Headlines in Iranian English-language dailies on Dec 21

According to Ashura News, quoted by IRNA news agency,

*** IRAN DAILY

-- President: Lt. Gen. Soleimani’s character should be introduced to world

Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi said on Monday that the character of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps’ Quds Force, should be introduced to everyone as an influential figure in the Muslim world.
Raeisi made the remarks in a meeting with the family of Lieutenant General Soleimani and members of a special headquarters set up to mark the second anniversary of his martyrdom.

-- ECO-Iran trade volume exceeds $10b

Trade exchanges between Iran and other member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) show 34 and 44 percent increases in terms of weight and value respectively within the past eight months of the Iranian current year (March to November 2021).
Spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) Rouhollah Latifi said on Monday that the trade has been estimated at 21.7 million tons of commodities worth 10.4 billion dollars.
Iran exported to nine ECO members more than 18.6 million tons of goods worth 6.8 billion dollars, indicating 46 and 54 percent increases in terms of weight and value respectively, Latifi noted.

-- Yalda Night: A marvelous opportunity to strengthen family ties

Every year, as autumn turns to winter, a lot of enthusiasm is seen among Iranian people preparing to welcome one of the most important ancient celebrations of the country: Yalda Night or Shab-e Cheleh.
The festival begins on the last evening of fall and may continue until dawn on the first day of winter. Most people usually go to the home of the most senior member of their family to have fun with their relatives and loved ones.
Yalda Night is the longest night of the year, though it may be less than one minute longer than the previous night. Our ancestors used the night as an opportunity to hold one of the biggest Iranian national festivals so that people could enjoy being together and socialize with each other. It shows the importance of the family, as the main pillar of society, in the Iranian culture.

*** KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL

-- Iran Denies Receiving Direct U.S. Message

 The spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry says the United States has offered “no tangible proposal or text” to the P4+1 group of countries in Vienna, where high-ranking talks are underway to remove U.S. sanctions against Iran.
“Contrary to what the U.S. is saying, it has offered no tangible proposal or text to the P4+1. This puts a big question mark on America’s intention,” Saeed Khatibzadeh said at a weekly news conference on Monday.
“Should the other side come to Vienna with tangible proposals, we can reach an agreement in the shortest possible time,” he said.
Asked about a U.S. national security adviser’s claim that Washington had submitted a direct message to Tehran on its nuclear program, Khatibzadeh told reporters that there have been “no direct talks” between Tehran and Washington since the start of the talks in Vienna in April.

-- Iran to Use Local Knowledge-Based Companies to Boost Oil, Gas Wells Output

Iranian Minister of Petroleum Javad Owji said on Monday that the capabilities of Iranian knowledge-based companies (KBCs) would be used to enhance production of 700 oil and gas wells in the country.
Speaking at a ceremony commemorating the National Research Day, Owji said: “One of the ways to create jobs is using the power of the country’s elites, especially in low-income areas. Today, thank God, the oil industry is determined to use these elites.”

-- Iranian Karate Athletes Claim More Medals at Asian Championship

Iranian female karate athletes Sarina Fat’hi and Fatemeh Bodaq have managed to gain two gold medals in 2021 Kazakhstan Asian Karate Championship.
The continental competitions were held in all age groups, teenage, youth, and grownups, in two classes of Kata and Committee, from December 18, in Kazakhstan’s Almaty city and Sarina Fat’hi and Fatemeh Bodaq gained their gold medals on Sunday.
Fatemeh Bodaq won her gold medal in 59kg weight after beating her rivals in the first and second matches 4-nil and 1-1, and beating her final competitor from the host country 9-nil.

*** TEHRAN TIMES

-- Iranian artists shine at Al Burda Awards

 Iranian artists have been honored in four of six categories at the 16th Al Burda Awards at this year’s Al Burda Festival, a biennial event in Dubai that celebrates Islamic arts and culture. The awards ceremony was organized on Sunday evening at the Dubai Exhibition Center, Expo 2020 Dubai.

Mahsa Javad-Davachi took first place in the Modern Calligraphy category, while Dhia Al-Jazaeri from Canada won second prize.

-- Iran-ECO trade grows over 44%

 Iran’s trade with the members of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) exceeded $10.447 billion in the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-November 22) to register a 44 percent increase year on year, the spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) said.

According to Ruhollah Latifi, the volume of trade with the mentioned countries also increased by 34 percent in comparison to the previous year’s same eight months.

-- Discover pristine places to visit in Qeshm Island

 People all over the world know Iran as the land of historical sites, deserts, mountains, and forests, but in the south of Iran and in the heart of the Persian Gulf there are islands that are important tourist destinations.

The southern Iranian island of Qeshm, after Kish, which has the most luxurious and developed facilities, is the most popular tourist destination. The island is home to many natural attractions, historical monuments, recreational facilities, and shopping malls.