Middle East

Pompeo warns Turkey not to render S-400 ‘operational’ or face ‘more sanctions’
The US has advised Turkey not to deploy Russian S-400 systems under the threat of more sanctions, even though the White House has been cautious about punishing its NATO ally which could respond by closing its bases to US troops. [...]
Save
No foreign military presence is key to Persian Gulf stability – Russia’s security concept
Russia has unveiled its Concept of Collective Security in the Persian Gulf, outlining arms control, joint anti-terrorist efforts and giving up on foreign military presence as keys conditions for stability in the turbulent region. [...]
Save
Iran busted 17 spies linked to CIA, some received death sentence – media
Iranian secret services uncovered a 17-member spy ring working against the country, according to state-affiliated media. Some of the agents have been given capital punishment. [...]
Save
US discontent over Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400s is ‘sign of true competition’
The US has punished Turkey for buying Russian air defense systems by cutting it from the F-35 program. The rationale behind the move is speculative, and Ankara’s example may prompt other US allies to buy Russian, experts told RT. [...]
Save
While All Sides Decry War Possibility, US Has ‘Set Up’ Persian Gulf Region For One
The US continues to “strangle” Iran’s economy by imposing sanctions on Tehran as well as other countries that attempt to trade with Iran, Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the peace group Code Pink, told Radio Sputnik’s Loud & Clear Friday. [...]
Save
Putin Congratulates Assad on 75th Anniversary of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Syrian President Bashar Assad on Sunday on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and pledged to defeat terrorism in Syria by joint efforts. [...]
Save
‘Unacceptable’ Russian-Turkish S-400 Deal Has Caused ‘Worst NATO Crisis in Decades’ – Trump Adviser
Russian planes carrying components for Ankara’s recently-purchased S-400 air defence system began touching down in Turkey a week ago, with the White House announcing on Wednesday that the deliveries made the country’s continued involvement in the F-35 programme “impossible”. [...]
Save
‘Irreparable wounds to relations’: Turkey calls on US to rectify ‘mistake’ of F-35 cut-off
Turkey has blasted the US decision to kick it out of the F-35 fighter jet program, in response to Ankara buying Russian S-400 air defense systems, as a mistake that will cause permanent damage to the US-Turkish relations. [...]
Save
Tehran: Oil tanker broke down in Persian Gulf, towed by Iran forces for repairs
Iranian forces came to the aid of an oil tanker stranded in the Persian Gulf, a foreign ministry spokesman has said. The tanker is presumed to be the same Panama-registered vessel missing from radar screens since Saturday. [...]
Save
Europe needs to back Iran nuclear deal & stop kowtowing to US
Iran is right. The way to save the international nuclear accord on Iran is for all parties to honor it and to implement normal trading relations. That would also permit de-escalation of dangerous war tensions in the Gulf. [...]
Save
US calls emergency nuclear watchdog meeting over Iran, after spurning it for 3 years
The US has called an emergency meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog after Iran’s uranium stockpile exceeded the 2015 nuclear deal’s limits. That’s the same body whose reports of Iran’s compliance Washington has ignored for years. [...]
Save
Special EU channel to allow trade with Iran, circumvent US sanctions is now operational – statement
A special trade channel that will allow European firms to bypass American sanctions on Iran is operational - that was the outcome of the meeting between the countries who signed the nuclear deal ditched by US. [...]
Save
‘Playing with fire’: US ramps up tough talk on Iran after it exceeds nuclear deal cap
Washington has unleashed a fresh barrage of threats against Tehran, with US President Donald Trump warning it against “playing with fire” and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo branding it a “top sponsor of terrorism.” Fresh from rekindling his strange bromance with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, Trump has returned to his war-mongering ways, leveling a vague new warning at Iran. [...]
Save
Iranian MP Warns ‘Only Half an Hour Will Remain of Israel’s Lifespan’ if US Attacks Iran
The already-strained relationship between Tehran and Washington ties worsened on 20 June, when Iran said that it had downed a US drone over Iranian soil. US President Trump then tweeted that he had halted a military strike against Iran 10 minutes before it was set to be carried out, upon learning that some 150 Iranians might die in the attack. [...]
Save
Turkey to Consider Buying Russian Warplanes If US Refuses to Supply F-35 – Report
The United States earlier threatened to remove Turkey from it's F-35 program after Ankara refused to scrap a deal with Russia to buy Moscow's cutting-edge S-400 missile systems, which Washington claimed could compromise US-made aircraft. [...]
Save
Having Failed to Threaten Turkey, US is Trying to Choke off Russo-Indian S-400 Deal
Concerns are growing in the Trump administration over Turkey and India's adamant decision to buy the Russian-made S-400. Indian military observer Rakesh Krishnan Simha and UK-based geopolitical analyst Adam Garrie have shared their views on whether Washington will make New Delhi an offer it won't be able to refuse in order to nix the S-400 deal. [...]
Save
Oil Tanker Attacks in the Gulf Have US Fingerprints All Over Them
It was the Spanish philosopher, poet and novelist, George Santayana (1863-1952), who warned us all: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". [...]
Save
Iraq won’t let US strike Iran from its territory
Baghdad will not allow Washington to use its military bases to launch an attack on Iran, the country's president stressed, thrashing Donald Trump's warmongering policies towards the Islamic Republic. [...]
Save
Reckless US Policies Towards Iran Might Devastate Whole Security System in Middle East – Russia
Earlier this week, Washington imposed a new round of sanctions on Tehran after the Iranian military downed an American drone, stating it had violated the country's borders. [...]
Save