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Iran

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Iran. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Tehran

Head of State

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Head of Government

President Masoud Pezeshkian

Vessels are anchored off Oman in the the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

Tanker hit by explosion near Hormuz hours after US strikes on Iran

The incident, in the Gulf of Oman about 60 nautical miles east of Muscat, was an ‘external explosion’, UKMTO said.

3 minutes ago

2026 Xi-Trump summit

Double standards? How North American conservatives viewed 2 China trips

2 hours agovideocam

China-Asean relations

Top China, Singapore diplomats reaffirm commitment to Malacca Strait transit

3 hours agovideocam

Dong Jun

China defence chief Dong Jun tipped to skip this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue

The regional security forum opens on Friday in Singapore with no official word yet on who will lead the Chinese delegation.

1 hour agovideocam

Dong Jun pictured at last year’s Asean-China defence ministers’ lunch in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AFP

India

As Marco Rubio visits New Delhi, what could it mean for US-India ties?

The US secretary of state’s trip aims to mend bilateral relationship, focusing on trade, defence and Quad unity.

4 hours agovideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

US hits Iran with fresh strikes amid negotiations to end war

Marco Rubio insists a deal with Iran remains within reach after the US military claimed its attacks were in ‘self-defence’.

45 minutes ago

Middle East

Israel steps up Lebanon strikes to ‘crush’ Hezbollah

Netanyahu pledges to intensify Israeli firepower, citing drone threats since April 17 ceasefire.

26 May 2026 - 9:51AM

A drone with fiber-optic cable attached flies over the border from Lebanon to Israel. Photo: Reuters

Science

‘New form of war’: an insider view of China’s AI strategy in electronic warfare

Fusing AI with radio waves can create faster, smarter and more resilient radars and communication methods designed to confuse enemy jammers.

26 May 2026 - 6:00AMvideocam

Fifa World Cup 2026

Mexico’s president sees ‘no issue’ with her country hosting Iran World Cup team

Claudia Sheinbaum said she was told by Fifa the US was reluctant to have the Iranian team spend time outside the matches on US territory.

26 May 2026 - 5:30AM

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran signals moves to reconnect to global internet after wartime blackout

Presidential decree aims to restore connectivity to its pre-war state after almost 90 days of digital isolation.

26 May 2026 - 10:12AM

An Iranian man in Tehran looks at a social media post by US President Donald Trump. Photo: West Asia News Agency via Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump now ties Iran deal to major expansion of Abraham Accords

US president suggests Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and other regional powers normalise ties with Israel to secure peace.

26 May 2026 - 8:42AM

US President Donald Trump speaks on the phone inside his limousine on Monday. Photo: EPA

China energy security

How China could benefit as US-Iran talks raise hopes of oil sanctions relief

Beijing’s support is seen as critical to peace negotiations – and analysts believe this could push Washington to relax sanctions on Chinese oil buyers.

25 May 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

Middle East

Israeli far-right ministers want ‘return to war in Lebanon’ despite peace talks

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich advocated for strikes on Beirut and cutting off electricity to Lebanon.

25 May 2026 - 8:21PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

China lauds Pakistan’s ‘proactive role’ in US-Iran peace talks and vows support

Shehbaz Sharif tells his hosts in Beijing that efforts to mediate between Tehran and Washington ‘moving in the right direction’.

25 May 2026 - 10:46PMvideocam

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing on May 25. Photo: via Reuters

European Union

Pope calls for ‘disarming’ of AI, technology should be ‘human friendly’

Pope Leo called for the ‘disarming’ of artificial intelligence, and warned of ‘new forms of slavery’ behind its rise.

25 May 2026 - 6:31PMvideocam

Pope Leo XIV attends the presentation of his first Encyclical Letter ‘Magnifica Humanitas’, focused on the rise of artificial intelligence, in The Vatican on Monday. Photo: AFP

Pakistan

UAE deports Pakistani Shiites: jobs lost and savings frozen amid Iran war

Over one hundred deported Pakistanis said they were unable to retrieve their luggage or savings before being placed ‌on deportation flights.

25 May 2026 - 4:39PM

Middle East

Muslims begin haj in sweltering heat and shadow of Middle East tensions

Over 1.5 million faithful gather as annual sacred rites in Mecca officially get under way.

25 May 2026 - 1:56PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Netanyahu increasingly isolated as Trump pursues Iran peace deal

The lack of a decisive victory in the Iran war has led Trump to lose confidence in the Israeli prime minister, analysts say.

25 May 2026 - 6:48PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump points towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a press conference after meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club on December 29, 2025. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

Oil falls as US touts progress on Iran deal, reopening Hormuz

Brent prices slide over 5 per cent, even as Trump insists he will not rush into a final accord.

25 May 2026 - 3:58PMvideocam

Mainland China

Open Questions | Stable US-China ties? It won’t last long, Evan Medeiros says

After Trump’s China trip, political scientist gives his assessment on Taiwan, trade leverage, the Iran war and Beijing’s tensions with Tokyo.

25 May 2026 - 9:44AMvideocam

China trade

Chinese traders in Iran keep business afloat as war capsizes naval shipping

Extended disruption caused by conflict has prompted Chinese merchants to turn to railway and land transport routes to trade goods.

24 May 2026 - 2:00PMvideocam

A China-Europe freight train prepares to depart from the China Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation base in Jiangsu province. Photo: Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

India

Rubio renews US ties with India after Trump’s China visit

The US secretary of state called India a natural partner and invited PM Modi to the White House.

24 May 2026 - 12:51AMvideocam

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends an event at the US embassy in New Delhi, India, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

United States

‘Time on our side’: Trump says Iran blockade remains until deal is signed

We ‌must take our time ‘and get ‌it right’, said the US president. Iran said managing the Strait of ⁠Hormuz was Tehran’s ‘legal ‌right’.

24 May 2026 - 11:57PMvideocam

Pakistan

Pakistani prime minister visits China amid ongoing Middle East peace drive

The two countries are also predicted to mark a significant diplomatic anniversary by further deepening their long-standing relationship.

24 May 2026 - 5:24PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Israel thrusts a reluctant UAE into the open over defence ties

Disclosures about Iron Dome batteries and secret meetings have exposed ties analysts say the UAE would rather handle ‘more discreetly’.

23 May 2026 - 1:00PMvideocam

Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets in October 2023 during the opening days of the Gaza war. Photo: Reuters

US-China relations

Letters | The Xi-Trump summit stabilised ties, but the rivalry persists

Readers discuss who holds the strongest cards in China-US ties, why Hong Kong should abandon the US dollar peg, and the merits of Indonesia’s social programmes.

23 May 2026 - 11:30AM

US President Donald Trump, (right) walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping (centre), at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on May 14. Photo: AP

United States

UN event on nuclear non-proliferation treaty stumbles, US and Iran clash

There was no consensus among the 191 parties to the NPT, the third failure in a row at a conference reviewing the treaty.

23 May 2026 - 10:09AM

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

27 countries seek access to World Bank funds since Iran war

An analyst says nations prefer the World Bank over the International Monetary Fund for help, due to the IMF’s austerity measures.

23 May 2026 - 4:22PM

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Iran

Tanker hit by explosion near Hormuz hours after US strikes on Iran

The incident, in the Gulf of Oman about 60 nautical miles east of Muscat, was an ‘external explosion’, UKMTO said.

Double standards? How North American conservatives viewed 2 China trips

Top China, Singapore diplomats reaffirm commitment to Malacca Strait transit

China defence chief Dong Jun tipped to skip this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue

The regional security forum opens on Friday in Singapore with no official word yet on who will lead the Chinese delegation.

As Marco Rubio visits New Delhi, what could it mean for US-India ties?

The US secretary of state’s trip aims to mend bilateral relationship, focusing on trade, defence and Quad unity.

US hits Iran with fresh strikes amid negotiations to end war

Marco Rubio insists a deal with Iran remains within reach after the US military claimed its attacks were in ‘self-defence’.

Israel steps up Lebanon strikes to ‘crush’ Hezbollah

Netanyahu pledges to intensify Israeli firepower, citing drone threats since April 17 ceasefire.

‘New form of war’: an insider view of China’s AI strategy in electronic warfare

Fusing AI with radio waves can create faster, smarter and more resilient radars and communication methods designed to confuse enemy jammers.

Mexico’s president sees ‘no issue’ with her country hosting Iran World Cup team

Claudia Sheinbaum said she was told by Fifa the US was reluctant to have the Iranian team spend time outside the matches on US territory.

Iran signals moves to reconnect to global internet after wartime blackout

Presidential decree aims to restore connectivity to its pre-war state after almost 90 days of digital isolation.

Trump now ties Iran deal to major expansion of Abraham Accords

US president suggests Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and other regional powers normalise ties with Israel to secure peace.

How China could benefit as US-Iran talks raise hopes of oil sanctions relief

Beijing’s support is seen as critical to peace negotiations – and analysts believe this could push Washington to relax sanctions on Chinese oil buyers.

Israeli far-right ministers want ‘return to war in Lebanon’ despite peace talks

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich advocated for strikes on Beirut and cutting off electricity to Lebanon.

China lauds Pakistan’s ‘proactive role’ in US-Iran peace talks and vows support

Shehbaz Sharif tells his hosts in Beijing that efforts to mediate between Tehran and Washington ‘moving in the right direction’.

Pope calls for ‘disarming’ of AI, technology should be ‘human friendly’

Pope Leo called for the ‘disarming’ of artificial intelligence, and warned of ‘new forms of slavery’ behind its rise.

UAE deports Pakistani Shiites: jobs lost and savings frozen amid Iran war

Over one hundred deported Pakistanis said they were unable to retrieve their luggage or savings before being placed ‌on deportation flights.

Muslims begin haj in sweltering heat and shadow of Middle East tensions

Over 1.5 million faithful gather as annual sacred rites in Mecca officially get under way.

Netanyahu increasingly isolated as Trump pursues Iran peace deal

The lack of a decisive victory in the Iran war has led Trump to lose confidence in the Israeli prime minister, analysts say.

Oil falls as US touts progress on Iran deal, reopening Hormuz

Brent prices slide over 5 per cent, even as Trump insists he will not rush into a final accord.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Open Questions | Stable US-China ties? It won’t last long, Evan Medeiros says

After Trump’s China trip, political scientist gives his assessment on Taiwan, trade leverage, the Iran war and Beijing’s tensions with Tokyo.

Chinese traders in Iran keep business afloat as war capsizes naval shipping

Extended disruption caused by conflict has prompted Chinese merchants to turn to railway and land transport routes to trade goods.

Rubio renews US ties with India after Trump’s China visit

The US secretary of state called India a natural partner and invited PM Modi to the White House.

‘Time on our side’: Trump says Iran blockade remains until deal is signed

We ‌must take our time ‘and get ‌it right’, said the US president. Iran said managing the Strait of ⁠Hormuz was Tehran’s ‘legal ‌right’.

Pakistani prime minister visits China amid ongoing Middle East peace drive

The two countries are also predicted to mark a significant diplomatic anniversary by further deepening their long-standing relationship.

Israel thrusts a reluctant UAE into the open over defence ties

Disclosures about Iron Dome batteries and secret meetings have exposed ties analysts say the UAE would rather handle ‘more discreetly’.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Letters | The Xi-Trump summit stabilised ties, but the rivalry persists

Readers discuss who holds the strongest cards in China-US ties, why Hong Kong should abandon the US dollar peg, and the merits of Indonesia’s social programmes.

UN event on nuclear non-proliferation treaty stumbles, US and Iran clash

There was no consensus among the 191 parties to the NPT, the third failure in a row at a conference reviewing the treaty.

27 countries seek access to World Bank funds since Iran war

An analyst says nations prefer the World Bank over the International Monetary Fund for help, due to the IMF’s austerity measures.

Open Questions | Stable US-China ties? It won’t last long, Evan Medeiros says

Letters | The Xi-Trump summit stabilised ties, but the rivalry persists