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.
Houthis Claim Drone Strikes on Saudi Aramco, Najran Airport
Iran-backed Houthis say they successfully struck a Saudi Aramco facility and Najran airport with drones Thursday, targeting oil and aviation infrastructure.
Oil Bulls Surge as Iran Deal Collapses, Hormuz Stays Restricted
October WTI crude futures jumped 5.91% to $86.31 as the collapse of Iran nuclear talks and ongoing Hormuz shipping restrictions pushed oil bulls back into control.
Iranian Oil to China Nearly Dries Up as US Blockade Tightens
Independent Chinese refiners face a near-collapse in Iranian crude supplies as Washington's oil blockade tightens, pushing prices higher and squeezing Tehran's revenues.
US Sanctions Hezbollah, Pressures China to Back Iran Economic Squeeze
Treasury redesignated Hezbollah as serving the Iranian regime under IRGC-Quds Force command as Secretary Bessent urged Beijing to support measures he says could collapse Iran's government.
Houthis Claim Strike on Saudi Aramco Facilities and Najran Airport
Yemen's Houthi forces say they struck Najran airport and Saudi Aramco oil facilities Thursday, Reuters reports, the latest escalation targeting Saudi energy infrastructure.
Bessent Vows Toughest Iran Sanctions as China and Russia Push Back
Treasury Secretary Bessent pledged the toughest-ever Iran sanctions and called on China to cooperate — analysts warn Beijing and Moscow's ties with Tehran could blunt the campaign.
NATO 'Prepared' as Iran Weighs Strikes Against U.S. Targets in Europe
NATO said it will act to defend allies after reports emerged that Iran had weighed missile strikes against U.S. targets in Europe, escalating a standoff already inflamed by the UAE missile dispute.
UAE Imposes Indefinite Trade Embargo on Iran After Missile Strikes
The UAE announced an indefinite trade embargo on Iran on Wednesday, citing Tuesday's ballistic missile strikes on its territory. Iran denies the attack and calls it a false flag.
Iran Fires Two Ballistic Missiles at UAE, Air Defenses Scramble
The UAE defence ministry confirmed Iran launched two ballistic missiles at its territory Tuesday, activating air defense systems and triggering the first public shelter alerts in months.
Damascus Blames Israel for Overnight Strikes on Syrian Airbase
Multiple airstrikes hit the Abu al-Duhur military airfield in Syria's Idlib province overnight, with Syrian state TV attributing the attack to Israel and reporting material damage but no casualties.
Vessel Struck in Strait of Hormuz, Crew Casualty Reported
A commercial vessel was struck transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, with a crew casualty reported and the Omani Coast Guard assisting survivors, a regional maritime agency said.
US-Iran Ceasefire Expires, Oil Tops $91 as Hormuz Stays Shut
The US-Iran ceasefire elapsed Monday without renewal as crude surged past $91 a barrel, Tehran kept the Strait of Hormuz closed, and markets priced in a longer standoff.
Turkey and Iran Hold Talks on Reopening Strait of Hormuz
Turkish FM Hakan Fidan spoke Monday with Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi on Hormuz reopening and the US-Iran ceasefire, as a UAE tanker was detained near Qeshm Island.
Houthis Claim Missile Strike on Saudi Warship, Four Escorts in Red Sea
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said the group hit a Saudi military ship and four escort vessels with missiles and drones off Yemen's Mocha, alongside a Saudi arms depot.
Drones From Iranian Territory Target Kurdistan PM's Office in Erbil
Two drones struck the Kurdistan Regional Government prime minister's office and the head of its protection agency; the KRG says the attack was launched from Iranian territory. No casualties reported.
Oil Holds Steady as US-Iran Peace Talks Stall, Hormuz Shipping Slows
Crude prices marked time Monday as US-Iran negotiations reached an impasse and tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz thinned, keeping energy markets on edge.
Yemen's Mocha Port Closed After Houthi Missile Barrage Kills Seven
Houthis fired more than 25 missiles and drones at Yemen's Red Sea port of Mocha, killing seven and forcing the terminal shut with $16M in reported damage.
Trump Used Kurdish Leader as Secret Backchannel to Iran's IRGC
The White House asked Kurdistan Regional Government President Nechirvan Barzani to probe whether Iran's IRGC had additional demands during May peace talks, Axios reports.
Hengli Group Named Top Buyer of Sanctioned Iranian Crude, Analysts Say
China-based Hengli Group is the top importer of sanctioned Iranian crude oil, analysts say, part of a teapot refinery network shielding Tehran from U.S. economic pressure.
Israel Escalates Lebanon Strikes, Kills Second Hezbollah Commander
Israeli warplanes struck Nabatieh and killed a second Hezbollah commander on Sunday as the death toll from one day of Israeli attacks in south Lebanon reached 11, despite the US-brokered June ceasefire.
The Oil Test: Vance Revealed Washington's Real War Aim — and Iran Is Consolidating for a Long Siege
JD Vance's declaration that cheap oil is America's top priority in the Iran war — ahead of nuclear disarmament — rewrites the public rationale for the conflict and signals a siege strategy, not a sprint to a deal.
Iran and Oman Agree on Hormuz Shipping Route Map, Final Deal Still Pending
Iran says it has reached an agreement with Oman on a shipping route map for the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of technical talks, but the accord is not yet finalized.
Israeli Drone Strike Wounds Three in Gaza Despite Active Ceasefire
An Israeli drone targeted a motorcycle in Deir al-Balah on Saturday, wounding three Palestinians, in what ceasefire monitors are calling the latest truce violation.
Israeli Airstrike on Ansar Kills Seven in South Lebanon
An Israeli airstrike on a house in the southern Lebanese town of Ansar killed at least seven people and wounded three early Saturday, Lebanese civil defense said — the deadliest strike since the June ceasefire.
ADNOC Says One of Its Tankers Attacked While Transiting Hormuz
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company confirmed one of its vessels came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported. Saudi Arabia condemned the strike as oil pushed toward $100.
Trump Vows to Declare Hormuz a U.S. Territory as Iran Talks Stall
President Trump announced plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory while threatening new economic pressure on Iran as ceasefire negotiations remain deadlocked.
Oil Posts Weekly Gains as US Threatens Indefinite Iran Blockade, Two Ships Attacked in Hormuz
Crude prices rose on the week after Washington threatened an indefinite naval blockade on Iran and warned of stepped-up economic pressure, as two more vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran Says IRGC Downs US MQ-9 Drone Over Hormozgan Province
Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it shot down a US-made MQ-9 Reaper drone over southern Hormozgan province Friday, in the strait-adjacent airspace where earlier tanker attacks occurred.
Adnoc Says Two of Its Vessels Attacked in Strait of Hormuz
UAE state oil firm Adnoc confirms two of its vessels were attacked Thursday evening while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. No injuries were reported.
Houthis Claim Drone Strike on Saudi Aramco Refinery in Jazan
Yemen's Houthi movement said Thursday it launched two drones at Saudi Aramco's refinery in the southern Jazan region, according to Reuters and the group's Saba news agency.