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Iran: 68 million doses of Covid vaccine so far administered

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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He was speaking on Thursdays during a visit to the southern Iranian province of Fars.
Einollahi said 63 million of the 68 million shots have been given in the past two months.

Since Wednesday alone, Iranian healthcare workers administered 1,282,823 doses of vaccine to people. The accelerating vaccination process has resulted in a drastic decrease in the number of deaths from Covid over the past weeks.

Iran has seen a downward trend in new infections and hospitalizations as well. But the disease is still killing, though in smaller numbers compared with the time when the fifth peak of the pandemic in Iran was holding a grip on the nation.

Authorities announced on Thursday, Covid-19 has killed 223 more people in Iran in the past 24 hours. The fatalities push to 123,498, the death toll since the pandemic started.

Authorities have lifted some Covid-related restrictions, but they are warning people against relaxing Covid health protocols, saying this could cause a sixth peak of the disease in Iran.

Iran nuclear negotiator: Serious doubts about real will of US

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Ali Bagheri Kani, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister and the country’s nuclear negotiator made the remark on Thursday, in a meeting with Enrique Mora the European Union coordinator of nuclear talks, in Tehran.

Bagheri also criticized the inaction of the European parties in fulfilling their obligations under the Iran nuclear deal and stressed the need for them to act responsibly.

He emphasized that Iran has always proved to be a responsible player in the international arena, while the behavior of the other side shows that it is far from being a responsible player.

Bagheri added that the side showing more responsibility is closer to the negotiating table.
Referring to the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna, Bagheri noted that achieving tangible results is important for Iran. He said Tehran is always ready for serious negotiations that result in a practical agreement and not merely a paper agreement.

Enrique Mora also explained his task as the EU Coordinator, announcing his readiness to cooperate with Iran and other parties in order to continue negotiations to achieve a result acceptable to all parties.

In the end, the two sides agreed that the consultations between them on issues of mutual interest would continue in the coming days in Brussels.

Bilateral relations, regional issues, including developments in Afghanistan and Yemen, as well as talks on lifting sanctions on Iran, were also discussed in the meeting between the Iranian and EU officials.

Taliban delegation in Turkey for talks

By
IFP Media Wire
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A high-level delegation led by Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of Afghanistan’s interim Taliban government, visited Ankara Thursday to hold talks with senior Turkish officials.

The delegation boarded a plane from the Qatari capital Doha.

In a meeting with Western diplomats in Doha on Tuesday, Muttaqi had stated that weakening the Afghan government would not benefit anyone as it would have negative economic and migration repercussions for the world.

The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi noted that the delegation was invited by Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

“The delegation will hold talks with senior Turkish officials on issues of mutual interest,” Balkhi wrote on Twitter.

This marks the first high-level contact between Turkey and the new administration in Afghanistan after the Taliban took power on Aug. 15.

Balkhi said the two sides will discuss how to improve bilateral relations, trade, humanitarian aid, migration and air transport issues.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently highlighted the importance of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, as he noted it was crucial in reaching a deal regarding the operation of the Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Erdoğan also stated at a virtual meeting between the Group of 20 most powerful economies that the international community should keep the channels of dialogue with the Taliban open to “patiently and gradually steer” them toward establishing a more inclusive government.

He added Turkey, which already hosts more than 3.6 million Syrians, cannot bear an influx of migrants from Afghanistan, warning that European nations would also be affected by a new wave of migrants.

The Taliban say they want international recognition. They warn that weakening their government will affect security and spark an even bigger exodus of migration from the country.

Also, Çavuşoğlu recently noted that humanitarian aid would be sent to Afghanistan by land via Pakistan, as it is faster and less costly.

Taliban officials previously noted that they want Turkey to provide aid and support to the Afghan people and called on Turkey to be the first country to formally recognize the new administration in Afghanistan.

Also on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the Taliban delegation will arrive in Moscow next week to participate in the Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan.

“Next week, we are expecting a representative delegation of the Taliban movement to visit Moscow to take part in the third Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan,” the Russian diplomat stated.

Zakharova noted that Moscow was concerned over the ongoing terrorist activity of Islamic State militants in Afghanistan.

“We hope that the new authorities in Kabul will deliver on their statements that they can cope with IS on their own, without any outside help,” the diplomat continued, adding, “We also noted the Taliban delegation’s two-day visit to Qatar, led by the Afghan Acting Foreign Minister. Negotiations took place there, in particular, with the US Department of State’s representatives.”

The consultations are scheduled for October 20, 2021. The Moscow format was established in 2017 on the basis of a six-party consultation mechanism of the special envoys of Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran, China and Pakistan.

Several killed, wounded in Lebanon gunfire

By
IFP Media Wire
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Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi has confirmed that the death toll from the shooting in Beirut has climbed to six. He also stated that bullets had been fired at the protesters’ heads.

Al-Mayadeen TV channel has reported at least 60 people have been injured, while the Lebanese Red Cross told Al-Jazeera at least 25 others wounded by gunfire.

The incident comes amid rallies staged by supporters and allies of the Hezbollah group, who planned to go to the Justice Palace to protest against the judge investigating the deadly Beirut port explosion.

Videos and photos have emerged online, showing people running in the street and trying to hide in a nearby district.

At least two explosions were also reported in Beirut after clashes had occurred near a site where a demonstration had to take place.

The Lebanese army has issued a statement, stating that they were looking for those who attacked protesters.

The army has also fired at the building where militants are supposed to be hiding after the deadly shooting attack against protesters.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, accompanied by the defenсe minister, have arrived at the army headquarters in the wake of the deadly shooting in Beirut’s Tayouneh district, the army said.

“The head of government, Najib Mikati, and Defence Minister Maurice Slim, arrived at the army command operations center to monitor the situation with army commander Joseph Aoun,” the statement added.

Hezbollah and Amal have called on their supporters to stay calm and not fall for provocations in the wake of the deadly shooting in Beirut.

In their joint statement, the movements expressed the belief that the attack on protesters was aimed at “plunging the country in a strife”.

“We call on our supporters to stay calm and not to fall for malicious provocations,” the statement read.

An exchange of fire has stopped in Beirut following five hours of a military operation in wake of the deadly shooting. However, soldiers and armoured vehicles keep on patrolling the streets.

Last month, the investigation into the explosion at the port of Beirut was suspended due to a lawsuit filed against judge Tarek Bitar. The lawsuit was reportedly filed by ex-Lebanese Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk, whom the judge wanted to summon for questioning.

The deadly explosion rocked the port of Beirut in August 2020, killing more than 250 people, injuring 7,000 and leaving about 300,000 people homeless. The blast was blamed on thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored at the port.

Iran’s land border with Turkmenistan reopens after 20 months

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Seyed Rouhollah Latifi added, with the announcement of Turkmenistan and the agreements made, trucks carrying Iranian commercial cargo to Turkmenistan would be accepted from Thursday morning.

He added, since March 2020, with the beginning of the Covid pandemic, Turkmenistan’s land border with Iran was closed in Incheh Bouroun, Golestan province, and after 20 months, it resumes its activities by accepting Iranian trucks.

Latifi stressed that according to the decisions made by the two countries, exported goods will enter Turkmenistan by truck and the cargos will be transported to the final destinations by Turkmen trucks at their customs.

The customs spokesman said, in the last 20 months, the traffic with Turkmenistan in other border crossings was completely stopped and after a while, the railway routes became active only in Sarakhs, Lotfabad and Incheh Bouroun borders and land routes only in Sarakhs and Lotfabad borders of Khorasan province.

He added that the Bajgiran border of Khorasan Razavi with Turkmenistan has been completely closed since March 2020 and has not been reopened yet.

Figures show that Iran’s foreign trade in the first half of this year reached 79 million and 100 thousand tons of goods worth 45 billion dollars.

The share of exports was 60 million tons of goods worth 21 billion and 800 million dollars and the share of imports was 19 million and 100 thousand tons worth 23 billion and 100 million dollars.

Iranian-Saudi Talks Following Positive Trend: Analyst

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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In an interview with ILNA, Qassem Mohebali weighed in on the prospects of Tehran-Riyadh relations as well as obstacles to the easing of tensions between the two sides and the resumption of bilateral diplomatic ties.

“These talks will hopefully follow a positive trend. Comments by both sides have changed and propaganda campaigns against one another has decreased,” said Mohebali, the former head of the Middle East Department of the foreign ministry.

“The negotiations held at the level of security officials has resulted in positive assessments for both sides, and the trend has been positive and forward-moving till now,” he added.

“But the reality is that Iran and Saudi Arabia have numerous and complex differences whose settlement does not seem easy,” the commentator noted.

“These differences are a collection of bilateral and regional issues and pertain to the two countries’ viewpoints on religion, denomination and sect where there are serious differences and both countries have concerns regarding one another,” he added.

“All these differences depend on another indicator, i.e., Iran’s relations with the world within the framework of the JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), and these issues should be dealt with in tandem because they affect one another,” added Mohebali.

“Given the changes in the United States’ foreign policy on the Middle East and the US withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, which has led to the replacement of the US by its rivals such as Qatar and Turkey, Saudi Arabia seems to have come to realize that it is losing its role; so, having a relationship with Iran, as a different player, may be able to restore part of Riyadh’s role,” he said.

He added, Iran, too, needs to reduce its problems with Saudi Arabia.

He also noted the Israeli regime has misgivings over Tehran-Riyadh making headway with their talks and seeks to sabotage this trend.

Nour News: Baqeri Pakistan Visit Push for Regional Coop. for Regional Security

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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According to Nour News, a news outlet close to Iran’s Supreme Council of National Security, the visit highlights the will of Iran and Pakistan for the expansion of their political, economic, security and defense ties.

The report also sees the visit as Iran’s push for regional security through cooperation with its neighbors.

“Existence of over 900 kilometers of common borders between the two countries and activities of some terrorist groups and smugglers to undermine the security of joint borders are key elements for expansion and strengthening of defense diplomacy between the two sides,” Nour News says.

This is also seen as a basis for closer economic cooperation including on the Peace Pipeline and border terminals.

The report says the irresponsible withdrawal of the US and its allies from Afghanistan also calls for security and military work among Afghanistan’s neighbors.

Accordingly, such cooperation is necessary amid attacks by Daesh and other terrorist groups, including the recent one on a mosque in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, and Washington’s exploitation of the political vacuum in Afghanistan to drag the country into a civil war.

Nour News says seeking help from the US is not an alternative, citing comments by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan who said cooperation with Washington only intensified his country’s security and political crises.

The outlet also points to the opportunity created by the withdrawal of the US and NATO from Afghanistan. Their pullout, it says, helps regional countries enhance cooperation toward lasting security to prevent the return of foreigners to the region. The report calls for greater defense and security cooperation on Afghanistan among Iran, Russia, China, countries of Central Asia and Caucasus along with India.

Baqeri’s visit is seen as part of Iran’s strategy of regional cooperation for regional security, even as the Islamic Republic showed its determination to fight security threats by the recent military drill in its northwest, its air defense drills and its strikes against anti-Iran groups in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

Iran Deputy FM, EU Deputy Foreign Policy Chief Begin Talks in Tehran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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According to a tweet by Ali Baqeri on Wednesday, high on the agenda of the talks is bilateral ties between Tehran and Brussels as well as the developments in Afghanistan and talks for removal of anti-Iran sanctions under the nuclear deal.

Earlier, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh also said the visit by Mora is part of the “bilateral consultations on topics of interest including Iran-EU relations, Afghanistan and the Nuclear deal”.

“Discussions and contacts between the two sides were never cut off and continues regularly on different issues and this visit is part of the same framework,” Khatibzadeh added.

China says drills near Taiwan for peace, stability

By
IFP Media Wire
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The Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office has defended Beijing’s military exercises near Taiwan, claiming it is a “just” move to protect peace and stability, and blamed Taipei’s “collusion” with foreign forces.

Speaking on Wednesday, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, put the blame for rising tensions firmly on Taipei, accusing it of inventing “bogus accusations” against Beijing and colluding with foreign powers.

“The [Democratic Progressive Party] DPP authorities’ hyping of the so-called ‘military threat’ of the mainland is to completely invert right and wrong, and a bogus accusation,” Ma told gathered reporters.

Ma added recent Chinese drills were a response to Taiwanese “collusion” with foreign powers, a reference to the US and its allies, and the ruling DPP’s “provocations” concerning the island’s independence.

“They are absolutely just actions,” Ma claimed, referencing Chinese wargames in the province directly across the sea from Taiwan.
“If the DPP authorities obstinately persist in going about things the wrong way, and do not know how to draw back from the edge, it will only push Taiwan into a more dangerous situation,” the spokesman noted.

On Monday, Chinese forces carried out beach landing and assault drills in the southern part of Fujian province, just across the sea from Taiwan. The action involved “shock” troops, sappers and boat specialists, according to the official People’s Liberation Army Daily newspaper.

Tensions surrounding Taiwan are on the rise. On Monday, Beijing registered “solemn representations” with Canberra after former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott visited Taiwan, pledging support for the island and highlighting Taipei’s achievements.

Tangerine Harvest Season Begins in Mazandaran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Harvesting tangerines usually begins in October and continues until late November.

Some 10 thousand hectares of orchards in Mazandaran are under the cultivation of different types of tangerines.

As much as 115 thousand hectares of orchards in the province are under the cultivation of citrus fruits, producing over 2.7 million tonnes of produce.

That meets over 50% of the domestic need for citrus fruits.

Mazandarn ranks first in the country when it comes to the amount of citrus fruit harvests.

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