Capital of Iran and its political, economic hub
U.S. Treasury yields have jumped to multi‑year highs after S&P Global's flash manufacturing and services PMIs showed strong September activity and rising input prices. Fed officials have signalled further tightening, traders are pricing more hikes, and stocks have fallen while bond yields and borrowing costs climb. Markets are reacting this morning to the renewed inflation signal.
The Iran‑aligned Houthis have seized Yemen’s Red Sea coast, taken Mayyun and the Hanish islands and captured Mocha. Government‑aligned forces, backed by Saudi air strikes, have counterattacked around Taiz and the Kahboub mountains. The offensive has killed hundreds, displaced tens of thousands and pushed oil prices above $100 a barrel.
Houthi forces have seized large stretches of Yemen's Red Sea coast and islands, tightened control over the Bab al‑Mandeb shipping lane and have launched missiles, drones and ballistic rounds at Saudi cities including Riyadh and Yanbu. Saudi air defences have said they have intercepted strikes; residents have reported explosions and smoke. The advance has disrupted shipping and pushed global energy markets higher.
Oil prices have fallen while shipments are being rerouted through the Gulf and Oman as Saudi Arabia works to offset disruptions from the East-West pipeline and Red Sea routes amid ongoing US-Iran tensions. Traders monitor pace of repairs, supply security, and potential ripple effects on prices.
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.
Netanyahu has addressed the UN General Assembly after a brief New York visit, with a tight schedule that excludes formal meetings with US officials. He is meeting nine world leaders during the trip, aims to present Israel’s position on Gaza and Iran, and plans to return to Israel before Sukkot.
Iraq has ordered its civil aviation authority to suspend Iranian flights to Baghdad airport starting today, amid U.S. threats of secondary sanctions on Iranian carriers. The move could re-route flights to Najaf and affect travel for Iranian travelers.
Countries are restricting Iranian airlines as the US expands sanctions to isolate Tehran’s aviation sector. Multiple states have suspended flights, and airlines face secondary sanctions if they continue dealings. The move threatens travel routes, increases overland options for travelers, and strains regional connectivity.
Iraq’s prime minister has extended the deadline for militias to disarm to June 2027, delaying Sept. 30’s originally planned milestone. Authorities say a new directorate will oversee the process, while immunities and PMF involvement remain points of contention with Washington. The US continues to pressure Baghdad to consolidate arms under state control.
Oil prices have climbed with Brent above $95 and WTI near $93 as fighting in the Middle East continues to disrupt shipping routes. Analysts say supply fears and demand shifts, particularly from China, are shaping the rally. Markets are also awaiting inflation data and policy signals as bond yields rise globally.
North Korea has commissioned the Kang Kon destroyer as part of an intensified naval buildup. Pyongyang frames the move as deterrence, while Washington and Seoul coordinate drills amid heightened tensions with the U.S. pressing allies to join in regional security efforts.
Rights groups report a sustained crackdown on civil society in Tunisia, with arrests, financially targeting NGOs, and suspensions widening under President Saied. The move is described as a strategic clampdown on dissent amid protests and deteriorating living conditions.
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have killed civilians and damaged infrastructure amid ongoing clashes with Hezbollah. The target areas include Kfar Rumman, Nabatieh, and surrounding towns as diplomatic efforts to disarm Hezbollah and withdraw Israeli forces continue under a US-brokered framework. The toll includes women, children, and rescuers, with casualties and displacement prompting international concern.
South Korea has refused US pressure to deploy combat forces to the Strait of Hormuz and has said it will not send troops into the US-Iran war. Seoul has told Washington it will consider limited, non‑combat contributions to protect shipping while negotiations continue over a $350bn investment package and alliance tensions persist.
Serbia has held a large funeral for Ratko Mladić, the convicted Bosnian war criminal, with soldiers, several government ministers and church leaders taking part. The event has prompted condemnations from the EU, led to Bosnia downgrading diplomatic ties, and caused EU officials to pause visits and reassess Serbia’s accession prospects.
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement among Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan remains defensive, but recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia are testing the alliance’s credibility and the readiness of member states to mobilize. Officials say operations would be defined by Saudi requests, with consultations ongoing.
Leaders from BRICS and newly admitted members have arrived in New Delhi for a two-day summit beginning Sept. 12. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian have travelled to India; Narendra Modi has held bilateral talks with several visitors. Delegates are confronting the US‑Israel war on Iran, the Ukraine conflict, trade tensions and energy security.
New satellite imagery shows intensified movement at Pickaxe Mountain near Natanz, with reinforced portal accesses and internal road work. The IAEA is monitoring the site while geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain high. Trump has warned of a hard response should Tehran advance its nuclear program.
Iranian leaders are determined to continue the conflict, viewing it as existential. A U.S.-led naval blockade and strikes on oil assets have intensified, while Tehran signals potential escalation should Washington intensify attacks.
Global central banks have tightened policy in response to a surge in energy prices and sticky inflation. The US Federal Reserve has raised its policy rate to 3.75–4.00% and signalled further hikes; the ECB has lifted its key rate to 2.50%; the Bank of England has held at 3.75% but warned higher energy costs will force future rises. Markets are repricing yields and mortgage costs are rising.
Israeli strikes have continued in Gaza, targeting Hamas infrastructure and operatives while warning civilians to evacuate. Reports indicate casualties including civilians and Hamas fighters, with the Gaza war entering a new phase since the 2025 ceasefire. International efforts to broker a lasting peace remain stalled.
The Iran-backed Houthis have seized Red Sea ports and islands, tightened control of the Bab al‑Mandeb strait and carried out missile and drone strikes on Saudi cities. Riyadh has mounted heavy air strikes in response. The United States has resisted direct intervention despite Saudi appeals and reportedly prepared then called off airstrikes on Houthi targets.
BRICS leaders gather in New Delhi as Xi, Putin, Pezeshkian and others meet India for a pivotal summit. The talks focus on expanding trade in national currencies, energy cooperation, and reforms to global institutions, with tensions over the Ukraine war, Middle East conflicts, and US-dominated financial systems at the forefront.
The Houthis have seized the Red Sea coast and three strategic islands, while Saudi Arabia shuts the East-West pipeline and Iraq closes border crossings amid attacks blamed on drones from Iraq. The moves threaten oil shipments and push prices above $100 a barrel as regional tensions escalate.
Several outlets report that Kamran Hekmati has been released from Tehran’s Evin Prison after about half of a two-year sentence. Families say his health is at risk due to bladder cancer, and international actors are urging steps to secure his return to the United States amid ongoing detentions and legal battles.
BRICS leaders have adopted the New Delhi Declaration, calling for maximum restraint in the Middle East, protection of civilians and nuclear facilities, and opposing unilateral trade measures. The statement has avoided naming the US, Israel or Iran and authorised a payments task force to ease local‑currency settlements among members.
The Wall Street Journal reports that unnamed U.S. officials say Chinese entities supplied satellite imagery of Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan before and after the July attack that killed three U.S. soldiers. Washington has raised the issue with Beijing, who deny involvement, while tensions could spike ahead of the September White House meeting.
Three Iran security forces have been killed in clashes with gunmen in Sistan-Baluchistan. State media say five attackers died and weapons were seized; authorities describe the incident as part of ongoing security operations in Iran’s southeast.
A new UK edition dissects the 1979-80 Tehran upheaval through a spy-woven lens, detailing the Kuzichkin-McCredie dynamics, Soviet-Iranian covert games, and the unintended consequences of Western espionage as the Islamic Republic rises.
The April downing of a US F-15E over Iran has led to a high-stakes rescue operation. Alpha was rescued within six hours; Bravo spent about 36–48 hours behind enemy lines before being brought to safety. Over 90 US personnel operated on the ground, with air support, and two rescue aircraft were destroyed to prevent Iran from gaining access to them.
Iranian hard-liners have driven a July strike on three vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, derailing a U.S.-backed ceasefire. Mojtaba Khamenei’s absence fuels internal power struggles as the regime confronts renewed conflict and scrutiny over written messages attributed to the supreme leader.
Iranian nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami has been denied a visa for the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, despite earlier approval. The move follows a UN snapback sanctions review and US objections. Iran and its allies call it political, while the host country says a sanctions committee decision forced the denial. The incident underscores tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and inspections.
The United States is finalizing a drawdown in northern Iraq, with hundreds of troops set to depart by September 30. Iraq’s government links the exit to a demand for militias to disarm, but Iran-backed groups are signaling that disarmament is unlikely and favor regulation instead. Tehran seeks to keep influence in Iraq while Baghdad weighs its options amid regional tensions.
The Pentagon inspector general has reported that Operation Epic Fury has cost $33.4 billion from 28 February to 30 June, including $22.3 billion on expended munitions. The report has found strategic inventory shortfalls, industrial bottlenecks for resupply, and millions in damage to aircraft, drones and diplomatic facilities.
Amnesty International has identified crimes against humanity in Iran’s 2022 and 2026 crackdowns on protests, naming 87 officials in a calls for international justice. The report documents killings, torture, arbitrary arrests, and sexual violence, and highlights ongoing impunity. Protests erupted after Mahsa Amini’s death and have continued, with rights groups urging action.
Iran’s hard-liners are pressing for a tighter clampdown on headscarves as wartime conditions limit government action, while authorities warn activists of risks. Public spaces show growing divergence in dress codes since the 2022 protests sparked by Mahsa Amini’s death.
US and Iranian officials have held a three-hour indirect meeting in New York during the UN General Assembly. President Trump has described the session as "very productive" while Iran says it conveyed firm conditions: an end to the war, lifting the naval blockade, and release of frozen assets. Gulf states and Qatar are mediating and diplomats are testing off-ramps to renewed negotiations.
An independent UN fact‑finding mission has concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe US forces carried out two February strikes in Iran — on a primary school in Minab and a sports complex in Lamerd — that amounted to indiscriminate attacks and therefore constituted war crimes. The mission has also found Iran committed crimes against humanity during nationwide protests.
The US State Department has approved visas for a scaled-down Iranian delegation, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, to attend UN General Assembly High-Level Week in New York. Washington has placed travel curbs and bans on luxury purchases for the delegation while denying visas to Palestinian Authority leaders, prompting a separate General Assembly vote allowing Mahmoud Abbas to speak virtually.
The U.N. Security Council sanctions remain in effect, with France, Germany and the United Kingdom having triggered the snapback mechanism in 2025. A U.N. expert panel was not appointed due to consensus gaps, while the United States and allies pursue further isolation of Iran amid ongoing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions enforcement.
Leaders gather at the UN General Assembly amid wars across Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Congo and Myanmar. The session also faces climate pressures, economic shocks, and disputes over Security Council reform as the world shifts toward multipolar power. Addressing governance gaps, top figures stress multilateral cooperation amid deep uncertainty.
Iran is mobilising civilian volunteers to receive limited military training alongside the IRGC and Basij, with state media reporting hundreds of thousands registered and crowds in Tehran demonstrating national unity amid economic strain and new sanctions. The campaign, named Janfada, includes displays of weaponry and drones, and officials say participation could exceed one million as the war drags on.
Iranian authorities have carried out the execution of Hossein Pedaran, who allegedly provided information on missile sites to Mossad. The judiciary says the sentence was upheld by the supreme court, with the case not previously reported by media. The move comes as Iran faces ongoing conflict and domestic protests.
Iran has closed a French-language centre affiliated with Paris’s embassy, citing security concerns and alleged violations of diplomatic norms. France says the action is unjustified and will take appropriate measures as tensions rise ahead of UN meetings.
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.
The High Court has found most of the defendants guilty on multiple charges related to the 2019 Easter bombings that killed 279 people and wounded hundreds. Sentencing will be delivered later; several defendants face long prison terms while others are acquitted. The case has highlighted alleged intelligence failures and potential state links to the attacks.
Iran’s president has stressed readiness for diplomacy without force as war with the US and Israel continues. Tehran rejects aggression, demands a regional security framework, and seeks residence rights for its citizens amid a strategic standoff around the Hormuz Strait.