World

09

Aug

By The Press Editor

World

Iran sets seven conditions for Strait of Hormuz reopening, demands US to ‘correct its behaviour’

Tehran: Iran has issued fresh and far-reaching conditions for reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, saying the waterway will remain closed until the United States changes its approach towards Tehran. The development comes as tensions continue to simmer across the Middle East, with the UAE reporting an Iranian missile attack on a vessel owned by state-run energy giant ADNOC. Meanwhile, Yemen's military launched attacks against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, while Turkey's parliament took a step forward on a proposed law aimed at supporting a peace process with the country's Kurdish insurgents. Here are the key developments from across the Middle…

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09

Aug

By The Press Editor

World

An Islamic NATO in making? Turkey says Egypt could join Mecca Joint Defence Agreement

Cairo: The power dynamics in West Asia appears to be changing with Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan forming a NATO-like trilateral alliance that states attack on one nation would be considered aggression against all three. As of now, the alliance is only between three countries, but its members could increase in future, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan saying Egypt could join Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. According to Fidan, the agreement will not remain limited to Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and will grow over time to "bring all countries under this umbrella". He said several other countries are interested…

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09

Aug

By The Press Editor

World

Iran releases new video of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei amid reports of critical health

Tehran: As uncertainty continues over Mojtaba Khamenei's whereabouts, the Iranian media has released a short and undated video of the Supreme Leader that showed him in good health and discussing the Middle East nation's strategy amid the ongoing conflict with the United States (US). The 12-second video was released by Iran's Mehr news agency that showed Khamenei holding discussions with his advisors and officials. "Watch a new video of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei for the first time," it said in a brief statement, while sharing the video on its website. The video comes as multiple Israeli media report claimed…

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08

Aug

By The Press Editor

World

Lashkar-e-Taiba operative dies after collapsing at Islamabad mosque, cause of death not yet clear

Islamabad: A senior Lashkar-e-Taiba operative on Saturday died under suspicious circumstances in an Islamabad mosque. It is reported that Qari Saeed had eaten at an undisclosed location before arriving at the mosque to offer prayers. He collapsed suddenly upon reaching the mosque gate and passed away. The cause of his death is not yet clear. Qari Saeed was responsible for the Lashkar-e-Taiba department that handled liaison with and provided assistance to the families of Lashkar terrorists killed in encounters in Jammu and Kashmir. Qari Saeed Abdul Aziz suddenly collapsed and died It should be noted that upon reaching the mosque…

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08

Aug

By The Press Editor

World

Russia floats idea of railway route to India, wants rail link to be ‘explored’

New Delhi: Russia wants a railway route to India amid the ongoing uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz and Bosphorus, its Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said. The link, if materialised, can open direct access to and fro Russia and India through a railway network. During an interview with Russian news agency TASS, Khusnullin floated the idea of the network and wanted it to be explored. "A rail link to the Indian Ocean should also be explored. Risks related to the Bosphorus and the Strait of Hormuz might require alternative routes: through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Any options providing…

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08

Aug

By The Press Editor

World

Deal with Oman ‘very close’ but reopening Hormuz dependant on ‘other conditions’, says Iran FM Araghchi

New Delhi: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that the understanding with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz alone can't mean the reopening of the naval passage, highlighting that 'other conditions' are dependant on the same. He stated that the negotiations on the temporary shipping route are 'very close to the final result' but claimed it won't happen unless additional conditions are met, as per media reports. "This action does not indicate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz," Araghchi said as quoted by IRIB news agency. He further added that the reopening would depend on "other conditions and…

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08

Aug

By The Press Editor

World

US Senate passes bill to target Russia’s energy sector. How it could affect India and China?

Washington: The US Senate has passed a bill to impose sweeping sanctions against Russia and procurers of its petroleum products, including India and China, claiming that such trade is helping Moscow fund its war against Ukraine. The bill was passed by the Senate by an overwhelming 86-11 vote.  The bill, renamed the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, will now be sent to the House of Representatives. Graham was a Republican senator who passed away on July 11 and strongly pushed for sanctions against Russia due to it the Ukraine war.  However, a vote in the…

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08

Aug

By The Press Editor

World

Iran threatens Saudi Arabia after pact with Turkey, Pakistan. Will Riyadh get Islamabad’s nuclear protection?

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's move to sign a trilateral defence pact with Türkiye and Pakistan drew an immediate reaction from Iran, which said a 'paper agreement' will not ensure lasting security for the Kingdom, hinting that Tehran might continue its proxy strikes against Riyadh, while its conflict with the United States (US) continues. "The Saudis should know that a paper agreement with Turkey and Pakistan does not bring them security, just as years of unilateral milking of the Americans did not bring them security," Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of Iran's Parliament and National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said on X…

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07

Aug

By The Press Editor

World

Iran supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei in critical condition, rushed to hospital: Reports

Tehran: Israeli media on Friday reported that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in critical condition and has been rushed to a hospital. As per the updates from the to Channel 14 (C14), citing sources inside Iran, and a prior report by the Jerusalem Post, which quoted the IranWire outlet and sources close to President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration, rumours are there that Khamenei is in an "extremely critical condition" and one source cited by the Jerusalem Post stated, "We would not be surprised if we heard news of his martyrdom soon." Mojtaba did not make any public appearance since assuming power  It…

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07

Aug

By The Press Editor

World

Saudi, Pakistan and Turkey sign defence pact: Why will India be watching the ‘Mecca Pact’ closely?

Riyadh: In a significant development, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on Friday signed a key joint defence agreement under which any attack against one of them will be treated as an attack against all of them. The pact was signed amid increasing security concerns in the wake of escalating tensions in West Asia. Why will India be watching the 'Mecca Pact' closely? On Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a joint trilateral defence agreement, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "This is also a development that we are closely following, and we shall keep you updated." India is watching the newly…

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