Marco Rubio arrives in Saudi Arabia before Russia talks to end Ukraine war

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in Saudi Arabia on Monday, ahead of anticipated discussions with Russian officials regarding efforts to end Moscow’s nearly three-year conflict in Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia reaffirmed on Wednesday that it will not establish formal diplomatic ties with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is created. 

Iran has expanded its ongoing military drills to include two additional nuclear facilities located in the western and central regions of the country, according to state media reports on Sunday.

China and Iran’s top diplomats on Saturday reiterated the need to resolve the Palestinian issue by restoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and bringing an end to the occupation.

Israel has violated all the rules of war in the Gaza Strip, the commissioner-general of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said Sunday.

Amnesty International has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, stating that its military actions meet the legal definition outlined in the 1948 Genocide Convention. The claims were detailed in a report published on Thursday, titled `You Feel Like You Are Subhuman`: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza as `genocide` in some of the harshest public criticism of the country by a Saudi official since the start of the war.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced Sunday that his country does not seek war but will defend its people and respond in a `proportionate` manner to the latest Israeli attack.

Iran issued a stern warning to Israel on Tuesday, cautioning against any attacks on its infrastructure. This comes a week after Tehran launched a missile barrage, heightening tensions across the Middle East. Iran`s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, emphasized that any attack on Iranian facilities would be met with retaliation.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that he wants to open a `constructive` chapter in his country’s international relations and that Tehran is `ready to engage` with the West over its nuclear programme.

Chinese prime minister Li Qiang underscored the importance of Saudi Arabia in China`s diplomacy during a meeting Wednesday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, state media reported. 

Saudi Arabia`s crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman has said he fears being assassinated over his support for normalising Saudi-Israeli relations. 

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has blamed Israel for the attack that killed Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh last week in Iran, which has vowed to retaliate.

Hamas says it has chosen Yahya Sinwar, its top official in Gaza, as the new leader of its political bureau. The selection of Sinwar follows Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran on July 31, the Palestinian group said on Tuesday.

The League of Arab States (LAS) has announced that Hezbollah will no longer be classified as a terrorist organization, according to TASS.

Iran`s Guardian Council approved six candidates, including the hard-line parliament speaker, to run in the presidential election set for June 28.