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As the US-Iran war enters a critical phase, uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz's closure and escalating attacks on energy infrastructure raise questions about the conflict's duration. Both sides appear entrenched, with Iran leveraging its control over the strait and the US maintaining a naval blockade, while diplomatic efforts via Oman struggle to find a breakthrough.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin has proposed creating a railway route to the Indian Ocean, citing risks to shipping through the Bosphorus and Strait of Hormuz. The proposal, first reported by TASS, includes possible routes through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Analysts note the rail link could offer Moscow an alternative trade corridor to India and the Global South amid sanctions.
Yemen's Houthis have attacked two Saudi oil tankers as part of a maritime blockade, threatening Saudi oil exports via the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The escalation, which includes a surge in Saudi crude shipments through the waterway, raises concerns for global oil markets and India's imports.
Pakistan and Iran have agreed to expand bilateral trade by keeping border crossings open 24/7, improving logistics, and harmonizing customs procedures. The move aims to reach a $10 billion trade target and comes amid regional economic strains from the US-Iran conflict.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya that Tehran will support any decision made by Palestinian leaders in ongoing negotiations, as the US-backed Board of Peace announced a disarmament agreement. Reports also indicate IRGC officials urged Hamas not to sign the deal.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denies reports he threatened to resign, while experts highlight a deepening power struggle involving Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, whose public absence raises questions about who truly governs Iran.
Former senior Israeli security official Avner Vilan said Iran believes it holds a strategic advantage because the US is avoiding broader conflict. He warned that Israel could be blamed if renewed US strikes fail, and noted Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz gives it a sense of victory.
Iran has denied that negotiations with the United States are underway, contradicting President Donald Trump’s announcement of a new round of talks. Tehran says it is in discussions with Oman over a temporary safe route through the Strait of Hormuz, while oil prices fell on hopes of a deal.
US President Donald Trump said he agreed to cancel a planned strike on Iran to pursue a deal, citing requests from Tehran and other Mideast states. Israeli media reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accepted a Qatari compromise on the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran denied any such agreement, vowing to keep the waterway closed while US 'hostile actions' continue.
US President Donald Trump announced he has cancelled a planned attack on Iran, saying the 'perimeters of a deal' have been agreed. The decision followed a phone call from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who warned against escalating military operations. The potential deal would include the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran's nuclear threat.
President Trump says the US and Israel have agreed to halt new attacks on Iran if a deal can be reached rapidly, citing a request from Iran and regional countries. Iran denies asking for a halt and says it remains on high alert, while the Strait of Hormuz stays shut and diplomatic efforts continue.
US President Donald Trump announced he called off a massive attack on Iran after being asked by Tehran and other Middle Eastern countries, and called for an immediate deal. Iranian military officials denied requesting a halt, saying forces are at the highest readiness. Israel reportedly backed the US commitment.
US President Donald Trump has threatened additional strikes on Iran as the United States presses for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian retaliatory attacks on US allies in the Gulf continue, with Kuwait responding to drone strikes and the US State Department issuing security alerts for Americans in 10 countries.
Hamas has agreed to a US-led peace plan that includes staged disarmament and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, announced by President Trump. International reactions are mixed: the US and some Israeli officials express support, but Israel has not officially endorsed the deal, and doubts persist about implementation.
Yemen's Houthi rebels have declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, targeting ships carrying Saudi exports through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The move has heightened tensions in the region, with the US warning of 'major military punishment' and experts concerned about a return to all-out war.
Over 30 community water systems in Minnesota were targeted in a coordinated cyberattack earlier this week, with US officials suspecting Iranian hackers, though assessments remain preliminary. The attack has prompted federal investigations and heightened concerns over critical infrastructure vulnerabilities.
Iran announced it had targeted US military facilities at Kuwait's Ahmad Al-Jaber airbase, describing it as retaliation for a US strike that killed three on Qeshm island. The US has not yet responded, and analysts suggest Iran aims to expand the conflict geographically while seeking a permanent end to the war.
Rashad Sultanov, a 44-year-old British-Azerbaijani national, was arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying on a British airbase and passing information to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The arrest is part of Britain's first overseas National Security Act investigation, led by counter-terrorism police into incidents at RAF Akrotiri.
The United States sanctioned six entities and individuals, including China-based Shanghai Wings International Logistics and India's Skiez Travels, for allegedly supporting Iran's Mahan Air and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Treasury Department said the companies acted as general sales agents for the airline, which it accused of transporting weapons and personnel for the IRGC.
The US Treasury imposed fresh sanctions on entities and individuals in China, India, Russia, and Iran tied to Mahan Air and the IRGC, while also targeting eight tankers and 10 entities in a separate round. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the Iranian economy as being in freefall and warned that support for the IRGC or Mahan Air sustains a terrorist enterprise.