The execution of Nimr al-Nimr has brought the Middle East to a boiling point.

The Execution of Sheikh Nimr and Sunni-Shia Feud

The unity of Muslims as one nation would remain a myth and unattainable goal unless the Muslim clergies of both the sects reconcile on living in harmony despite their mutual differences of... Read more »

Oil dives below $33 – the lowest in 11 years

Oil prices hit their lowest in over 11 years on Wednesday, as the row between Saudi Arabia and Iran was seen making any cooperation between major exporters to cut output even more... Read more »

Bahrain, Sudan sever ties with Iran, UAE reduces number of diplomats

Bahrain, Sudan sever ties with Iran following Saudi Arabia while UAE reduces number of diplomats, widening Middle East conflict Bahrain and Sudan, both close allies of Saudi Arabia, have joined the kingdom and cut... Read more »
Shiites carrying a placard with an image of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr at a protest in Srinagar, in the disputed region of Kashmir, on Saturday. Credit Dar Yasin/Associated Press

Saudi Arabia breaks off Diplomatic ties with Iran over cleric’s execution

Tensions sparked by cleric’s execution raise alarm about growing hostilities in regional battle for influence between two countries Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran as tensions between the two long-time regional... Read more »
Firefighters arrive at the scene of the Saudi Arabian embassy which was torched by members of an angry mob in Tehran. Photo: EPA

Angry Iranian protesters ransack and torch Saudi Embassy after mass execution

Iran leader sees ‘divine vengeance’ for Saudi cleric execution Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi Embassy in Tehran early on Sunday as Shi’ite Muslim Iran reacted with fury to Saudi Arabia’s execution of... Read more »

Saudi Arabia executes 47 for ‘terrorism’, including top Shia cleric

Region anger was growing tonight after Saudi Arabia announced the execution of 47 prisoners accused of terrorism charges, including a Muslim Shi’ite cleric RIYADH: Saudi Arabia executed 47 people on Saturday for... Read more »

Iranian Revolutionary Guards fired rockets near U.S. warships in Gulf

Iranian Revolutionary Guards launched rockets near the U.S. aircraft-carrier Harry S. Truman and other warships as they were entering the Gulf on Saturday, giving only brief notice in a “highly provocative” act,... Read more »

What Putin’s visit to Iran means for Middle East?

Russia;s relationship with Iran should be seen in the light of ending of the P5+1 nuclear deal that effectively put an end to Iran’s geo-political isolation By Yasmeen Aftab Ali A very important... Read more »
IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano and Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Akhbar Salehi at the signing of a roadmap for the clarification of past and present issues regarding Iran’s nuclear program in Vienna. Coburg Palace, Vienna, Austria, 14 July 2015.

World leaders welcome landmark Iran nuclear deal

Iran and six world powers have finally concluded an agreement that will lift sanctions on Iran but place strict limits on its nuclear programme for more than a decade. The comprehensive deal on... Read more »

Why did Saudi Arabia intervene in Yemen?

By Mohammed Khalid Alyahya While Iran’s destructive influence in Yemen is as alarming to Saudi Arabia as its meddling in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, Saudi Arabia’s decision to intervene militarily in Yemen... Read more »
Special assistant to Prime Minister, Syed Tariq Fatemi, arrives to attend the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) on October 16, 2014 in Milan. AFP / Giuseppe Cacace

Pakistan to host D-8 summit on June 4-5

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan, the current Chairman of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Development, will host a meeting of the 36th session of the Developing-8 Commission this week. “This meeting is being organised... Read more »
Julie Bishop

FM Julie Bishop calls on US-led coalition to include Iran in strategic Paris talks

Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has called for Iran to be included in the strategic talks between the US and its allies on how to confront Islamic State. The international conference is... Read more »

Saudi Arabia halts operation ‘Decisive Storm’ in Yemen

Saudi-led coalition ends about 4-week long military operation in Yemen The Saudi Ministry of Defense has announced the end of Operation Decisive Storm, a military campaign led by the kingdom in Yemen... Read more »

Australia and Iran to share intelligence to combat ISIS in Iraq

Australia and Iran have agreed to share intelligence relating to Australians fighting with extremist groups in Iraq, particularly Islamic State (IS) group, Australia’s foreign minister, Julie Bishop, has announced. Ms Bishop said Iran... Read more »

Australia’s FM Julie Bishop discuses ISIS, asylum seekers with Iranian FM

Foreign minister Julie Bishop meets President Hassan Rouhani for first high level talks between Australia and Iran in 12 years TEHRAN (Iran) — Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has met with Iran’s foreign... Read more »

Iran and world powers agree ‘historic’ framework nuclear deal

LAUSANNE, (Switzerland) — Iran and international powers have reached “solutions on key parameters” of Tehran’s nuclear program following eight-day talks in Switzerland, according to a joint statement issued by the negotiators on Thursday. During... Read more »

US accuses Israel of spying on nuclear talks with Iran

Israel spied on talks the U.S. and its allies are having with Iran over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, The Wall Street Journal reported. Espionage among friends is not exactly new. In fact,... Read more »

John Kerry Flies to Saudi Arabia to Discuss Iran, Yemen instability

RIYADH (Saudi Arabia) – After wrapping up the latest round of Iran nuclear negotiations in Switzerland, US  Secretary of State John Kerry flew to Saudi Arabia to take on the challenge of explaining a... Read more »

Iran launches world’s largest floating Oil terminal

Iran has launched the world’s largest floating oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf waters which is expected to significantly increase Iran’s capacity for crude oil storage and exports. The 2.2-million-barrel floating oil... Read more »

US to pay Iran $11.9 billion

Washington: Obama administration will pay the Iranian regime $490 million in cash assets, as part of its negotiations deal with the country. When talks in end in June a total of $11.9 billion... Read more »