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Iran Rejects US ‘Baseless’ Claim That It’s Stoking Tension in Yemen

“The Americans should be accountable for the crimes they have committed in Yemen over the past six years instead of levelling baseless accusations against others,” said Saeed Khatibzadeh on Wednesday.

“Aggressors and the enemies of the Yemeni people who have killed innocent Yemenis over the past six years and destroyed the resources and infrastructure of this great country and made profit by selling weapons to the Saudi-led coalition through the blood trade, now know that their inhumane military strategy has failed in the face of the resistant Yemeni nation. So, by playing a blame game, they want to shirk responsibility for these crimes and deflect public attention,” he said.

“This comes as the historical memory of the Yemeni nation and people around the world will never forget their crime and they (aggressors) will go down in history as notorious people,” Khatibzadeh added.

“The new US administration claims it is trying to put an end to the Yemen war, but we have not seen any practical action to halt the Saudi-led coalition’s aggression,” said the spokesman.

“This (US) administration keeps following the wrong stances of the previous administration by pressing groundless charges and turning a blind eye to the realities on the ground in Yemen,” said Khatibzadeh.

“Their claim of trying to establish peace in Yemen is just lip service and they have settled for some political maneuvering in that regard,” he said.

“The positions adopted by the Islamic Republic of Iran have been clear from the outset of the Yemen war, and Iran has always stressed that there is no military solution to the Yemen crisis,” he noted.

“The four-point proposal put forward by the Islamic Republic of Iran at the beginning of the war still holds as the main solution, and the Islamic Republic of Iran will tap into all of its potential to advance UN attempts to establish peace in Yemen and supports any effort that would help end the aggression on the Yemeni nation,” he said.

Anti-Iran Resolution to Affect Iran-IAEA Cooperation: Official

“The resolution, which they say has undergone certain revisions over the past few days, shows, in our view, an unconstructive stance and has a negative effect on negotiations about the JCPOA (the 2015 Iran nuclear deal) and Iran’s view and cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency),” Vaezi told reporters on the sidelines of a weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

“This is not a friendly approach and needs to be rectified before it is too late,” he added.
Vaezi further highlighted the need for the removal of US sanctions in order to save the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the JCPOA.

“Our position is clear: sanctions must be lifted, and both European countries and the United States must take very clear action, and in return we will do the same after we have verified and made sure [of their measures]. There was some disagreement; It was decided that we would think more about the ideas that were put forward and that they would think more [on our idea], and that communication and contacts would be established at the expert level,” he said.

Iran Opens Innovation House in Syria to Boost High-Tech Exports

IHIT - Iran House of Innovation and Technology in Syria, Damascus

The high-tech products of 40 knowledge-based and innovative companies in the fields of electricity and electronics, medicine, advanced materials, ICT, biotechnology, agriculture and other fields of technology were put on display in the Iran House of Innovation and Technology Exports.

The House has been established in Damascus Free Zone in an area of 620 square metres with the aim of facilitating the export of Iranian high-tech products and innovative achievements to Syria. The centre has been jointly funded by the private sector and the Iranian Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Vice-President Sattari said the House will make it easier for Iranian knowledge-based companies to export their products to the Arab country.

“We will try to share with Syria the high-tech achievements of Iranian knowledge-based companies,” he added.

The knowledge-based companies whose products may attract customers in Syria can promote and commercialize their products in the Arab county in cooperation with the agent working with the Iranian government.

Exclusive and shared spaces and permanent exhibition of knowledge-based products are among the services offered to companies in this house.

The companies can use the space to expand their high-tech interactions and exchanges with Syrian firms, and find customers and business partners for their products.

Market research, marketing, product sales, and product registration are among other services offered in this house.

Iran had earlier opened similar centres in China, Kenya, Armenia, and Turkey, and plans to expand its technology collaborations with other countries.

Iran-Syria Deal to Expand Sci-Tech Collaborations

In his address to the opening ceremony of the house, Sattari pointed to a memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries during his trip to Damascus, and said the MoU will facilitate sci-tech collaborations.

The MoU was signed with the aim of opening a 10-million-dollar line of credit to establish a reference laboratory in Damascus.

According to the deal, the two sides agreed to establish specialized labs in different fields like biotechnology, nanotechnology, ICT, physics, math, and chemistry in Syria.

Iran Says Ready to Transfer Innovation Ecosystem Experiences to MENA

Speaking in a meeting with Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous in Damascus, Sattari said dependence on oil revenues had overshadowed the Iranian economy for a long time.

“Now we have reached a point where knowledge-based economy is outpacing the oil-dependent economy with the prosperity of technology and innovation ecosystem in Iran,” Sattari said.

He said almost 3.5 million university students are engaged in this ecosystem, a lion’s share of which are studying engineering.

The Iranian vice-president said over 10,000 start-ups are operating in Iran, gifting their high-tech products to society through their creativity and innovation.

He said there are good start-ups in the Arab world, and Tehran is prepared to establish joint technology parks with Arab countries.

“We are ready to expand our sci-tech collaborations with other countries,” he added.

Referring to Syria’s need for radiation therapy machines, Sattari said the Islamic Republic can provide Syria with these machines and other advanced equipment with a price lower than that of Western companies.

The Syrian prime minister, in turn, welcomed Sattari and his entourage and highlighted the significance of promoting scientific cooperation between the two countries.

He praised Tehran’s stance on the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and the fact that it refused to give up its rights.

“Despite the economic blockade, Iran continued its scientific progress, and this forced the US to change its position. Economic siege against capable countries is an opportunity for the prosperity of creative human resources, and that’s what happened in Iran,” he said.

He also expressed hope that Sattari’s trip to Damascus will lead to further sci-tech collaborations between the two sides.

“We are going to develop the university and high-tech infrastructure of our country with Iran’s cooperation, and establish laboratory and research centres in our country,” he noted.
Arnous also thanked the Supreme Leader, government, and people of Iran for supporting Syria in its war on terrorism.

Iran Deal Can Be Revived This Week If There’s Serious Determination: Rouhani

President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday the new US administration has taken some action, but it is not enough.

“The new US administration’s tone has changed a bit. It has confessed to some issues. It has confessed that what the previous US administration did was wrong. The new US administration has even taken some practical action and taken back the letter that the previous administration had sent to the UN. Yes, it has done that,” said Rouhani.
“But when it comes to sanctions which is our main issue, i.e., the lifting of sanctions and recognizing people’s rights, we haven’t seen the new US administration take serious measures in that regard, yet,” said the president.

“I believe the lifting of sanctions and the full implementation of the JCPOA is both too easy and too difficult. If there is serious determination by all, i.e., by the seven countries, especially the US and Iran, if they decide to live up to all of their commitments, I mean if the US lifts all sanctions and Iran immediately makes good on their commitments, it could easily be done in one or two days,” the president noted.

“If there is serious determination, it could be done this week. But if there is no serious determination, or if the same severe obsession that gripped Trump and diverted him from the right path and disgraced him and destroyed him on the political stage, [then it could not be done]” he explained.

He said Trump was deceived by Zionists and took the wrong path, calling on the Biden administration to correct the mistakes of the previous US government.

“Well you saw that Trump was defeated although he tried to take Iran to the UN several times but didn’t win even on one occasion. Who dragged him into this trap? The Zionists. … Now, does the current US administration agree that the previous administration did something wrong and made a mistake or no? If it admits that, it should accept that mistake with louder and clearer voice, and it should fulfill its commitments more openly and should even make up for the past mistakes,” said Rouhani.

“The Americans are just talking the talk and saying they want to return to the JCPOA. But words are not enough and we need action,” he said.

Iran Congratulates Bulgaria on National Day

iran-bulgaria

In his message to Rumen Radev, President Rouhani offered his “sincerest congratulations” to the Bulgarian people.

“Given the long-standing and historical relations between the two countries, I hope that Tehran-Sofia ties would deepen further in all political, economic and cultural spheres in order to establish and maintain international peace and stability,” he noted.

He also wished health and success for his counterpart, and prosperity and felicity for the people of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The Liberation Day, officially known as the Day of Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Dominion in Bulgaria is annually celebrated on 3 March. It commemorates the Liberation of Bulgaria during the events of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) that led to the re-establishment of a Bulgarian statehood. The Treaty of San Stefano signed on 3 March 1878 envisaged the Ottoman Empire to accept the refoundation of the Bulgarian state that was conquered in 14th century during the Bulgarian–Ottoman wars.

Iran Offers Condolences over Demise of Lebanese Scholar

What follows is the full text of his message released on Wednesday:

The news of the passing of divine scholar and senior religious figure of Lebanon and the Muslim world and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Association of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Ahmed al-Zain has caused grief and sorrow.

This prominent Muslim scholar, who was one of the fans and followers of the great founder of the Islamic Revolution and one of the lovers of the Islamic Republic of Iran, always supported unity and solidarity among the denominations and nations in the Muslims world, and with his wise and firm stances against the usurpers of the holy Quds, believed the only way to liberation from the wicked phenomenon of Zionism and extremism is Islamic unity and resistance.

I express condolences to the Muslim world, the resistant Lebanese nation, his respected family, students and those attached to him, on the loss of this sagacious scholar, and ask God Almighty to bestow patience upon the dear people of Lebanon and his respected family, and bless the soul of that late scholar.

Mohammad Javad Zarif

Iran, Syria Reach Deal to Enhance Mutual Sci-Tech Collaboration

Sorena Sattari said good agreements were reached with the Syrian side during his meetings with Syrian officials.

“I’m very pleased to have met dear folks in Syria today, brothers and sisters who are serving at the Syrian Ministry of Higher Education, as well as chancellors of prestigious Syrian universities,” he added.

“We have reached good agreements with Syria to expand our scientific-technological cooperation,” said the vice president.

“We are going to reach cooperation agreements on advanced sciences such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, stem cells and ICT as well as fitting Syrian universities with Iranian equipment,” Sattari explained.

“We will also discuss mutual cooperation on the enhancement of scientific-technological relations and running joint ventures,” he said.

 

UN Chief Calls Zarif to Discuss Efforts to Establish Peace in Yemen

During the phone call, Guterres elaborated on the UN’s latest measures to end the Yemen war, establish fair peace, and initiate political talks in the Arab country.

He also called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue its strenuous efforts to help establish peace in Yemen.

Foreign Minister Zarif, in turn, expressed Tehran’s support for the UN’s efforts to establish fair peace in Yemen, and underlined the necessity of ending the war, lifting the blockade, and delivering humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people.

The Iranian foreign minister also expressed hope that peace and stability will be restored in the Arab country through intra-Yemeni talks and formation of an inclusive government.

Removal of US Bans Only Way to Save JCPOA, Rouhani Tells Macron

During the phone call, Rouhani said the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) cannot be renegotiated in any way, and the only way to maintain and revive it is the removal of US sanctions.

He also warned that missing the opportunity to save the 2015 nuclear deal could make the situation more difficult.

“The stepwise reduction of commitments on the part of Iran was due to the withdrawal of the United States from the deal and the inability of the three European countries to fulfil their obligations,” Rouhani said, stressing that Iran’s measures can be reversed immediately after the other parties’ fulfilment of their obligations.

Rouhani said Iran’s move to stop the voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol was made within the framework of the law passed by the parliament.

However, he said, Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will continue and the country has not withdrawn from the JCPOA in any way.

“Any unconstructive action or position in the Board of Governors could lead to new challenges and complicate the current situation,” he warned.

Rouhani referred to France as an important actor and said, “Tehran-Paris relations can be developed based on a sustainable vision and with long-term goals for bilateral, regional and global cooperation.”

Referring to the coronavirus pandemic in various countries around the world, including Iran and France, the President said that effective confrontation with the virus requires the cooperation of all countries in the world.

“The United States’ cruel, illegal sanctions have made it more difficult for Iran to deal with this disease and made it difficult for the Islamic Republic to access its financial resources, even for the supply of medicine and medical equipment, and the European Union, especially France, is expected not to remain silent regarding this inhumane act,” he said.

Macron, for his part, called for the preservation of the JCPOA a necessity for the international community and stressed the need for the continuation of talks in order for all parties to return to the full implementation of their commitments.

He stressed the need for the two sides to take the initial steps and said, “Europe is ready to be more active in the coming weeks to revive the JCPOA.”