Iran's Leader's remarks
The Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution has called on officials to seriously address water shortage problems in the southwestern province of Khuzestan. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the people of Khuzestan would not have faced such problems if authorities had taken previous advice. He called on people to be cautious given that the enemy is after misusing the situation against their interests and that of the Islamic Revolution. The Leader made the comments after he received the second dose of domestically-produced COVIran Barekat Covid vaccine. Ayatollah Khamenei thanked all those involved in producing the vaccine. He also criticized foreign nations for failing to fulfill their promises to provide vaccines to Iran.
Taliban border claim rejected
The Afghan government has rejected the Taliban’s claim of controlling 90 percent of the country’s border. The government said the claim is an absolute lie and baseless propaganda. The reaction came after a Taliban spokesman told Russian media that the group is now in control of frontiers with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. Taliban militants stepped up their attacks in May, taking different areas across Afghanistan. The US estimates that those areas extend to over half of Afghanistan's district centers. Earlier, Russia deployed infantry groups to a Tajik military base near the Afghan border. Moscow warned that it will counter the militants if they enter the territory of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan.
US Iraq troop pullout
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein says his country does not need any more US combat troops as it has its own fighters. Hussein made the comment in an interview with Wall Street Journal. He said what Iraq needs is cooperation in intelligence and training as well as air force support. Earlier this week, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi also emphasized American combat troops should leave his country. He is set to meet with US President Joe Biden on Monday in Washington. They are expected to issue a statement that calls for US combat troops to leave Iraq by the end of the year. In January 2020, Iraq’s parliament issued a resolution demanding the expulsion of American forces. That followed the US assassination of top Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi commander Abu Mehdi al-Muhandis.