Tag

Middleeast

All articles tagged with #middleeast

world1 day ago•7 min saved

Pakistan steps into the spotlight as US-Iran talks loom

Pakistan helped broker a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran and is poised to host peace talks in Islamabad, deploying thousands of security personnel as the city braces for negotiations. The diplomacy, led by military chief Asim Munir and backed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, underscores Pakistan’s role as a trusted intermediary among Washington, Tehran and Gulf states. Yet the outcome remains uncertain: if talks fail, Pakistan could face spillover risks across its borders and domestic economic and political strain as regional tensions intensify.

via BBC|

#ceasefire #diplomacy #middleeast

world1 day ago•5 min saved

Ceasefire Confusion: Iran-US Talks Stall Over Lebanon and Hormuz

Negotiations to end the Iran war are unraveling as both sides dispute the ceasefire terms. Israel’s strikes in Lebanon and conflicting interpretations—Pakistan saying Lebanon is included, Washington and Tehran saying it isn’t—underline a broader disagreement over what was agreed. Rumors of a 10-point plan from Iran and a separate U.S. proposal complicate any path to a durable deal, and control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a contentious leverage point. The result is a fragile truce that’s already facing significant rifts and stalled progress toward a permanent peace.

via CNN|

#ceasefire #iran #lebanon

business12 days ago•2 min saved

Oil prices jump on escalation between Iran, Houthis and Israel

Oil prices climbed above $116 a barrel as Iran-backed Houthis attacked Israel, signaling a continued escalation of the conflict. Brent rose to about $116.25 and WTI to around $103 as the U.S. expanded its Middle East presence and concerns over Red Sea shipping grew; analysts warn of tighter global oil supplies if the fighting widens, though some expect selective disruptions. U.S. gasoline prices inched toward $4 per gallon.

via Axios|

#business #geopolitics #iran

world13 days ago•5 min saved

Iran accuses strikes on its nuclear sites as Israel warns of wider escalation

Iran says its uranium processing facility in Ardakan and a Khondab heavy-water complex were hit in separate strikes after Israel warned it would escalate; Tehran reports no radioactive leak or casualties. Israel says it attacked targets in Iran, including in or near Tehran, as tensions and threats of broader retaliation rise amid ongoing US-led discussions in the region.

via Euronews.com|

#airstrikes #iran #israel

world14 days ago•9 min saved

Four Weeks In, Trump’s Iran Clash Leaves GOP Guessing the Endgame

Four weeks into the Iran conflict, President Trump’s mix of diplomacy talk and troop escalations has left GOP lawmakers frustrated with no clear endgame or victory criteria. Officials keep multiple options open but offer few concrete plans to end the war, as Arab partners push for concessions and oil markets fear supply instability tied to the Strait of Hormuz. The administration has tapped Vice President JD Vance and envoys Witkoff and Kushner to lead negotiations, but questions remain over who would speak for Iran and how success would be measured, prompting warnings from lawmakers about potential ground deployments and political consequences.

via CNN|

#iran #middleeast #oil

geopolitics14 days ago•14 min saved

Iran’s Long Game: Outsmarting the West in the Gulf

Iran has spent decades building an asymmetric, decentralized military and an economic strategy to disrupt energy markets and strain the U.S.-led Gulf security order. By leveraging the IRGC, proxies, and strategic vulnerabilities like the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran aims to outlast adversaries and widen gaps between Washington and Gulf partners, potentially leaving Iran resilient and the U.S.-Gulf alliance weakened after the conflict.

via Foreign Affairs|

#geopolitics #iran #irgc

world15 days ago•4 min saved

Pentagon weighs redirecting Ukraine-bound weapons to the Middle East amid Iran strain

The Pentagon is reportedly weighing diverting air-defense missiles and other weapons intended for Ukraine to the Middle East due to munitions strains from the Iran conflict, with a final decision not yet made; NATO says deliveries to Kyiv continue via the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List. Separately, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Zelensky in Jeddah to discuss regional escalation and Iranian drones. Russia faces sanctions and budget pressures, while Ukraine continues long-range strikes on energy infrastructure; Britain pledged an additional £100m to bolster Ukraine’s air defences, bringing two-month support to £600m.

via The Guardian|

#iran #middleeast #nato

world17 days ago•10 min saved

Beirut evacuation warning as US-Israel widen Iran confrontation

Live updates show escalating Middle East tensions: Israel issues evacuation warnings for Beirut’s southern suburbs while the US plans to deploy more than 1,000 additional troops, part of a broader campaign against Iran; the conflict has already caused casualties and widespread disruption across Lebanon, Iraq, the Gulf, and surrounding regions.

via The Guardian|

#evacuation #iran #lebanon

world17 days ago•4 min saved

Pakistan Offers to Host U.S.-Iran Talks as Pentagon Plans 3,000-Troop Middle East Deployment

Pakistan says it can host U.S.-Iran talks toward a comprehensive settlement as diplomacy accelerates, even as Washington signals a possible deployment of about 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne to the Middle East amid mixed statements from Tehran and the White House.

via CNBC|

#diplomacy #middleeast #pakistan

world19 days ago•23 min saved

South Pars Strike Escalates Middle East War, Roils Global Energy

Israeli forces hit Iranian facilities in the South Pars gas field, prompting Iran to retaliate against energy targets in Qatar and Saudi Arabia and placing energy infrastructure at the center of the conflict. The dispute threatens global oil and gas flows via the Strait of Hormuz, with the IEA warning of a historic supply disruption and prices likely to rise. The US has moved thousands of Marines toward the region amid talk of further strikes (including on Kharg Island), while Republicans resist public congressional oversight. Markets have fallen as the war drags on, and the White House leans into messaging even as a dignified transfer controversy unfolds.”

via Letters from an American | Heather Cox Richardson | Substack|

#energy #iran #israel

world20 days ago•2 min saved

Houthis weigh Red Sea blockade to back Iran amid regional standoff

Houthi officials say they are weighing a blockade of the Bab al-Mandab Strait to pressure the West in support of Iran, with any closure limited to ships linked to adversaries of Iran. The move could force vessels to reroute around Africa, boosting shipping costs and oil prices and deepening regional tensions as the group coordinates with Tehran.

via news.cgtn.com|

#iran #middleeast #oil

world21 days ago•5 min saved

Ukraine shares drone-defense know-how with five Middle East allies to curb Iranian strikes

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is providing drone-defense expertise to five Middle Eastern and Gulf countries—UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan—including deploying interceptor units to help shield civilians and critical infrastructure from Iranian Shahed drones; Kyiv is exploring longer-term security cooperation and pressing for air-defense missiles and potential drone-production approvals from the United States and European partners amid broader regional tensions and stalled talks over Russia's invasion.

via PBS|

#defense #drones #iran

world22 days ago•4 min saved

IAEA chief: Iran's nuclear program largely survives post-strike era

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told CBS that although last year’s strikes damaged Iran’s nuclear sites, a considerable portion of the program remains intact, including a stockpile of 60% enriched uranium and the infrastructure to rebuild. He urged diplomacy after combat ends and noted the practical challenges of removing enriched cylinders.

via CBS News|

#diplomacy #iaea #iran

world23 days ago•8 min saved

Who Blinks First? Iran’s Hormuz Tactics Signal a Protracted War

Iran is not closing the Strait of Hormuz but steering shipping into its territorial waters to impose its rules, using a staged escalation that could involve localized mining or small-boat attacks rather than a quick, decisive clash. The IRGC has built a multi-layered intimidation toolkit around island hubs like Abu Musa and Farur, aiming to sustain pressure while the war drags on; shipping through Hormuz has fallen sharply as insurers and captains react to attacks. Western powers seek rapid victory, but Tehran appears to prefer a drawn-out contest to grind down Western resolve, with Gulf states increasingly entangled and regional mediators exploring off-ramps amid leadership uncertainties at home. The end state remains unclear as both sides test limits and waiting for who will blink first.

via Euronews.com|

#geopolitics #iran #irgc

world24 days ago•6 min saved

Trump bets on US independence as NATO support wanes amid Hormuz standoff

President Trump says the US does not need NATO after allies rejected his push to send ships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling the reaction a 'very foolish mistake' as tensions in the Middle East rise and internal dissent grows; the briefing also notes morale concerns aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford and ongoing regional hostilities, plus domestic items such as Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s Democratic Senate primary win and a UN report warning that 4.9 million children died in 2024 due to preventable causes, with aid cuts affecting health facilities.

via The Guardian|

#iran #israel #middleeast