The Cultural Attaché Office of Iran in Lebanon has released eight Arabic books by the Leader, with a focus on the role of Muslim women, Mehr reported on Monday.

The titles include “Modesty and Hijab in Islamic Iranian Lifestyle,” “The Role Model of Women,” “Women and Family,” and “The Position and Issues of Women in Islamic Culture and Modernity.”

Additionally, the list features titles like “Two Mujahid Imams,” “Discourse on Patience,” “The Epic of Imam Sajjad (AS),” and “Cultural Bases.”

“Modesty and Hijab in Islamic Iranian Lifestyle” attempts to carefully study, extract, and present all of the Leader’s speeches in five chapters with the titles of “Modesty and Chastity,” “Relationships between Men and Women,” “Hijab and Dress Code,” “Unveiling and Decadence,” and “Dealing with Decadence.”

In the process of extracting, collecting, and categorizing the Leader’s speeches, all of his speeches and messages about women from the beginning of the victory of the Islamic Revolution until 2013, including speeches that have not been widely covered by the media, such as the recommendations they made to young people during marriage sermon readings, have been examined. These speeches were found in the archives of the Leader’s office and their extensive volume demonstrates the Leader’s attention and concern for women’s issues.

“The Role Model of Women” carefully extracts all of the Leader’s speeches in various dimensions and in accordance with the needs of today in thirteen sections with titles such as: “The Importance of Presenting a Correct Role Model in Human Life,” “Fatemeh Zahra (SA), the Comprehensive Model of Women and Human Life,” “Fatemeh Zahra (SA) and the Family Sphere,” “Fatemeh Zahra (SA) and the Political and Social Struggle,” “Fatemeh Zahra (SA) and the Sphere of Spiritual Knowledge,” “Fatemeh Zahra (SA) and the Sphere of Worship,” “The Greatness and Perfections of Fatemeh Zahra (SA),” “The Ashura Model of Women,” “Quranic Models of Women,” “Becoming an Iranian Muslim Woman.”

In “Women and Family”, the Leader pays attention to the central role of the family in discussions about women, taking into account the legal and social aspects.

This book aims to extract the Leader’s viewpoints on marriage and family with a focus on women.

“The Position and Issues of Women in Islamic Culture and Modernity” highlights the importance of paying attention to women’s issues according to the Leader’s viewpoint. He believes in prioritizing women’s issues in order to address the historical oppression of women with a fundamental movement – an oppression that has existed for women in family and society, in the East and the West, from the past until now.

The current dangerous situation they face in the West, marked by the distortion of women with slogans of freedom and the destabilization of family status and economic exploitation of women.

On the other hand, by presenting a comprehensive and complete view of Islam regarding women, women can be elevated to their rightful high position and human dignity. In Islam, while recognizing the differences between men and women, their equality in the realms of human perfection is emphasized.

In this book, the statements of the Leader are presented thematically and titled, covering three chapters: the importance and roots of women’s issues, women in Western culture, and the status and position of women in Islamic thought.

“Two Mujahid Imams” includes six speeches by the Leader, analyzing the political struggles of Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein. The first two speeches in the book are from his lectures given in 1972.

In these two sessions, the Leader, in addition to explaining the theory of the “250-year-old human,” discusses the high and important position of Imam Hassan (AS) during that period, the reasons for avoiding war and accepting a ceasefire, and highlights the differences between the conditions of Imam Hassan (AS) and Imam Hussein (AS). The third to fifth speeches in the book are dedicated to three lectures given by the Leader in Mashhad in 1973. The theme of these lectures is the “analysis of the uprising of Imam Hussein.”

In the fourth speech, the goals of the uprising of Imam Hussein are discussed, and to clarify the subject, the roots of those goals are analyzed. In the fifth speech, after briefly reviewing the topics of the previous two speeches, the Leader refers to the era of Imam Hussein and his actions, presenting a comprehensive and documented discussion on this matter.

The perspective of the Leader in these six speeches is very unique, even though they were delivered when he was 32 and 33 years old. Numerous authentic and historical sources have been used in his speeches, making them different from ordinary speeches of that time and even the present, resembling more academic and scholarly sessions.

“Discourse on Patience” includes one of the Leader’s speeches in Mashhad in 1973, in which he discussed the hadith of Makarim al-Akhlaq. In this hadith, ten qualities of the prophets are mentioned. The Leader, while explaining these qualities, had a special focus on dispelling misconceptions about these fundamental teachings, especially in the minds of the youth. By redefining these qualities with a revolutionary approach that existed within these concepts, he aimed to make revolutionary youth more deeply rooted in Islamic struggles.

One of these qualities, mentioned as the third quality in the narration, is “patience.” The concept of “patience” had been subject to misconceptions. At the beginning of this discussion, the Leader bravely and ambiguously states that our society is under the rule of oppressors, and the misunderstanding of the concept of patience has led to more opportunities for the oppressors to perpetrate injustices.

He sees this understanding of “patience” as being completely contrary to Quranic and narrational teachings in this regard. The Leader explains the three types of patience: patience in performing obligations, patience in refraining from committing sins, and patience in times of calamity. By using religious teachings and historical evidence, he emphasizes the greater importance of the second type of patience.

Furthermore, he concludes this section by criticizing those who seek comfort and have abandoned the struggle, and by discussing the method of strengthening this type of patience in the face of calamities. The final part of the book is dedicated to discussing the worldly effects and benefits of patience, strengthening the motivation necessary for enduring difficulties and hardships in the audience through historical examples.

“The Epic of Imam Sajjad (AS)” consists of speeches by the Leader on the political and cultural struggles of Imam Sajjad (AS). The book is divided into three sections. The first section includes the speech of the Leader at the International Congress of Imam Reza. In this speech, delivered in 1986, he addresses the theory of the 250-year human.

The main part of the book focuses on four speeches by the Leader regarding the political and cultural struggles of Imam Sajjad (AS).

“Cultural Bases” contains the texts of the two meetings of the Leader at cultural bases that have been created to confront the enemy’s cultural confrontation, cultural invasion and soft war.

The most important and fundamental points, the details, and intricacies, in a way that truly applies to the field of action and implementation, are discussed in these speeches. Those who engage in the field of culture are people of precision and attention, and with a little of this attention, in every topic and sentence of this text, they find valuable and necessary lessons for their own cultural activities and their organization.

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Speaking to ILNA, Ebrahim Mohammad Rezazadeh touched upon the trade between Iran and Lebanon and said that the highest amount of Lebanon’s imports has been between $19b to $20b and this amount has fallen sharply after the Covid pandemic.

He added that the latest statistics show that Lebanon’s imports were around $11.3b in 2020. He blamed the pandemic for the sharp decline for Lebanon’s imports from Iran and also pointed finger to the economic problems in Lebanon like devaluation of the national currency.

He then pointed to the shares of countries from Lebanon’s market in the past 20 years and said that China tops the list with 9.2% and the U.S. trails China with 8.3%. Italy, France, Germany, Turkey, Russia and Greece are the other major trade partners of Lebanon and in the past five years, China, Italy, the U.S., Greece, Germany and Turkey have dominated Lebanon’s market.

Rezazadeh noted that shares of countries in Lebanon’s market is less than 10% while the figure is usually more than 10% in other countries.

He noted that Lebanon has the highest number of migrants to other countries and according to reports, Lebanese living abroad are four times of the current population in Lebanon, in other words, one-fourths of Lebanese live abroad and most of them are businessmen or they are involved in trade and actually the main exporters to Lebanon are the Lebanese themselves.

He went on to say that the climax of Iran’s exports to Lebanon was 2016 when Iran exported goods worth $93m to Lebanon and the amount declined in the past three years and it dropped to one-thirds and Iran’s exports declined to $30m last year which is only 0.3% of Lebanon’s market and it not a considerable figure.

Rezazadeh admitted that the trade between Iran and Lebanon is not satisfactory noting that Iran has not penetrated into Lebanon economically and it has focused most on strengthening economic bond while other countries wage war in this country and at the same time they boost their economic penetration.

He noted that having good and strong economic relation does not necessarily mean having and broadening economic ties and experience has showed us that market is administered by the private sector.

He reiterated that Iranian goods have their own fans in Lebanon because Lebanese are certain Iranian goods are halal but first we need to provide necessary infrastructures like transfer of money.

Rezazadeh also said that Iran and Lebanon should first get acquainted with their capabilities and capacities and Iranians need to change their approach to Lebanon as they look at Lebanon like 20 years ago and Lebanese are not familiar with Iranian products and the number of Lebanese living in Iran is few.

He further said that as long as we do not know the capacities we will be unable to start a joint cooperation. He also said that Lebanese traders should come to Iran and have direct contacts with Iranian producers especially during the exhibitions.

He also said that barter trade is currently the best solution for trade between the two countries due to problems in monetary transactions.

Rezazadeh noted that launch of the exports guarantee fund, direct presence of traders and launch of chain stores are of the capacities which can reinforce trade ties between the two states.

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“First and foremost, Lebanon needs to jumpstart the negotiations for the Karish field with a request to the U.S. to pressure the Israelis to cease drilling until an agreement on the maritime borders is reached,” Massoud Maalouf tells the Tehran Times.

“Secondly, Lebanon can enlist the assistance of the UN, the European Union and other international bodies in promoting a resolution to the negotiations,” Maalouf said.

“It is my personal hope that this Israeli aggression on Lebanon’s maritime wealth in the Karish field will encourage all Lebanese parties and factions to establish a united front.”  The former diplomat advises Lebanon to start drilling in the Karish field.

“Militarily, I do not think that a war between Israel and Lebanon over this maritime border issue is a current consideration nor in the best interest of either country,” Maalouf emphasizes.
Following is the text of the interview:

Q:  Could you update us about the disputes between Lebanon and Israel over maritime borders and what Lebanon’s Mikati calls “encroaching on Lebanon’s maritime wealth”.

A: Although the land border between Lebanon and Israel has been delineated despite some reservations on the part of Lebanon, the maritime border remains under negotiation. Amos Hochstein, the Senior Advisor for Energy Security at the U.S. Department of State, is the current mediator between the two countries for this maritime area, known as the Karish field and known for its gas and petroleum reserves.

Recently, a ship belonging to the London-based ENERGEAN company arrived in the disputed area to start drilling gas for Israel. General Michel Aoun, the President of Lebanon, said that “any action or activity in the disputed area represents a provocation and an aggressive action.”  At the same time, Lebanese Prime Minister Nagib Mikati said that Israel was “encroaching on Lebanon’s wealth”.   Lebanon considers that part of the disputed area belongs to its economic zone while Israel considers that this whole field is in its exclusive economic zone.

Q: How do you evaluate the talks between Lebanon and Israel over the disputed area? Are there direct talks or mediators are involved?

A: The indirect talks to delineate the maritime border between Lebanon and Israel started more than two decades ago. There have been no direct talks between the two sides which have presented their respective maps to the American mediators.  The Lebanese Foreign Minister declared recently that Mr. Hochstein has not been active enough in negotiations, especially since he has not been in Lebanon lately to be updated on the Lebanese response to the Israeli position.  Lebanon has now requested the U.S. administration to dispatch Mr. Hochstein to Beirut to restart the negotiating process.

Q: Do you think Lebanon possesses sufficient leverages, diplomatically and militarily, to restore its right when it comes to Israeli provocations?

A: First and foremost, Lebanon needs to jumpstart the negotiations for the Karish field with a request to the U.S. to pressure the Israelis to cease drilling until an agreement on the maritime borders is reached.

Secondly, Lebanon can enlist the assistance of the UN, the European Union and other international bodies in promoting a resolution to the negotiations.

Thirdly, Lebanon could start drilling in the Karish field.

Militarily, I do not think that a war between Israel and Lebanon over this maritime border issue is a current consideration nor in the best interest of either country.

Q: Do you expect Hezbollah to get involved in the dispute? I mean military action to Israel’s moves.

A: I personally believe that Hezbollah is in a difficult situation, especially after the May 15, 2022, Lebanese parliamentary elections.  Any military action by Hezbollah against Israel risks a strong Israeli response that may weaken the Party of God by destroying its military capabilities and the civilian infrastructure in Lebanon.  Voices in Lebanon are increasingly focused on calling for the disarmament of Hezbollah and supporting the Lebanese Army to protect Lebanon from Israeli aggression.  Hezbollah stands to receive significant backlash from any war initiative as the destructive results of the 2006 war with Israel is still fresh in the memory of most Lebanese. Although Hezbollah is capable of hitting Israel with its rockets in the south causing some damage and casualties, it cannot win an all-out war. In any respect, Hezbollah has officially declared that it supports the Lebanese government’s decision on this issue, whether through negotiations or through military action.

In conclusion, it is my personal hope that this Israeli aggression on Lebanon’s maritime wealth in the Karish field will encourage all Lebanese parties and factions to establish a united front.   Lebanon’s overall precarious situation will not withstand continued divisions.

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Riyadh announced on Friday that is it was giving Lebanon’s ambassador 48 hours to leave the country. It also recalled its ambassador to Lebanon.

“The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announces recalling its ambassador to Lebanon for consultations and requests the departure of the Lebanese ambassador to the Kingdom within the next (48) hours,” the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement.

Furthermore, Riyadh also stopped all commercial ties with Lebanon in what appeared a purposeful design to push Lebanon into a deeper economic crisis. “Due to the importance of taking all necessary measures to protect the security of the kingdom and its people, it has been decided to stop all Lebanese imports into the Kingdom,” the Saudi statement noted.

Kuwait and Bahrain also followed suit. Kuwait announced Saturday that it was recalling its ambassador to Lebanon and giving the Lebanese ambassador to Kuwait 48 hours to leave the country. A Kuwaiti foreign ministry statement said the decision was made in solidarity with Saudi Arabia.

Bahrain also did the same thing. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces that it has asked the Ambassador of the Lebanese Republic to the Kingdom of Bahrain to leave the Kingdom within the next 48 hours, against the background of a series of unacceptable and offensive statements issued by Lebanese officials in recent times,” Bahrain’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

The episode began after a video statement from a popular television anchor-turned-politician sparked a heated debate on social media platforms in the Arab world. The video featured George Kordahi inveighing against the Saudi-Emirati war in Yemen a few weeks before becoming Lebanon’s information minister.

Kordahi made controversial statements accusing Saudi Arabia and the UAE of attacking Yemen and said that the Ansarullah movement is defending their country. The remarks quickly went viral on social media given the fact that Kordahi had worked for Saudi and Emirati television networks for a long time.

To lessen the effect of his remarks, the Lebanese minister stated that the interview was old and was conducted on August 5 and that what he said about the futility of the Yemeni war “was made out of conviction, not in defense of Yemen, but also out of love for Saudi Arabia and the UAE.”

The Lebanese government of Najib Mikati tried to avert the crisis with no success. Mikati said Kordahi’s remarks have nothing to do with government policy. Kordahi himself sought to defuse tensions. “Whoever wants to characterize my stance as one against Saudi Arabia, that accusation is rejected. I have never attacked or insulted Saudi Arabia,” he said, adding: “As for the UAE, I consider it my second home.”

Some believe that the Saudi moves against Lebanon were a long time coming and that Kordahi’s statements only provided the Saudis an excuse to move ahead with their punitive measures against Lebanon, knowing the crisis-stricken country can no longer bear more economic pressure.

Saudi Arabia has turned its back on Lebanon ever since at least 2018 when they mounted pressure on then Prime Minister Saad Hariri to undermine Hezbollah’s sway. But they failed to weaken Hezbollah, they started imposing harsh economic restrictions on Lebanon while refraining from giving any financial aid.

Since then, pundits believe, the Saudis and their allies are pursuing a “freefall for all” project. In other words, they seek to bring the Lebanese state to total collapse in a bid to undermine Hezbollah. The Kordahi episode, therefore, is only one step in that direction.

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Highlighting his country’s relations with the Islamic Republic, Abdullah Bou Habib said, “We have good relations with Iran and we are working to improve it,” the Mehr news agency reported on Monday, quoting Al-Manar.

The Lebanese foreign minister added at the same time Beirut welcomes relations with the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

“We believe that the talks between Tehran and Riyadh will have a positive impact on Beirut as well.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian visited Lebanon on October 7-8. While in Beirut, he reaffirmed Tehran’s strong support for Lebanon, saying the Islamic Republic is ready to play an active role in promoting Lebanon’s development projects.

During the trip, Amir Abdollahian held meetings with high-ranking Lebanese officials, including President Michel Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

The Lebanese foreign minister went on to say that the October 14 events in Beirut negatively affected the government’s measures.

Bou Habib was referring to the gunfire in Beirut in which seven people were killed and 32 others injured. It began during a peaceful protest by the Hezbollah and Amal loyalists against the judge investigating last year’s huge blast at Beirut’s port. Christian snipers from the Lebanese Forces (LF) faction led by Samir Geagea fired at the crowd.

The top diplomat also referred to the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and stated that these negotiations would probably start in November.
Referring to the date of parliamentary elections set for March 27, 2022, the Lebanese foreign minister said there was a lot of pressure for holding parliamentary elections in proper time.

“In May 2022, our work is finished in the government. That is why the elections must be held before that date.”

Abdullah Bou Habib also referred to the issue of drawing the maritime borders between his country and the Zionist regime, saying: “We intend to cooperate with Washington in this regard in line with the U.S. efforts in the border demarcation negotiations, and not in line with the Tel Aviv efforts.”

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According to reports, Iran’s first fuel tanker that set sail toward Lebanon two weeks ago has entered the Mediterranean Sea, as a second ship also begins its journey to assuage the sufferings endured by the Lebanese people under severe fuel shortages and American sanctions.

Data from TankerTrackers, a global tanker tracking website, showed that the first ship has already entered the Mediterranean, Iranian news outlets reported on Monday. Citing informed sources, Lebanon’s al-Manar television network also confirmed the report.

Amid threats from Zionists and U.S. sanctions, Iran decided to help Lebanon to overcome the fuel shortage what like it did in the past for Syria or Venezuela. Iran proved that if you stand firmly against the bully, the world hegemony will have to retreat and wait and see your courage. In other words, if there is a will, there is a way.

This humanitarian and brave move has consolidated Iran’s position among the Muslim and freedom-seeking nations especially in the resistant front countries.

Earlier an Iranian legislator said the Islamic Republic must supply needed fuel to countries that are members of the resistance front, so that those states would not be harmed in this regard and could ease their energy crises.

“We must offer any help we can to the resistance bloc, so that they would not face any problem for provision of fuel, which is among the basic needs of any country,” Hadi Beiginejad, a member of the Energy Commission at Iran’s Parliament, said.

Beiginejad, who was elaborating on Iran’s recent measure to send fuel tankers to Lebanon, added, “Selling oil derivatives and fuel, which have more customers, is easier than selling crude oil, whose buyers are limited.”

He described it as important to Iran to meet the needs of a strategic and friendly country like Lebanon.

“Countries like Lebanon, Syria, and Venezuela are very important to Iran, because they stood by our side in time of need. Therefore, we must take steps to solve these countries’ problems as much as we can,” the Iranian parliamentarian highlighted.

“Just as [late Syrian President] Hafez al-Assad firmly stood by Iran’s side during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) and did not withhold any help, we must rush to assist countries like Syria and Lebanon, which are now in trouble,” he added.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has always been supportive of the Muslim and oppressed states and nations against the oppression of the world powers because one of the principles of the Islamic Republic is to help the oppressed people, especially the Muslims.

After helping Syrian government to survive against the pro-West terrorists, the Muslim world has trusted Iran’s power and they can now rely on Iran’s timely assistance either in provision of required goods or in military supervision.

Now the dispatch of fuel tankers to Lebanon after successful dispatch to Syria and Venezuela has shown Iran’s dare in encountering the West and Zionists’ bully and threat and actually the era of “war of fuel tankers” has begun. The West should accept the wills of nations and it is not in a position to decide the nations’ trade and fate.

On Monday Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh cautioned against any move targeting the tankers, saying that neither the U.S. nor any other country is in a position to stop legitimate trade between Iran and Lebanon.

“We are very serious about exercising our sovereignty and everyone should know that legitimate trade in this sphere is one of the basic principles of international law,” Khatibzadeh said.

Now we should wait and see more dispatches of fuel tankers to other countries and the U.S. and its allies should seat and watch how Iran continues its humanitarian moves or sales of its oil amid the West and Zionist’ anger.

The U.S. and its Western allies have currently got stuck in the Afghanistan quagmire and they are in a humiliating situation and the Taliban unveiled the truel face of the West that the Western countries are weak and unable to do anything when the nations and governments are determined to stand against them firmly.

According to reports, the second and third shipments of fuel to Lebanon will be imminent and the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to dictate its power and determination on the West and its enemies which try to bring it down but every time they fail.

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Khatibzadeh said insecurity in Afghanistan is not tolerable for the Islamic Republic.

The comments by the Foreign Ministry spokesman come as the war between the Afghan government and the Taliban has intensified in recent weeks. The clashes between the sides entered a new phase as the United States started withdrawing its troops from the Central Asian country after 20 years.

The Taliban have captured more parts of Afghanistan, including part of the country’s territory bordering Iran.

“In the case of Afghanistan, we are closely monitoring the situation at the borders. We monitor the situation and check it regularly,” the spokesman said.

Khatibzadeh said that Afghanistan’s only way is through dialogue, and lasting peace must be achieved through dialogue.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is actively involved with Afghan groups in bilateral and multilateral dimensions.”

He added, “The Islamic Republic of Iran’s special representative for Afghanistan is in contact with these groups in various ways, and we are ready to continue this relationship in person. We welcome any initiative in this direction and help to establish a comprehensive and mutually beneficial dialogue between the various groups in Afghanistan to achieve peace in this country.”

Iran will continue this path as long as the Afghan parties adhere to it, the spokesman remarked.

Iran hosted intra-Afghan talks on July 8-9. The meeting was attended by senior Afghan and Taliban negotiators.

“European Hijab ban is discriminatory”

The Foreign Ministry spokesman also said the European ban on Hijab is a “discriminatory” decision.

“The decision announced by the European court is a shameful decision, and it is strange that when the issue of human rights, minorities and freedom of religion takes on Muslims, it gets a narrow meaning in Europe,” Khatibzadeh noted.

The European Union’s top court ruled on July 15 that employers may forbid wearing visible symbols of religious or political belief, such as headscarves.

The spokesman warned that the decision can be the basis for the spread of Islamophobia and violence against Muslims in Europe.

“We expect the relevant European authorities to right this process because this is the primary violation of the freedom of law, religion, and rights of the minorities in Europe.”

“Israel won’t gain legitimacy as UAE opens embassy in Tel Aviv”

Khatibzadeh also said Israel as an aggressor regime would not gain legitimacy as the UAE opens opened its embassy in Tel Aviv.

The occupying regime suffers from a lack of legitimacy and “it will not gain legitimacy in this way,” he reiterated.

He added that the UAE should also know that it will be responsible for the violence and what will happen due to the presence of the occupying regime in the region.

“The Lebanese decide for their future”

Regarding the Lebanon issue, the spokesman said it is the Lebanese people who have to decide on the future of their country.

Khatibzadeh said that Iran has announced its readiness to assist the Lebanese government, and it will not hesitate to help whenever the Lebanese government is ready.

“We have never backed down from assisting all Lebanese parties, including the government, political parties, and movements in this country, and we have always declared our readiness, and whenever they asked us to assist, we did.”

He also said, “It is important that in a political direction that reflects the maturity of the Lebanese people, political dialogue in this country is concluded, and a government is formed in this country as soon as possible.”

“Iran-Saudi dialogue benefits the region”

Responding to a question about the continuation of the Iran-Saudi dialogue in Baghdad, the spokesman said Iran had repeated several times that holding such kinds of talks will be in the interest of the region’s people, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
“God willing, this issue will continue in the direction agreed by both sides,” he reiterated.

In response to a question on the Israeli forces’ attacks on defenseless Palestinians, the spokesman said the raid on the eve of Eid al-Adha is strongly condemned.
“Iran expresses its disgust with the attack, and defending the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people has always been one of the priorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Khatibzadeh underlined.

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The spokesman began responding to reporters about the negotiations in Vienna to revive the JCPOA, saying from the point of view of the Islamic Republic the negotiations have made a good progress.

“A lot of texts have been prepared and the sections that have not been completed have a definite status that clearly shows the differences between both sides. It helps politicians understand what stage of decision-making they are at.”

He added Iran’s position toward the JCPOA have not changed since the beginning of the negotiations in April and Iran is demanding the lifting of sanctions as well as their verification and then resumption of commitments by the Islamic Republic.

The spokesman said the United States, as a violator of the JCPOA, must provide the “necessary guarantees”.

In the Vienna talks, he said, Iran has only been pursuing the goals set by the top officials of the system based on the framework of national interests.

“Certainly, for the outgoing and incoming governments, what is important is to achieve the highest interests of the people, and time is of secondary importance here. Obviously, the sooner this is done, the sooner the effects of lifting sanctions will appear in the country,” Khatibzadeh underlined.

He said that he wants to make a brief note, and that is given the progress that has been made, it can be assessed that all sides are nearing the end of the Vienna talks.

Some unresolved issues remain, but what is important is that the weight of resolved issues far outweighs the unresolved issues, he explained.

“We have come a long way, but this will not be an easy path. We hope that the other parties will be able to make their own decisions, in which case we too can reach an agreement that will be to everyone’s liking,” he added.

The diplomat noted all nuclear teams in Vienna acknowledge that relatively good progress has been made to restore the JCPOA and that all agreed on the need to seriously continue the path and reaching a final agreement. However, he said, some key issues needed to be addressed by top authorities.

“What everyone in our country agrees on is that first U.S. sanctions must be lifted effectively and second the post-conflict demands have nothing to do with this agreement. It has been repeatedly stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran will resume full implementation of its commitments as soon as the nuclear agreement is fully implemented in a verifiable manner,” he highlighted.

EU resolution has no justification

Reacting to the European Parliament’s human rights resolution against Iran and the sanctions imposed on some Iranian officials, Khatibzadeh said, “We strongly condemn the European Parliament resolution. This resolution has no justification and is unacceptable and a clear example of interference in Iran’s internal affairs.”

He pointed out that, unfortunately, the European Parliament, which claims it defends human rights in Iran, has been quite silent in the face of U.S. “economic terrorism” against the Iranian people and the killing of innocent people in Yemen and Palestine.

Khatibzadeh stressed, “The European Parliament must end its misuse of the issue of human rights and take a balanced and rational stance in its interaction with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

“Washington is addicted to sanctions”

In response to a question about the new sanctions of the U.S. Treasury Department against some companies accused of having ties with China, Russia and Iran, the spokesman said, “Washington’s addiction to sanctions has made this country not even see its interests.”

“We respect decisions made by the Lebanese”

The spokesman also said Iran believes that the Lebanese themselves must decide about their internal issues, reiterating the Islamic Republic does not interfere in the internal affairs of any country, including Lebanon.

“We also respect the decisions taken by the Lebanese and we hope that the Lebanese government will be formed as soon as possible,” he added.

The spokesman reiterated that the Islamic Republic believes that foreign intervention by the United States and others will make the situation in Lebanon more difficult.

“We consider these interventions to be a violation of Lebanon’s stability. Lebanon has an independent government, a president, a parliament, and people who can solve problems themselves and must be respected. It is only the Lebanese people who determine the formation of the government and how it is formed, and they will not accept any external pressure or imposition,” the diplomat reiterated.

“Iran-U.S. prisoner swap is a high-priority issue”

In response to recent claims by the U.S. special envoy on Iran Robert Malley on the prisoner swap discussions, Khatibzadeh said the issue of the release of Iranian prisoners in the United States and some other Western countries, “who have been taken hostage under false pretenses, has always been on the agenda as a high-priority issue.”

He said that Foreign Minister Zarif has long proposed the exchange of all Iranian and American prisoners with each other.

“The Biden administration has also addressed this issue since its takeover. Negotiations are underway in this regard, and if the negotiations are concluded, the public will be informed later,” he remarked.

“Maximum pressure has failed”

Khatibzadeh also pointed to the failure of the policy of “maximum pressure” against Iran, saying that this has long been clear to experts.

“This policy has not achieved any of its goals. At the same time, the illegality of the use and application of unilateral sanctions and the ineffectiveness of this leverage in the international arena is a matter of consensus. Over the past four decades, various U.S. governments have imposed and implemented a wide range of sanctions against Iran, but the truth is that even according to U.S. officials, the country has failed to achieve its sanctions goals and has so far gone nowhere,” he reiterated.

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Rouhani sent a message to the president of Lebanon to congratulate the Lebanese government and nation on the anniversary of the victorious and glorious festival of resistance and freedom that led to the liberation of the country’s southern parts from the Zionist regime’s aggressor forces, according to the website of the Iranian presidency.

“I would like to offer my sincerest congratulations to Your Excellency and the noble people of Lebanon on the anniversary of the victorious and glorious festival of resistance and freedom that led to the liberation of the country’s southern parts from the Zionist regime’s aggressor forces with the self-sacrifice of the people of Lebanon,” Rouhani told his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun.

Rouhani added, “The nature of the Zionist regime that stems from its aggressive temperament showed that the only way to confront the aggressors is people’s resistance and steadfastness. I hope that this path continues under your leadership until the entire Lebanese land is liberated.”

“In line with the will of the Lebanese nation, army and resistance for maintaining unity and defending their country’s lands, the Islamic Republic of Iran will be alongside the Lebanese government and nation like before. I wish Your Excellency health and success and the noble people of Lebanon prosperity and felicity,” Rouhani continued.

Zarif also congratulated Lebanese officials on the anniversary of the victory against Israel. Iran’s foreign minister, in separate messages, congratulated Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah, and Zeina Akar, the acting foreign minister of Lebanon, on the Eid of resistance and freedom and the anniversary of the victorious liberation of Southern Lebanon from the Israeli occupation forces through the bravery and devotion of resistance fighters, according to a statement issued by the Iranian foreign ministry.

Zarif said rapport and strategic unity among the Lebanese people, government and army hold the key to victory against Israel.

In the messages, the top Iranian diplomat wished dignity and honor for the Lebanese government and nation as well as families of resistance fighters martyred or disabled during their struggles.

Zarif added he is confident that the path which has started with the prudence of Lebanon’s wise leaders will lead the country to development, progress and stability.

Nasrallah delivered a speech Tuesday on the anniversary of the Resistance and Liberation Day in which he congratulated the Palestinian resistance for its great victory.

“We are now celebrating two great victories, the 25th of May 2000 in Lebanon and the 21st of May 2021 in Gaza,” Sayyed Nasrallah initiated, saluting the bravery of the Palestinian resistance in the latest battle, according to the Lebanese Al-Manar website.

“The liberation that the Lebanese people attained in 2000 was dedicated to Palestine because it is where our goal lies, and this victory shifted the strategic path of the Palestinian cause and the conflict with the enemy,” he noted.

As he remembered the martyrs who fell on this path and reminded of the great role that Hajj Qassem Soleimani played in supporting the resistance, Sayyed Nasrallah praised the “historic stance” of the Palestinian resistance in standing up against violations in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, assuring that “the displacement taking place in Sheikh Jarrah is not a normal development considering the symbolism of this neighborhood. It is a step forward in Judaizing Al-Quds.”

“The Palestinian resistance took a firm and historic decision after witnessing the violations that the occupation practiced in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, and the cause of this battle was the arrogance and stupidity of the enemy as well as its miscalculations and underestimation of the resistance,” Nasrallah said, adding that “despite all that is taking place in Palestine, some Arab countries are still normalizing and working on improving the Israeli entity’s image.”

He noted that “the Israelis assumed that the Judaization procedures in Al-Quds will only be faced with statements and denunciations. They didn’t expect that the resistance will take this historic decision.”

“Gaza surprised the friend and enemy with its threat in defense of Al-Quds… This historic development in “Al-Quds Sword” must be highly appreciated as Gaza has engaged in this battle not to protect itself or its own people but to protect Al-Quds,” he added, according to Al-Manar.

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