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.
Trump Cancels Iran Strikes, Claims Deal Could Be Signed in Europe
Trump said he has cancelled planned US strikes on Iran and claimed a settlement could be signed in Europe this weekend, though Tehran has not publicly confirmed any agreement.
Trump Vows US Will Seize Iran's Kharg Island Oil Terminal
President Trump told reporters the United States will take Kharg Island, the offshore terminal that handles roughly 90% of Iran's crude exports, sharply escalating the standoff.
Trump warns of second strike, eyes Iran oil sector
Trump says U.S. forces will strike Iran again Thursday night and signaled interest in seizing control of Iran's oil sector, escalating a crisis already pulling tankers into Hormuz crossfire.
Iran Declares Hormuz Closed, Says It Has Struck Ships in Strait
Tehran announced the formal closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping and claimed strikes on vessels in the waterway, hours after a second US strike package hit Iranian facilities.
IAEA Board Demands Iran Declare Uranium Stocks; Tehran Rejects Vote
The IAEA Board of Governors passed a US-backed resolution ordering Iran to account for its uranium stockpile. Tehran called the move counter-productive within hours.
Iran Retaliates: IRGC Strikes US Bases in Bahrain and Jordan
Iran's Revolutionary Guard launched drones and missiles at the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and a base in Jordan overnight, retaliating for US strikes near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Araqchi Tells Foreign Forces to Leave Hormuz Area
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned foreign militaries near the Strait of Hormuz of "constant risk" from accidents and crossfire, and asserted the waterway is not international waters.
Trump Blames Iran for Apache Downing, Says US 'Must Respond'
President Trump publicly accused Iran of shooting down a US Army Apache near the Strait of Hormuz and said the United States "must, of necessity, respond" to the attack.
Qaani Declares Iran 'Security Belt' From Hormuz to Bab al-Mandab
IRGC-Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani has publicly lashed the Hormuz front to the Houthi Red Sea campaign under one Iranian doctrine. Washington should read it that way.
Trump Claims 'Complete Victory' Over Iran Within Two Weeks
Trump told reporters Monday evening the US will declare a 'complete victory' over Iran within two weeks and said Iranian officials want a 'very nice' agreement.
Israel, Iran Trade Overnight Strikes; IRGC Says It Hit Air Bases
Israel struck Iran's Mahshahr petrochemical complex and other targets in central and western Iran; the IRGC said it retaliated against Israeli air bases as interceptions lit up skies over Israel.
Iran Launches Missile Barrage at Israel After Beirut Strikes
IRGC fires missiles at Israel on day 100 of the war in response to Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, as Israel closes Gaza crossings and vows to intensify operations in Lebanon.
Iran calls US assets 'legitimate targets' after Israel strikes Beirut
Iran's parliament speaker warned of a 'painful' response after Israel hit Beirut's southern suburbs Sunday, as Trump endorsed continued 'surgical' Hezbollah strikes.
Hezbollah opens northern front — 22 attacks on Israeli forces overnight
Hezbollah claims at least 22 strikes on Israeli positions in south Lebanon; Israeli attack on Lebanese army convoy kills senior officer as Saudi, Qatar and Jordan formally condemn.
US Strikes Iranian Coastal Facilities; Tehran Calls It a Ceasefire Violation
US forces struck Iranian coastal facilities Saturday after Tehran launched drones, prompting Iran to condemn the action as a ceasefire violation endangering regional security.
Israeli Strike Kills Three Lebanese Army Soldiers in South Lebanon
Israeli forces killed three Lebanese army personnel and at least seven civilians across south Lebanon on Saturday, the deadliest army loss since the November 2024 ceasefire.
Iran Fires Seven Ballistic Missiles at Kuwait and Bahrain
US Central Command says Iran launched seven ballistic missiles toward Gulf bases hours after US drone intercepts and strikes on Iranian radar sites near Qeshm Island.
CENTCOM Says US Shot Down Four Iranian Drones Near Strait of Hormuz
US forces intercepted four Iranian attack drones and struck Iranian radar sites overnight, threatening fragile ceasefire efforts and nuclear talks near the Strait of Hormuz.
IAEA says Iran deal is close. Tehran says talks are deadlocked.
Grossi told reporters a US-Iran nuclear framework is 'pretty close.' Hours later, a Khamenei adviser told CNN the talks are stuck and warned of a wider war.
Israel Deployed Forces to Four Countries During Iran War
CNN reports Israel sent Mossad agents and elite military units to Azerbaijan, UAE, Iraq and Somaliland during its war with Iran. Azerbaijan denies the allegations.
Israel accuses White House officials of leaking Iran war plans to Turkey
Israeli officials claim U.S. officials disclosed military strategy details to Turkish counterparts. The leak is said to have reached Tehran through backchannels.
Iran Says It Fired Warning Missiles at US Warships
Iran's military says it launched warning missiles toward US Navy vessels in the Gulf of Oman after American forces boarded the sanctioned tanker MT Davina in the Indian Ocean.
UN Warns Iran War Pushing 45 Million Into Food Crisis
The World Food Programme says 45 million additional people face acute hunger as the US-Iran conflict disrupts oil shipments, spikes fuel costs, and strains humanitarian supply chains worldwide.
Iran Sets Conditions for Accepting Trump Deal
Tehran demands 50 percent of frozen assets released upon signing any MoU with Washington, while the IRGC ties regional calm to Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories.
Oman Oil Terminal Blast Halts Crude Loading
A drone attack on Oman's Mina Al Fahal terminal halted crude oil loadings and pushed Brent above $95, signaling regional instability is spreading beyond the Iran-US corridor.
Iran's Araghchi Says Hormuz Decisions Will Be Made Jointly With Oman
Iran's foreign minister claimed Tehran and Muscat hold a "natural right" to manage the Strait of Hormuz, saying other Gulf states will be consulted but the two littoral nations will have the final say.
Iran Oil Exports Crash to Six-Year Low Under US Blockade
Iran's crude exports fell to 209,000 barrels per day in May, down 84 percent from April, as the US naval blockade chokes off shipments and strands tens of millions of barrels at sea.
IAEA: War Has Increased Iran's Nuclear Weapon Risk
The nuclear watchdog has warned member states in a restricted report that Iran's nuclear weapon probability is higher than before the February strikes — the opposite of the campaign's stated goal.
Rubio Calls Iran's Gulf Strikes 'Reprehensible' as US Rallies Allies
Iran struck Kuwait and Bahrain, both hosting US military bases. Secretary Rubio held emergency talks with Kuwait's FM and reaffirmed US security commitments to the region.
Hezbollah Rejects Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire as Israel Strikes Continue
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem rejected the US-brokered ceasefire framework agreed between Israel and Lebanon, casting doubt on whether the truce can hold.