Page 22 - Us-iran Tensions
US intel warns Israel 'spied' on US officials during Iran peace push
The Defence Department has increased the counterintelligence threat assessment to its highest level, and Israel is believed to have eavesdropped on American negotiations with Iran
 "US intel warns Israel 'spied' on US officials during Iran peace push")
US likely to use Iranian assets to help Gulf allies recover from war
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also directed a team to assess costs for damage already inflicted on Gulf allies by Iran
 "US likely to use Iranian assets to help Gulf allies recover from war")
US hits Iranian radar sites after drones target shipping near Hormuz
Iran fired seven ballistic missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain hours after Centcom shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that were launched toward the Strait of Hormuz
 "US hits Iranian radar sites after drones target shipping near Hormuz")
US hits Iranian radar sites after drones target shipping near Hormuz
Iran fired seven ballistic missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain hours after Centcom shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that were launched toward the Strait of Hormuz
How oil avoided a $200 surge despite the biggest supply shock ever
Governments around the globe coordinated a historic release of strategic reserves, while Gulf producers rerouted shipments through alternative export routes
 "How oil avoided a $200 surge despite the biggest supply shock ever")
US energy firms benefit from Strait of Hormuz closure: Rosneft CEO Sechin
Iran blockaded the Strait, the main route for about a fifth of world oil supplies and other vital goods including fertilisers, after the United States and Israel attacked Iran in February
 "US energy firms benefit from Strait of Hormuz closure: Rosneft CEO Sechin")
US energy firms benefit from Strait of Hormuz closure: Rosneft CEO Sechin
Iran blockaded the Strait, the main route for about a fifth of world oil supplies and other vital goods including fertilisers, after the United States and Israel attacked Iran in February
Millions are being pushed into hunger by Iran war, says UN food agency
The UN food agency said millions of people are being pushed into acute hunger by the Iran war, as it warned would happen if the conflict escalated and oil prices remained high. The World Food Program said an analysis in three vulnerable countries found that an additional 2.5 million people in Somalia, 2.3 million in Afghanistan and 1.3 million in Sri Lanka are struggling to meet their basic food needs. In March, WFP predicted that 45 million people could be pushed into food insecurity by the end of June. That would be on top of the 318 million people around the world who are already food insecure. "We remain by that prognosis," WFP's acting Executive Director Carl Skau told UN reporters. "That's mainly because the correlation between the prices of energy and food is so tight in many places, and also that in the poorest countries people are already spending all their money on food, and hence when food prices rise, they eat less." WFP said in its report, circulated late Thursday, tha
Millions are being pushed into hunger by Iran war, says UN food agency
The UN food agency said millions of people are being pushed into acute hunger by the Iran war, as it warned would happen if the conflict escalated and oil prices remained high. The World Food Program said an analysis in three vulnerable countries found that an additional 2.5 million people in Somalia, 2.3 million in Afghanistan and 1.3 million in Sri Lanka are struggling to meet their basic food needs. In March, WFP predicted that 45 million people could be pushed into food insecurity by the end of June. That would be on top of the 318 million people around the world who are already food insecure. "We remain by that prognosis," WFP's acting Executive Director Carl Skau told UN reporters. "That's mainly because the correlation between the prices of energy and food is so tight in many places, and also that in the poorest countries people are already spending all their money on food, and hence when food prices rise, they eat less." WFP said in its report, circulated late Thursday, tha
US military downs four Iranian drones launched toward Strait of Hormuz
The US military said it shot down four Iranian drones that were launched toward the Strait of Hormuz on Friday and then struck some of the Islamic Republic's coastal surveillance radar sites in response, raising the risk to a shaky ceasefire as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Iran. "The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic," US Central Command said on social media. The military is enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran's chokehold on the crucial corridor for global oil and natural gas shipments, which has sent energy prices spiking and posed political problems for President Donald Trump's Republican Party ahead of the midterm congressional elections. US Central Command said it hit the radar sites, including an island in the strait, "to defend against further attacks." It was the latest in back-and-forth attacks that have strained the tenuous ceasefire in the war and efforts to reach a deal to extend that truce. Earl
 "US military downs four Iranian drones launched toward Strait of Hormuz")
US military downs four Iranian drones launched toward Strait of Hormuz
The US military said it shot down four Iranian drones that were launched toward the Strait of Hormuz on Friday and then struck some of the Islamic Republic's coastal surveillance radar sites in response, raising the risk to a shaky ceasefire as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Iran. "The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic," US Central Command said on social media. The military is enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran's chokehold on the crucial corridor for global oil and natural gas shipments, which has sent energy prices spiking and posed political problems for President Donald Trump's Republican Party ahead of the midterm congressional elections. US Central Command said it hit the radar sites, including an island in the strait, "to defend against further attacks." It was the latest in back-and-forth attacks that have strained the tenuous ceasefire in the war and efforts to reach a deal to extend that truce. Earl
US, Iran deadlocked over ceasefire terms as conflict nears 100-day mark
Without a breakthrough, the continuing standoff suggests that Iran believes it can bear the current level of pressure longer while betting that the political pain may get Trump to concede
 "US, Iran deadlocked over ceasefire terms as conflict nears 100-day mark")
US, Iran deadlocked over ceasefire terms as conflict nears 100-day mark
Without a breakthrough, the continuing standoff suggests that Iran believes it can bear the current level of pressure longer while betting that the political pain may get Trump to concede
Iran declares support for Hezbollah with wider peace deal in doubt
Tehran links any US-brokered peace deal to a Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, complicating regional truce efforts
 "Iran declares support for Hezbollah with wider peace deal in doubt")
Indian households expect inflation to spike as consumer confidence wanes
RBI surveys show Indian households expect inflation to jump amid US-Iran war tensions and weak monsoon forecasts, driving a steep decline in consumer confidence
 "Indian households expect inflation to spike as consumer confidence wanes")
Brent crude oil to remain range-bound in the $90-$115 range, says analyst
The near-term outlook for Brent crude through Q3 2026 is likely to remain range-bound in the $90-115/bbl band, with risks skewed slightly towards a higher floor price for crude oil
 "Brent crude oil to remain range-bound in the $90-$115 range, says analyst")
Oman suspends oil loading at Mina al Fahal terminal after drone attack
The explosion occurred between single-buoy mooring (SBM) 1 and 2 berths due to an alleged drone attack
 "Oman suspends oil loading at Mina al Fahal terminal after drone attack")
Oman suspends oil loading at Mina al Fahal terminal after drone attack
The explosion occurred between single-buoy mooring (SBM) 1 and 2 berths due to an alleged drone attack
Emkay raises FY27 Brent crude forecast to $90/bbl, cuts GDP outlook to 6.3%
Emkay Global has raised FY27 Brent crude oil price forecast to $90 per barrel citing West Asia tensions and inventory depletion. It has cut India's GDP growth outlook to 6.3 per cent
UN nuclear watchdog unable to inspect Iran sites, verify uranium stockpile
The UN nuclear watchdog has been unable to inspect nuclear facilities in Iran affected by the war last June according to a confidential report by the UN nuclear watchdog circulated to member states. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that it "cannot provide any information on the current size, composition or whereabouts of the stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran or whether Iran has suspended all enrichment-related activities." The IAEA warned that it was "unable to discharge its safeguards responsibilities" that it has under the Safeguards Agreement of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, adding that it is "indispensable and urgent" for Tehran to implement its obligations under that Treaty. The only nuclear facility inspected in Iran by IAEA inspectors since the last report in February has been the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which was visited on June 1-3. The reactor currently running at Bushehr uses uranium from Russia enriched to 4.5 per cent, a low level needed
 "UN nuclear watchdog unable to inspect Iran sites, verify uranium stockpile")