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Iran Health Minister: Omicron spread under control

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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“So far 92 percent of people have received the first does, 85 percent has received the second dose and 35 percent have received the third dose of the Coronavirus vaccine,” Bahram Einollahi said.

“We are seeing a quick spread of the coronavirus in the world, but thanks to high vaccination in Iran, the disease is under control.”

Referring to the three waves involved in the pandemic, he said “The first wave is outpatients, the second is hospitalized patients and the third is fatalities and, it seems, the first and second waves are over.”

The minister added in the coming weeks we expect an improvement in the outbreak of the pandemic.

He said that, according to the ratification by the National Coronavirus Taskforce, there will be no limitations for travels during Nowrouz – New Iranian Year – holidays, “just like the previous years”, but all those who seek to travel should be triple-vaxxed.

Iran had imposed strict travel restrictions during Nowrouz over the past two years.

The country has seen a surge both in the number of its infections and fatalities over the past weeks, due to the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Officials announced 227 new deaths and more than 15 thousand new infections Wednesday.

US says Iran nuclear talks close to ‘possible deal’

By
IFP Media Wire
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“What we’re seeing is there is significant progress being made, and we are close to a possible deal. But there are a number of very difficult issues that remain unresolved,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday.

“And there’s very little time remaining to reach a deal given the pace of Iran’s nuclear advances,” she added.

Tehran, Moscow and Beijing have pushed back on the need to establish a fixed deadline for the nuclear negotiations to conclude. Iranian officials have rejected western diplomats’ remarks about a deadline for reaching an agreement in Vienna talks, and stressed Tehran is only after a good agreement.

“Also, I would note that typically the most difficult components — the last mile — is where it — where there is the most difficult conversations and negotiations,” Psaki noted, adding, “So, yes, significant progress and we are close. But there’s a lot that still needs to be worked out.”

“We believe if Iran shows seriousness, we can and should reach an understanding on mutual return to full implementation of the JCPOA within — potentially within days. But there is still more work that needs to be done,” she said.

Iran’s chief negotiator in the talks in Vienna has stated that decisions should be made by the western parties to the negotiations before they lead to an agreement.

“Being near the finish line is no guarantee one crosses it,” Ali Baqeri Kani said in a tweet.

“It requires extra caution, much perseverance, additional creativity and a balanced approach to take the last step. To finish the job, there are certain decisions that our Western interlocutors need to take,” he added.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has also noted Tehran and the P4+1 group of countries have never been this close to reaching a good agreement since they started talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Chritian Amanpour in Munich, Amir Abdollahian said Iran is optimistic about reaching an agreement in Vienna because the administration of President Ebrahim Raisi has a strong will to achieve a good deal.

He added in order to get close to a good agreement, the Iranian team showed good initiatives and flexibility, but now it’s the Western side including the US and the European troika that should show flexibility and initiatives.

Iran FM: West ‘serious will’ needed in Vienna talks

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in a phone conversation with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, added the western side should guarantee and ensure Iran’s interests, especially with regards to the objective removal of sanctions, in order to work out a lasting agreement.

He expressed hope the European countries present in the talks will, through a realistic look, play a constructive role in clinching a deal.

The top Iranian diplomat also touched upon the talks he held, in Munich, with his German counterpart as well as Joseph Borrell, the European Union foreign policy chief, adding, “We made good progress during those talks,”

The two sides also emphasized that the settlement of Britain’s overdue debts to Iran is among the key issues of mutual concern, adding it is essential that the issue be resolved through proper channels and London’s arrears to Tehran be settled.

During the phone conversation, the UK foreign secretary reviewed the latest status of bilateral relations as well as talks to resolve the issue of London’s overdue debts to Tehran, and elaborated on her country’s viewpoints on that issue as well as on the Vienna negotiations.

She said Tehran-London growing ties will serve the interests of both sides.
She noted good achievements have been secured in the Vienna talks so far. However, she said the negotiations should come to an end with a result desired by all sides.

She expressed hope that bilateral issues, namely consular affairs related to prisoners as well the settlement of Britain’s overdue debts to Iran, will be resolved in the near future through constant cooperation between the two sides.

Iran: Vienna talks near finish line, but that may never be crossed

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Ali Bagheri Kani

“Being near the finish line is no guarantee one crosses it,” Ali Baqeri Kani said in a tweet.

“It requires extra caution, much perseverance, additional creativity and a balanced approach to take the last step. To finish the job, there are certain decisions that our Western interlocutors need to take.”

Baqeri added that a few outstanding issues are resolvable and a final agreement can be reached within days, but only if the western governments make the necessary decisions they should.

His comments come as the eighth round of the Vienna talks is underway amid optimism by all parties on the possibility of hammering an agreement very quickly.

However, there are sticking points and Iran says one of them is the United States failure, so far, to offer the guarantees, Tehran has sought, to ensure Washington does not unilaterally abandon the agreement again, when a new administration takes office.

Oil prices surge above $100 following Russia Ukraine attacks

By
IFP Media Wire
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Oil

Brent surged to $100.04 a barrel after the announcement, as concerns grew about a full-scale conflict in eastern Europe. WTI hit $95.54.

It came after Putin made a surprise statement on television to declare his intentions.

“I have made the decision of a military operation,” he said shortly before 6:00am (0300 GMT) in Moscow, as he vowed retaliation against anyone who interfered.

He also called on the Ukrainian military to lay down its arms.

His statement came after the Kremlin said rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine had asked Moscow for military help against Kyiv.

US officials had warned of an imminent incursion by Russia after the Kremlin this week recognised two breakaway regions in Ukraine and said it would provide “peacekeepers”.

Fears of a move were ramped up after separatists called for help to repel Ukraine forces.

The threat of a conflagration has fanned concerns over supplies of key commodities including wheat and metals just as demand rallies owing to the reopening of economies after pandemic lockdowns.

Crucially, oil has soared in recent weeks and on Thursday world benchmark Brent finally broke the $100 mark last seen in September 2014.

“Russia/Ukraine tensions bring both a possible demand shock (for Europe), and more importantly a much larger supply shock for the rest of the world given the importance of Russia and Ukraine to energy, hard commodities and soft commodities,” said National Australia Bank’s Tapas Strickland.

The crisis comes as governments struggle to contain runaway inflation fuelled by demand as life returns after recent lockdowns, with many fearing the fragile global economic recovery could be knocked off course.

Russia announces ‘special operation’ in Donbass, eastern Ukraine

By
IFP Media Wire
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“Circumstances require us to take decisive and immediate action,” the order reads.

“The People’s Republics of Donbass turned to Russia with a request for help. In this regard, in accordance with Article 51, part 7 of the UN Charter, with the sanction of the Federation Council and in pursuance of the friendship treaties ratified by the Federal Assembly and mutual assistance with the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, I have decided to conduct a special military operation,” Putin concludes.

At the same time, in address to the public, Putin said that he wanted to “demilitarize” and “de-Nazify” Ukraine.

According to him, “we have no plans to occupy Ukrainian territory.”

Within moments of the speech, a series of explosions were reported in cities across Ukraine, with CNN, CBC and a number of Ukrainian media outlets reporting to hear a blast in the capital, Kiev.

In a statement, US President Joe Biden said that “the prayers of the world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by the Russian military forces.”

The decision comes days after Moscow recognized the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk breakaway republics in the Donbass, alleging Kiev had not lived up to its obligations under the Minsk agreements struck in 2014 and 2015 to resolve conflict between separatists and the Ukrainian government.

Officials later authorized what they describe as a “peacekeeping operation” in the region.

Western leaders for months had predicted a looming incursion, claiming Russia has amassed troops near its border with Ukraine and in neighboring Belarus, where Moscow has conducted joint drills in recent weeks.

Russia has so far denied plans for an attack, however, and maintains its actions in the Donbass will be defensive in nature.

The US and its European partners have already imposed sanctions on a series of Russian financial institutions, officials and lawmakers following the recognition of the break-away states, vowing to bring more penalties should Moscow “further invade” Ukraine.

Putin has claimed that Russia had “no plans to occupy the Ukrainian territories” after announcing that a special operation was launched to defend the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics from “Ukrainian aggression.”

The operation’s ultimate goal is “to protect the people who have been subjected for 8 years to genocide by the Kiev regime,” Putin stated in an adress on Thursday morning, adding that Moscow would “embark on a demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, and handing over to justice those who committed numerous atrocities against civilians.”

The Russian president noted, however, that Moscow harbors no far-reaching plans to take over the whole territory of Ukraine.

“We do not have plans to occupy Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force,” he continued.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the Russian military is attacking Ukrainian military facilities as part of an ongoing operation in Ukraine. Precision weapons are used against military infrastructure, air defense sites, military airfields and aircraft, according to a statement.

The military said that Russia was not attacking Ukrainian cities, contrary to claims that say otherwise. Ukrainian civilians are not under threat, the statement added.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian military sites were under attack. Speaking in a video address on his social media, he announced martial law in the country.

He called on Ukrainians to stay calm and preferably not to leave their homes. He stressed Ukraine was “strong” and will “defeat anyone”.

Kiev’s foreign minister has also declared war has broken out between Russia and Ukraine, as Moscow confirms it has hit Ukrainian military targets moments after the Kremlin issued an order for a “special operation” in the breakaway Donbass region.

In a statement issued early on Thursday morning, Dmitry Kuleba said that Russian President Vladimir Putin “has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.”

“Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes,” he added, with claims coming in of explosions near the capital, Kiev.

“This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win,” he insisted, stating, “The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.”

US sanctions company behind Nord Stream 2

By
IFP Media Wire
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“Today, I have directed my administration to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers. These steps are another piece of our initial tranche of sanctions in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine,” Biden said in a statement.

“Through his actions, President Putin has provided the world with an overwhelming incentive to move away from Russian gas and to other forms of energy,” Biden added.

Until now, the question of whether to impose sanctions on Nord Stream 2 has been a thorny one for the Biden administration. Since its inception, Germany has strongly supported the pipeline project, and viewed it as a crucial source of affordable energy for western Europe’s most populous country.

But earlier this week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made the surprise announcement that final approval of Nord Stream 2 would be put on hold, after Russia moved troops into regions of eastern Ukraine. Scholz’s announcement freed up the Biden administration to move ahead with its own sanctions, which have strong bipartisan support in Congress.

On Wednesday, the United Kingdom warned the Russian government that it was ready to impose more rounds of devastating sanctions should Moscow push farther into Ukraine.

“This is just the start,” said Tariq Ahmad, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations, referencing the U.K.’s previously announced sanctions.

“If Russia continues its campaign of aggression, we have a further package of sanctions ready to go. We asked the wider international community to join us in this effort,” Ahmad told the international forum.

Ahmad’s remarks follow the United Kingdom’s largest sanctions package against Russia.

“We must meet Russia’s aggressive acts with solidarity with strength including through coordinated sanctions to impose a severe cost on Russian interests and their economy,” he continued.

Ahmad warned that further Russian military action will take a horrific toll not only on Ukrainians but also on Russians, calling both “victims of an unnecessary war of the Kremlin’s choosing.”

A Pentagon official said Wednesday that about 80% of Russia’s military forces that are amassed around Ukraine are “ready to go” for an attack.

“They are literally ready to go now if they get the order to go,” the official stated.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to share new details of the Pentagon’s assessment, noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin has assembled enough aviation, maritime and ground assets to “conduct a large-scale invasion.”

The majority of the forces are ground military assets, the official added.

“What continues to give us concern is the full range of capabilities that Mr. Putin has at his disposal right now, everything from significant offensive missile capability to offensive ground power. He has more than two dozen warships in the Black Sea,” the official continued.

“He has a cruise missile capability, he’s got ballistic missile capability arrayed, armor, artillery, certainly infantry, special forces and we assess today that he is near 100% of all the forces that we anticipated that he would move in,” the official announced.

Oil spill inflicts environmental damage on Bushehr shores in Persian Gulf

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Oil spill

The department’s director general Farhad Gholinejad says the pollution is now affecting different patches of sand beaches in the city of Bushehr.

Gholinejad said Bushehr municipality and the Directorate General of Ports and Navigation of Bushehr have launched a cleaning operation in the area.

The official said the oil pollution is a result of a leak from an oil pipeline that carried crude from a marine rig to Kharg Island.

He said the spill has caused damage to the marine environment and the shoreline and the department of environment will take legal action against those responsible.

UAE says to buy Chinese military aircraft after Yemen attacks

By
IFP Media Wire
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In December, the UAE threatened to scrap its mega-purchase of US F-35 fighter jets, protesting stringent conditions amid Washington’s concerns over China.

The UAE Defence Ministry said it intended to sign a contract with China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) to purchase 12 of the L15 training and light combat aircraft, with the option for 36 additional jets of the same type, the official Emirati news agency WAM reported.

“We have reached the final stage in our talks with the Chinese side. The final contract will… be signed soon,” Tareq Al-Hosani, CEO of Tawazun Economic Council, was quoted as saying.

The value of the deal was not disclosed.

Tawazun — the Emirates’ defence and security acquisitions authority — was seeking to “develop the UAE’s defence capabilities and to achieve its strategic priorities”, added WAM.

The US and UAE have yet to finalise a $23 billion arms deal that includes F-35 fighter jets.

Lawmakers from US President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party unsuccessfully sought to stop the sale, pointing in part to the Persian Gulf state’s role in the Yemen war.

American officials have also been increasingly concerned by China’s involvement with the US ally.

But the UAE continues to plough money into drones, robots and other unmanned weaponry as autonomous warfare becomes more and more widespread — including in attacks on the Persian Gulf country by Yemeni troops.

The UAE is Saudi Arabia’s main ally in a 2015-present bloody war against Yemen.

The Yemen’s Houthis have recently begun directly targeting the UAE, while intensifying their attacks against Saudi Arabia.

The US has deployed a warship and fighter planes to help protect the UAE.

Saudi Arabia and its allies launched a war against the Arab world’s most impoverished nation in March 2015. The war has been seeking to restore power in Yemen to Riyadh’s favorite officials.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed directly or indirectly in Yemen’s seven-year war, while millions have been displaced in what the UN calls the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis.

Raisi calls for expansion of Iran-Oman ties

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Raisi was speaking in a meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi in Tehran on Wednesday.

He also thanked Oman’s Sultan for inviting him to visit the Persian Gulf sultanate, saying the visit and the talks involved can undoubtedly be instrumental in bolstering ties and resolving regional and international issues.

The president praised the position of the Omani government on Palestine and Yemen as well as on regional issues.

Raisi said Iran’s policy is to expand ties with Oman and other friendly nations.

Albusaidi for his part appreciated the Islamic Republic of Iran’s support of neighbors, describing bilateral ties between Tehran and Muscat as excellent.

Addressing Raisi, the Omani foreign minister said, “Your trip to Oman will be historic and will achieve the goals of both nations.”

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