US and Iran trade war warnings as tensions rise

The United States and Iran have escalated their exchange of warnings, raising fears of a wider regional conflict as both sides signal readiness for confrontation. 

Iran has issued a stark warning that it will retaliate against any US military action, as nationwide protests continue to spread despite a deadly government crackdown that has drawn international concern.

Saudi Arabia has removed the expatriate levy imposed on foreign workers employed in industrial facilities operating under official industrial licences, in a move aimed at strengthening the kingdom’s manufacturing base and boosting competitiveness.

The UN Security Council on Monday approved a US-drafted resolution establishing a transitional Board of Peace (BoP) and authorizing an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to oversee security, reconstruction and interim governance in the Gaza Strip. The resolution passed with 13 votes in favour, while China and Russia abstained.

Egypt has inaugurated the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Cairo — a landmark project that aims to honour the country’s ancient heritage while boosting its economy and tourism sector.

Iran announced on Saturday that it is no longer bound by any United Nations restrictions on its nuclear activities, declaring that the term of UN Security Council Resolution 2231—which endorsed the landmark 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA)—has officially expired.

Iran on Tuesday sharply rejected US President Donald Trump’s call for renewed peace talks, saying his statements were incompatible with Washington’s “aggressive and criminal” actions against the Iranian people, particularly following recent US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.

World leaders from more than 20 nations are set to convene in Egypt’s Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday for a high-profile peace summit co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and US President Donald Trump.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange plan — a move that could mark the beginning of the end for a two-year conflict that has devastated the region.

Iran has announced that its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is “no longer relevant,” following the reinstatement of United Nations sanctions by Western powers.

The United Nations has brought back a sweeping set of sanctions on Iran, including a renewed arms embargo, after Britain, France, and Germany accused Tehran of breaching its nuclear commitments. 

Arab countries on Tuesday called for the immediate cessation of Israel’s `genocidal war` in the Gaza Strip, as the conflict grinds into its second year with no sign of resolution.

Britain, Canada, and Australia simultaneously announced on Sunday that they are formally recognising a Palestinian state — a diplomatic shift driven by deep frustration over the ongoing Gaza war and the collapse of peace prospects. 

Leaders from across the Arab and Islamic world convened in Doha on Monday for an emergency summit, where they issued a stark warning to Israel over its recent attacks on Qatar. 

At least 18,885 children are among the more than 62,000 Palestinians killed by Israel since the start of its genocidal war in Gaza nearly two years ago, Gaza’s Government Media Office has said.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed interest in joining the China-Pakistan Silk Road. He also emphasized plans to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in cross-border trade, market expansion, and the transport sector.