Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh on Monday blamed the United States for the delay in reaching an agreement on the revival of the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA, slamming Washington’s double standards.

His remarks come as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s Board of Governors has recently passed a resolution, proposed by the U.S. and the three European parties to the JCPOA – Britain, France, and Germany, which accuses Tehran of failing to fully cooperate with the UN nuclear agency.

Referring to Iran’s efforts to achieve progress in the revival talks, Khatibzadeh noted that Iran has submitted its initiatives to Washington via European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

“Ahead of the meeting of the Board of Governors, Iran’s initiative was conveyed to the other side via Borrell, and for the first time, through two foreign ministers, Iran’s initiative and proposal was conveyed and a roadmap was submitted, but the U.S. once again decided to delay this agreement,” he said at a weekly press conference.

“If the U.S. fulfills its commitments under the JCPOA and lifts sanctions imposed on the Iranian nation, We can finalize an agreement based on Iran’s initiative.”

Khatibzadeh stressed Tehran’s adherence to diplomacy.

“The American side must return to the path of signing an agreement as soon as possible,” he said, expressing Tehran’s readiness for “a good, sustainable, effective agreement”.

Meanwhile, Khatibzadeh expressed hope that the cargo seized by Greece from an Iranian oil tanker will be released “in practice”.

According to a statement issued by Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) on June 14, the Greek government ordered the release of the ship and its cargo despite sustained US efforts to do otherwise.

Late last month, Reuters quoted an unnamed Greek source as saying that the US Department of Justice had confiscated 700,000 barrels of the Iranian oil cargo.

The source said that the oil cargo had been transferred to another ship hired by Washington and will be sent to the US.

Referring to the two Greek oil tankers that have recently been seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in the Persian Gulf over violations, the spokesman said the vessels are undergoing judicial procedures and the Greek government has tried to provide documents to ensure their release.

Tehran and Athens had friendly relations before the unilateral US imposition of sanctions against Iran and countries working with it. The export of Iran’s oil to Greece was halted as a result of the bans.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Khatibzadeh announced that Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will arrive in Tehran “at the end of the current week”, noting that Tehran seeks to enhance cooperation in the regions of Euroasia and Caucasus.

The post Deal Possible If U.S. Lifts All Sanctions Against Tehran appeared first on Iran News Daily.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh made the remarks on Thursday, one day after the UN General Assembly Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) approved the anti-Iran draft resolution by a vote of 79 in favor to 30 against, with 71 abstentions.

He said the document repeated “baseless allegations” against the Islamic Republic and was founded on “false information and dishonest generalizations.”

The resolution, he added, is based on weak and scattered votes, most of them garnered under political pressure and various threats.

Canada and other main supporters of the motion are addicted to the failed defamation project against Iran, Khatibzadeh said. “Unfortunately, some actors, who have a long history of gross human rights violations, including by selling weapons to authoritarian, occupying and aggressor regimes, are using human rights as a tool to advance their own political ambitions and intentions.”

He said Iran condemned the move by the Canadian government and the other co-sponsors of the resolution as “a clear example of the abuse of transcendent human rights concepts and values ​​to advance short-sighted political motives,” adding that the measure lacks “legal credibility and effect.”

The spokesman also said such “immoral and unjustified activities” do not help promote respect for human rights on the world stage and “merely fuel negative stereotypes and political labeling against nations.”

He further advised the Canadian authorities to stop supporting the US government’s economic terrorism against the Iranian nation and hosting the corrupt and the thieves, who have looted the Iranian people’s wealth, instead of showing hypocritical compassion for human rights in the Islamic Republic.

The Canadian authorities should try to reform their inhumane practices inside their own country and abroad, stop the systematic policy of genocide against their indigenous people, and stand accountable for their complicity in the Zionist regime’s crimes against the Palestinians, Khatibzadeh said.

He also emphasized that strong religious faith, strong cultural infrastructure, sound legal frameworks, and deep-rooted social practices, as well as protection of human rights are among the main pillars of the Islamic Republic.

The official further drew attention to a number of steps that Iran had taken to promote human rights both at home and at an international level, including fighting terrorism, drug trafficking and racial discrimination in the international arena, hosting a large number of immigrants from violence-stricken countries, making judicial reforms and increasing the participation of women in senior management positions.

The post Canada-Drafted UN Rights Resolution Lacks Legal Credibility appeared first on Iran News Daily.

“Condemning the targeting of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh stressed the Islamic Republic of Iran’s firm and consistent position in support of stability, security and tranquility in Iraq,” the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday morning.

The statement come after Iraq’s security forces announced that al-Kadhimi survived an exploding drone assassination attempt early on Sunday.

The prime minister confirmed on Twitter that he was safe after the attack. “I was and still am a redemption project for Iraq and the people of Iraq. The missiles of treachery will not discourage the believers and will shake a hair of the stability and determination of our heroic security forces to preserve people’s security, achieve justice, and set the law in place. Thank God, I am fine and among my people. I call for calmness and restraint from all for the sake of Iraq,” he said.

The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh called for vigilance and said there were conspiracies targeting Iraq’s security and prosperity.

“The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman called on everyone to be aware of the conspiracies that have targeted Iraq’s security and development, saying such incidents are in the interests of those who have violated Iraq’s stability, security, independence and territorial integrity over the past 18 years and by creating terrorist and sedition groups, they have sought to achieve their sinister regional goals,” the statement noted.

Expressing satisfaction over the safety of the Iraqi prime minister, Khatibzadeh expressed his hope that the people, the government and the Iraqi political groups would contribute to the development and prosperity of Iraq through unity and solidarity.

The statement was the second Iranian reaction to the developments in Iraq. The first reaction came from the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, who attributed the attempt on the Iraqi prime minister’s life to foreign think tanks.

“The attempt for Al-Kadhimi’s terror is a new sedition that must be traced back to foreign think tanks, which have brought nothing but insecurity, discord & instability to oppressed Iraqi people through creation & support of terrorist groups & occupation of this country for years,” Shamkhani said on Twitter.

Al-Khadhimi’s residence in the heavily fortified Green Zone of Baghdad was targeted by three suicide drones, two of which were intercepted and downed by security forces.

Six members of Kadhimi’s personal protection force stationed outside his residence in the Green Zone were wounded, security sources told Reuters. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Several influential Iraqi figures and officials reacted to the attack. President Barham Salih condemned the attack as a heinous crime against Iraq. “We cannot accept that Iraq will be dragged into chaos and a coup against its constitutional system,” he said in a tweet.

Images published by Iraqi media outlets showed that parts of the prime minister’s house were damaged, with the house itself littered with rubble resulting from the explosion.

The post Iran condemns assassination attempt against Iraqi PM appeared first on Iran News Daily.

Speaking in his weekly press conference, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said that

President Raisi will travel to Tajikistan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

Stating that Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian will travel to India in the near future, Khatibzadeh said, “A trip to India was on the agenda, which was not possible to be done this week due to several interrelated issues, including the Shanghai Summit, the President’s visit to Tajikistan, and several important foreign policy meetings. India’s visit will take place in the near future.”

“The Zionist regime, as an illegitimate entity that has become a base for state terror and terrorism, has created serious conditions for the region and the world. This regime, which does not adhere to international law, has an active nuclear military program and consistently refused to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has not accepted safeguards rules,” Khatibzadeh said in reaction to the recent remarks of the Zionist regime’s Foreign Minister.

“Unfortunately, there is a double and very shameful standard for the West, which not only does not put pressure on the regime to join and disarm, but also gives all its resources to this darling. This regime has no place to talk about NPT member states,” he added.

In response to a question about the visit of Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the joint statement issued during the visit, the FM spokesman said, “Iran-IAEA relations are normal and technical, and as long as IAEA  keeps the non-political and non-discriminatory aspect with Iran, Iran will also maintain its relations with the IAEA.”

“Very good consultations were held between the two sides and there were no new issues. Due to the meeting of the governors, the talks were held intensively and it was agreed to continue these relations within the technical framework without giving permission to the other parties to bring political issues into the relations between Iran and the IAEA,” he added. “Mr. Eslami will travel to Vienna to attend the Agency’s General Conference, and it has been agreed that Mr. Grossi will visit Tehran more regularly and return to Tehran after the Board of Governors meeting.”

He also spoke about the memory of the agency cameras, saying, “The resolution of the parliament is quite clear and binding. The government suspended all access beyond safeguards and voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol from the day the parliament passed the resolution. Agency access to camera memory is possible when an agreement is reached.”

“If one day we reach an agreement among the parties in the field of the JCPOA, the full implementation of the deal by Iran will be resumed,” he added.

In response to a question about recognizing the Taliban, Khatibzadeh said, “Iran is one of the few actors that has relations with all parties in Afghanistan. It has had more inclusive conversations with some and more limited ones with others. We always tried to talk to these groups. The first round of comprehensive intra-Afghan talks was held in Tehran, and we tried to involve all groups in these talks.”

“We emphasized the will of the people in the future of Afghanistan and the non-interference of foreigners. Our definite will is to strengthen relations with the people of Afghanistan and help fulfill the will of the oppressed and zealous people of Afghanistan,” he added.

Regarding the invitation of Iran by the Taliban, he said, “It is too early to talk about this issue. We must wait for the formation of the future government of Afghanistan and then decide on other issues. We will decide on the Taliban’s request and invitation based on their actions.”

Regarding the IRGC’s attack on the headquarters of terrorist groups in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, he said, This is in response to the repeated attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran from the self-proclaimed bases of these terrorist groups near the Iranian border, killing several zealous Iranian border guards.”

“It has been said many times that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not tolerate the security of its own borders to be endangered by terrorist groups,” he added. “We have repeatedly mentioned this to our friends in Iraq in bilateral talks, formal talks and informal meetings. Arrangements must be made so that Iraqi territory not to abused by these terrorist groups.”

The post President to Attend SCO Summit in in Tajikistan appeared first on Iran News Daily.

Referring to the sporadic clashes in Panjshir, Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry spokesman called on all parties to show restraint and adhere to the principle of dialogue to resolve disputes, and called on Afghan groups to refrain from resorting to violence and fratricide, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.

In an interview with IRNA on Friday about the current developments in Afghanistan and the sporadic clashes in Panjshir, Khatibzadeh called on all parties to show restraint and adhere to the principle of dialogue to resolve disputes and reach a mutually acceptable solution.

The spokesman underlined, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is in constant contact with all parties and has made every effort to reduce the suffering of the Afghan people to a minimum. We believe that lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan can only be achieved through genuine intra-Afghan dialogue without the presence and intervention of foreign countries.”

Khatibzadeh said: “Afghanistan today is tired of years of occupation and war and violence, and therefore all groups must avoid the re-use of violence and fratricide.”

Condemning any foreign interference, he noted, “The people of Afghanistan deserve a popular and inclusive government that reflects the demographic and ethnic composition of this country.”

Khatibzadeh stated, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is with the people of Afghanistan in this direction, as it has been for the last 40 years.”

Ahmad Masoud, the son of the late anti-Soviet Mujahideen commander Ahmad Shah Masoud, has established himself in Panjshir Valley, leading a several-thousand-strong force comprised of militias and remnants of the Afghan army and special forces units who are opposed to the Taliban, according to Press TV.

Panjshir has been the only region to hold out against the Taliban following their takeover of Afghanistan.

Masoud has called for a negotiated settlement with the Taliban but has said his forces will resist if the narrow and mountainous valley is attacked.

The Taliban are poised to run Afghanistan again 20 years after they were removed from power by invading American forces. Press TV reported that the Taliban militants intensified their offensives and rapidly overran major cities in recent weeks as the United States started what was seen as a hasty withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on August 15, prompting the evacuation of thousands of Afghans and foreign civilians via the Kabul airport, while foreign troops also used the airfield to pull out.

Iran has long called for two things in Afghanistan: the formation of an inclusive government and the end of foreign meddling in the war-torn country.
Iran’s special envoy for Afghanistan Mohammad Ali Taherian underlined these principles in a recent meeting with his German counterpart Jasper Wieck.

Taherian underlined the need for all sides to stick by a political solution to the Afghanistan conflict and make efforts to form an inclusive and pluralistic government as the only option for ending war and violence there.

Jasper Wieck supported the approach and called for continued consultations and cooperation between Iran and Germany to establish lasting peace and stability with the participation of all ethnic groups and factions in Afghanistan.

Last week, Khatibzadeh said Iran seeks establishment of an “inclusive” government in Afghanistan, and is ready to facilitate intra-Afghan talks.

“We have always stood by the people of Afghanistan and our priority has been to ensure peace, stability and progress in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is our dear neighbor. It is in our realm of civilization, and a statement I read at the ministry last week emphasized that the lives, honor, and properties of the Afghan people must be respected by all groups in the country. What we think will bring peace and stability to Afghanistan is the formation of an inclusive government in this country that reflects the ethnic and demographic composition of Afghanistan,” he noted.

Khatibzadeh added, “In this regard, the responsibility of the future government of Afghanistan will help fulfill their definite obligations, and we are waiting to see the formation of an inclusive government and the commitment of that government to fulfill its responsibilities, and based on that, Iran and the international community will make their decisions.”

The spokesman said that what Iran seeks is that Afghans decide for their future.

“What is clear from the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which I have read before, is that we seek the people of Afghanistan to decide their own destiny, and no force outside Afghanistan can decide for the people of Afghanistan and their future. Afghanistan should be allowed to create an inclusive government in the country by facilitating inter-Afghan dialogue, not a minority government against the majority or a government with only one group, but a government that reflects the demographic and ethnic composition of Afghanistan,” he elaborated.

The post Iran calls on Afghans to avoid violence, fratricide appeared first on Iran News Daily.

Speaking at his weekly press briefing on Monday, Khatibzadeh said, “Iran is deeply concerned about the developments in Afghanistan. The Islamic Republic of Iran has always considered the security of Afghanistan as its own security and has used all its facilities and capacities to contribute to the peace, stability, and tranquility of Afghanistan at bilateral, regional, and international levels.”

He added, “In this context, we are ready and willing to pursue the Tehran Peace Initiative to form an inclusive government in a genuine intra-Afghan dialogue, including all the groups that exist in Afghanistan today.”

The spokesman also called on Afghanistan’s neighbors to hold regular and structured dialogue in order to coordinate their efforts, manage the humanitarian issue of war-displaced people, prevent the geography of Afghanistan from being exploited by extremist groups, and help end the war, bloodshed, and fratricide.

Khatibzadeh said Iran is ready to facilitate and play host to such a dialogue.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has hosted millions of its own Afghan brothers and sisters for the past four decades and has never had anything but a kinship view of the Afghan people, and this humane view has always existed and will continue, God willing,” he pointed out.

As the conflict in Afghanistan intensified over the past few weeks, Iranian officials have increased their peace efforts regarding Afghanistan. Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian, the Iranian foreign minister’s special envoy for Afghanistan affairs, recently had a phone conversation with Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar.

In the phone call, the two sides conferred on the latest developments in Afghanistan.

The two sides also discussed the significance of ongoing Afghan peace processes, especially the continuation of intra-Afghan talks in Tehran.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also held talks with UN Special Envoy for Afghanistan Jean Arnault, who has traveled to Tehran heading a delegation to exchange views with Iranian Foreign Ministry officials, according to a ministry statement.

In the Sunday meeting, Zarif touched upon the dire situation in Afghanistan and the growing complexity of the circumstances in the country, dismissing foreign powers’ inappropriate policies as one of the root causes of the current situation in Afghanistan.

He expressed Iran’s readiness to help with and facilitate negotiations among Afghan sides in order to advance the peace process in Afghanistan.

Zarif said intra-Afghan talks are the only solution to the problems facing the country.

“The international community should adopt a straightforward stance to support a political settlement of the crisis in Afghanistan and condemn violence and its consequences,” said the Iranian foreign minister.

The UN envoy, in turn, stressed the importance of the role of Iran and other regional countries in helping move forward with the peace trend in Afghanistan.

He said no country or a limited number of countries alone will be able to help calm the current situation in Afghanistan, adding only collective cooperation can defuse the situation in the country.

Arnault emphasized intra-Afghan talks as the only way to tackle the current situation in the country, and described his negotiations in Tehran as fruitful and significant.

Arnault also met with Taherian and exchanged views about the ongoing issues in Afghanistan.

Earlier this week, the Iranian Foreign Ministry urged the Afghans to sue for peace and expressed readiness to facilitate dialogue between the warring sides in a statement issued to mark the anniversary of the terrorist attack against Iranian diplomats and a reporter in Afghanistan’s Mazar-i-Sharif.

August 8 marks one of the most bitter days for the diplomatic arm of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

23 years ago, on such a day, Iranian diplomats and an Iranian reporter were martyred at the country’s consulate general in the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif, in an act of cowardice and in violation of commitments made to Tehran as well as international regulations and treaties and the human and Islamic common sense.

International condolence and empathy with the people and government of Iran, following the terrorist incident, and especially the message of condolence from the oppressed people of Afghanistan, who were themselves victims to blind terror, was a fresh dazzling show of deep ties between the peoples of the two countries of Iran and Afghanistan, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

It said these are the ties, which in the midst of unjust wars and suffering of the oppressed people of Afghanistan, led to the reciprocal support of the people of Iran for their subjugated Afghan brothers and sisters.

Deep and true ties between the Iranian and Afghan nations leave the two sides with no better choice other than to take up constructive approaches with an eye on ensuring the interests of both countries, the statement said.

The people and the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, just as in the past, are standing alongside their brothers and sisters in Afghanistan and support any solution that helps end more than four decades of baleful and devastating war and protects the achievements of the people of Afghanistan, which are the fruit of the blood of thousands of martyrs, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in the statement.

It added that the Islamic Republic of Iran honors the memory of the martyrs of this incident and, once more, strongly condemns the act of terrorism.

Tehran also pledges to pursue the issue as an obvious demand of the Iranian government and nation until the hidden aspects of the incident come to light, the ministry stated.

In the end, Iran invites all parties to the war in Afghanistan to end their conflict and fratricide and look for a settlement through negotiations and expresses its readiness to continue to facilitate and host these talks, the Foreign Ministry concluded.

“The need to prevent influx of Afghan refugees to borders”

Arnoult also met with Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, an aide to the speaker of the Iranian parliament who is rumored to become the next foreign minister of Iran. During his meeting with the UN envoy, Amir-Abdollahian stressed the importance of the security of the people inside Afghanistan and the prevention of the influx of refugees to the borders and stressed the need for unity among all parties.

Explaining the views of Iran on the developments in Afghanistan and the region, he said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes the intra-Afghan talks with the presence of all parties.”

Amir-Abdollahian also stressed the role of the United Nations in establishing peace and security in Afghanistan and added, “The Islamic Republic of Iran supports the United Nations initiatives in resolving the Afghan crisis.”

At the same time, he criticized the UN for not taking active action in response to recent developments in Afghanistan.

“The irresponsible actions of the Americans and the behavioral effects of the occupiers have multiplied the problems of the suffering people of Afghanistan,” Amir-Abdollahian noted. “We should not see the Americans continue to act irresponsibly and remain calm at the United Nations.”

In the meeting, Arnault considered the role of neighbors, especially Iran, in resolving the Afghan conflict significant and said, “There should be a stronger international consensus on the issue of Afghanistan, and this issue requires the support of neighboring countries.”

At the end of the meeting, the UN envoy for Afghanistan stressed the need to support a political solution to the Afghan crisis and praised the constructive role of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The post Iran expresses deep concern over developments in Afghanistan appeared first on Iran News Daily.

In the meeting, Zarif referred to the serious situation in Afghanistan and the increasing complexity of disorder in the country.

He mentioned the wrong policies of foreign powers as one of the important factors in the current situation in Afghanistan.

Announcing Iran’s readiness to assist and facilitate talks between the Afghan parties in order to advance the peace process in Afghanistan, the foreign minister said that the conflict in Central Asian country can be resolved only through talks between Afghans themselves.

He added, “The global community must adopt a political solution to the crisis in Afghanistan and condemn the violence and its aftermath.”

For his part, the special envoy stressed the importance of the role of Iran and other countries in the region in contributing to the Afghan peace process.

Arnault added that no country can solely solve the current disorder in Afghanistan.

“Only collective cooperation can reduce the severity of the situation in Afghanistan,” the special envoy insisted.

Arnault also stressed the importance of inter-Afghan talks as the only way to overcome the rapidly spreading conflict in Afghanistan and considered his talks in Tehran useful and important.

Iran has tried hard to broker peace between warring parties in Afghanistan.

In his press conference on August 1, Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said that the situation in Afghanistan is serious.

“For the Islamic Republic of Iran, security of the Afghan people has always been a top priority. We have declared to all parties and groups in Afghanistan that they must consider the protection of the Afghan people in all their actions and talks,” he noted.

Iran has always been ready to do whatever is necessary to achieve peace in the country and maintain the security of the Afghan people, he insisted.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has facilitated the first round of talks between the Afghan parties in Tehran and is ready to facilitate the second round.”

He reiterated Iran’s position that there is no military solution to the Afghanistan crisis.

“As we have repeatedly stated, the key is to hold genuine inter-Afghan dialogue and form an inclusive government with all Afghan groups. The Taliban are part of the present and future of Afghanistan,” Khatibzadeh highlighted.

He reiterated that everyone should be aware that genuine inter-Afghan dialogue can be a lasting solution for Afghanistan.

“Iran considers the security of Afghanistan as its security,” he said, adding that Iran is in contact with all parties in Afghanistan and will do whatever is necessary to build lasting peace in Afghanistan.

Iran is pushing hard for peace in neighboring Afghanistan.

Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian, the special representative of the Iranian Foreign Ministry for Afghanistan, met with Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar in Kabul on July 27, discussing the latest developments surrounding Afghanistan.

Taherian assured the Afghan foreign minister of Tehran’s support for the peace process in Afghanistan while maintaining the achievements the Afghans have made over the past two decades.

Iran’s special envoy also called for further cooperation between Kabul and Tehran in various areas, including border cooperation and coordination between different sectors.

According to the Afghan Foreign Ministry, Atmar said he appreciates the reasonable stances of Iran in supporting peace efforts, ending violence, putting an end to arbitrary killings and torture of civilians, and human rights violations in the territories captured by the Taliban.

Atmar also warned a domination of the Taliban and the escalation of violence by the group will lead to a spread of extremism and the presence of international terrorist groups, including ISIS, in Afghanistan and regional countries.

Fighting between the Taliban and Afghan government forces has increased over the past two months as foreign troops pull out of the country.

The Taliban is thought to have captured up to half of all the Afghan territory.

As U.S. forces have withdrawn, the Taliban have made rapid gains, retaking border crossings and rural areas.

The Taliban, who were pushed out of power by the U.S. invasion nearly 20 years ago, have also seized key roads as they seek to cut off supply routes.

To establish peace and security in Afghanistan, Iran hosted a meeting between a Taliban delegation and a group of figures who support the republican system on July 7 and 8.

Foreign Minister Zarif, who led the talks, urged both sides to show courage in making peace.

“Courage in peace is more important than courage in war because peace needs sacrifice and forgiveness, needs ignoring one’s maximal demands, and paying attention to the other side’s demands, especially in these talks where there is no other side, and both sides are brothers seeking peace and calm for the Afghan nation,” Zarif told the Afghan participants.

The Iranian foreign minister added, “What I ask you is that use this opportunity and end the war in Afghanistan as soon as possible, and provide the Afghan people with the chance to develop.”

He also voiced Iran’s readiness to facilitate peace talks. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is always ready to facilitate your talks in any way you prefer,” he pointed out.

The post Iran insists on inter- Afghan dialogue to settle conflict appeared first on Iran News Daily.

“We condemn the baseless statement of the G7 foreign ministers and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs, which is full of baseless allegations against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Khatibzadeh said in response to the statement of the G7 foreign ministers.

The spokesman added that the Mercer ship incident occurred just a few days before the inauguration of the new Iranian president, which is a manifestation of the democratic transfer of power in Iran.

“Such baseless scenarios, which are often the work of the Zionist regime from behind the scenes, are designed to confuse the atmosphere,” he added.

According to the spokesman, these allegations have customers among those who are immediately ready for unrealistic and irrational conclusions.

“In fact, for the experts and those familiar with the history of this region, the planning of such conspiracies by the Zionist regime at different times is not new,” he added.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman concluded by saying that Iran is fully committed to securing the strategic waterway of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and considers it a part of its security.

Khatibzadeh added Iran will not hesitate to defend its sovereign rights in the strategic waterway.

On August 6, the G7 issued a statement calling the incident for the Mercer ship “a targeted and deliberate attack,” pointing fingers towards Iran.

Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, a senior spokesman for the Iranian military, has said that “if we are going to confront the enemy, we will explicitly declare it, like the attack on Ein al-Assad base.”

Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Republic Guard Corps Aerospace Force, also reacted to threats against Iran in regard to the suspected attack on the ship, saying, “They have already tested us and know what kind of response they will face… therefore they must know that if they want to do any adventure (against Iran) they will receive a crushing response.”

The post Iran condemns G7 statement, calls it baseless appeared first on Iran News Daily.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh warned Israel against any “foolish move,” saying that Iran will decisively respond to any such move.

“In another brazen violation of Int’l law, Israeli regime now blatantly threatens Iran with military action. Such malign behavior stems from blind Western support,” Khatibzadeh said on Twitter. “We state this clearly: ANY foolish act against Iran will be met with a DECISIVE response. Don’t test us.”

He was responding to a threat issued by Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz against Iran. Gantz said Israel is ready to take military action against Iran. The remarks came amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel over a mysterious attack on an Israeli-operated oil tanker off the coast of Oman nearly nine days ago.

The Israeli-operated ship Mercer Street was attacked off the coast of Oman on July 29 while traveling from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to the United Arab Emirates port of Fujairah. The oil tanker, managed by Israeli shipping magnate Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Maritime, was reportedly attacked by suicide drones. Zodiac Maritime said two crewmen, a British and Romanian national, died in the attack.

“With profound sadness, we understand the incident onboard the M/T Mercer Street on 29 July, 2021 has resulted in the deaths of two crew members on board,” the UK-based Israeli company said in a statement on Friday afternoon, a day after the attack.

Israel, the U.S. and the UK blamed Iran for the attack without presenting any evidence to support their accusations.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett claimed that Tel Aviv knows with certainty Iran attacked the Mercer Street ship and will respond to it.

“I determine, with absolute certainty – Iran carried out the attack against the ship,” Bennett stated, according to the Jerusalem Post. “The intelligence evidence for this exists and we expect the international community will make it clear to the Iranian regime that they have made a serious mistake.”

He noted, “In any case, we know how to send a message to Iran in our own way.”

The UK also followed suit. “We believe this attack was deliberate, targeted, and a clear violation of international law by Iran. UK assessments have concluded that it is highly likely that Iran attacked the MV Mercer Street in international waters off Oman on 29 July using one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),” said a UK statement last week. “The UK is working with our international partners on a concerted response to this unacceptable attack.”

Iran said it was not behind the attack on the Israeli ship. Khatibzadeh has responded to allegations by U.S. and UK top diplomats against Iran about last week’s attack on an Israeli oil tanker off the coast of Oman.

Khatibzadeh said the statements issued by U.S. and UK top diplomats contain “contradictory” claims and “provocative and false accusations.” He condemned these statements and called them “deeply regrettable.”

“Such coordinated statements (from Britain and the U.S.) include contradictory phrases per se, in a way that they first level accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran without providing any evidence and document and then talk about the ‘possibility’ of this,” Khatibzadeh said.

The spokesman described Iran as an advocate and supporter of the safe navigation of ships in the Persian Gulf and international waters, and said as a country that has the longest sea borders in the Persian Gulf, Iran is always prepared for cooperation with regional countries to ensure maritime security.

He also noted that Iran considers the presence and interference of the extra-regional forces in the Persian Gulf waters and its littoral states to be harmful to the region’s stability and security.

“It is a pity that these countries (the U.S. and Britain) have remained supportively silent about the terrorist attacks and acts of sabotage against Iranian trade vessels in the Red Sea and international waters, but have raised bogus allegations against Iran with political bias in a brazen manner. If these countries have any evidence for their bogus claims, they should present them,” he added.

In a tweet on Monday, the spokesman warned, “As guarantor of Persian Gulf security, Iran strongly condemns provocative & orchestrated UK/US statements. Having kept silent abt REPEATED terrorist attacks on IRANIAN ships, they now baselessly accuse IRAN. Any anti-Iran adventurism will receive IMMEDIATE & DECISIVE response.”

In the midst of the kerfuffle over Mercer Street, several Western media outlets alleged that a number of commercial ships off the coast of the United Arab Emirates were harassed by allegedly Iranian forces. Iran strongly denied any involvement and even said there were no incidents taking place in the Gulf of Oman, where the alleged harassment reported happened.

The Iranian embassy in the UK even warned of an unfair game intended to mislead the public. “According to our direct links in the Persian Gulf region, no information on new incidents for any merchant ship in the region is confirmed so far. Misleading the public all around the world for diplomatic gain in New York is not fair game,” the embassy said on Twitter.

Allegations propagated by Western media were dismissed by Iranian officials as a prelude to new adventurism by the West against Iran. The senior spokesman for the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, denounced the Western press reports about the alleged incidents in the Gulf of Oman as “psych ops” and an effort to pave the way for new adventurism against Iran.

“Conflicting reports by Western, Zionist, and Saudi media about any maritime insecurity and hijacking of vessels in the region’s waters are sort of psych ops and a prelude to new adventurism,” the Iranian general said. “The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, while supporting passage of commercial ships, are well-prepared and have full intelligence surveillance over any suspicious moves.”

The continuation of Western reports prompted Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Major General Hossein Salami to issue a stark warning against any provocation.

He called on the enemies to abandon wrong moves and plots and avoid challenging Iran, saying that, otherwise, they would receive a crushing response that would make them regret their moves.

Tensions between Israel and Iran came against a backdrop of ambiguity over the fate of the Vienna nuclear talks between Iran and the West. The talks have been put on hold since more than a month ago with no resumption date in sight.

The post ‘Don’t test us:’ Iran responds to Israeli threat of military action appeared first on Iran News Daily.

Khatibzadeh said Iran is closely following the current events in Tunisia.

The diplomat, while calling on all parties to show restraint and maintain empathy, stressed the need for dialogue between all groups and institutions in the country to calm down the current tension and fulfill the aspirations of the revolutionary nation of Tunisia.

Announcing that Iran is on the side of Tunisia to pass this stage, Khatibzadeh called for the establishment of stability in Tunisia’s political and security spheres and expressed hope that Tunisia would pass this critical stage through dialogue as soon as possible.

Discontent has been brewing in Tunisia since the revolution in 2011 and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the country’s economy and health care system toward the brink of collapse.

While the Arab Spring movement ushered in democracy and long-awaited freedom of expression, Tunisians say the string of governments since— there have been nine — have failed to deliver tangible fixes for rampant unemployment, poverty, inflation, and poor social services, says Monica Marks, Assistant Professor of Arab Crossroads Studies at New York University in Abu Dhabi.

Marks told NPR that the economic crisis and pandemic-related lockdowns have made conditions “more difficult than ever,” and another recent spike has only increased the public’s frustration.

On Sunday, Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed the government and froze parliament in a dramatic escalation of a political crisis that his opponents labelled a coup, calling their own supporters to come onto the streets in protest, Reuters reported.

The president said he would assume executive authority with the assistance of a new prime minister after violent protests broke out in several Tunisian cities over the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economy.

It is the biggest challenge yet to a 2014 constitution that split powers between the president, prime minister, and parliament.

“Many people were deceived by hypocrisy, treachery, and robbery of the rights of the people,” he said in a statement carried on state media.

“I warn any who think of resorting to weapons … and whoever shoots a bullet, the armed forces will respond with bullets,” he added, according to al Jazeera.

He also suspended the immunity of members of parliament, insisting his actions were in line with the constitution.

Tunisian Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi accused President Saied of launching “a coup against the revolution and constitution”.

“We consider the institutions to be still standing and supporters of Ennahdha and the Tunisian people will defend the revolution,” Ghannouchi, who heads the Ennahdha party, told the Reuters news agency by phone.

Ennahdha is the biggest party in parliament.

The party also condemned the president’s move as a “state coup against the revolution”.

“What Kais Saied is doing is a state coup against the revolution and against the constitution, and the members of Ennahdha and the Tunisian people will defend the revolution,” Ennahdha wrote in a statement on its Facebook page.

The post Iran reacts to developments in Tunisia appeared first on Iran News Daily.