Iran has sent a high-level delegation, led by top official Ali Shamkhani, to Damascus for talks with Syrias President Assad.Shamkhani has increasingly been used as a political fixer in the Iraqi and Syrian crises.
Iranian State media put out Shamkhanis template declaration of cooperation: The principled stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding full support for the friendly and brotherly country, Syria, which is on the frontline of the fight against terrorism, will continue with seriousness.
However, the sudden appearance of the delegation and signals in coverage by Syrian State media pointed to concerns of both Tehran and Damascus that may have spurred the discussions.
See Syria Daily: Turkey Proposes Military Intervention
References to the fight against Takfiri terrorism pointed to Irans worries over US aerial intervention, which began in Iraq on August 8 and started in Syria last week: The two sides asserted that combating terrorism must be carried out according to international law and [requires] cooperating with the countries in the region that are waging a war against this looming threat.
The Syrian regime has cautiously accepted the US attacks on the Islamic State and the Islamist insurgent faction Jabhat al-Nusra, but Iran has denounced Washington as a creator and supporter of the Islamic State whom it is now bombing.
Meanwhile, Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi told Shamkhani of Damascuss worries over Iranian support for the economy.
The Prime Minister said that Irans $3.6 billion line of credit, arranged in July 2013, needed to ensure the flow of Iranian goods into Syrian markets, and provide these markets needs in terms of supplies, consumer products, and pharmaceuticals.
He also tipped off worries over industrial production, infrastructure, and reconstrucation, as he called on Iranian companies to invest and establish development projects in Syria.
Shamkhani also met high-level officials in Lebanon on Tuesday, including Hezbollah head Hassan Nasrallah. After a discussion with Lebanese Prime Minister Tamam Salam, Shamkhani said Iran will supply the Lebanese army with military equipment.
Iran Tycoon: Tehran & Russia to Scrap Dollar & Trade in National Currencies
Iranian tycoon Asadollah Asgaroladi said Tuesday that Tehran and Russia plan to replace the US dollar with their national currencies in bilateral trade.
Asgaroladi, who is head of the Iran-Russia Joint Chamber of Commerce, said the step would spur economic collaboration between the two countries.
Earlier this Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, after meeting his Russian counterpart, said that the two countries had agreed to conduct banking transactions in rials and rubles.
Asgaroladis announcement came just after President Rouhani discussed economic matters with Russian President Vladmir Putin at a summit in southern Russia.
See Iran Daily: Rouhani Meets With Russias Putin, Amid Issues Over Economy & Syria
Happy in Tehran Defendants Given Suspended Sentences of 99 Lashes Each
Seven Iranians who made a video, in which they celebrated life by dancing to Pharrell Williams Happy, have been given 99 lashes each.
The punishments have been suspended for three years on condition of good behavior.
A court condemned the men and women for illicit relations, also fining them 600,000 Tomans (about $200) each for the vulgar video.
One of the seven, Reyhaneh Taravati was given a six-month suspended prison sentence. According to the lawyer for the defendants, alcoholic beverages were found in her premises.
See Iran Feature: Arrested The Crime? Dancing to Pharrell Williams Happy on YouTube
MPs Halt Rouhanis Engagement with Britain
President Rouhanis attempt at engagement with Britain symbolized by a historic meeting with British Prime Minister Hassan Rouhani last week at the United Nations appears to have crashed, thanks to Iranian MPs.
The legislators have continued a barrage of criticism of Camerons speech to the UN General Assembly, after his meeting with Rouhani, which criticized Iran over a series of issues, including support for terrorist organizations, its nuclear program, [and] its treatment of its people. Parliaments National Security Commission has demanded a formal apology.
Given the British prime ministers insult to the Iranian nation, the Majlis will never allow for an upgrade in the level of relations between Iran and Britain above the status quo, Mansour Haghighatpour, the Vice-Chairman of Parliaments National Security Commission, said on Tuesday.
He continued, As long as Britain is being led by such incompetent individuals, we will never raise the level of our relations.
Rouhani said on Monday that Camerons comments were incorrect and unacceptable.
The Rouhani Government had envisaged the reopening of Embassies in London and Tehran after almost three years.
In November 2011, a crowd stormed the British Embassys compound in Tehran. The British Government responded by closing the Iranian Embassy and expelling the diplomats.
Last year, following a meeting between British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at the UN, the two countries agreed to appoint non-resident chargé daffaires.
Foreign Minister Zarif: Nuclear Talks Resume in Early October
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has announced that nuclear talks with the 5+1 Powers (US, Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany) will resume next week.
We will resume talks in 10 days, Zarif told the Russian agency ITAR-TASS on the sidelines of the Caspian Sea summit in Astrakhan in southern Russia.
Negotiations for a comprehensive nuclear agreement were adjourned in New York last weekend after 10 days.
The two sides are seeking a resolution before the expiry of interim arrangements on November 24.
These are meetings with ministers of separate countries, not all the G5+1 mediators, he added.
Meanwhile, Zarif noted that the composition of negotiators from the G5+1 mediating group depended on EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton who coordinates the G5+1 tasks.
By EA WorldView
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