Oman, a regional mediator, sends FM to Iran

Iran’s foreign minister meets with his visiting counterpart from Oman, a Gulf nation that in the past has served as an intermediary between the United States and the Islamic Republic. The official IRNA news agency reports the meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Oman’s foreign minister, Yusuf bin Alawi. It says they […]

Zarif to Trump: Never Threaten Iranians, Try Respect

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif blasted US President Donald Trump for his recent threats against Iran, stressing ineffectiveness of Washington’s attempts to defeat the country. Zarif in furious response reacted to Trump’s recent threat on twitter that a fight with the US would be the “official end of Iran” if Iran wants to fight, replying in a […]

Palestinians reject US economic peace summit, say they won’t attend

Senior officials say Palestinians were not consulted about ‘workshop’ in Bahrain; bid will fail without political solution By AGENCIES and TOI STAFFToday, 3:20 pm  0 1shares Palestinians prepare to set fire to an Israeli flag and portraits of US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a protest at the border fence between Israel and […]

UK Warns Iran of US Retaliation if Washington’s Interests ‘Attacked’

Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif lashed out at US President Donal Trump after the latter said that Iran would see its “official end” should it put up a fight against the United States. Commenting on the recent verbal duel between Washington and Tehran, UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that Iran should […]

Iranian commander: We are ready to confront the enemy

He claimed that the country’s northwestern region was prepared for any attacks. Seth J. Frantzman May 20, 2019 12:44 Members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy march during a parade to commemorate the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq war (1980-88), in Tehran September 22, 2011.. (photo credit: REUTERS) A day after a rocket was fired at […]

How Iraq’s Shia militias are reacting to the rocket attack on the Green Zone and US embassy area

On May 19 a Katyusha rocket fired from near Baghdad’s Technological University landed near the monument to the Unknown Soldier not far from the US Embassy in the city’s Green Zone. The rocket fire comes amid tensions between Washington and Tehran. It is important to examine the differing reactions among Iraq’s Shi’ite paramilitary militia groups […]

Tehran to Trump: US ‘Genocidal Taunts Won’t End Iran’

Former CIA Director David Petraeus warned Iran that it is going to have to be “very careful” in its responses to the US’ pressure campaign in recent months. The former CIA Director suggested that Iran has a decision to make as to how to approach the US from now until the November 2020 elections, where, as they hope, the US pressure […]

Ex-CIA Director Warns Iran to Be ‘Very Careful’ Amid Rising Tensions with US

Former CIA Director David Petraeus warned Iran that it is going to have to be “very careful” in its responses to the US’ pressure campaign in recent months. The former CIA Director suggested that Iran has a decision to make as to how to approach the US from now until the November 2020 elections, where, as they hope, the US pressure […]

War talk grips Iraq as storied US carrier returns to Gulf

Iraqis convinced conflict looms between Washington and Tehran as the USS Abraham Lincoln, whose warplanes bombed Iraq in 2003, returns to region and tensions spiral By ALI CHOUKEIR19 May 2019, 1:19 am  0 160shares The USS Abraham Lincoln sails south in the Suez canal near Ismailia toward the Persian Gulf, May 9, 2019. (Suez Canal Authority via […]

Abbas aide: U.S. peace plan will fail without Palestinian statehood

Comment comes after White House announces June summit to unveil first stage of Mideast peace plan; PA says wasn’t consulted about conference, which will not discuss final borders, Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees or Israeli security demands Associated PressPublished:  05.20.19 , 12:24 Any American peace plan that ignores the Palestinian people’s political aspirations for an independent state […]

Whodunit? The rocket fired near the U.S. embassy in Baghdad

The question for the US now is whether the rocket fired at the Green Zone was an attack and who carried it out. It took place after darkness fell in Baghdad on May 19. Seth J. Frantzman May 20, 2019 11:41 They say that “third time’s is a charm” but in the case of the […]

War talk grips Iraq as storied US carrier returns to Gulf

Iraqis convinced conflict looms between Washington and Tehran as the USS Abraham Lincoln, whose warplanes bombed Iraq in 2003, returns to region and tensions spiral By ALI CHOUKEIR19 May 2019, 1:19 am  0 160shares The USS Abraham Lincoln sails south in the Suez canal near Ismailia toward the Persian Gulf, May 9, 2019. (Suez Canal Authority via […]

In echo of 1980’s, US warns airliners on Persian Gulf flights

WASHINGTON DC (Kurdistan 24) – US embassies in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates warned that commercial aircraft flying over the Persian Gulf could be attacked by “miscalculation or misidentification” by Iran. The warning, first issued on Thursday by the US Federal Aviation Administration, was relayed on Saturday by US diplomatic missions in Kuwait and […]

Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missiles heading toward Mecca, Jeddah

Monday, 20 May 2019 Saudi Arabia’s air forces on Monday intercepted two Houthi ballistic missiles over Taif, one heading for Mecca and the other for Jeddah, according to eyewitnesses. The Kingdom’s air defense forces were able to destroy the ballistic missiles. Saudi authorities are expected to issue a formal statement later. In light of the […]