The United States and Iran are set to hold an official meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, on February 6, despite ongoing diplomatic tensions and fears of possible military conflict. According to an AFP report citing an unnamed Arab official, the meeting was made possible through sustained mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and Oman. The US delegation will be led by President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Iran’s team will be headed by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. Officials from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and the mediating countries are also expected to attend.

The main agenda of the meeting will focus on Iran’s nuclear program, a long-standing source of friction between Washington and Tehran for over two decades. The two sides last clashed militarily in June of the previous year, leading to a 12-day conflict before a ceasefire was reached. Tensions escalated again in mid-January when President Trump ordered a major naval deployment in Middle Eastern waters.

Despite these strains, both sides have recently signaled openness to diplomacy. Trump expressed optimism about reaching an agreement, while Araghchi said Iran could consider talks if the US presents fair and acceptable proposals.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev has warned that the world faces new risks if the New START nuclear arms control treaty is not renewed. Speaking from his residence outside Moscow, Medvedev told Reuters that for the first time since the early 1970s, the largest nuclear powers may have no limits on their arsenals. The treaty, signed in 2010 by then U.S. President Barack Obama and Medvedev, limited each side to 1,550 strategic nuclear weapons. It is set to expire on February 5, and Russian officials said Washington has not formally responded to President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to extend existing missile and warhead limits for another year.

Medvedev emphasized that arms control agreements have been vital not only for limiting weapons but also for maintaining trust and verification between major nuclear powers. He cautioned that the “doomsday clock is ticking” and urged timely action to prevent escalation. In January, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated he preferred the treaty to lapse, suggesting a better deal could follow.

The treaty’s future remains uncertain after Russia suspended its participation in 2023 due to U.S. support for Ukraine, raising concerns about renewed nuclear competition.

Recently released U.S. documents show that a shipment of cloth associated with the Kaaba’s kiswa, the sacred covering of Islam’s holiest site in Mecca, was sent to the United States in 2017 and later reached convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Emails cited in the documents claim the shipment was coordinated through contacts linked to the United Arab Emirates.

Correspondence from February and March 2017 indicates that Emirati business figures Aziza Al-Ahmadi and Abdullah Al-Marai arranged the dispatch of three pieces related to the kiswa. The kiswa, a black cloth embroidered with gold, is replaced annually, and its used sections are regarded as valuable relics. The emails show that the shipment was sent by air freight from Saudi Arabia to Florida via British Airways, with detailed coordination on invoices, customs, and delivery.

The documents specify that one piece came from the Kaaba’s interior, another from its used outer covering, and a third was unused but made of the same material. The unused piece was classified as an “artwork” for shipping. A separate FBI memo alleged Epstein had ties with U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone conversation to discuss reducing tensions in the Middle East and the recent situation surrounding Iran, according to a statement from the Qatari Emir. The two leaders exchanged views on how developments related to Iran could affect regional security. The discussion took place amid increased U.S. military presence in the Middle East and threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to strike Iran.

Iran has accused Washington of using sanctions, pressure, and unrest as pretexts for external interference aimed at regime change. Iranian officials warned that any attack, even a limited one, would be met with a “massive and unprecedented” response, according to public statements and U.S. assessments cited in the report.

The Emir and Macron also discussed the situation in Gaza, emphasizing civilian protection under the ceasefire agreement and ways to maintain stability in Lebanon. The Gaza ceasefire, effective since October 10, 2025, ended two years of Israeli attacks that killed over 71,700 people and injured more than 171,500, according to Palestinian authorities.

Newly released documents from the US Department of Justice have revealed that acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, mother of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, was listed among attendees at a 2009 party hosted at Ghislaine Maxwell’s Manhattan residence. The files include an email sent by publicist Peggy Siegal on October 21, 2009, mentioning that Nair attended the event alongside former US President Bill Clinton and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The gathering reportedly followed the release of Nair’s film 'Amelia' and was part of its promotional activities.

The email, one of hundreds of thousands of documents made public on Friday, also noted that the film received a lukewarm response from audiences and critics. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the latest release comprises over three million pages of documents, more than two thousand videos, and about 180,000 photos, some of which were previously withheld to protect victims.

The newly disclosed materials shed further light on Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal network and his connections with prominent figures across politics and entertainment.

Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmadullah has commented on the recent release of millions of files by the U.S. Department of Justice related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a verified Facebook post on February 2, 2026, he said the Epstein files are not merely a scandal but a mirror reflecting the true face of Western civilization, exposing its moral and ethical decline.

Ahmadullah argued that the documents reveal how political leaders, industrialists, athletes, media figures, and cultural icons—often seen as role models—were allegedly involved in heinous crimes such as child trafficking, sexual abuse, and even cannibalism. He criticized Western liberalism for promoting extreme materialism and moral decay under the guise of personal freedom, leading to the erosion of family values and social ethics.

He contrasted this with Islamic teachings, which he said emphasize moral restraint, spiritual accountability, and the protection of women, children, and family. Ahmadullah concluded that the incident raises fundamental questions about the definition of civilization and the moral direction humanity should choose.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended contracts with 1,800 foreign Umrah travel agencies due to shortcomings in their operations and service quality. The ministry announced the decision on Sunday, stating that the agencies failed to meet required performance standards following a periodic evaluation.

According to the ministry, the agencies were assessed for efficiency and service quality, and deficiencies were identified in both areas. Each agency has been given ten days to improve performance and correct the issues. The ministry described the move as a regulatory measure aimed at ensuring compliance with approved standards and allowing agencies to rectify their shortcomings.

The ministry further clarified that if the agencies meet the required conditions within the given timeframe, their contracts will be reinstated. It also assured that the suspension will not affect visas or existing bookings for Umrah pilgrims. Earlier evaluations had found that out of approximately 5,800 Umrah operators, 1,800 showed performance and service gaps.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that any US attack on Iran would trigger a severe response and could escalate into a full-scale regional war across the Middle East. His remarks were reported on Monday, February 2, 2026, by BBC News, amid Western media speculation about his absence from public view. Khamenei directly addressed US President Donald Trump, criticizing repeated threats of deploying warships to the region and asserting that the Iranian people are not intimidated by such military displays.

Khamenei emphasized that Iran would never initiate conflict but would respond firmly if attacked, warning that any war would not remain limited in scope. The statement came as tensions between Tehran and Washington remained high over US military movements in the Middle East.

Despite the sharp rhetoric, Iran’s National Security Adviser Ali Larijani indicated that diplomatic efforts were still underway, confirming that discussions between the United States and Iran continued to seek a resolution to the ongoing crisis.

India and several Arab countries have jointly called for the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state. The appeal was made on Saturday in New Delhi during the second India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, co-chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates. The meeting, held after a ten-year gap, was attended by top Arab diplomats and the Secretary-General of the Arab League. The outcome was formalized in the 'Delhi Declaration'.

According to the declaration, the participating nations reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the Middle East in accordance with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative. It called for a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, living peacefully alongside Israel, and expressed support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.

The declaration also welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached at the 2025 Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit and urged all parties to adhere to its terms. It further emphasized the need to ensure adequate, sustainable, and unhindered humanitarian and relief access throughout the region.

The Nigerian army announced that eleven Boko Haram members, including a key commander, were killed during a military operation in the Sambisa Forest of Borno State in the country’s northeast. The operation took place on Sunday, according to a military statement cited by TRT World. The slain commander, identified as Abu Khalid, was described as the group’s second-in-command in the region and was responsible for coordinating logistics and terrorist activities. The army reported no casualties among its personnel.

Boko Haram has been active in Nigeria since the early 2000s and has expanded its attacks to neighboring Cameroon, Chad, and Niger since 2015. Authorities said the group has killed at least two people across the Lake Chad basin. The military confirmed that counterterrorism operations in the northeastern forests remain ongoing.

The latest operation underscores Nigeria’s continued efforts to weaken Boko Haram’s presence in the region and disrupt its logistical networks.

Russian representatives joined discussions in Florida aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war and establishing peace. On Saturday afternoon, Kirill Dmitriev, a top economic envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, met with US officials to advance President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan. Dmitriev confirmed his arrival in Miami through a social media post but did not specify which American representatives attended the meeting.

The meeting took place one day before Ukrainian and Russian negotiators were scheduled to meet in Abu Dhabi to continue talks on the US-supported peace initiative. Earlier, Dmitriev had met Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Davos in January and held similar discussions in Miami last December. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had recently suggested that the Abu Dhabi talks might be delayed due to the US-Iran crisis.

According to Washington, both sides are close to reaching an agreement, though Kyiv stated that no compromise has yet been found on the key territorial issues of postwar settlement.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev stated that European nations have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine. In an interview cited by TRT World, he said Europe’s attempt to weaken Russia has instead caused severe damage to its own economy. Medvedev remarked that Europe has surprised him by undermining the very foundations of its existence, calling the situation astonishing.

He added that European powers sought to impose a strategic defeat on Russia but achieved nothing in that effort. During the same interview, Medvedev praised U.S. President Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace. When asked whether Trump is positive or negative for Russia, Medvedev responded that the American people chose him and that Moscow respects that decision.

The comments reflect Russia’s continued criticism of Western policies toward the Ukraine conflict and highlight Moscow’s view that European sanctions and strategies have backfired economically.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) deputy commander Brigadier General Ahmed Vahidi has described the recent deployment of US naval forces in the Gulf as an act of psychological warfare. Speaking to the Mehr news agency, Vahidi said the move is part of a broader psychological campaign aimed at spreading the perception that war is imminent.

He warned that Iran should not fall into this trap and that national actions must remain unaffected by such psychological operations. The commander emphasized that the presence of US naval forces in the region is not new and should be viewed within the same framework of psychological warfare. Vahidi also stated that Iran’s armed forces are at the highest level of readiness and are continuously monitoring all enemy movements.

According to the report, US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that a large naval fleet is heading toward Iran and urged Tehran to join negotiations immediately.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said discussions with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program remain possible if mutual trust can be rebuilt. Speaking to CNN on Sunday, he stated that Iran has lost confidence in the US as a negotiating partner but emphasized that restoring trust could reopen dialogue. Araghchi also warned that any military intervention in Iran would spread across the wider region.

He explained that Iran is not worried about war itself but about misinformation and external efforts that could push Washington toward conflict through misjudgment. According to Araghchi, regional countries are acting as intermediaries to exchange messages and help rebuild confidence between Tehran and Washington. He described current talks as “productive” and said they could lay the groundwork for substantive negotiations.

Araghchi stressed that the focus should be on the core issues rather than the format of talks, noting that whether communication is direct or indirect is less important. He also referenced former US President Donald Trump’s stated goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, saying Tehran agrees with that objective.

Israel has banned the operations of the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Gaza and ordered the organization to leave the enclave by February 28, according to TRT World. Israeli authorities said the decision followed MSF’s refusal to submit a list of its staff to Tel Aviv, a requirement applied to all humanitarian organizations operating in the region.

Citing the newspaper Maariv, Israel stated that the measure aims to ensure legitimate relief activities and prevent the misuse of humanitarian aid for terrorism. MSF responded that it would not provide the names of its Palestinian and international staff because Israel had refused to guarantee their safety or the organization’s operational independence.

MSF is one of the largest humanitarian organizations working in Gaza. Observers fear that halting its activities could severely threaten medical services in the territory, already devastated by two years of war that have killed about 71,800 Palestinians, injured more than 171,400, and destroyed nearly 90 percent of civilian infrastructure.