By Leena Fraihat and Noor Kareem
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says the US and Israel must accept the region’s freedom from their “vile and criminal presence”.
US envoy to the United Nations Mike Waltz says President Donald Trump is determined to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon and that the door is still open for Iran to return to the “negotiating table if they do so in good faith”.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi tells US media that Iran has not allowed Iraqi tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, adding that Iraq has lost about $60bn in revenue since the war began, as well as 60 percent of its monthly export revenue.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says all Iranian airlines will be shut down worldwide on Wednesday. Hours later, Iran Air announced that flights from Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan to Najaf in Iraq would continue.
US senator calls for sanctions against Trump and Rubio over ICC position
Senator Chris Van Hollen has urged European nations and other members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to impose sanctions on President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio over their efforts to obstruct investigations into war crimes.
In a social media post, Senator Van Hollen argued that allied signatories should take action against US leadership for attempting to undermine the court.
“If European countries & other signatories to the International Criminal Court have any self-respect, they’d sanction Rubio & Trump for obstructing investigations of Netanyahu’s war crimes,” Van Hollen wrote.
The remarks followed media reports that the White House was preparing sweeping financial restrictions to cut the global court off from international transactions.
How oil, gas losses have shrunk Iran’s GDP by 10 percent during war
By Usaid Siddiqui
Amid the US-Israel war on Iran, the country’s economy has suffered a sharp contraction, with its crucial oil and gas sector taking the biggest hit as the United States tightens its economic and military pressure on Tehran.
Data released by the government-administered Statistical Center of Iran showed gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by 10.1 percent year-on-year between March 21 and June 20, the first quarter of the Persian calendar.
The period covers the opening months of the US-Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28.
The economic downturn has come as Iran struggles to export its oil, one of its most important sources of foreign currency, while also contending with high inflation, a weakening rial and disruptions to trade and industry.
G7 foreign ministers call on Iran to end support for Houthis
The Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers have called on Iran to end military support to Houthi forces in Yemen, saying such assistance constitutes a dangerous pattern of escalation that puts international trade and global stability at risk.
In a statement following a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the ministers of the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US condemned continued strikes carried out by the Houthis in Yemen and against Saudi Arabia.
“We call on the Houthis to immediately cease all military actions, all threats and attacks against civilian shipping, and to return to the political process in good faith,” the ministers said.
The G7 is an informal grouping of major industrialised democracies that meets annually to discuss global policy and economic security, alongside other pressing issues of international interest.
Hind Rajab Foundation files criminal complaint against Israeli soldier in Italy
The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed a criminal complaint in Italy against Yonatan Chalich, an Israeli soldier, for alleged war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity committed during his deployment in Gaza between October 2023 and August 2024.
According to a statement issued by the foundation on Monday, Chalich is currently on holiday in the central Italian region of Tuscany. During his deployment, he served with the Tycoon Company of the Givati Shaked Battalion under the 401st Armoured Brigade.
The HRF’s investigation highlighted three incidents in which Chalich may have been involved:
“Italy, and Tuscany in particular, is a place where solidarity with Palestine runs deep and where the demand for justice has been heard loudly,” said Dyab Abou Jahjah, the foundation’s general director, adding that “its people should not see their land turned into a safe haven for those who destroyed Gaza and committed genocide against its people”.
“There can be no holiday from accountability. If the evidence follows you from Gaza to Tuscany, justice must follow too,” Abou Jahjah said.
US senator criticises Trump over rising costs from Iran war
US Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, has strongly criticised the Trump administration over the ongoing conflict with Iran, pointing to the heavy financial burden placed on American families.
In a post on X, Warner wrote that “Trump said his war with Iran would last 6 weeks”.
“More than 6 months later, the war is still waging, and Americans have paid an extra $100 billion for gas and diesel and at least another $60 billion for essentials like groceries and mortgages,” Warner added.
Oil prices climb as traders monitor potential US-Iran talks at UN General Assembly
Oil prices have ticked upward as the market stabilised following several sessions of declines, while investors monitored potential diplomatic developments between the US and Iran during the United Nations General Assembly.
Brent crude futures for November gained 22 cents, or 0.22 percent, reaching $100.57 a barrel as of 00:21 GMT on Tuesday, according to the Reuters news agency.
Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude contracts for October, which expire on Tuesday, crept up 2 cents, or 0.02 percent, to trade at $95.80 a barrel.
The more actively traded November WTI contract rose 13 cents, or 0.14 percent, to $92.49 a barrel.
Trump’s Board of Peace reiterates Gaza objectives ahead of UNGA
As global leaders gather in New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace has reiterated its objectives for the future of Gaza in a post on X.
The board listed what it called its shared objectives:
The board also urged all parties to fulfil their commitments and refrain from any activity that could undermine the “ceasefire” or return Gaza to conflict.
Saudi-led coalition launches air attacks on Houthi positions west of Taiz
Yemeni government forces say the Saudi-led coalition has launched intense air attacks on Houthi sites, gatherings and weapons depots west of Taiz province.
Israeli forces storm village near Hebron, confiscate water tankers
Israeli forces have stormed the village of al-Karmel, east of Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, and confiscated two water tankers belonging to the at-Tawani village council that were transporting water to Masafer Yatta, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reports.
According to local sources, the two tanker drivers were detained and taken towards a military camp in Masafer Yatta, Wafa said.
The confiscation came amid intensifying military measures against residents of Masafer Yatta that have restricted access to basic services, including water.
Mr.BadGuy
Publisher
Mr.BadGuy
Publisher
These soldiers are from a country whose president is a Jew Zelensky. Orthodox churches are also being destroyed in this country. Synagogues are not touched. Surprisingly, it turns out that Jews get along well with the Bandera Nazis.