Middle East Experience

The proposed alliance, whose chief goal is to confront Iranian threats and “expansionist” schemes, is expected to be at the top of the agenda of President Joe Biden during his visit to Israel and SA.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Hamas, Hezbollah wary of Israeli-Arab security cooperation

Iran and the US appeared poised Tuesday to start indirect talks in Qatar aimed at finding a way to save Tehran's tattered nuclear deal with world powers.The state-owned Tehran Times posted a photograph of Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, in a hotel lobby with Iranian Ambassador to Qatar Hamidreza Dehghani. The newspaper said Bagheri Kani was in Doha, the Qatari capital, for the resumption of the talks.Rob Malley, the US special representative for Iran, arrived in Qatar on Monday night ahead of the talks. The US Embassy in Qatar said Malley met with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss “joint diplomatic efforts to address issues with Iran,” but declined to immediately offer any other details about his trip.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Qatar's Foreign Ministry later issued a statement saying it “welcomed" hosting the talks. It said the talks aimed to re-establish the deal “in a way that supports and enhances security, stability and peace in the region and opens new horizons for broader regional cooperation and dialogue with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”Iran and world powers agreed in 2015 to the nuclear deal, which saw Tehran drastically limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. In 2018, then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord, raising tensions across the wider Middle East and sparking a series of attacks and incidents. Talks in Vienna about reviving the deal have been on a “pause” since March. Since the deal’s collapse, Iran has been running advanced centrifuges and rapidly growing stockpile of enriched uranium.Even as negotiators convened in Doha, Iran's nuclear chief on Tuesday confirmed that Iran had begun installing a new cascade of advanced centrifuges at its underground Fordo facility.The International Atomic Energy Agency earlier reported that Iran was planning to enrich uranium through a new chain of 166 advanced IR-6 centrifuges at the site. A cascade is a group of centrifuges working together to more quickly enrich uranium.“We will follow measures according to the plans made,” declared Eslami, without saying at which level the new cascade will be enriching.Earlier this month, Iran removed 27 surveillance cameras of the IAEA to pressure the West toward making a deal. The IAEA's director-general warned it could deal a “fatal blow” to the accord as Tehran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels.Non-proliferation experts warn Iran has enriched enough up to 60 percent purity — a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90 percent — to make one nuclear weapon, should it decide to do so.Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, though UN experts and Western intelligence agencies say Iran had an organized military nuclear program through 2003.Building a nuclear bomb would still take Iran more time if it pursued a weapon, analysts say, though they warn Tehran’s advances make the program more dangerous. Israel has threatened in the past that it would carry out a pre-emptive strike to stop Iran — and already is suspected in a series of recent killings targeting Iranian officials.Read more:UN agency urges Iran to resume stalled nuclear talks ‘now’Iran suspected of ramping up nuclear weapon efforts: German intelligenceIran turns off two of UN nuclear watchdog’s surveillance cameras: Report
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran, US to begin indirect nuclear deal talks in Qatar

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, just weeks after a top official’s remarks about the Prophet Mohammed set off anger in the Gulf.Modi shared an embrace with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who met the Indian leader at Abu Dhabi airport, according to a tweet by India’s foreign ministry spokesperson.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“I am touched by the special gesture of my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, of coming to welcome me at Abu Dhabi airport. My gratitude to him,” Modi tweeted.The one-day visit by Modi, who is heading back to India after attending the G7 summit in Germany, follows protests by Gulf states earlier this month after a spokesperson for his party made disparaging remarks about the Prophet Mohammed on TV.The UAE and Saudi Arabia condemned the comments, while Qatar and Kuwait summoned their Indian ambassadors. One Kuwaiti supermarket took Indian goods off its shelves.Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party suspended spokesperson Nupur Sharma over her comments.The remarks were also blamed for clashes in India and prompted demands for her arrest.India’s foreign minister said Modi’s visit was to convey his sympathies to Sheikh Mohamed - whose brother, former president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, died in May - and his congratulations on taking over as leader.The two countries enjoy strong trade and cultural ties, with Indians making up 35 percent of the UAE’s 10 million population, the biggest expatriate community.India-UAE trade is valued at $59 billion, making the oil-rich Gulf country India’s third largest trading partner for the year 2019-20 after China and the United States, according to the Indian foreign ministry.The UAE is also India’s third largest export destination, with nearly $16 billion clocked in 2020-21, it added. Major exports include petroleum products, precious metals, stones, gems and jewelry, minerals, food and textiles. In February, the two countries signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to boost trade and investment.Read more:Dubai’s Emaar says aware of reports CEO detained in IndiaUAE to suspend exports of Indian wheat for four months: ReportUAE-India trade deal to encompass AI, blockchain, and fintech: Dubai Chamber official
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: India’s prime minister Modi meets UAE President Sheikh Mohamed

The deposit is estimated to have between 100 and 340 billion cubic metres of gas condensate, Sonatrach said..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Algeria announces discovery of ‘important’ gas deposit in Sahara desert

Today's verdict is an insult to justice. This was a mass trial of more than 200 people. The case has been marred by enforced disappearances and torture, including of children..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Egypt: Quash death sentences in torture-tainted grossly unfair mass trial

Israel's National Security Council on Tuesday lowered its travel warning for Istanbul from the highest level, after the government said Iranian assassination plots targeting Israelis in the city had been thwarted.“I'd like to thank our security forces along with the Turkish security forces, who over the past months and weeks acted to prevent attacks on Israelis in Istanbul and Turkey,” Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement.Israel on June 13 had urged its citizens to immediately leave Istanbul because of the “real and immediate danger” coming from Iranian operatives, raising the travel warning on the Turkish city to four on a four-point scale.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.A flurry of reports provided details of Iranian agents setting up to target Israeli tourists, and of Turkey detaining people involved in the plots.On Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid visited Ankara, thanking Turkey for its “professional and coordinated activity” in preventing the attacks.Iran meanwhile dismissed as “ridiculous” the Israeli allegations, with foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh saying they were “part of a pre-designed plot to destroy relations between the two Muslim countries”.Iran and Israel have been engaged in a years-long shadow war but tensions have ratcheted up following a string of high-profile incidents Tehran has blamed on Israel. “Our actions were successful and safeguarded human life, we are gradually returning to routine,” Bennett said, thanking Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “and his people for their cooperation in thwarting attacks on Israelis in Turkey”.Israel's National Security Council warned “the Iranian motivation is still high”.It estimated that there were “still efforts to build infrastructures” and “locate potential Israeli and Jewish targets”, calling on Israelis to still “avoid non-essential travel to Turkey”.Turkey's relations with Israel have been improving after years of tensions and tourism is central to the two countries' economic ties.Read more:Israel PM says thwarted Iranian attacks in Turkey, suspects arrestedTurkey busts Iranian cell reportedly targeting Israeli touristsIran: Israel’s accusation of Tehran plot to harm Israelis in Turkey ‘ridiculous’Israel says foiled Iran’s attack against Israelis in Turkey as Tehran seeks ‘revenge’
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israel lowers Turkey travel warning after attacks by Iran ‘thwarted’

The remains of five marble statues have been rescued from anonymity and placed standing using a special frame between the southern portion of the basilica and the odeon, a small covered theater.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Statues of Roman goddesses returned to rightful place of honor at Tel Ashkelon

Iraq's state news agency earlier reported that Schlumberger had decided to exit Iraqi Kurdistan but later corrected its story, dropping all mention of plans to exit, without elaborating..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Schlumberger will not apply for Iraqi Kurdistan oil tenders

Non-government sanctioned media and critical news reports are frequently described as 'false news' in Egypt..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: RSF says Al Jazeera journalists in Egypt should be freed amid warming Qatar relations

At its state convention, the North Carolina Democratic Party adopted resolutions highly critical of Israel, including the accusation that it was committing apartheid and violating Palestinian rights.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: N. Carolina Dems want Nakba Day, accuse Israel of killing Abu Akleh