Palestine

Oman rules out transit fees in Strait of Hormuz despite ceasefire proposal

Ben Aris in Berlin April 8, 2026

Oman has said it will not impose the $2mn transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz that were part of the two-week ceasefire deal agreed on April 7, reaffirming its adherence to longstanding international agreements.

UAE, Kuwait intercept Iranian drones targeting oil and energy infrastructure

bnm Gulf bureau April 8, 2026

Kuwait says its air defences dealt with 28 Iranian drones since 8am, with strikes causing significant damage to oil infrastructure, power stations and water desalination plants in the south of the country.

Saudi Arabia welcomes US-Iran ceasefire

bne IntelliNews April 8, 2026

Saudi Arabia welcomes the US-Iran ceasefire and praises Pakistan's mediation by PM Sharif and Field Marshal Munir.

UK's Starmer welcomes US-Israel-Iran ceasefire

bnm Gulf bureau April 8, 2026

Starmer welcomes the US-Iran ceasefire and heads to the Gulf for talks on permanently reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Ceasefire: Iran, US agree to two-week Gulf War pause and 10-point plan

Ben Aris in Berlin April 8, 2026

In a last-minute deal, US President Donald Trump pulled the world back from the brink of a massive escalation in the Gulf War and announced he had agreed to a two week suspension of military operations against Iran after he agreed to a 10-point plan.

Trump agrees to two-week ceasefire with Iran after Pakistani mediation

Gulf bureau April 7, 2026

Trump agrees to a two-week ceasefire with Iran after Pakistani mediation, suspending threatened strikes on civilian infrastructure.

Iran's ambassador to Pakistan signals 'step forward' in US talks as ceasefire push intensifies

bnm Gulf bureau April 7, 2026

Iran's ambassador to Pakistan signals a "step forward" in US-Iran talks, crediting Pakistani mediation.

Iran synagogue destroyed in airstrike as Jewish community condemns US-Israeli attacks

bnm Gulf bureau April 7, 2026

A synagogue in central Tehran was destroyed in an overnight airstrike with Iran blaming Israel. Tehran's Jewish community condemned the attack. Israel denied targeting the site but made no formal comment on the incident.

Trump warns Iranian civilisation could 'die tonight' as US signals major escalation

bnm Gulf bureau April 7, 2026

Trump warns "a whole civilisation will die tonight" as his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz approaches. US struck 50+ targets on Kharg Island as oil tops $115 a barrel on day 39 of the war.

Trump-led Gaza Board of Peace sets deadline for Hamas disarmament

bnm Tel Aviv bureau April 7, 2026

The US-led Gaza Board of Peace has submitted a disarmament proposal to Hamas, demanding a response by the end of the week.

UK hosts allied military planners at Northwood as Trump's Iran deadline looms

bnm Gulf bureau April 7, 2026

UK military planners will meet allied officers at Northwood to discuss post-war Hormuz security as Trump's deadline for Iran looms, with the US president calling NATO a "paper tiger" and comparing Starmer to Chamberlain.

Iranian crude trades at a premium to Brent after US waives sanctions

Ben Aris in Berlin April 7, 2026

Iranian Light crude is trading at a $1 premium to the benchmark Brent price since the US waived a sanctions-ban on buying Iran crude already at sea to ease prices on the international market.

Russia shares Israel key power sector targeting intelligence for a possible Iranian Power Day retaliation

Ben Aris in Berlin April 7, 2026

With US President Donald Trump’s Power Day deadline looming, where he has promised to do “irreversible damage” to Iran's power grid, Russia has reportedly provided Iran with intelligence of the weaknesses of Israel’s power system.

Heaviest daytime raids since war began pound Tehran and Qom in morning blitz

bnm Gulf bureau April 7, 2026

Tehran residents reported the heaviest daytime bombardment since the war began on April 7.

Leaked memo claims Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei unconscious in Qom

bnm Gulf bureau April 7, 2026

A leaked US-Israeli intelligence memo claims Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is unconscious in Qom and unable to govern.

Trump’s global disapproval reaches all-time high - Gallup

Ben Aris in Berlin April 7, 2026

A record 48% of adults worldwide now disapprove of the United States’ leadership, marking the highest level since tracking began, according to Gallup.

Iran pushes to denominate Hormuz tolls in rials

bnm Gulf bureau April 7, 2026

An Iranian official has called for Hormuz transit fees to be charged in rials rather than yuan, citing Russia's rouble gas model as an example.

Iran and US-Israeli coalition trade tit-for-tat missiles strikes as Trump’s Power Plant Day deadline looms

Ben Aris in Berlin April 7, 2026

The clock is running down on US President Donald Trump’s “Power Day” deadline, where he has threatened to destroy Iran’s entire power sector, that could lead to major escalation in the Gulf war.

Tehran rejects Pakistan's two-phase peace plan, offers its own 10-point plan

Ben Aris in Berlin April 6, 2026

Tehran responds to Pakistan's two-phase peace plan Tehran has responded to Pakistan's two-phase peace plan which calls for 45 day ceasefire followed by negotiations to bring about a more lasting peace in the Iran conflict in a second phase.

Pakistan proposes a two-phase ceasefire deal to Iran war

Ben Aris in Berlin April 6, 2026

Pakistan is proposing a two-phase ceasefire to the escalating war in Iran ahead of US President Donald Trump’s deadline threatening to destroy the country's power sector that would lead to a massive escalation.

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