West Asia conflict

July 12, 2026 1:38 PM

US strikes Iran, Tehran says Strait of Hormuz closed, Gulf states hit

The U.S. military launched fresh strikes on Iran after it struck a container ship on Sunday, while Tehran said it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz and escalated attacks on U.S. facilities in states across the Gulf. A series of attacks between the U.S. and Iran over the past several days led President Donald Trump to declare the end of a ceasefire meant to halt the fighting that the U.S. and Israel began on February 28, though Trump has left the door open to continued negotiations. Iran sa...

July 12, 2026 11:30 AM

Iran’s supreme leader pledges revenge for slain father and predecessor

A written statement from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei threatened vengeance for the death of his predecessor and father on Saturday, but added that it would depend not only on Iran but also on "free people around the world". In the supreme leader's first public message since funeral ceremonies for his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, began a week ago, the statement read on state television said that vengeance was "the demand of the nation" and "must certainly" take place. Aya...

July 11, 2026 12:42 PM

US issues fresh Iran-related sanctions as conflict flares

The U.S. issued new Iran-related sanctions on Friday targeting a key financier for Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and 13 other individuals and entities, following Tehran's resumed attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, the Treasury Department said. The sanctions took aim at Ali Ansari, an Iranian banker and businessman based in Dubai who had previously been sanctioned by Britain for his role in financially supporting the activities of Iran's Revolutionary Guards a...

July 11, 2026 12:37 PM

Trump says US, Iran agree to continue talks but ceasefire over

President Donald Trump said the U.S. and Iran had agreed to continue talks despite an escalation of hostilities this week but he declared that the ceasefire reached between the two sides last month was over. The United States also stepped up demands on Friday that Iran stop attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, where recent hostilities have pushed oil prices higher, a politically sensitive issue for Trump ahead of November congressional elections. Trump's comments came on a day of relative...

June 30, 2026 12:57 PM

Doha diplomacy faces early test as U.S. and Iran differ on talks

Diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in West Asia have encountered an early hurdle as the United States and Iran offer conflicting accounts of the next stage of discussions in Doha. Uncertainty has grown over the future of U.S.-Iran engagement after President Donald Trump indicated that fresh talks could be held in Doha. However, Tehran has firmly rejected the claim, saying no negotiations with the United States are currently planned. Iranian officials maintain that their immediate focus is on...

October 30, 2026 4:46 PM

Explainer: US Congress backed an Iran war powers resolution. Now what?

This week both the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate passed a resolution directing President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran, reflecting growing concern among members of his party about the conflict that began on February 28. The U.S. Senate passed the War Powers concurrent resolution on Tuesday directing President Trump to halt U.S. military activity against Iran, weeks after the measure was approved by the House. It is the first time...

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...