Iranian President Hassan Rouhani dismissed new U.S. sanctions on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and described the White House as “mentally retarded”, an insult Iran has used in the past about President Donald Trump. In a speech broadcast live on state television, Rouhani said sanctions against Khamenei would fail because he had no assets abroad.… Continua a leggere
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with US President Donald Trump on Friday to about Middle East stability and the oil market, the White House said, after tensions with Iran prompted a rise in oil prices. “The two leaders discussed Saudi Arabia’s critical role in ensuring stability in the Middle East and in the… Continua a leggere
Airlines including British Airways, Qantas and KLM said Friday they were suspending flights over the Strait of Hormuz in line with a ban by US authorities, after Iran shot down a US drone. UAE-based Emirates airline said it’s taken precautionary measures including rerouting all flights away from areas of possible conflict in the Middle East.… Continua a leggere
Lenient monitoring and loopholes within the United Nations’ Security Council sanctions procedures have allowed blacklisted terrorists with Al-Qaeda and Daesh gain access to frozen bank accounts, the Wall Street Journal reported. Among those sanctioned, but gaining access to their accounts, is Qatari financier Khalifa al-Subaiy, who the US says provided significant financial support to Al-Qaeda… Continua a leggere
The Commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said Tuesday that Iran’s ballistic missiles were capable of hitting “carriers in the sea” with great precision after the Pentagon announced that it will deploy more troops in the Middle East to halt Iranian threats. “These missiles can hit with great precision carriers in the sea …… Continua a leggere
Halting weapons sales to Saudi Arabia will only benefit Iran, Adel Al-Jubeir said Wednesday, after the British government announced it would suspend issuing new licenses for the sale of arms to the Kingdom. The UK’s International Trade Secretary Liam Fox announced the decision in parliament after a court ordered the government to “reconsider” the sales… Continua a leggere
Iran said on Wednesday it will start enriching uranium at a higher level in July and won’t give European powers any more time to prevent this move by protecting Tehran from US sanctions. Iran stopped complying in May with some commitments in the 2015 nuclear deal that was agreed with global powers, a year after… Continua a leggere
The United States military on Monday released new photos it says incriminate Iran in an attack last week on a tanker ship in strategic Gulf waters. The US argument centers on an unexploded limpet mine on the Kokuka Courageous ship it says was removed by Iranians on a patrol boat. “Iran is responsible for the… Continua a leggere
Iran said Monday it will surpass from June 27 its uranium stockpile limit set under the nuclear deal with world powers, turning up the pressure after the US walked away from the landmark pact last year. “Today the countdown to pass the 300 kilograms reserve of enriched uranium has started and in 10 days time… Continua a leggere
Iran will continue scaling back its compliance with its nuclear deal commitments in the absence of “positive signals” from other signatories to the pact, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told a meeting of Russia, China and other Asia leaders in Tajikistan. Iran stopped complying in May with some commitments in a 2015 nuclear deal that was… Continua a leggere
Afghanistan has freed hundreds of jailed Taliban fighters since Eid as a goodwill gesture, the government confirmed on Friday. Feroz Bashari, head of the government media center, told Arab News that “490 Taliban fighters have been freed since Eid.” Brushing aside widespread criticism of the move, President Ashraf Ghani said on Thursday that most freed… Continua a leggere
The US military on Friday released a video it said showed Iran’s Revolutionary Guard removing an unexploded limpet mine from one of the oil tankers targeted near the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting the Islamic Republic sought to remove evidence of its involvement from the scene. The US Navy rushed to assist the stricken vessels in… Continua a leggere
A Houthi cruise missile fell on the arrivals hall of Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport, injuring 26 civilians, the Arab Coalition said on Wednesday. Eight of those wounded at Abha airport were admitted to hospital, coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said in a statement. He stated that the injured are of different nationalities, among them three… Continua a leggere
Concern over the fate of The New York Times bureau chief in Tehran, Thomas Erdbrink, has continued after months of him not contributing to the publication or posting to his Twitter account, with some questioning his safety. Al Arabiya English got in touch with The New York Times enquiring about Erdbrink’s safety, following which the… Continua a leggere
Iran has followed through on a threat to accelerate its production of enriched uranium, the head of the UN atomic watchdog said on Monday, departing from his usual guarded language to say he was worried about increasing tension. Recent weeks have seen US-Iranian confrontation sharply increase, a year after Washington abandoned an agreement between Iran… Continua a leggere
