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FM Amirabdollahian: Iran president to visit Turkmenistan

Upon arrival in Tehran, Amirabdollahian told reporters on Friday that during his meetings with Turkmen officials, “We reviewed the progress and implementation of the latest agreements between the heads of the two countries during the recent visit of the high-ranking officials of Turkmenistan to Tehran.”

Amirabdollahian met top Turkmen officials, including President Sardar Berdimohamedov, his counterpart Rashid Meredov, and chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

The Iranian foreign minister said, “One of the objectives of my trip to Turkmenistan was to make the preparations for the visit by the Iranian president to Turkmenistan by reviewing what was agreed between the two countries in the past and evaluating the progress of the relations.”

Amirabdollahian said both sides agreed to step up cooperation in various areas, including energy, transit, transportation, science and technology.

The top Iranian diplomat expressed hope the volume of trade between the two neighbors will experience a jump in the coming weeks.

The two countries have implemented joint infrastructure projects, including cross-border gas pipelines and power lines, the Friendship Dam, and the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway.

Mourners bid farewell to IRGC member killed in Syria

The mourners in the city of Karaj, near the capital Tehran, carried the body of Behrouz Vahedi who was assassinated in an Israeli attack in the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria, on Tuesday morning.

Vahedi was a member of the Quds Force’s Holy Shrines Defenders in the city to help the Syrian government in its anti-terror operations.

He is survived by his 2-year-old son and his wife.

Israel occasionally carries out airstrikes against Iranian forces in Syria who are on an advisory mission in the country at the request of the Syrian government to confront the remnants of militant groups including Daesh.

Iran, Turkmenistan set to further cooperate in Caspian Sea, fight terror

Iran, Turkmenistan set to further cooperate in Caspian Sea, fight terror

During the meeting, held in the Turkmen capital city of Ashgabat, the two sides specifically explored ways of restoring peace and stability to Afghanistan.

The top Iranian diplomat pointed to the agreements reached between the two states in the fields of gas, electricity, water management, transportation, and transit and called for their full implementation.

The President of Turkmenistan also expressed satisfaction with the high level of friendly and fraternal interactions between the two countries and described these cooperation as a symbol of friendly relations in the region.

Berdimuhamedow also invited the Iranian companies to work more in his country, given “the positive experiences of the implementation of infrastructure projects by Iranian companies in Turkmenistan.”

Amirabdollahian, also in a meeting with his Turkmen counterpart, Rashid Meredov, emphasized the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy, transit, and transportation.

Amirabdollahian referred to the Caspian Sea as an area for constructive cooperation between the coastal countries, and
considered the continuation of discussions on legal, security, and economic issues of the Caspian Sea necessary.

He expressed Iran’s readiness to host the third economic conference of Caspian coastal countries at the level of prime ministers.

The top Iranian diplomat also said the military presence of third parties in the Caspian Sea goes against the interests of the region.

Meredov, for his part, described the Caspian Sea as a sea of peace, understanding, and cooperation.

The Iranian foreign minister also in a meeting with the chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, said relations between the two countries are growing based on various commonalities and mutual interests, adding Iran and Turkmenistan
have similar positions and cooperate well in regional and international assemblies.

For his part, the chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan described bilateral ties as excellent.

Swedish police reportedly arrest Iranian prisoner Hamid Nouri’s son

“After hours without any information about my brother, who had gone to visit my father… we realized that Majid has been apparently arrested by Sweden’s police. We are not aware of the details of the incident for now.” Atieh Nouri, daughter of Hamid Nouri, said in a post on X social media platform on Friday.

The Swedish police have arrested Hamid Nouri over a lawsuit filed by the anti-Iran terrorist Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) with the blood of over 17,000 Iranians on their hand.

Nouri, who has been given a life sentence, was accused by Swedish authorities of involvement in the execution and torture of MKO members in the 1980s. He has been in solitary confinement since his arrest.

Iranian officials have criticized his ‘politically-motivated’ detention and life sentence as illegal.

Iran’s Raisi: Certain Islamic countries’ inaction vis-à-vis Palestine regrettable 

In a meeting with Ziyad al-Nakhalah, Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine,

Raisi appreciated and emphasized the unity of the Palestinian groups, stating: “Today, Gaza is the scene of victory and the triumph of resistance.”

He added the resilience and faith of the Palestinian people stand in stark contrast to the dark and unprecedented crimes committed by the Zionist regime and the United States.

Emphasizing Iran’s strategy in supporting the resistance movement and the oppressed people of Gaza, Raisi expressed disappointment about the inaction of leaders of some Islamic countries in fulfilling their duty towards the Palestinian nation.

For his part, the Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine expressed gratitude for the support of the resistance axis.

Al-Nakhalah added: “In addition to boosting morale and motivation among the people of Gaza and the Palestinian Mujahideen, this unprecedented support carries the important message that the Palestinian nation is not alone in its fight against the Zionist enemy.”

Ayat. Khamenei: Gaza ‘main winner’ of Israeli regime’s war 

During a meeting with Ziyad al-Nakhalah, Secretary General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Tehran on Thursday,

Ayatollah Khamenei acclaimed Palestinians as the prevailing force in the ongoing Israeli regime’s war, attributing their steadfastness to divine intervention and emphasizing their enduring dignity despite adversities.

Ayatollah Khamenei condemned the Zionist regime’s atrocities against Gazans, highlighting the regime’s inability to suppress the resistance despite its military might and international backing.

He asserted that the failures of the Zionist regime were indicative of a divine phenomenon, foreseeing ultimate victory for Gaza.

In response, the Secretary General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad expressed gratitude for Iran’s steadfast support and commemorated the legacy of the late General Qassem Soleimani in supporting Palestinian cause.

Al-Nakhalah went on to underscore the unity and resolve of Gaza’s people and resistance factions.

He affirmed the solidarity between Hamas and Islamic Jihad, reaffirming Gaza’s commitment to perseverence until final victory.

The Secretary General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad expressed confidence that with divine assistance, Gaza would triumph over its oppressors and emerge victorious from the ongoing struggle.

Brown bear spotted in Iran’s Arasbaran protected area

The mammals are on the list of protected species of Iran’s Environmental Protection Department.

There is a small number of bears in the few protected areas across Iran while the animals are facing the threat of extinction.

Environmental activists have called on Nowruz travelers not to take detours in protected areas in order not to face or hurt the endangered species.

The animals usually get out of their habitats to forage for food.

Iran extends gas export contract with Iraq

Head of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) Majid Chegeni and Iraq’s Minister of Electricity Ziad Ali Fadel signed the deal on Wednesday in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

According to the deal, Iran will supply up to 50 million cubic meters of natural gas to meet Iraq’s daily needs.

Under an agreement signed in July 2013, Iran has been supplying energy to Iraq for the past 10 years.

Oil-rich Iraq is heavily dependent on gas imports from Iran to meet its electricity needs.

With around 1,203 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, Iran holds the second largest gas reserves in the world after Russia, according to the figures released in December 2021.

Expert: No bright future for Iran regarding sanctions

Five Iranians Jailed Abroad on Bogus Charges of Military Activities, MP Says

Asghar Zargar, a professor of international relations told Entekhab news website that Iranian officials should prepare to turn the tide in favor of Iran and lift the decades-old punitive measures amid the grim picture.

Zargar said election of Donald Trump as the next US President, the decisions made by the new extreme-right parliament in Iran are among the main factors that can tip the balance in favor or against Iran.

He said, “If we consider a triangle for the country, the head of which is foreign policy, one side of it is internal policy that includes economic power and legitimacy, and the other side is the international stance on us.”

The analyst advised Iranians to diplomatically engage with the Americans in the region as the first step “so that they recognize our interests in Iraq and Persian Gulf countries.”

The political analyst further elaborated that “If Trump wins, extremism will increase in the region and he will reactivate the sanctions.”

However, on a promising note, Zargar said, “Of course, Trump is a businessman. If the Iranian government decides to negotiate, they might be able to talk to Trump and he has said he is waiting for a call from Iran. If both parties do not go for negotiations, the sanctions will become harsher in the Persian New Year,” that started on March 20.

Trump unleashed draconian sanctions on Iran in 2018 during his presidency after he unilaterally withdrew from a nuclear deal with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

9 killed in single road accident in Iran’s Semnan

The head of Semnan’s Red Crescent Hossein Derakhshan said rescue teams were dispatched to the scene to take the only injured person to the hospital and disentangle the bodies from the damaged cars.

Iran has a high rate of road accidents in the world, which soars during holidays patticularly those of the Persian New Year, Nowruz.

According to the latest update on Thursday on traffic casualties during Nowruz holidays, that started last Wednesday, 585 have lost their lives on the roads.

The head of the Control Room of the Traffic Police said the majority of the accidents took place in Sistan and Baluchestan, Kerman, Isfahan, Khuzestan, and Khorasan Ravazi provinces.