Middle East conflict

June 26, 2026 10:03 AM

UN halts escort of ships through Hormuz after vessel comes under attack

The U.N. International Maritime Organization paused its operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after a vessel reported an attack, reigniting concerns about whether a preliminary deal to end the Iran war will hold. The cargo ship said it was hit close to Oman by a projectile, British navy agency UKMTO said, hours after Tehran warned vessels against taking routes that it had not approved. Two U.S. officials told Reuters that Iran had fired on the ship, while Iran'...

June 26, 2026 9:54 AM

Rubio wraps up Gulf tour as allies share concerns over Iran peace accord

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Gulf allies on Thursday that any deal with Iran would take their interests into account, as he wrapped up a Middle East trip aimed at winning over regional partners with deep reservations about the preliminary accord. Speaking at a meeting of Gulf Arab foreign ministers in Bahrain - home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet - Rubio said Washington was seeking an enduring peace with long-time foe Iran that would not come at the expense of the security of allies...

June 23, 2026 12:34 PM

US Eases Iran Sanctions to Allow Oil Sales Amid Peace Talks

The United States has temporarily lifted major sanctions on Iran, authorizing the production, delivery and sale of Iranian-origin crude oil, petroleum and petrochemical products. The 60-day general license issued by the U.S. Treasury Department remains in effect through August 21 and aligns with the timeline of an interim agreement aimed at securing a final peace deal between Washington and Tehran. The sanctions relief covers associated services, including banking transactions, insurance and ma...

June 23, 2026 11:18 AM

Rubio faces tough task of selling Iran reset to wary Gulf allies

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio faces a delicate mission this week pitching Washington's Iran peace deal to Gulf Arab leaders who fear excessive concessions will strengthen Tehran and reshape the region's security balance and oil flows. Rubio will meet them in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, before traveling to Kuwait and Bahrain, where he will meet officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council, a grouping of monarchies that also includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman. At issue are eleme...

June 23, 2026 10:45 AM

US waives Iran sanctions, Trump says he will ‘do what I have to’ if Tehran misbehaves

The United States waived sanctions on Iran for 60 days from Monday after the first talks under a nascent peace deal, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying he will "do what I have to do" if Iran does not stick to its side of the agreement. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said talks with Iranian officials in Switzerland had laid a good foundation for a final peace deal, although Iran denied that it had begun discussions of its nuclear program. The two sides, trying to build on the interim deal th...

June 22, 2026 11:01 AM

Shipping slows after Iran says it has again shut the Strait of Hormuz

The number of ships that passed through the Strait of Hormuz fell sharply on Sunday after Iran announced it had again closed the waterway, citing Israeli and U.S. violations of the interim peace deal, shipping data showed. Five vessels passed the strait on Sunday, from 26 ships spotted a day earlier, data from analytics firm Kpler showed. These included three Very Large Crude Carriers carrying 2 million barrels of Saudi crude and fuel oil each, one of which was heading to Japan. The data may ex...

June 22, 2026 9:09 AM

US and Iran conclude high-level talks in Switzerland, mediators say

The first round of talks between high-ranking U.S. and Iranian officials in Switzerland ended Monday, mediators said, after a tense opening marked by Tehran's announcement it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. President Donald Trump repeating his threats to resume attacks on Iran. A joint statement from mediating nations Qatar and Pakistan said the U.S. and Iran agreed to a roadmap toward a final deal within 60 days. Technical talks will continue for the rest of the week in the Qata...

June 21, 2026 7:52 AM

US disputes Iranian claims about closing Strait of Hormuz as negotiators head to Switzerland

Negotiators from the United States and Iran were set to start peace talks in Switzerland on Sunday, even as U.S. officials disputed Iranian claims about closing the key Strait of Hormuz. A high-level Iranian team arrived in Switzerland for peace talks with the U.S., Iranian state media reported, as U.S. Vice President JD Vance departed Washington for meetings that Pakistan said will begin on Sunday. Although the U.S. and Iran had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire while negotiations take place, Tehr...

June 21, 2026 6:42 AM

Iran negotiators, Vance head for Switzerland but Lebanon fighting continues

A high-level Iranian team arrived in Switzerland on Saturday for peace talks with the U.S., Iranian state media reported, as U.S. Vice President JD Vance departed Washington for meetings that Pakistan said will begin on Sunday. The Iranian delegation was led by chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and included Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi as well as senior security, central bank and oil officials, Iranian media said. Although the U.S. and Iran had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire while negoti...

June 18, 2026 1:35 PM

The Lebanese Question After the US-Iran Ceasefire: What Next for Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon?

The United States-Iran memorandum of understanding that ended nearly four months of direct military conflict has the potential to reshape the strategic landscape of West Asia. While initial global attention focused on the immediate implications for Washington and Tehran, one of the most consequential developments concerns Lebanon. With the MoU explicitly demanding a permanent termination of hostilities on all fronts including Lebanon ,the future of Hezbollah, Israel's security calculations, and ...