Latest World News: Interviews

El-Mahboub Abdul Salam to Asharq Al-Awsat: Al-Turabi Was Shocked by Deputy’s Role in Mubarak Assassination Plot

Interviews Dr. El-Mahboub Abdul Salam speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

El-Mahboub Abdul Salam to Asharq Al-Awsat: Al-Turabi Was Shocked by Deputy’s Role in Mubarak Assassination Plot

This happens only in thrillers. A religious leader summons an obscure army officer and meets him for the first time two days before a planned coup. He appoints…

Ghassan Charbel (Cairo)
Interviews Reeves speaks during the Future Investment Initiative Conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

UK Chancellor to Asharq Al-Awsat: Strengthening Partnership with Saudi Arabia a Top Priority

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves affirmed that strengthening relations and economic partnership with Saudi Arabia represents a top priority for her…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Yemeni Interior Minister Major General Ibrahim Haydan. Photo: Turky Alagili

Yemen’s Interior Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Hezbollah Members Arrested in Aden

Yemeni Interior Minister Major General Ibrahim Haydan said that security forces have arrested members of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as well as Syrians and Iranians…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Riyadh)
Interviews The Saudi capital Riyadh - File Photo/AFP

French Senator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Ongoing Cooperation with Saudi Arabia to Combat Financial Crimes

Riyadh is preparing to host the conference “Sanctions, AML & CFT for Banking & Finance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” an event that brings together…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews Luigi Di Maio, the European Union’s special representative for the Gulf region, meets Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim in Brussels (via X)

EU Envoy to Asharq Al-Awsat: Partnership With Gulf States of Utmost Importance

Nearly a year after the first Gulf–European summit in Brussels gave an unprecedented boost to relations, the two sides have expanded cooperation in political…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Riyadh)

Interviews Siddiq Haftar to Asharq Al-Awsat: My Visit to Khartoum Is Not Political

Siddiq Haftar to Asharq Al-Awsat: My Visit to Khartoum Is Not Political

Siddiq Haftar, the eldest son of Marshal Khalifa Haftar, commander-in-chief of the Libyan National Army, confirmed that his visit to Sudan, where he met with…

Khaled Mahmoud (Cairo)
Interviews Libya’s Bashagha to Asharq Al-Awsat: I Will Remain in My Post Until Elections Are Held

Libya’s Bashagha to Asharq Al-Awsat: I Will Remain in My Post Until Elections Are Held

Head of Libya’s government of stability, Fathi Bashagha announced that he would remain in his position until “all Libyan parties” agree on electoral laws,…

Interviews Bathily to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Support Any Agreement that Leads Libya to Recovery

Bathily to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Support Any Agreement that Leads Libya to Recovery

Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Libya and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya Abdoulaye Bathily stressed that his…

Jamal Jawhar (Cairo)
Interviews Abu Al-Ragheb: King Abdullah Warned Bush against Opening Gates of Hell in Iraq

Abu Al-Ragheb: King Abdullah Warned Bush against Opening Gates of Hell in Iraq

Former Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Abu Al-Ragheb revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat, and for the first time, the behind-the-scenes dealings related to the build up…

Mohammed Khair al-Rawashdeh (Amman)
Interviews Former French Ambassador to Asharq Al-Awsat: Washington Accused Us of Lying about WMD in Iraq

Former French Ambassador to Asharq Al-Awsat: Washington Accused Us of Lying about WMD in Iraq

Former French Ambassador Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, who recently published a remarkable book entitled "The Others Don't Think Like Us," experienced the US…

Michel Abou Najm (Paris)
Interviews Barzani to Asharq Al-Awsat: At Secret Meeting, Americans Informed us of Decision to Oust Saddam

Barzani to Asharq Al-Awsat: At Secret Meeting, Americans Informed us of Decision to Oust Saddam

Saddam Hussein’s shadow often looms large over my meetings with Masoud Barzani. My career has allowed me to follow the thrilling and painful tales of both…

Ghassan Charbel (Erbil)
Interviews Amr Moussa to Asharq Al-Awsat: The Wound has not Healed, Political Miscalculation Led to Iraq's Fall

Amr Moussa to Asharq Al-Awsat: The Wound has not Healed, Political Miscalculation Led to Iraq's Fall

Meeting the veteran diplomat, Amr Moussa, always clarifies historical events, especially that for decades, he was a maker and a witness to the course of Arab…

Interviews Al-Kadhimi to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi-Iranian Talks Were Frank, Comprehensive, Fruitful

Al-Kadhimi to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi-Iranian Talks Were Frank, Comprehensive, Fruitful

Saudi-Iranian talks conducted in Baghdad were frank, comprehensive, and fruitful, former Iraqi prime minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi told Asharq Al-Awsat days…

Interviews Lebanon: Mikati Says Parties Rejecting Cabinet Meetings Better Elect a President

Lebanon: Mikati Says Parties Rejecting Cabinet Meetings Better Elect a President

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati hailed the latest development in the Saudi-Iranian relations, stressing that Lebanon supports any "consensual"…

Thaer Abbas (Beirut)
Interviews Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim: Politicians’ Performance Destroys Lebanon

Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim: Politicians’ Performance Destroys Lebanon

A week after leaving his post as the head of Lebanon’s General Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat about his departure, refusing to…

Thaer Abbas (Beirut)
Interviews Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs: US Regional Presence Will Not Diminish, We Have Strong Security Partnerships

Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs: US Regional Presence Will Not Diminish, We Have Strong Security Partnerships

US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf defended Washington’s policy in the Middle East and stressed that her country realizes…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Riyadh)
Interviews The spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry in the Middle East and North Africa, Dennis Kumetat. (German Information Center)

German Foreign Ministry Spokesperson: We Care About the Path of Reform in Saudi Arabia, Ready to Support it

The spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry in the Middle East and North Africa, Dennis Kumetat, stressed that Germany and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia share…

Fathiya al-Dakhakhni (Cairo)
Interviews A general view shows a damaged mosque in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, in opposition-held al-Maland village, in Idlib province, Syria February 24, 2023. (Reuters)

Ilham Ahmed to Asharq Al-Awsat: Giving Legitimacy to Syrian Regime Will Not Yield Political Solution

Head of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) Ilham Ahmed said cooperating with the Damascus regime “unconditionally” will only grant it some form of legitimacy…

Kamal Sheikho (Qamishli)
Interviews Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani sits down for an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat in Baghdad.

Iraqi PM to Asharq Al-Awsat: Our Country Won’t Be Arena for Settling Scores

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced that Iraq and Saudi Arabia are capable of forming a regional axis that can act as a foundation for…

Interviews French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna (EPA)

French FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Are Working with Saudi Arabia to Support Regional Stability

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said in remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat on Thursday that strengthening France’s relations with both Saudi Arabia and the…

Michel Abou Najm (Paris)
Interviews Lebanese MPs speak prior to the start of the ninth parliamentary session to elect a new president of Lebanon, at the Parliament building in Beirut, Lebanon, 08 December 2022. (EPA)

Hamadeh to Asharq Al-Awsat: Presidential Vacuum in Lebanon Will Last Months

It appears that the vacuum in the presidency in Lebanon will last several months given the lack of prospects for a local solution or a breakthrough in…

Youssef Diab (Beirut)
Interviews French ambassador to Yemen Jean-Marie Safa (Photo: Omar Hogail)

French Ambassador to Yemen Sounds Alarm Over Houthi Recruitment of Children

French ambassador to Yemen Jean-Marie Safa said that his embassy was in contact with the Houthis, but accused the group of communicating with the world through…

Badr Al-Qahtani (London)
Interviews Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)

Geagea: Dialogue with Hezbollah, its Allies Is a Waste of Time

Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea usually prefers to remain optimistic, in contrast to the dreariness in Lebanon that is grappling with an unprecedented…

Thaer Abbas (Beirut)
Interviews UK Ambassador to Yemen Richard Oppenheim

Oppenheim to Asharq Al-Awsat: Our Problem Isn’t Houthis, It’s Their Destructive Behavior

The UK ambassador to Yemen, Richard Oppenheim, acknowledged that he has direct communication channels with the Houthis and confirmed that he had dined with the…

Badr Al-Qahtani (London)
Interviews AstraZeneca’s Chief Executive Officer, Sir Pascal Soriot

AstraZeneca’s CEO on Covid: ‘We Just Have to Adjust to it’

AstraZeneca’s Chief Executive Officer, Sir Pascal Soriot, told Asharq Al-Awsat in an interview that Covid-19 is not over “and we just have to adjust to it like…

Ibrahim Hamidi (London)
Interviews  Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak (PHOTO CREDIT: Nawaf al-Mutairi)

Yemeni FM: Houthi Officials Involved in Crimes Blacklisted...Peace Is Their Enemy

The Yemeni government is preparing to blacklist several Houthi leaders and entities in implementation of its decision to classify the Iran-backed militia as a…

Badr Al-Qahtani (London)
Interviews UNHCR Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Mohammed Abdi Affey speaks with Asharq Al-Awsat in the interview (Saad al-Anzi)

UN Envoy Warns Against Return of War in Ethiopia

UNHCR Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Mohammed Abdi Affey has warned the Ethiopian parties against a return to fighting between the government and the…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)
Interviews ENGIE CEO Catherine MacGregor (Asharq Al-Awsat)

ENGIE: We Are Working with Saudi Arabia to Transition to Carbon-Neutral Economy

ENGIE CEO Catherine MacGregor affirmed that her company’s work in Saudi Arabia aligns with the Kingdom’s national transformation plan, Vision 2030, and its…

Mosaed al-Zayani (Riyadh)
Interviews Simon Penney, the British Trade Commissioner (HTMC) for the Middle East and Pakistan.

British Trade Commissioner: Saudi Arabia is the Largest Destination of UK Exports in the Region

Simon Penney, the British Trade Commissioner (HTMC) for the Middle East and Pakistan, said Saudi-British efforts were underway to increase and maximize…

Fatehelrahman Yousif (Riyadh)