DUBAI/WASHINGTON — Gulf hostilities flared again on June 3, with an Iranian missile attack damaging Kuwait’s airport and the US military carrying out strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, with diplomacy between Washington and Tehran showing little sign of progress. The attacks are the latest to test a shaky ceasefire, sending oil prices up more […]
Tag: Middle East
‘Crazy’: Trump-Netanyahu relationship under growing strain
WASHINGTON — They went to war together against Iran, but Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu’s relationship is under strain after the US president reportedly called the Israeli premier “crazy.” Trump unleashed a profane tirade over the phone at Netanyahu over Israel’s threats to bomb the Lebanese capital Beirut, fearing it would undermine talks with Tehran, […]
Iran stops negotiations with US in protest against Israeli attacks on Lebanon
TEHRAN — Negotiations to end the Mideast war appeared in deep trouble on Monday, as Iranian news agency Tasnim reported Tehran had suspended dialogue with mediators in protest against Israel’s expanding Lebanon offensive. Iran’s move came hours after it again exchanged strikes with US forces despite a weeks-long ceasefire. Weeks of indirect talks marked by […]
Israel plants flag on medieval Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon
JERUSALEM — Israel’s flag flew over the medieval fortress on Beaufort in Lebanon on May 31, as the Israeli military warned Lebanese civilians to evacuate a large area of the south of the country ahead of stepped up ground operations. Shelling was audible and smoke rose from the surrounding area as the invading army’s banner […]
Israel orders new evacuations as forces push deeper into Lebanon
BEIRUT — Israel’s military issued evacuation warnings on Saturday for residents of seven villages in southern Lebanon, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces had pushed deeper into the country. The latest warnings came a day after military delegations from the two countries held landmark security talks in Washington and ahead of US-brokered negotiations […]
US carries out new strikes on southern Iran
WASHINGTON — The United States carried out new strikes on southern Iran on Thursday, after President Donald Trump threatened to “finish the job” if Tehran did not agree to a peace deal. Iranian media reported three loud explosions rang out in the port city of Bandar Abbas in the early hours of Thursday morning, following […]
Iran supreme leader says region will ‘no longer serve as shields’ for US bases
TEHRAN — Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on May 26 that regional countries would no longer be shields for US bases, in a written statement carried by state television. “What is certain in this regard is that the hands of time will not turn backwards, and the nations and lands of the region will […]
Not in favour of Pakistan joining Abraham Accords: Defence Minister
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that he was not in favour of Islamabad joining the Abraham Accords to normalise relations with Israel. His comments came after US President Donald Trump asked countries involved in the peace talks with Iran to sign on to the Abraham Accords, which deal with establishing diplomatic, […]
Trump demands widespread sign-up to Abraham Accords as part of Iran peace deal
TEHRAN — US President Donald Trump on Monday said Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations must normalize ties with Israel as part of efforts to reach a deal with Iran, adding fresh uncertainty into protracted peace negotiations. Progress on a deal to end the conflict that broke out in late February has slowed as both […]
Iran warns deal with US not yet close, despite some progress
TEHRAN — Iran warned Monday that, while some progress had been made, it was not yet close to striking a deal with the United States to end the Middle East war, after a weekend of mixed messages from Washington and Tehran. World oil prices tumbled on renewed optimism about an agreement, after top US diplomat […]








