Washington’s main goal is to stabilize the markets and stop the oil price surge, Turkish expert Faik Bulut told Sputnik. US President Donald Trump claimed in a speech on Wednesday night that the US was "nearing completion" of its "core strategic objectives" in the war on Iran.Bulut called the state»»»

For Iraq, this is a strange moment both politically and militarily. The state of Iraq has proximity to—but no direct connection to—the fierce battle raging between Iran on one side and Israel and the United States on the other, with Gulf states becoming Iranian targets as a result. That is the stat»»»

World Bank Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer Paschal Donohoe has expressed strong concerns regarding the impact of the war in the Middle East on the global economy, at a time when a number of countries were already facing difficulties due to a string of global crises, Agerpres reports. »»»

OVERVIEW No single issue dominates Thursday’s media, but the note sent by Iran to Bulgaria, the security agreement signed between Bulgaria and Ukraine, and the justice minister’s request for the disciplinary dismissal of the acting prosecutor general, are among the main topics. POLITICS Speaking on»»»

A general view of the Port of Kharg Island Oil Terminal, 25 kilometers from the Iranian coast in the Persian Gulf and 483 kilometers northwest of the Strait of Hormuz, in Iran on March 12, 2017. Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Oil flows through Egypt’s “SUMED” pipeline have surged by 15»»»

Smoke from oil fires from the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran return to the Persian Gulf as acid rain, irreversibly altering the water's chemical balance and destroying flora and fauna, Egyptian expert and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change observer Mustafa Sherbini tells Sputnik. The Gulf’s »»»

Albania’s opposition has raised alarm in Parliament following a statement by the U.S. Embassy warning of potential attacks by groups allegedly linked to Iran. Democratic Party lawmaker Tritan Shehu called on President Bajram Begaj to convene the National Security Council, describing the embassy’s n»»»

Interior Minister Besford Lamallari said authorities have intensified coordination with U.S. officials following a recent security alert issued by the American embassy in Tirana. Lamallari confirmed that he has instructed counterterrorism structures to maintain direct communication with the embassy»»»

Seoul, April 2 (SANA) South Korea said Wednesday that emergency shipments of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates are on their way under a bilateral agreement, as supply concerns grow amid disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Yonhap News Agency, Industry Minister Kim»»»

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia will introduce a work-from-home policy for ministries, agencies, statutory bodies and government-linked companies starting April 15 to conserve energy during the Middle East war, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said. The premier's announcement late Wednesday comes as the Southea»»»

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - The US and Israeli assessment of Iran's military capabilities is inaccurate, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesman for the Khatam Al-Anbiya central headquarters of the Iranian military command, said on Thursday amid claims by US President Donald Trump that Iran no longer posed a threat»»»

DOHA (Sputnik) - The US Embassy in Baghdad called on US citizens in Iraq on Thursday to leave the country immediately due to threats by pro-Iranian groups to attack central Baghdad, where foreign diplomatic missions are located, according to a statement from the diplomatic mission. "Iraqi terrorist»»»

This photo, taken Thursday, shows the trading room of Hana Bank in central Seoul as U.S. President Donald Trump gives a televised address. South Korean stocks plunged more than 4 percent on Trump's renewed threat of strikes against Iran. Photo by Yonhap Seoul stocks fell sharply Thursday, as U.S. P»»»

Dubai: Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the UAE and across the Middle East have been reminded to stay vigilant online, as authorities have warned that sharing unverified information can carry serious consequences. The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has issued a new advisory urgin»»»

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday warned of the risk of a widening war in Iran, stressing that his government’s priority is to steer the country through the current regional turmoil unharmed and keep it away from escalating conflict. Erdogan placed primary responsibility for the w»»»

Israel may have begun by waging war on Gaza, but it didn't end there. In the years that followed October 7 2023, Israel has unleashed its war machine on Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and now Iran, in a systematic attempt to redraw the region’s map by force. Once hypothetical scenarios have become a fast-m»»»

Doha, Qatar: While Australia and Malaysia are taking steps to conserve fuel, several Chinese airlines have raised fuel surcharges on domestic flights. The World Bank has also expressed concern over the impact the war will have on inflation, jobs and food security. Stay tuned for more updates: -----»»»

Beijing: Several Chinese airlines, including national carrier Air China, said they will raise their fuel surcharges on domestic flights from Sunday as the war in the Middle East drives up oil prices globally. Air China, China Southern and its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines said in statements that they »»»

Speaking on Nova TV on Thursday, Bulgaria’s caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky said that a note is a normal diplomatic practice in a period of tensions and crises. "It is not a threat but a warning," she added, regarding a note sent by Iran to Bulgaria. "In such diplomatic notes during war»»»

President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam are determined to continue their contacts, hoping that will lead to international intervention to halt the fighting in south Lebanon, ministerial sources said. U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa meanwhile traveled to Washington for the Easter»»»

North Korea on Thursday condemned a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution criticizing its human rights record, calling the measure a “grave political provocation." In this photo, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during the opening of the 61st session of the Council in Geneva,»»»

The Israeli enemy army announced that search and rescue forces are combing areas in northern ‘Israel’ following the fall of rocket debris originating from Lebanon. The operations focus on locating scattered fragments and securing affected zones. A powerful explosion rocked northern occupied Palesti»»»

BEIJING: Oil prices jumped by more than four dollars during early trading on Thursday, following US President Donald Trump's address, in which he confirmed that strikes on Iran would continue. Brent crude futures rose by as much as $4.88, or 4.8 percent, to $106.04 a barrel, while US West Texas Int»»»

The US embassy in Baghdad warned Thursday that pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq may attack the city in the coming one or two days. "Iraqi terrorist militia groups aligned with Iran may intend to conduct attacks in central Baghdad in the next 24-48 hours," the embassy said in a statement on X, again ur»»»

Almost three dozen countries will meet Thursday in an effort to exert diplomatic and political pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route that has been choked off by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the virtual meeting chaired by Forei»»»

Israel said it came under Iranian missile fire on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to bomb the Islamic republic into the "Stone Ages" in the coming weeks. Iran's military vowed on Thursday to carry out "crushing" attacks against the United States and Israel after Trump's threat»»»

Kennedy Space Center, United States: Four astronauts blasted off aboard a massive NASA rocket Wednesday on a long-anticipated journey around the moon, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. With a thunderous roar that reverberated far beyond the launchpad, the enormous orange-and-white»»»

Dubai: The government of Dubai has called on residents to stay informed with facts amid the rapid spread of misinformation and rumours on social media. Daily posts claiming statements such as ‘I hear explosions in Dubai,’ “’ubai faces severe shortage of goods,’ or ‘Life in Dubai has come to a stand»»»

Iraqi oil fields once alive with the buzz of workers are nearly deserted. Ports that pulsed with the churn of cargo have fallen still, the din of commerce replaced by the soft rhythm of waves. A month after the war in Iran started, workers at ports and oil fields in the province of Basra, where alm»»»

Regional energy cooperation “is no longer optional, but has become essential”, in a context dominated by security, resilience, and strategic alignment, said Mustafa Murat Orhan, Secretary General of the Electricity Producers Association in Turkey that brings together 67 members, both licensed and p»»»

Dubai: In just over a month, the global aviation industry has undergone a dramatic shift, with airfares climbing sharply across major routes, including from the UAE. What was once a relatively stable pricing environment has become volatile, as airlines grapple with rising fuel costs, reduced capaci»»»

President Donald Trump said U.S. forces will "finish the job" in Iran soon as "core strategic objectives are nearing completion," offering a full-throated defense of the war Wednesday night in his first national address since the conflict began more than a month ago. He used his platform before a w»»»

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday the original aims of the war in Iran had been met and it was not clear what more remained to be achieved. Albanese called for de-escalation, noting that US-Israeli attacks had degraded Iran's air force, navy and military industrial base, r»»»

The seventh two-day meeting of the heads of ministries and agencies of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states responsible for environmental issues opened today at the Ala-Archa-1 State Residence. The press service of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Super»»»

In a wide-ranging conversation with Al Majalla, Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin gave a measured yet unwavering assessment of where the Palestinian cause stands—and where it must go. She argues that Israel's conduct since the 1993 Oslo Accords has not only strained the peace pr»»»

From missile interceptions near Abu Dhabi to travel, education and price updates, here’s what UAE residents need to know today as regional tensions continue to impact daily life. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.Missile intercepted near Abu Dhabi e»»»

Israel said it came under Iranian missile fire on Thursday after US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb the Iranian republic into the "Stone Ages" with heavy strikes in the next two to three weeks. In a speech from the White House, Trump sought to reassure war-weary Americans that the militar»»»

Democrats criticized while Republicans praised President Donald Trump's Wednesday night address to the nation on the war in Iran. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 2 (UPI) -- Democrats late Wednesday lambasted President Donald Trump's Iran war address to the nation for shifting ti»»»

Gold retreated from two-week highs on Thursday after US President Donald Trump said that Washington would continue its military campaign in Iran in the coming weeks, pushing crude prices sharply higher and dampening hopes of interest rate cuts. Spot gold was down 2% at $4,664.39 per ounce, as of 04»»»

US President Donald Trump made fun of the French president and his wife during a private lunch Wednesday, as he lambasted NATO allies for not joining the war against Iran that has roiled the Middle East. "We didn't need them, but I asked anyway," Trump told a private lunch in a video posted briefly»»»

Acting Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynski said that the diplomatic note sent by Iran to Bulgaria should be viewed as standard communication in a period of heightened international tension, stressing that it does not constitute a threat but rather a formal warning. She underlined that Bulgaria mainta»»»

Oil prices spiked and stocks sank on Thursday after Donald Trump reiterated that US forces would hammer Iran for another two to three weeks but offered no solution to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz that has crippled global markets. Investors appeared to be unimpressed with the US president's m»»»

Violence by extremist Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank has reached unprecedented levels since the start of the war with Iran, with NGOs and opposition figures denouncing an environment of impunity. While so-called "Jewish terrorism" has drawn widespread condemnation b»»»

Washington, United States: President Donald Trump on Wednesday made his case for attacking Iran in his first nationwide address more than a month into the war, insisting the United States was close to victory as his approval rating sinks. In an evening speech from the White House, Trump broke littl»»»

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said its fighters launched drones and rockets at northern Israel on Thursday, with the Israeli military's Home Front Command saying air raid sirens were activated across the border. In separate statements, the Iran-backed group claimed rocket fire targeting Israeli»»»

Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai opened lower on Thursday morning, tracking a sharp shift in global sentiment that pushed bullion off recent highs and triggered fresh selling. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and India.) Sign up for our »»»

The average price of regular gasoline in the United States has topped $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022, as the war in Iran continues to disrupt global energy supplies. Meanwhile, inflation in the eurozone rose to 2.5% in March, surpassing the European Central Bank’s target amid rising ener»»»

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States will intensify strikes on Iran over the next two to three weeks and threatened to bring the country to the "Stone Ages." The US military "core strategic objectives" amid its ongoing military operation against Iran are nearly achieve»»»

The months since Nicolás Maduro's capture have brought Venezuela closer to the global economy than at any point in a generation. New laws, a US sanctions rollback and a resumption of international engagement have redrawn the investment landscape with striking speed. Yet for many of the large Wester»»»