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Moscow says U.S. needs Ukraine for anti-Russian goals

“The US needs nothing from Ukraine except opposition to Russia, total deterrence of our country and creation of what has been very appropriately called ‘anti-Russia’,” Russia’s Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said in the article titled “Why contacts with current Ukrainian administration are pointless,” posted on Monday in the Kommersant newspaper.

It means that such alliance is very fragile and will turn to ashes at a certain moment of time, the official added.

Russia will wait until responsible leaders appear in Ukraine, focusing on the buildup of based on equal rights and mutually beneficial relations and not on the total confrontation with Russia on the brink of war, he stated.

“[We should] wait until responsible leaders appear in Ukraine, aiming at the buildup of based on equal rights and mutually beneficial relations with Russia, rather than at the total confrontation with Russia on the brink of fire and setup of stupid ‘Crimean platforms’ created for dumbing down the country population and inflating their muscles before elections,” Medvedev said.

“Russia knows how to wait. We are patient people,” he added.

Ukraine is under direct foreign administration now and fully depends on the West, from money ‘handouts’ to direct management by special services, Medvedev stressed.

“The country [Ukraine] is under direct foreign administration. Furthermore, the administration is much tougher than interaction between the USSR and individual socialist countries during the known period,” the official wrote.

The USSR provided “sufficient room in forming the domestic policy to its geopolitical allies, understanding that it may end in tragic developments otherwise,” such as in 1956 in Hungary or in 1968 in Czechoslovakia, Medvedev said. 

“The simple pragmatic logic,” he noted. “Dependence is total in Ukraine – from cash injections to their economy (handouts from the US and the EU) to direct control of Ukrainian special services (by their US patrons),” the official added.

Informed source rejects Iranian forces’ entry into Azeri territory

Iran Azerbaijan Flags

The suspicious reports accused Iran of military aggression in the Zangilan region and the village of Soltanli.

The Iranian Energy Ministry source told Nour News that in 2016, despite the Armenian occupation of the Zangilan and Soltanli regions, and to consolidate the sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the occupied territories, Iran signed a joint dam construction agreement with Baku on the Aras River.

The source explained that based on the agreement, the responsibility of securing the dam on both sides of the border was transferred to Iran.

The agreement stipulated that after the end of the occupation, securing the dam in the Azeri sector would be handed over to Baku under a new agreement, the informed source noted.

During the 44-day war between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Azeri military forces, while advancing to liberate the occupied territories, demanded the withdrawal of the Iranian guard forces from the northern part, with no regard for the previous agreement and refusing to clarify the technical and security details. It was not logical or possible at all, he explained.

The informed source went on to say that the Iranian Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan later reached a deal and the security of the northern part of the dam was handed over to the Azeri forces in the presence of border guard commanders of the two countries.

Tensions have been running high on the border between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan in recent weeks.

Iran, which recently held military drills in the area, insists that its northwestern neighbor should not have allowed Israeli elements to come to the Caucasus.

Tehran says the security of regional borders is a red line that must not be crossed.

Renting a car in Dubai affordable, easy

If you are planning to visit Dubai, you should first of all know that you are going to enter the world of strange and horrific cars.  Also, for many of us, the desire to drive and walk through the luxury streets of Dubai is like a dream. One of the fun things you can do while visiting Dubai is rent a car and see the city’s attractions in luxury cars like Ferrari and Bugatti. But you can enjoy your trip in this city at a lower cost by renting economy cars. As a pioneering car rental in Iran, Dubai and Istanbul, Saadat Rent is here to talk about everything you need to know about renting a car in Dubai. Stay with us.

Why rent a car in Dubai?

If you want to travel to Dubai, you do not need to worry about vehicles. You can rent luxury or economy cars in this city and enjoy driving there. You can book your car before starting your trip in different ways and get in the car upon arriving in Dubai. If you are worried about the price, we have got to tell you renting a car in Dubai is affordable. Actually, it’s both economical and has easy conditions. But one thing to keep in mind is you should read the driving rules in this city in advance. Dubai is a law-abiding and strict city, and it does not forgive the slightest offense.

Terms and conditions of car renting in Dubai

Most international and domestic companies have similar conditions for renting a car in Dubai. Companies like Saadatrent have tried to find the most reasonable terms for their customers from all over the world. This way they can easily and quickly rent a car and enjoy their stay in Dubai. To rent a car in the city, customers must provide the following documents and book a car:

-A copy of your passport

-A copy of your airplane ticket

-A copy of your driving license

The important thing to do before receiving the car is to check the car technically and make sure the body is healthy. And after making sure there is no problem, get the car renting form and contract.

Safety rules for driving in Dubai

-It’s mandatory to stop for pedestrians in Dubai.

-Drivers must respect the right of way.

-Heed speed limit while driving in Dubai.

-Using cell phones is prohibited under any circumstances.

-Eating and drinking while driving is prohibited and is subject to fines

-Penalties for drinking alcohol before and during driving are severe.

-Children under 10 are banned from sitting in the front seat.

-Fastening the seat belt is mandatory.

China denounces Taiwan chief’s ‘anti-Beijing’ comments

Beijing has announced China must be and will be reunified, “Taiwan independence” attempts will be smashed with joint efforts of compatriots across the Strait.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks when responding to a question about Tsai’s remarks on cross-Strait relations made on Sunday.

Claiming that Tsai’s remarks “incite confrontation, distort facts, mislead the public in the name of so-called unity and consensus, while colluding with external forces to seek independence,” Ma noted that Tsai and the administration of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) continuously made provocative attempts to seek “Taiwan independence”.

Such provocation is the root cause of the tension in cross-Strait relations and the greatest threat to regional peace and stability, stressed Ma.

He reiterated that Taiwan is a part of China’s territory. 

“The fact has never changed and will never be changed,” Ma continued, adding that “China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity has never be partitioned and will never be partitioned.”

Reaffirming the country’s firm determination in fighting against “Taiwan independence”, the spokesperson also clarified that actions are taken only against the DPP and other separatist forces, rather than ordinary compatriots in Taiwan.

Ma reiterated China’s commitment to peaceful reunification, saying a peaceful reunification best serves the interests of the whole Chinese nation including Taiwan.

We are willing to settle disputes under the one-China principle and work jointly to push forward the process of peaceful reunification and contribute to a peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, said Ma.

The spokesperson highlighted the commitment to the 1992 Consensus and opposition against “Taiwan independence” as the common political foundation to cross-Strait relations. He said the DPP’s rejection to recognize the 1992 Consensus destroyed the basis of the dialogue.

“The DPP closes the door to dialogue by seeking ‘Taiwan independence.’ Isn’t it a change to the status quo? If it means ‘goodwill’ then what should be defined as a bad will? If it is not ‘rash advance’, then what should be called as rash advance?” he added.

Ma slammed the DPP for dividing the Taiwan society and plotting “green terror” by suppressing the opposite and promoting desinicization since it took the office.

Ma said the DPP disguised its “Taiwan independence” attempt as democracy, and pointed out its attempt forcibly cuts the cultural and national ties across the Strait and has significantly damaged the fundamental interests of Taiwan compatriots.

National reunification is a common wish for Chinese compatriots within China to those from abroad. And Taiwan is an inalienable part of China which belongs to all the Chinese people including the 23 million compatriots in Taiwan, Ma stated.

Stressing that the future of Taiwan should be jointly decided by all Chinese people, Ma added DPP’s plot will not resist the major trend of development, nor will it manipulate the public opinion.

China must be reunified and will be reunified. We are ready to unite with all Taiwan compatriots to crush any “Taiwan independence” attempts and work jointly to pursue the national reunification as well as the promising future of national rejuvenation.

U.S. navy engineer arrested over espionage charges

According to court records unsealed on Sunday, Jonathan Toebbe and his wife, Diana Toebbe, were arrested and charged with violating the Atomic Energy Act after attempting to sell the design of nuclear-powered warships to a person they believed was a representative of a foreign power.

The Justice department said Toebbe, who held a security clearance, unwittingly communicated with FBI agents and passed along sensitive military secrets, in a scheme that stretched nearly a year.

In December 2020, an FBI official received a package from someone attempting to establish “a covert relationship” with a representative from a foreign country, identified only as “COUNTRY1” in court documents.

Toebbe had listed a return address in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, containing a sample of restricted data and instructions for establishing a covert relationship to obtain additional information.

He began corresponding via encrypted email with an individual whom he believed to be a representative of the foreign government, who was instead an undercover FBI agent, and continued a correspondence for several months before reaching an exchange agreement for thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency.

The undercover agent sent $10,000 in cryptocurrency to Toebbe as “good faith” payment before he agreed to travel to a location in West Virginia to complete the transaction. With his wife acting as a lookout, he concealed an SD card within a peanut butter sandwich at a prearranged “dead drop” location.

The undercover agent sent Jonathan Toebbe a $20,000 cryptocurrency payment and received in return a decryption key for the SD card, which contained restricted data on US submarine nuclear reactors.

The FBI arrested Toebbe and his wife on Saturday, after two more “dead drops”.

Attorney General Merrick B Garland welcomed the arrest. 

“The work of the FBI, Department of Justice prosecutors, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Department of Energy was critical in thwarting the plot charged in the complaint and taking this first step in bringing the perpetrators to justice,” he stated.

Toebbe was an employee at the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, also known as Naval Reactors, and had access to information related to military sensitive design elements, operating parameters and performance characteristics of the reactors for nuclear-powered warships.

The couple were charged with conspiracy to communicate restricted data and communication of restricted data and are scheduled to make an appearance in federal court in Martinsburg, West Virginia, on Tuesday.

Iran to Iraqi govt.: Dismantle terrorist bases in northern Iraq

Khatibzadeh, holding his weekly briefing session on Monday, said Iran has often told the government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan region that the presence of terrorists in northern Iraq is contradictory to good-neighborliness. 

He noted that the situation is not sustainable and the terrorist bases must be dismantled. 

Khatibzadeh also spoke of Sunday’s vote in Iraq, saying Iran welcomes successful holding of elections in the country. 

The Foreign Ministry spokesman later turned to the Iran nuclear deal and the Vienna talks. He slammed the European troika’s inaction, which he said, emboldened former US president Donald Trump to violate all international treaties including the nuclear agreement, known as the JCPOA, and UN Security Council Resolution 2231. 

On the outgoing German Chancellor’s call on Iran to immediately return to the Vienna talks, Khatibzadeh advised Angela Merkel and the troika to note that had it not been for their inaction, Trump wouldn’t have dared to leave the JCPOA and breach Resolution 2231. 

He said Iran expects the other sides to realize that there is no escape from commitments, urging them to give assurances to the Islamic Republic that no one will be able to violate the JCPOA and reinstate sanctions. Khatibzadeh said Germany itself failed to abide by many of its commitments under the nuclear deal. 

He also noted that no new deal will replace the JCPOA. Khatibzadeh said there will be more interactions regarding the deal and the Vienna talks in the next days.

Taliban says U.S. not to recognize them as Afghan rulers

The Doha talks were the first face-to-face meetings between senior representatives of the Taliban and a U.S. delegation since American troops withdrew from Afghanistan in late August. 

In a statement, the insurgent group said that the discussions “went well”.

The statement added the U.S. agreed to provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, while the Taliban stated they would “facilitate principled movement of foreign nationals”.

In a readout on the discussions, the U.S. State Department said, “The two sides also discussed the United States’ provision of robust humanitarian assistance, directly to the Afghan people.”

“The U.S. delegation focused on security and terrorism concerns and safe passage for U.S. citizens, other foreign nationals and our Afghan partners, as well as on human rights, including the meaningful participation of women and girls in all aspects of Afghan society,” it added.

Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen told The AP that the Taliban committed to ensuring that terrorism does not again take root in Afghanistan.

A State Department spokesperson told the The Hill on Saturday that “this meeting is not about granting recognition or conferring legitimacy”.

“We remain clear that any legitimacy must be earned through the Taliban’s own actions,” the spokesperson added.

Despite promises from the Taliban that it would not allow terrorism to fester in the country, the remarks followed a deadly suicide bombing at a mosque in Kunduz that killed and wounded tens of people and injured many others on Friday — an attack Daesh later took responsibility for.

Daesh, which considers the Taliban an enemy, was involved in a separate bombing outside Kabul’s main mosque that killed at least two people one week ago. Daesh also claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing in late August that killed 13 U.S. service members and dozens more Afghans.

Iran Leader congratulates Iranian Greco-Roman wrestlers

In a message, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Kudos to Iran’s Greco-Roman wrestlers and their coaches who made all Iranians, most particularly the youth, happy. I hope you will be successful, God willing”.

The Iranian Greco-Roman wrestling team bagged 4 gold and 2 bronze medals in total to finish in second place with 146 points in the 2021 World Wrestling Championships on Sunday. 

Russia won the title with 152 points and Azerbaijan Republic finished in third place with 107 points. Mohammad Hadi Saravi (97kg), Ali Akbar Yousefi (130kg), Meysam Dalkhani (63kg) and Mohammad Reza Geraei (67kg) collected the gold medals. 

Mohammad Ali Geraei in 77kg and Pejman Poshtam in 82kg also won the bronze medals for Iran. 

A total of 800 wrestlers from 100 countries competed at the Wrestling World Championships from October 2 to 10 in Oslo, Norway. 

The Iranian freestyle wrestling team also finished the world freestyle championships in Norway in third place after Russia and United States last week.

Iranian FM: US withdrawal from West Asia inevitable

In the exclusive interview with Lebanon’s al-Manar television channel, Amir Abdollahian also said the US thinks its presence in the region no longer serves its interests. 

He noted that the US might maintain a military presence in small pockets in this part of the world,  but they will not keep a formidable force here. Elsewhere, Amir Abdollahian spoke of Iran’s assistance in the war on terror. He praised Iranian General Qassem Soleimani as a national and international hero of fighting terrorism. 

He said General Soleimani defeated terrorists in cooperation with Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah and also Iraqi, Syrian and Lebanese forces. 

Amir Abdollahian also touched on the developments with regard to the Republic of Azerbaijan. He said Iran’s message to the country was one of peace and friendship and that Iran’s message was “terrorists must not be allowed to take a foothold near its borders”. 

The Iranian foreign minister added that Iran has also conveyed a message of peace and security wherever it has been present. 

He noted that Iran’s military exercises also had a similar message and they were meant prevent the presence of Zionists and Takfiri terrorists in the region. 

Amir Abdollahian said the Islamic Republic’s policy is to maintain neighborly relations. The foreign minister also said, “We told Azerbaijan that the presence of the Zionist regime in the country will not be conducive to regional peace”.  

Meanwhile, Amir Abdollahian stressed that the Zionist regime has received the resistance’s message. He added that the Israeli regime is unable to further expand and that “they are incarcerated in occupied Palestine”.  

On Afghanistan, the Iranian foreign minister said Tehran is in contact with all Afghan factions and supports an inclusive government there that would be made up of all Afghan groups. 

The Iranian foreign minister also said Iran supports Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty and is ready to help the country.

U.S. lifts sanctions on several Russians

According to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Nuland’s visit to Moscow was requested by the US side. 

“Indeed, she was on a sanction list. It means that such a person cannot cross the border. They put Russian representatives on their sanction lists, hence, in this case the matter was settled on the parity basis,” she said in an interview with the Voskresny Vecher (Sunday Evening) with Vladimir Solovyov program on the Rossiya-1 television channel.

“Yes, naturally. Have you ever had any doubts about public diplomacy?,” she stated when asked whether it meant that the United States had removed Russian representatives from their sanction lists. 

“I think our Western partners should analyze this approach and understand that we can respond in a negative manner to negative things. We can also respond in a positive manner to positive things and have always been opting for the latter,” Zakharova added.

The US Department of State announced earlier that Nuland will set off for Moscow on October 11 to meet with high-ranking Russian officials to discuss a range of bilateral issues, as well as regional and global problems.