Iran says recently signed Türkiye-Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defense pact signals a shift in regional security, with Tehran expressing no concern about the Makkah agreement

Iran says service fees should be charged for Strait of Hormuz passage; FM spokesman Baghaei says Iran-Oman talks on new shipping route continue 'smoothly and constructively'

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that fees should be charged for maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that Iran-Oman negotiations on a new shipping route are continuing 'smoothly and constructively.' He said the talks would establish mechanisms to ensure safe shipping, address environmental issues and combat crimes in the waterway.

Hezbollah urges Lebanon to halt direct talks with Israel after Israeli Foreign Ministry publishes map depicting large parts of southern Lebanon as Israeli territory, calls for UN complaint

Hezbollah is urging the Lebanese government to halt direct talks with Israel after the Israeli Foreign Ministry published a map depicting large parts of southern Lebanon as Israeli territory. The group said the map exposes Israeli ambitions over Lebanese land and called on Beirut to lodge an urgent complaint with the UN Security Council.

Mladenov says Israel will withdraw from Gaza area by area once Hamas weapons are verified decommissioned; envoy calls Türkiye and Qatar 'critical' to securing Hamas approval of the roadmap.

Mladenov, the Board of Peace's lead envoy for Gaza, says Israel will withdraw area by area once Hamas' weapons are verified as decommissioned and rendered unusable, calling Türkiye and Qatar's roles 'critical' to securing Hamas approval of the roadmap.

China rejects India's Aug 7 naming of 27 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, calling the move 'illegal, null and void.' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reaffirms Beijing's claim to the Zangnan region and says China does not recognize what India calls Arunachal Pradesh.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Monday that China does not recognize the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh' illegally set up by India, responding to India's Aug. 7 issuance of 'standard names' for 27 locations there. He said the region, which China calls Zangnan, is Chinese territory and that India's naming move is 'illegal, null and void.'