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Iranian intelligence operatives dismantle drug trafficking cell

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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A number of the drug traffickers were also arrested and one of them was killed.

Iran has been engaged in a decades-long war on drugs which has cost the country many lives and huge amounts of money.

The UN has said in a report that drug trafficking represents a major challenge for the Islamic Republic of Iran.

According to the report, the geographical location of Iran, particularly its 923 km-long Eastern border with Afghanistan- the world’s largest opium producer-and Pakistan, has turned it into a major transit country for drugs.

In response to this challenge, the country has built one of the strongest counter-narcotics enforcement capabilities in the region over the years.

The UN also said Iran accounts for a huge percentage of the world’s opium, heroin and morphine seizures.

4 soldiers killed in Armenia-Azerbaijan border clashes

By
IFP Media Wire
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The Armenian military announced it recovered the body of a serviceman from the area where the heavy fighting took place on Tuesday when Azerbaijani forces attacked Armenian positions from the eastern side of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

The Azeri military deployed UAVs and artillery in the assault.

This brings the Armenian military’s death toll in the shooting to three.

The two other Armenian servicemen who were wounded in action while suppressing the Azeri attack are in non-life threatening condition, according to the Ministry of Defense.

Earlier, Azerbaijan claimed one of its soldiers had been killed by Armenian forces.

Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry announced the soldier died as a result of a “provocation” by Armenian troops and that “all responsibility for tension lies with the military-political leadership of Armenia”.

The two Caucasus countries clashed in late 2020 for control of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, leaving more than 6,000 dead in a matter of weeks.

Iran, Cuba seek closer cooperation against shared enemies’ pressure

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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In a Tuesday meeting with Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Mohsen Rezaei highlighted the long-running friendship between Iran and Cuba and said it was of paramount importance for the two sides to broaden bilateral ties in various fields.

Rezaei praised effective Tehran-Havana cooperation in jointly developing a vaccine against COVID-19.

“We should neutralize the enemies’ sanctions and pressure, [among] all their conspiracies against resilient nations, through the expansion of cooperation,” he said.
Rezaei proposed the formation of a joint trade union meant to facilitate and increase the volume of commercial exchanges between Iran and Latin American states, especially Cuba.

Iran “pays special respect to the Cuban nation and government and their resistance against the excessive demands of the bullying states,” he added.

In turn, the Cuban president hailed the Iranian nation’s cause of resistance against America and other bullying powers of the word.
Diaz-Canel emphasized the need for closer bilateral cooperation and said the joint vaccine produced by the two states was a great success in the fight against the plots of common enemies.

He also voiced support for Iran’s right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The Cuban president also urged the banking sectors of the two countries to enhance trade and other exchanges, which have been slowed down by US sanctions.

US says modest progress made in nuclear talks

By
IFP Media Wire
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Price stressed that the previous administration’s decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is ill-considered.

President Joe Biden has stated the United States is “continuing to suffer” from former President Donald Trump’s decision to pull Washington out of the Iran nuclear deal. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also called Washington’s withdrawal from the 2015 agreement “a terrible mistake”.

“This round is ongoing. We’ve spoken to the modest progress that we have seen in recent days,” Price stated on Tuesday.

“Of course, that progress needs to be more than modest if we are going to be in a position to salvage the JCPOA and to ensure that the nonproliferation benefits that the JCPOA conveys aren’t diminished, watered down, eliminated by the advancements that Iran has made in its nuclear program,” he added.

“We’ve spoken of the modest progress that we’ve seen since the resumption of the eighth round. But we’ve also spoken of the urgency and the need for progress to take place at a pace that is – that not only is on par with but that outpaces the significant advancements that Iran has been able to make in its nuclear program since the last administration abandoned the JCPOA,” the spokesperson continued.

Also on Tuesday, France’s foreign minister said Iran and world powers are still far from any agreement to revive nuclear deal despite making some progress at the end of December.

“The discussions are ongoing. They are slow, too slow and that creates a gap that jeopardises the chance of finding a solution that respects the interests of all sides,” Jean-Yves le Drian told a parliamentary hearing.

“Bits of progress were made at the end of December, but we are still far from concluding this negotiation,” he added.

The eighth round of talks kicked off in Vienna in late December. The negotiations seek to restore the JCPOA in its original form and bring the US back into the agreement.

Iran insists that the talks must lead to the removal of all American sanctions that were imposed against Tehran following Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the landmark agreement in May 2018. Tehran has also demanded credible guarantees that Washington will not abandon the deal again.

Iran FM: Regional crises cannot be resolved through force

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Amir-Abdollahian

He was speaking to reporters in Doha on the sidelines of his meetings with Qatari officials on Tuesday.

He added that the Islamic Republic of Iran has always played a pivotal, constructive and fundamental role in regional affairs, and that Iran has been on the right side of the regional developments, both in the fight against the Daesh terrorist group and in regional dialogue.

“We support any initiative that contributes to stability, security and development in the region,” he said.

Amir Abdollahian added that Iran welcomes these ideas and present them, hoping the region will develop further.

The Iranian foreign minister also said Tehran keeps its regional friends posted on the latest developments and negotiations in Vienna.

Amir Abdollahian noted, as neighbors, Iran’s friends have the right to be in the know of the negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the P4 + 1.

On Iran’s nuclear program, Amir Abdolalhian said, “We believe that the peaceful achievements of Iran’s nuclear program can be made available to all neighboring and Muslim countries. It is natural that some negotiators in Vienna try to cause concern among our neighbors by misrepresentation. Therefore, one of the goals of this regional trip is to tell the Islamic Republic’s account of the Vienna talks to its neighbors”.

China says cooperation with Iran contributes to peace, stability in ME

By
IFP Media Wire
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At the invitation of Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian will visit Beijing on January 14.

“China and Iran enjoy long-standing and profound friendship. Under the leadership of the two heads of state, the relations have achieved marked progress in recent years,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin stated at a press conference on Tuesday.

“We firmly support each other on issues concerning our respective core interests, promote practical cooperation across the board in a steady manner and maintain close communication and coordination in international and regional affairs,” he added.

“Facing the impact of COVID-19, China and Iran rendered each other help and assistance in times of need, highlighting the strength of our profound relations. In 2021, the two countries jointly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and opened up a new chapter in our friendship. Standing at a new historical starting point, China is ready to work with Iran to further deepen the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership to the benefit of our two countries and two peoples,” the spokesperson continued.

Ankara has also announced Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will pay a visit to China on Wednesday. The Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said Cavusoglu will address “bilateral relations as well as current regional and international issues” during the visit.

Wang retired that “Turkey and Iran are all China’s good friends. China has carried out productive cooperation with them in various sectors, delivering tangible benefits to our peoples”.

“Maintaining high-level exchanges with the above-mentioned countries will help to deepen bilateral relations and contribute to the peace, stability and development in the Middle East,” the Chinese official noted.

Amir Abdollahian has recently travelled to Oman and Qatar with the intention of advancing the Iranian administration’s policy of establishing closer ties with neighboring countries.

In March 2021, Iran and China signed a 25-year cooperation agreement to strengthen their long-standing economic and political alliance.

‘Pakistan-based Taliban leader killed in Afghanistan’

By
IFP Media Wire
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pakistan taliban

Khalid Balti, also known by the nom de guerre Muhammad Khorasani when he served as the spokesperson of the group, was killed in Nangarhar province, a security source told Al Jazeera on Tuesday.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media on the issue.

“It is clear that the person who was killed is Khalid Balti,” added the official, while also confirming the killing took place in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, along the border with Pakistan.

When asked about the circumstances of the killing, he stated, “We are trying to get that information.”

Local media in Pakistan reported that Balti had been shot dead by unidentified gunmen, but the source was unable to confirm those reports.

In a statement, the Pakistani Taliban, announced that “investigations were ongoing” into the reports that Balti had been killed.

“It should be remembered that Mufti Khalid Balti did not currently have any responsibilities in [the Pakistan Taliban],” the statement added.

Balti’s alias of Muhammad Khorasani became a moniker for each successive Pakistan Taliban spokesperson, and the group clarified that the current spokesperson was “alive and well”.

Balti, said to be in his late 40s, hailed from the northern Pakistani region of Gilgit-Baltistan, and took over as Pakistan Taliban spokesperson from Sheikh Maqbool – who went by the alias Shahidullah Shahid – in 2014.

That year, the Pakistani military launched a security operation against the Pakistan Taliban in its erstwhile headquarters and stronghold of North Waziristan, displacing the group and many of its fighters into eastern Afghanistan.

The Pakistani security source described Balti as a “pivotal leader” of the Pakistan Taliban, contradicting the armed group’s claims.

It is unclear what, if any, operational role Balti has played with the Pakistan Taliban recently, after being released from Afghan government custody by the Afghan Taliban when that group took control of Kabul in August.

Last month, a month-long ceasefire between the Pakistani military and the Pakistan Taliban ended without renewal, as a nascent peace process – brokered by the Afghan Taliban – appeared to have stalled.

The Pakistan Taliban claimed the Pakistani government had reneged on its promises to release Pakistani Taliban prisoners and to cease security raids on TTP hideouts.

Iranian FM reaffirms Tehran’s backing for Palestine

By
Hamid Reza Babaee
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In a meeting with Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of Palestinian resistance movement Hamas in Qatar, Amir Abdollahian said Iran will continue supporting the legitimate defense of the Palestinian people and resistance against the occupation of the Zionist regime.

He outlined the Islamic Republic’s principled policy toward the issue of Palestine as a plight in the heart of the Islamic ummah created by the Zionist regime which enjoys support from the West.

Ismail Haniyeh for his part appreciated the Islamic Republic’s support of the Palestinian people’s struggle against the Zionist regime’s continued aggression.

He also called for the Muslim and Arab world as well as the international community to adopt a decisive stance against the Israeli regime’s violations.

Iran has repeatedly vowed to keep backing Palestinians in the face of Israel over the past couple of years. It has also vehemently opposed some Arab states’ move to normalize ties with Tel Aviv.

Iran’s top diplomat holds extensive talks with Qatari Emir, FM

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Sheikh Tamim made the comment on Tuesday in a meeting with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian.

He underlined that Qatar is interested in expanding relations with Iran.

Amir Abdollahian also examined the latest developments in bilateral ties in political, security, trade and economic areas.

Amir Abdollahian referred to the existing capacities for expanding economic relations between Iran and Qatar, underlining the need for forging cooperation in economic areas.

The Iranian foreign minister further outlined Tehran’s approach to relations with neighboring countries.

Amir Abdollahian also spoke about the Vienna talks over removing the oppressive sanctions against Iran as well as the issues related to Afghanistan and Yemen.

He also held negotiations with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani.

Amir Abdollahian underlined the need to expand cooperation, particularly in trade, economic and investment areas between the two countries.

He stressed the priority of neighbors in Tehran’s foreign policy, saying Tehran welcomes holding regional dialog to establish stability in the region.

Qatar’s foreign minister also outlined the Qatari leadership’s view regarding the boosting and expanding of relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He underlined that Doha is interested in expanding cooperation with Tehran especially in economic activities.

The two top diplomats further discussed, among others, regional and international issues, particularly the developments in Afghanistan and Yemen.

Iran Covid: 25 killed, 2k new cases registered

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The Health Ministry also logged 1961 new Covid cases including 292 hospitalizations.

The latest fatalities push to 131,940 the total death toll from the disease since the Coronavirus pandemic hit the whole world.

The total caseload in Iran is 6,210,298. The number of deaths and infections in the country indicates a downward trend in Covid compared with several months ago when hundreds of people died from the disease daily.

This has been attributed by officials to a nationwide vaccination campaign that has seen the administering of 124,042,534 doses of vaccine to people in Iran. Meanwhile, 11,045,991 people have been triple-vaxxed against Covid.

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