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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 23 september 2020
Iran strikes defiant tone at U.N. under crushing U.S. sanctions

By AYA BATRAWY Ali Khamenei, who wept
Associated Press openly at his funeral.
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- Rouhani mentioned the
ates (AP) — Grappling with commander briefly in his
a weakened economy speech, referring to him as
and the Middle East's worst an "assassinated hero."
coronavirus outbreak, Iran's Gulf Arab states and Israel
president delivered a defi- have long wanted the Unit-
ant and fiery speech Tues- ed States to push back Teh-
day to the U.N. General ran's drive to spread influ-
Assembly as he insisted it ence through Shiite proxies
would be the United States across the region that So-
that surrenders to Iran's re- leimani had commanded.
silience. They see Iran as a destabi-
Hassan Rouhani spoke in lizing force that has exploit-
a prerecorded speech ed failed uprisings, military
to the virtual summit just interventions and chaos in
days after Iran's currency Arab states like Iraq, Leba-
plunged to its lowest levels non, Syria and Yemen.
ever against the U.S. dollar The United Arab Emirates
due to crippling U.S. sanc- and Bahrain have cement-
tions imposed by President ed ties with Israel in part
Donald Trump, who pulled In this image made from UNTV video, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks in a pre-recorded due to shared concerns
message which was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tues-
the U.S. out of Iran's nuclear day, Sept. 22, 2020, at UN headquarters in New York. over Iran, their shared ri-
deal with world powers in Associated Press val. Saudi Arabia, which
2018. blames Iran for a stunning
The accord had been nize the feet kneeling on against the Islamic republic ternational Monetary Fund, missile and drone attack
signed by the Obama ad- the neck as the feet of ar- with an executive order to marking the first time since last year on its main oil refin-
ministration. The sanctions rogance on the neck of in- enforce all U.N. sanctions the 1979 Islamic Revolution ery, is also quietly cement-
effectively bar Iran from dependent nations." on Iran because Tehran is that Iran has sought such ing ties with Israel.
selling its oil globally. He said Iran "has paid a sim- not complying with the nu- assistance. Rouhani sought to frame
"The United States can im- ilar high price" in its quest clear deal — a move that Iran has recorded more Iranian interventions as in
pose neither negotiations for freedom and liberation most of the rest of the world than 429,000 infections of defense of besieged peo-
nor war on us," Rouhani from domination. rejects as illegal. the virus, including more ple, and noted Iran's efforts
said, adding: "Life is hard Rouhani insisted his nation Because Trump withdrew than 24,000 deaths as it re- fighting against extremist
under sanctions. However, does not deserve sanctions from the nuclear agree- sists nationwide lockdowns Sunni Muslim groups like the
harder is life without inde- and described the U.S. as ment, few U.N. member that could further imperil Islamic State.
pendence." "a terrorist and intervention- states believe the U.S. has the economy. Trump, in the middle of a
Rouhani compared his ist outsider" before referring the legal standing to re- Rouhani's speech reflects contentious re-election
country's plight with that to the 1953 U.S.-backed store the sanctions. Even so, how tensions have skyrock- race, has made pressure
of George Floyd, the Black coup that cemented the diplomatic efforts in Europe eted between Tehran and on Iran a cornerstone of his
American man who died in control of the shah in Iran, have failed to preserve Washington following the Mideast foreign policy. He's
May after a white police of- which ultimately pushed the deal. Iran has steadily U.S. strike in January that also increased U.S. military
ficer in Minneapolis pinned the country toward its Is- broken restrictions on the killed Iranian Revolutionary presence in the Gulf.
him to the ground by press- lamic Revolution and hostil- amount of uranium it can Guard Gen. Qassem So- "We are not a bargaining
ing a knee into his neck. ity with the West. He said it is enrich in order to pressure leimani in Baghdad, Iraq. chip in U.S. elections and
Floyd's death set off nation- the U.S. that has been "the countries to do more. Iran retaliated with a bal- domestic policy," Rouhani
wide protests in support of sole user of atomic bombs" U.S. sanctions and the listic missile strike on Iraqi said. It was his last speech
Black lives. in the world. coronavirus outbreak have bases housing American to the U.N. assembly as
Calling it "reminiscent of our This week, the White House pummeled Iran's economy. troops. The powerful com- president of Iran. Fresh
own experience," Rouhani doubled down on its max- In March, Tehran requested mander was close to Iran's elections in Iran are slated
said: "We instantly recog- imum-pressure campaign a $5 billion loan from the In- Supreme Leader Ayatollah for 2021.q

Saudi Arabia to lift ban on Mecca pilgrimage amid virus

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) will be open to Saudi citi- The second phase launch- try said in a statement. Sau- were selected after apply-
— Saudi Arabia on Tues- zens and residents only dur- es Oct. 18, allowing a maxi- di Arabia recently began ing through an online por-
day said Muslims will be ing this first phase. mum of 15,000 pilgrims and easing some restrictions on tal and all were residents
allowed to perform the Before visitors can enter the 40,000 in for prayer from international flights for the or citizens of Saudi Arabia.
smaller, year-round pilgrim- mosque to pray or perform among residents and citi- first time since March. Rather than the more than
age starting Oct. 4 as the the "umrah" pilgrimage, zens based on allocated The ministry said it will con- 2 million pilgrims the king-
kingdom gradually begins they will have to apply and times via the app. tinuously evaluate these dom hosts for the annual
lifting restrictions that had reserve a specific time and The Grand Mosque houses guidelines and develop- event, as little as 1,000 took
been in place on Islam's ho- date through an online ap- the cube-shaped Kaaba ments related to the pan- part after being tested for
liest site for the past seven plication that is launching that observant Muslims demic. The kingdom held the virus and quarantined.
months due to the corona- Sept. 27 to avoid crowding pray toward five times a a dramatically downsized, Despite taking early and
virus. State media reported and maintain social-dis- day. Muslim travelers from symbolic hajj pilgrimage in sweeping measures to con-
the government plans to tancing guidelines. Visitors outside Saudi Arabia could July due to concerns that it tain the virus, Saudi Arabia
allow up to 6,000 visitors a can also select via the app be allowed to perform the could easily have become has recorded more than
day at the sprawling Grand their means of transporta- "umrah" pilgrimage as early a global super-spreader 330,000 cases, including
Mosque in Mecca, which tion and meeting points. as Nov. 1, the Interior Minis- event for the virus. Pilgrims more than 4,500 deaths.q