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

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  Trump calls Israeli President Herzog ‘weak and pathetic’ for not pardoning Netanyahu

  by MI on March 23, 2026

  US President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack Sunday on Israeli President Isaac Herzog, calling him “weak and pathetic” and accusing him of lying about a promise to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “He told me many times, more than once, that he would pardon him, and he lied to me,” Trump told Israel’s Channel 14, adding that Herzog was “not a leader.” He argued that Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial was a distraction from the war effort. “Bibi needs to focus on the war, not on nonsense,” he said. Trump has repeatedly pressed the issue. He previously called Herzog “a weak and useless person” and accused him of using the pardon question as political leverage. READ: Ahead of Netanyahu visit, Human

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  Yemen’s Houthis warns of action as regional tensions escalate

  by MI on March 23, 2026

  Yemen’s Ansar Allah (Houthis) group said it “will not stand idly by” in response to developments in the region, warning that “any attempt to expand the scope of the aggression will have negative consequences for supply chains, energy prices and the global economy as a whole”. The statement was issued by the group’s foreign ministry and published by the Saba news agency on Saturday, amid the continuing US-Israeli war on Iran. The statement said that “through its aggression against the people of the nation, the United States has placed itself in a major strategic dilemma and is trying to draw others into the quagmire it has entered, while some parties are attempting to pull it out”. READ: Yemen’s Houthi leader signals military readiness amid

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  Iran says US and Israel responsible for any escalation

  by MI on March 23, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the United States and Israel would bear responsibility for any further escalation in the region. It said what it described as a US-Israeli military attack on Iran had created a dangerous situation in the Strait of Hormuz. The ministry added that shipping through the Strait has not been fully halted, but is continuing under special measures that take into account current conditions. “We are following a responsible approach to avoid exposing international navigation to additional risks,” it said. It stressed that measures had been taken to protect commercial vessels and shipping routes in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman. READ: Oil prices rise amidst Middle East tensions and war extension fears The ministry held

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  US says Iran war may last longer than planned: Report

  by MI on March 23, 2026

  The US has informed Israel that the war against Iran is likely to last longer than originally anticipated, with operations aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz expected to take several more weeks, Israel’s Channel 12 reported Sunday. Washington’s objective goes beyond simply reopening the waterway, according to the outlet, as the US also aims to eliminate Iran’s alleged broader influence over global energy prices. US officials were cited as saying that they wanted a strategic change, even if it takes time. US President Donald Trump initially suggested that the military campaign, which has entered its fourth week, would last four to five weeks and has repeatedly said that operations were running “ahead of schedule.” READ: Oil prices rise amidst Middle

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  Oil prices rise amidst Middle East tensions and war extension fears

  by MI on March 23, 2026

  Oil prices rose at the start of trading on Monday after mutual threats by US President Donald Trump and Iran to launch attacks on energy facilities in the Middle East. The increase also followed statements by the United States and Israel over the weekend that the ongoing war since 28th February — which has disrupted fuel shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — is expected to continue for several more weeks. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery rose by 1.78 per cent to $100.10 a barrel. North Sea Brent crude for May delivery also increased by 1.73 per cent to $113.44 a barrel, minutes after trading began on the Chicago exchange. On 27th February, on the eve

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  America’s proxy war expands: The Strait of Hormuz and Israel’s hidden agenda

  by MI on March 23, 2026

  The recent Israeli attack on the South Pars gas field was a calculated move to deepen American entanglement, and provoke a direct confrontation between Iran and the Gulf Arab states. Announcing the raid, Israeli officials claimed the strike was coordinated with, and approved by the U. S., implicitly tying Washington to this action. Yet within hours, Donald Trump pleaded ignorance and, for the second time, demanded that Israel halt its targeting of energy facilities. Soon thereafter, Benjamin Netanyahu hastily convened a press briefing, professing that the attack did not involve the U.S.. This contradiction indicates either another Israeli-manufactured lie, or a calculated division of roles that allows Trump to deny foreknowledge and thereby assuage Gulf states’ concerns over targeting energy

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  Iran says Strait of Hormuz ‘open,’ but ships fear passage

  by Marwa A on March 22, 2026

  Iran’s foreign minister on Sunday said that the Strait of Hormuz is open, but ships fear passage over a US-Israeli offensive against Tehran, Anadolu reports. “Strait of Hormuz is not closed. Ships hesitate because insurers fear the war of choice you initiated—not Iran,” Abbas Araghchi said on US social media company X. “No insurer—and no Iranian—will be swayed by more threats. Try respect,” he added. “Freedom of Navigation cannot exist without Freedom of Trade. Respect both—or expect neither.” In a statement released on X, the Iranian Foreign Ministry also said the Strait of Hormuz is “not blocked.” However, it added that the vessels “belonging to the aggressor parties cannot be considered as normal and non-hostile passage, and will be dealt

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  Iran’s strike near Dimona raises old questions about Israel’s nuclear secrets

  by Marwa A on March 22, 2026

  Iran’s missile strike near Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility on Saturday night was more than a dramatic escalation in the shadow war between the two nations. It was a reminder of the fragility of Israel’s decades-long policy of “nuclear ambiguity,” a strategy designed to keep adversaries guessing about the country’s ultimate deterrent while avoiding direct confrontation with allies who have long opposed nuclear proliferation. The missiles landed just 14 kilometres from the reactor, damaging nearby buildings and injuring at least 20 people. The facility itself was untouched, but the symbolism was unmistakable: Iran had demonstrated its ability to reach Israel’s most sensitive site, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration only a day earlier that Iran’s missile capabilities had been “destroyed.” A

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  Israel’s destruction of infrastructure in southern Lebanon could precede ground invasion, warns Lebanese president

  by Marwa A on March 22, 2026

  Israel’s destruction of infrastructure and vital facilities in southern Lebanon could precede a ground invasion by the Israeli army, the Lebanese president warned on Sunday, Anadolu reports. Condemning the attacks, Joseph Aoun said they “constitute a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of Lebanese sovereignty and are a prelude to a ground invasion, which Lebanon has repeatedly warned against through diplomatic channels.” These actions constitute collective punishment and violate international law, he stressed, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. Targeting the Litani River bridges aims to cut off southern Lebanon, hinder humanitarian aid, and advance plans to solidify the Israeli occupation, Aoun stated. The president expressed Lebanon’s call on the international community, notably the UN and the UN Security Council

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  Water on the brink: A warning to the Gulf in an age of American militarism

  by Marwa A on March 22, 2026

  The warning issued by Iran—that desalination infrastructure across the Gulf could become a target if conflict escalates—must not be dismissed as rhetorical excess. It is, instead, a stark signal of how far the region has drifted into a dangerous architecture of dependency and exposure. At stake is not merely infrastructure, but the survival of entire urban populations across the Gulf Cooperation Council. The cities of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait exist on an engineered lifeline. Desalination is not a supplementary system in these states; it is the condition of existence itself. To disrupt it is to trigger a cascading collapse—of public health, of governance, and of social order. Water, in this context, is not a resource. It

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  Iran war strategy: Peace through resistance

  by Marwa A on March 22, 2026

  Three weeks into the war, Donald Trump finds himself trapped in a conflict of his own making. What was framed as a campaign of rapid coercion—measured in hours and ultimatums—is now unfolding on a timeline defined not in Washington, but in Tehran. For years, the conventional wisdom in Washington and Tel Aviv held that Iran could be contained through a combination of economic strangulation and targeted assassination—a “decapitation” strategy designed to decapitate the Islamic Republic’s command structure without triggering a full‑scale war. That assumption is now being tested to destruction. What we are witnessing is not a random escalation but a collision of two fundamentally different strategic logics. The United States and Israel are fighting in the domain where they

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  Iran warns regional energy infrastructure will be ‘legitimate targets’ if own facilities hit

  by Marwa A on March 22, 2026

  Iran warned Sunday that energy and critical infrastructure across the region would become “legitimate targets” if its own facilities are attacked, Anadolu reports. “Immediately after the power stations and infrastructure in our country are targeted, the critical infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and oil facilities throughout the region will be deemed legitimate targets,” Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said in a statement posted on the US social media company X. These targets “will be destroyed in an irreversible manner,” he added, warning that “the price of oil will remain elevated for a long time.” The threat came after US President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum Saturday, giving Tehran 48 hours to open the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its power

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  UK dismisses Israel’s claim that Iran could hit London

  by Marwa A on March 22, 2026

  A British minister on Monday rejected Israeli claims that Iran could target London, saying there is “no assessment to substantiate” this suggestion, Anadolu reports. There was “no specific assessment that Tehran is targeting the UK or even could if they wanted to,” Housing Secretary Steve Reed told the BBC after the Israeli army claimed on Saturday that Iran had weapons that could reach up to 4,000 km (2,485 miles). His remarks came following reports that Iran targeted the joint US-UK military base on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, which is some 3,800 km (2,361 miles) from Iran. Meanwhile, he refused to say how close the missiles came to the British territory, mentioning he could not share “operational details.”

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  Iran “gone wild” in Dimona: Is Tehran using Israel-US ‘Madman Doctrine’?

  by Marwa A on March 22, 2026

  The wording is familiar. The urgency is always absolute. The implication is unmistakable: Israel is not choosing war. It is forced into it. For many, the claim is inherently contradictory. How can a state initiate war—and in Gaza’s case, sustain a genocide—while insisting that it is merely defending itself from annihilation? Yet within Israeli political discourse, and across much of Western media, this contradiction is rarely interrogated. It is normalized. That normalization is not incidental. It is foundational. Dimona is not an ordinary town. It lies adjacent to the Negev Nuclear Research Center, widely understood to be central to Israel’s nuclear weapons program. Located deep in the Naqab desert, the facility has long been treated as one of Israel’s most

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  BBC “imposed restrictions” on its journalists during coverage of the Gaza war, UK Court hears

  by Marwa A on March 22, 2026

  A British court has heard evidence that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) “misled” its audience during the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip. The evidence was presented as part of documents in a case being heard by a UK employment tribunal, in which five journalists of Arab origin accuse the BBC of discrimination and of unfairly dismissing four of them for refusing what they described as racist and discriminatory practices within BBC Arabic service. The five complainants are Ahmed Rouaba, of Algerian origin; Dima Odeh, of Syrian origin; Nahed Najar, of Palestinian origin; and Mohamed El-Ashiry and Amer Sultan, both of Egyptian origin. The claimants are represented in the case by John Barnes from Albertson Solicitors. This is the first

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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!”