Middle East

President Rouhani says White House suffers from "mentally disability" after Trump administration imposes sanctions on Supreme Leader Khamenei.

Princeton University study on public opinion in Arab countries indicate that views on the status of women and the LGBTQ community are progressing "unevenly."

Despite Trump administration's campaign of "maximum pressure," some ordinary Iranians see fit to blame their own government for their woes: "Our country is full of wealth and riches" but incompetence by officials is squandering it, one taxi driver says.

"Imposing useless sanctions is the permanent closure of the path of diplomacy," Iran's Foreign Ministry tweets. US President Donald Trump on Monday signs order targeting Iran's supreme leader, other top officials, says they are responsible for Iran's aggressive behavior, should be held accountable.

Iran's naval commander says Iranian forces would not hesitate to act again and shoot down more US surveillance drones that violate Iranian airspace. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits Saudi Arabia to discuss escalation.

"Those who think that waving billions of dollars can lure Lebanon, which is under the weight of a suffocating economic crisis, into succumbing or bartering over its principles are mistaken," Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri says.

Pan-Arab group's move seeks to cement a promise from April to boost “the Palestinian Authority’s budget as it faces financial burdens." Meanwhile, a Saudi official says that if the Palestinians are willing to "relinquish the image of the eternal victim," the US peace plan could boost their statehood aspirations.

Bahrain conference "will lead nowhere," Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi says. Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani says US President Trump's peace plan is "toying with a nation's dignity," warns it will lead to stronger resistance by Palestinian terrorist groups.

Accusing Washington of violating country's airspace with US drone, Iranian President says, "This American aggression is the start of new tensions by them in the region. We expect international bodies to react appropriately." Iranian Navy commander warns downing of American drone in the Persian Gulf could happen again.