Author: Steven Sahiounie

By Elijah J. Magnier A secret deal has been set up between the US and Iran, through a third party, to enable the Iranian super tanker Adrian Darya 1 (formerly Grace 1) to deliver its 2.1 million barrels of oil to the Syrian government. Smaller tankers worked for five days unloading the oil to be delivered to the Syrian port of Tartous from offshore. Sources closed to the negotiation team said the US “was determined to stop the Iranian supertanker from reaching Syria due to the US-EU strategy to economically sanction the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and turn Syrians against their leader.” These…

Sarah Abed, independent journalist and analyst Denmark is recognized as one of the most socially and economically developed countries in the world, which enjoys a high standard of living as well as high metrics in national performance, protection of civil liberties, and the lowest perceived level of corruption in the world, has announced that it will be boosting military contributions to missions around the world, including joining the United States in its illegal and unauthorized deployment in northeastern Syria.  The sovereign and proud nation of Syria has neither invited nor does it accept any foreign invaders on its land and…

Saudi Arabia has suffered loss of military personnel and mercenaries in a retaliatory missile strike carried out by Yemen’s army soldiers and fighters from allied Popular Committees targeting positions in the southern region of Jizan. The media bureau of Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement announced in a statement that six domestically-developed Zelzal-1 (Earthquake-1) missiles were fired at Saudi strongholds that were also populated by militiamen loyal to former Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi east of the mountainous district of Jabal al-Doud on Sunday afternoon. There has been no report on the number of casualties. The statement added that the projectiles hit the…

Libya’s internationally-recognized government has criticized the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for hosting a member of renegade Libyan general Khalifa Haftar’s forces, denouncing the Arab country’s position as “hostile.” In a statement issued on Sunday, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) condemned the “hostile position of the United Arab Emirates,” which has allowed Abu Dhabi to be used as “a media platform for militias attacking the Libyan capital.” Haftar ordered militia groups loyal to him to invade Tripoli in an unsuccessful attempt to seize it on April 4. Almost five months after launching the offensive, the rebel forces remain bogged down on the…

Sudan’s first cabinet since the ouster of president Omar al-Bashir was sworn Sunday as the African country transitions to civilian rule. The 18-member cabinet led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok took oath at the presidential palace in Khartoum, AFP reported. It is expected to steer the daily affairs of the country during a transition period of 39 months. The cabinet includes four women, among them Asmaa Abdallah, who becomes the country’s first female foreign minister. It also includes Ibrahim Elbadawi, a former World Bank economist who will serve as finance minister, and Madani Abbas Madani — a leader of the…

Tehran has accused European signatories of failing to abide by their obligations under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, warning that the Islamic republic would not be taken advantage-of. “The deal is not a one-way street and Iran will act accordingly, as we have done so far, by gradually downgrading our commitments,” said Ali Akbar Salehi, director of Iran’s nuclear energy agency. After meeting with the acting head of the UN nuclear watchdog (IAEA), Cornel Feruta, Salehi stated that Tehran still hopes that the deal can be salvaged and that all parties would uphold the agreement.

by Svetlana Ekimenko Russia has been stockpiling gold bullion in recent years in an attempt to lessen its economy’s reliance on the US dollar, with forecasts showing the country’s gold and foreign exchange reserves are set to outstrip those of Saudi Arabia. Russia’s gold bullion stockpiles are now worth $109.5 billion, according to the latest figures from the country’s central bank, on the back of a push to steer growing international reserves away from the US dollar. Data released by the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) on Friday shows Russia augmented its stockpile of the precious metal by more than $7.5 billion in…

The Afghan government has emphasised the importance of holding the presidential elections, slated for September 28, for the ongoing peace process, the presidential press service said on Sunday. “The government of Afghanistan reiterates its stance on holding the presidential elections on September 28 to make sure the establishment of a legitimate government through the ballot box and to move forward the ongoing peace process with full wisdom and precision,” the statement said. According to the presidential office, Kabul considers the Taliban’s ongoing attacks to be the main obstacle for the peace process. “We have consistently stressed that genuine peace is…

According to media reports, armed Turkish military vehicles crossed into northeast Syria on Sunday to begin planned joint US-Turkey patrols. The Turkish and US armed forces have started their joint patrols in a safe zone in Northeastern Syria, the Turkish Defence Ministry announced on Sunday. “As a part of efforts to create a safe zone in the north of Syria to the east of the Euphrates, the Turkish and US military have started joint ground patrols using transport vehicles and drones to the south of Akcakale, on the Syrian side,” the Defence Ministry said. The ministry added that six Turkish…

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have reportedly reached an agreement to open a new crossing in the Euphrates River Valley region. According to a military source in the area, the Syrian Army and SDF reached an agreement to open a crossing between their territories near the town of Al-Salihiyah in southeastern Deir Ezzor. The crossing will allow civilians access to both sides of the Euphrates River Valley in Deir Ezzor and promote commerce and trade between these areas. The Syrian Army and SDF already have a few crossings in northern and eastern Syria, but this…