IRAN

Tensions Simmer in the Gulf as Kingdom Says it Wants to Avoid War but ‘Will Respond Firmly and Decisively to Any Threat’

The guided missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), foreground left, leads the guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103), right, the guided missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), center, and the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) during a strait transit exercise in the Atlantic Ocean Dec. 10, 2013. The ships were part of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group and were underway participating in a composite training unit exercise in preparation for a scheduled deployment. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Wolpert, U.S. Navy/Released)
Tensions simmered with Iran over the weekend as Saudi Arabia, the United States and allies made it clear war should be avoided at all costs but that they would respond to security threats and defend their interests if necessary.

Saudi Arabia

News, analysis, and more

Saudi-Iran

Al-Jubeir: The Kingdom does not want a war, but will respond firmly and decisively to any threat

Al-Jubeir stated that the two GCC and Arab summits to be held in Makkah on 30, May, 2019, will discuss the Iranian aggression and its...

 

Emergency Summit

Saudi King Calls For Urgent Arab Summit Amid Rising Tensions With Iran

The flurry of activity comes amid increasing tensions between the United States and Iran. Washington has beefed up its military presence in the Middle East...

 

U.S.-Saudi Relations

Saudi crown prince, Pompeo discuss regional security concerns

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also deputy prime minister and defense minister, has received a telephone call from US Secretary of State...

 

War in Yemen

Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missiles heading toward Mecca, Jeddah

The Iran-linked Houthi militias have targeted Saudi border towns and Riyadh with ballistic missiles and also claimed drone attacks on the airports of Abu Dhabi...

 

Global Oil Markets

Saudi energy minister says world does not need any more oil in coming months

"We see inventories rising, we see plentiful supplies," the minister told reporters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where an OPEC/non-OPEC monitoring committee that he co-chairs with...

 

Excise Taxes

Saudi Arabia Widens Excise Tax to Sweetened Drinks, E-Cigarettes

Sweetened drinks will be subject to a 50% levy, while e-cigarettes and their liquids will face a 100% tax, according to a document issued by...

 

Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority

Saudi c. bank fines 16 financial institutions for violations of responsible finance

The Saudi Monetary Authority said in a statement the violations were related to exceeding debt burdens imposed on people in proportion to their monthly income....

 

Saudi Stock Market

Goldman Sachs to test Saudi Arabia’s market rules to limit stock swings post IPO

The US bank is acting as stabilization agent for mall owner Arabian Centres, which is expected to start trading this week after completing the kingdom’s...

 

Privileged Iqama

Rights and benefits of the Saudi ‘Green Card’

The Um Al-Qura newspaper, the official gazette of the Saudi government, has published new information concerning the laws and regulations of the Privileged Iqama, widely...

 

Animation

Japan’s Toei Animation Teams With Saudi’s Manga on ‘The Journey’

In an industry-building effort for Saudi Arabia, new Saudi animation studio Manga Productions has teamed up with Japan’s Toei Animation on a $10 million to...

 

Al-Ula

How Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ula went from being underdeveloped…to having negative unemployment

Previously underdeveloped and mostly ignored, it has now become home to the Winter at Tantora music festival, which was sold out every night between December...

 

Saudi-Sudan

Saudi Arabia deposits $250 mn in Sudan’s central bank

The oil-rich Gulf states pledged to inject $500 million into Sudan's central bank and $2.5 billion to help provide food, medicine and petroleum products, the...

 

Saudi +

Regional and related topics

U.S.-Iran

US president says war would be ‘end’ of Iran as tensions rise

"If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran," he said in a tweet on Sunday. "Never threaten the United States...

 

OPEC+

Russia energy minister Novak sees options for OPEC deal

The OPEC+ alliance held a ministerial monitoring committee meeting, known as the JMMC, on Sunday in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. The producers agreed...

 

GCC Security

GCC states launch ‘enhanced security patrols’ in Arabian Gulf

GCC members were "specifically increasing communication and co-ordination with each other in support of regional naval co-operation and maritime security operations in the Arabian Gulf",...

 

Commercial Flights

US warns airliners flying in Persian Gulf amid Iran tension

The warning relayed by US diplomatic posts from the Federal Aviation Administration underlined the risks the current tensions pose to a region crucial to global...

 

Iraq

Rocket attack hits near US Embassy in Baghdad’s Green Zone

As tensions escalate between the U.S. and Iran, there have been concerns that Baghdad could once again get caught in the middle , just as...

 

Syria

Syrian Government Starts Campaign to Retake Last Opposition Stronghold of Idlib

The Syrian military and its allies have begun a long, slow and violent campaign to recapture the last province in the country still under opposition...

 

Egypt

Egypt explosion: Tourists on bus injured near Giza pyramids

An explosion targeting a tourist bus has injured at least 16 people near the Grand Egyptian Museum, next to the pyramids in Giza. South African tourists...

 

Libya

Life in Libya Getting Worse Before Recent Fighting

The one in five Libyans who were thriving in the July 27-Aug. 11, 2018, survey is well below the 31% who rated their lives this...

 

Turkey

Turkey’s Erdogan says will jointly produce S-500s with Russia after purchase of S-400s

“They (the U.S.) are passing the ball around in the midfield now, showing some reluctance. But sooner or later, we will receive the F-35s. (The...

 

Iraq

Major strategic implications if Iraq gets S-400

Military expenditure in Iraq averaged $5.05 billion a year from 2004 until 2018. Iraq’s military is small and is primarily a counter-insurgency force. It has a...

 

Sudan

Sudan’s military council resumes talks with protesters

The generals and the protesters remain divided on what role the military should have in the transition to civilian rule. Sunday’s talks are expected to...

 

India

Exit polls suggest Narendra Modi back as PM

Four exit polls saw big wins for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), predicting that it would win anywhere between 280 and 315 seats, far...

 

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