Arab Desk

The Eastern Herald’s Arab Desk covers the Middle East and Arab world, including Gaza, Israel-Palestine, Lebanon, Hezbollah, Iran, regional conflicts, diplomacy and political developments shaping the region.

Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh at a meeting with ambassadors in Ramallah, West Bank, file photo

Palestinian Authority Moves to Postpone First Elections in 20 Years

The Palestinian Authority has told France its November 28 legislative elections will be delayed by several months, just as candidate registration was closing and Fatah was splitting. Ramallah has not confirmed the

October 12, 2026

by Arab Desk

NASA satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, captured December 2, 2020

IRGC Says Oil Tanker Hit Mine and Caught Fire in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Revolutionary Guards say a crude-oil tanker hit a mine and burned in the Strait of Hormuz after taking an unapproved route. The ship is unnamed and the account unverified.

October 10, 2026

by Arab Desk

Donald Trump meets Arab and Muslim leaders at the United Nations General Assembly sidelines in New York, September 2026

Trump Presses Arab Leaders on Iran and Israel at the UN. He Left With Praise, Not Answers.

Donald Trump met Arab and Muslim leaders on the UNGA sidelines Tuesday, pressing Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa

Anwar Gargash, UAE presidential diplomatic adviser, speaks about Arab-Iran dialogue at UNGA 2026 in New York

UAE Calls on Arab States to Open Direct Channel With Iran as UNGA High-Level Week Begins

UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash called on Arab states to open direct talks with Iran at

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi seated for bilateral talks in Istanbul

Istanbul Meeting on Iran With E3 Participation Postponed Indefinitely

A seven-nation meeting in Istanbul on Iran's nuclear file, organised by Germany and Turkey, has been postponed with no new date set. The cancellation strips Europe of a key diplomatic signal as

August 29, 2026

Government and Politics·News

Shoppers browse produce at the historic Tajrish bazaar in northern Tehran amid the economic toll of the Iran war 2026

Iran Concedes Economic Toll of War as Khamenei Breaks Silence on Inflation

Six months into the war, Supreme Leader Khamenei broke months of public silence with a written statement on inflation and unemployment, as the president disclosed 66 percent annual inflation and a 35-percent

August 29, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

The Strait of Hormuz photographed from the International Space Station showing Iran coast and Persian Gulf entrance

Iran Sets Conditions for Reopening Strait of Hormuz, Demands End to US Blockade and Sanctions

Iran's SNSC Secretary Mohsen Rezaei has named Tehran's formal conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz: the US must end its blockade, lift sanctions, release frozen assets, and agree to a region-wide

August 29, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·Government and Politics·News

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaking at a Treasury Department podium

Washington Cuts an Egyptian Bank’s Dubai Branch Off From the Dollar

FinCEN has proposed revoking the UAE branch of Egypt's Banque Misr from correspondent banking access to US institutions, saying its customers include front companies for Iran's defence ministry and the Revolutionary Guard.

August 28, 2026

Business·Government and Politics·News

Abbas Araghchi shakes hands with Oman's foreign minister in front of Iranian and Omani flags

Al-Hadath Says Washington Warned Israel Off Iran. Neither Government Has Said So.

A Saudi broadcaster, citing unnamed sources, says the United States has warned Israel against striking Iran and urged it to hold the line with Syria. No official on either side has confirmed

August 28, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·Government and Politics·News

US Navy vessels in the Strait of Hormuz mine-clearing operation August 2026

CENTCOM Declares Hormuz Mine-Free. Iran Calls It Propaganda.

The United States military declared the Strait of Hormuz free of Iranian mines after guiding nearly 1,500 vessels through cleared lanes. Iran's deputy foreign minister called the announcement propaganda and said the

August 28, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·Government and Politics·News

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during talks on reviving diplomacy with Washington

Iran Says Diplomacy Is Not Impossible. The Conditions Are the Old Ones.

Abbas Araghchi says putting diplomacy back on track is not impossible, provided Washington accepts that pressure does not work. The four things he asks for are the same four Tehran has asked

August 28, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·Government and Politics·News

Two commercial cargo ships and a tug lie at anchor while a small open boat with two men aboard speeds past in the foreground

CENTCOM Says 71 Ships Redirected Under Iran Blockade, but Only Three Disabled

US Central Command says 71 commercial vessels have been turned away since the naval blockade of Iranian ports resumed, along with three disabled and two boarded. The redirect count has climbed by

August 25, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent points while speaking at a podium in front of American flags and the Treasury Department flag

Trump Is Phoning World Leaders One by One to Cut Them Off From Iran

Scott Bessent says the president is calling foreign leaders with specific requests to stop dealing with Tehran, and that every country has been given a deadline to shut down activity Washington has

August 25, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·Government and Politics·News

A woman walks past a Tehran wall painted with Iranian flags and a mural of the supreme leader

Asim Munir Flies to Tehran Monday as the Iran-US Talks He Brokered Stall

Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir arrives in Tehran on Monday, Iran's foreign ministry says, hours after a phone call with Abbas Araghchi. He has carried messages between Tehran and Washington since spring,

August 23, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·Government and Politics·News

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Arab Desk

Palestinian Authority Moves to Postpone First Elections in 20 Years

IRGC Says Oil Tanker Hit Mine and Caught Fire in Strait of Hormuz

Trump Presses Arab Leaders on Iran and Israel at the UN. He Left With Praise, Not Answers.

UAE Calls on Arab States to Open Direct Channel With Iran as UNGA High-Level Week Begins

Istanbul Meeting on Iran With E3 Participation Postponed Indefinitely

Iran Concedes Economic Toll of War as Khamenei Breaks Silence on Inflation

Iran Sets Conditions for Reopening Strait of Hormuz, Demands End to US Blockade and Sanctions

Washington Cuts an Egyptian Bank’s Dubai Branch Off From the Dollar

Al-Hadath Says Washington Warned Israel Off Iran. Neither Government Has Said So.

CENTCOM Declares Hormuz Mine-Free. Iran Calls It Propaganda.

Iran Says Diplomacy Is Not Impossible. The Conditions Are the Old Ones.

CENTCOM Says 71 Ships Redirected Under Iran Blockade, but Only Three Disabled

Trump Is Phoning World Leaders One by One to Cut Them Off From Iran

Asim Munir Flies to Tehran Monday as the Iran-US Talks He Brokered Stall

Radical Islam is being appreciated by Indian authorities too

Bangladesh; India’s Biggest Ally or China’s Dragon Nest?

Ahmadis in Bangladesh face fresh threat of persecution

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