Topics to Be Discussed in 2017 Arab League Summit

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Afkar:

  1. Iran Leader’s Aide: Zionists’ Plot, Horrific Crime
  2. Iranian Judiciary Official: US’ Absence Would Make JCPOA Meaningless

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Aftab-e Yazd:

  1. Education Minister: 10% of People Illiterate in Iran, It’s Shameful
  2. Lavrov: Russia, Saudi Arabia Maintaining Paradoxical Attitudes
  3. Iranian Reformist Politician: JCPOA Nothing Per Se, Solely Road to Development
  4. Russia to Cooperate in Electrification of Iran’s Railway

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Arman-e Emrooz:

  1. Tehran City Council to Address Issue of Municipality’s Heavy Spending in Iraq

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Asrar:

  1. Rouhani to OIC Summit: Promoting Hope, Construction to Dry Up Roots of Inclination for Extremism, Terrorism

 A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Ebtekar

  1. Rouhani to OIC Summit: Muslims’ Lassitude Main Cause of Islamic World’s Underdevelopment

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

 


 

Etemad:

  1. Guardian Council Member: Iranian Women Currently Cannot Become Man of Politics (to be elected as president)
  2. ‘No Date, No Signature’ Shines at Venice Film Festival

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Ettela’at:

  1. Rouhani Invites OIC Heads to Making Joint Efforts to Build World Free of War, Poverty, Ignorance
  2. Iran to Send Human into Space in Eight Years’ Time
  3. Myanmar Army Sets Four Other Muslim Villages in Rohingya on Fire

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Iran:

  1. Rouhani Invites OIC Heads to Practicing Islamic Moderation
  2. German Ambassador to Iran: Berlin Insisting Upon Full Implementation of JCPOA

 A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Javan:

  1. Reverse Filtering Started by App Store, Google Play Can Lead to Closure of IP Addresses, Internet Domains in Iran
  2. ‘No Date, No Signature’: Extreme Realism Helps Iran’s Cinema Win International Awards Again
  3. Tehran-Based University Students Object to Genocide in Myanmar

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Jomhouri Eslami:

  1. OIC Heads Call for Ending Violence in Myanmar
  2. Iraqi Turkmen Political Parties Urge Boycott of Kurdistan Region Poll

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Kayhan:

  1. North Korean Leader Urges Increase of National Nuclear Capabilities
  2. Unemployment Rate Higher than National Average in 42% of Iranian Counties

 A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Resalat:

  1. Rouhani: Any Changes in Boundaries Tantamount to Creating Serious Tensions
  2. Guardian Council Member: Iran Ready for Ultimate Condition, US Should Know

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Shahrvand:

  1. Rouhani to Kazakh Counterpart: Whole Region Facing Terrorism Threat

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Shargh:

 

  1. Iran FM: Hazardous Situation Awaiting World
  2. Iranian Politician: Growth of Fake Reformism Worrisome
  3. Rohingya’s Holocaust [Editorial]
  4. Saudi Arabia’s Involvement in 9/11 Attacks Becomes More Probable

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Sobh-e Now:

  1. Looting Hurricane; Irma Paralyzes US

A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Vaghaye Ettefaghiyeh:

  1. Rouhani Performs Maneuver of Solidarity in Astana
  2. Middle East Expert: Peace Talks Outcome of Trump’s Family Trade Ties

 A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11


 

Vatan-e Emrooz:

  1. Crime Nobel: International Community Viewing Nobel Peace Prize Holder Suu Kyi as Accomplice in Genocide of Muslims in Myanmar
  2. Western Embargoes Include Mobile Phones: Global Mobile Association Boycotts Iran in Weird Move
  3. A Look at Iranian Newspaper Front Pages on September 11

 

Iran Proposes Formation of OIC’s Tech-Savvy Women Forum

The head of the Iranian delegation to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit on Science and Technology held in the Kazakh capital, Astana, has proposed that Muslim countries set up a forum comprising women who have secured accomplishments in the domain of technology.

“A new cultural and civilizational movement is taking shape in the Muslim world,” said Abdolhossein Fereydoun, who is also an advisor to the Iranian minister of science, research and technology.

“Iran specifically welcomes the development of scientific diplomacy and technology in Muslim countries, and to that end, embraces major joint scientific projects in the fields of satellite technology, super computers and oceanic studies,” he added, according to a Farsi report by Mehr.

He said figures show Islamic countries’ share of world scientific articles has risen from 2% to 8% over the past 16 years, which, he noted, is regarded as a considerable growth.

“Moreover, the rate of publishing scientific materials in OIC member states is eight times higher than the average global rate,” he added.

He said Iran is working closely with OIC members in the field of education, science and technology, and added regional as well as international centers are contributing to the development of Sci-Tech parks and a regional oceanography center.

Fifth Urmia Grape Festival Underway in Northwestern Iran

Fifth Urmia Grape Festival Underway in Northwestern Iran 5

Chi Chest coastal village in West Azarbaijan Province, northwestern Iran, is currently playing host to the Fifth Urmia Grape Festival which was inaugurated on September 7 and will be open to visitors until September 15.

Earlier, commenting on the festival, Jalil Jabbari, the director general of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of East Azarbaijan, said the event is aimed at expanding the province’s tourism industry.

He added holding such festivals helps attract tourists and create investment opportunities for those interested in development of tourism industry in the province.

Jabbari said the holding of the festival is an outcome of collective efforts by all domestic apparatuses and a fruit of their favourable interactions with each other.

“Like the previous editions of the fest, a handicraft exhibition consisting 30 pavilions will present the province’s tourist attractions to visitors in this year’s event.”

In addition, he said, this year’s festival will feature a number of pavilions providing visitors with anthropological information about the province’s old and deep-rooted traditions and customs with a focus on grape as well as the culture of people in Urmia.

Commenting on the properties of grape and its health benefits, Jabbari noted that throughout the history, people of the province have found out about the nutritional values of the fruit and have included it in their food basket.

Iranian Pharmaceuticals Replace US Counterparts in Russia

Iranian Pharmaceuticals Replace US Counterparts in Russia

Iran’s National Elites Foundation says Iranian biomedicines have taken 100 percent of Russia’s market. “The biopharmaceuticals have completely replaced the American ones in Russia,” it said in a statement.

Registration of any type of medicine in any country requires some clinical trials by the officials there. Iranian biomedicines have been going through various clinical trials by Russian-related organizations over the past three years.

Now, two Iranian biopharmaceuticals are being registered in Europe for the first time. In Russia, 5 Iranian pharmaceuticals, including MS medicines, have already been registered. Iran has also exported anti-cancer pharmaceuticals to Russia which are taking the last stages of their registration in the country. Meanwhile, Iran has begun to export its medicines to some regional countries like Iraq and Turkey.

The statement by Iran’s National Elites Foundation added that moving towards a knowledge-based economy and industry is one of the main pillars of achieving objectives of Resistance Economy.

According to a Farsi report by the Mehr News Agency, before the announcement of Resistance Economy policies by the Iranian government, there were only 10 knowledge-based companies in Iran but today the number has reached 3,119 companies.

Iran’s Ranking Promoted in Global Innovation Index

Iran’s status in innovative and knowledge-based economy has improved significantly compared with previous year. According to official reports, Iran’s rank in this field has promoted from 120 in 2014 reaching 78 in 2016.

Meanwhile, Iran’s rank in knowledge and technology production, market boom and business improvement has raised respectively by 48, 19 and 25 steps.

Knowledge-Based Market Promotes Significantly

According to the statement by Iran’s National Elites Foundation, the market of knowledge-based production is expected to have a $266m profit by the end of Iranian calendar year (March 20th). Meanwhile, the market is expected to pave the way for full implementation of knowledge-based plans and creation of a profitable business.

On the other hand, one of the main indices of raising the economic strength of the country against the global shocks is increasing the number of exported goods with high added value. Most of the knowledge-based productions have double added value.

Iranian Students Hold Protest Rally to Condemn Myanmar Genocide

Iranian Students Hold Protest Rally to Condemn Myanmar Genocide

The protesters expressed regret over the cruel killing of Muslims in Myanmar amid the silence of international bodies, the United Nations in particular.

Carrying placards “Stop genocide in Myanmar”, “Israel in the Main Actor in Myanmar”, and “Where is Humanity”, the demonstrators chanted slogans and called on the international community to put an end to the plight of Rohingya Muslims in the Southeast Asian country.

The Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar have long faced severe discrimination and were the targets of violence in 2012 that killed hundreds and drove about 140,000 people from their homes to camps for the internally displaced.

Over the past days, intensifying clashes between security forces and insurgents in western Myanmar have sent about 270,000 terrified civilians scrambling toward the Bangladesh border in a desperate search for refuge.

A United Nations report in February said the military crackdown on the Rohingya had led to gang rape, the killing of hundreds of civilians and the forced displacement of people.

Iranian Students Hold Protest Rally to Condemn Myanmar GenocideIranian Students Hold Protest Rally to Condemn Myanmar GenocideIranian Students Hold Protest Rally to Condemn Myanmar Genocide

Kazakh President Calls for Formation of Islamic G20

“I think we need to create a forum, like G-20, an informal group for the development of science and economy in the Islamic world,” Nazarbayev said at the first OIC Summit on Science and Technology in Astana.

“From the advanced 15 states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, we could create an OIC-15. Because the development of science and technology is very important for us and in this regard, we must continue to develop fruitful cooperation with Western countries,” he added, as reported by Kazinform.

“This will facilitate the development of the entire Islamic world. We must develop relations between the Islamic religion and representatives of other religions, therefore, we should hold such forums regularly, as these meetings bring the Islamic world closer to the West,” the Kazakh president added.

Nazarbayev also urged the participants to abandon stereotypes that lead to misunderstanding.

Astana is hosting the first OIC Summit on Science and Technology with the participation of the heads of several states. The Summit determines priorities, goals, and objectives in the field of science, technology and innovation development in the OIC member states.

The Summit’s theme is “Science, Technology, Innovation and Modernization in the Islamic World”.