US committed to long-term defense partnership with Saudi Arabia: Pentagon spokesman

Thursday 28 May 2020 The United States is committed to a long-term defense partnership with Saudi Arabia, especially as it relates to regional air defense to deal with any “Iran-related emergencies,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Robertson told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper on Thursday. Robertson also confirmed that the US is committed to long-term defense contracts with Saudi […]

Water Shortage in South Iran, Government Fears New Protests

Twitter By Pooya Stone Following the protests of the oppressed and poor people of Gheyzanieh in Ahvaz to the water lack and the rise of popular anger and hatred because of the brutal repression of the people’s protests on this subject, government officials and state media confess about the suffering and the anger of the […]

US Hong Kong respond could include visa, economic sanctions against China

By REUTERS MAY 28, 2020 00:32 U.S. President Donald Trump has a long list of possible responses to China’s plans to impose a national security law on Hong Kong, including visa and economic sanctions, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia said on Wednesday. David Stilwell, the State Department’s assistant secretary for the region, accused […]

Discover Thomson ReutersFinancialGovernment SolutionsLegalReuters News AgencyRisk Management SolutionsTax & AccountingBlog: Answers OnInnovation @ Thomson ReutersFrance sees Syria scenario being replicated in Libya: minister

PARIS (Reuters) – French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said on Wednesday the situation in Libya was very worrying, warning the Syria scenario was being replicated in the country. “The crisis is deepening. We are facing a ‘Syrianisation’ of Libya,” Le Drian told a French Senate hearing.

PLO declares agreements with Israel have ended

‘There’s a feeling that most of the world stands with us on the issue of annexation,’ senior official in Ramallah says KHALED ABU TOAMEH Palestinian officials said on Wednesday they are planning to step up their efforts to thwart Israel’s intention to apply sovereignty to parts of the West Bank, now that the Palestinians have […]

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and Putin agree to ‘close coordination’ on oil output

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Vladimir Putin agreed to closely cooperate on restricting oil output. (AFP/File) MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in a telephone call, agreed on further “close coordination” on oil output restrictions, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. They also both noted the importance of […]

Libya is now the Middle East’s most important proxy war

20 May 2020, 3:42pm Libya has been in the midst of civil war for almost a decade. However, in the last year, the conflict has escalated and become a regional proxy war. This matters because Libya is a gateway for migrants coming to Europe and because whoever wins in Libya will emerge a powerful figure […]

US clamps down on waivers tied to Iran’s nuclear cooperation as deal unravels

Pompeo says administration will revoke all but one exemption, accuses Tehran of continued ‘nuclear brinkmanship’ and ‘extortion’ Matt LeeToday, 11:45 pm WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration announced Wednesday it is ending nearly all of the last vestiges of US sanctions relief provided under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo […]

Russia throws down the gauntlet in Libya with MiG deployment

May 27 2020 02:46 Gmt+3Last Updated On: Russia has upped the stakes in Libya after deploying MiG-29s and other military aircraft to help opposition fighters in Libya, Seth Frantzman wrote for the Jerusalem Post. Moscow appears to be challenging Turkey and the latter’s support for the government in Tripoli at a time when other countries […]

Abbas’ Empty Threats Come Again

by Caroline Glick / JNS.org Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas holds a map while speaking during a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, Feb. 11, 2020. Photo: Reuters / Shannon Stapleton. JNS.org – Last week, Palestinian Authority (PA) and PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas announced that the PA was renouncing the peace […]

Iran is increasingly promoting antisemitic Houthi leader from Yemen

Iran’s role in Yemen gives it the ability to project power into the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. SETH J. FRANTZMAN MAY 27, 2020 13:33 Although Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei reject claims that their views are antisemitic, they have increasingly been highlighting their Yemenite Houthi allies of […]

Russia creates new position in Syria amid speculation over relations

Alexander Efimov. (Twitter, Maxim A. Suchkov) Russia has created a new role for its ambassador to Syria, a move that analysts have interpreted as showing an increasing strain in Russian-Syrian relations amid the ongoing rift at the heart of the Syrian regime between President Bashar al-Assad and his cousin, tycoon Rami Makhlouf. Russian President Vladimir […]

Iran passes law banning use of Israeli technology

A bill passed last week on “confronting the hostile acts of the Zionist regime against peace and security” prevents any cooperation with Israel. MARCY OSTER/JTA MAY 27, 2020 03:51 Iran has lowered the boom on Israeli high-tech. A bill passed last week on “confronting the hostile acts of the Zionist regime against peace and security” […]