Putin may be helping Iran, says Trump Donald Trump has told Fox News Radio that he believes the Russian president may be helping Iran . In an interview with The Brian Kilmeade Show Trump "I think he might be helping him (Iran) a little bit, yeah, I guess. And he probably thinks we're helping Ukraine, right?
Larijani and top Iranian officials appear in Al-Quds Day march Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 03/13/2026 - 09:37 Iran's security chief along with head of judiciary take part in annual pro-Palestine protest despite ongoing US-Israeli war Off Iran's security chief Ali Larijani and top officials took part in the Al-Quds Day march in Tehran on Friday, videos from the protest have shown. The head of the judiciary, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, was also seen in pictures aired by state television. The officials marched despite the apparent risk of US-Israeli attacks, which have killed dozens of senior figures, including the supreme leader, since the war on Iran began on 28 February.
Iran’s top national security official attends Quds Day march in Tehran SNN TV reports that Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, attended the Quds Day march among large crowds in Tehran, Iran today, despite US-Israeli strikes. In this photo shared by Iran's SNN TV, Ali Larijani is seen attending the Al-Quds Day march in Tehran on Friday, 13 March 2026.
Romania made formal request to become member of IEA, chief says Romania has made a formal request to become a member of the International Energy Agency, its chief Fatih Birol said on Friday in a post on social media platform X, adding he welcomed the request. Romanian President Nicusor Dan said on Wednesday that American refuelling planes, monitoring equipment and satellite communications could use Romanian military bases during the US offensive in Iran. I welcome the formal request just received from Romania to become an @IEA Member From my meetings with its leaders, I know 🇷🇴 has a strong focus on energy security & an ‘all fuels & all technologies’ approach, based on a diverse energy mix including nuclear, renewables & gas pic.
Netanyahu: Israel will 'reach the kingdom' and make it to 'Messiah's return' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said that Israel will "reach the kingdom" and make it to the "Messiah's return". Netanyahu said Israel is achieving “unprecedented” gains in the war with Iran and that the campaign is reshaping the Middle East adding that Israel’s status as a rising superpower was strengthening. Netanyahu also warned Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei and Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem, saying he would not “issue life insurance” to either leader.
Trump: Mojtaba Khamenei still alive in 'some form or another' US President Donald Trump on Friday said that he believes Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is still alive in "some form or another". The comments come following reports that Khamenei was injured in the airstrike that killed his father, Ali Khamenei. Trump told Fox News that the US military had completely destroyed Iran in a way that "no other country had ever done".
Evening recap Good evening, Middle East Eye readers. Events are still unfolding rapidly across the Middle East, so here's a quick recap: Iran says commercial vessels can still transit the Strait of Hormuz provided they coordinate their passage with Iranian naval forces. US President Donald Trump has suggested Iran’s national football team should not take part in the upcoming 2026 Fifa World Cup in North America, suggesting that their safety could not be guaranteed.
Iran team condemns Trump over World Cup threats Iran national football team has pushed back against remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting it would not be “appropriate” for Iran to take part in this year’s 2026 FIFA World Cup. In a statement, the team stressed that the global tournament is governed by FIFA rather than any individual country. “The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA — not any individual country.
Iran says it will not close Strait of Hormuz Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, said Iran does not plan to shut the Strait of Hormuz, though he stressed Tehran’s right to safeguard the strategic waterway. Speaking to reporters at the UN, Iravani addressed remarks by Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who said earlier that the “lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must continue to be used”. “We are not going to close the Strait of Hormuz,” Iravani said.
Trump says Iran World Cup team may not be safe in US US President Donald Trump has suggested Iran’s national football team should not take part in the upcoming 2026 Fifa World Cup in North America, suggesting that their safety could not be guaranteed. Speaking about the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, Trump said Iran’s team was technically “welcome”, but questioned whether their participation would be appropriate. “I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” he said without outlining where the threat would come from.
Khamenei's wife still alive, says Iranian state media The wife of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei , who was reported to have died after an air strike on 28 February, is still alive, Iranian state media has said. The ayatollah's wife, Mansour, was reported to have died in a coma two days after the strike. But Iran now says these reports were incorrect.
New Supreme Leader says ‘Iran will not refrain from avenging the blood of its martyrs’ In his first statement since taking over from his father, Iran's leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said the closure of Strait of Hormuz should be continued as a tool to pressure enemy. The Supreme Leader also said that all US bases in the region should be closed as they would be attacked demanding that Iran received reparations for "who suffered the damage" or it will destroy enemy assets. He added, "I would like to thank the brave fighters who are doing a great job at a time when our country is under pressure and under attack.
UK government's new counter-extremism measures called 'Prevent on steroids' Submitted by Imran Mulla on Thu, 03/12/2026 - 10:49 Contentious 'community cohesion' proposals based on extremism definition introduced by former Conservative minister Michael Gove Britain's Housing Secretary Steve Reed speaks during a television interview at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on 28 September 2025 (AFP) Off The British government has announced contentious new counter-extremism measures inspired by an extremism definition championed by former Conservative minister Michael Gove and denounced by critics as authoritarian. Earlier this week considerable fanfare surrounded Communities Secretary Steve Reed announcing a new, non-statutory, definition of anti-Muslim hostility. The definition was widely attacked by Reform and Tory politicians who said it undermines free speech.
Turkish foreign minister says there should be no regime change in Iran Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fida, has urged against regime change in Iran amid efforts from US and Israel to topple the regime. "There should be no questioning of Iran's territorial integrity, and no pursuit of regime change ," Fidan said during a press conference in Turkey. The minister also warned against inciting a civil war by toppling the regime saying, "We are against plans aimed at triggering a civil war in Iran and provoking conflicts along ethnic and religious fault lines".
The Most American King: Jordan’s Abdullah II and the craft of survival Submitted by Hossam el-Hamalawy on Thu, 03/12/2026 - 09:07 A rare biography into the life of Jordan’s king gives insight into the statecraft that has kept him in power, but not the domestic cost of his policies King Abdullah II meets US President Donald Trump at the White House in February, 2025 (AFP) Off Aaron Magid’s The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan sets out to fill an important gap in contemporary Middle Eastern history. Despite Abdullah II having ruled Jordan for more than a quarter of a century, surviving regional upheavals that swept away presidents and monarchs alike, no comprehensive political biography has previously attempted to map his life, networks, and rule in detail. Magid offers a richly reported narrative built on more than a hundred interviews with Jordanian officials, western diplomats, intelligence figures, military officers and analysts, supplemented by archival material in the US and UK .
Asean countries set to hold special meeting over Middle East situation Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will hold a special meeting on Friday to discuss the situation in the Middle East, a Philippine foreign ministry official said on Thursday.
UN Security Council adopts resolution demanding Iran halt attacks on Gulf states The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution backed by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries calling on Iran to stop its attacks on Gulf nations. The measure passed with 13 votes in favour, with Russia and China abstaining. No countries voted against it.
By serving Israel's agenda, Trump betrayed Gulf allies Submitted by Soumaya Ghannoushi on Wed, 03/11/2026 - 18:02 From Doha to Riyadh, the lesson is becoming difficult to ignore: the arrangement meant to guarantee their security is now exposing them to danger Protesters burn portraits of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump in front of the Iranian consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on 18 January 2026 (Ozan Kose/AFP) Off Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has succeeded in doing what many in Washington once swore would never happen again: he has dragged American power back into the Middle East. The last time this happened was in 2003, when the United States invaded Iraq . That war was driven by the ideology of the neoconservatives, who envisioned the birth of what they called the “New American Century”.
Oman’s sultan condemns attacks on territory in call with Iran’s president Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said expressed dissatisfaction and condemned attacks targeting Omani territory during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Oman’s state news agency on Wednesday.
Iran cannot participate in World Cup, sports minister says Iran cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup after the United States killed their leader Ayatollah Ali Khamene, sports minister Ahmad Donyamali. "Considering that this corrupt regime (the US) has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup," the minister told state television.
