*** IRAN DAILY
-- Iran urges need for quick expulsion of terrorist groups from Iraq
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said destabilizing moves by certain terrorist groups based in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region are a source of concern for Iran and undermine security along the two countries’ common border.
Noting that the increasing moves by terrorist groups based in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region are detrimental to security in regions along the two countries common border, Shamkhani stressed that those groups must be rapidly disarmed and expelled from Iraq.
-- NPC eyeing annual 3.5m-ton capacity for West Ethylene Pipeline: CEO
The National Petrochemical Company (NPC) of Iran is looking to increase the annual capacity of the West Ethylene Pipeline (WEP) to 3.5 million tons until 2025, said the NPC chief, Behzad Mohammadi, on Sunday.
It is expected to generate $3.7 billion worth of ethylene-based products, IRNA quoted Moahammadi saying. The NPC, on Sunday, signed a maintenance and operation contract with the Iranian Oil Industries Commissioning and Operation Company (OICO).
“This is the first time that the private sector is being assigned to an NPC project of this caliber,” he said of the deal. Stretched over 2,100km, the WEP project carries the ethylene in the port city of Asaluyeh, southern Iran, to Tabriz, northwest of the country.
-- Seven museums to be inaugurated in Ardebil Province
Seven museums in different parts of Ardebil Province have been completed and are ready for operation, announced the northwestern province’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department.
Head of Ardebil Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department Nader Fallahi said Stone Museum, Museum of Documents, Museum of Coins, and Museum of Pottery are among the museums that have been completed and are ready for inauguration.
*** TEHRAN TIMES
-- Iran Celebrates Return of 75th Naval Group
Iran’s Navy chief Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said Sunday the 75th naval group has managed to “powerfully” accomplish its mission, stressing that the country’s naval forces will uphold their international presence “with more lofty goals.”
Speaking to Press TV, he said that the flotilla, comprising Iranian destroyer Sahand and support vessel Makran, did not stop during its mission and returned home safely, thanks to the “resistance” and “self-reliance” of the Iranian naval personnel.
To the dismay of the U.S. and other countries which had predicted Iran was unable to fulfill it, “the mission was thoroughly accomplished,” Admiral Irani said.
-- Volleyballers Beat Hong Kong in Asian Championships
Iran defeated Hong Kong 3-0 in their opening match of the 21st Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championships on Sunday.
Behrouz Ataei’s men will meet Thailand and Pakistan in Pool B on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
The 21st edition features 16 teams comprising hosts Japan, India, Qatar, and Bahrain in Pool A and reigning champions Iran, Pakistan, Thailand, and Hong Kong China in Pool B. Pool C consists of Australia, China, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait, with Korea, Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, and Saudi Arabia in Pool D.
-- MP Urges President to Back Offering Oil on IRENEX
A member of the Iranian parliament’s economic commission urged the President to support offerings of oil and petrochemical products on Iran Energy Exchange (IRENEX).
Muhammadreza Pourebrahimi vowed that the Iranian parliament’s economic commission will go hand in hand with the government to resume such offerings at IRENEX.
Back in mid-August, IRENEX in an announcement stated that offering crude oil via standard parallel salaf bonds in this exchange was postponed.
*** KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL
-- “Kill Mehdi Araqi”, book on Iranian political dissident introduced
A book entitled “Kill Mehdi Araqi” on political dissident Seyyed Mehdi Araqi during the reign of the Shah was introduced on Saturday during a meeting in Tehran.
Writers Seyyed Mostafa Hosseini and Abdorreza Nematollahi and a number of Araqi’s comrades, including Mohsen Rafiqdoost and Ezzatollah Shahi, attended the meeting organized at the Mehr News Agency.
Nematollahi has previously directed the documentary films “A Lone Knight” and “Kill Mehdi Araqi” about the political dissident.
-- OICO inks deal with NPC for operation, maintenance of world’s top ethylene pipeline
- Iranian Oil Industries Commissioning and Operation Company (OICO) has signed a deal with the National Petrochemical Company (NPC) for the operation and maintenance of the country’s West Ethylene Pipeline (WEP) which is the world’s largest ethylene pipeline.
As reported by Shana, the deal was signed on Sunday by Jalal Mir-Hashemi, the NPC's director for the production control and OICO’s Chairman of the Board Manouchehr Taheri, in a ceremony attended by senior officials including NPC Head Behzad Mohammadi.
Based on the mentioned deal, the operation, repair, and maintenance of the West Ethylene Transmission Pipeline, including pipelines and pressure boosting stations, has been assigned to OICO as the contractor.
-- Ancient bas-relief discovered near Persepolis
An ancient bas-relief carving has been discovered in Naqsh-e Rajab near the UNESCO-designated Persepolis in southern Iran.
The bas-relief, which bears an inscription in Pahlavi script, is associated with the tomb of a Zoroastrian individual believed to be a citizen of Istakhr, which was once a royal residence for Sassanid kings of Persia, ILNA reported on Sunday.
The tomb is a kind of tiny stone pit called Dakhmak which was extensively used near Istakhr and the surrounding Marvdasht plain.
The archaeological site known as Naqsh-e Rajab is just three kilometers north of the ruins of Persepolis, along the road to the Sasanian city Istakhr. The name means something like "The carvings of Rajab". The carvings referred to were made by the two first Sasanian kings, Ardashir I (r.224-241) and Shapur I (r.241-272).
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