Author: Steven Sahiounie

On July 20, Iranian FM Mohammad Javad Zarif sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which was released in the form of a 200-page book on the sixth anniversary of the ratification of UN Security Council Resolution 2231. “On July 20—UNSCR 2231’s 6th anniversary—I documented 6 years of the West’s [non-]implementation of JCPOA, in what may become my last & most important letter to UNSG,” Zarif tweeted yesterday.  Zarif wrote in the document that although “the letters substantiate every assertion that has been made” on implementation issues in the West, which began before Trump took office, he was confident that his…

The Cuban FM tweeted that these new “arbitrary measures,” alongside the US disinformation campaign and aggression, are used to justify the “inhuman blockade against Cuba.” The new sanctions the FM is referring to target the National Revolutionary Police, its Director Oscar Callejas Valcarce and its Deputy Director Eddy Siera Arias. The last round of sanctions the US had implemented was announced on July 22, and targeted the Cuban Defense Minister Alvaro Lopez Miera and the National Special Brigade. US President Biden said at the time that these sanctions were “just the beginning.” On July 16th, Cuban President Diaz-Canel had stated…

The fourth-generation nuclear-powered submarine “Krasnoyarsk”, built upon the improved “Yasen-M” design, was officially launched in the Russian city of Severodvinsk. The Russian Defense Ministry said that the launch of the Krasnoyarsk submarine adds to the crucial stage of constructing the nuclear submarine. The launch took place in light of Russia’s 325th anniversary of creating a regular fleet. Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov said: Thanks to the advanced design of one of the leading design bureaus in Malakhit, and the shipbuilders’ high-quality work, the Russian Navy will be equipped with the most modern and reliable nuclear submarines of…

A statement released by the DoJ announced the seizure of the tanker, which had been seized in March 2020 by Cambodia on US orders. The ship, which was owned and operated by a Singaporean national, was used to transfer oil to North Korea by way of other ships, or through direct shipments to the country’s Nampo Port. “Criminal charges of conspiracy to evade economic sanctions on the DPRK and money laundering conspiracy are pending against the alleged owner and operator of the Courageous, Kwek Kee Seng, a Singaporean national who remains at large,” the statement said. One key issue the…

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper “El Pais”, European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell warned that Turkey “will be able to exercise its influence on the migration route from Libya due to its strong presence in this country.” “Turkey has a growing influence in Libya and became a major player,” Borrell added. He pointed out that due to its string of “naval bases” which face the Italian coasts, Turkey “will have an impact on the Mediterranean migration paths into Europe along the main Central and eastern Mediterranean migration routes.” Borrell considered that the Europeans, for their part, “were…

The Syrian army targeted armed groups that refused to comply with the settlement agreement in “Daraa al-Balad”, southern Syria. Local sources stated the armed groups breached an agreement between security authorities and the notables of “Daraa al-Balad”. The accord called for the transfer of light and medium weapons, the installation of Syrian army checkpoints in Daraa al-Balad neighborhoods, and opening all closed roads leading to the city center. According to local sources, the armed groups only conceded a fraction of their arms, while security authorities implemented a direct settlement clause for dozens of fugitives in security cases without detaining them.…

US House lawmakers are forming a bipartisan caucus to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for allegations of “human rights violations against Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region”, according to a new report released by Axios. “While the United States economy relies heavily on trade with China, relations between the two global powers are tense. The Chinese Communist Party’s human rights violations are at the center of many complications”, according to the same report. Furthermore, the caucus is being led by Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York and Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey. According to a press release delivered…

At least two missiles fell in the Green Zone in Baghdad this morning, causing significant damage after the “C-Ram” defense system failed to intercept them. Sources told Al-Mayadeen that the missiles were launched from a nearby base, targeting the US embassy in the Green Zone, with one landing behind Al-Rahman Mosque in the Al-Mansour area. An Al-Mayadeen reporter also disclosed the targeting of two convoys belonging to the logistical support division of the US army in Nasiriyah, southern Iraq, in conjunction with the targeting of a third convoy affiliated with the US forces in Diwaniyah, in the south of the…

The northwestern Al-Khalil town of Beit Ummar bid farewell to martyred 13-year-old boy Mohamad Alami on Thursday, who was martyred after the occupation forces shot him. Mohamad Alami passed away at the age of 13. There is information saying he is an only child, and his parents had him after 7 years and many in-vitro fertilization attempts. To mourn Alami, the Municipality of Beit Ummar announced Thursday a day of mourning and a general strike during which all municipal work will be suspended, except for emergencies. Videos showing Mohamad’s grandmother and father mourning him: In an interview for Palestinian media,…

Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is ‘stepping down from politics’ and heading toward the private sector, as he will be launching his own investment firm. Jared, the former CEO of Kushner Companies, which his father Charles founded, is launching an investment firm under the name, Affinity Partners, after serving as CEO for Kushner Cos. for over ten years. He stepped down from Kushner Cos. in 2017 to move into the White House and serve as a senior advisor for then-President Donald Trump. The firm will be based in Miami; according to a source familiar with the matter, Kushner is looking…