Iran Expresses Reservations over Two-State Solution, PLO Articles of OIC Summit Declaration

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi upon his return to Tehran from Riyadh. (Iranian Presidency)
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi upon his return to Tehran from Riyadh. (Iranian Presidency)
TT

Iran Expresses Reservations over Two-State Solution, PLO Articles of OIC Summit Declaration

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi upon his return to Tehran from Riyadh. (Iranian Presidency)
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi upon his return to Tehran from Riyadh. (Iranian Presidency)

Iran expressed four reservations over the Riyadh Declaration of the Arab-Islamic summit on the war in Gaza, despite praising its tone and phrases, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani.

Iranian media quoted Kanaani as saying: "The resolution approved during the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Riyadh, despite having a strong text, has several provisions about which the Islamic Republic of Iran has always expressed reservations in the past."

Kanaani said Iran announced it has "reservations over certain provisions of the resolution, especially regarding the two-state solution, 1967 borders, and Arab peace plan," reported the official IRNA news agency.

He expressed Tehran's reservations about the Arab position in the resolution that says the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was the only legal representative of the Palestinian state.

"Iran believes that all Palestinians and Palestinian groups, including the PLO, are the representatives of the Palestinian state and have the right to fight against occupation and self-determination according to international law," he added.

Kanaani reviewed ten proposals, which Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi presented in his speech before the summit.

"Most of the proposals put forward by Iran during the document negotiation have been incorporated into the resolution," he remarked.

Upon his return at Mehrabad Airport, Raisi raised Iran's reservations about the two-state solution, saying Tehran proposed a democratic solution that allows all Palestinians, including Muslims, Christians, and Jews, to determine their fate.

Political adviser of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Ali Shamkhani said the statement of 57 Islamic and Arab countries in Riyadh was a "necessary condition for action against crimes of Israel's fake regime, but it is not sufficient."

Meanwhile, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the readiness of its ground units in terms of equipment and personnel throughout the country.

IRGC Ground Force commander Mohammed Pakpour headed to the country's southwestern borders, where he was briefed on the forces’ combat and defensive readiness.

Pakpour praised the Hamas’ Al-Aqsa Flood operation, saying it dealt a significant blow to the strategic plans of the Israeli Zionist regime and was a symbol of Palestinian resistance against 75 years of oppression and massacres by the occupying forces.

IRGC Deputy Commander Ali Fadavi said Israel and the countries supporting it have been dealt a strategic defeat, adding that the “resistance front” groups are launching highly accurate missiles against Israel.



Iran Nuclear Chief Blocked by US from Vienna Meeting

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) flag flies during a special session of an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, March 2, 2026. (AP)
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) flag flies during a special session of an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, March 2, 2026. (AP)
TT

Iran Nuclear Chief Blocked by US from Vienna Meeting

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) flag flies during a special session of an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, March 2, 2026. (AP)
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) flag flies during a special session of an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, March 2, 2026. (AP)

Iran's nuclear chief was blocked from attending an annual conference on Monday at the headquarters of the UN's nuclear agency in Vienna due to opposition from the United States, Iranian state television said.

"Mohammad Eslami and his delegation took a regular flight to Vienna on Saturday, but were blocked on the way because of obstructions by the United States," the state broadcaster reported, saying he had returned to the capital Tehran.

He was due to attend the annual general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN's nuclear watchdog, which runs until Friday in Austria.

He attended last year's conference and delivered a speech there on behalf of Iran, a member state of the IAEA.

Tehran summoned Austria's charge d'affaires in response to the decision to bar Eslami.

"The Austrian government's refusal to issue visas to the delegation of Iran is a completely unjustified decision," foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said at a press conference in Tehran attended by AFP.

"It is clear to us that this incident occurred under American pressure, but that does not absolve the Austrian government of responsibility."

A diplomatic source in Vienna, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Eslami was refused entry to Austria due to US pressure.

The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, arguing that its nuclear program posed a threat.

For decades, Western powers have suspected Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, a claim that Tehran categorically denies.


Iran Says Reports About Activity in Pickaxe Mountain Are Baseless

Iranians drive past a political billboard at the Valiasr square in central Tehran, Iran, 13 September 2026.  EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Iranians drive past a political billboard at the Valiasr square in central Tehran, Iran, 13 September 2026. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
TT

Iran Says Reports About Activity in Pickaxe Mountain Are Baseless

Iranians drive past a political billboard at the Valiasr square in central Tehran, Iran, 13 September 2026.  EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Iranians drive past a political billboard at the Valiasr square in central Tehran, Iran, 13 September 2026. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson stressed Monday that reports of activity at the country's Pickaxe Mountain were baseless, after ⁠President Donald Trump said ⁠the United States was monitoring activity there.

Trump had said last week that the US could hit ⁠Pickaxe Mountain ⁠and urged Iran to be cautious.

"We notice there's a little activity at Pickaxe. I would advise Iran not to get cute because we will have to hit them very hard," Trump said in a speech at the midterm Republican convention on Wednesday.

Pickaxe Mountain, located near Iran's heavily damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility, is a fortified site with two deeply buried tunnel complexes.

Trump has been threatening strikes on Pickaxe Mountain since at least ⁠mid-July.

Trump also said he thought the war was going to end immediately after the midterms, alleging Tehran was trying to influence the elections that will ⁠determine whether the Republicans retain control of Congress.


France’s Macron to Make State Visit to Spain on September 29-30

 French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he welcomes Vietnam's President and his wife at the Elysee Palace in Paris on September 10, 2026. (AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he welcomes Vietnam's President and his wife at the Elysee Palace in Paris on September 10, 2026. (AFP)
TT

France’s Macron to Make State Visit to Spain on September 29-30

 French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he welcomes Vietnam's President and his wife at the Elysee Palace in Paris on September 10, 2026. (AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he welcomes Vietnam's President and his wife at the Elysee Palace in Paris on September 10, 2026. (AFP)

France's President Emmanuel Macron will make a two-day state visit to neighboring Spain from September 29, the Spanish government said on Monday.

The centrist French leader will be welcomed by Spain's leftist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on September 30, while a banquet will be held in Macron's honor with King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, the government said.

It will be Macron's first official visit to Spain since January 2023 and the first state visit by a French president to the country since 2009, according to the French presidency.

"The two countries share... a common commitment to protecting democracy and young people, particularly in the face of the challenges posed by social media and artificial intelligence," Macron's office said.

Both leaders will also address "the major European and international issues, in particular the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East", the Elysee added.

While on his 2023 visit, Macron and Sanchez signed a friendship treaty, which has yet to be ratified by Spain in the face of objections by the right-wing opposition.