Completing semi-finished projects top priority of IMIDRO

TEHRAN- Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) has accomplishing semi-finished projects as its top priority, the state-run organization’s head Khodadad Gharibpour announced in a meeting, the official portal of IMIDRO reported on Sunday.

‘Mechanisms to receive gas export payments under investigation’

TEHRAN – Iran’s Oil Ministry, National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) and Central Bank of Iran (CBI) are working on ways for receiving payments from the importers of Iranian gas during sanctions, ISNA reported quoting an oil official.

Iranian private sector calls for government support in sanctions era

TEHRAN - Head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Gholam-Hossein Shafeie said the government should allocate more financial support for the country’s private sector producers during the sanctions era, the portal of ICCIMA reported.

Chinese delegation seeks to boost ties with Iranian nanotech companies

TEHRAN – A trade delegation from China held a meeting with four Iranian nanotech companies active in the field of polymer on Saturday, Mehr reported.

Parliament sends CFT bill to Expediency Council

TEHRAN – The Iranian Parliament (Majlis) on Sunday sent the CFT bill, which the Guardian Council says there is still 19 faults with it, to the Expediency Council.

Iraq to discuss sanctions waiver with Washington

TEHRAN - Amer Al-Fayez, an Iraqi MP, has said that the Iraqi government intends to send a delegation to Washington to discuss Iran sanctions waiver for Iraq.

Shrimp exports to reach 30,000 tons by March 20

TEHRAN- Iran’s export of shrimp is anticipated to reach 30,000 tons by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2019), Hassan Salehi, the head of Iran’s Fisheries Organization, announced.

Fruits, vegetables export up 54% in 9 months on year

TEHRAN- The value of Iran’s fruit and vegetable exports during the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-December 21, 2018) rose 54 percent compared to the same period of time in the past year, a director in Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) announced.

By staff and agency

Israeli diplomat claims Iran’s satellite launch contradicts 2231 resolution

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon has claimed that Iran’s action in launching satellite on January 14 was a clear violation of the UN Security Council’s 2231 resolution.

Nuclear technology not dependent on others: Iran’s Salehi

TEHRAN - Ali Akbar Salehi, director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said on Sunday that Iranian engineers have mastered the nuclear technology and this industry is not dependent on any other country.

Book City to review works by Swiss Iranologist Burgel

TEHRAN – The Book City Institute in Tehran will hold a session to review books and academic activities of Swiss Iranologist Johann Christoph Burgel on January 22.

Brief

Intl. 100-Second Film Festival receives over 2200 submissions

TEHRAN – The 12th edition of the International 100-Second Film Festival has received 2278 submissions, the organizers announced on Sunday.

Brief

“Sluggish Life” to go on screen at Chennai film festival

TEHRAN – Iranian director Mohsen Mehri’s latest movie “Sluggish Life” will go on screen at the 6th Chennai International Short Film Festival, the Qazvin branch of the Youth Cinema Society that is the producer of the film announced on Sunday.

Veteran curator Lili Golestan publishes her private collection 

TEHRAN – Veteran curator Lili Golestan who is in charge of Golestan Gallery in Tehran has published her private collection in a book.

Iranian photographer Mehdi Amiri wins grand prize at Cine-Books contest

TEHRAN – Iranian photographer Mehdi Amiri has won the grand prize at the Cine-Books Photo Stories Contest in Larnaca, Cyprus.

‘Join the night knights to raise awareness of light pollution’

TEHRAN – An expert who has been an advisor for the documentary film “Bright Death” on light pollution has asked people to join the guardians of night whom he refers to as “the night knights” to raise people’s awareness of light pollution.

Second half of IPL: Tehran derby date announced

TEHRAN - The second half of the Iran Professional League (IPL) campaign will kick off on Feb. 14, with Tehran derby between Persepolis and Esteghlal has been scheduled for late March.

Imam Ali (AS)

One who is sure of God’s compensation shows much generosity himself.

Iranian clerics hold demonstration against FATF, Palermo

A number of Iranian clerics held a demonstration against Iran’s joining to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Palermo Convention in Qom on Saturday.

By erik d’amato

Is the violent dismemberment of Russia official U.S. policy?

If there’s one thing everyone in today’s Washington can agree on, it’s that whenever an official or someone being paid by the government says something truly outrageous or dangerous, there should be consequences, if only a fleeting moment of media fury. With one notable exception: Arguing that the U.S. should be quietly working to promote the violent disintegration and carving up of the largest country on Earth. 

By Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi  

Hashd formations of Iraq: Interview with Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq

There are dozens of formations on the registers of the Hashd Sha'abi Commission. One of them is the military wing of Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq ('Movement of the Free Men of Iraq'), which is itself linked to the Mufti of Iraq Mahdi al-Sumaida'ie and his Dar al-Iftaa' al-Iraqiya (a Sunni religious body). To discuss the history of Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq and its military wing, I interviewed Anas Mahdi al-Sumaida'ie, who is the secretary general of Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq.

By Javad Heirannia

Religion is not necessarily in conflict with modernity: Kevin Richards

TEHRAN - Professor Kevin Richards, chair of Liberal Arts Department at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, tells the Tehran Times that “I would agree with the larger premise that religion is not necessarily in conflict with modernity.”

By Ruhollah Ghasemian

Pompeo’s pointless Mideast trip

TEHRAN - These days, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's trip to the Middle East and his meeting with his eight Arab counterparts have led some to think that Washington is planning to organize an Arab alliance against Iran and a war on Tehran will soon take shape in the region.

By Payman Yazdani

Poland is weak and submissive enough to host U.S.’ aggression against Iran and Russia: expert

TEHRAN - Commenting on the U.S. isolation and differences with its heavy weight European allies on Middle East, Anthony Cartalucci says that poland is the only weak and submissive european nation which is forced to host American’s aggrasion against Iran and Russia.

High-tech brain imaging devices become operational 

TEHRAN- Four advanced devices for medical optical imaging of brain and optogenetic examinations were built and put into operation in Laser and Plasma Research Institute (LAPRI) of Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran. 

20 Iranian traditional medicine centers under construction

TEHRAN - Twenty health centers offering Iranian traditional medicine are being constructed in 20 different areas across the country, said the president of Iran School of Traditional Medicine. 

Viral 10-year challenge reveals effects on Iran’s environment

TEHRAN – Environmentalists took up the 10-year challenge on social media, posting photos of the lakes and wetlands drying up across the country, to raise awareness about the devastating impact of climate change on the environment, Mehr reported on Saturday.

Health profiles soon available on mobile phones

TEHRAN- By the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20), all Iranians can see their health profiles on their mobile phones, said the deputy health minister for planning. 

Drought-stricken southeastern Iran hoping for rain

TEHRAN – While an intense burst of snow has blanketed 22 provinces of the country, the southeastern province of Kerman is suffering from the lack of downpours along with severe sand and dust storms (SDSs), Mehr news agency reported on Friday.

‘Expediency Council studies Palermo bill’

TEHRAN - Gholamreza Mesbahi-Moghadam, a member of Iran’s Expediency Council, has said that the council studied on Saturday an overview of the Palermo bill.