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US 'divisive strategy'

Iran has rejected a joint statement by the US and the member states of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council. Tehran says the statement is in line with the American regime’s longstanding strategy to foment division among regional countries. Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani said US’ destructive and interventionist policies are behind the existing crises in West Asia and the Persian Gulf. He noted that Iran believes in regional diplomacy and maintains that the ongoing crises must be resolved through political solutions. Kan'ani added that US supports Takfiri terrorism and Israel’s crimes against Palestinians, and is responsible for the devastating war in Yemen. He hoped that regional countries would work to promote peace, security and sustainable development in the region through good understanding of Washington’s evil policies.

Assad earthquake speech

The Syrian president has expressed his gratitude to friendly countries, including regional Arab states, for helping Damascus in dealing with last week’s deadly quake. Bashar al-Assad said in a televised speech that those countries’ assistance enhanced Syria’s ability to confront the difficult conditions at critical hours. He added that despite all the assistance, Syria will continue to face social and economic challenges for months and years. He noted that sabotage by terrorist groups and sanctions imposed on the country are further complicating the situation. Following the quake, Syria has received about 120 planeloads of assistance from friendly countries, including Iran and some Arab states, which restored ties with Damascus during past few years.

China-US tensions

China has imposed sanctions on two US companies by putting them on its unreliable entities list over arms sales to Taiwan. The new bans came amid heightened tensions between the two countries after the US military shot down what it said was a Chinese spy balloon. The sanctions bar Lockheed Martin and a unit of Raytheon Technologies from engaging in import and export activities related to China. They also ban the companies from further investment in China and bar their senior management from entering the country. The two companies make fighter jets and missiles, which were used in shooting down of an alleged Chinese spy balloon. China had warned of countermeasures against relevant US entities that sought to undermine its sovereignty and security. Beijing had already sanctioned the two companies over a 100-million-dollar arms.

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