Iran nuclear deal
Iran says the United States must lift sanctions against Tehran as a precondition for its return to the 2015 nuclear deal. Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh, Monday said Washington cannot make any requests regarding the deal since it is not a member to it anymore. His remarks came in response to recent comments by the US national security advisor, Jack Sullivan. Sullivan had expressed doubt about Iran’s readiness to return to the negotiating table. That is while the next round of talks between Tehran and the remaining parties to the accord is scheduled for November 29th. Iran says the upcoming Vienna talks are aimed at removing the anti-Tehran sanctions.
Battle for Ma’rib
The Yemeni army has made significant advances as part of its campaign to fully liberate the country’s western province of Ma’rib from Saudi and Emirati-backed occupational forces. Yemeni media say army forces managed to break the defense line of the mercenaries. It allows them to cut the only relief line for the Saudi-backed forces along the strategic road between the provinces of Ma’rib and Hadhramaut. The army spokesman says all cities in Ma’rib province are now under the control of the Yemeni military, except for two cities of Ma’rib and Wadi. The army has vowed to continue its operations until the country is fully freed and the Saudi-led coalition puts an end to its war on Yemen.
Coronavirus pandemic
Worldwide coronavirus infections have breached the 250 million mark with Europe becoming the epicenter of the pandemic again. A latest Reuters tally shows more than half of all new infections worldwide being reported in European countries. A million new cases are being identified almost every four days, with infections in Germany, Russia, Ukraine and Greece at or near record levels. It comes days after the World Health Organization warned that Europe is back at the epicenter of the pandemic. The WHO said the continent could record half a million new deaths at the present rate in next three months. The surge comes despite high vaccine roll-out in much of the European Union, though eastern Europe continues to lag behind in the inoculation drive.