Middle East

Israel Sets Red Lines Ahead of U.S.-Iran Talks as Witkoff Visits Jerusalem

This is Beirut 03/02 12:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Israel is seeking firm assurances from Washington ahead of anticipated U.S.-Iran talks on Friday in Turkey, with Israeli officials signaling that any agreement falling short of dismantling Tehran’s nuclear capabilities would be unacceptable. The issue will be central to meetings in Jerusalem on Tuesday, as U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle ...

Iran President Confirms Talks with US After Trump's Threats

This is Beirut 03/02 11:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Tuesday that he had ordered the start of nuclear talks with the United States, after his counterpart Donald Trump threatened "bad things" if no deal is reached. The US leader has talked of military action and sent an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East following anti-government protests in ...

Almost 140 Foreigners Arrested in Central Iran Over Protests

This is Beirut 03/02 11:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Iranian authorities arrested 139 foreign nationals in central parts of the country during recent anti-government protests, local media reported Tuesday. Iran's Tasnim news agency quoted the police chief in the city of Yazd as saying those arrested were involved "in organising, inciting and directing riotous actions, and in some cases were in ...

Trump Warns Iran of Consequences if Diplomacy Fails

This is Beirut 03/02 10:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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The United States and Iran are set to resume nuclear talks on Friday in Turkey, officials from both sides told Reuters, as President Donald Trump warned that “bad things” would likely happen if negotiations fail, with U.S. warships moving closer to Iran amid heightened regional tensions. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign ...

Ukraine Designates IRGC as Terrorist Organization

This is Beirut 03/02 09:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Monday that Ukraine has formally designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, describing the decision as final. He said the European Union has effectively agreed to take the same step, with procedural processes currently underway. “All ...

UAE Senior Official Says Iran Needs to Reach Deal with U.S.

This is Beirut 03/02 09:20 - Reading : less than a minute

United Arab Emirates United States

Iran needs to reach a deal with the United States, a senior United Arab Emirates official said on Tuesday, ahead of talks between the two sides after repeated threats of American military action. "Iran today needs to reach a deal," presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said during the World Governments Summit in Dubai, adding that Iran ...

Op-edThe End of the Middle East’s Oil Bonanza

Hussain Abdul-Hussain 03/02 09:10 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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The Middle East has finally arrived at the grim reckoning long barreling toward it: a ruinous collapse of oil revenues that renders government deficits utterly unsustainable. Among the wealthy Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, four are running persistent annual budget deficits that are eroding their sovereign wealth reserves and plunging ...

TestimoniesU.S. Policy Toward Lebanon: Obstacles to Dismantling Hezbollah’s Grip on Power

This is Beirut 03/02 09:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Hezbollah Middle East Washington

At 10:00 a.m. EST, the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa will convene a hearing titled “U.S. Policy Toward Lebanon: Obstacles to Dismantling Hezbollah’s Grip on Power” to assess the political, security, and institutional challenges confronting U.S. policy in Lebanon. The hearing will feature ...

Palestinian President Abbas Calls First-Ever PLO Parliament Elections

This is Beirut 02/02 21:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Mahmoud Abbas Palestinian Authority PLO Palestine Elections

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said elections will be held on November 1 for the Palestinian National Council, the parliament of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), the official news agency Wafa reported Monday. This is the first time members of the council will be elected by direct popular vote, while in the past they were appointed ...

Jordan Rejects Use of Its Territory in Any Military Action Against Iran

This is Beirut 02/02 18:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Jordan signaled its position on a U.S.-Iran conflict scenario, stating on Monday that it would not take part in hostility against Iran and it would not allow use of its territory for launching attacks. Ayman Safadi, the Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated on X that “Jordan will not be a battlefield for any party in any regional ...

Syrian Security Forces Enter Hasakeh City Under Deal with Kurds

This is Beirut 02/02 16:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Syria Kurds

Syrian government security personnel on Monday entered Hasakeh city, a stronghold of Kurdish forces, under an integration deal agreed with the Kurds last week, an AFP team reported. The two sides reached a comprehensive agreement on Friday to gradually integrate the Kurds' military and civilian institutions into the state, after Kurdish ...

Witkoff to Visit Israel Amid Gaza Ceasefire Efforts

This is Beirut 02/02 15:25 - Reading : less than a minute

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U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Israel on Tuesday for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and military chief Eyal Zamir, two senior Israeli officials told Reuters on Monday. The trip comes as efforts to advance a Gaza ceasefire continue, despite repeated Israeli strikes and Hamas’s refusal to disarm. Under ...