Category: 2. Middle East

The United States Treasury Department yesterday imposed sanctions on two Iranian individuals and one company, a day after the fourth round of talks were held between Tehran and Washington in Oman.

The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the new sanctions target Iranian nationals Mohammad Reza Seddiqi Sabir and Ahmad Haghighat Talab.

Pouya Tarh Pars engineering Company was also added to the sanctions list.

According to the US Treasury…

The Israeli occupation military resumed its attacks on the Gaza Strip late last night, killing a Palestinian woman and critically injuring a child following a temporary lull so Hamas could release Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander, Anadolu reported.

The shelling targeted the Al-Daraj neighbourhood, an Anadolu reporter said, citing medical sources.

A shell struck near Al-Ramlah School, which shelters displaced families in the same neighbourhood.

In a…

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned the United States’ plan to “forcibly transfer” migrants to Libya where “inhumane detention conditions are well-documented, including torture, ill-treatment, sexual assault, and unlawful killings.”

In a statement issued on Friday, the rights watchdog said the US plan is a “dangerous step resembling previous European cooperation with Libyan authorities on migration,” which could make “Washington complicit in…

The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has announced a new plan aimed at encouraging ships to travel through the canal after many changed courses to the Cape of Good Hope due to recent Red Sea security concerns.

According to local media, SCA Chairman, Admiral Osama Rabie, revealed that the authority is currently studying a proposal to offer shipping companies discounts of up to 15 per cent on transit fees. This initiative comes in response to a noticeable drop in…

Syria’s interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa will not attend the upcoming Arab summit scheduled to  be held in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, later this month, the Syrian presidency has said.

In a statement issued yesterday, the presidency said the Syrian delegation to the summit will be headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Asaad Al-Shaibani.

The Iraqi authorities have reportedly been on a state of alert in preparation for hosting the Arab Summit…

Libya’s Ministry of Defence, under the Government of National Unity, announced early today the successful completion of a military operation in the capital, Tripoli, RT reported.

In an official statement, the ministry said: “The Ministry of Defence confirms that the military operation has ended successfully.” The statement also mentioned that the ministry had issued instructions to proceed with its plan in the area to ensure lasting security and…

Donald Trump will arrive in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on the first leg of a Gulf tour that will also take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, eyeing business deals even as accords on the Middle East’s hotspots will likely be harder to reach.

The trip marks the US president’s first major visit abroad of his second term, with the White House saying he looked forward to a “historic return” to the region.

Eight years ago Trump also chose Saudi Arabia for his first overseas trip as president…

Donald Trump enjoyed a lavish, royal welcome in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on the first state visit of his second term, with the US president foremost focused on business deals at the start of a Gulf tour.

Saudi Arabia escorted Air Force One with fighter jets before bringing out long-stretching honour guards both at the airport and a palace decked out with imposing chandeliers.

With cameras rolling, a lengthy procession of Saudi royalty and business figures waited their turn to shake hands with…

Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on the first leg of a Gulf tour that will also take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, eyeing business deals even as accords on the Middle East’s hotspots will likely be harder to reach.

The trip marks the US president’s first major visit abroad of his second term, with the White House saying he looked forward to a “historic return” to the region.

Eight years ago Trump also chose Saudi Arabia for his first overseas trip as president –…

Donald Trump enjoyed a lavish welcome in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday as he opened the first state visit of his second term, with the US president eyeing major business deals even as progress on the Middle East’s hotspots will likely be harder to reach.

Saudi fighter jets escorted Air Force One as Trump landed in Riyadh, the first stop on a tour of oil-rich Gulf monarchies that will also take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Trump pounded his fist in the air as he looked out on a military…