Middle East Experience

The talks followed a series of high-profile mass shootings in the United States, including one at a school in Uvalde, Texas, last month that killed 19 young children.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Bipartisan US Senate group unveils framework on gun safety reform

Iran said Monday that all measures it has taken to roll back on its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers are “reversible.”For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“If the agreement is finalized in Vienna tomorrow, all the measures carried out by Iran are technically reversible,” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters.Iran on Wednesday said it had disconnected some UN nuclear watchdog cameras monitoring its nuclear site.The move came as a resolution was adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors censuring the Islamic republic for its lack of cooperation.IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said Thursday his agency had been informed that 27 cameras were being removed, leaving about 40 still in place.He warned that the move could deal a “fatal blow” to negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear accord, stalled since March.Iran meanwhile says the disconnected cameras were not part of a safeguards agreement with the IAEA.Iran “is fully honoring its commitments under the safeguards agreement”, Khatibzadeh said, adding that the country has only “stopped some of the voluntary measures.”“All of the safeguard cameras of the Islamic Republic of Iran are in place; all of the measures it has been undertaking under the supervision of the IAEA are in place,” he added.The talks in the Austrian capital, which began in April last year, aim to return the US to the nuclear deal, including through the lifting of sanctions on Iran, and to ensure Tehran’s full compliance with its commitments under the agreement.The deal known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) gave Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program to guarantee that it could not develop a nuclear weapon -- something Tehran has always denied wanting to do.But the US unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 and reimposed severe economic sanctions, prompting Iran to begin rolling back on its own commitments.Khatibzadeh said the on-off dialogue in Vienna can yield results if the US “puts aside the delusion of using leverage” and “accepts to fully meet its commitments under the JCPOA and UN resolution 2231” which supports it.“What we are focusing on is that this agreement becomes operational and is signed, and this is possible if the US changes its approach and manner,” he added.“Unfortunately the US is extending the talks and wants to resolve some bilateral issues through the Vienna negotiations, which is impossible.”Read more: UN agency urges Iran to resume stalled nuclear talks ‘now’Saudi Arabia welcomes IAEA’s resolution on IranIran suspected of ramping up nuclear weapon efforts: German intelligence
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran says scale-backs on nuclear commitments ‘reversible’

An “employee” of Iran’s defense ministry was killed on Sunday while “on duty,” the ministry said on Monday, the latest in a series of mysterious deaths of Iranian military personnel in recent weeks.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Mohammad Abdous was “martyred” Sunday evening while “on duty” in the north-central province of Semnan, the defense ministry said in a statement carried by state media.The statement described Abdous as an “employee” of the defense ministry and gave no further details on his role or how he was killed.The defense ministry’s statement contradicted earlier reports by Iranian state media which said Abdous was a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ aerospace unit.Fars, an IRGC-affiliated news agency, said early Monday that Abdous and Ali Kamani were martyred “on duty” in two separate incidents on Sunday, describing both of them as members of the IRGC’s aerospace unit.The deaths of Abdous and Kamani are the latest in a series of mysterious deaths of Iranians associated with the country’s military in recent weeks.On May 22, IRGC colonel Sayyad Khodaei was assassinated in a gun attack in the capital Tehran. Iran blamed Israel for his killing and vowed to take revenge. It was the most-high profile assassination inside Iran since the 2020 killing of nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, which Tehran also blamed on Israel.Iran does not recognize Israel and has in the past accused it of attacking nuclear facilities and carrying out assassinations inside Iran. On May 26, Iran’s defense ministry said that an “accident” at the Parchin military complex near Tehran killed Ehsan Ghadbeigi, an “engineer.” The New York Times later reported that Ghadbeigi had been killed in a suspected Israeli drone strike.On May 31, aerospace engineer Ayoob Entezari died under suspicious circumstances. Israeli media reported that he was poisoned at a dinner party. He worked Iran’s missile and drone programs, according to Israeli media reports.On June 3, state news agency IRNA reported that another IRGC colonel, Ali Esmailzadeh, died in an “incident” at his home.IRNA’s report came hours after Iran International, a London-based, Persian-language satellite news channel reported, citing unnamed sources, that the IRGC killed Esmailzadeh after he was suspected of espionage.While confirming Esmailzadeh’s death, IRNA denied Iran International’s report that the IRGC was behind his killing, describing the report as “a psychological war and false news.”Iran International reported that Esmailzadeh died “after falling from the roof of his house” in the city of Karaj, west of the capital Tehran. IRGC officials told Esmailzadeh’s family that he committed suicide, according to the report.Esmailzadeh was a “close associate” of Khodaei, the report said.The IRGC’s intelligence wing had accused Esmailzadeh of involvement in Khodaei’s assassination by leaking information to foreign intelligence services, the report said, adding that the IRGC ultimately decided to kill Esmailzadeh by staging his suicide.Read more:Iran’s IRGC says airspace fighter died in ‘car accident’ while on missionMember of Iran’s IRGC died in ‘accident’ at his home in recent days: IRNAIran guards accuse ‘Zionists’ of assassinating colonel
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran defense ministry says ‘employee’ killed amid series of mysterious deaths

Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Monday urged citizens in Turkey to leave “as soon as possible” over threats that Iranian operatives are actively planning attacks on Israelis in Istanbul. For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“It’s a real and immediate danger,” Lapid told a meeting of lawmakers from his Yesh Atid party, citing “several Iranian attempts at carrying out terror attacks against Israelis on holiday in Istanbul.”“If you are already in Istanbul, return to Israel as soon as possible,” Lapid said. “If you have planned a flight to Istanbul -- cancel. No vacation is worth your life,” he added.“Do not fly to Turkey at all,” unless such travel is “essential,” the foreign minister added.Iran and Israel are arch rivals and Tehran has accused the Jewish state of carrying out a series of assassinations targeting senior Iranian nuclear and military personnel. Most recently, Iran claimed that Israel was responsible for the killing of Revolutionary Guards Colonel Sayyad Khodai, who was shot dead outside his Tehran home on May 22.Lapid made no reference to any alleged Israeli operations inside Iran.But he said that some Israelis who recently travelled to Turkey had returned “without knowing their lives were saved.”The alleged attackers were targeting Israeli citizens “in order to kidnap them or kill them,” Lapid said. Earlier Monday, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported on Iranian plans to kidnap Israelis in Turkey a month ago, which was thwarted after Israel alerted Ankara about the threat. Lapid thanked the Turkish government “for the effort they’re putting into protecting the lives of Israeli citizens,” without providing details.Read more: Israel says foiled Iran’s attack against Israelis in Turkey as Tehran seeks ‘revenge’Israel warns against travel to Turkey citing assassination of Iranian colonelIsrael and Turkey opening new chapter in relations: Israel FM
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israel urges its citizens in Istanbul to leave, heightening travel warning

Saudi Arabia has dropped more COVID-19 measures, including indoor mask and proof of vaccination requirements for most places, the Ministry of Interior announced on Monday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.However, people will still be required to wear masks in the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, places regulated by the Saudi Public Health Authority (Weqaya), and places and events that impose their own mask mandates.Proof of vaccination in the Tawakkalna contact-tracing application is no longer needed to enter various facilities, participate in activities, attend events, or board planes or public transportation, with some exceptions, according to the official Saudi Press Agency. SPA did not elaborate on which categories were exempt.Also, the vaccination timeframe for Saudi Arabian citizens who want to travel abroad has been extended.Travelers previously had to have received their third COVID-19 booster shot within three months of the second, but that timeframe has now been extended to eight months.COVID-19 restrictions in the Kingdom were loosened in March when outdoor mask mandates were dropped.Social distancing measures, PCR tests for inbound travelers, and quarantine-on-arrival rules were also dropped in March.The latest updates to COVID-19 measures come as the world and the Kingdom see a spike in case numbers.Daily new COVID-19 cases breached the 1,000 mark on Wednesday for the first time since February, reaching 1,029.A total of 1,118 new cases and two virus-related deaths were recorded on Monday, according to the Ministry of Health.The Kingdom has now recorded a total of 9,170 COVID-19-related deaths and 777,795 infections since the beginning of the pandemic.It has rolled out a wide-reaching vaccination program, with enough doses to inoculate 96.1 percent of the population having been administered, according to Reuters data.Case numbers in the neighboring United Arab Emirates have also spiked in recent weeks.Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior on Monday stressed the importance of continuing efforts to combat the virus, including receiving booster doses of approved vaccines.Read more: Saudi Arabia, UAE COVID-19 cases spike as global numbers riseUAE’s daily COVID-19 cases rise above 1,000, highest toll of new infections in monthsSaudi Arabia drops most COVID-19 restrictions
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia drops COVID-19 measures including indoor masks, vaccine requirement

The United Arab Emirates’ National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) announced on Monday an update to the Green Status system on the Al Hosn App which will be valid for 14 days after a negative COVID-19 test instead of 30 days, in light of the recent spike in infections across the country.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.“We inform you today about the decision to update the Al Hosn app’s green system. The period of green status validity will be reduced from 30 days to 14 days, as a precautionary and preventive measure,” the authority said in televised special briefing.The decision “aims to ensure the accuracy of the testing process and encourage more periodic checks.”The update will be activated on Wednesday, except for employees in the education sector and students, who will have the update on their Al Hosn apps by next Monday, June 20.This comes as the UAE’s COVID-19 cases surged dramatically, accounting for a more than two-fold increase in infections in less than a week, NCEMA said.The UAE registered 1,319 new coronavirus cases on Monday, marking the highest number of daily recorded cases since February, but no deaths were recorded during the 24-hour period.NCEMA said that it has recently “monitored some behaviors that have become a danger to society and public health,” referring to people not adhering to COVID-19 precautionary and preventative measures and how it has “negatively” impacted “recovery efforts.“Negligence and recklessness in following precautionary measures, and failure in the societal role in maintaining public health and acquired immunity, has resulted in a rise in the number of infections and new waves of the virus,” the authority spokesman said in the briefing.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Studies have proven that wearing masks is one of the most important factors in maintaining health and safety, and from the risk of contracting a COVID-19 infection,” NCEMA said Monday.“The effectiveness of the mask lies in reducing the speed and strength of the spread of the disease, especially in closed and crowded places.”The authority reaffirmed the need to wear masks in closed public spaces, reiterating that it was mandatory and that not adhering to this rule would result in a fine of up to $816 (AED 3,000).Read more:UAE reports highest number of new daily COVID-19 cases in four monthsUS: Pfizer COVID-19 shot appears effective for kids under fiveSaudi Arabia drops COVID-19 measures including indoor masks, vaccine requirement
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE urges public to adhere to COVID-19 precautionary measures amid spike in cases

A UNIFIL patrol was confronted on Saturday by “a group of men in civilian clothes” near the Arab al-Louaize district in southern Lebanon..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Hezbollah suspected as UN slams threats against peacekeepers in Lebanon

When it comes to official stances on abortion, religions’ positions are tied to different approaches to some key theological concepts.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: There is more than one religious view on abortion

A new study details exactly how detrimental it can be to people's health to sit in front of a TV at th end of the day and snack.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Snacking in front of a TV at the end of the day? It could be bad for your heart - study

Lake Sawa is only the latest casualty in this broad country-wide struggle with water shortages that experts say is induced by climate change..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iraq's Lake Sawa grows increasingly dry amid water crisis