WASHINGTON -- Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur has called for unity between the United States and its European allies as US President Donald Trump signals frustration with NATO members after several resisted his calls to help Washington during its military action in Iran.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi sounded a warning that any participation in the US-Israeli war of aggression against the Islamic Republic will be tantamount to complicity in war crimes.
Esmail Khatib said to be third senior Iranian figure killed in 24 hours as Israel authorises military to kill targeted officials Middle East crisis – live updates Israel claimed on Wednesday to have killed a third senior Iranian figure in 24 hours, stating that its forces had “eliminated” Tehran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, in an overnight strike. If confirmed, his death would follow those of Ali Larijani , the head of the supreme national security apparatus, and the commander of the Basij militia, Gholamreza Soleimani. Continue reading...
Will Israel and Trump force the ICC to drop the Netanyahu arrest warrant? Submitted by Sondos Asem on Mon, 02/16/2026 - 22:32 In a wide-ranging interview, Professor Kevin Jon Heller explains the turbulent 15-year history of the Palestine probe, Israel’s challenge to Netanyahu's arrest warrant, and what US sanctions mean for the court's future " class="video-embed-field-lazy container-element"> Off The arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-Defence Minister Yoav Gallant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2024 have unleashed a ferocious campaign of threats and sanctions against the court by Israel and the United States, primarily aimed at pressuring it to drop the war crimes investigation. To unpack the 15-year process that led to the warrants, Middle East Eye sat down with ICC expert Kevin Jon Heller for the latest episode of the Expert Witness podcast, filmed on 5 February.
Russia condemns the 'murder' of Ali Larijani Russia has condemned the killing of Iranian officials including security chief Ali Larijani, following Israeli strikes that targeted Tehran’s leadership. Speaking on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the attacks a day after Iran confirmed the death of the Supreme National Security Council secretary, Ali Larijani. “We strongly condemn actions aimed at causing harm to the health, or especially the murder and liquidation, of representatives of the leadership of sovereign Iran … as well as other countries.
Esmail Khatib, killed in overnight strikes, mattered not because he ran spies but because he helped redraw the line between politics and security, turning dissent into an intelligence battlefield and recasting protest as hybrid war.
'Act of domination': Top Tory MP criticised for attack on Muslims praying in Trafalgar Square Submitted by Imran Mulla on Wed, 03/18/2026 - 11:22 The shadow justice secretary suggested Muslims praying at the interfaith Open Iftar event was 'straight from the Islamist playbook' The Open Iftar in Trafalgar Square last weekend was organised by the Ramadan Tent Project (Screengrab/X) Off Conservative shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy has been widely condemned by fellow parliamentarians for criticising Muslims praying in Trafalgar Square at an "Open Iftar" event and accusing them of an "act of domination". The event over the weekend in London's iconic landmark reportedly attracted people of many different faiths and was attended by London Mayor Sadiq Khan , who hailed it as the "biggest iftar in the western world". Khan said in an address to the crowd that he had met Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and atheists attending the event.
Turkey tightens military-transit rules to stop illicit arms trade Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Wed, 03/18/2026 - 11:35 New regulation aiming to combat unregistered transit military exports comes as US-Israeli war on Iran spills into the region Massive container and cargo ships docked at the piers or positioned in dry docks within the Tuzla Shipyards Zone, Turkey, 13 March 2026 (Tolga Ildun/Zuma Press Wire via Reuters) Off The Turkish government has tightened controls on the transit and re-export of military equipment and defence-related items to third countries through Turkey under a new regulation introduced on Monday. The regulation, published in the Official Gazette , establishes a new framework for inspecting defence industry goods and components transported via Turkey or re-exported by Turkish companies under transit trade arrangements. Under the new rules, it is now mandatory to obtain a letter of conformity from the Ministry of Trade for the transit passage through Turkey or the re-export via Turkey of products included on Ankara’s list of controlled items.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran held a national funeral procession in Capital Tehran on Wednesday, March 18, for Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani, Basij Commander Gholam Reza Soleimani, and dozens of Navy servicemen martyred in US-Israeli terror strikes.
UK PM Keir Starmer is not the only current official to be a shadow of his predecessors, Moscow believes US President Donald Trump is correct to suggest that certain Western European leaders do not measure up to their World War II-era predecessors, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
Instead of regime change, all the bombing has produced so far is regime reinforcement and no end in sight With the US-Israeli bombing of Iran now in its third week, its costs are mounting, its purpose is increasingly muddled and potential off-ramps have become frustratingly elusive. Yet rather than succumb to despair, we should urgently press for this destructive war to end. Iran never engaged in an actual or imminent attack that would justify a war of self-defense.
Germany says change in Iran won't happen through war Germany’s foreign minister says political change in Iran cannot be imposed through external military force. Speaking in Berlin alongside his French counterpart, Johann Wadephul said Germany would prefer to see change emerge internally. "Given the brutality and ruthlessness of this regime, it is desirable that regime change occur," Wadephul said.
The crisis in the Middle East continues, with ongoing strikes across the region and rising humanitarian needs. The UN nuclear watchdog reports that a projectile struck the premises of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, with no damage or injuries. In Lebanon, the humanitarian situation is worsening, with hundreds reported killed and more than one million people displaced amid continued airstrikes and extensive displacement orders.
The international community must step up efforts to support Syria amid the current conflict raging in the Middle East, two senior UN officials told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Humanitarian needs are continuing to grow again across Gaza, the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said on Wednesday, amid mounting pressures on aid delivery and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Berlinale 2026: Arab and Turkish filmmakers deliver strong line-up despite Gaza controversy Submitted by Joseph Fahim on Wed, 03/18/2026 - 09:18 Palestinian-Syrian director Abdallah al-Khatib ruffled the feathers of the German elite with his passionate defence of the Palestinian cause A scene from Rania Rafei's 'The Day of Wrath: Tales from Tripoli' (Orjuane Productions) Off After a week of “will they, won’t they” speculation, as this writer had anticipated , Tricia Tuttle, the artistic director of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), has not been removed from her post, despite hints to the contrary from right-wing German tabloids. Several letters of support have since been signed by Berlinale staff, as well as filmmakers and programmers from around the world. “Supporting genuine freedom of expression, including the freedom to articulate imperfect or unpopular opinions, has never been more important,” one open letter reads The German news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported that Tricia Tuttle will remain in her position “after agreeing to plans for an advisory council and a code of conduct”, according to Wolfram Weimer, chair of the festival’s supervisory committee, Kulturveranstaltungen des Bundes in Berlin (KBB).
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The chairman of the Russian State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, paid tribute to the late Ali Larijani, emphasizing his significant role in enhancing ties between Russia and Iran.
Strikes hit Iran’s South Pars oil and petrochemical facilities Facilities linked to Iran’s oil industry in South Pars and Asaluyeh came under attack on Wednesday, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The report said petrochemical installations in South Pars were targeted, though the scale of damage has not yet been confirmed.
Israel claims it killed Iran's intelligence minister Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 03/18/2026 - 10:35 Defence Minister Israel Katz says army now authorised to kill any Iranian official without prior approval Iran's Minister of Intelligence Esmail Khatib (third from left) sits with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on 17 August 2024 (AFP) Off Israel said it had killed Iran 's inteligence minister, Esmail Khatib, warning that Israeli attacks would escalate. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced the killing in a statement on Wednesday during a meeting with senior military officials. "Today we expect significant surprises in all arenas, which will escalate the war we are waging against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon," Katz said at the meeting.
Funeral held in Tehran for Larijani and Iranian commanders killed in Israeli strikes Large crowds gathered in Tehran on Wednesday for the funeral of senior Iranian officials and sailors killed during the Israel-US war on Iran. The ceremony included the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani, Basij commander Major General Gholam Reza Soleimani and dozens of navy personnel. Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani was assassinated along with his son in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran on 17 March.
