Neighbourhood policy
Dozens killed as Damascus presses Idlib offensive
Dozens of fighters and civilians were killed in Syria's Idlib province as the government pressed a deadly offensive Thursday (16 January) towards a key town in the country's last rebel bastion.
Russia urges Persian Gulf nations to consider a joint security mechanism
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday (15 January) Moscow has been urging Gulf countries to consider a common security mechanism for the region and it was time the world got rid of unilateral measures such as sanctions.
EU powers to trigger Iran nuclear deal dispute mechanism
Britain, France and Germany will trigger the dispute resolution mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, two European diplomats said on Tuesday (14 January), the biggest step the Europeans have taken in response as Tehran has backed off nuclear commitments.
Libya peace talks in Moscow fall short of ceasefire deal
Libya’s warring leaders made some progress at indirect peace talks in Moscow on Monday (13 January) but failed to agree on an open-ended ceasefire to end a nine-month war over the capital Tripoli.
US to join probe of Ukrainian jet disaster that killed 176
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has accepted an invitation from Iran to take part in its investigation into the crash of a Ukrainian airplane in Tehran, the agency confirmed late on Thursday (9 January).
Iran missile attacks target US forces in Iraq; Trump says ‘All is well!’
Iran launched a missile attack on US-led forces in Iraq in the early hours of Wednesday in retaliation for the US drone strike on an Iranian commander whose killing has raised fears of a wider war in the Middle East.
Trump threatens to hit 52 Iranian targets, Borrell urges ‘de-escalation’
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday (4 January) stressed the "need for de-escalation" after the US assassination of a top Iranian in Baghdad, while US President Donald Trump threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites “very hard” if Iran attacks Americans or US assets.
US kills top Iranian commander Soleimani in air strike
The United States killed Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force and architect of Iran’s spreading military influence in the Middle East, in an air strike on Friday (3 December) at Baghdad airport, the Pentagon and Iran...
Turkey mulls sending allied Syrian fighters to Libya
Turkey is considering sending allied Syrian fighters to Libya as part of its planned military support for the embattled government in Tripoli, four senior Turkish sources said on Monday (30 December), with one adding that Ankara was leaning toward the idea.
Luxembourg urges EU debate on Palestine recognition
Luxembourg on Monday (9 December) asked for an EU-level debate on recognising Palestinian statehood, securing a promise that EU foreign ministers would "deeply discuss" the Middle East in January.
Israel slams new European recruits to Iran barter system
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (1 December) denounced six new European members of a barter mechanism with Iran, saying it encouraged Tehran's repression of protests.
Amid Russia’s tightening embrace, Belarus seeks better ties with EU
Belarus is interested in building good-neighbourly ties with the European Union, and in particular with Stockholm and Helsinki, if there are no preconditions from the bloc, Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday (25 November).
EU urges end to Iran protest violence
The European Union on Thursday (21 November) called on Iran to show "maximum restraint" in handling protests that have rocked the country, leaving several people dead, and urged an end to violence.
Arab uprisings: spring time continues
Since the rapture of the 2011 Arab uprisings, starting in Tunisia and sweeping through North Africa and the Middle East – most notably engulfing Libya, Egypt, Syria, and Yemen – a bitter aftertaste of repression and civil war lingers, writes Sharon Lecocq.
US ‘deeply concerned’ by EU court decision on food from Palestinian territories
The United States is "deeply concerned" by a ruling by the European Union's top court that food products from Palestinian territories must be labelled as such, the US State Department spokeswoman said Wednesday (13 November).
Awaiting IAEA report, EU admits preserving Iran nuclear deal ‘increasingly difficult’
President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday (5 November) that Iran would resume uranium enrichment at an underground plant south of Tehran in its latest step back from a troubled 2015 agreement with major powers.
Germany decries Iran’s move to speed up nuclear work, urges return to accord
Iran's announcement that it has developed advanced machines to speed up uranium enrichment jeopardises a 2015 accord with world powers, Germany's foreign minister said on Monday (4 November), urging Tehran to return to the pact.
Fresh victims in Iraq’s largest anti-government protests
Iraqi security forces killed at least five people when they opened fire on protesters in Baghdad on Monday (4 November), a Reuters witness said, as thousands took part in the largest wave of anti-government protests for decades.
‘It’s the jungle’: Bosnian migrant camp in crisis
No running water, putrid portable toilets and surrounding woods littered with land mines - these are the bleak conditions of a camp where hundreds of migrants brace for winter in Bosnia.
EU condemns Turkey’s military action, stops short of common arms embargo
EU foreign minister on Monday (14 October) unanimously condemned Turkey’s military action in north-eastern Syria, asking all member states to stop selling arms to Ankara. However, they stopped short of an EU-wide arms embargo that France and Germany had sought.
EU urges Turkey to halt Syria invasion, will not pay for ‘safe zone’
The EU on Wednesday (9 October) demanded Turkey halt its military operation against Kurdish militants in northern Syria, telling Ankara the bloc would not pay for any so-called "safe zone" that might be created.
Iran’s Rouhani says wider talks with US possible if 2015 deal implemented
Iran can discuss other issues with the United States providing its 2015 nuclear deal with six powers is fully implemented, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday (26 September), adding that Tehran's missile capabilities were not negotiable.
Pentagon to send radar, Patriot missiles to bolster Saudi defences
The Pentagon said on Thursday (26 September) it plans to send four radar systems, a battery of Patriot missiles and about 200 support personnel to bolster Saudi Arabia's defenses after the largest-ever attack on the kingdom's oil facilities this month.