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SECURITY ISSUESINWEST ASIA FOCUS, NUCLEAR,MISSILES &OTHER V WEST ASIA SYLLOGE ON 1 6 olume 1 NUCLEAR AND ARMS CONTROL CENTRE M a y - 3 1 M |Issue1 a y 2 0 2 1 1 SYLLOGE ON WEST ASIA VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 11 IRAN tweeted on Friday, "We had extensive talks about economic relations." MP reveals Iran’s next step: Launching metal uranium factory "We discussed Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Palestine, Persian Gulf, Tehran Times, 16th May, 2021 Afghanistan and other regional and global In an interview with the Young Journalists issues as well." Club news agency on Sunday, Abolfazl https://en.irna.ir/news/84330569/Iran-FM- Amouei, spokesman for the parliament's in-Italy-on-2nd-leg-of-his-European-tour National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, revealed that the next big step Saudi Arabia, Iran moving towards de- of Iran’s master plan is to develop its escalation peaceful nuclear activities. Stating that the Islamic Republic News Agency, 16th May, parliamentary law on Strategic Action for 2021 Lifting Sanctions has changed the approach of Western countries in putting pressure on After five years of disputes between Saudi Iran, he said that Iran’s next big step has Arabia and Iran, both countries have started been drawn within the framework of the de-escalating relationship step-by-step, and law, and it is to launch a metal uranium the recent change of attitudes from the two factory in Isfahan. “During our recent visit sides is promising that bilateral and to the Isfahan nuclear industry complex, we regional issues can be resolved. Riyadh and observed the process of construction and Tehran severed ties in 2016, when then-US operation of this plant. Effective steps have President Donald Trump entered the White been taken, which is in its final stages, and House and certain regional issues such as we hope that the metal uranium plant will war on Yemen and disagreements on open in due course,” the MP said. Syria and Lebanon escalated tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Saudi https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/46096 Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman 9/MP-reveals-Iran-s-next-step-Launching- expressed hope that good relationship will metal-uranium-factory be established between the two Iran FM in Italy on 2nd leg of his neighbouring states, stipulating that the two European tour countries enjoy common interests to improve ties and regional situation. Islamic Republic News Agency, 16th May, 2021 The remarks have been welcomed by Iranian officials, including Saeed Rome is the second leg of foreign minister's Khatibzadeh, Foreign Ministry spokesman, European tour which started from Madrid, who underlined that Riyadh and Tehran can Spain, on May 13. In Rome, Zarif is to hold leave behind disagreements and enter a new talks with officials of Italy and Vatican chapter of interaction in order to bolster City. Talks are planned to focus on regional peace and security. expansion of bilateral cooperation as well as issues of mutual interests in international https://en.irna.ir/news/84330802/Saudi- arenas. About his Madrid visit, Zarif Arabia-Iran-moving-towards-de-escalation 16 MAY – 31 MAY 2021 1 SYLLOGE ON WEST ASIA VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 11 Khatibzadeh: We need to give Vienna undertook to supply the Army with 1,000 talks time drones in a short time. Tehran Times, 17th May, 2021 https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/46100 6/Defense-Ministry-plans-to-provide- Speaking at his weekly press briefing on 1000-new-drones-to-Army Monday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the Vienna talks are No discussion like "preliminary ongoing and many empty brackets have agreement" in Vienna talks: Iran been filled. “It seems that we should give Islamic Republic News Agency, 17th May, an opportunity (to talks),” Saeed 2021 Khatibzadeh said. He noted that Iran does not allow these talks to protract, as it does Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed not want an agreement to be reached that is Khatibzadeh said on Monday that no topic not within the framework of the called "preliminary agreement" was raised establishment's policies and instructions in Vienna talks to revive the JCPOA, as a issued by Tehran. considerable part of the remaining issues were finalized in tripartite groups with The spokesman referred to Seyyed Abbas some of them left for political decisions. In Araghchi, the head of the Iranian his weekly press conference, Khatibzadeh negotiating team’s meeting with the said that the Joint Commission of the European delegations in Vienna on Sunday, JCPOA would reconvene this week if saying that it was decided to help the deemed necessary, adding that there was working groups in the next few days. nothing called preliminary agreement. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/46101 “No agreement would be there until 3/Khatibzadeh-We-need-to-give-Vienna- conditions are met,” he underlined. talks-time https://en.irna.ir/news/84332146/No- Defense Ministry plans to provide 1000 discussion-like-preliminary-agreement-in- new drones to Army Vienna-talks-Iran Tehran Times, 17th May, 2021 Spokesman: No IAEA Access to Iranian The Iranian Defense Ministry plans to N. Sites beyond Safeguards Agreement supply the Army with 1,000 unmanned Fars News Agency, 17th May, 2021 aerial vehicles UAVs, commonly called drones, in the near future. The plan to Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed provide the army with drones was signed in Khatibzadeh said that the International a “strategic agreement” between the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors Defense Ministry and Army on Monday, have no access to Iran’s nuclear Tasnim reported. installations beyond the safeguards agreement based on the parliament’s law of The agreement is intended to promote the strategic action to remove sanctions. “The drone power and the equipment carried by parliament’s law is binding, and what is the unmanned military aircraft. Under agreed between Iran and the IAEA is within phase one of the agreement, the ministry the same framework. The parliament law 16 MAY – 31 MAY 2021 2 SYLLOGE ON WEST ASIA VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 11 bans the Agency’s access beyond the Iranian Army holds cyber defense drill safeguards agreement and its Tehran Times, 18th May, 2021 implementation started three months ago and now the Agency has no access beyond Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, Deputy the safeguards agreement and we agreed Chief of the Army for Coordination Affairs, that the footages should be recorded and not stated that the drill, dubbed Fath-1 given to them. We can clear the tapes at the (Conquest-1), was intended at end of three months or extend the strengthening the Army's cyber defense agreement based on an internal decision capabilities and testing cyber threat made by lawmakers,” Khatibzadeh told response methods. According to the reporters in a press conference in Tehran on commander, the cyber drill included Monday. numerous techniques devised by the young personnel. He added, "We have a lot of https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/1400022 strong points in the drill and strive to 7000373/Spkesman-N-IAEA-Access- improve them." The rear admiral Iranian-N-Sies-beynd-Safegards- announced that in cyber war drills that the Agreemen Army will hold soon efforts will be made to Iran's advances in aircraft engine close the loopholes. “With the war highlighted by top general exercises we will stage soon, God willing, we will lessen and eliminate the Tehran Times, 18th May, 2021 weaknesses in dealing with cyber threats,” Iranian scientists have made significant he explained. progress in designing and manufacturing https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/46106 engines used in various aircraft and 9/Iranian-Army-holds-cyber-defense-drill missiles, according to Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, Chief of Vienna talks to end in victory of Iranian Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. During a nation: President visit to a factory producing homegrown Islamic Republic News Agency, 19th May, “Owj” turbojet engines, General Bagheri 2021 said Iran is now among a select group of countries in the world with the knowledge Speaking in a cabinet meeting, President to manufacture engines for aerial vehicles Rouhani criticized some internal political that are at the cutting-edge of technology. groups for opposing ongoing talks among Iran has fully matured in designing and Iran and other participants of the Joint manufacturing advanced aerial engines due Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to the efforts of its experts and scientists, he informally known as the Iran nuclear deal, added, noting that thousands of aircraft, saying that their opposition contradicted drones, and missiles in Iran have been their positions on supporting the livelihood equipped with homegrown engines. of Iranian people. Rouhani said that regardless of internal oppositions, his https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/46106 administration concluded any negotiations 8/Iran-s-advances-in-aircraft-engine- it had with foreign countries with victory highlighted-by-top-general for Iranians. “I promise the nation that 16 MAY – 31 MAY 2021 3 SYLLOGE ON WEST ASIA VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 11 Vienna talks will end in victory for Iranian he said that after two weeks of negotiations, nation. We have already taken great steps delegations will return home for today,” he maintained. consultations. https://en.irna.ir/news/84334888/Vienna- https://en.irna.ir/news/84335458/JCPOA- talks-to-end-in-victory-of-Iranian-nation- Joint-Commission-meeting-kicks-off-in- President Vienna Iran Navy 76th fleet departs for high seas Iran Dismantles 3 Spy Networks Islamic Republic News Agency, 19th May, Fars News Agency, 20th May, 2021 2021 Director-general of the intelligence Iranian Navy 76th fleet, consisting of the ministry's office in West Azerbaijan Alborz destroyer and the Khark helicopter province said on Wednesday that the carrier, departed Bandar Abbas on security and intelligence forces in the Wednesday for international waters so as to Northwestern province identified and carry out their missions.