JCPOA no longer relevant, says IAEA chief

Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has said that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is no longer viable, appearing to place sole responsibility for the 2015 nuclear deal's lame-duck state on Iran.

"The philosophy of the initial JCPOA agreement can be used as a basis, but the agreement itself is no longer necessary," Grossi remarked during his visit to Italy for discussions with the Foreign Ministry. 

The UN nuclear chief pointed out that Iran is now enriching uranium to levels of 60%, a threshold that he said brings the country close to the capability to produce military-grade uranium, which requires enrichment to 90%. "Iran is rapidly approaching the status of a nuclear state," he claimed. 

Grossi omitted any mention of the West's abandonment of the deal, the factor that prompted Iran to curtail some of its JCPOA commitments in the first place. 

The JCPOA was signed in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries (the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China). It aimed to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the termination of sanctions.

Washington unilaterally withdrew from the pact in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions against Iran. European signatories to the deal not only failed to take the sting out of US sanctions but also came up with anti-Iran bans of their own. 

Tehran began to scale back on some of its JCPOA commitments in 2020, under a new law passed by the Iranian parliament. 
 

 

 

British farmers unite against Starmer

Hundreds of British protesters opposing changes to inheritance tax rules for farms gathered outside the Welsh Labour conference as the prime minister defended his government's recent Budget measures, the BBC reported.

Farming unions have said the planned changes will have "disastrous" consequences.

Keir Starmer told the conference in Llandudno, Conwy, he would defend the Budget "all day long" for taking "tough decisions that were necessary to stabilize our economy".

Dozens of tractors and farm vehicles were parked on the prom outside the conference at Venue Cymru.

Signs reading "Enough is enough" and "No Farmers No Food" were held up as conference attendees entered the building.

Conwy County farmer and broadcaster Gareth Wyn Jones said he and others were taking part in the protest to "air their frustrations".

He described the changes to inheritance tax rules as a "massive bombshell" that would affect "thousands" of farming families.

Meanwhile, one of the organizers Gareth Wyn Jones, a Welsh farmer and YouTuber, told Sky News that farmers will deliver Starmer a letter which starts "'don't bite the hand that feeds you".

The UK premier was accused of “running out the backdoor like a rat” to avoid scores of angry farmers outside the conference.

 

Iranian Court commence trail of US Administration

According to the Tehran Times, an Iranian court has commenced the trial of the US administration and its officials for their role in the 1953 coup against the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. 

The first session was held on Sunday, marking the 71st anniversary of the coup, at the 55th branch of the court dealing with international affairs in Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Judicial Complex. 

This lawsuit, brought by some 402,000 Iranians, targets six American individuals and legal entities for their involvement in the ousting of Mosaddegh, which paved the way for the pro-Western monarchy of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi until the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Lawyer Shami Aghdam, representing the plaintiffs, stated that "documents show the US spy agency CIA, with the help of its British counterpart MI6, planned the coup by using internal and external agents against the legitimate government of Iran on August 19, 1953." 

Aghdam further explained that Washington and London designed the military coup through violating international principles and rules, and interfering in the internal affairs of Iran, intending to maintain their influence and power in the government, securing their interests and looting the country’s property.

He added that the coup was carried out by military and political figures affiliated with the US and British governments, as well as "thugs."

Aghdam concluded by stating that In fact, the coup marked the beginning of Washington’s complete domination over Iran to make it more dependent than before and prevent its independence and progress. The domination lasted for more than 25 years and inflicted costs, as well as material and spiritual damage, on the country and the nation.

The 1953 coup in Iran is known as Operation Ajax by the United States and its lesser-involved ally, Britain. The putsch happened after the Brits took umbrage at Mosaddegh’s decision to nationalize the Iranian oil industry, previously controlled by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC). This move angered Britain, which relied heavily on Iranian oil.

After failing to force the Iranian Prime Minister to walk back on his decision through an economic siege, London decided to seek direct help from the US, who Mosaddegh believed could be a relying partner for Iran in the absence of Britain. 

The CIA, under the direction of Kermit Roosevelt Jr., began planning the coup in early 1953. The operation aimed to create unrest and discredit Mossadegh while rallying support for the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The CIA’s main tool to incite public discontent against Mossadegh was propaganda. Americans portrayed the leader as a communist threat, while also funding opposition groups and organizing violent demonstrations.

On August 19, 1953, the coup was executed. Initially, it faced setbacks, but after some strategic adjustments and further riots, military forces loyal to the Shah took control of Tehran. Mossadegh was arrested, and the Shah was reinstated with increased power.

As stated by many historians as well as top Iranian figures and politicians, the coup toppling Mosaddegh in 1953 opened the floodgates to decades of the US meddling in Iran’s internal affairs. The upheaval, though bitter in nature, also became the first lesson that Iranians learnt, the US cannot be trusted when it comes to respecting the sovereignty, integrity, and independence of other countries. 

“There are some people who say that we should somehow compromise with the US because this way, their enmities might decrease. No, [This is not right]. They have not even shown mercy to those who trusted, pinned their hopes on, and referred to the US for assistance,” Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei explained during a gathering in 2017.  “Who for example?

Dr. Mosaddegh. In order to fight and stand up against the English – this is what he wished to do – he turned to the Americans. He met with and negotiated with them and asked for their help. He trusted them. [But] The coup d'état of the 28th of Mordad (1953 coup) was not launched by the English, rather it was launched by the US against Mosaddegh.”

 

Europe planning Abraham Accords II

According to the Tehran Times, France, Germany, and Britain intend to join the 146 countries recognizing Palestine as a state, contingent upon significant concessions from Iran, including its recognition of Israel and a halt to support for resistance groups in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria.

The initiative proposed by France and endorsed by Britain and Germany aims to offer additional protections for Israel but does not establish any conditions to safeguard Palestinians against Israel's apartheid policies in the occupied territories, its massacres in Gaza, the abuse of Palestinian prisoners, or the growing number of illegal settlements in the West Bank.

If the initiative is implemented, the European trio will align with their counterparts in Norway, Ireland, and Spain, who became the latest group of European countries to recognize Palestine as a state earlier this year. While the May decision drew fury from the Israeli regime, it failed to stop the ongoing suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied territories.

According to information gathered by the Tehran Times, White House officials have expressed their support for the European plan as they view it as a continuation of the 2020 Abraham Accords, which led to recognition of Israel's sovereignty over Palestinian territories by some Arab and African nations, including the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.

Saudi Arabia was on the verge of joining the accords before the outbreak of the latest round of Israeli onslaughts in Gaza. 

Some critics in Europe and the US have warned that even if Iran were to acknowledge Israel and distance itself from the resistance, Israel would not be granted the security it desires. Rather, the move would reinforce the regime's unlawful practices and hinder any prospects for a genuine peace process. They highlight that the Abraham Accords did not stop the successful Hamas operation on October 7, when Palestinian fighters seized control of several Israeli settlements for hours and took some Israelis to Gaza.

Sources have told the Tehran Times that voices averse to the initiative believe Western leaders should recognize and respect Palestinians’ rights, instead of turning to regional countries to strengthen Israel’s hand. 

The Tehran Times understands that besides the perceived impracticality and ineffectiveness of the initiative, some in Europe and the United States also believe that Iran is highly unlikely to acquiesce to Europe's demands.

Nevertheless, the leaders of France, Germany, and Britain intend to promote the initiative in the future as a way to vindicate themselves following months of intense criticism regarding their support for Israel’s devastating campaign in Gaza. 

Europe intends to throw the ball in Iran’s court and blame it for the crisis in Gaza after Tehran rejects the initiative, the Tehran Times was informed. Rather than a genuine attempt at peace, Europe’s proposed recognition of Palestine is a calculated move to shift blame onto Iran. 

In the past 10 months, over 40,000 Palestinians have lost their lives as a direct result of Israeli attacks on the besieged enclave. War experts say at least 100,000 more people will end up losing their lives, due to the complete decimation of medical centers in Gaza, as well as an acute shortage of food, clean water, and medicine.

 

Bangladesh: Hasina Breaks Silence

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently taking refuge in India, has broken her silence by accusing foreign powers like the US of playing a hand in her ouster. This comes days after the Indian government said it was analyzing the possibility of a “foreign hand” behind the political crisis in Bangladesh.

“I could have remained in power if I had left St. Martin and the Bay of Bengal to America,” she said in a message conveyed to her Awami League supporters Saturday.

 The Hasina government saw strained relations with the US for many years. Ahead of January’s elections this year, she said “a white man” had offered her a smooth return to power in exchange for an airbase.

 In her latest statement, Hasina, the longest-serving prime minister in Bangladesh’s history, warned the new interim government not be “used” by such foreign powers.

The 17-member advisory council, which includes four members who lean towards the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and three affiliated with the Jamaat-e-Islami, took oath Thursday night.

The Bangladesh Parliament was dissolved earlier this week, after army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced Hasina’s resignation shortly after she fled the country.

“I resigned so that I did not have to see the procession of dead bodies. They wanted to come to power over your (students’) bodies, I did not allow it. I came with power,” read Hasina’s statement.

“Maybe if I was in the country today, more lives would have been lost, more wealth would have been destroyed,” she added.

She is also expected to address the media while in India next week.

Over 300 people died in weeks-long student protests against Hasina. The United States, Britai, Canada and other countries have called for investigations into the deaths of students.

With the new interim government in Dhaka, Washington said it hopes it will “chart a democratic future” in Bangladesh.

Nobel Laureate Mohammed Yunus, leading the new interim government, is believed to have strong ties with the US. In the past, he has held frequent meetings with American diplomats to “bemoan” the state of Bangladeshi politics, according to WikiLeaks cables.

The US is also Bangladesh’s largest foreign direct investor.

 ‘I will return soon’

In her message to supporters and party cadres, she vowed to return to the country, though accepting her defeat.

“I will return soon inshallah.  The defeat is mine but the victory is [that of] the people of Bangladesh,” she stated.

“I removed myself, I came with your victory, you were my strength, you did not want me, I myself then left, resigned. My workers who are there, no one will lose morale. Awami League has stood up again and again,” she added.

The former prime minister also accused people of distorting her words.

“I want to repeat to my young students, I never called you Razakars…My words have been distorted. A group has taken advantage of your danger. ,” she said in the message.

The term ‘Razakar’ is considered to be derogatory in Bangladesh as it refers to ‘volunteers’ who collaborated with the Pakistan Army during Bangladesh’s 1971 war for independence.

 

United States and Britain target Yemen

The United States and Britain carried out a series of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, according to US Central Command.

In addition, the US unilaterally destroyed eight aerial attack drones over Yemen and the Red Sea.

The coalition strikes targeted 13 Houthi targets in parts of Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed group.

This marked the fifth round of coalition strikes against the Houthis, who have repeatedly attacked US Navy ships and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The two waterways, separated by the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, are critical to international shipping routes.

The last round of strikes occurred on February 24, as the US and Britain targeted Houthi weapons and radar sites.

The US has tried to disrupt the Houthi’s ability to target commercial vessels and US warships by going after their primary weapons, including anti-ship cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and one-way attack drones. The US has also destroyed maritime drones and underwater drones. The resumption of strikes follows an uptick in Houthi attacks over the last week.

During this past week, the US destroyed Houthi missile launchers in Yemen and intercepted aerial attack drones.

On Tuesday, three Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles struck a Greek-owned and operated merchant ship in the Red Sea, according to US Central Command. There were no injuries, according to Central Command, and the M/V Lax was able to continue its voyage.

The US spearheaded Operation Prosperity Guardian in December to protect international shipping, banding together with other nations to intercept Houthi attacks.

The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and a number of destroyers have patrolled the waters of the region to intercept Houthi launches.

The USS Carney, a guided missile destroyer that recently returned from the Middle East, had 51 engagements in six months, which Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said last week was “the most direct Navy engagement with a foe since World War II.”

Does the next British leader have a plan?

On May22, 2024, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called snap elections for July 04, 2024. Polls suggest that the opposition Labour Party—led by the centrist MP Keir Starmer—will sweep to victory, putting an end to 14 years of Conservative leadership. But what are Keir Starmer’s economic policies?

Thus far, Starmer has focused on small-scale policy pledges, such as hiring extra teachers, cutting hospital waiting times, and improving border security—a cautious approach to policymaking that contrasts with the large challenges the country faces.

Sluggish economic growth

One key challenge for Starmer will be improving Britain’s economy. After easily and consistently outperforming the Euro area economy in the years prior to the 2016 Brexit vote, the Britain has underperformed since. This is despite the tailwind of a population which has boomed by around 2.5 million in the intervening years on surging immigration from outside the EU.

Analysts forecast Britain GDP growth to roughly track Euro area GDP growth over our forecast horizon to 2028. Given higher population growth in the UK, this means the Britain’s GDP per capita growth will actually lag behind that of the Euro area. Starmer has pledged to make Britain the G7’s top-performing economy; but analysts see little chance of this happening. That said, the labor market will be one saving grace: The unemployment rate is hovering close to 4% and should remain there in the coming years, which would be below the G7 average.

Strained public finances

Government finances are likely to present Starmer with further difficulties. Weak growth, together with rising spending pressure from an aging population and the Covid-19 pandemic, has translated into a large budget deficit and stubbornly high public debt in recent years. And public debt is set to stay above 100% of GDP over our forecast horizon.

This will likely tie Starmer’s hands and prevent lavish new spending commitments—particularly given the still-fresh memory of the ill-fated attempt by former PM Liz Truss to play fast and loose with fiscal discipline, which resulted in a sharp spike in market interest rates.

Damaged cross-Channel trade ties

Finally, Starmer will have to grapple with the Britain-EU relations. The Britain-EU trade deal has led to a raft of non-tariff barriers on both goods and services trade with Europe which have hampered both British exports and investment into the country.

While Sunak has succeeded in making ties with Brussels more cordial following persistent political frictions under the premiership of Boris Johnson, the trade deal remains threadbare. A Labour government would likely look to work more closely with the bloc in certain economic sectors, but has pledged not to region the EU, the Single Market, or the customs union, which will continue to hamper exports and investment ahead.

Insight from Analysts

 “Much will depend on the size of Labour’s potential majority: a comfortable majority would make some of the party’s policies, such as overhauling the labour market, realistic and actionable.

However, few of the Labour members of parliament (MPs) that will end up in government as junior ministers have experience in government. Labour will face significant challenges, given that many of the major issues facing the next administration will require large amounts of money to fix (including the National Health Service). Its period in office is therefore likely to be challenging.”

Economic situation

 “The Britain economy has underperformed the US and the Eurozone since the start of the pandemic. The slump in 2020 was deeper and the subsequent recovery levelled off in 2022 even more so than in the Eurozone in the wake of the surge in energy and food prices. The strong Q1 GDP data partly correct an unexpectedly weak finish to 2023. The sharp 2.3% drop in imports, which boosted the net trade component in Q1, was probably a one-off. However, the data also suggest that the UK economy may have started to make up some of the lost ground.

 

 

 

Saudi-British trade surpasses US$21 billion

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak revealed that bilateral trade between Britain and Saudi Arabia has exceeded 17 billion pounds or US$21 billion.

 “Today we are launching the next phase of the deep and growing partnership between Britain and Saudi Arabia. Over the next two days, we will hear from Saudi leaders and companies about how to make Vision 2030 a reality, and the tremendous opportunities it presents to all of us,” he said while addressing, through a video conference, the opening session of the GREAT Futures Initiative Conference, which kicked off at the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh on Tuesday.

The two-day conference is one of the initiatives of the Saudi-British Strategic Partnership Council, chaired by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and Rishi Sunak. 

“I know British businesses here will relish the opportunity to showcase the best our country has to offer,” the prime minister said.

Sunak revealed that nearly 25,000 Britons live in Saudi Arabia at present.

“Since the launch of the new electronic visa exemption regime in June 2022, Britain has welcomed more than 400,000 Saudis. The United Kingdom excels globally in the fields of technology and innovation, and thousands of Saudis have graduated from British universities in finance, fashion, luxury product sales, and others,” he told the conference participants.

British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden is among several British and Saudi ministers, as well as Saudi and international experts and specialists who are addressing the conference. As many as 800 participants from the public and private sectors of both countries are taking part in the event.

In his speech at the conference, Dowden said that the pace of change in Saudi Arabia in terms of the economic, social and cultural aspects is exceptional.

“We do not just want to support the Saudi Vision 2030, but we want to be part of it.” Referring to the conference, he said the Kingdom’s hosting of such an event is a wonderful example and shows British talent to the world: “We participate in leading the economic and social elements of our relations as a means of work, execution and transformation.”

Dowden said that this would significantly increase mutual prosperity and demonstrate that a modern, forward-looking partnership can meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Dowden noted that he was accompanied by a giant delegation to this event that included more than 450 people, which is the largest British trade mission in a decade and the largest ever from Britain to Saudi Arabia.

He pointed out that the talented lawyers, consultants, financial experts, architects and designers in Britain can help turn this vision into a reality, and highlighted that their work are meant to strengthen the presence of British companies in the Kingdom, and to accelerate the vital trade ties that make the mutual relations between the two countries of great value.

According to the British deputy prime minister, Saudi Arabia, through its mega projects and cities, is paving the way for how societies can harness innovative technologies to achieve amazing change.

“The partnership between the two kingdoms is a two-way street, as the two countries open their markets to each other. So that investments, tourism exports, and cooperation can flow in both directions,” he added.

The conference is aimed to enhance economic relations between the two countries in various promising sectors as well as to develop mutual trade and investment. The conference will feature 47 sessions and workshops with 127 speakers from both public and private sectors, covering 13 promising economic sectors, including tourism, culture, education, health, sports, investment, trade, and financial services, in addition to signing six agreements in the fields of education and training, tourism, and real estate development.

Earlier, Dowden said that the conference is an important opportunity to build partnerships between the business sectors of both countries, keeping pace with the future, innovation, and creativity. It also allows British companies to familiarize themselves with relevant business regulations, incentives, and advantages for conducting business in Saudi Arabia.

On his part, Minister of Commerce Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi stressed that the conference is an opportunity to enhance cooperation and economic partnership in 13 vital and promising sectors. He also highlighted that it paves the way for extensive partnerships focusing on innovation and creativity in sectors of mutual interest.

Iran denounces new sanctions

The Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani has refuted the charges made against Tehran in a recent resolution passed by the European Parliament, and denounced the new sanctions that the United States, Britain and Canada have placed on a number of Iranian citizens and firms.

The spokesperson also attacked several European nations for adhering to the harsh policies of the US administration by criticizing the European Parliament's decision against Iran.

He emphasized that Iran’s military capabilities are built in accordance with its needs to preserve territorial integrity and sovereignty, defend national security and interests, and provide a legitimate and deterrent defense against external threats and acts of aggression.

According to Kanaani, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is a major partner of the international community in providing peace and security to the region and the world, as well as in the fight against international terrorism.”

Imposing the sanctions, he said, the sanctions against Iran’s defense sector will actually present a chance to advance the nation’s military and defense capabilities and self-sufficiency, rather than weakening its resolve to strengthen its defense of its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests.

“Many nations and governments, specifically in the West Asia region, hold out no hope of the role of the US and its European allies in the establishment of stability and security in the region anymore,” the spokesman continued. 

His remarks followed the announcement of further sanctions against Iran on Thursday by the US, Britain, and Canada in response to its retaliatory strike against Israeli military targets on April 13.

The three states said that they will punish people and companies “closely involved” in Iran’s drone manufacture in order to target the country’s drone and missile sectors.

By a vote of 357 to 20, the European Parliament on Thursday passed a resolution denouncing Iran’s use of drones and missiles against the Israeli regime and urging the imposition of more penalties on Iranian organizations.

The Treasury Department and the State Department said on Tuesday that the United States government has imposed charges and penalties on four Iranian nationals in connection with an alleged multi-year cyber operation that targeted over a dozen American firms.

The Treasury Department issued sanctions on two firms, Dadeh Afzar Arman and Mehrsam Andisheh Saz Nik, which it claimed employed the individual defendants and served as front organizations for Iran’s Revolution Guards cyber command.

The business targets, according to federal prosecutors in Manhattan, were mostly defense contractors with access to confidential data; other targets included an accountancy firm and a hotel company located in New York. 

“These actors targeted more than a dozen US companies and government entities through cyber operations, including spear phishing and malware attacks,” the US Treasury Department said in a statement.

The defendants, according to the prosecution, used spearfishing—a tactic that entails deceiving email recipients into clicking on harmful links—and impersonating women to win over people’s trust in order to infect computers with malware.

The Israeli airstrike, which took place in Damascus’s Mezzeh district, resulted in the deaths of seven military advisors from the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). Iranian officials have vowed a decisive response to what they described as a violation of international obligations and conventions.

Zahra Ershadi, Iran’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, told the 15-member Security Council that Iran reserves the right "to take a decisive response" to the attack, saying Israel violated the founding UN Charter, international law, and the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises.

Israel’s crime clearly breached the basic principles of diplomatic and consular immunity, as well as the 1961 Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and the 1973 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes, the diplomat stated.

 

Need to check Israeli attempts

The Iran-Israel shadow war has very much come out into the open. Tel Aviv had been targeting Tehran’s assets for over a decade, particularly in Syria, taking advantage of the chaos engendered by that country’s civil war. A number of Iranian scientists, especially those associated with the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, had been assassinated within Iran in hits widely considered to have been orchestrated by Israel.

While the Iranians are known for their strategic patience, and for playing the long game, the April 01 Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic facility in Damascus, in which a number of senior Iranian generals were killed, had crossed a red line. There was tremendous pressure on Iran from within to reply to this Israeli transgression, and the ayatollah and his generals had to respond without triggering a major regional war.

Tehran’s response came in the shape of the April 13 assault on Israel, a barrage that was short on destructiveness, yet scored a major strategic and PR victory for Iran. The suspected Israeli strikes targeting Iranian facilities in Isfahan early on Friday are the latest move on this dangerous chessboard.

While Tel Aviv has officially kept mum about the Isfahan misadventure — Israel rarely owns up to subterfuge outside of its borders — some politicians in the Zionist state have celebrated the attacks, while American media, quoting sources, have said this is Israel’s handiwork. The Iranians themselves appear to be downplaying the event, and an airbase and nuclear facilities in the area seem to be safe.

Once again, the clamour for de-escalation has been echoing from global capitals. Surely a wider war is in no one’s interest — except perhaps for the extremists in Israel — but true de-escalation means Israel must start behaving like a normal state, not a rogue nation that threatens the entire region, as well as the forsaken Palestinians captive in the occupied territories.

The UN secretary general has said “one miscalculation … one mistake, could lead to the unthinkable”. But this is perhaps just what Benjamin Netanyahu and the cabal of zealots in the unruly coalition that backs him may want. After all, Israel has been facing global opprobrium for its butchery in Gaza, while Netanyahu is facing significant domestic opposition for his handling of the debacle.

Thus, a war with Iran may be a useful distraction to shift the focus from Palestine, and rally Israel’s Western friends behind it to protect the Middle East’s ‘only democracy’ against Tehran.

Suffice to say, any scenario pitting the Israeli-Western collective against Iran and its ‘axis of resistance’ allies will result in an explosion in the Middle East, causing oil prices to skyrocket, and global trade to be upended. To avoid this, Washington, London and Brussels need to check Israel’s destabilizing behaviour.

Courtesy: Dawn

Al Quds Day observed worldwide

Millions of people across the world held huge rallies to mark ‘Al Quds Day’ to express solidarity with Palestinian people and condemn Israeli crimes. This year Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip has attached specific significance. 

The event observed on the last Friday of Ramadan is commemorated by Palestinian supporters every year.  

In Pakistan, political parties including Jamaat-e-Islami and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen staged rallies across the country in support of the Palestinians and against the Israeli killing in Gaza. 

The protests were held in different cities including Karachi, Quetta, Muzaffarabad, Kashmore, Bhalwal, Parachinar, Chichawatni, Rajanpur and Jacobabad.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on the international community to exert pressure on Israel to halt its oppression of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

He underscored Pakistan's unwavering support for Palestine, advocating for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The premier pointed to decades-long Israeli occupation of Palestine and denounced the international community’s silence in the face of human rights violations by the regime. 

On the outskirts of Srinagar in Indian controlled Kashmir, Muslims slammed the Israeli massacres in Gaza. They called for ending the Israeli violence and genocide in the Palestinian territory. 

A massive rally also took place in Mumbai, India. The protesters expressed support for the Palestinians and their cause. They also slammed the Israeli genocide in Gaza which has left 33,000 people dead since October 07, 2023.

Indonesia was also the scene of protests against Israel on Al Quds Day. The protesters denounced the regime’s war of genocide on Gaza. They blamed the US for standing by the regime.

The demonstrators displayed a poster depicting President Joe Biden as a clown during a rally outside the US embassy in Jakarta.

Malaysians also rallied to express solidarity with Palestinian people and the cause of Palestine.  

In Thailand, people took part in a rally in support of Palestinians in front of the Israeli embassy in Bangkok. 

Bahrainis demand closure of Israeli embassy. Theycame on the streets to voice support for Palestinians, particularly the residents of the Gaza Strip. They condemned the Israeli brutality against the Gazans. 

The protesters called for the closure of the Israeli embassy in Manama and the expulsion of the regime’s diplomats from the Arab country. 

Bahrain and the Israeli regime established diplomatic relations in 2020 as part of the United States-brokered Abraham Accords.

Millions of Yemenis also marked Al Quds Day. Protesters in the capital Sana'a condemned Israel’s brutal war on Gaza. 

In a statement, the protesters said the Palestinian nation has been subjected to the US-Israeli genocide for six months. 

The statement called on all Arab and Islamic countries to fulfill their responsibilities in the face of the savagery of the US and the Israeli regime.

Other countries in the Arab world including Iraq and Jordan saw huge protests on Al Quds Day. 

Protesters in Tanzania's coastal city of Dar es Salaam also rallied as they were holding the Palestinian flag. The protesters chanted anti-Israeli slogans and condemned the regime’s vicious crimes against Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

Al Quds Day rallies in Nigeria turned deadly as police clashed with protesters. Reports suggest security forces killed several people in the city of Kaduna who were protesting against the Israeli crimes. 

Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the pro-Palestine demonstrators.

Europe also saw rallies marking International Quds Day. In Britain, demonstrators gathered outside the Home Office in Marsham Street before heading into Horseferry Road, along Millbank, past the front of the Houses of Parliament and finishing in Whitehall where speeches were delivered. Prior to the rallies, more than 500 officers were deployed in central London.

In Poland, protesters held banners as they gathered to spend night near the US Consulate in Krakow to protest against Israeli attacks in Gaza.

 

Qatar: Al Udeid US Air Base

According to a CNN report the United States has quietly reached an agreement that extends its military presence at a sprawling base in Qatar for another 10 years.

The deal, which has not been announced publicly, highlights Washington’s reliance on the tiny Gulf country that has recently played a central role in mediating the release of Americans from captivity in Gaza and Venezuela.

The Al Udeid Air Base, located in the desert southwest of Doha, is the biggest US military installation in the Middle East and can house more than 10,000 American troops.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin personally visited Al Udeid and thanked Qatar for their increased spending on the base.

Austin made no mention of the renewal and the Biden administration has not publicized it – at a time when Qatar has come under growing scrutiny for hosting senior Hamas leaders.

Qatari officials have countered that it was only after a US request during the Obama administration that Hamas was allowed to open a political office in Doha.

The base has been a pivotal hub for the US Central Command’s air operations in or around Afghanistan, Iran and across the Middle East. The Qatari and British Air Forces also operate from the base.

The extension comes as the US has bolstered its presence in the region amid escalating threats from Iran-backed militant groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

After Hamas kidnapped some 240 hostages from Israel on October 07, 2023 Qatar has been the primary go-between with Hamas to broker the initial release of scores of the Israeli and international hostages. It continues to be central in the talks to try to revive hostage negotiations, coordinating with the CIA and Israel’s Mossad, as well as Egypt.

Their part in the months of negotiations over Americans detained by Venezuela was less public but came to light after President Nicolas Maduro released 10 Americans last month in exchange for a close ally accused by the US of laundering hundreds of millions of dollars.

Qatar’s involvement in both sets of negotiations has been seen as an extension of the mediating role the country has taken on with other US enemies, including Iran and the Taliban. 

Its vast oil and natural gas wealth, coupled with ability to act as a facilitator, allow Qatar to punch above its weight.

While their hosting of Hamas leadership was no secret, the brutality of the October 7 massacre in Israel has ignited criticism of Qatar and calls for them to expel Hamas.

President Joe Biden has spoken about his conversations with Qatar’s emir but at times hasn’t given them the credit they feel they deserve.

Biden did not mention Qatar in a November op-ed in The Washington Post, while Egypt and other Middle East allies were referenced. Nor did Biden highlight Qatar’s part in the release of the detainees in Venezuela in his official statement.

Thousands of Afghans were flown from Kabul to Al Udeid during the chaotic American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. US military personnel struggled to provide for the massive influx of refugees from what Biden called “one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history.”

Qatar has committed billions of its own funds upgrade the facilities for US Airmen at the base. Al Udeid became CENTCOM’s main air base in 2003, shifting forces and assets from the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, where the presence of a large number of American military personnel was more sensitive and controversial.

“We’ll do this through Qatar’s commitment to contribute significant resources to increase capabilities here at Al Udeid Air Base, and that will support both of our forces for years to come,” Austin added.

 

 

US and UK nationals ordered to leave Yemen

Yemen's Houthi authorities have ordered the US and British staff of the United Nations and Sanaa-based humanitarian organizations to leave the country within a month, a document and a Houthi official said on Wednesday.

The decision follows strikes by the United States and Britain, with support from other nations, against military targets of the group, which has been launching attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea that is says are linked to Israel.

The US government last week also returned the Houthis to a list of terrorist groups as Washington tries to stem attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis have said their attacks are in solidarity with the Palestinians as Israel bombards Gaza.

"The ministry ... would like to stress that you must inform officials and workers with US and British citizenships to prepare to leave the country within 30 days," said a letter sent by the Houthi foreign ministry to the UN's acting humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, Peter Hawkins.

The letter also ordered foreign organisations to not hire American and British citizens for Yemen's operations.

Houthi top negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam confirmed the letter's authenticity to Reuters.

The US embassy said in a statement it was aware of reports about the letter but "cannot speak on behalf of the UN or humanitarian organizations in Yemen as to what they may have received from Houthi 'authorities'".

The British embassy said staff had not yet been told to leave and the mission was in close contact with the UN on the issue.

"The UN provide vital assistance to the Yemeni people ... via the very sea routes that the Houthis are jeopardizing," the British mission in Yemen said in a statement. "Nothing should be done that hinders their ability to deliver," it added.

The Houthi movement controls much of Yemen after nearly a decade of war against a US-backed coalition. The war has shifted to a no-war, no-peace stalemate as the fighting has largely stopped, but both parties have failed to renew formally a UN-brokered ceasefire.

US and British warplanes, ships and submarines have launched dozens of air strikes across Yemen in retaliation for Houthi attacks as container vessels have been forced to divert from the Red Sea, the fastest freight route from Asia to Europe.

US and British forces on Tuesday targeted a Houthi underground storage site as well as missile and surveillance capabilities, the Pentagon said.

 

 

US and British forces no longer can pass Bab el-Mandeb Strait, declares Yemen

Yemen  has declared that the US and British forces can no longer pass through the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait as tensions grow in the region following US-led military strikes.

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the political bureau of the Ansarullah resistance movement, issued the warning on Monday after the United States and its allies bombed Yemen amid frustration with anti-Israel naval operations in the Red Sea.

He said that the Yemeni armed forces are developing their missile capabilities to bring new surprises soon.

“The American and British forces can no longer pass through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait,” a sea route chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and by extension the Indian Ocean, he added.

“The Axis of Resistance has regained control over the region. The Americans will regret their acts of aggression against Yemen and they will be a loser.”

The US and Britain, backed by Bahrain, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands, struck more than 60 targets at almost 30 locations in Yemen on Friday, killing five people and injuring six others.

On Saturday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that a follow-on action was conducted against a Yemeni radar facility by the Navy destroyer USS Carney using Tomahawk land attack missiles.

Bukhaiti said that the Yemeni forces are capable of confronting the Americans and that they will block the passage of US and Israeli ships through the Red Sea.

Earlier on Monday, the Yemeni forces hit a US-owned container ship with a ballistic missile off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden.

Centcom said that the attack on the Gibraltar Eagle caused no injuries or significant damage and that the vessel is continuing its journey.

The operation occurred two hours after another ballistic missile was fired toward the southern Red Sea.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said all American and British ships and warships participating in the aggression are hostile targets.

The US has offered untrammeled support for Israel during the onslaught that has so far killed more than 24,100 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 60,834 others.

In solidarity with the Palestinians in besieged Gaza, the Yemeni armed forces have targeted ships in the Red Sea with owners linked to Israel or those going to and from ports in the occupied territories.

In response, the US has formed a military coalition against Yemeni forces in the Red Sea and endangered maritime navigation in the strategic waterway.

  

Saudi Arabia urges restraint after US and UK target Yemen

Saudi Arabia is closely monitoring with deep concern the ongoing military operations in the Red Sea region after the United States and Britain carried out massive air strikes in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Friday.

"The Kingdom underscores the critical importance of maintaining security and stability in the Red Sea area, which is internationally recognized for its strategic significance in global navigation, directly impacting the interests of the entire world."

In light of the ongoing regional events, Saudi Arabia called for restraint and urged all parties involved to avoid any escalation, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution to maintain the area's stability and security.

United States and British militaries bombed more than a dozen sites in Yemen on Thursday, in a massive retaliatory strike using warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets, US officials said.

The military targets included air defense and coastal radar sites, drone and missile storages and launching pads.

US President Joe Biden stated that the air strikes were to demonstrate that the US and its allies “will not tolerate” the militant group’s continuous attacks in the Red Sea. He clarified that the decision was made after diplomatic negotiations and careful deliberations.

“These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea — including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history,” Biden said.

He said these attacks endangered US personnel and civilian mariners and jeopardized trade. “I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary," he added.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak noted that the Royal Air Force conducted targeted strikes against military facilities used by the Houthis. The Defense Ministry revealed that four fighter jets based in Cyprus participated in the strikes.

Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry has refuted rumors regarding the presence of foreign forces at King Fahd Air Base in Taif. Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, the ministry’s spokesperson, said these rumors were false, Al Arabiya reported early on Friday.

Ali al-Qahoum, a high-ranking Houthi official, vowed retaliation, stating, “The battle will be bigger... and beyond the imagination and expectation of the Americans and the British.”

Al-Masirah, a Houthi-run satellite news channel, reported strikes hitting various strategic locations, including the Al-Dailami Air Base north of Sanaa, the airport in the port city of Hodeida, a camp east of Saada, the airport in the city of Taiz, and an airport near Hajjah.

United States adamant at stopping ships entering Red Sea

After the latest attacks at Yemen on Saturday, it has become evident that United States and its allies, particularly Britain, are adamant at stopping ships passing through Red Sea. The strikes at Yemen are aimed at opening a new front in the Middle East and take attention away from ongoing genocide in Gaza by Israel.

It is necessary to understand why United States is targeting Yemen. For a long time US has fought a proxy war in Yemen. After the resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran and Saudi refusal to join the US-led naval force, United States wants to target Yemen.

It may be recalled that ships had resumed journey through Red Sea, which was not appreciated by United States. Therefore, it raised false flag of attacks on ships by Houthis to create a justification of attacks on Yemen.

Readers can recall the US hoax call of presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to pave way for attack on the country. Even at that time British Prime Minister, Toney Blair was the mouthpiece of US President George Bush.

 According to Associated Press (AP), the US military early Saturday struck another Houthi-controlled site in Yemen that it had determined was putting commercial vessels in the Red Sea at risk.

The latest strike came after the US Navy on Friday warned American-flagged vessels to steer clear of areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for the next 72 hours after the initial airstrikes.

The warning came as Yemen’s Houthis vowed fierce retaliation, further raising the prospect of a wider conflict in a region already beset by Israel’s war in Gaza.

 “We will make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behavior along with our allies,” Biden told reporters during a stop in Emmaus, Pennsylvania.

United States and Britain strike Yemen

United States and British warplanes, ships and submarines launched dozens of air strikes across Yemen overnight, widening regional conflict stemming from Israel's war in Gaza.

According to Reuters, witnesses confirmed explosions at military bases near airports in the capital Sanaa and Yemen's third city Taiz, a naval base at the main Red Sea port Hodeidah and military sites in the coastal Hajjah governorate.

"These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation," said US President Joe Biden.

The Houthis said five of their fighters had been killed in a total of 73 air strikes, and that they would retaliate and continue their attacks on shipping, which they describe as intended to support Palestinians against Israel.

The commander of US air operations in the Middle East, Air Force Lieutenant-General Alex Grynkewich, said 60 targets at 16 separate locations had been hit using more than 100 precision-guided munitions.

A US official said the targets were not just symbolic but intended to weaken the Houthis' ability to attack, "We were going after very specific capability in very specific locations with precision munitions."

In a country only just emerging from nearly a decade of war that brought millions of people to the brink of famine, morning brought long queues at petrol stations from people fearing an extended new conflict with the West.

According to an AP Report, Houthi spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, in a videotaped address on Friday said “American and British enemy bears full responsibility for its criminal aggression against our Yemeni people, and it will not go unanswered and unpunished.” He described 73 strikes hitting five regions of Yemen under Houthi control.

The strikes marked the first US military response on Yemeni soil since attacks on commercial ships of Israeli origins and ships carrying goods to/ from Israel. Houthis have avoided attacking other commercial ships.

President Joe Biden said the strikes were meant to demonstrate that the US and its allies will not tolerate the ceaseless Red Sea attacks. And he said they only made the move after attempts at diplomatic negotiations and careful deliberation.

 

US allies reluctant to join Red Sea task force

The response to the mantra of US President Joe Biden regarding formation of response force to Yemen's Houthi attacks on ships passing through Red Sea is disappointing. It seems many allies don't want to be associated with it, publicly, or at all.

Two of America's European allies who were listed as contributors to Operation Prosperity Guardian - Italy and Spain - issued statements appearing to distance themselves from the maritime force.

The Pentagon says the force is a defensive coalition of more than 20 nations to ensure billions of dollars' worth of commerce can flow freely through a vital shipping chokepoint in Red Sea waters off Yemen.

Nearly half of those countries have so far not come forward to acknowledge their contributions or allowed the US to do so. Those contributions can range from dispatching warships to merely sending a staff officer.

The reluctance of some US allies to link themselves to the effort partly reflects the fissures created by the conflict in Gaza, which has seen Biden maintain firm support for Israel even as international criticism rises over its offensive, which Gaza's health ministry says has killed more than 21,000 Palestinians.

"European governments are very worried that part of their potential electorate will turn against them," said David Hernandez, a professor of international relations at the Complutense University of Madrid, noting that the European public is increasingly critical of Israel and wary of being drawn into a conflict.

Reportedly, Houthis have been alleged for attacking or seizing a dozen ships with missiles and drones since November 19.

The navies of the United States, Britain and France have each shot down Houthi-launched drones or missiles.

The US believes escalating Houthi attacks call for an international response separate from the conflict raging in Gaza.

However, this kind of propaganda is being highlighted in US sponsored/ supported media. It may be recalled that Hothis has announced to target Israeli ships of vessels carrying to and from Israel.

Denmark's giant container firm Maersk said on Saturday it would resume shipping operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. But Germany's Hapag Lloyd said on Wednesday it still believes the Red Sea is too dangerous and will continue to send ships around the Cape of Good Hope.

While the US says 20 countries have signed up for its maritime task force, it has announced the names of only 12.

Although Britain, Greece and others have publicly embraced the US operation, several mentioned in the US announcement were quick to say they are not directly involved.

Italy's defense ministry said that it would send a ship to the Red Sea following requests from Italian ship owners and not as part of the US operation.

France said it supports efforts to secure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea but that its ships would remain under French command.

Spain has said it will not join Operation Prosperity Guardian and opposes using an existing EU anti-piracy mission, Atalanta, to protect Red Sea shipping.

But on Wednesday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was willing to consider the creation of a different mission to tackle the problem.

Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates earlier proclaimed no interest in the venture.

There is also the risk that participating countries become subject to Houthi retaliation. The person familiar with the US administration's thinking says that it is this risk - rather disagreements over Gaza - driving some countries to steer clear of the effort.

That appears to be the case for India, which is unlikely to join the US operation, according to a senior Indian military official. An Indian government official said the government worries that aligning itself with the US could make it more of a target.

In reality, many European and Gulf countries already participate in one of several US-led military groups in the Middle East, including the 39-nation Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

The EU's Atalanta operation already cooperates in a reciprocal relationship with CMF, according to a spokesperson for the group.

That means that some countries not formally joining the Red Sea maritime task force could still coordinate patrols with the US Navy.

Britain based anti Iranian TV channel to close operations

Manoto, a Britain based television channel, often attracting criticism for its anti-Iranian stance and being the platform for monarchists living outside the country, has announced the cessation of its operations by the end of January 2024.

Keyvan and Marjan Abbassi, the heads of this network, communicated the decision via a Telegram message, stating that they might continue broadcasting until the end of January 2024, after which they will bid farewell to the network.

Manoto TV, a longstanding player in Iran's media landscape, has been a source of controversy due to its alignment with anti-Iran sentiments. Accused of propagandist inclinations and aligning with monarchists, this media outlet has faced substantial criticism for its productions.

The recent announcement unfolds against the backdrop of a turbulent year for anti-Iran fronts, where media outlets sharing similar ideologies grappled with credibility challenges and a decline in audience engagement.

The development draws parallels with the fate of Iran International TV channel, once funded by Saudi capitalists. Compelled to undergo a paradigm shift due to a change in ownership, the network found itself aligning with Zionists’ views. The transformations in media ownership and allegiance underscore the intricate interplay of political and financial forces shaping the narrative in the region.

Having operated for over 14 years, Manoto TV attempted to propagate news against the Iranian government, serving as a mouthpiece for particular political and religious groups who are mostly funded by foreign spy agencies.

 

More sanctions imposed on Iran ahead of Mahsa Amini first death anniversary

The United States, Canada, Britain and some other European Union countries on Friday imposed more sanctions on Iran ahead of the first anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini.

“Countries that have regularly committed the harshest violence against their own citizens, especially against women and minorities, people of color, aboriginals, natives and immigrants and have never had the least courage to strongly protest or condemn the crimes of the child-killing Zionist regime have no right to shed crocodile tears for the Iranian nation,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said in a press release.

In a statement on Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "Mahsa’s tragic and senseless death in the custody of Iran’s so-called 'Morality Police' sparked demonstrations across Iran that were met with unspeakable violence, mass arrests, systemic internet disruptions and censorship by the Iranian regime." 

Kanaani described such moves and meddlesome remarks as “laughable and hypocritical shows”.

“Unfortunately, certain sides that have a dark historical record on human rights issues and women in a coordinated move and despicable efforts have issued worthless political statements to provoke sedition in the Islamic Republic of Iran by beating the drums of repetitive and ineffective sanctions,” Kanaani pointed out.  

The Foreign Ministry official despised the unlawful and undiplomatic moves of these countries and said it is better for the Europeans to acknowledge that the continuation of such unconstructive behaviors will never meet their interests and should adopt a new policy based on respect toward the great and civilized Iranian nation and the national sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran.  

The ministry spokesman concluded his remarks by saying that it is quite clear that the far-sighted Iranian people and the government as well as responsible security bodies will not waver in upholding collective security under the negative propaganda and biased moves of the Western sides. 

In a separate statement, The US Treasury Department also said it imposed sanctions on more than two dozen people and entities it said were connected to what it called violent suppression of protests in the wake of Amini's death.

The action targets 29 people and groups, including 18 key members of the IRGC and Iran's Law Enforcement Forces, as well as the head of Iran's Prisons Organizations, the department said. They also target officials linked to Iran's internet blockade and several media outlets.
Douran Software Technologies CEO Alireza Abedinejad as well as media organizations Press TV, Tasnim and Fars news agencies were also among those sanctioned.

The British government also announced sanctions against several Iranian officials, including the culture minister, his deputy and the mayor of Tehran.