Mohanad Faris

Yemenis stage a protest against the US decision to proscribe the Ansarullah movement as a terrorist organization. Sanaa, Jan. 20, 2021. (Photo via Tasnim News Agency) The story: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reportedly wants Yemeni parties, including the Iran-backed Ansarullah movement—better known as the Houthis—to gather in Riyadh for “consultations.”The aim is to rally support for a UN-led peace initiative. Yemen’s President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi has reportedly agreed to the talks.

Javad Owji defends his nomination as oil minister in the Iranian parliament in Tehran on 25 Aug. 2021. (Picture via Dolat) The story: IranianPetroleum minister Javad Owji says Iran has found dependable customers for its oil despite tough continued US sanctions—and pledged to increase production in a year. This comes as the Islamic Republic maintains that it has increased crude exports, driven by what industry analysts describe as a rise in Chinese purchases of Iranian oil.

Saudi Arabia executed 81 people on Mar. 13, the largest known mass execution in the Kingdom’s history. Those put to death were all Saudi nationals except for seven Yemenis and one Syrian. The charges against them included murder and having alleged links to organizations such as the Islamic State group (IS) and Yemen’s Ansarullah movement, better known as the Houthis.