Middle East Monitor Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa

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  UN nuclear watchdog says no damage detected at Israeli nuclear center after Iran strike

  by Marwa A on March 21, 2026

  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Saturday it received no indication of damage to Israel’s Negev Nuclear Research Center following an Iranian missile strike on the city of Dimona, Anadolu reports. No abnormal radiation levels had been detected in the region, it added. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stressed that “maximum military restraint should be observed, in particular in the vicinity of nuclear facilities,” as the agency said he was closely monitoring the situation. Dozens were injured in Dimona, a city in southern Israel that is home to the Negev Nuclear Research Center, after a barrage of Iranian missiles struck the area Saturday. The strikes were part of Iran’s retaliatory campaign against Israel following US-Israeli joint attacks on Iran

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  Iran denies responsibility for missile attacks on Diego Garcia

  by Marwa A on March 21, 2026

  A senior Iranian official told Al Jazeera on Sunday that Iran was not responsible for and was not behind missile attacks on the Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean, Anadolu reports. The denial came after the Wall Street Journal reported Friday that two intermediate-range ballistic missiles had been fired toward the base, with neither striking it. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to Anadolu’s request for comment. Diego Garcia is one of two bases the UK has authorized the US to use as part of the campaign against Iran. The reported incident had drawn attention because Diego Garcia lies 4,000 kilometers (2.485 miles) from Iran, double the 2,000-kilometer limit Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed Tehran had deliberately imposed

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  Saudi Arabia gives Iranian military attache and 4 other embassy staffers 24 hours to leave country

  by Marwa A on March 21, 2026

  Citing Iran’s recent attacks, Saudi Arabia has declared the Iranian military attache, assistant attache, and three other Iranian Embassy staffers persona non grata, giving them 24 hours to leave the country, Anadolu reports. In a statement late Saturday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said it condemns Iran’s attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Iran’s attacks targeting Saudi Arabia represent “a flagrant violation of all relevant international conventions, the principles of good neighborliness, and respect for state sovereignty.” They also violate “the Beijing Agreement, UN Security Council Resolution No. 2817, and contradict Islamic brotherhood and the values and principles of the Islamic religion that the Iranian side constantly speaks of, confirming that these are merely words not reflected by actions,” it

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  Bahrain, Egypt call for int’l cooperation to protect Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  Bahrain and Egypt on Saturday called for international cooperation to protect the Strait of Hormuz, stressing the importance of “stopping Iran’s threats to disrupt freedom of navigation” in the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. The call came during a meeting between Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who arrived in Bahrain after visiting Qatar and the United United Arab Emirates amid rising regional tensions, according to the Bahrain News Agency. The two leaders “affirmed that protecting maritime routes is a shared international responsibility requiring cooperation from all in the region and the world,” the media outlet said. They also called for the “immediate” cessation of all attacks by Iran on the Gulf countries and Jordan,

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  Turkiye condemns surge in Israeli settler terrorism in West Bank

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  Turkiye on Saturday condemned the escalation in settler terrorism and illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. “We condemn the settler terrorism and settlement activities in the West Bank, which have intensified further in recent times, as well as the pressure exerted by Israeli security forces on Palestinians,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The ministry said Israel’s annexation practices seek to weaken chances for a two-state solution, which Turkiye called the key to lasting peace in the region, and that settler terrorism is targeting the fundamental rights of Palestinians, “especially the right to life.” It added that an immediate halt to both the annexation practices and settler terrorism is “a fundamental requirement under both international law and

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  Moscow will not shed political tears for Tehran

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  The Nowruz  greeting Vladimir Putin sent to Iran’s leadership and people is little more than a seasonal postcard—politically meaningless in a time of war. The Kremlin announced that Putin had extended congratulations to Mojtaba Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian on the occasion of the Iranian New Year. But anyone familiar with Moscow’s strategic mindset knows that Putin does not shed political tears for anyone—not for Khamenei, not for Bashar al‑Assad, and certainly not for Nicolás Maduro. He does not see these figures as “allies,” but as expendable assets to be used and discarded. The language claiming that “Russia will remain a loyal friend and reliable partner to Iran” belongs to the lexicon of public relations, not to the vocabulary of

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  War on Iran is U-turn from Trump’s previous pledges: American journalist Carlson

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  Recent US attacks on Iran show President Donald Trump doing a U-turn from his previous pledges, a prominent right-wing journalist said Friday. “I think that this war is something that he promised he wouldn’t do, not once but countless times,” said Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News commentator and sometimes Trump supporter. “The idea behind it is not only contrary to America first. It may be its inverse,” said Carlson, who now posts his shows via US social media platform X. Claiming that a regime change in Iran would benefit the US, Carlson said no one disputes this. But he criticized Trump’s claims that an Iranian attack on the US was imminent, saying: “I’ve heard … the kind of tiresome

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  Iranian parliament considers imposing fees for ‘safe passage’ through Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  With the Strait of Hormuz largely blocked, impacting the world economy, Iran’s parliament is preparing to pass a law that would impose fees on ships for “safe passage” through the waterway, according to Iranian media. Citing a member of the parliament’s economic committee, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported Saturday that a bill has been prepared to charge vessels transiting the strategic strait. Saeed Rahmatzadeh said imposing fees on maritime passage through straits is “a common practice in many important sea lanes around the world.” He added that the measure could help boost Iran’s revenues and improve maritime security and services along the route. READ: Iran does not seek conflict with neighbors: President Pezeshkian On March 2, Iran announced restrictions on

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  Russia says attacks on Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities violate international law

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Saturday that attacks on Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities constitute a violation of international law and risk triggering a major catastrophe in the Middle East, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Zakharova condemned what she described as massive strikes by the US and Israel on Iranian military, civilian, and nuclear infrastructure, accusing them of disregarding civilian casualties and potential radiological and environmental consequences. She said the uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, which operates under safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was targeted again on the morning of Saturday, despite earlier claims that Iran’s nuclear program had been destroyed by US airstrikes last year. “This is a brazen violation of international law, the charters of the

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  7 children killed in US-Israeli strike on residential area in Tehran

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  Seven children, including an infant, were killed in a US-Israeli airstrike targeting a residential area in the Iranian capital Tehran, Iranian media reported Saturday. Mehr News Agency said the attack targeted residential neighborhoods in the eastern parts of the capital on Friday. It added that the strike resulted in the deaths of seven children, including a 10-day-old infant, and injured a large number of people. Footage circulated by Iranian media showed the targeted building completely destroyed. The US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28, with Tehran retaliating with repeated drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. READ: Iran says Natanz nuclear enrichment complex hit again in US-Israeli attack

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  European, Canadian diplomatic missions condemn growing ‘settler terror’ in West Bank

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  Diplomatic missions of 13 European countries and Canada in Jerusalem and Ramallah on Saturday strongly condemned what they called “increasing settler terror” and violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, Anadolu reports. In a joint statement, the missions of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the EU, Ireland, Finland, France, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, the UK, Sweden, and Switzerland “strongly condemned increasing settler terror and violence by the security forces inflicted upon communities.” “This violence by settler militias, aimed at taking over land and creating a coercive environment, forcing Palestinians to leave their homes, must end,” read the joint statement, expressing that they are especially “appalled” by the killings of Palestinians over these past weeks. READ: Palestinian Christian town in West Bank faces rising

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  UN nuclear watchdog urges military restraint after US-Israel strike at Iran’s nuclear site

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Saturday that Iran reported an attack on its Natanz nuclear site, but no off-site radiation increase was detected, as its chief urged military restraint, Anadolu reports. “The IAEA has been informed by Iran that the Natanz nuclear site was attacked today. No increase in off-site radiation levels reported,” the IAEA wrote on US social media company X. The UN nuclear watchdog said the agency is looking into the report, while its Director General Rafael Grossi reiterated his call for military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident. Earlier on Saturday, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said the Shahid Ahmadi Roshan enrichment facility in Natanz was struck as part of what it described

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  Tremors in MAGA: Joe Kent, the Iran war and the antisemitism smear

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  Joe Kent, the now former US Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, always seemed a bit off, especially to liberals.  As a combat veteran of MAGA pedigree, he found favour with President Donald J. Trump, who rewarded him for his conspiracy blustering in a manner befitting other nominees baptised in the truth repelling River of Fox News.  But the mindless adventurism in attacking Iran in league with Israel was a step too far. In his resignation letter, Kent asserted that he could not “in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran.  Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”  Till

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  Iran says Natanz nuclear enrichment complex hit again in US-Israeli attack

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  Iran said its Natanz nuclear enrichment complex was targeted again in a US-Israeli attack on Saturday morning, according to a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said the Shahid Ahmadi Roshan enrichment facility in Natanz was struck as part of what it described as “criminal attacks” by the US and Israel. It added that the attack violates international laws and commitments, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and other nuclear safety regulations. READ: Iran does not seek conflict with neighbors: President Pezeshkian The organization said technical and specialized assessments were conducted by the country’s Nuclear Safety System Center to evaluate the possibility of radioactive contamination at the site. According

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  Illegal Israeli settlers boast in WhatsApp group about escalating violence against Palestinians

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  Illegal Israeli settlers who seized Palestinian land boasted in a WhatsApp group about escalating violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, media reports said on Friday. The Times of Israel reported that the illegal settlers shared a list of attacks carried out against Palestinians during the Hebrew calendar month of “Adar,” which ended Wednesday. In a WhatsApp group named “News from Us,” the settlers said they have attacked the town of Mikhmas, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, five times in a month, as well as carried out three attacks in Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank and conducted raids on 26 Palestinian villages. The group also boasted of injuring 37 Palestinians, setting fire to two mosques, and torching

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  Iran does not seek conflict with neighbors: President Pezeshkian

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday Tehran is not seeking conflict with neighboring and Muslim countries, calling them “brothers.” “To Islamic countries and our dear neighbors: you are our brothers, and we are not engaged in any conflict with you. The only beneficiary of our disagreements is the Zionist entity,” Pezeshkian said in a message on the US social media company X on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. He also prayed that Eid al-Fitr would bring “strength and unity” through adherence to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. The US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28, with Tehran retaliating with repeated drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. READ: Iran FM says end of

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  Germany evacuates troops from Iraq as Middle East security situation deteriorates

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  Germany has evacuated its military personnel from Iraq following a decision by NATO to change its deployment posture in the country amid a worsening security situation in the Middle East, Anadolu reports. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said he was relieved that German troops returned home, and noted the withdrawal had been successful. He said personnel and equipment were airlifted from Baghdad aboard A400M military transport aircraft under risky conditions. German troops had been stationed in Iraq as part of the NATO Mission Iraq (NMI), providing advisory and training support to Iraqi security forces. NATO decided to evacuate all its personnel to Europe following the deterioration of the regional security environment. READ: NATO relocates Iraq mission personnel to Europe amid Mideast escalation

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  Trump surprised by UK’s ‘very late response’ on allowing use of military bases

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Friday he was surprised by United Kingdom’s “very late response” in allowing Washington to use British military bases for strikes targeting Iranian missile capabilities threatening the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. “I was a little surprised at the UK. They should have acted a lot faster,” Trump told reporters, adding that the delay was unexpected given the strength of the relationship. Downing Street confirmed Friday that Cabinet ministers had approved an expansion of US access to British bases, specifying that the agreement now covered American defensive operations to degrade Iranian missile sites, and capabilities being used to attack shipping in the strait. The White House previously said Trump told UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer that he wished

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  Iraq cuts Basra oil output by 70% amid regional escalation

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  Iraq has cut oil production in the Basra fields by about 70%, reducing output from 3.3 million barrels per day to around 900,000, following the suspension of crude exports from southern ports, the state news agency reported Friday. Deputy Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani said during a meeting with officials from the Basra Oil Company that production had been sharply reduced after exports were halted, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA). He added that the crude currently being produced is being directed to operate domestic refineries. Oil prices rose amid the escalating regional tensions, with Brent crude climbing about 4% to $112.4 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate reached $98.35, up 2.8%. On Wednesday, Iraq’s North Oil Company announced

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  Why Prabowo must follow through on cancelling the Gaza peacekeeping deployment

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  Indonesia’s plan to deploy peacekeeping forces to the Gaza Strip, once heralded as a landmark moment in the country’s military diplomacy, has now reached a critical impasse. The ambitious commitment to send up to 8,000 Indonesian troops under the banner of an International Stabilization Force (ISF), initiated through the Board of Peace (BoP) led by Donald Trump, has collided with the harsh realities of contemporary geopolitics. Jakarta’s decision to place the mission on indefinite hold is not merely a bureaucratic pause; it is a candid acknowledgment that conditions on the ground have evolved into an unpredictable diplomatic and ռազմական minefield. From the outset, President Prabowo Subianto’s announcement in Washington, D.C. about deploying a large-scale composite brigade triggered intense domestic debate.

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  Belgium to join Strait of Hormuz mission only after ceasefire, international mandate

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  Belgium signaled Friday it is ready to participate in securing the Strait of Hormuz, but only after a lasting ceasefire is in place and the operation is conducted within a clear international framework, according to a report from the Belga news agency. The report said the federal government’s core Cabinet reached the conclusion following a request for Belgium to “contribute to appropriate measures to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.” The appeal comes as Iran threatened to attacks on ships transiting the strategically vital waterway, leading to a near halt in maritime traffic. Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and the UK earlier announced release they were prepared to contribute to the mission. “Belgium is prepared to participate

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  Trump administration making detailed preparations for ground troops in Iran: Report

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  The Trump administration is making detailed preparations for deploying US ground troops to Iran, according to a report published Friday, Anadolu reports. It comes one day after President Donald Trump told reporters at a news conference, “No, I’m not putting troops anywhere,” but added, “If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you.” CBS News reported that senior military commanders have submitted specific requests aimed at preparing for the deployment of American ground forces in Iran as the president coordinates with Israel on the joint use of US and Israeli military resources. “It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality, it does not mean the President has made a decision, and as

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  Cui bono: Six months into the Gulf War

  by MI on March 21, 2026

  The war in the Gulf has entered a decisive phase. Six months from now, the strategic landscape will look markedly different, shaped not only by the immediate destruction but by the recalibration of alliances, energy markets, and global power balances. The question before us is simple yet profound: Cui bono? Who benefits from this conflagration, and who emerges diminished? The answer is neither uniform nor static. Gains are relative, losses are cumulative, and the balance of power is shifting in ways that demand sober recognition. Russia: The immediate beneficiary Russia is the clearest short-term winner. Elevated oil prices have delivered billions in windfall revenues, replenishing Moscow’s war chest and enabling it to sustain its campaign in Ukraine while projecting influence

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  Russia offers to halt sharing intel with Iran if US does the same with Ukraine: Report

  by Marwa A on March 20, 2026

  Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to halt all intelligence sharing with Iran if the US does the same with Ukraine, according to a report published Friday, Anadolu reports. The proposal was put forward by Putin’s Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev when he sat down with Steve Witkoff, his US counterpart, and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner last week in Miami, Florida, news outlet Politico Europe reported, citing two anonymous sources. The Trump administration rejected the offer, but it has nonetheless sparked concern among European officials who fret that Putin may be trying to drive a wedge between NATO allies. An EU official who spoke to Politico Europe described Putin’s offer as “outrageous.” Trump earlier Friday lambasted the transatlantic alliance, saying

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  US sues Harvard University over antisemitism allegations, seeks to freeze grants

  by Marwa A on March 20, 2026

  The US Justice Department on Friday filed a lawsuit against Harvard University alleging antisemitism on the Ivy League campus located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Anadolu reports. The case, filed in federal court, says the leadership at Harvard failed to address campus-wide antisemitism, which justifies the government freezing existing grants and seeking repayment for grants already paid to the university. Department officials alleged: “Harvard has failed to protect its Jewish and Israeli students in two ways. First, Harvard has continued to be deliberately indifferent to a level of hostility on its campus … Second, Harvard has refused to enforce its campus rules against students who harass their Jewish and Israeli peers.” The department lawsuit says that the “United States cannot and will

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  Ahead of Netanyahu visit, Human Rights Watch urges Hungary to arrest Israeli premier

  by Marwa A on March 20, 2026

  On the eve of a planned visit, Human Rights Watch on Friday has called on Hungarian authorities to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters the country, Anadolu reports. The visit, set to start Saturday, comes weeks before Hungary’s April 12 general elections. “Despite its move to leave the ICC (International Criminal Court), Hungary is still a member country and is still obligated to arrest and surrender individuals wanted by the court,” said Alice Autin, international justice researcher at Human Rights Watch. “By flouting this obligation, for the second time in less than a year, Hungary would further entrench impunity for serious crimes in Palestine and once again betray victims who have been denied justice for far too

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  In the Mideast, US is seeing repeat of 1960s claims of victory even as its soldiers were dying in Vietnam: Iranian foreign minister

  by Marwa A on March 20, 2026

  In the current Mideast conflict, the US is seeing a repeat of how in the 1960s, a top US general’s claims of victory in the Vietnam War flew in the face of reality, Iran’s foreign minister said Friday, Anadolu reports. “Americans haven’t forgotten how (in 1967), even as hundreds of U.S. soldiers were dying in Vietnam, and the outcome was already clear, General William Westmoreland was flown home to reassure everyone that the war was going well — that the U.S. was ‘winning’,” Abbas Araghchi wrote on US social media company X. “The media haven’t forgotten either; those briefings full of fantasy from the frontlines became infamous as the ‘Five O’Clock Follies’,” he said. The “same script, different stage” is

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  Israeli reservist detained over alleged leak of Iron Dome secrets to Iran

  by Marwa A on March 20, 2026

  An Israeli reservist has been detained on suspicion of leaking classified information about the country’s Iron Dome air defense system to Iranian intelligence, authorities said Friday, Anadolu reports. In a joint statement, Israeli police and the security agency Shin Bet (Shabak) said the suspect served in a military unit responsible for air defense systems and was arrested on allegations of espionage on behalf of Iran. The 26-year-old soldier, identified as Roz Cohen, was taken into custody following a covert investigation. Authorities said Cohen had been in contact with Iranian intelligence for months and allegedly passed on sensitive information related to the Iron Dome system. Officials said further details about the investigation and the alleged intelligence leak would be made public

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  Iran war poses ‘greatest energy security threat in history’: International Energy Agency

  by Marwa A on March 20, 2026

  The conflict involving Iran has triggered the most severe energy security crisis the world has ever seen, warned a top international energy official, Anadolu reports. Speaking to The Financial Times on Friday, International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol said the conflict represents “the greatest global energy security threat in history.” Birol, a Turkish economist and energy expert, pointed out that the current conflict has cut off twice the volume of gas that Europe lost from Russia in 2022, after the start of the Ukraine war. The Strait of Hormuz has effectively been blocked by Iranian threats to target vessels, halting “vital arteries” of the global economy, he said. Birol warned that markets and politicians are still underestimating the depth

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  Iran’s new supreme leader says country’s defense stronger than ‘enemies’ assume

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Friday that the country’s front lines are far stronger than its “enemies” assume, accusing them of miscalculating Iran’s internal strength, Anadolu reports. In a written message marking the start of the Persian New Year (Nowruz), Khamenei said the war began after the enemy lost hope of triggering a popular uprising inside Iran. He said adversaries believed assassinating top leaders and military figures would create fear and despair among the population and lead to the collapse of the political system. Khamenei, however, said Iranians formed what he described as a “vast defense line” across the country, frustrating those plans. READ: Iran will have ‘zero restraint’ if its infrastructure attacked, says foreign minister He also called on

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  NATO relocates Iraq mission personnel to Europe amid Mideast escalation

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  NATO has relocated all personnel from its mission in Iraq to Europe, the alliance said on Friday, citing a shift in operational posture amid the current hostilities in the Mideast, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe confirmed that NATO Mission Iraq personnel were safely moved out of the Middle East, with the final staff departing Iraq on March 20. “I would like to thank the Republic of Iraq and all the Allies who assisted in the safe relocation of NATO personnel from Iraq,” said Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s supreme allied commander Europe. He also praised mission personnel for maintaining operations during the transition. READ: Trump slams NATO for refusal to aid his effort to reopen Strait of Hormuz

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  Trump says US wants talks with Iran but there’s ‘nobody to talk to’ after killing of senior officials

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington is seeking talks with Iran but claimed there is “nobody to talk to” following weeks of US-Israeli strikes that he said decimated the country’s leadership, Anadolu reports. Speaking during a trophy presentation at the White House, Trump said: “We’re having a hard time. We want to talk to them, and there’s nobody to talk to. We have nobody to talk to. And you know what—we like it that way.” “Their navy’s gone. Their air force is gone. Their anti-aircraft is all gone. It’s all gone. Their radar is all gone. Their leaders are all gone,” he claimed. “Now nobody wants to be a leader over there anymore.” Despite the remarks, Trump reiterated that

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  Iran will have ‘zero restraint’ if its infrastructure attacked, says foreign minister

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  Iran will have “zero restraint” if its infrastructure is attacked, the country’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday amid an ongoing escalation in the region, Anadolu reports. “We have intelligence on Israeli plans to strike infrastructure. Once again: Zero restraint if our infrastructure is attacked,” Araghchi wrote on the US social media company X, posting a video featuring remarks by US President Donald Trump. The Iranian people “are men and women of principles,” he said, adding: “Iranians do not sneak attack adversaries while engaged in dialogue. Only when attacked do we powerfully respond.” READ: Iran FM says end of war must include guarantees against future attacks In the video posted by Araghchi, Trump was seen as saying that he believed Iran

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  FIFA’s inaction on football clubs based in Israeli settlements flouts international law: Amnesty

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  Amnesty International on Friday said that FIFA’s inaction on clubs based in illegal Israeli settlements flouts international law, Anadolu reports. “By refusing to take action against clubs based in Israeli settlements, FIFA has failed to enforce its own rules and is blatantly flouting international law,” Steve Cockburn, head of Economic and Social Justice at Amnesty International, said in a statement. Cockburn said that FIFA had “a clear opportunity” to stand up for Palestinians’ rights and international law, “with this decision it has shamefully chosen to abandon both.” The statement came after FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee on Thursday found the Israel Football Association (IFA) guilty of multiple “grave and systemic” discrimination violations but stopped short of imposing major sanctions. The committee said the

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  Trump slams NATO for refusal to aid his effort to reopen Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  US President Donald Trump launched a broadside against NATO Friday, saying the transatlantic alliance is a “paper tiger” without the US and sharply criticizing allies’ refusal to aid his push to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. “They didn’t want to join the fight to stop a nuclear powered Iran. Now that fight is militarily won, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices,” he said on his Truth Social platform. “So easy for them to do, with so little risk. Cowards, and we will remember!”

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  Hezbollah says it has launched 9 attacks on Israeli settlements since early Friday

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  Lebanese group Hezbollah on Friday said that it launched nine attacks using rockets and loitering drones, targeting six Israeli sites, two military barracks in northern Israel, and a gathering of Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. The announcement came in a series of statements released by Hezbollah. The group said it launched rocket barrages at different times from dawn until midday Friday, targeting six settlements: Shlomi, Yiftah, Shomera, Kiryat Shmona, Ramot Naftali, and Hanita. It said it also carried out two separate aerial attacks using “swarms of loitering drones” targeting the Ya’ara and Matat military barracks in northern Israel. Hezbollah also said it targeted Israeli soldiers with rockets in Lebanon’s southern town of Khiam. Since Israel and the US launched

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  Switzerland suspends arms exports to US amid Iran attacks, citing neutrality

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  Switzerland on Friday announced that it will halt exports of war materiel to the US due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, reaffirming its long-standing principle of neutrality, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Federal Council stated that the export of weapons to countries engaged in international armed conflict with Iran cannot be authorized for the duration of the hostilities. Existing licenses and exports of other goods will be monitored regularly by an interdepartmental expert group. “Exports of war materiel to the USA cannot currently be authorised. As the USA is involved in an international armed conflict, the exclusion grounds under Article 22a para. 2 let. a of the War Materiel Act are met,” the statement said. It added that no

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  Spanish premier unveils $5.7B plan to cope with ‘illegal’ Iran war

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday unveiled a €5 billion ($5.7 billion) support package to shield households and businesses from the economic fallout of the Iran war, while sharply criticizing the conflict as illegal and destabilizing, Anadolu reports. Sanchez said the war involving Israel, the US, and Iran violates international law and threatens Europe’s interests, warning it has already killed thousands of civilians and displaced around 4 million people in just 20 days. “It is already provoking the first shockwaves of a global economic earthquake,” he said, pointing to 50% rises in fuel and 40% fertilizer prices. “Even though we do not support this illegal war, we will do whatever it takes,” he added. Sanchez said the €5 billion package

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  Netanyahu’s ‘terrorism’ continues to threaten peace, says Turkish president

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “terrorism” continues posing a threat to both the regional and global peace, Anadolu reports. “Netanyahu’s terrorism continues to threaten regional and global peace, and Iran-based attacks have further deepened instability in our region,” Erdogan said. Turkiye mobilizes “all its means” to restore peace, stability and to revive dialogue and diplomacy, he added. Erdogan also expressed his solidarity with the people from lands spending Eid in grief and pain, particularly the people of Gaza. “I believe we will overcome this difficult period in our region very soon by supporting one another, with hope, patience, and resilience,” Erdogan said. “As the Islamic world, we are once again trying to

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  Is Washington already regretting its war with Iran?

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  On 28th February, 2026, the US and Israel launched what they called Operation ‘Epic Fury’ and ‘Roaring Lion’ respectively, to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, continue the years-long confrontation over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional influence, target its navy, and disrupt Iran-backed groups in the region.  The war which began with the US-Israeli series of explosions on the capital, Tehran, and city Minab (as shown in the map), which killed dozens of girls gathered at the Shajareh Tayyebeh (the Good Tree) school, soon escalated, killing the Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, followed by Iran’s retaliatory missiles attacks towards Israel, the US, and several locations linked to its military operations, such as Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia,

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  Trump considers risky Kharg Island takeover to force Iran to reopen strait: Report

  by MI on March 20, 2026

   The Trump administration is weighing plans to occupy or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island as part of a broader effort to pressure Tehran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported on Friday, citing four sources familiar with the discussions, Anadolu reports. This comes as the White House seeks ways to loosen Iran’s grip on one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes. Trump has reportedly concluded that he cannot bring the conflict to an end on his preferred terms unless Iran’s ability to disrupt traffic through the strait is reduced. In the meantime, global energy prices have continued to climb. Kharg Island, located about 15 miles off Iran’s coast, is a key hub for the country’s oil industry and handles roughly

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  No naval escort for Trump: US allies and the Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  With each dragged out day, President Donald Trump begins resembling a mad emperor who has not only taken leave of his senses but leave of everything else.  Having hitched his wagon to the Israeli program of chaos and destabilisation in the Middle East, he is stuck in a war he is incapable of controlling or dictating.  The periodic announcement of the next assassination of a notable Iranian leader is trumpeted like a holy ritual.  The next round of ecstatic bombing is hailed in the court as the biggest yet.  But behind these gestures lies an expansive emptiness.  Perhaps most telling of such emptiness is the sham of the alliance system he has sought to distance himself from even as he

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  Yemen’s Houthi leader signals military readiness amid regional escalation

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said his group is prepared to respond militarily to developments in the region amid escalating tensions following US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Anadolu reports. “We affirm our support for Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, and the holy sites, and our readiness at the military level according to the developments of events,” al-Houthi said in a video statement released late Thursday by the Saba News Agency. “All options at the military level are possible,” he said, urging Yemenis to remain prepared and on alert. Hostilities in the region have escalated since Israel and the US launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, so far killing over 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. ⁠Iran has retaliated with drone

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  France rules out joining any forceful intervention in Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  French President Emmanuel Macron has ruled out joining “any use of force” to open the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. “We will not participate in any use of force to open the strait in the context of the ongoing war and bombings,” Macron told reporters during a news briefing late Thursday after EU leaders gathered in Brussels. His remarks came after the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan signaled their readiness in a joint statement to support efforts to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. “I reiterated that once the situation is calmer, France is ready, together with other nations, to take responsibility for a ship-escort system in the strait as part of

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  When energy becomes a weapon: Oil and gas diplomacy on day 20 of the Iran–US–Israel War

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  Twenty days into the escalating confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Israel, it has become increasingly clear that this is not merely a conventional military conflict. Beyond the battlefield, a parallel struggle is unfolding in global energy markets, where oil and gas are no longer just economic commodities, but strategic instruments of power, pressure and deterrence.In this evolving landscape, energy diplomacy has moved from negotiation tables into operational reality. Decisions surrounding production, transit routes and infrastructure security are now directly shaping the trajectory of the conflict and its wider geopolitical implications. The Strait of Hormuz: A strategic lever in a time of crisis Recent developments have once again underscored the centrality of the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s

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  Spanish foreign minister urges end to Israeli offensive in Lebanon

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Friday called on Israel to halt its attacks in Lebanon, stressing that the situation in the country remains critical, Anadolu reports. “The situation in Lebanon is critical. Over 1 million displaced, over 1,000 dead, and thousands injured. Israel’s offensive in Lebanon must stop now,” Albares wrote on the US social media platform X. He noted that the destruction of bridges over the Litani River “amounts to the unacceptable isolation of part of the country’s territory.” “We condemn the destruction of homes in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon by Israel, which is contrary to the principles of international humanitarian law, as well as the rocket launches by Hezbollah,” Albares said. He also stressed that

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  Iran FM says end of war must include guarantees against future attacks

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  Iran’s foreign minister told his British counterpart that any end to the ongoing war with the US and Israel must include guarantees to prevent future attacks, according to Iranian state media. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the remarks in a phone call with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported Friday. “The path to normalizing conditions is the cessation of these attacks. The cessation of war must be accompanied by guarantees to prevent the recurrence of such aggressions,” Araghchi said. He also warned against any support for the US and Israel during the escalation. “Such actions will only escalate the situation and make conditions more complicated,” he said. Araghchi called on the UK to refrain from

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  Israeli army says hit military targets in Syria, claiming it was in response to Suwayda incident

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  The Israeli army said on Friday that it carried out overnight strikes on army targets in southern Syria, in what it claimed was a response to an attack on Druze citizens in Suwayda, Anadolu reports. The army said in a statement that it targeted an army command headquarters and weapons depots. The strikes were carried out in response to an “attack on Druze citizens in the Suwayda Governorate” in southern Syria, according to the statement, adding that the operation occurred overnight. As of 0640GMT, there was no immediate comment from Damascus on the Israeli army’s statement. Syrian authorities have previously said they guarantee equal rights for all segments of the population, including the Druze community. Damascus has also said that Israel

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  The Tolstoy guide to history that Trump and Netanyahu didn’t read

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  How do you bomb a country “without mercy”—and end up strengthening it? When US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that Washington would show “no quarter, no mercy for our enemies,” the message was unmistakable: this was not a limited war, but an overwhelming campaign meant to break Iran—militarily, politically, and socially.  The logic behind such a position is not new. A country under years of sanctions, strained by economic hardship, and periodically shaken by protests would, under sustained attack, fracture from within. Pressure would compound, divisions would deepen, and the political system would eventually collapse. That was the expectation. But the result has been the opposite. Across Iran, millions have taken to the streets—not only rejecting the war, but expressing

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  Italy’s Meloni rules out military mission in Strait of Hormuz, says EU favors diplomacy

  by MI on March 20, 2026

  Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Thursday that no country is currently considering a military mission to forcibly break the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. Meloni pushed back against what she called forced interpretations of a joint statement by Italy, the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Japan released by Downing Street, making clear that it did not envision the use of military force and that EU countries were not party to the conflict, favoring diplomacy and de-escalation instead. She clarified that the question being asked was how countries could contribute to guaranteeing freedom of navigation when conditions were appropriate in a post-conflict phase and in clear agreement with all parties involved. The joint statement, which was