Iran on SArabia ties, Ukrainian plane court rulings

Описание: (17 Apr 2023)
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ASSOCIATED PRESS - NO ACCESS BBC PERSIAN/NO ACCESS VOA PERSIAN/NO ACCESS MANOTO TV/NO ACCESS IRAN INTERNATIONAL
Tehran, Iran - 17 April 2023
1. Nasser Kanaani, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, entering room for regular briefing
2. Cutaway of cameramen
3. Wide of briefing
4. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Nasser Kanaani, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman:
"Direct political relations between the two countries (Iran and Saudi Arabia) has in practice been established. We can now say that political ties have been already activated, and we are en route to reactivate embassies and consulates."
5. Pan to left of briefing
6. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Nasser Kanaani, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman:
(On the prison sentence against air defence operators charged of shooting down the Ukrainian plane in 2020)
"Legal experts I talked to said the rulings issued are maximum possible sentences. In total, the Islamic republic of Iran tried to responsibly carry out its duties on this bitter case."
7. Kanaani leaving
STORYLINE:
A spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry said Monday that direct political ties with Saudi Arabia have already been established.

Back in March Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies after seven years of tensions.

The major diplomatic breakthrough negotiated with China lowers the chance of armed conflict between the Mideast rivals — both directly and in proxy conflicts around the region.

"Direct political relations between the two countries (Iran and Saudi Arabia) has in practice been established. We can now say that political ties have been already activated, and we are en route to reactivate embassies and consulates," said Nasser Kanaani, the spokesman.

Saudi Arabia broke ties with Iran in 2016 after protesters invaded Saudi diplomatic posts there.

Saudi Arabia had executed a prominent Shiite cleric with 46 others days earlier, triggering the demonstrations.

Saudi Arabia, home to the cube-shaped Kaaba that Muslims pray toward five times a day, has portrayed itself as the world’s leading Sunni nation.

Iran’s theocracy, meanwhile, views itself as the protector of Islam’s Shiite minority.

The two powerhouses have competing interests elsewhere, such as in Yemen, the turmoil in Lebanon and in the rebuilding of Iraq following the U.S.-led 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

Knaani also said maximum possible sentence have been issued against air defence operators who Iran says are responsible for shooting down a Ukrainian passenger plane in 2020.

An Iranian court has sentenced an air defense commander allegedly responsible for the deadly downing of a passenger plane amid Iran-U.S. tensions several years ago, a state news agency reported Sunday.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard mistakenly shot down the Ukraine International Airlines flight in January 2020.

The missile strike killed all 176 people on board and came as Tehran and Washington teetered on the brink of war.

The Guards commander who officials purport ordered the strike was sentenced to 13 years in prison, the official judiciary news outlet said.





AP Video shot by Saeed Sarmadi



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