Latest news with #MasudPezeshkian
American Military News
7 days ago
- Politics
- American Military News
Iran's President Says Rebuilding Nuclear Sites Futile Without Talks With Washington
This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission. Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian has warned that his country faces the risk of further conflict with the United States unless diplomacy is pursued. Speaking at a meeting with media executives on August 10, Pezeshkian criticized opponents of talks with Washington over Tehran's nuclear program, saying the United States would simply strike Iran's nuclear facilities again if they were rebuilt. The United States joined Israel's aerial campaign against Iran on June 22, bombing the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities with B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles — strikes that US President Donald Trump said 'completely destroyed' the facilities. Pezeshkian said that while surrendering is 'not in our nature,' quarreling would not get Tehran anywhere. 'Suppose you don't want to negotiate, what do you want to do then? Go to war?' Pezeshkian said. His remarks were immediately met with criticism from the Tasnim News Agency, which is an affiliate of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). 'When the enemy hears these words, what decision will they make and what impression will they form of Iran? Clearly, the only impression they can get is one of Iranian 'weakness',' Tasnim wrote in an editorial. It added that the president's position projects a 'weak and desperate' image of the Iranian government. Hossein Shariatmadari, the chief editor of Kayhan and an appointee of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also slammed Pezeshkian for his insistence on talks with Washington. He claimed, without evidence, that both the United States and Israel had 'openly admitted their defeat' during the 12-day war in June, and alleged that Washington had come 'pleading' for talks with Iran. 'What's strange is that some of our own officials…have fallen for the false dichotomy of negotiations versus war,' Shariatmadari wrote on August 12. Last month, Iran held talks with European powers over its nuclear program, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi saying discussions will continue but no new dates have been announced. European governments have warned that unless significant progress is made in talks between Tehran and Washington by the end of August, they will begin the process of re-imposing UN sanctions against Iran — a move Iran has said would 'end' Europe's role in the nuclear dossier. Iran and the United States were scheduled to hold a new round of talks on June 15, but the meeting was scrapped due to the war. The two sides have yet to agree to meet, with Tehran saying it cannot trust Washington and the White House questioning whether there is any merit in further talks given the damage caused to Iran's nuclear sites.
Canada News.Net
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
Tehran On The Brink: Can Iran Survive Its Water Crisis
Welcome back to the Farda Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter. I'm RFE/RL correspondent Kian Sharifi. In this edition, Im looking at the worsening water crisis in Iran and its implications. What You Need To Know Worsening Water Crisis: Iran is experiencing a deepening water crisis that has forced authorities to impose widespread water cuts, with dam reservoirs across the country dropping to their lowest levels in decades. Drought, mismanagement, and mounting climate challenges are causing major disruptions to daily life for millions. US Management of the Zangezur Corridor In The Caucasus: The United States hassuggestedputting the proposed Zangezur Corridor -- connecting Azerbaijan and its Naxcivan exclave via Armenia -- under American management, triggering alarm in Iran. Experts say Tehran fears the plan would isolate it, weaken its influence, and force reliance on Azerbaijan for trade, risking geopolitical suffocation. Armenia insists the link must remain a transit route under its sovereignty, while Azerbaijan opposes any foreign involvement. Analysts describe the US proposal as unworkable and ill-prepared. Iran, E3 To Meet In Istanbul: Iran and the E3 (Britain, France, and Germany) areset to meetin Istanbul on July 25 for deputylevel talks on Tehrans nuclear program and potential sanctions relief. It will be their first meeting since a June cease-fire that ended a 12day conflict between Israel and Iran and followed US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The EUs deputy foreign policy chief will also attend. European governments have warned they could trigger a UN snapback of sanctions by the end of August if talks stall, while Iran insists on recognition of its right to enrich uranium and trustbuilding steps from Washington before deeper negotiations. The Big Issue Iranians wait in line for water in Tehran. Is Tehran Becoming Uninhabitable? Over 40 cities across Iran, including Tehran, are facing routine water rationing and prolonged supply interruptions. In some areas, households and businesses endure hours-long daily outages as officials scramble to take emergency measures. The roots of the crisis lie in a mix of prolonged drought and drastically reduced rainfall, soaring temperatures, excessive extraction from aquifers, and years of inefficient management -- especially in agriculture. While urgent water transfer projects and aggressive conservation campaigns have been launched, the scale of the problem is nationwide, affecting both urban centers and rural communities. President Masud Pezeshkian has acknowledged the scale of mismanagement that contributed to the crisis, arguing that basic changes are now critical to the nations future. Hes also referenced the worsening water crisis to again broach the subject of moving the country's capital, saying the continued survival of Tehran as the capital is no longer possible. Why It Matters: Iran has entered its fifth consecutive year of drought, with rainfall in several provinces, including Sistan-Baluchistan, Hormozgan, Bushehr and Khuzestan, dropping by more than 50 percent. The prolonged dry spell has severely strained water supplies, with the latest reports indicating that reservoirs feeding Tehrans dams are now at just 14 percent of their total capacity. Pezeshkians government last year floated an ambitious idea: relocating the nations capital to the Makran coast on the shores of the Sea of Oman. He even appointed his campaign chief, Ali Abdolalizadeh, as a special envoy for maritime economy development. However, following widespread criticism, the plan has been quietly shelved. Analysts warn that the Makran region itself remains underdeveloped, with large areas still lacking even basic water pipelines. What's Being Said: Azam Bahrami, a water and environmental expert based in the Netherlands, says agricultural practices need to change in Iran as part of broader reforms to ensure efficient water use. She told RFE/RLs Radio Farda that agriculture accounts for up to 90 percent of Irans water use. Water officials say nearly half of Irans provinces are now officially water-stressed and that current supplies simply dont match demand. Expert Opinion: The decisive factor is the ruling establishment, because it is the authorities who invest, introduce new technologies, monitor progress, and strengthen society to help it endure climate change and long-term drought, Bahrami told Radio Farda. That's all from me for now. Until next time,
American Military News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- American Military News
European Powers Alarmed As Iran Halts Nuclear Oversight
This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission. Iran has enacted a decision to suspend its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), alarming European powers who called the move 'disastrous.' Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian on July 2 enacted a law passed last week — after Israeli and US airstrikes over 12 days hit its most-important nuclear facilities — to stop cooperating with the UN nuclear watchdog until Tehran receives guarantees that its nuclear sites and scientists are safe and that its right to enrich uranium domestically is assured. Suspending cooperation with the IAEA means Iran will halt inspections, reporting, and oversight activities under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Giese said the decision sends a 'disastrous signal,' insisting that cooperation with the watchdog is 'crucial' for 'diplomacy to succeed.' A day before the implementation of the law, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Russian leader Vladimir Putin to persuade Iran to resume cooperation with the IAEA, which the Kremlin agreed to, according to RFE/RL sources. Putin also expressed support for a diplomatic resolution, potentially including a zero-enrichment outcome in Iran — a non-starter for Tehran. Macron warned that without a solid deal between Tehran and Washington on Iran's nuclear program, European powers would begin the process of re-imposing UN sanctions against the Islamic republic. The United States and Iran had engaged in five rounds of indirect negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program before the talks broke down, prompting Israel to launch airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and military targets on June 13. The United States entered the conflict on June 22, joining Israel by striking three major Iranian nuclear sites, including the heavily fortified underground facility at Fordow. Eric Brewer of the Washington-based Nuclear Threat Initiative, said 'a new and dangerous phase' had begun with Iran's decision to suspend cooperation with the IAEA. 'The task of understanding what's happening at Iran's nuclear sites, new and old, will fall entirely on intelligence organizations,' Brewer, a former US intelligence analyst, wrote on X. In an interview with CBS News aired on July 1, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicated that Tehran remains open to talks with the Washington. 'I don't believe negotiations will restart as quickly as that,' Araqchi said, responding to Trump's suggestion that talks could begin as soon as this week. Still, he emphasized, 'the doors of diplomacy will never be completely closed.' But Trump this week appeared to change his stance on talks with the Islamic republic, writing on his Truth Social platform that he is 'not offering Iran anything…nor am I even talking to them since we totally obliterated their nuclear facilities.' The full impact of the 12-day conflict with Israel on Iran's nuclear program is still uncertain. While Iran claims its nuclear facilities were heavily damaged, it has pledged to press on with its program, insisting it remains peaceful. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi stated last week that Iran could restart uranium enrichment 'in a matter of months.' Tehran has repeatedly accused the UN nuclear watchdog of bias, alleging it collaborates with Western nations and Israel against Iran. For years, Grossi has criticized Iran for what he sees as a persistent lack of cooperation in the agency's efforts to investigate previously undisclosed nuclear sites. This ultimately resulted in the IAEA Board of Governors last month issuing a rare non-compliance resolution against Iran, which Tehran claims facilitated Israel's attacks.
Asharq Al-Awsat
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Iran: To Talk or Not to Talk, That is the Question
With the Trump administration sending conflicting signals about its intentions on dealing with Iran, the Iranian leadership is once again divided on how to respond. One faction is trying to paint a grim picture in which the US will give Israel enough support to inflict a heavy defeat on Iran to complete the defeats already inflicted on Tehran's allies in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. Such a humiliation will encourage the regime's opponents both inside and outside the country to take to the streets and seize power while a demoralized Revolutionary Guard will do what it did in Syria, that is to say run for economic crisis cover to save its skin. The same faction argues that the current economic crisis has sapped the will and energy of the regime's dwindling support base, making regime change a real possibility for the first time. So, how to negotiate such a dangerous bend of the road? The faction's luminaries, including President Masud Pezeshkian suggest opening talks aimed at preventing a war and allowing things to cool down. But who should one talk to? Talking to the US is supposed to be verboten according to "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamanei who sites a fatwa by the founder of the regime, Ruhollah Khomeini, to that effect, plus an act of the 'Islamic Majlis,' the ersatz parliament that endorses the ban. The answer is: the European trio of France, Germany and Great Britain which coincidentally have bumpy relations with Washington. The theory goes that the trio will welcome a diplomatic coup to restore part of the prestige they have lost because of President Donald Trump's decision to exclude them from his Ukraine peace initiative and plans for the future of Gaza. But what could one talk about without being forced to offer concessions that result in a massive loss of face? The talk party suggests that Iran should offer to freeze its nuclear program for two to three years at the end of which it would decide which direction it should take. Right now, Iran is spending vast resources on a program that has no obvious civilian or military use or justification. In exchange, the European trio will use the mechanism provided by the UN Security Council's resolution 3221 to avoid opening the path for taking military action against Iran. The above mentioned resolution expires in October, making any unintended consequence a possibility. A deal with Europeans could help ease pressure on Iran, inject some vitality in a moribund economy and help prevent a massive popular revolt. Those who market the above analysis assume that the US, and for that matter Israel, will stand by and see how the Iranian adversary bounces back from the edge of doom. That analysis is opposed by the faction still totally loyal to Khamenei who insists that any show of weakness could accelerate moves towards regime change. His advice is to stand firm and prepare for war. The first step is to build a war chest. This is done by reducing the supply of foreign currency to the market to allow the national currency to fall further. The currency which fetched $1 with 650,000 rial now needs 900,000. This is a trick used by the Allies when they invaded and occupied Iran in World War II. Because their expenditures in Iran were in the local currency, they forced a 50 percent devaluation of the rial. Now used by Khamenei, that trick increases the state's purchasing power while reducing the purchasing power of Iranian families including the state's military and civilian personnel. To partly compensate for that, the key personnel needed in a war are granted exceptional bonuses. Khamenei, who controls law and order forces, has put them on partial alert to nip any revolt in the bud. This is accompanied by a massive crackdown against potential dissidents, especially in Tehran with reports of arbitrary arrests. All this does mean that the "Supreme Guide" isn't prepared to perform another of his "heroic flexibilities" by accepting a deal with the "Great Satan" to sit out Trump's four-year tenure, a game that led seven consecutive US presidents up garden path, allowing Iran to approach its golden jubilee. Today, to talk or not to talk is a question not only for rival factions in Tehran but also for powers that, rightly or wrongly, are convinced that there could be no regional peace and stability without persuading or forcing what Francois Mitterrand called "le grand perturbateur"(the big troublemaker) to change or to be changed.
