Page 52 - Us-iran Tensions

Hollowed-out US State Dept strains diplomacy, struggles to manage Iran war

In the escalating war in Iran, the State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs would ordinarily be at the centre of the geopolitical fray. The bureau's role would be to coordinate US foreign policy across an 18-country region, much of which has become a chaotic battlefield scarred by drone and missile strikes as the US and Israel remain locked in conflict with Iran. But now that bureau is also working with fewer resources. The administration's most recent budget proposed a 40 per cent cut to the bureau, though Congress eventually enacted less dramatic cuts. The administration also eliminated the dedicated Iran office, merging it with the Iraq office. Personnel and management choices - coupled with President Donald Trump's moves to shrink government and confine decision-making to a tight circle - are limiting the ability of the United States to handle a global emergency, according to interviews with more than a dozen current and former US officials. Veteran diplomats with deca

Hollowed-out US State Dept strains diplomacy, struggles to manage Iran war

In the escalating war in Iran, the State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs would ordinarily be at the centre of the geopolitical fray. The bureau's role would be to coordinate US foreign policy across an 18-country region, much of which has become a chaotic battlefield scarred by drone and missile strikes as the US and Israel remain locked in conflict with Iran. But now that bureau is also working with fewer resources. The administration's most recent budget proposed a 40 per cent cut to the bureau, though Congress eventually enacted less dramatic cuts. The administration also eliminated the dedicated Iran office, merging it with the Iraq office. Personnel and management choices - coupled with President Donald Trump's moves to shrink government and confine decision-making to a tight circle - are limiting the ability of the United States to handle a global emergency, according to interviews with more than a dozen current and former US officials. Veteran diplomats with deca

US, Israel coordinated on South Pars strike, contradicting Trump's claim

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that Washington had no knowledge of the attack, claiming Israel "acted out of anger" striking at Iran's South Pars Gas Field

US, Israel coordinated on South Pars strike, contradicting Trump's claim

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that Washington had no knowledge of the attack, claiming Israel "acted out of anger" striking at Iran's South Pars Gas Field

Japan's PM Takaichi meets Trump as he seeks help securing Strait of Hormuz

The meeting that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will have at the White House on Thursday originally seemed like a prime opportunity to have President Donald Trump's ear before he embarked on a trip to China. But now, the war in Iran and Trump's unsuccessful call for Japan and other nations to help protect the Strait of Hormuz means the China trip has been delayed and Takaichi may be likely to get an earful. Trump has repeatedly complained on camera and online that US allies, including Japan, have rejected his request to help safeguard the critical waterway for oil and gas transport. "In fact, speaking as President of the United States of America, by far the Most Powerful Country Anywhere in the World, WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!" Trump exclaimed on Truth Social after his initial call for help was rebuffed. The prime minister acknowledged before she left Japan that she expects her meeting with Trump will be "very difficult." She and her ministers have denied that ...

West Asia war updates: Iran hits Qatar LNG hub; Brent crude above $111

Iran strikes energy sites, including a key LNG hub in Qatar, as tensions rise across West Asia; oil prices climb past $111. Here are the top updates at 9 am (IST)

FBI probes ex-counterterror official over alleged classified info leak

The FBI is investigating whether Joe Kent, who resigned his position as a top counterterrorism official this week in protest of the Iran war, improperly shared classified information, a person familiar with the matter said Wednesday. The investigation precedes Kent's resignation Tuesday from his role as director of the US government's National Counterterrorism Centre, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing FBI inquiry. But it comes as the Justice Department has undertaken multiple investigations over the last year into political foes of President Donald Trump, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Prosecutors have repeatedly struggled to make charges stick amid rejections from judges or to secure indictments in the first place. Additional details about what the investigation, which was first reported by Semafor, is examining were not immediately available. Kent disclosed his departure from the ...

For US, unmet expectations in Iran fit a familiar pattern in West Asia

Iran's military retaliation, along with the political defiance of its new leaders, evokes a decades-old pattern of unrealised goals for American interventions in the region

For US, unmet expectations in Iran fit a familiar pattern in West Asia

Iran's military retaliation, along with the political defiance of its new leaders, evokes a decades-old pattern of unrealised goals for American interventions in the region

Nifty stares at gap-down open, will it re-test 23,000? Key levels to watch

Global markets were down over 1% in Thursday's early trade amid escalating West Asia tensions, and fresh spike in crude oil prices. GIFT Nifty hints at a near 500-point gap-down start for the Nifty.

Strikes hit world's biggest natural gas field in Iran as Tehran retaliates

Israel killed Iran's intelligence minister as it kept up its campaign against the Islamic Republic's top leadership and reportedly attacked an Iranian offshore natural gas field Wednesday, as the war escalated pressure on the region's economic lifeblood: energy. Iran condemned the strike on its massive South Pars natural gas field, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warning of "uncontrollable consequences" that "could engulf the entire world." Iran hit a major natural gas facility in Qatar, keeping up attacks on its Persian Gulf neighbors' energy facilities as it continued to squeeze the Strait of Hormuz shipping channel - through which one-fifth of the world's oil travels. The price of oil surged another 5 per cent to over USD 108 a barrel on international markets, increasing the price of gasoline and other goods. The price of Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil, is now up close to 50 per cent since the start of the war. As the Trump administration looks for way

Strikes hit world's biggest natural gas field in Iran as Tehran retaliates

Israel killed Iran's intelligence minister as it kept up its campaign against the Islamic Republic's top leadership and reportedly attacked an Iranian offshore natural gas field Wednesday, as the war escalated pressure on the region's economic lifeblood: energy. Iran condemned the strike on its massive South Pars natural gas field, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warning of "uncontrollable consequences" that "could engulf the entire world." Iran hit a major natural gas facility in Qatar, keeping up attacks on its Persian Gulf neighbors' energy facilities as it continued to squeeze the Strait of Hormuz shipping channel - through which one-fifth of the world's oil travels. The price of oil surged another 5 per cent to over USD 108 a barrel on international markets, increasing the price of gasoline and other goods. The price of Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil, is now up close to 50 per cent since the start of the war. As the Trump administration looks for way

West Asia war: Saudi FM warns patience with Iranian attacks 'not unlimited'

Saudi FM Prince Faisal said Iran 'does not engage with its neighbours through dialogue' but instead seeks to pressure them, adding such tactics would fail

West Asia war: Saudi FM warns patience with Iranian attacks 'not unlimited'

Saudi FM Prince Faisal said Iran 'does not engage with its neighbours through dialogue' but instead seeks to pressure them, adding such tactics would fail

Trump weighs sending more troops to West Asia as Iran war enters new phase

Trump administration officials have also discussed the possibility of deploying US forces to secure Iran's stocks of highly enriched uranium

Trump weighs sending more troops to West Asia as Iran war enters new phase

Trump administration officials have also discussed the possibility of deploying US forces to secure Iran's stocks of highly enriched uranium

World's largest LNG plant in Qatar suffers damage in missile strikes

The Ras Laffan Industrial City, home to the LNG plant that accounted for about a fifth of global supply before production was halted earlier this month

World's largest LNG plant in Qatar suffers damage in missile strikes

The Ras Laffan Industrial City, home to the LNG plant that accounted for about a fifth of global supply before production was halted earlier this month

Pakistan developing missiles that could strike US, says Tulsi Gabbard

The US National Intelligence Director said Islamabad's long-range ballistic missile efforts may evolve into intercontinental systems capable of targeting the American mainland

IAEA says status of Iran's Isfahan enrichment facility remains unknown

A projectile hit an area near Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant on Tuesday evening, however it caused no damage or injuries, Iran told the IAEA