Ali Shamkhani made the remarks in a meeting with Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas Political Bureau on Sunday.

Shamkhani lauded more than 70 years of resistance by the Palestinian people to liberate lands from the clutches of the Zionist regime.

The top security official added, “The volume of fire, the range of missiles and the tactical capability of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad that succeeded to pass through various radar systems and the Iron Dome have invalidated the idea of the invincibility of the Zionist regime.”

Shamkhani added that the “collapse of this fake regime can be seen in the not-too-distant future.”

Admiral Shamkhani also lashed out at plots by the Israeli regime, saying Tel Aviv not only uses military tools to advance its sinister goals, it also uses cyberspace for psychological warfare and create rift among the the Resistance Front.

“In order to neutralize the soft war measures of the Zionist enemy, the Islamic Resistance must activate its capacities in this field, while maintaining and strengthening the cohesion of the Resistance forces, exposing the political, security and social realities of the Zionist regime to the world,” Iran’s top security official suggested.

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In this meeting, Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani considered any delay in implementing the law on the expelling of foreign troops from Iraq to the detriment of the region, increasing tensions and escalating the crisis.

He also stressed the need for the joint cooperation of the regional countries to reduce tensions and hold constructive talks to reduce the existing crises.

The peace and security of Iraq today is the result of the authority of the Iraqi government, the epic struggle of the armed forces, and the popular Resistance groups, therefore it must be protected, Shamkhani added.

The recent US actions to strengthen and expand the terrorist activities of ISIL and the brutal attack on the anti-terrorist forces of the Resistance is the beginning of a new round of organized terrorism, he said and stressed that Iran and other counter-terrorism countries will not allow takfiri terrorism to be revived in the region.

Security and stability are the infrastructures of economic development and prosperity, the Iraqi Foreign Minister said, explaining, “Security is the first priority for a country like Iraq, which has been engaged in the fight against terrorism and insecurity for years.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, he said, “With the continuous efforts of the financial and banking sectors and the economic institutions of Iran and Iraq, some important obstacles have been removed and the debt repayment process will soon begin based on the model agreed between the two countries.”

The Iraqi minister arrived in Tehran on Saturday for a one-day visit. This marks the Iraqi diplomat’s second trip of the month to Tehran.

The chief Iraqi diplomat paid a visit to Iran in early February during which he met with Zarif, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, and President Hassan Rouhani.

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“The United States is pursuing peace talks with the aim of creating a stalemate in the negotiations between the various Afghan parties to blame them for insecurity and instability,” he added.

Stating that Iran will never recognize the group that wants to rule Afghanistan through war, Shamkhani stressed the need for the participation of all ethnic groups in determining the fate of Afghanistan in a completely peaceful process.

Shamkhani called the security of Afghanistan, especially in the provinces bordering Iran, an important issue, stressing the Taliban’s cooperation with the Afghan government in combating any insecurity and countering ISIL moves.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, for his part, presented a report on the peace process in Afghanistan.

Referring to Trump’s actions in not implementing the peace agreement, he said, “We do not trust the United States and we are fighting any group that is the mercenary of the US.”

“We believe that all tribes and clans must participate and play a role in the future of Afghanistan,” he added.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar emphasized the security of the Afghan-Iranian border and announced the Taliban’s readiness to cooperate in this regard.

The delegation of the Taliban group arrived in Tehran early Tuesday to hold talks with Iranian officials on the Afghan peace process.

The Taliban delegation is scheduled to meet with senior Foreign Ministry officials and Iran’s special envoy for Afghanistan to talk about the lasted developments regarding the Afghan peace process and the related issues.

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IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

TEHRAN – Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani has said Iran is resolved to stop the United States and its stooges from committing acts of terrorism and destabilizing the region and to eventually force a complete US troop withdrawal.

Speaking at a meeting with Afghan president’s national security advisor Hamdullah Mohib, in Tehran on Tuesday, Shamkhani said that the U.S. acts of insecurity in West Asia reached their peak with the “cowardly” assassination of top Iranian and Iraqi anti-terror commanders, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is resolved to prevent the continuation of the terrorist, tension-fueling and destabilizing acts of the United States and its stooges and make them leave the region by exacting a severe revenge against those who ordered and perpetrated a crime that will go down in history,” he added.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Shamkhani referred to the threats facing both Iran and Afghanistan and their common interests, especially the need to stop the spread of terrorism and to restore stability and security in the region.

Warning of increased Daesh activity in Afghanistan and the dangers it posed to regional states, he called for collective vigilance and cooperation to fully eliminate “the cancerous tumor.”

Iran’s security chief also highlighted the Islamic Republic’s principal policy of strengthening good neighborliness. “Afghanistan has a special place in Iran’s foreign policy due to numerous commonalities that bond the two nations,” he said.

Shamkhani further stressed Iran’s firm support for the legitimate government of Afghanistan, underlining the need for enhanced Tehran-Kabul cooperation and interaction in political, economic and security areas.

Additionally, he expressed his satisfaction with the opening of the Khaf-Herat railroad and hoped that the project could play an effective role in promoting bilateral relations and improving the welfare of the Afghan people.

Mohib, for his part, voiced the readiness of the Afghan government and nation to boost cooperation with Iran, which he described as his second home.

He further appreciated the unwavering support and hospitality Iran has offered to the Afghan people over the past 40 years.

Later yesterday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks with Mohib.

In the meeting, Foreign Minister Zarif said supporting the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is the principled policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He highlighted the necessity for the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, said, “We believe a comprehensive political solution with the presence of all Afghan groups will be the best guarantee for lasting peace in this country.”

He urged both Tehran and Kabul to enhance consultations at bilateral, regional and international levels.

Zarif expressed satisfaction with the inauguration of the Khaf-Herat railway which came on stream recently, and added the project will pave the way for closer cooperation between the two countries and facilitating connections with regions in the East.

“The Dogharoon crossing should be refurbished in order to boost mutual border cooperation,” Zarif underlined.

The Afghan official, in turn, presented a report on the latest developments pertaining to peace talks in his country, and appreciated Iran’s backing for the Afghan government and people.

He stressed the necessity of boosting political, economic and security cooperation.

The Afghan official also expressed hope linking routes such as the Khaf-Herat railway will further boost regional cooperation.

Among other topics on the agenda during the meeting were mutual cooperation on political, economic and security fronts, holding a meeting of the Iran-Afghanistan Joint Committee and following up on other ongoing projects as well as closer cooperation in the water sector.

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IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has expressed Tehran’s support for the participation of Taliban in Afghanistan’s political structure.

Zarif made the remarks in a Sunday meeting with Head of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah, who is visiting Tehran at the head of a delegation for talks with Iranian officials.

The Iranian top diplomat also reaffirmed Iran’s support for the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the process of peace under the leadership and management of Afghans, and the agreements among the participants in the intra-Afghan negotiations. Iran Vows Support for Taliban Presence in Afghan Political Structure 2

Appreciating Abdullah’s participation in the political process and accepting the responsibility of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan, he voiced Iran’s support for the participation of the Taliban in the political structure of Afghanistan.

Abdullah Abdullah, for his part, explained the latest developments in Afghanistan, as well as the latest status related to the inter-Afghan talks.

Abdullah, the former chief executive officer of the Afghan unity government, is on a three-day trip to Iran for talks on the Afghan peace process, the intra-Afghan dialogue in Qatar, and the need for regional consensus and support for the Afghanistan peace efforts.

Afghan political experts believe that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s role is crucial in the Afghan peace process and that Iran can play a decisive role in ensuring lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.

He was going to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani.

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According To Iran News, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said on Sunday that there have been no direct talks between Iran and the US to exchange prisoners.

Referring to the recent Iran-US prisoner swap, Mousavi said, “The swap was implemented due to humanitarian reasons. The US has held a number of our citizens hostage claiming they have violated US sanctions.”

Noting that US sanctions are illegal and baseless, Mousavi maintained, “During this time with the help of the Swiss government, we have tried our best to utilize all our resources.”

“The Swiss government was responsible for the negotiations and there were no direct talks between Iran and the US,” he added.

“If the Swiss government continues to cooperate, we are ready to repatriate the rest of the Iranians who are in US custody,” he said, adding, “We do not care much about the internal affairs of the US. What is important for Iran is the actions of various US governments, which, unfortunately, have not been able to establish trust between the two countries.”

“US left the negotiating table and violated its obligations under UN Resolution 2231, and we do not think that there will be any change if trump wins the upcoming election or not,” Mousavi said.

Other Iranian authorities have also dismissed claims by the United States administration that a recent prisoner swap between Washington and Tehran was the outcome of successful negotiations between the two sides.

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said on Friday that US President Donald Trump is trying to use the release of American national Michael White from Iranian custody as a political gimmick as he seeks to divert public attention from his numerous failures.

Officials in the US administration have claimed that it was Trump who got the release of White from Iran.

Shamkhani, however, dismissed those claims, saying the US president wants to cover up his failures in dealing with various crises, including the new coronavirus pandemic and the spread of anti-racism protests across the US.

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“It needs to remind evil Pompeo that in Iran, unlike the oligarchy of the Wild West cowboys, Leaders are appointed & beloved of the majority of people & say nothing but what nation wants,” Shamkhani tweeted late on Wednesday.

Khamenei.ir website on Wednesday released a poster, which showed people celebrating a free Palestine. The top of the poster read: “Palestine will be free. The final solution: Resistance until referendum”.

Pompeo condemned the poster, accusing Iranian officials of practicing “anti-Semitism”.

The top Iranian official in his tweet added, “BTW, we are not anti-Semitic, we are at war with criminals, usurpers, and child killers”.

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IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

TEHRAN – A senior Iranian official warns the illegal extension of the UN arms embargo on Iran will drag the already moribund Iran nuclear deal into permanent death.

Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Vice Admiral Ali Shamkhani said in a tweet that Washington’s attempt to circumvent UN Security Council Resolution 2231 will deal the coup de grace to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“This virus of sanctions is a tool used by the White House to maintain the United States’ declining hegemony,” he added.

The top official also lashed out at the European signatories to the JCPOA for failing to act decicisvely.

“On which side is Europe standing: Saving face and boosting multilateralism, or accepting humiliation again and contributing to unilateralism?” he asked rhetorically.

#JCPOA will die forever by circumventing 2231 Resolution & continuing #Iran‘s illegal weapons sanctions. Sanctions’ virus is the US tool for survival of its declining hegemony. What will #EU do: Save dignity & support multilateralism or Accept humiliation & help unilateralism?

His comments came after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed a few days ago to use all means available to extend a UN arms embargo on Iran.

A ban on selling conventional weapons to Iran ends in October under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the JCPOA.

U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said on Thursday that Washington had drafted a Security Council resolution on the issue and was “hopeful” the 15-member body will extend the arms embargo on Iran before it expires.

However, Russia and China, both parties to the JCPOA, are unlikely to allow that with their veto power.

To circumvent the veto, the U.S. will argue that it legally remains a “participant state” in the nuclear deal only to invoke a “snapback” that would restore the UN sanctions, which had been in place against Iran prior to the JCPOA’s inking.

This is while the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018 and re-imposed the anti-Iran sanctions that had been lifted under the agreement.

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