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Iran war

Week of Sep 21–27, 2026

66 entries, newest first. Days are in U.S. Mountain Time.

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Saturday, September 26, 202611 entries

  1. 6:45 AM in Tehran, Sep 27

    IRGC Navy official threatens US warships 'even in the Indian Ocean' if war resumes

    ReportedMilitary & securityTehran, Iran

    Ali Mohammadi, the IRGC Navy's deputy for political affairs, told Fars that if another war breaks out Iran would "undoubtedly attack and hit their ships and destroyers even in the Indian Ocean," mocking Trump's claim to control the strait by asking why U.S. ships were not there.

    Why it matters The threat follows reports that Trump expects to resume bombing after the midterms and echoes a warning by Yahya Rahim Safavi, an adviser to the supreme leader, that the war could spread to the Indian Ocean.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2)

  2. 8:45 PM in New York

    Bessent says Turkey, Oman and UAE are enforcing US push to isolate Iran

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWashington, D.C., United States

    Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on X that envoys he sent abroad under Operation Economic Outcast were "delivering results": Turkey and Oman halted Mahan Air flights, the UAE stopped all Iranian airline flights, and top commercial banks in the UAE and Turkey stopped transacting with Iran. He thanked the UK, Turkey, Oman and the UAE.

    Why it matters Washington is widening pressure through third countries while Iran waits for a formal U.S. reply to a plan whose first conditions are ending the blockade and lifting oil sanctions.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, CBS News

  3. 2:20 AM in Tehran, Sep 27

    Iran's Hormuz authority warns ships against 'illegal routes' through the strait

    OfficialShipping, energy & marketsStrait of Hormuz

    The Persian Gulf Strait Authority, the body Iran set up to manage the Strait of Hormuz, said some charterers were forcing vessels onto invalid routes and warned this risks "financial and life losses" and would seriously restrict those ships' future passage; it said breaches by charterers could bring restrictions on all vessels of the companies involved.

    Why it matters Ships have been hugging the Omani coast to skirt Iran's restrictions, and the warning, issued hours after Trump rejected Tehran's reopening plan, signals Iran intends to keep enforcing its own passage regime.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Yahoo News (dpa), CBS News (AFP)

  4. 5:40 PM in New York

    Oman urges restraint and offers to keep mediating on Hormuz navigation

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York

    Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi told the U.N. General Assembly that all parties should pursue self-restraint and dialogue, and said Oman remains committed to safeguarding navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and is ready to mediate.

    Why it matters Ships avoiding Iran's restrictions have been hugging the Omani coast, making Muscat's role central to any arrangement that restores traffic.

    Source: CBS News

  5. 1:01 AM in Tehran, Sep 27

    Iran says it awaits an official US response on its Hormuz proposal

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsIran

    Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a Telegram statement that Iran had seen President Trump's public rejection of its seven-day Hormuz plan but was waiting for mediators to convey the definitive U.S. position before deciding its next step, adding that any reopening of the strait depends on Iran's conditions and "we will not back down from them."

    Why it matters Tehran is treating Trump's remarks as short of a formal answer, keeping the mediated channel alive while the U.S. blockade and Iran's restrictions on the strait stay in place.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), Iran International, Al Jazeera (3), Al Jazeera (4), CNN

  6. 12:32 PM in New York

    Saudi foreign minister demands Hormuz return to pre-war conditions with no fees

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York

    Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan told the U.N. General Assembly that attempts to block regional waterways threaten global energy security and demanded that conditions in the Strait of Hormuz return to those before Feb. 28, without fees or taxes on shipping.

    Why it matters Riyadh is publicly rejecting any arrangement that would let Iran charge for passage, a constraint on the terms Washington and Tehran are discussing.

    Sources: CBS News, Al Jazeera

  7. 6:45 PM in Beirut

    Israel strikes an alleged Hezbollah weapons depot in southern Lebanon

    OfficialMilitary & securitySejoud, southern Lebanon

    The Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah weapons storage facility in the Sejoud area of southern Lebanon on Saturday, saying the site held weapons used against Israeli troops in the security zone Israel holds inside Lebanon.

    Why it matters Strikes continue despite the late-June ceasefire, and Iran's plan demands a ceasefire that includes Lebanon, so operations there bear directly on any Hormuz deal.

    Source: CBS News

  8. 10:16 AM in New York

    Trump says he is rejecting Iran's seven-day Hormuz plan

    ConfirmedDiplomacy & politicsWhite House, Washington

    President Trump told reporters as he left the White House that he was rejecting Iran's offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days and restart talks, saying the U.S. has total control of the strait and that 29 ships came out overnight.

    Why it matters The rejection follows a Wall Street Journal report that Trump expects to resume bombing after the November midterms, leaving the blockade in place and the path to reopening Hormuz uncertain.

    Sources: CBS News, CBS News (2), Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), Al Jazeera (3)

  9. 5:18 PM in Tehran

    Iran's security council says Tehran will not use force over airline sanctions

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsTehran, Iran

    Iran's Supreme National Security Council, whose secretary is Mohsen Rezaei, said in a statement carried by ISNA that Iran would not retaliate militarily against U.S. sanctions on its airlines, calling reports of such plans inaccurate interpretations of Rezaei's remarks, and said talks with the countries concerned to lift some restrictions were being pursued seriously. It said unspecified non-military countermeasures could be applied to some airports if needed.

    Why it matters The statement walked back Rezaei's Wednesday warning that neighbours' airports would lose flights too, signalling Tehran is choosing negotiation over escalation on aviation while the Hormuz talks continue.

    Sources: CBS News, Al Jazeera

  10. 11:35 AM in Tehran

    Pezeshkian says Iran no longer trusts talks with Washington

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsIran

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Al Jazeera that Iran no longer trusts talks with Washington because each round of negotiations was followed by attacks and sanctions, but said Qatar and Pakistan are relaying Tehran's messages and that negotiations rest on the June memorandum, on which "Americans must state their position."

    Why it matters The remarks, released hours before Trump rejected Iran's seven-day plan, show Tehran keeping the Qatari and Pakistani channel open while tying any deal to the June memorandum.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), Al Jazeera (3)

  11. 9:30 AM in Baghdad

    Iraq says it is seeking a US exemption to restore some Iranian flights

    OfficialShipping, energy & marketsBaghdad, Iraq

    Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's office said Baghdad is in direct talks with Washington to exempt some Iraqi airports from the sanctions on Iranian airlines, so flights can resume for medical treatment, study, pilgrimages and other civilian needs, after all four Iraqi airports serving Iranian carriers halted them.

    Why it matters Iraq is caught between Washington and Tehran: Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, accused al-Zaidi of dividing the "unity of the fronts" over the Najaf halt, and protesters rallied in Basra against the restrictions.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, CBS News (AFP), Al Jazeera (2), Al Jazeera (3)

Friday, September 25, 20269 entries

  1. 9:26 PM in New York

    Pezeshkian says Iran would admit UN nuclear inspectors under a peace deal

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsNew York

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told CBS News that Iran would allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors into the country as part of a potential long-term ceasefire deal, saying the terms of access could be agreed within the negotiations.

    Why it matters Inspector access is a core U.S. demand, and a public commitment gives Washington a concrete point to test, though inspectors were denied full access before the war.

    Source: CBS News

  2. 4:15 AM in Riyadh, Sep 26

    Saudi-led coalition says it downed Houthi drones aimed at Riyadh

    OfficialMilitary & securityRiyadh, Saudi Arabia

    The Saudi-led coalition said its air defences intercepted and destroyed two Houthi drones launched toward the Riyadh area and ballistic missiles aimed at Khamis Mushait, a southwestern city that hosts an air base. A Houthi political bureau member called the operation "merely a small-scale rehearsal for a full-scale escalation."

    Why it matters The attacks came hours after Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish military chiefs pledged collective defence of the kingdom, testing that pledge.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), CBS News (AFP)

  3. 1:45 PM in New York

    CENTCOM says the blockade has redirected 122 ships since July, seven in two days

    OfficialShipping, energy & marketsStrait of Hormuz approaches

    U.S. Central Command said the blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports redirected seven more commercial vessels since Wednesday, bringing the total to 122 since it was reinstated on July 14, with 12 redirected this week.

    Why it matters The blockade is Washington's main leverage and lifting it is Iran's first condition, so a steady pace of redirections shows the pressure is being sustained during the talks.

    Sources: CBS News, Al Jazeera

  4. 1:32 PM in New York

    US official calls Iran talks 'positive and constructive' but says Washington is in no rush

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsWashington

    A U.S. official said discussions with Iran after Tehran's seven-day proposal were positive and constructive, but that Washington was in no rush because nearly 40 million barrels of oil had transited the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. escort in the previous 48 hours.

    Why it matters Washington is signaling that escorted flows reduce its need to accept Iran's sequencing, lowering the odds of a quick deal on Tehran's terms.

    Source: CBS News

  5. 1:11 PM in New York

    Brent slips to about $103 after Iran's seven-day Hormuz offer

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsGlobal oil markets

    Brent crude traded at about $103 a barrel at midday Friday, down about 2.5% from Thursday, after Iran's foreign minister said Tehran had submitted an offer that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz to tankers within seven days if an agreement is reached.

    Why it matters Prices remain far above pre-war levels and swing on each headline from New York, showing markets treat a Hormuz reopening as possible but not assured.

    Source: CBS News

  6. 7:46 PM in Riyadh

    Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish military chiefs meet in Riyadh after Houthi attacks

    OfficialMilitary & securityRiyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Saudi chief of staff Gen. Fayyadh al-Ruwaili, Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkey's Gen. Selcuk Bayraktaroglu met in Riyadh under their mutual defence agreement and reaffirmed their commitment to defending Saudi Arabia's security and territorial integrity, condemning attacks targeting Mecca and Saudi civil and economic infrastructure.

    Why it matters The pact treats an attack on one as an attack on all, but neither Pakistan nor Turkey has yet hit back at the Houthis, so the watchpoint is whether pledges of intelligence sharing and military coordination turn into action.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), CBS News (AFP)

  7. 11:45 AM in New York

    US ambassador says Trump told Xi any Chinese help to Iran is 'totally unacceptable'

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsUnited States

    U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue told CNBC that President Trump reiterated to Xi Jinping that any direct or indirect Chinese help to Iran, including intelligence, parts or military equipment, is unacceptable. Perdue said Washington believes China has given indirect support to keeping Hormuz closed but has no direct evidence.

    Why it matters China is Iran's largest trade partner and has refused to help enforce U.S. sanctions, so its stance shapes how long Tehran can hold out on Hormuz.

    Sources: CBS News, Al Jazeera

  8. 2:45 PM in Baghdad

    Iraq halts Iranian flights at Najaf, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah under US sanctions

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsNajaf, Iraq

    Najaf airport, the main gateway for Shiite pilgrims, halted all flights between Iran and Najaf after a directive from the Iraqi prime minister's office, its director told AFP, and sources told Reuters that Erbil and Sulaimaniyah airports also suspended Iranian flights. With Baghdad already closed to them, Iranian carriers lost access to all four Iraqi airports they served.

    Why it matters Iraq is now enforcing Washington's aviation squeeze at its busiest pilgrimage hub, cutting a route used by pilgrims, students and patients and widening pressure on Tehran beyond Baghdad.

    Sources: CBS News (AFP), Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), Al Jazeera (3)

  9. 2:45 PM in Tehran

    Khamenei adviser warns no one in the region will fly if Iranian airlines are barred

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsTehran, Iran

    Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, wrote on X that flights in the region would be open to everyone or to no one, and that no country in the region would have airport services if Iran is denied them, after the UAE and Iraq closed their airports to Iranian carriers under U.S. sanctions.

    Why it matters The warning raised the risk of retaliation against regional civil aviation over sanctions; the watchpoint is whether Gulf and Iraqi airports keep enforcing the ban.

    Sources: CBS News, Al Jazeera

Thursday, September 24, 20269 entries

  1. 11:42 PM in New York

    Araghchi says Iran sent the US a seven-day plan to reopen Hormuz and restart talks

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsNew York, United States

    Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters in New York that Iran had sent Washington, through mediators, a seven-day plan: if the U.S. ends its naval blockade, lifts sanctions on Iranian oil, releases about $12 billion in frozen assets and accepts a halt to fighting that includes Lebanon, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz on day six and start talks on a final deal on day seven.

    Why it matters The terms largely mirror June's 14-point memorandum, which collapsed within weeks, so the test is whether Washington accepts lifting the blockade before the strait fully reopens.

    Sources: CBS News, Al Jazeera, i24NEWS, Al Jazeera (2), Al Jazeera (3), CBS News (AP)

  2. 5:30 PM in New York

    Pezeshkian says Iran wants the US back in the June memorandum before the midterms

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsNew York, United States

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told journalists in New York, "We wish Americans to return to the MoU before the midterms," referring to the June memorandum whose ceasefire collapsed within weeks. He also said Iran was open to inspections of its nuclear facilities and denied that Tehran seeks to assassinate Trump or his family.

    Why it matters Trump has said Iran will deal only after the November election, so Tehran is signalling it wants the timeline pulled forward while pressing the same terms.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, CBS News

  3. 10:00 PM in Paris

    Macron says France will send troops and air defences to protect Saudi port of Yanbu

    OfficialMilitary & securityParis, France

    President Emmanuel Macron told TF1 and France 2 that France would send soldiers, radar systems and defence systems to Saudi Arabia to protect the Red Sea port of Yanbu, "not to get us involved in any conflicts, but to protect this site."

    Why it matters Yanbu is the main outlet for Saudi crude diverted around Hormuz, and a French deployment would add to a European role in defending Saudi energy sites already shown by a Greek-run Patriot battery there.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Defense News (Reuters)

  4. 3:28 PM in New York

    Brent touches $108 after Houthi barrage on Saudi Arabia, settles up 3.4%

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsGlobal oil markets

    Brent crude surged about 5% to a session high of $108.23 after the Houthis fired missiles at Saudi Arabia, then pared gains on a report of talks on a phased Hormuz reopening to settle up 3.4% at $106.60 a barrel. U.S. crude rose 2.7% to $94.61.

    Why it matters Attacks on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea export route are now moving prices alongside the Hormuz talks, and Brent had gained more than 17% in September.

    Sources: CNBC, Al Jazeera

  5. 2:04 PM in New York

    Dozens of delegations walk out as Netanyahu addresses the UN General Assembly

    ConfirmedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations headquarters, New York

    Dozens of delegations walked out as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the General Assembly podium, and he called those leaving "moral cowards." He said Israel and the United States had crushed Iran's army, navy, air force and nuclear facilities, thanked President Trump and said Israel would continue to defend itself.

    Why it matters The walkout showed Israel's isolation at the assembly in the same week Washington and Tehran were testing terms to reopen Hormuz, and Iranian diplomats used it to press their case against the war.

    Sources: RTÉ News, CBS News, Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), The Irish Times

  6. 1:43 PM in New York

    Xi tells Trump China backs a US-Iran return to the Islamabad memorandum

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsWhite House, Washington

    At a White House meeting with President Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping backed a U.S. and Iranian return to the June Islamabad memorandum and urged negotiations toward a comprehensive agreement, including on the nuclear issue, according to Xinhua. A White House fact sheet said Trump urged Xi to increase production of refined petroleum products to stabilize global supply; no breakthrough on the war was announced.

    Why it matters China is Iran's largest trading partner; Pezeshkian publicly thanked Xi the next day, while the U.S. ambassador to China said Trump told Xi that any Chinese help to Iran was unacceptable.

    Sources: A News, Al Jazeera, CBS News, Al Jazeera (2)

  7. 1:05 PM in New York

    Eighty countries at UN demand Iran reopen Hormuz with no transit fees

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations headquarters, New York

    Bahrain's foreign minister, Abdullatif Al Zayani, read a joint statement on behalf of 80 UN member states condemning Iran's attacks on neighbouring countries and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, and calling for the urgent and complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without transit fees, conditions or other burdens.

    Why it matters The no-fees language rejects any Iranian toll regime for the strait, a sticking point in any settlement, as Tehran and Oman press their own arrangement for managing passage.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, ANI

  8. 3:10 PM in Dubai

    UAE suspends all flights by Iranian airlines under US sanctions

    OfficialShipping, energy & marketsAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority suspended all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the Emirates, citing the U.S. sanctions on Iranian carriers, WAM reported; Iran's ISNA news agency said the flights had stopped since midnight.

    Why it matters Dubai is one of the busiest destinations for Iranian carriers, with multiple daily flights and a large Iranian community, making the UAE's compliance a key test of the U.S. aviation ban.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), Al Jazeera (3)

  9. 1:40 PM in Riyadh

    Houthis fire ballistic missiles at Yanbu and Taif as Saudi alerts reach Mecca and Jeddah

    OfficialMilitary & securityYanbu and Taif, Saudi Arabia

    Saudi Civil Defence issued brief danger alerts for Mecca, Jeddah, Yanbu, Taif and Tabuk, and the Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed six ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis toward Yanbu and Taif. Greek security sources told Reuters a Greek-operated Patriot battery intercepted a ballistic missile and a drone in the Yanbu area, home to major refineries.

    Why it matters Yanbu is Saudi Arabia's Red Sea outlet for crude that bypasses Hormuz, and the barrage briefly pushed Brent up about 5% to $108.23.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), Al Jazeera (3), Al Jazeera (4), CNBC

Wednesday, September 23, 20268 entries

  1. 3:16 PM in New York

    Oil snaps five-day losing streak as Brent jumps 3.9% to $103

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsGlobal oil markets

    Brent crude rose 3.9% to settle at $103.08 a barrel on Wednesday and U.S. crude gained 1.8% to $92.16, ending five straight losing sessions after Iran's president told the UN General Assembly that Iran would not surrender. Earlier in Asian trading Brent had slipped to about $98 on hopes for the New York talks.

    Why it matters The swing showed how quickly optimism over the New York talks gave way once Pezeshkian struck a defiant tone at the UN, with the reopening of Hormuz still unresolved.

    Sources: Bloomberg, CNBC, Al Jazeera

  2. 8:32 PM in Muscat

    Indian sailor killed as bulk carrier Cape Dao is attacked off Oman's Musandam

    ConfirmedShipping, energy & marketsOff Musandam, Oman

    One crew member, an Indian national, was killed when the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier MV Cape Dao was attacked 2.5 nautical miles off Oman's Musandam peninsula, starting a fire in the engine room; an Omani navy ship evacuated 27 crew. No one claimed responsibility, and an Indian seafarers' union said two torpedoes hit the ship.

    Why it matters The ship was hit close to the Omani coast, the route vessels have used to skirt Iran's restrictions, and the International Maritime Organization says at least 23 seafarers have been killed since the war began in February.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), The National, Al Jazeera (3)

  3. 10:55 AM in New York

    Rubio says an Iran deal will take hard work and military options remain

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsNew York, United States

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in New York that any deal with Iran would involve hard work over a period of time, that President Trump "has a number of options available, including military options," and that the U.S. will "continue to defend and hold the Strait of Hormuz open." He later said the U.S. would honour its defence agreement with Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks.

    Why it matters Rubio's caution, a day after Trump hailed a "very good" meeting with Iran's delegation, signalled that Washington was not expecting a quick settlement and was keeping force on the table.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), CNN

  4. 6:30 PM in Dubai

    UAE central bank bars Bank Melli branches from handling transactions with Iran

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    The UAE central bank prohibited branches of Iran's Bank Melli in the Emirates from executing financial transactions to or from Iran, including trade finance and transfers, citing non-compliance with laws, regulations and supervisory decisions, the state news agency WAM reported.

    Why it matters The UAE hosts the Dubai money channels targeted by Treasury's Operation Economic Outcast, and Treasury Secretary Bessent later said top UAE banks had stopped transacting with Iran.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, CBS News

  5. 10:28 AM in New York

    Pezeshkian tells UN General Assembly Israel holds nuclear weapons while Iran faces inspections

    ConfirmedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations Headquarters, New York

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the UN General Assembly that "the nuclear weapon is in Israel, but the inspectors are in Iran," said Iran seeks no nuclear weapon but will accept no limits on peaceful nuclear technology, and held up photos of children killed in the Feb. 28 strike on a school in Minab. A U.S. delegate walked out during the speech, a day after Trump threatened to "annihilate" Iran.

    Why it matters Pezeshkian paired defiance with an offer of dialogue and negotiations "without accepting the language of force," but his refusal of any limits on enrichment keeps the core nuclear dispute in place as talks on reopening Hormuz continue.

    Sources: CNBC, Bloomberg, Jerusalem Post, UN News, Jerusalem Post (2), Military.com, Al Jazeera

  6. 5:39 PM in Tehran

    Iran's security chief says Hormuz stays shut until US meets seven written conditions

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told state television that Iran would neither reopen the Strait of Hormuz nor negotiate until Washington meets seven written conditions passed through Pakistan and Qatar, and said the U.S. had been given a five-day deadline. He warned neighbours that if they bar Iranian aircraft, "their own airports will not be able to have flights either."

    Why it matters The deadline framed Iran's terms for the New York contacts, and the airport warning raised the stakes for Gulf and Iraqi states deciding whether to enforce the U.S. aviation ban; the council walked the threat back on Sept. 26.

    Sources: Tasnim News Agency, Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), IranWire

  7. 5:10 AM in New York

    Pezeshkian reaches New York as a Khamenei adviser gives cover for US talks

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsNew York, United States

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New York for the UN General Assembly despite hardline calls to cancel the trip. Yahya Rahim Safavi, military adviser to the supreme leader and a former IRGC chief, said that if the leader had left the government open to negotiations, "that is a very important act of prudence."

    Why it matters Backing from a senior security figure gave the New York contacts political cover at home, though Safavi insisted Iran's positions on Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb be respected and the Kayhan newspaper urged Pezeshkian to use the UN as "a courtroom for American crimes."

    Sources: The National, Al Jazeera

  8. 10:15 AM in Tehran

    Iran says half of South Pars capacity knocked out in March is back online

    OfficialShipping, energy & marketsSouth Pars gas field, Iran

    Deputy Oil Minister Ahmad Zeraatkar said half of the production capacity at South Pars gas facilities damaged by Israeli strikes in March has been restored, up from about 40% in late August, and that the remaining repairs will be finished before winter, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

    Why it matters South Pars is the world's largest natural gas field, shared by Iran and Qatar, and the pace of repairs bears on Iran's ability to meet winter demand while under blockade.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2)

Tuesday, September 22, 202614 entries

  1. 12:15 AM in Tehran, Sep 23

    Iran parliament panel approves seizing 20% of cargo from ships breaching Hormuz rules

    OfficialShipping, energy & marketsTehran, Iran

    Parliament's national security committee approved articles of a Strait of Hormuz bill letting authorities seize 20% of a violating vessel's cargo or its value and impound the ship until fines are paid, spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said; any future international agreement on the strait would have to comply with Iran's constitution. The bill still needs a full parliamentary vote and constitutional review.

    Why it matters It would write Iran's claimed control of Hormuz transits into law while the US and Iran were discussing terms for reopening the strait.

    Sources: Al Jazeera live blog, IRNA (via GlobalSecurity.org), Newsquawk

  2. 4:14 PM in New York

    Israel denounces Macron's UN remark that Hamas was never active in the West Bank

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York, United States

    French President Emmanuel Macron told the UN General Assembly that "Hamas has never been active in the West Bank," drawing a response from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that Macron was "lying" and a statement from Netanyahu's office calling it a "grotesque absurdity." A French source said Macron meant that Hamas has never governed the territory.

    Why it matters The row widened the rift between Israel and France at a General Assembly where Macron also called reopening the Strait of Hormuz a priority.

    Sources: The Times of Israel, The Times of Israel live blog, RTE News, The Jerusalem Post

  3. 3:57 PM in New York

    Trump tells Gulf Cooperation Council there is 'a lot of momentum' on an Iran deal

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York, United States

    Meeting leaders and officials from Gulf Cooperation Council and other regional states at the UN, Trump said Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had a "very productive" meeting with mediators and "I think there's a lot of momentum for them to make a deal." He also said the US "may have to blow up" Iran's suspected Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site if it sees activity there.

    Why it matters Trump paired deal optimism with a fresh threat against a nuclear site in front of Gulf states that host US forces and want guarantees for their energy routes.

    Sources: Times of Israel, The Times of Israel live blog, CNN live updates, Iran International

  4. 3:31 PM in New York

    Iran says Araghchi gave Witkoff its terms for reopening Hormuz at the UN

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York, United States

    Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met US envoy Steve Witkoff at the US side's request and restated Iran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz: immediately lifting the naval blockade, immediately releasing frozen Iranian assets and ending the war on all "resistance" fronts, including Lebanon. Witkoff later said the talks were held through mediators who shuttled between the delegations.

    Why it matters The terms put lifting the blockade and releasing assets ahead of any reopening and fold Lebanon into a deal, the sequencing Washington would have to accept.

    Sources: Reuters via US News, Times of Israel, Khaleej Times live updates, CNN live updates, Al Jazeera live blog, The Times of Israel live blog, Al Jazeera

  5. 9:38 PM in Tehran

    Baghdad and Muscat airports to stop accepting Iranian flights as US sanctions loom

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran; Baghdad, Iraq; Muscat, Oman

    An Iranian civil aviation spokesman told Tasnim that Baghdad and Muscat airports "will no longer accept Iranian flights" from midnight and that Iran was working to divert Baghdad flights to Najaf; two sources told Reuters Iraq had ordered its civil aviation authority to suspend Iranian flights to Baghdad from Wednesday. Other routes, including Istanbul, were operating normally; Iraqi government sources had told AFP on Monday that Baghdad would comply with the US ban.

    Why it matters It was the first concrete enforcement by Iran's neighbors of Washington's aviation squeeze; Iran's plan to divert Baghdad flights to Najaf, the main pilgrim route, is the next test.

    Sources: Khaleej Times live updates (AFP, Reuters), Times of Israel, Khaleej Times live updates (AFP), The Times of Israel live blog, Al Jazeera live blog

  6. 2:05 PM in New York

    Trump says US envoys held a 'very good' three-hour meeting with Iranians at the UN

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York, United States

    Trump told reporters that members of his administration met the Iranian delegation for about three hours, calling it "a very good meeting, a very productive meeting" with another "scheduled in the very near future"; earlier, after meeting UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, he said Iran had been talking to the US "even today" and "a settlement is going to be reached."

    Why it matters The disclosure came hours after Trump threatened at the General Assembly to "annihilate" Iran, and US envoy Steve Witkoff later described the talks as conducted through mediators, leaving their format disputed.

    Sources: Khaleej Times live updates (AFP), CNN live updates, CNN live updates (2)

  7. 12:59 PM in New York

    Qatar's prime minister meets Araghchi in New York on de-escalation

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York, United States

    Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss de-escalation efforts and conditions for dialogue, Qatar News Agency reported.

    Why it matters Qatar is one of the mediators relaying proposals between Washington and Tehran, and the meeting came the same day US and Iranian envoys held their first reported talks since June.

    Sources: Khaleej Times live updates (QNA), Iran International

  8. 10:28 AM in New York

    Trump tells UN he must choose between an Iran deal and 'annihilating' the Islamic Republic

    ConfirmedDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York, United States

    In his General Assembly address, Trump said he had "a big decision to make": a deal letting Iran rebuild, or to "annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly," and predicted a deal "right after the election" on Nov. 3. Iran's army general staff and the IRGC's Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters called the threats "domestic propaganda."

    Why it matters The speech tied any settlement to the US midterms while keeping renewed strikes explicitly on the table, hours before US and Iranian envoys held talks in New York.

    Sources: CNN live updates, CNN live updates (2), ABC News, Al Jazeera live blog

  9. 1:46 PM in Zurich

    UN refugee agency says Yemen fighting has displaced more than 130,000 this month

    ReportedCivilian alertsGeneva, Switzerland

    UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch told a Geneva briefing that fighting across multiple Yemeni front lines has driven more than 130,000 people from their homes since the start of September, with more expected to flee within Yemen and to Djibouti and Somalia. The agency has received $34 million of the $194 million it needs in Yemen this year.

    Why it matters The displacement follows the Houthi advance down Yemen's western coast to Bab al-Mandeb, the Red Sea front now tied to the wider war.

    Sources: Jerusalem Post, UN News, The Jerusalem Post (Reuters)

  10. 2:59 PM in Tehran

    Iran Air says it has received no regional flight ban despite US sanctions threat

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsTehran, Iran

    Iran Air said in a statement carried by IRNA that it had received no notification from the aviation authorities of Turkey, Azerbaijan or Iraq to halt its flights to Istanbul, Baku and Najaf, a day before tighter US sanctions on Iranian aviation were due.

    Why it matters By that evening Baghdad and Muscat were refusing Iranian flights, showing how quickly neighbors moved once Washington threatened their airports.

    Source: Khaleej Times live updates (AFP)

  11. 7:24 AM in New York

    Rubio says US open to meeting Iranian officials at UN General Assembly

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsNew York, United States

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC's Today show the US is "certainly open" to speaking with Iranian officials at the UN General Assembly but "I don't think anything is scheduled at this point," adding that the goal is that Iran "can never have a nuclear weapon."

    Why it matters Hours later Trump said US envoys had met the Iranian delegation, the first reported contact since Vice President JD Vance met Iranian officials in Switzerland in June.

    Sources: Khaleej Times live updates, CNN live updates

  12. 12:56 PM in Riyadh

    Saudi East-West pipeline back online at a low rate; Yanbu exports could resume

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsYanbu, Saudi Arabia

    Saudi Arabia restarted its East-West Pipeline at a low rate and could resume crude exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu later Tuesday, three sources told Reuters; drone attacks had forced it shut on Sept. 13. Brent fell more than $2 to about $97.81 a barrel, its lowest since Sept. 8.

    Why it matters The pipeline has been rerouting about 4 million barrels a day, roughly 4% of global supply, to the Red Sea around Hormuz, so its restart restores Saudi Arabia's main bypass.

    Sources: Reuters (via BOE Report), The National, RTE News, Khaleej Times live updates (Reuters)

  13. 1:22 PM in Tehran

    Iran's 'Janfada' mobilization campaign plans training for boys under 15

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    Sasan Zare, spokesperson for Iran's Janfada (self-sacrifice) campaign, told the ILNA news agency that boys under 15 would receive "special training appropriate for younger ages," with those 15 and older already training; girls may enlist only from 18. He said the campaign's slogan is "We have one life, and we give it for Iran."

    Why it matters International humanitarian law bars recruiting children under 15, and the plan is part of a mass mobilization drive Tehran is running while the war remains unresolved.

    Sources: Jerusalem Post, The Jerusalem Post

  14. 1:04 PM in Dubai

    Hormuz commodity-vessel crossings fall to two on Monday, preliminary data show

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsStrait of Hormuz

    Commodity vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz fell to two on Monday from 10 a day earlier, according to preliminary shipping data reported by Reuters; the count excludes ships sailing with transponders off. Before the war the strait handled about 125 large commercial vessels a day.

    Why it matters Tracked transits stayed a fraction of pre-war traffic, which is why reopening the strait is at the center of the US-Iran contacts in New York.

    Sources: Jerusalem Post, Khaleej Times live updates (Reuters)

Monday, September 21, 202615 entries

  1. 9:03 AM in Tehran, Sep 22

    Pezeshkian departs Tehran for UN General Assembly amid ongoing war

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    President Masoud Pezeshkian left Tehran on Tuesday morning for the UN General Assembly, telling state television Iran would "firmly defend our positions in international forums" and convey "Iran's plight" to the world. He was set to be the highest-ranking Iranian official to enter the US since the war began.

    Why it matters His trip put Iran's president in New York while US and Iranian envoys tested terms for a Hormuz reopening, though a senior official said he would not meet Trump.

    Sources: Channels Television, ANI News, Khaleej Times live updates (AFP), Reuters (via BOE Report)

  2. 5:55 AM in Paris, Sep 22

    France drafting a UN Security Council resolution on Hormuz navigation, diplomat says

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsStrait of Hormuz

    France wants to work with the US and partners on a Security Council resolution guaranteeing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and is ready to help secure Saudi energy infrastructure in Yanbu and along the East-West Pipeline in a "strictly defensive" role, a French diplomatic source told AFP. Russia and China vetoed a US-backed Hormuz draft in April.

    Why it matters A new text would test whether Moscow and Beijing still block Council action on Hormuz while Washington and Tehran bargain over reopening it.

    Source: Khaleej Times live updates (AFP)

  3. 11:22 PM in New York

    G7 ministers condemn Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia, urge Iran to stop arming them

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsUnited Nations, New York, United States

    After an informal meeting at the UN in New York, G7 foreign ministers condemned "the unacceptable continued strikes" by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia, told the group to stop attacks on civilian shipping, and called on Iran to end its arming of and support for the Houthis in violation of Security Council resolutions 1747, 2140 and 2216.

    Why it matters The statement ties the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab front to global energy security and adds pressure on Tehran over a second chokepoint.

    Sources: Global Affairs Canada, Khaleej Times live updates, Al Jazeera

  4. 5:13 AM in Tehran, Sep 22

    Senior Iranian official says Hormuz could reopen within seven days if US lifts blockade

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsTehran, Iran

    A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the US eases military pressure and lifts its blockade of Iranian ports, saying Washington must first officially announce it wants a diplomatic solution and agree a timeline; the proposal had gone to the US through mediators on Sept. 16. Another senior Iranian official told MS NOW the reports were not true.

    Why it matters It put a timeline on reopening the strait but required the US to lift its blockade first; Brent fell 2.6% to $97.73 as the report circulated.

    Sources: Jerusalem Post, CNBC, Reuters (via BOE Report), Iran International

  5. 10:26 PM in London

    UK agrees to refuel Saudi jets defending against Houthi attacks

    OfficialMilitary & securityLondon, United Kingdom

    Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Britain agreed to a Saudi request to provide "defensive air-to-air refuelling" for a limited period, to help Saudi aircraft counter Houthi drones and missiles rather than support strikes in Yemen. He said Saudi Arabia "has been experiencing attacks" and "we need to keep those pathways open."

    Why it matters Britain stepped in the same day reports said Trump had called off US strikes on the Houthis, as attacks threaten Saudi energy exports that bypass Hormuz.

    Sources: Al Jazeera live blog, Khaleej Times live updates (AFP), CNBC

  6. 12:05 AM in Baghdad, Sep 22

    Iraq's prime minister says Iran is blocking Iraqi tankers in Hormuz

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsIraq

    Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi told The New York Times that Iran has not allowed Iraqi tankers through the Strait of Hormuz to push up oil prices, and that Iraq has lost about $60 billion and some 60% of monthly export revenue since the war began. He also set June 2027 for Iran-aligned armed groups to disarm and fold into the Popular Mobilization Forces.

    Why it matters Even Tehran's closest Arab neighbor is being squeezed by the Hormuz closure, and the militia plan depends on US forces not targeting the groups during a 90-day truce.

    Sources: Al Jazeera live blog, Al Jazeera live blog (2), Ynet News

  7. 3:15 PM in New York

    US proposes $5 billion fund to rebuild Gulf energy sites, WSJ reports

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsWashington, United States

    The Trump administration has proposed investing $5 billion in a new fund to help Middle East countries rebuild energy infrastructure damaged in the Iran war and reduce their reliance on the Strait of Hormuz to ship oil and gas, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US and Middle Eastern officials and documents.

    Why it matters The proposal is aimed at cutting Gulf producers' dependence on Hormuz, a hedge in case the strait does not fully reopen.

    Sources: Khaleej Times live updates (Reuters), CNN live updates

  8. 1:43 PM in New York

    Trump called off planned US strikes on the Houthis at the last minute, NYT reports

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsWashington, United States

    The New York Times reported that Trump ordered the Pentagon to prepare airstrikes on the Houthis after a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with targets approved and bombs being loaded, but changed his mind by midday Sunday. Reuters separately reported that Trump spoke on Sunday with Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi, who asked for US support, without making a direct pledge.

    Why it matters Washington is staying out of the Saudi-Houthi fight on the Red Sea despite Riyadh's pleas; Britain agreed the same day to provide limited defensive refuelling instead.

    Sources: Ynet News, Khaleej Times live updates (Reuters), The Jerusalem Post, Al Jazeera, CNBC

  9. 6:48 PM in Aden

    Yemeni government forces say they struck Houthi positions near Bab al-Mandeb and in Bayda

    ReportedMilitary & securityBab al-Mandeb area and Bayda province, Yemen

    Yemen's internationally recognized government said its forces struck Houthi fighters, positions and supply lines in the Bab al-Mandeb area and in Bayda province, military spokesperson Col. Majed al-Nazili said; government forces also said they shot down a Houthi drone in Taiz province, Al Jazeera reported. The claims could not be independently verified.

    Why it matters The Houthis seized Yemen's Red Sea coast this month, and control of the ground above Bab al-Mandeb bears on the Red Sea route Saudi Arabia uses to export oil around Hormuz.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, CNN, Al Jazeera live blog (day recap)

  10. 4:33 PM in Tehran

    Iran's army chief and the IRGC warn of 'decisive' response to any new US or Israeli attack

    ReportedMilitary & securityTehran, Iran

    In Sacred Defence Week messages, army commander Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami said Iran's armed forces stand "with full vigilance and readiness" to defend the country, and the IRGC said the US and Israel would sooner or later have to accept a region "free of their evil and criminal presence," with its forces' fingers "on the trigger."

    Why it matters The messages came a day after Trump said he was weighing military action, economic pressure or a deal, and set Tehran's public line just as its delegation headed to the UN General Assembly.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), IRNA (via GlobalSecurity.org), The Business Standard, Dawn, Pars Today (IRIB)

  11. 1:54 PM in London

    Oil falls to an 11-day low on hopes for US-Iran diplomacy at the UN

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsLondon, United Kingdom

    Brent crude for November fell $2.69, or 2.6%, to $101.18 a barrel by 12:54 GMT on Monday, and both benchmarks touched their lowest since Sept. 10, as traders hoped this week's UN meetings would bring diplomatic progress and eyed a partial recovery in Saudi shipments.

    Why it matters Prices were still near $100 a barrel, so each signal from New York on Hormuz was moving the market.

    Sources: Khaleej Times live updates (Reuters), Al Jazeera live blog (day recap)

  12. 8:17 AM in New York

    Bessent says US sanctions will shut down all Iranian airlines worldwide from Sept. 23

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsWashington, United States

    Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that "on September 23rd, all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world," warning that anyone who fuels them, provides landing services or sells their tickets "will be knocked out of the dollar system." Treasury had sanctioned all remaining Iranian airlines earlier in September.

    Why it matters The threat moves enforcement onto foreign airports, fuel suppliers and ticket sellers, so the test is whether Iraq, Oman, Turkey and others keep serving Iranian carriers.

    Sources: FXStreet, Al Jazeera, Gulf News (AFP), Khaleej Times live updates (AFP), CNBC transcript

  13. 2:45 PM in Beirut

    Israeli airstrikes and shelling hit Nabatieh, Bint Jbeil and Marjayoun districts

    ReportedMilitary & securityNabatieh, Bint Jbeil and Marjayoun districts, Lebanon

    Israeli warplanes struck the outskirts of Kfar Tebnit and Nabatieh al-Fawqa and the Zibqin valley, while artillery shelled towns in the Bint Jbeil and Marjayoun districts overnight and into Monday, Lebanon's National News Agency reported. Lebanese authorities say Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed at least 4,386 people.

    Why it matters Strikes continue despite the June 26 framework agreement, and ending the war in Lebanon is one of Iran's conditions for reopening Hormuz.

    Sources: Anadolu (via A News), Al Jazeera live blog (day recap)

  14. 10:07 AM in Tehran

    IRGC spokesman threatens to 'change the geography of the war' if U.S. escalates

    ReportedMilitary & securityTehran, Iran

    IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi said "the war is not over" and that if the US escalates, Iran would "certainly change the geography of the war" and bring "new weapons with new capabilities into the battle," adding that its targets would "no longer necessarily be the same as before."

    Why it matters It is Tehran's warning that any renewed US campaign would bring new weapons and targets, with no agreement yet reached to reopen Hormuz or revive nuclear talks.

    Sources: News4Jax (AP), Khaleej Times live updates (Fars), AP (via Military.com), AP (via Spectrum News)

  15. 10:03 AM in Dubai

    Projectile strikes tanker entering the Strait of Hormuz, injuring two crew

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsStrait of Hormuz

    UKMTO said military authorities reported that a tanker on an inbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unknown projectile, leaving two crew with minor injuries; the vessel continued under its own power. Later on Monday, UKMTO reported a delayed report of an outbound LPG tanker hit by debris from unknown projectiles, with all crew safe.

    Why it matters Two incidents in one day kept attacks on merchant ships a live risk in the strait while Washington and Tehran were preparing for contacts at the UN.

    Sources: News4Jax (AP), MarineLink, Bernama (Anadolu), Bernama (Anadolu) (2), AP (via Military.com)

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