Iran's supreme leader, at a meeting with Russian President Putin in Tehran on Monday, said U.S. policies in the region were a threat to both countries and called for closer ties between Tehran and Moscow.
"The Americans have a long-term plot and are trying to dominate Syria and then the whole region...This is a threat to all countries, especially Russia and Iran," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said at the meeting on the sidelines of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit in Tehran, according to the state news agencies.
"The United states is trying to achieve its failed military objectives in Syria now through political means," he added, referring to proposed peace talks to end the civil war in Syria.COMMENTARY: Iranian media depictions of meetings between Khamenei and world leaders non-aligned with the U.S.-led security order remain persistently anti-American in tone and substance, even after signage of JCPOA. To a certain extent, this latest depiction may be related to Iran's diplomatic reversal with the recent UNGA resolution condemning Iranian-backed intervention participations in the Syrian conflict.
Russia will be ready to go over to the partial localization of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 production in Iran, if Tehran takes a decision on purchasing ready-made aircraft, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin who has completed a two-day visit to Iran told the Rossiya 24 TV channel.and...
Iran and Russia have reached agreement on expanding cooperation in space research, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told TASS on Wednesday upon the end of talks with the Iranian Vice President in charge of science and technologies, Sorena Sattari.COMMENTARY: The Russians are interested in providing Iranian commercial applications with GLONASS system, as well as providing satellite launch services.
Hassan Rouhani on Saturday postponed what would have been the first visit to Europe by an Iranian president in 10 years after attacks in Paris that he described as "crimes against humanity."
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who had been due to travel with Rouhani, told state television he would now instead head Iran's delegation to international talks on the Syrian conflict in Vienna.
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Rouhani sent a message of condolence to French counterpart Francois Hollande on the shootings and bombings in Paris that left more than 120 people dead, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported.
"In the name of the Iranian people, who have themselves been victims of terrorism, I strongly condemn these crimes against humanity and offer my condolences to the grieving French people and government," Rouhani said.
Zarif said the Paris attacks made the Vienna talks all the more important as world governments needed to work together to fight against the Islamic State group and other extremists.
"We must use the opportunity presented by these crimes to coordinate internationally," he said.
"The Paris events show once again that terrorism and extremism are an international threat and that international cooperation is necessary to fight this phenomenon."COMMENTARY: Beirut was bombed two days ago, Paris yesterday and Baghdad today.
Japan and Iran have reached agreement on an investment accord, which may give a boost to Japanese investments into the Islamic Republic once sanctions are lifted as early as next year, the countries' foreign ministers said in a statement.
Japan is keen to boost ties with Iran and invest in resource projects there, as well as increase crude imports from the Middle Eastern country.
Japan's crude imports from Iran plunged more than 40 percent from 2011 levels before tough Western sanctions were introduced in 2012 over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme.
Japan's top oil and gas explorer Inpex Corp, which in 2010 was forced to give up a stake in Iran's Azadegan oil field because of the sanctions, was among dozens of companies that visited Iran in August.
Iran's chief negotiator for new oil contacts said last week the country would introduce more than 50 exploration and production projects to investors in the near future.
UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson said on Monday that the UN still has a lot to do in putting an end to conflict, poverty, inequalities and repression, noting the UN mission is not accomplished yet.
Eliasson made the remarks while delivering a speech on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the UN celebrated in Tehran.
During his speech in which some Iranian officials and UN diplomats were present, Eliasson admitted that there is much left to be done in the UN. “We all have work to do. Our mission is not accomplished. We need to continue to reform our organization and adapt it to the new global landscape.”COMMENTARY: Eliasson was part of the UN mission that attempted to mediate the Iran–Iraq War from 1980 to 1986.
UN Secretary-General Special Representative for Iraq Ján Kubiš who is in Iran to discuss latest Iraqi developments with Iranian officials was received on Sunday evening by Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Minister and head of diplomatic machinery of the country, where he expressed gratitude for the attempts by Mr. Kubiš waged to bring stability and security to crisis-stricken Iraq.
Mr. Kubiš believe[s] that the key to safely coming out of the current situation in Iraq is national unity. He also said that international and regional players were also important in helping manage the situation in the country; “promoting national reconciliation process, supporting strong central government, and focusing global participation in tackling economic, security, and social issues in Iraq are UN’s priorities,” he added.
Mr. Kubiš asserted that he would speak to any country and player as his mission for reaching a realistic analysis of the pandemonium in Iraq and finding a viable and effective solution, and believed that Iran’s role in Iraq and its benign advice on Iraq was absolutely invaluable for this reason.
