China urges end to US meddling in Beijing-Tehran cooperation
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning issued the call on Friday while responding to new U.S. sanctions on two Chinese petrochemicals groups for allegedly importing Iranian crude oil.
Beijing has always opposed the use of “illegal unilateral sanctions” and “long-arm jurisdiction” and has repeatedly called on Washington to stop interfering and undermining normal trade and economic cooperation between China and Iran, Mao said.
She stressed that her country will take all necessary measures to resolutely protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.
On Thursday, the U.S. State Department announced that it had sanctioned the Huaying Huizhou Daya Bay Petrochemical Terminal Storage, located in Guangdong, South China, for purchasing and storing Iranian crude oil from a sanctioned vessel and an oil refinery in Shandong, East China.
This is the latest in salvo of sanctions imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump under his so-called “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.
Trump resorted to the “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran after unilaterally pulling his country out of the landmark multilateral nuclear deal in 2018.
Source: Ifp Media Wire
44 civilians killed in attack on mosque in southwestern Niger
The assault in the village of Fonbita in the rural commune of Kokorou happened when militants identified as members of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) stormed a mosque, targeting worshippers.
Toumba said the attack left four of the 13 who were wounded in critical condition. The ministry condemned the assault as a “cowardly and inhumane act” and vowed to intensify efforts to combat terrorism in the region.
The Nigerien government declared 72 hours of national mourning beginning Saturday to honor the victims. Flags will fly at half-mast across the country, and public events are expected to be subdued as the nation grieves.
The southwestern region of Niger, particularly areas near the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, has seen a surge in violence in recent years, with groups like the ISGS exploiting instability to carry out deadly raids on villages and security forces. The attack underscores the security challenges facing the Sahel nation, despite efforts by the government and international partners to curb the insurgency.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, though the Interior Ministry’s attribution to ISGS aligns because of the group’s known presence in the region. Authorities have promised a thorough investigation and a robust response to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The latest killings add to a growing toll of civilian casualties in Niger, where communities remain vulnerable to the persistent threat of extremist violence.
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