Iran's recent truce with Saudi Arabia, a stark departure from years of animosity, is failing to resuscitate its faltering economy. The rial, which is the basic monetary unit of Iran, gained some ground following the China-brokered deal. But inflation continues to soar, and getting relief from sanctions by reviving the...
Saudi Arabia Likely to Join Abraham Accords, Former UN Ambassador Says
Israel's former envoy to the UN says Saudi Arabia may be on the verge of normalizing ties with the Jewish state. Speaking at an international Abraham Accords forum, Danny Danan says he believes we will “see an agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia in the coming year.” Under the accords,...
Key Senate Chair Urges US to Freeze Cooperation With Saudis
WASHINGTON — Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez called Monday for freezing all U.S. cooperation with Saudi Arabia, delivering one of the strongest expressions yet of U.S. anger over Saudi oil-production cuts that serve to boost Russia in its war in Ukraine. In a statement, Menendez specifically called for...
Gulf Arab Leaders Sign Declaration With Qatar to Ease Rift
AL-ULA, Saudi Arabia — Gulf Arab leaders signed a declaration Tuesday in Saudi Arabia to mark a new page in relations following the kingdom's decision to end a 3 1/2-year embargo of Qatar, easing a rift that deeply divided regional U.S. security allies and frayed social ties across the interconnected...
Saudi Women’s Rights Activist Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — One of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent women’s rights activists was sentenced Monday to nearly six years in prison, according to state-linked media, under a vague and broadly worded counterterrorism law. The ruling nearly brings to a close a case that has drawn international criticism and...
Reports: Israeli PM Flew to Saudi Arabia, Met Crown Prince
JERUSALEM — Israeli media reported Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Saudi Arabia for a clandestine meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which would mark the first known encounter between senior Israeli and Saudi officials. The reported meeting was the latest move by the Trump Administration to...
Amid Virus, Saudis Close Islam's Holiest Sites to Foreigners
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia on Thursday closed off the holiest sites in Islam to foreign pilgrims over the coronavirus, disrupting travel for thousands of Muslims already headed to the kingdom and potentially affecting plans later this year for millions more ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan...
Saudi Arabia Halts Pilgrimage; Iran Vice President Has Virus
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia on Thursday banned foreign pilgrims from entering the kingdom to visit Islam's holiest sites over the new coronavirus, potentially disrupting the plans of millions of faithful ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and as the annual hajj pilgrimage looms. The decision...
Al-Qaida in Yemen Claims Deadly Florida Naval Base Shooting
CAIRO — Al-Qaida's branch in Yemen claimed responsibility Sunday for last year's deadly shooting at the Naval Air Station Pensacola by an aviation student from Saudi Arabia. The shooter, 2nd Lt. Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, was a member of the Saudi Air Force in training at the base. He opened fire inside...
Khashoggi Documentary 'The Dissident' Lands at Sundance
PARK CITY, Utah — A searing documentary about the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi made its anticipated debut at the Sundance Film Festival, unveiling a detailed investigation into the Saudi Arabia regime and the companies and governments that do business with it. Bryan Fogel’s “The Dissident” was one...