Mediaboss Marketing

As if they had found a new natural gas field of their own, the Israeli media was quick to report on an agreement purportedly signed between Israel and Lebanon for the sale of Israeli natural gas to its northern neighbor. The report on Israels N12 news website even managed to spur the U.S. administration to adamantly deny the existence of such a deal, but the news has still had a ripple effect.

In October, an agreement was indeed signed to ship Egyptian natural gas and Jordanian electricity to Syria, and from there to Lebanon. It provides for the gas to be shipped through the Arab Gas Pipeline, which runs from Sinai via Aqaba in Jordan to the Syrian city of Homs and from there to Lebanon. At the same time, with the reconstruction of power lines from Jordan to Syria and to Lebanon, Jordan will sell electricity to the Lebanese.

The draft of the plan was negotiated by Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and the United States in July, and it was clear to all involved that the United States would request that the other parties be granted an exemption from sanctions against Syria. In addition, it was agreed that Syria would collect a 10 percent cut on the Egyptian gas and 8 percent on the electricity transiting its territory.

The United States did indeed give Egypt and Jordan a letter confirming that they should not be concerned about violating anti-Syrian sanctions in providing the gas and electricity. They would only have to wait for renovation work on the Syrian stretch of the gas pipeline and the portion running from Homs to Lebanon, which is not connected to the Arab Gas Pipeline.

Israel was copied to the correspondence, but was never a party to the agreement. Even back when the deal with being negotiated, there were sensational stories in the Arab media about how Israeli natural gas would be illuminating the streets of Lebanon. Energy expert Matthew Zeiss even wrote an article for the Atlantic Councils website in October stating that Israeli gas would provide lighting for the headquarters of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

In its natural state, natural gas is odorless and colorless. The gas that Israel sells to Jordan is used to generate electricity some of which will also be provided to Lebanon but Israel and Jordan, as well as Lebanon, are not parties to an agreement that would segregate the gas to ensure that Israeli gas isnt used to generate the Jordanian electricity going to Lebanon. Thats simply because theres no practical way to do so.

The payment for the gas will be made through the International Monetary Fund, which has yet to resolve a problem regarding the repayment of a loan that would be granted to Lebanon. The Lebanese government is an amorphous concept. It isnt functioning and there is no confidence when it comes to its debt repayment. The suggested solution is paying Jordan and Egypt directly based on the amount of electricity and gas provided rather than having the payment go through Lebanon. The Lebanese would be charged when a miracle happens and it begins carrying out economic reforms that give it access to foreign assistance.

Hezbollah keeps mum

The reports of a gas deal between Israel and Lebanon even explained that it was aimed at curbing Irans influence in Lebanon and Syria, bringing Syria back into the Arab fold and reducing Hezbollahs influence in Lebanon. All that was missing was an assessment that the agreement would usher in world peace, or at least reduce global warming.

Iranian influence in Lebanon does not rely on those few oil tankers that the Iranians dispatched in September to the Syrian port of Banias at Hezbollahs request. Even the United States refrained from blocking the oil shipments. I dont think anyone is going to fall on their sword if someones able to get fuel into hospitals that need it, the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, Dorothy Shea, told the Al-Arabiya news network.

At the same time, she reported on the draft of the agreement to export the gas from Jordan and Egypt. Hezbollah took notice and didnt oppose it, maintaining its silence even when Arab media outlets reported that the Jordanian electricity destined for Lebanon would be generated from Israeli natural gas. In precisely the same way, Hezbollah gave its consent for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel to demarcate the maritime boundaries between the two countries, as a stable and orderly Lebanon is in the joint interest of Israel, Hezbollah, Iran and Syria.

The suggestion that Israel should demand diplomatic or military concessions in return for its consent to have natural gas provided to Lebanon is therefore also baseless. Not only is Israel not selling gas to Lebanon, it also cant veto Jordan and Egypts involvement, particularly when the United States is the one who devised the agreement.

Iran eyes the European market

While the dreamers have visions of a Middle East in which Israeli gas creates regime change, forges coalitions, shakes up Hezbollah and expels Iran from Syria, its actually worth planning for Irans reentry into the world gas market particularly the European one.

The discovery of a gigantic gas reserve in Iranian waters in the Caspian Sea, the Chalous field, puts Iran at the top of the rankings as a regional gas producer. The Western experts assess that the field contains more gas than any reserve at the Pars gas reserve site that Iran shares in the Gulf with Qatar, which itself is considered the largest offshore gas reserve in the world.

Officials at the Iranian Energy Ministry are already talking about Iran being able to supply about 20 percent of Europes natural gas needs. On the assumption that a new international nuclear agreement is signed with Iran and that sanctions against the regime are lifted, Iran could become an alternative to Russia in supplying Europe with natural gas, or at least reduce European dependence on Russian gas.

But the process of transforming Iran into an option for Europe's gas needs would face quite a few roadblocks. Iran is a signatory to a 25-year strategic agreement with China, which grants the Chinese preferential access to Iranian oil and gas at reduced prices in return for hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese investment. And a strategic agreement that Iran and Russia just agreed to extend will also limit Tehrans ability to compete in the European market. Russia views its gas pipeline to Europe not only as an economic asset but also as a source of essential diplomatic and strategic leverage. Moscow will not let any country push it out of this lucrative arena.

In addition, the Islamic Republic lacks facilities and other means to liquefy gas, which impedes its ability to compete in the liquefied gas market. Iran will require thorough reforms in how its natural gas is used. Currently its mainly for domestic consumption, with only about 7 percent being exported to its neighbors.

Even if Iranian sales of natural gas to Europe are currently theoretical mainly due to American sanctions Iran intends to substantially boost its output of gas this year and to be a significant player in the Central Asian gas market. The tripartite agreement to supply gas that it signed in November with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, as well as its supply agreement with Turkey, ensure that the huge reserves in its territory and in the Caspian Sea will find new markets.

With the lifting of sanctions, Iran would also be able to sell or give away quantities of gas to Lebanon, and in the process ensure its economic and political influence in the country. This would even spare Lebanon the need to buy gas and electricity from Egypt and Jordan. It would be imprudent, then, to expect that using Israeli natural gas will chase Iran out of Syria and Lebanon.

More:
Israeli gas will illuminate Lebanon's streets, but Iran isn't leaving them anytime soon - Haaretz

"); o.document.close(); setTimeout(function() { window.frames.printArticleFrame.focus(); window.frames.printArticleFrame.print(); document.body.removeChild(a); }, 1000); } jQuery(document).bind("keyup keydown", function(e) { if ((e.ctrlKey || e.metaKey) && (e.key == "p" || e.charCode == 16 || e.charCode == 112 || e.keyCode == 80)) { e.preventDefault(); printArticle(); } });

One would not usually associate Iranand its snow-clad mountains, arid deserts, high plateaus, lush green Hyrcanian forests and the Persian Gulf coast with crocodiles. But Sistan and Baluchestan, the countrys second-largest province by area, that borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, is home to the animals. They are in the news for rising attacks on people due to climate change.

The BBC December 28, 2021 described how conflict had increased between crocodiles and humans in Sistan-Baluchestan due to extreme scarcity of water.

Asghar Mobaraki, Irans foremost expert oncrocodiles, noted in an academic article last year:

The (crocodile) population in southeastern Iran remains severely vulnerable to extreme climatic events, such as periodic droughts and floods. Iranian crocodiles are therefore directly impacted by climate change and are in critical need of immediate study to evaluate this threat.

Do these animalsprey on humans?

They are not large enough to attack humans, so they dont prey on them. But attacks do happen and increase in the dry and wet season. Since 1979, we have had 4-5 fatal attacks, all on school children. In the past four years, we had two attacks that resulted in the loss of an arm and a hand of two young children, Mobaraki told Down To Earth.

In my records, from 2012 to 2022, there were eight attacks with only one fatality. I only have one attack recorded from before 2012 and that one occurred in 2003 (and it was fatal). There were, of course, other attacks prior to 2012 and going much further back, but to the best of my knowledge these were not recorded in official records, Brandon Sideleau, who manages CrocBITE, a worldwide crocodilian attack database, toldDTE.

What should be done to solve human-crocodile conflict in Iran in the light of increasing climate change?

Mobaraki said: Public education and awareness, improving infrastructure, providing basic living facilities, management of human settlements development, managing the crocodiles and using crocodile excluding devices could be some solutions.

Sideleau said he would recommend similar measures to what is being done in India and Sri Lanka.

He noted that CEEs (Crocodile Exclusion Enclosures) could be quite effective in mitigating crocodile attacks in Iran since most attacks occurred on bathers and clothes washers in freshwater areas.

Community education and outreach is of vital importance since it allows the community to understand crocodile safety and it actively involves them in conservation and management. In Iran, drought is a major issue. So, the lack of available water is bringing people into conflict with crocodiles. CEEs would help a lot here, as would plumbing and safer access to freshwater. However, all these cost money and funding isnt always available, Sideleau told DTE.

Indeed, Sistan-Baluchestan is considered among the poorest and most under-developed regions in Iran.

The province is home to the Baloch people, who make up the majority and overlap into the neighbouring Balochistan province of Pakistan. The province is also home to Chabahar on the Persian Gulf, where India is building a huge port.

The Sunni Baloch population in the province has often complained of discrimination by the Shia Persian regime in Tehran.

Crocodiles in Iran

The crocodile found in Iran is the same species that is present throughout the Indian subcontinent, the mugger crocodile or Crocodylus palustris. Regional differences are possible, depending on factors such as resource availability, Sideleau said.

He noted:

The Iran muggers represent the westernmost population of mugger crocodiles and the westernmost population of crocodiles before you reach the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) in Africa. There is a no mans land with no crocodilian species from Iran to Egypt, where Nile crocodiles are currently found in Lake Nasser, the reservoir created by the Aswan High Dam. This no mans land is almost certainly due to the aridity of the region and the lack of habitat.

Crocodiles in Sistan-Baluchestan are known by the Balochi term Gando, meaning moving on a belly,Mobaraki told DTE.

We estimated that there are 500 gandos in Iran currently, almost all of them in Sistan-Baluchestan, Mobaraki said.

An estimated 500 wild muggers remain within the southeastern part of Iran, in Sistan and Baluchestan Provinces (the Gandou Protected Area). They occupy ponds along two large rivers, namely Bahu-Kalat and Kaju, two dam reservoirs (Pishin and Zirdan), small artificial water dams, and some manmade local ponds in villages,the article written by Mobaraki last year, noted.

He agreed with Sideleaus view that the gandos of Iran were scientifically considered to be the same as the muggers of the Indian subcontinent.

But the Iranian populations are in an extreme habitat. Hence, they seem to be a bit polymorphically different. They are smaller than their Indian relatives, Mobaraki said.

Iran had been in the news over climate change in November 2021, when the residents of Isfahan, the countrys third-largest city, had clashed with authorities over the disappearance of the citys river, the Zayandeh-Roud.

The protestors alleged that the rivers water was being diverted to neighbouring Yazd province even as extreme drought had affected most of the country.

Indeed, the problem of drought caused by human-induced climate change is a nagging one for Iran. It has increased in the years since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Critics have alleged that the issue has been exacerbated because of mismanagement by the regime.

The Iran Meteorological Organization has estimated that some 97 per cent of the country is dealing with drought at some level, according to media reports.

We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.

Go here to read the rest:
Yes, there are crocodiles in Iran and they are in trouble due to climate change - Down To Earth Magazine

Izvestia: Whats on the agenda of the Lavrov-Blinken talks in Geneva

Real negotiations on security guarantees will begin only after Moscow receives an official written response from the United States and NATO to its proposals, a source familiar with the course of contacts told Izvestia. The January 21 scheduled meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, implies "only discussion" of guarantees, the source said. Before talking to his Russian counterpart, the US top diplomat visited Ukraine and headed to Germany. The itinerary of his tour makes it clear that work on de-escalation is proceeding along the Washington-Berlin-Kiev-Moscow track, where the Russian-US dialogue plays a decisive role.

"The negotiations between Russia and the United States on January 21 are, in fact, just a discussion," an informed source familiar with the course of the consultations told Izvestia. "Real negotiations can begin only after Moscow receives a written answer. Thats when decisions will be made. So far, we have no such answer," the source said.

Meanwhile, this source emphasized that Moscow is not going to change its negotiating positions, since "they are all set out on paper". The Russian side wants everything to go quickly. This should not be "a process that will drag on for months and years". Therefore, Moscow is actively urging the West to give it an official answer, according to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, it expects to receive it "any day now".

These consultations could launch negotiations on European security, arms control and confidence-building measures, head of the International Order and Democracy program at the German Council on Foreign Relations Stefan Meister told Izvestia.

At the same time, despite all the geopolitical risks, it is still possible to reach a compromise. One option is for NATO to say that the alliance is not abandoning its "open door" policy, expert at the Center for Security Studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich Henrik Larsen told the newspaper.

Tehran gave Moscow a draft of a 20-year-long strategic cooperation agreement following yesterdays talks between Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. The Russian head of state noted that Russia and Iran are closely cooperating in many areas, including the fight against terrorism. In addition, over recent years, trade between the two countries has increased. According to experts interviewed by Izvestia, pressure from the West, which both states are experiencing, could push Moscow and Tehran towards closer cooperation, even in the security sphere.

Putin highlighted the growing trade between the countries, pointing out that in 2021, it had exceeded $3.3 bln. Further development of bilateral relations can be facilitated by the conclusion of a comprehensive agreement on strategic partnership, Raisi believes. The Iranian president also encouraged the Russian leader to unite against the backdrop of sanctions pressure from Washington and its allies.

Given the extensive souring of relations between Russia and the United States, there is no doubt that Moscow will strengthen ties with Iran, orientalist Vyacheslav Matuzov told Izvestia. The commentator does not rule out that they can even transform into allies, since Russia and Iran are under pressure that goes beyond international law. "This is pushing Russia, Iran, and China, as well as other countries to work together more closely in order to protect themselves from lawlessness," the expert emphasized.

Political scientist Roland Bidzhamov agrees. According to him, in the current situation, Russia and Iran need to conclude an agreement on strategic partnership. "This will help foster cooperation in various fields, including the economy. At the same time, Moscow and Tehran need to switch to settlements in national currencies," the expert believes.

Ankara is ready to provide its negotiating platform for organizing a Russian-Ukrainian summit, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who invited his colleagues Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky to "settle all differences". This is not the first proposal by the authorities of a NATO member state to provide diplomatic mediation in resolving the Donbass conflict, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. Nevertheless, experts doubt that the Turkish initiative interests the Kremlin.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting on the Turkish presidents initiative, noted that the place of organizing the proposed top-level contacts is a secondary issue. "The most important thing is to persuade Ukraine," he stressed.

Head of the Department of international relations and political science at Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University Togrul Ismayil told the newspaper, that the crisis between Russia and Ukraine is extremely detrimental for Ankara, like any conflicts in the Black Sea region. In this regard, Turkey is ready to do everything possible to prevent any confrontation. Prior to this present bid, Erdogan had offered mediation between Kiev and Moscow. Ankara is trying to avoid an escalation, the expert said, adding that Erdogan has good personal relations with both Putin and Zelensky.

Head of R. Politik analytical center, political scientist Tatyana Stanovaya, explained to Nezavisimaya Gazeta that for Moscow the question of negotiations with Kiev had lost its meaning back in 2020. "So, it doesnt matter what platform is used for it," the expert maintained. "Now everything revolves around negotiations on security guarantees between Russia and the United States, and the issue of the Donbass conflict has become just one of the episodes - albeit the most serious ones - of this much larger agenda," she added.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet announced that she was completing a report on the situation in Xinjiang. But the work was not published due to the fact that Beijing did not allow the organization to visit the autonomous region. The US and its allies claim that the Uyghurs are being persecuted and are even facing genocide, while Beijing denies this accusation. US Congressional members are urging Bachelet to publish the report before the opening of the Beijing Olympics on February 4. Experts told Nezavisimaya Gazeta that China might ignore the report altogether.

American lawmakers demanded that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights release its assessment of China's policy in Xinjiang before the Olympics. This, they say, will serve as an important reminder that no country where a serious violation of human rights occurs can escape an international probe. The Office of the High Commissioner has so far kept silent about the date when the report will be distributed.

Deputy Director of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations Alexander Lomanov told Nezavisimaya Gazeta, "It is impossible to disrupt the Olympics as a sporting event. The coronavirus has become its main enemy. And the US takes second place. After all, the Omicron strain entered China before February 1, the beginning of the [Chinese] New Year, which is a very big holiday." "During that week, people may not go to work. In addition, this is a rare chance to visit relatives. Tens of millions of people will be moving from big cities to small ones, from small towns to the countryside," the expert said, adding that the authorities will have to ensure that the tradition does not lead to the spread of the virus.

Moldova once again runs the risk of being left without gas supplies from Russia. Following two days of negotiations, the parties failed to agree on deferring payment for January. Chisinau lacks about $25 mln, which, after the introduction of a state of emergency in the energy sector will have to be withdrawn from the budget. According to Kommersant, despite the critical situation, the Moldovan authorities are in no hurry to visit Russia to discuss payments for gas.

Since November, Moldovagaz and Gazprom have entered into a new five-year contract for 3.3 bln cubic meters of gas per year, thus preventing a complete halt of Russian gas supplies to the Eastern European country. Given the current increase in spot gas prices in Europe, Moldova secured relatively low prices. Nevertheless, gas prices for Moldovagaz are constantly growing - from $450 per 1,000 cubic meters in November to $550 in December and $647 in January.

Dmitry Marinchenko from Fitch noted that quite possibly that Moldova is paying for gas about as much as European buyers are, but significantly more than other CIS countries (like Belarus and Armenia). Katya Yafimava of OIES told the newspaper that Moldovagaz has a lack of cash because consumers pay it on delivery (rather than upfront), and even higher tariffs are not enough to cover the sharp increase in import prices. "I dont see geopolitics here, at least from the Russian side. Since a similar situation had occurred in November, the Moldovan government knows that Gazprom is serious and it will not be possible to accumulate new debt," she noted.

TASS is not responsible for the material quoted in these press reviews

See original here:
Press review: Iran offers Russia long-term deal and whats on the Lavrov-Blinken agenda - TASS

Manchester United teenager Zidane Iqbal will be called up by Iraq and is set to be handed a testing international debut away at Iran next week, Sky Sports News understands.

Sky Sports News last year revealed England face the prospect of missing out on Iqbal with Iraqi football chiefs keen to secure the 18-year-old's services at senior international level. Iqbal has previously captained and scored for Iraq's U23s.

The Manchester-born midfielder is eligible to represent England, Iraq and Pakistan at international but has never been called up to an England age-group squad. He will now join the Iraq squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Iran and Lebanon.

Both matches are away, and Iqbal faces the most exacting of international debuts against Iraq's long-term rivals Iran at Tehran's formidable Azadi Stadium next Thursday, where he could line up against former Brighton winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Newcastle-linked striker Sardar Azmoun. Iraq travel to Beirut to play Lebanon five days later.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Iqbal is expected to link up with the Iraq squad for the World Cup qualifying double-header after the national team's home friendly with Uganda on Friday.

Iraq and Iran have a complicated history with a football rivalry dating back 60 years when the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in Tehran in 1962. The two sides have met on 30 previous occasions, with Iran winning 17 and Iraq winning six, with seven draws.

Iran won the reverse fixture between the two sides 3-0 last September in a match that was played on neutral ground in Qatar at Doha's Khalifa International Stadium, which will host matches at the World Cup later this year.

Iqbal made history last month when he appeared in the Champions League game against Young Boys to become the first British South Asian to play for Manchester United. Iqbal came on in the closing stages of the Group F encounter, replacing England international Jesse Lingard as a late substitute.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Speaking to MUTV after the game, Iqbal said: "It feels amazing, I've been working my whole life for this opportunity, it's a dream come true, it's just the start and hopefully I can keep pushing on.

The teenager scored for the club's youngsters against Sunderland in the EFL Trophy in November, and followed that up by netting United's opener in their 4-2 UEFA Youth League win against Italian side Atalanta.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Iqbal won a penalty for United U23s in a 1-1 home draw against Tottenham last week, with Dilan Markanday scoring a late equaliser for the visitors in a game which proved to be his last in a Spurs shirt.

Sky Sports News exclusively revealed Barnet-born Markanday had rejected a contract offer from Spurs and was set to join promotion-chasing Blackburn, with the Hindu-Punjabi forward this week signing an initial three-and-a-half-year deal at Ewood Park.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray told reporters Markanday has been signed for the first-team, with the 20-year-old becoming the first British South Asian footballer to play for Rovers in the club's 147-year history when he came on in the second half of Wednesday's 2-0 loss at Hull for his first taste of senior league football.

"He fits the profile of young, talented hungry players [that we are looking for]," Mowbray said. "He left his club to try and play football and really get his career started."

"He's a nice boy and his family are lovely people. I'm sure he'll fit into the culture of this club and hopefully he can hit the ground running. We've been watching him for quite a while, he's been on our radar a long time, and the opportunity has arisen, and we've taken it."

Asked if Markanday has been earmarked for the first team, Mowbray said: "Yeah, and that's why he is here. I think he is exciting but I don't want to overburden him, I just want him to come, play, and do what he does - he's very direct and positive and he knows where the back of the net is.

"Thankfully for us, he is a permanent signing, and we're very hopeful that in the future, whether it be short-term but definitely longer-term, that he becomes very much a fans' favourite and scores goals and does well for the team."

Markanday, who scored in the very first game to be played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in March 2019, has scored 12 goals in 14 Premier League 2 fixtures this seen and is one of the country's most promising British South Asian footballers.

He now looks set to line up against one of the country's most experienced British South Asian players, Neil Taylor, when Blackburn host Middlesbrough on Monday night, live on Sky Sports.

Wales international Taylor, whose mother is Bengali, recently extended his Boro contract until the end of the season after joining on an initial one-month deal.

Taylor has now been joined in the North-East by another South Asian heritage player after Danny Batth completed a move from Stoke to Sunderland.

Batth, whose father is from the Indian city of Jalandhar, moves to the Stadium of Light from Stoke, where he made 107 appearances across three seasons

"I'm very happy that this deal is done because this is a juggernaut of a football club and I'm delighted to be a part of its journey," Batth said after joining Sunderland.

"This is the perfect set-up for me. I'm really looking forward to playing in front of the home supporters and I've already spoken to the head coach, who has tried to sign me in the past."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sunderland head coach Lee Johnson added: "Danny is a player that I've tried to sign a couple of times before, so it's third time lucky. We have some good characters already in place at the football club and you are always looking to nurture leadership qualities, but Danny's come ready-made.

"A dominant centre-back, he has a great personality and I think he will have really positive effect on and off the pitch."

Meanwhile, former Manchester United youngster Otis Khan has joined Leyton Orient on an 18-month contract following the expiry of his short-term deal at Walsall.

Khan, who counts Barnsley, Yeovil, Mansfield and Tranmere among his former clubs, will wear the number 14 shirt for Kenny Jackett's side.

He said: "The way Kenny wants me to play here suits me down to the ground. I like to get forward, assist, score goals, and help the team any way that I can. It's a really exciting time."

British South Asians in Football

For more stories, features and videos, visit our groundbreaking South Asians in Football page on skysports.com and stay tuned to Sky Sports News and our Sky Sports digital platforms.

Read the original post:
Zidane Iqbal: Iraq set to hand Manchester United teenager international debut away in Iran - Sky Sports

The news comes as Mr Johnson awaits the results of the Sue Gray inquiry in which his conduct and attendance at a Downing Street party during the height of lockdown restrictions was exposed. Already, several Tory MPs have publically called on Mr Johnson to resign, including high profile figures such as David Davis, as well as numerous crossbench party members.

The situation become more inflamed when MP for Bury South, Christian Wakeford defected to the Labour Party just prior to PMQs on Wednesday.

Highlighting the Iranian stance on Twitter, one journalist added further woe onto the PM by reposting a social media message by an IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps) affiliated account to Mr Johnson.

Writing on Twitter, journalist Lizzie Porter said: Seriously Boris Johnson, even IRGC-affiliated social media is jibing at you now - a Quds Force-affiliated Telegram channel, citing Reuters and The Daily Telegraph, describes probability of a revolt in the ruling party and Johnsons removal from office.

In her own chance to jibe the PM, she also ended her Tweet with the words: Just go.

READ MORE:Boris Johnson facing downfall as pundit savages 'pointless' PM

The message on the IRCG account, called Quds News, was written in Farsi and published on their Telegram channel.

The attention given to the case by Iran is not unique.

Across the world, the global media is highly focused on the fate of the Prime Minister.

French journal Le Monde also covered the news, saying Mr Johnson had lied about events at Downing Street, suggesting the PM is now on his last chance.

Germanys DW also joined in, stating that Mr Johnson was defying the odds in fighting a leadership challenge within the party.

Turkeys TRT World published a piece in which Tory MP William Wragg accuses Mr Johnsons staff, Government ministers and others of encouraging the publication of stories in the press seeking to embarrass those whom they suspect of lacking confidence in the Prime Minister.

DON'T MISS:US President 'humiliated America' with silly Churchill snub[REPORT]Pensioner who ran popular beach rides let two donkeys die[REVEAL]Gloating German politician issues extraordinary Brexit attack[COMMENT]

Irans IRGC account was not the only story in the Iranian media surrounding the PM.

The scandal has been an ideal opportunity for nations not traditionally allied with the UK to focus attention on the country.

For Iran, ongoing nuclear talks in Vienna have brought London and Tehran much closer as both parties, along with France, Germany, China and Russia negotiate terms to bring the US back into the mix.

Britain and Iran also continue to enjoy diplomatic exchanges through their respective embassies.

For Mr Johnson, the future now lies in the hands of the independent inquiry being led by Ms Gray.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly stated that he will await the publication of the report prior to making a decision.

Follow this link:
Now Iran weighs in on party row Tehran armed forces urge Boris Johnson to resign - Express