Middle East

"It's time for the Iranian regime to cease inventing enemies that do not exist," says opposition figure Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani.

The elections, the first in 15 years, are seen as an important step toward ending the Palestinians since Hamas usurped control of the Gaza Strip from the Palestinian Authority in a military coup in 2007.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani tells cabinet: Today, we expect the incoming US administration to return to the rule of law and commit themselves, and if they can, in the next four years, to remove all the black spots of the previous four years.

Iraqi military reports two attackers detonated explosives vests at crowded market in Tayaran Square in the first such attack since January 2018.

The UAE and the US were working to ink a deal before President Joe Biden took office on Wednesday, as he has said he will re-examine the agreements.

Tehran has recently stepped up military drills as part of an effort to pressure President-elect Joe Biden over the nuclear deal that US President Donald Trump pulled out of.

Speaking to the UN Security Coucil, Ahmed Aboul Gheit says US under outgoing President Donald Trump has "marginalized" the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Parliamentary elections are to be held on May 22, followed by a presidential vote on July 31. A December poll found that 52% of Palestinians think elections held under present conditions would not be fair and free.