Operation in Rafah to have devastating impact on Middle East

UN chief

TEHRAN, (MNA) – A military operation in Rafah, if Israel ventures it, will be a most dangerous escalation of the Middle East conflict, which will entail serious consequences for the entire region, United Nations Secretary-General says.

"A military assault on Rafah would be an unbearable escalation, killing thousands more civilians and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee," Antonio Guterres told journalists.

"It would have a devastating impact on Palestinians in Gaza, with serious repercussions on the occupied West Bank, and across the wider region."

"I appeal for all those with influence over Israel to do everything in their power to prevent it," he stressed, TASS reported.

He recalled that more than 1.2 million people are seeking shelter in Rafah, "most of them fleeing the Israeli bombardment." "They have very little to eat, hardly any access to medical care, little shelter, and nowhere safe to go," he added.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier that Israel will conduct an operation in Rafah in any event.

Israel waged a genocidal war on the besieged Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas Resistance group carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for the regime’s intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Israel has imposed a complete siege on the densely populated territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

Iran slams US crackdown on pro-Palestine student protests

TEHRAN, (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kan'ani has strongly condemned the crackdown by the US police to break up pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses across the United States.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Kan'ani shared a viral image of the arrest of one of the protesting students in the US, and wrote that, "The Imprisonment of Freedom in America - US media: At least 900 protesters have been arrested by US police during student protests in the country in support of Gaza."

Students in some 20 universities across the United States have been protesting the Israeli regime's genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the US government's unconditional support for its ally.

Hundreds of people have been arrested since the protests first erupted at Columbia University in New York. The anti-Israeli movement has now spread to other US universities across the nation.

Last week, US President Joe Biden signed into law a massive foreign funding bill that includes $17 billion in additional military aid to Israel amid the ongoing aggression in Gaza.

Iran, Iraq agree on passenger transport across joint river

TEHRAN, (MNA) – Iranian and Iraqi officials have held talks and reached preliminary agreement for passenger transport across Arvand Rud (Shatt Al-Arab) river at the shared border.

A statement from the Ministry of Transportation of Iraq received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), revealed that “Ahmed Jasim Al-Asadi, Director of the General Company for Maritime Transport, participated in a joint meeting with representatives of ports in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The aim was to activate passenger transport between the two nations across the Shatt al-Arab(Arvand Rud as it is called on the Iranian side of the border). This meeting aligns with the directives of Minister of Minister of Transport Razak Muhaibis Al-Saadi, following his recent discussions with his Iranian counterpart." 

Furthermore, he emphasized the necessity of this route to facilitate passenger transportation between the two countries, especially during religious occasions, in order to alleviate crowding at land border crossings. He noted that the company possesses a ready dock for the comfort of passengers, highlighting that the boats of both countries are modern, secure for passenger transport, and equipped with rescue facilities. 
 
Al-Asadi explained, "The transportation will be between the Iranian ports of Khorramshahr and the Ashar pier on the banks of the Shatt al-Arab (Arvand Rud) due to the ease of transportation by boats currently available, which are the best and fastest to stimulate river taxi traffic with its tourism and economic advantages."

Some west states propose cutting weapon, technology to Israel

TEHRAN, (MNA) – Several Western countries have proposed introducing cuts in weapons sales and impose restrictions on delivering technologies to Israel in a package of measures discussed during a two-day meeting in Saudi Arabia's capital.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the League of Arab States and a number of European countries discussed measures that may be applied against Israel and countries supporting it in the Gaza conflict at the meeting in Riyadh on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported on Tuesday, citing sources.

The discussion aimed to involve as many countries as possible in the package of "pressure elements" that contains a proposal on airspace restrictions, among other things, the report said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Politico reported that a group of more than 90 US lawyers, including at least 20 from the presidential administration, called on US President Joe Biden to stop military aid to Israel because of its actions in the Gaza Strip, which they said contradict US and international humanitarian law.

Israel waged a genocidal war on the besieged Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas Resistance group carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for the regime’s intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Israel has imposed a complete siege on the densely populated territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

American human rights revealed in pro-Palestine demos

TEHRAN, (MNA) – A wave of pro-Palestinian protests has spread at American universities as students gathered on campuses around the country, facing off with the police, in a widening showdown to call for putting an end to the Gaza War.

Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed at least 34,183 people after 200 days of war, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. 

While the war in the Gaza Strip has been underway for over seven months, the world including students in American universities are showing their solidarity with the defenseless nation of Palestine.

Scores of American students are joining pro-Palestinian marches across the United States, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza amid US' police's extreme moves.

According to the Guardian, the original encampments at Columbia called for the university to divest from weapons manufacturers with ties to Israel. The protests have led to mass suspensions of students and the arrests of hundreds.

"There have been more than 800 arrests of protesters on U.S. campuses since April 18, when Columbia University had the New York Police Department clear a protest encampment there," the New York Times reported.

More than 200 protesters were arrested on Saturday at Northeastern University, Arizona State University, Indiana University, and Washington University in St. Louis, according to officials, as colleges across the country struggle to quell growing pro-Palestinian demonstrations and encampments on campus, the source added.

At Washington University in St. Louis, 100 arrests were made and the campus was locked down on Saturday evening, the university said in a statement. Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate for the 2024 presidential election, was among those arrested, along with her campaign manager and another staff member, a spokesman for the campaign said.

Earlier in the day, at Northeastern in Boston, protesters had set up an encampment on the campus’s Centennial Common this week that drew more than 100 supporters. The administration had asked the protesters to leave, but many students did not.

Around dawn on Saturday, Massachusetts State Police officers arrived at the encampment and began to arrest protesters, putting them in zip-tie handcuffs and taking several tents down. They said they had arrested 102 protesters.

What started at the Columbia campus has turned into a nationwide showdown between students and administrators over pro-Palestine protests and the restrictions on free speech.

In the past 10 days, hundreds of students have been arrested, suspended, put on probation, and, in rare cases, expelled from colleges, including Yale University, the University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Minnesota, A l Jazeera reported.

A few universities have had to cancel graduation ceremonies, while others have seen their buildings occupied by the protesters, added the source.

Palestinian students hold signs in Rafah, Gaza, on April 28. Tareq Alhelou/CNN

Dozens of Palestinian students staged a display of solidarity at a demonstration in southern Gaza on Sunday to express gratitude for the support seen on US college campuses in recent weeks, CNN reported.  

Video from the Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah shows children holding banners with messages that read: "Students of Columbia University, continue to stand by us,” and “Violating our right to education and life is a war crime.”  

Reported by Tohid Mahmoudpour

UN estimates 37 million tons of debris in Gaza

The UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) estimates that 37 million tons of debris litter the streets of Gaza, which will take more than a decade to clear up.

The debris includes up to 10,000 unexploded ammunition, according to Federico Dessi, Humanity and Inclusion’s Middle East director, told Al Jazeera. 

Dessi said the NGO works on the assumption that something between 50,000 and 100,000 bombs have been dropped on Gaza over the past six months.

“From 9 to 14 percent of these bombs did not go off – so potentially we are talking about up to 10,000 or a bit more of unexploded bombs, shells and mortars in Gaza,” Dessi said. 

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• Gaza
 
• debris
 
• ammunition

Notre Dame joins the campus movement

Hanna Eid 

Source: Al Mayadeen English

In breaking the campus’ draconian rules, the students at Notre Dame have blessed that piece of land with a fighting spirit.

While students at Columbia University, UC Berkeley, and Yale have revived the legacy of an unwavering student anti-war movement, the president of Columbia University, Minouche Shafik, is continuing in the Egyptian government tradition of normalization and capitulation to the Zionists. Students at the University of Notre Dame (ND) are working to join this nationwide movement of pro-Palestine camps on college campuses.

Notre Dame is arguably the premier Catholic university in the United States, with a mixed history of radical priests and professors, as well as utterly reactionary professors and religious zealots. Since October, Notre Dame’s response has been mixed as well. The president of the university, Father John Jenkins, called for a ceasefire only after five months of the onslaught on Gaza. The university leadership and donor class, on the other hand, have continued to maintain their relationships with the military-industrial complex—Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, and other merchants of death.

On April 25th, before roughly 50 students and community members went to the quad where they attempted to camp in protest, the group met in front of the Basilica, under the golden dome with the statue of the Virgin Mary looking over them. Christians, Jews, and Muslims prayed together, quoting Prophet Issa, Prophet Mohammad, liberation theologians, Malcolm X, Angela Davis, and the martyr Refaat Al Areer.

The air was filled with chants of ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Notre Dame, you can’t hide, you’re condoning genocide’ during the march. The students moved into a quad on the south side of campus where there was an event happening already, and began to set up tents in a patch of grass off to the side. After 20 minutes of chanting, about 10-12 police officers moved in and began ripping the tents down while violently shoving students out of the way. Yet the students remained, chanting, reciting poetry, and giving speeches highlighting how the university’s Catholic identity is at odds with their investment portfolio. I was able to speak to some of the student organizers, as well as supporters of the movement, and hear their perspectives firsthand.

Mohamed, a PhD student in the physics department, helped to rally the students together and offered these words, “I am here because this marks 221 days of ongoing injustice and murder of innocent civilians…I am here to pressure ND to release its investment portfolio and divest from these companies”.

It is important to note that the students at Notre Dame remained at the site of the protest for many hours in open defiance of the campus policy that political demonstrations may only last a total of 15 minutes, and must be approved in writing by the campus administration. This university policy was made in response to the anti-war movement against the Vietnam War, as well as the existence of Black and Chicano rights groups on the campus, and has been on the books ever since the 1960s.

The fact that the protest went on from 5:00 pm until almost midnight was seen as a victory for the student organizers. Some student organizers claimed that Notre Dame’s private police force was scared to fully disperse the students because the heavy-handed tactics of the Zionist-trained NYPD have been the subject of intense scrutiny and criticism in the media and on social media. Around 9:45 pm, the students started to set up another batch of tents, this was met with another police swarm, this time more aggressive. Grabbing students, pushing them to the ground, and stepping over and around them, the police confiscated the last of the tents.

After this, the chanting and speeches resumed, with students giving speeches ranging in topics. One student from Lebanon spoke about Ghassan Kanafani to an inspired crowd, and another from Cuba spoke to me about how what Notre Dame is doing is “antithetical to the Catholic tradition...I am here because I study theology, the God that I study and love and worship is a God of justice”.

I also had a chance to speak to Professor Atalia Omer, a Jewish woman born in “Israel”. According to Omer, she was not only there to “counteract a narrative which dehumanizes Palestinians” but she was there “as an academic to support the brave students taking a stand, because campuses should be about the ability to speak”.

Before we parted ways, she said, “Occupation is not part of my Judaism”. This interaction alone refutes any of the slanderous and fabricated claims that pro-Palestine campus groups organizing these camps are anti-semitic or a ‘threat’ to Jewish students on campuses nationwide.

The tired argument of the Zionists calling everything under the sun anti-semitic is beginning to lose steam. Jewish Voice for Peace organizers were present at the Notre Dame protest as well as other campus protests and camps across the country. Much of the focus of the students was their refusal to be complicit in atrocities committed by imperialist powers. Atticus, a graduate student in the math department told me “we are here today in solidarity with the people of Gaza and Palestine and all oppressed people across the world, we refuse to be complicit”.

The solidarity in the air at the Notre Dame protest was palpable, and while the students dispersed by midnight, they assured each other and the other local supporters that this was just the beginning. They have three demands which they intend to pressure the university to meet: firstly, they want an end to the 15-minute demonstration rule, secondly they want transparency regarding Notre Dame’s finances, and thirdly they want Notre Dame to divest from any links with "Israel"–academic and commercial.

The student movement in America had been dormant for some time, with universities attempting to pacify student activists with false promises and hollow DEI initiatives. With the ongoing genocide in Palestine, many American university students have said enough is enough. Academic institutions play a key role in any country, and when these institutions of higher learning are complicit in human rights abuses, the international arms trade, and suppressing students' voices, the time for change has arrived.

In breaking the campus’ draconian rules, the students at Notre Dame have blessed that piece of land with a fighting spirit. As I stood with the students during the prayer circle prior to the protest, and as space was opened up for people to say a prayer or reflection, I remembered and recited the words of Ali Ibn Abi Talib: “Do not despair of the path of truth if few follow it”.

May this movement continue to grow, and become stronger. Forward ever, backward never.

EU states to recognize Palestinian statehood

Several European member states are expected to recognize Palestinian statehood by the end of May, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday at the sidelines of a World Economic Forum special meeting in Riyadh.

Ireland and Spain earlier this month reiterated their intention to forge an alliance of countries that will soon recognize Palestine as a nation state.

Some 140 of the 193 UN member states have recognized the State of Palestine. On 18 April, the US vetoed a draft Security Council resolution that would have recognized Palestine as a full member of the UN.

Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour told the council after the vote: “The fact that this resolution did not pass will not break our will and it will not defeat our determination.”

TAGS

• European Union
 
• increased recognition of Palestinian statehood
 
• Josep Borrell

IRGC says 10 nations failed to protect Israel from Iran’s punitive measure

TEHRAN - The spokesperson for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that 10 nations failed to protect Israel as Iran punished Israel for its air raid on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. 

Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif emphasized that despite the backing of 10 countries, Iran's retaliatory operation, dubbed “Operation True Promise”, emerged victorious. 

On April 13, Iran fired about 300 missiles and drones at Israel for its attack on the consulate which led to the death of seven Iranian military advisors in Syria.

Sharif also highlighted the enduring significance of the Palestine issue, describing the Quds Day rally as the second-largest demonstration in the country.

Sharif underscored the enduring support for Palestine, exemplified by Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, which he stated disrupted the Zionist regime's purported dominance in military and defense operations. 

Despite the Zionist regime's advancements in military and security measures, the general noted its failure to achieve stated objectives in Gaza over seven months, despite relentless bombings.

Regarding Iran's military prowess, General Sharif asserted continuous efforts to strengthen the country since the Iran-Iraq War in the late 1980s, under the guidance of the revolutionary leadership.

In conclusion, the general reiterated Iran's victory over the defense systems of prominent countries supporting the Zionist regime during Operation True Promise. 

TAGS

• Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif
 
• Operation True Promise
 
• Iran
 
• Israel

China condemns perpetrators of Gaza mass graves

China on Monday “strongly condemned” perpetrators of mass graves found in hospitals in the besieged Gaza Strip.

“We are deeply shocked and strongly condemn the perpetrators of the atrocity,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian, responding to questions about the discovery of mass graves.

The Gaza Civil Defense Agency has uncovered 392 bodies in three mass graves at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

The Chinese official added, “Vast swaths of Gaza are now left in rubble and over a million civilians are struggling in despair on the brink of death. The fact that this is even happening in the 21st century is an outrage to the moral conscience of humanity, and tramples on the most fundamental aspect of international justice.”

“It must no longer talk about the need of a ceasefire while pouring weapons into the conflict, and talk about aid while creating obstacles for humanitarian access,” she said. 

TAGS

• mass graves
 
• Israel
 
• China
 
• Gaza

Iran ready to form cordial ties with African nations: DM

TEHRAN - In a meeting on Monday, Constantino Chiwenga, the Deputy President of Zimbabwe, held talks with Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani in Tehran. The discussions revolved around strengthening relations between the two countries, with a focus on defense and economic cooperation.

During the meeting, Brigadier General Ashtiani highlighted the historical ties between Iran and Zimbabwe, noting previous high-level visits between the two nations. He emphasized Iran's commitment to establishing friendly relations with African countries, particularly those with a revolutionary spirit like Zimbabwe.

Chiwenga acknowledged the challenges both Iran and Zimbabwe face under Western sanctions and expressed a willingness to expand cooperation in defense and economic sectors. He also announced an upcoming visit by the Zimbabwean President to Tehran, which is expected to mark a significant milestone in enhancing ties.

Both sides expressed readiness to exchange delegations across various fields, underscoring the potential for collaboration in economic, defense, and security realms. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen the partnership between Iran and Zimbabwe for mutual benefit and regional stability.

TAGS

• Iran
 
• Zimbabwe
 
• Mohammad Reza Ashtiani

Raisi aide decries American snipers’ presence at Indiana University

TEHRAN - Mohammad Jamshidi, the deputy chief of staff for political affairs under President Raisi, has voiced criticism over the presence of American snipers at Indiana University amid recent anti-genocide protests in U.S. universities.

In a Twitter statement on Monday, Jamshidi highlighted the deployment of snipers at Indiana University, accompanied by campus officials, as they moved towards demonstrations against genocide. 

He underscored the stark contrast in reactions that would likely occur if such an act of intimidation took place in other nations, emphasizing the hypothetical media uproar and relentless condemnation.

“These are snipers at Indiana University heading towards the anti-genocide protests and escorted by campus officials. If this ugly act of intimidation took place at any university in a so-called adversary country, imagine the media response. Imagine the endless condemnations," Jamshidi stated.

The protests have rippled beyond American shores, with over 20 U.S. universities and several European counterparts galvanizing against the Washington-backed Israeli aggression, which has exacted a toll of over 34,000 lives since October. 

At Columbia University, a formidable "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" has taken root, with impassioned students clamoring for the institution to divest from companies entangled with the Israeli regime. Similar fervor has ignited protests across MIT, New York University, the University of Michigan, and Yale, with the latter institution indicating potential disciplinary actions against arrested students.

The overarching demand resonating from these protests is a call for universities to sever ties with entities complicit in furthering the occupying regime’s agenda in Palestinian territories under siege. Indeed, these encampments and the global pro-Palestinian rallies stand as a testament to the reverberations of Operation Al Aqsa Storm penetrating the heart of the United States.

Yet, amidst the worldwide displays of solidarity, authorities have responded with draconian measures, resulting in the arrests of hundreds of protesters across university campuses. 

President Joe Biden's denunciation of these protests, coupled with the unwavering support extended to Israel, underscores the entrenched complicity of the United States in perpetuating the cycle of violence and oppression in the region.

On Sunday, Iranian students rallied behind the burgeoning encampments emerging across American universities, echoing resolute support for the besieged Palestinians in Gaza and vehemently demanding an immediate cessation of Tel Aviv’s democidal campaign within the enclave.

Condemnation echoed across Iranian academic circles as students, professors, and university staff congregated on their respective campuses post-noon prayer on Sunday.
 
Their unified stance aimed squarely at decrying the flagrant crimes and atrocities perpetrated by the Israeli regime in Gaza over the past seven months.

TAGS

• mohammad Jamshidi
 
• U.S. universities
 
• Pro-Palestinian rally
 
• Gaza

Iran FM calls for media-diplomacy alliance in support of national interests

TEHRAN- In keeping with national objectives, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has stressed the need of cooperative and positive relations between the nation’s media and diplomatic apparatus.

Amir Abdollahian made the statements during the sixth meeting with managers and CEOs of the country’s media on Sunday evening. 

The gathering took place in a cordial setting where attendees discussed the most crucial matters pertaining to Iran’s ties with other countries as well as regional and global trends. 

Mass media managers and CEOs praised the Foreign Ministry’s strategy and performance in the wake of the “Al-Aqsa Storm Operation”, as well as their complementary coordination and interaction with the nation’s armed forces during the “True Promise Operation” against the Zionist regime at various international platforms to protect the security and interests of the nation. 

For his part, Amir Abdollahian expressed gratitude to the nation’s media for helping to promote the foreign policy and elucidate it to both domestic and international audiences. 

Amir Abdollahian praised the Leader of the Islamic Revolution for his crucial and astute role in guiding the nation through challenging times, but he also emphasized  President Ebrahim Raisi’s administration’s strategy for advancing and achieving national goals. 

The top diplomat also referred to the Gaza Strip and explained the role Iran played in the diplomatic arena in support of the oppressed Palestinian nation.

In a statement posted on social media platform X on Saturday, Amir Abdollahian commended the South African government for its proactive stance against Israel, highlighting its alignment with the enduring legacy of Nelson Mandela’s anti-apartheid struggle.

He underscored South Africa's resolute legal actions against the "genocide" perpetrated by the Zionist regime, praising Johannesburg's unwavering support for Palestine. 

According to Amir Abdollahian, these actions reflect a continued commitment to Mandela's principles of combating oppression and dismantling apartheid.

Furthermore, Amir Abdollahian emphasized the depth of cooperation between Tehran and Pretoria, attributing this partnership partly to Iran's commitment to multilateralism in its foreign policy approach. He expressed hope for the continued prosperity and well-being of the South African people, along with sustained progress under its friendly government.

Given Israel's military offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in widespread devastation and loss, including a significant number of civilian casualties, the importance of international intervention and solidarity with the Palestinian cause has become increasingly apparent. 

Through diplomatic efforts and legal recourse, nations like South Africa are working to hold perpetrators of atrocities accountable and uphold the principles of justice and human rights.

TAGS

• Iran
 
• Hossein Amir Abdollahian
 
• Media

Iran decries U.S. police excessive violence against protesters

TEHRAN- Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has denounced the U.S. police crackdown on students expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza Strip.

During his weekly presser on Monday, Kanaani cited the numerous pro-Palestine demonstrations and sit-ins at American universities, pointing out that these events demonstrate the intensity of anti-Zionist sentiment as well as the global public’s vigilance regarding the Palestine issue. 

They also highlight the extent of support for the Israeli regime’s genocide in Gaza, which has received backing from the U.S. and some European governments.

The spokesman stated that people who care about justice will not put up with governments endorsing the homicidal war of the Zionist system, and that the U.S. government cannot use strong measures to put an end to protestors. 

He expressed alarm over the students’ actions and stressed that the Iranian foreign ministry will not tolerate the crackdown. 

He added that the U.S. demonstrated that it adheres to a double standard when it comes to human rights by sending police officers to college campuses. 

The spokesman went on to say that in order to meet legitimate public demands, the U.S. officials must allow students to voice their opinions. As a result, the Zionist regime’s supporters and other world leaders are expected to give this crucial issue significant attention.

"Iran adamant to establish regional stability, security”

Also, Kanaani said that Iran’s hosting of Iran Expo 2024 demonstrates Iran’s serious commitment to consolidating stability, security, and sustainable development in the region. 

He also emphasized Iran’s role as a harbinger of friendship and brotherhood among regional countries, adding that Iran believes that these countries can achieve security, prosperity, and sustainable development by cooperating based on shared interests.

He said that Iran Expo 2024 presents a significant chance for communication between Iranian officials and those of the more than 22 participating nations. 

He also stated that the show is a major accomplishment for the Iranian government and highlights Iran’s proactive involvement in security and political issues meant to stabilize the region and fend off threats to security. 

According to him, the exhibition’s sizable foreign participation count reflects Iran’s dedication to promoting global collaboration. 

Tehran-Riyadh relations 

The official added that bilateral discussions and consultations in the political and economic spheres between Iran and Saudi Arabia are ongoing and that relations between the two nations are proceeding naturally.

Kanaani stated in his remarks that Saudi Arabia’s participation in Iran Expo 2024 demonstrates the Arab nation and Iran’s shared trade views. 

Economic matters were on the table starting with the restoration of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Riyadh, the spokesperson continued. 

He further predicted a bright future for Iran and Saudi Arabia as ambassadors in the respective countries pursue expansion of relations.

Active role of IRGC in uprooting terrorism 

The European Parliament’s members would have been vulnerable to terrorist attacks within the building if the IRGC hadn’t been involved in the battle against multilateral terrorism, according to Kanaani. 

He advised them to make the proper choice and have the appropriate perspective on the IRGC, stating that it is the largest counterterrorism force in the world. 

Terror attack in Russia

He said that any terrorist acts and activities against Russian nationals or government buildings, or any other nation, are abhorred. 

He said that Iran fights terrorism alongside its allies, including Russia. 

Kanaani emphasized that terrorism poses a threat to all nations worldwide. 

Although some nations utilize terrorism as a weapon to further their objectives, it is seen as a threat to all nations in the region and the world. 

He also emphasized that fighting terrorism required a strong sense of unity.

Helmand water rights 

We have fervently and at all levels requested Iran’s water rights from the Afghan side in the fulfillment of the pact between Iran and Afghanistan, Kanaani said. 

He went on to say that around 112 million cubic meters of water had flown into Iranian territory. 

U.S. embroilment in Gaza War 

The spokesman stated that the U.S. is one of the countries pursuing the “normalization process” between regional nations and the Zionist regime.

This indicates Washington is not interested in mediating a ceasefire in Gaza because it could halt providing financial, political, and military support to Israel to help end the conflict; hence, the U.S. administration is unable to demonstrate its sincerity and competence in this regard. 

Palestine Issue 

The Iranian diplomat highlighted that the Palestinian issue is one of the most crucial regional and global issues, and that the war in Gaza requires an immediate ceasefire before reopening all crossings to allow humanitarian aid to reach the besieged area. 

He also pointed out that the Israeli regime’s exchange of prisoners with the Palestinian resistance movement is another important issue. 

Iran-Iraq deal 

Iran’s demands from Iraq are fully clear, he said, noting that certain parts of the requests have been implemented and other parts are being pursued; however, Tehran expects Baghdad to completely implement the agreement, hoping for proper results in this regard.

When asked how Tehran and Baghdad planned to put the 2023 Iran-Iraq Security Treaty into effect, Kanaani said that the goal was to secure shared borders and satisfy Iranian requests for combating causes of instability both inside and outside of both nations. 

Tehran wants Baghdad to fully implement the deal, expecting for appropriate outcomes in this respect. 

He stated that Iran’s expectations from Iraq are clearly apparent, noting that some of the requests have been implemented and others are being pursued. 

TAGS

• Iran
 
• U.S.
 
• Nasser Kanaani