Iran blamed the US and certain European countries for providing arms to Israel and backing it in its offensive…reports Asian Lite News
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has strongly condemned deadly Israeli airstrikes on the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip.
In a statement released on Saturday by the Ministry, Kanaani denounced Israel’s killing of hundreds of Palestinian civilians during the attacks as a “horrendous and shocking crime”.
The “crime” perpetrated by Israel was a consequence of the “inaction” of governments and relevant international organisations in the face of eight months of “war crimes and violations of all international laws and regulations as well as international humanitarian law” by Israel in Gaza, said the Spokesman.
He blamed the US and certain European countries for providing arms to Israel and backing it in its offensive, Xinhua news agency reported.
At least 210 Palestinians were killed and more than 400 others injured in the Israeli airstrikes on Saturday in central Gaza.
Khalil Al-Dakran, director of Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah city in central Gaza, told Xinhua that a large number of wounded Palestinians were sent to the hospital due to intense Israeli bombing on the Nuseirat camp and the city, some of whom have been confirmed dead.
The Israeli army has been waging a large-scale offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on the Israeli towns adjacent to the strip, killing nearly 1,200 people.
The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the enclave has risen to 36,801, with 83,680 people injured, as updated by the health authorities in Gaza on Saturday.
Swedish Security Chief Accuses Iran of Using Criminal Networks to Target Jews and Israelis…reports Asian Lite News
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned Sweden’s acting charge d’affaires over his country’s “baseless and biased” accusations against Tehran.
During the meeting with the Swedish envoy on Saturday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry conveyed Tehran’s protest against the controversial remarks made by a Swedish official in Stockholm, adding that the remarks had been made “based on disinformation and under Israel’s influence.”
Daniel Stenling, head of counterintelligence at the Swedish Security Service, accused on Thursday the Iranian government of “using criminal networks within Sweden” to target Israeli or Jewish interests in the Scandinavian country.
Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has condemned new sanctions imposed by the EU on several Iranian officials and entities.
He made the remarks in a statement by his Ministry after the EU on Friday imposed sanctions on six individuals and three entities of Iran for their alleged “role in the transfer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to Russia in support of its war against Ukraine or the transfer of UAVs or missiles to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region,” or “for being involved in Iran’s UAV program”.
Kanaani said the EU, instead of focusing on the Israeli “war crimes” in Gaza and punishing Israel for them, had included in its list of sanctions some Iranian officials and entities that had been “pioneers and effective in the fight against terrorism and ensuring sustainable security in the West Asia region”.
He regretted that the EU had once again resorted to the “outdated and ineffective” tool of sanctions against Iran while turning a blind eye to the field realities in West Asia.
Kanaani emphasised that Iran would continue its principled policies, especially in ensuring regional and international peace and security, and reserve the right to respond to such a “destructive” approach by the EU.
In a press statement on its website, the Council of the EU announced on Friday new sanctions on Iranian armed forces’ Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters and one of its commanders, Kavan Electronics Behrad LLC, an Iran-based company which the bloc accused of being involved in procuring and selling components for the manufacturing of UAVs, its CEO and chairman of the board of directors, and the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The bloc has also imposed sanctions on Iran’s Defence Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani, an IRGC commander, and Afshin Khaji Fard, head of Iran’s Aviation Industries Organisation.
Responses of major powers to the demise of President Raisi of Iran give an idea of the geopolitical scene around the Middle East and the power play that was evident in the region, writes D.C. Pathak
Reactions of the world community to the demise of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and some other Iranian dignitaries in a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border on May 19, threw light on the importance of Iran as a prime mover behind the recent developments in the Middle East and the geopolitical alignments that are shaping up in the region around the increasing polarisation between the US on one hand and the Russia-China axis on the other.
Raisi a hardliner conservative was appointed President of Iran in 2021 — he had earlier succeeded over his pragmatic rival Hassan Rouhani in 2017 in a controlled election.
He soon became the driving power behind the execution of thousands of dissidents at home in 2022, the enforcement of strict rules of the Hijab and Chastity for women and the pursuit of a strong anti-Israel policy.
Raisi was very close to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme leader of Shiite Iran — who at 85 was not keeping well — and was set to succeed the latter. Raisi as a leader had been put by the US under sanction.
Born in a religious family in the Shiite Muslim city of Mashhad, the Iranian President was educated at a religious seminary in the holy city of Qom and was known to have taken part as a student in the protests against the pro-West Shah of Iran in 1979.
Raisi shared with Khamenei a deep antipathy towards the US — part of this being rooted in the ideological rejection of capitalism by the fundamentalist Shiism.
He was an anti-corruption populist who stood for self-sufficiency in the economy and an aggressive foreign policy based on the strategy of using proxy forces across the Middle East.
An advisor of the Iranian regime made it clear that the policy framework of Iran would be maintained after President Raisi’s death.
Iran with the largest army in the Middle East is likely to continue with an assertive posture in the region and beyond in the geopolitical environment created by the Ukraine-Russia military confrontation and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Raisi pursued a hard line towards Israel and warned that any Israeli aggression against Iran could result in “there being nothing left of the Zionist regime”.
Iran-Israel hostility arises significantly from a faith-based contradiction that added to the political enmity Iran had towards the US-Israel axis. In the polarisation between the US and the China-Russia combine, Iran unsurprisingly supports the latter.
In the long-drawn Ukraine-Russia military confrontation, Iran has actively sided with Russia’s ‘war effort’ by supplying drones for the Russian offensive against Ukraine.
Iran’s comprehensive backing of Hamas against Israel is as much of an aggressive stand against the US as it is a reflection of the basic religious divide between Islam and Zionism.
Hamas had been radicalised and its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, was clearly a terrorist act — radicalisation goes with the ‘revivalist’ call of the Wahhabis to return of Muslim world to the Puritan Islam of the ‘Pious Caliphs’ and in the process it would also turn intensely hostile to Shiites because of the historical memory associated with the origin of Shiism as a ‘deviant’ sect in the eyes of the mainstream Sunnis.
In regard to the Taliban Emirate in Afghanistan however, it is said that Pakistan had helped to bring about an adjustment between China and the Taliban on the basis of a ‘give and take’ that enabled China to extend its Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) to Afghanistan and got Taliban to give an assurance of non-interference in the affairs of the Muslim minorities of China.
The reported participation of Taliban leaders of Afghanistan in the last prayers for Raisi in Tehran showed the primacy of the political opposition to the US that put Iran and the Taliban on the same side of the fence.
Iran’s political and ideological hostility towards Israel at the same time, led it to support Hamas and set upon its proxies like Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis against Israel in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Responses of major powers to the demise of President Raisi of Iran give an idea of the geopolitical scene around the Middle East and the power play that was evident in the region.
President Xi Jinping of China called the ‘tragic death’ of Raisi a great loss to the Iranian people and added that the Chinese people had lost a good friend.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov offering condolences on the demise of the Iranian President lauded his role in strengthening mutually beneficial Russia-Iran cooperation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called Raisi an outstanding political leader who had made invaluable personal contributions in taking good neighbourly relations between Russia and Iran to the level of a ‘strategic partnership’.
The US conveyed ‘official condolences’ to Iran and reiterated its support to the Iranian people in their ‘struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms’. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin clarified that the US had no insight into the cause of the helicopter crash that killed President Raisi.
The EU expressed sincere condolences while Italy’s Prime Minister Georgia Meloni noted that the crash was looked upon as an accident and no conspiracy theories had cropped up. She felt there would be no change in Iran’s internal order and hoped that the future leadership would work for the ‘stabilisation and pacification’ of Iran.
There was a report that Putin had offered to help Iran in the process of enquiry into the helicopter crash. These reactions amply showed the closeness Iran had developed towards Russia and China while a distinct lack of trust existed between Iran and the US-led West.
Johannesburg: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with President of Iran Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi during a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday, August 24, 2023. (Photo: IANS/Twitter/@MEAIndia)
The Arab states in the region conveyed their condolences to the people of Iran — considering them more as part of Ummah and rising above the Shia-Sunni divide somewhat — which certainly reflected their desire to keep the Middle East free of violence and check radicalisation.
Saudi Arabia had tense relations with Iran and there were proxy conflicts between them. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman however, called Iran’s Acting President Mokhber to express his condolences.
UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohd. Bin Rashid Al Maktoum told the people of Iran “our hearts are with you in this difficult time” and more in line with the Islamic Brotherhood sentiment expressed that “the deceased would dwell in God’s spacious Paradise”.
Jordan’s King Abdullah conveying his deepest condolences expressed Jordan’s solidarity with “our brothers in Islam” of Iran while Emir Sheikh of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani expressed his condolences to the people of Iran saying “we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return”.
Egyptian President Abdul Fateh Al Sisi expressed solidarity with the Iranian leadership and people on the terrible incident that caused the death of the Iranian President and other leaders.
It is relevant to mention that the US had since 2020 mediated to bring about the Abraham Accord between UAE and Israel with the concurrence of Saudi Arabia and that China took a similar initiative in 2023 to secure the restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The two big powers were apparently trying to strengthen their foothold in the Middle East without precipitating any serious conflict.
Outside the region, it is important to note the reactions of Pakistan, Malaysia and Turkey — countries that have lately shown a marked convergence on accommodating Islamic radical forces and correspondingly striking a posture of independence towards the US.
Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with visiting President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi in Beijing on Tuesday,Feb. 14, 2023. (Xinhua/IANS)
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif recalled the ‘historic’ visit of Iranian President Raisi to Islamabad a month ago, described Iran as a good friend of Pakistan and announced a day of mourning during which Pak flags would fly half-mast as a mark of respect and solidarity with ‘brotherly’ Iran.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia praised President Raisi for his dedication to “justice, peace and upliftment of the Ummah” and said that good Malaysia-Iran relations would lead to the “betterment of Muslim world”.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at a joint press conference with his Pak counterpart at Islamabad, expressed his condolences and gave credit to Raisi for building good Iran-Ankara relations.
Iran under Raisi’s presidency had apparently reached out to potential friends in the Muslim world who would be sympathetic towards Iran in the latter’s tussle against the US.
Also, since both Iran and Saudi Arabia are members of the OPEC, the world powers were compelled to keep the Middle East from serious conflicts for their economic interests. However, the two major players in the region, Iran and Israel with their differing alignments in the developing Cold War between the US-led West and the Russia-China axis, are likely to continue with their adversarial postures — a close vigil by the international community on the Middle East seemed necessary.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to convey his condolences on a personal note saying that he was “deeply saddened and shocked” over Raisi’s death. He stated that Raisi’s contribution to the strengthening of bilateral Iran-India relations will always be remembered and added that “India stood with Iran in this time of sorrow”.
India has done well to independently maintain friendship with the three major players in the Middle East — Saudi Arabia, Israel and Iran. This is consistent with India’s foreign policy of building mutually beneficial bilateral friendships with the US and Russia without prejudicing the cause of world peace.
This is how Prime Minister Modi had reached out to the Presidents of both Russia and Ukraine at the outbreak of military conflict between them and advocated for cessation of hostilities and peaceful negotiations based on an understanding of the ‘security concerns of both sides’.
This independent stand won the approval of the international community and brought recognition to India as the promoter of the ‘sane voice’ of the world. This has enabled India to maintain strategic friendship with the US without giving up on the deep political and economic relations with Russia. There is little doubt that India’s handling of international relations has been a success story so far.
(The writer is a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau. Views are personal)
An event was taking place to mark the death of the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, and was attended by supporters of the Iranian government…reports Asian Lite News
Four people were injured and one was arrested following a clash between pro-Iran supporters and anti-Iranian government protesters in London.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were called at 6.21 p.m. (1720 GMT) on Friday following reports of disorder.
An event was taking place to mark the death of the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, and was attended by supporters of the Iranian government.
The Met said anti-government protesters had gathered outside the venue, and clashes broke out between the groups.
Officers and other Met resources attended alongside paramedics from the London Ambulance Service.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed four people were injured and treated by paramedics. One person was also arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.
The spokesperson added: “Their injuries are not believed to be either life-threatening or life-changing.”
“A dispersal order was implemented, requiring those involved to leave the area. It will remain in force until 03:00 hours.”
“Further inquiries will now follow to establish what further offences took place and to identify those involved.”
“This will include an examination of footage shared on social media.”
Three million people attended the funeral ceremony in Mashhad…reports Asian Lite News
Iran’s late president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash at the weekend, was laid to rest in his home city of Mashhad on Thursday.
Raisi was buried next to the mausoleum of the eighth Shiite Imam Reza in Mashhad, state broadcaster IRIB reported. It is considered the most important Shia shrine in Iran.
Three million people attended the funeral ceremony in Mashhad, according to the state news agency IRNA. There were no independent estimates.
Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and seven other occupants were killed in a helicopter crash in the northwest of the country on Sunday. Amirabdollahian was buried in the capital Tehran on Thursday.
Prior to this, there was another state-organized funeral service for the president in his home region of Khorasan, where tens of thousands took part.
The provincial capital of Birjand was chosen as the penultimate stop of the funeral ceremonies because Raisi had a special relationship with the city, explained Vice President Mohsen Mansouri. Raisi also represented Birjand on the Council of Experts, an influential clerical body in Iran.
Abu Dhabi CP pays tribute
H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has offered his condolences at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Abu Dhabi on the passing of President Dr. Ebrahim Raisi of Iran and his accompanying delegation following a helicopter crash.
H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed was received at the embassy by Reza Ameri, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UAE. His Highness extended his sincerest condolences and heartfelt sympathies on the passing of the Iranian President Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials, praying to God to grant them peace, and to provide their relatives and the Iranian people with comfort and solace.
At the conclusion of his visit, H.H. Sheikh Khaled penned a heartfelt message of sympathy in the embassy’s condolence book, praying for Almighty God’s mercy and grace for the late Iranian President and his companions, and wishing continued prosperity for the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Three million people attended the funeral ceremony in Mashhad, according to the state news agency IRNA. There were no independent estimates…reports Asian Lite News
Iran’s late president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash at the weekend, was laid to rest in his home city of Mashhad on Thursday.
Raisi was buried next to the mausoleum of the eighth Shiite Imam Reza in Mashhad, state broadcaster IRIB reported. It is considered the most important Shia shrine in Iran.
Three million people attended the funeral ceremony in Mashhad, according to the state news agency IRNA. There were no independent estimates.
Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and seven other occupants were killed in a helicopter crash in the northwest of the country on Sunday. Amirabdollahian was buried in the capital Tehran on Thursday.
Prior to this, there was another state-organized funeral service for the president in his home region of Khorasan, where tens of thousands took part.
The provincial capital of Birjand was chosen as the penultimate stop of the funeral ceremonies because Raisi had a special relationship with the city, explained Vice President Mohsen Mansouri. Raisi also represented Birjand on the Council of Experts, an influential clerical body in Iran.
Iran Releases Preliminary Report on Helicopter Crash
The General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces has released the first report on the causes of a recent helicopter crash that resulted in the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage.
Following the crash, a senior investigation committee composed of experts, specialists, and technicians arrived at the scene on Monday morning, the semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted the report by the General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces as saying on Friday.
According to the report, the helicopter had remained on its predetermined course all along the way and had not deviated from the flight route.
Nearly one minute and a half before the incident, the pilot of the crashed helicopter had contacted the other two helicopters of the President’s convoy, the report said.
No trace of bullets or similar items have been detected on the wreckage of the crashed helicopter, it added as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.
After crashing into the mountain, the helicopter had caught fire, it said.
“Complications of the region, fog, and low temperature” had caused the search and rescue operations to continue until nightfall and then throughout the night, the report said, adding, “At 5 a.m. local time on Monday, with the assistance of drones, the exact location of the incident was identified.”
No suspicious issue had been detected in the conversations between the watchtower and the flight crew, it added.
More details would be provided after further investigations, it said.
Raisi and his entourage were en route to East Azerbaijan province when the helicopter carrying them crashed in a mountainous area on Sunday.
Also on board the helicopter were Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, the representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader to East Azerbaijan.
Raisi was laid to rest on Thursday in the holy shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown, the northeastern city of Mashhad.
Bagheri Kani previously served as Deputy Foreign Minister For Political Affairs…reports Asian Lite News
Iran’s Interim President Mohammad Mokhber has appointed Ali Bagheri Kani as the country’s caretaker Foreign Minister, the media reported.
Bagheri Kani previously served as Deputy Foreign Minister For Political Affairs, Xinhua news agency reported.
His appointment follows the deaths of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, President Ebrahim Raisi, and other senior officials in a helicopter crash in the northwestern province of East Azerbaijan on Sunday, the report said.
In his decree, Mokhber wished success for Bagheri Kani in fulfilling his responsibilities of the new post, calling for the continuation of the Foreign Ministry’s activities, particularly those about exercising active diplomacy on the Palestine issue and strengthening the resistance axis within the framework of the declared documents and principles.
Over the past three years, Bagheri Kani has also served as Iran’s chief negotiator in the talks aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, between Tehran and world powers that started in April 2021 in Austria’s capital Vienna.
The procession then made its way from Tehran University towards Freedom Square along crowded streets filled with mourners….reports Asian Lite News
Millions of mourners flocked to a funeral procession in Tehran on Wednesday after the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter accident, footage from Iran’s state television showed.
The broadcaster showed the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, leading a prayer ceremony in front of the victim’s coffins.
The procession then made its way from Tehran University towards Freedom Square along crowded streets filled with mourners.
Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and seven other people were killed when their helicopter crashed in a mountainous area of north-western Iran on Sunday.
In the wake of the crash, Khamenei ordered five days of national mourning, ending on Friday.
Wednesday’s funeral ceremony was attended by numerous high-ranking political and military representatives, as well as foreign dignitaries, the state news agency IRNA said.
Raisi is to be buried in his home town of Mashhad on Thursday at the shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth imam of Shia Islam.
High-ranking representatives of friendly states are expected to attend, including Russian parliamentary leader Vyacheslav Volodin.
Iran’s state railway company has organised special trains to take mourners from Tehran to the north-eastern city of Mashhad.
President of India, Droupadi Murmu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have conveyed their condolences to the government and people of Iran..reports Asian Lite News
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday morning departed for Tehran to attend the funeral of late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, his foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and other officials who were killed in a helicopter crash, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
“VP Jagdeep Dhankhar embarks on a visit to Tehran to attend the official ceremony to pay condolences on the tragic demise of President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister H. Amir-Abdollahian, of Iran,” said MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, in a post on X.
Meanwhile. thousands of people took to the streets in Iran as the funeral ceremony of Raisi began Friday in the city of Tabriz in the north-western region where the chopper in which he was travelling crashed on Sunday.
“Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankar will pay a visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran on 22 May 2024 to attend the official ceremony to pay condolences on the tragic demise of President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other Iranian officials in an unfortunate helicopter crash on 19 May 2024,” the MEA said in an official press release.
President of India, Droupadi Murmu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have conveyed their condolences to the government and people of Iran.
“External Affairs Minister visited the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi on May 21 to convey India’s condolences on the tragic loss,” the release stated.
The Iranian government has declared Wednesday as a public holiday when a funeral is expected to be held in Tehran with the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah leading prayers.
Raisi’s body will be buried in his birthplace, Mashhad, on Thursday, Vice-President of the Republic, Mohsen Mansouri, announced.
On Monday Prime Minister Narendra Modi had condoled the demise of the Iranian President. In a post on social media platform X, PM Modi acknowledges Raisi’s contribution to strengthening the India-Iran bilateral relationship.
“Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening the India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow,” PM Modi tweeted.
On Monday, Khamenei announced five days of mourning and a public holiday has been declared with offices closed all over the country.
Meanwhile, in New Delhi, a condolence book has been opened at Iran’s Embassy to enable people to pay tributes to the late President, the late foreign as well as other fellow officials.
India observed a day of national mourning as well on May 21. (ANI)
The National Flag is being flown at half-mast on all buildings in India on Tuesday and no official entertainment has been scheduled….reports Asian Lite News
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday visited the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi as the country observed a day’s state mourning in a mark of respect to Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and the country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who passed away in a helicopter crash on Sunday.
“They will always be remembered as friends of India who contributed immensely to the growth of the India-Iran relationship. The government of India stands in solidarity with the people of Iran at this very difficult time,” Jaishankar said in a post on X after visiting the Iranian Embassy.
Raisi and Abdollahian were among nine people who died when their helicopter crashed in Iran’s mountainous north-west while they were returning from the Azerbaijan border after flagging off joint projects in the region.
The National Flag is being flown at half-mast on all buildings in India on Tuesday and no official entertainment has been scheduled.
