The Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC), which is affiliated with the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation, has awarded a $97,000 prize to Iran for its project titled “Inclusion of Local Communities in Sustainable Muslim Friendly Tourism,” CHTN reported on Sunday.

The scheme will be initially implemented as a pilot project in Iran, Turkey and Kyrgyzstan, then it would be carried out in other Islamic countries and finally it will find its way to other countries under the auspices of UNESCO, the report said.

“Creating jobs, [rebuilding] rural economy, and establishing synergy are amongst strategic objectives of this project.”

The COMCEC Project Funding supports the top projects that are proposed by the member countries in order to get recognition.

For the research projects, the payments are made in two installments; the first will be paid after the first draft of the research study is approved by the COMCEC and the second will be paid after the approval of the research report, according to its website.

Realization of policy recommendations adopted by the COMCEC ministerial sessions, and enhancing solidarity and multilateral cooperation among member states are amongst objects that the Ankara-based Office follows.

Back in January, Iran allocated 24 trillion rials (some $600 million) to empowering rural areas and small towns in arenas of handicraft-associated jobs, ecotourism and hospitality industry.

Due to having a very diverse natural setting, Iran offers many to experience for the nature-loving travelers who may live with a nomad or rural family or enjoy an independent stay to learn about rustic routines, traditional art and culture. / Tehran times /

Iran exported 700,000 tons of apples in the past crop year (July 2017-18), which is more than twice the volume of exports in the preceding crop year. The total amount of annual apple production in Iran is around 3.7 million tons, about one-fifth of which is exported, mainly to Iraq, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, the UAE, India, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Tajikistan and Russia.   / Financial tribune/

In a Sunday meeting in Tehran, the Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi and Japanese ambassador to Iran Hiroyasu Kobayashi hailed increased bilateral ties in cultural domains.

Iran and Japan have started their diplomatic ties from some 90 years ago, said Salehi, adding that it is 60 years since the two countries have inked their first cultural Memorandum of Understanding.

Touching upon the potentials of Iran in cinema, music, visual arts and dramatic literature disciplines, the Iranian minister highlighted that increased cultural ties will prepare the grounds for further introducing civilizations of two nations to each other.

Japan’s embassy in Tehran have so far organized appropriate cultural programs, Salehi said, adding, “we are ready to continue cooperation in this regard.”

He went on to say that Japan’s participation in Tehran International Book Fair as a special guest creates an ample opportunity for further cementing cultural ties.

Kobayashi, for his part, said that Iran and Japan have long historical and cultural ties and many Iranian products have entered Japan through the Silk Road.

A special working group on sports and culture have been established since 2015 after the Japanese Foreign Minister visit to Tehran, he said, adding that the second session of this working group was held in 2017 where the officials of the two countries discussed ways to promote cooperation in these areas.

Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has a wide range of cultural, artistic and literary activities and we need its guidance on how to promote cultural relations between the two countries, the Japanese envoy added. / Mehr news /

A documentary on a young disabled painter will compete at the 4th Whatashort Independent International Film Festival in New Delhi, India, July 14-15.

The movie “Foot Writing” by Sa’adat Ali Saeedpour is the life story  of Rahim Azimi, a 23 year old artist from Tabriz, East Azarbaijan Province, who paints delicate Persian miniature paintings with his foot, Mehr News Agency reported on its Persian website.

Azimi, who lost both hands in an accident, succeeds in becoming an inspiring artist in miniature painting and ‘Tazhib’ (gliding). Despite lack of financial support, he continues untiringly selling his art works on his Instagram account. / Financial tribune /

The 11th edition of International Nanotechnology Festival will be held from October 13th to 16th, 2018, in Tehran International Permanent Fairground, Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC) website reported on Sunday.

International Nanotechnology Festival is held annually by Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council, and it is the largest and most credible exhibition in the field of nanotechnology in Iran. It is also considered as one of the largest nanotechnology festivals in Asia.

11th Nanotechnology Festival will be held from October 13th to 16th in Tehran International Permanent Fairground. Universities, research centers, technology parks, industrial companies, and other related public organizations and private sectors will join this event.

Industrial companies in 12 sectors such as water and environment, healthcare, construction, agriculture and packaging, textile, oil industries and consulting will participate in 11th Nanotechnology Festival.

For more information and registration, visit International Nanotechnology Festival official website. / Mehr news /

Iranian short film ‘Retouch’ directed by Kaveh Mazaheri has added to its already impressive record five more awards from international film festivals in Armenia, Argentina, France, Cyprus and Italy.

The awards include Best Short prize at the international competition section of the 16th One Shot International Film Festival in Armenia; Special Jury Award at Santiago del Estero Film Festival in Argentina; Best Actress Award for Sonya Sanjari at GOSH! Independent & International Film Festival in France; Audience Award at Paphos International Film Festival (PIFF) in Cyprus; and the golden medal at the 12th River Film Festival in Italy.

Co-produced by Mazaheri and the Iranian Young Cinema Society, ‘Retouch’ is the story of a young woman whose husband dies before her eyes while she cannot do anything but to witness the unfolding of this tragic event.

Sonya Sanjari has previously won the Best Actress Award for her performance in ‘Retouch’ at 2018 Brussels Short Film Festival in Belgium, and the 1st Sukhum International Film Festival in Abkhazia. /  Mehr news /

Iran freestyle wrestling team claimed the title of the 2018 Cadet World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, on Wednesday night.

With two World champions in the final day of men’s freestyle competition, Iran took the top spot in the team rankings, scoring 152 points throughout the event.

Winning for Iran tonight was Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) at 48 kg and Ali Reza ABDOLLAHI (IRI) at 92 kg, UWW reported.

Amouzadkhalili, the 2018 Cadet Asian champion, defeated Rafayel HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) in the 45 kg gold-medal bout with a 5-0 shutout to open the night.

Closing out the tournament was continental champion Abdollahi at 92 kg, who dominated in a 13-2 championship showing against 2017 Cadet European silver medalist Omer AGTAS (TUR).

Overall, Iran leaves Croatia with three World champions as Amir ZARE won the heavyweight title on Tuesday.

Finishing second in the team race with 132 points was the U.S., achieving one World champion at 51 kg.

Russia finished in third place with 116 points in the competition.

Final men’s freestyle team scores (top 10)

1. Iran – 152
2. USA – 132
3. Russia – 116
4. Azerbaijan – 105
5. Japan – 83
6. Georgia – 82
7. Turkey – 80
8. India – 74
9. Uzbekistan – 56
10. Armenia – 44

/  Tehran times /

The Supreme Council for Economic Coordination held its fourth meeting on Saturday at the seat of the president to mull ways to counter the looming U.S. sanctions against Iran.

The council was headed by President Hassan Rouhani, Parliament speaker Ali Larijani and Judiciary chief Sadeq Amoli Larijani.

The president’s economic team including Budget and Planning Organization chief Mohammad Baqer Nobakht; central bank governor Valiollah Seif; Economy Minister Masoud Karbasian; Industry and Trade Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari; economic advisor to president Mohammad Nehavandian; First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri; as well as Parliament Economic Committee Chairman Mohammad Reza Pour-Ebrahimi; Parliament Budget and Planning Committee Chairman  Gholamreza Tajgardoon; Parliamentary Center for Research Studies Kazem Jalali; National Prosecutor Mohammad Jafar Montazeri; and Deputy Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i were present at the Saturday meeting.

Since Donald Trump unilaterally exited the U.S. from the multilateral nuclear agreement on May 8 and announced that his administration will re-impose sanctions against Iran in two stages, first in August and then in November, a number of foreign companies and banks have stopped cooperation with Iran.

Trump has also asked other countries to stop their purchases of the Iranian oil by November otherwise they face secondary sanctions.

Es’haq Jahangiri announced on June 24 that the U.S. has started an “economic war” against Iran.

Even before Trump officially announce U.S. exit from the nuclear deal the prices of gold coin and foreign currencies started rocketing at the black market.

Iranian officials have vowed to disappoint the U.S. through reliance on local capacities.

Under the nuclear agreement, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Iran is obliged to put limits on its nuclear activities in exchange for termination of economic and financial sanctions. However, with the U.S. pullout from the agreement, the destiny of the JCPOA is in jeopardy. Iran has announced that if it cannot enjoy the economic benefits of the JCPOA there is no justification to abide by it.

To keep Iran in the nuclear agreement, the European Union, especially its three heavyweight members (Germany, France, and Britain), on Wednesday presented an economic package to Iran, though Iran has said the package falls short of Iran’s expectations.

Talking in the meeting on Saturday, Rouhani said European countries have the “political will” to continue economic cooperation with Iran within the framework of the nuclear agreement but they must take “practical decisions” in this regard.

The Joint Commission of the JCPOA held first meeting at the foreign ministerial level in Vienna on Friday since the U.S. walked out of the agreement.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced that Iran and the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear agreement had agreed to continue negotiations, including on economic measures, over how to save the deal. / Tehran times /

Iranian musician Pezhham Akhavass will give a performance at the 2018 San Francisco World Percussion Arts Festival, the organizers have announced.

Akhavass is scheduled to play daf and tonbak, two Iranian percussion instruments, at the festival, which will be running on July 21 and 22.

Japanese legendary taiko drummers Yoshikazu Fujimoto and Yoko Fujimoto will be the special guests of the festival.

Abbas Kasimov from Uzbekistan and percussionist Faisal Zedan from Syria are among other musicians invited to the festival.    /Tehran Times /

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced on Friday that Iran and the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear agreement had agreed to continue negotiations, including on economic measures, over how to save the deal.

Speaking after the first ministerial meeting in Vienna since the United States withdrew in May, Mogherini, who chairs the talks, read a statement saying all sides would continue to look at ways salvage the deal despite the reimposition of U.S. sanctions, Reuters reported.

The full text of the statement is as follows:

1. Upon the request of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was held on 6 July in Vienna at ministerial level. The Joint Commission met to discuss the way forward to ensure the continued implementation of the nuclear deal in all its aspects and review unresolved issues arising from the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the agreement and the announced re-imposition of sanctions lifted under the JCPOA and its Annex II, which they deeply regret.
2. The Joint Commission is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the JCPOA.

3.The Joint Commission was chaired by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and was attended by Foreign Minister and State Councillor of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany Heiko Maas, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, Minister of State for the Middle East at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom Alistair Burt, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif.

4. The participants in the JCPOA reconfirmed their commitment to the full and effective implementation of the nuclear deal. They recalled that the JCPOA is a key element of the global non-proliferation architecture and a significant achievement of multilateral diplomacy endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council through Resolution 2231. The participants welcomed the 11th report by the International Atomic Energy Agency of 24 May confirming that Iran is abiding by its nuclear-related commitments.
5. All participants reiterated the need to continue the full and effective implementation of all nuclear related commitments. They welcomed steady progress made on the modernisation of the Arak research reactor and took note with satisfaction that the United Kingdom will take over the function of co-chair of the Arak Working Group. Participants will continue to support the modernisation of the Arak research reactor as part of the JCPOA and the conversion of the Fordow facility in a nuclear, physics and technology centre. Participants also welcomed the significant projects in the area of civil nuclear co-operation carried out on the basis of Annex III of the JCPOA.
6. The participants recognised that, in return for the implementation by Iran of its nuclear-related commitments,the lifting of sanctions, including the economic dividends arising from it, constitutes an essential part of the JCPOA. They also noted that economic operators pursuing legitimate business with Iran have been acting in good faith based on the commitments contained in the JCPOA and endorsed at the highest level by the UN Security Council.
7. The participants discussed their recent efforts aimed at providing practical solutions in order to maintain the normalisation of trade and economic relations with Iran. They welcomed the extensive work undertaken to-date, the intensification of technical dialogues and the mobilisation of considerable resources by all.
8. The participants affirmed their commitment regarding the following objectives in good faith and in a constructive atmosphere:

– the maintenance and promotion of wider economic and sectoral relations with Iran;

– the preservation and maintenance of effective financial channels with Iran;

– the continuation of Iran’s export of oil and gas condensate, petroleum products and petrochemicals;

– the continuation of sea (including shipping and insurance), land, air and rail transportation relations;

– the promotion of export credit cover;

– clear and effective support for economic operators trading with Iran, particularly small and medium sized enterprises which are the backbone of many economies;

– the encouragement of further investments in Iran;

– the protection of economic operators for their investment and other commercial and financial activities in or in relation to Iran;

– the bringing together of private and public sector experts, including through the promotion of Business Councils;

– the practical support for trade with and investment in Iran;

– the protection of companies from the extraterritorial effects of US sanctions.

The participants noted that the EU is in the process of updating the EU “Blocking Statute” in order to protect EU Member States’ companies and of updating the European Investment Bank’s external lending mandate to cover Iran.

The participants will work on the above issues through direct bilateral efforts and through engagement with international partners in order to encourage them to follow the same policies and to establish similar mechanisms in their economic relations with Iran.

9. The participants recalled that these initiatives are aimed at preserving the nuclear deal which is in the security interest of all.
10. Participants agreed to keep progress under close review and to reconvene the Joint Commission, including at Ministerial level, as appropriate in order to advance common efforts. The participants stressed their determination to effectively develop and implement practical solutions concerning the above. / Tehran times /