Tehran Urges Moscow to Accelerate Efforts to Reduce Impact of Dollar

Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani meets with Russia's Presidential Aide Igor Levitin in Tehran, Iran, April 9, 2023. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani meets with Russia's Presidential Aide Igor Levitin in Tehran, Iran, April 9, 2023. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
TT

Tehran Urges Moscow to Accelerate Efforts to Reduce Impact of Dollar

Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani meets with Russia's Presidential Aide Igor Levitin in Tehran, Iran, April 9, 2023. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani meets with Russia's Presidential Aide Igor Levitin in Tehran, Iran, April 9, 2023. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani urged Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special assistant, Igor Levitin, to speed up the path of reducing the influence of the dollar in economic exchanges.

During a meeting with Levitin in Tehran, Shamkhani stated that “the path towards reducing the influence of the dollar in regional and international economic transactions, which has been joined by many countries, will lead to undermining the West's domination over the global economy to the lowest possible level.”

According to the official news agency IRNA, Shamkhani mentioned finalized initiatives between Russia and Iran regarding financial and banking exchanges with the aim of funding joint projects.

He described this as “an effective model in thwarting the West's illegal sanctions on both countries.”

The officials also discussed the application of agreements in various economic and banking fields, including the implementation of the North-South Transport Corridor project.

They also agreed on Russian investment in the remaining part of the road in northern Iran.

Shamkhani expressed Iran's satisfaction with the growing economic cooperation between Tehran and Moscow. He emphasized the need to activate mechanisms to accelerate the pace of implementing economic projects between the two countries.

During Levitin's visit to Iran last January, the two countries agreed that the remaining part of the North-South strategic corridor, in Iran’s northern Rasht-Astara route, will be built with the direct investment of Russia.

The North-South Transport Corridor is a network for moving freight between Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan and other countries in Asia and Europe.

In his meeting with Shamkhani, Levitin presented a report on the latest developments related to commercial, banking, and joint economic projects.

“Moscow is ready to implement joint plans and projects as soon as possible, especially in the field of transit and investments in various economic sectors in Iran, including steel, oil, and petrochemicals,” said Levitin.



France Accuses Iran of ‘Repression’ in Sentence for Nobel Laureate

People cross an intersection in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP)
People cross an intersection in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP)
TT

France Accuses Iran of ‘Repression’ in Sentence for Nobel Laureate

People cross an intersection in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP)
People cross an intersection in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP)

France accused Iran on Monday of "repression and intimidation" after a court handed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi a new six-year prison sentence on charges of harming national security.

Mohammadi, sentenced Saturday, was also handed a one-and-a-half-year prison sentence for "propaganda" against Iran's system, according to her foundation.

"With this sentence, the Iranian regime has, once again, chosen repression and intimidation," the French foreign ministry said in a statement, describing the 53-year-old as a "tireless defender" of human rights.

Paris is calling for the release of the activist, who was arrested before protests erupted nationwide in December after speaking out against the government at a funeral ceremony.

The movement peaked in January as authorities launched a crackdown that activists say has left thousands dead.

Over the past quarter-century, Mohammadi has been repeatedly tried and jailed for her vocal campaigning against Iran's use of capital punishment and the mandatory dress code for women.

Mohammadi has spent much of the past decade behind bars and has not seen her twin children, who live in Paris, since 2015.

Iranian authorities have arrested more than 50,000 people as part of their crackdown on protests, according to US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).


Iran's Supreme Leader Urges Iranians to Show 'Resolve' against Foreign Pressure

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on (File Photo/Supreme Leader's website).
Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on (File Photo/Supreme Leader's website).
TT

Iran's Supreme Leader Urges Iranians to Show 'Resolve' against Foreign Pressure

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on (File Photo/Supreme Leader's website).
Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on (File Photo/Supreme Leader's website).

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Monday called on his compatriots to show "resolve" ahead of the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution this week.

Since the revolution, "foreign powers have always sought to restore the previous situation", Ali Khamenei said, referring to the period when Iran was under the rule of shah Reza Pahlavi and dependent on the United States, AFP reported.

"National power is less about missiles and aircraft and more about the will and steadfastness of the people," the leader said, adding: "Show it again and frustrate the enemy."


UK PM's Communications Director Quits

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at Horntye Park Sports Complex in St Leonards, Britain, February 05, 2026. Peter Nicholls/Pool via REUTERS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at Horntye Park Sports Complex in St Leonards, Britain, February 05, 2026. Peter Nicholls/Pool via REUTERS
TT

UK PM's Communications Director Quits

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at Horntye Park Sports Complex in St Leonards, Britain, February 05, 2026. Peter Nicholls/Pool via REUTERS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at Horntye Park Sports Complex in St Leonards, Britain, February 05, 2026. Peter Nicholls/Pool via REUTERS

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's director of communications Tim Allan resigned on Monday, a day after Starmer's top aide Morgan McSweeney quit over his role in backing Peter Mandelson over his known links to Jeffrey Epstein.

The loss of two senior aides ⁠in quick succession comes as Starmer tries to draw a line under the crisis in his government resulting from his appointment of Mandelson as ambassador to the ⁠US.

"I have decided to stand down to allow a new No10 team to be built. I wish the PM and his team every success," Allan said in a statement on Monday.

Allan served as an adviser to Tony Blair from ⁠1992 to 1998 and went on to found and lead one of the country’s foremost public affairs consultancies in 2001. In September 2025, he was appointed executive director of communications at Downing Street.