June 24, 2025 10:25 AM

Ceasefire Brings Relief to Civilians After Deadly Iran-Israel Conflict Claims Nearly 900 Lives

The announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel on Tuesday has brought temporary relief to millions of civilians caught in the crossfire of what President Donald Trump called a "12-day war," as humanitarian organizations scramble to assess the devastating toll on both populations. The ceasefire was declared after Iranian state media announced that a truce had been "imposed on the enemy" following what Tehran characterized as its military response to "US aggression." The announcement cam...

June 24, 2025 9:42 AM

Iran Launches Missile Strike on US Base in Qatar as the West Asian Conflict Spreads

Iran launched ballistic missile attacks on Monday against the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which hosts US and allied forces, in what Tehran described as retaliation for recent American bombing of its nuclear facilities. The primary target was Al Udeid, the largest US military installation in West Asia, located southwest of Doha, there are also reports indicating that Iran has targeted the Ain al-Assad base in Iraq. Qatari and US officials reported no casualties from the attacks, as Qatar stated t...

June 24, 2025 9:32 AM

Oil Prices Plunge 6% as Iran’s Targeted Retaliation Avoids Energy Infrastructure

Oil prices tumbled over 6%, falling $5 a barrel on after Iran launched a missile attack on the Al Udeid US airbase in Qatar in retaliation for weekend US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, while notably avoiding any disruption to oil and gas tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The oil market initially surged on weekend tensions but began selling off sharply after Iran's measured response targeted the largest US military installation in West Asia rather than energy infrastructure. G...

June 23, 2025 4:36 PM

Succession plans for Iran’s Khamenei hit top gear

The clock's ticking for senior clerics seeking a successor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A three-man committee from a top clerical body, appointed by Khamenei himself two years ago to identify his replacement, has accelerated its planning in recent days since Israel attacked Iran and threatened to assassinate the veteran leader, five insiders with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters. Khamenei, 86, is being regularly briefed on the talks, according to the Iranian source...

June 23, 2025 1:51 PM

Any Iranian closure of Hormuz Strait would be ‘extremely dangerous’, EU’s top diplomat says

An Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz would be dangerous and "not good for anybody", the European Union's top diplomat said on Monday. "The concerns of retaliation and this war escalating are huge, especially closing of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran is something that would be extremely dangerous and not good for anybody," Kaja Kallas told reporters ahead of a meeting with EU foreign ministers. Iran's Press TV reported on Sunday that Iran's Supreme National Security Council needed to make a...

June 23, 2025 11:15 AM

Airlines weigh Middle East cancellations after US strikes in Iran

Commercial airlines around the world on Monday were weighing how long to suspend Middle East flights as a conflict which has already cut off major flight routes entered a new phase after the U.S. attacked key Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran vowed to defend itself. The usually busy airspace stretching from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean has been largely empty of commercial air traffic for 10 days since Israel began strikes on Iran on June 13, as airlines divert, cancel and delay flights thr...

June 23, 2025 11:03 AM

Oil surges to five-month high after US hits Iran’s key nuclear sites

Oil prices jumped on Monday to their highest since January as the United States' weekend move to join Israel in attacking Iran's nuclear facilities stoked supply concerns. Brent crude futures were up $1.52 or 1.97% to $78.53 a barrel as of 0503 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude advanced $1.51 or 2.04% to $75.35. Both contracts jumped by more than 3% earlier in the session to $81.40 and $78.40, respectively, touching five-month highs before giving up some gains. The rise in prices came a...

June 23, 2025 9:14 AM

Iran Parliament Approves Strait of Hormuz Closure Following U.S. Nuclear Strikes as Global Energy Crisis Looms

Iran’s parliament has unanimously approved a dramatic proposal to close the Strait of Hormuz—the world’s most critical oil and gas shipping route—in direct retaliation for U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. While the decision signals a potentially catastrophic escalation with global repercussions, final authority to implement the closure lies with Iran's Supreme National Security Council, which has not yet issued a formal order. U.S. Secretary ...