Persian Gulf update 07/01/2022..President Raeisi says West not committed to 'requirements of serious and real negotiation'

President Raeisi says West not committed to ‘requirements of serious and real negotiation’

Robert Fantina says the United States’ unrealistic demands have been the main obstacles to reviving the 2015 deal.

Tehran says a joint anti-Iran statement by the leaders of Bahrain and Egypt was biased and unconstructive.

Thousands of pilgrims started arriving in the holy city of Mecca on Friday as the 2022 hajj pilgrimage season is expected to see far more Muslims attend than the past two years, after major disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

An estimated one million are expected to attend, less than the 2.6 million seen in 2019, but far more than the past two years. Authorities said only one million could join this year, less than half of pre-pandemic levels, and access is restricted to those 18-65 who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and do not suffer from chronic diseases.