BEHIND THE LINES: Since October 2023, forces associated with the PMF – that is, affiliated with the government of Iraq – engaged in ongoing attacks against US personnel and positions.
The Washington Post reported that it's not clear the grade of importance that the delegation, led by US Vice President JD Vance, will place on this demand.
A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world.
Sources reveal that Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is recovering from severe, disfiguring injuries following an airstrike that killed his father at the start of the war.
The mines, which were laid by small boats and without a clear record of where they were placed, make the Strait of Hormuz almost impossible to transit.
US intelligence reports that China is preparing to deliver air defense systems to Iran within weeks, using third countries to conceal the shipments, as tensions rise in the region.
Trump says empty oil tankers heading to US to load up with oil, gas • Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei suffers disfiguring wounds • Iran says US has agreed to release frozen Iranian assets, US denies report
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had said that Iran's missiles had been "depleted and decimated" during a press conference, with US officials concerned that Iran may use the ceasefire to rearm.
The report said the request was still under review by Netanyahu, with Lebanon earlier on Friday saying that the US would be mediating the talks.
White House officials said they were skeptical that the talks could immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as both sides accused each other of breaking commitments made to secure the ceasefire.
One source said that funding so far was under $1 billion, but did not provide further details. The Iran war "has affected everything," exacerbating previous funding difficulties, the source said.
