Trump Announces Two-Week Pause on Iran Strikes

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of planned military strikes on Iran on Wednesday, citing direct appeals from the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir.  “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal ...

Tehran Cautions UN Against Escalation Before Strait of Hormuz Vote

Iran on Friday warned the UN Security Council against any "provocative action" ahead of a vote on a draft resolution mandating a force to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. "Any provocative action by the aggressors and their supporters, including in the UN Security Council regarding the situation in the Strait of ...

Israeli Ground Invasion Consolidates as Strikes Continue

Israeli rhetoric has intensified on the creation of a buffer zone, including the demolition of border villages, with Defense Minister Israel Katz saying Lebanese civilians won’t be able to return until northern Israel is secure. In recent days, Israeli forces have consolidated a number of axes in the fight, concentrated around the coast south of ...

Oil Surges as Trump Signals Escalation Against Iran

Oil prices jumped in volatile trading on Thursday morning after Donald Trump warned of potential further military action against Iran, dampening hopes for a near-term de-escalation in the conflict, CNBC reported. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for May rose 5.9% to $106.02 a barrel as of 3:11 a.m. ET, while June Brent crude ...

Netanyahu Announces Expansion of Security Zone as Israel Steps Up Lebanon Operations

Tensions escalated on Wednesday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an expansion of Israel’s security zone along the northern border, according to Israeli media outlet Ynet. Speaking to northern Israeli local leaders, Netanyahu said the buffer zone will “distance the anti-tank threat” from Israeli communities and prevent ...

U.S. Temporarily Lifts Sanctions on Iranian Oil, Two Tankers Load at Kharg Island, Sources Say

The U.S. has lifted sanctions on some Iranian oil for 30 days to ease surging oil prices driven by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The U.S. treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said the waiver would bring about 140 million barrels of oil to global markets and help relieve pressure on energy supply. In a statement on X, Bessent said “In ...

Mossad Chief Tells Israeli Leadership Regime Change in Iran is Possible, Sources Say

Mossad Director David Barnea reportedly assessed in meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government prior to the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran that it could be possible to topple the Iranian regime, according to Israeli media. Citing multiple unnamed sources, Barnea outlined that if the operation achieved ...

Will This War End Hezbollah?

After Israel’s war against Hezbollah ended in November 2024, many expected the group’s losses—including the killing of its leader Hassan Nasrallah—to weaken its influence in Lebanon. Hopes rose that the Lebanese state could reclaim sovereignty and extend its control across the country. Yet subsequent developments revealed that these ...

Trump Says Iran Wants to Talk: The Atlantic

One day after U.S.-Israeli strikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and escalated tensions across the Middle East, former President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran’s new leadership wants to negotiate and that he plans to engage with them. “They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to ...

Son of Iran's Late Shah Says 'Final Victory' Near

The son of Iran's last shah voiced confidence Saturday in victory against the Islamic republic after the United States and Israel launched an attack. Reza Pahlavi released a video message online shortly after the strikes, suggesting coordination after he repeatedly urged President Donald Trump to intervene. "We are very close to final victory. I ...

Iraq PM Candidate Maliki Meets Senior U.S. Diplomat

The leading candidate to become Iraq's next prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, met with US diplomat Tom Barrack on Friday after refusing to withdraw his nomination despite the US threatening to stop supporting the country if he returns to the post. Barrack, the US envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkey, has recently visited Iraq ...