Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said that the Caspian Sea littoral states refused to allow any foreign presence in the region…reports Asian Lite News
Raisi made the remarks on Thursday upon arrival at the airport in Tehran from his visit to Turkmenistan, in which he took part in the sixth summit of the Heads of state of the Caspian countries, according to the Iranian presidency’s website.
The Caspian Sea’s resources must be protected, he said, adding that the sea belongs to the regional countries and must be managed collectively by the littoral states, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Iranian President also called for greater cooperation among the Caspian Sea littoral states in the economic, cultural and environmental sectors.
Commenting on his meetings with the Azerbaijani, Turkmen and Russian Presidents on the sidelines of the summit, he said the talks focused on the expansion of bilateral economic and trade relations and the implementation of the previously signed memorandums of understanding.
Describing the visit as positive, Raisi said strengthening ties with neighbours is one of his administration’s foreign policy priorities.
During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, the Iranian President added that Tehran pursues engagement with Moscow within the framework of a strategic relationship.
Trade and energy relations between Iran and Russia are at a high level, he said, noting the relations still have great potential for expansion given the two sides’ respective capacities.
The Iranian Foreign Minister described as “positive” the latest round of talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal in Doha, the Foreign Ministry said on its official website…reports Asian Lite News
Iran is serious about reaching “a good, robust and lasting agreement,” which is at hand “if the US acts realistically,” Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in a phone conversation on Wednesday evening.
“We are determined to continue the negotiations until a realistic deal is reached,” he added.
Amir-Abdollahian also thanked Qatar for hosting the negotiations on Tuesday and Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.
For his part, the Qatari Foreign Minister called the latest EU-brokered indirect talks between Iran and the US “constructive and positive,” promising Doha’s efforts to get all sides back to their commitments.
Iran signed the JCPOA with the world powers in July 2015, agreeing to curb its nuclear programme in return for the removal of sanctions on the country. However, former US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, prompting the latter to drop some of its commitments under the pact.
The Iranian nuclear talks began in April 2021 in Vienna, but were suspended in March this year because of political differences between Tehran and Washington.
An official of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has said the UN peacekeeping forces have adopted strict measures to protect its data…reports Asian Lite News
“UNIFIL and the United Nations take cybersecurity very seriously and they adopt strict measures to protect their data,” said Candice Ardell, Deputy Director of UNIFIL Media Office, according to the Lebanese National News Agency.
The UN official’s remarks came after Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said Iran and the Lebanese-based Hezbollah group recently launched a cyberattack against UNIFIL, trying to get information about its activities in the area, Xinhua news agency reported.
Ardell added that the mission “is aware of the media reports that conveyed statements of the Israeli Defence Minister today, but we did not receive any direct information about the alleged incident”.
Gantz on Wednesday said that “Iranian security institutions in cooperation with Hezbollah” have attempted to “disrupt UNIFIL operations”.
“They launched a cyber operation with the aim of stealing materials about UNIFIL activities and deployment in the area, for Hezbollah’s use,” he added.
The European Union envoy said they will keep working with “even greater urgency to bring back on track a key deal for non-proliferation and regional stability,” reports Asian Lite Newsdek
Indirect talks between Tehran and Washington aimed at reviving a 2015 nuclear deal have ended in Qatar’s capital without progress.
The talks in Doha followed several rounds of talks held in the Austrian capital since April 2021 between Iran and the remaining parties to revive the landmark deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
The European Union envoy said the talks have ended in Qatar without the progress “the EU team as coordinator had hoped-for”.
“Unfortunately, not yet the progress the EU team as coordinator had hoped-for. We will keep working with even greater urgency to bring back on track a key deal for non-proliferation and regional stability,” EU’s envoy Enrique Mora tweeted on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, by Wednesday night, a US State Department spokesperson told AFP that Washington was disappointed that Iran has, yet again, failed to respond positively to the EU’s initiative and therefore that no progress was made.”
Iran signed the nuclear deal in July 2015 and agreed to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for the removal of US-led sanctions. But former US President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
The talks on restoring the deal began in April 2021 between Iran and major signatory parties in the Austrian capital of Vienna, with the indirect participation of the United States.
However, the talks have been suspended since March due to differences between Tehran and Washington, notably over Iran’s demand that its Islamic Revolution Guards Corps be removed from a US terror list.
The resumption of the talks was announced on Saturday at a joint televised press conference held in Tehran by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and visiting EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell.
Analysts pointed out that the United States hopes to reach a nuclear deal with Iran to speed up its withdrawal from the Middle East. Despite voicing pessimism over nuclear talks recently, US President Joe Biden’s administration still believes the diplomatic efforts remain the best way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, Xinhua news agency reported.
Also, “prolonged limbo has proven unsustainable,” especially as Tehran responded to the U.S.-led resolution of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors by increasing nuclear activity and decreasing nuclear visibility, said Ali Vaez, an expert on Iran at the International Crisis Group think tank.
Meanwhile, Iran is counting on the lifting of sanctions to boost its battered economy. Observers believe that Iran’s economic growth largely depends on its engagement with the global economy, which is significantly subject to the end of U.S. sanctions as a result of a possible deal in the talks.
“As the U.S. moves closer to November 2022, Tehran likely assesses that it is better to try to strike a deal with the Biden White House before the upcoming congressional elections as the Democrats are likely to lose seats and be less interested in the fate of the Iranian nuclear program afterward,” Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran program at the Washington-based Middle East Institute think tank, wrote in an analysis.
“The high price of oil and lack of spare capacity means that now is an opportune moment for Tehran to push to have the sanctions on its oil lifted and capitalize on the country’s significant oil export revenue potential, which could run in the hundreds of billions of dollars a year,” Vatanka added.
US presence in Islamic world leads to insecurity, poverty Iran
Both Iran and Pakistan are suffering from the irreparable adverse impacts of “destructive” US interferences and presence in Afghanistan, the Iranian commander cited…reports Asian Lite News
A top Iranian commander has slammed the US military presence in the Islamic world for allegedly leading to “divisions among the nations, prolonged wars, destruction of houses, displacement of people, insecurity, poverty, and underdevelopment”.
Hossein Salami, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), made the remarks in a meeting with Pakistan’s Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Nadeem Raza in the Iranian capital Tehran, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Iran’s official news agency IRNA.
Both Iran and Pakistan are suffering from the irreparable adverse impacts of “destructive” US interferences and presence in Afghanistan, the Iranian commander cited.
Salami expressed satisfaction with the US retreat from the Islamic world, hoping that Islamic states would regain their independence through self-confidence.
He also said that Iran sees Pakistan’s security as important as its own, calling for further enhancement of cooperation in different sectors, particularly in ensuring security along their common borders and fighting terrorism.
Raza, for his part, also blamed the US and Western plots for the divisions within the Islamic world, noting that the US withdrew from Afghanistan after 20 years without managing to establish security in that country.
He emphasised the necessity of intelligence and operational cooperation between Pakistan and Iran in protecting the security of the joint border.
The Iranian government has confirmed that the country’s negotiating team will depart for Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday for talks to revive Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal…reports Asian Lite News
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani will still lead the Iranian negotiating team, Xinhua news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani as saying late Monday night.
Earlier on Monday, the Ministry said the upcoming negotiations will be held indirectly with the US, and facilitated by the European Union (EU).
Robert Malley, the US special envoy for Iran, will also be in Doha.
On June 25, Iran and the EU announced that the talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, will be resumed in the coming days.
The nuclear talks began in April 2021 in Vienna, but have been suspended since March over political differences between Tehran and Washington.
Iran insists on obtaining guarantees that the succeeding US governments would not drop the deal again and calls for lifting the sanctions in a verifiable manner.
In 2015, Iran signed the nuclear deal with world powers, including the US.
However, former US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the pact in May 2018 and re-imposed sanctions on Iran, which prompted the latter to drop some of its nuclear commitments.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said his country welcomes the reopening of the Iranian and Saudi Arabian Embassies in Riyadh and Tehran…reports Asian Lite News
Iran only seeks to promote the region’s interests, Amir-Abdollahian said here in a meeting with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
He praised the Iraqi government for its efforts to encourage dialogue among regional countries and play a constructive role in the normalization talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as other Middle Eastern nations, reports Xinhua news agency.
Iran maintains that the solution to regional problems lies within the region, Amir-Abdollahian said, adding that Iran backs the continuation of the ceasefire in Yemen, highlighting the necessity of lifting the siege on the Arab state.
The Foreign Minister noted that given the commonalities between Iran and Egypt, improving relations between Tehran and Cairo will be in the interest of the region and the Muslim world.
The Iraqi Prime Minister underlined Iran’s important position and role in regional developments, saying his country is serious about developing ties with Iran.
He assured his host that Iraq will continue its efforts to encourage dialogue and cooperation among regional states.
Al-Kadhimi arrived in Tehran early Sunday for high-level talks with senior Iranian officials, following his trip to Saudi Arabia, where he was welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 in response to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran after the kingdom executed a Shia cleric.
To improve bilateral relations and ease regional tension, Baghdad hosted four rounds of direct talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia last year and a fifth round in April this year.
Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during a joint press conference. (Photo www.president.ir)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said his country welcomes the reopening of the Iranian and Saudi Arabian Embassies in Riyadh and Tehran, reports Asian Lite Newsdes
Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi has met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran in an aim to push for resumption of the peace talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
“We discussed the challenges that the region is facing,” Al-Kadhimi said during a joint press conference with Raisi, adding, “We agreed to work together to bring stability and peace to the region”.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said his country welcomes the reopening of the Iranian and Saudi Arabian Embassies in Riyadh and Tehran.
Iran only seeks to promote the region’s interests, Amir-Abdollahian said here in a meeting with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
He praised the Iraqi government for its efforts to encourage dialogue among regional countries and play a constructive role in the normalization talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as other Middle Eastern nations, reports Xinhua news agency.
Iran maintains that the solution to regional problems lies within the region, Amir-Abdollahian said, adding that Iran backs the continuation of the ceasefire in Yemen, highlighting the necessity of lifting the siege on the Arab state.
The Foreign Minister noted that given the commonalities between Iran and Egypt, improving relations between Tehran and Cairo will be in the interest of the region and the Muslim world.
The Iraqi Prime Minister underlined Iran’s important position and role in regional developments, saying his country is serious about developing ties with Iran.
He assured his host that Iraq will continue its efforts to encourage dialogue and cooperation among regional states.
The Iraqi Prime Minister described his country’s relations with the Iran as very important and added, “Today we agreed to strengthen trade relations between the two nations and countries within the framework of common interests”.
Al-Kadhimi arrived in Tehran early Sunday for high-level talks with senior Iranian officials, following his trip to Saudi Arabia, where he was welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
Both crown prince and Iraqi PM held a session of official talks, during which they reviewed the bilateral relations between the two fraternal countries and areas of joint cooperation, in addition to exchanging views on a number of issues, which contribute to supporting and strengthening security and stability in the region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
On June 16, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said in a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that “Iraq is ready to continue facilitating direct talks between the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers in Baghdad to restore relations to normal”, according to a statement by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.
To improve bilateral relations and ease regional tension, Baghdad hosted four rounds of direct talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia last year, and the fifth round was held in April this year.
Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 in response to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran after the kingdom executed a Shia cleric.
The two rivals’ strained relations showed signs of improvement after they resumed direct talks on normalizing diplomatic relations in April 2021.
Recently, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Cairo for his first visit to Egypt since the two countries restored diplomatic ties last year.
The two-day official visit included talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on bilateral relations and ways to enhance them in all fields.
Tamim’s visit also saw the signing of a number of economic agreements, and ensured Qatari investment in Egypt, especially in the energy field.
Raisi said Iran’s fight against drug trafficking was “affected by US sanctions”, which deprived the country of many required tools and technologies….reports Asian Lite News
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has alleged that the measures taken by the US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during their occupation of Afghanistan have “led to increased cultivation of narcotic plants in the war-torn country”.
Making the remarks in an address to a ceremony to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Raisi said, “During the US-NATO two-decade presence, narcotics production in Afghanistan became industrialised and the output was distributed across the globe.”
Raisi stressed that no country can fight drug trafficking alone, urging all countries and international organizations to play their role, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Iranian presidency’s website.
He said Iran’s fight against drug trafficking was “affected by US sanctions”, which deprived the country of many required tools and technologies.
Narco-terror
The illegal-narcotics trade constitutes one of the main financial sources of the insurgency groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but, more importantly, it feeds narco-terror.
The American withdrawal in 2021 means that the countries of the region will have to play a greater role in the management of their borders and confront questions about their capacity to stop potentially destabilising trends emerging from Afghanistan, reported Afghan Diaspora Network.
Heroin networks and drug lords present a principal impediment to security, state-building, and democratic governance. Beyond the national boundaries, Afghan-originated heroin creates enormous challenges for international security by financing terrorism, instigating corruption, killing nearly 100,000 users worldwide every year, undermining public order, and debilitating economic development.
The devastating impacts of the Afghan heroin trade have spilled over into Southwest Asia, Central Asia, Russia, China, the Balkans, and Europe.
The Taliban have long used narcotics as their main source of revenue. Without the poppy crop, they may never have grown to be the massive organisation that they are today that was capable of toppling the Ghani government, reported the Afghan Diaspora Network.
According to the Narco-Insecurity, Inc.’s report ‘The Convergence of the Narcotics Underworld and Extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan and its Global Proliferation,’ this was made possible with the help of Pakistan’s ISI, who launched several covert operations with sympathetic jihadist groups all of whom relied heavily on narcotics trafficking to fund their operations, expanding the trafficking route even further through their regions, launching the Balkan, northern, and southern routes of the global narcotics trafficking pipeline.
The most substantial of these was the Haqqani network, a criminal enterprise situated along the Afghanistan/Pakistan border that was founded on smuggling. The ISI saw the Haqqani network as a key ally, given their location and alliances with numerous jihadist groups, and began investing in their bases while using them as a proxy for engagement with other non-state actors.
A vicious cycle has formed between insecurity and the opium economy. Insecure regions are fertile territory for poppy farming due to the lack of government oversight and a lack of alternative livelihoods. They both attract insurgent groups, who profit off of the opium industry at multiple levels of the supply chain and are created by insurgent groups.
Since the recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, there has been a knock-on effect on the global narcotics industry. Counter narcotics efforts will need to shift to operate under a new paradigm where direct counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan are unlikely to continue. (IANS/ANI)
Russian FM in Iran to discuss nuclear talks, bilateral ties
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Tehran to discuss with the Iranian side bilateral cooperation and ways to solve the impasse on the Iran nuclear talks, state IRIB TV reported…reports Asian Lite News
The Russian Foreign Minister arrived in Tehran on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.
The IRIB reported that Lavrov, who is on his two-day trip to Iran at the invitation of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, held a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi shortly after his arrival.
Having not revealed any details of the meeting between Raisi and the Russian diplomat, the state-run television said the Russian Foreign Minister is expected to meet Iran’s senior officials to discuss the negotiation that aims to restore a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.
The two sides would also discuss situations in Ukraine, Syria, and Afghanistan, as well as ways to boost bilateral ties in trade and energy, it added.
Both Iran and Russia are subject to strict US sanctions, which have restricted their ability to transport their energy to international markets.
Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with the world powers in July 2015 accepting to put some curbs on its nuclear programme in return for the removal of the sanctions on Tehran.
However, former President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed Washington’s unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting Iran to reduce some of its nuclear commitments under the agreement in retaliation.
Since April 2021, several rounds of talks have been held in the Austrian capital between Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties to revive the deal.
Iran insists on obtaining guarantees that the succeeding US governments would not drop the deal again and calls for lifting the sanctions in a verifiable manner.
After witnessing good progress signaling that an agreement was only a few days away, the diplomatic process has, however, faced a pause since March, raising concerns over the fate of the negotiation.
