Bahrain’s King Lauds Saudi, UAE, Kuwaiti Support

King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attends Arab summit in Riyadh in this file photo taken on January 21, 2013. REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed
King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attends Arab summit in Riyadh in this file photo taken on January 21, 2013. REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed
TT

Bahrain’s King Lauds Saudi, UAE, Kuwaiti Support

King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attends Arab summit in Riyadh in this file photo taken on January 21, 2013. REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed
King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attends Arab summit in Riyadh in this file photo taken on January 21, 2013. REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa stressed the vitality of achieving fiscal balance, economic diversification and developing the oil energy sector in Bahrain. His remarks were made on Wednesday at the Kingdom’s fifth legislative parliamentary session.

King Hamad praised Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait for supporting Bahrain in achieving financial stability, stressing that Manama seeks economic integration with fellow Gulf Cooperation Council member states.

"We convey our sincere thanks to our brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the State of Kuwait, for their noble stances, which we highly appreciate, in supporting our national efforts to achieve the sought after financial balance and economic growth, through which we will work to strengthen facets of our integration and economic cooperation with our brothers, within the context of our common policies that aim to maintain the security and stability of the region and safeguard its gains,” he said in his address.

King Hamad also reiterated enduring commitment towards the Palestinian cause, saying his Kingdom will continue to support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

“As part of our commitment to our Arab and Islamic surroundings, we will continue to defend our Arab and Islamic causes in international forums, and the Palestinian issue is at the forefront of our interests. We will seek that the Palestinian people obtain their legitimate rights, including the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” King Hamad said.

“We thank all the relevant State institutions for their outstanding performance in ensuring the success of the electoral process with its impressive outcomes, and which witnessed the participation of individuals that greatly pleased us… and we thank them for their keenness which demonstrates their solid will,” he said.

“Their participation is a great example of the commitment of Bahraini citizens to managing the affairs of their country,” King Hamad added.



Saudi Interior Minister, Singapore's Coordinating Minister for National Security Discuss Regional Security Development

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
TT

Saudi Interior Minister, Singapore's Coordinating Minister for National Security Discuss Regional Security Development

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received a phone call on Sunday from Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs of the Republic of Singapore K Shanmugam.

During the call, the two officials discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and current security developments amid the Iranian attacks targeting regional security and stability, SPA reported.

They also affirmed the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation and coordination in support of regional security and stability, in addition to discussing a number of topics of mutual interest.

Shanmugam expressed his country's condemnation of the Iranian attacks targeting the Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, affirming Singapore's solidarity with the Kingdom and the GCC states in all measures aimed at enhancing security and stability.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Riots Targeting UAE Embassy in Damascus

Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Saudi Arabia Condemns Riots Targeting UAE Embassy in Damascus

Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Sunday the riots, assaults, and attempted vandalism that targeted the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and the residence of its head of mission in Damascus.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the Kingdom also slammed the “unacceptable offenses directed at the national symbols of the brotherly UAE.”

The ministry stressed the Kingdom’s “rejection of these attacks and all forms of violence against diplomats, stressing the need to ensure the protection of diplomats and diplomatic missions in line with relevant international laws and conventions.”

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi also slammed the attack against the UAE embassy in Damascus, urging Syrian authorities to hold those responsible to account.


Oman, Iran Hold Talks on Strait of Hormuz

Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
TT

Oman, Iran Hold Talks on Strait of Hormuz

Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)

Oman and Iran held talks on easing passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the Omani state news agency reported Sunday, with the key shipping chokepoint effectively closed due to war in the Middle East.

"Oman and Iran held a meeting at the deputy ministers level in the foreign ministries of the two countries, with the attendance of specialists from both sides, during which the possible options were discussed regarding ensuring the smooth passage through the Strait of Hormuz," the news agency posted on X.

"The experts from both sides put forward a number of visions and proposals regarding it," it added.