The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Congratulates Portuguese President on National Day
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Congratulates Portuguese President on National Day
5 hours ago
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Asharq Al-Awsat
15 minutes ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
West: Iran's Nuclear Drive Nearing Point of No Return
Europe and the United States on Wednesday expressed grave concern over Iran's nuclear escalation and called on Tehran to cooperate fully and effectively with the International Atomic Energy Agency. In a joint statement, the E3, including France, the UK and German, said they consider triggering the snapback mechanism to address threats to international peace and security arising from Iran's nuclear program, in the absence of any diplomatic progress. On Wednesday, the IAEA Board of Governors started discussing Chief Rafael Grossi's report on Iran's implementation of its nuclear commitments under the JCPoA. Western nations are planning to table a resolution at the agency's meeting that will find Iran in non-compliance with its so-called safeguards obligations for the first time in 20 years. As IAEA Board of Governors met in Vienna, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a stark warning to European powers against the potential censure resolution. In a post on X on Wednesday, he accused the three European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal, of failure to fulfill their obligations and cautioned them against committing another 'major strategic mistake.' 'Instead of displaying remorse or a desire to facilitate diplomacy, the E3 is today promoting confrontation through the absurd demand that Iran must be punished for exercising its right under the JCPOA to respond to non-performance by counterparts,' he wrote on X. Meanwhile, Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday that the country is prepared to take 'immediate technical measures' should the resolution is passed. 'The necessary decisions have already been made within the state structure,' Gharibabadi was quoted as saying by state media. Commenting on the threat of reimposing UN sanctions through the JCPOA's 'snapback mechanism,' Gharibabadi said the deal no longer exists in practice and that Western parties have forfeited any legal standing due to their non-compliance. For its part, the EU on Wednesday said it remains gravely concerned by the expansion of Iran's nuclear program, affirming it is a key security priority for the Union to ensure that Tehran does not acquire a nuclear weapon. In a statement at the IAEA Board of Governors on the NPT Safeguards Agreement with Iran, the EU expressed support for a diplomatic solution and urged Iran to reverse course and return to compliance with its nuclear-related commitments. The EU also called on Iran to fully cooperate with the IAEA and expressed support for Director General Rafael Grossi's efforts to re-establish monitoring access. 'Iran's unabated nuclear advances over the last five years are of utmost concern,' the EU said. 'These actions have no credible civilian justification and carry very significant proliferation-related risks.' Also, the EU said that Iran is now producing more than one significant quantity of uranium enriched to 60% each month. The EU further said that former Iranian officials have made public statements about the country having all capabilities to assemble a nuclear weapon, deepening suspicions about Tehran's intentions. The Union then said that Iran has reduced its cooperation with the IAEA following Tehran's withdrawal from the Additional Protocol to the NPT in February 2021, negatively impacting verification and control activities by limiting the IAEA's access to Iranian nuclear facilities and information. Also, the EU condemned Iran's decision to cease implementation of monitoring measures and to remove IAEA surveillance equipment, actions that it said have irreparably disrupted oversight. 'The agency has lost continuity of knowledge in relation to the production and current inventory of centrifuges, rotors and bellows, heavy water and uranium concentrate, which it will not be possible to restore. This has detrimental implications for the agency's ability to provide assurance of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program,' it said. Therefore, the EU urged Iran to reverse course and return to compliance with its nuclear-related commitments. 'We strongly urge Iran to return to the provisional implementation of the Additional Protocol, to ratify it, and to resume implementation of all JCPOA-related verification measures.' In a similar move, the E3 countries handed a joint statement to the IAEA Board of Governors on Iran's implementation of its nuclear commitments under the JCPoA. They praised Grossi for his latest report on Iran's nuclear program, which they said demonstrates the Agency's professional, independent and impartial work providing objective reporting on Iran's nuclear program and its implementation of its nuclear-related commitments under UN Security Council resolution 2231. But the three countries said the content of Grossi's latest report is far from positive. 'Iran is moving even further from its JCPoA commitments, while at the same time it fails to improve its cooperation with the IAEA, despite the Board's appeals.' The E3 added, 'Iran's enrichment to 60% is unprecedented for a state without nuclear weapons, and has no credible civilian justification. The IAEA is currently unable to verify that Iran's escalating nuclear program is exclusively peaceful. That must be a concern for us all.' Meanwhile, it said, Iran refuses to re-designate several experienced Agency inspectors. 'This is a politically motivated decision which seriously affects the IAEA's ability to conduct its verification in Iran, particularly at its enrichment facilities.' Also, the E3 statement said as a result of Iran's continued non-cooperation and lack of implementation of almost all transparency commitments made under the JCPoA, the Agency has permanently lost the continuity of knowledge on key parts of Iran's nuclear program that relate to the production and inventory of centrifuges, rotors and bellows, heavy water and uranium ore concentrate. It added that it has been four years since Iran stopped provisionally applying its Additional Protocol, thus denying the Agency complementary access to any sites or other locations in Iran. The E3 has consistently worked towards a diplomatic solution to address Iran's nuclear program and to remove all doubts about its exclusively peaceful nature, the statement noted. Yet, in 2022, it said Iran twice refused a viable deal that would have brought it back into compliance with the JCPoA, with a return to US participation, and instead Iran chose to continue to expand its nuclear activities. And this year, it added, while engaging in dialogue with the US and the E3, Iran has continued its nuclear escalation unabatedly, even further beyond any credible civilian justification. In this regard, the E3 called again on Iran to urgently change course, reverse its nuclear escalation and refrain from making threats regarding a change of its nuclear doctrine. They also urged Iran to return to comply with its JCPoA commitments, restore full transparency with its nuclear program and implement the verification measures it committed to under the JCPoA and other transparency commitments. 'The E3 wants to see a diplomatic solution. We welcome the ongoing efforts to achieve this,' it said. Later, the US envoy to the IAEA Board of Governors said Iran continues to accelerate its nuclear activities without any credible civilian justification. 'Iran now has a clear opportunity to build confidence... by implementing the Additional Protocol, not limiting inspections,' the envoy said.
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
A two-state solution or recycling the catastrophe?
Mahmoud's mother whispered to her daughter as she embraced her in the darkness of Gaza, 'We slept another night... and that alone is enough.' The phrase isn't from a fictional historical novel – it is a real testimony documented by a healthcare worker in northern Gaza and reported by media outlets this year. The words of this Palestinian mother reflect that staying alive in Gaza has become a luxury, and that a moment's sleep under the terror of bombardment is the most one can hope for. The truth is, Gaza has become a catastrophic stage for destruction…Destroyed homes, power outages, scarce water, and hospitals hit by shellfire that are still trying to perform the bare minimum of their duties. In the West Bank, the tragedy takes a different form…Settler bulldozers don't stop, homes are being demolished, and life is being crushed slowly – in a scene that evokes little more than routine statements of international concern. On the other side, Israel shields itself with its defense systems, iron domes, and deadly weaponry. Yet Israelis still do not feel truly safe. Military power alone does not create peace, and advanced technology cannot conceal fear. In this bleak climate, Saudi Arabia returns as a regional and pivotal state with clear stances on the Palestinian cause and global peace. It leads a serious political effort, and an international coalition aimed at achieving a two-state solution – a move that is both realistic and necessary to end a tragedy that has persisted for decades. Within this context comes the international peace conference next week, specifically on June 17, hosted in New York upon a Saudi-French invitation. It carries a message: The time has come for real international action to resolve this conflict and to achieve the two-state solution – to stabilize the region and lay the foundation for peace. Riyadh's move stems from a long historical legacy of supporting the Palestinian cause and seeking solutions for a just peace in the region. The Saudi vision is based on the principles of peace, stability, development, and prosperity as a right for all peoples. That's why Saudi Arabia has never hesitated to support the Palestinian people – politically and financially – and has put forward initiatives to safeguard their rights. The first Arab peace initiative came from King Fahd bin Abdulaziz in 1982 when he was Crown Prince, which later evolved into King Abdullah's initiative at the 2002 Beirut Summit, also while he was Crown Prince. It eventually became the Arab Peace Initiative, which won full Arab consensus. It's a cohesive plan that grants Palestinians their legitimate rights, guarantees Israel's security, and lays the groundwork for a just and genuine peace in the region – outside the hostile political calculations of Netanyahu and the extremists in his government, and beyond the reckless adventures of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other factions that have brought nothing but death, division, and destruction to the Palestinian people. Notably, in this context, Harvard University – a prestigious American institution – issued a study in 2022 confirming that the two-state solution remains the most effective option for achieving a just and lasting peace. The study warned that existing alternatives – whether prolonged occupation or crisis management – only lead to further extremism and collapse, keeping the entire region hostage to tension and violence. Perhaps the New York conference marks the beginning of a new path – or perhaps not. But it raises important questions: How much longer will this tragedy be met with denial and evasion by all parties to the conflict? How long will the world keep hedging its positions on this humanitarian disaster? What's certain is that staying silent on the Israel-Palestinian issue is no longer a neutral stance – and recycling the catastrophe is no longer possible… not morally, not humanely, and not politically.
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Saudi Arabia's rise as a global mediator and regional stabilizer
Saudi Arabia has emerged not only as a powerful promoter of peace and diplomacy in the Middle East, but also as a rising global mediator whose influence extends far beyond its borders. Under the transformative leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the Kingdom has taken on an increasingly active and strategic role in mediating conflicts, rebuilding war-torn countries, and promoting regional and international stability. Saudi Arabia's foreign policy approach emphasizes dialogue, reconstruction, and pragmatic engagement with actors across geopolitical divides. Now, more than ever, Saudi Arabia is asserting itself as a global diplomatic force engaged in shaping the future of peace, from the Middle East to Eastern Europe and beyond. For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Perhaps the most striking example of Saudi Arabia's diplomatic evolution is its recent leadership in helping Syria return to the international stage and begin the arduous process of reconstruction. After more than a decade of devastating civil war, international isolation, and economic collapse, Syria's reentry into Arab and global politics was neither automatic nor inevitable. It was, in large part, made possible through deliberate and sustained efforts by Saudi Arabia. In January 2025, Riyadh hosted the Riyadh Meetings on Syria, a series of multilateral discussions aimed at reimagining Syria's future. The summit included representatives from across the Arab world, the European Union, and the United States, alongside members of Syria's new transitional leadership. These meetings laid the groundwork for a new Syrian political reality. Saudi Arabia's commitment did not end with diplomatic courtesies. In April 2025, the Kingdom announced that it would pay off Syria's $15 million debt to the World Bank, thereby unlocking access to international reconstruction funds and giving Syria a critical financial lifeline. The move sent a strong message to the global community that Saudi Arabia was not only facilitating political dialogue, but also taking concrete economic steps to stabilize the country. The momentum culminated in a historic announcement in May 2025, when US President Donald Trump, during a visit to Riyadh, declared that all US sanctions on Syria would be lifted. Saudi Arabia ought to be credited for building the diplomatic bridge that made the policy shift possible. The meeting between Trump and interim President al-Sharaa in Riyadh was also emblematic of how Saudi Arabia is now viewed as a central, trusted platform for high-level international diplomacy. The significance of a stable Syria extends well beyond the country's borders. For more than a decade, Syria has been the epicenter of instability that spilled into Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey, and even Europe. The war fueled extremism, displaced millions of people, and fragmented the region's political landscape. The reconstruction and reintegration of Syria, if managed wisely, can reverse many of these consequences. A stable Syria opens the door for the safe return of refugees from Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and Europe – reducing social and economic pressures in those countries. Trade routes through the Levant could be reestablished, helping to boost regional economies and foster cross-border cooperation. It also undermines the influence of militias and extremist groups who thrived in the vacuum created by Syria's collapse. By restoring a degree of normalcy to Syria, Saudi Arabia is laying the foundation for broader regional security and interdependence. Saudi Arabia's mediation efforts are not limited to the Levant. The Kingdom has played an increasingly visible and active role in Africa, Eastern Europe, and global humanitarian diplomacy. For example, Saudi Arabia co-brokered the Jeddah Declaration alongside the United States in an effort to halt the brutal civil conflict in Sudan. The declaration, signed by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, committed the warring parties to safeguard civilians and allow humanitarian access. While the conflict in Sudan remains complex and volatile, the Jeddah talks established Saudi Arabia as a serious and trusted broker for African peace initiatives. The Kingdom also mobilized substantial humanitarian aid, supplying food, water, and medical assistance to thousands of displaced Sudanese civilians. In Europe, Saudi Arabia has played a surprisingly influential role in mediating between Russia and Ukraine. Saudi efforts led to the release of ten foreign prisoners of war held by Russian forces, including American, British, and Moroccan nationals. This unexpected intervention highlighted Saudi Arabia's ability to serve as a neutral, effective intermediary even in conflicts outside its immediate region. That engagement has continued. In March 2025, Saudi Arabia hosted high-level discussions in Jeddah between US, Ukrainian, and European officials aimed at exploring avenues for ceasefires, prisoner swaps, and humanitarian corridors. The talks, attended by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, signaled the Kingdom's enduring relevance as a venue for sensitive and strategic negotiations. At the heart of this diplomatic awakening is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 – an ambitious initiative to diversify the Saudi economy, modernize its society, and reshape its global image. While economic transformation – through investment in tourism, technology, and clean energy – has been the centerpiece of Vision 2030, foreign policy and diplomacy have become critical pillars of the plan. MBS recognizes that economic stability is closely tied to regional peace. A Middle East plagued by war, terrorism, and political fragmentation is incompatible with the global investments and partnerships Saudi Arabia seeks. Thus, the Kingdom's diplomatic surge is not a philanthropic endeavor, but also a strategic choice: to become a force for peace. Saudi diplomacy is also increasingly humanitarian in nature. From mediating prisoner exchanges to financing reconstruction, the Kingdom is positioning itself as a responsible global actor. These efforts burnish Saudi Arabia's international reputation and attract global partners who seek stability and cooperation in an otherwise turbulent region. A model for others and a blueprint for the region Saudi Arabia's new diplomatic identity offers a model for other nations in the region. Some countries in the region which have traditionally played regional roles, are now looking to Riyadh for cues on how to expand their influence diplomatically. By demonstrating that economic reform and peace mediation can go hand in hand, Saudi Arabia is encouraging its neighbors to invest in similar strategies. If more nations in the Middle East adopt this approach – prioritizing peace, mediation, and regional cooperation – the entire region stands to benefit. Reduced conflict means increased trade, shared infrastructure, and more resilient economies. This could also reduce the likelihood of foreign military interventions, allowing the region to solve its own problems on its own terms. In conclusion, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a proactive global player in peacebuilding and diplomacy. Its recent efforts in Syria, Sudan, Ukraine, Gaza, and elsewhere mark a new era in Saudi foreign policy – one that embraces negotiation over confrontation and investment over isolation. Through the vision and leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and guided by the strategic goals of Vision 2030, the Kingdom is taking bold steps to resolve conflicts, stabilize regions, and mediate peace in some of the world's most entrenched crises. The Kingdom has indeed become a global diplomatic powerhouse and peace mediator, setting an example for the Middle East and offering hope for a more stable, prosperous, and cooperative world.
