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Iran’s President Meets New Ambassadors of Germany, Ecuador, Morocco, Romania

new ambassadors

According to a report by IFP, in a meeting with Germany’s new ambassador to Tehran, President Rouhani called for closer interaction in the banking and insurance sectors with Berlin to accelerate development of bilateral relations after implementation of the JCPOA, a comprehensive deal on Tehran’s nuclear program.

He hailed the expansion of ties between Tehran and Berlin following the enforcement of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).

In order to accelerate the trend of mutual cooperation and attain the desirable level, the two countries will need to facilitate and boost ties in the banking and insurance industries, the President added, as reported by Tasnim.

Highlighting the opportunities for cooperation in the technical and engineering fields, such as the railroad industry or construction of power plants, President Rouhani stressed the need for strong partnership in the scientific, cultural and academic areas, and in the fight against terrorism.

For his part, the new envoy, Michael Klor-Berchtold, voiced Germany’s determination to enhance cooperation with Iran in all fields, particularly in the area of modern technologies.

Emphasizing Germany’s commitment to the JCPOA, the ambassador gave an assurance that Berlin will do its utmost to make the other parties honor their commitments to the nuclear deal as well.

Iran’s President Meets New Ambassadors of Germany, Ecuador, Morocco, Romania

No Obstacle to Enhancement of Ties with Ecuador: Rouhani

Rouhani also received the credentials of Ecuador’s newly-appointed ambassador to Tehran, Germán Alejandro Ortega Almeida, while highlighting the common views shared by the two countries on many instances of regional and international issues.

“The interference of major powers and the unilateralism approach are among the main factors of instability in various parts of the world,” President Rouhani added, Mehr reported.

Rouhani maintained that the Islamic Republic sees no obstacles on the path of developing ties with Ecuador, adding, “Today, the private sector and major Iranian companies are ready to offer technical-engineering services to Ecuador on road and power plant construction. We can also expand cooperation on various industrial and energy fields.”

The Ecuadorian ambassador, for his part, highlighted the extensive commonalities between the two countries in various fields, and called for joint efforts for developing all-out relations between Tehran and Quito.

Iran’s President Meets New Ambassadors of Germany, Ecuador, Morocco, Romania

Closer Iran-Morocco Ties to Benefit Both Nations: President

In a meeting with Morocco’s new ambassador to Iran, Hassan Hami, Rouhani called on Tehran and Rabat to utilize the current capacities of the two countries and boost relations in line with the interests of both nations.

Development of the ties between Iran and Morocco is in the interests of both nations and the region, President Rouhani said.

“We should tap the existing capacities and potentials to expand and strengthen ties and cooperation between the two countries,” he added.

The President went on to say that in addition to economic relations, Tehran and Rabat can cooperate in other areas, including culture and science, Tasnim reported.

Hami, for his part, said his country always appreciates the Islamic Republic of Iran’s stances on resolution of international problems through dialogue and diplomacy.

Hassan Hami was appointed as Morocco’s ambassador to Iran after seven years of severance of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Rabat reopened diplomatic channels with Tehran last year. Morocco’s Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar had expressed his country’s determination in November to appoint an ambassador to Tehran.

Iran’s President Meets New Ambassadors of Germany, Ecuador, Morocco, Romania

Rouhani Hails Enhanced Ties with European Union

In a meeting with Romania’s new Ambassador to Tehran Adrian Kozjacski, Rouhani said Iran welcomes the expansion of bilateral ties with European Union (EU) member states.

“The Islamic Republic welcomes the expansion of cooperation in all areas with the European Union, including with the country of Romania,” he said, as reported by Press TV.

There is nothing in the way of the enhancement of mutual relations with Romania, the Iranian president said, adding that the two countries enjoyed many capacities that could be used toward that purpose.

Rouhani said, given Iran’s interest in reinforcing the transportation channels leading to and from the country, especially railways, Romania can act as the Islamic Republic’s gateway to Europe via the Black Sea and can in return enjoy more expeditious access to Middle Eastern and Asian markets through Iran.

The Iranian president also said that Iran and Romania’s joint economic commission is expected to meet in the future in the Romanian capital of Bucharest.

He urged Romania to avail itself of the opportunities that have come about on the back of Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers by boosting cooperation with the Islamic Republic in the banking and insurance sectors.

Kozjacski, for his part, said Bucharest was determined to expand its relations with Iran in all areas of interest.

Stop Excessive Use of Groundwater: Iranian Minister

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“Despite all regulations against illegal consumption of well water, two-thirds of water supply is still harvested from wells,” noted Hamid Chitchian, the Energy Minister of Iran, according to a Farsi report by ICANA.

Hamidreza Chitchian“If we continue to suck up the groundwater like this, someday we will run out of it and no more groundwater will be left in deserts. Gradual disappearance of Lake Urmia [in northwestern Iran] gives us a good example.”

He went on to say that Iranian government is responsible for coping with water crisis, conserving environmental waters, moderating the extraction of groundwater, and improving the energy efficiency.

“Due to the excessive harvest of groundwater resources, the government has plans to issue exploitation licences for wells and power them with electricity,” he added.

Int’l Festival of Tribes Culture Held in Iran

Tribes Culture

Here are Tasnim’s photos of the festival:

 

 

77-Year-Old Collector Has over 8,000 Coloured Pencils

Coloured Pencils

According to a Farsi report by IRNA, Mohammad-Saleh Abdol-Samadi is a 77-year-old Iranian collector of coloured pencils from Sanandaj, western Iran.

He has spent 68 years gathering 8,108 coloured pencils from 49 different countries in 206 albums. He has obtained all the pencils inside Iran.

According to Guinness World Records, the owner of world’s biggest collection of pencils has been a Uruguayan man with 6,885 pencils.

Brazilian Policeman Confesses to Killing Greek Ambassador

According to a report by IFP, Police in Brazil said it has requested the arrests of four people as they investigate the murder of Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, whose body was found in a burnt-out car in Rio.

The charred remains of Amiridis were found on Thursday afternoon in a Ford Ka car left underneath an overpass in the city. He had hired the car to spend Christmas and New Year with his wife’s relatives.

But today police investigating the case claimed they believe his death was a ‘crime of passion’ after the ambassador had discovered his wife was having an affair with a military policeman, Sergio Gomes Moreira Filho, Daily Mail reported.

Filho reportedly confessed to killing the diplomat in the apartment where the couple were spending Christmas, after he had reportedly caught him with Francoise, the wife.

Iranian Officials Pay Visit to Homeless People Who Lived inside Graves

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According to a report by IFP, President’s Chief of Staff Mohammad Nahavandian and Social Welfare Minister Ali Rabi’ei were among the officials who visited the homeless junkies in a rehab centre near Tehran.

Nahavandian, who had earlier visited the graves where these homeless people used to live and talked to the people living in the neighbourhood, met the rehab centre that is hosting these drug addicts now.

Shahrvand newspaper on December 27 published an article about the life of homeless people who have to sleep in prefabricated graves in a cemetery near the Iranian capital at the freezing nights of winter.

The report received numerous reactions by Iranian people and celebrities, including the Oscar-winning Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi who wrote an open letter President Hassan Rouhani.

In response to Farhadi’s letter, President Rouhani said, “We all must unite to resolve such issues and stop partisan tug-of-wars and instead, be focused on the country’s main issues.”

After Shahrvand’s report went viral in social media, the President’s office and the local governor also announced that measures will be taken to resolve the problems of these homeless people.

Senior Iranian MP Meets Prominent Christian Musician ahead of New Year’s Eve

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According to a Farsi report by ICANA, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the Chairman of Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, met the Christian musician on Friday, a couple of days before the beginning of New Year.

Tjeknavorian was born in 1937 in Boroujerd, a city in Western Iran, and is one of the most celebrated cultural figures in Armenia and Iran.

As one of the leading conductors of his generation, he has led international orchestras throughout the world in Austria, UK, USA, Canada, Hungary, Copenhagen, Iran, Finland, USSR, Armenia, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Africa, and Denmark.

His compositions have been performed by major orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Halle Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra Helsinki, American Symphony Orchestra in New York, Tehran Symphony Orchestra, Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra, the Mexico Symphony Orchestra, London Percussion Virtuosi, Strasbourg Percussion Ensemble and English Chamber Orchestra.

Sadeqzadeh Named New ‘Pahlavan’ of Iran

In the final match held at the Beheshti Hall in northeastern city of Mashhad, the +100kg wrestler defeated Ahmad Mirzapour and claimed the title, Tehran Times reported.

Sadeqzadeh was also named Iran’s “Champion of the Year” and donned the Pahlavani armband.

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Pahlavan of Iran is an annual Pahlavani Wrestling competition held in Iran, in which athletes from across the country participate to achieve the title.

Pahlavani wrestling goes back to ancient Persia, and was originally used to train warriors.

It combines martial arts and wrestling techniques, calisthenics, strength training and epic music.

The two competitors in a match try to take control over each other by throwing the opposite combatant back on his shoulder, Press TV reported.

The wrestler is allowed to grab his opponent’s pants or belt as a grip.  He can also use his or own legs to off-balance a rival, hence causing him to fall to the ground.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognized Pahlavani wrestling as among the world’s longest-running forms of sport.

Iranian FM to Meet Syrian Counterpart in Tehran on Saturday

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Muallem will hold talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in the visit to Tehran.

It comes after announcement of a ceasefire in Syria, negotiated between Russia, Iran, Turkey, the Damascus government and the Syrian opposition.

Saudi Arabia Is World’s Top Arms Importer

A US Congressional report shows Saudi Arabia has been the world’s top arms importer, paying $13bn on weapons. India and Pakistan are ranked second and third with $11.1bn and $7.2bn.

According to a Farsi report by Fars News Agency, other top arms importers include Algeria ($5.5bn), Egypt ($5bn), South Korea ($4.5bn), China ($4.1bn), Venezuela ($4.1bn), Israel ($4bn), and the United Arab Emirates ($3.7bn).

Meanwhile, the United States again ranked first in global weapons sales last year, signing deals for about $40 billion, or half of all agreements in the worldwide arms bazaar, and far ahead of France, the No. 2 weapons dealer with $15 billion in sales