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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 pedestrian walks past a petrol station with fuel prices on display in Williamstown, Australia, on March 26. Photo: AFP

Banking & finance

Macroscope | Australia’s interest rate rise signals growing hawkish stance in Asia

Reserve Bank of Australia is less an outlier than a harbinger of global monetary trends in the wake of war-induced supply shocks.

5 minutes ago

South Korea

South Korea rejects Trump’s claim that ship ‘decided to go it alone’

1 hour agovideocam

Malaysia

Well-oiled diplomacy: Malaysian king visits Moscow as Anwar eyes Russian energy

5 hours agovideocam

War and conflict

Letters | History shows the high cost and low yield of war as conflict resolution

Readers discuss the imperative of dialogue to end the Iran war, the growth and diversity of Chinese products and Hong Kong’s efforts to deter smoking.

5 hours ago

An Iranian walks next to an anti-US mural in a street in Tehran, Iran, on May 4. Photo: EPA

Hong Kong stock market

Hang Seng crosses 26,500 as Hong Kong stocks rally on easing Middle East fears

Alibaba and Baidu lead gains after softer crude prices and overnight advance in US equities boost market sentiment.

6 hours ago

Japan

Trump’s last Japanese diehard fans lose faith as Iran war chaos spreads

Concerns in Japan are also mounting over the security ties between Japan and the US as Trump seeks to withdraw more troops from Europe.

51 minutes agovideocam

China energy security

China’s energy security plan expands south: how Hainan is becoming an LNG hub

Global supply shocks have intensified in recent months – reaffirming Beijing’s years-long strategy.

7 May 2026 - 9:30AM

China’s first bonded LNG terminal, in Hainan, could turn the island province into a regional energy hub. Photo: CCTV

The Philippines

Opinion | US allies in Asia are looking to build middle-power coalitions

Faced with the US’ unreliability and China’s ascent, countries such as the Philippines are creating new networks of partnerships.

7 May 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

US strikes Iranian tanker amid reports Washington and Tehran near deal

Trump reiterated that Iran ‘cannot have a nuclear weapon’ as both sides combined military pressure with diplomatic efforts to end deadlock.

7 May 2026 - 4:29AMvideocam

United States

Is Rubio’s star rising in Trump world? Duel with Vance for 2028 heats up

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s relaxed White House podium debut fuels buzz about his future.

6 May 2026 - 4:38PM

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives to speak at a White House press briefing on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Hong Kong tourism

Aviation authorities report ‘less than 5%’ flight cuts despite Mideast war

Fewer than 5 per cent of Hong Kong flights for May and June have been cancelled, and about 1 per cent in July, despite global fuel crisis.

6 May 2026 - 8:01PM

The Hong Kong Airport Authority reported fewer than 5 per cent of flights were cancelled in May and June, and about 1 per cent in July. Photo: Eugene Lee

Asean

Opinion | Asia must unite to avert an Iran war food crisis

The energy and fertiliser shocks come amid crucial planting windows for Asia’s farmers, exposing the region’s dire dependencies.

6 May 2026 - 4:30PMvideocam

US-Iran tensions

China’s Wang Yi and Iran’s Araghchi support new regional security framework in Gulf

Separately, Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers in a phone call discuss need to continue diplomatic efforts and regional cooperation.

6 May 2026 - 9:54PMvideocam

Japan

Bound by anxiety: Japan and Australia deepen ties for an uneasy age

Shared concerns about trade coercion and energy shocks are driving the two middle powers to ‘institutionalise’ their partnership.

6 May 2026 - 12:25PM

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the signing of their Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation in Canberra on Monday. Photo: AAP/dpa

Hong Kong stock market

‘China’s Nasdaq’ nears record high as strong tech momentum buoys Asian stocks

Asia’s stock markets received a boost as US tech giants reported strong results and President Donald Trump signalled more Iran peace talks.

6 May 2026 - 7:18PMvideocam

People stand beneath a large screen showing the latest stock prices in Shanghai. Photo: EPA

Central Asia

An Asian alternative to Nato? How Cica is rethinking Middle East security

Chief of lesser-known security forum says it provides ‘architecture for de-escalation’ and allows members to project soft power.

6 May 2026 - 10:00AM

Trending in China

Joyous reunion of Iran boy with China classmates after family visit to Iran moves many

Business trip to conflict-ridden homeland lasts longer than expected as boy and parents lose contact with worried school friends.

6 May 2026 - 9:00AM

Diplomacy

Opinion | How China-Gulf ties can turn energy vulnerability into sustainability

Hormuz tensions are a reminder to start building a better, more sustainable energy order before the next crisis hits; Hong Kong can help.

6 May 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

A man walks beneath solar panels at the Al Dhafra solar power project south of Abu Dhabi in 2023. Photo: AFP

2026 Trump-Xi summit

Trump dismisses China friction over Iran war, touts Xi ties before summit

US halts Hormuz escort mission, says Beijing is not pushing back as Xi talks loom.

7 May 2026 - 12:48AMvideocam

Donald Trump

‘He’s endangering a lot of Catholics’: Trump takes another shot at pope

US president’s latest criticism threatens to derail Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s high-stakes mission to Rome.

6 May 2026 - 6:17PMvideocam

China's military weapons

Will new Saudi-Pakistan defence pact give Chinese arms risk-free exposure?

Islamabad’s elevated stature in Middle East security could make it ‘the operational face of Chinese defence systems’ via regional deployment.

5 May 2026 - 11:38PMvideocam

China-Middle East relations

Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi to visit China days ahead of Donald Trump

Foreign Minister Araghchi will arrive on Wednesday and hold talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Beijing has announced.

5 May 2026 - 9:55PMvideocam

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Beijing in April 2025. Photo: Xinhua

War and conflict

As I see it | Thanks to Trump and Netanyahu, everyone now wants to go nuclear

After waging a war on the pretext of stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons, the US and Israel have ignited a new arms race.

5 May 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Hong Kong property

Hong Kong home sales surge to 2-year high, boosting overall transactions

A total of 8,692 transactions in all sectors were concluded last month, up 12.3 per cent from March’s 7,737 deals.

5 May 2026 - 6:45PM

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong posts strongest quarterly economic growth in almost 5 years at 5.9%

Robust exports and resilient domestic consumer spending drive growth despite Middle East tensions and rising energy costs.

5 May 2026 - 10:30PM

The 5.9 per cent quarterly economic expansion is also the strongest since the 7.6 per cent growth seen in the second quarter of 2021. Photo: Nora Tam

China-Japan relations

Takaichi signs Australia deals to boost Japan’s energy security

Japan’s prime minister penned agreements with her Australian counterpart as the two nations seek to pare reliance on Chinese rare earths and safeguard energy supplies amid the war in Iran.

5 May 2026 - 5:00PM

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Photo: Kyodo