Section
Middle East
Conflicts, diplomacy and power across the Middle East.
11 stories in Middle East.
Middle EastIran says Strait of Hormuz will stay shut until US meets its demands
Iran has denied holding talks with the United States and says the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until Washington lifts sanctions and its naval blockade. The US has called Iran's conditions "outrageous".
Middle EastDrone attack halts Iraq's Khor Mor gas field, cutting power across the Kurdish region
A drone strike on the Khor Mor gas field stopped production and disrupted more than 70 percent of electricity supplies in Iraq's Kurdistan Region. No group has claimed the attack.
Middle EastTrump says Iran land blockade is "in full force", plans to raise the war with Xi and Putin
Donald Trump says Task Force Iron Gate is now in effect and that he expects to discuss the Iran war with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at next week's APEC summit in China.
Middle EastEgypt reopens its Tripoli embassy after 12 years: what it signals for Libya
Egypt has reopened its embassy in Libya's capital, closed since 2014. Analysts say Cairo is changing how it deals with Libya's rival governments, with energy deals high on the agenda.
Middle EastIron Gate: US launches task force to cut Iran's land supply routes
After months of naval blockade, the US military has set up a task force called Iron Gate to stop weapons and goods reaching Iran by land, rail, air and the Caspian Sea.
Middle EastWhat the US midterm results mean for the Iran war
Republicans lost both chambers of Congress, and Vice President JD Vance blamed the Iran war. Donald Trump says he would do it again, while Iran says the US has still not met its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Middle EastIran says tankers hit its mines in the Strait of Hormuz, while the US insists the main shipping routes are clear
Iran's Revolutionary Guards say three tankers exploded after using a route Tehran calls "unauthorised", and its army says a fourth was hit. The US says the main routes have been cleared of mines. A UK maritime agency confirmed only that one tanker was struck near Oman.
Middle EastIsrael election: Netanyahu's bloc falls eight seats short of a majority as Arab-led parties win a record 19
With about 90% of votes counted, Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing and religious bloc has 53 of the Knesset's 120 seats and Gadi Eisenkot's bloc has 48. Neither can govern alone, and Arab-led parties, with a record 19 seats, could decide what happens next.
Middle EastIsrael votes on Tuesday: Netanyahu runs on his Iran war as polls put a former army chief's party ahead
Israelis elect a new parliament on 27 October. Benjamin Netanyahu says he has ordered Israel's army and spy agencies to topple Iran's government, while polls show Gadi Eisenkot's party ahead of Likud and neither bloc close to a majority.
Middle EastTrump says a new Iran strike could come "maybe tomorrow" as Houthis hit Saudi Arabia and Pakistan pushes for talks
Donald Trump says the US is "thinking about" a new strike on Iran but could still sign a "big, beautiful" deal. Iran says it shot down a US drone, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have pushed oil to a five-month high, and Pakistan's army chief has been in Tehran trying to revive talks.
Middle EastIran and the US trade Hormuz offers through Qatar, but the nuclear question still divides them
Iran's foreign minister met Qatari mediators in New York as Tehran waits for Washington's answer to its plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The US says there is no deal unless Iran's nuclear programme is part of it.