American diplomat, private equity investor and founder of Colony Capital
U.S. prosecutors have unsealed a complaint charging Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al‑Saadi with organising or supporting nearly 18–20 attacks across Europe, Canada and the United States tied to Iran‑backed Kataib Hezbollah and the IRGC. He has been transferred into U.S. custody, has appeared in Manhattan federal court and is being detained pending trial.
Armed groups in Iraq have begun inventorying weapons and aligning under state authority following calls from top Shiite authorities and political blocs. Muqtada al‑Sadr has pledged to separate Saraya al‑Salam from his movement and integrate it into state structures, while Asaib Ahl al‑Haqq and Imam Ali Brigades are also moving to surrender arms and coordinate with the armed forces amid renewed U.S. pressure.
The United States has left its Baghdad ambassador post vacant for 18 months. President Trump has appointed Tom Barrack as Special Presidential Envoy to Iraq and Syria while he remains ambassador to Turkey. Barrack’s role in Syria and Iraq is expanding amid shifting diplomatic priorities, with several chargés d’affaires having led the Baghdad mission since late 2024.
Iran's national football team has landed in Tijuana after training in Turkey and has secured U.S. visas for players only. Fifteen technical and administrative staff have been denied U.S. entry. Under visa conditions the squad will operate from a Mexican base and will cross into the United States around match days for their Group G fixtures in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Iran has confronted the United States over visa denials affecting key staff as its World Cup squad departs Antalya for Mexico ahead of group games in the United States. Tehran says the move disrupts participation, while FIFA is expected to monitor the issue as the tournament opens.
The latest updates show regional tensions intensifying as Syrian authorities caution against escalation while U.S. and allies pursue counterterrorism actions tied to ISIS activities.
Syria has invited Lebanese figures and met key Lebanese leaders, signalling a shift in Damascus-Beirut relations. Damascus rejects military intervention in Lebanon while seeking economic and security cooperation. Western leaders have floated unprecedented ideas about Syria taking a role in disarming Hezbollah, but Syria’s new government has dismissed such plans.
The United States is pursuing a coordinated approach to Iran-related talks as Vice President JD Vance and Senator Marco Rubio push rival tracks on Middle East diplomacy. The White House is weighing frameworks to end the Iran war while negotiations over Lebanon and Israel shape the final agreement.
The NATO summit in Ankara is shaping up as a test for alliance unity as President Trump’s threats to curb U.S. involvement collide with Turkey’s bid to leverage its ties with Trump. Turkey’s foreign minister says the Erdogan-Trump rapport could ease tensions, while other members weigh new security arrangements amid funding and defence-spending debates.
The Iraqi prime minister-designate has arrived in Washington as Washington pressures Baghdad to disarm Iran-backed militias and curb corruption. The visit centers on expanding economic ties, attracting investment, and reinforcing state control, amid Tehran’s influence and security challenges.
Updated reporting shows Iran and Oman are negotiating management of the Strait of Hormuz while the US considers further strikes. Oil markets react as Gulf states pursue alternative export routes amid ongoing conflict with Iran.
The United States has has backed plans to rehabilitate the Iraq–Syria crude oil pipeline as a priority infrastructure project linking Iraqi production with Mediterranean export markets. Deals with US firms aim to create alternative routes to the Strait of Hormuz, with initial capacity of about 2 million barrels per day once completed.
Iraq has signed 48 agreements with American firms, spanning energy, healthcare and technology, as Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi travels to the United States. The deals include oil and electricity cooperation with ExxonMobil, KBR, GE Vernova, Shell and Halliburton, plus a pipeline project with Syria to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Starlink will bring satellite services.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint as Iran resumes attacks and the U.S. reinstates port blockades following a breakdown in a mid-June truce. Gulf exporters are racing to diversify routes to Asia and beyond, while the UAE and Saudi pipelines accelerate capacity to bypass the chokepoint.
Al-Shaibani and Netanyahu have traded statements after Israel attacked the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria, saying there was no Turkish military build-up at the site. Damascus maintains the base remains Syrian, while Ankara denies any Turkish presence. The strike has drawn regional condemnation and heightened tensions among Syria, Turkey and Israel.
The latest Israeli strikes on targets in Syria have drawn in regional players, with U.S. and Turkish commentary shaping how the attacks are framed. Officials describe the strikes as aimed at preventing imminent threats, while regional leaders call for de-escalation amid tensions.
Syria has signaled it plans to renew dialogue with Israel on a security deal that would end attacks and permit Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territory. Damascus says negotiations are frozen but expected to restart as Washington presses for a deal. Syria emphasizes its goal of regional stability and ceasefire, while Israel faces international pressure amid recent airbase strikes.