US hits Iran’s entire financial sector with sanctions

Move introduces penalties for non-Iranian institutions that work with banks in the Islamic Republic, effectively cutting them off from the international financial system By Matthew Lee Today, 8:00 pmUpdated at 10:48 pm   WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has blacklisted virtually all of Iran’s financial sector, dealing another blow to an economy that is […]

Assad: No talks with Israel without return of Golan Heights to Syria 

Statement dispels speculation Damascus may negotiate with Jerusalem in order to lift US sanctions that shattered its economy By TOI staff Today, 11:29 pm   Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview with Russian state news Thursday that peace talks with Israel would only take place if the Israelis return the Golan Heights to […]

France could support other than two-state solution

  The French Ambassador to Israel, Eric Danon, has said that his country might update its position regarding the two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Al-Quds Al-Araby reported on Wednesday. Danon apparently made his comments during a discussion initiated by Allent, a pro-Israel lobby group in Europe. “We will not negotiate on behalf of the […]

Taliban welcome Trump withdrawing troops from Afghanistan by Christmas

By REUTERS OCTOBER 8, 2020 12:05 The Taliban on Thursday welcomed an announcement by President Donald Trump on pulling out US troops by Christmas. It was “a positive step towards the implementation of (the) Doha agreement,” a spokesman for the Islamist group, Mohammad Naeem, said in a statement.Trump said on Twitter on Wednesday: “We should […]

Israeli intel. community battle continues on Iran nuke threat – Analysis

All Israeli defense officials frame the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program as a major threat. YONAH JEREMY BOB OCTOBER 8, 2020 11:14 An outgoing interview by IDF intelligence analysis chief Brig.-Gen. Dror Shalom with Yediot Ahronot on Wednesday has once again laid bare some stark differences within Israel’s intelligence community about how best to deal with […]

US warns Iraq on Iranian-backed militias

This US warning has raised serious concerns in Iraq, particularly among Shia political and militia leaders, most of whom condemned such attacks. NAWZAD A SHUKRI OCTOBER 7, 2020 21:29 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Iraqi President Barham Salih on September 21 that continued attacks on US interests in the Green Zone by Shia […]

Report: EU links aid to PA to financial ties with Israel

European Union leaders tell PA they will refuse to provide financial aid as long as it refuses to accept tax revenues collected by Israel. Arutz Sheva Staff , 08/10/20 02:40   European Union leaders have told the Palestinian Authority they will refuse to provide any additional financial aid as long as the Palestinians refuse to […]