Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif
America is waging a psychological war against Iran and its business partners, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday, according to the Tasnim news agency.
"[America's] focus is on a psychological war against Iran and its business partners," Zarif said.
President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers in May and is reimposing sanctions on Tehran. Other parties to the accord are trying to find ways to save the agreement.
U.N. Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura has invited Iran, Russia and Turkey to talks on Syria's Constitutional Committee, to be held in Geneva on Sept. 11-12, a U.N. spokeswoman said on Friday.The talks on forming a committee to draw up a new constitution for Syria are expected to be followed by parallel U.N. talks involving countries including the United States, but she had no date for those.
UN invites Iran, Russia, Turkey to talks on Syria next month
The European Union agreed 18 million euros ($20.6 mln) in aid for Iran on Thursday, including for the private sector, to help offset the impact of U.S. sanctions and salvage a 2015 deal that saw Tehran limit its nuclear ambitions.The announcement is part of the bloc's high-profile efforts to support the nuclear accord that President Donald Trump abandoned in May. It is part of a wider package of 50 million euros earmarked for Iran in the EU budget.The EU is working to maintain trade with Iran, which has threatened to stop complying with the nuclear agreement if it fails to see the economic benefits of relief from sanctions.The bloc's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement the bloc was committed to cooperation with Iran."This new package will widen economic and sectoral relations in areas that are of direct benefit to our citizens," she said.The bloc will spend 8 million euros on the Islamic Republic's private sector, including assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises and Iran's Trade Promotion Organisation.A further 8 million euros will go to environmental projects and 2 million euros to fighting harm caused by drugs. ($1 = 0.8744 euros) Iran sanctions are 'unjust and harmful': UN expertUK to help modify Iran’s Arak heavy-water nuke reactorIran's Revolutionary Guard says will raise defensive capabilities
EU agrees 18 mln euro development aid for Iran
Turkey's presidential spokesman has blasted Washington for disregarding the legal process in the case of an American pastor facing terrorism-related charges. In a written statement to Reuters late Wednesday, Ibrahim Kalın said: “There is the rule of law in Turkey, and the Andrew Brunson case is a legal issue. There is an ongoing legal process related to this individual. “It goes without saying that we find unacceptable the disregard of the legal process by the United States, which has been making certain demands.”Someone being a priest or a clergyman is not enough to make a person innocent, Kalın said."The judiciary is the decision-maker, and everybody, including the U.S., has to respect the decision of the Turkish judiciary. Just as it has so far, this rule will continue to hold."His remarks came after U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton earlier told Reuters that Turkey made a “big mistake” in not releasing Brunson. Turkey and the U.S. are facing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on two Cabinet ministers for not releasing pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism-related charges in Turkey. On Aug. 10, U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports. In retaliation, Turkey raised tariffs on several U.S.-origin products, including alcohol and tobacco products and cars.Former German minister slams Trump’s Turkey policyHalkbank case result of 'FETÖ plot'Moving to another thorn in Turkish-U.S. ties, Kalın said that everybody knows that Mehmet Hakan Atilla, a former executive at Turkish state-owned lender Halkbank, was unjustly imprisoned by the U.S. as the result of a “plot” by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey.Atilla was sentenced this May to 32 months in prison for violating the sanctions on Iran.“It is unacceptable that certain baseless and false allegations are made against Halkbank to weaken this public bank,” Kalın said.“It seems that the purpose of those steps is to discredit respectable institutions and persons and to punish them unjustly rather than discover the truth," he said, adding that Turkey is "extremely disturbed by this process.”US pastor's lawyer plans appeal to Turkish constitutional courtUS sanctions hurt NATO alliance, says Turkish FMBolton’s ‘desperate’ remarks Bolton had said that he was skeptical of Qatar’s pledge last week of $15 billion in investment support for Turkey, claiming this is “utterly insufficient to have an impact on Turkey’s economy.”His remarks on Turkey’s economic condition and Qatar’s investment plans point to a “more desperate situation,” Kalın said. “His statement is proof that the Trump administration is targeting a NATO ally as part of an economic war.”Kalın also mentioned that the current U.S. administration has similar disputes with Mexico, Canada, Cuba, China, Russia, Iran, the EU, and Germany. “The Trump administration has ... established that it intends to use trade, tariffs, and sanctions to start a global trade war,” he said. “So, there is a global problem. The problem between Turkey and the U.S. have appeared as part of the problems that the Trump administration has with the world,” Kalın added.“Such political, judicial and economic attitudes are at odds with the soul of the alliance. These are also against NATO’s fundamental rules.”After Trump attack on Russia ties, Merkel eyes Azeri gas'Turkey will not be silent'“Turkey has no intention of starting an economic war with any party. It cannot, however, be expected to keep silent in the face of attacks on its economy and judiciary,” he said.Ankara will work with the rest of the world against “restrictive and punitive” approaches and protect the nation's interests in all areas, he added.Kalın welcomed recent statements supporting Turkey, saying that they show Turkey is on the right path.“Qatar’s pledge of $15 billions in investment in Turkey relieved the markets. We appreciate Qatar’s attitude. From now on Turkish-Qatari relations will continue to strengthen at all levels,” he said.Stressing the importance of statements by Germany, France, Italy, Russia, China, and Iran in support of Turkey, Kalın praised the steps fighting back the attacks on the Turkish currency as effective.The Treasury and Finance Ministry and related institutions will continue to take measures to help the economy, he added.US, China to resume trade talks in Washington amid low expectations
US disregard of legal process unacceptable: presidential aide