EIA hikes 2026 oil price forecasts 22% as Hormuz fuels long-term market fallout In its latest update, the agency said international benchmark Brent crude is now expected to average $96 per barrel in 2026, up from $79 previously, with higher prices now expected to last through 2027. Iran
Iran threatens energy shock, ups Gulf strikes ahead of Trump deadline: What to know Majid Mousavi, head of the IRGC Aerospace Force, declared the start of a “new phase” of the war in response to US threats to target key Iranian civilian infrastructure. Iran
Israel, seeking wider war, hits Iranian railways, bridges as Trump deadline nears Since the Trump administration announced its deadline, Israel has prepared for a potential US escalation, including airstrikes on civilian infrastructure or ground operations. Israel
Leaked video renews accusations of 2009 election fraud In a video leaked online, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps said that the return of the Reformists during the 2009 elections was a "red line" for the organization. Iran
Obama ramps up on Syria The US president is giving new priority to the threat from terrorists in Syria, while calling for increased military support for opposition forces. Syria
Rouhani mocks his critics, reactionary clerics Iranian President Hassan Rouhani mocked critics who have publicly reprimanded him for saying that “heaven cannot be forced” onto people, comparing other clerics to the reactionary clerics who were once opposed to private showers and daylight savings on the grounds that it would harm religion. Iran
Israel launches all-out war against corruption This week, Israeli police finally raided the Ashdod Port, targeting the members of the trade union, perceived by many as a symbol of corruption and nepotism. Israel
Saudi king’s sons well-placed for transition King Abdullah’s sons hold key positions of influence in the government as the kingdom transitions to the next generation of Saudi royals. Saudi Arabia
Government losing control over veiling, says Khamenei adviser Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, also a member of the Iranian Parliament, believes that the government needs a united front to address the issue of veiling and recommended subsidies for factories that produce veils. Iran
Iran official: Revealing extent of corruption could cause 'social shock' Gholamali Jafarzadeh has said that details of the Iranian Parliament's investigation into Ahmadinejad-era corruption would cause a "social shock" and harm the government if it is made public. Iran
Iran prosecutor denies summoning Facebook founder The news, now denied, that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was summoned by an Iranian court in response to privacy complaints originated from a Basij official and an Iranian court. Iran
Rouhani under fire for saying heaven can’t be forced Influential Iranian conservative Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami has criticized President Hassan Rouhani for saying that people cannot be taken "to heaven through force and a whip." Iran
Mofaz: 'Strategic situation worse' on Iran In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz argues that US over-involvement in Israeli-Palestinian talks only alienated both sides, and the only feasible solution is a two-stage agreement with the Palestinians, even while talking with Hamas. Palestine
Iran businessman hanged for embezzlement Iran has executed businessman Mehafarid Amri-Khosravi for crimes connected to a $2.7 billion embezzlement scheme, Iran's largest-ever embezzlement case. Iran
US, Iran cannot afford another missed opportunity In his new book, Seyed Hossein Mousavian recounts new details of how the chances for US-Iran engagement after 9/11 and the 2003-2005 nuclear negotiations were wasted, at great cost. Iran
