Iranian Judiciary Chief Warns of ‘Malicious Acts’ in Iraq

Sudani receives the delegation of the Iranian Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei in Baghdad on Wednesday. (Governmental media)
Sudani receives the delegation of the Iranian Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei in Baghdad on Wednesday. (Governmental media)
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Iranian Judiciary Chief Warns of ‘Malicious Acts’ in Iraq

Sudani receives the delegation of the Iranian Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei in Baghdad on Wednesday. (Governmental media)
Sudani receives the delegation of the Iranian Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei in Baghdad on Wednesday. (Governmental media)

Iranian Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei warned on Wednesday during his visit to Baghdad of the “malicious acts” carried out by Israel and the US in Iraq.

His visit coincided with Iraqi officials stressing the crucial need to strengthen bilateral relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly in investment and trade.

According to an Iraqi statement, Mohseni arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday to discuss the regional situation and the reinforcement of judicial coordination between the two countries.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani underscored the pivotal role of Iraq in advancing dialogue in the region.

The Iraqi government said in a statement that they discussed bilateral ties and coordination in various topics of common interest.

The Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office reported that Ejei and Sudani discussed joint efforts to confront terrorism and drug trafficking. The meeting further touched on the developments in Gaza and the continuous barbaric crimes committed by the occupation against civilians.

Sudani stressed the need to level up political pressure from the Islamic and Arab world to end the genocide in Gaza.

Speaking in a meeting with members of Iraq’s Coordination Framework, Mohseni Ejei stressed the importance of cooperation between Iran and Iraq.

He said that the US and the Zionist regime are “carrying out malicious actions against Islamic countries, including Iran and Iraq.”

Ejei went on to stress that there is a need for unity and cooperation between the two countries "more than ever".

Mohseni Ejei concluded his visit to Baghdad by visiting the location where General Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolution Guards Corps, was assassinated by a US strike near Baghdad International Airport in January 2020.

The visit comes amid diplomatic deliberations between Baghdad and Washington regarding the fate of international military presence. While Iraqi government officials assert that the talks are geared towards orchestrating the departure of foreign forces, the US Ministry of Defense has refuted such claims.

- Coordination with Riyadh

Al-Sudani emphasized the significance of coordinating stances with Saudi Arabia on regulating the energy market and oil prices within the framework of OPEC.

Al Sudani met Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud and his accompanying delegation.

The meeting discussed expanding the economic partnership between the two countries.

“Iraq welcomes the entry of Saudi companies into the Iraqi market, in which there are many great investment opportunities today," Al Sudani said. He highlighted the “advanced level” of relations between the two countries, especially in the investment and energy sectors.

The Saudi minister conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, expressing his country's desire to continue strengthening bilateral partnership and cooperation with Iraq in various fields.



Taiwan’s President Departs for Pacific Visit with a 2-Day Stop in the US

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te waves to the media as he departs for South Pacific at Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP)
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te waves to the media as he departs for South Pacific at Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP)
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Taiwan’s President Departs for Pacific Visit with a 2-Day Stop in the US

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te waves to the media as he departs for South Pacific at Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP)
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te waves to the media as he departs for South Pacific at Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP)

Taiwan's president departed Saturday for a trip to the South Pacific that will include a two-day transit in the US, his first since assuming office.

The planned stopovers in Hawaii and the territory of Guam have already drawn fierce criticism from Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its own territory and objects to official exchanges between it and the US, the island's biggest backer and military provider.

Lai Ching-te left on a weeklong trip to visit the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau — three diplomatic allies of the self-governed island in the Pacific.

“I want to use the values of democracy, peace, and prosperity to continue to expand our cooperation with our allies, to deepen our partnership and let the world see Taiwan not just as a model of democracy, but a vital power in promoting the world's peace and stability, and prosperous development,” he said at Taoyuan International Airport ahead of his departure.

Though Taiwan retains strong contacts with dozens of other nations, it has only 12 formal diplomatic allies. The self-ruled democracy has recently been facing increasing pressure from China.

It is unclear whether Lai will meet with any members of the incoming US administration during his transit.

President-elect Donald Trump said in an interview with Bloomberg in July that Taiwan should pay for its defense. The island has purchased billions of dollars of defense weaponry from the US.

Trump evaded answering whether he would defend the island from Chinese military action. On Friday, the US State Department said it approved the sale of $385 million in spare parts and equipment for the fleet of F-16s, as well as support for tactical communication system to Taiwan.

While the US is obligated to help the island defend itself under the Taiwan Relations Act, it has maintained a position of strategic ambiguity over whether it would ever get involved if Taiwan were to be invaded by China.

A second Trump administration is expected to test US-China relations even more than the Republican’s first term, when the US imposed tariffs on more than $360 billion in Chinese products. Taiwan is one of the main sources of tension in the bilateral relationship.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday if the US wanted to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, it is important for it to handle the Taiwan issue “with utmost caution, clearly opposing Taiwan independence and supporting China’s peaceful reunification.”

She also said China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the US and Taiwan, including visits by Taiwan’s leaders to the US for any reason.

When former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen went to the US last year as part of a transit to Latin America, it drew vocal opposition from China. Tsai met with the former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the time.

The Chinese military also launched drills around Taiwan last year as a “stern warning” over what it called collusion between “separatists and foreign forces” days after Lai, then Taiwan’s vice president, stopped over in the US

China also strongly objects to leading American politicians visiting the island as it views any official contact with foreign governments and Taiwan as an infringement on its claims of sovereignty over Taiwan. Washington switched its formal recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.