Iran News in Brief
Iran
Iran begins ‘year of production, support and elimination of obstacles’
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has extended his felicitations to the Iranian nation on the occasion of Nowruz, calling on the government and the nation to support production in the country and remove related obstacles.
In his televised message to the nation on the occasion of the Persian New Year on Saturday afternoon, the Leader lauded the Iranian nation’s proven capabilities both in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and sanctions imposed on the country.
He said the enemies openly acknowledge that their “maximum pressure” campaign against the Islamic Republic has failed.
Ayatollah Khamenei designated the new Iranian calendar year of 1400 as the year of “Production: Support and the Elimination of Obstacles.”
*****
Winter ends with Iran’s victory in economic war: President Rouhani
President of Iran Hassan Rouhani praised the country’s victory against the economic war imposed by the enemies, saying the springtime has coincided with the season of prosperity of the Iranian nation.
President Rouhani gave a televised speech on Saturday to congratulate the Iranian people on the beginning of year 1400 and Nowruz.
In his message, the president said the end of winter is marking the termination of miseries and sufferings as the breeze of Nowruz is a harbinger of prosperity, victory and progress of the Iranian nation.
Describing the onset of the era of economic boom, prosperity and well-being as the outcome of the Iranian nation’s patience and resistance, President Rouhani said the foreign pressures failed to bring Iran to its knees.
*****
Official: 2nd and 3rd phases of human trial of COV-Iran coronavirus vaccine starts
“In phases two and three, a number of around 300 people will go under study, and in phase three, 20,000 volunteers will be studied in six cities,” he added. Hosseini said that two prominent professors at University of Tehran Dr. Rasoulinejad and Dr. Moradmand are among the volunteers of the second and third phases of the human trial of the vaccine. Head of Iran’s Headquarters for Executing the Order of Imam (EIKO) Mohammad Mokhber announced last Tuesday that the first phase of human trial of COV-Iran Barekat coronavirus vaccine has showed successful results.
*****
Opening of the largest corona vaccine factory in the region
As the first Iranian Corona vaccine comes to the final stage of human testing, the first phase of the production plant with a capacity of producing 3 million doses per month, started operating today.
Head of Iran’s Headquarters for Executing the Order of Imam (EIKO), Mohammad Mokhber said that the first phase of this factory will start its operation with the production of 3 million doses per month. “We hope that by the middle of spring 1400
(Iranian calendar year) and with the opening of the second phase of this factory, vaccine production capacity will increase to 12 to 15 million doses a month”, he added.
*****
Iran begins clinical trial of new domestic COVID-19 vaccine
Iran has begun the clinical human trial of a new homegrown COVID-19 vaccine called Fakhra. The new vaccine's trial on animal types has been "extremely effective" and its testing on human being. Iranian Minister of Health and Medical Education Saeed Namaki said in a ceremony for the inoculation of the vaccine on a volunteer.
Iran has also kicked off the final stage of the clinical trial of its domestic COV-Iran Barekat vaccine.
*****
Minister of Health: Iran will have one of the most important and best vaccines in the world next spring
Saeed Namaki:
In the spring of 1400 (Iranian calendar year), Iran will become one of the best and most important vaccines manufacturers in the world. The joint vaccine with Cuba is the first vaccine to reach mass production, followed by the Barakat vaccine, the Razi vaccine and the Fakhra vaccine.
*****
Iran manufactures giant electric motors, joining top 5 countries with this technology
The first high-power synchronous electric motor in the country was designed by the researchers of Iran University of Science and Technology and was built by Joven Electric Machines Company (JEMCO) located in Khorasan Razavi province.
This electric motor has 4,000 horsepower and has 34 poles, which was designed and built for the first time in the country.
*****
Iranian carpet houses to be set up in 5 countries
In order to export Iranian carpets, the Iranian carpet houses will soon be set up in five countries: China, UAE, Russia, Italy and France. The first export terminal has been set up in Zanjan and the next terminals are to be established in Isfahan, Shiraz and East Azerbaijan. In the first 9 months of last year, 2.8 million tons of carpets were exported to various countries, which has grown by 16.5 percent.
*****
The domestically built ambulance bus reached mass production
Ambulance bus made in Iran was mass-produced in Iran Khodro Diesel by Iranian specialists. The sample of this bus was built in 35 days. Iran's first ambulance bus has a capacity of 9 hospital beds, toilets, a complete emergency medical kit and other modern equipment.
*****
IRGC unveils new missile city, displays cruise and ballistic missiles
In a ceremony, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy unveiled a new missile city hosting a broad range of cruise and ballistic missiles with various ranges.
The military facility was inaugurated by IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami, IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, and a number of other armed forces officials. The new missiles and missile gear have advanced operational capabilities, such as accurate firing from underground launchers and civil defense sites.
The new equipment in the missile city can launch mines in various ranges, allow for 360 degree and mobile firing operations, according to Tasnim. One of the items unveiled in the event was a missile system that can shift the focus on targets after launch. The military gear has been manufactured by the Defense Ministry, local knowledge-based companies, and the IRGC Navy research organizations.
*****
Admiral Tangsiri: We also monitor the silent signals and internal communications of the enemy
Emphasizing that the process of upgrading the combat capability of the IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said "Today, with the arrival of new electronic warfare equipment, we will be able to monitor even the silent signals and internal communications of the enemy."
*****
Iran Supreme Leader: From a domestic viewpoint, holding election serve to renovate the country
“From a domestic viewpoint, holding election serve to renovate the country. People enter the arena and the country’s executive body is renovated, which is very important.... From a foreign viewpoint, holding election and people’s turnout shows [the country’s] power. People’s participation will boost the country’s power and election symbolizes the people’s presence [in the political arena],” the Leader said.
*****
Dialogue, diplomacy key to make development in region: Zarif
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stressed that dialogue and diplomacy are the key to make development in the region’s situation and dialogue is the cornerstone of diplomacy but the region is facing lack of dialogue today.
Speaking at the 2nd Tehran Dialogue Forum, Zarif said, “Middle East does not face challenges and crises in its nature, and these crises have human roots”.
“Iran is ready to hold talks with all neighbours and there is no need for foreigners to chart the future of the region,” he added. “Regional nations need dialogue to resolve differences and to live in a peaceful environment,” Zarif went on to say.
*****
Iran enriching uranium with IR-4 centrifuges: Reuters
Iran has started enriching uranium at its underground Natanz plant with a second type of advanced centrifuge, the IR-4, the UN nuclear watchdog said in a report reviewed by Reuters on Tuesday.
“On 15 March 2021, the Agency verified that Iran began feeding the cascade of 174 IR-4 centrifuges already installed at FEP [Fuel Enrichment Plant] with natural UF6,” the International Atomic Energy Agency said in the report to member states dated Monday, referring to uranium hexafluoride, the form in which uranium is fed into centrifuges for enrichment.
*****
Foreign Ministry Spokesman at the Tehran Dialogue Forum
“Iran is a genuine regional player as well as a true global normative key player that for many years has sought to conceive new concepts such as resistance to US hegemony and intervention, a principled international order based on equality of all players and justice, as well as an alternative approach to world politics, that power-based politics is not the only rule of the game. Many believe in this way; Such an approach on the part of Iran can be seen as one of the engines of the postcolonial theoretical approach.”
*****
Chinese FM to visit Iran in few days
Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced on Mon. that the Chinese Foreign Minister is to pay a visit to Iran. As he said, by the invitation of Iranian FM Zarif, his counterpart Wang Yi will be in Tehran on March 26 and 27.
Khatibzadeh added: "In addition to talks with his Iranian counterpart, the Chinese Foreign Minister will also meet with the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani." He named the review of the strategy of strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries and the exchange of views on international and regional developments as the agenda of the talks between the two sides during this visit.
*****
Iran, Armenia emphasize boosting ties
Iran’s deputy foreign minister for international and legal affairs, Mohsen Baharvand, and Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Armen Ghevondyan stressed developing relations.
Both sides discussed promoting relations in legal affairs, updating documents, following up previous documents, Aras River and regional issues. The slammed terrorist groups’ presence in the region. Regional, human rights, cultural issues and fighting terrorism were among other topics reviewed by both sides.
Baharvand and Ghevondyan stressed creating North-South Corridor in the Armenian soil and the regional states’ plan for creating a suitable path between the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea and cooperation in transportation and infrastructures.
*****
Iran to cold test redesigned Arak nuclear reactor: AEOI spox
Iran will cold test its redesigned Arak nuclear reactor as a prelude to fully commissioning it later in the year, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization has said.
The spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi told ISNA that the cold testing, which usually includes the initial startup of fluid systems and support systems, will take place early in the Iranian New Year that begins this Sunday. “In other words, we have advanced work in the field of fuel, storage, etc,” Kamalvandi said.
Iran agreed to shut down the reactor at Arak - about 250 km southwest of Tehran - under the 2015 deal. It was allowed to produce a limited amount of heavy water and Tehran has been working on redesigning the reactor. Iran plans to make isotopes for medical and agricultural use.
*****
Ambassadors celebrate Nowruz at Iran’s Foreign Ministry
Nowruz is the most widely celebrated holiday in the Islamic Republic of Iran. It means “New Day” and marks the first day of spring. The holiday, which usually falls on or around March 21, is widely celebrated across the West and Central Asia.
Iran’s foreign ministry invited the envoys of the Nowruz region countries to mark the occasion. Held in the presence of ambassadors, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif congratulated the arrival of a spring. He also stressed that the pandemic in the past year taught everyone a lesson.
*****
Khan theological school reopens to public visits
Khan Theological School was built by Mohammad Taghi Khan Bafghi, the ruler of Yazd in 1186 AH in the bazaar and historical context of Yazd in three courtyards, two of which are symmetrical and a large central courtyard in the middle of the school with two floors. Mohammad Taghi Khan dedicated this school to the public in 1188 AH, and since its large school remained unfinished, it was completed by his son Ali Naghi Khan. In the history of Yazd, it is stated that this school has enjoyed a remarkable progress and scholars from this province have always taught in this school. The rooms of this school have also been the hub for famous Yazd poets such as Farrokhi Yazdi. The door of this building has now been opened to the public, and travelers and tourists during Nowruz can visit after nearly half a century.
*****
The Treasure of Armenian Music in New Julfa unveiled
The Armenian music treasure of New Julfa has just been unveiled in the Sangtarashahi neighborhood of Isfahan. The old method of notation in the Armenian Church ceremonies, introduction and role of church beats, percussion instruments in the Armenian Church and sharakans as an important part of the Armenian Church song, illustrated map of musicians and instruments in Armenia and New Julfa, images of builders and tombstones In the Armenian cemetery of New Julfa, has been displayed.
*****