Politics

Iran claims legal right to charge Strait of Hormuz transit fees

Iran has asserted that it possesses the explicit right under international law to levy an environmental fee on all maritime vessels transiting through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

02 Jun 2026-17:07
Netanyahu slammed at home after Trump halts Beirut strikes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a fierce political backlash at home after U.S. President Donald Trump intervened to halt planned Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah in Beirut, shaking Netanyahu's political standing ahead of a crucial election.

02 Jun 2026-16:36
Prison sentences, arrests of protesters and activists reported across Iran

Iranian authorities have sentenced and arrested several individuals connected to the January 2026 nationwide protests, including a lawyer, a filmmaker, and former political detainees, according to reports by the foreign-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

02 Jun 2026-15:46
Iran warns it may halt talks with US if Israel continues Lebanon strikes

Iran has warned that negotiations with the United States could be suspended if Israel continues its attacks on Lebanon, according to comments by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

02 Jun 2026-13:24
Iran says US directly responsible for Israeli truce violations in Lebanon

Iran has warned the United States that Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon constitute a clear violation of the 8 April ceasefire with Tehran, and that Washington bears responsibility for the breaches.

02 Jun 2026-11:03
Iran’s IRGC threatens to block Bab al-Mandab Strait in response to Israel actions

The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, Brigadier General Esmail Qa’ani, has warned that the Bab al-Mandab Strait could be subjected to the same restrictions on maritime traffic as the Strait of Hormuz if Israel continues what he described as crimes in Lebanon and Gaza under American protection.

02 Jun 2026-10:50
Iran’s IRGC says it hit cargo ship MSC Sariska in retaliatory operation

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy says it has struck the cargo ship MSC Sariska, which it described as being affiliated with the United States and Israel, with a cruise missile in a reciprocal operation following a US attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Sea of Oman.

02 Jun 2026-10:35
Putin orders FSB to protect vital services during web blocks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a major digital contingency plan, commanding Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov to guarantee that citizens maintain access to critical online medical, financial, and payment systems even during government-enforced mobile internet shutdowns.

01 Jun 2026-17:58
Philippines, Vietnam sign historic defense pact in Manila

The geopolitical landscape of Southeast Asia is shifting as the Philippines and Vietnam officially upgraded their diplomatic alliance. Amid growing regional friction, the two maritime neighbors have agreed to elevate their ties to an "Enhanced Strategic Partnership," marking a major defense and economic synchronization aimed at securing the disputed South China Sea.

01 Jun 2026-17:45
Six prisoners reported executed across Iran on drug and murder charges

Six prisoners convicted on charges related to drug offences and murder have been executed in prisons across Iran, according to reports cited by the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

01 Jun 2026-16:59