A warning by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf that Iran cannot endure if its people go hungry has exposed tensions in Tehran over acknowledging economic strain, with hardliners arguing that signs of weakness will encourage further US pressure.
EU's von der Leyen joins European countries to condemn Israel's West Bank plan European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday joined European countries to condemn plans by Israel to open up construction tenders for a settlement project called 'E1' in the occupied West Bank. "The Israeli Government's decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project is unacceptable," she said in a post on X. "We have long opposed this step.
Iran’s Ghalibaf: ‘We stay out of Iraq’s affairs’ Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Friday Iran does not interfere in Iraqi internal affairs and will support any agreement between the factions and the Iraqi government. Ghalibaf's statement follows Baghdad's 30 September deadline for all paramilitary factions to integrate into formal state security structures.
US elections: Aisha Wahab becomes first Afghan-American in Congress Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 08/21/2026 - 18:19 Wahab will assume the seat of Eric Swalwell, who resigned in April, but she will still compete in the November midterms California State Senator Aisha Wahab speaks to reporters during an election night watch party at Firefighters Local 1909 in Hayward, California on 18 August 2026 (Heather Diehl/Getty Images via AFP) Off The first Afghan-American to take a seat in the US Congress will represent California, following an election which saw a well-financed campaign led by pro-Israel voices to defeat her. Aisha Wahab, a progressive California state senator, was declared the winner of the tight runoff election in her state's 14th district on Thursday, some 48 hours after polls closed. The district includes the cities of Fremont and Hayward, and is located north of San Jose, along the San Francisco bay.
There has been a significant expansion of building and road construction on Palestinian land occupied by Israel in recent years.
New Delhi [India], August 21 (ANI): India on Friday said that it stands for a peaceful resolution of issues in West Asia through dialogue and diplomacy when asked about US President Donald Trump's threat of imposing tougher economic measures against Iran as the conflict in the region continues.
Yemen’s Houthis have become a more effective ally for Iran than Hezbollah, using Iranian support and their strategic Red Sea position to pursue both Tehran’s interests and their own agenda, Yemen analyst Mohammad al-Basha told Iran International.
Iran, Oman discuss resuming talks, Strait of Hormuz navigation The Omani and Iranian foreign ministers discussed in a phone call ways to create suitable conditions for resuming dialogue and negotiations, and developments affecting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Oman's state news agency said on Friday.
Middle Eastern powers condemn Israeli settlement policies, reject 'E1' West Bank plan The foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE condemned Israel's settlement policies in Palestinian territories and said they categorically rejected the Israeli construction called "E1" in the occupied West Bank. "The Ministers call for immediate action to halt the 'E1' settlement plan, rescind all measures taken in connection with it, and cease all settlement activities and other measures aimed at altering the geographic and demographic character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory," they said in a joint statement, adding that the plan constituted a "dangerous escalation" that further advanced settlement expansion and annexation of Palestinian lands.
China calls for US-Iran dialogue Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian has called for a dialogue between the US and Iran amid threats of looming sanctions from Washington. Jian said in a statement on X that "China “opposes unilateral sanctions that lack basis in international law and UN Security Council mandate. " “Military force and pressure tactics will only lead to escalation that serves no one’s interests.
Anas Altikriti case raises crucial questions about Britain's alliance with the UAE Submitted by Peter Oborne on Fri, 08/21/2026 - 15:17 Amid chilling revelations of an Emirati surveillance operation targeting the London-based analyst, it's past time for the UK to reassess bilateral relations Anas Altikriti said London police warned him a decade ago that his life was in danger (Screengrab) Off In the long-lost days when I was chief political commentator for the Daily Telegraph, I used to engage with Anas Altikriti , chief executive of the Cordoba Foundation, on Muslim issues. Cordoba disputes the proposition, much favoured by other American and British think tanks, of an inevitable clash of civilisations between Islam and the West. Altikriti himself came into the spotlight after revealing that he had suddenly - and without warning - been stripped of his bank account by HSBC in 2014.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed Tehran’s determination to deepen its longstanding ties with Bangladesh and expand comprehensive bilateral, regional and international cooperation with Dhaka.
Belgium condemns Israel’s E1 settlement expansion Belgium has condemned Israel’s decision to advance settlement construction in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank, warning that the project would further fragment Palestinian territory. In a joint statement issued on Friday, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom called Israel’s move to issue construction tenders “unacceptable. ” “The E1 settlement will compromise the prospects for a two-state solution by dividing the West Bank and undermining Palestinian territorial contiguity,” the countries said.
Turkey requests interpol red notice for Netanyahu over Sumud Flotilla Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 08/21/2026 - 12:50 Justice Minister Akın Gurlek posted a statement detailing the request on X Off Turkey has announced criminal proceedings against dozens of Israelis over the attack on ships belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla and the abduction of its activists and sailors. In a statement posted on X, Justice Minister Akın Gurlek said those indicted included, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. More soon...
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iran and Iraq will not allow foreign powers to determine their future, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said, stressing that the two nations have demonstrated through resistance and mutual support that their destiny cannot be written in Western capitals.
Iran parliament chief visits graves of allied Iraqi fighters Iran’s parliament speaker has paid tribute to Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis during a visit to Iraq, according to Iran’s Student News Network. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf visited al-Muhandis’s grave at Wadi al-Salam cemetery in the Iraqi city of Najaf on the third day of a trip by an Iranian parliamentary delegation. The speaker also visited the burial sites of other members of Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups, the network reported.
Iran and Iraq will resist foreign interference, Ghalibaf says Iran’s parliament speaker says efforts by “enemies” to drive Iran and Iraq apart will instead deepen their relationship. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told an Arbaeen ceremony in the city of Karbala that history, geography and shared religious beliefs bound the countries together. “We were two nations that refused to become a footnote in others’ narratives and did not allow our destiny to be written in western capitals,” he said.
Malaysia denounces Israel's E1 settlement expansion in occupied West Bank Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is the latest politician to condemn an Israeli move this week to launch a construction tender for the E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank. "This tract of land east of Jerusalem has long been critical to the viability of a Palestinian state," he said, adding that building on it would "divide the West Bank and gravely undermine the prospect of a contiguous Palestinian homeland". The Malaysian prime minister stressed that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law, and expressed that Tel Aviv "continues to act with utter impunity".
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran is seeking to turn tourism into a major pillar of economic cooperation among BRICS members, with Tehran proposing the creation of a BRICS Tourism Infrastructure Development Fund to attract investment and support joint projects.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for the full implementation of decisions aimed at supplying electricity to industrial units, stressing that maintaining production and employment must be prioritized amid the country’s power imbalance.
