Turkey is hoping that some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it is hosting will return to north-eastern Syria. Washington and Kurdish-led forces say a "security mechanism" is taking shape. While officials say no civilians would be displaced by the new security arrangements, residents are bracing for a new round of instability.
"It seems in some ways that Iran is inching toward that place where we could have talks and hopefully it'll play out that way," Defense Secretary Mark Esper says at the Royal United Services Institute think tank in London.
In letter to EU policy chief Federica Mogherini, Iranian FM Mohammad Zarif announces Tehran has lifted all limitations on its nuclear research and development activities, Iran's Students News Agency ISNA quotes Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying.
"Our goal is for at least 1 million of our Syrian brothers to return to the safe zone we will form along our 450 km border," Erdoğan says in a speech in Ankara.
Addressing his ruling Justice and Development party, Turkish president says it's unacceptable for nuclear-armed states to forbid Ankara from obtaining its own nuclear weapon, hints he wants same protection for Turkey as Israel.
Sanctions announced by the State and Treasury departments target Islamic republic's agency and two of its affiliates, and can subject foreign companies and governments, including international space cooperation organizations, to penalties if they have any involvement with the Iranian space agency.
The "Imam Ali" base will host thousands of troops, Fox News reports on Tuesday citing Western intelligence sources. Analysts say construction could be completed within months. There is an American army position less than 200 miles from the new Iranian compound.
"If Iran decides, it can have 20% enriched fuel within one to two days," Fars news agency quotes senior nuclear official as saying. Move comes amid ongoing efforts to arrange meeting between US and Iranian leaders.
Corruption-plagued Lebanon suffers from one of the world's highest debt ratios, high unemployment and little growth. Prime Minister Saad Hariri: Lebanon has six months to act.
Sky News reports Reaper drones based in nearby Kuwait and flying over Iraq and Syria could be deployed to help with overhead surveillance as British warships continue to escort UK-flagged tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.
