Iran

Iran is waiting for the US to fulfill its duties and obligations regarding the lifting of sanctions, Khatibzadeh told Jamaran news website on Saturday. "The news we hear on Saturday is about a dimension of lifting nuclear sanction, and everyone knows that this is not enough," Khatibzadeh said, adding that "what the US needs to do is to lift all sanctions, including the nuclear sanctions".

Referring to the recent attack by the IS militants on the Kurdish-run Ghwayran jail in Hasakah, Zahra Ershadi described the event as a wake-up call that once again showed "the foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorists" remain a significant threat to regional security and stability, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the state TV's reports on Friday. Ershadi made the remarks at a UN Security Council session in New York on Thursday, said the report.

The European External Action Service (EEAS) said in a statement that the 8th round of negotiations in Vienna will "take a break," giving participants time to go back to their capitals for consultations with their respective governments, Xinhua news agency reported. "The talks will reconvene next week," it said.

Iran's Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian said Monday that Iran did not rule out the likelihood of talks with the US in the run for a "good agreement." Americans have occasionally sent messages to negotiate directly with Iran, however, "we have not yet reached this point in our conclusions," Amir Abdollahian added at the National Conference of Iran and Neighbours in Vienna.

"Guinea, Iran and Vanuatu have made the payments necessary to reduce their arrears below the amounts specified in Article 19 of the Charter. This means that they can resume voting in the General Assembly," Paulina Kubiak, spokesperson for Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the UNGA, said at the daily press briefing.

"An interim agreement has never been on Iran's agenda, and we have a serious need to reach a qualitative and substantive agreement, and I hope Washington has realised this," he said, adding "obtaining guarantees is very important" to reach a stable and reliable agreement, Xinhua news agency reported.

Majid Takht-Ravanchi said late on Saturday that as soon as Iran's arrears are received in New York, the country's voting rights should naturally be restored, official IRNA News Agency reported on Sunday. South Korea confirmed on Sunday that it has paid Tehran's membership delayed dues, amounting to $18 million, to the UN from Iranian funds frozen in the country, Xinhua news agency reported.

 Iran does not consider an interim deal in ongoing negotiations in the Austrian capital of Vienna aimed to restore the 2015 nuclear deal, a source close to the Iranian negotiating team told Tasnim News Agency. "The Iranian team seeks to achieve a lasting and credible agreement," the source was quoted as saying on Saturday.

Iran's state TV said that 11 of its vessels have been joined by three Russian ships, including a destroyer, and two Chinese vessels. Iran's Revolutionary Guard will also participate with smaller ships and helicopters. The military exercise comes at a time of heightened tension between Russia and the West over Moscow's build-up of some 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine.

This is Putin and Raisi's first in-person meeting since the latter took office in August last year, and also the first visit by an Iranian leader to Russia since 2017. During Wednesday's meeting, Putin noted that trade between the two countries increased by over 6 per cent in 2020 despite the pandemic, and by more than 38 per cent last year.