Ali Akbar Velayati Archives - Iran News Daily

Velayati: US Can’t Stay in Iraq

reporter 1222 — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 14:00:30 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iranian Supreme Leader’s top adviser for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati underlined that the US has no chance to continue its military deployment in Iraq.

“Their attempts are futile. The Iraqi parliament has voted for the US withdrawal from Iraq and the Iraqi people have supported the vote in their rallies,” Velayati told reporters in a press conference in Tehran on Thursday.

“The Americans have no chance to stay in Iraq and they should leave the country,” he added.

Velayati also underlined the need for the American military forces to leave Syria, saying that the resistant and powerful government of Syria will be deployed in the Eastern Euphrates region.

The Iraqi parliament passed a non-binding resolution earlier this month asking the government to expel foreign troops and to cancel the ongoing request for military assistance from the US-led coalition.

There are currently 5,200 US troops stationed at bases across Iraq.

Since the US invasion of Iraq by the Bush administration in 2003, there have been more than 200,000 civilians who have been killed or injured – an invasion described as Washington’s greatest foreign policy disaster since Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has threatened to impose sanctions on Iraq if it continues to demand US withdrawal from the country.

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Iran Opposed to Formation of Buffer Zone in Syria by Foreigners

reporter 1222 — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 15:44:08 +0000

Iran Opposed to Formation of Buffer Zone in Syria by Foreigners: Velayati

Ali Akbar Velayati, an international adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, reiterated Iran’s strong support for Syria and said formation of a buffer zone by foreigners is regarded as interference in the Arab country’s internal affairs.

According To Iran News,

“The Islamic Republic of Iran opposes any foreign interference in regional countries and will side with them against the oppression, conspiracy, aggression and malicious plots of enemies to weaken and split up the countries,” Velayati said at a meeting with a delegation of representatives from Syrian tribes in Tehran on Saturday.

“We are against creation of a buffer zone by foreigners and foreign interference in Syria or anywhere in the region because it is tantamount to a change in part of the region and dividing countries and handing them over to foreigners,” he said.

“It (formation of a buffer zone) is undoubtedly at odds with the interests of Syria,” the top adviser said, adding that radicals who oppose the Syrian government and people live in the buffer zone and are supported by the foreigners, while they have committed many crimes in Syria.

“How is it possible to create security for them and give them a region of Syria?” Velayati wondered, adding that this move would be tantamount to the practical disintegration of Syria.

Conflicts erupted in Syria back in 2011, when a small group of opposition forces took up arms against Damascus.

Soon, however, a mix of international terrorists and paid mercenaries mingled with and then largely sidestepped the armed Syrian opposition groups, effectively turning the Arab country into a battlefield for foreign governments opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

But the Syrian military, with advisory military help from Iran and Russia — and a Russian aerial bombardment campaign — has retaken control of much of the country, and the conflict is generally believed to be winding down.

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Resistance countries to have upper hand in any future balance of power in region

reporter 1222 — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 16:11:29 +0000

Resistance countries to have upper hand in any future balance of power in region

A top adviser to Iran’s Leader Ali Akbar Velayati has said that the member states of the Resistance Front will have an upper hand in balance of power in the West Asia region.

According To Iran News, Velayati made the comments in a meeting with the visiting China’s special envoy for Middle East affairs Zhai Jun in Tehran on Tuesday.

The top adviser to Iran’s Leader hailed China’s stances on issues related to Iran and added, “China is an important country for us and there are very deep relations between the two countries.”

He further described the bilateral relations between the two nations as strategic and growing.

“We are witnessing a critical situation in the region and very important developments are taking place, and most of the countries in the world tend to be active in this region, and we want China to be more active in the region, and we need to take steps to develop regional cooperation,” Velyati added.

He referred to the foreign powers’ conspiracies against the countries of the Middle East region including Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, saying that Iran stood by the people of those countries against foreign-backed terrorism.

Meanwhile, he said that Iran will continue its support for the countries of the region, saying “the countries of Syria, Yemen, and Iraq will certainly come out victorious and security will return to the region.”

He added that the Resistance Front will have an upper hand in balance of power in the West Asia region, predicting that the region will return to its original owners.

China’s special envoy for Middle East affairs, for his part, praised Iran’s positive cooperation in the region, adding “Iran-China relations are at a very good level and the strategic partnership between the two countries is very developed and relations are very deep.”

Pointing to the sensitivity of the region, Zhai Jun said “the region is very sensitive and security has to return to it.” He went on to talk about Iran-Saudi relations, saying that Iran and Saudi Arabia are important countries in the region that should have a peaceful relationship.

Furthermore, the two sides discussed and exchanged views on the development of bilateral, regional and international relations.

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Iran calls for Kashmir settlement without foreign interference

reporter 1222 — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 05:21:24 +0000

In a meeting with the visiting Foreign Secretary of India Vijay Keshav Gokhale in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Tuesday, Velayati expressed hope that the situation would improve for the Muslims there.

On August 5, India revoked the semi-autonomous status of Kashmir. It deployed troops to the region to stymie potential protests, imposed severe restrictions on movement, and cut all telephone and internet services.

The controversial move angered both Pakistan, which controls the other part of Kashmir, and the local population.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Velayati referred to the economic ties between Tehran and New Delhi, expressing hope that the expanding relations will go on despite the United States’ cruel sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

The two countries enjoy longstanding ties in various sectors. Iran is the third largest oil supplier to India after Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Iran is India’s sole gateway via land to Afghanistan and provides a shorter route to Central Asia and Eastern Russia via Chabahar Port.

Besides, the International North-South Transit Corridor (INSTC), currently under negotiations, will connect Mumbai with St Petersburg in a shorter time period via Iran than current transportation link.

Vijay Gokhale’s visit to Iran marks India’s first dialogue at the level of Foreign Secretary since PM Narendra Modi’s re-election.

On Monday, the Indian diplomat met and held talks with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his deputy, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi.

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Yemeni revolution into new phase of achievements: Leader’s adviser

reporter 1222 — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 09:10:29 +0000

Ali Akbar Velayati offered his condolences over the martyrdom of Ibrahim al-Houthi in a message to his brother, the leader of Ansarollah Houthi Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.

“Saudi mercenaries martyred this soldier while the Yemeni revolution has entered a new phase of achievements and victories,” reads the message.

“Surely, the martyrdom of this revolutionary warrior gives hope of more victories for Yemeni revolutionary people and continuation of humiliating defeats for the belligerent coalition led by Saudis.”

“Enemies of the Islamic Ummah and Yemeni people should know that martyrdom doesn’t obstruct fulfilling aims and wishes of Islamic nations, rather it is the ultimate wish of Islamic warriors in the fight against the arrogant,” Velayati added.

He went on to highlight that “martyrdom of such fighters will further boost the Resistance Front and make the Yemeni revolution stronger.”

In a statement on Friday, the Houthis’ Interior Ministry blamed the killing of a brother of the leader of Ansarallah movement on “the treacherous hands affiliated with the US-Israeli aggression and its tools.”

Yemeni sources reported that al-Houthi’s body, along with a number of Houthi commanders, had been discovered in a house following a Saudi strike in the city of Haddeh in Yemen’s west-central province of Sana’a.

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Iraq source of pride for Islamic world: Velayati

reporter 1222 — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 07:50:27 +0000

He made the remarks on Monday in a meeting in Tehran with an Iraqi al-Nujaba Movement delegation led by its spokesman Nasr al-Shamri.

“The existence of al-Nujaba Movement is of great importance and value and we are proud that such a faithful movement has managed to play a role in maintaining Iraq’s independence during the past years,” Velayati said in the meeting.

He went on to say that al-Nujaba Movement is one of the main pillars of the Resistance Front which didn’t let Zionists and other foreigners interfere in Iraq’s internal affairs.

“As long as Iran and Iraq are united and the Resistance Axis is in place, no power can stand against us,” he stressed.

Nasr al-Shamri told reporters after the meeting that Iran and Iraq enjoy a strong brotherly bond and that no country can undermine these close relations.

Iraq will never turn into a base for enemies’ forces to attack Iran, he highlighted, adding, “we will confront such a sinister plot with all our might.”

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Leader’s adviser calls for boosting ‘strategic’ relations with China

reporter 1222 — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 10:15:56 +0000

He made the remarks in a Monday meeting with the newly-appointed Chinese Ambassador to Iran Chang Hua.

“The independence of foreign policy, resistance against US expansionist policies, and confronting western countries’ interventions in other countries’ internal affairs are among strategic commonalities between Iran and China,” said Velayati, noting that bilateral ties should be further cemented.

For his part, the Chinese envoy said that Iran is among main countries that cooperate in Belt and Road initiative, hoping that bilateral relations would be further enhanced in areas of various fields.

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Iran to react in kind in face of Europeans’ violations of JCPOA

reporter 1222 — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 07:01:39 +0000

According to the institute for preserving and publishing the books of Iranian Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, Ali Akbar Velayati said that Iran will resume high-level uranium enrichment as the second phase of Iran’s diminishing JCPOA commitments at the end of 60-day ultimatum from July 7.

Velyati said that Iran gave a lot of time to the European side to compensate for its losses after the US withdrawal from the JCPOA in accordance with their commitments, but they have not abided by their obligations so far despite their promises to do so.

He said that from July 7, the rate of uranium enrichment will exceed %3.67 permitted under the deal to the level it is required by the peaceful nuclear activities.

The top advisor to Ayatollah Khamenei added that Iran could increase the uranium enrichment level to %5 to provide fuel to Bushehr nuclear reactor as a completely peaceful goal of producing electricity and meeting the needs of other industries.

Velayati added that Iran will abide by its JCPOA obligations in the way other parties do, stressing that the country will reconsider its decision to reduce JCPOA commitments if the other parties decide to live up to their commitments.

Iran has already implemented the first phase of its actions in reducing its JCPOA commitments by increasing the stockpile of enriched uranium above the 300kg outlined by the JCPOA, and has warned that the second phase of its actions will come into force from July 7 as previously announced.

Tehran says its countermeasures fit within its rights under paragraphs 26 and 36 of the nuclear deal, and that it will reverse the measures once its demands are met.

European signatories to the deal have established a special trade mechanism called INSTEX (Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges) which they claim on Friday that it has become operational. The mechanism will initially cover trades of food, medicine and medical devices and to gradually include other areas.

Tehran says the channel is not sufficient and doesn’t meet the needs of the country which is faced with US sanctions. Iranian officials insist that EU should honor its JPCOA commitments in trading and banking sectors, and should provide the ground for Iran’s oil export.

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Iran’s Velayati: Ending Bloodshed among Muslims Imperative

reporter 1222 — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 08:25:14 +0000

Ali Akbar Velayati, an international adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, expressed deep concern about the ongoing conflicts in the Muslim world and said putting an end to the bloodshed among Muslims is an Islamic-human duty.

Addressing the first meeting of the Central Council of the World Conference on Lovers of Ahl al-Bayt (AS), attended by a gathering of Islamic figures and scholars, Velayati highlighted the importance of unity among Muslims and warned of conspiracies that have created problems for the Islamic community.

“Ending the bloodshed among Muslims is an indispensable task and an Islamic-human duty,” the Iranian official said.

The sedition created by proxy wars and the spread of terrorist, extremist, and Takfiri groups are part of a plot to weaken and break up Islamic countries, he said.

Although the enemies have not been able to reach their goals in the region, they have targeted and hit Muslim nations, Velayati went on to say.

In recent years, some parts of the Muslim world have been plagued with conflicts, violence and terrorism due to a lack of unity as well as plots hatched by the enemies of Islam.

Takfiri terrorist groups like Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL) have emerged in the Middle East, which are believed to have been created and supported by the West and some regional Arab countries.

The terrorist groups, which claim to be Islamic but whose actions are anything but, have been committing heinous crimes not only against non-Muslims, but mostly against Muslims in the region.

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Putin highly regards Ayatollah Khamenei’s viewpoints

reporter 1222 — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 10:15:53 +0000

Senior Adviser to Iranian Leader, Ali Akbar Velayati, said on Sat. that Russian President Vladimir Putin attaches great deal of importance to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and his viewpoints.

The former Iranian foreign minister made the remarks on Saturday morning while answering the questions posed by the participants at the Scientific Seminar on Defining Iran’s Strategic Foreign Policies with the theme of “A View on the East” at Islamic Revolution Institute in Tehran.

During the Q&A session after his address, Mr. Velayati rejected the point made in a question posed by some participants that ideology does not play a role in the foreign policy of the western countries.

“There is no country or bloc in the world that does not move within the framework of a collection of aspirations which can be named causes or values. Even the US, which is pioneering to make it uncertain in especially Islamic countries in the third world, is the most idealistic country among the westerners and sometimes they have explicitly expressed this fact. You can see that after the intentional or unintentional destruction of the twin [world] trade [center] towers in this country by their own people or enemies of US, some smart Americans reasoned that it was done by Americans themselves,” he said.

“The crusade has just begun;” Bush junior said this, spilling the beans about their secret intentions. This word is enough to prove how they look at us i.e. the Islamic world. Earlier the essay, titled as the Clash of Civilizations, by the Jewish Harvard Professor Samuel Huntington, who has passed away now, was published and translated into Farsi. He says that we would witness a clash between civilizations of Christianity, including the Catholics and the Orthodox, with both Islamic and Confucian civilizations in the future and there will be bloody conflicts separating these civilizations from each other,” he recounted.

“Huntington addressed a conference in Cyprus concurrent with the American planes’ bombardment of Kosovo where the majority are Muslims. He said that the bombardment was one of those conflicts. He supported the extremist measure undertaken by Bush junior. In fact, he held that with war on Iraq, US had demolished the infrastructures in this country to later exchange Iraq’s oil with constructing infrastructures for this country,” asserted the Iranian veteran diplomat.

“Even 164 of American intellectuals, including Samuel Huntington, wrote a letter to Bush and approved of all his measures. Even if we pay attention to Cyprus, we see that it is divided into two regions; the southern part which is inhabited by Christians and Orthodox Christians and the northern part that is inhabited by Muslims and Turks. The interesting point is that the southern region is part of the European Union but the northern part is not yet included in the European Union,” he said.

“Without idealism it is impossible. Even liberal democracy is a cause. So it is not like that they don’t follow any idealism. Basically no political movement happens in the world by any country that is free from the framework of any ideology or cause,” he continued.

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