U.S.-WASHINGTON, D.C.-TRUMP-LEBANESE PRESIDENT-MEETING
(260721) -- WASHINGTON, July 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- U. S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House in Washington, D.
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Netherlands to ban goods from Israeli settlements
Netherlands to ban goods from Israeli settlements The Dutch government announced on Tuesday that it will ban products from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian starting on 22 September. The decision follows similar measures taken by Ireland, Belgium, and Spain. The Dutch foreign ministry added that, through these measures, the Netherlands is strengthening its commitment to fulfilling its international legal obligation not to contribute to the continuation Israel's unlawful occupation of Palestinian terriroty, as per the advice from the ICJ.
Lebanon’s president thanks Trump for Israel framework agreement
Lebanon’s president thanks Trump for Israel framework agreement Speaking during a press conference with US President Donald Trump in the White House on Tuesday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun hailed the US-brokered framework deal signed with Israel. “I would like to thank President Trump and his team for the historic achievement we did together…the signing of the framework agreement with [the] ultimate objective of ending the state of hostility between Lebanon and Israel forever,” Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr reported Aoun as saying, in a post on X. Aoun told Trump that the deal “will be your legacy…together we will be able to achieve this objective,” according to Khodr.
Hardliner accuses Ghalibaf of paving way for coup through US deal
A hardline Iranian lawmaker accused parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf of backing a US deal that blocks revenge for Ali Khamenei’s killing and could paralyze the state, paving the way for a bloodless coup.
Iran’s foreign minister calls actions of French diplomats ‘unacceptable’
Iran’s foreign minister calls actions of French diplomats ‘unacceptable’ Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday in a call to his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot that the conduct of two French diplomats in Tehran was “unconventional”, “unprofessional” and “unacceptable”. This comes after Barrot warned of “consequences” for Iranian security services detaining two of their diplomats on Monday.
US announces trade deal with Jordan
US announces trade deal with Jordan The US announced on Tuesday that they will be entering a trade deal with Jordan which would remove barriers for US exporters and provide new access for critical US industries. According to a statement from the White House, Jordan will remove non-tariff trade barriers and expand market access for US goods, including agricultural products and motor vehicles, as part of the deal. This comes amid renewed Iranian strikes on Jordan, which killed two US military personnel on Friday.
Trump: Iran ‘desperate to meet’ for talks
Trump: Iran ‘desperate to meet’ for talks Speaking to reporters in the White House on Tuesday, Trump claimed that the Iranians “want to meet desperately to try and end [the war] because they’re getting decimated”, adding that “until they’re ready to meet in a meaningful way, we have no interest”. He said that the US military is “degrading” Iran’s military capabilities “at levels that nobody thought was possible”, but admitted that Iran “did slip something through in Jordan” after an Iranian strike on the country killed two US service members. Trump also claimed that if the US strikes hadn’t knocked out Iran’s nuclear sites last year, Iran “would have a nuclear weapon, and you wouldn’t have Israel”.
Ed Miliband, the new UK foreign secretary, on Israel, Iraq, Syria and Iran
Ed Miliband, the new UK foreign secretary, on Israel, Iraq, Syria and Iran Submitted by Rayhan Uddin on Tue, 07/21/2026 - 14:55 Middle East Eye breaks down former Labour leader's views on key foreign policy issues Britain's Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband leaves 10 Downing Street in London on 20 July 2026 (AFP/Henry Nicholls) Off Having initially been tipped for the role of chancellor, former Labour leader Ed Miliband has been appointed foreign secretary by Andy Burnham, the UK 's new prime minister. Accepting the role, Miliband said that it was an “honour and privilege” to take up the position. “My parents came to Britain as Jewish refugees from the Nazis,” he said.
Aoun seeks Trump backing for Israel pullback as south Lebanon ‘pilot zones’ begin
Aoun seeks Trump backing for Israel pullback as south Lebanon ‘pilot zones’ begin Submitted by Adam Chamseddine on Tue, 07/21/2026 - 13:34 Beirut touts the Lebanese president’s Washington trip as proof direct talks work, but critics fear the agreement with Israel could draw the army into confrontation with Hezbollah A Lebanese army vehicle drives past first responders near the entrance to the southern village of Zawtar al-Gharbiya as troops deploy to the village on 21 July 2026 (Fadel Itani/AFP) Off Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is in Washington for a high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump, as the first “pilot zone” operations under a US-brokered framework agreement with Israel began in southern Lebanon . The visit, which includes meetings with senior US officials, Lebanese diaspora figures and Washington-based think tanks, is being viewed in Beirut as one of the most consequential foreign trips of Aoun’s presidency. It is the first visit by a Lebanese head of state to the White House in nearly two decades, and follows the highest-level Lebanese meetings with a US president since former Prime Minister Saad Hariri met Barack Obama in 2011.
Pakistan PM urges all sides to ‘exercise restraint’ during talks with Iranian minister
Pakistan PM urges all sides to ‘exercise restraint’ during talks with Iranian minister Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting on Tuesday with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in which he called for restraint from all warring sides amid escalating regional tensions in the US war on Iran. In a statement to X, Sharif’s office said that the prime minister “urged all sides to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that could further destabilise the region,” as well as adding that Pakistan would continue to act as mediator between the US and Iran. ISLAMABAD: 21 July 2026.
Who is Ed Miliband, Britains controversial new foreign secretary
Considered the architect of the UKs net-zero program, he has faced criticism over his energy record and lack of conventional diplomatic experience Britain's new prime minister, Andy Burnham, has appointed former Labour leader and 'net-zero' architect Ed Miliband as foreign secretary despite concerns over his past record and lack of conventional diplomatic experience.
Who is Ed Miliband, net-zero zealot and now British foreign secretary
Londons incoming top diplomat has faced criticism over his energy record and lack of conventional diplomatic experience Britain's new prime minister, Andy Burnham, has appointed former Labour leader and 'net-zero' architect Ed Miliband as foreign secretary despite concerns over his past record and lack of conventional diplomatic experience.
Could The US-Iran Battle For Hormuz Be A Win For Russia And China
MANILA -- For years, policymakers in Washington have viewed Asia primarily through the lens of Taiwan, the South China Sea, and China's military rise. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has only reinforced that perspective, cementing Europe and East Asia as the principal arenas of geopolitical competition.
Iran's president says communication with the supreme leader is increasing, state media reports
Iran's president says communication with the supreme leader is increasing, state media reports Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian said in a statement delivered today that his communication with the supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is increasing day by day, according to state media.
Tajikistan Distances Itself From Detained Israel- Iran Spy Suspect
Tajikistan's interior minister said has said that a man arrested in Israel on suspicion of spying for Iran is no longer a Tajik citizen, contradicting earlier statements by Israeli authorities that described the suspect as a dual Tajik-Russian national.
Paris weighs reducing embassy staff in Tehran, source says
France is reviewing whether to reduce staffing at its embassy after two French diplomats were detained, interrogated and allegedly abused by Iranian security forces in Tehran, according to information obtained by Iran International on Tuesday.
General Ghalibaf's gamble: An IRGC veteran takes on Iran’s hardliners to pursue diplomacy
General Ghalibaf's gamble: An IRGC veteran takes on Iran’s hardliners to pursue diplomacy Submitted by MEE correspondent on Tue, 07/21/2026 - 09:35 Mohammad Ghalibaf has undergone a striking evolution, the infamous 'jihadist manager' now championing talks with the US despite his own conservative camp’s opposition Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, dressed in an IRGC uniform, chairs a session in Tehran on 1 February 2026 (Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency/AFP/HO) Off Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran 's parliament speaker and chief negotiator in talks with the United States , is facing perhaps the greatest political test of his career. A lifelong conservative and former Revolutionary Guard commander, he is trying to steer the Islamic Republic out of its confrontation with Washington through diplomacy, while fending off fierce attacks from hardliners who accuse him of abandoning Iran's strategic leverage. A senior political source who spoke to Middle East Eye on condition of anonymity described Ghalibaf as a conservative pragmatist who favours repairing relations with the West while preserving Iran's strategic partnership with China .
Exclusive: President of ICC oversight body confirms no finding of retaliation by Khan
Exclusive: President of ICC oversight body confirms no finding of retaliation by Khan Submitted by Sondos Asem on Mon, 07/20/2026 - 14:01 In a letter to court member states, Paivi Kaukoranta reiterates ASP bureau has not upheld allegations of misconduct against prosecutor raised by staff in his own office ASP President Paivi Kaukoranta at a Hague meeting in December 2025 (ICC/Flickr) Off The president of the International Criminal Court’s oversight body, the Assembly of States Parties, wrote to member states last week to confirm that no retaliation allegations made against Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan have been established by members of the executive bureau. Paivi Kaukoranta confirmed in a letter dated 17 July that the 21-member bureau had failed to reach the required majority to confirm any finding of misconduct in relation to retaliation allegations brought by two members of Khan’s office staff during the UN-led investigation. Kaukoranta, a Finnish diplomat, made a decision to outsource the misconduct probe into Khan to the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) in November 2024.
Araghchi interview draws fire from Iran hardliners
Criticism of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's recent interview has spread across Iranian conservative media, with critics arguing he disclosed sensitive information about wartime security and internal decision-making following its publication this week.
