MIDDLE EAST
Share
EU Weighs Wider Naval Role as Strait of Hormuz Risk Rises
The EU’s foreign policy chief has said Operation ASPIDES could be extended towards the Strait of Hormuz through a change to its operational plan, as Europe assesses the risk to trade and energy routes in the Gulf. The European Union…
Saudi Arabia’s Covert Strikes Against Iran
For decades, the unspoken bargain in the Gulf was simple: Saudi Arabia bought security, and the United States supplied it. The kingdom funded vast arsenals, hosted Western forces and relied on Washington’s protective umbrella whenever tensions with Tehran threatened to…
Pakistan Accused of Hosting Iranian Military Aircraft Despite Mediator Role in US-Iran Conflict
Pakistan’s role as an intermediary between Tehran and Washington has come under scrutiny after US officials alleged that Islamabad allowed Iranian military aircraft to park on Pakistani airfields during the conflict between Iran and the United States. According to CBS…
Russia’s GRU Reportedly Planned Drone Support for Iran Against US Forces
A confidential Russian military intelligence proposal, reportedly seen by The Economist, outlined plans to supply Iran with thousands of fibre-optic drones and train operators for possible use against American forces in the Gulf. Russia’s military intelligence service prepared a plan…
NATO chief says Europe has heard US message on security burden-sharing
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said European allies are responding to US pressure over the Middle East crisis by implementing basing agreements, providing logistical support and pre-positioning assets closer to operational theatres. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said…
UK and France move to launch defensive Hormuz shipping mission
Britain and France say they will establish a strictly defensive multinational mission to protect merchant shipping and support mine-clearance operations in the Strait of Hormuz, signalling a European-led effort to restore confidence on one of the world’s most important trade…
Paris summit to examine European plan for reopening Strait of Hormuz
France and the United Kingdom are convening an international meeting in Paris on Friday aimed at preparing a future multinational effort to restore commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the maritime chokepoint through which about one fifth of global…
US sets 13 April start for blockade of shipping to and from Iranian ports
Washington has ordered a naval blockade of shipping to and from Iranian ports from 13 April, in a move that sharpens military pressure on Tehran while raising immediate risks for Gulf maritime security and energy flows through the Strait of…
Zelenskyy accuses US of overlooking Russia’s support for Iran
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused the United States of ignoring evidence that Russia is helping Iran target US positions in the Middle East, arguing that Washington still places too much trust in Vladimir Putin while failing to grasp the Kremlin’s wider…
Ceasefire on paper, escalation in theatre: Iran’s 10 demands and the US build-up in the Gulf
A two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran has paused immediate hostilities, but the crisis remains unresolved. Tehran’s 10 conditions amount to a sweeping political demand set, while Washington continues to reinforce its military presence in the Gulf, indicating…