Mohsen Rezaei is an Iranian conservative politician and former IRGC commander who leads the Combatant Clergy Association and has long shaped Iran’s security and political strategy.
Saudi Arabia has confirmed that its air defences intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels toward Riyadh early on Saturday. Residents heard explosions and saw smoke near the capital’s airport. The coalition says it also thwarted Houthi strikes on Yanbu, Taif, Bisha and Farasan; the Houthis claim wider missile, cruise and drone attacks.
The Houthis have intensified attacks on Red Sea shipping and Saudi energy infrastructure, raising tensions as they seize Mokha and Perim and threaten Bab al-Mandab. Saudi Arabia has vowed to defend its sovereignty amid calls for unity at the UN; global energy markets respond with volatility.
Indirect talks mediated by Qatar and Pakistan are pressing to implement the Islamabad Memorandum and to restart shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Officials say progress is being made, with a monitoring channel set to report violations, and discussions on how part of Iran’s frozen assets could be used to purchase needed goods.
Iran and Oman say transit-management talks are nearing final stages, but Tehran's conditions and U.S. policies keep a full reopening uncertain. Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz persist as the waterway remains blocked, weighing on oil markets and regional stability.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the US ends the war, frees frozen assets and delivers a region-wide ceasefire. Tehran has presented six conditions, linking reopening to Washington’s compliance and Oman-mediated talks, while attacks near key shipping routes continue.
Iran has appointed Mohsen Rezaee as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and elevated its top commanders, reshaping the security and military leadership amid ongoing US-Israel war. The moves consolidate Mojtaba Khamenei’s influence and signal a hardline stance, even as some officials call for de-escalation and negotiations.
The US has reinforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports, redirecting vessels and disabling non-compliant ships as CENTCOM reports heightened enforcement after a period of increased naval activity. The Vela Nova incident marks the latest in a series of blockades linked to ongoing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices have risen amid renewed tensions as talks over reopening the Strait of Hormuz face a stalemate. Iran demands compensation and sanctions relief, while US pressures persist. Brent near $90 and US crude around $82, with market participants watching for any breakthrough.
Bloomberg reports that Cooper, host of Call Her Daddy, is navigating employee turnover, a slipping slate of shows and internal discord with husband and co-CEO Matt Kaplan, as the company restructures to stabilize operations.
The latest sanctions have intensified economic pressure on Tehran as a U.S.-led effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz stalls. Tehran says it will respond with intensified measures while Washington maintains its economic campaign.
The United States has announced a new wave of sanctions aimed at Iran’s economy, describing them as the most severe financial measures yet. Tehran warns of retaliatory moves, and markets react as the rial hits record lows amid heightened tensions. Officials from both sides signal a broad confrontation that could redraw energy routes and international trade.
The United States has warned of an unprecedented financial offensive against Iran, with Treasury officials and the president signaling tighter enforcement of sanctions. Tehran has warned of an "earthquake-like" retaliation and warned Gulf states against joining. Oil markets are watching, as prices fluctuate amid the standoff.
The rial has fallen to 2.02 million to the dollar on informal markets as the U.S. readies sharper sanctions. Officials say the official rate sits at 1.5 million, but the street rate prevails for most Iranians, amplifying inflation and pressure on living costs. UAE suspends trade, and Iran vows retaliation.
The US Treasury has announced "Operation Economic Outcast," expanding secondary sanctions and targeting Iran's digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping to sever Tehran's revenue streams. Washington has designated about 60 individuals, companies and vessels worldwide; Iran says it is prepared with contingency plans and vows to pursue both defence and diplomacy.
Iran and the United States are locked in a widening standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran arrays for potential retaliation as Washington expands sanctions targeting Iran’s digital assets, gold, aviation and shipping. Mediators in the region push to reopen Hormuz and end hostilities amid rising economic pressure.
Iran, under pressure from renewed sanctions and a collapsed June MoU, is pursuing diplomacy to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran says the strait will not reopen until US commitments are met, while mediators in Doha, Doha, and Muscat coordinate talks with Qatar, Oman and Pakistan to de‑escalate and resume dialogue.
US forces have carried out strikes on Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island after they detected efforts to deploy rockets with naval mines into the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has launched missile and drone attacks at US bases in Jordan and the UAE in response. Both sides are signalling readiness to hit back again while diplomatic and economic pressure continues.
Brent crude has climbed toward $97 a barrel after renewed exchanges of strikes between the United States and Iran over the past week. US strikes have hit sites along Iran's southern coast while Iran has attacked US-linked vessels and bases in the region; shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained and US pump and diesel prices have risen.
The IAEA board has referred Iran to the UN Security Council after finding Tehran has not cooperated with inspectors and the agency has lost access to sites hit by strikes. Austria has denied a visa to Iran's nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, after a U.N. sanctions committee refused an exemption; Iran and allies have condemned the decision and the U.S. registered the committee objection.
The International Court of Justice is hearing Germany’s objections to Nicaragua’s genocide case, arguing the court lacks jurisdiction and that key claims are inadmissible. The hearings come amid ongoing Gaza violence and a wider legal battle over Israel’s actions in the territory. Germany is defending its arms exports while Nicaragua accuses Berlin of facilitating genocide through support for Israel.
Iran has announced a new, inland sanctions zone around the Strait of Hormuz, starting from the US naval blockade line and extending into Gulf waters. Tehran says ships entering the zone will be placed on sanctions lists, with potential insurance and transit consequences. The move follows recent clashes and US strikes on Iranian tankers, as Iran seeks to pressure Washington.
Iran's state media has touted a new missile test against a US warship, with Tehran claiming a turning point in its defense. The US has hit Iranian oil tankers in response, and both sides warn of further escalation as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains contested.
Iranian state media report missile strikes on oil tankers as U.S. forces strike back at Iranian vessels; the flare-up follows a tense cycle of attacks and counter-strikes in the Strait of Hormuz, with regional powers warning of broader consequences.