# Middle East
Latest news and articles about Middle East
Total: 54 articles found
Iran and U.S. to Hold Talks in Muscat on Feb. 6, Tehran Says — A Tentative Diplomatic Opening
Iran’s foreign minister said Iran and the United States will meet in Muscat on Feb. 6 for talks conducted through Oman, a customary intermediary. The encounter is likely to focus on limited, pragmatic issues rather than a comprehensive settlement, serving as a test of whether the two sides can achieve small confidence‑building measures amid persistent strategic differences.
First Shot Fired: U.S. Downs Iranian Drone as Tehran Narrows Talks and Sidelines Five Mediators
A U.S. jet shot down an Iranian drone near an American carrier on Feb. 3, prompting Tehran to shift Feb. 6 talks to Oman and limit the agenda to nuclear issues while excluding missiles and proxies. The move signals Iran's reluctance to accept broad concessions without sanctions relief and narrows the role for regional mediators, increasing the risk of miscalculation.
Trump’s Iran Gamble: Bluster, Bargaining and What It Means for China
President Trump’s simultaneous threat of force and offer of talks toward Iran reflects deliberate brinkmanship intended to maximize U.S. leverage. Tehran remains resistant on core issues such as ballistic missiles and regional influence, and a military campaign would carry heavy regional and global costs that complicate any claimed benefits for China.
Talks Open but Trenches Deepen: U.S. and Iran Signal Willingness Amid Stark Differences
Both Washington and Tehran have publicly signalled willingness to enter talks on nuclear, missile and proxy issues, but deep disagreements over demands, sequencing and verification make successful negotiations uncertain. Military posturing and strict U.S. conditions fuel Iranian scepticism, leaving the region under continued diplomatic and security strain.
Trump Signals Willingness to Negotiate With Iran While Repeating Military Threats
Donald Trump said he hopes the U.S. can reach an agreement with Iran while emphasising U.S. naval strength and warning of military consequences if talks fail. Iran says it remains confident indirect negotiations are productive, insisting on sanctions relief and the right to peaceful enrichment amid a tense regional military backdrop and recent U.S.-Israel coordination.
US Forces at Iran’s Doorstep — But the Crucial Window for Influence Has Closed
US forces are positioned close to Iran, but a critical period in which decisive pressure or punitive action would have been most effective has passed. That missed timing narrows US options, increases regional instability, and forces difficult choices between costly escalation and containment backed by diplomacy.
UAE President Cancels Japan State Visit as Iran‑US Tensions Rise, Underscoring Gulf’s Diplomatic Tightrope
The UAE president has cancelled a planned state visit to Japan amid rising U.S.–Iran tensions, a move widely interpreted as a precautionary response to growing regional instability. The decision underscores Gulf states’ delicate balancing between security ties with the United States and pragmatic engagement with Iran, with implications for diplomacy, energy markets and regional risk calculations.
Talks and Threats: Washington Keeps Iran Under Deliberate Ambiguity as Naval Forces Patrol the Gulf
The United States has combined public threats and naval deployments with discreet offers to negotiate with Iran, a strategy Washington has kept deliberately ambiguous. Tehran has responded with guarded engagement through intermediaries while reaffirming core red lines, raising the odds that any agreement will be limited and that miscalculation could still spark wider regional conflict.
Khamenei Warns U.S. Action Could Spark 'Full-Scale' Regional War
Iran’s Supreme Leader warned that U.S. military action would precipitate a “regional full-scale war,” intensifying concerns about how local incidents could balloon into broader conflict. The statement raises the political and strategic cost of strikes in the region, with implications for regional proxies, energy markets and global diplomacy.
Iran Claims Fleet of 1,000 Strategic Drones, Redrawing Regional Power Dynamics
A Chinese outlet reported that Iran has integrated about 1,000 strategic unmanned aerial vehicles into its combat formations, marking a significant expansion of Tehran’s drone capabilities. The development heightens regional security tensions by enhancing Iran’s ability to conduct long-range surveillance, strikes and saturation attacks while raising proliferation risks through exports to proxies.
Iran Masses Around 1,000 Strategic Drones, Raising Regional Stakes
Chinese military media reported that Iran has integrated around 1,000 strategic drones into its combat formations, marking a significant expansion of Tehran's unmanned capabilities. The scale enhances Iran's asymmetric options and complicates regional air-defence planning, raising the risk of escalation and prompting strategic recalibration by nearby states and their partners.
US Destroyer Concludes Port Call to Eilat, Reinforcing Red Sea Presence
The USS Delbert D. Black completed a port call to Eilat on 1 February before departing, a move framed by the US Fifth Fleet as routine but strategically significant. The visit reinforces Washington's maritime presence in the Red Sea corridor, signaling deterrence and reassurance to regional partners amid persistent security risks to shipping.