Expansion of the airbase Khmeimim in Syria

1 Syria

Syria and Russia have agreed on a transfer of some additional territory and water area for the expansion of the Khmeimim airbase in Syria. The protocol on the agreement on the stationing of the Russian military was published on the official website for the legal information. It was reported that the parties agreed to place a medical and rehabilitation center for the Russian aviation group in the province of Latakia, as well as in the water area nearby. Syria plans to hand over 8 hectares.

2 The USA — Iran

The US State Department announced that the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, will visit the UN HQ in New York on 20th and 21st of August. He will notify the UN Security Council that the USA are reinstating the UN sanctions against Iran. «In 30 days after the notification by the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo — a number of UN sanctions will be restored. Including the requirement for Iran to suspend all their uranium enrichment activities. The arms embargo on Iran will be extended for another 13 years» — the statement said.

3 The USA

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the USA are ready to impose sanctions on Russia and China if these countries interfere with the return of the UN restrictive measures against Iran — Mike Pompeo said on air of the ‘Fox News’ while answering the host’s question about whether the USA are ready to bring Russia and China to the responsibility. «If we see that someone is obstructing our sanctions — the current US sanctions — any country will be held accountable for such actions. We will do the same in the case of the expansion of the UN Security Council sanctions» — Mike Pompeo explained.

4 China — the USA

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian stated that the possible US sanctions against Russia and China, promised for a possible «interference» in the restoration of the US sanctions against Iran, should be considered ‘inappropriate’. «The USA have previously announced their rejection of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. They do not have the necessary competence to demand sanctions» — Zhao Lijian explained and added that the Chinese opinion was widely recognized among members of the international community. «We are against one-sided measures, and we demand the USA to respect the rights of other states» — Zhao Lijian concluded.

5 Iran

The Iranian armed forces showed their new surface-to-surface ballistic missile ‘Haj Qasem’, named in honor of the General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by the US military in January. The tests of the missile were broadcast on Thursday by the IRIB broadcasting corporation. The new cruise missile ‘Abu Mahdi’, named after Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the commander of the Iraqi Shia groups ‘Al-Hashd al-Shaabi’, was showed as well. Abu Mahdi died along with Suleimani. The Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called the news of the new missile test to be «important.» He underlined that Iran must contain the enemies «on land and at sea with missiles.»

6 Belarus

The ‘TASS’ news agency reported that the General Prosecutor’s Office of Belarus opened a criminal case under the article “Seizure of Power” on the fact of the creation of the “Coordination Council” by the opposition. A confidant of the former presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya — Olga Kovalkova — announced that the opposition regards the start of a criminal case on «seizure of power» as political pressure and repression. The Prosecutor General, Alexander Konyuk, said that a number of members of the Coordination Council of the Belarusian opposition left it after they realized the illegality of the actions of the council. «The creation of such political bodies is not provided for by law. Their activities are unconstitutional. A number of citizens realized the illegality of their actions, and left the Coordination Council. They do not agree with the goals» — he explained. Constantine Reztsov, specially for ANNA NEWS.