Middle East Experience

The US Defence Department is reportedly encouraging the sale of over $500 million worth of drones to Qatar despite a delay from the State Department's end, Washington officials told NBC News on Wednesday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: US delay in Qatar drone sale blamed on 'fear of anger' among GCC neighbours: analyst – Doha News | Qatar

Iran wants fresh talks with world powers over its 2015 nuclear deal as opposed to resuming talks that have been stalled since June, Iran’s foreign minister said on Wednesday.“We do not want to enter the negotiations from the stalemate of the Vienna talks, but we accept the format formed in the Vienna talks,” Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said, referring to talks between Iran and world powers aimed at reviving the nuclear deal which began in April in Vienna but came to a stop after several rounds of negotiations in June.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Iran will return to the negotiating table “soon,” Amir-Abdollahian added.Washington withdrew from the deal under former President Donald Trump in 2018, reimposing sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy.Iran has accelerated its nuclear program in response.Read more:Iran says ready for talks with European parties to 2015 nuclear dealIran, EU to meet in prelude to nuclear accord talksIran’s reasoning behind delay in nuclear deal talks ‘wearing very thin’: US envoy
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran wants fresh nuclear talks, not resume stalled Vienna talks: FM

Turkey’s parliament on Tuesday extended the military’s mandate to launch cross-border operations in Syria and Iraq by two more years..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Turkey extends mandate for military incursions into Syria, Iraq

Iran agreed to restart talks to revive the abandoned 2015 nuclear dear in November, Tehran’s lead nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri said on Wednesday.“We agree to start negotiations before the end of November. Exact date will be announced in the course of the next week,” Bagheri, who is also the deputy Foreign Minister said, according to state news agency IRNA.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The EU, which acts as a coordinator for the deal, has been trying to restart negotiations to revive the Iran nuclear deal which was abandoned after former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord in 2018.Negotiations over reviving the nuclear accord have stalled since the election of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in June.Since taking office, Raisi appointed several other hardline officials to his cabinet in a move experts say is intended to pressure the US into making concession in the nuclear talks.US Secretary of State Antony Blink said in September that time was running out for Iran to return to the nuclear deal. And Washington has warned of a “Plan B” in case diplomacy failed with Iran, without specifying details of said plan.Read more:IAEA warns of North Korea scenario in Middle East if Iran’s nuclear diplomacy failsIran says ready for talks with European parties to 2015 nuclear dealIran wants fresh nuclear talks, not resume stalled Vienna talks: FM
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran agrees to restart nuclear deal talks in November: Chief negotiator

Saudi Arabia summoned Lebanon’s ambassador and handed him a letter of protests over comments made by Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi about Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s involvement in the Yemen war, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.“The foreign ministry expresses its regret for the insults in those statements about the Kingdom and the countries of the Coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen. Those show a clear bias towards the terrorist Houthi militia that threatens the security and stability of the region,” the ministry said.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“We reiterate that those statements contradict the simplest political norms and are inconsistent with the historical ties between the two brotherly nations,” the statement added.“In light of the repercussions those offensive statements may have on the relations between the two countries, the ministry of foreign affairs summoned the ambassador of Lebanon to Saudi Arabia and handed him an official protest letter in this regard.”Kordahi had said that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis were defending themselves and described the war in Yemen as “futile”.The minister said on Wednesday his remarks were his personal views, made before he was appointed a minister and that he was committed to government policy. “I am against Arab-Arab wars… accusing me of hostility towards Saudi Arabia is rejected.”Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati, trying to avert diplomatic fallout, said that Kordahi made those comments in an interview that was recorded more than a month before he became a member of cabinet and that his statements reflected his personal opinion and had nothing to do with government’s policy.The Gulf Cooperation Council’s secretary general Nayef Falah Mubarak al-Hajraf slammed Kordahi’s statements saying they reflected little understanding and a superficial grasp of the events in Yemen.Read more:Lebanon PM: Information minister’s comments on Saudi Arabia, UAE rejectedGCC condemns Lebanese information minister’s comments on Saudi Arabia, UAEKuwait summons Lebanon’s Charge D’Affaires to protest Kordahi comments
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia summons Lebanon's ambassador to protest Kordahi comments on Yemen war

Bahrain’s foreign ministry summoned Lebanon’s ambassador and handed him a letter of protests over comments made by Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi about Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s involvement in the Yemen war, state news agency BNA reported on Wednesday.The ministry described Kordahi’s statements as “false allegations denied by internationally documented facts and evidence.”For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“The crimes and violations committed by the terrorist Houthi group against Yemen and its brotherly people, and its continuous attacks on Saudi Arabia since its illegal coup against the government, refute these irresponsible statements that violated diplomatic norms,” the ministry said in its letter.“[The statements] represented an intentional insult to the countries of the Coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen and ignored the principles and values that govern fraternal relations between Arab countries,” the ministry added.Saudi Arabia and Kuwait also summoned their Lebanese envoys in protest over Kordahi’s comments.Kordahi had said that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis were defending themselves and described the war in Yemen as “futile”.The minister said on Wednesday his remarks were his personal views, made before he was appointed a minister and that he was committed to government policy. “I am against Arab-Arab wars… accusing me of hostility towards Saudi Arabia is rejected.”Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati, trying to avert diplomatic fallout, said that Kordahi made those comments in an interview that was recorded more than a month before he became a member of cabinet and that his statements reflected his personal opinion and had nothing to do with government’s policy.The Gulf Cooperation Council’s secretary general Nayef Falah Mubarak al-Hajraf slammed Kordahi’s statements saying they reflected little understanding and a superficial grasp of the events in Yemen.Read more:Saudi Arabia summons Lebanon's ambassador to protest Kordahi comments on Yemen warLebanon PM: Information minister’s comments on Saudi Arabia, UAE rejectedKuwait summons Lebanon’s Charge D’Affaires to protest Kordahi comments
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Bahrain summons Lebanon's ambassador to protest Kordahi comments on Saudi Arabia, UAE

The PA called on the US administration to implement its pledge to reject settlements and unilateral measures.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: PA condemns Israel's plan to advance housing units in settlements

A Greek court annulled a ministerial decision which allowed ritual slaughter without anesthesia being administered first.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Greek court annuls permit for kosher, halal slaughter

The investment from Japan's SoftBank includes a strategic partnership with SoftBank Investment Advisers (SBIA), which is headed by former head of the Mossad Yossi Cohen.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: SoftBank makes strategic investment in OurCrowd

The move follows a strong public rebuke of Israeli policy from US President Biden's administration..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Israel advances plans for 3,000 new homes in West Bank settlements