Iranian president gives ‘his full support’ to Putin in telephone call, Kremlin says

MOSCOW: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi gave “his full support” to Vladimir Putin during a telephone call, the Kremlin announced in a statement on Monday, two days after an aborted mutiny in Russia.

“The Iranian president has expressed his full support for the Russian leadership in connection with the June 24 events,” the Kremlin said in an announcement.

After a phone call between Putin and Raisi, the Iranian president’s political deputy, Mohammed Jamshidi, quoted the Iranian president in a tweet, saying “Iran supports Russian sovereignty.”

Iran ‘willing to swap prisoners with US’

TEHRAN: Iran said on Monday it was hoping indirect talks with the US could lead to a “positive” outcome for a prisoner swap.

Iran announced earlier this month that it was engaged in Oman-mediated talks with the US over its nuclear deal and a possible prisoner exchange.

“We are negotiating for the release of Iranian citizens through parties who play a role in good faith,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said on Monday.

Sudan’s RSF commander announces a unilateral truce over Eid

CAIRO: Sudan’s RSF paramilitary commander announced on Monday a unilateral truce during Muslims’ Eid al Adha.
General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, said in an audio recording aired on Al Arabiya TV the truce will be effective on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Netanyahu’s call to block creation of Palestinian state sparks fury, condemnation

RAMALLAH: All settler colonialism in the occupied Palestinian territories is illegitimate and illegal, Palestinian officials said on Monday.

Anger and frustration have been growing in response to Isreali Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state

He reportedly told a closed-door meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Israel must block Palestinians’ aspirations for an independent state and that “we are preparing for post-Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.”

GCC chief praises Gulf countries’ efforts to combat illegal drug trade

RIYADH: The head of the Gulf Cooperation Council said GCC countries are making a significant effort to combat illegal drugs, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi was speaking on the occasion of UN International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which is observed on June 26 each year.

Fighting drugs required effective international cooperation and the combined efforts of governmental and civil agencies and individuals, he said.