Analysis: U.S. sanctions on Iran have a big impact, but not necessarily in the intended places
Sanctions are a long-used tool designed as an alternative to military force and with the objective of changing governments’ behaviour, but they also...
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting Lebanon in its reconstruction efforts once a new government is formed.
The southern regions, which suffered the most extensive destruction, are expected to be the primary beneficiaries of international assistance and investment. Following a press conference with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, the visiting Qatari Prime Minister reiterated Doha’s unwavering support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
“We are looking forward to the formation of the government, and after that, we will explore a strategic partnership based on mutual interests,” Al Thani stated. As part of the ceasefire agreement implemented on November 27, 2024, the Lebanese army must be deployed in the south, while the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah is required to withdraw from border areas near Israel.
President Aoun, who was elected Lebanon’s head of state by Parliament on January 9, had previously served as commander-in-chief of the Lebanese military.
During his visit, Sheikh Mohammed also met with key Lebanese officials, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who secured his mandate with a landslide vote of confidence from Parliament. Lebanon’s lawmakers elected President Joseph Aoun with 99 out of 128 votes, ending more than two years of political deadlock.
Shortly after his election, Aoun tasked Nawaf Salam—former president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)—with forming a new government, following his endorsement by 84 lawmakers.
During the press conference, Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed Qatar’s support for the Lebanese army and emphasized the urgent need to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701. “Israel must withdraw from southern Lebanon, and Resolution 1701 must be fully enforced,” he declared. Meanwhile, President Aoun praised Qatar’s efforts in assisting Lebanon across various sectors.
Prime Minister Salam also welcomed Qatar’s commitment to assisting Lebanon during this critical period, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation in rebuilding the country’s war-torn infrastructure and stabilizing its economy.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has activated the state’s National Guard following the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis, an incident that has triggered protests and intensified tensions between state and federal authorities.
Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday the country should not fear pursuing energy ties with the United States, as Caracas seeks to expand oil and gas production and attract foreign investment.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly rejected a U.S. magazine report on the death toll during January unrest. Nationwide protests erupted in response to soaring inflation and a national currency crisis.
A mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV was illuminated on Sunday at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, continuing a centuries-old Vatican tradition marking the election of a new pope.
The death toll from nationwide protests in Iran has climbed to 6,126, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
Sanctions are a long-used tool designed as an alternative to military force and with the objective of changing governments’ behaviour, but they also end up hurting civilian citizens.
Azerbaijan’s participation in the United States-backed Board of Peace reflects a clear calculation of national interest, according to Chingiz Mammadov, Research Alumni of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the Woodrow Wilson International Center.
A clock in a Tel Aviv square that became a rallying point for Israelis demanding the release of hostages taken during the October 2023 Hamas attack was turned off on Tuesday, 844 days after it began counting their captivity.
Turkish defence firm Aselsan announced on Monday that it had signed a deal with the NATO alliance, of which Türkiye is a longstanding member, for the supply of “Identification of Friend or Foe” (IFF) interrogator systems for use with Man-Portable Air Defense Systems, or MANPADS.
Secret negotiations between U.S. officials and the Taliban over remaining American detainees have stalled, after the Taliban publicly tied any further releases to the fate of the last Afghan held at Guantánamo Bay, according to a report by The New York Times published on 26 January 2026.
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