Cyprus Extends Custody For Suspect Israel Says Was Iranian 'Hit Man'

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani was received by the UAE's de facto ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi and discussed "ways to enhance them (ties) to serve the interests of their nations", state news agency WAM said.

Wednesday's meeting followed a similar visit in August by Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed al-Nayhan, UAE's National Security Adviser and a brother of Sheikh Mohamed, to Doha where he met with Qatar's emir.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt agreed in January to end the dispute that had led them to sever ties with Qatar in 2017 over accusations that Doha supported "terrorism" - a reference to Islamist groups. Doha denied the charges.

Riyadh and Cairo have led efforts to mend ties and appointed ambassadors to Qatar, while Abu Dhabi and Manama have yet to do so. All but Bahrain have restored travel and trade links.

The Gulf states have been pursuing a more moderate approach to defuse regional tensions, including with their rivals Iran and Turkey, as the United States reduced its military power in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and the UAE rely heavily on Washington for their security.

Report by Reuters

Armenia and Azerbaijan are technically at war with an agreed ceasefire in place along their border. The Armenian civil aviation committee has so far been silent about the news. Without Armenia’s permission, Azerbaijani overflights can become a new source of tensions.

The Azerbaijani national carrier AZAL said in a statement on Wednesday, “From now on, AZAL can use all available air corridors, including those passing through the territories of Armenia and Iran, in carrying out this flight.”

Tensions between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan have spiked in recent weeks, as Baku arrested two Iranian truck drivers travelling to Armenia in a segment of territory under its control. Iran announced Tuesday that it will not allow Azerbaijani flights carrying military provisions to use its airspace to reach Nakhchevan. The enclave is surrounded by Iran and Armenia.

It is not clear why the civilian airliner wants to divert all its flights.

Land transit from Azerbaijan Republic through Iran to Nachchevan has not been restricted.

Ali Salehababdi is now another younger member of Raisi’s team. He was during the revolution in Iran, which overthrew the monarchy and established the Islamic Republic.

Although Iran’s central bank does not have the independence that many other central banks around the world enjoy, its chairman can still have an input in economic decisions such as the extent of the money supply and interest rates.

Salehabadi, who was appointed as the first chairman of Iran’s securities and exchange commission when he was 28, has a PhD from Tehran University in “financial management” according to local media. He also held other positions in the quasi-governmental financial system, such as chairman of the state-owned Export Development Bank of Iran (EBDI) since 2014.

The bank was sanctioned by the United States in 2008, for violating United Nations sanctions in “providing or attempting to provide financial services to Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).”

Salehabadi is yet another member of president Raisi’s team, along with several others, who have been either sanctioned in person or associated with sanctioned entities. Raisi, himself, has been sanctioned by the Trump administration.

Local media in Tehran said there are expectations that Salehabadi would lower interest rates and boost the Tehran stock market, which has a checkered history of government manipulation. In 2020, the market index grew to 2 million units encouraged by the government and then fell by 50 percent, wiping out the savings of many small investors, who had flocked to the exchange to protect their capitals from depreciation of the local currency against the dollar.

Iran has been printing money to finance government operations since the United States imposed sanctions in 2018, banning crude oil exports. This led to a huge growth in liquidity and a 50-percent inflation rate.

The only economic salvation for Iran would be an agreement with the United States over its nuclear program and other issues and lifting of economic sanctions.

The award that was announced in September was officially presented in a gala with the attendance of 800 guests representing New York’s cultural elite.

The three writers received more than a 15 years of prison sentences together in May 2019 for “crimes against national security”, a typical charge the Islamic Republic routinely makes against activists, writers and journalists to stifle criticism.

Reza Khandan Mahabadi, Baktash Abtin and Kayvan Bajan, were convicted of "propaganda against the state" and "acting against national security”, each receiving a more than five-year sentence. The three are members of the Iranian Writers Association, which has been banned and its members persecuted by threats and jail sentences.

At the time the Writers Association issued a statement saying, "This trial is not just the condemnation of three writers. This was not a trial against the Writers Association alone. It’s a condemnation of all writers and others who want to enjoy the right to free expression.”

PEN America, a non-profit defending freedom of expression and human rights, held its 2020 annual event virtually due to Covid-19, but this year resumed its traditional gala, where the award for the Iranian writers was the most prominent event.

"They are writers who are called not only to offer prose and ideas on a page, but to live fearlessly—and sacrifice immensely in service of the liberties that underpin free thought, art, culture, and creativity," PEN CEO Suzanne Nossel said in a press release before the event.

PEN America followed the case of the three writers from the very beginning of their arrest and trial. In May 2019, the organization expressed its concern.

"PEN International is alarmed about the large number of writers and activists in Iran who have been detained or imprisoned solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression," the group said.

“FORTUNE (9283746) is the 3rd tanker to have reached Baniyas, Syria with gasoil for Hezb’Allah’s distribution in Lebanon. Also, in addition to Iranian crude oil, Baniyas has received a larger-than-usual delivery of Russian fuel. What’s unique is that it wasn’t for navy in Tartus,” TankerTrackers.com said.

The Iran-aligned Hezbollah movement says the shipments it is importing should ease a crippling energy crisis in Lebanon. Part of the shipment will be sold by Hezbollah according to local media. Fuel will also be distributed among hospitals and other essential service centers.

It is not clear how much of the oil has been transported to Lebanon by land. Thousands of trip by tanker trucks are required.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said last month the Iranian fuel shipments constitute a breach of Lebanon's sovereignty.

Both Syria and Iran are under US sanctions.