EU sanctions Israeli settlers The European Union Council announced on Thursday it will impose sanctions on four entities and three individuals for abuses against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The list includes what the EU described as "extremist Israeli settlers and organisations that support them", according to a statement. “They are responsible for serious and systematic human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank,” the Council added in a post to X.
US continues ‘Economic Fury campaign’ against Iran airlines, says Bessent The United States will be shutting down Iranian airlines’ access to landing spots, refueling, and ticket sales as part of an “Economic Fury campaign” against the country, Treasure Secretary Scott Bessent said in a post to X on Thursday. The post also claimed that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports has “ensured a record low amount of Iranian crude on the water” with the aim of putting “the Iranian economy and currency…in free fall”. “Only the satisfactory outcome in negotiations will end the downward spiral,” Bessent warned.
US reinstates sanctions on UN's Albanese after appeals court pauses ruling Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 05/28/2026 - 09:43 Special rapporteur Francesca Albanese back on US sanctions list two weeks after judge lifted measures against her UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese in Belgrade on 17 March 2026 (Andrej Isakovic/AFP) Off The United States has reinstated sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations' special rapporteur on Palestine , after a federal appeals court temporarily paused a lower-court ruling that had blocked the measures on free-speech grounds. The decision was confirmed in a notice posted to the US Treasury's website on Wednesday. The Donald Trump administration sanctioned Albanese in July last year, shortly after her scathing report in which she named over 60 companies, including major US technology firms like Google, Amazon and Microsoft, which she said were involved in "the transformation of Israel's economy of occupation to an economy of genocide".
Iran demands release of frozen assets seized by the US Ali Bagheri Kani, the deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, insisted the release of all frozen Iranian assets from the US, describing them as the “legal right” of the Iranian people. Iran's frozen funds "must be released unconditionally", the Tasnim news agency quoted him as saying.
US adds Persian Gulf Strait Authority to sanctions list The United States Treasury Department on Wednesday issued new Iran-related sanctions by adding the Persian Gulf Strait Authority to its Specially Designated Nationals list, according to the department's website.
US places UN expert Albanese back on list of sanctioned individuals The US Treasury Department has re-added the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories back to its sanctions list, the department’s website shows. This comes days after the department lifted sanctions on Francesca Albanese, after a federal judge found that the Trump administration likely violated her free speech rights. The Trump administration sanctioned Albanese in July 2025 over what it described as her "biased and malicious activities", including recommending that the International Criminal Court take action against the US and Israeli officials, companies and executives.
Trump says he will not ease sanctions on Iran as part of a deal US President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that easing sanctions on Iran is not under consideration in the current negotiations towards ending the war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and paring down Iran's nuclear capability. This comes as Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has repeatedly insisted that unlocking access to his country's money should be a confidence-building measure, if not a precondition, for talks with the US. Both Ghalibaf and Iran’s central bank chief travelled to Qatar on Monday to discuss the release of some $6bn that has been held in the Gulf state - on Washington's orders - since September 2023, signalling a potential breakthrough.
Trump says he will not ease sanctions on Iran as part of a deal Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Wed, 05/27/2026 - 19:38 As negotiations continue, Tehran has made clear its primary goal is financial relief US President Donald Trump talks to reporters, flanked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, right, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick during a cabinet meeting at the White House, in Washington, DC, on 27 May 2026 (Evan Vucci/Reuters) Off US President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that easing sanctions on Iran is not under consideration in the current negotiations towards a long-term end to the war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and paring down Iran's nuclear capability. This comes as Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has repeatedly insisted that unlocking access to his country's money should be a confidence-building measure, if not a precondition, for talks with the US. Both Ghalibaf and Iran’s central bank chief travelled to Qatar on Monday to discuss the release of some $6bn that has been held in the Gulf state - on Washington's orders - since September 2023, signalling a potential breakthrough.
Trump says Iran will not get sanctions relief for giving up uranium US President Donald Trump said Iran would not receive sanctions relief in exchange for handing over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which Washington has described as a central demand in ongoing negotiations. “They’re gonna give up their highly enriched uranium not for sanctions relief. No, no, not at all,” Trump told PBS News.
UK’s Ofgem says energy price cap will rise by 13 percent from July The UK’s Ofgem has announced a 13 percent increase of the energy price cap as a result of higher wholesale prices caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This will cover the period from the start of July to the end of September, and will see the average household energy bills rising by £18 per month. This comes as the Dallas Federal Reserve president Lorie Logan warned on Wednesday that the world may need to find a way to reduce oil and gas consumption if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed much longer due to the U.
Iran says its charging fees for 'services' in Hormuz Strait, not tolls Iran has stressed that it does not impose tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but rather a "certain fee" for services and measures that protect the environment Esmaeil Baghaei, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the fees would be allocated to "services that are provided, navigational services, in addition to measures to protect the environment" of the waterway, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. He stressed once again that these fees "should not be described as tolls or duties". At a presser on Monday, Esmaeil Baghaei says Iran is “not charging tolls” on passage through the Strait of Hormuz but rather a “certain fee” for “navigational services” and measures to “protect the environment of the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman”.
Iran seeks to release $24bn funds frozen overseas in potential deal with the US Iran is seeking to release around $24bn of its funds frozen overseas in a potential deal with the US, the Tasnim news agency reported. According to source close to Tehran's negotiation team, the frozen funds must be released under a memorandum of understanding that is being discussed with Washington. The report added that Iran's leading negotiator Mohammad Baqr Qalibaf's visit to Qatar aimed to reach an agreement to implement this demand.
Gold falls as Iran tensions fuel inflation concerns Gold prices fell on Tuesday after renewed US military strikes in Iran pushed oil prices higher, raising concerns that inflation could remain elevated and keep interest rates higher for longer, Reuters reported. Spot gold fell 0. 7 percent to $4,537.
Donald Trump says Iranian uranium must be handed over or destroyed US President Donald Trump has reiterated that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium must either be transferred to the United States for destruction or eliminated under international supervision at an agreed location. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the material should be “immediately turned over” to the United States and destroyed, or alternatively destroyed in Iran or another acceptable location in coordination with the Iranian government. “The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!
What to know about Iran's billions of dollars in frozen funds Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammed Ghalibaf has for weeks insisted that unlocking access to his country's money should be a confidence-building measure, if not a precondition, for talks with the US . The issue now appears to be on the table during this latest and seemingly most aggressive round of diplomacy to date, towards a long-term end to the war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and paring down Iran's nuclear capability. Reports from earlier this week suggest that up to 25 percent of all of Iran's frozen funds globally could be released by the US if Iran surrenders 400 kilograms of enriched uranium and shuts down its nuclear facilities.
What to know about Iran's billions of dollars in frozen funds Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Mon, 05/25/2026 - 16:46 Access to just $6bn could unlock a long-term ceasefire between the US and Iran, should Trump be willing People look at the gold shop display in Tehran Bazaar, in Tehran, Iran, on 16 May 2026 (Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters) Off Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammed Ghalibaf has for weeks insisted that unlocking access to his country's money should be a confidence-building measure, if not a precondition, for talks with the US . The issue now appears to be on the table during this latest and seemingly most aggressive round of diplomacy to date, towards a long-term end to the war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and paring down Iran's nuclear capability. Reports from earlier this week suggest that up to 25 percent of all of Iran's frozen funds globally could be released by the US if Iran surrenders 400 kilograms of enriched uranium and shuts down its nuclear facilities.
Tankers bound for Pakistan, China exit Strait of Hormuz A liquefied natural gas tanker bound for Pakistan and a supertanker carrying Iraqi crude oil destined for China have departed the Strait of Hormuz, according to shipping data, marking the latest movement of energy cargoes through the strategically important waterway. The crude oil tanker left the Gulf on Saturday after reportedly being delayed for nearly three months, while the LNG vessel was seen departing on Monday. The ships are among a limited number of large tankers to have exited the Gulf this month via routes designated by Iran.
India raises fuel prices for fourth time in May India’s state-owned fuel retailers have increased petrol and diesel prices for the fourth time this month as they seek to recover losses caused by higher crude oil costs linked to the US-Israel war on Iran and disruptions to energy supplies. Diesel prices were raised by 2. 71 rupees per litre, while petrol prices increased by 2.
Brent crude drops below $100 as markets weigh Iran talks Global oil prices fell sharply as uncertainty surrounding a potential agreement between Washington and Tehran heightened concerns about the economic impact of continued disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures dropped $4. 64, or 4.
US Centcom says Iran blockade reaches ‘milestone’ US Central Command (Centcom) released a report on Saturday which alleges that the US maritime blockade of Iran reached a “milestone of redirecting 100 commercial vessels” since it began on 13 April. https://t. co/zVoJIdxYxk — U.
