Diplomatic Briefing
Your exclusive news aggregator handpicked daily!Archive for Iran
Newsline: Saudi, Iranian top diplomats to meet in coming weeks
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, have agreed to meet during the ongoing Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Saudi state news agency SPA said on Monday, under a deal to restore ties. Both ministers spoke by phone for the second time in a few days, SPA said. “During the call, a number of common issues were discussed in light of the tripartite agreement that was signed in the People’s Republic of China. The two ministers also agreed to hold a bilateral meeting between them during the ongoing month of Ramadan,” SPA said. (https://neuters.de/world/middle-east/saudi-iranian-foreign-ministers-meet-during-muslim-holy-month-ramadan-2023-03-27/) Ramadan is likely to end on April 20. Earlier this month, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to revive relations after years of hostility that had threatened stability and security in the Gulf and helped fuel conflicts in the Middle East from Yemen to Syria. The deal between the regional powers, Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and long-time rival Shi’ite Iran, brokered by China, was announced after previously undisclosed talks in Beijing between top security officials from the two countries.
Newsline: Iranian, Saudi top diplomats to meet to discuss re-opening embassies
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, have agreed to meet soon and pave the way for the re-opening of embassies under a deal to re-establish ties, Saudi state news agency SPA said on Thursday. The ministers spoke by phone to mark the occasion of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, SPA said. Amirabdollahian emphasized during the call Iran’s readiness to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported. The foreign ministers of the two countries agreed to meet each other as soon as possible and start preparations for the reopening of embassies and consulates, IRNA added. (https://neuters.de/world/middle-east/saudi-iranian-foreign-ministers-meet-pave-way-re-open-embassies-saudi-state-news-2023-03-22/) Earlier this month, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to revive relations after years of hostility that had threatened stability and security in the Gulf and helped fuel conflicts in the Middle East from Yemen to Syria. The deal between the regional powers, Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and long-time rival Shi’ite Iran, brokered by China, was announced after previously undisclosed talks in Beijing between top security officials from the two countries. Saudi Arabia cut ties with Iran in 2016 after its embassy in Tehran was stormed during a dispute between the two countries over Riyadh’s execution of a Shi’ite Muslim cleric.
Newsline: Iran proposes locations to Saudi Arabia for foreign minister meeting
The Iranian government has proposed to Saudi Arabia three locations for a meeting at foreign minister level, Iran’s foreign minister said on Sunday, citing the latest messages with Riyadh since the countries agreed to re-establish ties. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told a news conference in Tehran his country had agreed to such a meeting, although he did not list the three locations or say when such a meeting might take place. Amirabdollahian also said Tehran was ready for the mutual reopening of embassies. (https://neuters.de/world/middle-east/iran-proposes-locations-saudi-arabia-fm-meeting-2023-03-19/) Iran and Saudi Arabia, the region’s Shi’ite Muslim and Sunni powers, agreed on March 10 to re-establish relations and re-open embassies within two months after years of hostility. The deal, brokered by China, was announced after four days of previously undisclosed talks in Beijing between top security officials from the two rival Middle Eastern powers. Saudi Arabia cut ties with Iran in 2016 after its embassy in Tehran was stormed during a dispute between the two countries over Riyadh’s execution of a Shi’ite Muslim cleric.
Newsline: Libya to Reopen Iranian Embassy in Tripoli
The Libyan Foreign and International Cooperation Ministry of Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah’s interim Government of National Unity (GNU) announced that efforts are underway to resume the work of the Iranian embassy in the capital, Tripoli. Foreign and International Cooperation Minister Najla Al-Mangoush met with Iran’s ambassador to Libya, Mohamed Reza, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations. On its Facebook page, the Ministry wrote that Al-Mangoush tackled with Reza the activation of the joint economic committee between their countries and arrangements for the reopening of the Iranian embassy in Tripoli. Al-Magnoush said Libya welcomes the reestablishment of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, saying the agreement they reached last week will be significant for the stability of the region. (https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4209336/libya-announces-arrangements-reopen-iranian-embassy-tripoli) The Iranian embassy in Tripoli closed its doors in 2011. In February 2015, the residence of the Iranian ambassador was attacked by a car bomb.
Newsline: Iran’s top diplomat pledges upcoming prisoner swap with US
Iran’s top diplomat claimed Sunday a prisoner swap was near with the U.S., though he offered no evidence to support his assertion. (https://keyt.com/news/2023/03/12/irans-top-diplomat-claims-prisoner-swap-near-with-us/) American officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment about his remarks. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has made similar comments in the past about possible deals with the U.S. on frozen assets abroad and other issues that never came to fruition. He made the remarks Sunday to Iranian state television. The U.S. State Department and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Newsline: Iran and Saudi Arabia re-open embassies
Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed on Friday to re-establish relations after seven years of hostility. The deal was announced after four days of previously undisclosed talks in Beijing between top security officials from the two rival Middle East powers. Tehran and Riyadh agreed “to resume diplomatic relations between them and re-open their embassies and missions within a period not exceeding two months”, according to a statement issued by Iran, Saudi Arabia and China. “The agreement includes their affirmation of the respect for the sovereignty of states and the non-interference in internal affairs.” (https://neuters.de/world/middle-east/iran-saudi-arabia-agree-resume-ties-re-open-embassies-iranian-state-media-2023-03-10/) Both countries thanked China, as well as Iraq and Oman for hosting earlier talks in 2021 and 2022. The agreement was signed by Iran’s top security official, Ali Shamkhani, and Saudi Arabia’s national security adviser Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban. China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Saudi Arabia cut ties with Iran in 2016 after its embassy in Tehran was stormed during a dispute between the two countries over Riyadh’s execution of a Shi’ite Muslim cleric.
Newsline: Iranian foreign ministry eyes prisoner swap with Belgium
Iranian foreign ministry said on Monday that it was open to a prisoner swap with Belgium after the latter’s Constitutional Court upheld an exchange treaty in a case that could see a convicted Iranian diplomat switched for a jailed Belgian aid worker. An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said the way was now open to execute the prisoner exchange pact. “With the recent development, we hope to see an opening in connection with the case of this diplomat,” the spokesperson said. (https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-03-06/iran-open-to-prisoner-swap-with-belgium) Aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele was arrested on a visit to Iran in February 2022 and sentenced in January to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes on charges including spying. Brussels called that retribution for a 20-year jail term given to Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi in 2021 over a foiled bomb plot in the first trial of an Iranian official for suspected terrorism in Europe since Iran’s 1979 revolution. Belgian lawmakers cleared the treaty in July but it was held up by legal challenges from an exiled Iranian opposition group.
Newsline: Iran expels two German diplomats
Iran on Wednesday declared two German diplomats as personae non gratae and ordered them to leave the country. The move came after Germany expelled two employees of the Iranian embassy in Berlin last week in response to Iran sentencing a German national to death. “The two German diplomats are being expelled due to Germany’s irresponsible interference in Iran’s internal and judicial affairs,” state media quoted Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani as saying. “The Islamic Republic of Iran will act firmly against excessive demands.” (https://neuters.de/world/middle-east/iran-expels-two-german-diplomats-tit-for-tat-move-2023-03-01/) Germany has called on Iran to revoke the death sentence handed out to German-Iranian national Jamshid Sharmahd on charges of “corruption on earth”. The verdict can be appealed. Iran accuses Sharmahd, who also has U.S. residency, of heading a pro-monarchist group accused of a deadly 2008 bombing and planning other attacks in the country.
Newsline: Iran to handover Afghan Embassy in Tehran to Taliban
The Iranian Foreign Ministry is set to hand over the Afghan Embassy in Tehran to the Taliban, citing unofficial sources reported Khaama Press. Iran will officially hand over the embassy to the Taliban in the coming days according to an Afghan diplomat who has been in contact with the officials of the Iranian foreign ministry. This comes after the Taliban-run foreign ministry stated in a letter that it had appointed Mohammad Afzal Haqqani as designated ambassador to Tehran, reported Khaama Press. The letter noted that Haqqani, as the first secretary of the embassy, will be in charge of the diplomatic mission in Iran. Initially, Haqqani had travelled from Tehran to Kabul and then returned with his letter of appointment as head of the Afghan Embassy in Tehran. However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry had not accepted Haqqani as the new ambassador to Tehran, reported Khaama Press. (https://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/World/20230224/4042924.html) Now, a serious decision has been taken in this regard the Afghan diplomat said. The Taliban-run administration has neither internal legitimacy nor international recognition. So far, no single country in the world has recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. Iran is the third country to join Pakistan and Russia which handed over the Afghan embassies to the group a few months ago.
Newsline: Germany expels two Iranian embassy employees
Germany has declared two employees of the Iranian embassy personae non gratae and ordered them to leave the country in response to Iran sentencing a German national to death, a statement from the foreign office said on Wednesday. Germany summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a statement, adding: “He was informed that we do not accept the massive violation of the rights of a German citizen.” “We call on Iran to revoke Jamshid Sharmahd’s death sentence and provide him with a fair appeal process based on the rule of law,” she added. (https://neuters.de/world/germany-expels-two-iranian-embassy-employees-over-death-sentence-2023-02-22/) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the sentence as unacceptable, calling on Iran to reverse the ruling. “The Iranian regime fights its own people in every possible way and disregards human rights,” Scholz wrote on Twitter. Sharmahd, a German-Iranian national, was sentenced to death on charges of “corruption on earth”, the judiciary’s Mizan news agency reported on Tuesday. The verdict can be appealed. A foreign ministry spokesman said on Wednesday that the consulate was working to provide further support to the dual national and was in touch with the man’s relatives. “We will continue to provide consular support to the extent that this is possible. I have already explained how difficult this is in Iran,” the spokesperson said. “This is a first instance verdict and we will follow the progress of the situation,” he added. Iran accuses Sharmahd, who also has U.S. residency, of heading a pro-monarchist group accused of a deadly 2008 bombing and planning other attacks in the country.
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