Middle East

Iran warns against Israel’s destructive presence in region

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh says the visit of the Israeli regime’s prime minister to the United Arab Emirates will go down notoriously.

Top Iran commander: Foreign forces not needed in region

Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri says foreign troops are not needed in the Middle East as regional countries are totally capable of establishing security and defending their own interests.

Civilians killed and kidnapped in US Syria operation

US servicemen kidnapped several civilians in Syria in the course of a "large operation" carried out early on Monday in the province of Deir ez-Zor, the local news agency, SANA, has reported, citing local sources

Shamkhani: Strategic partnership with neighbors Iran top priority

The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has said even with the assassination of Iran’s top General Qassem Soleimani, the United States did not achieve its goal of dismantling the regional resistance.

Saudi, Iranian experts conclude “security dialogue” in Amman

Iranian and Saudi experts have recently concluded a "security dialogue" session hosted by the Arab Institute for Security Studies in Amman, according to a statement issued Monday by the institute. An Iranian official says the meeting was not official.

Israeli PM meets UAE Crown Prince in Abu Dhabi

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed at his private palace in Abu Dhabi, according to Bennett's office.

Iran negotiator optimistic about reaching a deal in foreseeable future

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator says as a result of interactions and meetings held over the past few days at the expert level and by senior negotiating officials in Vienna, the differences between Iran and the P4+1 group over negotiable issues are decreasing.

Report: Israel consulted US prior to strikes on Iran nuclear site, missile factory

The Israeli government consulted with US officials prior to carrying out covert airstrikes against an Iranian nuclear facility in Karaj and a missile factory just west of Tehran, The New York Times reported on Saturday, citing individuals briefed on the actions.

Iraqi PM says foreign combat forces to leave soon

Foreign combat forces will leave Iraq in a few days, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said. He added the withdrawal of US-led coalition combat troops confirms the ability of the Iraqi forces to maintain security and stability in the country.

Negotiators at Vienna talks seeking to bridge differences

Negotiating teams from Iran and the 4+1 group are striving to narrow differences during talks in the Austrian capital, Vienna, mainly aimed at getting US sanctions against Iran lifted.

“Iraq pays part of $7bn debt to Iran”

The head of the Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce says part of Iraq’s $7 billion debt have been received from Baghdad.

Iranian parliament speaker: Palestine Muslim World top priority

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said the most important priority of the Muslim world is the issue of Palestine.

US diplomat: Saudis need our weapons in Yemen war

A senior US official has defended Washington’s arms sales to Riyadh, saying Saudi Arabia needs US weapons in the Yemen war. Tens of thousands have been killed in the Saudi-led war on Yemen with millions more displanced

Report: Iran has started positive interaction with IAEA

Nour News, a media outlet affiliated with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has said Iran has started positive cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA.

US general says American troops to remain in Iraq

The top US commander for the Middle East said Thursday that the United States will keep the current 2,500 troops in Iraq for the foreseeable future. An Iraqi security official had earlier announced the end of the US-led military presence in Iraq.

Russia diplomat says US-Israeli drills destabilizing factor

The possibility of joint military drills involving the United States and Israel is a destabilizing factor, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told reporters on Thursday.

UAE official: Emirates opposed to additional sanctions on Iran

The UAE leader’s diplomatic advisor has said the Emirates is opposed to any additional sanctions on Iran in the event that the Vienna talks fail

Iraq declares end to US-led combat mission

Iraq declares an end to the combat mission of the US-led international coalition in the Arab country. Iraqi National security adviser, Qassim al-Araji, says the coalition's combat forces are set to withdraw from Iraq.

Russia slams US-led military presence in Syria

Chief of the General Staff of Russia’s armed forces Valery Gerasimov lashed out at the US-led illegal military presence in Syria on Thursday during a briefing with the military attaches of foreign states.

Iranian parliament speaker meets Turkish peer in Istanbul

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has held talks with his Turkish counterpart Mustafa Şentop in Istanbul where he is attending the Inter-Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Palestine and the issue of Afghans’ migration to Islamic countries.

EU’s Mora: New sense of JCPOA revival in Vienna

The European Union's Deputy Foreign Policy Chief Enrique Mora says all parties present in Vienna have a new sense of reviving the provisions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

Saudi crown prince on first visit to Qatar since end of blockade

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) has arrived in Doha on the third stop of his tour of the Persian Gulf states, the first visit since a years-long blockade of Qatar was withdrawn in January.

Iran’s chief negotiator: no obstacle to deal

Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator and Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri has said there is no obstacle to a deal if necessary grounds are provided in the Vienna talks over the Iran nuclear deal.

Iran FM slams West’s failure to offer constructive proposals in Vienna

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has criticized the West for failing to put forward constructive initiatives and proposals during negotiations with the Islamic Republic.

Israeli government divided over how to influence Biden on Iran

There is an internal debate inside the Israeli government about the best way to influence the US position regarding Iran, with Minister of Defense Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid growing concerned with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's increasingly confrontational approach, Israeli officials say.

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