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SAUDI ARABIA BREAKING NEWS
Trump says he is 'shocked' by Meloni in public rebuke over Iran, Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett/Poo RIYADH/ROME, April 14 - U.S. President Donald Trump said he was "shocked" by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and had expected her to show more courage, in a sharp public rebuke over her stance on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, according to an interview published on Tuesday by Italy's Corriere della Sera. Trump's comments marked
Apr 141 min read
Pakistan PM to visit Saudi Arabia, Turkey as Islamabad pushes U.S.-Iran peace efforts
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, takes his seat, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Islamabad, for a meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance about Iran. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) RIYADH/ISLAMABAD, April 14 - Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday on recent talks between the United States and Iran and said he would visit Saudi Arabia and Turkey this week to support peace efforts, according to a statement from the pres
Apr 141 min read
Italy suspends defence agreement with Israel amid criticism over Lebanon strikes
Instagram | GIORGIA MELONI RIYADH/ROME, April 13 - Italy has suspended the automatic renewal of a longstanding defence agreement with Israel amid mounting criticism of Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Monday. Speaking in Verona, Meloni said the government had decided to halt the renewal of the accord in light of the current situation. "Taking into account the current situation we are experiencing, the government has decided to suspend the auto
Apr 141 min read
Iran demands compensation from Gulf states it says backed U.S., Israeli war effort
SABN RIYADH/UNITED NATIONS, April 13 - Iran's representative to the United Nations has demanded compensation from countries Tehran says participated in the U.S. and Israeli war effort against Iran, according to Iranian state media. Iranian media said the countries named were Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. According to IRNA, Iran's official news agency, U.N. envoy Amir-Saeid Iravani said the countries had violated international law and must
Apr 141 min read
Finland president says Iran holds upper hand through control of Strait of Hormuz
Finland President Alexander Stubb, left, attends a joint statement with France’s President Emmanuel Monday, Feb. 23, 2026 at the Elysee Palace in Paris (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla; Pool) RIYADH/WASHINGTON, April 14 - Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Iran currently holds the upper hand in its conflict with Israel and the United States because it controls the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a large share of the world's oil supplies passes. Speaking at an
Apr 141 min read
Luxury sales fall in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as Iran conflict hits Gulf demand
People shop ahead of the holy month of Ramadan at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 22, 2023. REUTERS RIYADH/DUBAI, April 13 - Sales at Europe's biggest luxury brands have fallen sharply in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as the Iran conflict disrupted what had been one of the industry's fastest-growing markets, in the latest setback for the $400 billion global luxury sector. Sales at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai fell 30% to 50% in March from a year earl
Apr 141 min read
China says blockading Iranian ports does not serve common interests, urges peace talks
China's foreign minister Wang Yi attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing on March 8, Iori Sagisawa/Pool/AFP/Getty Images RIYADH, April 14 - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that blockading Iranian ports did not serve the international community's common interests and called for greater efforts to promote peace talks and preserve the ceasefire between the United States and Iran. In a phone call with Pak
Apr 141 min read
Iran foreign minister discusses U.S. pressure with Saudi, Qatari counterparts
RIYADH, April 13 - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Monday to discuss what Tehran described as risks stemming from provocative U.S. actions to block Iranian ports, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. In his call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Araghchi said Iran had acted in good faith by accepting a ceasefire with the United States, but accused Washington of undermining negotiat
Apr 131 min read
UAE president meets Bahrain king to discuss ties and regional developments
WAM RIYADH, April 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Bahrain on Monday, where the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and regional developments. The meeting focused on cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and ways to strengthen relations in support of shared interests and development priorities. The two leaders also discussed developments in the Middle East and
Apr 131 min read
Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers discuss developments after U.S.-Iran talks
SPA RIYADH, April 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a phone call on Monday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss the latest developments following recent peace negotiations between Iran and the United States. The call focused on diplomatic developments after the talks, according to the Saudi Foreign Ministry. No further details were announced.
Apr 131 min read
White House says Iran rejected key U.S. demands in Pakistan talks
US Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran in Islamabad on Sunday. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, April 13 - The White House said on Sunday that Iran had not agreed during weekend talks in Pakistan to key U.S. demands for a deal, including ending uranium enrichment, dismantling major nuclear facilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. A White House official said President Donald T
Apr 121 min read
Saudi Arabia says East-West pipeline restored to full capacity after attacks
RIYADH, April 12, 2026, Saudi Arabia Breaking News - Saudi Arabia has restored full pumping capacity through its East-West pipeline and recovered lost output at the Manifa oilfield following attacks that disrupted parts of the kingdom’s energy infrastructure, the Energy Ministry said on Sunday. The ministry said operational and technical teams had restored the pipeline’s full pumping capacity of about 7 million barrels per day within a short period, according to a statement c
Apr 121 min read
Iranian source says U.S. agreed to release frozen assets ahead of talks
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner walk with Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar after arriving for peace talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, April 11, 2026. Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via REUTERS ISLAMABAD, April 11 (Reuters) - The United States has agreed to release Iranian frozen assets h
Apr 112 min read
Saudi Arabia said attacks hit key energy facilities, disrupt oil and fuel operations
RIYADH, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Arabia said multiple recent attacks had struck critical energy facilities across the kingdom, hitting oil and gas production, transport, refining, petrochemicals and power assets, killing one worker and wounding seven others. A Saudi energy ministry source said the attacks disrupted operations at key parts of the energy system, including a pumping station on the East-West pipeline, cutting flows through the line by about 70
Apr 91 min read
Iran to cap Strait of Hormuz traffic at 15 vessels a day, TASS reports
REUTERS PARIS, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Iran will allow no more than 15 vessels a day to pass through the Strait of Hormuz under its ceasefire agreement with the United States, Russia's TASS news agency reported on Thursday, citing a senior Iranian source. The move would leave tight restrictions in place on one of the world's most important shipping lanes after weeks of disruption linked to the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, is the main e
Apr 91 min read
Meloni urges halt to Lebanon escalation after warning shots hit Italian UN convoy
GIORGIA MELONI | INSTAGRAM ROME, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday that Israel must halt its military escalation in Lebanon and guarantee the safety of U.N. peacekeepers after Israeli forces fired warning shots that damaged an Italian convoy serving with UNIFIL, drawing sharp condemnation from Rome. Meloni told parliament that Italy supported Lebanon's territorial sovereignty and efforts to disarm Hezbollah, while al
Apr 91 min read
Iran parliament speaker warns of 'strong responses' over Israeli strikes on Hezbollah
SABN TEHRAN, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned on Thursday that continued Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon would trigger "explicit costs and STRONG responses," as disputes over the scope of a fragile two-week ceasefire threatened to deepen regional tensions. Qalibaf said in a post on X that ceasefire violations would draw a strong response and urged that the fighting be stopped immediately. Iranian officials
Apr 91 min read
Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers discuss de-escalation in phone call
SPA RIYADH, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday, with the two sides discussing current developments and steps to reduce tensions and restore regional security and stability. The call came as regional diplomacy intensified around efforts to contain the fallout from the Iran war and prevent a wider escalation. It was the first publicly announced contact
Apr 91 min read
Macron calls for Lebanon's inclusion in ceasefire
Macron attends a meeting of France's defence and security council in Paris, April 8, 2026. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson/Pool PARIS, April 8 - French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran on Wednesday but said the situation in Lebanon remained critical, urging that Beirut be included in any broader arrangement tied to the pause in hostilities. Macron raised the issue at the opening of a defence meeting with advisers and cabinet members, a
Apr 81 min read
Iran media say ceasefire breached, warn of response as Israel continues Lebanon operations
Beirut, Lebanon, April 8, 2026. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir RIYADH, April 8 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Several Iranian media outlets reported on Wednesday that a ceasefire had been breached by Israel, warning of a possible response if military operations in Lebanon continue. Tasnim news agency, citing an unnamed source, said Iran would withdraw from the ceasefire agreement if attacks on Lebanon persist. It added that Iranian armed forces were identifying targets in response to
Apr 81 min read
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