Trump administration moves to rescind Syria terrorism designation The Trump administration has notified the US Congress of its decision to rescind Syria's designation as a "state sponsor of terrorism", an unnamed administration official told Reuters. American lawmakers will now conduct a 45-day review and make a final decision on the administration's advice, according to Reuters.
'Earth shifting': Trump begins process to remove Syria from state sponsors of terrorism list Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Wed, 07/08/2026 - 19:30 The announcement follows Trump's meeting with his Syrian counterpart on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Ankara US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Nato summit at Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, Turkey, on 8 July 2026 (Saul Lobe/AFP) Off In what is arguably the most impactful deliverable from President Donald Trump's trip to Ankara, Turkey, this week, the US on Wednesday formally began the process of removing Syria from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST). There are only four countries on that list: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria, which was added in 1979. "This is yet another historic step by President Trump to give the Syrian people a chance at greatness," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.
Arab League chief says Israel blocked first foreign trip to Ramallah The Arab League's new secretary-general, Nabil Fahmy, says Israel blocked him from visiting Ramallah, in what would have been his first foreign trip since taking office this month. The regional bloc's secretariat was informed by Palestinian authorities "of the Israeli occupation authorities' rejection of a visit... to the occupied Palestinian territories" to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, Fahmy's office said in a statement.
Iranian foreign ministry says US violated terms of MoU Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has accused the US of violating the terms of its memorandum of understanding with Iran. In a post on X, Baqaei said the US had "violated the agreement's structure through its unilateral actions and aggressive attacks against Iran" by going against the MoU's fifth clause, which he said "emphasises the Islamic Republic of Iran's responsibility in determining arrangements for the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz". Baqaei said Iran will defend its national interests and exercise sovereignty.
Iranian deputy foreign minister says Trump remarks show failure of US policy Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says Trump's latest remarks on Iran reflected the failure of Washington's policy towards Tehran. In a post on X, Gharibabadi said Trump's comments, including threats of further attacks, were "not a sign of strength, but rather an admission of the failure of a policy built on brute force, sanctions, and threats for years". He added that Iran must respond to Trump in "his own language", saying that "apparently, he understands the language of force better".
Trump praises Netanyahu as 'a great wartime prime minister' Trump has praised Netanyahu as "a great wartime prime minister" and said no US president has done more for Israel than he has. "Nobody has ever done anything for Israel like me," Trump said, citing US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. He said he and Netanyahu "worked with each other very closely".
Trump lavishes praise on 'fantastic' and 'highly respected' Sharaa Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Wed, 07/08/2026 - 16:01 The win for the Syrian president is simply having the meeting at all US President Donald Trump holds a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Nato summit at the Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, Turkey, on 8 July 2026 (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Off US President Donald Trump lavished rare praise on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday, calling him "fantastic" and "highly respected", as the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey . The meeting itself is a win for Sharaa, who was first introduced to Trump a little over a year ago in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia , before finding himself in the Oval Office exchanging gifts with the US president by November. No Syrian leader - and certainly not one with Sharaa's past as a US-designated terrorist - had been in the White House in decades.
Thousands attend Khamenei funeral processions in Najaf and Karbala Tens of thousands of mourners attended funeral processions for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala. Khamenei's remains have now returned to Iran, where he will be laid to rest in Mashhad on 9 July. The 86-year-old leader was killed in a US-Israeli attack on his compound in Tehran in late February.
Trump says he may remove Syria from state sponsors of terrorism list "I think I will," the US president said when asked whether he would remove Syria from the United States' list of designated state sponsors of terrorism. Trump also says he has lifted sanctions placed on Syria and commended Damascus for becoming stable, Al Jazeera reported. The US president also again suggested Syria “could help with Hezbollah” in Lebanon.
Huge crowds mourn Khamenei during funeral procession in Najaf Thousands of people thronged the streets of Najaf and packed the courtyards of its majestic shrine as they mourned the late supreme leader during his funeral procession in Iraq. Iran began six days of public funeral ceremonies for Khamenei on Saturday, including a dedicated day in neighbouring Iraq, home to the most sacred Shia shrines. After a massive procession in Iran's holy city of Qom, Khamenei's body was brought Tuesday night to Iraq, where authorities declared Wednesday a public holiday.
‘The era of bullying is over’: Iran speaker says US violated MoU Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf cited not only the latest US military strikes, but also renewed oil sanctions, violations of Iranian "adjustments" in the Strait of Hormuz, and Israeli attacks against Lebanon. “The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere.
Whether Khamenei was a hero or a villain is for the Iranian people to decide Submitted by Hamid Dabashi on Tue, 07/07/2026 - 23:12 Israel and its allies in the western media have no business trying to stoke divisions at this time of national mourning A mourner holds a flower and a portrait of Iran’s slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the start of his funeral ceremonies in Tehran on 4 July 2026 (Atta Kenare/AFP) Off As a real-time Persian passion play unfolds across Iraq and Iran for the funeral ceremonies of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , one question remains paramount: what gives a European settler colony the audacity, the vulgarity, the vicious gall to fly over a sovereign nation’s territory and murder its supreme leader? The Israeli plot to assassinate Khamenei - which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tricked US President Donald Trump into joining, despite overwhelming American opposition to waging war on Iran - was just the latest move in a long and blood-soaked tradition, as chronicled in journalist Ronen Bergman’s boastful treatise Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations (2018). Khamenei was a head of a state, and the spiritual leader of millions of Shia Muslims.
Murdering Ali Khamenei was an act of terrorism. Where is the outrage? Submitted by Hamid Dabashi on Tue, 07/07/2026 - 23:12 Israel and its allies in the western media have no business trying to stoke divisions at this time of national mourning A mourner holds a flower and a portrait of Iran’s slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the start of his funeral ceremonies in Tehran on 4 July 2026 (Atta Kenare/AFP) Off As a real-time Persian passion play unfolds across Iraq and Iran for the funeral ceremonies of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , one question remains paramount: what gives a European settler colony the audacity, the vulgarity, the vicious gall to fly over a sovereign nation’s territory and murder its supreme leader?
Danish prime minister, EU reject Trump's Greenland takeover remarks The US president said taking control of the world’s largest island was “very important” for the US, but “it’s not important for Denmark". “Hitler beat them out in one day, took over, they asked us to take care of Greenland. In fact, we took Greenland, and then stupidly, we gave it back,” Trump said, according to Al Jazeera.
Report: Hegseth cancels expected visit to Israel Citing an Israeli official, The Times of Israel reported that US defence secretary Pete Hegseth was expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the visit today. The cancellation comes against the backdrop of renewed hostilities between the US and Iran. Citing reports, the TOI said the visit was partly intended to ease tensions over a possible US sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, which Israel believes could dilute its air superiority in the region.
Erdogan calls for two-state solution at Nato summit The Turkish president told reporters at the ongoing Nato summit in Ankara that a two-state solution to the conflict is key to a lasting peace in the Middle East. “It is incumbent upon all of us to ensure calm, particularly in Gaza and Lebanon,” he said, according to Al Jazeera He said Turkey is ready to provide necessary contributions to clear the Strait of Hormuz of mines. The Turkish leader announced his country has taken the necessary measures to reach NATO’s defence spending target of 5 percent of its gross domestic product by 2035.
Iraq's anti-corruption crackdown faces scepticism despite dramatic raids Submitted by Azhar Al-Rubaie on Tue, 07/07/2026 - 15:35 Authorities have recovered tens of millions in cash and assets, but many Iraqis are questioning whether the campaign will also extend to powerful political figures Iraqi security forces stand guard in Baghdad on 8 March 2026 (Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP) Off A dawn raid inside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone delivered one of Iraq' s most dramatic anti-corruption crackdowns in years, but many Iraqis remain unconvinced that some of the country's most powerful figures will ever face justice. Tanks, armoured vehicles and counter terrorism units rolled into Baghdad Residence, a neighbourhood near the US Embassy inside the Green Zone early on 28 June, following an investigation by Iraq's new government into funds allegedly obtained through irregularities in state projects. During the raids, which resulted in the arrests of at least 47 people, heavily armed troops could be seen raiding the homes and offices of politicians, members of parliament and other senior officials, resulting in the seizure of millions of dollars in cash, gold bars and even gold-made women's lingerie.
Trump's criticism of Germany had 'absolutely no effect' in Nato talks, defence minister says US President Donald Trump's criticism of Germany that it did not back the war on Iran had "absolutely no effect" in negotiations at the Nato summit, the European country's defence minister Boris Pistorius told the Deutschlandfunk radio station.
Nato's Rutte calls on alliance leaders to reaffirm Iran's full reopening of Hormuz Strait Nato chief Mark Rutte said he expects alliance leaders to reassert their call for Iran to completely reopen the Strait of Hormuz and that the country "should never get its hands on a nuclear capability".
In pictures: Funeral procession for Iran's slain supreme leader continues in Iraq's Najaf The funeral procession for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continued on in the Iraqi city of Najaf on Wednesday, amid fresh US attacks in Iran. His burial is expected to be held on Thursday in the north east Iranian city of Mashhad.
