The Three Snakes of Zahhak
In the Persian classic Shahnameh, Ferdowsi tells the story of Zahhak, the usurper king who is kissed on each shoulder by Ahriman, the spirit of evil, and finds two black snakes growing from the wounds.
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As Iran War Turns Into Economic Battle, a New U.S. Strategy Recalls Old Ones
The United States and Iran are poised to blow past a deadline they had set themselves to broker terms on peace and Iran’s nuclear program.
Israel and Honduras sign Security Cooperation Pact
Tel Aviv [Israel], August 16 (ANI/TPS): Israel and Honduras signed a memorandum of understanding on Sunday to strengthen security cooperation and expand strategic ties between the two countries. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz and Honduran Defence Minister Enrique Rodriguez Burchard signed the agreement during an official visit to Israel by a senior Honduran defence delegation.
Emerged victorious militarily, politically in war: Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf
Tehran [Iran], August 16 (ANI): Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf has said that Tehran emerged victorious both militarily and politically from what he described as an 'unjust war' led by the United States and Israel, state broadcaster Press TV reported on Sunday.
Report: US envoy Kushner meets Hamas leaders in Egypt
Report: US envoy Kushner meets Hamas leaders in Egypt Hamas leaders met on Sunday in Egypt with President Donald Trump's son-in-law and envoy Jared Kushner, who is seeking to push a Gaza plan rejected by Israel, sources with knowledge of the talks told AFP. Hamas in the meeting reiterated its commitment to the deal while Kushner pushed for strong disarmament and an end to any future Hamas role in running Gaza, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the diplomatic sensitivities.
Israeli military attacks strategic hill in southern Lebanon
Israeli military attacks strategic hill in southern Lebanon The Israeli military has attacked Ali al-Taher Hill in southern Lebanon with explosives, according to the National News Agency. The strategically important high ground on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa has seen intense Israeli military action.
Five Arab countries condemn Israel's rejection of Trump's Gaza plan
Five Arab countries condemn Israel's rejection of Trump's Gaza plan Five Arab countries together with Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia on Sunday condemned Israel's rejection of US President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza. In a joint statement, the countries including Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE, said the rejection threatened Trump's intensified efforts to end Israel's war on Gaza.
Death toll increases in Lebanon since Israeli invasion
Death toll increases in Lebanon since Israeli invasion Israeli attacks has killed at least 4,346 people and wounded more than 12,000 in Lebanon since invading the south on 2 March, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The ministry said the dead include 393 women, 257 children and at least 135 medical workers. Israeli strikes on the towns of Deir ez-Zahrani and Ansar killed 11 people, including children, on Saturday.
Iran economy shows signs of recovery from war-induced downturn as business activity resumes, says Chamber of Commerce chief Hassanzadeh
Tehran [Iran], August 16 (ANI): Iran's economy is showing signs of recovery from the sharp downturn caused by the recent war, with economic activity gradually resuming, according to the head of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Samad Hassanzadeh.
Centcom chief visits US carrier enforcing Iran blockade amid reports of severe strain on crew
Centcom chief visits US carrier enforcing Iran blockade amid reports of severe strain on crew The head of the United States Central Command (Centcom), Admiral Bradley Cooper, has visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, which is enforcing the US blockade of Iran. His visit came amid reports of severe strain on the carrier's crew, including mental health concerns and supply shortages after an unusually long deployment. "History will record this deployment as one of the most operationally intense and consequential of the modern era," Cooper said on Saturday.
Iran and Oman work on temporary Hormuz shipping route as Trump threatens to claim the strait
Iran and Oman work on temporary Hormuz shipping route as Trump threatens to claim the strait Submitted by MEE staff on Sun, 08/16/2026 - 15:04 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says talks with Oman on a new maritime route are 'separate' from the decision to reopen Hormuz Ships dock at Charak Port in Iran's Hormozgan province on 9 August 2026 (Atta Kenare/AFP) Off Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that Tehran and Muscat were working to establish a temporary maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz, while stressing that the talks were separate from any decision on reopening the strategic waterway. “The routes that existed previously are no longer functional, so a new route needs to be defined,” Araghchi said. “For now, we are designing a temporary route, which can then, at a later stage, be turned into a final route.
Iranian parliament advances bill to curb foreign influence
Iranian parliament advances bill to curb foreign influence Iran's parliament approved on Sunday the general principles of a bill that would criminalise interviews and other communications with media deemed hostile to the Islamic Republic, including US or Israeli media and outlets financed by either country, Iran's Shargh newspaper reported. Osman Salari, a member of parliament's judicial and legal commission, said the individual provisions of the bill, which is aimed at countering foreign intelligence influence, have yet to be debated and approved. Reports about the bill's details should not yet be considered final, Salari told the Mizan news agency.
Centcom chief visits US carrier enforcing Iran blockade amid reports of severe strain on crew
Centcom chief visits US carrier enforcing Iran blockade amid reports of severe strain on crew Submitted by MEE staff on Sun, 08/16/2026 - 14:52 A sailor was rescued after going overboard amid reported mental health struggles and exhaustion aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln The USS Abraham Lincoln sails in the Arabian Sea on 8 May 2026 (AFP) Off The head of the United States Central Command (Centcom), Admiral Bradley Cooper, has visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, which is enforcing the US blockade of Iran. His visit came amid reports of severe strain on the carrier's crew, including mental health concerns and supply shortages after an unusually long deployment. "History will record this deployment as one of the most operationally intense and consequential of the modern era," Cooper said on Saturday.
Hamas leader meets Egyptian intelligence chief
Hamas leader meets Egyptian intelligence chief A Hamas delegation has met Egypt's intelligence chief, Hassan Rashad, in the Egyptian city of El-Alamein to discuss the implementation of the US-backed post-war plan for Gaza. The delegation, led by Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya, expressed a commitment to the US-backed plan, according to Egyptian state media. AFP quoted a Hamas official saying: "The delegation will brief Egyptian officials on Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, and al-Hayya will emphasise the movement’s commitment and readiness to implement the agreement as soon as Israel announces its commitment to it.
US mulls copying Russias air defense tech Military Watch
The Pentagon is reportedly considering next-generation mobile air defense radars modeled on Russias S-300 and S-400 The US is looking to Russia's air defense technology as it develops a new generation of mobile radars following losses suffered during the war with Iran, Military Watch has reported.
Gaza genocide: How Israel made horror a ritual of daily life
Gaza genocide: How Israel made horror a ritual of daily life Life under genocide has its familiar daily rituals. A discerning eye detects latent horrors in the scenes that unfold in succession across screens. Elsewhere, the scene itself disappears beneath rubble, entombing the bodies of thousands of Palestinians whose breath was cut off below, while their families remain unable to retrieve them.
Gaza genocide: How Israel made horror a ritual of daily life
Gaza genocide: How Israel made horror a ritual of daily life Submitted by Hossam Shaker on Fri, 08/14/2026 - 12:37 The buzzing of drones, the hunt for water, the crumbling teeth and the worn sandals reveal what casualty figures cannot convey about Israel's ongoing slaughter Children fetch drinking water at the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on 28 April 2026, as most of Gaza's 2. 4 million people remain displaced, many of them repeatedly (Eyad Baba/AFP) Off Life under genocide has its familiar daily rituals. A discerning eye detects latent horrors in the scenes that unfold in succession across screens.
Israeli settlers pray in Al-Aqsa compound
Israeli settlers pray in Al-Aqsa compound More than 150 Israeli settlers have stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque compound under the protection of Israeli police and performed prayers there. Only Muslims are allowed to pray in the compound under the status quo arrangement which has been in place since 1967 in Jerusalem. The Al-Aqsa compound is administered by the Jordanian waqf.
USS Abraham Lincoln Faces Scrutiny As Prolonged Deployment Raises Concerns over Crew Conditions
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – US Central Command (Centcom) commander Adm. Brad Cooper visited the USS Abraham Lincoln on Saturday as the aircraft carrier faces growing scrutiny over its prolonged deployment and deteriorating conditions aboard the ship.
Iran war pushes Middle Eastern airlines towards $4.3bn loss in 2026
Iran war pushes Middle Eastern airlines towards $4. 3bn loss in 2026 Submitted by Gaspard Rouffin on Thu, 08/13/2026 - 16:07 Major airlines have resumed flights, but reduced capacity, international carrier suspensions and security concerns are slowing recovery An Emirates Airbus A380 passenger aircraft prepares for landing at Dubai International Airport on 8 March 2026 (AFP) Off As the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran on 28 February 2026, Iran struck back near US military installations in the Gulf, including in Qatar and the UAE . Several international airports were hit by Iranian strikes, including Dubai, the world's busiest for international passengers, as well as Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Bahrain .
