Right-wing think tanks are using Covid-19 to push war with Iran: In The Times

TEHRAN — In an article published in In The Times on Monday, Sarah Lazare argues that two right-wing think thanks in America, namely the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and American Enterprise Institute (AEI), are pushing for war against Iran amid the coronavirus pandemic.

By staff and agency

U.S. faces tough, messy battle if it pushes plan to extend Iran arms embargo

In a report published by Reuters on Tuesday, it is said that the United States will face a tough, messy battle if it uses a threat to trigger a return of all United Nations sanctions on Iran as leverage to get the 15-member Security Council to extend and strengthen an arms embargo on Tehran, diplomats said.

Zarif, Lavrov dismiss ‘delusional’ U.S. plan for nuclear deal

TEHRAN — Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov have dismissed U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s “delusional” plan to keep Washington a participant state in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in order to extend the UN arms embargo on Iran.

U.S. behavior can endanger security in Persian Gulf, Rouhani warns in call with Xi

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani told the Chinese leader late on Monday that the United States’ interfering behavior can endanger security and stability in the Persian Gulf.

Iran says deeply concerned as UN releases report on migrants held in U.S.

TEHRAN — Iran has voiced concerns about a UN human rights report saying that 1500 migrants are in jeopardy in U.S. detention centers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Zarif to Pompeo: Stop dreaming

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has advised U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to “stop dreaming”, saying the Iranians always decide their destiny.

Launch of satellite proves sanctions have not impeded Iran’s growth: IRGC spokesman

TEHRAN - Brigadier General Ramazan Sharif, the spokesman for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, said on Monday that launch of a military satellite proved that the United States’ sanctions have not been able to impede Iran’s scientific progress.

Russia calls U.S. claims about Iran’s launch of satellite ‘hypocrisy’

TEHRAN - Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to the Vienna-based international organizations, has said claims by the United States that the launch of a satellite by Iran is a violation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 are instances of “double standards” and “hypocrisy”.

Zarif, UN chief say it’s necessary to send aid to Yemen

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres held a phone conversation on Sunday discussing the necessity to send humanitarian aid to the war-stricken Yemen, especially as the country is being hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Iran’s launch of military satellite within UN charter: senior Pakistani security expert

TEHRAN - Maria Sultan, a senior Pakistani security expert, has said the launch of military satellite by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps is within the charter of the United Nations.

Ayatollah Khamenei: Iranians must not be scared of bullies

TEHRAN - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei suggested late on Saturday that the Iranian people must not be afraid of the United States and other bullying powers.

U.S. Treasury blocks, seizes domains of Iranian media outlets

TEHRAN — The U.S. Treasury Department has blocked and seized the .com domain of the Iran newspaper and other Iranian media outlets in its latest wave of anti-Iran measures.

We’re all in the same boat regarding coronavirus, says Zarif

TEHRAN — Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has wished a healthy and blessed Ramadan to All Muslims, advising the world to unite in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Iraqi PM-designate vows to form committee to probe Soleimani assassination

TEHRAN - Iraq’s Kata’ib Hezbollah resistance group has said Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi has agreed to form a committee to probe assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

Iran monitoring U.S. moves, but will never start a war: Rouhani

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that Iran is monitoring the United States’ moves in the region, however, it will never start a war in the region.

Sanctions on Iran has revealed U.S. ‘inhuman’ image: analyst

TEHRAN - The United States’ sanction on Iran while the country is fighting the coronavirus pandemic has revealed Washington’s “inhuman” image, says an American political analyst.

Sanctions hamper Iran’s anti-coronavirus efforts: leaked intel

TEHRAN — A leaked intelligence brief reveals U.S. sanctions have “left Iran bereft of financial resources to mount an effective public health response,” according to The Nation.

By staff and agency

Over 70 civil society groups urge Trump to end Iran sanctions

Over 70 civil society groups representing more than 40 million people urged U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday to issue immediate sanctions relief for numerous countries, including Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea, for at least the duration of the coronavirus crisis which threatens to kill thousands in the hard-hit countries.

By staff and agency

Tehran has proven it will not succumb to threats: Iranian mission to UN

Iranian mission to the United Nations spokesperson Alireza Miryousefi has said that Iran has proven that it will not succumb to intimidation and threats.

Iran summons Swiss envoy over Trump’s provocative statement

TEHRAN - Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned the Swiss ambassador to protest President Donald Trump’s provocative statement and the U.S. Navy’s acts of harassment in the Persian Gulf.

How Iran fights the coronavirus and the U.S.: Sanctioned, alone, but still more efficient

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic is taking a toll all over the globe, causing severe socioeconomic disruption, the stock market crash, millions of job losses, the postponement or cancellation of cultural and political events, and widespread fears of supply shortages resulting in panic purchasing. The coronavirus, which causes a respiratory disease known as COVID-19, is currently affecting more than 200 countries and territories. It has so far infected over 1.6 million people and killed around 100,000 others.

IRGC’s braveries have foiled conspiracies, says Pezeshkian

TEHRAN — Iranian Deputy Parliament Speaker Masoud Pezeshkian has said that the braveries of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) have thwarted the conspiracies hatched by Iran’s enemies.

Vaezi: ‘Iran is fighting two viruses: corona and U.S. sanctions’

TEHRAN - Presidential chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi said on Wednesday that Iran is fighting two viruses, one is the coronavirus and the other is the United States’ sanctions.

No way but cooperation to establish regional security: Rouhani

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said late on Tuesday that there is no way but cooperation among the countries in the region to establish security and stability.

Iranian and Russian presidents call ties ‘strategic’

Rouhani, Putin talk on phone, seek speedy implementation of Tehran-Moscow agreements

TEHRAN – In a phone conversation late on Tuesday President Hassan Rouhani and Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Tehran-Moscow ties “strategic” and called a speedy implementation of the agreements between the two immediate neighbors.

Trump must do everything possible to avoid war with Iran: National Interest

TEHRAN — In an article published on the National Interest, David Axe argued that U.S. President Donald Trump must do everything possible to avoid war with Iran.

By staff and agency

Russian, Iranian, Turkish foreign ministers to discuss Syria via video conference

The foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey are scheduled to hold a round of negotiations on Syria via video conference on Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry told TASS on Monday.

General hails IRGC as pillar of national power

TEHRAN — The commander of the Civil Defense Organization has described the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as one of the pillars of the country’s national power, saying such power has not been gained easily, therefore it must be defended wholeheartedly.

South Alabama professor says sanctions are “unethical and immoral” at the current situation

Sanctions on Iran not justified under coronavirus circumstances: professor

TEHRAN — A professor of political science says the United States’ unilateral sanctions against Iran are not justified due the coronavirus pandemic.

Iran won’t change policy in backing resistance front: Zarif

TEHRAN – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday refuted the speculation that Iran will change its policy of supporting the resistance front and fighting terrorism after the assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.