** IRAN DAILY
-- Tehran, Yerevan can triple gas-for-electricity volume: Ambassador
Armenia and Iran can increase the volume of the gas-for-electricity project, said Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani. “There’s a gas pipeline between the two countries and we extended the gas-for-electricity agreement two months ago,” Sobhani told CivilNet in an interview.
“That was a big and strategic step in the relations of the two countries. This agreement would allow us to triple and even quadruple the imports of electricity from Armenia in exchange for gas. We have very good projects with Armenia. We have the third power transmission line, which I hope will be completed in the coming months.”
-- Iran starts extraterritorial refinery project; Venezuelan El Palito refinery’s progress at 85%
The El Palito refinery project in Venezuela has progressed by about 85 percent, as 85-90 percent of its equipment has been provided by Iranian companies, announced director of coordination for capacity increase and overhauling of the Homs Refinery in Syria.
Talking to IRNA, Ali Shahverdi said it was the 44-year wish of the Iranian people and the Leader’s demand to work on extraterritorial refineries in construction and overhauling operations, to put them into operational service. He mentioned Venezuela as the first country, and El Palito as the pilot refinery for Iran’s extraterritorial project, adding that an Iranian team was sent to the Latin American state to evaluate the project as well as listing the parts and equipment needed for the refinery.
-- NIOC signs contracts on gas well development
The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) signed a contract worth $1.17 billion with four Iranian companies on drilling of 35 wells in South Pars Gas Field.
Announcing the above, NIOC Managing Director Mohsen Khojasteh-Mehr added that the contract also includes boosting the productivity of gas wells as well as maintaining gas production, Shana reported. The Pars Oil and Gas Company will supervise the implementation of the contract which will be complete in three years, he said.
** KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL
-- Deputy Defense Minister: Iran Set to Produce Ground-Breaking Military Equipment
Iran’s defense ministry is moving toward manufacturing ground-breaking military equipment on its vision of future wars, Deputy Defense Minister Brigadier General Mehdi Farahi said Monday.
Addressing the first international conference to commemorate the 12th martyrdom anniversary of Hassan Tehrani Moqaddam, the general said Iranian experts at the defense ministry do not seek to merely manufacture military parts but are taking steps toward production of state-of-the-art military equipment.
-- Iranian Actors Blast Gaza Carnage in Letter to UN Chief
The Tehran Peace Museum and the Iranian House of Artists in a joint statement have condemned the Zionist regime’s brutal carnage of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and asked for an immediate ceasefire there.
Over 120 Iranian actors and war veterans are on the list of the statement addressed to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, asking a measure to put an end to Israel’s ‘open oppression’ against 2.3 million people in the besieged territory.
-- Iraqi Minister: Gas Imports From Iran to Continue
Iraq’s minister of electricity Ziad Ali Fazel on Monday said that import of gas from Iran will remain in place as the country needs Iranian gas to generate electricity. The minister went on to say that Iraqi power plants operate with gas fuel to generate about 7,000 to 8,000 megawatts of electricity.
Since the previous projects related to Iraq’s oil ministry have been delayed with the aim of investing in gas projects, Iraq’s need to import gas from Iran has remained in place.
** TEHRAN TIMES
-- UK-based anti-Iranian TV channel announces closure
Manoto TV, a UK-based media outlet criticized for its anti-Iranian stance and recognized as a platform for monarchists living outside the country, has announced the cessation of its operations by the end of January 2024.
Keyvan and Marjan Abbassi, the heads of this network, communicated the decision via a Telegram message, stating that they might continue broadcasting until the end of January 2024, after which they will bid farewell to the network.
-- National Housing Movement, a top priority of current government
The National Housing Movement is one of the major policies of the 13th government in the housing sector, and according to this policy, the construction of four million residential units is planned in four years. The National Housing Movement is one of the projects through which the government is trying to help low-income individuals in society become homeowners.
As announced on Monday by Deputy Transport and Urban Development Minister Hadi Abbasi-Asl, 1,867,719 National Housing Movement units are currently under construction in the cities and villages across the country.
-- Tehran mulls visa-free regimes for 68 countries, including Japan and Saudi Arabia
Iran is considering abolishing visa requirements for passport holders from 68 countries, including Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. The border-easing scheme was first proposed late last year by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts and aimed to reinforce tourism.
It is the first time that the tentative list of target countries has been released, though investigations and inquiries from relevant bodies have not been finalized yet, Mehr reported on Monday.
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