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Middle East

Iran says virus uptick due to increased testing

Iran's health ministry said Sunday a surge in new reported coronavirus infections was due to increased testing rather than a worsening outbreak. After hitting a near two-month low in early May and a lifting of tough movement restrictions, cases of the COVID-19 illness have been rising in...

Israelis protest Netanyahu's annexation plan

Several thousand Israelis demonstrated Saturday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to extend sovereignty over parts of the occupied West Bank, de-facto annexation of land that the Palestinians seek for a state. Protesting in face masks and keeping their distance from each...

US, Syria sanctions put strains on Lebanon

Lebanon is once again caught between a rock and a hard place as the US adds more painful measures to penalize any country or individuals who knowingly conduct financial activities that benefit the Syrian regime. Better known as Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, this law which was...

Iran to stay open despite second wave fears

President Hassan Rouhani insisted Saturday that the country had no option but to keep its economy open despite warnings of a second wave of the epidemic that Rouhani claimed to have spawned from a wedding party in the country. Iran, which has been gradually relaxing its lockdown since...

US shares UN embargo bid on Iran with Russia

The United States said Friday it had shared a draft UN resolution with rival Russia that aims to extend an arms embargo on Iran that expires in October. Moscow has already voiced opposition to prolonging the ban on conventional arms sales to Tehran, with Russian firms expecting to conclude...