Oil prices fall to three-month low ahead of US-Iran agreement Oil prices have fallen sharply to their lowest levels in three months, as markets reacted positively to the anticipated signing of a formal agreement between Washington and Tehran later this week. Brent crude futures dropped $3. 29, or 4 percent, to $79.
In a contest of wills, the hard men of Tehran prevailed over the vain man of Washington.
World Cup 2026: Iraq's long-awaited return sparks pride at home and abroad Submitted by Azhar Al-Rubaie on Tue, 06/16/2026 - 16:25 A decade after their last appearance, Iraq's national team returns to football's biggest stage, drawing support from fans at home and across the diaspora Iraq's Ali al-Hamadi dribbles the ball past Bolivia's defender Efrain Morales during their World Cup qualifier final playoff at the BBVA Stadium in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon state, Mexico, on 31 March 2026 (AFP/Julio Cesar Aguilar) Off For Iraqis , football is so much more than what happens on the pitch. It's one of the few arenas where people from different religious sects, ethnic backgrounds and regions come together in a country long marked by conflict and division. The sport's unifying power was on display in 2007, when Iraq won the Asian Cup amid some of the country's bloodiest years of violence.
Trump told Israel to let Syria attack Hezbollah in Lebanon Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 06/16/2026 - 16:57 Trump confirms reports originally denied by a senior US official that he mulled Syria invading Lebanon US President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, during the G7 summit in Evian, eastern France, on 16 June 2026 (Mandel Ngan/AFP) Off US President Donald Trump said he wanted Syria to invade Lebanon to fight Hezbollah, saying that President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s forces could have done a better job against the group than Israel. "Israel's fighting Hezbollah too long and too many people are being killed... I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah," Trump told reporters sitting alongside Qatar’s ruler on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France.
Prime minister faces prospect of going it alone against Iran as strategic interests of US and Israel are diverging It took more than a day after news of Donald Trump’s deal with Iran went public for Benjamin Netanyahu to speak out. When he finally appeared at a press conference on Monday evening, the Israeli prime minister skirted a cornerstone of his past public appearances: his excellent relationship with the US president. Continue reading...
Trump suggests Syria could take on Hezbollah US President Donald Trump has suggested that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa could play a role in confronting Hezbollah, arguing that Israel's military campaign has come at too high a human cost. Speaking at the G7 summit, Trump praised al-Sharaa, saying he was doing an "amazing job" and could potentially succeed where Israel has struggled. "If Israel can't do the job [against Hezbollah] without killing everyone else, then he will do the job.
Qatar looks to rapidly restart LNG exports once Hormuz reopens: Report Submitted by Fleur Hargreaves on Tue, 06/16/2026 - 17:00 Source says QatarEnergy is ready to resume LNG production very quickly after US-Iran deal reopens Strait of Hormuz This photo shows QatarEnergy's operating facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City, north of Doha, Qatar, on 2 March 2026 (AFP) Off Qatar is aiming to restore a large portion of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity within two months, according to a report published by Bloomberg on Tuesday. A source told Bloomberg that QatarEnergy told buyers it expects to raise output very quickly once safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is restored. The company plans to increase output to about 50 percent of capacity a month to reach roughly 80 percent within two months – a much faster recovery than some analysts and traders expected.
Iran and Oman reaffirm commitment to free navigation through Hormuz Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Omani counterpart, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, have reaffirmed their countries' commitment to international law governing maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Oman News Agency. During a phone call, the two ministers stressed the importance of ensuring the safe and free passage of vessels through the strategic waterway, as Washington and Tehran prepare to sign a memorandum of understanding later this week. According to the agency, both sides renewed their commitment to international legal principles regulating navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy shipments.
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Abbas Araghchi says ‘war has not fully come to an end’ without Israeli forces leaving territories occupied during present conflict Middle East crisis – live updates Iran’s top diplomat has said a peace deal with the US would require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, as concern grows that Israel could undermine diplomatic efforts to finally end the Middle East war, with Donald Trump even criticising his ally and war partner as irresponsible. “Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they occupied during this war, the war has not fully come to an end,” said the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi. Continue reading...
Israeli drones strike southern Lebanon town square three times Israel has carried out three consecutive drone strikes targeting the town square of Mayfadoun in Lebanon's southern Nabatieh district, according to the country's National News Agency (NNA). The attacks came amid continued Israeli bombardment of the governorate, which has been subjected to weeks of intense air strikes. NNA also reported that Israeli forces dropped a sound bomb in the border town of Haddatha, causing minor injuries to four people.
'From outlier to trailblazer': How Oman offers a glimpse into the post-war Gulf Submitted by Sean Mathews on Tue, 06/16/2026 - 13:11 Despite Trump's threats, Oman has reaped financial gains from the US-Israeli war on Iran, with Muscat's neighbours racing to catch up Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, right, receives Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, left, during a reception at al-Alam Royal Palace in Muscat, Oman, on 27 May 2025 (Iranian presidential office/AFP) Off US President Donald Trump threatened to attack just one Arab Gulf country during the war on Iran : Oman. Now, it is emerging as the biggest winner from a new Middle East order being hashed out by the US and the Islamic Republic. That assessment may seem counterintuitive at first glance, but due to its geography, business acumen, and Tehran’s newly demonstrated heft in the region, western, Arab, and even some US diplomats see the new order unfurling with Oman on top.
Mark Carney pointed to Indias G7 presence to drive home the point that a wider perspective is needed The Group of Seven countries no longer run the world, member Canada has said.
U. S. officials have not publicly acknowledged responsibility for the deaths or released a report on their findings from an investigation into the Feb.
Geneva [Switzerland], June 16 (ANI): US President Donald Trump's announcement on the completion of the Iran-US peace deal aimed at ending hostilities in West Asia has been the talk of the town on the global stage and as expected, the discussion on the deal also took centre stage during discussions among G7 leaders at a dinner meeting on Monday night, held on the opening day of the 52nd G7 Summit in Evian, France.
Tel Aviv [Israel], June 16 (ANI): Former Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy expressed deep concern over the recently announced US-Iran peace agreement, warning that the deal fails to address Tehran's nuclear ambitions and could strengthen the country economically and militarily.
Israel says Palestinians stripped of authority over Ibrahimi Mosque Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says Palestinians have been stripped of administrative authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, in a move likely to deepen concerns over Israeli control of the holy site. "The meaning of this decision is that many authorities previously granted in Hebron and at the holy sites ... are no longer under the control of the Hebron Municipality," Smotrich said.
Many Lebanese remain doubtful that the agreement could finally mean the end of the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Many Lebanese remain doubtful that the agreement could finally mean the end of the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Four killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon At least four people have been killed in a series of Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon's Nabatieh governorate, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA). The attacks included separate drone strikes targeting two vehicles in the town of Mayfadoun, following an earlier strike on the town square. A third vehicle was also hit in the nearby town of Shoukin, NNA reported.
