This is Beirut

Iran Hangs Former Nuclear Employee on Spying Charges: NGOs

This is Beirut, 22/04 15:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Iran hanged a man on Wednesday convicted of links to Israel's Mossad spy agency, the judiciary said, with two NGOs based outside the country saying he worked for the Iranian atomic energy organization. The execution of Mehdi Farid was the latest in a number of hangings of high-profile convicts in an accelerating trend that has alarmed rights ...

Israel FM Calls on Lebanon to 'Work Together' with Israel Against Hezbollah

This is Beirut, 22/04 12:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Israel's foreign minister on Wednesday urged Beirut to make joint efforts with Israel to counter Hezbollah on the eve of talks between the two countries set to resume in Washington. It will be the second preparatory meeting paving the way for direct negotiations. "Tomorrow the direct talks between Israel and Lebanon will resume in Washington, DC. ...

U.S. Reportedly Blocked $500m Cash Shipment to Iraq Over Pro-Iran Attacks

This is Beirut, 22/04 12:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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The United States blocked a plane carrying nearly $500 million in banknotes from delivering the cash to Iraq, US media reported on Tuesday, piling pressure on Baghdad to fight Iran-backed militant groups. The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington has suspended cash shipments to Iraq and frozen funding for security programs following ...

NATO 'Will Always Defend' Turkey: Chief Says

This is Beirut, 22/04 12:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Wednesday the alliance would do "what's necessary to defend" its members, including Turkey, after intercepting four missiles fired from Iran and heading into Turkish airspace over the past weeks. A member of the U.S.-led defense alliance, Turkey, which borders Iran, has been largely spared the sort of retaliation ...

UN Maritime Agency Urges Help for Seafarers Stranded in Hormuz

This is Beirut, 21/04 13:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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The head of the UN maritime agency appealed on Tuesday for help for thousands of seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz as the Middle East war paralyzes the vital shipping route. Around 20,000 seafarers and 2,000 ships have been stranded in the waterway since U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 that triggered the war, according to the ...

U.S.-Brokered Ceasefire in Lebanon Shows Early Strains

This is Beirut, 20/04 13:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah remains formally in place, but continued military activity, warnings to civilians, and exchanges of fire are raising questions about its durability just days into its implementation. The ceasefire, which came into effect on April 16 under U.S. mediation, allows Israel to take necessary measures in ...

Iran Military Vows to 'Soon Respond' After U.S. Destroyer Hits Cargo Ship

This is Beirut, 20/04 06:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Iran's military has vowed to respond after a U.S. destroyer on Sunday fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman that tried to evade a U.S. naval blockade. "We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy and the U.S. military," said a spokesperson for the ...

UN Peacekeeper Killed in Southern Lebanon Attack, France Points to Hezbollah

This is Beirut, 18/04 15:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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France on Saturday accused Hezbollah of being behind a deadly attack on United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon after a French soldier was killed and three others wounded in what the UN described as a “deliberate attack.” French President Emmanuel Macron said that “everything points to Hezbollah being responsible,” ...

No Date Set for Next Round of Iran-U.S. Talks: Iran Deputy FM

This is Beirut, 18/04 15:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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No date has been set for the next round of Iran–U.S. peace talks brokered by Pakistan following the failure of an initial round, Iran's deputy foreign minister said on Saturday. "Until we agree on the framework, we cannot set a date," Saeed Khatibzadeh told journalists on the sidelines of an annual diplomatic forum in Turkey's southern Antalya ...

Trump Says Deal Is Days Away, Iran Accuses Him of ‘Lies’

This is Beirut, 18/04 13:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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U.S. President Donald Trump said that a deal with Iran could be reached “within days” and that negotiations have “no sticking points,” while Iranian officials on Saturday rejected his claims and said key issues remain unresolved. Trump said talks with Iran could resume as early as this weekend, possibly in Islamabad, and ...

Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz, Blames U.S. Blockade

This is Beirut, 18/04 10:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Iran on Saturday closed the Strait of Hormuz again after briefly reopening it, saying the move is a response to the ongoing US naval blockade. Tehran accused Washington of breaking its commitments and warned that traffic through the strait will remain restricted until the blockade is lifted. The potential for the resumption of transit had lifted ...

Turkey Hosts Latest Diplomatic Push on Middle East War

This is Beirut, 17/04 08:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Turkey hosts a high-stakes forum Friday bringing together the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as Islamabad pushes diplomatic efforts to end the Middle East war. Pakistan's powerful army chief met senior negotiators in Tehran on Thursday as Washington and Iran considered a fresh round of talks to end the six-week ...

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