Middle East

This is the first time the uranium-fueled facility has reported an emergency shutdown. Iranian official says Bushar will be offline "for three to four days."

"The sides need to return to their capitals for consultations but also to decide on new policy," says Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi. "There is still a fair distance to travel on some of the key issues," says US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

"Iran has now sent a clear message that they are tilting to a more radical, more conservative position," says Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a UAE political analyst, adding that Ebrahim Raisi's election in Iran might make improving Gulf ties a tougher challenge.

Palestinians cite the vaccines' close expiration date as the reason for refusing delivery. Israeli Health Ministry maintains vaccines delivered to the Palestinian "identical to ones currently used to immunize Israelis."

"We will not allow the Israeli government to impose its conditions on the resistance or isolate Gaza," Palestinian terrorist groups reportedly tell Israel through Egyptian mediators.

If elected, judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi would be first serving Iranian president sanctioned by US before even entering office over his involvement in 1988 mass execution of political prisoners, suppression of 2009 unrest.

In show of appreciation for Houthis’ support of Palestinian cause, Houthi Supreme Political Council member presented with a ‘shield of honor’ on behalf of Gaza terrorist group,

With ruling clerics aware their political fortunes rely on tackling worsening economic situation, a win for hardliner Ebrahim Raisi is unlikely to slow efforts to revive nuclear deal and remove sanctions on Iran.

It would be dangerous to separate any nuclear deal with Iran from Tehran's missile program and "destabilizing" behavior, Gulf ministers say.