** IRAN DAILY
Iran begins joint naval drill with Russia, China in Oman Sea
The naval forces of Iran, China and Russia have started a joint exercise in the Sea of Oman, as the three countries are teaming up to deepen exchanges and cooperation among their navies.
Gas production of South Pars tops 240 bcm
Iran’s gas extraction from the South Pars Gas Field hit 241 billion cubic meters (bcm) during the first 11 months of the current Iranian year, said deputy head of the South Pars Gas Company (SPGC) which is in charge of developing the field’s refineries. Salman Khazaei added that currently 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) of gas condensate are being produced at the field, IRNA reported.
UN’s anti-Islamophobia Day ‘to stamp out anti-Muslim hatred’
The United Nations observed March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia with the goal of taking “concrete action in the face of rising hatred, discrimination, and violence against Muslims”. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres affirmed that the move is “a call for action to stamp out anti-Muslim hatred”.
Stability, the condition of economic cooperation in West Asia
The Iran-Saudi Arabia agreement, brokered by China, to normalize relations is of great importance. The fact that most countries welcomed this move shows its significance. Most analysts emphasize the security and political consequences of the deal; however, the normalization of bilateral ties seems to have positive effects on the economic field for both states as well as the Persian Gulf region and West Asia.
** TEHRAN TIMES
Challenging task lies ahead of Iran football
TEHRAN – The difficult task lies ahead of Iran national football team in the future since the team need to be rejuvenated as soon as possible. Iran football team were the oldest out of any team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with an average age of 28.9. This was over four years older than the team with the youngest squad, Ghana, with an average age of 24.7.
“The Cherry Orchard” laid out for Tehran performance
TEHRAN – Iranian director Mikail Shahrestani plans to put on stage Russian playwright Anton Chekhov’s final play “The Cherry Orchard” at Tehran’s Iranshahr Theater Complex in mid-April. The cast will be announced in a few weeks, he told the Persian service of ISNA on Wednesday.
Iranian crude oil output rises 17,000 bpd in February: OPEC
TEHRAN- Iran’s crude oil production increased 17,000 barrels per day (bpd) in February to reach 2.554 million bpd, according to OPEC’s latest monthly report. As reported, Iranian heavy crude oil price also increased by $0.32 in the mentioned month to stand at $81.88 per barrel.
** KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL
Hundreds of Thousands Strike in UK, France
LONDON/PARIS (AFP) – Teachers, London Underground train drivers and civil servants joined striking doctors Wednesday in a mass stoppage as Britain’s finance minister unveiled his tax and spending plans. With hundreds of thousands of walking out, it was expected to be the biggest single day of industrial action since a wave of unrest began last year.
Minister Sees Saudi Investing in Iran ‘Very Quickly’
RIYADH (Dispatches) -- Saudi Arabia’s finance minister, Muhammad al-Jadaan, said on Wednesday that Saudi investments into Iran could happen “very quickly” following an agreement. “There are a lot of opportunities for Saudi investments in Iran. We don’t see impediments as long as the terms of any agreement would be respected,” al-Jadaan said during the Financial Sector Conference in Riyadh.
Russia Raps E3 Termination of INSTEX With Iran
MOSCOW (Dispatches) -- The joint statement issued on March 9 by the UK, Germany and France on the decision of the INSTEX shareholder countries to terminate trade with Iran is disappointing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday. “What happened with INSTEX is quite a clear demonstration of the inability of European countries to seriously fight for the JCPOA and international law in general, defending those decisions that were put down in the UN Security Council resolution 2231,” she said.
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