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 Says More Than 30 Civilians Killed in Recent US Strikes
Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said Wednesday that more than 30 civilians have died in recent US strikes on southern Iran, per Tehran Times.
US Launches New Wednesday Strike Wave on Iran's Hormuz Positions
CENTCOM said Wednesday it hit Iranian capabilities used to attack Strait of Hormuz shipping, with Al Jazeera reporting a strike on a marine control tower and The Hill citing an island target.
Iran Says Seven Killed in US Strike on Bampur Army Base
Iran's army said at least seven personnel were killed in overnight US strikes on a military base in Bampur, according to Tasnim — the first named Iranian casualty count of the current campaign.
CENTCOM Confirms 'Dozens' of Iranian Targets Hit in New Strike Wave
US Central Command said it completed an additional round of strikes on 'dozens' of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's coastal region at 10 p.m. EDT Tuesday.
IRGC Says It Struck US Forces in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said Tuesday it attacked US forces in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, as reports emerged of explosions in Kuwait and drone strikes on US troops in Jordan.
US Strikes Iran for Fourth Day; Qeshm Island Reported Hit
US forces struck Iran for a fourth consecutive day Tuesday, targeting what a US official called "emerging threats," as Iranian state TV reported an American strike on Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf.
Iran's Hormuz Gamble: Muscle Over Diplomacy as Trump Deal Unravels
Tehran chose to shut down the Strait of Hormuz and strike U.S. allies rather than hold to its MOU with Washington — analysts say the nuclear clock may now be running faster.
US Strikes Iran for Third Night; Bushehr, Bandar Abbas Hit
US Central Command hit Iranian port cities Bushehr and Bandar Abbas in a third consecutive night of strikes, killing three, as Iran widened retaliation to Bahrain and Jordan.
Brent Surges Past $86 After Iran Strikes UAE Tankers in Hormuz
Oil prices jumped 3% to a one-month high after Iranian forces struck two UAE-flagged tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving one sailor dead and eight wounded.
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Houthi Missile in Apparent Retaliation Strike
Saudi Arabia intercepted a Houthi missile launched in apparent retaliation for earlier strikes, the Jerusalem Post reported. No casualties or damage were reported.
UAE Says Iranian Missiles Struck Oil Tankers in Strait of Hormuz, Sailor Killed
The UAE Defense Ministry confirmed Iranian missiles hit oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one sailor, in the first confirmed vessel strikes of the current US-Iran escalation.
Senators Demand Pentagon Release Findings From Iran School Strike Probe
Democratic lawmakers pressed the Defense Department Monday to make public its investigation into a February strike on an Iranian girls' school that killed civilians.
Trump Orders Hormuz Blockade; U.S. Strikes Iran a Third Night
President Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to reinstate a Strait of Hormuz naval blockade and charge ships for passage, hours before U.S. forces launched a third consecutive night of strikes on Iran.
U.S. Strikes Hit Iran's Oil City Abadan; Two Killed at Three Sites
U.S. missiles struck three locations in the Iranian oil-refining hub of Abadan on Monday, killing at least two people and wounding three others, Iranian officials said.
US Strikes Dozens of Iran Sites; Iran Hits Bahrain, Kuwait Bases
U.S. forces struck dozens of Iranian sites Monday, killing one and wounding seven in Isfahan. Iran's IRGC retaliated by hitting American facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
CENTCOM Launches New Wave of Strikes on Iran; Tehran Calls Diplomacy Futile
US Central Command says a fresh wave of strikes on Iran began at 2100 GMT Sunday, targeting Hormuz-facing systems. Tehran says the attacks render diplomacy futile.
Oman Summons Iran Envoy Over Drone Strikes on Musandam, Batinah
Muscat formally protested Iranian drone strikes on Omani territory in the Musandam exclave and al-Batinah governorate, state media reported Sunday, marking a sharp break with Tehran.
US Strikes Target Iran Missile Systems Near Hormuz; Trump Reveals Near-Deal
American forces struck Iranian missile systems around the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday as Trump disclosed the two nations had nearly reached a diplomatic agreement before hostilities escalated.
Iranian Navy Lieutenant Killed in Overnight US Strikes, Tehran Says
Iranian state media on Sunday identified Lt. Hamidreza Dehghani of the Islamic Republic navy as killed in overnight US strikes — the first named military death of this exchange.
Kirkuk–Baniyas: Washington reaches for a Cold-War-era pipeline to break Hormuz
The Trump administration plans to revive a 500-mile Iraqi crude line to the Syrian coast that has been shut since 1982. Reading the strategy — and the plumbing — behind the biggest energy play of the year.
Iran Fires Missiles and Drones at US Bases Across Six Gulf States
Iran launched missile and drone attacks on US military facilities in Jordan, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman after CENTCOM's third round of strikes. Three injured in Qatar.
CENTCOM Confirms Third Round of US Strikes on Iran After Hormuz Attack
US Central Command says American forces launched a third round of strikes on Iran on Saturday after the IRGC hit a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran IRGC Navy Declares Strait of Hormuz Closed
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy announced via state media that the Strait of Hormuz is closed until further notice, Reuters reports.
UAE Oil Production Hits Record High After OPEC Exit
Abu Dhabi posted an all-time crude output record last month, defying Iranian Strait of Hormuz threats and signaling a new era of Gulf energy independence from OPEC discipline.
Israeli Drone Strike Kills Palestinian in Gaza Despite Ceasefire
An Israeli drone strike hit a civilian vehicle near the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Saturday, killing one Palestinian and wounding two others amid an active ceasefire.
U.S. Demands Iran Affirm Strait of Hormuz Is Open Amid Strike Exchange
Washington is pressing Tehran to formally confirm the Strait of Hormuz is open to shipping as both sides continue trading strikes with no ceasefire in place.
Trump Says Iran Talks Continue as He Warns of Missile Strike on Tehran
Trump confirmed U.S.-Iran talks will continue while threatening missile strikes if Tehran targets the U.S. president, even as he declared the ceasefire finished.
US Sanctions Iran, IRGC-Linked Entities Over Hormuz Attacks
The U.S. Treasury has imposed a fresh sanctions package targeting Iran and IRGC-linked entities in response to recent attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran Oil Backs Up at Sea as Chinese Refiners Shift to Gulf Rivals
Iran's sanctioned crude is piling up at sea as China's independent refiners pivot to rival Gulf suppliers, traders say, squeezing Tehran's oil revenues.
Mysterious Airstrikes Target Iran After U.S. Attacks, AP Reports
The Associated Press reports fresh airstrikes have hit Iran with no country claiming responsibility, days after U.S. strikes on roughly 90 Iranian military sites.