Middle East
Last update : 26 June 2026, Friday / 15:49
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Latest Middle East News
Iran turns back tankers over 'unauthorized' Hormuz transit
Iranian authorities said they turned back three foreign tankers attempting to transit through an unauthorized corridor in the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that alternative routes established without Tehran's coordination are illegal and pose serious security risks to maritime traffic.
26 June 2026
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IAEA chief: US-Iran deal grants agency access to nuclear sites
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said on Friday that the recent US-Iran agreement specifically designates the UN nuclear watchdog to supervise Tehran's nuclear commitments, adding that technical teams have already begun discussions to establish inspection protocols and verify the country's highly enriched uranium stockpiles.
26 June 2026
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Israel, Lebanon deadlock over south withdrawal in Washington talks
The fifth round of Lebanon-Israel talks in Washington was extended as disputes over Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon persist. Israel refuses to leave the “Yellow Line” and Beaufort Castle, while Lebanon demands a full pullout from all occupied villages and towns.
26 June 2026
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Panama Canal revenue set to beat $5.2B forecast after Hormuz closure
The Panama Canal expects fiscal 2026 revenue to exceed an initial $5.2 billion forecast, as the Hormuz closure rerouted vessels through the waterway. Traffic peaked at 41 ships daily, and LNG tankers increased transit as Asian buyers turned to US suppliers. A new administrator will oversee $8.5 billion in expansion projects.
26 June 2026
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Hormuz traffic continues despite attack on container ship
Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continued in both directions on Friday despite an attack on a container vessel that prompted some owners to pause transit plans. Empty LNG carriers began gathering off Qatar’s Ras Laffan, signalling an expected increase in exports as traffic gradually recovers.
26 June 2026
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Iran: Hormuz passage not guaranteed without Tehran coordination
Iran has pushed back against the US-GCC call for “free, unconditional” navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, stating that safe passage cannot be guaranteed under ambiguous arrangements or parallel routes without Tehran’s consent. Any credible framework must be based on coordination with Iran under Article 5 of the Islamabad memorandum.
26 June 2026
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Lebanon demands full Israeli withdrawal in any Washington deal
A senior Lebanese official has told Anadolu that any declaration of principles from Washington talks must include a complete Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory under a defined timetable. Lebanon’s insistence on this demand led to the extension of the fifth round of negotiations.
26 June 2026
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US-Gulf summit in Bahrain rejects Hormuz tolls
The US and Gulf states held a joint summit in Bahrain following the war. While the US stated that the agreement also took Gulf interests into account, summit participants adopted a joint stance against imposing fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz
26 June 2026
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Iran warns against Israeli military flights through neighbouring airspace
Iran’s top military command has warned against Israeli military aircraft using the airspace of neighbouring countries to approach Iran, calling it a dangerous act and a threat. Tehran did not name specific countries but said it reserves the right to respond to such actions.
26 June 2026
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Lebanese president welcomes French-Italian post-UNIFIL coalition plan
President Joseph Aoun welcomed a joint French-Italian initiative to establish an international coalition after UNIFIL’s mandate ends. He praised the plan as recognition of the Lebanese Army’s role in securing the south and called it a strong expression of international support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability.
26 June 2026
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Iran slams US-GCC joint statement as ‘provocative’
Iran has condemned a joint US-GCC statement as “interventionist, irresponsible and provocative,” accusing Gulf states of aligning with Washington and Israel against regional security. Tehran warned that the US military presence has become a source of insecurity and urged Gulf states to reconsider their positions.
26 June 2026
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Israeli airstrike hits Lebanon during final day of Washington talks
Israeli warplanes struck the southern Lebanese town of Beit Yahoun on Thursday, violating the ceasefire as Lebanese and Israeli officials concluded the fifth round of US-mediated negotiations in Washington aimed at securing a lasting truce.
26 June 2026
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US, Gulf states demand Hormuz reopening, reject 'tolls and control'
Washington and Gulf Cooperation Council members meeting in Manama on Thursday demanded the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, rejecting any attempts to impose fees or assert control over the vital waterway while stressing their shared objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
26 June 2026
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Development Road first phase to prioritise railway amid Gulf conflict
Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu has announced that the first phase of the Development Road project will focus on a cross‑border railway network linking Iraq’s Grand Faw Port to European markets. The $17 billion corridor, backed by Qatar and the UAE, aims to provide an alternative trade route amid Middle East disruptions.
25 June 2026
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Half of South Korean ships stranded in Hormuz Strait exit
Thirteen of 26 South Korean-linked vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz have passed through following the waterway’s reopening, according to Yonhap News Agency. The IMO has begun evacuating around 11,000 seafarers stranded in the region.
25 June 2026
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Iraq denies OPEC exit threat, urges quota review
Iraq’s Oil Ministry has denied reports that Baghdad is threatening to withdraw from OPEC, while reiterating calls for production quotas to reflect members’ sustainable capacity and Iraq’s unique security and economic challenges. The ministry confirmed OPEC is reviewing members’ maximum sustainable production.
25 June 2026
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GCC: Regional arrangements must safeguard Gulf security interests
Gulf foreign ministers meeting with US Secretary of State Rubio in Manama emphasised that any future regional understandings must incorporate GCC security requirements and preserve their interests, based on international law, sovereignty, and non‑interference.
25 June 2026
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Liberman: Netanyahu dragging Israel towards civil war to stay in power
Opposition leader Avigdor Liberman has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging Israel toward “civil war” to cling to power, after thousands of ultra‑Orthodox Jews protested the detention of Haredi draft evaders. Liberman called the protests a “national disgrace.”
25 June 2026
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No tolls for Hormuz passage as diplomacy gathers pace
Mediators including Qatar, Pakistan and Oman have reached consensus that no fees will be charged for transiting the Strait of Hormuz, following positive initial US‑Iran talks in Switzerland. A second round is set for next week, while Tehran insists its ballistic missile programme is not on the table.
25 June 2026
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