Tehran [Iran], August 3 (ANI): Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on Monday said that his country is not engaged in any direct or indirect negotiations with the United States, firmly dismissing assertions of active bilateral dialogue between Tehran and Washington.
Israeli court blocks Ben Gvir crocodile moat plan for prisons holding Palestinians Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 08/03/2026 - 12:57 Injunction was made on the basis of concerns around animal welfare, not the abuse of Palestinian prisoners Israel's National Security minister Itamar Ben Gvir is overseeing the digging of trenches around Ketziot Prison, where crocodiles will be introduced (AFP) Off An Israeli court has blocked a plan by far right minister Itamar Ben Gvir to place crocodiles in moats encircling prisons where Palestinian prisoners are being held, Israeli media is reporting. Israeli authorities have reportedly already begun digging trenches around a section of Ketziot Prison in the Negev desert, in northern Israel. Under the plan spearheaded by Ben Gvir, and backed by his National Security Ministry and the Israel Prison Service (IPS), Nile crocodiles will be installed in the trenches.
Esmaeil Baghaei was commenting on an American airstrike that hit a family home and killed three people, including a two-year-old, last week US airstrikes on residential areas and other non-military targets in Iran constitute "war crimes" for which Washington must be held accountable, Iranian Foreign
Nineteen people killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza over past day The Palestinian health ministry said 19 people were killed and 35 were wounded by Israeli forces in Gaza over the past 24 hours. According to the ministry's data, 1,250 people have been killed and 4,110 wounded since a ceasefire was declared on 11 October 2025. This brings the total to 73,375 people killed and 174,220 wounded by Israel in Gaza since 7 October 2023.
Israeli forces reportedly killed more than two dozen Palestinians in Gaza and violated Lebanese airspace more than 100 times over the weekend despite ongoing ceasefire agreements, UN agencies and peacekeepers said on Monday.
How loyalty between Iran and Kuwait gave way to mistrust Submitted by Amara Sophia Elahi on Mon, 08/03/2026 - 09:55 From hosting Kuwaiti refugees during the Gulf War to exchanging accusations over US military bases, the relationship has undergone repeated shifts US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah at Bayan Palace in Kuwait City, 24 June 2026 (Eric Lee/Pool/AFP) Off When Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, accused Kuwait of being “part of the fire of the wicked” on social media last week, it was apparent that the previously amicable relationship between the two countries had now soured. “Iran has always adhered to good neighbourliness, but the smoke of ingratitude and the absence of foresight will blind the eyes of the ungrateful,” Baghaei warned . His comments were a reference to the support Iran lent Kuwait during the Gulf War (1990-91), and were made as American military bases in Kuwait came under fire by Iranian missiles.
Emergency army mobilisation extended by Israel for two months The Israeli parliament’s foreign affairs and defence committee has voted four to two to extend emergency military mobilisation until 30 September, as requested by the Israeli government. This allows the Israeli army to call up to 240,000 reservists. Similar extensions have been granted every few months since the outbreak of Israel's genocide in Gaza in 2023.
Iran discussing creation of temporary route through strait of Hormuz with its neighbour, says spokesperson Middle East crisis live – latest updates Iran has been in discussion with Oman about the creation of a new temporary route through the strait of Hormuz that would allow commercial shipping to resume, but is not yet reviving talks with the US, Tehran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday. Esmail Baghaei was responding to claims by Donald Trump that talks between the two sides covering all the major disputes between them could restart as early as Monday. Trump claimed he held off from launching the biggest strike on any country “since world war two” over the weekend after Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, rang him to urge diplomacy.
Bullish investors are out in force on Monday despite more mixed messages about potential U. S. -Iran peace talks.
Iran denies talks with US as Trump halts strikes at the last minute Submitted by Alex MacDonald on Mon, 08/03/2026 - 10:55 Iranian officials say their only current talks are with Oman over reopening the Strait of Hormuz Iranians walk past an anti-US billboard at Enghelab Square in Tehran on 3 August (AFP/Atta Kenare) Off Iran has denied any talks are ongoing with the US despite a claim from Donald Trump, who called off strikes on the country on Saturday. Trump had announced that negotiations with Iran would begin on Monday after he decided to hold off on new strikes against the Islamic Republic in order to pursue a deal. "Obviously, they don't want to be attacked," Trump told reporters on Sunday on board Air Force One.
KYIV, Ukraine: Russia carried out a large missile and drone attack on Kyiv and nearby areas early on August 1, killing 10 people. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the country has run out of interceptor missiles for its U. S.
'They want to make us leave': Israel destroys West Bank wells serving Palestinian herders Submitted by Mojahid Nawahda on Mon, 08/03/2026 - 11:13 Residents of Ras al-Ahmar say the destruction of their main water source follows months of settler attacks Families haul water after wells in Ras al-Ahmar were destroyed (Mojahid Nawahda/MEE) Off As first light reaches the scattered tents and animal pens of Ras al-Ahmar in the northern Jordan Valley, the silence is broken only by the cries of thirsty livestock waiting for water that no longer comes. Days after Israeli forces destroyed three of the Palestinian community's main water wells, residents are scrambling to secure enough water for their families, crops and animals in one of the occupied West Bank's driest regions. For 60-year-old Ali Bani Odeh, the destruction of the wells was more than merely the loss of infrastructure.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran's caretaker defense minister proposed the formation of a security alliance among Muslim nations, saying the recent war of aggression against Iran demonstrated that regional security must be ensured by countries in the region rather than foreign powers.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced that its Aerospace Force units have shot down an American MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz.
IRGC says it intercepted drone over Strait of Hormuz Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it has shot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s Sepah News. The report said the drone was hit by Iran’s air defence system. It was not immediately clear where the drone originated.
President Trump cited progress in the negotiations when canceling a threatened attack on Iran over the weekend. Iran said there were no current talks with the United States.
Brussels has quietly restored access to Russian sable pelts, a high-end fur used by European fashion houses, citing the lack of alternative suppliers Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has mocked the European Commission for what he called blatant hypocrisy after it quietly exempted Russian luxury sable fur from sanctions, reportedly bowing to pressure from member states dependent on the trade.
Todd Blanche issues formal order to withdraw ‘anti-weaponization fund’ after weeks of negotiations with Republican senators who were blocking his nomination Blanche formally rescinds Trump’s $1. 8bn ‘anti-weaponization fund’ Sign up for the US Breaking News email Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog. Acting US attorney general Todd Blanche issued a formal order late on Sunday terminating Donald Trump’s $1.
'We will rise again': A new generation of Tunisians prepare for Ennahda's return Submitted by Faisal Edroos on Mon, 08/03/2026 - 09:35 President Kais Saied's crackdown was meant to bury Tunisia's largest Islamist movement. Five years later, the movement's youth wing insists their comeback is near Ennahda supporters take to the streets on 13 September 2019 in the run up to the country's presidential election (Faisal Edroos/MEE) Off They've watched their leaders jailed, their offices closed and their movement repeatedly attacked. But five years after President Kais Saied seized sweeping powers and dismantled Tunisia 's democratic institutions, supporters of Ennahda insist the country's largest Islamist movement is preparing to rise from the ashes.
Tehran [Iran], August 3 (ANI): Iran on Monday executed two individuals convicted of spying for Israel after providing sensitive targeting intelligence to foreign intelligence officers during recent military engagements. According to Fars News Agency, the executed men were identified as Omid Behzad and Pouria Safvat.
