US Israel war on Iran

US President Donald Trump speaks next to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a multilateral meeting with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan, Jordan's King Abdullah, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and o

Middle East Roundup, Aug 16: ‘Very Happy’: Trump welcomes Makkah Joint Defence Agreement

Congratulates the leadership of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, and declares the pact a 'big, bold, and important first step; Muslim countries condemn Israel's rejection of Trump's Gaza plan; Hamas says it asked Board of Peace to 'compel' Israel to accept Gaza plan.

2 DAYS AGO

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Prime Minister of Iraq Ali al-Zaidi (L) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 14, 2026. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Iraq PM to visit Iran this week after trip to US

Washington and Tehran are Iraq's main allies, but their enmity has long turned the country into a proxy battleground and left successive governments struggling to maintain a delicate balance between the foes.

July 19, 2026

Certain people within Israel hate deal between Washington, Tehran: Vance

July 16, 2026

Middle East Roundup, July 13: Trump says US will be 'paid' for guarding Strait of Hormuz

Says that a deal with Tehran to end the Middle East war is still possible, despite launching fresh strikes on Iran and reimposing a blockade of Iranian ports.

July 13, 2026

A US Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter patrols near a commercial vessel transiting regional waters as American forces enforce the maritime blockade against Iran. (File photo: US CENTCOM/X)

Middle East Roundup, June 27: US launches fresh strikes on Iranian military targets, says CENTCOM

US Central Command claims the strike follows another attack by the IRGC on a commercial oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz; Pakistan’s foreign office says Araghchi expressed appreciation for Islamabad’s ‘continued support’ in ‘advancing the peace process’; Rubio says a ‘lot of work ahead’ still left to be done, as Lebanon, Israel, and US sign trilateral framework.

June 27, 2026

SpaceX, Twitter and electric car maker Tesla CEO Elon Musk looks on as he speaks during his visit at the Vivatech technology startups and innovation fair at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, on June 16, 2023. (File photo: AFP)

Elon Musk's AI tool Grok was used in strikes against Iran: US govt

The US Department of Justice argued that the lawsuit "threatens American national, economic, and energy security by seeking to shut off the power supply for artificial intelligence innovation that supports the Department of War's military operations."

June 17, 2026

World closer than ever to Iran-US peace deal, says Pakistan PM

Development marks culmination of more than 100 days of conflict, diplomacy and intensive regional engagement that saw Pakistan emerge as a key mediator between Washington, Tehran; since the outbreak of hostilities, Islamabad has maintained sustained diplomatic contacts with both sides, worked closely with regional partners to facilitate dialogue, reduce tensions and support efforts toward a negotiated settlement.

June 13, 2026

Middle East Roundup June 11, 2026: Trump cancels Iran strikes, cites progress in talks involving Pakistan

Says key elements of a proposed Iran agreement have been approved by all parties and a signing announcement is expected soon, while Pakistan says it remains engaged in mediation efforts despite renewed hostilities and regional tensions.

June 11, 2026

ADNOC refinery site in Ruwais, UAE. (File photo: Wikimedia Commons)

As OPEC+ meets, Iran war hobbles power to shape oil market

OPEC+ ministers meet Sunday to weigh higher production quotas in a bid to cap oil prices that have surged since the Iran war effectively choked off Gulf crude shipments.

June 7, 2026

Middle East roundup, June 4: Pakistan rejects Rubio-Iran intelligence claim

Trump says talks with Iran could yield results over the coming weekend and are going 'very well'; oil prices ease as reports of Israel-Lebanon ceasefire spark hope; death toll in Israeli strike on Gaza apartments rises to 9, including 4 children.

June 4, 2026