Gulf

Iran's missile arsenal, not Gulf deterrence, is the Middle East's real problem - opinion

Iran has not only built a massive missile program; it has turned missiles into a standalone strategic language, using them as a deterrent, a means of pressure, and a message of influence.

 Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, US President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa attend a group photo session with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14, 2025.
This aerial photograph shows boats anchored off Oman's northern Musandam Peninsula near the Strait of Hormuz on June 27, 2026.

Iran using Gulf attacks to force control over Strait of Hormuz shipping, analysts warn

VESSELS AT the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 24, 2026.

Netanyahu, Trump hold phone call about Iran conflict, F-35s to Turkey

VESSELS AT the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 24, 2026.

Iran threatened 'massive response' after US strikes southern Iran, sirens sounded in Gulf states


Peace talks between US, Iran could take six months, officials tell Bloomberg

The officials recommended that the existing ceasefire between the US and Iran be extended, so as to allow for a more suitable timeframe in which to make the deal. 

US Vice President JD Vance walks with Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar after arriving for talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, April 11, 2026.

Chinese tanker sanctioned by US crosses Strait of Hormuz despite blockade

A US-sanctioned Chinese tanker, Rich Starry, crosses the Strait of Hormuz, becoming the first to exit the Gulf since the US blockade began, carrying methanol from the UAE.

An LPG gas tanker at anchor as traffic is down in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Shinas, Oman, March 11, 2026.

IMF warns Strait of Hormuz might never be back to normal

The IMF warned that the situation at Hormuz could be similar to the one in Bab-al-Mandeb, where shipping lanes haven’t yet recovered ever since the first Houthi attack.

A map showing the Strait of Hormuz is seen in this illustration taken June 22, 2025.

A journey to the biblical Red Sea crossing

Over the years, scholars have proposed possible sites for the crossing, with Dr. Yehoshua Meron concluding that it took place near the shoreline of Nuweiba on the eastern coast of the Sinai Peninsula.

A GENERAL VIEW of the Nuweiba delta.

Gulf states on edge as US-Iran talks in Islamabad end without deal - analysis

The Gulf is likely feeling that some of its concerns are being addressed and that many countries want to see the talks continue.

A Pakistani official stands during the arrival of the US Vice President JD Vance for talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, April 11, 2026.

As Trump claims victory, Iran emerges bruised but powerful with leverage over Hormuz - analysis

"This war will be remembered as Trump's grave strategic miscalculation. One whose consequences reshaped the region in unintended ways," Middle East scholar Fawaz Gerges told Reuters.

AN IRANIAN flag flutters in the breeze

Hormuz at near standstill as Iran warns ships to keep to its waters

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, one of Japan’s big three shipping firms, is among those caught up in the confusion as firms try to work out what impact the US-Iran two-week ceasefire is having.

A ship passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s aggression forces Gulf states to rethink regional security - opinion

The UAE is redefining Gulf security, prioritizing capability and committed partners over rhetoric and ideology.

Diplomatic advisor to the UAE president, Anwar Gargash speaks at the World Governments Summit, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, February 3, 2026.

China, Pakistan call for Iran peace talks, normal navigation in Strait of Hormuz

Both countries have called for talks to end the US-Israeli war on Iran, now in the fifth week. Pakistan has previously said it is ready to facilitate peace talks between Washington and Tehran.

Cars drive down a highway as smoke billows after overnight airstrikes on oil depots on March 8, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.

How many ships have been attacked in the Gulf since start of Iran war? - explainer

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned that ships passing through the narrow Strait will be targeted, after the US and Israel launched strikes on the country on February 28.

A ship passes through the Strait of Hormuz.