News Updates
24 - 30 November, 2019
- Iran, IAEA sign new projects for technical cooperation
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s ambassador to the Vienna-based international organizations has said that Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have signed new projects for technical cooperation in nuclear industry. Gharibabadi added,“Our country’s Atomic Energy Organization and the Agency [IAEA] held technical talks and are supposed to continue implementing two projects of technical cooperation in areas of power plants and cancer treatment in 2020 and 2021,” Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported (TEHRAN TIMES, November 25, 2019)
- JCPOA commission meeting likely due on Dec. 6: Mousavi
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said, The joint commission of the Iran nuclear agreement will hold a meeting at the level of deputy foreign ministers, most likely on December 6. (IRAN DAILY, November 25, 2019)
- Armenia plays great role in EEU-Iran free trade deal: Official
Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan said Armenia played a great and serious role in the signing process of the free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and Iran. He said at the session of the parliamentary standing committee on regional and Eurasian integration affairs, “It was not a coincidence that the process of signing an agreement with Iran has been initiated by Armenia. We have sent a written request, and the process started. We played a great role in the signing process of the agreement,” ARMENPRESS reported. (IRAN DAILY, November 25, 2019)
- ‘Iranian companies prioritized for reconstructing Syria’
Syrian minister of public works and housing said that his country puts the top priority on Iranian companies for implementing reconstruction projects in Syria, Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported (TEHRAN TIMES, November 26, 2019)
- Iran to send naval fleet to Russia’s St. Petersburg
Iran’s Navy commander unveiled plans for the dispatch of a naval fleet to the Russian port city of St. Petersburg. (IRAN DAILY, November 26, 2019)
- Rouhani inaugurates key railway in northwestern Iran
President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated a new railway connecting the East Azarbaijan Province’s cities of Mianeh and Bostanabad in the country’s northwest. It is consider as a key railway that significantly boosts international transport via Iranian corridors. Once finished, the railway would markedly boost cargo transportation from Iran’s east to the Republic of Azerbaijan and Turkey and on toward the continental Europe. (TEHRAN TIMES, November 27, 2019)
- Zarif meets Taliban delegates in Tehran
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has confirmed meeting with Taliban delegates, headed by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the head of Taliban’s Qatar-based political bureau, in Tehran. Zarif told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting “We meet with all Afghan groups in line with working on Peace in Afghanistan. The delegates came to Iran for this purpose”. (TEHRAN TIMES, November 27, 2019)
- Commander hails Iran’s deterrent power as source of ‘regional security’
Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, has said Iran’s deterrent power is a source of sustainable security and stability for the region. In a message released on the National Navy Day, General Baqeri said friends and foes acknowledge the Islamic Republic’s undeniable deterrent and maritime defense power. (TEHRAN TIMES, November 28, 2019).
- Tehran to host Iran-Oman Joint Economic Committee meeting
Tehran is going to host the next Iran-Oman Joint Economic Committee meeting in the current Iranian calendar month of Azar (ends on December 21), Portal of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) reported (TEHRAN TIMES, November 29, 2019).
- Larijani says U.S. must stop the wrong maximum pressure policy
Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said that maximum pressure is a “wrong policy” and the United States must stop it. He added in a press conference. “There has always been political will to solve issues and there is no dead end. The issue is that policy of maximum pressure is wrong and must be changed. We have not closed the door, however, the United States must come to the understanding that this policy is not right,” (TEHRAN TIMES, November 30, 2019)
1 - 23 November, 2019
- South western Iranian port to be connected to Syria through Iraq
A trilateral agreement signed with Iraq and Syria in July, Saied Rasouli said according to the agreement, Iran is going to construct Shalamcheh-Basra railway between Iran and Iraq through which Iran’s southwestern Emam Khomeini Port will later be connected to Latakia Port in Syria. Rasouli said “This would be a great step for boosting transit to Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries through Iran” (TEHRAN TIME, November 18, 2019)
- Foreign Ministry: Iranians condemn Pompeo’s support for rioters
Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said that the Iranian people condemn U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s support for rioters. Mousavi said “Actions being taken by a number of rioters and saboteurs who are supported by someone like him [Pompeo] have nothing to do with the insightful Iranian people,” (TEHRAN TIME, November 18, 2019)
- Russian envoy says Moscow is concerned about fate of nuclear deal
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, has said that Moscow is concerned about the fate of the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).In an exclusive interview with IRNA Ulyanov said the deal is very important and the parties have been working for more than 10 years to achieve it. He added “It showed that difficult issues in the field of non-proliferation can be resolved through diplomacy” (TEHRAN TIME, November 18, 2019)
- Russia voices readiness to export weapons to Iran
Head of the Russian Federation’s Federal Service of Military-Technical Cooperation announced that his country is ready to export arms and ammunition to Iran after international arms embargo on Tehran would be lifted in 2020. Dimitri Shugaev told Ria Novosti, “The Russian side is ready to hold talks with Iran regarding the expansion of cooperation (selling weapons) provided that any possible agreement between Tehran and Moscow would be implemented after removal of the international arms embargo on Iran.” “Iran will possibly intend to purchase military planes, helicopters, tanks, warships, coastal defense sets, plane’s engines, armored passenger carriers, and submarines,” he added. Shugaev said that his country will deliver a batch of defense weapons, including a set of radio-technical reconnaissance packages to Iran. (TEHRAN TIME, November 18, 2019)
- Iran, Pakistan military officials discuss cooperation
Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, leading a high-ranking military delegation, met with Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri in Tehran, IRNA reported. The two sides discussed defense, military and security cooperation. The meeting also focused on regional developments and strengthening cooperation on stability and security. Establishing security at the borders, preventing the movement of terrorist groups as well as illegal border crossing were the topics of the meeting. (IRAN DAILY, November 19, 2019)
- China eyeing investment in Iran projects
Chairman of Tehran Chamber of Commerce Masoud Khansari said Chinese companies voiced their readiness to invest in Iran’s development projects, especially in the mines and agricultural sectors. (IRAN DAILY, November 19, 2019)
- Islamic states must pressure Riyadh to end Yemen war
Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), has said the all-out Saudi war against the innocent Yemeni people is an example of expanding insecurity in the region and blatant violation of human rights. He made the remarks during a meeting with Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Tehran, IRNA reported. Shamkhani suggested “Islamic countries must immediately put an end to this heinous genocide by exerting great pressure on the Al-Saud regime”. (TEHRAN TIMES, November 19, 2019)
- Pompeo says U.S. will no longer waive sanctions on Fordow facility
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the U.S. will no longer waive sanctions related to Iran’s Fordow nuclear plant after Tehran resumed uranium enrichment at the site more than a year after Washington withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement. Pompeo said “The right amount of uranium enrichment for the world’s largest state sponsor of terror is zero ... There is no legitimate reason for Iran to resume enrichment at this previously clandestine site”. (TEHRAN TIMES, November 19, 2019)
- Pentagon: Iran’s missile force ‘largest in Middle East’
A research study conducted by the US Department of Defense hailed Iran’s achievements in its ballistic missiles program despite decades of Washington-imposed sanctions, saying its arsenal is larger than that of any other Middle Eastern countries. (IRAN DAILY, November 19, 2019)
- Navy has dispatched 64 fleets to international waters, says Khanzadi
Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi says the Navy has dispatched 64 fleets to international waters in a bid to defend Iran’s interests. Khanzadi said “The Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army is the protector of the country’s territorial integrity and its interests in the seas; therefore, we have so far dispatched 64 fleets to international waters to defend the country’s interests,”. (TEHRAN TIMES, November 20, 2019)
- Afghanistan for boosting transit through Chabahar port
Afghanistan plans to increase commodity transit through Iranian Chabahar Port, said Afghanistan Ambassador to Iran Abdul Ghafoor Liwal. Kordi stressed “Chabahar is a strategic port and Afghan businessmen and traders need to have a greater presence in it and increase their investment”. (IRAN DAILY, 22 NOVEMBER, 2019)
- Pakistan president lauds Ayatollah Khamenei for strong support on Kashmir issue
Pakistani President Arif Alvi said that Islamabad is grateful for Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for his strong support for the just struggle of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. (TEHRAN TIMES, November 22, 2019)
- Iran warns of response if regional states involved in unrest
Iranian Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri warned regional countries of a “crushing response” if it is proven that they meddled to stoke unrest in Iran. Jahangiri said “Some countries in the region should know that they will be not have an easy life in the region if clues are found that show they intervened to create unrest in Iran”. He said “Iran is not a country to deal with such pranks. Iran must be treated with utmost courtesy”. Jahangiri warned “If it turns out that others have interfered in Iran’s internal affairs to harm the Iranian nation, they will certainly receive a crushing response”. (IRAN DAILY, 23 NOVEMBER, 2019)
- Iranian Navy to build new heavy destroyer
Iran’s Navy commander unveiled plans for the production of a new heavy destroyer weighing more than 5,000 tons. Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said construction of the heavy destroyer has been put on the agenda under a project dubbed “Negin” (gemstone). (IRAN DAILY, 24 NOVEMBER, 2019)
Archives
