Saturday, December 20, 2025
type here...
Home Blog Page 2400

China warns US-UK-Australia military pact undermines regional peace

By
IFP Media Wire
-

The move of the United States and Britain to export highly sensitive nuclear submarine technology to Australia is “extremely irresponsible,” the China’s foreign ministry said Thursday, adding that relevant parties should abandon the outdated Cold War zero-sum mentality and narrow-minded geopolitical perception.

The United States, Britain, and Australia announced on Wednesday the creation of a new trilateral security partnership, called “AUKUS”. The first initiative under AUKUS will be delivering a nuclear-powered submarine fleet for Australia.

In response, spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the nuclear submarine cooperation between the United States, Britain, and Australia has severely undermined regional peace and stability, intensified the arms race, and damaged global nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

He added the export of highly sensitive nuclear submarine technology to Australia by the United States and the UK proves once again that they are using nuclear exports as a tool for geopolitical game and adopting double standards, which is extremely irresponsible.

Zhao noted that Australia is a non-nuclear weapon state under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and a party to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone (SPNFZ) Treaty. He stated the international community, including neighboring countries, has every reason to question Australia’s sincerity in abiding by its nuclear non-proliferation commitments.

“China will pay close attention to the development of the relevant situation,” Zhao continued.

China always believes that any regional mechanism should conform to the trend of peace and development of the times and contribute to enhancing mutual trust and cooperation among regional countries, and should not target any third party or undermine its interests, he said.

“Relevant countries should abandon the outdated Cold War zero-sum mentality and narrow-minded geopolitical perception, respect the will of the people of regional countries and do more to contribute to regional peace, stability and development. Otherwise, they will only end up shooting themselves in the foot,” Zhao added.

Addressing the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors meeting here, Wang Qun, Chinese envoy to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, described the trilateral move as “sheer act of nuclear proliferation”.

The U.S. and the UK, both nuclear weapon states, and are state parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which prevents proliferation of nuclear weapons and technologies, the core obligation for its state parties, Wang stated.

He stressed that such assistance “will apparently give rise to proliferation of nuclear materials and technologies by openly providing assistance to Australia”, a non-nuclear weapon state, in its acquisition and building of the nuclear-powered submarine.

“This contradicts the purpose, objective and core obligation of the NPT to the detriment of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime with the NPT at its core and on-going international efforts on this front,” Wang noted.

“While firmly safeguarding the validity of the international non-proliferation regime, China wishes to register its grave concern at the development,” Wang said.

“In the meantime, we believe that, it is the responsibility of IAEA, as an international organization mandated to implement NPT non-proliferation regime, to openly express its solemn position at the trilateral act by the U.S., the UK and Australia, which contradict their obligations under the NPT,” Wang added.

Wang also stressed that, such an act of nuclear proliferation “will give rise to serious negative implications on the on-going international efforts to address the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula as well as the Iranian nuclear issue”.

“Given the ongoing review and discussions of the Korean Peninsula and Iranian nuclear issues at the IAEA Board of Governors and the General Conference, it is essential that all members of the Board and international organizations including IAEA, make solemn position on the trilateral collaboration among the U.S., UK and Australia in helping Australia develop nuclear-powered submarine, in promotion of the full and effective implementation of international non-proliferation obligations under the NPT by all countries,” he stated.

Exporting highly sensitive nuclear submarine technology to Australia has shown that the U.S. and the UK have “once again adopted a double standard on nuclear export”, and “have taken nuclear export as a means of their geo-political game”, Wang pointed out.

Wang said that, in the meantime, it is “utterly irresponsible” for Australia, as a non-nuclear state and state party to the NPT and South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, to import nuclear submarine technology with strategic militarily value.

“The international community, including neighboring countries, has every reason to question Australia’s sincerity in implementation of nuclear non-proliferation commitment under the relevant treaties,” he added.

The trilateral collaboration by the U.S., the UK and Australia “will seriously impair the regional peace and stability, escalate arms race, to the detriment of international peace and security,” Wang added.

Wang said that China will closely follow its development and reserve the right to make further responses. In the meantime, China will call on the international community to “work together to check such a dangerous act”.

Source: Xinhua news agency

Russia, Iran, China, Pakistan support natnl. Afghan reconciliation

By
IFP Media Wire
-

“A four-way meeting on the situation in Afghanistan was held between Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran in Dushanbe on September 16 on the sidelines of the SCO and CSTO summits. Approaches were compared on issues of facilitating establishment of peace, stability and security in Afghanistan, while the necessity to establish national reconciliation in the country was stressed,” the Russian Foreign Ministry announced in a statement.

After the United States announced the end of its military operation in Afghanistan and the pullout of its troops, the Taliban stepped up their offensive. On August 15, Taliban fighters swept into Kabul without encountering any resistance, and gained full control over the Afghan capital. Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani stepped down and fled the country. The Taliban announced a new government on September 7.

Afghanistan’s neighboring states can help the country’s people overcome the crisis brought by the years of war unleashed by the US and NATO, Russia’s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday at a meeting with his Chinese and Pakistani counterparts as well as the representatives of Iran’s Foreign Ministry in Dushanbe.

“We believe that the countries directly bordering Afghanistan are able to influence the situation in the region, and also to help the Afghan people deal with the crisis caused by the twenty-year war unleashed by the US and NATO. Acting with the best of intentions, we can create the appropriate external conditions, so that Afghans control their own future, without posing a threat to neighboring countries (considering terrorism, drug trafficking and so on),” Lavrov stated.

The Russian foreign minister stressed the importance for the four countries to address the Afghan issue on the sidelines of the SCO summit, adding, “The topic is relevant for everyone. Multiple ways to handle the situation are proposed.”

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also stated it is necessary for the four countries to strengthen communication and coordination, have a unanimous voice, exert a positive influence, and play a constructive role in stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan.

Countries in the region expect the new Afghan government to be inclusive, anti-terrorist, and friendly to neighbors, he stressed.

The United States is obliged to assume the responsibility for the reconstruction of Afghanistan and to provide economic and humanitarian assistance to it, Wang said at a four-party meeting with his Russian, Iranian and Pakistani counterparts on the sidelines of the SCO and CSTO summits in Dushanbe.

“The hasty pullout of US troops and allied forces has entailed new problems in Afghanistan,” Wang added.

He stressed that Afghanistan’s new political structure had not taken shape yet, ethnic and religious conflicts were serious and the risks of local conflicts high, there were problems with the well-being of the population and the development prospects looked uncertain.

“The United States must comply with the assumed commitments,” Wang continued, noting, “The four countries [China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan] must pool efforts with other countries adhering to similar views to persuade the United States to learn the lesson, to assume the responsibility for the reconstruction of Afghanistan and to provide economic and humanitarian assistance to it. It would be wrong to shirk this responsibility.”

He said China is prepared to enhance coordination with Russia, Iran and Pakistan to play a constructive role in preventing chaos, resisting terrorism and restoring peace in Afghanistan.

“The four countries should enhance communication and coordination, act unanimously, cause positive influence and play a constructive role in stabilizing Afghanistan,” Wang added.

“China is prepared to strengthen coordination with Russia, Iran and Pakistan and other countries of the region to play a constructive role in preventing chaos, maintaining stability, resisting terrorism and violence and also restoring peace to Afghanistan and establishing a lasting peace in the region,” he stated.

He stressed the importance of providing assistance to Afghanistan in getting integrated with the regional cooperation agenda.

“In the long term we can help Afghanistan to gradually develop its potential and get integrated into regional economic cooperation, eradicate poverty and achieve economic development,” Wang continued.

Addressing a summit of the CSTO via video link on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated the withdrawal of the western coalition’s troops from Afghanistan was “hasty, mildly speaking”, and noted the related threats in the region.

The environment in the zone of the CSTO’s responsibility and the external borders of its members is “not only unstable, but carries new, truly critical challenges and risks for security of our countries”, he stressed.

“Right after a hasty, mildly speaking hasty withdrawal of the troops of the US and its allies from Afghanistan and the rise to power of the Taliban we shared views on the dangers related to the drastically changed situation in the country at an extraordinary CSTO summit. All approved then the conclusion that amid the current environment a close cooperation between CSTO member-states is required as never before,” Putin emphasized.

Source: TASS, Xinhua news agency

Poll shows Biden’s standing among Americans continues to slide

By
IFP Media Wire
-

Facing a barrage of bipartisan criticism for a month over handling of the turbulent U.S. withdrawal and evacuation from Afghanistan, and with an ongoing surge in new COVID cases due to the spread across the country of the highly infectious delta variant, Biden’s approval rating stands at 42% and his disapproval at 50%.

It’s a significant drop from Quinnipiac’s previous national survey in early August, when the president stood at 46% approval 43% disapproval, and it’s the first time Biden’s job approval rating has dropped into negative territory in Quinnipiac polling since the start of his presidency in January.

The president’s approval rating hovered in the low to mid 50s during his first six months in the White House. But Biden’s numbers started sliding last month, as the crisis in Afghanistan dominated media coverage and mask mandates started returning in certain spots across the country as coronavirus cases rose.

The president stands at 45%-50% approval/disapproval in an average of the latest surveys compiled by RealClearPolitics, and at 46%-49% in a compilation by the polling and analysis website FiveThirtyEight.

“If there ever was a honeymoon for President Biden, it is clearly over. This is, with few exceptions, a poll full of troubling negatives… from overall job approval, to foreign policy, to the economy,” Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy highlighted.

Nearly seven in ten questioned in the poll said it was the right thing to do to end the war in Afghanistan, and a majority (54%-41%) said they approve of Biden’s decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from the war torn Central Asian nation – ending America’s longest war. But by a 65%-31% margin, Americans said they disapprove of how the president handled the rocky withdrawal and evacuation of U.S. personnel and Afghan allies.

Biden has been pilloried for his handling of the hastily organized evacuation efforts in Afghanistan. While the president has repeatedly declared the withdrawal and evacuation a success – the U.S. airlifted roughly 120,000 people, including more than 5,500 Americans, after the fall of Kabul to repressive Taliban forces in early August through the end of last month – he’s been accused by Republicans and some Democrats for underestimating the Taliban’s lightning fast takeover of the country and overestimating the strength of the now-collapsed, U.S.-backed Afghan government and military.

The president’s approval on handling foreign policy now stands at 34%-59%, and his handling of his duties as Commander in Chief of the U.S. military is also underwater, at 40%-55%.

Biden showcased his foreign policy prowess and his competence in running an administration as he challenged former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. And while the rocky exit from Afghanistan is a major factor in the president’s approval rating plunge, it’s not the only issue that’s feeding the fall.

One of the issues that vaulted Biden to the presidency was the coronavirus, the worst pandemic to sweep the globe in a century. Biden vowed to do what Trump seemingly couldn’t do – get COVID cases under control, bring back a sense of normalcy to Americans and boost an economy that was severely battered by the pandemic.

But the late-summer COVID surge due to the Delta variant is another blow to the president. Biden’s approval on handling the COVID crisis now stands at 48%, with disapproval at 49%. Biden’s approval on the issue in Quinnipiac polling stood at 65%-30% in May and 53%-40% at the beginning of last month.

On another key issue – the economy – Biden stands at a negative 42%-52%, down from 43%-48% in early August and a positive 48%-43% in May.

Source: Fox News

Iran President Meets Iranian Expats in Tajikistan

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

In the meeting held on Thursday, the president said investment security is subject to the security of both “investor” and the “capital invested.”
“We have guaranteed [the security of] both in the 13th administration, and the stage is set for Iranians inside the country in different ways, including by facilitating and expediting the issuance of licenses,” he said.
He said Iranians, wherever in the world they are, are Iran’s ambassadors and symbolize the country’s grandeur.
“Although the enemy has tried to put the brakes on the Iranian nation’s progress, the Iranian nation has shown that it will remove all obstacles to its development and progress with firm resolve,” the president added.
“Dear Iranians overseas have always tried to benefit their homeland on economic, scientific, technical and engineering fronts with their capabilities,” he added.
President Raisi said efforts should be made to tap into Iranian expatriates’ potential and use it to boost Iran’s progress and expand its relations.
Raisi is in the Tajik capital Dushanbe to attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

Iran, China Discuss Closer Bilateral Cooperation

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

In the meeting held on Thursday, the top Iranian diplomat emphasized that the foreign policy of the 13th Iranian administration is oriented toward Asia.

He said Iran is determined to further expand its relations with China based on a 25-year cooperation agreement which serves as a road map for both sides.

Amir Abdollahian touched upon the areas of Sino-Iranian cooperation, and expressed his gratitude to Beijing for backing Tehran’s stances.

He further blamed the United States as the main culprit undermining the 2015 Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and Tehran’s nuclear cooperation.

The Iranian foreign minister referred to Washington’s unconstructive position on Tehran’s nuclear issue, saying the White House should learn not to use a threatening tone when talking to the Iranian nation.

He said the United States’ ignominious pullout from Afghanistan following its years-long occupation of the country was yet another example of Washington’s unconstructive unilateralism whose adverse consequences are bearing down on Afghanistan’s neighbours.

The head of Iran’s diplomacy apparatus said the only acceptable political future for Afghanistan would be to form a broad-based government that brings together all groups.

He then highlighted invaluable cooperation between Iran and China in fighting COVID-19, and appreciated the Chinese government’s broad cooperation with Tehran in sending coronavirus vaccine consignments following talks between the presidents of both countries.

The Chinese foreign minister, in turn, underscored the need to forge closer cooperation between the two countries on international issues and reiterated Beijing’s support for Iran’s permanent membership in the SCO.

He also called for closer consultations between Iran and China on the political future of Afghanistan.

Lebanese minister: Iran fuel broke US

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Michel Najjar said Lebanon has now passed through the US siege, adding that mazut import from Iran is a sovereign decision and builds on the rule of supporting citizens and protecting Lebanon.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Iraq’s al-Nujaba resistance group has hailed Iran’s move to send fuel to Lebanon, saying the Islamic Republic once again proved to be a sincere and powerful ally.

Iran’s first fuel shipment arrived in Lebanon through Syria on Thursday. The vessel carrying the fuel earlier docked at the Syrian port of Banyas and then a convoy of trucks took it into Lebanon from Syria.

The value of the Lebanese pound against the US dollar has plummeted by more than 90% since 2019. This has shot up the price of imports, including fuel. Many in Lebanon blame their country’s economic hardships on the US sanctions that are meant to weaken Hezbollah but are in fact Lebanon in its entirety.

Iraqi PM briefs cabinet on Iran visit

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

According to Fars news agency, Kazimi described his negotiations in Iran as “fruitful” at the Iraqi cabinet session.

He said the two aides agreed to expand trade relations during his visit to Tehran.

Kazimi also described the relationship between Iran and Iraq historical and strong.

The Iraqi prime minister arrived in Iran on Sunday heading a high-ranking delegation. He held talks with Iranian officials including President Ebrahim Raisi.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters on Monday that Karimi’s visit to Tehran was in line with close relationship between Tehran and Baghdad.

According to Khatibzadeh, the talks held between the two sides focused mainly on projects that are underway including the Shalamcheh-Basra railway and also cooperation in energy fields like gas and oil.

Raisi: US presence in Afghanistan led to deaths, destruction and displacement

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Ebrahim Raisi made the comment in a Thursday meeting with Imran Khan, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, in Tajikistan where they are both going to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Raisi said Iran is determined to promote regional relations and cooperation, especially with neighboring countries, and Pakistan has a special place in this regard.

He described relations between the two countries as being beyond the neighborhood given their historical and cultural commonalities. Raisi added, “We should not allow the sedition and mischief of foreigners to affect these good relations”.

Referring to the long border between Iran and Pakistan, and the capacity to expand economic cooperation in border areas, Raisi said: “Establishing security in the border areas can realize the significant capacities of those areas for economic and trade cooperation and help these areas thrive”.

Raisi said, “We should try to help form a government in Afghanistan that includes all ethnic groups and arises from the will of the Afghan people.”

He added that the key to solving Afghanistan’s problems is to form an inclusive government and prevent foreign interference in its affairs.

He noted that the 20-year presence of US and Western forces in Afghanistan had no result other than destruction, displacement and the deaths of more than 35,000 Afghan children and thousands of Afghan men and women.

Imran Khan, in turn, thanked Iran for its constructive position and brotherly attitude toward Pakistan, saying, “We seek to expand our relations with Iran, especially in the field of transportation, and we believe that improving the level of cooperation will have positive regional and global effects”.

Imran Khan added that if an inclusive government is not formed in Afghanistan, problems in the country will worsen and Pakistan and Iran will suffer more than any other country.

US says regularly briefs Israel over nuclear talks

By
IFP Media Wire
-

He added that the US and Israel “see eye to eye” with regard to Iran’s nuclear program.

“We have had extensive and deep consultations with our Israeli partners. This has happened at every single level just about – the president with the prime minister, with the past – with the previous prime minister as well; Secretary [of State Antony] Blinken with his counterparts, now plural; and [Special Representative for Iran] Rob Malley and his team have engaged their Israeli counterparts as well,” Price stated at a press briefing on Wednesday.

“As talks were ongoing in Vienna, we briefed the Israelis before, after, and in some cases during each round to ensure we were conducting this diplomacy with transparency,” he continued.

According to Price, there is no doubt that the US sees eye to eye with Israel at a strategic level, claiming that both sides want to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, which Tehran has repeatedly denied throughout the years, and at the same time, has pushed for an end to the development and testing of nuclear weapons.

He made the remarks when asked to comment on a recent apparent shift in Israel’s stance on the multilateral attempts to restore the nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

In an interview with Foreign Policy published on Tuesday, Israeli minister for military affairs Benny Gantz hailed “the current US approach of putting the Iran nuclear program back in a box. I’d accept that”.

Voicing skepticism about the prospects of the Vienna talks, he said Israel would want to see a “viable US-led plan B” that includes broad economic pressure on Iran in case the talks fail.

“We have to connect China in this too, Asia has to play a role,” Gantz continued, adding, “Israel has no ability to lead a real plan B, we can’t put together an international economic sanctions regime. This has to be led by the US.”

He also touched on the Israeli regime’s “plan C” that would include military action against Iran, threatening, “If push comes to shove, we’ll get there … We’re not America, but we have our capabilities.”

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet also criticized his predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, over his policy against Iran, saying on Tuesday that Israel “inherited a situation in which Iran is at the most advanced point ever in its race to the bomb. … The gap between [Netanyahu’s] rhetoric and speeches and actions is very big”.

Netanyahu cheered former US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and his so-called maximum pressure campaign against Iran, while publicly clashing with both Barack Obama and Joe Biden over their Iran policies.

Bennett, however, pledged to Biden last month that he will not openly lobby against a US return to the JCPOA.

The Vienna talks began three months after Biden assumed office. Biden had on numerous occasions slammed Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA and vowed to rejoin the landmark nuclear deal.

The talks hit a pause in late June after the election of Ebrahim Raeisi as Iran’s president. The Raeisi administration has voiced willingness to resume the talks, but stresses it rejects talks for the sake of talks and under pressure.

 

Source: Press TV

President Raisi calls for expansion of ties with Uzbekistan

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Raisi was speaking during a meeting with Uzbekistan’s President Shaukat Mirzayev in Tajikistan where he’s going to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s summit on Friday.

He said the current level of economic relations between Tehran and Tashkent is not the same as their political ties, and the Islamic Republic is interested in further expanding economic relations with Uzbekistan in line with its policy to deepen relations with the regional countries.

He congratulated his Uzbek counterpart on Uzbekistan’s forthcoming takeover of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s presidency.

Raisi said, “I believe that your positive and constructive outlook can bring many blessings to the region and the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization”.
He also spoke of the anti-Iran sanctions, saying “oppressive sanctions” did not hinder Iran’s progress, but Tehran is trying to remove them.

Raisi also added that Iran supports the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan with the participation of all ethnic and political groups.

Uzbek President Shaukat Mirzayev also expressed pleasure at meeting the Iranian president and referred to the experience of Raisi during his tenure as Iran’s judiciary chief and his good record in fighting corruption.

He said, “We will be very happy to use your experience in this field”.

He added that Uzbekistan is looking for an operational roadmap to expand economic relations with Iran, especially in the field of transportation, and to make the north-south communication corridor more active with a focus on the port of Chabahar.

1...2,3992,4002,401...5,116Page 2,400 of 5,116

© All Content by IFP News ( Iran Front Page ) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Us

Popular Articles

Editor Picks