Iran lays down pre-conditions for end to Israel-US war
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has set recognition of Tehran’s inalienable rights, payment of war ...
A new country is poised to join the Abraham Accords, the series of normalisation agreements with Israel, according to U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Speaking at a business forum in Miami on Thursday, Witkoff said he was returning to Washington for the official announcement later in the evening.
“I’m flying back to Washington tonight because we’re going to announce another country joining the Abraham Accords,” he said.
Trump is expected to host the leaders of five Central Asian nations — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan — at the White House on Thursday evening. It remains unclear whether the announcement will take place during the dinner, though the president is expected to attend.
The Abraham Accords, first signed during Trump’s initial term in office, normalised relations between Israel and several Muslim-majority countries. To date, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates have joined the agreements.
According to Axios, the country expected to join is Kazakhstan, which has maintained diplomatic relations with Israel since 1992. A U.S. official told the outlet that the move aims to reinvigorate efforts to expand regional normalisation.
“This demonstrates that the Abraham Accords remain a group many countries wish to be part of. It’s also a step towards turning the page on the Gaza war and fostering greater peace and cooperation in the region,” the official said.
The announcement comes as Israel faces increasing diplomatic isolation amid its ongoing war in Gaza, where nearly 70,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to figures from Gaza's Health Ministry.
In response, several nations have severed diplomatic ties with Israel or officially recognised the State of Palestine, underscoring the growing international backlash over the conflict.
The 32 countries belonging to the Internatioanl Energy Agency agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil on Wednesday (11 March), in efforts aimed at bringing down the price of crude oil, which has soared since fighting between Iran, Israel and the U.S. started at the end of February.
Explosive-laden Iranian boats reportedly attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters on Wednesday, killing one crew member, after four other vessels were hit in the Gulf. The attacks, targeting ships linked to the U.S. and Europe, raise the total struck in the region.
A towering lava fountain from Kilauea shot about 400 metres into the air late on Tuesday (11 March) on Hawaii Island, prompting temporary closures at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and part of a key highway as volcanic ash and debris fell over nearby areas.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Norwegian police apprehended three brothers suspected of carrying out Sunday's (8 March) bombing at the U.S. embassy in Oslo, in an attack investigators have branded an act of terrorism.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 12th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Norwegian police apprehended three brothers suspected of carrying out Sunday's (8 March) bombing at the U.S. embassy in Oslo, in an attack investigators have branded an act of terrorism.
Oil prices continue to fluctuate as a result of the conflict in the Middle East with Iran and the insecurity of ships sailing through the key Strait of Hormuz route. Iran has said it will target any ship linked to the U.S., Israel or their allies.
Britain has deployed the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon to the eastern Mediterranean to strengthen protection for its military assets in the Middle East after a drone strike targeted a key UK air base in Cyprus earlier this month.
Member countries of the International Energy Agency have unanimously agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves to stabilise global markets disrupted by the war involving Iran.
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