Iran
Pashtun leaders express support for Iran at Pakistan meeting
Pashtun tribal leaders in Pakistan voiced support for Iran during a gathering at the Iranian consulate in Peshawar, signalling the potential for broader regional unrest.
17,000 US troops to arrive in the Gulf for possible ground invasion of Iran
17,000 US troops arrived in the gulf ahead of what could possibly be a land invasion by the Trump administration in an effort to bring the war in Iran to a speedy end.
Turkey and Middle East states working to protect US-Iran talks from sabotage
Turkey and regional states are preparing measures to protect US-Iran talks from sabotage, a Turkish diplomatic source says, as both sides trade accusations of bad faith over the negotiating process.
Iran navy commander threatens to strike USS Abraham Lincoln
Iran's navy commander has threatened to strike the USS Abraham Lincoln with shore-to-sea missiles along the Makran coast.
Ukraine and Qatar sign defence cooperation agreement
Ukraine and Qatar have signed a defence cooperation agreement covering joint projects, technology development and investment in missile and drone defence, according to a statement released during a Ukrainian delegation’s visit to Doha.
Iran says US soldiers ‘will become prey for sharks of Persian Gulf’
Iran's military and parliament speaker have warned that US troops attempting a ground operation will "burn," with Ghalibaf saying fighters are waiting and that missiles, protests and the Strait of Hormuz have America "by the throat."
Kremlin says Trump's Gaza peace council has 'lost relevance'
The Kremlin says Trump's Gaza peace council has become less relevant amid the wider Middle East war, as Russia continues to hold off on a decision over whether to join the initiative.
Saudi Arabia warns filming missile interceptions is ‘treason’
Saudi Arabia has warned that filming missile and drone interceptions is tantamount to treason.
Israeli embassy in Japan refuses A-bomb survivors’ statement on Iran
The Israeli embassy in Tokyo has refused to accept a statement submitted by four groups of atomic bomb survivors in Japan.
Pakistan confirms passage for 20 ships through Strait of Hormuz
Pakistan has confirmed an agreement with Iranian authorities allowing 20 Pakistani-flagged vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz. It is a development presented by Islamabad as a step towards substantially easing the nation's energy disruption.
Yemen’s Houthis enter the Gulf war on Iran's side
Yemeni Houthis officially entered the war on March 28 and announced its first operation, firing a ballistic missile against "Israeli military targets."
Israel hits Iran’s biggest steel plants, Tehran to retaliate
Three co-ordinated Israeli strikes hit all of Iran’s largest steel plants simultaneously on March 28. Iran issued evacuation orders for six of the largest steel plants in neighbouring Gulf countries as well as Israel as it prepared to retaliate.
Iran oil revenues surge as exports rise despite regional tensions
Iran’s oil revenues have climbed sharply in March, rising by an estimated $25mn per day from the previous month to reach $139mn per day, as exports increase and price discounts narrow despite tensions in the Middle East, says Goldman Sachs.
Russian businesses in Middle East slow activity as conflict disrupts deals
There are 14,000 Russian companies registered in the UAE, and 150,000 Russians live there. Without the need for visas and the can-do attitude to business, Dubai has become a favourite destination for Russian entrepreneurs escaping from sanctions.
Anti-Trump protests outweigh supporter rallies - Statista
Protests in the United States against President Donald Trump or the Trump administration by far outweigh rallies organized by Trump supporters, Statista reports.
COMMENT: Could Iran target undersea cables?
Iran's deadliest weapon is not airborne. Seventeen submarine cables on the Persian Gulf floor carry 30% of global internet traffic and the world's financial bloodstream. The IRGC may already have orders to cut them.
Iran claims F-16 shot down and Ukrainian anti-drone depot destroyed in Dubai
Iran's IRGC claims it downed a US MQ-9 over Shiraz, struck an F-16 over Fars province and destroyed a Ukrainian anti-drone depot in Dubai killing 21 personnel, as wave 85 of its missile campaign continues.
Second attack on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power station raises Chernobyl radiation cloud spectre
A second missile attack in the proximity to Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant (NPP) has raised the spectre of a Chernobyl-like cloud of radiation drifting over the Gulf region, making some countries uninhabitable and poisoning the water.
Crisis-virus: From disruption to destruction
“We are facing a real shock that is probably beyond what we can imagine at the moment,” said European Central Bank (ECB) head Christine Lagarde in a recent interview.
US Treasury bill market under growing strain from Middle East turmoil
The $30 trillion US Treasury market is exhibiting mounting signs of stress as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East trigger heightened volatility in government bonds that underpin the global financial system.