UAE and S. Arabia are part of the Zionist project in West Asia: Saudi analyst

It was announced on Thursday that Israel and the United Arab Emirates had reached a deal that will lead to full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two sides.

The deal came after a phone call between United States President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi.

The agreement requires Israel to put West Bank annexation on hold, but Netanyahu says it’s temporary.

The UAE is the first Persian Gulf state that rushed to normalize ties with the Zionist regime. It had normalized the relations with Israel a long time ago, not when Trump announced the agreement.

Hashim tells the Tehran Times that the deal between the Emirates and Israel was announced by Trump to help Trump and Netanyahu in their election campaigns, as the Emirati regime wants to see Trump re-elected president for a second term.

“Mohammed bin Zayed believes that Trump will guarantee him the rule in the Emirates to succeed his brother,” Hashim adds.

“Bin Zayed knows well that if Trump loses in November’s presidential election, the new American administration will work to exclude him and Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, as all candidates competing with Trump consider bin Zayed and bin Salman accountable for their crimes in Yemen and in several Arab countries,” he maintains.

Pointing to the case of the Emirati girl who was killed in prison in the UAE while she was tied to a torture bed, and Jamal Khashoggi, who was dismembered with a chainsaw in the Saudi consulate in Turkey, Hashim says, “We should not be surprised by the normalization of (ties between) the Emirates and Saudi Arabia with Israel.”

“They are basically part of the Zionist project in the Middle East (West Asia), and it can help to show their true faces to all Arabs and Muslims,” the Saudi analyst says.

Asked about Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s speech on Friday night, Hashim notes that the normalization of ties between Arab states and Israel cannot undermine the region’s resistance movement.

“The Axis of Resistance has a strong base not only in Lebanon but among all Arab and Islamic peoples around the world,” the Saudi writer emphasizes.

“The word of secretary-general of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement was a strong statement, including a warning to the enemies and their allies, as it hinted that Israel might have a role in the massive Beirut blast.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned in his speech if Israeli involvement is proven, the Zionist regime would receive a response as big as the explosion that could have occurred if the entire amount of ammonium had exploded.

Hashim maintains that Nasrallah’s word brings peace and tranquility into the region and lifts fear in everyone’s hearts and gives them confidence, especially when he spoke about ships and soldiers in Beirut port and said, “Do not be afraid. The resistance is present, and we are stronger.”

Hashim points to the victory of Hezbollah in the 33-Day War as a great achievement for every Arab and Muslim that no one can deny it throughout history.

“The Zionist army, which calls itself invincible army that has defeated all Arab armies, was defeated in Lebanon by Islamic resistance movement Hezbollah which expelled Israeli forces from Lebanon and humiliated it,” the Saudi analyst recalls. “All the Arabs and Muslims will protect this victory and celebrate it every year to declare their support for the Islamic Resistance Hezbollah in confronting the American-Zionist plans in the Middle East (West Asia).”

Hashim also says the U.S. is not able to defeat Hezbollah militarily, either through the Zionist regime’s army or through terrorist organizations in Syria and northern Lebanon.

“Therefore, it sought to destabilize Lebanon, hoping to create an atmosphere that would turn against Hezbollah at home,” he explains. “It failed and worked through its agents inside Lebanon to set off a revolution inside Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah, but it has also failed, and any attempt to disarm Hezbollah will be fruitless.”

Regarding the American reaction to the Beirut explosion, Hashim says the U.S. administration that does not care about the lives of the Lebanese or anyone else tried to exploit the disaster in Lebanon, which caused great damages to parts of the Lebanese capital and led to the death of more than 200 people and injured 5,000.

“From the moment of the explosion, the U.S. has been working to politically exploit this tragedy against Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon and against the Lebanese state, neglecting the disaster,” Hashim stresses.

“America just wants to incite the Lebanese people in the streets against Hezbollah through its allies and agents in the Persian Gulf states and media outlets,” the Saudi analyst says. “But as Secretary-General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said they have failed, and they will be disappointed.”

Source:https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/451283/UAE-and-S-Arabia-are-part-of-the-Zionist-project-in-West-Asia

Jafar Sarqeini appointed new acting minister of industry, mining, trade

Sarqeini who was previously a deputy in the mentioned ministry replaced Modarres Khiabani who had been named the acting minister in May as President Rouhani fired Reza Rahmani.

“Due to Article 135 of the Constitution, and with regard to your valuable commitment and managerial background in the field of industry and trade, I hereby appoint you as acting minister of industry, mining, and trade,” Rouhani said in his decree.

Earlier this month, Iranian MPs rejected Modares Khiabani who was nominated by the government to be the new industry, mining, and trade minister.

After the voting, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qhalibaf had asked Rouhani to name a new candidate as soon as possible in view of the “current economic condition”.

Source:https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/451285/Jafar-Sarqeini-appointed-new-acting-minister-of-industry-mining

4-month banana imports stand at $113.6m

Ruhollah Latifi named Ecuador, India, Philippines, Turkey, Russia, Vietnam, and the UAE, as the main exporters of banana to Iran during the four-month period, Mehr news agency reported.

Zahra Jalili-Moqaddam, director-general of Agriculture Ministry’s Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Bureau, said an average of 450,000 tons of bananas are imported into Iran every year while domestic production of the fruit stands at around 120,000 tons per annum.

According to the official, the domestic production capacity of bananas, as well as other tropical fruits, are higher than the current levels.

“The Agriculture Ministry is prepared to grant incentives, bank facilities, and subsidies to help farmers produce these fruits,” she said.

As previously reported, Iran has imported 11.793 million tons of non-oil products worth $10.922 billion during the first four months of the current year.

The country’s top five sources of imports during this period were China with $2.806 billion, the UAE with $2.479 billion, Turkey with $1.178 billion, India with $757 million, and Germany with $493 million worth of imports.

China accounted for over 25 percent of Iran’s total imports, followed by UAE, Turkey, India, and Germany with 23 percent, 11 percent, seven percent, and five percent, respectively.

Source:https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/451287/4-month-banana-imports-stand-at-113-6m

ISIPO revives 600 idle production units

Scion Industrial Engineering

According to the Deputy Head of ISIPO Ali Asqar Mosaheb, Industry, Mining and Trade Ministry plans to revive 2,000 idle production units by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2020) of which 1400 units are Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME).

“Considering the project’s progress, we are expected to reach the target set in this sector by the end of the year,” Mosaheb told reporters.

Elaborating on ISIPO’s programs for reviving idle SMEs, the official said “Last year, a successful plan for reviving production units was implemented, in which, despite targeting 1,000 units for reactivation, ISIPO was able to bring 1,726 small industrial units back into production.”

Back in August, Deputy Industry Minister Saied Zarandi had announced that the ministry allocated 15 trillion rials (about $357 million) for reviving 2000 idle production units across the country.

“Of the mentioned 2000 units, 1,338 are based in the industrial parks across the country and currently 400 of them are back into operation,” Zarandi had said.
The official also said the ministry plans to support increasing the production capacity of 4,200 production units across the country.

Earlier that month, ISIPO head had also announced that the organization was following major programs in order to revive idle units and to help them to get back into business.

Speaking in a press conference Mohsen Salehinia mentioned some of his organization’s plans for supporting SMEs, noting that the industry ministry was also fully supporting ISIPO’s efforts in this regards.

“Although the SMEs have the potential to provide nearly 900,000 job opportunities across the country, but currently 22 percent of the SMEs are idle and there are only 710,000 people working in active units,” Salehinia said.

ISIPO plans to help revive 1300 idle SMEs by the end of the current Iranian calendar year, Salehinia said.

Source:https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/441232/ISIPO-revives-600-idle-production-units

‘Industrial parks should improve infrastructure capacities for surge in production’

Making the remarks during a visit to the northwestern East Azarbaijan Province, Mohsen Salehinia said 1500 inactive production units are set to be revived in the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 20), of which 90 units will be in East Azarbaijan.

Underlining the importance of domestic production, the official said: “In the current situation of the country, production is very important and by maintaining production we can play a role in the country’s economic growth; therefore, all industrial units are trying to improve production.”

Referring to the support provided by the government for the development of infrastructures in industrial parks, he said: “In order to fulfill the slogan of the surge in production, infrastructure and raw material supply issues must be resolved quickly.”

“Import management and export development are among the most important areas of focus for the Industry Ministry in the year of “surge in production” and we must focus our efforts on this issue to turn the threats posed by U.S. sanctions into new production and export opportunities,” Salehinia said.

According to Mohsen Salehinia, currently, 43,650 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are based in over 800 industrial parks across the country, of which nearly 78 percent or 33,800 are active.

Back in 2019, Salehinia had announced his organization’s long-term plans for supporting the SMEs, noting that the industry ministry fully supports ISIPO’s efforts in this regard.

According to the official, SMEs have the potential to provide nearly 900,000 job opportunities across the country, however, currently 22 percent of the SMEs are idle and there are only 710,000 people working in active units.

Source:https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/448669/Industrial-parks-should-improve-infrastructure-capacities-for

Archaeological survey sheds new light on ancient societies in southeast Iran

The survey, which was the second one conducted across Sefidkuh, yielded new archaeological and anthropological evidence from lesser-known Sefidkuh communities, with the invention of circular architecture as the most notable aspect which is still practiced in the region.

Fragments of a particular type of pottery often called “Londo”, were also discovered in Sefidkuh region, and the pottery pieces may be date from the Copper Age, Stone Age, or Bronze Age, which their chronology will be determined and announced following subsequent investigates, IRNA quoted Hossein Vahedi, who led the 2nd season as saying on Tuesday.

“In the mentioned area, a total of 9 archaeological sites were studied, including cemeteries and settlements from prehistoric, historical, and Islamic times. It is hoped that information from this season of archaeological studies will soon lead to the registration of the three unique villages [on the national cultural heritage list],” Vahedi said.

“The outcomes of absolutely the chronology assessments will quickly open a brand new window in our discipline”, Vahedi mentioned according to the Archaeology News.

“Londo pottery is one of Baluchestan’s native potteries and may be discovered within the early layers of the Tepe Yahya of Kerman, the Kaftary site in Fars, and throughout western Pakistan together with the world of Jahawalan, Budi Buti and Las Bella, Domb Kouh website, Hezar Mardi in Bampur and the Give Citadel space in South Khorasan.”

“This [kind of ancient] pottery is the second-largest pottery group [so far been founded] within the Persian Gulf, the Oman Sea and the Makran area, which testifies to the commerce between the folks of the area.”

“Because of the discovery of glass bracelets, pottery fragments and anthropological proof alongside the recognized round grave specimen, examples of that are present in neighboring areas equivalent to Pakistan and Oman (areas equivalent to Haif, Umm al-Anar, and Jalan) within the prehistoric time interval, it’s possible that the Makran area, and particularly Sefidkuh, was dominated by semi-nomadic communities and was one of many essential areas of commerce between the southern marginal communities of the Persian Gulf and the communities of Sistan-Baluchestan, and neighboring areas.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, the senior archaeologist pointed to areas yielded proofs of prehistoric settlements, saying:

“We recognized twelve areas with proof of prehistoric (Epipaleolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic) settlement, that are nonetheless inhabited at this time. These twelve settlements are positioned within the mountainous space of Sefidkuh. The names of the villages are Baragdan, Kuchkodam, Koddap, Tangsam, Kopidap, Javanja, Torkeguash, Dangar, Kupchu, Sorkhkalut Patgan, and Siyahdan.”

“On this survey proof of historic and Islamic cemeteries was additionally discovered, in all probability as a result of this area is strategically essential. This space has long been the house of the semi-sedentary nomadic peoples, and these communities nonetheless reside there.”

“We’re nonetheless unable to precisely establish the traditional communities dwelling within the Sefidkuh heights and it’s essential to conduct focused long-term research, in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeology, the Institute of Anthropology and interdisciplinary specialists, alongside the research of up to date fashionable societies dwelling within the area,” he explained.

Source:https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/451273/Archaeological-survey-sheds-new-light-on-ancient-societies-in

Tehran to host online meeting on agritourism

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Agritourism is a relatively new branch of the travel industry in which tourists stay with local people in rural areas. Farm/ranch recreation refers to activities conducted on private agricultural lands, which might include fee-hunting and fishing, overnight stays, educational activities, etc.

The meeting aims at promoting this new branch of tourism as well as discussing its capacities in Tehran province, provincial tourism chief Ali Rafiei said on Saturday.

Geographical diversity in Tehran province has caused agriculture and horticulture to have a high variety, therefore, the development of agricultural tourism can be very successful in this province, the official added.

He also noted that paying attention to agricultural tourism, while preserving gardens and agricultural lands in Tehran province, can provide better situation for the farmers and gardeners and can boost tourism in the region.

Back in June, deputy tourism chief Vali Teymouri announced that permits would be granted to eligible tour operators to launch their agritourism businesses, aiming to set certain standards in a move to ensure the quality of such services in the country.

“In order to develop employment-related areas of tourism, the Tourism Ministry has prepared several guidelines and technical criteria concerning nomadic tourism camps, licenses related to maritime tourism, natural parks, etc., which will create good employment in the future…”, he added.

Some experts believe that in addition to the customer services jobs, agritourism pays special attention to the production sector, saying “For this reason, agricultural tourism is much more important and practical than other branches of tourism because it creates a new chain and diversity in the field of production and services.”

Agritourism and nature-tourism enterprises might include outdoor recreation (fishing, hunting, wildlife study, horseback riding), educational experiences (cannery tours, cooking classes, or tea or coffee tasting), entertainment (harvest festivals or barn dances), hospitality services (farm stays, guided tours, or outfitter services), and on-farm direct sales (u-pick operations or roadside stands).

Agritourism is a subset of a larger industry called rural tourism that includes resorts, off-site farmers’ markets, non-profit agricultural tours, and other leisure and hospitality businesses that attract visitors to the countryside.

Rural tourism, however, differs from agritourism in two ways. First, rural tourism enterprises do not necessarily occur on a farm or ranch, or at an agricultural plant, they do not generate supplemental income for the agricultural enterprise.

To cite an example, we could refer to saffron farms in northeast Iran that are going to fame as a new destination for agritourism. Iranian Saffron is known as the “red gold”, saffron is a magical ingredient in Persian culture, from aromatic foods and colorful desserts to the physical and spiritual medicine.

Source:https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/451258/Tehran-to-host-online-meeting-on-agritourism

Iran delivers second shipment of anti-corona aid to Kyrgyzstan

The shipment includes medical equipment including ventilators, thermometers, pulse oximeters, PCR tests, and kits for EIA testing, IRNA reported.

Iran’s humanitarian aid confirms the warm fraternal relations between the two countries based on mutual support. Iran delivered its first shipment of humanitarian aid to the Kyrgyz authorities in May, according to Kyrgyzstan’s foreign ministry announcement.

The first consignment of Iranian medical aid consisted of 357 cartons weighing more than three tons and included medical items, medicines, and personal protective equipment to fight coronavirus.

Humanitarian aid was provided by Iran at the request of the Kyrgyz side in an official ceremony with both countries officials in attendance.

Iran had previously assisted other countries in the fight against the global pandemic.

In late May, a plane carrying medical aid provided by Iranian people and the private sector landed at Kabul airport, which consisted of masks, disinfectants, medical gloves, and hospital supplies and 2,000 coronavirus test kits.

In July, Iran has delivered a consignment of medical equipment weighing one ton to Iraq to help the neighboring country in the coronavirus battle.

Moreover, Iran has sent three million face masks to China and has expressed readiness for providing more medical aid earlier in February.

The number of people diagnosed with coronavirus in Iran reached 341,070 on Saturday, of whom 19,492 have died and 295,630 recovered so far. Over the past 24 hours, 2,245 new cases of people having the virus have been identified, and 161 died, Sima Sadat Lari ministry of health’s spokesman said.

Currently, 3,911 patients with coronavirus are in critical condition, she added.

Source:https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/451263/Iran-delivers-second-shipment-of-anti-corona-aid-to-Kyrgyzstan

Safavid-era fortress in central Iran undergoes restoration

Due to severe erosion and the collapse of parts of the Safavid- era (1501–1736) fortress, it was in serious danger of destruction and damage, Mahmud Madanian said on Saturday, CHTN reported.

A budget of 2 billion rials (about $50,000) has been allocated to the restoration project, which aims to repair and strengthen the fortress, the official added.

Located seven kilometers east of the city of Na’in, the historical fortress was inscribed on the National Heritage List in 2018.

From ancient to modern times, defensive walls have often been necessary for cities to survive in an ever-changing world of invasion and conquest.

Fortresses were designed primarily to defend territories in warfare and were also used to solidify rule in a region during peacetime.

Many of the fortifications of the ancient world were built with mud brick, often leaving them no more than mounds of dirt for today’s archaeologists.

Well regarded for its hospitable people, handicrafts, and ancient qanats (manmade subterranean aqueducts that bring water from the mountains), Na’in dates back to nearly 2,000 years, which makes it one of the oldest continuously settled towns in the Iranian plateau.

Na’in is home to one of the oldest mosques in the country. Originally constructed in c. 10th century, Jameh Mosque of Na’in is was one of the first mosques built in Iran and is unusual in that it doesn’t conform to the usual four-iwan pattern of its time (for instance Jameh Mosque of Isfahan).

Na’in lies 170 km north of Yazd and 140 km east of Isfahan. Like much of the Iranian plateau, it has a desert climate, with a maximum temperature of 41 °C in summer, and a minimum of -9 °C in winter

During ancient times, the city was at the junction of a desert road that connected Tabas and Mashhad, it used to be an important crossroad on converging trade routes since Sassanid times.

Na’in was known for its ceramics and textiles; today it’s primarily known for fine hand-knotted carpets and for hand-loomed camel-wool cloaks, which are produced in the neighboring villages.

Source:https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/451259/Safavid-era-fortress-in-central-Iran-undergoes-restoration

Restoration of Nezamieh minarets complete by 75 percent

Nezamieh minarets date from 8th century AH (1299 CE – 1397 CE) and they stand tall in the ancient town of Abarkuh, Yazd province, central Iran.

“An urgent restoration plan was commenced on Nezamieh minarets in Tir (the Iranian month started on June 21) and it is now complete by 75 percent,” Abarkuh tourism chief Hamid Moshtaqian announced on Saturday, CHTN reported.

The most important steps have so far been taken in this project to stabilize the brick facade of the minarets, removing worn-out joints, laying and fixing bricks, he explained.

The minarets are located in a historical neighborhood of Abarkuh and they were inscribed on the national cultural heritage list in the year 1312 (1933) under the number 196, the official added.

Minaret, (Arabic: “beacon”) in Islamic religious architecture, is a tower from which the faithful are called to prayer five times each day by a muezzin, or crier. Such a tower is always connected with a mosque and has one or more balconies or open galleries.

Minarets are constructed in a wide variety of forms ranging from thick, squat spiral ramps, to soaring, delicate, pencil-thin spires. Often the minaret is square at the base, where it is attached to the mosque. Above this square base, it may rise in a series of circular, hexagonal, or octagonal stages, each marked by a projecting balcony.

At the top is a bulbous dome, an open pavilion, or a metal-covered cone. The upper parts of the minaret are usually richly decorated with carving. The steps may be internal or external. The number of minarets per mosque also varies, from one to as many as six. These towers were built to be “landmarks of Islam”—to be visible from afar and to stamp a site with Islamic character.

Source:https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/451271/Restoration-of-Nezamieh-minarets-complete-by-75-percent