I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y POLITICS DECEMBER 9, 2019

Iran’s new ambassador to Pakistan starts his Zarif says it is essential to diplomatic mission POLITICAL TEHRAN – Mohammad Ali Hosseini cement Tehran-Muscat ties deskstarted his diplomatic mission as ’s new ambassador to Pakistan POLITICAL TEHRAN – Foreign Iran-Oman Joint Economic Committee on on Sunday. deskMinister Mohammad Saturday, Sunaidy said Oman is trying to Upon arrival in Islamabad, Javad Zarif said on Sunday that it is es- boost its trade and economic ties with Iran. Hosseini said that compared sential for Tehran and Muscat to deepen He also announced that an agreement to political relations between economic ties. was to be signed between Oman and Iran Iran and Pakistan, the eco- During a meeting with Omani Trade Min- on marine transportation. nomic ties are not at a good ister Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy, Zarif said The Omani official added, “We will make level and should be expanded. that the two countries enjoy many capacities the most efforts to provide incentives for joint He said boosting economic to strengthen relations in various areas. investment and also promote trade between interaction between the two First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri also the two countries.” neighbors is on his agenda. met separately with Sunaidy. Jahangiri said Oman’s Foreign Minster Yusuf bin Alawi Hosseini served as the political relationship between Tehran and visited Tehran last week for a two-day trip. Iranian Foreign Ministry Muscat is at its height. Bin Alawi met with his Iranian counterpart spokesman and Tehran’s Jahangiri said, “There is no limitation Zarif, President Rouhani, Supreme National ambassador to Italy. for Tehran to deepen cooperation with Security Council secretary Muscat.” and Majlis speaker Ali Larijani. “Expansion of cooperation between Teh- The core of the talks focused on security ‘Sanctions can create ran and Muscat is beneficial to the world of in the Persian Gulf and how to settle the opportunity for Iran-Georgia Islam and the regional countries and no one regional conflicts including the Yemen crisis. is harmed by it,” the vice president remarked. Yemen acted as an intermediary between co-op’ He added that the friendly relations be- economic transactions has reached 1.3 billion “The two countries’ businessmen have Iran and the United States during the Obama tween Iran and Oman can serve as a role dollars which shows a growth. held constructive meetings and it is the time administration. POLITICAL TEHRAN – Deputy Foreign Minister Ab- model for the regional countries. Sunaidy, who was accompanied by 30 to have a big leap in growth of economic During Obama’s presidency, the first deskbas Araghchi said on Sunday that the United Elsewhere, he called for expanding eco- businessmen in his visit to Iran, also called interaction,” he noted. informal nuclear talks between Tehran and States’ unilateral sanctions on Iran can create an opportunity nomic relations, noting that the volume of for bolstering economic relations. During a speech at the 18th meeting of Washington was held in Muscat. for expanding cooperation between Tehran and Tbilisi. During a meeting with Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Khvtisiashvili, Araghchi said that Iran’s relations with neighbors are not affected by foreign elements. For his part, Khvtisiashvili said that Georgia seeks to strengthen Officials are arranging for Rouhani to visit Tokyo around December 20: Japan Times relations with Iran. By staff and agency relationship with Japan, and hinted at a possible resumption Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also held a separate In a report published by The Japan Times on Sunday, it is said of oil exports. meeting with Khvtisiashvili. that Japanese and Iranian officials are arranging for President Araghchi and Abe met in Tokyo on December 3 during which U.S. President Donald Trump quit the 2015 nuclear deal in to visit Tokyo around December 20. Abe said that Japan still supports the 2015 nuclear deal, formally May 2018 and introduced the harshest ever sanctions on Iran According to Kyodo, Washington has urged Tokyo to share known as the JCPOA. as part of his administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign the outcome of a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Araqchi submitted a written message from Rouhani to Abe against Iran. Shinzo Abe and Rouhani. during the visit. If realized, it will be the first visit by an Iranian president The Japanese prime minister welcomed continuation of since October 2000. political consultations between the two countries. Competence of parliamentary In an interview with NHK published on Saturday, Iran’s Dep- Araghchi also said that Iran will return to full implementation candidates is assessed based on uty Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that preparations are of the JCPOA if sanctions are lifted. underway for Rouhani’s visit to Japan. Abe visited Iran in June as the first Japanese leader since 1978. constitution: He said Japan is an economic partner and provider of tech- He was carrying a message from U.S. President Donald Trump nology to Iran, which has always been one of Japan’s major oil to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah for POLITICAL TEHRAN — The spokesman for the Guardian suppliers. talks with Tehran. The Leader, while praising Japan’s sincerity, deskCouncil wrote on his Twitter account late on Araghchi added Iran wants to maintain the same positive said Trump is not worthy of exchanging messages with. Saturday that competency of the candidates for the parliamentary elections will be studied according to the constitution. Abass Ali Kadkhodaei, who also serves as the deputy secre- tary general of the council, wrote that time for registration of New EU chief diplomat: We have collective IAEA’s Grossi reiterates he seeks to candidates ended on Saturday evening and “more than 16,000 candidates register for the 11th parliamentary election.” responsibility to preserve nuclear deal establish constructive relations with Iran He said, “Monitoring and executive teams will review com- By staff and agency POLITICAL TEHRAN — Rafael the Iranians. petency of the registered candidates and will announce the final Josep Borrell, the new EU foreign policy deskGrossi, the new director Iranian Ambassador and Permanent list according to the constitution.” chief, has attached great importance to general of the International Atomic Energy Representative to the International On December 1, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah preserving the 2015 nuclear deal, officially Agency, has reiterated his aim to establish Organizations in Vienna Kazzem Qaribabadi Ali Khamenei advised potential parliamentary candidates not to known as the JCPOA, saying “collective “constructive relationship” with Iran. said on December 2 that the IAEA should run for the elections “if you don’t have management capabilities.” responsibility” is needed to stop the deal “As DG Grossi has previously stated, be “impartial” in its dealings with Iran. Jamal Orf, the Interior Ministry director for election head- from breaking apart. he aims to establish constructive working “Maintaining constructive working quarters, announced on Sunday that 248 sitting MPs and 633 “We have collective responsibility relationship w/ Iran,” the IAEA said in tweet relations between Iran and the Agency is former MPs have registered to run for parliament. to preserve #IranDeal,” he tweeted on on its website Saturday. of paramount importance, which we believe The Leader criticized the way many people register for the Saturday. Grossi met with Iranian Deputy Foreign that it should be carried out in an impartial, elections, saying now that potential candidates can register for He added, “Following the Joint Com- Minister Abbas Araghchi in Vienna on professional and independent manner, void the parliamentary elections, a lot of people go ahead and register mission, as coordinator I support the call Friday. Araghchi was in Vienna to participate of any hidden political agenda,” he said at the without hesitation. for full implementation & to reverse recent sanctions on Iran. in the joint commission of the JCPOA. IAEA Second Special General Conference. Every responsibility or position requires certain commitments, negative trend.” After waiting for a full year, Iran started In another tweet, the IAEA said, “IAEA Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Ayatollah Khamenei said. The Joint Commission of the Joint to gradually reduce its commitments to Director General @rafaelmgrossi met Iranian Mousavi said on October 31 that Iran is “You have to see if you can make that commitment,” Ayatollah Comprehensive Plan of Action was held the nuclear deal in response to the U.S. Deputy Foreign Minister @araghchi on ready to expand cooperation with the IAEA Khamenei said. in Vienna on Friday. and inaction by the remaining parties, Friday to discuss the Agency’s safeguards based on “mutual trust” and adoption of a The Interior Ministry started registering candidates for the A statement was issued after the meet- especially Europeans, to shield Tehran activities in Iran, including verification professional approach by the UN nuclear parliamentary elections on December 8. It ended on December 7. ing saying the remaining parties to the deal from sanctions effect. and monitoring of the country’s nuclear- body. The election will be held on February 21, 2020. are determined to preserve the nuclear So far, the Atomic Energy Organization related commitments under the JCPOA, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready The elections will be held in over 200 constituencies across agreement. of Iran (AEOI) has taken four steps to and other issues.” to maintain and expand constructive the country’s 31 provinces. “All participants emphasized the key cut back commitments in accordance to Grossi was appointed as the new director interaction and cooperation with the Agency The Guardian Council will release the names of candidates importance of full and effective implemen- paragraph 36 of the JCPOA which “allows general of the IAEA in October, following based on mutual respect and professional deemed eligible to run by December 18. tation by all sides as well as their determi- one side, under certain circumstances, to the death of the previous chief Yukiya precision and neutrality of this institution,” Disqualified candidates will have four days to object to the nation to pursue all efforts to preserve the stop complying with the deal if the other Amano in July. He officially took office as he said in a message, congratulating Grossi Guardian Council, after which the council will study complaints agreement,” read the statement published side is out of compliance.” director general of the UN nuclear watchdog as the new director of the IAEA. and announce the final list on February 11. on the European Union official website. Iran has repeatedly said if the Euro- on Tuesday. Mousavi expressed hope that Grossi The candidates will have 8 days to spend on the campaign U.S. President Donald Trump walked pean parties to the nuclear deal protect In an interview with NHK published on would fulfil his international duties trail, ending on February 19, and then the elections will be held away from the multilateral pact in May its economy from the U.S. sanctions it November 30, Grossi said that he wants to professionally by adopting an independent on February 21. 2018 and introduced the harshest ever will reverse its decisions. develop a constructive relationship with position.

U.S. cruel sanctions on Iran affecting rare disease Reformist candidate vows to do her best for a strong Majlis patients: official POLITICAL TEHRAN —The secretary-general of the the elections, she said, “The reformists’ registration is one Candidates had until December 7 to register. deskwomen’s rights protection society said issue and the filter in front of them is another issue. We The elections will be held in over 200 constituencies TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The head of Iran’s Organ Transplant on Saturday that she and other reformist candidates will have to wait to see whether the reformists can pass through across the country’s 31 provinces. Management Center said the “cruel” sanctions imposed by do their best to form a strong and effective Majlis. such filter. We hope ultimately the reformists can have The Guardian Council will review competency of the U.S. against the Islamic Republic have negatively affected “We will do as much as we can to form a strong and enough competent candidates to form their own lists for parliamentary hopefuls for their qualifications and will patients with rare diseases. effective parliament,” Shahindokht Molaverdi told reporters. the upcoming election.” release the names of candidates deemed eligible to run Speaking at a meeting with high-ranking Spanish health Molaverdi who served as presidential aide for civil rights , the leader of the pro-reform by December 18. officials in Madrid, Mehdi Shadnoush presented a report in Hassan Rouhani’s first term said reformists seek massive Hope faction in the sitting parliament, did not register for Disqualified candidates will have four days to object to on the situation of patients with rare diseases in Iran and participation of people in the elections. the election. However on Friday he called on the talented the Guardian Council, after which the council will study described the U.S. sanctions and their impact on their quality “We want the upcoming parliamentary election to be and motivated young people to register. complaints and announce the final list on February 11. of life and sufferings as “cruel and inhumane”. done with people’s widespread presence,” she remarked. Last week, the Interior Ministry started registering The candidates will have 8 days to spend on the campaign Patients with rare diseases around the world have common The parliamentary elections will be held on Feb. 21, 2020. candidates running for the upcoming parliamentary trail, ending on February 19, and then the elections will be pains, and the U.S. government should answer the question In response to a question about reformists’ contest of elections, set to be held on February 21, 2020. held on February 21, 2020. as to why these patients’ lives should be affected by the po- litical and economic developments, he added. “The U.S. restrictions have been inhumane and created problems for patients with rare diseases but the Iranian government remains committed to providing the necessary Israeli FM threatens to target Tehran with ‘hundreds of Tomahawk missiles’ support for them…,” Shadnoush went on to say. (Press TV) — Hawkish Israeli foreign min- launch hundreds of Tomahawk missiles at Israel is the only possessor of nuclear announced sanctions on Iran in an attempt During the meeting, the two sides also exchanged views ister Israel Katz has threatened a military Tehran,” he said. weapons in the Middle East, but maintains to wreck the agreement. about a range of issues, including ways to reduce the prob- operation against Iran with the help of the By the red line, Katz meant, “We will not a policy of ambiguity, neither confirming Katz criticized European countries for lems of Iranian patients with rare diseases. United States, Saudi Arabia and the United allow Iran to acquire or stockpile nuclear nor denying its atomic bombs. not supporting the hard line Washington Back in April, Iranian First Vice-President Arab Emirates. weapons. If that is the last option - we will Nevertheless, Tel Aviv is estimated to have has adopted against Tehran. said the “inhumane” move by the US government to impose Katz said Israeli bombing in Iran was “an act militarily.” between 200 and 400 atomic warheads in “As long as the Iranians delude themselves severe sanctions on the Islamic Republic has put the health option,” making the most brazen threat in Iran has repeatedly enunciated its nuclear its arsenal. into thinking they have Europe’s backing, it of the Iranian people and regional nations at risk. years in an interview with the Italian news- program as exclusively civilian, subject to the Tehran signed the Joint Comprehensive will be more difficult for them to back down,” Addressing the 7th World Health Summit Regional Meeting paper Corriere della Sera Saturday on the most intensive UN supervision ever. Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 to forge closer he said. 2019 on the southern island of Kish on April 29, Jahangiri sidelines of the Mediterranean Dialogues Unlike Israel, Iran is a signatory to the cooperation with the International Atomic In his Friday address to the MED 2019, deplored Washington’s acts of sabotage against Iran’s medi- (MED) conference in Rome. Treaty of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Energy Agency (IAEA) which has always con- the top Israeli diplomat claimed that it was cine sector and said the U.S. move to threaten international “If Iran crosses the ‘red line’, it will dis- Weapons (NPT), whose aim is to prevent firmed the country to be in full compliance. “high time” for Western and Arab countries pharmaceutical companies not to cooperate with Iran has cover a uniform front between Saudi Ara- the spread of nuclear arms and weapons President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. to “create a coalition that would threaten prevented the purchase and imports of needed medicines. bia, UAE and the United States, which will technology. out of the international accord last year and Iran and tell it to stop its nuclear program.”