Middle East & Africa News: Iran, Arab World Updates

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Jakarta Post
Middle East and Africa

Iran condemns US plans to announce new sanctions

Iran has denounced US plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on the Islamic Republic's economy and have an impact on its most important trading partners including China.

1 week ago
Middle East and Africa

US, Iran keep up hostile rhetoric ahead of new sanctions

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. Eastern time on Monday amid promises to reveal "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran while also urging China to cooperate with Washington. ...

1 week ago
Middle East and Africa

Trump warns of economic consequences for any country that supports Iran

US President Donald Trump warned of economic consequences against any country that provided "any type of lifeline to Iran" as the US looks to resolve a war it began alongside Israel nearly six months ago. ...

1 week ago

The Latest

Middle East and Africa premium

Foreign Minister reaffirms Indonesia’s stance against relocation of Palestinians

Indonesia’s top diplomat reaffirmed the country’s commitment to not displacing Palestinians from war-torn Gaza, amid reports that Jakarta had already agreed to do otherwise, along with several other countries.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Israel's far-right minister says he prayed at Al Aqsa mosque compound

Under a delicate decades-old "status quo" arrangement with Muslim authorities, the Al-Aqsa compound is administered by a Jordanian religious foundation and Jews can visit but may not pray there.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Germany says 'very insufficient' aid entering Gaza

The United Nations has said that 6,000 trucks are awaiting permission from Israel to enter the occupied Palestinian territory.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa premium

More countries plan to recognize Palestine

More countries have announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state, winning applause from Indonesia, which called on other countries to follow suit in an effort to create a lasting peace in Gaza.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Canada plans to recognize Palestinian state, raising allies' pressure on Israel

Canada plans to recognize the State of Palestine at a meeting of the United Nations in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday, ratcheting up pressure on Israel as starvation spreads in Gaza.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

UK to recognize Palestinian state in September unless Israel acts

The potentially landmark move, part of Starmer's plan for a "lasting peace", came after the British leader recalled his cabinet from recess for urgent talks on the worsening situation in the besieged territory.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Qatar, Saudi, Egypt join call for Hamas to disarm, give up Gaza rule

Seventeen countries plus the European Union and Arab League threw their weight behind a seven-page text agreed at a United Nations conference on reviving the two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians. 

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

'Famine now unfolding in Gaza': UN-backed monitor

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC) said that air drops over Gaza will not be enough to avert the "humanitarian catastrophe."

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Forceful pleas at UN for two-state solution for Israel, Palestinians

There is no alternative to a two-state solution between Israelis and the Palestinians, France told a UN conference co-chaired with Saudi Arabia Monday that was boycotted by Israel and branded a stunt by Washington.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Hunger must never be 'weapon of war': UN chief

UN agencies have been warning of life-threatening hunger in Gaza as aid supplies dried up, and international pressure has been building for a ceasefire to allow a massive relief operation.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel says opening aid routes

The Palestinian territory is gripped by dire humanitarian conditions created by 21 months of war and made worse by Israel's total blockade of aid from March to May.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa premium

Indonesia welcomes France’s recognition of Palestine

Indonesia has welcomed France’s recognition of a Palestinian state, while reaffirming its support for a two-state solution to end the longstanding conflict between Israel and Palestine.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Netanyahu, Trump appear to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump appeared on Friday to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, both saying it had become clear that the Palestinian militants did not want a deal.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Israel and US recall teams from Gaza truce talks, US says Hamas not showing good faith

Both Israel and Hamas are facing pressure at home and abroad to reach a deal following almost two years of war, with the humanitarian situation inside Gaza deteriorating and Israelis worried about the conditions in which hostages are being held.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Macron says France will recognize State of Palestine, angering Israel

At least 142 countries now recognize or plan to recognize Palestinian statehood, according to an AFP tally -- though Israel and the United States strongly oppose the move.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

More than 100 NGOs warn 'mass starvation' spreading across Gaza

More than 100 aid organizations warned on Wednesday that "mass starvation" was spreading in Gaza ahead of the US top envoy's visit to Europe for talks on a possible ceasefire and an aid corridor.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Iran confirms fresh nuclear talks with European powers: state media

Iranian diplomats will meet counterparts from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, after the trio warned that sanctions could be reimposed on Tehran if it does return to the negotiating table over its nuclear program. 

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Druze regain control of Sweida city after Syria announces ceasefire

Fighting nonetheless persisted in other parts of Sweida province, even as the Druze regained control of their city following days of fierce battle with armed Bedouin supported by tribal gunmen from other parts of Syria.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa premium

Indonesia condemns Israeli strikes in Syria, urges peaceful dialogue

Indonesia has urged dialogue to resolve all conflicts in Syria while condemning the Israeli military's recent strikes in Swedia and Damascas, which it has described as a “violation of Syria’s sovereignty”.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Pope 'deeply saddened' by Gaza church strike, urges immediate ceasefire

The deaths at the church compound came as Gaza's civil defense agency reported at least 20 people killed in other Israeli strikes around the Palestinian territory.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Syria says pulling troops from Druze heartland after US request

The Syrian government earlier announced a new ceasefire in Sweida that would bring a halt to military operations there, after clashes that a war monitor said had left more than 350 people dead since Sunday.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

US demands probe of Palestinian American's killing by Israeli settlers

The comments by Huckabee, a staunch supporter of Israeli settlement construction, mark a rare and pointed public intervention by the US following the death of a Palestinian American in the Israeli-occupied territory.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Mediators working to bridge gaps in faltering Gaza truce talks

The indirect negotiations in Qatar appear deadlocked after both sides blamed the other for blocking a deal for the release of hostages and a 60-day ceasefire after 21 months of fighting.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Gaza civil defense says Israeli strikes kill 43 as truce talks deadlocked

The Israeli military, which has recently intensified operations across Gaza, said that in the past 24 hours the air force "struck more than 150 terror targets".

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

'All Crew Muslim': Ships look to dodge Red Sea attacks with messages

The Red Sea is a critical waterway for oil and commodities, but traffic has dropped sharply since Houthi attacks off Yemen's coast began in November 2023 in what the Iran-aligned group said was in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza war.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

US sanctions UN expert critical of Israel's war in Gaza

"Today I am imposing sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt (International Criminal Court) action against US and Israeli officials, companies, and executives," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Netanyahu nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

Speaking to reporters at the beginning of their meeting, Netanyahu said Israel was working with the United States to find countries who would give Palestinians a better future.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Iran president says Israel attempted to assassinate him

The remarks came less than a month after Israel launched its unprecedented June 13 bombing campaign against Iran, killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists. 

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Netanyahu meets Trump at White House

Speaking to reporters at the beginning of a dinner between US and Israeli officials, Netanyahu said the United States and Israel were working with other countries who would give Palestinians a "better future," suggesting that the residents of Gaza could move to neighboring nations.

1 year ago
Middle East and Africa

Netanyahu believes Trump can help seal ceasefire deal

Israeli negotiators taking part in the ceasefire talks that resumed in Doha on Sunday have clear instructions to achieve a ceasefire agreement under conditions that Israel has accepted, Netanyahu said on Sunday before flying to Washington.

1 year ago
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Today's ePost

Sat, August 29, 2026

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