Middle East

Beirut blast investigation halted for second time

A probe into the deadly explosion at Beirut port, two years ago, has been suspended for a second time after a former senior official asked for dismissing of the chief investigator from the controversial case.

Tehran Slams Israel PM’s Anti-Iran Rhetoric as “Lies

Iran’s permanent ambassador to the United Nations has denounced the blame game launched against Iran by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett at the UN General Assembly meeting.

Officials: Fourth round of Iran-Saudi talks held in Iraq

New round of negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia took place in Baghdad last week, two Iraqi officials told The Associated Press. The two neighbors have had three rounds of dialogue so far in order to ease tensions on several issues.

Syria welcomes closer relations between Iran, Arab countries

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad has said Damascus hails measures to improve ties between Iran and Arab nations.

Israeli PM meets Persian Gulf top diplomats

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has met the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain’s top diplomats for the first time since taking office in June.

Turkey says intends to buy more S-400, likely to infuriate US

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Ankara is considering buying a second batch of Russian missile system despite strong objections by the United States and its other NATO allies.

‘Bennett disagrees with Biden on Iran, consulate for Palestine, settlements’

Reports say Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has recently said he pushed back against US President Joe Biden on Iran’s nuclear program, the reopening of the US consulate in East Jerusalem to handle Palestinian issues, and Israeli settlement building.

Five Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in West Bank

At least five Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army during overnight military raids that led to armed confrontations in Jenin and Jerusalem.

Russia: U.S. trying to split Intl. community into Cold War-style blocs

Russia’s top diplomat has criticized US idea of ‘democracy summit’ as another example of Cold War mentality. Sergei Lavrov says Washington is trying to split the International Community into those time blocs.

Taliban says Daesh chief in Afghanistan killed

Head of Daesh terror group in Afghanistan, Abu Omar Khorasani, has been killed, the Taliban claims.

Mikdad says US must end illegal presence in Syria

Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Minister Faisal Mikdad warned the United States to pull out its forces from the Arab country before facing similar Afghanistan fate.

Iran-Iraq FMs discuss money transfer, gas and electricity export

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has sat down with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein on the sidelines of the annual session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Swedish FM: To end Yemen crisis consultation with Iran a must

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Swedish counterpart Ann Linde held talks on bilateral ties and regional issues, including the situation in Yemen and Afghanistan during their meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Iran FM: UN expected to do more to lift anti-Syria bans

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has discussed the situation in Syria with the UN Special Envoy on Syria Geir Pederson during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Taliban to lodge protest to UN over US killing of Afghans

The Taliban announced their plan to lodge a protest with the United Nations (UN) over US forces shooting at the Kabul international airport during the evacuation of Afghans and foreigners in August, resulting in death of Afghan civilians.

Abbas gives Israel ultimatum to withdraw from Palestinian territory

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gave Israel one year to withdraw from the decades-long occupied Palestinian territory.

Erdogan: Turkey-US ties not ‘healthy’

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that Ankara's ties with the United States are not healthy and that his relationship with US President Joe Biden remains strained.

Power firm warns Lebanon headed for complete blackout

Lebanon's state electricity company warned on Thursday the country could plunge into a total blackout by the end of September as its fuel oil reserves dwindle.

Blinken discusses JCPOA, Afghanistan with Persian Gulf FMs

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has sat down with his opposite numbers from a few Persian Gulf countries, with the Iran nuclear deal, Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian tensions, topping the agenda.

US lawmakers seek to end support for Saudi war on Yemen

The US House of Representatives approved a measure on Thursday that would force an end to maintenance and intelligence support for Saudi Arabia’s airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Iraq praises neighbors’ role in crushing Daesh

Iraqi President Barham Salih has praised the role of the neighboring countries in fighting terrorism and defeating Daesh.

UN: Starvation looming in Yemen, 16m in danger

More than half of Yemen's population are "marching towards starvation", and unless the international community steps up support, food assistance could soon run out, the United Nations (UN) warns.

Second Lebanon-bound Iranian oil tanker reaches Syria

Another oil tanker carrying fuel for crisis-hit Lebanon has docked at the Syrian port of Baniyas.

Iran: Serious signs of thaw between Iran and Saudi Arabia

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh says the recent talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been useful and that there are serious signs of a thaw between the two countries.

Russia PM, Kremlin spokesman among those banned by US committee

A proposed amendment to the US defense budget is calling on the White House to sanction 35 Russian citizens for alleged human rights abuses, including the prime minister, mayor of Moscow and the Kremlin spokesman.

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