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.
Khamenei Claims Victory, Araghchi Keeps Talks Alive
Iran's Supreme Leader declared battlefield victory and warned against internal divisions Thursday, even as Foreign Minister Araghchi said US-Iran contacts continue despite stalled negotiations.
Israel and Lebanon Renew Ceasefire as Trump Splits Diplomatic Tracks
A renewed Israel-Lebanon ceasefire backed by Washington gives Trump a diplomatic win while he works to separate Hezbollah talks from tougher US-Iran nuclear negotiations.
Trump Weighs Ending Ceasefire if US Troops Are Killed in Iran
President Trump is considering abandoning the ceasefire with Iran if American military personnel are killed, while demanding Iran surrender its enriched uranium as a condition of any deal.
Iran Claims US Naval Vessel Hit as Diplomacy Continues
Iran says it struck a US naval vessel while its foreign minister confirms diplomatic contact with Washington remains open, with both sides exchanging written texts.
CENTCOM Says 125 Vessels Redirected, Six Disabled in Blockade
US Central Command reports 125 commercial vessels redirected and six disabled under the Iran port blockade as the administration works on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic.
Iraq Plans to Triple Pipeline Exports as Hormuz Stays Shut
Iraq approves tripling crude oil exports through the Kurdistan-to-Ceyhan pipeline within three months as the Hormuz closure cuts OPEC's second-largest producer off from its primary export route.
Iran Strikes Kuwait Airport, Killing One in Gulf Escalation
Iranian drones and missiles hit Kuwait International Airport's Terminal One overnight, killing at least one person and suspending all flights as the conflict spreads to Gulf civilian infrastructure.
US Strikes Iran's Qeshm Island; Iran Retaliates Against Kuwait, Bahrain
The US military struck a communications tower on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated with missiles and drones targeting Kuwait and Bahrain, triggering warning sirens across both Gulf states.
US Fires Hellfire Missile at Tanker Defying Iran Port Blockade
The US military disabled the Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie with a Hellfire missile after the oil tanker ignored 24 hours of warnings and attempted to breach the naval blockade of Iran's ports.
Iran Plans Khamenei Funeral in Three Cities, Expects Millions
Iran will hold funeral ceremonies for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, with Tehran authorities preparing for 15 to 20 million participants.
Lebanon Strikes Continue as Ceasefire Claims Clash With Reality
Israeli airstrikes killed at least five in southern Lebanon hours after Trump announced a de-escalation deal, as Hezbollah reported 31 attacks on Israeli positions and Netanyahu vowed to press on.
IAEA Chief Calls Iran Uranium Transfer 'Difficult but Not Impossible'
IAEA Director General Grossi said moving Iran's 440kg of near-weapons-grade uranium out of the country is technically feasible, as Trump predicts a deal within a week and Tehran warns Israeli attacks in Lebanon could end talks.
IRGC Claims Cruise Missile Strike on 'US-Owned' Ship in Gulf
Iran's IRGC says it fired a cruise missile at the Panama-flagged container ship MSC Sariska V, calling it a US-owned vessel, in retaliation for a strike on an Iranian ship near Oman.
Hezbollah Accepts US Ceasefire Proposal as Trump Claims Direct Call
Lebanon's presidency confirmed Hezbollah agreed to a US proposal for mutual cessation of hostilities, hours after Trump said he spoke with Hezbollah representatives to end fighting in Lebanon.
IRGC Says 15 Ships Passed Hormuz With Its Permission
Iran's IRGC Navy says 15 vessels including four oil tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours only after receiving IRGC permission, asserting de facto control over the world's most critical oil chokepoint.
Iran Halts US Talks, Threatens to Close Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Iran suspended all exchanges with mediators and threatened to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, opening a second chokepoint front as Rystad warns oil could reach $180 per barrel by August.
Cargo Vessel Hit by Projectile in Gulf Near Iraq, UKMTO Says
A cargo vessel suffered a large explosion after being struck by an unknown projectile about 40 nautical miles southeast of Umm Qasr, Iraq, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre reported.
Trump Sends Iran Deal Back for Revisions as Oil Tops $94
Trump submitted a revised Iran proposal with stricter nuclear and Hormuz provisions as Brent crude topped $94 and the IRGC warned that cooperation with hostile forces near the strait would be treated as a security threat.
Israel Orders Beirut Strikes, Seeks US Approval for Wider Air Campaign
Netanyahu ordered strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and asked Washington to greenlight large-scale airstrikes on the Lebanese capital, escalating beyond the current ground offensive.
Iran Strikes US Military Base in Kuwait After Gulf Coast Raids
Iran's IRGC said it targeted a US military base in Kuwait in retaliation for American strikes on Iranian drone and radar sites along the Gulf coast, marking the first direct Iran-to-US base exchange in the current conflict.
Israel Weighs Beirut Strikes as Lebanon Campaign Expands
Israel is debating strikes on Beirut as its ground offensive deepens past the Litani River, drawing condemnation from France, Germany, and a UN Security Council emergency session.
IRGC says it downed US MQ-1 drone over Persian Gulf as talks stall
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it shot down a US MQ-1 reconnaissance drone in the Persian Gulf overnight, hours after Trump told Fox News a deal is near.
Iran unveils 27 Rajab cruise-missile attack craft as US talks drift
Tehran rolled out a new high-speed naval attack craft armed with long-range cruise missiles even as Iranian officials say several major issues remain unresolved in talks with Washington.
Iran Parliament Moves to Codify Hormuz Claim as IRGC Warns Vessels
Tehran is set to vote on a domestic law formalizing Iranian management of the Strait of Hormuz, hours after Hegseth said the US blockade remains in place.
US Navy Warns Mariners of Mine Threat in Hormuz as Framework Nears
A US Navy advisory telling commercial shipping to avoid the Strait of Hormuz over a mine threat lands the same morning Iranian media leaked that the proposed framework keeps the strait under Tehran's authority.
Tasnim leak: Hormuz transit stays under Iran's authority in proposed US deal
IRGC-linked Tasnim says the framework being negotiated leaves the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian authority — a major concession surfacing hours before Trump's expected final determination.
Beirut Strike, UKMTO Advisory, Hezbollah Tempo Test 60-Day Window
Israeli aircraft reportedly killed an Imam Hossein Division missile commander in Beirut as UKMTO warned shipping and Hezbollah claimed 22 attacks in 24 hours.
IRGC fires on Hormuz ships as Vance says US, Iran 'very close' to deal
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps opened fire on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz Friday morning, hours after Vice President JD Vance said Washington and Tehran are near a memorandum extending the 60-day ceasefire.
CENTCOM denies Iran claim that US aircraft was downed at Bushehr
US Central Command says all American air assets are accounted for, contradicting an Iranian state-TV report of an aircraft destroyed near Bushehr.
Iran Fires Warning Shots at Hormuz Vessels Amid Ceasefire Talks
Iranian forces fired warning shots at four vessels near the Strait of Hormuz Thursday night, as Washington and Tehran edged toward a tentative 60-day ceasefire extension still awaiting President Trump's approval.