Iran and Oman defining a temporary route for now, Araghchi says Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi has reiterated that talks with Oman and reopening of Hormuz were “two separate issues”. In his comments carried by Shahrara News, he said: “Our negotiations with Oman are ongoing. That is a completely separate matter.
Opinion: How a pragmatic axis could reshape the Middle East Nearly three years after the 7 October Hamas attack shattered the illusion of a manageable status quo - one serving US - Israeli interests, while harming Palestinian rights - and midway through President Donald Trump’s second term, the Middle East no longer maps neatly onto the two axes that have defined it for decades. The region’s fault line long ran between Iran ’s “Axis of Resistance” - comprising Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iraqi armed groups, and a battered but defiant Syria under the Assad regime - and the Israeli-inspired “Pax Americana”: an informal architecture of deterrence, normalisation, and military primacy that Washington and Tel Aviv sought to impose through the Abraham Accords, blatant double standards, international law violations and overwhelming force. Today, a third pole could be emerging: an increasingly institutionalised “Sunni axis” anchored in Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad - with Doha, Cairo, and to a lesser extent Abu Dhabi at its edges.
Hamas chief heads to Cairo for talks ahead of Kushner visit Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya is set to travel to Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials, a Hamas source tells AFP, ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump’s envoy Jared Kushner to the region. Hayya, who will be visiting Egypt for the first time since assuming leadership of Hamas in late July, is due to meet with Egypt’s intelligence chief Hassan Rashad this morning, the source says. Kushner will visit Israel and Egypt next week in hopes of bridging gaps on a Gaza plan rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and will be accompanied by Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza of Trump’s so-called 'Board of Peace' tasked with implementing the deal.
Iran says route through Hormuz agreed with Oman, but deal yet to be finalised Iran has reached an agreement with Oman on a shipping route map for the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of technical negotiations, Defa Press reported, citing Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei. “Despite US obstruction, the talks have made positive progress over the past three weeks and an agreement has been reached on the shipping route map. ” Baghaei added that both sides were still negotiating outstanding issues, including a statement to be issued by Tehran and Muscat.
Iran accuses French diplomats of 'infiltration' The Iranian government has accused two French diplomats of conducting an "infiltration and interference" operation inside Iran. Iran's intelligence ministry alleged in a statement that the diplomats were discovered at a secret meeting place, and that documents found there pointed to efforts to establish contacts and build networks elsewhere. It further said that contracts linked to the project carried the signature of a former French ambassador to Iran.
How a pragmatic axis could reshape the Middle East Submitted by Marco Carnelos on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 16:51 The Mecca agreement could do more to determine the region's trajectory than anything decided in Washington, Tel Aviv or Tehran Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomes Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Riyadh, on 17 September 2025 (Saudi Press Agency/AFP) On Nearly three years after the 7 October Hamas attack shattered the illusion of a manageable status quo - one serving US - Israeli interests, while harming Palestinian rights - and midway through President Donald Trump’s second term, the Middle East no longer maps neatly onto the two axes that have defined it for decades. The region’s fault line long ran between Iran ’s “Axis of Resistance” - comprising Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iraqi armed groups, and a battered but defiant Syria under the Assad regime - and the Israeli-inspired “Pax Americana”: an informal architecture of deterrence, normalisation, and military primacy that Washington and Tel Aviv sought to impose through the Abraham Accords, blatant double standards, international law violations and overwhelming force. Today, a third pole could be emerging: an increasingly institutionalised “Sunni axis” anchored in Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad - with Doha, Cairo, and to a lesser extent Abu Dhabi at its edges.
Morning recap Good morning Middle East Eye readers, President Donald Trump said he would "soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory after defeating Iran. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi retorted that Tehran would not be intimidated by threats or a show of force by Washington. Trump’s remarks came as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said no decision has yet been made to resume negotiations with the United States.
Rashida Tlaib rally cancelled after Florida lawmaker calls its 'anti-jew' A South Florida site backed out of hosting a rally with Democratic US Representative Rashida Tlaib, a vocal critic of Israel's government, after complaints by a Democratic state lawmaker in the party's latest flashpoint over its stance on Israel. Tlaib, the first Palestinian American member of Congress, was scheduled to appear on Friday at a rally for three candidates in Florida's upcoming Democratic Party primary. However, The Venue Fort Lauderdale, which was scheduled to host the event, suddenly cancelled it after State Representative Michael Gottlieb, chairman of the Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus, posted a statement on Thursday calling the planned rally an "anti-Jew" gathering.
Hamas likely to elect Gaza political bureau head next week, report says Hamas is expected to hold internal elections in the Gaza Strip next week to choose the head of its political bureau for the territory, Arab48 reported. Ali Al-Amoudi is the most likely candidate to succeed Khalil Al-Hayya, who was elected head of Hamas’s political bureau in July after competing against Khaled Meshaal, Arab48 reported, citing Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper. Al-Amoudi was among the Hamas leaders closest to former political bureau chief Yahya Sinwar, who was assassinated in Rafah in October 2024.
OIC warns of ‘grave risks’ posed by Israel’s West Bank policies The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has warned of the “grave risks” posed by Israeli announcements aimed at annexing West Bank areas. In a statement, the 57-member OIC said: “The Israeli occupation and colonial settlement enterprise, as well as all measures, entities and institutions associated with it, are illegal”. “And all acts emanating from them constitute flagrant violations of international law, relevant resolutions of international legitimacy, and the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice,” the statement added.
Araghchi says talks with Oman about Strait of Hormuz ‘may reach conclusion soon’ Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that negotiations between Iran and Oman “may reach a conclusion soon,” Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) reported. Araghchi said the talks with Oman regarding the shared management of the Strait of Hormuz between the two countries “are ongoing, but this is a completely separate discussion” from ceasefire talks with the United States. He added that “a technical discussion related to determining the maritime routes of the Strait of Hormuz for ship traffic” is continuing.
Iran's deputy foreign minister says won't be intimidated by US threats after Trump's statements on Hormuz Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said early Saturday that Tehran would not be intimidated by threats or a show of force by Washington after US President Donald Trump said he would declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory. Commenting on Trump's statements, Gharibabadi said in a post on X that the strategic waterway would only be opened or closed under Iran's authority. ترامپ گفته بعد از شکست ایران، بزودی تنگه هرمز را قلمرو آمریکا اعلام خواهد کرد!
Iran has not decided on resuming US talks, ISNA citing foreign minister Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said no decision has yet been made to resume negotiations with the United States, the Iranian Student News Agency reported. Araghchi added that mediator Qatar and Pakistan were in contact with Iran and exchanging messages, but that this did not amount to negotiations.
Vance says low oil prices are top US goal in Iran conflict Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday that the top US priority in the Iran war was keeping oil and gasoline prices low for Americans, with preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon ranking second. The remarks contrasted with President Donald Trump's repeated framing of the fight: that entering the war had the sole objective of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, even if that meant short-term economic sacrifices for Americans. Vance's comments also underscored the growing reality that the war now centres on control of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has forced to the top of the negotiating agenda.
Trump says he will 'soon' declare Hormuz strait US territory President Donald Trump on Friday said he would "soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz waterway part of US territory after defeating Iran. "After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated - pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States," he said with a chuckle during a political rally at a police academy in New York state. "It's true," he added.
Pro-Israel Emirati influencers mocked for claims of Islamic plot to take over West Why are Emirati influencers warning of an Islamic plot to take over Britain and the west? It is one of the most curious developments of recent times: the rise of young men and women from the United Arab Emirates talking to British journalists and think tanks about the purported threat of the Muslim Brotherhood. Now, however, these influencers are being strongly criticised - and even mocked and taunted - over a series of videos.
Pro-Israel Emirati influencers mocked for claims of Islamic plot to take over West Submitted by Imran Mulla on Fri, 08/14/2026 - 11:13 Young Emiratis are making videos warning of the purported threat of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK and western world Rauda Altenaiji, an Emirati influencer, speaking in an interview in Britain with Jonathan Sacerdoti (Screengrab/X) Off Why are Emirati influencers warning of an Islamic plot to take over Britain and the west? It is one of the most curious developments of recent times: the rise of young men and women from the United Arab Emirates talking to British journalists and think tanks about the purported threat of the Muslim Brotherhood. Now, however, these influencers are being strongly criticised - and even mocked and taunted - over a series of videos.
Netanyahu brands Britain an ‘Islamic republic’ as it prepares Israel sanctions Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Fri, 08/14/2026 - 14:49 The Israeli prime minister attacks London despite years of British arms sales, intelligence sharing and diplomatic protection A collage photo of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham (Ronen Zvulun/Toby Shepheard/AFP) Off Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has branded Britain an "Islamic republic", attacking a country whose governments have armed, protected and assisted Israel throughout its genocide in Gaza and wider regional wars. During an interview broadcast by Army Radio, Netanyahu complained that the favourable British coverage Israel received during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war had disappeared. The 1967 war began with Israel’s surprise attack on Egypt and ended with Israeli forces seizing the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and Syria’s Golan Heights.
Kushner to visit Israel to discuss Trump's Gaza plan US President Donald Trump's envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner will visit Israel next week to discuss Trump's Gaza plan recently rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, officials said on Friday. Kushner and Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza of Trump's so-called Board of Peace implementing the deal, will visit both Israel and key mediator Egypt. The trip comes after Netanyahu publicly rejected the 15-point plan announced by Mladenov in which Hamas agreed to hand over its weapons to a new Palestinian governing committee in Gaza.
AIPAC spent millions to unseat me. Here’s why they’re now losing: Ex-congressman | Jamaal Bowman Submitted by Mohamed Hashem on Fri, 08/14/2026 - 14:25 'There is a political revolution happening right now. That is not hyperbole.
