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Iran Says Committed to Hajj Agreement with Riyadh

Muslim pilgrims pray around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque ahead of the annual Hajj in Makkah, September 22. Reuters
Muslim pilgrims pray around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque ahead of the annual Hajj in Makkah, September 22. Reuters
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Iran Says Committed to Hajj Agreement with Riyadh

Muslim pilgrims pray around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque ahead of the annual Hajj in Makkah, September 22. Reuters
Muslim pilgrims pray around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque ahead of the annual Hajj in Makkah, September 22. Reuters

Riyadh- Upon the arrival of 23,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, an official from the Iranian pilgrimage office announced his country’s commitment to bilateral agreements signed with Riyadh, covering the pilgrims’ arrival to the airport, the days they will pass at the holy sites and finally their departure.

The official also expressed gratitude for the good services and treatment presented to the Iranian mission in Jeddah and Medina airports.

During a phone call with Asharq Al-Awsat, executive assistant at the office Nasser Hawsawi said that the last Iranian mission is expected to arrive at the kingdom on the third of Zulhijja, making a total of 86,000 Iranian pilgrims.

Hawsawi denied any different points of view between Saudi Arabia and Iran on Hajj-related topics.

The insistence of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization of Iran in 2016 to carry out some rituals unrelated to Hajj led to Iran's rejection to sign the Hajj agreement with the Kingdom, depriving Iranian pilgrims from performing Hajj.

In response to a question on what has been agreed upon with the Saudis, Hawsawi stated that “the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization of Iran has notified hajj convoys of the agreement and they will commit to it.”

He added that the Iranian convoys are well known for their organization, discipline, potentials and residence.

Commenting on the bilateral agreement to transport Iranian pilgrims, Hawsawi noted that Saudi Arabian Airlines and Iran Air are the exclusive carriers of Iranian pilgrims.

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Kremlin Says EU Not Ready to Mediate Ukraine Peace Deal

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a Russian strike on a residential area in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 09 June 2026, amid the ongoing Russian invasion. (EPA)
Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a Russian strike on a residential area in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 09 June 2026, amid the ongoing Russian invasion. (EPA)
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Kremlin Says EU Not Ready to Mediate Ukraine Peace Deal

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a Russian strike on a residential area in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 09 June 2026, amid the ongoing Russian invasion. (EPA)
Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a Russian strike on a residential area in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 09 June 2026, amid the ongoing Russian invasion. (EPA)

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that the European Union was likely far from ready to act as a mediator in any ‌Ukraine peace ‌process and ‌appeared ⁠to be more focused ⁠on continuing the war.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the comment to journalists when ⁠asked about ‌the ‌possibility of the ‌EU stepping in as ‌a mediator while US-led negotiations are on hold.

"First of ‌all, starting mediation efforts by putting ⁠forward certain ⁠conditions to Russia is likely illogical and wrong. And, of course, this is unacceptable to us," Peskov said.

World

Putin to Decide on Armenia’s Pashinyan Congratulations After Official Election Results, Kremlin Says

Armenian Prime Minister and leader of the Civil Contract party Nikol Pashinyan holds a press conference following the parliamentary election at the party's headquarters in Yerevan early on June 8, 2026. (AFP)
Armenian Prime Minister and leader of the Civil Contract party Nikol Pashinyan holds a press conference following the parliamentary election at the party's headquarters in Yerevan early on June 8, 2026. (AFP)
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Putin to Decide on Armenia’s Pashinyan Congratulations After Official Election Results, Kremlin Says

Armenian Prime Minister and leader of the Civil Contract party Nikol Pashinyan holds a press conference following the parliamentary election at the party's headquarters in Yerevan early on June 8, 2026. (AFP)
Armenian Prime Minister and leader of the Civil Contract party Nikol Pashinyan holds a press conference following the parliamentary election at the party's headquarters in Yerevan early on June 8, 2026. (AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin will decide later whether to congratulate Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his election victory, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, underlining that Moscow is ‌waiting for ‌the formal outcome of ‌the ⁠vote before making ⁠any announcements.

Commenting on the parliamentary election, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated remarks made a day ⁠earlier that there had been ‌reports ‌of violations, while stopping ‌short of offering a ‌broader assessment of the vote or its legitimacy.

Armenia's governing Civil Contract ‌party won an election seen as a test ⁠of ⁠its handling of a peace deal with Azerbaijan and its growing turn to the West, despite what international election observers called blatant interference and pressure by Russia.

World

Hundreds Evacuated as Waves Batter New Zealand Capital

Stormy seas pound the coastline of Island Bay, a suburb of the New Zealand capital Wellington. Ben STRANG / AFP
Stormy seas pound the coastline of Island Bay, a suburb of the New Zealand capital Wellington. Ben STRANG / AFP
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Hundreds Evacuated as Waves Batter New Zealand Capital

Stormy seas pound the coastline of Island Bay, a suburb of the New Zealand capital Wellington. Ben STRANG / AFP
Stormy seas pound the coastline of Island Bay, a suburb of the New Zealand capital Wellington. Ben STRANG / AFP

Authorities evacuated hundreds of people from their seaside homes in New Zealand's capital on Tuesday as 11-meter (36-foot) waves lashed the coast.

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little declared a state of emergency on the eve of the swells for seaside residents in Owhiro Bay, Island Bay, Houghton Bay and Breaker Bay.

"You must stay away from the southern coastline," Little said in a statement, warning that emergency workers would not be coming to help anyone who stayed behind.

The evacuation order took effect on Tuesday morning, with police brought in to ensure people moved to higher ground, said AFP.

Officers set up cordons on surrounding roads to prevent people from heading to the coast.

The council said a similar event in 2021 affected many homes in Breaker Bay, and waves during that storm were about 6.5 meters.

Waves entering Wellington Harbour on Tuesday were measured at 11 meters, New Zealand's MetService said.

Wind gusts were so strong at Island Bay that two women were knocked off their feet as waves washed up over the road, an AFP journalist saw.

Some flights were cancelled at Wellington Airport where wind gusts were recorded of up to 128 kilometers per hour (80 miles per hour).

A small plane from local carrier Golden Bay Air tipped onto its side in the wind while parked at the airport with no-one aboard.

Airline boss Richard Molloy told national broadcaster RNZ that fire fighters had secured the plane to the ground.