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Brent crude climbed more than 2% to near $90 a barrel in Wednesday trading after new attacks on shipping in the Middle East dimmed prospects for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts said market confidence in a quick deal is fading, while geopolitical tensions continue to support prices.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met the new IRGC commander on June 23 and urged enhanced national deterrence amid escalating regional tensions. The meeting follows Supreme Leader Khamenei's appointment of the new commander, seen as part of a broader security restructuring.
Lebanon's parliament voted on February 25 to abolish the death penalty, replacing it with life imprisonment with hard labor, making it the first Middle Eastern country to do so. The move was hailed as historic by the justice minister and human rights groups, though it remains unclear how the new penalty will be implemented.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have signed a joint defense pact in Mecca, creating a powerful military bloc with nearly 1.4 million troops and advanced capabilities. The agreement aims to deter aggression and reflects shifting regional security dynamics.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed Major General Hossein Salami as the new commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), replacing General Mohammad Ali Jafari. Salami, formerly the deputy commander, steps in amid ongoing security, economic, and geopolitical challenges for Iran.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called on Monday for restoring free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during a phone conversation with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said. The appeal comes as US-Iran talks on the conflict remain stalled, and as regional tensions threaten the world's most vital oil shipping lane.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has congratulated Ali Rezaei on his appointment as head of the Supreme National Security Council. Ghalibaf expressed confidence in Rezaei's experience and capabilities to safeguard national interests amid regional volatility. The move aims to enhance security coordination and address contemporary challenges.
Analysts say Iran is not directly threatened by the trilateral defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, while Iranian officials focus on the declining US role in the region. The pact, signed in Mecca, comes amid ongoing tensions after months of war, with experts suggesting Tehran is more concerned about long-term regional shifts than immediate dangers.
An international conference on the legacy of Iran's fallen leader has convened, attracting scholars and officials globally. The event highlighted his lasting impact on Iran's domestic and foreign policies, and discussed his intellectual and political contributions.
