IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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According To Iran News, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani said that it seems that there is a link between the plan of the assassination of Lt. Gen. Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and the US claim regarding the attack on Camp Taji.

“Visiting Iraq, I asked the Iraqi authorities to identify and introduce the internal agents involved in the assassination operation of the martyrs Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis,” wrote Shamkhani in a Friday tweet.

“It seems that there is a link between the plan of the assassination of Lt. Gen. Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and the US claim on the attack against Camp Taji,” he added.

Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the commander of the US Central Command on Thursday said the investigation into the deadly attack Wednesday on Camp Taji north of Baghdad was ongoing, but Kataeb Hezbollah is probably the culprit.

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According To Iran News, The Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) questioned the sincerity of the US in its offer to help the Islamic Republic to contain the coronavirus epidemic, saying sanctions and non-commitment are more dangerous to international security than COVID-19.

“The virus of sanctions and non-commitment to promises is threatening international security more than the coronavirus,” Ali Shamkhani said on his Twitter account on Saturday.

“The US claim that it is ready to help Iran can only be verified through the country’s implementation of its legal obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),” he added in his tweet.

Last week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said his country had offered Iran assistance in the fight against the coronavirus.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi, in a statement last Saturday, dismissed Pompeo’s remarks as hypocritical and deceitful propaganda.

The remarks came as Iran’s administration on Thursday extended the closure of all schools and universities nationwide until the end of the current Iranian year (March 19) as the country is struggling with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Iran’s Health Ministry announced on Saturday that the number of people who have died from the coronavirus in the country has risen to 145 and the total number of confirmed cases to 5,823.

At least 1,669 people have recovered from the disease in the country so far.

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“The main objective of the Islamic Republic of Iran is the full implementation of the JCPOA parties’ obligations, and if all parties meet their commitments, Iran will also take serious steps to fulfill its own obligations,” Rouhani said.

France’s top diplomat also had meetings with the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Wednesday.

During his meeting with Shamkhani, the Iranian official called the reduction of Iran’s commitments under the nuclear deal as an “unchangeable strategy” that “will be continued in line with Articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA until the full realization of Iran’s rights.”

Shamkhani also urged Europe to stand against the US and not allow its sovereignty to be held hostage to Washington’s unilateralism.

“The era of carrying out one-way measures is over,” Shamkhani added, warning the EU countries that Iran is no longer going to implement the JCPOA unilaterally.

He further described the US policy of maximum pressure on Iran as a failed strategy, stressing that it is impossible to talk to Iran with the language of force.

For his part, the French envoy said he is in Iran not as a mediator and carries no message from the US.

Bonne also noted that Iran’s power, influence and position in the regional and international equations have grown remarkably over the past 20 years despite the US opposition.

He added that French President Emmanuel Macron seeks joint initiatives for a ceasefire in the US economic war against Iran.

The French diplomat also voiced Paris’ willingness to continue interaction with Iran, given its undeniable role and influence in the region, in order to address the crises in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon.

In May 2018, US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the JCPOA.

Iran and the remaining parties launched talks to save the JCPOA after the US withdrawal, but the three EU parties to the deal (France, Britain, and Germany) have failed to ensure Iran’s economic interests.

The EU’s inaction forced Tehran to stop honoring certain commitments to the nuclear deal, including a rise in the stockpile of enriched uranium.

Iran maintains that the new measures are not designed to harm the JCPOA, but to save the accord by creating a balance in the commitments.

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IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

Criticizing the inaction of European countries to stand against U.S. constructive policies, Shamkhani said, “given Europe’s failure to use the one-year-long opportunity, during which Iran unilaterally implemented its commitments, [now] the country’s firm decision is to comply with commitments in proportion to other parties’ measures. The period of unilateral implementation of commitments has ended.”

“We seriously demand a resolute move by the Europeans regarding the JCPOA and their time has come to an end,” he said.

He then referred to Iran’s decision to scale down its commitments under the nuclear deal and said this is an unchangeable strategy by the Islamic Republic.

“We will continue reducing our commitments within articles 26 and 36 of the Iran nuclear deal,” he said.

Introducing gradual cuts on JCPOA is an ‘unchangeable strategy of Iran’, he said, noting that this measure will continue, according to paragraphs 26 and 36 of the deal, as far as Iran’s legal demands are met.

“Today, America is holding EU’s independence hostage. European countries require to stand against U.S. unilateralism in a bid to defend their identity and independence,” said the Iranian official.

Bomme, for his part, said that French President Emmanuel Macron is looking for joint initiatives to secure a ceasefire in Washington’s economic war against the Islamic Republic, his top diplomatic advisor said in Tehran.

According to Bonne, Macron believes such a ceasefire will lead to a de-escalation of growing tensions in the region.

Bonne underlined that he is visiting Iran neither as a mediator nor as a carrier of a message from the US.

France is fully aware how resilient Iran has been against various pressures and sanctions over the past 40 years, he said, adding that despite the US willingness and interest, Iran’s influence and power in the region has increased significantly over the past 20 years.

Macron’s senior diplomatic advisor then added given the undeniable regional influence of Iran, Paris is interested in holding talks and expanding cooperation with the country to settle the current crises in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon.

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed mutual and regional ties and mechanisms to fulfil Europeans’ pledges under the JCPOA.

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IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK

Referring to Europeans’ request from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to give them moratorium and not to pull out of the deal, he said Iran practiced patience for one year long and held talks with China, Russia and other regional countries.

Pointing to U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal endorsed by the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 lifting all the UN sanctions on Iran, Jahangiri said that the U.S., the EU signatories, the United Nations Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) first called the JCPOA as new important way-out of the nuclear stand-off through negotiations.

Jahangiri said that the UN Security Council permanent members cited the JCPOA as a pattern for the settlement of the international disputes.

U.S. did not let Iran take advantage of JCPOA achievements neither before nor after its withdrawal, he noted.

They tried to create an unsafe atmosphere for the Iranian economic and political relations, Jahangiri added.

He said that the U.S. administration explores every avenue to implement its wrongful and unilateral sanctions.

Jahangiri said that the U.S. exceeded the boundaries of the International Law by forcing China, Russia and Europe to comply with its economic war against a developing country like Iran.

He protested to U.S. administration over waging economic war against Iranian nation, saying that the US harsh sanctions could create some shocks for national economy and social maladies across the country.

He noted that the economic situation was stabilized and grounds have been prepared to thwart the negative impacts of the U.S. sanctions.

Other parties which were five big countries have not even taken small steps in line with solving problems and their commitments they have undertaken to fulfill, he said.

Finally, Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) approved that Iran should reduce some of its commitments.

The JCPOA in Articles 26 and 36 has let Iran suspend some of its commitments when the other parties do not abide by the terms of the deal.

We were committed not to keep over 300kg uranium but we can avoid its implementation, he said, adding that we were also committed not to enrich uranium over 3.67% but we can reject it.

He reiterated that Iran favors negotiation and interaction with reliable partners, adding but we will defend Iranians’ rights firmly.

Underlining sensitive situation in the region, he said U.S. footprints are evident in all ailments of Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq.

He said that Saudi Arabia and Israel are complicit in campaign against Iran and urged elites and academics to monitor the regional issues adequately.

He also called for non-oil revenue sources and reducing the costs of the government to replace oil revenues.

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Pointing to the rising number of visits by officials of different countries to Iran recently, the spokesman said, “The bulk (of visiting delegations) are representing the US. Some (of the visits) are publicized, while a number of the trips remain confidential.”

Khosravi emphasized that the Islamic Republic, however, sticks to its principled policies and conveys to the visiting officials, without exception, the message of “might, logic, and resistance” of the Iranian nation.

“We have announced explicitly that the approach will remain the same as long as the (US) behaviors do not change, the country’s (Iran’s) rights are not fulfilled, and they (the Americans) do not abandon (hostile) rhetoric and adopt practical measures. There will be no negotiation at all,” he underlined.

In comments on Monday, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani categorically dismissed the idea of direct negotiations with the US under the current circumstances, and stressed the need for resistance against an ongoing economic war waged by Washington.

“Today’s circumstances are not suitable for negotiations at all, as our conditions today are those of resistance and fortitude,” he underlined, pointing to the US government’s push for direct talks with Tehran.

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