Iran’s IRGC chief urges US to leave behind Trump’s ‘failed’ policies
February 8, 2021, 11:35 am

Iran’s IRGC chief urges US to leave behind Trump’s ‘failed’ policies

Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Major General Hossein Salami speaks in Tehran. (File photo: AFP)

The head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Hossein Salami called on the new US administration on Monday to not pursue the previous administration’s “failed” policies towards Tehran.

“Do not repeat your failed policies,” Maj. Gen. Salami said, referring to former President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported.

Trump pulled Washington out of the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed broad sanctions on Iran as part of a “maximum pressure” campaign.

Iran will not trade its independence for sanctions relief, Salami said, adding that the Islamic republic has grown immune to sanctions and its impacts.

President Joe Biden has pledged to rejoin the deal if Iran returns to complying with it, but Tehran has said the US must make the first move by rejoining the deal and lifting sanctions.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Sunday Tehran will return to compliance with the deal only if Washington lifts “all” sanctions on the Islamic republic.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaking with officials in Tehran. (File photo: AFP)

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told state TV on Sunday the US has “no choice” but to rejoin the deal as it will not get a better one.

Tehran is not in a hurry for the US to rejoin the nuclear deal, he added.

In a CBS interview aired Sunday, Biden said the US will not lift sanctions on Iran to get the Islamic republic back to the negotiating table and that Tehran needs to stop enriching uranium beyond the limits of the deal first.

source: Yaghoub Fazeli

Image source: AFP

Levant

Egypt heads emergency Arab League meeting on Palestine with Arab FMs German firm completes clearance of dangerous materials from containers at Beirut port

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”