Middle East

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani says West’s problem with the Islamic Republic is mainly caused by Tehran’s support for Palestine, not by what they call Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

A political analyst says the US president is putting maximum pressures on Saudi Arabia and the UAE to drag them into a war against their northern neighbour, but Iran should not behave in a way that prepares the ground for such a conflict.

An Iranian news agency has listed piece of evidence that show ISIS terror group was nurtured and protected by the US in recent years.

Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas organization, and Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad Movement, have taken responsibility for Wednesday attacks on Israeli positions in Gaza Strip, warning Tel Aviv against its continued bombardment of Palestinian territories.

The month-long disappearance of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from the media limelight has been intentional, claimed the Saudi whistle-blower Mujtahidd, saying it is a plan by the 32-year-old leader to identify his opponents in the royal family.

The United Kingdom’s former envoy to Bahrain Peter Ford says the island state has almost become a colony of Saudi Arabia and the US which exactly follows their foreign policy on regional affairs, including the issue of Iran.

A senior IRGC commander says the list of US demands declared by the newly-appointed US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo testifies to Tehran’s growing clout, showing Washington has been frustrated with keeping Iran in check.

A senior Iranian official says the Turkish economy's dependence on foreign capital is to blame for a drop in the value of its currency.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi has categorically rejected media reports on indirect negotiations between Iran and the Zionist regime over Syria.

Senior political commentator Seyyed Hossein Mousavian says the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have made a huge investment in pushing for a regime change in Iran.

Turkey would likely opt to purchase Russian Sukhoi Su-57 twin-engine warplanes in place of US F-35 single-engine stealth fighter jets if Washington suspends the delivery of the latter in response to Ankara’s sale of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia.

Iran’s top security official Ali Shamkhani says things have not played out favourably for Donald Trump since he walked out of the 2015 nuclear deal earlier this month, as the world has so far stood up to the controversial US president.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has congratulated the Lebanese nation and government on the 18th anniversary of the Arab country’s liberation day.

The 32-year-old Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is possibly going to make a media appearance soon to scotch rumours that he has been injured in an April 21 shooting incident in Riyadh, said the Saudi whistleblower Mujtahidd.

The Qatari government has banned its citizens from buying or selling goods made in a Saudi-led group of countries that maintain a blockade on the country, in a move that further shatters hopes for the settlement of the political crisis.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has sent a congratulatory letter to Jordan's King Abdullah II over anniversary of the kingdom’s independence, saying Muslim countries now need unity and cooperation more than ever.

The Saudi princes targeted in an anti-corruption campaign inside the kingdom are living in a “very humiliating situation”, said a dissident Saudi prince, adding that monitoring devices are fitted to their legs so Saudi leaders can monitor their movement.

A top Iranian Army commander said the country has detailed intelligence data on the military bases in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

The US dictates on the Islamic Republic of Iran are unacceptable for the Sadr bloc, said Head of the Political Bureau of Iraq’s Sadr Movement.

The Kuwaiti Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah has stressed the country’s continued support for the Palestinian cause, particularly the nation’s Marches of Return near Gaza border with Israel.

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani says the country’s missile program is non-negotiable and the Islamic Republic continues to strengthen its defensive capabilities.

The Saudi national news agency published photos of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, apparently in a bid to quash speculations about the whereabouts of the 32-year-old hair to the Saudi throne who has not been seen in public since an April 21 shooting incident in Riyadh.

A political commentator says Washington’s pullout from the Iran nuclear deal and re-imposing sanctions were basically aimed at cutting back Tehran’s influence in the Middle East.

Iran’s Ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi says most Iranian officials, especially IRGC Quds Force Commander Major General Qassem Soleimani, like Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr very much as far as he knows.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi reiterated Tehran’s policy of providing support for Damascus in the fight against terrorism and said the Islamic Republic’s advisory mission in Syria will continue as long as the Arab country’s government wants it.