Iranian reformist politician and heart surgeon, president since 2024
The Strait of Hormuz continues to see high oil flows under US protection, with flows near prewar levels even as attacks against vessels increase. Data from Kpler and reports from UKMTO show mixed signals: shipments are rising in some weeks while direct Iranian interference remains a threat, keeping prices volatile.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has used his UN General Assembly address to accuse New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani of antisemitism, of supporting Hamas and of making Jewish New Yorkers feel unsafe. Mamdani has replied that Netanyahu is repeating "baseless lies" and remains subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant; protests and walkouts have followed the speech.
Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani chiefs of staff have met in Riyadh to begin turning the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement into operational cooperation after a recent surge in Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory and shipping. Officials have agreed to deepen military and intelligence ties and to integrate defensive capabilities under the pact.
Saudi officials have reported that air defences intercepted ballistic missiles and drones aimed at Riyadh, Taif and the Red Sea port of Yanbu after Houthi forces have seized Red Sea coast positions and tightened control of the Bab al‑Mandeb. Saudi civil defence has issued and later lifted alerts; there are no immediate confirmed civilian casualties.
Gulf states and Iran have been negotiating a temporary shipping framework for the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing war-related disruptions. Oman and Iran are coordinating on routes while Bahrain has declined participation. Oil-price volatility remains as markets watch for a regional security framework to emerge.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has arrived in Washington for a state visit and a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss extending a trade truce, AI safety and the fate of Americans detained in China. Preparatory talks have produced limited deliverables; officials are expecting targeted, incremental agreements rather than a broad breakthrough.
US and Iranian officials have held three hours of indirect talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. President Trump has described the session as "very productive" and said he faces a "big decision" about whether to pursue a deal or escalate military action. Gulf states are pressing for a route to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and plan further diplomacy.
As the UN General Assembly gathers, global conflicts persist, climate threats intensify, and major powers with vetoes complicate reform. The world is watching whether leaders can coordinate to curb violence, stabilize economies, and reform global institutions.
The Iranian government has mobilised civilians to receive limited military training alongside the IRGC and Basij as part of the Janfada campaign. State media report hundreds of thousands have registered in Tehran, with authorities claiming up to 1 million participants. Demonstrations and displays of weaponry signal broad state messaging of national unity amid economic strain and ongoing conflict.
Israeli and Palestinian sources have reported two deadly incidents in the occupied West Bank on 20 September 2026: a shooter opened fire at people at a spring near the Neve Tzuf settlement, killing an Israeli settler who later died in hospital; and Israeli forces have shot dead a driver who allegedly attempted a ramming attack near the Ganim settlement. Security forces have arrested a suspected shooter at a Ramallah hospital and have imposed closures and raids across multiple West Bank villages.
Oil prices have fallen after data showed Asia is set to import its highest monthly crude volume since the US–Iran war began, while traders continue to monitor UN‑level diplomacy and regional tensions. Brent has slipped near $102 a barrel and U.S. crude is trading in the low $90s as markets weigh rising Asian flows against Middle East risks.
Iran warns it may retaliate against any US-led attacks while the US signals readiness for broader action. Trump has said options include striking Iran or pursuing a deal as Iran and its allies prepare for the UN General Assembly, heightening regional tensions and impacting oil shipments.
Oil prices have edged higher as investors await potential U.S.-Iran talks at the UN General Assembly, with supply disruptions and regional tensions weighing on sentiment. Traders are eyeing diplomatic developments and refinery flows, while some observers warn against reading a fundamental shift in supply.
Iran’s delegation to the UN General Assembly has begun appearances in New York, led by Masoud Pezeshkian (per Iranian state media). Araghchi has arrived and is engaging with UN officials; Washington has imposed restrictions on the Iranian delegation, including visa constraints and a counterblockade of Iranian ports.
Baghdad has effectively shifted the deadline for surrendering militia weapons, with a new process and oversight directorate in place as Iran-backed groups push back on timelines. Officials say this underscores a prolonged, state-led effort to consolidate armed power and secure the monopoly on force.
Iran says it can reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports. Tehran’s delegation to the UN General Assembly has full authority to revive diplomacy, and the United States says it is open to talks, though no direct meeting is scheduled.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has delivered a defiant speech at the U.N. General Assembly, accusing Washington of terrorism and promising that Tehran will not bow to pressure. He says Iran is ready for dialogue but rejects the use of force, while stressing Iran’s right to a peaceful nuclear programme and control over Hormuz. Talks with the U.S. envoy resume in New York, but no concessions have been announced.
Iran has presented a proposal at the UN sidelines to accelerate a potential deal, aiming to benefit the U.S. ahead of the midterms. Negotiations remain uncertain as Tehran maintains conditions, including ending the naval blockade and freeing assets. Disputes and skepticism persist about how much room for compromise exists within Iran and the U.S.
Pezeshkian has asserted Iran’s resilience against sanctions and pressure at the UN, while signaling a willingness to pursue dialogue. He denounces US actions and calls for access to the Strait of Hormuz, framing Iran as a victim amid the broader US-Israel war. The speech includes references to Gaza and the Minab school tragedy.
Palestinian officials condemn expanding Israeli settlements and related displacement in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza. They call for urgent UN action as Gaza endures a humanitarian catastrophe while a fragile ceasefire persists.
British Foreign Secretary has met Iran’s foreign minister on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, reaffirming Britain’s unwillingness to tolerate intimidation or hostile activity on UK soil. The talks cover the Middle East war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and the detention of a British couple in Iran. Cyber threats linked to Iran’s proxies have been highlighted in Britain’s brief.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a central bargaining chip as Washington and Tehran pursue a phased path to end the conflict. Officials say navigation could reopen within days if the US lifts sanctions and Iran grants access to frozen assets; negotiators warn the process will unfold in stages, with both sides wary of conceding leverage.
China has assured the United States that it will limit its assistance to Iran, while Trump and Xi discuss de-escalation. US ambassador David Perdue has stressed that direct or indirect help for Iran is unacceptable, and new negotiations are underway in New York and Washington. Analysts note ongoing tensions over oil, satellites, and sanctions amid a broader push to end the war.
Iran has outlined a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if its conditions are met, while negotiations with the United States face hurdles. Tehran reiterates its rights and demands a negotiated solution, even as the U.S. signals cautious engagement. The international community watches for mediators to convey concrete positions.
Oil prices hover near $100 per barrel as Saudi Arabia, Iran and Yemen-linked attacks fuel supply concerns. Jurisdictional diplomacy is ongoing with talks at the UN and US-Chinese discussions shaping the market outlook. Analysts say supply routes remain vulnerable while diplomatic efforts seek de-escalation.
Iranian mediators in New York have presented a new proposal to the United States, with Qatari and Pakistani envoys shuttling ideas between Tehran and Washington. While Washington has not accepted the terms, negotiators describe discussions as positive and constructive, with a path to possible concessions on sanctions and the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has told Qatari mediators that they have discussed US ideas on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and expect a formal American reply within a day. Tehran is maintaining a blockade of commercial shipping and is demanding a seven-day Middle East ceasefire, the release of frozen assets and an end to US sanctions and naval restrictions. Washington has so far rejected Tehran’s seven‑day truce offer and is relying on economic pressure rather than further military strikes.
Iran has seen its currency hit new lows as US-Israeli actions tighten sanctions and blockades. Indirect talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz continue, while mediatior efforts and new sanctions aim to pressure Tehran. The government has unveiled plans to mitigate shortages and economic decline in the face of ongoing conflict.
The US Supreme Court has lifted a lower court ruling and allowed the deportations of immigrants to third countries to resume, while agreeing to hear the merits of the case in December. The decision follows ongoing debates over due process and safety for deportees, with critics urging Congress to tighten protections.
Iran has presented a response to U.S. proposals at a cabinet meeting after recent talks in New York. Officials say the two sides largely agree on steps needed, but dispute the sequencing. Washington has kept sanctions pressure, while Tehran seeks conditions tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Sanctions and economic strain intensify as the war persists.
Iran has announced that a network of oil intermediaries—known as trustees—still owes the government between €10bn and €11bn, a crisis rooted in 2012 sanctions. The tale traces how oil proceeds were diverted to domestic buyers and institutions, creating gaps that last surfaced in 2016 after JCPOA talks allowed control to return to the state.
Diplomatic talks aimed at ending the seven-month conflict have stalled. Iran and the United States remain at odds despite June MoU, with indirect talks at the UN sidelined by renewed attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran says negotiations are meaningless while Washington signals continued pressure. Qatar mediations persist as talks resume on a negotiable path forward.
The U.S. has told Iran’s UN delegation to depart New York ahead of scheduled talks. The move follows limited progress in weekend diplomacy as mediators seek a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease sanctions.
Iran has reiterated its seven conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while indirect Washington–Tehran talks continue through mediators. Attacks on vessels in the Gulf persist as the war escalates, with US, UK and regional actors watching closely.
Multiple articles report US envoy comments pressuring Tehran to meaningfully reduce enrichment as a condition to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz; Tehran questions US intentions amid ongoing talks.
The latest batch of reports indicates the United States has told the Pentagon to be ready for the possible resumption of major combat operations against Iran. The move could involve large-scale strikes on energy, infrastructure and nuclear targets and may occur before the U.S. midterm elections. Trump insists he will not attack Iran before the elections while officials say preparations are advancing; Iran and its allies are on high alert as regional tensions escalate.
The Iran war continues to drive global energy volatility. US forces maintain a naval blockade; oil prices have risen sharply, pressuring consumers as fuel costs stay elevated amid ongoing clashes and attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.
Russia and Iran have strengthened military and trade ties, with Moscow signaling readiness to support Iran in stabilizing the Gulf region as the Ukraine war continues, according to IRNA and other state sources.
Kremlin says Putin has conveyed Iran’s views on a possible end to the US-Iran war to Trump, with Tehran backing the discussing process. Talks follow Putin and Iran’s president in Turkmenistan and come amid stalled diplomacy after indirect talks at the UN. US and Iran remain at an impasse.
Iran has approved a new defence minister with decades in the defence industry, aiming to accelerate war-era weapons development and protect strategic facilities as tensions rise in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Iran vows to respond to threats with extensive retaliation, as US-Israeli actions and regional responses escalate the conflict.
Iran has approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi as the new defence minister and armed forces logistics chief, a post previously held by Aziz Nasirzadeh who was killed on the first day of the war. Akhlaghi, a 42-year veteran of the defence ministry, promises faster military-industrial development and stronger regional deterrence as the US-Israel conflict persists.
Russia and Iran are expanding their strategic partnership to influence Middle East security and maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Lavrov’s visit follows Putin’s signals of mediation, with both countries seeking to shape regional order amid US-Israel actions against Iran.
Iran has repeated that its policies remain unchanged in the face of threats from the US and Israel, with Tehran saying that any renewed war would not alter its positions. Meanwhile, regional tensions in the Strait of Hormuz intensify as attacks on shipping continue and mediation efforts falter amid broader regional maneuvering.
Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have visited Tehran for the first joint Mecca pact mission to Iran. Delegations met President Masoud Pezeshkian and security chief Mohsen Rezaei and have agreed to continue talks aimed at de‑escalation, without announcing concrete deals. Meetings follow rising regional tensions and mediation by Qatar and Pakistan.