iran
Iran will pay for any Houthi-led attacks, Trump says
U.S. President Donald Trump promised on Thursday “major military punishment” for Iran and its Houthi allies, after the Yemeni fighters struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, extending the Middle East war to a second major shipping chokepoint. Fears that disruption could widen further to block another sea route sent global oil prices surging in one of the steepest rises of the war. Brent crude rose more than six per cent, breaking through $100 US a barrel for the first time since May. Two weeks since the effectiveRead more
U.S. strikes Iran again as Tehran warns of ‘existential war’ with America
The U.S. struck Iran’s coastal defences and missile sites on Wednesday after reimposing a naval blockade of its ports, while Iran threatened to shut off more regional energy exports, saying it was engaged in an “existential war” with America. The latest escalation comes days after a fragile truce collapsed, raising the spectre of a return to full-scale war, though analysts generally see that as less likely. Hostilities have intensified since Iran said late on Saturday it had closed the Strait of Hormuz. Military operations are also keeping ships from transiting the vital artery, whichRead more
U.S. launches fresh strikes on Iran after Trump warned peace deal is ‘over’
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it was launching fresh strikes on Iran aimed at keeping the critical Strait of Hormuz open to traffic, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that an interim agreement to end the war with Iran was “over.” The latest round of attacks, which the United States said was launched in response to Tuesday’s assault on three cargo ships transiting the strait, rattled several cities along Iran’s southern coast and left some areas without power. “U.S. Central Command forces have started conducting additional strikes againstRead more
What’s next for Trump and Netanyahu in war with Iran
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, is greeted by U.S. President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club on Dec. 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. The priorities of the two around Iran diverge, in part, because of the leaders’ differing domestic political concerns. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press) U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempts to find a way out of the war with Iran have suddenly become a lot more complicated. The Israel versus Iran part of the conflict dramatically ramped up in intensity over a matter of hours on Sunday, exactlyRead more
Trump talks with aides on Iran’s proposal to end war stalemate
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, arrives in St. Petersburg, Russia, for diplomatic talks on Monday. (Iranian Foreign Ministry/Anadolu/Getty Images) U.S. President Donald Trump discussed a new Iranian proposal on resolving the war with Tehran with his top national security aides on Monday, as the conflict remains in a stalemate with energy supplies from the region reduced. Iranian sources earlier on Monday disclosed Tehran’s latest proposal, which would set aside discussion of Iran’s nuclear program until the war is ended and disputes over shipping from the Gulf are resolved. ThatRead more
Starmer to visit Middle East after US and Iran reach ceasefire deal
Reuters Keir Starmer welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US as he travelled to meet with leaders of countries in the Gulf on Wednesday. The prime minister is expected to “discuss diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the ceasefire”, according to No 10. He will return to the UK on Friday. The ceasefire comes after Donald Trump threatened “a whole civilisation will die” if Iran did not agree to end the war and unblock the Strait of Hormuz – comments that led Downing Street to call again forRead more
Trump and Iran agreed to a ceasefire. What happens now?
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media Tuesday that he will hold off for two weeks on his threat to bomb Iranian power plants and bridges, in exchange for Iran agreeing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic. (Mark Schiefelbein/The Associated Press) Now that U.S. President Donald Trump has backed off his escalating threats to bomb Iran’s power plants, bridges and even destroy its civilization, attention turns to whether the warring sides can reach a full-fledged peace deal that lasts. Trump’s announcement of a two-week ceasefire cameRead more
Trump agrees to 2-week ceasefire as Iran says it will allow passage through Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said early Tuesday evening that he has agreed “to suspend the bombing and attack on Iran for a period of two weeks” subject to Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. “This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!,” he wrote on social media, adding that he agreed to it “subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be allowed for the nextRead more
U.S. pressure on Venezuela hasn’t eased, even as world’s attention turns to Iran
Earlier this year, the U.S. forcibly removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power. Delcy Rodríguez, the country’s acting president, has found herself managing continuing pressure from the Trump administration, even as U.S. attention is turning to Iran. (Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images) American pressure on Venezuela has not stopped, even amid a war the U.S. is fighting with Iran overseas. Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, is trying to manage the demands of the Trump administration as she looks to hang on to American support more than two months after the toppling ofRead more
‘We have only just begun,’ Hegseth says of Iran as Senate blocks effort to limit war powers
The U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black fires a Tomahawk missile in support of the Operation Epic Fury attack on Iran Saturday. (U.S. Navy Handout/Reuters) The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran widened sharply on Wednesday, with U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declaring that the United States was winning and that its military could fight as long as needed. “Our air defences and that of our allies have plenty of runway. We can sustain this fight easily for as long as we need to,” he said. Hegseth’sRead more