*** IRAN DAILY
-- IRGC chief: Avenging Lt. Gen. Soleimani’s assassination an aspiration, strategy
Avenging U.S. assassination of Iran’s anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani is a strategy and aspiration, said the chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
In an exclusive interview with khamenei.ir, Major General Hossein Salami added the assassination of Lieutenant General Soleimani, the commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, not only failed to have any adverse impact on his path, but also warmed up Muslims’ hearts to the extent that the entire Muslim world has a burning desire to rise against the occupation of the arrogant powers.
-- Iran opens its first superheavy oil refinery in Qeshm
Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi officially inaugurated the first superheavy oil refinery in Iran on Friday as the country moves ahead with plans to develop its massive petroleum sector despite sanctions imposed by the United States.
IRNA said in a report that the Qeshm Heavy Oil Refinery had been working on a pilot basis and using a half of its refining capacity in recent years, adding that the facility has now reached its full capacity for processing 70,000 barrels per day of crude.
Iran’s Oil Minister Javad Owji said private owners of the refinery had provided around $220 million in investment for construction of the refinery and for the supply of machinery and equipment to the facility.
-- Iran’s unique climatic features create mesmerizing natural sceneries
Due to its diverse climatic conditions, Iran is a country of four seasons. The unique climatic features of the country, along with its special geographical location, have created very beautiful natural sceneries.
Various regions of the country, with different altitudes and diverse climatological conditions, have numerous landscapes, including mountains, waterfalls, forests and deserts, each of which is amazing in its own way. The pristine nature of Iran, sometimes mixed with the culture of its Indigenous people, brings a unique beauty to local and foreign tourists.
*** KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL
-- Neutralizing Sanctions Not Dependent on Vienna Talks
President Ebrahim Raisi said Friday efforts to neutralize U.S. sanctions on Iran are not tied to Vienna negotiations with the remaining signatories of the 2015 nuclear agreement.
“Although the pursuit of removing sanctions is a serious agenda of the government, the effort in the thirteenth government to neutralize the sanctions has not been dependent on negotiations, so that today and under the sanctions situation, our oil sales have increased so much that we no longer worry and the proceeds are also returning to the country,” Raisi wrote in a tweet.
-- IRCA: Iran’s Trade With Neighbors Rises 42%
Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) Alireza Moghadasi has said that the value of Iran’s trade with neighboring countries in the first 9 months of the current Iranian calendar year (March-December 2021) increased by 42 percent compared to the same period last year.
Moghadasi put the volume of the country’s trade exchanges with its 15 neighbors during the first nine months of 1400 (started on March 21, 2021) at over 75 million tons and its value at more than $36.8 billion.
-- Iran to Play Australia at 2022 Asian Handball Championship Opener
Iran will start the 20th edition of the Asian Men’s Handball Championship with a match against Australia on January 18. Team Melli is scheduled to face India in Group B on January 19. Iran will meet host Saudi Arabia on January 20 in its last group stage match.
South Korea is in Group A along with Kuwait, Jordan and Singapore. Defending champion Qatar is drawn with the UAE, Iraq and Oman in Group C. Group D consists of Bahrain, Hong Kong, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
*** TEHRAN TIMES
-- Works by 13 Iranian artists picked for 2022 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition
Works by 13 Iranian artists were selected to be showcased at the 56th edition of the Illustrators Exhibition in Bologna, Italy as the organizers announced the finalists on Friday. The exhibition will be organized concurrently with the 59th edition of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair from March 21 to 24.
Mitra Abdollahi, Amir Alai, Mona Amoli, Mohammad Babakuhi, Reza Dalvand, Alireza Golduzian and Sana Habibi-Rad are among the Iranian illustrators.
-- LPG exports expected to reach 5.6m metric tons in 2022
Iran's 2022 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) exports are projected to reach 5.6 million metric tons (mt) in 2022 from 5.5 million mt in the previous year, Platts reported, citing trade sources. Analysts, however, believe that Iran is expected to boost exports by 1.9 million mt this year, the report said.
Between 2018 and 2020, Iran added 3.2 million mt of LPG production capacity mainly from the South Pars gas field and by September 2021 it was projected to add another 2.2 million mt.
-- Female Iranian crafter wins top prize at Intl. Craft Awards
Iranian artist Shahrbanu Arabian was named the Female Craftsperson of the Year at the 5th edition of the International Craft Awards (ICA) 2021, an official with the tourism ministry has announced.
Arabian, who is a master of metalwork and Minakari (enamel), participated in the event with one of her exquisite works, a lavishly-decorated metal bowl designed for serving gaz (nougats with pistachios and almonds), CHTN quoted Vida Tavahodi as saying on Friday.
Minakari is an ancient art of painting natural motifs such as flowers and birds on the surface of metals, mostly copper.
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