Iran demands US to facilitate freedom of movement of Iranian residents in US
August 17, 2021, 3:05 am

Iran demands US to facilitate freedom of movement of Iranian residents in US

Iran-US-

According to the Xinhua news agency, Iran's Foreign Ministry accused on Monday the U.S. government of trying to prevent Iranian expatriates from having a "constructive relationship" with their country, urging Washington to take "basic steps" to facilitate the freedom of movement of Iranian residents in the United States.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh was quoted as saying by the ministry's website, in response to questions from the press, "if they want to sympathize with Iranians, it is better for them to stop threatening, intimidating, and trapping Iranians."

The Xinhua reported that Khatibzadeh was reacting to a "travel advisory" note published on Aug. 9 by the U.S. special envoy for Iran Robert Malley, recommending not to travel to Iran "due to the risk of kidnapping and the arbitrary arrest, detention of U.S. citizens, and COVID-19."

The spokesman said the Biden administration initially sought to distance itself from the Trump administration, but has since "adopted the same outdated approaches with the promotion of Iranophobia."

He added that the U.S. approach concerning talks about Iranian prisoners being "held hostage" in the United States shows that the Biden administration is trying "even more" than the Trump administration to "politicize and turn humanitarian issues to security issues."

On July 13, Ali Rabiei, spokesman for Iran's government, confirmed ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington for a prisoner swap, and voiced Iran's readiness for an all-for-all prisoner exchange.

At the end of that same week, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi tweeted that the United States and Britain had to stop linking a prisoner swap to the talks aiming to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement, formally known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Iranian officials stated that the United States had agreed with a swap deal, while Washington denied such an agreement had been reached.

The Iranian spokesman also commented on the U.S. press reports, saying Washington officials are reviewing their options, in case talks to revive JCPOA fail to yield results.

He said: "All countries, including Iran, should have their own alternatives."

Talks in Vienna, Khatibzadeh said, have been based so far on the need for the United States to fulfill its commitments within the framework of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and a "complete and effective" lifting of Washington's unilateral sanctions against Iran.

If that happens, he added, Washington can return to the JCPOA.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 agreement in May 2018 and unilaterally re-imposed old and new sanctions on Iran. In response, Iran has gradually stopped implementing parts of its commitments to the deal since May 2019.

After six rounds of talks in Vienna since April, the parties said serious differences remain between Iran and the United States for the revitalization of the deal. The sixth round of talks ended on June 20, currently on hiatus.

Meanwhile, Khatibzadeh criticized the U.S. Treasury Department's sanctions on an Omani national and businesses allegedly getting involved in an oil-smuggling network linked to Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.

"It is clear that the U.S. sanction policy against Iran is failed and ineffective and only indicates Washington's addiction to sanctions," the spokesman said.

Khatibzadeh additionally discussed statements of Western officials concerning an alleged "increasingly aggressive and malign behavior" from the part of Iran.

"Upon review of the available information, we are confident that Iran conducted this unjustified attack," the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Aug. 9 in a meeting of the UNSC, regarding alleged attacks on the Mercer Street, an Israeli-managed oil tanker, in the gulf of Oman.

"It is strange that an official of a country that is the root and cause of many troubles in our region, open and covert ... accuses Iran," Khatibzadeh said.

The spokesman insisted on Tehran's dismissal of any Iranian role in the incident, and accused Israel and "some of its supporters" of having "a long history of deception and forgery of documents, intending to advance their political agenda."

Moreover, Khatibzadeh said it is Iran's "principled policy" to maintain peace and stability in the region, and stressed the need for cooperation within the region in this regard.

Source: xinhua

Joe Biden defends his decision to pull US troops out of Afghanistan Russian ambassador: Taliban made Kabul safer than it had been under Afghan authorities

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.