Tag

Saudi Arabia

All articles tagged with #saudi arabia

world5 hours ago•7 min saved

Trump’s Push to Expand the Abraham Accords Sees Skepticism From the Muslim World

Trump is pressing for more Muslim-majority countries to join the Abraham Accords and recognize Israel, but Gulf and other Muslim-majority officials greet the idea with laughter or silence, viewing it as a domestic political tactic that could jeopardize U.S.-Iran peace talks; Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are wary or unlikely to join, and many states insist on a credible pathway for a Palestinian state before normalizing ties with Israel.

via Politico|

#abraham-accords #iran-talks #middle-east

world11 hours ago•15 min saved

Millions Gather on Arafat as Hajj Reaches Its Peak

About 1.5 million pilgrims moved from Mecca to Mina as the annual Hajj began, with worshipers gathering on the Plain of Arafat and atop the Mountain of Mercy for prayers and Quran readings, marking the pilgrimage’s peak and one of Islam’s Five Pillars.

via AP News|

#arafat #hajj #islam

middle-east1 day ago•15 min saved

MBS privately tells ally he could recognize Israel today, blocked by his father

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly told evangelical leader Mike Evans that he would recognize Israel today, but said King Salman was the obstacle; the claim, not independently verified by The Jerusalem Post, comes as Trump pushes a broader push for Arab states to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel, linking it to discussions on Iran. Evans described MBS as pro-Israel and critical of the Palestinians, with Riyadh publicly tying recognition to progress on Palestinian issues.

via The Jerusalem Post|

#abraham-accords #israel #middle-east

world1 day ago•4 min saved

Trump urges Arab states to sign peace deals with Israel after Iran war

Trump pressed leaders of Arab and Muslim nations—Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain—to join or renew peace agreements with Israel once a deal to end the Iran conflict is reached, signaling a push for a broader Abraham Accords despite regional tensions, Israel’s elections, and Palestinian state questions; U.S. envoys will follow up, while some leaders offered cautious support and conditions remain unresolved.

via Axios|

#abraham-accords #iran #israel

world4 days ago•3 min saved

Gulf Allies Steer the US Toward a Negotiated Iran Endgame

An Arab News op-ed argues the US should rely on Gulf partners—Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—to shape a negotiated Iran endgame rather than pursuing another broader war. Gulf states share Washington’s aim to contain Tehran while avoiding a regional or global crisis, with Saudi Arabia resisting war, backing Pakistan-led talks, and calling for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen. Despite Iran’s attacks, Gulf leaders question the proportionality of further strikes and favor diplomacy and new regional security architectures that could yield a deal to end the conflict without further bloodshed.

via Semafor|

#gulf-states #iran #negotiations

business4 days ago•2 min saved

Saudi govt freezes consultancy payments amid spending review

Saudi Arabia ordered a temporary freeze on payments to strategy advisers, management consultants, and law firms across ministries and the Public Investment Fund as it weighs the economic impact of the Iran war; the order covers existing contracts and halts new consulting work until the end of June, with possible exemptions and some firms continuing short-term assignments, while the finance ministry says most invoices are paid within contractual terms.

via Semafor|

#business #consultancy-payments #government-spending

world5 days ago•3 min saved

Saudi Arabia halts new consulting work as conflict pressures finances

Saudi Arabia has stopped taking on new work for consultants as ongoing conflict tightens the state’s finances, signaling tighter spending and potential disruption for advisory services.

via Financial Times|

#consultants #economy #finances

middle-east5 days ago•20 min saved

Iran War Splits Gulf Alliances: UAE Draws Closer to Israel, Saudi Seeks Alternatives

The Iran war is reconfiguring Gulf alignments: the UAE is deepening security cooperation with Israel—including intelligence sharing and air-defense coordination, with talk of a joint weapons fund—while Saudi Arabia hedges by pursuing defense ties with Pakistan and Turkey to counter Tehran without empowering Jerusalem, signaling a new regional fault line and a more autonomous UAE in a reshaped Middle East.

via The Jerusalem Post|

#iran #israel #middle-east

middle-east8 days ago•9 min saved

Saudi intercepts drones from Iraqi airspace as Gulf tensions re-ignite after Barakah incident

Saudi Arabia says it intercepted three drones that crossed into its airspace from Iraqi territory, following a drone attack near the UAE’s Barakah nuclear site. Riyadh warned of action to defend sovereignty, while analysts note possible Iranian-backed proxies testing new drone routes in the Gulf amid a fragile Iran ceasefire.

via The Jerusalem Post|

#barakah #drones #iraq

world8 days ago•4 min saved

Trump warns Iran as Gulf drone strikes spark war fears

President Trump warns Iran that the 'clock is ticking' as stalled talks over Tehran’s nuclear program coincide with new drone attacks on the UAE and Saudi Arabia; Iran says negotiations are ongoing and not intimidated, while the UAE reports a drone strike near the Barakah nuclear plant that did not affect safety and Saudi Arabia says it intercepted three drones from Iraqi airspace, underscoring rising tensions and potential energy-market disruption.

via NBC News|

#drone-attacks #iran #saudi-arabia

world8 days ago•35 min saved

Pakistan Expands Saudi Deployment With 8,000 Troops and Jets

Pakistan has deployed about 8,000 troops, a squadron of around 16 JF-17 fighter jets, two drone squadrons, and a Chinese HQ-9 air-defence system to Saudi Arabia under a confidential mutual defence pact. The force, funded by Riyadh and operated by Pakistani personnel, is described as combat-capable but mainly advisory/training in role, with a potential to scale up to 80,000 troops under the pact as tensions with Iran persist; Islamabad has long provided military support to Saudi Arabia and has helped broker talks between Washington and Tehran.

via Yahoo News UK|

#defense-pact #iran #military-deployment

world10 days ago•6 min saved

Secret Gulf Raids on Iran Signal Quiet Escalation by Riyadh and Abu Dhabi

Reports cited by the Wall Street Journal and Reuters say the UAE carried out several air strikes on Iran and Saudi Arabia conducted numerous strikes as part of the latest US-Israel campaign against Tehran, though there is no official confirmation. If true, it would be the first direct Gulf-state attack on Iran. Analysts say both countries have the means for precision strikes, but chose secrecy to avoid full escalation; the moves risk provoking Iranian retaliation and complicating regional dynamics as Gulf powers seek greater self-defense autonomy while maintaining ties with the US and Israel.

via France 24|

#covert-strikes #iran #middle-east-conflict

world13 days ago•6 min saved

Saudi covert strikes on Iran signal bolder posture as regional war widens

Saudi Arabia reportedly carried out several unpublicized airstrikes on Iran in late March in retaliation for attacks on Saudi soil, marking the kingdom's first known direct actions on Iranian territory. Western and Iranian officials said the strikes led to intensified diplomacy and a de-escalation understanding, as the broader Middle East conflict widened with Gulf states taking increasingly hawkish stances and a US–Iran ceasefire taking shape in April.

via New York Post|

#covert-attacks #de-escalation #iran

business13 days ago•18 min saved

Saudi Hollywood Bet Hits Reality: Desert Warrior Flop Prompts Reassessment

Eight years after Saudi Arabia opened cinemas, its bid to become a global entertainment powerhouse has yielded mixed results: massive investments and new studios abound, but the Desert Warrior flop underscores the sector’s risks and the need for a more sustainable, audience-driven slate, even as smaller, homegrown films gain traction and attract international interest.

via Variety|

#business #desert-warrior #film-industry

world14 days ago•41 min saved

Saudi covert strikes on Iran widen regional confrontation

Reuters reports that Saudi Arabia carried out several unpublicized strikes on Iran in late March in retaliation for attacks on Saudi soil—the kingdom’s first publicly known direct action on Iranian territory—before diplomatic talks helped push toward de-escalation; the broader conflict has drawn in Gulf states with UAE involvement reported, and officials emphasize restraint as regional diplomacy continues amid ongoing Iran-U.S. tensions and a China-brokered détente backdrop.

via Yahoo News Canada|

#de-escalation #gulf-states #iran