Chinese Influencer Luo Xiaoqi Ah: Iran Should Lease Pakistan's Chinese-Style Air Force, Which Can Stand Toe-to-Toe Against the Israeli Air Force
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Rudaw Net
an hour ago
- Rudaw Net
Iran condemns US sanctions against energy, oil industries
Also in Iran President Barzani, Iranian delegation discuss bilateral ties, cross-border cooperation Three dead in natural park blaze in Iran's Kurdistan province: Watchdog Iran executes over 100 Kurds in 2025 amid post-war crackdown: Watchdog Tensions rise in Iranian parliament ahead of IAEA visit A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran's foreign ministry on Thursday condemned a fresh wave of United States sanctions against the Islamic republic's petroleum industry as a 'blatant assault' on the Iranian people. The US State Department on Wednesday slapped sanctions on 20 entities involved in Iran's petroleum trade, as well 'five vessel management companies and a petroleum wholesale company for their involvement in the transport and purchase of Iranian petroleum, petroleum products, and petrochemical products,' it said in a statement. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei condemned the sanctions as 'clear evidence of the hostility of American decision-makers towards the Iranian people.' 'The Iranian people, aware of malicious intentions of the aggressor sanctions, who have no goal other than to weaken Iran and violate the fundamental rights of every Iranian, will stand firm with all their might to protect their dignity and interests,' Baghaei said. He accused Washington of a 'chronis addiction' to unilateralism, further slamming the use of 'pressure tactics in pursuit of such illegitimate goals.' The sanctions entities include companies and vessels based in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, India, Comoros, and Gabon, according to the statement. On Wednesday, the US Treasury impose sanctions on a shipping fleet controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, a top political aide to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 'The United States will continue to impose maximum pressure on the Iranian regime … until Iran accepts a deal that advances regional peace and security and in which Iran forgoes all aspirations for a nuclear weapon,' the State Department said. Washington on June 24 brokered a ceasefire to the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei later declared victory, claiming that US President Donald Trump had exaggerated the destruction caused by US military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Under a 2015 deal with world powers - formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - Iran agreed to curb its nuclear enrichment program in exchange for much-needed relief from crippling sanctions. But the deal began unraveling in 2018 when Washington, under President Donald Trump's first term, unilaterally withdrew from the accord and reimposed biting sanctions on the Islamic republic, which in turn began rolling back on its nuclear commitments. Before the war with Israel, Iran had five rounds of Oman-mediated indirect nuclear talks with the US.
Iraq Business
8 hours ago
- Iraq Business
Turkish and Lebanese Companies to build new Tigris Bridge
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Wednesday launched the construction of Al-Kriat [Al-Kari'a] Bridge over the Tigris River as part of the Baghdad reconstruction campaign, specifically targeting the revitalisation of the holy city of Kadhimiya. The work will be carried out by Turkish company HSY Yapi Insaat and Lebanon's Khatib & Alami. This project is the first in the development of the "Fifth Division" military zone, which has been closed for decades and will now be transformed into a 400-dunum area hosting public services, cultural and religious centres, and rest cities for pilgrims. Al-Sudani praised the collaborative efforts of ministers, the PM's office, Baghdad Municipality, the Ministry of Housing, the Investment Commission, and the religious endowments. He confirmed the government's commitment to a realistic and strategic plan tailored to each district's needs. The Prime Minister announced that the Fifth Division area is now open to all investors through a transparent and non-residential investment process. A key feature will be a 12,500m² museum documenting the atrocities of Iraq's former dictatorship-intended as a national reminder and deterrent against repeating such history. Key statements by PM Al-Sudani: Baghdad's population now exceeds 9.5 million, yet the city has lacked proportional infrastructure rehabilitation. Kadhimiya, long neglected, is now undergoing a transformation that respects its Islamic heritage and accommodates religious visitors. "Baghdad is More Beautiful" (phases 1 and 2), in coordination with ministry and municipal plans, represents a unified vision for comprehensive urban renewal. Islamic architectural standards are being upheld in all planned developments. The campaign also targets neighbourhoods, schools, and service institutions in Kadhimiya, ensuring high standards and rapid implementation. The Al-Kriat Bridge is a strategic part of Baghdad's second-phase traffic decongestion programme, connecting to major roads such as Mohammed Al-Qasim Expressway and Army Canal. Other initiatives in the Kadhimiya reconstruction campaign include: Upgrading and expanding 15 major roads across five districts Building 38 new schools and restoring 4 historic ones Paving and resurfacing 12 residential areas Developing public parking, overpasses, family recreation facilities Creating six new city entrances Upgrading sewage treatment, water supply systems, and relocating government offices outside the city (Source: PMO)
Rudaw Net
11 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Activists urge equal rights for Syria's minorities
Also in World Kurdish lawyer urges legal consultation as Germany steps up deportations US congressman seeks to block Iraq funding over 'terrorist militias' attacks French FM speaks with SDF chief, expresses support for Syrian Kurds KRG requested defence system from US: Official A+ A- WASHINGTON, DC - Prominent religious freedom advocates on Monday urged the Donald Trump administration to push for a more inclusive political settlement in Syria, warning that the country's new transitional government risks replicating authoritarian patterns and marginalizing minorities under its current constitutional framework, as violence has left thousands of minorities dead. 'The US government needs to rethink the way they approach Syria and the legal situation right now,' Nadine Maenza, co-chair of the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Secretariat and former chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), told Rudaw. 'The most recent constitution in March really made the minorities second-class citizens... It gives all the rights to Sunni Muslims… and this is really signaling to the rest of the country that minorities are not the same as the majority community,' she said. In mid-March, Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa approved a 53-article constitutional declaration that granted him sweeping powers, including the authority to appoint one-third of the legislature and all judges of the constitutional court - the only institution capable of holding him accountable. The constitution prioritizes Islamic jurisprudence as a legislative foundation. Maenza warned that the current framework risks fueling violence and persecution if inclusive governance is not ensured. 'What the United States needs to do is advocate for equal citizenship and a new constitution that lets local communities be involved in their own governance and their own security,' she said. Her comments come as the US House of Representatives last week passed the Syria Sanctions Accountability Act, a bill aimed at maintaining pressure on Damascus while providing leeway to support the country's transitional authorities. According to the US Congress website, the legislation seeks to maintain and expand targeted sanctions on individuals and entities associated with rights abuses, drug trafficking, or efforts to undermine transitional justice. It also calls for greater economic oversight at institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank and ties future sanctions relief to specific progress, including ending attacks on civilians, releasing political prisoners, and ensuring humanitarian access. IRF Ambassador at Large Nominee Mark Walker, a former congressman, told Rudaw on Monday that the administration is paying close attention to abuses targeting minorities across Syria. 'Yes, what we see is religious minorities being persecuted, being attacked, and even worse throughout the country,' he said, pledging to work closely with Secretary of State [Marco] Rubio to raise awareness and 'hopefully expose and eventually eradicate much of this.' After the Bashar al-Assad regime was toppled in December by a rebel coalition led by the Islamist Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which installed Sharaa - formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani - as interim president. He has prioritized lifting international sanctions and restoring ties with foreign governments. During a visit to Riyadh in May, Trump announced the effective lifting of most broad sanctions on Syria and met with Sharaa during a summit hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The European Union also moved to lift Assad-era sanctions the same month. US officials have tied long-term support to inclusive reforms. 'I've urged Sharaa to embrace a more inclusive political approach in the wake of recent sectarian violence,' US Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack told Reuters in a recent interview. That violence includes a wave of deadly clashes in Syria's southern Suwayda province between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes, which began on July 13. More than 1,300 people have been killed in the fighting, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Israel intervened militarily in support of the Druze, striking Syrian government positions and targeting the defense ministry in Damascus. A US-brokered ceasefire on July 18 halted the fighting. Sharaa later ordered a truce between the Druze and the Bedouin tribes in an attempt to contain the crisis.
