Warning Against the Spread of 'Blood Trading' in Iran

Various sections of the statements made by Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, on Thursday have attracted attention on the front page of Iranian newspapers on Saturday. For instance, the newspaper Etemad referred to it as 'very important remarks' regarding nuclear negotiations, quoting him as saying, 'I am neither for nor against.' Kazem Jalali, head of the faction of the followers of the Guardianship and head of the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, wrote in a note in Etemad that the impact of the leader's remarks 'on the overall negotiations will definitely be positive and constructive in various respects.' Mohammad Imani, in the editorial of Kayhan titled 'The Leader Closed the Door to Deception,' wrote: 'The real place of dispute and disagreement in these statements becomes completely clear. Neither the negotiations themselves have authenticity, as some involuntary admirers suggest, nor can any agreement at any cost be relevant in terms of national interests and dignity.' However, Mohsen Ghoravian, in a note in the newspaper Arman, wrote that what can be inferred from the leader's remarks is 'the affirmation of the negotiation principle and the negotiating team' and 'what is very noteworthy in the leader's words is the basis of the performance of the United States in these negotiations for negotiations and discussions on other issues.' The newspaper Iran also quoted Ali Khamenei on its front page as saying, 'I support an agreement that secures the dignity of the nation,' while simultaneously reporting from Hassan Rouhani that 'we will not sign any agreement unless all sanctions are lifted.' Meanwhile, Etemad reported on the distribution of a CD titled 'The Deceptions of Lausanne, Switzerland' at Friday prayers in Tehran, stating that during this week's Friday prayers, 'CDs titled 'The Deceptions of Lausanne, Switzerland,' prepared by Hojjatoleslam [Mahmoud] Nabavian, were sold for a thousand [tomans],' and also 'the publication Hayat Tayyeb, printed by the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, was distributed for free among the worshippers. The biweekly publication Ashraat-e Ashura, prepared by a group called Ansar-e Velayat, was seen in the hands of worshippers.' The newspaper Arman in its Saturday issue reported with the headline 'Money for Blood,' warning about the spread of 'blood trading' in Iran, referring to the statements of an official from the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization regarding 'paying money' to its donors. The newspaper Ebtekar featured a photo on its front page showing 'cross-factional sympathy' from political figures as well as the presence of several citizens at the memorial service for 'Sakineh Ziaei, the mother of the Khatami family.' Mohammad Reza Mir-Tajeddini, the parliamentary deputy of the tenth government, in an interview with the newspaper Qanoon, cited 'sanctions' as the 'main reason for economic problems' and 'unrest' in the final years of the previous government, sanctions that, according to this newspaper, 'from Ahmadinejad's perspective, were nothing more than pieces of paper.' The newspaper Qanoon on its front page reported that several legal experts called for 'filing a complaint against Saudi Arabia in international forums,' quoting legal expert Youssef Molaei as saying: 'According to the Vienna Convention, the Iranian government has a duty to protect its citizens abroad. Now in this specific case of the assault on two Iranian teenagers, it must be said that the Iranian government should pursue this matter legally, and the Saudi government is also obliged to address this issue as soon as possible in its courts.' The newspaper noted that 'while everyone was waiting for the authorities to address this inhumane act and to suspend flights for Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, we are witnessing the dispatch of Iranian pilgrims to this country and the refusal of Saudi Arabia to accept the pilgrims.' The newspaper Shargh in its Saturday issue has a report on 'why China is not leaving Iran.' According to this newspaper, 'Asadollah Asgaroladi, a well-known figure in Iranian trade whose name is linked to pistachios and the Chinese, stated a few days after the Lausanne agreement that trade relations with the Chinese would continue after the lifting of sanctions and explicitly stated that Iran's trade relations with China are designed to be long-term and that the West cannot replace China in the Iranian market.' Sedra Mohaghegh in the newspaper Shargh wrote in a report titled 'What Should Be Done About Leopard Killing,' stating: 'Only 22 days have passed since Farvardin, and leopard killing in Iran continues. Two days ago, news of the death of the fourth leopard this year was published in the media. In these days, in Bardasir, Kerman, on the Shiraz-Kazeroon road in Fars province, behind the Jaleel mountain in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, and the last case in the city of Iwan in Ilam province, the carcasses of four killed leopards were discovered.' This newspaper noted that 'according to reports published in official media, at least 11 leopards were killed in various parts of Iran in the 12 months of 1393,' and wrote: 'However, the death of four leopards in less than 20 days marks a new and tragic record of killings in Iran's severely endangered wildlife.' Different evaluations of the newspapers regarding Khamenei's statements about nuclear negotiations. The front page of several Iranian newspapers on Saturday featured sections of the statements made by Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic. For instance, the newspaper Etemad evaluated them as 'very important remarks' regarding nuclear negotiations, quoting him as saying, 'I am neither for nor against.' According to this newspaper, Ali Khamenei emphasized that 'the goal of the negotiations is the lifting of sanctions,' stating that 'nuclear negotiations are an experience; if the other side abandons its deviations, this experience can continue in other issues.' Kazem Jalali, head of the faction of the followers of the Guardianship in the ninth parliament, wrote in a note in Etemad that the impact of the leader's remarks 'on the overall negotiations will definitely be positive and constructive in various respects. The most important reason may be the renewed approval of our nuclear team by him,' while the leader of the Islamic Republic 'once again' emphasized that 'he trusts the nuclear team, and this statement is a heavy support for them.' The head of the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly also wrote that Ali Khamenei's remarks 'were supportive of the principle of negotiations' and emphasized 'adherence to Iran's possible commitments,' and of course, in these remarks 'he had a very important reference indicating that we are testing the Americans in these negotiations, and if they fulfill their commitments, then we can decide on other issues and continue discussions in other areas.' Kazem Jalali emphasized in Etemad that 'this part of the leader's remarks carries a very important message and can have profound reflections in Iran's foreign policy in the future.' The newspaper Shargh on its front page quoted Ali Khamenei as saying, 'I fully support a dignified agreement,' and the newspaper Iran also quoted the leader of the Islamic Republic on a similar front page as saying, 'I support an agreement that secures the dignity of the nation.' However, the newspaper Kayhan on its front page quoted the leader of the Islamic Republic as saying, 'I have serious concerns regarding the nuclear negotiations.' Mohammad Imani in the editorial of Kayhan titled 'The Leader Closed the Door to Deception,' wrote: 'The real place of dispute and disagreement in these statements becomes completely clear. Neither the negotiations themselves have authenticity, as some involuntary admirers suggest, nor can any agreement at any cost be relevant in terms of national interests and dignity.' The editorial writer of Kayhan emphasized that the statements made by the leader of the Islamic Republic on Thursday 'not only responded to several doubts but also showcased the power of the Islamic system to its enemies and returned the ball to the enemies who had tried to use the Lausanne statement as an excuse for the enthusiasm of reformists and to demoralize the Iranian people and elites,' while 'he presented a list of concerns that are meaningful and undeniable among the public and elites, which in turn, reprimands some naive or fallacious individuals.' The newspaper Javan, close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, on its front page quoted Ali Khamenei as saying, 'Nothing has happened that I should be for or against.' This newspaper also quoted the leader of the Islamic Republic as saying, 'The noses of the Saudis will be rubbed in the recent issues.' The newspaper Resalat highlighted another part of the leader's remarks on its front page, quoting him as saying, 'Officials should convince critics of the statement.' This newspaper emphasized that 'the remarks of the leader of the Islamic Republic regarding Iran's nuclear negotiations with the 1+5 group are a combination of realism, foresight, and firmness in confronting the deceptions of the other side,' stating that after these remarks 'government members should not only avoid creating an atmosphere that suggests negotiations have concluded or that they have passed a significant hurdle, but they should also not transfer this atmosphere to the society and other officials.' However, Mohsen Ghoravian, in a note in the newspaper Arman, wrote that what can be inferred from the leader's remarks is 'the affirmation of the negotiation principle and the negotiating team,' but what should be given more attention in the negotiations with the 1+5 group is the mutual distrust between the two sides. A distrust that has historical roots and is rooted in past events. The editorial writer of the newspaper Arman emphasized, however, that 'this distrust on our part, according to the leader, has not and will not lead to a halt in negotiations.' Mohsen Ghoravian wrote: 'What is very noteworthy in the leader's words is the basis of the performance of the United States in these negotiations for negotiations and discussions on other issues,' and the leader of the Islamic Republic indicated in his remarks that 'these negotiations could open the door for other negotiations, provided that the other side shows its goodwill. A topic that seems to be very important and valuable for the U.S.; as in the current regional conditions, the U.S. and its allies need to cooperate with an influential force like Iran in the region.' The newspaper Shahrevand also evaluated another part of the leader's remarks as 'a warning to the Saudis.' This newspaper also noted on its front page that Ali Khamenei stated, 'If the other side of the nuclear negotiations abandons its deviations, negotiations can continue on other issues.' Money for Blood; Issuance of Permission for Paying Donors for Blood Donation. The newspaper Arman in its Saturday issue reported with the headline 'Money for Blood,' warning about the spread of 'blood trading' in Iran, referring to the statements of an official from the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization regarding 'paying money' to its donors. According to this newspaper, following reports about 'blood trading in the private sector and also giving cash gifts for blood donation,' Ali Akbar Pour-Fatehollah, head of the Blood Transfusion Organization, stated on Friday that the organization, in collaboration with the Food and Drug Organization of the Ministry of Health, 'is seeking to produce 100% of plasma-derived drugs with Iranian plasma,' and therefore 'in the permission granted to private centers' and 'based on a regulation that has been approved, we allow these centers to pay donors according to their travel expenses.' The head of the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization emphasized that 'the issue of buying and selling is not on the table,' regarding the money paid to blood donors, stating that this money 'is not significant and is equivalent to the cost of a taxi service.' The newspaper Arman also reported quoting the head of the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization that this organization 'has collaborated with the private sector in this regard and has granted permissions to the private sector,' and 'this work is done in private plasmapheresis centers, which also have regulations available on the Food and Drug Organization's website.' According to Ali Akbar Pour-Fatehollah, 'the number of licensed centers is six, but the issued licenses exceed this number,' and 'since these centers have specific standards and must provide specific facilities to be approved by the Food and Drug Organizations and the Blood Transfusion Organization, approximately 30 centers have been granted licenses, but not all of them have become operational yet.' The head of the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization stated that the goal of these actions is to increase plasma capacity in Iran, stating: 'We are trying to have a plasma capacity of 600,000 liters in the country in such a way that its raw material is Iranian.' The newspaper Arman wrote: 'While the head of the Blood Transfusion Organization announces the payment of an amount as a travel expense to blood donors in Iran, according to what we all believe, blood donation is more like a gift given without material expectations and is done to help fellow humans.' This newspaper warned about the potential spread of 'blood product trading' in Iran, stating: 'Just as our historical experience regarding the receipt of kidneys and other organs, which through these charitable acts became a means of securing living costs for impoverished individuals and a venue for opportunistic individuals and buyers to earn income, it is predicted that with the payment of money to these individuals, this process will take the form of buying and selling.' The newspaper Arman emphasized that 'if it is to be the case that individuals are paid for receiving blood, this will take on the aspect of buying and selling and will set specific rates for itself.' Mohammad Hossein Ghorbani, a member of the Health Commission of the Parliament, however, told the newspaper Arman: 'As long as the Blood Transfusion Organization itself presents amounts as gifts to donors, this will not take on the aspect of buying and selling at all, and this market may only take shape when the private sector and individuals carry out this work.' This member of the Health Commission of the ninth Parliament stated: 'If the organization presents a gift in the form of...