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Middle East

Iran tensions overshadow Mecca summits

Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia hosts Islamic, Arab and Gulf summits this week as tensions between Iran and the US raise fears of military escalation. The three summits in Mecca, Islam's holiest city, allow US ally Riyadh the chance to present unified Islamic, Arab and Gulf fronts against...

Russia welcomes Iran nonaggression initiative with Gulf

Russia hailed on Monday an Iranian initiative to conclude a non-aggression pact with the Persian Gulf countries.  This step can ease tensions in the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, speaking at a news conference in Moscow, following the meeting with his Cuban...

Israel open to US-mediated talks on maritime border

Israel voiced openness Monday to U.S.-mediated talks with Lebanon on resolving a dispute over the neighbors' maritime border that has dogged Mediterranean oil and gas exploration. Such talks, Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz's office said in a statement after he met U.S. envoy David...