Syrian air defenses have responded to apparent missile attacks in the vicinity of Damascus and Homs, SANA reports, with its military source claiming that a number of ‘hostile targets’ have been intercepted. At least 4 people, including a baby, were killed in the strikes on the Damascus countryside, while 21 others suffered injuries, according to state TV. One of those injured is a month-old baby... 

The United Arab Emirates has broken ranks with its U.S. and Saudi allies in refusing to blame Iran for the suspicious oil tanker attacks off its coast in the Sea of Oman last month. In a clear rebuttal to US and Saudi claims, the UAE says there is no “clear, scientific or convincing” evidence to hold Iran responsible for the attacks. Press TV reports: UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed... 

The European financial settlement mechanism (INSTEX), aimed at circumventing US sanctions against Iran, is working and transactions are already happening, according to Iran’s JCPOA envoy. The payments mechanism was established by the European Union to keep trading with Tehran despite US sanctions in order to keep the nuclear deal with Iran alive. The US re-imposed sanctions against the Islamic Republic... 

Venezuela claimed is derailed an attempted coup that would have also led to the assassination of Nicolas Maduro. The socialist regime accused the United States, Colombia and Chile of colluding to remove an under-pressure Maduro last weekend. The embattled leader of the oil-rich South American nation is facing popular backlash at home over a failing economy and spiraling inflation, as well as increasing... 

Tensions between the two countries rose dramatically last week after an Iranian air defence missile shot down a US drone in what Iran said was its airspace. Washington claimed the drone was downed over international waters, with President Trump later saying that he nearly ordered a ‘retaliatory’ strike which would have killed 150 Iranians. The US military will get an even “stronger”... 

The US defense secretary is trying to “internationalize” the US stand-off with Iran by convincing NATO allies to help. France reportedly rebuked his advances, saying the alliance shouldn’t be dragged into war in the Gulf, RT.com reports. Mark Esper is meeting his NATO counterparts in Brussels this week, attempting to bring NATO members onto Washington’s side as its confrontation with Tehran... 

Tensions between Iran and the US have intensified since Tehran downed an American drone, which as Iran said, had violated the country’s borders. Washington, meanwhile, has accused Tehran of allegedly attacking oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, something that the Islamic Republic denies doing. Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev stated in negotiations with US National Security... 

Britain will “stand by” its ally and consider offering military support if the Trump administration decides to go to war with Iran, Jeremy Hunt has confirmed — words from the foreign secretary that are unlikely to come as a shock. With the US doing its level best to raise tensions with Iran, Hunt has revealed himself to be every bit the pathetic poodle of Washington that Tony Blair and ex-foreign... 

Washington previously imposed restrictions on Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and “those closely affiliated with him”. US President Donald Trump has said he is responsible for “the hostile conduct” of Tehran towards the United States. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stated that the sanctions against Tehran show the US administration’s “despair”, calling... 

The reports about the UK deployment come against the backdrop of British Minister for the Middle East Andrew Murrison’s visit to Iran to de-escalate tensions. UK Special Boat Service frogmen, who are trained to remove mines from vessels, perpetrate underwater attacks as well as counter foreign troops, have been deployed to the Persian Gulf “as part of a deterrent” amid growing tensions between... 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied that Donald Trump can secure concessions on key issues by dangling the prospect of a new one-to-one meeting, but reiterated that Moscow is ready for fresh talks. The US president has repeatedly insisted that he will speak face-to-face with Putin at the G20 summit in Osaka next week, and US National Security Advisor John Bolton confirmed on Sunday that Trump... 

Shortly after Tucker Carlson warned against a war with Iran on his show Thursday night, Sean Hannity told his viewers that Trump needs to bomb Iran or else it’s mathematically guaranteed there will be another holocaust. “A-squared, B-squared equals C-squared,” Hannity said. “Radical Islamic mullahs married to weapons of mass destruction, nukes, equals a potential holocaust.” “We can’t... 

Iranian MPs have slammed the US amid a new crisis between the two countries. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump called Iran “terrorist nation number one”, while the Pentagon sent reinforcements to the Middle East to oppose Tehran. “America is the real terrorist in the world by spreading chaos in countries, giving advanced weapons to terrorist groups, causing insecurity,... 

Offensive cyber-strikes against Iran reportedly disabled its computer systems that control rocket and missile launches on Thursday night, when the military attack was called off by President Donald Trump. President Trump approved the cyber offensive against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Washington Post reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Although the attack came after Iran... 

Tensions between Iran and the United States nearly escalated into a dangerous direct confrontation on Thursday as President Donald Trump approved airstrikes against Tehran following the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ downing of a US spy drone, but abruptly backtracked on his decision. US President Donald Trump took advice from one of his favourite Fox News anchors, Tucker Carlson, before...