Seit dem Ausbruch des Syrien-Konflikts verfolgt die Türkei einen feindseligen Kurs gegenüber Syrien. Doch nach einem Treffen der Geheimdienstchefs beider Staaten ist eine Annäherung im Gespräch – unter anderem aufgrund der Kurdenmiliz YPG, die von den USA unterstützt wird. Am Rande eines Treffens von Vertretern der verfeindeten Fraktionen im libyschen Bürgerkrieg in Moskau Anfang der vergangenen Woche fand ein weiterer wichtiger Kontakt statt, allem Anschein nach ebenfalls von Russland vermittelt.

Federico Pieraccini - The murder of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad, in the early hours of January 3 by US forces, only highlights the extent to which US strategy in the Middle East has failed. It is likely to provoke reactions that do not benefit US interests in the region. To understand the significance of this event, it is necessary to quickly reconstruct the developments in Iraq. The US has occupied Iraq for 17 years, following its invasion of the country in 2003. During this time, Baghdad and Tehran have re-established ties by sustaining an important dialogue on post-war reconstruction as well as by acknowledging the importance of the Shia population in Iraq.

Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergey Shoigu held telephone talks on Monday with Chief of Staff of Iran Major General Mohammad Bagheri in connection with the killing of the Iran’s Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani.

"Soleimani was a key figure in our bilateral partnership with Russia and showed big respect for Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he had close relationship", Ali Akbar Velayati said... "If not for the courage displayed by the commander of the Quds Force in most responsible moments, Baghdad would have fallen into the hands of terrorists from the Islamic State [terrorist grouping outlawed in Russia] while Salafi extremists would have come to power in Damascus," Velayati said. "By killing General Soleimani, the United States did the most stupid thing and now ‘a second Vietnam’ awaits America, if they do not withdraw their troops from the Middle East," Velayati stressed.

Dr. Omid Shokri is of the view that the recent joint naval drill of Iran, Russia, and China shows that Iran is not isolated and shares some mutual interests with Russia and China.

A newly implemented deal between Beijing and Islamabad will eliminate tariffs on hundreds of products, a move which is expected to provide a billion-dollar boost to bilateral trade.

The new enterprise`s annual capacity is 100,000 tons of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), 75,000 tons of caustic soda and 300,000 tons of methanol, the report said, adding that it has added 900 jobs.

In Russland ist der 95. Konvoi mit humanitärer Hilfe in den Donbass gestartet. Das verkündete das russische Notfallministerium am Donnerstag und erklärte, dass der Konvoi insgesamt 435 Tonnen, einschließlich Nahrungsmittel und Medikamente, umfasst...Seit dem Jahr 2014 leistet das russische Notfallministerium humanitäre Hilfe in den Regionen Donezk und Lugansk. Insgesamt wurden in den vergangenen Jahren über 80.000 Tonnen humanitäre Hilfe in den Donbass geliefert.

Beim XIII. China-LAC Business Gipfel in Panama, der am Mittwoch zu Ende ging, hat insbesondere der Ausbau gemeinsamer Handelsaktivitäten und Unternehmensinvestitionen zwischen China und Lateinamerika im Mittelpunkt gestanden. Im Rahmen des dreitägigen Gipfels trafen sich ab Montag fast zweitausend Geschäftsleute, Beamte und Politiker aus Lateinamerika, der Karibik und China. Darüber hinaus nahmen mehr als 1.000 Unternehmen an der zum Gipfel gehörigen Ausstellungsmesse teil, darunter 600 Unternehmen aus Lateinamerika und der Karibik sowie rund 400 chinesische Unternehmen.

The Iranian city of Yazd and the Ukrainian city of Lviv are slated to sign a sisterhood agreement, IRNA reported on Sunday. The two historical cities will sign the agreement in a bid to enhance their cultural relations, Ukraine’s ambassador to Iran Sergey Burdilyak said on Saturday.

Iran’s tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan has said Iran backs China’s initiative for reviving the glory of ancient Silk Road, which existed for thousands of years, passing through many different empires, kingdoms, reigns and societies throughout history.