Category: Arab News

Categories
-Top News Arab News

Iranian, Saudi FMs agree to meet soon

The two Ministers discussed the issues in a phone call to congratulate each other on the starting of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan…reports Asian Lite News

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud have agreed to meet at the earliest opportunity to prepare the ground for the reopening of embassies and consulate generals between the two countries, the Foreign Ministry in Tehran announced on Thursday.

The two Ministers discussed the issues in a phone call to congratulate each other on the starting of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying.

The Saudi Foreign Minister pointed to the positive achievements of the Beijing meeting, in which the two countries signed an agreement on the normalisation of ties after seven years, and highlighted the necessity of meeting his Iranian counterpart in the near future and the reopening of the embassies.

Meanwhile, Amir-Abdollahian expressed satisfaction with the detente between Tehran and Riyadh, expressing Iran’s readiness to develop and strengthen bilateral relations.

China, Saudi Arabia and Iran on March 10 announced that Riyadh and Tehran had reached a deal that included the agreement to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and missions within two months.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud invited Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to visit Riyadh.

Following the agreement to restore diplomatic relations, the two nations also announced they will reopen embassies within two months and re-establish trade and security relations.

Saudi Arabia cut ties in January 2016 after demonstrators stormed its embassy in Tehran after Riyadh had executed the prominent Shia Muslim cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, who was convicted of terror-related offences.

Since then, tensions between the Sunni- and Shia-led neighbours have often been high, with each regarding the other as a threatening power seeking regional dominance.

They have been on opposing sides of several regional conflicts, including the civil wars in Syria and Yemen.

ALSO READ: Saudi no longer willing to provide Pakistan with ‘easy money’

Categories
-Top News Africa News Arab News

Yemen’s PLC chief calls for Ramadan ceasefire

Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, with the Houthi rebels fighting against the internationally-recognised government and its allies…reports Asian Lite News

Chief of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Rashad Al-Alimi, has renewed his calls for a comprehensive ceasefire during Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

In a speech marking the start of Ramadan, Al-Alimi on Wednesday said his government and regional allies have made numerous concessions and initiated various efforts to restore peace and alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.

However, he noted that the Houthi fighters continued in undermining the peace efforts as they are still rejecting offers suggesting humanitarian ceasefire in the war-ravaged Arab country, Xinhua news agency reported.

He expressed his government’s hope that “the joy of families would be expanded during the holy month with the release of all detainees, in accordance with the principle of all for all”.

The Yemeni leader assured that the Saudi-backed Yemeni presidential council and the government would spare no effort to secure the release of all detainees, including those covered by the UN Security Council resolution.

Yemeni government forces prepare for a fight against the Houthi militia in Haradh District, Hajjah Province, northern Yemen, on Feb. 4, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Al-Wafi/Xinhua/IANS)



In recent years, there have been several attempts by the United Nations backed by regional and international powers to broker a peace deal between the warring parties, but all have failed to bring about lasting peace.

The recent call for a comprehensive ceasefire during Ramadan by the Chief of Yemen’s PLC is the latest effort to end the conflict and alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.

The Yemeni leader’s hope for the release of all war prisoners, in accordance with the principle of all for all, indicates a willingness to make concessions and prioritise the well-being of the Yemeni people over political gains, according to local observers.

Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, with the Houthi rebels fighting against the internationally-recognised government and its allies, which include a Saudi Arabia-led coalition.

The UN has been pushing for a ceasefire and peace talks in Yemen, which has been described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

The conflict brought the Arab world’s poorest country to the brink of collapse causing famine and widespread suffering as well as disrupting the country’s food supply chain, leaving millions of people without access to adequate nutrition.

ALSO READ: 887 detainees to be freed in Yemen prisoner exchange

Categories
-Top News Asia News Saudi Arabia

Pakistan recalls Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Pakistan's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ameer Khurram Rathore.(photo:twitter.com/khurram_rathore?lang=en)

A government official said Rathore’s removal had been on the cards since long because he was considered politically aligned with the PTI….reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is considering recalling the countrys Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ameer Khurram Rathore, hardly a year after he was posted by former premier Imran Khan.

The process of recall has started but not finalised yet, The News reported.

Rathore was earlier posted as Pakistan’s High Commission in Canada and hardly a month after his settlement there, he was asked to get ready for posting in Riyadh.

He was flown to Saudi Arabia during Khan’s visit, which turned out to be the latter’s last one as Prime Minister.

Rathore had then not formally assumed the charge by the time.

A government official said Rathore’s removal had been on the cards since long because he was considered politically aligned with the PTI.

“He is known as (Khan’s) loyalist,” a well-placed official in the Prime Minister Office told The News.

Rathore was primarily considered close to Shah Mehmood Qureshi, former foreign minister and PTI vice chairman, and had served in a party office for a year by taking leave from the government job some years back, it has been learnt.

A think tank was set up by PTI in Lahore and Rathore served there from 2012 to 2013, The News reported.

Another official said the government got alerted about him after Khan’s revelation during an interaction with journalists a month back where he said he was in touch with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman.

How far Khan’s claim was true and whether Rathore played any role in restoring his contact with the Saudi ruler remains unverified, The News reported.

A diplomatic source was, however, dismissive that Rathore could either have that clout or risk his career by playing as a messenger between the opposition leader and the Saudi dignitary.

A source in the Prime Minister’s Office said he was not aware of any special reason other than his affiliation with the PTI.

Rathore is the third consecutive ambassador in Riyadh who is being prematurely recalled. He assumed office on February 15, 2022.

His predecessor Lt Gen (R) Bilal met the same fate. And so too his predecessor, Raja Ali Ejaz, who was suspended weeks before his retirement and recalled at a short notice.

Khan had censured Ejaz during a meeting he held with him.

That decision, however, didn’t go well with the bureaucracy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as some retired diplomats recorded protest at this public humiliation in April 2021.

ALSO READ: Saudi no longer willing to provide Pakistan with ‘easy money’

Categories
-Top News Arab News Asia News

Saudi no longer willing to provide Pakistan with ‘easy money’

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (Photo: Twitter@PakPMO)

It is believed that on a recent trip, even the Pakistani military chief couldn’t convince Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to release emergency funding for the country….reports Asian Lite News

Saudi Arabia is no longer willing to bail out Islamabad and refused to provide ‘easy money’ to Pakistan, demanding economic reforms, reported Middle East Eye.

Pakistan is in dire need of sustained US dollar inflows to avoid defaulting on nearly USD 80 billion of international loan repayments over the next three and a half years. The country is currently sitting on just USD 3 billion in foreign exchange reserves. Saudi Arabia’s decision to refuse to provide any further bailouts or interest-free loans to Pakistan has left the government in Islamabad in shock and has prompted the finance minister to complain that even friendly countries aren’t keen on helping Pakistan out of its economic emergency, Middle East Eye reported.

Umar Karim, an associate fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, said Pakistani authorities are in a state of shock.

“While previously Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries would bail Pakistan out off the back of a phone call from the foreign minister or the prime minister, this time around they are really being put through the mill,” Karim told Middle East Eye.

It is believed that on a recent trip, even the Pakistani military chief couldn’t convince Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to release emergency funding for the country.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, the Saudi finance minister made the Kingdom’s new policy very clear, reported Middle East Eye.

Mohammed al-Jadaan said, “We used to give direct grants and deposits without strings attached and we are changing that. We are working with multilateral institutions to actually say we need to see reforms.”

“We are taxing our people, we are expecting also others to do the same, to do their efforts. We want to help but we want you also to do your part.”

“Saudi Arabia is on a different course now. They’ve reset their relationship with other countries and refused to give financial handouts to namely: Jordan, Morocco and even Egypt. However, Pakistan, which is far more dysfunctional than all of the others, should have seen it coming,” Alam told Middle East Eye.

Meanwhile, the rate of inflation in Pakistan is set to hit 33 per cent in the coming months and the country’s currency has devalued nearly 65 per cent in the last 12 months.

“Pakistan’s been lulled by a false sense of security”, the analyst said, “that with a population of over 220 million and a comprehensive nuclear weapons programme, it’s too big for the world to let it fail. This has bred complacency across successive governments and the country’s military leadership of easy loans or bailouts.”

Nearly six months ago, in a bid to stem the outflow of foreign exchange, the Pakistani government stopped almost all imports, leading to a raw materials shortage across manufacturing sectors and a temporary shutdown of several automobile manufacturing plants and textile factories.

Saudi Arabia and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are both demanding economic reforms from Pakistan.

Pakistan is locked in difficult negotiations with the IMF over its 13th bailout package since the 1980s, reported Middle East Eye.

If an agreement isn’t struck soon, Pakistan will find it increasingly difficult to secure international loans, as its credit rating has been downgraded to junk. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Saudi-Iran peace deal could reshape the Middle East

Categories
-Top News Arab News UAE News

SeaWorld Abu Dhabi to open on Yas Island in May

The next-generation Marine Life Theme Park will tell a captivating ‘One Ocean’ story that uncovers the interconnectivity between life on earth and our ocean…reports Asian Lite News

Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, announced today that SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is set to open its doors to the public on 23rd May 2023.

The next-generation Marine Life Theme Park will tell a captivating ‘One Ocean’ story that uncovers the interconnectivity between life on earth and our ocean. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will deliver engaging, and immersive family-friendly experiences through eight of its uniquely themed realms, featuring up-close animal encounters, exciting rides, inspiring entertainment, as well as unmatched dining and shopping experiences.

A collaboration between Miral and SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi’s eight realms can be explored across five indoor levels spanning an area of approximately 183,000m2 with the Endless Ocean realm set to be home to the world’s largest and most expansive multi-species aquarium. This innovatively designed aquarium will contain over 25 million litres of water and will be a dynamic habitat for more than 68,000 marine animals, including sharks, schools of fish, manta rays and sea turtles.

Located on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, in total there will be over 100,000 marine animals including 150 species of birds, fish, mammals and reptiles at the Marine Life Theme Park. Animal habitats in each realm of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi have been custom designed using state-of-the-art technology and the highest standards for animal welfare.

The Chairman of Miral, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, said, “We are delighted to announce the opening of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi this May, and proud of our partnership with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment to bring the region’s next-generation Marine Life Theme Park to Abu Dhabi and to Yas Island. As part of our commitment to the Year of Sustainability, the marine life park will embed Sheikh Zayed’s legacy and profound respect for nature and all its beauty, as well as play a key role in promoting environmental awareness and protecting marine life in Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the wider region.”

“Through its innovative programs and its state-of-the-art facilities, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi aims to inspire the next generation of conservationists and marine life scientists while fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi’s opening will mark an exciting new chapter in Yas Island and Abu Dhabi’s ongoing efforts to promote tourism, showcase the emirate’s truly unique offerings and position it as a top global destination.”

Designed according to standards set by the Association of Zoos and Aquarium (AZA) and American Humane, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi’s next-generation marine life habitats feature state-of-the art design and technology that will enable animals to live in dynamic habitats alongside other fish, birds, and animals as they would in nature. Other spaces have been designed to provide flexibility for animal welfare allowing the SeaWorld Abu Dhabi animal care team to recreate social seasonal patterns for animals such as the walrus.

Unique systems such as the Advanced Animal Lighting System (AALS) recreate night/day and seasonal light cycles while also providing the health benefits of full spectrum light and the Animal Life Support System (ALSS) that manages water quality to support the diverse array of fish and mammals living together in dynamic environments are some of the cutting-edge features at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi.

Adjacent to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, the park is home to Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the first-of-its-kind dedicated marine research, rescue, rehabilitation and return centre in the region, serving as an advanced marine science knowledge hub and a key contributor to marine life conservation in the UAE and wider region. Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue opened in February 2023.

ALSO READ: UAE Vice President launches 1B Meals Endowment project

Categories
-Top News Arab News UAE News

Rashid Rover successfully enters lunar orbit

دبي في 21 مارس / وام / أعلن مركز محمد بن راشد للفضاء عن نجاح دخول المستكشف راشد إلى مدار القمر ضمن الاستعدادات للهبوط التاريخي لأول مهمة إماراتية على سطح القمر. وأكملت مركبة الهبوط التابعة لشركة "أي سبيس" أول مناورة لدخول مدار القمر، وفق مخطط المهمة وتحت إشراف المهندسين في 21 مارس عند الساعة 5:24 صباحًا بتوقيت دولة الإمارات. ويعتبر الدخول إلى مدار القمر خطوة رئيسية للبدء في المراحل المقبلة من مهمة المستكشف راشد بما في ذلك تشغيل أنظمته 5 مرات. وسيتم إكمال كل المناورات في مدار القمر قبل بدء مرحلة الهبوط المخطط لها في أواخر أبريل 2023 ..وسيتم تقديم المزيد من التفاصيل حول موعد وتوقيت الهبوط في الأيام المقبلة. وبعد نجاح أول مرحلة للمهمة وهي الإطلاق والوصول إلى المدار المنخفض والمرحلة الثانية وهي الملاحة يتجه المستكشف نحو إتمام المرحلة الثالثة وهي الوصول (الدخول والإنزال والهبوط) ..وستكون هذه المرحلة الأكثر خطورة خاصةً أن مركبة الهبوط ستتولى القيام بعملية الهبوط بنفسها على سطح القمر من خلال اعتمادها على أنظمتها إلى أن تصل للنقطة المحددة للهبوط ..وتلي ذلك المرحلة الرابعة وهي مرحلة إنزال المستكشف وتشغيله والتنقل على سطح القمر ..وتبدأ بمجرد هبوط المركبة على سطح القمر ويتبع ذلك فحص الأنظمة وتشغيل المعدات وبدء جمع البيانات الأولية والقيام بالعمليات على سطح القمر والتقاط الصور. وتستمر هذه المرحلة لمدة 10-12 يومًا. وتأتي المرحلتان الأخيرتان بعد مرور النهار القمري وهما مرحلة السبات ومرحلة إيقاف العمليات ..وسيستعد المستكشف راشد لليلة القمرية من خلال تشغيل نظام الاتصال الثانوي الذي يتولى تحميل المعلومات التي تم جمعها قبل الدخول بمرحلة السبات. وتعد فرص بدء تشغيل المستكشف راشد من جديد ضئيلة ولكن إذا تم تشغيل المستكشف بعد الليلة القمرية سيتم تمديد المهمة إلى الليلة القمرية الثانية لتختتم بعدها بمرحلة إيقاف التشغيل.   وتعد المهمة الطموحة التي أطلقتها دولة الإمارات لدراسة سطح القمر خطوة تمهد لاستكشاف الكواكب الأخرى مستقبلًا.  

The insertion into lunar orbit is an important step toward the upcoming milestones of the Rashid Rover, beginning with the remaining 5 subsystem checks….reports Asian Lite News

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) announced the successful lunar orbit insertion by Rashid Rover, the first Emirati rover to land on the surface of the moon. The rover is now just one step away from making history.

The iSpace lander carrying the Rashid Rover performed its first lunar orbit insertion manoeuvre in accordance with the mission operation plan, at 5.24 AM UAE time on March 21, under the direction of lander engineers. After a controlled burn from the lander’s main propulsion system lasting several minutes, the manoeuvre was successfully completed.

The insertion into lunar orbit is an important step toward the upcoming milestones of the Rashid Rover, beginning with the remaining 5 subsystem checks.

The completion of all lunar orbital manoeuvres prior to the beginning of the landing sequence, which is scheduled to be announced around late April 2023. Specific information on the date and time of the landing will be announced in the upcoming few days.

Rashid Rover Milestones

Post the successful completion of the first milestone that is the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP), and the second milestone the cruise phase, Rashid Rover is now on its way to complete the third milestone – the Arrival Phase (Entry, Descent, and Landing). This will be the most intense of all, as the lander will have to land on the lunar surface based on its system’s calculation to stay on course for a specific landing spot on the moon.

The next is the Deployment, Commissioning and Drive-off phase. Once the Lander has landed on the lunar surface, deployment, commissioning and drive-off command sessions will begin. Following completion of the post-landing checkout, instrument commissioning and initial data collection will begin.

Following that is the Nominal Surface Operations phase, which is the mission itself. For 10-12 days, the Rashid rover will conduct continuous surface research and image capture.

The final two phases after the lunar day are hibernation and last decommissioning. The rover prepares for the lunar night. When the secondary communication is activated, all information captured is downloaded and every effort is made to ensure that no information is missed, before the hibernation phase. The chances of the rover restarting are slim; however, if the rover is activated after the lunar night then the mission will be extended to operate throughout the second lunar night which will end by the decommissioning phase.

This ambitious mission undertaken by the UAE to study the surface of the moon is considered a gateway for future exploration of other planets.

The mission is funded by the ICT Fund of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) which aims to support research and development in the ICT sector in the UAE.

ALSO READ: UAE Vice President launches 1B Meals Endowment project

Categories
-Top News Arab News UAE News

UAE distributes 200 tons of dates to quake-hit Türkiye

The dates will be distributed to eligible groups based on their humanitarian and economic conditions…reports Asian Lite News

The UAE Joint Operations Command of the Ministry of Defence in cooperation with the “Chivalrous Knight / 2” operation began distributing 200 tons of dates to approximately 11 earthquake-affected areas in several Turkish villages and cities.

The initiative reflects the wise leadership’s keenness to provide assistance to affected families and alleviate their suffering ahead of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The dates will be distributed to eligible groups based on their humanitarian and economic conditions.

The Joint Operations Command continues to implement the recovery and rehabilitation stage, following its success in achieving the rapid response phase within the “Chivalrous Knight / 2” operation.

School bags to Syrian children

The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) distributed around 1,500 school bags and stationery to Syrian students in the Latakia Governorate, one of the areas affected by the recent earthquake that hit the country.

The aid is the first phase of an initiative to distribute more than 10,000 school bags and stationery to several Syrian governorates. It is part of the UAE’s ongoing humanitarian and relief efforts.

The distribution of aid included the students of the Martyr Shaaban Ali Ahmed School, part of the Latakia Education Department.

The students highlighted their happiness at receiving school bags and stationery and thanked the UAE’s leadership, government and people.

In her statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Rasha Abdullah Ahmed, Assistant Director for Education at the Latakia Education Department, commended the UAE’s leadership and people their support of Syrians through the current crisis.

Majd Mohammed Ali, Principal of the Martyr Shaaban Ali Ahmed School, said local education has returned to 55 percent capacity. He noted that students are now being rehabilitated following the recent earthquake that hit Syria. He also pointed out that the presence of the Emirati delegation has helped Syrian schools return to normalcy.

A Syrian Grade 8 student, Sarah, thanked the UAE, while a Syrian girl, Mariam Nidaa Saleh, wrote a poem, titled “Thank you”, dedicated to the Emirati delegation.

Dr. Mohammed Al Junaibi, ERC Representative in Syria, said that the ERC would continue supporting those affected by the recent earthquake in cooperation with Syria’s Ministry of Education.

ALSO READ: UAE Vice President launches 1B Meals Endowment project

Categories
-Top News Arab News UAE News

Sheikha Fatima receives Syrian children

Sheikha Fatima was grateful for the present and expressed her desire to continue assisting the children in their personal and professional lives…reports Asian Lite News

 Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the “Mother of the Nation,” Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) has received several children from the choir team of the Syrian Organisation for Disabled (AAMAL), who came to the UAE capital to expressed their appreciation, love and gratitude to Sheikha Fatima on the occasion of the Mother’s Day.

Sheikha Fatima has ordered the treatment of several children with hearing issues who had been cured after undergoing organ transplant surgeries and rehabilitated by AAMAL to integrate them into the community.

On the occasion, the children’s choir presented artistic performances expressing their feelings of love and gratitude towards Sheikha Fatima, while presenting Her Highness with a gift marking the Mother’s Day.

Sheikha Fatima was grateful for the present and expressed her desire to continue assisting the children in their personal and professional lives.

The children were accompanied by Fadia Yousef Deeb, Representative of the Syrian Higher Education Ministry, and Rama Al Munjed, Executive Director of Aamal, along with their mothers.

People are seen at a displacement center in the Salah al-Deen neighborhood in Aleppo, northern Syria, on Feb. 7, 2023. Massive earthquakes have killed 364 people and wounded 702 others in Aleppo city in northern Syria, the media office at the Aleppo governorate headquarters told Xinhua. (Str/Xinhua)

Mobilising support for quake victims

Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, affirmed that the UAE leadership directed the provision of aid in solidarity with the Syrian Arab Republic and the Republic of Türkiye immediately following the devastating earthquake that struck the two countries.

In this regard, the UAE has continued to stand by the Syrian and Turkish peoples in these difficult circumstances as part of the UAE’s commitment to providing humanitarian relief to those in need, particularly following natural disasters.

This came during Al Hashemy’s participation in the international conference organised by the Kingdom of Sweden, the European Union, and the United Nations in Brussels to mobilise relief and support for early recovery programmes for those affected by the earthquake on 6th February.

The UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation stated that the UAE believes that the magnitude of this tragedy requires an extraordinary response. Rapid and direct coordination took place with both Syria and Türkiye to identify initial requirements, after which the UAE sent search and rescue teams and medical supplies while equipping field hospitals and launching the largest humanitarian air bridge for the two countries.

The UAE’s air bridge has dispatched thousands of tonnes of food, medical, and relief supplies carried by more than 240 aircraft and ships. This aid also included the provision of ambulances and amounted to US$330 million, including the allocation of US$20 million to support the United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan in Syria in partnership with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

ALSO READ: UAE’s Emaar invests big in J&K

Categories
-Top News Arab News Asia News

Lebanon slams Israeli FM’s racist remarks on Palestinians

Lebanon ministry had urged the international community to reject the deliberately provocative statement aimed at abolishing a peaceful solution…reports Asian Lite News

Lebanon has condemned the latest racist remarks made by Israel’s far-right Finance Minister, who denied the existence of Palestinian people.

The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Tuesday urged the international community to take deterrent measures and reject the deliberately provocative statement aimed at abolishing a peaceful solution and exacerbating the deteriorating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, Xinhua news agency reported.

During an event held in the French capital of Paris on Sunday, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also heads the Religious Zionist Party, said “there’s no such thing as Palestinians because there’s no such thing as a Palestinian people”.

He made the remarks on a stage that featured a map of “Greater Israel” that included the territory of modern-day Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territories in accordance with hardline aspirations by some early Zionist groups.

Jordan on Monday summoned the Israeli Ambassador in Amman to protest Smotrich’s “provocative acts”.

ALSO READ: Jordan slams Israeli minister over ‘Greater Israel’ map

Categories
-Top News Arab News Asia News

Iran not in sulk with Europe, says Khamenei

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iran’s top leader says ready to work with Europeans conditionally…reports Asian Lite News

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said that the country is ready to work with any European country that would not obey US policies blindly.

The leader made the remarks on Tuesday in an address to the people in the northeastern city of Mashhad on the first day of the new year in Iran.

He added that Iran is not “in a sulk with Europe,” and also plans to further improve its relations with Asian, African and Latin American countries, Xinhua news agency reported.

The top Iranian leader said the West has made bids to isolate Iran, but what occurred on the ground was that “our ties with Asia became 100 per cent stronger and we will continue our political, economic, technical and scientific relations with Asian states”.

He also lauded the Iranian people’s “strength and resistance” against the enemies’ conspiracies, such as resorting to coups, sanctions, political pressures and “media invasion” to spread Iranophobia.

ALSO READ: Iran, Iraq ink security pact