Middle East

The deputy head of Hezbollah's political council, Mahmoud Kamati, stated that "The equation of Dahiyeh against settlements in the north cannot be accepted in any way."

The dispute has emerged as one of the central obstacles preventing progress toward a memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington, which would be just the first step.

US House backs resolution curbing Trump Iran war powers • Trump tells aides he will look to end Iran ceasefire if Tehran kills US troops, WSJ reports • Iran claims failed US missile struck Kuwait

He described Iran as "volatile," stating that the US military was more than capable of wiping the country out within a few weeks.

This comes after Kuwait banished two Iranian diplomats and declared them persona non grata after Iran said Kuwait and Bahrain were directly responsible for the attacks.

Eastern Iran faces an agricultural crisis as Moroccan locusts descend, destroying crops and pasture while authorities race to contain the swarms.

This comes after Iran attacked Kuwait's airport in the early hours of Wednesday morning and damaged "vital facilities, including diplomatic missions."

Recent events, including the January demonstrations that were violently suppressed by the regime, have also seen Iran’s Kurdish community disproportionately affected by state violence.

The meetings in Washington between the US, Israel, and Lebanon are important, but it remains to be seen what concrete changes can emerge. 

Iraq is at a turning point as militias begin procedures to disengage from the PMF and potentially hand weapons to the government amid US pressure.