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‘IAEA lacks impartiality’

Iran has defended its measures in response to the recent resolution against the country’s nuclear program by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the IAEA’s resolution is driven by Israel and backed by its western allies. Khatibzadeh also slammed the IAEA chief for his recent meeting with the Israeli prime minister in Tel Aviv saying it was a meeting in the wrong place; at the wrong time and with a wrong person. He said the agency’s director general has failed his duty to remain impartial and has been making comments against Iran beyond his technical capacity. The spokesman also dismissed the director general’s comments that Iran’s measures impede an agreement in the Vienna talks. He said the obstacle to the talks remains the US’ refusal to fulfill its obligations under the 2015 agreement.

Slamming Turkey's occupation

Syria has condemned Turkey’s plan to establish a so-called safe zone in the occupied northern part of the country as brutal aggression. The Syrian People’s Assembly made the remark in a statement, saying Turkey’s plan is aimed at causing demographic changes in the area. Damascus said Turkey's efforts to occupy more Syrian territory threaten regional and international peace and security. Damascus emphasized that it has the right to use all means to counter the illegitimate presence of the Turkish troops along with affiliated terrorist groups. Last month, the Turkish president said Ankara was planning to create a 30-kilometer safe zone along its border with Syria, a move Damascus denounced as a shameful act.

UK's new war with EU

The Northern Ireland protocol still remains a sticking point between the UK and the EU. Now, the bloc threatens legal action after London introduced legislation to unilaterally revise Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trade arrangements. European Commission Vice President Marosh Shefchovich said Brussels would consider reopening a suspended infringement procedure against Britain. He said the procedure aims to protect the EU single market from risks posed by violation of the protocol. Shefchovich warned UK’s unilateral action negatively affects the mutual trust between London and Brussels. He stressed the Europeans would renegotiate neither the divorce deal nor Northern Ireland’s trade protocol. On Monday, the UK government presented legislation to parliament to overhaul the Northern Ireland protocol. London believes the implementation of the protocol has damaged trade within the UK. It says the protocol has led to unnecessary bureaucracy for businesses moving goods between Britain and Northern Ireland.

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