Iran Won't Make Concessions Under Pressure

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani (Mehr)
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani (Mehr)
TT

Iran Won't Make Concessions Under Pressure

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani (Mehr)
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani (Mehr)

Iran announced that it does not wish to negotiate with Western countries over its nuclear program or to make concessions "under any pressure or threat."

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that the US must be responsible and accountable for its actions regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Kanaani asserted that US officials know that "Iran is not ready to negotiate and give concessions under pressure and threats. (Reaching) an agreement has its logic, and Iran's stance towards the JCPOA talks is quite clear."

The official said the US pulled out of the JCPOA in 2018, while Iran remained committed to the deal and fulfilled its commitments under the agreement.

He said Iran is still interested in concluding JCPOA revival talks with the US, European powers, Russia, and China, adding that the other parties to the deal are as much interested in reviving the agreement as Iran.

The spokesman added that the agreement is available, and parties can conclude the negotiations and reach a deal in the shortest time: "We advise the European parties to the JCPOA not to surrender to the United States."

He denounced efforts to remove Iran from the UN's Women's Rights body, adding that Tehran became a member of the Women's Committee of the ECOSOC Group.

Kanaani stated that the US, along with some European governments, have obstructed the membership of Iran within a wholly illegal political framework by exerting pressure and using political influence on independent states.

Addressing the Iranian-Saudi negotiations, Kanaani reiterated his previous statements about reviving their diplomatic ties, asserting that Tehran is committed to the talks.

He indicated that Tehran is waiting for Riyadh to take "concrete action" on agreements reached in the five rounds of talks held in Iraq, adding that there is ground to implement previous agreements to take a new step towards completing negotiations and resuming relations.

Kanaani spoke about the Iraqi Prime Minister's recent visit to Tehran, saying that it was an important trip that included fruitful and valuable discussions in various fields, especially trade and economic cooperation.

Border security is essential, and Baghdad promised to implement its obligations, explained Kanaani, noting that the Iraqi government is planning to deploy central government forces on the borders, which could be a positive step towards consolidating security and stability.

He noted that the Iranian-Chinese relations were an excellent example of successful cooperation between the two countries in bilateral ties, indicating that sanctions limit traditional cooperation with some countries.

The official said US sanctions on Iran have made it difficult for Iranian and Chinese companies to boost their cooperation as part of a 25-year partnership deal signed between the two countries two years ago.

He said that Tehran and Beijing have continued to boost their bilateral ties despite the sanctions.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian accused the US of "seeking to cause chaos" in Iran, asserting that Tehran would not let anybody incite riots and terrorism.

Amir-Abdollahian spoke during a joint press conference with his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic following their meeting in Belgrade, Serbia.

Speaking of his recent phone call with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Amir-Abdollahian reiterated his country's stance on achieving a durable agreement that serves national interests.

"I talked with Mr. Borrell about the agreement to lift the sanctions, and I emphasized that only a deal that works well for the interests of the Iranian nation and is permanent is valuable to Iran," he said.



Jailed ex-Malaysian Leader Najib Moves Closer to House Arrest

Jailed former Malaysian leader Najib Razak moved closer to serving the rest of his sentence at home after an appeal court ruled he could use a royal decree supporting his claim. Mohd RASFAN / AFP
Jailed former Malaysian leader Najib Razak moved closer to serving the rest of his sentence at home after an appeal court ruled he could use a royal decree supporting his claim. Mohd RASFAN / AFP
TT

Jailed ex-Malaysian Leader Najib Moves Closer to House Arrest

Jailed former Malaysian leader Najib Razak moved closer to serving the rest of his sentence at home after an appeal court ruled he could use a royal decree supporting his claim. Mohd RASFAN / AFP
Jailed former Malaysian leader Najib Razak moved closer to serving the rest of his sentence at home after an appeal court ruled he could use a royal decree supporting his claim. Mohd RASFAN / AFP

Jailed former Malaysian leader Najib Razak moved closer on Monday to serving the rest of his sentence at home after an appeal court ruled he could use a royal decree supporting his claim.
Najib, 71, is serving a six-year jail term for corruption related to the plunder of sovereign wealth fund 1MDB and faces several other cases linked to the financial scandal that led to his defeat in the 2018 elections, AFP said.
The purported existence of an order by the former king granting him permission to serve the rest of his current sentence at home has been at the center of his arguments before the Court of Appeal.
A three-member bench ruled 2-1 to grant Najib's appeal to use the decree to argue his case before the High Court.
"Given the fact that there is no challenge (of the existence of the decree), there is no justification that the order has not been complied with," said Mohamad Firuz Jaffril, one of the three Court of Appeal judges.
The High Court ruled last year that affidavits supporting Najib's claim about the document's existence were inadmissible as evidence because they were hearsay, prompting the former premier to challenge the decision.
But new evidence submitted by Najib's lawyers showed that "the issue of hearsay can no longer stand," Firuz said.
"We are therefore minded to allow the appeal," he added.
Monday's ruling means that the case will go back to the High Court, where the decree could be introduced as evidence to bolster Najib's bid to be placed under house arrest.
'Legal victory for Najib'
Najib was tried and originally sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment in July 2020 but the sentence was later halved by a pardons board.
Legal expert Goh Cia Yee told AFP that Monday's ruling is "a legal victory for Najib insofar as he is a step closer to the enforcement of house arrest".
He suggested that it could take "only months" for the High Court to hear the case.
Najib, however, is also defending himself against graft charges tied to more than $500 million in alleged bribes and several counts of money laundering.
If convicted, Najib faces hefty fines and sentences of up to 20 years for each count of abuse of power.
Allegations that billions of dollars were pilfered from investment vehicle 1MDB and used to buy everything from a superyacht to artwork played a major role in prompting voters to oust Najib and the long-ruling United Malays National Organization party in the 2018 elections.
The 1MDB scandal sparked investigations in the United States, Switzerland and Singapore, where the funds were allegedly laundered.

Police deployed heavily around the court on Monday and erected roadblocks, but hundreds of Najib's supporters rallied outside.
Supporters -- some wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the former premier's portrait -- chanted "Free Najib!" and "Long Live Bossku!", referring to his moniker which means "my boss".