Iran Discusses Islamic Jihad's Comprehensive Plan for a Strong Response

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian met with the Secretary-General of the Palestinian movement of Islamic Jihad Ziad Nakhaleh (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian met with the Secretary-General of the Palestinian movement of Islamic Jihad Ziad Nakhaleh (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
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Iran Discusses Islamic Jihad's Comprehensive Plan for a Strong Response

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian met with the Secretary-General of the Palestinian movement of Islamic Jihad Ziad Nakhaleh (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian met with the Secretary-General of the Palestinian movement of Islamic Jihad Ziad Nakhaleh (Iranian Foreign Ministry)

Iran said the Islamic Jihad movement has a comprehensive plan to direct a solid and effective response against Israel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian held a telephone conversation with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani on the latest developments in Gaza and the situation in the region.

"The Palestinian resistance has prepared a comprehensive plan to deliver a strong and effective response to the latest crimes by the Zionist regime," said Amirabdollahian.

The Iranian foreign minister also pointed to his contact with the secretary general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, Ziad Nakhalah.

Nakhaleh visited Tehran last Tuesday and met Amirabdollahian, among other Iranian officials. The Foreign Minister underlined Iran's determination to stick to its principled and unchangeable policy to support the Palestinian cause and the resistance of the Palestinian people against Israel's aggression and expansionist policies.

Nakhaleh praised Iran's powerful, effective, and constructive role in regional issues, expressing regret over efforts by some countries to pressure Iran.

The Islamic Jihad's secretary-general also presented a report on the latest developments in Palestine and said Palestinian groups must preserve their unity and solidarity to bolster the Islamic resistance of the Palestinian people.

IRGC-affiliated media quoted the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, as saying during his meeting with Nakhaleh: "We are with you on this path until the end – and let Palestine and the Palestinians know that they are not alone."

"The Israelis will pay yet another heavy price for their recent crime," he added, according to Tasnim agency. The commander of the IRGC's al-Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, said on Friday that at least 15 operations "are carried out against the positions of the al-Quds occupying regime (Israel) every day, as they (Zionists) have built fences even inside the settlements for fear of their lives."

Qaani asserted that Iran would by no means ignore the vicious and criminal acts of the enemies anywhere in the region.

He pointed out the constant decline of the Israeli regime. Nakhaleh also met with Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Wednesday.

The Palestinian official said Iran has a remarkable presence in the region and that the resistance forces in Gaza maintain their strength and capabilities. Iran's Supreme Leader's adviser Ali Akbar Velayati described the relations between Tehran and Islamic Jihad as "close and serious."

The state-run ISNA news agency reported that Velayati and Nakhaleh discussed the situations in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Turkey.

Nakhaleh reiterated that the enemies and the US had adopted a "very weak" policy in the face of Iran's influence, claiming that Tehran plays a very influential role in the region.

The Iranian media did not mention the objectives of Nakhaleh's visit to Iran. However, some reports indicated an increase in tension between Tehran and Tel Aviv and the possibility of Iranian nuclear facilities being subjected to an Israeli strike.



China Says Expiration of US-Russia Arms Treaty Regrettable

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping are seen during news coverage about a video call between the two leaders, on a giant screen outside a shopping mall in Beijing on February 4, 2026. (AFP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping are seen during news coverage about a video call between the two leaders, on a giant screen outside a shopping mall in Beijing on February 4, 2026. (AFP)
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China Says Expiration of US-Russia Arms Treaty Regrettable

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping are seen during news coverage about a video call between the two leaders, on a giant screen outside a shopping mall in Beijing on February 4, 2026. (AFP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping are seen during news coverage about a video call between the two leaders, on a giant screen outside a shopping mall in Beijing on February 4, 2026. (AFP)

The Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday that the expiration of the US-Russia arms treaty was regrettable, ‌and ‌urged ‌the ⁠US to ‌resume dialogue with Russia on "strategic stability".

The New START treaty expired at the ⁠close of ‌Wednesday, marking the end ‍of ‍over half ‍a century of limits on both sides' strategic nuclear weapons. Russia said on Wednesday ⁠it was open to security talks but would resolutely counter any new "threats".


Maduro Ally Saab Arrested in Venezuela

Alex Saab (Reuters)
Alex Saab (Reuters)
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Maduro Ally Saab Arrested in Venezuela

Alex Saab (Reuters)
Alex Saab (Reuters)

Venezuelan official Alex Saab, a former businessman once held in the US, was arrested in Venezuela on Wednesday as part of a joint operation between US and Venezuelan authorities, a US law enforcement official said.

Colombian-born Saab, a close ally of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, was detained in Cape Verde in 2020 and held in the US for more than three years on bribery charges, before being granted clemency in exchange for the release of Americans held in Venezuela.

Colombian newspaper El Espectador later on Wednesday cited a lawyer ‌for Saab, Luigi ‌Giuliano, denying the arrest as "fake news." Journalists aligned with ‌Venezuela's ⁠government also denied in ‌social media posts that Saab had been arrested.

Speaking to Venezuelan news site TalCual, Giuliano added that Saab might make an appearance to confirm this himself but was consulting with the government about what had happened.

Venezuela's top lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez neither denied nor confirmed the reports in an evening press conference, saying this was not under his remit and he had no information concerning the possible arrest.

Giuliano did not immediately respond to emails sent to addresses listed on a law ⁠firm website. A lawyer who represented Saab in US court in December 2023 declined to comment.

Saab, 54, is expected ‌to be extradited to the US in the coming days, ‍the US official said.

That would represent a ‍dramatic development a month after Maduro himself was captured by US forces in Caracas, ‍and would suggest a new level of collaboration between US and Venezuelan law enforcement under the government of interim President Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro's former deputy.

The US official noted the significance of Rodriguez's cooperation in the joint operation. As interim leader, Rodriguez controls Venezuela's law enforcement agencies and actions.

The US Justice Department and White House did not respond to requests for comment.

Raul Gorrin, the head of Venezuela's Globovision TV network, was also arrested in the operation, according ⁠to the official.

Lawyers for Gorrin could not immediately be identified. Globovision did not respond to a call and email from Reuters.

The Venezuelan communications ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Before his 2023 clemency, US officials had charged Saab with siphoning around $350 million out of Venezuela through the US as part of a bribery scheme linked to Venezuela's state-controlled exchange rate.

Saab denied the charges and appealed to have them dismissed on grounds of diplomatic immunity. An appeals court had not ruled on Saab's appeal at the time of the prisoner swap.

He returned with fanfare to Venezuela at the end of 2023, where Maduro lauded his loyalty to the country's socialist revolution and feted him as a national hero.

Maduro later made Saab industry minister, ‌a position he held until last month, when he was removed by Rodriguez.


UK's Starmer Expresses Regret over Mandelson Appointment as Ambassador to Washington

 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (EPA) 
 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (EPA) 
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UK's Starmer Expresses Regret over Mandelson Appointment as Ambassador to Washington

 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (EPA) 
 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (EPA) 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday he regretted appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States, saying the Labor veteran “repeatedly” lied and misrepresented his ties to the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mandelson, who was sacked in September after seven months in the job, is accused of passing on market-sensitive information that was of clear financial interest to Epstein while serving as business secretary in Gordon Brown government between 2008 and 2010.

In Parliament on Wednesday, Starmer said the latest revelations about Mandelson were “beyond infuriating,” and that the former ambassador had “lied repeatedly to my team when asked about his relationship with Epstein.”

He added, “I regret appointing him. If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near government.”

“Mandelson betrayed our country, our Parliament and my party,” said Starmer, leader of the Labor Party.

The British PM ceded to pressure from the opposition Conservative Party to release documents on how Mandelson was appointed, and was forced to water down an attempt to limit the scope of that disclosure after facing a revolt in his own Labor Party.

In a 2003 message for his 50th birthday, Mandelson had described Epstein as his “best pal.”

British police said on Tuesday they have launched an investigation into Mandelson over alleged misconduct in public office following the release of millions of documents related to Epstein.

Asked in parliament whether vetting carried out before Mandelson's appointment had mentioned that the Labor veteran and Epstein had had an ongoing relationship, Starmer replied: “Yes, it did. As a result, various questions were put to him.”

He then said Mandelson had lied throughout the process and that related documents would show this.