US stock markets soar to new records amid Hormuz deal hopes The S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite and Dow Jones Industrial Average are on track for their best five-day performance since April 2025. Iran
Explainer Iran-Oman Hormuz route talks near 'completion': What to know The new framework would give Iran a greater role in managing one of the world’s most strategically important maritime choke points. Oman
Oil falls 5% after Trump calls off Iran strikes, says Hormuz deal agreed Oil prices fell after President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he had suspended planned strikes on Iran following a request from Tehran and other Middle Eastern countries. Iran
Turkey, Pakistan among 14 countries backing Saudi Arabia's anti-Houthi Red Sea alliance Riyadh won political backing from 14 countries for its proposed maritime defense coalition, but members have yet to commit to joining as Washington weighs its position. Saudi Arabia
Analysis How Gulf banks are absorbing Iran war shocks By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Iran partially restores internet after 88-day blackout: What to know The move comes after a nearly three-month internet blackout, marking it as one of the longest outages ever. Iran
Analysis Israel pushes for full Iran blockade as it awaits Trump's next move Israel’s preferred strategy, sources told Al-Monitor, calls for a comprehensive naval, economic, land and air blockade of Iran, alongside tighter sanctions and covert activity aimed at destabilizing the regime. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
US extends Russian oil sanctions waiver as Iran war squeezes supply The waiver temporarily lifts sanctions on Russian oil for 30 days. Iran
Iran confiscates assets of 129 alleged ‘traitors’ in West Azerbaijan province Iranian authorities have cracked down on people accused of collaborating with the US and Israel since the war erupted in February while fears of renewed fighting remain high amid stalled peace talks. Iran
Lebanon-Israel ceasefire extended 45 days as US opens security talks The Pentagon will host Israeli and Lebanese military delegations for a round of separate security talks later this month. Lebanon
Uptick in Chinese tankers transiting Hormuz amid Trump-Xi summit President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday, a meeting closely watched in Iran. United Arab Emirates
In first, Lebanon files formal UN complaint against Iran: What to know The move comes as relations between Iran and Lebanon continue to deteriorate in light of what is perceived as ongoing Iranian interference in Lebanese affairs via its proxy group, Hezbollah. Lebanon
Aramco profits jump 26% as Hormuz disruption chokes supply Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said the market has already lost around 1 billion barrels of oil supply since the US-Israel-Iran war erupted on Feb. 28. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Netanyahu fears being left out as Trump pursues Iran diplomacy Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was not surprised by President Donald Trump’s suspension of Project Freedom and move toward talks with Iran, but analysts say Washington may not be fully weighing Israel's concerns in negotiations with Tehran. Israel
Egypt ramps up energy investments amid war-driven price pressures Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Wednesday that Egypt has secured commitments exceeding $19 billion from international oil companies over the next three years. Egypt
Iran president says he held official meeting with Mojtaba Khamenei: What to know The president’s announcement marks the first public confirmation of a meeting between a senior official and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since the start of the war. Iran
US, Iran move toward deal framework after Trump halts Hormuz operation Iran said it is reviewing the US proposal and will relay its response through mediator Pakistan. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
