Shamkhani: Iran is going [to Rome] to achieve a balanced agreement; not surrender.
Shamkhani: Agreement also stipulates speed [in implementation], refraining from threats, reining in troublesome parties like "Israel", and facilitating investment.
Shamkhani: Agreement based on nine principles, including seriousness, guarantees, balance, lifting sanctions, and refusal of Libya/UAE models.
Ali Shamkhani, Advisor to Iran's Leader: Negotiators headed to Rome with complete authority to arrive at comprehensive agreement.
Sheikh Qassem: Reconstruction is not a favor from anyone, and we will not accept blackmail under this pretext.
Qassem: Lebanon cannot move forward under US guardianship, and the US must respect the Lebanese people’s will for independence and non-interference in its affairs.
Sheikh Qassem: They say they are linking reconstruction to disarmament, we say we are the ones linking weapons to reconstruction.
Sheikh Qassem: Moving to the second phase requires implementing the first phase, which includes the withdrawal of “Israel,” an end to its aggression, and the actual start of reconstruction.
Sheikh Qassem: Hezbollah has fulfilled its responsibilities; let “Israel” fulfill its own, and let the Lebanese state fulfill its own.
Qassem: We will not discuss the details of the defensive strategy in the media, nor will we preempt the principles that will be agreed upon once we sit at the dialogue table.
Europe ahead of economic war as Trump targets tariffs and taxes
Commenting on Donald Trump’s inauguration, Al Mayadeen's bureau chief in Geneva Moussa Assi stated that Trump's economic policies signal a dark day for Europe. Assi explained that Trump is gearing up to launch an economic offensive targeting European trade and industry, such as proposed tariff hikes, ranging from 10% to 20% on European goods and up to 60% on Chinese imports, which will hit hard. Meanwhile, his plan to slash corporate taxes from 21% to 15% will make the US a tax haven for multinational corporations, drawing investments away from Europe. With promises to halve fuel and electricity costs through expanded oil exploration, including in Alaska, Trump is creating a competitive edge that could lure European companies to relocate their operations to the US.