Iran
Efforts to deploy US counterterrorism forces in Uzbekistan may not be over
Tashkent holds firmly to ‘No’ but Putin underlines difficulty of Afghanistan situation by saying intelligence indicates 2,000 Islamic State members may be present in north of country alone.
Reports warn Tajik militant group in Afghanistan may be poised to attack Tajikistan
Russian media say group may be beyond Taliban’s control. Moscow says Russia stands ready to protect its ally from any incursion.
Russia proposes “3+3” format to unlock economic and transport communications in Caucasus
Moscow’s move comes amid high tensions as Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkey flex muscles with military exercises.
Azerbaijan shuts office of Iranian supreme leader’s Baku representative as war game tensions mount
Azerbaijan and close ally Turkey set to hold “Indestructible Brotherhood” military drills in Azerbaijani exclave Nakhchivan in seeming response to Iranian manoeuvres.
Avoiding water bankruptcy in the drought-troubled southwest: What the US and Iran can learn from each other
Iranians have learnt the hard way that water shortages cannot be mitigated only by increasing water supply – it’s also important to manage water demand.
bneGREEN: SEB puts $4 trillion annual price tag on net zero
SEB’s latest Green Bonds Report has placed a price of $4 trillion per year on the energy transition if the world is to reach net zero by 2050.
_1633130622.jpg)
Kremlin responds to opposing troops building up on Tajikistan-Afghanistan border
It meanwhile emerges that US is in talks on using Central Asian bases for over-the-horizon counter-terrorism operations in Taliban-controlled nation.
Taliban and Tajikistan engage in sabre-rattling
Dushanbe has irked the Taliban by offering a haven to its foes.
bneGREEN: Hydro capacity needs to double to meet green goals
Global hydro capacity needs to double by 2050 if water-based power is to make a meaningful contribution in the race to net zero, IRENA director-general Francesco La Camera has warned
Iran alludes to Baku’s relations with Israel as it defends war games by Azerbaijan border
Tehran, peeved at military exercises involving Azerbaijani, Turkish and Pakistani forces, appears to have resorted to sabre-rattling.
Azerbaijani, Turkish and Pakistani war games appear to prompt Iran to move infantry to border
Representative of Iranian supreme leader warns Azerbaijan to not “play with the lion’s tail”.
Iran’s economy – less troubled than Washington would like, and turning to the East
Iran's economy is under pressure from US sanctions, but is not nearly as sick as US reports would make you think.
SCO leaders tell West to bite bullet and hand billions to Taliban
With Afghanistan on brink of humanitarian and economic hell, it might be that only access to capital frozen abroad can stop the country becoming an incurable narco-state that is a hive of terrorism.
Iran cements ties with East as it becomes full member of SCO
“The world has entered a new era,” says Iranian president. “Hegemony and unilateralism are failing. The international balance is moving toward multilateralism and redistribution of power to the benefit of independent countries.”
Azerbaijan detains Iranian truck drivers as ‘land corridors’ dispute with Armenia worsens
Tactic may be designed to up pressure on Yerevan to permit a route that would enable Azerbaijanis to reach their Nakhchivan exclave via Armenian territory.
bneGreen: Finland’s Betolar develops green cement as construction races to decarbonise
Finland’s Betolar is pioneering the production of low-carbon cement by using alternative industrial waste products in a process that could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80%.
Azerbaijan starts charging Iranian trucks supplying Armenia
The move appears to be part of a steadily increasing effort by Baku to exert control over the road in southern Armenia that passes through pockets of Azerbaijan-controlled territory.
Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile ‘could be enough for atomic bomb within month’
US think tank’s conclusion does not, however, address the time it would take Tehran to assemble a deliverable weapon on a missile warhead.
Iran refers to ‘illegality’ of Turkish presence in Caspian Sea military drills
Tehran concerned at how special forces from Turkey linked up with Azerbaijani counterparts.
Process to admit Iran into Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ‘set to begin’
Islamic Republic applied to join as far back as 2008 but sanctions have hindered its path. Move to obtain membership may still meet additional obstacles.
