Iran & Middle East
Reporting on Iran, the Iranian regime, IRGC operations, Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah dynamics, the Houthi corridor, GCC alignments, and the wider Middle East security picture.
IRGC Forces Tanker to Turn Back in Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps turned back a commercial tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, per a UKMTO incident report. Details on vessel identity and cargo remain unconfirmed.
What the Sept. 14 Iran Strike on Marines Changed in Hormuz
Officials say an Iranian missile hit a nonmilitary vessel carrying eight Marines on Sept. 14. The report surfaced Sept. 28. Here is what is known and what remains unclear.
Iran: Hormuz Stays Closed Until Seven Conditions Are Met
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until Washington meets seven conditions tied to the June Islamabad memorandum, hardening a closure now in its second week.
After the Expulsion: Iran and America Enter October Without an Exit
Iran's Hormuz proposal was rejected, its UN delegation expelled, and a third U.S. carrier is headed to the Gulf. What the next 60 days look like.
Iranian Rial Hits Record Low as Hormuz Tanker Strikes Continue
Iran's currency broke 2.7 million rials to the dollar on Oct. 4 as a fresh tanker strike in the Strait of Hormuz and expanding U.S. sanctions deepen the economic crisis.
Pentagon Sends Third Carrier, 10,000 Troops Toward Iran
The Pentagon is deploying a third carrier strike group and up to 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East after talks with Iran collapsed and its UN delegation was expelled.
Trump Warns Iran of Strikes Over FlyDubai Hijacking Attempt
UAE prosecutors called the FlyDubai cockpit attack a terrorist act as Trump threatened to hit Iran "very hard" if investigators confirm a link to the co-pilot's actions.
US-Iran Tensions Escalate Amid Regional Instability
Tensions between the US and Iran continue to rise as conflicts in the Middle East converge, with multiple crises deepening regional instability.
Crude Oil Tanker Struck by Projectile off Oman, UKMTO Reports
A crude oil tanker was hit by an unknown projectile in waters off Oman, UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed, the latest maritime incident near the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Rejects Iran's Hormuz Plan as Rubio Expels Delegation
Trump rejected a seven-day Iranian plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz hours after Rubio ordered Iran's UN delegation out of the United States, ending the latest talks.
Kuwaiti Tanker Hit in Hormuz as Attacks Continue Into October
A Kuwaiti tanker caught fire after a projectile struck it in the Strait of Hormuz on October 1, extending a string of attacks despite U.S. claims the strait remains open.
Treasury Sanctions Iran's Auto, Rail and Steel Networks
New Treasury and State Department sanctions hit Iran's largest automaker and state rail operator, part of a campaign to cut off remaining industrial revenue as US military pressure builds in the Gulf.
Trump Defends North Korea's Nuclear Arsenal, Rules It Out for Iran
President Trump said North Korea can keep its nuclear weapons because Kim Jong Un is "a friend," while maintaining that Iran will not be permitted to acquire a bomb.
UAE Criticizes Israel's 'Rescue Flights' Label
A UAE source has spoken out against Israel's description of flights from the Emirates as 'rescue flights,' citing disagreements over security measures.
US Sends Third Aircraft Carrier Group to Middle East Amid Iran Strike Deliberations
The US military is dispatching a third carrier strike group and moving thousands of troops to the Mideast as Trump keeps new strike options against Iran under active review.
Explosions Hit Houthi-Controlled Sanaa as Strikes Reported Across Yemen
AFP and Houthi media report explosions and incoming attacks in Sanaa and Taiz on Friday, as the region remains on high alert following Strait of Hormuz tanker strikes.
Oil Supertanker Hit by Missile in Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Media Say
Iran's Fars news agency reports an oil supertanker was struck by a missile and set ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz, the latest in a string of tanker attacks through the chokepoint.
US Deploys Forces to Middle East Ahead of Midterm Elections
The USS Roosevelt and Marines are set to deploy to the region, providing President Trump with greater military capabilities before the US midterm elections.
Three Tankers Struck by Projectiles in Strait of Hormuz
Three Liberia-flagged oil tankers were hit by unknown projectiles transiting the Strait of Hormuz this week, transponders off, per shipping intelligence firms.
FlyDubai Flight to Israel Targeted in Attack; Motive Unknown
FlyDubai flight FZ1073 to Israel survived an apparent attack; investigators are examining the cockpit incident as the attacker's identity and motive remain unknown.
Iran's IRGC Tells US Voters to 'Wake Up' in Open Letter
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps published a 25-page open letter urging Americans to vote out Trump-era politicians, disputing US nuclear-strike claims and Hormuz leverage.
Trump Says Iran 'Will Give Up,' Compares It to North Korea
Trump told reporters Iran 'will give up' its nuclear ambitions, likening Tehran's posture to North Korea's, in remarks that also touched on Britain, China and AI.
Iran's Araghchi Pushes Hormuz, Nuclear Rights at UN
Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi wrapped UN General Assembly diplomacy in New York, addressing war tensions, Strait of Hormuz security and Tehran's nuclear rights claims.
IDF Kills Hamas Northern Brigade Commander in Gaza Strike
Israeli forces confirmed Tuesday that airstrikes in Gaza killed the Hamas Northern Brigade commander and a senior military financer, per IDF statements.
Vessel Struck by Projectile in Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO Confirms
UK maritime security agency confirms a vessel was hit by an apparent projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, the latest incident near the vital chokepoint.
IRGC Spokesperson Calls Trump a 'Big Liar' on Iran Nuclear Claims
An IRGC spokesperson said Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons and accused Trump of misleading Americans, as Tehran separately threatens Mideast infrastructure strikes.
Kremlin Urges Iran to Remain in Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Russia's Dmitry Peskov said Moscow wants Iran to stay a 'responsible party' to the NPT, after Tehran officials floated withdrawal amid renewed U.S. sanctions friction.
Trump Denies Offering Iran Sanctions Relief for Nuclear Concessions
President Trump denied offering Iran sanctions relief and frozen-funds release for nuclear concessions, contradicting an anonymous official's account reported a day earlier.
Trump Open to Easing Iran Sanctions If Nuclear Talks Progress, Official Says
A U.S. official told The Jerusalem Post that Trump could bend on Iran sanctions if nuclear issues advance, and that indirect talks remain constructive. No deal without nuclear terms.
Iran Denies Links to UK Bomb Plot as Iran Continues Crackdown on Enter
The UK is probing possible ties between the RAF Fairford bomb plot and Iran, while Iran continues its crackdown on entertainment, including a musician sentenced to 74 lashes for...