The following headlines appeared in English-language newspapers in the Iranian capital on Saturday, October 16, 2021:
** IRAN DAILY
— Iran seeks ‘practical solutions’ to revive JCPOA: FM
Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian on Thursday said talks with EU deputy foreign policy chief Enrique Mora over the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA were “positive”.
Speaking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the phone, Amir-Abdollahian said talks with the European Union’s envoy in Tehran on Thursday focused on finding “practical solutions to the impasse in Vienna” where Iran and other JCOPA parties – Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain – held six rounds of discussions earlier this year to restore the troubled pact.
— Iran’s top security official warns Azeri president against ‘costly traps’
Secretary of Iran’ Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani reacted to the latest anti-Iran allegations made by the president of Azerbaijan, warning him against making “unrealistic” statements. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev in an address to the Commonwealth of Independent States’ Summit on Friday accused Iran and Armenia of using Karabakh territory for trafficking illegal drugs for decades.
“Ignoring the principles and requirements of the neighborliness and making false and unconstructive statements are not indicative of good will and wisdom,” Shamkhani wrote in a post on his Twitter account on Friday.
— Persian cucumbers: Prized for being crisper, tastier than other varieties
Crisper, more flavorful and easier to eat than other cucumber varieties, the pint-sized Persian cucumber is what your summer salads and salsas have been waiting for. As the name implies, Persian cucumbers are a type of cucumber that originated in Persia (modern-day Iran).
They are smaller than many other varieties, at just four to six inches long, and are prized for their thin skin and lack of seeds, both of which make them much simpler to eat, without the need for peeling or removal of pips. They are often referred to as a ‘burpless’ cucumber, because they are so easy to digest, and don’t make you burp like other cucumbers can.
** KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL
— Saudi FM Says ‘Serious’ About Talks With Iran
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has signaled his country’s desire to repair relations with Iran, saying the kingdom is “serious” about talks with the Islamic Republic. The two Middle East heavyweights have held four rounds of talks since April, including a first meeting last month with the government of new President Ebrahim Raisi.
In an interview with the Financial Times published on Friday, Prince Faisal described the negotiations as “exploratory” but “cordial”. “We are serious about the talks,” he said. “For us it’s not that big a shift. We’ve always said we want to find a way to stabilize the region.” Saudi Arabia unilaterally cut diplomatic ties with Iran in January 2016 after angry protests were held outside its embassy in Tehran in reaction to the kingdom’s execution a senior Shia cleric.
— IRGG Navy Has Achieved ‘Quick Reaction’ Capability
The commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said Friday the IRGC’s naval forces have reached the “quick reaction” capability in the face of any threat, stressing that the enemies have to come to terms with the reality of Iran’s offensive and defensive power.
“Using modern electronic warfare systems, the IRGC Navy has been able to gain complete control over the geography of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the honors of our Navy today,” Major General Hussein Salami said.
— Iran LPG Exports to Reach 450,000 mt in Oct., Rebound in Nov.
Iran’s LPG shipments are set to reach around 440,000-450,000 mt in October compared with 556,000 mt exported in September, largely to Asia, and are expected to rebound in November, Exports up to Oct. 13 were around 220,000 mt, the sources added.
“The export volume in October will be lower in comparison to September. The export volume is fluctuating between 450,000 mt/month and 530,000 mt/month,” a trade source told S&P Global Platts. “November will be estimated to be the same as September in case we don’t face shutdowns.”
** TEHRAN TIMES
— “Yadoo” crowned best at Isfahan children’s film festival
The acclaimed Iranian drama “Yadoo” was picked as best film at the 34th edition of the Isfahan International Film Festival for Children and Youth.
The film follows a teenage boy named Yadoo living with his family and people under siege in the southwestern Iranian city of Abadan in the early days of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war. The family is finally forced to migrate.
Produced by Mohammadreza Mesbah, the film brought Mehdi Jafari the Golden Butterfly for best director. Jafari also won the award of the International Centre of Film for Children and Young People – CIFEJ.
— Iranian heavy crude oil price rises 5.3% in September: OPEC
Iranian heavy oil price increased $3.74 in September to register a 5.3-percent rise compared to the previous month, according to OPEC’s latest monthly report published on Wednesday. Following the increase in oil demand in world markets in the mentioned month, the Iranian heavy crude oil price reached at $74.08 per barrel, compared to August’s $70.34 per barrel.
According to the report, the country’s average heavy crude price was $66.65 from the beginning of 2021 up to the report’s publishing day, in comparison to $39.4 in the previous year’s same period.
— Pasargadae is a symbol of human civilization, tourism minister says
The UNESCO-registered Pasargadae is a symbol of human civilization in ancient Iran, tourism minister Ezzatollah Zarghami has announced. There is no doubt that Pasargadae belongs to Cyrus the Great, who is regarded as a legend in the world, whether or not he was buried here, it is important to respect him as an Iranian, the minister said on Thursday.
He made the remarks during a visit to the majestic World Heritage site, which is situated in the southern Fars province. “Pasargadae stands out for its uniqueness on the international stage, if not as a special place, but as a symbol of civil and human development,” he noted.