Spotlight on Iran - December 9, 2021 – December 23, 2021 Author: Dr. Raz Zimmt

Syrian pro-opposition sources reported that Iran deployed new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the T-4 Air Base of the Syrian Army in eastern Homs and began operating them in reconnaissance missions as part of the campaign led by Iranian-backed forces in the Badia desert.
The Iranian deputy president met with the Syrian ambassador to Tehran and discussed bilateral ties and developments in the region. During the meeting, the Iranian officials called on the ambassador to facilitate the implementation of agreements and memoranda of understanding concerning cooperation between the two countries that have been signed in years prior.
The Iranian Ambassador to Yemen, Hasan Irloo, has died of COVID-19. Irloo, who previously served in the ranks of the Qods Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was appointed as the ambassador to the war-torn country in October 2020.
The spokesman of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the visit of the Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennet, to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), declaring that the visit destabilizes the security of the region and is contrary to the interests of the Muslim world and Arab countries.

The Iranian deputy minister of foreign affairs spoke on the phone with the head of Hamas’ Politburo on the anniversary of the group’s establishment. In the call, the Iranian official stressed the importance of “the resistance” in achieving the historical rights of the Palestinian people.

The Iranian minister of foreign affairs attended an emergency summit of the Islamic Cooperation Organization that was held in Islamabad concerning Afghanistan. The official highlighted the humanitarian assistance Iran has provided to the citizens of Afghanistan and called for establishing an Islamic fund that will finance humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Iranian deputy ambassador to Kabul met with the deputy prime minister of the Taliban government, and with the former Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, and discussed with them developments in the country.