Delegations from Iran, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom are meeting this Friday in the Swiss city of Geneva to discuss Tehran’s nuclear program, its relations with Russia, and the situation in the Middle East.

Ahead of the meeting, the European Union’s deputy foreign policy chief, Enrique Mora, said on Thursday that he had held a “frank discussion” in Geneva with two senior officials from Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi.

The conversation focused on “Iran’s support for Russia, which must cease; the nuclear issue, which must find a diplomatic solution; regional tensions (it is important that all parties avoid escalation); and human rights,” the diplomat posted on X (formerly Twitter).

For his part, Gharibabadi called on the European Union to “abandon its self-centered and irresponsible approach to the problems and challenges of this continent and international issues,” said Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Abás Araqchi, on the same platform.

The meeting is taking place with the utmost discretion amidst heightened tensions between Israel and Iran and their allies, and less than two months before the return of Donald Trump to the White House, who was highly hostile towards Tehran during his first term.

Advertisement

20231223_factura_electronica_728x90

20240813_lechematerna_728x91

20240701_vacunacion_728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

20230816_dgs_728x90

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

CEL

It was Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the 2015 agreement, in which Iran and six world powers agreed that the Islamic Republic would limit its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Since then, Iran has pushed forward with the development of its nuclear program, which its authorities claim is for peaceful purposes.

The consolidation of democracy and the strengthening of institutions were the focus of the opening dialogue at a forum held in Asunción, which brought together a group of Latin American former presidents, including Bolivia’s Carlos Mesa (2003-2005) and Ecuador’s Jamil Mahuad (1998-2000).

“In this meeting, we are gathering all those men, women, and young people who are committed not only to the development of Latin America but also to the institutional consolidation of democracy and participation,” said former Guatemalan President (1986-1991) Vinicio Cerezo, during the inauguration of the second edition of the Latin American Forum of Ideas (FLI).

Cerezo emphasized that the event was a sign of Latin Americans’ commitment to democracy and economic development in the region, a space he considered “growing stronger every day.”

Former presidents such as Uruguay’s Luis Lacalle Herrera (1990-1995), Paraguay’s Luis González Macchi (1999-2003), Nicanor Duarte Frutos (2003-2008), and Federico Franco (2012-2013) attended the event, leading panels alongside international experts.

Also participating was former Ecuadorian President (2017-2021) Lenin Moreno, who hoped that the forum would defend “a people whose democracy is currently at risk,” without specifying which one.

Advertisement

20231223_factura_electronica_728x90

20240813_lechematerna_728x91

20240701_vacunacion_728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

20230816_dgs_728x90

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

CEL

“Let there be no perpetual dictatorships ever again. I want the will of the people to be respected, and I hope this will be one of the topics of this, as it has been said, noble institution,” he stated.

Latin American leaders congratulated the elected president Yamandú Orsi on Monday for his victory in the second round of Uruguay’s elections, where he defeated the official candidate, returning power to the left after five years of absence.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, from the left-wing Workers’ Party (PT) and a close friend of former Uruguayan President José “Pepe” Mujica, was one of the first to congratulate Orsi and the people of Uruguay for the “realization of democratic and peaceful elections.”

“This is a victory for all of Latin America and the Caribbean,” Lula expressed in a message on his X account (formerly Twitter).

Orsi’s victory, representing the historic Frente Amplio, made the small South American nation the latest country to turn its back on the ruling party in this historic election year, where frustrated voters, discontented with economic hardship, punished governing parties worldwide, from the United States and the United Kingdom to South Korea and Japan.

Furthermore, it signals a new shift towards more progressive parties in Latin America after the decline of the so-called “pink tide” that saw the rise of left-wing governments in the 2000s, with Lula as a central figure and one of the last remaining leaders of that era.

Advertisement

20231223_factura_electronica_728x90

20240813_lechematerna_728x91

20240701_vacunacion_728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

20230816_dgs_728x90

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

CEL

Mexico’s newly elected president, Claudia Sheinbaum, also praised the victory of Orsi and Carolina Cosse, the newly elected vice president of Uruguay. “The Frente Amplio returns to govern by the will of the Uruguayan people, who once again demonstrate their democratic and progressive spirit,” she affirmed on X.

Chile’s President, left-wing Gabriel Boric, also congratulated Orsi, highlighting that he had a phone conversation with the president-elect. “We spoke about how to advance together as brotherly nations in justice and unity. From Chile, I wish Yamandú and Vice President Carolina Cosse much success on this new path,” Boric said.

With all votes counted, Uruguay’s Electoral Court confirmed on Monday that Orsi won with 49.84% of the vote, against 45.87% for Álvaro Delgado, the candidate from the ruling center-right coalition led by the National Party of outgoing President Luis Lacalle Pou.