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Economy & Business

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China’s overland trade routes offer Iran wartime economic lifeline: What to know

Cargo rail traffic between China and Iran has reportedly surged since the US blockade began in April as Tehran seeks overland trade alternatives to help buy time.

In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency on May 4, 2026, the Iran-flagged tugboat Basim sails near a ship anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.

What to know about Iran's 'Persian Gulf Strait Authority' to control Hormuz traffic

The establishment of an entity seeking to control maritime transportation in the Strait of Hormuz is the latest sign that Iran wants to formalize authority in the strategic waterway.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly speaks in Beirut on Dec. 19, 2025.

Egypt ramps up energy investments amid war-driven price pressures

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Wednesday that Egypt has secured commitments exceeding $19 billion from international oil companies over the next three years.

Latest News

Few ships pass Hormuz despite US efforts to break Iran's hold

Tankers are seen at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal in the Sharjah Emirate, along the Strait of Hormuz on June 23, 2025. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran strikes UAE’s Fujairah oil hub as US pushes Hormuz reopening

Meysam MIRZADEH / TASNIM NEWS / AFP via Getty Images

United Arab Emirates

Analysis

MENA wheat importers face food security risks as Hormuz crisis festers

Crops of wheat and barley in Terbol village on May 10, 2022, in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Oman enters Gulf AI race with new special economic zone in Muscat

Haitham AL-SHUKAIRI / AFP via Getty Images

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

Francisco Serrano

In Lisbon, reporting on North Africa business

Saudi Mining and Industry Minister Bandar Al-Khorayef addresses the Future Mineral Forum in Riyadh on Jan. 10, 2024.

Saudi Arabia offers $182M package, other incentives for mining investors

The kingdom is prioritizing the lucrative sector as part of its ambitious Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy away from a reliance on oil.

A view of the platform of the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea is pictured from the Israeli northern coastal beach of Nasholim, on August 29, 2022. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Gaza war tests East Med gas integration and national energy security

Gerald Kepes

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy trends

European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen and Egypt president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi pictured during a diplomatic meeting on Sunday 17 March 2024 in Cairo, Egypt. The Belgian Prime Minister is on a 3-day visit to Jordan, Qatar and Egypt. BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM (Photo by DIRK WAEM / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP) (Photo by DIRK WAEM/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Beyond migration, what does EU's $8bn package mean for Egypt?

The 27-member bloc's 7.4 billion euros in funding in the North African country will be disbursed over the next three years and cover economic and trade relations, energy and immigration.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

A view of refinery No. 2 (Phases 2, 3) of the South Pars Gas-Condensate field in Asalouyeh Seaport, north of the Persian Gulf in Iran.

What’s behind Iran’s $13B investment in domestic oil industry?

Iran’s oil exports are on the rise, particularly to China, though the country faces challenges in maintaining its oil production levels.

This picture taken on Sept. 30, 2020, shows logos of social-networking websites displayed on a mobile phone's screen in Istanbul.

Turkey hands Meta $148K daily fine over antitrust violation

Turkey’s competition watchdog also imposed an interim measure to suspend data-sharing between Instagram and Threads.

The Ameca humanoid robot greets visitors at Dubai's Museum of the Future, on October 11, 2022. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Gulf players chase data center demand as AI race heats up

Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Delta resumes Israel flights as Ryanair, American hold off

Several international airlines have resumed flights to Tel Aviv in recent weeks, though major carriers like American Airlines and Turkish Airlines have not.

UK Turk

Turkey, UK to begin trade deal talks in June

The official talks, set to begin on June 10, were announced following a Thursday meeting between the countries’ trade ministers in London.

A passenger walks along the platform of the Rakosrendezo railway station, site of a controversial redevelopment by the UAE, Budapest, Jan. 12, 2024.

Hungary signs $5.5B deal with UAE firm to develop Budapest neighborhood

The new project around the Rakosrendezo freight train station is expected to bring the futuristic, high-rise style of Dubai and other Emirates to the Hungarian capital.

United Arab Emirates

A view of the platform of the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea is pictured from the Israeli northern coastal beach of Nasholim, on Aug. 29, 2022.

Israel’s NewMed Energy says UAE deal suspended amid Gaza 'uncertainty'

Israel-UAE relations have been negatively impacted by the war but still remain intact.

AMIR MAKAR/AFP via Getty Images

EU readies $8B aid package for Egypt to help economy, stem immigration

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to travel to Cairo Sunday with the Belgian, Italian and Greek prime ministers to complete and announce the aid agreement for Egypt.

BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey doubles down on coal despite European efforts to decarbonize

Turkey has been importing around three quarters of its coal from Russia as prices have fallen since the Ukraine war began in Feb. 2022.