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Shafaq News
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Israeli and Syrian officials hold talks in Azerbaijan
Shafaq News – Baku/Damascus On Sunday, Israeli and Syrian officials held a rare face-to-face meeting in Baku, on the sidelines of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Azerbaijan, a diplomatic source in Damascus told AFP. According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, al-Sharaa did not personally attend the meeting, which focused on Israel's recent military activity in Syria. Ahead of the meeting, Israeli media outlets reported Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and senior security liaison Ahmed al-Dalati were participating, along with a special envoy from Prime Minister Netanyahu and top Israeli military and intelligence officials. The talks were expected to cover Iran's influence in Syria and Lebanon, Hezbollah's weapons stockpiles, armed Palestinian factions, and the future of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and Gaza, and the possible establishment of an Israeli coordination office without formal diplomatic status in Damascus. Damascus recently acknowledged indirect talks with Israel focused on restoring the 1974 disengagement agreement that created the Golan buffer zone. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar indicated a potential policy shift late last month, saying Israel is open to pursuing a peace and normalization agreement with Syria. Israel, a key arms supplier to Azerbaijan and a prominent diplomatic actor in the Caucasus, has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December. Israeli forces also entered the UN-monitored buffer zone on the Golan Heights, conducting further operations in southern Syria.
Al-Ahram Weekly
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Israel's normalization appeal elicits mixed responses in Syria, Lebanon - Region
Israel's attempt to open peace talks with Syria and Lebanon has been met with deep scepticism, as decades of Israeli military aggression, occupation, and violence continue to fuel mistrust in both countries. On Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel had an 'interest in adding countries, Syria and Lebanon, our neighbours, to the circle of peace and normalisation while safeguarding Israel's essential and security interests.' Neither Beirut nor Damascus responded, reflecting deep mistrust after decades of Israeli attacks and occupation. Saar's statement came amid shifting regional dynamics, including the fall of longtime Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December and the weakening of Lebanese armed group Hezbollah following its latest conflict with Israel. However, Israel's history of military aggression continues to shape attitudes. Syria's new Islamist authorities confirmed indirect talks with Israel aimed at reducing tensions following the Israeli army's occupation of the UN-monitored buffer zone in southern Syria and repeated bombings of Syrian army positions. Damascus condemned the strikes as violations of its sovereignty. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has repeatedly called on the international community to pressure Israel to halt its attacks. While moderating his rhetoric compared with his predecessor, mistrust remains high. 'There is no problem with conducting peace negotiations, but in a way that maintains Syria's dignity,' said housewife Rania al-Fawakhiri in Damascus. 'Of course, we are not talking about complete normalisation, but conditional normalisation that does not undermine our rights.' Syria said the goal of talks is to reimplement the 1974 ceasefire between the two countries — a minimal step amid decades of Israeli hostility. The status of the Golan Heights remains a key sticking point. Israel occupied the area during the 1967 war and annexed it in 1981, a move not recognised internationally. 'We want our land, we have occupied land,' said Damascus lawyer Awad al-Hamad. 'The Golan will only ever be Arab and Syrian.' Saar stated the Golan Heights 'will remain part of the State of Israel' under any future peace agreement, underscoring Tel Aviv's refusal to relinquish occupied territory. Under Assad, Syria's education system labelled Israel 'the usurping entity' and 'the Zionist enemy,' framing the 'liberation of the Golan' as a national duty. Syria and Israel have technically been at war since 1948. No substantive negotiations have taken place since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, which allowed Iran and its regional allies to strengthen their presence amid ongoing Israeli strikes. Israel's push for normalisation follows its military weakening of regional adversaries in Lebanon, Gaza, and Iran, but its continued strikes, ongoing genocide in Gaza, and military occupation continue to fuel tensions. The United States has strongly backed normalisation, with Syria envoy Tom Barrack saying on Sunday that Sharaa 'has indicated that he doesn't hate Israel... and that he wants peace on that border.' Barrack also urged Lebanese officials to commit to fully disarming Hezbollah, a major military and political force resisting Israeli attacks. Despite a ceasefire, Israel has repeatedly bombed Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah positions but also causing civilian casualties and widespread damage. Lebanese officials have demanded full Israeli withdrawal and insisted state forces be the sole bearers of arms. The latest conflict began after Hezbollah attacks in 2023 in support of Palestinians in Gaza escalated into an all-out war with Israel in September. Israeli strikes inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollah-held areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as Beirut's southern suburbs, killing thousands of Lebanese, many of them civilians, and deepening Lebanon's economic crisis. 'Lebanon's wellbeing comes first, and if the only way to get that is through normalisation... we could have a peace treaty to rebuild our country,' said 71-year-old Naim Qassir in Beirut's Hamra district. But not all share that view. 'Even if the whole world normalises with Israel... we the owners of the land in the south, the Beqaa and Dahiyeh will not,' said 46-year-old driver Ahmed Shamas. 'We will fight it until the end of time.' *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Shafaq News
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Israeli airstrikes target Beirut's southern suburbs
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on Beirut's southern, targeting alleged Hezbollah drone facilities. Around 20 drone and fighter jet strikes were launched on the Dahieh area, alleging the sites were used for manufacturing and storing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). 'Hezbollah is expanding its drone production capabilities in preparation for future conflict,' the army stated. #عاجل جيش الدفاع سيستهدف على المدى الزمني القريب عدة بنى تحتية تقع تحت الأرض والمخصصة لانتاج مسيرات والتي أقيمت في قلب السكان المدنيين في الضاحية الجنوبية في بيروت🔸رغم تفاهمات الاتفاق بين إسرائيل ولبنان رصد جيش الدفاع قيام الوحدة الجوية في حزب الله الارهابي (127) بالعمل لانتاج… — افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) June 5, 2025 Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the operation followed direct orders from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 'We have attacked buildings used by Hezbollah for UAV activity. We will enforce the ceasefire terms without concessions and will not allow threats to northern Israel.' He also held Lebanon's government accountable for 'preventing violations and all terrorist activity' emanating from its territory. Lebanese Army units, acting in coordination with the UN-monitored ceasefire committee, entered several buildings in Dahieh to verify the Israeli allegations. However, the strikes began mid-inspection, forcing the units to withdraw. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the raid as a 'flagrant breach of international law' on the eve of a religious holiday. 'This message, delivered through Beirut and the blood of its civilians, is aimed at the United States and its policies. Lebanon will not yield.' الرئيس عون يدين بشدة العدوان الاسرائيلي على محيط العاصمة:رسالة يوجّهها مرتكب هذه الفظاعات، الى الولايات المتحدة الاميركية وسياساتها ومبادراتها أولاً، عبر صندوق بريد بيروت ودماء أبريائها ومدنييها، وهو ما لن يرضخ له لبنان أبداً — Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency) June 5, 2025 Later, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam echoed the condemnation as a 'deliberate and systematic assault on Lebanon's sovereignty,' calling it a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, urging the international community to intervene and 'hold Israel accountable.'
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Iran warns of retaliation if Europeans 'exploit' UN nuclear report
Iran on Sunday warned it would retaliate if European powers that have threatened to reimpose nuclear sanctions "exploit" a UN report showing Tehran has stepped up production of highly enriched uranium. The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had sharply increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to up to 60%, close to the roughly 90% level needed for atomic weapons. Iran's total amount of enriched uranium now exceeds 45 times the limit authorised by a landmark 2015 agreement with world powers, and is estimated at 9,247.6 kg, according to the confidential IAEA report. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement he had told IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in a phone call that "Iran will respond to any inappropriate action by the European parties" to the 2015 agreement, referring to Britain, France and Germany. The European trio have warned they could reimpose sanctions if they deemed Iran's nuclear programme a threat to the continent's security. Mr. Araghchi urged Mr. Grossi in their Saturday call to stop "parties from exploiting" the nuclear watchdog report "to advance their political objectives", according to the statement. The IAEA Board of Governors is set to review Iran's nuclear activities in its upcoming quarterly meeting in Vienna starting June 9. Iran rejected the IAEA report, the latest move in years-long efforts to restrict its nuclear activities over fears that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. The Islamic republic has denied seeking nuclear arms and says it needs the uranium for civilian power production. The report was leaked as Iran and the United States have been engaged in negotiations towards a new nuclear deal, after Washington had unilaterally abandoned the agreement between Tehran and world powers in 2018, during President Donald Trump's first term. U.S. proposal Mr. Araghchi said on Saturday that he had received "elements" of a U.S. proposal for a potential nuclear deal following five rounds of talks mediated by Oman. Iran would respond "in line with the principles, national interests and rights" of its people, Mr. Araghchi added in a post on X. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the United States "has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it's in their best interest to accept it", the New York Times reported. The proposal was described as a series of bullet points rather than a full draft, according to the New York Times, citing officials familiar with the diplomatic exchanges. It calls on Iran to stop all enrichment of uranium and proposes creating a regional grouping to produce nuclear power, which would include Iran, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, as well as the United States. Trump adopted a "maximum pressure" policy against Tehran after withdrawing from the 2015 agreement and reimposed sweeping sanctions which the deal had lifted in return for UN-monitored restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities. Iran has ramped up its nuclear activities since the collapse of the deal, and is now enriching uranium to 60 percent -- far above the deal's 3.67 percent cap but below the 90 percent needed for weapons-grade material. The 2015 deal provides for the possibility of UN sanctions being reimposed through a mechanism called "snapback" if Iran fails to fulfil its commitments, an option that expires in October.
New Straits Times
01-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Iran warns of retaliation if Europe reimposes nuclear sanctions
TEHRAN: Iran on Sunday warned it would retaliate if European powers that have threatened to reimpose nuclear sanctions "exploit" a UN report showing Tehran has stepped up production of highly enriched uranium. The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had sharply increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to up to 60 per cent, close to the roughly 90 per cent level needed for atomic weapons. Iran's total amount of enriched uranium now exceeds 45 times the limit authorised by a landmark 2015 agreement with world powers, and is estimated at 9,247.6 kilograms, according to the confidential IAEA report seen by AFP. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement he had told IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in a phone call that "Iran will respond to any inappropriate action by the European parties" to the 2015 agreement, referring to Britain, France and Germany. The European trio have warned they could reimpose sanctions if they deemed Iran's nuclear programme a threat to the continent's security. Araghchi urged Grossi in their Saturday call to stop "parties from exploiting" the nuclear watchdog report "to advance their political objectives", according to the statement. The IAEA Board of Governors is set to review Iran's nuclear activities in its upcoming quarterly meeting in Vienna starting June 9. Iran rejected the IAEA report, the latest move in years-long efforts to restrict its nuclear activities over fears that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. The Islamic republic has denied seeking nuclear arms and says it needs the uranium for civilian power production. The report was leaked as Iran and the United States have been engaged in negotiations towards a new nuclear deal, after Washington had unilaterally abandoned the agreement between Tehran and world powers in 2018, during President Donald Trump's first term. Araghchi said on Saturday that he had received "elements" of a US proposal for a potential nuclear deal following five rounds of talks mediated by Oman. Iran would respond "in line with the principles, national interests and rights" of its people, Araghchi added in a post on X. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the United States "has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it's in their best interest to accept it", the New York Times reported. The proposal was described as a series of bullet points rather than a full draft, according to the New York Times, citing officials familiar with the diplomatic exchanges. It calls on Iran to stop all enrichment of uranium and proposes creating a regional grouping to produce nuclear power, which would include Iran, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, as well as the United States. Trump adopted a "maximum pressure" policy against Tehran after withdrawing from the 2015 agreement and reimposed sweeping sanctions which the deal had lifted in return for UN-monitored restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities. Iran has ramped up its nuclear activities since the collapse of the deal, and is now enriching uranium to 60 per cent – far above the deal's 3.67 per cent cap but below the 90 per cent needed for weapons-grade material. The 2015 deal provides for the possibility of UN sanctions being reimposed through a mechanism called "snapback" if Iran fails to fulfil its commitments, an option that expires in October.--AFP
