Will Iran take up Vance lifeline to avoid another US attack? Vance’s letter comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity ahead of the Nov. 3 deadline; Jordan and Syria move to deepen security ties following a terrorist attack. Iran
Analysis Who will blink first in latest US-Iran diplomacy efforts? The prospects for a US-Iran deal may depend less on the scope for compromise than on whether either side can afford to make the first concession. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Limpet mine attack in Hormuz suggests Iran may be shifting tactics UKMTO report of the first successful limpet mine attack on a commercial vessel in the Middle East since 2019 appeared to undermine the Pentagon's claims to have fully cleared and opened the Strait of Hormuz. Iran
Oil tops $114 as traders brace for Iran escalation after US midterms On Friday, BP posted its highest profits in 18 years as a result of the Iran conflict, which has driven up oil and gas margins. Iran
Hegseth fires Pentagon’s top strategist accused of leaks amid Iran war By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Iran war has cost Pentagon more than $47B: What to know By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
A year on from Iran-Saudi thaw, little to show beyond photo ops Despite the detente, the two sides appear to have adopted few tangible measures to narrow their long-standing differences over regional influence, while their covert divergence on the Gaza war has only added to the complications of their fragile rapprochement. Iran
US designation of Houthis as terror group comes into effect The Houthi struck a Panama-flagged tanker ship in the Gulf of Aden with a missile as Washington restored its terror designation on the group in a bid to clamp down on its attacks on commercial shipping. Legacy: Gulf
Iran's IRGC claims developing stealth drones that 'can hit any vessel' Iranian missiles and drones are believed to have been fired by its regional proxies against Israeli and international ships, as the scope of the Israel-Hamas war expands across the region. Iran
US seizes Iranian missile parts in Arabian Sea headed to Yemen's Houthis The United States has struggled to choke off Iran's smuggling of weapons components to Yemen's Houthi rebels. Legacy: Gulf
Analysis Iran's use of 2 UK banks to evade sanctions tests West's financial systems The Financial Times reported earlier this week that Lloyds Bank and Santander UK provided accounts to companies with links to Iran’s intelligence services. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Are Iran-backed militias turning their drones against Syria’s Kurds? Syria’s Kurdish-led militia has increasingly found itself in the crosshairs of attacks by Iran-backed militias amid tit-for-tat strikes between US forces and Iran’s proxies. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
US brings retribution to Iran-backed militia leader in Baghdad strike The assassination of a Kataib Hezbollah commander in Baghdad on Wednesday came as the US military has struggled to intimidate Iran-backed groups without escalating towards direct conflict with Iran amid tensions over Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Iraq
US strike in Baghdad kills Kataib Hezbollah commander as Iraq tensions simmer A Telegram channel affiliated with Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) reported that Abu Baqir al-Saadi, a commander in Kataib Hezbollah, was killed in the attack. Iraq
Iran plans joint naval exercise with Russia, China as Red Sea tensions soar The trilateral drills will be the first this year that Iran is holding with the two powers, as it remains under Western pressure over involvement in attacks on international navigation in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Iran
Why Iraq's dinar is trading below official dollar rate amid new restrictions A top US official visited Iraqi officials last week to discuss countering illicit finance and strengthening Iraq’s financial system. Iraq
Pentagon vows more strikes against Iran-backed groups, rejects open-ended campaign The Pentagon says it isn't planning for an open-ended campaign of retaliation against Iran-backed groups, even as Israel vows to expand its war in Gaza on to the Rafah area. Syria
6 Kurdish SDF forces killed in Iran-linked attack on Syria base housing US troops The drone attack left at least six dead among the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Syria
