Displaying items by tag: Iran

Iran’s clerical leaders have moved quickly to appoint a new Supreme Leader after Ali Khamenei was killed in Israeli and American strikes on the opening day of the conflict. His successor is his 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Khamenei. For years he has been influential behind the scenes, often described as a gatekeeper to his father and closely connected to key centres of power. His wife Zahra was reportedly killed in the same Israeli air strike that killed his father. Although he lacks broad public recognition and has never held elected office, reports indicate he has the backing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the powerful security force which underpins the state. His appointment is likely to reinforce the existing direction of Iran’s leadership during a period of intense regional conflict and internal pressure. Observers note that many Iranians who have called for reform will see little sign of change in this appointment, which might give Donald Trump a strategic advantage in his war of words with Tehran.

Six members of Iran’s women’s national football team have chosen to remain in Australia after taking part in the Asian Cup, requesting humanitarian protection amid concerns for their safety if they returned home. The players had travelled to Queensland for the tournament shortly before the conflict involving Iran began. Attention focused on the team after they did not sing the national anthem before a match on 2 March, a moment which observers saw as either a gesture of protest or of mourning for the US-Israeli attacks on their country. Iranian media commentators have strongly criticised the silence, and reportedly threats have been voiced against them, regarding them as disloyal during wartime. After security assessments, the Australian authorities granted temporary humanitarian visas to six team members, allowing them to stay for twelve months while considering longer-term options. The other members of the squad chose to return to Iran with the rest of the delegation.

Keir Starmer has defended the Government’s cautious response to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, stating that protecting British nationals remains the country’s highest priority. During Prime Minister’s Questions he rejected calls from Kemi Badenoch for Britain to take direct offensive action after Iranian attacks targeted Western-linked bases in the region, including facilities in Bahrain and Cyprus where British personnel were present. Starmer argued that the UK should not enter a war without a clear legal basis and a carefully considered strategy. Although the Government declined to participate in the initial US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Britain has allowed US forces to use UK bases for defensive operations and has strengthened its regional presence. Additional air defence systems, radar, counter-drone capabilities, Royal Navy assets, and F-35 aircraft are being deployed to protect personnel and allies. The Government has also arranged charter flights to evacuate British citizens from the region as tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East.

The Middle East has entered a new period of instability following joint United States and Israeli strikes on Iran which reportedly killed more than a thousand people and triggered retaliatory attacks across the region. Among those killed was Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, leaving uncertainty about the future leadership of the country. The strikes, described by US and Israeli officials as necessary to address security threats, have drawn global attention and concern. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks targeting military installations and other sites across several countries in the region. The escalation has disrupted diplomatic efforts surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme and raised fears of a wider conflict. Civilians across the Middle East face growing risks as violence spreads, while thousands of foreign nationals have struggled to leave affected areas. The conflict has also shaken global energy markets and travel networks, reflecting the far-reaching consequences of the crisis. Recent news: at least 87 were killed when a US submarine sank an Iranian tanker (see), and the US Senate voted against a bipartisan measure which would have limited Trump’s war powers (see).

The war in the Middle East tensions has raised concerns about global energy supplies after Iran reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil and gas. The narrow waterway between Iran and Oman carries a large share of the world’s seaborne energy trade, including significant volumes of crude oil and liquefied natural gas. Analysts warn that disruption to shipping could drive energy prices sharply higher, affecting many Asian economies which depend heavily on imported fuel. Among ASEAN members, Thailand is considered especially vulnerable, as oil imports represent a significant share of its economy. Economists say even modest increases in oil prices could weaken the country’s financial balance. Other nations such as India, Pakistan, South Korea, and the Philippines could also face pressure due to reliance on imported energy. Some countries maintain limited reserves of fuel supplies, raising concerns if the disruption continues. Meanwhile, energy exporters such as Malaysia may experience short-term economic gains from rising prices.

Rising tensions in the Middle East frame a significant meeting between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. Israel is seeking a comprehensive agreement restricting Iran’s nuclear programme, missile development, and support for regional proxy groups, while Iran has signalled willingness to limit nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief but rejects broader demands. The USA has increased military presence in the region, warning of possible strikes if negotiations fail, yet leaders on all sides are continuing the dialogue. Iran’s position has been weakened by the huge recent protests, while Israel fears a deal that leaves long-term threats unresolved. At the same time, the Trump administration is pressing Israel and Hamas to implement the next phase of their ceasefire agreement in Gaza, with accusations of violations and little progress towards reconstruction.

As Donald Trump warns Iran that ‘time is running out’ for a nuclear deal (see ), and with US forces reportedly preparing for strikes on Iran within days, the consequences are far from clear. Limited ‘surgical’ attacks could hit Revolutionary Guard facilities, missile sites and nuclear infrastructure, but hopes for a rapid transition to democracy look highly optimistic, given past interventions elsewhere. Another scenario is the regime surviving but moderating its behaviour, though Iran’s leaders have historically resisted change. Many observers fear a collapse followed by hard-line military rule, or worse, nationwide chaos and conflict involving ethnic minorities. Iran has vowed retaliation, which could take the form of missile and drone attacks on US bases or warships, or mining the Strait of Hormuz, which is a vital shipping ‘chokepoint’, especially for global oil and LNG. Iran’s Arab neighbours, all US allies, are understandably jittery that Iran could attack them. The most dangerous scenario is escalation into a wider war with no clear end-state and severe regional and economic fallout.

Iran’s foreign minister has issued his most direct warning yet to the USA, threatening a full military response if Iran faces renewed attack, as the country remains under intense pressure following its deadly crackdown on protests. Writing in a US newspaper, he defended the government’s actions and blamed armed unrest for the violence, despite video evidence suggesting security forces fired on unarmed demonstrators. His remarks come amid heightened regional tensions, with a US aircraft carrier group moving toward the Middle East and American military assets repositioned across the region. Iran has also been accused of launching missile and drone strikes against a Kurdish separatist group in northern Iraq, further escalating concerns. Human rights organisations report more than 4,500 people killed and over 26,000 arrested during the protests, with fears growing that some could face execution. Iran’s Supreme Leader has acknowledged thousands of deaths while blaming the United States. Though protests have subsided amid internet shutdowns, the scale of casualties and rising military rhetoric have raised alarms about wider regional conflict and severe consequences for civilians.

Donald Trump has stepped back, at least temporarily, from threats of US military action against Iran, saying he has been assured that the killing of protesters has stopped and that no executions are planned. He said these assurances came from ‘very important sources on the other side’, though the claims have not been independently verified. Despite reports that over 3,400 have been killed during the recent anti-government protests and fears of imminent executions, Trump said he was unconvinced that military action would bring decisive change. He had been strenuously lobbied by leaders in the Middle East to not to go ahead with strikes which would be certain to lead to an Iranian counterstrike on US bases. Iranian officials have publicly denied plans for executions, and at least one expected execution has been postponed. While rhetoric has softened slightly, deep divisions over human rights abuses and Iran’s nuclear ambitions persist, leaving the situation fragile and unresolved.

Iran’s release of French citizens Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, after more than three years in detention, marks a cautious diplomatic breakthrough between Tehran and Paris. The couple, accused of espionage by Iran (a charge France has consistently rejected), were freed from Evin prison and are now safe at the French embassy in Tehran, awaiting full repatriation. Their detention, widely viewed as part of Iran’s pattern of ‘hostage diplomacy’, strained bilateral relations and drew condemnation from European governments. The timing of their release follows reports of a prisoner exchange involving an Iranian woman previously held in France. While France celebrates this humanitarian outcome, the case underscores the precarious position of foreign nationals in politically charged environments and the moral complexity of negotiating freedom under coercive diplomacy. For Kohler and Paris, freedom comes after 1,277 days of unjust imprisonment - and for France, it signals relief tempered with renewed diplomatic caution.