Report: U.S. prepares for new Iran strikes as military staff cancel weekend plans

Report: Iran moved billions through Binance to fund military networks

The Wall Street Journal report shows internal Binance compliance reports show an Iranian businessman routed about $850 million through the crypto exchange over two years, with roughly $425 million assessed by investigators as linked to Iran's military financing, including in

World Bank document shows 27 countries seeking to ensure access to crisis funds

By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - Twenty-seven countries have moved since the Iran war started to put in place crisis instruments that could quickly access funding from existing World Bank programs, according to an internal document viewed by Reuters. The World

US mulls new strikes on Iran: US media reports

The United States is weighing new military strikes on Iran, US media outlets reported on Friday. The reports, from CBS and Axios, come just hours after US President Donald Trump said he would not travel to attend his son's wedding this weekend due to "circumstances pertaining

Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil to appeal to US Supreme Court to avoid re-arrest

By Nate Raymond May 22 (Reuters) - A lawyer for Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil vowed on Friday to take his case to the U.S. Supreme Court after a federal appeals court declined to reconsider a ruling that opened the door to President Donald Trump's administration

Trump skips son's wedding as Iran talks continue

US President Donald Trump confirmed Friday he would miss his son's wedding, insisting he had to stay in Washington because of "circumstances pertaining to government." Trump had said a day earlier that the Iran war made it "bad timing" for him to attend Donald Trump Jr's

French Gaza activists arrive home after Israel expulsion

Several French pro-Palestinian activists on Friday described what they said was a violent and humiliating ordeal after they were detained by Israeli forces on a Gaza-bound flotilla. Eight French nationals arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport near Paris from Turkey on Friday

Tulsi Gabbard resigns as top US intelligence official: What to know

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard cites her husband’s bone cancer diagnosis as reason for stepping down.

Pakistan military chief arrives in Tehran in push to end Iran war

Pakistan's powerful army chief arrived in Tehran on Friday, with Islamabad mediating as the Islamic republic examines a new US proposal to end the Middle East war. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, however, said the visit did not necessarily mean "we have

Pakistan army chief in Tehran as Iran weighs US peace offer

Pakistan's army chief arrived in Tehran on Friday, as diplomacy to end the Middle East war gathered pace and Iran considered the latest peace proposal even as US media reported Washington was potentially considering new strikes on the Islamic republic. Iranian foreign ministry

Gabbard resigns as Trump's top US intelligence official

WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - Tulsi Gabbard said on Friday she is resigning from her job as President Donald Trump's director of national intelligence, saying her husband had been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer and that she was stepping away from her role to help

Erdogan’s CHP move raises early poll prospects as Iran war bleeds Turkey’s economy

A court move targeting Turkey’s main opposition party, combined with mounting economic pressure linked to the Iran conflict, is raising expectations of an early vote that could extend President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rule.

Freed Gaza flotilla activists allege Israeli abuse including rape

By Anna Uras, Rami Ayyub and Layli Foroudi ROME/JERUSALEM/PARIS, May 22 (Reuters) - Activists released from Israeli custody after being detained on a flotilla trying to bring aid to Gaza were subjected to abuse, organisers said on Friday, with several hospitalised with injuries

Archives interrupted: Vintage pics show Gaza 'we no longer know'

When Kegham Djeghalian photographed daily life in Gaza last century, the Palestinian territory was synonymous with Hollywood-inspired brides, fancy dress parties and excursions to smoke a hookah at the beach. They are images from a time far removed from the rubble and tent

NATO considering resuming mission in Iraq: general

NATO's mission to Iraq, which was entirely evacuated to a base in Italy due to the Middle East war, could return to Baghdad in the coming months, its former commander told AFP. "The general staff is working on various options" to allow the mission to return to Iraq, said French

Swiss widen sanctions against Russia, Belarus in line with EU measures

ZURICH, May 22 (Reuters) - Switzerland expanded its sanctions lists against Russia and Belarus on Friday, adopting parts of the European Union's latest package of measures over Moscow's war in Ukraine, the government said on Friday. The Federal Department of Economic Affairs

Iran's intensified closure of Strait of Hormuz piles misery on stranded sailors

By Imad Creidi DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia, May 22 (Reuters) - Iran's publication of a new map asserting its control over the Strait of Hormuz risks extending an already punishing ordeal for thousands of mariners trapped on ships in the Gulf. More than 20,000 sailors are stuck on

France readies UN resolution on Hormuz as vote on US text stalls

By John Irish PARIS, May 21 (Reuters) - France has drafted a U.N. Security Council resolution on setting up an international mission to restore movement in the Strait of Hormuz and could submit it if conditions are right, the foreign ministry said on Friday, as Washington

UK defence show RIAT cancelled because of Iran war

May 22 (Reuters) - The Royal International Air Tattoo, one of the world's largest defence shows, has been cancelled due to military operations linked to the Iran war, it said on Friday. RIAT had been scheduled for July 17-19 at RAF Fairford, an active Royal Air Force base in

Ireland joins EU push to ban trade with Israeli settlements amid flotilla backlash

European frustration with Israel intensified this week after a far-right Israeli minister posted a video of the mistreatment of international activists detained in the country.

Western powers press Israel to rein in settlers, halt expansion

ROME, May 22 (Reuters) - Israel must halt the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and curb growing settler violence, seven major Western nations said on Friday, accusing the Israeli government of aggravating tensions in the West Bank. "Over the past few months, the

Rubio cites some progress on Iran talks but "we're not there yet"

HELSINGBORG, Sweden, May 22 (Reuters) - The United States has seen some progress in talks with Iran and is in constant communication with the Pakistani mediators, but there is more work to be done, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday. "There's been some progress. I

Factbox-Turkey court ruling adds to crackdown on main opposition CHP

By Canan Sevgili and Mirac Dereli May 22 (Reuters) - A Turkish court annulled the main opposition party's 2023 congress, effectively ousting its leader Ozgur Ozel, in a ruling that has inflamed a political crisis, jolted financial markets and could prolong the 23-year rule of

Report: U.S. fired more interceptors than Israel in latest war with Iran

A Washington Post report revealed that the U.S. military fired over 200 high-altitude THAAD interceptors in defense of Israel, roughly half of the Pentagon's total stockpile

Lebanon’s military hits back at US sanctions, says loyalty 'solely to the nation'

Lebanon’s army and General Security stressed that their members remain loyal state institutions, responding to US sanctions that for the first time targeted security officers for alleged ties to Hezbollah.

Iran talks see momentum as Pakistani officials visit Tehran

Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, has reportedly departed for the Iranian capital, while Doha dispatched a diplomatic team.

Exclusive-Qatari negotiating team in Tehran to help secure US-Iran deal to end war, says source

May 22 (Reuters) - A Qatari negotiating team arrived in Tehran on Friday in coordination with United States to help secure a deal to end the war with Iran and resolve outstanding issues, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday. Doha, which has worked as a

At least 10 killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Health Ministry says

Lebanon's Health Ministry reported six paramedics and a child among those killed, and many others were wounded, while the IDF separately reported killing seven Hezbollah members

Ankara court rejects Turkish main opposition's appeal against ruling to oust leader, media says

ANKARA, May 22 (Reuters) - An Ankara court on Friday rejected an appeal by Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) against a ruling to oust its leader, the Cumhuriyet daily and other Turkish media said. The CHP has appealed also to a higher court, as well as

UAE's Gargash sees '50-50' odds of US-Iran deal, warns against renewed fighting

By Maha El Dahan and Jana Choukeir DUBAI, May 22 (Reuters) - There is a "50-50 chance" of a U.S.-Iran peace agreement, the United Arab Emirates' presidential advisor said on Friday, but stressed that any political settlement must address the root causes of instability in the

Iran cites 'deep and significant' differences with U.S. as mediators push for cease-fire

According to the Saudi Al Arabiya news agency, a draft interim deal includes an immediate, comprehensive and unconditional cease-fire across all arenas, but doesn't address Iran's nuclear program. U.S. Secretary of State Rubio confirmed that 'slight progress' had been made

Turkey political crisis simmers as opposition vows to resist court ruling

By Ece Toksabay and Huseyin Hayatsever ANKARA, May 22 (Reuters) - Turkey's political opposition dug in on Friday to resist an unprecedented court ruling that ousted its leader and annulled its congress, inflaming a political crisis that critics say aims to further prolong

Middle East war casts shadow over million-strong hajj pilgrimage

More than a million Muslims are gathering in Mecca for the hajj pilgrimage overshadowed by the Middle East war, as animosity smoulders across the region despite a fragile ceasefire. This year's rites, drawing Muslim worshippers from across the world, including Iran, follow

'When you have rape survivors, you can't look away': NYT, Kristoff defend column on sexual assault of Palestinians

The response comes after Israel accused the NYT of spreading 'one of the worst blood libels' in modern media history and was part of an 'orchestrated anti-Israel campaign'

Pakistan seeks breakthrough in US-Iran peace talks

By Jacob Bogage and Parisa Hafezi WASHINGTON/DUBAI, May 22 (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister met his Pakistani counterpart on Friday to discuss proposals to end the U.S.-Israeli war, Iranian media reported, with Tehran and Washington still at odds over Tehran's uranium

Taiwan says it has not been told by US of changes to military sales

TAIPEI, May 22 (Reuters) - Taiwan's presidential office said on Friday it had not received any information about the U.S. adjusting military sales, after a senior U.S. official suggested there was a pause due to the need to have enough arms for the war with Iran. Taiwan, which