President Donald Trump has said he will decide very soon whether to “blow up” Iran or make a peace deal, after Tehran said it had received an official US response to its proposal to end the war.
“We have to make that decision: We blow them up or make a deal,” Trump told reporters yesterday. "But the time is coming. It's going to end very soon, one way or another," he added.
When asked how he planned to negotiate with Iranian officials he called "crazy", Trump said: "Maybe you blow them up."
Trump had publicly rejected Iran’s peace deal offer just days earlier. But on Wednesday, Iranian officials suggested the two sides largely differed over the timeline for its implementation.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi presented the US response to president Masoud Pezeshkian at a cabinet meeting, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told the state-run IRNA news agency.
Pezeshkian said: “We will make every effort to bring the agreement to fruition and will firmly stand up for the rights of the Iranian people.“The agreement must now be based on a win-win strategy.
Read MoreTrump offers Iran war naysayers an extreme endgame: ‘Let them hit us with a nuclear weapon’
Trump vents furiously about TV shows he doesn’t like in Monday morning social media spree
Iraq begins importing gasoline via Syrian port to bypass the closed Strait of Hormuz
Iranians face soaring prices for medicine as the US blockade and sanctions hit hard
Key Points
- Trump threatens to 'blow up' Iran if deal can't be reached
- Iran says it has received response from US on latest proposal
- Oil prices hold steady as investors assess US-Iran peace talks
- US and Iranian officials hold separate talks with Qatari mediators
- US forces complete withdrawal from Iraq after 23 years
- US likely committed war crimes with strike on Iran school, UN report finds
Iran's economy spirals further after months-long war
06:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran's economy, under heavy strain before the war started, has been in a free fall since the conflict began in late February.
The country's currency fell to a record low on Tuesday, with traders in Tehran exchanging more than 2.5 million rials to the US dollar in a stark reflection of how the war in the Middle East has steadily eroded the Iranian economy.
The latest decline came just 27 days after the rial hit its previous record low of 2.2 million to the dollar on 2 September. The currency has repeatedly reached new lows since the war began in February.
US president Donald Trump yesterday, in an Oval Office exchange with reporters, threatened to "blow them up" if the US and Iran don't forge a deal soon.
"It's going to end very soon, one way or the other," Trump said.
Trump threatens to 'blow up' Iran if deal can't be reached
05:35 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS president Donald Trump has warned that Washington faces a choice between tougher military action in Iran or a peace deal.
“We have to make that decision: We blow them up or make a deal,” Trump told reporters yesterday. "But the time is coming. It's going to end very soon, one way or another," he added.
When asked how he planned to negotiate with Iranian officials he called "crazy", Trump said: "Maybe you blow them up."
Oil prices barely changed as investors assess US-Iran peace talks
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices were nearly flat in early Asia trade this morning, following the previous day's gains and steep monthly rises, as investors assessed the outcome of US-Iran peace talks and the outlook for Middle East crude exports.
Brent crude futures rose 12 cents or 0.1 per cent, to $98.15 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $90.35 a barrel, down 7 cents, or 0.1 per cent.
Both benchmarks rose about $1 a barrel yesterday. Brent recorded a monthly gain of around 14 per cent in September, its biggest since July, while WTI increased by about 5 per cent on the month.
Burnham says ‘strong indications’ Iran played part in suspected RAF Fairford bomb plot
03:56 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAndy Burnham said there are “strong indications that Iran played a part” in a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford.
The UK is working closely with US and the authorities have the situation under “the strongest grip”, the prime minister insisted after Donald Trump criticised the decision to release the suspects.
Five British nationals, all in their mid-20s, were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and terrorism near the military base over the weekend before being bailed under investigation on Monday.
More here.
Burnham says ‘strong indications’ Iran played part in suspected RAF Fairford plot
Iran doubles down threats on to UAE over hosting 'Butcher of Gaza'
03:00 , Suha KidwaiMohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has issued a warning to the UAE following Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Abu Dhabi.
Posting on social media on Wednesday, Rezaei cautioned that welcoming the Israeli leader would carry severe repercussions, drawing a direct comparison to Western military deployments in the region.
He wrote: “Just as hosting US military bases has not brought you security, hosting the ‘Butcher of Gaza’ will also not have favourable consequences. Learn from the last war, stop igniting wars, and cease issuing baseless claims regarding the Iranian islands.”
The visit comes amid heightened regional scrutiny over Abu Dhabi’s dual-track foreign policy and long-standing territorial disputes over strategic Persian Gulf islands.
Houthis are forging a 'dangerous Red Sea Axis,' claims Yemeni minister
02:00 , Suha KidwaiYemen’s foreign minister Afrah al-Zouba has warned that Houthi rebels are expanding their alliance network across the Horn of Africa, creating what she described as a "dangerous Red Sea Axis."
In an official statement released on X on Wednesday, the Yemeni foreign ministry warned that the group is forging operational ties with allied militant groups across the narrow Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
Foreign Minister Dr. @afrah_alzouba writes in @Telegraph on the evolving threat to Yemen, the Red Sea and global trade
— وزارة خارجية الجمهورية اليمنية (@yemen_mofa) September 30, 2026
The Iran-backed Houthis have expanded their cooperation with terrorist groups across the Horn of Africa, building what is emerging as a dangerous "Red Sea… pic.twitter.com/DMM7B9nvVM
The warning highlights growing international concern over the conflict, with Western and Gulf intelligence agencies tracking increased Houthi arms smuggling and maritime coordination along East African shipping routes.
Lebanese minister calls for Hezbollah disarmament
01:00 , Suha KidwaiLebanon’s foreign minister has called for an end to what he termed Iranian interference in Lebanese affairs, linking regional stability to the handover of Hezbollah’s weapons and an end to Israeli military strikes.
Speaking at a event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington on Wednesday, Youssef Raggi stressed that sovereign authority must be restored under state control.
“We want peace with all our neighbours, and we stress the need for Iran to stop interfering in our affairs ... Stability requires ending the [Israeli] occupation and the handover of Hezbollah’s weapons.”
Raggi confirmed that Lebanon remains committed to direct, US-sponsored negotiations, describing bilateral diplomacy as the "only way to reclaim our land and secure the return of the displaced."
The remarks highlight growing pressure on Tehran's regional network as Beirut pushes to disarm non-state militias amid broader Middle East peace efforts.
Saudi's MBS vows 'decisive' response to Houthi attacks
Thursday 1 October 2026 00:00 , Suha KidwaiSaudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has said Riyadh will respond "decisively" to any security threats from Iran-backed Houthis, balancing military warnings with calls for regional diplomacy.
Delivering the annual royal address to the Shura Council on Wednesday, the Crown Prince reaffirmed support for the coalition in Yemen, warning that the kingdom "will not hesitate to respond firmly" to rebel drone and missile strikes.
He pointed to the newly formed "Mecca Defence Pact" as a vital shield against widening regional conflict, while announcing plans for a new defensive maritime coalition to protect Red Sea shipping.
Bahrain joins US-led drone unit targeting Iran
Wednesday 30 September 2026 23:00 , Suha KidwaiBahrain has formally joined Task Force Falcon Strike, becoming the first regional Gulf partner to sign on to the US military's new multinational attack drone initiative, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Wednesday.
The task force, launched by Washington in mid-August, operates one-way attack drones across air, surface, and underwater domains.
CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper welcomed Manama’s inclusion, calling the kingdom a "steadfast partner in strengthening regional security."
"We're excited to welcome Bahrain to Task Force Falcon Strike after the kingdom affirmed its commitment to join CENTCOM in building the world's first multinational attack drone unit. Bahrain is a steadfast partner in strengthening regional security and stability." - Adm. Brad… https://t.co/OpkrH1GF1R
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 30, 2026
The unit builds directly on Task Force Scorpion Strike, the US military's dedicated kamikaze drone squadron used during July airstrikes against Iranian naval assets and port facilities at Bandar Abbas.
Bahrain’s formal integration comes after repeatedly coming under fire from Iranian missile and drone strikes since the conflict erupted in February, including early attacks on the US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama.
UK prime minister says ‘strong indication’ of Iran involvement in RAF Fairford incident
Wednesday 30 September 2026 22:00 , Suha KidwaiUK prime minister Andy Burnham has said there are "strong indications" Iran was involved in a suspected plot targeting RAF Fairford, a key airbase that is used by US forces to launch strikes on Iran.
Five UK nationals were arrested in London on Sunday on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, with US President Donald Trump claiming the suspects intended to cause "big damage."
British Counter Terrorism police released the men on bail on Monday as complex investigations continue alongside US authorities.
Tehran has denied any involvement in the alleged plot.
Tehran frames US troop exit from Iraq as victory for 'axis of resistance'
Wednesday 30 September 2026 21:00 , Suha KidwaiIran and its regional armed allies are celebrating the final withdrawal of US military forces from Iraq, framing the departure after more than two decades as a landmark triumph for Tehran's "axis of resistance."
The pullout of the final American troops formally concludes US military operations in Iraq, fulfilling a longstanding strategic goal for Tehran to expel US forces from its western border.
Supporters of pro-Iranian militia groups gathered in Baghdad on Wednesday to celebrate, carrying portraits of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei.
While Iraqi authorities marked the exit as a transition to full national sovereignty, analysts and local residents warn that the resulting security vacuum could allow Iran-backed militias to further consolidate control over state institutions and key security apparatuses.
Iranian rial plunges to record low as war and blockade hit critical supplies
Wednesday 30 September 2026 20:00 , Suha KidwaiIran’s currency has crashed to a historic low as seven months of war with the US and Israel send the country’s economy into freefall.
The latest plunge — of 2.54 million rials per dollar on Tuesday — comes less than a month after the currency hit its previous record low of 2.2 million on September 2.
The rapid currency collapse and the ongoing US naval blockade are triggering severe domestic shortages, with basic medicine prices more than tripling as hospitals report of stocks running dangerously low.
US President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that Iran is "failing very badly," predicting the conflict could end after the US midterm elections in November.
Iran receives US response on plan to end seven-month war
Wednesday 30 September 2026 19:00 , Suha KidwaiIranian officials say Tehran has received a formal US response to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, despite Donald Trump’s public rejection of the deal last week.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented the American reply — relayed via Qatari mediators — to president Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday. While details were not disclosed, Pezeshkian signaled talks remain active, insisting any deal must be based on a "win-win strategy."
The diplomatic movement coincides with fresh US financial pressure. The US Treasury Department has unveiled sanctions against 10 individuals and entities across Iran, Hong Kong, and Pakistan for procuring weapons components for Tehran under its "Operation Economic Outcast" campaign.
Upcoming Israeli election threatens to prolong Middle East conflict
Wednesday 30 September 2026 18:00 , Suha KidwaiIsrael is entering the final weeks in the run-up to its October 27 general election, with latest polls showing current prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader, Gadi Eisenkot locked in a tight race.
A survey published on Wednesday projects Eisenkot’s opposition Yashar party to secure 23 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, closely followed by Netanyahu’s Likud on 20 seats. Neither side currently commands the 61-seat majority required to form a government without complex coalition bargaining.
The vote is expected to carry profound regional consequences for the ongoing war with Iran.
Analysts have noted that Netanyahu’s election strategy relies heavily on maintaining a hardline military posture, limiting scope for US-brokered ceasefires or diplomatic compromises in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea before Israelis go to the polls.
The uncertainty continues as regional actors calculate how the makeup of Israel's next government will shape the trajectory of military operations across West Asia.
UAE's conduct may 'impose costs' on itself, Iranian media warns
Wednesday 30 September 2026 17:00 , Suha KidwaiState-linked Iranian outlet, Nour News has issued a sharp warning to the United Arab Emirates, cautioning that Abu Dhabi's attempt to "play both sides" could ultimately carry severe consequences for its own stability.
In a lengthy commentary, the outlet pointed to a growing contradiction between the UAE's diplomatic calls for de-escalation at the UN General Assembly and its physical security actions.
Tehran has specifically highlighted Abu Dhabi's hosting of Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu on September 27 and its ongoing military and security alignment with Israel and the US.
The warning comes amid heightened regional friction, with Tehran accusing the UAE of compromising Persian Gulf security by permitting an active Israeli presence on its soil.
EU aviation agency issues Saudi airspace advisory
Wednesday 30 September 2026 16:32 , Sian ElvinThe European Union Aviation Safety Agency (Easa) issued an advisory to airlines over Saudi airspace on Wednesday following a recent increase in attacks by the Houthis.
The latest advisory bulletin on Saudi Arabia does not mention the incident involving a diverted Flydubai airliner, and Easa said it will continue to monitor the situation to assess the risk for EU airlines in the country.
Easa further recommends flights do not operate within the airspace of Jordan at all altitudes and flight levels, which is a change from a previous advisory to exercise caution.
Iran says it has received response on latest proposal from US
Wednesday 30 September 2026 16:12 , Sian ElvinIranian officials indicated on Wednesday they have received an official US response to their latest proposal to end the war, which Donald Trump had rejected just days earlier.
The officials did not say what the response contained, and whether it was a rejection or not.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi presented the US response to President Masoud Pezeshkian at a cabinet meeting, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told the state-run IRNA news agency.
Mr Pezeshkian said: “We will make every effort to bring the agreement to fruition and will firmly stand up for the rights of the Iranian people.
“The agreement must now be based on a win-win strategy.”
Iran’s appeal to American voters: Vote out Trump's allies
Wednesday 30 September 2026 16:00 , Adam Withnall
Vote out Trump allies: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issues direct appeal to US voters
Iran hangs two protesters accused of taking part in 2026 unrest
Wednesday 30 September 2026 15:00 , Adam WithnallIran's judiciary says it has executed two men for taking part in anti-government protests and over their involvement in the deaths of four security personnel in January this year.
The two, Ali Hemmati and Majid Nik-Andish, were involved in what the judiciary's Mizan Online website called "the riots of January" and "the martyrdom of four security personnel". It said they were hanged on Wednesday morning after the country's supreme court upheld their sentences.
The brutal crackdown on the protests early this year saw thousands of those taking part killed by the Iranian security forces. Estimates for the death toll from the episode vary, with a rights group saying just over 7,000 deaths were confirmed, the overwhelming majority of them being protesters.
The regime then began hanging protesters who had been detained, though there was a brief stay on executions after Donald Trump expressed outrage and before the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
US military says its withdrawal of troops from Iraq is complete
Wednesday 30 September 2026 14:00 , Adam WithnallThe US military announced today that it had completed the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq, ending a 12-year mission to fight Isis. The last US troops left an air base in northern Iraq under a deal between Baghdad and Washington.
The withdrawal, agreed on two years ago, comes against the backdrop of the ongoing war between the United States and Iran that has also sometimes spilled over into Iraq, with Iran-backed militias firing on US troops and the US striking the groups' strongholds.
Baghdad touted the end of the US mission as a sign of the country's increasing strength and sovereignty.
The withdrawal was also celebrated by Iran-backed groups but raised concerns among some other Iraqis, particularly in the Kurdish region. Questions loom around the future of the Iraqi militias, which the Baghdad government has sought – with little success so far – to disarm.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement that US troops and equipment had completed an “orderly departure” from the air base in Irbil, in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region.
“This milestone reflects the success of a 12-year campaign that defeated Isis as an organised military threat in Iraq and across the region,” he said. “It also marks a transition from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security effort supported by a more normal bilateral security relationship.”
How a Bush-era New York Fed account gave the US ultimate leverage over Iraq’s oil wealth
Wednesday 30 September 2026 13:22 , Sian ElvinAmerican troops are scheduled to exit their final military posts in Iraq on Wednesday, a pullout welcomed as a triumph by Iran and its partners. Their sway runs deep across the country, where over two decades of fighting claimed 4,500 US lives.
Nevertheless, the United States has retained practical power over Iraq's oil revenue since its 2003 invasion. That financial leverage grants Washington immense control over affairs in Baghdad, carrying significant implications for regional dynamics involving Iran.
Read more here:
Why Iraq’s oil cash sits in New York
Four killed in separate Israeli strikes in Gaza, including senior Hamas commander
Wednesday 30 September 2026 12:45 , Stuti MishraIsraeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed four people yesterday, including a Hamas commander, Palestinian and Israeli officials said.
An early strike on an apartment west of Gaza City killed two people and wounded five others, officials at Shifa Hospital said. Israel said the overnight strike targeted Izz al-Din Bik, a Hamas commander it said was involved in plotting attacks and recruiting new members.
Hamas confirmed his death, describing him as one of the main overseers of the 7 October 2023 attacks on southern Israel, in which more than 1,200 people were killed.
Yesterday afternoon, a separate Israeli airstrike in the Jabaliya refugee camp, north of the Gaza Strip, killed one person and injured several others, Gaza's health ministry said.
Another strike around the same time, east of Gaza City, killed a further person, officials at Shifa Hospital said. Israel's military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the afternoon strikes. The deaths are the latest since a ceasefire took effect nearly a year ago.
Qatar to allow use of drones in designated areas, ministry says
Wednesday 30 September 2026 11:46 , Stuti MishraQatar's interior ministry said it would permit the use of drones in designated areas and within set permitted times starting on Tuesday, according to a statement.
Qatar banned the use, operation and launch of drones nationwide in March in the wake of the regional crisis stemming from the US war on Iran.
An unlikely coalition emerges weeks before Palestinian authority election
Wednesday 30 September 2026 11:19 , Adam WithnallHamas and the allied Islamic Jihad group have agreed to form an unlikely electoral coalition with a former top Fatah official who has close ties to the United Arab Emirates, Israel's closest ally in the Middle East, Palestinian officials have told The Associated Press.
The alliance could be well positioned to threaten the dominance of president Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party over the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority – but only if the first national elections in 20 years actually happen, which is very much in doubt.
Abbas has said parliamentary elections will be held 28 November in Gaza and the West Bank. But he has repeatedly delayed elections, most recently in 2021, when Fatah appeared headed for defeat. When Hamas won the last elections, in 2006, Israel and Western countries boycotted its government, fuelling months of unrest that led to its takeover of Gaza the following year.
Islamic Jihad deputy Secretary General Mohammed al-Hindi confirmed the formation of the electoral alliance in a rare interview with The Associated Press in Istanbul on Monday. He said it would support “a unified national list” that could be made up of independent figures rather than members of the groups.
Israeli settlers block Palestinian man from returning to his West Bank home
Wednesday 30 September 2026 10:46 , Stuti MishraMore than a hundred Israeli settlers scuffled with Israeli soldiers who were trying to escort a Palestinian man back to his home in the West Bank village of Jalud.
The homeowner, Mahmoud Tubasi, told the Associated Press that soldiers initially brought him to his house, but rioting settlers forced him to leave with his family in a military vehicle. He said he still cannot access the property, which settlers have besieged for two months.
Israel's military acknowledged the overnight mission to return the family "was not completed" and said three of its officers were injured after settlers threw rocks, blocked roads and set Palestinian property on fire.
Israeli police said they had arrested three settlers suspected of taking part in the riot, which was condemned by Israeli officials including prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, foreign minister Gideon Saar and president Isaac Herzog. Rights groups have accused the military of colluding with settlers amid a broader wave of settler violence it has struggled to contain.
Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline resumes operations after drone attack
Wednesday 30 September 2026 09:46 , Stuti MishraA crucial oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia that was shut down earlier this month after coming under attack is operating again, Reuters reported.
An anonymous official told Reuters the operations were near pre-attack levels and that the East-West pipeline should reach full capacity within a few weeks. The kingdom relies on the 1,200km (745-mile) pipeline to move crude from processing facilities on the Gulf to ports on its Red Sea coast.
Saudi Arabia blamed an Iran-backed militia in Iraq for the drone attack that forced the pipeline's temporary shutdown. Satellite imagery showed tankers loaded around 12.5 million barrels of oil on Sunday at the Yanbu export terminal, which the pipeline supplies, and the nearby Al Muajjiz terminal, according to the data and analytics firm Kpler.
Pakistan vows to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthis by 'whatever means'
Wednesday 30 September 2026 08:46 , Stuti MishraPakistan will use "whatever means are available" to defend Saudi Arabia against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, the country's defence minister said, in one of Islamabad's clearest signals yet that it could become directly involved in the widening regional conflict.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif declined to say whether Pakistani forces had already taken part in airstrikes, but said Pakistan's military capabilities would be available to Saudi Arabia under a new mutual defence pact between the two countries and Turkey.
"I'm not going into detail, but obviously when I say that we are bound by this arrangement to defend Saudi Arabia, that means whatever means are available at our disposal, they'll be available to Saudi Arabia also. I think that's a categoric statement," Mr Asif told reporters during a visit to Rome, when asked whether Pakistan had been involved in airstrikes against Iranian operators in Yemen.
US sanctions 10 entities in China, Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia over alleged Iran military support
Wednesday 30 September 2026 08:16 , Stuti MishraThe Trump administration has sanctioned 10 individuals and companies over alleged ties to Iran's military, targeting entities based in China, Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
The US Treasury said in a statement on Tuesday that representatives and technology firms in those countries had procured weapons and parts for Iran's military. Three of the sanctioned entities were based in Iran itself.
"Today's action further degrades the Iranian regime's ability to reconstitute its weapons programs and increases the costs for those who choose to aid Tehran's military procurement efforts," the Treasury said.
The sanctions form part of Operation Economic Outcast, a Treasury campaign aimed at further restricting Iran's access to global markets. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the operation in August, aiming to pressure Tehran into agreeing a deal to end its war with the US and Israel, which has been under way since 28 February after the two allies launched a series of attacks targeting Iran's leadership and military.
President Donald Trump said the operation would usher in "economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale" and warned that any country trading with Iran would face "tremendous" consequences.
The campaign's initial round of sanctions targeted China-based firms and business leaders.
Iran receives formal US response to seven-day plan
Wednesday 30 September 2026 08:02 , Adam WithnallIranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi met Qatari mediators in Doha on Tuesday night and received US feedback on a proposed seven-day trust-building plan, which he will discuss in Tehran on Wednesday, an official briefed on the talks told Reuters.
The main disagreement is over the sequencing of the plan, which aims to build trust and return to an enhanced version of a US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed in June, the official said.
Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline resumes operations after drone attack
Wednesday 30 September 2026 07:46 , Stuti MishraA crucial oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia that was shut down earlier this month after coming under attack is operating again, Reuters reported.
The official, who was not authorised to speak publicly told Reuters on condition of anonymity, the operations were near pre-attack levels and that the East-West pipeline should reach full capacity within a few weeks. The kingdom relies on the 1,200km (745-mile) pipeline to move crude from processing facilities on the Gulf to ports on its Red Sea coast.
Saudi Arabia blamed an Iran-backed militia in Iraq for the drone attack that forced the pipeline's temporary shutdown. Satellite imagery showed tankers loaded around 12.5 million barrels of oil on Sunday at the Yanbu export terminal, which the pipeline supplies, and the nearby Al Muajjiz terminal, according to the data and analytics firm Kpler.
US and Iranian officials hold separate talks with Qatari mediators
Wednesday 30 September 2026 06:46 , Stuti MishraUS and Iranian officials spoke separately with Qatari mediators this week, as Qatar continued its efforts to end the seven-month war between the two countries.
"We are exchanging messages between the parties, and we're working towards establishing a common ground in order to get into a deal that would save all of us from the repercussions of the conflict," Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari told reporters.
Qatar has again emerged as a would-be peacemaker, having previously played a supporting role in producing a June memorandum of understanding that led to a brief ceasefire. Negotiations appeared to intensify during last week's UN General Assembly meeting in New York, but have so far not yielded any agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of global oil and liquefied natural gas passed before the war started in February.
Oil prices rise after Trump denies he would ease Iran sanctions
Wednesday 30 September 2026 06:19 , Stuti MishraOil prices rose today after President Donald Trump denied he would ease sanctions on Iran, having fallen in the previous session as crude supply from the Middle East recovered.
Brent crude futures rose $1.14, or 1.11 per cent, to $103.73 (£82) a barrel by 01.31am GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 34 cents, or 0.38 per cent, to $89.72 (£71). Brent is on course for a monthly gain of around 14 per cent, its biggest since July, while WTI is set for a 4 per cent rise after breaching $106 for the first time since May.
Mr Trump denied an Axios report that cited US officials as saying he was willing to offer Iran sanctions relief and release frozen Iranian funds in exchange for "concrete" steps by Tehran on its nuclear programme.
"This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING," he wrote on Truth Social.
US forces complete withdrawal from Iraq after 23 years
Wednesday 30 September 2026 05:46 , Stuti MishraUS forces have withdrawn from their remaining bases in Iraq, in a departure Tehran has celebrated as a win for its allied armed groups across the region.
The withdrawal, which took effect today, was agreed in 2024 under former president Joe Biden and comes 23 years after the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
Iran calls on Americans to remove Trump allies as US troops leave Iraq
Wednesday 30 September 2026 04:46 , Stuti MishraIran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has urged Americans to vote out president Donald Trump's allies in Congress in November's elections.
The 26-page letter asks Americans to use their political power to remove current leaders from office and reject US support for Israel and military intervention abroad.
"Remove from power the evil, deceitful, and violent politicians who are responsible for America's current state," it said. "Make sure your politicians understand that the world has changed."
