Japan’s Inpex quits Iran

Inpex Corp, Japan’s top oil explorer, has pulled out from Iran’s Azadegan oil field project as expected, after U.S. sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme posed a potential threat to the company’s business. (more…)

National Dialogue talks postponed till Nov 4

The Lebanese national dialogue talks will convene on November 4 at 11:00 am at the presidential palace in Baabda, according to the presidential press office.

The last national dialogue session aimed at discussing the defense strategy took place on August 18 at the summer presidential palace in Beiteddine , el Shouf of Mt Lebanon. (more…)

Another government critic arrested in Iran

Mehdi Khazali, head of Iran’s Medical Data Bank and son of hardliner, Ayatollah Abolghassem Khazali, was arrested yesterday by Iranian authorities.

According to media sources, Mehdi Khazali, a physician and anti-government blogger, was summoned to Evin Prison yesterday (more…)

Ahmadinejad’s defiance could increase chances of war

Some of Saddam Hussein’s phrases were almost identical to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s promises of “war without limits”.

LAF: The army is more united than ever

The army General command stressed on Friday that the army is is more united than ever.

“The army has managed to maintain the security at the height of political division in previous years and it is now more united than ever,” the army stressed in a statement. (more…)

Reaction to Ahmadinejad’s visit to Lebanon

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ended his two-day visit to Lebanon on Thursday. Prior to departing from Lebanon Ahmadinejad met Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah Thursday evening at the Iranian Embassy in Beirut.

Reaction to Ahmadinejad’s visit was mixed but as expected March 14 leaders do not share the enthusiasm of Hezbollah led March 8 alliance. (more…)

Jumblatt: I will re-nominate Hariri if he resigns

Democratic Gathering bloc leader MP Walid Jumblatt told BBC TV on Thursday that the ministers who represent his bloc in the cabinet will not resign, adding that he will nominate Prime Minister Saad Hariri once again if he resigns from his post in order to save the country.

“No one can joke about resignation….This could lead to political vacuum,” (more…)

Ahmadinejad ends visit with meeting Hezbollah chief

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ended his two-day visit to Lebanon on Thursday.
Prior to departing from Lebanon Ahmadinejad met Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah at the Iranian Embassy in Beirut on Thursday evening.

According to a statement issued by Hezbollah’s media office they met to discuss the latest domestic and regional developments. (more…)

Muslim scholar: Christian exodus hurts Middle East

Christian emigration from the Middle East is impoverishing Arab culture and Muslims have a duty to encourage the presence of Christian minorities, a Lebanese government adviser told a Vatican summit on Thursday.

Mohammad Sammak, a Sunni Muslim who is secretary general of Lebanon’s Christian-Muslim Committee for Dialogue, (more…)

Jumblatt urges Iran to help resolve Lebanon tension

During his yesterday’s meeting with visiting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt called on Iran to continue to maintain contacts with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states to help resolve the tension in Lebanon,” National News Agency (NNA) reported. (more…)