Middle East

Hajj 2026: Over 1.7 million Muslims gather in Saudi Arabia amid regional tensions and scorching heat

More than 1.7 million Muslims from around the world gathered in Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, undertaking one of Islam’s most sacred obligations amid regional tensions and soaring temperatures.

Trump says should be ‘mandatory’ for Muslim countries to join Abraham Accords as part of Iran deal

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for several Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, and Turkey, to join the Abraham Accords as part of any future agreement with Iran

Qatar sends first LNG shipment through Strait of Hormuz since Iran War began

A liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker from Qatar has reportedly transited the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the outbreak of the Iran war, signaling a potentially significant development for global energy markets strained by months of supply disruptions.

UAE to leave OPEC on May 1 in blow to oil cartel amid oil market turmoil

United Arab Emirates will withdraw from Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on May 1, 2026

Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by three weeks after Washington Talks

A temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has been extended by three weeks following high-level talks at the White House, according to U.S. President Donald Trump. The announcement comes as both sides attempt to sustain fragile diplomacy amid ongoing...

US and Iran peace talks in Islamabad end without agreement

US and Iran direct talks in Islamabad ended without an agreement to end the war, leaving a fragile two-week ceasefire in doubt.

US and Iran delegations arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes peace talks

The first direct, high-level negotiations between the United States and Iran since the outbreak of the regional war are underway in Islamabad, Pakistan, amid what officials describe as a “make-or-break” moment for Middle East stability. Delegations led by U.S. Vice...

What to know about US–Iran fragile ceasefire and how it was reached

A fragile two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran has come into effect after weeks of escalating conflict, offering a narrow window for diplomacy while exposing deep divisions between the two sides.

US and Iran agree to two-week ceasefire as Pakistan leads mediation effort

The United States and Iran have agreed to a temporary two-week ceasefire on April 7, marking a pause in a conflict that has intensified across the Middle East since late February. U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to suspend...

Palestinians in Gaza welcome third Ramadan amid grief, displacement and fragile ceasefire

As more than 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide observe Ramadan, Palestinians in Gaza are striving to find small moments of joy this holy month amid destruction, displacement, grief, scarcity, and fragile peace.

Latest News

Trump says should be ‘mandatory’ for Muslim countries to join Abraham Accords as part of Iran deal

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for several Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, and Turkey, to join the Abraham Accords as part of any future agreement with Iran