Tehran Says INSTEX Insufficient Enough amid Crisis

In this May 28, 2019 photo, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi speaks at a press conference in Tehran, Iran (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
In this May 28, 2019 photo, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi speaks at a press conference in Tehran, Iran (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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Tehran Says INSTEX Insufficient Enough amid Crisis

In this May 28, 2019 photo, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi speaks at a press conference in Tehran, Iran (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
In this May 28, 2019 photo, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi speaks at a press conference in Tehran, Iran (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iran has welcomed the launch of the financial mechanism known as the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) to bypass US sanctions.

“We take the operation of INSTEX as a good omen, but this is much less than what we expect,” according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi.

He added that Iran also expects players in other sectors like the banking and energy sectors to meet their obligations, IRNA reported.

Last week, the first transaction was conducted by Britain, France and Germany. Mousavi stated that the transactions enabled allocating hundreds of thousands of euros to purchase medicines and medical equipment for Iran.

Iran admitted facing huge challenges in tackling the COVID-19 outbreak, knowing that it turned down a US offer to help and didn't allow Doctors Without Borders to intervene.

In this regard, the US had been urged to reduce sanctions imposed on Iran to enable it to effectively combat this outbreak.

Notably, Washington reimposed sanctions on Tehran in May of 2018 after pulling out from the nuclear deal.

In response to this withdrawal, the three European countries decided to set up INSTEX in Jan of 2019. However, the activation process was slow and this led to an exchange of accusations between Iranians and Europeans.

INSTEX functions as a clearing house that allows Iran to continue to sell oil and import other products or services in exchange.



Car Bombing Kills 13 Pakistani Soldiers Near Afghan Border

A Pakistani policeman keeps watch on a roadside during the month of Muharram, in Lahore, Pakistan, 27 June 2025. EPA/RAHAT DAR
A Pakistani policeman keeps watch on a roadside during the month of Muharram, in Lahore, Pakistan, 27 June 2025. EPA/RAHAT DAR
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Car Bombing Kills 13 Pakistani Soldiers Near Afghan Border

A Pakistani policeman keeps watch on a roadside during the month of Muharram, in Lahore, Pakistan, 27 June 2025. EPA/RAHAT DAR
A Pakistani policeman keeps watch on a roadside during the month of Muharram, in Lahore, Pakistan, 27 June 2025. EPA/RAHAT DAR

An explosive-laden car rammed into a Pakistani military convoy on Saturday in a town near the Afghan border, killing at least 13 soldiers, sources said.

Four Pakistani intelligence officials and a senior local administrator told Reuters that the convoy was attacked in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan district.

Around 10 other soldiers were wounded, some critically, and they were being airlifted to a military hospital, the sources said.

"It was huge, a big bang," said the local administrator, adding that residents of the town could see a large amount of smoke billowing from the scene from a great distance.

One resident said that the explosion rattled the windowpanes of nearby houses, and caused some roofs to collapse.

No one has so far claimed responsibility.

The Pakistani military did not respond to a Reuters request for a comment.

The lawless district which sits next to Afghanistan has long served as a safe haven for different militant groups, who operate on both sides of the border.

Islamabad says the militants run training camps in Afghanistan to launch attacks inside Pakistan, a charge Kabul denies, saying the militancy is Pakistan's domestic issue.

Pakistani Taliban also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella group of several militant groups, has long been waging a war against Pakistan in a bid to overthrow the government.

The Pakistani military, which has launched several offensives against the militants, has mostly been their prime target.