Iran dismisses EU sanctions over Strait of Hormuz Iran has dismissed new European Union sanctions over maritime security threats, saying it will continue asserting sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s deputy foreign minister said Tehran attached no significance to the measures, which target Iranian individuals and entities accused by EU member states of endangering international shipping.
Britain set to announce new sanctions against Israel over 'E1' settlement expansion Submitted by Imran Mulla on Mon, 06/08/2026 - 10:39 More than 140 MPs, including Wes Streeting, have urged the government to end 'trade with illegal Israeli settlements' Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at London Tech Week in the UK capital on 8 June (AFP) Off Britain is set to announce fresh sanctions against Israel this week with other western states in opposition to the E1 settlement project , which would effectively split the occupied West Bank in two. The Foreign Office is expected to announce that UK firms will be sanctioned if they have any involvement in E1, according to the Guardian . It will also impose new sanctions on entites seen as supporting settler violence.
Oil producers approve supply boost as Middle East tensions persist OPEC+ has agreed to increase oil production quotas by 188,000 barrels per day in July, with ministers from Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman approving the move during a virtual meeting. In a statement, the group said the increase is intended to support oil market stability and allow members to accelerate compensation cuts amid elevated oil prices. However, analysts questioned the practical impact of the decision while disruptions continue to affect shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran says frozen assets are not US war spoils Iran has rejected reports that the United States could use frozen Iranian assets to compensate Gulf allies for war-related damage. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said regional governments were “not in a position to demand reparations”, after Reuters reported that Washington could make Iranian assets available to Gulf allies for rebuilding and repairs tied to future damage caused by Iran. In a post on X, Gharibabadi said Iran’s assets were “neither war spoils for Washington nor a payment fund for its allies”.
US lobbies UN nuclear watchdog to tighten pressure on Iran The United States is pushing members of the UN nuclear watchdog’s board to back a resolution demanding that Iran account for its bombed nuclear sites and the enriched uranium kept there. The US-drafted text, seen by Reuters on Sunday, was circulated before this week’s quarterly meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-nation Board of Governors. The move risks further poisoning talks between Washington and Tehran after Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.
Opec+ set to increase oil output targets again Opec+ is set to agree on Sunday a fourth increase in oil output targets in as many months, three sources from the oil cartel told Reuters, even though the war on Iran is still preventing several members from pumping more. The war has cut oil flows via the Strait of Hormuz, creating the world's biggest ever supply crisis as key Opec+ members including Saudi Arabia have been unable to supply customers in full since the end of February, Reuters reported. The United Arab Emirates recently left the oil cartel after 60 years, deepening the crisis within it.
Report says US weighing use of frozen Iranian assets for Gulf reconstruction US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is considering whether frozen Iranian assets could be redirected to help Gulf states rebuild and repair damage caused by Iran, according to a report by Reuters citing a source familiar with the matter. The source said Bessent has asked Treasury officials to assess the extent of damage already sustained by US allies in the Gulf and to examine whether Iranian assets could be used to fund future reconstruction and repair efforts. Similar reports were carried by the New York Post and Fox News, which cited a source saying the Treasury would use “all available tools” to make Iranian assets available to Gulf partners.
US denies visas to Iranian World Cup delegation members, Tasnim reports Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that the United States has refused to issue entry visas to several members of Iran’s delegation connected to the national football team’s participation in the Fifa World Cup. According to Tasnim, those affected include the team manager, the general secretary of the Iran Football Federation, the team’s executive and media directors, a media staff member, an analyst, and representatives from Iran’s foreign ministry, security agencies and the federation’s international committee. The report said the individuals are scheduled to travel with the national team to Mexico, and efforts are continuing to obtain the necessary visas.
France pushes sanctions over West Bank settler violence France is working with several countries on coordinated sanctions targeting people linked to violence in the occupied West Bank, three European diplomats said. The measures under discussion include asset freezes and travel bans, with announcements possible within days. Countries may still adopt different sanctions lists, as European governments move outside the EU framework after failing to secure unanimous support for tougher action against Israel.
Iran World Cup squad faces same-day US entry rule Iran’s World Cup squad must enter and leave the United States on the same day for matches played on US soil, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico says. The restrictions come as the Israeli-US war on Tehran spills into sport, forcing Iran to base its team in Mexico rather than its planned camp in Tucson, Arizona. “We can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day,” Iran’s envoy Abolfazl Pasandideh told reporters, describing the visa limits imposed on the squad.
Russian executive says US using Strait of Hormuz to 'reshape' energy markets The chief executive of Russia's Rosneft said on Saturday that the US was attempting to use the closure of the Strait of Hormuz for its own benefit. “The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is an attempt to reshape global energy market regulations to benefit the United States. The measures taken to block the strait were aimed at Iran, but backfired on the entire world.
Iran's World Cup squad granted US visas but some staff blocked Submitted by MEE staff on Sat, 06/06/2026 - 10:15 Iranian media reports that members of the squad's administrative staff have not been granted visas to enter the US Iran's players pose for a team photo before a friendly match against Gambia in Turkey, 29 May 2026 (Umit Bektas/Reuters) Off Members of Iran 's World Cup 2026 administrative staff have not been given visas to enter the United States, Iranian media reported on Saturday. According to US officials, while Iranian footballers have been granted visas for the tournament, which begins on Thursday in Mexico, some support staff are reportedly not being allowed to join the squad. On Friday, a White House official told Reuters that the players had received their visas, after Iran's ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, said on Thursday that they had not.
Iran says US and Israeli strikes to blame for partial loss of nuclear oversight Iran's deputy foreign minister has said US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites has prevented the International Atomic Energy Agency from being able to fully monitor them. Kazem Gharibabadi said the UN's nuclear watchdog should avoid turning technical reports into “tools of political pressure” if it wanted to contribute to a diplomatic solution. He said that the loss of the IAEA's oversight at some facilities resulted from the attacks rather than a lack of cooperation by Iran, adding that the agency was using the consequences of US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites to create “ambiguity” about Tehran's nuclear programme.
Iranian media says US denied visas to members of World Cup delegation Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that the United States has refused entry visas for several members of Iran’s delegation connected to the national football team’s World Cup preparations. According to the report, those denied visas include the team manager, the general secretary of the Iran Football Federation, the team’s executive and media directors, a media staff member, an analyst, and representatives from Iran’s foreign ministry, security agencies and the federation’s international committee. Tasnim said the individuals are expected to travel with the national team to Mexico and that efforts are continuing to secure the necessary visas.
Independent says economic impact of Iran war is hitting Britain The Independent has argued that the economic consequences of the conflict between the United States and Iran are increasingly being felt in Britain, with households facing higher costs for energy, food and mortgages amid wider market disruption. In an editorial, the newspaper said the conflict had evolved into a longer and more complex crisis than the White House anticipated, contributing to major disruptions in global energy markets. It noted that while lower-income countries in Africa and Asia have been among the hardest hit, advanced economies have also faced rising costs, including higher fuel prices in the United States and renewed economic pressures in Britain after signs of recovery earlier in the year.
Iran says half of frozen assets should be released immediately Iran’s Deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran is seeking the immediate release of at least half of its frozen assets as part of any memorandum of understanding with the United States. Speaking to Mehr News Agency, Gharibabadi said: “At minimum, the Islamic Republic of Iran insists that 50 percent of these funds be made available to Iran immediately upon the signing of the memorandum of understanding. ” He added that Iran expects the remaining funds to be released within a limited period of one to two months after any agreement is signed.
US energy secretary links lower fuel prices to Iran resolution US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said reducing petrol and diesel prices will ultimately depend on reaching a resolution with Iran that allows more oil to move through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supplies. Speaking in California, Wright also called for increased domestic fuel production, arguing that the state’s energy security is important because dozens of military facilities rely on imported fuel. He added that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is expected to grow after the conflict, saying companies will return more oil than they borrowed.
US expands Iran sanctions as Israel-backed pressure campaign grows The US has imposed a new round of Iran-related sanctions, widening its economic pressure campaign as Washington continues to shield Israel’s war agenda in the region. The US Treasury Department said the measures target several entities, individuals and liquefied petroleum gas tankers. The designations include 12 entities: five based in the Marshall Islands, four in the UAE and one in China.
Trump reiterates demand for Iran’s enriched uranium US President Donald Trump has again insisted that Washington wants control of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Asked about the issue during remarks in the Oval Office, Trump said: “I want to get it. ” He added that only the United States and China have the necessary “equipment” to retrieve the material.
Centcom says 125 vessels redirected under Iran port blockade US Central Command says it has redirected 125 commercial vessels since the launch of its naval blockade on Iranian ports in mid-April. CENTCOM added that six ships were “disabled” after failing to comply with the blockade, which was introduced by President Donald Trump as part of efforts to restrict Iran’s oil exports and pressure Tehran into accepting US terms for a deal. The latest figures show an increase from previous CENTCOM updates and indicate that enforcement operations against shipping linked to Iranian ports remain ongoing.
