Latest World News: Interviews

Healey to Asharq Al-Awsat: UK Has More Jets Flying in the Region Than at Any Time in the Last 15 Years

Interviews British Secretary of State for Defense John Healey arrives for a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, 24 March 2026.  EPA/ANDY RAIN

Healey to Asharq Al-Awsat: UK Has More Jets Flying in the Region Than at Any Time in the Last 15 Years

British Defense Secretary John Healey revealed Wednesday that UK pilots and aircrew have flown over 1,200 hours on defensive missions across the Middle East…

Najlaa Habriri (London)
Interviews Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares. Photo: Foreign Ministry

Spain’s FM Backs Saudi Arabia, Tells Asharq Al-Awsat that Iranian Attacks Are ‘Unjustified’

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has expressed Madrid’s support to Saudi Arabia, describing Iranian attacks on the Kingdom and other countries in…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Governor of Hadramout, Salim Al-Khanbashi delivers a press conference in the city of Mukalla in Yemen's coastal southern Hadramout province on January 19, 2026. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

Al-Khanbashi to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Warn Against Incitement, Hadramout Has Room for All

Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) member and Governor of Yemen's eastern Hadramout province Salem al-Khanbashi says he believes that “Hadramout triumphed…

Badr Al-Qahtani (Riyadh)
Interviews Iraqi Justice Minister Khaled Shwani

Iraqi Justice Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: ISIS Prisoners Held at a Fortified Site, Escape Impossible

Iraqi Justice Minister Khaled Shwani told Asharq Al-Awsat that Iraq will not repatriate foreign prisoners affiliated with ISIS to their home countries if their…

Ali Saray (Baghdad)
Interviews Ukrainian soldiers at an undisclosed location in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region on January 30, 2026 (AFP)

Ukrainian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Russia’s Demands to Annex Territory are a Red Line

A senior Ukrainian official said Kyiv is concentrating its negotiating efforts with Russia on achieving an unconditional ceasefire, while stressing the need…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)

Interviews Djibouti’s President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Djibouti President: We Are Monitoring Red Sea Developments, Reject Targeting of Our Land

Djibouti’s President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh stated that his country is closely following recent developments in the Bab el-Mandeb region and the Gulf of Aden. …

Abdulhadi Habtor (Djibouti)
Interviews Indian Defense Minister Ajay Bhatt in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat (PHOTO CREDIT: Mishaal al-Qadir)

New Delhi Pursues Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Riyadh

Indian Defense Minister Ajay Bhatt has expressed India's interest in collaborating with Saudi Arabia on joint defense projects and technology transfers…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Participants at the Third Annual Congress for Arab Media Professionals, organized by the Arab States Broadcasting Union in Tunis. Asharq Al-Awsat

AI Threatens 300 Million Jobs Globally

International media, communication, and new technologies experts have discussed the positive and negative effects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the Arab…

Kamal bin Younes (Tunis)
Interviews Egyptian Deputy Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Ghada Shalaby (Photo: Adnan Mahdali)

Egyptian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Recovery of Saudi Tourism Reflects on Arab Region

Egyptian Deputy Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ghada Shalaby told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia’s recent achievements in the tourism sector benefit…

Ibrahim al-Qurashi (Jeddah)
Interviews Girls carrying food containers in a temporary camp in Rafah, near the border with Egypt in the southern Gaza Strip. (AFP)

ICRC to Asharq Al-Awsat: Israel, Hamas Do Not Allow Us to Visit Detainees

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that since Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli authorities have suspended visits to Palestinian detainees in its…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Riyadh)
Interviews Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud during his interview with Asharq Al-Awsat in Cairo (Photo: Abdel Fattah Farag)

Somali President to ‘Asharq Al-Awsat’ : No Talks with Sisi on War Declaration against Ethiopia

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat after a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, played down the possibility…

Khaled Mahmoud (Cairo)
Interviews Phillipe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Photo: UN

Lazzarini Warns Via Asharq Al-Awsat of Imminent Famine in Gaza

Famine in Gaza is “imminent,” warns UNRWA, if the international community does not step up its aid to more 2.2 million Palestinian civilians in the Strip. …

Ali Barada (Washington )
Interviews Yemen Oil Minister Dr. Saeed Al-Shammasi (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Yemeni Oil Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Plan to Establish Refineries in Shabwa, Hadramout

Yemeni Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources, Dr. Saeed Al-Shammasi, expressed the government’s full readiness to resume the export of crude oil and liquefied…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Riyadh)
Interviews Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein

Iraqi FM: Iran Can't Strike Israel, Yet Targets Friendly Ally

Hours before Iraq lodged a complaint against Iran at the UN Security Council, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein criticized Iran’s attack on Erbil, calling it an …

Najlaa Habriri (Davos )
Interviews Protesters commemorate the children killed in Gaza during a demonstration in New York City on December 28 (AFP)

James Zogby to Asharq Al-Awsat: Arab Americans ‘Fearful,’ Won’t Vote for Biden

James Zogby, head of the American-Arab Institute in Washington, disclosed to Asharq Al-Awsat that President Joe Biden’s popularity has significantly dropped…

Interviews Sudan’s National Umma Party Chairperson Fadlallah Baramah (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Baramah to Asharq Al-Awsat: Sudan War Lacks Clear Purpose or Justification

The leader of Sudan’s National Umma Party, Fadlallah Baramah, described the signing of the “Addis Ababa Declaration” between the Civil Democratic Forces…

Ahmed Younes (Addis Ababa )
Interviews Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli raid on a house in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, on Thursday. (Reuters)

Al-Dardari to Asharq Al-Awsat: Gaza Regressed 21 Years in Human Development

Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Regional Director for Arab States, Abdullah Al-Dardari, said that numbers published in the media “cannot…

Mohammed Khair al-Rawashdeh (Amman)
Interviews Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yalchin Rafiyev (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Deputy FM of Azerbaijan to Asharq Al-Awsat: Relentless Efforts for Comprehensive Cooperation with Saudi Arabia

Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yalchin Rafiyev stressed Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in enhancing security and stability in the region, and…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak (Saba News Agency)

Yemeni FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: Houthis Exploit Red Sea Security for Propaganda Purposes

Yemen’s Houthis are exploiting the security of the Red Sea for internal propaganda purposes, warned Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak, emphasizing that…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Riyadh)
Interviews US Department of State regional spokesman Samuel Warburg. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

State Department to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Look Forward to Riyadh Summits Outcomes, Committed to Release of Hostages

As Israel intensified its strikes on hospitals and schools in Gaza, a US official justified his country’s use of the veto power against a resolution to stop…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki (Photo Credit: Bashir Saleh)

Eritrean President to Asharq Al-Awsat: Partnership with Saudi Arabia will Uplift Region from Underdevelopment Swamp

In a scathing attack, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki criticized the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Iran's Ambassador to Riyadh Ali Reza Enayati (IRNA)

Iran's Ambassador to Asharq Al-Awsat: Ready to Cooperate with Saudi Arabia to Support Palestine

Iran is ready to cooperate with Saudi Arabia to support the Palestinian people, said Ambassador to Riyadh Ali Reza Enayati. In an interview with…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Riyadh)
Interviews British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat in Riyadh (Photo by: Bashir Saleh)

British Foreign Secretary to Asharq Al-Awsat: Serious Work Underway to Avoid Expansion of Gaza War

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has stressed the importance of advancing the Arab initiative and the two-state solution as the Israel-Hamas war…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Hossam Zaki to Asharq Al-Awsat: The Plan to Displace Palestinians will not be Successful

The Arab League confirmed that an emergency summit, which will be held on Saturday in Saudi Arabia, will express a solid Arab position in support of…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Riyadh)
Interviews Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov with Hamas leaders Musa Abu Marzouk and Bassem Naim in Moscow (Reuters)

Hamas Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Briefed Russia on Causes Behind Oct. 7 Attack

Hamas is ready to discuss a deal to release civilian prisoners, said politburo member Moussa Abu Marzouk. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Abu Marzouk…

Raed Jaber (Moscow)
Interviews China’s special envoy to the Middle East Zhai Jun

Chinese Endeavor to Hold International Conference to Resume Peace Negotiations between Palestinians, Israel

China’s special envoy to the Middle East Zhai Jun revealed his country’s endeavor to mobilize international efforts to immediately stop the Israeli war on Gaza…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Italian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Roberto Cantone (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Italian Ambassador to Asharq Al-Awsat: Strategic Cooperation with Saudi Arabia is Growing in Light of Vision 2030

Future Investment Initiative (FII7) established a new road map for cooperation between Rome and Riyadh and enhanced the opportunities for strategic and dynamic…

Abdurrahman Youssef (Riyadh)
Interviews Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat (Photo by: Abdul Aziz Al-Zoman)

Malaysian Prime Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Stopping War in Gaza is an Immediate Demand

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim underlined the importance of the Arab and Islamic role led by Saudi Arabia to stop the ongoing war between the Israeli…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Saudi Minister of Energy, and his Indian counterpart, during the signing of the agreement between the two countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Indian Minister of Renewable Energy: We Seek Deeper Partnership with Saudi Arabia

Indian Minister of Electricity and New and Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh said that his country was seeking to establish a deeper partnership with Saudi…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)