Gulf

EU rejects ‘ultimatums’ from Iran over nuclear deal

The EU has rejected any "ultimatums" from Iran, according to a joint statement released by the EU, France, Germany, and the UK. Iran said Wednesday that it planned to cease…

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B-52 bombers being deployed to Middle East amid rising tension with Iran

The U.S. military announced that B-52 bombers will be part of additional forces being sent to the Middle East to counter what the Trump administration says are "clear indications" of…

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As tension mounts between Washington and Tehran… Iran says it will stop complying with parts of nuclear deal

Iran’s president declared on Wednesday that the country would stop complying with two of its commitments under the Iranian nuclear deal, pushing the growing confrontation between Washington and Tehran into…

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The US to send “unmistakable message” to Iran

John Bolton, President Donald Trump's national security adviser, announced the United States is sending a carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Middle East to send a…

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‘Extremist militias’ control Libyan capital – UAE

"Extremist militias" controlling the Libyan capital, Tripoli, were "derailing" the search for a political solution to the country's crisis, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said…

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Emirates sees pace of growth slowing

Emirates President Tim Clark said on Monday the airline’s last financial year has not been easy and that the company is not growing at its previous pace due to political…

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No increase in Saudi Arabian oil output for now

The Financial Times is reporting that Saudi Arabia will not rapidly ramp up its oil output after the US ended the sanctions waivers for buyers of Iranian crude. This was…

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Woman wakes up after 27 years in a coma

A woman from the United Arab Emirates who was seriously injured in a traffic accident in 1991 has emerged from a 27-year-long coma. Munira Abdulla, who was aged 32 at…

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US to end exemptions from sanctions for countries buying oil from Iran

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the State Department will not renew sanction waivers for countries importing Iranian oil. The increased pressure on Iran comes nearly one year after…

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ISIS takes responsibility for Sunday’s attack in Saudi Arabia

ISIS is claiming that it was behind an attack on Sunday on a Saudi Interior Ministry building in the town of Zulfi. An attack in which all four gunmen…

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Reports of terrorist attack in Saudi capital

The Arab News and Al-Arabiya TV are reporting a terrorist attack in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Four attackers were killed in a failed terrorist attack on an interior ministry building…

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Slideshow: The Middle East Film & Comic Con in Dubai

A guest in a costume attends the Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC) in Gulf emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The MEFCC is held annually ever since…

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British mother free to leave Dubai after Facebook insult

A British single mother arrested in Dubai for insulting her ex-husband’s new wife on Facebook, has been allowed to return to the UK. The campaign group Detained in Dubai reported…

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U.S. declares Iran’s Revolutionary Guard As A Foreign Terrorist Organization

As expected, the Trump administration designated the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a foreign terrorist organization, taking an unprecedented step as it seems to increase pressure on Iran's regime. The…

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British mother in Dubai risking 2 years in jail and €58,000 fine because of old FB post

A British single mother faces up to two years in jail and a fine of €58,000 in Dubai after being detained over comments she made on social media in 2016…

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Saudi Arabia considering ditching dollar for oil trades

In an exclusive report, Reuters said that Saudi Arabia is threatening to sell its oil in currencies other than the dollar if Washington passes a bill exposing OPEC members to…

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Saudi King Salman to visit Bahrain

Bahrain’s news agency BNA said Saudi Arabia’s King Salman today is expected to visit Bahrain to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments without more giving details. The visit comes a…

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Key British infrastructure was the target of ‘major cyber assault’ by Iran

Sky News reported that the UK Post Office and local government networks were both hit in coordinated attacks on 23 December. Cyber attacks for which Iran is being blamed in…

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Interpol issues Red Notices over Khashoggi killing

Turkish officials revealed that Interpol had issued red notices for 20 people in connection with the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. An Interpol red notice informs the police…

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Khashoggi was most likely burned in an oven at the Saudi diplomatic residence in Istanbul

Khashoggi was likely burned in an oven at the Saudi diplomatic residence in Istanbul A documentary by Al Jazeera Arabic that aired on Sunday alleges that the body of slain…

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Iranian President meets Austrian Chancellor

DW: Hassan Rouhani has met with Austrian Chancellor Kurz and President Van der Bellen in a bid to save the Iran nuclear deal. But his trip has been overshadowed by an…

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Saudi Arabia to increase oil production – Trump

Euronews: The leader of Saudi Arabia promised US President Donald Trump that he can boost oil production if needed and the country has 2 million barrels per day of spare capacity…

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Iran’s Khamenei urges judiciary to confront those who harm the economy

Al Jazeera: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned against those "who disrupt economic security", threatening legal action in response to economic protests that began on Monday over the rial's…

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Saudi women are in the driver’s seat for first time

AP: Saudi women are in the driver's seat for the first time in their country and steering their way through busy city streets just minutes after the world's last remaining…

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Iraq killes 45 IS jihadists

The Telegraph: Iraq said Saturday it had killed 45 jihadists from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), including senior members, in an air strike in eastern Syria. Iraqi F-16 fighter jets carried out…

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Saudi National Team safe after official team plane caught fire in mid air

Mirror: Saudi Arabia's official team plane caught fire in mid air as they travelled to their next World Cup match. Flames were seen from the engine as the Russian Airlines…

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Yemeni Hudaida Airport captured by Saudi-UAE forces

Al Jazeera: Forces from a Saudi and Emirati-led coalition have captured the airport in Yemen's port city of Hudaida, military officials announced on Twitter. In a post on Saturday, an account…

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Saudi Arabia, UAE, launch attack on Yemen’s port city of Hudaida

AlJazeera: UN warns of devastating consequences for 250,000 Hudaida residents as coalition targets Houthi rebels in port city. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have launched an assault on…

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World Cup: Trump’s sanctions means Nike can’t supply shoes for Iranian football team

ESPN : Iran's national team was always going to face a difficult challenge in trying to compete with more established nations at the World Cup, but suddenly there is a…

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Iraq: Moqtada Sadr announces political alliance with pro Iranian al-Ameri

France 24: Nationalist cleric Moqtada Sadr announced on Tuesday a surprise political alliance with pro-Iranian Hadi al-Ameri in a bid to lead Iraq over the next four years. The two blocs…

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18 dead in explosion in Sadr City (Baghdad)

At least 18 people are thought to have been killed and over 90 wounded after an explosion at Baghdad's Sadr City district mosque. (Euronews) While initial reports pointed to a terrorist attack…

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The world should stand up to US bullying behaviour – Iranian Foreign Minister

The world should stand up to Washington’s bullying behaviour, Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying on Sunday by state media in a letter to counterparts, as…

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Saudi threatens military action against Qatar

In a letter addressed to President Emmanuel Macron of France, Saudi King Salman expressed his "profound concern" with talks under way between Moscow and Doha for the sale of the…

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Saudi Arabia’s cabinet approves criminalisation of sexual harassment amidst criticism for detention of women rights’ activists

Saudi Arabia's cabinet approved a measure which criminalises sexual harassment. The Saudi's state news agency SPA reported that legislation, which awaits an expected royal decree to become law, is the…

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JCPOA remaining partners convene after US withdrawal from Iranian Nuclear deal. They welcome the fact that the (IAEA) has again confirmed the continued adherence by Iran to its nuclear-related commitments

China, Russia, France, the UK and Germany have expressed their commitment to maintain the Iranian nuclear deal, but a solution has not yet been found on how to diffuse and…

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11 arrested for being ‘traitors’ and pushing for women’s right to drive in Saudi

The New York Times reports that "Saudi Arabia is escalating its crackdown on activists who had pressed for the right of women to drive, bringing the number arrested to at least 11…

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New York Times : Iran established a secret missile research facility

The New York Times reports that Iran has established a secret missile research facility in the desert where it may be developing technology for long-range missiles. California-based experts came to this conclusion…

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Israel’s High-Level security cabinet to meet in special bunker

The Times of Israel reports that Israel’s high-level security cabinet will meet in a new, specially built underground bunker in Jerusalem for the foreseeable future. The change of venue — meetings of…

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Strongest sanctions ever will be imposed against Iran if it doesn’t change its course – Us Sec. of State Pompeo

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has threatened to place "the strongest sanctions in history" on Iran if its government does not change course. While presenting the strategy following the…

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Erdogan : Muslim leaders should unite and confront Israel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Muslim leaders to unite and confront Israel. Speaking at an extraordinary summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Friday, Erdogan said Israel…

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Kuwait’s attempt to resolve Qatar crisis failed

After a year of playing mediator, Kuwait's latest attempt to resolve the Qatar crisis has failed, diplomatic sources told Kuwait's Al-Rai newspaper. Earlier this week, the emir of Kuwait sent five letters…

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Arab League calls for an international probe into the violence in Gaza

Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit called for an international probe into alleged "crimes" committed by Israeli security forces against Arab rioters and terrorists during mass infiltration attempts along the…

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EU committed to Iranian nuclear deal; wants the US to exempt the bloc from steel tariffs

The EU remains firmly committed to the Iranian nuclear deal, and it wants the US to permanently exempt the bloc from steel tariffs. Donald Tusk, the European Council president said…

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TOTAL warns that it will stop its operations in Iran

French company TOTAL announced that in view of the sanctions Total will not be able to operate its project SP 11, unless it will get special waivers. The company said…

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The clash of the Donalds – With friends like this, who needs enemies? Donald Tusk on Donald Trump

“Looking at the latest decisions of Trump, someone could even think: With friends like that, who needs enemies?” Donald Tusk, President of the European Council didn't leave much to anyone's imagination to…

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‘Constructive meeting’ between Iran and and the EU

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has hailed as "very good and constructive" the meeting he had in Brussels with the European Union's foreign-policy chief, Federica Mogherini. Zarif was in…

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Iraq elections – Muqtada al-Sard’s coalition comes first

The release final results of Iraq's parliamentary vote indicate that Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr's Sairoon coalition (the Alliance of Revolutionaries for Reform) is leading in the polls. Coming in second…

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Iran Nuclear Deal – US doesn’t exclude sanctions on European companies that do business with Iran

The US administration is prepared to impose sanctions on European companies that do business in Iran following his withdrawal of the US from the international nuclear deal. Trump’s most senior foreign policy aides…

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Iraqis vote since country declared victory over IS

Iraqis have voted in the first parliamentary election since the country declared victory over the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group at the end of…

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There is no willingness from the US to take the position of its allies seriously

Transatlantic relations have "already been damaged for some time", and Germany, although ready for dialogue, is "ready for a fight" for its positions . German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told…

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Trump approaches geopolitics like The Apprentice – but this is not his show – Julian Borger (The Guardian’s World Affairs Editor)

The big lesson of Trump’s big week in geopolitics – in which he ditched the Iran nuclear deal while pivoting optimistically toward his summit with Kim Jong-un – is clear enough:…

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