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Iran Berates Seoul for Refusing to Release Its Assets under US Pressure

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran May Reconsider Ties with S Korea over Frozen Assets: MP

Abdolnasser Hemmati made the comment after the publication of media reports quoting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as saying Washington will not release Iran’s assets in South Korea unless Tehran returns to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“From the outset, it was clear that the [South] Korean government cannot decide independently to settle problems pertaining to Iran’s forex resources,” said Hemmati.

“The request for talks [with Iran] was put forward by the [South] Korean ambassador [to Tehran], and it was South Korean officials themselves that agreed to return Iran’s financial resources,” the CBI governor added.

“In that meeting, I asked them whether or not they had gotten the necessary permission from the Americans,” he said.

Hemmati underlined that the CBI is drawing up its plan regardless of its frozen assets in other countries.

“The CBI has regulated its program to meet the country’s forex needs irrespective of its frozen resources in South Korea and other countries,” he said.

Hemmati noted the CBI is using revenues from non-oil exports as well as “imports-for-exports” plans to provide the necessary foreign currency for the procurement of basic commodities, medicines and medical equipment.

Iran Respects China’s New Law on Hong Kong Electoral System

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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“We respect the decision made by China on its sovereignty,” said Saeed Khatibzadeh when asked by reporters on Thursday about the adoption of the new Hong Kong election law at the National People’s Congress (NPC) of the People’s Republic of China.

“The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is part of China’s territorial integrity, so affairs related to it are regarded as China’s internal affairs,” he added.

“Over these years, China has shown that it well conforms to the principle of ‘one country – two systems’ in Hong Kong,” the spokesman noted.
“Law-making by the People’s Congress of China about the election system is within the powers vested in this institution and is in line with the ‘one country – two systems’ principle,” said Khatibzadeh.

“So, any foreign interference in China’s domestic affairs which, among other things, may undermine Hong Kong’s stability, is naturally rejected,” he noted.

Khatibzadeh’s remarks came after the NPC, the highest organ of state power in China, adopted a decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Repeating Trump’s Policy Won’t Yield New Results for US: Zarif

By
Emad Askarieh
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“US claims it favours diplomacy; not Trump’s failed policy of ‘maximum pressure’,” Zarif said in a Thursday tweet.

“Yet Secretary of State [Antony] Blinken boasts about blocking [South] Korea from transferring our OWN money to the Swiss Channel—only used for food and medicine,” Zarif added.

“Repeating the same policy won’t yield new results,” he said, adding that the only way is to Commit, Act, and Meet.

Iran’s Leader Rebukes US for Double Standards on Human Rights

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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In a televised speech on Thursday, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the state-sponsored brutal murder of Khashoggi in 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Turkey at the hands of the agents of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and slammed the United States for turning a blind eye to the gruesome assassination.

They support a country that dismembers its dissident with bone saw, but still claim to be advocates of human rights, the Leader noted.

The Leader further pointed to Washington’s destructive role in the Middle East region, where it has been using the ISIS terror group to advance its personal agenda.

“The US created ISIS and they (the Americans) themselves admitted to it…Then, they created a military base under the pretext of the existence of ISIS …. They provide ISIS with modern media facilities and money and allow them to destroy and sell Syrian oil, then they say ‘we are fighting ISIS’,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

“They (the Americans) refer to Iran’s presence in the region with hatred and resentment. While we do not have a military presence…Wherever we are present, we are there to defend legitimate governments at their own request. But they (Americans) themselves attack a country without permission and establish a military base,” he added.

The Leader referred to the US as the possessor of the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, while claiming to be against weapons of mass destruction.

“America is the only government that has used nuclear bombs, but raises its voice to say that ‘we are against the development of nuclear arms.’ They claim to be against weapons of mass destruction, while they possess the worst and the most dangerous such weapons.”

Iranian, Finnish Foreign Ministers Discuss JCPOA, Bilateral Ties

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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During the phone call, the two sides conferred on bilateral political, economic, and consular collaborations, the JCPOA, the regional issues and international developments.

Foreign Minister Zarif recalled the US’ violation of its commitments under the JCPOA, the imposition of cruel and unlawful sanctions against Iran, and Europe’s inaction towards Washington’s move, and stressed that Iran showed self-restraint and implemented all its commitments for one year after the re-imposition of sanctions.

“Iran’s remedial steps are within the JCPOA framework, and are aimed at restoring balance and maintaining the nuclear deal,” he added.

“If the US lifts its illegal sanctions [against Iran] and implements its obligations as per the JCPOA, Iran will also reverse its remedial steps, all of which are reversible,” Zarif said.

He also invited his Finnish counterpart to visit Tehran in an appropriate time.

Haavisto, in turn, expressed his country’s support for the JCPOA, and called for giving more chance to diplomacy.

He further discussed bilateral collaborations in political, economic, health, and consular aspects, and underlined the interactions between Iranian and Finnish research centres.

He further invited Foreign Minister Zarif to attend a meeting of European foreign ministers within the framework of Helsinki Forum.

Iranian, Japanese Foreign Ministers Hold Phone Talks

By
Emad Askarieh
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During the phone call, the two sides exchanged views on ways of enhancing and boosting mutual relations as well as the latest regional and international developments.

The 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was also among the topics discussed by the two sides.

The top Japanese diplomat highlighted the importance of exploring avenues to promote relations between Tehran and Tokyo.

He expressed Japan’s support for the JCPOA and stressed the need for all signatories to the deal to live up to their obligations.

He also expressed hope as the pandemic situation improves, he will be able to visit Tehran in the near future.

Zarif, for his part, welcomed the enhancement of relations between the two countries and the upcoming trip to Tehran by his opposite number.

He said once the other signatories to the JCPOA keep their side of the bargain and as soon as sanctions are lifted, Iran will deliver on its JCPOA obligations again.

Zarif highlighted Iran’s constructive role in harnessing regional crises, and elaborated on the measures adopted, including cooperation with the UN secretary general’s envoy for Yemen.

US Must Take First Step to Return to JCPOA: Zarif

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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In comments on Wednesday, Mohammad Javad Zarif said it was the US that withdrew from the JCPOA, so it should step forward and rejoin the agreement.

The top diplomat said the administration of former US President Donald Trump itself confirmed that Iran was implementing the JCPOA, adding the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also corroborated Iran’s compliance with the agreement.

Tehran does not trust the West, he added.

“Iran has no trust in Western countries, which never implemented the JCPOA properly,” he said.

If the West settles this issue, he noted, Iran will fully implement the JCPOA as well.

Lifting of US Sanctions Only Diplomatic Option Available, Rouhani Tells Johnson

By
Emad Askarieh
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In a phone conversation with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday, President Hassan Rouhani said this is the only way to settle the issue.

“The clear way to diplomacy is for the US to lift sanctions and make good on its obligations, and there is no other option available,” said the president.

Rouhani underlined Iran’s policy vis-à-vis the JCPOA is “action for action,” adding, “The European sides’ failure to deliver on their commitments under the JCPOA has only led to Iranian people losing trust in Europe and further restricting the diplomatic atmosphere,” President Rouhani said.

“The US government claims it would like to return to and implement the JCPOA, but it has taken no practical measures in that regard so far. Moreover, their return does not need negotiations because they left without negotiations,” said Rouhani.

He noted it is not only Iran which should pay the price for preserving the JCPOA.

“All measures that Iran has adopted so far has been within the JCPOA aimed at striking a balance within the agreement and preserving the deal,” said the president.

He reiterated that sanctions and moves by the US and its allies to keep Iran from gaining access to its financial resources outside Iran further added to the health and medical problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

He also denounced the United States as a major violator of the JCPOA and UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani touched upon Britain’s long-overdue debts to Iran with regards to purchases of defence equipment.

“While we are seeing that most countries indebted to Iran are either releasing the frozen assets or paying back their debts, it is very strange that no headway has been made with the trend of returning debts to Iran which are more that forty years overdue,” he said.

Rouhani further emphasized that Iran has always wanted to see peace and tranquility established in the region.

The British premier, in turn, presented a report on measures adopted by his country to make all signatories to the JCPOA to deliver on their commitments.

He said the UK and other parties to the JCPOA are interested in preserving the deal.

Leap in Production Not Possible without Promotion of Exports: Zarif

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

During the three-hour meeting held on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Zarif was briefed on the viewpoints of the country’s economic managers and activists.

“The export of goods and technical-engineering services is key to the development of Iran, and a leap in production is not possible without exports,” Zarif said.

He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must strive and help Iranian producers to promote their exports, and praised the unmatched role played by the private sector in expansion of Iranian exports.

“The government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are duty-bound to support private sector exporters, and the government cannot replace the private sector in this field,” he added.

He said one of the duties of the Foreign Ministry is to inform Iranian companies about the capacities of other countries including the projects and auctions where Iranians can export their goods and services.

“One of our other duties is to introduce and transfer domestic capabilities to foreign countries so that Iranian companies would be able to participate in foreign and international tender offers.

Zarif also highlighted the significance of developing an economy-based attitude among the Foreign Ministry’s experts and managers, and said, “A development-oriented Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be a political and economic body.”

“We have emphasised to our ambassadors in other countries that their performance is evaluated based on the amount of non-oil exports, export of technical-engineering services, export of human resources, import of capital and technology, and development of tourism (increased visits of tourists to Iran),” he added.

He also stressed the Foreign Ministry’s resolve to provide economic training for the Iranian ambassadors starting their missions, and underlined the need for consultation with economic activists in this regard and informing the ambassadors and diplomats about Iran’s economic needs.

At the beginning of this meeting, economic managers and activists elaborated on their activities inside and outside the country, and shed light on the existing challenges and barriers. They also expressed their expectations of the Foreign Ministry in this regard.

US Can Easily End Stalemate over Iran Deal by Lifting Sanctions: VP

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Ali Akbar Salehi, who is also the vice-president of Iran, told PBS NewHour program that Iranian officials are waiting for the US to make the first move.

The US must come to the negotiating table before Iran will agree to discuss returning to the confines of the deal negotiated by the Obama administration in 2015, Salehi said.
“Why do we want to complicate the issue?” Salehi asked.

“The one who has left the JCPOA has to come back first,” he added, referring to the deal’s official name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

“It’s easy to resolve the issue. Come back to the JCPOA and not let this happen,” Salehi added.

Former US President Donald Trump withdrew the country from the deal in 2018, re-imposing sanctions that had been lifted as part of the agreement. The four other permanent members of the UN Security Council — China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom — plus Germany remain signed to the original agreement.

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