The Cradle

❗️ Iraq pushes back deadline for armed groups to hand over weapons A senior Iraqi official on Sunday appeared to push back the 30 September deadline for armed groups to surrender their weapons, without explaining the change or setting a new date. For months, the Iraqi government had maintained that the groups would hav…

❗️ Iran is reviewing an invitation to join the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, Mehdi Rahimi, head of the Iranian Parliament’s official news agency, said in an interview with Al-Mayadeen. Rahimi said Iran had received…

UPDATE | Iran denies receiving invitation to join Mecca defense pact Iran has denied reports that it was invited to join the Mecca defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan, while confirming that proposals have been made to hold talks with the three countries on regional security. The clarification follow…

❗️ US Treasury set to expand secondary sanctions on Iran The US Treasury is expected to expand the scope of secondary sanctions it can impose on companies and countries that continue doing business with Iran, as the Trump administration seeks to ratchet up economic pressure on Tehran on Monday, a source familiar with t…

❗️ Over the past hour in south Lebanon, Israeli forces shelled Mansouri and carried out demolition operations on the western outskirts of Mays Al-Jabal, where military bulldozers destroyed a temporary school complex and explosives were brought in to prepare several homes for demolition. An explosive-laden Israeli drone…