Five Takeaways from Trump-Vance-Zelensky meeting

An astonishing scene played out in the Oval Office on Friday as President Trump and Vice President Vance got into a shouting match with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reports The Hill.

Amid angry crosstalk, Trump told Zelensky “without us, you don’t have any cards” and “you’re gambling with World War III.” Vance, for his part, accused Zelensky of being “disrespectful.”

Zelensky had taken issue with Trump’s depiction of him as having so much “hatred” for Russian President Vladimir Putin that it made it hard to end the conflict.

The Ukrainian president also pushed back on Vance’s suggestion that diplomacy could end the war — insisting that his nation had previously adopted that approach after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, only for Putin to launch a full-scale invasion in 2022.

The clash derailed the proposed signing of a deal granting the United States some rights over Ukraine’s mineral deposits. A news conference between Trump and Zelensky that had been scheduled was abruptly canceled, and Zelensky left the White House without further comment.

Here are five big takeaways:

A row heard around the world

It’s hard to exaggerate the seismic shock created by the squabble in the Oval Office.

The political world, in the US and internationally, was instantly aflame over what had taken place. On cable news, usually loquacious anchors were left struggling for words.

It’s been years, if ever, since such a spectacle was seen on public display at the White House.

Inevitably, the shock spurred fevered speculation. One big question was whether Trump and Vance had intentionally provoked Zelensky, whom Trump recently dubbed a “dictator,” into a confrontation.

The other was whether the Ukrainian leader had reacted too intemperately in the moment, to the detriment of his national interests.

Certainly, Trump’s initial comments about Zelensky’s “hatred” for Putin carried a disparaging tone that it is hard to imagine being expressed toward any other US ally who was trying to repel an invasion. 

Likewise, Vance’s role will be closely dissected, especially his reference to Zelensky being “disrespectful” and his demands that the Ukrainian president say “thank you” for US aid.

But Zelensky’s volleys back made it clear he was not going to adopt the mollifying tone used by the week’s other high-profile visitors to the White House, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The White House has seemed to celebrate the encounter.

Meanwhile, a photo posted by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins of the Ukrainian ambassador to the US with her head in her hands during the encounter told its own story.

Now what?

The big question is where things go from here.

The minerals deal was presented, at least in some quarters, as a way to reimburse the US for future assistance to Ukraine, but Trump had been conspicuously vague on the key point of whether Washington would offer firm security guarantees in return.

Now, with that deal presumably shelved for the foreseeable future, nobody honestly knows what happens.

Zelensky could lean more heavily on Europe for both military and diplomatic support. Macron and Starmer have far more pro-Ukrainian viewpoints than does Trump. 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has more of a Trump-like worldview, called on Friday for an immediate summit between the US and European nations to discuss Ukraine.

If the spigot of US aid is to be choked off and a piqued Trump is now fully embittered against Zelensky, the future looks bleak from a Ukrainian perspective.

It’s also worth noting that neither the US nor its European allies are willing to put boots on the ground during the war itself, for fear of being drawn into their own war with Russia

The suggestion so far is that the Europeans might help shore up a peace agreement — if one is reached.

Democrats, Trump critics blast Trump for helping Putin

Prominent Democrats blasted Trump and Vance for how they conducted the meeting with Zelensky, and some other Trump foes joined in.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on social media accused Trump and Vance of “doing Putin’s dirty work” and pledged that “Senate Democrats will never stop fighting for freedom and democracy.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren contended that it was “shameful and dangerous” for Trump to engage, as she saw it, in “treating the destruction of a democracy as a political show — throwing Ukraine to the wolves and doing a favor for Putin.” 

Meanwhile, former Republican congresswoman and leading Trump critic Liz Cheney said on social media that Trump and Vance had “attacked Zelenskyy and pressured him to surrender the freedom of his people to the KGB war criminal who invaded Ukraine.”

Cheney added, “History will remember this day— when an American President and Vice President abandoned all we stand for.”

Trump loyalists wear such disapproval as a badge of honor, of course. But there is no mistaking how deep the dismay runs on the other side.

Republicans counter that Trump stood up for American interests

GOP voices rushed to acclaim Trump — and often bash Zelensky — for the way the Oval Office drama went down.

Broadly, the chorus of Republican approval viewed Trump as standing up for American interests and cast Zelensky as an ingrate.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg that the Ukrainian president “chose to let things go into a downward spiral on worldwide television.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham said he had “never been more proud” of Trump and blamed Zelensky for a “disrespectful” display.

“I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelensky again,” Graham said.

Sen. Bill Hagerty, alluding to the contrast with the Biden presidency, wrote on social media, “The United States of America will no longer be taken for granted. The contrast between the last four years and now could not be clearer. Thank you, Mr. President.” 

The White House Office of Communications collated many such responses and sent them out in an email with the subject line, “Support Pours in for President Trump, VP Vance’s America First Strength.”

Happiest of all: Russia

For all the delight expressed by some of Trump’s domestic allies, the real gloating seemed to come from Moscow.

Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev, who served as Russia’s president more than a decade ago, celebrated on social media that “the insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office.”

Medvedev also endorsed Trump’s view that Zelensky was gambling with World War Three. 

The Associated Press (AP) quoted a Russian lawmaker, Andrei Klishas, as describing the outcome of the meeting as “a brilliant result.”

Klishas, per the AP, wrote on Telegram that Zelensky had “played his role of a ‘president’ poorly in the White House and was thrown out for bad behavior and disrespect towards the US.”

Whatever Trump’s intentions, the current picture could hardly look rosier from the Kremlin’s perspective. 

Russia has been advancing on the battlefield, Ukraine is now starkly at odds with its chief benefactor and it’s not at all clear Trump will press Putin for major concessions in any peace deal.

 

PSX remains volatile throughout the week

Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) remained volatile throughout the week, with the KSE-100 index closing at 113,252 points, up 0.4%WoW on Friday February 28, 2025.

The week started on a positive note, buoyed by initiation of talks for up to US$1.5 billion climate financing from IMF, government proposals for energy tariff cuts and resolving circular debt, and strong corporate results, particularly from banking and cement sector.

However, the momentum faded during the latter half of the week due to absence of fresh triggers.

On the climate financing front, authorities are discussing the implementation of carbon levy, meanwhile, IMF has objected the exemption of sales tax on local EV component sales.

On the macro front, Pakistan signed several accords and committed to boosting bilateral trade with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan during the Prime Minister's visits to respective countries and signed agreements with UAE during the visit of Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince.

Inflation is expected to ease further to a nine-year low of 1.9%YoY in February 2025, driven primarily by falling food and energy tariffs.

On the external front, foreign exchange reserves held by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) rose by US$21 million to US$11.2 billion.

Domestic currency depreciated by 0.04%WoW to close at PKR279.67/US$.

Market participation also remained subdued during the week, with average daily traded volume falling by 17%WoW to 492 million shares, from 593 million shares a week ago.

Other major news flow during the week included: 1) GoP collected PKR23 billion from 16 banks against windfall tax, 2) Pakistan, Vietnam set US$3 billion annual trade target, 3) SBP invites bids for PKR200 billion PFL buyback auction, 4) Pakistan, Iran agree to boost bilateral trade to US$10 billion, and 5) Petroleum Division proposes PKR392.5 billion PSDP for in-house projects.

Glass & Ceramics, Real Estate Investment Trust, and Commercial Banks were amongst the top performing sectors, while Jute, Property, & Leasing Companies were the laggards.

Major selling was recorded by Individuals and Foreigners with an aggregate net sell of US$24.5 million. Mutual Funds absorbed most of the selling with a net buy of US$31.6 million.

Top selling scrips of the week were: TGL, PKGP, MLCF, NATF, and AGP, while laggards included: MEHT, NCPL, BIPL, SEARL, and AKBL.

According to AKD Securities, market outlook remains positive, with upcoming meeting of Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting scheduled for March 10, 2025, and any developments on IMF review remaining in the investor’s focus.

Over the medium term, the KSE-100 is anticipated to remain on upward trajectory, primarily driven by strong earnings in Fertilizers, sustained ROEs in Banks, and improving cash flows of E&Ps and OMCs, benefiting from falling interest rates and economic stability.

Top picks includes, OGDC, PPL, MEBL, MCB, HBL, FFC, ENGROH, PSO, LUCK, FCCL, ILP, INDU, and SYS.

 

Improving Pakistan-Bangladesh Relations

Bangladesh’s foreign affairs adviser, Touhid Hossain, recently stated that there is no longer any reason for strained relations with Pakistan. This shift in sentiment is underscored by the announcement of Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s planned visit to Dhaka in April, signaling a thaw in decades of frosty relations.

The change can be traced to August, when Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted after 15 years in power. Her tenure was marked by a strong alliance with India, seen in bilateral agreements, trade, and security collaborations. However, her removal created a diplomatic shift, leading to a cooling of ties with New Delhi and an opening for improved relations with Pakistan.

This shift is significant given the historical grievances stemming from the 1971 Liberation War, which have long impacted relations. Despite this, recent months have seen several high-level engagements between Bangladesh and Pakistan, indicating a thaw. Notably, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, an adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif twice, highlighting the growing importance of ties with Pakistan over India.

Trade is emerging as a key area of cooperation. From August to December 2024, bilateral trade grew by 27%, and both countries signed an MOU in January to establish a joint business council. Similarly, in the defense sector, several high-level meetings between military officials from both countries have focused on regional security, joint military exercises, and arms trading. The term "brotherly countries" used by Pakistan’s military further signals a potential shift in South Asia’s security dynamics.

China also plays a strategic role, being a key partner to both nations. India’s concerns are rising, especially with Bangladesh’s interest in acquiring JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from Pakistan, which could alter the regional balance of power. This development has the potential to deepen the trilateral ties between Bangladesh, Pakistan, and China, prompting India to reassess its diplomatic and military strategies.

India must adapt to the changing dynamics by adopting a pragmatic approach that acknowledges Bangladesh’s evolving priorities while reinforcing historical ties. This will ensure India remains a key player in South Asia’s shifting landscape. Managing these relationships is crucial for all three nations. Bangladesh must balance its new ties with Pakistan and its economic dependence on India, while Pakistan must recognize its economic limitations. India, in turn, must address Bangladesh’s grievances to avoid further alienation.

Handled carefully, this evolving relationship could reshape South Asia, proving that diplomacy can overcome even the most entrenched divides. This moment presents an opportunity for Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India to redefine their futures in a geopolitically complex region.

ECO Regional Planning Council Meeting

The 35th Regional Planning Council (RPC) of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) kicked off in Tehran with the participation of delegations from relevant ministries and organizations of ECO member countries. This council, as the key decision-making body of the organization, will discuss and approve the annual work program of the ECO.

This session is being held from February 24 to 27 at the ECO Secretariat with the presence of senior officials from ECO member countries to plan ECO activities for the year 2025.

The ECO Secretary General stated that in recent months, ECO activities to enhance cooperation between countries in various fields have seen a significant increase.

According to the ECO Secretary General, this meeting is of particular importance to mark 2025 as a milestone year with several important ministerial meetings in the fields of trade, tourism, finance, transportation, internal affairs, and sustainable development, as well as the 17th ECO Summit to be held on July 3-4, 2025, in Azerbaijan.

The RPC is the main technical planning body within ECO which comprises the heads of the Planning Organizations of the Member States as well as officials and experts from the national sectoral ministries and agencies. RPC convenes its annual meetings prior to the regular meeting of the Council of Ministers under the chairpersonship of the representative of the Member State holding the chairpersonship of the Council of Ministers. Meetings are normally held in the ECO Headquarters in Tehran.

The RPC is responsible for preparation of the programs of action for realizing the objectives of the Organization along with stocktaking of previous programs. It may also propose to the Council of Ministers the establishment of regional institutions and ad-hoc committees in priority areas of cooperation.

Annual RPC meetings are normally structured along one plenary session as well as several parallel sectoral committees dealing with the priority sectors of the Organization. One-year programs of work and ECO calendars of meetings are also developed by RPC meetings on the basis of the proposals made by the Secretariat and the Council of Permanent Representatives.

 

Arabs have no spine to reject Trump Gaza plan

I am obliged to share an article by Hilal Khashan published in Geopolitical Futures. The punch line is “Regional governments’ ability to resist will be limited by their need for Washington’s support”. This sees a harsh ground reality and it is feared that sooner than later Arabs would succumb to the US pressure. It may be recalled that Israel, with the help of United States has already brought Syria, Lebanon and Hamas on their knees and getting desperate to destroy Iranian nuclear and missile program.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his plan to take over the Gaza Strip and resettle its residents in Egypt and Jordan. A week later, he reiterated his intention during a press briefing in Washington with Jordanian King Abdullah II, who appeared uncomfortable listening to Trump’s proposal but avoided challenging the president on the matter. Fearing a similarly embarrassing situation, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi canceled his own visit to Washington scheduled for February 18.

The Palestinian question was the focal point of Arab foreign policy until the 1967 Six-Day War. Since then, Arab countries have sought various peace treaties with Israel and grown dependent on US protection for their survival. Though they cannot endorse Trump’s plan to evict Palestinians from Gaza and transform the strip into a “Riviera of the Middle East,” neither can they simply dismiss his assertions. Trump has challenged Arab leaders to come up with an alternative plan for Gaza, knowing they likely cannot.

Many observers have compared Trump’s proposal to resettle Palestinians in neighboring countries to Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s willingness to host them in Sinai in the early 1950s. But the conditions that led Nasser to favor the resettlement of Gazan refugees differ fundamentally from the situation in the region today.

After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, it was the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) that proposed resettling refugees who had fled to Gaza during the conflict, in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 194. The initiative would not have affected the 80,000 Gaza residents who were living there before the war. Arabs generally viewed it as a humanitarian endeavor, given the wide range of relief services the agency provided, rather than a liquidation plan, as opponents of Trump’s proposal see it.

The UN-sponsored initiative ultimately collapsed. In 1953, UNRWA and Egypt, under Nasser, signed a plan to resettle 120,000 refugees from Gaza. Two years later, they agreed that the Egyptian town of Qantara, located east of Suez and 220 kilometers (140 miles) southwest of Gaza, would be the location of a new settlement for the refugees. But in retaliation for the United States and Britain’s refusal to fund the construction of the Aswan High Dam, Nasser withdrew his support from the project.

The Palestinian issue has long been a sensitive topic in the Arab world. Arab governments know they cannot be seen as supportive of a US plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza. Still, Arab countries’ responses to the proposal have been weak and indecisive. They even postponed an emergency Arab League summit scheduled for the end of this month to discuss an alternative plan for Gaza, under the pretext that some Arab heads of state had prior commitments.

El-Sissi launched a fierce media campaign to try to convince the Egyptian public that Cairo will not give in to threats and blackmail. (Pentagon officials had hinted to Egyptian officials that military aid, including repairs to equipment and spare parts, could be affected by Egypt’s position on the Trump plan). Egyptian officials also helped organize demonstrations against the proposal, hoping to convey a message to Washington that the Egyptian people (and not just the government) rejected the relocation plan. Egypt’s top mufti called the proposal irresponsible and provocative and said it violates international norms and humanitarian standards – sentiments Arab leaders dare not say themselves.

El-Sissi said the relocation of Gazans to Egypt would be a direct threat to his regime, as Palestinians would disseminate a culture of resistance and promote their own interests inside Egypt. In a public address, el-Sissi described the displacement of Palestinians as an injustice in which Cairo cannot participate and insisted that he would not tolerate any actions that harm Egyptian national security, without specifying how resettling Gazans in Sinai would do so.

He reiterated his determination to work with Trump and said the US president still wants to achieve a two-state solution. Despite believing that Israel will not allow the establishment of a Palestinian state, Egypt at least officially continues to focus on the importance of cooperation with the United States to achieve a just peace between the Palestinians and Israel and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Egyptian officials told the US director of national intelligence that Cairo will cancel its peace agreement with Israel if the Trump administration continues to push to displace Gaza residents or stops the flow of US aid. However, the most el-Sissi can do is temporarily suspend the Camp David Accords, knowing the consequences of fully repealing the treaty would be intolerable for Cairo. The Egyptians fear that Trump’s global ambitions go beyond annexing Canada and Greenland and acquiring Ukraine’s mineral resources. They believe he could be eyeing the Sinai Desert, given its strategic location, abundance of natural resources and tourist attractions.

Egypt has learned the lessons of the 1967 war. It is not serious about a military confrontation with Israel, no matter what happens to Palestinians in Gaza, and it will not create the conditions for another disastrous conflict, despite the uproar. The Egyptian government even released a statement saying the Egyptian and US presidents agreed on a number of topics during a recent call, avoiding any mention of Trump’s Gaza proposal.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, most Arab countries, including Jordan, issued perfunctory statements rejecting Trump’s calls to displace people from Gaza. But they failed to announce any measures to counter the plan. Their responses likely won’t go beyond verbal denunciations, a time-honored practice for Arab officials.

Future of dark fleet after Ukraine war ends

According to the Seatrade Maritimes News, three years on from Russian invasion of Ukraine some kind of peace agreement is looking increasingly possible with talks between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukraine officials saying a minerals deal with the US has been agreed. There are though still significant hurdles to be overcome between all sides in United States, Europe, Ukraine and Russia.

If a peace deal is agreed and sanctions on Russia by the United States, European Union, and Britain are rolled back it raises the question of what will happen to the shadow fleet of mainly elderly, poorly maintained tankers that are currently serving the sanction Russian oil trades.

The shadow or dark fleet of over 1,000 vessel is not solely the result of Russian invasion as some ships do also serve sanctioned trades with the likes of Iran and Venezuela, the large majority of the fleet has grown out of employment on Russian oil trades.

The question of what would happen with the shadow fleet if war in the Ukraine ends was one that a conference panel on commodities shipping in Singapore last week grappled with.

Peter Kolding, VP Commercial & Management for tanker owner Hafnia noted that given Russian business was comparatively high risk due to sanctions there was a premium for vessels on those trades.

“Those trades are operated by the oldest part of the fleet and good parts of that fleet would in an ordinary world probably be on a beach now to be scrapped, but they've been kept alive because of the premiums on the trade. If the war ends and the sanctions are lifted, those trades will go back with mainstream players requiring mainstream ships,” he told delegates at the conference during Commodity Trading Week Asia.

The elderly vessels currently employed in the shadow fleet would likely have difficulty finding employment on other trades resulting in ships gradually being sent for scrap.

Capt Subhangshu Dutt, Managing Director of tanker owner OM Maritime, agreed that the shadow fleet would have great difficulty in finding employment, and would likely not pass even the first round of vetting with oil majors. However, some might be used by intermediate traders or teapot refineries.

The tanker markets have benefitted over the last three years from the change in trading patterns and increased in tonne miles brought about by sanctions and tightening demand and supply balance.

Kolding noted that while the end of the war and return to previous trading patterns would be negative in terms of ton miles it would also trigger a considerable amount of scrapping from the shadow fleet so these factors would balance each other out. “So, from a Hafnia perspective we don't see an end to the war and an end to sanctions as a main negative anymore.”

However, there would be a time lag between the ending of sanctions and the large-scale scrapping of vessels in the shadow fleet that would put pressure on tanker rates.

Kolding estimated a period of 12 – 18 months where the market would feel some pain before owners were pushed into scrapping older, unprofitable ships.

 

Germany: Merz to host war criminal Netanyahu

Friedrich Merz, expected to be Germany’s next chancellor, told reporters on Monday that he would make sure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can visit Germany despite an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.

By inviting Netanyahu to Germany, Merz is emboldening the Israeli war criminals, violating the ICC statute, and presenting himself as subservient to the butcher of Gaza.

“In the event that he [Netanyahu] plans to visit Germany, I have promised myself that we will find a way to ensure that he can visit Germany and leave again without being arrested,” Merz said from Berlin.

Germany says it has been a strong backer of the ICC. After the ICC’s decision against Netanyahu and his war minister Yoav Gallant in November, a German government spokesperson said, “The federal government was involved in the drafting of the ICC statute and is one of the ICC’s biggest supporters. This position is also a result of German history.”

To the shock of the international community, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government was the biggest supporter of the Netanyahu regime in its 16-month barbaric acts in Gaza. Germany has also been the second biggest supplier of deadly arms to Israel after the United States. However, it seems that Merz, still not forming a government, wants to present himself as a stronger supporter of Israel.

As a member state of the court, Germany is required to detain suspects facing arrest warrants if they set foot on their soil, but the incoming Marz government is sending signals that it is joining certain countries, including the United States, which are defying international order.

Viktor Orban was the first European leader who invited Netanyahu to visit Hungary in a show of disdain for the ICC ruling. Now, Merz is following in the footsteps of Orban, whose policies are not in conformity with the European Union.

Merz said, “I think it’s a really absurd idea that an Israeli prime minister can’t visit the Federal Republic of Germany. He will be able to visit Germany.”

Contrary to Merz’s claim, it is absurd to invite a war criminal to Germany as the most important member of the EU and as a country rightly or wrongly considered the most law-abiding nation.

Netanyahu is already buoyed that he has been invited to make a trip to Germany. His office said in a statement that Merz had invited the prime minister to make an official visit to Germany, in overt defiance of the scandalous International Criminal Court decision to label the Prime Minister a war criminal.

Before Merz welcomed Netanyahu’s possible future visit to Germany, the Biden administration and hawks in the American Congress had demonized the ICC to the extent that Senator Tom Cotton had threatened military action against the ICC and insulted its chief prosecutor Karim Khan.

Cotton said, “The ICC is a kangaroo court and Karim Khan is a deranged fanatic.”

The statement by Merz has even irritated the ICC, saying that states have a legal obligation to enforce its decisions. It said, “It is not for states to unilaterally determine the soundness of the court’s legal decisions.”

Merz either has been too busy to notice what degree of crimes Netanyahu and lieutenants have been doing in Gaza or he does not care about the tragedies that the Gazans have gone through.

It is not necessary to mention the horrific crimes that Israel committed in Gaza. They are obvious to the world. It is just enough to notice that thousands of Palestinians, mostly women and children, are still missing under the rubble.

In its November ruling, the ICC said there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Gallant and Netanyahu “intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”

Naturally, Merz like other Germans must repent what Germany did against Jews during World War II which is famous as the Holocaust.

Merz must be reminded that Israel committed another Holocaust against the Palestinians in the third decade of the 21st century.

 

TRACECA meeting begins today in Tehran

Iran is hosting the 17th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission of the Europe-Caucasus-Asia Transport Corridor (TRACECA) for the first time on Wednesday, February 26, the head of the International Affairs Center at Iran's Transport and Urban Development Ministry said.

According to a report by the ministry, Amin Taraffo’ stated that a preliminary meeting of TRACECA national secretaries was held on February 25 to review and finalize documents for decision-making at the main session the following day.

The official emphasized the significance of the event for Iran, noting that the meeting provides an opportunity to advance regional initiatives within the 14-member commission.

He added that Iran aims to leverage the platform to enhance transit cooperation and boost regional trade.

TRACECA is an international transport program involving the European Union and 12 member states of the Eastern European, Caucasus, and Central Asian region. 

The program aims at strengthening economic relations, trade, and transport in the regions of the Black Sea basin, South Caucasus, and Central Asia.

It has a permanent Secretariat, originally financed by the European Commission, in Baku, Azerbaijan, and a regional office in Odesa, Ukraine. Since 2009, the organization has been entirely financed by member countries.

TRACECA was established in May 1993 in Brussels, upon the signing of a Multilateral Agreement on International Transport for the development of transport initiatives (including the establishment and development of a road corridor) between the EU member states, Eastern European, Caucasus and Central Asian countries. The program supports the political and economic independence of former Soviet Union republics through enhancing their access to European and global markets through road, rail and sea. 

The objectives of TRACECA were underlined by the Baku Initiative of 2004, followed by a further ministerial conference in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2006.

TRACECA has five working groups: maritime transport, aviation, road and rail, transport security, and transport infrastructure.

In July 2023, it was announced for TRACECA to join the eTIR international system.

 

EU partially lifts sanctions on Syria

On Monday, foreign ministers of European Union (EU) decided to suspend a series of far-reaching sanctions against Syria to help the country's economic recovery and reconstruction after nearly 14 years of civil war.

According to Reuters, the Council decided to remove five financial entities (Industrial Bank, Popular Credit Bank, Saving Bank, Agricultural Cooperative Bank and Syrian Arab Airlines) from the list of entities subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources and to allow funds and economic resources to be made available to the Central Bank of Syria.

The EU has also suspended sectoral measures in the oil, gas, electricity, and transport sectors and introduced exemptions to the ban on banking relations between Syrian banks and financial institutions in the EU to facilitate transactions for humanitarian and reconstruction purposes, as well as for the energy and transport sectors.

The bloc will monitor the country’s situation to guarantee that suspensions remain appropriate with Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, stressing that "if everything does not go right, then we are also ready to put the sanctions back".

"Any kind of government needs to be all-inclusive and taking into account all the different groups that are in Syria,” she said.

Most of the EU's sanctions were imposed following Bashar al-Assad's violent crackdown on Syrian protesters in 2011, including broad restrictions on trade, financial transactions, and key industries such as energy and transport.

The sanctions led to the collapse of EU-Syria economic relations, with trade flows worth €396 million in 2023.

The regime of Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December last year by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has since been calling for the lifting of wide-ranging sanctions to help the war-torn country's economy.

There have also been calls to remove HTS and its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa from international terrorist lists, but the Council decided to maintain such lists in relation to the al-Assad regime, as well as those on arms trafficking, dual-use goods, the chemical weapons sector, and illicit drug trafficking, among others.

The EU's blacklist, which was renewed in November, covers 318 individuals and 86 entities. All are subject to an assets freeze and a travel ban.

More than 90% of Syrians live below the poverty line and at least 16.5 million people across Syria rely on some form of humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs, according to a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Last week, Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned that sweeping EU, US, and UK sanctions on Syria are hampering the country's economic recovery and preventing millions of Syrians from accessing essential services such as electricity, health care, water, and education.

“Rather than using broad sectoral sanctions as leverage for shifting political objectives, Western governments should recognize their direct harm to civilians and take meaningful steps to lift restrictions that impede access to basic rights,” said Hiba Zayadin, senior Syria researcher at HRW.

“A piecemeal approach of temporary exemptions and limited waivers is not enough. Sanctions that harm civilians should immediately be lifted, not refined,” Zayadin added.

Ships being rerouted to Suez Canal

Egypt's Suez Canal Authority chairman Osama Rabei said on Sunday that 47 ships have been rerouted from Cape of Good Hope to Suez Canal since the start of February, reports Reuters.

Earlier this month, Rabie said that the Red Sea crisis did not create a sustainable alternative route to the canal and that there were positive indicators for the return of stability in the region.

Houthi militants have attacked vessels in the Red Sea area since November 2023, disrupting global shipping by forcing vessels to avoid the nearby Suez Canal and reroute trade around Africa, raising shipping costs.

A point worth noting is that Houthis had decaled to target ships owned by Israel and ships carrying cargo to and from Israel. US ships came under attack after Yemeni ports and other installation came under US attack.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in December the disruption cost Egypt around US$7 billion in less revenue from the Suez Canal in 2024.

 

Hassan Nasrallah and Iran

The massive funeral processions held for Sayyad Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut on Sunday marked the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new one. Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah for over three decades, was not only the movement’s most visible figure but also a key player in regional politics, reports Tehran Times.

Born in 1960 in a Shiite community in Beirut, Hassan Nasrallah developed a strong interest in Islam and politics, influenced by Imam Musa al-Sadr. He started in the Amal movement but joined the newly formed Hezbollah in 1982 after the Israeli invasion. His political career quickly ascended; by 1985, he was leading Hezbollah's Executive Council and joined the Shura Council. His frequent visits to Iran strengthened the alliance between Hezbollah and Iran under the Wilayat al-Faqih doctrine. 

A turning point came in 1992, when Abbas Mussawi, Hezbollah’s then-Secretary General, was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike. Nasrallah, his closest confidant, took over the movement’s leadership and adopted a more uncompromising stance toward Israel.

During Mussawi’s funeral, he delivered a speech that would define Hezbollah’s trajectory, “We will continue on this path... even if we are martyred, even if our homes are destroyed over our heads, we will not abandon the choice of Islamic Resistance.”

From that moment on, his rhetoric left no room for ambiguity. Under his leadership, Hezbollah expanded its military capabilities, increased its influence in Lebanese politics, and strengthened its alliance with Iran.

The group’s ties with Tehran were not only ideological but also operational. Nasrallah’s longstanding relationship with Tehran shaped the group’s strategy and solidified its position as a major force in West Asia. 

Despite its close ties to Tehran, Hezbollah was never merely an extension of Iranian policy in the region. The notion that the movement operates as a proxy without autonomy has been challenged both inside and outside Lebanon.

The historical connection between Lebanese Shiites and Iran dates back centuries—long before Hezbollah’s creation in the 1980s.

In the 16th century, the Safavid dynasty invited Shiite clerics from the Lebanese region of Jabal Amil to help consolidate Twelver Shiism in Iran. Over the following centuries, thousands of Lebanese students traveled to Qom to study in Islamic seminaries, forging deep familial and political ties with the Iranian Shiite community. This interconnection grew stronger in the 20th century, when figures like Imam Musa al-Sadr and Mustafa Chamran played key roles in reshaping Shiite political identity in Lebanon.

Nasrallah himself consistently rejected the idea that Hezbollah was merely an artificial creation of Iran. He noted that the movement emerged organically as a response to the 1982 Israeli invasion. Nevertheless, he openly acknowledged the influence of the Islamic Revolution and Hezbollah’s alignment with the principles of Wilayat al-Faqih.

Beyond logistics and religious affinities, what binds Hezbollah and Iran is a shared political vision. Both see resistance to Western influence as a matter of survival.

Abdallah Safieddine, Hezbollah’s representative in Iran, once stated, “What unites us is our adherence to the principles of Wilayat al-Faqih, as well as our struggle against common enemies.”

Similarly, in a 2018 speech, Nasrallah made it clear that what binds Hezbollah and Iran is not military support, but a shared political vision.

“Westerners do not believe in things like ideology. Their biggest mistake is considering the Resistance merely as Iranian mercenaries,” he stated. According to Hezbollah’s leader, the West fails to understand that the Resistance does not operate under a logic of subordination but rather one of ideological harmony.

Nasrallah, who studied in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, Iraq, had long held the belief that the world is locked in a constant struggle between the oppressed (mostazafin) and the oppressors (mostakberin). When Hezbollah published its founding manifesto in 1985, the defense of the oppressed against the oppressors was one of its fundamental principles.

From this perspective, the relationship between Hezbollah and Iran is not based on a patron-client dynamic – as the West likes to portray – but on a political convergence. The concept of Wilayat al-Faqih—the authority of the leader of the Islamic revolution over the community—extends beyond the framework of the nation-state. For followers of this doctrine, Iran is not merely a country but the epicenter of an Islamic political-revolutionary project intended to serve as a model for the entire umma (Muslim community). This is why Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei is not seen solely as Iran’s leader but as a political authority beyond its borders.

Nasrallah has repeatedly asserted that Hezbollah does not operate under Tehran’s directives, “Alliance does not mean obedience. It does not mean that when one party makes a decision, others follow without questioning its motivations. That would be coercion, not alliance.” This independence is crucial to understanding the dynamics between both actors.

One of the most revealing episodes of this autonomy occurred during the Syrian war. According to Esmail Kowsari, a parliamentarian and member of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), it was Hezbollah that told Iran the two countries needed to enter the fight against Daesh terrorists.

Iranian General Hossein Hamedani confirmed in his memoirs that Nasrallah orchestrated the Resistance’s strategy in Syria and that even operations involving the IRGC were designed by Hezbollah.

Furthermore, various estimates suggest that even if Iran were to withdraw its support, Hezbollah could continue to operate independently. This demonstrates that the movement has built a self-sustaining structure and a financial network that extends beyond Iranian backing.

Labeling Hezbollah as a mere extension is reductive. The group is not simply an arm of Iran’s policies but an actor with its own decision-making and operational capabilities. Their relationship is better described as symbiotic, while they share strategic objectives and a common worldview, Hezbollah maintains autonomy in its decision-making.

The funeral of Nasrallah and Hashem Safi al-Din was not only a farewell for the Hezbollah leaders but also a politically significant event. It marked a pivotal moment for the Resistance in Lebanon amid escalating tensions with Israel.

It will provide an opportunity for the Lebanese people to demonstrate unity in an increasingly complex regional landscape. The message is clear: the Resistance remains steadfast and will not yield to external pressures.

At the funeral ceremony on Sunday, Hezbollah's fourth secretary-general, Sheikh Naim Qassem, repeated remarks previously delivered by Nasrallah 32 years ago at his predecessor's funeral. “Resistance has not ended. A new era of Resistance has just begun,” he said to a sea of mourners.

 

Pakistan: Torkham crossing remains closed

According to Saudi Gazette, Pakistani and Afghani border forces remained on high alert on Sunday as the Torkham crossing, a key trade and transit route between the two countries, remained shut for a second consecutive day following a dispute over the construction of a new checkpoint.

The border closure has halted all trade and passenger movement between Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province.

“Torkham border remains closed for all types of passenger and trade vehicles movement, and security forces on both sides are on alert,” a Pakistani security official stationed at the crossing told Anadolu.

No border flag meeting or communication committee talks have been scheduled to resolve the standoff, though efforts are reportedly underway to arrange discussions between officials.

The Torkham border is one of 18 crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan, where decades of territorial disputes have led to frequent closures, disrupting trade and travel.

Tensions between the two countries have escalated since November 2023, when Pakistan launched a crackdown on illegal foreigners, mostly targeting Afghan refugees, and initiated their forced deportation.

Islamabad has also accused Afghanistan-based militants linked to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of carrying out cross-border attacks, claiming that the Taliban government in Kabul has failed to act against them—an allegation the Taliban denies.

In December 2024, the Pakistani military launched airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, marking the second such cross-border military operation since March 2024.

The Afghan Taliban claimed that Pakistani jets killed 46 civilians, including women and children, while Islamabad denied that civilians were targeted. 

 

Pakistan an important neighbor of Iran

Iranian Vice President for Strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif held a cordial meeting with Pakistan’s ambassador in Tehran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu.

The two officials discussed the expansion of ties in various fields, including economy, security, and military domains. Cultural exchanges and the need to further increase them was another focus of discussions. 

“Pakistan is an important neighbor of Iran. This means that we should do our best to further enhance our ties,” Zarif said to the envoy.

The Iranian official who served as the country’s foreign minister for 8 years in the 2010s, traveled to Pakistan multiple times during his long tenure as a diplomat. 

For his part, Tipu briefed Zarif on the current state of bilateral ties, and reciprocated sentiments about the importance of enhanced cooperation between the two historically friendly countries. 

Iran and Pakistan have taken multiple steps to increase cooperation in recent years. Notably, a massive border market was inaugurated in 2023 by the leaders of the two countries.

Security collaboration has also become extremely significant, with the two nations facing similar threats posed by terrorists and smugglers.

 

Germany: Fragmented Political Landscape

Germans vote in a national election on Sunday which is expected to see Friedrich Merz's conservatives regain power and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) score its best ever result as Europe's ailing economic powerhouse lurches rightwards, reports Reuters.

Merz's CDU/CSU bloc has consistently led polls but is unlikely to win a majority given Germany's fragmented political landscape, forcing it to sound out coalition partners.

Those negotiations are expected to be tricky after a campaign which exposed sharp divisions over migration and how to deal with the AfD in a country where far-right politics carries a particularly strong stigma due to its Nazi past.

That could leave unpopular Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a caretaker role for months, delaying urgently needed policies to revive Europe's largest economy after two consecutive years of contraction and as companies struggle against global rivals.

It would also create a leadership vacuum in the heart of Europe as it deals with a host of challenges, including US President Donald Trump's threats of a trade war and attempts to fast-track a ceasefire deal for Ukraine without European involvement.

Germany, which has an export-oriented economy and long relied on the US for its security, is particularly vulnerable.

Germans are more pessimistic about their living standards now than at any time since the financial crisis in 2008.

EU allies are cautiously hopeful the elections might deliver a more coherent government able to help drive forward policy at home and in the bloc.

Some also hope Merz will reform the "debt brake," a constitutional mechanism to limit government borrowing that critics say has strangled new investment.

The most likely outcome of this election, say analysts, is a tie-up of Merz's conservative bloc of Christian Democrats (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) with the SPD, which is polling in third place in another uneasy "grand coalition".

"A lot of my friends are likely going to vote for the conservatives because this government didn't work so well and Merz's international standing is quite good," said Mike Zeller, 26, a civil servant.

"I just hope enough parties agree to a government so they can leave the AfD out."

 

 

 

Iran: Zolfaqar 1403 Joint Military Exercise

Iran commenced the large-scale Zolfaqar 1403 Joint Military Exercise on Saturday, spanning the Makran coasts, the Sea of Oman, and the northern Indian Ocean up to the 10-degree latitude.

Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, overseeing the maneuvers, stated the exercise aims to bolster Iran's defensive capabilities and deterrent power against potential threats.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Rear Admiral Sayyari said, "As part of the annual military exercises of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the main phase of the Zolfaqar 1403 joint exercise will commence tomorrow..."

The exercise, operating under the slogan "Sustainable Security and Power," will involve elements from the Ground Forces, Air Defense Forces, Air Force, and the Strategic Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, along with the Joint Air Defense Headquarters of Khatam al-Anbiya.

Rear Admiral Sayyari emphasized the deterrent nature of the drill, stating, "The purpose of conducting this exercise is to enhance the defensive capabilities and deterrent power of the sacred Islamic Republic of Iran against any land, air, or sea threats. Any enemy that thinks it can harm our territorial integrity or our interests on land, in the air, or at sea will certainly know that it will suffer significant consequences."

The exercise will serve as a testing ground for new military tactics and weaponry, including the evaluation of "new, smart, precise, and guided munitions, as well as various types of missiles."

The Zolfaqar 1403 exercise follows almost two months of nationwide military drills involving various units of the Armed Forces. The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Ground Force recently concluded the second round of its own maneuvers in Iran’s southwestern regions, where forces practiced fending off a potential attack in the Persian Gulf, while also unveiling various new drones, missiles, and defense systems.

 

 

PSX records modestly positive activities

Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a modestly positive week, with the benchmark KSE-100 index gaining 716 points or 0.64%WoW, to close at 112,801 points on Friday, February 21, 2025. Market activity was largely driven by ongoing announcements of corporate results, particularly better than expected earnings by the cement companies.

The authorities' stance against imposing new taxes ahead of the upcoming IMF review boosted investor confidence, with expectations of smooth review process, expected next month.

On the macro front, foreign direct investment (FDI) surged by 56%YoY to US$1.5 billion in 7MFY25, primarily due to higher inflows from China into the power sector, especially Hydel projects.

Current account posted a deficit of US$420 million in January 2025 after three months of surplus, driven by 17%YoY increase in imports. However, the 7MFY25 balance remained in surplus at US$682 million.

Yields in the latest auction rose by 3 to 17bps, with 3-month yield on T-bills climbing to 11.82%.

Large-Scale Manufacturing (LSM) index declined by 1.87%YoY in 1HFY25, primarily due to a slowdown in construction-related sectors.

Market participation also improved, with average daily traded volume increasing by 14%WoW to 590 million shares, from 519 million shares a week ago.

Foreign exchange reserves held by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) increased by US$35 million to US$11.20 billion as of February 14, 2025.

Other major news flow during the week included: 1) IMF and Pakistan to discuss US$1bn climate finance talks next week, 2) overseas investors repatriate US$1.3 billion during first seven months of the current financial years, 3) IFC announces to invest US$2 billion annually in Pakistan’s infrastructure, 4) textile exports increased by 11%YoY in seven months, and 5) GoP decides to deregulate fuel prices and auction offshore blocks.

Glass ceramics, Jute, and textile spinning were amongst the top performing sectors, while Transport, Pharmaceuticals, and Close-end mutual funds reported were the laggards.

Major selling was recorded by Mutual Funds and Foreigners with a net sell of US$8.6 million and US$5.1 million, respectively. Insurance companies, Individuals, and Companies absorbed most of the selling with an aggregate buy of US$14 million.

Top performing scrips of the week were: BOP, FCCL, KTML, TGL, and DGKC, while laggards included: SAZEW, MEHT, SEARL, TRG, and ABOT.

According to AKD Securities market outlook remains positive, with the KSE-100 expected to be influenced by corporate earnings announcements, which could set the tone for sector-specific movements.

Any developments regarding the upcoming IMF review or the US$1.0 billion climate financing by IMF could further trigger positive momentum. Over the medium term, the KSE-100 is anticipated to sustain its upward trajectory, primarily driven by strong earnings in fertilizers, sustained ROEs in banks, and improving cash flows of E&Ps and OMCs, benefiting from falling interest rates and economic stability.

 

Pakistan posts current account deficit in January

Pakistan has posted current account (CA) deficit of US$420 million in January 2025 as against a surplus of US$474 million in December 2024.

This was the first CA deficit since September 2024, shrinking the CA surplus during first seven months of the current financial year to US$682 million (which still compares well with a deficit of US$1.8 billion during 7MFY24).

A key reason for the deficit was the increase in goods imports (up by US$560 million MoM), about half of which was due to higher petroleum imports. This showed flat imports, which makes the negative CA balance less concerning. 

Goods trade deficit expanded to US$2.5 billion in January 2025 from US$1.8 billion a month ago, largely due to higher imports (up 11% MoM to US$5.4 billion) while exports fell 4% to US$2.9 billion.

Petroleum imports rose 25%MoM to US$1.6 billion, as compared to an average US$1.2 billion over the previous six months – despite January being an off-peak month for petroleum consumption (lower mobility during winter).

Overall goods imports were nearly flat MoM and petroleum imports fell 12% MoM to US$1.3 billion. The higher imports were due to a temporary difference (SBP data is cash based; and the payment for deliveries of previous months came due in January).

Goods exports were broadly flat around US$2.9 billion, but Textile exports were up a notable 14% MoM to US$1.7 billion. Food exports were down 19%MoM (rice exports fell 11%MoM).

Remittances were reported at US$3.0 billion but are likely to rise in the coming months' with the commencement Ramadan falls in March. Remittances increased 32%YoY during 7MFY25, to US$20.8 billion.

A narrow spread between the interbank and kerb exchange rates and a big outflow of skilled workers in recent years (driven by the economic crisis of 2022-23) were the key drivers for the increase in remittances.

Foreign exchange reserves held by State Bank of Pakistan fell to US$11.4 billion by end January from US$11.7 billion at the start of the month, manlily due to debt repayments of about US$500 million and CA deficit.

Next IMF review is due in early March 2025, a favorable review should unlock the next US$1 billion tranche.

Pakistan is scheduled to launch a US$200 million panda bond auction in China by June 2025.

 

EU to consider lifting sanctions on Syria

Reportedly, the European Union (EU) will meet on 24 February to discuss lifting sanctions on Syria. Internal European politics and concerns raised by Greece and Cyprus over Turkey's growing influence in the region could slow the process.

Speaking to Argus on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, representative for foreign affairs Kaja KallasKallas said the prospect of lifting sanctions on Syria looked promising.

France on February 14 convened an international conference on Syria in Paris, bringing together representatives from G7 nations, the EU, the UN, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The participants issued a final statement calling for support of Syria's political transition, but the US did not join that statement.

The US sources told Argus that the issues raised in the statement are things Washington has not decided on, since US president Donald Trump's administration is still formulating its policy regarding Syria.

Another source with knowledge of ongoing European talks on Syria said Greece and Cyprus are more reluctant to lift sanctions on Syria. Any EU action will have to be agreed upon by all of the bloc's members.

Both countries are leery of ties between Turkey and the Syrian Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the dominant faction in the new Syrian government.

Greece and Cyprus are worried about an oversized Turkish influence in the eastern Mediterranean following the collapse of the regime of Bashar al-Assad in December.

Sanctions remain one of the biggest obstacles to Syria's recovery.

Damascus has been struggling to secure crude and refined oil products through public tenders largely because of those sanctions.

Shipowners remain cautious about sending vessels there over concerns tankers being sanctioned or stranded.

Last month the US waived sanctions prohibiting energy trade with Syria, but the country is still under EU and British sanctions, which may have narrowed the pool for bidding.

 

Iran key economic link in West Asia

Abdolnaser Hemmati, economy minister has stated that regional economic cooperation is incomplete without Iran’s participation, emphasizing the country's strategic role in linking the Persian Gulf to Central Asia.

Hemmati said that amid maximum pressure conditions, strengthening economic ties with neighboring and friendly countries could help Iran navigate current challenges.

He made these remarks at a conference organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Finance and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which focused on economic resilience and the role of regional cooperation in overcoming economic pressures, risks, and shocks.

On the sidelines of the conference, Hemmati met with at least nine ministers, the head of a central bank, regional development bank leaders, and IMF officials, IRIB reported.

He highlighted two key takeaways from these discussions:

First, despite years of economic pressure, Iran has demonstrated resilience, a point that was acknowledged by its counterparts as a case study worth examining.

Second, regional economic collaboration is seen as incomplete without Iran, as the country serves as a bridge connecting the Persian Gulf to Central Asia.

Hemmati noted that Iran’s strategy under the president’s directives is to prioritize economic cooperation with regional and neighboring countries amid external pressures.

He stressed that the meetings confirmed this approach is feasible, with multiple ministers affirming their willingness to enhance economic ties with Iran.

In discussions with Saudi officials and other counterparts, Hemmati emphasized that sustainable political relations require robust economic cooperation.

He indicated that preliminary talks for expanding economic ties had taken place and that tangible outcomes would emerge in the future.

 

 

Trump sounds Napoleon Bonaparte

Fears that the United States is in the midst of a constitutional crisis—or something significantly worse ‑ intensified Saturday after President Donald Trump wrote in a social media post, "He who saves his country does not violate any law," a variation of a quote attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte.

If Trump successfully defies the courts, the only remaining obstacle to dictatorship will be public revulsion, national popular protest, and the hope that such a reaction would cause Trump to retreat and, at long last, recall some fraction of the Republican Party to its constitutional duty.

Trump's post on X—the platform owned by billionaire shadow government leader Elon Musk—came as his administration continued its sweeping and destructive assault on the federal government and workforce, running roughshod over the law in the process.

Trump's post Saturday was the latest brazen signal that the president doesn't recognize limits on his authority to impose his far-right agenda.

New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie called Trump's message "the single most un-American and anti-constitutional statement ever uttered by an American president."

Since taking office less than a month ago, Trump and Musk have moved aggressively to dismantle federal agencies and remove any officials who could shine light on or obstruct their efforts.

Trump, his handpicked Cabinet officials, and Musk have also disregarded or openly attacked the other two co-equal branches of government, accusing judges who have moved to halt or limit the new administration's actions of being Democratic partisans.

In some cases, the Trump administration has actively defied rulings from federal courts, an alarming indication of what's to come.

Yasmin Abusaif and Douglas Keith of the Brennan Center for Justice noted Friday, "The last time the United States saw widespread open defiance of court orders by elected officials was when governors in Southern states refused to integrate their schools after the Supreme Court ruled against segregation in public education in Brown v. Board of Education."

"President Dwight Eisenhower—though he was no fan of the court's decision—ultimately dispatched troops to the South to help enforce the ruling, saying, “The Supreme Court has spoken and I am sworn to uphold the constitutional process in this country, and I will obey,” Abusaif and Keith continued.

"The governors' efforts to defy court orders are widely acknowledged as one of the most shameful periods in US history."

Frank Bowman, a law professor and former federal and state prosecutor, wrote for Slate last week. "With each passing day, the practical ability of the courts to stop, or even materially hinder, the catastrophe diminishes."

Courtesy: Common Dreams

The Day Arafat Visited Iran

On February 18, 1979, six days after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Yasser Arafat, Chairman, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) arrived in Tehran on a sudden and unannounced visit. He was the first foreign guest who visited Iran to meet Imam Khomeini in Tehran. He congratulated him and the Iranian nation over the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

Arafat was detested by the King Mohammad Reza Shah, a close ally of the Zionist occupying Israeli regime. Upon arrival from Damascus at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran, he told reporters, “Iran and Imam Khomeini showed that our Umma (Muslims) will never give up. The Iranians broke the chains tied around the Palestinians. This great revolution of yours is the guarantee of our victory.”

"Your revolution was like an earthquake that sent shockwaves across the globe and trembled Israel and imperialism,” the PLO chairman also said in his interview at Mehrabad Airport.

According to media reports, when Arafat was asked whether the Palestinian movement felt “stronger” since the Iranian uprising, he replied, “Definitely, it has changed completely the whole strategy and policy in this area. It has been turned upside down.”

The oppressed Palestinian nation was just one of the many Muslim and non-Muslim nations that were inspired by the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The victory of the Islamic Revolution was a very important, decisive, and promising factor for the future of the Palestinians' struggle.

The victory of the Islamic Revolution brought lots of joy among Muslim Palestinians, especially in the occupied territories and among the people of Lebanon.

Palestinian fighters took to the streets of occupied cities and refugee camps across the occupied lands and fired salvos of celebratory gunfire into the sky to express their joy over the Islamic Revolution's victory.

The visit was a striking sign of the turn in Iran's foreign policy towards the Palestinian issue, the New York Times reported about the visit at the time. The Shah had maintained relations with the usurping Israeli regime and furnished the regime with about 60 percent of its oil needs, the Times report added.

The Pahlavi regime initially refused to recognize Israel but after the Shah tightened his grip on power, his regime established overt and covert ties with the occupying regime. An unofficial Israeli embassy was operating in Tehran for years to advance the interests of the Zionists in Iran.

Simultaneously with the visit of the Palestinian delegation in Tehran, a sign that read "Palestine Embassy" was installed at the top of the front door of that unofficially declared embassy building in downtown the capital in the presence of Arafat.

The embassy used to be like an espionage center. Israeli security experts helped in building the notorious Pahlavi regime’s secret police known as SAVAK. They contributed much to SAVAK's personnel training.  Israeli intelligence services and SAVAK were in close contact, oppressing the freedom-seeking movement in Iran before the revolution.

Israeli regime’s high-ranking officials repeatedly visited Iran to hold meetings with the Shah regime’s authorities, despite sparking anger among Muslim nations.

Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution led by Imam Khomeini reversed course in line with Muslim people’s demands and the country severed all diplomatic and trade ties with the usurping Israeli regime. Even before the revolution, many Iranians were in Lebanon to help the oppressed of the Shia community and the Palestinian refugees there who were under aggression by the Zionist regime in the south of the country.

In the meeting, Imam Khomeini stressed to Arafat that leftist Arab nationalism and reliance on foreign powers would not direct the Palestinian struggle toward victory. Instead, the Imam told Palestinians that only trusting in God Almighty and relying on the holy Quran and Islamic teachings would show the way forward to achieve the goal of liberation of the occupied Palestinian lands.

“The Shah too pinned hope on the support from America, the United Kingdom, China, Israel, etc. But their support was not too strong. Only support the God bestows is reliable,” Imam Khomeini further stressed.

Imam Khomeini further stressed that the Palestinian issue was an issue of the entire Islamic world, emphasizing the need for supporting Palestinians uprising as a religious duty that has to be shouldered by all Muslim nations, not only in their political struggle but also on the battlefield and armed struggle with the usurpers of holy Quds and their backers.

Nearly a decade after meeting with Imam Khomeini in 1988 amid indifference to the Palestinians suffering on the part of Arab rulers, Arafat, charmed by the infeasible two-state solution bid, gave in to pressures and began to negotiate with the Israeli regime, followed by signing the Oslo Accord in which the PLO acknowledged the State of Israel and pledged to reject armed struggle. But all this had a devastating impact on the struggle of Palestinians.

In the years following the Islamic Revolution, the Islamic Republic of Iran helped different Muslim nations in the region to forge a powerful alliance of Resistance forces against the occupying regime.

Tehran also helped in globalizing the Palestinian nation. It was Imam Khomeini who named the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan the International Quds Day during which Muslims across the globe show their solidarity with the Palestinians.

Unlike Arab nationalism, which suffered humiliating defeats against the Israeli regime in both the 1967 and the 1973 wars, the Resistance came out victorious on many battlefields against the usurping regime and its Western backers.

The Resistance inspired by the Iranian revolution has now become a global movement and has found supporters among freedom seekers all around the globe, even among people in Western countries.

Today, Iran is proud of its assisting role in creating a powerful Resistance movement that has waged a successful battle against the most barbaric regime in history.

 Courtesy: Tehran Times