** IRAN DAILY
-- Iran’s oil exports hit highest level since US 2018 sanctions
Iran’s crude oil exports have reached a new milestone, reaching their highest level since the United States withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on Tehran in 2018.
According to Oil Minister Javad Owji, the volume of crude oil exports in the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 21, 2022, increased by 83 million barrels compared to the previous year. The figure represents an outstanding increase of 190 million more barrels than two years ago.
-- More than 100 arrested over school poisonings
Iran has arrested more than 100 individuals nationwide in connection with the mysterious poisonings of girls on school premises, the Interior Ministry said. In a statement late Saturday, the ministry revealed that those arrested included individuals with “hostile motives” who sought to “instill terror” in students and shut down schools.
The ministry also suggested a possible link to the terrorist Mujahedeen Khalq Organization (MKO).
-- Iran-SCO trade reaches about $39b in 11 months
Iran’s non-oil trade with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)’s member states in the first 11 months of the current year (from March 21, 2022 to February 20, 2023) exceeded $38.8 billion, a spokesman said.
Rouhollah Latifi, the spokesman for Industry, Mine and Trade House of the Trade Promotion Commission of Iran, said that more than 50.6 million tons of goods, valued at $38.8 billion, were exchanged between the Islamic Republic of Iran and 11 member states of the organization.
** KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL
-- Bolton Sounds Alarm Over Iran-Saudi Détente
Former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton on Sunday sounded the alarm following a China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore diplomatic ties.
Bolton warned the United States against “sitting still” as China expands its role in the world and grows closer to Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia. “We’re sitting still, and the Chinese, the Russians, Iran, North Korea, and several others, are moving to shore up their relations and threaten us in a lot of different places,” Bolton, a U.S. foreign policy hawk, said.
-- Baghdad to Host 5th Meeting of Iran, Iraq Joint Commission
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari said on Sunday that Iran and Iraq are poised to hold their 5th Joint Economic Commisison to bolster bilateral trade and economic ties.
“Following talks with Iraqi officials in line with efforts of President Ebrahim Raisi’s administration to effectively hold joint economic commissions with target countries, the 5th session of the Iran-Iraq Joint Economic Commission will be held in Baghdad on March 12-14,” Safari said.
-- Russia-Iran Joint Economic Commission B2B Meetings to Be Held in May
The Iran-Russia Joint Economic Commission will hold business-to-business (B2B) meetings in May.
Led by the Iranian Ministry of Oil’s Department for International Affairs and Trading, the B2B meetings will be held concurrent with the 27th Iran International Oil, Gas, Refining and Petrochemical Exhibition, also known as Iran Oil Show, from May 17 to 20 this year.
** TEHRAN TIMES
-- Iran unveils local nominees for Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava
Iran has selected nine books to compete in the 29th Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), which will take place from October 4 to December 3 in Slovakia. The nominees were picked by a jury comprising experts from the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults – Kanoon, the Children’s Book Council of Iran and Iranian Illustrators Society, Kanoon has announced.
A highlight of the books is “Think, Listen, Caw!” illustrated by Maryam Tahmasbi.
-- Isfahan ready to accommodate 100,000 Noruz travelers per day
Isfahan province is getting prepared to accommodate some 100,000 travelers per day during the Noruz, Iranian New Year holidays, which officially starts on March 21.
“Having some 150 hotels, 450 eco-lodges, 70 traditional hostels, 150 inns and 230 guest houses, Isfahan province is set to welcome 100,000 Noruz travelers per day,” the provincial tourism chief, Alireza Izadi, said on Sunday.
-- SP phase 11 to go operational within 2 months: Oji
Iranian Oil Minister Javad Oji has said that phase 11 of the South Pars gas field development plant is going to go operational within the next two months, IRNA reported.
“Considering the measures taken, production will start from phase 11 of South Pars in the next two months,” Oji told IRNA on Saturday.
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