EEAS

Iran is asking Washington to clarify its position after President Trump rejected a proposed cease-fire, according to a New York Times report citing developments around the Strait of Hormuz. The move signals mounting tension between Tehran and the U.S. administration, with diplomats seeking to understand whether negotiations over the cease-fire proposal can continue or have collapsed entirely.

Israel's upcoming elections are drawing attention across the region, with neighbours including Palestine, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt following the vote closely. Commenters note that any outcome will carry ramifications far beyond Israel's borders, shaping diplomacy, security and the situation in Gaza. The discussion links the election to broader tensions across the Middle East and the Gulf states.

The US military is dispatching roughly 9,000 troops aboard a carrier strike group to the Middle East, including a third aircraft carrier, a US official said Thursday. The deployment comes as President Trump weighs potential new strikes against Iran, signalling a significant build-up of American forces in the region.

An Assyriology post is breaking down the cuneiform sign 𒈜, explaining that it is read 'paḫ' and means 'leg'. The item is tagged under cuneiforms, assyriology, culture, Middle East and education, framing it as a short educational note on how ancient Mesopotamian writing worked. Readers interested in ancient scripts and the history of the Middle East are engaging with the explanation.

Iran has imprisoned a hard-line member of parliament, according to a New York Times report, a move seen as exposing deep divisions within the country's leadership. The jailing of a sitting lawmaker from the conservative ranks is being read as a sign of intensifying infighting among Iran's political factions.

Singapore's state investment firm Temasek plans to open new offices in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh in 2027, expanding its presence in the Gulf. The announcement is being shared as part of wider Middle East business news, underlining growing financial ties between Southeast Asian investors and the oil-rich region.

The New York Times reports that Saudi Arabia is running out of options as Houthi attacks strike at the core of its strategic ambitions in the region. The piece examines how the kingdom's leverage over the Yemeni group has narrowed, leaving Riyadh with limited military, diplomatic or economic responses while its regional standing and projects remain exposed.

The New York Times reports that oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have increased, despite continued threats from Iran to disrupt traffic in the strategic waterway. The strait remains a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, and Iranian attacks or intimidation there keep shippers and energy markets on edge even as flows recover.

The New York Times reports that a U.S. diplomat suppressed and altered internal reports that were critical of Israel. According to the article, official assessments were edited or withheld, raising questions about the accuracy of information reaching U.S. decision-makers on the Middle East. The revelations are prompting debate about political interference in diplomatic reporting.

A Middle East Eye explainer on Israel's own nuclear weapons is drawing attention amid renewed debate over nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted, often in capital letters on Truth Social, that Iran cannot be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, prompting questions about Israel's undeclared arsenal, widely believed to exist though never officially acknowledged.

A new report examines why Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen, launched in 2015 against the Houthis, turned into a prolonged stalemate that Riyadh could not win. The analysis recounts the heavy civilian toll, the resilience of the Houthi movement despite years of airstrikes, and the political and financial costs that eventually pushed Saudi leaders toward winding down their direct involvement.

A Middle East Eye opinion piece argues that Ed Miliband has spoken of a shift in policy on the Middle East, and says the moment has come to choose a side. The article is being shared in discussions of UK politics, Palestine and Gaza, framing Miliband's comments as a test of where British politicians stand on the conflict.

A leadership summit is taking place in Middelburg, in the Dutch province of Zeeland, with open source and digital autonomy on the agenda. One attendee who could not be present is following the discussion through the open source community and wished participants a good gathering. The event highlights growing Dutch interest in open standards and reducing dependence on proprietary technology.

Renewed escalation in Yemen is drawing attention back to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the narrow chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and a critical artery for global shipping. The development raises concerns about disruptions to commercial traffic and trade routes through the Red Sea, a corridor that has faced repeated security threats in recent years.

A passenger who helped restrain a pilot aboard a flydubai flight is describing a bloody scene inside the cockpit, according to a New York Times eyewitness account tied to an incident in the Middle East. The account offers a firsthand look at a violent struggle in the cockpit and how passengers intervened to subdue the pilot mid-flight.

Israel's flag carrier El Al canceled two special repatriation flights from Dubai on Friday after Emirati authorities refused landing permission, the airline said. The flights were meant to bring Israelis home after FlyDubai suspended service, leaving travelers stranded and raising questions about a rare public friction point between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.