Latest news with #MohammadBagherGhalibaf
United News of India
8 hours ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Iran plans temporary suspension of cooperation with IAEA due to its 'political stance'
Tehran, June 23 (UNI) The Iranian parliament plans to pass a bill to temporarily suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) due to its "politicised stance", said Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Majlis (the unicameral parliament) of the Islamic Republic, reports Sputnik. 'We plan to adopt a bill in parliament that would suspend Iran's cooperation with the IAEA until we receive objective guarantees of professional conduct from this international organisation,' he said during a speech to lawmakers. 'The world has clearly seen that the IAEA has not fulfilled a single one of its obligations and has turned into a political tool.' A parliamentary bill to suspend Iran's cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog is under consideration, said Parliament presidium member Ruhollah Motefakerzadeh on June 23, according to state news agency Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), reports Strait Times. UNI ANV RN
The Hill
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Brazil, Venezuela and Cuba are rolling out the red carpet for Iran
Iran is experiencing difficult times: a failing economy, a costly nuclear program, a corrupt theocratic regime and devastating economic sanctions. In this context, Tehran is seeking support from Cuba, Venezuela and Brazil. Just a few days ago, Iranian Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf concluded a tour of Latin America in a desperate attempt at regime survival. Although Iran has expressed interest in negotiations and reaching agreements with the West, this would be an ideal time to increase pressure and break a regime that has caused great harm to Israel and Latin America. In Venezuela, Ghalibaf met with dictator Nicolas Maduro, a ruler who has been accused of providing assistance to terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, cooperating with Iran on a drone factory and nuclear energy. During his visit to Caracas, Ghalibaf highlighted the 'strategic alliance with Venezuela' and delivered a donation of 2.3 million vaccines as part of bilateral cooperation. The Iranian parliamentarian also met with young university students to educate them on the fundamental role of both tyrannies in the so-called new world order. Iran has been a key ally for Venezuela in oil matters, particularly in exports and the exchange of supplies to dilute heavy oil. Venezuela has often had to pay its debt to Tehran in gold. Both countries are in economic disarray, as the majority of their resources are channeled into their heavily repressive systems. Ghalibaf's tour of Brazil is one of the most worrying. Brazil has intensified its antisemitic rhetoric to while hosting an Iranian delegation with an opaque and dangerous agenda. During his visit to Brazil, the Iranian spokesperson participated in a forum of the BRICS countries — the acronym referring to Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Iran wants to circumvent sanctions and sees a golden opportunity in the BRICS. At the parliamentary forum, Tehran raised the need to strengthen the BRICS payment mechanism and advance exchanges in national currencies. Last month, Brazilian leaders met with Iranian authorities to reaffirm Brazil's support for the regime's nuclear energy program, showing its closeness with the theocratic government. Ghalibaf also met with Cuban dictator Miguel Diaz-Canel. Like Venezuela, Cuba is experiencing one of its worst economic crises. Iran wants to strengthen its political and diplomatic alliance with Cuba to change the narrative regarding the nuclear threat posed by the ayatollahs' regime. Iran and Cuba agreed to advance cooperation for the training of experts in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. Unlike in past decades, Iran does not have the capacity to promise $200 million in credit lines to Cuba. War, corruption and sanctions have brought Tehran to its knees. In both Cuba and Brazil, the Iranian delegation insisted on harmonizing the legal framework to promote trade and establishing a parliamentary task force to document sanctions and promote lobbying in international bodies. Iran's sad, opaque tour of Latin America confirms that this is a good time to put an end to its terrorist regime. A drone factory and the presence of terrorist groups in Cuba and Venezuela should be a matter of deep concern and action. This grave threat cannot continue to be ignored. The closeness of Brazil — one of the world's largest economies and a member of the G20 — to Iran and its political attacks against Israel deserve stronger and more forceful condemnation. This is a serious issue and a real threat. Iran has fewer allies and is economically devastated. Its allied militant groups are being defeated by Israel. Now is a golden opportunity to put an end to a fundamentalist regime that has brought misery to its people and terrorism around the world. Arturo McFields is an exiled journalist, former Nicaraguan ambassador to the Organization of American States, and a former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps. He is an alumnus of the National Defense University's Security and Defense Seminar and the Harvard Leadership course.
Free Malaysia Today
12-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Iran says no sanctions relief in US nuclear proposal
Iranian speaker of the parliament Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US of seeking a 'unilateral' agreement that Tehran would not accept. (EPA Images pic) TEHRAN : Iran's parliament speaker said on Sunday that the latest US proposal for a nuclear deal does not include the lifting of sanctions, state media reported as negotiations appeared to have hit a roadblock. The two foes have held five rounds of Omani-mediated talks since April, seeking to replace a landmark agreement between Tehran and world powers that set restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief, before US President Donald Trump abandoned the accord in 2018 during his first term. In a video aired on Iranian state TV, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that 'the US plan does not even mention the lifting of sanctions'. He called it a sign of dishonesty, accusing the Americans of seeking to impose a 'unilateral' agreement that Tehran would not accept. 'The delusional US president should know better and change his approach if he is really looking for a deal,' Ghalibaf said. On May 31, after the fifth round of talks, Iran said it had received 'elements' of a US proposal, with officials later taking issue with 'ambiguities' in the draft text. The US and its Western allies have long accused the Islamic republic of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, a charge Iran has consistently denied, insisting that its atomic programme was solely for peaceful purposes. Key issues in the negotiations have been the removal of biting economic sanctions and uranium enrichment. Tehran says it has the right to enrich uranium under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while the Trump administration has called any Iranian enrichment a 'red line'. Trump, who has revived his 'maximum pressure' campaign of sanctions on Iran since taking office in January, has repeatedly said it will not be allowed any uranium enrichment under a potential deal. On Tuesday, Iran's top negotiator, foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, said the country 'will not ask anyone for permission to continue enriching uranium'. According to the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state in the world that enriches uranium up to 60% – close to the 90% threshold needed for a nuclear warhead. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday rejected the latest US proposal and said enrichment was 'key' to Iran's nuclear programme. The IAEA Board of Governors is scheduled to meet in Vienna starting Monday and discuss Iran's nuclear activities. On Sunday the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran warned it could reduce its level of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog if it adopts a resolution against it. 'Certainly, the IAEA should not expect the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue its broad and friendly cooperation,' the Iranian agency's spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi told state TV. Araghchi on Friday accused European powers of 'opting for malign action against Iran at the IAEA Board of Governors', warning on X that 'Iran will react strongly against any violation of its rights'. A quarterly report from the IAEA issued last week cited a 'general lack of cooperation' from Iran and raised concerns over undeclared nuclear material. Tehran has rejected the report as politically motivated and based on 'forged documents' it said had been provided by its arch foe Israel.
Shafaq News
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iran rejects US nuclear proposal over sanctions relief lack
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed the latest US proposal in indirect nuclear talks, criticizing it for excluding any reference to lifting sanctions. Speaking ahead of a public parliament session, Ghalibaf reaffirmed Iran's readiness to demonstrate the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, while emphasizing that this remains contingent on genuine sanctions relief and tangible economic benefits. According to Ghalibaf, the US continues to press for restrictions on Iran's enrichment program while offering only vague commitments lacking legal or practical clarity. 'They smile in front of the cameras and talk of economic relief, but in reality, not only do they avoid lifting sanctions, they don't even promise to. It is clear that no rational logic would accept such a unilateral and imposed agreement,' he explained. Turning to US President Donald Trump, Ghalibaf called for a change in approach. 'If Trump truly seeks a deal, he must abandon his coordination with the Zionist regime and [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's failed policies.' Indirect nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, facilitated by Omani mediators, resumed on April 12 and have completed five rounds. Discussions have focused on the scope of uranium enrichment and the sequencing of sanctions relief, though significant gaps remain. Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi had delivered the components of the US proposal to Tehran during a brief visit. 'Iran will respond appropriately based on principles, national interests, and the rights of the Iranian people to the proposal,' his post read.
Russia Today
28-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Top Russian senator congratulates Iranian counterpart on re-election
Valentina Matvienko, chairwoman of Russia's Federation Council, has congratulated Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on his re-election as speaker of the Iran's parliament. In her message, she emphasized the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. Ghalibaf was re-elected on Tuesday, securing 219 out of 272 votes. He has held the position since 2020 and previously served as the mayor of Tehran and as a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In her congratulatory letter on Wednesday, Matvienko said that Russian officials 'highly value' Ghalibaf's warm attitude toward Russia 'and are ready to promote the deepening of mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of our countries, the development of constructive inter-parliamentary dialogue aimed at strengthening mutual respect, trust, and consideration of each other's interests.' 'We look forward to continuing fruitful work both on the international stage in order to effectively seek solutions to key regional and global issues,' Matvienko added. Russia and Iran have significantly strengthened their bilateral relations. In January, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian signed a 20-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty in Moscow. The landmark deal formalizes a commitment to building stronger relations across multiple areas, from national security, to peaceful nuclear energy to joint resistance against unilateral sanctions. In 2024, Iran officially became a member of BRICS. The group was initially founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates also became members last year. Current members account for about 46% of the world's population and over 36% of global GDP, according to estimates by various international institutions. Over 30 more nations have applied to join the group.
