Iran (November 7, 2020)
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1)
Iran has a plan for Nagorno-Karabakh
By M.K. Bhadrakumar
November 3, 2020
„Iran has unveiled a regional initiative to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Tehran in the weekend after a regional tour to Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia and Turkey to discuss the peace plan. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has since explained Tehran’s thinking. A report in the Tehran Times on Sunday quoted Zarif as saying, “One of the important points of our country’s initiative is that it is not only seeking a temporary ceasefire but also a move towards resolving the conflicts based on a framework that begins with the declaration of commitment of both sides to a set of principles and then it continues with measures, especially the withdrawal of the occupying forces from all the occupied territories.” […]“
2)
How Iran has helped Israel’s growing foothold in the Middle East
By Kourosh Ziabari
November 4, 2020
„It might not be good news for Iran, but Israel is solidifying its foothold in the Middle East, cozying up to more Muslim, Arab nations that have long stopped thinking of the Jewish state as an existential threat. The surprise announcement on the normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates in August, followed by a similar deal between Israel and Bahrain in September, lifted the veil on the new realities of the region, ushering in fresh alliances and shifting paradigms. […]“
3)
American Sanctions vs. Iranian Heritage
Part 1: American Policy Casts a Shadow Over Persepolis
By Kyle Olson
October 29, 2020
„[…] One area of Iran’s economy and society which has been little discussed in conversations on the impact of maximum pressure sanctions is the cultural heritage sector. Cultural heritage is significant for any country’s national identity, and this is nowhere more true than in Iran, which has 24 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a robust set of heritage institutions, and a public deeply invested in its history. The importance of Iran’s national patrimony is clearly reflected in Donald Trump’s January 2020 threat to strike 52 Iranian heritage sites if Iran were to target American troops, citizens, or assets in Iraq in retaliation for the assassination of Qassem Soleimani. […] The articles in this series will therefore investigate the impact of American policy on cultural heritage management in Iran, in particular as it relates to the three domains of tourism, heritage diplomacy, and international scientific cooperation. Generally, American sanctions and maximum pressure have created extreme challenges for those working in these areas at every level, from government ministers and policymakers to museum directors, from archaeology professors to tour guides and hospitality workers. […]“
4)
American Sanctions vs. Iranian Heritage
Part 2: For Tourism in Iran, It Wasn’t Supposed to Be Like This
By Kyle Olson
Novomber 5, 2020
„[…] Currently, it appears that American sanctions have had two outcomes: first, there has been a decrease in foreign tourists from Europe and China coupled with an increase in foreign tourists from neighboring countries, presumably for pilgrimage; and second, policymakers have shifted their attention to stimulating demand for domestic tourism. By all measures, however, the industry has been severely handicapped by the COVID-19 pandemic, suffering job losses estimated at around 13,000 by August 2020 among tour guides alone, not to mention in hotels and travel agencies. Prognoses for the future remain bleak, as demand is not likely to rebound soon, and promised government support for the industry has been slow to materialize. […]“
5)
Middle East Roundup: Iranian Leaders Reacts to U.S. Election
By The National Iranian American Council (NIAC)
November 6, 2020
https://www.niacouncil.org/news/middle-east-roundup-iranian-leaders-reacts-to-u-s-election/
„This week, Iranian leaders suggested that the U.S. election does not matter for Iran nor will it affect the government’s policies. Please see our breakdown and analysis of these events below: […]“
6)
Iran finally brings desalinated Persian Gulf water to its arid desert
By Press TV
November 5, 2020
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/11/05/637981/Iran-sea-water-transfer-desalination-Rouhani
„Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has opened a mega project for transferring desalinated sea water to arid deserts in the Iranian Plateau, the first in the history of a country where water shortage has always been a major impediment to economic development. […]“
Amir Mortasawi (alias Afsane Bahar) (امیر مرتضوی (افسانه بهار 