RIYADH: Islamic nations, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Indonesia, lambasted on Thursday the approval of a death penalty bill for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, saying the move threatens &quot;regional stability&quot;. Foreign ministers released the statement from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. &quot;This legislation constitutes a dangerous escalation, particularly given its discriminatory application against Palestinian prisoners, and stressed that such measures risk further exacerbating tensions and undermining regional stability,&quot; the joint statement read. Under the law passed by Israel&#39;s parliament late on Monday, Palestinians convicted by military courts of carrying out deadly attacks classified as &quot;acts of terrorism&quot; will face the death penalty&nbsp;as a default sentence. The United Nations and European Union have criticized the law, while the United States came out in support of &quot;Israel&#39;s sovereign right to determine its own laws&quot;. Because Palestinians in the territory are automatically tried in Israeli military courts, the measure effectively creates a separate and harsher legal track. In Israeli civilian courts, the law allows for either death or life imprisonment for those convicted of killing with the intent to harm the state.

FILE: From left to right: Syria's President Bashar Assad, Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, as they follow Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (Front R) and Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi (Back R)

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Middle East

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"This legislation constitutes a dangerous escalation, particularly given its discriminatory application against Palestinian prisoners, and such measures risk further exacerbating tensions and undermining regional stability," the joint statement released by Islamic nations read.

Islamic states condemn Israel over death penalty law

Web Desk

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Tuesday confirmed the deaths of its chief, Ali Larijani, and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani, after Israel said they were killed in airstrikes.

All you need to know about Day 18 of US-Israeli war on Iran

WASHINGTON: Oil prices kept rising as markets opened Sunday, with both benchmarks higher as the war in the Middle East disrupts global supplies. At around 00:15 GMT, the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was up 0.01 percent at $98.72 a barrel, while the price of Brent, the international benchmark for oil, was up 0.6 percent to $103.76. On stock markets, South Korea&#39;s Kospi attempted a cautious rebound and was up 1.3 percent in early trade in Asia, while Japan&#39;s Nikkei was flat. With Gulf states slashing production and oil tankers stuck in the Gulf, oil prices have risen 40 to 50% since the United States and Israel first attacked Iran on February 28. Investors fear the higher costs will slow economic growth and stoke inflation. The Strait of Hormuz, which usually sees passage of 20 percent of global oil and gas exports, remains effectively shut. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday that the closure was &quot;short-term pain&quot; causing higher prices, adding that the war could end &quot;in the next few weeks.&quot; The International Energy Agency has warned that the Middle East war &quot;is creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market.&quot; US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, including the oil export hub of Kharg Island, have also disrupted supplies.

An employee fills the tank of a motorcycle at a gas station in the Donkoi district of Vientiane on March 10, 2026, amid rising petrol prices (AFP)

Oil prices rise as Middle East war disrupts global supplies, with Brent above $103 and WTI near $99. Gulf production cuts and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz raise fears of inflation and slower economic growth.

Oil prices open higher as war in Middle East rages

BEIJING: China called on Monday for a ceasefire and diplomatic talks to end the conflict in the Middle East as it stretched into a third day. Israel and the United States have been conducting strikes on Iran and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/eight-hezbollah-members-killed-in-israels-friday-strikes-official-to-afp" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lebanon</a>, with the conflict extending to regional neighbors. &quot;The most urgent task is an immediate cessation of military operations and preventing a spread and spillover of conflict,&quot; foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a news conference, urging &quot;a resolution through dialogue and negotiation.&quot; One Chinese citizen was killed as a result of the conflict in Tehran, she said, where Israel and the United States have been carrying out strikes in an operation that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-supreme-leader-ali-khamenei-dies-in-israeli-strike-officials-say" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">assassinated the Islamic republic&#39;s supreme leader.</a> &quot;The foreign ministry has instructed the Chinese embassy in Iran to provide assistance to the individual involved and the family,&quot; Mao added, without giving further details of the victim or incident. Beijing warned its citizens last week against travelling to Iran for the time being &quot;in light of the current security situation.&quot; More than 3,000 Chinese nationals have left Iran as of Monday. Iran&#39;s Revolutionary Guards have vowed to launch the &quot;most ferocious&quot; operation in history against Israel and US bases, which are located in Gulf countries that were already counting the cost of an unprecedented series of deadly Iranian strikes. Explosions were heard in Doha, Dubai and Manama over the weekend, according to AFP journalists.

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, speaks to journalists. (File photo: X/@SpoxCHN_MaoNing)

Israel and the United States have been conducting strikes on Iran and Lebanon, with the conflict extending to regional neighbors.


China calls for ceasefire, diplomacy to end Middle East conflict

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has begun evacuating its nationals from Iran amid escalating security concerns linked to developments in the region, with 31 Pakistani citizens safely relocated to Azerbaijan, officials said early Monday. In a statement posted on X, the Pakistan Embassy in Azerbaijan said the evacuation was carried out under the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the guidance of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. &ldquo;Under directives of Honorable PM [Shehbaz Sharif] and guidance of Honorable DPM/FM [Ishaq Dar], GoP has designated Baku as the evacuation base for Pakistani nationals seeking safe transit amid the evolving situation in Iran,&rdquo; the embassy said. The embassy confirmed that its team facilitated the safe border crossing of 31 Pakistani nationals at Astara on March 1, ensuring their onward movement to Baku for return to Pakistan. &ldquo;[Pakistan Embassy] team in Azerbaijan on ground in Astara facilitated safe crossing of 31 Pakistani nationals, ensuring onward movement to Baku for return to Pakistan,&rdquo; the statement said. &ldquo;We remain committed to safe and quick relocation of our citizens back to Pakistan.&rdquo; The evacuation comes as Pakistan heightens contingency planning for the safety of its citizens abroad, following recent regional instability and rising tensions affecting Iran and neighboring areas. The embassy also acknowledged the role of Azerbaijani authorities in enabling the operation. &ldquo;Grateful to [Azerbaijan Foreign Office] for its support,&rdquo; the statement added. The development came hours after PM Sharif chaired a high-level security meeting in Islamabad to review regional developments and assess contingency plans for the evacuation of Pakistani nationals, directing authorities to ensure swift, coordinated measures to protect citizens abroad.

Foreign Affairs

Embassy in Azerbaijan says its team on in Astara facilitated safe crossing of 31 Pakistani nationals “ensuring onward movement to Baku for return” to the country; evacuation comes as Pakistan heightens contingency planning for the safety of its citizens abroad.



31 Pakistanis evacuated to Baku as Iran security situation worsens

Vienna: The United Nations&#39; nuclear agency will hold an extraordinary meeting on Iran on Monday in the wake of the US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic republic, aimed in part at Tehran&#39;s atomic programme. In a statement late on Saturday, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the meeting was at the request of Russia, a key ally of Tehran. Iran had made the same request in a letter to IAEA chief Rafael Grossi on Saturday following the strikes, which led to the death of Iran&#39;s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. As a result, the agency will hold a &quot;special session of the IAEA Board of Governors on matters related to military strikes of the United States and Israel against the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran&quot;, the IAEA said in a statement. That extraordinary meeting will precede an already scheduled session of the board, which represents 35 countries. Following the strikes, the &nbsp;IAEA said it was &quot;closely monitoring developments in the Middle East, and urges restraint to avoid any nuclear safety risks to people in the region&quot;. The UN nuclear watchdog had also stressed on Friday the &quot;utmost urgency&quot; of its request to verify all nuclear material in Iran, according to a confidential report seen by AFP. Western countries led by the United States and Israel, Iran&#39;s arch-enemy, accuse the Islamic republic of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. Tehran denies having such military ambitions, but insists on its right to this technology for civilian purposes.

IAEA will convene an extraordinary Board of Governors meeting Monday, requested by Russia and Iran, after US-Israeli strikes on Iran, The agency urged restraint and reiterated urgency to verify Iran’s nuclear material.

UN nuclear agency to hold extraordinary meeting on Iran Monday

ISLAMABAD: The Iranian embassy in Pakistan released a condemnation statement on Sunday, following the assassination of Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It stated: &ldquo;The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Pakistan categorically condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the cowardly, hideous and barbaric terrorist act of targeting the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran.&rdquo; It praised the leader and his ideology, saying, &ldquo;Recalling the bravery, resistance, steadfastness, and lifelong devotion of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, to the ideals of independence, dignity, and resistance, we reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the noble aspirations of the Islamic Revolution and our firm commitment to its enduring principles and emphasize that we will stand by the eternal aspirations of this Great Martyr until our last breath and the last droplet of our blood.&rdquo; The embassy paid tribute to the lineage and steadfastness of Ayatollah Khamenei, saying, &ldquo;Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was a great historical figure who, like his Great Ancestor, Imam Hussein (PBUH), was martyred bravely alongside his innocent family at the hands of the most despicable, vicious and cowardly elements in Karbala and did not surrender and succumb.&rdquo; The statement mentioned the history of Iranian land and said that, &ldquo;The blood of the Great Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, made the ever-green sapling of the Islamic Republic more fertile and resilient. The struggles of this Great Martyr and tireless scholar will forever be recorded in history and will be a model for the free people of the world.&rdquo; &ldquo;It emphasizes that the Islamic Republic of Iran is founded upon strong constitutional institutions and well-established legal mechanisms. Relying on the solid structure established by the great Imams of the Islamic Revolution, relying on the blood of martyrs, in any circumstance, the country will, in full accordance with its Constitution, ensure continuity of leadership and governance with unity, resilience, and steadfast determination and the Islamic Republic of Iran will elect its new leadership and courageously and steadfastly continue on its spiritual and humane path ever after.&rdquo;

The Iranian embassy in Pakistan released a condemnation statement on Sunday, following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iranian embassy condemns Israel's 'terrorist act' against Ayatollah Khamenei

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and a group of Arab and Muslim countries have strongly condemned remarks by the United States Ambassador to Israel suggesting it would be acceptable for Israel to exercise control over territories belonging to Arab states, including the&nbsp;occupied West Bank.&nbsp;In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine, along with the secretariats of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the League of Arab States (LAS) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), expressed &ldquo;strong condemnation and profound concern&rdquo; over the comments. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 344px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2025456028779770039&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=388a92daefa09c055cbfcc53f6ba00a992e881df&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2025456028779770039"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;The countries described the remarks as dangerous and inflammatory, saying they constitute a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/arab-countries-condemn-us-ambassadors-remarks-on-israels-right-to-mideast-land" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">clear violation of international law</a>&nbsp;and the UN Charter, and pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability.&nbsp;The statement said the comments contradict the vision presented by US President Donald J. Trump and the comprehensive plan aimed at ending the Gaza conflict, which seeks to contain escalation and create a political pathway toward a just settlement, ensuring an independent Palestinian state.&nbsp;The ministers reaffirmed that Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory or any other occupied Arab lands.&nbsp;They rejected any&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-says-israeli-actions-raising-ethnic-cleansing-fears-in-west-bank-gaza" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">attempts to annex the West Bank</a>&nbsp;or separate it from Gaza, and strongly opposed the expansion of Israeli settlements.&nbsp;The joint statement also warned that continued expansionist policies and unlawful measures would fuel violence and undermine prospects for peace, urging an end to such statements.&nbsp;The countries reiterated their commitment to the Palestinian people&rsquo;s right to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent state along the pre-4 June 1967 borders, with an end to the occupation of all Arab lands.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee (R) is shown a painting of Jerusalem during a visit to the Beit Hanassi presidential residence, in Jerusalem, on September 15, 2025.

The countries describe the remarks as dangerous and inflammatory, saying they constitute a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter, and pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability.

Pakistan, Arab states condemn US envoy’s remarks on Israel's right to Mideast land

Web Desk/AFP

ISLAMABAD: The Pentagon has ordered the deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East as President Donald Trump weighs taking military action against Iran, AFP quoted what the US media reported on Thursday. Washington and Tehran began indirect talks last week over the future of Iran&#39;s nuclear program, and Trump on Thursday warned of &quot;very traumatic&quot; consequences for the country if it failed to make a nuclear deal. Late last month, Trump sent the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and accompanying warships to the Gulf as Trump ramped up threats against Iran over its deadly crackdown on anti-government protests. The vessels remain in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln, however, is from the &lsquo;Nimitz class&rsquo; of US &lsquo;Supercarriers&rsquo;, which are the predecessors of the &lsquo;Ford class&rsquo;.&nbsp;The Ford-class carriers are more advanced, designed to increase sortie generation rates by 25% while reducing crew size by 500&ndash;900, according to the National Security Journal.&nbsp; Key upgrades include electromagnetic catapults (EMALS), advanced arresting gear, triple the electrical power, and a more flexible deck layout.AFP reports that the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its escort ships will join that strike group after officials ordered it to the Middle East from its current deployment in the Caribbean Sea, multiple US media outlets reported. The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and CBS News reported on the Pentagon&#39;s preparations and the expected deployment of the second carrier, citing unnamed officials. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to questions from AFP. The USS Gerald R. Ford initially deployed in June and was soon directed to the Caribbean as part of Trump&#39;s pressure campaign on Venezuela, according to the New York Times. Some of the carrier&#39;s warplanes participated in the deadly January 3 operation in Caracas that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the New York Times reported. It was not clear how long the USS Ford or the USS Lincoln would remain in the Middle East.

Americas

US media says the Pentagon ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford to deploy to the Middle East to join the USS Abraham Lincoln amid rising tensions with Iran; Trump warns of “traumatic consequences" if nuclear talks fail.

Pentagon 'orders deployment of another aircraft carrier' to Middle East

WASHINGTON:&nbsp;A US naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier has deployed to Middle Eastern waters, the United States said Monday, as Tehran warned it was ready to hit back at any American attack launched in response to a crackdown on anti-government protests. The protests started in late December, driven by economic grievances, but turned into a mass movement against the Islamic Republic, with huge street demonstrations for several days from January 8. US President Donald Trump has previously threatened to intervene, saying last week that Washington was sending a &quot;massive fleet&quot; to the region, &quot;just in case.&quot; The deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group dramatically boosts American firepower in the region. The strike group has arrived in the Middle East, US Central Command said Monday, adding it was there &quot;to promote regional security and stability.&quot; The United States backed and briefly joined Israel&#39;s 12-day war against Iran in June, and while Trump last week appeared to step back from his threats of new military intervention, he has never ruled the option out. &#39;Regret-inducing response&#39;&nbsp;Iran&#39;s foreign ministry warned on Monday of a &quot;comprehensive and regret-inducing response to any aggression.&quot; Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said: &quot;The arrival of such a battleship is not going to affect Iran&#39;s determination and seriousness to defend the Iranian nation.&quot; A senior military official told state television that the &quot;buildup of extra-regional forces and equipment ... would not act as a deterrent but rather increase their vulnerability and turn them into accessible targets&quot;. Meanwhile, a new anti-US billboard has appeared in the central Enghelab Square in Tehran that appears to show an American aircraft carrier being destroyed. &quot;If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind,&quot; its English-language caption reads. In Lebanon, Iran-backed Shiite fighter group Hezbollah, whose capabilities and leadership were severely degraded in a war with Israel in 2024, organised a rally in support of the Islamic Republic featuring an address by its leader Naim Qassem, who warned &quot;a war on Iran this time will ignite the region.&quot; Iran&#39;s Gulf neighbor, the United Arab Emirates, which hosts a US airbase, said it would not allow attacks on Iran to be launched from its territory.

The US has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East during unrest in Iran. American officials cite security concerns, while Iran has dismissed the move and warned against foreign intervention.

Articles tagged with "Middle East"