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Iran-Iraq FMs discuss money transfer, gas and electricity export

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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In the meeting, the two sides discussed mutual relations and exchanged views on the agreements reached during a recent trip to Tehran by the Iraqi prime minister, the Iranian foreign minister’s visit to Bagdad and meeting of Iraq’s neighbouring countries held in New York.

Another topic which came up for discussion was economic diplomacy.

The two sides also reached agreement on issues pertaining to the exports of natural gas and electricity to Iraq.

The two top diplomats also agreed to more seriously follow up on and quickly resolve certain bilateral issues, including the transfer of Iran’s assets currently kept by Baghdad.

They also discussed the latest developments in the region, the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan.

Polls open across Germany in federal parliamentary vote

By
IFP Media Wire
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Some 60.4 million people are expected to cast their ballot before 18:00 CET.

The election was too close to call on Friday with Merkel’s centre-right Union bloc (CDU-CSU) polling a very close second to the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). If these projections were confirmed, finance minister Olaf Scholz would then secure the country’s top job after 16 years of Merkel in power.

Coalitions have been a fixture of German federal politics for decades and this election is unlikely to buck the trend. Negotiations could take weeks or months and would thus require Merkel to remain at the helm in a caretaker capacity until a power-sharing deal is struck.

The CDU-CSU and SPD have been in multiple power-sharing agreements together, including in the last government. This time around, they’re both hoping they can make do without the other.

The Green Party, which is expected to come in third place with about 17% of the vote, have signalled they’re willing to enter into government with the SPD. This could see them return to power for the first time since the 1950s.

However, this is quite a reversal of fortunes for the party which was leading in the polls until April. The party’s chances were hurt after its candidate for chancellor, Annalena Baerbock, was hit by a series of setbacks including accusations of plagiarism and undeclared bonuses.

An SPD-Green alliance would however not be enough to secure a majority in the Bundestag. The radical left Die Linke could then be brought in, although it would be expected to give up its criticism of NATO.

The Free Democrats are likely to have the envious role of kingmaker.

For Scholz, an alliance with the pro-business FDP is more palatable than with Die Linke, while Armin Laschet — the candidate for Merkel’s Union bloc — is also pinning his hope on an alliance with the FDP and the Greens.

The far-right AfD, which entered the Bundestag for the first time four years ago, is expected to confirm its parliamentary foothold with around 10% but remains excluded from any possible coalition.

Source: The AP

Hundreds protest Russia election results

By
IFP Media Wire
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Some 400 people showed up for an unauthorized demonstration staged by Russia’s Communist Party. The communists have rejected the outcome of the parliamentary elections, blaming their poor performance in the city on alleged fraud.

The communists gathered in Pushkin Square to protest about the results that their party, the KPRF, garnered in last weekend’s elections. Since the demo was not authorized by the authorities, in line with coronavirus restrictions, the organizers insisted the gathering was not a proper rally, but instead merely a “meeting with MPs”.

Some 400 KPRF supporters showed up for the event, Moscow police told TASS. Some Russian news outlets have provided higher estimates, however, reporting some 1,000 people as being in attendance.

The protesters were met with a moderate police presence, the officers repeatedly urging the communists to disperse. A small group of counter-protesters, chanting anti-communist and pro-authorities slogans was also present. The latter engaged in minor scuffles with the communists, but no one ended up being detained.

While the KPRF saw a 6% gain overall and secured 15 new seats in parliament, it suffered a series of defeats in Moscow despite its candidates taking the initial lead. Several of them lost the vote after ballots cast online were counted. That unexpected twist prompted the party to reject the results of the voting in the capital, and to claim it had fallen victim to alleged election fraud.

However, after the opposition requested a recount of electronic votes in Moscow, the Election Monitoring Public Committee failed to find any foul play. The committee’s head, prominent journalist Alexey Venediktov, who leads the liberal radio station Ekho Moskvy, repeatedly said that the IT team analyzing the results had found no evidence of tampering, and that each individual vote could be traced back and verified, thanks to the system being based on blockchain technology.

Russia calls on U.S. to ‘be more active’ to revive Iran nuclear deal

By
IFP Media Wire
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has criticized the unilateral sanctions imposed against Iran after the United States’ withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, urging Washington to take a “more active” approach to help resume stalled talks aimed at reviving the deal.

“It seems evident they should be more active” in “resolving all issues related” to the accord, Lavrov told reporters at the United Nations in New York on Saturday, referring to the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“Iran is not doing anything that would be prohibited,” he added.

The top Russian diplomat expressed hope that Iran and the remaining parties to the nuclear agreement – Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China – would resume the negotiations in the Austrian capital of Vienna “as soon as possible”, as Tehran wished.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Friday slammed U.S. lack of commitment and Europe’s inaction regarding the JCPOA, saying the Islamic Republic is ready for result-oriented talks on the agreement’s revival that would secure people’s rights and interests.

“Despite the U.S. lack of commitment to the JCPOA, which has continued since the administration of [former U.S. president Barack] Obama, coupled with Europe’s inaction, the Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to diplomacy based on its principles and is ready for result-oriented talks that serve the interests and [protects] rights of the Iranian people,” the top Iranian diplomat added.

The U.S., under former president Donald Trump, unilaterally withdrew from the deal and reinstated crippling sanctions on the Islamic Republic, although the country had been fully compliant with the deal.

In early April, Iran and the remaining parties to the JCPOA began to hold talks in Vienna after the Joe Biden administration voiced willingness to rejoin the nuclear agreement and remove the draconian sanctions his predecessor had slapped on the Islamic Republic.

Since the beginning of the Vienna talks, Tehran has argued that the U.S.—as the first party that violated the JCPOA—needs to take the first step by returning to full compliance with the agreement. Tehran also says it will resume all of its nuclear commitments under the deal only after the U.S. removes all the sanctions in practice.

The negotiations were paused soon after the victory of Ebrahim Raeisi in Iran’s June 18 presidential election.

Addressing the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Biden announced his willingness to rejoin the JCPOA and resolve the issue with Iran over its peaceful nuclear program.

The U.S. president said Washington was “working” with China, France, Russia, Britain and Germany to “engage Iran diplomatically and to seek a return to” the JCPOA.

“We’re prepared to return to full compliance if Iran does the same,” he added.

The United States and the Europeans have been holding intensive talks throughout the week on the JCPOA revival on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Iran says it needs to see concrete measures by the U.S., stressing Washington should abandon policy of paying lip service to its commitments.

Another 6mn Covid-19 Vaccine Doses Arrive in Iran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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“This is the 57th consignment of [COVID-19] vaccines to have entered the country,” said Mehrdad Jamal Aronghi, the deputy head of Iran’s Customs Administration.

Meanwhile, the first single-dose consignment of coronavirus vaccines for 3-to-17-year-olds have also entered the country.

“Today, 6 million single-dose coronavirus vaccines from a total of 12 million recommended doses for those between 3 and 17 years old have arrived in the country and handed over to the health ministry,” said Mohammadhassan Qosian, the secretary general of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS).

He said the IRCS has, so far, imported more than 46 million doses of Covid vaccines.
“As scheduled, we will import larger shipments of Sinopharm vaccines every week or twice a week,” he said.

Meanwhile, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raeisi said on Saturday nearly 50 million Covid vaccine shots have been administered to Iranian citizens so far.

Raeisi noted that Iran is reaching the goal of vaccinating 70 percent of the population, adding “We are reaching a point where we should plan on removing Covid-related restrictions instead of imposing new ones”.

Health authorities said on Saturday that 280 more people had died of the Coronavirus in the previous 24 hours. That pushes the death toll from the start of the pandemic to more than 119,000. Meanwhile, 10,843 new infections were detected from Friday to Saturday.

A huge rise in vaccine imports and production inside Iran has accelerated the vaccination drive in the country over the past few weeks.

Iran FM: U.S. will be judged by its actions

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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“Of course, we made it clear in the United States that we will make a judgment based on the practical behavior of Americans, and that conflicting American messages conveyed to us through the media or diplomatic channels will not be the basis of our final decision,” Amirabdollahian told the IRIB on Saturday at the end of his five-day visit to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly meeting.

The Iranian foreign minister said the path back to the Iran nuclear deal was a topic of serious discussion in his meetings with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and foreign ministers of France, Germany and Britain as well as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

He also criticized decision-makers in the United States for hasty and irrational behavior and blamed it for the current situation in Afghanistan which he said is experiencing the consequences of “inefficient American policies”.

The top Iranian diplomat said he openly explained the behavior of Americans, especially in a closed-door meeting with the heads and directors of American think tanks and professors of international relations during his trip to New York.

Iran and the remaining parties to its nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, have held several rounds of negotiations on a possible U.S. return to the deal. The U.S. insists that it wants to return to the deal but is still fully enforcing the unilateral sanctions that were re-imposed by former U.S. president Donald Trump who withdrew America from the JCPOA in 2018.

Iranian Polymath Allameh Hassanzadeh Amoli Passes Away

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Hassanzadeh Amoli

Allameh Hassanzadeh was born in the village of Ira in Larijan County, near the northern Iranian city of Amol in 1928.

He was a prominent philosopher of Islamic tradition, a leading theologian and a teacher of seminary schools, renowned across the Muslim world.

He was given the title “Allameh”, literally meaning a polymath, for his vast knowledge of literature, astronomy, mathematics, medicine and ancient Ulum al-Ghariba (occult or secret sciences) as well as his command of French and Arabic.

Allameh Hassanzadeh also wrote impactful poetry in Farsi and the local Tabari languages. He authored some 190 books during his lifetime.

Following his demise, Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei sent a message of condolence expressing sympathy with his friends, students and followers and praising him as a scholar.

“I received the news on the passing away of divine scholar and monotheistic salek [holy traveler], Ayatollah Hassanzadeh Amoli, peace be upon him. This scholarly cleric and polymath was one of the exceptional and prominent individuals, only a few of them, in each era, captivate the eyes and hearts of associates and simultaneously refine their knowledge, wisdom, intellect and heart,” the leader said in his message.

“His writings and works have been, and God willing, will be a rich source for those interested in wisdom and intricacies.”

Amol governorate has announced a week of local mourning for Allameh Hassanzadeh’s demise.

Iranian univ. prof.: US in weak position in nuclear talks

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

In an exclusive interview with the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), Abdolreza Faraji Rad referred to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian’s statement that Tehran is after result-based negotiations.

He said it’s time the nuclear talks resumed and produced results.
Iran’s former ambassador to Norway added the US now understands that its behavior toward Iran is regarded as improper.

Faraji Rad said Biden’s team has been in office for several months but they’ve taken no meaningful measures to return to the Iran nuclear deal as they promised multiple times on the stump.

According to the former Iranian ambassador, Biden has even pushed for including issues that are not related to the atomic file in the Vienna talks like Iran’s missile program and its regional presence, adding Iran does see this with skepticism.

He said given that the US is in a weak position following its failures in the region, Iran can gain the desired outcome from the talks.

Iran book 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup ticket

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran Women football team

After a goalless draw at Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Saturday, Maryam Irandoost’s side won against Jordan 4-2 on penalties, emerging at the top of group G.

Iran’s goalkeeper Zohreh Khoudaei saved two penalties in the shootout becoming the hero of the last match.

Iran and Jordan had both delivered 5-0 wins over Bangladesh.

Saturday’s result will also keep Iran women’s national football in the race for a spot in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

India will host the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup from January 20 to February 6.

Biden criticizes treatment of Haitian migrants

By
IFP Media Wire
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Biden forcibly condemned the “horrible” treatment of Haitian migrants assembled along the U.S.-Mexico border, pledging consequences for the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents who were photographed and filmed on horseback confronting immigrants at the border.

“It’s outrageous. I promise you those people will pay,” Biden told reporters on Friday, his first in-person remarks on CBP’s treatment of the migrants after days of opprobrium from members of his own party and humanitarian organizations.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility opened an investigation this week after scenes of border patrol agents on horseback using long reins to push migrants back toward the border drew widespread outrage.

The Biden administration has repeatedly decried those images and promised to swiftly punish anyone who crossed the line. But the White House has faced questions in recent days about why the president had not directly addressed the situation himself, rather than through officials like press secretary Jen Psaki, Vice President Kamala Harris and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

“There will be consequences,” Biden continued, adding, “It’s an embarrassment — it’s beyond an embarrassment. It’s dangerous. It’s wrong. It sends the wrong message around the world. It sends the wrong message at home. It’s simply not who we are.”

Biden also said that ultimately he bears responsibility for things that happen under his watch, noting, “Of course I take responsibility. I’m president.”

On Thursday, the special envoy to Haiti, Daniel Foote, resigned his position in protest of those expulsions. The Biden administration has forcefully pushed back on some of the assertions Foote put forward in his resignation letter, with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman telling McClatchy reporters that Foote had floated sending in the U.S. military to Haiti.

“Some of those proposals were harmful to our commitment to the promotion of democracy in Haiti and to free and fair elections in Haiti so the Haitian people can choose their own future. For him to say the proposals were ignored were, I’m sad to say, simply false,” Sherman reportedly stated.

On Friday afternoon, Mayorkas underscored that officials have cleared through the backlog of migrants who had amassed at the Texas border town.

“As of this morning, there are no longer any migrants in the camp underneath the Del Rio bridge,” Mayorkas underlined at the White House press briefing.

Haiti has been riven in recent months by the assassination of the country’s president, as well as devastating storms and a 7.2-magnitude earthquake earlier this month.

Source: POLITICO

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