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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

A Palestinian man inspects the site of an Israeli strike on a Gaza City residential building. Photo: Reuters

Israel-Gaza war

Israel says it killed Hamas’ new armed wing chief in Gaza strike

Mohammad Odeh eliminated after his predecessor was killed in a similar attack this month.

2 hours ago

Middle East

Israel pounds Lebanon with heaviest bombing in weeks, expands ground operations

2 hours ago

Donald Trump

Trump builds massive arena at White House for birthday cage fight

5 hours ago

South Korea

South Korea eyes first nuclear submarine by mid-2030s, but hurdles run deep

Delayed US talks, non-proliferation concerns and budget pressures stand in the way of Seoul’s bid to boost its defence, analysts say.

2 hours ago

The Republic of Korea Navy KSS-III submarine, known as Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, and the ROKS Daejeon frigate at the Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in British Columbia on Monday. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP

US-China relations

China’s Wang Yi tells UN multilateralism must be protected in swipe at US

Beijing’s top diplomat says ‘world peace and security are in great jeopardy’ and that UN Charter should be safeguarded at all costs.

27 May 2026 - 6:57AMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran restores partial internet access after record months-long blackout

The shutdown was imposed after US and Israeli air strikes on Iranian leaders and infrastructure began in February.

27 May 2026 - 2:25AM

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.

26 May 2026 - 10:16PM

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

2026 Xi-Trump summit

Double standards? How North American conservatives viewed 2 China trips

The North American right cast Trump’s Beijing visit as ‘deal-making diplomacy’ while attacking the Canadian leader for ‘hedging with China’.

26 May 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

China-Asean relations

Top China, Singapore diplomats reaffirm commitment to Malacca Strait transit

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi tells counterpart that keeping the critical shipping lane open is ‘a shared aspiration of all countries’.

26 May 2026 - 7:13PMvideocam

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.

26 May 2026 - 9:17PMvideocam

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.

26 May 2026 - 5:55PMvideocam

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) and India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar during their meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

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’.

26 May 2026 - 9:34PM

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

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

AI can predict optimal frequencies for long-range transmissions hours in advance, giving Chinese forces a reliable communication edge during solar storms or electronic attacks, study says. Photo: Getty Images

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

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace in Mexico City on Monday. Photo: Luis Barron / eyepix via ZUMA Press Wire / dpa

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

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

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

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

A Pakistani Shi’ite Muslim man, who was working as a building security officer in the UAE, speaks with reporters in his village after being deported along with many others following the US-Israeli war against Iran, in Chakwal, Pakistan on May 5. Photo: Reuters

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, 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

Oil tankers and cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates. Photo: AP

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

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

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Iran

Israel says it killed Hamas’ new armed wing chief in Gaza strike

Mohammad Odeh eliminated after his predecessor was killed in a similar attack this month.

Israel pounds Lebanon with heaviest bombing in weeks, expands ground operations

Trump builds massive arena at White House for birthday cage fight

South Korea eyes first nuclear submarine by mid-2030s, but hurdles run deep

Delayed US talks, non-proliferation concerns and budget pressures stand in the way of Seoul’s bid to boost its defence, analysts say.

China’s Wang Yi tells UN multilateralism must be protected in swipe at US

Beijing’s top diplomat says ‘world peace and security are in great jeopardy’ and that UN Charter should be safeguarded at all costs.

Iran restores partial internet access after record months-long blackout

The shutdown was imposed after US and Israeli air strikes on Iranian leaders and infrastructure began in February.

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

The North American right cast Trump’s Beijing visit as ‘deal-making diplomacy’ while attacking the Canadian leader for ‘hedging with China’.

Top China, Singapore diplomats reaffirm commitment to Malacca Strait transit

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi tells counterpart that keeping the critical shipping lane open is ‘a shared aspiration of all countries’.

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.

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