Zarif Blasts US Disregard for ‘Non-Use of Force’ Principle amid Protests

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif slammed the US government for continuing to use lethal force against protesters in Portland, Oregon.

“’All options on the table’ has long been a staple of US foreign policy. It simply means the law of the jungle: disregard for a fundamental principle of int’l law: Non-Use of Force. Now, the Trump regime is using the same threat against Americans. A wake-up call? God willing,” Zarif said in a post on his Twitter account on Sunday. It came after US acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf told ABC earlier on Sunday that “all options continue to be on the table” to resolve what he called “violent” protests in Portland, including sending in federal law enforcement assistance. Portland has been the scene of angry protests against police injustice and racial discrimination since May, when George Floyd, a black American, was killed by a white police officer in Minnesota. Tensions in the city intensified in July after the Trump administration deployed federal agents to crack down on the protests. On Saturday, one person was killed after clashes broke out between Black Lives Matter protesters and supporters of Trump, who is blamed for a rise in racism. The New York Times reported that supporters of Trump and counter-protesters engaged in skirmishes on the streets, with people shooting paint ball guns from the beds of pickup trucks and protesters throwing objects back at them. Source: Iranian Agencies

Supreme Leader Lauds Quds Force as Main Pillar of Regional Diplomacy

Delivering a live televised speech on the occasion of the National Teachers’ Day and International Workers’ Day (May Day), Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei rejected on Sunday the Western powers’ call on Iran to pursue submissive diplomacy in the West Asian region and saying that the IRGC Quds Force is the main pillar of Iran’s diplomacy in the region.

Zarif Sees Positive Signs in Vienna Talks, Regional Cooperation

Announcing the end of his visit to the Persian Gulf countries, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated that glimmers of hope and positive signs are seen in Vienna talks and regional talks.

Leader warns against protracted talks on reviving Iran nuclear deal

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has warned against protracted talks aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, reiterating that Iran will only return to its commitments under the accord once it has verified that all US sanctions have been removed.

Israel to build 540 settler units in East al-Quds for first time since Biden inauguration

Israeli authorities have given the green light for the construction of hundreds of illegal settler units in the occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds in the first such measure since US President Joe Biden assumed office in late January.

Russia: US uses Daesh to hinder political solution to crisis in Syria

Russia says the United States makes use of the Daesh terrorist group to impede a political solution to the decade-long crisis in Syria and supports separatist militants in a flagrant violation of international resolutions.