stability Archives - Iran News Daily

Russia interested in discussing strategic stability with US

mahla — Mon, 03 May 2021 14:18:55 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Russia is ready for a dialogue about strategic stability with the US.

Russia is noticing signals from the United States indicating Washington’s readiness to discuss issues of strategic stability and is ready for a dialogue, but will press its missile defense concerns, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik.

“We are not yet aware from what angle [US President] Joe Biden’s administration will address various aspects of arms control, including anti-missile issues. At the same time, we are registering signals from Washington [showing] an intention to discuss issues of strategic stability with us”, Zakharova said.

The spokeswoman added that Moscow was prepared to have a substantive dialogue on the matter.

“However, we will not agree to anything without our interests and concerns being taken into account in return. If we manage to jointly arrive at a balance of interests then we can talk about agreements”, the diplomat added.
Zakharova accused the US of pursuing absolute military dominance and counting on Russia’s nuclear deterrent getting weaker.

“The US has adopted a goal of reaching absolute dominance in the military arena and counts on the devaluation of Russia’s nuclear deterrence potential, [combined] with a focus on the creation of a global missile defense system”, Zakharova explained, while also mentioning that Washington was making efforts to boost its military capabilities in space and create means for a rapid and high-precision non-nuclear strike.

Last week, the US Department of Defence was reported to have plans to allocate almost $18 billion to develop, manufacture, and maintain new interceptors, in what will be the Biden administration’s first major defense procurement initiative. The department is reported to be planning to install 31 such interceptors at bases in Alaska.

The relationship between the two nations has deteriorated over recent years, with the US imposing sanctions against Russian individuals and organizations, also prohibiting American banks and funds from buying Russian government bonds during initial placement.

Washington additionally expelled ten Russian diplomats from the country, and Moscow responded with a proportionate expulsion of US diplomatic mission staff, also curbing the activities of American funds and NGOs controlled by the State Department in the country.

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Israel Nuclear Weapons, A Threat to World’s Security: Iranian Deputy

reporter 1222 — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 04:06:25 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iran’s Ambassador to the Vienna-based international organizations Kazem Gharibabadi said that the acquisition of nuclear weapons by Israel is a serious threat to the security and stability of the region and the world.

He made the remarks in the Quarterly meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday evening, Mehr News Agency (MNA) reported.

Gharibabadi explained Iran’s stance on the West Asia (Middle East) nuclear weapons free zone and the Zionist regime’s nuclear capabilities.

Referring to the 50th anniversary of the NPT and regretting that this treaty is still a long way from globalization, he said, “Among those outside the treaty, some have made their accession conditional on the creation of a ‘special atmosphere’ and others are reluctant to do so because of the threat posed by nuclear weapons states.”

“Undoubtedly, after the failure to agree on the final outcome of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in 2015, simply because of the three countries’ protests in support of a non-NPT member, the NPT Review Conference in 2021 will be a strong milestone for the world community to see if multilateralism is still effective in the field of arms control and disarmament,” he added.

Noting that the issue of the NPT and the nuclear-weapon-free Middle East should be addressed without prejudice, he said, “We believe that ignoring such an important issue directly affects regional and international peace and stability, challenges global arms control norms, and undermines the validity and sustainability of the current disarmament and arms control structure, including the IAEA and the safeguards regime,” Gharibabadi highlighted.

“That’s why we emphasize that ignoring the review of the status of the nuclear facilities and the activities of the Israeli regime, especially in the absence of IAEA safeguards, is a very dangerous step,” he added.

He went on to say, “All the countries except regime of Israel in the the West Asia are members of the NPT and has pledged to accept the IAEA’s comprehensive safeguards. Therefore, the regime’s covert acquisition of nuclear weapons is a serious threat to the security and stability of the region and the world.”

Noting that opposition to the Israeli nuclear issue means rejecting all practical steps taken to create a nuclear-weapon-free West Asia region, he said, “We strongly believe that by ignoring legitimate regional and international concerns about the Israeli regime’s refusal to adhere to the NPT, it and its supporters are deliberately violating all international norms and regulations.”

“The immediate and unconditional accession of the Israeli regime to the NPT and the placement of all its nuclear materials, activities and facilities under the Agency’s comprehensive safeguards are necessary steps to alleviate the current nuclear crisis in the West Asia,” Gharibabadi added.

“The Agency should not be influenced by political considerations in this regard and should not, on behalf of one of the parties in the region, describe the political situation in the region in its reports,” he stressed.

“Professional logic therefore requires the Agency to take steps to implement safeguards throughout the West Asia,” he added.

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Iran Zarif Hopes for Lebanon Stability after Beirut Blast

reporter 1222 — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 03:53:58 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday hoped that Lebanon’s situation becomes stable through cooperation among all parties following the massive explosion in Beirut last week that killed and injured thousands of people.

Zarif made the comments at a meeting with Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun in Beirut during which he expressed Iran’s sympathy and solidarity with the people of Lebanon over the devastating explosion.

Earlier in the day, Zarif held talks with Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. He told them that Iran is ready to help Lebanon reconstruct buildings damaged in the blast and cooperate with the country in meeting its needs in the aftermath of the blast.

He also warned that some Western countries are seeking to destabilize Lebanon by exploiting the current situation there.

The Aug. 4 blast at Beirut’s port killed nearly 180 people, injured over 6,000, and caused widespread damage in the capital.

Lebanon’s government resigned earlier this week under pressure and consultations between rival groups are ongoing over who will replace Diab. The process to form a new government could take months.

International humanitarian aid has poured in but some foreign states have linked any financial assistance to reform of the Lebanese state, which has defaulted on its huge sovereign debts.

During a visit to Beirut last week, French President Emmanuel Macron met political leaders in Lebanon and called on them to create a “new political order.”

Last week, in a joint statement after an international donor conference, world leaders urged Lebanese authorities to “fully commit themselves to timely measures and reforms” in order to access longer-term support for the country’s recovery.

Exploiting Lebanon

Zarif said Friday that Western countries should not take advantage of the explosion to dictate their own policies on Lebanon.

“We believe that the government and the people of Lebanon are the sides that should decide on the future of Lebanon,” Zarif told a joint televised news conference after meeting with his caretaker Lebanese counterpart, Charbel Wehbe.

“No foreign side should take advantage of the catastrophic conditions and the needs of Lebanon to impose dictates that are in their interests.”

Lebanese local media reported that the US wants the new government in Lebanon to exclude the Hezbollah resistance movement.

Zarif described reported the US attempts to dictate and impose a government leaving out major Lebanese political factions as “inhumane.”

“In our view, it is inhumane to exploit the pain and suffering of the people for political goals,” he said.

“Others should not condition their aid on any change in Lebanon during this emergency situation,” Zarif said, in what was seen as a reference to Western leaders.

President Aoun met Friday with US Undersecretary for Political Affairs David Hale and told him that the priority of the new government will be to conduct reforms and fight corruption, according to Aoun’s office.

Aoun has promised a swift investigation into the blast. He has said the probe would look into whether the cause was negligence, an accident or “external interference”.

On Thursday, Hale said the FBI will join Lebanese and other international investigators in the probe of Beirut’s massive explosion.

Earlier on Friday, the United Nations humanitarian affairs agency said in its report that the explosion has affected operations at six hospitals, up from an initial three, and damaged more than 20 clinics in the parts of Beirut worst hit by the blast.

Some 120 schools, used by 50,000 students, have been damaged. More than 1,000 of nearly 50,000 residential units were severely damaged, the UN report said.

The blast struck Beirut in the midst of a crippling financial and economic crisis, and the UN predicted people may have difficulties restoring or fixing their homes.

According to the world body, the Beirut port is operating at 30% capacity and the Tripoli port in the country’s north, at 70%. That is allowing for food and goods to continue to flow. The World Food Programme is bringing in a three-month supply of wheat flour and grains.

It still wasn’t known what caused the Aug. 4 fire that ignited nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in Beirut’s port. But documents have emerged in the wake of the explosion that shows the country’s top leadership and security officials were aware of the chemicals being stored in the city port.

Lebanon’s Parliament on Thursday approved a state of emergency in Beirut in its first session since the tragic explosion last week, granting the military sweeping powers amid rising popular anger and political uncertainty.

AP, Reuters, and AFP contributed to this story.

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Iran after peace, stability in region

reporter 1222 — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 12:25:41 +0000

Head of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations Kamal Kharrazi said Iran seeks peace and stability in the region, adding “resorting to military option to stabilize the region is by no means effective.”

Addressing a seminar on ‘peace and stability in West Asia; one region, one fate’ on Monday, Kharrazi said everyone acknowledges that Iran is the most stable country in the region, thanks to the powerful security forces, and whoever visits Iran, confirms that no place has Iran’s security.

“Iran does not accept the control of world powers over the region; Iran does not need to be hegemonic because it has spiritual influence upon all other countries, and this does not mean hegemony,” he noted.

Head of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations said “you see, in Syria, many pay heavy costs to overthrow the government by force, but Iran backed the legitimate government of that country, however that does not mean Iran fully agrees with that government.”

“Iran seeks peace and stability in the region, and this is a fact that cannot be denied,” he noted.

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Iran’s policy for regional security and stability

reporter 1222 — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 17:30:01 +0000

TEHRAN– In a meeting with Norway Ambassador, Kamal Kharrazi said that Iran’s policy is geared towards establishing regional security and stability.

The Chairman of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations Dr. Kamal Kharrazi met with Norway’s Ambassador to Iran Lars Nordrum on Monday. The two sides discussed various regional issues as well as relations between Iran and Norway.

Commenting on Iran’s regional foreign policy, Kharrazi said that Iran’s regional foreign policy is geared towards creating security and stability. He added that Iran’s presence in Iraq and Syria was aimed at fighting terrorism and ensuring security for Iran and its friends Iraq and Syria.

He added that Iran will remain committed to JCPOA as long as Europe is committed to the agreement and the flow of economic activity continues.

For his part, the Norwegian Ambassador emphasized that his country and Europe are committed to JCPOA and, therefore, will continue their economic activities with Iran.

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