PHOTO: Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Unal Cevikoz, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari, and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov
LATEST
- Top Iranian Official Welcomes Trump’s “Generals” at Defense and CIA
- Iran Receives 1st Airbus Passenger Plane
With a self-imposed deadline for political talks approaching, Iran has conferred with Russia and Turkey over the next steps in the Syrian crisis.
Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari met senior Russian and Turkish counterparts Mikhail Bogdanov and Ahmet Unal Cevikoz in Moscow on Friday.
Last month, following the reoccupation of all of Aleppo city by pro-Assad forces, the three countries’ Foreign Ministers announced their intention for a ceasefire and regime-opposition discussions in Kazakhstan by the end of January.
However, there has been division over the prospective outcome of any talks. Turkey is still publicly committed to President Assad’s eventual departure, while Iran has insisted that the issue is a “red line” which cannot be crossed. Russia has maintained a cautious position on the issue.
Iran has also supported the Assad regime in the breaking of the December 29 ceasefire announced by Russia and Turkey, notably in the offensive to try and capture the Wadi Barada area northwest of Damascus.
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement on Ansari’s meeting with Bogdanov said, “The two diplomats stressed the importance of maintaining close dialogue between Moscow and Tehran on the Syrian crisis and on other current issues of the regional agenda.”
Cevikoz then joined the discussion.
The meetings followed a telephone conversation between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thurday. Iranian State media said Rouhani assured “the Islamic Republic of Iran is content with closer cooperation among Ankara, Tehran and Moscow to bring about peace in the region”.
See Iran Daily, Jan 13: Rouhani Calls Turkey’s Erdogan About Syria
Top Iranian Official Welcomes Trump’s “Generals” at Defense and CIA
Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of the Expediency Council and a former Revolutionary Guards commander, has welcomed Donald Trump’s choices of Defense Secretary and CIA Director.
At the same time, Rezaei made a fundamental mistake betraying a lack of knowledge of the Trump Cabinet.
Rezaei said of “well-known US generals” James Mattis (Defense) and Representative Mike Pompeo (CIA) said, “We are not worried about the entry of generals into Trump’s cabinet. They are wiser than a large number of American politicians.”
Mattis is a retired Marine Corps general who completed his service as head of Central Command. But Pompeo, while a West Point graduate and officer who served in Europe and the 1991 Gulf War, was never a general.
Rezaei said the men were two of Trump’s most important and critical Cabinet picks who, despite “their violent and confessional statements about the realities [of the world], apparently, have greater political wisdom compared to a large number of American politicians”. He continued:
I believe a critical stint is about to begin [in relations] between us and the American generals. We know about their background as well as the level of knowledge and perception. One should not be hasty in evaluating their measures and moves. They know very well that Iran is a patient lion and careful tiger to which they should not get close.
Iran Receives 1st Airbus Passenger Plane
Iran has held a ceremony for the arrival of the first passenger plane in an $18 billion deal with France’s Airbus.
The Islamic Republic initially signed an agreement in January 2016, days after the announced implementation of the July 2015 nuclear deal, for 118 planes for $25 billion.
However, Iran has been beset by difficulties in completing finanical arrangements, amid issues with ongoing US sanctions. The deal was rearranged in December for 100 planes for $18 billion.
Roads and Urban Development Minister Abbas Akhoundi said the A321 plane which arrived on Friday will be used in domestic flights.
He added that Airbus will deliver two A330s to Iran by late March.
Iran also completed a $17 billion deal with the American manufacturer Boeing in December for 80 passenger jets.
