Middle East

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

Kaline Antoun 20:40 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Hezbollah Lebanon Amal Israel Lebanese Forces

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 ...

Iranian Officials in Qatar for Peace Talks, Frozen Funds

This is Beirut 17:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Banks Gulf Hamas Israel Tehran

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

This is Beirut 16:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Bahrain Israel Middle East Saudi Arabia Abraham accords

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

This is Beirut 13:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu US Secretary of State Bahrain

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

This is Beirut 10:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump Gulf Middle East Tehran United States

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

This is Beirut 09:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

USA Iran Trump Negotiations Hormuz Lebanon Hezbollah Pakistan Gulf

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 ...

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

Ralph Atrach 08:55 - Reading : 8 minute(s)

Lebanon Saudi Arabia Nawaf Salam Lebanese Army Banque du Liban

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

This is Beirut 24/05 20:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Hezbollah Lebanon IDF Israel Disarmament

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 ...

Lebanon Civil Defense Says Israeli Strike Destroys its Nabatieh Facility

This is Beirut 24/05 05:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel

Lebanon's civil defence agency said early on Sunday its regional facility in the southern city of Nabatieh had been destroyed by an Israeli strike. The Directorate General of Civil Defence said the building had collapsed and a large number of vehicles and equipment had been damaged by a "direct hit in a hostile Israeli ...

Tehran and Washington Signal Breakthrough in Negotiations

This is Beirut 23/05 21:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Iran and the United States on Saturday spoke of a breakthrough in their negotiations after weeks of tensions and diplomatic maneuvering, while remaining cautious about the chances of ending the war in the Middle East. An agreement is “very close,” U.S. President Donald Trump said, estimating the chances of either a “good” ...

Alleged Iranian-Linked Plot Targeted Ivanka Trump in Failed Assassination Attempt

This is Beirut 23/05 19:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Europe Hezbollah Middle East New York

In a statement posted on social media, House Republicans claimed that Ivanka Trump had been targeted in a failed assassination attempt tied to “Iranian terror groups,” adding that she remains safe. The statement said that the alleged plot demonstrates what Republicans described as Iran’s hostility toward the U.S. and renewed ...

Rubio Says Iran Talks Show Progress but Key Issues Remain Unresolved

This is Beirut 23/05 17:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Gulf Tehran United States US Secretary of State

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday indicated that diplomatic discussions with Iran remain active, suggesting that developments could emerge within days while reaffirming Washington’s core demands on Tehran’s nuclear program. Speaking during a visit to India, Rubio said that “there might be some news later ...