Americas

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, has called for an investigation into reports of “Iran’s transfer of combat drones to Russia” for use in the war against Ukraine.

Thirty-five US House members sent a bipartisan letter to British, French and German leaders urging them to immediately initiate the snapback mechanism of the United Nations’ sanctions on Iran under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Tehran has repeatedly warned against the European governments’ “provocative and unconstructive" policies towards the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

The US believes that a combat drone manufacturing plant Russia is building with Iran’s help could be fully operational by early next year, National Security Council official John Kirby has stated. Kiev and its allies have accused Tehran of sending attack drones to Moscow, an allegation Iran denies.

A classified document has disclosed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) threatened to impose significant economic costs on Washington after US President Joe Biden warned Riyadh over its decision to slash oil production last fall.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi plans to make a visit to Latin America, including Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba, next week to strengthen Tehran's relations with the three states in economic and political fields.

US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby reacted to the Iran's unveiling its first hypersonic “defense missile”, stressing that Washington has been very clear and very firm on pushing back on Tehran’s "destabilizing activities" in West Asia and the development of its ballistic missile program. Iran has made it clear its missile program is totally defensive.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, a State Department spokesperson has confirmed, the latest step toward “rapprochement between the Biden administration and Saudi’s de facto leader.”

The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on over a dozen people and organizations in Iran, China and Hong Kong, including Iran's defense attache in Beijing, for "running a procurement network" for Iran's missile program. Tehran says the missile program is totally for peaceful purposes and no measure can strip Iran of its legitimate and legal right to boost its defensive capabilities.

Responding to the exchange of envoys between Tehran and Riyadh, US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel expressed hope that dialogue will contribute to the de-escalation of tensions in West Asia and more regional stability and security.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia next week, his first trip to the kingdom since Tehran and Riyadh agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has met with his Israeli counterpart to discuss matters concerning Iran, Palestine as well as the Russia-Ukraine war, the White House has announced.

The CIA installed malware on thousands of Apple phones used by Russian diplomats and citizens, Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed on Thursday.

US Federal prosecutors have obtained a 2021 audio recording of former President Donald Trump showing he kept a classified Pentagon document about a possible attack on Iran after leaving the White House, according to a CNN report.

US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby says the White House supports a diplomatic solution in dealing with Iran's nuclear program. Tehran says the revitalization of the nuclear deal, JCPOA, is contingent upon a Washington's decision.

Russia dismissed criticism from US President Joe Biden over Moscow’s deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, stressing that Washington for decades has done the same  throughout Europe.

Senior Israeli officials are set to travel to Washington next week as the United States reportedly looks to enhance efforts on the Iranian nuclear deal and a normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow has extended the pre-trial detention of American journalist Evan Gershkovich for three months to August 30, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported citing the court.

Oil prices continued to climb on Tuesday with investors expecting a tighter market led by a seasonal rise in gasoline demand and supply cuts from OPEC+ producers, though concerns over the risk of a US debt default capped gains.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dodged giving a direct response when pressed by CNN on whether he genuinely believed Washington was trying to unseat him. Instead, he criticized US President Joe Biden for viewing him as a “dictator".

The United States has issued new sanctions targeting the “logistics network” between Iran and Russia as the two countries move to boost their relations.

A man killed in a US strike in northwestern Syria earlier this month may not have been a senior Al-Qaeda leader as the Pentagon previously claimed, the Washington Post reported, citing US officials.

A new report has revealed that the wars initiated by the United States in the Middle East and North Africa following the September 11 attacks have directly or indirectly killed at least 4.5 million people and displaced millions of others worldwide.

The White House wants to make a diplomatic push for a Saudi-Israeli peace deal in the next six to seven months before the US presidential election campaign consumes President Joe Biden’s agenda, two US officials with knowledge of the issue told Axios.

US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel voiced Washington's concern over cooperation between Tehran and Moscow in a major railroad project, known as the Rasht-Astara railway.

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers have unveiled a bill intended to bar the American government from recognizing Bashar al-Assad as Syria's president and to enhance Washington's ability to impose sanctions, a warning to other countries normalizing relations with Damascus.