11 aug 2019
In his annual Hajj message, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called on Muslim nations to unite against the so-called “deal of the century”
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the "deal of the century" which is to be unveiled by the US is a crime against humanity, urging "everyone" to help defeat it.
"The ploy of the 'deal of the century' which is being plotted by the oppressive America and its treasonous cohorts is a crime against human society, and not just the Palestinian nation," the Leader said Saturday in his annual Hajj message.
"We are inviting everyone to actively participate in defeating the enemy's ploy and deception and believe that with the power and strength from God, this and all other ploys of the imperialist front is doomed to failure vis-a-vis the efforts and faith of the resistance front," he added.
The "deal of the century", a backchannel plan to allegedly reach a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, is reported to recognize Israeli occupation of Palestine in exchange for economic incentives. The plan has widely been rejected by the Palestinians.
Ayatollah Khamenei described Palestine as one of the most important issues of the Muslim world regardless of their sect, race, and language.
“The greatest injustice of the recent centuries has happened in Palestine. In this painful drama, all that a nation had—their land, homes, farms, belongings, dignity, and identity— has been confiscated," the Leader said.
“This nation, with God’s assistance, has not surrendered to defeat and has not given up and today, they are fighting evermore passionately and braver than yesterday, but the ultimate outcome requires assistance from all Muslims.”
Ayatollah Khamenei's message came as millions of Muslims poured onto the plain southeast of the holy city of Mecca to mark the Day of Arafat on the second day of the annual Hajj congregation.
The Leader said the pilgrimage presents an opportunity for oppressed Muslim nations to “spread awareness” and denounce oppression and the rule of “arrogant world powers”.
Every year, the Leader issues a message on the occasion, giving guidelines on the need to uphold the rite of Bara'ah or the "disavowal of the infidels" and unite Muslims around the key messages of Islam.
"The ritual of Bara’ah which means shunning all forms of cruelty, oppression, vulgarity and corruption of the tyrants of the time, and rising against bullying and extortion of the haughty of the eras, is one of the great advantages of Hajj, and an opportunity for the oppressed Muslim nations," the Leader said.
"Today, renouncing the front of shirk [polytheism] and kufr [disbelief] of the arrogant powers headed by America means rejecting the killing of the oppressed, and waging wars.
"It means condemning the centers of terrorism such as Daesh and the American Blackwater. It means the Islamic Ummah’s shouts at the infanticidal Zionist regime and its backers and sponsors," the Leader said.
The ritual of Bara'ah, Ayatollah Khamenei further said, is an opportunity to "condemn the warmongering of America and its associates in the sensitive West Asian and North African region where they have brought the pain and suffering of the nations to the breaking point and yet they bring grave tragedies on them each and every day".
"It means shunning racism, and discrimination based on geography, race, and color of skin. It means repudiating the arrogant and vicious behavior of aggressive and seditious powers vis-a-vis the dignified, noble and just behavior which Islam invites everyone to embrace."
Ayatollah Khamenei described the Hajj as a “model” demonstrating Islamic principles and uniting all Muslims together in worship of God.
Each and every able-bodied Muslim, male or female, is required to complete the religious trip to the holy city of Mecca at least once in their lifetime if they also have the sufficient financial capacity to do so.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the "deal of the century" which is to be unveiled by the US is a crime against humanity, urging "everyone" to help defeat it.
"The ploy of the 'deal of the century' which is being plotted by the oppressive America and its treasonous cohorts is a crime against human society, and not just the Palestinian nation," the Leader said Saturday in his annual Hajj message.
"We are inviting everyone to actively participate in defeating the enemy's ploy and deception and believe that with the power and strength from God, this and all other ploys of the imperialist front is doomed to failure vis-a-vis the efforts and faith of the resistance front," he added.
The "deal of the century", a backchannel plan to allegedly reach a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, is reported to recognize Israeli occupation of Palestine in exchange for economic incentives. The plan has widely been rejected by the Palestinians.
Ayatollah Khamenei described Palestine as one of the most important issues of the Muslim world regardless of their sect, race, and language.
“The greatest injustice of the recent centuries has happened in Palestine. In this painful drama, all that a nation had—their land, homes, farms, belongings, dignity, and identity— has been confiscated," the Leader said.
“This nation, with God’s assistance, has not surrendered to defeat and has not given up and today, they are fighting evermore passionately and braver than yesterday, but the ultimate outcome requires assistance from all Muslims.”
Ayatollah Khamenei's message came as millions of Muslims poured onto the plain southeast of the holy city of Mecca to mark the Day of Arafat on the second day of the annual Hajj congregation.
The Leader said the pilgrimage presents an opportunity for oppressed Muslim nations to “spread awareness” and denounce oppression and the rule of “arrogant world powers”.
Every year, the Leader issues a message on the occasion, giving guidelines on the need to uphold the rite of Bara'ah or the "disavowal of the infidels" and unite Muslims around the key messages of Islam.
"The ritual of Bara’ah which means shunning all forms of cruelty, oppression, vulgarity and corruption of the tyrants of the time, and rising against bullying and extortion of the haughty of the eras, is one of the great advantages of Hajj, and an opportunity for the oppressed Muslim nations," the Leader said.
"Today, renouncing the front of shirk [polytheism] and kufr [disbelief] of the arrogant powers headed by America means rejecting the killing of the oppressed, and waging wars.
"It means condemning the centers of terrorism such as Daesh and the American Blackwater. It means the Islamic Ummah’s shouts at the infanticidal Zionist regime and its backers and sponsors," the Leader said.
The ritual of Bara'ah, Ayatollah Khamenei further said, is an opportunity to "condemn the warmongering of America and its associates in the sensitive West Asian and North African region where they have brought the pain and suffering of the nations to the breaking point and yet they bring grave tragedies on them each and every day".
"It means shunning racism, and discrimination based on geography, race, and color of skin. It means repudiating the arrogant and vicious behavior of aggressive and seditious powers vis-a-vis the dignified, noble and just behavior which Islam invites everyone to embrace."
Ayatollah Khamenei described the Hajj as a “model” demonstrating Islamic principles and uniting all Muslims together in worship of God.
Each and every able-bodied Muslim, male or female, is required to complete the religious trip to the holy city of Mecca at least once in their lifetime if they also have the sufficient financial capacity to do so.
10 aug 2019
The failure of the Saudi war on Yemen will have grave consequences for Israel as Tel Aviv fears that Washington’s bid to isolate Tehran is unwinding, according to a report published by Israel’s leading daily Haaretz.
“Oil sites in Saudi Arabia and the Emirates have been attacked by drones and Saudi airports have been targeted by Scud missiles… The apparent outcome is that the Emirates has abandoned the war in Yemen, the Saudi effort has failed,” wrote Haaretz on Friday.
“Without military support from the Emirates, it seems that the Saudi ambition to defeat Houthi rebels will fail conclusively,” it said, adding that amid a Washington and Tel Aviv-led bid to isolate Tehran and its allies in the region, “this is not good news”.
Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies, namely the United Arab Emirates, launched a devastating war on Yemen in March 2015, with the goal of bringing the government of Saudi-allied former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi back to power and crushing the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement.
Resistance by Yemen’s armed forces, led by Ansarullah, has, however, pushed the Saudi war to a stalemate, with Yemeni forces deploying increasingly sophisticated retaliatory attacks against the Saudis.
The stepped-up Yemeni retaliatory strikes come as the UAE has announced the gradual withdrawal of its troops from the conflict, largely because Abu Dhabi believes the war appears to have become "unwinnable", according to US reports.
Saudi Arabia relied greatly on the Emirati forces in advancing its war in Yemen, with observers believing that a Saudi-led tribal alliance may eventually disintegrate with factional infighting due to a lack of Emirati oversight.
Clashes between Emirati-backed separatists and Saudi-backed militia were reported earlier this week.
‘Bad news for Israel’
According to Haaretz’s Friday article, the defeat of the Saudi war effort will enable Houthis, which have adamantly voiced their opposition against the Israeli occupation, to facilitate arms exports to Palestinian resistance groups and restrict Israeli presence in the strategic Bab al Mandeb Strait.
The article, however, pointed that the gravest outcome of a Yemeni victory would be the gradual unraveling of what was meant to be a firm regional anti-Iran alliance.
UAE's withdrawal from the Saudi war effort and recent negotiations with Iranian officials indicated that Persian Gulf states are open “to reconsider their policy with respect to Iran” as Tehran and its allies stand firm against Washington, it said.
“This is bad news for the anti-Iranian alliance and possibly indicates a trend that should concern the American president and his close friend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu," wrote Haaretz.
The paper added that doubt regarding the success of the US administration’s regional policy was growing, with pessimism "trickling into” Tel Aviv despite nothing being “said of it in public”.
The war on Yemen and an ensuing blockade has taken a heavy toll on the infrastructure on the impoverished Arab country, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories and killing more than an estimated 60,000 Yemenis.
On Friday, thousands of Yemenis converged outside Sana’a International Airport in the capital to protest the US-backed blockade.
“Oil sites in Saudi Arabia and the Emirates have been attacked by drones and Saudi airports have been targeted by Scud missiles… The apparent outcome is that the Emirates has abandoned the war in Yemen, the Saudi effort has failed,” wrote Haaretz on Friday.
“Without military support from the Emirates, it seems that the Saudi ambition to defeat Houthi rebels will fail conclusively,” it said, adding that amid a Washington and Tel Aviv-led bid to isolate Tehran and its allies in the region, “this is not good news”.
Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies, namely the United Arab Emirates, launched a devastating war on Yemen in March 2015, with the goal of bringing the government of Saudi-allied former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi back to power and crushing the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement.
Resistance by Yemen’s armed forces, led by Ansarullah, has, however, pushed the Saudi war to a stalemate, with Yemeni forces deploying increasingly sophisticated retaliatory attacks against the Saudis.
The stepped-up Yemeni retaliatory strikes come as the UAE has announced the gradual withdrawal of its troops from the conflict, largely because Abu Dhabi believes the war appears to have become "unwinnable", according to US reports.
Saudi Arabia relied greatly on the Emirati forces in advancing its war in Yemen, with observers believing that a Saudi-led tribal alliance may eventually disintegrate with factional infighting due to a lack of Emirati oversight.
Clashes between Emirati-backed separatists and Saudi-backed militia were reported earlier this week.
‘Bad news for Israel’
According to Haaretz’s Friday article, the defeat of the Saudi war effort will enable Houthis, which have adamantly voiced their opposition against the Israeli occupation, to facilitate arms exports to Palestinian resistance groups and restrict Israeli presence in the strategic Bab al Mandeb Strait.
The article, however, pointed that the gravest outcome of a Yemeni victory would be the gradual unraveling of what was meant to be a firm regional anti-Iran alliance.
UAE's withdrawal from the Saudi war effort and recent negotiations with Iranian officials indicated that Persian Gulf states are open “to reconsider their policy with respect to Iran” as Tehran and its allies stand firm against Washington, it said.
“This is bad news for the anti-Iranian alliance and possibly indicates a trend that should concern the American president and his close friend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu," wrote Haaretz.
The paper added that doubt regarding the success of the US administration’s regional policy was growing, with pessimism "trickling into” Tel Aviv despite nothing being “said of it in public”.
The war on Yemen and an ensuing blockade has taken a heavy toll on the infrastructure on the impoverished Arab country, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories and killing more than an estimated 60,000 Yemenis.
On Friday, thousands of Yemenis converged outside Sana’a International Airport in the capital to protest the US-backed blockade.
9 aug 2019
An IRGC officer speaks on a walkie talkie in the Persian Gulf in this undated photo
Iran says it considers possible Israeli presence in a US-led coalition in the Persian Gulf as a clear threat to its national security, and reserves the right to counter it.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi on Friday referred to the “illegitimate existence” of the Israeli regime in the Middle East as a source of insecurity and instability.
Iran, he said, considers Israel’s possible presence in a US-led mission in the Persian Gulf as a “clear threat” to its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
The presence is a crisis-provoking and destabilizing element in the Persian Gulf, Mousavi said.
"Within the framework of the country's deterrence and defensive policy, the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to counter this threat and defend its territory," he noted.
"The US regime and the illegitimate Zionist regime are responsible for all the consequences of this dangerous move," the spokesman added.
The remarks came after Israel said it will join what the US calls an effort to boost security of navigation in the Persian Gulf.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on August 7 that the Israeli regime is part of the US-led coalition to “protect the security of the Persian Gulf”.
Katz claimed Israel was determined to stop “Iranian entrenchment” in the Middle East region and strengthen Tel Aviv’s relationship with Persian Gulf countries, Ynet reported.
In his Friday remarks, Mousavi said the Islamic Republic believes the US-led coalition is tension-provoking in nature.
"Iran believes the presence of ultra-regional forces in the Persian Gulf under any name and title will not only fail to help reinforce the region's security, but will further prepare the grounds for tension and crisis in the sensitive Persian Gulf region," he added.
He said Iran is opposed to the formation of such coalitions and considers it as a tension-creating and deceitful move.
The spokesman also referred to the organizers, founders, and members of such a coalition as the culprits behind possible tensions and crises that would emanate from such a move.
The US has announced plans to form a Washington-led force amid its attempts to trouble Iran’s foreign oil sales as part of its sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic.
On June 30, the US officially asked Germany to participate — alongside Britain and France — in the coalition, a request that was declined by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas a day later. The UK, however, later accepted to join the coalition.
Iran's defense chief said on Thursday that the US-proposed coalition, which Washington purports would seek to beef up maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, will foment insecurity in the region.
Such a coalition "will only increase regional insecurity," Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami told his Kuwaiti, Qatari, and Omani counterparts during separate telephone conversations on Thursday, IRNA reported.
Iran says it considers possible Israeli presence in a US-led coalition in the Persian Gulf as a clear threat to its national security, and reserves the right to counter it.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi on Friday referred to the “illegitimate existence” of the Israeli regime in the Middle East as a source of insecurity and instability.
Iran, he said, considers Israel’s possible presence in a US-led mission in the Persian Gulf as a “clear threat” to its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
The presence is a crisis-provoking and destabilizing element in the Persian Gulf, Mousavi said.
"Within the framework of the country's deterrence and defensive policy, the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to counter this threat and defend its territory," he noted.
"The US regime and the illegitimate Zionist regime are responsible for all the consequences of this dangerous move," the spokesman added.
The remarks came after Israel said it will join what the US calls an effort to boost security of navigation in the Persian Gulf.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on August 7 that the Israeli regime is part of the US-led coalition to “protect the security of the Persian Gulf”.
Katz claimed Israel was determined to stop “Iranian entrenchment” in the Middle East region and strengthen Tel Aviv’s relationship with Persian Gulf countries, Ynet reported.
In his Friday remarks, Mousavi said the Islamic Republic believes the US-led coalition is tension-provoking in nature.
"Iran believes the presence of ultra-regional forces in the Persian Gulf under any name and title will not only fail to help reinforce the region's security, but will further prepare the grounds for tension and crisis in the sensitive Persian Gulf region," he added.
He said Iran is opposed to the formation of such coalitions and considers it as a tension-creating and deceitful move.
The spokesman also referred to the organizers, founders, and members of such a coalition as the culprits behind possible tensions and crises that would emanate from such a move.
The US has announced plans to form a Washington-led force amid its attempts to trouble Iran’s foreign oil sales as part of its sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic.
On June 30, the US officially asked Germany to participate — alongside Britain and France — in the coalition, a request that was declined by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas a day later. The UK, however, later accepted to join the coalition.
Iran's defense chief said on Thursday that the US-proposed coalition, which Washington purports would seek to beef up maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, will foment insecurity in the region.
Such a coalition "will only increase regional insecurity," Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami told his Kuwaiti, Qatari, and Omani counterparts during separate telephone conversations on Thursday, IRNA reported.
30 july 2019
Aftermath of attack on Iranian missile depot in Iraq
UK-based Arabic-language paper says target was Iran-linked paramilitary group in northern Salahuddin province that Saudi news channel says housed Iranian-made ballistic missiles hidden in food refrigeration trucks; Israel recently warned Iraqi government against allowing such operations on its territory
Israeli warplanes bombed Iranian-linked targets in Iraq and Syria in July, the Arabic-language Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported Tuesday, quoting Western diplomatic sources.
The sources told the London-based newspaper that on July 19, Israel carried out an attack on the base of an Iran-linked paramilitary group in the northern Salahuddin province of Iraq.
Reports initially said that the attack was carried out by a drone and and led to the deaths of an unconfirmed number of Iranian Revolutionary Guard fighters.
According to the Saudi news channel Al-Arabiya, the base housed Iranian-made ballistic missiles hidden in food refrigeration trucks.
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, recently warned Iraq against allowing members of the Revolutionary Guard and Iranian-allied Shi'ite militias to operate in the area.
Asharq Al-Awsat also attributed an attack on the Daraa province on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights last week to Israel, as part of the same efforts to disturb Iranian entrenchment in the area.
UK-based Arabic-language paper says target was Iran-linked paramilitary group in northern Salahuddin province that Saudi news channel says housed Iranian-made ballistic missiles hidden in food refrigeration trucks; Israel recently warned Iraqi government against allowing such operations on its territory
Israeli warplanes bombed Iranian-linked targets in Iraq and Syria in July, the Arabic-language Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported Tuesday, quoting Western diplomatic sources.
The sources told the London-based newspaper that on July 19, Israel carried out an attack on the base of an Iran-linked paramilitary group in the northern Salahuddin province of Iraq.
Reports initially said that the attack was carried out by a drone and and led to the deaths of an unconfirmed number of Iranian Revolutionary Guard fighters.
According to the Saudi news channel Al-Arabiya, the base housed Iranian-made ballistic missiles hidden in food refrigeration trucks.
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, recently warned Iraq against allowing members of the Revolutionary Guard and Iranian-allied Shi'ite militias to operate in the area.
Asharq Al-Awsat also attributed an attack on the Daraa province on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights last week to Israel, as part of the same efforts to disturb Iranian entrenchment in the area.
24 july 2019
The Tasnim news agency based in Tehran says official sources suspect Israel and the U.S. were behind the recent death of Yukiya Amano since he wouldn't blame Iran for breaking 2015 nuclear deal
The Iranian Tasnim News Agency published a report Wednesday quoting unnamed official sources suspecting Israel and the United States had assasinated Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency who died last week.
According to the report, Amano was assassinated because he would not give in to pressure calling him to slander the Iranian nuclear plan; "sources told Tasnim that Amano was taken out by the Israeli regime so that IAEA would have a new chair," said the report.
"The late IAEA chair faced pressures from the U.S. and Israel to launch a false investigation against Iran's nuclear affairs," according to the report.
"There is evidence that the Trump administration and Israel pressured Amano relentlessly to accuse Iran of violating the 2015 nuclear treaty, against all technical and legal reports by IAEA, that confirm Iran's compliance with the deal."
"Sources also said that the U.S. and Israel stopped reports of Amano's death for two days until after his funeral," Tasnim wrote.
Amano died at age 72 after recent reported he was suffereing from ill health. In the statement informing of his death no cause was mentioned, but his health was reported to be the reason for his resignation planned for no later than next March.
Amano was elected head of the IAEA first in 2009 and was twice more since; his term was supposed to end in November 2021.
According to Bloomberg reports, Amano missed an important board meeting last week for the second time in less than a year due to health reasons.
The Iranian Tasnim News Agency published a report Wednesday quoting unnamed official sources suspecting Israel and the United States had assasinated Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency who died last week.
According to the report, Amano was assassinated because he would not give in to pressure calling him to slander the Iranian nuclear plan; "sources told Tasnim that Amano was taken out by the Israeli regime so that IAEA would have a new chair," said the report.
"The late IAEA chair faced pressures from the U.S. and Israel to launch a false investigation against Iran's nuclear affairs," according to the report.
"There is evidence that the Trump administration and Israel pressured Amano relentlessly to accuse Iran of violating the 2015 nuclear treaty, against all technical and legal reports by IAEA, that confirm Iran's compliance with the deal."
"Sources also said that the U.S. and Israel stopped reports of Amano's death for two days until after his funeral," Tasnim wrote.
Amano died at age 72 after recent reported he was suffereing from ill health. In the statement informing of his death no cause was mentioned, but his health was reported to be the reason for his resignation planned for no later than next March.
Amano was elected head of the IAEA first in 2009 and was twice more since; his term was supposed to end in November 2021.
According to Bloomberg reports, Amano missed an important board meeting last week for the second time in less than a year due to health reasons.
12 july 2019
The US House of Representatives has voted to limit President Donald Trump's power to attack Iran militarily, expressing concern that such hawkish policies are pushing toward an unnecessary war.
The Democratic-led House approved an amendment on a broad defense bill Friday that would require the president to obtain Congress’s approval before he can authorize military force against Tehran.
Representative Ro Khanna, the Democrat who led the amendment, said that move was symptomatic of the fact that the United States was fed up with war.
"Frankly, what it will prevent is what this president promised to the American people not to do - to get into another endless, costly war in the Middle East," he said on the House floor.
Meanwhile, Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, described the amendment as "reckless," saying that the US Armed Forces should not be held up by a potentially long legislative process.
"This will tie our military's hands at a perilous time," he said.
However, Representative Matt Gaetz, a Republican who co-sponsored the amendment, said that his colleagues did not level with US troops on the reason why they could be sent to be killed.
"My war-hungry colleagues - some of whom have already suggested that we invade Venezuela, North Korea and probably a few other countries before lunchtime tomorrow - if they're so certain of their case against Iran, let them bring their authorization to use military force against Iran to this very floor," he said.
Tensions have been running high between the US and Iran since Washington’s decision in May last year to abandon the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions on Tehran as part of a “maximum pressure” campaign aimed at forcing it to renegotiate a new deal that addresses its ballistic missile program and regional influence as well.
Tensions between the two nations deteriorated after Iran shot down a US surveillance drone on June 20 following its violation of Iranian airspace, although Washington insists that the aircraft was flying above international waters.
The United States has engaged in significant regional military buildup, including by sending an aircraft carrier, a bomber task force, an assault ship, and around 1,500 additional forces to the Middle East.
Tehran has time and again said that it does not seek military confrontations with the United States, yet stands ready to defend its interests in the region.
The Democratic-led House approved an amendment on a broad defense bill Friday that would require the president to obtain Congress’s approval before he can authorize military force against Tehran.
Representative Ro Khanna, the Democrat who led the amendment, said that move was symptomatic of the fact that the United States was fed up with war.
"Frankly, what it will prevent is what this president promised to the American people not to do - to get into another endless, costly war in the Middle East," he said on the House floor.
Meanwhile, Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, described the amendment as "reckless," saying that the US Armed Forces should not be held up by a potentially long legislative process.
"This will tie our military's hands at a perilous time," he said.
However, Representative Matt Gaetz, a Republican who co-sponsored the amendment, said that his colleagues did not level with US troops on the reason why they could be sent to be killed.
"My war-hungry colleagues - some of whom have already suggested that we invade Venezuela, North Korea and probably a few other countries before lunchtime tomorrow - if they're so certain of their case against Iran, let them bring their authorization to use military force against Iran to this very floor," he said.
Tensions have been running high between the US and Iran since Washington’s decision in May last year to abandon the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions on Tehran as part of a “maximum pressure” campaign aimed at forcing it to renegotiate a new deal that addresses its ballistic missile program and regional influence as well.
Tensions between the two nations deteriorated after Iran shot down a US surveillance drone on June 20 following its violation of Iranian airspace, although Washington insists that the aircraft was flying above international waters.
The United States has engaged in significant regional military buildup, including by sending an aircraft carrier, a bomber task force, an assault ship, and around 1,500 additional forces to the Middle East.
Tehran has time and again said that it does not seek military confrontations with the United States, yet stands ready to defend its interests in the region.
2 july 2019
Picture shows the four Iranian abductees kidnapped in Lebanon back in 1982. From right to left: Seyyed Mohsen Mousavi (Iran's chargé d'affaires in Lebanon), Kazem Akhavan (IRNA photojournalist), Ahmad Motevasselian (Iran's military attache in Lebanon), and Taqi Rastegar Moqaddam (an employee at the Iranian embassy in Beirut)
Iran’s Foreign Ministry says the four Iranian diplomats abducted in Lebanon back in 1982 are still being held in the Israeli regime’s prisons, and the world must pressure Tel Aviv and its sponsors to release them.
Ahmad Motevasselian, Seyyed Mohsen Mousavi, Taqi Rastegar Moqaddam and Kazem Akhavan were the four Iranian diplomats kidnapped “by the mercenaries of the Zionist regime in Barbara checkpoint in northern Lebanon in 1982,” the Foreign Ministry said in a Friday statement marking the 37th anniversary of the abduction.
According to the statement, evidence clearly shows that the diplomats have been handed over to Israel and consequently transferred to the occupied territories, and are now held in the Zionist regime’s prisons.
“Since Lebanon was under the US-backed Israeli occupation at that time; Iran holds the Zionist regime and its sponsors legally and politically responsible for the abduction and the terrorist move,” the statement added.
It also slammed the international community and the self-proclaimed advocates of human rights for their failure to adopt any serious measure against the crime over all these years.
The Foreign Ministry appreciated the cooperation and measures taken by the Lebanese government over these years to discover the fate of the abductees, and once again called on the world to “fulfill their natural, legal and humanitarian duty to follow up the issue.”
“The Islamic Republic once again underlines its earlier proposal that the International Committee of the Red Cross forms a fact-finding committee” to follow up the issue, it added.
It also expressed the hope that all prisoners held in the Israeli regime’s jails, especially the four Iranian abductees, will be released soon.
In September 2008, the Lebanese government sent a letter to then UN chief Ban Ki-moon, in which Beirut confirmed the abduction of the Iranian diplomats in the Lebanese territory and called for UN action to pursue the case.
Israel has claimed that the Iranian diplomats were abducted by Lebanese Phalange forces and killed shortly after their abduction. The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has, however, said that it has evidence that they are still alive and in Israeli captivity.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry says the four Iranian diplomats abducted in Lebanon back in 1982 are still being held in the Israeli regime’s prisons, and the world must pressure Tel Aviv and its sponsors to release them.
Ahmad Motevasselian, Seyyed Mohsen Mousavi, Taqi Rastegar Moqaddam and Kazem Akhavan were the four Iranian diplomats kidnapped “by the mercenaries of the Zionist regime in Barbara checkpoint in northern Lebanon in 1982,” the Foreign Ministry said in a Friday statement marking the 37th anniversary of the abduction.
According to the statement, evidence clearly shows that the diplomats have been handed over to Israel and consequently transferred to the occupied territories, and are now held in the Zionist regime’s prisons.
“Since Lebanon was under the US-backed Israeli occupation at that time; Iran holds the Zionist regime and its sponsors legally and politically responsible for the abduction and the terrorist move,” the statement added.
It also slammed the international community and the self-proclaimed advocates of human rights for their failure to adopt any serious measure against the crime over all these years.
The Foreign Ministry appreciated the cooperation and measures taken by the Lebanese government over these years to discover the fate of the abductees, and once again called on the world to “fulfill their natural, legal and humanitarian duty to follow up the issue.”
“The Islamic Republic once again underlines its earlier proposal that the International Committee of the Red Cross forms a fact-finding committee” to follow up the issue, it added.
It also expressed the hope that all prisoners held in the Israeli regime’s jails, especially the four Iranian abductees, will be released soon.
In September 2008, the Lebanese government sent a letter to then UN chief Ban Ki-moon, in which Beirut confirmed the abduction of the Iranian diplomats in the Lebanese territory and called for UN action to pursue the case.
Israel has claimed that the Iranian diplomats were abducted by Lebanese Phalange forces and killed shortly after their abduction. The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has, however, said that it has evidence that they are still alive and in Israeli captivity.
