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Trump says US ‘moving forward’ with additional sanctions on Iran


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Amid US-Iran tensions, senior Iraqi officials talk mediation, sanctions with FM Zarif

35 minutes ago
 

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/be92a00e-771d-4dcb-935c-271325cb286b

 

Amid US-Iran tensions, senior Iraqi officials talk mediation, sanctions with FM Zarif
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (right) with his Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif. (Photo: IRNA)
 

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks with senior Iraqi officials in Baghdad to discuss the latest regional and international developments amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Zarif arrived in the Iraqi capital late Saturday, hours after he described as “extremely dangerous” an earlier US decision to deploy 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East, which Washington said were part of efforts to deter Iran from attacking its forces and allies in the region.

Amid ongoing tensions, Iranian military officials have said they do not want war but affirm that they would take retaliatory measures should they detect what they believe to be hostile action by US forces in the region.

During their meeting, Iraqi President Barham Salih and FM Zarif discussed “the need to prevent war and escalation” between the US and Iran and “adopt a constructive dialogue to consolidate the foundations of peace in the region,” according to a statement from Salih’s office.

The two also highlighted “the importance of exerting joint efforts to spare the region the harms of sanctions and reach political solutions to the current crises,” the statement added. The topic of sanctions also came up in Zarif’s meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi.

The US has re-imposed multiple rounds of punitive sanctions on Iran since it withdrew last year from the nuclear deal – formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – that Tehran signed with major international powers. The US moves have damaged the Iranian economy as the country’s exports, most notably oil, have substantially declined, limiting national income.

Iraq mainly depends on gas imports from Iran to feed its power grid, which, as the sweltering heat of the summer months rolls over, become increasingly strained as demand for electricity soars. Washington has granted waivers to Baghdad to continue importing fuel from Iran but has asked to find an alternative source, as it has other purchasers of the commodity.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has also threatened they would block passage through the Strait of Hormuz should the US choke their economy through the sanctions. Iraqi Oil Minister Thamir Ghadhban expressed worries that this outcome would occur should the US further bolster its presence in the Middle East during an interview with local media.

Along with “sparing the harms of sanctions,” Zarif and Abdul-Mahdi also highlighted preventing “the dangers of war,” a statement from the Iraqi PM’s office said, with the two exploring further “how to maintain the nuclear deal.”

In early May, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced Tehran was reducing its commitments to the JCPOA, which other consignees, namely the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China, and Russia, seek to maintain with Iran after the unilateral US withdrawal.

Last week, PM Abdul-Mahdi said his country would send delegations to Washington and Tehran to help ease tensions amid fears of a confrontation between the United States and Iran and proxy war in Iraq between US forces and Iran-backed militias. The Guardian previously reported that IRGC commander Qasim Soleimani had told leaders of Iraqi militias his country supports to prepare for such an eventuality in a recent meeting in Tehran.

Iraqi parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi told state television that Baghdad was ready to act as an intermediary between the United States and Iran if asked to do so.

“We are ready to mediate a solution to the crisis between Washington and Tehran if we are asked to do so,” Halbousi said, but noted that there was yet no “formal request for such mediation.”

The speaker himself, according to an informed government official, would act as an envoy between Washington and Tehran while President Salih would court Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Tehran has no direct diplomatic ties with these powers. The source could not immediately specify when the Iraqi officials would begin such visits.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

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Iran to Defend Itself Against Any Aggression: FM

 
 Basnews English 26/05/2019 - 16:37 Published in Middle East
Iran to Defend Itself Against Any Aggression: FM
 

ERBIL — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif reiterated that his country will defend itself against any military operation by the US or others.

“We will defend ourselves from any war efforts against Iran, whether it will be an economic war or a military one, and we will face these efforts with strength,” Zarif told reporters during a press conference with his Iraqi counterpart in Baghdad.

Zarif also said that his country is also against aggression with regional actors, and that Tehran seeks balanced relationships with other countries in the Middle East.

During the press conference, the Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hakim said that his country is against the US sanctions against Iran.

“We are saying very clearly and honestly that we oppose the unilateral actions taken by the United States. We stand with the Islamic Republic of Iran in its position,” Reuters quoted the minister.

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Of course it’s ok for Iran to supply Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthi missiles to attack Israel and Saudi Arabia.  Iran has 10’s of thousands of militia in Iraq and Saudi.  

Iran is the aggressor in the ME.  Eliminate their proxies or their ability to pay for war and the ME will have more peace.  I’m not sure if that area of the world will ever have total peace, too much hatred.   

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Baghdad rejects unilateral US action against Iran: Iraq FM

By Rudaw 36 minutes ago 
71Views
Baghdad rejects unilateral US action against Iran: Iraq FM
Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali al-Hakim (R) greets Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Baghdad, May 26, 2019. Photo: Sabah Arar / AFP

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Washington’s “unilateral” sanctions targeting Iran’s economy serve no purpose other than to hurt the Iranian people, Iraq’s foreign minister Mohammad al-Hakim told a press conference in Baghdad on Sunday, alongside his Iranian counterpart. 


Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is in Baghdad for talks with senior Iraqi officials.

Hakim acknowledged the US has some justified concerns about recent developments in the region, but argued unilateral actions against Iran are not the solution.

“[The Iraqi government] said in clear and direct terms that we are against the unilateral actions by the United States, we are not happy with these measures … against our neighbor Iran,” he said.

“We have great hopes that the region should not be dragged into a war that has no benefit. We believe that the economic sanctions have no benefit and hurt Iranian people in a big way,” he added.

Baghdad officials are concerned their country has the most to lose if war breaks out between Iran and the US, at a time when Iraq is recovering from three devastating years of war with the Islamic State (ISIS). 

Both Iran and the US assisted the Iraqis and the Kurds in the fight against ISIS and continue to wield considerable influence and assets in the country.

Baghdad has offered to mediate in the dispute. 

The US has upped the ante on Iran in recent weeks, deploying an aircraft carrier group and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf with and a further 1,500 troops and fighter jets to come in the near future. The show of military might came in response to an unspecified threat posed by Iran and its Iraqi proxies. 

In May 2018, the US withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as Iran nuclear deal, heralding in a new era of animosity and sanctions on Iran.

In Sunday’s press conference alongside Hakim, Iranian FM Zarif said European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal have a responsibility to help Iran weather the storm of US sanctions. 

“We firmly resist … any attempts to wage war, whether it is a military or economic war, against the people of Iran,” Zarif said 

“The best way to maintain the JCPOA is not through verbal promises but with practical steps in shouldering their responsibilities and normalizing their economic relations with Iran.” 

The Iranian FM said Tehran’s recent decision to suspend two articles of the JCPOA, relating to the enrichment of low-level uranium and heavy water, does not mean Iran has withdrawn from the nuclear deal.

Despite US pressure on Iraq to cut ties with Iran, the foreign ministers discussed developing relations in the health sector, railway infrastructure, and the clearing of the Shatt al-Arab waterway. 

The economies of Iran and Iraq are deeply entwined, with the performance of one impacting the other. 

On Saturday, Iraqi oil minister Thamer Ghadhban warned the threatened closure of the Strait of Hormuz would have a “big impact on Iraq and other countries that export oil using Hormuz to the world market.” 

Around a fifth of global oil supplies pass through the waterway, with crude exported from Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq transiting through the Strait. 

Back in Tehran, President Hassan Rouhani told media outlets on Saturday the country is going through extraordinary times and admitted economic sanctions are causing serious hardship. He insisted however Iran would resist the US.

“For an Iranian cargo ship being unable to offload its cargo for ten days in a port … is unprecedented in the history of Iran,” Rouhani told journalists.

“The fact that an Iranian oil tanker is monitored by satellites and under surveillance is unprecedented in the past 40 years,” he added. 
 
 
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26 minutes ago, 6ly410 said:

Baghdad rejects unilateral US action against Iran: Iraq FM

Iraq can disagree, but not following sanctions not only is disrespectful but will be their death sentence.

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Sunday, 26 May 2019 03:38 PM

The engineer

 

 

The activists of the social networking site "Facebook" confirmed that the demilitarization of the terrorist Abu Mahdi al- Muhandis, deputy head of the Popular Populist militia of all its military and administrative powers is the beginning of the end of this terrorist.

Activists pointed out that the demilitarization of the engineer comes under Iranian orders, which Tehran wants to get rid of scorched cards after its role in spreading terrorism and terror in Iraq.

"This person is a terrorist and that's all we can say at the moment," State Department spokeswoman Heather Naewert said. "The terrorist is a terrorist," she said in response to a question about his role in the Kirkuk battles.

Abu Mahdi al- Mohandes is wanted by the Kuwaiti and American courts and Interpol, whose real name is Jamal Jaafar Ibrahim. He is accused of bombing the American and French embassies in Kuwait on December 12, 1983, killing six people and injuring 80 others. Including Western nationals.

He has also been on the list of prevention in the Gulf States, Egypt and the Maghreb, as well as the European countries and the Americas. His exit from Iran has only been recorded in Syria and Iraq over the past years . Today, the engineer is the military commander and coordinator of the IRGC. .

The activists pointed out that Abu Mahdi Engineer "just an Iraqi" and had no role in Iraq before, but when the Iranian occupation entered Iraq .. Khaddam appeared, including Abu Mahdi Engineer!

The Iranian butcher, Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, is the most horrifying record of committing massacres against them. He is not only wanted at the head of a US list, but is wanted at the top of a popular Iraqi list. He is wanted by the families of tens of thousands of Iraqis who have lost their children In terrible massacres by the Shiite Shiite terrorist forces.

The " Baghdad Post " reactions of activists, "Facebook" to strip the terrorist Abu Mahdi Engineer of all powers:

The account "Kurdy Hamadamin" said, "Oh God, may be their end."

Image1_5201926153456445753495.png
The account "Rqat Eini", "the beginning of the end".

Image1_5201926153532390255356.png
Iran began to implement the conditions of America," he added.

Image1_520192615361305271601.png
He wrote the account "Mohammed Alshemmari," "not to object to Abu Mahdi Engineer on this decision means that the decision came from their masters and will accept against his will." 

Image1_5201926153646590437408.png

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Editorial date:: 2019/5/26 18:33 • 295 times read
Zarif describes his visit to Iraq as "constructive" and reveals a proposal
{International: Euphrates News} Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif described his visit and meetings in Iraq as "constructive".
Zarif said in a tweet on Twitter, in reference to his visit to Baghdad, which began on Saturday, that his meetings with Iraqi officials gained importance and described the construction. 
"He said he met with the President and the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his counterpart in Iraq and met with leaders of parliamentary blocs in this country 
, Proposed to sign a non-aggression treaty in the region 
It is noteworthy that Zarif has toured in recent weeks, including Russia, Turkmenistan, India, Japan, China and Pakistan.
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US sanctions on Iran felt in Iraqi Shiite tourist districts

         
US sanctions on Iran felt in Iraqi Shiite tourist districts
The golden-domed shrine of Imam Moussa al-Kadhim, Kadhimiya district, northern Baghdad, Iraq, May 21, 2019. Photo: Khalid Mohammed / AP
BAGHDAD, Iraq – For years, Karar Hussein has sold sweets in his shop near the entrance to one of Shiite Islam’s holiest shrines, accepting whatever currency was offered to him by his clients, many of them religious tourists from neighboring Iran. But lately, when Iranian pilgrims ask about prices, he tells them he can only sell if they pay in Iraqi currency. They often walk out, disappointed.

Hussein and many other shop owners in Baghdad’s northern Shiite holy neighborhood of Kadhimiya have seen sales drop sharply over the past year since President Donald Trump began re-imposing sanctions on Iran, home to the largest number of Shiite Muslims around the world.

The value of Iran’s currency, the rial, has decreased almost fourfold, pushing the price of nearly everything beyond the reach of ordinary Iranian consumers in Iran and abroad.

Standing in his shop wearing jeans and a T-shirt, 27-year-old Hussein said his sales have dropped 30 percent since last year, but he still prefers not to be paid in Iranian rials because the currency’s value keeps depreciating. “Their currency is crashing,” he said.

Millions of Shiites from around the world come to Iraq every year to visit its many Shiite shrines and holy places, including the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in southern Iraq and the central city of Samarra, home to the revered golden-domed al-Askari shrine. They bring large amounts of money into the country, where tourism is the second biggest source of income for state coffers after oil exports.

Since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s government in 2003, Iranians have made up the majority of religious tourists to Iraq, although tens of thousands come from other countries.

But tensions have been rising recently in the Middle East between the United States and Iran and there have been concerns that Iraq, whose government is allied with both Tehran and Washington, would become caught in the middle, likely increasing pressures on Iraq’s tourism sector.

A favorite tourist destination is the Kadhimiya district in north Baghdad, typically bustling with Iranians shopping for clothes, sweets and trinkets. The area is home to the al-Kadhimayn shrine, known for its two domes and four minarets draped with gold and contains the tombs of Imam Moussa al-Kadhim and his grandson Mohammed al-Jawad, two of Shiite Islam’s most revered figures.

On a recent afternoon in Kadhimiya, hundreds of Iranian pilgrims entered and left the shrine, passing by scores of shops on both sides of a pedestrian street leading to the holy site without buying anything.

“Money is a big problem for us. This is really hurting us,” said Iranian citizen Hussein Fazeli, as he left the shrine. Fazeli, who brings pilgrims from Iran to Iraq, said the number of Iranian visitors has dropped because many cannot afford to travel now.

Speaking in broken Arabic, Fazeli said Iran will end up victorious no matter how long the crisis takes, adding that “Trump will go, and Iran will stay.”

Iran’s currency has been declining steadily for years but the drop has accelerated in recent months after Trump’s decision to pull out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and re-impose sanctions.

Mohammed Saadi Hadi, who inherited his tiny clothes stand outside the al-Kadhimayn shrine from his father, says sales have dropped by 70 percent. Prayer gowns for women now cost four times what they cost last year in Iranian currency. He used to sell 60 gowns a day but today he sells less than 10.

Thamer Jabbar, owner of a perfume store, said Iranian tourists now not only abstain from buying, but some of them bring with them items such as saffron spice and stone rings to sell in Iraq, hoping to make up for some of their trip’s cost.

Jabbar, 38, said his best days were after Iran and world powers signed the nuclear deal in 2015, which led to the lifting of sanctions on Iran and the release of billions of dollars of frozen assets. On a good day then, Jabbar would sell $700 worth of perfume.

“Today I barely sell anything to an Iranian tourist. Perfumes in Iran have become cheaper,” he said.

By Bassem Mroue
We 
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Ahaha. Great 10 years.  Made me laugh and I need a good laugh. 

 

With Memorial Day tomorrow I am thinking about my father and father in law ( WWII Vets) and several close bubbies VN Vets) who have passed.  

 

To all all who have served our country in the US Armed Forces and to all the families who supported them and loved them I salute you and pray for you, for you know all to well what I’m feeling this weekend.  We probably all know someone who paid the ultimate price for our Freedom and we MUST ALWAYS honor them and never let our country forget them.

 

There are many Vets on this board and I want to Thank You all for serving our country and for securing our Freedoms.  

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Al-Hakim: Iraq's role is central to reducing tension in the region

 
Baghdad / Al-Sabah
 
 
Iraq, through the legislative and executive authorities, affirmed its position to spare the region any repercussions that threaten its stability and stand away from the policy of axes. While Speaker of the House of Representatives Mohammad Halabousi and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali al-Hakim, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Jawad Zarif, who is currently visiting Baghdad, Iraq will play a pivotal role to reduce the escalation and tension between Tehran and Washington, Zarif said that his country does not want any military escalation.
This comes at a time when the Foreign Relations Committee revealed that Zarif holds new proposals from the Iranian leadership to the Americans to pass through Baghdad.
"Iraq is keen to maintain its relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran and all the countries of the region," he said, referring to the danger of escalation in the region and the need for dialogue and peaceful initiatives to build trust between all sides.
"Iraq will play a pivotal role, to reduce the escalation between Tehran and Washington, and will not be in any axis," he said, expressing his concern for the safety of his neighbors and work at all levels to avoid the risks of escalation in the region.
For his part, welcomed the Iranian Foreign Minister to "the role of Iraq in bringing the views closer, and not limited to Tehran to resolve all the problems with countries in the region," pointing out that "his country does not want any military escalation, and is ready to receive any initiative to help reduce the escalation and composition Constructive relations with all neighboring countries. " "Iraq will play the role of mediator between America and Iran to resolve the current crisis," Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali al-Hakim told a joint news conference with his Iranian counterpart in Baghdad. "We seek to stand with neighbor Iran in any way because the economic blockade is not useful."
"We have discussed many things, including the industrial cities and the entry of traders from Iraq to Iran and vice versa," he said. "We are saying explicitly that we are against US sanctions against Tehran and stand by Iran."
In turn, Zarif stressed that "our discussion is positive with Iraqi politicians and that the agreements concluded previously with the Iraqi Prime Minister and the President entered into force."
"We have had good discussions regarding the current crisis in the region and we seek good relations with all," Zarif said. "We have made many proposals, including non-aggression against the Gulf.
Zarif stressed that "we will confront strongly any party trying to encroach on the Iranian people, and what Tehran did not violate the agreement of the nuclear program, but within Article 36 of the Convention itself," and thanked the "Iraqi government and the Iraqi people for their support and stand with Tehran."
In the same context, the head of the Alliance for Reform and Reconstruction, Mr. Ammar al-Hakim, discussed with the Iranian Foreign Minister developments of escalation between America and Iran.
In a brief statement from the head of the Coalition for Reform and Reconstruction, Al-Sabah said that Hakim had discussed ways of boosting bilateral relations, developments in the political situation in the region and developments in the escalation between the United States and Iran.
"The visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Jawad Zarif to Baghdad before Iraqi delegations go to Tehran, America and Saudi Arabia is proof that Tehran does not want war with Washington," said Foreign Affairs Committee member Amer al-Fayez.
Al-Fayez added that "Zarif has several proposals with him to prevent the war between his country and the United States and that Baghdad is the station that Tehran trusts to deliver the message of the government in the Islamic Republic of Iran," stressing that "any sane today does not want war between Washington and Tehran because the region is of interest to the world Whole ".
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About the Iraqi mediation between Iran and the United States

 
Ibrahim Abadi 
 
Since the announcement of the Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, sending delegations to Washington and Tehran to calm the escalating tension between them, Baghdad is witnessing secret and public trips include the region and beyond, all revolve in the same thing that the Prime Minister talked about, Iraq is concerned about the possibility of military escalation seeks what he could seek This is a bad scenario that Iraq understands with conviction. It also knows that the outbreak of war means that it will be comprehensive and Iraq will be the most volatile region. From this vision, Iraq is forced to exert every diplomatic effort. Or The American feeling that they lost Iraq in favor of Iran after the 2018 elections and the rise of forces hostile to Washington to the pyramid of power in Iraq, and confirmed by the cynicism of one of the leaders of the Revolutionary Guards, saying (we won the United States in Iraq 3-0).
But what are the chances of success of Iraqi mediation, how to make it succeed and make Iraqi efforts effective and valuable and peace-making 
Really?.
Before the talk in the answer to the questions it must be noted that some media quoted secret sources as saying that the Iraqi delegation, which nominates for mediation includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Security Adviser and the head of the intelligence service, and this combination that correct, may actually be eligible to transfer messages between the Iranian and American adversaries, But can it influence and persuade Tehran in the light of the principle of non-war and the negotiations initiated by the Iranian guide Mr. Khamenei? One of the conditions of the successful mediator is that he must have the confidence and personal appreciation, support and backing of his government, in addition to the presence and respect in the public circles, and those who know the views and dealings of the Iranians, realize that they do not give the mediators great opportunities unless they are convinced the strongest conviction that this mediator has been Perhaps this was the significance of the reference of former Prime Minister Dr. Abbadi to the fact that Iraqi mediation is not possible, because (neither the Iranians nor the Americans listen to us), and these 
Iraq.
On this basis, the Iraqi mediation seems to be an attempt to bridge a form of communication between Tehran and Washington, although the Sultanate of Oman is still playing this role. But the historic role of Oman needs an Iraqi supporter this time because the Iranian-American dialogue is taking place between the two sides in the arena. Iraq, if Tehran and Washington accept the Iraqi role, it means that Baghdad must be firm and determined and strict with those who move outside the framework of the Iraqi state according to the international ideological perspective and not according to Iraqi interests, while America will have to retreat from its position on the Iraqi government by giving away In order to test this Iraqi package through a set of conditions on the ground, which are transported every day by the American Embassy and its enthusiastic staff, or through the visits of American delegations and the open telephone used by Minister Pompeo very much, the Iraqi mediation needs to be effective then, through credibility, Falling in The Trump administration seeks to seize the fruits of the escalation urgently, to record a tactical victory, which the Iranians seek to prevent by various means, between these sharp intersections, who can convince Iranian leadership to abandon the principle of non-peace and non-peace and search for another horizon for the approach of the intractable crisis? Certainly, no one in Iran will be able to do so. The decision of war, peace and foreign relations by the guide, and the Americans are convinced that they are facing a wall of repulsion, hiding behind a great conviction of mistrust and deep suspicion and a long political legacy of mutual hatred. A gap in the wall, they can listen to Tehran's point of view in detail, and this is what Trump's impassioned crew and his reckless national security adviser are not prepared for. Trump may need the experience of foreign officials who worked with Minister John Kerry and participated in the marathon of negotiations, which reached the nuclear agreement in 2015, there is a need to hear Tehran by listening to him as is the need of Washington, and the party can not be overcome and the only capable to break the deadlock is the reference Najaf Supreme and the wisdom of (absent) Currently, who will be forced to attend the rescue mission later if the implication is confirmed, Mr. Khamenei will certainly listen to and listen to Mr. Sistani, when it reaches the stage of calculating the costs and risks, which are related to the "egg of Islam", which prompts the auditor to intervene and show the necessary position. They have to They have been enriched by the world's greatest Shiite spiritual leadership to listen to them if they really want to prevent the most dangerous armed clash. But the current problem is that the supreme authority is too careful, and may not want to enter into such thorny, Iraqi mediation is effective and successful if consulted The heart of the world.
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Geography of Iraq and the benefits of politics

 
 Dr. Mustafa Jassim Al-Bahadli
 
I might not be exaggerating if I say that geography has an effect that outweighs other factors influencing politics, especially political decision makers, and because of the extent of their mutual influence, there is a specialized science that deals with the impact of geography on an influencer, politics, known as geopolitics. Geography dictates to the decision maker the benefits required to take them and obey them are often in the form of political decisions take their dimensions in application at the internal and external levels.
As far as Iraq is concerned, its geographic presence among the countries around it makes it the middle of the six countries surrounding it. Therefore, it is forced by geography to adopt a moderate and moderate political thinking in which it can conduct its foreign policy, away from extremism and exaggeration, in the interests of Iraq. The departure from the policy of regional axes is a geographical entitlement before it is political and self-denial of the involvement of hostile projects against Iran's neighboring countries, as specifically sought by the United States of America, the researcher in these days in the region for another clash opens fire against the Islamic Republic of Iran .. all conditions dictated by geography Middle Iraq among the countries of the region, the centrality of Iraqi political behavior is the product of the geography of Iraq first and last. In the sense that not taking into account the benefits of geography by the Iraqi political decision maker make it inclined to direction without another and this is one of the biggest mistakes in the field of foreign policy because this would lose the support of others and away from the role of pivotal and central between the conflicting parties can benefit from each Its contradictions to the interests of Iraq first and last and this could not be achieved only through a policy of moderate and enjoy the confidence of all and the respect of everyone and us in the Sultanate of Oman as an example to follow when followed a moderate and moderate approach gained the confidence of regional countries as well as the international community, And was not one day part of the aggressive projects in the region and not in the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war and not part of the embargo on Iraq nor part of the hostility towards the Islamic Republic of Iran despite all the pressures that were and are still being exposed by the group Gulf for its peaceful and moderate position .......
Iraq's geographic location between the countries of the region requires and requires the production of decision-maker responds to the concerns and concerns and requirements of geography, which requires him to build friendly relations taking into account the interest of Iraq, which lies in the contribution and play a diplomatic role in solving the problems surrounding Iraq and many are not the latest American hostility to Iran ... .. Such a central role that would transform Iraq from a state party to a central state effective in the regional system, especially in light of the Egyptian internal preoccupation and clear bias to the American project and the Syrian recovery escalating and interested in restoring itself and the exit of Algeria, Libya and Sudan from the equation Thir regional as well as the deterioration of relations Gulf Gulf by the Qatari crisis and involvement in the war of aggression against poor Yemen. All of this would help Iraq play an intermediate role dictated by the requirements of geography before the compressors of politics. The advantage of geography is to turn the limits and barriers of politics into opportunities.
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Amin: Mutual visits are attempts to contain the Iranian-American crisis

By AhadNA1 View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message 26/05/2019 10:43 PM | Number of readings: 208
Amin: Mutual visits are attempts to contain the Iranian-American crisis

The visit of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Baghdad and previous visits by Iraqi officials to neighboring countries is part of the regional movement to contain the crisis between Washington and Tehran, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee Muthanna Amin said Sunday.

"The visits that are taking place these days from the visit of the President of the Republic to Turkey and the Prime Minister to Kuwait and today the visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister to Baghdad are all diplomatic moves aimed at exchanging information between the parties in the region in order to find actual outputs to defuse," Amin said. The crisis between Tehran and Washington, "noting that" Iraq has a real national interest in the absence of armed confrontation in the region, let alone humanitarian interests in the dimensions of the specter of war, which we do not believe that any beneficiary in the region except the Zionist entity. " "The region does not need to be embroiled in a new war, and Iraq must address this crisis and preserve its interests by defusing tension between the conflicting parties," he said, stressing that "any success achieved by Iraq to ease tension will be a major achievement for Iraqi diplomacy. A role in the return of Iraq with a global force. "

Foreign Minister Mohammed Jawad Zarif arrived in Baghdad on Saturday for a one-day visit.

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Source:
 
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The director of the Basra Petroleum Company Ihsan Abdul Jabbar, Saturday, the leadership of the provincial police to develop alternatives to export oil in the event of a war between America and Iran.

Abdul-Jabbar said in an interview with Alsumaria News, "The level of production in the field of West Qurna I was raised to the rates of 500 thousand after the introduction of new production units of the facilities of the field after studying the requirements of work with Iraqi national staff coincided with the withdrawal of the staff of Exol Mobil.
 

He added that "the Basra Petroleum Police Command found alternatives if the war broke out between Iran and America," noting that "the alternatives that the ministry worked in cooperation with the management of the Basra Oil Company, a strategy that lasts for months. 

"Iraq has available energy and large export capacity, but our commitment to OPEC's determinants has reduced export capacity," he said. 

He stressed that "Iraq ranked sixth and the second at the level of OPEC, the largest rate of crude oil production among the oil-producing countries, according to the US Energy Report."
 

The director of Basra Oil Company, "Iraq aspires to reach the first level in the world in terms of export capacity," explaining that "the plan of the Basra Oil Company through which we work to reach a production capacity of five million barrels of oil per day from the fields of Basra in 2027 to be Thus, the production of crude oil accumulated seven million national production. " 

He stressed that "Iraq has the most important source of energy energy industry on the map of the world world, which is larger than the sixth world because it owns the largest oil deposits in the fields of Basra, Export ".
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Zarif arrives in Karbala and chants about his visit to Iraq

Political | 07:59 - 26/05/2019

 
image
 
 

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - 
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Jawad Zarif arrived in Karbala province from the capital Baghdad on Monday evening. 
"It is scheduled to meet Zarif a number of representatives of auditors and officials in Karbala." 
Prior to his arrival in Karbala, Zarif chanted on Twitter, saying that he "met with the president, the prime minister, the speaker of the House of Representatives and his counterpart in Iraq and also met the leaders of parliamentary blocs in this Iraq." 
Zarif stressed that his meetings had gained importance and described them as constructive. 
He noted that he had proposed the signing of a non-aggression treaty at the regional level

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Zarif: Our visit to Iraq and the meeting of its leaders were constructive

Political | 10:14 - 27/05/2019

 
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BAGHDAD - 
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Saturday that his visit to Baghdad and his meetings with Iraqi political leaders had gained great importance for the two countries, calling them "constructive". 
Zarif published pictures on Twitter and wrote: "In Iraq ... where constructive and objective meetings were held with the president, the prime minister, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the leadership of two parliamentary coalitions in this country." 
It is noteworthy that Zarif has recently made several rounds including Russia, Turkmenistan, India, Japan, China and Pakistan, in light of the growing tension between Tehran and Washington and the waves of escalation between the parties. 

 

 
 
 
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Baghdad Post Monday,

27 May 2019 12:16 PM

American embassy

 

Economist: Political tensions have a negative impact on investment in Iraq

 

 

Economic expert Salam Samisem warned of the internal and external political tensions affecting the investment sector and companies operating in Iraq. 

"Domestic political tensions such as the bombing of the US embassy in Baghdad, the fires that have engulfed malls and the burning of agricultural land, on the one hand, and political tensions in the region and the fear of war, all affect the work of foreign companies operating, especially in the oil sector," Smisem said in a press statement. , Which will adversely affect the economy of the country. " 

The expert pointed out that "the political issues affected the climate of safety for oil companies as a push for the withdrawal of employees of ExxonMobil and other companies," asserting: "The investment climate is deteriorating or troubled will affect the attraction of investors into Iraqbecause it gives a signal that the climate of IraqUnsafe ".

 

V.a

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/ar/Story/168141/خبيرة-اقتصادية-التوترات-السياسية-تؤثر-سلبا-على-الاستثمار-في-العراق

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Baghdad Post Monday, 27 May 2019 02:18 PM

Mullah reveals mediation by Halabousi to contain the crisis between Washington and Tehran

97


The leader of the Alliance for Reform and Reconstruction Haider Mullasaid that the Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Halabousi will visit Tehran and Washington to discuss mediation between the parties. 
In a press statement, Mullah said parliament speaker Mohammad Halabousi will visit Iran and the United States to discuss opportunities for mediation between the two sides and what can be done to reduce tension in the region and avoid serious conflict. 
In response to a question on whether the chances of this mediation or other will succeed at a time when both sides, he said Mullah: Today we are faced with one fact that either Iran sits at the negotiating table in order to discuss the risks of Iranian influence in the region and reduce this Influence in Yemen, the Gulf region, Iraq and Syria, or dealing with a future military strike

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/ar/Story/168146/الملا-يكشف-عن-وساطة-يقوم-بها-الحلبوسي-لاحتواء-الازمة-بين-واشنطن-وطهران

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U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, talks to journalists during a press conference with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, not shown, in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (Roman Vondrous/CTK via AP)
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, talks to journalists during a press conference with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, not shown, in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (Roman Vondrous/CTK via AP)
22 May 2019
Task & Purpose | By Jared Keller

This article by Jared Keller originally appeared on Task & Purpose, a digital news and culture publication dedicated to military and veterans issues.

In what appear to be his first public remarks on U.S. national security since his resignation as Secretary of Defense, retired Marine Gen. James Mattis offered a word of caution to President Donald Trump amid escalating tensions with Iran on Tuesday.

 

"The United States should buy time to keep peace and stability and allow diplomats to work diplomacy on how to keep peace for one more hour, one more day, one more week, a month or a year," Mattis said during remarks in the United Arab Emirates.

"Iran's behavior must change," Mattis added, "[but] the military must work to buy time for diplomats to work their magic."

In his remarks, entitled 'The Value of the UAE-US Strategic Relationship,' Mattis emphasized diplomacy and cooperation as critical to beating back the rising tide of radical terrorism around the world. Here are the meatiest bits, courtesy of Gulf News:

"We're going to have to work together as nations to respect each other's differences but throughout this terrorism that is growing, it is not going away; it's growing in the other direction, we see it spreading in North Africa, and we see what's going on now as it spreads deeper into South Asia." "We're going to have to figure out how to do this. We don't have to be perfect nations, each one of us. We're going to have to protect what we have and we all work on our own nations to make them better. But I'm going to be spending a lot of time studying how do we get more nations to work together and see a way for the world with less disparity. If this terrorism continues, eventually there will be a time that the terrorists get their hands on weapons of mass destruction. And we must not let that happen.

We need to hold fast to each other. We need to engage more with each other."

Mattis's remarks came the day after Trump offered yet another strong warning to Iran following a rocket attack on the heavily-fortified Green Zone in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Monday, an attack that government sources reportedly suspect was carried out by Tehran-connected Shi'ite militias.

"I think Iran would be making a very big mistake if they did anything," Trump told reporters that evening. "If they do something, it will be met with great force but we have no indication that they will."

Trump had previously tweeted that any future threats from Iran against the United States would "be the official end of Iran."

Mattis's emphasis on diplomacy is unsurprising despite the 'Mad Dog' moniker he despised. After all, this is the same man who once told Iraqi leaders, "I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you **** with me, I'll kill you all."

Indeed, Mattis was generally in favor of engaging with Iran over President Barack Obama's landmark nuclear accord, a position that put him at odds with Trump.

"If we can confirm that Iran is living by the agreement, if we can determine that this is in our best interest, then clearly, we should stay with it," he told Congress in October 2017, per ABC News. "I believe, at this point in time, absent indications to the contrary, it is something the president should consider staying with."

Mattis's remarks came the day after Trump offered yet another strong warning to Iran following a rocket attack on the heavily-fortified Green Zone in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Monday, an attack that government sources reportedly suspect was carried out by Tehran-connected Shi'ite militias.

"I think Iran would be making a very big mistake if they did anything," Trump told reporters that evening. "If they do something, it will be met with great force but we have no indication that they will."

Trump had previously tweeted that any future threats from Iran against the United States would "be the official end of Iran."

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TEHRAN: We have told America through intermediaries that no party will emerge victorious from the war

Political | 02:41 - 27/05/2019

 
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BAGHDAD 
(Reuters) - Iran told Washington through intermediaries that it would not bring any victorious party out of the war against Iran, the head of Iran's national security committee said on Monday. 
"The war on Iran is psychological and the Americans are not prepared for a military war," Bisha told RT. 
"We have told the American administration that many countries will emerge losing the war on Iran," he said, adding that "Iran should not fall into the trap of war."

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Iran Seeks "Non-aggression" Agreement with Arab States

 
 BasNews   28/05/2019 - 02:12  Published in Middle East
Iran Seeks "Non-aggression" Agreement with Arab States

ERBIL - Iran is reportedly seeking a "non-aggressive" agreement with the Arab states, a report said on Monday, only one day after Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's visit to Iraq.

Zarif during a joint press conference with Iraqi counterpart Mohamed Ali Alhakim showed Tehran's readiness for a "non-aggression" agreement with Arab states, as cited by Jerusalem Post.

Zarif, however, pointed out that his country is ready to confront any US threats or battle against Iran, the report added, while Iraq is attempting to meditate between the two countries, a plan which has been confirmed by Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi.

Tensions have arisen in the Middle East as the ties between the US and Iran have deteriorated between the two sides. Earlier last week, a rocket was fired at the Green Zone in central Baghdad, Iraqi capital city, where the US embassy and other foreign diplomatic buildings are located.

Washington has accused Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias of carrying out the attack.

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Iran FM sought to 'relay' message to US with Iraq visit, MP claims; Iraq would interfere in war, another says

8 hours ago
 

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/a3a761dd-d16d-4821-807d-678f417638d2

 

Iran FM sought to 'relay' message to US with Iraq visit, MP claims
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. (Photo: Archive)
 

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – An Iraqi lawmaker from the al-Bina Alliance on Monday claimed that Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sought to send a message to its regional rivals and the United States through the Iraqi government during his recent visit to Baghdad.

Noting that Zarif’s visit came just before an Iraqi delegation is due to visit Saudi Arabia and the US, MP Amer al-Fayez told Iraqi media the Iranian diplomat wanted the Iraqi side to “relay a message” to Washington.

Zarif arrived in Baghdad on Saturday. He met with senior Iraqi officials and discussed, during his gathering with Iraq’s President Barham Salih, “the need to prevent war and escalation” between the US and Iran and “adopt a constructive dialogue to consolidate the foundations of peace in the region,” according to a statement from Salih’s office.

The visit comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Tehran, which have sparked public fears of direct or indirect conflict by people in Iran and Iraq.

“War between the two will negatively impact the entire world,” Fayez said.

Bina Alliance is led by Iran-backed coalitions, among them senior Hashd al-Shaabi commander Hadi al-Amiri-led Fatah Coalition. The faction makes up a large portion of the Iraqi Parliament.

Elsewhere, another Iraqi lawmaker said Iraq would remain impartial in a possible US-Iran conflict.

Na’im al-Aboudi from the Fatah Coalition said he believed confrontation was unlikely and “hoped Iraq would be impartial and not get involved,” Alsumaria quoted him as saying.

However, in the event of military escalation, “it is not possible not to interfere,” he added, supposedly supporting their chief backer, Iran.

In that regard, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi underlined his country’s readiness to act as a mediator but pointed out the Iranian side had not requested them to take on that role.

“We are ready to mediate a solution to the crisis between Washington and Tehran if we are asked to do so,” Halbousi said.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

(Kosar Nawzad contributed to this report)

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