Middle East

Rubio Says Iran Deal Still Days Away as U.S. Balances Diplomacy and Military Pressure
Rubio Says Iran Deal Still Days Away as U.S. Balances Diplomacy and Military Pressure

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that reaching an agreement with Iran may still require “a few days.” His remarks came one day after U.S. forces carried out what Washington described as defensive operations in southern Iran. According to Rubio, the strikes targeted missile launch sites as well as vessels allegedly ...

Iran Supreme Leader Says Region Will 'No Longer Serve as Shields' for U.S. Bases
Iran Supreme Leader Says Region Will 'No Longer Serve as Shields' for U.S. Bases

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, said on Tuesday that regional countries would no longer be shields for U.S. bases in a written statement carried by state television. "What is certain in this regard is that the hands of time will not turn backwards, and the nations and lands of the region will no longer serve as shields for ...

Netanyahu Orders Escalation Against Hezbollah as Strikes Intensify Across Lebanon
Netanyahu Orders Escalation Against Hezbollah as Strikes Intensify Across Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that he had ordered the Israeli military to intensify operations against Hezbollah, as Israeli airstrikes expanded across southern and eastern Lebanon amid a sharp rise in Hezbollah drone attacks targeting northern Israel. “We are at war with Hezbollah,” Netanyahu declared in ...

Qassem Escalates Against Lebanese State as Hezbollah Faces Growing Pressure Over Weapons and Negotiations
Qassem Escalates Against Lebanese State as Hezbollah Faces Growing Pressure Over Weapons and Negotiations

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem sharply escalated his rhetoric against the Lebanese government on Sunday, openly rejecting direct negotiations with Israel, defending the group’s weapons, and warning that “the people have the right to overthrow the government if authorities fail to protect Lebanon’s sovereignty.”  The speech, ...

Iranian Officials in Qatar for Peace Talks, Frozen Funds
Iranian Officials in Qatar for Peace Talks, Frozen Funds

A high-level Iranian delegation that includes the country's top negotiator and central bank chief were in Doha on Monday to discuss an agreement with the U.S. and the release of frozen funds, a source briefed on the matter told AFP. "Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Doha earlier ...

Trump Pushes for Expanded Abraham Accords Amid Iran Negotiations
Trump Pushes for Expanded Abraham Accords Amid Iran Negotiations

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for a major expansion of the Abraham Accords, urging several Middle Eastern and Muslim-majority countries to join the framework normalizing relations with Israel as part of a broader regional settlement linked to ongoing negotiations with Iran. In a lengthy statement published on Truth Social, Trump said he ...

Iran Warns Deal With U.S. Not Yet Close, Despite Some Progress
Iran Warns Deal With U.S. Not Yet Close, Despite Some Progress

Iran warned Monday that, while some progress had been made, it was not yet close to striking a deal with the United States to end the Middle East war, after a weekend of mixed messages from Washington and Tehran. World oil prices tumbled on renewed optimism about an agreement, after top US diplomat Marco Rubio suggested a deal could be reached ...

Oil Prices Slide as Hopes Rise for U.S.-Iran Peace Deal
Oil Prices Slide as Hopes Rise for U.S.-Iran Peace Deal

Global oil prices plunged on Monday, falling to their lowest levels in two weeks, as growing optimism surrounding a potential peace agreement between the United States and Iran eased fears of prolonged disruptions in global energy markets. International benchmark Brent crude dropped by $5.09, or 4.9%, reaching $98.45 per barrel by 0705 GMT. ...

U.S. Says Iran Deal Still Possible, as Trump Tempers Expectations
U.S. Says Iran Deal Still Possible, as Trump Tempers Expectations

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a deal to end the war with Iran could materialize on Monday, as President Donald Trump tempered expectations. The United States and Iran have observed a ceasefire since April 8 while mediators push for a negotiated settlement, although Iran has imposed controls on Gulf shipping and the U.S. has blockaded ...

Saudi Arabia’s Shadow Over Lebanon's Path to Peace
AnalysisSaudi Arabia’s Shadow Over Lebanon's Path to Peace

As Lebanon prepares for new rounds of security and political talks with Israel in Washington in the coming two weeks, Saudi Arabia’s position on peace with Jerusalem looms over decision makers in Beirut. In a May 10 interview with Al-Arabiya, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that Lebanon is open to peace with Israel within the framework ...

Hezbollah’s Qassem Attacks Lebanese Government and Opposes Direct Talks with Israel
Hezbollah’s Qassem Attacks Lebanese Government and Opposes Direct Talks with Israel

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Sunday launched a sharp attack against the Lebanese government, rejected direct negotiations with Israel, and reaffirmed that the Iran-backed group would continue its armed confrontation despite growing domestic and international pressure for Hezbollah’s disarmament. Speaking during a televised ...