Friday, December 19, 2025

Media Wire

Hezbollah, Amal to end boycotting Lebanon cabinet sessions

Powerful Lebanese movements of Hezbollah and Amal have announced they would end a boycott of cabinet sessions.

Kazakhstan: 225 killed; thousands injured during unrest

At least 4,500 people were injured during the recent riots across Kazakhstan, and 225 bodies were taken to the morgues, Serik Shalabayev, chief of the criminal prosecution service of Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General’s Office says.

Report: Israel prepares weapons wish list for action against Iran, Hezbollah

Israel has reportedly prepared a secret wish list of weapons systems that it wants the US to add to the so-called American emergency stockpile in occupied Palestine for purported military action against Iran’s civilian nuclear sites and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

US says has many scenarios for ‘Russian invasion’ of Ukraine

Washington has prepared 18 response scenarios in case Russia decides to invade Ukraine as the West fears it might do, Under-Secretary of State Victoria Nuland claims.

US Secret Service taking Iran Trump threats seriously

The US Secret Service continues to track and monitor threats of vengeance against former President Donald Trump, who ordered the assassination of Iran’s top commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

US base in Iraq comes under drone attack

An airbase housing US military forces and aircraft near the Iraqi capital Baghdad has come under a drone attack. Air raids on positions of American troops in the Arab country are on the rise.

US says working on laser weapons in ME, citing Iran activity

The US Navy is working on laser weapons in the Middle East to counteract a significant upsurge in Iran's deployment and use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the region, top Central Command (CENTCOM) naval officer and US Fifth Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Brad Cooper says.

White House says prefers diplomacy with Iran

The White House spokeswoman says the United States prefers diplomacy with Tehran in dealing with the Iran nuclear deal, but if that fails, Washington is willing to consider other options. Jen Psaki also said there has been progress in Vienna talks.

Iran envoy seeks ending suspension of UN voting right

Iran's envoy to the United Nations says he expects that the suspension of Tehran's right to vote in the world body will be lifted soon.

EU’s Borrell: Deal with Iran possible “in coming weeks”

An agreement with Iran could be achieved "in the coming weeks" due to a "better atmosphere" in Vienna, where negotiations are currently being held, European Union's foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell announced on Friday.

Yemen says Iran peace plan can resolve crisis

Yemeni Foreign Minister Hisham Sharaf Abdullah says Iranian peace initiative puts forward an effective solution to the ongoing conflict in the war-ravaged country. He added Saudi Arabia is looking for a pretext to prolong its devastating military aggression against Yemen.

AFC officially kicks Iranian giants out of Champions League

Top Iranian clubs Persepolis and Esteghlal have been officially kicked out of the Asian Champions League, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Friday.

Iran FM: Tehran and Beijing enjoy stable and strong relationship

Iran and China, the two great civilizations in West and East Asia, have enjoyed good, stable and strong relations during history, Tehran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdolahian wrote in an op-ed in the Global Times. Heading a high-level political and economic delegation, the Iranian FM is visiting Beijing at the official invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

Blinken: Trump JCPOA withdrawal ‘one of worst decisions in US foreign policy’

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has criticized former President Donald Trump for the current situation over Iran’s nuclear programme. The top diplomat has called Trump’s move to pull Washington out of the Iran nuclear dal as ”one of the worst decisions made in recent American foreign policy”.

4 rockets target US Embassy in Baghdad

At least four rockets targeted the US Embassy in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone on Thursday, two Iraqi security officials confirm.

Russia warns US against imposing sanctions on Putin

Washington imposing sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin would be an "over-the-top" measure, comparable to breaking off relations, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Lebanon unions go on strike amid dire economic conditions

A general strike by public transportation and labor unions paralyzed Lebanon Thursday as the country in engulfed in one of the world’s worst economic crises.

Kazakhstan arrests hundreds more over violent unrest

Kazakh authorities have detained nearly 1,700 more people for participation in anti-government protests that rocked the country last week.

UN says $4bn needed for help in Yemen

The United Nations will need about $3.9bn this year to help millions of people in war-torn Yemen, a top UN humanitarian official says.

Saudi Arabia seeks to develop nuclear program

Saudi Arabia aims to take advantage of its uranium resources to develop its nuclear power program, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud revealed.

Syria joins China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Syria has joined China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which officials say will help Damascus open broad horizons of cooperation with Beijing and others.

Biden admin. slams Trump’s Iran nuclear deal exit

The White House has stepped up criticism of former President Donald Trump, blaming him for the current situation over the Iran nuclear deal.

US says ‘weeks, not months’ remain for salvaging JCPOA

Negotiators between Tehran and the world powers have just weeks, not months, to reach an agreement on rescuing the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the US State Department has announced. Iran has rejected US officials’ remarks about a deadline for reaching an agreement and stressed the country is only after a good agreement.

US lawmakers urge Biden to abandon nuclear talks, impose new sanctions on Iran

110 Republican lawmakers have called on the Biden administration to abandon negotiations with Iran aimed at saving the 2015 nuclear deal and impose new sanctions against Tehran, according to a letter sent Wednesday to the US State Department and obtained exclusively by the Washington Free Beacon.

Iran’s ‘A Hero’ on preliminary list of 2022 BAFTA nominations

Iranian drama “A Hero”, directed by Asghar Farhadi, has been longlisted in the international feature film category in the 75th British Academy Film Awards.

Latest news