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War of words sharpens between Hezbollah and Saudi rulers

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]US adopts Saudi policy on Lebanon

Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah has declared that Lebanese Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri is currently being detained in Saudi Arabia preventing his departure after his “forced” resignation. He has also alleged that US President Donald Trump must have known of the plans to force Hariri’s resignation.

Hariri announced his resignation white travelling to Saudi Arabia on November 4. Nasrallah had earlier alleged that Hariri’s TV broadcast was a pre-recorded video run by Riyadh’s official Al-Arabia TV.

Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun has not yet accepted the resignation saying he will wait until Hariri returns to Lebanon. Hariri holds dual citizenship: Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.

According to Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV, Hassan Nasrallah stressed that Saad Hariri is detained in Saudi Arabia and cannot return to Lebanon and added that Riyadh regime has decided to impose a new PM on Lebanon belonging to Future Movement.

Nasrallah was addressing ceremony marking the commemoration of Arbaeen, the 40th day of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom and Hezbollah’s Martyr Day, on Friday. Hassan Nasrallah said that Saudi falsely thinks it can impose new PM on the country and the move is aimed to provoke internal clashes, political disputes and seditions in the country.

He further said, “All of a sudden, out of nowhere, Saudi Arabia called the prime minister on urgent matter without his aide or advisers, and was forced to tender his resignation, and to read the resignation statement written by them.”

Hezbollah leader expressed that “Sa’ad Hariri is our political opponent, but he is also our prime minister. We declare that the prime minister of Lebanon has not resigned.” Nasrallah also said “Lebanon had enjoyed unprecedented stability over the past year”, and appealed for national country.

Nasrallah alleged that Saudi Arabia was involved in “blunt, unprecedented interference” and it was preventing Hariri’s return to Lebanon which is why “we deem the resignation of Hariri illegal and invalid”.

Meanwhile, Saudi foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir has told US based CNBC on  Friday that his country would not allow Lebanon to “be the platform from which harm comes to Saudi Arabia.”

Accusing Hezbollah of hijacking the Lebanese system, the Saudi top diplomat said, “Lebanese people are innocent and have been dominated by Hezbollah and we need to find a way to help the Lebanese come out from under the thumb of Hezbollah.”

He also said, “Hezbollah has been an instrument used by Iran to dominate Lebanon, to interfere in Syria, with Hamas and Al Houthis in Yemen.” “Hezbollah continues to hold on to its militia although it should hand over its weapons,” he said, adding “there should be no weapons outside the scope of government institutions.”

Meanwhile US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, without naming Iran, has expressed similar views as of his Saudi counterpart saying, “There is no legitimate place or role in Lebanon for any foreign forces, militias or armed elements other than the legitimate security forces of the Lebanese state.”

Sa’ad Hariri is part of the unity government which includes rival political factions such as those supported by Hezbollah.

Currently in the 128-member parliament, March 8 Alliance holds 53 seats including FPM with 18 seats, Amal, 13 and Hezbollah 11 seats along with other smaller parties. March 14 Alliance is currently holding 50 seats which includes PM Hariri’s Future Movement with 29 seats, Lebanese forces-8.

Under the arrangement of accommodating all religious groups in the government, speaker must be a Shia Muslim elected for a four year term, President is required to be Maronite Christian while Prime Minister has to be a Sunni Muslim. The privileges of Speaker are unusually powerful. Currently Nabih Berri of Amal Party is holding this office.

Observers believe that the controversy surrounding Saudi Arabia’s interference in Lebanese affairs to counter widening Iranian influence in Israel’s immediate neighborhood seems to be sufficient reason of heightening tension in the region.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Trump rejects Iran’s 7-day peace plan, says deal can come after US polls

US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s seven-day proposal to end hostilities and indicated that a deal could come after the US midterm elections in November.

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Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing conflict, while indicating that a possible agreement could come after the US midterm elections in November.

Iran had proposed a seven-day framework under which hostilities could be brought to an end, the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and negotiations over its nuclear programme could resume.

Iran’s seven-day proposal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had put forward the proposal through intermediaries. Under the plan, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened by the end of the seventh day if specified conditions were met, while broader nuclear discussions would restart.

The proposal was based largely on an earlier understanding reached between Washington and Tehran, but Iran sought to implement the latest framework much faster. The earlier arrangement had provided a longer period for negotiations.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important waterway for global energy shipments, making its reopening a key element of any effort to ease the wider conflict.

Trump points to US midterm elections

Trump, speaking at the United Nations, showed no indication that he was ready to immediately resume negotiations on the terms proposed by Tehran.

He called for the economic isolation of Iran and said he believed a deal could be reached after the US midterm elections in November. Trump also said Iran was waiting to see how he performed in the midterm elections.

The remarks came as Iranian officials signalled that they remained open to diplomacy and described the UN General Assembly as an opportunity to revive negotiations.

Nuclear talks remain part of Iran proposal

Iran’s latest plan links the easing of hostilities with the resumption of negotiations over its nuclear programme.

The proposal follows the collapse of an earlier US-Iran arrangement. According to reporting on the latest proposal, the new framework is intended to compress the timeline for implementing commitments that had previously been discussed by the two sides.

For now, Trump’s remarks indicate that Washington is not accepting Tehran’s seven-day framework as presented, while Iran continues to put diplomacy and negotiations forward as part of its proposal.

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Iranian President Pezeshkian at UN says Iranians have been victims of US terrorism

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said at the UN General Assembly that Iranians had been victims of US terrorism and insisted that Iran had acted in self-defence.

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of subjecting Iranians to what he described as terrorism while addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

Pezeshkian said Iran had defended itself against attacks and rejected the characterisation of the country as a terrorist actor. His remarks came during a rare wartime appearance at the UN as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high.

Pezeshkian accuses US and Israel of attacks

Speaking at the General Assembly, Pezeshkian said Iranian civilians had been targeted by attacks and described the actions against his country as aggression.

“We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists,” he said, according to the report.

Pezeshkian also accused the United States and Israel of attacking Iran, while maintaining that Tehran’s response was an act of self-defence.

The Iranian president displayed photographs of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 150 schoolchildren who, according to his account, were killed during the early days of the conflict.

Iran’s message at the UN

Pezeshkian’s address came against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and heightened tensions in the region.

Iranian officials had indicated ahead of the UN visit that they intended to highlight what Tehran considers attacks against its people and raise concerns over the international response to the conflict.

The Iranian delegation’s visit to New York also comes amid restrictions imposed by the United States on the delegation’s movement and other aspects of its stay, according to reporting ahead of the address.

Pezeshkian says Iran defended itself

Pezeshkian’s central message at the UN was that Iran’s military actions should be viewed as a response to attacks rather than terrorism.

His description of the conflict and the allegations against the United States and Israel represent the Iranian government’s position. They should therefore be attributed to Pezeshkian rather than presented as independently established facts.

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PM Modi’s Canada visit could help wrap trade talks, says Canada PM Mark Carney

Canadian PM Mark Carney said he is looking forward to hosting PM Narendra Modi, with both countries aiming to conclude their ongoing trade negotiations.

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he is looking forward to hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as India and Canada continue efforts to advance their bilateral relationship and conclude ongoing trade negotiations.

The two countries have been working towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with both sides previously setting a target to conclude the negotiations in 2026.

Carney and Modi have held discussions on strengthening economic ties between India and Canada, including trade and investment. Their engagement has gained momentum following Carney’s visit to India earlier this year.

India-Canada trade talks

India and Canada formally resumed efforts towards a broader trade agreement after a period of strained bilateral ties. The two sides have committed to advancing negotiations on a CEPA covering their economic relationship.

In June, Carney and Modi reviewed progress in bilateral economic cooperation during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France. They expressed satisfaction with the progress in CEPA negotiations and reaffirmed their shared objective of concluding the talks in 2026.

During Carney’s visit to India in March, the two leaders had also agreed to accelerate negotiations on the CEPA and work towards finalising the agreement during 2026.

Modi’s proposed Canada visit

Carney had invited PM Modi to visit Canada in 2026, and the two leaders agreed to remain engaged through diplomatic channels to work towards a mutually convenient date for the visit.

The proposed visit comes as New Delhi and Ottawa seek to build on renewed diplomatic and economic engagement, with trade negotiations remaining a key part of the relationship.

The focus on completing the trade talks comes as both countries look to expand commercial ties and establish a broader economic framework through the proposed CEPA.

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