Gulf States

Former emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, dies at 74

Also on Sunday, the IRGC said it struck and disabled a second vessel in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted the U.S. strategic air base at Al Udeid in Qatar with ballistic missiles.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Doha, Qatar,  September 16, 2025.
 Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Joe Biden attend Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment event on the day of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 9, 2023.

Bypassing Hormuz: India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor could threaten Iran, experts say

 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.

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

US Airforce (USAF) personnel work by a USAF B-1B bomber, at RAF Fairford airbase, which is used by USAF personnel, amid the US–Israeli conflict with Iran.

Iran retaliates against US strikes with attacks on Gulf assets


Understanding Arab paradoxical positions in the Iran war - opinion

Arab states avoid direct war with Iran while shaping its outcome, using economic pressure and strategic distance to weaken a regional rival without escalation

Smoke rises from the direction of an energy installation in the Gulf emirate of Fujairah on March 14.

After Iran war, attack on Gulf States, will the GCC withdraw from Arab League - analysis

Abdullah Al-Khamis, a Kuwaiti political journalist, proposes an alternative: an Arab coordination council comprising the Gulf states, Jordan, Morocco, and Syria.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi chairs an extraordinary meeting of Arab League foreign ministers day before the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in Istanbul, Turkey, June 20, 2025

Turkey, Syria, Jordan unveil Gulf-Europe rail corridor as Ankara pushes alternative trade routes

The proposed network would run from Europe through Turkey, continue across Syrian territory, and extend into Jordan, creating a continuous land bridge between Mediterranean ports and Gulf markets.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa attend a press conference at joint press conference at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, February 4, 2025; illustrative.

Shipping firms seek clarifications before crossing Hormuz as tankers move towards Strait

A group of around 20 ships, including container ships, bulk carriers, and tankers, was seen moving in the Gulf towards the exit via the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship tracking data.

Hapag-Lloyd sign on a container ship at the Valparaiso port, Chile, January 11, 2024.

US-Israel war with Iran reshapes global alliances, benefits Russia - opinion

If there are any winners during the war with Iran, one may be Vladimir Putin, the man Trump has frequently called his “good friend.”

US President Trump meets with Russian President Putin in Alaska, August 15, 2025

Ukraine downed Iranian drones in Middle East during Iran war, Zelensky claims

In recent years, Ukrainian drone-makers have unveiled and combat-tested several drone interceptors that can sometimes be 3D-printed and cost significantly less than traditional air defense systems.

Prior to Russia’s 2022 invasion, Ukraine hadn’t invested in drone technology, but now it is considered to be a master of drone warfare.

Tehran’s greatest blunder - opinion

The regional alliance Iran built against itself.

People gather after US President Donald Trump said that he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2026.

Pakistan sending troops to Saudi Arabia could shift tide in war against Iran - opinion

On one hand, Pakistan’s involvement could increase pressure on Iran. On the other hand, it brings Saudi Arabia closer to a country that has expressed hostile positions toward Israel.

Army soldiers sit in a truck, as Pakistan prepares to host the US and Iran for peace talks, in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 10, 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.

Israel – hegemon or partner? The Middle East is divided- opinion

Israel’s military successes so far are already generating waves across the Middle East regarding its place on the “day after.” 

 IRANIAN PRESIDENT Ebrahim Raisi delivers a speech marking the 45th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, in Tehran, in February 2024.