by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Tehran : Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday warned his US counterpart Donald Trump that abandoning a nuclear deal that the Tehran government signed with world powers in 2015 would lead to “serious consequences”.
Speaking live on television, Rouhani said his government had kept its end of the deal and warned Trump not to tear up the agreement, which had also been signed by Russia, China, Germany, the UK and France.
“I am telling those in the White House that if they do not live up to their commitments, the Iranian government will react firmly,” Rouhani said.
“If anyone betrays the deal, they should know that they would face severe consequences,” he added.
Trump has said that unless the US’ European allies put right what he has described as “terrible flaws” in the deal by May 12, his government would re-establish economic sanctions on Iran, dealing the pact a major blow, Xinhua news agency reported.
Rouhani stressed that Iran was complying with the deal, as has been confirmed a dozen times by the International Atomic Energy Agency, whose Director General Yukiya Amano said in March that a possible failure of the agreement would be a great loss.
French President Emmanuel Macron was in Washington in an attempt to try and persuade Trump not to walk away from the accord.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday he had agreed with his Chinese counterpart that Moscow and Beijing would try to block any US attempt to wreck the nuclear deal.
Iran has said it would ramp up its nuclear programme if the deal collapses.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Halal Food, Halal Industries, Muslim World
Tehran : The first Thai halal food festival in Iran is underway at Parsian Azadi Hotel in the Iraninan capital, Tehran, it was reported on Saturday.
The English-language newspaper ‘Iran Daily wrote, ‘Titled ‘Thai Food Festival: Amazing Tastes of Thailand,’ the event was inaugurated at the Orchid International Restaurant of the hotel on September 12, and will be open to visitors until September 18.
Those interested in tasting Thai food, or learning more about the country’s cuisine, can either go to the festival for lunch, between 12:30 and 15:30 hrs., or for dinner from 20:00 to 23:00 hrs.
The event has been organized by the Royal Thai Embassy in Tehran, in cooperation with the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) – the foremost agency of the Thai Ministry of Commerce – Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai Airways.
The food items served at the festival are prepared by the chefs of one of the greatest and classiest restaurants in the Thai capital of Bangkok, the Blue Elephant Cooking School and Restaurant.
Speaking to Iran Daily on the sidelines of the festival, Founding Partner and Director of Blue Elephant Cooking School and Restaurant, Nooror Somany-Steppe, said this is the first time she has travelled to Iran and that she finds Iran very nice, and its people very friendly.
She said all the vegetables she uses in the foods she cooks in Thailand, such as eggplants, coriander, onion and garlic, are also sold in Iranian markets. Somany-Steppe said Tehran is very similar to Bangkok, only more crowded.
On the main goals of the festival, she said the event is aimed at promoting Thai foods in Iran, as Thai cuisine constitutes a major part of the Southeast Asian country’s culture, and Iranians would very much like to visit Thailand.
Somany-Steppe added that her restaurant has another branch in Phuket Island.
On another reason for holding the festival, she said that considerable effort is underway by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the country’s government to promote Thai cuisine because the move helps support farmers in the Southeast Asian country.
Somany-Steppe said there are a large number of Muslims in Thailand, and that is why many halal foods are served at her restaurant.
Commenting on this, Chef Nooror’s daughter, Sandra Steppe, who is the chef and director of the international relations of the same restaurant, said a large number of tourists from the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations visit Thailand every year; they are mostly Muslims, to whom halal food is very important.
Somany-Steppe said that all the halal foods served at her restaurant are certified by Thailand’s Muslim Community, which controls the products from her restaurant’s factory every month.
She noted that many famous people, including the 43rd US president, George W. Bush, and Russian President Vladimir Putin have eaten at her restaurants, saying that she is very proud that her restaurant has always been a destination for the VIP, such as foreign ministers and celebrities.
Commenting on this, her daughter said Chef Nooror is like a brand ambassador for Thai cuisine. “When heads of states and royal families come to Thailand, they know that they can have premium products and foods at the Blue Elephant. Chef Nooror’s daughter listed some of the famous people who have eaten at her mother’s restaurant as Queen Mathilde of Belgium, members of the Royal Thai family, the son of Japan’s Emperor Akihito, and Salma Ansari, the wife of India’s vice president.
Somany-Steppe said she had tried a number of Iranian foods and that she liked them very much.
She added that from the feedback she has received from Iranian visitors to the festival, she realized that they do not like spicy Thai food.
Some 15 different Thai foods will be served every day during the festival.
—IRNA
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Tehran, (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the agenda for economic engagement with Iran and Afghanistan is a priority for India and the Chabahar transport and transit agreement “can alter the course of history” of the region.
“The agenda for economic engagement is a clear priority for us. We stand together in unity of our purpose,” Modi said in a joint media conference with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani following the signing of the trilateral agreement on the Chabahar port for transport and transit corridor.
“Today, we are witnessing a creation of history… “Not just for the people of our three countries, but for the entire region,” he said.
Pitching to carve out “new routes of peace and prosperity” of the three countries, Modi said: “It is our common goal. We want to link with the world.”
The prime minister said the Chabahar transport and transit corridor “would spur unhindered flow of commerce throughout the region”.
He said the inflow of capital and technology could lead to new industrial infrastructure in Chabahar.
“This would include gas-based fertiliser plants, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and IT,” the prime minister said.
“The key arteries of the corridor would pass through the Chabahar port of Iran.”
He said Afghanistan would now get an assured, effective, and a more friendly route to trade with the rest of the world.
“The arc of economic benefit from this agreement would extend beyond our three nations,” Modi said.
Stating that its reach could extend to the Central Asian countries, he said that when linked with the International North South Transport Corridor, “it would touch South Asia at one end and Europe at another”.
“And, studies show that as compared to the traditional sea routes, it could bring down the cost and time of the cargo trade to Europe by about 50 percent,” he said.
“Over time, we could even look to connect it with the strong sea and land based routes that India has developed with the Indian Ocean region and Southeast Asia.”
The prime minister said the global economy was yet to fully come out of uncertainty and weakness.
“Our present growth and future prosperity is under threat from the spread of radical ideas and physical terror,” he said.
He said the Chabahar corridor would be a “corridor of peace and prosperity for our peoples. Motives of economic growth, and empowerment would drive it. It would break barriers among our nations and encourage new benchmarks of people-to-people contacts”, and help lead to a friendly and healthy neighbourhood.
He said the three countries — India, Iran and Afghanistan — were estimated to have more than 60 percent of their population under 30 years of age.
“We want them to walk the road to knowledge and skills; industry and enterprise,” he stated.
Modi expressed confidence that the economic fruits of the Chabahar agreement would expand trade, attract investment, build infrastructure, develop industry and create jobs for our youth.
“The agreement will strengthen our ability to stand in mutual support against those whose only motto is to maim and kill the innocents,” he said.
On his part, President Rouhani said that through this agreement, Tehran, Delhi and Kabul have sent the message that the path of progress can be achieved through cooperation and utilisation of regional resources.
“With our joint investments in Chabahar, we can connect India with Afghanistan, Central Asia and the CIS countries,” he said.
He also said that there was room in the agreement for other countries to join in.
Speaking on the occasion, Afghan President Ghani said Asia was changing and it was moving towards being an economic continent.
“We wanted to prove that geography is not our destiny. With our will we can change geography,” he said.
He also said that in the coming years, $60 trillion would be invested in infrastructure and most of it would be invested in Asia.
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
PM Narendra Modi shakes hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during a joint press conference after their meeting at the Saadabad Palace in Tehran, Iran, Monday. (Source: PTI photo)
Tehran, (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday described India-Iran friendship as “as old as history” after the two sides signed 12 agreements, including three on development of the Chabahar port in this Persian Gulf nation for enhanced connectivity.
“India and Iran are not new friends. Our dosti is as old as history,” Modi said at a joint media conference with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
“Through centuries, our societies have stayed connected through art and architecture, ideas and traditions, and culture and commerce,” he said.
The prime minister pointed out that Iran was among the first countries to come forward in support after the 2001 Gujarat earthquake.
“Similarly, India is proud to have stood with the people of Iran during your difficult times,” he said.
Stating that he was impressed by Rouhani’s leadership and the clarity of vision, Modi said that Monday’s talks between the two countries focused on the full range of bilateral engagement.
“We exchanged views on the emerging regional situation and global issues of common concern,” he said.
“The agenda and scope of our partnership is truly substantial. The outcomes and agreements signed today open a new chapter in our strategic partnership.”
Modi also said that the welfare of the people of the two countries was guiding the broad-based economic ties.
“Expanded trade ties, deeper connectivity, including railways, partnerships in oil and gas sector, fertilisers, education and cultural sphere are driving our overall economic engagement,” he stated.
“The bilateral agreement to develop the Chahbahar port and related infrastructure, and availability of about $500 million from India for this purpose, is an important milestone. This major effort would boost economic growth in the region.”
Modi said that he was looking forward to signing of the trilateral transport and transit agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan later on Monday.
“It will open new routes for India, Iran and Afghanistan to connect among themselves,” he aid.
The prime minister also said that India and Iran shared a crucial stake in peace, stability and prosperity of the region.
“We also have shared concerns at the spread of forces of instability, radicalism and terror in our region,” he said.
“We have agreed to consult closely and regularly on combating threats of terrorism, radicalism, drug trafficking and cyber crime. We have also agreed to enhance interaction between our defence and security institutions on regional and maritime security.”
Modi promised that he and Rouhani would spare no effort to work for the glorious future of the ties between India and Iran.
On his part, Rouhani said that Iran always attached great importance to its relationship with India.
“The economic relationship and cooperation between the two countries will become much bigger,” he said.
“The relationship will go beyond mere trade relationship. When we are talking of economic relationship, we are talking of Iran and the surrounding countries with a population of 400 million and india with a population of one billion.”
Connectivity, energy security and bilateral trade are on top of Modi’s agenda during his two-day visit which comes a little over a month-and-a-half after his trip to Saudi Arabia.
The prime minister, who arrived here on Sunday evening and offered prayers at a gurudwara, will also inaugurate an Indian cultural festival in Iran on Monday.
Modi will also hold talks with the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei.
The prime minister’s visit comes four months after the sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme were lifted and the international community is re-engaging with the nation.
