You Raise Twins

 

Baby (Illustrative)

(photo credit: Albi/Unsplash)

Giving birth to twins (or even triplets) has become more common in recent decades due to the growing use of fertility drugs. About 1.6 million twins are born each year worldwide, with one in every 42 children born a twin.

Despite the joys, the stress of diapering, feeding, bathing, paying for their expenses, coping with lack of sleep, and even playing with more than one baby at a time can be overwhelming – even when the parents are experts in efficiency. In fact, the divorce rate among parents of multiple siblings in some countries is higher; about a third of parents of multiples separate or divorce.

Many parents consistently favor one child over another. This applies to healthy twins as well. This preferential treatment can show up in a variety of ways – more time spent with one child, more affection given, more privileges, and less discipline for one than the other.

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But what happens when one of the twins suffers from developmental problems? New research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that a normally developing twin consistently takes on the dominant role over their twin who has developmental gaps, even after such gaps are resolved. By highlighting how parental perceptions shape these dynamics, the research offers fresh insights into the delicate balance of twin relationships and the importance of fostering equality to support both children’s growth.

Developmental delays are an especially important topic because multiple embryo pregnancies increase the risk of prenatal and birth complications.

DR. YONAT RUM. (credit: Ariho)

Conducted by Prof. Ariel Knafo-Noam of HU’s psychology department, Dr. Yonat Rum of its School of Education, and Dr. Hila Segal and Adi Barkan from the Academic College of Tel-Aviv–Jaffa, the study appeared in the journal Family Relations under the title “You and me: Parental perceptions on asymmetry in twins’ development and their dominance relationship dynamics.”

THEIR LAB has been following 322 monozygotic and 1,199 dizygotic twins, the former being identical and the latter created by two eggs fertilized by two sperm, and who are no more alike than singleton siblings. The study began when the twins were three; today they are 15 years old. The team members are especially interested in answering the as-yet-unresolved old question of the effects of nature/nurture – the genes one is born with and the effects of the environment.

Dynamics of dominance in twin relationships

Their research sheds light on how developmental differences influence the dynamics of dominance in twin relationships throughout childhood. Twins, unlike singletons, share the same age and often a similar environment, creating unique relational dynamics where traditional factors like birth order play no role. The study explored how differences in developmental conditions between twins – particularly when one child has a developmental condition and the other does not – affect their dominance dynamics over time.

Families of Hebrew-speaking twins born here in 2004 and 2005 were contacted by mail after researchers received a list of twin births from the Interior Ministry. The research surveyed over 1,500 mothers and fathers of identical twins aged three to nine.

It found that when one twin was developing normally, and the other had a developmental condition, parents consistently viewed the completely healthy twin as the dominant sibling. “This dominance imbalance was stable throughout childhood, even in cases where the developmental challenges of the challenged twin were cured, as in a slower development of language that was fixed with treatment with a clinical communications specialist,” Dr. Rum told me in an interview.

“In twin pairs where both siblings shared the same developmental condition, whether typical or nontypical, no significant differences in dominance were reported. These findings suggest that it is not the developmental condition itself but the asymmetry in abilities between the twins that drives dominance imbalances,” she said.

PARENTS OFTEN stress differences between twins through what is termed the “contrast effect,” a bias that exaggerates perceived differences. This parental tendency can reinforce dominance roles, affecting how twins interact with one another and shaping their long-term relational dynamics. Parental perceptions and behaviors may inadvertently solidify certain roles, such as “dominant” or “submissive,” in twins’ relationships.

Interestingly, genetic similarity also influenced dominance patterns. Monozygotic twins who share nearly identical genetic material were more likely to display symmetrical dominance relationships compared to dizygotic twins, even in cases where developmental conditions differed. This suggests that genetic factors and personality traits may play a role in shaping dominance behaviors and creating more balanced relationships in identical twin pairs.

Since dominance roles established early in life tend to persist, even when the developmental condition of one twin improves, it displays how – once established – family roles become ingrained through both behavior and parental reinforcement. 

To mitigate the effects of entrenched dominance roles, parents are encouraged to create opportunities for more balanced dynamics. Encouraging twins to engage in relationships outside their twinship, fostering individuality, and providing avenues for less dominant twins to assert themselves in specific domains can help reduce the long-term impact of these dynamics.

This research underscores the importance of parental awareness in navigating these dynamics. By treating these patterns early, parents and caregivers can foster healthier, more balanced sibling relationships that benefit both twins’ social and emotional development. 

“It isn’t one’s developmental condition that matters for dominance in the twinship, but one’s developmental conditions relative to their twin,” the authors suggest. Thus, providing opportunities for social interactions out of the twinship would be important for both children by using guided, mediated play interactions in which symmetrical dominance is kept between the twins or in separate interaction of each of them with other developmentally similar social partners like younger siblings or friends.

The study authors advise parents, caregivers, and educators to avoid pigeonholing twins into fixed roles, and instead fostering individuality and supporting healthy relationships.

Be Destroyed

 In his final conquest of Mecca, Prophet Muhammad, (Peace Be Upon Him), allowed his enemies to live whether they confessed faith or not, and forgave them for their opposition to the establishment of Islam. History, however, has shown us that the hypocrites and enemies of Prophet Muhammad who lived in Mecca later produced children who manifested their hypocrisy in the Caliphate or leadership of Islam and took the Nation of Islam off the course that Prophet Muhammad intended.

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This is why there is a prophecy of the coming of the Great Mahdi (The Self-Guided One) who would guide the Nation of Islam back to the straight path that it had deviated from since the deaths of the Prophet and His major companions, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali. During the rule of these four Caliphs, the seed of hypocrisy in the ranks of Islam was growing.

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

The hypocrites ultimately prevailed and now the Nation of Islam that started with Prophet Muhammad, (PBUH), as its cornerstone, is now a mere shadow of what it once was, and is far away from what the Prophet intended. Allah (God) today does not intend for the opposition to prevail nor for the hypocrites to hide under their oaths or declarations or belief.

Allah (God) intends to manifest every hypocrite and enemy within and to expose every enemy without. He intends to gather them all together and destroy them, leaving them neither root nor branch. There are some who oppose the establishment of Allah’s Truth out of sincere belief. However, there are others who oppose the Truth out of hatred for that truth and fear of the loss of power, their present position of influence, and their place in that which Allah (God) is making new. 

Allah (God) teaches us in the Holy Qur’an that the wicked will try to put out the Light of Allah (God) with their mouths, but He promises that He will perfect His Light, even though the polytheists may be averse. As Allah (God) makes the Light of Islam more clear, more persons will be attracted to the beauty of its Light. Wicked ones will also be attracted, for wicked purposes.

The aim of the enemy within is always to do harm to the Cause of Islam and to weaken the true and faithful Believing men and women in the leadership. The hypocrites never spare an opportunity to bring grief to the Believer. According to the Teachings of the Holy Qur’an, to annoy a Believing person is to put the annoyer in danger of chastisement. The true Muslim followers of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad must be aware of the machinations and schemes of our ever watchful enemy who uses our weaknesses against us.

All Muslims in America and throughout the world must be aware that the present ruling powers do not wish to see the rise of Islam. They will use every trick, artifice, and weak one to cause Muslims to shed the blood of Muslims.

There is no group, organization, fraternity or nation that does not have trouble within its leadership. There is no group, society, organization, fraternity or nation that is not confronted with interpersonal problems among the leadership: problems in functional relationships and personality problems, which ofttimes are rooted in envy, jealousy and an inordinate desire for power, prestige and money.

The success of any organization or nation today is based on how well its leadership can manage the conflicts, conflicting agendas, personalities, and keep its leadership focused on the aims, objectives and goals of the organization and nation. These problems, if not managed properly, are destructive to the goals, objectives and aspirations of any society.

President Clinton (had) a Cabinet, Chief-of- Staff, and general staff of brilliant men and women who (did) not always agree and who (had) serious personal conflicts. The public, in general, is not privy to the in-fighting, which generally only becomes public when a major player leaves public offices and then writes a book about his or her experiences while trying to serve. However, in most of our organizations, the in-fighting becomes public to the hurt of the organization because it reveals our woes and weaknesses to our enemies.

We ofttimes reveal our woes, pains, hurt and dissatisfaction to persons whom we believe to be our friends who work for newspapers and periodicals of our enemies, who use this information, whether true or false, to exacerbate tensions, spreading rumors and accusations, thus causing Brothers and Sisters to fight and kill each other. This was the tactic of the Counterintelligence Program of the United States Government toward Black organizations and leaders of the ’60s and these tactics were still being used rather successfully, unfortunately, in the ’90s.

We must remember, and never forget, that the ultimate aim and the denial objective of the United States Government towards Black people is that we must never become effectively organized. This is why our woes, in becoming public, are usually detrimental and generally bring about the demise of our organizations.

It is never right to seek to do harm to your Brother or Sister simply because you disagree with what they say or do. Anyone who thinks to do harm to their Brother or Sister, with whom they have a real or imagined disagreement, is a denier of the process of human redemption. There is no Black man or woman, no matter how evil or wicked they are or appear to be, who cannot be redeemed.

If we do not like what our Brother is saying or doing, then Allah (God) has given to us, in the Holy Qur’an, the best arguments and He teaches us to argue with our opponents in the best manner and to call to the way of Allah (God) with justice.

The Holy Qur’an forgives hurtful speech when it is uttered by one who feels or believes he or she has been wronged. However, we are not considered good Believers until we make Allah (God) and His Messenger the Arbitrators of our disputes. This will keep us from the ugly path of shedding each other’s precious blood.

The problem with most people who disagree is that they do not face each other squarely with truth, but speak around that person to others, thus affecting them with their disposition and attitude. This hinders others from the path of Islam and from the path of unity. There is a price for us to pay if we hinder people who would submit to Allah (God) from His Way by our misrepresentation of the Truth and by spreading our dissatisfaction over our personal hurt and pain.

No one can attempt to help our people do anything productive and constructive without feeling personal hurt, pain, loss, being evil spoken of, falsely accused, sometimes beaten, sent to prison, or even put to death. This is the path of Jesus. This is the path of Muhammad and this is the path of every sincere person who wants to see his or her people delivered from our present condition.

Among us, there are those who spread rumors, who deliberately lie, add to or take away from the Truth, thereby sowing the seeds of dissension. We must refer rumors to those in authority, who are in a position to search out the truth or falsity of the rumor.

Then, we must act on the principles of truth. This is why, in the Nation of Islam, the first lesson we are given to study is called Actual Facts, because we can never arrive at a true basis for justice without first having in our possession or grasp the actual facts.

We must look carefully into what people tell us or say to us or write concerning us. The first person we should study is not the person who is being spoken against, but the person who is bringing us the ugly news about someone else who is not present to defend themselves.

The Holy Qur’an teaches us that, when an unrighteous person brings us news, we should look carefully into it, lest we harm a person in ignorance and then be sorry for what we do.

Personal attacks on our opponents are forbidden in our representation of truth. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad warned Malcolm X, when he personally attacked the moral character of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that he should never do this again. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad told Malcolm that we have every right to attack the program, philosophy and ideas of an individual, but personal attacks for those of us in the public life is not proper and will prove to be counterproductive.

Whenever we speak of the ills of our Brothers and Sisters, we should not speak in a manner that only reproves or rebukes, but we should encourage that person to better conduct, then we will not be in denial of the process of redemption that Master Fard Muhammad, the Great Mahdi, started on His Coming to North America. We have a lot to learn to keep ourselves from the fishermen’s net (Satan’s evil plans against us).

So, my dear Brothers and Sisters who believe in Islam and are following the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, under my Leadership, keep your eyes focused on the goal and do not let anything or anyone take you and your focus from the establishment of the program of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

Remember, and be comforted by, the Biblical scripture which says, “No weapon formed against the righteous will prosper.” No hypocrite or devil will be allowed to get the upper hand over a True Believer.  Allah (God) alone is the Judge.

Therefore, be careful in our attempts to judge one another, lest we be in danger of being judged. Follow the laws of Islam. Carry them into practice. Your Brother in the Faith is he who respects the laws of Allah (God) and seeks to carry them into practice. Keep the brotherhood strong. Stop wanton criticism and attacks on everything that is Black owned and operated.

Stop displaying public hatred or dislike for one another. Do not give our open enemies the ammunition that they seek to use in furthering division and confusion, causing Brothers to fight and kill one another. Respect yourself and do good to yourself. Never be the aggressor. We are only permitted to fight with those who fight with us. If we do these things, we will overcome all opposition and we will be with Allah’s Apostle in Victory.

Female Leadership

 At the Jerusalem Post’s 2025 Women Leaders Conference, a panel featuring Osnat Elroy, Rahel Atedgi, and Merav Brandfeld. Moderated by The Jerusalem Report editor-in-chief Tamar Uriel-Beeri, the discussion explored female leadership, representation, and social responsibility in male-dominated industries.

Osnat Elroy, a senior executive at Mifal Hapais, recounted her experience working on a board predominantly made up of men. She emphasized the challenges of ensuring female voices are heard in decision-making processes. “When men hear a female voice, sometimes they simply don’t register it,” she remarked. “I had to be clear, assertive, even aggressive at times, just to ensure my voice wasn’t drowned out.” 

Osnat Elroy, a senior executive at Mifal Hapais (Credit: Micky)

Rahel Atedgi, a trailblazer in the Haredi community, described her unconventional path into leadership. “I started at 21, young and curious, determined to break barriers,” she said. Upon joining Mifal Hapais’ board, she initially doubted herself. “I asked, ‘Is this too big for me?’ But then I reminded myself—I’m no pushover.” 

Atedgi, a mother of five and national daycare program director, emphasized that her work transcends sectors and social divides. “At the end of the day, my job is to serve people, no matter who they are.”

Rahel Atedgi, a trailblazer in the Haredi community (Credit: Micky)

Merav Brandfeld, head of regulation and chief of staff to the CEO at Mifal Hapais, addressed the organization's surprising role in responsible gaming. “People don’t expect a lottery organization to have an entire department dedicated to addiction prevention,” she said. “But we believe in responsibility. We’re not here to promote gambling; we’re here to ensure it’s done safely.” She noted the initial skepticism she faced in the industry but emphasized, “What once raised eyebrows is now recognized and valued.”

Merav Brandfeld, head of regulation and chief of staff to the CEO at Mifal Hapais (Credit: Micky)

Despite challenges, the discussion stressed women's leadership progress and the ongoing need for gender equality advocacy in the public sector.  “Success in public leadership begins with faith in yourself and a clear vision of where you want to go," Atedgi concluded. "This isn’t about a career—it’s about mission and service.”

Impact Investments

 

ISRAEL BONDS New Leadership New York City Co-Chairs Perri Korine and Erez Kahan.

(photo credit: Albi)

The connection between global Jewry and Israel is built on generations of hope, resilience, and a shared dream of a Jewish homeland. For those who grew up in the early decades following Israel’s independence, investing in Israel was essential for its survival and growth.

For younger generations, this connection is evolving. While many first encountered Israel Bonds as gifts for their Bar or Bat Mitzvahs, today, New Leadership is redefining the meaning of investing in Israel. Through impact investing and direct ties to Israel’s needs, young professionals are transforming support for Israel into a personal and purposeful commitment.

ISRAEL BONDS New Leadership National Co-Chairs Aliza Fagen and Albert Babayev at the 2023 International Leadership Conference. (Credit: Albi)

Building Tomorrow, Together: The Impact of Israel Bonds' New Leadership 

In times of crisis, leadership emerges through action. For Israel Bonds New Leadership, October 7 was a turning point. “After October 7, we knew it was up to us to make our generation’s voice heard,” explains Albert Babayev, National Co-Chair of Israel Bonds’ New Leadership. Babayev, alongside National Co-Chair Aliza Fagen, saw an opportunity and worked with Israel Bonds’ New Leadership National Director, Micah Cohen to do more than advocate for Israel—they took tangible actions. 

“We launched an emergency national campaign to support the State of Israel in its time of need,” adds Fagen. “In addition to encouraging investment in Israel through Israel Bonds, we are also encouraged to do so via the Double Mitzvah program, as well as host local parlor meetings across the country.”

The national campaign not only provided direct financial support for Israel but showcased Israel Bonds’ impact in real-time.

The response was overwhelming. Events sold out quickly, with waitlists of eager participants. “Many of my friends didn’t know about Israel Bonds,” Perri Korine, New York City Co-Chair of Israel Bonds New Leadership, shares. “When I tell them, I feel like I’m making a real difference.”

As New Leadership continues to grow, its influence extends beyond financial contributions. (Credit: Albi)

That difference materialized in bonds sales donated for United Hatzalah to purchase a new Ambucycle. Through Israel Bonds’ Double Mitzvah program, investors can direct their bonds to causes and not-for-profit organizations that are important to them.

For young professionals navigating today’s financial landscape, Israel Bonds offers both strong returns and meaning. “When I started my career, I didn’t have much disposable income and didn’t understand bonds,” says NYC Co-Chair Erez Kahan, who joined in 2018. “I started small, but the more I learned, the more I realized how critical it is for young professionals to invest, even modestly. As we grow our careers, we can expand our investments and make a bigger impact.”

Post-October 7, Kahan sees Israel Bonds as the leading avenue for young professionals to support Israel. He breaks it down into three key points: First, purchasing an Israel bond is a statement of unwavering support for Israel’s right to exist. Second, it is a smart financial investment. And third, it establishes a direct financial bond to Israel’s future.

Beyond the Bonds: Creating a Legacy

Many current New Leadership members were introduced to Bonds through their families. “I was first introduced to Israel Bonds through my grandparents. My grandfather Myer Samuels Z”L got involved with Israel Bonds at its inception. He and my grandmother Shoshana Samuels Z”L, built a whole generation of leadership hosting events, initiating campaigns, and leading missions to Israel.” Fagen notes. “It was through their leadership that I learnt the importance of supporting the State of Israel, and it’s incredible to have so many volunteers on our national council who share similar histories. It’s really an honor to continue the legacy of our parents and grandparents.”

For Kahan, the vision is clear: “When Ben-Gurion came to New York to launch Israel Bonds, Israel needed roads and infrastructure—the foundations of a thriving state. Today, our goal is to ensure the next generation doesn’t just hear about bonds from their grandparents but grows up knowing about it and already investing.”

That generational shift is already happening. A recent Shabbat dinner at the Jewish Museum resulted in 90 new bondholders, thanks to personal outreach and grassroots efforts. “Previously, we used more traditional ways to get the word out,” Cohen explains. “Now, we’re expanding our reach—bringing in new people who had never been involved before.”

Israel Bonds is not a donation, it is an investment, contributing directly to Israel’s economic growth. “There’s no political angle here,” Babayev emphasizes. “These funds support all Israelis.”

As New Leadership continues to grow, its influence extends beyond financial contributions. The mission is clear: to educate, inspire, and build a network of committed young professionals who see their investments not just as transactions but as acts of solidarity.

For those feeling powerless in today’s global climate, Israel Bonds offers something invaluable: the ability to take action.

For National and International Chairman of the Board Dr. Andrew M. Hutter, every investor, regardless of investment size, represents hope for the future and an investment in the Jewish people with exponential returns. Dr. Hutter developed the Israel Bonds Mentorship Program and has been instrumental in growing the next generation of Bonds leaders.

“The future of Israel is in the hands of the next generation,” Dr. Hutter states. “It is essential for young leaders to engage with Israel Bonds because they are not only investing in Israel’s economic growth but also strengthening the resilience of the Jewish community. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial for New Leadership to actively support Israel’s progress and future prosperity.”

With each new investor, event, and conversation, Israel Bonds’ New Leadership is not just raising funds—it is building a movement. And through this movement, the future of Israel remains strong, resilient, and filled with hope. 

Be a part of the movement at israelbonds.com/NewLeadership.

Development Corporation for Israel/Israel Bonds (“DCI”) is a broker-dealer that sells Israel bonds. The content in this article was prepared by DCI and the Jerusalem Post as part of a paid advertising campaign for DCI. This is not an offering which can be made only by prospectus. Read the prospectus carefully before investing to fully evaluate the risks associated with investing in Israel Bonds. Member FINRA. 

Impact of Tariffs

 

US President Donald Trump meets Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington DC, April 7, 2025

(photo credit: LIL MICKY/REUTERS)

Last Thursday and Friday were among the worst days ever on Wall Street. The last time that the US stock market fell so sharply, by more than 5%, was in March 2020, in the panic over the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic. Those two days last week were the fifth worst in the history of the S&P 500.

In the wake of President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs of between 10% and 54% on almost the entire world, two of the four main stock indices in New York, Nasdaq and the Russell 2000, are in bear market territory, that is to say, they are 20% below their last peaks. The S&P 500 is only 3% away from that category.

The tariffs themselves are not the cause of the falls on the stock market. It that were the case, we would see different responses by companies that will be impacted by the tariffs and those that will not. The broad negative reaction of the market, across all sectors, indicates a much worse fear: a recession in the US at best; a global recession at worst. Stagflation in the nightmare scenario.

Who is predicting a recession?

Until two months ago, no-one imagined that that question would arise. But if on Thursday, after President Trump’s presentation of the tariffs policy, the market feared a recession, after the speech by US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell at the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing Annual Conference in Arlington, Virginia, it trembled. “Our obligation is to keep longer-term inflation expectations well anchored and to make certain that a one-time increase in the price level does not become an ongoing inflation problem,” Powell said.

Speculation began on the market that Trump’s measures were designed to force the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, but Powell implicitly rebuffed that possibility. “We will continue to carefully monitor the incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks. We are well positioned to wait for greater clarity before considering any adjustments to our policy stance. It is too soon to say what will be the appropriate path for monetary policy,” he said.

Nevertheless, the assessment on the market is that the Federal Reserve will have to reduce its interest rate three and perhaps even four times over the coming year. In the choice between high inflation and a recession, central banks generally choose to give priority to the latter danger.

US President Donald Trump meets Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington DC, April 7, 2025 (credit: LIL MICKY/REUTERS)

In the past few days, the major banks have raised their assessments of the probability of a recession. JP Morgan now sees a 60% chance of a recession, Goldman Sachs talks about 35%, as does rating agency S&P Global. HSBC puts the probability at 40%.

How will a recession in the US affect Israel?

The trade war reached Tel Aviv as well yesterday, but the falls on the local stock market were less steep than elsewhere. While stock indices in the US and Europe fell by about 10% in two days, the Tel Aviv 35 Index fell by just under 4% yesterday and by 0.62% on Thursday. All the same, if the world’s largest economy goes into recession, the shock waves will reach Israel.

Bank Hapoalim chief markets strategist Modi Shafrir warns that “even if Israel signs a new trade agreement with the US this week that substantially moderates the extent of the tariffs imposed on it, local economic growth will be hit as the global trade war worsens.”

Leader Capital Markets chief economist Jonathan Katz adds on the positive side: “Israel’s good fortune is that the economy’s main engine is exports of technology services, which are expected to be exempt from tariffs. A global slowdown and surplus supply of commodities will reduce import prices in Israel and moderate inflation.”

Katz adds, however, that “There will be a negative wealth effect on the consumer in Israel, and in the world in general, because of the sharp falls on the capital market,” that is, Israeli consumers will feel less wealthy, and will therefore consume less.

Meitav chief economist Alex Zabezhinsky also fears the negative wealth effect, which he says will weaken consumer demand in Israel in the coming year. He has cut his GDP growth forecast for Israel from 4% to 3.5%. “The Israeli economy is likely to be hurt not by the direct effect of the tariffs, but in many indirect ways. A hit to economic growth in Israel will affect demand through a weakening of the labor market, a fall in value of the public’s savings, and a worsening of general sentiment. The expected decline in world trade will hurt Israeli companies... Over the years, the performance of the Nasdaq index has been one of the most important indicators of growth in Israel. The sharp fall sin technology stocks in response to the tariffs is liable to lead to lower investment in the sector, particularly in Israel,” Zabezhinsky says.

Zabezhinsky estimates that the local market will outperform overseas markets in the near term, largely because of the expectation of a transfer of some savings from S&P 500 tracks to general tracks. “That will boost demand for the shekel and for local securities,” he says. 

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Russian carmaker

 

File photo shows a Lada Granta model manufactured by Russia’s AvtoVAZ.

Russia’s largest car manufacturer AvtoVAZ eyes to launch a localization project in Iran where it can assemble the latest version of its popular Lada model.

AvtoVAZ CEO Maxim Sokolov said on Tuesday that launching assembly lines and dealerships in Iran will give the company a “certain competitive advantage".

“... we are betting heavily on the Iranian direction and expect that our dealership will open there soon,” Sokolov told the official news agency Tass.

He said that a business partner from Iran, which he did not identify, has asked for the entire product line of AvtoVAZ’s Lada model, including its new Iskra model.

The CEO said that Iskra would be “one step ahead” of the majority of cars currently assembled and manufactured in Iran.

AvtoVAZ seeks to expand its exports of Lada in 2025 with a special focus on markets of Iran, Kazakhstan and Vietnam, according to statements from the company.

Iranians have a good memory of old Lada models, which were famous for their safety and reliability when they hit the roads in the 1970s.

AvtoVAZ’s plans to break into the Iranian market have faced difficulties in recent years, mainly because of US sanctions on Iran.

However, growing cooperation between the automotive companies of Iran and Russia in recent years seems to have made it easier for Russian cars to enter the Iranian market.

The cooperation deepened since early 2022, when major international automotive companies, including Renault, which owned shares in AvtoVAZ, left Russia because of Western sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.

Iran’s two largest carmakers, IKCO and Saipa, have signed contracts for exports of cars and parts to Russia.

Reports have also shown that carmakers from the two countries seek to launch joint manufacturing projects in the future.

Iran sanctions

 

The US blacklists firms and individuals in China and Iran for alleged role in Tehran’s missile program.

The US government has announced new sanctions targeting Chinese and Iranian firms and individuals despite the ongoing nuclear talks with Tehran.

The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said in a statement on Tuesday that it had imposed sanctions on six entities and six individuals for their alleged role in procuring ingredients needed in Iran’s ballistic missile program.

The designation targeted five China-based companies, one Iran-based firm, and six Iran-based people, which OFAC said had been involved in the procurement from China to Iran of sodium perchlorate and dioctyl sebacate, the ingredients it said were usable in solid propellant rocket motors.

The Iranian firm and its related people included in the blacklist were identified as Saman Tejarat Barman Trading Company, Abed, Hamed and Zahra Zargar, Forough Modarres, Abbas Pour Kazemi, and Mohammad Asgari.

The five Chinese forms were Shenzhen Amor, Dongying, Yanling Chuanxing Chemical Plant, China Chlorate Tech, and Yanling Lingfeng Chlorate.

The new sanctions are the eighth such action taken by the US government against Iran since February 4, when US President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum ordering a campaign of maximum pressure on the country.

They come despite the fact that Iran and the US have held three rounds of reportedly positive talks since early April to settle disputes about Tehran’s nuclear program. The indirect talks have been held in Oman’s capital, Muscat, and in Italy’s Rome under Oman’s mediation.

The sanctions come days after a huge explosion in Iran’s southern port of Shahid Rajaee, which media outlets based in the US and Europe claimed could have been caused by sodium perchlorate stored in the port’s dockyards.

The Iranian defense ministry has vehemently denied the reports, saying it has never used the Shahid Rajaee port for imports of sensitive materials.