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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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the AIPAC policy conference in Washington in March 2018. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran war ‘not over’, uranium must be removed, Israel’s Netanyahu says

‘You go in and you take it out,’ the PM said when asked how the nuclear material could be dealt with.

4 hours ago

2026 Xi-Trump summit

China, US confirm Seoul trade talks days before Trump-Xi summit in Beijing

12 minutes ago

South Korea

‘Unidentified aircraft’ hit Korean cargo ship in Hormuz on Monday: Seoul

6 hours agovideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summit

Could military AI use be on the agenda when Chinese and US leaders meet?

The technology has become increasingly important for militaries around the world, but the two sides may struggle to reach a consensus.

6 hours agovideocam

Donald Trump is expected to visit China later this week. Photo: Reuters

US-China relations

Opinion | China shouldn’t view a tired US as signifying a Europe ready to pivot

As fractures within the US’ network of alliances deepen, China’s strategic window opens a little wider, with some key caveats.

10 May 2026 - 8:30PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Why war on Iran may be ‘accelerating end of US hegemony’ and damaging Stargate

Washington is fighting the ‘wrong war’ and Tehran is able to undermine the US president’s key AI strategy, an event in Beijing told.

10 May 2026 - 6:01PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Could Spain’s ‘compliment sandwich’ approach to China work for the EU?

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s recent visit to Beijing illustrates ‘delicate equilibrium’, analyst says as others voice scepticism.

10 May 2026 - 5:00PMvideocam

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (left) arrive at the Diaoyutai Guest House in Beijing on April 11. Photo: Reuters

Americas and the Caribbean

EVs surge in Bolivia amid fuel shortages, ‘junk gas’ scandal

The number of electric vehicles in Bolivia climbed from 500 to 3,352 in the last five years, and is set to triple again as broad appeal rises.

10 May 2026 - 4:52PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran responds to US proposal, as Qatari tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz

The response, sent via Pakistan, focuses on ending the war on all fronts, especially Lebanon, and on the safety of shipping in the waterway.

4 hours agovideocam

China-Philippines relations

Asian Angle | 3 reasons Marcos’ South China Sea energy gambit won’t work

The Philippine president has mooted the idea of joint oil and gas development. China is willing, but history shows this road leads nowhere.

10 May 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

An aerial drone photo shows China’s Deep Sea No 1 energy station in the South China Sea off Hainan province in April last year. Photo: China National Offshore Oil Corporation/Xinhua

US-China relations

Opinion | China’s challenges in engaging with the US during the Middle East war

China needs the global system to succeed. So it must not get entangled with Iran nor jeopardise US relations over Taiwan.

10 May 2026 - 10:08AMvideocam

US President Donald Trump greets Chinese President Xi Jinping at Gimhae Air Base on October 30, 2025 in Busan, South Korea. Photo: Getty Images

My Take

My Take | Starmer was right about political change. But this is not what he planned

Frustrated voters continue to shun Britain’s two major parties in favour of upstart challengers such as Reform UK. But now their credentials will be tested.

9 May 2026 - 11:08PM

2026 Xi-Trump summit

Trump heads to China weakened as Xi gains leverage ahead of summit

Iran war, tariff setbacks and sliding US poll numbers reshape the balance going into next week’s high-stakes talks.

9 May 2026 - 10:03PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

US-Iran war no closer to ending as Gulf clashes flare

Recent days have seen the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around the Strait of Hormuz since a ceasefire began a month ago.

9 May 2026 - 8:56PMvideocam

A US ship receives fuel at sea last month, during a fragile ceasefire in the US-Iran war. Photo: US Navy via AFP

2026 Xi-Trump summit

Xi-Trump summit: why the Iran war could become fresh point of friction

Both China and the US stand to gain from reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but they view the crisis through different lenses.

9 May 2026 - 5:04PMvideocam

Analysts say the closure and blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have become “a test of endurance” between China and the US. Photo: AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

Opinion | Trump’s threats against Iran are historically illiterate

The US president’s threats to end Iranian civilisation expose his ignorance of the country’s long history.

9 May 2026 - 3:30PM

US-China relations

US sanctions 9 mainland China and Hong Kong entities over ‘Iran military links’

Treasury and State Department announcements come days ahead of US President Donald Trump’s expected China visit and summit with Xi Jinping.

10 May 2026 - 1:38PMvideocam

China trade

China defies Strait of Hormuz crisis with record monthly export value in April

Export value rose 14.1 per cent year on year, well above market forecasts.

9 May 2026 - 4:33PMvideocam

A worker loads sulphur at a storage yard on a wharf in China’s Jiangsu province in April. Photo: AFP

US-China relations

Editorial | The US shouldn’t try to bully China ahead of a summit

To borrow his language, US President Donald Trump doesn’t have all the cards. Playing a hand he does not have won’t bode well for ties.

9 May 2026 - 7:15AM

2026 Xi-Trump summit

Trump trade chief says US wants balanced trade, not change to China’s system

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer wants key meeting in Beijing to help ‘achieve more balance’ economically between the two countries.

9 May 2026 - 3:13AMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

New Israel-Lebanon talks to try to curb Hezbollah influence in region: Rubio

Marco Rubio says Washington is also awaiting Iran’s response to a new US proposal to end the conflict in the region.

9 May 2026 - 4:56AM

First responders arrive at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Habbouch on Thursday. Photo: AFP

China energy security

China’s shipping firms brace for a new ‘era of chaos’ as Iran war drags on

Chinese shipping giants are signing long contracts and rejigging their networks, as they hedge against prolonged disruptions to global trade routes.

8 May 2026 - 9:30PMvideocam

The oil tanker Odessa, carrying carrying crude from the United Arab Emirates, navigates the waters near South Korea after passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

Why Iran’s ambassador to China thinks the US can’t turn Beijing against it

Top envoy’s remarks come amid speculation Washington may induce Beijing to pressure Tehran into accepting a peace deal.

8 May 2026 - 9:39PMvideocam

China-Russia relations

China-Russia ties can withstand any US containment efforts: Chinese policy adviser

Beijing-Moscow relationship described as having ‘inherent stability’, with a ‘stable mechanism’ able to withstand outside pressures.

8 May 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

Asean

Asean’s pivot to energy security leaves long-standing issues on summit sidelines

Southeast Asia is one of the worst affected by the global fuel crisis due to its high imports of oil and gas coming from the Gulf.

8 May 2026 - 1:17PMvideocam

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr delivers an opening speech at the Asean summit in Cebu on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Gold in Hong Kong

Editorial | Middle East war offers Hong Kong a golden opportunity

The war has driven home how well suited Hong Kong is to becoming an alternative to Dubai, a major gold trading hub.

8 May 2026 - 7:15AM

A dealer holds gold bars in a shop in Dubai’s Gold Souk in 2025. Some Middle Eastern gold merchants have sold physical gold in Hong Kong at a steep discount, making the city a bargain-hunting hotspot. Photo: AFP

China-Latin America relations

Lula won’t sideline China on rare earths, tells Trump refining stays in Brazil

In a three-hour White House meeting on Thursday, Brazil’s president pitched his country’s minerals to all comers.

8 May 2026 - 7:05AMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

US and Iran exchange attacks around Strait of Hormuz, testing ceasefire

New hostilities broke out as Iran reviews a US proposal to end war in the Middle East.

8 May 2026 - 11:24AM

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Iran

Iran war ‘not over’, uranium must be removed, Israel’s Netanyahu says

‘You go in and you take it out,’ the PM said when asked how the nuclear material could be dealt with.

China, US confirm Seoul trade talks days before Trump-Xi summit in Beijing

‘Unidentified aircraft’ hit Korean cargo ship in Hormuz on Monday: Seoul

Could military AI use be on the agenda when Chinese and US leaders meet?

The technology has become increasingly important for militaries around the world, but the two sides may struggle to reach a consensus.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | China shouldn’t view a tired US as signifying a Europe ready to pivot

As fractures within the US’ network of alliances deepen, China’s strategic window opens a little wider, with some key caveats.

Why war on Iran may be ‘accelerating end of US hegemony’ and damaging Stargate

Washington is fighting the ‘wrong war’ and Tehran is able to undermine the US president’s key AI strategy, an event in Beijing told.

Could Spain’s ‘compliment sandwich’ approach to China work for the EU?

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s recent visit to Beijing illustrates ‘delicate equilibrium’, analyst says as others voice scepticism.

EVs surge in Bolivia amid fuel shortages, ‘junk gas’ scandal

The number of electric vehicles in Bolivia climbed from 500 to 3,352 in the last five years, and is set to triple again as broad appeal rises.

Iran responds to US proposal, as Qatari tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz

The response, sent via Pakistan, focuses on ending the war on all fronts, especially Lebanon, and on the safety of shipping in the waterway.

Asian Angle | 3 reasons Marcos’ South China Sea energy gambit won’t work

The Philippine president has mooted the idea of joint oil and gas development. China is willing, but history shows this road leads nowhere.

Opinion | China’s challenges in engaging with the US during the Middle East war

China needs the global system to succeed. So it must not get entangled with Iran nor jeopardise US relations over Taiwan.

My Take | Starmer was right about political change. But this is not what he planned

Frustrated voters continue to shun Britain’s two major parties in favour of upstart challengers such as Reform UK. But now their credentials will be tested.

Trump heads to China weakened as Xi gains leverage ahead of summit

Iran war, tariff setbacks and sliding US poll numbers reshape the balance going into next week’s high-stakes talks.

US-Iran war no closer to ending as Gulf clashes flare

Recent days have seen the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around the Strait of Hormuz since a ceasefire began a month ago.

Xi-Trump summit: why the Iran war could become fresh point of friction

Both China and the US stand to gain from reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but they view the crisis through different lenses.

Opinion | Trump’s threats against Iran are historically illiterate

The US president’s threats to end Iranian civilisation expose his ignorance of the country’s long history.

US sanctions 9 mainland China and Hong Kong entities over ‘Iran military links’

Treasury and State Department announcements come days ahead of US President Donald Trump’s expected China visit and summit with Xi Jinping.

China defies Strait of Hormuz crisis with record monthly export value in April

Export value rose 14.1 per cent year on year, well above market forecasts.

Editorial | The US shouldn’t try to bully China ahead of a summit

To borrow his language, US President Donald Trump doesn’t have all the cards. Playing a hand he does not have won’t bode well for ties.

Trump trade chief says US wants balanced trade, not change to China’s system

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer wants key meeting in Beijing to help ‘achieve more balance’ economically between the two countries.

New Israel-Lebanon talks to try to curb Hezbollah influence in region: Rubio

Marco Rubio says Washington is also awaiting Iran’s response to a new US proposal to end the conflict in the region.

China’s shipping firms brace for a new ‘era of chaos’ as Iran war drags on

Chinese shipping giants are signing long contracts and rejigging their networks, as they hedge against prolonged disruptions to global trade routes.

Why Iran’s ambassador to China thinks the US can’t turn Beijing against it

Top envoy’s remarks come amid speculation Washington may induce Beijing to pressure Tehran into accepting a peace deal.

China-Russia ties can withstand any US containment efforts: Chinese policy adviser

Beijing-Moscow relationship described as having ‘inherent stability’, with a ‘stable mechanism’ able to withstand outside pressures.

Asean’s pivot to energy security leaves long-standing issues on summit sidelines

Southeast Asia is one of the worst affected by the global fuel crisis due to its high imports of oil and gas coming from the Gulf.

Editorial | Middle East war offers Hong Kong a golden opportunity

The war has driven home how well suited Hong Kong is to becoming an alternative to Dubai, a major gold trading hub.

Lula won’t sideline China on rare earths, tells Trump refining stays in Brazil

In a three-hour White House meeting on Thursday, Brazil’s president pitched his country’s minerals to all comers.

US and Iran exchange attacks around Strait of Hormuz, testing ceasefire

New hostilities broke out as Iran reviews a US proposal to end war in the Middle East.

Opinion | China shouldn’t view a tired US as signifying a Europe ready to pivot