TEHRAN (Iran News)  Ramin Zare, Iran’s Ambassador to Nicaragua, and Reyna Rueda, the Mayor of Managua, have highlighted the importance of fostering urban cooperation between their two countries.

Zare met and held talks with Rueda and her deputies in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua.

During the meeting, both parties stressed the importance of developing urban cooperation and enhancing interactions between Tehran and Managua as sister cities.

They also agreed to collaborate on creating a framework for close cooperation between the museums of both countries, installing statues and naming streets, parks, and thoroughfares in both cities after national figures and heroes, as well as exchanging experiences in urban management.

Zare met and held talks with Rueda and her deputies in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua.

During the meeting, both parties stressed the importance of developing urban cooperation and enhancing interactions between Tehran and Managua as sister cities.

They also agreed to collaborate on creating a framework for close cooperation between the museums of both countries, installing statues and naming streets, parks, and thoroughfares in both cities after national figures and heroes, as well as exchanging experiences in urban management.

During the meeting, both parties stressed the importance of developing urban cooperation and enhancing interactions between Tehran and Managua as sister cities.

They also agreed to collaborate on creating a framework for close cooperation between the museums of both countries, installing statues and naming streets, parks, and thoroughfares in both cities after national figures and heroes, as well as exchanging experiences in urban management.

Zare met and held talks with Rueda and her deputies in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua.

During the meeting, both parties stressed the importance of developing urban cooperation and enhancing interactions between Tehran and Managua as sister cities.

The post Iran, Nicaragua stress expanding urban cooperation appeared first on Iran News Daily.

The minister made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada on Monday, saying Iranian companies are prepared to help Nicaragua implement its refinery projects and provide the country with the necessary equipment.

Iran’s 13th administration is keen to develop relations with Nicaragua in all fields, underlined Oji, adding he had good talks with the country’s energy minister on supply of fuel and oil products and also exports of techno-engineering services during his recent visit to Managua.

Iran and Nicaragua have common views on the fight against injustice, said the oil minister, pointing out that the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the Nicaraguan Revolution took place almost simultaneously and are known as “Twin Revolutions”.

Tehran-Managua ties have increased since the 13th administration took office, Oji noted, calling for forming technical and specialized boards to put bilateral agreements into action.

Nicaragua’s foreign minister for his part deemed the Iranian oil officials’ visit to his country necessary to put the agreements into practice.

Moncada said he would report to the Nicaraguan president on Iran’s considerable expertise and willingness to cooperate with his country in refinery projects.

He described refinery projects as vital to Nicaragua and added, “We are eagerly waiting for holding the joint commission’s meeting and using the technical know-how of Iranian experts in our refinery projects.”

The official said: “This is the fourth visit I have paid to Iran over the past two and a half years,” adding that “Iran’s oil minister was briefed on Nicaragua’s oil industry and needs in the refinery sector during his visit and we hope the two sides will have good cooperation in this area.”

The post Iran ready to export oil products, techno-engineering services to Nicaragua appeared first on Iran News Daily.

Measures taken by the IRCS are exemplary in the region and the world, Lenin said, referring to IRCS’s great achievements in recent months.

He announced interest in using the experiences of the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

Fortunately, there are good relations between the two countries, and the cooperation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent of the two countries can be a turning point, he explained.

Committees have been formed between Iran and Nicaragua to enhance cooperation, he noted, adding, “The IRCS’s high capacities are clearly evident and we are interested in using the medical equipment made by the IRCS due to their high quality.”

The Iranian Polyclinic in Nicaragua has provided valuable services to people, which shows the empathy between the two nations, and today the people of Iran and Nicaragua have good and brotherly relations with each other, which can be expanded, he emphasized.

Kolivand for his part said that we can also cooperate with the Nicaraguan Red Cross in the fields of medical equipment, textiles, pharmaceutical production, and food packages.

Human resource training and education is another important field of cooperation and sharing experience, he stated, adding that in recent years, IRCS forces have faced various incidents and have proudly come out of the assigned missions, so they can cooperate and transfer experiences in dealing with floods and earthquakes.

——–IRCS services worldwide

The IRCS, established in 1922, is one of the first and oldest members of the movement and is currently one of the top five societies in the world due to its significant activities in the national and international arenas.

In 2005, the IRCS received the Henry Davison Award for outstanding humanitarian services, and the IRCS initiative of volunteers was selected as the best project (out of 50 projects from 45 national societies), by the General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

In addition to offering services to the victims of natural disasters in the country, it has taken numerous missions in international disasters and incidents, helping the people of Afghanistan, Palestine, Iraq, Southeast Asia earthquakes, Lebanon, Gaza, Somalia, and Yemen.

Moreover, the Iranian Red Crescent Society provides medical services to people in 13 Asian, African, and Latin American countries.

Currently, some 14 medical facilities are offering humanitarian, relief, and health services to the deprived people in 13 countries, including Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, Bolivia, Ivory Coast,

Sierra Leone, Ghana, Congo, Kenya, Lebanon, Mali, Niger, and Ecuador.

FB/MG
HIGHLIGHT: Committees have been formed between Iran and Nicaragua to enhance cooperation.

The post Nicaragua seeks to use IRCS experiences appeared first on Iran News Daily.

The new measures include a travel ban which has been applied to all of Nicaragua’s elected officials, reports left including President Ortega, the Vice President, in addition to security force members, judges, mayors, and others. They are all barred from entering the United States.

Biden had pledged a wide variety of sanctions in response to the election that Washington has denounced as rigged in favor of Ortega; as has become the norm now, the accusations lacked any evidence.

Just a day after Biden’s fresh decree, in coordinated action, the United States, Britain and Canada imposed targeted sanctions on Nicaraguan officials in response to the November 7 election; in which the three countries and some of their allies echoed Washington’s labeling of the vote as a sham. The Biden administration slapped sanctioned ok nine Nicaraguans, while the UK targeted eight and Canada rolled out sanctions against 11 Nicaraguan officials.

The U.S. sanctions included the energy minister, vice-minister of finance, and an entire government ministry. Biden had accused Ortega of organizing a “pantomime” election in the Central American nation, and U.S. officials have pledged to work with allies to ratchet up the pressure. Last week, a senior State Department official said that a sanctions announcement would be the first in a series of steps the U.S. administration will “ramp up over time.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says, “I don’t want to leave people the impression that it’s going to be kind of one announcement and done… This will continue to go over time.”

Ortega has ridiculed his U.S. critics as “Yankee imperialists” and has accused them of trying to undermine Nicaragua’s electoral process. Cuba, Venezuela, and Russia among others have offered Ortega their support and backing. In any case, previous sanctions imposed by Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, failed to change Ortega’s government, and many observers are skeptical whether new measures will have much impact.

Behind the scenes, Washington has been working hard on trying to get the Organization of American States on board.

Last month, twenty-six OAS members voted on a resolution regarding Ortega but there was no unanimous agreement and seven countries abstained. Washington is working to build a more united stand at the bloc’s general assembly. Asked if Nicaragua could be kicked out, a State Department official said it would be important for OAS members to make their next moves in unity. Nicaragua expulsion from the OAS is reportedly not on the Biden agenda because his aides are wary similar action against Cuba in the 1960s failed to change Havana’s policies.

Why Washington is talking on behalf of and advising the Organization of American States on what action to take is something that ought to raise serious eyebrows and questions marks.

The main question is does Nicaragua pose a threat to the United States or anyone else to even warrant being sanctioned?

Another question observers would cite concerns Washington’s interference in Latin America or Central America. Wherever there is a country that opposes U.S. meddling in their internal affairs, nations that are sovereign and independent of the U.S., or opposes the U.S. intervening in the region, facts suggest Washington tends to interfere in those countries’ internal affairs.

In the lead-up, to Nicaragua’s election, the country witnessed a surprise bout of violence and protests that turned deadly in some areas. Ortega has blamed the unrest on coup plotters backed by the United States. It’s not the first attempt by Washington to infiltrate Nicaragua and plot a coup.

In the 1980s, the CIA secretly created a terrorist group, known as the contras, with the aim of overthrowing Ortega’s government. The Nicaraguan President says he has neutralized the current threat against the sovereignty of his country and security officials had regained control and stability overall cities.

The same can be said about other nations in the region such as Cuba, Bolivia, Venezuela, and others. If they oppose Washington’s policies, the U.S. will try to take those governments down. If they welcome U.S. interference or Washington running their affairs… well, as they say, “you can’t invade the invaded.”

Cuba has been under U.S. embargo for over six decades costing Havana $130 billion in the process (according to the UN) but it refuses to surrender.

According to experts, America orchestrated the military coup against the government of former Bolivian President Evo Morales (the country’s first indigenous leader) and install a puppet regime. Only for the Bolivian people to take matters into their own hands at the ballot boxes and vote back Morales’s party into power.

In Venezuela, Washington tried multiple times to topple the elected government of Nicolas Mudoro but all to no avail.

In Brazil, the socialists may have suspiciously lost popularity but top U.S. ally President Bolsonaro has lost popularity and experts say the much-loved President Lula would return to power if there was an election today.

Ortega’s and his senior aides have repeatedly argued that they are victims of a campaign funded by Washington to topple their government. After all, in the 1970s a young Ortega helped topple the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza, whose family had ruled Nicaragua since 1936.

After toppling Somoza, Ortega went on to become the first post-revolutionary president; and it was a popular revolution, the people’s revolution. A nation that had enough with decades being ruled by an American-backed military regime. He lost a reelection bid in 1990 but returned to the post in 2007. Analysts say he is very popular among voters.

He won the November 2021 election with 75 percent of the ballot boxes and an impressive 68 percent voter turnout.

Over the years, the ruling socialist Sandinista National Liberation Front party invested heavily in energy, oil distribution to the poor and working-class, food exports, media outlets, timber, cattle, and even tourism. One of the important investments has been on agriculture which the country relies heavily on. The investment increased Ortega’s popularity both politically and also economically.

It has also helped the country’s President preserve the popular revolution.

The other question that should be raised here is how much legitimacy does the U.S. have left to lecture others about elections following the last American presidential election where half the country believes the vote was rigged and an insurrection took place on January 6th.

According to four current and former law enforcement officials, the FBI has found evidence that the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was the result of an organized plot to overturn the alleged presidential election result. 570 alleged participants have been arrested but the FBI is reported to believe the violence was not centrally coordinated by far-right groups or prominent supporters of then-President Donald Trump, according to the sources, who have been either directly involved in or have been briefed regularly on the wide-ranging investigations.

Plus, in a survey conducted as recently as June, 47 million American adults (that is nearly 1 in 5) agree with this following statement that “the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump and Joe Biden is an illegitimate president.” Of that number, 21 million also agree that “use of force is justified to restore Donald Trump to the presidency.”

The research found that many of these 21 million people with insurrectionist sentiments have the capacity for violent mobilization. At least 7 million of them are already in possession of a firearm, while at least 3 million have served in the U.S. military and therefore have lethal experience. Of those 21 million, 6 million say they support right-wing militias and extremist groups, and 1 million acknowledged they are themselves or personally know a member of such a group, including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers militia groups.
Talk about the need to clean your own house first.

The post Why is U.S. really punishing Nicaragua? appeared first on Iran News Daily.

The post Iran Eying Enhanced Ties with Nicaragua appeared first on Iran News Daily.

President Rouhani hoped that Tehran-Managua ties would be further deepened and expanded regarding the great potentials that exist.

He further wished his Nicaraguan counterpart health and success and the people of the country prosperity and felicity.

Nicaraguan people celebrate September 15 as their national day as it marks the day of gaining independence from the Spanish rule in 1821.

The post President Rouhani felicitates Nicaragua on Independence Day appeared first on Iran News Daily.

IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

Addressing the meeting, Advisor to Nicaraguan President Laura Ortega briefed the participants of recent economic developments in his country, adding that in the past 10 years, economic growth in Nicaragua has been on the rise and in good condition, and the country has levied new regulations for expanding foreign investments.

Ortega also pointed to Nicaragua’s incomes through exports, adding that Nicaragua’s incomes from exports are around $5b annually and the country’s foreign investments is over $1b.

He also said that Nicaragua’s annual inflation rate is around 3.8 percent and devaluation of national currency is around 5% annually.

He went on to say that since 2007 and after adopting certain policies, Nicaragua’s economy has grown significantly  and today it has the highest economic growth rate in the Central America.

Ortega further added that tourism industry is the major source of incomes in Nicaragua’s economy, adding that over 2m people visit his country annually.

He reiterated that Nicaragua’s tourism industry needs investment in construction of hotels and Iranian investors can enter this sector and take advantage of this capacity.

Ortega added that Nicaraguan government implements different types of incentives for foreign investors, reiterating that exchange of national currency into foreign currencies is allowed and return of capitals and assets of investing companies are exempted from tax and investor can be 100 percent foreigner.

He reiterated that government’s behavior is the same with all foreign investors and intellectual property is observed.

Ortega added that active companies in free zones of Nicaragua are exempt from tax.

Meanwhile Nicaragua’s Finance Minister Acosta announced Nicaragua’s readiness for revival of bilateral relation, adding that both countries have signed a comprehensive agreement to resume new chapter of economic relations.

He reiterated that private sectors of both countries should enter the scene and help the bilateral trade grow.

He also welcomed the recommendation for bartering goods, adding that in Nicaragua, there are grounds for activities and production of meat, and Iranian investors can invest in this sector and produce halal meat for Iran and exports to other Islamic countries.

Acosta reiterated that Nicaragua is a gateway for having access to 45 countries and their 1.5b population.

Meanwhile president of Iran’s chamber of commerce Mr. Shafei said that the political views of both countries are close, adding that it can be a good capacity for expanding economic relations.

He pointed to the current trade level of both countries, noting that great efforts  should be made for boosting the trade volume because till 2016 the trade volume level was growing but after that, the trend of trade exchanges fell sharply.

He also criticized the U.S. unilateral sanctions, adding that bartering goods is one option for Iran’s private sector to skirt it.

Shafei also noted that revoking visa regime is one solution for developing the current trade level between both countries.

The post Managua Voices Readiness for Barter Trade With Tehran appeared first on Iran News Daily.

According to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he is scheduled to hold talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during his stay in Tehran.

In July, Zarif traveled to Nicaragua after wrapping up his stay in New York for a UN meeting.

While in Managua, the Iranian top diplomat met with a number of senior officials, including the president, foreign minister, governor of the central bank, minister of finance and minister of commerce.

During his meeting with President Daniel Ortega on July 23, Zarif had said that “the US administration, in violation of all rules and regulations and resolutions, is waging economic terrorism against independent states.”

He then stressed Iran’s serious resolve to deepen bilateral cooperation with Nicaragua in various fields, including trade, industry, energy, agriculture and finance.

The Nicaraguan president had maintained that his country would never accept the US’ notion of sanctions, saying the sanctions against his people and Iranian people are unilateral and unlawful.

He had also censured the US authorities for insulting the world, including their own allies, by resorting to blackmail and violating laws of international trade.

The post FM Zarif to meet Nicaragua’s finance min. in Tehran appeared first on Iran News Daily.

He went on to add, “everyone is upset at the current situation that the US has brought about, but they don’t say it. They [the US authorities] insult the world, including their own allies, by resorting to blackmail and violating laws of international trade.”

For his part, Iranian top diplomat Zarif said “the US administration, in violation of all rules and regulations and resolutions, is waging economic terrorism against independent states.”

He then stressed Iran’s serious resolve to deepen bilateral cooperation with Nicaragua in various fields, including trade, industry, energy, agriculture and finance.

Earlier on Monday, a number of senior officials of Nicaragua and an Iranian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Zarif held a meeting in Managua to discuss ways to further develop cooperation between the two sides.

In a tweet following the meeting, Zarif wrote that the two sides have agreed on wide-ranging cooperation, noting that “Iran and Nicaragua have both resisted US’ Economic Terrorism and aggressive interventions.”

The post Nicaragua never to recognize US sanctions, says President Ortega appeared first on Iran News Daily.

The post Iran Congratulates Nicaragua on Independence Day appeared first on Iran News Daily.