Tag: Middle East
-
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday (14 April) that her government had suspended the automatic renewal of a defence cooperation agreement with Israel, amid rising tensions linked to conflicts in the Middle East. “When there are things we don’t agree with, we act accordingly,” Meloni told reporters on the sidelines of a wine…
-
Botswana has signed new agreements with Oman covering energy, mining and infrastructure, as the country seeks to reduce reliance on diamonds amid weakening global demand. President Duma Boko of Botswana and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman formalised the deals, reflecting closer bilateral cooperation and a strategic shift towards broader economic growth. Falling diamond prices…
-
China’s President Xi Jinping has called for the international rule of law to be upheld amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, during talks in Beijing with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. In remarks reported by state media, Xi Jinping warned against selectively applying international norms,…
-
US President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday (13 April) that Iran would like to make a deal ‘very very badly,’ adding that the ‘sticking point’ in recent talks were over Iran’s nuclear capabilities, stating that Iran “will never have a nuclear weapon” and insisting any agreement depends on that condition. The remarks come as…
-
Speaking at a press conference on Monday (13 April) following a meeting of the EU’s top executive body, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that the recent US–Israel conflict with Iran, now under a ceasefire, is having direct economic consequences for the EU, stating that “peace cannot be taken for granted” as instability…
-
The United States has announced a naval blockade of Iranian ports, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM), following failed ceasefire talks with Iran in Islamabad. The measure begins Monday (13 April) at 3pm UK time and stops short of closing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route. President Donald Trump said he was…
-
Senior US and Iranian officials have held their highest-level talks since 1979 in Islamabad, aiming to end a six-week conflict and stabilise global energy flows. The meeting, involving US Vice President JD Vance, envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, follows a two-week ceasefire. However, disputes over control and access to the Strait…
-
Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon have intensified, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reporting strikes on around 200 Hezbollah targets in the past 24 hours, including infrastructure and rocket launchers. The military said the actions are intended to limit attacks on Israeli civilians and support ongoing ground operations. Lebanese authorities report at least 357…
-
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Thursday (9 April), discussing Iran-linked attacks, Middle East security and the fragility of the recent ceasefire amid wider Gulf tensions. During a separate visit to UK forces, Starmer described the ceasefire as “fragile”, thanked personnel involved in…
-
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has affirmed Israel’s readiness to resume military action against Iran, despite a temporary truce brokered with the United States. Speaking on national television, Netanyahu described the ceasefire as a pause, not the conclusion of Israel’s campaign, emphasising that Israel remains focused on achieving its objectives. “Let me be clear: We…
tut0ugh 