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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

The Imperial Oil refinery in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, on September 2. Photo: Reuters

China energy security

Canada sells more oil and gas to China as relations with US sour

China’s imports of Russian energy products also rise sharply as Beijing diversifies its energy supplies.

49 minutes ago

South Korea

South Korea steps up to plug Europe’s jet fuel deficit

21 Sep 2026 - 8:59AM

Ukraine war

Ukraine’s Zelensky to meet Trump in New York

2 hours ago

Foreigners in China

China needs US-style migrant policy to win tech rivalry with Washington: expert

Li Mingbo, of Guangzhou Institute of the Greater Bay Area, says China should create English-friendly environment to attract foreign talent.

20 Sep 2026 - 7:04PMvideocam

A public policy analyst says the US immigration system offers lessons for China. Photo: Xinhua

China-Middle East relations

Chinese firms keen on Oman’s International Financial Centre: official

Neutrality amid US-Israel war on Iran cited as an advantage, as well as location of ports away from Strait of Hormuz.

20 Sep 2026 - 2:00PM

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Analysts tip a stronger hand for China ahead of Xi-Trump summit in Washington

Chinese confidence could be boosted by US push to make progress on its war on Iran and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, experts say.

20 Sep 2026 - 6:12AMvideocam

Middle East

Houthis claim attacks on Saudi capital, after flames seen near Riyadh airport

The militants say they targeted ‘sensitive’ sites, along with an Aramco facility in the Red Sea city of Yanbu.

20 Sep 2026 - 9:24AM

Large plume of black smoke rises from the fuel storage area at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

‘Ordinary people pay price’: Iran medicine shortages deepen as war continues

As well as facing shipping restrictions, sanctions and inflation, the pharmaceutical sector has been directly attacked, officials say.

19 Sep 2026 - 11:58PM

Vladimir Putin

Opinion | Why the Global South keeps its doors wide open to Russia

Far from being isolated, Moscow’s relationships across the non-Western world are a geopolitical constant the West cannot break.

19 Sep 2026 - 12:00PM

US, Israel war on Iran

How much has Iran war cost US? Pentagon estimates US$43.6 billion so far

Polls show Americans increasingly oppose the war, partly over its impact on the economy, as the November midterm elections approach.

19 Sep 2026 - 9:14AM

A US sailor checks ordnance on an F/A-18 Super Hornet aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington on September 13. Photo: US Navy / AFP

India

India’s Modi caught between Russian oil needs and US trade threats

Cutting Russian oil imports could avoid price rises ahead of key polls but keeping such purchases could cripple access to its largest market.

19 Sep 2026 - 12:15PM

MT Desert Kite oil tanker carrying Russian oil sails past Narara Marine National Park in Gujarat, India, on March 11. Photo: Reuters

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Trump signs bill targeting China’s Russia energy imports days before Xi’s US visit

US president gives backing to ‘Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026’ before next week’s Xi-Trump summit in Washington.

19 Sep 2026 - 6:59AMvideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Why China is playing it cool despite Trump’s disruption and churn

Despite months of US ambivalence, Beijing’s patience and composure at key Washington summit can show they are ‘the new adults in the room’.

18 Sep 2026 - 11:07PMvideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Xi-Trump summit preview: what are the best and worst scenarios?

Tariff cuts or a new 7.5 per cent duty on China? Possible outcomes on the cards as leaders navigate a trade truce and a widening tech schism.

18 Sep 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping arrive for a state dinner at the Great Hall of the People during Trump’s visit to Beijing in May. Photo: AP

South Korea

‘No deployment for war’: South Korea rejects US request for Iran support

President Lee Jae Myung has drawn a firm line against sending troops or assets to the Middle East, defying pressure from Washington.

18 Sep 2026 - 4:26PM

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaking during a press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on Friday. Photo: AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

US pivot leaves Saudi Arabia with ‘humiliating dilemma’ over Houthis

Riyadh is now working frantically to build a coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea and defend the kingdom against Houthi attacks.

18 Sep 2026 - 6:40PMvideocam

United States

US to allow Iranian leaders to attend UN meeting amid wartime stand-off

US again imposes strict conditions on the Iranian delegation for the UN General Assembly in New York.

18 Sep 2026 - 1:51PM

Middle East

US approves sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia despite Israeli concerns

US says the sale would improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to deter ‘current and future threats’.

18 Sep 2026 - 1:53PM

An F-35 jet at the Dubai Airshow in 2025. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

UN investigators cite US over Iran strikes that constituted war crimes

UN-backed experts also accuse the Iranian government of carrying out crimes against humanity during a domestic crackdown.

18 Sep 2026 - 9:59AM

US-China relations

China hits back as US Congress approves tariffs on top buyers of Russian energy

Passed just ahead of Xi Jinping’s expected US visit, the bill gives Washington power to penalise Beijing over its Russian fuel imports.

17 Sep 2026 - 7:33PM

US-China relations

China pushes back against US sanctions bill targeting Russia’s top energy buyers

Beijing braces as US House clears ‘Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026’ before next week’s Xi-Trump summit in Washington.

17 Sep 2026 - 8:42PMvideocam

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun says Beijing “opposes long-arm jurisdiction that has no basis in international law or the authorisation of the UN Security Council”. Photo: Kyodo

US-China relations

Huawei accused of stealing robot tech to get hands on T-Mobile’s trade secrets

US prosecutors claim Chinese tech giant officials were intent on finding out about technical specifications of the robot, dubbed Tappy.

17 Sep 2026 - 6:03AMvideocam

An image of Tappy the robot. US prosecutors accuse Huawei of repeatedly trying to steal information about the T-Mobile robot's design. Photo: Eastern District of New York Court Records

Yemen

Who is Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the elusive commander driving the Saudi blitz?

He has transformed the Houthi group from tribal insurgency to a fighting force, threatening Riyadh and controlling the vital waterway.

16 Sep 2026 - 10:32PMvideocam

China-Middle East relations

China affirms support for Iran, but warns against Yemen spillover

In talks with his Iranian counterpart in Beijing, Foreign Minister Wang Yi calls on Tehran and Washington to stay rational.

17 Sep 2026 - 1:20AMvideocam

Qatar

Iranian and Saudi panellists spar at Xiangshan Forum over Middle East attacks

Verbal battle erupts at security conference over Tehran’s targeting of US bases in Saudi Arabia.

17 Sep 2026 - 7:48AMvideocam

Iranian representative Mohammad Taghi Osanlou attends the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: AP

SCMP Highlights

Tesla’s China discounts; Iran war drives shift to electric cars: 7 EV reads

From China’s powerhouse plan for its car industry to Tesla’s rare-earth-free motor, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

16 Sep 2026 - 3:30PM

A Tesla humanoid robot and a Model Y electric vehicle are displayed in a store in Beijing in August. Photo: EPA

Video | Iranian airliner forced to make emergency landing

The incident happened shortly after the Sepehran Airlines flight took off, forcing the Boeing 737 to make an emergency landing.

16 Sep 2026 - 1:00PM

Middle East

‘Red line’: Saudi coalition accuses Houthis of targeting Mecca with drone

Drone intercepted heading towards the Saudi holy city, but Houthi official rejects claim as a ‘worn-out lie’.

16 Sep 2026 - 8:12PM

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Iran

Canada sells more oil and gas to China as relations with US sour

China’s imports of Russian energy products also rise sharply as Beijing diversifies its energy supplies.

South Korea steps up to plug Europe’s jet fuel deficit

Ukraine’s Zelensky to meet Trump in New York

China needs US-style migrant policy to win tech rivalry with Washington: expert

Li Mingbo, of Guangzhou Institute of the Greater Bay Area, says China should create English-friendly environment to attract foreign talent.

Chinese firms keen on Oman’s International Financial Centre: official

Neutrality amid US-Israel war on Iran cited as an advantage, as well as location of ports away from Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts tip a stronger hand for China ahead of Xi-Trump summit in Washington

Chinese confidence could be boosted by US push to make progress on its war on Iran and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, experts say.

Houthis claim attacks on Saudi capital, after flames seen near Riyadh airport

The militants say they targeted ‘sensitive’ sites, along with an Aramco facility in the Red Sea city of Yanbu.

‘Ordinary people pay price’: Iran medicine shortages deepen as war continues

As well as facing shipping restrictions, sanctions and inflation, the pharmaceutical sector has been directly attacked, officials say.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Why the Global South keeps its doors wide open to Russia

Far from being isolated, Moscow’s relationships across the non-Western world are a geopolitical constant the West cannot break.

How much has Iran war cost US? Pentagon estimates US$43.6 billion so far

Polls show Americans increasingly oppose the war, partly over its impact on the economy, as the November midterm elections approach.

India’s Modi caught between Russian oil needs and US trade threats

Cutting Russian oil imports could avoid price rises ahead of key polls but keeping such purchases could cripple access to its largest market.

Trump signs bill targeting China’s Russia energy imports days before Xi’s US visit

US president gives backing to ‘Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026’ before next week’s Xi-Trump summit in Washington.

Why China is playing it cool despite Trump’s disruption and churn

Despite months of US ambivalence, Beijing’s patience and composure at key Washington summit can show they are ‘the new adults in the room’.

Xi-Trump summit preview: what are the best and worst scenarios?

Tariff cuts or a new 7.5 per cent duty on China? Possible outcomes on the cards as leaders navigate a trade truce and a widening tech schism.

‘No deployment for war’: South Korea rejects US request for Iran support

President Lee Jae Myung has drawn a firm line against sending troops or assets to the Middle East, defying pressure from Washington.

US pivot leaves Saudi Arabia with ‘humiliating dilemma’ over Houthis

Riyadh is now working frantically to build a coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea and defend the kingdom against Houthi attacks.

US to allow Iranian leaders to attend UN meeting amid wartime stand-off

US again imposes strict conditions on the Iranian delegation for the UN General Assembly in New York.

US approves sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia despite Israeli concerns

US says the sale would improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to deter ‘current and future threats’.

UN investigators cite US over Iran strikes that constituted war crimes

UN-backed experts also accuse the Iranian government of carrying out crimes against humanity during a domestic crackdown.

China hits back as US Congress approves tariffs on top buyers of Russian energy

Passed just ahead of Xi Jinping’s expected US visit, the bill gives Washington power to penalise Beijing over its Russian fuel imports.

China pushes back against US sanctions bill targeting Russia’s top energy buyers

Beijing braces as US House clears ‘Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026’ before next week’s Xi-Trump summit in Washington.

Huawei accused of stealing robot tech to get hands on T-Mobile’s trade secrets

US prosecutors claim Chinese tech giant officials were intent on finding out about technical specifications of the robot, dubbed Tappy.

Who is Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the elusive commander driving the Saudi blitz?

He has transformed the Houthi group from tribal insurgency to a fighting force, threatening Riyadh and controlling the vital waterway.

China affirms support for Iran, but warns against Yemen spillover

In talks with his Iranian counterpart in Beijing, Foreign Minister Wang Yi calls on Tehran and Washington to stay rational.

Iranian and Saudi panellists spar at Xiangshan Forum over Middle East attacks

Verbal battle erupts at security conference over Tehran’s targeting of US bases in Saudi Arabia.

Tesla’s China discounts; Iran war drives shift to electric cars: 7 EV reads

From China’s powerhouse plan for its car industry to Tesla’s rare-earth-free motor, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Video | Iranian airliner forced to make emergency landing

The incident happened shortly after the Sepehran Airlines flight took off, forcing the Boeing 737 to make an emergency landing.

‘Red line’: Saudi coalition accuses Houthis of targeting Mecca with drone

Drone intercepted heading towards the Saudi holy city, but Houthi official rejects claim as a ‘worn-out lie’.

Opinion | Why the Global South keeps its doors wide open to Russia

Video | Iranian airliner forced to make emergency landing