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Exclusive-Pakistan warns Iran to rein in Houthis as Riyadh strikes back

Exclusive-Pakistan warns Iran to rein in Houthis as Riyadh strikes back

ANKARA, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Pakistan has delivered a Saudi warning to Iran to rein in its Yemeni Houthi allies after they stepped up attacks on the kingdom, in a coordinated effort to prevent the crisis from spiralling, Saudi, Pakistani and Iranian sources said.

BRICS leaders gather in New Delhi as wars and rivalries strain the expanded bloc

BRICS leaders gather in New Delhi as wars and rivalries strain the expanded bloc

BRICS leaders are meeting in New Delhi this weekend as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and U.S.-China tensions test the group's unity

French military jets launch a 40-day global flight to project power and strengthen alliances

French military jets launch a 40-day global flight to project power and strengthen alliances

Four French fighter jets have embarked on a 40-day flight to showcase the country's military might and international cooperation

U.S. Mission to UN Expresses Disappointment Over Blocked Iran Sanctions Report

U.S. Mission to UN Expresses Disappointment Over Blocked Iran Sanctions Report

The United States Mission to the United Nations has voiced disappointment regarding the obstruction by two Council members that prevented the delivery of the 90-day report from the 1737 Sanctions Committee. This committee is tasked with monitoring Iran's nuclear program. Despite this setback, the UN sanctions against Iran have been reimposed and remain in force, reflecting binding international law that all UN Member States are obligated to respect and implement. The 1737 Committee itself has been re-established and is actively exercising its mandate, engaging in relevant exemption procedures. The inability to reach an agreement on the 90-day report follows a recent lack of consensus on new listings and the formation of a Panel of Experts. The U.S. emphasizes the critical role of these sanctions in curbing unlawful behavior by states and notes Iran's continued non-compliance with its Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty-mandated comprehensive safeguards agreement with the IAEA. Iran's actions, including withhol...

Iran-backed fighters in Yemen and Iraq are joining forces to threaten the Gulf, officials say

Iran-backed fighters in Yemen and Iraq are joining forces to threaten the Gulf, officials say

Regional officials tell The Associated Press that Yemen's Houthi rebels helped Iraqi militias launch drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities in July

Iran is forging a new ring of proxies to threaten US allies in the Gulf, officials say

Iran is forging a new ring of proxies to threaten US allies in the Gulf, officials say

Regional officials tell The Associated Press that Yemen's Houthi rebels helped Iraqi militias launch drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities in July

IAEA Seeks Enhanced Investigative Powers for Saudi Arabia's Nuclear Program Amid U.S. Deal

IAEA Seeks Enhanced Investigative Powers for Saudi Arabia's Nuclear Program Amid U.S. Deal

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is working to secure enhanced verification and monitoring authorizations for Saudi Arabia's nuclear program, even though a planned U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear power cooperation agreement does not include Riyadh signing the Additional Protocol. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi stated that while the Additional Protocol would be the 'ideal setup,' Saudi Arabia is preparing to go beyond its core obligations under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. The new provisions in the bilateral agreement will grant the IAEA additional powers related to sensitive activities such as uranium enrichment, uranium conversion, and reprocessing, which separates plutonium from spent reactor fuel. Non-proliferation groups have criticized the U.S.-Saudi '123 agreement' for not including the Additional Protocol, which allows for snap inspections at undeclared locations.

China Expands Leadership Role in Geneva-Based UN Agencies, Advocates for Global Governance Reform

China Expands Leadership Role in Geneva-Based UN Agencies, Advocates for Global Governance Reform

China is actively expanding its leadership role within Geneva-based UN agencies and global governance initiatives. The country has established the Group of Friends of Global Governance in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, facilitating intensive consultations on critical issues such as UN reform, opposition to unilateral sanctions, and improving dispute settlement mechanisms. This initiative reflects China's commitment to enhancing the authority and capacity of the UN Security Council and promoting a more just and equitable global governance system. China is also preparing to host a global governance forum in Xiong'an New Area this autumn to further discuss reforms and improvements to global governance. These efforts are part of China's broader strategy to implement its Global Governance Initiative (GGI), which emphasizes sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and concrete actions. The GGI has garnered support from nearly 160 countries and international organ...

IAEA board draws a line under past Syrian nuclear activities

IAEA board draws a line under past Syrian nuclear activities

VIENNA, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog's 35-nation Board of Governors passed a resolution on Wednesday drawing a line under Syria's secret nuclear activities during the Assad family's rule, saying the new authorities had helped resolve all outstanding questions.

Kurdistan Region of Iraq Navigates Complex Geopolitical Landscape Amid Internal Divisions and External Pressures

Kurdistan Region of Iraq Navigates Complex Geopolitical Landscape Amid Internal Divisions and External Pressures

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), a semi-autonomous region with a population of approximately 6.5 million, faces a complex geopolitical environment shaped by its location, oil resources, and aspirations for self-determination. The KRI's political landscape is dominated by the rivalry between its two main parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which continue to administer separate territories and institutions. This fragmentation hinders the KRI's ability to present a unified front in its dealings with the Iraqi federal government, neighboring states like Iran and Turkey, and Western partners, including the United States. The KRI's economy is heavily reliant on its oil and natural gas sector, making it vulnerable to global price swings and disputes with Baghdad over export authority and revenue sharing. Despite efforts to diversify, agriculture and other sectors remain underdeveloped.

Representative Mike Lawler Disagrees with President Trump's Characterization of Iran Conflict as 'Small Potatoes'

Representative Mike Lawler Disagrees with President Trump's Characterization of Iran Conflict as 'Small Potatoes'

Representative Mike Lawler (R-New York) has publicly disagreed with President Trump's assessment of the ongoing military conflict with Iran, which the President described as 'small potatoes.' Lawler emphasized the seriousness of any military escalation, stating that it is 'certainly not small potatoes.' His comments come as Iran attempts to establish a maritime 'exclusion zone' around the Strait of Hormuz, a move intended to counter a U.S. naval blockade. The U.S. had previously disabled three Iranian oil tankers following Iran's missile launch at a U.S. aircraft carrier. Lawler highlighted the critical importance of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, financing terrorism through groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, and mass-producing ballistic missiles and drones that are being used by Russia against Ukraine. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright also cautioned that a nuclear agreement with Iran might not materialize, suggesting that the focus might shift to destroying their capabilitie...

Senator Rick Scott Criticizes Turkey's Alliance with U.S. Following Sanctions on Turkish Bank for Iran Ties

Senator Rick Scott Criticizes Turkey's Alliance with U.S. Following Sanctions on Turkish Bank for Iran Ties

Florida Senator Rick Scott has publicly challenged Turkey's role as a U.S. ally, stating, 'Turkey is NOT OUR FRIEND,' after the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on a Turkish bank. The Treasury Department designated Turkey-based Golden Global Yatirim Bankasi and two subsidiaries under 'Operation Economic Outcast' for allegedly facilitating tens of millions of dollars in transactions for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-Quds Force) and providing Iran with correspondent banking access. Senator Scott, who serves on both the Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee, emphasized that these actions by Turkey pose significant security risks to the United States. He highlighted that the Treasury's move was a necessary step to hold entities accountable for funding Iranian terrorists who are reportedly harming U.S. servicemen and women. The sanctions block the designated entities' U.S.-linked property and prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with them, w...