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.
Iran Establishes Formal Authority to Govern Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Supreme National Security Council has created the Persian Gulf Strait Authority to manage Hormuz operations as Brent crude hits $111.50 and Trump threatens renewed strikes.
U.S. Ammo Flights Land in Israel as Military Prepares for Iran
Israeli media report dozens of US cargo aircraft delivered ammunition to Tel Aviv from Germany; Israel's military is said to be preparing to join any new US strikes on Iran's nuclear program.
Iran Warns UAE Over Israel Ties, Says Patience Has Limits
Tehran issues a sharp warning to Abu Dhabi after the UAE attributed Saturday's Barakah drone fire to Iran, citing Israel normalization ties as a red line.
Trump: 'Won't Be Anything Left' as US Sets Five-Point Nuclear Ultimatum
Trump sharpened his threat to Iran Saturday evening, warning nothing will remain if talks fail, as the US formally outlined five conditions including transfer of 400kg of enriched uranium.
UAE Blames Iran for Barakah Drone Strike; Saudi Backs Abu Dhabi, Qatar Presses Hormuz
UAE explicitly attributes Saturday's drone fire near the Barakah nuclear plant to Iran or its proxies; Saudi Arabia backs UAE response measures while Qatar warns Tehran against weaponizing the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Warns Iran 'Clock Is Ticking,' Threatens Severe Consequences
President Trump issued a public ultimatum to Tehran on Sunday, warning the 'clock is ticking' and threatening 'severe consequences' as regional pressure builds around the Gulf.
Drone strike sparks fire at Abu Dhabi's Barakah nuclear plant
A drone strike caused a fire at a generator outside the inner perimeter of the UAE's Barakah nuclear plant on Sunday. No injuries reported, reactor systems unaffected.
Iran's Araghchi Warns of Prolonged War and Higher US Prices
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is ready for a long conflict with Washington and warned American households will pay in fuel and food costs.
Trump officials urged UAE to seize Iranian Lavan Island, Telegraph reports
A Telegraph report says senior figures in the Trump administration encouraged the UAE to take Iran's Lavan Island, marking a notable escalation claim in the Gulf crisis.
US Charges Iran-Backed Kataib Hezbollah Commander After Turkey Arrest
The Justice Department charged a senior Kataib Hezbollah commander over attacks on US personnel after Turkish authorities arrested him, widening the legal campaign against Iran's axis network on Iran war day 78.
Trump Vows Hormuz Stays Open as Iran Warns of Economic Pain
Trump pledged the Strait of Hormuz will not become an Iranian weapon while Tehran's foreign minister warned Americans of rising debt costs and senators broke with the president.
Gulf States and Asian Buyers Build the Structural Hormuz Workaround
While a European-led naval coalition forms to escort tankers, the UAE and Asian buyers are accelerating pipelines, LPG contracts, and reserve deals to permanently route around Iran's chokepoint.
Iran Eases Hormuz Blockade as Talks Signals Emerge
Iran's Revolutionary Guards are allowing more ships through the Strait of Hormuz, state TV reported, the first partial easing since the blockade began after US-Israeli strikes.
Trump Warns Iran to Make a Deal or Face 'Annihilation'
President Trump issued his starkest warning yet to Tehran on war day 77, as oil markets surged and a Xi summit failed to break the nuclear standoff.
Trump Warns Iran His Patience Is Running Out, Xi Summit Yields No Deal
Trump said he will not be "much more patient" with Iran as his Beijing summit with Xi Jinping ended without binding commitments on the Hormuz blockade, raising pressure for a negotiated deal.
Iran Turns Hormuz Into a Bilateral Bargaining Chip
Iran is granting Strait of Hormuz passage case-by-case, creating a two-tier oil market while running a parallel dark-fleet operation in Malaysian waters.
Iran Seizes 'Floating Armoury' Ship, Demands Hormuz Compliance
Iran has seized a vessel described as a floating armoury near UAE waters and warned all ships entering the Strait of Hormuz must cooperate with its navy.
Vance Says Iran Talks Progressing, but No One Can Verify Iran's Nukes
VP Vance claims diplomatic progress on a ceasefire deal while the IAEA has lost all visibility into Iran's 440-kilogram enriched uranium stockpile since February strikes.
Iran Retains 70% of Missile Stockpile, ISW Warns of Rebuilt War Capacity
ISW assessed that Iran has restored access to 30 of 33 Hormuz-region missile sites and retains roughly 70% of its pre-war stockpile, as IRGC launches major exercises and rejects the US peace plan as surrender.
Senate War Powers Vote Falls One Short, 50-49, in Closest Bid Yet to Curb Iran War
A bipartisan coalition came within a single vote of invoking the War Powers Resolution against the Iran campaign; Democrat John Fetterman's no vote sealed the outcome.
IRGC Stages 'Martyr Commander' War Drills Near Tehran
Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched a five-day 'Martyr Commander' exercise near Tehran as ISW warns 70% of Iran's pre-war missile stockpile and 30 of 33 Hormuz sites remain operational.
Kuwait Summons Iran Envoy Over IRGC Bubiyan Island Incursion
Kuwait formally protested to Iran after four IRGC commandos were captured on Bubiyan Island on May 3, invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter as Gulf states rallied in solidarity.
Iran Parliament Warns of 90% Uranium Enrichment If U.S. Resumes Strikes
Iran's parliament speaker threatened to push enrichment to weapons-grade 90% if the U.S. resumes strikes, as the ceasefire frays and Trump heads to Beijing.
Trump Weighs Resuming Combat as Iran Ceasefire Hangs by Thread
Trump is more seriously considering resuming combat operations after Iran's ceasefire counterproposal — demanding reparations and Hormuz sovereignty — was rejected as garbage.
US Sanctions 12 Entities Routing Iranian Oil to China
Treasury designates 12 front companies across Hong Kong, UAE, and Oman as Bessent links Beijing's energy purchases to Iranian terrorism financing.
Trump calls Iran's reply 'TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE' as Khamenei orders military to 'confront the enemy'
Hours after Iran submitted its ceasefire reply via Pakistan, Trump threatened resumed bombing and Khamenei issued fresh combat directives, pushing talks to the edge.
Bulk carrier struck off Qatar widens maritime conflict beyond Hormuz
UKMTO said a bulk carrier was hit by an unknown projectile 23 nautical miles northeast of Doha early Sunday, the first reported maritime strike outside the immediate Strait of Hormuz corridor.
UAE air defenses engage Iranian missiles, drones; three wounded
The UAE Defense Ministry said its air defenses engaged two Iranian ballistic missiles and three drones, the first acknowledged Iranian strike on Emirati territory in the current escalation.
Trump threatens 'Project Freedom Plus' as Iran weighs MOU
Washington has put a one-page MOU in front of Tehran covering nuclear stockpile transfer, sanctions relief and Hormuz. Trump says rejection means an expanded strike campaign.
Bahrain Arrests 41 IRGC-Linked Suspects as Ceasefire Holds
Bahrain detained 41 individuals tied to Iran's IRGC while Washington awaits Tehran's formal response to a U.S.-drafted ceasefire memorandum of understanding.