Middle East

Opening the discussions, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas complained that Iran’s internet blackout was an attempt by the regime to conceal “the scale of oppression."

What Trump will do if he decides to attack is far from clear, and whether he would succeed in toppling the regime is also a big question.

Norway was invited to serve on the board as well, but refused the offer. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry did not provide an immediate explanation.

Dozens of countries, including Germany, France, Britain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, sent personnel to the center as they sought to influence discussions on Gaza's future.

The Office of General Yazdanpanah criticised Western inaction regarding the situation for the Kurds in Syria, continuing: “Rojava will fall if we Kurds don’t consider their struggle as ours.”

Ahmed al-Sharaa has proven to be an adept player of geopolitical chess. Now he will be tested on his ability to win the peace in Syria.

This follows a similar statement made by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who stated that "Any aggression against Khamenei is tantamount to all-out war against the Iranian nation."

Senior Hamas figures are reportedly weighing a coordinated departure from Gaza following the rollout of Phase II of Donald Trump’s plan, according to sources cited by Asharq al-Awsat.

Human rights groups warned the regime stepped up executions in response to the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests, which erupted in response to the regime’s murder of Mahsa Amini.

An Iranian official said authorities have verified at least 5,000 deaths in the protests, which are the biggest demonstrations since 2022, prompting UN rights chief Volker Turk to condemn violence.