Tehran, Oct 6: Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi met with visiting Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Tehran seperately, each stressing Iran’s resolve to defend its national interests and security.

“Negotiation is meaningless with an enemy that resorts to acts of assassination, sanctions, pressure, and threats on a daily basis, and breaks its promises,” Pezeshkian said in his meeting with Mirzoyan on Monday, according to a statement published on the website of his office.

“So far, they (the United States) have attacked us three times following talks, which demonstrates that they are not seeking dialogue, but rather aiming to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran’s establishment,” Pezeshkian said.

Pezeshkian noted that Washington offers no answer to the killing of 168 innocent children at a school in Iran’s southern city of Minab on February 28, Xinhua news agency reported.

“None of their actions and behaviors towards Iran complies with international law,” he added.

Araghchi said Iran will “decisively” defend its national interests and security, but has never hesitated to use diplomacy to prevent escalation of tensions, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

He said the “precarious” consequences of the US-Israeli military “aggression” against Iran are the main cause of the insecurity imposed on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Mirzoyan, for his part, emphasised the “strategic nature” of relations between Armenia and Iran, and Yerevan’s continued commitment to expanding cooperation with Tehran, the statement said.

In his meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Mirzoyan stressed that his country will not allow its territory to be used for any action against Iran, according to Iran’s official news agency IRNA.

On February 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the region, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran, Oct 5: A senior Iranian diplomat has said that Iran is currently reviewing US views on Tehran’s recent proposal to cease hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi made the remarks in Tehran on Sunday (local time), saying that the United States has submitted its views on Iran’s proposal through mediators.

He stressed that Iran’s proposal is the “seven-day plan” that was presented to the other side by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in New York late last month.

Gharibabadi said, “The US views are currently being reviewed inside the country through the appropriate channels,” adding that whenever Iran’s final views are ready, the necessary action will be taken through “appropriate channels.”

He added that Iran is simultaneously making the necessary preparations for any other scenario as well, reports Xinhua news agency.

Iran conveyed a proposed seven-day plan to the United States on September 22 to cease hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through mediators on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

On February 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the region, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire was achieved between the warring parties on April 8. On June 18, Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on ending the war in the region on all fronts.

Under the MoU, the two countries were scheduled to hold negotiations within 60 days, ending on August 17, to reach a final agreement. However, the two sides failed to make sufficient progress toward a deal as tensions continued to escalate.

Kathmandu, Oct 5: The Nepali government has decided to call off the search and rescue operations launched following the deadly floods that struck the country on August 26, as hopes of finding survivors have faded, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat said on Monday.

Forty days after floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers devastated communities and infrastructure along the river corridors, the government has now prioritised reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.

The decision was taken based on recommendations from district security committees, district disaster management committees, the Executive Committee of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, and findings from field inspections, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat said.

A total of 1,455 people have been confirmed dead and 5,285 remain missing following the disaster till date, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.

The meeting also decided to recommend a budget of NPR 559.18 billion ($3.62 billion) to the Ministry of Finance for 504 plans and programmes aimed at reconstructing and rehabilitating areas affected by the August 26 disaster and other monsoon-related disasters.

According to the Rapid Disaster Needs Assessment (RDNA) report prepared by a joint technical team of the National Planning Commission and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the recent floods are estimated to have caused physical damage worth NPR 274.48 billion, while overall losses and damages have reached NPR 408.28 billion.

The preliminary assessment suggests that more than NPR 723 billion will be required for the reconstruction and recovery of affected infrastructure and assets. Now, the Nepali government has been working on a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment with an extensive assessment of damages.

The council directed the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority to recommend additional budgetary arrangements once details are received for projects whose cost estimates have not yet been determined or which have yet to be prioritised.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah said disaster management efforts had been carried out through coordination among the federal, provincial and local governments, adding that reconstruction and rehabilitation would also proceed through the same mechanism.

The meeting expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and property caused by the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods and other monsoon-related disasters. It paid tribute to those who lost their lives and expressed condolences to their bereaved families.

The council also thanked security personnel, elected representatives, civil servants, private-sector organisations, volunteers and media personnel involved in search, rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations, as well as donor countries and development partners that assisted during the crisis.