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Iran’s Private Sector Ready to Operate in Lebanon: Official

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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“No government had been established in Lebanon for around 13 months. Moreover, the issue of the coronavirus pandemic, US sanctions and issues in banking relations as well as last year’s Beirut port explosion have been among impediments to the expansion of relations between the two countries in economic and trade areas,” said Mirmasoud Hosseinian, the director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Department for Middle East and North Africa.

The top diplomat added efforts are being made to hold an Iran-Lebanon joint economic commission by the end of this year.

He said the private sector can conduct activities in Lebanon in a variety of fields.

“At the moment, the main problem facing Lebanon is economic issues, and we can play an important role in this regard by exporting technical and engineering services,” the official said in an exclusive interview with the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA).

“Iran has not violated the laws of the Lebanese government in this regard. A great part of Lebanon’s economy is run by the private sector, and we have sold fuel to businessmen of the private sector in Lebanon, and Hezbollah has supported and managed this idea,” he explained.

He further added Iran intends to keep sending fuel to Lebanon as several other fuel shipments are scheduled to be dispatched to the Arab country.

This is while Iran has already sent several fuel consignments to Lebanon.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the official said Lebanese authorities have welcomed talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

“Iran and Saudi Arabia are two major countries in the region, and if relations between the two countries improve, it will influence Iran’s ties with a large number of countries in the Persian Gulf region and North Africa,” he said.

He also touched upon Iran-Egypt relations, and said the two countries have numerous issues.

“We hope these issues will soon be resolved,” he said.

Turkey urges world to engage with Taliban

By
IFP Media Wire
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Turkey has called on the international community to help the Taliban overcome Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, officials said after holding talks with the group’s leaders, adding that this does not imply formal recognition.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu received his acting counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi in Ankara, as Afghanistan’s new government continues its diplomatic push for support.

Speaking after the closed-door talks, Cavusoglu urged international engagement with the Taliban.

“We have told the international community about the importance of engagement with the current Taliban administration. In fact, recognition and engagement are two different things,” he stated.

“The Afghan economy should not collapse. Therefore, we have said the countries that froze Afghanistan’s accounts abroad should act more flexibly so that salaries can be paid,” he continued.

The World Bank halted funds to Afghanistan after the Taliban swept back to power in August. The international community has condemned the group’s actions in some provinces, where they brought back public hangings and barred women and girls from going to school or returning to work.

Turkey has sought to use its position as the only Muslim-majority member of the NATO defence alliance to secure a greater role in Afghanistan after the US troop withdrawal.

Cavusoglu said he had urged the Taliban to uphold women’s rights, including access to jobs and education.

“We asked them not to see this as a precondition or a demand, but that this is also the expectation of the other Muslim countries,” he added.

Turkey’s foreign minister also stressed the need to ensure security at the airport before regular flights could resume.

“Today, we explained to them once more the expectations on the issue of security – not only ours but the entire international aviation community – for running the airport and especially the start of regular flights,” he stressed.

The Taliban representative has been holding talks with foreign officials, warning them that Western sanctions will further undermine security in Afghanistan.

The meeting between Turkey’s foreign minister and the high-level delegation of Taliban rulers was the first since the group’s takeover of the country.

It comes after Taliban leaders held a series of talks with the United States, 10 European nations and European Union representatives in Qatar earlier this week.

Turkey, which hosts more than 3.6 million Syrians, has warned European countries that it will not accept an influx of migrants from Afghanistan.

Sixth Peak in COVID-19 Lurking ahead for Iranians

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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According to the news website, www.iribnews.ir ,  upwards of 47.7 million citizens have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and over 22.8 million have got their second-dose jabs That means at least 50 million Iranians need to receive the second-dose vaccination in order for the nation to reach a point of collective security.

This is while the trend of observing health protocols, namely wearing masks, is on the decline as over half of the country’s population now venture into public places without wearing masks.

Moreover, the National Coronavirus Task Force is to lift Covid restrictions like in the past and replace them with a smart plan.

All these ambiguities can make the situation difficult when the sixth surge in coronavirus infections and deaths hits. 

As we remember, we had several tough and tragic months during the fifth peak in the disease.

The number of cases and fatalities during the fifth wave was so high that we now show no reaction to the deaths of some 100 coronavirus patients per day and regard it as normal. This comes as there was talk of pushing the daily COVID-19 deaths to below 50.

Epidemiologist Masoud Younesian says the nation has been harmed whenever it has regarded the pandemic as something ordinary.  

“Vaccination is necessary to prevent infection with coronavirus, but it is not sufficient,” he says. 

“We’d better not lift the restrictions hastily because we need some time until most of the population receive both doses of the vaccine,” he adds.

Meanwhile Health Minsiter Bahram Einollahi says the necessary measures have been adopted to deal with a possible sixth peak in Covid-19 in the country.

“We hope with the huge amount of the vaccine administered and thanks to people observing health protocols, the next peak will be less severe than the previous one,” he explains.

“[Medical] personnel, doctors, nurses and scientific committees are on alert, and given the experience we have gained in the past, there are no worries as far as treatment is concerned,” he says.

China warns US over irresponsible remarks on Taiwan

By
IFP Media Wire
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Taiwan island is China’s territory and the US is in no position to point fingers over the Taiwan question, Beijing stressed, slamming US Defense Department Spokesperson John Kirby’s statement on recent military exercises conducted by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army near the island of Taiwan.

For some time now, the US has been making negative moves to sell arms to Taiwan and strengthen official and military ties with the island, including the launch of a $750 million arms sale plan, the landing of US military aircraft on the island and frequent sailing of US warships across the Taiwan Straits. These provocative actions damage China-US relations and undermine regional peace and stability, said Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. 

Kirby had told reporters that the US commitment to Taiwan is “rock solid” and that “the US is united with Taiwan against the current danger posed by the People’s Republic of China”.

The remarks by the US senior official seriously violate the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués, sending an extremely wrong and irresponsible signal to the outside world, Zhao stated. 

The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations. On the Taiwan question, the US should abide by the principle and the joint communiqués, rather than something it has unilaterally cooked up, Zhao added. 

“Taiwan independence” is a dead end, and the Chinese mainland will take all necessary measures to resolutely crush any attempt at “Taiwan independence”. China’s resolve and will to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity are firm, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying has also stressed at previous routine press briefing, urging the US to correct its mistakes and stop supporting secessionists in the island. 

On Wednesday, official Twitter accounts of the US State Department posted photos and tweets of Under Secretary of State José Fernandez and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink respectively meeting with Taipei Economic and Cultural “Representative” Bi-khim Hsiao, claiming that the US commitment to Taiwan remains rock-solid, and the US will further strengthen ties with Taiwan. Media reports said that the US has invited Hsu Yen-pu, Taiwan’s “Army Commander,” to visit the US.

American leaders and senior officials have repeatedly stated that the US has never had any intention of changing its one-China policy. However, its words and deeds have repeatedly shown that such commitments are nothing but empty words. The US should stop its clumsy tactic of saying one thing while doing another, the Chinese Embassy in the US announced. 

The embassy warned the US not to fantasize about seeking China’s support and cooperation while wantonly challenging China’s red line on the Taiwan question, adding that China will never accept it.

On Wednesday, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, mocked an official from the island’s legislative department for daydreaming that the island could “establish diplomatic relations with the US before 2028”. Ma added the official would not see his daydream come true even when he enters coffin.

Russia says prevented US destroyer entering its waters

By
IFP Media Wire
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The Russian Pacific Fleet’s large anti-submarine warfare ship Admiral Tributs thwarted an attempt by a US guided missile destroyer to violate Russia’s state border in the Sea of Japan, the Defense Ministry of Russia reported on Friday.

“Today, at about 5:00 p.m. local time, the US Navy’s destroyer Chafee (DDG-90), which has been operating in the Sea of Japan for several days, approached the territorial waters of the Russian Federation and attempted to cross the state border,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Pacific Fleet’s large anti-submarine warfare ship Admiral Tributs warned the foreign warship of the inadmissibility of such actions and that it was operating in an area closed for shipping due to artillery firings as part of the Russia-China Joint Sea 2021 naval maneuvers, the ministry specified.

“After getting the warning, instead of changing its course to leave the closed area, the destroyer Chafee raised its colors implying that its helicopter was due to take off from its deck, which meant that the course and the speed could not be changed, and took actions to violate the state border of the Russian Federation in the Peter the Great Bay,” the statement added.

Russia’s top brass branded the actions by the crew of the US guided missile destroyer a gross violation of the international regulations for preventing collisions at sea and the 1972 Russia-US inter-governmental agreement on preventing incidents at sea and in the airspace.

The Pacific Fleet’s large anti-submarine warfare ship Admiral Tributs continues accomplishing its assignments in the Sea of Japan, it stated.

The Russian Defense Ministry has summoned the US military attache and pointed out the unprofessional actions of the crew of the US Navy’s destroyer, the military agency told journalists on Friday.

“The position of the Russian military agency was conveyed to the representative of the US armed forces in relation to the US Navy’s destroyer Chafee’s attempted violation of the state border of the Russian Federation in the area of the Peter the Great Bay on October 15,” the statement read.

As the Defense Ministry emphasized, the unprofessional actions of the American crew were pointed out to the military attache since they grossly violated the international regulations for preventing collisions at sea and the provisions of the Russia-US agreement on preventing incidents at sea and in airspace.

The US Navy’s guided missile destroyer Chafee conducted operations in the Sea of Japan in line with the international law during a reported incident on Friday with the Russian warship, the US Pacific Fleet Public Affairs Office said in a statement.

“Although Russia issued a Notice to Airman and Mariners (NOTAM/NOTMAR) in this area for later in the day, the NOTAM/NOTMAR was not in effect at the time of the interaction,” the statement reads. 

“At all times, USS Chafee conducted operations in accordance with international law and custom,” it added.

“The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate where international law allows,” according to the statement.

The press office of the US Pacific Fleet also stated that The Russian Defense Ministry’s statement regarding an incident with the US Navy’s guided missile destroyer Chafee was false.

“The statement from the Russian Defense Ministry about the interaction between our two Navy ships is false,” the statement reads. “While USS Chafee (DDG 90) was conducting routine operations in international water in the Sea of Japan on Oct. 15, 2021, a Russian Udaloy-class destroyer came within approximately 65 yards of USS Chafee (DDG 90) while the ship was preparing for flight operations,” it announced.

“The interaction was safe and professional,” according to the statement.

High-ranking Iran MP: Azeri president’s drug-trafficking accusation ill-advised

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Mahmoud Abbaszadeh Meshkini was referring to Ilham Aliyev’s claim that the Islamic Republic, along with Armenia, smuggled narcotics to Europe via Azeri soil. Abbaszadeh Meshkini described Iran’s fight against drug trafficking as matchless, saying were it not for the Islamic Republic’s efforts, all Europe and the Caucasus region would be grappling with the ramifications of narcotrafficking. 

He added that thousands of Iranians have been martyred in Iran’s war on drugs. 

Abbaszadeh Meshkini noted that no one should cause a division between the two Muslim nations of Iran and the Azerbaijan Republic, noting ill-wishers are bent on driving a wedge between the two Muslim neighbors. 

The Iranian MP also referred to the fatwa of the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei that has declared using and carrying drugs as haram (absolutely banned under Islamic laws). 

He said someone must have given the Azeri president wrong information. 

The Secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, also hit back at Aliyev on Friday. He said  said leveling such accusations against a country which is recognized by the international community as being the champion of fighting drugs would have no effect but discrediting the accuser. 

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said such accusations are only in the interests of the Zionist regime.

Putin: No rush in recognizing Taliban

By
IFP Media Wire
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“There should be no haste to recognize the Taliban officially. We are aware that they should be cooperated with, but there is no place for haste,” Putin stated at the CIS summit on Friday. 

He added that Moscow was going to discuss these questions with its CIS counterparts.

Putin stressed that the Taliban’s interim government regrettably failed to reflect the entire diversity of Afghan society.

The Russian leader also believes that it is necessary to support the process of intra-Afghan reconciliation and promote normalization in the country.

The leaders of terrorist organizations who are building up forces near Afghanistan’s borders with the CIS countries are hatching plots for expanding their influence, Putin said.

“Terrorists have been trying to get into the CIS territory in different disguises, often trying to pass for refugees,” Putin added.

“The situation in Afghanistan causes concern, of course. It is fraught with risks for Central Asia and the whole of the CIS space, even though some countries are far away from this region,” he pointed out.

The Taliban previously combated drugs in Afghanistan but it will be difficult for them to give up this revenue source in the current environment, the Russian president stated.

“Despite promises to combat the production of drugs, in reality I do not know whether the Taliban manages to do so, whether they want to deal with that or not,” the Russian leader said, adding, “They did so, and performed successfully” during their prior reign in Afghanistan.

“It will be challenging at present to drop such a source of revenue, especially in the crisis in the Afghan economy,” Putin stressed.

The problem of drug production in Afghanistan and smuggling from the country is acute, Putin noted. “Afghanistan remains the largest supplier of opiates globally, up to 90% of the worldwide market volume,” he continued.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday Putin is not planning to meet with the Taliban who is expected to arrive in Moscow in October for consultations.

When asked if a meeting between Putin and Taliban representatives was being planned, the Russian presidential spokesman replied “No.”

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova earlier noted that Moscow was expecting the arrival of a large Taliban delegation for consultations on Afghanistan next week. Peskov has also confirmed that preparations for contacts on Afghanistan were underway.

The Moscow format meeting is scheduled for October 20. This platform emerged in 2017 on the basis of a six-party mechanism of consultations by special envoys from Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran, China, and Pakistan.

The Taliban has also confirmed participation in Moscow consultations on Afghanistan.

A senior delegation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will pay an official visit to Moscow at the invitation of the Russian leadership, Taliban spokesman Wardak al-Hanafi tweeted on Friday.

A US delegation has been invited to join the Moscow talks on Afghanistan, Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan and Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Second Asian Department Zamir Kabulov reported on Friday.

US State Department Spokesman Ned Price said at a regular briefing for journalists on Friday the United States cannot yet confirm its participation in the Moscow-format consultation on Afghanistan.

According to him, Washington is aware of the upcoming session in Moscow yet cannot yet confirm any meetings or its participation.

The spokesman noted that the US considers the extended Troika format (Russia, the US, China, Pakistan) on the peaceful settlement in Afghanistan useful and coordinates interests with such countries as Russia on these issues.

UK lawmaker stabbed to death

By
IFP Media Wire
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Sir David, who represented Southend West in Essex, was attacked shortly after midday on Friday at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea.

A man walked into Sir David’s constituency surgery and stabbed him multiple times, with the MP noted to have suffered more than a dozen wounds, according to reports.

Counter-terror police are investigating the incident.

He was found with multiple injuries and, despite the efforts of police officers and paramedics, the MP died at the scene.

A 25-year-old man was immediately arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and remains in custody. The individual who has been arrested is a British citizen with Somali heritage.

A knife was recovered at the scene.

Essex Police chief constable Ben-Julian Harrington said, “The investigation is in the very early stages and is being led by officers from the Metropolitan Police’s specialist counter terror command.”

“We made it clear at the time of the incident that we did not believe there was any immediate threat to anyone else in the area,” Harrington continued, adding, “It will be for investigators to determine whether or not this may have been a terrorist incident. As always they will keep an open mind.”

Sir David, a 69-year-old father-of-five, had been MP for Southend West since 1997 and first entered parliament in 1983.

He never held a ministerial role during his long parliamentary career and instead focussed his efforts from the back benches of the House of Commons.

Flags at parliament and Downing Street have been lowered to half mast following Sir David’s death.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson described Sir David as “one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics” and paid tribute to his “outstanding” campaigning work on endometriosis, animal cruelty and fuel poverty.

“David was a man who believed passionately in this country and its future,” Johnson stated, adding, “We’ve lost today a fine public servant and a much-loved friend and colleague.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described a “dark and shocking day” as he urged people to “come together in response to these horrendous events”.

“The whole country will feel it acutely, perhaps the more so because we have, heartbreakingly, been here before,” he said.

“We will show once more that violence, intimidation and threats to our democracy will never prevail over the tireless commitment of public servants simply doing their jobs,” he added.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle noted that “this is an incident that will send shockwaves across the parliamentary community and the whole country”.

“In the coming days we will need to discuss and examine MPs’ security and any measures to be taken, but for now, our thoughts and prayers are with David’s family, friends and colleagues,” he stressed.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has asked all police forces to immediately review security arrangements for MPs following the death of Sir David.

Following the killing of Sir David, Patel chaired a meeting of police, security and intelligence agencies and also spoke to Speaker Sir Lindsay.

“The home secretary has asked all police forces to review security arrangements for MPs with immediate effect and will provide updates in due course,” a spokesman for Patel noted.

Later, police announced the fatal stabbing of Sir David has been declared as a terrorist incident.

‘China ready to implement strategic cooperation agreement with Iran’

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Wang Yi made the comment in a Friday phone conversation with Iran’ foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

The Chinese foreign minister also  stressed Beijing’s commitment to continuing cooperation with Tehran to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Yi also stressed Beijing’s stance on the need for a full return of all JCPOA parties to honoring their obligations. 

The top Chinese diplomat welcomed the beginning of talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the European side. 

The Chinese foreign minister stressed that the leaders of the two countries are determined to fully expand bilateral relations, and therefore Beijing, just as in the past, will continue to cooperate and consult with the Islamic Republic of Iran at all levels, including mutual cooperation in regional and international organizations. 

The Iranian foreign minister also put special emphasis on the need to implement the comprehensive 25-year cooperation program. 

Amirabdollahian described relations between the two countries as strategic, emphasizing Tehran’s serious efforts to follow up on the agreements reached between President Xi Jinping and President Ebrahim Raeisi in a recent telephone call between the two sides, as well as the full implementation of the 25-year cooperation document.

The Iranian foreign minister explained the framework of  Iran-EU talks and the definite policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran which is the effective and complete removal of unilateral and illegal US sanctions.  Amirabdollahian also criticized the inaction of the three European countries.

The top Iranian diplomat emphasized that the talks have started in a positive and constructive direction.

Iran’s security chief to Aliyev: Do not discredit yourself

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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shamkhani

In a tweet, Shamkhani said Aliyev’s allegations are tantamount to negligence of principles and requirements of good neighborliness.

He also said lying and making baseless claims are not a sign of good-will and prudence.
The secretary of Iran’s Suoreme National Security Council also said leveling such accusations against a country which is recognized by the the international community as being the champion of fighting drugs would have no effect but discrediting the accuser’s claims. Shamkhani urged the Republic of Azerbaijan to be wary of what he called “evils”.

Tensions have been mounting between Iran and the Azerbaijan Republic over the past few weeks. Iran says Azerbaijan has given the Zionist regime a foothold on its soil, which Tehran sees as a security threat.

In response, Iran recently held military drills near Azerbaijan’s border.
Aliyev criticized the drills and claimed Israel maintains no presence in Azerbaijan.

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