Middle East

US Tanker Approached by Iranian Gunboats in Strait of Hormuz
US Tanker Approached by Iranian Gunboats in Strait of Hormuz

A US-flagged tanker was approached and challenged on Tuesday by Iranian gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz, before continuing on its way, US Central Command said. CENTCOM spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said two Iranian boats and a drone approached the US-flagged ship M/V Stena Imperative "at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the ...

‘Moment Could Be Fleeting’: U.S. Congressional Hearing on Curbing Hezbollah
‘Moment Could Be Fleeting’: U.S. Congressional Hearing on Curbing Hezbollah

Policy experts told the U.S. Congress that dismantling Hezbollah’s malign influence in Lebanon will require leveraging Washington’s support for Beirut to secure measurable progress on the militant group’s disarmament, as well as political and financial reforms, thereby strengthening state sovereignty. On Tuesday, the House Foreign Affairs ...

January 2026: What the Surge in Israeli Strikes in Lebanon Signals
January 2026: What the Surge in Israeli Strikes in Lebanon Signals

January 2026 marked a sharp escalation in Israeli military activity in Lebanon, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducting 87 airstrikes, more than double the number recorded in December 2025. It was the most active month since the ceasefire of November 27, 2024, underscoring a shift in operational tempo even as Israel maintains that its ...

Qatar Says Diplomacy with Iran 'Continuing Very Intensively'
Qatar Says Diplomacy with Iran 'Continuing Very Intensively'

Intensive diplomatic efforts are taking place between Iran, Qatar, and other countries in the region, Doha's foreign ministry spokesman said Tuesday, after Tehran confirmed talks with the U.S. "I can confirm that efforts are continuing very intensively in these hours and days," foreign ministry ...

Can a New Round of U.S.–Iran Talks Avert Escalation?
AnalysisCan a New Round of U.S.–Iran Talks Avert Escalation?

Amid elevated military tensions, the U.S. and Iran are now cautiously opening diplomatic channels, indicating an interest in averting a major conflict with potentially uncontrollable consequences for the region. In recent days, a series of mixed signals—from hawkish statements and regional warnings to indirect exchanges via ...

Israel Sets Red Lines Ahead of U.S.-Iran Talks as Witkoff Visits Jerusalem
Israel Sets Red Lines Ahead of U.S.-Iran Talks as Witkoff Visits Jerusalem

Israel is seeking firm assurances from Washington ahead of anticipated U.S.-Iran talks on Friday in Turkey, with Israeli officials signaling that any agreement falling short of dismantling Tehran’s nuclear capabilities would be unacceptable. The issue will be central to meetings in Jerusalem on Tuesday, as U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle ...

Iran President Confirms Talks with US After Trump's Threats
Iran President Confirms Talks with US After Trump's Threats

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Tuesday that he had ordered the start of nuclear talks with the United States, after his counterpart Donald Trump threatened "bad things" if no deal is reached. The US leader has talked of military action and sent an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East following anti-government protests in ...

Almost 140 Foreigners Arrested in Central Iran Over Protests
Almost 140 Foreigners Arrested in Central Iran Over Protests

Iranian authorities arrested 139 foreign nationals in central parts of the country during recent anti-government protests, local media reported Tuesday. Iran's Tasnim news agency quoted the police chief in the city of Yazd as saying those arrested were involved "in organising, inciting and directing riotous actions, and in some cases were in ...

Trump Warns Iran of Consequences if Diplomacy Fails

The United States and Iran are set to resume nuclear talks on Friday in Turkey, officials from both sides told Reuters, as President Donald Trump warned that “bad things” would likely happen if negotiations fail, with U.S. warships moving closer to Iran amid heightened regional tensions. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign ...

UAE Senior Official Says Iran Needs to Reach Deal with U.S.
UAE Senior Official Says Iran Needs to Reach Deal with U.S.

Iran needs to reach a deal with the United States, a senior United Arab Emirates official said on Tuesday, ahead of talks between the two sides after repeated threats of American military action. "Iran today needs to reach a deal," presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said during the World Governments Summit in Dubai, adding that Iran ...

The End of the Middle East’s Oil Bonanza
Op-edThe End of the Middle East’s Oil Bonanza

The Middle East has finally arrived at the grim reckoning long barreling toward it: a ruinous collapse of oil revenues that renders government deficits utterly unsustainable. Among the wealthy Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, four are running persistent annual budget deficits that are eroding their sovereign wealth reserves and plunging ...