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Iran war

Diplomacy & politics

Talks, statements, sanctions, nuclear policy, and government decisions.

340 entries, newest first; showing 91–120. Show all updates

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Friday, September 4, 20265 entries

  1. 11:29 PM in New York

    Pentagon polygraphed about 50 Joint Staff members over Iran war leaks, NYT says

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    Investigators gave polygraph tests in August to roughly 50 officers and civilian employees of the Joint Staff over leaks to journalists, including reports on depleted stocks of long-range missiles and Patriot interceptors used in the Iran war, The New York Times reported. A Pentagon spokesman said the department does not comment on investigations but takes leaks of classified information extremely seriously.

    Why it matters The leaks at issue concerned how far the Iran war has drawn down U.S. long-range missiles and Patriot interceptors, and the probe shows how sensitive those stock levels have become.

    Sources: The Times of Israel, Iran International

  2. 6:45 PM in New York

    US approves $5bn sale of bombs and guidance kits to Saudi Arabia

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    The State Department approved a possible $5bn sale of bombs, guidance kits and related equipment to Saudi Arabia, saying it would improve the kingdom's 'airborne defense capability to counter current and future regional threats' and its interoperability with U.S. forces.

    Why it matters Saudi Arabia has been targeted by Iranian and Houthi drone and missile strikes since the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Iran in late February.

    Source: Al Jazeera live

  3. 11:45 AM in New York

    US sanctions Turkish lender Golden Global Bank over IRGC-Qods Force transactions

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    The Treasury sanctioned Turkey-based Golden Global Yatirim Bankasi and two subsidiaries, accusing the bank of facilitating 'tens of millions of dollars' worth of transactions' for the IRGC-Qods Force and of being set up to move Iranian oil revenue from China to Turkey for conversion into cash and gold. The bank denied the allegations and said it would take legal action.

    Why it matters Bessent said 'we will probably sanction another bank next week,' signaling that Operation Economic Outcast is now working through third-country lenders one at a time.

    Sources: Al Jazeera live, Al Jazeera

  4. 5:12 PM in Vienna

    US and European allies push IAEA board to report Iran to UN Security Council

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsVienna, Austria

    The United States, Britain, France and Germany are lobbying members of the IAEA's 35-nation board to pass a resolution next week reporting Iran to the UN Security Council for the first time in 20 years, diplomats told Reuters on Sept. 4. Iran's mission in Vienna called the move 'desperate' and said it would bring its authors no benefit.

    Why it matters Iran has not let IAEA inspectors back into its bombed sites, where the agency believes well over 200 kg of 60% enriched uranium survived at Isfahan and Natanz.

    Sources: The Times of Israel (Reuters), Al Jazeera live

  5. 11:59 AM in Beirut

    Israel frees four more detainees to Lebanon, completing five-person release

    ConfirmedDiplomacy & politicsNaqoura crossing, Lebanon

    Israel released four more detainees held from Lebanon, two Lebanese citizens and two Syrians captured in Lebanon, to the ICRC at the Naqoura crossing on Sept. 4; they were handed to the Lebanese army in Tyre. In return Lebanon agreed to search for the remains of Jewish Lebanese citizens missing since the civil war.

    Why it matters President Aoun called the release a 'first step' and the U.S. Embassy urged both sides to build on it before the next round of talks, while Lebanon is still seeking the release of 34 documented prisoners held by Israel.

    Sources: AP via WSLS, The Times of Israel, TRT World, Anadolu Agency, Al Jazeera live

Thursday, September 3, 20266 entries

  1. 11:25 AM in Seoul, Sep 4

    South Korea weighs Hormuz contributions but says no deployment decision made

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsSeoul, South Korea

    South Korea's presidential office said on Sept. 4 it was reviewing practical options, including military ones, to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz within limits that do not compromise readiness, but that no decision had been made. It said reports that Seoul had finalized a deployment were inaccurate.

    Why it matters Trump has repeatedly pressed Seoul to help secure the strait and said it rejected his request, and the official said U.S.-South Korea security talks were not progressing.

    Sources: Devdiscourse (Reuters), CBS News live updates, Al Jazeera live

  2. 7:26 PM in New York

    Bessent says EU has joined Operation Economic Outcast; EU wording stops short

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent posted that the European Union had 'officially joined Operation Economic Outcast,' the U.S. economic pressure campaign against Iran. The EU statement of Aug. 31 welcomed additional pressure 'including through the US led Operation Economic Outcast' but did not clearly say the bloc had joined, Al Jazeera reported.

    Why it matters The gap between Bessent's claim and the EU's wording leaves unclear whether European institutions face new measures or the bloc is only lending political support.

    Sources: Forex Factory, The Tribune (ANI), Al Jazeera live

  3. 2:12 PM in New York

    Vance rules out Iran talks until attacks on Hormuz shipping stop

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    At a White House briefing, Vice President JD Vance said 'we are not going to talk to them unless they stop shooting at commercial shipping,' said major combat operations were not ongoing, and claimed about 15 million barrels of oil left the strait the previous night. He said the U.S. was investigating the reported strike on a wedding in southern Iran but was 'extremely skeptical' of Iranian state media.

    Why it matters The precondition ties any resumption of diplomacy to Hormuz shipping; CENTCOM said the same day it had redirected 87 vessels and disabled three under its blockade of Iran.

    Sources: The Times of Israel, Fox News, Middle East Eye, Al Jazeera, CBS News, The Times of Israel (2), CBS News live updates, CBS News live updates (2), Al Jazeera live

  4. 9:00 PM in Jerusalem

    Netanyahu says toppling Iran's regime is Israel's 'central mission' and within reach

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsTel Aviv, Israel

    At a Rosh Hashanah toast with the IDF General Staff Forum in Tel Aviv, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran's regime is 'faltering' and that toppling it is 'the central mission that still lies ahead of us, but it is close... It is within reach.' He added that Iran is 'attacking everyone except us.'

    Why it matters Israel has stayed out of the renewed U.S.-Iran exchanges, but its leaders are publicly setting regime change as the goal ahead of Oct. 27 elections in which some polls show Netanyahu trailing.

    Sources: Times of Israel, FDD Overnight Brief, Times of Israel Liveblog, The Times of Israel, CBS News live updates, Al Jazeera live

  5. 5:10 PM in Tehran

    Iran warned US of major attack if Israel stormed Ali al-Taher ridge, Reuters says

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    Iran warned the United States through Oman in mid-August that a full Israeli offensive on Hezbollah's Ali al-Taher ridge in south Lebanon would breach the June U.S.-Iran ceasefire and trigger a 'large-scale Iranian attack,' three regional officials and a foreign official told Reuters. Two officials said more than a dozen IRGC members, including at least two senior officers, were with Hezbollah fighters at the site.

    Why it matters The Israeli military disputed the report the same evening, saying its troops had been inside the tunnels for weeks and found no sign of IRGC members there.

    Sources: Al-Monitor (Reuters), The Times of Israel

  6. 2:54 PM in Beirut

    Israel frees first of five Lebanese detainees in US-brokered deal

    ConfirmedDiplomacy & politicsNaqoura crossing, Lebanon

    Israel handed Lebanese civilian Malek Ghazi to the International Committee of the Red Cross at the Naqoura crossing on Sept. 3, and he was passed to the Lebanese army, the first of five civilian detainees Israel agreed to free. Netanyahu's office said Lebanon had helped search for the remains of Lebanese Jewish leaders killed in the 1980s; the other four handovers were pushed to the next morning.

    Why it matters The State Department said the deal came out of U.S.-brokered talks finalized with Netanyahu on Sept. 1 and hopes it will open wider talks on civilian issues, with another mediated round expected in the coming weeks.

    Sources: AP via ClickOrlando, The Times of Israel, AP via The Hill, Jerusalem Post Live Updates, The Times of Israel (2), The Times of Israel (3), CBS News live updates

Wednesday, September 2, 20263 entries

  1. 1:42 PM in New York

    Trump tells Israel 'not to worry' about the renewed fighting with Iran

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    In a phone interview with Israel's Kan broadcaster, Trump said 'Israel should not worry... because I'm the president and I will take care of Israel,' as Iran struck US-linked targets across the region but not Israel. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the IDF was ready to strike Iran 'with great force' if attacked, while Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel had no plans to join the war for now.

    Why it matters Israel has stayed out of the latest US-Iran exchanges, and Katz's warning makes an Iranian strike on Israel the trigger that would widen the war.

    Sources: the Guardian, The Times of Israel, The Guardian

  2. 11:35 AM in New York

    Trump floats renaming the Strait of Hormuz 'Trump Strait'

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    In a Truth Social post, President Trump wrote: 'Now that we have it under U.S.A. control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT???' Asked later in the Oval Office, he did not say how serious he was.

    Why it matters The post restates Washington's claim to control the strait while Iran keeps attacking ships on the US-escorted southern route and traffic remains far below prewar levels.

    Sources: The Hindu, The Guardian, CBS News live updates

  3. 6:48 PM in Tehran

    Iran's rial hits a record low of 2.2 million to the dollar

    ConfirmedDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    Traders in Tehran exchanged 2.20 million rials for one US dollar on Sept. 2, a record nearly 10% weaker than the previous low set on Aug. 25, as US-Iran strikes resumed. The currency has lost about half its value in a year of tightening sanctions and war.

    Why it matters The slide came a day after the central bank promised up to $2 billion to calm the market, showing the limits of Tehran's defense against the US economic campaign.

    Sources: AP via NPR, The Guardian, The Times of Israel

Tuesday, September 1, 20269 entries

  1. 8:44 PM in Lima

    Peru breaks diplomatic relations with Iran but keeps consular ties

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsLima, Peru

    Peru's Foreign Ministry said it was breaking diplomatic relations with Iran, citing Tehran's 'incitement' of conflict in the Middle East, its obstruction of IAEA inspectors, repression at home and the disruption of trade through the Strait of Hormuz; consular relations will continue.

    Why it matters The break extends Iran's diplomatic costs beyond the region and explicitly cites the Hormuz disruption and Iran's blocking of nuclear inspections.

    Sources: Anadolu Agency, Iran International, Xinhua

  2. 11:28 PM in Vienna

    IAEA report says lack of access to Iran's nuclear material is a proliferation concern

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsVienna, Austria

    In a quarterly report seen by news agencies on Sept. 1, the IAEA said its 'lack of information about this nuclear material and access to facilities to verify it is a matter of proliferation concern' and called for 'utmost urgency' in resolving it, singling out the bombed Isfahan site.

    Why it matters The report goes to the IAEA Board of Governors, while Iran's nuclear chief says sites hit by military strikes cannot be inspected until new protocols are agreed.

    Source: Al Jazeera

  3. 4:39 PM in New York

    Trump says a deal with Iran 'isn't worth the paper it's written on'

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    Asked by Fox News whether he wanted an agreement with Iran, Trump said 'an agreement with them isn't worth the paper it's written on. We gave them a lot of chances,' and warned that if Iran retaliated for the day's strikes 'they'll be hit much harder.' Later on Truth Social he denied trying to force Iran to the bargaining table and asked, 'When are the Iranian people going to rise up and fight?'

    Why it matters The remarks came hours after Pezeshkian offered to return to the June memorandum and signal that Washington is relying on strikes and economic pressure rather than talks.

    Sources: CBS News live updates, CBS News live updates (2), The Times of Israel, Al Jazeera

  4. 7:56 PM in Tehran

    Ghalibaf urges Iranians to save gasoline and warns Gulf oil will stop if Iran's does

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    Parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said 'we need to save gasoline in our consumption' as Iran struggles to import fuel under the US naval blockade. He also warned that if the US tries to stop Iran exporting oil from the Persian Gulf, 'no one else will be able to export oil from this region either.'

    Why it matters It pairs a public admission of fuel strain from Iran's chief negotiator with an explicit threat to Gulf exports, Tehran's main lever against the blockade.

    Sources: CBS News, CBS News live updates, Iran International, The Guardian

  5. 12:11 PM in New York

    Bessent vows to 'economically asphyxiate' Iran and signals new bank sanctions

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business that Washington would 'economically asphyxiate this regime' and would probably announce a bank sanction that week and another the next. He said a UAE branch of an Egyptian bank that funneled over $1.8 billion to Iran was being shut down.

    Why it matters The promised bank designations are the next concrete test of how far Treasury widens secondary sanctions after the Aug. 24 package.

    Sources: CBS News, CBS News live updates

  6. 7:31 PM in Bishkek

    Putin tells Pezeshkian Russia admires Iran's 'courage and resilience'

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsBishkek, Kyrgyzstan

    Meeting on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Russia admired Iran's 'courage and resilience' and was 'trying to provide you with the assistance you need.' Pezeshkian thanked Moscow for its stance 'at every stage' of the war.

    Why it matters The same day the Financial Times reported that Russia has been secretly helping Iran develop supersonic cruise missiles, making the scope of Moscow's assistance a watchpoint.

    Sources: CBS News, CBS News live updates, CBS News live updates (2), CNBC

  7. 3:14 PM in Qatar

    Qatar urges US and Iran back to talks, says it will intensify mediation

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsDoha, Qatar

    Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said the escalation around the Strait of Hormuz 'will not benefit anyone' and urged both sides to return to negotiations, adding that Qatar is continuing contacts with mediation partners Pakistan and Oman.

    Why it matters With the Trump administration saying there are no direct talks with Tehran, the Qatari, Pakistani and Omani channel is the only active track toward reopening the strait.

    Sources: CBS News, CBS News live updates, Al Jazeera

  8. 10:14 AM in Tehran

    Iran's central bank says it can inject up to $2 billion to steady the rial

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said Iran has enough foreign currency despite US sanctions and is ready to inject up to $2 billion into the foreign exchange market to calm volatility, Tasnim reported.

    Why it matters The rial still fell to a record of about 2.2 million per dollar the next day, a measure of how hard sanctions and the blockade are squeezing Iran's finances.

    Source: The Times of Israel

  9. 12:19 PM in Bishkek

    Pezeshkian says Iran would reciprocate 'immediately' if US returns to June MOU

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsBishkek, Kyrgyzstan

    Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would 'immediately take reciprocal action' if the United States returned to its commitments under the June memorandum of understanding. He accused Washington of reneging on the deal within two weeks and warned that a return to 'pressure and threats' risked derailing diplomacy.

    Why it matters Hours later Trump said an agreement with Iran 'isn't worth the paper it's written on' and ordered new strikes, so the offer did not reopen talks.

    Sources: The Times of Israel, Al Jazeera, CBS News live updates, CBS News live updates (2)

Monday, August 31, 20262 entries

  1. 10:50 AM in New York

    Bessent says Iran sanctions aim to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table

    ConfirmedDiplomacy & politicsAsheville, North Carolina, United States

    At G20 finance meetings in Asheville, North Carolina, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC the sanctions campaign aims "to create the conditions that they will want to come to the table", citing US demands on Iran's nuclear program, enriched uranium, proxies and an open strait. He said Iran was "lashing out kinetically because they are losing economically".

    Why it matters Bessent was using the G20 meetings to press partners to join Iran's economic isolation, pairing the pressure campaign with the renewed US strikes.

    Sources: The Times of Israel, The Guardian, CBS News, Fox News

  2. 3:59 PM in Qatar

    Qatar condemns Iran's missile and drone attacks on Jordan and the UAE

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsDoha, Qatar

    Qatar's foreign ministry condemned Iran's renewed attacks on Jordan with missiles and the UAE with a drone as a serious violation of the two countries' sovereignty and of international law, warning they could complicate de-escalation efforts. It called for an immediate halt to military action and a serious return to negotiations.

    Why it matters Qatar is one of the main mediators between Washington and Tehran, and its warning signals Iran's retaliation is straining the diplomacy it relies on.

    Sources: Iran International, The Peninsula Qatar, CBS News

Sunday, August 30, 20262 entries

  1. 7:11 PM in New York

    Bessent says US will roll out new Iran sanctions weekly, starting with banks

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsUnited States

    Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Reuters the US would issue new secondary sanctions on Iran every week, "starting with the banks", and told AP he planned to sanction another bank this week, warning of "financial violence if we have to". Treasury's first formal step, a proposed rule on Aug 28, would cut the UAE branches of Egypt's Banque Misr off from the US financial system.

    Why it matters Bessent spoke before hosting G20 finance ministers, where he planned to press partners including China and India to join Iran's economic isolation.

    Sources: CBS News, Fox News, CNN

  2. 9:59 AM in Tehran

    Mojtaba Khamenei urges Muslim rulers to confront the US and Israel as the "real enemy"

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    In a written message on his Telegram channel for Islamic Unity Week and the Prophet's birthday, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei called the US and Israel enemies of all Islamic nations and told Muslim rulers to "know your real enemy, understand its plans and confront it". He has not appeared in public since the war began in February.

    Why it matters The appeal is aimed at Gulf governments that host US forces, the same states Iran has struck in retaliation for US attacks.

    Sources: anews, AP News, CBS News, CBS News (2), Fox News

Saturday, August 29, 20262 entries

  1. 12:36 AM in Tehran, Aug 30

    Iran says Hormuz transit understanding with Oman hinges on US meeting its commitments

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran and Oman had reached an understanding on transit through the Strait of Hormuz but it would "not automatically enter the implementation stage" until the US fulfils its commitments. He said the strait "remains closed" and any passage requires Iran's coordination and authorization.

    Why it matters It confirms the Oman arrangement will not reopen the strait on its own and ties any reopening to the stalled US-Iran track that Qatar and Pakistan are mediating.

    Sources: The Express Tribune, anews, Anadolu Agency, Fox News

  2. 9:43 PM in Beirut

    US says Hezbollah refuses talks because it is 'simply taking orders from Iran'

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsBeirut, Lebanon

    In a statement posted by the U.S. Embassy in Beirut in reply to a media inquiry, a State Department spokesperson said Hezbollah 'does not want to talk to the Lebanese state, nor talk to us, nor talk to Israel, because it is simply taking orders from Iran', said the group must disarm, and called Lebanon's government the 'sole legitimate interlocutor' on the country's future.

    Why it matters The statement follows a Lebanese TV report, denied by U.S. officials, that Ambassador Michel Issa had been cleared to meet Hezbollah, and restates that Washington will deal on Lebanon only through the Lebanese state.

    Sources: Iran International, Fox News live updates

Friday, August 28, 20261 entry

  1. 6:35 PM in New York

    US embassies in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain let diplomats' families return

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    Six months into the war, the U.S. embassies in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain said diplomats' family members may return, in Kuwait and Bahrain only those over 18, after similar steps earlier in the week for Israel and for family members over 21 in Lebanon, AP reported.

    Why it matters The State Department says the easing is driven mainly by personnel rules that limit how long staff can stay away from post, not by a change in Iran policy, and most embassies are not returning to full staffing.

    Sources: AP via The Press Democrat, Fox News live updates

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