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Palestinian president meets Hamas leader for first time in 15 years

By
IFP Media Wire
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Palestinian President Meets Hamas Leader

A photo released by the Palestinian presidency showed Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune sitting between Abbas and Haniyeh in a meeting room with Algeria’s green-and-white national flag in the background.

The meeting was broadcast on the Algerian TV channel TV3, which showed the three leaders holding their hands.

The pro-Hamas Al-Resalah news website reported that the meeting between the two rivals was organized by Tebboune on the sidelines of the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of Algeria’s independence from France.

Haniyeh, who has been living in Qatar for more than three years, headed a Hamas delegation to Algeria upon the official invitation of Tebboune to join the Algerian independence celebrations.

Abbas and a high-ranking Palestinian delegation were also invited by Tebboune to participate in the celebrations, according to the official Palestinian news agency.

Thanks to Tebboune, who “invited the two leaders on purpose,” the meeting between Abbas and Haniyeh was made possible, said Gaza-based political analyst Husam al-Dajjani.

“Tebboune is expected to persuade both Abbas and Haniyeh to resume their dialogue and end around 15 years of internal Palestinian division and achieve internal reconciliation,” he added.

Arab mediators have so far been unable to end the internal division between Abbas’ Fatah Party and Hamas. The two rivals had reached a series of understandings and agreements sponsored by Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia which had never been implemented.

The internal Palestinian division between Hamas and Fatah began in 2007 when Hamas forcibly took over the Gaza Strip from Fatah. Since then, the Palestinian territories have been split into a Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and a Fatah-dominated West Bank.

Iranian daily belittles Raisi administration for boasting of ‘small-time trade with region’

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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President Ebrahim Raisi

Sharq referred to a headline on an unspecified government newspaper that read “90-billion-dollar trade by bypassing sanctions,” and the remarks by the head of the Iran Trade Promotion Organization who said, “Out of the 100 billion dollars’ worth of foreign trade last year, 90 percent was conducted outside of the banking system.”

The critical article said those things were nothing to be proud of and were rather signs that a “massive volume of resources” had been wasted in the midst and had not been spent on the development and welfare of the country.

“Just like our gas and electricity and water, at least one-third of which is wasted and completely squandered while on the supply lines and due to the exhaustion of the lines,” it read.

It said the notion that trade with regional countries could bring Iran economic growth and development was “but a pipedream.”

“As the head of the Research Center at Iran’s Chamber says, the share of all of the regional countries in the global economy is almost six percent, and 94 percent of the world economy is proceeding outside of this region,” it said.

Since taking office in 2020, the Raisi administration has been practicing a policy of engagement with Iran’s neighbors.

While campaigning for office, Raisi criticized his predecessor President Hassan Rouhani’s policy of engagement with Europe and the West.

Report: Iran, Saudi FMs may ‘visit Baghdad to announce restoration of ties’

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran and Saudi FMs Hossein Amir Abdolalhian and Faisal bin Farhan

Iraq’s al-Mada newspaper, citing “government sources,” said Baghdad intends to host an “important meeting” between Saudi Arabia and Iran, in which a resumption of ties between the two Persian Gulf neighbors is expected to be announced.

The Iraqi capital has hosted several rounds of talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia to set the stage for the two Middle East powers to mend their troubled ties.

“The phase of security meetings has come to an end and we have today moved to hold diplomatic talks. It is expected that the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia come to Baghdad to announce the restoration of ties,” the source added.

Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic ties with Iran in January 2016 after Iranian protesters, enraged by the Saudi execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, stormed its embassy in Tehran.

Iran criticizes the kingdom for pursuing what it calls a confrontational foreign policy toward the Islamic Republic.

The Saudi war on Yemen has been one of the main obstacles to the restoration of ties.

Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of supporting the Yemeni government run by the Houthis that is fighting the Riyadh-led coalition.

In turn, Iran says Saudi war on Yemen and its support for the Takfiri groups are among major issues blocking the normalization of their ties.

Health ministry: Omicron subvariant BA.5 found in Iran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
COVID in Iran

The confirmation comes as health experts have raised the alarm over the growing number of coronavirus cases in Iran during the past days.

BA.5 seems to be one of the primary drivers behind a recent spike in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations across the world, most notably in the United States.

It accounted for around 54% of the infections recorded in the United States last week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On Monday, Dr. Payam Tabarsi, a top Iranian infectious decease specialist, said the number of cases in Iran has been increasing since last week and called on people to observe health protocols and get the booster shots.

Dr. Alireza Zali, the head of the Tehran Coronavirus Combat Taskforce, also confirmed an 18-percent growth in the number of patients in the capital since past week.

Iran FM: US has to choose between nuclear deal, unilateral demands

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian

Hossein Amirabdollahian wrote on his twitter account on Tuesday that he spoke with the EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell on the phone discussing the latest developments in efforts to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), after Washington pulled out of the deal in 2018.

Amirabdollahian wrote in his tweet, “An agreement is only possible based on mutual understanding and respect for mutual interests. We will continue the negotiations to reach a strong and lasting agreement.”

After the phone call, Borrell also tweeted, “If we want to conclude an agreement, decisions are needed now.”

Pressures are mounting on the US to make a clear stance on the deal quickly as several rounds of talks to restore the agreement are in limbo.

Russia’s permanent representative in the talks Mikhail Ulyanov also questioned the United States’ commitment to the restoration of the JCPOA in a tweet, saying Washington needs to take a more forthcoming position on the talks.

Iran and the P 4+1 group of countries, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany have been trying to revive the deal and lift the anti-Tehran sanctions, paving the way for a possible US return to the agreement.

Amirabdollahian calls for release of Iranian citizen jailed in Sweden

By
IFP Media Wire
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Swedish Flag

In a phone call with his Swedish counterpart Ann Linde on Tuesday, Amirabdollahian urged Stockholm to immediately release Hamid Nouri who was jailed when he traveled there in 2019.

Nouri was arrested upon arrival at the Stockholm International Airport in November that year and was immediately imprisoned. He has been held in solitary confinement for over two years.

The charges against Nouri stem from accusations leveled against him by members of the anti-Iran terrorist Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO), who claim that Nouri was involved in the execution and torture of MKO members in 1988. Nouri vehemently rejects the allegations.

The Swedish official, for her part, said, “The Swedish government and judicial system will not be influenced by this group’s propaganda.”

Swedish prosecutors have requested the maximum penalty of life imprisonment for Nouri.

Amirabdollahian also stated Iran and Sweden should endeavor towards clearing out the issues that have created obstacles in the way of development of their bilateral ties.

“The countries’ relations should not come under the influence of propaganda and baseless and unfounded allegations that have been created by a terrorist group, whose record of atrocities against the Iranian nation is clear to all,” he continued.

He added that both countries should work to expand their relations in the commercial and economic spheres.

Linde called the countries’ relations historic, saying, “Sweden attaches high value to its relations with the Islamic Republic.”

She also noted that “we believe that Iran has a notable role in regional peace and stability.”

In the meantime, in a meeting with Nouri’s son, Amirabdollahian stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran is pursuing the case of Hamid Nouri with great sensitivity and will do its utmost for his release.

He praised Nouri’s perseverance and standing against all pressures and added that supporting and defending Iranian nationals wherever they are in the world is the inherent duty of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we will do our best in this case as well.

OPEC secretary general dies at 63

By
IFP Media Wire
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Mohammed Barkindo

The head of Nigeria’s National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari, announced the news in a tweet Wednesday, which was confirmed by two sources at OPEC.

He did not state the cause of death.

“We lost our esteemed Dr Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo,” a tweet early Wednesday morning from his verified Twitter handle read.

“He died at about 11pm yesterday 5th July 2022. Certainly a great loss to his immediate family, the NNPC, our country Nigeria, the OPEC and the global energy community. Burial arrangements will be announced shortly,” it added.

President Raisi says close ties with Venezuela will lead to victory

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Iran and Venezuela Presidents Raisi & Maduro

In a message to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Tuesday, Raisi stated he was confident that victory would be achieved by expanding bilateral relations and making use of the model of active resistance in the face of the excessive demands of imperialist countries.

He extended his congratulations to the Venezuelan president and people on the anniversary of the country’s independence, which is reminiscent of efforts by Simon Bolivar, the late South America’s 19th century independence hero and political leader, toward the freedom of Venezuela and other Latin American states.

“This historic day is a symbol of efforts by the freedom-seeking countries to abolish colonial dominance,” Raisi added.

The Iranian chief executive expressed hope that Tehran and Caracas would further improve “friendly and strategic” relations and implement the agreements previously reached between them.

During a visit by the Venezuelan president to Iran last month, Tehran and Caracas signed a 20-year partnership agreement aimed at bolstering cooperation in various sectors, particularly in science, technology, agriculture, oil and gas, petrochemicals, tourism as well as culture.

Raisi has hailed the accord as an indication of the two countries’ determination to expand bilateral ties despite US and Western pressure.

Russia’s Ulyanov: It’s high time US took stance on JCPOA

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken

Mikhail Ulyanov wrote in a tweet on Wednesday, “It is high time for the US to take a more forthcoming position in the course of the #ViennaTalks if #Washington is really committed to the restoration of the #JCPOA.”

The remark comes as several rounds of talks to restore the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in the Austrian capital Vienna and the Qatari capital Doha have remained inconclusive.

Iran, Russia and China blame the US for the impasse, saying the administration of US President Joe Biden has to decide whether it wants to distance itself from the policies of former US president Donald Trump, who unilaterally withdrew from the hard-won deal in 2018.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Monday the fate of the talks to bring the US back to the fold depends on Washington to show seriousness, initiative, and flexibility.

Iran and the P 4+1 group of countries, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany have been trying to revive the deal and lift the anti-Tehran sanctions, paving the way for a possible US return to the agreement.

US denies visa to Iran’s karate team, bars it from major intl. sports event

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Iran’s Karate Team

Asked about the visa denial, a US State Department spokesperson told Fox News on Tuesday, “Visa records are confidential under US law; therefore, we cannot discuss the details of individual visa cases.”

Zabihullah Poursheib, the captain of Iran’s national karate team, told ISNA that the US refused to grant visa to the team in order to deprive it of the opportunity to join the major global sports event, despite the fact that the members are high-profile and prize-winning karate figures are highly respected in other countries.

He said Washington has, on several occasions, refused to grant visas to Iranian sports team, including wrestlers, something that shows “the Americans mix political and irrelevant issues with sports and are seeking retaliation.”

While the European states have issued long-term visas for Iran’s team members, Washington’s move is regrettable, he said.

The World Games is an international sports event held every four years in over 11 days. The Games represent the pinnacle of competition for 3,600 of the world’s best athletes from over 100 countries in 30+ unique, multi-disciplinary sports.

Poursheib added Iran’s Karate Federation did its utmost to make the World Karate Federation pressure the host country into fulfilling its duties, but to no avail.

“America’s mischief and lack of cooperation made Iran lose the chance to join the international tournament joined by many martial arts teams,” he said.

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