Category: Middle East

Tue 13 January 2026: Russia on Tuesday said that it rejected “attempts to blackmail” Iran’s partners as US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on “any and all” countries doing business with Iran. In a statement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that Western sanctions on Iran, which she defined as […]

Tue 13 January 2026: Top US diplomat Marco Rubio says Washington will ‘use all available tools’ to counter Muslim Brotherhood branches. The United States has designated Muslim Brotherhood organisations in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan as “terrorist” groups, The Associated Press news agency reports, as Washington intensifies its crackdown on Israel’s rivals across the world. The […]

Tue 13 January 2026: The UN on Monday warned that child malnutrition in the Gaza Strip has reached alarming levels, with nearly 95,000 cases identified in 2025 and harsh winter conditions eroding fragile humanitarian gains, Anadolu reports. Citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a news conference that […]

Tue 13 January 2026: The United States has signaled a sharp escalation in economic pressure on Iran, with U.S. President Donald Trump warning that third countries trading with Tehran could face significant trade penalties. The announcement adds a new dimension to Washington’s response to unrest in Iran, while raising questions about enforcement, legal authority and […]

Tue 13 January 2026: Oil prices have extended gains as concerns grow over unrest in Iran with analysts warning any escalation could disrupt global supplies. “Unrest in Iran has added about $3-4 a barrel in geopolitical risk premium in oil prices in our view,” Barclays said in a note. ING commodities strategists said the rise in […]

Mon 12 January 2026: Hamas said Sunday it will dissolve its existing government in Gaza once a Palestinian technocratic leadership committee takes over the territory, as mandated under the U.S.-brokered peace plan. But the group gave no specifics on when the change will occur. Hamas and the rival Palestinian Authority, the Palestinians’ internationally recognized representative, have not […]

Mon 12 January 2026: US president says Washington is closely monitoring protests in Iran and considering possible military intervention. United States President Donald Trump has said that Washington is considering “strong options” in response to Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protests, including possible military intervention. “We’re looking at it very seriously. The military is looking at […]

Mon 12 January 2026: US President Donald Trump is expected to receive briefings on Tuesday on possible responses to nationwide protests in Iran, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The talks are set to explore a range of options, from sanctions and cyber measures to potential military action, though no final decision is anticipated at this […]

Sun 11 January 2026: The Iranian president said Sunday that his government is determined to address Iran’s economic problems amid ongoing protests in several parts of the country. Iran’s “enemies are seeking to sow chaos and instability” following the country’s 12-day war last June with Israel, Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised statement, accusing the […]