Iran sends its final response on the nuclear deal to the United States

[yota691]

Washington is preparing for the failure of diplomacy with Iran... and is preparing for other options

Biden assigned the national security team to prepare for the failure of diplomacy

47 seconds ago

The White House announced that the United States is preparing new steps towards Iran, which it will take in the event of the failure of the Vienna negotiations.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden has tasked the national security team to be prepared for diplomacy to fail and to consider other options, based on Iran's position on the latest round of negotiations.

Psaki added that there are also consultations in this regard with many partners around the world.

[yota691]

US envoy to Iran Robert Malley

nuclear Iran

US envoy to Iran: Talks will stop if Iran continues to progress on the nuclear program

US envoy to Iran: Tehran's strategy will backfire if it continues its nuclear progress

 

Dubai _ Al Arabiya.net

Published in: Dec 22, 2021: 12:19 AM GSTLast updated: Dec 22, 2021: 04:29 AM GST

The US envoy to Iran, Robert Malley, said on Tuesday that talks on the nuclear file in Vienna would stop if Iran continued to advance on its nuclear program.

The US envoy made it clear that Tehran's strategy would backfire if it continued its nuclear progress.

"At some point we may have to negotiate a new and completely different deal," said Robert Malley.

The American negotiator, Rob Malley, warned that the time margin available to save the nuclear agreement is now limited to "a few weeks" if Iran continues to develop its atomic activities at the current pace, pointing to the risk of a "crisis" if diplomatic efforts fail.

And indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran, which resumed at the end of November after a five-month hiatus, were suspended again.

In a statement to CNN, Mali expressed his hope that talks would resume "quickly".

For several weeks, Washington has been warning that the time available to revive the agreement concluded in 2015 between the major powers and Tehran over its nuclear program is running out.

Western countries accuse Tehran of continuing to develop its atomic capabilities and obstructing talks.

From the Vienna Negotiations on Iran's Nuclear Program

But the United States is currently refusing to set deadlines for diplomatic efforts.

And on Tuesday, the US Secretary of State said in a press conference, "I will not set a deadline," but stressed that the margin had become "very, very, very narrow."

For his part, Mali warned that "at a certain point, in the not-too-distant future, we will have to acknowledge that the nuclear agreement is obsolete, and we will have to negotiate a completely different agreement, with a period of crisis and escalation going through."

When the US network asked the US negotiator to set a date for this, he only said, "If they stop developing their nuclear capabilities, we have a little more time. If they continue at the current pace, we will have only a few weeks, no more, before coming to the conclusion that the nuclear agreement cannot be reached." revive it."

For his part, Bilinken confirmed that the US administration is "actively" studying "alternatives" and other "options" in case the negotiations fail.

The White House announced earlier that the United States is working on preparing new steps towards Iran, which it will take in the event of the failure of negotiations on the nuclear file in Vienna.

On Monday, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that based on Iran's position on the latest round of negotiations, President Joe Biden has tasked the national security team to be prepared for diplomacy to fail and consider other options.

Psaki added that this work is underway, and there are also consultations on this matter with many partners around the world.

The United States withdrew unilaterally in 2018, under President Donald Trump, from the nuclear agreement concluded in Vienna in 2015, aimed at restricting the Iranian nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions on Tehran. Washington subsequently re-imposed sanctions that stifle the Iranian economy.

However, current US President Joe Biden has expressed his willingness to return to the agreement if Iran returns to abide by all its provisions.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz

Gantz: Iran is trying to buy time

For his part, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz confirmed that Iran is only trying to gain time through its negotiations in Vienna.

Gantz added that Iran is entering the negotiations without real bargaining chips, explaining that it is working to gain as much as possible or lose as little as possible in the nuclear and economic fields.

He added, "Iran is entering negotiations without real bargaining chips. Iran's slowdown strategy must be put to an end. We are working to deepen international cooperation, and I am sure that both overt and covert measures to confront Tehran will soon be expanded over the course of a year and a half, We have been engaged in strengthening the strength of the Israeli army, and buying new mechanisms that would guarantee Israel's security superiority in the region to confront all threats."

 

It is noteworthy that many reports and the Israeli media talked about the preparations made by the Israeli army to strike at Iranian nuclear facilities, at a time when Iran announced a lack of clarity regarding the resumption of the Vienna negotiations, as Israel is preparing to strike any agreement that gives Iran an opportunity to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Therefore, according to Israeli reports, the Israeli security and military services have prepared ways to deal with the current situation, and one of these steps is a military strike that is not limited to Iran's nuclear facilities only.

To implement this step, Tel Aviv is now working to modernize its military arsenal with new missiles and bombs with the modernization of the Iron Dome system.

[horsesoldier]

Iran is playing the Brandon Administration like a cheap fiddle. Iran is running circles around them and these “ arrogant sanctimonious fools “ are clueless.

[yota691]

An upcoming visit of the Iraqi Foreign Minister to Iran - Urgent

Policy

2021-12-22 | 06:30

 

 

357 views

 

 

An informed source said today, Wednesday, that Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein will visit Tehran tomorrow, Thursday.

The source told Alsumaria News, "Hussein will visit Tehran tomorrow, Thursday, to hold talks with his Iranian counterpart, Hussein Amir Abdollahian."

The Iranian Foreign Minister had visited Baghdad earlier to participate in the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership, where he held talks with his Iraqi counterpart Fouad Hussein and a number of other Iraqi officials.

[yota691]

Iraq

FOREIGN MINISTER FOUAD HUSSEIN ARRIVES IN TEHRAN ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT

 

 

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 3:16 PM

Baghdad/National News Center
, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Al-Sahaf announced today, Wednesday, the arrival of Minister Fouad Hussein to the Iranian capital, Tehran, at the head of a government delegation.

Al-Sahaf told the official agency, and the National News Center continued, "Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein arrived at the head of a government delegation to the Iranian capital, Tehran, on an official visit," noting that "the delegation included National Security Adviser Qassem al-Araji and a number of officials."

He added, "The delegation will meet with many officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they will discuss various issues related to bilateral relations at all levels, in addition to the regional security situation and the latest developments in the framework of the nuclear negotiations in Vienna."

[yota691]

22 Iranian-backed militias killed in US air strikes

53 minutes ago

0 less than a minute

 

[yota691]

To continue strengthening areas of cooperation.. Fouad Hussein arrives in Tehran

Thursday, December 23, 2021 243

 

 Tehran: Tehran office

 

Yesterday, Wednesday, Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein, accompanied by the National Security Adviser and some government officials, arrived in the Iranian capital, Tehran, as part of talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and a number of officials.

The visit is scheduled to include a serious discussion of the outstanding issues between the two countries, including working to liberate Iranian assets with 

Baghdad.

The Foreign Ministry announced that Hussein "will discuss with his Iranian counterpart issues of the Vienna nuclear negotiations, and Iran's relations with some countries of the region, especially with regard to the Iranian-Saudi talks hosted by Baghdad, in addition to issues related to areas of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of 

different". 

Abdullahian had visited Baghdad earlier this year, to participate in the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership, where he held talks with his Iraqi counterpart and a number of other officials.

Iraqis.

Last September, the two officials met in New York to discuss addressing and quickly solving financial issues between the two countries.

[yota691]

 Iran / Iran  تاریخ: 1400 دی / كانون الاول 23 - GMT 11:58

 

 

 

Talks in Tehran between the Iranian and Iraqi foreign ministers

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and his Iraqi counterpart, Fouad Hussein, held talks in Tehran Thursday.

An official reception ceremony for Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein was held at the Iranian Foreign Ministry's building in Tehran on Thursday by his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and then they held a round of talks.

This is the first visit of the Iraqi Foreign Minister to Tehran after the new Iranian government assumed the duties of affairs about 4 months ago, but the Iranian Foreign Minister had visited Baghdad some time ago to participate in the Cooperation and Partnership Conference for Iraq's Neighboring Countries, during which he met his Iraqi counterpart.

Amir Abdollahian and Fuad Hussein also met in New York last September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting.

[yota691]

Foreign Minister of Iran: Our discussions touched on bilateral relations and regional files

Policy

2021-12-23 | 06:16

 

 

 

408 views

 

 

Today, Thursday, Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein confirmed that Iraq played a role in supporting the dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia, while indicating that Iraq is looking forward to a fifth round of dialogue.

Hussein said in a press conference held with Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian in the Iranian capital, Tehran, that "our discussions with the Iranian side touched on bilateral relations and regional files," noting that "we discussed the file of the American withdrawal and relations with neighboring countries."

 

 

Hussein added, "We had a strategic dialogue with the Americans and there is an agreement for the consultants and trainers to remain," noting that "the Iraqi Foreign Ministry has contact with the Iranian side to assess the losses of the Iranian consulates."

And he indicated that "Iraq played a role in supporting the dialogue between Tehran and Riyadh, and we are looking forward to a fifth round," noting that "we are looking forward to dialogues between Iran and other countries."

While the Iranian foreign minister confirmed that "our discussions with the Iraqi foreign minister included a set of files," noting that "the relations between Iraq and Iran are close and solid in all fields."

 

He added, "Iranian-Saudi talks will be held in Baghdad soon."

Regarding the Iranian nuclear file, the Iranian foreign minister said, "In the last round of the Vienna talks, we were able to prepare an important document," explaining, "We evaluate the European position as positive regarding the Vienna talks."

He praised the "supportive stances we have from Russia and China."

[yota691]

Hussein and Iranian President discuss bilateral relations between the two countries

•  Time: 12/23/2021 14:59:37
•  
•  Reading: 416 times

  

 

Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein meets Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran

Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi received today Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein at the presidential palace after the latter’s meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian
. The two are scheduled to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries. It will last for two days to discuss the relationship between Iran and Iraq at all levels, in addition to the current conditions and circumstances that the region is going through.

[yota691]

The last round... the nuclear deal talks will resume on December 27

 

Duty Free / Agencies - Dubai

December 23, 2021

 

 

The eighth round may be the last and decisive

The media office of the Vienna talks on the Iranian nuclear deal announced the resumption of talks between the 4+1 group and Iran as of December 27.

He did not specify the timetable for these talks, which the European coordinator of the talks, Enrique Mora, described as the eighth and final round, noting that the talks will be at the level of directors of foreign ministries in these countries. 

For his part, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's chief envoy to the talks, wrote on Twitter on Thursday, "It is usually not uncommon to engage in serious business before Catholic Christmas and New Year."

"In this particular case, it is an indication that all negotiators do not want to waste their time and aim for a faster return to the #JCPOA (the nuclear deal)," he added, using the English acronym for the Iran nuclear deal.

For its part, the European Union's External Action Service said that the meeting will be attended by representatives of China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain and Iran.

"Participants will continue discussions on the possible return of the United States to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and how to ensure the full and effective implementation of the agreement by all parties," the statement said.

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 Iran / Iran  تاریخ: 1400 دی / كانون الاول 23 - GMT 22:43

 

 

 

Abdullahian: Thanks to Iraq's efforts, we are participating in the next round of negotiations with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian praised the efforts of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi and his Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein in hosting the next round of negotiations with Saudi Arabia.

On Thursday, Abdollahian's personal account on Instagram, referring to his talks with his Iraqi counterpart Fouad Hussein during the latter's visit to Tehran, stated: Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Fouad Hussein and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, we are participating in the next round of negotiations with Saudi Arabia in Baghdad.

He commended the commendable efforts made by the Iraqi government to remove misunderstandings and return relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia to their normal state.

He added: The relations between Iran and Iraq are interconnected, effective and rooted, and the number of tourists between the two countries exceeded 4 million people annually, which is a unique statistic, and in total, the two countries have good and strategic relations in all fields.

He continued, "The Iranian Minister of Roads and Cities Building will visit Baghdad next week, and they are determined to implement the railway project between Shalamcheh and Basra as soon as possible, which will contribute to the development of visits, exchange of goods and transit between Iran and Iraq."

He pointed out that talks were held on canceling entry visas between the two countries in general, stressing that Iran had taken preliminary steps on this issue.

He noted that he held talks with his Iraqi counterpart on the Afghan issue and the latest developments in the fight against ISIS and terrorists in Iraq and Syria, as well as the nuclear negotiations in Vienna.

[yota691]

Iran announces talks with Saudi Arabia in Baghdad soon... and Iraq looks forward to a similar dialogue with America

•  Time: 12/23/2021 15:24:34
•  
•  Reading: 2,288 times

  

{Political: Al Furat News} Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian announced talks between his country and Saudi Arabia in the capital, Baghdad, soon.

"Iranian-Saudi talks will be held in Baghdad soon, and I thank Iraq for facilitating dialogue with Saudi Arabia," Abdullahian said in a press conference with Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein in Tehran.

He stressed that Iran is ready "to cancel entry visas with Iraq completely."

For his part, Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein said, "Iraq played a role in supporting the dialogue between Tehran and Riyadh, and we are looking forward to a fifth round," noting that "the state of tension between Tehran and Washington directly affects the situation in Iraq."

He stressed that "it is better that there be a direct meeting between the American and Iranian sides," adding, "The Americans and Iranians trust the Iraqi side regarding the talks between them."

Hussein stressed, "We do not carry American messages to Iran, and it is in our interest to help the two sides negotiate."

"We are close to compensating Iran for the loss in the attack on its consulate in Karbala," he revealed.

Hussein thanked Saudi Arabia for its cooperation with us in transferring the Iranian ambassador from Yemen to Tehran.

[yota691]

Iran appreciates Baghdad's "good offices" regarding relations with Saudi Arabia, and will send a minister to it next week

•  Time: 12/24/2021 10:35:06
•  
•  Reading: 923 times

  

{Political: Al Furat News} Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian referred to his talks with Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein in Tehran yesterday, Thursday, describing the relations between the two countries as strong, active and vital in all fields.

And Amir Abdollahian wrote in his blog on “Instagram” Thursday evening: I had with my Iraqi counterpart, Mr. Fuad Hussein, today, Thursday, a joint press conference, during which I explained the details of the talks that took place between us.

He added, "The relations between Iran and Iraq are strong, effective and rooted, and the number of tourists between the two countries has exceeded 4 million people annually, which is a unique number. In total, the two countries have good and strategic relations in all fields."

He added: The Minister of Roads and Urban Reconstruction will visit Baghdad next week, and we are determined to implement the Shalamcheh-Basra railway project as soon as possible. .

He pointed out that talks were held on canceling entry visas between the two countries in general, stressing that Iran had taken preliminary steps on this issue.

He added: Thanks to the efforts of Hussein and Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, we will participate in the next round of negotiations with Saudi Arabia in Baghdad.

He commended the good offices of the Iraqi government to remove misunderstandings and return relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia to their normal state.

He noted that he held talks with his Iraqi counterpart on the Afghan issue and the latest developments in the fight against ISIS and terrorists in Iraq and Syria, as well as the nuclear negotiations in Vienna.

[currenzcraze]

Iraq calls for direct nuclear talks between Iran and US

Visiting Tehran, Iraqi FM Fuad Hussein says there’s a ‘problem’ with the negotiating mechanism in Vienna, where US and Iranian officials only communicate through intermediaries

By AFP23 Dec 2021, 7:43 pm  

Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein listens as he and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken face reporters as they meet at the State Department in Washington, DC, on July 23, 2021. (Elizabeth Frantz/Pool via AP)

TEHRAN, Iran — Iraq’s foreign minister said on a visit to Tehran Thursday that the time has come for the Islamic republic and the United States to negotiate directly on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

US-Iran relations have been severed since April 1980, just months after the fall of the shah and the occupation of the American embassy by Islamist students loyal to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

They worsened significantly after then-US president Donald Trump’s 2018 decision to unilaterally withdraw from the nuclear deal and impose sanctions on Tehran.

 

Negotiations resumed in November after a five-month hiatus to try to restore the deal, which gave Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear activities.

Diplomats from the remaining parties to the deal — Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia — are in talks in Vienna with Iran and the US, with the two sides refusing direct contact.  
 

“We call for, and this is no secret, direct negotiations between the two parties,” Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told a joint press conference.

“Iraq’s interest is in helping the two parties to sit round a table and talk,” he said.

Snow falls on the Palais Coburg where closed-door nuclear talks take place in Vienna, Austria, on December 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Gruber)

“We have proposed this to the Americans and have made this proposal [to Iran] and even before our visit to Tehran. It is better that a direct meeting take place between the American party and the Iranian party,” Hussein said.

 

He said Iraq felt there was a “problem” with the negotiating mechanism at the Vienna talks.

“The negotiations with the American side are indirect, through the European envoy,” he said.

“We think the time has come for direct talks between Washington and Tehran to reach common understandings not just on the nuclear issue, but also on sanctions. We need direct contact between the two parties and we are working towards that,” Hussein said.

Iraq is Iran’s neighbor, and Hussein said US-Iran relations “are not an external matter for Iraq, but an internal one.”

He said tensions between the long-time foes impacts directly on the political and security situation in Iraq, and that detente between the two would have a positive effect.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian outlined the way contacts currently take place.

 

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is seen before meeting with his Russian counterpart in Moscow, on October 6, 2021. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/Pool/AFP)

“The Americans send unwritten messages to meetings and receive responses” indirectly from Iran, he said.

“As for the Islamic republic, we seriously declare that we want to reach a good agreement and we hope the other parties also come and negotiate with the same seriousness and the same goodwill,” Amir-Abdollahian said.

The Vienna talks are set to resume on Monday after a 10-day break.

On Thursday, European Union diplomat Enrique Mora, who is chairing the negotiations, said he hoped for speedy progress.

“Important to pick up the pace on key outstanding issues and move forward, working closely with the US. Welcome to the 8th round,” Mora said in Vienna.

[horsesoldier]

Now here’s a guy U can trust !!!! 🤣

[yota691]

 

Iran reveals new developments regarding its frozen funds in Iraq

 

 2021-12-25 03:30

 

 

Shafaq News / The head of the Iranian-Iraqi Chamber of Commerce confirmed that the process of releasing Iran's frozen assets in Iraq is proceeding smoothly, in accordance with the agreements reached between the two central banks of the two countries.

The Chamber's head, Yahya Al Ishaq, stated, in a statement to the "IBNA" website of the Central Bank of Iran, that "the majority of Iraq's dues are related to the energy, electricity and gas sector, while there are no arrears related to the private sector, which receives its dues regarding export goods."

Al Ishaq added, “Some contractors working in the technical, engineering and urban services sector are facing some problems, as work is underway to address them,” noting that “the Iraqi side recently announced its willingness to pay all of its debts to Iran, the majority of which pertain to gas sales, and that Iranian stocks frozen in Iraq ranges between 5 to 7 billion dollars.

For his part, the Chairman of the Joint Chamber of Commerce announced that "Iranian exports of goods to Iraq recorded $6.2 billion during the first eight months of the current fiscal year, from March 21 to November 20, 2021."

[yota691]

Iraq and Iran discuss the consequences of the elections, confronting extremism and ending conflicts

Policy

2021-12-26 | 07:48

 

1,379 views

 

 

Today, Sunday, Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein discussed with the President and Foreign Minister of Iran the Iraqi elections file, confronting extremism and ending conflicts.

In a statement received by Alsumaria News, the Foreign Ministry said that Hussein visited the Islamic Republic of Iran, in which he was accompanied by a delegation that included National Security Adviser Qassem Al-Araji, Major General Majid Al-Dulaimi, Deputy Chief of the Intelligence Service, and in the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq in Tehran Naseer Abdul Mohsen Abdullah, where he met with the Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, and during the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations between Baghdad and Tehran, and the developments of the regional and international situation and their repercussions on the security and stability of Iraq and the region.

 

 

 

Hussein spoke about "the developments in the political situation in Iraq, the latest of which is the elections, and how the electoral commission dealt with the objections, and it is expected that the Federal Court will ratify the final results in the next few days, to begin the political movement towards forming the new government."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed, "Iraq's keenness to enhance means of bilateral cooperation with Tehran in various fields, stressing the importance of concerted efforts at the regional and international levels, to confront extremism, end conflicts, build bridges of trust and cooperation between the countries surrounding Iraq, including the Islamic Republic, and give priority to the Iranian language." Dialogue in order to create a safe and stable environment, pointing out that the stability of Iraq is also important to its neighbor Iran.

 

In the context of his dialogue with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the two sides discussed strengthening bilateral relations and joint cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

Hussein expressed his desire to work to support and strengthen relations between Baghdad and Tehran to reflect their depth, stressing his keenness to maintain bilateral cooperation in various fields in the next stage to achieve the common interests of the two countries, and to activate the memorandums of understanding agreed upon with the Iraqi government.

The two sides exchanged "visions and ideas on regional and international issues of common concern. They also discussed developments in the region, the challenges it faces, and the need to support peace and stability through concerted efforts."

For his part, the Iranian Foreign Minister affirmed "his country's keenness to deepen the bonds of relations between the two countries, expressing his thanks for Iraq's stances aimed at pushing the option of calm and avoiding escalation in the region."

[yota691]

DECEMBER 23, 2021

Iraqi Foreign Minister: The tension between the United States and Iran affects us

The Iraqi Foreign Minister indicated that the tension prevailing between the United States of America and Iran affects Iraq, which maintains close relations with the two sides, and urged the two parties to hold direct talks.

The Iraqi Foreign Minister says that the tension between Washington and Tehran is affecting Iraq (AFP)

 

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein said, on Thursday, that the current state of tension between the United States of America and Iran affects Iraq, which maintains close relations with both sides.

Hussein's statement came at a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in the capital, Tehran, following talks between the two sides.

Hussein said that "the state of tension between Washington and Tehran affects Iraq," adding: "Based on our national interest, we are discussing with our friends in Washington about Iranian-American relations."

He stressed that "it is better to have direct talks between the Iranians and the Americans."

Iraq turned into a major arena of conflict between the United States and Iran after Washington withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

Iraqi bases hosting US forces have been repeatedly attacked since that time by drones loaded with explosives and missiles, and Washington accuses Shiite militias loyal to Iran of being behind them.

Hussein said that he had discussed with his Iranian counterpart the issue of the withdrawal of combat forces of the international coalition from Iraq at the end of this year, based on an agreement between Washington and Baghdad.

Regarding Baghdad's efforts to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Hussein announced that "Iraq played a role in supporting the dialogues that took place between Saudi Arabia and Iran," expressing his hope that the fifth round will be held between Tehran and Riyadh soon.

For his part, the Iranian minister said that "in the near future there will be Iranian-Saudi talks in Baghdad," explaining that "Iran presented Saudi Arabia in the last round of talks with a set of proposals."

Abdullahian added, "We are ready to exchange committees between the embassies of Iran and Saudi Arabia, and prepare for the reopening of embassies between Riyadh and Tehran."

Previous rounds of talks took place in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, away from the media during the past few months, and it is the first direct talks between the two countries since their relations were severed in 2016.

Saudi Arabia had announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Iran in early 2016, against the backdrop of the attack on its embassy in Tehran and the position of the Islamic Republic following Riyadh's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

The Iraqi Foreign Minister also met with Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi in Tehran, according to a statement issued by the latter's office.

The statement quoted Raisi as saying, during the meeting, that "the principled policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to support stability and security in Iraq," stressing that "the insecurity in Iraq is tantamount to insecurity in our country."

In turn, Hussein praised Iran's policy of strongly supporting the stability and security of Iraq, according to the statement.

On Wednesday evening, Hussein began an official visit to Iran, the duration of which was not announced.

[yota691]

Vienna nuclear negotiations resume

Monday 27 December 2021 246

 

 Tehran: morning

 

Today, Monday, the eighth round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the Western group will resume in the Austrian capital Vienna, amid cautious expectations that the two groups will reach a result that can revive the nuclear agreement and return the American side to the negotiating table. 

The seventh round of negotiations, which ended on December 17, reached an agreement on a draft of points currently on the negotiating table, as this round is set to address the points that were agreed to be discussed. 

The political circles express their cautious hope for the results of the current round of negotiations due to the sharp differences between the Iranian and American sides regarding the removal of the sanctions imposed by President Trump after his withdrawal from the nuclear agreement in 2018, which Tehran considers necessary to revive the nuclear agreement and the return of the American side to the 5+1 table.

Tehran had sent three messages on the eve of the resumption of the eighth round of the first negotiations, accepting to re-install the surveillance cameras at the Karaj site that manufactures advanced centrifuges that were demanded by the International Atomic Energy Agency; The second was a successful test-fire of 12 ballistic missiles, targeting a simulation of the Israeli Dimona nuclear reactor; As for the third message, it is the statement of the Director of the Iranian Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, that Iran does not intend to increase the rate of uranium enrichment even in the event of the collapse of the nuclear negotiations in Vienna. Each of these messages has implications for the course of the eighth round negotiations.

Tehran believes that the negotiations should reach a "good agreement" and the rest of the parties believe the same, but both sides consider the "good" according to their perceptions and interests, as Tehran considers the need to abolish "Trump's sanctions", while the other side looks at other issues related to ballistic missiles and the relationship with the region ; But in the end, attention turns to the position of the American negotiator, Rob Malley, and what can be presented in terms of measures and positions that can enhance confidence at the negotiating table to reach an agreement that satisfies the Western group and Iran alike. 

[yota691]

Iraq and Iran discuss confronting extremism and ending conflicts

Monday 27 December 2021 325

 

 Baghdad: morning

Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein continued his series of meetings and discussions with a number of Iranian officials, within the framework of an official visit he has been making four days ago at the head of a high-level diplomatic and security delegation, to discuss several issues, including the fate of Iranian assets frozen with Baghdad and coordination on the security file.

 

A statement by the Foreign Ministry stated that "Hussein and the security delegation accompanying him, represented by National Security Adviser Qassem Al-Araji and Intelligence Agency Undersecretary Majid Al-Dulaimi met yesterday, Sunday, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hussein Abdullahian, and they discussed bilateral relations, developments in the regional and international situation and its implications for security and stability." Iraq and the region.

Hussein spoke, according to the statement, about "the latest developments in Iraq, the latest of which is the elections, and dealing with objections," noting that "it is expected that the Federal Court will ratify the final results in the next few days, to begin the political movement towards forming the new government."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed, "Iraq's keenness to strengthen means of bilateral cooperation with Tehran in various fields and concerted efforts at the regional and international levels, to confront extremism, end conflicts, and build bridges of trust and cooperation between the countries surrounding Iraq, including Iran, with the language of dialogue prevailing in order to create an environment 

safe and stable"

In a related context, the Minister of Foreign Affairs met with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and expressed his "desire to work to support and strengthen relations between Baghdad and Tehran to reflect their depth," stressing his keenness on "sustaining bilateral cooperation in various fields in the next stage to achieve the common interests of the two countries, and activate What has been agreed upon in terms of memoranda of understanding with the Iraqi government.”

The two sides exchanged "visions and ideas on regional and international issues of common concern. They also discussed developments in the region, the challenges it faces, and the need to support peace and stability through concerted efforts." For his part, the Iranian Foreign Minister affirmed his country's " keenness to deepen the bonds of relations between the two countries," expressing his thanks for Iraq's stances aimed at pushing the option of calm and avoiding escalation in the region.

[yota691]

US sees potential progress in nuclear negotiations with Iran

by Moahmad Editor Arabs and the world 2 Hours ago

On Tuesday, the United States saw potential progress in negotiations with Iran, but joined European negotiators in stressing the urgent need to reduce Iran's nuclear program.

On Monday, negotiations resumed in Vienna in a new attempt to make progress with the aim of reviving the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement that curbs Iran's nuclear activities in return for the lifting of sanctions.

"There may be some modest progress that has been made," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters in Washington.

"But one way or another, it's too early to say how substantial this progress has been. At least we believe that any progress achieved does not amount to Iran's accelerating nuclear pace."

In 2018, former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the agreement, which is officially called the "Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action", re-imposing harsh economic sanctions on Tehran. The latter responded about a year later, gradually reneging on many of its key commitments under the agreement.

Joe Biden, who succeeded Trump, expressed his intention to return his country to the agreement, but only on the condition that Iran return to compliance with its obligations. On the other hand, Tehran stresses the priority of lifting sanctions and ensuring that Washington does not withdraw from the agreement again.

The Vienna talks began after the election of Biden, but stopped in June during the Iranian elections that brought to power a hard-line conservative government, before being resumed in late November.

On Tuesday, European countries stressed the "urgency" to carry out the negotiations at a time when Tehran was "significantly" close to the stockpile of uranium needed to build an atomic bomb.

"These negotiations are urgent," said negotiators from the three European parties to the 2015 agreement, namely France, Germany and Britain, after the resumption of negotiations in Vienna.

They added, "It is clear that we are approaching a point where the Iranian nuclear escalation has emptied the agreement of its content," stressing that the time available is measured in "weeks, not months, to complete the negotiations."

Israel has warned Iran's archenemy of resorting to military options if Tehran soon reaches the "nuclear threshold", meaning that it has enough fuel to produce an atomic bomb.

The Biden administration has also warned against returning to pressure if negotiations fail and Iran continues its nuclear activities.

“Unprecedented” enrichment,
and Iran announced in April that it had started enriching uranium to 60%, which is much higher than the 3.67% threshold stipulated in the international agreement, approaching the 90% necessary to make an atomic bomb, although it denies that it has so intent.

The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, said Saturday that Tehran has no plans to enrich uranium to more than 60 percent, even if the Vienna negotiations fail.

In statements published by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Eslami indicated that the levels of enrichment are linked to the country's needs.

European negotiators stressed the level of uranium enrichment by Iran, which brings it dangerously close to the nuclear threshold.

The negotiators themselves said, "We take note of the comment made by the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization that Iran will not enrich (uranium) above 60%, but uranium enrichment at 60% is unprecedented in countries that do not possess nuclear weapons."

"Increasing uranium stocks to 60 percent brings Iran significantly closer to obtaining fissile material that can be used to make a nuclear weapon," they added.

China and Russia are also involved in negotiations with Iran. The United States is indirectly involved.

European Union coordinator Enrique Mora, who is chairing the negotiations, said Monday that all parties showed a "clear intention to work for the success of these negotiations," but he expected "very difficult negotiations in the coming days and weeks."

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said in a statement reported by the official IRNA news agency on Tuesday that the negotiations are "on the right track."

"With the good will and seriousness of the other parties, we can hope to (reach) an agreement in the near future," he added.

Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, said the working group on nuclear issues had held a "useful meeting."

"We note definite progress," he added in a tweet, explaining that the lifting of sanctions was "actively discussed" in an informal way.

Source: © AFP
1994-2021 Agence France-Presse

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Iran lays out a plan to increase its production from a huge oil field shared with Iraq

 

energy Economy News _ Baghdad Iran announced that it plans to increase its production from a huge joint field with Iraq to reach 320,000 barrels per day. The managing director of the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company, Mohsen Khojashmehr, said, "Iran plans to increase the production of the South Azadegan oil field (Majnoon oil field) to 320,000 barrels per day at the beginning of 2023, while the OPEC member is moving forward with projects that have been postponed. due to the reimposition of US sanctions in 2018." A local Iranian company is developing the field at a value of $5.6 billion, according to what was reported by the "Shana" news service of the Iranian Oil Ministry. Azadegan stretches on the border with Iraq, where it is known as Majnoon, which is Iran's largest joint field and contains 32 billion barrels of oil. Iran has lagged behind Iraq in developing the field due to US sanctions on the country's energy sector. Khojasmehr added that "by the end of the current Iranian year, 17 wells that were not in service will be repaired and operated" and the current Iranian year ends on March 20, 2022. Khojasmehr indicated that "the second phase will witness from Azadegan 280,000 barrels per day to produce 600,000 barrels per day of oil completely from the field." Oil production in southern Azadegan has fluctuated since 2004, when Japan's Inpex signed the first contract to develop the field. INPEX abandoned the project due to US pressure, and China's CNPC took over the development of the field in 2009. The state-run Petroleum Engineering and Development Corporation has been developing South Azadegan with local contractors since 2014 after China's CNPC was expelled from the field due to work delays. French giant TotalEnergies took over the field's development only later to withdraw from the project in 2018 due to the reimposition of US sanctions that year.

Views 124   Date Added 12/29/2021

[yota691]

The United Nations recalls the danger of proliferation of nuclear weapons

Thursday, December 30, 2021 284

 New York: agencies

 

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, called for recalling the danger of nuclear war, criticizing its "forgetfulness" in recent years.

Guterres said, in an article on the subject, which was reviewed by Al-Sabah: "The end of the Cold War also left us in a dangerous delusion that the danger of nuclear wars has become a thing of the past," adding: "There is nothing further from the truth than this illusion. Weapons are not an outdated problem, but rather an increasingly dangerous threat."

He called for the need to work on several fronts, summarizing them by "charting a path towards nuclear disarmament, agreeing on new measures for dialogue, addressing international crises that are boiling in the Middle East and Asia, in addition to promoting the peaceful use of technology."

The Secretary-General referred to the need to work to strengthen the global frameworks that support non-proliferation, including the International Atomic Energy Agency.

[yota691]

The conflict between two visions in the Iranian nuclear management

Wednesday 05 January 2022 68

 

 Jawad Ali Kassar

 Confirmed Iranian information indicates that Tehran initiated a meeting to review and evaluate its nuclear options, at the initiative of the Supreme Leader's office, weeks before its decision to resume nuclear negotiations, last November. A number of politicians, diplomats, and technicians specialized in the nuclear file participated in the deliberative meeting, which was attended by the Leader, Ali Khamenei himself. The outcome of the meeting, which took place at the request of the Leader, was that Iran could not sacrifice the nuclear “gains” it had achieved during the past two years. Especially in terms of raising the enrichment rates to 60% and perhaps more, and then the Vienna-Iranian negotiating team should adjust itself to this result and lead the negotiations in a manner that preserves them.

 

Salehi's novel

According to the information, one of the most prominent civilizations, Ali Akbar Salehi, the former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, addressed the Supreme Leader, saying: "Iran's nuclear gains cannot be undone, and the West is aware of this." Then he added, "If the West does not respond to Iran's progress in the nuclear program, the negotiations give us more time to continue expanding the program." It is said in Tehran that the decision to resume negotiations and return to Vienna within the framework of the seventh round was taken in this meeting, with the adoption of Salehi’s strategy of buying more Iranian oil.

the time.

We would like to point out that Salehi, born in Karbala in 1949, is one of the elite of Iranian diplomats. In addition to his specialization from America in nuclear engineering, he became Iran’s representative at the International Atomic Energy Agency, then head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization twice, during which he led the Iranian diplomatic apparatus, and foreign minister for three years. It was established in 1974, after its first president, "Akbar Etimad"; Most importantly, he enjoys the mentor's trust.

 

previous incident

We have no doubt that this meeting took place in the presence of the Leader, and the participation of current and former officials involved in the nuclear program. This is something that is always repeated, and it has turned into something like a custom in the Leader’s management of Iran’s most dangerous files, after the Iran-Iraq war, by which we mean the nuclear file.

In a previous crisis on the line of this file, Salehi documents the story of such a meeting with the guide. In 2010, the International Atomic Energy Agency rejected a request by Iran to purchase a quantity of 20% enriched uranium to operate the Tehran reactor for scientific research purposes. What is required is that the Americans did not mind at that time that Turkey and Brazil be the guarantors of Iranian uranium.

At first glance, Iran refused the request, but Salehi, who was at that time the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, requested an urgent meeting of the country's senior leaders, in order to persuade them to accept the American proposal, which stipulates the exchange of fuel. Salehi mentions that this meeting actually took place in the presence of the Supreme Leader, with the participation of the heads of the three forces, in addition to the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time Manouchehr Mottaki, the head of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, the head of the guide’s office Sheikh Mohammadi Kalpayakani, and the security official and influential member of the office Ali Asghar Hegazy.

Salehi mentions that the meeting continued until just before sunset, without the matter being resolved, so he addressed the guide, saying: “Your Eminence, although we are on the verge of the Maghrib call to prayer, but the issue is very important and sensitive. Therefore, I ask you to excuse me, to provide an explanation.” technical subject. Then he made clear his vision of the importance of accepting the proposal to exchange uranium, because that would be in the interest 

Country.

After documentary details, Salehi concludes that the guide approved his proposal, and ordered that it be implemented. This incident reveals not only the mechanism of major decision-making in nuclear, away from the National Security Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Energy Agency, but also about the position of Ali Akbar Salehi with the Supreme Leader, a position that was not affected even after the current president, Ibrahim Raisi, initiated his removal from the presidency of the organization Atomic Energy, and Mohammed Eslami, placed in his place, within the strict trend to remove those affiliated with the Rouhani-Zarif duo team, including chief negotiator Abbas Araqchi, and prominent ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi.

 

between two visions

The details of managing the Iranian nuclear file put us between two visions, the apparent distance between them seems technical and administrative, but it is in depth philosophical, reflecting conflict, competition or contradiction, on the major issues of Iran, at the forefront of which is the nuclear file and the entanglements of the relationship with America and the West.

The first vision is represented by Rouhani's management of the nuclear program during the eight years of his rule; This administration, which was dominated by his Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, and was famous for managing the Rouhani-Zarif duo team, and the sympathy of former Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani (who appears to have been punished for this sympathy by refusing his eligibility for the presidency, as explicitly stated in the leaked message from the Council for the Protection of the Constitution) and the current A wide range of prominent figures in the Supreme Council for National Security, in addition to the reformist current in Parliament, and its parties, platforms and symbols abroad; On top of all of them is the late Hashemi Rafsanjani, as a major umbrella and a solid base for the followers of this trend 

in its entirety.

It is clear that the organic regulator that extends its fabric between all of them is a vision in political philosophy, based on flexible openness to the West and opening channels of direct negotiation with America, and that Iran’s interest and the permanence of its political system and its success in development are dependent on this policy. These, in a condensed short, are the convictions of what is called in Iran by the supporters of “new thinking” (a format as close as possible to the peresturica adopted by the last leader of the Soviet Union before its collapse, Mikhail Gorbachev) and the New York Circle group in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other institutions.

attacking duo

Politicians and media people share in attacking the supporters of the first movement, with a radical criticism that they attribute to weakness, cowardice, fragility and subservience to the West.

As for the level of media attack, as reflected in the fundamentalist right-wing newspapers, such as "Kayhan", "Gwanan", "Resalat", "Iran", "Jam Jam" and "Hamshahri", and prominent sites such as "Tabnak", "Tasnim" and "Mashreq" And many more; It accuses the Rouhani-Zarif team of having mistakenly based its strategy on the principle of "preserving the nuclear agreement at all costs", and the government's justification for this policy through headlines such as: "strategic patience" and "giving diplomacy a chance", which led them to look bold America and the European Troika (the tripartite: France, Britain, Germany) persisted in imposing their conditions on Iran, without a ceiling, to assure them that Iran would not withdraw from the agreement, and that it adhered to it at any cost.

They mention that this Rouhani-Zarif strategy is what allowed, or at least provided a cover, for the security breaches that struck the atomic facilities in Natanz and Karaj, and led to the assassination of not a few symbols from the elite of Iran's atomic scientists; The last of them was Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. The last episode in their work, according to critics, was the absolute betting of the Rouhani government on the results of the American elections and Biden's victory, especially when Rouhani stated that reforming America's position regarding the nuclear agreement requires nothing more than a simple signature from President Biden.

 

second vision

This vision intersects with the first in a central point that is almost philosophical, which is the nature of the relationship with the West, specifically with America. They have no reason to trust America, let alone negotiate directly, and normalize or calm the relationship with it, as evidenced by an open record of mutual hostility between the two sides.

Obviously, Iran cannot live in a jungle, and therefore isolation is not a logical or realistic option. But the solution of the supporters of this current to the dilemma is through political engineering based on the orientation to the east, by building distinguished relations with China and Russia internationally, and Europe without America (such a text according to the instructions of the Foreign Ministry to its ambassadors) and focusing in Asia, on the axis of East Asia and the Caucasus, and the increasing Iranian positioning west Asia; Add to this the increasing emphasis on the theory of "Greater Iran", and the intensification of work within this theory, which the military preached and viewed more than others, on the axes of economy and culture.

These are, in a very brief, condensed points in the strategic foundations of the second vision, which are almost present now, on all the forces, symbols, and activities of the authority.

 

nuclear future

Between these two visions lies the future of the nuclear agreement, ranging between importance and marginality. Through this, the Vienna tracks are determined, and in the light of it, expectations that are as close to reality as possible can be built for the negotiating team’s behavior and positions.

Those who think that the supporters of the second vision lack a theoretical cover, for the ideology of the regime provides them at the highest level, the strategic cover, through the vision of the guide himself, and his clear texts and positions, which reduce the agreement from a self-existing value for the supporters of the first current, to a mere means that can Jump over it and skip it, and replace it with anything else, since the agreement itself has no essential value, as they put it. According to a lengthy analysis of the fundamentalist newspaper Vatan Emroz: "The twelfth government (Raisi's government) has taken the initiative, by expanding its basket of diplomatic options before negotiations, to send a message to the other party that the nuclear agreement is not everything for Iran, and that there are options Alternative" (article: The goal is to abolish sanctions, and the rest is a myth! Dated December 30, 2021).

 

Vision texts

What is important for the second trend’s vision is to cancel the sanctions once, if possible, or to negotiate their mitigation and schedule their abolition.

The guide says in a virtual meeting with the people of Azerbaijan on January 8, 2021 AD: "We do not insist that America return to the agreement, or not. We are not in a hurry for America's return, and the question of whether or not America will return is not our main issue; our logical and rational demand is to lift sanctions." ". When the Biden administration set conditions for returning to the agreement, the leader responded to that in a meeting with the leaders of the Air Force, saying: "If we want to talk deductively and logically, America and the three European countries do not have the right to set the conditions, after they exceeded their commitments in the nuclear agreement." .

What the Leader and supporters of this vision are asking for are practical guarantees to lift the sanctions, after the paper-based guarantees, in his opinion, failed. Commenting on one of the previous rounds of negotiations in Vienna, he says: “The Americans promise to cancel the sanctions in their own words, but they do not cancel them in practice, and they will not cancel them.”

One of the constructions of this vision and its intersection with the vision of the Rouhani - Zarif duo team; Zarif was of the opinion that any agreement in general is better than no agreement, while supporters of the second vision adhere to what the Leader said in February 2021, saying: “We believe that no agreement is better than a bad agreement, the agreement that harms national interests.” ".

 

korean cucumber

At this point, we can return to the narrative of the opening of this article, and be assured of the correctness of the advice given by Ali Akbar Salehi, in turning the negotiations into an opportunity to provide more time, so that Iran can progress further in expanding its nuclear activities, especially at the level of enrichment, because this advice It is the closest to the regime's policy now, and the second vision's dominance over its positions.

But there is no doubt that this vision faces difficult questions, political and technical, chief among them: How is it possible to separate the political from the technical, and to reduce sanctions to the technical aspect alone, as revealed by the Iranian negotiating team, which now consists of about forty members, most of whom are technical, and is almost devoid of political administration. With the exception of "Ali Bagheri Kani", the chief negotiator, and the still ambiguous role of Behzad Saberi Ansari and Muhammad Morshedi, son of Ali Reza Marandi, head of the health team specialized in the mentor?

Then is it possible to realistically separate America and the European trio, and will the European parties submit to Iran's principle: "Europe without America"? Finally, what if the Leader's expectations are fulfilled, and America delays lifting the sanctions?

Those concerned state that Iran will not retreat from its nuclear gains during the previous two years, and has secured a legal cover for this through a decision issued by Parliament at the end of the Rouhani era, to resume nuclear activity in all centers, and to raise enrichment even to more than 60%, but it is understood From the words of Member of Parliament Fereydoun Abbasi, in an interview with the newspaper "Iran", that all options are now open to Iran, including making its first nuclear bomb, even if this collides with a forbidding fatwa from the Leader.

On the inside, all indications are that Iran will settle itself to coexist with the sanctions during the next Persian year (starting on March 21 of each year), as the details of the new fiscal year budget reveal. But the most important thing, in my opinion, is Alain Frachon’s reference in the editorial of the French newspaper “Le Monde” more than a month ago, and his words that Iranian consciousness is now saturated, following the example of the North Korean; Subsistence economy to bypass the nuclear plight.