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Raeisi press conference 

Iran's president says the Islamic Republic expects the United States and Europe to fulfill their commitments according to a 2015 deal, and prove their goodwill. Ebrahim Raeisi made the remark in a press conference on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly session. Raeisi said Iran is the only signatory to the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which has abided by its commitments. He said the Islamic Republic did not leave the negotiating table, but the opposite sides pinned their hope on last year’s riots in the country, which was a miscalculation. The Iranian president also touched on the country’s nuclear activities. Raeisi noted that Iran has said time and again that its nuclear activities are only for peaceful purposes to meet the country’s needs in agriculture, oil and gas sector and other fields. He rejected Western media claims about Iran increasing its uranium enrichment level, saying the country only enriches uranium to the level needed for its peaceful nuclear activities.

Iranian islands in Persian Gulf 
Iran has strongly condemned baseless claims and accusations against Tehran in a joint statement issued by the United States and the member states of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council. Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani said repetition of such baseless claims only benefits ill-wishers who cannot tolerate economic development, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty of regional countries. He also reiterated Iran's unwavering stance on the three Persian Gulf islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa as indispensable parts of its territory. Kan'ani said Iran considers any claim to the islands interference in its internal affairs and strongly condemns such meddlesome remarks. He added that Iran's missile and drone capabilities are only meant for deterrence and protection of the country’s national security. Kan'ani said the Zionist regime is the main source of insecurity and threat to Muslim countries in the region. 

Niger political crisis 

Now let’s turn to Niger, where the ousted president has appealed to the West African bloc’s court to free him. Mohamed Bazoum has filed a lawsuit with the court of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. His lawyer says the lawsuit is based on his arbitrary arrest and violation of freedom of movement. Bazoum was toppled by Niger’s military last month and has been put under house arrest along with his wife and child since then. ECOWAS has threatened to intervene militarily in Niger if diplomatic efforts to return Bazoum to power fail. Niger is one of the six former French colonies in West Africa to have faced a military coup in the last three years.

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